《American Exorcism Male God》


 Chapter 01 The Enthusiastic Hospitality of the Cannibal

    Xu Yi felt his eyelids were incredibly heavy, as if they were filled with lead. It took all his effort just to crack his eyes open a sliver.


    The light was piercing; it took him a good while to get used to it.


    He looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, his mind reeling.


    Wasn''t he in the hotel having a heartfelt philosophical discussion with a youngdy all night? How had he ended up here?


    Cooking utensils gleamed with a metallic sheen, mes roared on the stovetop, and green broli floated in the washbasin¡ªwithout a doubt, this was a kitchen.


    Mens'' voices conversed from outside, using andline, their speech altered by electromaic conversion and interspersed with a distinct static hiss.


    What year was it? Who still usedndlines? He was somewhat puzzled.


    The phone conversation was in English, and Xu Yi was shocked to realize that he could actually understand it!


    After he started working, the little English he knew had long been "returned" to the school, both borrowed and paid back.


    Since when had his English ability be so strong? Could he be dreaming?


    But even if it was a dream, what he didn''t understand should still be unintelligible, right?


    His brain suddenly throbbed with pain; unfamiliar memories surged like a tide. After an indeterminate amount of time, Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes and stared nkly at the ceiling.


    He had actually transmigrated to the United States of the 1980s. However, from the inherited memories, it seemed that this America was a bit off, teeming with many "bizarre" elements.


    A chill ran down his spine, and only then did Xu Yi realize he was lying on an iron b bed.


    Why would there be an iron b bed in the kitchen?


    It seemed that this kind of bed would only be used for dismemberingrge animals, right?


    His mind was groggy, a chunk of his memory missing; he couldn''t recall at the moment.


    He sat up from the bed, but due to his weak and feeble body, he failed to control his movements and identally kicked over an iron pot at the foot of the bed.


    The iron pot ttered on the ground with a "ping-ling-pongng" sound.


    The conversation outside stopped abruptly.


    Footsteps approached rapidly, and a figure stepped into the kitchen¡ªa refined man in a ck suit and white shirt, with the distinctive high nasal bridge of a Western male, and eyes that flickered with an unusual gleam.


    "Excuse me, where is this..." Xu Yi began to ask.


    But before he could finish, the man quickly advanced, and a needle punctured his carotid artery; a swift injection from the syringe followed.


    "You..."


    Xu Yi tried to struggle, but a powerful sense of weakness washed over him. His body went limp, and he slowly copsed.


    Images flickered in his mind... a torrential rainy night, a van appeared silently, and a man in a raincoat approached him from behind, with a syringe piercing into his neck...


    As the missing memory pieced itself back together, he finally realized he had been abducted.


    But the realization came toote; he was lifted back onto the iron b bed by the man.


    "Losing effect so quickly, do you have a resistance to anesthetics? How rare!" the man murmured softly.


    Xu Yi forced his body to move, but like a robot drained of power, all his effort only made his fingers tremble slightly.


    "I''ve never tasted Asian flesh before; I wonder what it tastes like?" the man mused to himself.


    Was this person insane? What was he talking about? Xu Yi suspected he had misheard.


    Fear exploded in his heart as Xu Yi saw the man pick up the dissecting scalpel and slowly walk towards him.


    Before he could react, the sharp scalpel stabbed into his chest. Due to the anesthetics, he couldn''t feel any pain.


    But the sight was too horrific, almost scaring him to death.


    Memories tumbled through his mind¡ªnewly inherited and not yet assimted¡ª...missing persons across New York, a brutal serial killer suspected to be the resurrection of the Cannibal...


    Xu Yi wanted to cry but had no tears.


    He had just transmigrated and hadn''t lived even five minutes before he was about to die? Could there be a more tragic transmigrator?


    Xu Yi wanted to struggle, but the excessive anesthetics took effect, and he could not move. He could only watch with his eyes wide open as the Cannibal dissected him, and finally, cut out his heart and threw it into a porcin dish.


    His eyelids grew heavier, and his consciousness gradually dissipated, eventually plummeting into the dark abyss.


    Just then, a "ding dong" sounded in his ear, followed by a mechanical, synthesized voice.


    [You have died! System activated!]


    [Monthly auto-sign-inplete, sess! You''ve obtained "Resurrection Coin x1"!]


    [You are located in "Hannibal''s follower''s kitchen," sign-in sessful, you''ve obtained "Resurrection Coin x3"!]


    Hannibal''s follower?


    Xu Yi was stunned. He had actually encountered a Cannibal!


    This world was indeed abnormal, with even Cannibals having followers. But Hannibal rarely hunted innocent people. What sort of thing is this follower? It''s sheer false advertising!


    Xu Yi quickly figured out how to use the system. There was a sign-in once a month, and you could only get the chance to sign in if you were in the "Land of Fear."


    The only prize for signing in was the Resurrection Coin.


    Four coins floated in the void, golden all over, with the Arabic numeral "10" embossed on the front and holy wings on the back.


    Xu Yi stared at the Resurrection Coin, and its function automatically appeared in his mind


    "Spend one Resurrection Coin to resurrect to 10 minutes before!"


    "Resurrection Coins can also be stacked. Using two together allows you to go back 20 minutes!"


    His eyes lit up. The Resurrection Coin was akin to a "rewind" function, which gave him hope of escape!


    [You have died, would you like to use a Resurrection Coin?]


    There was nothing to hesitate about, Xu Yi decisively chose "Use."


    A coin fell, bursting forth with dazzling golden light, engulfing him.


    Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes, dazed. The familiar kitchen, the familiar iron bed, the familiar sound of telephone conversationing from outside the door.


    He had actually "resurrected!"


    He quickly found a "blind spot." From the time he awoke to being disemboweled, it was far from 10 minutes.


    It seems that the time he was unconscious counted as well. Xu Yi quickly figured it out.


    They say it''s back to ten minutes before, but because of the anesthetics, he actually only had a few short minutes.


    "I need to hurry!"


    Xu Yi carefully got up, avoiding the pot at his feet, not making a sound.


    As soon as hended, he staggered, almost falling, clearly the effects of the anesthetics in his body hadn''tpletely worn off yet.


    ncing around, his gazended on the knife rack; from there, he took a kitchen knife for defense.


    The kitchen had only one exit and no windows. Xu Yi had no choice but to quietly head towards the door.


    After just two steps, the conversation outside ceased, followed by the click of the receiver being ced back on the phone.


    The footsteps drew closer again, but not as hurried as before, obviously not noticing Xu Yi had awoken, just hanging up the phone normally.


    The telephone happened to be installed in the corridor. If Xu Yi was to escape from here, he must pass through the corridor, so he couldn''t avoid the Cannibal no matter what.


    Listening to the footsteps getting closer, Xu Yi steeled his heart, hid behind the door, and gripped the kitchen knife in his hand.


    His opponent was the Cannibal; there was absolutely no need for chivalry!

 Chapter 02 Im Not Who I Used to Be

    A shadow cast upon the smooth floor, and Xu Yi sensed the approach of the other. He leapt out from behind the door with the kitchen knife gleaming with cold light chopping down.


    This strike was aimed at the other''s neck¡ªXu Yi clearly didn''t intend to hold back, he was going for the kill.


    Although he lived in peaceful times and rarely saw blood, he knew that this was no time for mercy.


    As the de descended, the Cannibal suddenly stepped back.


    Xu Yi was startled; the opponent had managed to dodge even in such a situation!


    Was it due to the other''s nimble movements or had he noticed some w?


    The kitchen knife only shed through the other''s suit.


    The Cannibal had now regained hisposure, squinting at Xu Yi with a smile at the corner of his eyes.


    Xu Yi sensed something was wrong, but with the arrow on the bowstring, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and swing the second knife.


    Before his very eyes, everything suddenly blurred, and by the time he realized it, the Cannibal had closed in, capturing the wrist with the knife and forcefully bending it.


    Xu Yi cried out in pain, his grip loosening, and the kitchen knife nged to the floor.


    "Knives, such dangerous tools, are not something for good children to y with," said the Cannibal with an elegant smile, but the coldness shing in his eyes was unnerving.


    Such speed! Such strength!


    Xu Yi''s face turned pale as he finally understood why the other was so confident.


    The other appeared gentle and frail, but beneath the formal attirey the strength of a wild beast.


    Xu Yi was unwilling to surrender without a fight and clenched his fist, smashing it towards the other''s head, only for a sharp pain to suddenly explode in his abdomen.


    A tremendously urate knee strike hit his midsection, followed by a backhanded grab that firmly pressed him down.


    The syringe, glinting with cold light, appeared again, inserted into his carotid artery, and as the overdose of anesthetic flooded in, all was decided.


    Secured to the iron-framed bed, cut open and disembowelled... the process reyed itself.


    "Dead again!" Xu Yi''s soul returned to the Resurrection Space, and he let out a long sigh.


    He had three Resurrection Coins left, but he decided not to revive immediately, instead pondering in silence.


    Suspended above the Resurrection Space was an hourss with a countdown; in ten minutes, the Resurrection Coins would automatically take effect, turning back time by ten minutes.


    What would happen without Resurrection Coins? The answer was self-evident.


    Given the opponent''s demeanor, he had definitely received specialized training.


    Not to mention that the effect of the anesthetic meant he could only exert part of his strength¡ª even at his peak, he was no match.


    "What to do?" Xu Yi frowned and pondered.


    With his current situation, escaping was nothing short of a fantasy.


    His gaze inadvertently caught something next to the Resurrection Coins and he paused, slightly surprised. There were two characters there.


    Because the Resurrection Coins emitted a golden glow, those two characters were also gold. If one didn''t look carefully, they''d be impossible to notice.


    They spelled "Online Store."


    What a trick! While others made their stores extremely obvious, practically filling up the whole screen, this store seemed afraid to be discovered.


    Xu Yi clicked open the store, which seemed to have six items, but in reality, there were only two.


    They were the "Newbie Gift Pack" and "Treasure Chests," with the Chests divided into five levels: "Bronze-Silver-Gold-tinum-Diamond."


    He looked at the price of the chests and clicked his tongue in disbelief.


    Purchasing chests required Resurrection Coins, and even the cheapest, the Bronze Chest, cost 10 coins, Silver cost 30, Gold 100, tinum 500... and the Diamond Chest required an insane 2000 coins.


    To think he could only get a fixed Resurrection Coin for his monthly check-in.


    If he didn''t go sign in at the "Land of Fear," it would take him over half a year just to save enough for a Bronze Treasure Chest.


    Forget the chests; Xu Yi''s eyes lit up as they fell upon the "Newbie Gift Pack."


    Below the Gift Pack was a price tagbeled "88."


    The "88" had been crossed out, reced by the solitary number "1".


    Xu Yi''s eyes burned with longing.


    This was a gift pack worth 88 Resurrection Coins, but now it only cost one Resurrection Coin to purchase.


    Even if it was a bit of a gamble, it was still a bargain.


    Xu Yi made the purchase decisively. After paying with the Resurrection Coin, the Newbie Gift Pack disappeared, clearly a one-time deal, which made him silently regretful.


    [Newbie Gift Pack Unlocked!]


    [Congrattions on obtaining "nk Entry: Psychic (Common White Rare)"]


    [Congrattions on obtaining "Full Entry: Combat Techniques (Common White)"]


    [Congrattions on obtaining "Entry Fusion Path: Psychic Painter = Psychic + Schr + Painter"]


    Xu Yi took quite some time to understand the functions of these rewards.


    "Entries" are simr to skills; "nk Entries" are like level 0, requiring a continuous effort to gain experience before you can truly master them.


    However, that''s not necessary for "Full Entries"; once equipped, they can be used directly.


    [Psychic (0/100): Spiritual Perception activated, granting the power of Psychic abilities, enabling the detection of abnormal maic fields in the surroundings.]


    [Combat Techniques (100/100): An elite specialist versed in various martial arts.]


    The "Entry Fusion Path" was also easy to understand; as long as you have the corresponding entries, you can fuse them into a higher-tier entry.


    The Psychic Painter was clearly a "Green" or maybe even a higher-tier "Blue" entry.


    Setting aside the "Fusion Path" for now, the "Psychic Entry" was not immediately useful, so Xu Yi focused on the "Combat Techniques Entry".


    If he mastered thebat techniques, could he go toe-to-toe with the Cannibal?


    He now only had two Resurrection Coins left, which meant at most two more chances.


    But if he had to use the veryst Resurrection Coin, then he would truly be risking his life; failure would mean the end of everything.


    Moreover, this world was incredibly off; he wanted to keep one Resurrection Coin as a "safety" to feel secure.


    "I must deal with the Cannibal this time I resurrect!" Xu Yi firmly resolved in his heart.


    He began to think over his next n, going over the details back and forth, until the colored sands in the hourss ran out and the Resurrection Coin automatically triggered, casting a golden glow.


    Xu Yi opened his eyes once again, this time distinctly feeling the differences.


    Every past awakening had left him feeling utterly exhausted.


    But this time was different. He clenched his fist, feeling an explosive power filling his emaciated body.


    He casually touched his abdomen. The six-pack abs he''d long coveted in his previous life were now effortlessly his.


    "This is too awesome!" Xu Yi realized he had underestimated the power of the entry.


    The transformation in his body was undoubtedly due to the "Combat Techniques Entry".


    The entry didn''t just infuse memories but also transformed the body, granting him the genuine strength of a martial arts expert.


    Xu Yi felt even more confident about his forting actions.


    As usual, he carefully rose from the iron bed, avoiding any noise, and walked over to the knife rack.


    This time, he didn''t choose a kitchen knife but picked a small, handy fruit knife, hiding it in his sleeve.


    To avoid revealing himself, he deliberately chose one obscured by the chopping board, making it less likely for someone to notice a missing fruit knife in the cluttered kitchen anytime soon.


    The conversation outside was drawing to a close, but Xu Yi didn''t opt for hiding behind the door to ambush; instead, hey back down on the iron bed.


    He had thought it through; standing at the doorway, one couldn''t see the iron bed directly, but through the reflections in the wall tiles and the metal kitchen utensils, it was very likely one could see the situation on the iron bed.


    The reason for his exposure thest time was probably this.


    The iron bed was cold, and Xu Yiy in wait, holding his breath.


    Thanks to the enhancement from thebat techniques, he had significantly increased control over his body, and his racing heart gradually calmed down.

 Chapter 03 Lao Liu and the Bloody Brawl

    The footsteps were getting closer, and Xu Yi kept his eyes closed, unmoving.


    The Cannibal did not notice anything unusual this time and hummed a tune as he walked into the kitchen. First, he washed his hands by the sink, then he put on rubber gloves and picked a dissecting scalpel, sauntering over to Xu Yi''s side.


    Xu Yi''s heartbeat began to race. In this life-threatening moment, it would be a lie to say he wasn''t nervous.


    But the more nervous he became, the calmer he got. He tightly controlled his body, revealing not a single w.


    He was born like this, the bigger the stage, the calmer he became.


    Thanks to this trait, he was able to perform exceptionally well during his college entrance exam and frequently turned danger into safety at the Asura Field against butcher knives.


    The Cannibal, holding the dissecting scalpel, gestured over Xu Yi''s chest.


    Xu Yi forced himself not to move because he knew this wasn''t the best moment, and the other party wouldn''t act immediately.


    As if recalling something, the Cannibal turned and switched on the phonograph behind him, and soothing music filled the kitchen.


    Dissecting food was an art. How could there be no music at such wonderful moments?


    Xu Yi had observed the other party. It seemed he had some kind ofpulsion¡ªbefore dismembering him, he had to turn on the phonograph.


    He had repeatedly recalled the details and calcted everything into ount.


    As the music began, Xu Yi suddenly opened his eyes, filled with a fierce killing intent.


    At that moment, the Cannibal was adjusting the phonograph, with his back to him. Undoubtedly, this was the best opportunity. He had rehearsed it in his mind countless times; there was no need for any hesitation.


    He burst forth abruptly, and the iron bed made a noise. The Cannibal, hearing the disturbance behind him, jumped in fright.


    But he didn''t turn around, as that would waste precious time to dodge. He lunged to the side.


    If Xu Yi had not acquired the "Combat Techniques" Entries, he might have been evaded by the other party.


    But the "Combat techniques Entries" included knowledge of predicting movements, and with a shake of the opponent''s shoulder, Xu Yi had already anticipated his next move.


    The de, glinting coldly, plunged into the Cannibal''s back, and blood flowed freely.


    With a scream, the Cannibal pulled away, and Xu Yi quietly cursed at the missed opportunity.


    His original target had been the Cannibal''s heart, hoping for a one-hit kill, but the Cannibal, true to his name, had a strong mental fortitude. While dodging, he bent over and lowered his head, avoiding the vital spot.


    After a moment of panic, the Cannibal quickly regainedposure, his abnormal worldview granting him unimaginable adaptability.


    Though a fruit knife had pierced his back, luckily, it had not hit any vital organs.


    Being a doctor, he knew the human body all too well.


    "He is just an ordinary high school student living in Chinatown. Even if I am injured, I can deal with him," the Cannibal thought.


    With a sh of murderous intent in his eyes, he lunged for the knife rack, aiming for the cleaver on the chopping board.


    Xu Yi, keeping his eye on the opponent, would not let him get his way. Like a fierce tiger, he tackled the Cannibal to the ground, his hands wrapping around the other''s neck, trying to form a guillotine choke.


    A look of shock shed in the Cannibal''s eyes. He had also practiced the guillotine chokehold, so he recognized something wrong the moment Xu Yi moved.


    Xu Yi''s posture was too standard, his movements too sharp... How could this be just an ordinary high school student? Even a seasonedbat expert would have difficulty achieving such a level!


    Why had it been so easy to capture him? He just couldn''t understand.


    While the Cannibal was questioning his life, Xu Yi was secretly delighted because the guillotine choke was about to beplete.


    Once the guillotine choke was in ce, ordinary people couldn''t break free and would simply be strangled unconscious.


    But suddenly, Xu Yi grunted in pain ¨C the Cannibal had bitten into his arm. His teeth were sharp, not human-like but more simr to some ferocious beast.


    Combat techniques have their ws; they focus more onmon people, whereas monsters like the Cannibal with their special habits clearly don''t fall into that category.


    Xu Yi didn''t understand why the Cannibal''s bite force was so terrifying. Amon person could at most tear off a piece of flesh, but the ferocious look on the Cannibal''s face suggested it wanted to bite through his tendons directly.


    He had no choice but to abandon the guillotine move and struck the Cannibal''s jaw with a hefty blow, fracturing its mandible.


    His other hand wasn''t idle either, reaching for the fruit knife stuck in the Cannibal''s back.


    As long as he got hold of a sharp weapon, he would have a significant advantage.


    Obviously, the Cannibal had taken this into ount and gave up on the idea of biting through Xu Yi''s tendons. With a sudden judo throw, it flung Xu Yi away.


    Xu Yi''s back mmed against the stove, his body arching like a shrimp from the pain, but the robust physique granted bybat techniques allowed him to bear the pain and flip up to stand.


    Meanwhile, the Cannibal''s hand reached the fruit knife on its back, yanked it out forcefully, and blood sprayed everywhere.


    Xu Yi sensed trouble and hastily grabbed a nearby iron pot, hurling it with all his might.


    The iron pot traced an arc through the air. The blow wasparable to a Meteor Hammer; the Cannibal, caught off guard, could only block with its arm. The fruit knife was knocked away, and its little finger fractured as a result.


    Xu Yi gave no breathing space to his adversary and lunged straight at him.


    The two grappled with each other, both masters ofbat techniques, but no ring could host such a duel¡ªbrutal and bloody to the extreme, each aiming for the other''s weak points with every strike.


    Xu Yi hammered at the Cannibal''s head, and the Cannibal, not to be outdone, elbowed his heart.


    They grabbed whatever kitchen tools were at hand; a pressure cooker became a hammer, and an iron te became a shield.


    Above all, knives were of paramount importance to seize, as everyone knew that having one in hand would grant a significant advantage.


    Both were covered in wounds; Xu Yi''s forehead was split open, his face smeared with blood, while blood kept oozing from the back of the Cannibal, its white shirt stained crimson.


    Overall, Xu Yi was gaining the upper hand.


    This advantage stemmed entirely from his earlier sneak attack; the Cannibal was losing blood continuously. Xu Yi could feel the creature bing sluggish, a consequence of excessive blood loss.


    A gleaming Boning Knife dropped to the ground, and both turned their focus on it, with Xu Yi pouncing toward it fiercely.


    But his expression suddenly changed because, instead of going for the Boning Knife, the Cannibal retreated towards a cab at its back.


    Anomalies often indicate something ominous, and Xu Yi wasn''t naive enough to think that the Cannibal had gotten cold feet and was trying to escape.


    The Cannibal rushed to the cab, yanked the door open, and reached inside, pulling out a dark object.


    Xu Yi''s pupils constricted and goosebumps rose on his skin because he suddenly saw that it was a handgun.


    No wonder the Cannibal had deliberately moved closer to the cab during the fight, no wonder it had abandoned the Boning Knife ¡ª there was a gun hidden inside the cab!


    In an instant, Xu Yi understood many things.


    The handgun was aimed at Xu Yi, but there wasn''t much panic in his heart.


    This might have been thanks to his talent for "remaining calm in the face of grand events."


    Or maybe it was the confidence from the "Resurrection Coin"; after all, he still had one Resurrection Coin left. He already knew the Cannibal had a gun in the cab, and if he got another chance, there was a high probability he could defeat his adversary.


    With that thought, thest shred of fear vanished from his mind, leaving him with clear-headedness.


    His attention was more focused than ever before, intently watching the Cannibal''s gun-wielding hand.


    He certainly couldn''t outrun a bullet, but he could predict the trajectory of the bullet based on his opponent''s movement.


    The Cannibal''s mouth twisted into a mocking smile as the gun fired and the bullet shot out. At the same time, Xu Yi moved too, holding the Boning Knife and lunging forward like an arrow released from its bow.

 Chapter 04 This Strange World

    ```


    Some have said that beyond seven steps, the gun is faster; within seven steps, the fist is faster.


    But Xu Yi only wanted to say, whether it''s a gun or a fist, they''re equally fast.


    He ultimately didn''t dodge the bullet, and it pierced through his left chest, but he also closed in on the Cannibal.


    The gleaming boning knife grewrger in his vision, and terror filled the Cannibal''s eyes. He tried to fire a second shot, but it was already toote.


    The boning knife plunged into the Cannibal''s chest. Xu Yi had aimed for his heart, but the man twisted his body to dodge.


    But it didn''t matter. Once Xu Yi got close, the oue was sealed. He pulled out the boning knife and aimed for the man''s spleen, then plunged the knife in again.


    The sharp pain, coupled with organ damage, elicited a near-death scream from the Cannibal, as his hand holding the gun slowly loosened.


    Xu Yi snatched the handgun and aimed it at the Cannibal''s head, firing shot after shot. In just a few seconds, he emptied the magazine, and the terror on the Cannibal''s face froze as he died a definitive death.


    The ground was stained red with blood, and Xu Yi staggered, feeling an intense wave of dizziness.


    During the desperate fight, the rapid secretion of dopamine had numbed his pain, but now that he was safe and his guard was down, the pain and weakness swept over him like a tidal wave, overwhelming him in an instant.


    Before slipping into unconsciousness, he faintly heard the system''s notification.


    [You have killed "The Source of Fear: Cannibal Hannibal''s Impersonator," and Entry Devouring is now activated!]


    [You have obtained a nk Entry: "Schr (Common White)."]


    [You have obtained a nk Entry: "Psychology (Common White)."]


    [You have obtained a nk Entry: "Painter (Common White)."]


    [You have acquired the entry synthesis path: "Hypnotism = Psychology + Schr."]


    Xu Yi fell into an endless darkness, but then he abruptly stopped. Why hadn''t he returned to the Resurrection Space?


    ...


    Xu Yi opened his eyes, and a white ceiling greeted him, with the faint smell of disinfectant lingering in the air. Doctors and nurses moved back and forth outside the corridor.


    "I actually didn''t die!"


    Xu Yi looked at his body, wrapped in bandages, and quickly understood what had happened.


    The bullet must not have hit a vital spot, or else he would be in the Resurrection Space, not the hospital.


    As for why he was in the hospital, he figured the sound of gunfire must have alerted the nearby residents, who called the police, and they had brought him here.


    Xu Yi was secretly relieved. If he had to do it over, he was fairly confident he could take down the Cannibal again.


    But there are always uncertainties, and if something had gone wrong and the Cannibal had gotten the better of him, he really would have been out of luck.


    Now the situation was good. Despite being seriously injured and hospitalized, at least he had taken care of the Cannibal and still had a Resurrection Coin, giving him more confidence when facing danger.


    The door was gently knocked on, and two police officers stepped into the hospital room. Xu Yi let out a sigh of relief.


    By the looks of the two officers, they weren''t here to interrogate him, which was good to know given he was Asian in this so-called "free and equal" country, where the treatment isn''t always that favorable.


    He didn''t want to be charged with "forcibly breaking into a residence and murdering the homeowner."


    "Mr. Yi, we''d like to ask you a few questions. Rx, it''s just a simple inquiry," said one officer amiably.


    They had no choice but to be amiable. The recent Cannibal case had caused them nothing but headaches, and without Xu Yi, they would probably still be working overtime on the investigation.


    Nobody likes working overtime, not even the police.


    "Ask away," Xu Yi replied, willing to cooperate.


    Momentster, the two officers left satisfied, and Xu Yi was also pleased. His "assistance" in solving the case for the police had earned him a reward of twenty thousand dors.


    At this time, twenty thousand dors was no small sum; luxurious cars cost only two to three hundred thousand.


    The reason the reward was so high was that one of the victims was the son of a well-known New York tycoon, which is why the police were under such great pressure.


    From the officers, he learned the identity of the killer.


    ```


    Named Anthony, he was a university professor, a double doctorate in medical Psychology, and also a modestly famous painter.


    Xu Yi simply couldn''t understand why such a winner in life would worship Hannibal and be a Cannibal?


    As for the real "Cannibal Hannibal," even if he were still alive, he would now be over 130 years old, long dead of old age.


    The Cannibal''s identity was confirmed so smoothly because the police had found a recently missing person in Anthony''s home.


    That person was hidden in a freezer in the basement and had already been gutted, with the heart and other organs properly preserved. It seemed the Cannibal realized the recent danger and decided to stock up on some "food" before going into hiding for a while.


    Unfortunately, he encountered Xu Yi.


    "It seems I heard the system''s voice before I fell unconscious?" Thinking of this, he quickly opened the system panel.


    [Owned Entries: Combat Techniques (100/100), Psychic (0/100), Schr (0/100), Painter (0/100), Psychology (0/100).]


    [Owned Synthesis Path: Schr+Psychology=Hypnotism.]


    [Owned Synthesis Path: Schr+Painter+Psychic=Psychic Painter.]


    The three newly obtained entries, "Schr," "Painter," and "Psychology," were all acquired after defeating the Cannibal.


    Only then did Xu Yi understand that besides opening treasure chests, there was another method to obtain entries: "eradicate the source of fear" to trigger Entry Devouring.


    The newly acquired three entries were clearly not random.


    "Schr," "Psychology," "Painter," these were obviously Anthony''s abilities.


    If he were to eliminate a vampire, who was a source of fear, could he possibly obtain entries such as "Undead"? He was a bit curious.


    Xu Yi soon discovered a new problem.


    The two avable synthesis paths both required the "Schr" entry, so did this mean he could only choose one?


    Xu Yi felt a bit regretful; if he had to choose, he would definitely pick Psychic Painter, as it was clearly some kind of super-powered entry.


    But he didn''t want to give up "Hypnotism" either, since, after all, hypnotism was a very useful ability in many films and television shows, and not to be misunderstood, he wasn''t referring to those Japanese films and TV shows.


    [After an entry is synthesized, its original Ability will not disappear. If other paths require that entry, a nk Entry can be regenerated. After it reaches full value, it can be used for synthesis again.]


    The system provided an exnation, and Xu Yi''s eyes lit up.


    After all, only children make choices; naturally, he wanted them all!


    There was a stack of newspapers on the bedside table, provided by the hospital to entertain patients, as technology in this world was far less advanced than inter times, and there were no smartphones for entertainment.


    Xu Yi picked up the newspaper and began to read carefully, as newspapers were an important way to understand this world.


    "The Warrens head to Ocean Avenue for an exorcism, with a crowd of fans gathering at the scene!"


    "A major fire breaks out in Silent Hill!"


    "Werewolf sightings in the outskirts of London, local police have been dispatched."


    "Haijin Company is recruiting Exorcists, with generouspensation."


    ...


    The more Xu Yi read, the more startled he became, and atst,bining the memories he had inherited, he helplessly confirmed one thing.


    This was a world filled with terrifying elements, but it was also very different from the one he remembered.


    The Warrens were a household name and were not doubted by the public; this world''s eptance of Exorcists was very high, and famous Exorcists were on a par with celebrities.


    Even the official recruitment of Exorcists, with full benefits, made Xu Yi very tempted.


    Xu Yi stared at the Entry Panel, ultimately fixing his gaze on the "Psychic" entry.


    Without a doubt, this world was inhabited by strange things like ghosts and Demons. If he didn''t want to die in obscurity, "Psychic" abilities were a must-have.


    The next primary goal was to unlock the "Psychic" entry and then figure out a way to synthesize "Psychic Painter!" Xu Yi quickly formted a n.

 Chapter 05 My Childhood Friend, the French Goddess

    The bright sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the hospital room, Xu Yi stood by the bed, looking at the word panel, and let out a long sigh, "This is really tough!"


    He had been in the hospital for five days, and while his other injuries were manageable, the gunshot wound was not something that could heal overnight.


    Fortunately, his physique had greatly strengthened thanks to the "Combat Techniques" entry, allowing him to get out of bed and move around after three days.


    The acquisition of the "Psychic" entry was not going smoothly.


    Ever since he was able to move, he had started wandering around the hospital, and the ce he visited the most was the morgue.


    Normally, the morgue was not open to the public, but with the help of his "Cash" ability, he had no trouble getting in.


    Unfortunately, the results were not good, as to gain experience for the Psychic entry, he needed toe into contact with "supernatural" elements. The stronger the supernatural source, the faster the entry would level up.


    A corpse did not equate to supernatural, and he gained no experience in the morgue, whereas he did gain some from a patient.


    The current progress was: Psychic (3/100).


    "The journey is long and arduous!" Xu Yi realized that it was not possible to max out the Psychic entry in the short term.


    Compared to the Psychic entry, the situation with the Schr entry was quite different.


    Stranded in the hospital and bored out of his mind, he began reading newspapers and magazines extensively to understand this world.


    After he finished, his father brought him school books, saying that even if he was sick, he couldn''t fall behind in his studies¡ªthis truly reflected the traditional virtues of Huaxia.


    Idle, he was idle, and since "Schr" was a prerequisite entry for "Hypnotism" and "Psychic Painter", he began to rapidly umte experience for "Schr".


    In just five days, the content of the entry had be: Schr (23/100).


    Compared to the leisurely pace of the Psychic entry, the Schr entry was like riding a rocket!


    Of course, this was also thanks to his predecessor''s status as a top student, with strong abilities in reading andprehension.


    "This nk Entry is truly domineering!" Xu Yi savored his own transformations and eximed.


    Entries weren''t simply about providing a progress bar; they were more like a "cheat". If the entry was "Schr", then it was a "learning cheat".


    Ignoring talent, ignoring shackles... as long as you amass the experience, corresponding knowledge and insights will emerge in your mind.


    Each point of experience gained was a minor "Sudden Insight".


    With a hundred points of experience on the progress bar, it meant that he could undergo a hundred Sudden Insights. What skill could withstand a hundred such epiphanies?


    If the entry involved the body, it would also transform the body, making the power of the entries iparable.


    Xu Yi went back to the bedside and picked up the "brick" from his pillow.


    It was a book titled "Introduction to Psychology," which covered all the foundational knowledge of psychology, spanning over three thousand pages and incredibly thick¡ªit could double as a weapon.


    Of course, this was to progress through the Psychology entry, which now stood at 3/100.


    He also discovered an issue, that when he studied psychology knowledge, the Schr entry also gained experience.


    This was like Emperor Qin Shi Huang touching an electric wire¡ªoverwhelmingly lucky, double the experience, double the satisfaction.


    "Xu Yi, time to eat. Today it''s your favorite twice-cooked pork!"


    As the voice rang out, a burly man with slightly dark skin swiftly entered the room, carrying two insted containers as if they were weapons.


    The man was Xu Yi''s father, Xu Changrong, a chef who ran a small restaurant in Chinatown.


    Xu Yi looked at his robust father, with a frame that could shoulder a horse, who seemed not like a chef but more like a fighter in a ring.


    Chinatown was very chaotic, but perhaps it was thanks to his well-built body that Xu Yi managed to pull through without too much trouble.


    "Dad, the prize money from the police station has been deposited into my ount, here you go!" Xu Yi pulled out a bank card from his pocket.


    He was genuinely surprised that the police station issued the prize money so quickly. He had thought it would take several months at least, and that was if they even paid the full amount without deductions¡ªit was like a mythe true.


    Xu Changrong waved his hand dismissively, "Money that my son risked his life for, how could I take it? Keep it for yourself and spend it!"


    Xu Yi looked at Xu Changrong with astonishment. Their small restaurant in Chinatown, with an area of less than thirty square meters, mostly catered to regrs from the neighborhood and had to pay protection fees to the triads every month, leaving hardly any money to spare.


    Twenty thousand dors was an enormous sum for their family.


    Yet Xu Changrong didn''t hesitate at all to let him spend it, unaware that his son was a transmigrator. On the surface, Xu Yi was just a high school student, one year shy of being an adult.


    "Big-hearted!" Xu Yi raised his thumb in approval.


    This old man was easy to get along with!


    The aroma of the meal filled the hospital room. Xu Yi voraciously devoured the food, befitting of someone raised in a restaurant. The Sichuan cuisine was particrly authentic, attracting even the visiting nurse, who said she would drop by the father''s restaurant when she had the time.


    "By the way, your little girlfriend is going to visit youter," Xu Changrong hinted to Xu Yi with a wink.


    Little girlfriend? Xu Yi was taken aback. ording to the memories he inherited, he didn''t have a girlfriend.


    Seeing Xu Changrong winking and gesturing, he suddenly understood that this so-called "little girlfriend" was not quite as it seemed.


    "Xu Yi! I finally found you!" A girl suddenly peeked into the hospital room.


    The girl had neat short hair and rare pale green eyes, as clear as gemstones. Her face was distinctive; although she was Western, she also carried an Eastern aura.


    She wore a pale blue shirt and ck trousers. Simple clothes that, on her, seemed exceptionally youthful and vibrant.


    "French Rose!" Xu Yi eximed.


    "What rose? No French Roses, but there are some Ondo Apples, do you want some?" The girl pursed her lips, carrying a basket of apples into the room.


    Xu Yi had seen this person before, not from the memories he inherited, but from those of his previous life.


    He had been struck by her beauty when he saw her video online, especially since the French Rose in front of him was about the same age as when he first saw her at fourteen or fifteen.


    From his memories, he found information rted to her.


    Lisa, her family owned a grocery store in Chinatown, right next to his family''s restaurant, separated only by a wall.


    When she was younger, Lisa spent more time at his ce than at her own house.


    Because Lisa''s family favored sons over daughters, she wasn''t treated well at home, but Xu Changrong was very kind to her, often cooking delicious food for her, so naturally, she was even less willing to go home.


    One could say that Lisa and Xu Yi grew up together, always by each other''s side to and from school.


    What kind of development was this? I was childhood friends with the French Goddess?


    The original Xu Yi apparently only saw Lisa as a sister. Xu Yi shook his head vigorously. Some wood cannot be carved!


    Lisa set the apples on the bedside table and nced at the thick stack of books with a wistful look, "Xu Yi, you''ve been secretly studying! When can you tutor me?"


    The original body was a top student who often tutored Lisa, but Xu Yi only inherited part of those memories, with much of the knowledge missing. Tutoring her under these circumstances would surely give him away.


    "I''m injured right now, next time for sure! Next time for sure!"


    To avoid damaging his perfect image in Lisa''s eyes, Xu Yi could only resort to promising next time.


    Once he acquired the "Schr" nk Entries, he would be back on top as a peak student.

 Chapter 06 My Sister is Going to be Angry

    The morning sunlight was just right as Xu Yi pushed open the ss door of the barbershop, and suddenly, the system transmitted a prompt.


    [Psychic Entries Experience +1, current progress: 4/100.]


    He was slightly stunned; the Psychic Entry had been quiet for a long time, and he hadn''t expected an unexpected gain from getting a haircut today.


    After lying in the hospital for more than half a month, he felt mushrooms could be growing on his head, until he finally got the promise from the doctor to "recover at home," and he moved his luggage back to his Chinatown home.


    The original body''s hair was long and, after more than half a month, it nearly covered his eyes. A haircut was unavoidable.


    Inside the barbershop, there were only three people, the barber and his female assistant, and apart from them, only one customer.


    The customer was a burly middle-aged man whose hairline had reached a point of no salvation, and he seemed very much like a sessful individual.


    Xu Yi stood behind the man, feeling a faint chill.


    The sensation was very weak, almost imperceptible unless one paid close attention.


    Although he had only gained a few points of experience for the Psychic Entry, it was already taking effect; at the very least, he could identify the source of the experience.


    Xu Yi''s turn hadn''te yet, but the situation happened to suit his preference.


    He began to chat with the middle-aged man, asionally cracking a few jokes; they had a back-and-forth conversation.


    If Lisa were here, seeing Xu Yi so lively and eloquent, she would be so astonished she''d be at a loss for words because the original body was quite the introvert, especially around strangers, hardly able to utter a word.


    In the course of their conversation, Xu Yi learned that the man was named Ailent and that he was a real estate agent.


    "I recently got a property, and I thought by lowering the rent I''d be able to lease it out easily, but instead, it''s just sitting there!" Ailent, finding someone to confide in, poured out his frustrations.


    "Is there a problem with the house?" Xu Yi asked, intrigued.


    The fact that the other party could "burst" experience points meant that it was very possible he''de into contact with the "supernatural."


    If he could find a Psychic ce, he could level up the Psychic Entries faster.


    Ever since he realized something was off with this world, Xu Yi had a sense of urgency.


    "The ce is near a graveyard, and it''s already so remote..." Ailent looked at Xu Yi''s youthful face, hesitated, and finally let out a sigh, "In short, it''s very difficult to lease out!"


    Xu Yi didn''t pry further but asked for a business card because his injuries hadn''t fully healed yet.


    Even though he had the fighting Entries and his physical fitness had greatly improved, gunshot wounds couldn''t heal in a brief moment.


    If he could obtain Entries like "Undead" or "elerated Healing," things would be different, but he was well aware that such Entries were not to be found on demand.


    He nned to explore the "new map" once he recovered; it would be much safer that way.


    Ailent left, and Xu Yi took a seat on the barber''s stool.


    "Sir, what kind of haircut would you like?" Teacher Tony started to seek Xu Yi''s opinion.


    "A side part, thin out the hair, um..."


    Xu Yi was about to say something fashionable, but he reconsidered, as Teacher Tony''s idea of fashionable from this era might be "a billion" times different from what he imagined.


    The skills of Teacher Tony in front of him were indeed not bad; he lived up to Xu Yi''s effort ofing all the way from Chinatown.


    Chinatown naturally had barbershops, but they only knew two hairstyles: "crew cut" and "bowl cut."


    But what he couldn''t understand was why, when the same barber cut his and Lisa''s hair into bowl cuts, he looked utterly foolish, whereas Lisa managed to look fresh and pretty?


    As the hairstyle gradually took shape, Xu Yi, looking at himself in the mirror, eyes shined.


    Although he had long known that the original body was quite good, he was surprised that a change of hairstyle could bring about such a transformation.


    He felt if he ever had a tough time making a living, he could totally rely on his face to get by.


    "Sir, may I take a photo of you to disy in our shop? You don''t have to pay for this haircut!" the barber expressed his astonishment as well.


    This wasn''t the first time he''d cut hair in this style, but the effect had never been so stunning.


    "Thanks, but no!" Xu Yi tly refused.


    What a joke, how much does a haircut cost? And they want to secure this handsome guy''s advertising rights just for that?


    "Handsome, can I have your contact information?"


    Tony the teacher struck out, but his female assistant stood up.


    The female assistant was average in looks, but she had the advantage of youth and a good figure; too bad Xu Yi was aiming for the higher end of the spectrum.


    "I''m sorry, but doing that would make my sister angry!" After paying for his haircut, Xu Yi turned and left the barbershop.


    The assistant looked puzzled. What did leaving contact information have to do with a sister?


    ......


    "Lisa dear, good morning!"


    With a fried dough stick in one hand and soy milk in the other, Xu Yi greeted Lisa at the front door of his home.


    It was only because his dad was a chef that he could enjoy the "soy milk and fried dough stick"bo in this foreignnd; otherwise, it would not have been an easy feat.


    Today was Xu Yi''s first day going back to school after being discharged from the hospital with his injuries healed.


    Even though he had a system, he still had to attend school. You see, he was Asian, and in this nd of democracy and freedom," a high-level diploma could provide a lot of conveniences.


    There were thousands of exorcists, but why did the Warrens have so many fans? It surely had something to do with their status as professors at Connecticut College; they were highly educated, no doubt.


    "I''m not your sister at all!"


    Lisa grumbled, her lips pouting. She had just woken up and was still half asleep. She must have washed her face in a hurry, wetting her bangs, which now clung softly to her forehead.


    "Right! Right!" Xu Yi didn''t argue. Lisa probably didn''t know that there was another kind of sister.


    Lisa yawned heavily, rubbed her eyes, turned her head to look at Xu Yi, and then froze. "You..."


    "No way? Just because I changed my hairstyle, you can''t recognize me?" Xu Yi took a big bite of the fried dough stick.


    Lisa was speechless. They had grown up together, but she had never seen Xu Yi like this.


    Before, Xu Yi always had a bowl-cut hairstyle, wore thick ck-framed sses, had a slight hunchback, and was silent and reticent, not prone to talking much.


    But the Xu Yi before her now had taken off his sses, gotten a new hairstyle, straightened his back, and seemed full of vigor and vitality.


    Lisa simply couldn''t understand how the same face could look so different with a change of style!


    "Why is your hair like this?" Xu Yi reached out to help Lisa lift the hair sticking to her forehead.


    His warm fingers brushed Lisa''s forehead, and her body jolted as if electrified, all numb, and her face turn red in an instant.


    "Hurry up! We''ll bete if we don''t get going." Xu Yi withdrew his hand, knowing when to stop, as if he hadn''t noticed Lisa''s reaction.


    After staring nkly for a long time, Lisa finally came back to her senses. She watched Xu Yi''s retreating figure, "Ever since he came out of the hospital, this guy has been acting so strange."


    She subconsciously touched her forehead and her face started turning red again.

 Chapter 07 Cowardly with a Thiefs Heart

    The first light of dawn had just started to brighten the sky, and there were very few pedestrians on the street as Xu Yi and Lisa stood in front of the bus stop sign waiting for the school bus.


    They attended Saint Anna High School, an aristocratic school that provided a bus service for the students every day.


    Given Xu Yi and Lisa''s family circumstances, they naturally had nothing to do with the word "aristocrat," and their admission into Saint Anna High School was based on their academic achievements.


    As an aristocratic school, it also needed academically excellent students to maintain its reputation, otherwise, with only those "aristocratic kids," Saint Anna High School would have long be a joke.


    Studying at Saint Anna, they not only did not have to pay tuition fees, but they also received schrships every year.


    The school bus had not yet arrived, and Xu Yi took out a notebook and began to sketch and doodle with a pencil.


    "What are you doing?" Lisa turned her head and asked, puzzled.


    "Artistic creation," Xu Yi replied without looking up.


    Lisa tiptoed to sneak a peek and was dumbfounded. "This is artistic creation?"


    "Malevich, you know?" Xu Yi asked.


    Lisa shook her head.


    "A famous abstract painter, we''re on the same path," he exined.


    Lisa looked at the crooked stick figures on the sketchbook and rolled her eyes. "My three-year-old brother must have studied at the same school as you guys, right?"


    Xu Yi snapped the notebook shut with a p. Of course, it was not because he couldn''t continue painting due to Lisa''s teasing, but because the system''s voice had once again spoken.


    "Painter Entry Experience +1, Current Progress: 2/100."


    With the gain of experience, he naturally acquired some knowledge about painting in his mind, and he felt his hands bing more dexterous.


    If he were to draw again now, he would at least be at the level of simple sketching.


    This was the domineering aspect of the Entry: there was no need for apprenticeship or fear of reaching a bottleneck.


    As long as he persisted in drawing and filled up the progress bar, he could be a qualified painter.


    The priority, of course, was toplete the Psychic Entry, but it was also time to prepare the "Schr" and "Painter" Entries in advance.


    "Psychic Painter" sounded like some kind of supernatural profession, and Xu Yi was very curious about how powerful such a high-level Entry could be.


    The blue and white school bus slowly approached from a distance and stopped in front of the bus stop. The door opened automatically.


    Xu Yi was the first to head towards the school bus. The moment he stepped onto the stairs, his footsteps suddenly halted, and he looked up towards the end of the bus.


    "Sorry, I just remembered there''s something very important I left at home," Xu Yi apologized to the driver and then stepped off the school bus.


    Xu Yi grabbed Lisa, who was about to board. "You''reing with me!"


    "What did you forget?" Lisa asked curiously.


    "I forgot to bring a fountain pen, but I suddenly remembered there''s a spare one at school," Xu Yi said offhandedly.


    "You''re acting so weird today!" Lisa muttered under her breath.


    Xu Yi had his reasons for what he did. The moment he set foot on the school bus, the system sent him another notification.


    [Psychic Entry Experience +6, Current Progress: 10/100.]


    He gained 6 points of experience in one go, which was more than all the previous gainsbined, indicating there must be a "supernatural object" on the bus.


    If it had been just him, it would have been fine, but with Lisa by his side, he hesitated for a moment and then chose to abstain.


    A chill suddenly surged into his pupils, like icy water dropping into his eyes, and Xu Yi blinked several times.


    After the Psychic Entry reached one-tenth of the threshold, his eyes began to change.


    He looked towards the school bus to see a girl sitting by the window at the back. Her golden-brown hair cascaded over her shoulders; she had delicate features and fair skin.


    Information about the girl automatically surfaced in Xu Yi''s mind.


    Maria, his ssmate, came from a family that owned a cosmetic surgery hospital. She was a loner who liked to eat strawberry ice cream and chocte tarts.


    The girl was aplete rich beauty, but in Xu Yi''s view, a faint ck shadow crouched behind her, barely visible.


    Xu Yi could not clearly discern the appearance of the shadow, as the Psychic Entry had only been developed by a tenth and his ability was insufficient.


    "Why does he know so much about Maria''s information, even what she likes to eat?" Xu Yi suddenly paused in thought.


    Various images began to emerge in his mind, "he" stealing nces at Maria in the hallway, "he" eavesdropping on Maria and her best friend talking on the yground, "he" writing a love letter then burning it...


    "Damn it! All bark and no bite!" Xu Yi cursed internally.


    Although he had disdain for the original''s actions, he had to admit that the original had good taste, Maria was definitely goddess-level.


    On the school bus, Maria gazed out the window in a daze, while her best friend Lily was visibly excited.


    "Maria, that handsome guy was looking at you earlier! He''s wearing our school''s uniform, but I''ve never seen him before, is he a new transfer student?"


    "I don''t know his name, it would be great if he''s in our ss!"


    Lily noticing Maria hadn''t replied, frowned slightly, "Maria, what''s up with you today?"


    Maria finally snapped back to reality, apologizing repeatedly, "Sorry, I didn''t sleep wellst night."


    In fact, it wasn''t justst night, she hadn''t been resting well for quite a while.


    At night, she always felt like something in the mirror was spying on her, initially, she thought it was an illusion, but as time passed, this feeling became more and more real.


    ......


    Saint Anna High School.


    Under the grand white arch, Lisa and Xu Yi waved goodbye to each other.


    Xu Yi was a junior, and Lisa was a year below him, their ssrooms were not in the same location.


    Walking along, Xu Yi suddenly felt a chill approaching from behind, and he swiftly turned around.


    "ssmate! We just wanted to say hello..." Lily''s extended hand halted mid-air, startled by Xu Yi''s overreaction.


    Xu Yi, realizing it was Maria and her best friend, rxed his tense body and smiled to ease the awkwardness, "Good morning!"


    "Good morning, ssmate, are you the new transfer student?" Lily quickly brushed off the previous incident and asked eagerly.


    Xu Yi said self-deprecatingly, "Am I really that invisible in ss? Almost a year as ssmates and you still don''t recognize me?"


    Lily stared with wide eyes at Xu Yi''s face, then suddenly eximed, "You''re Xu Yi, the Asian nerd!"


    After speaking, Lily realized she had misspoken and quickly covered her mouth, "Sorry, I didn''t mean that, it''s just... you''ve changed so much!"


    Xu Yi simply smiled and said nothing, he was well aware that if it weren''t for his face, she would never have apologized; Lily was not one to be trifled with.


    "You look a bit pale, are you feeling okay?" Xu Yi suddenly turned his head, looking at Maria to the side.


    Maria was taken aback, not expecting Xu Yi to suddenly talk to her. Although they were in the same ss, they had hardly spoken throughout the year.


    Her heart warmed a little because even her best friend hadn''t shown her much concern.


    "I''m fine." Maria shook her head.


    Xu Yi nodded and did not press further.


    Being too inquisitive was a big taboo in casual rtionships, it was best to stop at the right moment.


    He was a bit puzzled. With Maria''s looks, if she were in the future, she would definitely be a campus goddess, surrounded by droves of eager suitors.


    But why did the present Maria seem so self-effacing and reclusive?


    "Maria, have you forgotten what I told you?" a sinister male voice suddenly came from the side.


    The instant the voice sounded, Maria''s body trembled slightly, and herplexion turned pale.


    Before she could speak, her backpack was yanked violently, causing her to lose bnce and fall to the ground.


    Xu Yi looked behind Maria and saw a stocky boy standing there, a mocking smile hanging on his lips.

 Chapter 08 Cannibal Cosplay

    Xu Yi stared at the boy, his brows deeply furrowed.


    He knew the other party, Martin, the undisputed bully of St. Anna School and the captain of the football team, strong and robust.


    Of course, the most important thing was that the other''s mother was the vice principal of the school.


    Maria sat on the ground, her head lowered, not speaking.


    The people around were angry but didn''t dare to speak up, let alone step forward to help, including Maria''s stic best friend Lily.


    Could it be that her inferiorityplex was caused by long-term bullying?


    Xu Yi pondered, unaware of what Maria''s family situation was like. Logically speaking, with her family''s financial conditions being good, it would not have been possible for her to be bullied to this extent if she had told her family.


    "What are you looking at, Mud loach!" Martin red at Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi was angered yet amused; he hadn''t even started to settle ounts with the other party, and now he had activelye looking for trouble.


    It wasn''t just Maria who was bullied¡ªXu Yi, being Asian and having a reclusive personality, fully met the criteria for being bullied.


    Images of being bullied shed in his mind, and the more Xu Yi recalled them, the uglier his expression became.


    "Can I" actually be bullied by this sort of trash?


    But he didn''t erupt on the spot; instead, he walked over to Maria.


    "Are you okay!" Xu Yi squatted down, ready to help her up.


    His hand touched Maria''s arm, the skin soft yet carrying an indescribable coldness.


    At the same time, the system notification sounded once again.


    [Psychic entry experience +1, current progress: 11/100.]


    Getting experience from touching someone? This system couldn''t be encouraging more intimate contact, could it! Xu Yi cleverly shifted the me onto the system.


    "Thank you!" Maria looked at Xu Yi gratefully, not expecting anyone to be willing to help her.


    "You..." Martin was burning with rage, ready to step forward and teach Xu Yi a lesson, when suddenly someone in the crowd whispered, "The teacher''sing!"


    Martin had to stop, giving Xu Yi a hateful look, "You just wait!"


    "Sure!" Xu Yi nodded with a smile.


    Martin felt like his lungs were about to explode with anger. After taking several deep breaths, he managed to suppress his anger, gave Xu Yi a deep look, and quickly walked away.


    The bell for ss rang, and everyone rushed to their ssrooms, leaving a circle of empty seats around Xu Yi¡ªexcept for Maria, no one came to sit down.


    He was obviously isted, and it seemed that offending Martin had already spread.


    If it had been amon high school student, they might have been quite anxious, but for someone like Xu Yi, an older man, it didn''t affect him in the slightest.


    With no one bothering him, he found himself in peace, free to grind for his experience.


    [Schr entry experience +1, current progress: 40/100.]


    The progress for the Schr entry was the fastest; presumably, it wouldn''t take long before he could grind it out.


    When he grew tired from reading, he started to draw, brushing up on the experience for the Artist entry.


    All morning, Xu Yi kept himself very busy and fulfilled; he quite enjoyed this kind of life.


    The bell signaling the end of sses rang, and the moment school was dismissed, Xu Yi picked up his bag and walked towards the door.


    Under the green shade of the school gate, Martin looked at Xu Yi, who was hurrying away, and sneered coldly, "Mud loach, can you run away? We skipped ss just waiting for you!"


    "Follow him!" Martin threw away the cigarette from his mouth and called his football team to go after him.


    A group of people followed behind Xu Yi. Martin was puzzled; Xu Yi was heading towards the secluded old town, perhaps thinking that theplex alleys there would aid his escape?


    Martin scoffed inwardly, certain that such a n was doomed to fail.


    The old town was remote with aplicatedyout, making it suitable for "special" activities; they had long since familiarised themselves with the terrain.


    Xu Yi turned into an alley, and Martin''s eyes lit up.


    "Quick! Block his way!"


    The dead end alley ahead was perfect for teaching the other party a lesson.


    The crowd hurried into the alley, but Martin suddenly froze.


    ording to his imagination, Xu Yi should be shivering with fear now that there was no way out, but that wasn''t the case. Xu Yi stood leisurely in the alley, a smile still on his lips.


    "Why are you guys onlying now!" Xu Yi spoke with a casual tone as if chatting with an old friend he hadn''t seen in a while.


    Martin felt an inexplicable bad premonition in his heart.


    In the time that followed, Martin felt as though he was living in a dream. His peopley in twisted heaps on the ground motionless, while the demon that caused all this was slowly approaching him.


    "Don''te any closer!" Martin brandished a dagger in a panic, his expression terrified.


    They were eight people in total, and within moments, ally on the ground. He watched as the other party grabbed someone by the neck and twisted it forcefully... The other party was killing!


    Martin trembled uncontrobly, his mind suddenly shing back to rumors he had heard at school. Xu Yi had taken a leave of absence because he had been attacked by the Cannibal.


    His mother was the vice principal of the school, so he had ess to more reliable information; it wasn''t just rumors, Xu Yi had indeed been attacked by the Cannibal and had even killed him in return.


    Martin even began to suspect that Xu Yi was the real Cannibal, and the one who died was just a scapegoat!


    "Good boy, you shouldn''t y with knives!" Xu Yi snatched the dagger from Martin''s hand and squatted in front of him with a smile.


    "Where do you think I should start cutting?" Xu Yi roamed the de over Martin''s chest.


    Without a doubt, Xu Yi was imitating the Cannibal.


    After all, he was someone who had learned "lessons" from the Cannibal, his movements and demeanor carried a certain semnce of authenticity.


    Of course, the people on the ground were fine; they were only temporarily unconscious.


    Xu Yi wasn''t so heartless as to kill these people; handling the aftermath would be a very troublesome affair.


    As for "breaking necks," it was just a matter of perspective and technique, something he had intentionally let Martin see.


    "I''ve heard that the heart tastes the best, what do you think?" Xu Yi''s knife paused over Martin''s heart.


    "Please... let me go!" Martin''s body couldn''t stop shaking.


    Xu Yi suddenly smelled a foul odor, looked down disdainfully, and backed away. Martin had been scared to the point of wetting himself.


    Is this all the courage the school bully has?


    Suddenly, a head peeked around the corner of the alley; Maria was panting and looking inside.


    When school was dismissed, she wanted to stop Xu Yi, but he walked too fast. Chasing after him as best she could, she only managed to catch up now.


    "Xu Yi, you''re not..."


    Maria suddenly stopped talking because the situation inside the alleypletely overturned her expectations.


    Knowing that he couldn''t continue the cosy act, Xu Yi stopped tormenting Martin and put away the switchde. As he walked past Maria, he gave her a nod with a smile.


    Maria''s heart suddenly began to beat uncontrobly, not out of fear, but excitement.


    Her face turned red with excitement.


    "If only I could follow Xu Yi!" The thought shed through her mind.


    She didn''t understand why she had this thought.


    But just thinking about being by Xu Yi''s side filled her with an unstoppable excitement.


    If Xu Yi knew what Maria was thinking,bining his recent knowledge in Psychology, he might be able to determine the reason.


    It was actually a form of admiration for the strong.


    Maria had been oppressed by Martin for so long, she even believed that Martin was an invincible presence.


    But now that the "mountain" had suddenly been overturned, it was natural for her to have emotions like "admiration" and "gratitude" toward the person who overturned it.


    Xu Yi didn''t know about Maria''s thoughts. He needed to hurry back to school to pick up Lisa, and after taking Lisa home, he had important things to attend to.

 Chapter 09 The Art of Language

    The dying rays of the sun quietly burned on the horizon, as Xu Yi strolled through the Crape Myrtle Cemetery.


    Crape Myrtle Cemetery was thergest cemetery near Chinatown, spanning thousands of acres. After sending Lisa home, Xu Yi hade straight here.


    He was here, of course, to "level up" his Psychic Entries. Psychic Entries needed to be in the presence of supernatural activities, which roughly equaled dead people. And where were the most dead people?


    Obviously, in a cemetery.


    "The scenery is really nice, these reliefs are so exquisite..."


    After wandering around, Xu Yi was dumbstruck; the cemetery''s environment was indeed nice, but itcked the "supernatural" atmosphere he had imagined.


    Could it be that all the dead in America were orderly ghosts, adhering to doctrines and not considering stirring up trouble after death?


    It wasn''t until he saw a few priests praying with their Holy Bibles that Xu Yi suddenly understood¡ªit wasn''t that they didn''t want to cause trouble, they just couldn''t.


    In this world, with both ghosts and demons, those priests and Priests were not just for show; the church even had professional Exorcists.


    "Miscalction, indeed!" Xu Yi sighed to himself.


    He felt that he should have sought out some disorderly burial mounds instead of such a formal cemetery.


    But since he was here, he decided toplete the tour, as the scenery was indeed beautiful.


    Cemeteries abroad were unlike those at home, resembling gardens more. He heard that the neighboring United Kingdom was even more extravagant, being the top choice for camping.


    Xu Yi walked to the edge of the cemetery and saw a wooden house in the distance, with a person in front who looked somewhat familiar.


    As he got closer, he realized it really was an acquaintance¡ªthe real estate agent he met at the barber shop.


    Ailent was talking with a few people, presumably potential tenants looking at the house.


    Xu Yi couldn''t make out what they were saying, but he could see the customers shaking their heads repeatedly, indicating the negotiation wasn''t going well.


    The clients left, leaving a distressed Ailent behind.


    "Mr. Ailent, what a coincidence!" Xu Yi approached proactively.


    As he neared the house, his body suddenly paused, and the system transmitted another notification:


    [Psychic Entries experience +8, current progress: 19/100.]


    A fortuitous find after an exhaustive search, he never expected to stumble upon such a windfall here.


    "It''s you!" Ailent recognized Xu Yi, but clearly wasn''t in the mood for conversation.


    As a middleman, whether the house rented out was not a concern for him, but upon hearing the house was selling for an incredibly low price, he was ovee by greed and bought it.


    Now he couldn''t rent it out at all, and it had be a burden on his hands.


    "Won''t you take me for a visit inside?" Xu Yi asked softly.


    "You also want to rent the house? I would advise you to look elsewhere! This house is not so good," Ailent sighed.


    He had given up on the house, as today marked the eighth prospective tenant that had visited and left after viewing, turning away even despite the low rent offered.


    Xu Yi looked at Ailent curiously; such a conscientious real estate agent was rare.


    Ailent did not refuse Xu Yi''s request, after all, he didn''t have anything else to do and considered it killing time.


    He opened the door to the house and showed Xu Yi around.


    The house''syout and decorations weren''t bad. After touring the first and second floors, Xu Yi took a nce at the attic.


    Ailent was about to show Xu Yi out, but Xu Yi stopped, "Haven''t we missed the basement?


    Ailent looked at Xu Yi, at a loss for words, and finally let out a sigh, "Go ahead, but let''s hurry up and leave afterwards."


    The door to the basement swung open, and Xu Yi stepped inside, immediately shuddering.


    It was still the peak of summer outside, but the basement was as cold as an ice cer.


    Xu Yi nced at Ailent and noticed his usual demeanor; he suddenly realized that this wasn''t a cold in the physical sense, but rather, the workings of the Psychic Entries.


    Although the Psychic Entries were less than twenty percentplete, they had already made his senses unordinary.


    At the same time, the system transmitted more information.


    [Psychic Entry Experience +18, current progress: 37/100.]


    I received 18 points of experience, plus the 8 points from outside the door, making it a total of 26 points, far surpassing the previous sum. Indeed, to rapidly gain experience in Psychic Entries, one must encounter the supernatural.


    But the system''s prompts didn''t end there.


    [You are checked in at the "Resentment Funeral Parlor," sign-in sessful, you''ve obtained 1 Resurrection Coin!]


    This ce is also a Land of Fear! Xu Yi was somewhat surprised.


    He had researched the system''s check-in feature for a while and generally, the more Resurrection Coins received from signing in, the more dangerous it meant the ce was.


    This ce only gave out one Resurrection Coin, indicating that the danger level was very low. Originally, the "Cannibal''s Dismemberment Kitchen" gave out three Resurrection Coins.


    But this perfectly suited Xu Yi''s needs, as he was searching for ces with supernatural events to farm experience for his Psychic Entries.


    If it was overly dangerous, he might have turned around and left.


    "Five hundred US dors!" Xu Yi suddenly spoke up.


    Ailent was taken aback. At first, he was only asking for two hundred US dors for this house, and now he had dropped it to one hundred, but still no one was interested.


    Could it be that the other party meant the cost for half a year, or even a year''s worth?


    "Wouldn''t that rent be too low for one year? Moreover, are you sure you want to rent it? I''m not going to lie to you, there''s something not right with this house," Ailent kindly advised.


    Xu Yi shook his head, "What I mean is, you give me five hundred US dors, and I''ll take care of the problem here for you."


    Ailent was stunned for a moment, then it clicked, "Are you an exorcist?"


    He scrutinized Xu Yi up and down. Xu Yi was young, probably still in school.


    But one can''t tell an exorcist just by their age; there are many exorcists as young as seven or eight years old. Sometimes the younger they are, the stronger their spiritual power, which might disappear as they grow older.


    Ailent mentally weighed his options. He had thought about hiring an exorcist before, but the cost of hiring one was enough to buy three houses like this one.


    Exorcists are rare nowadays, and as the saying goes, scarcity makes things more precious, hence the steep price for their services.


    There are cheaper exorcists, of course, but they''re either frauds or celebrities like the Warrens. He had once secretly called an assistant of the Warrens, hoping they woulde for an exorcism.


    After asking about his situation, the assistant said the Warrens were very busytely, but they woulde to help him with the exorcism when they were free.


    He wasn''t a naive young man fresh to society; of course, he could read between the lines of the assistant''s polite refusal. When were the Warrens ever free? It was just a roundabout way of saying no.


    An exorcist that only asks for five hundred dors, could the person in front of me be a scammer?


    "Five hundred upfront, and uponpletion of the exorcism, I''ll charge an additional fee based on the level of difficulty," Xu Yi said, as if seeing through the other''s thoughts.


    Ailent let out a sigh of relief, no longer seeing Xu Yi with the eyes of a swindler.


    Xu Yi was speechless; to level up his Psychic Entries, he was willing to do it for free if necessary, but s, the other party wouldn''t believe that, so what could he do? Naturally, it was time to raise the price!


    This was the going rate for exorcists. ording to newspaper reports, an exorcist had charged a wealthy businessman two hundred thousand US Dors for an exorcism.


    This was two hundred thousand dors in 1980, which could buy a very fine vi.


    Xu Yi was eager to level up his Psychic Entries for this very reason, as being an exorcist was simply too lucrative.


    In the future, while performing exorcisms, he could farm entries, and in his free time, "admire the flowers." Wouldn''t life be splendid?


    "About this subsequent fee?" Ailent asked cautiously.


    "The situation with this house is notplicated. I estimate that three to five thousand US dors should suffice. Of course, you can also choose another method of payment," Xu Yi had his pitch ready.


    "What method?" Ailent''s ears perked up instantly.


    After buying this house, he didn''t have much money left, and he was still a bit worried; after all, legitimate exorcists usually have licenses from the church, and since the person before him hadn''t shown one, he clearly didn''t have it.


    But one couldn''t be sure, some exorcists just don''t like working with the church.


    "As an exorcist who has just started out, I haven''t established a reputation yet. As a real estate agent, youe into contact with many people. I can exorcise this house, but in return, you need to refer clients to me," Xu Yi said softly.


    "Of course, no problem!" Ailent immediately agreed and handed over the spare key of the house to Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi watched as Ailent appeared as if he''d gotten an incredible deal, feeling a sense of pleasure in his heart.


    Such is the art ofnguage¡ªif I had offered to exorcise for free from the start, I would definitely have been seen as a scammer, but if I pitched it differently, not only does he believe me, but he''s thankful too?

 Chapter 10 The Ghost with Delicate Features

    Ailent left, and Xu Yi tried to keep him, but it was no use as the other had already made up his mind.


    "Says he has something important to do, but I think he''s just scared," Xu Yi muttered to himself as he watched Ailent hurry away.


    In fact, Xu Yi was a bit scared too; the ce was deste, and he was living in a Haunted House. It''d be impossible not to be afraid.


    In both his past and present lives, he was nothing but a Common person, and he couldn''t just be fearless in the blink of an eye.


    But he knew very well that to be an exorcist, he had to adapt to this.


    The danger of this Haunted House was not very high, which made it suitable for strengthening his mind, and, of course, the most important thing was that the two Resurrection Coins gave him enough confidence.


    Xu Yi concentrated, surveying the basement.


    Rusty sinks, dissection tables covered in bloodstains, and the signature cremation furnace¡ªthere was no doubt this ce used to be a Funeral Parlor.


    One could imagine, during its heyday, countless corpses being brought in and out.


    After hesitating for a moment, Xu Yi pulled open the iron gate of the cremation furnace.


    To his surprise, there were still skeletal remains deep inside.


    "This old Ailent was so careless. He didn''t even clean up the skeletons properly; no wonder he couldn''t rent it out!" Xu Yi silently criticized in his mind.


    Suddenly, there was a nging sound behind him. Xu Yi jerked around, then let out a sigh of relief¡ªit was just a hook falling off the wall.


    He turned back, preparing to close the gate of the cremation furnace, but his body trembled violently... A charred ghostly figure was crouching inside, its crimson pupils staring fixedly at him.


    Xu Yi took a deep breath, forcing himself to make eye contact with the ghostly figure.


    He had anticipated this day woulde; turning back and running away was all toomon. If he wanted to make a living doing this, he had to conquer his fear.


    And the best way to conquer fear was to face it head-on.


    Ollie give!


    If one looked closely, they might notice that the ghost actually had quite clear and distinct features¡ªthose blood-filled eyes, the ckened, crisp shell, the contorted, inviting waist... Xu Yi couldn''t continue his fanciful description, feeling his calves grow weak.


    After a prolonged five-second staredown, the ckened ghostly figure slowly dissipated.


    Xu Yi exhaled a sigh of relief and licked his dry lips. If it weren''t for the circumstances, he''d even feel like popping open a champagne bottle to celebrate.


    His career as an exorcist had finally taken its first step.


    He was well aware that many of the spirits and demons in this world weren''t very dangerous. People feared them mostly because of their terrifying appearances.


    [Psychic Entries Experience +8, current progress: 45/100.]


    Xu Yi had not expected that Psychic Entries would overtake the "Schr" Entries to be the fastest progressing entries.


    Such entries, as long as one finds the right method, are actually quite easy to gain experiences with.


    "It seems that the charred ghostly figure didn''t have any ill intentions?"


    Xu Yi recalled the scene, and a bold n gradually formed in his mind.


    If that was the case, why not use this opportunity to train his courage?


    It had grownpletely dark, and Xu Yi had no choice but to leave the Funeral Parlor.


    If he hadn''t been worried about his father getting anxious, he would have liked to stay overnight. Having tasted sess, Xu Yi began to get carried away.


    "Don''t rush! I wille back tomorrow!" He locked the door, gave the Funeral Parlor a wistful nce, and only then did he turn to leave.


    If Ailent had seen this scene, his jaw would have certainly dropped in shock.


    ......


    The sun shone brightly; it was a new day.


    "You''re actually fine!"


    As soon as Xu Yi stepped into the ssroom, a skinny boy who looked like a beanpole suddenly appeared in front of him.


    "Why should I have a problem?" Xu Yi sat down, ncing at the other party.


    This "beanpole" was named Hardy, and at this school, he was one of the few people with whom you could strike up a conversation.


    "Everyone at school says you''ve provoked Martin. Didn''t he corner you after school? I have some clout with Martin. I can put in a good word for you if ites to that," Hardy said anxiously.


    Xu Yi couldn''t be bothered with him and prepared to continue browsing entries.


    "Oh right, Yi, the Swimming Club is recruiting new members. If we can get in, we''re in for a treat! I have a special way in. You must be interested in that, right? Listen to me..."


    Hardy, seeing that Xu Yi wasn''t paying attention to him, indeed switched the topic.


    But then he suddenly fell silent, staring straight behind Xu Yi. Maria had appeared behind them at some point.


    "Xu Yi, thank you for helping me yesterday! Here are some chocte tarts and lemon-scented tea. I hope you like them," Maria said, holding a beautifully wrapped box in her hands.


    "No need to thank me!" Xu Yi took it without a second thought.


    Ah! That was his biggest w, never learning to say no.


    Hardy was left speechless. The brightest pearl in the Swimming Club was Maria, and many joined the club just for her.


    But what did he see? This brightest pearl was actually bringing pastries to Xu Yi herself.


    Could it be he got up on the wrong side of the bed today, or maybe he was still dreaming?


    "Do you need anything else?" Xu Yi, seeing Maria hadn''t left, asked offhandedly.


    "Uh... if you want to join the Swimming Club, I can help. I know some people there," Maria said, looking at Xu Yi with hopeful eyes.


    "Thanks, but no," Xu Yi refused outright. He was too busy dealing with entries to have time for swimming.


    What''s that? You say I can''t refuse? Who''s spreading those rumors?


    "Okay then," Maria said, walking away disappointed.


    Hardy looked at Xu Yi with an expression of anger at his indifference, red at him resentfully, and after a while, pounded his chest hard, sighed deeply, slumped over his desk, andpletely shut himself off from others.


    "Xu Yi, the Antique Market on Rose Street is open again. Do you want to go? I heard thatst week, the Spirit Exploration Society found a witch''s magic wand there."


    After being dejected for a while, Hardy started to make small talk with Xu Yi again.


    Xu Yi was going to refuse, but his interest was piqued when he heard the second half of what Hardy said, and he agreed to go.


    The bell for beginning ss rang, and Xu Yi buried his head in brushing up on Schr entries.


    After a whole morning of hard work, his Schr entries once again exceeded the Psychic entries.


    [Current progress of Schr entries: 51/100.]


    The Schr entries were more than halfway done, which was promising. He estimated it would take about another half a month toplete them.


    It was going to take half a month because he found that the closer he got topletion, the harder it was to rue experience for the entries.


    St. Anna''s School didn''t have a nap time; they only briefly rested after eating before the afternoon sses began, but as a result, school ended earlier.


    At the school gate, Hardy watched the two figures ahead of him, feeling like some kind of luminous object, blinking with light.


    Xu Yi and Lisa chatted andughed together, while he, Big Boss Hardy, was all alone.


    He should have known that inviting Xu Yi would surely mean Lisa would join them too.


    He thought back to Maria from the morning, and he couldn''t understand¡ªXu Yi was just a bit taller, a bit handsomer, a bit better at studies¡ªwhy didn''t he get the same treatment?

 Chapter 11 The Legendary Steal

    Rose Street is also known as "Gold Digger''s Road."


    It is said that at the beginning of the Antique Market, many people found antiques here, and some even made millions with a single transaction.


    As the news spread, arge number of "gold diggers" flocked to Rose Street.


    Over the years, the "gold rush" of Rose Street has not only not subsided but has be even more intense.


    "It''s really lively!" Xu Yi looked at the bustling street and couldn''t help but exim.


    The road in Rose Street was wide, with vendors aplenty. The more particr ones set up tables, while the more casual simply stretched out a cloth on the ground.


    The antiques for sale were also of various kinds, including all sorts of silverware, exquisite music boxes, and even outmoded Mauser guns.


    Xu Yi squatted in front of a stall and began his "sweep" for goods.


    His fingers swiftly brushed over the antiques, and the stall owner did not stop him; vendors here were used to seeing all sorts of strange people, even those who used divination to select antiques.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi stopped, his fingers touching a silver dagger.


    [Psychic Entries Experience +2, Current Progress: 47/100.]


    He was here, of course, not just to stroll around.


    Although the funeral parlor could continuously provide him with experience points, it was still not enough to max out the psychic entries, so he had set his sights on the antiques here.


    Theoretically, any object could be tainted with the supernatural, butpared to other things, antiques had the highest probability.


    The silver dagger in front of him was a case in point; Xu Yi suspected that the dagger might have been a murder weapon.


    "Good taste, sir. This dagger was once used by members of the British royal family. It is very suitable for a person of your exceptional temperament. Let''s make friends today¡ªI''ll let it go for five hundred dors!" the vendor enthusiastically rmended.


    For an instant, Xu Yi even thought he was in Panjiayuan, where apparently even the chamber pots had been used by Emperor Qianlong.


    "Five hundred dors? I think that''s low. This dagger is worth at least a thousand dors!" Xu Yi said with finality.


    The vendor was taken aback, having only heard of people haggling down, never up. He asked with some uncertainty, "Really?"


    "Of course. Why would I lie to you? This engraving, this craftsmanship, it''s clearly the work of a master. It''s definitely worth the money!" Xu Yi dered confidently.


    The vendor hesitated for a moment, "Forget it, I can''t just inte the price out of nowhere. Five hundred dors is fine!"


    Xu Yi shook his head, "Sorry, I''m not buying it!"


    The vendor red at Xu Yi. If you''re not buying, then what the hell are you babbling about!


    Of course, Xu Yi wouldn''t buy; most haunted items carried grudges, and if ordinary people were in contact with them for a long time, it could affect their health, not to mention certain cursed items that were dwellings for evil ghosts and demons.


    He didn''t mind for himself, but it wouldn''t be good if it affected the people around him.


    The trio had a lot of fun on this trip to Rose Street.


    Xu Yi was overjoyed as he watched the psychic entries experience steadily increase, although each haunted artifact only gave a few points of experience, two or three.


    But you can''t knock the fact that there were a lot of them; approximately every three stalls, he could find a haunted artifact.


    "Psychic Entries Experience +2, +3..."


    Hardy was also very happy; he bought a pair of ballet shoes that were said to have been worn by a famous ballet star.


    Xu Yi secretly scorned, what ballet star would wear a size 42 shoe, likely some toe-picking giant, right?


    Lisa took a fancy to some small essories, things like bracelets and hair ties, which were both beautiful and cheap, only costing a few dors for a bunch.


    Xu Yi suddenly stopped, looking at a strange stall in front of him.


    There were a lot of people on Rose Street looking for things, and practically every stall had customers, but the stall in front was extremely deserted, with not a single person around.


    The stall owner was holding a bottle of liquor, constantly pouring it into his mouth, his body exuding a pungent smell of alcohol.


    The items on the stall are even stranger: horseshoes shaped into flowers, metal products with no discernible use, and fur from some unknown animal.


    No wonder there''s no one here, the stall owner is a drunkard, and the items he sells are baffling.


    But Xu Yi, with a "since I''m already here" attitude, began to "sweep" the goods as usual.


    As his fingers swept over the items, they all carried a peculiar chill, but strangely, they were not psychic items, and there were no system prompts.


    When his finger brushed over a box, his hand suddenly trembled.


    [Divine item discovered, entry devouring activated, entry generating, Scion (golden)...]


    Xu Yi''s eyes widened, he had never seen a green item before, and now a golden entry appeared?


    The entries are divided into six levels: "white, green, blue, red, gold, purple".


    [Sample severely insufficient, entry devouring failed.]


    The system prompt abruptly stopped, and in one second, his heart fell from heaven to hell.


    Why did it fail? Xu Yi was a bit frantic.


    With great willpower, Xu Yi moved his finger away from the metal box.


    No matter how much it costs, he had to buy it!


    "How much?" He picked up a wooden ring and asked.


    If he seemed too eager, it would be easy to get fleeced, so it was necessary to use other items to confuse the seller.


    Although the vendor looked thoroughly drunk, who knew if he was feigning ipetence?


    "Three thousand!" The drunkard nced at the object in Xu Yi''s hands.


    "Is this made of diamond?" Hardy couldn''t help but snark.


    Xu Yi forced a calm demeanor, picking up the metal box, which was very exquisite, with bas-reliefs of angels and demons on its surface.


    When the box was opened, it was surprisingly filled with several pieces of broken ss.


    The ss appeared to be quitemon, the only difference being that a few drops of blood stained its surface.


    Whether it was the refraction of sunlight or not, the blood stains shimmered with a faint golden color.


    "How about this one?" Xu Yi asked, pretending to be indifferent.


    The drunkard, without even giving Xu Yi a nce, kept pouring himself drinks, "Ten thousand."


    "Have you gone mad, just a few pieces of broken ss and you dare ask for ten thousand?" Before Xu Yi could speak, Hardy had already jumped up in rm.


    The drunkard couldn''t be bothered to reply, as if he hadn''t heard at all.


    Lately, Xu Yi had been brushing up on his Psychology entries whenever he had the time, and his current progress stood at 11/100.


    He still managed to grasp some basic psychology.


    He had been observing the other party and felt that the man''s demeanor wasn''t an act; there was no room for bargaining.


    But a mere ten thousand for such an item was practically a steal.


    "Where did thise from?" Xu Yi couldn''t hold back his curiosity and asked out loud.


    "It''s a family heirloom." The drunkard was stingy with words, clearly not inclined to borate.


    Xu Yi nodded, "I''ll take this, but I don''t have that much cash on me, can youe with me to the bank? I can give you a hundred as a deposit first!"


    He wanted the seller to go with him to withdraw money, fearing that if he walked away, the item might be snapped up by someone else. Although unlikely, it''s better to be safe than sorry.


    The drunkard took the hundred dors, looked at Xu Yi with surprise, nodded, then deftly packed up the items into the box.

 Chapter 12 Entries for Tough Guys (Revised)

    At the bank entrance, Xu Yi watched the drunkard''s departing figure and slowly exhaled.


    There was a bank near Rose Street, and Xu Yi had not taken much time to withdraw the money.


    The transaction went smoothly, without any hitches.


    After getting the money, the drunkard hurried away as if fleeing.


    "Could this guy be a swindler?" Hardy became more and more suspicious.


    He really couldn''t understand why Xu Yi would be willing to spend a lot of money on a few pieces of broken ss instead of buying him more pairs of dance shoes.


    "That really was someone else''s ancestral treasure!" Xu Yi eximed in good spirits, offering an exnation.


    "Then why did he run off so fast?"


    "That man is a gambling addict who was rushing off to gamble!" Xu Yi said with a smile.


    Hardy was taken aback, "How do you know that?"


    "The man''s eyes were bloodshot and he had heavy dark circles, obviously, he hadn''t had a good night''s sleep in a long time. His fingers were fair, not like those of a person who does manual work, but the crevices beneath his nails were full of dirt, probably from being at the card table for long periods... The lighter in his pocket bore the Vienna Hotel logo, and that''s a famous casino," Xu Yi shared his deductions.


    Luckily, the man was a gambling addict; otherwise, he would never have sold such a precious item. Of course, the most important reason was that he did not realize the true value of the item.


    But that''s normal, after all, others don''t have the system.


    "Where''s Lisa?" Xu Yi scanned around but didn''t see Lisa.


    "She bumped into an acquaintance, went to say hello, and she''s justing back now!" Hardy pointed toward Lisa, who was walking back toward them from a distance.


    Xu Yi didn''t mind much, but as Lisa drew closer, the ss shards inside the metal box suddenly flickered for a moment.


    Xu Yi stared at the bloodstains on the ss shards, puzzled.


    "What''s wrong?" Lisa asked curiously.


    Had he seen it wrong? Xu Yi fell into self-doubt.


    "Where did you go just now?" Xu Yi asked.


    "I ran into Auntie Aileen from Chinatown. We chatted for a bit. Auntie Aileen came to Rose Street to pick out some decorative items for her house," Lisa answered.


    Xu Yi watched Auntie Aileen''s retreating figure, but the system had no alerts.


    He thought for a moment but came to no conclusion, so he cast it out of his mind.


    ...¡­


    By the time they arrived at the Haunted House in the graveyard, the sun was close to setting on the horizon, and night was about to fall.


    Xu Yi entered the house with ease, as his trial thest time had left him with a certain resistance to ghosts and such things.


    The moment he stepped into the basement, his brow slightly furrowed.


    That unique chilly sensation had vanished!


    This clearly wasn''t due to the Psychic entries bing ineffective, nor was it because the Funeral Parlor''s supernatural presence had been exorcised.


    Xu Yi took out the metal box from his bosom, opened it, and ced it in the corner of the room before gradually moving away.


    After retreating three meters away, the chilly sensation reappeared.


    Indeed, it was the influence of that mysterious bloodstain; its range of effect was about three meters.


    Xu Yi started to wander around the Funeral Parlor. The scorched ghost did not appear, nor were there other anomalies. He suddenly felt bored and listless, unable to muster any enthusiasm.


    "Why isn''t the ghost brother showing up?" Xu Yi sighed.


    Xu Yi might not have noticed it himself, but without realizing it, his mentality had begun to change.


    It seems I can''t bring this thing next time! Xu Yi packed up the metal box, thinking that the ghosts were probably too scared to appear.


    The Psychic entry experience failed to umte sessfully, and the bravery training came to an end without much fanfare. Xu Yi left the funeral parlor with regret, prepared toe back the next day.


    Under the dark moon and high winds, Xu Yi walked alone through the secluded graveyard.


    If it had been anyone else, they probably would have been scared out of their wits, but Xu Yi looked around hopefully, wishing for a "surprise" to jump out from the shadows. Unfortunately, nothing happened.


    ......


    As the sun set in the west, Xu Yi once again arrived at the funeral parlor in the cemetery.


    "Good afternoon, Mr. Charcoal!" As soon as Xu Yi pushed open the basement door, he saw the charred ghost corpse hiding in the corner and greeted it politely.


    He took out a cup of ck tea and a few delicate floral pastries from his backpack, which were today''s offerings for Maria.


    There were remnants of blood on the mortuary table. Xu Yi ced several pieces of paper on it and set the snacks on top.


    As he turned his head, a ghostly figure, wrapped entirely in bandages, abruptly appeared behind him. Xu Yi was unfazed, self-absorbed as he moved to grab a stool. "Bandaged Sir Number Three, please make way!"


    Xu Yi ate a floral pastry and felt a bit thirsty. He reached out to grab the ck tea when a pale hand stretched out from behind him and grabbed the back of his hand.


    "Miss Bandage Number Two, please show some self-respect. I''m not that easy!" Xu Yi freed himself from the ghostly hand and elegantly sipped his floral tea.


    A whole week had passed since hisst visit to Rose Street.


    During that week, he went to the Antique Market after school to scrape together Psychic entry experience before heading to the funeral parlor.


    The number of ghosts in the funeral parlor was surprisingly high, but they were mainly of two types: one charred ghostly figure and countless bandaged ghosts.


    At the beginning, faced with the ghosts'' "turn-around kill" and "jump-in-face kill," he was quite frightened, feeling as if his heart would stop.


    But with deliberate practice, he could now maintain a poker face and even eat while watching the ghosts perform.


    In Xu Yi''s view, if ghosts cannot threaten one''s life, they are even safer than a stray cat on the street.


    [Entryprehension in progress,prehension sessful, congrattions on obtaining the entry: As Brave as a Barrel.]


    [As Brave as a Barrel (Common White): 100/100


    Summary: Your courage far exceeds that of an ordinary person; you remain calm even in the face of terrifying events.]


    Xu Yi''s eyes brightened, not expecting to awaken an entry.


    Apart from opening treasure chests and entry absorption, there was a third way to acquire entries: self-awakening.


    Self-awakening is quite difficult, and if it weren''t for Xu Yi''s corresponding talentbined with deliberate practice, it would have been impossible to achieve.


    Even though entry awakening is challenging, it has its benefits: onceprehended, it''s instantly at full value.


    A chill spread throughout his body, and his body, including his soul, began to undergo an unknown transformation,sting only a few seconds.


    As the chill receded, Xu Yi looked at the ghosts around him and suddenly felt different.


    Though he wasn''t afraid before, deep down he was still somewhat queasy. Now it was different; he suddenly found that after looking at these ghosts for a while, they actually seemed somewhat attractive.


    No, no! rms went off in Xu Yi''s mind, and he hurriedly recalled the images of Lisa and Maria, especially Maria.


    A couple of days ago, he had epted Maria''s invitation to the swimming pool, admiring her swimming form.


    He couldn''t help but agree with Hadid''s words that swimming was indeed beneficial to physical and mental health.


    Feeling his peculiar preferences thoroughly corrected, Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief. He wondered if those guys who sneaked into Sadako''s gate at night or lingered around Beauty Chu had the same kind of entries?


    [Psychic entry experience +3, current progress: 86/100.]


    Days passed, and as he kept grinding for experience in Rose Street and the funeral parlor, his Psychic entry was almost maxed out.


    "It''s about time to consider the matter of exorcism!" Xu Yi reflected in his mind.


    Lately, Ailent had been growing a bit suspicious, after all, nearly two weeks had psed.

 Chapter 13 Three Steps of Exorcism

    City Library, Xu Yi stared at the text on the newspaper, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.


    Today, after school, he didn''t go to Rose Street or the Funeral Parlor, but instead came to the City Library.


    The antiques on Rose Street were almost all perused by him, and the entry experience he could gain had be scarce, making him reluctant to go again.


    He came to the library to do research.


    In this era, unlike the future, if you wanted any information, you couldn''t just search the inte to find it.


    To research information, one had to rely on books and newspapers, and local libraries usually had a habit of archiving newspapers.


    The three steps of exorcism: first, discover clues, second, find the source, which is usually some kind of vessel, and finally, perform the exorcism.


    Coming to the library was just trying his luck, but unexpectedly, he really found something.


    "Psychic Funeral Parlor, Ackerman and his psychic assistant Jona!"


    Xu Yi stared at the newspaper, deep in thought.


    In the past, that house was actually quite well-known.


    The original owner of the house was named Ackerman, who was said to have found a way to enhance spiritual power. Through his assistant, the psychic boy Jona, they were able to facilitatemunication between the world of the living and the dead.


    Consequently, people longing to see their deceased loved ones flocked there, and the Psychic Funeral Parlor became famous overnight.


    Xu Yi remembered the charred ghostly shadow he saw at the Funeral Parlor.


    Who was it?


    It couldn''t be the homeowner Ackerman, since there was a big difference in body type, but the psychic boy Jona, it was possible.


    The newspaper''s subsequent reports imed that during a psychic ritual, an ident happened, a fierce fire broke out in the house.


    After the fire was extinguished, the original homeowner was found dead on the scene, while the psychic boy Jona had disappeared without a trace.


    Xu Yi thought of the skeleton in the cremation furnace, pondering.


    If there were no idents, the charred ghostly shadow was likely Jona, because he felt a strong "spirituality" from it.


    People with spiritmunication ability possess a "spirituality" thatmon people do not have; Xu Yi also only realized this after the psychic entry was nearly full.


    Why would Jona hide in the cremation furnace? What exactly happened during the psychic session? Xu Yi didn''t know.


    He had roughly figured out the identity of the charred ghostly shadow, but where did those bandaged ghostly shadowse from? Xu Yi wondered.


    The Funeral Parlor wouldn''t wrap "guests" in bandages, especially since those bandages had densely inscribed red runes underneath them.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi had a hunch and went back to read the newspaper thoroughly, word by word.


    "Ackerman imed to have found a way to enhance spiritual power..."


    Could the red runes possibly be some kind of curse technique?


    Vaguely, Xu Yi felt that the truth was very close to him now.


    He continued to look through the newspapers, and one piece of information caught his attention.


    "Highway construction... relocation of a cemetery... over a hundred bodies vanished without a trace..."


    Xu Yi remembered theyout of the Funeral Parlor, pondering.


    "The grand endeavor of exorcism will be tomorrow!" Seeing that it was alreadypletely dark outside, Xu Yi knew he was toote for today and would have to wait for tomorrow.


    ......


    It was a new day, and after the dismissal bell rang, Xu Yi waved goodbye to Lisa and prepared to head to the Funeral Parlor in the suburbs alone.


    What he didn''t notice was that Martin, hiding in the shadows of the school gate, was secretly watching him.


    Ever since the previous encounter in the alley, Martin had been bedridden at home for several days and had only recently recuperated.


    He had sought out his mother and even reported to the police, iming that Xu Yi was the real Cannibal, the terrifying serial killer.


    Unfortunately, no one believed him, and his mother even found him a psychiatrist.


    He was convinced he wasn''t crazy!


    "Since none of you believe me, then I''ll uncover the evidence with my own hands!" Martin made up his mind and stealthily followed Xu Yi.


    Recently, he had been observing Xu Yi in secret, and after school each day, Xu Yi would head to the deste suburbs.


    A Cannibal, avoiding crowds, wandering out to the suburbs for no good reason, what could he be nning?


    The answer was undoubtedly clear.


    If Xu Yi knew what Martin was thinking, he would scoff at the idea.


    Truly a brainless brute, if Xu Yi really were the Cannibal, Martin would meet a very tragic end once discovered.


    The person secretly observing Xu Yi wasn''t just Martin; Maria was doing the same thing.


    Ever since Xu Yi taught Martin and his gang a lesson, for a long time, Maria hadn''t been harassed by Martin anymore.


    "He did all this for me!"


    One of life''s three grand illusions, possessed not only by men but women as well.


    Xu Yi''s lesson for Martin had little to do with Maria, it was purely to vent bad air for his predecessor and to avoid further disturbances.


    He was busy brushing up on entries and had no time to deal with any school tyrants.


    "Martin is following Xu Yi sneakily; what is he up to?" Maria furrowed her brows deeply.


    Could it be that Martin wanted to hurt Xu Yi? Maria''s heart leaped at the thought.


    No, she must warn Xu Yi.


    She hastily hailed a cab and instructed the driver to follow.


    Xu Yi, unaware of what was happening behind him, had already arrived at the Funeral Parlor on the outskirts.


    "Mr. Ailent, long time no see!"


    In front of the Funeral Parlor, Xu Yi saw a familiar figure; it was Ailent, whom he hadn''t seen in a long while.


    Ailent said he was free today and nned toe over "to help."


    Xu Yi knew all too well, this wasn''t about helping, it was clear he was getting suspicious from Xu Yi''s inactivity.


    "That''s more than wee!" Xu Yi expressed his gratitude.


    Who would refuse freebor? He could only give his wholehearted approval.


    Just as the doors of the Funeral Parlor opened, the sky suddenly darkened, followed by a thunderp, signaling an imminent downpour.


    "What beautiful weather today!" Xu Yi remarked.


    Ailent looked at Xu Yi with perplexity, unable toprehend what was good about such ghastly weather.


    Xu Yi just smiled, offering no exnation.


    The other person suspected him of being a fraud, after all, so let him experience it firsthand.


    Once the downpour started, the other person wouldn''t be able to run away midway through.


    With someone who''s a novice yet eager to y, it''s like welding the car doors shut, letting the brothers inside the Haunted House provide a perfect experience.


    Martin was watching Xu Yi closely from a distance, a brainstorm raging in his head.


    The deste suburbs, the approaching storm, the innocent man lured here...


    All the elements were present; how could you say you''re not the Cannibal?


    Martin felt it wasn''t yet time to call the police because Xu Yi was too cunning; he needed solid evidence to bring Xu Yi to justice.


    He caught sight of a window on the side of the house and an idea struck him.


    The locks on these old-style windows were very primitive; he had "identally" opened one before.


    "After gathering enough evidence of Xu Yi''s crimes, I''ll secretly call the police!" Martin felt sure his n was foolproof.


    The window lock was corroded, and Martin didn''t have to exert much effort to open it.


    He peeked inside to make sure no one was there, then carefully climbed through.


    When Maria arrived, she happened to see Martin climbing through the window into the house.


    At that moment, thunder roared across the sky and the rain poured down in buckets; it was toote to wait for someone inside to open the door.


    To avoid getting soaked by the rain, she followed suit and climbed in through the window.

 Chapter 14 Out of Control Situation

    "What are you doing... doing?" Ailent''s voice trembled a little.


    It was impossible not to tremble. As soon as Xu Yi entered the room, he locked the door from the inside, and then fetched an ax from the storage room.


    Could it be that his identity as an imposter was exposed, and he was preparing to kill to silence him?


    The thunder outside the window grew more violent, and the sky hadpletely darkened, so dark that one could not see one''s own hand in front of their face.


    He suddenly remembered what Xu Yi had said before entering the room, that if someone wanted to kill, this was indeed the perfect weather for it.


    Thinking of this, Ailent''s back was already soaked with cold sweat.


    The sharp ax was handed to Ailent, who looked at Xu Yi with a puzzled face.


    "Take it! Don''t you want to help?"


    Xu Yi didn''t understand why Ailent was so nervous.


    Could it be that the other man had seen the ghostly apparitions in the house? He looked around but did not see anything.


    "Oh, it''s just to help! You should have said so earlier!" Ailent wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.


    Now that he knew Xu Yi wasn''t going to kill him, his rationality gradually returned, and he was a bit puzzled, what was the ax for?


    Could it be that he was nning a physical exorcism?


    "Should we sprinkle some blood on the ax?" Ailent suddenly asked.


    Xu Yi looked at Ailent with astonishment, "Why would you think of that?"


    "Aren''t you of Chinese descent? I''ve recently researched the exorcists from the Xia Kingdom, and they all like to sprinkle blood on their weapons." Ailent mimicked the action of biting his finger.


    Xu Yi rolled his eyes, ignored Ailent, and was ready to head down to the basement.


    Another peal of thunder exploded in the sky, and Xu Yi turned his head to look outside. The searing sh of lightning was a pain to the eyes.


    The thunder was so close it seemed as though it had struck just above their heads. Ailent jumped at the sound, and the ax ttered to the floor.


    Xu Yi, blessed with "As Brave as a Barrel," remained unfazed.


    The lightning seemed to have hit something, something fell to the ground not far away, and the ground shook with a rumble.


    "What''s in that direction?"


    Xu Yi began to recall that this area was a in, nted with low shrubs, and it seemed there were norge buildings.


    "Jesus bless us! Jesus bless us!" Ailent pressed his hands together, praying incessantly.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi remembered that in that direction stood a huge statue of Jesus.


    Could it be that there was a problem with the statue of Jesus?


    Xu Yi shook his head and didn''t continue the thought. These things had nothing to do with him, and naturally, someone from the church would handle it tomorrow.


    He had barely taken two steps when he suddenly stopped abruptly, turning his head to look behind him at the wall... He suddenly realized that the copse of the Jesus statue was not unrted to him.


    The white ster on the wall suddenly turned yellow and began to peel off, forming a yellow-brown spot that spread in all directions. In the blink of an eye, the house seemed to have aged hundreds of years.


    "What... what''s happening?" Ailent''s voice trembled.


    Ailent could actually see it too! Xu Yi was shocked.


    He realized something was wrong. His psychic entries were about to be filled up, and with his spirituality, he could see things thatmon people couldn''t.


    But the changes on the wall were visible to Ailent too, meaning the situation had escted.


    Xu Yi had always had a question in his mind. With so many ghosts in the house, why was the danger so low, graded at just "one Resurrection Coin"?


    Even if they were all tame and kind spirits, the gathering of so many would brew something terrible.


    But the ghosts here were unusually docile.


    Now he understood, it was because of the Jesus statue in the graveyard.


    In this world, church priests and such were not just for show. The Jesus statues that had undergone "Spiritual Awakening" through the church had an indescribable mystique.


    The statue of Jesus had always been suppressing the ghosts here, but, coincidentally, now the statue had been struck down by lightning!


    Blood-red necromantic spells started to appear on the yellow-brown walls. He had seen these spells before, on the bandaged ghostly apparitions.


    He had even gone to the library to consult ancient tomes, but due to densely packed bandages concealing them, he could only see a very few runes and therefore was not sure of the spells'' effects.


    Now, the walls were covered with clear necromantic spells, and he finally knew how the original owner had enhanced his spiritualmunication ability.


    These were Necromantic Spells, evil spells that had long been lost to time.


    Their purpose was to seal the soul inside a corpse, prevent the soul from reincarnating, and the powerful resentment could strengthen spiritual power.


    Ailent was trembling all over as he charged toward the stairwell and lunged at the front door.


    But the Necromantic Spells spread too quickly. Just as he reached the door, it was already covered with them.


    Ailent pulled at thetch and pushed hard on the door, to no avail.


    He kicked and rammed his body against the door, but the door was immovable as if made of welded steel tes.


    Xu Yi saw that even the windows were covered with Necromantic Spells, realizing that the ce had been isted and it would be impossible to leave for now.


    "Stop banging! Come with me!" Xu Yi yelled angrily.


    Ailent turned his head and saw the calm Xu Yi and suddenly snapped back to his senses.


    He rushed back to Xu Yi''s side like a drowning man clutching at a straw, "Exorcist sir, what should we do now?"


    He was now regretting it so much he could turn green with it; he should not have doubted Xu Yi. If he hadn''t doubted Xu Yi, he would never havee here and wouldn''t have encountered this situation.


    Xu Yi gave Ailent a speechless look. This fellow was really too faint-hearted.


    "Grab an axe, and follow me to the basement!" Xu Yi also took an axe from the utility room.


    He had not been nning to get his hands dirty, given that Ailent provided freebor, but now the situation had taken a drastic turn and spiraled beyond his control; he had to resolve the issues here as soon as possible.


    The two hurried to the basement, and Xu Yi, looking at the unchanged morgue, slowly let out a breath of relief.


    If the walls here were also covered with spells, they would be in dire straits; normal axes would stand no chance of breaking through.


    Xu Yi picked up the axe and struck the wall fiercely.


    The walls here were almost entirely wooden, just coated with ayer of stone paint on the outside.


    The wooden wall panel was thick, and the heavy and forceful axe only left a mark on the surface.


    "What are you spacing out for! Hurry up and help, chop down all these walls!" Xu Yi red at Ailent who was still standing dumbfounded.


    "Oh! Oh!" Ailent came to his senses and quickly stepped forward to help.


    He copied Xu Yi and chopped at the wooden wall without any mercy,pletely forgetting that this house was bought with all his savings.


    Xu Yi had carefully checked the floor n of the house and noticed something strange.


    The property''s floor area was 152 square meters, but it felt very cramped in practice, especially the walls of the morgue, which were unreasonably thick.


    Ailent raised his axe, and with another powerful strike, the wooden surface finally gave way under the assault and splintered.


    A clump of yellow-brown matter fell out, and Ailent screamed.


    Xu Yi turned his head and saw the clump of yellow-brown matter clearly; it was a dead person''s head wrapped in dense bandages, with the blood-colored spells underneath faintly visible.


    "Stop screaming, hurry up and chop open the walls. There are more than one body here!"


    Ailent terrifiedly chopped at the wall, and as Xu Yi said, more bodies slid out of the walls that were chopped open, all wrapped in bandages.


    Xu Yi looked at the bodies in front of him without any surprise; everything was as he had expected.


    While researching at the library, he had realized it.


    The stolen bodies from the cemetery, the irrationalyout of the house, the multitude of ghostly shadows... they all unmistakably pointed towards this conclusion.


    "Count the number of bodies!" Xu Yi looked at the bodies piled up like a small mountain and assigned Ailent a new task.


    Ailent had a troubled look but obediently went to do it.


    He had no choice but to listen; the blood-colored spells hadn''t disappeared yet; before leaving this ce, Xu Yi was his only reliance.


    Xu Yi kept frowning. Although he had sessfully found the bodies, the ominous feeling in his heart hadn''t dissipated; on the contrary, it was bing stronger with each passing moment.


    From the time he entered the Funeral Parlor until now, not a single ghost had been seen, which was too abnormal.

 Chapter 15 The Person in the Mirror

    In the midst of the storm, thunder roared.


    Maria had just tumbled in through the window when she suddenly heard an urgent call.


    "Hurry, leave this ce!"


    She paused, then fished out a small mirror from her bag. Her reflection stared back at her, but what was eerie was that the expression of the person in the mirror waspletely different from her own...


    The "mirror person" looked anxious and kept urging her to leave.


    Maria had discovered the mirror person not long ago. At first, she was startled by the other''s presence, but as their exchanges became more frequent, she gradually got used to it.


    She didn''t know why, but the mirror person gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Moreover, she always had the intuition that the other would not harm her.


    Whenever she encountered any troubles, she would talk with the mirror person.


    The mirror person would give her advice, of which she only took one: to feed Xu Yi every now and then.


    "Is there a problem here? I haven''t found Xu Yi yet," Maria said, confused.


    "Hurry! If you don''t leave now, it''ll be toote!" the mirror person urged anxiously.


    As soon as these words fell,rge patches of white ster fell off the walls, and a yellow-brown spread took over, with blood-red cursed characters emerging.


    Maria was shocked. Since she could ept the "mirror person," she naturally understood that there was another side to this world.


    A ghostly figure shrouded in bandages suddenly appeared at the door, its blood-red pupils staring fixedly at her. Maria''s face went pale, and her body began to tremble slightly.


    It wasn''t just one ghost, disembodied figures surged from the end of the corridor, seemingly endless.


    "Let''s exchange! Otherwise, we''ll both die here!" the mirror person said urgently.


    Maria hesitated. This wasn''t the first time the mirror person had suggested an exchange, and she had always been wary, never agreeing.


    But she also knew something was very wrong, and doubted she could handle it with her own abilities.


    "Hurry! What are you hesitating for?" demanded the mirror person.


    The bandaged ghost figures drew closer, and Maria''s body began to shake ever so slightly. After a few seconds of hesitation, she finally gritted her teeth and kissed her reflection in the mirror.


    With the imprint of her lips, the contract was sealed!


    The next second, the person in the mirror vanished, and Maria''s pupils turned dull. Then she slowly closed her eyes, only to snap them open again.


    Her gaze had changed, no longer that of a pitiable little rabbit; it was sharp as a knife.


    Dense, bandaged ghost figures surrounded "Maria." Thick ck fog rose from her body, preventing the spirits from getting close.


    But "Maria" knew she couldn''t hold out for long. So, she turned and dashed upstairs.


    ......


    "There are a total of 108 bodies," Ailent finally finished counting the corpses and reported a number.


    "Are you sure it''s 108?" Xu Yi asked, not convinced.


    "Of course!" Ailent pped his chest in assurance. He was terrified he might count one less and miss a ghost that would then cling to him, so he had been particrly careful.


    Xu Yi nodded, satisfied. ording to the newspaper, the number of bodies missing from the cemetery was exactly 108. This number could have other meanings, but that was not important now.


    "Burn these bodies, and we can break the haunting here!" Xu Yi picked up the kerosene he had bought earlier from the corner of the wall and handed it to Ailent.


    There were many methods of exorcism, and the simplest and most crude was to destroy the vessel, which in this case was the bandaged corpses before them.


    "Could this end up burning the house down?" Ailent took the gasoline with some hesitation.


    Xu Yi moved a bundle of fireproof cloths from the corner of the wall to Ailent''s feet, clearly well-prepared.


    Ailent was at a loss for words as he looked at the fireproof cloth. Such cloth could only iste small fires; if the mes grew toorge, they were useless!


    "The ghost realm has just formed and can be broken easily. If we wait too long..." Xu Yi did not finish his sentence.


    "What are we waiting for? Let''s get to work, Exorcist!" Ailent swiftly poured kerosene over the corpse.


    Xu Yi nodded in satisfaction.


    Being faint-hearted isn''t all bad¡ªat least one wouldn''t trade their life for a bit of money.


    Ailent really dide at the right time today; otherwise, if Xu Yi identally burned down the house, he would have no way to exin himself.


    He certainly didn''t want to carry the me.


    The lighter clicked twice and an orange me rose. Holding the lighter, Xu Yi walked toward the pile of corpses.


    The final blow had to be dealt by himself!


    Not for a sense of ceremony, but because only then could he trigger the "Entries Devouring" after destroying the ghost.


    The lights in the morgue flickered on and off¡ªthe ghost had already started to influence this ce.


    Xu Yi didn''t hesitate; he threw the lighter at the pile of corpses, which immediately caught fire due to the kerosene, zing fiercely.


    The two stepped back, but their expressions suddenly changed. The red incantations on the corpses began to flicker and the burning mes were extinguished at a rate visible to the naked eye.


    "The lighter!" Xu Yi extended his hand to Ailent with a serious look on his face.


    Ailent hurriedly passed the spare lighter to Xu Yi.


    The lighter, with its me alight, was brought close to the corpses, but this time the situation was worse than before; the kerosene seemed ineffective, unable to ignite at all.


    He tried several times in session, but the result was the same.


    It seemed thatmon methods couldn''t burn these corpses! Xu Yi frowned deeply.


    Just as he was at a loss, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly came from upstairs, causing Xu Yi to pause.


    Ghosts are ethereal and should not make footsteps sounds.


    Could it be an illusion? Yet it seemed so real.


    Ailent was already as jumpy as a spooked bird. Upon hearing the footsteps, he trembled and hid behind Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi ignored him and headed upstairs on his own.


    "Xu... Xu Yi, save me!"


    No sooner had Xu Yi reached the top of the stairs than he saw an unbelievable figure, "Maria! What are you doing here?"


    Maria leaned against the wall in the corridor, covered in blood, moaning in pain, "Martin wants to deal with you, I secretly followed him here to tell you the news..."


    Xu Yi''s Psychic Entry was nearing full value, and with his not insubstantial Spiritual Perception, he could determine that she was indeed human, not an illusion created by a spiteful ghost.


    As Maria looked at Xu Yi, who was steadily approaching, she lowered her head slightly to conceal the malevolent glint in her eyes. She wasn''t looking to kill Xu Yi¡ªshe just wanted to find a new scapegoat.


    With each step Xu Yi took closer, Maria clenched the craft knife hidden in her sleeve.


    Stopping three steps away from Maria, Xu Yi spoke in an eerie tone, "What''s hidden in your sleeve? Is it a knife? Were you nning to stab me a few times?"


    The Combat Techniques Entry endowed him with a wealth ofbat experience. Despite her act ofbored breathing, he noticed straight away that she wasn''t injured.


    As he drew nearer to her, the system also sent a prompt.


    [Psychic Entry Experience +9, Current Progress: 95/100.]


    As he witnessed the Entry''s value rising, Xu Yi felt a surge of excitement.


    Without a doubt, there was something off about Maria!


    Beyond her poor disguise and the hint from the Entry experience, there was one more crucial point.


    The ghostly figure that had been crouched behind Maria was gone, and of course, Xu Yi wasn''t na?ve enough to think that the spirit had a change of heart and left on its own.


    Xu Yi had reason to believe that it was the ghost that had seized control of Maria''s body!

 Chapter 16 Fierce Maria

    Maria''s lips curled into a sinister smile. Suddenly, she sprang to her feet and pounced on Xu Yi, the craft knife in her hand shing with a cold glint.


    Since she was already seen through by Xu Yi, there was no need to keep up the pretense.


    "So fast!" Xu Yi was slightly startled. Her speed was beyond his expectations, and even he was unable to burst forth with such velocity.


    Xu Yi responded in a rush, but after exchanging a few rounds, he rxed.


    Her speed was indeed fast, and her moves appeared fierce, but they were all style and no substance, clearly devoid of any professional training.


    Xu Yi deliberately exposed a w to lure her into a trap, then suddenly changed his tactic and grabbed her wrist.


    Grappling skills were Xu Yi''s forte, and just as he was about to subdue Maria, she kicked against the wall, her body soaring into the air, twisting her waist and shaking off Xu Yi''s restraint.


    "Such a flexible body! Such agile moves!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but exim.


    Her movements would have been showy enough even in a divingpetition.


    Finding Xu Yi tough to handle, Maria decisively changed her target and charged toward Ailent.


    "Ah!" Ailent cried out in rm.


    He had just stepped onto the stairs and hadn''t grasped what was happening when he saw a dark shadow lunging toward him.


    Luckily, he had an axe for self-defense as he came upstairs and now instinctively swung it out.


    The anticipated scene of blood spraying everywhere did not ur; Maria once again disyed impressive body control, bringing her charging form to a sudden stop and dodging the swung axe.


    Maria wanted to continue her attack, but her neck was struck hard, and her body copsed softly.


    Xu Yi stealthily appeared behind Maria, maintaining his striking pose.


    How dare she divide her attention to deal with others? Was she underestimating him that much?


    Seeing Maria fall, Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief.


    Luckily, she had not learnedbat techniques; otherwise, with that speed and body control, he wasn''t sure he could have handled her!


    A heavy blow capable of knocking out an ordinary person for half an hour was just enough to daze Maria for a few seconds before she showed signs ofing to.


    Such terrifying resilience to being struck!


    Xu Yi clucked his tongue secretly and quickly moved forward to restrain Maria.


    "Such skill, worthy indeed of the exorcist!" Ailent, as if waking from a dream, beganvishly praising Xu Yi.


    "Bring me a rope, there''s one in the hall."


    Xu Yi couldn''t be bothered with Ailent. To leave this ce alive, even if he dered the Earth was t, the other man would nod without hesitation.


    He utilized the innate skill learned from rope-tying lessons and firmly bound Maria.


    At this moment, Maria slowly came to, and Xu Yi stared at her, demanding, "Who exactly are you?"


    "Who else could I be? Am I not Maria? To think I''ve been bringing you food these past few days, and you have no consideration for past kindness, tying me up here?" Maria cast a coquettish look at Xu Yi.


    For innocent young men, the act of batting eyshes could be incredibly powerful, but s, Xu Yi was an oldrade seasoned by countless battles and simply ignored it.


    Xu Yi looked at her as if she were a pig unafraid of boiling water and suddenlyughed, "You don''t think I don''t have a way to deal with you, do you?"


    "What do you mean?" Maria suddenly had an ominous premonition.


    Xu Yi didn''t waste any more words. He pulled a ne out from under his cor, with a pendant that was a crudely carved wooden bottle.


    As the bottle cap was untwisted, Maria''s body shuddered violently.


    Inside the bottle was what Xu Yi had scavenged on Rose Street¡ªthe "ancestral treasure," several pieces of bloodstained ss.


    Xu Yi had counted them carefully. There were five shards of ss in total, each about the size of a fingernail, with bloodstains only as big as soybeans.


    The blood on them was no ordinary blood; it could drive away evil spirits. Xu Yi, of course, wanted to carry it with him, but carrying the shards would interfere with his psychic entries.


    So he began to ponder, was there a way to iste the maic field emitted by the bloodstains?


    After days of experimentation, he finally found a material that could do just that: sun puppet wood.


    But only fresh yang energy wood was useful, and its efficacy could only be maintained for three hours. He carved a small wooden bottle out of the yang energy wood just before school let out, and naturally, the bottle was rough.


    Now, as the cap of the yang energy wood bottle was opened, the powerful maic field of blood emanated from it.


    Maria felt the threat approaching, continually moving backward, but it was to no avail as her body was firmly tied to the railing, unable to dodge.


    Seeing Xu Yi with such a solemn expression, Ailent was greatly agitated.


    Could this be the exorcism of legend?


    The exorcism incidents he had encountered before were limited to newspaper reports; this was his first personal experience.


    The bottle containing the mysterious bloodstains pressed against Maria''s forehead. She let out a piercing scream, and a gray mist enveloped her from behind.


    "No!" Maria cried out in agony.


    Some mysterious power acted upon Maria''s soul. Her body convulsed, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.


    Xu Yi quietly breathed a sigh of relief.


    He had not been sure whether the exorcism would be sessful, as he only had a half-understanding of the mysterious blood himself. Fortunately, the result was still passable.


    The unconscious Maria slowly opened her eyes, and looking at Xu Yi, her face filled with regret.


    In her eyes, Xu Yi saw no confusion; his heart stirred, thinking of a possibility, "Can you perceive what''s happening outside?"


    "My soul has been sealed within my body, but I can still sense what''s happening outside."


    Maria looked at Xu Yi with concern, "Are you hurt? If I had known An would do this, I would never have agreed to let her out!"


    "An?" Xu Yi asked, puzzled.


    Maria exined her encounter with An.


    After understanding the whole story, Xu Yi fell into deep thought.


    He suddenly thought of something, and a shock hit him, "You said Martin followed you in, where is he? Take me to him!"


    In the secluded study, the door stood wide open. Xu Yi could see clearly inside and gasped in shock.


    Ailent trembled uncontrobly.


    Xu Yi finally understood why he could no longer see ghosts in the morgue.


    In the study, densely packed ghostly figures made out of bandages were gathering, crammed together, all looking towards the center of the room.


    At the center stood a pir, and tied to it was a person¡ªMartin, who had sneaked in.


    Martin''s palm was pierced through, with crimson blood flowing all over the ground. Xu Yi felt a familiar presence on Martin''s body¡ªit was An, the "Mirror Person."


    He suddenly understood why An had attacked him; it was in search of a "substitute victim"!


    Using Martin''s blood as a medium and negative energy as a primer, the bandage-wrapped ghostly figures were made to mistake Martin as their target.


    Xu Yi spected that as soon as Maria entered the ce, she must have caught the attention of the Funeral Parlor''s ghosts.


    It was simple, really. Ghosts, for the most part, acted on instinct and were even more xenophobic than the average person.


    And An inside Maria''s body, undoubtedly, was an "alien ghost"!


    Under normal circumstances, Maria might have faced some harassment, but unfortunately for her, the statue of Jesus in the cemetery was struck down by lightning, causing the ghosts in the Funeral Parlor to erupt with anger. If it weren''t for a substitute victim, Maria would probably have been torn to shreds by the bandage-wrapped ghostly figures.


    Martin, the substitute victim, wouldn''tst much longer. The ghostly figures surrounded him, appearing to do nothing. Yet Xu Yi could sense that Yuan Qi was being drawn out from Martin''s body, thread by thread.


    This was also the reason why An was in a hurry to find the next substitute victim.


    Xu Yi''s face turned grim; An''s search for a substitute victim was excusable, but this method was a temporary solution at best.


    These bandage-wrapped ghostly figures, in his eyes, were not much of a threat. But after feeding on Martin''s Yuan Qi, they became different.


    Just like wild boars that had tasted human flesh, they were no longer merely a nuisance to crops.


    Blood began to coalesce in the crimson pupils of the ghosts... They were evolving frommon ghosts into ferocious spirits.

 Chapter 17 Psychic Entries Completion

    Xu Yi looked at the room full of ghosts, his eyebrows knitting tighter and tighter.


    If these weremon ghosts, even inrge numbers, he wouldn''t worry, but ferocious spirits were different¡ªthey possessed the ability to actively kill people.


    He nced at the bloodstains on the shards of ss in the bottle, one of which had grown dim.


    This was no illusion, the energy contained in the blood could perform exorcisms, but this energy was not endless. Once it ran out, the blood would lose its effect.


    Xu Yi quickly screwed the cap back on the bottle, his face filled with distress.


    Why use a butcher''s knife to kill a chicken?


    His mysterious blood was obviously a "high-end product," using it on these ghosts was truly wasteful. If he didn''tck other exorcism methods, he wouldn''t have used it.


    "Looks like I need to find a way to enrich my exorcism methods!" Xu Yi resolved in his heart.


    After all, the blood was rted to the golden entries, which he nned to use for research in the future¡ªhe couldn''t afford to squander it all away.


    While Xu Yi was pondering, Martin had already opened his eyes, filled with regret at this moment.


    He had snuck into the house, not finding Xu Yi but encountering Maria instead.


    Just as he was puzzled, she suddenly pounced on him.


    Initially, he didn''t pay much attention to it, as Maria''s frail appearance was deeply etched in his mind. However, he quickly learned he was terribly mistaken.


    He hadn''tsted three seconds before Maria knocked him out!


    When he woke up, he found himself tied to a pir, his hands pierced through. But the most terrifying thing was that he was surrounded by a group of ghostly shadows.


    Fear engulfed him like a tide, he would have preferred to encounter Cannibal.


    It was then he saw Xu Yi, hope igniting in his pupils as he used thest of his strength to shout hoarsely, "Save me!"


    Xu Yi, realizing something was wrong as soon as Martin woke up, was just about to retreat when Martin cried out.


    The dense cluster of ghostly shadows turned their heads in unison. Xu Yi managed to stay calm, but Ailent panicked like a rabbit and ran towards the back of the corridor.


    Maria hid behind Xu Yi, clutching the hem of his clothes, her face pale.


    "Don''t be afraid," Xu Yi reassured, holding Maria''s tender, white arm.


    Ailent, who had run off, suddenly let out a scream and rushed back even faster because the end of the corridor was blocked by a bandaged ghostly shadow.


    Ghostly shadows didn''t need to walk with legs like ordinary people. In the blink of an eye, Xu Yi found himself surrounded by a dense crowd of them.


    A chill hit him head-on, and Xu Yi almost couldn''t resist opening the wooden bottle again.


    Just then, the long-missing charred ghostly shadow suddenly appeared, blocking in front of Xu Yi. He looked at the charred ghostly shadow, or more urately, at the silhouette of the psychic boy Jona, and was momentarily taken aback.


    Was the other party helping him?


    At the same time, the system''s voice rang out.


    [Psychic Entries Experience +13, Experience Overflow, Current Progress: 100/100.]


    [Psychic Entries Infusion in progress...]


    A stream of cold energy poured into him from the crown of his head, causing Xu Yi to shudder. He was immersed in an enigmatic sensation.


    As he was receiving the baptism of entries, the charred ghostly shadow suddenly stretched out its hand and grabbed his wrist.


    Xu Yi was startled and tried to struggle, but he soon stopped.


    [Homologous Energy detected; Psychic Entries is changing, upgrading from "White Rare" to "White Epic."]


    Entries upgrade?


    This unexpected gain made Xu Yi ecstatic; entries were divided into three sub-levels: "Common," "Rare," and "Epic."


    Xu Yi hadn''t even had the chance to check the contents of the upgraded entries when his vision suddenly flickered, and when it returned, the scene had changed.


    He stood in the lobby of the Funeral Parlor, in front of him arge solid wood round table, around which a group of people were seated.


    He saw a familiar face in the crowd, the psychic boy Jona, whom he had once seen in old newspapers.


    At that moment, Jona extended his hand and joined with the people on either side, their movements synchronized, hands joined to form a circle.


    Jona''s eyes were intensely focused, as if he were conducting some kind of spiritmunication ritual.


    Behind the round table, Xu Yi also saw the original owner of the house, a middle-aged man with round-framed sses, his face gloomy.


    The former homeowner took out a wooden box, opened it, and ced it in the center of the table.


    Xu Yi frowned and stared at the contents of the wooden box, which looked like pieces of withered leaves, elongated in shape, but upon closer inspection, they were not quite the same,cking the characteristic veins of leaves.


    The spiritmunication had started off very smoothly, but halfway through, the boy Jona suddenly contorted his face in pain, his body violently trembling. He gasped open his mouth, from which a white, jelly-like substance poured out from his nose and mouth.


    "Extraneous matter!"


    A word shed through Xu Yi''s mind.


    In the spiritual world, extraneous matter was extremely well-known; only psychics with powerful Spiritual Perception could produce it in their bodies, enhancing their spiritmunication abilities.


    A rare few psychics'' extraneous matter also possessed some bizarre abilities.


    Extraneous matter flowed out from Jona''s nose and mouth, seeming to defy gravity as it floated in the air.


    Though the scene was eerie, it was not beyond control; the original house owner stood by silently.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi turned his head to look at the box in the center of the round table. He felt an intense resentment emanating from the box.


    As soon as the resentment encountered the extraneous matter, it ignited like gasoline meeting a spark, transforming in the blink of an eye into a zing fire.


    The explosion of mes sshed in all directions,nding on people and instantaneously setting them alight.


    These people had spent a fortune toe here for spiritmunication, hoping to see their deceased loved ones once more, only to suffer such a cmity.


    People burning like torches let out piercing screams as they fled in all directions. The fire ignited everything around, engulfing the entire house in mes.


    For reasons unknown, whether due to luck or something else, miraculously, the original house owner and Jona were not touched by the mes.


    The former homeowner grabbed Jona and sprinted down the hallway.


    Their actions seemed to draw the gaze of a mysterious force from beyond, as those engulfed in mes abruptly turned their heads, staring intently at the two''s retreating figures and rapidly pursued them.


    Ordinary people set aze by fire would have long been incapacitated by pain, let alone chase after Jona and the homeowner. Xu Yi knew very well that all of this was due to that resentment.


    It was the resentment that ignited the extraneous matter, and it was the same resentment that controlled the burning corpses to attack Jona and the homeowner.


    The burning corpses moved with astonishing speed. Knowing they couldn''t escape, the homeowner looked at Jona and, with determination, grabbed the wooden box and ran towards the attic.


    The burning corpses pursued the original house owner, seemingly ignoring Jona who had fallen to the side.


    "The original house owner is leading the burning corpses away!" Xu Yi, as an observer, instantly understood the other''s intention.


    Jona stared nkly at the former house owner''s retreating figure until the searing mes spread towards him, and only then did he snap back to reality.


    He ran towards the exit, but it was already enveloped in mes. The raging inferno forced him to retreat back inside.


    With fiery mes on all sides, Jona had nowhere to escape and could only make his way to the mortuary room in the basement.


    As the mes drew closer, Jona suddenly remembered the "hidden passage" in the cremation furnace.


    A channel was reserved for easy removal of coal ash, leading directly outside for easy disposal.


    He crawled into the cremation furnace, and at that moment, the burning corpses appeared at the mortuary door, madly rushing towards the furnace.


    They mmed against the furnace, and whether by coincidence or some mystery force, thetch of the furnace fell, locking the lid in ce.


    Unable to open it from the inside, Jona desperately crawled further in, hoping to escape through the "hidden passage." However, under the maniption of the intense resentment, the burning corpses crawled into the furnace''s fuel intake below.


    The coal below was ignited, turning into roaring mes that burned Jona alive inside it.


    As Jona died in agony, the fire in the house eerily extinguished itself, leaving behind charred skeletal remains.

 Chapter 18 Extracellular Fluid of Blood

    Xu Yi''s eyes snapped open, and instead of the burning morgue, it was the corridor from before, surrounded by a dense throng of bandaged ghostly shadows.


    The scenes he just experienced weren''t illusions; they had truly urred but in the past.


    This was the function of spiritmunication ability.


    It perceived abnormal maic fields and glimpsed things invisible tomon people. If one''s spiritmunication ability were strong, one could even traverse back to the past or foresee the future.


    [Psychic Entries (White Epic):


    Ability 1 - Extraordinary Perception:


    Perceive the abnormal, gaze upon the mystical.


    Ability 2 - Blood Exteriors:


    Your blood can transform into otherkind exteriors, which can be ignited. The mes of the blood exteriors can harm spirits, dark creatures, and the like.]


    "Thank you!" Xu Yi looked earnestly at the charred ghostly shadow beside him, expressing heartfelt gratitude.


    Without a doubt, that shadow was the psychic boy Jona.


    If it weren''t for Jona infusing his spiritual power into him, the psychic entries could not have possibly upgraded!


    Jona''s figure had dimmed considerably, and his spiritual perception was not as strong as before.


    Clearly, infusing energy was also a significant burden for Jona and caused substantial harm to his spirit form.


    Xu Yi fixed his gaze on the "Blood Exteriors" ability description, his eyes aze.


    In the spiritual world, exteriors were well-known, yet, unfortunately, the majority of psychics couldn''t generate exteriors.


    Only a small portion of psychics could birth exteriors within them, like what Xu Yi had seen in the illusionary realm, the white gel-like substance that oozed from the psychic boy Jona''s mouth and nose.


    Exteriors can enhance spiritual power, serving as a buff of sorts.


    If there were a talent ranking among psychics, then without a doubt, Jona would definitely be at the spearhead.


    Because the exterior Jona generated belonged to the otherkind.


    The so-called otherkind exterior was, aside from augmenting spiritual power, also endowed with other properties, and Jona''s exterior''s feature was burning.


    "This is like smoke billowing from an ancestral tomb!" thought Xu Yi, thrilled.


    His otherkind exterior was even more rare than Jona''s.


    Jona''s exterior burst uncontrobly from his mouth and nose, while Xu Yi''s exterior was controble and could be transformed through his blood.


    Just this distinction was as vast as the heavens and the earth.


    In a moment of crisis, you''re awaiting an exterior to save your life, but all you can count on is luck¡ªcan you imagine how exasperating that is?


    The most crucial point was that the mes produced by the burning of his blood exterior could actually harm spirits, dark creatures, and the like.


    This was simply the ace in the hole!


    Most psychicscked the means to harm spirits, making the blood exterior extraordinarily significant to Xu Yi.


    As the charred ghostly shadow weakened, the bandaged ghostly shadows drew ever nearer to Xu Yi and the others.


    Their space to maneuver shrank, and Maria pressedpletely against Xu Yi''s back.


    Xu Yi felt the softness of Maria''s body. Had it been another time, he might have done something, but now he only wanted to resolve the issue at hand.


    Having acquired his spiritmunication ability, his spiritual perception greatly increased; he could sense the bandaged ghostly shadows bing more and more dangerous.


    "What do we do now?" Allen''s body trembled.


    His face was almost pressed up against the bandaged ghostly shadows!


    He too wished to squeeze next to Xu Yi, but unfortunately, he wasn''t Maria and couldn''t bring himself to do such a thing even with the thickest face.


    Xu Yi ignored Allen, once more opening the wooden vial.


    The maic field of the mysterious blood was released; the bandaged ghostly shadows were repelled, positioned three meters away, and the charred ghostly shadowpletely vanished.


    With the blood exterior, he now had the confidence to deal with the malevolent spirits.


    To save time, he used the power of the mysterious blood again, for any further dy would only worsen the situation and lead to greater losses.


    "Follow me!" Xu Yi walked back, surrounded by ghosts.


    Martin was still wailing, but Xu Yi couldn''t be bothered to nce at him; he wasn''t a saint, and whether the other party was dead or alive had nothing to do with him.


    Back in the basement morgue, they returned to this ce once more.


    Xu Yi stared at the bodies scattered on the floor, connecting various clues in his mind, and he understood the whole story.


    The original homeowner, in order to enhance Jona''s psychic abilities, stole corpses from the cemetery, engraved them with Necromantic Spells, causing the souls to be unable to pass on and trapped within the bodies.


    The souls that were trapped gave rise to powerful resentment. During one of Jona''s psychic rituals, the resentment eruptedpletely, igniting the ectosm and creating illusionary mes, killing the original homeowner, and Jona did not escape either.


    "As long as these bodies are burned and the souls trapped within them are freed, the sealed malevolent spirits will break on their own." His previous guess was not wrong.


    Gazing at the pile of bodies, with his psychic entries at full value, he finally sensed something was amiss.


    A chilling resentment lingered over the bodies, no wonder ordinary mes couldn''t ignite them!


    "Xu Yi, they''reing!" Maria clutched the hem of Xu Yi''s clothes tightly, her eyes filled with reliance.


    Bandaged ghosts surged into the morgue. Without further dy, Xu Yi hurriedly took out a utility knife and pricked his finger.


    Blood slowly dripped down as Xu Yi concentrated, activating the ability he had just acquired, the ectosmic blood.


    In the process of dripping, some unknown energy flowed into his blood, turning the fresh red blood clear.


    Only three drops of the clear "blood" fell when Xu Yi suddenly felt dizzy. If not for Maria''s quick reflexes to support him, he would have copsed to the ground.


    "Using Ectosmic Blood actually has such severe side effects!"


    Xu Yi was inwardly shocked; he felt drained, as if he had spent three days and nights continuously at an inte cafe and just wanted a good sleep.


    But he knew he couldn''t. He bit his tongue lightly with his teeth, forcefully pulling himself together.


    Xu Yi took a lighter out of his pocket, flicked it twice, and the orange me slowly neared the ectosmic blood.


    Ailent looked on in confusion. They had tried this before; mes simply could not ignite the bodies, even when doused in kerosene.


    But in the next second, his eyes suddenly widened.


    The me not only ignited the bodies but in the blink of an eye, turned into a roaring fire that devoured the pile of bodies.


    Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief; the side effects of the ectosmic blood were strong, but luckily the effect was exceptional.


    His good moodsted only a few seconds; he quickly realized something was wrong.


    The Necromantic Spells on the outer walls not only didn''t disappear but instead began to spread toward the basement.


    Logically, the bandaged ghost should have been able to find release soon, not necessarily overjoyed, but at least calmed down.


    But that didn''t happen. They became more agitated, letting out a wild beast-like roar, their crimson pupils revealing bone-chilling hatred.


    Had it not been for the effect of the mystical bloodstains, they would have already pounced, tearing everyone''s flesh.


    "What exactly went wrong?"


    Xu Yi was extremely anxious. As the bandaged ghosts rioted, the mystical bloodstains began to quickly deplete, with one of them close to fadingpletely.


    "Stay calm! Stay calm!" He knew that the more anxious he got, the more mistakes he would make, the more time he would waste.


    He carefully observed his surroundings, trying to find a clue, while Ailent dared not even breathe too loudly, afraid of disturbing Xu Yi.


    As time ticked away, Xu Yi was ready to forcefully break the situation using his mystical blood; although it pained him to use up two or three drops of the five he had, at least it would preserve a spark of hope.


    Just then, something caught his eye within the zing bodies, sparking a thought.


    To confirm his suspicion, he observed the agitated bandaged ghosts again, and he finally knew where the problemy.


    It was the eyelids! All these bodies were missing eyelids!


    If the mes hadn''t burned away the wrappings, Xu Yi might have never noticed the problem.


    The original homeowner carved Necromantic Spells on the corpses, and to make use of the corpses'' spell power, they couldn''t possibly carry the bodies everywhere, so they needed a medium.


    And that medium was the eyelids.


    No wonder the ghosts were rioting; the eyelids were the key to unlocking the Necromantic Spells, and without burning the eyelids alongside the bodies, the ghosts would not face reincarnation, butplete annihtion!

 Chapter 19 The Final Key

    "I need to find a box upstairs!" Xu Yi forced his weakened body to stand.


    The drop of mysterious blood inside the bottle rapidly dimmed, if he allowed these ghost spirits to keep washing over it, he feared not only would this drop of blood be exhausted, but the remaining four drops would also be in jeopardy.


    Only by finding the eyes of the corpse could he appease these enraged spirits.


    As soon as he stood up, a strong sense of weakness hit him again, and he stumbled, nearly falling.


    The after-effects of using the foreign substance were more severe than he had imagined. Xu Yi was now considering whether he should cut his own heart, using a Resurrection Coin to return to ten minutes ago. That way, it would be much more rxed.


    He currently possessed two Resurrection Coins, which he had intended to save to buy a treasure chest to see what the circumstances would be. If the situation was urgent, he would have to use one first.


    "Did An say she knows where that box is?" Maria suddenly spoke up.


    Xu Yi was startled for a moment before he reacted.


    An had once taken control of Maria''s body to visit the attic, and the box was shrouded in intense malice. As a special ghost spirit, An might truly sense that malice.


    Maria eyed the weakened Xu Yi, hesitated for a moment, and then took out a small mirror from her pocket, "An also said she can help you retrieve the box."


    Xu Yi furrowed his brows in thought, indeed, if the other party was willing to help, it was the best choice.


    His body now was weak, and going to the attic to find the box and then returning here would probably take seven or eight minutes.


    By then, who knows what would be of the mysterious blood? In that case, it might be better to use a Resurrection Coin directly?


    After all, Resurrection Coins can be replenished, but once the mysterious blood is gone, it''s gone!


    As for switching to Maria or Ailent, he also considered this method, but they were justmon people and couldn''t sense the malice at all. They probably wouldn''t even be able to find the box.


    If An were willing to help, then nothing could be better. After all, her speed was even faster than his at his peak.


    "She wouldn''t be thinking of taking the opportunity to possess Maria and then run away, would she?"


    He did not immediately agree because he had his reservations.


    But he soon realized that this possibility was negligible, considering the Guiyue was still around, and the other party couldn''t get far.


    The previous attack on him was just for survival.


    Which is to say, their interests were aligned.


    "I''ll leave this matter in An''s hands!" Xu Yi nodded in agreement.


    The biggest reason he epted was the Resurrection Coin.


    After a set time, if the other party didn''te back, he would stab his heart twice and resurrect back to ten minutes ago.


    Maria watched the reflection in the mirror; this time, she didn''t need a kiss because the contract was already made.


    She opened her heart, and An''s ghost instantly upied control of the body, her eyes turning sharp.


    Xu Yi looked on in amazement at this scene.


    Typically, for a ghost to possess a person''s body was not an easy feat, and there would often be various after-effects such as darkening of the eyes, paling of the face, or appearance of corpse spots on the body.


    But none of these after-effects were seen on Maria.


    It''s not so much that An had possessed Maria; it''s more like there were already two souls existing in Maria''s body.


    This kind of Dual Soul as One was exceedingly rare.


    Maria slowly opened her eyes, no, the person in front now had be An.


    An didn''t leave immediately but came up to Xu Yi, leaving a bright red kiss mark on his face. She winked at Xu Yi, "This is my apology."


    An and Maria hadpletely different personalities, but one thing was simr, they both admired the strong.


    Ailent watched wide-eyed, thinking to himself, can I really watch this for free?


    "Hurry up and go!" Xu Yi pushed An away with an iron heart.


    With every passing second, the energy of the mysterious blood was being depleted, what good is a kiss?


    If you truly want to apologize, can''t we all go to a hotel and discuss philosophy all night long after things are settled?


    An dashed toward the staircase, even faster than before.


    Xu Yi marveled in secret, at that speed, that agility... if the person trained properly, they could certainly be a fighting master.


    The Bandaged Ghost did not chase after An,pared to expelling An, the "outsider," they were more concerned about themselves.


    The corpses were where their souls resided, if they did not have eyelids, the key that unlocked the blockade, their souls would be burned to nothing.


    "I hope Anes back soon!" Xu Yi looked at the blood that was dimming and sighed.


    An ran madly through the corridors, keenly sensing the resentment floating in the air.


    When she passed the attic earlier, she had detected a strong resentment there.


    She bolted to the attic, taking less than twenty seconds, no hesitation, no need to discern direction, after all, the resentment cloaked in darkness was too conspicuous.


    The wooden boards of the attic were brittle and were prated by An''s solid hands, touching the wooden box felt like holding a hot piece of charred coal, a sign of the box''s resentment resisting.


    An just frowned; her tolerance for pain was beyond imagination.


    She carried the wooden box and flipped directly down from the staircase three to four meters high,nding gracefully, agile as a cat.


    In the mortuary of the basement, hurried footsteps could be heard; Xu Yi was slightly startled, could it be Aning back?


    But that was too fast, wasn''t it? It had been less than fifty seconds since An left!


    Even at his prime, it would take at least two minutes to run back and forth from the basement to the attic.


    An, holding the wooden box, charged towards Xu Yi, she was not met with resistance from the mysterious blood, meaning only one thing, that the person controlling the body had reverted back to Maria.


    "Xu Yi, is this the wooden box?" Maria handed the wooden box to Xu Yi.


    The two were actually easy to tell apart; Maria''s voice was more "soft," and her gaze was gentler; An''s voice was cool, her eyes sharper, more aggressive.


    "Is she willing to give up control of the body?" Xu Yi was somewhat surprised.


    Based on his understanding of An, it had not been easy for her to gain control of the body, and she certainly would not give it up easily.


    "An... is not very willing, but I''ve mastered the trick, I cane out whenever I want," Maria said softly.


    Surprise flickered through Xu Yi''s eyes; he had slightly underestimated Maria before. As the Main Soul, she appeared weak and waspletely suppressed by An.


    But since her soul had been released by Xu Yi, she was now able to suppress An in turn, able toe out at any time, indicating she possessed strong soul Talent.


    Such a strong Talent, if nurtured properly, could potentially be an exorcist.


    These thoughts merely shed through Xu Yi''s mind; the pressing matter was to resolve the issue at hand.


    Xu Yi opened the wooden box, inside were dried eyelids.


    The surrounding Bandaged Ghosts became restless, letting out beast-like roars, but without their deep-rooted bitterness, instead with a sense of urgency.


    There was nothing to hesitate about, Xu Yi casually threw the box into the fire, the shriveled eyelids ignited instantly, turning to ashes in the mes.


    All the Bandaged Ghosts had illusory mes rising from them, but they did not struggle, standing quietly in ce.


    The blood-colored pupils gradually faded, regaining rity, they looked at Xu Yi with gratitude.


    Xu Yi quickly sealed the wooden vial and casually sat down on the ground, breathing heavily.

 Chapter 20 Acquiring New Entries

    The corpse was incinerated, and the ghostly silhouette dissipated in the roaring mes, Xu Yi''s face full of anticipation.


    [Entry Devouring Activated, Entry Devouring in progress...]


    [Congrattions on acquiring a nk Entry: Necromantic Spells (White Rare)!]


    [Congrattions on acquiring Enchantment Pathway: Enchantment Imprinter = Necromantic Spells + Sculptor + Soul Nurturing Technique!]


    Only one entry, which left Xu Yi somewhat disappointed.


    He had already tasted the sweetness of the entries, and even themon nk ones were very useful.


    The only constion was that Necromantic Spells was a "White Rare" entry.


    [Necromantic Spells (Complete Version):


    Phase 1: Imprint necromantic spells on an object to enhance Spiritual Power.


    Phase 2: Encase a soul into an object to turn it into a Spiritual Object, doubling the effect of the enhanced Spiritual Power.]


    Xu Yi''s eyes brightened as he read the entry description, which was somewhat beyond his expectations.


    He initially wasn''t very interested in Necromantic Spells, as it involved engraving spells onto corpses.


    It wasn''t that he had any sort of phobia; it was just that the operation wasplicated. If someone found a corpse hidden in his house, he was afraid not even jumping into the Yellow River would wash him clean.


    Unexpectedly, the original homeowner had used an iplete version of the Necromantic Spells. Theplete version did not necessarily require a corpse, which instantly elevated its practicality several levels.


    "Enchantment Imprinter?"


    Another vocational entry fusion path, Xu Yi merely nced at it and then dismissed it.


    After all, he hadn''t evenbined the "Psychic Painter" vocational entry, let alone "Enchantment Imprinter"¡ªhe was still missing two nk entries, wasn''t he?


    The system was good in every way, except that it didn''t provide descriptions forbined entries, so he could only guess the function of thebined entries by their names.


    All the ghosts had vanished. Ailent suddenly let out a strange cry and dashed to the corner, pulling out the fireproof cloth hidden there.


    This house was his, and now that he finally seeded in the exorcism, if he let the fire burn down the house, it would be a major loss.


    But then he stopped abruptly; the body was burning at a speed so astonishing that in just a moment, only the skeleton remained within the mes.


    As the body was destroyed, the raging fire mysteriously extinguished itself.


    Xu Yi heaved a sigh of relief, he was terribly exhausted and had no energy left to put out a fire now.


    "Find a ce for them, to bury them," Xu Yi said softly.


    Ailent quickly nodded in agreement; he waspletely in awe of Xu Yi by now and would naturallyply, especially since they were already in a graveyard, finding a ce to bury them wouldn''t be difficult.


    The ochre walls faded back to normal, the bloody curse inscriptions also disappeared, and the house returned to its original appearance.


    With the evil spirits dissolved, Xu Yi walked to the door and pushed it open.


    Unbeknownst to him, the downpour had already ceased, and the serene moonlight bathed the entire sky, filling the air with the fragrance of grass and trees.


    Xu Yi suddenly turned his head, looking towards the left side of the door.


    There stood a ghostly figure under the shade of the trees, quietly watching him, his face showing no sign of surprise as he nodded to the figure.


    The ghostly figure was Jona, the Psychic boy, who no longer bore his charred appearance, but had reverted to his former self, wearing a shirt and a cap with a youthful face.


    Xu Yi had been able to break through the malevolent spirits thanks to Jona''s help; without the ability of blood essence, he might have had to resort to utilizing the power of the mysterious blood.


    Jona had helped Xu Yi not only because of his inherently good nature, but also for a very important reason, which was Jona''s wish to leave the house as well.


    The Bandaged Ghost was unable to be freed because of the Necromantic Spells, and although Jona was not the culprit, he was indirectly affected, tangled by the resentment of the ghosts, unable to leave as well.


    Now that the ghosts had been exorcised, he finally regained his freedom.


    Jona''s lips curved into a faint smile as his figure slowly faded away.


    "Ghosts! Ghosts!"


    Screams suddenly emanated from the house, and a figure burst through the front door and rushed out.


    That was Martin, who had regained consciousness. After the ghostly creature disappeared, Ailent untied the ropes on Martin''s body and hastily bandaged his hand.


    It wasn''t a surge of mercy so much as a concern that excessive blood loss might lead to death on the premises, which wouldplicate matters since Ailent was the homeowner.


    Moreover, it had been An who had attacked Martin, although using Maria''s body. Should things be investigated, Maria couldn''t escape implication.


    Upon spotting Xu Yi standing by the door, Martin shuddered violently and then dashed towards the graveyard, moving like arge macaque in flight.


    Xu Yi almost burst outughing; the night''s lesson should be more than enough for him.


    "It''s past eleven o''clock!" Ailent nced at his watch.


    "What, you nning to stay here tonight?" Xu Yi asked with a smile.


    Ailent shuddered and waved his hands in refusal, "Better not."


    Even though all the ghosts had been "exorcised" by Xu Yi, he still wouldn''t dare to sleep here.


    "I got a piece of news in the past couple of days. Real estate tycoon James is looking for an exorcist," Ailent said softly.


    "It shouldn''t be the past couple of days, right?" Xu Yi nced at Ailent with a smile that was hard to decipher.


    Ailentughed awkwardly. He had actually received the news a week ago, but he hadn''t told Xu Yi because he wasn''t sure if Xu Yi was a fraud.


    After tonight''s events, his doubts had dissipated.


    "Let''s hear it then!" Xu Yi didn''t pursue the topic and changed the subject instead.


    Ailent cleared his throat, "Recently, James took on a piece ofnd and ns to develop it into a business center. But there was an ident during the demolition of an old theater."


    Xu Yi didn''t interrupt Ailent, listening attentively instead.


    "All the workers demolishing the theater died mysteriously, their deaths horribly tragic, their tongues ripped out," Ailent said as if recalling something that sent shivers down his spine.


    Xu Yi''s brows furrowed deeply. Given the number of deaths and the brutality of the act, it was unlikely that a Ferocious Spirit could do this; it was probably a higher-tier "Evil Spirit."


    The reason he didn''t suspect a Demon was because demons target human souls, and such mass ughter rarely originates from them.


    "James''s reward is high. Whoever can solve the old theater''s problem will get a direct reward of 100,000 US dors."


    Ailent continued, then suddenly changed his tone, "The reward is high, but this exorcism is too dangerous. My suggestion is that we wait a bit longer, I should be able to get in touch with something less risky."


    Xu Yi looked at Ailent, fully understanding why he was so eager.


    He had no intention of beating around the bush and testing the waters endlessly. He got straight to the point, "How about a five percentmission?"


    Ailent''s head shot up, looking at Xu Yi with surprise, "You''re willing to make me your agent?"


    These days, not only celebrities have agents, but exorcists also have them, and famous exorcists can be even more renowned than stars, with the Warrens being among them.


    "Let''s give it a try. If the cooperation goes smoothly..."


    Xu Yi left his sentence unfinished, implying of course that they would continue coborating if things went well, and part ways if they didn''t.


    Ailent could read between the lines; as a real estate agent, he was adept at interpretation.


    He didn''t say much but nodded solemnly. He knew that actions speak louder than words.


    "Keep looking into James''s case, and don''t neglect other channels," Xu Yi contemted briefly before deciding not to take it on straight away.


    Ailent was reasonable. Though James was offering a high bounty, the level of danger was also significant. Xu Yi had only recently obtained the Psychic Entries, and his exorcism career was just starting. He still needed time to cautiously develop.

 Chapter 21 Future Prospects

    The decrepit Ford car slowly drove into Chinatown and finally stopped at the end of the road, where Xu Yi pushed open the car door and stepped out.


    The car was naturally Allen''s, and although it was an old clunker that had been through several owners, having a car in this era was already considered quite good.


    "What time is it?" Xu Yi asked Allen who was in the driver''s seat.


    "Almost 12 o''clock! Boss, you should go back and rest well. If I have any news, I will tell you immediately, or if there''s anything you need me to do, justmand it. I''m at your beck and call!" Allen replied eagerly.


    Allen''s readiness to settle into his role had Xu Yi clicking his tongue in silence,


    After deciding to be Xu Yi''s broker, Allen switched to addressing him with deference, without any regard for being significantly older than Xu Yi.


    Though themission was only five percent now, Xu Yi had said that if they worked well together, themission could be increased.


    Allen worked hard, hustling everywhere to introduce properties, and wasn''t it all for the money?


    Moreover, five percentmission was already quite decent. As a broker, he didn''t need to confront dangers directly; he only needed to gather information and handle logistics well.


    Most importantly, bing an exorcist''s broker had much more promise than being a real estate agent!


    Many exorcists were highly esteemed by the upper ss, and naturally, the status of their brokers would rise along with them. This was indeed a great opportunity for social mobility.


    "You''ve had a tough night too; you should head back and rest soon!" Xu Yi nodded, without saying much more.


    The Ford car drove away, and Xu Yi walked toward a restaurant named "Xu''s Family Restaurant".


    "Why have youe back sote today?" A burly man was bustling around the stove in the restaurant, and when he noticed Xu Yi, he stuck his head out to ask.


    That was Xu Yi''s father, Xu Changrong.


    "Ran into a tough problem, took up more time!" Xu Yi casually exined.


    Lately, he''d been frequently visiting the Funeral Parlor in the outskirts, something he naturally couldn''t tell his father the truth about, lest he be suppressed in an instant.


    So he made up an excuse on the fly, saying he was off to tutor someone, and Xu Changrong didn''t suspect anything. After all, Xu Yi had always been an excellent student, and it wasn''t the first time he''d done such work.


    "Dad, let me help you!" Xu Yi walked into the kitchen.


    Even though it waste at night, Xu Changrong was still busy. To be precise, thete night was the main business hour for Xu''s Family Restaurant.


    Chinatowncked many things, but it was never short on various societies, and thete night was their prime activity time.


    "Off you go! No need, just hurry up and shower then get to bed!"


    Xu Yi, shooed away by his father, returned to the attic reluctantly.


    After taking a shower, he didn''t go to sleep but sat down at his desk, ready to brush up on Schr Entries.


    Noise apanied by the smell of stir-fried food wafted up from below; Xu Yi forced himself to calm down and study.


    But as a shout erupted from downstairs and members of the societies began drinking and ying games, his hard-won concentration shattered in an instant.


    Xu Yi let out a long sigh. The house was too noisy, utterly unsuitable for brushing up on Schr Entries.


    Brushing up on Schr Entries required full immersion, not just reading.


    Histe returns home were also tacitly approved by Xu Changrong, was it not for this reason as well?


    The room''s window was so small that not even the wind could blow through, and Xu Yi stared nkly at it.


    Xu''s Family Restaurant only had two stories, and the footprint was less than 30 square meters, making the usable space even smaller.


    The first floor functioned as the restaurant, while the second floor served as living quarters.


    In such a tiny ce, and even splitting it into two rooms, his own was marginallyrger, able to fit a bed and a desk.


    Xu Changrong''s room could barely amodate a bed, with no space to even move around.


    Their rooms were separated by a single curtain, providing virtually no privacy, which was very inconvenient.


    Xu Yi suddenly felt the urge to urinate, and he got up with reluctance.


    The biggest problem with this room isn''t the noise or the small size, but theck of a toilet. One could only use the public restroom.


    Now that it''s summer, it''s alright, but if it were winter and one needed to go to the toilette at night, one would have to climb out of the warm bed, run to the public toilet with a shlight in hand¡ªutter torture.


    And the smell of the public toilet is also indescribable.


    "Looks like I need to make money sooner to buy a big house!" Xu Yi sighed.


    This is why he wanted to be an exorcist, anxious to earn money¡ªthe situation at home was really indescribable.


    After two groups of customers left, the noise downstairs gradually subsided, and Xu Yi took this time to concentrate on reading.


    [Schr Entries Experience +1, Current Progress: 89/100.]


    The study efficiency tonight isn''t high, but even a tiny fly is meat.


    Seeing the Schr Entries almost at full value, Xu Yi''s eyes burned with fervor.


    "Psychic Painter = Psychic + Schr + Painter," among thebination paths, the Psychic Entries were already satisfied, and Schr was about to be acquired, only the Painter Entries posed a bit of a problem for Xu Yi.


    [Painter Entries, Current Progress: 32/100.]


    "The focus for the next while should be on grinding the Painter Entries!"


    Xu Yi frowned slightly, now simply painting, the experience gained was very little.


    Sometimes after toiling away for half a day, producing several paintings, he could only gain a pitiful bit of experience.


    "This efficiency is too low, I must find a new method to grind experience," Xu Yi began to ponder.


    Suddenly, a crisp bell sound came from outside the window. Xu Yi snapped out of his thoughts and walked to the window.


    A small basket rested against the windowsill, tied with two thin strings. Following the strings, Xu Yi looked towards the neighboring house''s window, and a familiar little head poked out.


    Lisa looked at Xu Yi, her smile as radiant as a flower while the breeze brushed her bangs.


    Xu Yi gazed at that delicate little face, and his slightly irritable heart suddenly calmed down; living here wasn''t all bad¡ªafter all, next door was hiding a little rose.


    Lisa''s family''s grocery store was right next door, and to make contacting each other at night convenient, they had bells tied to their respective windows. If one rang the bell, it meant that the other had something to say.


    Inside the basket was a folded note. After opening it, Xu Yi could see Lisa''s graceful handwriting.


    "Tomorrow''s the weekend. I heard there''s an art exhibition on Rainbow Street, would you like to go see it with me?"


    Xu Yi''s mouth curved into a smile, such an invitation had been rare before.


    Could it be he was stirred by Maria?


    He wasn''t really a high school boy, after all; his mental age was even older than his dad''s, and in his past life, he was that "warm guy" who lived among a flourish of flowers¡ªhow could he not see Lisa''s intentions?


    Xu Yi''s heart was as steady as an old dog''s.


    Of course, this didn''t mean he was going to reform his ways. A flower is still meant to be admired; otherwise, wouldn''t life lose much of its pleasure?


    But he didn''t have the urgency of his previous life; a beautiful flower needed to be appreciated slowly, and one shouldn''t be too hasty.


    "Still, I need to gain enough power first!"


    This world was off-kilter. To live an ideal life, one must have enough strength¡ªit was not yet time to indulge in enjoyment.


    This weekend he had nned to stay at home grinding Entries experience, but seeing the words "art exhibition" on the note, his heart stirred.


    He took the note inside, wrote an affirmative reply, and put it back in the basket.


    Xu Yi rang the bell, and Lisa immediately pulled the basket back. Seeing the response on the note, the smile on her face became even brighter.


    "What day is tomorrow anyway?" Xu Yi thought, as he went to bed to sleep, suddenly recalling something.


    He racked his brain but couldn''t remember and eventually was too exhausted to keep thinking¡ªafter all, it was another day of using his blood essences for exorcism.


    Soon after, he was deep asleep.

 Chapter 22 The 10086th Girl I Want to Protect

    High-rises lined Rainbow Street, and the streets were filled with clean and bright malls, which, to Xu Yi, were close to themercial districts of the future.


    The Yuback art exhibition was at the end of the street, with Xu Yi and Lisa walking side by side.


    Lisa had clearly made an effort to dress up that day, but that effort was simply washing her hair before leaving and changing into her favorite white floral dress.


    Looking at Lisa''s bare-faced beauty, the phrase "born with natural beauty" involuntarily popped into Xu Yi''s head.


    She didn''t wear makeup, nor did she know how to apply it; her only skincare product was a cream to prevent dry skin.


    "Why are you staring at me like that?" Lisa''s cheeks flushed slightly.


    "You''re so beautiful, wouldn''t it be a loss if I didn''t take a good look?" Xu Yi walked up to Lisa''s side.


    He smelled the faint scent on her, not knowing if it was from her shampoo or Lisa''s own natural fragrance, but it was especially pleasant.


    Lisa''s face grew even redder, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at Xu Yi.


    They reached the exhibition, and Xu Yi stopped teasing Lisa, intending to go forward to buy tickets, but Lisa stopped him.


    "Let me do it! Today I invited you to the art exhibition!"


    The price of the exhibition wasn''t high, but that was for the upper sses; Lisa''s family had to think twice before buying a few vegetables, obviously not included.


    Lisa pulled out a wad of cash from her pocket, all in small denominations: one dor, two dors, and even a few cents in coins.


    Xu Yi knew that this money was hard-earned by Lisa, given that her family''s situation was even worse than his and she, being a girl, wasn''t favored either.


    "Do you think I might..." Lisa looked around at the people, suddenly feeling a bit inferior.


    The individualsing in and out here were all dressed brightly and confidently buying tickets without even blinking, using whole bills, unlike her, who had to count out change.


    "How could I? People should be envious if anything!" Xu Yi shook his head, watching Lisa quietly.


    They say sincerity is the killing move. If a girl were willing to save up money bill by bill, like collecting stars, to take you to the ce you''ve been longing for, even Xu Yi, the old man, couldn''t help feeling overwhelmed.


    After hearing Xu Yi''s words, Lisa''s heart gradually settled, and a smile appeared on her lips.


    "Let''s go!" Xu Yi took the opportunity to grab her hand.


    Lisa''s hand was very soft, feeling like warm jade, and Xu Yi kind of liked this sensation.


    The in white walls were adorned with various styles of painting: abstract oil paintings, delicate watercolors, dark-toned sketches...


    Xu Yi''s attention was suddenly captured; he stared at a sketch depicting a hero ying a dragon.


    The dragon''s ferocity, the hero''s fearlessness, and the vigers'' terror were all vividly portrayed on paper, making Xu Yi feel as though he was witnessing the scene.


    "So this is what real painting is!" Xu Yi''s mind involuntarily began analyzing theposition of the sketch, the handling of dark details.


    [Painter Entries Experience +5, Current Progress: 38/100.]


    The system''s voice brought Xu Yi back to reality, and he hadn''t expected that in just this short time, he would have gained five points of experience!


    If he had been drawing at home, he probably wouldn''t have earned nearly as much all morning.


    "Indeed, to gain entry experience, one must find the right method!"


    Although the paintings on disy here weren''t world-renowned masterpieces, they were collections of various masters'' works, which are just as important for art appreciation and aesthetic evaluation as they are for people learning to paint.


    A thought struck Xu Yi, and he took out the notebook he carried with him.


    It was only after they entered that Lisa realized Xu Yi had been holding her hand the entire time, which made her feel shy. She kept looking around, afraid of being seen by acquaintances.


    But after Xu Yi released her hand, she felt a sense of loss, her conflicting emotions of a young girl disyed in full force at that moment.


    Xu Yi focused on his notebook and took out a pencil to start copying.


    He hadn''t forgotten his purpose foring today. A sudden thought had crossed his mind: if appreciating paintings could give him experience, what about copying them?


    There were also quite a few artists in the exhibition, and those who couldn''t help but doodle in their notebooks upon seeing the exquisite elements in others'' paintings were not umon, so Xu Yi''s behavior did not stand out.


    Lisa didn''t disturb Xu Yi but simply tiptoed to look at his sketchbook.


    Xu Yi sketched quickly, and in just a short while, a miniature version of the "Hero ying the Dragon" appeared on the page.


    Lisa stared at the drawing on the page, her eyes widening.


    She still remembered the stick figures Xu Yi drew a few days ago, which were strictly on the level of a three-year-old''s, when did Xu Yi acquire such drawing skills?


    Xu Yi''s drawing was simr to the exhibition paintings on the wall by about fifty to sixty percent.


    Xu Yi was fully focused on copying, and when he stopped his pen, the system''s voice rang out again.


    [Artist Entries Experience +9, Current Progress: 47/100.]


    It really works!


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up, this was indeed the correct way to level up the Artist Entries!


    With many paintings at the exhibition, Xu Yi kept on appreciating and copying. The experience gained afterwards wasn''t as much as the first time, but it was enough to satisfy him.


    [Artist Entries Experience +2...]


    [Artist Entries Experience +4...]


    Lisa quietly followed behind Xu Yi, staring at his earnest profile, and without realizing it, she was entranced.


    She wasn''t particrly interested in the art exhibition, but the reason she came was that she noticed Xu Yi had recently been learning to draw, so she thought he might be interested in the exhibition and invited him out.


    Of course, she was aware of the issue between Xu Yi and Maria.


    If it were before, with her usual style, she would have stormed over and demanded to know what was going on with Xu Yi.


    But ever since Xu Yi got out of the hospital, he had gradually be a stranger, yet more attractive, humorous, gentle, and appealing... She suddenly became a bit fearful, afraid that Xu Yi would suddenly leave her, and so she didn''t even dare to ask.


    The art exhibition ended, and Xu Yi left reluctantly.


    [Artist Entries, Current Progress: 68/100.]


    After one trip to the exhibition, the progression of the Artist Entries had directly surpassed sixty percent. Since the exhibitionsted three days, he nned to continueing the next day.


    By the time they left the exhibition hall, the sky had already dimmed, and thest of the sunset''s glow gradually receded.


    Xu Yi looked at Lisa by his side and felt apologetic.


    Because he was busy grinding for entry experience, he had basically stayed inside the exhibition hall the whole time, and had only quickly eaten a couple of wraps for lunch.


    Lisa clearly had little interest in the exhibition, but she quietly apanied Xu Yi the entire time, asionally sitting down with a tilted head when she was tired, lost in thought.


    When Xu Yi was tired from drawing, he would unconsciously nce over at Lisa.


    His gaze fell upon her green-brown pupils, and ripples involuntarily stirred in his heart.


    I''m done for! I''m done for!


    Xu Yi felt like he had encountered the 10,086th girl he wanted to genuinely protect.


    "Thank you for apanying me to the exhibition, let me treat you to dinner tonight!"


    Xu Yi and Lisa walked side by side on the street, with the beginning sparkle of city lights, Rainbow Street was bustling with activity, with peopleing and going.


    Lisa shook her head, "Let''s not, the restaurants around here are too expensive, let''s go back to Chinatown to eat!"


    Xu Yi found it amusing but did not refuse.


    "Alright, then let''s go somewhere else to eat."


    Lisa''s eyes dimmed a bit, but she nodded anyway, and Xu Yi pretended not to see it.

 Chapter 23 Collapse of Three Views

    Lisa followed Xu Yi, looking around curiously.


    "Where are we going?" Lisa asked in confusion, because instead of taking her back to Chinatown, Xu Yi had brought her to an alley on Rainbow Street.


    "Just follow me," Xu Yi said with a smile on his lips, without further exnation.


    Pagiel Restaurant stood at the end of the road, near the river. Sitting inside, one could see the clear river water flowing slowly by, which was exceptionallyforting.


    Xu Yi pushed open the restaurant''s brown ss door and waved to Lisa.


    "What are we doing here?"


    Lisa had a suspicion, but she dared not be certain.


    The restaurant before her was ssical and elegant; it appeared to be very upscale, and surely, dining here wouldn''t be cheap.


    Xu Yi gave Lisa a reassuring look and said to the weing waiter, "I have a reservation here."


    "Yes, Mr. Xu Yi, right this way please!" The waiter ushered them to a table with excellent service.


    Lisa couldn''t bring herself to refuse and could only sit down following Xu Yi.


    "Shall we order first?" Xu Yi passed the menu over.


    Lisa nced at the prices on the menu and her hand trembled slightly. If she weren''t afraid of embarrassing Xu Yi, she would be tempted to get up and leave.


    "Maybe we should just get a ss of lemon water? I''m not hungry, just a bit thirsty!"


    Even though the price of lemon water was beyond her expectation, it was still within what she could ept.


    No sooner had Lisa finished speaking than her stomach growled. She had only had two wraps for lunch, so it was no wonder she was hungry.


    The waiter was still standing nearby; Lisa felt like she wanted to crawl into a hole from embarrassment.


    "I''ve told you not to diet anymore; your figure is already very standard," Xu Yi casually remarked.


    Lisa''s tense body rxed, and she looked gratefully at Xu Yi, knowing he was giving her a way out.


    Xu Yi restrained his smile, thinking how could he be considered a "warm man" if he didn''t know how to relieve worries and solve problems?


    Of course, his kind of "warm man" was not the kind that followed a dog.


    "It''s a special day today, indulging in a good meal is fine. Besides, how can you diet if you''re not full!" Xu Yiforted her.


    Both the waiter and Lisa chuckled, and Xu Yi felt a little embarrassed. Could such a joke really make peopleugh?


    But then he suddenly remembered, it was the year 1980, it should still be considered quite novel.


    With thatugh, the awkwardness faded away, and Lisapletely rxed.


    Xu Yi picked up the menu, knowing it would be impossible to expect Lisa to order, so he had to do it himself.


    Seeing the prices on the menu, Xu Yi also felt a twinge, not that the prices were too high, but from a past life where no matter how expensive, he had tasted it all.


    He didn''t have much money left; he had spent ten thousand on the ss shards earlier, and there were other expenses that added up significantly.


    "It looks like I need to prioritize earning money!"


    How could one be carefree without money? And besides, there were so many girls he wanted to protect, right?


    Xu Yi didn''t order anything too expensive¡ªtwo steak sets with pasta, and of course, lemon water was indispensable.


    "Sir, here are the items you left with us before!" The waiter brought over tworge boxes and ced them on the table.


    "What''s this?" Lisa, no longer preupied with worrying about money, curiously examined the two boxes.


    "Some good stuff I bought! You''ll help me try it out in a bit," Xu Yi opened one of the boxes to reveal aplete set of what could be called a "music lover''s standard equipment."


    Xu Yi loaded the Walkman with size 5 batteries and inserted the cassette.


    In this era, mp3 yers hadn''te out yet; music was still listened to with cassettes, and most headphones were the heavy, overhead type.


    "Here! Give it a try!" Xu Yi walked behind Lisa, helped her put on the headphones, and pressed the y button.


    The gentle music began to y.


    "I hesitated so much~


    When I took your hand and led you to the dance floor~


    The dance music faded away~


    But your eyes reminded me of countless movies..."


    "How beautiful! What song is this?" Lisa was instantly mesmerized.


    "Words Spoken Without Heart." Xu Yi answered offhand, "It''s basically about George falling in love with three girls at the same time, and after his official girlfriend finds out the secret, everyone pretends nothing happened, getting ready for thest dance."


    "What?!" Lisa''s eyes widened in shock.


    "You also think there''s something wrong with George, right?"


    Xu Yi looked as if he were disappointed in iron not turning into steel, "If George likes three girls, how could he keep it from his official girlfriend? They should be honest and get along well!"


    "What?!"


    Lisa''s face went nk, feeling as if her values had just been struck by a dimension-reducing blow, crumbling to pieces.


    The waiter began to serve the dishes, interrupting their conversation.


    Xu Yi quickly changed the subject, "What do you think of this Walkman?"


    "It''s great! The sound quality is good, and it''s portable, you can carry it with you!" Lisa thought Xu Yi was joking earlier and paid it no mind.


    Xu Yi looked at the radio the size of half a brick, not sure where the portability was, but given the current level of technology, one couldn''t expect too much.


    "Do you like it? How about I give it to you as a gift?" Xu Yi said while opening the second box.


    "Ah! This is too precious, I can''t ept it!" Lisa shook her head repeatedly, knowing at a nce that the Walkman and headphones were not cheap. She would probably have to save her pocket money for a year or two to afford them.


    "Are you sure you don''t want it? I spent a long time picking it out, it was hard to find this birthday gift." Xu Yi lied smoothly.


    In fact, he had rushed to the mall that morning to pick the Walkman in a hurry.


    Giving gifts to girls requires skill, ideally, you should choose something that the other party can frequently use and that would make the girl feel happy, like bags, lipstick, it''s the same idea.


    Lisa didn''t know any famous brand bags, and lipstick was out of the question, she had never used any.


    So Xu Yi chose the Walkman, which could be carried around and listening to music could indeed bring pleasure, perfectly meeting the criteria for selecting a gift.


    Xu Yi opened the second box, inside was a delicately made small cake.


    Lisa stared at the cake, lost in thought.


    She had invited Xu Yi out today specifically because it was her birthday, but he hadn''t mentioned it at all throughout the day, and she thought he had forgotten, only to find out...


    "You don''t mind the cake being small, do you?" Xu Yi said teasingly.


    There were only the two of them, and they had already ordered a steak meal, they definitely couldn''t finish arge cake.


    Lisa shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears, "I thought you had forgotten."


    "How could I?"


    Xu Yi''s lies were now smooth and practiced, but in reality, he truly had forgotten. He had been reading entriestely and performing exorcisms, which kept him very busy.


    Luckily, when he was leaving the house in the morning his dad reminded him that it was Lisa''s birthday and told him to take Lisa out for some good food.


    A candle was ced on the small cake and lit, its warm me illuminating Lisa''s beautiful eyes.


    "Make a wish!" Xu Yi said softly.


    Lisa sneaked a nce at Xu Yi, then put her hands together, eyes slightly closed, and silently made her birthday wish for the year.


    Xu Yi watched Lisa''s delicate face, lost in thought.

 Chapter 24 The Murder of Crows with Blood-red Eyes

    Warm sunlight spilled into the room, Lisa leaned against the window, her Walkman ying music softly, while mellifluous melodies wafted from the headphones.


    "Sis, where did you get that Walkman?" Lorna saw the Walkman on the table and bounced over to Lisa''s side.


    Lisa reluctantly took off her headphones, nced at her sister, five years her junior, and answered helplessly, "It was a birthday present from Xu Yi."


    Lorna looked at Lisa, her face a portrait of envy and resentment as she pouted, "Why do you get to be the older sister, and I''m the younger one? If I were born before you, Brother Xu Yi would be mine!"


    Lisa shot her cunning little sister a re, "Keep talking nonsense, and I won''t let you listen to it!"


    "I''m sorry, sis, I was wrong," Lorna apologized, hugging Lisa''s arm and shaking it incessantly.


    At that moment, their mother''s voice came from downstairs.


    "Lisa, could you please take some flour over to Aileen Auntie''s house!"


    "Got it!" Lisa called back, put on her shoes, and walked out¡ªchildren of poor families were ustomed to taking on responsibilities early, and she had started doing chores from a young age.


    Lorna quickly took over Lisa''s seat, "Sis, lend me the Walkman to listen!"


    "Don''t break it!" Lisa said, leaving the words behind as she went downstairs.


    ......


    Lisa, carrying a bag of flour, made her way step by step towards the outside door.


    Her family ran a grocery store, mainly serving the local neighborhood with familiar faces and also providing home delivery services¡ªsome orders were even long-term with agreements to deliver goods at the end of the month.


    Aileen''s house wasn''t far from theirs, just one house over and coincidentally, right next to Xu Yi''s house.


    Carrying the flour upstairs, Lisa suddenly remembered that she hadn''t seen Aileen Auntie for a long time.


    The most recent encounter was at the Rose Street antique market, where they had chatted briefly in passing.


    "Could it be that Aileen Auntie has been busy with somethingtely?" Lisa wondered.


    Knowing how much Aileen loved roaming the streets and alleys, it was indeed unusual for her not to have seen her for so long.


    Lisa stood before the door and knocked gently, "Aileen, I''vee to deliver the flour!"


    There was no response from inside the house.


    Maybe she''s out? Lisa knocked harder, "Aileen! Aileen!"


    She increased the force of her knocks, only to push the door open unexpectedly, nearly losing her bnce and stumbling into the house.


    The door was actually unlocked!


    Could it be that Aileen had opened the door for her, but why wasn''t she responding?


    Lisa, steadying the bag of flour with one hand, pushed the door open with the other and walked inside.


    A ck shadow suddenly darted out from behind the door, startling Lisa, who almost dropped the flour from her shoulder.


    Upon identifying the shadow, Lisa let out a sigh of relief¡ªit was just a ck cat.


    The ck cat bared its teeth at Lisa, its hackles raised as if it intended to drive her away.


    "Alright, alright, calm down, ck Carp, I''m busy at the moment. I''ll find you something to eatter," Lisaforted the cat, recognizing it.


    This ck cat was a stray from the neighborhood. Lisa and Xu Yi often fed it, and over time it had be familiar with them. The name "ck Carp" was given by Lisa herself.


    The name''s origin was quite simple; the cat''s ck, sleek appearance, coupled with Lisa''s liking for the sweet and sour carp made by Xu Changrong, led to naming it ck Carp.


    ck Carp wasn''t relenting, growling at Lisa.


    Lisa didn''t understand what was wrong with ck Carp today; though normally wild, it had always been tame around her and Xu Yi.


    She nned to deliver the flour quickly and then tend to ck Carp''s agitation afterward.


    "Aileen, are you in there? I''ve brought the flour." Lisa headed straight for the kitchen, having delivered to this house many times and knowing theyout well.


    She put the flour into the cupboard in the kitchen, and as she was leaving, she happened to pass by Aileen''s bedroom.


    Aileen''s husband had passed away when he was just over fifty years old, leaving her to live alone.


    The door to the room wasn''t closed, revealing a sliver of an opening.


    Lisa had no intention of going inside. Delivering flour to the kitchen was one thing, but how could she just barge into someone else''s room?


    However, a gust of wind suddenly blew the door open, and at the same time, Lisa heard the sound of birds.


    Why would there be birds in the room?


    She instinctively looked through the doorway and was stunned.


    The room was filled with a dense swarm of crows, hanging from the ceiling like bats, asionally swooping down only to swiftly fly up again.


    The noise at the doorway startled them, and all the crows turned their heads, their blood-red pupils fixed on Lisa.


    Lisa felt as though she had fallen into an ice cer, her whole body cold and her feet unable to move.


    The scene was so eerie that she wanted to leave immediately, but she hesitated when she saw the silhouette inside.


    In the center of the room, Aunt Aileeny on the floor, motionless.


    After a moment''s hesitation, the kindness in Lisa''s heart overcame the fear, and she stepped over the threshold.


    "Aunt Aileen!" Lisa called out softly.


    Still, no one responded to her, but as she entered the room, she finally saw the full picture.


    On the floor was a liquid, like flowing blood, drawn into a strange pattern surrounded by a circle of red candles.


    The candles had long been burnt out, with red wax spilled all over the ce.


    Aunt Aileeny at the center of the pattern, herplexion pale without a trace of color.


    A strange breeze blew through, and Lisa''s head suddenly grew heavy and foggy, her legs moving inside of their own ord.


    Just as she was about to step over the circle of candles, a sharp meow came from outside the door.


    Lisa snapped back to awareness, frightened into a cold sweat, and she turned to flee!


    But the cat''s meow also startled the crows on the roof, and they cawed loudly, their cries piercing like the howls of ghosts.


    As she turned, Lisa saw Aunt Aileen sitting up from the floor. Before she could rejoice, blood began to ooze thickly from Aileen''s eyes, nostrils, mouth, and ears.


    In a daze, Aileen suddenly opened her eyes and shed Lisa a sinister smile.


    "Found you!"


    A scream from a woman sounded suddenly behind Lisa. Instinctively, she looked back only to see a surge of crows approaching, and the next second, she copsed to the ground.


    ......


    The sun set in the west, and Xu Yi followed the crowd out of the doors of the painting exhibition.


    The exhibitionsted for three days, and today was thest. Xu Yi had arrived early in the morning and stayed until it closed.


    After being busy for most of the day, he was exhausted but the oue was satisfying.


    [Painter Entries, Current Progress: 79/100.]


    A great harvest of Painter Entries!


    He felt as if the career entry for "Psychic Painter" was waving at him.


    Xu Yi sighed, "Unfortunately, it gets harder to gain entry experience the closer I get to the end. It seems I''ll need to continue to find ways to farm Painter Entries."


    Passing by a second-hand boutique, Xu Yi suddenly stopped.


    "Boss! Got any kerosene lighters?" Xu Yi called out to the shopkeeper, who was reading a newspaper behind the counter.


    "Pick one yourself!" The boss brought over a basket full of lighters and pushed it towards Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi carefully selected three kerosene lighters, all of them detachable with carved metal casings.

 Chapter 25 The Lighter and the Evil Spirit

    Xu Yi returned home and immediately began to modify the lighter.


    He dismantled the fuel chamber, pulled out the old wick, cleaned the residual kerosene, and washed eachponent before reassembling.


    "Not sure if this will work," Xu Yi looked at the refurbished kerosene lighter and took a deep breath.


    The lighter was rted to his future exorcism endeavors. If his concept was viable, it would definitely make things much easier.


    He took out a blood collection needle, pricked his thumb, and activated his blood property transformation ability.


    The blood in the needle instantly turned into a white gtinous liquid.


    Xu Yi only transformed a single drop; he had already experimented.


    Transforming one drop a day would only cause a slight feeling of fatigue, not enough to interfere with daily life.


    Two drops would leave him utterly exhausted, while three would lead to a state of copse. As for more, Xu Yi dared not try, for fear of draining himself dry.


    The blood collection needle extended toward the lighter''s refill inlet, and the external quality flowed into the fuel chamber through the small opening.


    "Hope this works," Xu Yi watched the lighter intently.


    There weren''t many things that could directly affect dark creatures, mainly the Holy Bible, the Cross, Holy Water...


    However, these items were strictly controlled by the Church, and only by joining the Church and bing a priest could one possibly obtain them.


    Of course, what he referred to were not the factory replicas on the market, but the genuinely blessed items by the Lord.


    Therefore, the blood property was especially precious!


    If he sold it to others, it could definitely fetch a huge price, but as the blood property was his current "corepetitive advantage," naturally, he wouldn''t sell it.


    Xu Yi pressed the ignition button, and the flint produced sparks.


    The biggest drawback of the blood property was that it would leave the body utterly fatigued. If he thought of transforming the blood property when facing danger, it would surely be a pathway to death.


    Therefore, he needed to store it in advance.


    The lighter clicked but no me emerged.


    Xu Yi sighed. Could it be that it didn''t work?


    Using the external quality instead of kerosene to create an "Exorcism Lighter" was the best application he could think of for now.


    The external quality had to be ignited to harm dark creatures, and the Exorcism Lighter would eliminate that step.


    "One-click ignition, automatic exorcism, External Quality brand lighter, you deserve to own!"


    He pressed the ignition button repeatedly, and amidst the clicks, a pale gold me rose.


    It worked!


    Xu Yi felt the special fluctuations in the me and was overjoyed.


    The reason it hadn''t ignited before was that the external quality had not yet soaked the wick. This quality was morebustion-resistant than kerosene; a single drop could burn for about three minutes.


    Xu Yi caressed the lighter, not wanting to let it go.


    This was the first exorcism artifact he had made!


    Now, he needed to add external quality to the lighter daily, fill it with eight to ten drops, and then figure out a way to modify the lighter further.


    In his vision, the Exorcism Lighter should have two forms: the normal lighter mode and the Molotov Cocktail mode.


    This was not hard to achieve. He just had to add someponents to the fuel chamber, and then he could use the "throw Molotov Cocktail" skill when facing powerful supernatural beings.


    Suddenly, a rapid siren sounded from outside the window. Xu Yi went to the window and frowned slightly as two police cars stopped in front of his family''s restaurant.


    Could it be those gangs shing again?


    He went downstairs with curiosity and encountered Xu Changrong.


    "Dad! What happened?" Xu Yi asked.


    "It''s about Aileen from next door," Xu Changrong looked at Xu Yi, hesitating before finally speaking out, "Aileen, she''s dead!"


    ```


    "How could someone in good health just die like that?"


    Xu Changrong shook his head, "I''m not sure either, she was said to have died at home, and it''s tentatively ruled a suicide."


    Suddenly, Xu Yi remembered the incident on Rose Street that day, and for some reason, he felt vaguely uneasy.


    "You should go to the hospital! It was Cassie who found Aileen, and she might have been frightened by something. Cassie has been in aa ever since," Xu Changrong added.


    Xu Yi''s heart hung suspended, his unease growing stronger.


    ......


    Connor Hospital.


    "Return, soul,e back!"


    Xu Yi pushed open the ward door, and the chanting voice, rising and falling in pitch, flowed out. The room was dim, lit by only onemp.


    In the center of the ward was a brazier, and within it, yellow talisman paper burned quietly.


    This ce looked less like a hospital and more like a site for performing rituals.


    Burning things inside a ward would normally be prohibited, but here it was not, and passing doctors and nurses only gave it curious nces.


    The hospital staff had be ustomed to oddities; after all, in a world where paranormal incidents frequently made the news, exorcism events were not umon.


    If a doctor encountered a bizarre illness, they would even proactively suggest that the patient''s rtives seek a priest''s help.


    "Aunt Cassie! Uncle Andrew!" Xu Yi called out in greeting.


    "You''re here!" Cassie nced at Xu Yi, nodded, then turned her attention back to the center of the room.


    She might favor sons over daughters, but Cassie was still her daughter, and faced with such a situation, Cassie was naturally panicked.


    Andrew grunted, clearly displeased by Xu Yi''s presence.


    Xu Yi could understand his feelings; it''s not easy to raise a daughter only for her to spend her days around someone else. It would be strange if his attitude was good.


    He stood next to Andrew and looked towards the center of the room, where Cassiey quietly on the hospital bed, motionless.


    Yesterday she was fine, but today she had suddenly be like this?


    Xu Yi sighed silently; seeing Cassie''s pale face made him feel a twinge of pain.


    This only served to strengthen his resolve to follow the path of an exorcist.


    The world might seem peaceful on the surface, but underneath, turbulent waves raged. Without sufficient strength, whether it be wealth or something else, it was all as transient as a fleeting blossom.


    Xu Yi quietly moved closer to Cassie; both Cassie and Andrew saw his movements, their brows furrowed slightly, but they did not stop him.


    The reason Xu Yi did this was, of course, to trigger his Spirit Communication Ability.


    Three meters away from Cassie, Xu Yi stopped; a wave of cold air hit him, and he involuntarily took a sharp breath.


    The chill he had felt in the Funeral Parlor was trivialpared to the present cold.


    "Burn her! Burn her to death!"


    Suddenly, angry shouts filled Xu Yi''s ears, and the scene before his eyes started changing as his Spiritual Power was activated, and he slowly sank into the illusionary realm.


    It was a pitch-ck night, and mes roared ferociously, with a cross standing in the center of the fire.


    An old woman dressed in ck was tied to the cross, her face covered in wrinkles, and her narrow pupils shining with a fierce light as flocks of crows circled and fluttered around her.


    The enraged crowd surrounded the fire, cursing furiously, and among them, Xu Yi also saw a priest dressed in white.


    Who was this old woman? A witch?


    His Spiritual Power had taken him "back to the past," and he concentrated, gathering as much information as he could.


    But the next second, the witch in the mes suddenly looked up, as if staring directly at Xu Yi.


    The crows screeched and rushed at him. Xu Yi instinctively covered his face with his hands. No crows collided with him, and as the flock vanished, his vision returned to the hospital room.


    Xu Yi''s expression was gloomy; there was no doubt that Cassie had been entangled with an Evil Spirit.


    ```

 Chapter 26 The Real and Fake Exorcists

    Xu Yi felt the situation was tricky;pared to the ghosts at the Funeral Parlor, the evil spirit that entangled Lisa was definitely far more terrifying.


    Common ghosts could at most scare people; ferocious spirits were aggressive, but their strength was limited; evil spirits, however, were entirely different¡ªthey were after human lives.


    Although he was worried about Lisa, he still forced himself to remain calm. Only by staying calm could he find a way to break the deadlock.


    Now that Lisa had just been entwined by the evil spirit, ording to his understanding, there would be no immediate danger to her life.


    "Return the soul! Return the soul!"


    The chanting sounded again, followed by the rhythmic cking of wooden blocks, as two ck wooden boards were repeatedly struck together.


    Xu Yi looked toward the person striking the wooden blocks, dressed in a ck robe, with a wrinkled face showing a serious expression, sweating slightly at the brow due to nervousness.


    "The witch from Chinatown?" Xu Yi eximed in surprise.


    The profession of a witch, even in the future, had arge market, let alone in this world dominated by strange events.


    He had long heard of the great reputation of the witch, but this was his first time witnessing her perform an exorcism on site.


    Along the walls of the room stood a row of people, including Lisa''s parents and also doctors and nurses, probably there to see the spectacle.


    Besides them, there were two reporters.


    Xu Yi looked at the "Spiritual Exploration Daily" logo on their badges, pensive.


    He had not expected that this exorcism ritual would attract the reporters from the Spiritual Exploration Daily, a newspaper specialising in matters rted to exorcists.


    "Return the soul! Return the soul!"


    The witch''s chanting became more urgent, but Xu Yi''s brows gradually furrowed.


    She spoke in English but used Huaxia''s "Soul Calling," which looked incongruous, but that was not the reason for Xu Yi''s frown.


    The witch''s eyes darted about, sneakily ncing at the two reporters, her forehead slightly sweating.


    Over these days, Xu Yi had skim-read several psychology books, making some progress with psychology entries.


    [Psychology Entries, Progress: 38/100.]


    So he had acquired a degree of cold reading skills.


    The witch''s microexpressions indicated that she was very nervous.


    Why would she be so nervous? Could it be because she sensed the difficulty in dealing with the evil spirit?


    Xu Yi quietly approached the witch, activating his spiritual power, and he suddenly understood why she was so nervous.


    On her body, he did not feel the slightest "special maic field." Whether a psychic or any other exorcism profession, there was usually a unique maic field enveloping them.


    If his spiritmunication ability could not detect it, then there was only one exnation.


    This witch was a chatan!


    She was not nervous because she sensed the evil spirit was difficult to deal with, but because she feared being exposed in front of the two reporters.


    The mes rose from the copper basin; the witch took a stack of talisman papers, threw them into the mes, and after burning, they turned to ash.


    The witch poured a bowl of clear water into the basin, extinguishing the mes and obtaining a bowl of talisman water.


    "Have her drink this bowl of talisman water. If it''s not a too powerful curse, she should wake up soon!" the witch ced the talisman water on the ground.


    Xu Yi roughly understood the witch''s routine. She must have convinced others of her ability to perform exorcisms through verbal tricks.


    If it''s not a too powerful curse, she would wake up. But what if it''s a powerful curse?


    If it didn''t work, wouldn''t she have an excuse?


    Most people who truly encounter the supernatural are actually few and far between; after all, if just anyone coulde across them, this world would probably be in chaos already.


    Most people who sought after Witch Zhang were just scared, and the charm water served merely as a cebo.


    But Xu Yi knew very well that the thing upying Lisa''s body could not be dealt with by such fake charm water.


    "Uncle, Aunt, does Witch Zhang have a ''red book''?" Xu Yi raised his voice a bit, so that everyone in the room could hear.


    Knowing it was fake, Xu Yi certainly wanted to find a way to stop it, since he didn''t want Lisa to suffer from drinking this fake charm water.


    "This¡­" Cassie nced at Witch Zhang, looking a bit embarrassed.


    The so-called "red book" was actually a certification issued by the church to exorcists, and possessing a "red book" meant official recognition.


    Obviously, Witch Zhang didn''t have one, otherwise Lisa''s family wouldn''t have been able to afford her services.


    It was well-known that the fee for exorcists with a "red book" was extremely high, way beyond what they could afford.


    But that made sense, as exorcisms involved risking one''s life. Who would do it for a low price?


    Witch Zhang seemed to be focused on the exorcism but was actually all ears, particrly to the two reporters present.


    If by chance the exorcism seeded, and it was reported by journalists, wouldn''t her fame and the number of people seeking her help increase?


    "Young man, not everyone buys into what the church promotes. There are many exorcists without a ''red book''," she said emphatically.


    "You doubting me is one thing, but interfering with the exorcism is serious. If something goes wrong, can you take responsibility?" Witch Zhang challenged.


    Indeed, as someone who''d made a name for herself, her rhetoric was clever, Xu Yi inwardly sighed.


    "Xu Yi, I know you''re worried about Lisa, but now is not the time to discuss this!" Cassie was obviously frightened by Witch Zhang''s words, her tone anxious.


    "Just stay put!" Andrew said impatiently.


    Suddenly, the sound of crows cawing came from outside the window, and Xu Yi''s heart skipped a beat. His spiritual perception sensed Lisa''s maic field violently fluctuating.


    That thing was about toe out!


    Xu Yi felt a chill in his heart but remained motionless, retreating to the wall with a smile.


    "Witch, since you are most familiar with the exorcism ritual, it might be risky for Aunt Cassie and the others to feed her. In my opinion, it should be you who personally administers the charm water," Xu Yi said softly.


    Seeing Xu Yi yielding, Witch Zhang felt satisfied.


    A youngster trying to outsmart me? He''s still too inexperienced!


    She picked up the charm water and slowly walked towards Lisa.


    Since Xu Yi had backed down, she felt it was not good to refuse his request.


    She decided that once the charm water was fed, she would im the exorcism ritual was disturbed and might not achieve the desired effect and then leave.


    Lisa was still unconscious. Witch Zhang stood in front of the hospital bed, reaching out to pry open Lisa''s mouth and pour the charm water inside.


    But just as her arm touched Lisa''s face, a chill ran up her arm to her forehead, and before she could proceed to the next step...


    Suddenly, a "sizzling" sound came from behind. Witch Zhang swiftly turned her head, and then let out a sigh of relief: it was just the faulty light flickering on and off.


    She felt a bit of heart palpitation as this "exorcism" seemed different from the others she had done before.


    Now she just wanted to quickly pour the charm water down and leave this ce. She turned her head back around¡­ and her heart nearly stopped.


    Lisa had somehow sat up from the hospital bed and was staring straight at her.


    "You little girl¡­"


    Witch Zhang suddenly found herself unable to continue her words, as Lisa gave her a strange smile. The originally youthful and radiant face under the flickering light began to change, slowly morphing into an old, pallid face covered with wrinkles.


    The old face with a fierce smile opened its mouth, its teeth sharp like some kind of wild animal''s. It suddenly thrust its head forward, its neck stretching out like a snake, lunging at Witch Zhang to bite her.

 Chapter 27 Holy Fire Descends, Evil Spirits Disperse!

    Witch Zhang let out a wail, iling her arms wildly in front of her, trying to block the snake-necked old man''s snapping bites.


    The bowl filled with talisman-infused water had already been tossed aside, ttering on the ground and shattering, sshing liquid in all directions.


    "Witch Zhang?!"


    Cassie looked at Witch Zhang, puzzled as to why one second she was fine, and the next she was screaming and running away as if she had gone mad.


    She walked toward Witch Zhang and then froze. She smelled something strange, arge wet patch on Witch Zhang''s pants, but it was obviously not from the talisman water.


    "I''m not taking this job! I''m not doing it!"


    Witch Zhang burst through the main door, screaming in terror as she fled.


    Cassie and Andrew exchanged nces, realizing this was hardly the behavior of an exorcist; even they could tell that Witch Zhang was a fraud.


    The two reporters pressed the shutter of their cameras, capturing the scene with a click.


    Witch Zhang''s disheveled flight restored tranquility to the ward, leaving Cassie, Andrew, and Xu Yi at a loss, Xu Yi furrowing his brows deeply.


    When Witch Zhang had been affected by the hallucination, Xu Yi had felt a very unique maic field; whatever was afflicting Lisa was, he feared, not as simple as amon evil spirit!


    Lisa suddenly opened her eyes, sitting up stiffly from the bed, her eyes vacant; this time it was no illusion, and everyone in the room could see her.


    "Lisa, you''re awake!" Cassie eximed with joy.


    Could Witch Zhang''s exorcism have worked? Cassie was puzzled; but wasn''t the other woman a fraud?


    Xu Yi had a bad feeling and hurried towards Lisa.


    Lisa jumped out of bed and dashed toward a pir nearby with astonishing speed.


    "Lisa! Lisa! What are you doing?"


    Cassie shouted anxiously, but to no avail, as Lisa did not heed her.


    Just as Lisa was about to crash into the pir and shatter her head, Xu Yi, quick as lightning, embraced her.


    But hisplexion quickly changed; Lisa struggled in his arms with frightening strength, so much so that he could not hold her with his own strength.


    "Come help!" Xu Yi shouted angrily at the stunned bystanders.


    It was only then that Cassie and Andrew snapped to action, rushing to help control Lisa.


    When Lisa saw she could not break free, she suddenly extended both hands and began to choke herself vigorously.


    Xu Yi tried to pry them off, only to find her grip was like that of a vice; if he tried to force them apart, it would only break her fingers.


    "Lisa, Lisa, what''s wrong with you?" Cassie broke down sobbing.


    "Stop crying!" Xu Yi was a bit annoyed by the crying, cursing furiously. What good was crying at a time like this?


    He held Lisa with one hand and reached into his pocket with the other, pulling out a lighter.


    The Cassie couple naturally noticed Xu Yi''s movements; they were puzzled why he would take out a lighter at such a time. Was he going to smoke a cigarette?


    But in such an emergency, was smoking appropriate?


    They were somewhat annoyed but did not ask out loud, because they could sense a change in Xu Yi''s aura, emanating an inexplicable authority.


    "Let the holy fire descend, evil spirits be banished!" Xu Yi chanted softly.


    The lighter''s lid was flipped open with a clear, crisp sound, followed by a snap, as the pale gold me rose.


    The me moved in front of Lisa, illuminating her dim eyes.


    Xu Yi thought he heard a roar between illusion and reality, like a beast, and yet like a woman''s scream.


    Lisa''s body shuddered violently, then she copsed limply and fell into unconsciousness once more.


    "Xu Yi... what are you...?" Cassie and her husband looked at Xu Yi with shock and confusion.


    In their minds, Xu Yi had always been the son of the chef from the restaurant next door, but looking at him now, with his imposing presence and the sharpness in his eyes, they felt he was a stranger.


    Xu Yi ignored them, closing the lid of the lighter, allowing the me to extinguish on its own.


    There was very little of the blood essence in the lighter, so naturally, he needed to conserve it.


    He picked up Lisa and put her back on the hospital bed, minding his own business.


    The camera lights were shing intermittently as the two reporters had been clicking away since the moment Xu Yi began the exorcism, capturing photo after photo.


    One of the reporters was also scribbling on a piece of paper, and Xu Yi had reason to believe that they were recording the words he had just spoken.


    The "exorcism spell" was naturally something Xu Yi had made up on the spot, intended to be heard by the reporters.


    In his view, exorcists and celebrities were somewhat simr¡ªthe more famous you are, the higher the price you canmand. He didn''t be an exorcist to pursue some noble ideal of saving humanity.


    To be famous, one must have distinctive features to stand out from other exorcists, which is why he deliberately added the spell.


    Although it was a bit like misleading others, earning money this way wasn''t shameful at all!


    Cassie and her husband wanted to ask more, but just then, a knock came at the door, and a man in a suit stood at the entrance, standing as straight as a rod.


    Cassie and her husband looked at the visitor with puzzlement. They had lived in Chinatown for most of their lives and had the insight to recognize that the man''s suit was particrly tailored, definitely a high-end custom piece.


    The leather shoes were made from top-grade cowhide, and the watch was a luxury brand.


    The entire outfit was undeniably costly.


    They wondered why such a wealthy person woulde here¡ªhad hee to the wrong room by mistake?


    Before they could voice their inquiries, the man walked in directly, standing in front of Xu Yi and respectfully called out, "Boss!"


    Cassie and her husband looked at Xu Yi with unsettled confusion¡ªwhat exactly was his identity?


    Xu Yi nodded, acknowledging the greeting.


    Before leaving, he had phoned Ailent from a phone booth, asking him toe to the hospital.


    The reason he summoned Ailent was not to discuss business, but because he thought he might need his car.


    "What''s going on here?" Xu Yi pulled Ailent outside the room and lowered his voice.


    Of course, he was referring to thetter''s outfit. Others might be fooled, but Xu Yi knew Ailent''s situation all too well.


    The guy was just a real estate agent¡ªwhile he could make some money, he was far from being wealthy. Such attire must have emptied his savings.


    "Isn''t it because I thought that as your agent, I can''t let you lose face, so I had to get myself something decent? What do you think?" Ailent fiddled with his clothes.


    Did this guy really spare no expense? But since he was putting so much thought into his role as an agent, Xu Yi was quite pleased.


    "What''s the situation now?" Ailent asked quietly.


    Xu Yi briefly exined the situation.


    Ailent nodded, "I got it, the rest is up to me now!"


    Back in the room, Cassie and her husband weremunicating with the doctor, yet their gazes asionally drifted toward the door.


    Whether it was Xu Yi''s holy fire exorcism or the sudden arrival of the wealthy man, both undoubtedly indicated Xu Yi''s extraordinary nature.


    The doctor''s examination was the same as before¡ªthere was nothing wrong with the body, but the patient was still in aa.


    "Since you know him, why don''t you ask for his help?" the doctor asked quietly.


    After witnessing the scene, everyone had their theories about Lisa''s condition¡ªit clearly wasn''t just amon illness.


    Cassie and Andrew nodded; they, of course, understood this, but having been cold before, they now eagerly wanted to ask for help, which was a bit of a blow to their pride.

 Chapter 28

    The door to the hospital room was pushed open again, but it wasn''t Xu Yi whom Cassie and her husband had been eagerly anticipating, it was Ailent.Ailent walked up to Cassie and her husband, pulling out a business card and passing it over, "I forgot to introduce myself. This is my card."


    It was a particularly stylish business card, made of thick paper, with pale gold floral designs embossed on a pure black background, looking delicate and mysterious.


    Cassie and her husband were stunned, quickly accepting the card with both hands.


    Ailent was secretly pleased, for the card, which he had spent a good amount of money on to have specifically designed, indeed had an impressive impact.


    There wasn''t much content on the business card, unlike those of street salesmen who seem to want to fill every inch of their cards with text.


    But to Cassie and her husband, the business card of a true elite should be just like this, a few words that inform people of the extraordinary identity of the cardholder.


    "Holy Flame Exorcism Studio." Cassie murmured softly.


    "Exactly, my name is Ailent, and I am the agent of the boss. If there are any related matters, you can seek our cooperation!" Ailent''s face showed a fittingly proud expression.


    Cassie and Andrew exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the other''s eyes.


    If before Xu Yi had told them he was an exorcist, they would have never believed it.


    But having witnessed Xu Yi perform an exorcism, and now seeing the agent in front of them, they were thoroughly convinced of his identity.


    "I never imagined Xu Yi would be so low-profile!" Cassie muttered softly.


    Her eyes suddenly lit up; if Xu Yi was an exorcist, didn''t that mean there was hope for Lisa?


    Andrew was still a bit unsettled by Xu Yi''s identity and, not wanting to lower his pride to ask the other party, he inquired softly, "I wonder what the price for an exorcism is?"


    "It depends on the situation. Your case here is quite tricky, but since you know the boss, let''s say thirty thousand US dollars. You know, this is already a very favorable price!" Ailent spoke softly.


    Cassie and Andrew didn''t speak, because they knew he wasn''t exaggerating; the price was indeed very low.


    Before seeking the help of Witch Zhang, they had inquired about the going rates for exorcisms. Some exorcists charged as much as fifty or a hundred thousand, while others simply wouldn''t bother coming.


    But even thirty thousand dollars was a heavy burden for their family.


    If they paid it, they would be left with nothing for food, clothing, everyday expenses, and the children''s school fees.


    Cassie glared at Andrew fiercely, upset that he had asked about the price and now they were caught in a dilemma.


    Lisa and Xu Yi had a special relationship from childhood; if they played their emotional card, the price would certainly be lower, or they might not need to pay at all.


    Andrew also realized he had messed up, and he didn''t say a word.


    "Aunt Cassie, Uncle Andrew, sorry for the delay, I was preparing something outside," Xu Yi stepped into the hospital room. He hadn''t lied, fearing that there wouldn''t be enough fuel for the Exorcism Lighter, he had added another drop of blood essence.


    Andrew looked at Xu Yi, hesitating to speak.


    Cassie, on the other hand, couldn''t care less, and blurted out, "Xu Yi, you and Lisa grew up together. Could the fee for the exorcism be¡­"


    "Aunt Cassie, you''re overthinking it," Xu Yi interrupted her, "My agent might not be aware of our relationship. How could I charge Aunt Cassie any money?"


    Cassie''s eyes instantly brightened, filled with gratitude, "Thank you so much, having a brother like you is Lisa''s good fortune."


    Xu Yi was older than Lisa, and when they were children, Lisa always called Xu Yi her brother.


    Andrew was a bit embarrassed. Xu Yi''s magnanimity made him feel petty, and he couldn''t help but apologize, "I''m sorry, we misunderstood you just now."


    Xu Yi waved his hand, indicating that they should not worry about it.


    He hadn''t lied to the other party; he never intended to take money from the start.


    If he had taken the money, how awkward would it be to call them father-in-law and mother-in-law later?


    Although he chose not to take the money, he also didn''t want to be too eager, as that would make him seem cheap. Most importantly, only if the other party realized the cost of asking for his services would they be willing to cooperate.


    As Lisa''s parents, if they didn''t cooperate during the exorcism, it could lead to terrible consequences. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I see now, it was my oversight!" Ailent said apologetically.


    Xu Yi felt that if Ailent didn''t work as a real estate broker, he could have a promising future as an actor.


    All the things that had just happened had been prearranged with Ailent.


    Xu Yi took out a metal box with a lock from his pocket, wrapped in bark from fresh Pagoda Tree Wood.


    Upon opening the box, there were five identical necklaces, each with a metal vial at the front, engraved with exquisite patterns.


    Inside each metal vial was a piece of glass shard with traces of blood on it.


    "There are still too few methods of exorcism!" Xu Yi lamented to himself, reluctant to use the mysterious blood unless absolutely necessary.


    The previous method of carving vials from Pagoda Tree Wood was too troublesome, so he improved it slightly by using bark instead.


    Having five glass shards together was also too wasteful; he distributed the shards, resulting in the creation of these five "Exorcism Artifacts."


    Xu Yi put the exorcism necklace on Lisa and sighed deeply.


    This necklace was intended to be a gift for Lisa in the first place; he had not expected an incident to occur just after he made it, before he had the chance to give it to her.


    "Remember, you must never take this necklace off!" Xu Yi cautioned.


    Cassie and Andrew nodded repeatedly, following Xu Yi''s instructions obediently, the effect of all his earlier preparations now becoming evident.


    A reporter from Spiritual Exploration Daily also stepped forward to give the "Magic Artifact" a close-up.


    Xu Yi did not stop them, as he needed the newspaper to build his reputation to attract customers, and Ailent realized this too, feeling a thrill inside.


    Xu Yi gave Cassie and Andrew Ailent''s cellphone number, instructing them to contact him immediately if anything unusual happened to Lisa.


    At that time, cell phones had just come out, and were heavy "bricks," as well as very expensive, Xu Yi didn''t know where Ailent had gotten it from.


    With everything in order, Xu Yi allowed himself a slight relief; now he could begin the search for a solution to the Evil Spirit.


    "Where are we going now?" Ailent started the car and asked Xu Yi, who was sitting in the back seat.


    "Back to Chinatown!" Xu Yi answered without hesitation.


    He was well aware that the fire from the outer essence of blood alone would not be able to exorcise the Evil Spirit.


    The mysterious blood on the glass shards might be possible, but he was unable to harness the power of the blood, relying only on the blood''s "Passive Ability" to suppress the Evil Spirit.


    If he attempted an exorcism by force, the Evil Spirit could go berserk, which could lead to a disastrous situation if both the fish and the net were destroyed.


    What they needed to do now was find the Vessel of the Evil Spirit.


    Once they found the Vessel, everything would be much easier. This was the approach many exorcists used when performing an exorcism.


    The last time he was at the Funeral Parlor, he used this very method.

 Chapter 29 The Bloody Witch

    The lanterns of Chinatown had just begun to light up the bustling streets when a Ford car slowly pulled up to the curb."You wait here for me!" Xu Yi dropped a line and got out of the car, heading straight for Aileen''s house.


    Policeman tape had cordoned off the entrance to Aileen''s home, the gate was firmly locked, and a seal was posted.


    Xu Yi saw no sign of the police, so it must have been just the usual closure for a death scene, but if he were to break in by force, the ensuing police inquiry would be a hassle.


    He furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment before returning to Xu''s Restaurant.


    Xu Changrong was swamped with work and, although a bit puzzled by Xu Yi''s early return, didn''t ask any further questions.


    Xu Yi strode up to the second floor, pushed open the rear window.


    His house happened to be right next to Aileen''s, and the old-style buildings had a major flaw: by stepping on the rain shelter eaves in the back, one could climb to the neighboring window ledge.


    He remembered that the lock on Aileen''s window seemed to be broken, and he wasn''t sure if it had been fixed yet.


    Regardless, he had to investigate Aileen''s home if he was to possibly find the Vessel for the Evil Spirit.


    Xu Yi made sure no one was paying attention, skillfully climbed out the window, and landed steadily on the eaves.


    "This exorcism really is a physical job!" Xu Yi silently lamented.


    Fortunately, the entries of combat had endowed him with a strong physique, saving him a significant amount of time from exercising.


    He made his way to Aileen''s window, pushed hard, and with a creak, the window slowly opened. Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief; the lock had not been fixed yet.


    But that was normal, if the lock had been broken for so long and had needed fixing, it would have been fixed by now.


    Xu Yi flipped into the room, wearing gloves and even covering his shoes with bags.


    In this era, investigative technology was nowhere near as advanced as in later times, but it was better to be safe than sorry, so he took every precaution he could.


    Being discovered by the police wasn''t a big deal, after all, as an exorcist, he held an elevated social status. A good explanation would suffice, and the police wouldn''t dare to make unfounded accusations.


    If it were a Common person, they would really need to consider the implications carefully.


    Xu Yi didn''t want the hassle of dealing with the police, so he took protective measures to search for the Vessel privately.


    The corpse from the room had already been removed, leaving only a chalk outline on the floor. The blood-painted Array was still clear.


    Xu Yi frowned and observed those eerie symbols, but unfortunately, he knew very little about them and was unclear about the Array''s origins.


    "It seems I''ll have to study up on this knowledge thoroughly!"


    With his Spirit Communication Ability activated, Xu Yi carefully sensed the room''s anomalies. The Array indeed retained a special magnetic field, but it was far too weak and entirely inconsistent with the requirements of an Evil Spirit''s Vessel.


    Where was the Vessel?


    Xu Yi began to scrutinize the decorative items in the room.


    Back on Rose Street at the antique market, Lisa had come into contact with Aileen. At that time, the blood on the glass shards had shown an anomaly.


    But since it was just a flash of light and the Psychic entries had no reaction, the matter was dropped.


    He remembered that Lisa had said Aileen went to the antique market to buy decorations. Now it seemed that it was then that Aileen had come into contact with the Vessel of the Evil Spirit.


    He looked here and there but couldn''t find anything abnormal.


    Suddenly, a shadow leaped down from the attic. Xu Yi tensed up, but once he recognized the shadow, he relaxed.


    "Black Carp, how did you get here?" Xu Yi crouched down in front of the black cat.


    He and Lisa often fed this stray cat, and if it weren''t for the lack of space at home, they would have taken it in already.


    Touching the cat''s fur, Xu Yi suddenly felt a light tingling sensation in his fingertips. It wasn''t static but a resonance produced by his Spiritual Power.


    "This Black Carp is quite unusual, indeed! It actually has Spiritual Perception!"


    After his surprise, Xu Yi suddenly realized something.


    Spiritual Perception is not exclusive to humans; many animals have Spiritual Perception that is even stronger than that of humans, and cats are a prime example of this.


    As for the Black Carp, its Spiritual Perception is so strong that it could be considered the king among cats.


    The Black Carp clamped onto Xu Yi''s trouser leg and started dragging him in a certain direction.


    "Are you trying to lead me somewhere?" Xu Yi suddenly understood the Black Carp''s intent and let go of it.


    The Black Carp meowed and darted toward the attic.


    Following behind, Xu Yi reached the attic and saw the Black Carp squatting on top of a bookshelf.


    The drawer of the bookshelf was locked, and after hesitating for a few seconds, Xu Yi found a tool and pried open the lock.


    The drawer slid open slowly, and he suddenly shivered with the same familiar coldness he had felt before.


    A book lay quietly in the drawer, its black and red cover stained with unidentifiable marks. As Xu Yi touched it, he couldn''t tell what material the cover was made of; it felt like stroking a snake, wet, slimy, and sticky.


    "Power! Dominance! Freedom!"


    Sudden whispers filled his ear as if ancient secrets were being told in an ancient language.


    Xu Yi''s gaze dimmed for a moment but soon cleared again. He was somewhat surprised.


    This book actually had the power to bewitch the mind?


    He understood why Aileen might have committed suicide in the house; she was probably bewitched by this book and then performed Self-Sacrifice.


    It was even possible that it was Aileen''s Self-Sacrifice that awakened the Evil Spirit.


    Without a doubt, this book was the Vessel for the Evil Spirit, and Xu Yi took the book and headed back the way he had come.


    Ailent had been waiting by the road for Xu Yi, and as soon as Xu Yi got into the car, it started up.


    "Where to now? Back to the hospital?" Ailent asked.


    Turning on the car''s interior light, Xu Yi opened the red book.


    The contents of the book were quite complex, filled with various unknown symbols and piece-meal descriptions; he could only roughly determine that this was a Witchcraft Tome.


    At the end of the book, a name appeared, which he subconsciously read aloud, "Gemeck Audron."


    "Isn''t the library closed at this time? I want to look up some information," Xu Yi suddenly felt compelled.


    "It''s almost nine o''clock now, the library is definitely closed, but no worries, I have a way!" Ailent made a phone call.


    The Ford car sped through the streets, and seeing Ailent''s confident demeanor, Xu Yi thought he might know some big shot; maybe the librarian was already waiting for them at the entrance.


    But the reality turned out to be...


    "Be careful! Don''t get caught, I really don''t want to lose this job!" a man dressed as a janitor was waiting in a corner behind the back door, waving at Xu Yi and his group.


    "You can''t turn on the lights inside the library, you will have to use flashlights, and absolutely don''t take any books out!" the man advised. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although the situation was a bit different from what he expected, Xu Yi still managed to get inside. He had researched here before and was quite familiar with the place.


    "Gemeck Audron, The Bloody Witch, said to be able to control various animals, once commanded venomous snakes to assassinate the King!"


    Xu Yi quickly found the information he wanted, which was entirely due to Gemeck''s actions; after all, an entity who had attempted to assassinate a King would hardly go unnoticed.


    Xu Yi''s brows were tightly furrowed; the situation was more troublesome than he had imagined.


    It is known that Evil Spirits come in hierarchies. If an Evil Spirit is transformed from an ordinary person, locating the Vessel and adding blood essence is usually enough to handle it easily.


    But if Psychics or witches like Gemeck become Evil Spirits, they are much more powerful than common Evil Spirits.


    Back at the Funeral Parlor, if the Psychic boy Jona had been influenced by resentment and turned into an Evil Spirit, the situation would likely not have been a mere "Resurrection Coin" level scenario.


    This exorcism did not trigger a "Scene Check-in," which made Xu Yi realize that encountering the strange didn''t necessarily mean a successful check-in and earning a Resurrection Coin.


    "No good! Quick, call the hospital!" Xu Yi suddenly thought of something and felt a chill in his heart.

 Chapter 30 Fright Among the Crows

    Connor Hospital.Urgent footsteps suddenly pierced the corridor as Andrew sprinted towards the ward, having just received a call from Xu Yi to the hospital reception.


    "Hurry! Close all the windows and doors! These are Xu Yi''s orders," Andrew said breathlessly.


    Upon hearing they were Xu Yi''s orders, Cassie didn''t hesitate and rushed to close the windows.


    Seeing the windows shut tight and locked from the inside, Andrew breathed a sigh of relief and then proceeded to close the door.


    There was no need to lock the door, as per Xu Yi''s instructions, because they weren''t guarding against people.


    Only Cassie and her husband and the reporter were left in the ward.


    While Cassie and her husband were somewhat uneasy, the reporter from Spiritual Exploration Daily was not only calm but invigorated in an instant.


    They sat in the corner with their cameras, ready to capture the news firsthand.


    If Xu Yi were here, he would have undoubtedly praised their professionalism.


    Once the doors and windows were secured, Cassie had just relaxed when she suddenly heard a sharp cawing of birds, and a group of shadows descended outside the window.


    "How could there be crows in the hospital?" Cassie wondered as she recognized the shapes.


    But in the next second, her pupils dilated as the crows soared and then dived down, striking the glass window violently, creating loud bangs. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sight sent chills down Cassie and her husband''s spines; had they not received a warning from Xu Yi to close the windows in advance, the consequences of these crows breaking into the ward would have been unimaginable.


    Cassie suddenly screamed, spotting a crack form on the glass window as the crows assaulted it suicidally.


    The crack grew larger, and before they could react, the window shattered with a bang, and the crows swarmed in.


    Cassie and her husband rushed towards the hospital bed, as it was clear the crows'' target was none other than Lisa on the bed. They grabbed a nearby stool and swung it to drive the crows away.


    But there were too many crows. Despite swinging the stool with all their might, it was a futile effort.


    The dense flock of crows descended over Lisa, and Cassie and her husband dropped the stool, using their bodies to shield her.


    One crow, larger than the rest, deftly dodged Cassie and her husband, squeezing through a gap, its crimson pupils staring straight at Lisa''s neck.


    The crow pecked with its sharp beak, not aiming for Lisa''s life but the necklace around her neck.


    If Xu Yi were here, with the help of his Spirit Communication Ability, he would see a pair of emaciated, withered hands clinging fiercely onto the metal bottle.


    Even as those hands seared like touching sulfuric acid, emitting black smoke, they showed no sign of letting go.


    Xu Yi had specifically chosen a sturdy thick hemp rope; a bird couldn''t cut through it, let alone a pair of scissors.


    But this crow was not normal; its beak was unnaturally sharp, actually managing to bite through the necklace''s rope.


    Cassie and her husband''s hair stood on end as they remembered Xu Yi''s admonition that the necklace must never leave Lisa''s body.


    They lunged at the crow, trying to take the necklace back, but the crow clawed at their eyes with its sharp talons, and they instinctively covered their faces.


    Seizing the moment, the crow flew off with the necklace.


    With a click, the door to the ward opened, and a breathless Xu Yi charged in, his first sight being of the crow attempting to escape with the necklace.


    Xu Yi lunged at the crow, each blood-stained shard of glass was a treasure that couldn''t be allowed to be taken away by a crow!


    He moved as fast as he could, but not faster than a flying bird.


    The crow reached the ceiling, where Xu Yi couldn''t touch it, and by the time he found a stick, the crow had already fled through the broken window with the necklace.


    "Damn it!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but curse aloud.


    But there was no time to grieve over the lost mystical bloodstain''s suppression, as Lisa''s eyes snapped open with a strange smile on her lips.


    Now, putting the exorcism necklace back on Lisa was unrealistic.


    All the crows in the room were controlled by an evil spirit, and breaking through forcefully was too difficult.


    They had managed to put the exorcism necklace on Lisa before because the evil spirit hadn''t realized the powerful suppressive effect of the mysterious bloodstain, catching it by surprise.


    To attempt it again was likely to result in being slapped away or even having it snatched by the flock of crows.


    Xu Yi took out the Witchcraft Tome from his bosom and threw it into the copper basin left by Witch Zhang.


    The vessel is both the evil spirit''s umbrella and its shackles.


    The evil spirit hides within the vessel, which allows it to avoid being harmed by sunlight and stabilizes its soul.


    But every gift of fate already has its price secretly marked.


    In accepting the vessel''s protection, the evil spirit is also enslaved by it.


    Once the vessel is damaged, it drags the evil spirit back to protect it.


    This action is like a drowning person desperately clinging to their rescuer, where the ultimate outcome is nothing more than one more body to cushion the fall.


    Yet the vessel has no sentience, how could it consider so much.


    This is why Xu Yi needed to return to the ward before he burned the Witchcraft Tome.


    Because if he was too far away, the vessel wouldn''t be able to pull the evil spirit, thus wasting the tome''s purpose.


    With a click, the Exorcism Lighter''s flame rose and slowly approached the Witchcraft Tome.


    The wildly dancing crows became agitated, attacking Xu Yi as if they had gone mad, but Xu Yi had anticipated this and quickly set the Witchcraft Tome on fire.


    As the Witchcraft Tome started to burn, the flame drove away the chill in the room.


    The crows controlled by the evil spirit feared the Ethereal Flame, hesitating to come near for a moment. Those few that tried to extinguish the fire forcibly were slapped into flesh by Xu Yi using a stool.


    Holding the stool, Xu Yi coldly watched the evil spirit, the firelight illuminating his composed face, and the black crows surrounding him like a cloud of darkness.


    Lisa''s body suddenly stiffened, emitting a piercing scream.


    The effects of burning the vessel began to appear; the evil spirit was hurt and unable to control the numerous crows.


    The crows, no longer under the evil spirit''s control, flew around confusedly before flying out the window one by one.


    "Hold her down!" Xu Yi felt the opportunity was here, tossed the stool aside, and hurried to the bedside,


    He grabbed Lisa''s wrist and seared her palm with the flame from the Exorcism Lighter.


    Lisa struggled desperately, but Cassie and her husband firmly pinned her down on the bed. Influenced by the vessel, the evil spirit could not exert its full strength.


    Goose bumps rose one by one on Cassie and her husband''s skin, as they felt an intense chill emanating from Lisa.


    Xu Yi, with his Spirit Communication Ability, had far sharper senses than common folks, feeling even more intense sensations, as if he had fallen into an Ice Cellar, his body trembling uncontrollably.


    He looked at Lisa and, in a trance, her face morphed into that of a sinister witch, staring at him full of hatred.


    Xu Yi, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief. The extreme reaction from the evil spirit indicated that the method was working; now, all he needed to do was persist.


    Lisa''s hand was as cold as a block of ice. Despite the burning of her palm, the flame left no trace.


    In the copper basin, the Witchcraft Tome continued to burn. Once the tome was completely consumed, the evil spirit would have no chance of recovery.


    Everything was progressing in a favorable direction; even the reporters felt the exorcism was about to succeed and were discussing the content of their articles.


    But for some reason, Xu Yi felt an inexplicable unease deep inside.


    ...


    Outside Connor Hospital, on the street.


    A truck slowly approached, with dogs barking periodically from within the cargo area. The driver, looking weary, yawned deeply.


    Blinking involuntarily because of the yawn, when he opened his eyes, he was shocked to see an old man suddenly appear ahead on the road.


    He was so frightened that he slammed on the brakes and quickly turned the steering wheel.


    At the front side of the road was a puddle, and the wheels, sliding on water during the emergency brake, caused the vehicle to lose control and overturn, slamming its front against a nearby pole.


    The street was thrown into chaos by the unexpected accident, and the driver passed out from the force of the collision.


    Thus, he did not notice that the road ahead was empty - there was no old man.


    The collision had flung open the truck door, and the large iron cages inside had cracked open.


    Shadows streamed out from the gaps in the cages; in the dark, their reddish pupils glinted ¨C these were half-person tall Bulldogs. These large dogs were incredibly fierce and could even battle wolves.


    They had a definite target, sprinting towards the hospital.

 Chapter 31 A Sliding Tackle by Me!

    ```Sudden bursts of hurried footsteps and shrill screams came from outside the hospital room. Ailent instinctively rushed to the door and locked it.


    His hanging heart had not yet settled when the door violently shook, startling Ailent, as cold sweat instantly broke out from his forehead.


    Although he was dressed in a suit and looked like an experienced exorcist agent, having weathered many storms,


    he was, after all, just a rookie, who had only been through one exorcism incident.


    And he was naturally timid, so faced with the unknown danger outside the door, it was inevitable that he would panic and stand frozen in place.


    "Use those empty hospital beds to block the door!"


    Xu Yi''s voice came from behind him, and Ailent instinctively turned his head, meeting Xu Yi''s unfathomable pupils.


    Having lost his parents at a young age, Ailent''s ability to rise from the slums and carve out a niche for himself in society depended on his ability to judge people.


    Some people are naturally destined for great things, bold, decisive, and brimming with leadership charisma, and Xu Yi was such a person, which was why Ailent was willing to invest heavily.


    Seeing Xu Yi, he gradually calmed down and then briskly moved the hospital beds.


    "Come help out a bit!"


    The hospital beds were too heavy for Ailent to move alone. Xu Yi needed to perform an exorcism on Lisa, and Cassie''s couple had to hold Lisa down, leaving no hands free, except to ask for help from the two reporters.


    The two reporters exchanged a glance; one put down his notebook and quickly stepped forward to help, while the other continued holding the camera,


    "That''s some dedication!" Ailent secretly marveled.


    The hospital beds were moved to the side of the door, firmly against the wooden door which seemed to have the desired effect, as the noise outside lessened.


    But the next second, the door violently shook again.


    To save expenses, the hospital doors were made from common wood, so they were not very sturdy.


    As the crazy impact outside continued, wood chips flew everywhere, and unbelievably, a hole was forcibly smashed through the door.


    A ferocious dog''s head peered inside, its crimson pupils sweeping around, and then it fixed its gaze firmly on Xu Yi.


    The dog''s head withdrew, and everyone''s heart skipped a beat.


    They were all aware that this didn''t mean they were safe, but rather, a greater danger was looming!


    The wooden door shook again, and the Bulldogs broke through it directly. The beds that blocked the door had a large gap, which couldn''t stop the Bulldogs at all.


    They squeezed through the gap, poised to attack, growling deeply.


    It wasn''t just one Bulldog. They entered in a single file, a dozen or more Bulldogs lining up in a row.


    Everyone understood the terror of more than a dozen Bulldogs; even a tiger would avoid such a confrontation. The reporters shrank into a corner, already contemplating their escape routes.


    Cassie''s couple looked at the ferocious Bulldogs, their backs drenched in cold sweat.


    "Hold the Magic Artifact, and continue burning Lisa''s palm!" Xu Yi thrust the lighter into Andrew''s hands.


    The cold touch of the lighter made Andrew flinch, and he looked at Xu Yi''s expressionless face, his lips twisting into a smile uglier than a cry.


    "Are you leaving us?" Cassie''s body shook uncontrollably.


    She could actually understand Xu Yi. If it weren''t their daughter on the hospital bed, they would definitely run too. Facing over a dozen large dogs, even tigers would choose to take a detour.


    Xu Yi didn''t answer her. He walked to the bedside cabinet, opened a drawer, and fished out a fruit knife.


    Cassie''s couple was stunned. What was he going to do with a knife? Was he planning to confront these Bulldogs with just a fruit knife?


    With a roar, the Bulldogs launched their attack, lunging fiercely towards Xu Yi.


    Cassie involuntarily let out a scream, as if she could already see Xu Yi being torn apart by the Bulldogs.


    But the scene that followed was entirely beyond their imagination.


    Xu Yi proactively faced the Bulldogs, his movements as agile as a cheetah. He dodged the Bulldogs'' lunge at the critical moment and grabbed the hind leg of one Bulldog.


    The Bulldog was yanked so violently by Xu Yi that its leg was almost dislocated. Seizing the opportunity, Xu Yi dove in and plunged the fruit knife deep into the Bulldog''s abdomen.


    ```


    The Bulldog yelped in pain as it turned its head to bite Xu Yi, who had anticipated this moment and retreated after pulling out a fruit knife, delivering a forceful kick that sent the Bulldog flying away. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These events unfolded in the blink of an eye, and if there was one term to encapsulate Xu Yi''s actions, it was a "slide tackle."


    With a single slide tackle, Xu Yi took down a Bulldog!


    Cassie''s parents watched Xu Yi in astonishment. Was this really the Xu Yi they knew?


    Not only had he become an exorcist, but he also possessed such smooth, agent-like moves straight out of a movie!


    "Agent Xu" kept retreating to avoid getting surrounded by the Bulldogs.


    His reaction wasn''t as composed as Cassie''s parents might have thought; quickly handling a Bulldog was only possible because he had caught these dogs off-balance.


    After losing one of their own, the pack of dogs quickly rallied their offense. Don''t think that only humans understand how to corner their prey; the blood of wolves flows through canine veins.


    Under the fierce siege of the dogs, Xu Yi was running for his life.


    But soon, he felt a surge of anxiety and cried out, "Watch out!"


    When the Bulldogs realized they couldn''t take him down for the moment, they split off and charged towards Cassie''s parents.


    These Bulldogs were clearly manipulated by an Evil Spirit with a definite target, completely ignoring the reporter hiding in the corner.


    Ailent gritted his teeth, ready to step forward to help, but a Bulldog suddenly blocked his way, barking furiously, preventing him from acting rashly.


    Xu Yi wanted to intervene, but he was too busy fending for himself.


    Andrew held down Lisa with one hand and clutched a lighter in the other, scorching her palm. He knew the Exorcism Ritual couldn''t be interrupted, so he clenched his teeth and persevered.


    As a Bulldog lunged forward, Cassie suddenly let out a loud yell, grabbed a nearby stool, and slammed it down on the leaping dog, sending it crashing to the floor.


    Xu Yi wanted to cheer, remembering that Auntie Cassie was no fragile soul¡ªher formidable reputation was well-known throughout Chinatown.


    Moreover, it was her daughter lying on the sickbed. A mother''s fury is fierce, and Cassie had clearly gone all out today.


    A Bulldog was repelled, but more dogs attacked. Cassie picked up another stool, wielding it with a powerful presence, and for a moment, she pushed back the assault.


    A puzzled look appeared on Xu Yi''s face as the Bulldogs retreated, partly because of Cassie''s ferocity, but more importantly, he noticed that the Bulldogs were deliberately avoiding Lisa.


    Earlier, when the crows had invaded the hospital room, they seemed only interested in snatching the necklace without harming Lisa.


    Lisa''s "self-harm" now appeared more like a play orchestrated by the Evil Spirit, otherwise it wouldn''t have been subdued so easily.


    Why was the Evil Spirit doing this?


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed deep in thought. When things go against the norm, there had to be something he was unaware of.


    Suddenly, Cassie screamed¡ªthe Bulldogs had launched a sneak attack from behind, one biting into her leg.


    No matter how strong she appeared, she was still an ordinary middle-aged woman, and her defeat to the Bulldogs was inevitable.


    Andrew''s eyes instantly turned red. Just as he was about to move forward, a Bulldog leapt from the side, biting into his hand, blood splattering everywhere.


    The lighter fell to the ground and rolled away, and Xu Yi''s heart plummeted along with the falling lighter.


    The Exorcism Ritual was interrupted.


    But that wasn''t the worst of it. A Bulldog suddenly charged at the fire basin, tipping it over.


    The burning sorcery manual fell to the ground, and a Bulldog rolled over it, putting out the fire with its body amidst its own howls of pain.


    Xu Yi''s face turned pale; the Evil Spirit had been suppressed for so long, now that its shackles were undone, retaliation was bound to come fiercely.


    He wanted to stop it, but he couldn''t break through the encirclement of the Bulldogs.


    Lisa suddenly opened her eyes, sitting up rigidly from the bed with a sinister smile creeping across her lips. In Xu Yi''s field of vision, her face began to morph, eventually turning into the visage of an old witch.


    Behind the old witch, he could see Lisa''s soul, reaching out, her mouth moving as though she was shouting something, but Xu Yi couldn''t hear it at all.


    Xu Yi looked around desperately. Cassie''s parents were being mauled by a pack of Bulldogs, their screams constant; Ailent mustered the courage, holding an iron rod, intending to help, but a Bulldog immediately knocked him down, the air thick with the smell of blood.


    Lisa''s soul faded away like a bubble, and Xu Yi gradually couldn''t sense Lisa''s presence anymore.

 Chapter 32 Are you playing like this?

    The Evil Spirit witch cackled fiercely, a laugh that only Xu Yi could hear.She appraised Xu Yi with a mocking gaze, expecting to see a pained expression on his face, but to her disappointment, there was none. Xu Yi exhaled deeply, seemingly relieved.


    "Alright, alright! So that''s how you want to play? Well, you can''t blame me for this!" Xu Yi murmured to himself.


    The Evil Spirit was puzzled; had this guy gone mad, rambling nonsense here?


    But the next second, it was stunned. Even as an Evil Spirit, it had never seen such a crazed human.


    Xu Yi lifted a fruit knife, aimed it at his own heart, and plunged it in fiercely, blood spraying out.


    The Evil Spirit stared blankly at Xu Yi, at a loss for words.


    "See you in a bit," Xu Yi waved to the Evil Spirit. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Watching the smile on Xu Yi''s face, the Evil Spirit, for some reason, suddenly had a bad premonition.


    ...


    The car drove smoothly down the street. Ailent glanced at Xu Yi through the rearview mirror and was startled; Xu Yi had been resting with his eyes closed just now, but suddenly, his eyes snapped open, emitting a hateful glow from their depths.


    "What happened?" Ailent asked in confusion.


    Xu Yi didn''t give a direct answer but instead asked, "Where are we going now?"


    "The library." Ailent was even more puzzled.


    He had just finished calling the library a second ago, and now Xu Yi had forgotten? Even a goldfish had a memory span of seven seconds.


    "No need to go there! Turn around and head back to the hospital, and hurry!" Xu Yi instructed.


    Xu Yi, having "come back to life," naturally didn''t need to visit the library again. The most important thing now was to rush back to the hospital.


    "You''re the boss, what you say goes," although confused, Ailent faithfully carried out Xu Yi''s orders.


    The car had just stopped at the hospital''s entrance when Xu Yi already had the door open and was sprinting toward the hospital.


    In the ward.


    Cassie and her husband waited anxiously, constantly looking at the wall clock.


    Although Xu Yi hadn''t been gone long, they were genuinely worried about Lisa''s condition; every second was agonizing.


    The door was suddenly pushed open, and Cassie and her husband were pleased to see Xu Yi enter, but they quickly noticed that Xu Yi was pushing a wheelchair.


    "What''s this for?" Andrew asked, puzzled.


    "Switching rooms," Xu Yi said, pushing the wheelchair straight to the bedside. He saw that the necklace on Lisa''s neck was still there and sighed with relief.


    "Isn''t this room fine?" Andrew was a bit baffled; they were comfortably settled in this ward, so why the need to switch?


    They knew that the reason they had this large ward to themselves was thanks to the help of reporters from Spiritual Exploration Daily; without them, it would have been hard to get such treatment given their abilities.


    In this loop, Andrew had yet to receive the beating from the mass of crows and had not become compliant to Xu Yi''s words.


    "Then go and close the window," Xu Yi said without further explanation, merely uttering a phrase indifferently.


    Why close the windows when the room felt stuffy? Although puzzled, Andrew found no need to be contradictory with Xu Yi over such a minor matter, especially since they still relied on Xu Yi for the exorcism.


    He went to the window, and a large shadow approached from afar. It was a flock of crows, apparently heading straight for their ward.


    Andrew suddenly had a bad premonition and hurried to close the window.


    Could these birds actually break through the window? He looked at the tightly shut window, secretly relieved, feeling that Xu Yi was being overly cautious.


    With a loud bang, the flock of crows slammed into the glass windows, their force astonishing.


    Andrew was startled but the real horror was yet to come, as the crows'' relentless impacts began to crack the window.


    "Are you going to stay here?"


    Xu Yi''s flat voice came from behind him and Andrew hastily turned around, only to find the hospital bed empty, with Xu Yi having already lifted Lisa into the wheelchair and pushed her to the doorway.


    The others followed Xu Yi, quietly watching him, Cassie included.


    Andrew suddenly felt as if he had been abandoned.


    Behind him came another loud "bang" as a crow smashed directly through the glass, rushing into the ward with a shrill screech.


    Meeting the crow''s crimson pupils, Andrew''s heart shuddered violently.


    "Hey! I''m coming!" Andrew didn''t dare question Xu Yi any longer and quickly agreed, rushing towards Xu Yi.


    Cassie, seeing her husband''s "quick-change" act, felt somewhat embarrassed and stepped back to show she wasn''t close to him.


    Xu Yi paid no attention to Andrew; he had already wheeled Lisa out of the ward and asked Ailent to shut the door.


    Of course, this wooden door couldn''t stop the flock of crows; there were entrances everywhere in the hospital, and the crows could fly in from other places. But at least it would slow them down and prevent them from catching up to them.


    The wheelchair''s wheels rubbing against the floor made a puffing sound as Xu Yi walked quickly, the people following him had to run to keep up with his pace.


    People in the hallway stopped to watch, wondering where this odd group had come from.


    Xu Yi suddenly slowed down his pace; he could see a warehouse from a distance, with a sign at the door that read "Warehouse Personnel Only, No Admittance."


    The door was open at that moment, and a uniformed warehouse manager stepped out briskly,


    "Hey! What are you doing?"


    Xu Yi didn''t waste words with the manager and, using technique, brushed past him, wheeling Lisa briskly into the warehouse.


    The warehouse manager reached for his walkie-talkie at his waist, ready to call the hospital''s security team. Just then, he heard a loud shout.


    "Quick, get in!"


    The shout came from the "thug" who had been physical; the warehouse manager should have reprimanded him, but in the next second, he jumped up from the ground like an obedient rabbit, darting into the warehouse and even helping the "thug" to shut the door.


    He saw a large flock of crows surging from the end of the corridor.


    Anyone with a bit of sense knew that there was something off about these crows. Why stay outside and face the flock of crows alone, when one could run back to the warehouse?


    "You are..."


    Before the warehouse manager could finish speaking, a black business card was handed to him. Seeing the words "Exorcism Studio" written large across it, the manager obediently closed his mouth.


    The name of the Exorcism Studio was useful indeed! Xu Yi felt that he had underestimated the status of exorcists in people''s hearts.


    The crows hit the door, making a pounding, sharp noise, but Xu Yi wasn''t perturbed in the slightest.


    The door in front of him was made of alloy, with a solid metal panel three centimeters thick. It wasn''t just the mere crows that would fail to open it, even an elephant couldn''t break through.


    This warehouse was used to store expensive medical equipment, which is the only reason the hospital was willing to install such a door.


    Xu Yi had arrived at the hospital long ago and had only come to the ward so late because he was looking for such a place.


    He stroked the cold metal door, a smile on his lips.


    So you manipulate crows! So you control a pack of Bulldogs!


    As long as they hid in this warehouse, the Evil Spirit''s ability to control animals would be greatly diminished.


    Of course, if the Evil Spirit could bring a Godzilla, he would concede defeat, but that obviously wasn''t going to happen. In the bustling city, large dogs were pretty much the pinnacle of force.


    The nearest zoo was more than ten kilometers away from Connor Hospital; with the Evil Spirit''s ability, it was impossible to affect anything from that far away.

 Chapter 33 The Evil Spirit at the end of its tether

    Xu Yi tore off the necklace from Lisa''s neck.For Xu Yi, using this Resurrection Coin was still very much worth it, at the very least, the blood shard hadn''t been lost.


    The crowd worked together to move the medical equipment aside, clearing a space to prepare for the Exorcism Ritual.


    Xu Yi didn''t help, instead, he squatted in front of Lisa, spread her right palm open, and applied several hemostatic stickers, forming the shape of a cross.


    Without pausing, he continued to take out a roll of bandage and firmly wrapped her right palm. After wrapping a thick layer, it looked as though it had been cast in plaster.


    Xu Yi patted the "plastered hand" with satisfaction, then casually wound the Exorcism Necklace around it.


    Was this some kind of Exorcism Ritual? Ailent watched Xu Yi with puzzlement, but didn''t ask anything.


    In his view, his role as an exorcist agent was somewhat lacking in professionalism.


    Looks like it''s back to the books on this subject after returning! Ailent thought to himself.


    If Xu Yi knew what Ailent was thinking, he would definitely have laughed; this wasn''t any kind of Exorcism Ritual, just a little precaution to prevent accidents.


    Xu Yi took a deep breath and pulled out the black and red book, knowing that once he burned this Vessel of the Evil Spirit, everything would be settled once and for all.


    The Ethereal Flame ignited the magic grimoire, and the pale gold flames spread across the pages.


    As the Vessel of the Evil Spirit burned quietly, waves of black smoke began to rise behind Lisa; Xu Yi could hear the Evil Spirit''s screams.


    A trace of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, but he remained vigilant, keeping his gaze fixed on Lisa.


    Although everything was under his control for the moment, he had already experienced the difficulty of dealing with the witch Evil Spirit and couldn''t imagine what else she might be capable of.


    Knowing that he now had only one Resurrection Coin left, he couldn''t help but be cautious.


    As the magic grimoire burned past the halfway mark, the cawing of crows outside grew fainter, soon followed by a burst of frantic barking. The door was hit over and over again, as if someone were beating a drum.


    But no matter how desperately the Bulldogs tried, the alloy gate showed no sign of collapsing.


    Xu Yi breathed a little easier; it seemed the Evil Spirit was running out of tricks.


    "Rats! How could there be rats in the warehouse!" the administrator suddenly cried out in alarm.


    The warehouse stored expensive medical equipment, and any damage from chewing would be a significant loss.


    Therefore, the hospital took rodent control in the warehouse very seriously and had multiple pest control plans in place.


    Working here for five years, he had never seen a single rat, but just at this moment, a rat had appeared out of nowhere.


    The rat had silently climbed onto Lisa''s right hand, the one wrapped with the Exorcism Necklace.


    The rat began to chew on the necklace; its teeth were so sharp that within a few seconds, it had bitten through the chain.


    When Xu Yi heard the administrator''s shout, he darted toward Lisa; although he was quick, he was still too late to stop the rat.


    He could only watch helplessly as the rat grasped the metal vial in its mouth, jumped down from the wheelchair, and scurried into the bottom of the medical equipment, disappearing from everyone''s view in the blink of an eye.


    "Damn rat!" Ailent cursed angrily.


    The rarity of Exorcism Artifacts was well known, even to a rookie agent like him.


    At certain auctions, a common Exorcism Artifact could easily fetch a price well over a hundred thousand.


    He looked up at Xu Yi, wondering if perhaps his mood was even worse than his own.


    But then he was taken aback¡­ Xu Yi seemed to be in a good mood, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.


    "Just as I thought!" Xu Yi sighed inwardly.


    Having experienced the previous "reincarnation," he was very clear about the trouble with evil spirits, so while he was in the Resurrection Space, he had been thinking about one question.


    If he were an evil spirit, from which aspect would he break the situation?


    Without the help of the bulldog pack, it was practically impossible for the evil spirit to extinguish the flames on the vessel.


    What the other party could do was to make a desperate move, forcibly attempting to possess Lisa''s body.


    At this moment, the exorcism chains that suppressed the evil spirit became a major obstacle, which the evil spirit would definitely try to remove, and the mouse that just appeared was obviously the handiwork of the evil spirit.


    "Luckily, I was prepared!" Xu Yi felt as though he could hear the evil spirit''s furious roar.


    Having had the exorcism necklace taken away by a crow once, how could he not be prepared?


    He had already poured the blood trace fragment out of the metal container and sealed it inside Lisa''s palm with a hemostatic sticker, then wrapped it up with densely packed bandages.


    Unexpectedly, the mouse did not bite the bandages but continued to go after the container.


    It was unknown whether it was because the mouse''s intelligence was limited, or the evil spirit was also fooled, given that the position of the metal container coincidentally overlapped with the blood trace fragment.


    But even if the mouse wasn''t acting foolishly, it was impossible for it to carry away the blood trace fragment.


    After all, the adversary would need to chew through the outer bandages first, then tear open the hemostatic sticker before getting to the blood trace fragment.


    The thick loop of bandages on Lisa''s hand would be enough to make bulldogs shake their heads, let alone a tiny mouse.


    If the mouse had the time to chew through, Xu Yi would have enough time to gut it and roast it over a grill to medium-well.


    Lisa sat in the wheelchair, her pale face occasionally shivering as if she was having a nightmare.


    The blood trace fragment was like a cage, securely imprisoning the evil spirit.


    Xu Yi knew very well that once the evil spirit escaped, trying to stuff it back in would be extremely difficult.


    While he was in the Resurrection Space, he had thought it through very clearly, he absolutely could not let it escape, and now he had done so quite successfully.


    Xu Yi took out the Exorcism Lighter and stood in front of Lisa.


    The pale gold firelight illuminated the depths of Lisa''s pupils, and Xu Yi grabbed one of her hands, scorching her cold palm with the Holy Flame.


    The reporter from the Spiritual Exploration Daily''s eyes lit up, feeling that the composition of the scene before him was brilliant, and hurriedly pressed the shutter to capture this moment.


    A bone-chilling cold swept over, causing Xu Yi to shiver violently, with his hairs standing on end.


    This chill wasn''t physically real but was his Spiritual Perception at work, much like an animal in the forest trembling in fear upon sensing the smell of a top predator.


    Xu Yi''s heart jumped. He had not felt such a strong cold in the previous reincarnation; it was as if he had been stuffed into a freezing icebox.


    This was the evil spirit witch, desperate and ready to fight to the death!


    Lisa''s body trembled slightly, and she let out pained moans, her limbs starting to struggle unconsciously.


    "Come and help hold her down!" Xu Yi continued to scorch Lisa''s palm with the Ethereal Flame.


    The Exorcism Lighter, blood trace fragment, burning the vessel... he had used all the methods available to deal with the evil spirit, and now he could only wait quietly.


    "I hope Lisa can hold on!"


    Xu Yi took a deep breath, as long as Lisa could hold on until the vessel burned out, the evil spirit would naturally dissipate.


    Xu Yi had Allen fetch a stick, constantly turning the books in an attempt to increase air contact and speed up the burning process, but to no avail. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was actually within Xu Yi''s expectations. Back at the Funeral Parlor, ordinary flames couldn''t even ignite the pile of corpses.


    When dealing with such peculiar entities, common methods often don''t work.

 Chapter 34 Lisas Talent and New Features

    The warehouse was dead silent, except for Lisa''s frantic struggles.The warehouse manager watched the scene unfold before him, feeling terrified.


    Two adults were holding down a girl, and beside them, another person was scorching their palm with a lighter. If he hadn''t known they were exorcists, he would''ve definitely thought it was some criminal gang employing torture for a confession.


    But through Xu Yi''s eyes, it was a completely different picture.


    The evil spirit, in the form of a witch, roared in anger behind Lisa. Its neck stretched out long, and its head hung down like a snake, its sharp teeth incessantly gnawing at Lisa''s body.


    Lisa trembled more violently, blood streaming from the corners of her mouth and eyes, her face smeared with it.


    Cassie and her husband were heartbroken at the sight of their daughter, with Cassie quietly sobbing.


    "Can Lisa really hold on?" Xu Yi''s heart began to waver.


    A warm breeze suddenly blew over him, Xu Yi felt a surge of warmth, and he was a bit puzzled. Where was this warm wind coming from? Could it be the heat from the burning vessel?


    His gaze flickered to the burning Witchcraft Tome and realized it wasn''t right. The tome was burning behind him, but the warmth was coming from in front of him.


    The warmth grew stronger, and Xu Yi finally knew its source.


    A faint white light enveloped Lisa''s body, a glow that only Xu Yi could see, the light of a soul.


    Under the radiance, the witch let out a pained howl, yet within its blood-red pupils lay a fierce yearning.


    Xu Yi''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Lisa''s Spiritual Perception was extraordinary, not something a common Psychic, or even an ordinary person, would possess.


    Suddenly, he remembered something.


    In the previous cycle, both the crow and the bulldogs had deliberately avoided Lisa, fearful of harming her body.


    Now, seeing the evil spirit''s yearning gaze, he finally understood why.


    The goal of the evil spirit wasn''t to kill Lisa but to completely possess her body.


    Possession is quite demanding, and evil spirits generally are reluctant to undertake such an arduous and thankless task, but there are always exceptions.


    If the target possesses a special Talent that fits well with the evil spirit, it will try by all means to possess it.


    Lisa likely had the Talent of a witch!


    Witches are much rarer and more powerful than Psychics, evident from how the Holy Court treats the two, giving at most a warning to wild Psychics, but for witches, they are well-guarded against, some even being promptly executed by burning at the stake.


    Their power could threaten the reign of the Holy Court.


    Of course, this is also because the Witchcraft they studied is too dark to be tolerated by the mundane world.


    "Why, in the last cycle, did Lisa''s soul not resist much before being swallowed by the evil spirit?" Xu Yi pondered with new doubts.


    He looked at Lisa''s right hand, tightly wrapped in bandages, with mysterious blood-stained glass shards at the center.


    He reached out to touch the bandage, but the next second, quickly retracted his hand.


    It felt as if he had touched a glowing red-hot piece of charcoal, the heat was extraordinary.


    His palm wasn''t burnt, nor were the bandages ignited by high heat because it was all just Xu Yi''s Spiritual Perception at work. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could it be that Lisa''s Talent was activated because of the mysterious bloodstain in her palm? Xu Yi felt his guess was close to the truth.


    The flames on the Witchcraft Tome had been quietly burning all along, but now suddenly intensified, engulfing the book in an instant, the burning hastening.


    What Xu Yi couldn''t achieve, Lisa had done.


    The Witchcraft Tome was already more than half burnt.


    The evil spirit''s soul grew increasingly faint, and once the Vessel was completely burnt, it would vanish entirely.


    The witch wailed in agony, its eyes filled with a ghastly green, brimming with madness.


    Xu Yi felt a twinge in his heart, sensing something was amiss.


    The witch realized it was on the verge of annihilation and no longer harbored hopes of possessing Lisa''s body but, in its dying moments, wanted to drag Lisa down with it!


    Xu Yi''s heart hung in suspense; he couldn''t let Lisa be buried with the old witch at any cost.


    He planned to negotiate with the entity. As long as it would leave Lisa''s body, anything could be discussed!


    The evil spirit suddenly opened its mouth wide, and a pitch-black shadow crawled out from its depths¡ªit was a black snake, with a ferocious head, blood-red vertical pupils fixed on Lisa, flickering its forked tongue in and out.


    If anyone present could see this scene, they would probably scream in terror.


    Xu Yi''s brows were also tightly knitted; fortunately, he had the entry "As Brave as a Barrel" which prevented him from being petrified with fear.


    "Let''s talk this out nicely, no need to get angry at every turn!" Xu Yi coaxed the evil spirit while preparing to extinguish the flames on the Witchcraft Tome.


    Only then would the evil spirit possibly abandon its idea of mutual destruction.


    The others looked at Xu Yi muttering to himself in confusion, but they soon realized that he must be seeing things they couldn''t.


    The fierce black snake indeed stopped, the witch and the black snake''s pairs of pupils coldly staring at Xu Yi, exuding bone-chilling hatred.


    Xu Yi was well aware that letting the evil spirit go would be akin to a tiger returning to the mountain, but he couldn''t afford to worry about that now¡ªLisa''s safety was more important.


    He knocked on the Witchcraft Tome with the iron rod, attempting to put out the fire.


    At that moment, a dazzling light suddenly illuminated his eyes; Xu Yi squinted instinctively. The light didn''t come from the flames but from Lisa''s right hand, the one wrapped in bandages.


    The glare was so piercing it was like the rising sun.


    The people around were still unaffected, which made Xu Yi realize this was also a scene perceived by Spiritual Perception.


    What was happening? Xu Yi couldn''t grasp the situation for a moment.


    The next second, at the center of the light, golden flames rose from the palm of Lisa''s right hand. The fire was wholly golden, like flowing lava.


    Instantly, the flames became a blazing inferno, rapidly enveloping Lisa.


    Lisa''s eyes opened wide, a flash of golden light passing deep within her pupils, but soon she closed her eyes again and fell back into unconsciousness.


    Xu Yi suddenly heard the evil spirit''s screams of agony. The golden fire also enveloped the witch, and the entity that had wanted a Pyrrhic victory, upon meeting the fire, burned like flammable paper, consumed in an instant.


    The black and red Witchcraft Tome burst into flames, startling Ailent who quickly backed away.


    The roaring flames gradually died down, leaving only the ash of the burnt book on the ground.


    Xu Yi grabbed Lisa''s wrist. Her skin temperature had returned to normal without the piercing cold, and Lisa was no longer struggling in pain; she lay quietly in her wheelchair, soundly asleep.


    "Exorcist sir, does this mean it''s a success?" Andrew asked tentatively.


    After a series of events, he was utterly impressed with Xu Yi and dared not treat him lightly, and even refrained from calling him by name.


    Everyone''s gaze was fixed on Xu Yi, eyes filled with hope.


    Xu Yi activated his Spirit Communication Ability and no longer felt the presence of the evil spirit.


    "It''s a success!" Xu Yi exhaled a breath of relief.


    Even though the outcome was somewhat surprising to him, in the end, the evil spirit was dealt with.


    As his words fell, Cassie''s family cheered, Ailent needing to maintain his exorcist agent persona, just smiled reservedly¡ªbut his clenched fist betrayed his inner excitement.


    The reporters from Spiritual Exploration Daily kept clicking their shutters, capturing the scene.


    Xu Yi put away his Exorcism Lighter, finally allowing a smile to appear on his lips, while inwardly he was eagerly anticipating.


    Such a troublesome evil spirit, he wondered what entries it might provide upon being devoured?


    The system''s voice sounded at the same time.


    [Entry Devouring initiated, detection of Otherkind energy intervention, Entry Devouring paused.]


    [Detecting Otherkind energy strength... Energy meets threshold, new function unlocked, starting to check additional conditions!]


    [Target "Lisa" Loyalty Value/Favorability detection... Current Favorability 92 (out of 100), check passed!]


    [Target "Lisa" Talent Awakening for Entries detection... Check passed!]


    [Energy detection passed, additional conditions check passed, does the host wish to give up the opportunity for Entry Devouring to initiate Bonds function?]

 Chapter 35 Entries Awakening

    Word Bonding? Xu Yi''s eyes shone brightly as he stared at the system.The conditions for initiating a Word Bond were extremely stringent, requiring not only sufficient energy but also a Loyalty Value or Favorability that met the standard.


    The hardest part was that the object of the first Bond had to possess the Talent of Word Awakening.


    This series of conditions could only be met by a series of fortunate coincidences, which made Xu Yi now recall how he had extolled the Goddess of Luck.


    How could a feature that was unlocked under such stringent conditions be common?


    "Confirm activation!" Xu Yi silently chanted in his mind.


    You can devour Words at any time, but you may only get one chance to activate a new feature - even a fool knows what to choose.


    [Word Bond function activation in progress, estimated time until completion: 10 minutes...]


    Since the activation would take some time, Xu Yi could only wait patiently. He squatted in front of the wheelchair, starting to unwrap the bandages from Lisa''s hands.


    The bandage was so thick that his hands began to ache before he managed to remove all of it.


    Xu Yi''s brows suddenly furrowed when he noticed a cut in the palm of Lisa''s hand.


    While applying the hemostatic sticker, he had purposely placed the rounded part of the glass shard against her palm, but it still managed to cut her hand.


    The wound was about a centimeter long, a minor injury that was hardly worth mentioning; normally, it wouldn''t warrant any concern.


    What made Xu Yi frown was the wound''s unusually rapid healing rate; in the blink of an eye, the cut had fully healed.


    Xu Yi gently caressed Lisa''s palm, which was smooth, without a hint of roughness.


    Ailent coughed conspicuously a few times.


    Continuously caressing a young girl''s hand in front of her parents, are you really not afraid of getting hit?


    The parents, Cassie and Andrew, however, didn''t overthink it since Xu Yi''s expression was so grave that they didn''t associate his actions with anything inappropriate.


    Xu Yi found the glass shard attached to the hemostatic sticker; the glass was still there, but the trace of blood had vanished.


    If it hadn''t been he who had wrapped and unwrapped the bandages himself, he would have definitely suspected that they had been swapped by someone.


    "Looking at it now, it''s very likely that the trace of blood on the glass shard entered Lisa''s body through the wound," Xu Yi sighed, releasing Lisa''s hand.


    For the moment, he wasn''t sure whether it was a good or bad thing.


    He suddenly remembered the system''s warning of "Otherkind Energy".


    If it was just an Evil Spirit, to the system that wouldn''t qualify as "Otherkind". Could it be referring to the mysterious bloodstain?


    The more he thought about the golden flame, the more he was convinced that was the truth.


    The metal doors of the warehouse opened again, and a Bulldog charged at the crowd. Xu Yi glanced indifferently at the Bulldog.


    The Bulldog whimpered as if it had encountered a ferocious prehistoric beast, instinctively turned tail, and ran away.


    "Is this also a spell?" Ailent felt as though he was truly seeing the world anew.


    "It''s merely afraid of the aura on me," Xu Yi shook his head.


    The residue of the Evil Spirit''s aura lingered on him. These Bulldogs had once been controlled by an Evil Spirit and knew its terror. Now, facing someone who could vanquish such spirits, their fear was understandable.


    Only two or three Bulldogs were left outside the door. With the Evil Spirit gone and no longer controlled, they naturally scattered.


    Several security guards and the police who had arrived were running around with dog-catching clips, trying to capture the Bulldogs.


    "Let''s go. We should have a doctor look at her," Xu Yi said, pushing the wheelchair towards the hospital room.


    The once-chaotic hospital room had been tidied up. Doctors were examining Lisa while Xu Yi sat by quietly, waiting.


    [Function loading complete, Word Bond page opened!]


    "Finally!" Xu Yi opened the system with excited anticipation.


    The system originally had only two pages, "Personal Word Panel" and "Resurrection Coin Store".


    But now, a new "Word Bonding" page had been added.


    The page featured three functional buttons: "Bond Contract," "Entry Awakening," and "Word Gifting."


    Suddenly, a stream of information flooded Xu Yi''s mind, and he turned to look at Ailent beside him.


    [Target "Ailent" Loyalty Value 78 points, unable to form a Bond Contract.]


    Oh, you Ailent, with your bushy eyebrows and big eyes, looking so loyal and devoted. Who would have thought your Loyalty Value isn''t even 80!


    "Boss, is there something you need?" Ailent shrank his neck, feeling creeped out under Xu Yi''s gaze.


    Although he was much older than Xu Yi, their interaction over this period made it clear that Xu Yi was mature beyond his years.


    And the more he interacted with him, the more mysterious Xu Yi seemed.


    In the past, calling him "boss" was a way to get a meal ticket, but now, there was a trace of genuine feeling to it.


    "Work hard! In the future, you''ll drive fancy cars, live in mansions, be accompanied by bodyguards everywhere, and have supermodels by your side changing every day!" Xu Yi patted Ailent''s shoulder, starting to draw a bright future for him.


    As a mature leader, how could he not know how to entice his subordinates with visions of grandeur?


    Now that he thought about it, a Loyalty Value of 78 points wasn''t low. A score of 60 was passing, and anything over 70 meant they were unlikely to betray you easily. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi felt that Ailent''s Loyalty Value hadn''t reached 80 or above probably because he hadn''t made any money yet.


    Once Ailent started living the high life thanks to his role as agent, his Loyalty Value was likely to exceed 80 points.


    As for achieving over 90 points to meet the contract conditions, that would be a matter of luck.


    "The first part sounds good, but forget about the supermodels," Ailent coughed twice.


    Ailent was already married with two kids.


    Xu Yi sighed, "It seems I''ll have to take on the burden myself, including your share!"


    Actually, Ailent really wanted to say, leave those supermodels to me!


    Xu Yi''s gaze shifted to others.


    [Target "Cassie" current Favorability: 72.]


    So high, could this be the legendary affection of a mother-in-law for her son-in-law, growing stronger over time?


    [Target "Andrew" current Favorability: 79.]


    Hasn''t Andrew always looked at him unfavorably? What''s with this high Favorability, even higher than Cassie''s?


    Could it be that he''s been won over?


    Xu Yi discovered a hidden feature of the new panel, which was to distinguish "good people" from "bad people" by viewing their "Favorability/Loyalty Value."


    After the doctor had examined Lisa and administered two bags of glucose, Lisa slowly regained consciousness.


    "Lisa, you''re finally awake!" Cassie could hardly contain her joy, but she quickly froze, "What happened to your hand?"


    Lisa indeed had awoken, but her hands and feet were numb, barely allowing her fingers to twitch a little.


    "Doctor, what''s wrong with my daughter?" Andrew asked anxiously.


    The doctor looked puzzled, "I''ve checked her thoroughly, there shouldn''t be any issues with her body."


    Everyone''s attention returned to Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi stood up and walked towards the hospital bed, Lisa''s eyes following his every move.


    After a careful examination of Lisa''s body and utilizing his Spirit Communication Ability, Xu Yi could vaguely sense where the problem lay.


    Residual energy lingered inside Lisa, unquestionably originating from the mysterious bloodstain.


    Most of the energy from the bloodstain had been extracted by the system to unlock new features.


    However, a small portion of the energy, due to its close connection with Lisa, couldn''t be extracted and thus remained inside her.


    The energy from the blood was of a very high level, and although it was only a small portion, it was not something a common person could handle.


    This was akin to a dilapidated tricycle trying to carry ten tons of goods, which could only end up broken down.

 Chapter 36 I Bestow Upon You the Spirit

    Xu Yi gazed at Lisa as the system once again popped up a reminder.[Target "Lisa"''s current Favorability: 92. A Bond Contract can be formed with the target''s consent.]


    To think that the other party''s consent was necessary, Xu Yi''s plan to secretly sign a Bond Contract fell through.


    On the system panel, only "Bond Contract" was illuminated, while "Word Awakening" and "Word Gifting" were grayed out and unusable.


    Clearly the latter two functions required a contract partner to be usable.


    After some contemplation, Xu Yi turned his head to face Cassie and her husband, "I have thought of a method that might work, but it requires your approval."


    "What method?" Cassie asked eagerly.


    "Make Lisa an exorcist," Xu Yi said slowly.


    The reason Lisa couldn''t move was because her body was too weak to bear the energy residue within her.


    A weak body is like a tricycle, which cannot bear the load, but what if it were replaced with a big truck?


    To enhance Lisa''s physical condition in a short time, the only method Xu Yi could think of was using the Entries.


    Although he did not know the exact functions of "Word Awakening" and "Word Gifting," judging from their names, he could guess they were related to Entries.


    Xu Yi was somewhat itching to know more about the new functions.


    "Of course..." Cassie began to speak but suddenly stopped.


    At first glance, becoming an exorcist sure seemed great, honorable, and easy to earn money, but after a series of events, they were well aware that exorcism was a very dangerous job.


    It seemed like Xu Yi easily dealt with the Evil Spirit, but if one were to think about it, if they hadn''t hidden in the warehouse in advance, could they have handled those fierce Bulldogs?


    Lisa''s grades weren''t bad, and she could get into a relatively good university, where, whether as a doctor or lawyer, it would be more stable and safer than being an exorcist.


    Thinking about this, they started to hesitate.


    "I... I am willing to become an exorcist."


    While Cassie and her husband were still hesitating, Lisa suddenly struggled to speak.


    "You child..." Cassie wanted to say something, but stopped when she saw Lisa''s resolute eyes.


    Lisa hadn''t made her decision on a whim; she had actually been longing for such an opportunity.


    Ever since Xu Yi was discharged from the hospital with serious injuries, the change in him was too great, handsome and talented, with an added sense of mystery that attracted people.


    As Xu Yi became more and more outstanding, she was naturally happy for him, but deep inside she also began to worry.


    If things went on like this, their difference would only grow. Would she eventually be left behind?


    She spent many nights tossing and turning in bed, kept awake by these thoughts.


    Moreover, for some reason, the idea of becoming an exorcist excited her inexplicably; it was as if she was born for this path.


    After whispering to each other for a long time, Cassie and her husband finally agreed.


    "Xu Yi, we entrust Lisa to you!" Cassie looked at Xu Yi, her eyes brimming with tears.


    Xu Yi''s mouth twitched slightly, as he always felt that this line came out a bit off context¡ªLisa wasn''t even in a wedding dress, not wearing a boutonniere!


    But he still nodded firmly to show the gravity he attached to the matter.


    "Could it be the legendary Spiritual Awakening?"


    The reporters had been ready to pack up and leave, but upon hearing Xu Yi and the others'' conversation, they immediately stopped and looked at Xu Yi with surprise, even using an honorific.


    They worked for the Spiritual Exploration Daily and had seen numerous exorcists. Although Xu Yi''s performance had many highlights, it wasn''t enough to astonish them.


    But if he possessed the technique of "Spiritual Awakening," that would be a different story!


    Apart from the Holy Court, only a few Great Exorcists could master the technique of "Spiritual Awakening."


    "Mr. Reporter, please save your questions until after we''re finished!" Ailent quickly stepped forward to address the two reporters.


    The reporters quickly regained their composure, realizing this was not the right moment to ask questions. They sat back down, turned on their cameras, and looked ready to stick it out to the end.


    "Do you wish to enter into a contract with me?" Xu Yi had no time to pay attention to the reporter as he gazed into Lisa''s eyes, seriously posing the question.


    "I... I do!" Lisa''s cheeks were faintly red; she always felt like these words were like an oath taken in a church.


    Xu Yi wasn''t just playing with Lisa; it was a requirement of the system that he needed her verbal acknowledgement.


    [Target "Lisa" has agreed to enter into a contract. Word Gifting Contract generated!]


    [Detected Talent of Word Gifting in contract subject "Lisa". Proceed with Word Gifting Awakening?]


    Information about Word Gifting Awakening flooded into Xu Yi''s mind, stirring his thoughts.


    But he didn''t immediately confirm. Instead, he bit his finger and pressed it against Lisa''s forehead. The moment his blood touched her skin, it turned into a transparent gel-like substance.


    Lisa felt a coolness on her forehead, and her senses became sharply heightened. Somewhere in the haze, she seemed to see a faint glow enveloping Xu Yi.


    "I grant thee spirit, what is unreachable shall forever remain so, but where thou goest, there shall be a blaze of glory!" Xu Yi intoned.


    There was only Xu Yi reciting, but everyone present felt an overwhelming significance, as if a whole choir were singing in their ears.


    In the midst of the grand chanting, Lisa''s pupils gradually turned dull, as she underwent a baptism.


    "It''s Spiritual Awakening! It''s Spiritual Awakening!" the reporter from Spiritual Exploration Daily couldn''t help but exclaim excitedly.


    He was eager to share his excitement and noticed that Ailent next to him was calm, thinking to himself that it''s no wonder the exorcist''s agent seemed to be in the know.


    In fact, as a rookie agent, Ailent had no clue what Spiritual Awakening was.


    [Talent conversion for "Lisa" has begun, Word Gifting Awakening in progress, estimated time three minutes...]


    Xu Yi withdrew his hand, overwhelmed with fatigue like a tide, and if he hadn''t grabbed the hospital bed in time, he would have likely collapsed to the floor.


    "What''s wrong with you?" Cassie''s parents exclaimed in alarm.


    Xu Yi waved his hand, lacking even the strength to respond; Andrew hurriedly fetched him a chair to sit down.


    "A move like Spiritual Awakening can''t possibly come without a price. Every use must require a tremendous sacrifice!" the reporter mumbled to himself.


    Hearing the reporter''s words, Xu Yi finally let out a sigh of relief; his performance had not been in vain.


    Although he had no idea what the Holy Court''s Spiritual Awakening entailed, he figured it was something similar to Word Gifting Awakening.


    In fact, the system''s Word Gifting Awakening required no sacrifices at all; it only needed a Loyalty Value or Favorability of 90 or above from the subject.


    Sufficient loyalty, Word Gifting Awakening, ability given... doesn''t that sound familiar?


    It''s not just similar to the Holy Court''s method of development; it''s exactly the same.


    A mere mortal possessing abilities akin to a god, what would the Holy Court think?


    If the abilities were exposed, there would undoubtedly be only two outcomes.


    One would be being controlled by the Holy Court, whereas the other would be to disappear quietly. With the strength of the Holy Court, achieving this would not be difficult.


    Xu Yi realized this after learning about the "Word Gifting Awakening" and "Word Gifting" features of the system.


    But this was dangerous as well as an opportunity.


    The danger came from the Holy Court, while the opportunity was from the elites of all circles.


    Who wouldn''t want to possess extraordinary powers?


    If word got out that he could initiate Spiritual Awakening, those at the top of the pyramid couldn''t possibly ignore it; they would naturally come to him. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wouldn''t resources come this way?


    Xu Yi was always clear that growth through one''s own systematic efforts alone would achieve only so much.


    Only by consolidating a wealth of resources could one develop rapidly and rise to a higher position.


    The world below was turbulent, like an iceberg floating on the sea, where only the very top could be seen.


    But once the water level drops and the iceberg emerges, danger would suddenly descend. If one did not possess great strength when that happened, there might be nothing to do but succumb to others'' control, which he was unwilling to see.


    Therefore, he directed and performed this act, a play for the Holy Court, to allay their suspicions.

 Chapter 37 The Holy Huntress Witch

    Facing the worried looks of everyone around him, Xu Yi took a while before he could finally speak, though his voice was a bit hoarse, "Don''t... don''t worry, it''s just that I can''t use this ability again for at least a year."He said this on purpose for the reporters to hear, to be precise, to tell the church through the reporters'' mouths.


    See, spiritual awakening requires a huge sacrifice, and the skill cooldown is very long, so you can all relax now, right?


    The two reporters nodded in understanding upon hearing Xu Yi''s words.


    That''s right, how could there be no limitations on spiritual awakening?


    The exhaustion on the other''s face couldn''t be faked. Looking at his pale complexion, one would believe he was seriously ill.


    Xu Yi''s fatigue was indeed real, but had nothing to do with "spiritual awakening."


    The drop of blood he had just now transformed into an external substance was already the third such blood-external substance today, and naturally, he felt utterly exhausted.


    In order to deceive the reporters, he had been harsh on himself too, fortunately with good effects.


    There were quite a few Great Exorcists capable of spiritual awakening, and some of them suffered less after-effects than Xu Yi, at least it seemed that way on the outside.


    This way, he could gain the attention of the elite while not arousing the church''s apprehension, killing two birds with one stone.


    Xu Yi praised himself for his cunning.


    He was still very weak and couldn''t stand against the church head-on, but searching for the Gifted Ones in secret and recruiting them was still manageable.


    Lisa''s pupils gradually cleared, and her expression became solemn with an awe-inspiring aura.


    At the same time, the system''s voice came. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Contract subject "Lisa" has reached the awakening threshold, "Blank Entries: Witch" loading...]


    "As expected!" Xu Yi''s guess wasn''t wrong, the Evil Spirit targeted Lisa because of her witch talent.


    [Evil Spirit energy remnants found. Most of the energy has been used for Bonds panel activation, Word Gifting can''t be triggered, do you want to use it to upgrade the "Witch (White Rare)" entries'' level?]


    Who would have thought of such an unexpected joy? Xu Yi certainly had no reason to refuse, so he agreed.


    However, he quickly widened his eyes, feeling that the Goddess of Luck was watching him, no, to be precise, she was watching Lisa.


    [Mysterious energy remnants found. The energy is too sparse for Word Gifting to be triggered, do you want to use it to upgrade the "Witch (White Rare)" entries'' level?]


    The mysterious energy was, of course, the bloodstain on the glass shard.


    When he first discovered the bloodstain, Word Gifting had been triggered once; it was the insubstantial energy that had cost him the chance with the golden entry.


    Now it could even be used to upgrade the witch''s entry level?


    Why does it feel like Lisa is the one with the protagonist template!


    [Witch (White Rare), after devouring Evil Spirit energy remnants, the entry evolves: Hunting Witch (White Epic)!]


    [Hunting Witch (White Epic), after devouring mysterious energy remnants, the entry evolves: Divine Hunt Witch (Green Epic)!]


    An Epic Green entry, no less!


    Xu Yi felt envious; he didn''t even have a Common Green entry yet, let alone an Epic Green one.


    [Divine Hunt Witch (Green Epic):


    Ability 1 - Witchcraft Power:


    The source of a witch''s power.


    Ability 2 - Animal Pact: (Current entry progress insufficient, ability sealed!)


    Possessing a strong affinity with animals, able to communicate with them, and control them after signing a pact. (Number of contract animals: 0/3)


    Ability 3 - Sacred Body (False): (Current entry progress insufficient, ability sealed!)


    It has a certain restraining ability against evil spirits, demons, and other dark creatures, and wound recovery speed is accelerated.


    Ability 4 - Divine Arrival: (Current entry progress is insufficient, ability is sealed!)


    Briefly borrows the power of the holy, greatly enhancing strength, speed, and physical resilience. This boost is temporary, and there are certain side effects after use, so please exercise caution.


    ]


    [Hunting Witch, current progress: 8/100.]


    After reading the introduction of the Hunting Witch''s entries, Xu Yi''s feelings went beyond just being envious; he almost drooled.


    The golden fire in the depths of Lisa''s pupils slowly extinguished, and the awe-inspiring aura she emitted faded away as well.


    Regaining her senses, she didn''t immediately reflect on the changes in her body but jumped out of the hospital bed and stood in front of Xu Yi.


    "Are you okay?" Lisa asked with concern, looking at Xu Yi.


    During the awakening of the entry, although she couldn''t move, she was always aware of the outside world. If she had known it would leave Xu Yi in such a state, she might have chosen not to become an exorcist.


    Xu Yi shook his head to indicate it was no concern.


    "Lisa, you can move!" Cassie and her husband, realizing it belatedly, exclaimed with joy.


    In the following time, Lisa''s family spoke in soft voices. Seeing Xu Yi''s exhausted state, the reporters from Spiritual Exploration Daily felt it was inappropriate to disturb him, and they turned to interview Ailent instead.


    Finally getting some free time, Xu Yi began to examine the Bond panel. The panel had one last feature he hadn''t tried yet, called "Word Gifting."


    He read the function introduction for Word Gifting, growing more and more excited.


    If "Entry Awakening" was considered a pair of jokers, then "Word Gifting" was the ultimate trump card!


    Entry Awakening required the target to have a natural talent for entries, a one-in-a-million occurrence. Word Gifting, on the other hand, only required sufficient Loyalty Value or Favorability to sign a pact, after which one could directly gift an entry.


    Gifted ones were rare after all, and most people were common. Word Gifting could allow ordinary people to step into the ranks of the "talented" directly.


    To complement the Word Gifting feature, an "Entry Repository" was added to the panel.


    Entries gained in the future, whether through devouring or from chests, would no longer be directly loaded but rather placed into the "Entry Repository" first.


    Some might wonder why give away a perfectly good entry to someone else?


    But after careful consideration, one would understand the significance of this feature.


    Currently, the entries he possessed weren''t many, and one might even say they were few, yet even so, he was already overwhelmed with tasks.


    The progress bar for Necromantic Spells had remained at zero since he obtained it, and the progress for Psychology had just passed the halfway mark.


    One could imagine, with continuous exorcism, the entries would keep accumulating, and how could he possibly keep up with them all by himself?


    A person''s energy is limited.


    Now, he could carefully select which entries to keep and gift the others to his bonded individuals for them to level up.


    Thus achieving higher efficiency, and preventing waste.


    The bonded individuals didn''t have the system to see the progress and content of the entries, but Xu Yi could, which allowed him to guide them.


    With the credit from guiding them, wouldn''t others have to call him "Godfather"?


    He had always entertained the idea of establishing an organization.


    The more he understood this world, the more he could feel the churning undercurrent beneath the appearance of peace.


    If disaster struck, relying solely on his own strength was like a small boat on the ocean, at risk of capsizing at any moment.


    To sail through a storm, he needed to build a huge ship.


    In the past, this was merely a beautiful idea, but now, with the Bond panel, this idea had a chance of becoming a reality.

 Chapter 38 The Old Theaters Commission x The Upcoming College Entrance Examination

    The old Ford slowly drove out of Connor Hospital, and Xu Yi looked through the window to see a traffic policeman dealing with an accident¡ªapparently, the driver, fatigued, had crashed into a pole by the roadside.Fortunately, the hospital was only a few steps away, and the driver was rushed for medical attention in time, saving his life.


    The bulldog that escaped from the car was more troublesome¡ªthe traffic police had to call in firefighters to scour the streets for the dog.


    Lisa still needed to undergo examinations and couldn''t be discharged yet, so Xu Yi and Ailent left first.


    "Boss, I want to ask you something¡ªabout initiating a Spiritual Awakening..." Ailent hesitated.


    "What, you''re interested too?" Xu Yi saw Ailent''s eager eyes in the rearview mirror and teased him.


    Ailent originally had no concept of Spiritual Awakening, but after taking an interview with the journalists, he had learned about it, and then he had an epiphany.


    Wow! Was the thigh I was hugging that strong?


    Who wouldn''t yearn for supernatural powers, especially when the opportunity was right in front of them? Ailent finally couldn''t resist and nodded repeatedly.


    "The cost of a Spiritual Awakening is quite significant... It''s not impossible for me to initiate it for you," Xu Yi said softly.


    Ailent''s heart had already sunk halfway upon hearing the first part of what Xu Yi said.


    But the rest of the words excited him so much he nearly jumped up, thankfully he was aware he was driving and forcefully calmed himself down.


    "Boss, are you serious?" Ailent asked cautiously.


    "It depends on your performance!" Xu Yi leaned back in his seat and replied casually.


    Ailent probably had little chance for a Word Gifting Awakening, he wasn''t that kind of innately talented person.


    So the only way was through "Word Gifting."


    As his agent, there would be plenty of opportunities for collaboration in the future. If Ailent was diligent and responsible, and Xu Yi had spare Entries, then gifting some to him wasn''t out of the question.


    Of course, this was all predicated on meeting the Loyalty Value threshold; otherwise, even if he wanted to gift them, it wouldn''t be possible.


    "Boss, just you watch!"


    With Xu Yi''s affirmative response, Ailent felt as invigorated as if he had been injected with an adrenaline shot, wishing he could immediately offer his utmost commitment.


    Xu Yi checked Ailent''s Loyalty Value and laughed.


    His Loyalty Value had actually surpassed the threshold of 80, reaching 82 points.


    Indeed, a boss who can dangle a carrot is a good boss!


    Xu Yi severely criticized the capitalist blood in his body, but then remembered he was living in a capitalist country and suddenly felt everything made sense.


    In fact, whether it was a Word Gifting Awakening or Word Gifting, there was a downside.


    That was, if you spend a lot of effort to cultivate a talent and then they betray you, what then?


    The human heart is the most complicated, no one can guarantee they will always keep their original intent.


    But Xu Yi wasn''t worried about this at all.


    It wasn''t because he thought he could intimidate everyone into submission with just a flick of his powerful aura.


    First and foremost, both Word Gifting Awakening and Word Gifting required signing a Bond Contract.


    A Bond Contract needs Loyalty Value or Favorability at 90 points or above; at that level, it''s pretty hard to betray.


    Not to mention, the system still had an Ultimate Move.


    Whether it was a Word Gifting Awakening or gifted Entries, he could retrieve them through the system at any time.


    This final link allowed Xu Yi to confidently use these functions, utterly avoiding the potential harm of betrayal.


    "By the way, boss, do you remember James, the property magnate I mentioned last time?" Ailent suddenly changed the topic, his expression turning serious.


    Xu Yi knew Ailent was about to discuss serious matters and perked up, "Of course I remember, the guy who asked for an exorcist to deal with the old theater issue. What, it still hasn''t been resolved?"


    With the matter concerning an Evil Spirit, his interest was immediately piqued.


    "No," Ailent shook his head, "As far as I know, James had hired two exorcists a while ago, one died, and one fled."


    Xu Yi involuntarily furrowed his brows. Logically, considering how dangerous evil spirits were, Ailent shouldn''t be repeatedly bringing them up.


    After all, their interests aligned, and he had even agreed to help with Ailent''s Spiritual Awakening.


    Given Ailent''s timid nature, suggesting that he stay far away would be one thing, but why bring it up again now?


    "I originally did not want to mention it since it''s so dangerous," Ailent hastened his speech upon seeing Xu Yi''s frown, "But after thinking it over, I felt I still needed to tell the boss¡­ I heard some news."


    "What news?"


    "According to those exorcists who survived, the most important thing to deal with that evil spirit is courage!" Ailent sneakily glanced at Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi suddenly understood why Ailent was bringing it up again.


    "You think I have a chance because I''m as brave as a barrel?" Xu Yi asked.


    "Exactly. Boss is the bravest person I''ve ever seen!" Ailent said with a look of admiration.


    Xu Yi silently regarded the "As Brave as a Barrel" entry.


    The reason he was brave was entirely because he had something to rely on.


    Besides the "As Brave as a Barrel" entry, the most important was the Resurrection Coin. Knowing you have several lives and that dying once or twice is no big deal, how could one not be brave?


    Should he take on this commission? If it was as Ailent said, it seemed very advantageous to him. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi was still hesitating, but Ailent''s next words made him firmly decide.


    "Because many have died, and several exorcists failed, James increased the reward from the original 100,000 to 300,000," Ailent whispered.


    300,000? Xu Yi''s eyes widened.


    That meant if he completed this job, a luxurious villa would be his!


    Nobody better stand in my way!


    "Help me take the exorcism commission, but let''s wait until next week," Xu Yi said.


    "Why wait until next week?" Ailent was a bit puzzled.


    If he had already made up his mind, he should strike while the iron is hot. If someone else took the job first, wouldn''t that be a disaster?


    There were two main reasons for Xu Yi''s decision.


    The next week would mark a full month, and the system''s monthly sign-in opportunity would allow him to replenish a Resurrection Coin.


    Having just used one Resurrection Coin, now he only had one left, which felt somewhat precarious.


    As for the other reason...


    "I registered for the college entrance examination a few days from now!" Xu Yi said casually.


    Ailent was stunned for a moment; he then remembered that Xu Yi was a senior high school student and that the autonomous state''s college entrance examination was about to begin.


    "Then boss, you should focus on your exams! In the Xia Kingdom''s words, I wish you to become the dark horse that rises to the top," said Ailent.


    "There''s no need to rise to the top, performing normally will be fine. My grades are pretty decent!" Xu Yi said softly.


    Ailent stopped talking. In his view, Xu Yi was either busy exorcising or being busy dating girls.


    The Maria they met at the Funeral Parlor had already amazed him, and now there was Lisa, a childhood friend. How could he have the mind to study?


    He suspected that what Xu Yi meant by "decent grades" was merely not failing.


    As a subordinate, he did not have the heart to expose the truth and chose to save his boss''s face.


    Xu Yi shrugged. He could see Ailent didn''t believe him, but he didn''t bother explaining further. When the results came out, Ailent would understand.


    He suddenly became curious about what Ailent''s expression would be at that time.

 Chapter 39 I want to be a scumbag like you too!

    St. Anna High School, class 12th grade, section A.Lisa was sitting at Xu Yi''s desk, flipping through the books on the table. Besides the school textbooks, the most numerous were about Psychology.


    Among them, there were even one or two pop-science books about Dark witchcraft. Lisa''s interest was piqued, and she started to read with close attention.


    Last night, after the doctor had confirmed there were no problems, she was discharged from the hospital, and this morning she came to school with Xu Yi.


    Usually, she would have split up with Xu Yi and returned to her own class.


    But she hadn''t recovered from last night''s events; remembering the old witch''s hideous face still gave her chills, so she decided to spend a little more time with Xu Yi.


    In short, she was feeling rather clingy towards Xu Yi right now.


    They had woken up too late in the morning to have breakfast, so Xu Yi decided to go to the school''s convenience store, and she sat in Xu Yi''s seat.


    Footsteps came from behind. Lisa subconsciously turned her head, thinking it was a classmate of Xu Yi''s.


    But when she saw who it was, her eyes instantly sharpened.


    The fair skin, exquisite curves, that face which, even with her bias, she had to admit was beautiful... It was Maria, who had recently been rumored to be romantically involved with Xu Yi.


    Maria recognized Lisa as well; she had been secretly paying attention to Xu Yi and was naturally aware of Lisa''s identity.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Lisa was rarely confrontational at school and seldom got into conflicts, but upon seeing Maria, a nameless fire surged within her, and her words carried a tinge of emotion.


    "I made some sandwiches this morning, accidentally made too many... Do you want some?" Maria asked cautiously, glancing at Lisa.


    Looking at the sandwich presented before her, Lisa felt as if a sharp sword was pressed against her forehead.


    What did this mean? Was it to show off?


    If only Lisa and Maria were acquainted, she would have known that Maria wasn''t showing off but was sincerely inviting her.


    Lisa looked down, silent.


    She couldn''t utter those cold words, less likely to curse, and when upset, she just bottled it up inside.


    Golden flames flashed from the depths of Lisa''s pupils, a mysterious aura enveloping the scene.


    Emotions are the trigger for many things, and driven by her subdued mood, Lisa''s "Saint Huntress Witch" entry was activated, and the Witchcraft power within her stirred.


    Maria bore the brunt of it, feeling sweat form on her forehead. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It wasn''t that Lisa was targeting Maria on purpose, she was drowning in her downhearted emotions and was oblivious to the abnormal Witchcraft power.


    This was her first time channeling this force.


    Maria''s breathing grew hurried, knowing that leaving the classroom would dispel the oppressive feeling.


    But for some reason, she stubbornly refused to leave.


    All of a sudden, Maria raised her head, her timid eyes now sharp. A gray fog surged behind her, breaking through Lisa''s pressure.


    A soul switch, and now Ailan was the one in control of the body.


    Ailan was not of the kindly sort, ready to scoff, when the back door creaked and opened, a perplexed voice followed.


    "What are you two doing?"


    Xu Yi walked into the classroom carrying a bag of stuff.


    Lisa quickly looked up, the golden fire in her eyes fading, and the oppressive feeling dissipating swiftly.


    The sharpness in Maria''s eyes vanished too, returning to her previous demure and frail demeanor.


    "Maria said she brought sandwiches for you," Lisa said on Maria''s behalf.


    "Thanks. The convenience store was having a sale, so I bought a bunch of yogurt and bread. Why don''t we eat some together?" Xu Yi suggested, holding up his bag with a warm smile on his face.


    Class was still some time away, and few students were in the classroom. Lisa and Maria sat side by side, quietly eating, making it hard to believe that just moments before, the air between them had been thick with animosity.


    Xu Yi looked at Lisa, a satisfied smile on his face.


    Truly worthy of being a Gifted One. Just last night, she acquired the "Saint Huntress Witch" entry, and progress was less than ten percent, yet she had already managed to use Witchcraft power today.


    Although it was a bit of an accident, this saved Xu Yi a lot of effort.


    The use of Witchcraft power is like riding a bicycle, once you learn it, it''s hard to forget afterwards.


    Xu Yi turned his head to look at Maria, somewhat surprised.


    In just a few days, Maria had been able to switch souls adeptly, firmly suppressing Ailan.


    But what was even more surprising was the Favorability.


    [Target "Maria", Favorability: 90.]


    [Target "Ailan", Favorability: 78.]


    That the system could give out Ailan''s favorability, was an unexpected pleasure.


    Xu Yi could barely accept Maria''s 90 points of favorability, but what was the deal with Ailan''s favorability?


    Could it be that the other party was a masochist, getting bullied once by him, and could even harvest favorability from it?


    Breakfast was finished in an odd atmosphere, and Lisa and Maria each went their own way.


    "Scumbag!"


    Hardy plopped down beside Xu Yi.


    He had actually arrived early, but upon seeing Lisa and Maria, he didn''t dare to come over, fearing the fallout from the Asura Field.


    He secretly gloated when he saw Lisa and Maria bump into each other, wanting to see Xu Yi embarrassed.


    But unexpectedly, upon Xu Yi''s return, Lisa and Maria instantly became amicable, almost holding hands like sisters.


    What on earth was going on with this world?


    Xu Yi gave Hardy a glance and couldn''t be bothered with him.


    But Hardy actively leaned in, "Boss, let''s start the class! You name the tuition, and I won''t haggle."


    "Didn''t you just curse someone out a moment ago?"


    Hardy stared into Xu Yi''s eyes, his face full of earnestness, "I too want to become a scumbag like you!"


    Xu Yi was taken aback, not knowing how to respond. After hesitating for a moment, he gave a suggestion, "With your small frame, you should exercise more!"


    This was not unfounded advice; fitness training can make a huge change in a person.


    He had once seen an ignored chubby man, who after losing weight and getting fit, became a male god who dominated the dating scene.


    Hardy instantly became spirited, Xu Yi''s past situation was a bit better than his, but only just, also being skinny and weak.


    The reason he could have today''s phenomenal turnaround was definitely thanks to fitness training.


    In PE class, he had even seen Xu Yi''s six-pack abs, and was shocked at the time.


    "Boss, tell me, how did you train? In such a short time, how did you make such a big change?" Hardy eagerly asked.


    Hardy was too weak; he was a premature baby, and although he was from a well-off family with a specialized nutritionist to look after him, the results were mediocre.


    "My method doesn''t hold much reference value," Xu Yi shook his head.


    "Just tell me! What if it''s useful?" Hardy didn''t want to give up.


    Xu Yi "slightly" embellished the facts before telling Hardy.


    After listening, Hardy was dumbfounded, "Are you saying that you got bitten by a mysterious creature, then saw a golden light, and after opening a treasure chest, you became like this?"


    "Exactly!" Xu Yi nodded.


    Hardy rolled his eyes, "You might as well say you are Spider-Man."


    The earliest Spider-Man comics appeared in 1962 and now is a trend among teenagers.


    "By the way, the SAT and ACT are about to start. How prepared are you? Which school are you planning to apply for?" Hardy saw Xu Yi didn''t want to talk and proactively changed the subject.


    The SAT and ACT are considered the American college entrance examinations when combined.


    "Preparations are going well, I plan to apply for MIT."


    As soon as Xu Yi finished speaking, Hardy''s eyes widened, "What? MIT!"

 Chapter 40 You Have a Good Son

    Hardy looked at Xu Yi as if he were looking at a lunatic.In recent years, a world university ranking had emerged, and ever since MIT took the top spot with an absolute advantage, the difficulty of gaining admission there had been increasing year by year, to the point of being overwhelmingly intense.


    Yet Xu Yi actually wanted to apply to MIT?


    He had to admit Xu Yi''s grades were indeed quite good, but applying to MIT was still far too fanciful.


    St. Anna''s High School was not exactly a prestigious school. It had become famous for its expensive tuition fees and aristocratic education, not for academic achievements.


    While Xu Yi could rank at the top at St. Anna''s High School, he would only be considered average among schools known for their academic excellence.


    "You haven''t fried your brain, have you? No one from St. Anna''s has ever got into MIT," Hardy said, looking worriedly at Xu Yi.


    "If no one has before, then I''ll be the first," Xu Yi said calmly.


    Had this been before, he certainly would have lacked the confidence, but now he felt he could give it a try, and the odds were in his favor.


    [Scholar Entries, Current Progress: 90/100.]


    He was only ten percentage points away from achieving the Scholar Entries!


    With only a few days left before the exam, he planned to concentrate on unlocking the Scholar Entries first. With that in his grasp, he would stand a much better chance at the test.


    Hardy could feel Xu Yi''s determination and didn''t try to dissuade him further, "Anyway, why insist on applying to MIT? Wouldn''t it be great to apply to Cornell University with me?"


    Hardy was also an outlier at St. Anna''s, where most aristocratic students just came to pass the time.


    But Hardy was passionate about learning, belonging to the group of top students¡ªafter all, Cornell University is one among the Ivy League schools.


    "MIT''s biology program is very famous, and I plan to major in biology," Xu Yi did not hide his intentions.


    He had his reasons for choosing biology over more lucrative fields like computer science or economics.


    First and foremost, it was because of the mysterious bloodstains on the shattered glass.


    To research the effects of the bloodstain and explore the mysteries of the "Holy Descendant" golden entries, biology was naturally the first choice.


    The world was a profound place, teeming with all sorts of bizarre creatures. Werewolves and vampires were no longer mythical; even three-year-old kids on the streets knew they existed for real.


    What secrets were contained in werewolf cells, and how could vampires be immortal?


    These were all questions worth exploring.


    Others might find it difficult to make significant breakthroughs in biology, but he was different¡ªwith the system''s assistance, he stood apart.


    If he could someday gain entries like "Mad Biologist" or "Modern Orochimaru," then research the flesh and blood of various Supernatural Creatures, wouldn''t that be a meteoric rise?


    Xu Yi was always clear that money was just a tool to becoming stronger¡ªthe most important aspect was one''s own power.


    That''s why the goal of his studies was also to enhance his own strength.


    ¡­


    After school, as soon as Xu Yi stepped through the front door of his home, he was stopped by his father Xu Changrong.


    "Dad, is something the matter?" Xu Yi asked, perplexed, looking at Xu Changrong, who seemed serious, as if there were an important issue at hand.


    Could his father be experiencing a renaissance of youth and was about to embark on a twilight romance, now intending to tell him?


    "I have something I want to discuss with you, the house next door, Aileen''s, is going up for sale¡ªdo you think we should buy it?" Xu Changrong asked softly.


    "How much is it?" Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief¡ªso long as it wasn''t about finding him a stepmother, everything was negotiable.


    "Twenty thousand US dollars, and if we negotiate a little, it could be even less."


    "Twenty thousand?" Xu Yi was stunned for a moment, "As I recall, Aileen''s house had two storefronts, right?"


    Even though it''s in Chinatown, where real estate isn''t expensive, a house with two storefronts for less than twenty thousand is ridiculously cheap, isn''t it?


    That''s practically a steal!


    "Exactly, each storefront is about 30 square meters, so two would make it around sixty square meters. Since it''s next to our place, if we knock down all the walls, we could have a large storefront of ninety square meters."


    Xu Changrong had clearly already looked into the situation thoroughly.


    "Dad, what do you plan to do with it?" asked Xu Yi.


    "Our Xu Family Restaurant is too small, right? I''m planning to expand the business. After some good renovation, with my cooking skills, I''m sure to make a splash in Chinatown!"


    There was a sparkle in Xu Changrong''s eyes as he spoke about it.


    Xu Yi suddenly felt a sense of pride for his father''s entrepreneurial spirit, almost as if he was seeing the dragon rise before his eyes.


    "That''s great, I''m all for it! It''s just that I''m a bit short on money right now, it might take a while," Xu Yi said. He hadn''t received any money-making assignments recently and only had a few thousand dollars left.


    "No! I didn''t come to you for money, I have savings of my own, and with a bit of frugality, it should be nearly enough."


    Xu Changrong leaned into Xu Yi''s ear and lowered his voice, "What I want to know is, can we buy Aileen''s house? They say she was killed by an evil spirit, and now that evil spirit is still wandering around the house!"


    No wonder the price was so low; the story about the evil spirit had already spread!


    A realization dawned on Xu Yi, but immediately new questions arose in his mind. Why was his father specifically asking for his opinion?


    In his father''s eyes, he was just a high school student whose main task was to study.


    For such "big matters," not to mention seeking his opinion, his father probably wouldn''t even discuss them with him.


    What could cause such a big change in his father''s attitude?


    Xu Changrong also felt a bit awkward; it was the first time he had consulted his son about such an important matter.


    Originally, he had planned to mull it over by himself, and chances were he wouldn''t have bought the house, because after all, it was a haunted house, and he couldn''t risk his life''s savings on such a gamble.


    He remembered what had happened a few hours earlier, it felt like a dream. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though busy until two in the morning, he still opened up early for business¡ªthe food industry is tough like that. Fortunately, it was quiet in the afternoon, so there was time to rest.


    Just as he opened the door, someone he never expected showed up.


    Chen Feihe, the heavyweight of the Qinghe Society, a group that ranked within the top three among the many societies in Chinatown.


    What was he doing at his little restaurant? Could it be that he had offended Chen Feihe unwittingly?


    Xu Changrong was originally very nervous, but the other man''s demeanor was very friendly, which reassured him.


    After ordering a bowl of noodles and finishing his meal, Chen Feihe didn''t leave. Instead, he struck up a conversation with Xu Changrong, offering cigarettes and praising his cooking skills.


    Xu Changrong, who was naturally cheerful and straightforward, hit it off with Chen Feihe, who was deliberately trying to make friends. They drank and chatted so freely that they were almost ready to swear brotherhood!


    Xu Changrong felt lightheaded.


    How could a small restaurant owner like himself become chummy with a gang leader in just an hour or two? What had he done to deserve this?


    It wasn''t until they finished a bottle of liquor that Chen Feihe revealed his true intentions, pulling a newspaper from his pocket and sighing, "Old Xu, you''ve got a good son!"

 Chapter 41 Looking Forward to Father Becoming a Dragon

    Xu Yi had an epiphany after Xu Changrong finished his narration.Could it be that Xu Changrong suddenly asked him for advice because the exorcism from last night was reported in the newspaper?


    Spiritual Exploration Daily was indeed quick to act!


    Xu Yi took the neatly folded newspaper from Xu Changrong''s hands. The paper was creased from being frequently taken out and poured over again and again.


    "A genius exorcist from Xia Kingdom, the one who possesses the ''Spiritual Awakening'' ability!"


    Isn''t this a bit too exaggerated? Could Spiritual Exploration Daily be the predecessor of UC''s sensational news department? Xu Yi snidely thought to himself.


    Although the headline was flamboyant, the report was fairly standard and didn''t overstate the facts.


    Especially the limitations and disadvantages of the ''Spiritual Awakening'' ability, everything was clearly written, making Xu Yi nod in satisfaction.


    Spiritual Exploration Daily''s position as the leader of the Exorcism World''s newspapers was indeed not undeserved. With a mix of hype and pragmatism, how could it not be popular?


    No one from the church had come to him since morning, which was already very telling.


    The ''Spiritual Awakening'' ability had stirred up some waves, but they were limited; the church might take notice, but they wouldn''t feel threatened.


    That was exactly what Xu Yi wanted.


    "Not bad, it captured at least one-tenth of my handsomeness!" Xu Yi commented, pointing at the photo in the newspaper.


    Xu Changrong rolled his eyes and snatched back the newspaper from Xu Yi, "Don''t wrinkle it, I''m going to get it framed!"


    "It''s already wrinkled. If you want to frame it, you should buy a new copy!" Xu Yi retorted.


    He wasn''t too opposed to the idea of becoming famous.


    The situation in every world is different; in this world, being low-profile is useless.


    Becoming an exorcist''s opponent doesn''t rely on being human; those demons and evil spirits won''t spare you just because you''re less known, nor will they specifically seek you out just because you''re famous.


    Fame only affects people; the bigger your name, the more others dread you, and the less likely they are to trouble you.


    There had been a mob boss who once attempted to assassinate a famous exorcist.


    The mob boss looked down on exorcists, thinking they were just mortals, that a bullet could take their lives just the same.


    At first, the mob boss was quite pleased with himself, but he soon realized that his family members had been cursed. Not long after, they died tragically, one by one.


    Since then, common folks have rarely dared to trouble exorcists.


    After all, no one knows what kind of measures an exorcist has at their disposal, and sometimes, even killing the exorcist and grinding their bones to dust is futile. Some measures are triggered only upon death.


    "Do you think this house is worth buying?"


    Xu Changrong was still somewhat apprehensive. Others steered clear upon hearing that the house had an evil spirit.


    The original tenant had long since shut down the shop, not even bothering to move their stuff out.


    "Buy! Why not? It''s like getting a house for free!" Xu Yi exclaimed.


    As someone who had experienced the incident first-hand, he knew full well that the evil spirit in the house had been eliminated by him.


    Two houses with storefronts for twenty thousand dollars¡ªwas there a more beautiful price than this?


    Xu Changrong began to hesitate, torn. After buying the house, it would still need renovations, and the total cost would nearly equal all his savings, which made him cautious.


    Moments later, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind, "All right! Since you think it''s a buy, then let''s go ahead and buy it!"


    If others were scared to buy, should he be too?


    Even if there really were evil spirits, didn''t he still have his son?


    A satisfied smile appeared on Xu Yi''s face. That''s more like it. Is getting older an excuse to lie down and do nothing? Everybody get rolling!


    If the old man doesn''t put in the effort, how can his son become a second-generation rich?


    "I''ll call someone over. He used to work in this field." Xu Yi prepared to call Ailent.


    After being stimulated by the ''Spiritual Awakening'' pie in the sky, Ailent decided to quit his job as a real estate agent and focus on being Xu Yi''s manager full time.


    Since he was idle anyway, might as well have him come over to help.


    If Xu Yi didn''t become an exorcist, he could have had a promising future as a capitalist; in that field, his talent was off the charts.


    "Old Xu! Old Xu!" Suddenly, a shouting voice came from outside the door.


    Xu Yi felt the voice was a bit familiar, but Xu Changrong instantly recognized it, "It''s your second uncle, Xu Fugui."


    In the beginning, Xu Changrong and Xu Fugui crossed the ocean together to work in the United States.


    With his exceptional cooking skills, Xu Changrong earned the appreciation of his employer who helped him with the immigration procedures.


    After his employer moved to Australia, Xu Changrong settled down in Chinatown and conveniently brought over his then young son, Xu Yi.


    At that time, Xu Yi was only eight years old and he went through the immigration process smoothly.


    According to U.S. law, if you''re over 18, you can''t immigrate; you can only obtain a green card, so the younger you are, the easier it is.


    However, Xu Fugui was different from Xu Changrong; he had many complications in his mind and was not steadfast, quitting after a few days of work.


    But through some crooked ways, he also managed to settle down in the United States.


    "I haven''t seen this second uncle in a long time; could it be that he''s run out of money?" Xu Yi jeered. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This second uncle of his barely ever visited unless he was out of money; only then would he remember he had a big brother in Chinatown.


    "Don''t talk like that; after all, he is your second uncle!" Xu Changrong whispered in admonishment.


    If it had been in the past, Xu Changrong would have certainly rebuked him; after all, as a person from Xia Kingdom, he took the respect for elders and superiors very seriously.


    But times were different now; his son was an exorcist with an agent serving him, and he needed his son''s help with the house matter.


    He was well aware that the old ways were no longer suitable; to avoid a rift between father and son, he had to change approaches.


    In short, he must give his son adequate respect!


    "Old Xu! I heard you want to buy the Haunted House next door, is that true?"


    Xu Fugui was surprised to see Xu Yi as well, but he quickly moved on, fixing his gaze on Xu Changrong to ask.


    Xu Yi inwardly rolled his eyes; the man didn''t even call him ''brother'' upon entering, nor did he acknowledge his own nephew¡ªit was just speechless to have such a relative.


    "That''s the idea, what about it?" Xu Changrong asked, puzzled.


    "That''s foolish! That''s a Haunted House, how could you buy it?"


    "I''ve been pulling some strings recently, found a new project, just need an investment, guarantee to make money! Give me the money, invest with me, isn''t it better than buying a Haunted House?" Xu Fugui said anxiously, with a look of urgency.


    Xu Yi sneered; his second uncle was just this unambitious, not even bothering to find a good excuse to scam money.


    He suddenly became a bit curious about how his dad would respond.


    If he changed his mind and gave the money to his second uncle, it would mean his father was "incorrigible" and thereafter, he could just let him live a stable life.


    If he stood firm and refused, it meant there was still value in nurturing him.


    Xu Yi suddenly felt a bit carried away; he was starting to think about cultivating his own father.


    But what could he do if his father won''t shape up without guidance? He''d just have to be more concerned.


    "I don''t understand those investments of yours; let''s just forget it," Xu Changrong decisively shook his head after hearing what Xu Fugui said.


    Then, Xu Fugui started to persuade continuously, but no matter how much he appealed to emotions or reasoning, Xu Changrong remained unmoved, unwilling under any circumstances.


    In the end, Xu Fugui had no choice but to leave disheartenedly.


    Xu Yi nodded in approval, looking quite like the teacher''s pet.


    [Target "Xu Changrong" Loyalty Value: 99, Favorability: 98.]


    True to form for his old man, these figures were impressive. Once he found the proper Entries, he could start nurturing his father.


    Father and son fighting side by side, as close as brothers taking on a tiger¡ªXu Yi had many plans in his head, but all required trustworthy people to assist.


    And who could be more reliable than his own father?


    "What''s with that look? You don''t really think I would give the money to your second uncle, do you? I''m not an idiot!" Xu Changrong felt underestimated.


    "Of course not!" Xu Yi quickly changed the subject, "By the way, since the house is being renovated, I just rented a room around the school; it''s quiet, and the college entrance examination is soon."


    "Don''t worry about things here; just focus on preparing for your exams," Xu Changrong said seriously, his expression becoming grave as he truly valued his son''s educational achievements.

 Chapter 42 Nobody Can Stop Me from Learning!

    Sunlight filled the entire room, and Xu Yi sat at the desk by the window, flipping through the last page of the book, and let out a long sigh of relief.[Scholar Entry Experience +1, Current Progress: 96/100.]


    Only 4 percent to go before acquiring the Scholar Entry!


    Xu Yi took a small sip of tea to rest for a moment.


    Looking out from the rustic Roman window, his gaze fell upon the magnificent tulip flower beds of Dandong Park, where the tulips bloomed splendidly. If he looked far enough, he could make out a corner of St. Anna''s High School.


    This room, with its excellent view, had been carefully selected for Xu Yi by Ailent.


    As a former real estate agent, Ailent made good use of his skills.


    Having grown accustomed to the cramped houses of Chinatown, Xu Yi was somewhat "reluctant to think of Shu" now that he had moved to such a nice place; he didn''t want to move back at all.


    "It''s hard to transition from luxury to frugality," sighed Xu Yi.


    When it comes time to buy a villa, the surrounding scenery must also pass muster! Xu Yi suddenly thought.


    But now is not a good time to buy a house. Not to mention the lack of money, even if he had the money, it should be spent near the university.


    Even if he bought it now, he wouldn''t live in it for long.


    These past few days, he had basically stayed in this room, closed off from the world, practicing intensely to brush up on his Scholar Entries.


    Gaining experience for the Scholar Entry was straightforward, but as the levels progressed, it required more and more painstaking effort, not like the Psychic Entry, which could surge with experience if the right opportunity arose.


    Each of these two types of entries had its advantages and disadvantages.


    The door to the study was gently knocked, Xu Yi called out without turning his head, "Come in! I''m resting."


    There were few who knew he was here, and even fewer who had the key to the door. He couldn''t be bothered to open it himself.


    As soon as the doorknob turned, Lisa''s voice came from outside.


    "Xu Yi, lucky you took the day off, otherwise you''d definitely be stuck at school. Your exorcist revelation has already spread through the school," Lisa said as she pushed the door open.


    "That''s what you call foresight!" Xu Yi took a sip of his floral tea to calm his nerves.


    In order to avoid harassment and focus on his entries, Xu Yi simply decided to take leave and retreat.


    Xu Yi put down his teacup and turned to look at Lisa, pausing for a moment and then scrutinizing her from head to toe.


    "Does this outfit look strange on me?" Lisa, feeling a bit embarrassed by Xu Yi''s gaze, fidgeted with her sleeve.


    "Not strange at all, it looks good!" Xu Yi sincerely complimented her.


    Lisa was wearing a witch''s attire, but not the traditional kind. It was more form-fitting, with decorative patterns added to the hem and collar, and the purple and pink patterns looked both mystical and vibrant.


    On her head was a delicate witch''s hat that made Lisa''s petite face appear even more refined.


    "How did you get this outfit?" asked Xu Yi, curious.


    "Uncle Ailent got it for me. He said my face looked too youthful and he was afraid employers would look down on me, which would disgrace our Holy Flame Studio. So he had this outfit custom-made for me," Lisa explained.


    With Xu Yi preparing for college entrance exams, Ailent didn''t want the exorcism broker work to come to a standstill, so he turned to Lisa.


    With her parents as witnesses, Lisa had formally signed a contract and joined the Holy Flame Studio.


    The contract was naturally quite flexible, considering she was one of their own.


    These past few days, Ailent had been running hither and thither and, unexpectedly, he received a commission.


    Although Lisa had only grasped a little witchcraft power, she was officially stepping into the ranks of exorcists and could take on some minor cases.


    Of course, she couldn''t handle anything too dangerous. For this reason, Ailent meticulously visited and inquired carefully, and eventually determined that the employer had probably had an accidental encounter with a Ferocious Spirit, leading to demonic possession and sickness.


    Such minor issues could be resolved simply with a burst of witchcraft power.


    "Xu Yi, we made ten thousand bucks! Two tenths of it will go to Holy Flame Studio''s operating funds, and the rest is mine, but I feel like it''s too much. How about we give it all to the studio, and I just take a few hundred?"


    Lisa''s face was alight with excitement; it was the first time she discovered earning money could be so simple, requiring hardly any effort at all.


    "Little rich girl, keep the money for yourself! We are a legitimate studio, we never take more than what belongs to our employees!" Xu Yi replied with finality.


    "?" Allen, who was eavesdropping outside the door, slowly typed out a question mark. Am I not considered a formal employee of the studio?


    Unexpectedly, the first income for Holy Flame Studio had actually been earned by Lisa.


    Xu Yi had performed two exorcisms, but hadn''t made a penny, which was truly a bit embarrassing.


    "Is Allen outside the door? Let him in, I have something to ask him," Xu Yi quickly changed the subject.


    "What''s up?" Allen had been outside all this time.


    "It''s nothing major, just the tailor who made clothes for Lisa, you have his contact, right? Give it to me," Xu Yi whispered.


    "Xu Yi, are you also going to have clothes made? Like the ones I have?" Lisa asked curiously.


    Xu Yi glanced at Lisa sheepishly, "Sort of!" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was rare to come across a tailor with such impeccable taste; he simply had to make his acquaintance. Indeed, he wanted clothes, but not for himself.


    JK uniforms, Lolita, character cosplay¡ªwhat would these look like on Lisa and Maria?


    Ah, can''t think about it! Must not think about it!


    If he dwelled on it any longer, his secluded cultivation would fail, and what if he fell into demonic possession then?


    ...


    Two days quietly passed, and on this deep night, Xu Yi sat at his desk, engrossed, the lamp light illuminating his profile.


    He flipped through books with one hand, and made calculations on a piece of rough paper with the other.


    As he put down the final stroke, the calculation was complete. Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as relaxed as if he had just crossed the finish line of a marathon.


    [Scholar Entry Experience +1, Current Progress: 100/100.]


    Xu Yi''s body trembled, as his mind became clearer than ever before. Knowledge that was hidden in the corners of his memory, on the brink of being forgotten, was now unearthed.


    This disorganized knowledge automatically formed into a logically structured framework.


    Not just memory, but cognitive ability, memorization skills, spatial imagination¡ªall learning-related abilities had been enhanced.


    He felt as though he had transformed from an average Joe into a scholar who could perceive the essence of all things.


    Xu Yi involuntarily closed his eyes, and after an indeterminate amount of time, he slowly opened them, his eyes shimmering with light.


    "This isn''t just a Common White Entry; it''s practically worthy of being called an Epic Entry!" Xu Yi exhaled a breath of stale air.


    At this moment, he had officially ascended to the peak student realm!


    Heaven without me, Xu Yi, meant the path of the scholar would have been as eternal as a long night.


    The Scholar Entry was merely of Common White Quality, but he believed it rivaled those of Epic Quality White Entries due to its cumulative effects.


    Although the subsequent enhancements weren''t as strong as the first one, as long as he persisted in accumulating Scholar Entries, his mental power would continue to increase.


    Xu Yi efficiently activated the Scholar Entry.


    [You have triggered a chain quest: "Brainpower Universe"! Once Scholar Entry (Full Value) is stacked three times, you will acquire the ability "Super Brain Calculation".]


    [Current Quest Progress: 1/3.]


    Xu Yi had made up his mind to grind Scholar Entries until the end of time.


    Live to old age, learn to old age; nobody can stop my pursuit of knowledge!

 Chapter 43 Are You Driving the Same Demon as Me?

    ```The sunlight was perfect, and the vast examination hall was dead silent as Xu Yi buried himself in fervent writing.


    Easy peasy! Not challenging at all!


    Ever since he maxed out his Scholar entries, high school knowledge had become second nature to him, and the legendary American college entrance examination couldn''t stump him.


    The class bell rang, and the proctor began to collect the papers. Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief.


    He had finished half an hour ago and had checked his work several times. Bored, he had started doodling on scrap paper, and now he was finally free.


    "Xu Yi, how did you do on the test?" Hardy ran into Xu Yi in the hallway, his eyes lighting up as he quickly walked over.


    "Wait till I get to MIT, I''ll introduce you to some upperclass women!" Xu Yi slapped Hardy on the shoulder.


    "Humph! So confident now, but don''t come crying to me if you don''t get accepted. Besides, are you really that generous to introduce me to upperclass women?"


    Hardy had already planned to tease Xu Yi mercilessly if he failed to get accepted.


    "With so many upperclass women around, how could I possibly cope?" Xu Yi headed towards the school entrance, where he could see Allen''s car.


    "Scumbag!" Hardy cursed angrily.


    He had Lisa and Maria, yet he was still not content. He wasn''t even in college yet and was already eyeing the upperclass women!


    "I wonder whose BMW that is blocking the entrance, I couldn''t drive in, so I had to park outside," Allen said as he courteously took Xu Yi''s bag.


    As Xu Yi passed the entrance, he curiously took a glance at the BMW¡ªit seemed to be the latest model and priced close to $300,000, a proper luxury car.


    "Are you going to... perform an exorcism?" Hardy guessed, looking at Xu Yi''s preparation.


    "Almost too broke to make ends meet, just trying to earn a bit of money," Xu Yi replied offhandedly.


    "Xu Yi, I''m really envious of you, the life of an exorcist must be fascinating!" Hardy said with evident envy.


    "Just ordinary stuff, earning a hard living."


    With a sigh, Hardy took out his car key from his pocket, pressed the unlock button, and the new BMW made a "beep" sound.


    Xu Yi and Allen watched, dumbfounded, as Hardy got into the car, the engine roared, and he zoomed off into the traffic.


    At that moment, Xu Yi really wanted to flip Hardy the bird.


    "How''s the restaurant renovation going?" Xu Yi turned to ask Allen.


    Cold shivers!


    When would his father stand up and make him a second-generation rich kid!


    "I found the first draft of the renovation plan too rudimentary, so I asked a friend to redesign it," Allen said, familiar with these matters as he often visited Chinatown whenever he had the time.


    "Do we have enough money?" Xu Yi doubted. Did his dad have that much in deposit?


    Could it be that Allen had been hiding the fact that back home there were a few sheep farms waiting for him to inherit?


    "Not quite enough, but I borrowed some for Brother Xu!"


    Xu Yi patted Allen''s shoulder. For an agent to go this far, he certainly did alright.


    He suddenly looked forward to seeing the transformed restaurant, especially since he had invested quite a bit of money.


    "Now, let''s head to our next battlefield," Xu Yi said softly.


    Today was the day to meet real estate magnate James and help with an exorcism.


    ......


    The Ford car sped down the highway, windows revealing desolate wilderness; Xu Yi suddenly understood why James wanted to contract this place.


    The area, set in the outskirts, could be bought for not much money but wasn''t too far from the city. If developed properly, it would definitely be a hit in the market.


    The grass outside had been flattened, but no one was working on the site. If the problem with the old theater wasn''t resolved, James probably wouldn''t dare to take the risk.


    ```


    Xu Yi observed for a moment, then lowered his head again and focused on painting.


    The combination of a Psychic Painter only needed the final painter entry; he was racing against the clock to get the painter entry as quickly as possible.


    The more techniques he mastered, the more confident he would be during exorcisms!


    [Painter Entry, Current Progress: 90/100.]


    The painter entry finally crossed the major threshold of 90!


    Since he completed the scholar entry earlier than expected, Xu Yi had an extra day, so Ailent took him to visit a master of the art.


    Under the master''s one-on-one professional guidance, the progress of the painter entry surged forward significantly.


    The master also gave him a precious painting album, which was the one he was copying from now.


    Xu Yi couldn''t help but marvel at how impressive an exorcist''s reputation was!


    If he weren''t an exorcist, let alone receiving a private album or one-on-one guidance, he probably wouldn''t even get a chance to meet the master.


    "We''re here!" Ailent stepped on the brakes, and the Ford car stopped in front of a hotel.


    The hotel was obviously newly built, probably provided by James for the "vanguard team" to stay in.


    "Mr. James has prepared a meal and is awaiting your arrival!" The butler was waiting at the door early and hurriedly came up to greet Xu Yi when he saw him.


    Xu Yi sharply noticed the emphasis in the butler''s words, "everyone."


    Could it be that James had invited other exorcists? On reflection, this possibility seemed quite likely.


    "I''ll be heading back then, call me if there''s an issue!" Ailent drove away.


    The exorcism was too dangerous; if Ailent stayed, he would just be a drag. It was better for him to wait for news from the outside.


    Guided by the butler, Xu Yi entered an opulent dining room. Only three people sat at the huge marble long table, which made it look very empty.


    "What, we waited all this time just for this brat?"


    An incongruous voice sounded and Xu Yi looked towards the direction of the voice.


    Covered in scars, exuding a faint scent of blood, and with fierce eyes, the man was likely a mercenary.


    Xu Yi dismissed him, as he did not feel the magnetic field characteristic of an exorcist on the man.


    He looked indifferently at the butler, as if to say, what''s with this guy? He''s nothing like an exorcist to me!


    "Mr. Ryan is quite daring. During his time as a mercenary abroad, he survived for three days and nights amidst the dead," the butler explained.


    Xu Yi instantly understood that this was merely an ordinary person with great courage, a cannon fodder-like figure. James must have agreed to let him come with the hope that a dead horse might as well be treated like a living horse doctor.


    After all, the key to this exorcism was having enough courage¡ªwho knew, maybe such a bold common person could produce miraculous effects?


    When Ryan heard the butler''s words, he immediately restrained his arrogant attitude.


    He wasn''t entirely foolish; it did him no good to offend an exorcist, especially in such a dangerous place.


    His speaking out was solely because he had been waiting too long.


    Out of consideration for the importance of the commission, he had come early in the morning, and now the sun was almost setting when the other party finally arrived.


    He was always hot-tempered, speaking whatever came to mind, which had caused him many troubles.


    In fact, he regretted his words the moment they left his mouth, but he couldn''t swallow his pride to apologize to a whippersnapper, so he remained silent.


    After completing the commission, he would be able to pay off his gambling debts with the hefty reward.


    Then he would leave the United States, and without further encountering each other, even an exorcist wouldn''t be able to do anything to him.


    Xu Yi paid no attention to Ryan; instead, he surveyed the remaining two people, one of whom was carrying a metal box.


    Xu Yi''s gaze lingered on that box.


    Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 44 The Glaring Mary Shaw

    The marble long table had plenty of seats, but the pair sat very close to each other, displaying an intimacy that suggested they were either a married couple or lovers.Even exorcists need to show off their love? Xu Yi felt as if he had taken ten thousand points of critical damage.


    Perhaps it was the bad influence of the Warrens; now it seemed to have become trendy in the Exorcism World to pair men and women together.


    Both individuals were undoubtedly exorcists; their unique energy field was unmistakable. But what concerned him more was the metal case they carried with them.


    A complex energy field surrounded the metal case, leading Xu Yi to believe that it contained Exorcism Artifacts¡ªand judging by the circumstances, not just one.


    "These two are Hunter and Laura, members of the Lopez family," the butler introduced.


    No wonder they possessed so many Exorcism Artifacts, Xu Yi realized in an epiphany.


    Members of the Lopez family had been exorcists for generations. At their zenith, they were the King''s personal exorcists, but in modern times, their glory had begun to fade.


    The butler prepared a sumptuous meal, Xu Yi ate heartily, while Hunter and Laura only picked at their food, and the mercenary Ryan didn''t have much of an appetite either.


    The exorcism was imminent, and they were far from as relaxed as they appeared on the surface.


    They had not seen James, which Xu Yi had predicted.


    A wise man does not stand under a shaky wall, and as an influential magnate, James certainly wouldn''t put himself in danger.


    "The rooms are all ready. You can rest after you finish eating. Tomorrow, someone will take you to the old theatre," the butler said, leading them to their respective rooms.


    Xu Yi set down his luggage in his room and, turning around, realized the butler had not left.


    "Is there something else?" Xu Yi could tell the man wanted to say something.


    "Mr. James has a message he would like me to pass on to Mr. Xu," the butler said softly.


    Xu Yi was puzzled; he had never met James, what would he have to say to him in private?


    "Mr. James hopes that you will give up on this exorcism. If you''re in need of money, we''re willing to offer you 300,000 without any conditions," the butler said.


    Could it really be such good fortune falling from the sky? Xu Yi''s eyes widened.


    But he quickly figured out the cause and effect. "Is it because of the Spiritual Awakening?"


    Someone of James'' stature would be the most well-informed of all; he probably had researched him long ago.


    Apart from Spiritual Awakening, Xu Yi couldn''t think of any other reason a tycoon would freely offer him 300,000.


    "The 300,000 is just to forge an acquaintance with Mr. Xu. If there is a chance for Spiritual Awakening, Mr. James also has a small gift to offer¡ªa row of 32 shops on a commercial street."


    The butler spoke evenly, without a flutter in his voice, as if what he was offering were not 32 shops, but 32 heads of cabbage.


    Xu Yi was inwardly astounded. True to being a wealthy family, they could offer something worth hundreds of millions as if it were nothing!


    But he was well aware that this was not an offer he could accept.


    The prerequisite for Spiritual Awakening was either meeting a Loyalty Value or Favorability threshold. For a magnate like James, who would never willingly play second fiddle to anyone, that was out of the question.


    In fact, if James had asked the church for help, he could have probably resolved the Evil Spirit issue in the old theatre long ago.


    But due to a recent dispute with the church, he had recruited these "Loose Cultivators."


    All of this information had been gathered by Ailent, and there was likely no error in its veracity. To think that someone who wouldn''t bend the knee to the church would pledge loyalty to him?


    To accept probably meant welcoming a heap of trouble.


    "I''m very sorry, but I appreciate Mr. James''s kind intention. However, I''m here solely for the exorcism," Xu Yi politely declined.


    "We were presumptuous. Mr. James said that if you are insistent on the exorcism, he hopes you take good care of yourself," the butler said gently. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Am I really not that promising? After all, I''m a genius exorcist from the Xia Kingdom! Xu Yi grumbled inwardly.


    "Furthermore, we are going to increase the bounty to $500,000 for this occasion!" the butler announced another even more explosive piece of news.


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up; if the exorcism succeeded this time around, not only would he have the money to buy a villa, but also the funds to set up his own studio.


    If he economized a bit, he might even switch to a new car.


    He had gotten quite tired of Ailent''s old seventh or eighth-hand Ford that was noisy everywhere except the radio at higher speeds, as if it were about to fall apart.


    "The previous exorcists collected some information, hoping it could be of assistance to Mr. Xu," the butler said, handing Xu Yi a stack of documents.


    Xu Yi thanked the butler and then watched him leave.


    "This James must be no ordinary person, to have a butler of such caliber!" Xu Yi exclaimed in admiration.


    But that was to be expected; who would dare to cause trouble with the church if they were just an ordinary person?


    "Anyway, I''m just here to perform the exorcism and get paid; I needn''t concern myself with the rest." Xu Yi started to browse through the documents the butler had given him.


    At the top of the documents were pictures that could very likely incite feelings of nausea and panic in common people upon viewing them.


    The pictures were of dead people, who had died in very gruesome ways ¨C their mouths agape, their tongues torn out from the roots.


    Having looked through the photos, Xu Yi began to review the information beneath them.


    After so many exorcists'' investigations, the identity of the Evil Spirit was already no secret, which undoubtedly saved Xu Yi a lot of effort.


    When conducting an exorcism, identifying the Evil Spirit is very important.


    From the identity of the Evil Spirit, one could infer its abilities and even the location of its Vessel.


    "Beware the stare of Mary Shaw, who had no children, only dolls. And if you see her in your dreams, be sure you never, ever scream!"


    At the very beginning of the documents was actually a nursery rhyme.


    Xu Yi gazed at the name "Mary Shaw," thoughtfully.


    Beneath the nursery rhyme was an introduction to the information about Mary Shaw.


    "Mary Shaw used to be a ventriloquist in a theater; during one show, she was challenged by a boy in the audience, leading to a fierce conflict that ended on a sour note."


    "Not long after, the boy mysteriously vanished. The villagers suspected Mary Shaw of retaliating and killing the innocent child out of vengeance. In their rage, they stormed the theater, brutally tore out Mary Shaw''s tongue, and threw her into the flames."


    No wonder along the way, he had seen so many abandoned houses at the roadside! Xu Yi suddenly understood.


    Soon after Mary Shaw''s death, she turned into an Evil Spirit and brutally harmed the nearby villagers. Those who were fortunate enough to survive had long fled the area.


    At the end of the documents were even suggestions for the exorcism, though it was unclear who had written them.


    "First: Find the Puppets made by Mary Shaw and burn them! According to the investigation, Mary Shaw had a total of 101 Puppets, and up until now, 38 have been confirmed as having been burned."


    Upon reading the first suggestion, Xu Yi''s brow furrowed. If all these Puppets made by Mary Shaw were Vessels, that would be troublesome.


    Finding and burning all the Puppets would not be an easy task.


    No wonder so many exorcists had come before and still hadn''t managed to deal with Mary Shaw.


    "Second: Hidden within the old theater lies the secret of Mary Shaw; please explore with caution."


    "Third: If you encounter Mary Shaw, remain calm, and remember never to scream in fright!"


    It appeared that this exorcism was indeed well-suited for him, Xu Yi was confident. To kill, Mary Shaw required people to be scared and then scream out loud.


    Against an Evil Spirit with such "rule-based" killing, once their method was rendered ineffective, their threat would be greatly diminished.

 Chapter 45 Finally Here!

    Having crossed the creaking and decaying drawbridge, Xu Yi finally saw the legendary old theater.The darkened curtains, blown out by the wind, hung limply on the window sills, trembling occasionally, resembling a Soul Summoning Banner.


    As soon as daybreak came, they arrived there.


    As for the guide, as soon as he caught sight of a corner of the theater, he had already sprinted back like a tiger was chasing him, almost taking a spill in the process.


    Xu Yi, observing the old theater, came to understand a few things.


    No wonder the engineering work couldn''t progress without dealing with the theater''s Evil Spirits; its location was indeed too peculiar, right at the heart of this area.


    Ryan hurried through the decayed, carved doors and soon disappeared from everyone''s view.


    He was well aware that as a Common person, he couldn''t compare with these exorcists in performing exorcisms, so he had to race against time.


    Hunter and Laura weren''t in a hurry, quietly scrutinizing the aged theater.


    The floral carvings on the dome were extraordinarily exquisite, yet now they were tattered and full of holes. It was mysterious why, even though plenty of light shone through, the theater still seemed very dark.


    After observing for a moment, Hunter put the metal box he was carrying flat on the ground, and Xu Yi''s attention was immediately drawn to it.


    Sturdy chains were welded on the metal box, the other end of which was attached to a bracelet that Hunter always wore and never took off.


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    Xu Yi could understand this practice; after all, if the Exorcism Artifact inside the box were to be lost, it would be a significant problem.


    That box wasn''t ordinary either, with hidden runes engraved on its corners, likely endowing it with exorcism properties.


    The material of the box was probably a very tough alloy, which could also be used as a weapon in times of danger.


    As the box opened, Xu Yi was momentarily dazzled.


    The beautifully carved Cross Dagger, the lustrous Amber Stone, the antique bronze table lamp... His previous guess had been conservative¡ªthere were more than ten Exorcism Artifacts in the box!


    He thought about the Exorcism Artifacts he was carrying: a few Exorcism Lighters, fragments stained with blood wrapped in Pagoda Tree Wood bark... He inexplicably felt a bit shabby.


    Was this what they called "second-generation exorcists"?


    He had been feeling a bit of rivalry with "second-gens" lately; becoming a rich second-gen might be possible, but in exorcism, he had to rely on his own efforts.


    Xu Yi kept eyeing the box, and neither Hunter nor Laura blocked his view.


    These Exorcism Artifacts represented the glory of the Lopez family; why would glory fear being displayed?


    Being from the Lopez family, other exorcists, no matter how envious, wouldn''t dare to reach out carelessly.


    Hunter removed the bronze oil lamp on top, and a painting came into Xu Yi''s view, making his eyes light up.


    The painting was only the size of a palm, and it wasn''t that the painting had such a strong exorcism effect¡ªthe Cross Dagger above it was much more potent.


    Xu Yi had copied paintings for most of last night, and his "Painter" Entries had slightly improved.


    [Painter Entries, current progress: 93/100.]


    Having reached this level, whether his painting skills or his appraising abilities, both were already quite substantial.


    So at a glance, he recognized that the painting was undoubtedly the work of a master¡ªthe composition, the lines, the spirited momentum leaping off the page...


    This was definitively the most impactful painting Xu Yi had encountered so far.


    "Excuse me... could I take a look at the painting in the box?"


    Xu Yi hadn''t intended to speak with Hunter; after all, the man was from the esteemed Lopez family and naturally carried an air of arrogance.


    But the allure of the painting was too intense¡ªit was a master''s original work!


    ```


    Just from a painting alone, one could possess a formidable exorcism effect, showing how masterful the artistic skills were, practically reaching the realm of "Spiritual Communion."


    If the painting could be borrowed for thorough appreciation and imitation, one could undoubtedly max out the painter entries!


    By then, synthesizing into a Psychic Painter, facing Mary Shaw would become much more assured.


    Hunter found a Chicken Blood Stone at the bottom of the box, the box clicked shut, and Hunter walked shoulder to shoulder with Laura towards the depths of the theater.


    Xu Yi helplessly shrugged his shoulders, he had been ignored!


    He suddenly thought of James, no wonder he had tried to persuade him to give up exorcism before, if seen through the eyes of a common person, Hunter and Laura indeed seemed more likely to succeed in exorcism than him.


    "Forget it, better to just get this exorcism over with!" Xu Yi wasn''t angry, he wasn''t so thin-skinned after all, whether or not to lend the painting was someone else''s right.


    He followed behind Hunter and Laura, the Chicken Blood Stone was likely able to search for Evil Spirits, it was better than aimlessly wandering around the theater on his own.


    Having a convenience and not using it, he wasn''t that old-fashioned.


    But he slightly overestimated the Lopez family''s "Demon Hunting" Magic Artifact and underestimated Mary Shaw''s ability to hide; they roamed around the old theater all day and discovered very little.


    No wonder the previous exorcists had all failed, this Mary Shaw was really too good at hiding!


    The sun set, and Xu Yi returned to the hotel.


    Although everyone knew that Evil Spirits were more likely to appear at night, it was only the first day, and there was no need to be too aggressive.


    But the old theater was really big, he had only managed to make a quick round by the time the sun set.


    The others were much more "hardworking" than Xu Yi, not returning to the hotel until it was completely dark.


    By then, Xu Yi had already imitated several paintings, slept a bit, and even had dinner at the restaurant.


    The butler shook his head upon seeing Xu Yi looking like this.


    However, since the other party had the rare ability of "Spiritual Awakening," his being a bit lazy was understandable.


    Xu Yi wasn''t being lazy; after roaming the theater and determining that there was nothing to be gained, he decided to come back. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For him, instead of aimlessly searching in the theater, it was more practical to work on his painter entries back at the hotel.


    There was no moon tonight, and outside the window was pitch black; Xu Yi had just finished taking a bath and was facing the mirror, toweling his hair dry.


    The room''s light suddenly started to crackle, flickering on and off.


    "It''s finally here!" Xu Yi sighed with huge relief, feeling like he was finally meeting someone he had been waiting for.


    The Psychic entries had given him a keen perception, and a faint magnetic field was infiltrating his room.


    But after a few seconds of flickering, the incandescent light returned to normal, and in Xu Yi''s perception, that cold magnetic field had also vanished.


    Was it his imagination?


    Of course not! Xu Yi wasn''t just an exorcist, he had also studied psychology.


    As an exorcist with ideals and aspirations, in his spare time, he even wrote a psychology masterpiece titled "On How Evil Spirits Torment People!"


    Evil Spirits would usually first tense you up, then relax you, pulling you back and forth a few times, and when you are at your most relaxed, they would suddenly emerge.


    Common people simply couldn''t handle it!


    Evil Spirits did this not out of pure malice.


    Whether it''s a person or an exorcist, their psychic energy becomes extremely weak after enduring such repeated torture, and when the Evil Spirit''s real body arrives, it can easily achieve its goal.


    ```

 Chapter 46 Puppet Billys

    Xu Yi busied himself at the desk, continuing to copy the paintings.In the time that followed, he experienced disturbances such as:


    A ghostly shadow fleeting by in the mirror; sudden strange noises coming from under the bed; the bathroom faucet turning on by itself; my closet moved, I''m not playing this game anymore... and so on.


    But Xu Yi remained unmoved, still engrossed in his drawing, not even bothering to turn off the faucet in the bathroom¡ªit wasn''t his water bill after all.


    A sudden intense chill swept over him from behind, and Xu Yi knew that the evil spirit could no longer hold back and was about to make its direct move.


    Although he was prepared, the chilling sensation still made his body stiff.


    He turned around and saw a puppet sitting quietly on the sofa.


    It was a small boy puppet with bulging cheeks, a triangular nose, and glassy green eyes, which looked exceptionally eerie.


    Before Xu Yi could react, the puppet''s eyes suddenly started moving, and with a sinister smile on its face, its mouth abruptly opened.


    Blood spurted from the puppet''s mouth, and along with the blood, there came a blood-red "kelp."


    Xu Yi suddenly felt nauseous because he realized that it wasn''t kelp at all, but a string of stitched tongues, wriggling incessantly and terribly disgusting.


    His body felt as if it was trapped in thick mire, making even breathing difficult.


    Perhaps some might guess that if one already knew the methods of an evil spirit, and had a bit more courage, couldn''t they deal with the evil spirit?


    Xu Yi could only say that was too na?ve; when an evil spirit made its move, it would first emit a dense "evil thought."


    Those enveloped by evil thoughts would have their psychic energy greatly suppressed, akin to being afflicted with a debuff.


    The general feeling was like that of an elderly person staying awake for two days and nights straight, body weak, head groggy, actions lagging behind.


    In such a state, how could one remain calm?


    In fact, this terrible state is the most likely to trigger angina, which is why so many people are literally scared to death by ferocious spirits and evil spirits.


    Xu Yi''s heart started beating uncontrollably, his breathing rapid, muscles tense, and body stiff.


    As a beginner in Psychology, he was very aware that these were the physiological responses to fear.


    But what was strange was that he didn''t feel that afraid, just a bit nauseous, at most.


    Xu Yi stared intently at the puppet, and he finally understood why even exorcists could not escape Mary Shaw''s hunts.


    Mary Shaw possessed an ability akin to an "Aura of Fear."


    Once affected by this ability, the body would naturally exhibit signs of fear, which in turn would influence the psyche, and the psyche would act back upon the body, creating a cycle that amplifies the feeling of fear to an extremely terrifying level.


    "Fortunately, I have the ''As Brave as a Barrel'' entry," Xu Yi secretly rejoiced.


    Although some friends did not agree with his bravery, it didn''t matter, being hardheaded would prove everything!


    Looking back, his acquisition of the ''As Brave as a Barrel'' entry could not be separated from the Resurrection Coin.


    Having the Resurrection Coin inevitably leads to thoughts like, "There''s a Resurrection Coin anyway, why be a coward, let''s be bold?"


    The more such thoughts one has, the braver they become, and ghosts can be faced... cough cough, still, one has to consider this carefully.


    As Xu Yi''s thoughts ran wild, boosted by the ''As Brave as a Barrel'' entry, various symptoms of fear quickly dissipated from his body.


    "Aura of Fear" is not omnipotent; if one''s mind remains unruffled, the cycle of fear can be severed, and then it loses its effect.


    Xu Yi casually grabbed a desk lamp on the table and swung it at the long tongue that was almost licking his face, "What are you licking, haven''t you heard that bootlickers never end well?"


    The desk lamp didn''t hit anything solid, and the long tongue dissolved like foam. Xu Yi suddenly realized that this tongue was not real, but a shadow.


    The tried and true trick did not work; the smile on the puppet''s face froze. Even though the pupils were made of glass, they conveyed a sense of "bewilderment."


    Xu Yi was so grossed out by the puppet''s stitched long tongue that he kicked the puppet and sent it flying.


    That kick showcased his excellent soccer talent¡ªif he focused on soccer, he might have had the chance to become the hope of Xia Kingdom''s soccer world, but it was likely he''d spend ten years on the bench for not bribing the coach and being allergic to sea cucumber.


    The puppet slammed against the wall with a bang, but Xu Yi was not appeased. What followed was a relentless destruction of the puppet: ruthless slamming, violent stomping, and powerful shooting!


    Moments later, he slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and picked the puppet back up.


    The puppet''s durability was surprisingly good. After a series of destructive acts by Xu Yi, it appeared to have no significant damage, just some surface scuffs.


    He turned the puppet over and saw a name carved on the back of its neck, "Billy."


    After looking around and finding nothing else, he turned the puppet back over.


    "Why are you opening your eyes so wide? You got a problem with me?" Xu Yi slapped the puppet Billy''s face.


    If puppet Billy could''ve responded, he would''ve probably started by slowly displaying a question mark, then asked Xu Yi, "As an old-fashioned puppet, can I close my eyes?"


    "Why aren''t you speaking? Do you have an issue with me?" Xu Yi slapped him again. Discover stories at empire


    Puppet Billy still had no reaction, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion; it was just an ordinary puppet. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi stopped torturing the puppet, certain that the evil spirit Mary Shaw had temporarily left the puppet''s body.


    He took out the Exorcism Lighter.


    During the days he prepared for his exams, he dripped a droplet of foreign substance into the lighter each day, spreading it across three lighters.


    Xu Yi stared at the puppet Billy, hesitated for a moment, then put away the lighter and rummaged through his backpack for a black tool box.


    "You''re in luck, you''re the first one to experience my craft, oh, puppet," he said.


    Xu Yi opened the black toolbox, neatly lined with various sizes of carving knives, small hammers, and sandpaper discs.


    This was a set of carving tools, which Xu Yi had asked Ailent to buy for him.


    The toolbox was neatly placed on the upper left corner of the desk, puppet Billy in the middle, and a cup of floral tea on the upper right. Xu Yi rubbed his hands together, feeling the ceremony was at its peak.


    He had intended to burn the puppet directly, but then he remembered an experience entry he hadn''t maxed out yet.


    "Necromantic Spells, current progress: 0/100."


    It wasn''t that Xu Yi was so busy he couldn''t spare a moment; it was that the experience-gaining method for the entry was somewhat peculiar.


    To gain experience for Necromantic Spells, one didn''t necessarily have to carve on a corpse, but it did require an object "infected with resentment."


    The so-called resentment-contaminated object is, simply put, an item affected by a ferocious spirit or evil spirit.


    Since the antique market on Rose Street was not always open, by the time he obtained the Necromantic Spells entry, the market had closed.


    The antique shop owners were too greedy, treating him like a pig for slaughter.


    And with his recent busyness, that matter had been delayed as a result.


    But where on Rose Street could he find an object imbued with more resentment than this puppet in front of him?


    It was simply a perfect vessel for carving Necromantic Spells!


    Xu Yi picked up a medium-sized carving knife, a smile on his face as he stared at puppet Billy.


    By doing this, he was sure to anger Mary Shaw, but it didn''t matter, they were already enemies.


    He had already obtained a Resurrection Coin at the end of the month''s sign-in and now had two Resurrection Coins on him, allowing him to be a bit bolder.


    Besides, he still had the "As Brave as a Barrel" entry to restrain Mary Shaw.

 Chapter 47 Open the Door! Checking the Water Meter!

    The carving knife scraped against the puppet, emitting a grating noise, and Xu Yi''s brows furrowed slightly. Although he had long been acquainted with the toughness of the puppets, this was taking it too far, wasn''t it?He was now struggling to even carve a single stroke, and at this rate, who knew how long it would take to engrave a complete set of Necromantic Spells?


    The material used to make the puppet was just common fir wood, which shouldn''t be this hard. It must have become mutated from being continuously washed over by malevolent thoughts and feelings.


    Xu Yi set down the carving knife and gripped the glass cup of floral tea to warm his hands.


    As he prepared to carve, the puppet suddenly turned ice cold and bone-chilling, as if he were holding a solid block of ice.


    This sensation of cold wasn''t real; it was an illusion, but it still affected him.


    "It seems the other party isn''t so calm after all!"


    Xu Yi was well aware that it was Mary Shaw playing tricks, but he didn''t know why she hadn''t continued to "scare" him.


    Since she didn''t show up, he didn''t bother with it and continued to focus on his carving.


    "Finally..." Xu Yi exhaled a breath of turbid air.


    A strange symbol had appeared on the puppet''s body. Perhaps due to the wood, Xu Yi felt like the symbol was tinged with a trace of blood.


    To engrave the first spell, it had taken a full ten minutes!


    Xu Yi shook his somewhat sore hand, and as he picked up the carving knife, ready to engrave the second spell, he suddenly let out a soft exclamation, "Why does it feel different now?"


    The carving knife easily cut into the puppet, and even the sensation of cold had vanished, as if the puppet had truly become just another mundane toy.


    It took only 30 seconds to engrave the second spell.


    "It looks like Mary Shaw has given up on this puppet!" Xu Yi thought to himself.


    Items imbued with malevolent spirits are considered the "personal belongings" of an Evil Spirit. Xu Yi carving Necromantic Spells on them was like leaving personal marks on someone else''s property.


    In this regard, Evil Spirits display extreme fastidiousness and are indeed likely to give up, especially since the spirit had more than just one puppet.


    The reasoning was sound, yet Xu Yi couldn''t shake the feeling that there was something odd about this analogy.


    In the time that followed, Xu Yi became completely engrossed in carving the Necromantic Spells.


    Thanks to his background in drawing, his hand was steady. Although it was his first time using a carving knife, he managed it skillfully.


    As time passed, the puppet known as Billy was covered with dense Necromantic Spells, appearing even more eerie.


    [Necromantic Spells +13, Current Progress: 13/100.]


    The experience was so abundant! Xu Yi''s eyes lit up.


    Having gained experience with Psychic Entries, he knew that if he found the right method, it wouldn''t be difficult to max out such entries.


    Xu Yi grew excited, for if the information given by his butler was accurate, besides the puppet he was working on, Mary Shaw had 62 more left.


    If he could find all the puppets, even if the experience from engraving thereafter wasn''t as much as the first time, it would be enough to max out the Necromantic Spells!


    Xu Yi casually tossed the puppet Billy aside.


    It was undoubtedly a useless item, offering nearly no enhancement to Spiritual Perception, let alone move on to the second step of "Soul Sealing."


    He would have to wait until the Entry was maxed out before he could create a perfect Soul Seal item.


    There was no need for him to burn the puppet.


    Enjoy more content from empire


    The Necromantic Spells on the puppet were ineffectual, but Mary Shaw didn''t know that. Seeing the dense spells on it, she was probably already terrified, getting nowhere near daring enough to try to manipulate it again.


    If she really was that reckless, it would be even better, as after all, the Necromantic Spells were engraved by his own hand. Maybe he could use them to pinpoint her location later on.


    Xu Yi walked to the window and looked out, the hotel beneath the night sky was as quiet as a graveyard.


    The workers at the hotel, who were visible just the previous night, had now all disappeared, with only occasional lights on at the entrance. These were smart lights that turned on automatically when it was time.


    The three who returned late saw the steaming dishes in the restaurant''s food warmer and the warm reminder note stuck on the box, and thought they had simply come back too late and that the staff had gone to rest.


    But only Xu Yi knew that, apart from the three exorcists and one expendable mercenary, there were no other people left in the hotel.


    He had personally witnessed the butler leading the staff as they quietly slipped away through the back door.


    This was within Xu Yi''s expectations.


    Without running away in advance, were they supposed to stay and wait for death?


    If it weren''t for the high price offered by James, these people wouldn''t be willing to stay here at all.


    After serving several waves of "exorcism tour groups," they likely figured out from experience that they must leave before nightfall once they returned from the old theater.


    "But this is too quiet!" Xu Yi still had some doubts.


    He had made such a commotion in the room just a moment ago, slamming and stomping on the puppet Billy. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And the mercenary and the exorcist couple were indifferent?


    This was definitely not normal; he had been busy earning Necromantic Spell Entries experience, and now he finally had time to investigate.


    Xu Yi stood in front of the door, forcefully turning the doorknob, a click sound indicated the door was unlocked, but even with all his strength, Xu Yi could hardly open the door.


    "So that''s how it is!"


    It was no wonder no one came to check; it turns out the room had been put into "Isolation" by an evil spirit, somewhat similar to the ghoul traps in a funeral parlor, but not as severe.


    Xu Yi pulled out his Exorcism Lighter, lit it, and used the flame to scorch the door.


    If someone with keen Spiritual Perception were here, they would notice a thin layer of resentment clinging to the door, which was now being burned through by the Ethereal Flame, creating a large hole.


    Xu Yi turned the doorknob again, this time without any resistance.


    The door opened, and a tidal wave of noise rushed toward him, Xu Yi was taken aback, then sighed leisurely, "It sure is lively!"


    To Xu Yi''s left was the direction of the mercenary''s room, filled with continuous gunfire; to his right, in the direction of the exorcist couple, roars mixed with the ping-pong sound of objects hitting the floor.


    The sounds from both sides rose and fell intermittently, echoing each other, feeling like listening to a kind of symphony.


    But the next second, the gunfire suddenly stopped, and the room of the mercenary became eerily quiet.


    "Anyone home? Your delivery is here!" Xu Yi stood in front of the mercenary''s room, knocking on the door.


    There was no response.


    "Open up! Water meter inspection!" Xu Yi increased the force of his knocking.


    "Hurry and open the door! Your boss has run off with his mistress!" Xu Yi went from knocking to slamming the door.


    The door banged loudly under Xu Yi''s pounding, but there was not a whisper of movement inside the room, prompting Xu Yi to take out his Exorcism Lighter and break the seal on the door.


    He pushed the door open with a thrust, then hid behind the wall, listening intently for any sound from within the room.


    His caution wasn''t out of fear of a sudden attack by Mary Shaw; it was purely to avoid getting shot by the highly tense mercenary on reflex.


    He would have died an unjust death, and he certainly didn''t want to waste a Resurrection Coin like that.


    Since it was dangerous, why was he still keen to investigate inside?


    Of course, it was for those puppets¡ªin his view, the puppets were not substitutes for the evil spirits but walking "Necromantic Spell Experience Packs"!


    After waiting another two minutes to ensure he wouldn''t get shot unexpectedly, Xu Yi peeked inside and was momentarily stunned.


    The mercenary lay in a pool of blood, completely motionless, with a face still showing the terror of his last moments, grotesque, his pupils filled with fear and regret.

 Chapter 48 When Magic Artifacts Arent Enough, Technology Steps In

    The mercenary Ryan had died, but his tongue had not been pulled out.In Xu Yi''s view, the Evil Spirit Mary Shaw was someone who greatly valued "ritualistic sense", and so far, everyone who had died at its hand had their tongues pulled out.


    The exception now was not because Ryan was anything special, but purely because his mouth had been wrapped in thick black tape, sealing it shut.


    "That''s quite clever! You shouldn''t be called Ryan, you should be called Morphy," Xu Yi exclaimed.


    He could probably guess the other''s thought process. After hearing about Mary Shaw''s method of killing, Ryan''s clever little head started working.


    If screaming and opening one''s mouth would lead to the tongue being pulled out, then wouldn''t keeping one''s mouth shut solve the problem?


    Therefore, Ryan had his mouth sealed with tape almost all the time, and even, as a precaution, he mandated that his meals should not exceed two minutes.


    Unfortunately, against a truly terrifying Evil Spirit, such tricks were of limited use.


    Seven apertures of Ryan''s head were bleeding, his face showed a peculiar purple-red color, which was due to extreme congestion.


    In other words, Ryan''s heart had exploded!


    Mary Shaw seemed to kill by pulling out people''s tongues, but that was just a facade, her real method of killing was through fear.


    Ryan had died because of extreme fear, which caused his heart to burst. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi moved past Ryan and started searching the room. After a moment, he sighed, somewhat disappointed.


    He had not found the Puppet; the "Necromantic Spell Experience Pack" was gone.


    At this moment, the noise from Hunter and Laura''s room also ceased, and the hotel fell back into silence.


    Xu Yi had just come to the doorway of Hunter''s room when the door creaked open, and a weary Hunter stepped out. Seeing Xu Yi, he paused, startled.


    "You... You''re alright?" Hunter asked incredulously.


    Xu Yi was too clean, not to mention wounds, his clothes didn''t even have dust on them.


    He didn''t understand how Xu Yi had managed it, as they had spent considerable effort to drive away the Evil Spirit.


    Did Mary Shaw not lay her hands on Xu Yi? Hunter speculated in his heart.


    "This thing, you have one in your room too?" Xu Yi didn''t know what Hunter was thinking, but he stared at the object in Hunter''s hand, eyes gleaming.


    In Hunter''s hand was a small girl''s Puppet, the excessively red cheeks making it look eerie.


    Hunter and Laura exchanged looks, both seeing shock in each other''s eyes.


    If there was a Puppet controlled by the Evil Spirit in Xu Yi''s room, that meant Mary Shaw had made a move on Xu Yi as well.


    But why did he seem so at ease?


    When they took on the commission, they were full of confidence; they were from the Lopez family of exorcists, how could they not deal with a mere common Evil Spirit?


    But after facing Mary Shaw, they realized how naive they had been.


    If they had not had numerous Exorcism Artifacts, they would probably have become two cold corpses.


    Could this Asian fellow be a disciple of some Great Exorcist?


    Xu Yi could probably guess what they were thinking, but he didn''t care; he was more concerned with the Puppet in their hands, "This Puppet, how do you plan to deal with it?"


    If it had been before, the two would have ignored Xu Yi, but now they had to take his words seriously.


    Laura hesitated for a moment and then said quietly to Xu Yi, "We plan to throw it away."


    Logically, coming from the Lopez family of exorcists, they would definitely know that if they threw the Puppet away, the other party would surely come back; the best course of action was to burn it.


    Xu Yi thought for a moment and understood their plan.


    You''re planning to play the long game to catch a big fish, huh!


    It seemed they must have made some secret arrangements within the Puppet, so when Mary Shaw retrieved it, they could use the arrangements inside the Puppet to find her lair.


    Between one "Necromantic Spell Experience Pack" and a group of "experience packs", Xu Yi decisively chose the latter.


    "Then just throw it away! There''s a trash can at the hotel entrance," Xu Yi replied softly.


    Their conversation was deliberately vague, in order to avoid eavesdroppers, since no one could be sure if Mary Shaw had truly left.


    Hunter carried the puppet to the hotel entrance, casually tossed it into the trash can, and then turned to leave.


    A few minutes later, when they checked again, the puppet had vanished without a trace.


    "With that ability, it''s such a waste not to be a delivery guy!" Xu Yi exclaimed admiringly.


    Hunter and Laura offered a smile in response to Xu Yi, but their smiles were too stiff, almost like a forced smile.


    They were well aware that maintaining a relaxed mindset like Xu Yi''s was the right approach when facing an evil spirit like Mary Shaw.


    But recalling how they had nearly died at Mary Shaw''s hands, they just couldn''t relax.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, let''s stick together!" Hunter offered proactively.


    He had initially thought Xu Yi was just a side character, but now realized that Xu Yi was the ace James had called in to deal with the evil spirit.


    "No problem," Xu Yi certainly wasn''t going to refuse. Enjoy new adventures at empire


    He still wanted to use the other''s painting to farm entries experience, didn''t he?


    Besides, being able to lock onto Mary Shaw''s location seemed like an advantage for him.


    Tonight, there wasn''t a shred of moonlight; the darkness around was as dense as thick ink, illuminated only by the headlights of cars. Without the mood for conversation, they drove in silence for over ten minutes before reaching their destination.


    Xu Yi got out of the car and gazed ahead.


    The old theater hadn''t felt this way during the day, but at night, it seemed like a monster opening its massive jaws in the darkness, waiting for its prey to enter before swallowing it whole.


    Hunter took out a golden wind chime from a metal box; tinkling crisply as the wind blew through it.


    Xu Yi was very interested in Hunter''s exorcism artifacts, but he didn''t inquire aloud. After all, they were the other''s family heirlooms, and asking rashly would only lead to embarrassment for everyone.


    "Need a flashlight?" Hunter asked, taking a few flashlights out of his backpack.


    "Thank you, no need, I came prepared!"


    Hunter thought Xu Yi had already taken one from the hotel and didn''t think further, but then he heard the "click" of Xu Yi turning on his flashlight.


    Hunter was facing Xu Yi, and just as Xu Yi switched on the flashlight, Hunter happened to look up.


    And then...


    "Ah!" Hunter screamed in agony.


    "I''m terribly sorry! Terribly sorry!" Xu Yi apologized repeatedly, quickly moving the flashlight away.


    Hunter covered his eyes in pain, the world a snowy blank before him; it took a long time before his vision gradually returned.


    "I almost thought I was going to go blind!" Hunter said, looking at Xu Yi with a resentful expression.


    Laura looked at the thing in Xu Yi''s hand, dumbfounded, then glanced down at the flashlight in her hand and quietly turned it off.


    In Xu Yi''s hand was an oversized flashlight, ten times bigger than a normal one, and the intense light it emitted could have been believed to be laser light.


    The strong beam illuminated the theater''s entrance so brilliantly that it was brighter than staying in the hotel.


    Knowing that the exorcism was taking place in an abandoned old theater with no lighting, how could Xu Yi not have prepared in advance?


    This flashlight had been custom-made for Xu Yi by Ailent, with brightness and battery life far beyond any ordinary flashlight.


    He had initially wanted a model that could illuminate an entire building with one switch, but limited by the technology of the era and his budget, he had to settle for this downgraded version that could light up an area within ten meters.


    Hunter and Laura exchanged glances, feeling that inviting Xu Yi was an exceedingly correct decision.


    Not to mention anything else, just the sight of this bright light significantly increased their sense of security and reduced their fear of Mary Shaw.

 Chapter 49 The Flaw of Resurrection Coin

    In the illumination of the bright spotlights, Xu Yi and his group advanced into the depths of the old theater.The golden wind chimes suddenly shook violently, emitting a rapid "ringing" noise, and Xu Yi paused in his steps.


    They were now indoors, where there was essentially no wind, yet the wind chimes shook more violently than they would have outside in the wind.


    The Exorcism Artifact had sensed something.


    "The other side is nearby!" Hunter dared not speak that name, fearing to draw its attention.


    Xu Yi looked around. This place seemed to be a dressing room, with a few tattered costumes still hanging on a rack in the corner.


    The ceiling above was dilapidated, and the surrounding walls were rotten and turned black, not looking at all like a place that could hide a large number of puppets.


    Xu Yi subconsciously looked down at his feet, Hunter and Laura moved almost in unison, obviously thinking the same thing.


    "Could it be underneath?" Hunter whispered.


    "Let''s find out!" Laura said nothing as she took an axe from her backpack and fiercely chopped at the wooden floor.


    Xu Yi watched Laura''s swift actions, casting a sympathetic glance at Hunter¡ªa girlfriend who carried an axe was not easy to handle!


    Hunter smiled awkwardly, subconsciously rubbing his ribs that were tingling from a "accidental" bump from Laura.


    The wooden floor was already rotten, and each chop of the axe brought out large chunks of debris.


    Many exorcists had searched this theater but had never managed to find Mary Shaw''s hiding place for the puppets; surely, some had guessed that Mary Shaw would hide underground.


    But the old theater was too vast. If one searched inch by inch, they might well be killed by Mary Shaw before finding anything.


    Xu Yi glanced subtly at the metal box in Hunter''s hand. The "Exorcism II" was indeed enviable for its plethora of Magic Artifacts.


    The floor was split open, revealing a large hole. The three of them stood on the edge of the hole, looking down, they each took a deep breath.


    "What do we do now?" Hunter was momentarily unsure.


    A deep tunnel was hidden beneath the room''s floor, and even the powerful flashlights couldn''t reach the bottom, leaving them clueless about the depth below.


    Xu Yi squatted next to the tunnel, throwing a pebble down and listening attentively.


    From the echo, he roughly calculated the height of the tunnel.


    "Around twenty meters, not too high. The tunnel''s diameter is about two meters, which means, if one were to really fall, they could brace themselves against the tunnel walls with their hands and not necessarily plummet to the bottom," Xu Yi said softly.


    "There''s a faint breeze coming up from below, which means the air down there is circulating, so we won''t suffocate," Laura added.


    Xu Yi dusted off his hands, "I''m ready to go down now. Although it''s safer during the day, the Evil Spirit might take advantage of the night to secretly move the puppets away."


    He took a bundle of climbing rope out of his backpack. Since they were prepared with flashlights, they naturally wouldn''t skimp on similar outdoor gear.


    "Then let''s go down together, we can look out for one another," Hunter finally nodded in agreement.


    Descending along the rope, perhaps due to the bright spotlights, they weren''t harassed by the Evil Spirit and successfully reached the bottom.


    The moment Xu Yi steadied himself, a cold breath surged over like a tide, and he instinctively tensed his body. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [You have checked in at "Mary Shaw''s Puppet Collection Room", sign-in successful, reward: "Resurrection Coin x5".]


    It was a Land of Fear worth 5 Resurrection Coins!


    Xu Yi felt both shock and joy. The shock because the more Resurrection Coins awarded for check-in, the more dangerous the scene was.


    Of course, the joy was because of the Resurrection Coins. On his first day aimlessly wandering the old theater, when nothing happened, he had thought this wasn''t a Land of Fear. Turns out he just hadn''t found the right spot.


    Xu Yi looked at the system panel, feeling quite pleased.


    He originally had only two Resurrection Coins, but now his count had "surged" to seven, his sense of security was full.


    But the smile on his face suddenly froze.


    "System, is there a problem with the display of the Resurrection Coins?" Xu Yi questioned the system, of course through his thoughts, without speaking aloud.


    On the system panel, the box displaying the Resurrection Coins suddenly split in two.


    The left cell read: "Resurrection Coin x5," whereas the right one displayed "Resurrection Coin x2." The difference was, the Resurrection Coins in the right cell were in a gray, unusable state.


    What was going on?


    New information flooded into Xu Yi''s brain, and after he absorbed it, his expression turned gloomy.


    Resurrection Coins actually had a daily usage limit!


    Yes, within 24 hours, you could use at most 5 Resurrection Coins to rewind time.


    Xu Yi felt his fantasy shatter. He had thought that if he could accumulate enough Resurrection Coins, wouldn''t that be tantamount to eternal life?


    But now the system had told him that he could only be resurrected up to 5 times a day.


    No! If he faced a tricky problem, going back 10 minutes might not be enough, and he might need to use even more coins, decreasing the number he could use for resurrection each day.


    Why hadn''t the system mentioned this before?


    Xu Yi was somewhat puzzled. He suddenly remembered that he had never had more than 5 Resurrection Coins before, never reaching the limit so, naturally, there was no prompt.


    "No wonder there''s a treasure chest store in the system!" Xu Yi thought of those exorbitantly priced treasure chests.


    He had been curious before, with Resurrection Coins being so powerful, could the entries obtained from the treasure chests really measure up to the Resurrection Coins?


    Now he understood that the limited Resurrection Coins available for time rewinding each day; what use was it to have many if you faced a powerful being?


    The saddest thing in the world is to work hard for money, only to die before getting to spend it.


    So the best strategy was to keep only some Resurrection Coins in reserve and use the rest to buy treasure chests and strengthen oneself.


    "Found anything?" Hunter asked cautiously.


    "Something''s not right about this place. Everyone, be careful!" Xu Yi replied, not saying more.


    He refocused his attention. The most important thing now was to deal with Mary Shaw. Although there was a daily limit on using Resurrection Coins, it didn''t greatly affect his plans for development.


    The lights illuminated the path ahead. It wasn''t the end of the underground tunnel but rather a transitional platform, with the path ahead still plunging deep, albeit with a gentler slope allowing them to walk directly inside.


    After about ten meters, they encountered a fork, branching into two paths.


    At the fork, Hunter placed a golden wind chime. The wind chime moved on its own, without any wind, drifting towards the tunnel on the right.


    Xu Yi felt a bit relieved. Without Hunter''s Exorcism Artifact, they wouldn''t have found their way at all.


    In silence, none of them seemed in the mood to talk, all burdened with heavy thoughts.


    Everyone had come upon the same troubling question.


    Who had dug these tunnels? Experience new tales on empire


    With just her puppets, Mary Shaw could not have excavated such lengthy tunnels.


    More importantly, what was the Evil Spirit''s purpose in digging these tunnels?


    The more they thought about it, the more disturbing it seemed, and they could smell a faint stench of decay.


    As they delved deeper, Hunter and Laura''s faces turned increasingly grim, and Xu Yi grew tense as well.


    The tunnels were much more complex than they had imagined, with forks appearing one after another, some even branching off into six separate paths¡ªit was practically a labyrinth below.


    Just as they were about to give up, the space suddenly opened up, and they entered an underground area.


    The rock walls of this space were smooth, obviously not carved out but eroded by flowing water.


    Xu Yi thought of the suspended bridge in front of the old theater; the river below the bridge was now dry, but in the past, water surely flowed past the theater.


    There had once been a large lake behind the old theater, and it was very likely that this Underground Cavern was formed by past water erosion.


    As they stepped into the cavern, Xu Yi suddenly paused, swiftly turned on his flashlight, and shone it to the left.


    Xu Yi saw clearly what was hidden in the corner, drew in a sharp breath, and Hunter and Laura''s faces went pale.

 Chapter 50 The Turbulent Crowd of Puppets

    ```In the corner of the Dissolving Cave, bodies piled up like small mountains, and a faint stench of decay spread through the air. The clothing styles of the corpses varied greatly, not belonging to any single era.


    Xu Yi frowned and stared at the mass of corpses, feeling a strange and eerie sensation.


    "People go missing in this area from time to time, and the state government has sent investigators, but nothing was ever found. Now it seems Mary Shaw is behind this," Hunter said, his voice low as he gradually regained his strength.


    Experience tales with empire


    The way the bodies were stacked was peculiar; they all faced away from them, their faces obscured.


    Laura, driven by curiosity, turned one of the bodies over, and then jumped back in horror.


    The corpse''s face was fixed in a weird smile, their lower jaw had been sawed off and then reattached. The eyes in their sockets were not human eyes but glass beads.


    "These are... dolls? Mary Shaw has been making dolls!" Hunter''s voice trembled.


    Xu Yi finally understood why the scene felt so unsettling. If they were just normal corpses, they would have decayed and stank by now, some even turning into skeletons because of the passage of time.


    But the corpses in front of them were too well preserved; Mary Shaw had already turned them into dolls long ago.


    Xu Yi''s face suddenly turned pale as he realized a problem: If Mary Shaw could control puppets, then what about these human-sized dolls?


    "Run!" Xu Yi urged loudly as he saw one of the doll''s fingers move.


    Hunter and Laura also sensed something was wrong and turned to run, but it was too late. The corpses that had been turned into dolls were shakily standing up, each with the same eerie smile, staring directly at them.


    "There are more behind us!" Hunter exclaimed, hearing footsteps from behind.


    Xu Yi looked around and realized they had fallen into a trap, surrounded on all sides.


    "Get ready to break through!" Xu Yi fixed his flashlight to his waist.


    In such a dark underground space, without light, one would be very disadvantaged.


    A doll lunged at them, and Xu Yi kicked it in the chest, sending it flying several meters away.


    It wasn''t that Xu Yi had suddenly become incredibly strong; the dolls were much lighter than humans. It seemed Mary Shaw had emptied the corpses'' organs and used some unknown method to keep their bodies from decaying.


    The dolls weren''t very strong fighters, in fact, they were quite weak, but their sheer numbers were overwhelming, like a sea of bodies. And many of the dolls were armed with sharp weapons.


    The dense throng of dolls surged forward, and the three of them felt like small boats in a tsunami, at risk of capsizing at any moment. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ......


    Xu Yi, seeing that the annoying dolls had not followed, leaned against the wall for a brief rest.


    As the saying goes, "Even the best martial artist fears a kitchen knife," and these dolls not only carried weapons but fought en masse, which was shamelessly unfair.


    He was just a martial arts expert, not a hero who could strike down eighteen dragons with a single palm.


    He looked left and right but still saw no sign of Hunter and Laura.


    Faced with the tide of dolls, the three of them were scattered in an instant, running panickedly and heedlessly, with no concern for the others.


    Footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor, clearly the dolls were on their trail.


    "They just won''t leave us in peace!" Xu Yi cursed under his breath, stood up, and prepared to run again.


    Not running wasn''t an option. The dolls were unlike normal people, without obvious vulnerabilities; even if one pierced through a doll''s heart or gouged out its eyes, it wouldn''t be a fatal blow.


    On Xu Yi''s escape route, there was a "white streak," a trace of climbing chalk.


    The underground tunnel system was intricate and complex, so to avoid getting lost on their way back, they had sprinkled climbing chalk as they entered, which stood out against the dark tunnels.


    Xu Yi was relatively lucky; because he had reacted quickly and was highly skilled, he managed to fight his way back to the chalk-marked path.


    Hunter and Laura were not so fortunate and were probably wandering like headless flies in this underground labyrinth.


    Xu Yi got up and continued to flee, when suddenly a dark figure appeared in front of him on the road.


    ```


    His body tensed in an instant, he thought he was surrounded. When he saw clearly there was only one puppet, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Brother, did you fall behind too?" Xu Yi looked at the sluggish puppet, which seemed like a doddering old man, and an idea struck him; he stepped forward to greet it.


    He kept his eyes on the puppet''s throat, where there was a hole torn open. Through the gap, he could vaguely see a red device whirring inside.


    The red device seemed to be broken, as it moved jerkily, mirroring the puppet''s movements.


    The puppet "enthusiastically" responded to Xu Yi, brandishing a dagger and stabbing towards Xu Yi''s kidney area.


    "Brother, you''re really too kind; I don''t even know how to thank you," Xu Yi dodged the dagger by stepping aside and, with a kick, he knocked the puppet to the ground and snatched the dagger away.


    "It looks like your throat is damaged; let me fix it for you!" Xu Yi stabbed the puppet''s throat with the dagger, making the tear even larger.


    He reached into the throat and yanked out the red device.


    The device felt slimy, and Xu Yi finally realized what the deep red substance on it was¡ªit was a severed tongue, still wriggling ceaselessly.


    Xu Yi quickly threw away what was in his hand, a look of disgust on his face, and wiped his hand on his pants.


    After wriggling for a few seconds, the red tongue began to decay rapidly; it seemed it couldn''t survive apart from the puppet''s body. The puppet, that had been struggling just now, suddenly stopped moving and truly became a corpse.


    So the puppet''s weakness was here! Xu Yi''s eyes brightened at once.


    He kicked the puppet at his feet aside.


    A corpse should lie still, not run around. In "fixing up" the puppet to look like a corpse, Xu Yi thought the other side should be very grateful to him.


    Footsteps sounded, the puppet swarm chased up again. Xu Yi pulled out a large military knife from his pack; he wasn''t planning on hiding anymore.


    Being chased all the way, even a clay figure has its limits of tolerance, let alone a person!


    Now that he knew the enemy''s weakness, he certainly was not without the power to fight.


    He also thought of something else: if these puppets could bear Necromantic Spells, what about these puppets?


    Looking at the more than a hundred puppets in front of him, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.


    The swarm of puppets surged forward, Xu Yi stood with his knife in the shadowy corner, waiting for prey to come, then the fight would be ignited at once.


    As time ticked by, Xu Yi sat down on the ground, panting heavily, his back soaked with sweat.


    At his feet, puppets lay scattered, their "manner of death" all similar¡ªtheir throats slit, the devices underneath ripped out.


    Now that he knew the puppets'' weakness, it was much easier to deal with them. The tunnel was narrow and long; as long as he didn''t get surrounded, he could use a kite-flying tactic to gradually dismantle the puppet swarm.


    "What a waste of effort!" Xu Yi kicked the puppet beside him, feeling a bit frustrated and exasperated.


    The device under the throat was the puppet''s core; after being destroyed, the puppet couldn''t move, but it would quickly begin to rot and stink.


    This way, his plan to use these puppets to practice Necromantic Spells had gone bankrupt.


    Footsteps echoed from the end of the tunnel. Xu Yi scratched his head, feeling somewhat irritated. When would these puppets ever end?


    Just as he thought of getting up, Hunter''s figure flashed past and he sat back down again.


    The new group of puppets was drawn over by Hunter. It seemed that Hunter could still handle them; Xu Yi was too tired to move right now.


    "Come and help!" Hunter spotted Xu Yi at the corner, his face filled with excitement.


    "I''ll be right there! Hold on for a moment!" Xu Yi muttered softly.


    He didn''t care if Hunter had heard him or not, taking a few pieces of chocolate and a bottle of water from his pack, he started eating by himself.


    The intense exercise had drained too much energy, and he was getting a bit hungry now.

 Chapter 51 Mary Shaws Headquarters

    Xu Yi munched on chocolate, watching Hunter and the puppet''s combat, transforming himself into a member of the spectator crowd.Hunter held an Exorcism Artifact in his hand, but Xu Yi didn''t know whether to call it a dagger or a sword.


    It was a standard cross-shaped sword, slender and long-bladed with a hilt carved with exquisite florals, and a sky-blue gemstone embedded at the center of the guard, looking particularly fine.


    It was called a dagger because the Magic Artifact was very short, roughly only 30 centimeters long.


    Xu Yi stared at the Cross Dagger, his eyes full of covetousness.


    The puppet''s shell was not that fragile, but in front of the Cross Dagger, it was like paper mach¨¦, easily sliced open, even the bones inside were cut in two with a single stroke.


    Such a sharp dagger was truly a Divine weapon!


    Hunter stabbed the dagger into the puppet''s chest, but he didn''t pull it out immediately; he waited two seconds.


    When the dagger left the puppet''s chest, the puppet collapsed onto the ground like a deflated balloon.


    To deal with puppets, besides removing the device under their throats, one could also use an Exorcism Artifact.


    Xu Yi was well aware of this fact, but he only had a few Exorcism Lighters, with pitifully little external fuel, hardly sufficient to handle the puppets.


    "The efficiency is amazing!" Xu Yi envied fiercely; if he had such a dagger, he would have dealt with these puppets long ago.


    Not many puppets remained, and even if Xu Yi didn''t help, Hunter could handle them, but Xu Yi still quickly stuffed the last piece of chocolate into his mouth and got up to move forward.


    He could tell that Hunter was very anxious now.


    The two joined forces to deal with all the puppets, and before they had time to catch a breath, Hunter eagerly asked, "Have you seen Laura?"


    Xu Yi shook his head.


    Hunter paced back and forth with a pale face, "What to do now? Laura only has one spare Exorcism Artifact; all the others are with me. I should''ve split the box into two, it''s all the fault of the stubborn old folks in the family!" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi listened quietly; it wasn''t a good time for him to express his opinion.


    After a few seconds of hesitation, Hunter suddenly looked up at Xu Yi, "I am planning to go back and look for Laura. Can you help me? I know you want that painting; after we find Laura, I will give it to you."


    "Actually, I just wanted to borrow it to make a copy." Xu Yi chose to be honest.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t want another Exorcism Artifact, but he had an unpleasant premonition that Laura might already be in trouble.


    If they ended up finding Laura''s body, and Hunter felt compelled to keep his promise and give him the painting, it was highly likely that what he would receive wasn''t gratitude but resentment.


    Why bother with such a thankless task?


    Hunter was stunned for a moment, then he placed the metal box flat on the ground and opened it, retrieving the painting from inside and thrusting it into Xu Yi''s hands.


    "I am lending you the painting, and I hope you can help me find Laura!"


    This time, Xu Yi didn''t refuse and nodded his head.


    They set off again heading deeper into the tunnel, planning to return to that Dissolving Cave from before where they hoped to find some clues.


    Taking advantage of this brief respite, Xu Yi began to examine the painting in his hands.


    Truly a masterpiece, he was captivated from the first glance.


    The painting depicted an Angel slaying a Demon, employing a style that was not purely realistic but included some abstract elements.


    Yet it was this approach that made the scene burst with an intense Vitality.


    The painting seemed to come alive, with the Angel holding up the golden Holy Sword, piercing through the Demon''s wings.


    Xu Yi felt as if he could smell the scent of the Demon''s blood, feeling the searing radiance of the Holy Sword.


    He subconsciously took out his sketchbook from his backpack, intending to copy the scene, but after only few strokes, he was interrupted¡­ A group of Puppets came pouring out from the end of the passage.


    The Puppets did not cause much trouble for the two of them. After disposing of the Puppets, they continued on.


    Moments later, they returned to the Underground Cavern.


    The cavern was empty, not only was Laura not there, the Puppets had also vanished.


    "Looking at the footprints on the ground, some extend in that direction, it''s very likely the way Laura fled," Xu Yi squatted down to examine the ground.


    Hunter, without a word, chased after the direction of the footprints.


    The surroundings of the Dissolving Cave connected to passageways of all sizes; they followed the footprints into one of them, and Hunter''s golden bell suddenly shook violently.


    Xu Yi glanced at Hunter, whose complexion had turned even paler, evidently realizing something.


    Hunter quickened his pace, almost breaking into a run.


    There were still many side passages ahead, but Hunter followed the direction indicated by the golden bell in silence. Meanwhile, Xu Yi observed the footprints on the ground, which matched the direction indicated by the golden bell.


    The golden bell suddenly rang incessantly, halting both men. Xu Yi turned off the bright flashlight, as there was no need for it momentarily.


    Before them appeared another cave, smaller than the previous one, with walls adorned with densely packed kerosene lamps, illuminating the entire cave.


    The cave''s walls had been carved into grid-like spaces of various sizes, each holding differently shaped Puppets, one of which Xu Yi had seen before¡ªit was the same Puppet that had attacked Hunter and Laura.


    Xu Yi quickly counted the number of Puppets; if nothing was amiss, all of Mary Shaw''s Puppets were here.


    Mary Shaw''s lair had been found!


    Hunter''s pupils shrank suddenly, fixating on something above. Ropes crisscrossed overhead and a human figure dangled from them.


    "Laura!" Hunter called out in urgency.


    There was no answer. Laura''s body swayed with the ropes, it was unknown whether she was unconscious or already dead.


    Anxious, Hunter headed straight towards Laura.


    "Be careful!" Xu Yi warned, following him.


    The kerosene lamps on the wall suddenly started to swing, causing the light to flicker on and off. Xu Yi quickly turned on the strong flashlight, brightening the whole space.


    Puppets flanked the corridor as they walked through.


    The creaking sound of turning began, and the Puppets'' heads followed their footsteps, turning as they did. Xu Yi felt the Puppets'' gaze upon him, the hairs on his body standing on end.


    Hunter''s face was even paler; had it not been for Laura ahead, he might have already started to retreat.


    All of the Puppets'' mouths suddenly began to open and close continuously, clacking together and emitting a "thump thump" sound, as if they were shrieking with laughter.


    "Be careful!" Xu Yi barked a warning, feeling a surge of chilling eeriness about to engulf them like a tsunami.


    All of the Puppets'' mouths opened to their fullest, blood-stained, stitched tongues spewed out like Spears lunging at them.


    Xu Yi felt a familiar surge; he had experienced it once before at the hotel. It was Mary Shaw''s Aura of Fear.


    Before it had been just one Puppet, but now there were dozens. The effect was amplified by several times, and Xu Yi''s heart began to jump uncontrollably.


    Hunter''s condition was terrible to the extreme, shaking uncontrollably, his face so pale it was devoid of color, as if he might collapse at any second from his heart bursting.

 Chapter 52 Unspeakable Gaze

    The sky was filled with sweeping, sutured tongues, and Xu Yi smelled a strong odor of decay.The sutured tongues before him were different from those he encountered in the hotel; the ones in the hotel were just hallucinations, but the ones before him were real.


    A huge wave of fear was spreading, but Xu Yi could just manage to hold on, thanks to the entry "As Brave as a Barrel."


    But Hunter wasn''t so lucky. He was gasping for air, veins throbbing on his face, as if he would be crushed by fear at the next second.


    However, after glancing at Laura, who was hanging from the ropes, he mustered his strength to open the metal box and took out the bronze kerosene lamp.


    "May the glory of Lopez protect us!" Hunter murmured softly.


    The kerosene lamp was semi-hollow. Through the openwork carvings of vines, the fuel inside could be seen.


    Xu Yi was certain that it was not ordinary kerosene; the purple-red gel substance inside was flowing, emitting an indescribable fluctuation.


    Hunter held the lamp''s handle tightly, his grip so firm that blood seeped through the gaps in his fingers.


    This lamp wasn''t made for ordinary people to use; there were spikes on the handle that pierced through Hunter''s palm.


    Blood trickled down the handle but didn''t drip to the ground; all of Hunter''s blood was being absorbed by the base of the lamp.


    The bronze lamp ignited without fire. A purple flame rose, its light enveloping Hunter and Xu Yi,


    The sutured tongues shooting out from the puppets couldn''t penetrate the light. It was as if the light had created a barrier; the fear on Hunter''s face began to subside, and Xu Yi could sense that Mary Shaw''s "Aura of Fear" was being kept at bay.


    Holding the bronze lamp, Hunter moved step by step towards Laura; the sutured tongues, afraid of the light, actively avoided it.


    Xu Yi examined the purple flame curiously. This flame''s ability was somewhat similar to the "Ethereal Flame," but it was clearly more powerful, and the side effects were greater.


    Hunter''s face turned even paler, and he was panting heavily after every step; his calves were shaking. Xu Yi quickly stepped in to support Hunter.


    A sharp whistling of a bone whistle suddenly resounded. Xu Yi felt the noise penetrating his skin and bones, burrowing into his brain, causing dizziness. Hunter began to retch.


    They exchanged glances, sharing a dreadful premonition.


    Amid the sound of the bone whistle, the sutured tongues started to break off from the puppets'' mouths, falling to the ground. They didn''t die but instead wriggled forward like red snakes.


    All the sutured tongues gathered together in front of Hunter.


    As the black threads that had been sewing the tongues unraveled, they intertwined with each other like red worms, gradually forming a massive humanoid shape.


    Xu Yi felt as if he had fallen into a swamp, beset by surging malevolent thoughts.


    With each step the tongue creature took, the ground shook violently. Its speed increased as it charged towards Xu Yi and Hunter.


    "Be careful!" Xu Yi roared, pulling the weakened Hunter to the side.


    The monster''s fist slammed down, leaving a deep pit where Hunter had just been. Hunter''s back was drenched with cold sweat; if not for Xu Yi pulling him away, he might have been smashed into a pulp.


    Xu Yi threw his large military knife, striking the monster accurately in the chest. The creature tore the knife out and tossed it aside carelessly.


    Before the knife even hit the ground, the wound on the monster''s chest had already healed.


    "Should we retreat for now?" Xu Yi thought, his tongue in cheek. How were they supposed to fight this thing?


    This evil spirit, Mary Shaw, was not normal. No common evil spirit could possess such abilities.


    "No!" Hunter, looking at Laura whose fate was uncertain, shook his head with determination. He glanced at the bronze lamp in his hand and, with a final grit of his teeth, made a decision.


    Hunter opened the base of the bronze lamp, which concealed a knob beneath it. Xu Yi instantly understood Hunter''s idea, for he had a similar mechanism on his Exorcism Lighter.


    As the hidden knob turned, a purple flame was drawn into the bronze lamp''s interior. At that moment, the bronze lamp had effectively become an Incendiary Bomb.


    Hunter hurled the bronze lamp forcefully, creating an arc in the air as it struck the tongue monster.


    The bronze lamp exploded with a bang, splattering the creature with dark purple fuel and igniting in intense flames.


    The writhing tongues fell in masses to the ground, like salted leeches, baring the creature''s chest. Xu Yi immediately spotted the monster''s "heart."


    It was a tumorous growth, pulsating continuously. Through his Spiritual Power, he could sense the dense resentment that was so potent it seemed black. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hunter murmured spells that Xu Yi could not understand in a rushed and urgent tone, pushing his fatigued body to charge at the monster.


    As he came close to the tumorous heart, the spellcasting reached its final phase.


    "Those unclean in all realms, may you rest beneath this sword!" he roared, raising the dagger high above.


    Blinding white light erupted from the dagger, now the magic artifact powered by the spell, unleashing its greatest might.


    The exorcism dagger descended, set to pierce through the tumorous heart and dissolve the creature before them.


    But Hunter suddenly stopped in his tracks, his pupils revealing an intense terror.


    He collapsed softly to the ground, drained of all strength, unable to move even a bit.


    From where Hunter lay, he could perfectly see Laura suspended in the air. Remorse painted his face, regretting his weakness, blaming himself for failing to save Laura.


    Just as he succumbed to despair, a hand reached out from behind him.


    "Let me do this!" Xu Yi took a step forward, snatching the dagger from Hunter''s hand, and charged toward the tumorous heart.


    Hunter, as a scion of the Lopez family, always harbored a sense of pride, thinking that independent exorcists like Xu Yi were mere peasants.


    But now, he thought Xu Yi looked incredibly heroic!


    Xu Yi''s advancing figure suddenly faltered; he understood why Hunter had fallen¡ªthe tongue monster was surrounded by a powerful Aura of Fear, stronger than any they had encountered before.


    Xu Yi clenched his teeth and moved forward, pushing the "As Brave as a Barrel" ability to its limit.


    He swung the dagger, its sharp blade ready to pierce the tumorous heart.


    At that moment, the tumorous heart split open, revealing a blood-red pupil that coldly stared at Xu Yi, devoid of any emotion.


    Xu Yi''s heart skipped a beat, his hand holding the dagger unable to advance further.


    He sensed that stare, not from the blood-red pupil in front of him, but from a presence high in the endless sky¡ªan indescribable, unbearable, inescapable presence... He instantly lost control of his body.


    Mary Shaw was indeed not normal. Even if she had been a common Evil Spirit, the indescribable gift she received had made her elusive.


    Suddenly, delirious words invaded his ears, chaotic, unclean, corrupted... Xu Yi felt his soul gradually sinking into darkness.


    At that moment, the necklace on his chest erupted into a brilliant golden light.


    Having sensed something amiss earlier, Xu Yi had already put on the necklace of a bloodstained shard he took from the box wrapped in Pagoda Tree Wood bark.


    The bloodstain on the glass shard ignited, and the golden Ethereal Flame chased away the indescribable stare, returning control of his body to Xu Yi.


    He gripped the dagger tighter and with a forceful slash, he pierced through the tumorous heart.

 Chapter 53 Eyes of Obscurity

    The tumor heart suddenly exploded, and those writhing red tongues instantly lost their vitality, falling to the ground in swathes.The purple flames devoured them, and the blood-red tongues turned to ashes in the fire.


    Xu Yi checked his necklace pendant with distress, the bloodstains on the glass shards inside the metal vial had disappeared without a trace.


    These glass shards no longer possessed any mystical attributes, he now had only three pieces of bloodstained shards left.


    Suddenly, a system prompt sounded in his ear, a sound that Xu Yi found particularly pleasing.


    [Entry Devouring has been triggered, devouring in progress¡­]


    [Congratulations on acquiring a Blank Entry: Eyes of Obscurity (Green Rare)]


    A green item, it was actually a green item! Xu Yi was a bit excited; he finally possessed a green item.


    [Eyes of Obscurity: 0/100 (All abilities are in a non-usable state)]


    Ability 1 - Visual Enhancement:


    Vision is enhanced, allowing one to see more minute and distant objects.


    Ability 2 - Night Vision:


    Enables one to see in the dark.


    Ability 3 - Supra-dynamic Vision:


    Allows one to see objects moving at high speeds clearly.


    Ability 4 - Fog of Obscurity


    Your eyes can store Fog of Obscurity, which can be released and manipulated when necessary.


    ]


    After accepting the entry information, Xu Yi''s eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    Each ability of the green item was very practical, but the method of gaining experience had become more stringent; it now required the absorption of "Fog of Obscurity."


    Where would the Fog of Obscurity come from?


    Only upon strong demons would the Fog of Obscurity be born.


    Were the things of demons so easy to absorb? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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    "Things will work out by themselves when the time comes!" Xu Yi could only comfort himself in this way.


    While there was still time, Hunter had already rushed beneath Laura, letting down the rope; he trembled as he reached out his hand and placed it near Laura''s nostrils.


    Feeling the faint breath on his fingertip, Hunter let out a heavy sigh of relief, vividly illustrating the meaning of "a load off one''s mind."


    "I''m going to take Laura to the hospital first, and I''ll leave the rest to you," Hunter finally showed a smile on his face.


    Laura hadn''t died! Xu Yi was a bit surprised, but he didn''t say much, as someone not dying was ultimately a good thing.


    "Leave the puppets to me!" Xu Yi readily agreed.


    He could no longer feel Mary Shaw''s presence, and the system had already initiated Entry Devouring, but to be safe, these puppets still needed to be dealt with.


    The usual method was to burn them with fire, but Xu Yi had a better idea; these puppets were enough to greatly increase the experience for Necromantic Spells and might even trigger the direct emergence of an entry.


    With that thought, Xu Yi felt a surge of excitement.


    Hunter hoisted Laura on his back and nodded at Xu Yi as he passed by, a form of greeting.


    Xu Yi glanced at Laura who was still unconscious, her face pale and devoid of any color, a state which indeed called for an urgent trip to the hospital.


    But for some reason, Xu Yi felt something odd about Laura. He didn''t have the chance to observe closely, as Hunter was already hastily carrying Laura away.


    Now alone in the dissolving cave, Xu Yi found himself relaxing at last.


    He first collected the puppets, all 62 of them, every doll created by Mary Shaw was here.


    He took out a rope from his backpack and strung the dolls together, making them easier to carry out later.


    After all this, Xu Yi felt a bit tired and leaned against the wall to rest.


    The underground cavern looked eerily creepy, with the ashes of the tongue monster still lingering on the ground. The environment was particularly unsettling, but unfortunately, Xu Yi had long since grown accustomed to it, even finding the quiet setting somewhat pleasant.


    Having battled with over a hundred dolls and dealt with that terrifying tongue monster, he was utterly exhausted and just wanted to sit without moving.


    But sitting idly was too boring, so he took out that drawing from his backpack.


    Although it was the second time he had seen it, he was still stunned by the artist''s masterful skill. He gleaned many painting essentials and felt an itch to paint himself.


    He subconsciously took out his sketchbook and began to replicate the drawing on its pages.


    Once he started, he became engrossed, losing all sense of time. He didn''t know how much time had passed when he flipped through the sketchbook and found himself at the last page unexpectedly.


    He clearly remembered that the sketchbook was new, only about a dozen pages had been used, the majority remained untouched.


    "Did I really draw that much?" Xu Yi flipped through the pages, which were dense with drawings, every single one filled to the brim.


    He must have entered the "flow state."


    Under this state, his concentration was intense, and he became completely unaware of the passage of time, which was highly beneficial for learning.


    [Painter Entry Experience +9, Current Progress: 100/100.]


    Xu Yi''s mind suddenly jolted as numerous paintings flashed through his thoughts, masterpieces he had once appraised and even replicated, the remnants of masters.


    The lines on the canvases began to dance as if they had come to life, revealing to Xu Yi the secrets of painting... Xu Yi found himself amidst a sea of lines, undergoing a baptism.


    A moment later, Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes, staring at an exorcism portrait.


    He was confident that if he were to replicate it again, he could at least capture seventy to eighty percent of its essence, knowing that it was a master''s labor of love.


    But more than drawing, Xu Yi was focused on another matter¡ªthe entries for becoming a Psychic Painter had finally come together!


    [Detected that "Psychic Painter" meets the fusion conditions, proceed with the fusion?]


    Xu Yi rubbed his hands together, unhesitatingly choosing to agree. He had been anticipating this moment for a long time.


    A phantom furnace suddenly appeared before him, flames rising in its center.


    Three gemstones fell, each inscribed with the words "Psychic," "Scholar," and "Painter," plunging into the furnace.


    The gemstones representing the entries melted in the flames but did not immediately fuse.


    [Detected you have a fusion pathway: "Psychic Painter=Psychic+Painter+Scholar," inject into this fusion? (After fusion, this pathway will no longer be available.)]


    The fusion pathway was also a kind of "material"! This was unexpected for Xu Yi.


    The system''s prompt was simple, meaning that even if he collected the "Psychic," "Scholar," and "Painter" maxed-out entries again, he wouldn''t be able to create a Psychic Painter unless he found that fusion pathway again.


    He thought for a moment and understood the system''s intention.


    It was to prevent the exploitation of bugs and the mass creation of high-level entries.


    After all, once entries are fused together, they can be reset, with the experience bar returning to zero, as with his Scholar Entry.


    [Scholar Entry: Current Progress: 0/100.]


    A key suddenly appeared above the furnace, slowly inserting itself into a keyhole at the top of the furnace.


    As the key turned, the furnace spun along, picking up speed, and the liquefied gemstones began to merge.


    When the furnace''s rotation reached its peak, a dazzling green light suddenly burst forth.


    [Pathway Fusion! You have gained "Psychic Painter (100/100)."]


    Xu Yi clenched his fists, his speculation was spot on¡ªthe entry post-fusion was indeed full-value and required no further experience grinding.

 Chapter 54 Unexpected Changes

    ```[Psychic Painter: (Green Rare)] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ability 1 - Psychic Drawing:


    When you activate your spiritual power and draw at the same time, the paintings you create will reveal more secretive information.


    Ability 2 - Exorcism Portrait:


    When you focus intently on painting, there is a certain chance (30%~80%) of creating a portrait with exorcistic powers.


    Ability 3 - Judgment: (This ability is used in conjunction with Ability 1.)


    Prayer: "Thy soul is sealed within this painting, I, the ruler of the canvas... now bestow upon thee the judgment."


    ]


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up when he saw the description for "Ability 2 - Exorcism Portrait."


    Operating an Exorcism Studio, if one were to only accept exorcism commissions, the business would be too monotonous.


    Now with the ability to create Exorcism Portraits, he could continuously produce exorcism artifacts for sale, adding a steady and long-term income stream for the studio.


    If large portraits could exorcise spirits, what about those palm-sized ones? Could they also perform exorcisms?


    This could be America''s version of the "Talisman."


    What if he painted it on those Peace Talismans... Xu Yi had many ideas popping up in his head, but alas, he lacked the materials to verify them.


    Xu Yi flipped to the last page of his sketchbook, which had one blank page left.


    He was now urgently eager to test the ability of "Psychic Drawing."


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    As he activated his spiritual power, the brush began to move across the blank paper.


    Xu Yi entered a strange state. Although his attention was not on the act of painting, his hand continued unabated, as if his mind and hand had their own agendas.


    He didn''t know how long it had been when he emerged from that strange state; the blank paper now bore a lifelike painting.


    "Truly amazing," Xu Yi whispered in wonder, but he suddenly widened his eyes, fixating on the picture in his hand.


    The painting was of Laura!


    Unlike the silent and reserved Laura he remembered, the Laura in the painting wore a sinister smile... Xu Yi felt that smile looked familiar, as though he had seen it somewhere before.


    "It''s just like... Mary Shaw!" Xu Yi startled himself with the thought.


    Impossible! Mary Shaw was dead, and the system had already initiated Entry Swallowing! Xu Yi tried to reassure himself.


    But instead of feeling relieved, the sense of foreboding in his heart grew stronger.


    He suddenly thought of something, sprang up from the ground, and dashed to the end of the Dissolving Cave.


    At the end of the cave was a stone table, caked with a thick layer of dried blood. Below the table were heaps of bizarre tools, some still smeared with fresh blood stains.


    Beside the stone table, he found an iron bucket containing a burned book.


    Perhaps because it was burned in haste, the book wasn''t entirely consumed, and some pages remained. Xu Yi hastily took it out and flipped through the remaining pages.


    There was little content left. However, as Xu Yi looked back and forth, he discovered a few key entries.


    "Evil God," "sacrifice," "perfect doll"!


    Xu Yi''s gaze fixed on the words "perfect doll," and he was truly alarmed.


    Although he didn''t fully understand the meaning of the term, a terrifying conjecture surfaced in his mind.


    "This is bad! Hunter!"


    ```


    Xu Yi paid no mind to the puppet on the ground and dashed straight for the outside.


    The car that had been parked outside the old theater was gone, and Xu Yi didn''t find it strange, since Hunter had to take Laura to the hospital, he naturally needed to drive the car away.


    Hunter''s plan, presumably, was to first get Laura settled at the hospital and then come back for him.


    Xu Yi was inwardly anxious, well aware that in this remote wilderness, it was impossible to find a vehicle; to think of catching up with a car on foot was sheer fantasy.


    If only he had known to bring an extra car with him earlier!


    Just then, two bright lights shone from the distance, and Xu Yi could scarcely believe his eyes.


    Could it be that heaven had heard his plea and sent a car to pick him up?


    The car stopped in front of him, and seeing the familiar Ford, Xu Yi felt a surge of emotion swell to the point of tears.


    "Ailent, how come you''re here?"


    Xu Yi looked at Ailent in the driver''s seat, feeling as if the man was shining.


    "Actually, I never went far, just living on the outskirts of this development zone. In the evening, I happened to encounter the evacuating hotel staff and thought, if the boss needed a car, what would he do? So I drove over here!" Ailent replied.


    "You couldn''t have come at a better time!" Xu Yi exclaimed, plopping down into the passenger seat.


    "Glad I could help the boss! I actually went to the hotel first, didn''t dare enter, just watched from a distance, and after seeing no sign of activity at the hotel, I drove here," Ailent explained.


    "Did you see a car when you arrived?" Xu Yi asked urgently.


    Ailent shook his head.


    Xu Yi''s heart sank, knowing that Hunter had been gone for a significant amount of time and if his suspicion was true, then perhaps...


    "See those tire tracks on the ground? We follow them! We need to be fast!" Xu Yi knew now he could only do his best and leave the rest to fate.


    "Right on! Hold tight, boss!"


    Ailent slammed down on the accelerator, the engine roared, and the Ford car shot out like a fierce beast, kicking up a cloud of sand half a person high.


    The road was very bumpy, and they were going fast; Xu Yi felt like his guts were going to shake out of him, but right now he couldn''t worry about that.


    After chasing the tire tracks for over ten minutes, Ailent suddenly slammed on the brakes and swerved the steering wheel hard. Thankfully, Xu Yi was wearing a seatbelt, otherwise, he would have definitely been thrown out.


    "What happened?" Xu Yi asked.


    "There''s someone! There''s someone up ahead!" Ailent wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, still startled.


    He never expected to come across someone lying on the ground in such a desolate area; he had almost run them over with the car.


    Upon hearing there was someone, Xu Yi felt a bad premonition and pushed open the car door, rushing over.


    "Hunter!" Xu Yi recognized the person lying on the road ahead and cried out in alarm.


    Hunter lay on the sandy ground with his shirt already stained red with blood. Initially unconscious, Hunter seemed to be roused by the noise of the car and slowly opened his eyes.


    "Xu... Xu Yi? I didn''t expect to see you again!" A smile curled on Hunter''s lips as he saw Xu Yi.


    "What the hell happened? Weren''t you taking Laura to the hospital?" Xu Yi crouched before Hunter, checking his wounds.


    There weren''t many wounds on Hunter''s body, but one was over the heart, most likely pierced by a blade.


    Xu Yi was taken aback; a wound through the heart would have chilled an ordinary person long ago, yet Hunter could still speak.


    "Don''t bother, I''m beyond saving," Hunter said, loosening his grip on a bottle whose contents he had already drained.


    "I drank unicorn blood, barely managing to live a few more minutes..." Hunter grabbed Xu Yi''s hand tightly, staring earnestly into his eyes, "Help me! Find Laura for me!"

 Chapter 55 Judgment!

    Xu Yi fell silent upon hearing Hunter''s words; his worst fears had indeed come to pass."On the way to the hospital, Laura suddenly woke up. I was surprised at the time and quickly stopped the car to check on her,"


    Hunter narrated intermittently, "Laura hugged me then, and I didn''t suspect anything, thinking she was just scared. But now that I think about it, that behavior wasn''t like Laura at all."


    A flash of pain passed through Hunter''s eyes, "You probably guess what happened next. Laura attacked me with a dagger she had hidden and pierced my heart."


    "That wasn''t Laura! The Evil Spirit has transformed Laura''s body into a perfect doll, and now, it''s Mary Shaw that''s controlling that shell."


    After hesitating for two seconds, Xu Yi still chose to tell Hunter the truth.


    "So that''s how it is! No wonder I never noticed anything odd, Laura had long been dead," Hunter said with a bitter smile, nodding as the last glimmer in his pupils faded. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If it had just been a case of possession by an Evil Spirit, there might have been a chance for Laura to live on.


    But he knew Xu Yi wasn''t lying to him; he had been pondering this very issue since he had been gravely injured. Now hearing Xu Yi''s explanation, he suddenly understood everything.


    Hunter suddenly lifted his head, locking eyes with Xu Yi, "In that case, I beg you to help kill Mary Shaw! Laura is already dead, I don''t want her body to continue being manipulated by Mary Shaw."


    Before Xu Yi could reply, Hunter reached into his bosom and took out a dagger, the same one used to slay the long-tongued creature.


    Hunter pushed the dagger into Xu Yi''s hand, "This is the Dagger of Rest, and on behalf of the Lopez family, I am giving it to you!"


    ......


    The Ford car started again, the atmosphere inside was heavy, and neither Xu Yi nor Ailent felt like talking.


    After Hunter gave his final instructions, his body rapidly grew cold, and within a few seconds, livor mortis appeared on his skin''s surface.


    The unicorn''s blood had only allowed Hunter to hold on for a moment; it couldn''t heal his wounds, and as soon as the effect wore off, Hunter would die instantaneously.


    Hunter''s right hand had been severed, and the Lopez family''s Exorcism Box had been stolen as well.


    Previously, when dealing with the tongue monster, Hunter had taken the Dagger of Rest out of the Exorcism Box and casually stuffed the unicorn''s blood into his chest.


    After dealing with the monster, Hunter was in a hurry to take Laura to the hospital and didn''t have time to put the items back into the box.


    If it weren''t for this, Hunter wouldn''t have had any unicorn blood on him and wouldn''t have had the chance to say his last words.


    Xu Yi drew out the Dagger of Rest from its scabbard, examining it closely.


    Without a doubt, it was a powerful Exorcism Artifact, ancient yet delicate.


    According to Hunter, if Xu Yi could kill Mary Shaw and recover the Lopez family''s Exorcism Box, the dagger would be his reward.


    As for the spell to activate the dagger, Hunter had already told Xu Yi.


    "This road... something seems off about it!" Ailent spoke up, his brows furrowed as he looked in the direction of the tire tracks.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "This way, I remember there''s only a small dock," Ailent replied softly.


    Xu Yi''s pupils suddenly dilated, "Not good! Mary Shaw is trying to escape by sea!"


    The reason Mary Shaw chose to leave the old theater now was likely because she had mastered the "perfect doll" ability.


    With this ability, she could easily hide herself upon reaching any location.


    Therefore, the only chance was to find her before she could slip into the vast sea.


    Otherwise, with the sea so broad, if Mary Shaw randomly picked a place to land, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.


    Thinking this, Xu Yi urged repeatedly, "Quick! Drive faster!"


    His heart was urgent, not for the reward of the Dagger of Rest, nor was it for avenging Hunter.


    It was because... now was the best time to deal with Mary Shaw!


    He had realized that the tongue monster in the Underground Cavern must be an avatar of Mary Shaw, but not just any avatar, most likely the incarnation of her Origin.


    Losing such an avatar, Mary Shaw would certainly be very weak.


    Otherwise, what she would have done was not to flee, but to head back to the theater to take care of him on the way out.


    "Buckle up!" Allen also realized the urgency of the situation, his eyes gradually sharpening as he stomped the gas pedal to the floor.


    He was all in too, ready to just get a new car after this trip.


    The old Ford in Ailent''s hands seemed to turn into a fighter jet, Xu Yi even suspected that before they could catch up to Mary Shaw, they might end up in a car crash.


    "Old... Old Allen! Where did you learn to drive like this?" Xu Yi was jostled until he felt like throwing up.


    "Didn''t I tell you? Before I was a real estate agent, I was a taxi driver, known as the ''racing god of Queens, New York''." Ailent grew more and more excited as he drove, seeming to be reliving his past passion.


    "You never mentioned, and I had no idea my agent was so talented!" Xu Yi muttered to himself.


    With the Goddess of Luck on Xu Yi''s side, they arrived at the small dock before their car fell to pieces.


    "There''s a smell of blood!" As Xu Yi approached the dock, he sensed something was off.


    In front of them was just a small dock, most of the boats had gone out to sea, leaving only a few small fishing boats moored at the dock. The workers responsible for guarding the dock lay in pools of blood, their fatal wounds inflicted by blades piercing their hearts.


    Xu Yi and Allen came to a simultaneous halt and looked towards the sea.


    There floated a boat with Xu Yi''s "long sought after" Laura on it, no, more accurately, it should be Mary Shaw.


    Despite the delays, they finally caught up with Mary Shaw before she could leave!


    Mary Shaw was trying to start the fishing boat''s engine, maybe because it had been too long since she had used one, it took her a while to finally get the engine to ignite successfully.


    As the engine roared, Mary Shaw looked up at Xu Yi with a smile playing at the corner of her mouth.


    "Damn it! The old witch has sabotaged the other boats'' engines!" Allen cursed in frustration after a quick check.


    Xu Yi nodded, acknowledging the situation.


    He stood at the edge of the dock, quietly watching Mary Shaw.


    Allen was puzzled, knowing Xu Yi wasn''t one to give up easily, why was he just standing there?


    The motorized boats were out of commission, but there were still some sailboats that could be rowed by hand.


    The difficulty of catching up with the other boat using a sailboat was no less than chasing a motorcycle with a bicycle ¡ª extremely slim chances, but surely better than just standing there doing nothing?


    Mary Shaw waved at Xu Yi, a mocking smile on her lips.


    "That''s way too arrogant! Boss, can you stand this?" Allen tried to ignite Xu Yi''s fighting spirit.


    Xu Yi ignored Allen, busying himself with pulling out a sketchbook from his backpack, flipping to the last page, which bore Laura''s portrait.


    He murmured a prayer: "Thy soul is sealed within the painting, I am king of the painting, I command fate, I hold life, nobody escapes my palm, nobody avoids my gaze..."


    The prayer grew louder and louder, Mary Shaw realizing something, her face paling as she rushed to start the fishing boat.


    "... I hold dominion over thy fate, thy life and death, here and now, in this place, I shall administer the Judgment upon thee."


    Xu Yi raised the dagger in his hand, the Dagger of Rest that Hunter had given him.


    The dagger traced an arc through the air, piercing precisely through Laura in the painting.

 Chapter 56 Puppet Master

    Mary Shaw''s heart suddenly ached sharply, and as an evil spirit, she hadn''t felt this in a long time.Her soul was parasitic within the perfect puppet, and since it was a "perfect puppet," naturally it meant that she had to endure some of the minor flaws of a human body.


    Mary Shaw ignored the sudden pain in her heart.


    Not to mention just the pain, even if her heart exploded, it would only mean spending more effort to switch to another body.


    But her complexion suddenly changed, turning deathly pale in a moment.


    She found herself unable to move as if an invisible spear had pierced through her body, nailing her in place.


    Xu Yi saw the panicked Mary Shaw and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.


    The Psychic Painter''s ability was even more useful than he had imagined.


    What he had just used was the Psychic Painter''s ultimate ability, the "Judgment" that Xu Yi referred to as his ultimate move!


    Judgment had to be used in conjunction with the psychic drawing, making it a combination move.


    "Boss! This is the new exorcism technique you''ve mastered!" Ailent, who was nearly in his forties, was so excited by Xu Yi''s prayer that he was boiling with enthusiasm.


    This move, Judgment, didn''t actually require the recitation of prayers to be used, though its power would be slightly reduced.


    After using it, Xu Yi had also figured out the true nature of the prayers.


    It wasn''t that those words had any kind of magic power, but rather, through the act of prayer itself, one''s inner spirit communication ability was harnessed to maximize its power.


    However, he had to admit one thing¡ªthe prayer words did have some style to them.


    Xu Yi took out the Exorcism Lighter, opened the bottom cover, twisted the hidden mechanism, and turned the lighter into a "Molotov Cocktail."


    Having witnessed Hunter''s bronze lamp, he felt that this kind of usage seemed quite common in the Exorcism World.


    "Rest in eternal sleep!" Xu Yi threw the Exorcism Lighter in his hand.


    The Exorcism Lighter, flickering with flames, spun towards Mary Shaw. Mary Shaw''s face was filled with horror as she discovered that she couldn''t transfer her soul.


    It was as if an invisible chain was locking her soul firmly inside this body.


    In other words, if this body were burned, she would die as well.


    "No!" Mary Shaw roared in anger, trying to struggle, but all her efforts were in vain.


    The Exorcism Lighter landed on Mary Shaw and exploded with a bang, the pale gold flames instantly enveloping her body.


    Thick black mist rose from Mary Shaw, trying to resist the ethereal flames, but soon the mist dissipated, and the flames consumed Mary Shaw.


    Mary Shaw screamed in agony, but she still couldn''t move her feet, as if she were a statue being burned to nothing.


    The flames gradually died down, and the body, like collapsing embers, shattered into dust on the ship.


    Xu Yi no longer felt the presence of Mary Shaw; this time, Mary Shaw was truly dead.


    Indeed, the death of Mary Shaw was just that natural, just that "common."


    Mary Shaw was already at the end of her strength, and Xu Yi''s ability of Judgment just happened to restrain her. If it had taken Xu Yi a great deal of effort to deal with her, he might have doubted whether he was too weak.


    "You''ll be credited with the first merit for this successful exorcism!" Xu Yi patted Ailent on the shoulder.


    "What merit could I have, I only drove the car," said Ailent, a bit puzzled.


    Xu Yi wasn''t just comforting Ailent; he was speaking the truth.


    To launch Judgment, the target had to be within a certain range.


    If it weren''t for Ailent''s superb driving skills, recklessly chasing, Mary Shaw would have surely escaped long ago.


    [Entry Devouring activated, devouring in progress...]


    [Congratulations on obtaining a Blank Entry: Puppet Master (White Epic)] sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Congratulations on obtaining Entry Synthesis Path: Curse Puppet Master = Necromantic Spells + Puppet Master + Sculptor]


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up instantly. Compared to the other synthesis path, "Enchantment Imprinter = Necromantic Spells + Sculptor + Soul Nurturing Technique,"


    the Curse Puppet Master seemed even more promising!


    He already had "Necromantic Spells" and "Puppet Master"; all that was missing was the final "Sculptor," which seemed a lot more reliable than the Enchantment Imprinter.


    "Let''s go! Find a small boat."


    Xu Yi and Ailent jumped into a small boat, rowing towards Mary Shaw''s boat.


    The Ethereal Flame was very peculiar; after burning the evil spirit to ashes, it extinguished itself, and Mary Shaw''s boat was not badly damaged.


    "This thing is a hot potato too!" Xu Yi found the Lopez family''s Exorcism Treasure Chest on the boat.


    According to Hunter''s instructions, the chest needed to be delivered to the Warrens, who would know how to handle it.


    The Warrens, huh? Xu Yi mused internally.


    He had heard of this renowned pair of exorcists before and never expected to be in contact with them so soon.


    He definitely had to send the chest away. Although a whole chest of Exorcism Artifacts was tempting, Xu Yi was well aware that keeping it for himself would only lead to a myriad of problems.


    The Lopez family would not just let it slide.


    On the contrary, by returning the chest proactively, he could gain favor with the Lopez family. Then, he could use the Dagger of Rest openly and honorably. Hunter must have considered all these factors beforehand.


    "Ailent, what are you doing?" Xu Yi frowned as Ailent squatted in front of a black chest, his eyes devoid of spirit.


    "Boss! I just heard someone whispering in my ear!" Ailent suddenly woke up, retreating in horror.


    Xu Yi was startled as well. Could it be that Mary Shaw was not dead?


    Was she akin to a cockroach? The system''s Entry Devouring had already been activated twice!


    Xu Yi asked Ailent to move away, then he put on the necklace stained with mysterious blood and approached the black chest.


    The black chest, which had fallen among the ashes, was an item Mary Shaw always carried with her. It seemed to be more highly regarded than the Lopez family''s Exorcism Treasure Chest, which spoke volumes about Mary Shaw''s concern for the chest.


    Xu Yi cautiously opened the chest, and a low murmuring voice came through, as if a demon was whispering temptations in his ear.


    Using his Spirit Communication Ability, Xu Yi resisted the whispers and saw what was inside the chest.


    It was a skin scroll, but not of any skin type that Xu Yi recognized. It resembled human skin, but with much coarser pores.


    It was imprinted with unknown symbols. Just glancing at it briefly made Xu Yi feel a strong sense of "contamination," leaving his spirit wilted.


    He quickly shut the chest lid and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.


    He had encountered this contamination before, on the tongue monster.


    As a common evil spirit, for Mary Shaw to become so terrifyingly powerful, it must undoubtedly be related to this "human skin scroll."


    "Don''t touch this chest at all!" Xu Yi warned.


    Ailent nodded repeatedly; he had already experienced the terror of the chest and wouldn''t dare to touch it even if Xu Yi hadn''t warned him.


    Xu Yi found several water tanks on the boat and used a matryoshka method, sealing the black chest inside multiple layers.


    "Call the butler! They''ll know what to do with it!"


    Xu Yi looked back at the dock, slowly releasing a sigh of relief. The Mary Shaw incident was finally over.

 Chapter 57 A Promising Future

    "Old Allen, isn''t it fixed yet?" Xu Yi sat on a piece of black stone by the roadside, listlessly.Looking around, all that could be seen was the desolate yellow earth.


    "Almost! Almost ready!" Allen was buried in work, messing with the old Ford''s engine.


    "You''ve given the same response the last four times!" Xu Yi sighed deeply.


    After dealing with Mary Shaw, they first returned to the old theater to retrieve the much-anticipated puppet but encountered an unexpected event while driving back to town.


    The old Ford, after a series of ravages, finally gave up the ghost and broke down halfway there.


    In this place without a village in sight or a store behind, they could only rely on Allen. Unfortunately, his car repair skills were nowhere near as good as his driving skills. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "After we get back, let''s buy a new car!" Xu Yi felt that the old Ford was due for retirement.


    "What''s the budget?" Allen, who was repairing the car, suddenly raised his head, his eyes shining as he stared at Xu Yi.


    Most men love cars, and Allen was no exception; he dreamed of getting a new one.


    "Within a hundred thousand!"


    Xu Yi had many other expenses to consider and couldn''t toss money around, but if the car was too cheap, it would not look good on them. This budget should be about right.


    "Does it have to be a new car? Is a second-hand one okay?" Allen queried further.


    "What''s your thought on this?" Xu Yi wasn''t familiar with cars. If he went to buy one, he''d probably get fleeced.


    "Buying a new car isn''t cost-effective. If you don''t mind, boss, you could consider a second-hand car. I have a friend with very good quality vehicles at a high cost-performance ratio," Allen evidently had a plan in mind.


    "Then I''ll leave it to you," Xu Yi nodded in agreement.


    "Boss, just relax, I''ll make sure to give you a nice surprise!" Allen, thinking about getting a new car soon, had an excited expression on his face.


    Allen continued working on the engine. Suddenly, Xu Yi stood up, tapped the hood, "Stop fixing it, a ride is here."


    A convoy slowly approached; it was James''s butler, to no surprise.


    In the afternoon, Xu Yi returned to his rental in the city.


    He didn''t do anything else, took a hot shower, and then flopped on the bed and instantly fell asleep. Having not slept at all the previous night and on edge the whole time, he was exhausted.


    He slept through the confusion of day turning to night. When the sky was dimly lit, he finally woke up.


    "Lisa came by? When was that?"


    After freshening up, Xu Yi found a breakfast on the living room table, spring rolls from Chinatown.


    The spring rolls were a bit cold, but Xu Yi was really hungry, wolfing them down.


    After eating, Xu Yi returned to the study.


    "I wonder if this pile of puppets can directly reveal the Necromantic Spells?" He looked at the small mountain of puppets beside the desk, eager in his heart.


    He had no desire to go out and took out the engraving toolset to start engraving Necromantic Spells.


    Xu Yi picked up a puppet named "Bob."


    The material of Bob was still solid but had dropped several grades compared to the previous puppet, Billy.


    This was easy to understand; given that the puppet''s backer, Mary Shaw, had dissipated, naturally there was much less resistance in the engraving process.


    [Necromantic Spells +8, Current Progress: 21/100.]


    Xu Yi looked at the progress of the Necromantic Spells entries and was quite satisfied.


    The body of puppet Bob was filled with Necromantic Spells. Xu Yi stared at the puppet closely, feeling that it was somewhat different from the previous puppet, Billy.


    Not because the spells were clearer or the lines more fluid.


    But it was because of the charm, this well-carved puppet carried an indescribable aura.


    Xu Yi was thoroughly engrossed when suddenly, a sharp cry of a bird came from outside the window.


    A black feathered bird with a pointed beak landed on the windowsill, continuously pecking at the window, producing a grating banging noise.


    "That bully bird is here again!" Xu Yi rubbed his temples, annoyed by the disturbance.


    The room that Ailent had carefully chosen was not without its flaws, and this annoying bird was one of them.


    Sometimes, before dawn, the bird would fly over and peck at the window forcefully, waking people up. Only after being fed would it leave satisfied, but it would return the next day and continue.


    Xu Yi was puzzled, unable to fathom why a bird would develop such a habit.


    "At this time, disturbing one''s sweet dreams!"


    Xu Yi picked up the puppet from the table and aimed it at the Long-billed Bird, hoping to scare it away with Bob''s eerie appearance.


    But the next second, the Long-billed Bird let out a piercing shriek and then plummeted straight down, crashing onto the drainpipe below, motionless.


    "It''s actually dead!" Xu Yi looked at the puppet Bob in astonishment.


    Just now, he had distinctly felt a force emanating from puppet Bob, pulling out the soul of the Long-billed Bird and sealing it within the puppet.


    So, it was possible to create a puppet capable of "Soul Sealing" even without having the Necromantic Spells entries fully maxed out! Xu Yi suddenly realized.


    After sealing the soul of the Long-billed Bird, the puppet Bob visibly became more lifelike, suddenly turning its head, pointing its finger towards the corner of the room, its mouth moving continuously.


    Following the direction of the puppet''s pointing finger, Xu Yi''s gaze landed on Mary Shaw''s "Human Skin Scroll" in that corner.


    "This puppet can detect supernatural energy!" Xu Yi''s eyes lit up instantly.


    With this puppet, wouldn''t it be like carrying a weakened version of a Psychic?


    Xu Yi did not need such a puppet, but that did not mean others wouldn''t want it, especially the wealthy Common folks.


    A Magic Artifact capable of providing warning like this was highly priced in the Exorcism Market and particularly sought after.


    Xu Yi''s eyes twinkled with excitement, thinking that the Necromantic Spells entries seemed to have a very profitable "future"!


    If he had enough items soaked with resentment, he could continuously produce "Warning Puppets," and then wouldn''t he be rolling in wealth?


    As Xu Yi was imagining his life after becoming wealthy, the puppet Bob''s continuously moving mouth suddenly stopped, and its hand naturally fell to its side, resembling a wind-up toy that had run out of spring, motionless.


    "Is that all?" Xu Yi shook the puppet Bob, sensing that the soul within the puppet had dissipated.


    "As expected, the Necromantic Spells are imperfect!" Xu Yi sighed in disappointment.


    Since the progression of the Necromantic Spells was just over 20%, the "Soul Sealing" was not perfect, which is why the puppet Bob had become ineffective so quickly.


    "Just the soul of a bird could have such an effect, what about stronger souls?"


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    Considering this, Xu Yi became even more excited; he exchanged for another puppet and immersed himself in continuing to imprint the Necromantic Spells.


    High Noon.


    Ailent arrived carrying lunch, with a smile on his face that he couldn''t hide.


    "Did you find money outside, looking so happy?" Xu Yi teased.


    "It''s James. James''s commission has been deposited, $500,000! Not a cent less!" Ailent said excitedly.


    "That was quick?" Xu Yi was also pleasantly surprised, now having some money on hand.


    "Boss, I have already picked out the car, it''s slightly over budget at $118,000, but it''s absolutely worth more than it costs. What do you think?" Alient asked while rubbing his hands together.


    Xu Yi, in an extravagant and confident manner, declared, "Buy!"

 Chapter 58 This wont delay you from doing things for the boss, will it?

    ```"Boss, now that the studio has money, should we solidify our presence by establishing a location?" Ailent suddenly asked.


    Xu Yi looked down in thought; he had planned to consider the matter of setting up a studio location once he started university.


    After all, the main focus of his work would definitely be near the university in the future.


    Not just the Exorcism Studio, but more importantly, the laboratory. Since he had decided to take the path of "the poor rely on mutations, the wealthy rely on technology" for strengthening the body, it was natural to prepare early.


    Only by relying on top universities could he possibly get his hands on those high-precision instruments.


    "Boss, large exorcism studios actually have many locations; it makes work easier to carry out," Ailent said softly, understanding Xu Yi''s concerns.


    "Do you have any good places in mind?"


    Xu Yi also came to a realization. The money they had wasn''t much, but it wasn''t a small amount either; setting up a lab wasn''t conceivable, so it would be better to solidify the studio location sooner rather than later to move on to the next step of the plan. Explore more at empire


    "How about around Chinatown? I remember there''s a shop there up for transfer, quite suitable as a location for the studio," Ailent said without hesitation, clearly having thought it through beforehand.


    "Let''s go have a look this afternoon!"


    Xu Yi was very interested in buying a house, since it would be his first time purchasing property in this world.


    "Oh, boss, along with the check, James also gave us this," Ailent said as he pulled an invitation out of his pocket and handed it to Xu Yi.


    "They''re opening a resort at Skysea Lake in two days and they''re inviting me to the ceremony?" Xu Yi pondered over the text on the invitation.


    A moment later, he nodded, "Let''s go for a visit then!"


    After all, it was a big client, and there could be opportunities for collaboration in the future. It might offend them if he didn''t go, especially since he had just received $500,000 from them.


    What Xu Yi didn''t know was that this nod of agreement would involve him in a massive turmoil.


    ...


    On the outskirts of Chinatown, Xu Yi and Ailent were viewing properties.


    "No wonder you kept thinking about this place; it really is quite suitable to be a studio," Xu Yi expressed his satisfaction with the house recommended by Ailent after touring it.


    The area was not far from Chinatown or the city center, with convenient transportation.


    Most importantly, the store''s previous life was a coffee shop, and it hadn''t been long since it was nicely renovated and started operating. If they wanted to use it, only minor modifications would be necessary to turn it into a studio.


    It would save time and effort.


    "Boss, there''s a small issue. The owner will only sell the house, not rent it, and the asking price is $160,000," Ailent whispered into Xu Yi''s ear. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Buying it is no problem; it''s just the price?"


    Xu Yi had just gotten his hands on $500,000, which hadn''t even warmed up yet, and now had to spend half of it, which he was somewhat reluctant to do.


    "The asking price is a bit inflated. Negotiate well, and we should be able to get it for around $130,000."


    Xu Yi was really satisfied with the house and, after pondering for a moment, nodded in agreement.


    In the evening, Ailent finally reached an agreement with the owner for a sale price of $132,000.


    After signing the contract, Xu Yi looked at the 79-square-meter property in front of him, his eyes filled with an uncontrollable smile.


    The house had three stories: the first and second floors for the studio, and the third for living quarters.


    Although the house Ailent found for him was nice, it was still a rental, and it couldn''t compare to the comfort of owning his own.


    For the people of Xia Kingdom, attachment to home was ingrained deep in their bones.


    "I''ll find someone to come over tomorrow. Just a quick redecoration, and our Holy Flame Studio can open for business!" said Ailent, also stirred with excitement.


    ...


    Binney Road.


    Ailent returned home with an exhausted expression and sat on the sofa. He wanted to take a sip of water only to find that the kettle was empty.


    ```


    "Bellamy, do we have any boiled water at home?"


    "Want to drink water, can''t you boil it yourself? I barely see you all day, anyone would think I''m raising two kids on my own here!"


    Bellamy walked out with a mop, her eyes not looking like eyes, her nose not looking like a nose as she glared at Allen.


    "Didn''t I run around just as much when I was working as a real estate agent?" Allen muttered under his breath.


    "What did you say?" Bellamy''s eyebrows shot up, her gaze towards Allen turning ominous.


    "Nothing! I didn''t say anything!"


    Allen hurriedly denied loudly. His wife had never been quite happy about him quitting his job as a real estate agent.


    "By the way, the kids'' school fees are due next week!" Bellamy didn''t press further, changing the subject.


    "Oh! I know!" Allen just nodded, then continued looking for water to drink.


    Bellamy, seeing Allen act so nonchalant, was irritated beyond measure.


    Ever since Allen became an exorcism agent, he hadn''t brought home a single penny, though the money flowed out like water.


    "Some exorcist, isn''t that just another word for a scammer?"


    Bellamy had muttered to herself more than once, but she didn''t dare say it out loud, knowing that the moment she did, Allen would surely turn hostile.


    "Later, could you drop the kids off at the Youth Palace? There''s an activity organized by the school." While mopping the floor, Bellamy spoke to Allen who was lounging on the sofa.


    "The Ford is broken, it''s currently in the shop for repairs." Allen finally found some water, took a big gulp, and exhaled a long breath of relief.


    "Why didn''t you say so earlier? Where am I going to get a taxi now? I always tell you not to switch jobs randomly! Following some exorcist all over the place, you''ve driven the car to its end! At this rate, can we even keep on living like this?"


    Bellamy''s pent-up anger finally erupted, tossing the mop aside abruptly, scaring the two kids who had just come out of their room.


    If this had been any other day, Allen would have had no choice but to appease his wife with sweet words and gentle persuasion.


    But things were different now. Allen glared back at Bellamy, "What''s all the fuss about? It''s just taking the car for repairs. What''s the rush?"


    He looked at his two children with a smile, "Are you dressed yet? Daddy will drive you to the Youth Palace."


    Shocked by Allen''s sudden assertiveness, Bellamy was stunned; he was usually not this forthright.


    Unsure of what Allen was up to, she followed him out the door.


    Allen took out the key from his pocket, pressed the unlock button, and the Mercedes luxury car in the driveway beeped twice.


    "This car?" Bellamy stared at the Mercedes luxury car in front of her, her eyes wide.


    "It''s not mine; the boss bought it for the studio," Allen said.


    Allen hadn''t said "new car," just "newly purchased car"¡ªa detail neither deceptive nor timid, and he mentally gave himself a pat on the back for his clever workaround.


    As the rear door opened, the children cheered, climbed in, and started touching around, evidently curious about the so-called luxury vehicle.


    "Your studio is driving these types of cars now?" Bellamy, touching the smooth door of the Mercedes, asked in amazement.


    In her mind, Allen''s "boss" was just an ordinary high school student who used to bum rides off her family.


    "This car is just so-so!" Allen stood tall, trying to appear calm, but the corners of his mouth betrayed his genuine delight.


    He took out a stack of cash from his pocket, "Here''s three thousand US dollars. You use it to pay the kids'' school fees."


    Allen stuffed the cash into Bellamy''s hands.


    Looking at the money, and then at the Mercedes luxury car, Bellamy''s many thoughts boiled down to one question, "You''re taking the kids to the Youth Palace, this won''t delay your work for the boss, will it?"


    A tiny twitch appeared at the corner of Allen''s mouth, the speed of Bellamy''s change in attitude was indeed too fast.


    "Don''t let your boss''s trust in you go to waste!" Seeing Allen didn''t respond, Bellamy patted his shoulder, much like those slick-talking managers.

 Chapter 59 Really Lost Too Much

    The noon sun was just right, St. Anna High School, Dennis Cafe.The usually quiet cafe was now full of people, if Xu Yi were here, he would surely recognize that these were all his classmates.


    Among the crowd, Maria stood out incredibly, even the cafe staff snuck glances at her.


    Only Maria herself was oblivious to her beauty, as her father''s long-term suppression had made her always believe she was very average-looking.


    She stared into her coffee, lost in thought.


    "Maria, why did you take the exam early?" Lily glanced at Maria and took the initiative to speak up, breaking the silence.


    Maria had been secretive lately, even her close friend like Lily had made little contact with her, let alone the other classmates.


    If it were not for everyone preparing to apply for colleges and about to part ways, it would not have been so easy for her to ask Maria to meet up.


    "I felt ready enough, so I took it," she said.


    In fact, Maria was lying; she had not intended to take the test so early, as there were several batches of the U.S. college entrance exam each year.


    She only registered for it after seeing Xu Yi sign up.


    "Maria, have you decided which university you want to apply to?" Lily asked next.


    Lily''s grades were at the bottom tier of the school; Maria was better, above average, allowing her access to a fair range of colleges.


    "Tufts University," Maria replied without hesitation.


    "That''s a private university, right? I heard it has quite a few wealthy students," Lily said casually, her research on this matter sparse, managing only to chat dryly about it.


    As for why she chose this university, Maria did not elaborate further.


    Of course, she wouldn''t tell these people that Tufts University was in Cambridge, Massachusetts, about a 30-minute drive from MIT.


    The others didn''t believe Xu Yi could get into MIT, but she did, so she had looked up the school in advance.


    She and Xu Yi had made no agreement, nor had they planned to go to that place to study together; she just instinctively wanted to be closer to him.


    Maria and Lily chatted sporadically, while Drew next to them was getting impatient, winking at Lily frequently.


    Lily glanced at Drew and privately curled her lip.


    In school, Drew had been as meek as a mouse because of Martin; now that Martin was gone, here he was trying to curry favor.


    But who asked her to accept a favor from Drew¡ªa bag she had long coveted. Otherwise, she would be too lazy to organize a class gathering and would have gone to the KTV to have fun instead.


    "Maria, have you been in touch with Xu Yi lately?" Lily suddenly changed the topic, asking casually.


    Maria instantly became alert, although she was somewhat self-deprecating, that didn''t mean she was naive. Why would they suddenly bring up Xu Yi?


    She wanted to say of course she had, but upon reflection, she felt a pang of loss.


    Since Xu Yi had taken a leave of absence, it had been a long time since she last saw him, and as for contact, she only knew he lived in Chinatown.


    A couple of days ago, she had even made a trip to Chinatown in search of Xu Yi, only to find his family''s restaurant under renovation¡ªnaturally, she hadn''t seen him.


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    Under such circumstances, could she still say they were in touch? Maria fell silent.


    Seeing Maria''s silence, Lily''s eyes lit up, sensing an opportunity.


    "Xu Yi indeed looks good, but it''s a pity his father is just a common chef in a Chinatown restaurant, running a small diner. Whoever ends up with Xu Yi will probably lead a hard life," Lily said with hidden intention.


    Maria clenched her coffee cup tighter in her hand.


    She wanted to say that Xu Yi''s father was far from common, and that even Allen had a bit of fear of him.


    The place his father ran wasn''t just a small diner; although only half renovated, she could tell the decor would be nothing short of classy once completed.


    "Exorcists indeed can earn money, but the job is too dangerous. You never know when you might die at the hands of an Evil Spirit," Lily continued, oblivious to Maria''s distress.


    "Absolutely! Absolutely! Lily is right!" Drew chimed in, eager to make his presence felt, nodding enthusiastically.


    Maria''s grip on the coffee cup began to pale, her gaze at Lily turning dangerous.


    She wasn''t good at handling such situations, but she knew someone who was.


    Just as she was about to release Allen, a classmate''s exclamation brought her back to her senses.


    "The person outside looks like Xu Yi!"


    ```


    ......


    Xu Yi, carrying a big bag, walked out of the stationery store.


    Inside the bag was some high-end drawing paper he planned to use for Exorcism Portraits.


    The thought of creating drawings that could perform exorcisms had long captivated his heart.


    The midday sun was a bit too harsh, so he headed to Dennis Cafe, intending to take shelter under the awning at the entrance; Ailent would soon arrive to pick him up in his car.


    "Xu Yi!"


    Upon hearing noise behind him, Xu Yi turned around, and his eyes lit up, "Maria, long time no see!"


    Maria was dressed in a white knitted shirt paired with a linen skirt, looking innocent and charming with a hint of mature elegance.


    It was the first time he had seen Maria in such an outfit, most likely influenced by Ailan''s taste.


    Suddenly, the sun didn''t seem so scorching anymore. The presence of a beautiful woman could always brighten one''s mood, especially when that beauty seemed to have a favorable impression of you¡ªit''s pure joy.


    "What are you doing here?" Maria''s eyes were full of surprise when she saw Xu Yi.


    "Just buying some stuff." Xu Yi shook the bag in his hand and glanced behind Maria, "Were you having coffee? Mind if this poor boy joins you for a cup? I''d like an iced one."


    Xu Yi was just poking fun at himself, aiming to bridge the gap with Maria, but someone took it seriously.


    "If you can''t afford it, don''t drink then. How could you even ask Maria to treat you!" Drew shot Xu Yi a glance, his eyes brimming with hostility.


    He actually hadn''t seen Xu Yi much, especially the "current" Xu Yi.


    Even if he saw Xu Yi as a rival, he had to admit, Xu Yi was indeed very attractive to women: a handsome face, always with a hint of a smile, dressed appropriately, with a graceful demeanor. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What was most impressive was the mysterious aura about him, which made people irresistibly curious to explore.


    The more Drew observed Xu Yi, the more uncertain he felt, realizing he was at a considerable disadvantage in comparison!


    "No worries! I''m from a rich family! And he''s just a poor boy!" Drew kept hypnotizing himself. Only by doing so could he retain a semblance of fighting spirit.


    Xu Yi glanced casually at the other party, seeing through his bluster.


    The smile on his lips didn''t change; such a person wasn''t even worthy of being his enemy, so he simply ignored him.


    Maria paid no attention to Drew either, walking self-sufficiently to the counter to order an iced Americano, then bringing it to Xu Yi herself.


    "It tastes good! Would be even better with some snacks!" Xu Yi took it and had a sip, feeling refreshed.


    Following the cue, Maria obediently ordered a portion of fries and grabbed a few doughnuts.


    Drew watched as the goddess of his heart obediently catered to someone else, feeling like his lungs were about to explode with rage.


    Unfortunately, both Xu Yi and Maria completely ignored him, treating him as if he were mere air.


    He had no choice but to cast a pleading look towards Lily.


    Swearing under her breath at Drew''s uselessness, Lily approached Xu Yi with a smile, "Xu Yi, are you waiting for a car here?"


    Xu Yi nodded, not denying it.


    "That''s too bad, it''s hard to get a cab in this place, chances are you''ll have to walk home. But Drew has a car; you could ask him for a ride," Lily "kindly" suggested.


    Proudly holding his head high, Drew took out his car keys from his pocket, standing next to a Chevrolet.


    The car was second-hand, passed down from his dad. Though it was used, for a high school student to have his own car was quite an achievement.


    Thanks to this car, he had recently hooked up with quite a few girls.


    "Forget it, I have to take Maria home. I''ve got no time!" Drew stared at Maria, thinking that now she would see through this pauper''s facade, right?


    Unfortunately, she ignored him once again.


    Just then, a luxurious Mercedes slowly approached from the end of the street and stopped in front of the cafe.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, I apologize for the delay. Your car just went in for maintenance, so I''m a bit late!" Ailent sprinted out of the car, respectfully opened the back door, and gestured for Xu Yi to get in.


    The students from St. Anna High School watched the luxury Mercedes with their mouths agape.


    Lily''s face turned a shade of iron blue, feeling as though she''d been slapped hard across the face, while Drew, gripping the car keys in his hand, wished he could crawl into a hole and disappear.


    Who said Xu Yi was a poor boy?


    Not only did he have a luxury car at his disposal, but he also had a professional driver¡ªit was the absolute epitome of a wealthy young master!


    ```

 Chapter 60 Exorcism Sacred Beast

    Xu Yi looked at the Mercedes luxury car in front of him, equally astonished.Wasn''t it 118,000? Wasn''t it a secondhand car? How did they manage to get such a Mercedes luxury car?


    If the driver hadn''t been Ailent, he would have suspected the car was rented, considering its brand-new appearance. Could it really not be new? Anyway, as an outsider, he couldn''t tell it was a secondhand car.


    "Maria, do you need me to take you home?" Xu Yi, suppressing his inner doubts, spoke up to offer.


    "Sure!" Maria didn''t hesitate in the slightest.


    Drew watched the radiant smile on Maria''s face and felt his heart shatter into pieces.


    Maria picked up the small snacks she had packed for Xu Yi, and as she neared the car, she suddenly stopped, turned her head to look at her "good bestie" Lily, "We should stop contacting each other from now on."


    After speaking, Maria quickly got into the car, and Lily''s forced smile froze, she stood there with an ugly expression, while the classmates around her took their distance.


    The car door closed, the engine roared, and the black Mercedes sedan merged into traffic, vanishing in front of the coffee shop, leaving the people of Saint Anna High School feeling lost.


    "Brother, want a smoke?"


    The car hadn''t driven far when Xu Yi suddenly took out a lighter, sparking a flame.


    Maria, looking at the lighter brought before her eyes, was taken aback before realizing that Xu Yi wasn''t talking to her.


    Xu Yi finally understood why this luxury car was so cheap. It really was a 99% new luxury car, and the purchase even came with four Soul Rings attached!


    In Xu Yi''s view, four damp ghostly figures silently sat in the car, heads lowered, not speaking.


    According to Xu Yi''s guesses, the car must have "plunged" into a lake not long after its purchase, with all four inside experiencing their last moments together.


    The four ghostly figures didn''t even count as Ferocious Spirits, so naturally, Xu Yi wasn''t too concerned. Having a priest pray for an Exorcism would have been the best option, but unfortunately, Xu Yi didn''t possess such skills.


    "Sorry! My arms aren''t long enough, excuse me!"


    The Exorcism Lighter was a bit far from the ghostly figure next to the car door, so Xu Yi had to lean against Maria, stretching his hand out.


    As a result, Xu Yi was almost pressed against Maria, and she could smell his scent, her face instantly blushed, her body felt electrified, going all tingly.


    Alas, the exorcism process was very quick, not even a minute had passed, and as she watched Xu Yi leave, Maria felt a sense of loss.


    Xu Yi "subdued" the ghosts with "virtue," and after a friendly exchange, the four ghostly souls were moved by Xu Yi''s act of "passing the flame," and "willingly" left the Mercedes luxury car.


    Ailent suddenly felt light, as when he was driving before, he always felt something was off. He had thought it was due to being unfamiliar with the car, but now it seemed that wasn''t the case at all.


    "Damn it!" Ailent cursed under his breath, feeling a bit embarrassed. He thought he had found a loophole, not expecting the car to have such a "big issue."


    "No worries, the car is really nice, and it''s right up my alley!" Xu Yi, on the other hand, didn''t feel anything and praised the vehicle.


    Ailent breathed a sigh of relief, as long as Xu Yi didn''t mind.


    "Maria, are you free lately?" Xu Yi suddenly changed the subject, gazing intently at Maria.


    "I... I''m free!" Maria''s heart pounded, why was Xu Yi asking these questions, could it be that he wanted to ask her out...


    "I''m planning some special training for Lisa soon, are you interested? You can join us!" Xu Yi said softly.


    "Special training?" Maria was stunned.


    "Yes, but I have to go out tomorrow, we can start after I come back," Xu Yi nodded.


    "Then... Okay!" Maria agreed, somewhat confused.


    After dropping Maria off at her home, Xu Yi drove directly to his rented place.


    "The studio is already being renovated, in about five or six days, we can open for business," Ailent reported to Xu Yi the progress of the studio renovation.


    Xu Yi nodded, "I''ll leave the studio in your care, James has booked round-trip tickets for me, I can go there by myself when the time comes."


    This was something they had discussed early in the morning, and Ailent naturally had no objections.


    By the time Xu Yi returned to his rental, the sky had already begun to darken. After hastily eating dinner, he first engraved some Necromantic Spells before starting to draw Exorcism Portraits.


    Exorcism Portraits, like Necromantic Spells, also had great "money-making potential".


    Holy Flame Studio was about to open soon, and if they only relied on exorcism commissions, their income wouldn''t be stable.


    Therefore, Xu Yi planned to sell Exorcism Artifacts in the studio.


    Firstly, it could establish the studio''s reputation, and secondly, it could make a bit more money.


    He had recently looked into the prices of laboratory equipment, and they were truly hair-raising.


    Because of the aftereffects of the blood essence, the Exorcism Lighter could not be mass-produced, and thus couldn''t be sold as a regular product.


    As a result, only Exorcism Portraits and Necromantic Spells were left.


    Although he had a large number of puppets, Necromantic Spells could not be filled up in just a day or two either.


    With the opening of the studio imminent, he could only get the Exorcism Portraits done to deal with the urgency.


    "This is much harder than I imagined!" Xu Yi said, looking at the pile of drawings on the table and rubbing his swollen temples.


    In theory, there was a 30% to 80% chance of successfully creating an Exorcism Portrait, but this chance was very elusive. He had been drawing almost all night, and yet not a single one had succeeded. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi walked to the window, where the dawn was breaking; he had to rush to the airport soon, and there was no time to continue drawing. He began to pack his luggage.


    He yawned greatly, planning to rest on the plane.


    Having drawn all night, although he hadn''t produced a single finished piece, Xu Yi had generally figured out this ability.


    "The key is the content of the portrait; ordinary scenery or people won''t work. It must be something that can perform exorcisms."


    Jesus? Angels?


    Xu Yi shook his head. Those were the methods of the church; although effective, they were not what he hoped to see.


    "Otherwise, why not design one myself, a unique Exorcism Sacred Beast for Holy Flame Studio?"


    Xu Yi''s thoughts suddenly expanded.


    Ailent drove Xu Yi to the airport, and the business-class ticket James booked for him was very spacious.


    "Sir, would you like some red wine?" the slender stewardess, pushing the cart, slowly approached Xu Yi.


    "Just put it here!" Xu Yi didn''t look up and kept on writing and drawing in his sketchbook.


    The stewardess felt a wave of frustration. Was I not even as attractive as a drawing? Discover stories with empire


    But the man fit her aesthetic preference so well, and that mysterious demeanor was so alluring that, after a moment of thought, she slipped a small note under the wine glass with reluctance to leave.


    Xu Yi was totally unaware of the flight attendant''s little gesture; his attention was wholly on his drawing.


    If it''s going to be the Exorcism Sacred Beast of Holy Flame Studio, shouldn''t it incorporate elements of flames?


    The Sacred Beast had to intimidate those terrifying Evil Spirits. If it looked cute, what deterrent effect would it have? So, shouldn''t its appearance be ferocious?


    The Sacred Beast should possess an Exorcism Artifact. What Exorcism Artifact carries great deterrent power? Well, a sword would be a good choice!


    The more Xu Yi drew, the brighter his eyes became. Gradually, an Exorcism Sacred Beast, enshrouded in flames, twining around the Holy Sword, both ferocious and solemn, emerged on the paper.

 Chapter 61 Alchemy Revolver Messiah

    Skysea Lake Resort.Xu Yi lay in a rocking chair, gazing out at the lake that was as blue as pure sapphires, while rows of utterly tasteful houses emerged amidst the green trees.


    The sunlight drenched down warmly, and a gentle breeze brushed his cheeks. Xu Yi stretched greatly, admitting to himself that living in such a place was indeed a treat.


    "Nice place I have here, huh?"


    James sat in the rocking chair next to him and snapped his fingers, after which a waiter who had been waiting a long time immediately brought over a chilled drink.


    "Indeed, it''s nice!" Xu Yi turned his head, looking towards James, who was "sparkling" beside him.


    This was the first time he had met James, and contrary to the portly successful figure he had imagined, James was well-built and must have always been in the habit of working out.


    The so-called "sparkle" didn''t refer to how many gemstones or luxury items James was wearing but rather to the Exorcism Artifacts.


    James carried a large number of Exorcism Artifacts with him.


    Rings, bracelets, necklaces, even the brooches below his collar were all Exorcism Artifacts.


    "Such an upstart!" Xu Yi muttered to himself internally.


    He was well aware that compared to genuinely expensive Exorcism Artifacts, those luxury goods could only be considered as street stall items.


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    "He''s really afraid of death, too!" Xu Yi silently added in his mind.


    Had James not been afraid of dying, he would not have thrown all the problems of the old theater onto his butler, nor would he carry so many Exorcism Artifacts with him.


    He even found three exorcists among James''s "Security Group."


    That was being armed to the teeth!


    "Can you see that commercial street over there?" James suddenly pointed downward.


    Xu Yi nodded; of course, he could see it. After all, the commercial street was so conspicuous, situated right on the beach and the best spot in the entire resort.


    "The thirty-two shops the butler promised you last time are there. If you like, I can also throw in the thirty-two shops opposite, just enough to make up a whole street."


    James waved his hand with an air of nonchalance that made it seem like he was assigning a few heads of cabbage, and Xu Yi finally realized from whom the butler had learned this behavior.


    Such an arrogant landowner! Xu Yi cursed internally.


    Since his arrival here, James had hinted countless times that as long as Xu Yi tagged along with him, he could enjoy luxury and wealth and have money and beauties at his fingertips.


    Regrettably, Xu Yi''s ambition was much bigger than James had imagined, and those offerings could not dazzle him.


    It would be a different story if the other party was willing to offer his loyalty, but Xu Yi was well aware that proud people like James would never do such a thing.


    Just as Xu Yi was about to politely decline, James suddenly spoke up first, "I have a rare collection here that I would like Mr. Xu to appraise."


    James originally had no intention of bringing out that item, but after learning that Xu Yi had successfully exorcised the Evil Spirit from the old theater, he realized Xu Yi was even more capable than he had imagined.


    It was not just "Spiritual Awakening,"; Xu Yi''s exorcism Ability was also strong. The Lopez family had all been killed by an Evil Spirit, after all.


    Xu Yi looked at the case in James''s hands, puzzled. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The contents of the case must be extremely precious, for it had a password over twenty digits long and even fingerprint recognition technology, which had just started emerging in this era.


    The hefty metal case was carried by an armed bodyguard and locked to his wrist with handcuffs.


    But on the case, Xu Yi didn''t feel any special magnetic field.


    Could it be the deed to this resort or some kind of rare antique?


    James unlocked the bodyguard''s handcuffs, entered the lengthy password, verified the fingerprint, and with a "click," the case opened.


    Xu Yi''s senses sharpened, and he peered into the case.


    He finally understood why he wasn''t detecting any special magnetic fields¡ªit wasn''t an ordinary case, as it was inlaid with precious red mercury that could isolate special magnetic fields.


    With the case itself being so expensive, what could possibly be inside?


    A faint golden light shone through, revealing an ancient revolver that lay quietly in the box, engraved with exquisite patterns.


    The handle was made of an unknown redwood, and the butt was inscribed with a line of small characters, "May the holy light shower upon the world!"


    "Is this the Alchemy Revolver, Messiah?" Xu Yi exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise.


    As a member of the Exorcism World, Xu Yi naturally knew of the "legendary Exorcism Artifact," the Alchemy Revolver: Messiah.


    Any bullet fired from the Messiah would possess the power of exorcism.


    Regrettably, due to years of usage, the exorcism power that the Messiah imbued in the bullets had weakened countless times.


    At the peak of its era, a single Common bullet was sufficient to slay an Evil Spirit, but now it could, at best, only injure an Evil Spirit, and it wasn''t even a fatal wound.


    But this did not detract from the value of the Messiah.


    Besides exorcism, the main purpose of the Alchemical Revolver Messiah was actually "research."


    If one could thoroughly understand the Messiah, it would be possible to replicate countless Alchemy Revolvers, and even mass-produce them.


    Once successful, one could arm a vast exorcist army in minutes.


    "We have studied this legendary weapon; the reason it can endow bullets with the power of exorcism is due to a rare substance called ''sacred goldstone,'' but unfortunately, this material has become extinct," James said, sighing deeply as he seemed to read Xu Yi''s thoughts.


    "That''s truly regrettable."


    Xu Yi outwardly agreed with James, but inwardly, he was not convinced.


    Others might be out of options, but he had the Entries system, so there was hardly no chance for him to find a replacement for the sacred goldstone and replicate this legendary Alchemy Revolver.


    The Alchemy Revolver was different from the Exorcism Portrait, which could only be used as a "defensive" Exorcism Artifact, at most forcing back Ferocious Spirits and Evil Spirits.


    The Alchemy Revolver was different; it was a bona fide "offensive" Magic Artifact that could shoot and kill an Evil Spirit with sufficient firepower.


    What was most rare was that the Alchemy Revolver was also a "ranged weapon."


    Most Exorcism Artifacts were "melee weapons," making this kind of ranged Magic Artifact extremely rare.


    "The Alchemical Revolver Messiah is indeed precious, but in my view, its bullets are of even greater value," James said, his face all smiles, satisfied with Xu Yi''s reaction.


    Xu Yi had thoroughly researched the Messiah and knew that as a legendary Exorcism Artifact, its renowned reputation was inseparable from its complementary bullets.


    There were three types of Exorcism Bullets that came with the Messiah: the Demon-Breaking Flame Bullet, the Cursed Blood Silver Bullet, and the Grim Reaper Piercing Bullet.


    "I heard that someone has replicated the Cursed Blood Silver Bullet?" Xu Yi shared what he knew.


    "Correct, it''s an achievement of the Church, but compared to the original Cursed Blood Silver Bullet, the power is still significantly less," James said with a slight frown when he mentioned the Church.


    In fact, compared to the Alchemy Revolver, the craziest competition among various Exorcism organizations was for the Exorcism Bullets.


    This was understandable; due to the sacred goldstone, it was difficult to replicate the Alchemy Revolver.


    But the Exorcism Bullets were different; if the composition could be researched and substitutes for some materials found, it might be possible to replicate the Exorcism Bullets.


    Regrettably, with the passage of time, the original bullets of the Messiah had nearly become extinct, and every single one would be fiercely contested.


    "Look, what is this?" James lifted the protective foam next to the Alchemy Revolver.


    Xu Yi stared at the object inside intently; a fiery red bullet lay there, its surface engraved with arcane symbols.


    "This is... the Demon-Breaking Flame Bullet!" Xu Yi was shocked, as James even managed to obtain such a rare item.


    But what surprised him even more came next, as James whispered in a devilish tone, "If you join us, this gun and the bullets can all be yours."


    Xu Yi swallowed hard, to tell the truth, he was somewhat tempted.

 Chapter 62 Cursed Land

    Xu Yi struggled to look away from the Alchemy Revolver, took a deep breath, and changed the subject, "On the way in here, I seemed to have seen priests from the church, what are they doing here?"James didn''t press Xu Yi to make a decision right away, he smiled and answered, "Don''t mind them, they want me to shut down the Skysea Lake resort, can you believe that?"


    "Why is that?" Xu Yi suddenly became interested.


    "This area, there used to be a legend about a demon, but a legend is just a legend, and it''s not credible, especially since that''s all in the distant past," James said, shaking his head.


    Xu Yi looked at James in surprise, why was it another "Cursed Land"?


    The old theater before, and now this resort, could it be that James made his fortune through this method?


    Xu Yi had actually guessed right, the reason James had risen so quickly in such a short time was by developing "Cursed Lands" everywhere.


    After all, "Cursed Land" was indeed cheap, and as long as it is developed, the profits could easily multiply dozens of times, which would confuse anyone.


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    "The people from the church are too superstitious, and they interfere too much. What demon could there be in this place? Moreover, before we started development, I already had several exorcists come to inspect the place, and there were no issues at all," James said with disdain.


    This flag is raised too high, even the protagonist can''t stand it! Xu Yi really wanted to comment.


    Of course, he understood James''s reasoning, the benefits of developing this place were so great, which capitalist could resist?


    There is a saying that perfectly describes capitalists.


    With a profit of fifty percent, capitalists take risks, with a profit of one hundred percent, they dare to trample all the laws of society, and with a profit of three hundred percent, they dare to risk the hangman''s noose!


    Xu Yi also reminded himself to strike a balance between risk and profit. Although he had the Resurrection Coin, he still needed to be cautious.


    "The development here is supported by the government, I have invested so much, and we are about to open for business, but the church wants me to shut it down, isn''t that too overbearing?"


    James, as a magnate, was now babbling like a market woman, which speaks volumes about the pressure he must feel lately and his strong resentment towards the church.


    "That''s true," Xu Yi casually responded.


    Whether or not there were problems with this place, he was only here for this one time and didn''t plan to get involved in the conflict between James and the church.


    It can''t be that something will happen just during this one visit, right?


    Xu Yi quickly stopped that train of thought, just thinking about it in his mind shouldn''t count as raising the flag, right?


    He gazed into the distance to distract himself.


    On the distant beach, a group of slender women in swimsuits were frolicking and heading towards the lake; the weather was indeed perfect for swimming, especially in such a scenic place.


    "Today is the first day that Skysea Lake is open, how about it, Mr. Xu, are you interested?" James noticed Xu Yi''s gaze.


    Xu Yi shook his head, "I can''t swim, better not."


    Of course, he wasn''t someone who couldn''t swim; when he was obsessed with sea hunting, he had even taken the time to learn to dive, and he was actually quite good at swimming.


    He just didn''t want to cause any complications; after dealing with James, he planned to leave.


    James had many tricks up his sleeve, and if he organized a grand sea party, a swimwear party or something, it would be hard to refuse, right? After all, which official could withstand such a test?


    Just then, heavy dark clouds rolled in from the southeast, as if they were about to crush the entire world.


    Xu Yi frowned and stared at the horizon. The weather had been clear and sunny just moments ago, but in just a few seconds, dark clouds covered the sky, and the day turned completely dark.


    This sudden weather change gave Xu Yi an ominous premonition.


    The rolling thunder gathered deep within the clouds, as if countless fierce beasts were roaring within the dark clouds. When the lightning had accumulated to its utmost, branched lightning crashed down with a sound like a thunderclap, illuminating the pitch-black sky.


    Xu Yi stared intensely at the bolt of lightning. Something was wrong! There was something odd about that lightning!


    He sensed an abnormal aura from the lightning; it was not naturally occurring but had been summoned by something.


    The lightning struck directly into the center of the lake, scattering electric light in every direction.


    "Quick, save them! Someone is drowning!" A piercing scream suddenly came from the lake''s edge.


    James''s face darkened. It was the first day the resort had opened, and such an incident had occurred, which was sure to impact the business of the resort adversely.


    Fortunately, there were professional lifeguards at the lakeside. Upon hearing someone was drowning, the lifeguards had already swum toward the center of the lake.


    The lifeguard plunged into the water and did not resurface for a long time.


    Xu Yi''s unease grew stronger, and at that moment he keenly spotted a mass of red blood surging up from the center of the lake, quickly tainting a small section of the water red.


    "Someone''s dead! Someone''s dead!"


    This scene unfolded before everyone''s eyes, and there was no way to conceal it. People on the shore screamed and fled in panic.


    "Send someone to check it out, see what happened!"


    James gave orders to his subordinates. As for himself, he was of course gathering his things, preparing to make a run for it.


    True to his reputation as an experienced "Cursed Land" tycoon, he was quick to escape when things went awry. Xu Yi watched with a sense of admiration at his decisiveness.


    Xu Yi had no time to criticize "James the Runner" as he too had intended to leave.


    He raced to the door but suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    "What''s wrong?" James, sensing Xu Yi''s change, asked curiously.


    "Don''t you feel it''s become too quiet around this house?" Xu Yi tensed up, vigilantly looking around.


    A drop of cold sweat trailed down James''s forehead indeed; it was much too silent.


    The place where they stood was the "King of Buildings" in the resort, reserved exclusively for personal use.


    Although there weren''t many people on the balcony, in reality, an entire security team lurked around the house, and there were numerous chefs and waiters as well.


    They used to catch glimpses of these individuals now and then, but now everyone had vanished.


    A massive dread enveloped him, and James instinctively opened the safe and clutched the Alchemical Revolver Messiah.


    "What was that Demon legend you mentioned before?" Xu Yi''s face also looked grim; he hadn''t expected trouble just from this one visit.


    "Just the typical kind of legend that claims there once was a Demon here who roamed about killing people on sight, and then somehow it disappeared! Can you even take that kind of story seriously?" James was somewhat irritated.


    Indeed, it was a common legend. Xu Yi had heard similar tales not a thousand times but at least eight hundred, hence James''s skepticism.


    "Oh yes, this place wasn''t called Skysea Lake before. I felt the original name was inauspicious and not very pleasant to the ear, so I changed it." James suddenly remembered something.


    "What was it called?" Xu Yi sharply turned his head, staring intently at James. He suddenly had a bad premonition.


    "Crystal Lake," James replied softly.


    James, fuck your grandfather!

 Chapter 63 The Hunting Ground of the Crystal Lake Youth

    Xu Yi didn''t have time to curse James anymore as the system''s notification suddenly rang in his ear.[You have successfully checked in at "The Hunting Ground of the Crystal Lake Teen," congratulations on obtaining "Resurrection Coin x30"!]


    30 Resurrection Coins! It''s actually 30 Resurrection Coins!


    Xu Yi''s eyes widened.


    The previous highest level of Resurrection Coins was only five from the "Land of Fear," and that was from the recently dealt with evil spirit Mary Shaw.


    If Mary Shaw was so troublesome, what level might this Crystal Lake teen be at?


    His feeling right now was like he had just walked out of the newbie trial ground and encountered a top-level boss!


    Naturally, Xu Yi had heard of the notorious Crystal Lake teen, Jason.


    Jason possessed an undying body, and each time he resurrected after death, his strength would greatly increase.


    Thinking about the many years Jason had remained dormant and the countless times he might have resurrected sent a chill through Xu Yi''s teeth.


    While he didn''t know the current extent of Jason''s horror, the "30 Resurrection Coins" alone gave him a glimpse.


    The reason the system hadn''t given any check-in prompt until now was easy to understand ¨C only when Jason came back to life would this place turn into the "Land of Fear."


    "Go! Open the door!" James ordered the bodyguard to move ahead.


    The bodyguard gripped his gun tightly and cautiously pushed open the door, as a strong smell of blood hit them all, changing the color on everyone''s faces.


    The hallway was piled with bodies, blood splattered on the walls and streaming down, mostly due to most people having their throats cut with one swift slice, their high-pressure blood spurting out.


    Xu Yi clenched the Exorcism Lighter in his pocket. Because he was meeting with James, he hadn''t brought the Dagger of Rest; his only weapon was the Exorcism Lighter.


    "Looks like I''ll have to find a way to get a certificate from the church!" thought Xu Yi.


    Not to mention, with an exorcism certificate issued by the church, he could at least carry firearms and knives on an airplane.


    He already had an idea about this and planned to visit the Warrens later, possibly to ask them for help.


    "But first, I need to deal with the problem at hand!" Xu Yi took a deep breath, keeping his eyes fixed on the doorway.


    Anyone who could silently take down so many bodyguards was likely to have reached an extremely terrifying level of combat power.


    A sharp dagger suddenly whooshed through the air, hitting the throat of the bodyguard at the door with precision. The guard could only make a "heh heh" sound as he clutched the doorframe before slumping to the ground.


    A tall shadow slowly approached from the end of the corridor, the heavy footsteps exerting immense pressure, making everyone feel an overpowering chill laced with the viscous scent of liquid.


    Finally, Xu Yi met the legendary Crystal Lake teen, Jason.


    Nearly two meters tall and muscular, he exuded an immense oppressive aura.


    His signature hockey mask, the blood-soaked machete, his tattered coat still wet, and the black and blue eyes that held not a single trace of human emotion.


    This was a killing machine of despair!


    Jason had a nickname, the Hundred Man Slayer.


    But in Xu Yi''s eyes, this character was definitely beyond just "Hundred Man Slayer," for his Spirit Communication Ability allowed him to sense the extremely dense resentment surrounding Jason''s body.


    He might well have reached the "Thousand Man Slayer," or even "Ten Thousand Man Slayer!"


    "Kill him!" James, terrified out of his wits, roared the order.


    The bodyguards raised their handguns, and some even wielded powerful shotguns, firing away. The sound of gunfire erupted as the dense bullets pounded on the demonic Jason.


    Large splashes of blood erupted from Jason, but before the blood could reach the ground, the bullets lodged in his body were expelled by muscle contractions, and the wounds visibly healed at a rapid pace.


    ```


    Hyper Accelerated Regeneration!


    Common firearms had no effect on Jason.


    Withstanding a barrage of gunfire, Jason advanced step by step towards the bodyguard, lifting his large machete.


    The bodyguard retreated while firing, but Jason simply sped up. His sharp machete came down and the bodyguard''s head flew up, blood splattering on Jason''s mask, making him appear even more terrifying.


    As the bodyguard died, the others were on the verge of collapse, screaming and shooting to bolster their courage.


    It was hard not to break down when facing a demon that bullets could not kill, but who could easily kill you.


    Xu Yi saw the bad situation and had quietly made his way to the balcony, ready to jump off directly from there.


    But at that moment, Jason abruptly turned his head, staring straight at Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi felt a chill all over, inwardly cursing his luck.


    He didn''t know what was wrong with this guy. Out of so many people shooting at him, he ignored them all but fixed his gaze on Xu Yi?


    Scanning the area, he didn''t spot the exorcist from the James Bodyguard Group. The chances of those three exorcists fleeing were slim; most likely, they were cut down by Jason.


    Could it be that he prioritizes attacking exorcists?


    Xu Yi didn''t have time to think further because Jason was already charging towards him. Though he seemed not to be moving fast, in the blink of an eye, Jason was right before Xu Yi, raising the cold, gleaming machete.


    Xu Yi was beside himself with terror, swiftly dodging to the side. His instincts in combat techniques led him to kick out at Jason.


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    Jason swept his left hand, contacting Xu Yi''s foot with his arm.


    Xu Yi felt a tremendous force, something far beyond human, like a fierce beast. He was flung away, crashing into the wall like a rag doll.


    He grunted, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth¡ªjust from that brief contact, he had already sustained serious injuries.


    Jason was not an opponent he could defeat at this moment!


    Xu Yi quickly realized this, and fortunately, being swept away also allowed him to create some distance from his adversary.


    Without a word, Jason charged at Xu Yi again. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment, a loud gunshot rang out, resounding clearly even within the dense gunfire, distinctly audible.


    James had fired, wielding that legendary Exorcism Artifact, the Alchemy Revolver known as the Messiah, its craftsmanship long forgotten.


    The bullet, imbued with the power of exorcism, hit Jason''s chest. The bullet wasn''t expelled by his muscle, nor did the wound heal.


    Jason even entered a state of stasis, as though the driving circuit of a machine had been cut, preventing him from moving.


    "James, good job!"


    Xu Yi praised in his heart, then without hesitation, dashed to the edge of the balcony, gracefully flipping over the railing. He landed and rolled to mitigate the impact of the fall, then ran off into the forest.


    This series of movements was swift and stylish, resembling a rabbit''s escape, such that even parkour masters would be envious.


    Xu Yi entered the edge of the forest, followed by more intense gunfire behind him, then horrified screams.


    The screams quickly ceased. The fate of James and his men was clear, and Xu Yi found a tour car parked by the roadside.


    The resort was expansive, with winding stone paths; to leave quickly, it was best to take one of these small and nimble tour cars.


    But the moment he rushed to the tour car, a figure flashed from the shadows of the nearby trees. It was the very person Xu Yi had been worrying about, Crystal Lake''s own Jason.


    Xu Yi gasped coldly. When had the other caught up?


    ```

 Chapter 64 Jasons Hunting Mode

    Xu Yi watched Jason warily. The latter had just been through a fierce battle, yet his aura hadn''t changed in the slightest, as cold and indifferent as a block of ice.What concerned Xu Yi even more was, how exactly had the other party gotten in front of him and then lay in ambush in the shadows?


    Teleportation?! The thought flashed through Xu Yi''s mind.


    His expression grew grave. If Jason could teleport, there was no way he could outrun him.


    Jason didn''t give Xu Yi much time to think; he once again picked up his large machete and walked towards Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi twisted the switch on the bottom of the Exorcism Lighter, turning it into a Molotov Cocktail, and threw it fiercely at Jason, trying to delay his steps with this method.


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    Then Xu Yi paid the price for the lack of information.


    Jason advanced, swinging his machete, and cut three times in two short seconds.


    The first cut split the blazing lighter, the second forced Xu Yi to dodge to the left, and the third cut open Xu Yi''s throat, with blood spraying out.


    These three cuts were plain and unadorned, without a trace of flourishes, but this was the true art of swordsmanship for killing!


    If Jason''s swordsmanship could be classified, it would be at least at the "master level."


    Xu Yi could only perceive the afterimage of the blade. This speed of cutting couldn''t possibly be countered with common combat techniques.


    He covered his throat, but he couldn''t stop the gushing blood and eventually fell to the ground, unwilling to give in.


    Xu Yi was dead.


    The first Resurrection Coin activated, and time reverted to 10 minutes prior.


    The golden glow from the Resurrection Coin was so bright he couldn''t open his eyes; Xu Yi instinctively shut them tightly.


    "If you join us, this gun and its bullets, I''ll give them all to you."


    The familiar words reached his ears again, and Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes.


    He looked at James, who was speaking confidently in front of him, and wanted to punch him, but he knew that would only worsen the situation, so he stayed calm.


    "This is a big decision; I need to talk it over with my agent."


    Xu Yi pulled out a "brick" cellphone, which Ailent had given him for convenience.


    "Of course!" James wouldn''t refuse, pondering if Xu Yi''s mention of consulting his agent meant he was tempted.


    Xu Yi dialed the landline at Ailent''s home, and, coincidentally, Ailent had just returned and quickly answered the call. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Boss! Is the resort fun? Are there bikini beauties?"


    Ailent glanced at the kitchen, where his wife was busy and hadn''t noticed him.


    Knowing that Xu Yi was attending the opening ceremony of the resort, he teased in a relaxed tone.


    Then he was stunned.


    "What? Ailent had a car accident and is now unconscious in the hospital! Okay, okay, I''ll come back right away!"


    Xu Yi''s cry of alarm came through, and then the call click, hung up, leaving Ailent standing there in bewilderment.


    When did I have a car accident?


    At Crystal Lake''s ''Deadly'' Village, thousands of miles away, Xu Yi hung up and mentally apologized to Ailent. For the sake of his escape plan, he had to "sacrifice" Ailent a little.


    "Mr. James, I''m terribly sorry, but I''m afraid I''ll have to leave," Xu Yi said, holding his phone with an anxious face.


    As a researcher in Psychology, Xu Yi was well aware of how to act convincingly.


    "Of course, if there''s an emergency, you have to take care of it. It''s not too late to come back here for a visit another time," James replied, none the wiser, politely bidding him farewell.


    He felt a bit disgruntled. Why did Xu Yi''s agent have to get into a car accident right at this time?


    "Someone, drive Mr. Xu Yi away."


    The tour vehicle traveled along the cobblestone path, and Xu Yi, claiming he "wanted to experience this unique vehicle," obtained the right to control the steering wheel.


    The waiter responsible for seeing off guests immediately experienced what was dubbed "The Fast and the Furious" ¨C the sightseeing vehicle, with an 80 km/h speed limit, morphed into a Formula One racing car in Xu Yi''s hands.


    The cobblestone road was far from smooth, and the sightseeing car sped wildly, bouncing the waiter''s stomach acid around.


    "Faster! Even faster!"


    Xu Yi pressed the gas pedal to the floor, feeling it was still too slow, alas, on such cobblestone paths, a common sedan simply couldn''t make the drive.


    Dark clouds chased after them, and once again lightning that split the sky descended. Xu Yi was very clear that with each lightning strike, the demon in Crystal Lake had awakened.


    "Once we get out of this darned place, we shouldn''t be chased any longer by Jason," Xu Yi thought, as he saw the doorway becoming ever near, and gradually he began to relax.


    Just then, a large hand quietly landed on the waiter''s head, twisting off the waiter''s head far easier than opening a bottle cap, sending blood spraying everywhere.


    Xu Yi sensed the commotion behind him and spun around fiercely. The familiar figure, the familiar hockey mask, and the large machete.


    It was Jason! How could he be here?


    At this time, shouldn''t he be dealing with James''s Bodyguard Group? Could his killing pace really have escalated to this level?


    That''s not right!


    Even if Jason was quick-handed, he couldn''t possibly reach this extent.


    As a killing machine, Jason''s biggest weakness was the lack of an "area of effect" skill; it was not possible for him to quickly take care of so many people.


    A thought suddenly struck Xu Yi; his complexion turned quite ugly.


    Undoubtedly, Jason had been resurrected in Crystal Lake, where there had been many people by the shore, so why didn''t he commence a slaughter there, instead of going out of his way to the area around James''s room?


    Piecing together the previous events in the room, where he was targeted first, Xu Yi instantly understood.


    Jason possessed a formidable Perception Ability and would prioritize killing those who posed a threat!


    Who could be a threat to a demon? Naturally, only an exorcist. Therefore, the three exorcists in James''s Bodyguard Group were probably the first to die.


    What''s worse, in hunting exorcists, Jason followed a principle of "far before near."


    In simpler terms, whoever ran fastest was targeted first.


    Xu Yi clenched his teeth in irritation. Damn Jason, even prioritizing his killings.


    By running away earlier, he had inadvertently drawn Jason''s attention away from James, but he guessed that it probably wouldn''t be long before James saw the same fate.


    Xu Yi harshly turned the steering wheel, attempting to shake Jason off the car, which was an open-top sightseeing vehicle.


    But Jason clung steadfastly to the overhead steel beam, with a strength great enough to crush steel, making the idea of throwing him off a fool''s dream.


    Xu Yi decisively leapt out of the car and, while rolling to dissipate force, he fished out the Exorcism Lighter from his pocket, twisting the mechanism to transform it into a Molotov Cocktail, and hurled it hard at Jason.


    This time Jason couldn''t slice through the lighter, and the lighter exploded thunderously, the Ethereal Flame engulfing Jason.


    The sightseeing car, having lost control, flipped over, and the leaking oil was ignited by the flames, causing another explosion.


    Even under the scorching flames, Jason remained silent. However, he didn''t immediately pursue Xu Yi. He stood stunned for a moment before stepping out of the flames.


    Xu Yi identified a not-so-weak point of Jason, the exorcism flames affected him.


    Without daring to linger, he turned and continued to flee for his life.


    Although Xu Yi was unwilling to surrender without a fight, he still ended up unable to avoid his fate of being cut down by Jason''s blade.


    Lying in a pool of blood, Xu Yi stared quietly at Jason, who was simply too powerful, not someone he could currently handle.


    He died once more and returned to the Resurrection Space.


    Xu Yi calmed down and thought it over. Although he lost a Resurrection Coin, it wasn''t all for naught; at least he understood Jason''s "hunting mode."


    "Could this be used to our advantage?" he pondered.


    A new plan slowly took shape in Xu Yi''s mind.


    The Resurrection Coin shone with dazzling light once again; he had already used one Resurrection Coin, and today he could use four more.

 Chapter 65 Bold Plan

    "If you join us, this gun and the bullets can be yours,"As soon as Xu Yi opened his eyes, it was the same old lines, the same old script.


    "Mr. James, this is a serious matter, I need a little time to think,"


    Xu Yi had already prepared his excuse, "I''m very interested in this resort, how about we take a walk around? Maybe I''ll have an answer by then."


    James naturally wouldn''t refuse, strolling around the resort was part of the morning''s planned activities, and starting a bit earlier wasn''t an issue. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, what puzzled him was that Xu Yi wasn''t interested in the swimsuit-clad beauties by the lake nor in the Wealth Street that represented riches but was instead keen on the flower field at the entrance.


    "When I came in, I saw a beautiful field of flowers, but alas, it was just a brief glimpse, which I quite regret,"


    That was Xu Yi''s exact words, which genuinely baffled James.


    Not interested in beauties, nor wealth, only in flowers? What kind of flower connoisseur was this?


    Over a dozen sightseeing cars carried everyone to the entrance. Passing by the backyard, Xu Yi saw a small plane parked on the lawn.


    "What about that small plane?" Xu Yi''s heart stirred, and he asked out loud.


    He hadn''t noticed the small plane before, as he always took the path on the left. Now, because of the crowd, they first needed to reach the parking lot on the right to find enough sightseeing cars.


    "That''s one of my vehicles. If Mr. Xu likes it, you can take it," James said, waving his hand generously, exuding lavishness.


    "My place has no room for parking it, best not," Xu Yi waved his hand dismissively.


    If he had known there was a plane in the backyard earlier, he might have changed his plans, but it was too late now. Dark clouds were already pushing across the sky, and that peculiar flash of lightning was about to strike.


    The sky grew dark, and the rumble of thunder rolled through the clouds.


    "Why does it look like it''s going to rain all of a sudden?" James muttered, frowning.


    "Watching flowers in the rain has a unique charm! I remember there''s a Roman pavilion near the Flower Field," said Xu Yi quickly, dispelling James''s thought of returning to the hotel.


    James, hearing Xu Yi''s words, had no choice but to abandon the idea of going back to the hotel.


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    His visit here today was to woo Xu Yi; a small matter like this wasn''t going to cause him to oppose Xu Yi.


    As they passed by the resort''s public restroom, Xu Yi suddenly clutched his stomach, a pained expression on his face.


    "What''s wrong?" James asked curiously.


    "My stomach hurts, I must have eaten something bad, I''ll go to the restroom. Could you, Mr. James, please wait for me in the Flower Field? I''ll be right there," Xu Yi said as he clutched his stomach and got off the car.


    James offered to wait for Xu Yi, but Xu Yi politely declined, and after some courteous back-and-forth, James agreed.


    He admittedly didn''t want to wait outside a restroom.


    No sooner had Xu Yi stepped inside the restroom than a tremendous clap of thunder sounded, and blinding lightning illuminated half the sky, as the bolt that would awaken the demon Jason struck down.


    He hurriedly turned and left the restroom, striding to the driver''s seat of the sightseeing car.


    "Mr. Xu, what is this?"


    The attendant, following James''s orders to wait for Xu Yi outside the restroom, was startled to see Xu Yi emerge and said,


    That was fast! That amount of time wouldn''t even be enough to wipe one''s butt, would it?


    "The pain in my stomach suddenly stopped," Xu Yi shook his wrist at the attendant, "Oh, I left my watch at the hotel, could you go get it for me? I need to catch up with Mr. James now!"


    With that, Xu Yi pressed the accelerator and the sightseeing car charged off like an enraged bull.


    "Mr. Xu, that''s not the way to the Flower Field," the attendant raised his hand, but his words trailed off as Xu Yi disappeared from sight.


    Xu Yi of course knew that the way ahead did not lead to the Flower Field; he had never planned on going there in the first place.


    He had sent James and his group to the Flower Field just as a diversion, using them as bait to lead away Jason. He planned to leave through a side gate.


    Since James, for the sake of profit, had developed this site and thereby awakened the demon Jason, Xu Yi felt no guilt in making James the bait.


    Moreover, James and his crew were doomed to die anyway, sooner or later, there was no difference.


    The sound of gunfire suddenly shattered the tranquility of the resort, and Xu Yi immediately floored the accelerator, pushing the tour car to its limits.


    Jason had already engaged with James''s group, and after dealing with them, he would immediately come after Xu Yi, so speed was essential!


    Racing down the road, Xu Yi felt a slight sweat on his forehead, and the prolonged tension was wearing him down. Fortunately, he could already see the resort''s main gate.


    There was a guard at the side door, but Xu Yi didn''t pay any attention to him, stepping on the gas and bursting out, while the guard could only watch him leave.


    Xu Yi slowly exhaled, the chill that had been lingering around him vanished after he left the resort, and his taut nerves were finally relieved.


    Just then, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye, and his heart skipped a beat.


    Jason, wearing a hockey mask, stood by the railing, quietly watching him, with a guard whose throat had been slit lying at his feet.


    Jason had followed him!


    But a question immediately surfaced in Xu Yi''s mind: why was the other man standing inside the fence instead of lying in wait ahead of him?


    Could it be that Jason couldn''t, or was unwilling to leave Crystal Lake?


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up, he didn''t know why, but it was undoubtedly a great relief for him.


    As long as he could escape from here, he wouldn''t have to worry about Jason''s pursuit anymore.


    The open fields and highway appeared before him, and Xu Yi felt his spirits lift; he was about to leave this cursed place!


    At that moment, a strange force suddenly struck him, his body abruptly stiffened as if weighed down by a thousand pounds, and to his astonishment, he found he couldn''t move at all.


    Without a doubt, this was Jason''s doing!


    Unable to move, he couldn''t steer the car, and it crashed straight into the roadside railing.


    The front of the car jolted violently, but fortunately, Xu Yi was wearing his seatbelt and wasn''t thrown out, and the airbag deployment spared him from worse injury.


    He shook his dazed head, seeing double despite the crash that had left him reeling. Yet, the good news was that he could move again.


    But his relief lasted only a few seconds before a dark shadow whooshed towards him with a piercing sound, and Xu Yi had just enough time to turn his head before feeling a sharp pain in his forehead.


    A large machete had penetrated his skull!


    Such immense strength! Such precise weapon throwing!


    These were Xu Yi''s last thoughts before he slowly sank into darkness.


    Xu Yi had died again, returning to the Resurrection Space.


    This time he had been close to success, perhaps a further refined plan and slightly more speed would allow him to escape next time.


    But Xu Yi was unwilling to do so.


    Having died twice already, Xu Yi wasn''t discouraged; these deaths provided him with a lot of important information.


    "Blindly running away isn''t the best approach, is there a way to ''kill'' Jason?"


    Recalling his previous experiences of death, a bold plan slowly formed in Xu Yi''s mind.


    He glanced at the Resurrection Coins available for today''s use; there were three left.


    Even if he died once more, he''d still have two Resurrection Coins as a safety net, or he could use two at once to turn the clock back twenty minutes.


    At that point, he had just entered the resort, and escaping would have been easy.


    The reason he hadn''t used this method from the start was initially due to wishful thinking, wanting to save on Resurrection Coins, and later because of his pride.


    Even if it was the legendary demon Jason, he still wanted to wrestle with him.


    Most importantly, the system vaguely hinted that if he could ''kill'' Jason even once, he would gain unspeakable benefits.

 Chapter 66 Thanks for the Legendary Exorcism Artifact Sent by the Old Iron

    Enshrouded by the light of the Resurrection Coin, Xu Yi opened his eyes as James slid the box containing the Alchemical Revolver Messiah towards him."If you join us, the gun and the bullets, they can all be yours,"


    He had heard this offer so many times that his ears could have developed calluses.


    "Okay! Thank you!" Xu Yi took the box in one fell swoop, holding it in his hand, "I''m pleased to work for Mr. James."


    "With me, whether it''s beauties or riches¡­" James started to persuade subconsciously, but he suddenly froze, looking up in astonishment.


    The other party had actually agreed!


    So decisively? Without even a moment''s hesitation.


    Could the allure of the Alchemical Revolver Messiah and the Demon-Breaking Flame Bullets really be that great?


    Xu Yi didn''t care what James was thinking at all; anyway, James was about to die soon, and it was better to take the revolver for himself rather than let someone else benefit from it.


    Moreover, the Alchemical Revolver Messiah was also a key part of the plan.


    "May I know what conditions are required for a Spiritual Awakening?" James, seeing Xu Yi accept the Alchemical Revolver, asked eagerly.


    Xu Yi responded with a few noncommittal words, then took out his phone, "Mr. James, may I make a phone call?"


    Of course, James wouldn''t refuse.


    Xu Yi dialed Ailent''s number, then began to talk as if to himself, "What? You''re also at Skysea Lake Resort, almost at the entrance, good! But I can''t leave right now, okay, I''ll find a way for someone to pick you up."


    Ailent, who was far away at home, stared at the disconnected phone with a bewildered face.


    "Mr. James, I happen to have an exorcist friend nearby, would it be too much trouble to have someone pick him up for me?" Xu Yi requested.


    "This friend of mine is a bit of a loner and doesn''t like to mingle with common folks," Xu Yi added.


    James understood instantly, what''s called being a loner was actually just being arrogant, and he had encountered such exorcists before.


    "Then let''s trouble Hill to go pick up this friend!" James said.


    Hill was one of the three exorcists under his command.


    Xu Yi silently applauded James, not bad for a boss, his comprehension was indeed strong.


    In this ghastly place, of course, he knew no exorcists. The "creating friends out of thin air" trick was laying groundwork for subsequent plans; he needed someone to stall for time on his behalf.


    After Hill asked for the name, he set out.


    Watching Hill leave, Xu Yi suddenly changed his tone, "Mr. James, a certain condition must be met for Spiritual Awakening, so how about this: I draw a picture first to test it out for you!"


    James perked up immediately, talking about this, he wasn''t the least bit sleepy!


    The whole reason he was so eager to recruit Xu Yi was indeed for the Spiritual Awakening, the Transcendence from the mundane, wasn''t it?


    The more he confronted Evil Spirits and Demons, the more anxious he became. Neither Exorcism Artifacts nor exorcist bodyguards could truly set his mind at ease.


    He was fully aware that power was only real when it was in one''s own hands.


    Xu Yi took out a pen and sketchbook, seemingly staring blankly into space, yet his hand never stopped moving.


    At that moment, dark clouds rolled in from the horizon, with thunder roaring.


    Xu Yi drew faster and faster, his hand even blurring as if casting shadows, creating a sizzling noise from the friction between the pen and the paper. Your next read is at empire


    When the lightning struck Crystal Lake, Xu Yi stopped drawing.


    He wasn''t conducting a test for James; he was performing a "Psychic Drawing."


    Atop the painting, a shadow emitting a cold aura appeared intermittently in the thunder and lightning, a hockey mask, a sharp cleaver.


    Without a doubt, the Psychic drawing would only yield one result, that was the Demon Jason.


    "What does this mean?" James asked, looking at the Jason in the painting with confusion.


    "Mr. James, my painting also has the effect of divination. The moment this situation occurs, it means you''re going to be in big trouble very soon!" Xu Yi said with a serious expression.


    James shuddered, instinctively believing Xu Yi''s words.


    It was really the character in the painting that was too malevolent, giving him a cold feeling of suffocation.


    "So, what do we do now?" James asked urgently.


    "Isn''t there a small airplane parked in the backyard? Let''s get on the plane and leave this place immediately!" Xu Yi stood up and hurried towards the backyard.


    James instinctively followed in Xu Yi''s footsteps. Just at that moment, a scream came from across the lake, intensifying the unease in his heart, prompting him to quicken his pace.


    "Pilot! Quick! We''re leaving right now!" James shouted frantically as he rushed towards the airplane.


    The sudden change in the weather, the eerie painting, and the screams from the lakeside... When all these were put together, it scared James out of his wits.


    Regardless of whether what Xu Yi was saying was true or not, he decided to leave first.


    James''s actions were all within Xu Yi''s expectations. When devising the plan, Xu Yi had already taken James''s character into account.


    As soon as Xu Yi boarded the airplane, he started looking for a parachute and put one on, with James doing the same.


    As for the other bodyguards, they weren''t so lucky; after all, it was only a small airplane and there were a limited number of parachutes available.


    The pilot started the airplane''s engines, the wings rotated, emitting a whistling wind, and the flowers in the lawn garden bowed low towards the ground.


    A small airplane, unlike a car, can''t just start the engine and go immediately; it needed some time to accelerate the wings before it could take off and fly.


    This was why Xu Yi "fabricated friendship", having James ask the exorcist to go to the entrance. Only by temporarily distracting Jason could the airplane have enough time to take off.


    The airplane left the ground, roaring towards the sky.


    Xu Yi held his breath in anticipation, as the next step was the most critical part of the plan!


    Screams suddenly came from below. James had only brought one exorcist onto the airplane; another exorcist had been left below, due to the limited seating on the small plane.


    James was startled by the screams, whereas Xu Yi slowly let out a sigh of relief; heaven still favored him.


    If Jason had targeted the airplane first, it would have undoubtedly meant the failure of his plan. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To reduce the chance of the airplane being attacked first, he had to get the timing of the takeoff just right, neither too early nor too late.


    If the takeoff was too early, Jason would definitely attack the airplane first, but if it was too late, the plane could be affected by the chaos and unable to take off, so this timing was crucial.


    The Bodyguard Group left below had already discovered Jason and were pulling their guns to shoot him.


    Bullets penetrated the outer layer of Jason''s muscles, blood splashing out; not only did this not stop Jason, but it also provoked his ferocity, his pupils gleaming with a strange blood light.


    In the hail of bullets, Jason raised his cleaver and began a chilling slaughter.


    The remaining Bodyguard Group of about 40 people below, Jason wiped them out in just a mere five minutes!


    James was terrified, but fortunately, the airplane had ascended to a certain altitude, heading out of the resort, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.


    Unlike James, Xu Yi was on the opposite, his entire body tense, vigilant to every movement around him.


    Jason stood silently amidst the pile of corpses, looking up at the plane above his head, and with another clap of thunder, he disappeared abruptly from the spot.

 Chapter 67 The same move doesnt work on a Saint

    Xu Yi suddenly smelled a damp mist, carrying a chilling coldness. Instinctively, he dodged to the side and turned his head, catching a glimpse of a towering figure in his peripheral vision.He''s here! He''s finally here!


    The Crystal Lake murderer, Jason!


    A machete skimmed past his clothes, and Xu Yi broke out in a cold sweat. Had he not dodged quickly, his head might have been severed from his neck.


    The frosty machete continued its relentless swing toward the person in the adjacent seat¡ªJames.


    James really hit a streak of bloody bad luck!


    He had sat next to Xu Yi hoping to avoid disaster by relying on the "Prophet Xu," but his clever plan backfired. Exorcists like Xu Yi were Jason''s primary targets.


    Blood splattered as James''s neck, along with the bones within, was cleaved open in a single stroke.


    James died just like that, with not a ripple of resistance, not even having had the chance to see the Demon, Jason, with his own eyes.


    In the eyes of the Demon, whether one is a billionaire or a ragged beggar on the street, everyone is treated the same.


    The bodyguards panicked instantly as their employer died before their eyes, suddenly losing their pillar of support.


    But they were well-trained bodyguards. After a moment of shock, they quickly drew their handguns and began to return fire.


    The sound of gunfire was continuous. At first, the bodyguards remained calm, shooting carefully to avoid hitting anyone else.


    But they soon started to crumble, screaming in terror and pulling the trigger haphazardly, emptying their magazines in just a second or two.


    For they realized that their bullets were completely ineffective against the Demon before them.


    As the machete swung, more and more bodyguards fell, their severed remains flying, and the thick scent of blood intensified the terror in the hearts of the bodyguards.


    Apart from Xu Yi, there was another exorcist on the plane.


    He managed to remain calm at first, but when he realized that the Exorcism Artifact only made Jason pause briefly, he panicked completely, his face painted with terror as he lunged for James, trying to strip the parachute from the corpse.


    But he had barely taken two steps when Jason grabbed his head.


    Jason''s palm squeezed, and the exorcist''s head burst open like a watermelon, brain matter mixing with blood, splattering everywhere.


    This bloody scene caused the bodyguards to completely lose their sanity, firing wildly.


    In the chaos of gunfire, a bullet flew toward the front seat and with a "bang," the glass shattered. The pilot slumped over the instrument panel, a bullet hole in the back of his skull, blood pouring out.


    As the pilot fell, his hand accidentally touched the control stick, causing the plane to make a sharp turn, spinning out of control in the air.


    While Jason was battling the bodyguards, Xu Yi had quietly made his way to the plane''s door.


    He manipulated the emergency lock on the door, forcing it open against the roaring wind that blew debris around the cabin.


    Just as Xu Yi was about to jump out and escape, he found himself suddenly unable to move.


    It wasn''t just him; everyone in the cabin was frozen in place, their expressions of horror locked on their faces.


    Jason strode toward Xu Yi, machete swinging, casually killing the bodyguards in his path.


    Heads fell, and pressurized blood splashed on the ceiling before dripping down like a blood rain, with Jason performing the act of killing amid this rain of blood.


    "That move again!" Xu Yi watched Jason''s massacre without any internal disturbance, as he had become numb from the intensity.


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    Jason stood in front of Xu Yi, drenched in blood as if he had just emerged from a Blood Pool.


    He raised the machete high, ready to end Xu Yi''s life.


    At that moment, Xu Yi suddenly moved, pulling out the Alchemical Revolver Messiah with lightning speed. He had already drawn this legendary Exorcism Artifact.


    He pulled the trigger, the chamber spun, the bullet fired, hitting Jason directly in the heart.


    Xu Yi could feel that at the instant the bullet left the barrel, the Alchemy Revolver bestowed a "blessing" upon it; this was the origin of the gun''s name, Messiah.


    In Christianity, the Messiah is the Savior who blesses the world.


    Under the suppression of the Exorcism Bullets, Jason froze in place, unable to move.


    "Don''t you know the same move doesn''t work on a Saint Knight?" Xu Yi quipped, quickly releasing the lighter he was holding in his left hand.


    The Exorcism Lighter clinked as it fell to the ground, its pale gold flame still burning.


    Xu Yi shook his hand repeatedly, his left palm burning with pain. A small part of his palm had been scorched by the flame. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After suffering from the backlash during his second reincarnation, he began to think of a solution.


    Undoubtedly, the key to breaking the constraint was "getting hurt."


    When the sightseeing car hit the railing, he was subjected to a severe impact, and as a result, he accidentally broke the constraint.


    When Jason was battling the bodyguards, Xu Yi had been on alert, taking out the Exorcism Lighter from his pocket and holding it in his left hand, allowing its flame to sear his palm.


    The effect of the Ethereal Flame was bound to be better than a car crash, and sure enough, it quickly broke the constraint as expected.


    Xu Yi picked up the Exorcism Lighter from the ground, as Jason was also regaining his mobility at that time.


    The Alchemical Revolver Messiah, passed down to this day, had a significantly reduced exorcism efficacy. Even if the Exorcism Bullets hit vital spots like the heart, they only caused Jason to stiffen for two seconds.


    But this was all within Xu Yi''s expectations, and without any hesitation, he immediately pulled the trigger, aiming another shot at Jason''s heart.


    Jason stiffened once again, and in the same instant, Xu Yi had already pulled out the chains hidden under the seat. These chains were used for lifting cargo on planes.


    Xu Yi grabbed the chains and charged toward Jason, rapidly wrapping them around him, binding Jason and the plane''s support frame together.


    During this process, Jason tried to move twice, but Xu Yi promptly fired two more Exorcism Bullets.


    Xu Yi had originally planned to jump from the plane, but upon seeing James''s corpse on the ground, a spark of inspiration struck him. He lifted James''s body and bound it together with Jason.


    The chains suddenly shook, making a clattering noise, which startled Xu Yi.


    The effect of the Exorcism Bullets shouldn''t have worn off yet, right?


    He swiftly turned his head, seeing Jason struggling to break free from the chains, and he immediately realized that Jason was developing a resistance against the Exorcism Bullets, shortening their effective time.


    He hastily pulled the trigger, two consecutive shots hit Jason''s chest.


    The Alchemy Revolver clicked dryly; the six chambers of the revolver were now empty.


    Reloading the revolver was not convenient, especially for a rookie like Xu Yi.


    "It seems that after this, I have to seriously learn this technique!" Xu Yi resolved internally.


    There was no time for reloading, and he didn''t have any spare bullets on him, except for that Demon-Breaking Flame Bullet.


    But using the Demon-Breaking Flame Bullet on Jason would be a terrible waste.


    The primary use of the Demon-Breaking Flame Bullet was for research, and he would not use it unless absolutely necessary.


    As the effect of the Exorcism Bullets faded, Jason''s strength gradually returned, his muscles tensing as the chains were pulled taut by his immense strength.


    Xu Yi was well aware that just the chains alone could not hold Jason.


    As he ran towards the hatch, the chains emitted a grating sound, showing signs of breaking.


    Xu Yi stood by the hatch, looking back. He met Jason''s cold pupils and shuddered. He saw an unusual emotion in the other''s eyes.


    This emotionless killing machine was actually enraged!

 Chapter 68 Chain of Deadly Traps (Please Follow and Save the Dogs Life)

    Jason was about to break free, and Xu Yi knew he couldn''t wait any longer.He pulled out the sketchbook, flipping to the page with Jason.


    "Thy soul is sealed within this painting, I am the king of the canvas..."


    Xu Yi rapidly chanted, his speed so astonishing that it was impossible to make out what he was saying¡ªit sounded like a cassette player at maximum fast-forward.


    But it was still too slow. Xu Yi looked up to find that some of the chains had already been shattered.


    He had no choice but to skip the prayer, even though it would diminish the power; he couldn''t afford to concern himself with that now.


    Xu Yi held the military saber, borrowed from a bodyguard before getting on the plane.


    "I shall mete out upon thee the punishment of Judgment!"


    The saber came down hard, piercing through the sketchbook and into the heart of Jason drawn within.


    Jason seized up on the spot, immobilized by the power of Judgment.


    Xu Yi''s hand hadn''t left the saber when suddenly it started trembling as if an invisible force were acting upon it, trying to pull it away from the paper.


    Xu Yi was taken aback; when Mary Shaw had faced Judgment, she had been completely helpless. This showed that Jason was far more powerful than Mary Shaw.


    He gripped the saber tightly, not letting it leave the paper, but the force grew stronger, and Xu Yi knew he couldn''t hold on much longer.


    He lifted the saber that had pierced the sketchbook and, using all his strength, drove it down into the seat, nailing it to the wooden planks below the table.


    Then, no longer concerning himself with the saber, he quickly took out all the Exorcism Lighters he had on him, triggered the mechanism at the base, transforming them into Molotov Cocktails, and hurled them at Jason en masse.


    Xu Yi didn''t even have time to check the effect of the Exorcism Lighters; he turned sharply and jumped out of the plane door, the gale hitting his face, his clothes flapping loudly.


    Just before hitting the ground, Xu Yi pulled out a Desert Eagle.


    It was found on James, un-fired, the magazine still full.


    He pulled the trigger repeatedly, aiming not at Jason, but at the fuel tank under the plane and the rapidly rotating wings.


    His shooting was quite average, but fortunately, there was plenty of ammunition. After he emptied the magazine, two shots finally struck the fuel tank, and one hit the wing.


    Though out of control, the plane could still fly awkwardly due to the intact wings, but once a piece of the wing broke off, the balance was lost.


    The plane started to spiral, like a mad beast plummeting from the sky.


    Pale gold flames suddenly burst forth from the cabin; the Exorcism Lighters had exploded, and the fierce fire engulfed Jason.


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    Screams from Jason came from above, leaving Xu Yi stunned. Could the Ethereal Flame be that powerful?


    He suddenly felt a strong fluctuation, mixed with the magnetic fields of over a dozen different Exorcism Artifacts.


    Could it be that the Ethereal Flame ignited an Exorcism Artifact on James, which then triggered other Magic Artifacts, causing a chain reaction?


    In Xu Yi''s field of vision, a blinding white light burst from the cabin, as if a small sun had risen there, with Jason''s screams continuing.


    Xu Yi was overjoyed.


    He saw James''s corpse and indeed had thought about triggering the Exorcism Artifacts on the body but wasn''t sure if it would succeed.


    He had just acted on the spur of the moment, never expecting not only to succeed but also to unleash such a formidable force, severely injuring Jason.


    But soon he didn''t have the energy to pay attention to these matters anymore, as the sound of wind roared past his ears while he fell from the sky.


    He tried his best to control the direction of his fall, aiming for the outskirts of the resort while keeping an eye on the falling height, holding onto the parachute release.


    At that height, if one were to crash directly onto the ground, the body would be so smashed up it could be used to stuff dumplings without further chopping.


    As the ground drew ever closer, Xu Yi felt it was about time, and he swiftly opened his parachute.


    The parachute "popped" open with a sound, and the sky blue canopy drifted in the air, like a small blue flower.


    Xu Yi''s plummeting speed plummeted, and he let out a long sigh of relief.


    The worst had not happened, the parachute was not damaged, nor was there a situation like in the movies where it just wouldn''t open, all his repeated checks on the plane hadn''t been in vain.


    Just as the parachute sprang open, an intense explosion suddenly came from the horizon, the plane''s fuel tank had been compromised, finally inducing an explosion.


    In the blazing fireballs, debris scattered across the sky.


    These fragments of the plane were as lethal as bullets, it was a good thing Xu Yi had already moved far away from the plane, otherwise the parachute would definitely have been torn apart.


    The burning plane, like a giant fireball, plummeted towards the ground, dragging a trail of rolling black smoke.


    Bound by chains and badly wounded by the Exorcism Artifact chain explosion, Jason was unable to use teleportation due to the residual power of Judgment suppressing him.


    Teleportation, though powerful, had many limitations, the most important of which was that it could not be used while restrained.


    Fiery flames raged upon Jason, mixed with pale gold Ethereal Flames.


    Jason, along with the plane, crashed violently by the lakeside, and due to the severe impact, it triggered a second explosion of the plane, creating an earth-shattering noise.


    Barely anything was left of the plane but its skeleton, yet the figure of Jason bound to it was still visible.


    Much of Jason''s flesh was charred, his head in the blast center was blown to pieces, pale gold Ethereal Flame spread from the gap in his neck into his body, scorching his bones and internal organs.


    The plane slammed onto the edge of the lake, the recoil made it bounce back up, tumbling into the waters of Crystal Lake, splashing water high.


    The high temperature of the plane upon contact with the lake water instantly produced a dense white mist, and Jason''s body, flushed by the water, seemed to trigger a chain reaction; his charred body dissipated like melting snow.


    "Lucky break!" Xu Yi was somewhat elated, he was about to land on the ground, and unexpectedly, the parachute carried him to the outskirts of the resort.


    From a distance, he could see a large, colorful flower bed, white roses, red roses, light purple hydrangeas...


    These flowers, all in bloom in June, were resplendent.


    With a gust of wind, the fresh flowers swayed across the hills like a colorful ocean.


    "I never thought I''d see this flower field again," Xu Yi murmured to himself.


    Right before him was the Flower Field he had used as an excuse in his second reincarnation.


    He landed on the edge of the Flower Field and hurriedly unbuckled his parachute; his escape journey was not over, and only by putting distance between himself and the resort would he be truly safe.


    On the auxiliary road of the Flower Field was parked a sightseeing car, its driver''s seat stained red with blood, a headless corpse awkwardly lying on the steering wheel.


    Xu Yi remembered the man, he was one of the three Great Exorcists by James''s side, Hill, a cannon-fodder used to attract Jason''s fire, now his body had grown cold.


    He moved the corpse aside and commandeered the sightseeing car, still with the keys in the ignition.


    As the sightseeing car started, only moving a few meters, suddenly the system''s voice rang in Xu Yi''s ears, and he was stunned.


    [Entries Swallowing initiated, Swallowing in progress...]


    What''s going on, could it be that Jason is "dead"? S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although this result was unexpected, it was not impossible.


    Jason had endured the scorching of Ethereal Flames, the onslaught of the Exorcism Artifacts, a plane explosion, a high-altitude fall, and being submerged in water... With such a series of tortures, even someone as strong as Jason would have a hard time surviving.

 Chapter 69 Hyper Accelerated Regeneration (Please follow, save the dogs life)

    Xu Yi was always paying attention to the system notifications, knowing that Jason''s death was only temporary and uncertain when he would resurrect.Is it possible to devour entries in this situation? He was very puzzled.


    [Entry Devouring Triggered, Too Many Target Entries, Commencing Tiered Search.]


    Too many entries? Does that even make sense?


    But soon Xu Yi had no time to complain, staring intently at the system messages.


    [First Level Entry Search In Progress...]


    [Weapon Mastery (White Rare), Master of Weapon Throwing (White Epic), Swordsmanship Master (White Epic)]


    [Second Level Entry Search In Progress...]


    [Strength of the Savage Beast (Green Common), Body of the Fierce Beast (Green Common), Mind Manipulation (Green Rare)]


    [Third Level Entry Search In Progress...]


    [Hyper Accelerated Regeneration (Red Common), Instantaneous Movement (Red Epic)]


    The tiers of entries are "white, green, blue, red, gold, purple", and although Jason did not have any blue entries, he jumped straight to the red ones.


    But it wasn''t over, the system notifications continued.


    [Fourth Level Entry Search In Progress...]


    [Unlimited Resurrection - Pseudo (Gold Rare), Infinite Evolution - Pseudo (Gold Epic)]


    Were these the entries Jason possessed?


    Xu Yi was completely stunned.


    Leaving everything else aside, those gold entries could blind him with their brilliance.


    Especially "Infinite Evolution," having this entry meant an almost limitless range of possibilities, especially when combined with "Unlimited Resurrection."


    Who would want to face such a monster?


    The "Land of Fear at Crystal Lake" is rated at the level of 30 Resurrection Coins, but after seeing the entries that Jason possessed, Xu Yi felt that 30 Resurrection Coins were nowhere near enough to describe Jason''s terror.


    The reason for it being only 30 Resurrection Coins was probably because Jason had not died enough times, and his evolution was not sufficient.


    That was also the reason why he was able to "kill" Jason.


    [Entry Devouring In Progress...]


    [Congratulations, you have obtained a Blank Entry: Weapon Mast...]


    Xu Yi stared doggedly at the system, his heart pounding uncontrollably with excitement at the luxury of Jason''s entries, thinking of the possibilities if he could devour them all... Xu Yi''s eyes turned red.


    But soon, his heart sank to rock bottom.


    [Demon Jason is being resurrected, entry devouring obstructed...]


    Damn! That resurrection was way too fast! Xu Yi cursed inwardly.


    He was disheartened but not overly disappointed; he knew it wouldn''t be that simple.


    The most urgent matter now was to escape, not wanting to waste any more Resurrection Coins.


    The tour vehicle left the resort, the guard nowhere to be seen, perhaps drawn away by the exploding airplane.


    Racing along, Xu Yi dared not slow down, fearing that a glance back would reveal Jason''s terrifying figure.


    Having put some distance between himself and the resort, and no longer seeing its shadow, Xu Yi breathed a deep sigh of relief, feeling a sense of fortunate survival.


    [Jason''s Resurrection Complete, Entry Devouring Interrupted!]


    [Congratulations, you have acquired "Entry Fragment: Hyper Accelerated Regeneration (2/5)"]


    Xu Yi''s emotions were like a roller coaster, plummeting to the depths then suddenly soaring to the heights.


    He stared at the system panel, his eyes shining like two bright bulbs.


    He had given up hope, but the system suddenly delivered this pleasant surprise.


    "If only I could have devoured Infinite Evolution! That''s the real god-tier entry!" Xu Yi muttered to himself.


    But on second thought, he realized he was being too greedy.


    He had never even had a blue entry before, and now he had a "Red Entry," and still, he wasn''t satisfied?


    "But why is it just an entry fragment?"


    Xu Yi suddenly had a bad premonition, and after checking the related information, he sighed.


    "Indeed, it''s not that simple!"


    The so-called Entry Fragments are actually the "Youth Beggar Version" of a maxed Entry; once all the fragments of an Entry are collected, it turns into a maxed Entry.


    Compared to Blank Entries, Entry Fragments have their pros and cons.


    Blank Entries will eventually be maxed out if the right method is found; whereas with Entry Fragments, even though there''s no need to grind, if they are not completed, they''re just decor, utterly useless.


    "Killing a target that possesses the corresponding Entry will guarantee a Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entry Fragment!"


    Xu Yi felt consoled upon seeing the system''s prompt.


    With that, the chances of collecting all the fragments substantially increased.


    Although Hyper Accelerated Regeneration isn''t on the same level as god-tier Entries like Infinite Evolution, it would boost his survival ability by several tiers.


    At the very least, when facing firearms, there was no worry that a single bullet would force him to waste a Resurrection Coin.


    Hyper Accelerated Regeneration could also endow him with formidable close-combat ability, making this Entry extremely versatile.


    The shadow of a small town appeared ahead, and Xu Yi stopped the car by a fast-flowing stream without turning off the engine.


    He placed a stone on the accelerator, and the sightseeing vehicle''s engine roared, driving straight into the stream and splashing water several people high.


    There were bloodstains on the car, and Xu Yi couldn''t be bothered to explain to the police.


    He wasn''t worried about the police coming to check on him, either; when the police got to Crystal Lake, they''d have to survive Jason first before worrying about anything else.


    The stream''s water was ice cold, and Xu Yi cleaned the blood off his hands and took the opportunity to wash his face.


    Just then, his eyes suddenly felt chilly; at first, he thought he had accidentally gotten stream water in them, but soon, he sensed something was wrong.


    His pupils grew colder, as if ice was being poured into them.


    [Eyes of Obscurity +21, Current progress: 21/100.]


    [Eyes of Obscurity: (Green Rare)


    Ability 1 - Visual Enhancement: (Unlocked)


    Vision is enhanced, allowing sight of finer, more distant objects.


    ]


    Hearing the system''s voice, Xu Yi immediately calmed down; he had thought he was cursed or something. Find adventures on empire


    The Eyes of Obscurity came from the long-tongued monster that Mary Shaw had transformed into.


    To upgrade this Entry, he needed to devour the Fog of Obscurity from demons. Jason, being such a powerful demon, naturally had an immense Fog of Obscurity, but when did he absorb it?


    Xu Yi carefully recalled the events, and suddenly it dawned on him.


    He remembered that when he was escaping the resort''s main gate, his eyes did indeed feel cold for a moment, but he was too busy running to pay attention.


    Could it be that after Jason''s "death," the Eyes of Obscurity attracted and devoured the "dark fog" that dissipated in the air? It was very possible.


    The chill in his pupils faded, and Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes.


    What he saw had changed, as if a person who had been nearsighted for years suddenly put on glasses, the world appeared exceptionally clear.


    He could see the little fish swimming in the water and the sand zooming past on the riverbed.


    He looked up, gazing at the distant town; where he''d only been able to see a hazy outline before, he could now make out the scenery of the town clearly.


    "This feeling, it''s like having a high-powered scope right in front of my eyes!" Xu Yi murmured to himself.


    With the Eyes of Obscurity, what he most looked forward to was the "Ultimate Ability." Once he could control the Fog of Obscurity, his combat power would be greatly enhanced.


    The piercing sound of police sirens suddenly rang out; Xu Yi saw a long line of police cars coming out of the town''s entrance, unmistakably headed for Crystal Lake.


    It was conceivable that this place was about to become the center of the storm.


    "I shouldn''t stick around here for long!" Xu Yi quickened his pace toward the small town.


    He found a taxi in the town and headed straight for the airport. On his way out, he saw traffic police closing off the roads, only allowing exit, not entry.


    The discontented people didn''t dare argue with the traffic police because the officers looked serious, with their hands resting on their holsters, ready to draw their guns at any time.


    "What on earth happened here?" the driver muttered to himself.


    Xu Yi ignored him, rolled down the window, and, relying on the potent vision of the Eyes of Obscurity, he looked toward the oncoming bus.


    The bus was packed with people, all wearing the same uniform, pure black robes embroidered with crosses. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The church folks have entered the arena!" Xu Yi heaved a sigh to himself.


    He was a bit curious whether the church would be able to handle Jason.

 Chapter 70 Results Revealed

    The airport was teeming with people, and Xu Yi stood at the security checkpoint, scratching his head. He had run into trouble.He was carrying the Alchemical Revolver Messiah on his person, and for safety reasons, the crew would never allow him to take it on the plane.


    It was also impossible to check in the Alchemy Revolver as luggage, after all, this legendary Magic Artifact was too precious. If it were lost in transit, who could he claim compensation from?


    "The biggest gain this time might not be the fragments of the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entries, but the Alchemical Revolver Messiah and the Demon-Breaking Flame Bullets."


    Xu Yi looked at the backpack he was carrying and sighed to himself.


    In situations like this, the best solution was an "Exorcist License." With a certificate issued jointly by the church and the government, he could rightfully carry weapons onto the plane and move smoothly through some public places.


    He already had a way to get the Exorcist License, but unfortunately, that was a distant solution that couldn''t quench his immediate thirst.


    Should he drive back to New York from here?


    Xu Yi checked the distance between the two locations and instantly dismissed the idea. Driving non-stop for five days might get him back to New York, but it would probably wreck him.


    "If only I had mastered hypnotism!"


    Xu Yi glanced at his entry panel and noticed a synthesis path that had been left idle for a long time, "Hypnosis = Scholar + Psychology."


    Using hypnotism to deal with things like Evil Spirits was like getting a free ride - it had no actual cost - but it could have an amazing effect when used on Common people.


    For one thing, if he had master hypnotism, he might have been able to fool the security check and board the plane successfully.


    [Psychology Entry, Current Progress: 68/100]


    Over the past period, Xu Yi had been reading quite a bit about Psychology sporadically, and his progress had surpassed sixty percent.


    [Scholar Entry, Current Progress: 5/100]


    This was the second time he was refreshing the Scholar entry, and he discovered a "secret."


    That is, refreshing the Scholar entry sped up the process of acquiring experience. This was likely because the previous Scholar entry had enhanced his overall learning abilities.


    "Scholar" could be said to be the most special entry. Not only could it stack infinitely, but it also could "snowball". Other entries simply couldn''t compete.


    "For the next period, I can consider focusing on getting the Hypnosis entry."


    Xu Yi set his next plan in motion, but for now, he could only ask Ailent for help.


    After communicating with Ailent over the phone for a moment, they finally came up with a solution, which was to get an "Antique Certification."


    The process was quite complicated; it would be impossible for a commoner, but Ailent, using his connections and making some moves, managed to get it done.


    Xu Yi had a bit of a reputation in the exorcism world, and with Ailent''s status as an agent, he was now able to reach the upper echelons of society and mobilize some resources.


    That was the advantage of fame.


    On his return trip, Xu Yi still flew business class.


    He nestled into the soft recliner, and fatigue washed over him like a tide.


    Even though it had only been a short afternoon, he had died three times. Against Demon Jason, he had to put out his full effort every time.


    The only thing that had kept him going until now was his strong will.


    Now sitting on the plane, he could finally relax a little, and within a few seconds, he had fallen into a deep sleep.


    He wasn''t sure how long it was before Xu Yi jolted awake, with a slight sweat on his forehead.


    He had actually dreamt about Demon Jason! Was this foreshadowing something?


    Psychics rarely dream, and when they do, it is usually a sign of something to come.


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    "The guy''s name is Jason, not Freddie, so there shouldn''t be any nightmare murder tricks, right?"


    With that thought, Xu Yi relaxed.


    "Dear passengers, the plane will soon arrive at LaGuardia Airport. Please prepare to disembark..." The flight attendant''s announcement came through the plane''s speakers.


    Looking out the window, Xu Yi saw New York beneath the night sky, a city that never sleeps. He had actually slept through the whole journey and arrived at his destination.


    He gazed out the window, lost in thought. Now, he was preoccupied with something else.


    What''s the situation at Crystal Lake now?


    ...


    Chinatown, bathed in the soft glow of dawn.


    Xu Yi, holding a youtiao and soy milk in one hand and the Spiritual Exploration Daily in the other, walked down the street in brown flip-flops, with a stride that suggested he was not on speaking terms with anyone.


    He suddenly stopped, feeling like something was missing, and looked down at his waist. He had an epiphany¡ªit was a long string of jingling keys he was missing.


    "Looks like I need to put in more effort, otherwise I''ll be too embarrassed to even run Duckling Restaurant!"


    Xu Yi sighed and turned his attention back to the newspaper.


    "Multiple disappearances in Queens, New York, eyewitnesses claim to have seen giant rats in the sewers, residents of New York City are advised to reduce outdoor activities at night."


    When did this happen? I can ask Ailent later. Xu Yi thought, as he casually turned the paper over.


    "A Great Exorcist has prophesied the coming of a Dark Epoch!"


    The newspaper sounded quite serious about it, and Xu Yi almost believed it, until he noticed the Exorcism Artifact advertisement at the end of the article.


    Xu Yi couldn''t help but muse, indeed, even exorcists need to make a living!


    He looked over the newspaper for a while and finally found the bit of information he was interested in a small corner.


    "Skysea Lake Resort is completely closed off, church personnel urge everyone to please keep their distance."


    Xu Yi pondered thoughtfully. Without a doubt, the church had not yet found a solution to the Demon Jason, otherwise they wouldn''t be just cordoning off the area.


    Even to avoid unnecessary panic, they did not dare to report the name "Crystal Lake."


    The church was actually quite helpless; they had advised James to shut down the resort, thinking "it''s best to nip potential trouble in the bud."


    They actually didn''t believe that the demon Jason would resurrect, since so much time had passed. If not for the church personnel coincidentally stumbling upon an ancient tome, they wouldn''t even be aware of Jason''s existence.


    Neither the exorcists hired by James nor the church''s investigation team could find any issues.


    So the church merely gave a verbal warning, without any real expectation that James would close down his resort.


    "When you think something won''t happen, it often does," Xu Yi sighed.


    The current approach was quite reasonable; as long as the church doesn''t foolishly try to destroy Jason, everything should be fine.


    He still had plans for Jason, after all; those entries were too tempting, especially the golden epic one titled "Infinite Evolution."


    If Jason was killed too many times and evolved to a chilling degree, he''d probably have to take a detour as well.


    But in the short term, it was impossible for him to truly destroy Jason, so he quickly put it out of his mind, as he had more important things to do today.


    That was the release of the college entrance examination results.


    Xu Yi strolled leisurely to Saint Anna High School.


    The weather was pleasant, and it was results day. The school was crowded with many people, most of whom wore an anxious yet hopeful expression, hurrying along.


    Xu Yi looked relaxed and even had the mood to wander around the school grounds.


    As an elite institution, Saint Anna spared no expense on its infrastructure; the scenery was beautiful, practically a tourist attraction.


    The deeper Xu Yi walked into the school, the more he felt something was off; people frequently glanced at him, and some even tried to intercept him.


    "Senior Xu, can we be friends?" a pretty junior girl handed over a slip of paper, "This is my home phone number."


    Hey, if you want to be friends, just say so, why scratch my palm while handing over the slip of paper? Xu Yi really couldn''t understand girls these days.


    "Xu Yi, would you be interested in going for a night run with me? It''s just by the road next to the Anubis Hotel," a shapely female student threw Xu Yi a flirtatious look.


    What night run? I think you''re looking for someone to hold your bags! Xu Yi firmly refused.


    Xu Zhengzhi suddenly turned and smiled and waved at the figure under the tree, "Maria, are you here to get your transcript too?"


    Maria stood under the shade of the trees, dressed in a white floral dress, slender and elegant. The breeze stirred her long hair and dress, making her look like a delicate little white flower.


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 Chapter 71 Quick Training for Exorcists

    Xu Yi and Maria walked together towards the teaching building.Consequently, the situation took a dive, and those "warm-hearted" junior girls were nowhere to be seen.


    Xu Yi could understand the juniors'' frustration, for having someone like Maria by his side would make any girl who wanted to strike up a conversation feel inferior and lose the courage to approach.


    Interestingly though, Maria never considered herself to be pretty and even felt somewhat inferior, acting with great caution in everything she did.


    Xu Yi had once inquired about this with Maria and concluded that she had serious psychological issues, including a lack of self-awareness and a deeply dependent personality.


    And all this was inseparably connected to Maria''s father, who had instilled in her the belief that she was very ugly since childhood.


    Xu Yi boldly speculated that Maria''s father was either a fool or suffered from some sort of psychological illness.


    "If I let down Maria, won''t I be chopped with a cleaver?"


    Maria had tremendous potential to become a crazy beauty.


    But to his surprise, Maria didn''t shun Lisa; she even felt a bit guilty.


    Could it be that the other party didn''t mind... Xu Yi quickly shifted his attention, as thinking further would turn things into a science fiction movie, then an action movie.


    "Master Hardy!"


    Xu Yi saw Hardy standing ahead in a daze and greeted him.


    "Xu the Academic God!" Hardy saw Xu Yi, suddenly let out an odd cheer, and rushed towards him.


    "Master Hardy, please keep your dignity, I''m not that kind of person!" Xu Yi kept Hardy at bay with an elbow.


    "Xu the Academic God, I saw your report card!" Hardy, oblivious to rebuff, acting like an avid fan upon seeing their idol, looked at Xu Yi with adoration.


    For Hardy, the jealousy towards Xu Yi becoming an exorcist and making big money, having a way with women, was at most admiration, not true worship.


    After all, for a family like his, what they never lacked was money, and with money naturally came women.


    Hardy always believed that money was earned by his family members, while only academic achievements were truly his own through hard work, hence his particular admiration for good students.


    "How did you do on your exams?" Xu Yi asked.


    "So-so, I can probably apply to an Ivy League College at most," answered Hardy nonchalantly.


    If anyone else heard these words, they''d probably want to punch Hardy.


    "You should really get your dad to hire you a bodyguard!" Xu Yi patted Hardy on the shoulder, ready to retrieve his own report card.


    What does hiring a bodyguard mean? Hardy was puzzled.


    Retrieving the report card went smoothly; as soon as Xu Yi entered, the teacher in charge of the report cards greeted him with a welcoming smile and congratulations. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi walked out with the report card, and Maria couldn''t resist leaning over to peek from behind, her face revealing an indescribable satisfaction as she caught his scent.


    "Xu the Academic God, an ACT score of 35.9! SAT score 1596! How did you manage that!" Hardy exclaimed in shock as he looked at the report card.


    Hardy''s words drew a chorus of gasps, and those junior girls who were about to give up suddenly stirred, ready to face the challenge.


    Tall and handsome, excellent in studies, and also an exorcist, where else could you find such a top prospect?


    The American college entrance exams consist of only two examinations, the ACT and the SAT, with the ACT maxed at 36 points and the SAT at 1600 points.


    This meant that Xu Yi was very close to a perfect score.


    Even Xu Yi himself was a bit surprised; he hadn''t expected to score so high.


    One could only say, "Scholars'' entries YYDS," ready for a future that would revolutionize scientific research, "punching Tony, stepping on Uncle Snake, the day is soon at hand."


    "Boss, with these scores, even if you apply to MIT, it''s a sure thing," Hardy shared in Xu Yi''s joy.


    "Do I still need an interview?" Xu Yi modestly inquired at that moment.


    "Unless you show up to the interview high as a kite, I can''t think of a single reason why MIT would reject you," Hardy was confidently assured.


    Moments later, Maria also got her report card and looking at the scores, she silently breathed a sigh of relief.


    "I''m planning to apply to Tufts University, these scores should suffice," Maria briefly explained.


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    Xu Yi glanced at Maria, noting that Tufts University was quite close to MIT, but he didn''t say much, just smiled and nodded his head.


    "After we pick up Lisa, let''s have Ailent take us to the special training!" Xu Yi invited.


    Maria nodded, as it had been agreed upon earlier.


    "What kind of special training?" Hardy asked curiously.


    "Exorcist crash course!" Xu Yi shot Hardy a look.


    ...


    The Mercedes sedan arrived at the suburbs, and Xu Yi stepped out of the car, breathing in the fresh air.


    "It''s been a while since I''ve been here!"


    In front of him was the starting place of Xu Yi''s exorcism career, the Funeral Parlor next to the cemetery.


    In the distance, the statue of Jesus that had been struck by lightning had been put back up, and with that shiny color, it must have been replaced with a new one.


    Ailent had quit his real estate agency job, and naturally, the Funeral Parlor was no longer rented out, but it would be a waste to just let it sit empty. So, Xu Yi had a brainwave, why not turn it into a training ground?


    The large expanse of lawn in front of the Funeral Parlor was just perfect for training.


    Ailent made some simple modifications to the place, adding a number of training facilities in front of the gate: climbing frames, wooden dummies, obstacle race tracks, and the like.


    "Xu Yi, what are we going to train in today?" Lisa took off her hood, basking in the bright sunshine and stretching comfortably.


    She was now dressed in a modified witch''s garb.


    Ever since her last successful exorcism, which earned Xu Yi''s praise, Lisa had suddenly taken a liking to this kind of attire.


    She had Ailent help her order several sets, and the witch outfit she wore today was even more casual, resembling an ordinary hoodie with a hood if you ignored the witchy elements.


    For some reason, Xu Yi felt that Lisa was particularly suited to this style of clothing, mysterious yet with an air of innocence, very appealing.


    "Combat techniques, I''m planning to give both of you a boost in your fighting abilities." Xu Yi watched Lisa and Maria.


    Having seen his fair share of "big scenes," Xu Yi was very clear that a lot of exorcism was "physical work," and without agile movements, one could easily end up at a disadvantage.


    Neither Lisa nor Maria questioned him.


    Lisa had been possessed by a bloodthirsty witch and had witnessed the prowess of the Bulldogs.


    Maria had originally succeeded in helping Xu Yi with an exorcism by relying on Ailan''s swift movements. They both very well understood the importance of combat skills.


    "Go change your clothes first!" Xu Yi looked at the two.


    Lisa was fine, as her specially made witch''s outfit, though seemingly bulky, did not hinder her movements, but Maria was wearing a dress.


    Luckily, Xu Yi was prepared and had purchased training clothes for both of them according to their sizes.


    After changing into their training attire in the Funeral Parlor''s room, they began the day''s first training exercise: running ten laps around the Funeral Parlor.


    "This is so inspiring. It makes me want to join in the training," Ailent murmured softly.


    But he quickly shook his head, knowing that exorcism wasn''t his main job, and it was more urgent to ensure the logistics were in place.


    Moreover, he didn''t have the time; his studio was being refurbished, and the signboard was to be delivered that afternoon, so he needed to go confirm the installation location.


    With that in mind, he diverted his gaze, started the car, and drove toward town.


    The training would last until sunset, by which time he planned to drive back and pick them up.


    By the eighth lap, both Lisa and Maria were gasping for breath, and Xu Yi nodded in satisfaction.


    Both women were delicate and rarely engaged in such intense activities.


    The Funeral Parlor wasn''t large, but the route Xu Yi had planned was quite winding, making each lap roughly 800 meters long. Even at a slow pace, it was hard for the average person to persist.


    Lisa and Maria were already panting and sweating profusely, yet neither of them thought of giving up; their eyes showed resolve.


    This pleased Xu Yi greatly. Exorcism wasn''t about dining out; if you didn''t train hard now, evil spirits wouldn''t spare you out of any moral consideration later.


    If he could train Lisa and Maria well, it would be a considerable boost for Xu Yi.

 Chapter 72 Americas Sharingan

    After running the ten laps, Lisa and Maria collapsed on the lawn, panting heavily.The warm afternoon sun showered over them, and Xu Yi quickly noticed something unusual¡ªLisa''s skin under the sunlight took on an especially crystalline quality, sheened with the luster of jade.


    If one had keen spiritual perception, they would realize that Lisa was absorbing certain special elements from the sunlight and storing them in her body.


    The entry "Saint Hunter Witch" is quite peculiar.


    To gain experience, one must first absorb an adequate amount of sunlight.


    "Does this job originate from a witch, or from someone who wears their underwear on the outside?" Xu Yi couldn''t help but snark.


    Lisa''s daily exorcism training involved basking in the sun, visiting the zoo, then getting familiar with the witchcraft power within her body¡ªnow, one more item could be added: high-intensity exercise.


    These methods were the ways for Lisa to gain entry experience.


    [Saint Hunter Witch, current progress: 16/100]


    Last time it was 8/100, and after so many days, it had only increased by a few points.


    If the experience was gaining this slowly in the early stages, the later stages would be even more difficult.


    Was it the wrong method, or was Lisa getting lazy?


    "Lisa, have you been keeping up with your visits to the zoo lately?" Xu Yi asked.


    "I bought a yearly pass for the zoo and almost go every day; the old man who guards the gate recognizes me now, and he even asked if I''m trying to steal his job!" Lisa said with a downcast face.


    "Then do you feel like it''s been effective?" Xu Yi asked, somewhat embarrassed.


    "There is a little effect, I can now faintly sense the moods of the animals, but to communicate with them, I fear that will take a very long time," Lisa sighed.


    Xu Yi rested his chin on his hand; he had determined that there must be a slight issue with the method. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could it be that the effects of ordinary animals were too weak? A light bulb went off in his head.


    "Lisa, have you seen Black Carp recently?"


    Xu Yi recalled the black cat from Chinatown; it was the cat that had led him to find the vessel of the evil spirit.


    If ordinary animals were ineffective, what about a "Cat King" like Black Carp with its super-strong spiritual perception?


    "Black Carp has been missing these days; I''ve looked around Chinatown several times and haven''t found him," Lisa said, clearly distressed.


    Although Lisa didn''t know the benefits of contacting Black Carp, her subconscious still drove her to do so; it was just unfortunate she couldn''t find Black Carp.


    "Keep looking!" Xu Yi didn''t have a better solution at the moment.


    The rest was over; it was time to begin training in combat techniques. Lisa leaped up from the ground, and Maria stood up, grinding her teeth, but her calves seemed to shake.


    "This recovery ability!" Xu Yi observed Lisa with amazement.


    They had rested for less than ten minutes, and Lisa already seemed as if she hadn''t exercised vigorously at all, filled with vitality.


    He had a thought and remembered one of Lisa''s entries, "Saint Hunter Witch," which included an ability named "Sacred Body (Pseudo)."


    This ability was somewhat akin to a "weakened, low-tier version" of Hyper Accelerated Regeneration, but with the added effect of restraining dark creatures¡ªit also appeared to speed up physical recovery.


    Although the full potential of the Sacred Body ability wasn''t unlocked yet, a hint of its power was already showing.


    "It seems we can increase the training intensity for Lisa!"


    Xu Yi was beginning to anticipate the effects of Lisa''s rigorous training; without a doubt, several rounds of training would at least make her physically much stronger.


    "Next, I will teach you some combat skills."


    Lisa and Maria were very diligent in learning, but Xu Yi''s brow subtly furrowed.


    Lisa had abundant stamina, but her comprehension was quite poor, barely a step away from "exasperating her mentor."


    Why was it that she seemed fine with academic learning, yet struggled so much when it came to fighting?


    Maria had pretty good comprehension, but unfortunately, she was weak; the fact that she could hold out until now was solely due to her willpower.


    Why couldn''t there be a combination of both?


    A fleeting look of disappointment crossed Xu Yi''s eyes, which Maria caught; she lowered her head and clenched her fists.


    When she lifted her head again, her demeanor had completely changed, her eyes sharp as knives.


    Maria released the soul within her body, and now Ailan was in control.


    ```


    "Hi! Handsome, we meet again!" Ailan winked at Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi noticed Maria''s change and clicked his tongue in amazement, not because of Ailan''s personality, but because of her physical strength.


    Just a moment ago, Maria seemed so tired that she was about to collapse, but in the blink of an eye, she was back to full health.


    "Xu handsome, you don''t mind if I ask you to teach me some combat techniques, do you?" Ailan''s gaze was challenging as she stared at Xu Yi.


    "Oh!" Xu Yi instantly became interested.


    It hadn''t been long since the last lesson, and even the Funeral Parlor was just behind them. Who had given Ailan the courage to challenge him?


    Clouds concealed the sun, casting large shadows, and at the moment when the strong wind blew, Xu Yi and Ailan moved simultaneously.


    Ailan''s high kick brought a whistling wind, and Xu Yi raised his hand to block... After a few exchanges, Xu Yi''s expression changed slightly.


    He remembered that during their first fight, her skill couldn''t be described as unrefined; she had literally no skill at all!


    Yet, unexpectedly, after some time apart, her fighting skills had improved several levels.


    What was most fatal was that her combat techniques were exactly the same as his¡ªthose he had just taught Maria!


    Could it be that in just ten or so minutes, she not only learned his techniques but was also able to use them flexibly?


    What kind of American Sharingan is this!


    Xu Yi''s forehead broke out in a light sweat; he had only intended to give Ailan a casual lesson, but as the fight progressed, he had to focus and put in full effort to cope.


    That was because Ailan''s fighting skills were still improving.


    "She''s learning and imitating my techniques through the fight," Xu Yi realized, shocked, and he even subconsciously glanced at Ailan''s pupil color.


    Xu Yi forced himself to calm down and observe Ailan''s movements.


    After two rounds of defense, he finally caught a flaw in her moves, grabbed her wrist, and with a back throw, slammed Ailan heavily on the grass and firmly suppressed her.


    "I was careless just now, let''s go again!" Ailan evidently was not convinced.


    "Next time for sure! Next time for sure!" Xu Yi declined repeatedly.


    If they fought again, he really wasn''t sure he could subdue Ailan. Her speed was faster than his, her body more agile, and even her strength was not inferior to his.


    His only advantage was skill, but that was quickly diminishing, too. If they fought a few more times, he might indeed be overturned.


    "You..." Ailan tried to forcefully break free from Xu Yi''s hold, but then she suddenly calmed down, her eyes becoming gentle.


    Maria suppressed Ailan''s spirit and took back control of the body.


    "I''m sorry, Ailan didn''t mean any harm," Maria apologized in a low voice.


    Xu Yi shook his head, indicating it was okay; he certainly knew Ailan meant no harm.


    [Current favorability of Ailan: 80.]


    For some reason, Ailan''s favorability had even increased, which made it hard for Xu Yi not to suspect that Ailan had some special preferences, like little whips or something.


    Xu Yi had a question.


    Even though they shared the same body, why did Maria become short of breath after slight exertion, while Ailan, after a huge fight, seemed perfectly fine?


    This unscientific phenomenon could only be explained by an unscientific reason.


    He thought of the dark mist controlled by Ailan; there could very well be a connection between the two.


    "Maria''s physique is so poor, why not let Ailan take over the training?" Suddenly, an idea flashed through Xu Yi''s mind.


    The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.


    "Maria, can you ask Ailan if she''s willing to accept my training?" Xu Yi inquired aloud.


    Maria immediately understood Xu Yi''s intent and nodded without hesitation.


    Her physical condition was too poor and forcing herself to train wouldn''t yield much benefit; she couldn''t be of much help to Xu Yi.


    "As long as I can help Xu Yi, it doesn''t matter whether it''s me or Ailan," Maria thought to herself.


    Of course Ailan wouldn''t refuse; she had been beaten by Xu Yi twice and was harboring a grudge.


    She had already planned it; she would learn Xu Yi''s combat techniques, then defeat him, pin him down, and redeem her previous shame.


    ```

 Chapter 73 Soul Transmigration and Valkyrie

    The glow of the setting sun silently burned at the horizon, and Lisa lay on the grass, listless.Ever since awakening her Entries, she had this quirk¡ªevery day when the sun set, she''d become incredibly lazy.


    Ailan was still training, kicking fiercely and with precision. After enduring hundreds of kicks, the wooden post''s head finally couldn''t take any more, breaking off and flying away like a cannonball.


    Xu Yi stood by, secretly amazed.


    Ailan''s speed in learning Combat techniques was astoundingly fast. In just an afternoon, she had nearly mastered all of his skills.


    "Let''s have another match!" Ailan said intently, challenging Xu Yi once again.


    "It''s getting late, let''s call it a day. We''ll talk about it next time," Xu Yi gave a slight cough, decisively refusing.


    If they fought again, he was very likely to lose to Ailan. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With nearly equal Combat technique skills, Ailan''s ghost-like speed and cat-like agility would be advantages that would only become greatly magnified.


    He had no masochistic tendencies.


    Ailan rushed toward Xu Yi without saying a word, her speed increasing. Xu Yi stood still as if he hadn''t seen Ailan''s approach.


    Ailan clenched her fists, but before she could throw a punch, her expression softened again, Maria took control of the body.


    "Well done!" Xu Yi said with a smile, looking at Maria approvingly.


    The Mercedes sedan came from afar, with Alante arriving on time to pick everyone up.


    The Funeral Parlor was closest to Chinatown, so that was where they headed first.


    Right after Lisa got out of the car, her sister Lorna came bouncing over.


    Upon seeing Xu Yi in the back seat, Lorna''s eyes lit up, wanting to follow him for fun, but was suppressed by Lisa''s "sisterly bond" and could only watch forlornly as Xu Yi left.


    Maria''s home was the farthest, so Alante dropped Xu Yi off at his rented apartment first, parking in the passageway near the flowerbeds.


    "Would you like to come up for a bit?" Xu Yi invited.


    Upon hearing this invitation, Maria''s heart started pounding fiercely, and her cheeks reddened slightly.


    Xu Yi was inviting her into his house. Could it be that he wanted to... She had heard about that sort of thing from her classmates, but she had never experienced it herself.


    At the thought, her face turned even redder.


    "Allen, why don''t you go and buy some food to bring back!" Xu Yi, realizing it was getting late and time for dinner, suggested.


    Alante nodded and left.


    Maria had not clearly heard what Xu Yi said after, her body was burning up, and she followed him to the room in a daze.


    "Take a look at this, and if you don''t see any problems, you can sign your name," Xu Yi said as he took a Parchment Scroll out of the cabinet and handed it to Maria.


    Maria slightly came to her senses and looked at the Parchment Scroll with curiosity.


    It was a very sophisticated-looking Parchment Scroll, inscribed with black and purple ink¡ªa contract agreement with Xu Yi.


    "Is this one of those legendary devil''s contracts?" joked Maria, then without any hesitation, she took the pen and signed her name on the Parchment Scroll.


    [Maria''s current Favorability: 94.]


    With the interactions over the past few days, Maria''s Favorability had risen once again. She didn''t hesitate to sign her name on the thoroughly suspicious Parchment Scroll.


    Xu Yi didn''t know whether to be touched or to think that Maria was just too naive... or maybe too deeply "smitten"?


    [The Bond Contract Entry has been created.]


    Indeed, the so-called Parchment Scroll was a Bond Contract. The Bond Contract Entry required one to ask the other party if they were willing.


    It would be fine if it was a woman, but if it had been a man, it would feel strange to ask, as if they had entered the channel of some urban magic boy.


    To avoid embarrassment, Xu Yi had thought of this method, writing the words on the Parchment Scroll.


    The system did not require the question to be asked out loud; writing it down was also acceptable.


    "Maria, concentrate!" Xu Yi suddenly called out.


    Maria instinctively stood up straight, and Xu Yi extended a finger to touch the center of her forehead.


    [Entry Awakening in progress, estimated time required: 3 minutes.]


    Maria''s pupils became blank in an instant, as she entered the phase of Entry Awakening.


    Xu Yi patiently waited, and as the quiet three minutes elapsed, Maria, who had been looking down, suddenly raised her head. The light flickering in her pupils was not of the same color; the left emitted a holy white light, while the right shone like ink-black light.


    At the same time, the system''s voice sounded next to Xu Yi''s ear.


    [Entry Awakening successful.]


    [Maria currently possesses the "Blank Entry: Soul Transmigration," current progress: 52/100.]


    [Soul Transmigration (White Epic): Possesses a mighty force of the soul, can exorcise Ferocious Spirits and Evil Creatures through devout prayer.]


    The progress bar had actually surpassed halfway! Xu Yi was a bit surprised.


    This indicated Maria had an exceptional talent and could possibly max out the entry on her own without undergoing Entry Awakening.


    "Talent regarding the soul really is quite unreasonable," Xu Yi silently reflected.


    If the church knew about Maria''s talent, they would definitely come to invite her; having this Talent within the church, becoming a Saintess or something similar, would be a breeze.


    Xu Yi thought that the Entry Awakening was over, but unexpectedly, the system popped up another message.


    [Ailan currently possesses the "Blank Entry: Valkyrie," current progress: 30/100.]


    [Valkyrie (Green Epic):


    Ability 1 - Spirit of Martial Combat: (Unlocked)


    Any combat-related skills are easily mastered by the Valkyrie.


    Ability 2 - Power of the Black Soul: (Partially Unlocked)


    Upon invoking the Power of the Black Soul, a series of combat-related attributes are enhanced. (Including: agility, speed, strength, etc.)


    Ability 3 - Descent of the Valkyrie: (This ability is unavailable)


    Description: When the Power of the Black soul is unleashed, the Valkyrie descends!]


    Unexpectedly, Ailan''s Talent had also awakened, though Ailan''s Favorability was clearly not yet 90.


    Could it be due to sharing the same body?


    That was the only explanation Xu Yi could come up with.


    After seeing the description of Ailan''s entry, he had an epiphany.


    No wonder she learned Combat Techniques at such an astonishing speed; it turned out to be the effect of the "Spirit of Martial Combat."


    "Combat-related knowledge is not limited to Combat Techniques; it also includes swordsmanship, Marksmanship, Ancient Martial Arts... even tank operation and fighter jet piloting count as combat skills."


    At this thought, Xu Yi looked at Ailan and secretly swallowed.


    If he trained Ailan well and had her learn a multitude of combat skills, by the time of mastery, every urban soldier king and mountain-descended successor would pale in comparison.


    The reason why Ailan, who possessed a "Green Epic" entry, was suppressed by Maria with a "White Epic" entry, was simple.


    Specialization matters, and Maria''s talent was the "soul," thus, control over the body was determined by the strength of the soul.


    If Ailan had taken control over the body for the first time and firmly suppressed Maria, not allowing her to emerge, perhaps she might have gained the dominant position.


    But the moment Maria was let out once, given Maria''s soul Talent, she could grasp the crux of it and easily suppress Ailan.


    "How do you feel?" Xu Yi asked Maria with a smile.


    "It''s a strange feeling, like suddenly understanding something," Maria felt the change in her body.


    "It''s too late today; I''ll arrange your training plan tomorrow," Xu Yi said as he prepared to leave the room.


    "Is this the only reason you called me here?" Maria asked, biting her lower lip lightly.

 Chapter 74 Treasure Chest Explosion

    Xu Yi glanced at Maria, who was standing there dazed, and slapped his forehead, "I almost forgot, do you know about our Holy Flame Studio? I''d like to invite you to join now!""Hmm!" Maria nodded in agreement with the invitation, but still didn''t seem very enthusiastic.


    When they reached the door, Maria suddenly stopped, looked at Xu Yi''s back, bit her lip, and made a certain decision.


    Xu Yi sensed some movement behind him, turned around, and then met a pair of aggressive eyes.


    Such a look could not belong to Maria, so there was only one explanation¡ªthe one controlling the body now was Allen.


    But why would Maria switch to Allen all of a sudden?


    Allen lunged at Xu Yi, and he was taken aback with shock... because he was tackled onto the bed by Allen.


    What the heck! How could he tolerate such an act of treachery?


    Xu Yi rolled over, pinning Maria beneath him, ready to properly discipline this rebel.


    Right at that moment, the doorbell started to ring, ding-dong, ding-dong.


    Xu Yi straightened his clothes frustratedly while Maria stood in the corner with a flushed face.


    "Dinner is here! I bought three spicy burgers; heard it''s a new flavor. Not sure if it''s any good!" Ailent was standing outside with a paper bag in hand.


    "Thanks!" Xu Yi took the bag, and then his tone shifted, "Maria will be joining us at Holy Flame Studio, prepare a contract for her. Also, I feel like there have been a lot of strange happenings in New York recently. Help me gather and organize the news from Spiritual Exploration Daily, I need it by tomorrow morning."


    "Ah! That urgent?" Ailent stood frozen at the door.


    He thought he''d get a good night''s rest, but it looked like he was going to be working late into the night.


    After finishing the burgers, Xu Yi glanced at Maria, "It''s a bit late now, isn''t it unsafe for you to go home alone at night?"


    Maria''s face turned slightly red, "My mom is waiting for me at home."


    All her courage had been spent on the earlier behavior.


    "That''s such a pity... oh, that''s great!" Xu Yi exclaimed.


    Ailent watched the two with a puzzled look, feeling the situation was quite strange. Wasn''t he supposed to be the one to take Maria home? Why would she be going home alone?


    Young people nowadays are truly baffling.


    As night fell quietly, Ailent saw Maria off. Xu Yi took a cold shower but still felt his body burning.


    "A young body just can''t withstand teasing!" Xu Yi sighed. Once the fire was stoked, it wasn''t easy to extinguish.


    But Maria had been so forward, he couldn''t drop the ball, either.


    "Once I finish up with the urgent matters, I''ll have a proper heart-to-heart with Maria!"


    To distract himself, Xu Yi checked his system.


    Moments later, he closed the window, pulled the curtains, then washed his hands several times and splashed cold water on his face.


    "It''s time to show off the real skills!" Xu Yi buoyed himself up.


    "System, I want to purchase a bronze treasure chest."


    ["Bronze Treasure Chest x2" successfully purchased! 20 Resurrection Coins deducted.]


    Purchasing treasure chests was something Xu Yi decided on earlier, only after the Jason incident he needed to take a breather.


    Now was the time to open a round of chests.


    Before heading to the resort, he had 7 Resurrection Coins. After being resurrected three times, he had 4 left.


    The "Hunt at Crystal Lake" gave him a direct 30 more Resurrection Coins, so now he had a total of 34 coins.


    A maximum of 5 Resurrection Coins could be used per day, and to be safe, at least 10 more should be kept, equivalent to two days'' maximum usage.


    If he couldn''t avoid death with that, then no amount of Resurrection Coins would suffice.


    "A silver treasure chest costs 30 Resurrection Coins, so with this amount, I can buy only two bronze chests and still have 14 Resurrection Coins left," Xu Yi calculated silently.


    The bronze treasure chest floated in mid-air, visible only to Xu Yi.


    "What on earth will the treasure chest contain?"


    He had only opened one Newbie Gift Pack before, and he wasn''t sure whether these treasure chests would be the same as the Newbie Gift Pack.


    [The system has detected that the host possesses several "Entry Synthesis Paths", and the drop rate of entries within those paths will be significantly increased.]


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up immediately when he saw the system prompt.


    He had always been troubled by the thought that if he relied solely on devouring entries, it would be incredibly difficult to gather all the entries within the synthesis paths.


    It turned out this aspect was linked to the treasure chests.


    A bronze treasure chest slowly opened, its cyan light illuminating Xu Yi''s eyes, which were filled with anticipation.


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    [Congratulations on obtaining "Blank Entry: Boxing"!]


    [Congratulations on obtaining "Blank Entry: Sculptor"!]


    "Yes!" Xu Yi clenched his fist and cheered.


    He got exactly what he wished for!


    The synthesis path "Necromantic Puppet Master = Necromantic Spells + Puppet Master + Sculptor" was only lacking a Sculptor; now, he had finally gathered all of them.


    [Sculptor (Common White): With a carving knife in hand, even rotten wood and inferior stone can become masterpieces.]


    This entry, like that of a Scholar Painter, could be maxed out if one was willing to put in the effort.


    Thanks to the multitude of puppets contributed by Mary Shaw, the progress for Necromantic Spells was already more than halfway, and there were still many puppets left.


    As for the Puppet Master, it was a bit more troublesome. To gain experience as a Puppet Master, one had to first contract a Spirit Puppet and then constantly nurture and strengthen it, somewhat similar to "pet development".


    "All in all, the future looks promising!"


    Xu Yi equipped the Sculptor entry on himself, as for "Boxing", he tossed it into the entry storehouse.


    "Boxing" was somewhat similar to combat techniques, but the boxing art leaned more towards stand-up fighting; there was overlap between the two entries, and even if he leveled it up, it wouldn''t greatly enhance his abilities.


    Moreover, he had already thought of a use for "Boxing."


    Xu Yi did not hold much expectation as the second treasure chest continued to open.


    Given the current situation, it was likely that the bronze treasure chests would produce "Common White" level entries, and even "Common Rare" ones were seldom seen. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Furthermore, the "Sculptor" he had coveted had already been obtained.


    But suddenly, a dazzling light burst forth, like a cyan sun slowly rising before his eyes, causing Xu Yi to instinctively squint.


    What was going on? He paused, taken aback, then it dawned on him¡ªcould this be the legendary "big drop"!


    [Congratulations on obtaining "Blank Entry: Marksmanship"!]


    [Congratulations on obtaining "Entry Synthesis Path: Combat techniques + Marksmanship = Gunfight Technique"!]


    [Congratulations on obtaining "Entry Synthesis Path: Gunfight Technique + Dark Stealth + Eyes of Obscurity = Shadow Gun God"!]


    Only one blank entry, still a "Common White" level, had emerged, but there were two entry synthesis paths!


    Up until now, he had come to recognize the importance of entry synthesis paths.


    Trying to get high-level entries through entry devouring or treasure box opening was extremely difficult; the most reliable method was through entry synthesis paths.


    [Marksmanship (Common White): Sure Shot, a marksmanship elite.]


    This entry came just in time; possessing the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, he was already planning on practicing marksmanship, and with this entry, his chances were even better.


    "Gunfight Technique" was likely not a high-level entry, but the good news was he already had "Combat techniques", and once he leveled up "Marksmanship", he could synthesize it, making the task incredibly easy.


    Xu Yi''s gaze lingered on the last synthesis path; the treasure chest probably "exploded" because of this final synthesis entry.


    "Eyes of Obscurity" was a "Rare Green" level entry and "Shadow Stealth" was unknown, but most likely not low in level.


    That meant "Shadow Gun God" could potentially be a "Rare Blue" level entry.


    Apart from "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration", this was the most advanced entry he could possibly obtain up to now.

 Chapter 75 The Shadows of New York

    The dawn light was slightly intoxicating, as Xu Yi and Lisa walked one after another along the tree-lined paths surrounding Chinatown, the swaying shadows of the trees cast upon them."We still haven''t found it!" Lisa pouted, a bit disheartened.


    They had come here early in the morning to look for the Black Carp, scouring all of the cat''s usual haunts, but unfortunately, they came up empty-handed.


    "Could it be that the Black Carp has left this place?" Xu Yi wondered to himself.


    Although they were quite familiar with the Black Carp, after all, it was a stray cat with no fixed abode. It wasn''t impossible that, having grown tired of Chinatown, it might move to an area with more attractive male cats... The Black Carp was a female cat.


    Xu Yi looked around, the time was still early, and they were in a quiet grove, silent and deserted.


    "It''s time!" Xu Yi silently said to himself, then called a halt to Lisa.


    Lisa turned around, facing Xu Yi, her pale green pupils like turquoise, reflecting the swaying tree shadows, a faint daylight veil on her fair face.


    "Close your eyes and feel with your heart!" Xu Yi said in a low voice. Read latest chapters at empire


    Lisa''s body trembled slightly, her cheeks turning visibly red at an observable pace, then she closed her eyes, her head tilted back slightly, lips pouted, and eyelashes trembling.


    Wait a minute! Could there be some misunderstanding here?


    Xu Yi thought that wasn''t his original intention, but seeing Lisa''s tender lips and her exquisite little face, he was suddenly tempted.


    Who could resist such a test? Xu Yi decisively kissed her.


    Their lips met as if touching warm, soft jade, and he smelled a light fragrance, like rain-soaked leaves mixed with a faint scent of flowers.


    Xu Yi and Lisa both seemed spellbound, lost in their embrace.


    "Meow!" A cat''s meow suddenly sounded; Lisa was startled and broke free from Xu Yi''s arms, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.


    Xu Yi turned his head and gave a stern look to the cat in the bushes; it wasn''t the Black Carp, this area was frequented by many feral cats.


    With such an interruption, Xu Yi felt it wasn''t right to continue. He suddenly slapped his forehead, "I almost forgot about the matter at hand!"


    "Focus!" Xu Yi said, pressing his finger to Lisa''s brow.


    ["Boxing" entry gifting in progress, gift successful!]


    Gifting an entry required physical contact. When he asked Lisa to close her eyes, it was to help her experience the entry fully, but it led to a misunderstanding.


    Lisa''s fighting talent was pitiful. Without the help of an entry, she might barely get to the beginner''s level with several more years of practice.


    But Lisa''s talent for entry also included body enhancement effects. It would be a waste not to practice fighting.


    Lisa slowly opened her eyes, feeling something indescribable, as if something had been added to her body, yet on closer inspection, it seemed like nothing at all.


    "In a couple of days, I''ll find a boxing coach for you," Xu Yi said softly.


    Who says witches must always be glass cannons? Can''t they learn to punch and shatter the heads of evil spirits?


    Witches'' ultra-evolution! Violent witch! Xu Yi was suddenly overcome by a surge of adolescent spirit.


    Lisa nodded obediently, knowing Xu Yi meant well.


    "By the way, we''ll change the training location this afternoon. I''ll take you and Maria to experience something fun."


    ......


    Jona''s Shooting Range.


    The sound of gunfire was deafening, and spent shells tinkled as they fell to the floor. Red targets in the distance sporadically sprouted new bullet holes.


    The shooting instructor''s eyes widened in disbelief at the scene before him.


    A few hours ago, a group of four people arrived at their shooting range, wanting to experience the charm of firearms and also looking for a shooting instructor.


    As a veteran employee of the shop, he initially thought it would be business as usual, playing the role of a "nanny."


    In the eyes of rich kids, firearms are like some kind of fun toy.


    He didn''t think these people would be able to learn any profound marksmanship, as long as they could learn how to shoot and not make the embarrassing mistake of not knowing where the safety is, that would suffice.


    But he quickly realized he was wrong, and egregiously so.


    There were three students learning to shoot: two women and one man. He was certain that before they had entered, all of them were complete novices with wrong gun-holding postures and aiming skills that were close to nonexistent.


    But in just a short one or two hours, the male student had grasped what he taught and could easily hit within the eight circles at a hundred meters.


    This talent, if he joined the national team and trained well, undoubtedly had the potential to vie for gold and silver in the competition.


    If the boy was just talented, then the girl with the stern look was a monster.


    In a short span of time, she had advanced from a hundred-meter target to three hundred meters, five hundred meters, and even moving targets...


    The coach, looking at the girl''s lovely profile, suspected that she might be a professional athlete from the national team, who had come to tease him on purpose.


    She had only asked him a few questions at the beginning, then she progressed on her own, hitting the nine ring was the norm, and the ten ring was no surprise.


    "What kind of monsters are these!" the coach wailed inwardly.


    He felt that his whole life spent practicing shooting had gone to the dogs.


    The people in question were none other than Xu Yi and company. If Lisa knew what the coach was thinking, she would probably weakly ask, "Coach, what about me?"


    With average marksmanship and ordinary learning speed, Lisa had already been overlooked by the coach.


    Xu Yi put down the revolver in his hand and shook his slightly aching hand.


    [Marksmanship experience +2, Current Progress 20/100.]


    He hadn''t expected his talent in marksmanship to be quite decent, enough to get him started.


    Of course, his major would be the revolver since his future weapon would be the Alchemical Revolver Messiah.


    Xu Yi turned to glance at Ailan next to him; truly, a white Item couldn''t compare with a green one, Ailan''s learning speed was astonishing.


    Lisa wasn''t without her strengths, at least she had strong stamina and good strength, holding the gun steady. If there was a critical moment that required using a gun, she would at least not fail them.


    As they left the Shooting Range, Xu Yi casually bought four handguns, one for each person, to have on hand just in case. He also purchased quite a few bullets for the revolvers.


    The owner was all smiles and even threw in free holsters for them.


    He had to be enthusiastic, what with them shooting, seeking coaching, and buying guns. They had spent a significant amount; they were big customers now.


    As the car drove on the road, Ailent suddenly remembered something, "Boss, the information you asked me to collect is on the back seat."


    Xu Yi found a paper bag and after opening it, began to look through the contents.


    Asking Ailent to organize information was just an offhand request, but the more Xu Yi read, the more furrowed his brow became.


    "Have a lot of people gone missing in New York recently? And what''s this about mysterious creatures in the sewers?"


    "Everyone at school has been talking about it lately. Some say they''ve seen huge Ratman creatures in the sewers," Lisa suddenly chimed in.


    "Is it the Ratman creatures that are abducting people?" Xu Yi inquired curiously. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ailent shook his head, "There''s no conclusion yet, but the government has sent people to investigate and has enlisted the help of quite a few exorcists."


    "They didn''t invite our Holy Flame Studio?" Xu Yi asked softly.


    Ailent looked a bit embarrassed, "Boss, our Exorcism Studio is new, after all. The government is reaching out to those established exorcists."


    "That''s their loss!" Lisa retorted indignantly. She was now a member of the studio and naturally shared their grievances.


    "We have a long way to go," Xu Yi sighed.


    He was actually a bit envious, considering that the government contracts for exorcism tasks paid quite handsomely.

 Chapter 76 Fire Gui

    The night was deep, and the stars twinkled against the dark curtain of the sky, as a gentle breeze fluttered the linen-colored curtains by the window. Xu Yi was engrossed in drawing at his desk."Finally..." Xu Yi suddenly stopped drawing, lifted his head, and exhaled a long breath of murky air.


    On the desk, the pale yellow drawing paper displayed a watercolor painting.


    A monster with the head of a bull and the body of a snake coiled around a sharp blade, its face fierce yet ancient and majestic, surrounded by roaring golden flames.


    The watercolor painting was lifelike, the fierce monster appearing almost alive, exuding a special charm that made ordinary people avert their eyes unconsciously when they looked at it.


    "An America-version Exorcism Talisman, I''ve finally succeeded!" Xu Yi felt exhilarated.


    Since gaining the ability for Exorcism Portraits, this was his first time creating a drawing with the power of exorcism.


    The portrait was only the size of a palm, and such a small-sized painting was very difficult to create.


    If the size of the painting were enlarged, the difficulty would decrease significantly, and he would have succeeded long ago.


    Why did he "seek difficulty rather than ease"?


    The reason was simple: if the painting were too large, it would be cumbersome to carry around.


    Now it was perfect, only palm-sized, whether it was to be kept in a pocket or worn as a necklace, it was very convenient.


    He had painstakingly taken such measures for one sole purpose: to sell it at a high price!


    As the saying goes, "An inch smaller in the painting, tenfold higher in the price," only these portable Exorcism Portraits would have the wealthy waving their cash to snatch them up.


    In the corner of the room stood a second-hand laminating machine.


    Xu Yi had asked Ailent to help him acquire it, as laminating machines of this era were still quite bulky.


    After waiting for the Exorcism Portrait to dry, Xu Yi skillfully operated the machine to laminate the painting, so he wouldn''t have to worry about it being ruined if it got wet.


    Xu Yi took a crystal clipboard from the bookshelf and fitted it into the slot with a snug fit, the size was just right as it was made to measure.


    He played with the Exorcism Portrait in his hands, seemingly unable to let go.


    Was something missing? Xu Yi stared at the portrait, then suddenly, an idea struck him.


    The Exorcism Sacred Beast still lacked a name.


    After pondering for a moment, he whispered softly, "Fire Gui, let''s call it Fire Gui!"


    He didn''t use English, but Chinese pinyin, deliberately so, as people often find things they don''t understand to be more mysterious and alluring.


    In simple terms, it was about giving off an air of profoundness.


    There was a time when the people of Xia Kingdom would find anything with an English name to be high-end.


    Xu Yi was now exporting in reverse.


    With a successful example in hand, everything that followed became much simpler, but that didn''t mean he could just casually draw a painting and produce an Exorcism Portrait.


    Time ticked away, and before he knew it, the desk was piled with drawing papers.


    "Finally succeeded with another one!" Xu Yi shook his sore arm.


    He glanced at the time; it was already one in the morning, and he had started drawing at six in the evening. Such a long time, and he had only succeeded with two. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The success rate of the Exorcism Portrait seems mystical, but it must be related to the level of concentration," Xu Yi thought.


    He kept summarizing his experience, believing that as he grew more proficient, the success rate would definitely rise.


    "This thing should be enough to make a name for the Holy Flame Studio, right?" Xu Yi looked at the two successful "Exorcism Talismans" with hopeful eyes.


    After dealing with the second Exorcism Talisman, he stretched lazily and prepared to take a bath and rest.


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    As he passed by the door, he glanced at the puppet in the corner of the wall, a sense of satisfaction welling up inside him.


    During the day, he and Lisa went to the Shooting Range to practice shooting. In the afternoon, he returned to his rented room and began to carve Necromantic Spells.


    In his spare time, he read Psychology books, and after dinner, he started drawing the Exorcism Portraits.


    His daily schedule was incredibly full.


    He even found time to visit Lisa''s boxing coach, a retired female boxer who had once won a golden belt.


    Maria also trained with them, and for the Ailan within Maria''s body, any combat-related knowledge was learned quickly.


    Because of the boxing entries, Lisa''s progress wasn''t far behind Ailan''s, which made their coach exclaim in disbelief and repeatedly encourage them to enter boxing competitions.


    Five days had passed since returning from Crystal Lake, and he had maintained this extremely regular lifestyle for those five days.


    At the moment, only a third of the wooden puppet in the corner remained, and Xu Yi planned to finish engraving the rest of it all at once the next day.


    [Necromantic Spells, Current Progress: 65/100]


    "I wonder if completing these puppets will be enough to max out the entries?"


    Xu Yi felt it was doubtful since the later the entries, the less experience they yielded, especially when engraving on the same type of resentment-infected object.


    ...


    "Sir, what do you do for a living?"


    The moving company''s employee parked the truck in front of the Exorcism Studio and curiously asked Xu Yi, who was standing beside it.


    Xu Yi glanced indifferently at the studio''s sign, which was still not covered by red cloth and was very conspicuous.


    The atmosphere inside the vehicle grew awkward for no apparent reason.


    "Let''s just focus on moving the stuff!"


    In the end, it was Xu Yi who broke the silence and got out of the car to head towards the back of the van.


    "I''ll take care of this safe; you guys can move the other things!" Xu Yi hurried into the van first, carrying the heavy safe out.


    Inside the safe were Mary Shaw''s skin scroll and the remaining three mysterious bloodstain fragments, used to suppress the strange skin scroll.


    It was better for ordinary people to have less contact with these items.


    Ailent had been waiting at the door, directing the moving company''s staff to bring the items inside.


    Xu Yi had a lot of luggage, especially the puppets, which took up a large volume, along with all sorts of other odds and ends that couldn''t fit in his Mercedes, so he had to hire a moving company.


    After placing the safe, Xu Yi began to take a look around the studio, deeply inhaling, "This could be considered the new beginning of the exorcism business, I suppose!"


    The sign was mounted on the doorpost, vertical and not very noticeable.


    They were an Exorcism Studio, not a burger stand on the street corner, and there was no need to make the sign too conspicuous. It was just fine this way, low-key yet meaningful.


    The building''s original purpose was a coffee shop, and it already had a lot of character, with no need for major alterations.


    Being an Exorcism Studio, having a place to talk was enough, so things like the bar counter were removed, making the first floor look particularly spacious.


    Moving upstairs to the second floor, it was originally for private rooms and, with minor modifications, became a conference area for discussing more secretive matters.


    There were many empty rooms, which Ailent had converted into staff dormitories, where one could rest if tired.


    The third floor only had two rooms, one large and one small.


    Xu Yi''s room was naturally the larger one, as the former owner had intended to live there long-term and had put a lot of thought into the interior, making it look very comfortable.


    Xu Yi was very satisfied, especially with the huge workbench by the window.


    "I''ve asked someone to check, and tomorrow is a good day. Boss, what do you think about opening tomorrow?" Ailent was already growing impatient.


    Ailent didn''t usually pay attention to such things, but since Xu Yi was from the Xia Kingdom, he had specially consulted a fortune teller in Chinatown to pick the date.


    Xu Yi nodded; the sooner the studio opened, the sooner they could start making money.


    His tone changed suddenly, "I won''t be available tomorrow; I have to make a trip to Connecticut. You will be in charge of the studio."


    The Exorcism Treasure Chest from the Lopez family had been in his possession for nearly a week, and if he didn''t return it soon, the Lopezes would probably come knocking.


    "I wonder what the legendary Warren couple is like?" Xu Yi was a bit curious.

 Chapter 77 Antisocial Personality

    Pennsylvania Station, a train sped in belching billowing smoke, wheels grinding against the tracks and sending sparks flying.Xu Yi, carrying two cases, successfully checked his ticket and boarded the train.


    Knowing he was setting out on a long journey, he naturally arranged for an "Antique Certificate" ahead of time; besides, train inspections were not as strict as those for airplanes.


    Xu Yi headed straight for the VIP carriage, which was much more spacious than the common ones and even came with resting bunks.


    He had just found his seat when a beautiful girl suddenly popped up from beside him.


    "Let me help you with your luggage!"


    "Thank you, no need!" Xu Yi instinctively refused.


    Although she seemed like a frail and harmless young lady, it''s better to be safe than sorry, so caution was necessary.


    After all, the contents of the cases were too valuable; one was a treasure chest from the Lopez family.


    The other was a custom-made Exorcism Box, containing the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, the Dagger of Sighs, several Exorcism Lighters, as well as sketchbooks and brushes¡ªall items he might need as an exorcist.


    Ever since his setback at Crystal Lake, he always carried Exorcism Artifacts with him when he traveled.


    He wanted to order a "Lopez original," but found it completely impossible to find and instead had to settle for a somewhat reliable safe.


    The girl stood there awkwardly, a bit at a loss, not having expected such a crisp rejection.


    "The cases are a bit heavy, I''d better carry them! My name is Xu Yi, thanks for offering to help!" Xu Yi said with a smile, noticing the girl''s embarrassment.


    Though he couldn''t let her carry the cases, there was no need to embarrass a good-hearted young woman.


    "I''m Elsa; it''s nice to meet you!" The girl instantly relaxed, her face bright with a radiant smile.


    "Elsa, if others don''t need our help, there''s no need for us to stay here!" A boy stood behind Elsa, squinting as he sized up Xu Yi with an air of hostility.


    "Kohl, it''s not Mr. Xu Yi''s fault. After thinking it over carefully, I realized it was my mistake. If there was something valuable in the case and I accidentally broke it, what would we do?" Elsa explained kindly.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, what do you do? You give off a really unique vibe, kind of like my idol, Mr. Warren," Elsa asked with a smile. Your next read is at empire


    "Mr. Warren of the Warrens? Don''t you think I''m more handsome than him?" Xu Yi raised an eyebrow.


    Elsa looked Xu Yi up and down and actually nodded. "You indeed are handsomer than Mr. Warren."


    Receiving compliments from a pretty young lady made even an older man like Xu Yi feel pleased; he took the initiative to ask, "Where are you headed?"


    "To Connecticut, of course. Mr. Warren is preparing to give a public lecture at the university, open to anyone. I can''t miss it!" Elsa was a bit excited.


    "Elsa, didn''t you just say you needed to go to the restroom?" Kohl, seeing Elsa engaging in pleasant conversation with Xu Yi, couldn''t hold back any longer and interrupted.


    "Oh my! I almost forgot; let''s continue our chat when I get back," Elsa hurriedly walked away.


    Xu Yi placed the two cases by his feet, easily within reach.


    Kohl suddenly pressed forward, staring intently at Xu Yi, "I''d advise you to stay away from Elsa! Otherwise, you''ll definitely regret it!"


    Xu Yi quietly watched Kohl, his gaze giving him a familiar sensation¡ªseemingly calm yet concealing a violent ferocity.


    He pondered for a moment and finally remembered where he''d seen such a gaze before; it was in the eyes of a Hannibal imitator.


    The glint in their eyes was similar, but the Hannibal imitator''s was far more brutal than that of the current Kohl.


    "The smell of blood is indeed strong," Xu Yi suddenly sniffed and exclaimed.


    "What¡­what do you mean?" Karl stepped back abruptly, his eyes filled with suspicion and fear as he stared at Xu Yi, clenching the craft knife in his pocket.


    For some reason, the calm gaze of the other party made him feel as though he was being seen through.


    "What are you guys talking about?" Elsa returned and, sensing the tense atmosphere, asked with confusion.


    The tension immediately dissipated, and Xu Yi replied with a smile, "Nothing much, just discussing our individual tastes. By the way, Elsa, do you like cats?"


    "Of course, I do! Mr. Xu, how did you know I like cats?" Elsa asked with surprise.


    "It''s because you give me the feeling of a tame little cat." Xu Yi suddenly changed his tone, looking intently into Karl''s eyes, "I wonder if this gentleman likes cats?"


    In his eyes, a dense mass of black shadows enveloped Karl; they were the spirits of cats.


    The cat spirits leaped back and forth, staring at Karl with immense hatred in their eyes, occasionally pouncing at him, trying to bite through his throat.


    It was a pity that they were just lingering resentments; all their actions were futile.


    "With such intense resentment, just how many cats have you tortured to death?" The moment Xu Yi laid eyes on Karl, he sensed something was off.


    If it were just common slaughter, it would not attract such intense resentment.


    When butchers kill animals, they try to do it as quickly as possible, and with the help of modern technology, "pain-free slaughter" was invented; under high-voltage electricity, pigs and cows die in just a few seconds.


    Only cruel torture... pulling out their teeth one by one while they were dying but not yet dead, dissecting their organs and skinning them would induce such strong resentment from the cats.


    Xu Yi took a book out from his backpack, and Karl''s eyes twitched as he saw the title.


    "Abnormal Psychology and Criminal Psychology! Mr. Xu, are you a psychologist?" Elsa looked at the book in Xu Yi''s hand and asked curiously. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m just more interested in this field," Xu Yi shook his head as he spoke, his gaze fixed on Karl.


    Karl lowered his head, using his long bangs to cover the fierce light in his eyes, clenching the craft knife in his pocket as veins bulged on his palm.


    He tried to make his tone calm, "Elsa, I''m feeling a bit unwell, I''m going to go rest."


    The business class offered not just seats but also beds for sleeping.


    "Are you alright?" Elsa, seeing that Karl indeed looked pale, asked with concern.


    Karl shook his head and left straight away. Elsa was worried about her companion and no longer in the mood for conversation.


    Xu Yi slowly flipped the coin in his hand, "Human nature is like a coin, one side angel, one side devil. But how can you be certain that the person before you isn''t a devil wearing an angel''s mask?"


    Elsa paused at Xu Yi''s words but still followed Karl and left.


    [Psychology Entries, Current Progress: 86/100]


    According to Xu Yi''s decent knowledge of psychology, Karl is what legends refer to as a person with antisocial personality.


    Now he is only torturing cats, but when killing cats no longer brings him pleasure, he will turn to torture stronger animals, antelopes, brown bears¡­ and eventually, humans!


    Xu Yi pondered for a moment, then reached into his backpack and pulled out a tin toy doll.


    He still preferred to nip the danger in the bud.

 Chapter 78 The Correct Use of Necromantic Spells

    Xu Yi toyed with the tin toy doll in his hand.Originally, it was a cheerful cowboy doll, but sadly the red paint on its round face had flaked off, revealing the mottled tin underneath, which made the doll''s smile seem a bit distorted and all the more eerie.


    If you looked closely, you would find bloodstains in the crevices of the doll that couldn''t be completely washed away.


    This was a "treasure" that Xu Yi had stumbled upon in a secondhand goods store, a resentment-infused object of very decent quality.


    Xu Yi glanced in Karl''s direction; the bed was right next to his seat, with only a "wall" separating Karl and Xu Yi''s beds.


    Karl felt Xu Yi''s gaze and shrank into the corner to avoid his stare.


    "What are your plans? Do you want revenge?" Xu Yi looked at the empty dining table and mused to himself.


    Under the lure of his Spirit Communication Ability, a grudge-bearing cat spirit leaped onto the table. It was larger than the other cat spirits, akin to a king among them, with bloodlust flashing in its pupils.


    The large grudge-bearing cat spirit tensed up, feeling the pressure emanating from Xu Yi, sensing that the person before it could annihilate it forever.


    The grudge-bearing cat spirit king returned to Karl, but Xu Yi was in no rush, waiting quietly.


    Moments later, a swarm of grudge-bearing cat spirits charged at Xu Yi, pouring into the tin toy doll in his hands.


    As the resentment surrounding Karl dissipated, he suddenly felt lighter, but he wasn''t pleased; instead, he frowned at Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi hurriedly placed the tin toy doll on the table and rubbed his hands together, blowing on them to warm them up.


    It felt to him like he was holding a lump of ice, his hands nearly frozen, yet his eyes brightened more and more.


    Among resentment-infused objects, tin dolls were considered quite good, only slightly inferior to Mary Shaw''s puppets.


    But now, after absorbing a massive amount of cat spirits'' resentment, the tin doll had become a top-tier resentment-saturated object!


    Xu Yi glanced at the system panel.


    [Necromantic Spells, Current Progress: 92/100]


    He had already finished imprinting on Mary Shaw''s puppet, but unfortunately, the Necromantic Spells entry did not appear, stuck at a very awkward point.


    But he was confident that once he finished imprinting the tin doll, he would definitely bring out the Necromantic Spells entry!


    "Time to get to work!" Xu Yi took out an engraving knife, somewhat impatient.


    The tin doll was only palm-sized, and compared to the previous puppets, the difficulty of engraving was significantly higher, not just by a star or two. Fortunately, having engraved so many puppets, he was very experienced.


    The train whistled as it sped along, the wheels clanking against the tracks, producing a "clang clang" sound. As the scenery outside zipped backwards, Xu Yi fully eliminated external distractions and focused intently on engraving.


    One by one, the sinister spells appeared on the tin doll, which seemed to take on a certain charm, as if it were coming to life.


    As the last spell was imprinted, Xu Yi took a deep breath and closed his eyes slightly.


    All around him it was pitch black and suddenly, blood-red lights illuminated the darkness¡ªthose were the floating spells, from which large amounts of blood surged forth.


    Enveloped in spells, Xu Yi suddenly understood the meaning of each one, feeling the wailing of the soul.


    [Necromantic Spells +8, Current Progress: 100/100] sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Necromantic Spells were finally complete!


    Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes, and his first look wasn''t towards the tin doll on the table, but towards his Exorcism Box.


    With the entry acquired, he finally understood the true use of the Necromantic Spells.


    It was not only to grant resentment-infused objects the ability of "Soul Sealing," but also to be imprinted on various exorcism artifacts, enhancing the artifacts further. Continue reading on empire


    [Necromantic Spells (Complete Version):]


    Phase 1: Engrave Necromantic Spells on an object to enhance Spiritual Perception.


    Phase 2: Seal a soul into the object, turning it into a Spiritual Object; depending on the soul sealed within, different Abilities will be born.]


    Xu Yi read the introduction to the Necromantic Spells again.


    "Isn''t this equivalent to enchanting in a game?" he suddenly realized.


    Whether it''s the Exorcism Lighter, the Dagger of Rest, or even the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, all can be enchanted.


    "There''s no need to rush for now, the strength of the enchantment effects has a lot to do with the sealed soul; it''s not wise to act recklessly."


    Wait! According to the introduction of Necromantic Spells, it''s not just about inflicting resentment on objects or Exorcism Artifacts¡ª even Common objects should be able to be engraved with spells.


    If I engrave spells on bullets and then seal a soul inside, wouldn''t that create an "Exorcism Bullet"?


    Xu Yi''s eyes brightened, it might take him a while to figure out the Demon-Breaking Flame Bullets that go with Messiah,


    but having a lower-spec bullet as a substitute would be good too.


    He had always felt that Necromantic Spells were somewhat insignificant, as they didn''t directly enhance one''s strength.


    Now, it seems he had underestimated the potential of the Spells.


    The value of an Enchanter, those in the know understand.


    Xu Yi put away the Tin Toy Doll and started reading a book on Psychology.


    Engraving the Necromantic Spells had drained much of his energy, and reading a book helped to relax his mind.


    Connecticut wasn''t far from New York, and by the afternoon, he finally arrived at his destination.


    Xu Yi placed the Tin Toy Doll in the dining cabinet and tapped the table lightly, "Off you go! You only have three days, so do whatever you want to do quickly!"


    The Tin Toy Doll didn''t need "Soul Sealing," because that step had already been completed before the engraving of the Necromantic Spells; the resentful Cat Spirits had willingly entered the Tin Toy Doll.


    The eyeballs of the Tin Toy Doll shifted eerily and it shakily stood up. In the blink of an eye, the doll disappeared within the dining cabinet.


    Although the spells on the doll were the most successful he had ever engraved, since he hadn''t filled all the Entries, there were bound to be flaws.


    The flaws caused the Spells to be unstable; after three days, the resentful Cat Spirits within the Tin Toy Doll would disperse, an irreversible outcome.


    Karl hastily got off the train with his luggage in tow, not daring even to glance at Xu Yi as he passed by him.


    In a corner unseen by him, a Tin Toy Doll hung on the back of his backpack, swinging left and right, its smile all the more sinister.


    "Goodbye, Mr. Xu Yi!" Elsa greeted Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi nodded with a smile, acknowledging her.


    "A girl who likes cats and smiles shouldn''t have too much bad luck... I wish you all the best from now on!"


    As Elsa turned to leave, Xu Yi''s soft murmur followed her; she paused and then continued on her way.


    The train station was bustling with people coming and going. Shortly after Xu Yi disembarked, a man approached him holding a sign bearing his name.


    "Are you Mr. Xu Yi? I''m Mr. Warren''s assistant, please follow me," the man led Xu Yi to a Cadillac waiting nearby.


    Xu Yi nodded and followed.


    He had already spoken to Mr. Warren on the phone before coming; otherwise, given the fame of the Warrens, he might not have been able to even see them if he had shown up unannounced.


    As a newcomer to the Exorcism World, he certainly didn''t have the clout to make the Warrens send a car specially for him¡ªit was due to the consideration for the Lopez family.


    The renowned Warrens, were they really like what the Church propagated? Xu Yi would finally have the chance to see for himself.

 Chapter 79 Exorcism Studio

    Explore hidden tales at empire8:30 A.M.


    Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, Ailent pulled down the red silk cloth, revealing a pale gold doorplate bearing the words "Holy Flame Exorcism Studio" in relief, reflecting the daylight.


    The Holy Flame Studio officially opened today!


    In the United States, there is no tradition of setting off firecrackers for a business opening, but Ailent, considering that Xu Yi was from the Xia Kingdom, decided to follow Xia Kingdom traditions and bought firecrackers.


    The opening ceremony was very low-key; there were no guests, no flower baskets were ordered, and they only set off a single string of firecrackers.


    "We are an Exorcism Studio, not some street-side sausage vendor; there''s no need to be too high-profile."


    These were Xu Yi''s original words, and Ailent agreed completely.


    The incident at Crystal Lake, the sudden death of James... These events had attracted considerable attention from high society, and by association, Xu Yi had also "benefited," becoming known to more people.


    If there were commissions, naturally people would come knocking.


    "Have you paid the protection money yet? Don''t you know this is Anyi Hall''s territory?"


    Ailent never expected that the first visitor on the day the studio opened would not be a client but a gang from Chinatown.


    Ailent was of course aware of the gangs in Chinatown, but they were mostly figures that couldn''t make it into polite society. His good mood somewhat ruined, Ailent waved his hand as if shooing away flies.


    The other party did not persist further and left hastily after dropping a few harsh words.


    He thought that was the end of it, but moments later, a group "visited" suddenly with an aggressive attitude, including the person from earlier.


    "I am Chen Lin, the leader of Anyi Hall. I heard you don''t take us seriously at all! Don''t you know in Chinatown, I call the shots?" Scarface stared at Ailent coldly.


    Ailent felt disdain; even the mayor of New York City wouldn''t dare say such a thing, yet this "out-of-towner" who came to New York had the audacity to be so brazen.


    He suddenly felt a bit of malicious pleasure... Wait until he called the police, then ask again who really called the shots here.


    Ailent walked toward the telephone.


    He had recently become acquainted with a junior leader at the New York Police Department; calling them should result in a prompt police response.


    Chen Lin kept an eye on Ailent and felt a sinking feeling upon seeing Ailent''s composure. Not only was there no fear in Ailent''s eyes, but there was also a hint of disdain. Chen Lin knew that such people were tough, and likely had some powerful backing.


    "Boss, should we show him some colors?" A new recruit, anxious to show off in front of the boss, glared at Ailent.


    You want me to seize the opportunity to land in jail? Chen Lin gave the newcomer a veiled glance, waved his hand, and had someone take the rash young man away.


    Although he spoke arrogantly, it didn''t mean he was foolish. The reason Chen Lin had thrived in Chinatown owed much to his ability to deal with people tactically.


    If it had been a Common person without any backing, a little intimidation would have been enough to get what he wanted.


    One time, there was an American bakery owner who acted tough initially. But when he placed a butcher''s knife between the man''s fingers, the baker quickly became compliant and paid the protection money.


    Many Americans may appear fierce, but they often have a spineless streak; just a scare, and their knees buckle.


    But this approach wouldn''t work on someone like Ailent with connections.


    If he dared place a butcher''s knife before such a person, their lawyer would boldly label it as a murder weapon, jurors would nod in agreement, and the upshot would be him sewing in prison.


    "Big brother, let''s show some disrespect to Anyi Hall by chopping off his hand!" the young recruit shouted again, having come back out.


    "Who recruited this person into Anyi Hall?" Chen Lin asked angrily.


    His head was buzzing. Couldn''t they see he was thinking about how to leave without losing face?


    "Boss, I think it was you who recruited him." someone answered quietly.


    What a disaster! Chen Lin looked up to the sky, wishing he had not come at all.


    He had come here with the mindset of ''nothing ventured, nothing gained,'' thinking that if he succeeded, Anyi Hall''s influence would grow significantly.


    After all, this area was on the outskirts of Chinatown and no organization had yet extended its reach here.


    ```


    Now I''m really in a quandary.


    "Scarface Tiger, what are you doing here?" A commanding voice came from behind.


    Chen Feihe, wearing traditional Chinese attire, strode forward, frowning at Chen Lin. Chen Lin''s face bore a scar, and with his brash nature, he had acquired the nickname "Scarface Tiger."


    "Do you know the shop owner?" Chen Lin also stared intently at Chen Feihe.


    Chen Lin''s men were rubbing their hands in anticipation, thinking it was finally their time to shine.


    The Qinghe Club had always been at odds with them, and now that the other side had only one person, it was a good opportunity to teach them a lesson.


    But Chen Lin thought, Brother Feihe, you''ve timed your arrival perfectly! Isn''t this a ready-made way out?


    Ailent, sensing that the two groups were about to fight, was preparing to call the police when Chen Lin suddenly changed his tone.


    "Since you''re acquainted with Chen Feihe, I''ll give you face. Let''s all disperse!"


    The members of Anyi Hall left with puzzled expressions, while Chen Feihe was somewhat frustrated.


    He had wanted to help out while the other party was causing trouble here, and then leave a good impression on Xu Yi. Unexpectedly, these people didn''t play by the rules and suddenly left.


    Ever since he saw Xu Yi''s information in the newspaper, he had been wanting to forge a good relationship with Xu Yi.


    He would chat with Xu Changrong from time to time, hoping to influence Xu Yi through Xu Changrong, but unfortunately, Xu Changrong never mentioned these matters to Xu Yi.


    He had been keeping an eye on Xu Yi, and soon after Xu Yi bought the coffee shop, his subordinates informed him.


    Now that the studio was opening, he planned to be the first customer, to boost his favorability in front of Xu Yi.


    "I wish you a prosperous opening and booming business!" Chen Feihe congratulated Ailent with clasped hands.


    Ailent also clasped his hands in return, but his gesture was awkward and somewhat improper.


    He looked at the man in front of him with confusion; he didn''t seem to be here to request an exorcism. People in need of exorcism usually looked worried.


    But after all, this was the first person to enter after the studio opened, so he decided to treat him well.


    "Fresh coffee, would you like a cup?"


    Ailent thought about hiring someone to mind the shop. After all, it didn''t make sense for him, a grand exorcist''s agent, to be cooped up here making coffee all the time.


    Chen Lin had intended to leave, but his interest was piqued when he saw Chen Feihe, and he quietly followed him inside.


    Chen Feihe was a notorious old fox. What was he doing here?


    Ailent glanced at Chen Lin, his brow furrowed slightly, but he didn''t speak up to shoo him away. It was the first day of opening after all, and he wanted to keep it auspicious.


    "Have you encountered any troubles lately?" Ailent asked, sitting across from Chen Feihe. Out of professional habit, he inquired.


    "I''ve been feeling restless lately, often having nightmares at night." Of course, Chen Feihe couldn''t say he was in excellent condition, enjoying his food heartily; otherwise, the conversation couldn''t continue.


    Chen Lin was struck by Chen Feihe''s words. Wasn''t he describing his own problem? Could it be that Chen Feihe was having the same issue?


    He felt like asking if Chen Feihe often dreamed of a giant rat, but he was somewhat too proud to ask.


    "Are you looking for an exorcist to perform an exorcism for you?" Ailent hadn''t expected business to come knocking and instantly perked up.


    "Is Mr. Xu Yi here?" Chen Feihe looked around but didn''t spot Xu Yi.


    Ailent suddenly realized that the man had come for Xu Yi. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The boss is out on business, but our studio has other exorcists."


    Ailent thought to himself that for a minor issue like this, not to mention Lisa, even Maria could handle it. There was no need for their boss.


    "Oh, is that so!" Chen Feihe sighed, disappointed at not being able to meet Xu Yi and boost favorability.


    Seeing the ready opportunity about to slip away, Ailent knew he had to play his trump card. He retrieved a box from the safe.


    "Although the boss isn''t here, he has left something good behind." Ailent tapped the box.


    ```

 Chapter 80 Sorry, Youre Too Late

    The box was slowly opened by Ailent, and both Chen Lin and Chen Feihe leaned in to look. Inside were two tightly wrapped portraits, depicting a flame beast such as they had never seen before."This is an exorcism artifact personally created by our boss, featuring the Exorcism Sacred Beast known as Fire Gui," Ailent said with a hint of pride.


    Not every exorcism studio can produce and sell exorcism artifacts, let alone ones of such high quality.


    There were a total of three Fire Gui portraits. Xu Yi had one with him at all times, and the remaining two were for sale at the studio.


    "Buy it! Buy it!" Chen Feihe stared at the Fire Gui portrait, an inner voice urging him on.


    He had a fondness for calligraphy and paintings, with a substantial level of appreciation. Although the painting before him was not as exquisite as those by famous masters, it was still a fine work of art.


    But none of that was important. He could feel the essence of the painting, a hard-to-describe meaning. Having encountered several exorcism artifacts before, he was fairly certain the Fire Gui portrait in front of him was most likely a "genuine" one.


    Chen Lin glanced at the Fire Gui portrait and curled his lip.


    Exorcism artifact? Nothing but trickery to fool people!


    He had never seen any of those gods or ghosts throughout his life, taking the tales from the Spiritual Exploration Daily as mere stories.


    He knew the witch Zhang, and they had even cooperated. When Zhang was exposed, they helped smooth things over.


    "How much is this Fire Gui portrait?" Chen Feihe asked tentatively.


    He had brought money with him, ready to fully support their case, just as it was his nature not to hesitate.


    But the price of exorcism artifacts was usually not cheap, and he wondered if he had brought enough money with him that day.


    "Only 100,000, it''s an introductory price offered only since we just opened for business, and it''s very likely to increase later," Ailent replied softly. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Feihe''s eyes widened, not because the artifact was too expensive, but because it was too cheap.


    He had seen an exorcism artifact before which felt far inferior to the Fire Gui portrait in front of him, yet it had sold for more than 80,000 and was eagerly snapped up.


    Chen Lin''s mouth twitched. Was this palm-sized portrait made of gold or what?


    Even if it were made of gold, it wouldn''t be worth 100,000, right? 100,000 US dollars could buy a pretty decent house.


    "Only a fool would buy it," Chen Lin muttered to himself.


    "I''ll buy them all!" Chen Feihe said as he carried a case to the table, opened it, and revealed a case full of cash.


    Chen Lin''s eyes bulged as he watched Chen Feihe. Had Chen Feihe lost his mind, or was he playing a shill?


    Ailent shook his head, "The boss said, each person can only buy one!"


    Chen Lin sneered inwardly, seeing through the farce. Was this not a typical scam?


    He was familiar with such ploys. The next step would likely be Chen Feihe persuading him to help purchase another, followed by others rushing to buy, offering even higher prices.


    Out of greed, many would then think that since so many people were vying for it, could they possibly sell it for an even higher price?


    And that would be falling right into the trap.


    Chen Feihe abruptly stood up, pulled out 100,000 US dollars from the case, hastily grabbed a Fire Gui portrait and quickly walked out the door, almost as if he was running.


    Chen Lin was stunned. Why wasn''t he playing the game as expected? He was still here, the perfect mark, yet Chen Feihe just left? Was this a new trick?


    Then he realized awkwardly that no one was paying him any attention, as Ailent simply went about collecting the US dollars on the table.


    Could it really be genuine? Chen Lin stared at the Fire Gui portrait in the case, his curiosity piqued. He reached out to pick it up for a closer look.


    Ailent did not stop him. Though he didn''t like the guy, it wouldn''t be good for business to just kick him out.


    The moment Chen Lin''s fingertips touched the Fire Gui portrait, his body shuddered violently.


    A cloud of black mist surged from behind him, within which a huge rat could be faintly seen, emitting a piercing shriek.


    Chen Lin felt an immediate lightness, as if a weight of thousands of pounds had been lifted from his shoulders, and an indescribable sense of relief washed over him.


    Ailent noticed the anomaly in the portrait. The Fire Gui within seemed to come alive, eyes wide with rage, the flames entwining its body flowing incessantly.


    He moved the case aside with the speed of lightning and "smacked" it shut.


    Ailent felt a bit pained. Only upon touching the Fire Gui portrait would the exorcism effect be revealed.


    But each Fire Gui portrait had a limited amount of exorcism power, and if it was depleted, the portrait would become ineffective.


    The brief few seconds just now had consumed at least one-thirtieth of the power in the Fire Gui portrait.


    "Looks like I need to get an isolation cabinet!" Ailent sold this kind of exorcism portrait for the first time and had no experience.


    Chen Lin watched helplessly as the box was taken away, the feeling of bearing a heavy burden returning to him.


    If you''re always carrying a burden, you might not feel it after getting used to it, but once it''s lifted, feeling the ease and then having to bear it again, that pain is doubled.


    "You must save this painting for me! I''m going to get the money right now!" Chen Lin sprinted away.


    Even a fool like him knew the exorcism portrait in front of him was the real deal, and what was worse, it seemed like he had been targeted by something like an evil spirit.


    Chen Lin ran as fast as he could, as if there were dozens of people chasing him with watermelon knives.


    In fact, both situations were similar, running from murder to save one''s life, and now rushing back to get money to buy a magic artifact for exorcism, was also to save his life.


    Chen Lin, box in hand, gasped for breath as he charged toward the Holy Flame Studio, feeling a bit tired and wanting to stop for a rest.


    He turned his head and, startled like a rabbit, immediately quickened his pace.


    Chen Feihe also carried a box, with a person beside him. Where else could Chen Lin not understand the other''s intention? They were heading back to Qinghe Hall to buy all the Fire Gui portraits.


    Chen Feihe had also spotted Chen Lin. Seeing the box in Chen Lin''s hand, he instantly understood the situation and, casting aside his dignity, urged to quicken the pace.


    Both arrived at the studio door almost simultaneously, and seeing several luxury cars parked out front, they suddenly had a bad premonition.


    Chen Lin strode into the studio and asked anxiously, "I''ve brought the money, where''s the Fire Gui portrait?"


    Ailent, busy copying something, looked up at Chen Lin, "Sorry, you''re too late. The Fire Gui portrait has already been sold."


    "Sold! Who bought it? Didn''t you say you''d save it for me?" Chen Lin was a bit jumpy but didn''t dare offend Ailent and could only pace anxiously in place.


    Ailent couldn''t be bothered to answer, head down busy with his own affairs.


    "When will the next Fire Gui portrait be available? Can I reserve it?" Chen Lin took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.


    Ailent handed him a notebook, "Leave your name and contact number here."


    Chen Lin took the notebook and was instantly dumbfounded. It listed a long string of names ¨C easily over ten people.


    The sound of cars turning off came from outside, and a man in a suit stepped through the gate, clearly a successful person at first glance.


    "Excuse me, is this Holy Flame Studio?"


    "Yes, sir, please come in!" Ailent hurried to greet him.


    Seeing more people arrive, Chen Lin grew even more panicked. When Ailent passed by, he lowered his voice and said quickly, "I can pay more, how about 150,000? Buy one for me!"


    Pay more? Ailent glanced disdainfully at Chen Lin.


    The batch that came earlier offered 200,000 just for a chance to move up the waiting list. You think 150,000 is enough for on-the-spot goods? Wishful thinking.


    "I heard your studio is selling some kind of exorcism portrait; I wonder if you still have any, and the price is negotiable." The new arrival looked like he wasn''t bothered about money.


    "Sir, I''m very sorry, but we''re currently out of Fire Gui portraits. You can leave a contact, and if we get new Fire Gui portraits, I will contact you," Ailent had repeated those words several times already.


    He had still underestimated how well-informed these high-society individuals were; he only let out a hint of information, and it had elicited such a huge response.


    "The function of the Fire Gui portrait shouldn''t be just about making money; more importantly, using the Fire Gui portrait could allow connections with more influential people." Ailent''s eyes grew brighter.


    He had already thought of the correct way to sell the Fire Gui portraits!


    "If only I''d grabbed someone off the street to help me buy the Fire Gui portrait!" Chen Feihe was filled with regret.


    Chen Lin was even more regretful; what Chen Feihe lost was just an exorcism artifact, what he lost might be a lifeline!


    "President Feihe, perhaps you could part with it¡­"


    Before Chen Lin could finish, Chen Feihe had already strode away, without giving Chen Lin a second glance.


    Chen Lin didn''t want to leave either and sat on the couch watching Ailent entertain the guests, thinking of waiting until there were fewer people to negotiate with Ailent again.


    Without resolving the anomaly on him, he wouldn''t be able to sleep well tonight.


    Just then, Chen Lin saw a girl in a strange witch costume walk in, and when she passed by him, she stepped back two steps, muttering softly, "Why does this guy reek of dead rats?"


    Chen Lin was suddenly jolted awake, springing up from the couch.


    If he couldn''t buy the Fire Gui portrait, he could look for an exorcist! After all, this was an Exorcism Studio!


    "Master, save me!" Chen Lin rushed toward Lisa, calling out loudly.

 Chapter 81 The Collapse of Mr. Warren

    The Cadillac entered the scenic neighborhood, and Xu Yi quickly noticed something was amiss.At first glance, the neighborhood seemed ordinary, but in reality, it was tightly guarded, with sentries positioned every few hundred meters.


    The reason was understandable. How could a celebrity couple like the Warrens truly live in a common place? They were, after all, the face of the church.


    "Mr. Ed is a bit tied up at the moment and can''t get away. Please make yourself at home and rest here for a while," the driver said.


    After dropping Xu Yi off, the driver left, leaving him alone in the living room.


    What was this about? Was it truly inconvenient timing, or was this an intentional slight? Xu Yi was somewhat confused.


    But he quickly adapted to the situation. He didn''t feel any awkwardness coming to an unfamiliar place and casually took a seat on the sofa, surveying the living room.


    From the living room''s decor alone, one would never guess it belonged to an Exorcist¡ªthe setting was cozy and elegant, almost like the residence of an ordinary middle-class family.


    The door creaked open and Xu Yi felt puzzled.


    Had they returned so soon, or had he misunderstood them?


    He turned his head and saw that it wasn''t the Warrens who had entered but a little girl around eight or nine years old. Sculpted in delicate features, with short hair that accentuated her adorableness, her bright eyes were full of vivacity.


    "Why are you in my house?" the girl asked with curiosity as she looked Xu Yi up and down.


    She didn''t perceive Xu Yi as a bad person; as the saying goes, "judgment is often guided by appearances," and Xu Yi''s exceptional looks and constant smile made it easy for people to feel favorably toward him.


    Don''t think that "face control" is exclusive to adults; little girls are even more adept at being influenced by appearances.


    "You must be the Warrens'' daughter, right? My name is Xu Yi. I was invited to visit," Xu Yi said, having familiarized himself with the Warrens'' family structure.


    "I''m Judy. Isn''t my dad home?" Judy asked, struggling to get through the doorway.


    Only then did Xu Yi notice what Judy was holding in her hands¡ªa drawing easel and a box of watercolors. These items were not exactly light for an eight or nine-year-old girl.


    "Mr. Warren is still busy with some things," Xu Yi swiftly walked over to Judy, offering his hand. "Let me help you with those!"


    Judy initially wanted to decline but suddenly her body shook and she looked up in surprise.


    Xu Yi, too, sensed something and looked at Judy with astonishment.


    That was "psychic resonance," which simply put, occurs when two Psychics get close to one another and their magnetic fields align, creating a resonance.


    This kind of event usually happens between Psychics who have a blood relation; it''s rare among strangers.


    Judy''s spiritual power was inherited from her mother, Rolin Warren, and this was no secret.


    Could it be that his father and Judy''s mother were distant relatives? Xu Yi shook his head, dismissing the ludicrous conjecture from his mind.


    "It must just be a coincidence," he thought after a moment, attributing the reason to chance.


    Taking advantage of Judy''s momentary distraction, Xu Yi took the items from her hands. Attached to the easel was a half-finished painting of a church bathed in sunlight.


    "What happened? Did you encounter trouble while painting outdoors?" Xu Yi asked with a light chuckle.


    "How could you tell?" Judy asked curiously.


    After their recent serendipitous encounter, Judy felt less like a stranger to Xu Yi and no longer refused his assistance.


    "Clearly from this painting, the usage of colors reveals a sense of disquiet," he replied.


    Xu Yi had acquired the vocabulary of an artist, but he wasn''t so skilled as to discern a painter''s emotions simply from the use of color.


    Judy''s distressed expression needed no psychological insight beyond the reach of an 80-year-old to decipher; it was apparent.


    [Psychology, current progress: 80/100]


    Besides, Mr. Warren surely wouldn''t leave him alone with Judy. Had there not been an accident, resulting in Judy coming home early, he certainly wouldn''t have had the chance to meet her.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, are you saying that what I painted is really that terrible?" Judy asked, appearing rather desperate for advice. After all, not everyone understands watercolor paintings.


    Her peers from the painting outing had critiqued her, saying things like "even cats scratching and dogs clawing do a better job than Judy." Of course, they wouldn''t dare say it to her face, but their whispering behind her back was even more infuriating.


    Xu Yi smiled knowingly. Isn''t this right up his alley?


    "Judy, you need to understand something. Sometimes, when people criticize you, it''s not because you''re doing poorly. It could very well be out of their jealousy," Xu Yi began to offer Judy psychological guidance.


    Judy blinked in surprise.


    Xu Yi then suddenly shifted his tone, "Besides, your drawing isn''t bad; on the contrary, it can be said to be very talented. At least when it comes to form and proportion, it''s quite accurate. It''s just the use of colors that needs improvement."


    "Mr. Xu Yi, you know how to paint, too?" Judy''s attention was caught.


    "Just average, enough to hold an art exhibition," Xu Yi said "modestly".


    Judy''s eyes immediately lit up.


    "Let me teach you about color matching! First, you need to understand the emotions represented by each color..."


    While instructing Judy on painting, Xu Yi also provided psychological guidance. Combined with Judy''s "color control" attribute, she soon cheered up and unraveled her emotional knots.


    And Xu Yi reaped some rewards as well.


    "Brother Xu Yi, why should I use red here?"


    "Brother Xu Yi, you''re really amazing, how do you know so much? I want to go to the amusement park tomorrow, can you come with me?"


    He smoothly gained a little fan girl.


    ......


    The setting sun cast a golden hue on the land as Ed dragged his weary body home.


    "Is that man still inside?" Allen pushed open the car door and asked the assistant who came to meet him.


    The assistant nodded, hesitated, but finally decided to mind his own business and answered, "He''s been in the living room all afternoon."


    Ed nodded in satisfaction. It was true he had work to do, but he also intended to give Xu Yi the cold shoulder.


    The man had come to their door carrying the Exorcism Treasure Chest, which was no small favor to the Lopez family.


    However, since the Lopez family wasn''t in the position to meet with him directly, the favor could only be repaid by Ed, as his family and the Lopezes were long-time acquaintances.


    What if the man made outrageous requests?


    That''s when he thought of this plan, to leave Xu Yi hanging to face reality.


    Ed stood in front of the door, thinking that after sitting in the hall for so long, the man must be restless, or at least extremely bored by now, right?


    As the door swung open, crisp and cheerful laughter flowed out, leaving Ed frozen in place.


    How come the situation was different from what he had expected?


    The young man was comfortably lounging on the couch with a steaming cup of coffee in front of him.


    The can of coffee beans was right beside him¡ªhis favorite Blue Mountain coffee. But Ed remembered clearly that he had locked those beans in the cabinet.


    "Judy! When did you get back?" Ed''s gaze shifted and he spotted Judy sitting next to the young man.


    At that moment, Judy was holding a paintbrush, writing and drawing on the paper, occasionally letting out light laughs, her smile as sweet as sunflowers basked in sunlight.


    But Ed felt sour because his daughter never seemed that happy when she was with him.


    "Mr. Warren, you''re back? There are some little cakes here that taste quite nice, would you like to try them?" Xu Yi got up to greet him.


    A muscle twitched in Ed''s cheek; why did it feel like he was the guest visiting?


    "Daddy!" Judy quickly contained her smile and stood up to greet him respectfully.


    Was that attempt to suppress your smile genuine? Ed felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart.


    "Judy moved the slippers under the cupboard, Mr. Warren, would you like to change into them?" Xu Yi appeared to want to get a pair of slippers for Ed.


    Only then did Ed notice that Xu Yi was wearing slippers, and they were his...


    His eyelid twitched slightly.


    Ed looked at Judy, and feeling Ed''s gaze, she involuntarily shrank back.


    Ed felt bitter inside; everything was clear now. The coffee beans had been taken out of the locked cabinet by Judy, and she had given the slippers to the young man as well.


    "Oh! Thank you!"


    When the slippers were offered to him, Ed instinctively thanked him, then his smile froze on his face.


    Why did he say thank you? Shouldn''t he have grabbed the slippers and then smacked them across that detestable face?


    After stepping through the threshold, Ed habitually pulled on the door handle, and the door clicked shut.


    "Judy, Mr. Warren must be thirsty, pour him a glass of water, warm is fine," Xu Yi enthusiastically took Ed''s coat.


    Stay updated with empire sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Right away, Brother Xu Yi," Judy nodded subconsciously, having done many chores for Xu Yi that afternoon; it had almost become a habit.


    Ed''s composure completely collapsed; he shouldn''t be inside, he should be outside!

 Chapter 82 When the Map Ends, the Dagger Is Revealed

    The living room was filled with only the ticking sound of the clock, as two people sat opposite each other with the coffee, wreathed in drifting mist, separating them, neither of them speaking a word.Ed was silent because he was mentally overwhelmed, while Xu Yi was thinking of speaking up after savoring his coffee.


    "Actually, Judy is quite pitiable. Despite being just a child, she has to bear so many gazes, and she has few friends. She often stays alone in this empty house," Xu Yi intoned somberly as he set down his coffee.


    Ed was slightly stunned, not expecting that the first thing the other would say when they were alone would be this.


    A feeling of guilt welled up inside him. Ed was very aware that all of this was because of them, their identity was too special, and they were too busy, seldom having the time to accompany their child.


    He looked at Xu Yi and suddenly found him much more agreeable.


    Xu Yi was also observing Ed. He sensed a familiar aura emanating from him, bright and blazing like the sun.


    That kind of aura was also present in Lisa, but compared with Ed, it was like comparing a witch to a grand wizard.


    The other''s aura was purer, stronger, and more restrained.


    Lisa could have that kind of aura because of the "Sacred Body" ability mentioned in the entries.


    That ability didn''t come from Lisa herself but from that drop of mysterious blood.


    Could that drop of blood be related to the church? S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi found it hard not to speculate, knowing that Ed was the church''s public figure, specially appointed by the church as an Exorcist.


    If Lisa''s Sacred Body was "false," then the Sacred Body that Ed possessed should be "true."


    Although there was only a one-word difference, the effects were worlds apart, no wonder he held such great fame.


    "I''m very sorry about what happened to Hunter and Laura!"


    Xu Yi took out the Exorcism Box from the Lopez family and placed it flat on the table.


    Ed sighed deeply, saying nothing. The death of exorcists was all too common an occurrence.


    He didn''t suspect that the deaths of the two were related to Xu Yi; after all, the fact that Xu Yi could find him here instead of directly contacting the Lopez family already explained a lot.


    The Lopez family had a customary practice that whenever they faced misfortune, they would entrust the Exorcism Box to someone they trusted.


    But it was not to have the person go directly to the Lopez family; instead, it was to go through a familiar "intermediary."


    This was to prevent someone from committing a murder for the sake of wealth and then infiltrating the Lopez family through the Exorcism Treasure Chest.


    If Xu Yi had brazenly sought out the Lopez family with the Exorcism Treasure Chest, what awaited him wouldn''t be a welcoming drink but, most likely, the barrel of a gun.


    Ed took the Exorcism Treasure Chest and didn''t examine it, because it was unnecessary.


    If Xu Yi played any tricks by secretly keeping some of the Exorcism Artifacts inside, he would quickly incur the wrath of the Lopez family.


    The Exorcism Artifacts of the Lopez family all bore special marks, and within a certain radius, they could use these marks to locate the artifacts.


    If they were gifting them, they would erase the marks first.


    "Thank you very much for bringing back the Exorcism Box!" Ed expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Lopez family to Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi waved his hand, indicating that thanks were unnecessary, "By the way, I would like to ask Mr. Warren for a small favor."


    Ed immediately sat up straight, knowing that the inevitable request had arrived. He hoped that what Xu Yi said was true, that it really was just a small favor.


    "I would like to ask Mr. Warren to help me obtain an Exorcist License," said Xu Yi softly.


    Ed breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze upon Xu Yi softening.


    If he were to apply on his own, it would indeed be a huge hassle, but with his relationship with the church, it was merely a matter of mentioning it.


    "No problem, I''ll make a call right after this. If there are no issues, it should take about three days to process," he said, as he agreed to Xu Yi''s request in one breath, seeing his understanding.


    "I truly appreciate it, and oh, there is another small matter I need to trouble Mr. Warren with," Xu Yi said with a smile of gratitude, suddenly changing his tone.


    "What is it?" asked Ed, still in good spirits, assuming that Xu Yi meant a small matter such as "asking for an introduction to the Lopez family" and not minding it, but his eyes bulged when he heard Xu Yi''s next words, "What did you say?"


    ```


    "I''d like to take a look at Mr. Warren''s occult collection room, and I might use a demon there to do a little favor," Xu Yi whispered.


    This was his true purpose in coming here!


    The Warrens'' occult collection room was famously known in the Exorcism World, housing a myriad of vessels for Evil Spirits and bodies where Demons had descended, in great numbers.


    The Eyes of Obscurity required an upgrade, which needed the absorption of the Fog of Obscurity from a demon.


    If it were anywhere else, rashly absorbing the Fog of Obscurity from a demon would definitely attract a frenzied attack by the Evil Spirits.


    Therefore, usually only after annihilating a demon could its Fog of Obscurity be absorbed.


    But the situation was different in the collection room, where the demons were sealed. Even if he consumed the Fog of Obscurity, those demons couldn''t do anything to him.


    This method of farming entries was safe and efficient, was there anything more delightful?


    But as beautiful as imagination could be, reality was stark.


    "I''m sorry, I''m afraid I can''t agree to this request," Ed shook his head.


    As for Ed''s refusal, Xu Yi wasn''t surprised. If the other party had agreed outright, that would truly have been odd. Discover stories at empire


    With so many paranormal objects stored in the collection room, if the seals were carelessly broken, unleashing the "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons," chaos would likely ensue.


    Xu Yi had originally considered entering the collection room for a visit and then secretly absorbing the Fog of Obscurity.


    But he realized that idea was completely unworkable. How would he go about absorbing the Fog of Obscurity from demons, right under the noses of one, or even two seasoned exorcists, without being discovered?


    It was impossible to send the Warrens away and visit the collection room by himself.


    They weren''t that carefree.


    Besides, he wasn''t absolutely sure he could absorb a sufficient amount of the Fog of Obscurity without damaging any seals.


    So, absorbing the Fog of Obscurity must be done with the assistance of the Warrens.


    Although he had anticipated the outcome, Xu Yi was still somewhat disappointed. Just as he was wondering how to persuade Ed, the door to Judy''s room suddenly opened.


    "Dad, just agree to Xu Yi''s request. It''s just a quick visit to the basement, isn''t it?" Judy pleaded in a low voice.


    "Judy, this matter is troublesome, not as simple as you think," Ed explained softly.


    Ed was a complete doting father. Coupled with the guilt of not being able to spend much time with Judy, he couldn''t bring himself to blame her.


    "Brother Xu Yi has come all this way and even returned the Lopez family''s treasure chest. Because of a little trouble, are we not going to help?" Judy pouted.


    "This is very dangerous!" Ed was still explaining.


    "I believe that if Brother Xu Yi dares to do this, he must be confident, right?" Judy looked at Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi nodded repeatedly. What else could he say? Only that Sister Judy was awesome!


    It had all been worthwhile, the afternoon he''d spent giving Judy psychological support, teaching her to draw, and occasionally telling a few jokes to lighten the mood.


    Ed was worn down by Judy to the point where he had no argument left, and Xu Yi was at his side, continuously assuring that he would be extremely careful, not damaging the seals in the collection room.


    After more than ten minutes of back-and-forth, Ed finally relented.


    "I can agree to your request, but you need to help me with a commission. I really can''t find the time lately."


    Judy wanted to keep negotiating but was dissuaded by a look from Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi was well aware that this was almost the limit they could bargain for. If he pushed further, and Ed suddenly changed his mind, all would be lost.


    "Mr. Warren, could you tell me what the commission is?"


    Just to be safe, Xu Yi decided to ask first, in case it was a tough nut to crack.


    After listening to Ed''s description, Xu Yi felt there were no major issues and nodded, tentatively agreeing to it.


    He planned to check it out first. If it was not feasible, he could simply turn back and think of another plan.


    ```

 Chapter 83 In order to prevent the clients death, I decided...

    The car was driving in the suburbs, and Xu Yi sat in the passenger seat, feeling as if a fly was constantly buzzing by his ear.He shouldn''t have been in the passenger seat, no, he shouldn''t have gotten in the car at all.


    The driver was a priest, his hair white as snow, his face full of wrinkles, but he was still full of energy. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Father Bonne, do you need to take a break?" Xu Yi "kindly" reminded him.


    Ever since he got in the car, Father Bonne hadn''t stopped talking. It was like a machine gun, rattling on without end.


    One moment he was boasting about his old qualifications in the Holy Court, and how many famous people he knew; the next, he subtly inquired about Xu Yi''s situation, just like the aunts who crowded around you during the New Year''s homecoming.


    Seeing that he couldn''t get anything out of it, he began to complain, saying he couldn''t understand what Ed was thinking, why he would send a young man over.


    Between the lines, there was mistrust of Xu Yi.


    "No need, I am not tired," Father Bonne casually replied, and then continued his "rap tour."


    "Xu Yi, you are young and inexperienced, exorcism is not so simple. Back in the day, I..."


    "If you were so formidable, why didn''t you become an exorcist? Why did you still seek help from Mr. Warren?" Xu Yi finally couldn''t take it anymore and retorted indifferently.


    Father Bonne''s pupils shook, his hands unconsciously gripped the steering wheel tighter, his mouth agape but no sound came out, like a soggy chicken being strangled by the neck.


    The world suddenly became quiet, and Xu Yi took a deep breath, feeling indescribably relieved.


    Not all priests are exorcists; in fact, most of the priests in the church are common people, used to support the operation of the vast church.


    Father Bonne in front of him was just such a common man.


    For the rest of the journey, Father Bonne completely quieted down, Xu Yi had hit a sore spot, and he shut himself off completely.


    The car stopped in front of an apartment building adorned with many elements of the church, which Xu Yi had expected.


    The church treats its devout believers differently from common people.


    If not for a devout church follower, Ed wouldn''t have specifically asked him to come over and help.


    As soon as Xu Yi got out of the car, he smelled a foul odor, like burning sulfur mixed with the iron stench of blood.


    He covered his nose and looked around; this was a luxury apartment with someone to clean regularly, the entrance was very clean, not looking like there was rotten garbage.


    Xu Yi suddenly realized something and looked up sharply.


    The smell was coming from above, and it wasn''t a real smell, but his Psychic Perception at work, the scent belonging to an evil spirit.


    Father Bonne''s curiosity was piqued, he looked up along with Xu Yi''s gaze, and then his pupils suddenly constricted.


    A woman stood wavering at the window, her eyes lifeless, and most terrifyingly, she was trying to climb over the windowsill.


    The window was four stories above the ground, and a direct fall could likely lead to immediate death.


    "Mia! Mia!" Father Bonne shouted loudly, trying to wake her up,


    Unfortunately, she turned a deaf ear, with one foot already over the sill.


    Mia? Xu Yi paused for a moment. Wasn''t this the client for this assignment?


    If she fell to her death, wouldn''t that mean the mission had failed? Was the situation going to end before it even started?


    It was too late to rush up the stairs and pull her back; in the time it would take to reach the fourth floor, she could have jumped several times.


    Even if he tried to run downstairs to catch her, it wouldn''t be possible, as the iron gate was locked tight, and by the time he climbed over, her body would probably be cold.


    Xu Yi took out the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, swiftly ejected the bullets inside, and then loaded new ones.


    He aimed at Mia. With the enhancement of the Marksmanship entry, he already had pretty good shooting skills, especially with his preferred weapon, the revolver.


    The trigger was pulled, and amidst the muffled gunshots, the bullet left the chamber¡ªthe first shot hit the window ledge, the second shot hit Mia squarely in the chest.


    Mia screamed in pain, her body falling backward, tumbling back into the room.


    Bonne was completely stunned, staring agape at Xu Yi.


    What was this, to prevent the client from being killed by a demon, I killed the client first?


    "Don''t just stand there, quickly figure out how to open the door," Xu Yi urged.


    He glanced at the priest, still standing there stupefied, and explained, "I was using rubber bullets just now. They can''t kill anyone."


    The so-called rubber bullets are essentially riot control rounds, designed to calm people down without killing them.


    Two days ago, Xu Yi had a sudden idea, if "Messiah" could bless all bullets, why not rubber bullets?


    Many times, the target of an exorcism isn''t the entity itself, but a human possessed by an evil spirit or demon.


    In such cases, you can''t exactly solve everything in one fell swoop, right?


    So, he thought of these rubber bullets, but ordinary rubber bullets are used in shotguns or riot guns, seldom in revolvers.


    However, with enough "financial power," nothing is a problem.


    Father Bonne''s dead heart began to revive after hearing the explanation, and without hesitation, he opened the trunk of the car, rummaging for tools.


    "You truly are an experienced old priest!" exclaimed Xu Yi, upon seeing what Father Bonne was holding in his hands.


    The old priest was holding a huge pair of bolt cutters, capable of snipping through not only a mere iron lock but even steel bars.


    "What are you doing?"


    The apartment security guard came over upon hearing the noise, and Father Bonne handed him a bright red booklet ¨C an Exorcist License.


    The security guard immediately fell silent and was even kept by the old priest to act as forced labor.


    Xu Yi looked at the red booklet with envy, the Exorcist License seemed even more useful than a police badge, and thankfully, he would soon have one too.


    With the bolt cutters in hand, the security guard snipped the lock at the entrance, then fled like a scared rabbit.


    Even if the people of this world haven''t seen ghosts or evil spirits with their own eyes, through stories and observation, they know the terror of evil spirits.


    The more they know, the more they revere.


    Whenever there is an exorcism, people around instinctively keep their distance. Watching a scene might be satisfying, but life is more important.


    Pushing open the gate, crossing the front garden, the entrance door on the first floor was unlocked, Xu Yi and his companion made their way straight to the fourth floor via the stairs.


    The closer they got to their destination, the more intense the foul smell became.


    As they stepped onto the fourth-floor corridor, the paintings on both sides of the hall began to shake violently, as if the figures within had come to life, glaring angrily at Xu Yi and his companion.


    The sound of the paintings hitting the walls resembled the roars of wild beasts.


    Xu Yi suddenly remembered a saying, "Such insignificant tricks, daring to show off in the craftsman''s doorway!"


    It seemed that all evil spirits, or demons, knew this trick, controlling the surrounding objects to create a great sense of oppression.


    Pity, this trick only worked on ordinary people. Xu Yi strode confidently into the corridor.


    "Wait for me!" Father Bonne took out a cross from his pocket, a cross clearly blessed by the church, possessing considerable exorcism power.


    Following Xu Yi step by step, Father Bonne was no longer as arrogant as he had been on arrival.


    Xu Yi almost forgot that the Father Bonne beside him was a mere mortal.


    At the end of the hallway, a door was blown open by the wind, creating a slit through which they could see a small figure standing there, seemingly only three or four years old, dressed in a white princess dress.


    "Does Mia have children?" Xu Yi suddenly asked.


    "Yes, Mia has a daughter," Father Bonne replied promptly after a moment''s hesitation.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed involuntarily.


    The figure behind the door was clearly not a living person, lacking "human warmth," but oddly, there was no hint of an evil spirit either, more like an ordinary wandering soul.


    Could it be that Mia''s daughter had already been murdered?


    The room from which Mia had jumped to her death was at the end of the hallway. They walked towards the corridor, and the white ghostly figure also moved towards them.


    They came to a standstill in front of the corridor door as the ghostly figure suddenly accelerated, running faster and faster.


    In the moment the door burst open, the three- or four-year-old girl transformed into an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old young woman, wielding a bloody dagger, her face twisted with rage as she lunged at the two men.


    In that instant, Xu Yi''s perception changed.


    An icy chill surged towards him, the figure was no ordinary wandering soul but an evil spirit.


    But how had it managed to elude his psychic perception?

 Chapter 84 The Famous Doll (1/5) (Please Subscribe!)

    Facing the sudden attack of the evil spirit, Father Bonne''s hand trembled violently, almost throwing the cross he was holding.His face turned pale because he realized that the exorcism cross had no effect on the evil spirit.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, save me!"


    As a seasoned veteran of the church, his call for help was especially resolute, and the way he hid behind Xu Yi was particularly smooth, as if he had practiced it countless times.


    Xu Yi''s expression was grave, not because of the strength of the evil spirit before him, but because of what had just happened.


    His Spirit Communication Ability had been deceived!


    This was not something an ordinary evil spirit could achieve. Originally, Mary Shaw had managed to deceive his spiritual power by using a monster''s split form, the perfect doll, and likely also with the help of that human skin scroll.


    But the evil spirit before him did not need to resort to such things, managing it as easily as lifting a cup of tea.


    This kind of evil spirit either had an extraordinary talent or... a significant background.


    These thoughts flashed through his mind, but the evil spirit had already pounced in front of him. The urgent priority was to deal with it first.


    "Little sister, knives are too dangerous, it''s better not to play with them!"


    Xu Yi spoke softly, then lifted his coat hem and drew the Dagger of Rest from its sheath on the left side, stabbing towards the evil spirit''s head.


    He had intentionally had a tactical belt custom-made, with the Dagger of Rest''s sheath hanging on the left and the Messiah''s holster on the right.


    The evil spirit''s head was pierced through, emitting a terrible scream before dissipating like bubbles. If it weren''t for the lingering chill in the air, one would have thought it was all an illusion.


    Xu Yi did not pay any attention to Father Bonne, who was still shaken, and directly pushed open the door at the end of the corridor to enter the room.


    He immediately spotted Mia by the windowsill, slowly coming to consciousness with her hand on her chest.


    Rubber bullets may not be lethal, but that doesn''t mean they''re completely harmless¡ªthe force of the bullet is not something an ordinary person can withstand.


    Moreover, the exorcistic power of the bullet was acting inside her body, which is why she was only waking up now.


    "My daughter! My daughter!"


    As soon as Mia came to, she stood up anxiously and began to pace around the room.


    Her gaze swept over the doorway several times without stopping, as if she couldn''t see Xu Yi at all.


    "Blinded by resentment?"


    Xu Yi instantly understood what was happening. Blinded by resentment was the Western term, whereas in Xia Kingdom, it was called being ghost-blinded.


    He proceeded directly to Mia, without any thought of gentleness or pity, took control of the struggling Mia, and pulled out the Exorcism Lighter, searing her pinky finger with it.


    Being hesitant and concerned about gentleness during an exorcism was the most foolish approach.


    The fingers are connected to the heart, and the pinky is the most sensitive to pain. So, burning the pinky with exorcism flames often yields remarkable results.


    Mia screamed in agony, suddenly bent over and retched on the floor, spitting out thick black water. The dark fog that had shrouded her vision dispersed.


    Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, closed the lighter, and released her.


    "Mia, are you alright?" Father Bonne rushed in at that moment and quickly helped Mia onto a chair.


    Seeing Father Bonne, a familiar face, Mia stabilized somewhat, but she quickly became anxious again, "Father Bonne, my daughter is missing, please save her!"


    "What exactly happened? Why did you want to jump off the building?" Father Bonne asked urgently.


    "The demon took away my daughter, saying it wanted to exchange my soul for hers. I saw the demon slice my little Alice''s face, and she''s not even one year old yet, how could they do that to her!" Mia collapsed onto the chair, crying hysterically.


    Xu Yi closed his eyes and used his Spiritual Power to sense the traces left by the demon''s movements. After a moment, he opened his eyes and walked towards the nearby baby''s room.


    The baby''s room was empty. Xu Yi went straight to the wardrobe and pulled open the door.


    A small infant lay quietly in the bedding, sleeping soundly, her little face flushed.


    Mia''s daughter was unharmed, which Xu Yi had anticipated.


    For the demon, its target was Mia''s soul, and Mia''s daughter was undoubtedly her weak point.


    If it doesn''t succeed at once, the doll can continue to be used next time; the other party naturally won''t destroy it easily.


    Mia, seeing her daughter safe and sound, cried tears of joy, holding the baby tightly in her arms and profusely thanking Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi, however, was frowning the whole time; this time, he feared trouble was brewing.


    What he clearly saw in the corridor was an evil spirit, yet the opponent was engaging in the acts of a demon.


    Evil spirits and demons are two completely different creatures.


    Evil spirits grow by killing, consuming the grudges of the deceased to strengthen themselves.


    Except for a special demon like Jason, most demons aim for human souls, which they harvest through the three stages of ''infestation, oppression, and possession.''


    Of course, there are very few exceptions, such as Mia''s current situation, where the target is made to offer their soul willingly.


    "Is there something special about Mia''s soul?" Xu Yi closely observed Mia.


    For demons, only exceedingly precious souls are worth such elaborate schemes.


    Xu Yi could not discern any clues; demons have their own unique methods to recognize the quality of a soul.


    "Can you tell me about your encounter with the evil spirit?" Xu Yi asked softly after Mia''s emotions had stabilized.


    Mia recounted the experience in bits and pieces, some parts jumbled, but Xu Yi still grasped the sequence of events.


    It was a very typical ''demon harassment pattern,'' things like kettles suddenly buzzing, sewing machines turning on by themselves, ghostly figures startling...


    But Xu Yi still caught on to the key point from Mia''s words, "You said everything started three days ago. Did anything special happen three days ago?"


    "I''m clear on that matter," Father Bonne interjected, seeing Mia in no state to continue. "Three days ago, two criminals broke into Mia''s house... You should know the security in this neighborhood is very good, many people don''t lock their yard gates, it was only after that incident that locks were added."


    "Get to the point!" Xu Yi, seeing Father Bonne about to ramble, hastily interrupted.


    "The criminals were a man and a woman. The man was killed by the police who arrived, and the woman committed suicide in the room," Father Bonne immediately became succinct.


    Having witnessed Xu Yi''s methods, how could he dare to underestimate him now?


    And about the revolver Xu Yi wore at his waist, he had a vague feeling of familiarity.


    "The demon that harassed me had possessed a doll, and the female criminal was holding that doll when she killed herself." Mia added.


    Xu Yi''s pupils constricted slightly, not expecting Mia to have omitted such critical information.


    Concerning this demon, he had a vague speculation. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without a word, he took out a pen and a sketchbook from his backpack, sat down at the desk, and activated his Spirit Communication Drawing.


    Mia and Father Bonne did not know what Xu Yi was doing, and they did not dare to disturb him.


    A moment later, Xu Yi''s wooden pupils returned to normal, and a drawing appeared in the sketchbook.


    The drawing depicted a doll seated in the center of a stool, its cute braided pigtails resting on its shoulders, dressed in a princess gown with a huge bow around its waist.


    The most striking feature of the doll was its face ¨C blood-red lips, bright red cheeks, and empty, deep blue eyes.


    As Xu Yi gazed into the doll''s eyes, he felt his soul being incessantly tugged, falling toward the abyss.


    What concerned him more was that the background of the doll was almost entirely blacked out, looking at first glance as if it were haphazardly scribbled, but upon closer inspection, one could vaguely make out an extremely terrifying figure.


    "Xu Yi! Xu Yi! Are you alright?"


    The voice of Father Bonne called out, and Xu Yi suddenly came to his senses, only then realizing he did not know how long he had been gazing at the sketchbook, his forehead sweat dampening the drawing.


    "Is it this doll?" Xu Yi handed the drawing to Mia.


    Mia nodded in surprise, wondering how the other person could have drawn the doll without having seen it.


    "That''s right, I remember the female criminal was named Annabelle." Father Bonne suddenly recalled and added.


    Xu Yi took a deep breath and confirmed that the subject of this exorcism was none other than the infamous Annabelle doll.

 Chapter 85 Special Class Spirit Puppet (2/5)

    A low chuckle suddenly arose, and everyone in the room tensed up instantly, with Father Bonne clutching the Exorcism Cross, a slight sweat on his forehead; Mia held the baby protectively, warily scanning back and forth.The laughter was elusive, at times seeming to come from above their heads, and at others from beneath the floor.


    Dark fog once again clouded Mia''s vision, and without a sound, she picked up the fruit knife from the table and walked behind Xu Yi, as if he hadn''t seen her coming.


    In Mia''s world, Xu Yi had already been possessed by a demon, his face hideously carrying a gun, intent on killing her child.


    Mia raised the fruit knife, aiming it at Xu Yi.


    "Not this trick again!" Xu Yi sighed, lifting the Dagger of Rest in his hand and violently piercing through Annabelle''s portrait.


    Judgment!


    A beast-like scream suddenly filled the air as a puppet fell from the ceiling to the floor.


    The body of the Annabelle doll was twisted into an eerie pretzel shape, lying motionless on the ground, its face pointed directly at Xu Yi, with a flicker of blood in its blue pupils.


    Mia let out a scream, quickly throwing away the dagger in her hand, realizing that what she had just seen was an illusion.


    Xu Yi stared intently at the Annabelle doll, his eyes not showing fear but desire!


    The Annabelle doll turned out to be the Spirit Puppet he had long coveted.


    The "Puppet Master" entries from Mary Shaw were very peculiar; he couldn''t gain any experience before binding a Spirit Puppet.


    But it granted him a passive ability, "Puppet Identification Technique," to discern the quality of Spirit Puppets.


    According to the Appraisal Technique, the "mist" on ordinary Spirit Puppets was faint, as if it would dissipate at any moment; on premium Puppets, the "mist" was dense, lingering on.


    Beyond these, there was also a "special class Puppet."


    The "mist" enshrouding Annabelle was extraordinarily thick, viscous like glue, and the "mist" kept changing, transforming into withered roses.


    Annabelle doll was an extremely rare "special class Puppet"!


    "Coming here for an exorcism really was the right call," Xu Yi was somewhat excited.


    He was well aware that if he missed out on the Annabelle doll, it would be difficult to find another Puppet of such quality.


    Mary Shaw''s puppets, placed before Annabelle, weren''t even fit to hold her shoes.


    The Annabelle doll was being controlled by the Judgment, Xu Yi moved his hand away from the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, fearing he might damage the doll with the gun.


    The Exorcism Lighter was even less of an option, as it would be terrible if he accidentally burned the doll. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although he knew the Annabelle doll would not be so fragile, he still couldn''t help but worry.


    It wasn''t surprising that he was so anxious; the quality of the Annabelle doll was simply too good. If he could bind the doll and then imprint it with Necromantic Spells, sealing a powerful soul inside...


    Such a Puppet would have tremendous potential!


    Xu Yi suddenly realized that he was short of methods in the face of this situation, with no good way to deal with it.


    "First take the doll away, then figure out how to expel the demon from it, hoping Maria''s Soul Transmigration can handle this situation."


    Xu Yi strode toward the doll.


    Just as he reached out to pick it up, a white Evil Spirit suddenly blocked his way, the same female evil spirit that had attacked them in the hallway before.


    Xu Yi was slightly startled; wasn''t the spirit nailed to the spot by the Judgment? How could it have come out again?


    He looked behind him, the Dagger of Rest was still thrust into the painting, showing no signs of being dislodged.


    A thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly understood why he saw an evil spirit, but the actions were those of a demon.


    "The demon is manipulating the Annabelle doll, but the puppet''s body is also hosting a female evil spirit!"


    He had never heard of such a situation, so he hadn''t reacted immediately.


    The evil spirit suddenly opened her mouth, stretching it to an unimaginable extent, as if she could swallow a person''s head in one bite.


    Xu Yi suddenly had a bad premonition and rushed toward the Annabelle doll.


    The evil spirit suddenly started howling, the powerful soundwaves spreading in all directions, shattering fragile items in the room, and breaking the window panes into pieces, with sharp shards flying everywhere.


    Xu Yi bore the brunt of it, feeling something hit him head-on, his body thrown into the air, and crashing heavily against the wall.


    He stood up, supporting his aching body, when a sudden fierce wind whipped up in the room, flinging dust and stones, and he shielded his eyes with his hands, but he couldn''t see anything in the distance.


    The howling of the evil spirit suddenly ceased, and the wind stopped as well, leaving the room in complete disarray. Xu Yi quickly looked in the direction of the Annabelle doll, which was now nowhere to be seen.


    The Annabelle doll was gone, and Xu Yi didn''t bother to look for it; given the evil spirit''s ability to disguise, it would be very difficult to find her unless she chose to reveal herself.


    "What exactly is the relationship between that evil spirit and the doll?" Xu Yi furrowed his brows.


    The evil spirit was protecting the doll, not as though it feared the vessel would be destroyed, but rather like a "Protector," willing to die to prevent the doll from being harmed.


    Ordinarily, evil spirits act on instinct, so why could this one go to such lengths?


    "The demon will return, so I suggest that for the time being, it would be best if you stayed with me," Xu Yi turned to look at Mia.


    The demon behind Annabelle, having gone through so much trouble to attempt Mia''s "Self-Sacrifice," was unlikely to give up so easily.


    Shifting perspectives, to draw out the Annabelle doll, they would have to rely on the woman before them.


    Mia was indecisive at the moment and made a phone call. Soon, her husband rushed back, and after a brief discussion, they agreed to Xu Yi''s suggestion.


    Mia''s husband was a gemstone merchant. He pulled Xu Yi aside and whispered to him.


    After a moment, Xu Yi shook hands with him, smiling broadly.


    Indeed, a successful person like him knows how to act appropriately, promising a "gratuity" on the side.


    Even without the gratuity, Xu Yi would have protected Mia, since it was Ed''s commission and was linked to his chances of entering the Collection Room to take the Fog of Obscurity for free.


    But the other''s gestures of gratitude at least pleased him, and with the promise of extra money, he was even more motivated.


    "Tell me in detail about the incident that happened three days ago," Xu Yi looked at Father Bonne.


    "Actually, I don''t know much, but if you want to understand the entire incident, I have a way," Father Bonne said with a mysterious smile on his face.


    Police station.


    Sunlight filtered through the blinds, shining in as Xu Yi sat in the chief''s office, grandly poring over the documents before him.


    Xu Yi hadn''t expected that Father Bonne''s method would be to go directly to the nearby police station to check the records.


    Not wanting to disturb Xu Yi, Father Bonne waited outside with Mia, who had already sent her baby away, temporarily fostering it at St. Tacia Monastery.


    St. Tacia was the most famous monastery in Connecticut, church territory with numerous exorcists living there.


    Even a powerful demon wouldn''t dare to cause trouble there.


    Mia didn''t go to St. Tacia Monastery because it was pointless. She couldn''t hide forever, and she couldn''t live there her entire life.


    Moreover, St. Tacia Monastery rarely accepted outsiders. It was only because of the baby''s unique situation that the priests took pity and took in Mia''s daughter.


    "Although Father Bonne is a bit verbose, he is a good person!" Xu Yi commented.


    As someone who knew he was facing a powerful evil spirit, he didn''t shrink back; he accompanied them the whole way and even tried to comfort an anxious Mia.


    "Besides, not everything he said was bluffing... he really is an old hand with quite the presence!" Xu Yi added in his mind.


    It was a pipe dream for ordinary people to even think about accessing police records.


    But when old Father Bonne went to the police station, merely mentioning it, he got an affirmative answer, with the chief even personally preparing a quiet workspace for him.


    Xu Yi flipped through the case file, his gaze suddenly fixing on a photograph.

 Chapter 86 Internal Engraving Technique and Exorcism Bullet (3/5)

    Xu Yi carefully examined the photo, which was obviously taken in Mia''s room. A girl in a white robe was slumped against the wall, her head drooping.The pixels of the cameras from this era were limited and not very clear, but Xu Yi still recognized at first glance that the girl in the photo was the evil spirit he had previously encountered.


    A dagger was thrust into the girl''s chest, and both the autopsy report and the witnessing police officers indicated that it was suicide.


    And the girl was only 18 years old.


    What could possibly make an 18-year-old girl willingly take her own life?


    The most bizarre part was, according to police investigations, the girl named Annabelle had no prior connection to Mia''s family at all; she was just a common person.


    With neither enmity nor financial entanglement, two people inexplicably ran into the home of strangers; one was shot dead by the police, and the other committed suicide.


    No matter how one looked at it, the whole thing was shrouded in peculiarity.


    In the picture, the girl named Annabelle was holding the eerie doll, and whether by coincidence or some other reason, the doll''s name also happened to be Annabelle.


    Xu Yi had already turned to the next page, but suddenly he flipped back, moved closer to the photo, and his eyes widened.


    The photo''s resolution was really poor, but fortunately, the Eyes of Obscurity endowed him with powerful vision, allowing him to see more minute details. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the photo, the blood from the girl''s chest dripped onto the doll, yet strangely enough, the doll was very clean with no bloodstains whatsoever.


    This could only mean one thing: the doll had absorbed the girl''s blood, and even Xu Yi speculated that the girl''s soul, along with her blood, had been devoured by the doll, transforming into the evil spirit afterward.


    "Do I smell a conspiracy?" Xu Yi murmured quietly.


    What concerned him the most in the photo was not this, but rather a mark on the wall behind the girl, or more precisely, the mark on the wall.


    The mark was made with blood and was completely illegible, as if it had been carelessly smeared on with a hand.


    "It''s just too strange. Why would this clean, white wall have only this one mark?"


    Xu Yi couldn''t find an answer for the time being and had to continue reading.


    In the case file, he saw even more explosive news. Before entering Mia''s house, the girl had first gone to the next-door neighbor''s house.


    No, it wasn''t quite right to say the next-door neighbor''s house. To be accurate, it should be said "Annabelle returned to her own house for a visit."


    The neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Higgins, had adopted an orphan from the orphanage more than ten years ago, who was the very girl, Annabelle, that committed suicide.


    About three years ago, Annabelle suddenly disappeared.


    The first thing Annabelle did when she returned was to brutally kill her adoptive parents.


    According to the investigation, the Higgins treated Annabelle very well, as if she were their own daughter. After Annabelle disappeared, they grieved for a long time and sought help everywhere to find her.


    "What a human tragedy!" Xu Yi mourned for Mr. and Mrs. Higgins silently.


    The scent of conspiracy was growing stronger. First, she killed her adoptive parents then immediately ran next door to commit suicide. Even a madman wouldn''t do something like this.


    "To clearly understand this matter, the breakthrough should be in this girl named Annabelle. As long as we find out where she went during those missing three years, everything should fall into place."


    An exorcist''s main job is to perform exorcisms, but occasionally they also have to play detective.


    It''s not to satisfy curiosity; understanding an entity''s origin makes the work of exorcism much easier.


    Knowing the origins of an evil spirit helps in finding the vessel; understand a demon''s background is even more important, as many demons'' True Names are their weaknesses.


    In this unfamiliar place, it would not be a simple matter for him to investigate by himself.


    Xu Yi''s gaze fell on Father Bonne.


    Father Bonne, sensing Xu Yi''s gaze, smiled and nodded, completely unaware that he was being targeted and was about to start a "hard-working" life.


    ......


    Joeya Gemstone Processing Workshop.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, if you engage in this kind of work, you definitely have the opportunity to become a master engraver," the elderly man with a white beard exclaimed in admiration.


    "Master Mark, you flatter me, I''m just an enthusiast," Xu Yi responded modestly.


    In his hand, he held an engraving tool, and in front of him was a piece of green beryl the size of an egg, which had already been half-carved with an Eternal Flower, capturing its essence remarkably well, about seventy to eighty percent.


    Mia and her husband were seated not far away, chatting softly and leisurely enjoying their floral tea.


    Meanwhile, the beleaguered Father Bonne was under the hot sun, searching for connections everywhere to investigate the matter of Annabelle.


    Initially, Father Bonne was reluctant, but after Xu Yi said something, the other party could only agree dejectedly.


    "Father Bonne, I need to protect Mia, and you wouldn''t want the devout believer Miss Mia to run around with us everywhere, would you?" This was what Xu Yi had said.


    Mia''s husband was involved in the gemstone processing industry, and when Xu Yi found out, he expressed a desire to visit, to which the other party happily agreed.


    After learning about Xu Yi''s interest in carving, Mia''s husband specifically invited the workshop''s "master craftsman," Mr. Mark, who had won several international awards.


    [Sculptor +5, current progress 30/100.]


    Xu Yi learned carving at an astonishingly fast pace, but this was not incomprehensible.


    He already possessed the Painter entry; the basics of carving are about shaping, which was not difficult for him at all. Coupled with his previous experience in engraving Necromantic Spells, he was very familiar with the engraver, and his hand was extremely steady.


    If he couldn''t learn quickly with these advantages, he might as well smash his head with a block of tofu and be done with it.


    "Master Mark, I want to consult you on something," Xu Yi suddenly changed the topic.


    He took out a revolver bullet from his pocket, whose base had been removed, and the gunpowder had been emptied.


    He handed the empty casing to Mark, "I want to engrave something inside the bullet casing, I wonder if Master Mark has any way to do this?"


    Xu Yi had this idea on the train, to imprint Necromantic Spells on bullets, making a lower-tier Exorcism Bullet.


    The initial idea was to imprint Necromantic Spells on the surface of the bullet, but unfortunately, this had a major drawback: with added grooves on the surface, stability and precision would be affected.


    It might not matter in ordinary situations, but at a critical juncture, if the bullet misfired, that could be a deadly issue.


    Yet he couldn''t bear to give up.


    The power increase was just too significant; compared to regular bullets, those imprinted with Necromantic Spells had their power increased by a full fold!


    Just an inferior imitation of the Exorcism Bullet increased the power so much, what if it was the genuine article? Xu Yi suddenly remembered the Demon-Breaking Flame Bullet.


    If he could replicate the Demon-Breaking Flame Bullet, and then engrave Necromantic Spells on it, to what extent would the power be enhanced?


    To solve the issue of the bullets'' accuracy being compromised, Xu Yi thought of a new method: to imprint the Necromantic Spells inside the bullet.


    "You could use the Internal Engraving Technique; I happen to have studied this," said Master Mark, proving he truly was a renowned expert by quickly offering a solution.


    Master Mark took out a set of strange engraving tools, each chisel shaped like the number "7," slender and sharp.


    Xu Yi''s eyes brightened instantly as he understood the principle behind these tools.


    All afternoon, Xu Yi was immersed in the world of engraving, with the Sculptor entry making rapid progress.


    [Sculptor +2, current progress 48/100]


    Unaware, the Sculptor entry was already more than halfway completed; the speed of this progression was simply terrifying, Martin was already shocked numb.


    Completely focused, Xu Yi had only the engraver and the casing in hand, until Mia approached, bringing him out of his fully engaged state.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, Father Bonne called, he said there''s been a significant discovery."

 Chapter 87 May Your Name Be Holy (4/5)

    "Father Bonne, have you found out about Annabelle?" Xu Yi took the receiver and asked in a lowered voice."It''s not Annabelle, it''s Janice!"


    Father Bonne''s voice was excited. "I found the orphanage that the Higgins couple adopted Annabelle from, but unfortunately, that orphanage had closed down five years ago... Luckily, the head of the orphanage had preserved the records from that time."


    Xu Yi didn''t interrupt Father Bonne, listening quietly.


    "That girl wasn''t called Annabelle, she was called Janice, and had changed her name only after entering the orphanage."


    Father Bonne spoke very fast, "Following this lead, I found Janice''s medical records at the hospital, she was born with a leg problem, crippled. With today''s medical conditions, it''s simply not possible to cure."


    "You mean... Janice had been beguiled by a demon early on, and her crippled leg was also cured by the demon?" Xu Yi understood Father Bonne''s implication.


    "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Father Bonne suddenly began reciting in a low voice.


    Although Xu Yi was not a believer, he knew this was content from the Holy Bible.


    Why did Father Bonne suddenly start reciting this? Xu Yi fell into thought, his expression growing more solemn.


    "Hallowed be your name," Janice changed her name to Annabelle.


    "Your kingdom come," Mia''s self-sacrifice ritual.


    "Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven¡­"


    Everything became clear, Xu Yi felt a shiver in his spine, his body tingling.


    These actions might not necessarily describe Jesus, they could also be... an Evil God!


    The Annabelle doll could potentially be involved in an Evil God resurrection event.


    "So the three years Annabelle disappeared, she joined a cult and received the baptism of an Evil God?" Xu Yi murmured to himself.


    Typically speaking, for the descent of an Evil God, several essential conditions need to be met: a Protector, a medium for arrival, and the sacrifice of a special soul.


    The Protector is Janice, the medium for arrival is the Annabelle doll, the special soul is... Mia.


    "Do you know which cult it is?" Xu Yi asked urgently.


    If it''s just a common small cult, even if the Evil God they worship is awakened, the harm wouldn''t be too great.


    But if it is a greater Evil God, even a projection could be immensely terrifying.


    "Not enough time to find out yet," Father Bonne was equally anxious.


    Xu Yi frowned in thought, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He remembered a photo he had seen at the police station, the white wall where Janice had committed suicide had a bizarre mark on it.


    "I have an idea, but it still needs confirmation, let''s meet at the Higgins'' house," Xu Yi said and hung up the phone.


    ......


    The Higgins'' villa.


    The gates of the courtyard had been sealed, but Father Bonne, with his solid connections, had police assistance to remove the seal and open the gates, allowing them inside to investigate.


    "Why did Janice specifically come back to kill her adoptive parents?" Xu Yi looked at the blood all over the floor, his brows tightly knit.


    "To become a Protector, the requirements are quite stringent, involving a series of rituals."


    Father Bonne explained, "Killing adoptive parents might very well be part of the ritual, similar to our Holy Church''s baptism."


    Xu Yi nodded in agreement, acknowledging that in this aspect, Father Bonne''s knowledge far exceeded his own.


    "Earlier on the phone, what idea did you mention?" Father Bonne asked with concern.


    He couldn''t help being worried, he had thought this was just a normal exorcism, not expecting it to involve the resurrection of an Evil God.


    "Let''s search the house for any peculiar symbols or marks."


    Several people began searching inside the house, and eventually the police joined in.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, I found something under the bed, I don''t know if it''s what you''re looking for."


    When it comes to searching, the police had better skills.


    The symbol was carved under the bed, no wonder it had always gone unnoticed; Xu Yi dived directly under the bed.


    A blood-colored symbol was smeared on the bed board; Xu Yi needed only one glance to confirm his target.


    It couldn''t be wrong, it was this symbol; Mia''s wall also bore the same markings.


    At the time of Janice''s suicide, the symbol she left on the white wall was not a random smear but a mark needed for the ritual.


    "Do you know what this symbol represents?" Xu Yi drew the symbol on paper and handed it to Father Bonne.


    Father Bonne frowned and observed it for a moment, then shook his head, "I''m getting old, my memory isn''t what it used to be; I can''t remember right now."


    "No one knows when the demon will come, so we must hurry."


    Xu Yi began to assign tasks, "We''ll split into two teams, I''ll go to the library to look it up, Father Bonne you return to the church to inquire and search through the ancient tomes."


    ......


    Late at night, Xu Yi was looking for books related to the cult in the library, but alas, he found nothing.


    Just as he was at his wits'' end, he received a call from Father Bonne.


    "Xu Yi, I''ve found it!" Father Bonne''s tone was excited, and beyond that, there was a deep-seated fear.


    They met in a nearby church.


    When Xu Yi saw Father Bonne, he was standing in front of the statue of Jesus, holding a cross and praying sincerely, trying in this way to calm himself down.


    "What cult is it?"


    Xu Yi looked at Father Bonne''s bloodshot eyes and had a bad premonition.


    "It''s the Ram Cult!" Father Bonne took out an ancient tome and handed it to Xu Yi, his hand trembling slightly.


    Xu Yi took the ancient tome and began to look through it carefully. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The ancient tome was very worn out, and if not for the material being parchment, it likely wouldn''t have been preserved until today.


    There wasn''t much introduction to the Ram Cult within, but one particular passage made Xu Yi''s pupils contract instantly.


    "... In the Gregorian year, the Ram Cult summoned the Evil God in the baron''s home. When the Evil God descended, not one survived out of more than thirteen hundred people led by the baron..."


    "Damn, sacrificing more than a thousand people at once, the Evil God behind this Church of the Ram must be enormous!" Xu Yi took a deep breath.


    "According to the ancient tome, our Holy Church once hunted down the Ram Cult, and soon the Church of the Ram disappeared into the dust of history. I never expected it to resurface from the ashes," Father Bonne said with grave concern.


    "Things haven''t reached that bad a point yet; after so many years, if the Ram Cult still had its original power, they would have already been causing trouble and wouldn''t have waited until now... The Church of the Ram is probably barely surviving!" Xu Yi reassured him.


    Far from being intimidated by the reputation of the Ram Cult, he was even more eager to act.


    The Annabelle doll being a medium for the descent of an Evil God likely wasn''t as simple as being a "Supreme Spirit Puppet."


    Xu Yi had the premonition that if he could bind with the Annabelle doll and cultivate it properly, it might reach heights far beyond imagination.


    "What should we do now?" Father Bonne, just a common man, felt the pressure was immense.


    "Of course, we start by making a phone call!" Xu Yi replied softly.


    The thought of possibly encountering an existence on the level of an Evil God filled him with excitement, as he had already thought of a strategy.


    If the plan went smoothly, this trip to Connecticut could yield significant results.

 Chapter 88 Night Parade of One Hundred Demons (5/5)

    Mia''s villa, the second-floor living room.The night was as black as ink, today without a single star, and utterly windless, the room felt as oppressive as a tightly sealed coffin.


    "Let''s begin," Xu Yi took a deep breath and turned his head to look at Father Bonne beside him.


    In the center of the living room was a huge bucket, filled with water at about 60 degrees Celsius, from which a faint white mist wafted.


    Father Bonne held a glass bottle, pouring the transparent liquid inside into the bucket.


    The liquid was extremely heavy, sinking to the bottom once it touched the water, but soon dissolved into the hot water.


    The liquid was the legendary Holy Water, and Father Bonne''s on-hand supply was of high purity, specially requested from the church.


    Mia had been waiting for a long time; she walked directly towards the bucket and, fully clothed, immersed herself in the water, which soaked over her shoulders.


    This was the Exorcism Ritual to rid Mia of the "Demon Mark."


    The Demon Mark was a common tactic used by demons to lock onto a target; as long as one bore the Demon Mark, even if they ran to the ends of the earth, they couldn''t escape the demon''s pursuit.


    Mia frowned in pain, and Xu Yi knew the Holy Water was taking effect; under his spiritual power perception, a faint black mist drifted from Mia''s body.


    The ticking of the wall clock marked the passing time, second by second; Xu Yi, listening to the rhythmic swinging of the clock, suddenly felt drowsy and couldn''t help but close his eyes.


    Wrong!


    Xu Yi''s eyes snapped open, for the night''s exorcism he had already taken a nap at noon to rest and gather strength, and it wasn''t even midnight now, how could he possibly be sleepy?


    The living room lights suddenly flickered, and Xu Yi''s vision blurred for a moment; a dark figure appeared out of thin air on the sofa in front of him.


    Xu Yi focused his gaze and instantly summoned up his spirits, his lips curving into an involuntary smile.


    The longed-for Annabelle doll was sitting on the sofa, wearing a sinister smile, staring straight at Xu Yi.


    Even within that smile, Xu Yi could discern a mocking intent.


    The curtains suddenly began to flutter; just moments ago, there wasn''t a breeze, and now there was a howling gale, the trees outside rustling loudly.


    Father Bonne walked towards the window, intending to close it, but he abruptly stopped, clutched the Cross in his hand, and stared, sweating profusely, at the white figure on the windowsill.


    It was Annabelle, no, the Evil Spirit Janice.


    Xu Yi gripped the Alchemical Revolver Messiah tightly, his body taut.


    The sense Janice gave him had changed; if previously she was just at a common danger level, now she had turned a "blood red" high-risk level.


    Suddenly, Janice looked up, her cold pupils causing everyone present to shiver involuntarily.


    A heavy chill roamed the room. It was summer, and such a phenomenon was impossible.


    Amidst the cold, vague ghostly figures materialized, as if it were a Night Parade of One Hundred Demons; Father Bonne''s hand holding the Cross shook uncontrollably, and his complexion was deathly pale.


    Janice had actually summoned all the nearby ghosts, including not only the common Wandering Souls but also a sizable number of Ferocious Spirits.


    The dense shadows of the ghosts completely blocked the living room; Father Bonne pushed the ghosts back with his Cross, retreating to Xu Yi''s side.


    Xu Yi and Father Bonne were surrounded by a horde of ghosts, and behind them was Mia, soaking in the Holy Water. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The dense shadows of ghosts closed in step by step, the circle tightening around them.


    "What do we do now?" Father Bonne''s back was soaked with cold sweat.


    Mia needed to soak in the Holy Water for at least half an hour to remove the Demon Mark from her body, but they might not even last ten minutes, let alone half an hour.


    In his career of performing exorcisms, he had never seen so many ghosts before.


    "Don''t lose your composure."


    Xu Yi took out a fist-sized metal bottle from his pocket, filled with the ethereal blood essence he had been gathering for some time.


    Each drop of the liquid fell, outlining a perfect circle around Mia as Xu Yi opened the metal bottle and poured out the Ethereal Flame.


    "What is this?" Father Bonne asked, puzzled.


    The ferocious spirit was nearly upon them, yet at this moment, they were still calmly drawing a circle?


    "Have you read ''Journey to the West''?" Xu Yi''s reply was a non sequitur.


    "What?" Father Bonne was stunned for a moment.


    "It''s a famous book from the Xia Kingdom. The Great Sage, Heaven''s Equal once used this trick to protect his master," Xu Yi said casually as he lit the ethereal flame of the blood with the exorcism lighter.


    When the blood''s ethereal flame encountered fire, it spread rapidly, enveloping them in a blazing ring that also prevented the ferocious spirit from getting any closer.


    "It works!" Father Bonne exclaimed in surprise.


    Janice let out a piercing scream, as if urging the ferocious spirit on. The spirit feared the ethereal flame of the blood and dared not approach.


    Under the influence of the screams, the ferocious spirit''s pupils glinted with a blood-red light, and then it attempted to force its way through the firewall.


    When the spirit met the ethereal flame, it was like gasoline meeting a spark ¨C it immediately transformed into a flaming torch, its soul visibly dissipating at a rapid pace.


    But the blood''s ethereal flame was finite, and for every ferocious spirit that burned, the pale gold flame lowered by an inch.


    If this continued, the "Diamond Protection Circle" that Xu Yi had drawn would soon be breached.


    Xu Yi frowned slightly; this was not something he had anticipated. Janice still possessed the ability to control ghosts.


    He took out a sketchbook from his backpack and flipped it open to the first page, where the painting "Psychic Sketch" was found.


    The painting depicted a girl with a fierce expression, her long hair disheveled, and her white dress stained with blood. Vaguely visible were half-transparent threads tied to the girl''s body, converging high in the sky.


    The figure in the painting was no longer the Annabelle doll but the evil spirit, Janice.


    The "Psychic Sketch" was not entirely uncontrollable. If it was an evil spirit or demon that had been seen before, it could be summoned through psychological suggestion.


    "Let''s see where you can run this time," Xu Yi said as he took out the Dagger of Rest. No chant was necessary; he directly pierced the painting of the evil spirit Janice.


    Janice screamed miserably, her wizened body nailed to the windowsill.


    She seemed to want to struggle free, but her lower body was immobile, and her upper body was stretched long, resembling a snake.


    Xu Yi gave Janice no chance, taking out the Alchemical Revolver Messiah and aiming straight at her before pulling the trigger.


    Crisp gunshots rang out, one shot followed by another, as the exorcism-imbued bullets pierced through Janice''s skull, heart, chest¡­


    Even though Janice had become an evil spirit and her vital points were different from humans, Xu Yi still habitually targeted these areas.


    Every bullet fired was accompanied by Janice''s screams of agony.


    Xu Yi emptied the clip, reloaded with another round of bullets, and continued firing.


    In the deafening sound of gunfire, Father Bonne watched Xu Yi in amazement; Xu Yi''s expression was cold and detached as if the target of his shooting was not a ferocious evil spirit but just a piglet in a slaughterhouse.


    He suddenly had the illusion that Xu Yi was more terrifying than the evil spirit.


    "Thank goodness our relationship hasn''t soured," Father Bonne felt somewhat relieved.


    Someone like Xu Yi, if he were an adversary, could send chills down one''s spine, but as a teammate, he provided an extra sense of security.


    The evil spirit Janice was already very weak. Seeing that the situation was about right, Xu Yi took out an exorcism lighter, switched it to Molotov cocktail mode, and threw it towards Janice.


    Just as the exorcism lighter was about to explode upon Janice, a dark shadow suddenly appeared in front of her and knocked the lighter away.


    It was the Annabelle doll, who, at some point, had left the sofa and appeared in Janice''s embrace.


    Xu Yi''s face turned as black as charred coal; the cooked duck had flown away.


    Just as he was about to deal with the evil spirit Janice and consume her entries, the Annabelle doll had thwarted him.


    But his frustration soon turned to astonishment, and his pupils contracted sharply.

 Chapter 89 The Shroud and the Holy Image of Jesus (1/5)

    Annabelle suddenly "cried" as thick blood flowed out of her eye sockets.The blood didn''t fall to the ground; it moved as if it had its own life, sweeping towards the Ferocious Spirit Janice and entangling her like a serpent.


    Janice let out a piercing scream, even more dreadful than when she had been hit by an Exorcism Bullet, sending chills down anyone''s spine.


    Xu Yi had a bad premonition; the Annabelle doll didn''t seem to be saving Janice but rather looked like it wanted to... devour her!


    Janice offered no resistance, allowing the viscous blood to envelop her and form a blood cocoon.


    The blood cocoon condensed, growing smaller and smaller, until it was the size of an egg and was swallowed whole by the Annabelle doll.


    Xu Yi''s premonition had come true; Janice was not only a Protector but also a Martyr in certain necessary moments!


    The pale blue pupils of Annabelle turned pitch black as an icy cold wind wandered through the room, making Father Bonne shiver uncontrollably as he approached Xu Yi.


    But Annabelle was not satisfied, it opened its mouth and spewed out a large amount of blood, engulfing the entire scene.


    The ghosts summoned by Janice had no time to react before they were enveloped by the blood, dissolving within it to become the purest nourishment.


    All the blood returned to the doll''s body, as Annabelle floated midair, with surging black mist behind it, within which one could vaguely discern a terrifying figure with long demon horns.


    The demon hiding within the Annabelle doll finally revealed itself.


    Xu Yi gripped the Alchemy Revolver, standing ready.


    Annabelle drifted towards Mia, the Ethereal Flame that could isolate Ferocious Spirits appearing like mere sparks from flint in front of the demon, snuffed out with a simple stomp.


    The pale gold flame extinguished, and the "Diamond Protection Circle" was breached.


    Without hesitation, Xu Yi pulled the trigger, the bullet heading straight for Annabelle.


    The black mist blocked in front of the bullet, reducing its kinetic energy and depleting its Exorcism power, and when the bullet hit the doll, it only stiffened for a few seconds.


    Xu Yi''s expression changed, becoming grave.


    The bullets of the Alchemical Revolver Messiah could only delay the opponent for a moment, a situation that only occurred with Jason before.


    Although what was terrifying about Jason was his "Unlimited Resurrection" and "Infinite Evolution," it also indicated the strength of the demon before them.


    The Annabelle doll suddenly let out a laugh, a deep laugh that, to everyone''s ears, sounded like thunder suddenly exploding.


    Xu Yi''s ears buzzed non-stop, his heart pounding uncontrollably as if it were about to burst from his chest.


    Father Bonne was in even worse shape, clutching his heart and collapsing on the ground in agony, his pupils beginning to dilate. Had it not been for the protection of the Exorcism Cross on his chest, he might have already died on the spot.


    Strangely, Mia seemed to be faring the best, with just a bit of paleness on her face.


    It was highly probable that the demon deliberately avoided Mia, as it needed to lead her to self-sacrifice, and would not likely kill her.


    Xu Yi drew the Dagger of Rest from its sheath, not charging towards the Annabelle doll, but towards the door.


    Father Bonne was stunned for a moment. Was it because he saw that the demon was too powerful and he was planning to flee?


    Xu Yi didn''t flee; his target was the rope on the pillar by the door.


    Mia''s living room was designed with a double height, open in the middle allowing a direct view to the third floor, where the other end of the rope was tied to a large red cloth at the edge.


    Wrapped tightly in red cloth, it seemed to be some sort of statue.


    Father Bonne had long noticed this object, Xu Yi said it was part of the exorcism ritual, and should not be opened, nor did he reveal what was inside.


    The sharp Dagger of Rest cut the rope, and Xu Yi pulled vigorously, the red cloth slowly falling like a red cloud descending.


    "The Shroud!" Father Bonne exclaimed in surprise.


    It was not actually for wrapping a corpse, but referred to a certain type of exorcism artifact that could isolate special magnetic fields.


    The origin of the name of the artifact was because, according to legend, the cloth used to wrap the body of Jesus happened to be this kind of exorcism artifact.


    The Shroud actually encased Jesus himself! Father Bonne''s eyes widened in shock.


    Below the red cloth was a statue of Jesus, tied to the Cross, head bowed as if in pity for the world.


    Compared to the colossal statues of Jesus tens of meters high, the one before him was not very tall, only about three meters, and the texture of its surface was slightly worn, exhibiting the color of an ancient object.


    All of a sudden, Father Bonne thought of something, opening his mouth wide in shock, his eyes round and wide, "Is... Is this the Jesus statue from St. Tacia Monastery?!"


    Xu Yi smiled and nodded in affirmation, not denying it.


    Getting confirmation, Father Bonne was even more astonished, looking at Xu Yi as if he was looking at a master thief from the last century who had stolen from the Royal Treasury.


    To Bonne''s knowledge, the statue from St. Tacia Monastery had once manifested a "miracle", a medium through which God had descended.


    Together with the long-term prayers and blessings from St. Tacia Monastery, the statue held divine abilities, second to none compared to the most supreme exorcism holy relics.


    How could the people of St. Tacia Monastery agree to move such an important item?


    The Annabelle doll stopped, clouds of black smoke swirling around it, contending with the power from the Jesus statue.


    Xu Yi felt the pressure on him lessen and he took a deep breath.


    Knowing that a horrifying existence hid behind Annabelle, how could he possibly not be prepared?


    "What are you staring for? Start praying!" Xu Yi urged Father Bonne, who stared blankly.


    Father Bonne suddenly came to his senses, aware that only the prayers of devout believers could unleash the true power of the Jesus statue.


    He took out the Holy Bible, his expression solemn.


    The dignified prayer echoed through the living room, growing louder and louder, the single voice resonating like a choir in its grandeur.


    Under the watchful gaze of the Jesus statue, amidst the solemn and grandiose prayer, the black smoke enveloping Annabelle was dispersed, and the inky depths of her pupils began to fade. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Indeed, the effect is remarkable!" Xu Yi saw this and was overjoyed.


    But he had underestimated the demon''s determination and overlooked its background.


    Annabelle''s bangs were blown back, revealing the purple mark on her forehead, faint yet discernible. Xu Yi recognized the eerie symbol; it was the mark of the Church of the Ram.


    Xu Yi felt the entire space begin to change, the surroundings twisted, and the air was filled with a strong sulfur smell, mixed with a pungent odor of blood.


    As the mark appeared, a low murmuring filled his ears, growing louder and more numerous, coming from all directions, pervasive.


    Xu Yi, in agony, clutched his head and crouched on the ground, feeling as if something was eroding his soul.


    The prayer had ceased as well, and two trails of tears of blood ran down Father Bonne''s cheeks. He knelt on the ground, his eyes empty, but still clutching the Holy Bible tightly in his hands.

 Chapter 90 The Descent of the Evil God (2/5)

    The mark on Annabelle''s forehead became increasingly clear, as Xu Yi''s breathing grew labored; the air turned extremely viscous, as if it were gel-like.He felt that something was terribly wrong¡ªthe aura, the oppressive force, it didn''t seem like a Demon at all, but rather... an Evil God!


    The Demon within Annabelle was infuriated, actually drawing upon the power of an Evil God.


    This manner of drawing power surely had significant drawbacks, but knowing this was of no use to them.


    The pressing matter at hand was to get through the immediate crisis.


    The mark on Annabelle''s forehead had completely solidified, and Xu Yi felt an inexplicable gaze upon him.


    This spine-chilling gaze was something he had encountered once before, on the body of the tongue monster that Mary Shaw had transformed into.


    But this gaze was far more terrifying than the last; its oppressive force was stronger, to say, not even on the same level.


    Xu Yi reached for the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, but found he couldn''t move at all¡ªeach of his fingers weighed as much as a thousand catties.


    Annabelle''s eye sockets were pitch black as ink, and within their depths, one could faintly discern a blood-colored pupil, indifferent and majestic.


    Suddenly, the Annabelle puppet emitted sounds, utterances of an incomprehensible language. Xu Yi didn''t understand it, but he could feel the immense power concealed within the words, like a commandment.


    Xu Yi''s pupils constricted sharply... under the effect of the "commandment," a crack appeared on the statue of Jesus, extending from the chest up to the neck.


    Is this the power of the Evil God?


    The strength of the Demon Jason lay in "Undeath" and "Infinite Evolution," but if it were pure power, he would undoubtedly be no match for the Evil God present.


    No, the entity before him was not the Evil God itself, nor even a projection, but merely a thread of the Evil God''s power drawn down by the Demon.


    "The depths of this world are indeed profound!" It wasn''t the first time Xu Yi had uttered such an exclamation.


    The only consolation was that, for some unknown reason, those terrifying entities were unable to directly descend into this world.


    Xu Yi coughed up several mouthfuls of fresh blood, knowing he couldn''t wait any longer¡ªnow was the best opportunity.


    "Someone come!"


    Xu Yi bit his tongue, the intense pain momentarily restoring his ability to move. He fumbled a crystal lamp from his pocket and smashed it onto the ground as if sounding a call to action.


    Sure enough, a troop of "executioners" streamed out from the staircase!


    These were priests clad in black robes; they held the Holy Bible in one hand and a Cross in the other. Their steps seemed slow, but in reality, they were incredibly fast. Upon arrival, they swiftly surrounded Annabelle.


    "Are these... exorcists from St. Tacia Monastery?"


    The severely injured Father Bonne opened his eyes and watched the scene before him in astonishment. He recognized them because of a distinctive emblem on the robes of the St. Tacia Monastery.


    The priests from St. Tacia Monastery prayed in unison, their powerful recitations echoing throughout the entire villa, solemn as the pealing of an Ancient Clock.


    All these priests were exorcists; their prayers interwoven with the power of exorcism, far beyond what Father Bonne, a common man, could compare with.


    There were sixteen exorcist priests in total, and with their grand exorcism prayers, the spreading cracks on the statue of Jesus halted.


    Xu Yi looked at the statue of Jesus in surprise, unable to tell whether it was an illusion, but he felt as though the statue of Jesus had suddenly "opened" its eyes.


    An inexplicable force acted upon the puppet; Annabelle was frozen in mid-air.


    The space seemed to come to a standstill, and Xu Yi at first thought that the Annabelle puppet was merely restrained, until a withered leaf was blown into the living room, skimming past Annabelle.


    In an instant, the leaf disintegrated, turning to dust and scattering.


    Xu Yi''s eyes widened in shock; the "calm" he saw was only on the surface, but in reality, an enormous force was acting upon the Annabelle puppet.


    The St. Tacia Monastery priests surrounded Annabelle both to prevent her from escaping and to keep others from accidentally wandering in.


    A common person approaching that area would be crushed into mincemeat.


    Xu Yi''s eyes suddenly lit up... under the crushing force of such great power, the Annabelle puppet showed not the slightest sign of damage.


    Although bolstered by the Power of the Evil God, one couldn''t deny the inherent sturdiness of the doll itself.


    Even though Annabelle had started as a Common doll, after a series of "evilization," it had become greatly different.


    "Such Quality shouldn''t be summarized as a ''beyond highest grade puppet''."


    Xu Yi felt that the Annabelle doll had long transcended the highest level determined by the Appraisal Technique.


    "If I could get the Annabelle doll..."


    At the thought, his heart couldn''t stop beating rapidly.


    "Be careful!" Xu Yi suddenly shouted.


    He had been watching Annabelle''s every move because the Eyes of Obscurity had unlocked part of his ability, enhancing his vision far beyond that of a normal person.


    He keenly observed that the color of Annabelle''s pupils had changed, they were neither the original deep blue nor the pitch-black demon-like pupils.


    In their place were a pair of magnificent blood-red pupils, ancient and majestic, with unknown patterns circulating in their depths.


    Annabelle uttered a word, which was not in any language Xu Yi knew, yet strangely, he understood the meaning of the word.


    "Destruction!"


    The exorcism priests surrounding Annabelle suddenly trembled, tears of blood streaming from the corners of their eyes, coughing up blood.


    Yet even so, they continued to recite firmly the scriptures from the Holy Bible.


    "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..."


    The voices were grand, like the sound of thousands of bells and drums sounding together.


    But the cracks on the Jesus icon began to spread, countless tiny fractures like centipedes, crawling upon the Jesus icon.


    "If we don''t make a move now, we''re going to be finished!" Xu Yi suddenly roared.


    Father Bonne had already retreated next to Xu Yi, and he looked at Xu Yi perplexedly. Did they still have reinforcements?


    Suddenly, footsteps came from the stairs.


    The footsteps were heavy, but not hurried, one could imagine the owner of the footsteps was grave yet, for some reason, didn''t dare to walk too quickly.


    A figure appeared at the top of the stairs and Father Bonne recognized the newcomer, exclaiming in shock.


    "Mr. Warren!"


    Father Bonne was both surprised and felt it was only natural.


    The mystery was solved, Xu Yi''s call had been to Mr. Warren.


    It was also because of Mr. Warren that these exorcist priests from St. Tacia Monastery were summoned, and it became possible to borrow the immensely precious Jesus icon from the monastery.


    "Why did you keep this from me?" Father Bonne felt a bit aggrieved. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had been kept in the dark, thinking that tonight''s Exorcism Ritual was just between the two of them.


    He had also thought of seeking Mr. Warren''s help, but Xu Yi had persuaded him against it, saying that Mr. Warren was currently busy with a very important matter and couldn''t be disturbed.


    "Forgive me, Father Bonne. Our opponent this time is far too powerful. If the news leaks, it could have very serious consequences," Xu Yi explained softly.


    After a moment of thought, Father Bonne understood completely.


    Being a Common man, he was easily vulnerable to a Demon taking advantage. Once deceived by illusions and other tactics, resulting in information leakage, the consequences would indeed be devastating.


    "You did the right thing!" Father Bonne sighed.


    His gaze towards Xu Yi was filled with respect. In his past exorcism career, he had encountered many "pig-headed allies," and if they had all been as decisive as Xu Yi, certainly fewer lives would have been lost.

 Chapter 91 Opportunity for Harvest Comes! (3/5)

    Ed ascended the steps one by one, focusing intently and holding his breath, not daring to move too quickly for he needed to control the restless power within him.It wasn''t that he was intentionally playing the diva or trying to pull off some hero''s grand last-minute entrance¡ªhe had been anxious to arrive, but circumstances had prevented it.


    In order to confront the Evil God, he had to receive a baptism from a cardinal in the church, which lasted a full day and night.


    As soon as the baptism was completed, he had rushed to his car, eager to get here.


    Ed gazed at the Annabelle doll floating in midair and took a deep breath.


    He hadn''t used this power in a long time because the preliminary preparations were excessively cumbersome, and it had severe aftereffects.


    He remembered the last time he had used it was against a great demon that could have destroyed the entire town.


    Xu Yi and Father Bonne instinctively stepped back a few paces, because the aura emanating from Ed was too overpowering and they needed to avoid its edge.


    Under the perception of his Spiritual Power, Ed seemed like a ball of fire radiating brilliant light, his body containing astonishing energy.


    So this is the face that the church has put forward?


    It should be said, he truly stands out as the church''s chosen one; if Xu Yi could see the entries on Ed, there would likely be Red Entries, perhaps even more than one.


    In the church, Ed is probably seen like a "Son of God" or something of that sort.


    Ever since Ed had arrived, the Annabelle doll had been staring at him, sensing a threat from his presence.


    Ed took big strides towards Annabelle, and the exorcist priests in front made way for him.


    Xu Yi found a sofa and casually sat down on it.


    He reached into his pocket, pulled out a bar of chocolate, unwrapped it and started eating.


    He didn''t know when he had started the habit of carrying chocolate with him all the time, perhaps it was related to his confrontation with Mary Shaw.


    The bitter-sweetness of the chocolate not only soothed his mood but also replenished his body''s energy.


    Father Bonne''s eyes widened as he looked at Xu Yi, wondering whether it was really okay for someone to casually sit and eat while an intense exorcism was taking place.


    "Want a piece?" Xu Yi offered the chocolate to Father Bonne.


    Father Bonne shook his head, his mouth still tasting like metallic blood¡ªhow could he possibly eat anything, especially when his heart wasn''t as large as Xu Yi''s.


    He sincerely admired Xu Yi''s composure.


    Xu Yi quietly munched on his chocolate, turning into a spectator.


    After learning that Annabelle was a scheme of the Ram Cult, he had completely dismissed the idea of a head-on confrontation.


    When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up.


    As a "rookie" in the Exorcism World, he saw no need to bear the burden himself, especially since the Ram Cult was an enemy of the church, not his own.


    There was no reason for him to wipe the church''s bottom.


    So he decisively contacted Ed, explaining the interests at stake... of course, he exaggerated "just a tiny bit" in his statement.


    But as it turned out, he had underestimated the terror of the Evil God; the situation was even more troublesome than he had described.


    "I wonder if Ed will be able to handle the Evil God?" Xu Yi was very worried.


    It wasn''t that he was overwhelmed by Ed''s imperious demeanor, but purely because of Annabelle.


    If Ed couldn''t deal with the demon inside the doll, how would he acquire this "super puppet"?


    Ed took off the necklace around his neck.


    It appeared to be an ordinary silver cross necklace, but Xu Yi knew well that as the sole Exorcism Artifact Ed carried, it was far from simple.


    Ed held a cross necklace in his left hand and cradled the Holy Bible in his right as he slowly approached the Annabelle doll.


    The force field surrounding the doll could crush steel, yet when Ed stepped into it, he was unaffected.


    He prayed devoutly, his voice not loud, blending into the crowd of exorcists and insignificant like a drop of water falling into the ocean. Yet that very drop caused a monstrous wave to rise.


    The entire space trembled, and the Annabelle doll''s head bent down under the strain, as if bowing to the image of Jesus.


    Xu Yi suddenly had a bad premonition. He did not know which Evil God was behind Annabelle, but all Evil Gods, undoubtedly, carried extreme pride.


    Was Ed actually expecting an Evil God to bow to him now?


    Dense black fog billowed from Annabelle, and the exquisite patterns in her bloody eyes began to spin.


    Ed couldn''t look away, and could only meet the Evil God''s gaze.


    An immense pressure suddenly descended, and the world before Ed''s eyes fragmented in an instant. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his skin split open, and fine streams of blood flowed out.


    "Even Ed, who possesses a Sacred Body, almost couldn''t withstand it!" Xu Yi inwardly clicked his tongue in amazement.


    He also felt lucky for his own decisiveness, grateful that he had tossed the ball back to Ed. Otherwise, he might be the one facing the Power of the Evil God now.


    The blood Ed spat out happened to land on the cross necklace, which rapidly absorbed the blood, causing the Jesus Cross to burst forth with a dazzling white light.


    Bearing the severe pain in his body, Ed stared at the Annabelle doll with a solemn expression.


    He extended the blood-stained cross towards Annabelle, whose pupils flared with a blood-red light as intense as a volcanic eruption.


    In a daze, Xu Yi heard the roars of countless Fierce Beasts, a powerful impact hitting him head-on.


    Ed bore the brunt, his blood flowing even faster. His face was smeared with blood, but his eyes remained firm and bright.


    He chanted loudly, his voice thunderous, "In the name of God, I command you to leave this world!"


    Xu Yi''s gaze suddenly shifted to the image of Jesus on the third floor, and his heart skipped a beat.


    Ed''s gaze was the same as the Jesus on the cross, and in that moment, Xu Yi had an illusion... Ed and the image of Jesus on the icon merged into one!


    Ed forcefully pressed the cross onto the forehead of Annabelle, precisely where the mark of the Evil God was.


    When the Jesus Cross touched the Evil God''s mark, it was like fire meeting solid ice, hissing and sending up plumes of white smoke.


    Xu Yi heard a scream, a cry laden with towering rage.


    But he suddenly smiled... The reason the Evil God was angry was that it had run out of options.


    After all, it was only a fraction of the Evil God''s power, and the actual entity might still be slumbering. It was only natural for it to be no match for the "Son of God" of the Church.


    The Evil God''s mark on the doll''s forehead was erased, and the suffocating oppressive force dissipated accordingly. Xu Yi instantly perked up, leaping from the sofa.


    He pulled out an exquisite metal box and opened it to reveal six neatly arranged bullets.


    Xu Yi emptied the chamber of his Alchemy Revolver and pressed in the new bullets one by one.


    Previously, the Evil Spirit Janice was devoured by the Demon behind the doll, costing him a chance to absorb a Red Entry.


    Now the opportunity had arrived! A chance to harvest!


    He fixed his gaze on the Annabelle doll, his eyes growing brighter.


    This situation was like a boss just having decimated an elite team, with only a sliver of health left, and you were right there next to it.


    Or after a team battle where all five of the enemies were critically wounded, and you as the Sword Saint had just arrived with your Highland bloodline activated...


    Who could resist such temptation? S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 92 The Remarkable Effects of the Exorcism Bullet (4/5)

    The Annabelle doll hit the ground, the ink-like flow in its pupils almost disintegrated, now was its most vulnerable moment.Summoning the Power of the Evil God in advance had severe consequences.


    In order to maintain the combat power of the Evil God, it had to continuously supply its origin to the deity. In the final confrontation, its origin was massively depleted, barely one percent remained.


    Facing dozens of exorcists and the suppression of the Jesus statue, all it could do now was to run away.


    The Annabelle doll rushed towards the window, not particularly fast, but the exorcists nearby did not stop it.


    It wasn''t that they didn''t want to stop it, they couldn''t.


    In the previous confrontation with the Evil God, they were already exhausted. Now, they were still standing solely by sheer willpower.


    As for Ed, there was no need to mention his state¡ªit was the worst among them all, drenched in blood, as if he had just been fished out of a Blood Pool.


    If it weren''t for his special constitution, he would probably have already gone to meet Jesus. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The gaze of those present fell upon one person... not everyone was "burnt out", there was one person who was not only powerful but had also been conserving strength for a while, having eaten three chocolate bars and even drunk a large pot of cooled floral tea.


    Xu Yi certainly wouldn''t let the crowd down.


    If he let the enemy escape in this situation, he would probably wake up abruptly tonight, then slap himself hard.


    Xu Yi took out a new sketchbook and flipped to the page of Annabelle.


    Since he knew he would be performing an exorcism tonight, he naturally prepared in advance. He didn''t just draw the Evil Spirit Janice, but also a sketch of the Annabelle doll.


    If it weren''t for the fact that Judgment could only work once on the same target within three hours, he would probably have drawn a dozen more as backup.


    The Dagger of Rest was surrounded by a faint white light, which had a burning effect on Dark Creatures and could weaken them.


    While observing earlier, he hadn''t done nothing.


    Besides eating chocolate to replenish energy, he also chanted the hymn of the Dagger of Rest, bringing its power to its peak.


    He even recited the prayer of Judgment word for word.


    "Judgment!"


    The Dagger of Rest pierced through the sketchbook, and the flying form of the Annabelle doll suddenly froze. An invisible force acted on the doll, pinning it to the floor.


    Dark mist surged from Annabelle, trying to break free.


    In terms of both amount and density, the dark mist was far inferior to before, already on the brink of dissipation.


    The faint white light flashed periodically on the doll''s chest; wherever the black mist met the white light, both vanished into annihilation.


    The burning effect of the Dagger of Rest was acting on the demon through Judgment.


    Seeing this, Ed finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    He looked towards Xu Yi and happened to see Xu Yi pulling out a revolver, a moment of surprise crossing his face.


    His eyes were not comparable to Father Bonne''s; he recognized at a glance that what Xu Yi held in his hand was the legendary Exorcism Artifact, the Alchemical Revolver Messiah.


    "I think I still have one Messiah bullet left, seems like it''s the Grim Reaper Piercer round."


    By chance, he had obtained two Grim Reaper Piercer rounds previously; one was sent to the church, while he kept the other one.


    If Xu Yi knew about this, he would definitely find a way to get his hands on the bullet.


    These days, Judy had been constantly asking about Xu Yi, and he couldn''t understand why this kid was so appealing.


    To avoid Judy''s pestering, Ed had made up his mind, he absolutely couldn''t let Xu Yi know about this.


    Xu Yi was unaware of Ed''s thoughts, his attention was entirely focused on Annabelle.


    As the "top-quality" puppet was about to be his, he was very clear that the more critical the moment, the more important it was to remain calm and not to rush.


    He breathed steadily, aiming at Annabelle¡­ He knew that exorcism bullets couldn''t destroy the Annabelle doll, which had remained intact despite the terrifying crushing endured from the Jesus statue, a testament to the puppet''s durability.


    He pulled the trigger, the bullet spun as it left the barrel, and the gunshot rang out crisp and clear.


    The first shot hit Annabelle in the chest.


    As expected, the doll wasn''t damaged in the slightest, only its white dress was pierced.


    The dress was just made of common fabric, without the protection of the Power of the Evil God, it couldn''t withstand a bullet.


    A large mass of black fog surged from the Annabelle doll, twisting into a ferocious demon that glared at Xu Yi with rage.


    Xu Yi remained unfazed and continued to pull the trigger, hitting the Annabelle doll once again.


    The demon within the black fog let out a wretched scream.


    Two more shots and much of the black fog surrounding Annabelle was dispersed.


    "Indeed, the effect is completely different!" Xu Yi was quietly elated.


    What the Alchemy Revolver was now loaded with were not ordinary bullets, but specially made exorcism bullets. Inside the bullets were inscribed Necromantic Spells, sealing the souls of Spanish fighting bulls within.


    The reason for choosing the spirits of Spanish fighting bulls was due to their extremely combative nature, making their souls exceptionally strong.


    To find six souls of Spanish fighting bulls, he had expended quite a bit of effort, but luckily he had Mia''s husband''s help.


    However, he had underestimated the power of the exorcism bullets.


    During previous tests, the exorcism power "doubled" when sealing the souls of ordinary chickens and ducks. He never expected that switching to bullfighting spirits would increase the power by so much.


    It would take as many as six ordinary bullets to match the power of one exorcism bullet.


    If such inferior imitations of exorcism bullets were this powerful, Xu Yi wondered what level of power the genuine exorcism bullets would reach.


    With the magazine emptied, all six exorcism bullets had hit the Annabelle doll. Xu Yi didn''t bother reloading with ordinary bullets, as there was no need.


    He walked slowly towards the Annabelle doll and took out his Exorcism Lighter.


    The black fog on Annabelle had almost completely dissipated, with only a slight remnant within her pupils.


    A pale gold flame flickered past the front of Annabelle''s pupils, the last of the black fog within her eyes vanished, and the Annabelle doll clattered to the ground, motionless.


    Suddenly, gray currents shimmered before his eyes, threadlike and entwining with each other.


    Xu Yi tensed up but then quickly relaxed; this was his first encounter with the Fog of Obscurity and he didn''t react immediately.


    Back at Crystal Lake, as he hadn''t unlocked the Eyes of Obscurity, he couldn''t see these gray mists.


    He stared intently at the gray mists, tiny vortices slowly rotating deep within his pupils. The Fog of Obscurity was drawn to these vortices, streaming into his eyes.


    A cold sensation filled his entire eye socket, and since he had already experienced it once, he continued to calmly absorb the escaping mist.


    The absorption process lasted only half a minute, with not a trace of Fog of Obscurity left in the air.


    [Eyes of Obscurity +11, current progress: 32/100]


    This time, there was far less of the Fog of Obscurity than the previous time, but understandably so, as the last time he had faced the demon Jason.


    The demon controlling Annabelle wasn''t that strong; if it weren''t for the support of the Evil God in the background, it would have collapsed a long time ago amidst the prayers of many exorcists.


    Xu Yi felt the changes in his pupils; regrettably, no new abilities were unlocked.


    His vision had become stronger, and he had a vague feeling that he wasn''t far from unlocking the second ability, "Night Vision."

 Chapter 93 Soul Jade (5/5)

    [Entry Devouring initiated, devouring in progress...]The system''s prompt sounded incredibly euphonic, and Xu Yi could finally take a deep breath.


    Because the appearance of the system prompt meant that the demon possessing Annabelle had died.


    [Entry Devouring successful, congratulations on acquiring "Blank Entry: Soul Jade (Green Epic)"]


    [Soul Jade (Green Epic): 0/100


    Ability-1: Soul Capture (Passive)


    Use fresh blood to create soul-binding threads, possessing the ability to bind souls.


    Ability-2: Soul Jade Production


    Compress the soul to produce Soul Jades. (Using this ability does not affect entry devouring.)]


    As a Green Epic entry, isn''t the number of abilities it has a bit too monotonous?


    Xu Yi was slightly taken aback, knowing that the previous green entries all had numerous additional abilities.


    He started to read the description of the Soul Jade.


    [When ghostly beings consume Soul Jades, they can strengthen themselves. When demons devour Soul Jades, their ability limits can be temporarily increased.]


    Indeed, it was this ability that the demon used when it devoured the Evil Spirit Janice!


    [Humans or animals that consume Soul Jades may experience one or more of the following changes: "Demonization," "Physical Collapse," "Soul Awakening," "Physical Sublimation," "Soul Crystallization"...]


    The more Xu Yi read the entry''s description, the more furrowed his brows became.


    "This entry... why does it feel so ''ominously intriguing''? He''s not going to turn into ''gel hands'' as well, right?" muttered Xu Yi to himself.


    He couldn''t shake the feeling that this entry might hold unimaginable potential!


    Pushing aside the clutter of thoughts in his mind, he went straight over and picked up the Annabelle doll.


    A few exorcists wanted to speak up and stop him, but after glancing at Ed, they held back.


    Normally, an object that had been possessed by an Evil God should definitely be taken back to the church for suppression, but Ed, who was responsible for this exorcism, hadn''t spoken up, so they had even less reason to stop him.


    Moreover, Xu Yi had planned the ambush, and he was the one who dealt with the demon in Annabelle, so the spoils naturally should be his; they were too proud to fight over them.


    Xu Yi nearly cheered out loud, unable to disguise his excitement¡ªthe Annabelle doll he had longed for was finally in his hands!


    He tried to appear expressionless, but inside, he was blooming with joy.


    This exorcism operation involved the descent of an Evil God and was fraught with danger.


    But during the two most hazardous stages, he was just a mere observer.


    The demon phase was shouldered by the priests from St. Tacia Monastery, and the Evil God phase by Ed, while he had only exerted some effort at the beginning.


    Others bore the danger, while he enjoyed the treasures alone¡ªhe truly hit the jackpot!


    As Xu Yi''s fingers touched Annabelle, the Puppet Identification Technique was triggered again.


    The appraisal result had changed; steam no longer rose up but instead solidified on the surface of the doll, making it look as if the doll was clad in armor.


    "The quality of the doll has actually improved again! What could be the reason?" Xu Yi''s eyes sparkled with continuous surprises.


    The quality of the doll in front of him had surpassed the highest "Special Grade Puppet" level of the Appraisal Technique.


    Could it be because of the descent of the Evil God? Xu Yi could only think of this explanation.


    The descent of an Evil God has very high requirements for the medium; it is very likely that the doll had to be strengthened again before the descent to withstand the power of the Evil God.


    "This trip to Connecticut was truly worth it!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but sigh.


    The top-quality Spirit Puppet needed for his Puppetry Technique was practically acquired for free, and he even got his hands on the Green Epic "Soul Jade" entry.


    Moreover, when he talked to Ed on the phone, the latter had promised that if the exorcism was successful, the previous commitment would still hold. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That meant he would still be able to enter the Collection Room of the supernatural and absorb a wave of the Fog of Obscurity.


    It was truly a windfall!


    Xu Yi looked around; every face was so endearing, even Mr. Warren seemed a few degrees more handsome.


    Without the help of these "enthusiastic people", he would never have had such a great harvest.


    Should he repay these people?


    It was too late for a party at the hotel, and besides, they didn''t seem to be in good shape.


    Looking at the blood on the bodies around him, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration for how to repay them.


    "You''ve all worked hard. Tonight, I''ll cover all medical expenses!"


    No sooner had he finished speaking than one of the exorcists suddenly fell to the ground with a "bang".


    Xu Yi hadn''t mentioned the hospital, but as soon as he did, they all became aware of their terrible injuries and could no longer hold up.


    Ed breathed slowly, trying to calm his breath and suppress the severe injuries within his body... but upon hearing Xu Yi''s words, he couldn''t catch his breath, and everything went dark before his eyes, his legs giving way.


    As he lost consciousness, he heard someone''s anxious cries.


    "Mr. Warren! Mr. Warren! Are you alright?"


    "Just hurry up and take me to the hospital!" That was Ed''s last thought before passing out.


    ......


    It was late at night, and the streets were pitch-black, with only the hotel''s sign still glowing red.


    Xu Yi pushed open the hotel''s main door and went straight back to his room, which he had booked in advance.


    He double-locked the door, made sure the windows were tightly shut, drew the curtains, and placed the box he was carrying flat on the table.


    The clock showed 3:20 AM.


    After taking Ed and the people from St. Tacia Monastery to the hospital and helping to settle them in, Xu Yi had spent quite a bit of time.


    If the church hadn''t taken over later, he would have been busy until dawn.


    He was very tired and wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed and sleep well, but he couldn''t yet.


    Opening the box on the desk, he took out a bottle of liquid, which he had asked for from the priests at the St. Tacia Monastery ¨C a bottle of high-purity holy water.


    The services Xu Yi had provided were greatly appreciated by St. Tacia Monastery.


    He not only informed them about the Ram Cult''s activities but also assisted in disrupting the Evil God''s descent.


    So, they weren''t stingy with a bottle of high-purity holy water.


    The church not asking for the Annabelle doll was an important point, too; otherwise, they wouldn''t allow such a medium of an Evil God to remain outside their control.


    Xu Yi opened the bottle and poured the holy water over the Annabelle doll.


    The colourless, heavy liquid flowed over the doll without a trace of dark mist; Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief.


    The doll had no spiritual residue, which he had anticipated, but it was better to be safe than sorry, so he still wanted to validate it with holy water.


    He didn''t stop his actions, continuing to pour the holy water.


    If he was going to do it, he had to do it perfectly.


    Even though there were no Evil Spirits or Demons inhabiting the Annabelle doll, it was still necessary to cleanse it of the "grudges" with holy water.


    This step was like "polishing and refurbishing"; after the holy water pouring, the Annabelle doll would become like a "brand-new second-hand good".


    The silent, weighty holy water eventually turned into ordinary water, its potency exhausted; Xu Yi wiped away the stains from the doll with a towel.


    Without hesitation, he sliced his palm open and pressed it against the Annabelle doll.


    Blood flowed over the Annabelle doll, Xu Yi closed his eyes as the blood was gradually absorbed by the doll.


    He was ready to contract the Annabelle doll, turning this rare object linked to the descent of an Evil God into his puppet.

 Chapter 94 I... am you! (1/5)

    Xu Yi''s vision blurred as the mist surrounding the Annabelle doll began to shift.Initially a pale blue, the mist gradually turned red, spreading outwards from the center of the doll''s chest.


    "No wonder the Entries allowed for the pre-use of the Puppet Identification Technique''s ability!" Xu Yi suddenly understood.


    The Puppet Identification Technique was used not only for appraising Spirit Puppets but also as key to the ritual of binding them.


    A great amount of blood was absorbed by Annabelle, rendering the already weary Xu Yi even more exhausted.


    He had wanted to recover his energy before slowly binding the Annabelle doll.


    But circumstances didn''t allow for that, as the doll was the selected medium for an Evil God by the Church of the Ram, and who knew if they would find a way to take it back?


    To avoid any further complications, he decided to bind the Puppet as soon as possible.


    Five minutes passed, and Xu Yi''s face was ashen. Even though he had only made a small cut on his palm, the blood that had been flowing for so long had started to take its toll.


    The trouble was that only half of the mist surrounding Annabelle had turned red.


    At this rate, even if he were to faint from excessive blood loss, he wouldn''t be able to successfully bind the doll.


    "It seems I was wrong from the start!" Xu Yi sighed.


    Since it was his first time binding a Spirit Puppet, he had completely underestimated the amount of blood required.


    The correct approach would have been to collect enough blood first and then bind all at once.


    Overcome by waves of faintness due to blood loss, Xu Yi didn''t move his hand.


    Because the moment he did, interrupting the flow of blood, the binding would fail, and he''d have to start all over.


    "If I wait to make ample preparations before binding again, it would take at least a day."


    Xu Yi was reluctant because many instances proved that it was precisely such moments when the unexpected was apt to occur.


    His body began to chill, his hands started to tremble... The symptoms of blood loss were intensifying, and he wouldn''t hold out much longer.


    Xu Yi hesitated. If the quality of the Annabelle doll hadn''t been so perfect, he wouldn''t have been so desperate to bind it.


    His other hand braced against the table, and his fingertips suddenly brushed against something cold¡ªit was the Exorcism Lighter he had placed on the table.


    Could blood derivative count as blood? The thought suddenly occurred to him.


    His one hand immobile, he could only bite down on the Exorcism Lighter and use his free hand to disassemble the kerosene cartridge.


    Luckily, his intimate knowledge of the Exorcism Lighter''s construction made it possible to dismantle it single-handedly.


    As the kerosene cartridge opened, the blood derivative dripped onto the Annabelle doll.


    Xu Yi''s pupils dilated suddenly... a small area of the mist around Annabelle turned red in an instant.


    The blood derivative was not only effective, it was far superior to ordinary blood.


    "Had I known, I wouldn''t have used so much blood derivative against Janice!" Xu Yi felt a bit regretful.


    To protect Mia from the Ferocious Spirit attacks, most of the blood derivative had been used to draw a "Diamond Protection Circle."


    He was only upset for a moment¡ªhad he not used the blood derivative then, things might not have proceeded as smoothly.


    "I wonder if this little blood derivative left will be enough?"


    Xu Yi took out all the reserved Exorcism Lighters, dismantled them one by one, and poured their blood derivative over Annabelle.


    The bloody mist now covered eighty percent; as the success of the binding drew nearer, Xu Yi stopped pouring the blood derivative.


    The table was strewn with lighter parts; all the blood derivative had been used up.


    Xu Yi lay spread on the table, his body limp, excessive blood loss leaving him unable to even stand straight.


    He quietly watched Annabelle, absorbing so much of his blood, and felt an indescribable connection forming between them.


    A crazy thought suddenly crossed his mind.


    "At most it''s just a waste of a Resurrection Coin!"


    ```


    Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and activated the ability of blood exomaterial.


    With just common blood, it was impossible to last until the contract was completed. Only by relying on blood exomaterial to accelerate the process was there a sliver of a chance.


    His condition was extremely poor, and he was unsure of the consequences of transforming blood exomaterial under these circumstances.


    The first droplet of blood exomaterial was successfully transformed, and the blood-colored vapor instantly expanded.


    Xu Yi was not a man who hesitated. Once he had decided to do something, he didn¡ät look back.


    His body felt sore, but the situation was a bit better than he had imagined, so he transformed a second droplet of blood exomaterial.


    The blood-colored vapor reached over ninety percent, only a bit away from turning completely red.


    But Xu Yi had completely collapsed, his eyelids as heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds, feeling overwhelmingly sleepy.


    "Just a little more!" Xu Yi bit his lip, the pain jolting his focus back.


    The third droplet of blood exomaterial transformed.


    The vapor enveloping Annabelle completely turned blood red... Contract binding created!


    Xu Yi finally couldn¡ät hold on any longer and his head "thud" hit the desk, and he fell asleep.


    The room was so quiet that only the ticking of the clock could be heard. Xu Yi slept on the desk, his palm still resting on the Annabelle doll.


    The cut had begun to clot and scab over due to the length of time.


    So much blood had dripped on Annabelle, and it should have been smeared with bloodstains, but there were none. The doll had absorbed every drop.


    The creaking noise in the silent room was particularly clear, and the Annabelle doll on the table suddenly moved, sitting up on the desk, its blue pupils silently watching Xu Yi.


    If Xu Yi saw this scene, he would probably be so frightened that he¡äd jump up.


    It should be understood that the puppet had no Necromantic Spells carved on it, nor was a soul sealed within. Although it became Xu Yi¡äs puppet, it only moved when being manipulated.


    Xu Yi¡äs consciousness fell into darkness, unable to see his hand in front of him, but suddenly a light appeared ahead.


    Instinctively, he walked towards the light and suddenly stopped.


    At the center of the light was a little girl dressed in a white dress with a bright red flower tied at the waist, surrounded by blood-colored butterflies fluttering around her.


    The little girl was facing away from him, and Xu Yi couldn¡ät see her face clearly, but he felt she looked somewhat familiar.


    Where is this place? Why is he here? Is this a dream? Xu Yi was full of questions.


    "Thank you!" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The little girl¡äs strange thanks puzzled Xu Yi, yet she still didn¡ät turn around.


    Could it be because she was too ugly to show her face? Xu Yi was curious and wanted to circle around to the front of the little girl.


    But he had only taken a few steps when the little girl suddenly turned her head, staring intently at Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi didn¡ät dare move, standing there warily.


    He finally understood why the little girl looked familiar to him.


    The little girl before him bore a striking resemblance to the Annabelle doll, as if the doll was crafted in the image of this very girl.


    The little girl wasn''t ugly; in fact, she was rather cute, with her face carrying a bit of baby fat.


    But even the cutest face, paired with those pupils, would send shivers down anyone¡äs spine.


    The left was a resplendent blood pupil, and the right was like an abyssal ink pupil. He had seen similar eyes not long ago, belonging to the Evil God and Demon that once possessed the doll.


    "Who are you really?" Xu Yi asked, alarmed.


    "I... I am Annabelle, no, not right..."


    The other¡äs voice was actually that of a normal little girl, with a hint of softness.


    The heterochromatic-eyed little girl suddenly revealed a bizarre smile and lunged at Xu Yi, "I... am you!"


    ```

 Chapter 95 The Birth of the Alien Soul (2/5)

    Xu Yi suddenly woke with a start, his breathing slightly rapid and his body covered in cold sweat. The noisy honking of cars outside brought him a sense of immense relief."It was just a dream!"


    He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, still feeling incredibly weak, but managing to barely move.


    The setting sun outside the window was casting its golden afterglow through the gaps in the curtain into the room.


    He turned his head to glance at the wall clock; it was already past five in the afternoon. He had slept from last night all the way to now.


    His stomach growled loudly, and he felt so hungry that his front seemed to stick to his back, as if he could eat an entire cow at the moment.


    The wound on his palm had already scabbed over. Xu Yi paid it no mind and walked straight to the phone by the door to order some food from the front desk.


    After he hung up the phone, he instinctively looked towards the dining table, where the disassembled lighter parts were still scattered.


    His hand suddenly trembled, and the phone crashed to the floor.


    The Annabelle doll was sitting upright at the dining table.


    He clearly remembered that when he bound the contract, the doll had been lying on the table.


    Could it be that there was a gap in his memory, that he had propped up the doll at the end but forgot about it?


    Just then, the Annabelle doll suddenly turned its head and stared straight at Xu Yi. He wasn''t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt the doll''s gaze was especially similar to that of the little girl in his dream.


    His body tensed, and he warily watched the Annabelle doll.


    Could it be that the Church of the Ram was making a comeback? Or had the doll been possessed by some other evil spirit?


    But he was certain that the contract had been successfully established and that Annabelle had become his puppet.


    He stared for a moment and realized that the Annabelle doll had no intention of attacking him.


    The doll sat quietly on the dining table, only occasionally turning its head to look at Xu Yi and around the room, like a well-behaved little girl in a strange place inspecting her surroundings with curiosity.


    Xu Yi slightly relaxed. He suddenly remembered if the contract binding was successful, the system should have given a prompt.


    Upon accessing the system, Xu Yi saw the information on the panel and his eyes widened in shock.


    [Annabelle (Other Soul): Loyalty Value 100 (Permanently Fixed)]


    Other Soul, what was that?


    Why would there be an Other Soul in the Annabelle doll?


    And most shockingly, why was the Other Soul''s Loyalty Value at a perfect 100 and permanently fixed?


    Xu Yi suddenly realized that while he was unconscious, something must have happened that he was unaware of.


    He communicated with the system, trying to understand what had occurred through it, and surprisingly, the system responded, sending a stream of information into his mind.


    "What kind of dumb luck is this!" Xu Yi exclaimed after receiving the information.


    The Annabelle doll had been successively possessed by a demon, the evil spirit Janice, and an evil god, turning it into a breeding ground for souls.


    If Annabelle''s soul''s birth process were likened to planting, the doll would be the fertile soil while Xu Yi''s blood acted as the sunlight and rain.


    But even with fertile land and ample sunlight and rain, one cannot grow fruits and vegetables without the most crucial element... the seeds, which in this case were fragments of Xu Yi''s soul.


    Normally, a person''s soul is very stable, but as a Psychic, Xu Yi''s soul was much more active than that of a common person.


    During the activation of his Spirit Communication Ability, his soul could even leave his body. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That''s a prerequisite, but still not sufficient.


    "That night with the Contract Puppet, I was already exhausted, then I lost a lot of blood, and finally, I used extrinsic blood essence. The accumulation of these extreme conditions caused my soul to become highly unstable."


    Xu Yi pieced together the events of the previous night.


    "Because at that time, when the contract with the puppet was being established, the conduit was like an underwater vortex, and his unstable soul was pulled and torn, resulting in part of his soul entering the Annabelle doll, thus creating the foreign soul!"


    Everything had become clear.


    What he had seen before was not a dream, but the soul deep within the doll. The little girl he saw was the foreign soul.


    No wonder the Loyalty Value remained fixed at 100, no wonder the foreign soul, Annabelle, claimed to be him... Essentially, Annabelle was a fragment of his own soul.


    Xu Yi rubbed his swollen temples. This situation had its pros and cons.


    The advantage was obvious. Since it was a split-off part of his soul, he could manipulate the puppet as easily as moving his own arm.


    The most important thing was that as the foreign soul continued to grow, its level of intelligence would become higher and higher, even matching that of humans.


    At that time, it wouldn''t be a "remote-controlled robot" but rather a "smart chip terminator."


    Of course, there were disadvantages too. Since it was a soul split from Xu Yi, it was akin to his companion soul.


    If Annabelle endured severe damage or even death, he would suffer backlash as well.


    [Puppetry Technique +4, current progress 21/100]


    Xu Yi rubbed his eyes, almost thinking he had a hallucination. He had done nothing, so why did he suddenly gain experience in Puppetry Technique?


    And wasn''t the progress of the Puppetry Technique entries at zero? When had it surpassed twenty percent?


    [Puppetry Technique +3, current progress 24/100]


    It wasn''t an illusion. The experience for Puppetry Technique was indeed rising. This information wasn''t just one or two entries; roughly every ten minutes, a new one would pop up.


    Xu Yi looked at the Annabelle doll on his desk and suddenly understood the situation.


    "The Church of the Ram really are good people!" Xu Yi exclaimed.


    The doll was the "fertile ground" for the soul, and now that the soul was sprouting, it naturally absorbed the "nutrients" remaining in the ground.


    Whether it was demons, evil spirits, or evil gods, they all were direct contributors to the nutrients, all of which couldn''t have happened without the "support" of the Church of the Ram.


    The experience in Puppetry Technique was skyrocketing, and the foreign soul, Annabelle, was growing. Everything was moving in a good direction, and Xu Yi could finally take a sigh of relief.


    At this moment, a knock on the door sounded. Xu Yi opened it to find the hotel''s meal service had arrived.


    Cradling the meal tray, Xu Yi muttered under his breath, "Do I look that scary? Why run off so fast?"


    The delivery person had looked at him as if seeing a ghost, trembling as he handed over the items before running off like a shot.


    As he passed through the living room, there happened to be a small mirror on the liquor cabinet. Xu Yi suddenly froze, staring dumbfounded at the reflection.


    The person in the mirror had a pale complexion, deep dark circles, and a withered face, resembling a dried corpse that hadn''t been long out of the wind.


    If it weren''t for those bright black eyes, he would have never believed the person in the mirror was him.


    "Is this the side effect of splitting my soul?"


    Xu Yi looked at the no longer handsome reflection in the mirror, feeling quite sad... then turned that sadness into appetite, gnawing down two more pig''s trotters.


    Right after finishing his meal, he received a call from Judy; he had given her the hotel''s number earlier.


    "To visit Mr. Warren at the hospital?"


    Xu Yi glanced at himself in the mirror and, after hesitating for a moment, nodded. His current appearance could potentially lead to additional gains when meeting Ed.


    He washed up, changed into fresh clothes, and as he was about to leave, he turned back into the room and found a pair of sunglasses to wear.


    Xu Yi strode out of the hotel''s gates, and in a corner he did not notice, two people exchanged glances, spotting the humor in each other''s eyes.


    With the target leaving, and without the suitcase, this was definitively good news for them.

 Chapter 96 The

    Abe Satoru Hospital.The setting sun spilled into the ward, and Ed lay on the hospital bed, his normally steady breathing suddenly became hurried.


    Footsteps and voices of people talking could be heard from outside the door of the ward.


    This was a high-end ward, separate from the common ones, and there were people from the church on guard outside, so almost all who could enter were acquaintances.


    He heard the voice of his daughter, Judy.


    "Xu Yi, you''re so pitiful, to have ended up like this just for an exorcism!"


    Hey, hey, hey! The pitiful one should be him, right? He was the one lying on the hospital bed. Ed wailed in his heart.


    "Xu Yi, is that the Alchemical Revolver Messiah in the holster? It''s my first time seeing the real thing!"


    As Ed''s daughter, having been exposed to such things, of course, she knew of the Messiah, a legendary Exorcism Artifact.


    "I remember, Dad seemed to have a Grim Reaper Piercing Bullet somewhere; I don''t know where it went. I''ll ask about it later, maybe he can give it to Xu Yi."


    Ed lay on the bed, eyes tightly shut, unwilling to face reality. He felt that his little cotton-padded jacket was not only drafty but also filled with black-hearted cotton.


    Could he still want this daughter?


    The door opened with a "click," and Xu Yi walked toward the bed with some fruit in hand.


    "Mr. Warren, have you fallen asleep? I just ran into your attending female doctor, and she praised you for having very well-trained muscles."


    Ed couldn''t pretend to sleep any longer, opened his eyes, and sat up, "Stop talking nonsense, my doctor is a man."


    "Then should we ask the director to make a change, get you a female one? I saw there''s a new female doctor on the announcement board, she''s quite beautiful," Xu Yi kindly suggested.


    "No need! Thank you!" Ed ground his teeth.


    He turned his head to look at Xu Yi, and at the same moment, Xu Yi removed his sunglasses, which made Ed take a moment to recognize Xu Yi''s face.


    "What happened to you?" Ed asked.


    Before Xu Yi could respond, Judy piped up, "It''s because he was helping Dad with the exorcism; those exorcism methods have some serious after-effects."


    "It''s nothing; it''ll be fine in a few days!" Xu Yi shook his head, indicating it wasn''t a big deal.


    Could Ed not care? Xu Yi looked like a mummy that had been drained dry by a vampire.


    Although Ed found Xu Yi a bit displeasing to the eye, he still knew the twists and turns of the situation; if not for him, Xu Yi wouldn''t have ended up like this.


    It was him, Ed, who had asked Xu Yi to help with the exorcism, and it was also him who had agreed to have Xu Yi act as bait to lure out the Evil God.


    "Maybe we should still see a doctor?" Ed felt a bit guilty.


    Xu Yi sighed, "Mr. Warren, you know that some things, hospitals can''t solve."


    Ed fell silent. He knew that what Xu Yi said was the truth.


    Not to mention anything else, the after-effects of his Baptism, using the Sacred Body, weren''t something that common methods could heal. He was staying in the hospital just to treat the wounds on his body.


    "Mr. Warren, don''t worry too much, everything will get better¡­ This apple was specially bought by Judy and me; they say it tastes really good. Would you like to try it?"


    Seeing that Ed seemed down, Xu Yi suddenly felt a bit guilty; his current state had nothing to do with Ed.


    He had not mentioned it, but after he did, Ed felt even guiltier.


    Ed suddenly sighed, "This might not be the right time, but I still want to ask you for a favor."


    "Mr. Warren, please feel free," Xu Yi said as he picked up a fruit knife to peel the apple.


    "I was investigating an Evil Spirit incident with Rolin, and just as we uncovered the key information and were ready to perform the Exorcism Ritual, I got your call... The descent of the Evil God is too serious, and the dangers too great, so I had to rush back, and that''s why..." Ed said softly.


    "Mr. Warren, are you asking me to complete the Exorcism Ritual for you?"


    On the surface, Xu Yi remained calm, but inwardly he was all smiles.


    For others, this might be a hassle, especially since the Warrens charge only a nominal fee for their exorcism services.


    But Xu Yi was different; his exorcisms could involve swallowing Entries.


    How could this be a bother when it was an outright "gift" being offered to him?


    Since Ed had already investigated the key details and had entrusted the task to him, he must have thought of a way to perform the exorcism.


    Wasn''t he just picking up an easy win?


    "Of course, there''s no problem at all, Mr. Warren; after all, we are friends."


    Xu Yi handed Ed a peeled apple, looking sincerely into his eyes. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He did consider Ed a friend, after all, who wouldn''t want a friend who "could take a bullet for you"... Of course, it would be even better if the other party could give him the Grim Reaper''s piercing bullet.


    Ed was momentarily taken aback and accepted the peeled apple from Xu Yi.


    "I really didn''t want to trouble you, but all the exorcist priests in Connecticut have been reassigned, and I couldn''t find anyone suitable," Ed explained.


    "Is there something big going on?" Xu Yi asked, curious.


    This sort of cross-regional reassignment of priests was something he had only seen once before, for Jason at Crystal Lake.


    "The information is still classified, and I can''t discuss it with outsiders," Ed''s voice suddenly changed, "but we are friends, so I can reveal a little bit to you... Something big might be about to happen in New York."


    New York? Xu Yi was slightly startled.


    He hadn''t expected the place in trouble to be New York; he suddenly remembered the recent news published by the Spiritual Exploration Daily, many of which concerned New York.


    New York is a major metropolis; if something were to happen, it could potentially affect a very large number of people.


    "Recently, criminal activities have become increasingly frequent, and the Church is concerned but powerless," Ed suddenly let out a heavy sigh.


    It was a diversion but also a genuine lament.


    Understanding the hint, Xu Yi didn''t press for more details about New York but became even more puzzled, "An increase in crimes... What does that have to do with the Church?"


    Although the Church''s influence was significant, wasn''t arresting criminals supposed to be the police''s duty?


    "Common criminals don''t have much to do with the Church, of course, but many super-criminals, no, to be precise, a variety of cruel murderers, are not simply psychotically deranged... Some of them are seduced by demonic thoughts," Ed explained.


    "Demonic thoughts?" Xu Yi was taken aback.


    "No one knows exactly where demonic thoughts come from. We only know that once they appear, a great catastrophe ensues quickly," Ed said, his expression grave.


    "According to the Church''s records, the last time demonic thoughts emerged was fifty years ago. Many lives were lost then, and the Church suffered heavy losses," Ed''s face grew serious.


    Xu Yi frowned in contemplation, as Ed''s revelations brought a sense of urgency.


    It seems he would have to build up his forces soon! Xu Yi resolved firmly to himself.


    Ed took a Holy Bible from under the pillow and handed it to Xu Yi, "I already wrote the method for the exorcism in this Bible."


    The Holy Bible was prepared by Ed in advance, indicating that he had already figured out the method for the exorcism.


    Given the "Entry gift package" coming his way, Xu Yi naturally wouldn''t refuse. He took the Bible from Ed''s hand and nodded, "Rest up and heal your wounds!

 Chapter 97 Filling Up Entries by Lying Down (4/5)

    Ed watched as Xu Yi accepted the Holy Bible, and while he breathed a sigh of relief, his sense of guilt deepened.The other party was so weak, yet he still had to worry about his matters.


    Biting into an apple, Xu Yi wasn''t lying, it was indeed sweet.


    Ed, watching Xu Yi bustling about the hospital room, suddenly felt an urge and asked, "Do you also like to collect those paranormal items?"


    He remembered the exorcism from before, where Xu Yi got hold of the Annabelle doll, and the joy that appeared on his face couldn''t have been faked.


    "Don''t you think those paranormal items all have a kind of strange beauty?" Xu Yi would, of course, not deny it.


    He couldn''t possibly tell Ed that he took the Annabelle doll to develop it into a terrifying killing machine, could he?


    "You''re right!" Ed felt as if he''d found a kindred spirit and hesitated for a moment before musing, "Since you also like paranormal items, you can choose one from my Collection Room when the time comes."


    "Of course, you can only pick from those outside the cabinets, the ones that are less dangerous," Ed added.


    The Grim Reaper''s Piercing Bullet was not something he could easily give Xu Yi, as it was too precious, but those common items he could "share" with Xu Yi.


    "That''s really kind of you, Mr. Warren!" Xu Yi''s eyes lit up, not expecting this unexpected gain.


    He came to visit Ed looking quite sick, indeed with an "ulterior motive," but had only hoped that when it came time to absorb the Fog of Obscurity from the other party''s Collection Room, Ed might be slightly more lenient.


    Even though he didn''t know which item he would choose or if it would be useful at all, it was definitely right to agree first.


    Ed wrote down the address for the exorcism and a contact method on a piece of paper.


    Xu Yi reached out for the paper, his body suddenly trembling.


    Ed, noticing Xu Yi''s abnormal reaction, asked with concern, "What''s the matter?"


    Xu Yi shook his head, "It''s nothing, just got bitten by two mosquitoes." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ed looked around confusedly, wondering if there were any mosquitoes in this hospital room, and why emphasize two?


    ...


    Antu Hotel.


    Two middle-aged men strode through the hallway, eyes straight ahead. They were dressed in suits, looking like business elites from Wall Street, with one of them carrying a black case.


    They stopped in front of room 703, glancing at their surroundings with peripheral vision, noticing no one else.


    One of the men pulled out a piece of wire, inserted it into the keyhole, and after fiddling for a moment, the door lock clicked open.


    Nobody would expect that two individuals dressed so "respectably" would actually come to pick locks, and were moreover skilled masters of locksmithing.


    "Hurry up, the other party could return at any moment!"


    One of them looked around the living room and, noticing the parts of a lighter scattered on the tabletop, smiled with delight.


    The other party had not had time to tidy up, indicating they left in a hurry, so the item was probably still in this room.


    The two men quickly searched the room and finally made a discovery on top of the wardrobe, a black metal box hidden behind a decorative panel.


    "To think they hid it in such a place, they''re not giving us enough credit, are they?" one of them muttered under his breath.


    This was naturally Xu Yi''s room, and if Xu Yi knew their thoughts, he would surely shake his head repeatedly. He hid it on top of the cabinet to prevent the hotel''s cleaning staff from accidentally coming into contact with it, not because he was afraid of thieves.


    The black metal box was taken out and placed on the ground.


    This type of box with a combination lock was on par with a bank''s security box, and trying to crack it with a piece of wire was like a fool''s dream.


    They couldn''t simply walk away with the box; they needed to make sure the item was indeed inside.


    "Luckily, we came prepared!"


    They opened the black case they had brought, revealing a complete set of professional lock-picking tools inside.


    With professional tools and master lock pickers, even a security box would have to admit defeat.


    The box was slowly opened, and the two men peered inside; the doll with a sinister smile was revealed sitting within.


    The two exchanged a glance and took a long breath, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted off their shoulders.


    "With our Holy Church''s strength, why sneak around? Why not just kill that person directly?"


    With the object in hand, smiles appeared on their faces, and they felt in the mood for conversation.


    "Our Holy Church cannot be exposed yet. If the dogs of the church start sniffing around, it would be troublesome, especially since they recognize Ed."


    The other shook their head, then suddenly changed the subject, "Besides, the ritual to awaken the Holy Spirit isn''t confined to just this one location, we don''t need to take the risk."


    "Let''s leave first! Take the medium back to the church, and the glory of the Holy Spirit will shine upon us!"


    The pair performed a strange prayer ritual.


    As they closed the metal box, they failed to notice the creepy twist of the Annabelle doll''s head.


    They left the hotel carrying the box, placed it on the back seat of the car, started the engine, and the vehicle sped off towards the outskirts.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Xu Yi and Judy left the hospital shoulder to shoulder.


    "Brother Xu Yi, are you troubled by something? Maybe we should go to the amusement park another time!" Judy suddenly turned her head, looking at Xu Yi with concern.


    Xu Yi''s eyes seemed a bit dazed, and he was losing focus from time to time.


    "It''s nothing, just some aftereffects of the exorcism. I hope Sister Judy won''t mind. Also, I just happen to feel like going to the amusement park to relax." Xu Yi said with a light laugh.


    He was lying. His occasional daydreaming had nothing to do with any aftereffects.


    [Puppet Master+5, Current Progress: 100/100]


    Xu Yi never expected there''d be a day when he''d gain maximum entry points by simply lying down.


    Annabelle, by absorbing the residual energy within the doll''s body, actually managed to max out the Puppet Master entry!


    And 100/100 was not the limit for Annabelle, but just for the Puppet Master entry. He could feel that Annabelle was still growing and was about to undergo a metamorphosis.


    Indeed, for Annabelle, the doll specially chosen by the Ram Cult over twenty years ago to be the Evil God''s medium, her potential was truly astounding.


    After the Puppet Master entry was maxed out, new changes appeared.


    [Puppet Master: (White Epic)


    Ability-1: Puppet Identification Technique (Passive Gain)


    Capable of perceiving and appraising the quality of Spirit Puppets.


    Ability-2: Puppet Manipulation


    Freely manipulate contract-bound puppets.


    Ability-3: Gift of the Puppet (Generating)]


    Xu Yi quietly gazed at "Gift of the Puppet."


    The Puppet Master entry, unlike the other entries, has its final ability which varies according to the different puppet contracts, giving rise to different abilities.


    ["Gift of the Puppet" has been generated, congratulations on obtaining the ability: Symbiotic Eye!]


    [Symbiotic Eye: Can share the field of vision with Annabelle without being affected by distance, and freely control the puppet.]


    This ability didn''t seem strong at first glance but it was the "Divine Skill" of a Puppet Master.


    The biggest drawback of Puppet Masters was the range of control; if they were too far from their puppet, the control could be impaired or even fail.


    Therefore, during combat, Puppet Masters usually try to find a hidden spot to stay out of sight to avoid being located by the enemy.


    But now it was different. With the "Symbiotic Eye," he could take the enemy''s head from miles away.


    Could this not be the Evil God''s Puppet Excalibur?


    He could also use Annabelle for scouting and surveillance... There were many ways to use this ability, waiting for him to discover.

 Chapter 98 Annabelles First Hunt (5/5)

    The taxi headed toward the amusement park, and Judy watched Xu Yi beside her with concern.Ever since Xu Yi got in the car, his distracted state had become more severe, his eyes lifeless, like a doll placed in a display cabinet.


    But she didn''t ask again, not wanting to disturb Xu Yi''s rest.


    She felt very guilty in her heart; it was all because of her father that Xu Yi had become so weak, and even so, he was still forcing himself to accompany her to the zoo.


    At any rate, she had to find a way to get the Grim Reaper''s Piercing Bullet from her father''s hands.


    "If nothing else, I''ll just stealthily steal the bullets!" Judy secretly made up her mind.


    If Ed knew what his daughter was thinking, he might exclaim that his family was cursed and then proceed to a dramatic case of righting wrongs within his own family.


    The reason Xu Yi was distracted, of course, was that he had entered the state of the "Symbiotic Eye."


    His current feeling was very strange, as if a computer, incapable of split-screen, suddenly had the function to display two entirely different images at once.


    He was a bit unaccustomed and felt dizzy, as if he had 3D motion sickness.


    Through Annabelle''s vision, all was pitch-black, but as he gave the command, a crack was opened in the box, allowing him to see the two men in the front seat through the crack.


    The two men were whispering to each other, and Xu Yi listened quietly, his heart beginning to waver.


    Should he follow these two men, trace back to the Cult''s gathering place, and have a little theft spree?


    After hesitating for a moment, he gave up on this tempting idea.


    After all, he knew nothing about the Cult, and sending Annabelle into the lion''s den might result not in "capturing the tiger''s cubs" but rather in "a steamed bun beating a dog¡ªgone never to return."


    Since it was a Cult with an Evil God behind it, a certain degree of respect was necessary.


    He had already reaped bountiful rewards and didn''t need to take risks for uncertain gains.


    "Brother Xu Yi, we''re at the amusement park!"


    Judy''s words brought Xu Yi back from his thoughts, and he looked through the car window at the bustling amusement park nearby.


    Judy hopped out of the car excitedly, her mood obviously lifted quite a bit, a smile spreading across her face.


    Because she noticed that after Xu Yi rested, he indeed became much more normal. Although he would still occasionally become distracted, it no longer affected his actions.


    "It looks like fun." Xu Yi''s interest was piqued as well.


    In his weakened state, he couldn''t do much else, so why not relax and boost Judy''s Favorability toward him?


    Of course, he had another goal, which was to practice the Symbiotic Eye.


    He had not turned off the Symbiotic Eye, the reason he was no longer distracted was that he was getting used to it.


    He planned to play in the park while keeping the Symbiotic Eye active.


    He definitely needed to acclimate to this "dual perspective" quickly to avoid being at a loss during a fight.


    "Brother Xu Yi, let''s play Whack-A-Mole!"


    Xu Yi took Judy to buy tickets and enter the amusement area; they stood in front of a Whack-A-Mole machine, with Judy excitedly swinging the rubber mallet in her hands.


    "Alright! Let''s wipe out these annoying moles!"


    Xu Yi smiled and nodded while giving orders to Annabelle.


    As an autonomous entity, Annabelle had a significant advantage, that was the ability to act on her own, without needing Xu Yi to be distracted by controlling her constantly.


    Otherwise, even if he were more capable, he wouldn''t be able to take care of both ends.


    ...


    The black car left the bustling city and drove towards the desolate outskirts.


    "Drive slower!" whispered a Heretic of the Ram Cult from the passenger seat.


    The road ahead was about to pass through a mountain road, winding and steep¡ªa frequent site for accidents.


    The driver nodded and gently tapped the brakes.


    To be able to return to the gathering place as soon as possible, they chose to take a shortcut, taking this dangerous mountain road.


    The car reached the highest point of the mountain road and was about to enter the downhill section when it rounded a corner, and the dazzling sunset happened to shine into the driver''s eyes, causing him to squint instinctively.


    At that moment, he suddenly heard the roar of an engine, a car accelerating.


    He was a bit puzzled; there had been no cars in the vicinity just before, and who would be so crazy as to speed on such a winding mountain road?


    "What are you doing? Hit the brakes!"


    A companion''s shocked cry suddenly rang in his ears. Just as his vision returned to normal, he saw a scene that filled him with dread.


    Their car was actually accelerating towards the edge of the road, and below was a cliff!


    He stomped on the brakes, but they were like they had been welded shut, immovable.


    Worse yet, the accelerator was being pushed to the floor by some mysterious force, and the car roared as it sped up.


    They quickly realized this was a supernatural occurrence. They reached for the Exorcism Artifacts in their pockets, but it was already too late.


    The car suddenly struck the guardrail; the guardrail was so dilapidated it was practically for show ¡ª the car flew off the road and tumbled down the cliff.


    The car disintegrated as it rolled, the axle broke, and the doors flew off.


    After tumbling for three long minutes, the car finally came to a halt on a gentle slope, completely wrecked.


    On the car''s rear desk, the sturdy safe had become slightly deformed. The lid slowly opened, and Annabelle sat up with an eerie smile.


    All of this had been done by Annabelle.


    The condition for the Puppet Master Entries to gain experience was for the Puppet to grow.


    In other words, for the Puppet Master Entries to be filled, the current Annabelle must have grown to an unimaginable extent.


    As the entity bound by the Bonds Entries, Xu Yi could naturally see the Entries on her, which brought him immense delight.


    Of course, as a newly born alien spirit, Annabelle''s intelligence was not yet strong enough to grasp the timing so precisely; these actions had all been manipulated by Xu Yi from behind the scenes.


    The heretic in the passenger seat didn''t move. His head was embedded in the edge of the door frame, nearly chopped in half, and he was dead beyond any doubt.


    Annabelle suddenly turned her head to look at the heretic in the driver''s seat.


    That heretic suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils a deep red.


    Having suffered such a violent impact, even with the protection of airbags, it seemed impossible that he could still be alive, right?


    Through the Symbiotic Eye, Xu Yi sensed something was wrong. The heretic''s hand was clutching a metal bottle, the cap was open, and there were remnants of black powder at the corners of his mouth.


    One could imagine the scene; the moment the car lost control and fell off the cliff, he took out the metal bottle from his pocket and swallowed the powder inside in one breath.


    Could it be something like unicorn blood? Xu Yi wondered.


    The heretic suddenly pulled out a gun and shot at Annabelle furiously. The loud gunshots were deafening; bullets hit the Annabelle doll, but instead of the doll breaking and wood splinters flying everywhere, they merely left shallow bullet marks as if shot into steel.


    Just as Annabelle was about to counter, the heretic let out a bestial roar, his muscles bulging as he forcibly pulled off his seat belt, his back bending like a shrimp, and the gun fell on the seat.


    The veins on the heretic''s face were bulging, and his crimson pupils revealed a bloodthirsty light. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Is he mutating?"


    Of course, Xu Yi could not just sit and watch. He immediately ordered Annabelle.


    The gun floated up from the seat, and under Annabelle''s control, aimed at the heretic. The remaining bullets were fired within seconds.


    The heretic''s head burst open like a tomato. Such a close-range headshot, even if one had drunk precious unicorn blood, it was impossible to move again.


    The heretic''s head hit the airbag with a "pop," and then there was no more sound.


    The Annabelle doll floated up and flew between the two corpses. A purple-red aura emanated from Annabelle, turning into a rectangular "cage" that enveloped both bodies.


    A moment later, the cage quickly shrank and was absorbed back into Annabelle.


    Along with the disappearance of the purple-red aura, gone too were the two corpses on the car and all their personal belongings.

 Chapter 99 Annabelles Toy Treasure Box

    ```The amusement park closed, and Xu Yi sent a content Judy home, then borrowed Ed''s car, a Dodge Ram.


    He drove toward the suburbs, his destination a secluded forest with a turbulent stream running through it, as the sun on the horizon was about to set completely.


    A dark shadow sprang from the brush, landing on Xu Yi''s shoulder.


    Xu Yi''s face showed no panic as he took the Annabelle doll from his shoulder and examined it in front of him.


    He was here, of course, to retrieve the Annabelle doll.


    Although Annabelle was also capable of movement, during broad daylight, a doll sprinting out of nowhere would likely attract unwanted attention.


    Earlier, through the Symbiotic Eye, he had seen clearly that Annabelle had been hit by a bullet, leaving a mark on its chest, but now the bullet wound had disappeared.


    At the same time, the system prompt appeared.


    [Evil God Body+3, current progress 100/100]


    As the subject of the Bonds entry, he could of course see the changes in the other''s entries.


    After Annabelle''s birth, the other''s entries awakened automatically, possibly because the other was a soul splinter of his.


    Those entries, like the Puppet Master''s, continuously gained experience without stopping.


    [Evil God Body (Imitation): Green Common


    Sturdy body comparable to steel, capable of self-repair by consuming grudges when damaged.]


    This entry was indeed a perfect fit for the Annabelle doll. With this entry, he could use it boldly without worrying about damage.


    As a puppet, how could it not be able to block bullets?


    The system''s prompts continued.


    [Evil Control+8, current progress: 100/100]


    [Evil Control: White Epic


    Possesses the ability to control things, this ability will be void when encountering strong resistance.]


    This ability is actually quite common, many Evil Spirits and Demons possess it.


    At first glance it doesn''t seem strong, but there are no weak abilities, only people who can''t use them. Today''s effortless resolution of the two cultists relied entirely on Evil Control, as well as Xu Yi''s ability to seize opportunities.


    The sky was about to darken, Xu Yi looked around and saw no one else.


    A purple-red curtain of energy appeared again around Annabelle, expanding to form a rectangle.


    If one observed carefully, they would notice that the curtain was actually shaped like a box. Your journey continues on empire


    On its surface, different patterns morphed, a grinning bear, a rabbit with three heads, a small red flower with sharp spikes... they even possessed a peculiar kind of beauty.


    The curtain enveloped Xu Yi, having no effect on him, but Annabelle had disappeared.


    Using his ability of the Symbiotic Eye, he could see that Annabelle was in a place surrounded by purple-red walls, the walls etched with unknown spiral patterns.


    Annabelle sat on a throne studded with gemstones, surveying its own realm.


    The place wasn''t large, empty, with only two unique "dolls" placed in a corner, one with its crown split open, and another with its head shattered.


    "Alright, release them!" Xu Yi ordered. Within the purple-red curtain, two puppets appeared at his feet; at first they were only palm-sized, but soon they inflated, like shriveled balloons filled with air.


    The curtain dissipated, and two bloodied corpses appeared before his eyes, no longer the plastic-like "dolls."


    [Annabelle''s Treasure Box+5, current progress: 100/100]


    Xu Yi could clearly feel that the energy stored within the Annabelle doll had been completely devoured, eventually transforming into three fully charged entries.


    If it was only "Evil God Body (Imitation)" and "Evil Control," the Annabelle doll would not have been able to become a medium for the Evil God, and it would not have been worth the Church of the Ram''s great effort.


    [Annabelle''s Treasure Box: (Blue Epic)


    Ability-1: Treasure Box Unfolding


    ```


    Annabelle opened her beloved Treasure Box, which could store various items, but not living creatures, as well as some special items.


    Ability-2: Toy''s Heart


    Once items enter the Treasure Box, they will temporarily transform into toys, and their size will also be compressed. When they leave the Treasure Box, the items revert to normal.


    [This ability should be used with caution. Forcibly storing certain powerful entities may cause damage to the Treasure Box or even lead to its collapse.]


    Indeed, this was the strongest of Annabelle''s Entries, a blue Epic level, and it also represented the immense potential of the opponent.


    "Setting aside other things, with this ability, it''s like having a Storage Space."


    If Xu Yi had possessed an Annabelle doll earlier, he wouldn''t have to worry about bringing a gun through security checks; he could just toss it into Annabelle''s Treasure Box.


    But he was quite aware that this Entry was far from being a mere Storage Space.


    Even though he was permanently bound to Annabelle, his soul''s embodiment, he was still somewhat envious.


    In his view, Annabelle''s Treasure Box could very well be called a miniature "Divine Kingdom."


    The three elements of a Divine Kingdom: an enclosed space, entirely controlled by oneself, with unique operational rules within the space.


    The Treasure Box of Annabelle met all these conditions.


    "Unfortunately, limited by the size of the box and the box''s durability, this ability can only rank as ''blue Epic'' level."


    The maximum space the Treasure Box could unfold was 12 cubic meters, with dimensions of 2x2x3.


    This amount of space, it couldn''t swallow anything too large.


    While the Treasure Box could shrink objects, the premise was that it must first be able to swallow them.


    Another limitation was its durability.


    "The box can''t store living creatures, but in this world, inanimate objects can be far more terrifying than living ones."


    The first thought that came to Xu Yi''s mind after reading the Entry was to use it to contain Evil Spirits.


    If the Treasure Box could suppress and contain Evil Spirits, and then find a way to control them, wouldn''t it be possible to create an army of Evil Spirits within the box?


    Unfortunately, due to the lack of durability of the box, if he wanted to contain Evil Spirits, he must be very cautious.


    "I wonder if there''s any way to compensate for these two shortcomings?"


    Xu Yi thought as he opened the trunk of the car and took out two cans of gasoline, preparing to destroy the evidence completely.


    Burning the corpses of the Heretics could avoid disclosing too many details and serve to mislead the Church of the Ram.


    As he walked toward the bodies, he suddenly put down the gasoline and pressed his hand on the Alchemy Revolver at his waist.


    One of the bodies was actually still twitching slightly!


    After a careful observation, he concluded that it wasn''t that the Heretic was alive, but rather that the body still retained some vitality.


    The soul had dissipated, and the body still had vitality¡ªit was somewhat like a zombie, but even more pure, lacking the ability to attack.


    The individual was still clutching a metal vial tightly in their hand.


    Xu Yi snatched the vial from them and after examining it for a moment, tossed the metal bottle with the suspicious powder inside into Annabelle''s Treasure Box for later study.


    Just as he was about to douse the bodies with gasoline, an idea suddenly sprang to his mind.


    "This zombie might be very good experimental material!"


    After hesitating for a few seconds, he threw the zombie back into Annabelle''s Treasure Box and burned the other body.


    The roaring flames gradually died down, and Annabelle, controlling the skeleton, sank into the creek in the woods.


    "Let''s go!" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi reached out his hand, and Annabelle''s doll appeared in his palm, only the size of his palm.


    The Treasure Box of Annabelle could be applied to herself, which, for Xu Yi, was simply a "Divine Skill" lifesaver; he certainly didn''t want to be running around with a large doll in tow.


    He found a keychain and hung the Annabelle doll at his waist; although it was still a bit strange, it wasn''t social suicide at least.

 Chapter 100 The Followers of Satan

    Harrisville, an outlying and somewhat remote suburb.Xu Yi stood under the withered tree, its bare branches hung low, stretching out like ghostly hands.


    A faint mist enveloped the area around the withered tree, and now, even though it was already afternoon, the mist had not yet dissipated.


    "What a unique welcome present!" Xu Yi slightly lifted his head. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Above him, a dried-up corpse swayed incessantly, its hideous face staring straight at Xu Yi, who could sense an extremely dense resentment shrouding the body.


    The evil spirits he had faced before never possessed such intense spite; these kinds weren''t necessarily powerful but were certainly tricky.


    The withered corpse was an illusion conjured by the evil spirit, used at most for frightening people.


    The Annabelle doll''s eyes rolled upwards, staring intently at the ghostly apparition above.


    Amethyst light began to converge in its pupils, a prelude to unleashing the Treasure Box, but Xu Yi interrupted it.


    Xu Yi lightly touched the Annabelle charm at his waist, "No need to fuss over such trivial matters."


    Since retrieving the Annabelle doll yesterday, Xu Yi had noticed that the intelligence of the doll, Annabelle, had grown stronger and it now had its own "little mood swings."


    Annabelle''s toy Treasure Box might not have been released, but the evil spirit''s apparition hanging overhead still dissipated.


    "So, you must be Xu Yi, delighted to meet you!"


    In front of the withered tree stood a small country villa, from which a figure, both strange and familiar, walked out and greeted Xu Yi.


    "Ms. Rolin, you are really too kind!" Xu Yi recognized her at a glance, often having seen her in the newspapers.


    Her full name was Rolin Warren, and Mr. Warren''s full name was Ed Warren, both of their names contained "Warren," thus they were known as the Warrens.


    Rolin sized up Xu Yi, inwardly surprised.


    On the phone, Ed had mentioned that someone would come to assist with the exorcism, and she had expected some elderly priest, not a young man.


    Yet she dared not underestimate him. She had also seen the previous phantom of the evil spirit and was impressed by how adeptly he had dealt with it.


    What surprised her further was the unknown method he used to make the evil spirit recoil, voluntarily dispersing the illusion.


    "Mr. Warren only gave me an overview of the situation, I would need Ms. Rolin to fill me in on the details." Xu Yi walked straight towards the house.


    As he passed by Rolin, he deliberately paused.


    There was no anomaly, confirming that his psychic resonance with Judy was indeed not due to bloodline reasons.


    Rolin disclosed everything that had happened these past days, and Xu Yi nodded from time to time.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, do you have confidence in this exorcism?" Rolin asked, her face filled with worry.


    Among the evil spirits she had encountered, the one they faced this time, although not the strongest, was definitely challenging.


    "I can only say I will do my best." Xu Yi pushed the door open, where a room full of people sat on the sofa, curiously sizing him up.


    "These are all Caroline''s children; Caroline is the subject of this exorcism. I thought that the children could help maintain Caroline''s courage, so I allowed them all to stay here," Rolin explained.


    Xu Yi nodded in agreement with her decision.


    When someone possessed by an evil spirit gives up the struggle and lets the evil spirit invade at will, no matter how powerful the exorcist is, it is as good as futile.


    The clock in the living room ticked; just as Xu Yi stepped in, the ticking abruptly ceased, causing the children to huddle together and stare in terror at the wall clock.


    Xu Yi followed their gaze¡ª the clock was frozen at 3:07.


    He glanced down at his Swiss watch, the hands also stopped at the same time.


    "3:07, that''s the time of the evil spirit''s death," Rolin explained.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed slightly¡ª this time was significant, as it was said that Satan''s gate to hell opens at precisely 3:07 in the afternoon.


    There was no doubt that this Evil Spirit was a follower of Satan.


    A strong stench suddenly filled the air; often, this was a sign of an Evil Spirit''s arrival.


    Upstairs, a woman''s hysterical laughter erupted, followed by the loud bang of something slamming into a door.


    "Damn it, the restraints have failed!" Rolin''s complexion changed as she took the lead, rushing toward the stairs.


    With Ed suddenly gone, Rolin alone couldn''t exorcise the Evil Spirit. They could only confine Caroline in a room and use the Exorcism Artifact they brought to suppress it.


    But 3:07 AM was the time of the Evil Spirit''s death, and also when it was at its strongest. The Exorcism Artifact was no longer enough to suppress it.


    "We just need to hold out until this time passes!" Rolin thought.


    Another loud bang echoed through the house, and the door of a second-floor room was smashed open, a gaunt woman charging out from inside.


    "Be careful!" Xu Yi suddenly pulled Rolin back.


    The woman was holding a pair of scissors, and had Xu Yi not pulled Rolin back, she might have collided with the sharp instrument.


    Rolin was still shaking from the close call. She turned to thank Xu Yi, but as the words came to her lips, she froze.


    Xu Yi''s gaze upon Caroline was not that of observing an ordinary person possessed by an Evil Spirit, but rather like someone eyeing a treasured artifact.


    "Miss Rolin, are you okay?" Xu Yi released his grip on Rolin, realizing that his expression had given away his inner thoughts.


    The "treasure" was indeed not Caroline, but the Evil Spirit possessing her.


    Just now, Annabelle had conveyed a feeling of "desire" to him, a longing for the soul of the Evil Spirit! Enjoy new stories from empire


    "I didn''t expect this exorcism trip to bring such an unexpected pleasure."


    The Treasure Box toy of Annabelle indeed had a way to become more powerful: by devouring the Power of the Evil God.


    While the Evil Spirit possessing Caroline was certainly not an Evil God, as a follower of Satan, it was tainted with a hint of the Evil God''s aura, though it could not receive Satan''s direct response.


    Xu Yi was curious as to how the Treasure Box would be enhanced?


    "Mr. Xu Yi, quick, stop her! She''s targeting the children!" Rolin shouted loudly.


    Although Xu Yi was puzzled as to why she didn''t attack them and instead headed for the children downstairs, he didn''t hesitate and drew his Alchemy Revolver.


    After learning about the exorcism target, he had replaced the bullets in his gun with rubber bullets.


    He aimed at her shin and pulled the trigger.


    He was a bit lucky this time; his first shot hit the target. Caroline stumbled and fell to the floor.


    Taking advantage of this moment, Xu Yi rushed forward, kicked the scissors out of her hand, and tried to use his grappling skills to control her, but when he grabbed her arm, his expression shifted slightly.


    Her strength was surprisingly great, almost breaking free.


    Just then, an unexpected force came into play, pinning Caroline down and preventing her from straightening up.


    Xu Yi used this opportunity to flip her arm over and press it firmly against the ground.


    He looked admiringly at the Annabelle doll at his waist; of course, it was the force of possession that had lent a hand just now.


    "With Annabelle''s assistance, things have become so much easier," Xu Yi couldn''t help but sigh.


    "Xu Yi, let''s help!" Rolin brought some rope, and together they tied Caroline to a chair.


    Xu Yi took out the Exorcism Lighter and seared Caroline''s little finger with the flame. Caroline''s body shuddered violently and she fainted in the chair.


    He looked at Caroline''s appearance with furrowed brows.


    Her face was emaciated, her eye sockets sunken, with severe dark circles; her eyes were also starting to lose focus.


    "Caroline probably won''t last much longer; we need to start the Exorcism Ritual immediately!" Xu Yi acted decisively.

 Chapter 101 Would You Dare to Respond if I Call You?

    The children cleared out the living room while Xu Yi asked Rolin about some details.The room was small, and Xu Yi had originally planned to take Caroline to a more open space outside to perform the exorcism, but unfortunately, that was impossible.


    Caroline was cursed, and if she was forcibly removed from the house, she might die violently.


    That''s why Rolin hadn''t taken her to the church.


    "Have you heard of the Salem witch hunt?" Rolin asked in a low voice.


    Xu Yi nodded. He was certainly aware of the infamous Salem witch trials from history.


    Simply put, it was because of two possessed girls that a large number of innocent witches were captured and subjected to cruel torture and interrogation.


    "The Evil Spirit wandering around the house is the reincarnation of a witch from the Salem witch hunt. That wronged witch endured inhuman treatment and, after being released from prison, sacrificed her newborn of just seven days old to Satan by the fireplace," Rolin said.


    No wonder the witch had abandoned them and instead pursued Caroline''s daughters, Xu Yi suddenly realized.


    The witch sacrificed her own flesh and blood to get the attention of Satan.


    An Evil Spirit possessing other mothers and then killing their children could achieve a similar effect.


    Before coming here, Xu Yi had made some plans, but with Rolin''s story, he suddenly had a new idea.


    Everything was ready, and the sky had completely darkened.


    Almost everything in the living room had been moved out, and the spotlights on the ceiling illuminated the "Array" on the wooden floor, a circle made up of strange symbols.


    Caroline was tied to a chair in the center of the Array, and she had been unconscious all the while.


    "Let''s begin!" Xu Yi took a deep breath, taking the Music Box that Rolin passed to him.


    Rolin had searched the whole house. If any item could be the Vessel for the Evil Spirit, it could only be the Music Box in front of them.


    The Music Box''s spring was wound tight, and the lonely "ding dong" of its music rang out, causing Caroline, who had been unconscious, to suddenly open her eyes, her expression fierce, splitting her mouth in a laugh that was more like a carnivorous beast baring its jaws.


    She looked around at everyone, emitting a chilling voice, "You''re all going to die!" Read latest stories on empire


    Xu Yi couldn''t care less about what she had to say, and simply threw the Music Box into the nearby iron bucket, dousing it with gasoline.


    The stored hematotic essence was almost depleted, but luckily, there was enough to start a fire.


    The gasoline ignited, and the flames roared within the iron bucket, burning the plastic-made Music Box. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because of a Vessel''s instinct, it would forcibly pull out the Evil Spirit when it was about to be destroyed, and Xu Yi had once used this method to dispel the Evil Spirit inside Lisa.


    Logically, the Evil Spirit should have been panicked by the destruction of the Vessel.


    But there was no panic. Caroline, possessed by the Evil Spirit, let out a sharp laugh with a mocking glint in her eyes, fixedly staring at Xu Yi.


    "Don''t think about getting rid of me! I will torment her to death!" Caroline''s face held a terrifying smile.


    "So it''s a fake?" Xu Yi''s eyes showed no disappointment, clearly having anticipated such an outcome.


    The Music Box was just contaminated by the Evil Spirit''s resentment and wasn''t the actual Vessel.


    Not only Xu Yi but the Warrens had also suspected this. Otherwise, they would have started the Exorcism Ritual much earlier.


    "Children, it''s up to you now. I need your help to save your mother!" Xu Yi turned to look at Caroline''s children standing nervously by the wall.


    In the end, it was the eldest daughter who summoned the courage first, picking up the sterilized needle from the coffee table and walking to the burning iron bucket.


    She pricked her fingertip with the needle, letting blood drip onto the Music Box.


    Caroline, possessed by the Evil Spirit, suddenly let out an angry roar, eyeing her eldest daughter with a ravenous gaze as if she wanted to devour her in one bite.


    The music box, as a vessel tainted with the evil spirit''s resentment, can be seen as an extension of the evil spirit''s limb; it could feel the blood dripping on it.


    For the evil spirit, if Caroline''s daughter''s soul was offered to Satan, it was a delightful feast; then the blood of the opponent was the appetizer before the meal.


    The evil spirit had long been famished, and now, faced with fresh blood, how could it not be provoked into frenzy?


    But this was just the beginning. After Caroline''s other children saw what their sister had done, they each mustered the courage to drip their blood on the music box as well.


    Caroline had five children, and as the blood of each child dripped in, the evil spirit became increasingly crazed, and Caroline, possessed, struggled violently.


    The evil spirit''s body suddenly rose high into the air, then crashed heavily back down, trying to use its own weight to crush the stool and break free from the ropes.


    But unfortunately for it, Xu Yi was prepared; before the exorcism, he had already replaced the stool with a sturdy steel-backed chair, and chosen nearly unbreakable steel wire ropes.


    Let alone a person possessed by a demon, even an elephant would struggle to break free.


    Caroline''s pupils were dense with blood vessels, and she stared at Xu Yi with eyes filled with hatred.


    Xu Yi and Rolin''s bodies suddenly tensed.


    They were both psychics, able to see the things regular people could not, and a phantom woman''s head appeared behind Caroline''s head.


    Xu Yi silently picked up the Holy Bible, the one given to him by Ed.


    The evil spirit could no longer withstand the temptation of the children''s blood¡ªthe neck suddenly stretched out, snake-like, attempting to bite the children.


    The enemy had not completely lost its sanity, only part of its soul had left Caroline''s body.


    Xu Yi suddenly let out a slow breath.


    He had feared a scenario where the evil spirit, unmoved, stayed inside Caroline''s body, which would have been very problematic.


    Even though only the head had left, an ant hole may cause the collapse of a dike¡ªa departing head was the weakness, and he now had a way to deal with the enemy.


    To be accurate, it was a method Ed had thought of in advance.


    Xu Yi slowly opened the Holy Bible, where a page had been folded in the middle; he immediately turned to that page, which had only one name on it.


    "Bathsheba!" Xu Yi roared out the name.


    The evil spirit''s head suddenly paused, and a powerful pulling force acted upon it. Realizing something, the spirit struggled desperately.


    But Xu Yi did not give it a chance to struggle, as he pulled out the Alchemical Revolver Messiah and aimed at the phantom head of the evil spirit to shoot.


    To the common eye, the gunshot was fired into thin air, but Rolin saw clearly¡ªthe bullet pierced the evil spirit''s head.


    The evil spirit let out a miserable scream, losing its only chance to resist, as its soul was dragged out.


    Caroline, seated on the stool, suddenly trembled, and then passed out.


    Xu Yi closed the Holy Bible; the name written on it was the enemy''s true name.


    Ordinarily, a true name only affects demons.


    Unfortunately for the enemy, it worshipped Satan, who is an Evil God as well as the Demon King; the evil spirit, tainted with Satan''s aura, could likewise be compelled by the invocation of its true name.


    Furthermore, the Bible given to him by Ed was no ordinary item.


    The Bible in his hands was consecrated with a special blessing, allowing the recitation of the true name within to draw out the evil spirit.


    "Why does this feel a bit like the Purple Gold Gourd from ''Journey to the West''?" Xu Yi mused to himself, perhaps he should have shouted at the demon, "Bathsheba, I call upon you, do you dare respond?"


    Xu Yi set the Holy Bible aside; the Bible was a one-time use item, now void of exorcism power, but it was no longer needed.

 Chapter 102 Curse of Evil

    Xu Yi took out a sketchbook, on which a sinister-looking witch was drawn, the target of this exorcism, the evil spirit Bashiba.He casually picked up a fruit knife and pierced the sketchbook.


    The evil spirit, pulled into midair, let out a wretched scream, its body suddenly jerked to a halt and then was brutally nailed to the floor, right in the center of the Necromancy Curse Array.


    Seizing the opportunity, Rolin, along with the children, surged forward, lifting the stool away to distance Caroline from the evil spirit.


    The portrait of the evil spirit Bashiba had been prepared by Xu Yi long ago, but it could not be used before.


    Because once Judgment was used, it would imprison the evil spirit inside Caroline''s body, achieving the opposite effect.


    Unable to move, Bashiba was an easy target, but Xu Yi didn''t continue shooting; instead, he pulled out a bundle of "red thread" from his pocket.


    The red thread was thin and emitted a faint smell of blood.


    Originally white, the threads had turned red from being soaked in fresh blood, Xu Yi''s own blood.


    These red strands were "Soul Binding Threads."


    The "Soul Binding Thread" was a passive ability granted by the Soul Jade entries; previously, when the demon used the Soul Jade ability to devour Janice, it didn''t involve any red threads at all.


    There was no other choice; if Xu Yi, like the demon, sprayed a large amount of blood, he might die of exsanguination before even capturing the soul.


    He could only use the clumsy method of staining the white threads with blood.


    "If only I had the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entries!" Xu Yi exclaimed.


    Blood-based abilities required fresh blood, as did the Soul Binding Thread; moreover, he had bled heavily the day before while contracting Annabelle dolls, leading to severe anemia recently.


    If he possessed the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entries, he wouldn''t have to be stingy with his blood. Even the side effects of blood-based abilities could be significantly mitigated.


    Unfortunately, demons with hyper-accelerated regeneration abilities were tough to deal with and hard to find.


    "I curse you..."


    Bashiba attempted to launch a curse, but Xu Yi scattered the red thread bundle he held in his hand.


    The bundle of red threads unfurled in the air, directed by an invisible force, they surged toward the evil spirit, entangling it in an instant.


    Of course, Xu Yi couldn''t levitate objects out of thin air, and the Soul Jade entries didn''t have this function either; it had to be the Annabelle dolls that were manipulating the Soul Binding Threads.


    Only through personal experience could one realize how useful Annabelle dolls were; each of their abilities was so practical.


    There was no need to mention the ability "Evil Control"; it was a panacea-like power, highly versatile in its uses.


    "Body of the Evil God" granted Annabelle dolls formidable defensive power; in times of danger, they could be used to take bullets instead.


    "Annabelle''s Toy Treasure Box" was even more of a divine skill, serving both as a storage space and a repository for supernatural entities.


    Sensing something was wrong, Bashiba struggled desperately; Xu Yi tightened his grip on the Soul Binding Threads.


    This was his first time using the soul capture ability, lacking experience, he didn''t even know what to do next.


    But as his hand held the Soul Binding Threads, his soul resonated with the blood on the threads, and he suddenly knew what to do.


    "The Soul Jade entry isn''t just about capturing and compressing souls," Xu Yi realized. "From the moment I loaded this entry, my soul has been transformed!"


    Bashiba made its soul ethereal, attempting to escape the red thread''s bondage. Physical means couldn''t contain it.


    But it was no use, the Soul Binding Threads were still firmly wrapped around it.


    The threads tightened more and more, and Bashiba felt a crushing pressure as if it were caught in a compactor, its soul being flattened.


    The Necromantic Spells on the floor suddenly refracted a faint red glow, the spells began to take effect, not only enhancing exorcism artifacts but also strengthening the Soul Binding Threads.


    Xu Yi, inexperienced in soul capture, had deliberately carved the Necromantic Spells onto the wooden floor for assistance.


    Bashiba''s screams intensified, the crushing force grew stronger, its limbs were broken, and its body twisted inwards, a powerful force trying to compress it into a ball.


    "Mighty Satan, the great Lord of Hell, you are the sovereign of darkness, your follower..."


    Bashiba''s prayer was abruptly interrupted, followed by a scream.


    With one hand holding the Soul Binding Threads and the other holding the Dagger of Rest, Xu Yi quickly approached Bashiba and thrust the dagger into its throat.


    "Remember to keep it down when you''re at someone else''s place. Don''t yell and scream like a bratty child¡ªit''s very rude," Xu Yi whispered admonishingly.


    Although he didn''t believe the other''s prayer would attract Satan''s attention, it was better to be cautious; after all, Bashiba carried the aura of the Evil God.


    If Satan''s gaze truly were drawn, even if Ed arrived, he''d have to flee in disarray.


    One knife blow followed another as Xu Yi pierced Bashiba with the Dagger of Rest, the screams continuing unabated.


    Xu Yi didn''t use the Alchemical Revolver Messiah since there were so many children around, and continuous gunfire could easily scare them.


    Moreover, the common bullets fired by the Messiah were not much stronger than the Dagger of Rest in terms of exorcism efficacy, with the advantage of the Messiah lying in the ability to attack from a distance.


    Now that Judgment and the soul-binding thread provided a dual constraint, there was no need to worry about the evil spirit suddenly lashing out, so maintaining a safe distance wasn''t necessary.


    The revolver needed reloading, and with only one hand free, he couldn''t do it.


    Moreover, considering the time needed to reload, the efficiency of the two methods was actually quite similar.


    The body of Baxiba was turning more and more ethereal, being compressed into a lump.


    Satan didn''t watch over this "pitiable believer," and naturally, Baxhiba didn''t have a chance to strike back. The soul-binding thread kept tightening until the evil spirit was compressed into a small sphere.


    [Entries Devouring activated, devouring in progress¡­]


    The anticipated Entries Devouring arrived, and the creation of the Soul Jade didn''t affect the entry devouring; it was a double satisfaction.


    [Congratulations on acquiring "Blank Entry: Curse of Evil (White Epic)"]


    [Evil Spirit Curse: 0/100


    The curse cast upon the target creates various negative states. (Including: weakness, poisoning, unstoppable bleeding, etc.)


    PS: This entry has a negative impact on humans, resulting in madness, downfall, bloodlust, and other effects.]


    [Congratulations on acquiring "Entry Fusion Pathway: Necromantic Spells + Curse of Evil = Cursed Eye"]


    This was the first time Xu Yi had seen such entries, but it made sense upon reflection.


    A witch with the power to curse, known as the Curse Witch, was a primary target of the church''s actions.


    If there was nothing problematic about the Curse Witch, the church wouldn''t be so cautious in dealing with her.


    Xu Yi didn''t know how to use the newly acquired entry and entry pathway yet, so he tossed them into the entry library.


    [Soul Jade +8, current progress: 8/100]


    "Is this the Soul Jade?" Xu Yi set aside the red thread bundle and picked up a black and red "little bead," which felt ice cold to the touch.


    This was the first Soul Jade he had made, a decidedly defective product.


    A perfect Soul Jade should be a smooth sphere, but the one in his hand had an uneven surface, full of pits and indentations.


    At that moment, Caroline, who was unconscious, suddenly moved and slowly opened her eyes, "What happened to me?"


    "Miss Caroline, how do you feel now?" Rolin asked anxiously.


    The children were overjoyed and gathered around Caroline, continuously calling out for their mother.


    While everyone''s attention was on Caroline, Xu Yi surreptitiously slipped the Soul Jade into Annabelle''s mouth.


    No one could blame him for his urgency, as the damaged Soul Jade in his hand was too unstable; in just over ten seconds, there were signs of it disintegrating.


    Once inside Annabelle, the Power of the Evil God on the Soul Jade was immediately absorbed.


    The thumb-sized Soul Jade quickly dissipated, and a purple-red light flashed across Annabelle''s pupils.


    With the help of the Symbiotic Eye, Xu Yi could see the changes inside the Treasure Box.


    "It seems to have gotten bigger?"


    After taking measurements, Xu Yi found that it was not an illusion; the space inside the Treasure Box had indeed expanded, almost half a cubic meter larger.


    That wasn''t the only change in the Treasure Box. A small area on the top, where the wooden walls were typically purple-red, now gleamed with a metallic luster.


    "The durability has increased by more than tenfold!" After testing, Xu Yi came to a conclusion.


    A smile involuntarily formed at the corners of his mouth.


    If the Treasure Box became indestructible, in future encounters with evil spirits and undead, he might be able to pull them directly into the box''s space and use the laws of space to deal with them.


    The strength of the Divine Kingdom lies in this very aspect.


    "What a pity!" Xu Yi suddenly sighed.


    Due to insufficient entry progress, the soul-binding thread couldn''t perfectly capture Baxiba, requiring the target to be severely injured.


    This resulted in a significant amount of Evil God''s energy dissipating, which was wasteful.


    However, there was no helping it; if he didn''t suppress it into a Soul Jade, Annabelle wouldn''t be able to absorb that Evil God energy.


    Xu Yi suddenly realized the Soul Jade and Annabelle''s Treasure Box seemed to complement each other.


    S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 103 Visit the 103 Supernatural Collection Room

    The staircase led downward, the overhead spotlights casting a gentle glow, with different styles of paintings hanging on both sides. Even to Xu Yi''s discerning eye, there was no fault to be found; clearly, they were all works of famous artists.This staircase didn''t seem like it was heading to a basement but rather appeared to be the entrance to some upscale ball.


    Ed and Rolin were leading the way ahead, with Xu Yi in the middle, and a little tail following behind¡ªthe persistent little Judy, who insisted on coming along.


    After dealing with the evil spirit incident in Harrisville, Xu Yi and Rolin returned together.


    Ed had also gone through his hospital discharge procedures, preparing to rest and recover at home.


    Thanks to his special physique, Ed''s external injuries had already healed; now, it was time for the recovery from the sequelae, which would take quite some time.


    Xu Yi''s expression was invigorated; today was the day he would "visit" the Warrens'' paranormal collection room.


    "I wonder to what extent the Eyes of Obscurity can grow?"


    At the end of the staircase stood a thick metal door engraved with countless curses to suppress evil spirits.


    Xu Yi hesitated for a moment before stuffing the Annabelle doll into his pocket and pulling the zipper closed.


    Ever since Annabelle had devoured the power of the Evil God, she had become a bit irritable, menacing any soul that came near her.


    The last time he encountered a wandering soul on the street, just because it glanced at Xu Yi, Annabelle flung it away.


    To avoid situations of "What are you looking at?" and "What about it?" Xu Yi had to tuck the Annabelle doll into his pocket, signaling her to tone it down a bit.


    In Xu Yi''s view, Annabelle''s little temperament wasn''t a big deal; who else had such terrifying potential? S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since devouring the power of the Evil God Bashiiba, Annabelle''s entries had once again transformed.


    [Annabelle''s Treasure Box (Blue Epic), entry evolving, evolution target: "Annabelle''s Toy House (Red Common)"]


    That''s right, the toy box that was already of blue epic quality still had the potential to evolve further into a "red entry".


    "White, green, blue; red, gold, purple"¡ªthese are the ranks for the "lower three tiers" and the "upper three tiers" of entries.


    Although it''s only a difference of one tier, the significance they represent is utterly different¡ªthe upper-tier entries are already on the level of legendary creatures.


    [Current evolution progress: 12/5000]


    Seeing the progress bar, a faint sadness washed over Xu Yi.


    That is to say, he would need to find about 500 evil spirits similar to Bashiiba, refine them into Soul Jades, and feed them to Annabelle to evolve her.


    Evil spirits are easy to find, but those like Bashiiba that carry the breath of the Evil God hardly appear one in a hundred; the difficulty is imaginable.


    "Seems like there''s a faster way?" Xu Yi thought to himself.


    That would be to directly kill and devour a great Evil God!


    But that was just wishful thinking; with his current strength, forcibly challenging a great Evil God would be courting death.


    The metal door, inscribed with curses, was pushed open, and Ed turned on the lights inside, revealing the basement scene before their eyes.


    "This is practically a museum!" Xu Yi exclaimed in amazement.


    The basement was a treasure trove, displaying all sorts of bizarre items, blood-stained bronzemens, mottled swan porcelain ornaments, verdigris-covered longswords...


    "What do you think? Not bad, right?"


    Ed was pleased with Xu Yi''s reaction, his enthusiasm high, as if a seasoned fisherman was showing off his fishing gear to an amateur.


    In Ed''s mind, Xu Yi was a fellow enthusiast with the same hobbies.


    "It''s truly impressive!" Xu Yi said with heartfelt admiration.


    The collection of paranormal artifacts was so vast, it was hard to imagine how many paranormal incidents the Warrens had dealt with.


    He looked around and surprisingly didn''t feel much malice. Logically, with so many paranormal objects gathered together, the place should have been full of resentful spirits by now.


    The only explanation Xu Yi could think of was that the basement had been arranged with an extremely powerful suppressing array.


    "What are these glass cases?" Xu Yi keenly noticed something different about the artifacts.


    Many paranormal items were scattered throughout the Collection Room, and they were treated differently¡ªsome were placed on shelves, some piled directly on the floor... but a very few were kept in transparent glass cases, carefully preserved.


    "You do have a keen eye!" Ed remarked in surprise.


    Normally, people who come here are drawn to the wide array of paranormal items, and few pay attention to the glass cases housing them.


    Actually, Xu Yi himself didn''t know what those glass cases were; it was just an intuition that made him feel they were out of the ordinary.


    "The entities sealed within these boxes are all very powerful evil spirits or demons," Ed explained.


    "How do they compare to the Evil God we encountered that night?" Xu Yi asked curiously.


    "The Evil God from that night was quite special, even among my collection it would rank towards the top," Ed recalled the events of that night with a hint of residual fear.


    Xu Yi couldn''t help but click his tongue secretly. Because of his contract with Annabelle, he was well aware of the doll''s potential, which indirectly reflected the terror of the Evil God.


    Such fearsome artifacts were actually sealed in small glass boxes, illustrating how strong the sealing ability of these boxes must be.


    "These glass boxes..."


    Xu Yi had not finished speaking when Ed interrupted him.


    "Sorry, I don''t have any ''Magic-Prohibiting Boxes'' to spare," he said.


    Though his time spent with Xu Yi was short, Ed had quite a clear understanding of Xu Yi''s certain "preferences."


    "You really know me too well," Xu Yi complained with a bit of frustration. Then changing his tone, he asked, "Where do these Magic-Prohibiting Boxes come from? You can at least tell me that, right?"


    "They''re from a certain organization whose name I can''t tell you at the moment, and as a friend, I''d advise you not to get involved with them," Ed said with a mixture of disgust and helplessness in his eyes.


    Xu Yi became curious. What kind of organization could make Ed act so secretive?


    "What is this wolf?"


    Xu Yi looked at the enormous wolf head mounted on the wall and changed the subject.


    If the other party was reluctant to share, it would be impolite to pry any further. Xu Yi''s emotional intelligence was not that low.


    "This is the skull of a fallen werewolf," Ed said as he began to talk enthusiastically about his cherished collection.


    "A werewolf? The werewolves that are natural enemies of vampires?"


    Xu Yi was startled. He had thought it was just a wild wolf''s skull and did not expect it to be a werewolf''s.


    He knew werewolves and vampires existed in this world, having learned about them through newspapers, but he had never seen a real one.


    "Yes, it''s very rare for ordinary people to encounter werewolves or vampires. They are already rare, and in modern times, they''ve managed to invent Magic Artifacts to conceal their bloodlines, blending into the crowd, making it very difficult for even the church to discover them," Ed volunteered the information.


    "How powerful are werewolves?" Xu Yi was a bit curious.


    "Very strong. They possess a very powerful recovery ability; regular bullets are practically useless against them," Ed continued.


    "If it happens in the wilderness, it''s not too bad, but if it''s in the city, then it''s a disaster; because you can''t use heavy weaponry, werewolves can rampage unchecked. There was an incident where a werewolf attacked the church..."


    "What happened?" Xu Yi listened with great interest.


    "Although the werewolf didn''t succeed, the church didn''t manage to capture it either. For the vast church, that was a very embarrassing incident. Afterwards, they spent a great deal of resources to develop something. Guess what it was?" Ed teased.


    "Demon-Breaking Silver Bullets!" A lightbulb went off in Xu Yi''s head.


    Ed sighed, "You''re going to make me feel very unaccomplished."


    The three types of bullets in the Alchemical Revolver Messiah were actually intended for different types of Dark Creatures.


    Demon-Breaking Flame Bullets were used to fight evil spirits and demons.


    Grim Reaper Piercing Bullets were used to fight supernatural species like unicorns.


    And Demon-Breaking Silver Bullets were used for creatures with strong recovery abilities, like werewolves and vampires.


    "Mr. Warren, could you help me get some Demon-Breaking Silver Bullets?" Xu Yi suddenly had a new idea.


    "Though the production of Demon-Breaking Silver Bullets is low, considering my relationship with the church, it shouldn''t be a problem to get some," Ed agreed with a nod.


    "Mr. Ed is so generous!" Xu Yi praised sincerely.


    After Ed''s words, Xu Yi''s mind opened up.


    He thought about the "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration" Entries; he currently had 2 fragments and needed 3 more.


    In fact, to get the fragments of "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration," you didn''t necessarily have to look for demons like Jason. You could start with werewolves and vampires.


    "But from what Ed says, werewolves and vampires might not be easy to find."


    Xu Yi''s request for Demon-Breaking Silver Bullets was just a precaution.

 Chapter 104 The Ferrymans Gaze

    "Xu Yi, I have something interesting to show you,"Ed took down two coins from the cabinet, which appeared to be some kind of ancient coins, beautifully engraved.


    "What are these?" Xu Yi asked curiously.


    The resentment surrounding the coins was faint, suggesting that they were not particularly powerful paranormal items.


    "Put these two coins over your eyes and give it a try," Ed handed the coins to Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi took the coins, weighed them in his hand, and then placed them over his eyes.


    This was the Warrens'' domain. If they meant to harm him, they wouldn''t need to go through such trouble. Moreover, he didn''t believe they would harm him for no reason.


    With the coins covering his eyes, his spirit communication ability was activated, and the scene before him suddenly changed.


    He saw a winding river, its waters black and its surface shrouded with a pale red mist.


    Where was this? Xu Yi was somewhat curious.


    At that moment, a small boat slowly approached him. The ferryman, cloaked in a black robe with the hood obscuring his face, made it impossible to see clearly.


    As the boat drew closer, the ferryman suddenly looked up, his face illuminated by the blood moon above.


    Xu Yi was startled; that was no human face at all. Its surface was covered with blue scales, and atop the head were demonic horns.


    The ferryman was a demon, and a powerful one at that.


    Xu Yi quickly regained his composure, after all, he had seen his fair share of evil spirits and demons.


    His Eyes of Obscurity suddenly activated, and he could see the ferryman shrouded in gray threads, dense and writhing like countless Iron Filament Worms.


    That was unclaimed Fog of Obscurity.


    What was the ferryman''s true identity? Why was he enveloped in so much unclaimed Fog of Obscurity?


    The Eyes of Obscurity automatically operated, drawing in the Fog of Obscurity. It entered his pupils, his eye sockets feeling ice-cold.


    The ferryman, who had just happened to pass by without noticing Xu Yi, suddenly turned his head as the Fog of Obscurity was drawn away. His purple-red pupils, devoid of any emotion, stared intently at Xu Yi.


    The oppressiveness of those eyes was overwhelming, compelling Xu Yi to instinctively shut his to avoid it.


    In reality, Xu Yi sat with the two coins over his closed eyes.


    But when he closed his eyes in the Psychic Illusion Realm, in reality, his eyes opened.


    "Are you okay?" Ed asked worriedly.


    Typically, a psychic placing the two coins over their eyes would only see some interesting visions; Xu Yi''s response, with rapid breathing and cold sweat, was unprecedented.


    Coming back to his senses, Xu Yi realized he had left that eerie river and returned to the Warrens'' paranormal treasury.


    "What was that?"


    Xu Yi took the coins off his eyes and asked uneasily.


    "Coins of the Ferryman, from a legend in Ancient Greece. I don''t know if you''ve heard of it?"


    Ed continued to explain, "The souls of the dead seeking entry into the underworld must pass through the Styx, and the Ferryman, Charon, is not one to be trifled with. He demands a bribe from the passing souls, or he''ll let them drift on the Styx forever."


    Xu Yi had indeed heard of it; certain places had even developed customs around it.


    In those places, when burying the dead, people would specifically choose two ancient coins to place over the eyes of the deceased.


    That way, their souls would have coins to pay the Ferryman, Charon, for safe passage over the Styx.


    "So the river I saw was the Styx?"


    Xu Yi was still somewhat incredulous; could it be that just two coins had allowed him a glimpse of a place like the Styx?


    "That wasn''t the real Styx, just one of many reflections of the Styx. But tell me, what exactly did you see that made you react so strongly?" Ed asked curiously.


    "I saw the Ferryman, Charon,"


    Xu Yi concealed the fact that he had absorbed the Fog of Obscurity from Charon, for it was simply too astonishing to reveal.


    Ed became even more puzzled, "Roland and Judy both have seen projections of the Ferryman, Charon, but they never reacted like you did."


    "Maybe I just have a smaller tolerance for these things!" Xu Yi quickly changed the subject and handed the coins back to Ed.


    Ed took the coins and paused.


    The icy chill of the coins was gone, and when he pressed them harder, they broke apart like brittle potato chips into more than ten pieces.


    "These things are really not very durable," Xu Yi muttered under his breath, feeling a bit guilty. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But deep down, he was actually rather pleased.


    [Eyes of Obscurity +18, Current Progress: 50/100]


    In just that brief moment, the Eyes of Obscurity almost gained as much experience as it did from killing the demon Jason once.


    It seems the legendary Ferryman too is a demon; those Fogs of Obscurity clearly did not belong to Ferryman Charon himself, otherwise, they wouldn''t have been swallowed by him so easily.


    Could it be because he has killed many demons, that he''s shrouded in the Fog of Obscurity?


    He couldn''t find the answer to that question for the time being.


    "However, such actions must not be repeated in the future!"


    Xu Yi knew clearly that it was because it was his first glimpse of the Styx, and Ferryman Charon hadn''t noticed him.


    If he entered the Styx again, the other party would definitely catch this little thief.


    Just the thought of Ferryman Charon possibly having killed a large number of "accomplices" made Xu Yi''s scalp tingle.


    In the society of demons, the other was definitely a brutal "murderer".


    If the Styx really does exist, does that mean the fabled land of the underworld exists as well? Xu Yi suddenly had a thought.


    "Let''s focus on the main task at hand!"


    Ed lost a psychic item and was a bit upset, but he could not blame Xu Yi, as it was he who suggested it all.


    Xu Yi''s eyes gleamed as he looked at the various psychic items.


    He wondered if there were any items similar to Ferryman''s coins here¡ªif he could find a few more, he might be able to fully level up the Eyes of Obscurity.


    In the time that followed, Xu Yi, like a diligent little bee, continued to search for "Eyes of Obscurity experience packs", advancing his Eyes of Obscurity with the Warrens'' help.


    "Alright, let''s call it quits here!"


    In the afternoon, just after Xu Yi had absorbed the Fog of Obscurity from an owl ornament, Ed suddenly interrupted him.


    "Wait a bit more! Just a little longer! I see some on that cat-faced mask!" Xu Yi was reluctant to leave this treasury of experience.


    "That''s too dangerous, we can''t open the Magic-Prohibiting Box''s seal." Ed pushed Xu Yi towards the exit.


    Xu Yi lingered for a moment, reluctantly backing off.


    There probably weren''t any fish that escaped the net! Xu Yi looked around.


    Apart from the items that were too dangerous, he had essentially absorbed the Fog of Obscurity from everything else.


    He checked the system panel, and a smile unfolded on his face involuntarily.


    [Eyes of Obscurity, Current Progress: 78/100]


    The entries information for Eyes of Obscurity had changed as well.


    [Eyes of Obscurity: (Green, Rare)


    Ability 1 - Visual Enhancement: (Unlocked)


    Vision is enhanced, allowing the seeing of finer, further things.


    Ability 2 - Night Vision: (Unlocked)


    Allows one to see in the dark.


    Ability 3 - Supra-dynamic Vision: (Unlocked)


    Allows one to clearly see objects moving at high speeds.


    Ability 4 - Fog of Obscurity (Locked)]


    Apart from the ultimate ability "Fog of Obscurity", all other abilities had already been unlocked.


    An intense sensation of coldness filled his pupils, and Xu Yi instinctively closed his eyes, slowly opening them again after a moment.


    The world before him had once again changed.


    He could clearly see the dark corners, the dust particles dancing in the air, and as they whirled past, their movements slowed, their trajectories becoming clear before his eyes.


    "Only the last 22 percent to go before reaching the ultimate ability!" Xu Yi was exhilarated.


    "Judy, are you looking for something? The items in here aren''t toys, you can''t take them out!" Ed rubbed his temples, visibly tired.


    Judy had been rummaging around as soon as she came in, slippery as an eel.


    "I got it, Dad!" Judy left, somewhat unwillingly, without finding what she was looking for.


    The Death''s Head Piercing Bullet wasn''t here, could it be in Dad''s bedroom? Judy wondered.


    Ed suddenly turned to Xu Yi, "I promised you earlier, and you''ve browsed around for a while now, so have you decided which gift you want to choose?"

 Chapter 105 Beauty is Like a Blade

    The bustling train station,"Sir, please show your ID!"


    As soon as Xu Yi stepped through the security gate, a shrill beeping sounded, and the security guards quickly surrounded him, hands resting on their holstered guns, eyeing Xu Yi warily.


    Xu Yi remained unfazed, taking out a "red booklet" from his pocket and handing it to the security guard.


    The head of security checked the red booklet and then respectfully handed it back to Xu Yi, "Exorcist sir, is there anything I can do for you?"


    "Thank you very much, but I''d just like to get on the train as soon as possible!" said Xu Yi, waving his hand.


    The "red booklet" was naturally the Exorcist License issued to him by the church. Before he left, Ed had given him this license.


    He could have easily avoided the search by simply throwing the Alchemy Revolver into the Toy Box.


    But after thinking it over for a moment, he decided to "provoke" and test the power of the Exorcist License; the result was even better than he had imagined.


    Carrying the Alchemy Revolver with him was a must, as items placed into the Toy Box needed a "release" process to be used again.


    If there were an emergency, every second would be incredibly crucial, with no time to waste.


    The train began to rumble into motion, and Xu Yi gazed out the window, his eyes vacant.


    He seemed to be daydreaming, but in reality, he was using his Symbiotic Eye to check on the situation inside Annabelle''s Toy Box.


    In addition to the corpse and the Exorcism Artifacts he brought, there was something new in the Toy Box.


    It was a set of Japanese Samurai Armor.


    The armor was blood red all over with two sharp, long horns protruding from the helmet. Blue patterns were engraved at the joints, giving off an ominous aura.


    This was the Ghost Samurai''s Armor, a "gift" Xu Yi had picked out from the Warrens'' Collection Room.


    No! To be precise, it was Annabelle who had chosen the armor.


    Contained within the armor were hordes of vengeful spirits; one could imagine the general who once wore this armor, slaughtering his enemies one by one with his blade.


    The souls of the dead, unable to dissipate due to their intense resentment, finally inhabited the Ghost Samurai Armor.


    In Xu Yi''s view, there were better choices among the Warrens'' collection than this armor.


    After all, the spirits residing in it were merely common Vengeful Spirits, similar to the cat spirit he encountered on the train last time.


    However, for some reason, Annabelle seemed to have a particular fondness for this armor, desiring it intensely.


    He hesitated for a moment, then decided to trust Annabelle, mainly because he didn''t know what else to choose.


    "Annabelle''s intelligence still isn''t high enough. If only it could tell me directly the reason for its choice!" Xu Yi sighed.


    The Ghost Samurai Armor was something the Warrens stumbled upon during a trip to Japan. Even Ed wasn''t very clear about the origins of the armor.


    Xu Yi also took the opportunity to inquire about the situation in Japan.


    "Japan? Such a tiny place, yet it gives birth to so many strange evil spirits, it''s really something!"


    Those were Ed''s exact words.


    "Maybe I''ll have the chance to visit Japan someday!" Xu Yi thought.


    With evil spirits rampant, it was a very unfriendly place for the average person, but for Xu Yi, it might be a perfect ground for leveling up.


    After thinking for a moment, he pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind.


    Using his backpack as cover, he took out the gemstone and sculpting tools from the Toy Box and began to grind the Sculptor''s Entries.


    Synthesizing the Entry "Necromantic Puppet Master," he already had both the Puppetry Technique and the Necromantic Spells; only the last Sculptor Entry was missing.


    [Sculptor, Current Progress 48/100]


    "Almost there! Just a bit more!" Xu Yi was fervent inside.


    With his talent for sculpting, it wouldn''t take long to fill the entry and synthesize a new High-Level Entry.


    "Necromantic Puppet Master? I wonder if it could take Annabelle''s abilities to a new level?" Xu Yi was somewhat expectant.


    As night fell, the train finally arrived in New York.


    "A beauty traveling alone?" As soon as Xu Yi stepped onto the platform, he immediately noticed a captivating silhouette and hastened his steps to approach.


    The bald guy beside him glanced at Xu Yi disdainfully, his face full of scorn.


    Don''t think just because you look presentable you can succeed in hitting on her!


    Ever since this girl appeared on the platform, who knows how many people''s attention she had attracted, including suave business elites and lively, athletic hunks.


    But without exception, they all met their Waterloo in front of this girl and fled in disarray.


    There was even a punk who coveted the girl''s beauty and tried to use force, reaching out to pull her directly.


    The bald man had thought to play the hero, but what happened next almost made his eyes pop out of his head.


    The girl''s gaze suddenly became sharp, and she grabbed the punk''s wrist, twisting it hard. Because he was so close, he even heard the sound of bones breaking.


    But it didn''t end there; facing the punk''s screams for mercy, the girl remained impassive, delivering a whip kick to the side of the punk''s head.


    The punk fainted on the spot and took a while to come to.


    After the girl dealt with the punk without even gasping for breath, clearly holding back her strength, he even wondered if she had used her full power, the punk probably would have been taken directly to the crematorium.


    After that terrifying scene, no one dared to approach her anymore. Unexpectedly, now came someone unafraid of death.


    The kid even extended his hand, wanting to embrace her.


    The bald man chuckled coldly, seeming to already foresee the other''s dismal fate.


    But what happened next made him question life and wear a look as if he had seen a ghost on his face.


    The girl was held in the kid''s arms, looking bashfully shy, without any resistance, even tilting her head to facilitate his embrace.


    "Could it be that being handsome really lets you do whatever you want?" the bald man thought bitterly as he looked at Xu Yi''s face.


    "Let''s go! Beauty, I''ll take you for some late-night food!" Under the dumbstruck gazes of onlookers, Xu Yi led the girl away gracefully.


    Xu Yi smiled as he looked over Maria by his side.


    She was wearing a white chiffon dress today, standing tall and graceful, feeling like a beautiful scene no matter where she appeared.


    Before coming back, Xu Yi had spoken with the Exorcism Studio over the phone.


    The Holy Flame Exorcism Studio had just opened and was busy with activities. Allen couldn''t leave, and Lisa had also taken on an exorcism commission and was tied up.


    So Maria had to come to pick him up.


    The two walked along the riverbank, the refreshing breeze on their faces making them feel relaxed and happy.


    They had just come out of a restaurant, and the time spent at the Japanese Izakaya, where they grilled and ate food on the spot, had taken quite a while.


    Xu Yi suddenly stopped and looked at the time, exclaiming in surprise, "It''s almost 1 AM, how did it get so late? We surely can''t make it back now, can we?"


    Maria initially didn''t understand what Xu Yi meant until she followed his gaze and her face turned bright red all of a sudden.


    Not far from them was a resplendent hotel, still lit up.


    "How about we just stay at a nearby hotel and make do for the night?" Xu Yi suggested. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before Maria could react, she was already being pulled by Xu Yi toward the hotel front desk.


    Hotels often fluctuate between "still having plenty of rooms available" and "having only one room left," like a state of quantum superposition. However, following the receptionist''s reception of the tip Xu Yi quietly handed over, quantum collapse occurred, and the result fell in favor of the latter.


    "Do you want to take a shower?" Xu Yi asked, walking into the room, considerately inquiring.


    Maria''s face turned so red it seemed it could emit steam, her head hung low, not daring to look Xu Yi in the eye, her hands grasping tightly at the hem of her dress.


    "Okay, okay..." She hadn''t finished speaking before Xu Yi pounced, tackling her onto the bed.


    "You don''t know how to respect and honor your teacher; I haven''t even settled last time''s score with you yet," he said.


    Xu Yi''s breath, hot against Maria''s earlobe, made her body tremble, like an electric current had passed through her.


    For the first time, he knew just how lethal a pair of round, taut calves and slender, smooth legs could be.


    Maria curled up in Xu Yi''s arms, her face the picture of satisfaction.


    She suddenly looked up, her eyes apprehensive as she gazed at Xu Yi, "You won''t abandon me later, will you?"


    A particular string in Xu Yi''s mind was plucked, as if he could smell the scent of kindling.


    But Maria''s next sentence immediately relieved him, a look of joyful surprise exploding in his eyes.


    "I don''t mind your sister Lisa, but you can''t just leave me behind!"


    An absolutely perfect science fiction scenario unfolded as Xu Yi lowered his head, giving Maria a deep kiss.


    "As long as you don''t betray me, I will never abandon you!" Xu Yi promised her.

 Chapter 106 Impending Mountain Rain

    Xu Yi pushed open the hotel''s grand doors, feeling refreshed.There was no way he wouldn''t feel refreshed, with the rosy-cheeked Maria following behind him.


    In the early hours before dawn, they had engaged in deep philosophical discussion once more.


    "Such activities are incredibly beneficial for the mind and body, so we must continue to do them frequently!"


    As a qualified mentor, Xu Yi truly had his disciple''s education at heart, constantly concerned for her studies.


    Maria''s cheeks, which had just cooled down, flushed once again, but she still nodded her head.


    She had to admit, this kind of special training was very effective, greatly improving her waist strength, and made her look forward to the next session.


    The sunlight was warm, and the two walked side by side on the street, ready to hail a taxi to Holy Flame Exorcism Studio.


    "When did Lando Street get so deserted?" Xu Yi looked around in surprise.


    In his memory, this street was quite bustling, usually full of people coming and going.


    Strolling along Lando Street, Xu Yi''s brows furrowed slightly.


    Through observation, he noticed that there were indeed fewer pedestrians, but the number of patrolling police officers had increased.


    As for the police in America, Xu Yi''s usual comment was, "It''s past 3 p.m., time for a tea break!"


    The police in front of him clearly weren''t in the mood for a "tea break," looking weary, suggesting that this intense patrolling had been going on for some time.


    If the police collectively became diligent, it certainly wasn''t because they had a sudden change of conscience; it could only mean that there was significant pressure from above.


    Xu Yi also saw quite a few priests. They were in a hurry and looked deeply concerned.


    "It seems the government has realized something and is not making it public yet; they probably want to resolve the issue before reporting it, otherwise it would easily cause panic," Xu Yi guessed the thoughts of the higher-ups.


    Up ahead was the bus stop sign, where Xu Yi and Maria came to a halt, planning to wait for their ride there.


    Without access to ride-hailing apps, the only way to get a taxi was to rely on luck or wait at a prominent spot like a bus stop.


    In front of the bus stop, there were quite a few people standing, and Xu Yi noticed they were all hardworking office workers waiting for the bus.


    Standing next to a middle-aged uncle who seemed weary, Xu Yi suddenly wanted to get an understanding of the recent situation in New York from these ordinary people,


    "Uncle, are you on your way to work?" Xu Yi initiated a conversation.


    The man gave Xu Yi a lackluster look and spoke in a hoarse voice, "I''m only 25 this year."


    Xu Yi''s eyes widened, taking in the man''s bald crown and weathered face, and then he noticed his plaid shirt, instantly feeling respect, "Brother, you''re a programmer, aren''t you?"


    "That''s right!" The man straightened up with difficulty, pride on his face, attracting enviable gazes from the crowd.


    Todays programmers are society''s elite, not just future code laborers.


    Xu Yi glanced at the man''s heavy dark circles and sighed silently, surprised that the job of a programmer was already so competitive decades ago.


    "Bro, take my advice and take care of your health!" Xu Yi suggested, knowing all too well that working folks had it tough.


    The programmer pat his chest, "My health is top-notch, nothing will ever go wrong!"


    The sun had just been obscured by dense clouds, but now, as the clouds dispersed, sunlight poured down, shining on the crowd waiting for the bus.


    The programmer was the first to be bathed in the golden light, radiating with an unmistakable brightness.


    Suddenly, the man shuddered and began to collapse to the ground, soon passing out.


    "What kind of supreme jinx is this?" Xu Yi was taken aback, just moments ago everything seemed fine, but now the man had suddenly fainted.


    "Make way, folks! I''m a doctor!"


    Although the programmer was in poor health, he was lucky to have a doctor among the crowd waiting for the bus.


    Xu Yi watched as the doctor examined the programmer. He suddenly furrowed his brow and stepped back, detecting a foul odor, like the stench emanating from a sewer.


    Was there a sewer grate nearby?


    He looked around for a moment and noticed something surprising¡ªthe stench wasn''t coming from any nearby sewer but seemed to emanate from the programmer.


    Why hadn''t he smelled it earlier when he was standing next to him, but now, suddenly, he could?


    "High fever, combined with physical exhaustion, leading to unconsciousness. Better take him to the hospital," the doctor said succinctly.


    Well-versed in psychology, Xu Yi was good at understanding people''s micro-expressions. It was clear the doctor had noticed something but chose not to say anything.


    "Another one! A lot of people have been like this recently, with high fevers and then suddenly passing out."


    "Could it be a contagion, like the flu? I wonder if there are any preventive measures?"


    Speculation started among the crowd, whispering among themselves.


    Xu Yi''s brows knitted together¡ªthis likely wasn''t as simple as the flu virus.


    He realized that the fetid smell wasn''t real, but his Spirit Communication Ability was kicking in.


    ......


    Holy Flame Exorcism Studio.


    ```


    Xu Yi had just stepped over the door adorned with celebratory fireworks when he encountered a worried-looking Lisa.


    "Little sister Lisa, are you on your way to bury blossoms?" Xu Yi teased.


    "Bury blossoms? Why would I go bury blossoms?" Lisa, upon seeing Xu Yi, had yet to express her excitement when she paused in confusion.


    Xu Yi smiled briefly, offering no answer.


    At this time, probably very few people in America had read Dream of the Red Chamber.


    Lisa quickly brushed aside the matter and her face lit up with joy as she threw herself at Xu Yi, "You''re finally back!"


    Xu Yi embraced Lisa, feeling her astonishing flexibility.


    "How come you feel lighter? Haven''t you been eating well lately?" Xu Yi weighed Lisa in his arms before setting her down.


    At the mention of this, Lisa sighed in frustration.


    "I''ve recently taken on a commission and haven''t been able to perform a successful exorcism." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What kind of commission? Do you need my help?" Xu Yi asked with a light laugh.


    "Of course I do! The client is from our Chinatown and his name is Chen Lin." Lisa turned and looked out, "Look, he''s just arrived."


    Outside the door, a haggard-looking man walked slowly toward them.


    Xu Yi felt the name was somewhat familiar. After a moment of recollection, he finally remembered that the man appeared to be the leader of some gang in Chinatown.


    It was said that he was domineering and difficult to deal with.


    "Master! You''re finally back, I''ve been waiting for you for a long time!" Chen Lin''s eyes brightened the moment he saw Xu Yi.


    He hurried over to Xu Yi, stood still in front of him with respectful manner, and even bowed slightly to show respect.


    Heaven knows what he had been through these days, being on tenterhooks all the time ¨C his much-talked-about arrogance had long since been worn away.


    "Hello!" Xu Yi nodded faintly, thinking to himself that perhaps rumors were not to be believed; after all, here was a man showing proper manners.


    Chen Lin observed Xu Yi as well, looking at his somewhat cool demeanor, he let out a silent sigh.


    The exorcist was indeed as the rumors said, not easy to approach.


    "Well then, follow me and let me have a look at it!" Xu Yi took the lead and headed towards the staircase leading up to the second floor.


    At that moment, Ailent happened to be coming down from upstairs, leading several people behind him, all wearing exhausted expressions.


    "Boss, you''re finally back!" His eyes lit up seeing Xu Yi, as if he had seen a savior.


    "We can talk about everything later tonight!" Xu Yi patted Ailent''s shoulder.


    Now was indeed not a good time for a conversation. Ailent, realizing this, nodded and went on to busy himself with other things.


    In the reception on the second floor, a circular clock hung on the wall, its golden hands constantly turning.


    The room was extremely quiet ¨C even the sound of pen scraping against paper seemed unusually clear.


    Chen Lin sat anxiously, now glancing at Xu Yi, now looking towards Lisa in the corner. He was extremely worried, yet dared not to disturb Xu Yi by speaking out.


    About ten minutes earlier, Xu Yi had taken a lighter and seared his little finger.


    This scene would usually be found during a gang''s brutal interrogation, but he felt an unbelievable relief, making him doubt himself ¨C was he a masochist?


    After the flame treatment, his whole body felt indescribably relaxed.


    But soon his body became heavy again as if it was filled with a weighty, viscous fluid.


    Seeing this, Xu Yi''s brows furrowed and he went over to the workbench without a word and began to draw.


    As time passed, Xu Yi suddenly stopped drawing.


    In front of him was a new drawing.


    The paper was covered in vast smears of black, as if the entire sheet had been dunked into an ink pool, soaked through by the ink.


    Amidst the chaotic lines, he could faintly make out a partially-opened door, behind which something seemed to be peering out.


    That thing had the body of a human but the head of a rat.


    "Could this be the legendary Ratman from the sewers?" Xu Yi frowned as he examined the drawing.


    He had thought this would be a simple exorcism, as the cold sensation on Chen Lin''s body wasn''t strong.


    It began quite smoothly, with the Ethereal Flame dispersing the evil energy within his body.


    But to his surprise, barely ten seconds had passed before the evil energy came rolling back, invading Chen Lin''s body once again.


    Xu Yi knew well that such a feat was beyond the abilities of a common Evil Spirit.


    Moreover, he caught a familiar scent ¨C the stench reminiscent of a sewer.


    "Boss, you have a phone call, it''s from your father!" Ailent entered after knocking, interrupting Xu Yi''s contemplation.


    Why would Dad be calling at this time? He was a bit curious.


    ```

 Chapter 107 Resurrected from Death?

    Half an hour ago, Xu Changrong was "testing the stove" in the kitchen.The restaurant had been nearly finished with renovations, and since it was located in Chinatown, it eventually adopted a traditional Chinese design, antiquated and charming, very pleasing to the eye.


    Especially the clean, bright and spacious kitchen, which made Xu Changrong quite satisfied.


    The so-called stove testing meant frying up some dishes before the kitchen was officially used, to see if everything worked smoothly and if anything was missing.


    Xu Changrong made sweet and sour Black Carp, one of his signature dishes.


    He was completely immersed in cooking when suddenly a dark shadow darted into the kitchen.


    Xu Changrong caught a glimpse with the corner of his eye, then looked away.


    He was simmering the final sauce, which could easily burn, so he had to pay close attention to the heat without getting distracted.


    But from that brief glimpse, he had still recognized the identity of the shadow.


    "Black Carp, long time no see! Where have you been lately? You''ve come just at the right time, I''ve made your favorite sweet and sour Black Carp."


    Xu Changrong certainly knew Black Carp. When they were younger, Xu Yi and Lisa often snuck food out of the kitchen to feed Black Carp.


    Sometimes when Xu Yi and Lisa went to class and Black Carp got hungry with no one to feed him, he would help out.


    Over time, he became familiar with Black Carp, who often swaggered into the kitchen, snatched fish right in front of him, incredibly brazen.


    Remembering these moments brought a smile to Xu Changrong''s face.


    But he quickly stiffened up, as Black Carp did not respond to him.


    In the past, he would at least hear Black Carp meowing a couple of times, and sometimes Black Carp would even impatiently jump onto the stove, but not this time ¨C there were no more movements behind him.


    Realizing something was wrong, he dropped the spatula and swiftly turned around.


    It wasn''t that Black Carp didn''t want to respond, but that he couldn''t. Black Carp lay by the door, covered in blood, gasping for breath.


    What had happened?


    In the moment Xu Changrong was stunned, a rat as big as a calf suddenly rushed in from outside the door.


    Xu Changrong had never seen such a large rat before, and it startled him.


    But what surprised him even more was the frenetic and violent look in the rat''s eyes, akin to those seen in rabid dogs.


    Could there be such a thing as rabid rat disease?


    Xu Changrong had no time to think further, as the rat charged at the Black Carp. The wounds on Black Carp''s body were likely caused by this rat.


    "Get away," Xu Changrong shouted, trying to scare off the rat.


    Usually, rats are very timid creatures that flee at the slightest noise, but the rat in front of him was indifferent to Xu Changrong''s presence, even throwing him a cold glance.


    This rat was not afraid of humans at all. Xu Changrong''s pupils shrank.


    It was now too late for him to stop the rat, but he didn''t panic and calmly grabbed the slender boning knife from the chopping board, his gaze as sharp as ever.


    Xu Changrong flung the boning knife with a swift motion, giving the heavy knife an unexpected agility, much like a Flying Dagger.


    The boning knife struck the running rat with precision, pinning it to the floor.


    If Xu Yi had seen this scene, he would have been too astonished for words.


    Wasn''t his dad just an ordinary owner of a small restaurant in Chinatown? How could he possess such a piercing gaze? Such masterful throwing skills?


    "Luckily my skills haven''t deteriorated!" Xu Changrong exhaled a sigh of relief and approached the rat.


    The rat did not die immediately, struggling desperately until its body finally disengaged from the boning knife, at the cost of being sliced in half, spilling blood and guts all over the floor.


    Despite having turned into this state, the rat still seemed intent on attacking Black Carp, driven by some unfathomable fixation.


    "Damn rat, ruining my newly renovated kitchen!" Xu Changrong cursed as he walked over, stepping on the rat''s head and crushing it, finally stopping it.


    Xu Changrong crouched down and picked up Black Carp, his expression turning grave.


    Black Carp was utterly motionless, its body growing cold.


    He hesitated for a moment, then stood up to call the Holy Flame Exorcism Studio.


    He had been in touch with Xu Yi yesterday, so he knew that Xu Yi would be back today. By counting the time, Xu Yi should be at the studio by now.


    ...


    Love Heart Pet Hospital.


    "Sir, are you joking with me? Why would you bring a dead cat here?"


    The veterinarian took Black Carp, unconsciously frowning as the cat''s body was already cold.


    Xu Yi and Lisa''s hearts went cold after hearing the veterinarian''s words.


    They had received a call from Xu Changrong and immediately rushed to Chinatown to take Black Carp from him, then headed straight to the nearest pet hospital.


    "Please try your best to save it, if you can bring it back to life, I will give you 100,000 yuan!" Xu Yi could only deploy his "cash" ability.


    The veterinarian''s eyes lit up instantly. It wasn''t just about saving a recently deceased cat¡ªif it were even cat bones dug up from the ground, they would still give it a try.


    That was 100,000 yuan! He would run naked in the streets if asked!


    He didn''t doubt Xu Yi''s words, as the man''s attire and aura exuded a sense of wealth, not to mention there was a Mercedes parked outside, which Xu Yi had just driven over.


    The veterinarian checked the black cat, growing more puzzled as the examination went on.


    At first, he thought it was some precious breed of cat, only to find out it was just a common Norwegian Forest Cat, which wasn''t particularly valuable.


    As the examination continued, he discovered numerous parasites on the cat¡ªit was clearly a stray.


    Why did these people care so much about the life and death of a stray cat?


    He could only conclude that the world of the wealthy was beyond his comprehension.


    Xu Yi''s expression was grave. If it were just a common cat, he would have been saddened, but not so serious; however, Black Carp was the "King among Cats," tied to the progress of Lisa''s entries.


    Teardrops glimmered in Lisa''s eyes. Her feelings were more pure, simply mourning the death of Black Carp.


    Because of the entries, she could communicate with animals, which made it easier for her to empathize with them.


    Furthermore, in her view, Black Carp was a friend she and Xu Yi had raised together.


    An hour of examination passed and the veterinarian finally sighed, "It seems like I won''t have the chance to earn your 100,000 yuan!" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This statement was undoubtedly the death knell for Black Carp.


    "Thank you very much; I will pay the examination fee as agreed."


    Xu Yi, expressionless, picked up Black Carp and prepared to try another pet hospital.


    Seeing Xu Yi''s persistence, the veterinarian shook his head.


    Xu Yi also knew the hope was slim; Black Carp in his hands was as cold as a piece of ice, but he still decided to do his best to try.


    Several hours later, Xu Yi and Lisa arrived at the small woods behind Chinatown.


    They dug a deep pit under the lush tree, and Lisa cautiously placed Black Carp into the pit.


    Xu Yi sighed. That morning, he had teased Lisa about burying flowers, but now it was about burying a cat.


    In the end, no miracle appeared. They switched between several pet hospitals, all to the same result.


    Some even thought Xu Yi was deliberately causing trouble; had it not been for his intimidating presence, they probably would have cursed him out.


    "Don''t be too sad," Xu Yi could only offer dry comfort to Lisa.


    Lisa nodded, pushed the soil back into the pit, and prepared to bury Black Carp.


    The spot they chose was where Black Carp often lingered, and both Lisa and Xu Yi liked to feed Black Carp under this tree.


    Xu Yi sighed and started to help push the soil, but his hands suddenly trembled, and he stopped Lisa.


    "Wait! Did Black Carp''s leg just move?"


    Lisa looked at Xu Yi blankly. Sure, she was heartbroken over Black Carp''s death, but not to the point of hallucinating, right?


    Xu Yi didn''t respond, just stared intently at Black Carp in the pit.


    Following Xu Yi''s gaze, Lisa was stunned.


    It wasn''t an illusion¡ªBlack Carp''s leg was really moving!

 Chapter 108 The Holy Relic Calls for Help

    Xu Yi and Lisa both stared intently at the black carp.At first, the black carp only twitched its hind legs occasionally, but as time elapsed, the hind legs, forelegs, head... and eventually its entire body began to jerk.


    Xu Yi pushed his spiritual power to the "max" value and carefully sensed the condition of the black carp.


    In this extraordinary world, reincarnation via a corpse was not impossible.


    But he felt nothing, no wandering soul, let alone a ferocious spirit or evil spirit preparing to occupy the black carp''s body.


    The black carp''s twitching suddenly stopped, and Xu Yi and Lisa instinctively held their breath.


    The next second, the black carp suddenly opened its eyes.


    "Black carp, do you remember me?" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lisa stared nervously at the black carp and reached out to stroke it.


    But she feared that the black carp had been possessed by some filthy thing, so her hand paused in front of the black carp, hesitating to touch it.


    Instead, the black carp took the initiative to nuzzle closer to Lisa and bumped her palm with its head three times.


    "It really is the black carp!" Lisa exclaimed with inexplicable joy.


    This was a game she often played with the black carp, something like their secret code. If the black carp had been possessed, it would definitely not know this.


    The black carp had indeed come back to life!


    Xu Yi was astonished, still not understanding what had happened.


    Ever since the black carp awakened, its gaze was fixed on Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi was somewhat puzzled; the black carp usually clung to Lisa, so why had it changed its behavior today?


    After lying in the pit for a while and regaining some strength, the black carp struggled to its feet and walked directly toward Xu Yi.


    "Do you have something you want to tell me?" Xu Yi asked softly.


    He knew the black carp was very smart. Previously, in Aileen''s house, it was the black carp that led him to the evil spirit''s vessel.


    The black carp bumped Xu Yi''s palm with its head.


    Xu Yi hesitated for a moment then realized the other''s intent was asking him to open his palm, which he did.


    The black carp opened its mouth and spat something out, which fell into Xu Yi''s palm; the black carp let out a contented cat-like meow.


    Only then did Xu Yi realize that since the black carp had woken up, it had not made any noise or opened its mouth.


    Xu Yi looked down at the thing in his palm.


    It was actually a leaf, which at first glance looked a bit like a mint leaf, but a closer examination revealed the differences between the two.


    The edges of the leaf were covered in a faint layer of gold, as if outlined with golden thread.


    The leaf veins were different too, not the shape of common leaves, with lines that twisted and overlapped, forming a unique symbol.


    Xu Yi suddenly felt a sense of familiarity, and after pondering for a moment, he finally realized where that feeling was coming from.


    "This looks like some kind of spell?"


    Having frequently inscribed Necromantic Spells and encountering similar objects, of course, he felt familiar.


    But the spell before him was definitely not the same kind as the Necromantic Spells.


    Half of the leaf had already decayed and turned black, while the other half was a vibrant green.


    Could it be that the black carp was able to resurrect because of this leaf?


    The leaf in his palm was clearly not a common leaf, and Xu Yi used his spirit communication ability to perceive it.


    His body jolted suddenly, and his gaze grew vacant.


    Lisa didn''t disturb Xu Yi; instead, she stood by silently and guardedly, knowing that he had entered a deep trance of spirit communication.


    The scene before Xu Yi''s eyes changed, becoming misty, as if looking out through a fogged window.


    Despite the power of the Eyes of Obscurity, he could still make out the thing inside the mist.


    It was an upside-down tree, hanging from above.


    A type of vine, its branches and stems twisted into a knot, resembling a huge pale green pupil.


    ```


    The vines were lush with branches and leaves, the same kind emitted by the Black Carp.


    Underneath the vine tree, a group of people lay sprawled, appearing to be only asleep as Xu Yi could see their steady breathing.


    What tree is this? And where is this place?


    Xu Yi looked around in all directions, hoping to discern more and ascertain his location.


    Unfortunately, the area around the tree was pitch black as if painted with thick ink, no light could penetrate the darkness, and he could see nothing.


    Xu Yi stared into the darkness, suddenly feeling a chilling horror.


    Something in the darkness was watching him, not just one gaze but thousands, all scrutinizing him.


    He quickly shifted his gaze back to the vine tree.


    The branches of the vine tree suddenly moved, not due to the wind, but they writhed in all directions like snakes.


    Xu Yi heard a calling, a very faint one, as if a gentle breeze had brushed past his ear.


    He listened attentively and finally made out what the calling was saying,


    "Save me! Save me!"


    Xu Yi was stunned. Was a tree asking for his help?


    ......


    Night draped over the earth, and Xu Yi sat before his workbench, staring at the unidentified leaf on the table, his mind itching like a cat''s scratch.


    This leaf had been discovered over half a day ago.


    The decayed half had turned to black liquid, while the remaining half was still lively, showing no signs of wilting.


    After the miraculous resurrection of the Black Carp, Xu Yi and another took the cat for a checkup.


    Of course, they chose a different veterinarian from before, otherwise, the vets would probably leap from their stools in shock upon seeing the resurrected cat.


    The results showed that everything was normal, even the wounds bitten by rats on the carp''s body had healed.


    They gave the Black Carp a full-body clean, getting rid of parasites, and bought a complete set of cat care tools while at it.


    From today on, the Black Carp transformed, from a stray to a house cat.


    Xu Yi couldn''t say he wasn''t curious about the leaf that resurrected the Black Carp.


    Could the thing that brought the carp back to life work on humans as well?


    Although he knew the hope was slim, he couldn''t help but envisage it.


    That afternoon, he visited a renowned botanist.


    Unfortunately, the botanist couldn''t identify the plant either, and could only guess it might be a mutated variety of a mint leaf.


    Xu Yi of course knew it couldn''t be that simple, but if even a plant expert couldn''t recognize it, it was even harder for him to determine the leaf''s identity.


    "No, that''s not right!" Xu Yi felt he was stuck in a false line of thinking.


    Such a miraculously effective thing shouldn''t be taken to a botanist, but to an expert in mysticism.


    Did he know any experts in mysticism?


    The image of someone involuntarily surfaced in Xu Yi''s mind.


    "Ed, I''m sorry to disturb you so late," Xu Yi made a phone call.


    After becoming acquainted, Ed found the title "Mr. Warren" too formal and cold, so Xu Yi naturally started calling him by his first name.


    To recover from the aftereffects of the Sacred Body, Ed spent the time resting at home, also accompanying Judy.


    If it had been before, he might not have been home.


    "Don''t worry about that. What''s up, you called for a reason?" Ed''s tone shifted suddenly, "By the way, the corrupted silver bullets you asked me to obtain from the church have arrived, I''ll have someone deliver them to you tomorrow."


    Seeing that Ed was so casual, Xu Yi didn''t bother with formalities either.


    "I do have something on my mind, and I wanted to consult you about it."


    Xu Yi explained the mystery of the leaf.


    After a moment of reflection on the other end of the phone, Ed spoke slowly, "This thing you''re talking about, feels like a Holy Relic I''m aware of."


    ```

 Chapter 109

    Holy Relic? Xu Yi was stunned when he heard Ed''s words.He had heard of Exorcism Holy Artifacts, such as the Spear of Longinus, which was famous in the church, but what was a Holy Relic? Could they be the same thing?


    "Don''t misunderstand, Holy Relics are different from Exorcism Holy Artifacts. In fact, the term ''Holy Relic'' isn''t accurate. It has many other names, like Holy Divine Relics, and Gifts Blessed by the Divine Spirits."


    Ed seemed to be able to read Xu Yi''s mind, guessing what he was thinking without Xu Yi saying anything.


    "Do you still remember what I told you before about the spread of demonic thoughts?" Ed suddenly changed the topic.


    "You mean to say, demonic thoughts and Holy Relics are greatly related?" Xu Yi instantly grasped Ed''s point.


    "Talking with a smart person really saves effort. Yes, usually as demonic thoughts spread, Holy Relics also descend, signifying a peculiar symbiotic relationship between the two," Ed snapped his fingers.


    Xu Yi suddenly recalled the Yin and Yang theory from Huaxia, stating that the harmonious existence of both is the Tao. Could it be that demonic thoughts and Holy Relics also embody the principle of two sides of the same coin?


    "Holy Relics are extremely rare and precious, with different Relics possessing various miraculous effects," Ed continued to explain.


    "Then do you know what kind of Holy Relic this leaf belongs to?" Xu Yi eagerly pressed for an answer.


    "It''s been so long that I''ve almost forgotten. Let me check the records. Just give me a moment." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The call was not disconnected, and hurried footsteps could be heard from Ed''s side, followed by the sound of flipping pages before his voice came through again.


    "I found it! A plant that can resurrect cats from death, with leaves resembling mint leaves and growing vines, should be the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, Bastet," Ed''s voice expressed admiration.


    "Where did you learn this information about Holy Relics, Ed?"


    Xu Yi was filled with curiosity about these so-called Holy Relics.


    "This is one of the foundations of the Holy Court''s heritage. The accumulation of knowledge over the long years. What do you think, interested in joining the church?"


    Ed knew Xu Yi wasn''t interested, so his question was merely in jest. He then continued, "Now, the Church is aware of about 108 kinds of Holy Relics. The Cat Spirit Holy Tree Bastet happens to be one of them."


    "Has anyone from the Church seen Bastet?"


    Ed flipped through the book, "According to the Church''s records, Bastet appeared once 50 years ago. But the bad news is, it coincided with a plague that swept through the whole of Europe."


    A sense of unease suddenly echoed in Xu Yi''s heart, giving rise to an ominous premonition.


    He suppressed the tumultuous thoughts in his mind and asked the question that interested him most, "Can Bastet''s leaves only resurrect cats?"


    A sigh could be heard through the phone as Ed shook his head, "I know what you''re thinking, but unfortunately, Bastet''s leaves only work on cats. They have no effect of resurrection on other animals or humans."


    Though he had anticipated this, Xu Yi couldn''t help feeling somewhat disappointed.


    "If Bastet truly worked on humans, the Church would have gone mad searching for it. Bastet would have become a part of the Collection Room long ago," Ed joked.


    A thought struck Xu Yi; the speaker might be unintentional, but the listener took note. Ed''s remark revealed a lot of information.


    First, there existed a place in the Church known as the "Holy Site," filled with various treasures. It was very likely that many Holy Relics were stored there.


    Could it be that Ed''s Psychic Collection Room was modeled after the Church? Xu Yi couldn''t help but sarcastically think so.


    "Oh, according to the records in the book, if a cat is resurrected through Bastet, it will soon enter hibernation, for about 6 days," Ed suddenly added.


    Xu Yi felt a bit regretful. He had wanted Black Carp to lead him in search of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, but now it seemed they had to wait.


    "Does Bastet have any other miraculous effects?" Xu Yi continued to inquire.


    "Bastet can emit a kind of Hypnotic Pollen that puts its target to sleep. Bastet can also draw in a person''s soul, protecting it within the tree," Ed responded.


    "It seems it truly is the Cat Spirit Holy Tree!" Xu Yi was almost certain of it.


    In his Psychic vision, the group of people under the vines of Bastet were likely affected by the Hypnotic Pollen.


    "Of course, what Bastet is most famous for is its suppressive ability. Whether it be Evil Spirits or Demons, any Dark Creature, Bastet can subdue," Ed added.


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up as he suddenly made a connection to Annabelle''s toy Treasure Box.


    To make the Toy Treasure Box a paranormal containment, it was not necessary to make the box immensely sturdy.


    He could switch to a different line of thought.


    If there was something within the toy treasure box that could suppress the dark creatures, combined with the treasure box''s inherent "Heart of Toy" rule,


    The dual suppression might make it difficult for the weaker dark creatures to resist.


    In this way, might it be possible to prevent the toy treasure box''s space from being destroyed?


    The more Xu Yi thought about it, the brighter his eyes became.


    If he could obtain the Cat Spirit Holy Tree Bastet, then he would be one step closer to the Divine Kingdom he envisioned.


    Seeing Xu Yi fall silent for a long time, Ed suddenly lowered his voice, "About you asking me about the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, I won''t tell anyone."


    Xu Yi felt a warmth in his heart. In fact, when he approached Ed to inquire, he was prepared for the church to find out.


    After all, considering how closely Ed was linked to the Holy Court, and given the importance of holy relics, it would be understandable if he informed the church.


    Xu Yi was silent for a moment before saying from the bottom of his heart, "Thank you!"


    "No need to be so formal, we are friends."


    Ed shook his head, "Besides, holy relics are not that easy to get hold of. Otherwise, the Holy Court would have taken Bastet back to the Holy Site more than 50 years ago."


    "Also, New York has been quite restless lately. Be careful. If things get too difficult, you can bring your family and friends to stay with me for a while. After you left, Judy kept mentioning you," Ed rambled on.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi felt that having Ed as a friend was really great.


    ...


    After finishing the call with Ed, Xu Yi suddenly didn''t feel like sleeping anymore.


    "Why sleep so much in life, for death brings eternal slumber!" he mumbled as he patted his face with cold water.


    He found a large stack of drawing paper and prepared coffee in advance, deciding to battle it out tonight.


    The Fire Gui portrait battle begins!


    Ever since the sales of two Fire Gui portraits, the whole thing got a bit uncontrollable, and the queue for purchasing more Fire Gui portraits had already extended to number three hundred and beyond.


    For so many people, even if he drew day and night, it would take over two months.


    Xu Yi was the boss of the studio, not a 996 worker; understandably, he was not willing to do that.


    Moreover, he still needed to farm entries experience. It wasn''t worth wasting so much time just for the money.


    Thankfully, Ailent had long thought of a solution.


    "Scarcity is what makes things precious. The same principle applies to Fire Gui portraits; three or four a month is sufficient," he said.


    If they followed this business strategy, they should really be raising the price of the Fire Gui portraits, but Ailent had an even better suggestion.


    "The price of Fire Gui portraits should be kept unchanged, or they could even be given away for free! Money is not always that important. We can use the Fire Gui portraits as a gift, a means to establish connections with high society," he advised.


    Xu Yi nodded in agreement.


    Social connections could be sometimes useless but critical at other times.


    Like the last time he needed someone to get an antique appraisal certificate for Alchemical Revolver Messiah so he could bring it on the plane and return to New York smoothly.


    In the future when the lab starts up, some high-end equipment that couldn''t be bought with money would be needed, and that''s when social networks would come into play.


    He already had many subjects worth researching on hand, such as the mysterious bloodstains possibly from the Holy Court, Mary Shaw''s human skin scroll, Alchemical Revolver Messiah, and the Demon-Breaking Flame Bullet.


    "I need to build my own business empire, if for nothing else, then at least to have a continuous source of funding for research!" Xu Yi planned for the future.


    The Fire Gui portrait battle continued into the late night, and a tired Xu Yi dragged himself to bed.


    But soon, in a drowsy haze, he heard the shrill sound of an alarm.

 Chapter 110 A Good Opportunity to Lie Flat

    Xu Yi woke up and instinctively turned his head. The Annabelle doll was quietly sitting on the bedside cabinet, and he slowly exhaled."Good morning," Xu Yi greeted.


    Annabelle''s eyes moved slightly, which counted as a response.


    Having the Annabelle doll had another benefit: it served as a "bodyguard" during rest, allowing him to sleep peacefully.


    After all, as a different soul, Annabelle did not need to sleep.


    Xu Yi stood at the window, looking out as police cars sped past on the highway, their sirens blaring piercingly.


    What had happened?


    As he wondered, the door was knocked. Xu Yi opened it to find Ailent standing outside, his eyes bloodshot.


    "Boss, if I gave you a chance to obtain 3% of Ernst Pharmaceuticals'' shares, what would you do?" Ailent asked softly.


    "Are you sure you''re talking about the Ernst Pharmaceuticals in New York, not some obscure local business with the same name?" Xu Yi suspected Ailent was still half-asleep.


    As the cornerstone of the New York-based wealthy Ernst family, even a fraction of a percent would yield a dividend of over a hundred thousand dollars every month, let alone 3%.


    An ordinary person owning shares in Ernst Pharmaceuticals could basically declare that they''d made it.


    "Then do you know who the current head of the Ernst family is?" Ailent asked.


    "Cain!" Xu Yi was aware of this.


    "And do you know that Cain has two sons and a daughter? That his oldest son is named William? Do you know... that William has gone missing?" Ailent rattled off his questions.


    "You mean to say..." Xu Yi suddenly sat up straight, beginning to guess something.


    "The massive police deployment outside is for Cain!" Ailent continued to explain.


    "Cain has been kidnapped?" Xu Yi speculated.


    Indeed, the influence of the Ernst family could mobilize so many police officers.


    "I''m not clear on that," Ailent shook his head. He then changed his tone, "But I do know one thing, if we can find William, we could get 3% of the shares of Ernst Pharmaceuticals."


    "Has the Ernst family offered a reward?"


    Xu Yi felt tempted, but quickly thought of a new question, "Is William so important that a missing person''s report would be worth 3% of the shares?"


    After all, the Ernst family was not a one-person operation, even if William was the son of the head.


    "If it were an ordinary second-generation, it wouldn''t be worth it, but William is different; he is a true business prodigy!"


    Ailent spoke with admiration, "William, at 27, became a doctor at Harvard Business School. After completing his doctorate, he took over the family business and in just one year, he increased the stock price of Ernst Pharmaceuticals by 5%."


    Xu Yi was equally amazed. Five percent might not seem like much, but for a behemoth like the Ernst family, it equated to well over a billion dollars.


    "So, boss! Here''s our chance! This is about 3% of the shares of Ernst Pharmaceuticals!" Ailent was excited.


    Xu Yi rolled his eyes, "What makes you think we can find William?"


    ......


    The lobby of the Holy Flame Exorcism Studio on the first floor.


    A French toast sandwich was placed on the glass coffee table, which Maria had made for breakfast.


    Xu Yi was eating the sandwich, Maria gazed at him while Ailent sulkily hid in a corner, fed up with the lovey-dovey scene early in the morning.


    Xu Yi swallowed the last bite of the sandwich and took a sip of the floral tea.


    At that moment, an unexpected figure appeared in his line of sight, heading straight toward him.


    "Mr. Hardy, what brings you to our humble abode out of the blue?" Xu Yi teased.


    Usually, Hardy would have a retort, but not this time. Hardy''s lips twitched as if he tried to give a smile but failed to do so.


    "What''s happened?" Xu Yi frowned, seeing Hardy so unusually downcast for the first time.


    "Xu Yi, I''ve come to ask for your help!" Hardy''s voice was hoarse; his lips were very dry, evidently, he hadn''t drunk water for a long while.


    "Sit down, have some tea, and tell me all about it," Xu Yi pulled Hardy down onto the sofa.


    Hardy didn''t drink the tea, but started narrating instead.


    After Hardy finished speaking, everyone fell silent. Xu Yi and Maria exchanged glances, both somewhat surprised.


    "So you''re saying William is your brother, and you''re the second young master of the Ernst family."


    Hardy had hidden it too well; even his close friend didn''t know his true identity.


    He knew Hardy''s family was wealthy; he just hadn''t realized they were wealthy to this extent.


    "Why did your brother William disappear? Was it because of kidnappers?" Xu Yi asked out loud.


    "If only it were kidnappers!" Hardy sighed deeply.


    Xu Yi thought it made sense; the Ernst family was willing to offer a reward of 3% of their pillar industry''s shares, what kidnapper with a big appetite couldn''t be satisfied?


    "At first, we also thought it was kidnappers. We hired many people to investigate privately, but after three days, we still hadn''t received a notification from any kidnappers."


    Hardy spoke urgently, "At that point, we realized something was wrong and we urgently issued a city-wide reward, asking the police to conduct a large-scale search."


    Hardy looked up at Xu Yi, "This is why I need your help ¡ª To find my brother William!"


    Xu Yi frowned, saying nothing.


    Given the power of the Ernst family, they had surely mobilized many people to look for him. With so many people unable to find him, what made him think he could?


    He was just an exorcist. When it came to finding people, whether police or private detectives, they would be more suited than him. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he knew Hardy wasn''t foolish. If Hardy had come to him, there must be a reason.


    "Do you have any leads?" Xu Yi was prepared to learn more about the situation.


    "Through police and private detective investigations, we''ve found all clues pointing to one place ¡ª the sewers," Hardy replied.


    "Haven''t you searched there?" Xu Yi''s frown deepened.


    New York''s sewers were labyrinthine, but with the Ernst family''s capability, a thorough search shouldn''t be difficult, right?


    "We organized two major searches, and you could say we left no stone unturned. We indeed found quite a few skeletons, but none of them were my brother," Hardy said gravely.


    "So... you suspect William''s disappearance is related to the sewer Ratmen?" Xu Yi finally grasped the gist of Hardy''s implication.


    "Exactly!" Hardy''s response was firm, "Not just me, the family also realized this and has been seeking a large number of exorcists to join the investigation."


    Sewers? Missing people?


    Xu Yi lowered his head in thought, a sudden insight flashing in his mind. He remembered a scene he had seen in the Psychic Illusion Realm.


    Under the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, he had seen a group of sleeping humans.


    If the Cat Spirit Holy Tree really existed, then those people must be real too. Could William be among them?


    "Why, have you found something?" Hardy noticed Xu Yi''s unusual behavior.


    "Not sure yet, do you have a photo of your brother?" Xu Yi asked.


    Since Hardy had come to look for William, he naturally carried photos with him.


    William in the photo seemed very young, not yet 30, full of youthful vigor.


    Xu Yi stared at the photo, recalling carefully. After a moment, he shook his head.


    Hardy''s spirits dropped, and the flicker of hope that had just risen in his heart was extinguished.


    Xu Yi remained silent as he watched Hardy, his head shake wasn''t to indicate he had not discovered anything.


    On the contrary, among those sleeping people, there was one in a corner who resembled William to a great extent.


    But he had decided not to tell Hardy.


    The cruelest thing in the world is to be given hope, only to end up with despair.


    If William could be saved, that was the best outcome. If not, at least Hardy wouldn''t be too saddened when the time came.


    "Don''t worry, I will find a way to find your brother!" Xu Yi patted Hardy on the shoulder.

 Chapter 111 War God Repository

    Holy Flame Exorcism Studio.Ailent looked at the returning Xu Yi, surprised, "You''re back so quickly, weren''t you going to investigate William''s case?"


    "I''ve already investigated!" Xu Yi headed straight for the stairs.


    Ailent glanced at his watch, full of confusion.


    He hadn''t been gone for even an hour, and accounting for the drive to the destination, there probably wasn''t even enough time to eat an ice pop, right?


    Ailent wasn''t wrong in his guess. Following the information provided by Hardy, Xu Yi went to the sewer where William disappeared.


    But when he arrived, he was immediately dumbfounded. The sewer was packed with police, detectives, and a considerable number of exorcists.


    Those who knew about it said it was an investigation into William''s disappearance; those who didn''t were likely to think there was a party taking place in the sewer.


    Xu Yi was well aware that if these professionals couldn''t find anything, there was even less point in his trying.


    So he returned.


    Instead of trying his luck, it was better to save time and go back to the studio to brush up on entries.


    "If I want to find the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, if I want to find William, I still need the Black Carp!" Xu Yi thought to himself.


    He arrived at the room on the third floor, opened the door, glanced at the cat nest by the window, where Black Carp lay inside, peacefully deep in sleep.


    Just like Ed had said, cats resurrected because of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree would soon fall into slumber again.


    "Now all I can do is wait!" Xu Yi sighed deeply.


    He picked up the carving tools from the desk and continued to practice.


    He was not far from maxing out the Sculptor entries, which meant the day to combine and become a Curse Puppeteer was approaching.


    The carving practice lasted all afternoon until Ailent interrupted.


    "Boss, there''s an invitation here." Ailent knocked on the door and came in.


    "What invitation is so important?" Xu Yi asked, puzzled.


    Due to the turbulent situation in New York, the studio had suspended its exorcism business. In such special times, no one dared to take risks lightly, so it couldn''t be an exorcism invitation.


    Xu Yi would refuse any social invitations from the upper echelons of society without a second thought.


    Ailent was well aware of this and would definitely not bother him with a common invitation.


    "It''s from New York City Hall, a very formal government document invitation," Ailent handed the gold-embossed invitation to Xu Yi.


    A government department''s invitation? Xu Yi was taken aback. What did a government department want with him?


    ......


    New York City Hall.


    The curtains were drawn tightly shut, not letting any morning light penetrate; the vast conference table was filled with people, including Xu Yi.


    Last night, after pondering for a moment, he eventually couldn''t suppress his curiosity and accepted the invitation to attend the meeting.


    After he entered the conference hall, his curiosity only grew.


    This conference hall was usually where New York''s officials held their meetings, showing the government''s regard for this particular meeting.


    Those seated were exorcists, and almost every exorcist with a bit of fame in New York had been invited.


    Summoning so many exorcists must mean that something significant had happened; they couldn''t possibly be invited just to have coffee, right?


    Though the coffee here was indeed delicious! Xu Yi picked up the coffee in front of him and took a sip.


    "Here''s a document, take a look at it everyone!"


    The man presiding over the meeting was middle-aged, looking very competent, and had an intimidating air about him, likely a high-ranking official.


    Unfortunately, no matter how high-ranking the official, they could only demand limited respect from these exorcists; at best, they would pretend to glance through the papers. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi was somewhat listless, sprawling lazily in his chair. He''d stayed up late again last night, carving until almost three in the morning before sleeping.


    But as soon as he saw the contents of the document, he instantly livened up, straightening his back.


    Other exorcists reacted much like him, with some even standing up abruptly from their stools.


    Their hands held a document titled: "War God Repository Material Booklet."


    The items listed within made Xu Yi''s eyes bulge, and he almost drooled.


    "Divine Grace Cross Sword, Oquin Chains, Holy Shroud..."


    All these were exorcism artifacts with well-known reputations, and he even found more than a dozen at the same level as the Alchemical Revolver Messiah.


    Xu Yi flipped to the end of the document and found a familiar figure.


    The Magic-Prohibiting Box, something Ed treasured greatly, was a first-level collection within the War God Repository.


    "What does it mean for us to see these documents?" one of the exorcists asked.


    All eyes were fixed on the high-ranking official presiding over the meeting, and though everyone had some guesses in their hearts, they still wanted a precise answer.


    "We''ll discuss this matter later," the official surprisingly teased.


    He looked around at the crowd and declared loudly, "Our city is in great danger right now!"


    If it had been any other time, everyone would have scoffed.


    But after reviewing the War God Repository''s material booklet, they all became alert and listened intently, afraid of missing any detail that could jeopardize their chance of obtaining the exorcism artifacts from the War God Repository.


    "Let''s watch a video first," the official said as he pressed the play button.


    The large screen at the front of the meeting room lit up. Xu Yi had already noticed that "big guy"; even though the pixel quality was poor and didn''t compare to future LCD screens, it was still considered high-tech for that era.


    The screen flickered, erratic noises came through, and someone holding a camera was recording with a slightly shaky hand, which seemed to be in a hospital.


    The camera was aimed directly at a hospital bed, where an unconscious person lay with a peculiar blackish-red color on their face.


    "Fiery Soul Disease, have you ever heard of it?" the official suddenly asked.


    Everyone nodded; of course, they had heard of it. Recently, many people had contracted this disease, sparking constant discussion. They would have found it hard not to know.


    The disease was named Fiery Soul Disease because, during an outbreak, the patient''s entire body would overheat, they would become unresponsive as if they had lost their soul.


    But what did the video have to do with Fiery Soul Disease?


    The official provided the answer to their quandary, "The one in the video is one of the first patients to be diagnosed with Fiery Soul Disease."


    All gazes converged on the video, where the patient started to change.


    The patient began shaking violently as if having an epileptic seizure, and then they witnessed a truly horrifying scene.


    The patient''s body swelled rapidly, like a balloon filled with air, and exploded with a bang, black blood splattering in all directions.


    Everyone fell silent, their expressions grave.


    Anyone could understand the implications of the video; Fiery Soul Disease could lead to death, and now, with so many people infected, if the news got out... they didn''t even dare imagine the consequences.


    "The worst part is, this disease is contagious!" the official dropped another bombshell.


    The people in attendance finally couldn''t help but buzz anxiously, whispering to one another.


    The official didn''t interrupt the murmuring and continued, "This is not your ordinary contagious disease; even on the patients, no virus can be detected."


    He clapped his hands, and someone wearing gloves came in, holding a transparent glass bottle.


    The gazes of all the exorcists present were attracted to the glass bottle.


    Inside the bottle was a thick black liquid, with some sort of sealing spells etched on the cap.


    The person set the glass bottle on the conference table and quickly backed away as soon as it was opened, as if there was a venomous snake inside about to leap out and bite.


    The expressions of the exorcists present changed; there was no venomous snake inside the bottle, but there was something more terrifying.


    "A curse! This black water contains a strong curse!" exclaimed one of the exorcists.


    The official waved his hand, and the gloved person hastened to reseal the bottle.


    "You should be able to guess the origin of this black water, yes, it''s extracted from those who have died from Fiery Soul Disease," said the official.


    He looked around at everyone, his voice grave. "This is the reason I''ve summoned you all here, to find the source of this curse and eliminate it!"

 Chapter 112 Sudden Outbreak of Passionate Soul Disease

    The conference room fell into a prolonged silence, and no one spoke.They were all exorcists and fully aware of the immense difficulty of this exorcism; it was no small feat for something to silently afflict thousands of people¡ªit wasn''t the work of a lesser demon.


    The high-ranking official didn''t urge them, providing ample time for everyone to think.


    "Would anyone who has come into contact with the patients be cursed?" someone suddenly asked.


    This question immediately captured everyone''s attention; as exorcists, such a level of curse wouldn''t affect them.


    But beyond being exorcists, they had other roles too, possibly as fathers or as sons.


    Xu Yi was equally concerned about this question, a little worried for his dad.


    "That''s not necessarily the case. As long as there is no direct contact with the patient, one usually won''t be cursed. Even with contact, as long as one has a good constitution, there''s a very high chance nothing will happen."


    The official knew everyone''s concerns and added, "If one is wearing an Exorcism Artifact at all times, then the risk of being cursed could be minimized."


    Upon hearing this, Xu Yi felt much relieved.


    In terms of physique among common folks, his dad was at the top level, someone you''d believe if they were said to be the reincarnation of Lv Bu.


    Moreover, once Xu Yi finished the Fire Gui portrait, he gave two copies to his dad to carry with him at all times, which should be enough to withstand the curse.


    "What about those who have already been cursed? Is there a way to dispel it?" an exorcist asked anxiously.


    Xu Yi shook his head inwardly, knowing that the speaker must have family members struck by the hot soul sickness.


    He was well aware that the answer would be disappointing.


    As expected, the official shook his head, "Unfortunately, ordinary Exorcism Artifacts are not very effective for those already cursed."


    Xu Yi had previously encountered the cursed aura in the vial; it was the same aura he felt when exorcising Chen Lin.


    He had driven the curse from Chen Lin''s body using the Ethereal Flame, but unfortunately, the curse returned very quickly.


    He suddenly became curious; Chen Lin was clearly a hot soul sickness patient as well, but why didn''t he show the corresponding symptoms? Could hot soul sickness have an incubation period, or was Chen Lin''s constitution special?


    "You all have a basic understanding now," the official surveyed the room, no longer keeping them in suspense, "Anyone who can find the origin of the curse will receive a substantial reward."


    No one responded as that was not what they were expecting.


    "If someone can resolve the source of the curse entirely, they will be allowed to choose two items from the War God Repository, with no restrictions on the grade," the official continued.


    The exorcists'' expressions instantly became excited, and Xu Yi was also very tempted.


    Setting everything else aside, the Magic-Prohibiting Box was extremely enticing; according to Ed''s words, even an Evil God entering the Magic-Prohibiting Box would have to stay put inside.


    If he could get the Magic-Prohibiting Box, coupled with Annabelle''s Treasure Box for toys, what kind of effect could be achieved? Xu Yi was quite looking forward to it.


    ...


    Holy Flame Exorcism Studio.


    "Dad, I''m so glad you''re okay!" Upon returning to the studio and seeing Xu Changrong, Xu Yi gave him a big hug.


    "What could possibly happen to me?" Xu Changrong replied, completely bewildered.


    After leaving City Hall, he had called Ailent, ensuring that Ailent brought Xu Changrong to the studio.


    "Dad, you should stay here during this time!" Xu Yi didn''t answer the other''s question but suggested insistently.


    As it turned out, his worries were utterly unnecessary; Xu Changrong''s physique would have been ranked highly even among ancient warriors.


    With such a robust constitution affected by the hot soul sickness, it''s unlikely there''d be many survivors in the whole of New York City.


    "There''s still so much work at the restaurant¡­" Xu Changrong started to protest but then suddenly stopped, as he saw the seriousness in Xu Yi''s eyes.


    After hesitating for a moment, he nodded, "All right, I''ll stay here for the time being. I haven''t really lived much in the house my son bought, have I?"


    "Remember to wear the Fire Gui portraits I gave you!" Xu Yi reminded.


    "I got it, you sound like my dad, nagging so much!" Xu Changrong grumbled discontentedly.


    Though he complained, his lips curled into a slight smile.


    Xu Changrong watched Xu Yi''s receding figure with a hint of hesitation.


    Should he reveal his true identity to him? Otherwise, he would always think of him as a frail old man.


    Xu Yi headed to the front desk, where he found Ailent busy at work.


    "Go to the supermarket and buy a batch of food, as well as the necessary daily necessities, and prepare some clean water, enough for us to live on for at least two weeks!"


    Ailent looked a bit puzzled, but he always had complete faith in Xu Yi''s words.


    "I''ll go right now!" Ailent nodded.


    "Are you going shopping? I''ll help too!" Xu Changrong, the soul of a chef, was activated and he instantly appeared at the front desk.


    Xu Yi glanced at his dad, knowing it was probably unrealistic to expect him to stay put, so he nodded in agreement.


    Ailent and Xu Changrong went together to purchase supplies, while Xu Yi made his way toward the stairs.


    [Sculptor, Current Progress: 78/100]


    With his efforts over the past days, the Sculptor entry had risen significantly.


    "I have to hurry up and integrate the Curse Puppeteer to strengthen my abilities because something feels increasingly off," Xu Yi thought, his sense of urgency growing stronger by the minute. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ......


    "How could it be that I wake up feeling like it''s the apocalypse!"


    The morning mist hadn''t yet cleared when Xu Yi opened the window of his room, gazing out and murmuring softly.


    A massive number of troops were entering the city, tanks rolling over the highways, leaving deep tracks.


    The roads were chaotic, pedestrians scattering in every direction, and vehicles that had collided and caught fire were burning, leading to intense explosions moments later.


    When Xu Yi woke up to this scene, he thought he was hallucinating.


    It was only after he asked Ailent that he learned the reason.


    The Heat Soul Disease had suddenly erupted!


    The outbreak was very unexpected, happening overnight, with the number of patients increasing a hundredfold. Now, all the major hospitals were overflowing, and there was a severe shortage of medical staff.


    What''s worse, many doctors, from being in constant contact with the patients, had also fallen ill.


    Now everyone was in a state of panic.


    "It seems even New York City Hall hadn''t anticipated such an abrupt outbreak," Xu Yi sighed.


    The good news was that the government had been prepared for this kind of situation, but because it came much earlier than expected, it seemed a bit hasty.


    "Be careful out there!"


    Xu Yi was about to leave the Exorcism Studio when he heard someone call out to him from behind.


    "Aunt Cassie!" Xu Yi turned his head and greeted her.


    After he had brought his dad to the studio, Lisa followed suit. After discussing it with him, she had brought her own family over as well.


    Cassie''s family was not small, and now the Exorcism Studio was particularly lively.


    Xu Yi had also wanted Maria to call her family over, but unfortunately, Maria''s family refused. Xu Yi found a way to give Maria''s mother a Fire Gui portrait.


    As for why he didn''t give one to Maria''s father... Xu Yi just glanced at him from a distance and noticed something off about him.


    Unfortunately, the current situation didn''t allow him to resolve it.


    "Aunt Cassie, I have to go now!"


    Xu Yi felt a bit like he had a bur under his saddle, mainly because Aunt Cassie''s gaze on him was like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, growing more satisfied the longer she looked.


    "I know you have important things to take care of. Don''t mind me, hurry along!"


    Xu Yi nodded, started the car, and drove off toward Chinatown.


    For the treasures in the War God Repository, he could only leave his beloved "Carving Room" and go out to investigate, as he already had some ideas.

 Chapter 113 Curse Origin

    "Thank goodness I had the foresight!" Xu Yi zoomed along on his stylish motorcycle, the pure black helmet reflecting the faint daylight.Without a doubt, the roads were jammed.


    Cars were completely gridlocked, only bicycles and motorcycles could make slow progress.


    Xu Yi knew the layout of this area like the back of his hand, constantly taking detours on side streets; sometimes when the road ahead was cut off, he''d rev the throttle and surge forward, leaping over lawns and stairs.


    This kind of motorcycle stunt skill was something he''d learned before his rebirth, for which he even apprenticed under a professional stunt rider whose specialty was being cool, never expecting that it would come in handy here.


    Piercing horn sounds kept coming, with the drivers of the blocked cars becoming increasingly frantic.


    New York was a city filled with magic, where countless people hoped to realize their dreams, but at that moment, all they wanted was to escape.


    The sudden outbreak of the Fevered Soul disease had everyone afraid of becoming the next victim, and at some point, rumors started spreading that Fevered Soul was incurable.


    Panic spread uncontrollably, and the city began to enter a state of collapse.


    Xu Yi drove single-mindedly, fully aware that these people''s thoughts of fleeing New York were doomed to be in vain.


    At that moment, flights had already been grounded, train stations were closed, and soldiers were setting up roadblocks on the highways, making it extremely difficult for ordinary people to escape from New York.


    Xu Yi looked at the chaotic streets and sighed.


    The government''s measures were meant to prevent the spread of the curse and to try to contain it within New York.


    If the curse continued to spread outside, the outcome was unimaginable.


    But such repression could only be maintained for a while; if the city remained locked down for a long time, it would be like a gas canister being continuously inflated ¨C just a spark would be needed for it to "explode" with a bang!


    When he passed by a supermarket, Xu Yi saw the last scene he wanted to witness.


    The supermarket''s doors were tightly shut, and a large group of people, wielding various tools, were fiercely smashing the supermarket''s shutter doors, creating a thunderous noise.


    Some genuinely needed the supermarket''s supplies, but how many were muddying the waters, seizing the opportunity to loot?


    Fortunately, he had anticipated this, and after coming back from City Hall, he had instructed Ailent to stock up on supplies in advance. Now their studio was packed with food, enough to last them a week or two.


    If the curse couldn''t be resolved by then, he would probably have to consider making a run for it, too.


    "Master Xu, you''ve arrived!"


    Xu Yi reached a secluded mansion in Chinatown, where someone was already waiting for him.


    Chen Lin pushed open the mansion''s gate, allowing Xu Yi to drive his motorcycle inside.


    He dared not park the motorcycle outside; in such terrible conditions, it would be hard to ensure that no one had their eyes on the flashy bike.


    After removing his helmet, Xu Yi took a moment to specifically observe Chen Lin, somewhat surprised.


    The other man had lost weight and his dark circles had intensified, making him resemble an emaciated panda.


    Before Xu Yi had left New York, Chen Lin had already contracted Fevered Soul disease, but even up to now, there were no signs of the illness manifesting in him ¨C no persistent high fever, no unconsciousness, and he could still move around like a normal person. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could it be that the other man possessed some special constitution? Xu Yi speculated.


    "You didn''t lie to me, did you?" Xu Yi stared into Chen Lin''s eyes.


    Yesterday on the phone, Chen Lin claimed he recalled something potentially related to the curse afflicting him.


    According to the timeline, Chen Lin could have been one of the first people to be affected, possibly coming into contact with the source of the curse inadvertently, which was why Xu Yi came over first thing in the morning.


    "How dare I deceive Master Xu?" Chen Lin closed the door and led Xu Yi inside. "Come take a look, Master Xu, and you''ll understand."


    The two arrived at a corner of the mansion, and Chen Lin pushed open the door to a room.


    Xu Yi caught a clear view of the scene inside and was slightly startled.


    There were three people lying inside, all from Xia Kingdom, their faces covered in dense veins, showing a sinister blackish-red color.


    He had seen this condition before, in videos broadcasted by City Hall, those who were first afflicted with Fevered Soul exhibited these symptoms.


    "What''s the deal with these three people? Why weren''t they taken to the hospital?" Xu Yi asked curiously.


    "Master Xu, as you know, some people have a special status, no identification, can''t get into a regular hospital, so they choose some small clinics," Chen Lin replied softly.


    Xu Yi glanced at Chen Lin, suspecting that the "small clinics" mentioned were probably those unlicensed ones where doctors don''t even have medical practicing certificates.


    "So, what exactly is the identity of these three people?" Xu Yi asked impatiently.


    Unable to keep evading, Chen Lin quickly explained, "They''re all tomb robbers, couldn''t mix in with the crowd back home, thought to try their luck in America."


    Xu Yi gave Chen Lin a look, signaling him to continue.


    "These past few days, I''ve been thinking that the curse might have something to do with this group of people." Chen Lin''s face was filled with misery, "Not long after meeting them, I started feeling unwell."


    "What were you meeting them for?"


    Chen Lin hesitated.


    Xu Yi didn''t say anything, only pointed at the three people on the hospital beds. Chen Lin, seeing their wretched state, felt a pang of empathy and dared not hide anything further.


    "The three of them had just robbed a tomb and found quite a bit of burial items. They wanted my help to see if there were any valuables or antiques," Chen Lin answered in a low voice.


    Xu Yi knew Chen Lin hadn''t told the whole truth; Chen Lin might also be a middleman dealing with antiques.


    But he wasn''t particularly concerned, frowning slightly, "What kind of antiques?"


    "Various sculptures, ancient coins, crowns, scepters, and the like."


    Xu Yi''s interest was instantly piqued. There might be an unexpected find this time. He quickly followed up, "Is there any item among the collection that made you feel special?"


    Chen Lin frowned in recollection, "They all seemed quite special."


    Xu Yi rolled his eyes; that statement was as good as saying nothing.


    Looking at Chen Lin with his brows twisted, knowing he wouldn''t get any more useful information, his gaze landed on the hospital beds.


    Since they were tomb robbers, there was no need for him to be polite.


    The Exorcism Lighter''s flame rose, burning the little finger of one of the tomb robbers as Xu Yi watched the black aura rising from the man''s body, his brow furrowed.


    After being burned continuously for over ten minutes, the tomb robber came to with a groan.


    Xu Yi knew he had to work fast, as the effects of the Ethereal Flame wouldn''t last long.


    "Master Xu! What are you doing?" Chen Lin got startled at Xu Yi''s actions.


    Xu Yi didn''t bother with a response, pressing the Alchemy Revolver under the tomb robber''s chin, "I ask, you answer! Otherwise, get ready to die!"


    The tomb robber had just woken up, dazed, but the cold touch of the gun barrel brought him to his senses instantly.


    "Who are you? What do you want to know?" The tomb robber was calmer than expected.


    "What tomb did you rob before? Did you find anything special inside?" Xu Yi asked urgently.


    "Who knows what tomb it was; we saw a mausoleum, we went down," the tomb robber began with dismissive indifference, but as memory returned, he seemed to recall something, his expression turning into one of pure terror, "It''s the statue! A Ratman statue!"


    Suddenly, the tomb robber''s demeanor shifted to manically crazy, "Rat Deity, don''t come after me! I said not to take it; it''s all the boss''s fault! I know I was wrong, don''t bury me in the pit of corpses! Hehe, Rat Deity, are you coming for me?"


    Xu Yi sensed something was off, grabbed the frantic tomb robber, and pressed the Alchemy Revolver against his temple, "Tell me! Where is that Ratman statue?"


    He had a strong premonition that the Ratman statue was likely the source of the curse.


    "Gone!" The tomb robber regained a trace of lucidity.


    "Why is it gone?" Xu Yi demanded sharply.


    "I don''t know; it just disappeared, woke up and suddenly couldn''t find it anymore!"


    The tomb robber began to claw at his own scalp frantically, scratching out streaks of blood as if trying to tear the skin off entirely.

 Chapter 114 The Mystery of Fire Gui

    Xu Yi still wanted to continue questioning the tomb robber, but at that moment, he suddenly trembled, feeling a chill down his spine.He felt a watchful gaze, stern and filled with a warning.


    "Hehe! The Black Rat Immortal has come for me!" the tomb robber suddenly let out a strange laugh.


    Xu Yi sensed that something was wrong and kicked Chen Lin out of the door behind him while darting behind the door wall to take cover.


    The tomb robber''s body suddenly swelled, not into one, but three figures, and the tomb robber in the room exploded with a bang, scattering foul-smelling black liquid everywhere.


    "Don''t touch anything inside, and don''t let anyone into this yard!" Xu Yi said, frowning as he instructed while looking at the pervasive curse inside the house.


    Chen Lin, as if waking from a dream, numbly nodded.


    Xu Yi sighed, and although that watching presence had vanished, the trail of clues had pretty much run cold here.


    Not right! There was still one clue left! He turned his head to look at Chen Lin beside him.


    "Xu... Master Xu? Is there... is there something you need?" Chen Lin''s scalp tingled under Xu Yi''s gaze.


    "These burial goods, besides you, who else has come into contact with them? And how many people know about you touching them?" Xu Yi fired off a series of questions.


    "Just me, no one else could find them," Chen Lin carefully replied, "Only five or six people know about this, that shouldn''t be a problem, right?"


    "Good luck to you!" Xu Yi patted Chen Lin''s shoulder.


    Don''t underestimate the government''s ability; it''s not just about five or six people knowing, even if no one knew, the fact that Chen Lin had touched the Black Rat sculpture could likely be discovered.


    If the Black Rat sculpture was truly the Cursed Origin Item, then Chen Lin might be the only person who had been in contact with the Origin Item.


    Although Xu Yi had never seen it, he knew that some exorcists could use the origin aura to find the actual body of the Cursed Item.


    "What should I do now, pack my things?" Chen Lin asked, his face mournful as he opened the unlocked door and stepped out.


    But then he suddenly stepped back inside, his footsteps slow yet resolute. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What? Suddenly had a change of heart and given up on running away?" Xu Yi teased, but his brows furrowed slightly.


    Two tall men in black walked in from outside, presenting a badge to Chen Lin, "Hello, Mr. Chen Lin, you are suspected of being involved in an antique smuggling case, please come with us."


    They came so quickly! Xu Yi was somewhat surprised; it wasn''t just two men outside, but also armed police officers. One could imagine that the house was already surrounded.


    Was such a big deployment necessary just to capture a smuggler?


    Clearly not, which could only mean that Chen Lin''s contact with the Cursed Origin Item had been discovered.


    "Master Xu, save me!" Chen Lin turned and lunged towards Xu Yi.


    The two men in black didn''t stop him and even nodded at Xu Yi as a greeting, clearly aware of his identity.


    Xu Yi felt a bit annoyed; it was as if he had been the one to lead the Imperial Army to this place.


    "Don''t worry, you won''t die," Xu Yi reassured Chen Lin.


    Hearing those words, Chen Lin breathed a sigh of relief, considerably more at ease.


    "At worst, you''ll just be locked up for seventy or eighty years!" Xu Yi blandly added.


    Chen Lin almost couldn''t catch his breath; his face turned ashen. Seventy or eighty years? That was practically like being put to death!


    "I''m innocent! Master Xu, you must find a way to save me!" Chen Lin clutched at Xu Yi''s hand, wailing loudly.


    Xu Yi intended to say that every prisoner claimed to be innocent, but before he could speak, he felt the hard object in his palm and was slightly taken aback.


    Chen Lin was led away, not handcuffed nor put into a police car, but into a luxury BMW. The men''s treatment of him was relatively gentle.


    Xu Yi watched the convoy depart, then took out from his pocket the object that had been there. It was a metal button, which Chen Lin had surreptitiously stuffed into his hand before leaving.


    ......


    Holy Flame Exorcism Studio.


    Xu Yi returned to his room, as usual, first checked on the Black Carp in the cat nest, which was still unawake.


    The rhythmic rise and fall of the cat''s belly and its smooth breathing indicated that the Black Carp was in good health, merely asleep.


    Otherwise, Xu Yi would definitely have to find a veterinarian to look at the Black Carp, which had been asleep for three days and nights, during which time it hadn''t woken up at all, nor had it eaten a bite of food or drank a drop of water.


    He could only attribute this situation to the miraculous effects of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree.


    Xu Yi placed the button on the tabletop and examined it closely.


    The button was completely silver in color, inset with two sesame seed-sized crystals, both blue.


    At first glance, it looked like a very common button, but Xu Yi knew there was more to it than met the eye. He found a small switch hidden in a concealed corner and flicked it lightly.


    One of the crystals suddenly lit up, turning red. It wasn''t a crystal at all, but rather two small lights.


    "A miniature wireless communicator? Where did Chen Lin get ahold of such a rare thing?" Xu Yi was a bit curious.


    For the communicator to function, both lights needed to be on. At the moment, only one light was on, which meant one of two possibilities.


    Either Chen Lin hadn''t activated the communicator, or they weren''t close enough.


    Xu Yi felt that the latter was more likely.


    He casually switched off the communicator to save battery power.


    "What is Chen Lin''s intention in giving him this miniature communicator? Does he want him to go and rescue the other person?" Xu Yi speculated about Chen Lin''s motives.


    The people seeking out Chen Lin were looking for assistance in finding the source of a curse, so it was very likely they wouldn''t harm him.


    Chen Lin giving him the miniature communicator was purely an act of desperation.


    After briefly lamenting the lost lead, Xu Yi put the matter out of his mind and continued with his carving.


    "The further I go, the slower the ''Sculptor'' entry increases. It seems I''ll need to find a new method!" Xu Yi''s brow furrowed slightly.


    If he had guidance from a master sculptor, he could definitely speed up the completion of the entry.


    Unfortunately, master sculptors weren''t easy to find now; with the outside world being so chaotic, they were probably all in hiding.


    ......


    Late at night, in Queens, New York, within a luxurious villa.


    "Kerry, can you share your secret with us?"


    An elderly voice rang out in the darkness.


    The young man named Kerry swallowed nervously, his face tense.


    The three people in front of him were the real authority figures of the family. With his status, he usually couldn''t even get a glimpse of them.


    Yet tonight, they had summoned him alone.


    "Kerry, there''s no need to be nervous. Can you tell us how your mother''s ''fiery soul'' illness was cured?" Another person spoke softly.


    The others'' gentle voice eased Kerry somewhat, and he also understood the purpose of his summons.


    They were after that thing. Could he leverage it to gain more benefits? The thought involuntarily crossed Kerry''s mind.


    "Kerry! Are you reluctant to speak?" Another voice chimed in, carrying a commanding authority.


    Kerry shivered suddenly, realizing that with his status, he really had no room to bargain.


    "It''s the Fire Gui Portrait! I cured my mother''s ''fiery soul'' illness with a Fire Gui Portrait!" Kerry no longer dared to withhold the truth and answered loudly.


    "Is it a Fire Gui Portrait from the Holy Flame Studio?"


    "Yes!"


    Kerry was surprised that these "big shots" also knew about the Holy Flame Exorcism Studio; this made his explanation much easier.


    "I was just lucky. That day I happened to be strolling around Chinatown when I heard that an exorcism studio had opened... A hundred thousand for an exorcism portrait, wasn''t that as cheap as cabbage? So I casually bought one, never expecting it to have such a powerful effect!" Kerry said, his face full of relief.


    It was only later that he realized just how fortunate he was to have been able to purchase the Fire Gui Portrait.


    The three individuals seated exchanged glances, each seeing the significance in the others'' eyes.

 Chapter 115 Curse Puppet and Black Carp Awakening

    Exorcism Studio.Xu Yi got up with bleary eyes, having stayed up until three in the morning to grind Sculptor entries again.


    He decided to find something to eat, but when he went down to the first floor, he was stunned.


    The reception hall on the first floor was bustling with people, leading Xu Yi to feel like he had arrived at a disaster relief scene.


    "Why have so many people suddenly shown up?"


    Xu Yi grabbed Allen, who was busily darting about.


    Allen quickly dragged Xu Yi to the second floor, "Boss! Our Holy Flame Exorcism Studio is on fire, no, I mean the Fire Gui portrait is a hit!"


    "So all these people downstairs are here to buy a Fire Gui portrait?"


    Xu Yi was somewhat confused. The Fire Gui portrait had been around for more than a day or two, so why the craze now?


    "There''s news that went out saying that the Fire Gui portrait can cure Hot Soul Disease," Allen said in a hushed voice, "Boss, why didn''t you tell me sooner?"


    Xu Yi was flabbergasted. The Fire Gui portrait could cure Hot Soul Disease, and as its creator, how could he not know this?


    ...


    Hospital, special care ward.


    "What on earth is the principle behind this?"


    Xu Yi was utterly perplexed as he watched the developments before him.


    The patient with Hot Soul Syndrome on the hospital bed slowly opened her eyes, one minute, two minutes... ten minutes passed, and the curse didn''t return.


    This patient was handpicked by Allen from many seekers, reported to be the wife of a government official.


    Next to the bed, there was a portrait with an image of the Fire Gui whose light dimmed, indicating that its exorcism power had been fully depleted.


    Xu Yi had been skeptical about the Fire Gui portrait curing Hot Soul Disease, suspecting it to be a far-fetched rumor aimed at setting him up.


    Yet the reality was before his eyes, and he had to believe it.


    "What''s different between an exorcism portrait and other exorcism artifacts?" Xu Yi wondered with a puzzled look.


    The Psychic Painter was only of "Common Green" level, and it likely wasn''t the reason attributed to the entries, so...


    There was only one truth!


    Xu Yi gazed at the Fire Gui on the exorcism portrait.


    The Fire Gui was a figment of his imagination, filled with uncertainty, and it might have unintentionally inherited some "idea" from a powerful existence.


    Such incidents weren''t unheard of. It was said that over a hundred years ago, an old priest inadvertently drew a wingless strange bird.


    Upon completion, the painting had a mysterious power that could allow a person''s soul to enter a fantastical world.


    Decades later, as the old priest neared death, as if predestined, a strange bird identical to the one in the painting landed before the priest and took his soul away.


    "So, are you saying that I might have inadvertently drawn some sort of terrifying creature from the past?"


    Xu Yi was mildly bemused, as he wasn''t sure whether this event was fortuitous or ominous.


    "Boss, I think it''s best you lay low for a while," Allen suddenly suggested.


    Xu Yi came to his senses instantaneously, "You''re right, I plan to stay in the suburbs for a while, call me if anything comes up!"


    No sooner had he finished speaking than Xu Yi made a swift escape.


    ...


    In the suburbs, the Funeral Parlor.


    "What an accommodation this is, huh?" Xu Yi exclaimed as he looked around the living room.


    Around the room, more than a dozen people were lined up in a row. If any sculpture apprentice were present, they would have leapt from their seat in astonishment, shaking hands with each one and saying, such-and-such master, I have only admired your work in my dreams.


    The ability of the Fire Gui portrait to cure Hot Soul Disease had spread like wildfire amongst New York''s elite.


    More and more people were drawn by its reputation, wishing to secure a portrait for themselves.


    Xu Yi had no choice but to take refuge in this secluded Funeral Parlor.


    Otherwise, with so many afflicted in New York, even if he painted until his hair turned white, it might not be enough.


    The government had even sent someone to inquire, and upon learning that the supply was extremely limited, they left disappointed.


    Staying in this Funeral Parlor allowed him to dodge some of the public, but those with real power could still track this place down.


    Which explains the scene before him now.


    The group before him comprised over a dozen internationally renowned Sculptor masters, including some who had even founded their own schools.


    At this moment, they all had one objective: to mentor Xu Yi so that his sculpting skills could be further honed.


    ``` S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Is this the depth of a financial consortium''s resources?" Xu Yi sighed.


    In such a chaotic situation, to be able to gather so many sculptors was not something that money alone could accomplish.


    The consortium had somehow heard of Xu Yi''s need for sculptors and had swarmed to provide him with a dozen or so.


    This was an opportunity Xu Yi naturally wouldn''t reject; the compensation was for him to spare time to create some "Fire Gui portraits".


    ...


    The Funeral Parlor was brightly lit.


    "This Sculptor has succeeded!" Xu Yi put down his carving knife, gazing at the lifelike Eternal Flower in his palm.


    A round of enthusiastic applause broke out at the scene. More than a dozen white-haired masters clapped vigorously, their faces flushed with excitement.


    Any clueless onlooker would have thought they were witnessing some scientific research team achieving a revolutionary invention.


    How could the sculptors contain their excitement?


    Two days and two nights! A full two days and two nights! They didn''t know how they had made it through.


    If they had been younger, staying up for two or three days wouldn''t have counted as work at all, but now most were graying, with grandsons who were almost ready to "fetch soy sauce"!


    Finally receiving affirmation from Xu Yi, they suddenly felt their eyes brimming with hot tears.


    Xu Yi hurriedly arranged for people to send the sculptors away. Their dark circles were heavier than the next, they waddled as they walked, and he truly feared these people might drop dead.


    [Sculptor, current progress: 100/100]


    After maxing out the Entries, Xu Yi didn''t feel too intense a sensation.


    He just felt his hands had become more dexterous, and his sculpting more effortless, since it was only a "Common White" level Entry.


    "Hurrying everything, I''ve finally gotten the Sculptor Entry maxed out right before the disaster strikes!" Xu Yi took a deep breath.


    He was very aware that the outbreak of the hot soul disease was only a precursor to the disaster; the real danger had yet to come.


    Curse Puppeteer, begin the fusion!


    Having been through the process once before, everything was smooth sailing.


    As the synthesis path "Curse Puppeteer = Necromantic Spells + Puppet Master + Sculptor" was cast into the Furnace, a new Entry was born slowly.


    [Curse Puppeteer (Green Rare)


    Ability 1 - Curse Inheritance:


    The contracted Annabelle Puppet automatically controls all abilities of the "Necromantic Spells" Entry.


    Ability 2 - Curse Prodigy:


    Annabelle can analyze all Curse-related Entries and gains an experience boost.


    Ability 3 - Cursed Seal:


    Annabelle turns into a Curse Puppet, wielding the power of the Cursed Seal. (Cursed Seals acquired so far: Soul Ascension Curse.)


    Ability 4 - Curse Ascension:


    After Annabelle masters enough Curse techniques, this Entry will automatically upgrade.]


    "It seems they want Annabelle to walk down the path of the ultimate support, all the way to the end!"


    After reading the Entry information, the first thing Xu Yi did was to equip Annabelle with the new Entry.


    [Word Gifting successful, target meets the fitting requirements, Entry equipped successfully!]


    "So there are Entry restrictions?" Xu Yi realized.


    For example, if he wanted to equip the Annabelle doll with a "Flesh Eternal" Entry, clearly it wouldn''t be successful, because Annabelle''s doll doesn''t have flesh and blood.


    [Annabelle has acquired a "Blank Entry: Curse of Evil (White Epic)"]


    The Curse of Evil comes from "Satan''s followers", the Evil Spirit Basheba.


    It also comes with the synthesis path for the Entry: Cursed Eye = Necromantic Spells + Curse of Evil.


    He had initially been wondering, the Curse of Evil was not suitable for humans to use; now that problem had been perfectly solved.


    With the boost from "Curse Prodigy", Annabelle breezed through the Curse of Evil Entry, effortlessly.


    Now with the inherited Necromantic Spells Entry, thus creating the Cursed Eye was just a matter of time.


    Xu Yi prepared to get some rest, the night had been incredibly fruitful.


    Just then, he suddenly received a call from the studio.


    "Xu Yi, the Black Carp has awakened!" Lisa''s voice trembled with excitement.


    Xu Yi''s eyes brightened, whether it was the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, William, or even the Cursed Origin Item, his hope of finding those things was all pinned on the Black Carp.


    After days of anxious waiting, he could finally take the next step.


    ```

 Chapter 116 A Threat-Less Provocation

    The deep sewer, where sunlight slips through the gaps of the manhole covers at intervals, sending dust particles dancing in the beams, but it''s far from poetic.Even with the best maintenance, a persistent foul stench pervades the sewers, making one''s shoes sticky and the experience quite unbearable.


    Clattering footsteps echo through the sewer, coming from a bizarre troop¡ªsoldiers armed to the teeth and exorcists in strange costumes.


    One might think this troop doesn''t belong in the dank, foul-smelling sewers but rather in some cosplay exhibition hall.


    Leading the group is a sleek black cat, its pale gold pupils scanning the environment cautiously.


    "Black Carp, are we there yet?" Lisa, dressed in a modified witch costume, asked softly.


    A meow from Black Carp conveyed a meaning only Lisa could understand.


    [Epic Witch-hunter: Current progress: 52/100]


    [Epic Witch-hunter (Green-Epic):


    Ability 1 - Witchcraft Power:


    Ability 2 - Animal Pact: (Current Pacts: 1/3)


    Ability 3 - Sacred Body (Imitation):


    Ability 4 - Divine Arrival: (Partially unlocked, use of this ability will magnify side effects tenfold.)]


    Ever since the pact with Black Carp was formed, the progress for the Witch-hunter entry had soared.


    Now, aside from needing to use "Divine Arrival" with caution, the rest of her abilities were already unlocked.


    Xu Yi had a similar experience once, when he successfully made a contract with the Annabelle doll; his situation was even more extreme than Lisa''s, having maxed out the Puppet Master entry simply by lying there.


    "How''s it going?" Xu Yi leaned in close to Lisa''s ear and whispered.


    "Not yet, that place is deep within the sewer," Lisa whispered back.


    Xu Yi nodded, indicating he understood.


    "Wait a second!" a voice suddenly called from behind.


    Someone''s already losing patience? Xu Yi was puzzled.


    The group was composed of either elite soldiers or veteran exorcists, so their patience shouldn''t be so thin.


    He wanted to reassure them since it was his announcement of a significant discovery that prompted the city to dispatch so many people to follow.


    He turned around, not yet having explained, when his gaze suddenly changed, looking at the person behind him as if staring at an idiot.


    "Miss, I''m Maji from Silver Cross Exorcism Studio. May I have the honor of knowing you?"


    A young man with a slick-back haircut and dressed in a black suit approached Lisa, believing himself to be suavely bowing slightly.


    Xu Yi looked at the officer in charge with an expression that seemed to say, "Where did you find this piece of work? Why isn''t he auditioning for the circus instead of coming here?"


    The officer appeared a bit embarrassed, as he had decided on the list of participants for the mission, but it only detailed each person''s abilities, not their personalities.


    At such a crucial time, to still be playing the playboy, wasn''t that just being thick-headed?


    Xu Yi had thought most exorcists were quite rational, given that they had to deal with malevolent spirits and demons.


    Today, he truly witnessed the diversity of people.


    Maji himself hadn''t planned to make his move at this time, but the aura emanating from Lisa was simply too enticing.


    Individuals with special physiologies emitted a fragrance that only those with specific talents, like him, could detect.


    His father had taught him since he was young.


    "You can only unite with someone of a special constitution, to give birth to powerful offspring for our family!"


    Unfortunately, from childhood to adulthood, the individuals he met with such constitutions were few and far between, and most of them were far from attractive.


    To come across someone so perfect was rare!


    Not only did she have a special constitution, but she was also youthful and beautiful. From the first glance at Lisa, he was deeply smitten.


    He originally planned to approach her after the mission ended, but once it was over, they''d go their separate ways, and he wasn''t sure if he''d ever see her again.


    Most importantly, he couldn''t suppress the impulsive flutter in his heart.


    Maji thought himself elegant and sure to be well-received, but unfortunately, that was just his wishful thinking.


    He was completely ignored by Lisa, utterly treated as if he were mere air.


    Xu Yi gave the other party a glance but did not engage; talking to someone like that was just a waste of time.


    Everyone silently quickened their pace.


    As time passed, they penetrated deeper into the center of the sewer.


    The Black Carp suddenly let out a meow and jumped back onto Lisa''s shoulder; Xu Yi instinctively stopped in his tracks, looking at Lisa with an inquiring gaze.


    Lisa nodded.


    Xu Yi grew wary. He did not believe that Black Carp would lead him to the Cat Spirit Holy Tree without some inherent difficulty. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you sure the source of the curse is here? This place has been searched several times over!" Maji, disgruntled from being ignored earlier, jumped back in to assert his presence.


    Everyone''s gaze fell on Xu Yi, sharing the same thoughts as Maji.


    No one wanted to waste time; if it were not for Xu Yi stating there was a significant discovery, they would not have come here.


    Xu Yi ignored Maji and walked straight towards the wall ahead.


    After multiple thorough searches of the underground passage, if the origin of the curse were truly here, it should have already been discovered.


    Why then had there been no results?


    There were only two possible reasons: either the source of the curse was not in the sewer at all or it existed within some Different Space.


    He felt it was most probably the latter.


    Xu Yi took out a transparent box containing a half-leaf from the Cat Spirit Holy Tree.


    Nearly a week had passed since he acquired this half-leaf, yet it remained fresh, as if it had just been plucked from the tree.


    Ahead was a concrete sewer wall, slightly blackened, appearing unremarkable; Xu Yi stopped in front of the darkened wall.


    With a solemn expression, he pressed the transparent box with the Cat Spirit Holy Tree leaf against the wall.


    Based on his guess, the leaf of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree should act as the "Key," crucial for opening the Different Space.


    One minute, two minutes... five minutes passed, and nothing happened.


    The people present stared at Xu Yi, their eyebrows involuntarily furrowing in confusion.


    Xu Yi was also a bit stunned. Why was there no reaction?


    Did he need to take the leaf out of the box for it to work, or had he guessed wrong, and there was no Different Space here at all?


    "Do we have a fraud amongst us?" Maji whispered.


    Though he didn''t name names, everyone knew who he was referring to.


    Xu Yi remained silent, while Maji sensed an opportunity to showcase himself. If he could make Lisa see Xu Yi for what he really was, she would naturally know how to choose.


    Maji slowly walked up to the concrete wall, extended his hand, and tapped it. Suddenly, he exclaimed and rapidly withdrew his hand.


    Everyone became vigilant in an instant, staring intently at the wall.


    Unexpectedly, Maji lowered his hand with a smile, "Ah, this wall is terrifying; it almost cut my finger."


    The crowd stared at Maji, their brows furrowed.


    His actions were akin to making a mockery of them; if not for the respect they had for the Silver Cross Exorcism Studio, they would have already spoken out in disgust.


    The reputation of the Silver Cross Exorcism Studio was established by his father, and it seemed this "second-generation exorcist" was a bit too arrogant.


    "Why are you all staring at me? Am I the culprit wasting everyone''s time?" Faced with their gaze, Maji was indifferent, speaking with a light laugh.


    Maji first provoked everyone, drawing attention to himself, and then pointed out the main culprit, deflecting the anger towards someone else.


    His tactic wasn''t very clever, but it was effective¡ªall eyes landed on Xu Yi, their brows tightly knitted.


    Maji looked toward Lisa, hoping to see disappointment on her face, but to his chagrin, there was none; Lisa quietly walked up to Xu Yi and took his hand.


    "Xu Yi, let''s go!"


    Xu Yi followed Lisa, head bowed and silent.


    Maji smiled, Xu Yi''s demeanor resembling that of a humiliated girlfriend dragging away her good-for-nothing boyfriend.


    Although there was no immediate fallout, tensions would surely rise once the two had a chance to cool down, and fractures would appear¡ªthat would be his opportunity, wouldn''t it?


    He watched Lisa''s retreating figure, barely able to contain the excitement within him.

 Chapter 117 Rat Tide

    Xu Yi''s muscles slowly tensed up, and his footsteps also quickened.He kept his head down, not speaking, not because he couldn''t bear the doubtful gazes of the others.


    He had brought these people here with the mindset of "I shouldn''t bear the thunder alone"; how could he possibly care about their stares?


    The slightly younger exorcists looked disdainfully at Xu Yi''s receding figure, thinking that such a loser should stop being an exorcist and go home to feed cattle.


    But the more seasoned exorcists had already noticed something amiss, silently retreating and moving closer to Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi gripped the transparent box in his hand, not knowing when the lively half-leaf inside had suddenly withered, turning into black liquid that flowed away.


    Maji was oblivious to the team''s anomalies; at this moment, he was already fantasizing about how wonderful life would be if he could win over Lisa.


    A rustling sound suddenly came, Maji was stunned for a moment. What was that noise?


    The sound came from behind him; he instinctively turned his head and froze on the spot, feeling as though his blood had all gone cold.


    The concrete wall behind him had softened, seeping out a black, viscous liquid.


    The black liquid covered the entire wall, rippling waves, as heads emerged from the liquid; they crowded together, the whole wall looking as though it was built of heads.


    Those were the heads of black rats, the blood-red pupils staring at the crowd, exuding a thirst for blood and ferocity.


    All exorcists reacted the same way, turning in terror and sprinting away.


    The officer raised his hand, wanting to give the order to counterattack, but his face quickly changed, and he bellowed, "Run!"


    The soldiers had been waiting for this command, and the moment they received it, they turned and fled.


    There was no other choice, as black rats surged out from the walls, dense and numerous like a black river.


    There were too many, far too many black rats!


    "Help! Someone save me!"


    The cry for help came from behind; it was Maji''s voice.


    "Save... save me! If you save me, my father will surely thank you! Don''t go! Please..."


    Maji cried out loudly for help, but no one heeded his call, and even fewer stopped.


    He was filled with regret at that moment, if it hadn''t been for his intention to target Xu Yi, he wouldn''t have been near the wall, nor would he have noticed the black rats too late... and would not have ended up at the back of the group.


    "No! Don''t!"


    Maji screamed in terror, but it was all in vain.


    If he hadn''t been caught up in his fantasies about Lisa, and had noticed the anomalies earlier, he might have had a slim chance to escape. Now, it was all too late.


    The flood of black rats toppled Maji. He let out a piercing scream as the black rats tore at his flesh, gnawed his bones, and devoured his blood. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The scream quickly died away, Maji''s body "collapsed" down, and in just a moment, he was gnawed to nothing but dry bones.


    Xu Yi and Lisa ran side by side, feeling a secret sense of relief in their hearts.


    Luckily Lisa could communicate with Black Carp. Luckily, Lisa had pulled him away, otherwise, it would have been them facing the swarm of black rats, and they wouldn''t be running at the front of the group.


    Maji''s horrific death startled everyone''s nerves, and they all ran like mad without looking back.


    There''s a story that when you encounter a bear, you don''t need to run faster than the bear; you just need to run faster than the people beside you.


    But nobody was deliberately trying to sabotage the others; they were all desperately running for their lives.


    It wasn''t that their morals had reached such a noble level; it was because sabotage was pointless.


    There was only one bear in the story, but now there were thousands of rats; even sacrificing one or two people wouldn''t hold them off for long, let alone the entire group.


    Exorcists had never found the sewers to be so interminably long, nor had they ever realized how important it was to maintain a regular fitness regimen.


    Xu Yi and Lisa still ran at the very front, far outpacing the others.


    The second group was made up of soldiers who had undergone rigorous training and had robust physiques. Even laden with heavy gear, they still ran much faster than the average person.


    The soldiers looked ahead at the two silhouettes with a sense of awe.


    They could understand why Xu Yi could run so fast, but why could a delicate and seemingly frail girl keep up at the front?


    Actually, Lisa''s speed was not that fast, but she had an astonishing stamina and was able to maintain a top speed at all times. Although she possessed a "false" Sacred Body, her physical condition was far superior to ordinary people.


    In the "long-distance running troop," the third batch consisted of exorcists.


    As time passed, the exorcist group gradually began to split into two.


    Surprisingly, those lagging at the very back were not the older exorcists, but rather the younger ones.


    If one observed closely, they would notice that these exorcists, though their hair was gray, had bulging muscles under their clothes, a clear sign that they trained relentlessly every day.


    Xu Yi was not the only one who realized exorcism was a physically demanding job.


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    However, not all exorcists were strict with themselves, as their status allowed them to easily mingle in high society. One lapse in self-control, and it was all too easy to become immersed in a life of luxury and excess.


    The exorcists at the very back were of this sort.


    They looked young, but their bodies had been hollowed out by indulgence in wine and women, and they were the same ones who had previously scoffed at Xu Yi.


    After running frantically for a short while, they were already gasping for breath.


    They didn''t even manage to cry for help before being swallowed up by the tide of black rats.


    Screams echoed through the sewers, adding a few more skeletons to its depths.


    "Calling for backup! Calling for backup! The Demon Hunting Squad is encountering a significant crisis; a large number of Black Carp are emerging and nearing the sewer exit."


    The commanding officer was remarkably fit; even while sprinting, he still had the energy to communicate with the military forces outside via radio.


    "Received! Received! Support is ready!"


    The rustling noise and the soldier''s response transmitted simultaneously, and Xu Yi let out a slight sigh of relief.


    He informed the government and called them here for this very reason.


    The danger needed to be shared by everyone.


    Xu Yi was not afraid of other exorcists seizing the Cat Spirit Holy Tree because it was impossible to see the Cat Spirit Holy Tree immediately upon opening the Different Space.


    According to Black Carp, the Cat Spirit Holy Tree was at the center of the Different Space, and currently, only he was aware of this information.


    The bright sunlight shone through from ahead, and everyone felt the warmth of the sun as never before¡ªthe sewer exit was right in front of them!


    Xu Yi and Lisa were the first to rush out of the sewers, but Xu Yi''s body suddenly tensed up, a natural reaction to encountering a life-threatening presence.


    Dense muzzles were pointed at Xu Yi, with the soldiers holding their guns steady, the muzzles almost motionless.


    The sewer exit was surrounded by a large number of soldiers, their guns already chambered and ready to fire at any moment, with the soldiers prepared for a bloody battle.


    Xu Yi''s tense body gradually relaxed, and he exhaled a murky breath.


    Fortunately, there were no inept teammates; the government was well-prepared this time, and the soldiers present were enough for a medium-scale battle, which showed the gravity with which this matter was regarded.


    But recalling the teeming black rats in the sewer, his brows slowly furrowed.


    There were too many Black Carp; he was uncertain if the soldiers could hold them off, and moreover, the rats might surge into New York City from other exits.

 Chapter 118 An Excellent Opportunity for Gun Practice

    The soldiers guarding the sewer entrance were brimming with confidence. With their current firepower, they could sweep through a small military base.But their expressions quickly changed as black rats surged out of the sewers like a black torrent.


    "Fire! Fire now!" the captains of the squads bellowed out orders.


    Dense gunfire erupted, and bullets poured out like a tempestuous storm, striking the front of the black rat tide.


    The officer in charge of commanding from above breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing all this.


    Although the black rats were larger than common rats and more fierce and bloodthirsty, they were still flesh and blood. Bullets could still pierce their bodies and kill them.


    The air was thick with the stench of blood as large swaths of black rat carcasses scattered at the sewer entrance, staining the ground a dark crimson.


    Xu Yi watched the soldiers below gunning down the black rats and felt an itching to join them.


    Lisa stood beside him, holding Black Carp, trying to prevent it from being startled by the dense gunfire below.


    But she clearly underestimated Black Carp; it showed no sign of fear and stared intently at the black rats below, its pupils flashing with a light of hatred.


    The officer''s attention fell on the exorcists, his face clouded with gloom.


    They had already counted the numbers, missing twelve people, all exorcists, with no soldiers wounded or dead.


    This situation was very bad. If only soldiers had died or if there had been casualties among both soldiers and exorcists, that would have been quite normal.


    But now, only the exorcists had died, which indicated the soldiers had fled from battle, and the retreat command had been issued by him.


    Under these circumstances, he would at the very least be stripped of his command, and at worst, face a military tribunal.


    But he couldn''t bring himself to be hard-hearted. His soldiers had followed him for so long, he had grown attached to them.


    The lives of the exorcists mattered, but so did the lives of his soldiers.


    In that situation, had he ordered a counterattack, it would have been a senseless death, burying all his soldiers there.


    "I am Conn from Black Thorn Exorcism Studio. Pleased to meet you!"


    Someone approached Xu Yi for a handshake, introducing himself.


    Xu Yi was somewhat surprised. He had thought these exorcists would resent him because they were put in danger on his account.


    But their reaction was quite the opposite, their eyes even showed gratitude.


    "Finally, someone can tear open the gateway to the Different Space. The source of the curse should be appearing soon¡ªI must hurry back and prepare!" Conn clarified his confusion.


    Xu Yi watched the exorcists depart and gained a deeper understanding of them.


    Most exorcists had decent characters. Even if they exorcised for money, it was still a matter of saving lives. Over time, they developed a sense of mission.


    Of course, those with poor character, lacking self-control, their bodies hollowed out by debauchery, had mostly died in the sewers.


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    "Lisa, go back to the studio first and have the studio people be careful of the black rats," Xu Yi turned and looked at Lisa beside him.


    As Lisa left and the other exorcists followed suit, only Xu Yi remained, watching the battle below with interest.


    Although the black rats were numerous, they were up against modern weapons after all.


    Common flesh and blood could not break through the blockade of bullets.


    Initially, the soldiers were somewhat clumsy, but under the orderly command of the commander, they quickly stabilized.


    They switched to more effective weapons with larger kill zones; shotguns, hand grenades, and incendiary bombs were thrown as if they cost nothing, and the newly arrived flamethrowers were even more devastating.


    "I''ve reported your merits already. The reward will be issued soon."


    The officer walked up behind Xu Yi, speaking in a grave tone, thinking Xu Yi stayed behind for fear of losing credit for his deeds.


    Xu Yi merely nodded, with no sign of excitement on his face. He wasn''t here for that.


    "Can I help deal with these black rats?" Xu Yi asked softly.


    His eyes shone as he looked towards the outskirts of the battlefield.


    Armored vehicles were parked in large quantities on the outskirts, their compartments open, revealing mountains of ammunition boxes.


    With such numerous black rats, ammunition had to keep flowing in, and even now, bullets were continuously being delivered.


    Xu Yi recalled the marksmanship entries.


    The amount of bullets at the Shooting Range was so minimal that Xu Yi didn''t know if he would ever max out his Marksmanship Entries.


    If he wanted a chance to shoot a lot, he would have to go to a battlefield, but that was far too dangerous.


    The opportunity before him was perfect, with plenty of ammunition and not too much danger, and the teeming black rats made for excellent targets.


    "I''m Entos," said the officer, eyeing Xu Yi with surprise. He didn''t expect the other to make such a request, and gave his own name in response.


    The soldiers nearby glanced at Entos, curious. They knew their commanding officer''s personality well, and when he voluntarily gave his name, it signified a gesture of goodwill.


    Towards someone as enthusiastic as Xu Yi, Entos naturally showed a much better attitude.


    He was assigned as the commander for this operation due to his extensive experience; this was not his first time dealing with these kinds of supernatural creatures.


    So he understood the importance of exorcists very well.


    He remembered a mission where the lack of an exorcist led to soldiers being affected by illusions, shooting at each other, which resulted in heavy casualties.


    He intended to keep a few exorcists on hand to prevent any anomalies from occurring. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But after those exorcists emerged from the sewers, they all hurried off, and thinking of the incidents inside, he didn''t have the heart to ask them to stay.


    He was ready to request more exorcists from higher up, but he didn''t expect Xu Yi to volunteer to stay, which somewhat relieved him.


    "Of course, you can, and thank you very much for your help!" Entos nodded, gratefully accepting the offer.


    With his offer affirmed, Xu Yi immediately joined the fray with gusto.


    Entos froze for a moment. He had assumed Xu Yi''s help would only involve standing by to observe, in case of emergency.


    But Xu Yi had taken a gun and stood with the soldiers¡ªwhat was this about?


    He hesitated for a moment, then refrained from stopping Xu Yi, merely instructing him to do his job well.


    At first, the soldiers didn''t pay much attention, treating it as an exorcist''s chance to enjoy shooting, as long as they didn''t hit their own.


    But they soon had nothing but respect. Xu Yi''s shooting skills were decent, but his dedication was unparalleled.


    They took turns shooting, resting periodically to avoid fatigue.


    But their new "comrade" was far too engaged; while they rested, he was shooting, and when they were shooting, he still kept firing¡ªa machine that didn''t know how to stop.


    This made them feel slightly embarrassed to slack off.


    Of course, Xu Yi wouldn''t rest; he wasn''t going to miss out on this chance to accumulate experience for his Entries.


    Watching his Marksmanship Entries steadily increase, he felt as if he were on a adrenaline rush, not knowing the meaning of fatigue.


    Three hours passed quietly, and suddenly a soldier exclaimed, "The black rats are retreating!"


    Xu Yi looked at the receding tide of black rats and sighed in disappointment. Why give up so suddenly? Weren''t they supposed to fight for three hundred more rounds?


    But he quickly cheered up.


    [Marksmanship +2, Current Progress: 72/100]


    He hadn''t expected to achieve more than seventy percent in just three hours!


    He shook his sore arms. The quick progress in his Marksmanship Entries was certainly due to his efforts, but other factors played a role as well and could not be ignored.


    First was his Entries as a painter and sculptor, which gave him very steady hands. Coupled with the Eyes of Obscurity''s Ability, especially the Supra-dynamic Vision, the enhancement to his marksmanship was without parallel.


    With only seventy percent progress in Marksmanship, the factor of Supra-dynamic Vision was boosting his capability to perform at 120 percent effectiveness.


    Eventually, the soldiers stared at him in awe, proclaiming him a Sharpshooter.


    "Xu Yi, what are you going to do?"


    A soldier called out Xu Yi''s name. After three hours of side-by-side combat and occasional exchanges, they had grown familiar with each other.


    "I''m going to see if I can trace the source of the curse through these rat corpses," Xu Yi lied smoothly.


    The soldiers looked on with respect. Below them lay a thick layer of rat carcasses, many of which had been shot to a pulp, but some were not immediately dead and still struggled.


    The feeling of stepping on them was probably like stepping into a pile of squirming maggots.


    Not to mention the stench emanating from below; even at a distance, they almost vomited their last meal.


    What motivation could possibly drive someone to step into that mess without changing faces?

 Chapter 119 Eyes of Obscurity Nearing Full Power

    Xu Yi was unaware of what those soldiers were thinking, otherwise he would have shaken his head repeatedly.Forget a pile of rat corpses, even if it were human corpses, he would tread through without hesitation.


    A gray light flashed through Xu Yi''s pupils; the Eyes of Obscurity had been activated inadvertently. In his vision, this "rat corpse land" was teeming with dense, gray threads.


    The corners of his mouth curled involuntarily¡ªthese black rats were actually the creations of Demons, and though each black rat carried only a trifling amount of Fog of Obscurity, barely larger than a hair strand,


    the sheer quantity was overwhelming!


    The Eyes of Obscurity were fully engaged, filling his eye sockets with a chilling sensation.


    Given a choice, he wouldn''t wish to descend into a pile of rat corpses, but the Fog of Obscurity was too weak; he had to get close to absorb it.


    It was unlike the Fog of Obscurity dispelled by powerful Demons, which could be pulled from a great distance.


    However, even the most minute things can become extraordinary when they accumulate.


    "Eyes of Obscurity, current progress: 91/100"


    After absorbing the Fog of Obscurity from the pile of rat corpses, the progress exceeded ninety percent, bringing him very close to being able to control the power of the Fog of Obscurity.


    "Get in the vehicles, prepare for support!"


    Entos''s mood was far from being as pleasant as Xu Yi''s; his brow was furrowed. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What happened?"


    Xu Yi returned from the pile of corpses, and a soldier handed him a pair of Combat Boots. The size difference was negligible, and he changed into the new shoes, discarding his blood-stained old ones.


    "Black rats have burst from other exits and attacked New York City; we need to head there to support," Entos said with a sincere invitation, fixing his gaze on Xu Yi. "Are you coming with us?"


    Xu Yi nodded. How could he miss such an opportunity? Not only for the Entries for Marksmanship but also to absorb more of the Fog of Obscurity.


    The soldiers heaved a sigh of relief. Xu Yi''s marksmanship was evident to all, and moreover, he was an exorcist. Having him around made everyone feel much more at ease.


    The armored convoy entered New York City, where the roads were now clear. The government had forcibly cleared traffic-jammed vehicles; those who couldn''t escape had to hide back at home.


    Screams were incessant along the way. New York City, which had just begun to quiet down, was once again plunged into chaos as swarms of black rats poured into the city, attacking humans in a frenzy.


    Xu Yi and Entos rode in the same vehicle. After Entos finished a communication, his expression turned sour.


    "The black rats carry a curse. If someone is bitten accidentally, they''ll soon contract the Hot Soul Disease," Entos explained.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed as well. Although he had anticipated this, it was the worst news possible.


    Despite their frenzy, black rats hadn''t gone beyond the category of normal animals. If faced with a single rat, a common person with a sharp weapon could kill it.


    Only a tide of black rats posed a threat to humans, capable of instantly overwhelming and gnawing a person to the bone.


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    But, it was hard for a tide of black rats to form. Although the sewers were filled with them, spread throughout the vast New York City, they didn''t seem like much.


    Moreover, the military would specifically intercept large swarms of black rats.


    But if black rats were carriers of the curse, it would complicate matters, for without full-body protection, people were likely to get bitten.


    The foundation of a city lies in its people. If too many fall ill or unconscious, the city will quickly become paralyzed.


    "Change course immediately, to Lex Prison!"


    The radio buzzed again, and after receiving the information, Entos immediately ordered a change in plans, abandoning the original intention of going into the city for support.


    "Has Lex Prison been attacked too?"


    Xu Yi was somewhat unsure, as Lex Prison was located on the outskirts of New York, with few people around except for those inside the prison.


    But in comparison to New York City, those few people were nothing.


    If the goal of the black rats was to spread the curse, why target Klays Prison, where there were fewer people?


    The military arrived at Klays Prison, a place that was in such disarray it defied description.


    From a distance, Xu Yi could hear continuous gunfire, mixed with human screams and the shouting of guards, emanating from inside the prison.


    Entos''s face had turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.


    Lex Prison was a large prison that housed a considerable number of convicts serving long sentences, life imprisonment... and there were even quite a few on death row.


    During the rat attack on the prison, those heavy criminals would definitely seize the opportunity to escape.


    So, they had to deal not only with the tide of black rats but also be cautious of those extremely vicious criminals.


    Xu Yi was well aware of this, so he stopped trying to take the lead, blending into the team, practicing marksmanship, and at the same time "picking up" a bit of the Fog of Obscurity.


    As the team moved deeper, a sign appeared on the gate ahead reading "Maximum Security Area, No Unauthorized Access."


    Xu Yi silently gripped the gun in his hand; it was too quiet ahead, eerily quiet compared to the noisy common area behind them, forming a stark contrast.


    Entos ordered them to stay alert; although he''d never heard the saying, "When something is amiss, there must be demons," he still understood the gist of it.


    They walked through the silent maximum security prison and, after a while, they lowered the guns they had kept at the ready.


    "What''s going on?" someone couldn''t help but speak out.


    They had presumed it would be dangerous inside, but there was nothing there¡ªno swarms of black rats, no lurking felons. The cells were empty, not a ghost in sight.


    "Could it be the black rats didn''t attack this place?" someone speculated.


    "They''ve already been here," Xu Yi pointed at the ground.


    The ground was covered with dense rat footprints; it was clear the black rats had long since come.


    Entos approached an empty cell, the door already wide open, and he found a black viscous liquid on the lock.


    The liquid was highly corrosive; even the special alloy lock had been completely eaten away.


    "This is the only passage; we just came in from the outside, why didn''t we encounter those criminals? Where could they all be hiding?" one of the soldiers murmured softly.


    Nobody doubted that the prisoners were dead; there were no bloodstains on the ground, nor any signs of struggle. Those fierce criminals couldn''t possibly be waiting to die quietly.


    The crowd followed the rat footprints which gradually converged to form a distinct "rat trail."


    The trail suddenly ended, and at the end of the path, a huge pit appeared, with the unique fishy stench of rats wafting from below.


    In addition to the rats'' crawling marks, there were many footprints in the tunnel, indicating that quite a few people had passed through from below.


    It wasn''t just the others who were taken aback¡ªeven Entos, the expressionless strongman, was slightly dumbfounded.


    So, the black rats had attacked the prison to rescue the heavy criminals here?


    Everyone felt as if their worldview had been somewhat subverted.


    All eyes turned to Entos, waiting for his decision.


    They now faced a dilemma: to follow or not to follow?


    Xu Yi quietly lingered at the back, knowing all too well that the tunnel below was bound to be fraught with danger, and such a narrow passageway could spell the annihilation of the entire force if ambushed.


    He was just here to gain experience; he didn''t want to waste his Resurrection Coin here.


    If these people decided to go down, he would just have to find an excuse to slip away.


    Just then, Entos''s earpiece suddenly buzzed to life, and after a moment, the tension on Entos''s stern face eased.


    "Orders from above, we''re to withdraw for now."


    All the soldiers let out a sigh of relief, feeling like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders.


    The sun set behind the mountains, and the armored car drove away from Klays Prison.


    With the military''s involvement, the riot in the prison was still suppressed, mainly because the tide of black rats quickly receded following the disappearance of the major convicts.


    The armored car took Xu Yi all the way back to Chinatown. As he was getting off, Entos suddenly patted Xu Yi on the shoulder, "There will be a major operation soon; if you want in, remember to be prepared!"

 Chapter 120 Saint OHagans Action

    "This is really costing a fortune!"Xu Yi looked up at the sky; dawn was just breaking, with only the pale light of early morning showing, but New York''s Central Square was already overcrowded.


    Armed soldiers were coming and going, and a large number of exorcists were meditating with closed eyes.


    Just yesterday evening, Entos had informed him that a major operation was imminent, but he hadn''t expected it to come this quickly.


    Around four in the morning, they suddenly received a notification from the government that the "Saint O''Hagan Operation" had officially commenced.


    Xu Yi was holding a list, a part of the War God Repository records, which many exorcists were currently perusing.


    The treasures in the War God Repository are divided into five levels, with level one being the highest and level five the lowest.


    After all, these were the treasured collections of New York City Hall for many years; even a level-five artifact would be coveted by exorcists out there.


    More and more exorcists gathered in the square, and Xu Yi guessed that exorcists from all over New York, even from neighboring cities, had sensed the opportunity and rushed here.


    Because New York City Hall issued a message, "Any exorcist participating in the Saint O''Hagan Operation, after the mission''s completion, will be allowed to select a level-five treasure from the War God Repository."


    Participation meant a share! Who could resist such temptation?


    If the government weren''t truly desperate, it wouldn''t have made such a decision.


    Considering there were nearly a thousand exorcists, even New York City Hall, with all its wealth, couldn''t avoid a significant financial hit.


    Xu Yi could understand the government''s position; New York was in a state of "boiling panic."


    The sudden attacks by the Black Rats had led to an increasing number of Hot Soul patients, and the first batch of patients had begun dying in large numbers.


    It was like a leaking house facing continuous rain at night; everywhere people were in a state of panic.


    As the "culprit" himself, Xu Yi was not blamed by the government; on the contrary, he received a very formal expression of gratitude.


    In addition to a substantial bounty, after the mission''s completion, he would be allowed to pick an additional level-five treasure.


    Everyone understands that it is better to channel than to block. Now, with the disaster having just erupted, the city government still had the capacity to respond.


    If they were to wait until the disaster reached its peak, and the government collapsed in name and in fact, then a massive outbreak of Black Rats would swiftly lead to the city''s fall.


    "Lisa, make sure your hood is on properly, and Maria, put your coat on!"


    Xu Yi, feeling the eyes of many upon them, whispered a warning.


    Lisa and Maria were also here, not to claim more treasures but to join the operation.


    "We''re not just pretty faces; we''re your comrades-in-arms who fight at your side!"


    Xu Yi had initially intended to keep the two of them in the studio, but early this morning, Lisa showed up at his door with Maria blocking his way out.


    Seeing their resolute eyes, Xu Yi understood that they were ready and, after hesitating for a moment, nodded in agreement.


    He couldn''t treat them as delicate flowers in a greenhouse just because he feared for their safety; they couldn''t just hide away.


    Lisa seemed delicate in temperament, but she was proud at heart.


    She didn''t want to stay behind Xu Yi, living in peace and tranquility; instead, she wanted to stand by his side in battle, facing the storms together.


    Maria, on the other hand, would be willing to; her wish in life might be to make breakfast for Xu Yi, tend to the flowers, and occasionally ask Xu Yi to take her to the beach for a swim.


    But deep in her soul, Ailan was a fighter, feeling restless without a fight each day.


    Lisa obediently pulled her hood over her head, hiding her delicate little face behind it.


    Maria also put on her coat, concealing her beautiful figure, and casually donned a hat.


    "Very good!" Xu Yi looked at the two women, who were well covered up, and nodded in satisfaction, a sense of fulfillment surging within him.


    Whether it was the entries or Lisa herself.


    Lisa''s facial features were becoming more exquisite, and coupled with her small face and the unique witch''s attire, she would be irresistible to some with particular tastes.


    As for Maria, there was even less need to say; her flawless appearance and slender figure, capped by her long and straight legs, spoke for themselves.


    The most important thing was that she was wearing a black, tight-fitting combat suit today, which outlined her perfect figure, and Xu Yi, who had already reviewed her, was feeling a bit restless.


    That''s why they attracted so much attention. The love of beauty is common to all; standing in the square, people couldn''t help but take a few more glances.


    Maria''s tight combat suit was at Ailan''s request, not to highlight her figure, but to fight better.


    When Ailan fought, she would use her physical prowess to the max, high kicks and back spin kicks were just the basics, and sometimes her body would even fold significantly.


    In such cases, a pretty dress or non-elastic garments would severely restrict her movements.


    That''s why she needed this kind of specialized combat suit.


    Xu Yi and Lisa, of course, had their combat suits as well, with Xu Yi wearing a modified bulletproof vest inside and a long coat outside.


    The purpose of the long coat was mainly to conceal the Alchemy Revolver and the Annabelle doll at his waist.


    Sometimes, under the cover of the long coat, both could become "hidden weapons".


    Lisa''s situation was similar to Xu Yi''s: a bulletproof vest on the inside and a comparatively loose witch''s attire on the outside, with large cloth pockets sewn into the fabric.


    If Black Carp was unfortunately injured, she could put it into the cloth pocket and carry it with her.


    The combat suits for the three of them were all designed according to their individual fighting styles.


    It wasn''t supposed to be possible to get the finished product so quickly, but after Xu Yi provided two Fire Gui portraits, the other party managed to compress two days'' worth of work into one night, all without sacrificing quality.


    "All exorcists, please proceed to your respective squads the operation is about to begin..."


    The loudspeakers started to broadcast the message, Xu Yi stood up, took a deep breath, finally, it was starting!


    "Remember not to charge too far forward, nor fall too far behind later on; staying in the middle is best, while also staying alert to all around you..."


    Xu Yi was imparting the "Slacking Technique" to the other two while waiting for their squad leader. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The operation was conducted in squads, with about fifty people in each squad, a mix of exorcists and soldiers. Stay tuned for updates on empire


    "This squad will be under my command, follow me!"


    A tall figure clad in camouflage combat suit appeared before them, and Xu Yi, after seeing the person''s face, was a bit surprised.


    "Entos?"


    The other person had been one of the overall commanders of the operation before, so why had he fallen to the point of leading such a small squad?


    "Because of the incident down in the sewers the other day, I''ve been punished," Entos recognized Xu Yi and briefly explained.


    Xu Yi nodded, having a rough idea of what had happened.


    The armored vehicles started, and the squads headed towards their designated locations; it was perhaps a coincidence, but their squad''s destination was the very sewer entrance where they had intercepted the rat plague that day.


    "Dismount and check your weapons!" Entos ordered.


    Everyone silently checked their weapons, and in addition to their own Exorcism Artifacts, the exorcists also carried firearms to deal with those black rats.


    Xu Yi was still using his usual set-up, the Dagger of Rest at his left waist and the Alchemical Revolver Messiah at his right waist, all of which was possible thanks to Annabelle''s Treasure Box.


    Maria silently opened the long, rectangular box beside her and took out an alloy sword.


    As she strapped the alloy sword behind her, her gaze suddenly sharpened, at this moment, Ailan took control of her body.


    In such a dangerous battle setting, Ailan was naturally more suited.


    Ailan had learned many fighting arts, combat sports, punch techniques, taekwondo... and then she found that what suited her best was actually swordsmanship.


    This alloy sword was specially commissioned by Ailent, who had used his connections and spent a lot of money to have it made.


    Lisa also had her "signature weapon," a pair of heavy steel knuckles, which took her further down the path of being a violent little loli.


    Having finished checking their weapons, the group headed towards the sewer entrance.


    Along the way, three more squads entered; the tasks for each might have minor differences, but they all shared the same entrance.


    The mouse corpses at the entrance had been cleaned up, but the intense stench was still present, causing everybody to become tense unconsciously.

 Chapter 121 Sudden Insight x Marksmanship Spiritual Communion

    Xu Yi adhered to the initial strategic principle, hiding in the middle of the team, with Lisa and Maria by his side.As the team delved deeper, the rustling sounds from the depths of the sewer reached them, and Xu Yi instantly became alert, gripping the government-issued carbine in his hands.


    "Stay close to me as much as possible, and if we get separated, remember to use the communicator on you to get in touch!" Xu Yi reminded them with concern.


    He had three communicators in his pocket, one for each of his companions, Lisa and Maria, and another miniature button communicator secretly given to him by Chen Lin.


    He took Chen Lin''s communicator because he had a hunch that Chen Lin might appear here.


    This was just a precaution. If Chen Lin''s communicator turned out to be useful, that would be great; if not, it didn''t matter, as it didn''t take up much space.


    Lisa nodded in agreement while Ailan''s attention was already entirely focused ahead.


    A mass of shadows approached, and Xu Yi, seeing the "old friends," decisively pulled the trigger to heartily greet them.


    The sound of gunfire erupted as the surging rat swarm exploded into a flurry of blood.


    "Be careful!" Entos called out loudly as he watched the black rat horde getting closer.


    He was seriously lacking in confidence. Although there were far fewer black rats than before, their successful blockade last time was largely due to the geographical advantage.


    Previously, they only needed to watch one direction, but now it was different, this was the black rats'' territory, and danger could come from all around.


    A black rat lunged from the top of the passageway, aiming straight for the center of the team.


    Before Entos could even warn them, a bullet suddenly pierced through the black rat''s skull, splattering its brain matter.


    He looked toward the shooter, and Xu Yi gestured to Entos with a "no need to thank me" sign.


    Entos could not hide the surprise on his face. When Xu Yi had infiltrated among the soldiers yesterday, he observed for a moment before attending to his own matters.


    He clearly remembered that the other''s marksmanship was only mediocre, barely a beginner.


    Yet in less than a day, how had his shooting skills improved to such an extent?


    To know, hitting a high-speed moving target is very difficult. Even if it was him shooting just now, he wouldn''t have been 100% certain of hitting his mark.


    Initially, he thought it was a fluke, but after observing Xu Yi for a while, he was utterly astonished; the other''s marksmanship could be described as "Sure Shot."


    "Xu Yi! You use this grenade launcher!" Entos quickly walked up to Xu Yi and handed him the grenade launcher he was carrying.


    Xu Yi didn''t refuse. Though he hadn''t used this kind of gun much, the power of the Entries lay in allowing seamless handling of any type of gun, provided one had enough progress.


    He aimed at a dense cluster of black rats and pulled the trigger.


    The grenade flew out and exploded with a roar, turning into a fireball that engulfed a large number of the black rats.


    "Well done! Keep it up!"


    Entos promptly handed Xu Yi an incendiary bomb, loading it into the chamber of the modified grenade launcher that could fire various types of ammunition.


    Xu Yi didn''t say anything because three black rats had already breached the line, charging straight at him.


    He stretched out his empty left hand, pulled out the Desert Eagle from Entos''s waist, and fired three shots at the incoming targets.


    With his Supra-dynamic Vision coupled with his impressive marksmanship, he was like a gun god on the battlefield; the three black rats were instantly killed.


    Xu Yi, with the Desert Eagle in his left hand and the grenade launcher in his right, became enthralled in the killing, his efficiency matching that of the entire team.


    Seeing Xu Yi''s ferocious performance, Entos decisively assigned a soldier to him, specifically to help him reload.


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    [Marksmanship +2, current progress: 74]


    [Marksmanship +3, current progress: 77]


    ...


    In a trance, Xu Yi entered a mysterious state, feeling as if the gun in his hand had become a part of his body, as easy to wield as his own fingers.


    He didn''t even need to aim deliberately; he just needed to pull the trigger, and the bullets would hit wherever he wished them to be.


    The continuous gunfire and the pervasive gunsmoke did not stop Xu Yi from having the spare energy to observe Ailan and Lisa.


    Ailan''s marksmanship was not inferior to Xu Yi''s; however, she lacked the Ability of Supra-dynamic Vision, and couldn''t achieve the "Sure Shot" realm like Xu Yi could, but she had no problem dealing with the black rats.


    Lisa''s marksmanship was very average, and hitting the swiftly moving black rats could only rely on luck.


    But she didn''t even try to shoot those fast-moving black rats, instead aiming at the swarm¡ªsuch a large target was hard to miss.


    Lisa paid no attention to the black rats nearing her, because the Black Carp protected her.


    The combat power of the Black Carp was unexpectedly strong; its sharp claws easily pierced through the black rats, moving faster than them. Before the rats got close to Lisa, they were already hunted down.


    The other exorcists also displayed their Divine Skills, naturally well-prepared knowing they were up against these black rats.


    The soldiers'' reloading speed could not satisfy Xu Yi; he took several guns from Entos''s hand. Once the bullets in one gun were spent, he immediately switched to the next, and spent cartridges littered the ground.


    The soldier responsible for reloading was sweating profusely, never having thought that just reloading could put him under such pressure.


    The roar of guns was deafening, and everyone was in awe of Xu Yi''s inscrutable marksmanship, uttering exclamations of amazement.


    At that moment, Xu Yi had only one thought in mind: speed! He needed to pull the trigger faster! Aim faster!


    His pupils became wooden, his mind more focused than ever before.


    If Xu Yi looked back on this event later, he would definitely realize that he had entered into a state of Sudden Insight¡ªa legendary state that one could only encounter by chance.


    After an unknown amount of time, Xu Yi suddenly stopped shooting and looked at the guns in his hands, dazed, because he could no longer see a single living black rat.


    Unbeknownst to him, the swarm of black rats had been wiped out.


    [Marksmanship +2, Current Progress: 100/100]


    Xu Yi suddenly had a new enlightenment; the guns in his hand seemed to come to life, and he could feel the breath of the guns.


    Taking advantage of the moment of Sudden Insight, he had actually managed to bring out the Marksmanship Entries!


    [Eyes of Obscurity +3, Current Progress: 94/100]


    The current number of black rats was far less than before; otherwise, even if Xu Yi performed spectacularly, it would not have been possible to eradicate them with just their few squads alone.


    "Good job!"


    Xu Yi patted the shoulder of the soldier beside him, who was surprised and flattered by the recognition, instinctively standing straight and saluting Xu Yi.


    After a fierce battle, as everyone was resting, Entos came over to Xu Yi, lowered his voice, and said, "Actually, our squads are just to draw fire. The real trump card is not us." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi understood Entos''s meaning, which was to tell him to take it easy and not to exert himself to the point of injury.


    Although his zealous rat killing had nothing to do with what Entos thought, he nodded anyway, accepting Entos''s kindness.


    "What is the real trump card?" Xu Yi suddenly became curious.


    Entos hesitated for a moment, then spoke in an even lower voice, "The government has enlisted a Great Exorcist, as well as numerous elite exorcists, to form an extermination squad. They''re planning an ambush to draw out the source of the curse... Don''t spread this information."


    There was no doubt that this information was top secret and not something Entos would know if he hadn''t been a commander.


    Xu Yi suddenly thought of Chen Lin; if he was a government operative, it was very likely they would use the fact that Chen Lin had come into contact with a Cursed Item to trace the source of the curse backward.


    "Next, it''s time to integrate the Gunfight Technique Entries!" Xu Yi looked at his panel, expectant.


    What he hadn''t noticed was that, in his pocket, the Miniature Button Communicator given to him by Chen Lin suddenly lit up.

 Chapter 122 The Appearance of the Curses Origin

    In the lengthy sewer, Chen Lin walked with trepidation, surrounded by a group of exorcists, who in turn were encircled by a squad of fully-armed soldiers.Enveloped layer upon layer, he advanced towards the depths of the sewer.


    "Father Notting, you''re not planning to sacrifice me, are you?" Chen Lin''s face was a picture of misery, as he turned to look at the elderly priest beside him whose hair and beard were already frosty with age.


    Father Notting was quite old, but he still appeared full of vigor, striding along briskly.


    "Sacrifice is what heretics do; we''re Catholics, we don''t engage in such acts," Father Notting explained with a smile.


    "Then, can you let me go? Doesn''t Catholicism preach that God is merciful to all?" Chen Lin asked, using a negotiating tone.


    "Of course, there''s no problem; you can leave right now!" Father Notting gestured invitingly.


    A gleam of surprise burst in Chen Lin''s eyes. He walked incredulously towards the exit, "So I can really leave?"


    The exorcists enclosing him stepped aside, making way for him.


    After a few quick steps, Chen Lin hesitated and turned back.


    "Mr. Chen Lin, could it be that you''ve had a change of heart and decided to help our Lord eliminate the demons here?" Father Notting asked with a smile brimming across his face.


    "Do I have any other choice?" Chen Lin''s smile was uglier than a cry. Experience new tales on empire


    The soldiers protecting him outside were locked in a fierce struggle with a swarm of rats. Once he left this protective circle, he would likely be gnawed to a skeleton by the rats within minutes.


    "Don''t worry, you just need to cooperate well, and you''ll be fine!" An exorcist came over to reassure Chen Lin.


    Chen Lin gave a wry smile without responding; how could he not be worried?


    "Father Notting is a Great Exorcist, and we''ve also brought a special artifact from the War God Repository to ensure this exorcism goes off without a hitch," the exorcist said confidently.


    If the exorcists involved in the operation outside were here, they would certainly curse their slyness; the information provided by the government for the War God Repository at best included first-level artifacts, with no special artifacts at all.


    "Mr. Chen Lin, are you interested in joining Els Exorcism Studio?"


    The exorcist invited Chen Lin, who had encountered the source of the curse and remained only mentally exhausted after such a long time, clearly having a special constitution.


    This was something not only Xu Yi could see but the other exorcists as well.


    "Right now, I just want to go back to Chinatown and sell sesame seed cakes!" Chen Lin had been living in fear these past few days; he was already tired of it.


    The sound of gunfire gradually died down. The oncoming horde of black rats had been vanquished, and although there were many casualties among the soldiers, they finally reached the deeper parts of the sewer.


    "Let''s do it here!" Father Notting looked around and said softly, finding a wide platform conveniently located there.


    The exorcists leaped onto the platform one after another, as Chen Lin curiously watched them take out a plethora of peculiar items, including cracked glass beads, unnameable masks, and bizarre statues... They arranged these items in specific positions.


    The priests from the church also began to bustle about, opening copper-colored metal canisters containing thick purple liquid.


    Dipping their brushes into the purple liquid, the priests squatted on the platform to paint with focused attention, unaffected by the stench of the nearby gutter wafting over.


    After about half an hour of bustling about, an incredibly complex pattern appeared before Chen Lin, connecting those strange objects to each other, forming a huge array.


    Chen Lin couldn''t discern the intricacies but could tell that painting the array took a great deal of mental strength; the priests were exhausted and sat on the ground to rest after they finished.


    Father Notting took out a bottle of spray that looked somewhat like an air freshener, and when sprayed, it indeed emitted a fragrant scent.


    But when Father Notting sprayed the liquid on the array, something magical happened... The array eerily disappeared.


    Chen Lin''s eyes widened in disbelief. If it were just the purple lines on the ground that had disappeared, he could have understood¡ªit might have been something like an erasable marker.


    But the strange items that had been placed on the platform had vanished as well, as if everything he had seen was just an illusion.


    "Don''t ever take this off!"


    Chen Lin suddenly felt a coolness at his brow, and while he was lost in his thoughts, Father Notting had already reached his side and pressed something that looked like agar against his forehead.


    "This will save your life," Father Notting patted the stunned Chen Lin. "Go! Go to the center of the Array, you don''t have to do anything, just stay there!"


    Chen Lin walked to the center of the Array subconsciously, and then he saw the troops retreat, leaving only the exorcists hiding in the shadows.


    Father Notting took out a new spray bottle and sprayed the exorcists with it, making them invisible to Chen Lin as well, as if he was the only person in the sewer, so quiet that he could hear his own breathing.


    Chen Lin was tormented by this eerie silence, and as time ticked away, just as he was about to scream, he caught a glimpse of a shadow at the corner.


    The shadow appeared without warning, with no sound of breathing or footsteps, as though it had always been there.


    Tremendous fear overcame Chen Lin. The shadow was not very tall, similar in size to an average adult.


    But he still felt a suffocating pressure from it, as if the air had solidified and he could not breathe in any oxygen.


    The shadow''s outline vaguely resembled that of a person, but when the figure stepped out of the shadows, Chen Lin knew he was grossly mistaken.


    It was a Giant Rat, standing on its hind legs with slender limbs, more akin to a human than a rat, yet its front paws were unmistakably those of a rat.


    Chen Lin''s breathing sped up involuntarily; he had seen it before. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No, to be precise, he had seen a statue of it.


    Its body was as dark as ink, with only the pupils a strange, eerie white. He had held that statue in his hands, and it had been no bigger than the size of his palm.


    As Chen Lin observed the Ratman, the Ratman was observing him too, showing a human-like expression of doubt on its rat-like face.


    In its vision, Chen Lin was not a human but another black rat, similar in appearance.


    Not just in appearance, but also in scent, the scent of the other was almost identical to its own.


    The Ratman walked straight towards Chen Lin, muttering unintelligible words. Chen Lin''s back was completely drenched in cold sweat.


    He glanced instinctively toward the corner, where the exorcists were concealed.


    "Someone help! Help me!" Chen Lin cried out in his heart, his body shaking uncontrollably.


    The Ratman was getting closer and closer, and Chen Lin could smell the stench coming from it.


    Just as he was about to panic and bolt, the sound of footsteps suddenly erupted, and Chen Lin felt those footsteps sounded like heavenly music.


    The Ratman turned its head cautiously, but then it froze, as if its body had been immersed in amber that was about to solidify, completely unable to move.


    Underneath it, the purple Array suddenly appeared, bursting forth with a dazzling light.


    "Chen Lin! Get out of there now!"


    Upon hearing Father Notting''s words, Chen Lin ran from the Array as if granted a pardon, taking shelter behind the exorcists and finally heaving a sigh of relief.


    The Ratman observed the large group of exorcists emerging from the shadows with a meaningful look on its face, its pale pupils staring straight at Father Notting.

 Chapter 123 Ongoing Suppression with Soul Jade

    In the sewers, each squad had just gone through a fierce battle and, without any concern for the dirty ground, simply sat down right where they were.Xu Yi''s gaze was scattered, which to others seemed due to exhaustion from the recent fight. In fact, he was focusing on the Furnace in the system panel.


    As the entries for Marksmanship and Combat techniques melted away, the path to synthesize Gunfight Technique fell into the Furnace, and a new entry was slowly born.


    [Gunfight Technique: (Common Green)


    Mystical marksmanship and flexible combat skills fuse perfectly, multiplying your combat power several times over.]


    Xu Yi originally thought the synthesis of two Common White entries would at best be an Epic Common entry, but he didn''t expect it to be of a green tier.


    This indirectly demonstrated the practical effectiveness of Gunfight Technique.


    He closed his eyes slightly, as a torrent of memories flooded into his mind: how to reload bullets quickly, how to fire a gun at the most opportune moment...


    A moment later, he opened his eyes slowly, and they were sharp as knives.


    At this point, he had become an expert in Gunfight Technique, one who had studied it devotedly for decades.


    Entos, seeing Xu Yi suddenly reveal his sharp edge, was a bit puzzled. Had the Giant Rat pack come again?


    He followed Xu Yi''s gaze and his pupils suddenly contracted.


    There were no Giant Rat packs, only a single Giant Rat, but this one''s size was hundreds of times that of a regular black rat and compared to an adult wild boar.


    "Fire! Fire now!" Engels shouted, ordering his troops.


    The others spotted the enormous black rat too, and without any rest, they shouldered their guns and pulled the trigger.


    The deafening gunfire erupted once more, but Entos''s heart was still suspended in mid-air.


    The bullets hit the Giant Rat, sparking small splashes of blood, but the bullets were far from enough to penetrate it. The creature''s skin was extremely tough; after the bullets pierced its skin, they were unable to advance any further.


    The Giant Rat let out a piercing scream and charged toward the group.


    The faces of all the soldiers changed color; the guns in their hands were virtually ineffective. It was only Hand Grenades or Incendiary Bombs that could slightly delay the adversary.


    A deep chanting suddenly rose. Three exorcists dressed in identical attire stepped forward, each holding an engraving of Thorn Flower and bowing their heads in prayer.


    Mysterious forces acted upon the Giant Rat, which let out an agonized howl, its body steaming with black smoke.


    Entos, watching this scene, finally felt a slight relief.


    As the black smoke dispersed, the Giant Rat''s body strength dropped by several levels.


    The bullets penetrated its body, and in a short moment, the Giant Rat was covered in wounds, its speed significantly reduced.


    "Make way!"


    Entos heard a familiar voice from behind him, and a surge of joy filled his heart as he quickly stepped aside.


    The whizzing Hand Grenade flew past him, tracing a perfect arc in the air, and precisely hit the Giant Rat in its left eye.


    The Hand Grenade exploded inside the Giant Rat''s eye socket, with a large splash of blood scattering, and the Giant Rat howled miserably, no longer able to continue running, it plunged into the sewage ditch, dirty water splashing in all directions.


    Entos turned his head to look at Xu Yi holding a grenade launcher, admiration filling his heart.


    Hitting the eye of a Giant Rat running at high speed with a grenade launcher was unimaginably difficult.


    He could feel that Xu Yi''s marksmanship had advanced yet again. Every time he thought Xu Yi had reached his limit, Xu Yi always managed to surprise him.


    The Giant Rat struggled in the sewage ditch, and Xu Yi watched with inward alarm.


    The creature''s vitality was astonishing; the previous grenade had not only shattered one of its eyes but also blasted off half of its head, and even dried out its brains, yet it still managed to move!


    But he quickly became joyful because the Giant Rat in front of him also belonged to the demon category.


    He reached into his pocket, where it was empty¡ªa mere pretense, as he was actually communicating with the Treasure Box of Annabelle. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As his hand emerged from his pocket, a large clump of red wire spilled out.


    This time, the red wire was not ordinary cotton thread but specially made steel wire, supple and easy to wield while capable of hoisting several hundred pounds without snapping.


    Last time when facing Bashiba, he hadn''t had the chance to properly prepare due to the rush.


    Once back in New York, he specifically had these steel wires custom-made, soaking the threads in his own blood to create Soul Sealing threads.


    The Soul Sealing threads writhed as if alive, and under Annabelle''s control, they swept toward the Giant Rat, ensnaring it.


    The exorcists present, after their initial astonishment, suddenly realized.


    This "companion" endowed with mystical marksmanship wasn''t just a soldier, but an exorcist like them, possessing supernatural abilities.


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    With the help of many exorcists and soldiers, the Giant Rat grew increasingly weak.


    The Soul Sealing threads tightened, and the Giant Rat''s body, tough enough to withstand bullets, was now as fragile as foam, being sliced into pieces by the sharp threads.


    Xu Yi retracted the Soul Sealing threads, and unnoticed by anyone, at the center of the thread bundle lay a rough little bead.


    That was a Soul Jade created by suppressing the essence of a Giant Rat''s soul.


    [Soul Jade+3, Current Progress: 11/100]


    Xu Yi felt a bit elated. This sewer was truly a feng shui treasure for him, first with his Marksmanship Entries being maxed out, then the absorption of the Fog of Obscurity, and now he could suppress more Soul Jades.


    The souls of the smaller black rats were too weak to be suppressed into Soul Jades. The enormous black rat before him was closer to some kind of Lesser Demon.


    The newly created Soul Jade was directly thrown into Anna''s Toy Treasure Box.


    Within the space of the Treasure Box, under Anna''s control, the Soul Jade flew towards the corner where bullets were already engraved with Necromantic Spells but had not yet been sealed with a soul.


    Xu Yi did not value the souls of weak animals, and powerful animal souls were hard to find, so those bullets had been set aside in the space of the Treasure Box.


    The Soul Jade rolled next to the bullets, and in an instant, the soul within was absorbed by the bullets.


    Naturally, the Soul Jade could serve as material for "Soul Sealing," as it was already a product of suppressing a Demon''s soul.


    Even the Exorcism Bullets crafted from Soul Jades would be more potent.


    The souls of Demons were inherently more powerful than those of animals, and the essence of suppressing the Soul Jade was a form of soul refinement and purification, which could further improve the quality of the soul.


    Xu Yi suddenly became quite anticipative about how powerful the Exorcism Bullets made this way might be.


    The ground shook slightly as another Giant Rat attacked, followed by a large swarm of black rats.


    "Lisa! Ailan! Get closer to me!"


    Xu Yi wasn''t just protecting the two of them, he also needed their strength to collaboratively hunt the Giant Rats and suppress more Soul Jades.


    With the appearance of the Giant Rats, the battle instantly escalated, and casualties among soldiers and exorcists soared.


    Despite the three of them being preoccupied with their own survival, they still actively sought out the Giant Rats to reduce the pressure on everyone else.


    It was unclear how long the melee lasted, but Xu Yi''s clothes were soaked with sweat and he was breathing heavily.


    They had hunted down a total of twelve Giant Rats, and by now Xu Yi was starting to feel weary.


    In contrast, Lisa and Ailan beside him were faring better. Lisa had only a light sweat on her forehead, and Ailan looked as if nothing had happened.


    Xu Yi had many Entries, but the only one that could strengthen his body was a Common White-level Combat Technique.


    Both Lisa and Ailan, however, had Entries that specifically enhanced their bodies.


    "It looks like I need to find a way to get the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entry sooner!"


    I can''t be physically weaker than the girls, right? Otherwise, I''d have no initiative in bed, which would be a disaster!


    The swarm of rats was temporarily repelled, and Xu Yi''s taut nerves relaxed a little, allowing him to become slightly distracted.


    The system''s notification came through, and a satisfied smile appeared on Xu Yi''s face.


    [Soul Jade+3, Current Progress: 44/100]


    Unbeknownst to him, the Soul Jade Entry was nearing the halfway mark.


    This Entry was filled with unknowns, and unknowns are often synonymous with miracles; he had high expectations for this Entry.


    Suddenly, the ground thundered, and Xu Yi''s face changed as he gripped his gun tightly.


    From the depth of the sewer, more than twenty Giant Rats surged out, their pupils flashing with bloodthirsty light, fixating on the people.


    "Run!" Xu Yi turned and fled, not forgetting to alert Lisa and Ailan by his side.


    One Giant Rat they could easily deal with, two they could barely manage, but facing over twenty was impossible to handle.


    As the battle ensued, more and more squads naturally converged, and two to three hundred people had already gathered here.


    Now everyone was running for their lives together; the sewer was cramped, and Xu Yi was quickly separated from the others.


    In the surging crowd, Xu Yi tried to find Lisa and Ailan again but realized it was impossible, and he could only be carried along by the flow of people.


    Giant Rats broke into the crowd, causing mass slaughter. Due to the congestion, Xu Yi could hardly move.


    Xu Yi knew this was no solution, so when they passed a junction, he decisively charged into it, with some others hesitating for a moment before following him.


    The routes in New York''s sewer were intricate and riddled with junctions; as people ran through different passages, the crowd and the black rats dispersed more and more.


    Xu Yi stopped running and caught his breath. For a moment, he saw no sign of the Giant Rats following.


    The first thing he did was not to look for a communicator, but to check the system''s Bonds panel, where Lisa''s and Maria''s names were still lit up, which brought him relief.


    This was the last guarantee for Lisa and Maria. If their names vanished from the Bonds panel, it meant that the other had died.


    At that point, he would unhesitatingly use a Resurrection Coin.


    "Who''s there?"


    Xu Yi turned sharply, eyeing the corner behind him with vigilance.

 Chapter 124 The Dark Realm

    Xu Yi stared at the corner, a tall figure slowly emerged from there, with grizzled hair, yet his body was bulging with muscles, and his eyes were narrow, giving a very uncomfortable feeling."Who are you, and why are you following me?" Xu Yi frowned and eyed the other person.


    He had actually noticed someone behind him earlier, but he thought it was just another exorcist who happened to be taking the same route, until he found the other person hiding in a corner and spying on him, which confirmed that he was targeted.


    "My name is Calari, you might not recognize me, but you should be familiar with Silver Cross Exorcism Studio, familiar with Maji, I am his father," the man stared intently at Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi was either not hearing or not caring, silently watching the entrance to the sewer, his gaze not even on Calari.


    Calari''s eyes suddenly reddened, fury rising in his heart. As an avenger seeking vengeance for his son, he was being ignored by his enemy.


    He was about to pull out his pistol and end the other''s life.


    But he suddenly froze; as a seasoned exorcist, even if his anger was uncontrollable, he still maintained the habit of being alert to his surroundings.


    It was too quiet, too quiet behind him!


    Seconds before, he could still hear all kinds of noises behind him, the rats hunting, people fleeing, there couldn''t be a lack of sound, but now all the noises had vanished.


    He sensed that something abnormal had happened, and his muscles tensed.


    The sewer suddenly darkened, although it hadn''t been very bright before, but at least the sunlight would occasionally stream down from the manhole cover, allowing people to see the things around them clearly.


    Now that sunlight had all disappeared.


    Could it be nightfall already?


    He suddenly realized it was impossible, the operation had started in the morning, and at most, only five or six hours had passed.


    Logically, it was supposed to be brightly sunny at noon, and the sewer should be even brighter.


    Cold sweat slid down his forehead... Although it was dark before, at least he could still vaguely see some outlines. But in the moment of thought, he suddenly couldn''t see anything, not even his hand when he extended it, the whole area seemed to be immersed in thick ink.


    This place was already isolated, a Different Space created by a Demon! Calari suddenly realized.


    His breathing became rapid, past exorcism experiences telling him that Demons capable of creating this kind of Different Space were exceptionally powerful beings.


    A whooshing sound suddenly came from beside him, the sound of a sharp blade slicing through the air creating a sonic boom.


    Calari instinctively dodged to the side while drawing his pistol at his waist, ready to retaliate.


    At that moment, his back suddenly hit something, his chest felt chilly, followed by a surge of intense pain.


    Calari pushed away whatever was behind him and with shaking hands, took a white jade statue of Jesus from his backpack and smashed it to the ground forcefully.


    The white jade statue shattered, and the scattered fragments burst into dazzling white light.


    The dark space was temporarily illuminated, and as Calari looked down, he saw that a dagger had pierced through his chest, and blood wouldn''t stop flowing.


    Behind him, the white glow revealed two slender figures.


    The ones who had ambushed him were these two people, their pupils black as ink, as if condensing two dark clouds.


    Calari''s breaths became ragged, his chest heaving like a broken bellows, his lungs had been punctured, and he would soon die from excessive blood loss.


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    Was he going to die here?


    He couldn''t suppress the fear in his heart, his body uncontrollably trembling.


    He wasn''t ambushed easily due to carelessness, but because of this special space.


    This Darklands swallowed light, the white jade statue of Jesus was an Exorcism Artifact, which was why it could illuminate the place; if it had been a common flashlight, it probably wouldn''t have shone any light at all.


    But the white jade statue of Jesus could only illuminate momentarily.


    "At least I can count it as avenging Maji, that makes it worth it!"


    Calari''s lips curled into a smile, he looked towards Xu Yi, expecting to see his miserable state, but his smile suddenly froze on his face.


    The other party was not dead, with three people trying to finish him off¡ªone more than Xu Yi¡ªyet he still seemed to be handling himself with ease.


    Why was the other party unharmed?


    When he saw the other party''s eyes, he was slightly taken aback; the pupils were a grayish white, clearly not something common humans possessed.


    Could those eyes see in the dark?


    Kalari was filled with rage. Why could the other party have such a Talent? Why was it his son who died and not the other party?


    From those exorcists involved, he learned the entire process of his son''s death.


    In his view, if it hadn''t been for Xu Yi deliberately provoking his son, if it hadn''t been for Xu Yi setting a trap intentionally, his son would never have died.


    If Xu Yi knew what the other was thinking, he would surely exclaim ''like father, like son''; both of them had that same kind of extreme selfishness.


    Kalari knelt on the ground, feeling the strength being drained from his body bit by bit.


    "It''s fine, even if he can see in the darkness, facing so many attackers, he will surely have nowhere to go but down!" Kalari could only comfort himself in this way.


    Clutching the wound on his chest, he stared fixedly at Xu Yi, trying to see him die in front of him, to go before him.


    Once the two assassins were certain that Kalari had no way out, they headed straight for Xu Yi, preparing to join forces to end the battle sooner.


    Kalari was already at death''s door, but seeing this scene, he still felt a secret pleasure.


    He was already old, with not many good days left. If he could see his son''s enemy die in agony, it would also be a kind of enjoyment.


    But suddenly he had a bad premonition; there was no fear in Xu Yi''s eyes, only a faint smile on his lips.


    This was an expression of extreme confidence.


    Kalari soon found out where such confidence came from. His pupils dilated in shock as he watched the battle unfold.


    It was the first time he had seen someone integrate Martial Arts and Marksmanship to such a degree!


    Sometimes it was impossible to tell when Xu Yi shot. He could only hear a gun shot, and then an assassin would slowly fall. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He also recognized the gun in Xu Yi''s hand¡ªit was the legendary Alchemical Revolver Messiah.


    These killers were naturally not common people; they had all received the Demon''s blessing, possessing strong physiques and mighty Vitality.


    But facing the Exorcism Bullets shot by the Messiah, their demon-blessed bodies didn''t fare too well.


    He suddenly felt ridiculous; he actually thought about taking down Xu Yi single-handedly?


    With Xu Yi''s skills, if they had faced off directly, it was definitely him who would have perished.


    The assassins fell one by one to the sound of gunfire, while Xu Yi''s only suffering was his clothes being torn, with him slightly out of breath.


    Kalari''s pupils were thick with bloodshot veins as he suddenly realized that these assassins couldn''t kill Xu Yi.


    "No! My son is dead, why should he be allowed to live?" Kalari gritted his teeth, his mind made up.


    He wanted to curse Xu Yi, to make him die a miserable death, his body rotting, his soul lost along the Styx.


    The reason he hadn''t done so before was that the price of launching a curse was his soul.


    Once the curse was cast, his soul would be sacrificed, never to be reborn.


    As an exorcist, he was very clear about the consequences of doing this, but at this moment he didn''t care about anything else, he just wanted Xu Yi to die in front of him.


    Kalari took out a metal figurine from his bosom; it was a withered tree with a red-eyed, three-headed snake entwined around it.


    He clenched the figurine tightly, sharp edges piercing his palm, the blood dyeing the three-headed snake red.


    "Oh spirits of the snake that wander within nightmares, I pray to thee here, offering up my soul..."


    Kalari murmured lightly, preparing to curse Xu Yi through the figurine as a medium, to have him die right there.

 Chapter 125 Blue Fire Gatling (Added)

    Kalari was in the midst of conducting the curse ritual when he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder, as if something had landed there.He was momentarily stunned, turning his head to look, and saw a little girl''s doll with braided pigtails, sitting on his shoulder with a sinister smile.


    As he looked at it, the doll was looking back at him, its pale blue pupils gleaming with a mischievousness that seemed almost human.


    An inexplicable fear filled Kalari''s heart, because he realized that something had gone wrong with the curse ritual.


    He hadn''t continued to recite the prayer, so the curse had stopped, and yet now the curse ritual was operating on its own.


    "No! No!" Kalari let out a cry of despair, but it was in vain.


    The curse was out of control, the target was not Xu Yi, but Kalari himself.


    Annabelle, as the puppet of the curse, had usurped the power of the Curse Technique, while her adversary was but an amateur. With just a little tampering in the adversary''s curse ritual, Annabelle could cause the curse to spiral out of control.


    Black mottles of necrosis spread across Kalari''s body, his flesh starting to rot.


    What was worse, the dagger in his chest was slowly drawn out by an unseen force, and a great deal of blood spurted from the wound.


    Kalari could no longer resist the approach of death, falling to the ground with an unwilling face, his eyes wide open in death, filled with regret and remorse within his pupils.


    Xu Yi''s attention wasn''t focused on Kalari at all; his opponent wasn''t worth expending too much mental strength, as Annabelle had dealt with him.


    He looked at the criminal lying in a pool of blood before him, feeling somewhat relieved.


    If he hadn''t unlocked the Eyes of Obscurity''s Night Vision ability and combined the Gunfight Technique entry, which greatly increased his combat capabilities, he didn''t know how many Resurrection Coins he might have wasted here. Continue reading on empire


    More and more figures emerged from the darkness, and Xu Yi could see their faces clearly.


    Most were strangers, but two he recognized very well.


    Bomb Demon Sim! Birdman Andre!


    These two were ruthless serial killers, previously held deep within Klays Prison, and had disappeared during the giant rat infestation attack on the prison.


    Before leaving Lex Prison, out of curiosity, Xu Yi asked Entos for a list of the prisoners who had disappeared.


    He had no idea that he would encounter these people here.


    Along with the criminals, there were also eight giant rats, and a tide-like swarm of black rats.


    Xu Yi looked around, his expression grave, as he found himself completely surrounded.


    "I must break through quickly!" Xu Yi felt a sense of urgency in his heart.


    Lacking information about the source of the curse, Xu Yi couldn''t fathom that his enemy could also control humans.


    If these people were to mingle in a crowd and suddenly attack Lisa and Ailan, would the two be able to react in time?


    This space could isolate signals, rendering communication devices unusable.


    So he must quickly leave this place and contact the two using a communicator to inform them of this news.


    Xu Yi took deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.


    Although he was keen to leave, he knew the difficulty was significant, not just facing the harassment by the rat swarm, the assault of the giant rats, but also the sneak attacks of the vicious criminals.


    Even though he possessed the Gunfight Technique entry, it would inevitably be a grueling battle.


    The Annabelle doll flew back to Xu Yi''s side, hovering in front of him, quietly observing the approaching rat tide.


    "If only there were more helpers!"


    Xu Yi sighed looking at the Annabelle doll, knowing that just the two of them would hardly be enough to handle the situation at hand.


    His eyes caught sight of the criminals on the ground, and they lit up with a spark of an idea.


    He knew where to find assistance!


    The black rat swarms surged forward, but Xu Yi paid them no heed, instead charging towards the fallen criminals.


    The criminals had been shot in vital areas, but because they had been blessed by demons, they possessed tenacious vitality and were still holding on to life.


    "Come! Open your mouth, I''ve got something tasty for you!" Xu Yi took out an irregular bead and shoved it into the criminals'' mouths.


    It was a Soul Jade, compressed from the souls of giant rats; as he had only carved a few Exorcism Bullets, there were still many Soul Jades left.


    The dying criminals had no ability to swallow, but as soon as the Soul Jades entered their mouths, they dissolved into black liquid and flowed into their stomachs.


    The black rats leaped towards Xu Yi, as if a group of ants was about to envelop a piece of rotten meat.


    But their lunging bodies suddenly stopped mid-air, then were sent flying backward.


    Annabelle''s white dress fluttered without any wind, her malevolent control abilities exerted to their fullest extent.


    "Well done!" Xu Yi exclaimed with praise.


    Annabelle''s wicked control ability could actually cosplay as a godly conquest.


    Xu Yi pounced on the next severely injured criminal, brutally stuffing the Soul Jade into the other''s mouth.


    At that moment, he suddenly heard a gunshot and subconsciously dodged to the side. The bullet grazed his clothes as it passed. The ambushing criminal, holding a pistol, stood behind the Giant Rat, watching him coldly.


    Xu Yi raised his hand and fired a shot. The bullet, as if equipped with a tracker, hit the other''s left eye and penetrated his skull.


    With such a severe injury, an ordinary person would have been dead on the ground by now, but the guy still raised his hand, attempting to shoot back.


    The sound of gunfire rang out again, not coming from in front of him but from behind. Xu Yi was suddenly taken aback, wanting to dodge, but it was already too late.


    A white figure lightly landed behind Xu Yi, Annabelle voluntarily taking the bullet for him.


    The bullet hit Annabelle, and she was flung away by the huge inertia, but her body quickly stabilized. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi''s breathing became rapid. He had thought these criminals didn''t have guns.


    These people had initially planned to take him down silently with the suppression of the dark Barrier, not intending to use guns.


    Now that they found the dark Barrier ineffective, naturally, they changed their approach, drawing their guns and aiming to shoot.


    A storm of bullets enveloped Xu Yi, and Annabelle''s small body couldn''t block all the bullets, but a purple-red curtain of air expanded, and Annabelle''s Treasure Box opened.


    The bullets entering the purple-red curtain of air mysteriously disappeared, none getting close to Xu Yi. The defense was almost perfect.


    Xu Yi felt heartache, the reason for "almost" being because the kinetic energy of the bullets persisted before being suppressed into toys after entering the Treasure Box space.


    The bullets struck the purple-red walls, leaving them pockmarked and dented. The only good news was that the walls were not penetrated, which would have been bad.


    Xu Yi quickened his actions, feeding Soul Jade to four criminals, one of whom was already declared dead during the wait.


    Xu Yi grabbed a criminal who had been fed the Soul Jade and threw him with all his might.


    The criminals fell into the swarm of rats and began to undergo astonishing transformations. One criminal burst into pieces mid-air, a bodily collapse caused by the Soul Jade.


    Two criminals'' bodies grew dense blue scales, and their eyes suddenly burst open, filled with bloodshot veins, the result of Demonic mutation from the Soul Jade.


    Another criminal also opened his eyes, which were neither insane with bloodlust nor shrouded in black mist. More miraculously, the wounds on his body began to heal.


    Is this Physical Sublimation? Xu Yi paused for a moment.


    Although these criminals had received the Demon''s blessing, they essentially still belonged to the category of humans.


    Humans who ingest Soul Jade undergo various bizarre changes, each with different probabilities.


    The chances of Demonic mutation or bodily collapse are 95%.


    The probability of the soul dying, forming pure Soul Crystallization, is 4%.


    The remaining hundreds of changes occupy only the remaining 1%, with the likelihood of Physical Sublimation being only about 0.001%.


    Some of the rat swarm suddenly turned direction; their target was no longer Xu Yi but the "Lucky One" who had undergone Physical Sublimation.


    The rats didn''t even reach the Lucky One before being scattered by a nearby Giant Rat.


    That Giant Rat eyed the Lucky One, its pupils conveying utter hunger. To these black rats, a body after Physical Sublimation was a rare delicacy.


    The Giant Rat charged through the rat swarm for the sole purpose of monopolizing this fine meal, letting out an excited roar as it rushed towards the Lucky One.


    Unfortunately, there was more than one Giant Rat present, and the others also wanted to taste this delicious dish.


    "They''re actually fighting each other!" Xu Yi watched the scene in astonishment.


    In their struggle for the sublimated flesh, the rats brutally slew each other, continual shrieks and blood splattering everywhere.


    A smile of delight crept across Xu Yi''s face. Although it was a bit unexpected, there was no doubt that the current situation was very favorable to him.


    Beast-like roars sounded as two criminals on the brink of death stood up again. After their Demonic transformation, they had lost all reason; not even the Demon''s blessing could affect them.


    They roared and lunged out, every living thing in sight their prey.


    The scene became chaotically disorderly in an instant. Xu Yi put away the Alchemical Revolver Messiah because the efficiency of the Revolver was too low.


    "Let me show you what blue fire from a Gatling Gun tastes like!" Xu Yi curled his lips with a mad grin.


    He wasn''t just talking; a Gatling Gun really appeared in his hands.


    If he knew he had to deal with a crowd of black rats, how could he not be prepared?


    Ailent had pulled strings with an arms dealer, acquiring a batch of weapons stored inside Annabelle''s Treasure Box.


    The reason he hadn''t used it till now was that the Gatling Gun was extremely heavy, and he could only cover one direction, leaving his back vulnerable.


    Moreover, with so many people and black rats before him, even wielding a Gatling wouldn''t have been enough to cope.


    But the situation had changed. Three criminals who mutated after ingesting Soul Jade disrupted the perfect encirclement; Xu Yi suddenly felt a drastic drop in pressure.

 Chapter 126 Not a Demon!

    The Gatling gun began to spin, its roar like thunder, as bullets swept in all directions."Let''s see how you like being besieged!" Xu Yi finally got a chance to vent his anger.


    But soon, a new problem arose. After all, there were only two demonic corpses, and once the criminals caught on, they quickly killed them on the spot.


    The Lucky One had only just experienced an elevation in his physical state before being torn apart and fed to the bellies of different Giant Rats.


    Xu Yi could only search for new targets, feeding them Soul Jades to create more demonic corpses.


    For the time to come, Xu Yi was extremely busy, dodging Rat swarms while looking for opportunities to kill Giant Rats, turning their souls into Soul Jades, all the while staying vigilant against thieves'' sneak attacks.


    Thankfully, the Treasure Box of weapons was well-stocked, otherwise he would have run out of ammo long ago.


    Amidst his killing spree, Xu Yi was suddenly sent flying by a dark shadow ¨C it was an extraordinarily tall man, over three meters in height, with bulging muscles.


    "Wild Bull Bill!"


    Xu Yi got up from the ground, his gaze fixated on the adversary, face etched with solemnity.


    In the data provided by Entos, he had read about this man. Even among many serious offenders, Wild Bull Bill ranked among the top.


    However, the person before him did not match the information he read. Although the man in the data was tall, he was just a strong man standing at two meters, not the three-meter-tall giant before him.


    "It seems that the extent of enhancement is not the same for criminals blessed by demons!"


    Xu Yi took a deep breath, drawing his Alchemical Revolver Messiah while regulating his breathing. He felt the strength of Wild Bull Bill and knew he was in for a tough fight.


    As time passed, Xu Yi stood alone on the ground, breathing heavily, his clothes soaked with sweat, and his body covered with wounds of various sizes. Enjoy new tales from empire


    Wild Bull Bill was tougher than he had imagined, and with the additional harassment from the Black Rats, the battle was extremely tough, fraught with close calls.


    A smile formed at the corner of his mouth.


    "But... in the end, I won!"


    Xu Yi looked up to see Wild Bull Bill''s large body crashing to the ground, a fatal wound at his heart, hit by three special Exorcism Bullets at the same spot.


    "All for Ratma!"


    Wild Bull Bill, on the brink of death, suddenly cried out.


    What''s this? Some last words? Xu Yi was slightly taken aback.


    A sense of dread suddenly exploded in his heart because he felt a gaze upon him, the same gaze he had experienced once before, during his visit to the estate with Chen Lin.


    Wild Bull Bill''s body swelled once more, his aura climbing, but for some unknown reason, just as it was about to peak, his body suddenly deflated, like a punctured balloon.


    Xu Yi stared blankly at the scene before him, unsure what had transpired.


    The strong Wild Bull Bill turned into a withered corpse, and that chilling gaze also faded away.


    "Ratma! Ratma!" Xu Yi quietly repeated the word to himself.


    He was suddenly startled, realizing that it was a name, the name of a demon.


    No, that can''t be right! Demons wouldn''t so easily reveal their True Names like that. For demons, their True Name is their vulnerability.


    But if it were a false name, it wouldn''t make sense either. Why would a demon unnecessarily fabricate a false name for itself? Moreover, a false name wouldn''t have drawn that kind of scrutiny.


    "Not afraid to divulge one''s True Name, and even intentionally spreading it..."


    Xu Yi''s pupils dilated suddenly, and various pieces of the puzzle clicked together in his mind. He realized that the source of the curse wasn''t a demon at all, but an Evil God!


    He felt both shock and delight.


    The shock was because the danger would be manifold greater if his opponent was an Evil God.


    The delight was for Annabelle; if he could suppress the Evil God into Soul Jade, allowing Annabelle to absorb a substantial amount of the Power of the Evil God, her growth would be significant, even if the Treasure Box couldn''t undergo Metamorphosis!


    Otherwise, using the Treasure Box to "block" bullets required utmost caution.


    After the death of Wild Bull Bill, the remaining people and Black Rats could no longer cause trouble and fell to Xu Yi''s gunfire in succession.


    Moments later, as far as the eye could see, there was no living person or scurrying Black Rats left.


    The darkness gradually receded, and light once again descended upon the world. Xu Yi still stood in the sewer, surrounded by dismembered corpses; blood had dyed the stinking ditch red, with not even the bones of Karalary to be found.


    Xu Yi slowly exhaled a breath of relief.


    He had only guessed before, uncertain whether eliminating all the enemies would allow him to leave The Dark Realm.


    The system''s prompt sounded.


    [Soul Jade +18, current progress: 62/100]


    During the fierce battle earlier, he had suppressed quite a few souls of the Giant Rats, and without realizing it, the Soul Jade entry had already reached sixty percent, which was much faster than he had expected.


    His pupils cooled, and the Fog of Obscurity poured into his eyes.


    [Eyes of Obscurity +2, current progress: 94/100]


    The Fog of Obscurity was less than anticipated, mainly because the dark space that unfolded absorbed a portion of the Fog of Obscurity, which Xu Yi found deeply detestable.


    Although the growth of the entries pleased Xu Yi, he only glanced at them briefly and hurriedly searched for his communication device.


    Lisa''s and Ailan''s communicators connected almost simultaneously, their voices coming from the other end.


    "Xu Yi, are you okay? Just now we tried to contact you with the communicators, but we couldn''t find your signal!"


    Xu Yi let out a sigh.


    From the conversation just now, he had gathered quite a bit of information, Lisa and Ailan had not been swept into The Dark Realm.


    "Are you two together?"


    Xu Yi was a bit curious as to whether the two had not been separated by the surging crowd.


    "It was Lisa who found me!" Ailan''s somewhat cold voice came through the communicator.


    "We actually got separated too, it was the Black Carp that led me to find Ailan, the Black Carp could smell her scent." Lisa explained.


    Lisa''s voice suddenly became excited, "The Black Carp says it can smell your scent now! We were about to go find you, but unfortunately the scent disappeared midway."


    "Then I''ll wait for you right here!"


    Xu Yi didn''t turn off the communicator, he found a relatively clean spot, and rested against the wall.


    According to Lisa, they weren''t far from him and should be able to arrive soon.


    The three of them chatted idly over the communicator.


    Through the conversation, he roughly learned what had happened to the two of them; although they weren''t pulled into The Dark Realm, they had encountered an ambush as well.


    Lisa had escaped disaster because of the Black Carp''s warning; before those people got close to Lisa, the "stench" on them had already been detected by the Black Carp.


    The Black Carp''s perception of the mystical was much stronger than Xu Yi, a Psychic. If the Black Carp''s perception ability were to be represented by entries, it would at least be at the green level.


    Ailan was even more straightforward and brutal; in the sewer, all the strangers she encountered were treated as enemies, so ambushes didn''t mean much to her.


    Xu Yi put the communicator back in his pocket, holding it with his hand because it was a bit tiring. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, he noticed something glowing red in his pocket, and upon taking it out, he saw it was the button-sized communicator Chen Lin had given him.


    On the button, the light representing Chen Lin was on.


    "Is the other party really nearby?"


    Out of curiosity, he turned on the button''s switch, and both lights lit up; the signal connected, and a rustling sound came from the other side.


    "Is Chen Lin there?" Xu Yi asked softly.


    He guessed that the other party might be with the government exorcists, so he lowered his voice.


    No one answered.


    Could it be that the other party was in a special situation and couldn''t communicate with him?


    After hesitating for a moment, he didn''t continue to ask, but instead quietly warned, "Watch out for the people around you; they might have already betrayed you!"


    Having said that, he was ready to hang up, after all, he had warned the other party, and it wasn''t in vain that they had known each other.


    "Thank you for the warning, but it''s too late!"


    The voice came from the communicator, and Xu Yi was stunned because it wasn''t Chen Lin''s voice.

 Chapter 127 Total Annihilation

    "Who are you?" Xu Yi stared at the Button Communicator, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.Could it be that after Chen Lin was ambushed and assassinated, the assassin got hold of the Button Communicator?


    But he was a bit puzzled, as those criminals blessed by the Evil God usually became somewhat abnormal, not inclined to talk much.


    Could it be that he had encountered an oddity among assassins?


    "I am Father Notting." The aged and deep voice came through, causing Xu Yi to pause.


    If it were elsewhere, there might be many Father Nottings, but here, there was basically only one possibility.


    The Great Exorcist with a reputation that preceded him, Father Notting.


    Why would the other party have Chen Lin''s communicator?


    Xu Yi was a little puzzled, but felt considerably more at ease, thinking that since Chen Lin was with the Great Exorcist, he should be safe.


    But the next sentence from the other side left him completely stunned.


    "First of all, I owe you an apology, because due to our mistake, your friend has died!" Father Notting''s voice sounded apologetic.


    In the depths of the sewer, area B205.


    The air was permeated with a persistent stench of decay.


    Father Notting looked beside him, where Chen Lin lay quietly, his chest pierced through, his heart gone as if flown away, with his expression of terror frozen on his face.


    Looking past the body of Chen Lin, the ground was splattered with blood mixed with an unidentifiable black liquid.


    Tears silently slid down the corners of Father Notting''s eyes... The blood came from the exorcists he brought with him, 28 from the church and 42 summoned by the government, none spared, all dead here.


    The exorcism had initially gone smoothly, they had successfully drawn out the source of the curse, and used the Array to suppress the opposition, while multiple exorcists attacked in unison, the Ratman screaming miserably, its black blood splattering.


    Although the Ratman''s strength was beyond Father Notting''s expectation, as an experienced Great Exorcist, Father Notting still found its weakness and seriously wounded it with the Exorcism Holy Relic he brought.


    But at that moment, some exorcists suddenly rebelled, launching attacks on those around them.


    There were three rebels in total, and the timing of their rebellion was extremely cunning, coinciding with the most critical moment of the exorcism.


    At that time, everyone''s attention was focused on the Ratman, with no energy to spare for those close by.


    The methods of the traitors were extremely vicious, for they used Hand Grenades, clearly well-prepared.


    Hand Grenades might not be very effective against Demons, but they were deadly weapons against exorcists.


    Especially for exorcists without any special physical abilities, they were essentially mortals.


    "I should have been more cautious!" Father Notting was filled with self-blame.


    Demons could entice humans, they were well aware of this, so after the soldiers cleared the black rat swarm, they had them leave, with only the exorcists staying behind.


    Even the most powerful of Demons would have a hard time convincing an exorcist on the spot, especially under the vigilant eyes of so many elite exorcists ¨C any anomaly would likely be discovered immediately.


    But he never imagined that their target would be an Evil God, and one with strong persuasive powers at that!


    Before the plan even started, exorcists had been bewitched and hidden within the ranks.


    They thought they were hunters, but in reality, they were merely appetizing food in the eyes of the Evil God.


    "I don''t have much time left. I''d like to ask for your help. Contact the higher-ups of the New York government and inform them about what''s happening here!" Father Notting coughed up blood as he spoke.


    He looked down at his chest, which was torn into two halves, with organs pulled out.


    Such a critical injury should have killed him long ago, but he had used a special method to cling to life, while also feigning death, deceiving the Ratman.


    "Why don''t you contact the commander directly?" a puzzled voice came through.


    "I can''t get through. The communicator has been busy; something must have happened on their end," sighed Father Notting.


    Many a mighty empire had collapsed from within, and so had their operation.


    "I''ll try to find a way to contact the city government." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The other party agreed, but there wasn''t a trace of a smile on Father Notting''s face. Their mission''s failure would bring a great disaster to New York.


    Suddenly, something occurred to him, and he asked urgently, "How''s your exorcism ability? Or do you know any powerful exorcists? Oh right, I forgot to ask your name."


    Only a stiff word came through the communicator, "Xu Yi."


    Father Notting''s complexion suddenly brightened, a sign of the deathbed revival; his secret technique would soon lose its effect, and he knew he couldn''t waste any more time.


    "Listen! If you know any powerful exorcists, and if they are also in the sewer, tell them about this," he urged.


    Father Notting spoke faster and faster, "Though we''re decimated, the Demon''s also in bad shape. In our desperate counterattack, especially towards the end, I struck its vital spot with the Exorcism Holy Relic."


    Father Notting coughed violently, spewing a lot of blood, "If we can find it before the Evil God recovers, we might have a chance to kill it!"


    "Where are you?" came Xu Yi''s voice.


    A reluctant smile formed on Father Notting''s lips. He was excited by the implication in Xu Yi''s words. If someone truly found and killed the Evil God, his soul would rest in peace after death.


    "We''re in area B205." Father Notting looked up at the wall in front of him, where a number was written in red paint.


    Because New York''s sewers are complex, to facilitate management, each area is assigned a number. Stay connected through empire


    Without waiting for a response, Father Notting continued, "Judging by your tone, you probably know a powerful exorcist. That''s great! There''s one more very important thing I need to tell you..."


    Father Notting paused, giving Xu Yi time to focus, "The Exorcism Holy Relic was destroyed by the Evil God, but I hid some of the fragments in secret, and preserved the relic''s divinity within my own body."


    Father Notting''s face grew more flushed, "The Holy Artifact''s remains are inside my body. When you find me, cut open my stomach, and you''ll find them."


    He took a deep breath, "Lastly, don''t mind an old man''s rambling, but the Demon has powerful regenerative abilities, so you must act quickly!"


    "I understand," Xu Yi''s earnest voice came through.


    Father Notting let out a long sigh of relief. This was the last thing he could do.


    He suddenly looked up as if peering into an unknown distance, his eyes glinting with memories, murmuring softly, "May the Holy Light prevail!"


    Just one second before, he had looked flush with life, speaking earnestly.


    But the next second, his eyes suddenly closed, his body lying flat on the ground, breathless, as if death had occurred without a process, and life and death were separated by mere moments.


    Father Notting''s body grew completely cold, yet his hands were still tightly clutching his abdomen.

 Chapter 128 The Relics of Saint OHagan

    Xu Yi quietly stared at the Button Communicator, from which no more sound came forth; the fate of Father Notting was self-evident, and in his heart, he silently said, "Rest in peace!"He remained silent for a moment before swiftly taking out the map from Annabelle''s toy Treasure Box.


    Before entering the sewer, he had naturally made adequate preparations, and the map of the sewers was one of them.


    He quickly found the location of area B205 and realized that it wasn''t too far away.


    Xu Yi planned the nearest route, then put away the map and sprinted with all his might.


    He felt a flicker of excitement; Father Notting had no reason to deceive him, and now was indeed the best opportunity to exterminate the Evil God.


    Moreover, according to Father Notting, the Evil God had astonishing regenerative powers, which meant that if they could kill him, there was a great chance of obtaining a fragment of the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entry.


    "I have something very important to do! Wait for me in a safe place!"


    Xu Yi picked up the communicators for Lisa and Ailan and quickly finished speaking, then hung up the communicators as he now had to race against time.


    He didn''t have time to wait for Lisa and the others, and he didn''t want them to risk danger either, knowing that his opponent was an Evil God.


    Ratma was undoubtedly not as fearsome as the Evil God backed by the Ram Cult, but this time, they weren''t facing a mere projection of the Evil God but a truly resurrected one!


    On his way, he encountered a swarm of black rats, but he didn''t stop, running headlong with Annabelle''s evil-control protection, passing straight through the swarm of rats.


    He threw out an Exorcism Lighter, which turned into a Molotov Cocktail and burst into flames, temporarily blocking the rats behind him, and giving him the chance to run at full speed to shake off the rats.


    Area B205 was almost the deepest part of the sewers, and from a distance, Xu Yi could smell the pungent stench of blood, mingled with a foul odor.


    Turning a corner, the scene abruptly changed before him, with the ground covered in corpses and remains, and blood spattered on the concrete walls as if it were a curtain of red.


    He jumped onto a platform, where a mystical array was drawn connecting a large number of Exorcism Artifacts, all of which were now cracked and no longer had any exorcistic effects.


    At the edge of the platform, he found Chen Lin, just as Father Notting had said; the man was already dead, his heart torn out by something.


    Xu Yi crouched down; Father Notting lay next to Chen Lin, eyes tightly shut, his face showing no expression of pain, as though he had simply fallen asleep.


    He knew now was not the time for sorrow, so he reached out to move Father Notting''s hand away to get to the Holy Artifact remnants he had hidden.


    But Father Notting''s hand didn''t move at all, clamped over his abdomen as if in a vice, stubbornly protecting the remnants.


    The man was already gone, yet his body subconsciously tried to protect the Holy Artifact remnants.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed, wanting to quickly retrieve the Holy Artifact remnants. He would have to break the man''s hand to do so, but the man was undoubtedly deserving of respect, and he was reluctant to proceed in such a manner.


    But he also understood that now was not the time for misplaced kindness.


    Just as he was about to forcibly take action, something suddenly occurred to him. He softly chanted, "May the holy light persist!"


    A miraculous scene unfolded; the hand that had been tightly clamped over the abdomen suddenly relaxed, dropping limply to either side of the body.


    Xu Yi paused for a moment, then reached into Father Notting''s torn open abdomen, searching through the blood-soaked organs. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His hand suddenly encountered something hard, and upon taking it out, he found it to be a strange weapon, completely silver and shaped similarly to an ice pick, with intricate patterns engraved on its surface.


    At the top of the Silver Spike, a line of Latin was inscribed.


    Xu Yi had taken a Latin class at school and had done quite well. He softly recited, "Saint O''Hagan."


    He suddenly realized why this operation was codenamed "Saint O''Hagan"¡ªit was the name of an Exorcism Holy Relic.


    The front end of Saint O''Hagan had been snapped off, revealing a sharp, broken edge.


    Xu Yi secretly felt alarmed, as an Exorcism Holy Relic, Saint O''Hagan was crafted from an extremely rare metal of astonishing hardness; yet now it had been forcibly broken by an Evil God?


    His Spirit Communication Ability sensed something unusual about Saint O''Hagan, as the powerful magnetic field surrounding it was extremely unstable.


    Father Notting had asked him to find the Evil God quickly not only because the Evil God possessed a formidable healing power but also because it implied another meaning, namely, that Saint O''Hagan would soon become "junk".


    Saint O''Hagan had been broken by the Evil God, and its exorcism efficacy should have dissipated, but it was Father Notting who used a Secret Technique to forcibly preserve part of the Holy Artifact''s power.


    However, the duration of the Secret Technique was limited, at most it wouldn''t last longer than an hour before the Holy Artifact would completely lose its effectiveness.


    Xu Yi placed the Holy Artifact into Annabelle''s toy space, and at this moment, a dense sound of footsteps came from behind; he stood up and looked back.


    A large number of soldiers and exorcists hurried over, their faces filled with urgency. Xu Yi hadn''t seen these exorcists in the plaza, so they were most likely "government officials".


    Father Notting''s guess was correct; the New York government had indeed run into trouble, as traitors had suddenly attacked the commander of this operation.


    They had managed to quell the unrest only to find out that Father Notting had contacted them; when they tried to contact Father Notting again, there was no response.


    The person in charge knew something had gone wrong and quickly organized a team to rush over.


    When he saw the bodies scattered everywhere, especially Father Notting lying in the corner, he felt his blood run cold.


    "What exactly happened?" the person in charge looked towards the only living person present.


    "Everyone was wrong. The source of this curse wasn''t a Demon but an Evil God!" Xu Yi sighed.


    There was nothing good to hide; he recounted what he knew as quickly as possible, of course, he definitely wouldn''t talk about the remains of Saint O''Hagan.


    "So, the Evil God is severely injured now, and we must find and kill it before it recovers," the person in charge concluded.


    He didn''t suspect Xu Yi as the traitor; if the other party were the murderer, he wouldn''t foolishly wait here and tell them all this key information.


    Xu Yi nodded and ignored the team behind him.


    Even as he spoke with them, his gaze never settled on them but was always observing this "battlefield".


    He stared at the black liquid on the ground, coming to a conclusion that this must be the blood of the Evil God Ratma.


    The black blood was splattered everywhere, carrying a strong curse and was highly corrosive.


    The ground was pitted from the corrosion, and the bodies that had come into contact with the black blood were corroded to the point where not even bones remained.


    Xu Yi jumped down from the platform and walked towards the corner ahead.


    He looked down and saw a conspicuous trail of black blood, as if something had been dragged and smeared across the ground.


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    Xu Yi could imagine the scene at the time: the severely injured Ratma, dragging its blood-drenched body, struggling to move through the sewer, leaving such a trail.


    Father Notting hadn''t deceived him; the Evil God was indeed severely injured, otherwise it wouldn''t have had difficulty even walking.


    Xu Yi felt a surge of excitement as he followed the trail of black blood, tracking it for several hundred meters before turning a corner.


    He suddenly stopped in his tracks, the blood trail abruptly ended in front of him, and there was no sign of the Evil God Ratma, the sewer was empty.

 Chapter 129 The Lair of Ratma, the Evil God of Thieves

    Xu Yi stood in front of the broken blood trail, his brow furrowed.Many exorcists began their investigation centered on the bloodstain, but deep down, they all knew that the blood discontinuing meant the Evil God must have entered a Different Space.


    The reason they hadn''t found any trace of the Evil God during their long search in the sewers was also due to the Different Space.


    The exorcists tried various methods, hoping to open the Different Space.


    Excitement and zeal filled their hearts because they all understood that if they could open the Different Space and slay the Evil God, they would welcome an outpouring of riches and honor.


    The city government would certainly not fail to reward the saviors of the city.


    After pondering for a moment, Xu Yi suddenly closed his eyes and pushed his Spirit Communication Ability to the limit, sensing the abnormal magnetic field in the area.


    Guided by his senses, he took a step forward and stood in front of the cement wall beside the bloodstain.


    A purple-red mist expanded from his body, enveloping both Xu Yi and the wall.


    The next second, to the amazement of the surrounding exorcists, Xu Yi disappeared on the spot.


    After a moment of stunned silence, their faces showed envy.


    Without a doubt, that man had somehow entered the Evil God''s Different Space.


    A group of exorcists surged toward the wall, studying it intently.


    ......


    "It really worked!" Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes to a world of darkness.


    When he was sucked into the dark space before, he had noticed that in the instant of unfolding the toy treasure box, he could clearly feel an intense sense of compression.


    This was because both the toy treasure box and The Dark Realm were Different Spaces; when overlapped, they would repel each other.


    So he had an idea, wondering whether he could use this fact to his advantage?


    He had simply given it a try, not expecting it to work so smoothly. In the moment of dimensional compression, he found a crack in The Dark Realm and forced his way in.


    [You are in "The Lair of the Thieving Evil God Ratma." Check-in successful, congratulations on obtaining "Resurrection Coin x36"!]


    The familiar check-in notification sound he hadn''t heard in a long time resounded, and Xu Yi took a deep breath.


    A total of 36 Resurrection Coins! That was even more than what he obtained from the hunting grounds of the boy at Crystal Lake, indicating that in terms of absolute power, Ratma surpassed Jason.


    If it were not for the opponent being severely injured, if it were not for needing the evolution of Annabelle''s toy treasure box. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If it were not for the chance to acquire pieces of Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entries, if it were not for the likelihood that the Cat Spirit Holy Tree was also here...he might not have entered.


    The other exorcists all thought that finding Ratma would lead to overwhelming riches, but if they had ever encountered an Evil God, they wouldn''t think so.


    The last time it was just a projection of the Evil God, and it was so difficult to deal with, not to mention the Evil God''s true form.


    Xu Yi was very aware that he was about to face a ferocious battle.


    His body trembled slightly, not from fear, but from excitement.


    The Evil God was also a god! Suddenly, he was a little curious to know, what did god-slaying feel like?


    ......


    In front of the wall where Xu Yi had vanished, a group of exorcists continued to try, deploying various secret techniques and exorcism artifacts, but sadly to no avail.


    Even among the multitude of Exorcism Holy Relics capable of forming Different Spaces, they were incredibly rare, not to mention common magic artifacts.


    It was at this time that two women and a cat suddenly entered the area. They glanced over a few times then withdrew their gaze.


    Although both women were very rare beauties, now clearly was not the time to appreciate beauty.


    But what happened next made them widen their eyes in astonishment.


    After making inquiries for a short while and learning that an Asian exorcist had entered the Different Space, they approached an unattended cement wall.


    Their hands rested on a black cat, which abruptly passed through the cement wall, bringing the two women along, disappearing before the eyes of everyone present.


    The two were naturally Lisa and Ailan, who had neither left nor gone to a safe place. Guided by Xu Yi''s scent, the Black Carp had brought them here.


    More than ten minutes earlier, the two stared at the severed communicator without a word.


    "I''m going to help. If you want to leave, go ahead!" Lisa broke the silence first after a moment.


    "You do realize we''re facing an Evil God. Are you sure you want to go?" Ailan asked Lisa with surprise.


    When Xu Yi had his discussion with Father Notting, the communication with them hadn''t been interrupted, so they had heard the entire conversation and had a general understanding of the situation.


    "I didn''t make this decision impulsively, I am perfectly clear-headed right now. I''ve carefully weighed my own strength and am sure that I can help Xu Yi," Lisa said softly.


    She had not used her true strength in the fight against the Giant Rat.


    Even though she was no match for Xu Yi herself, she was confident her power did not fall far behind.


    In truth, Ailan had always found Lisa somewhat disagreeable. Had it not been for Maria''s intervention, she would have found a chance to teach her a lesson long ago.


    But Lisa''s words now made her see her in a new light.


    "Then what are we waiting for? Let''s go! I''m eager to see this Evil God for myself," Ailan said.


    In Ailan''s dictionary, the word ''retreat'' simply did not exist. The mention of an Evil God not only failed to instill fear in her, but it also filled her with a surge of fighting spirit.


    They managed to enter the Evil God''s Different Space with ease, but it wasn''t long before the battle-ready Ailan began to feel bewildered.


    All around them was pitch black; they could see nothing.


    Although she could pinpoint others'' locations by sound, the darkness of this space greatly compromised her combat abilities.


    The Black Carp, on the other hand, was able to see in this dark space.


    Having once lived here for a while, it could be said to be another "home" for it.


    The reason it was able to bring Lisa and Ailan here was that it could sense the rifts in The Dark Realm with its keen perception.


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    If The Dark Realm were likened to a house, Xu Yi''s method of entry was like driving a bulldozer over and smashing a hole in the wall.


    Whereas the Black Carp''s method was that of a seasoned burglar, leading them through the house''s ventilation shaft.


    The Black Carp let out anxious meows; although it was highly intelligent, it lacked the ability to plan ahead.


    The current situation had caught it off guard.


    "Black Carp, don''t panic!" Lisa soothed, petting the Black Carp''s back.


    To be honest, expecting the Black Carp to foresee such events was asking a bit too much of a cat.


    Ailan didn''t speak, not because she didn''t want to, but because she couldn''t; Maria had taken control of her body.


    "Maria?" Sensing the change in the soul aura of the person beside her, Lisa cautiously asked.


    Maria did not reply, but instead began to softly sing what appeared to be an Irish folk song. Her voice was melodious and the song ethereal.


    Lisa was puzzled; although the singing was indeed pleasant, why would Maria choose to sing at this moment?


    The next second, she suddenly became stunned.


    A white light enveloped her body; this was no ordinary light, but the Soul Light radiating from her activated soul.


    The same glow appeared on Maria.


    This was the power of Maria''s Entries, Soul Transmigration, a capability that could not only transmigrate Wandering Souls and Evil Spirits but also activate the soul power within a human body.


    However, her choice of prayer was unusual; it was through singing that she invoked the power of the soul.


    The white light was not scorching yet it illuminated the space within five meters, allowing them to see the path ahead clearly.


    "Maria! Amazing!" Lisa exclaimed excitedly.


    Maria smiled faintly, relinquishing control of the body, allowing Ailan to come back online. This was Maria''s temperament; she was never pushy or competing, most of the time quietly doing her own thing.

 Chapter 130 Swordsmanship Grandmaster

    In the Dark Realm, Xu Yi''s face revealed a smile as the vanished blood traces reappeared, extending forward in irregular twists and turns.Here, enveloped in pitch darkness, the blood was also black, and even with the powerful vision of the Eyes of Obscurity, it was difficult to detect.


    But the black blood carried a pungent odor, and that exposed it.


    Xu Yi quickened his pace, following the trail of blood.


    He suddenly stopped, his muscles tensing as he vigilantly looked ahead.


    "Finally we meet," he sighed inwardly.


    They had many indirect encounters, mainly because the Evil God before him seemed to enjoy casting its scrutinizing gaze from time to time.


    This was an adult-sized Ratman, roughly one meter sixty-two in height, with a hunched back and pitch-black fur, save for the white of its two pupils.


    Its rat-like face did not elicit disgust from onlookers, but rather an inexplicable sense of majesty.


    The only wound on the opponent''s body was located over the heart.


    This clearly didn''t make sense; when the array had been suppressing the Evil God, the exorcist''s various attacks should have left the being covered in wounds.


    There was only one explanation for this: the wounds had healed, and it was very likely that the opponent possessed Hyper Accelerated Regeneration.


    As for the wound over the heart, it wasn''t that the Evil God didn''t want to heal it but rather couldn''t.


    The shape of the wound was oval because Saint O''Hagan was an ice hammer, and Xu Yi had heard of Saint O''Hagan''s ability, which was to induce incessant bleeding and life deprivation.


    The injuries inflicted by Saint O''Hagan could not heal quickly, and, as the wound continued to bleed, it would steadily drain the victim''s life force.


    He had seen the "Blood Path" on the ground earlier for this reason.


    Ratma likewise noticed Xu Yi, who prepared for battle, but the next second, he was stunned.


    The opponent''s first reaction was not to deal with him but to flee.


    It was only in this moment that Xu Yi understood why the form of the adversary was that of a rat.


    Xu Yi''s heartbeat accelerated, which also confirmed one thing: the opponent was in a worse situation than he had imagined.


    "Judgment!" Xu Yi took out a sketchbook and pierced the Ratman''s drawn likeness with the Dagger of Sighs.


    He was somewhat relieved; had Chen Lin not made contact with Ratma, he wouldn''t happen to have the creature''s psychic portrait on hand.


    Because to activate a psychic drawing, one needed an entity that could be sensed, and through common thermal-soul patients, Ratma''s existence could not be detected.


    Ratma roared in anger, its body nailed to the spot, unable to move.


    Xu Yi deftly drew the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, wanting to seize the moment to attack, because he knew the Judgment wouldn''t control the opponent for long.


    But his expression suddenly changed; he managed to fire only one shot before an invisible force struck him head-on, and he was thrown backward, crashing to the ground with great force.


    The Alchemical Revolver Messiah was not loaded with ordinary bullets, but with Exorcism Bullets that sealed the soul of the black rat. Under Xu Yi''s excellent marksmanship, the bullet hit Ratma''s left eye.


    The power of the "black rat bullet" was extraordinary, blowing away Ratma''s eye socket along with half of its face, but before Xu Yi could feel any satisfaction, Ratma''s face regenerated at a visible rate.


    Xu Yi struggled to his feet, disregarding the fresh blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, intent on firing again.


    However, the Dagger of Rest suddenly withdrew from the psychic drawing and flew towards Ratma.


    Ratma grasped the Dagger of Rest and put it in its mouth.


    A horrifying scene ensued; Ratma''s sharp incisors clamped down, and the sturdy Dagger of Rest was forcibly snapped in two.


    Xu Yi went pale with terror; if he were bitten by the creature, not just flesh and blood, but even his bones would be as fragile as tofu.


    He suddenly realized that if Ratma could destroy even the Exorcism Holy Relic of Saint O''Hagan, then of course it could destroy his Dagger of Rest.


    Ratma casually discarded the now useless Dagger of Rest and gave Xu Yi a cold glance before turning to leave.


    Xu Yi''s heart lifted; although the adversary had broken free from Judgment and destroyed the Dagger of Rest, it had, in the process, aggravated the wound at the heart, and more black blood surged forth. Fatigue showed on Ratma''s face.


    He wanted to fire again, but then the vague shadows of figures appeared in front of Ratma. These people, blessed by Ratma and whose souls were enthralled, formed a tight wall, leaving no angle open for a shot.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed, with three or four dozen people before him. By the time he dealt with these individuals, Ratma would be long gone, possibly with its wounds healed by then.


    As he stood there, at a loss, a white figure suddenly dashed into the crowd.


    The reason it''s called "White Shadow" is because the figure is shrouded in layers of faint white light.


    It was a person wielding a long sword, who rushed into the crowd, swinging the blade to slice open throats, with blood sliding along the edge of the sword.


    The swordsmanship had a distinct Japanese style, with techniques like Kyoshin Meichi-ryu''s "Reverse Rolled Blade" and Ryushin Shinto-ryu''s "Swordless Capture"... S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But there were also moves from European Infantry''s "Right Thrust," Spanish "Military Sabre Technique," and he even recognized some sword techniques from Xia Kingdom.


    "Ailan!" Xu Yi exclaimed in surprise.


    He had recognized Ailan early on, but what amazed him was her swordsmanship.


    Such a chaotic blend of sword techniques would have made a mess in the hands of an ordinary person, but not Ailan. She had integrated them to enter an extremely high level.


    According to Xu Yi, that was the realm of a swordsmanship grandmaster, looking down on all heroes of the world.


    If the two of them were to duel again, both wielding weapons, with him holding a gun and Ailan a sword, within a five-meter distance, even with his gunfight technique, he''d likely fall to her blade. Enjoy more content from empire


    Her swordsmanship was just too fierce.


    Xu Yi felt he had underestimated Ailan''s entry ability, the "Spirit of Martial Combat," which granted her an incredible learning capacity for any combat skill, allowing her to master them with ease.


    But in the skill of "swordsmanship," she obviously possessed a higher talent than any other!


    "I''ll handle things here!" Ailan said, turning her head to glance at Xu Yi during a lull in her attacks.


    Xu Yi checked the Bonds panel to find Ailan''s entry information.


    [Valkyrie, Current Progress: 61/100.]


    Ailan''s Valkyrie entry had surpassed seventy percent; she wasn''t treading water as he grew.


    [Valkyrie (Green Epic):


    Ability 1 - Spirit of Martial Combat: (Unlocked)


    Ability 2 - Power of Dark Souls: (Unlocked)


    Ability 3 - Descent of the Valkyrie: (This ability cannot be used)


    ]


    Compared to last time, the entry hadn''t changed much, except "Power of Dark Souls" went from partially unlocked to fully unlocked.


    It seemed like just a few words of change, but the impact on combat power was earth-shattering.


    The individuals seduced by the Evil God fought back, clutching sharp weapons as they lunged at Ailan or drew the pistols at their waists to fire.


    They were just caught off guard earlier; once they regrouped, they showed their fierce combat power.


    All of them were fearless, eagerly risking their lives to trap the agile Ailan, blatantly disregarding their own safety and even charging into the sword blade like madmen.


    Facing the swarming "madmen," Ailan took a deep breath; she absolutely couldn''t be pinned down. Her ability to contend with so many relied on her speed and agility.


    She stood with her sword, her eyes slightly closed.


    Then suddenly, she opened them wide, a flash of black passing in the depths of her pupils, veins on her arms bulged, and similarly, black light flowed through her meridians.


    The Power of Dark Souls infused her body, instantly enhancing her strength, speed, and agility.


    For a "swordsmanship grandmaster" like Ailan, every slight increase in physical strength could exponentially amplify her combat power through her swordsmanship.


    Charged with Power of Dark Souls, her combat power surged like flames.


    She charged into the crowd, swinging her sword unrestrained; she was like a master calligrapher, wildly splashing ink across the paper, each stroke filled with precision yet simultaneously artistic.


    Blood splattered, Ailan "danced" within the mass of bodies, her blade reflecting a piercing shine.


    "Truly worthy of the title Valkyrie!" Xu Yi silently praised as he witnessed the scene.


    He quickened his pace, pursuing Ratma.


    He didn''t offer help; to do so now would be to betray Ailan''s efforts.


    Another white figure appeared beside Xu Yi, Lisa, also enshrouded in white light. She didn''t stay either because she knew the obstacles Xu Yi faced were far more than this.

 Chapter 131 Divine Arrival!

    Xu Yi and Lisa sprinted with all their might, the relentless sounds of blades slicing through flesh and bone ringing out behind them.A green light suddenly emanated from ahead, not searing, but in this inky black space it felt "blinding."


    In the midst of the light was an upside-down tree, its vines gathered like a giant pupil, Xu Yi excitedly realized; he had finally found it, the tree that he had seen in the Psychic Illusion Realm.


    The Cat Spirit Holy Tree, Bastet!


    Underneath the Holy Tree lay a group of unconscious humans, and Xu Yi immediately spotted William in the corner.


    His face was gaunt, but he was still alive, which was miraculous since he had been missing for over a week. Normally, he should have starved to death by now, but it seemed that Bartes was somehow sustaining his life.


    The Cat Spirit Holy Tree stood in the midst of darkness, and on closer inspection, one could see the darkness slowly encroaching upon its territory.


    The last time Xu Yi saw the Holy Tree in the Psychic Illusion Realm, the surrounding darkness wasn''t nearly so close; now the outer leaves had already been consumed, and the Cat Spirit Holy Tree could only curl its vines.


    One could imagine that when the darkness completely engulfed the Holy Tree, that would be the moment it was devoured by Ratma.


    At the same time, Xu Yi also spotted Ratma.


    He couldn''t catch up immediately because the rustling of movement sounded¡ªgiant rat after giant rat emerged from the darkness, blocking their path with blood-red pupils fixed on them.


    Lisa moved toward the swarm of giant rats without a word.


    Her heart pounded uncontrollably; she wasn''t as composed as Ailan imagined.


    Previously, she was just an ordinary girl living in Chinatown, her life, though impoverished, was peaceful, and she hadn''t experienced significant tribulations.


    The only life-threatening situation she ever encountered was being possessed by an Evil Spirit. Discover exclusive tales on empire


    But during that time, she was merely a spectator; this was different, she was about to confront the terrifying giant rats¡ªmore than twenty of them.


    Her hands trembled slightly with fear, but she hid them in her large witch''s garb so Xu Yi wouldn''t see.


    "Go do what you need to do, leave this to me!" said Lisa softly, her voice steady, trying not to let Xu Yi sense anything was wrong.


    Xu Yi nodded, attempting to sidestep past the giant rats.


    Well-versed in Psychology, how could he not see Lisa''s fear? But he said nothing, since he knew she was at a crucial juncture.


    She might become overwhelmed by fear and never recover; alternatively, she might overcome the fear and undergo Metamorphosis.


    He glanced at Lisa''s entry information.


    [Holy Huntress Witch: Current Progress: 66/100]


    Lisa''s entry progress even surpassed Ailan''s, her combat ability was certainly not lacking.


    But the two were different; Ailan was a born warrior, even if a blade was against her throat, she wouldn''t hesitate to fight back.


    Lisa, however, had never faced a life-or-death battle before.


    What she needed most now was the mindset of a strong individual.


    Lisa was surrounded by giant rats, their massive shadows enveloping her petite form. Xu Yi took a few steps away, but still couldn''t help but feel worry, and he looked back.


    Out of nowhere, the wind blew Lisa''s hair, her bowed head hiding her expression.


    The wind didn''t cease but grew stronger, blowing off Lisa''s hood and scattering the shadows from her face.


    She suddenly looked up, the gold in her pupils erupting like flowing lava.


    A lush, potent force filled her body, flowing through her blood and reaching into every corner of her cells.


    "Divine Arrival," the Holy Huntress Witch''s Ultimate Ability, activated at that moment.


    This ability was only partially unlocked; using it forcibly would bring severe repercussions.


    But at that moment Lisa felt no fear, no fear of the giant rats, no fear of the aftermath; she was like a salmon struggling upstream, All-out and determined to the end!


    A giant rat lunged at her, but she didn''t even turn her head, swinging her fist fiercely.


    Lisa''s petite body stood before the giant rat, like an ant facing a colossal mantis, but then the astonishing happened, her fist actually pierced through the giant rat''s head, splattering brain matter everywhere.


    She withdrew her hand from the rat''s head, flicking the fresh blood from her sleeve, and the metallic shimmer on her hand revealed the sharp alloy knuckle dusters.


    Punch technique masters wear gloves in the ring to protect their opponents, but in a real fight to the death, nothing can match the destructive power of a pair of knuckle dusters. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lisa suddenly darted out, forcefully breaking through the encirclement of giant rats with alarming speed.


    She had long left the giant rats'' encirclement behind, but she didn''t slow down her pace as she suddenly swung her fist and smashed through the skull of another giant rat.


    The giant rat''s blood splattered out, staining Xu Yi''s clothes.


    Xu Yi stared at the stern-faced Lisa, eyes widened in disbelief ¨C this was the little girl who had followed him around since childhood.


    A giant rat sneaked away from the group, attempting to intercept Xu Yi, but Lisa spotted it and rushed over to deal with the intruder.


    Lisa''s expression was stern, and Xu Yi knew that it was due to the activation of "Divine Arrival"; her bloodline power had been awakened, altering her temperament drastically.


    The change made her seem unfamiliar, yet Xu Yi, smiling broadly, gave a thumbs-up, "Girl, you are incredibly cool!"


    Lisa remained expressionless, her golden pupils flashing with cold authority; yet as she turned towards the approaching giant rat, the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled into a slight smile.


    Xu Yi sprinted after Ratma, unwilling to waste the efforts of Ailan and Lisa.


    At that moment, he felt a tinge of relief; if it weren''t for their help, he would have had no chance to escape and could only watch Ratma leave.


    Ratma hadn''t gone far, not out of unwillingness, but inability.


    Xu Yi had always been curious why Ratma didn''t have the giant rats carry it away.


    Not until he saw a giant rat accidentally touch the black blood on the ground, causing its paw to disintegrate like it had touched Aqua Regia, did he understand the reason.


    The sight sent shivers down Xu Yi''s spine. The black blood merely corroded small holes into the ground, but upon contact with flesh, its corrosiveness intensified a hundredfold.


    Clearly, the black blood was specifically designed to target living tissue.


    In an instant, Xu Yi devised a battle strategy that relied on ranged attacks, avoiding close quarters combat at all costs.


    He drew the Alchemy Revolver Messiah and loaded it with potent exorcism bullets.


    Annabelle took to the sky, her malign control affecting Ratma, trying to subdue it, but the effort was shrugged off in an instant.


    Xu Yi took aim with his firearm, while Ratma stood still.


    His pupils suddenly contracted as he detected a flash of fury in the creature''s eyes, and its figure began to fade away... Ratma wasn''t standing still; it was so fast that it left afterimages on his retina.


    Xu Yi dodged fiercely to the side as a blood-soaked claw reached for his heart, narrowly missing and grazing his clothes.


    His back drenched in cold sweat, Xu Yi was thankful for his Supra-dynamic Vision that allowed him to barely see the creature''s movement. A regular person would likely have had their heart ripped out.


    But his relief was premature, as Ratma''s arm swept across in continuation, hitting his chest like being struck head-on by a car. The overwhelming pressure almost caused his heart to stop on the spot.


    Thrown through the air, he spat out large mouthfuls of blood.


    The muscle memory from his gunfight technique reflexively made him fire his gun. Before his body hit the ground, he had already emptied the Alchemy Revolver, sending six bullets flying toward Ratma.


    The first three bullets hit Ratma directly in the brow, throat, and chest...


    But the succeeding three bullets completely lost their mark, whizzing past Ratma, disappearing into the darkness behind.


    A mocking smile appeared on Ratma''s face as it watched Xu Yi hit the ground like a ragdoll, tumbling several times before coming to a halt.


    The wound at its heart tore open again, spewing out more black blood.


    The burst of speed had consumed a significant amount of energy. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn''t have mattered, but Ratma was seriously injured.


    Although the injuries had worsened, Ratma felt exhilaration; it had long wanted to get rid of this annoying pest, but had refrained due to its wounds.


    Now unable to restrain itself any longer and despite the aggravating pain, Ratma was determined to finish the job.


    Turning its head, Ratma prepared to leave. It was well aware of its own strength ¨C a normal human being wouldn''t stand a chance after such a direct hit.

 Chapter 132 Slaughter in the Grey Fog!

    In the Dark Realm, the Cat Spirit Holy Tree shone like a massive lamp, illuminating the surroundings.Ratma suddenly stopped in his tracks, for he had heard something behind him.


    Could it be that it wasn''t dead?


    Human-like irritation showed on the rat''s face as though bugs were meant to be easily crushed, not linger like cockroaches, clinging to life.


    He turned around, and this time he intended to reduce his enemy to ashes, leaving no possibility for struggle!


    Her body suddenly froze, a look of surprise appearing on the rat face as the opponent propped themselves up on their hands, grey mist swirling in their pupils like vast whirlpools, as if to suck in the souls around them.


    The opponent slowly stood, their aura climbing step by step.


    A violent wind suddenly swept across the field, carrying away the person''s long coat, which bore the traces of black blood corrosion. The coat unfurled in the wind, fluttering loudly like a black battle flag.


    The opponent''s body floated up, not by the strength of the wild winds, but surrounded by wisps of pale grey mist.


    "Now, it''s my turn!" Xu Yi suddenly looked up, fixing his gaze on Ratma.


    The opponent''s strength was indeed alarming, his innards slightly ruptured, injuries that would usually be fatal. Yet now, a surging power filled his body.


    The three missed shots from earlier weren''t because his injuries had made him lose aim.


    For a sharpshooter, every squeeze of the trigger meant absolute certainty about the bullet''s path.


    What Ratma didn''t see was that the bullets had gone past him, toward three giant rats severely wounded and on the brink of death. Lisa had blasted them into critical injury, but they hadn''t died instantly.


    But after the powerfully enchanted Exorcism Bullets hit them, they died on the spot with resentment.


    Faint purple threads drifted in the air, flowing toward Xu Yi''s eyes.


    [Eyes of Obscurity +6, current progress: 100/100]


    The giant rats killed by Lisa, along with the three taken down by the bullets, had just provided enough Fog of Obscurity required for the entries.


    Xu Yi''s soul sank into a cold sea of mist, his every inch of flesh stained by the grey fog. His body was transformed, his muscles enhanced, his bones made stronger, his blood heavier... even his internal injuries were incidentally healed.


    All these enhancements were to enable him to control the ultimate ability of the entries, the Fog of Obscurity. Explore more stories with empire


    Ratma''s expression turned grim as he saw a grey fog serpent roaring fiercely behind his opponent.


    But he wasn''t too concerned; the opponent had indeed become stronger, but to think they could threaten him was a fool''s dream.


    A white figure descended above Xu Yi''s head, and Ratma eyed the toy puppet, greed flashing in his eyes. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He could sense the puppet''s extraordinariness, and once his injuries were healed, he intended to use his authority to steal the puppet''s power.


    Xu Yi caught the greed in his opponent''s eyes, but he paid it no mind; if that was all the opponent had, this place would become their grave.


    Annabelle landed in front of Xu Yi, reaching out to touch his chest.


    Xu Yi felt warmth at his chest as red Necromantic Spells spread from the center, along one direction. The spells curled around his chest, his arms, his neck, stopping beneath his chin.


    The red spells, like a soaring, wild dragon, branded upon Xu Yi''s body.


    A flash of red light passed through Xu Yi''s pupils as a new power flowed into him, elevating his already peak strength further upwards.


    This was Annabelle''s new ability as a Curse Puppet, the only curse seal she controlled, the Soul Ascension Curse.


    The so-called Soul Ascension Curse was, in fact, an upgraded version of the Necromantic Spells; it not only enhanced Spiritual Perception but also fortified the body''s strength, power, speed, and other abilities.


    It was like a very basic version of "Divine Descent."


    Ratma watched as Xu Yi''s aura surged again, frowning slightly with a hint of concern in his heart.


    But that concern was limited, as his powerful regenerative ability gave him great confidence. Even if the opponent became stronger and faster, he would not be able to kill him.


    But the next second, Its face changed, its small white pupils trembling in terror.


    Xu Yi held a "Steel Spike" in his hand, its surface covered with intricate patterns that flowed with a silvery light, its broken edge sharp.


    Ratma turned and ran, a mix of fear interwoven in her heart.


    That very weapon that had instilled fear in It, It should have destroyed, and It had paid a heavy price for that, why then did it appear here, and why did it still bear divinity?


    "You think it''s too late to run now?"


    Xu Yi lightly tapped the ground with his foot, his body shooting out like an arrow released from its bow, and in the next second, he was already in front of Ratma.


    Before this, he had been no more than a common man with a number of exorcism tricks at his disposal, but only after mastering the "Fog of Obscurity" did he truly step into the realm of the "extraordinary."


    The power coursing through his blood intoxicated him, the unparalleled speed, the immense strength that could shatter rocks...


    Saint O''Hagan became Xu Yi''s dagger, and he danced with Saint O''Hagan as if he were a butcher skillfully disassembling an ox.


    Ratma let out a wretched scream as the wounds on her body kept multiplying, her healing ability rendered utterly useless under the power of Saint O''Hagan.


    It tried to counterattack, but Xu Yi was like elusive smoke, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, his speed so extreme that without injury, It might have been able to keep up.


    Now, she could only be the meat on the chopping board, subject to Xu Yi''s prolonged execution.


    Xu Yi swung Saint O''Hagan expressionlessly, severing the opponent''s throat, piercing through their head... and found the effect mediocre.


    Although the opponent had the body of a Ratman, it lacked those so-called weak points; piercing the head and cutting off the arms caused the same damage.


    The key was that black blood, the source of Ratma''s strength; once the black blood was exhausted, it would be the time of the opponent''s death.


    The black blood surged, and Ratma tried numerous times to splatter it onto Xu Yi, but he dodged every time, having guarded against that black blood ever since the fight began.


    The severely wounded Ratma had very few tricks left to use, aside from her steel teeth that could easily destroy exorcism artifacts, there was only the black blood in her body.


    The black blood was strongly corrosive to flesh; once stained, without the ability for hyper-accelerated regeneration, it would be impossible to resist.


    The black blood flowing on the ground suddenly surged, slithering towards Xu Yi like a mass of snakes to bite and tear at him.


    This was Ratma''s trump card!


    She had always concealed her ability to manipulate black blood, waiting for this moment; Xu Yi was enveloped by the rising black blood, leaving not the slightest space to dodge.


    A gleam flashed in Ratma''s eyes, as her blood''s power was beyond imagination, confident that if the enemy touched her blood, she could disintegrate his flesh and bones.


    But she noticed that there was no look of panic on Xu Yi''s face, which puzzled her a bit.


    Facing the black blood close at hand, Xu Yi let out a low shout, the grey light in his pupils burning fiercely. Invisible black currents erupted from within him, spinning into a whirlwind that blew the curtain of blood forcefully apart.


    This was another use for the "Fog of Obscurity," not only to strengthen the self but also to interfere with reality to a certain extent.


    Xu Yi burst through the encirclement of blood, his attacks becoming even more ferocious, with Saint O''Hagan striking Ratma densely like raindrops, her body riddled with wounds, black blood flowing non-stop.


    Saint O''Hagan pierced Ratma''s chest, slicing downwards forcefully, leaving a vast wound that revealed the inside of the body with no organs, just pure black flesh.


    Xu Yi''s breathing suddenly quickened¡ªhe saw it!


    In the depths of the opponent''s chest, a palm-sized statue was embedded, entirely black except for its white eyeballs, its shape identical to the Ratma before him.


    That was the Evil God statue mentioned by Chen Lin.


    Xu Yi had always thought that Ratma had grown from that statue, but now it seemed that the Ratma before him was merely a shell, and the statue within was the real entity.


    No wonder the opponent could endure being slaughtered by Saint O''Hagan and still persist until now; the true weakness lay not in the body.


    To truly kill the opponent, he had to destroy the Evil God statue inside the opponent''s body!

 Chapter 133 The Flood of Black Blood

    Ratma instinctively covered his chest with his claws, trying to block the statue inside. The statue sensed Xu Yi''s gaze and burrowed deeper into the flesh, attempting to hide itself.Xu Yi stared intensely at the Evil God statue, his pupils flickering with an eerie green light, like a wolf that had been starving for three days and nights suddenly discovering a prey with a broken leg.


    The hope of killing the Evil God was right in front of him¡ªwho could resist such a temptation?


    Empowered by the Fog of Obscurity, Xu Yi''s body shot forward like a cannonball, his hand gripping the Saint O''Hagan tightly, ready to deliver a deadly blow to the Evil God.


    But he suddenly came to an abrupt stop and flew backwards, creating distance.


    Ratma chanted in an unknown language, his voice between a wild beast''s roar and a choir''s chant, eerie and filled with a certain beauty.


    Xu Yi clutched his head, as low murmurs began to appear beside his ears, the murmurs like sharp-toothed insects attempting to bite open his skull and burrow deep into his brain.


    He summoned the Fog of Obscurity from within his body to defend himself, feeling slightly better.


    Blood-red pupils suddenly opened all over Ratma''s body, not one, but three, five... hundreds. Ratma''s entire body was covered with blood-red eyes, even sparing none on his ears.


    The countless blood-red eyes blinked in unison, their eyeballs rolling around, occasionally sweeping over Xu Yi. Xu Yi felt as if his heart was being gripped by an invisible hand, and the hairs on his body stood on end.


    Thick black blood started flowing from the eyes as if crying. The black blood covered the ground, more and more of it, starting as puddles, then small streams, rivers...


    "Lisa! Run!" Xu Yi''s face suddenly turned pale as he turned his head and roared at Lisa behind him.


    Lisa''s battlefield wasn''t far from him; otherwise, he would not have been able to shoot the Giant Rats with the Alchemy Revolver and absorb the Fog of Obscurity.


    About five hundred meters away from him, Lisa was close to finishing her fight. In the state of Divine Arrival, those Giant Rats were nothing but targets for her.


    As long as the Giant Rats could not form an encirclement, Lisa would be safe.


    Upon hearing Xu Yi''s shout, Lisa instinctively turned her head, and a look of fear appeared on her expressionless face for the first time.


    A towering black tidal wave swept across, hitting the top of the sewer.


    The layout of this dark space was the same as the sewer, only it was hundreds of times larger to accommodate so many Giant Rats.


    Even in the sewers of the real world, it would be very difficult to flood them with water, let alone the Different Space sewer expanded a hundred times over.


    Lisa''s instincts told her to turn and flee, but that''s when she heard the cries of Black Carp. Somehow, Black Carp had already run under the Cat Spirit Holy Tree and was anxiously calling out to Lisa.


    The black water surged with a force far surpassing that of an ordinary flash flood because a mysterious power was controlling the black water.


    Lisa knew very well that with her current speed, she couldn''t outrun the black blood flood. She decisively turned and dashed toward the Cat Spirit Holy Tree.


    Because the Cat Spirit Holy Tree was near the flood''s source, it was as though Lisa was charging directly into the flood.


    Just as she was about to be engulfed by the flood, a green vine suddenly wrapped around her waist and pulled her into the space within the Cat Spirit Holy Tree.


    "Thank you!" Lisa looked up at the Cat Spirit Holy Tree and expressed her gratitude, as it was the Holy Tree that had saved her.


    She looked around for Xu Yi''s figure.


    Theoretically, Xu Yi should have noticed it sooner and was closer to the Cat Spirit Holy Tree; he should have arrived before her.


    She scanned the area, not finding Xu Yi. A second look, a third... still no sign of him.


    A great fear filled her heart. She suddenly realized something and violently turned her head to look toward the center of the black blood flood, where a small figure was struggling desperately.


    "Xu Yi!" Lisa roared as she lunged forward, trying to save Xu Yi, but vines were still wrapped around her waist.


    She tried to break free of the vines when suddenly the golden light in her pupils dissipated, and the strength drained from her body.


    The sudden change felt like a millionaire abruptly reduced to a beggar begging on the streets, a powerful sense of emptiness engulfing him.


    But this was not the worst part. Lisa suddenly collapsed on the ground, her body convulsing violently as a fine mist of blood seeped from her muscles. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her palms desperately clutched at the ground, her fingernails scraping until they bled, yet the pain was so intense that she couldn''t even cry out.


    Divine Arrival was time-limited, the more progress made in the Entries, the longer it would sustain.


    At the same time, Divine Arrival had side effects. If the Entries had been completed, the side effects would not have been so severe, but Lisa had activated it prematurely, resulting in side effects magnified tenfold.


    The Black Carp circled around Lisa anxiously. It looked up at the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, meowing incessantly, with its golden feline eyes filled with supplication.


    The vines of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree reached above Lisa, and a "Mint Leaf" fluttered down towards her.


    In the throes of agony, Lisa smelled the fragrance and opened her mouth subconsciously, swallowing the "Mint Leaf." Her condition improved instantly, her body stopped convulsing violently, and her breathing stabilized.


    Lisa fell into a coma, yet unknowingly, tears slid silently from the corners of her eyes, the sadness in her brows almost overflowing.


    The Black Carp looked at the figure within the dark blood flood and then up at the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, letting out an exceedingly mournful meow.


    The Cat Spirit Holy Tree twisted as if hesitating. Moments later, a dream-like green flash of light sparkled and then vanished from its vines.


    In the dark blood flood, Xu Yi looked back at the Cat Spirit Holy Tree.


    The flood had engulfed the entire space, all that met the eye was black blood water.


    Yet with the power of his Eyes of Obscurity, he could still see the glowing Cat Spirit Holy Tree, which stood in the flood like a Sea-Calming Divine Needle, invisible forces enveloping the Holy Tree to resist the surging dark blood flood.


    Xu Yi sighed. His first instinct was to rush into the protective circle of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, but he couldn''t.


    The moment those blood-colored pupils fixed on him, he was rendered immobile.


    He suddenly understood how those Evil Spirits nailed by Judgment felt¡ªthis sensation of being completely unable to move was truly terrible.


    What allowed him to struggle in the dark blood flood was the power of the Fog of Obscurity, which formed a protective layer that kept the black blood at bay.


    But the Fog of Obscurity was finite. Once it was exhausted, he would be engulfed by the blood water. Even if his body were a hundred times stronger, he couldn''t resist so much black blood.


    If he had the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entries, perhaps he could survive in these torrential black waters.


    "In ancient times, Men Jiangnu''s tears collapsed the Great Wall. I never imagined this Evil God Ratma could cry even more, enough to cause a flood!" Xu Yi snarked to himself.


    The fact that he could still snark did not mean he had a solution. At this point, he had chosen resignation; under these circumstances, with his strength, there was simply no possibility of escape.


    He was already contemplating things for the next cycle.


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    Perhaps he could try to interrupt the other''s chanting?


    He recalled the attempt and realized that it was no less difficult than killing the other person. When the other started chanting, that dreadful contamination would appear, and he could only struggle to endure.


    Approaching in that awful state, he wasn''t sure whether he''d be going to interrupt the spell casting or just delivering himself up for a swift defeat.


    His ability to "dominate" the adversary relied on speed and agility. Once he lost those, going forward meant getting bitten once and immediately going down.


    Maybe he could take advantage of the other''s distraction and launch a sneak attack, striking directly at the Evil God statue within the adversary''s body?


    As he racked his brains, a familiar voice suddenly rang out beside his ear. In his moment of distraction, the Fog of Obscurity finally depleted, and the dark blood flood engulfed him.


    In the end, only an Annabelle doll rose from the black water, drifting on its surface. The doll''s body was corroded, emitting billowing black smoke.

 Chapter 134

    "So, was it you who saved me?"Xu Yi sat cross-legged on the ground, staring at the enormous figure before him.


    He hadn''t died, so the Resurrection Coin naturally hadn''t taken effect. In the instant he was about to be engulfed by the black blood flood, a tremendous pulling force suddenly acted upon his soul.


    The space before him was filled with dream-like green light. Every object was a form of light and shadow, imbued with a sense of unreality.


    This place didn''t actually exist in reality, only spirits could live here. Groups of Cat Spirits lay nearby, curiously sizing up Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi''s body was also made of light and shadow, he was now in the state of a soul.


    The huge Cat Spirit floated before him with a round face, round pupils, and a round body, resembling a balloon.


    The round-faced cat spoke, its language was none that Xu Yi knew, but somehow, he understood it. The other''s intention was to tell him there was no need for thanks.


    "So it was also you calling for help before?"


    Xu Yi recalled the faint voice he heard within the Psychic Illusion Realm. The reason it had sounded familiar was because of this.


    The round-faced cat nodded.


    Xu Yi gazed at the huge Cat Spirit before him. Undoubtedly, the other was the true master of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, the soul of the Holy Tree, Bastet.


    "What do I need to do to save you?" Xu Yi asked.


    Since the other had saved him once, he naturally felt it would be too rude to refuse without at least inquiring about the situation.


    Bastet didn''t speak, but suddenly, light burst from its pupils, and the space above its head opened up. Through the opening, the situation outside was visible.


    The black blood flood surrounded the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, covering it from above and below, with black blood everywhere.


    The Cat Spirit Holy Tree emitted a pale green light, an invisible Barrier blocking the black water. However, the Barrier was shrinking, getting smaller and smaller.


    The vines of the Holy Tree had completely coiled into a ball, and the Black Carp struggled to drag the unconscious Lisa to the base of the Holy Tree, the center of the Barrier.


    The Black Carp shot out again, heading straight for William, but it was still a step too late.


    William just happened to be at the edge of the Holy Tree. His right shoulder was touched by a few drops of the black blood, which instantly corroded the flesh, revealing the stark white bones beneath.


    The Black Carp bit William''s cloth corner, tugging forcefully. Its small body erupted with astonishing strength, managing to drag William away.


    After dragging William slightly away from the flood''s edge, it attempted to rescue another person.


    Alas, the black blood advanced once more. The people sleeping at the edge were engulfed, their flesh instantly corroded away, and their bones sank into the blood to dissolve completely moments later.


    "Do you want me to take you out of here? But how should I carry you? On my shoulder or pack you in a bag? Should I ask for a packing box?" Xu Yi quipped.


    Even a fool would know that the Evil God Ratma would not let the Cat Spirit Holy Tree go easily. If he had trapped the Holy Tree here to erode it step by step, wasn''t it to devour the power of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree?


    The Thief Evil God, his name alone gave a rough idea of his Ability.


    Disappointment appeared on the face of the Cat Spirit Bastet, its head hanging down.


    Suddenly, it lifted its head and brandished its claws toward the black blood in the illusory scene as if it wanted to give Ratma a severe thrashing.


    Unfortunately, its round face looked utterly non-threatening, much like a kitten demanding affection.


    Xu Yi felt a bit of novelty. So the Spirit of the Holy Tree was such an entity, akin to an innocent child unaware of the ways of the world.


    No wonder it was no match for the Evil God Ratma, trapped here, not only outclassed in strength but also utterly outsmarted.


    "With that look, you can''t scare Ratma at all!" Xu Yi saw the Cat Spirit Bastet continuing to snarl at the Blood Sea, a bit speechless. Continue your adventure at empire


    Since when were cats afraid of mice?


    He had realized by now that the Cat Spirit Bastet was only putting on an act, not daring to face Ratma directly. Otherwise, it wouldn''t be shrinking here like an ostrich, letting the Evil God feed on its power.


    According to the behavior of ordinary people, no, ordinary cats, one should have attempted to escape when strength was plentiful, instead of hiding here, waiting for the slim hope of rescue.


    The Cat Spirit Bastet stopped and glared at Xu Yi with round eyes. After a moment of silence, It suddenly spoke in that indiscernible language, but it was the voice of the soul, and Xu Yi understood what It meant.


    "You mean, I should think of a way for you to scare Ratma?"


    Xu Yi felt numb as if Zhuge Liang were telling A-Dou that it was a critical moment for the survival of Shu Han, and the emperor should rise up and help the dynasty.


    Instead, A-Dou asked Zhuge Liang, "Prime Minister, I''ve recently found a secret formula. Do you think my skin has become a lot whiter?"


    Is this a question of how good the skin is? Is this about whether or not you can scare Ratma?


    Now is not the time to recover your "cat" dignity!


    The Evil God Ratma summoned a flood of black blood, which was bound to have severe consequences; otherwise, It wouldn''t have waited until Its main body was discovered to use it.


    The opponent''s purpose was not just to deal with Xu Yi, but also to break through the Cat Spirit Holy Tree''s defenses in one fell swoop, consume Bastet, and replenish the depleted Divine Body of the Evil God.


    Xu Yi sat down on the ground in despair, feeling rather exhausted, as that''s the powerlessness one feels when encountering an incompetent teammate.


    He frowned in thought, but gradually his tightly knit brow relaxed, and his eyes began to brighten.


    "Can you return my soul to my body?"


    The Cat Spirit Bastet stared at Xu Yi, not understanding what sort of daydream this human in front of It was having. The fact that the soul was protected by It was already fortunate, and yet he still hoped to return to his body.


    The man''s body had long been corroded by the black blood, leaving nothing but dregs.


    But It still nodded, as It indeed had that ability.


    Xu Yi looked up at the Cat Spirit Bastet, a fierce figure flashed through his mind, "As a Divine Body, you should be able to change your form, right?"


    Xu Yi''s guess was not unfounded. The cat spirits frolicking around him would often elongate or compress their bodies.


    Bastet didn''t understand why Xu Yi was asking this, but still nodded. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Do you want to make Ratma fear you? Do you want to... leave this place?" Xu Yi coaxed gently, his words filled with temptation.


    Bastet''s eyes suddenly lit up, nodding vigorously like one mashing garlic.


    "Very good!" Xu Yi clapped and stood up, "Next, you just follow my orders!"


    ...


    The flood of black blood began to recede, and the water that had risen to the top of the sewer gradually fell, quickly dropping by half and still continuing to drop.


    The disappearing black waters all flowed in the same direction, creating a huge vortex where Ratma stood at its center, dripping with fresh blood.


    It looked almost the same as before, but if one looked closely enough, one would notice Its pure white pupils had turned grayish-black, almost blending into the surrounding darkness.


    Ratma looked up at the Cat Spirit Holy Tree. Under the assault of the black blood flood, the tree''s Barrier had shrunk by half, and the peripheral Vines had been corroded by the black blood, completely rotten and withered.


    To survive, the Holy Tree had voluntarily severed its peripheral branches and leaves. What used to be a lush vine tree now looked bare.


    It wasn''t that Ratma didn''t want to take the Holy Tree in one go, It just couldn''t do it.


    This moment was the weakest Ratma had been since Its birth. If It didn''t retract the black blood soon, It might fall into a long slumber.


    Within the black blood, a tiny shadow was drawn to the vortex¡ªthe Annabelle puppet.


    Ratma''s black blood was specifically designed to corrode flesh and blood, but for mutated puppets like Annabelle, there wasn''t much corrosion.


    Most importantly, the Annabelle puppet possessed a "pseudo Divine Body," letting it soak in the black blood without much trouble.


    The flood of black blood had receded, dropping to Ratma''s waist, and Ratma noticed the Annabelle puppet in the black blood. Just as It was about to grab the puppet, Its body shook violently.


    A towering figure burst through the black waters, leaped up, and with a roar, pounced towards Ratma.

 Chapter 135 Self-Destruct

    Ratma stared at the figure rising tumultuously in the black waters, filled with suspicion and uncertainty.Could that annoying little bug still not be dead? Such tenacious vitality, was it really human and not a Demon?


    No! Even a Common Demon should have dissolved in the black blood.


    He quickly sensed that something was amiss, the figure bore no trace of human aura, it was merely an undead body.


    The undead was covered in rotten flesh, and logically, the corrosive nature of the black blood shouldn''t be so weak, which could only mean that the undead''s body was out of the ordinary.


    The undead''s pupils were blood red, and the veins in its eyes seemed ready to burst forth, with hideous bones sprouting from its back like wings of thorns unfurling.


    The Thorn-ridden Corpse behaved like a wild beast, lunging towards Ratma.


    Had it been before, Ratma would have had thousands of ways to deal with it, but now, weakened to such an extent, he could only be overthrown into the black blood by the rotting corpse.


    The bone spurs of the rotting corpse''s palms protruded fiercely, piercing through Ratma''s skull.


    Ratma manipulated the black blood around him, which surged towards the rotting corpse like venomous snakes biting, causing great billows of black smoke to rise from its body, and its outer flesh to corrode again, revealing the stacked bones within.


    Taking advantage of the cover provided by the river of black blood, the Annabelle doll quietly arrived at the edge of the battlefield, silently observing the battle between the two monsters.


    Also watching this scene was Xu Yi, in the Soul Space.


    The rotting corpse was certainly not him, but the Heretic he had always kept in the Treasure Box.


    Xu Yi was well aware that once a soul entered the body of an undead, like that of the Heretic, it would "resurrect"!


    In his hand, he had a ready-made soul, compressed and refined¡ªa Soul Jade.


    Annabelle, following Xu Yi''s orders, fed the Heretic Soul Jades, not just one but a handful.


    The Heretic''s body was already special, and the entry of so many Soul Jades into it was like adding fuel to the fire.


    Although Xu Yi had anticipated it, he was still shocked by the Heretic''s transformation.


    The combat power that had erupted in such a short time was already on par with his own from just before.


    The Heretic clutched fiercely at the Evil God Ratma, its ferocious bone spurs piercing Ratma''s body over and over. Ratma was visibly weakened, the effectiveness of his Hyper Accelerated Regeneration diminishing, with the healing of his wounds slowing down.


    Xu Yi saw the statue of the Evil God within the flesh and took a deep breath.


    "Are you ready?" he asked softly.


    "I am ready!" came a majestic voice from behind.


    The Annabelle doll slowly approached the battlefield as if merely being carried by the black waters.


    The battle had reached a fever pitch, the Heretic''s flesh had been corroded away, leaving only a skeleton, yet even so, it was still capable of fighting.


    It wrapped its arms around Ratma, the bone spurs on its body piercing into Ratma''s flesh.


    Ratma bit at the opponent with sharp rodent teeth, mere bones that in the face of teeth that could bite through an Exorcism Holy Relic, were just slightly more solid foam.


    Ratma was very, very weak now, the whites of his eyes almost gone, the Evil God''s statue in his chest no longer had the strength to hide itself, exposed to the air.


    What He hadn''t noticed was that Annabelle had already silently drifted behind Him.


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    A purplish-red glow spread from Annabelle, and a figure slowly emerged, none other than Xu Yi, supposedly "dead".


    His state was very strange, his pupils void of expression, devoid of even a sliver of life.


    Because what lay before him was merely a body, Xu Yi''s soul had been sucked away by Bastet.


    The shell had not been swallowed by the black blood. Since the shell without a soul belonged to the category of "inanimate objects," it naturally could be taken in by the Toy Box.


    Whether Bastet''s intention was good or evil, Xu Yi wasn''t sure at first, but considering he was about to be devoured by the dark waters and needed to use a Resurrection Coin anyway, why not take a look at the situation?


    Unexpectedly, after his soul was drawn out, Annabelle actually collected his body.


    This was the difference between having and lacking spiritual intelligence. If the doll was a wind-up toy, just winding it up a bit would have probably resulted in his body being completely corroded, leaving the Resurrection Coin as the only option.


    After Xu Yi fully grasped the situation, his brain whirled, and a new plan formed in his mind.


    The Cat Spirit Holy Tree emitted a faint green light, and an obscure soul fluctuation flew out, entering Xu Yi''s body.


    Xu Yi shivered violently, feeling as though he plunged into the cold depths of the Arctic Ocean the moment his soul entered his body.


    Cold! Too cold!


    It was a chill intense enough to freeze a soul solid. It took him a long time to recover.


    This was "rigor mortis." Once a person died, the body turned into an "ice cellar," and if a soul were to enter it, the soul would be frozen solid.


    There are not a few Wandering Souls in the world, and naturally, all would wish for Resurrection. If just any wandering soul could enter the numerous corpses in hospitals and Funeral Parlors to seize the body and be reborn, the world would have descended into chaos long ago.


    The "Resurrection" of a corpse was based on a set of extremely rare conditions.


    Xu Yi felt somewhat relieved, grateful that his soul had only left the body momentarily. If it had left for too long, he feared the soul would not be able to re-enter the body at all.


    Gradually feeling warmth, he regained control of his body.


    His eyes slowly opened, and the first thing Xu Yi saw was Ratma fiercely biting into the Bone Corpse, its sharp teeth severing the neck bone, the head with nothing but bones left in its mouth, its gaze empty.


    Ratma was so weakened that he could no longer sense his surroundings. Xu Yi held the remnants of Saint O''Hagan tightly in his hands, staring intently at the Evil God statue on Ratma''s chest.


    The Fog of Obscurity surged into his body again, and he controlled the intoxicating power once more, lunging out explosively. Under Annabelle''s evil influence, his figure was like lightning.


    Ratma seemed to sense the anomaly behind him and tried to turn his head, but before the motion was complete, the silver remains of Saint O''Hagan had already pierced through his flesh and blood, precisely penetrating the Evil God statue in his chest.


    A hint of a smile appeared on Xu Yi''s lips, as if he had already seen the scene of Ratma''s Annihilation.


    But he abruptly froze, something was off about the touch!


    Although he didn''t know what material the Evil God statue was made of, it definitely shouldn''t feel like this, Saint O''Hagan felt as if it had stabbed into a mound of soft mud.


    A horrifying scene ensued: the Evil God statue suddenly decayed, turning into a stream of foul water.


    Xu Yi had no time to react when Ratma suddenly turned his head, expressionless.


    His body exploded, and the shattered flesh turned into a black vortex that devoured everything around it, be it the Bone Corpse or Xu Yi.


    In Xu Yi''s consciousness, the last thing he saw in that final second was the palm-sized statue falling from the vortex, the white dot in its pupil completely dissipating.


    With it dissipated the dark Barrier of the place, the darkness faded, and light returned. They were now in the reality of the sewer system.


    The ink-like turbid blood suddenly turned into clear water, the clear water flowing into the sewer, the water''s force growing stronger, the Evil God statue dropping into the waterway, washed away in an instant, vanishing from sight. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 136 Stab Through Him!

    In the Resurrection Space, Xu Yi wanted to beat his chest and stamp his feet.Too cunning! It was truly too cunning!


    The Evil God statue had always been fake, a decoy. After puncturing the false statue, Ratma''s body would self-destruct and form a dark vortex that swallowed everything.


    No wonder Bastet was no match; such a cunning Evil God was not something that the adorably foolish Bastet could contend with!


    Xu Yi took a deep breath to calm himself down.


    As an Evil God with the appearance of a ratman, the adversary''s caution was not unwarranted, but this had to be its last resort.


    "Find the true statue, then destroy it!"


    For this goal, Xu Yi began to rack his brains. As time passed and the Resurrection Coin took effect, Xu Yi returned to ten minutes earlier.


    Everything ahead didn''t need to be changed; tampering with any part would make it impossible to create such a favorable situation.


    Coming once more to the critical moment, Xu Yi took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Ratma''s head.


    The true statue must be hidden inside Ratma''s body, with the chest already ruled out.


    The hands and feet could also be ruled out¡ªRatma''s limbs were like a rat''s, very frail and unlikely to conceal a statue.


    So that left only three places: the head, the neck, and the abdomen.


    Xu Yi gripped Saint O''Hagan firmly.


    Annabelle possessed the ability to control Saint O''Hagan.


    But a special magnetic field enveloped Saint O''Hagan, making it extremely difficult for Annabelle to manipulate it, unsteady as it was; it was hard to even make it fly, let alone perform a sneak attack.


    So it had to be him acting personally.


    The adversary was already very weak. If the true Evil God statue could be pierced, it should be very difficult for it to self-destruct again.


    And since he was now on guard, with his speed, he could completely escape the devouring range.


    Xu Yi lunged forward suddenly, driving Saint O''Hagan into the back of Ratma''s head and even stirring it around, but found nothing¡ªno Evil God statue.


    He tried to pull out Saint O''Hagan, but his face suddenly changed color as Saint O''Hagan was tightly sucked in by Ratma''s flesh and blood and couldn''t be pulled out.


    The fake statue in the chest hadn''t been destroyed, yet it began to decay automatically. Ratma self-destructed once more, and Xu Yi had no choice but to let go of Saint O''Hagan and leap back.


    The black vortex swept through, and everything inside the vortex was destroyed, including Saint O''Hagan.


    Xu Yi''s heart was in suspense; without Saint O''Hagan, he wasn''t sure if he could destroy the Evil God statue.


    As the darkness receded, the viscous black blood turned into clear water, and he returned to the reality of the sewer.


    He stared hard at Ratma''s location for one second, ten seconds, thirty seconds passed... and he did not find the Evil God statue.


    Xu Yi''s heart sank. Before, the Evil God statue had only disappeared after falling into the filthy gutter; now, it had skipped that step altogether and disappeared with the darkness.


    Why was it different now?


    With a bit of thought, he understood; if there was no threat nearby, the Evil God, already weakened to the extreme, would choose to "fall into the river" to save every bit of energy.


    But now, with him watching like a hungry tiger, even if it had to squeeze out the last bit of strength from its body and enter dormancy, it would choose to retreat decisively.


    "Could it be that after expending so much effort, I can only achieve this much?"


    Xu Yi was not willing to accept this, not willing at all.


    He hesitated for a moment before decisively pulling out the Alchemy Revolver and aiming it at his temple, pulling the trigger.


    The gunshot rang out, and the light of the Resurrection Coin illuminated his eyes.


    Resurrected once again, reaching the critical junction once more, Xu Yi expressionlessly pierced through the neck of Ratma, slashing half of Ratma''s throat... but still, he did not find the true statue.


    This time he was on guard, retracting Saint O''Hagan and escaping the range of the self-destruction, but it was no use, the adversary still fled, disappearing without a trace.


    "It''s not the chest, it''s not the head or the neck, now only the abdomen is left!"


    The gunshot rang out, marking the third use of the Resurrection Coin today.


    Once again, a crucial node arrived, and Xu Yi''s hand started to tremble slightly as Saint O''Hagan''s strike pierced through the opponent''s abdomen, nearly bisecting them at the waist.


    The result... still nothing!


    Xu Yi''s pupils turned blood-red, his breathing became rapid.


    He couldn''t understand, he had tried all the most likely places, so why hadn''t he found the real Evil God Statue?


    Could he have been wrong, that the Evil God Statue wasn''t inside the opponent''s body at all, but hidden in a space completely undetectable?


    But that wasn''t right either, the first time he died, he clearly saw the statue fall out from inside the opponent''s body.


    Perhaps the Evil God was deceiving him?


    But he had already died, why would the Evil God bother with such actions?


    A series of questions emerged in his mind, and Xu Yi''s head throbbed with pain. He knew his heart was beginning to lose its calm.


    He couldn''t help but become agitated, as he had now used three Resurrection Coins, and the limit per day was five.


    To prevent dangerous discoveries, he couldn''t possibly use up all his Resurrection attempts in one day.


    Now he faced a severe problem¡ªshould he continue or not?


    Logically speaking, he still had one more chance to try, but he didn''t know if it was worth it.


    Xu Yi took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.


    He began to use his knowledge of Psychology to hypnotize himself.


    First, he cleared his mind of its thoughts, those chaotic thoughts that were of no benefit and only interfered with his thinking.


    His tense body gradually relaxed, and his mind cleared. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi had never felt before that Psychology entries were so useful.


    He began to adopt Ratma''s mindset. The opponent would surely hide the Evil God Statue in a safe place, but what location would they consider the safest?


    Scenes of his encounters with Ratma flashed through his mind, and suddenly he opened his eyes wide, a sharp glint flashing within.


    The Alchemy Revolver aimed at the temple, a gunshot¡ªthis was the final attempt.


    Another critical moment arrived. Xu Yi had thought he would be excited, but he wasn''t; he was as calm as a monk watching the river in the rain.


    He lunged at Ratma, Saint O''Hagan aimed not at the chest or head but at Ratma''s heart¡ªthe heart that had been pierced already!


    The heart was hollow, and through the hole, one could see the scenery on the other side.


    But Xu Yi still noticed something off. The scenery he saw through the hole was slightly delayed compared to what he was actually seeing... so slight that if he didn''t possess the Eyes of Obscurity, he would never have noticed.


    Saint O''Hagan entered the wound, a seemingly empty hole, yet it encountered resistance.


    The light in Xu Yi''s eyes shone as bright as a supernova explosion!


    He exerted all his might, pushing Saint O''Hagan through something, and the hidden Evil God Statue was revealed¡ªthe Ratman statue was completely penetrated.


    Ratma slowly turned its head, showing an expression of disbelief. It couldn''t understand how the opponent knew where its true body was hidden.


    Xu Yi saw the shock on Ratma''s face and felt an immense sense of satisfaction.


    Of course, he knew, for he had spent four whole lives just to find the real location of the Evil God Statue!


    He smashed the opponent''s head with a punch, no longer needing to worry about the black blood or a possible self-destruction.


    Read new adventures at empire


    The moment he pierced through the Evil God Statue, he knew the opponent had no chance of resisting.


    As he expected, Ratma''s body "collapsed," disintegrating like a decayed clay sculpture, turning to dust in an instant, only the pair of shining, cold rat teeth fell.


    Xu Yi watched the Evil God Statue closely, not relaxing for a moment, because his plan didn''t end there.

 Chapter 137 The Fall of the Evil God!

    Xu Yi released Saint O''Hagan, allowing Saint O''Hagan to stay inside the Evil God statue, continuously causing damage.The lurking Annabelle suddenly made her move, her evil-controlling ability surged forth, and the Evil God statue was fixed in midair.


    Xu Yi reached out to Annabelle with a large mass of soul-binding thread appearing in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, the dense web of soul-binding thread flew out and wrapped around the Evil God statue tightly.


    Since he had gone this far, why not be even bolder?


    He aimed not only to slay the god but also to suppress it into a Soul Jade, to preserve the Power of the Evil God to the greatest extent, as nourishment to boost Annabelle''s growth!


    Annabelle really needed the Power of the Evil God; he had once even fancied hunting down an Evil God himself, never expecting that wish to come true so quickly.


    Xu Yi tightened the soul-binding thread in his hands, and marks appeared on the Evil God statue where it constricted.


    Before, Ratma could have easily broken free from these alloy threads, but now He could only glare angrily at Xu Yi, with bone-chilling hatred flashing in His pitch-black pupils.


    Xu Yi turned a blind eye, manipulating the soul-binding thread in his hands, wanting to speed up the suppression process.


    A flash of black light passed over the Evil God statue, Xu Yi''s face changed slightly, he had seen this light before, just before Ratma''s body self-destructed.


    Ratma, hating Xu Yi to the bone, would rather destroy Himself than let Xu Yi succeed.


    "Bastet!" Xu Yi roared with rage.


    A fearsome figure suddenly appeared, flying over from the direction of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree.


    It was a monster with the head of a bull and the body of a snake, hideous yet ancient and majestic. Its serpentine scales were purple-red, while its bovine face was crimson, and only a pair of golden pupils gleamed with a captivating brilliance.


    This was the tree spirit Bastet of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, but They no longer appeared as the cute, round-faced cat but as the fearsome and majestic Fire Gui.


    Xu Yi''s knowledge of psychology was about to max out, his ability not inferior to that of seasoned psychologists. He knew exactly how to guide a person lacking courage.


    The most direct method was to change their appearance, hence why so many people felt their whole lives transformed after getting into fitness.


    If Bastet did not change Their appearance, given Their sheer cowardice, They likely wouldn''t even have the courage to face Ratma directly.


    Choosing Fire Gui was simple for two reasons: first, its image was sufficiently ferocious; second, images of Fire Gui had once dispelled Ratma''s curse, suggesting perhaps some kind of restraining relationship between the two.


    Fire Gui rushed in front of the Evil God statue, which trembled suddenly, and Xu Yi sensed Ratma''s fear. Explore hidden tales at empire


    Fire Gui''s deterrent power was this significant?


    Xu Yi was somewhat surprised. The restraint of Fire Gui on Ratma was just his speculation; he had not really thought it would be effective, it was primarily to motivate the Cat Spirit Bastet.


    But now it seemed that Fire Gui might genuinely possess some unique power.


    Bastet initially felt anxious and fearful. Although Xu Yi kept touting how Their new image was "feared by all mice," the trauma Ratma left on Them was profound, and Their heart was a mess.


    But now, sensing Ratma''s fear, Bastet felt this was the pinnacle of Their "cat" life, as if Their soul was about to ascend.


    Their courage grew, and They let out a majestic roar at Ratma, sounding like thunder.


    Xu Yi had once described to Them what the roar of the Fire Gui sounded like. They didn''t know if it was correct, they could only go by feeling.


    Xu Yi was a bit dumbfounded; this timid cat was quite good at imitation. When he carelessly mentioned it, the effect They produced was actually better than he had imagined.


    But now was not the time to praise Them. Again, he roared out, reminding Them, "Bastet!"


    Bastet snapped out of it. This time, They were not just intending to "scare" Ratma but to deal with Him. Thinking of soon leaving this dreadful place, Their eyes grew brighter and brighter. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fire Gui shook its long tail, and golden flames surged upward.


    If this ability was initiated in Cat Spirit form, the encompassing light would be pale green, but whether it was the light or the golden flames, their essence was the same.


    This was also one of Bastet''s abilities, She could willingly alter the shape of Her soul, and the manifestation of Her ability would change accordingly.


    Golden flames enveloped the Evil God statue, as a certain domain descended, Xu Yi felt a powerful exorcism force, firmly suppressing the Evil God statue.


    Ratma originally had a chance to self-destruct, but after being frightened by the Fire Gui, She completely lost that opportunity.


    Now that the Demon-suppressing Domain had descended, She could only become meat on the cutting board.


    While controlling the soul-binding threads to tighten, Xu Yi was feeling the effects of Bastet''s Demon-suppressing Domain.


    Such a powerful Demon-suppressing Domain could already rival the pressure exerted by the Jesus statue that Allen had once channelled.


    Even though Bastet was not as powerful as Ratma, but with this Demon-suppressing Domain alone, She had the ability to fight back, it''s just a pity that the opponent was too cowardly.


    "This Demon-suppressing Domain, wouldn''t it be a perfect match with the Treasure Box?"


    Xu Yi had already imagined the combined effects of the two, the Treasure Box trapping the enemy, the Demon-suppressing Domain suppressing, his long-desired Evil Spirit shelter, was finally taking shape.


    "I have to find a way to keep Bastet here!"


    Bastet kept waving Her long tail, with large swaths of golden flames falling, the effects of the Demon-suppressing Domain continued to strengthen.


    She still didn''t know She was being targeted, a rare opportunity for revenge, She was completely immersed in it.


    Xu Yi''s gaze withdrew from Bastet, the most urgent task was still to deal with Ratma.


    The soul-binding threads continually tightened, Ratma wanted to struggle, wanted to self-destruct, but was willing but unable, weakened to this extent, he had no more tricks up his sleeve.


    At this moment, Ratma''s end had come!


    The Evil God statue cracked apart, turning into ashes scattering, and the soul-binding threads captured the soul of the Evil God, compressing it into a Soul Jade.


    It was a deep black Soul Jade, pure as black crystal, without a single impurity, reflecting the high quality of the Soul Jade.


    [Soul Jade +39, Current Progress: 100/100]


    The system alert startled Xu Yi, he didn''t expect that just by suppressing a single Soul Jade, the progression would surge by 39, maxing it out instantly.


    But considering he had suppressed an Evil God, he was somewhat enlightened, after all, even suppressing the soul of a Giant Rat had earned him three to four points of experience.


    A cool sensation surged into his brain, making it clearer.


    He became more sensitive to the soul-binding threads, the threads in his hands felt like an extension of his own body, he could control them at will.


    "From now on, I won''t need Annabelle''s power to control the soul-binding threads!"


    With a raise of his hand, the soul-binding threads automatically flew back into his palm.


    "If I can get stronger threads in the future, maybe I could even cosplay as the Thread-Thread Fruit!"


    This was an unexpected joy brought to him by the Soul Jade entries.


    As everything settled down, Xu Yi collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.


    Both body and soul conveyed a heavy sense of fatigue, but he also felt an urge to laugh out loud.


    At last, Evil God Ratma had been dealt with!


    [Entry Devouring initiated, devouring in progress...]


    Xu Yi instantly perked up, filled with anticipation.


    What kind of entries could he possibly devour from an Evil God?

 Chapter 138 The Virtuous Evil God

    While waiting for the entry to be devoured, Xu Yi began cleaning up the battlefield.He bent down to pick up the Saint O''Hagan on the ground.


    The silvery Saint O''Hagan had become dull, and its patterns had lost their luster; the powerful magnetic field that had enveloped it was gone.


    Father Nodin''s secret technique had failed, and this Exorcism Holy Relic had completely turned into a "mortal object".


    But Xu Yi still put it away, even though it had lost its exorcism power; a lean camel is bigger than a horse, after all. The materials used to craft this Holy Artifact were extraordinary, so perhaps it could be reforged into something "interesting".


    Xu Yi also found the broken Dagger of Rest. This Exorcism Artifact was completely wrecked, not even worth reforging.


    Annabelle floated down beside Xu Yi, with two finger-sized rat teeth suspended in front of him.


    Xu Yi stared at the teeth, his eyes gleaming.


    These were the surprising "gifts" from Ratma; as Ratma''s body crumbled, his teeth that could possibly crush Saint O''Hagan had remained.


    Judging by the shape of the teeth, they appeared to be incisors, emanating a captivating chill.


    "This thing, if put in a game, would at least count as ''legendary material'', right?"


    Xu Yi tossed the rat teeth into Annabelle''s toy treasure box; they were too precious, and he needed to give some thought to how they could be used.


    [Entry Devouring Successful, congratulations, you''ve obtained "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entry Fragment x2"]


    The system''s prompt sounded, the first was a surprise.


    [Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entry, current progress: 4/5]


    He was only one fragment away from obtaining the Red Level Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entry!


    Because he already had entry fragments, if the opponent had the ''Hyper Accelerated Regeneration'' entry, he would have a hundred percent chance of obtaining its fragments.


    Xu Yi secretly rejoiced.


    Logically speaking, during entry devouring, there was a possibility of drawing a complete ''Hyper Accelerated Regeneration'' entry; he shouldn''t be happy about it.


    But you should know, entry devouring is a matter of chance, and the higher the level of the entry, the smaller the chance of drawing it.


    Now that he had only drawn entry fragments showed that he hadn''t drawn the ''Hyper Accelerated Regeneration'' entry; getting two fragments was already quite good.


    Xu Yi continued to wait, hoping for more entries to be revealed.


    One minute, two minutes... five minutes passed, and there was no response from the system.


    Could this be it?


    Xu Yi''s face darkened as though it were the bottom of a pot. Had he used up all his luck killing the Evil God? Had the Goddess of Luck abandoned him?


    But that would be too shabby, wouldn''t it?


    A full-fledged Evil God and he had only gained two entry fragments?


    Just then, the entry information chimed again, and Xu Yi instantly clenched his fists.


    [Entry Devouring Successful, congratulations, you''ve obtained the entry "Evil God Authority: Theft of the Extreme (Red Common)"]


    A Red Entry! It was a Red Level entry!


    At the same time, Xu Yi noticed something different; previously, when devouring and obtaining entries, they had been "Blank Entries", but now this display was not there.


    Could it be that Red Entries are different?


    [Evil God Authority: Theft of the Extreme (Red Common)]


    Stage 1: Incarnation of the Evil God (Authority unlocked, incarnation not obtained)


    I am the Evil God, the power of the Authority transforms, and might returns to oneself!


    Stage 2: Evil God Faith (automatically unlocks upon completion of Stage 1)


    Stage 3: Nest of the Evil God (automatically unlocks upon completion of Stage 2)


    Stage 4: Soul Stealing Seed (completion...)


    Stage 5: Divine Transition (unknown)


    (ps: This entry is a special one that can grow into a higher tier.)


    Xu Yi had guessed correctly; the red-level entries no longer came with a progress bar, replaced instead by stages of growth.


    Only by completing the previous stage could one unlock the abilities of the next.


    "Another growable entry."


    Xu Yi thought of Annabelle''s toy treasure box, but his attention was quickly drawn to the phrase "I am the Evil God."


    Equipping this entry was equivalent to becoming an Evil God, no, a reserve Evil God to be exact.


    Could he, a dignified exorcist, actually become an Evil God?


    [The "Evil God Authority: The Ultimate Art of Theft" has been equipped.] sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Excellent! Xu Yi clenched his fist excitedly. An exorcist who doesn''t want to be an Evil God is not a good exorcist.


    If one could become an Evil God, who would choose to be an exorcist, struggling through hardships?


    Most exorcists could only tremble in fear when facing an Evil God.


    Moreover, this entry simply gave him the condition to become an Evil God; the subsequent choices were up to him.


    After all, he had the entry panel and more choices, not needing to walk a dark path for power like other Evil Gods.


    Whether a black cat or a white cat, a cat that catches mice is a good cat. The worst-case scenario would be to be careful when using the abilities of this entry in the future.


    "My goal is to become a warm, kind, and admirable triple-good Evil God!"


    The "triple-good Evil God" suddenly turned and set his sights on Bastet. He had just been thinking about how to "retain" the other party, and now he had a plan.


    Bastet was still immersed in the joy of Ratma''s death, its body, transformed into a Fire Gui, dancing ceaselessly. Due to extreme excitement, it could not maintain that dignified voice, instead, emitting soft and cute meows.


    It suddenly felt a chill, as if targeted by some dangerous creature.


    Bastet quickly turned around and saw only Xu Yi with a smiling face, a bit puzzled. Was it just an illusion a moment ago?


    "Bastet, you were really amazing! Look at how scared that rat was by you!" Xu Yi exclaimed with genuine admiration.


    Bastet instantly threw out any doubts in its mind, feeling a tinge of shyness in the face of Xu Yi''s praise.


    "Well... it wasn''t too bad," it replied, not in its unusual language but in English, betraying an astounding ability to learn.


    "Bastet, you are too modest. In my view, if it weren''t for your benevolence, Ratma would have been driven away by you long ago, and this victory is all thanks to you!" Xu Yi continued to flatter.


    "Am I really that amazing?" Bastet was starting to feel flattered.


    "Of course, just think about it..." Continue your adventure at empire


    Xu Yi kept using his flattering technique, and soon Bastet was completely disoriented.


    After five minutes of incessant flattery, Xu Yi suddenly changed his tone, "So, the smart and peerlessly dominant Miss Bastet, how about joining forces with me?"


    "Sure..." Bastet replied subconsciously, but then quickly sensed something was amiss and eyed Xu Yi warily, "What do you mean?"


    "Just as the words imply," Xu Yi said, "Bastet, think about it. You encountered Ratma this time and were almost devoured by him, wasn''t it because there was no one to protect you? If you could..."


    "Not interested!"


    Xu Yi hadn''t finished speaking before Bastet interrupted him.


    As the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, it naturally craved freedom and enjoyed an unrestrained life¡ªhow could it possibly submit to a human?


    "That''s truly a pity," Xu Yi shrugged his shoulders.


    Bastet gave Xu Yi a questioning glance. It was surprising that he took the rejection so easily without any further persistence.


    It had met many people who would rather put a knife to its throat than let it refuse them.


    But it suddenly realized something was off, and immediately turned its head towards the Cat Spirit Holy Tree.


    Without anyone noticing, Annabelle had already arrived beneath the Holy Tree, and a purplish-red aura had suddenly unfolded.


    "No!" Bastet roared and transformed into a streak of light, rushing towards the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, attempting to return to its original form.


    But it was too late. The Holy Tree, along with the concrete walls of the sewer above, was swallowed by Annabelle''s toy treasure box.

 Chapter 139 Authoritys Touch

    Bastet glared at Xu Yi, flames rising all over its body, seemingly about to pounce and tear Xu Yi into shreds at any second.Xu Yi just quietly watched the other, a faint smile still hanging on his face.


    After suppressing the Evil God into Soul Jade, Xu Yi immediately fed it to the Annabelle doll.


    The reason for small talk with Bastet was nothing but to buy time for Annabelle''s doll to assimilate.


    [Progress of Annabelle''s Toy House: 2800/5000]


    The Treasure Box needed a whopping 5,000 experience points to evolve into a Toy House. Previously, when it devoured the Soul Jade of Bashiba, it gained only a little over ten points.


    He had thought it would take a great deal of time, but to his surprise, just by devouring an Incarnation of the Evil God, the progress instantly surpassed half.


    Having devoured so much Power of the Evil God, the Toy Box had expanded its size by dozens of times, equivalent to a room of over fifty square meters.


    Moreover, all three sides of the Box had transformed into "metallic walls." If he encountered gunfire again, with a slight adjustment in the angle at which the bullets entered, he could easily fend them off.


    Bastet and Xu Yi stared at each other for a long while, with the former''s vicious gaze almost seeming to choose someone to devour.


    But soon it could no longer maintain its form. Its body was enveloped in light, and as the light dissipated, it reverted back to that silly, round-faced cat.


    "What am I supposed to do now?" Bastet lamented as if it had lost all will to live.


    Xu Yi had anticipated this; the silly round-faced cat could only scare people by assuming the guise of Fire Gui, never daring to take real action.


    In Bastet''s eyes, Xu Yi had just killed Ratma, an act akin to "killing the Rat to awe the Cat." The cowardly cat didn''t have the guts to turn against him, the "God Slayer."


    It was unexpected for Xu Yi, who had taught it to scare Ratma with the appearance of Fire Gui, would turn the tactic on Xu Yi in a blink. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Think on the bright side! Now that you have my protection, you don''t have to worry about getting hurt, and you can do whatever you want. By the way, is there anything in particular you want to do?" Xu Yi asked.


    As a master of Psychology, Xu Yi''s ability to offer psychological guidance was formidable.


    "Something I want to do?" Bastet paused for a moment, it had never pondered such matters.


    Each time it awoke, it was either trying to escape from human entanglement or being targeted by demons or Evil Gods; there was never time to think about such things.


    "No problem, you have plenty of time to think," Xu Yi suddenly changed tone, his expression becoming serious, "Don''t resist, embrace my power!"


    The Authority of the Evil God activated!


    Xu Yi''s body became the "Key," the key to unlocking some kind of sublime power.


    They were in the real sewers, and after the death of Ratma, the Dark Realm had also vanished.


    But as Xu Yi activated the Authority of the Evil God, vast shadows descended once more. The shadows enveloped Xu Yi, and his body slowly disappeared, merging into the shadows.


    At this moment, Xu Yi felt strange, his perspective infinitely elevated. Although it was Bastet that was actually hovering in the air, he felt as if he was looking down upon it.


    Otherworldly perspective! The gaze of the Evil God!


    Two phrases flashed through his mind, and Xu Yi suddenly understood why Ratma would cast such a gaze so frequently¡ªit felt absolutely exhilarating.


    Under the gaze of the Evil God, everything seemed like mere ants, and the sensation was addictive.


    But Xu Yi was keenly aware that it was just an illusion; if Ratma had truly been that powerful, it wouldn''t have been reduced to a mere set of molars, becoming one of his collectibles.


    "This ability to gaze as the Evil God might come in handy at times," Xu Yi thought.


    Bastet''s hair stood on end. Through its eyes, Xu Yi appeared as a massive shadowy worm, with countless tendrils extending from the edges of the shadow, seemingly about to pull it into an abyss of darkness.


    Having personally slain Ratma, Xu Yi had already induced fear in it. Now, witnessing Xu Yi''s "other side," it dared not resist even more.


    Moreover, even if it wanted to resist, what could it do?


    The main body of the Holy Tree was in his hands, and if it lingered outside for too long, its true spirit would gradually fade away.


    So it really had no choice.


    Xu Yi felt he was only half a meter away from Bastet, and he reached out, trying to touch the other''s forehead with his fingertip.


    In reality, he was a good seven or eight meters away from Bastet, but as he reached out, a large mass of shadow transformed into tentacles, stretching towards Bastet and landing on the deity''s forehead.


    Authority morphed, Incarnation of the Evil God!


    The Incarnation of the Evil God was one of the core abilities of the Thieving Evil God, and during the confrontation with Ratma, this ability had caused considerable trouble for Xu Yi.


    The true form of the Evil God was that statue, and the Ratman enveloping the statue was the Incarnation of the Evil God.


    If not for the misdirection of the incarnation, Xu Yi would have dealt with the adversary much sooner.


    The Incarnation of the Evil God couldn''t be changed lightly, so one must be cautious in choosing from the onset.


    But for Xu Yi, what could be a better incarnation than the Cat Spirit Holy Tree?


    Bastet emitted a pain-filled roar, its body shrouded in a faint black aura, seemingly unable to withstand this agony, and once again changed into a Fire Gui.


    The serpent body of the Fire Effigy writhed, its fiery scales taking on an ink-like hue, turning black and red, and its fearsome bull head became pitch black, looking even more terrifying.


    The golden flames were edged with a layer of black light, exuding a captivating might.


    The corrupted Fire Gui Bastet suddenly let out a roar, charging towards the shadow and surging into Xu Yi''s chest.


    Xu Yi''s eyes snapped open, his gaze suffused with black-gold light, identical to the Fire Gui''s.


    Lots of shadows retracted into his body, and Xu Yi stood for a long while before he slowly exhaled, taking his first step as a "newly christened Evil God."


    The Incarnation of the Evil God was a success!


    Xu Yi rushed to the spot where the Cat Spirit Holy Tree used to be and, seeing Lisa''s steady breathing, released a long sigh of relief.


    At that moment, the sound of breathing came from nearby; Xu Yi turned to see William slowly opening his eyes.


    Xu Yi sighed, unsure whether to consider William lucky or unfortunate.


    When the Black Blood Tidal Wave hit the Barrier of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, those who were napping at the perimeter were swept away by the Black Blood, their flesh dissolved to nothing.


    Bastet was not sheltering these humans; the deity simply lacked the awareness to do so.


    When Ratma first awakened, its power was still weak, and it could only appear in person to beguile, leading to many sightings of Ratma and the urban legend of the sewer Ratman.


    Those first beguiled by Ratma followed it into the sewers, but at that time, Ratma was so frail that many snapped out of their trance along the way.


    In their flight, they inadvertently strayed into the Cat Spirit Holy Tree''s domain and inhaled the fragrance of the slumber-inducing flowers, thus creating the situation now at hand.


    William was among them; he should have been swept away by the tidal wave, but was saved by the Black Carp.


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    Unfortunately, the Black Carp was a step too late, and William was still affected by the Black Blood.


    The flesh on William''s left shoulder had been corroded away, revealing the white bone beneath, as blood incessantly gushed forth.


    Black Blood carried a strong curse, which exorcists could resist, but for commoners like William, there was nothing to do but face their fate. His heart was too close to the source of the curse, and signs of mutation had already appeared.


    Although Xu Yi had resurrected four times, he could only go back ten minutes¡ªfar from enough to save William.


    "I know Hardy; if you have any last words, I can relay them to him," Xu Yi said indifferently.


    The man was Hardy''s brother, but to him, he was just another commoner, nothing particularly sad or grievous.


    Though he coveted the shares of Ernst Company, with the man in such a state, death was but a matter of time. Even the most skilled doctor could only shake their head and depart.


    "Oh, great master! I... I am willing to offer up everything, please, save me!" William, knowing his time was running out, summoned his last bit of strength and struggled to speak.


    "Did you see it?" Xu Yi fixed his gaze on William, his eyes turning dangerous.


    He had thought William remained unconscious and with no one else around, he felt secure enough to use the power of the Evil God''s authority. He hadn''t anticipated this oversight.


    Should he kill him? Xu Yi frowned in contemplation. His control over the Power of the Evil God should not be exposed at this juncture.

 Chapter 140 The Drawbacks of the Path of the Evil God

    Xu Yi silently watched William, as time ticked away second by second, and soon three minutes had passed, with William''s breath growing weaker.William''s face was full of a pleading look, while Xu Yi remained expressionless.


    If Xu Yi rashly tried to save him, that wouldn''t be compassion, but foolishness, exposing himself to extreme danger.


    Moreover, under these circumstances, he didn''t have any good methods to save the other person.


    William didn''t know Xu Yi''s thoughts; he just felt that he was not devout enough, insufficient to move the magnificent being before him.


    He had witnessed the true form of the magnificent being, that terrifying shadowy touch.


    He wanted to live, he didn''t want to die, he looked at William with increasingly devout eyes.


    Xu Yi turned his head away, no longer paying attention to William, deciding it would be better to just collect the corpse after the other man died.


    Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a black light, and he was momentarily startled, quickly focusing his gaze on it.


    The black light hovered above William''s forehead, and at the center of the light was a tentacle, a thin one coiled around the human figure resembling William.


    "Is this a devout believer?"


    Xu Yi was a bit stunned; he had just completed the first stage of the Evil God entries, obtaining the Incarnation of the Evil God.


    The ability of the second stage, "Power of Faith of the Evil God," he had naturally mastered as well.


    Frankly speaking, he was quite troubled by this ability, which could contaminate others, turning them into believers of the Evil God in order to harvest the Power of Faith.


    This way of gaining followers was very crude and simple, and of course, the side effects were particularly severe.


    Because the conversion of the believers was forced, their remaining resentments would form Mental Contamination, continuously polluting the Controller.


    In the long run, the soul of the Controller was doomed to Corruption, rationality would be lost, actions would become unscrupulous, and in the end, they would go mad.


    This was the path that most Evil Gods took.


    Xu Yi definitely didn''t want this; he had the entries system and didn''t need to abandon his rationality for power.


    But if he couldn''t gain enough followers, he wouldn''t be able to unlock the next stage of abilities.


    This was quite a paradox.


    However, William''s situation showed him another path.


    He wouldn''t actively contaminate, but let others willingly become his followers, voluntarily offering the Power of Faith.


    In this case, it would be a mutual agreement without coercion, and naturally, there would be no resentment, nor Mental Contamination.


    This method was undoubtedly very difficult, but at least there was hope.


    Facing William''s pleading eyes, Xu Yi no longer hesitated, decisively accepting the other''s faith.


    The black tentacle wrapped around William''s Soul Core, flew into his body, took control of William''s Soul Core, and thus his life and death, eliminating concerns about any potential leaks.


    William''s eyes were already becoming vacant, and Xu Yi knew he had to hurry.


    He extended his hand, and the "Mint Leaf" of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree appeared in his palm.


    Mint Leaf was just Xu Yi''s own term; the true name of the leaf was the Leaf of Redemption.


    Having taken control of Bastet, he naturally gained control over the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, and a thorough understanding of the Holy Tree''s abilities.


    The Leaf of Redemption could not only be effective for cats but also for humans, albeit with a much-reduced effect, yet even that diminished effect was hundreds of times stronger than any emergency potion in a hospital.


    William was no longer able to speak, even opening his mouth was difficult, making it hard to feed him the Leaf of Redemption liquid.


    Furthermore, ingestion was the slowest method to take effect, and William couldn''t wait that long.


    "Luckily, I came prepared," Xu Yi said as he pulled a syringe out of the Toy Treasure Box.


    This was something he had bought for the convenience of drawing blood to create Soul-binding Threads, and he had stored quite a few in the Toy Treasure Box, never expecting to use them in this situation.


    He grasped the Leaf of Redemption and the Fog of Obscurity erupted, grinding the leaf in his palm into dust.


    Such a method greatly exhausted the Fog of Obscurity and could only be used occasionally.


    Fortunately, after maxing out the entries, the Fog of Obscurity would slowly regenerate on its own, eliminating the need for him to seek it out tirelessly.


    The ground-up Leaf of Redemption was mixed into the saline solution.


    The practicality of the toy treasure box came to light once again; everyone knew the importance of things like saline solution, which could even save lives in dangerous situations, but carrying it around was really a hassle.


    Switching to a large gauge needle, Xu Yi aimed at William''s left chest and plunged it in fiercely, injecting the liquid into him all at once.


    If a doctor had seen this, they certainly would have sworn profusely.


    But the Leaf of Redemption was unreasonable by nature; once the potion was injected, the bleeding from the wound stopped at a visibly fast rate. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The curse at the heart was dispelled, the black lines disappeared, flesh regained its healthy red, and William''s complexion improved considerably.


    But Xu Yi knew all too well that the Leaf of Redemption alone was far from enough to save William.


    "Now it''s up to your fate!" Xu Yi took out a piece of Soul Jade, the best-quality one among all he had.


    To keep William alive, this was the only solution Xu Yi could think of.


    Once the other party swallowed the Soul Jade, if luck was on his side, there was a slim chance of "Physical Sublimation," and the other party could survive.


    Xu Yi did not hesitate and fed the Soul Jade into William''s mouth.


    "Stay conscious! This will increase your chances of surviving!" Xu Yi warned, unsure whether the other party could hear him.


    The Soul Jade entered William''s body and took effect instantly.


    "Failed?" Xu Yi sighed in disappointment.


    Tiny black scales rapidly spread across the other''s chest, a sign of demonization.


    He drew out the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, preparing to finish off the other party when suddenly William''s eyes flew open, and Xu Yi saw a look of defiance in his pupils.


    A look of agony appeared on William''s face, all his features squeezing together, his body curled up due to the intense pain, and all his muscles trembled.


    The other party was actually resisting demonization! Xu Yi was secretly shocked.


    The process of resisting demonization was extremely painful, several times more so than the suffering of an addict during withdrawal.


    Such a strong willpower! Such an intense desire to survive!


    Xu Yi suddenly felt a bit of respect. This kind of perseverance couldn''t be simply described as talent.


    If someone like William could survive, he might well achieve great things, no wonder the Ernst family was willing to give up shares to find William.


    Now, as his devout follower, if William could survive, it would be a significant boost for him.


    The spread of the scales slowed, and after a moment''s hesitation, Xu Yi took out a small flower from the toy treasure box.


    The petals of the flower were pink, and the stamen was gold, looking exceptionally delicate.


    This was the Flower of Sleep from the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, with very few in existence¡ªcurrently only five. Xu Yi hadn''t intended to use it, but seeing the value in William, he decided to give him a helping hand.


    Repeating the process, the Flower of Sleep was turned into a potion and injected into William''s body.


    William''s tightly furrowed brows relaxed, his painfully curled-up body also gradually unfurled, and he fell into a deep slumber.


    "Whether or not you survive now is up to you," Xu Yi sighed.


    The Flower of Sleep was extremely precious; its soporific effect from the fragrance was just a side effect. Its true purpose was to nourish and strengthen the soul.


    To fight against demonization, relying solely on willpower was impossible; one''s soul had to become strong to have even the slightest chance.


    "I hope you don''t waste this precious Flower of Sleep!" Xu Yi watched over William and said softly.

 Chapter 141 Reincarnation of the Legendary Exorcist?

    ```Half an hour earlier, at the site where Ratma''s bloodstains had disappeared, government exorcists were searching for a way to enter the Different Space.


    But the good times didn''t last long, and they were quickly attacked by a horde of rats.


    The battle was fierce when the soldiers and exorcists suddenly dropped their guns and stared blankly at the scene before them.


    The Black Rats that were lunging forward suddenly dropped dead en masse, falling like wheat being harvested.


    "What just happened?" a soldier asked in confusion.


    The leader of the operation''s face reddened, he had a guess at what was happening but wasn''t entirely sure, afraid it was just a false hope.


    All of a sudden, the flow in the sewer surged, and an experienced exorcist suddenly had a realization, exclaiming: "The Different Space has been breached, and it''s intersecting with reality. The intersection must be just above the flow of water!"


    Smiles appeared on their faces, as the breaching of the Different Space meant that the Evil God was likely resolved.


    But their happiness lasted only a moment as everyone on site suddenly felt their hair stand on end, gripped by an unsettling presence that swept over them.


    Before they could react to what was happening, the presence vanished without a trace.


    It took the leader a good while to issue his next command, and soldiers and exorcists all rushed towards the area above the sewer.


    Minutes later, as they turned a corner, they stumbled upon a startling scene.


    There were bodies all over the ground, and the only person standing was a figure holding a knife, slightly out of breath and covered in blood, though it appeared to be someone else''s.


    It was actually a woman with an emotionless yet stunning face.


    Everyone present couldn''t help but marvel, having never seen such a gallant girl; she was like a Valkyrie come to life.


    But they also relaxed, as the woman was one of the exorcists who had previously entered the Different Space.


    Ailan took one look at them, sheathed her knife, and sprinted ahead, somewhat worried about Xu Yi and Lisa''s safety.


    Realizing what was happening, the rest followed her rush.


    A couple of minutes later, they arrived at an open platform, the ground surprisingly clean, as though it had just been washed with fresh water.


    "Gentlemen, what are you looking for?"


    As the crowd searched, a magnetic male voice suddenly came from around the corner, and a man with a gentle smile appeared, carrying someone in his arms.


    For a moment, no one responded; they instinctively stood straight, their faces tense as they watched the handsome man approach.


    They all felt oppressed by the man''s presence, as if something terrifying was watching them.


    "Xu... Mr. Xu Yi, may I ask about the status of the Evil God?"


    Eventually, the leader mustered the courage to ask tentatively.


    The exorcists capable of entering the Different Space were naturally well-researched, and the leader had memorized Xu Yi''s name early on.


    "No need to worry, the Evil God has been dealt with by me. Everyone can be at ease!" Xu Yi said with a smile.


    He was somewhat helpless because he had just activated the authority of the Evil God, and that intimidating air still lingered on him, but he thought nobody would notice.


    Even if they did, it wouldn''t matter as his recent slaying of the Evil God would explain the faint remnant of the Evil God''s aura.


    Upon hearing this news, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, smiles spreading across their faces.


    Even the self-important exorcists didn''t doubt Xu Yi''s words; he gave them a sense of unfathomable depth.


    The leader was secretly shocked; he had read Xu Yi''s file and knew he had been an exorcist for less than half a year, yet he had grown to such a terrifying extent!


    He suddenly realized there was a blind spot in his thinking. It was true that Xu Yi had risen to prominence in less than half a year, but what about the time before that?


    "Could it be that he is the reincarnation of some legendary Great Exorcist?" the leader speculated privately.


    It was extremely rare, but not impossible, otherwise how could one explain his captivating presence?


    "I found William right behind us, but the situation is a bit dire; it''s best to get him to the hospital immediately. If something goes wrong, you can come to find me," Xu Yi said softly.


    The leader nodded repeatedly, "Mr. Xu Yi, thank you for your assistance. The Ernst family will surely be most grateful when they learn of this."


    Unwittingly, the leader had started using honorifics.


    Xu Yi nodded, knowing William would be carefully looked after by the Ernst family, and if he became Demonized, it would be promptly noticed.


    ```


    Xu Yi carried Lisa towards the exit of the sewer, with Ailan hastening to follow his steps.


    Only after Xu Yi had walked a distance did the people on scene sigh with relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted; his oppressive presence had been truly overwhelming.


    "How come I didn''t realize before, that Mr. Xu Yi was so frightening?" an exorcist whispered.


    "What do you know? Normally, Mr. Xu Yi must be restraining his power. Now, in order to deal with the Evil God, Mr. Xu Yi had to use his real strength, that''s the true Mr. Xu Yi."


    A nearby exorcist wore an "you don''t get it" expression.


    As these words were spoken, quite a few exorcists nodded in agreement.


    The battle in the sewer had ended, with these black rats being the products of demonization. As the source dissipated, they naturally could no longer sustain life.


    Soldiers were cleaning up the rat carcasses, which had to be dealt with, for if they remained there, they could easily lead to other problems.


    As Xu Yi passed the place where Ratma had been surrounded, soldiers were collecting the bodies, with numerous doctors standing by, checking and shaking their heads constantly; the bodies were stone-cold, dead beyond any doubt.


    "We have a casualty here!"


    Before Xu Yi could speak, one of the doctors noticed him and shouted aloud.


    They pushed the medical cart, swarming toward Xu Yi; simply standing there was torture enough.


    Lisa was laid out on the medical cart, and after examination, the doctor gave a preliminary diagnosis, "It''s just exhaustion, shouldn''t be a big problem."


    Xu Yi, of course, knew it wasn''t as simple as exhaustion; Lisa had forcibly initiated "Descent of the Holy," and it might take a month or two in bed to recover. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fortunately, with the Leaf of Redemption, this time could be significantly shortened. A rest of a week or two should suffice.


    Xu Yi once again saw Father Notting. Out of respect, Father Notting was not placed into a body bag, but rather a temporary coffin had been prepared for him specially.


    The man lay in the coffin with a serene expression, looking like an elder who had peacefully reached the end of his days.


    Xu Yi found Chen Lin next to Father Notting, who wasn''t so fortunate; crammed into a body bag, the zipper not yet pulled up.


    He didn''t harbor too much sorrow; their interaction hadn''t been extensive, after all.


    He glanced a few times, then prepared to leave, when something at the corner of his eye in the man''s chest caught his attention, causing him to pause.


    Was there something moving inside the wound?


    Xu Yi thought he might be seeing things, so he quickly focused his gaze,


    Chen Lin''s heart had been gouged out, leaving a bloody hole in the chest. Although it was pitch black inside, thanks to his Eyes of Obscurity, he saw clearly.


    It wasn''t an illusion; indeed, there was something moving. Those were the remaining fragments of Chen Lin''s heart, wriggling like worms, crawling slowly.


    What on earth was this? Xu Yi''s body tensed involuntarily.


    Had he not sensed any danger from Chen Lin''s corpse, he would have already burnt the body by now.


    After a while, he calmed down and realized it wasn''t an evil spirit''s possession, but Chen Lin''s body was "saving itself."


    As incredible as it seemed, a corpse was actually trying to rescue itself?


    He recalled something¡ªChen Lin had not only come into contact with the Evil God statue but had also borne the curse and even moved like a normal person.


    Could it be that the body''s "self-saving" was due to his special constitution?


    Suddenly interested, Xu Yi wanted to study this special corpse.


    "This man is my friend, I will take care of his body," Xu Yi said, looking up at a soldier standing by.


    He thought he might have to argue a bit to get Chen Lin''s body, but to his surprise, the soldier agreed without a word and even saluted.


    "Yes, Mr. Xu Yi!"


    Xu Yi was momentarily stunned; when had he become so famous that even an ordinary soldier knew his name?


    What he didn''t know was that the person in charge had already sent out orders through the communicator.


    When encountering Xu Yi, one must maintain respect, and any request he made, as long as it wasn''t too excessive, was to be granted immediately.


    All along the way, Xu Yi felt numerous respectful gazes, yet no one approached to disturb him.


    They left the sewer, and at that moment, the sun in the sky coincidentally reached its apex; the brilliant sunlight gave him a feeling as if he had passed into another world.

 Chapter 142 The Four Murderous Demons

    ```It was another sunny day, and at this moment, Xu Yi was in a very good mood.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, please stay close to me. It''s easy to get lost here,"


    the government official led the way in front, as they entered a winding and deep passage.


    Xu Yi nodded and looked around at the environment.


    The design of the building was incredibly secure; even the phrase "ironclad" was an understatement. Along the way, his eyes were opened to the formidable security measures; even the greatest thieves in the world would only be able to sigh in longing before these walls.


    Numerous soldiers were stationed around, and exorcists took turns keeping watch to ensure there was someone on guard 24 hours a day.


    They finally reached their destination. A government official inserted a mechanical key, entered a long password, and, after undergoing detection by an exorcism artifact, the heavy metal doors slowly opened.


    "Is this the War God Repository? The security is indeed tight!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but admire.


    Early that morning, the government had dispatched someone to wait outside his workshop, saying as soon as Mr. Xu Yi was ready, they could depart.


    Such courtesies were meticulously observed, and naturally, Xu Yi did not delay. Not showing eagerness in choosing treasures would indicate a problem in thinking, so he and Maria had come early.


    However, in such a place, only he was allowed to enter.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, this place is not the War God Repository, but the Room of Minos," the government official suddenly explained.


    Xu Yi was taken aback. Could it be that the government regretted offering the treasures within the War God Repository and had gone back on their word? sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This thought merely flickered through his mind, and he didn''t voice it out loud as it clearly was not a possibility.


    "The Labyrinth of Minos, the legend from the Epic of Homer?" Xu Yi suddenly found the "highlight."


    The government official nodded, "That''s right, the naming of this room is inspired by the Labyrinth of Minos."


    In the Epic of Homer, Minos was a son of the god Zeus and a king of his own nation.


    But the queen betrayed him, consorting with a Minotaur and giving birth to a monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man, impervious to weapons and with a taste for human flesh.


    To prevent excessive casualties among his subjects, King Minos constructed a labyrinth to confine the bull-headed monster, which came to be known as the Labyrinth of Minos.


    Xu Yi was deeply impressed by this mythological tale, as the trope of the "Minotaur" originated from here.


    The government official let out a sigh, "We named it after the mythological Labyrinth of Minos, hoping it would be a place where once you enter, you cannot leave. But still, we failed!"


    Xu Yi stepped into the room, and a prickling pain surfaced on his skin¡ªa warning from his Spiritual Power.


    "Are all these cursed items?" Xu Yi scanned the room.


    The room was lined with rows of cabinets, atop which were all sorts of bizarre objects: blood-stained daggers, yellowed teeth, eerie statues...


    These items all carried strong curses and were suppressed by the arrays in the room.


    When powerful creatures die, their resentment and unwillingness to pass on can linger in an object, forming a cursed item.


    The situation in the "Cursed Object Collection Room" was a bit dire, as if it had just been ransacked, with signs of a struggle and broken cabinet debris piled up in the corners.


    "Mr. Xu Yi can see that someone invaded here not too long ago," the government official sighed.


    Xu Yi could understand the other''s helplessness. Dealing with cursed items was extremely troublesome, yet they couldn''t just be destroyed because curses could transfer; destroying them would solve nothing, so they had to be stored instead.


    He was somewhat puzzled¡ªif someone wanted to steal the treasures in the War God Repository, he could understand.


    But who would want to steal these troublesome cursed items? Even exorcists would desperately avoid them.


    What was the purpose of specifically bringing him here?


    "Due to the Evil God incident, most of the soldiers and exorcists guarding this place have been redirected elsewhere. This allowed the perpetrators to take advantage and invade; according to our investigation, that group is..." the government official glanced at Xu Yi, "the heretics from the Church of the Ram."


    Xu Yi stiffened, everything made sense now. Cursed items were useless to others, but for heretics, that might not be the case.


    "We are aware that Mr. Xu Yi has had conflicts with the Church of the Ram, and we worry that they might target you. I have been specifically instructed to convey this message to you," said the government official softly.


    It was more than just a conflict; they were mortal enemies! Xu Yi hadn''t expected these Americans to also play at subtlety.


    New York''s attempt at "befriending" him was undoubtedly an effort to leverage his power against the Church of the Ram.


    But he didn''t refuse it, instead, he nodded.


    Others might leverage his power, but he could also use the government''s force. It was a mutually beneficial situation.


    "This is the list of the stolen cursed items. Can Mr. Xu Yi discern anything?" the government official handed over a file.


    The stolen items were not many. According to the government official, the intruders originally planned to sneak in and quietly steal the items, but they were discovered by a patrolling exorcist.


    Xu Yi flipped through the file. Iron Thorns used by deformed Cannibals, Jack the Ripper''s dagger, the pig-face mask of the killer farmer, the Ku Klux Klan''s uniform, Harry the Miner''s iron pickaxe...


    ```


    "These were all once notorious murderers?" Xu Yi seemed to have figured out a bit of the clue.


    "Yes, the murderers mentioned before are one thing, but Mr. Xu Yi should pay special attention to these last two cursed items," a government official explained on the side.


    Xu Yi turned to the last page, which contained two photos¡ªone of a blood-drenched chainsaw, and the other of a white facemask.


    Just looking at the pictures of these two items could make one feel uncomfortable.


    "This chainsaw was once used by the Texas Chainsaw Killer, and as for this white face mask..."


    The government official took a deep breath to steady his emotions before continuing slowly, "It belonged to a murderer named Michael Miles."


    Every time he thought about Michael''s profile, he felt a chill down his spine.


    At six years old, Michael had killed his sister, who had been kind to him, with a kitchen knife and had shown no sign of regret; his eyes were numb, filled only with an abyss of murderous intent.


    "A demon of slaughter has been born into this world!" That was the final assessment of Michael in the profile.


    Xu Yi''s brow was tightly furrowed. The Texas Chainsaw Killer, Halloween butcher Michael... These were indeed extremely dangerous beings, involuntarily reminding him of Jason from Crystal Lake, whom he had encountered before.


    "It looks like the quartet of famous killers is almost complete!" Xu Yi joked.


    The government official didn''t quite understand Xu Yi''s remark, and was a bit stunned.


    Xu Yi did not explain but pressed on, "What does the Ram Cult plan to do with these cursed items they have stolen?"


    "We haven''t found out yet, but if there are any clues, we will inform Mr. Xu Yi immediately."


    Seeing the somber atmosphere and having achieved the day''s goal, the government official took the initiative to change the subject. "Mr. Xu Yi, let''s talk about something more pleasant, shall we?"


    "Such as?"


    "Choosing a piece from the War God Repository."


    ......


    Cain Private Hospital.


    William''s eyes snapped open, his breathing was rapid, and his vision was filled with a bloody double image that seemed to be swallowing him whole.


    In that moment, a black silhouette appeared amidst the blood-colored shadows, surrounded by writhing tentacles, as the bloody images slowly receded and the world returned to normal. It took a long time for him to realize he was lying in a hospital bed.


    "Praise be to the great Lord of Shadows!" William whispered softly.


    "William, you''re awake!"


    Hardy entered the room, overjoyed to see William conscious.


    The doctor conducted a routine examination of William while Hardy rambled on about the events that had transpired during his coma.


    "Bro, we owe Xu Yi big time, you definitely wouldn''t have made it back otherwise!"


    William''s brow suddenly furrowed as he fixed Hardy with a serious gaze, "You should call him Mr. Xu Yi! Or..."


    He didn''t finish his sentence because that was his special title of respect for Xu Yi, the Lord of Shadows.


    Hardy paused, confused by his brother William''s sudden change in demeanor but nevertheless nodded, "I understand, it''s Mr. Xu Yi."


    After the examination, the doctors marveled at William''s rapid recovery, which was beyond their expectations.


    William''s face suddenly contorted in pain. He got up from the bed and said, "I need to use the restroom."


    "Brother, I''ll help you!"


    Hardy reached out to assist him, but William pushed his hand away.


    "No need."


    Hardy looked on, dumbfounded, as William walked away; the push had nearly made him stumble. What kind of strength was this from a man who was gravely ill?


    In the restroom, William took off his shirt, revealing a scar on his left chest corroded into existence.


    At that moment, tiny black scales emerged from the scar, crawling out like little bugs, spreading in all directions.


    William quickly bit down on a stick.


    His left pupil suddenly turned blood-red, his body tensed up instantly, and a painful roar came from deep within his throat, almost snapping the stick.


    After a long while, the red in his pupils gradually faded away, and the tiny black scales retracted into the scar. William sat exhausted on the bathroom floor, gasping for breath.


    "Bring the share transfer documents of the Ernst Pharmaceutical Company, we''re going to see Mr. Xu Yi."


    People had already filled the area outside the restroom. William pushed through the restroom door and, ignoring their stares, stated resolutely.

 Chapter 143 Exorcism Holy Relic: Red Lotus

    Xu Yi stood in the center of the War God Repository, his face unable to hide the disappointment.He had just taken a tour around the War God Repository. The collection was indeed varied, and each Exorcism Artifact was genuinely exceptional. Even the Dagger of Rest could hardly make the cut here.


    But after witnessing the power of the artifacts of Saint O''Hagan, he felt somewhat uninterested.


    He could choose two artifacts from the War God Repository, one of which was the pre-determined Magic-Prohibiting Box, but he was having trouble deciding on the second one.


    "Are these all of the artifacts in the War God Repository?" Xu Yi turned to ask the accompanying government official.


    A flash of embarrassment crossed the official''s face before he hesitated for a moment and then revealed the truth, "Indeed, there are some artifacts, but those can only be used when facing life and death crises."


    Your journey continues on empire


    Xu Yi understood immediately; there were indeed Exorcism Holy Relics in the War God Repository, but they were not within the selection range.


    He could understand their reasons; after all, how could they carelessly hand over such precious Exorcism Holy Relics, and two of them at that?


    Despite understanding, he was still somewhat reluctant to give up.


    "Isn''t everything in the War God Repository up for selection?"


    "Yes, everything in the Repository is available for selection." The official emphasized the word "in" particularly.


    Xu Yi''s face fell.


    This was like going to a clothing store where the entrance had a large sign that read, "Starting at 9.9 yuan each." One could ignore everything before, but the soul of the entire sign was in the word "starting."


    "Mr. Xu Yi, would you like to look again? Maybe you''ll find something to your liking?"


    The accompanying government official grew even more awkward.


    He had thought he picked up a great opportunity to forge a good relationship with the "Great Exorcist," but instead, he had found himself in a pit waiting for him. It was no wonder nobody else wanted to come.


    "Let''s look once more," Xu Yi composed himself.


    He had set his expectations too high; a calm consideration would remind him it was impossible to gain an Exorcism Holy Relic. Such treasures were incredibly rare even within the church.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, are you looking for an Exorcism Holy Relic? I remember there is one here as well," the official suddenly had an idea.


    Xu Yi had sobered up and, hearing mention of an Exorcism Holy Relic, showed no excitement on his face; however, he did not refuse, "Let''s go take a look."


    In the corner of the warehouse, they finally discovered the "dusty" Exorcism Holy Relic.


    It was a long sword with a slender blade, 76 cm in length. The red and white handle and scabbard matched the blade, which was engraved with the inscription: Inferno Continuation, Slay All Evil Spirits!


    Xu Yi felt a stir at his waist; Annabelle sent him a longing emotion once again.


    The last time in the Warrens'' Collection Room, in the face of the Ghost Samurai Armor, the same situation had occurred.


    After obtaining the power of the Evil God, his vision had become incomparable to his past self.


    He could keenly perceive the uniqueness of the long sword; it was shrouded with a faint Divinity.


    The Ghost Samurai Armor had also contained Divinity, but it was very faint, faint enough that only Annabelle, being a spirit, could sense it.


    "Divinity" is the essence of an Exorcism Holy Relic; without it, the item would probably be inferior even to Common exorcism practices.


    "Is this a katana? What''s its name?" Xu Yi casually asked. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sword was indeed an Exorcism Holy Relic, but its Divinity was on the verge of dissipation; it likely wouldn''t last through even one battle.


    However, he could also understand that if it were a fully intact Exorcism Holy Relic, it would not be here.


    "It seems to be called ''Red Lotus''."


    When the government official recited the name of the sword, he felt it was particularly awkward to pronounce, after all, it was ultimately a Japanese sword.


    "Do you often have dealings with Japan?"


    Xu Yi made small talk as he picked up the Red Lotus.


    Drawing the sword from its sheath, the blade reflected the colors of a fiery sunset, no wonder it was named "Red Lotus."


    The long sword before him seemed less like an Exorcism Holy Relic and more like a piece of art.


    "Quite a few, indeed. This Exorcism Holy Relic was a tribute from Japan to us," the government official said with pride.


    He suddenly changed the tone, "Mr. Xu Yi, what do you think of this sword?"


    "It would make a nice decoration at home!"


    The implication was a refusal.


    The government official sighed, a hint of regret in his voice, "This should have been a powerful Exorcism Holy Relic, it''s a pity it''s broken. If someone could find the god remains to repair it, that would be great!"


    "God remains?" Xu Yi, who was about to put the katana down, paused.


    "Exactly, the Japan branch sent the katana over in hopes that we could find the god remains to repair it. But god remains are not so easy to come by; after so many years, all we can do is let it collect dust here," the government official explained.


    God remains, coming from a deceased deity¡ªjust hearing this phrase one understands the rarity and value of god remains.


    Xu Yi subconsciously looked at the Annabelle doll at his waist.


    Speaking of god remains, he did indeed possess some; not too long ago he had slain an Evil God, and those sharp incisors belonged to the god remains.


    "How can this katana be restored?" Xu Yi picked up the katana again, his mind made up, the second item would be this katana.


    Rather than getting some common Exorcism Artifacts, he would rather take a gamble. If he could really repair this katana, then he''d be making a huge profit.


    "Ah! Mr. Xu Yi, you''re choosing this katana... The document is still here, I''ll find it for Mr. Xu Yi in a moment!" The government official was taken aback before he realized what was happening.


    After leaving the War God Repository, Xu Yi found Maria, who was waiting outside the heavily guarded military base.


    "Have you been waiting long?" Xu Yi approached Maria, carrying a box in one hand and a long case on his back.


    Maria smiled and shook her head. Beside her lay a brown leather case.


    Inside the leather case were the "tokens of gratitude" issued by the government¡ªevery exorcist who participated could pick one Level 5 treasure from the War God Repository.


    With so many people, naturally not everyone could enter the War God Repository, so the government distributed a list to each exorcist to choose from.


    Since Xu Yi discovered the root of the curse, he was allowed to pick an additional item. With Lisa and Maria, they were entitled to choose four items in total.


    Without exception, they all chose the "Shroud".


    "Shroud" may not sound nice, but it''s actually fabric made through a special process and entirely new.


    This fabric can isolate magnetic fields, has certain exorcism effects, and is also very sturdy and durable¡ªit can withstand cuts from common daggers and is an excellent material for making combat suits.


    The Shroud was extremely sought after, and if it wasn''t for the government doing Xu Yi a favor by specially reserving some, they probably would have run out long ago.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, where shall we go next, back to Chinatown?" the driver asked respectfully.


    "To the Weiss Hospital!"


    ...


    Inside a private room in Weiss Hospital.


    Xu Yi arranged a large bunch of tulips in a vase and with a smile on his face looked at Lisa, who appeared healthy on the hospital bed, "Do you feel unwell anywhere?"


    Lisa shook her head, lazily nestled in the bed, not wanting to move, bathed in the warm sunlight.


    She didn''t look like a patient but more like a schoolgirl struggling to wake up for class.


    Xu Yi sat beside the bed, gently rubbing Lisa''s head, and she, like a little kitten, closed her eyes slightly, a look of contentment on her face.


    "All thanks to the Leaf of Redemption!" Xu Yi thought to himself. If it weren''t for the Leaf of Redemption, Lisa would surely still be in a coma.


    "Perhaps the Leaf of Redemption could be made into some kind of Life Potion?" Xu Yi pondered.


    Doctors hurried along the corridor; hospitals in New York City were still in a state of full capacity.


    Even though the Evil God Ratma had been vanquished, the illness of Hot Soul Disease remained.


    Curses are tricky things, they don''t just disappear when their source dies. At times, the curse can become stronger following the death of its source.


    Fortunately, that scenario did not come to pass; there was a degree of weakening in the curse. At the very least, the first batch of patients hadn''t continued to die, and those comatose from Hot Soul Disease occasionally regained consciousness.


    "To completely cure these patients of Hot Soul Disease, that''s going to be troublesome!"


    Xu Yi heard that the government was already looking for a solution, planning to use large Exorcism Artifacts. With Ratma''s death, the curses were no longer deeply entwined and could be dispelled by Exorcism Artifacts.


    He vigorously rubbed Lisa''s head, messing up her hair.


    "Alright! I have a little business to attend to at the hospital, I''ll come back to see you after it''s taken care of," Xu Yi stood up, ready to leave.


    Lisa obediently nodded her head.

 Chapter 144 Power of Faith

    The top floor of Wes Hospital, not far from Lisa''s ward.Three patients with Fiery Soul Syndrome lay on the hospital bed, while Xu Yi sat beside them, staring at the lusterless portrait of Fire Gui with a vacant look in his eyes, as if he were daydreaming.


    His visit to Wes Hospital today wasn''t just to see Lisa¡ªit was also to attend to a few "patients" who had made appointments.


    Curing these patients with Fiery Soul Syndrome had been promised before the action at Saint O''Hagan, and now that the Evil God had fallen, he couldn''t shirk his duties and could only come to remove the curse.


    Because the source of the curse had dissipated, exorcising the curse had become much simpler now¡ªa single portrait of Fire Gui could cleanse three people of their curse.


    The patients on the beds slowly came to, their fevers gradually subsiding, and the unnatural redness faded from their faces.


    The family members of the patients at the scene were thrilled but covered their mouths, not daring to make a sound and disturb the silence, for Xu Yi was still sitting on his stool, silent.


    They were well aware of the status Mr. Xu Yi now held in New York City. Although Xu Yi had asked the government to keep it a secret, there are no walls without cracks, especially with so many witnesses present.


    Anyone with even the slightest connection now knew that Xu Yi was the "Great Exorcist" who had dealt with the Evil God.


    The number of people eager to seek Xu Yi''s exorcism services was countless, and invitations fluttered toward his studio like snowflakes.


    Holy Flame Exorcism Studio, once an unknown small studio, had become one of the top Exorcism Studios in New York.


    Xu Yi''s silence and his daydreaming posture had nothing to do with the Fiery Soul Syndrome patients before him.


    At this moment, he was using the Symbiotic Eye to observe the interior space of the toy Treasure Box.


    Behind Annabelle''s throne, the Cat Spirit Holy Tree clung to the purple-red wall, its branches spreading out like a thorny wall that guarded the throne.


    The Cat Spirit Holy Tree did not belong to an actual tree species, nor was it plant or animal; it was an indeterminate species, so it did not need to take root in the soil.


    The cat spirits within the Holy Tree were released, and Bastet chased after them; cat spirits scurried all over the space, and Bastet frolicked with sheer delight.


    Xu Yi''s attention was not on the playful Bastet, but constantly fixed on the Holy Tree upon the wall.


    The Holy Tree had actually fruited, bearing two black little fruit.


    Within the larger black fruit, one could see the silhouette of a person in its core¡ªWilliam''s Fruit of Faith.


    The Cat Spirit Holy Tree had become a vessel for the Power of Faith, a situation that Xu Yi hadn''t anticipated, but it was within reason, considering Bastet was his Incarnation of the Evil God. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For Xu Yi, this was undoubtedly good news.


    Receiving the Power of Faith directly with his main body could lead to being exposed if he encountered a powerful being. With the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, it was akin to adding an extra layer of disguise.


    No, more than just one layer of disguise.


    If one were to compare Xu Yi to a hacker lurking in the shadows, those seeking him would have to bypass three layers¡ªFire Gui, Cat Spirit Bastet, Cat Spirit Holy Tree¡ªbefore they could trace anything back to him.


    And who would believe that "New York''s Hero," "Great Exorcist Xu Yi" could be the Evil God?


    The title "New York''s Hero" originated from the government. Not long ago, the government had presented him with a lifetime honorary certificate, which Xu Yi did not hide at all and directly displayed on the wall of his studio.


    "Great Exorcist" was a rumor circulating among the elite. It was a title some exorcists had given him, and although Xu Yi''s actual capabilities had not yet reached the realm of a Great Exorcist, he did not object and let the rumors spread unchecked.


    Prestige was not just a shackle; it was also an umbrella of protection, allowing him to operate from behind the scenes and utilize the authority of the Evil God to grow stronger.


    Had he not been equipped with the "Evil God Authority" entry, he wouldn''t have needed to be so cautious.


    But for one with the entry system, his ambition was not merely to become powerful. In a world where gods and demons existed,


    "When it comes to royalty and nobles, can there be no inheritance?"


    With so many gods, why couldn''t he be one of them?


    Xu Yi''s thoughts drifted for a moment. He refocused his attention and looked at the other small black fruit on the Holy Tree.


    The black fruit was extremely small; even if it returned to its normal size, it would probably be only a tad larger than a peanut.


    This was also a Fruit of Faith, but the core didn''t contain the silhouette of a person. The faith that formed this fruit came from the people in the hospital room before him, including the onlooking family members and the patients who had been healed.


    "Because they were healed of their fever soul sickness by the portrait of Fire Gui, these people developed feelings of worship and gratitude toward Fire Gui... These emotions are the rudiments of faith, which after being compressed by the Incarnation of the Evil God, turned into the Power of Faith!"


    Xu Yi suddenly had an epiphany.


    His eyes shone with realization¡ªfor apart from accepting devout believers, there was another way to obtain faith.


    Although this method yielded a small quantity of faith, as long as the number of people with faith in Fire Gui was large enough, accumulating little by little like gathering sand to build a tower, it would definitely be possible to obtain enough faith to unlock the next stage of Ability.


    "Incarnation of the Evil God" and "Faith of the Evil God," these two Abilities were merely a foundation; "Nest of the Evil God" and "Soul Stealing Seed" were the core Abilities of the Evil God''s authority.


    Should he paint a large number of Fire Gui portraits to cure fever soul sickness patients?


    But even with high proficiency, how many portraits could he paint in a day? With this progress, it would probably take two to three years to amass enough Power of Faith to unlock the next stage. Explore more adventures at empire


    Xu Yi looked at the patients waking up from fever soul sickness, frowning in deep thought.


    ......


    The outside of Holy Flame Exorcism Studio was bustling with traffic, as visitors came and went without end.


    In a room on the third floor, Xu Yi privately met with William.


    The soundproofing of this room was exceptionally good; closing the window and drawing the curtains meant that no one outside could tell what was happening inside.


    Xu Yi sat in a chair, coldly watching William, who knelt on the ground with a back full of cold sweat.


    "O, noble Lord of Shadows..." William started to speak, but suddenly a great force pressed down upon him, pinning him firmly to the floor.


    The Annabelle doll sat on the desk, its azure pupils curiously surveying William. At Xu Yi''s command, it slowly withdrew the sinister force.


    "Do you still not understand where you went wrong?" Xu Yi sighed deeply.


    For a smart person like William, just a slight hint was needed for him to quickly understand.


    William''s face turned ashen, filled with a look of utter terror.


    As soon as he entered the room, he knelt before Xu Yi, exclaiming the noble Lord of Shadows. Yet, in the eyes of the world, Xu Yi''s identity was that of an exorcist.


    If someone outside were to pry, wouldn''t it expose the great existence''s identity?


    William finally snapped back to reality, glancing at the great existence. The fact that the other could still calmly sit on a stool drinking coffee meant that precautions had been taken, and the incident just now would not be exposed.


    He slowly let out a breath, his eyes progressively clearer.


    He looked up at Xu Yi and said in a measured tone, "Mr. Xu Yi, I apologize for the intrusion!"


    "William, you overstate things, we''re good friends!"


    Xu Yi perfectly exemplified what it meant to change face; the coldness instantly disappeared from his expression, replaced by warmth and fervor.


    He walked over, helped William up, and dusted off his clothes.


    "Come have a seat! And try some of this superb Blue Mountain coffee." Xu Yi brought a stool for William and poured him a cup of coffee.


    When William took the coffee, his hand trembled slightly, his body feeling icy cold as if the scythe of death had grazed his neck.


    Because Xu Yi had whispered in his ear, "I hope there won''t be a next time."


    William slightly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and the next second, his eyes opened, the fear gone from his face, once again the poised business genius.


    "If this coffee isn''t delicious, I might have to hold you accountable, Mr. Xu Yi!" said William lightly, holding the coffee.


    Xu Yi watched William, who had "changed his face at the speed of light," and was momentarily stunned. A moment later, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth¡ªhe needed people like this to achieve great things.

 Chapter 145 The Fire Gui Plan

    William opened the briefcase he carried with him, took out a document, and placed it on the table, pushing it towards Xu Yi."This is the stock transfer document for 3% of Ernst Pharmaceutical Company''s shares, you just need to sign and stamp it."


    A mocking smile suddenly appeared on William''s face, "If it were anyone else, they definitely wouldn''t transfer their shares so readily, but this time the family members were eagerly urging me to come here, almost wishing to add more shares."


    Xu Yi didn''t look at the stock transfer document on the table.


    If it had been earlier, obtaining shares of Ernst Company and having a steady stream of funds, he would certainly have accepted with joy.


    But now, his ambition was far greater than this.


    He didn''t bring up the matter of shares, but instead asked about a different topic.


    "Do you know about Fire Gui? The Exorcism Sacred Beast of our studio, and also our spiritual totem. I want more people to know about Fire Gui... and to feel admiration and gratitude towards it."


    Here it comes! William''s body instantly straightened up, the great test from the existence above had arrived!


    If he could do well, he would naturally receive importance, but if he messed up, it might all be over.


    He was well aware that the opportunities anyone could get were very limited.


    Fortune, allure, power and status, the things normal people desire, were already at his fingertips, and gradually, he felt an unprecedented sense of confusion.


    It wasn''t until he witnessed Xu Yi''s power in the sewers that a strong desire, like never before, surged from deep within his heart.


    He thirsted for that kind of power that transcended the mundane!


    Now, the grand path to obtaining power lay before him, and he must seize this opportunity.


    William''s brain was racing, and after a moment, he spoke softly to inquire, "Back in the sewers, I must have been cursed too, that curse should be the same as the patients with Hot Soul Syndrome, right?"


    "The origin is the same, but the curse you''ve contracted is more severe." Xu Yi took a sip of his coffee and replied.


    "I wonder how much of those things that can expel curses are left?" William pressed.


    Thinking of the Holy Tree, which had been affected by the black blood and now was somewhat bare, Xu Yi sighed,"For patients with equally severe conditions, at most only about two hundred can be cured."


    The Leaf of Redemption was already running low, and besides, he had to save some for emergencies.


    "That''s completely enough!" William actually clapped his hands, his face full of confidence.


    "A bit more than two hundred people is far from enough." Xu Yi looked at William, waiting for his answer, knowing the other party would definitely understand his meaning.


    Moreover, it''s not just curing people that garners the Power of Faith; they must feel admiration and gratitude towards Fire Gui.


    As for Xu Yi himself becoming a totem of faith, he wasn''t tired of living yet, so naturally he wouldn''t entertain such an idea.


    "I''m in a particularly severe case; if converted to common Hot Soul Syndrome patients, a threefold increase should be no problem." William said.


    Xu Yi shook his head, "Three times is still too conservative, five or six times would be absolutely fine."


    "Let''s calculate on the side of caution with five times, that means a thousand people can be fully cured."


    William stared at the coffee swirling in his cup, "But who says we must completely root out the curse? Hospitals can''t guarantee to restore patients back to original condition, so does reducing their high fever count as treatment? Does bringing them back to consciousness count as treatment?"


    Xu Yi''s eyes grew brighter, indeed, maximizing "benefits" was what capitalists were best at.


    He understood William''s meaning; the other party wanted him to dilute the potion made from the Leaf of Redemption.


    If it were just to reduce the fever of Hot Soul Syndrome patients, roughly one-tenth of the potion would be sufficient, meaning at least ten thousand people could be affected.


    This number only included the treated patients, not counting their families.


    If the patients'' families were included, the number could be multiplied by at least five, meaning at least fifty thousand people could be affected!


    The Power of Faith generated by this number of people should be almost enough to unlock the next stage of abilities.


    "We can also pair the potion with images of Fire Gui when using it, which would allow further dilution of the potion."


    William suddenly looked up, his gaze profound, "Moreover, to make humans feel admiration for something, there are far more methods than just one."


    Xu Yi regarded the confident William, a smile appearing on his face.


    The decision to exert great effort to save William back then was indeed the correct one.


    "If this matter were entrusted to you, how would you execute it?" Xu Yi asked softly.


    William looked at the stock transfer certificate on the table, "I would use 3% of Ernst Company''s shares as a bargaining chip to acquire 100% of a small company under their flag and establish a new pharmaceutical company."


    Xu Yi nodded, appreciating the strategy as quite ingenious.


    "Then we can leverage the channels of Ernst family and the prestige of Mr. Xu Yi to quickly introduce the Fire Gui potion. The government, eager to resolve the Hot Soul disease, will certainly not obstruct it, but will even actively promote it."


    William''s logic was clear, he had obviously thought everything through well in advance.


    Xu Yi clapped his hands in approval, "An excellent plan! Since that is the case, I will leave this matter entirely in your hands."


    Excitement spread across William''s face, as he had preliminarily gained the recognition of a mighty being.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, have you thought of a name for your new company?" William inquired.


    Xu Yi shook his head, "It''s our new company; you will hold 51% of the shares, and I will hold 49%... Let''s call the new company Bastet Pharmaceutical Company."


    There wasn''t much to ponder over the company name; how could an Evil God miss an opportunity to spread the "True Name"?


    William instinctively wanted to refuse, but he quickly understood the profound implications of such an arrangement.


    With a majority stake in the new company, he would be able to manage it rightfully and tap into the Ernst family''s power more easily.


    The identity of a great being would also be better concealed.


    After all, they had the final say over the company''s cash flows, so the distribution of the stock on the surface was inconsequential.


    "I will implement the company''s matters with utmost speed. But before that, there''s one more thing I need to trouble Mr. Xu Yi with," William suddenly took off his shirt, revealing his shoulder.


    Xu Yi almost couldn''t keep his composure. Was this how a devout follower looked in the eyes of a mighty Evil God like him?


    When he saw the scar on William''s chest, Xu Yi''s expression turned to one of interest.


    William''s pectorals were well-formed, but that wasn''t the point. There was a small scar on his chest left by corrosion.


    Xu Yi could feel the Power of Demonization hiding under the scar, and beyond that, signs of Physical Sublimation.


    Half-Demonization, half Physical Sublimation; the two forces were conflicting yet maintaining a bizarre balance within William''s body.


    If one force gained superiority, it would immediately trigger a battle, an utterly painful experience for William.


    This condition was extremely rare, requiring a combination of numerous coincidences, and even if one were to retrace the sequence of events, it might not lead to the same outcome.


    After a moment of thought, Xu Yi took out a Flower of Sleep from the Treasure Box and handed it to William. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Make it into a potion yourself, and use it when you can no longer endure. This flower is very precious, and I have none to spare."


    William accepted the Flower of Sleep gravely, placing it in a small box, but his face couldn''t hide a look of disappointment.


    Seeing Xu Yi''s reaction, he knew that the condition of his body was probably incurable, like a terminal patient who could only maintain life through medication.


    This agony might accompany him for the rest of his life.


    Xu Yi, however, smiled. He gazed into William''s eyes, "Do you crave power?"


    Since William entered the room, Xu Yi had sensed a deep desire for power in his eyes.


    William was stunned, unsure of what Xu Yi meant.


    Xu Yi stood up, walked over to William, and patted him on the shoulder, "The suffering you endure will become the key to gaining great power."


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    William''s eyes immediately brightened.


    Xu Yi watched the now-ambitious William leave, the surprises he brought perhaps not limited to the business realm.


    "Such a unique body, I must take some time to study it properly!"


    Xu Yi re-locked the door, his eyes falling on the system''s Resurrection Coins.


    Previously, he had 14 Resurrection Coins left. To deal with Evil God Ratma, he spent 4, but upon entering the "Lair of Ratma, the Thief Evil God," he received 36 Resurrection Coins.


    The current number of Resurrection Coins he held was: 46.


    With so many Resurrection Coins, was it time to open some boxes?

 Chapter 146 Still Claiming You Dont Know Martial Arts?

    The treasure chest floated silently in front of Xu Yi, its surface flowing with silver light.After pondering for a moment, Xu Yi decided to choose to purchase the Silver Treasure Chest.


    Bronze treasure chests correspond to white item entries, so naturally, silver treasure chests correspond to green item entries.


    Although he didn''t know what tier the "Dark Stealth" entry was, from its name, he guessed that it was very likely a green-tier item entry.


    A Silver Treasure Chest cost 30 Resurrection Coins. After purchasing, he was instantly back to the situation before liberation, with only 16 Resurrection Coins left.


    The Silver Treasure Chest burst forth with brilliant light, and Xu Yi''s eyes filled with anticipation.


    [Congratulations on obtaining "Blank Entry: Swordsmanship Grandmaster (Green Common)"!]


    [Congratulations on obtaining "Blank Entry: Dark Chef (Green Rare)"!]


    Not having obtained the coveted "Dark Stealth," Xu Yi couldn''t help feeling a bit disappointed.


    But there was nothing he could do about it. Opening chests was always a defiance of the heavens, and even with probability boosts, there was no guarantee he would get the missing item entry.


    [Item Synthesis Pathway: Gunfight Technique + Dark Stealth + Eyes of Obscurity = Shadow Gun God!]


    Gunfight Technique and Eyes of Obscurity are both green-tier entries, so the Shadow Gun God must undoubtedly be an even higher tier "Blue Item Entry".


    Rumors outside have made him out to be a "Great Exorcist," and if he could synthesize Shadow Gun God, his power wouldn''t be far off from that of a Great Exorcist.


    Xu Yi looked at the "Swordsmanship Grandmaster" entry with some indecision.


    Being a Swordsmanship Grandmaster would certainly enhance his combat abilities, but he already possessed Gunfight Technique, and he wasn''t sure if he should take the time to level up this item entry.


    Unable to come to a conclusion, he could only toss the Swordsmanship Grandmaster into his entry repository for the time being.


    [Dark Chef: 0/100 (Green Rare)]


    Ability 1 - Eyes of Obscurity:


    Your eyes can see "creatures" hiding in the darkness.


    Ability 2 - Bloody Kitchen Knife:


    The bloody kitchen knife can chop through pig bones and can also slice off the kidneys of evil spirits.


    Ability 3 - Dark Cuisine:


    Your culinary skills are otherworldly; the ingredients you cook with aren''t normal fruits and vegetables but could be rotten skulls or severed ghost hands... The food you diligently prepare may not be liked by humans, but certain dark existences may become your loyal followers.


    Ability 4 - Hell''s Tongue:


    Your tongue can taste the delicious aspects of dark cuisine and absorb nutrients from them to strengthen yourself.


    (PS: Upon tasting the ultimate dark cuisine, this item entry has potential to evolve!)]


    An Evolvable Item Entry, yet another Evolvable Item Entry! The "Dark Chef" in front of him naturally couldn''t compare with "Annabelle''s Toy Treasure Box" or "Evil God''s Authority: The Quintessence of Thievery," but every Evolvable Item Entry was an extremely precious existence.


    Xu Yi browsed through the item entry information, lost in thought.


    Naturally, he wouldn''t equip this entry. Firstly, in terms of growth potential, this entry was far inferior to the Evil God''s Authority.


    Secondly, the way this entry gains experience is through "cooking," an area which he always avoided.


    Cooking is a very complicated affair, for which he neither had the patience nor the time.


    An image flashed through his mind; he knew where the item entry would end up.


    After dealing with the "private" matters, Xu Yi pulled back the curtains, opened the window, and let fresh air flow into the room.


    There was a psychology book on the desk that was more than halfway read. Xu Yi picked it up and continued his study.


    After several incidents, he had discovered the ingenious applications of psychology and planned to make haste and level up the psychology entry while he had some free time.


    [Psychology, current progress: 92/100]


    He had only read for a short while when someone knocked on the door. Ailent came in, holding a stack of documents.


    "Boss! I''ve got some leads on what you asked me to do!" Ailent placed the documents on the desk; they were a stack of exorcism invitations.


    "I''ll take a look first. If there''s something suitable, I''ll let you know," Xu Yi nodded.


    There were five exorcism invitations in total. It didn''t seem like many, but these were the result of Ailent''s screening.


    The studio''s invitations for exorcisms were simply too numerous to handle.


    As a reserve for the Evil Gods, Xu Yi had much to prepare. Lisa was still in the hospital, and only Maria was available, busy to the point of barely touching the ground lately.


    "This one!" Xu Yi picked out one from the several exorcism invitations.


    The treasure chest hadn''t yielded the "Dark Stealth" entry, but that was okay. He had a Plan B.


    Under his meticulous selection, those Evil Spirits that might yield "Dark Stealth" Entries would become the targets of his "warmth distribution."


    The Ram Cult was like vermin in the dark, always afraid to expose themselves to the light, but now they dared to brazenly attack a government stronghold?


    This could only mean one thing: the strength of the Ram Cult had significantly recovered.


    Once the Evil God of the Church of the Ram was born, they would definitely not let him off the hook, so he had to strike hard before the Ram Cult fully recovered.


    It wasn''t about uprooting the Church of the Ram entirely, but at least he had to force them into dormancy for a few decades; by then, he might no longer fear any Evil God.


    The ones investigating the Church of the Ram were not only the New York government but also the Church.


    With the investigation by these two powerful forces, even if the Church of the Ram hid deeply, they would definitely leave some traces to be found.


    Xu Yi''s task was to enhance his strength so that he could deliver a fatal blow to the heart of the Church of the Ram when the time came.


    "There''s no better day than today; let''s set off tonight!"


    Xu Yi glanced at the location of the exorcism commission. It was also in New York City, not far from the studio.


    ......


    The setting sun''s light shone on the windows, but it was blocked by thick curtains, leaving the room pitch-dark.


    Xu Yi brought over a desk lamp and set it on a small table, directing the light toward the figure sitting across the table. This person was the third person he had "received" in this room today.


    "Old Xu, be honest with me!" Xu Yi''s voice was deep.


    As soon as he finished speaking, the desk lamp was snatched away, and the room''s lights were turned on.


    "I am your dad!" Xu Changrong, holding the lamp, glared at Xu Yi.


    "Even if you are my dad, you still should come clean!" Xu Yi argued his case, "Let''s have it, Old Xu! Don''t tell me that your skilled Flying Dagger Technique comes from chopping vegetables!"


    A horde of black rats attacked New York City, and many of them wandered close to the Holy Flame Exorcism Studio.


    At that time, the three members of Xu Yi''s team were not present, and it would take a while for military reinforcements to arrive, leaving only Ailent holding a pistol, nervously watching the black rats outside the door.


    Just as the Exorcism Studio faced a life-and-death crisis, a figure suddenly burst forth, descending like a divine soldier. Wielding his flying dagger, he nailed the black rats to the ground one by one.


    "Ailent relayed the scene as it happened," Xu Yi said.


    Xu Yi cleared his throat as if he were a live commentator at the scene, "Miss Cassie''s eyes widened like brass bells as she watched Mr. Xu Changrong''s flying daggers. Mr. Andrew''s mouth hung so wide it could have swallowed an ostrich egg."


    Xu Changrong, a little displeased, reached out to give Xu Yi a knock on the head¡ªan extremely precise and fierce move that could be used as a model entry in a martial arts textbook.


    Xu Yi, thanks to his Eyes of Obscurity''s Supra-dynamic Vision, dodged and retreated three steps.


    "Old Xu! And you say you don''t know martial arts?" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Changrong looked at Xu Yi, veins throbbing on his forehead, but ultimately could only let out a resigned sigh and reveal the truth.


    Xu Yi listened quietly, unraveling many mysteries in his mind.


    Why could Xu Changrong, a stranger in a strange land, establish himself in Chinatown? Why did the gangs of Chinatown hardly ever trouble Xu Changrong?


    The story was simple: Xu Changrong was born into a martial arts family with extraordinary talent and could be considered a martial arts prodigy.


    However, during one practice he lost his temper, and due to youthful exuberance, he accidentally went too far and killed someone.


    Normally, this wouldn''t have been an issue, as both sides sign a life-and-death agreement before sparring, meaning that even if someone died, the other party wouldn''t break the rules and pursue the matter openly, at most seeking revenge in a future visit.


    But unfortunately, someone informed the police, and Xu Changrong had no choice but to flee to America with the newborn Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi sighed, quickly accepting the "fact that his father was a martial arts expert."


    "Sign your name here!" he handed a contract to Xu Changrong.


    "What''s this? A confession?" Xu Changrong joked, but his hands moved swiftly as he signed his name.


    After signing, Xu Changrong looked up at Xu Yi and let out a sigh, "Son, I don''t understand your affairs, nor can I help much..."


    Before he could finish his sentimental speech, a finger suddenly touched his forehead.


    "No! You can help me!" Xu Yi cut off Xu Changrong''s words. Young and without a single white hair, he wasn''t about to lay down and play dead¡ªan easy life wasn''t that simple to attain.


    If you lay down idle, how can I compete, Dad?


    [Bond Entry successfully signed!]


    ["Blank Entry: Dark Chef" gifted successfully!]


    Xu Yi looked at the system prompt and slowly exhaled.


    He couldn''t protect Xu Changrong all the time, and the world was so dangerous, so the best choice was to grant the power of self-preservation to the other party.


    Xu Changrong closed his eyes to perceive his new understanding. Xu Yi did not disturb him but quietly picked up a suitcase prepared early in the morning and left the house, ready to head to Queens in New York. Find your next read at empire

 Chapter 147 Running into Someone Just by Taking a Walk?

    Queens, New York, Xu Yi stood under the dim streetlight, looking up at the retro apartment building before him.As the second most populous borough in New York, Queens mostly features modern architecture; it''s hard to imagine an old-style apartment like this still standing here.


    However, considering this is on the edge of Queens, one can understand why.


    Though old and worn, the retro apartment had its own unique charm. With its affordable rent, business was quite good; people bustling about at night would return and light up the apartments, covering the whole building in a warm glow.


    But all that changed two months ago.


    Now the apartment was pitch-black, only a few corridor lights still flickering on. In this somewhat desolate suburb, it literally looked like a Haunted House.


    Xu Yi looked around but didn''t see the client.


    Since the client was outside New York City, and considering Xu Yi had decided to come on a whim, it would have been surprising for the other party to have arrived immediately.


    He didn''t wait for the other party to get ready and headed straight for the old apartment building.


    There was more than one path leading to the apartment, and they converged like streams into a river at the main road.


    A figure emerged from the path ahead, and Xu Yi''s body tensed instinctively, his hand resting on the Alchemy Revolver at his waist.


    The expression that appeared on his face could be described in three words, "seeing a ghost!" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Evil Gods are extremely rare; many exorcists go their whole lives without encountering a single incident involving an Evil God.


    Yet, he had successively encountered the Ram Cult''s great Evil God, and the resurrected Evil God, Ratma¡ªall barely understandable.


    But why would he come across an Evil God while dealing with a Common Evil Spirit incident?


    The person walking ahead of him was a woman, seemingly a bit older than him, draped in a flaxen long trench coat, her face difficult to discern since she was not only wrapped in a scarf but also wearing sunglasses.


    But from the contours of her features, one could vaguely tell she must be quite attractive.


    Xu Yi stared intently at her back; how she looked wasn''t important, what mattered was the aura.


    A distinct aura of an Evil God emanated from her.


    Normally, the presence of an Evil God is very subtle, even for a Great Exorcist like Father Noting, who didn''t realize Ratma was an Evil God immediately.


    If Xu Yi didn''t willingly reveal his own aura of the Evil God, it would be almost impossible for others to sense it.


    Yet, the woman''s aura of the Evil God was completely unmasked.


    To an exorcist, she was like a burning torch in the darkness, incredibly conspicuous.


    There''s an unwritten rule in the Exorcism World: if an exorcist discovers an Evil God, it must be reported immediately, because the threat of an Evil God is too great, and no one wants to see an Evil God grow.


    For her to reveal her aura so arrogantly, Xu Yi thought of one possibility.


    That she was incredibly powerful, indifferent to any assault by exorcists; in her eyes, exorcists were nothing more than chickens and dogs.


    Could it be that the Ram Cult was seeking revenge? Xu Yi couldn''t help but think.


    If it was the great Evil God behind the Church of the Ram, it would indeed have the power to do so.


    But something didn''t add up, if she had come for revenge, she should have approached him with the look one gives a bug before announcing his doom, rather than walking straight to the old apartment, without giving him a glance.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed so deeply it formed the character "´¨". Everything about this situation was eerie, so much so that he even doubted whether what he had felt was truly the aura of an Evil God.


    Logically speaking, even if it wasn''t the Ram Cult seeking vengeance, his blatant presence as an exorcist here should not have gone unnoticed, right?


    After the figure had walked away, Xu Yi took out his mobile phone from the toy Treasure Box and dialed the number the government had specifically given him.


    On the phone, he didn''t mention the discovery of an Evil God but instead reported the discovery of a dangerous place in Queens.


    The person in charge on the other end took it very seriously; after all, if a "Great Exorcist" deemed it dangerous, then it surely wasn''t a common place.


    Xu Yi hung up the phone and breathed a temporary sigh of relief.


    No matter if it was an Evil God or not, the government would come to handle the situation shortly, and he wasn''t some reckless greenhorn who would barge in without considering the consequences.


    Exorcists from City Hall could arrive quickly, and Xu Yi had plenty of Resurrection Coins on him.


    The main thing was that it was now 11:35 PM, and midnight was approaching, which meant that the daily limit of Resurrection Coins would soon refresh.


    That meant, if played right, he could be resurrected ten times within this timeframe.


    This was why he always kept at least ten Resurrection Coins on him; it was a way to exploit a small bug in the system.


    With no further worries, Xu Yi was prepared to meet this arrogant Evil God.


    The apartment''s main entrance was wide open, the security guard was nowhere to be seen.


    This was within expectations, as the security guard, earning such a meager salary, would hardly risk his life for his employer.


    The empty lobby of the apartment no longer held the woman''s figure, and possibly due to the distance, he no longer felt the presence of the Evil God.


    However, using the powerful vision bestowed upon him by the Eyes of Obscurity, Xu Yi spotted fresh shoe prints on the ground, which perfectly matched the high heels worn by the woman he had seen earlier.


    Xu Yi couldn''t help but reflect that exorcism was truly a skilled trade, not only requiring knowledge of exorcism and physical strength but occasionally doubling as detective work.


    The old apartment building didn''t have an elevator, so Xu Yi followed the staircase up, his footsteps echoing starkly in the silent building.


    Following the shoe prints, Xu Yi reached the third floor when suddenly a shadow lunged at him from the dark corridor; he instinctively dodged.


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    The shadow fell heavily to the ground, its body covered in blood.


    Xu Yi got a clear look at the person; it was a young man, not looking very old, probably around eighteen or nineteen.


    He arched an eyebrow in surprise because the youth in front of him was also an exorcist, as Xu Yi could sense the special field emanating from him.


    "Brother!"


    A piercing scream came from the corridor as another figure rushed over; it too was an exorcist, and a girl at that, her face full of youthfulness.


    The exorcist siblings noticed Xu Yi, the stranger, and the girl shouted at him, "Run! It''s dangerous here!"


    Xu Yi became alert, wondering if the Evil God had targeted these two young exorcists.


    The wall paintings in the corridor had faded a bit, with only dim yellow lights every seven to eight meters providing illumination, the old bulbs buzzing and flickering like ghostly fire.


    Each light only illuminated a short stretch of the corridor, and between two lights one couldn''t see their own hand before their face, the path extending into darkness and light.


    In the interplay of light and shadow, a pitch-black figure stood within the darkness, its face completely indiscernible, tall in stature, with long slender arms and sharp nails.


    Xu Yi let out a breath of relief, but soon his brow furrowed.


    He was relieved because the figure wasn''t the woman he had seen earlier; it didn''t carry the aura of the Evil God. That familiar icy feeling made it clear that the figure was only an Evil Spirit.


    He frowned because, possessing the Eyes of Obscurity, he should have been able to see clearly in the darkness, but he could only make out the outline of the figure, which seemed to blend into the darkness itself.

 Chapter 148 I Still Like Your Unruly Demure

    "What are your names?" Xu Yi walked past the exorcist siblings, casually asking.His gaze was fixed on the Evil Spirit in the darkness.


    "My name is Carrie, and this is my brother, Roy," Carrie said, staring at Xu Yi''s face, slightly dazed.


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    Roy felt like he was going insane. With the dangerous Evil Spirit so close at hand, this man wasn''t thinking of running away but instead found the time to engage in small talk.


    Could it be the other person couldn''t see the Evil Spirit in the darkness?


    His sister was driving him even crazier. Her obsession with handsome guys was one thing, but under such circumstances, was she seriously still daydreaming about crushes?


    Roy was tempted to just give up and let the Evil Spirit kill them all. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But after glancing at his sister, he felt a bit reluctant. Their parents had left them at a young age, leaving him and his sister dependent on each other for survival, and she was his last remaining family.


    Roy let out a long sigh and, dragging his heavily injured body, stood up from the ground.


    "I''ll hold off the Evil Spirit, you guys run!" Roy charged toward the Evil Spirit, thinking this was as far as he could help.


    Suddenly, he stopped, puzzled.


    Why was there no sound coming from behind him? No footsteps, no reluctant cries from his sister.


    He turned his head and almost couldn''t catch his breath.


    The two of them hadn''t run at all; they were still standing there, dazed!


    A chilling breath surged from behind him, and Roy felt like he had fallen into an icy pond, his heart seemingly frozen, unable to pump warm blood to his body anymore.


    The Evil Spirit was here! Right within an arm''s reach!


    He had braced himself to face death''s arrival, but after a good while, the scene he imagined where the Evil Spirit''s claws would pierce through his chest didn''t occur.


    Roy was baffled and didn''t know what exactly had happened.


    The man approached slowly, and at this moment, Roy finally had time to take a good look at him.


    With a faint smile always on his face, even as a man himself, Roy had to admit that the other person was indeed very handsome, especially with a distinctive aura likely to be popular with young girls.


    For some reason, he found the man somewhat familiar.


    The man walked past him, and Roy''s gaze followed him, watching as he approached the Evil Spirit in the dark.


    Roy suddenly widened his eyes, almost unable to believe the scene before him.


    The man was moving forward, and that Evil Spirit... was actually retreating!


    The Evil Spirit was afraid of the man before it!


    Roy felt his world view crumbling; for millennia, humans had been afraid of Evil Spirits, and now the roles were reversed?


    "Are you an exorcist?" Roy looked at the bespoke fitted coat on the man and suddenly realized something, instinctively using an honorific.


    The material of the man''s clothes was Shroud, which isolated his exorcist''s aura, hence Roy could not sense it and had thought the man was just a Common person.


    But even if the man was an exorcist, how could he make the Evil Spirit feel fear?


    They were exorcists too, yet had been crushed by the Evil Spirit like dogs fleeing for their lives.


    Xu Yi nodded, which served as a response.


    He walked directly towards the Evil Spirit in the darkness, his brows furrowed the whole time.


    The Evil Spirit was strong but not strong enough to make him wary.


    The reason he was frowning was because of this place. Having been active in this old apartment for too long, he had a faint feeling of dizziness and nausea, as if he had been sitting on a swaying bus for days and nights.


    A grayish flow flashed through his pupils, and Xu Yi activated the Fog of Obscurity, dispelling that awful feeling.


    The Evil Spirit let out a beast-like roar, trying to stop Xu Yi in his tracks.


    Most Evil Spirits acted purely on instinct; it sensed the threat from Xu Yi and retreated subconsciously.


    However, Evil Spirits are chaotic and insane by nature, their reason lasting only for moments.


    When it realized that Xu Yi was ignoring its "persuasion," it became angry and suddenly accelerated towards him.


    The corridor was a mixture of light and dark, but the other''s silhouette was never in the light; the Evil Spirit seemed to "teleport" in the dark, closing in on Xu Yi in the blink of an eye.


    "Be careful!" Roy shouted instinctively.


    But the next second, a purple-red aura curtain unfolded from Xu Yi''s body, and as the Evil Spirit collided with the aura curtain, its figure vanished instantly.


    Roy gaped at Xu Yi, his jaw almost dislocating from amazement.


    The Evil Spirit that had them running everywhere, that nearly claimed their lives, just like that... was gone?


    Both being exorcists, why was there such a huge difference?


    How much time did it take for the other party to deal with the Evil Spirit, one second or two?


    Xu Yi had no idea what the other party was thinking; otherwise, he would have definitely shaken his head. He certainly wasn''t powerful enough to instantly kill an Evil Spirit, though it might have been possible with a Ferocious Spirit.


    The Evil Spirit was merely swallowed into the Treasure Box, a toy box belonging to Annabelle.


    This was the first time Xu Yi had used the Treasure Box against an Evil Spirit since it evolved, and the effect was still unknown.


    He used the Symbiotic Eye to check the situation inside the space of the Treasure Box, while simultaneously commanding Annabelle and Bastet.


    To be on the safe side, he took out a sketchbook from his backpack, activated Psychic Drawing, and prepared to make a portrait of the Evil Spirit.


    "You''re Xu Yi!"


    Just as Xu Yi was about to start drawing, a scream suddenly came from beside him, causing his hand to tremble and the pen tip to snap.


    Xu Yi replaced the pen with a new one and, with a speechless expression, turned his head to see a young female exorcist darting beside him with agility rivalling that of a rabbit.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, I''m a fan of yours!" Carrie''s eyes sparkled as she gazed at Xu Yi with admiration.


    Confronted with a cute little fan, Xu Yi found it difficult to be angry and could only nod with a smile in response.


    Carrie seemed to understand that Xu Yi was busy and did not bother him further. She returned to Roy''s side, helping him just as he was about to fall over.


    To meet such a sensible female fan, Xu Yi was quite pleased, but he soon realized he was mistaken.


    "Brother, didn''t you say that Xu Yi''s reputation was all hype? That he managed to deal with the Evil God by sheer luck!" Carrie whispered into Roy''s ear.


    The apartment was so quiet that even the faintest voice could be heard clearly.


    "I... I didn''t say that! Stop talking nonsense!" Roy''s face turned green as he hurriedly denied it.


    In fact, he did say it, but now was not the time to admit it, was it? The great exorcist was present, and with his capability to kill an Evil Spirit in an instant, wouldn''t Roy be like offering himself on a platter?


    "You clearly did say it! You even said that if you met him, you''d definitely teach him a lesson, beat him so badly that he wouldn''t be able to leave his house for two to three months," Carrie said bluntly.


    "You, you..." Roy was at a loss for words, and the next second, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.


    "Bro, don''t pretend! I still like your unruly demeanor better!" Carrie clearly wasn''t about to let Roy off the hook.


    Xu Yi gave Roy a sympathizing glance, having such a sister, one could only hope for the best.


    In fact, Roy wasn''t entirely wrong. Xu Yi''s ability to deal with the Evil God Ratma did owe a lot to luck.


    If Father Notting hadn''t inflicted a severe injury on Ratma first, if the opponent hadn''t sacrificed his life to preserve the Divinity of Saint O''Hagan... there was no way he could have been Ratma''s match.


    Xu Yi always remained clear-headed; he didn''t fool himself into thinking that after killing Ratma or obtaining the Evil God''s authority, he was invincible.


    "Your brother seems to have really fainted, should you take him to the hospital to have a look first?" Xu Yi hoped to quickly send this whimsical little fan on her way.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, may I have your autograph?"


    Xu Yi didn''t refuse; conveniently having a pen and paper in his hands, he flamboyantly wrote down his name and handed over the torn page to her.


    "Goodbye, Mr. Xu Yi!"


    This time, Carrie didn''t say anything more. Happily accepting the autograph, she picked up Roy and left the scene with a polite farewell.


    "That girl is quite amusing!" Xu Yi muttered to himself softly.


    But he quickly collected his thoughts and resumed drawing at high speed in the sketchbook.


    As the Psychic Portrait was completed, the battle in the Treasure Box began to unfold.


    Xu Yi should have been focusing on the space inside the Treasure Box, commanding the battle, but he suddenly looked up, not even sustaining the Symbiotic Eye anymore.


    He felt it again, that aura of the Evil God.


    A vast shadow spread from under Xu Yi''s feet, sweeping over his boots like an incoming tide; his authority as an Evil God was triggered by something, activating uncontrollably on its own.


    Xu Yi forcefully controlled the Evil God''s authority, and the shadow beneath his feet quickly receded.


    An uncontrolled Evil God authority was surely a bad thing, yet Xu Yi''s eyes grew brighter and brighter; he suddenly understood what was going on with this apartment.

 Chapter 149 Fragrant and Eerie

    xu yi tracked the shoe prints up the staircase, striding forward with the pounding sound of his footsteps on the wooden stairs, like beating drums.to save time, xu yi no longer cared about concealing his presence.


    during the ascent, xu yi used the symbiotic eye to check the situation in the treasure box space.


    he finally saw the true form of the evil spirit, its body charred black, likely having suffered a great fire in life.


    dark, gel-like substance surged from the crevices of the evil spirit''s body, not dripping to the ground but sliding over the evil spirit continuously as if alive.


    the evil spirit before him was his initial target.


    the exorcism request described the evil spirit as: "it moves only in darkness and never appears under the light."


    this aligned perfectly with xu yi''s impression of the term "dark stealth."


    the "plasticized" annabelle, and bastet, transformed into a fire gui, were closing in on the evil spirit step by step, cornering it against the treasure box space.


    the floor of the treasure box had four corners and cornering the evil spirit here was a strategic move.


    "metalization" of the treasure box space was more than half complete; only three sides were made of a solid "metal" material, and this corner was precisely the intersection of three metal walls.


    fighting here meant they didn''t have to worry about destroying the treasure box.


    annabelle held a "crescent moon scimitar" in her hand.


    it was ratma''s rodent tooth, whose tip was exceptionally sharp, a true divine weapon that could slice through metal like mud.


    the evil spirit''s body was covered with numerous wounds, all inflicted by the rodent tooth.


    the evil spirit tried to fight back, but the fire gui, incarnated by bastet, splashed out large swaths of black and golden flames. the demon-suppressing domain took effect, and the evil spirit was firmly restrained, unable to straighten its back.


    xu yi was somewhat surprised; this was annabelle and bastet''s first coordination, and the result was better than he had anticipated.


    the evil spirit seemed weak, being passively beaten the whole time, posing no threat to xu yi.


    but that was an illusion.


    if the evil spirit was truly that weak, then the exorcist siblings would not have been in such a wretched state.


    the current situation was solely due to the combination of the toy heart and the demon-suppressing domain, forming "divine kingdom rules" that exerted strong suppression on the evil spirit.


    but this was only confined to this corner. if the evil spirit noticed something was amiss and burst through forcefully to attack the walls that had not yet been reinforced, the situation would be completely different.


    with the situation in the treasure box space stabilizing for the better, xu yi could ease his mind and focus on dealing with the "arrogant evil god."


    the high-heeled shoe prints continued all the way to the top floor of the apartment, where there was only one room, the most luxurious one in the building.


    the luxurious room was reserved by the owner and was not for rent. however, since its renovation, the owner had never once stayed there.


    xu yi stood quietly in front of the door. although he couldn''t sense the aura of the evil god, he knew it was inside.


    he pushed hard against the door, but it didn''t budge; it was locked from the inside.


    xu yi pressed his hand on the keyhole, breathed slowly, and harnessed the fog of obscurity within him.


    the fog of obscurity erupted, crushing the lock''s structure just like when he had crushed the leaf of redemption.


    xu yi pushed open the door, drew his alchemy revolver from his waist, and strode into the room, glancing at his wristwatch¡ªit was 11:52 pm.


    rustling sounds came from the rooms along the corridor. xu yi reached the end of the hallway, where the room door was unlocked.


    he saw the scene inside the room at a glance and paused.


    the woman from earlier stood at the center of the room, having removed her scarf and sunglasses, revealing her lovely features.


    xu yi was somewhat surprised; the other party was much more beautiful than he had imagined.


    but his surprise wasn''t solely because of the other''s face.


    the other party was undressing, peeling off one piece of clothing after another, their fair skin dazzling xu yi''s eyes.


    with years of experience in appreciating beauty, xu yi recognized at a glance that this person was a top-tier beauty, with curvaceous lines, full and elastic petals, and skin as smooth and fine to the touch as suet jade.


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    but he only took a brief look before averting his gaze.


    it wasn''t that he didn''t like to look; in another situation, he definitely would have enjoyed taking his time, but he had more important matters at hand.


    "good evening, mr. arrogant evil god," xu yi aimed the muzzle of his gun at the slender "figure" on the bed.


    no, that wasn''t anything human at all.


    it was a monster akin to an octopus, but with a body even more elongated than that of an octopus, and indeed, if you only looked at the silhouette, it somewhat resembled the form of a person.


    the monster''s bloody tentacles writhed continuously, and a faint pink mist emanated from its body surface.


    definitely, the scene before him was exceedingly strange: a beautiful woman undressing, a bloody tentacled monster, the woman looking at the tentacled monster with love actually apparent in her eyes.


    xu yi decisively pulled the trigger, and the exorcism bullet specially made for the task pierced through the tentacled monster, with dark green blood spattering out while its tentacles flailed in agony.


    the tentacled creature before him was indeed the true form of the "strong" evil god.


    xu yi''s initial assumption was wrong; the evil god revealing its presence wasn''t because it was so powerful that it could ignore the encirclement and attack of exorcists.


    there was another possibility; the evil god had just been born, acting solely on instinct, with no concept of "danger" in its mind.


    the tentacled monster lying on the bed was an evil god juvenile.


    xu yi kept pulling the trigger, firing exorcism bullets one after another into the evil god juvenile, which could only instinctively wave its tentacles, powerless to resist.


    no matter how strong the evil god would be in the future, at the time of its birth, it was extremely weak, much like a feral beast''s newborn cub. s§×arch* the nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    if faced with ordinary people, the evil god juvenile might have had a chance to resist, but unfortunately, it was up against the almost-great exorcist xu yi.


    the woman suddenly stopped undressing and lunged at xu yi, trying to snatch the gun from his hand.


    but to a common human, when faced with xu yi, strengthened by the fog of obscurity, she was no stronger than a kitten, and he easily restrained her with one hand.


    a bullet would have been the quickest solution to the problem, but the woman before him, an unfortunate soul, had merely been beguiled by the newly-born evil god juvenile, her crime not deserving death.


    xu yi emptied the revolver of its bullets and struck the woman on the back of her head with the butt of the gun, causing her to collapse softly, unconscious.


    he quickly reloaded, ready to completely disable the evil god juvenile''s resistance before suppressing it into a soul jade.


    though it was merely an evil god juvenile, carrying limited power of the evil god, every little contribution was still valuable, capable of progressing the treasure box toy even further.


    just then, annabelle''s urgent call came, and xu yi''s expression shifted subtly as he checked the situation inside the treasure box space with his symbiotic eye.


    the heavily wounded evil spirit emitted a horrifying scream, as sharp black segments broke through its back, growing out.


    a dense matrix of segments fanned out behind the evil spirit, like black bone wings.


    the evil spirit''s aura became several times more powerful, and what was worse, the creature, despite its severe injuries, was struggling to break through the seal, charging towards the purple-red wooden wall ahead... the evil spirit, relying on its instincts, had detected a weakness in the treasure box space!


    the purple-red curtain of energy unfurled, and xu yi, having no other choice, ordered the release of the evil spirit from annabelle''s treasure box.


    xu yi furrowed his brow; the reason he hadn''t dealt with the evil spirit right away but rushed to the top floor to take care of the evil god juvenile was a matter of priorities.


    it was because the evil god juvenile grew incredibly fast, just a few minutes slower could mean a completely different situation.


    if the girl, beguiled into completing her "sacrifice," allowed the evil god juvenile to at least have the ability to move freely, he could not afford to hesitate.

 Chapter 150 Black Gold Flames

    xu yi rushed to the door where the light switch was right beside it.the room had been pitch-dark all along, and it was certain that the incarnation of the evil god wouldn''t turn on the light; the woman, enchanted like a puppet, didn''t need xu yi to do so either, since he possessed the eyes of obscurity.


    but now he had to turn on the light; darkness was the evil spirit''s home turf, and lighting the room would greatly weaken its power.


    the bright white light illuminated the room as if it were day, and xu yi looked around but did not find any trace of the evil spirit.


    the evil spirit was definitely still in the room.


    he had dashed to turn on the light the moment he opened the treasure box space; that lingering sensation of cold, unique to the evil spirit, was still hovering around his body.


    xu yi scanned the shadows created by objects obstructing light, guessing the evil spirit was likely hiding within them.


    instead of looking for it shadow by shadow, which would be too inefficient as the evil spirit could move freely in the dark, he didn''t want to play a game of hide and seek.


    he took out the psychic portrait of the evil spirit.


    judgment, this ability was extremely useful, especially when facing an evil spirit adept at playing hide-and-seek.


    the dagger pierced through the psychic portrait, and as judgment activated, a beast-like roar came from beneath his feet, startling xu yi¡ªit was hiding in his very own shadow!


    it wasn''t clear whether it thought "the most dangerous place is the safest" or if it was determined to seek revenge after being grievously wounded by annabelle.


    its body was covered in dense knife wounds; the injuries inflicted by ratma''s rodent teeth were not easy to heal.


    the dark figure "grew" out from the center of the shadow, first the head, then the torso, followed by the limbs; behind the evil spirit were spider-like appendages that stretched out in the room like the branches of an ancient, pitch-black tree.


    xu yi took out another standard-issue dagger.


    after the dagger of rest had been destroyed, xu yi had a batch of daggers made from alloy, each engraved with necromantic spells.


    the fog of obscurity poured from xu yi''s palm, spreading over the dagger, as if enchanting it with the ability to inflict multiplied damage on dark creatures.


    the enchanted dagger pierced through the evil spirit''s heart, and it let out a wretched howl.


    xu yi''s gun-wielding right hand was busy too, repeatedly squeezing the trigger and sending exorcism bullets flying towards the bed, piercing the fleeing juvenile of the evil god.


    the evil spirit''s chest riddled by the enchanted dagger, xu yi saw it could not escape for the moment, put away the dagger, and prepared to deal with the juvenile of the evil god first.


    feeling the danger approaching, the juvenile of the evil god extended its tentacles, but not toward xu yi, instead aiming for the evil spirit beside him.


    the tentacles of the evil god wrapped around the articulations on the evil spirit''s back, as it roared furiously. xu yi didn''t know what the juvenile was trying to do, but he was sure it was nothing good.


    xu yi lunged at the tentacles, intending to chop them off.


    as the dagger fell, the tentacles that had been entwined around the evil spirit suddenly let go, casting a huge net towards xu yi.


    xu yi''s pupils constricted, realizing that the juvenile of the evil god''s initial target was not the evil spirit but xu yi himself. its actions were just a ruse to draw xu yi closer to it!


    the tentacles bound xu yi tightly, but, to the juvenile''s surprise, they couldn''t touch his flesh; a thin layer of grey fog kept them at bay.


    pink fog emanated from the tentacles; xu yi held his breath, but the fog didn''t need to enter through his respiratory tract to take effect.


    low murmurs buzzed in xu yi''s ears, those whispers crawling into his head like worms.


    one of the formidable abilities controlled by the evil god, mental contamination.


    this was not the first time xu yi had suffered from mental contamination, but it was the most intense.


    expertise makes a difference; even though it was mental contamination, the effect varied depending on which evil god utilized it¡ªxu yi was clearly facing an evil god that specialized in mental contamination.


    wrapped around xu yi, the juvenile of the evil god excitedly flailed its tentacles, its eyes gleaming with the joy of revenge, as if foreseeing xu yi''s pitiful end.


    but what it failed to notice was that there was no sign of panic on xu yi''s face.


    being in such a situation before would have indeed been difficult to deal with, but not now; xu yi''s status had changed.


    the tentacles of the evil god juvenile suddenly trembled, but this time not out of excitement, but fear.


    like water, a shadow spread from xu yi''s feet, engulfing both xu yi and the evil god juvenile.


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    mental contamination is indeed a terrifying weapon for humans, but if the target is another evil god, it is nothing more than a plastic toy gun.


    by actively initiating the authority of the evil god, it meant that xu yi was determined to kill the evil god juvenile.


    government personnel were about to arrive, and the fact that he possessed the power of the evil god could not be revealed.


    xu yi''s palm turned into a blade, and his hand, coated in the fog of obscurity, was as sharp as a razor''s edge.


    the palm blade pierced through the body of the evil god juvenile, and suddenly from the center of the palm, a black-golden flame erupted and instantly ignited the evil god juvenile.


    these black-golden flames were the demon-suppressing power of the cat spirit bastet; since bastet became his incarnation of the evil god, this was the first time xu yi borrowed bastet''s power.


    xu yi felt terrible, as if he was encased in mercury, with mercury flowing through his veins, an indescribable heaviness over his whole body.


    he had grasped the authority of the evil god, but his body was not a divine body and could not fully bear the demon-suppressing power of bastet.


    this was the result even after his body was strengthened by the fog of obscurity; if it were a common person''s body, it would have likely collapsed long ago. sea??h th§× n?vel_fire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "if i could acquire the entry for hyper accelerated regeneration, perhaps i could withstand this power," xu yi thought to himself.


    why didn''t he let bastet use the demon-suppressing power directly, instead of suffering a huge burden himself? the reason is simple.


    the demon-suppressing power used by bastet could only suppress, but xu yi was different.


    the demon-suppressing power he used, represented by the black-golden flames in front of him, was activated through the authority of the evil god... this was not an ordinary flame, but... divine fire!


    the divine flames of the evil god burned the evil god juvenile and incidentally ignited the incapacitated dark evil spirit nearby.


    the moment xu yi sensed the annihilation of the evil god juvenile''s soul, he immediately shut down the authority of the evil god.


    without the power of the evil god authority to sustain it, the black-golden flames extinguished instantly, for the fuel of the flame was the authority of the evil god, and nothing else.


    xu yi collapsed onto the ground, gasping heavily, as if he were trying to inhale all the air in the room into his lungs.


    the sensation of forcefully invoking the divine flames of the evil god was deplorable, like a person drowning, trapped on the boundary between life and death, feeling like the next second would bring their demise, yet unable to die¡ªa feeling so worse than death that no one would want to experience it a second time.


    perhaps the demon-suppressing flame is the greatest gain from becoming an incarnation of the evil god, but using it forcefully has too many drawbacks.


    until he acquired the entry for accelerated regeneration, xu yi had no plans to use this ability again.


    the evil god juvenile released its tentacles, collapsing weakly onto the ground. there were no burns on its body, because the demon-suppressing flame targeted not the flesh, but the soul.


    "what a pity!"


    xu yi had planned to suppress the opponent''s soul into a soul jade, but now it was impossible, since the soul itself had been burned away.


    he looked at the still-living body of the evil god juvenile and, struck by a thought, gathered it into the toy treasure box.


    the birth of an evil god juvenile typically occurs in various different spaces and only after growing to a certain extent might it descend into the human world.


    but the evil god juvenile in front of him had somehow been born directly into the human world!


    xu yi didn''t yet know the utility of the dead body of the evil god juvenile, but he had a premonition that something so rare must be of great importance.


    his gaze fell upon the dark evil spirit.


    the evil spirit was merely grazed by the divine flames of the evil god, but if even the evil god juvenile couldn''t withstand the flames, much less could it in its severely injured state.


    red lines of soul binding flew from his hands, intricately entwining the evil spirit.


    xu yi was a bit hopeful, wondering if the evil spirit before him could drop the entry for "dark stealth."

 Chapter 151 Dark Stealth

    the soul-binding thread slowly tightened, the evil spirit continued to struggle defiantly, xu yi, expressionless, pulled the trigger, and the evil spirit was pierced by the bullet, screaming repeatedly.the woman on the ground slowly awoke, and xu yi was slightly startled.


    to avoid the situation that happened with william, he had used the sleeping flower from the cat spirit holy tree. the fragrance of the sleeping flower was enough to keep someone asleep for the entire night; he hadn''t expected her to wake up so quickly.


    the woman held her forehead, her head splitting with pain, her mind a blank, not knowing what had happened.


    as she lifted her head and saw the roaring dark evil spirit in the room, she panicked and retreated.


    xu yi observed the woman, trying to figure out the reason for her premature awakening, while tightening the soul-binding thread in his hand.


    the evil spirit''s struggles were ultimately futile, and with a piercing cry, its body burst open, turning into a vast cloud of black fog that was compressed by the soul-binding thread into a soul jade.


    the soul jade was perfectly round and flawless, marking the first perfect soul jade xu yi had created since obtaining the soul jade entry.


    this type of soul jade not only had a stronger effect but also lacked the defect of dissipating if not used for an extended period.


    [entry devouring initiated, devouring in progress...]


    [congratulations on obtaining "blank entry: dark stealth (green common)"]!


    xu yi''s eyes lit up instantly; he hadn''t expected his luck to be so good, to obtain the "dark stealth" entry from the very first evil spirit he devoured.


    he took a few glances and then averted his gaze, striding towards the woman. noticing her scant clothing, she screamed and shrank back.


    at that moment, a faint pink mist drifted from the woman''s eyes, her gaze went dull for an instant, and then it turned into full-fledged desire as she lunged at xu yi.


    xu yi instantly grabbed hold of her.


    the woman was not satisfied with this, using her hands and feet to wrap around xu yi''s body, reaching out towards his chest, seeking more.


    xu yi fixated on her exquisite features for two seconds, then reached towards the woman''s smooth face... and viciously slapped her, the crisp sound resounding. a clear, red palm print appeared on the woman''s pale face.


    "are you awake now? if you are, get dressed quickly and leave immediately! i''m only giving you five seconds," xu yi said urgently.


    had it been any other place, xu yi might have given her a "deep lesson", but the circumstances were not right now, and he was already feeling the dark power surging from the ground.


    the woman stood there dazed, taking a while to come back to her senses, the pink mist in her eyes having dissipated.


    the mist was the temptative power left in the woman by the evil god''s juvenile, capable of invoking the purest thoughts from the depths of one''s heart. unfortunately, she was jolted awake by xu yi''s slap.


    it was because of the pink mist that she could awaken so quickly from the fragrance of the sleeping flower. xu yi realized this, which is why he didn''t act harshly.


    the woman picked up her coat from the ground, covering herself, feeling a mix of shame and indignation.


    she had actually taken the initiative to throw herself at a man, and even sought more from him.


    the worst part was, she had been rejected, and in such a brutal manner. her face felt hot, and not just from the slap.


    yet, for some reason, amidst her shame, she felt an unusual sensation, almost like the thrill adam must''ve felt in the garden of eden when he took a bite of the forbidden fruit.


    xu yi was unaware that the woman''s thoughts were becoming twisted, and even if he were, he wouldn''t have cared, as it was normal to have some aftereffects from the temptation of an evil god.


    the authority of the evil god within him grew more restless. if it weren''t for him firmly suppressing it, it probably would have activated on its own by now.


    this was not a place to stay for long, so xu yi turned to leave.


    "wait for me!" the woman, seeing xu yi leave without a word, was instantly frantic.


    she picked up her clothes from the ground at the fastest speed she had ever managed, dressing on the move. unable to run quickly in her high heels, she cast them aside and sprinted after xu yi.


    xu yi had intended to return using the same staircase, but his expression changed subtly, as the apartment began to tremble slightly. it was already too late to go back the way he came.


    he kicked open the window at the end of the corridor, glancing down. the height alone would make an ordinary person''s legs go weak.


    but xu yi was expressionless, channeling the fog of obscurity into his body.


    just as he was about to jump out, the woman actually grabbed his waist.


    "please, don''t leave me behind, okay?" the woman pleaded desperately.


    what kind of backup lover''s script is this? just because she removed some clothes, she wasn''t even revealing as much as a bikini swimsuit, does it warrant this ''can''t live without him'' act?


    xu yi was speechless. he could feel the increasingly restless evil aura beneath the apartment and suddenly realized that without him, the woman might actually die.


    "hold tight!"


    there was no time left to think. xu yi leaped out of the shattered window, and the woman''s body suddenly became airborne, letting out a shriek as she clung tightly to xu yi''s waist.


    xu yi''s body plummeted rapidly, with his black trench coat billowing in the fierce wind, rustling loudly.


    just as he was about to be smashed into ground meat, xu yi suddenly reached out his hand and grabbed the apartment''s outer eaves with a fierce grip. the power of the fog of obscurity and his muscles burst forth simultaneously, forcefully negating the descending momentum.


    when his body stabilized again, he let go, allowing himself to fall once more.


    they were only three or four meters above the ground now. he landed solidly on the surface.


    "let go!"


    the woman, still in shock, had been clinging to xu yi''s waist. hearing his command, she quickly let go.


    before she could compose herself, xu yi suddenly scooped her up around the waist and, his speed erupting again, dashed towards the exterior of the apartment.


    carried by xu yi, the woman, after a brief two seconds of panic, instinctively reached out and wrapped her arms around xu yi''s neck.


    "mr. xu yi!"


    someone suddenly called out to him ahead. it was a middle-aged man dressed in a suit, who looked somewhat familiar to xu yi, like a government exorcist. s§×ar?h the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    but he had no time for pleasantries now.


    "run!" he warned the man, then kept sprinting away relentlessly.


    the exorcist hesitated briefly. running wildly in the dead of night with a scantily clad beauty¡ªwhat kind of bizarre scenario was this?


    but his expression changed drastically. he turned sharply and began to sprint away alongside xu yi.


    "run! run! danger ahead!" the exorcist shouted while running.


    the exorcists, responding to the government''s call, prepared to enter the apartment for investigation. seeing xu yi running like mad, they instinctively started running as well.


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    a large swarm of exorcists followed en masse behind xu yi, most of them utterly baffled.


    the ground suddenly shook, with the epicenter coming from the apartment. the exorcists looked instinctively, their faces turning pale in an instant.


    a surge of black fog erupted from the apartment, rolling in all directions wildly. the plants around the apartment, with their tender green leaves, withered and died upon contact with the black fog.


    upon seeing this, a chill ran down the exorcists'' spines, and they ran even faster.


    xu yi was at the forefront of the escape. their reasons for running were different.


    the exorcists feared their souls would be tainted if they were affected, whereas xu yi was afraid the authority of the evil god, if uncontrolled, would expose his identity as a reserve for the evil god.


    xu yi made it to the highway and looked back at the old apartment building.


    the black fog stopped about ten meters from the highway and dissipated at a visible rate. the ground''s trembling also ceased, and everything returned to calm as if the previous events were nothing but an illusion.


    "sis?"


    a familiar voice came from behind suddenly. a black mercedes glided silently to a stop at the side of the road, the car door opened, and an anxious-faced person jumped out.


    seeing the person''s face clearly, xu yi paused for a moment, "hardy, what are you doing here?"


    hardy, seeing xu yi, was even more surprised than xu yi was to see him. when he noticed the disheveled woman in xu yi''s arms, he seemed to be struck by lightning, standing there in a daze.


    "sis! you... you guys!" hardy stuttered, pointing at xu yi but unable to finish his words.


    the woman turned her face away, not letting hardy see her, her cheeks flushed red.

 Chapter 152 The Method to Repair the Red Lotus

    "thank you very much, mr. xu yi, for saving my life. my name is anna, and i''m hardy''s sister."xu yi looked at the woman in front of him, who had tidied up her clothes and was introducing herself with a dignified demeanor, and for a moment he couldn''t react. the woman clinging to him earlier had not looked like this at all.


    the contrast was just too great!


    xu yi really hadn''t expected that the person he had casually saved turned out to be william''s sister, hardy''s sister.


    anna and hardy had gone to a party together. suddenly, anna felt unwell, so she left early. hardy didn''t think much of it, but when he finished the party and was ready to head home, he found the car that had taken anna on the side of the road.


    the driver in the car was unconscious, and anna was missing. hardy was frantically worried, and even after calling the police, he did not leave but instead drove around nearby looking for her.


    xu yi inwardly sighed. he wondered if this family was naturally at odds with evil gods.


    first, it was william who had been deluded by an evil god and had nearly died in the sewer, and now it was anna''s turn. he wondered if hardy would be next.


    xu yi patted hardy on the shoulder, gave him a "fend for yourself" look, and apologized before leaving; he had many things to deal with.


    "sis! should we go to the hospital for a checkup?" hardy turned and looked at anna beside him.


    anna shook her head, her gaze never leaving xu yi, "i''m fine. let''s stay a bit longer and see what happened."


    hardy''s face showed a look of distress. this was exactly why he had never told xu yi about having a sister.


    no matter how careful he was, he had not expected his sister to take the initiative to show up.


    he knew his sister''s personality well; she was somewhat aloof and liked solitude, disliking lively scenes.


    yet now, she was standing on tiptoes, looking around. was she interested in the commotion? he felt too embarrassed to call her out on it.


    xu yi had already put anna''s incident to the back of his mind as he spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.


    "entos?"


    entos turned around, a warm smile on his face, "good evening, mr. xu yi!"


    "shouldn''t you be in the army? what are you doing here?" xu yi asked curiously, facing entos, who had previously fought alongside him in the sewer.


    "it''s all thanks to you that i''ve transferred departments. if there''s anything you need help with in the future, just give me a call," entos explained.


    xu yi suddenly realized that this was the contact person provided by city hall. having an acquaintance to mediate things would indeed make matters much more convenient.


    "mr. xu yi, what''s the deal with this apartment building?" entos asked about business, his expression turning serious instantly.


    "i only have a rough guess. has the owner of the apartment arrived? i need to ask him a few questions."


    xu yi saw the owner of the apartment in the crowd, a middle-aged man who had put on weight. after exchanging a few perfunctory greetings, they got to the point.


    "did anything unusual happen before the apartment started to act up?" xu yi asked. experience more content on empire


    the owner of the apartment frowned and thought for a moment, then suddenly brightened up, "i remember now. before the abnormalities began, the basement of the apartment suddenly leaked water. so i called in workers to repair it... they said that the water pipe below had burst, and they needed to drill open the ground. later, the workers fell ill, and the basement repairs were never completed."


    the owner of the apartment looked at xu yi, "could this have anything to do with it?"


    it was too related! xu yi probably knew what was going on.


    "this area must be isolated immediately!"


    having said this, xu yi left, leaving entos and the apartment owner to discuss compensation terms, as the government planned to buy the land and then enforce a strict blockade.


    xu yi returned to his car, locked the doors from the inside, raised the privacy-film-covered windows to the top, and did not turn on the car lights.


    in complete darkness, xu yi took out ratma''s rat tooth. the sharp rat tooth was trembling slightly, responding to the evil aura within the apartment.


    he carefully took out a scroll from the toy treasure box, an aged scroll that was already tattered, with much of its content missing.


    after he chose the exorcism holy relic sacred red lotus, the staff from city hall delivered the restoration information for the sacred red lotus to him. he had expected a meticulous report, but to his surprise, it was this ancient scroll before him.


    upon seeing the antique scroll, xu yi was a bit dumbfounded, even having the feeling of being duped, but it was too late for regrets. s§×ar?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    the text on the scroll was in japanese, and xu yi found a professor specialized in japanese translation to translate the content of the scroll.


    the only part missing from the scroll was the latter section; the rest was intact. after the translation, it indeed provided a method to restore the sacred red lotus.


    strictly speaking, not only the sacred red lotus, but any powerful sword could be restored using this method.


    "a saintly body after baptism, celestial fire, the life cleansing blade pool¡ªsuch a grand array, is it really just for restoring a sword?" xu yi looked at the description on the scroll, quite puzzled.


    the process to restore the sacred red lotus was extremely complicated, with just the first step being enough to deter most people.


    not just any saintly body, but one that had been "baptized."


    if it was a saintly being, one would only need to place the saintly body in a church and have a priest sincerely recite prayers under the jesus statue every day; or have maria use her soul transmigration ability to "sing" to the saintly body every day, and the baptism would be completed.


    however, the relic he had was of an evil god¡ªusing these methods would not be baptizing but "whitewashing," and he might end up destroying the relic''s divinity.


    now he had found a new method of baptism for the relic.


    "i hope it works!" xu yi got out of the car and walked towards the apartment.


    in just a moment, the area around the apartment was cordoned off with warning tape, and city hall would later build a high wall to seal off the area, with soldiers patrolling around the clock to prevent accidental entry.


    xu yi returned to the apartment, alone.


    entos had intended to have exorcists assist, but xu yi had refused.


    "i need to approach the source of the demonic energy to set up an array of suppression. that place is too dangerous, and i am not sure if other exorcists could withstand it?"


    hearing this, entos decisively scrapped the idea of helping. the government''s exorcists were all "civil servants," primarily joining the government for the generous benefits.


    they might be willing to lend a hand, but to risk their lives and shed their blood was definitely not something they''d be willing to do.


    xu yi strode into the apartment.


    in fact, after the outburst of evil energy had reached its lowest point, the apartment was quite safe now, but xu yi naturally wouldn''t disclose this, or how else would he justify operating alone?


    xu yi located the door to the basement, which was locked with a heavy padlock¡ªthe apartment''s owner must have had a premonition that something was off with the basement or wouldn''t have locked the door.


    he broke the door lock and found the stairs leading down to the basement.


    the stairs below were pitch-black, like a gateway to some unknown hell, with lights flickering due to old age.


    this was simply the perfect horror movie scene, yet xu yi walked down unfazed. fear comes from the unknown, and with the eyes of obscurity, he was completely indifferent to such dark scenes.


    walking in the gloomy staircase, feeling the chilling wind blowing, he actually found it somewhat comfortable, perhaps because he had taken control of the evil god''s authority.


    without encountering any incidents, xu yi successfully arrived in the basement.


    the basement was no longer damp but instead covered with a layer of black moss-like plants, which densely covered the basement floor and exuded a strong stench of blood.


    xu yi wasn''t exactly lying¡ªif a common exorcist were to walk in here, just the smell alone would contaminate their spirit.


    he disregarded the moss, walking to the center of the basement where a drill had pierced through, revealing a dark hole from which evil energy continuously emitted.


    the apartment had seen the emergence of evil spirits as well as the juvenile form of an evil god; the reason was in fact not complicated.


    somehow, this apartment''s basement was connected to a different space, which led to such bizarre situations.


    while this scenario was extremely rare, it was not without precedent.


    once, a farming household''s pasture connected to the netherworld, resulting in the death of herds of cattle and sheep, and the people living nearby did not escape the disaster either.

 Chapter 153

    xu yi squatted in front of the hole spouting dark energy and began to inscribe necromantic spells, with the circular spell matrix enveloping the hole.in the center of the spell matrix, he buried the portrait of fire gui halfway.


    dark energy is a complex thing, a blend of grudges, curses, soul power, and so on. trying to suppress the dark energy with just a portrait of fire gui was like a fool''s dream. enjoy new tales from empire


    xu yi hadn''t planned on suppressing it here anyway, the spell matrix was just a cover.


    at the edge of the array, there was a small patch of ground covered in black moss. xu yi took out a ratma rat''s tooth, covered his palm with the power of obscurity, and thrust forcefully.


    the rat''s tooth pierced through the black moss, burying itself entirely underground.


    the moment he buried the rat''s tooth, xu yi, through the authority of the evil god, could keenly feel the dark forces around being drawn toward the tooth, being absorbed by it.


    xu yi slowly exhaled and a smile appeared on his face.


    it was a success! the ratma rat''s tooth could absorb the dark energy here, slowly completing its baptism.


    he inserted the remaining teeth into the ground as well because he didn''t know how much sacred remains he would need to repair the sacred red lotus.


    "the rat''s teeth absorbing the dark energy here is also a form of suppression, right?"


    xu yi looked at his setup, and satisfied, patted his hands together.


    the spell matrix of necromantic spells would attract attention, the pierced black moss would quickly grow back, making the rat''s teeth even harder to find.


    once the sacred remains of ratma absorb the dark energy here, their quality would surely improve. when used to repair red lotus, it would probably be more than simply restoring the holy artifact.


    baptised sacred remains, refined by celestial fire, life cleansing blade pool... xu yi was curious about what the "repaired" sacred red lotus would become after these three steps.


    xu yi originally planned to leave. however, he suddenly felt something was missing. slapping his forehead, he released dozens of cat souls from the treasure box.


    the cat souls suddenly found themselves in a strange place and became a little panicked. upon seeing xu yi, they calmed down. they circled around xu yi, meowing and begging him to take them back into the treasure box.


    "you eat my food, you live in my place, shouldn''t you be of some use?"


    xu yi shooed the cat souls away while tempting them with a promise, "stay here and guard well. if someone comes, alert me, and i''ll find you some tasty treats."


    these cat souls had a special connection with bastet and could conduct soul communication with bastet.


    "remember to keep away from this basement, just monitor the surroundings," xu yi instructed.


    once he had given his orders, xu yi retraced his steps and exited the apartment building, where he encountered the young exorcist who was keeping watch outside.


    "mr. xu yi, thank you very much for your efforts. we will guard this place well and ensure that no one enters to disturb the array you have painstakingly set up," the young exorcist said with a naive smile as he approached.


    xu yi could only pat the other''s shoulder and encouraged, "keep it up! young man, the future is yours!" s§×arch* the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    not only did the other party have to act as free labor to guard ratma''s rat''s teeth for him, but he was also thanking him. capitalists with cold hearts would probably weep if they saw this.


    entos was still directing control operations. spotting xu yi, he immediately came over and pulled xu yi to a secluded corner, lowering his voice.


    xu yi thought entos would ask about the apartment, but his first words instantly sharpened xu yi''s focus.


    "new york city hall just sent news that they''ve located the ram cult!"


    "where?" xu yi asked urgently.


    "you''ll know at the police station. come to think of it, this matter does have something to do with you." entos looked at xu yi, his eyes slightly peculiar.


    ...¡­


    accompanied by entos, xu yi arrived at the police station where the chief was already waiting at the entrance and led them to a heavily-guarded interrogation room.


    only one light was on in the interrogation room, shining on the prisoner seated across the table.


    typically, prisoners in interrogation rooms only wear handcuffs, but the one across was actually in a straitjacket, a specially reinforced and thickened one at that.


    the person lay inside, unable even to turn their head.


    the face shield of the straitjacket obscured the other''s face, and xu yi could not make out who it was for a moment, only feeling a sense of familiarity.


    "is this the heretic you found?"


    xu yi was somewhat puzzled; if it were a heretic, they ought to have used a magic artifact or something of the sort to constrain the person, rather than a straitjacket designed for violently insane individuals.


    the chief of police shook his head, "we can''t be sure just yet."


    xu yi remained silent, waiting for further explanation.


    the chief''s assistant brought over a metal box, its surface engraved with complex necromantic spells. xu yi could vaguely guess what was inside.


    as the metal box was opened, there lay a bloodstained, ancient-looking dagger. xu yi recognized the item inside¡ªit was one of the cursed items lost from the room of minos, jack the ripper''s dagger.


    "the suspect was caught wielding this dagger, ready to commit murder," the chief explained softly.


    xu yi glanced at the chief with skepticism. when had new york police become so capable?


    and with the means of the ram cult, how could the selected bearer of a cursed item be so easily captured by the police?


    seeing xu yi''s confusion, the chief''s face colored with embarrassment, and he refrained from boasting, opting instead for the truth, "actually, we were alerted by a phone call and that''s when we responded. by the time we arrived at the scene of the crime, the suspect had already been subdued."


    "so you''re saying, this person was killed in self-defense during the attempted murder? who could be that powerful?"


    just as xu yi asked, a familiar figure suddenly entered, and his recognition was instantaneous¡ªtoo familiar, in fact.


    "maria? what are you doing here?"


    he suddenly remembered something, turned his head abruptly towards the interrogation room, and stared intently at the man''s face, his pupils dilating suddenly.


    he finally realized why the man seemed familiar¡ªbecause the face shield was in the way, and they had only seen each other from a distance a few times, so he hadn''t recognized him at first glance.


    to his shock, the man was maria''s father, dan!


    everyone fell silent as maria, who had been keeping her head down since she walked in, had a vacant look in her eyes, uncertain whether it was from sorrow or anger.


    "while the perpetrator was attempting to murder, he first used an anesthetic to knock the target unconscious. when moving the target onto the dissection table, the target suddenly regained consciousness and overpowered the perpetrator," the chief briefed succinctly on the process.


    xu yi''s last flicker of hope shattered; dan had aimed to eviscerate and murder none other than maria.


    dan was a cosmetic surgeon, making it extremely easy for him to obtain an anesthetic.


    maria was vulnerable to the effects of the anesthetic, but ailan inside her was not. with ailan''s strength, even if it were truly jack the ripper resurrected, he would stand no chance, let alone an imposter.


    but how could a father actually want to kill his own daughter?


    even tigers do not eat their young, and xu yi never imagined he would witness such a tragedy, especially one that involved someone he cared about.


    xu yi walked over to maria, trying to offer some comfort¡ªas anyone would be distressed in such a situation.


    but suddenly, maria lifted her head, and her eyes were filled with a terrifying ferocity.


    xu yi was taken aback for a moment, then realized ailan was trying to take control of the body, but the next second, the ferocious gaze disappeared, suppressed by maria.


    yet ailan only stayed quiet for two seconds before attempting to regain control of the body again.


    after several such attempts, ailan finally settled down.


    xu yi was slightly astonished; it had been quite some time since this had happened. ailan and maria had already privately agreed upon the schedule for using the body.


    in ailan''s fierce gaze was a deep-seated hatred, and xu yi knew that look was not directed at him but at dan inside the interrogation room.


    what could it be that made ailan hate dan to such an extent?


    xu yi turned his head towards the interrogation room, and after a moment of silence, spoke up, "let me talk to him!"

 Chapter 154 Devilish Thought

    xu yi sat in the interrogation chair, quietly observing the silhouette of a person in the light, while dan was also sizing up xu yi with a look of interest in his eyes.the bite guard on the straitjacket had been removed. xu yi didn''t need such protection, and removing the bite guard facilitated better communication.


    in the other''s eyes, xu yi saw a desire for blood, regret over being captured, and a myriad of complex emotions, but there was a distinct absence of remorse.


    "you seem quite pleased with yourself," xu yi broke the silence.


    "don''t you think killing is a form of art?" dan neither affirmed nor denied. "the blade slicing open the chest, the organs still throbbing inside, life heading towards eternal silence amidst the blood and screams!"


    xu yi actually nodded, agreeing with the other''s words, "you''re right, killing is indeed an art form."


    his tone suddenly shifted, "but that certainly doesn''t include you. this was the first time you committed an act after acquiring that dagger, wasn''t it? caught on your first attempt, you are far too inferior compared to jack the ripper¡­ in my opinion, you''re no different from those foolish thieves who steal something their first time and then walk right into the police station."


    the straps on the straitjacket instantly tensed as dan lunged forward, staring at xu yi intensely, his eyes revealing a ferocity like that of a beast ready to devour its prey.


    for psychopathic killers, having their level of killing skill questioned is more unbearable than death itself.


    what xu yi said was not just rubbing salt into their wounds; he was practically pouring salt directly into them.


    xu yi was unconcerned with dan''s threatening gaze, but his brow furrowed the moment he got a clear view of the other''s pupils.


    blood-red spots appeared in dan''s pupils, like tiny, dense rashes, extremely unsettling.


    demonic thoughts! those were demonic thoughts!


    xu yi had once asked ed how to tell if a murderer was under the influence of demonic thoughts. ed told him that blood spots would appear in the killer''s pupils when they were enraged.


    he suddenly understood. the ram cult didn''t randomly select hosts for the cursed items; were they intentionally searching for murderers influenced by demonic thoughts?


    was there something special about these murderers?


    xu yi was unclear for the moment, but he had a premonition that demonic thoughts were certainly a crucial part of the ram cult''s plans.


    although dan was influenced by demonic thoughts and affected by the cursed item, the dagger of jack the ripper, it was what drove him to brutally kill his daughter.


    but xu yi had no sympathy for dan.


    demonic thoughts only influenced those filled with the desire to kill; xu yi had felt something was wrong with dan the very first time he saw him.


    the warped perception of maria was the result of being oppressed by dan over a long period.


    "let''s talk about something lighter! i have two photos here; can you tell me which one you find more beautiful?"


    xu yi took out two photographs and spread them out on the table, which he had asked the police chief to find. s~ea??h the nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    dan did not resist xu yi''s little game. he was somewhat afraid of xu yi touching his sore spots, and besides, lying in a straitjacket got quite boring. it was nice to have something to do to pass the time.


    after carefully examining them for a moment, he gave his answer, "the photo on my left hand side is better; it''s filled with a sense of orderly beauty."


    outside the interrogation room, the others exchanged glances; they had also noticed something odd about dan.


    the two photos xu yi had prepared were of young women; the woman on dan''s right was seductive, and even the police chief felt his pulse quicken at the sight.


    but the one on dan''s left, the police chief only wanted to look away after a single glance.


    the woman in the photograph had been unfortunate to suffer burns to her face, leaving unsightly scars, yet dan claimed she was filled with an "orderly" beauty?


    xu yi was not surprised by dan''s choice; he had already had a vague suspicion, and now he was certain that there was a significant perceptual distortion present.


    what was beautiful to ordinary people appeared ugly in his eyes.


    that was why he treated maria the way he did; in his eyes, maria truly was a "freak," and this was also the root of maria''s self-esteem issues.


    whereas ordinary people would feel disgusted at the sight of bloody, mangled scenes, dan saw them as great works, comparable to the mona lisa, bringing him extreme pleasure.


    "do you think you can create such magnificent works?" xu yi removed the normal photo, leaving only the one dan liked, and pushed it towards him.


    xu yi''s brain worked feverishly, mobilizing various fields of psychology. every action, every word, was specially designed to offer psychological suggestions to the other party.


    in order to enhance the effect of the psychological suggestion, xu yi secretly employed the aroma of the sleeping flower, which, in small amounts, would not induce sleep but rather have a calming, soothing effect.


    dan''s body relaxed, the crimson spots in his eyes also faded away. when not troubled by his condition, he was open to interacting with others.


    "of course! in my view, this piece is just mediocre. if a little blood were added, the photos would have more aesthetic appeal," dan said softly.


    "perhaps the tones could be made a little darker," xu yi nodded in agreement.


    people outside watched quietly through the one-way mirror into the interrogation room, exchanging looks of disbelief.


    xu yi and dan chatted animatedly, as if the setting was not a police interrogation room but some sort of art salon. your journey continues at empire


    "for an artist, the impression of their first piece is always unforgettable. in fact, it''s often the first piece that leads them into the palace of art. i wonder what your first piece was?"


    xu yi suddenly asked, his tone as casual as if he were merely chatting with a friend.


    "certainly! it was when i was delivering my wife''s twins. when i extracted the first child from my wife''s womb, i was stunned¡ªit was a deformed baby! as a plastic surgeon, i feared ridicule from others, so i strangled the child..."


    dan became utterly engrossed in his own world, recounting as if no one else was present, "but you know, what father doesn''t love his own child? after killing the child, i suddenly realized how perfect that child was!"


    dan sighed deeply, his eyes filled with nostalgia, "so, i buried the child in the backyard of our home, so i could always be with the child, always in mourning."


    silence fell on the onlookers outside the door, a chill running up their spines.


    dan''s tone was so gentle, as if he were truly a loving father in mourning for his daughter. yet the content of his words was chilling.


    xu yi kept his head down and said nothing, as a sudden silence fell over the interrogation room. the abrupt quiet made dan start, and he swiftly turned his gaze to xu yi, his eyes revealing a vicious glint, "are you hypnotizing me?"


    "it isn''t exactly hypnotism, just psychological suggestion!" xu yi shrugged.


    he possessed the synthetic pathway for hypnotism, requiring the fusion of psychology and scholarly entries. unexpectedly, with the aid of the sleeping flower''s aroma, he had achieved a similar effect.


    [psychology entries +8, current progress: 100/100]


    system notifications suddenly popped up, and a flood of information poured into xu yi''s mind. he slightly closed his eyes to feel and understand.


    previously, his understanding of psychology was superficial, knowing the ''what'' but not the ''why''. but now, things were different; he grasped the principles underneath.


    indeed, practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. it was unexpected that xu yi''s use of psychological knowledge to guide dan would yield such extensive experience and finally max out the psychology entries!


    at the same time, it resolved his own doubts¡ªwhy were dan''s aesthetics so twisted? why did ailan harbor such hatred for him?


    ailan was actually maria''s twin sister, whose physical body had long since perished. for some unknown reason, her spirit latched onto maria, growing up together with her.


    for all these years, ailan''s spirit had never harmed maria, because maria was her younger sister.


    "how did you come by jack the ripper''s dagger?" xu yi pressed on.


    dan did not respond anymore, remaining silent no matter how much xu yi questioned him.


    the interrogation reached an impasse at this point. just then, someone knocked on the door of the interrogation room. the chief of police gave xu yi a meaningful look. xu yi nodded, understanding, and stood up to leave.


    "we found out it was a newsboy who took money from a mysterious person to deliver a box into dan''s hands," the chief of police said in a low voice.


    "so, this mysterious person is a heretic from the church of the ram?" xu yi speculated.


    "very likely! we have located them but did not make an immediate arrest, thinking of using the person to draw out more cult members."


    they were playing a long game to catch bigger fish. xu yi nodded, realizing the strategy. "if there is any progress, please let me know."


    it was uncertain whether by coincidence or design, but the ram cult had set its sights on maria''s father.


    it was hard to say that they wouldn''t directly target people close to xu yi. he preferred to take the initiative rather than being passively defensive.


    but he still needed to wait for the right opportunity.

 Chapter 155 A Day of Corruption

    a hotel in queens, new york."am i amazing, or is maria amazing?"


    ailan looked down at xu yi from her superior position, while xu yi stared up at her from below.


    after leaving the police station, xu yi didn''t go straight home but wandered the quiet streets with maria deep into the night.


    he had intended to comfort maria but discovered that she was stronger than he had thought. she even comforted him in return, "don''t worry about me, he got what he deserved. ailan says she wants to thank you."


    xu yi had never expected that ailan''s form of gratitude would be like this.


    "i think i''m the more impressive one!"


    xu yi suddenly exerted his strength and overpowered her, changing the dynamics of their offense and defense!


    time passed, and the two of them entered a mid-battle rest period. discover stories at empire


    "no wonder maria likes to seek you out for special training. so this is what it feels like!"


    ailan''s eyes sparkled as she spoke, and then her body surged upward once again.


    before joining the battle, xu yi took the chance to glance at the system panel.


    [ailan''s current favorability: 92]


    unbeknownst to him, ailan''s favorability had already exceeded 90. perhaps she had been waiting for this moment of "revenge" for too long.


    time quietly slipped by, the darkness faded, and light arrived.


    "time to get up for breakfast!" xu yi drew back the curtains, and the bright sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making the room shine clean and the mood inexplicably good.


    last night involved an exorcism and a visit to the police station; they didn''t arrive at the hotel until after four in the morning, and then immediately launched into battle. he would definitely be clutching his back and unable to get out of bed by now if his traits weren''t so special.


    ailan sat up, turning over, and the only thing xu yi could say about her was that she was both rich and generous.


    ailan''s character was completely different from maria''s. if it were maria, she would never come to eat without being fully dressed.


    thinking of maria, xu yi let out a long sigh.


    now with her body under ailan''s control, maria had not appeared, and it seemed like she might be avoiding the situation.


    maria claimed not to care, but the pain was inevitable; only time could heal the wounds in her heart.


    "is this breakfast or lunch?" ailan sat beside xu yi, not minding his gaze at all, and started eating vigorously with a knife and fork.


    xu yi had only taken a couple of bites when sudden bursts of fireworks exploded outside the window.


    who sets off fireworks in broad daylight? xu yi was puzzled.


    moreover, new york city had only recently suffered a rat infestation with many hot-spirit patients around. wouldn''t setting off fireworks now be inviting resentment?


    looking towards the source of the explosions, with the aid of his eyes of obscurity''s excellent vision, he spotted where the fireworks were coming from, the business district of queens, a zone crowded with companies.


    in the center of the business district, fireworks gushed out from a building, continuing for about fifteen minutes. xu yi stared at the high-rise building, lost in thought.


    "what''s wrong?" ailan asked xu yi, puzzled, noticing he wasn''t eating.


    "it seems my company is opening!"


    ailan rolled her eyes. it wasn''t that she didn''t believe xu yi could own a company, but because of the words "it seems." shouldn''t one know whether their own company is opening or not?


    xu yi didn''t offer further explanation. above that high-rise, a huge piece of red cloth was draped. as the fireworks went off, the red cloth was also unveiled, revealing a huge statue underneath.


    a minotaur with a serpent''s body, its serpentine torso coiled around the great swords in its hands¡ªwithout a doubt, it was the image of a fire gui.


    at that moment, red hydrogen balloons rose one after another, floating above the city, each emblazoned with the pattern of the fire gui.


    white banners unfurled below the hydrogen balloons, emblazoned with "bastet pharmaceutical company grand opening!"


    xu yi immediately covered his face and silently drew the curtains shut, adopting an "out of sight, out of mind" approach.


    he suddenly wondered if william had not graduated from an ivy league like harvard, but from harbin buddhist college instead¡ªwhat was with this old-fashioned, rustic promotional tactic from the last century?


    ailan finished eating in a hurry and suddenly delivered a fierce sweep kick towards xu yi''s head, but xu yi caught her leg in one hand.


    "what are you trying to do?" xu yi felt danger approaching.


    "come on! let''s continue the fight, and this time we must determine a winner!" ailan got into a fighting stance.


    "i haven''t even finished my meal, have i?" xu yi said, holding a fork in his hand.


    "are you saying you can''t do it?" ailan asked with a slight contemptuous smirk.


    xu yi quietly put down the fork and gripped ailan''s leg tighter, "then let our game continue, and i''ll show you just how terrifying an adc with maxed attack speed can be."


    "isn''t this lifestyle too corrupt?" xu yi stretched lazily, feeling refreshingly comfortable all over.


    "so? are you regretting it now?" ailan watched xu yi, her gaze growing increasingly dangerous.


    as he got dressed, he was also plotting his next move, namely to help max out the "dark stealth" entries and advance his abilities further, reaching the level of a great exorcist.


    the "scholar" entries couldn''t be neglected either. with the scholar entry, he could synthesize hypnotism.


    he had a vague feeling that under the auspices of the sleeping flower''s fragrance, hypnotism might shine spectacularly.


    xu yi finished putting on his underclothes and reached for his coat, but his hand trembled suddenly.


    he instantly activated symbiotic eye to check the inside of the treasure box. wisps of black smoke drifted into the toy box, converging towards the cat spirit holy tree.


    xu yi was stunned because that was the power of faith.


    but why would such an abundance of faith suddenly appear out of nowhere?


    on the holy tree, two black fruits hung, with faith gathering around the unclaimed fruit. the fruit, the size of a mung bean, grew visibly faster as it absorbed the power of faith.


    "if this fruit of faith grows to the size of a common peach, it should unlock the next phase of abilities!" a realization dawned on xu yi.


    he started to feel a rush of excitement, not only because of unlocking the next set of abilities but also because of the profound potential of the faith fruit before him.


    this fruit was definitely going to be incredibly useful, but its true value couldn''t be known until it reached full maturity.


    "let''s go! i''ll take you to visit my company," xu yi said, turning to ailan, who had already finished dressing.


    the power of faith wouldn''t increase so significantly without a reason; it wasn''t as if manna was falling from heaven.


    after much thought, he could only think of one possibility: william had started making his move, although xu yi had no idea what miraculous methods the other had used.


    they headed in the direction of bastet company, and since it wasn''t far, they chose to walk.


    there were many people along the way, which was normal, considering they were surrounded by a bustling business district.


    but the closer they got to bastet pharmaceutical company, the more crowded it became. people were shoulder-to-shoulder, a density that clearly couldn''t be explained simply by the area''s commercial popularity; it was obviously due to some other event. s§×arch* the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    thanks to their strong physiques, they squeezed their way to the front of bastet pharmaceutical company, where an overwhelming sea of heads churned. the crowd had reached an exaggerated extent.


    strangely though, despite the immense crowd, there were no stampede incidents. everyone lined up obediently, orderly entering bastet pharmaceutical company.

 Chapter 156 The Spirit of Pinduoduo is with William

    xu yi and ailan stood in front of bastet pharmaceutical company, looking at the surging crowd, unsure of what to do next.just then, a deep male voice came from behind them.


    "the two in front, move aside!"


    xu yi turned around to see a burly man nearly two meters tall standing behind them, his face stern, with wild and unruly long hair.


    behind him, he carried something covered in a black cloth bag that looked like a large axe.


    could it be that bastet company, with its fireworks and banners, finally angered this big brother, who was planning to come over and teach bastet company a lesson?


    xu yi subconsciously cleared the way, and the burly man walked past them, glancing at them and muttering under his breath, "why stand here blocking the way if you''re not in line?"


    xu yi stared dumbly as the burly man took his place at the back of the queue; what he was carrying on his back was not an axe at all, but a bass guitar, with "bassist conn" written on the bag in red pen.


    "uncle conn! what are you doing here?" xu yi suddenly became interested and asked curiously.


    although xu yi''s reputation had risen in new york''s upper echelons, he saw himself as a god, stern and inviolable. in fact, many gods, having stayed away from the crowd for too long, gradually lost their humanity, and xu yi did not wish to become such a god.


    moreover, they indeed had been blocking other people''s way, so it was understandable that the other party did not show a friendly face.


    seeing xu yi''s good attitude, conn''s expression softened, and he said in surprise, "you really don''t know? of course i''m here for the fire gui potion!"


    "what is the fire gui potion?"


    xu yi, of course, knew what the fire gui potion was; the name was something he had agreed upon with william. the composition of the potion was very simple, just a tiny bit of pure leaf of redemption solution, mixed with a large amount of nutrient solution.


    he asked knowingly, simply wanting to know the real situation.


    "you know about heat soul disease, right? the fire gui potion is the specific medicine for treating it," conn answered loudly.


    "aren''t you afraid it''s a fake?" xu yi lowered his voice, looking cautious and afraid of being cheated.


    "someone has witnessed it with their own eyes, could it still be fake? and look over there!" conn stretched out his hand, pointing to the side of the entrance to bastet pharmaceutical company, where a large golden sign was erected.


    "new york city hall fully supports the distribution of the fire gui potion!" xu yi read aloud in a soft voice.


    he didn''t expect william to have government endorsement so quickly. for this success, there were many factors: william''s family''s influence, city hall''s urgency to solve the heat soul disease... and of course, city hall''s trust in xu yi.


    if city hall knew that he was eager to make the fire gui potion in order to gather the power of faith and unlock more powers of the evil god, xu yi wondered what they would think.


    xu yi took the opportunity to scan the entrance of the pharmaceutical company and noticed another sign. he read the price of the fire gui potion listed on it, and his eyes widened, "thirty-two thousand us dollars?!"


    to the elites of new york city, this price was negligible, but it was a bit harsh for the common people.


    his goal was to collect the power of faith, not to make money, wouldn''t this approach be putting the cart before the horse?


    xu yi involuntarily furrowed his brows.


    "what''s so expensive about that price? don''t talk nonsense; bastet company has it tough! if you think the price is high, sometimes you have to look for the reason within yourself! how strong is your conviction to heal your family member? have you prayed earnestly to the fire gui portrait?" conn was instantly displeased.


    xu yi was dumbfounded, what on earth had william done to make this person defend bastet company like this? experience more on empire


    he thought this person was an exception, but after looking around at the other people nearby, he saw that they all seemed to agree.


    "thirty-two thousand us dollars is not the final price; as long as you enter bastet pharmaceutical company and pray sincerely before the fire gui portrait, the price can be halved! come back the next day, and it''s halved again! until the third day!"


    xu yi suddenly realized, if one consistently came to pray for three days "punching in," the price would drop to four thousand us dollars, which was indeed within an affordable range.


    the people around joined the discussion, chattering away.


    "if your family is having difficulties, you can also ask your relatives and friends to come and help boost the power, right? just by bringing one person over, you don''t need to pray all night; just pray for ten minutes, and you can reduce the cost by 500 us dollars!"


    "that''s right, as long as you have enough relatives and friends, you only need a symbolic 1 us dollar to buy the fire gui potion!"


    the more xu yi listened, the more familiar it felt. this scheme, wasn''t it the one... ''if you''re a brother, come hack at me''... no, ''if you''re a brother, help give a hack''?


    because he was too shocked, xu yi''s mind was in chaos.


    when did william grasp the essence of pinduoduo?


    after being shocked for a moment, xu yi suddenly thought of something. he only gave william a few leaves of redemption for experimentation.


    where did they get so many fire gui potions to sell?


    "bartes pharmaceutical company, simply the most conscientious enterprise in new york, actually had a special pre-sale five days in advance!" uncle kang suddenly exclaimed.


    pre-sale mechanism! who would have thought, it was the evil pre-sale system!


    xu yi felt numb, good heavens! the real estate trick of getting something for nothing, william had finally got the hang of it!


    not a single bottle of fire gui potion had been sold, and yet the power of faith had already been harvested¡ªno wonder he had suddenly gained so much power of faith.


    what shocked xu yi the most was that people faced with the pre-sale system were actually showing an attitude of gratitude.


    "what''s the benefit of pre-sale? won''t it delay the treatment?"


    amidst the praise from others, xu yi suddenly felt like he was being contentious.


    "that''s where you''re uninformed. if you persist in coming to pray for three consecutive days, there''s another benefit¡ªyou''ll get the priority purchasing right for the fire gui potion."


    kang explained, "fire gui potion uses some very precious raw materials. once the materials are gone, there will be no more potions available, so the quantity is extremely limited."


    xu yi thought for a moment and understood. without the pre-sale mechanism, as soon as fire gui potion went on sale, it would undoubtedly be bought up instantly by the upper class.


    if the upper class, many of whom are very harsh, were expected to feel gratitude, it would be a fool''s dream.


    so william''s initial target was these common people.


    now with the pre-sale system, common people could get priority to buy the cheap potions. how could they not be grateful?


    as for praying in front of the fire gui portrait for three consecutive nights, people found it totally acceptable. without such restrictions, how could they compete with the rich?


    so their gratitude was genuine.


    "really, i''m so thankful to bastet company and grateful to the sacred beast fire gui!" kang put his hands together and prayed.


    "i can understand thanking bastet company, but why thank fire gui?" xu yi expressed the doubt in his heart.


    "do you know why william, the chairman of bastet, does this? during the rat plague, he was almost dead, and it was fire gui that saved him! william was inspired by fire gui, so he decided to thank fire gui in this way, and at the same time, give back to society."


    kang looked at xu yi, "how could we not thank fire gui? if it weren''t for fire gui, we certainly wouldn''t have such treatment now!"


    the story was not entirely false, but after william''s embellishment, it felt very different. s§×arch* the n?vel(f)ire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    pinduoduo''s ''hack at me'' gimmick, combined with the real estate pre-sale trick and a deep understanding of boss lei''s storytelling essence¡ªwho else could succeed if not william?


    he also understood the purpose of william''s "rustic promotion" during the day¡ªit was to create a sense of contrast.


    one second, the people of new york were resentful about the fireworks celebration, but the next second, upon learning about bastet company''s actions, how could they not be moved?


    xu yi felt as if he could already see the scene of continuous power of faith flowing into the cat spirit holy tree. it probably wouldn''t be long before the fruits of faith "matured," and then the ability of the "nest of the evil god" would be unlocked.

 Chapter 157 Tracking the Heretic

    the moonlight danced, casting dark shadows on the wall in the hospital corridor, where a figure walked slowly within the shadows.doctors and patients bustled up and down the corridor, occasionally someone glanced towards the shadows, swiftly averting their gaze; they didn''t realize that someone was concealed within them.


    the vip ward was at the other end of the corridor, separated from the common area by a metal gate, with dedicated security responsible for registration, not allowing unrelated personnel to enter.


    the security guard yawned wearily when suddenly the gate creaked. he perked up instantly, looking intently but found no one there; he settled back down on his stool, blaming it on the wind.


    at the end was lisa''s room, the door of which was open, as a nurse had just finished checking on lisa.


    lisa sat at the edge of her hospital bed reading a book, considering graduating early next year to start college soon so that she could be with xu yi.


    suddenly, she whipped her head around, looking towards the door, "who''s there?"


    a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness by the door, holding something shaped like a meteor hammer in his hand.


    upon recognizing the visitor, lisa relaxed immediately.


    "look what i''ve brought you tonight," xu yi unveiled the foil wrapped around the "meteor hammer," and the aroma of skewers wafted through the air. s§×arch* the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    xu yi watched silently as lisa devoured the food voraciously, a faint smile appearing on his face.


    just moments before, he had been practicing dark stealth against the clock.


    [dark stealth +2, current progress: 10/100]


    the challenge of this green-level entry was in getting started.


    typically, to initiate this entry, one needed to be sealed inside a coffin and then buried in a grave. as the oxygen slowly depleted in the closed-off coffin, one would feel boundless darkness and despair.


    only then was there a possibility of comprehending the mysteries of darkness.


    xu yi hadn''t gone through this process; he had skipped it altogether.


    all of this was actually thanks to the authority of the evil god; william privately referred to him as the "god of shadows." when xu yi activated the authority of the evil god, his body would merge with the shadows, an experience far more effective than sealing oneself in a coffin, allowing him to feel the essence of darkness directly.


    xu yi had long discovered that entries were not independent of each other; one could affect another.


    as his entries gradually increased, it would become much easier to max out those low-level entries.


    for example, the "scholar" entry, because his psychology entry was maxed out, his learning target had shifted to biology, especially the knowledge pertaining to cloning.


    he was studying this area to prepare for the investigation of the mysterious bloodstain on the glass.


    the bloodstains on the glass shards were too minimal; if he could use cloning technology to replicate it, he would then have an endless supply of "holy blood."


    "the doctor said you can be discharged tomorrow!"


    xu yi chatted idly with lisa while occasionally checking annabelle''s toy space.


    every wisp of the power of faith that floated into the space brought him a surge of pleasure.


    he imagined stock traders must feel a similar delight seeing their shares surge... of course, if they were heading up to the rooftop to catch a breeze, it would be a different emotion altogether.


    he had already delivered the leaf of redemption to william, a total of 213 leaves.


    william had been so efficient, naturally, xu yi couldn''t let him down either.


    "it''s almost ripe!" xu yi looked at the nearly peach-sized fruit of faith, his eyes glowing with eagerness.


    lisa, hearing the good news that she could be discharged, grinned so wide her eyes squinted. just as she was about to finish her skewer, a mouth suddenly came close and snatched away the half-eaten meat.


    "what are you doing?" lisa pouted, looking annoyed at xu yi.


    the offense of stealing meat was inexcusable! she was determined to defend her skewer!


    "i haven''t eaten yet. do you want to snatch it back?" xu yi, with the half-eaten meat in his mouth, leaned his head towards lisa provokingly.


    lisa instantly saw through xu yi''s mischievous intentions, her cheeks turning pink.


    the two fought over the piece of meat, but in the end, lisa won, her face flushed with triumph.


    xu yi found the taste of the skewer genuinely delicious and was prepared to compete with lisa for another piece when suddenly his "half-brick" cell phone rang.


    ```


    "half-brick" is the term used as opposed to the previous "full-brick" mobile phones. the phone he has is just newly developed "portable" mobile phone, not yet in mass production. ailent got it for him through connections.


    xu yi glanced at the phone number, his expression turning grave. it was the number city hall used to contact him.


    "heretics are making their move!" entos''s deep voice came from the other end of the line.


    ¡­


    late at night, on the outskirts of new york.


    on the sparsely populated road, the headlights of two vehicles illuminated the roadside fir trees¡ªa bus in the front, followed by a taxi. the two had been traveling together for a while.


    "isn''t this too conspicuous?" xu yi suddenly asked.


    he was not in the taxi but sitting in the bus instead. some believed that tailing someone meant to follow behind, but professional trackers knew that sometimes moving ahead of the target was the better choice.


    the bus wasn''t short on passengers; from the driver to the passengers, except for xu yi, all were government personnel.


    "it shouldn''t be! this bus always takes this route. although there are fewer buses at night, it''s not like there aren''t any," entos explained.


    "my point is, aren''t there too many people on the bus? and most importantly, why is it that a whole bus full of brawny men, without a single elderly person, woman, or child?" xu yi asked softly.


    entos was momentarily stunned. to avoid spooking the target while still having enough manpower, they had to make that choice, not realizing it could become a flaw.


    "also, don''t you think the driver is driving a bit too smoothly?" xu yi continued.


    everyone was taken aback, with entos''s body trembling.


    being born and raised in new york city, he knew all too well how taxi drivers drove there. they drove at breakneck speed, as if their cars were on the wing, due to their confidence in their driving skills.


    with this road being so empty, why would the other person drive so slowly?


    "maybe he''s tired from driving at night and doesn''t dare to go too fast?" entos still held some hope.


    "maybe," xu yi didn''t argue, but turned his head to look out the rear window of the bus.


    the taxi was right behind them. in such high-speed conditions, and in the dark of night, ordinary people couldn''t possibly see clearly inside the car.


    but xu yi had the eyes of obscurity. he had been observing for some time. the cultist sitting in the back seat hadn''t moved his legs in a long while; even if he was asleep, it was impossible to maintain a bent leg position for a long time.


    it would disrupt blood circulation, and the legs would feel uncomfortable, instinctively stretching out.


    xu yi had already lost hope for this tracking mission.


    "stop the car! block the taxi behind us and proceed with the arrest!" entos, after a brief discussion with his team, made up his mind.


    when the taxi was stopped and everyone saw the person inside who they thought was a cultist, their hearts sank.


    it was not a cultist at all, just an ordinary person dressed identically.


    "i don''t know what happened. i was just walking on the street and suddenly blacked out. when i woke up, i found myself here ... officer, have i been kidnapped?" the common person testified.


    "how did the person change all of a sudden? i didn''t stop the car midway! as for why i drove so slowly, the person paid me double the fare to slow down, saying he had a heart condition!" the driver was also puzzled and didn''t understand what had happened.


    after entos''s interrogation, he came to xu yi disheartened, "we''ve lost the trail! we don''t even know where we lost it! the other party might have noticed us a while ago!"


    "what are you planning to do?" xu yi looked out, where under the moonlight lay an endless expanse of primeval forest.


    "we''ve reviewed the situation and think that the switch could have taken place during the stretch through the mountain tunnel. we plan to search around that area."


    entos sighed. he was aware that this was likely ineffective but felt they had to do their due diligence.


    xu yi, of course, did not want to engage in such futile efforts. he was ready to take his leave, but as he was about to speak, he paused, changing his mind.


    "let me help too! i just happen to be free lately." stay updated through empire


    to entos''s surprise upon hearing xu yi''s response, he was about to send xu yi back but naturally wouldn''t refuse the offer of help.


    the reason xu yi changed his mind was that in the treasure box, the cat spirit holy tree''s fruit of faith had finally "ripened," and at the same time, the "nest of the evil god''s" ability had also been unlocked.


    ```

 Chapter 158 All the Elements of a Horror Movie

    ```xu yi walked alone in the primeval forest, his shadow elongated by the moonlight.


    the forest at night was gloomy, but it did not affect xu yi''s good mood in the slightest; a smile hung on his lips the whole time.


    entos had called in more search personnel, but no matter how many they were, it was like a drop of water in the bucket within the vastness of the primeval forest.


    other search teams were composed of trios, yet xu yi chose to go alone. entos was initially worried, but xu yi smiled and countered, "if i encounter a danger that not even i can deal with, what use would more people be?"


    entos thought about it and realized it made sense.


    xu yi had already entered the depths of the primeval forest where few humans ever visited, even bears and other large beasts roamed, leaving the other searchers far behind him.


    he wasn''t here to find heretics; he had shaken off the other searchers, of course, to attend to his own private matters.


    "this is the place!"


    xu yi looked around. here was a valley that dipped down, at the end of which was a cave carved out by a mountain stream.


    currently in a dry period, the water level was very low. the cave was dry, and the entrance was covered with dense, lush ferns, making it a perfect place to hide.


    for extra precaution, xu yi released a few cat spirits to patrol the surrounding area and placed an annabelle doll at the entrance to stand guard.


    xu yi entered the cave, which was pitch black inside.


    having dark vision had many benefits, such as not needing to start a fire; this greatly reduced the chance of being discovered.


    he took out a metal frame from the treasure box, upon which hung the body of the juvenile evil god, reduced now to just a torso.


    the juvenile evil god had been dead for some time, yet its body still seemed fresh, and its tentacles even oozed a viscous fluid, like an octopus monster freshly pulled from the sea.


    on the cat spirit holy tree, the peach-sized fruits of faith had stopped growing, but the power of faith kept flowing in continuously. they gathered on the tree and formed a new, smaller fruit.


    xu yi already knew the effect of the fruit of faith, but hiding here tonight was not for the fruit; rather, it was for the newly unlocked ability, "nest of the evil god".


    usually, creating a nest of the evil god required one''s own flesh and blood, but xu yi controlled only the evil god''s authority; his body was still human.


    creating a nest of the evil god using human flesh was indeed possible, but the effect would be greatly diminished.


    more importantly, there was a limit to the number of nests one could create¡ªonly eight at most. once a nest was destroyed, recreating it would require using the origin of the evil god''s authority, making it vital to carefully select the finest materials for construction.


    because of the issue with raw materials, xu yi might have been stuck at this stage for a long time.


    finding divine blood of an evil god was not an easy task. even if one found it, using it could be dangerous; if the evil god was not completely dead, it was risky to hastily make use of its flesh.


    "my luck really is incredible!" xu yi exclaimed as he gazed at the husk of the juvenile evil god on the frame.


    unexpectedly, he had stumbled upon the rare material needed for creating the nest of the evil god ahead of time.


    xu yi sliced open his palm and let his blood drip onto the juvenile body of the evil god. shadows like a rising tide spread from his feet as he once again activated the evil god''s authority.


    this was the reason why he chose to enter the primeval forest alone.


    creating a nest of the evil god required triggering the evil god''s authority, which inevitably resulted in a leakage of the evil god''s aura.


    in a city full of people and prying eyes, and even the desolate suburbs weren''t safe, but by chance, he came near the primeval forest while tracking the heretics, so hiding here to create it was much safer.


    after all, creating a nest of the evil god was not a quick process.


    the light of dawn rose on the horizon, dispelling the forest mists, and the dew on the leaves evaporated.


    "finally, it''s done!"


    xu yi, dragging his exhausted body, arrived at the entrance of the cave; he was pale from too much blood loss, and heavy dark circles under his eyes marked the toll taken in creating the nest of the evil god.


    in his hand, he played with the eight walnut-sized nests of the evil god, each woven as if from dried-out vines.


    "so those giant rats were cultivated using these things," xu yi mused, remembering the huge black rats controlled by ratma in the sewers.


    the nest of the evil god had three abilities: "possession," "observation," and "intervention."


    once he knew the abilities of the nest of the evil god, he instantly grasped the enormous potential they represented.


    these powers in ratma''s hands were a sheer waste!


    if it were him in ratma''s place, he could definitely use this ability to raise a terrifying army of rats, not just some giant rats with appearances and nothing more.


    ```


    the nest of the evil god was finally completed, and xu yi was ready to leave the area. he had originally planned to return the way he came when suddenly he heard the sound of a car.


    could there actually be people here? could it be the heretics? driven by curiosity, xu yi decided to take a look.


    even if it wasn''t heretics, he could try to hitch a ride; he was already exhausted and did not want to walk back.


    xu yi climbed over half a mountain and finally identified the source of the engine noise.


    there was a small road built here, which, despite being pitted and pockmarked due to years of neglect, was at least a concrete road, else it would have long been overtaken by weeds from both sides of the path.


    the number of people entering the forest from the small road was quite surprising. leading the way were two brand-new land rover off-road vehicles, followed by three more ordinary ones, some of them from unknown brands and looking quite old and worn.


    xu yi reached the edge of the small road, stretched out his hand, and put up his thumb.


    this was a hitchhiking gesture he had learned from japanese anime; he had no idea if it would actually work.


    the leading land rover zoomed by without the slightest intention to stop. just as xu yi was lamenting that everything in anime is a lie, the land rover turned back, stopped in front of him, and the door opened, a person hopped out.


    "anna!" xu yi recognized the person and was somewhat surprised; he hadn''t expected to encounter an acquaintance in such a place.


    xu yi got his wish and boarded the land rover. through anna''s words, he learned quite a bit about the situation.


    anna was here to inspect the site and evaluate if there was potential to develop it into a tourist area. as for the three vehicles behind, anna had encountered them by chance on the road; they were youngsters here for camping.


    "mr. xu yi, what brings you here? how about i drive you back first?"


    anna was a bit overly enthusiastic, and xu yi was almost unable to fend off her hospitality.


    he remembered that back in the apartment, he had firmly slapped her face, and his attitude had been quite unfriendly. where was this goodwill coming from? sea??h th§× novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "no need! you''ve come all this way and haven''t even finished your inspection; it would be too much trouble to go back now. i''ll just hitch a ride with you all when you''re done!" xu yi politely refused her offer.


    while anna and her companions surveyed the surroundings, the group of young people freely scattered their hormones, even trying to invite xu yi to join them. under the reluctant gazes of the young women, xu yi chose to decline.


    under the spread canopy of a large tree, xu yi laid out a camping mat, something the young women insisted on giving him.


    lying on the camping mat and looking out, the mountains were picturesque, and he had to admit, the scenery here was indeed beautiful.


    a gentle breeze blew, making one feel particularly relaxed. he was really too tired and soon fell into a deep sleep, while the annabelle doll sat leaning against the tree roots, her blue pupils slowly shifting.


    time passed quietly.


    "anna, i feel like you''ve changed, you weren''t like this before!" experience new tales on empire


    "what was i like? martin, i hope you show some respect. we''ve always just been ordinary colleagues, nothing has ever happened between us!"


    "but anna, last week at the coffee shop, you clearly smiled at me!"


    "you saw wrong! that was because there was a cute cat on the bookshelf in the coffee shop, and i was smiling at the cat."


    the subdued sound of their argument reached xu yi, who slowly opened his eyes to find the huge sunset on the horizon about to set. surprisingly, he had slept right until this moment; he was really exhausted.


    he sat up, making no sound at all.


    he hadn''t expected to wake up to such gossip, classic dialogue between a lovelorn man and a goddess.


    "is it because of that man named xu yi you met today? your attitude toward him was clearly abnormal!"


    "so what if it is? i like him, but what does that have to do with you?"


    xu yi never expected to become the subject of his own eavesdropping.


    he scratched the bridge of his nose, feeling a bit awkward. indeed, being too outstanding was also a cause for concern.


    suddenly, he shot up and turned to look toward the shadows of the forest, where a black figure flickered and passed.


    the sound of him getting up caught the attention of anna and the other person. it was only then that anna realized someone was behind the tree, and it was xu yi.


    her face flushed for a moment before quickly regaining composure, "mr. xu yi, i was just looking for you. i didn''t expect our inspection would go this late. i have some pastries prepared in the car, would you like some, mr. xu yi?"


    mark watched anna''s shy and fearful demeanor, feeling like his heart was bleeding.


    xu yi didn''t respond immediately, frowning as he recalled the figure he had just seen. among their group, it seemed there was no one that tall.


    as he pondered, a frightened scream suddenly came from within the forest, shattering the evening''s tranquility in an instant.

 Chapter 159 Fatal Turn

    when xu yi arrived at the origin of the screams, a crowd had already formed, unable to hide their sadness and fear on their youthful, tender faces.the company employees who had come to inspect were hardly any better off, with pale faces, and female staff covering their mouths, constantly retching.


    xu yi faintly sensed something and pushed through the crowd, a bloody scene unfolding before his eyes.


    a man and a woman lay embraced in the mud, the woman atop the man, covered at the waist by a white cloth. one could imagine why the two were hiding in the bushes, attempting to find the wonderful pleasure of dopamine.


    alas, a spear had frozen everything in place¡ªthe spear was made of wood and had pierced through both of them from above, skewering them together like a kebab.


    xu yi frowned, realizing that the strength required to penetrate two bodies with an ordinary wooden spear was unparalleled.


    the killer was very likely not an ordinary person.


    "what do we do now? call the police?"


    "look around you, do you see a phone booth anywhere?"


    a group of young people were completely panicked, discussing what to do without a clue.


    anna fetched her cellphone, but unfortunately, in such a remote primeval forest, it was simply impossible to get a signal. experience new tales on empire


    "wuu! i said we shouldn''t have come! you just wouldn''t listen, and now i want to leave! i want to go home!" a girl from the camping group suddenly broke down in tears, clamoring to leave.


    a few young people looked at each other, and following one heading towards the car, the rest swarmed after.


    "miss anna! what should we do?"


    the bodyguard walked up to anna, his hand on the pistol at his waist, looking around guardedly.


    anna''s previous bodyguard had been dismissed for dereliction of duty and was now cleaning toilets at the company headquarters. they were new bodyguards, increased to two, and had not expected to encounter such an incident so soon.


    "mr. xu yi, what do you think?"


    instead of answering, anna turned to ask xu yi beside her, well aware that he was the "expert" at handling these matters.


    mark witnessed this exchange and could hardly contain his frustration. what use was it to ask this pretty-boy? the obvious action was to leave quickly!


    "let''s leave first!" xu yi hesitated for a moment before making the decision. s§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    to encounter such an extraordinary murderer, and in the woods near where cult members had disappeared, it was difficult not to link the two events.


    however, the presence of so many ordinary people made it difficult for him to take action. he planned to send these people away before coming back to investigate.


    martin looked at xu yi with even more disdain, thinking that after all the talk, they were still just running away.


    the convoy started up again, but the mood was completely different. the drive there had been light-hearted and joyful; now it was filled with faces of fear, and they fled in panic.


    the sun had already set, and the sky had completely darkened. the beautiful scenery of the day had now turned sinister, prompting an instinctive urge to press the accelerator harder, to escape sooner.


    leading the way was an old ford, and the young driver suddenly cried out in alarm. before he could react, the car had lost control and violently crashed into a tree by the roadside.


    the second car couldn''t escape the same fate either; it too skidded off the road and nearly tumbled down a slope.


    the following two cars collided fiercely due to sudden braking, and only the car in the rear had better luck, stopping in time.


    "what the hell happened?" anna murmured to herself, still seated.


    xu yi pushed open the car door with one hand and pulled out the alchemical revolver messiah from his waist. the muscles beneath his clothes began to swell, and his eyes stared fixedly ahead of the road.


    the headlights illuminated something on the road¡ªa long, thin iron thorn, with darkened blood remains, slightly rusty, tied between the trees on either side of the road, forming a "speed bump."


    the car in front had its tires punctured and, driving too fast, had ultimately lost control.


    but what made xu yi tense was not this; he felt it¡ªthe cursed aura on the iron thorn, one of the stolen cursed items from the room of minos.


    could it be that the cultist''s destination was here?


    the deformed car door was opened with difficulty, and the startled teenagers emerged cursing at the iron thorn on the ground, but their curses were soon stifled.


    a long shadow arched through the air from the forest and accurately pierced the head of one of the young men. with shock and reluctance frozen on his face, he slowly fell to the ground.


    more and more arrows flew out of the forest. xu yi grabbed anna just as she got out of the car, pressed her against the side of the car door, and used the car as a shield to avoid the arrows.


    an arrow whistled past xu yi''s head, the sound of the wind showing its immense power, and it went straight through a tree by the roadside.


    two bodyguards flanked annabelle on either side, returning fire, but it was all in vain. the forest was pitch dark, and they couldn''t spot their target at all¡ªthe thick ancient trees provided the best cover.


    even with cars for cover, two unlucky individuals couldn''t dodge in time and were pierced by arrows, falling into pools of their own blood.


    the sound of arrows slicing through the air suddenly ceased. the deadly missiles stopped flying from the forest, perhaps because they had run out. already jittery, the group screamed and swarmed into the forest below the road, fleeing for their lives.


    "everyone, don''t run! don''t split up! staying together is the safest!"


    annabelle shouted at the top of her lungs, and she wasn''t wrong¡ªbeside her were two bodyguards, but most importantly, there was xu yi.


    unfortunately, those people were already scared witless and didn''t look back.


    even though they knew annabelle was right, they wouldn''t stop running because they all thought they would be the lucky one to escape.


    "annabelle! run!"


    in such an urgent situation, martin still thought of annabelle, but after shouting once and realizing she had no intention of leaving, he immediately turned and fled.


    "running so fast? in a hurry to be reincarnated?"


    xu yi was somewhat speechless. weren''t these people, by scattering in the woods, giving the killer a chance to pick them off one by one?


    the forest suddenly fell silent¡ªa chilling quiet that made the two bodyguards break out in cold sweat. just then, four or five spears suddenly flew from the forest below, heading straight for the group of four including xu yi.


    the bodyguards'' pupils dilated. they were hiding on one side of the vehicle, always on guard against the forest above the road, never expecting their assailants to have quietly circled below them.


    with spears inches away and about to impale them, a purplish-red barrier opened, revealing annabelle''s toy treasure box, which enveloped all the spears. the spears abruptly vanished from sight.


    xu yi was least afraid of such common long-distance weapons; even if a squad of soldiers shot at him continuously, they couldn''t hurt him in the slightest.


    the two bodyguards, still in shock, then did something astonishing¡ªthey actually abandoned annabelle, the one they were supposed to protect, and both jumped into the vehicle.


    the car engine was still running; they floored the accelerator and the land rover, like an enraged bull, pushed through the cars in front and fled into the forest.


    the tires of regular cars, once punctured, were rendered useless, but their vehicle''s wheels were custom-made; even punctured, they could still cover a substantial distance.


    "it seems the security you hired isn''t very reliable, huh?" xu yi said to annabelle with a teasing remark while keeping his attention ahead.


    perhaps realizing that spears couldn''t harm him, the killer hiding in the forest finally emerged.


    xu yi frowned at the approaching figure, not sure if it could be called human¡ªits skin was rotting, its arms and legs were unusually long like those of a gibbon, and its pupils were filled with splotches of blood.


    "that''s a mountain man!" annabelle suddenly exclaimed in surprise.


    before xu yi could ask, annabelle volunteered an explanation, "before coming here, i heard a legend that there is a tribe living in this primeval forest. they are all deformed due to inbreeding and are not mentally sound."


    the deformed person, wielding a large machete, charged at xu yi with an alarming speed, his veins bulging on his arms, indicating formidable strength behind the blade.


    "be careful!" annabelle shouted instinctively.


    but as soon as her voice dropped, two gunshots rang out, and the deformed person charging forward suddenly collapsed to the ground, struggling to rise but unable to get up.


    the deformed person''s leg joints had been shattered. xu yi calmly watched the person writhing before him. under his supra-dynamic vision, the other''s swift movements were as slow as a tortoise''s crawl.


    he scanned the forest below and found no other deformed individuals.


    it was likely that, seeing they were only four people, leaving one deformed person was deemed sufficient to deal with them while the others hunted down those who fled.


    xu yi initially thought to kill the opponent outright, but at the last moment, he changed his mind.


    he walked slowly towards the deformed person and fired two more shots, disabling both hands, and kicked the machete out of his grasp.


    "i have a fun game here¡ªdo you want to play?" xu yi crouched in front of the deformed individual, completely ignoring the murderous intent in the latter''s bloodshot eyes, and said softly.


    the deformed person suddenly lunged. having both hands and feet disabled, he surprisingly launched himself into the air using just his waist and abdominal strength.


    he opened his mouth wide, lunging to bite xu yi, his yellowing teeth extremely sharp.


    with an emotionless face, xu yi grabbed the deformed person''s neck, his hand''s immense strength nearly crushing the neck bones.


    the deformed person, facing xu yi''s cold gaze, shivered. he suddenly couldn''t tell whether he was the monster or if the true monster was the person before him.


    xu yi wore a smile that chilled the deformed person to the bone. he forced open the individual''s mouth and stuffed two items inside¡ªit was the soul jade and the newly crafted nest of the evil god.

 Chapter 160 The Essential Ability of the Puppet Master

    xu yi casually tossed the deformed person aside as if shedding an unwanted piece of rag.if he needed to be cautious while dealing with this kind of cannibal, what would be the point of his becoming stronger?


    anna stared blankly at xu yi; the cannibal that frightened everyone else seemed like a cardboard toy that could be crushed underfoot in xu yi''s hands!


    "miss anna, can you do me a favor?"


    xu yi untangled the thorny iron chains wrapped around the tree, picked up the discarded briefcase, stuffed the iron thorn into it, and closed the case.


    "i can agree to help you, but you must first agree to a condition," anna replied softly.


    "won''t you hear out what i need help with first?" xu yi asked curiously.


    anna shook her head, "it doesn''t matter; as long as you agree to my condition, i''ll help you!"


    "let''s hear it?" said xu yi, looking at her with interest.


    "could you not call me miss anna? you can just call me by my name, anna."


    xu yi was taken aback and quietly gazed into anna''s eyes. "if that''s the case, it''s not fair to you. helping me, you might die."


    "that''s fine! my life was saved by you, anyway. if you really feel bad about it, just treat me to a meal... if i''m still alive!" anna stated calmly, stepping closer to xu yi.


    xu yi quietly looked at her for two seconds, "since that''s the case, then i''ll ask you to take the items in the box out and deliver them to any police station in new york."


    anna took the briefcase containing the cursed item and nodded solemnly.


    "this painting will protect you," xu yi handed her a fire gui painting.


    he also took off the annabelle doll from his waist and tied it around hers, "this is my lucky doll, named annabelle. since your name is anna, i hope it can protect you!"


    the land rover started slowly, and xu yi watched as anna, carrying the cursed item, drove away, his eyes gradually becoming profound.


    the bait was cast, now would the fish bite?


    xu yi hid in the bushes, activating his shadow stealth ability.


    his heartbeat slowed down, becoming nearly inaudible, and his breathing almost disappeared, as if his body merged with the darkness.


    the deformed cannibal''s limbs had been crippled and it could only writhe in pain on the ground, the soul jade was beginning to take effect within it.


    a scalding heat suddenly surged into xu yi''s eyes, and a new scene appeared before him, similar to the symbiotic eye.


    but it wasn''t to share a vision with the annabelle; this time it was the nest of the evil god within the deformed person.


    the nest of the evil god entered the body of the deformed person, and the "withered vine" that composed the nest suddenly stretched out, like a sponge soaked with water, returning to lively tendrils.


    these tendrils wouldn''t harm the deformed person; instead, they branched into countless tiny vines, forming a net that enveloped the deformed person''s internal organs and penetrated every corner of their cells.


    the first phase of the nest of the evil god, "possession," was complete.


    before xu yi''s eyes the scene changed again, showing a three-dimensional structure of the deformed person''s body as if god had left behind blueprints while creating the deformed person, now displayed directly before him.


    the flow of blood, the layout of bones, the writhing organs within the flesh...


    "any medical device is useless in the face of the ''observation'' function of the nest of the evil god!" xu yi marveled aloud.


    through the nest of the evil god, he could finely observe every part of the deformed person''s body, and most importantly... he could also observe the soul.


    the soul of the deformed person was a swirling mass of black and red smoke.


    black usually represents corruption, red represents a desire to kill. the white that stood for rationality and conscience occupied only a small part of the deformed person''s soul.


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    xu yi saw the function of the soul jade for the first time.


    the colorful light of the soul jade surged towards the soul of the deformed person, and the light suddenly scattered, each color representing a potential mutation, with black being the most prevalent.


    it wasn''t until then that xu yi remembered to activate the "intervention" feature of the nest of the evil god to influence the direction of the mutation.


    but since it was his first time using the nest of the evil god and he was not adept at it, he had been immersed in the power of the observation feature, and by the time he reacted, it was already too late.


    the colorful light emitted by the soul jade, like fireworks, dissipated in an instant, leaving only a trace of black light to merge into the depths of the soul.


    the light was like a small drop of dye, falling into the soul of the deformed person and changing color instantly, until even the last hint of white that represented sanity had completely vanished.


    the deformed person had become a pure killing beast. s§×arch* the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    a slightly undersized deformed person appeared from the forest, carrying a person on her back and another in her hand¡ªshe was a female cannibal returning from a "hunt."


    she noticed the "poor creature" rolling on the ground, dropped her prey, and hurried over.


    the "poor creature," whose limbs had been destroyed, was now covered in dense black scales that spread over his body and accumulated at the joints, filling in the broken bones and giving him the ability to move again.


    the "poor creature" picked up the scattered bow and arrow beside him, sprang to his feet; his pupils were completely covered with blood. the bow and arrow in his hand turned into a spear, and he fiercely stabbed it at the female deformed person.


    the head of the female deformed person was pierced through, and the poor creature was her "husband," so she was utterly unguarded. with confusion and resentment, she slowly fell.


    the poor creature''s body was now half covered with black scales, and xu yi inwardly felt alarmed by the rapid speed of the demonization¡ªit was his first time witnessing such rapidity.


    the deformed person named "poor creature" looked around and finally turned his head, walking towards the forest.


    he was "going home"!


    the poor creature wasn''t seeking to hide away and cry at home after being ravaged; his actions were the result of xu yi''s suggestive influence.


    the "intervention" ability of the nest of the evil god could not only influence the direction of mutations but also the actions of the possessed.


    this "intervention" was produced through suggestion, and the possessed person couldn''t even feel its influence.


    it was like a magician performing a number-guessing trick, asking you to choose a number and write it on a paper. your mind flashes through countless numbers when suddenly one of them stands out.


    you think about it and choose that number.


    and that number is the result of the suggestion.


    if the suggestion exists at all times, it''s akin to eternal hypnosis.


    "intervention through suggestion" has a significant effect on common people, let alone the poor creature before him.


    the demonization rendered the deformed person utterly devoid of rationality. on the surface, they appear to be fierce and violent killers, but in reality, they are but puppets on strings in xu yi''s hands.


    with the "soul jade" and the "nest of the evil god," xu yi had finally achieved control over supernatural monsters!


    even though this control had significant flaws¡ªthe soul jade only worked on humans, and the nest of the evil god was scarce, with only eight available¡ª


    it at least gave him hope and the possibility for improvement in the future.


    now, controlling a demonized deformed person might not seem remarkable, but what if he could control stronger monsters in the future, like the youth from crystal lake, jason, or even more formidable creatures?


    the poor creature walked through the forest swiftly, with xu yi trailing from afar. moments later, he saw a house.


    that was likely the former residence of the ranger; the house was very dilapidated, with traces of patchwork metal repair on the outside.


    a large number of cars were parked around the house, dismantled into various parts, which were the source of the cannibals'' weapon materials.


    shadows of deformed people converged on the house, each one''s face brimming with the joy of a bountiful harvest, either shouldering or carrying fresh "prey," among which xu yi also spotted mark.

 Chapter 161 Demonization

    mark shuddered violently and slowly awoke, still a bit groggy, until he saw the terrifying deformed people surrounding him and snapped to full awareness."don''t! don''t kill me!"


    no sooner had mark''s words left his mouth than he was thrown into a metal bucket full of water, with flames roaring underneath, slowly heating the water.


    "what... what are you going to do?" mark suddenly had a bad premonition and shouted at the top of his lungs.


    but no one paid him any attention; some deformed people were cleaning a large iron pot, others were sharpening butcher knives, and the flickering light illuminated the leftover bones on the dining table. mark recognized them at a glance¡ªthey were human skulls.


    a vast fear enveloped mark, and his body trembled uncontrollably.


    more and more deformed people entered the room. in the corner of the room was their "food storage area," where they carelessly tossed their prey, piling humans like livestock into a small hill.


    some were already dead, their heads chopped off; others were still alive, wriggling their bodies in terror, trying to escape this hell.


    mark looked around, trying to find that familiar figure, but there was no one; he looked over and over, not finding anna or that annoying pretty boy.


    all the deformed people had come back, gathering at the entrance to chat. although their language was unclear, their excitement could be felt.


    regret colored mark''s face; everyone who had run away with him had been caught and brought back. he should have listened to anna''s advice!


    in an endless state of fear and regret, an evil thought suddenly sprang to mind.


    "perhaps anna didn''t escape but was killed outright outside!"


    mark himself was shocked, not understanding why he would come up with such an idea.


    but once the thought was there, like seeds that had taken root, it rapidly grew into a wild weed.


    "yes! that must be it! why was it that everyone else was caught and brought back, but only anna and that pretty boy are still alive?"


    feeling the shadow of death, mark no longer restrained the evil thoughts in his mind, trying to comfort himself with this idea.


    the water grew hotter and hotter, and mark writhed in agony. unfortunately, his legs had been broken and his hands bound; struggling only caused him more pain.


    then, an unbelievable figure appeared in his field of vision.


    between the swaying lights, a human silhouette emerged in the corner shadows, flickering in and out of sight. mark thought he was hallucinating as he neared death.


    he stared fixedly at that spot until he was certain it was no illusion; there was indeed someone standing there, and it was none other than that pretty boy named xu yi.


    xu yi felt mark''s gaze and was momentarily taken aback.


    indeed, he was only a novice at shadow stealth, and a mere change in the light had revealed his presence.


    but fortunately, it was only mark who had noticed him, not any of the deformed creatures filling the room¡ªit wasn''t too concerning.


    however, what mark did next completely baffled xu yi; had the boiling water scrambled his brains?


    "there''s someone there! at the door, there''s someone! catch him!" mark bellowed.


    for mark, seeing xu yi unharmed and standing there "arrogantly" watching him was more unbearable than death itself!


    the deformed person sharpening knives glanced casually towards the corner, saw nothing, stood up, and with a clean motion, chopped off mark''s head with the butcher knife, splashing blood into the water.


    xu yi watched this scene and shook his head.


    mark still had a chance to live, had he just held on a moment longer, "reinforcements" would have arrived.


    ...


    the deformed people gathered at the entrance abruptly stopped their interaction, looking out with puzzled faces as one of their "family members" approached them unsteadily, covered in black scales.


    a deformed person stood out from the rest; he was taller than the others, standing at two meters three, with a muscular body like that of a fierce beast.


    the most distinctive feature was his eyes¡ªone was white, and the other was black. s§×arch* the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    because of inbreeding, mutations were not uncommon, but mostly they were limb variants¡ªthis condition of heterochromia was new.


    the heterochromia-eyed deformed person, who seemed to be the "chief" of the tribe, approached the one covered in black scales and let out a bestial roar, which sounded like that of a wild animal, but was a language unique to them.


    the black-scaled deformed person lunged at the "clan leader" without uttering a word, and his sharp machete pierced through the clan leader''s heart.


    hidden in the shadows, xu yi watched this scene and silently admired it. truly a natural-born killer, even though influenced by the soul jade and having completely lost his reason, the ferocious killing technique was still retained in muscle memory.


    as the usurpation unfolded, the deformed people were stunned. moments later, they roared and picked up the weapons at hand, charging at the demonized deformed person.


    the demonized deformed person faced the siege seemingly unafraid, and charged into the crowd with a roar. after demonization, his strength had become greater, and the hard black scales could fend off the slashing of weapons.


    there was chaos everywhere. the "clan leader," clutching the wound in his chest, staggered toward the house, trying to find herbs to treat his injury.


    although the deformed people were not smart, having lived in this forest for so long, they had learned to use herbs for healing wounds.


    xu yi quietly observed the "clan leader." an ordinary person with such a severe injury would have been long dead, but as a deformed person with an extraordinary physique, he could still move.


    but clearly, the deformed people''s strong physiques came at the cost of their intelligence.


    severely injured, the "clan leader" received no attention from his people; they all swarmed towards the demonized one.


    however, for xu yi, this situation couldn''t be more advantageous.


    just as the clan leader crossed the threshold, a dagger suddenly appeared from the darkness, piercing through his spleen.


    xu yi pulled out the dagger, letting the blood flow faster.


    although mutated, the body structure of the deformed people was almost the same as that of common people. a pierced spleen would lead to overwhelming weakness followed by an inevitable death.


    xu yi didn''t intend to kill him immediately; otherwise, he would have aimed for the clan leader''s head, not his spleen.


    he lunged at the deformed person, seemingly to finish him off, but in reality, he was using the body as cover to feed the soul jade and nest of the evil god into the other''s mouth.


    mere killing of these deformed people would let them off too easily. they had become his experimental materials.


    the heterochromatic deformed person writhed in agony on the ground as the soul jade began to take effect.


    within the soul world of the deformed person, the radiance of the soul jade exploded in a burst of rainbow light, scattering like meteors. experience more content on empire


    xu yi had been prepared and had activated the intervention ability of the nest of the evil god in advance.


    among the scattering radiance, one speck of light was white, representing the light of "physical sublimation."


    an invisible force acted upon the white light, trying to guide it into the depths of the deformed person''s soul, instead of letting it vanish on the surface.


    but, unfortunately, the white light dissipated the moment it came into contact with the deformed person''s soul.


    "as expected, it''s not that simple!" xu yi sighed.


    the success rate of these things was very mystical; even with the intervention of the nest of the evil god, it could only slightly increase from its original basis.


    the rays of the soul jade landed on the soul of the deformed person, all of them dissipating without any penetrating into the depths of the soul.


    could it be that the soul jade had failed? xu yi was stunned. this was the first time he had seen such an occurrence.


    his pupils suddenly contracted to pinpoints.


    the tall deformed person abruptly opened his eyes which were neither the black of demonization nor the white of physical sublimation but a despairing gray.


    a terrifying aura rose from the deformed person''s body, filled with a twisted sense.


    xu yi swiftly retreated several steps, melting into the dark shadows.


    he suddenly understood it wasn''t that none of the lights took effect but that the light was too faint, faint enough that even the nest of the evil god couldn''t observe it.


    on the heterochromatic deformed person, the mutation triggered by the soul jade had resulted in an extremely rare occurrence.


    xu yi subconsciously opened the system panel, searching through all the mutation possibilities of the soul jade entries, but found none that matched the situation before him.


    just as he was about to close the system, a bright red "demonization" appeared at the end of the soul jade entries.


    xu yi''s eyes widened in shock, the situation was even rarer than he had imagined¡ªthe system had actually "added" a mutation effect!

 Chapter 162 I Created a Monster!

    anna, clutching her briefcase, dashed frantically through the forest, gasping for breath. she glanced back from time to time, with terrifying deformed people in pursuit.not long after driving away, she was attacked by a deformed person. the only good news was that her attacker was a female deformed person, whose speed and strength were only slightly greater than hers.


    it seemed as though some force was protecting her in the darkness, as arrows shot by the female deformed person repeatedly missed their mark.


    but she dared not relax, sensing that there was more than one person tracking her.


    after the incident at the apartment, her sixth sense seemed to have grown exceptionally stronger.


    in the dark shadows, hunter watched anna''s figure with a hint of frustration.


    those foolish new york cops, he paid them no mind. after shaking off the people tracking him, he had made his way here.


    she was carrying a cursed item, and the plan was underway. with the cursed item serving as a medium, its effect could continue.


    but for a frail woman to be escorting the cursed item alone, he sensed something unusual, fearing a trap, which was why he hadn''t acted.


    he tried to make her fall asleep through the curse, but it failed; she was carrying some kind of exorcism artifact.


    hunter wasn''t surprised by this, but what puzzled him was why the deformed person''s fighting capabilities were so weak that even a feeble woman could not be brought down.


    suddenly, a blaze shot up from one end of the forest, and anna, in a flustered escape, turned toward the direction of the flames as if inspired.


    at his waist, the annabelle doll swung in the wind.


    ......


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    xu yi looked at the scene in front of him in surprise, as the nightmare-transformed deformed person staggered to its feet and walked towards the door.


    with every step, chunks of flesh dropped from its body.


    the nightmare-transformed deformed person had no eyes to find anymore; copious amounts of ash drifted through its eye sockets. looking through the hollow sockets, xu yi saw no organs like the brain inside; the body of the deformed person had become an empty shell.


    as the nightmare-transformed deformed person passed by him, ash scattered, and xu yi''s face drastically changed, causing him to retreat rapidly.


    when the ash drifted past him, the evil god authority he possessed felt a pulling force, tugging at it fiercely.


    "what in the world is this monster that it can influence the evil god authority!"


    xu yi was so astonished he could hardly speak. he couldn''t believe that a mere common soul jade had created such a terrifying creature.


    no, that''s not right! xu yi realized his thoughts were incorrect.


    the soul jade should''ve been just a catalyst; what was more important was the deformed person itself, he recalled the pair of "black and white heterochromic irises" with a chill in his heart.


    inbreeding had led to a genetic mutation in the deformed person, and genetics, being mysterious, was thought by some to harbor secrets close to divinity.


    after putting more distance between him and the nightmare-transformed deformed person, the pulling force vanished, suggesting that its range of influence wasn''t extensive.


    xu yi''s face lit up with a pleasantly surprised smile, feeling as if he had casually bought a cheap blind box and found something inside worth millions.


    the stronger the nightmare-transformed deformed person, the happier he was, as he could control it using the nest of the evil god.


    "lucky me for implanting the nest of the evil god early. had it been after the transformation, it would''ve been impossible to implant successfully!"


    xu yi secretly rejoiced, yet if it weren''t for the intervention of the nest of the evil god, the nightmare transformation wouldn''t have occurred.


    however, his excitement lasted only half a minute because something dire happened... the nightmare-transformed deformed person seemed to sense the existence of the nest of the evil god and attempted to expel it from its body.


    xu yi felt like he had seen a ghost; once the nest of the evil god fully infiltrated a body, even a great exorcist would have a hard time expelling it. how was the other party doing this?


    he suddenly remembered the strange movement of the evil god authority; if that could influence the evil god authority, it could naturally affect the nest of the evil god as well. s§×arch* the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    could nightmare demons have some kind of unique restraint against "gods"?


    xu yi took a deep breath and cast these thoughts from his mind.


    now was not the time to consider such things; the most important matter at hand was to stop the other party from forcing the nest of the evil god out of their body.


    otherwise, it would be a wasted effort, like drawing water with a sieve!


    it was like buying a lottery ticket, being told that you''ve won the jackpot, and then discovering that the pants holding the ticket had been washed in the washing machine... the mere thought of it felt terrible.


    xu yi had no choice but to activate the authority of the evil god, infusing new power into the nest of the evil god.


    the nest of the evil god gradually stabilized, and xu yi stopped using the evil god''s authority because the nightmare demon had no time to deal with the nest of the evil god for the moment.


    the deformed people outside the room discovered the nightmare-transformed "chieftain," and there was not a hint of respect in their eyes.


    in their view, the chieftain had also become a monster, an enemy just like the black-scaled freak.


    they howled as they charged at the nightmare chieftain; machetes fell on the nightmare demon''s body, creating a clinking sound of metal collision. the sharp blades snapped on impact, with flesh flying off the nightmare demon''s body.


    but this wasn''t because the nightmare demon was injured; its flesh was nothing more than "clothes," which kept falling off even without any external force.


    the flesh on the palm of the nightmare demon had completely fallen off, leaving only the skeletal frame.


    a careless wave of the bony hand skimmed over the neck of a deformed person, bending it so severely that the bones inside were smashed to bits.


    the strength of the deformed people could not compare to that of the nightmare chieftain; those who got close had their heads shattered one by one. it was a simple and pure slaughter, even more brutal than a demon.


    xu yi, however, breathed a sigh of relief. the "nightmare demon" was busy dealing with its kin and had no time to pay attention to the nest of the evil god, which had now completely stabilized.


    xu yi looked behind him. during the chaos of the deformed people, someone had cut the ropes and was attempting to wake up the survivors.


    unfortunately, they were quickly discovered by three deformed people. these survivors were facing mortal peril, and as the saying goes, "desperation breeds courage." almost scared out of their wits, they suddenly "awoke" and engaged in a bloody fight with the three deformed people.


    xu yi no longer hid himself. he was certain that these people were all common folks, unlikely to detect the aura of his evil god.


    he pulled out the alchemy revolver, firing three shots in quick succession, hitting all three deformed people in the legs, forcing them to stumble around clumsily.


    the group seized the opportunity and rushed forward.


    during the fight, they knocked over the pot-bellied stove, scattering the firewood, which instantly set the house ablaze with raging fire.


    both the survivors and the deformed people scrambled in disarray, and xu yi followed, quietly subduing the latter.


    he fed each deformed person a soul jade and the nest of the evil god, hoping to replicate the previous miracle, but without exception, all attempts failed.


    "as expected, the reason it''s called a miracle is that it might only happen once!"


    xu yi looked at all the demonized deformed people and sighed.


    he turned his gaze towards another battlefield, where the nightmare demon was wreaking havoc.


    xu yi knew he absolutely could not afford to let the enemy have any downtime; otherwise, the opponent would definitely force out the nest of the evil god again.


    he prepared to join the battle. a one-sided situation didn''t serve his interests; he needed to deplete the nightmare demon''s strength first in order to increase the success rate of his capture.


    at that moment, he suddenly turned his head to look at the jungle behind him, a slight smile on his lips.


    "the fish has really taken the bait!"


    after a moment of contemplation, xu yi decisively changed his plan. he hid in the shadows of the forest while activating the intervention ability of the nest of the evil god. through suggestion, he caused the nightmare demon to shift the battlefield.

 Chapter 163 Evil Gods Plunder

    in the forest, hunter hesitated for a long time before finally deciding to make a move on anna.he had confirmed over and over again that there were no ambushes around, and he planned to leave immediately after retrieving the cursed item.


    just as he stepped out of the darkness, he was attacked by the female deformed person, which infuriated him. he couldn''t manage to chase down a weak woman, and now she seemed ready to go in for the kill.


    he knew there was no reasoning with these mentally disturbed deformed people, so he efficiently dealt with her.


    while he was occupied, anna had already run far away, but hunter was not at all flustered. he suddenly picked up speed and took out the pistol at his waist.


    the sound of the gun rang out, but it didn''t hit anna; the bullet grazed over her head.


    hunter grew more frustrated¡ªshe had stumbled over a haystack and inadvertently avoided the bullet fired at her.


    he aimed again, and this time she fell to the ground. surely she couldn''t escape his bullet now, right?


    but he suddenly froze, as she actually laughed, a smile so sweet it brought to mind sunflowers under the spring sun.


    hunter remained unmoved; he had already dedicated everything to the holy lord, and no matter how beautiful the woman or how sweet her smile, it couldn''t cause any turmoil in his heart.


    just as he was about to pull the trigger, his body tensed up¡ªhe realized something was wrong because the girl wasn''t laughing at him.


    following the direction of the girl''s gaze, he saw someone hiding in the shadows.


    "so, it''s a trap after all?"


    he immediately scanned his surroundings but couldn''t spot any ambushes. could it be that the ambusher was exceptionally well-hidden?


    in the moment of his distraction, anna had been rescued, and the person only glanced at him before leaving.


    could it be that it wasn''t a trap? was it all just him being overly cautious?


    the look in that person''s eyes came back to hunter¡ªit was a "take care of yourself" kind of look.


    the sound of rapid footsteps approached, and hunter saw who it was. his tensed body gradually relaxed¡ªit was only the deformed people.


    he breathed a sigh of relief, as long as it wasn''t an ambush by the government.


    he had been discovered by the government before and had prepared himself for his soul to return to the embrace of the holy spirit. to his surprise, the government had played the long game, which actually gave him a chance to escape.


    but soon, hunter sensed something amiss, because the deformed people didn''t seem to be after him, but were rather being driven by something else.


    at first, he wasn''t concerned, but his expression quickly changed.


    behind the deformed people, a "skeleton monster" was drawing closer, its flesh nearly all fallen off and surrounded by persistent ashes.


    "why would this place have such a monster?" hunter could not comprehend.


    he turned and tried to flee. although unsure of the monster''s true strength, its ominous aura gave him an unsettling feeling.


    however, before he could take two steps, gunshots suddenly erupted. he instinctively dodged, avoiding the first bullet, but the second grazed his thigh.


    an absolute master of marksmanship!


    hunter quickly realized this. the shooter knew the first shot wouldn''t kill him, so it was merely to "fix his position" for the second shot, which was the shooter''s real intent.


    the shooter didn''t want him to leave!


    the skeleton monster was closing in; it was originally chasing the deformed people, but suddenly turned and lunged at hunter.


    hunter didn''t fire his gun, well aware that ordinary bullets were ineffective against the monster. instead, he rummaged in his pocket and threw a glass vial at the skeleton monster.


    the glass vial shattered, and red powder spilled over the monster. to hunter''s shock, the powder, capable of corroding alloy, had no effect on the monster¡ª as though it were mere dust by the roadside.


    hunter''s face went pale, then he turned and ran.


    in the shadow of the woods, xu yi aimed his gun at hunter, he couldn''t possibly let the other escape, after all, he was not an easy fish to catch, and the other''s body was linked to the clues of the ram cult.


    he suddenly lowered his gun, staring at hunter in surprise. hunter, who was originally ready to leave, made an abrupt return and charged at the transformed deformed person.


    in his astonishment, xu yi felt a surge of malevolent energy from the evil god''s authority on his body.


    he sensed the presence of another evil god, a presence all too familiar, it was the great evil god behind the church of the ram.


    once more, the gaze of the evil god manifested, but it wasn''t directed at xu yi, instead at the transformed deformed person.


    after a moment, the scrutiny of the evil god vanished, and hunter''s face, excited to the point of bulging veins, was fixated on the transformed deformed person, eyes filled with immense longing.


    xu yi was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly realized.


    "the great evil god behind the church of the ram is also after the transformed deformed person!"


    his heart grew slightly agitated, this turn of events was completely unexpected, had he known this would happen, he might not have thought of "borrowing a knife to kill."


    but it was too late for regrets now.


    at the same time, his curiosity about the transformed deformed person grew, along with his longing.


    could anything the great evil god coveted be common?


    hunter tore open his shirt, revealing his entire upper body, which was etched with black spell, as if shrouded in black thorns. read new chapters at empire


    most eerie of all was the chest area, where there was a ram''s head, not large, only the size of a fist, but lifelike, with two formidable ram horns protruding.


    hunter recited an unknown spell, and drew out a dagger, violently slashing his own chest, already covered with scars from the blade.


    blood poured onto the black ram''s head, which, previously with eyes tightly shut, suddenly sprang open, its cold pupils devoid of any emotion.


    blood dripped from the chest to the ground.


    the moment the blood touched the earth, it burst into an intense glow of blood-red light, spreading in all directions and in the blink of an eye it formed a massive array that enveloped the transformed deformed person.


    xu yi pulled the trigger, and the specially made exorcism bullet flew from the chamber towards hunter''s head.


    the bullet penetrated the array, but the blood-light within the array steadily eroded the bullet, and before reaching hunter, the bullet had already dissolved completely, turning into silvery metallic droplets.


    xu yi''s expression shifted, if metal could dissolve, the human body had even less chance.


    the transformed deformed person seemed unaffected, with ashes fluttering within its empty eye sockets, it took large strides towards hunter.


    hunter''s face turned pale, not expecting that the array blessed by the holy spirit would fail to subdue the monster.


    he hesitated for a moment, then reached towards the ram''s head on his chest, which automatically opened its mouth, swallowing his hand whole.


    when his hand reappeared, it was rotting and unrecognizable, but in it was something new, a small dagger not even as big as a palm, with a blade only as long as a finger.


    xu yi''s expression shifted, he could feel a hint of divinity on that dagger.


    not all items with divinity are exorcism holy relics, for instance, the samurai armor xu yi collected, which possessed only faint divinity.


    the divinity of the dagger was far stronger than that of the samurai armor, yet still inferior to saint o''hagan''s, it could only be reluctantly considered a "semi-holy artifact."


    regardless, an item with divinity was far from what a common exorcism artifact could compare to.


    the transformed deformed person''s flesh had completely fallen off, leaving only a skeletal frame, the bones were not the white of someone freshly dead but an ominous gray, with dense ashes fluttering through the skeleton.


    on the spine, fine vines traces clung, they were the nest of the evil god parasitic on the transformed deformed person.


    the transformed deformed person stepped back as if in fear of the semi-holy artifact. sea??h th§× novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    xu yi, however, was stunned, for through the nest of the evil god, the message conveyed was not fear but desire, a full-blown longing!

 Chapter 164 Bone of Nightmares! Capture!

    hunter, gripping the semi-holy artifact, charged straight at the nightmarized deformed person, the blood array beneath his feet bolstering his strength and simultaneously weakening his opponent.with the semi-holy artifact and the array, he firmly suppressed the nightmarized monster.


    the dagger pierced into the skeleton, turning it to flying ash and annihilating it.


    the nightmarized monsters lacked flesh and blood, but these ashes were the source of their power; conventional weapons couldn''t affect the ashes, but his semi-holy artifact could.


    as the ashes diminished, the nightmarized monster grew weaker, and then it could be captured and brought back to the holy church.


    hunter paused briefly to rest, his face pale and breathing rapid; using these methods placed a serious burden on his body.


    he clenched the dagger in his hand, suddenly feeling that something was amiss; the dagger seemed to have grown heavier.


    he jerked his head up, his face displaying an expression of seeing a ghost.


    faint rust traces actually appeared on the golden dagger!


    the material from which the dagger was made was very special; even in damp conditions, it wouldn''t rust over a hundred years. what on earth was going on?


    xu yi was equally astonished. the heretics, not having the authority of an evil god, couldn''t perceive divinity, but he could.


    on the inner side of the deformed person''s hand bones, the grey bones were coated with a light layer of gold.


    the nightmarized monster was actually absorbing the divinity of the dagger!


    after his surprise, xu yi suddenly understood something.


    something capable of absorbing divinity was a perfect vessel for the descent of an evil god, that''s why the church of the ram''s evil god had ordered the capture.


    if the church of the ram''s evil god could make bone of nightmares into a medium for its arrival, why couldn''t he turn it into a "walking evil god"?


    strictly speaking, he too could be considered an "evil god".


    xu yi''s heart stirred with temptation.


    being the incarnation of the evil god, bartes indeed had many benefits; it could control the cat spirit holy tree and transform into the fire gui. s~ea??h the n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    but the greatest disadvantage was that, as the incarnation of the evil god, bastet spent most of the time inside the treasure box because it couldn''t stray far from the cat spirit holy tree.


    this led to bastet losing the most fundamental ability of an evil god incarnation, the "substitute" feature, which xu yi understood as a "vest".


    as a human, every time he used the authority of an evil god, he had to be extremely cautious; afraid of being discovered, but with an "evil god vest", many things would become much more convenient.


    the battle was still ongoing; xu yi watched the fight in the arena with mixed feelings.


    he was pleased, of course, at the nightmarized deformed person''s strength; the stronger the bone of nightmares, the stronger the evil god vest that could be created.


    his worry was that he had initially planned to use the hands of the cultists to weaken the power of the nightmarized deformed person, but now that it had absorbed divinity, it was likely to spiral out of his control.


    although hunter couldn''t sense the divinity being sucked away from the dagger, he too felt that something was amiss; the skeletal monster in front of him was becoming more and more eerie.


    it didn''t even have eyes, but he could almost sense the mocking gaze from the creature.


    he knew he couldn''t wait any longer; he sharply retreated and, grinding his teeth, made a decision.


    hunter''s next action took xu yi by surprise; the man aimed the dagger at his heart and then stabbed it in without hesitation.


    the heretic let go of the dagger, allowing it to stay lodged in his heart. he slowly closed his eyes, as though the life had been drawn out of him by the dagger.


    but the ram''s head on his chest split into a wicked smile, its head beginning to move creepily upward, targeting the heretic''s face.


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    "the heretic intends to sacrifice himself to allow the divine projection of the evil god to descend momentarily!"


    xu yi''s heart hung in suspense. although it was only the projection of an evil god, for him, a "reserve evil god", it was still an insurmountable entity.


    he had to stop it!


    he pulled the trigger repeatedly; exorcism bullets left the chamber, but sadly, they melted before they approached the target.


    xu yi''s body couldn''t endure the power of the blood array, while the fog of obscurity could resist, but he was afraid that his authority as an evil god would be affected if he got too close to the bone of nightmares.


    after pondering for a moment, he quickly found a solution.


    black figures surged out of the forest, their bodies covered with black scales, all deformed persons after demonization, four in total.


    they were covered in blood, the fleeing deformed persons stood no chance against them, and were nearly wiped out.


    under the influence of the nest of the evil god, they recklessly charged into the array, and their bodies instantly emitted plumes of black smoke, the tough scales on their surfaces were ground away by the blood array, exposing the flesh beneath.


    but they paid no heed and lunged at the heretics.


    the heretics had already fallen unconscious, and in that moment, the ram''s head couldn''t move onto the heretic''s face to take control of the body, it could only watch in rage as the demonized deformed persons surrounded it.


    the demonized deformed persons opened their mouths and gnawed at the ram''s head on their chest, black blood flowed out.


    a huge shadow suddenly loomed over them, and because the deformed persons were blocked, the bone of nightmares successfully approached the heretic, reaching out to grasp the dagger in the heretic''s chest and violently pulled it out.


    blood splattered forth, the sacrificial ritual was interrupted, and the heretic collapsed limply to the ground.


    a swath of rust spread upon the dagger, as the bone of nightmares rapidly absorbed the divinity within it.


    under xu yi''s control, the deformed persons suddenly changed their target and pounced toward the bone of nightmares, attempting to snatch the dagger from its hands.


    with the heretic unconscious, the array naturally dissipated, and xu yi quickly reloaded, continuously pulling the trigger, emptying the magazine.


    the bullets formed a straight line, flying towards the bone of nightmares, each one precisely hitting the third vertebra.


    that was the weak spot of the bone of nightmares!


    utilizing the observation ability from the nest of the evil god, he had long discerned the opponent''s vulnerability.


    upon being hit repeatedly at its weak point, the bone of nightmares became rigid, standing frozen in place.


    the deformed persons took this opportunity to rush forward, snatching the dagger from the hands of the bone of nightmares.


    the annabelle doll appeared silently behind the bone of nightmares, a purple-red mist unfolded, and the bone of nightmares was taken into the space of the treasure box.


    xu yi lunged towards annabelle, his hand passed beside the doll and a "glass box" the size of a briefcase appeared in his hand.


    that was the magic-prohibiting box he had acquired from the war god repository.


    he opened the lid of the magic-prohibiting box, and at that moment, the bone of nightmares, having shrunk countless times, fell from the sky.


    once the bone of nightmares regained its ability to move, it would undoubtedly cause significant damage to the space of the treasure box, thus, it could only be used to control the opponent briefly.


    due to the "heart of toy" rule of the box, an object that had just emerged from the box would temporarily retain the form of a "toy."


    this presented xu yi with an opportunity!


    he activated the power of the nest of the evil god maximally utilizing its intervention effect, to delay the bone of nightmares from reverting to its original form.


    the opening of the magic-prohibiting box faced the bone of nightmares, and the moment it was slotted in, the lid immediately shut, securely locking it inside.


    xu yi stared intently at the bone of nightmares inside the box, which was still toy-sized, as it vigorously pounded against the glass walls.


    the bony hands, which used to easily crush the skulls of deformed persons, now hit the glass walls without causing any disturbance.


    besides the inherent sturdiness of the magic-prohibiting box, the primary reason was that the bone of nightmares had been "magically prohibited"; even demons as powerful as jason, once placed inside the magic-prohibiting box, could only cease their aggression.


    xu yi had already thought of how to use the magic-prohibiting box when he chose it.


    annabelle''s treasure box and the magic-prohibiting box were almost a perfect match.


    the magic-prohibiting box was too small, only slightly larger than a briefcase, and the large magic-prohibiting boxes were "not selectable" items.


    "slender" monsters were very rare, but the "heart of toy" rule of the box could "compress" a monster.


    having both did not mean xu yi was invincible, this set of "combo skills" was actually very easy to mess up.


    if the monster taken into the treasure box was too powerful, it could destroy the space of the box.


    but the release process was more dangerous, as a powerful monster could break free from the constraints of the "heart of toy" rule the moment it left the treasure box, reverting to its original form, and xu yi wouldn''t have the chance to put it into the magic-prohibiting box.


    xu yi dared to do this against the bone of nightmares because the nest of the evil god had infiltrated its body, which could affect it, ensuring it could be put into the magic-prohibiting box.


    xu yi gazed at the bone of nightmares in the magic-prohibiting box, his eyes filled with expectation.


    he already had a rough idea on how to turn the bone of nightmares into a "walking evil god."

 Chapter 165 Planting a Seed for the Evil God

    ```xu yi walked toward the demonized deformed person, whose life was nearly at an end after being ravaged by the blood array.


    he drew the alchemy revolver and aimed at one of the demonized people, pulling the trigger and piercing the individual''s skull.


    the semi-holy artifact they snatched fell to the ground. xu yi bent down to pick up the now rusty dagger, but suddenly turned his head, warily looking at the dead demonized deformed person.


    a familiar aura of the evil god suddenly descended. xu yi originally thought that the target was the cult''s heretics, but it turned out to be focused on the dead deformed people.


    the souls of the deformed people were being pulled out as if an invisible thread were tied to them, and now the other end of the thread began to reel them in, taking away the souls of the deformed people.


    all this happened in the blink of an eye, and it was very covert; xu yi hadn''t sensed anything unusual when the deformed people died before.


    the reason he was able to notice now was because inside the body of the deceased deformed person, there lay a nest of the evil god with an observation function.


    the evil god behind the church of the ram was intentionally collecting the souls of these murderous maniacs! xu yi suddenly had a realization.


    what were these souls being collected for?


    without a doubt, it was to enable the successful descent of the evil god''s projection.


    if xu yi wasn''t mistaken, cursed items served as a medium, more specifically, a "marker."


    the instant the murderous maniacs died, their souls were immediately taken, clearly indicating that the evil god''s "anchor" had long been present in their bodies.


    as for what was special about the souls of the murderous maniacs, xu yi didn''t know yet.


    the remaining three deformed people were also close to their limit, emitting dying moans on the ground.


    xu yi watched them, pondering for a few seconds, then suddenly extended a finger.


    suspended above his finger was something invisible to the naked eye, only the size of a peanut, resembling a black thorn ball, but the thorns were squirming tentacles, shining with a strange light.


    following the successful concoction and usage of the nest of the evil god, the next stage of abilities had been unlocked.


    the black thorn ball in his hand was the "soul stealing seed," an ability that could be said to be the essence of the "thieving evil god."


    so far, aside from the unknown "divine transition," all the abilities of the evil god''s entries had been unlocked.


    xu yi threw the soul stealing seed toward the demonized deformed people. the black thorn ball passed through their bodies and merged into their souls.


    he took a deep breath, aimed his gun at the demonized individual, and the bullet penetrated the person''s head, splattering brain matter.


    an imperceptible aura of the evil god appeared again, taking away the soul of the deformed person.


    xu yi clenched his fist, waiting silently, one second, two seconds... half a minute passed, and nothing happened.


    it worked! xu yi excitedly pumped his fist.


    the soul stealing seed, as the name implies, is for pilfering something, and for an evil god, what could be worth coveting? without a doubt, other, stronger gods!


    the entry of hyper accelerated regeneration was stolen from another evil god by ratma.


    the soul stealing seed might seem similar to entry devouring but there is a very big difference between the two. to trigger entry devouring, one must first kill the target.


    however, the soul stealing seed is different, as it can silently lie dormant in the target''s body, waiting for the opportune moment to suddenly rise up and steal the target''s power.


    at some critical times, the soul stealing seed can also be used as a "killing move."


    the great evil god behind the church of the ram is far more powerful than him, and using the soul stealing seed directly would certainly not be successful.


    but with the soul stealing seed merged into the soul of the deformed person, it was like an added layer of protection, making it difficult to detect.


    the souls of these deformed people were probably intended as "nutrients."


    ```


    if the evil god swallows these nutrients containing soul stealing seeds... xu yi could not help but reveal a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.


    repeating an old trick, xu yi implanted the soul stealing seeds into the remaining two demonized deformed people. the creation of the soul stealing seeds was very simple, requiring only a small amount of power of faith.


    three soul stealing seeds, carrying xu yi''s hope, lay hidden within the souls of the demonized deformed people and were taken away by the evil god of the church of the ram.


    the more soul stealing seeds planted, the better the effect, of course.


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    unfortunately, the souls of these demonized deformed people were too weak. implanting a single soul stealing seed was already the limit; any more would likely cause their souls to collapse.


    the corpse of the deformed person suddenly began to wriggle, and xu yi squatted down next to it as four little bugs crawled back into the palm of his hand, curled up, and returned to the form of the nest of the evil god.


    the nest of the evil god could certainly be reused; otherwise, it would only yield eight, which would not be enough. s§×ar?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    xu yi went over to the heretic''s side and was pleasantly surprised to find that the other had not died.


    yes, it was a pleasant surprise!


    he took out the nest of the evil god and fed it to the heretic. to ensure that the other could survive, he also arranged for an injection of the leaf of redemption.


    "i hope you don''t waste my painstaking efforts!" xu yi sighed.


    the observation ability of the nest of the evil god could not only be used for experimentation but also as a surveillance device.


    xu yi looked around to make sure nothing had been missed, then walked back to the bushes and carried anna, who was sleeping soundly, out. to avoid any unnecessary trouble, xu yi had already put her to sleep with the fragrance of the sleeping flower.


    [entry devouring initiated, devouring in progress...]


    [congratulations on obtaining the blank entry "giant strength (common white)"]


    the same prompt appeared seven times in a row. xu yi felt a bit helpless; he had killed many deformed people but didn''t expect that all he devoured were "giant strength" entries.


    however, he could understand, after all, besides being strong, those mentally deranged deformed people seemed to have no other advantages.


    the sky grew light with the dawn, and the sound of cars once again rose from the forest. xu yi drove away from the place with anna.


    ......


    queens, new york.


    the sharp ring of the phone awoke william from his exhausted slumber on the couch; he rose and walked over to the phone on the office desk.


    because of the fire gui potion, he had recently been living directly in his office.


    he picked up the phone and immediately perked up at the voice on the other end.


    "a secret basement in the suburbs! okay, i got it; i''ll take care of it right now!" william, without even grabbing his coat from the rack, hurried out the door.


    the call he had just received was from xu yi, and the tone was very urgent. william was puzzled. what could have happened that made the usually calm lord of shadows so eager?


    on a suburban highway, xu yi drove his rover at breakneck speed, with a magic-prohibiting box on the passenger seat.


    the magic-prohibiting box naturally couldn''t be placed inside the treasure box; as soon as it was put in, the magic-prohibiting box would compress, but the bone of nightmares wouldn''t, which was tantamount to directly releasing the bone of nightmares.


    more than ten minutes earlier, while driving, he had been contemplating how to eliminate the deformed person''s soul from the bone of nightmares.


    although there was the disruptive influence of the nest of the evil god, in order to fully control the bone of nightmares, he still needed to clear the deformed person''s soul first.


    he frowned in deep thought and glanced at the bone of nightmares beside him, nearly crushing the steering wheel in shock.


    the deformed person''s soul had actually dissipated on its own, and worse still, the bone of nightmares showed signs of collapse with cracks appearing on its edges.


    how could he not be in a rush facing this situation?


    upon entering a region with signal coverage, he immediately called william.

 Chapter 166 The Collapse of the Bone of Nightmares is Underway

    in the suburbs of new york, sunlight reflected off the metallic sheen of a massive warehouse.this was an abandoned warehouse of ernst pharmaceutical company, which, due to rapid expansion and the construction of larger warehouses, had been left here.


    in the basement of the warehouse, xu yi looked at the bone of nightmares in front of him, his expression grave.


    the bone of nightmares was crammed into a huge cultivation tank, with green potion swirling along the cylindrical tank walls.


    these cultivation tanks were previously filled with formalin, but now they were filled with medicinal liquid made from the leaf of redemption, using three leaves for one tank.


    suspended in the potion, the bone of nightmares had become incredibly stable. xu yi now actually hoped that the bone of nightmares would suddenly erupt, releasing that ominous aura once again.


    "i knew it wouldn''t be so simple!"


    xu yi let out a long sigh. even if he was an extraordinary deformed person with heterochromia and his luck was through the roof, it was still a monster that could devour divinity.


    the downside of this "defying-god" ability indeed existed.


    after the soul of the deformed person dissipated, the ash within the bone of nightmares disappeared as well. without its source of power, the bone of nightmares would soon face disintegration.


    xu yi activated the observational ability of the nest of the evil god, trying to find a solution.


    but his face suddenly changed; he simply didn''t have the time to study slowly.


    the pale green potion suddenly became transparent¡ªthe bone of nightmares had drained all of the medicinal strength, and the previously halted cracks began spreading anew.


    at this rate, it was likely that in two minutes, the cracks would cover the entire skeleton and then it would collapse into pieces.


    "what should i do?" xu yi''s forehead was slightly sweaty, his brain working at full speed.


    the nest of the evil god observed something unusual about the bone of nightmares: at the part where the hand bones were, there were no cracks, and the spreading fissures stopped there.


    divinity could resist the collapse!


    xu yi understood instantly. no wonder the bone of nightmares had specifically seized a semi-holy artifact before; it was all for self-preservation.


    a rust-covered dagger was taken out and thrown into the culture dish.


    xu yi let out a slow breath of relief.


    fortunately, the most important ability of the bone of nightmares hadn''t disappeared, and it was slowly absorbing the divinity from the dagger.


    upon absorbing the divinity again, the effect was immediate; the collapse of the bone of nightmares stopped, and some of the cracks started to heal slowly.


    there wasn''t a hint of a smile on xu yi''s face because he was well aware that the dagger''s divinity would soon be completely drained and couldn''t support it for long.


    after rummaging through everything, he took stock of all the items in his possession that contained divinity.


    three blood-stained glass shards, a human skin scroll from mary shaw, the samurai armor of the ghost samurai, and the damaged sacred red lotus of exorcism.


    apart from ratma''s rat teeth that were in the basement of that apartment, everything else was here.


    the divinity in the ghost samurai armor was a drop in the bucket, and the mysterious bloodstains were too precious; he couldn''t bear to use the sacred red lotus, so the only choice was mary shaw''s human skin scroll.


    this thing had been in his possession for a long time, and he had not been able to decipher the mystery of the skin scroll until he gained the authority of the evil god and understood what it was.


    this was the legendary contract with the evil god; as long as the contract was successful, one could obtain the power bestowed by the evil god, but in return, one had to sacrifice their soul and become a devout follower of the evil god.


    xu yi picked up the human skin scroll and walked toward the bone of nightmares.


    in the cultivation tank, the dagger was already covered with rust and hardly resembled a dagger anymore, its divinity completely consumed.


    xu yi threw the human skin scroll into the cultivation tank.


    the skin scroll "came to life," wriggling as if trying to escape, and a low murmur appeared in xu yi''s ears.


    unmoved, xu yi thought that the evil god behind mary shaw was probably only a bit stronger than ratma; there really was no need to fear.


    one of the benefits of having the authority of the evil god was to fear, to become, and then to transcend.


    in the end, the human skin scroll could not escape being drained of its divinity; xu yi watched the now-stabilized bone of nightmares and breathed a little easier.


    but his brow was still furrowed: judging by the rate the bone of nightmares absorbed divinity, it could last at most half an hour.


    with such little time, where could he find more divinity?


    to fully reverse the collapse of the bone of nightmares, at least the divinity of a hundred human skin scrolls was required, which was simply impossible.


    xu yi paced in place, his heart filled with urgency.


    being able to autonomously devour divinity was indeed too rare; this ability seemed as if it was custom-made for the "god slayer".


    it was impossible to find so much divinity in a short amount of time, so an alternative solution had to be found.


    "the only method now is to inject the bone of nightmares with a powerful vitality!"


    the potion from the leaf of redemption had delayed the spread of the cracks; after the potion''s effects were absorbed, the collapse continued, indicating that this approach was feasible. sear?h the n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    but where could one find something with a powerful life force?


    not to mention that the leaf of redemption was picked almost clean, even if it were all there, it could only delay the inevitable, not reverse it.


    something with a powerful vitality?


    a spark of inspiration flashed through xu yi''s mind as he walked to a nearby cultivation tank and took a corpse out of the treasure box space, placing it inside.


    it was chen lin''s corpse.


    chen lin''s corpse was undoubtedly the most special one he had ever seen; even after the evil god ratma had gouged out his heart and his soul had been annihilated, the cells had miraculously preserved their activity!


    a small patch of fresh flesh had filled the hole in the corpse''s heart. last time, xu yi had seen the body trying to heal itself, and surprisingly, it had had some effect.


    if the corpse was left unattended for too long, it likely would have become some sort of living dead monster.


    the nest of the evil god merged into the corpse, presenting the rare construction of this body before his eyes.


    "the body''s cells are actually continuously absorbing the energy floating in the air!"


    xu yi exclaimed in surprise, realizing once again that this strange world was indeed full of wonders.


    after pondering for a moment, he cut off a piece of flesh from the arm of the corpse and threw it toward the bone of nightmares.


    the fresh meat drifted in the potion, and after half a minute, a surprising scene occurred: the flesh suddenly "came to life," wriggling like worms, crawling toward the bone of nightmares.


    the flesh seemed to recognize the might of the bone of nightmares, wrapping around it and burrowing into the cracks, attempting to blend with the bone.


    xu yi''s original plan was to let the flesh provide a powerful vitality for the bone to heal the cracks.


    the fractures indeed "healed," but not in the way he had expected.


    the flesh began to rot almost immediately, as the "death affinity" of the bone of nightmares was too powerful, and even flesh imbued with a strong vitality was unable to withstand it.


    "just having a powerful vitality isn''t enough!"


    xu yi took out three shards of glass stained with mysterious blood.


    even to this day, the information exuded by these stains pointed unanimously to one figure: jesus.


    of course, it was unlikely to be the blood of jesus himself, the likeliest scenario was the "saint heir," namely a body in which jesus had been present.


    having witnessed the power and value of golden entries, he no longer harbored any delusions that just these bloodstains could grant him the "saint heir" entry.


    one of the glass shards fell into the cultivation tank. even through the thick metallic glass, xu yi could feel the cells'' yearning for that tiny bit of blood.


    xu yi activated the nest of the evil god, sending a suggestion to the flesh.


    a shocking scene occurred once again as countless flesh buds sprang from the corpse, catching the floating glass shard in the potion.


    the flesh buds rapidly engulfed the glass shard, greedily sucking on the bloodstains.


    through the observation of the nest of the evil god, xu yi could sense that the cells absorbing the "holy blood" were undergoing astonishing metamorphosis.


    "still far from enough!"


    xu yi knew that a small amount of "holy blood" wouldn''t suffice, so he threw down another shard.


    but the information sent back from the nest of the evil god was still inadequate; it seemed to lack a certain catalyst for the transformation to occur.


    he gritted his teeth and, with a hardened heart, threw down the last shard as well.


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    the amount of "holy blood" was undeniably small, but it acted like a catalyst in a chemical reaction, and a violent reaction ensued.


    chen lin''s corpse "exploded" in an instant, with flesh gushing out like a spring, intertwining in the potion, forming numerous "flesh snakes" thrashing wildly.


    xu yi knew the time had come, and the bone of nightmares was removed from another cultivation tank and thrown into the squirming flesh.


    "whether there''s a chance of reversal depends on this step now!"

 Chapter 167 The Stronghold of the Ram Cult

    as soon as the bone of nightmares was placed into the cultivation tank, the writhing flesh surged forward like a horde of starving snakes.xu yi was using the nest of the evil god to observe the changes. after the special flesh ingested the "holy blood," it ignited like gasoline meeting a flame, fully activating the vitality within the cells.


    at the edge of the flesh, tiny buds sprouted, desperately burrowing into the crevices of the bone, entwining around the skeleton, attempting to merge with the bone of nightmares as one.


    there was no more rotting of flesh, for it had now acquired divinity, which made it impervious to the "death" of the bone of nightmares.


    the intense oppressive aura of the bone of nightmares emerged once again, and xu yi instinctively stepped back several paces.


    no, it was wrong to call it "bone" any longer. vibrant flesh clung to the skeleton, outlining a vague humanoid form.


    powerful vitality was injected into the bone of nightmares, but it seemed to reject this "new life," yearning instead for death.


    xu yi took a deep breath, knowing that to merge the two, another "adhesive" was needed.


    he walked over to the cultivation dish and with one swift motion, sliced open his own artery, spilling copious amounts of fresh blood into the medicinal solution. at the same time, the authority of the evil god was invoked, and shadows enveloped xu yi.


    xu yi''s body was merely human, but once his blood mingled with the power of the evil god''s authority, it transformed into a counterfeit version of the evil god''s blood.


    the fresh blood injected new vitality into the bone, while also blending with the nest of the evil god.


    the flesh attached to the bone, nourished by xu yi''s blood, began to exert its "intervention" ability to the fullest, reducing the bone of nightmare''s rejection.


    the flesh and bone began to fuse, and xu yi''s eyes shone brightly.


    the first light of victory appeared! the bone of nightmares no longer showed any new signs of fracturing!


    and with the infusion of fresh blood, the bone of nightmares gradually took on his essence, slowly becoming his possession.


    to gain full control over the bone of nightmares, xu yi made a bold decision.


    the nest of the evil god attached to the bone was completely "unleashed," forming countless tiny vines that penetrated every nook and cranny of the bone of nightmares.


    once unleashed, the nest of the evil god could no longer be reclaimed, meaning that he would permanently lose an evil god''s nest.


    but it was all worth it. under the influence of his blood and the nest of the evil god, the flesh and the bone of nightmares fused completely together.


    xu yi was almost ready to cheer loudly, as the bone of nightmares showed no further signs of collapsing.


    but reality reminds us not to rejoice too soon.


    everything that had taken place was under the premise that the bone of nightmares was slowly absorbing divinity. as time passed, the divinity on the scroll of human skin was completely drained, turning to ash and falling away.


    signs of collapse appeared once again!


    xu yi''s heart nearly collapsed with it. could it be that after all the effort expended and precious resources wasted, it was all in vain?


    fortunately, compared to before, the speed of the bone of nightmares'' decay had significantly slowed, and he quickly replaced the solution, stopping the collapsing trend entirely.


    "with the way things are, replacing the liquid once a day should suffice, which means consuming three leaves of redemption a day," he mused.


    xu yi sighed. not to mention the dwindling supply of leaves of redemption, even if he had a vast amount, it was not a sustainable solution.


    his original goal was to turn the bone of nightmares into a "walking evil god."


    given the current situation, it couldn''t even leave the cultivation tank, much less be used to kill enemies.


    xu yi left in a sullen mood, not taking the bone of nightmares with him.


    because the rules of the heart of the toy could affect the efficacy of the solution, he could only leave the bone of nightmares there.


    for safety, he ordered the cat spirit to patrol the area, leaving the annabelle doll to guard it.


    "to fully revive the bone of nightmares, i must find something with even stronger life force!"


    xu yi locked the warehouse door.


    ...


    xu yi had just returned to the exorcism studio when he saw an unbelievable figure in the hall.


    ```


    "how did you end up here? your wounds are healed?"


    he never expected to see ed of the warrens here. sea??h th§× n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "you certainly live up to your title as the great exorcist of new york; seeing you in person isn''t easy at all!" ed said in a low voice, a smile on his face, however.


    xu yi embraced ed, "why didn''t you give me a heads up over the phone?"


    "i thought i''d surprise you!" ed pulled out a briefcase from beside the table and handed it to xu yi.


    "what''s this?" xu yi asked as he received the case, which was heavy.


    "the tainted silver bullets you wanted. the person delivering them had an emergency, so it''s been delayed till now. there are a total of one hundred rounds inside," ed explained. experience exclusive tales on empire


    xu yi, delighted, carrying the case, led ed up to a room on the third floor. he locked the door and drew the curtains.


    "you came all the way here, surely not just to deliver bullets," xu yi said as he made a cup of coffee for ed.


    a busy man like ed, even if he were recuperating, wouldn''t possibly have the time to come all the way just to deliver bullets.


    ed gently stirred his coffee, his tone calm but his revelation struck like thunder.


    "we''ve located the ram cult''s stronghold."


    although he knew ed wouldn''t lie to him, xu yi still asked to be completely sure, "you''re certain it''s the main temple of the ram cult, not one of those disposable branches?"


    "the information is absolutely reliable! and you would never guess where the main temple is located," ed sighed. he didn''t tease but gave the answer straight away, "it''s in the land of ceris."


    "the land of ceris? the juncture of the underworld and the real world? the legend is actually true!"


    xu yi immediately believed seventy to eighty percent of what ed had said. only a strange place like that could the ram cult possibly have eluded the church''s search and survived to this day.


    "how did you find out?" xu yi was a bit curious. the ram cult had always been very well hidden, so why were they suddenly discovered?


    "the matter is related to a holy relic," ed said as he pulled out an album and handed it to xu yi, obviously prepared.


    flipping open the album, xu yi''s eyes first landed on a vast spread of blood-red flowers, strikingly enchanting, with the name of the flowers beside it.


    "blood orchid? is this thing also a holy relic?" xu yi suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief as he gazed at ed.


    "why couldn''t it be a holy relic?"


    ed found xu yi''s gaze a bit strange, as if he had seen these flowers before, but he didn''t dwell on it, maybe xu yi had seen similar-looking flowers elsewhere.


    "last month, a strange mercenary appeared deep in the borneo jungle. they encountered a gigantic python there. after a lot of casualties, they dug up the thing the python was guarding, along with its roots - the blood orchid," ed explained.


    xu yi was stunned for a moment but then accepted the fact. no matter how strange, in this world, anything could become plausible.


    "following the clue of the blood orchid, we finally located the ram cult''s hiding place," ed said softly.


    "what''s the blood orchid good for?" xu yi''s curiosity was piqued by the blood orchid.


    "this holy relic is not appearing for the first time; coincidentally, the church has records of it. the blood orchid, also known as the flower of eternity, can prolong life with minimal side effects."


    ed sighed, "not only the high-ranking elites but many in the church are also searching for the blood orchid."


    "according to you, does owning the blood orchid grant eternal life?" xu yi was skeptical.


    "of course not. the blood orchid loses its effect after being used to a certain extent. at most, it can extend life by 20 years."


    xu yi''s interest in the blood orchid dropped sharply; his goal was not as simple as living an extra twenty years.


    but ed''s next words made him tremble.


    "many evil spirits eager for rebirth also seek the blood orchid. it can offer them tremendous vitality."


    ed''s eyes filled with longing, "not just evil spirits, many dark creatures, and even exorcists, desire the blood orchid. it has another name - the flower of transcendence, a flower that can create miracles."


    xu yi''s heartbeat quickened. based on what ed said, wouldn''t the bone of nightmares also be able to use the blood orchid?


    the potent vitality of the blood orchid, even if it couldn''t grant transcendence to the bone of nightmares, could at least free it from the shackles of collapse.


    ```

 Chapter 168 The Evil God Walks

    "so, the blood orchid is also in the land of ceris?" xu yi pondered for a moment before asking the question that interested him most to ed.ed nodded his head, "that''s right. according to our conjecture, the ram cult''s search for the blood orchid is most likely for the coming of the evil god."


    xu yi looked at ed, thoughtful.


    "the church is already studying how to enter the land of ceris. i believe it won''t be long before they make a breakthrough. when the time comes, the church will organize a team to clear out the land of ceris."


    ed suddenly lifted his head, staring into xu yi''s eyes, "i came here specifically to invite you to join."


    ed then sighed, "to be honest, you were not included in the initial selection of the cleanup squad. but after the news from new york came, the archbishop insisted i come to persuade you. great exorcist, your growth is truly astonishing!"


    "rumors can''t be trusted. they''re often exaggerated," xu yi shook his head.


    upon receiving ed''s invitation, he felt no surprise. he had already had a premonition when the matter was brought up.


    he didn''t answer immediately but instead asked, "could you tell me about the land of ceris?"


    "although it''s just on the edge of the underworld, it''s certainly a land of death. the air is filled with the miasma of the river styx. common people who breathe it in might at least suffer harm to their lifespan, or at worst, fall critically ill and die on the spot."


    ed didn''t choose to hide the truth, "even exorcists, if they stay there long enough, will be affected as well. the worst part is that the battle will speed up this process."


    xu yi fell silent; they were entering the land of ceris to fight, which meant they were sure to be affected by the miasma of the river styx.


    presumably, the exorcists entering the land of ceris were already mentally prepared.


    "how will the blood orchid be distributed?" xu yi asked the most crucial question. exorcists were risking lifespan reduction to enter the land of ceris, naturally for the blood orchid.


    as long as they obtained the blood orchid, they could not only offset the influence of the river styx miasma but also gain additional life span.


    "whoever obtains the main root of the blood orchid first will keep it, but the precondition is that they must compensate every other exorcist with two blood orchids each."


    ed continued, "additionally, the church will also offer a certain compensation to each exorcist. the terms are negotiable, with a value of around two fine exorcism artifacts."


    xu yi nodded, "very reasonable!"


    ed was stunned for a moment, then suddenly looked up, "you''ve agreed?"


    "why not agree? if i don''t go after the ram cult, they will eventually come after me. i''m the sort of person who prefers to have control over my own destiny," said xu yi, laughing lightly.


    whether it was to deal with the ram cult or to steal the power of the evil god, or for the blood orchid, he had no reason to refuse.


    ed came suddenly and left just as abruptly, not even finishing his coffee.


    ......


    late at night.


    xu yi returned to the warehouse on the edge of the city. the bone of nightmares was still in the same state, maintaining a fragile balance under the effect of the leaf of redemption.


    at least this allowed xu yi to sigh in relief, but he was well aware that any further cracks would result in a rapid collapse like a line of dominoes, beyond salvation.


    xu yi took out the ghost samurai armor from the treasure box. the black and red armor looked ferocious and imposing, filled with an unusual sense of beauty.


    he had come today with the intention of preparing to forge "incarnation of the evil god."


    considering he was about to head into the old lair of the ram cult, and that too in the perilous land of ceris.


    if he could have a shell of the incarnation of the evil god, it would be very beneficial for preserving himself or getting the upper hand.


    the best choice would have been the bone of nightmares, but given its current state, improvement was only possible after obtaining the blood orchid.


    "forging a shell for the incarnation of the evil god has a not insignificant failure rate. starting with the ghost samurai armor for practice isn''t a bad idea!"


    xu yi walked towards the ghost samurai armor and sliced open his palm, letting his fresh blood drip onto the armor.


    ```


    the power of the evil god is quite bothersome in this regard, with fresh blood frequently needed as a medium. if it weren''t for the leaf of redemption being able to slightly replenish the body, excessive blood loss would have already led to hospitalization.


    the dark deity authority was activated, and shadows surged from beneath xu yi''s feet, enveloping the ghost samurai armor.


    many aggrieved souls had gathered on the ghost samurai armor, but they dispersed like dust in the wind as soon as they were struck by the power of the dark deity authority.


    xu yi vaguely felt that he had established a connection with the ghost samurai. he then deactivated the dark deity authority and proceeded to the second step.


    within the toy space, the cat spirit holy tree bore three small fruits. besides the devoted believer william, the other two were "masterless fruits," one ripe and the other still growing.


    william''s "fire gui potion project" was still underway, with the power of faith continuously pouring in, even more so than before.


    xu yi chose the unripe fruit of faith.


    whether the fruit of faith is ripe or not does not affect its efficacy; it only affects the quantity of the power of faith.


    xu yi held the walnut-sized fruit of faith in his hand, standing in front of the ghost samurai armor.


    the ripe fruit of faith was reserved for the bone of nightmares. the divinity of the ghost samurai armor in front of him was scarce, making this freshly born one quite suitable.


    xu yi tossed the fruit of faith towards the armor, and in the blink of an eye, the fruit merged into the armor like a drop of water into the ocean.


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    the dark deity authority was triggered once again, and the fruit of faith was activated, turning into a fierce black flame that enveloped the entire armor.


    the fruit of faith can only refine items that possess divinity. it has no effect on common items.


    the flames continued to burn for three minutes until the incarnation of the evil god, bastet, suddenly appeared behind xu yi, transforming into fire gui and quietly watching the ghost samurai armor. sea??h th§× n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "begin!" xu yi ordered softly.


    without any hesitations, bastet''s soul body penetrated xu yi''s body and simultaneously passed through the ghost samurai armor.


    xu yi''s eyes slowly closed, and in their stead, the "eyes" of the ghost samurai opened. black golden flames lit up within the pitch-black eye sockets, illuminating the ghastly mask covering the face.


    "this feeling is indeed strange!"


    xu yi tried to raise his hand. although his body did not respond, the ghost samurai''s hand did rise, with nothing but emptiness inside the gauntlets, as there were no hands to speak of.


    this was one of the uses of the fruit of faith, the transfer of consciousness.


    his soul remained in his body, with no fear of "rigor mortis" occurring.


    as for why his body would fall asleep, what else can a person do without a single conscious thought aside from sleep?


    he allowed a portion of his consciousness to return to his body, which slowly opened its eyes and unsteadily stood upright.


    the more consciousness retained within the ghost samurai armor, the stronger the control over the armor. with annabelle''s protection, it was sufficient to leave enough consciousness to remain alert.


    "now comes the crucial test!"


    whether the armor refined by the evil god''s walking shell is successful still needs to be verified through one more checkpoint.


    black mist began to float up from the armor, growing denser and eventually shrouding the entire armor. moments later, the armor vanished without a trace, leaving only the thick mist swirling in the air.


    transmutation from corporeal to ethereal!


    this was the ability gained by divine items after being refined by the fruit of faith.


    the dispersing mist began to coalesce, reforming into the ghost samurai armor, and xu yi heard the sound of a "crack," his heart sinking instantly.


    at the same time, heretic hunter, who harbored the nest of the evil god within him, also intercepted crucial information.


    "the cursed item, pig-head mask, has been successfully deployed at vincent farmstead on the outskirts of new york city."


    a new psychopathic killer has emerged.


    ```

 Chapter 169 The Enthusiastic and Hospitable

    xu yi was pleasantly surprised. letting the heretic hunter escape had indeed been the right choice¡ªinformation about the nest of the evil god had been intercepted so quickly.however, when he looked down at the ghost samurai armor, his mood was not as joyous.


    a crack half a palm long had appeared at the bottom edge of the armor.


    a qualified manifestation of the evil god must withstand the immense pressure brought on by the transition between the incorporeal and the corporeal. clearly, the ghost samurai armor before him did not meet the standard.


    but he was also puzzled¡ªcracks in the shell were a clear sign of collapse.


    logically, the crack should have spread rapidly over the entire armor, yet it had stopped after the single crack, which baffled him.


    "did it succeed or not?"


    he examined the map of new york and located the approximate position of vincent''s farm.


    xu yi stepped forward, and the ghost samurai armor again transformed into a black mist, streaming towards the door.


    regardless of whether the forging of the ghost samurai armor was a failure, xu yi intended to make the most of it, having expended precious power of faith.


    it was fortuitous that a new demonic killer had emerged, providing an opportunity to test the combat abilities of the evil god''s manifestation.


    the black mist penetrated the walls, racing along the streets in the dead of night, with no building able to block its path. his route was a straight line.


    xu yi reveled in the thrill of rapid flight, an additional ability gained from the transformation between material and immaterial.


    along the way, he encountered many wandering souls, which, feeling the oppressive aura of the evil god''s manifestation, all kept their distance.


    in the outskirts of new york city, xu yi stood in the shadows of the trees.


    not far away, the sign for the farm read "vincent''s farm welcomes you," with some cute vegetable illustrations next to it that radiated enthusiasm.


    "is this the vincent''s farm that hunter and the other heretics spoke of on the phone?"


    as xu yi was about to enter the farm for investigation, footsteps sounded¡ªone in front and one behind. he was surrounded.


    he was somewhat perplexed. why were there exorcists lurking here? had hunter become aware of the existence of the nest of the evil god and deliberately set a trap, waiting for him to fall into it?


    "bro, this ferocious spirit doesn''t match the villagers'' descriptions, does it?"


    a vaguely familiar voice came from behind. xu yi turned his head and was momentarily stunned. it was the siblings carrie and roy whom he had encountered previously in the apartment.


    "maybe it''s a ferocious spirit that can change form. let''s deal with it quickly and wrap this up! the world cup is starting tonight, and i still want to catch the opening ceremony!" roy responded.


    xu yi was speechless at their casual attitude. being able to survive as an exorcist for so long with such a demeanor was indeed a stroke of luck.


    carrie hummed in agreement; she also wanted to get home early to binge-watch her series. she had just started a new show with a really handsome male lead, although he still paled in comparison to the esteemed mr. xu yi whom she admired.


    but she suddenly shivered. something emerged from the shadows¡ªit was a set of samurai armor, emitting a magnetic field that wasn''t strong but gave her the chills.


    roy, without her noticing, had moved next to carrie, shielding her with his body, shaking uncontrollably.


    "sis, i''ll hold it off, you run! just be a common person from now on, and stop being an exorcist... and when you''re sorting my belongings, if you find a box under my bed, remember not to open it, just burn it."


    he, like carrie, felt that chilling stare, the watch of the evil god!


    what they had ambushed turned out to be an evil god! it seemed certain that today would be their end.


    "i wonder if italy will win the world cup this year?" roy suddenly thought, quite out of the blue.


    his arm jolted as carrie, behind him, made frantic gestures with her eyes. realizing something, roy slowly backed away until they were in the tree shadows, then they burst into a sprint.


    after running a great distance and seeing that the evil god hadn''t pursued them, they finally breathed a sigh of relief, collapsing to the ground, gasping for air.


    "i really thought i was a goner!" it took a while for roy to catch his breath.


    "bro! what''s actually in that box under your bed? why do you want to burn it outright without even looking inside?"


    ```


    carrie''s desperate voice came from nearby, and cold sweat immediately slid down roy''s temples.


    "you must have misheard just now, there''s nothing under my bed."


    as soon as he got back, he would burn the books under the bed! roy thought to himself.


    after pondering for a moment, he changed his mind, better find another place to hide them, after all, they were "fine products" not easily collected.


    xu yi watched as carrie and her brother were frightened away and headed straight for the farm.


    when he was in his original form, he dared not use the "evil god''s gaze" ability; today, at last, he had his fill.


    it was highly likely that the siblings would contact the city officials. no matter what he wanted to do, he had to hurry.


    transformed into black smoke, he patrolled the farm and found its secret area, where the gate was tightly locked, covered with lots of greenhouse plastic film.


    walking through the greenhouse, an indescribable scent wafted over, and xu yi saw vegetables covered with paper bags in the fields.


    he was puzzled, what kind of vegetables needed to be covered with paper bags like grapes?


    he uncovered one of the paper bags and was stunned by what he found inside. he went on to remove the rest one by one.


    inside were not vegetables at all, but human heads, planted in the soil, all of them alive.


    they were all still alive, their necks attached to drippers injecting something, their eyes dull, obviously sedated with an overdose of tranquilizers.


    one of the paper bags suddenly began to shake, and out of curiosity, xu yi lifted it to look inside.


    it was a little girl of about seven or eight years old, delicate and cute. the needle on her neck had fallen off, and without the continuous injection of the sedative, she had woken up.


    "my name is alice. are you the god sent to rescue me?" the little girl''s voice was hoarse, yet there was innate innocence in her eyes.


    xu yi did not answer because he simply couldn''t speak, and even if he were a god, he could only be an evil god.


    he picked up a shovel lying nearby, carelessly dug away the topsoil to reveal the girl''s hands, then abandoned the shovel and ignored her from then on.


    he had more important things to do.


    little alice stared blankly at the departing figure of the ghost samurai, her hands spontaneously coming together in prayer.


    in the farm''s processing room, vincent was busy filling sausages.


    the meat used for the sausages was "premium flesh," meticulously "cultivated" by him. the meat''s savory aroma was tinged with a hint of vegetables, making it a hot seller in the nearby town.


    suddenly, footsteps came from outside, and vincent paused before calling out enthusiastically, "looking to buy sausages? today''s stock is sold out; you might have to wait until tomorrow!"


    as he spoke with unabashed warmth, vincent had already grabbed a boning knife nearby.


    it was late, and few people visited his place at this hour. moreover, the newcomer''s footsteps were too heavy, not typical of the "big guys" from the surrounding town.


    thinking of "big guys," vincent licked his lips, one large cut of meat could fill many a sausage.


    he pulled open a nearby drawer, which contained a pig head mask. s§×arch* the n?vel(f)ire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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    it was his recent delightful find; wearing the pig head mask while butchering provided him with an increased sense of pleasure. his body trembled slightly, not from fear but excitement.


    with the pig head mask on and the boning knife in hand, william pushed open the processing room''s door, eager to witness fear in the eyes of the behemoth outside.


    as the door opened, he saw the large figure standing there and was taken aback.


    it indeed was a large figure but just a suit of armor, the heavy samurai armor making a "thump thump" sound as it moved, and the face of the armor was covered with a malevolent mask, black and golden flames burning fiercely within the eye sockets.


    xu yi, seeing the specks of blood forming in vincent''s eyes, knew he had not come to the wrong place¡ªthe perverse killer was right here.


    but his brow suddenly furrowed; an unusual magnetic field was rapidly approaching. it felt like an exorcist, and yet not quite.


    the number was not just one person but seven or eight; he was surrounded, once again.


    ```

 Chapter 170 Such a Powerful Being!

    xu yi looked around as shadowy figures emerged from hidden areas of the house; these individuals were shrouded in black robes, revealing expressionless faces.he felt a familiar aura from these people; like hunter, they were all heretics from the church of the ram.


    after a moment of thought, xu yi understood what was happening.


    jack the ripper''s dagger and the deformed person''s iron thorn, these cursed items had been discovered in such quick succession, obviously alerting the ram cult.


    the murderous spree of the maniac wasn''t yielding enough souls yet¡ªthey weren''t ripe and sweet enough, so it wasn''t time to harvest; hence, they deliberately leaked the information and set up an ambush here.


    it seemed that "undercover" hunter had been discovered after all, which was inevitable. considering hunter''s condition, surviving was indeed a bit suspicious.


    a bloody array rose from beneath his feet; the heretics joined hands to construct the array which prohibited phasing abilities, leaving him unable to transform into black smoke and escape.


    the ghost samurai armor acted as the evil god''s vessel; dealing with a murderer like vincent was an easy catch, but against these professional heretics, it didn''t quite measure up.


    "thank goodness i ran into the kerry siblings earlier!" xu yi felt somewhat relieved.


    logically, the kerry siblings should have already reported the descent of the evil god, and government exorcists would soon arrive. all he had to do was stall these heretics.


    his gaze landed on a decorative long sword hanging on the wall. he strode toward it, his fist shattered the outer glass, and he drew the sword from its scabbard¡ªits blade was sharp.


    this turned out to be a real sword, not a mere decoration!


    but that also made sense, how could a deranged murderer tolerate having a fake sword at home?


    xu yi swung the long sword, feeling an inexplicable familiarity as if he was not wielding it for the first time but had swung it thousands and thousands of times.


    "i didn''t expect that the ghost samurai armor still retained the impression of the previous swordsman who wore it."


    he suddenly regretted not equipping the "swordsmanship grandmaster" entries.


    the ghost samurai was clearly very compatible with the long sword; if he had swordsmanship abilities, he would definitely be able to exert greater power.


    the ghost samurai charged straight at vincent; xu yi planned to deal with this deranged murderer first. but the array underneath burst into intense bloody light, a heavy force acted on the armor, making it suddenly sink into the wooden floor, leaving deep footprints.


    the murderer with the pig-head mask seemed unaffected by the array¡ªin fact, the array had enhanced his power, his pupils speckled with bloody dots, brimming with the desire to kill.


    the boning knife stabbed toward the ghost samurai¡ªthe knife was common, purchased from a supermarket, but with the array''s blessing, it had the ability to cut down xu yi.


    xu yi held the long sword with both hands, bracing it in front of his chest, ready to face whatever came from any side.


    he was now in the body of the ghost samurai, unable to use the fog of obscurity and without the alchemical revolver messiah in hand.


    yet now he faced a grim murderer and eight heretics, who coldly watched him as if he were a lamb in the slaughterhouse.


    "i don''t know if i can use it?"


    after taking a deep breath, xu yi no longer hesitated, gripping the long sword tightly in his hands.


    the murderer was the first to charge, but with a "bang," he fell to his knees. the faces of the heretics also changed, turning deathly pale, their pupils filled with terror.


    black and golden flames surged from the body of the ghost samurai, instantly annihilating the bloody array and spreading in all directions.


    the heretics felt the immense demon-suppressing power within the flames, their bodies involuntarily wanting to kneel. they desperately clenched their teeth to resist, but their knees couldn''t bear the pressure and emitted an overwhelmed cracking sound.


    outside the farm, the government exorcists, having received the information from the kerry siblings, hurried over in haste.


    they suddenly halted in their steps, staring blankly at the towering black and golden flames erupting from the farm. even from such a distance, they could feel the oppressive power contained in the flames.


    they murmured involuntarily, "can we really handle such a being?"


    as the soaring black and golden flames dissipated, it took them a while to muster the courage to enter the farm.


    they arrived at the processing room of the farm and saw the scene inside. relieved to not find that terrifying figure, they breathed a sigh of relief.


    the floor was scattered with corpses, including the pig-mask-wearing farmer vincent, and eight strangers dressed in black robes.


    according to the forensic examination, the manner of their deaths was essentially the same; they knelt on the ground like sinners confessing their sins, then were beheaded with a single strike.


    upon learning this news, everyone gasped in shock.


    the government''s exorcist looked even more distressed, "why do these horrific beings keep appearing in new york so frequently?"


    ......


    the horrific being mentioned by the exorcist was at that moment frantic like ants on a hot pan.


    the fog of obscurity rushed into a warehouse in the suburbs, transformed back into the ghost samurai armor, and with the return of consciousness to its body, xu yi, who had been on the brink of sleep, suddenly woke up and dashed to the ghost samurai armor like a rabbit, pressing his hand against it.


    the ghost samurai armor had previously only had a crack at its lower edge, but now cracks nearly covered the entire armor, which seemed on the verge of falling apart as if it would shatter the next second.


    xu yi hurriedly infused the power of faith to stabilize the ghost samurai armor which was about to disintegrate.


    regarding the ghost samurai armor, he originally felt it was optional, mostly preparing for the refinement of the bone of nightmares and getting used to it in advance.


    but unexpectedly, he had stumbled upon a treasure!


    the black-golden flames were naturally the demon-suppressing power of bastet, the fire of the evil god driven by the authority; he had briefly tried it once before and had since been terrified, daring not to use it again.


    the human body cannot withstand the oppression of the fire of the evil god, and other objects with divinity also struggle to withstand it; xu yi suspected that even if the bone of nightmares were used, it would still be difficult.


    yet just now, on a whim, he ramped up the authority of the evil god to its maximum.


    beneath the surging black-golden flames, neither the murderers nor the heretics could bear the load, being forced to the ground.


    if it had been any other divine item, it would have collapsed by now. read latest chapters at empire


    but the ghost samurai armor managed to hold on until returning here, and even though it looked like it was about to shatter, it had a tenacity akin to a cockroach, always clinging to "one last breath."


    "the origins of this ghost samurai armor must be anything but simple!"


    xu yi stopped infusing the power of faith, and the ghost samurai armor remained in a state of "about to break but not yet broken."


    he felt a bit regretful, using the fire of the evil god so freely; he didn''t know if he would have such an opportunity again in the future.


    "in the future, i must find a way to repair and strengthen the ghost samurai armor!"


    xu yi packed away the ghost samurai armor and drove to the outskirts of vincent''s farm, where he arrived under a tree, moved a stone from under it, and revealed a small booklet.


    the booklet had been found on a cultist because the ghost samurai could not carry items, it had to be left there.


    he opened the booklet, inside were names: miner harry, gourmet shawn... all of them were murderers influenced by demonic thoughts.


    xu yi pocketed the "maniac''s manual," his eyes shining.


    his guess was not wrong; the stronger the soul, the more soul stealing seeds it could carry. sea??h th§× n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    in the murderer "farmer" vincent, he planted a total of twelve soul stealing seeds.


    twelve was not the limit, but yu yi was afraid of causing the victim''s soul to collapse, which would be a loss not worth the gain, so he did not plant more.


    the evil god of the ram''s attention appeared once again, taking vincent''s soul away; xu yi was very much looking forward to it, hoping the other party would swallow those "extra-flavored" souls.


    "adding the deformed person from before, there are still less than twenty soul stealing seeds; to go against the powerful evil god of the ram, this is far from enough!"


    xu yi gazed at the booklet in his hand, knowing what he had to do.

 Chapter 171 Arrival at the Land of Ceris

    late at night, holy flame exorcism studio.xu yi appeared somewhat weary, as he had met with government personnel last night due to the "evil god ghost samurai" incident and then immediately set off to find alante for special training.


    don''t get the wrong idea, it was an official training session, not the kind that happens in hotels.


    the content of the training was swordsmanship, to better harness the combat power of the ghost samurai in the future, and he had already equipped the "swordsmanship grandmaster" entries.


    [swordsmanship grandmaster, current progress: 11/100]


    this was the result of half a day''s special training, quite effective.


    he arrived at the second-floor meeting room, where people had already been waiting for some time.


    a desk lamp, four cups of strong coffee¡ªxu yi went straight to an empty seat, picked up a coffee, and prepared to speak, "you are all people i trust the most, i have something important..."


    he hadn''t finished speaking when he was interrupted.


    "son, i''m just a common chef, i don''t understand your matters either!" xu changrong sat directly opposite xu yi, shoulders drooping, his face expressing helplessness.


    he was holed up in the xu family restaurant in chinatown, trying to develop new dishes, when suddenly xu yi dragged him here.


    "common chef? are you sure a common chef would use a ghost hand to stir-fry?" xu yi stared at him intently.


    "when i make stir-fried pork with green peppers, and run out of pork, i chop up the ghost hand instead. that''s reasonable, right?" xu changrong pleaded innocently.


    xu yi''s mouth twitched slightly, the dark chef entries couldn''t be more perfectly suited for him.


    "in any case, i''m entrusting this to you!" xu yi didn''t give xu changrong a chance to argue.


    xu changrong obediently shut up. to his left was lisa, and to his right, maria¡ªboth, in his view, would be daughters-in-law of the xu family in the future, and he couldn''t lose face for the family.


    "don''t worry, dad, your task is the easiest. you just need to take care of new york area. i''ve already talked to the government people, you''ll be acting together with them."


    xu yi took out a metal box, opened it up to reveal neatly arranged syringes, with green liquid swirling inside.


    the liquid itself was nothing special, but what mattered was the soul stealing seed within, each syringe injected with twelve soul stealing seeds.


    he took out a notebook that recorded information on the murderous deviants, glanced at everyone, his gaze pausing slightly on lisa and maria.


    "i need your help to find these murderers and inject them with the syringe before you kill them."


    of course, the murderous deviants weren''t all in new york; according to records, a significant number of them were in other cities, and even other countries.


    he could only ask lisa and maria for help with those.


    "remember one thing, try not to expose the existence of the syringes, even if destroyed, they cannot fall into others'' hands!" xu yi repeated his caution.


    these syringes contained the soul stealing seeds, which, if they encountered a powerful being, such as some great exorcists, might be sensed.


    that''s why he needed to find trustworthy people. s§×arch* the nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    the "demon-hunting" conference had just ended when xu yi received a phone call from ed.


    "we have found a way to enter the land of ceris, let''s meet at buffalo airport tomorrow." explore stories on empire


    xu yi was taken aback, not expecting the action to come so quickly.


    "i will arrive on time!"


    xu yi didn''t hesitate and immediately gave an affirmative response.


    most of the time, ed exuded confidence, but at that moment, xu yi detected urgency in his words, surely something unexpected had occurred.


    xu yi hung up the phone and drove through the night to a villa on the outskirts of queens.


    the surveillance staff around the villa had reduced significantly because the bizarre fluctuations that had been erupting occasionally had suddenly disappeared two days earlier.


    the soldiers guarding it noticed xu yi, remained at their posts, but saluted from a distance, to which xu yi nodded in response.


    xu yi returned to the underground chamber; the black moss had withered, and the surging evil aura had vanished.


    this is a normal phenomenon; different spaces are mobile.


    an exorcist who engaged in research once made an analogy: a different space is like an island drifting on a river, overlapping with the real world one moment and drifting away the next second.


    the necromantic spells remained the same, and the cat spirit had not detected anyone approaching.


    xu yi arrived at the spot where ratma''s rodent teeth had been, pushed aside the dried black moss on top, and with the fog of obscurity clinging to his fist, he struck the ground fiercely. the ground cracked open, revealing two rodent teeth inside.


    the teeth felt heavy in his hand and carried a chill that could penetrate to the bone; if not for the protection of the fog of obscurity around his palms, his hands would have suffered frostbite.


    a smile appeared on xu yi''s face because ratma''s rodent teeth had been baptized!


    to repair the sacred red lotus, he already had a lead on "heavenly fire," which meant only the last condition, "life cleansing blade pool," was left!


    having taken ratma''s rodent teeth, xu yi hurriedly made his way to a warehouse in the distant suburbs without stopping.


    the bone of nightmares could only be stored inside the toy treasure box.


    one could imagine that after entering the land of ceris, a fierce battle would surely await him; he must bring annabelle along.


    if the bone of nightmares were left without annabelle''s protection, he wouldn''t feel at ease.


    moreover, the blood orchid was in the land of ceris; there might be a chance for the bone of nightmares to directly consume the blood orchid.


    to address the issue of the toy space potion''s effectiveness being compromised, he could only apply a high-concentration solution of the leaf of redemption on the bone of nightmares.


    this would certainly lead to wastage of the leaf of redemption, necessitating the use of double the daily amount, that is, six leaves of redemption; but there was no other way.


    all night, xu yi was busy preparing¡ªweapons, food, and various tools that might be needed.


    ......


    in buffalo, this city near new york, xu yi met with the selection for the extermination squad.


    besides elite-level exorcists, there were special forces soldiers, wilderness survival experts, and even accompanying doctors¡ªsuffice to say, the preparation was thorough.


    a designated bus was already waiting early on at buffalo airport to transport them to an isolated small town.


    the squad set up camp next to a pool, and the church''s priests arranged an array around it.


    "this pool happens to connect to the land of ceris; setting up an array can expand the entrance, otherwise, it would be difficult to accommodate so many of us," ed explained on the side.


    xu yi nodded, indicating his understanding.


    the extermination squad had nearly two hundred people; indeed, it was difficult to find such a large entrance.


    why not enter one by one if the entrance was not big enough?


    the reason was simple: only if they entered at the same time would they be able to arrive in the same place.


    otherwise, being scattered across the vast land of ceris was a hundred times worse than being alone in the center of the sahara desert.


    at night, the church''s exorcists finally completed the array, but they didn''t enter right away; instead, they spent the night conserving their strength.


    "let''s go!"


    at the voice of the church''s red-robed bishop, everyone entered the depths of the pond, the water icy cold.


    "everyone swim to the bottom first, then, seeing the signal, join hands and enter together."


    all had reached the bottom of the pond; those who couldn''t swim had previously consumed blackwater, a liquid refined from ferocious spirits found in water, allowing temporary breathing underwater.


    with a large red mass exploding at the bottom of the pond, everyone swam together towards the vortex at the bottom.


    within the swirling current, xu yi rapidly fell, not resisting the force but letting the water pull him downward.


    everything grew darker before his eyes, his consciousness grew fuzzy, and his stomach churned. on the verge of vomiting, he suddenly felt a void beneath him and plummeted downwards.


    with a "thud," he landed.

 Chapter 172 How Did I Become a Hero?

    the air was thick with an unfading stench of decay, and the two-person tall black grass swayed in the wind like a frenzied tide of black blood.the cleansing squadron advanced through the thickets, with no one willing to touch the deathweed.


    these deathweed plants, which grew in the land of ceris, contained corrosive toxins; prolonged contact could cause skin to rot and necrotize.


    but the deathweed was too dense, so they had to wrap themselves in thick clothing, looking like wriggling maggots.


    the scene might have looked somewhat comical, but no one felt like laughing, except for xu yi.


    the church personnel held aloft a fist-sized crystal ball, its pale blue light illuminating the surroundings.


    everyone wanted to stay within the light source, but xu yi didn''t mind; he always stayed on the periphery, melding into the darkness.


    they had been trekking through the land of ceris for three days and three nights, and despite being mentally prepared for the vastness of this place, they couldn''t help but sigh.


    the church''s magic artifact guided them, reassuring them that they were on the right path; otherwise wandering aimlessly could easily lead to despair.


    "you certainly have a good attitude!"


    ed came up to xu yi and remarked softly.


    all were weary-faced and hardly found smiles, except for xu yi, who was an exception.


    even in such a dreadful place, xu yi''s lips remained faintly upturned, making him look more like he was out for a stroll rather than in danger.


    how could xu yi not be in a fine mood? here, without sun or moon, and without light from heaven and earth, this place was simply the perfect training ground for practicing dark stealth.


    since entering, he had been using his dark stealth ability, and the three days of long trekking had taken his dark stealth to a new level.


    [dark stealth, current progress: 68/100]


    perhaps after another two or three days, the entries would be maxed out.


    "there''s an old huaxia saying from my xia kingdom, tranquility brings coolness, meaning as long as one maintains a good mindset, the worst situations can be calmly faced," xu yi replied softly.


    "tranquility brings coolness!" ed murmured softly.


    when xu yi said these words, he used the huaxia language, which, although not fully understood by ed, he grasped the profound essence of the saying. sea??h th§× nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "i must admit, my attitude has indeed been a problem recently; even with the knowledge that the ram cult is about to conduct the evil god''s descent ceremony, i should remain calm!" ed took a deep breath. your adventure continues at empire


    xu yi''s body suddenly tensed, a serious expression on his face, and the smile was gone.


    "what''s wrong? didn''t you say tranquility brings coolness? even with the knowledge of the ram cult''s ceremony being imminent, such a strong reaction seems needless," ed was somewhat confused.


    "there''s another ancient saying from my xia kingdom, ''the wise adapt themselves to the times,'' meaning when things go wrong, it''s time to make a swift retreat," xu yi said, poised to run.


    all of a sudden, he bellowed, "be careful! there''s something in the thickets!"


    no sooner had his voice dropped than a hideous black shadow lunged out of the grass, aiming to tear into the group¡ªit was a black python, more than one meter in diameter, its length unknown.


    upon seeing the python, xu yi''s first thought was of the blood orchid, for the blood orchid had caused drastic mutations in the pythons of the primeval forests of borneo.


    but this mutated python was not just altered by the blood orchid; it had three pairs of pupils, distributed across its face, which looked utterly horrifying.


    cries of alarm came from another direction, and it wasn''t just one python; more and more of these giant snakes lunged from the thickets, the towering deathweed acting as perfect cover for them.


    xu yi fired his gun, the blessed exorcism bullets striking the python, sending sparks flying from the shattered black scales.


    xu yi''s expression changed ever so slightly; the python, hit by the bullet, merely shed its outer layer of scales.


    another python attacked from behind, but ed, with quick reflexes, pulled out a holy cross hammer from his waist and struck it hard on the side of the python''s head.


    the python''s head was like being hit head-on by a large truck, its head flipping to the side.


    "change the bullets, use the corrupt silver ones!" ed''s eyes had turned a pale gold, especially conspicuous in the dark space.


    xu yi decisively unloaded the bullets from the chamber and loaded the corrupt silver bullets produced by the church.


    upon pulling the trigger again, the corrupt silver bullet left the barrel, pierced through the python''s scales, and hit the creature''s head, with cold snake blood splashing out.


    xu yi was slightly taken aback.


    "those corrupt silver bullets pack quite the punch, don''t they?" ed thought xu yi was stunned because he was amazed by the power of the corrupt silver bullets.


    although they were only replicas of the original corrupt silver bullets, the power they released when fired from the alchemical revolver messiah was indeed unexpected.


    but xu yi wasn''t taken aback because of the corrupt silver bullets.


    the moment the snake blood splashed onto the back of his hand, he instantly felt its strong vitality and the mixed in immense amount of resentment.


    "life cleansing blade pool," this was the third condition for repairing the sacred red lotus. what was important wasn''t the "pool," but rather the life essence liquid within.


    in japan, to create life essence liquid, one usually places a liquid rich in vitality in front of a shrine to receive the blessings of the masses, absorbing the thoughts of the living spirits.


    however, this method of creating life essence liquid isn''t suitable for the sacred red lotus because of the evil god ratma. ordinary life essence liquid would erode the divinity on the rat teeth.


    but it was different with the python before him; resentment was also a kind of living spirit thought. life essence liquid made from resentment perfectly matched the divine corpse of the evil god.


    xu yi looked around; worthy of being the elite extermination squad, they soon organized an effective counterattack after a moment of panic.


    everyone displayed their divine skills, and one after another, the pythons fell, their blood flowing on the ground, seeping into the black soil.


    seeing this scene, xu yi felt his heart bleeding; this was all his life essence liquid!


    "everyone, slow down, be careful not to hurt them!" xu yi bellowed... stop making these pythons bleed, how pitiful they are!


    a female exorcist turned her head and looked at xu yi, touched by his concern, thinking he was quite a good person indeed!


    a thick blood-red light suddenly burst towards the sky, and everyone looked in surprise towards the distance. the blood-red light illuminated the area and also the structure beneath the column of light.


    "we''ve found it!" everyone exclaimed with joy.


    when they encountered these pythons, everyone had already anticipated it; surely the ram cult''s headquarters were nearby.


    ed was also delighted, but then something occurred to him, and his face turned deathly pale, "not good! it''s the evil god''s descent ritual; they''ve brought the ritual forward!"


    "you all go stop the ritual! i''ll draw these pythons away!"


    xu yi scattered a large amount of realgar powder, which, being specially made, not only failed to drive away the pythons but instead enraged them.


    "mister xu yi, this is holy water concentrate, these pythons are also dark creatures, they too fear holy water." the church''s cardinal hesitated for a moment, took out a bottle of holy water, and handed it to xu yi,


    "these are the rest of my corrupt silver bullets, stay safe!" ed stuffed the entire box into xu yi''s arms.


    "if we can meet in the real world, i hope to buy you a cup of coffee," said the beautiful-looking female exorcist as she stepped forward.


    "friend, safe travels!" another exorcist patted xu yi on the shoulder.


    xu yi was a bit dazed, feeling as if he should be lying amidst a field of lilies, with a peaceful expression on his face and a black-and-white photo placed on a table above his head.


    his friends who had come to mourn him looked at the photo, their eyes filled with admiration for a hero.


    ah! what kind of twisted turn of events was this? he just wanted to collect the blood of these pythons to repair the holy artifact; he wasn''t planning on dying!

 Chapter 173 Demon Blade Red Lotus

    pythons surrounded him, and xu yi felt as though he were in a sea of snakes.the mournful gaze of the other exorcists was not without reason. with so many pythons, it was indeed a very difficult task to fend them off by himself.


    xu yi stood fearless, the fog of obscurity possessing his body as he weaved through the mass of pythons, as if dancing on the tip of a blade.


    one after another, corrosive silver bullets fired off, felling many a giant python, their blood pooling into a small lake at xu yi''s feet.


    xu yi gasped for air; combat demanded his full concentration, allowing for no mistakes, which was extremely draining on his mental strength.


    but this was not the worst of it¡ªas the battle continued, the fog of obscurity he relied on was running dangerously low.


    once the fog of obscurity was gone, his speed would drastically decrease, and he could be torn to shreds by the swarm of pythons in a matter of moments.


    "not nearly enough yet," xu yi glanced at his feet, where the snake blood had just begun to cover his instep.


    seeing xu yi standing motionless, the pupils of the pythons glinted with bloodlust. their prey was about to falter, and they swarmed towards xu yi.


    but suddenly, their heads flew into the air, and their bodies slowly fell at xu yi''s feet. a deluge of snake blood poured from the severed necks, drenching xu yi''s body.


    in his hands, xu yi held a longsword, its crystal red blade shed the snake blood cleanly, leaving not a single drop upon it.


    the exorcism holy relic red lotus, this longsword, now on the brink of breaking, was being used by xu yi for the first time.


    the pythons, undeterred by death, continued their assault. the snake scales, sturdy enough to resist exorcism bullets, were as fragile as paper before the blade of red lotus.


    as the python bodies were cleaved, blood spewed like rain in a violent storm.


    but there were simply too many pythons. xu yi''s swordsmanship was only at a beginner level, and he left an opening behind him. a giant python, silently lurking there, opened its ghastly maw, poised to swallow xu yi whole.


    suddenly, a faint red flame spread outward; the flame grazed the python''s head and in the next second, the giant python collapsed into a pool of blood.


    the flame originated from the red lotus longsword, which, with a sweeping slash, released a surging inferno, knocking down swathes of pythons and granting xu yi a brief respite.


    "it''s time!"


    xu yi took a deep breath; the python blood had reached past his calves.


    he thrust the red lotus longsword forcefully into the bloody waters, and if one were to look closely, they would notice fine cracks beginning to appear on the blade.


    three conditions were required to repair the red lotus longsword, and xu yi took out ratma''s rodent tooth, the "baptized divine remains." the pool of python blood before him served as the "life cleansing blade pool."


    now what was missing was the last step, the "heavenly fire."


    in ancient japanese tomes, heavenly fire was described as "in an instant with heavenly fire, divine remains melt away."


    at first, xu yi was perplexed by this.


    even if you put the divine remains in a metal smelting furnace of astonishing temperatures, it would take several days and nights of smelting to potentially melt the divine remains.


    did a flame that could instantly melt divine remains really exist?


    later he realized he was mistaken; heavenly fire might not be a literal flame. a substance capable of quickly "melting" divine items did, in fact, exist.


    a fruit of faith appeared in his hand, a "half-ripened" fruit of faith.


    after trekking in this area for three days and nights, the power of faith flowed in continuously, and the cat spirit holy tree bore such a fruit of faith.


    xu yi''s hand ran over the blade of the red lotus, as blood nourished the longsword, while his right hand''s core of faith pressed against the hilt.


    the extermination squad had left far behind, and the ram cult was nearby. as the ritual for summoning the evil god began, the air was filled with the presence of the evil god.


    using the authority of the evil god would not attract too much attention at a time like this.


    the core of faith, spurred by the authority of the evil god, transformed into dark flames. the flames enveloped the red lotus longsword, as xu yi threw ratma''s bloodied rodent tooth into the black fire.


    the rat teeth gradually melted, turning into fumes, and infused themselves into the red lotus longsword.


    cryptic black patterns began to emerge on the crystal-red blade, sending an ominous aura radiating in all directions; if xu yi weren''t the sword''s owner, he wouldn''t even dare to stay nearby.


    the serpent blood submerging the blade suddenly began to boil, and as it washed over the blade, the thick bloody water instantly turned clear - the life force and resentments within the snake blood were all absorbed.


    more and more snake blood was drawn in, and fresh blood replenished it, but the replenishment couldn''t keep up with the speed at which the longsword absorbed the blood.


    xu yi took out the alchemy revolver and inflicted more wounds on the python, letting more fresh blood flow out.


    the surrounding pythons hesitated for a moment, but their bloodthirsty desire eventually overcame their fear, and they attacked xu yi once again.


    but a pale-red flame drifted out from the red lotus longsword. the ethereal flames flitted past the python''s face, and the giant snake fell down with a thud.


    more and more giant python corpses piled up around the red lotus longsword, eventually forming a "well" with xu yi at the bottom, facing the towering "snake wall."


    the heretics were simply tasked with monitoring the pythons, but upon seeing a mountain of python corpses, they couldn''t help their curiosity and came over to investigate.


    they climbed the "snake mountain" to the top and looked down from above.


    when they clearly saw the scene below, their pupils suddenly dilated.


    the pooling snake blood formed a crimson vortex, which in turn drew more blood toward it; fresh blood from the bodies of the dead pythons was extracted, leaving their bodies increasingly shriveled.


    in the midst of the bloody whirlpool, a longsword stood silently, emanating a fearsome dominance.


    the heretics exchanged glances, each seeing the longing in the others'' eyes. everyone understood that this was undoubtedly an incredibly terrifying longsword, and to possess it...


    they hesitated for a moment and then jumped into the snake pit together, but they didn''t see xu yi.


    suddenly, their bodies started trembling uncontrollably, and their faces were drained of any color. continue your saga on empire


    the elusive red flames appeared once again, sweeping towards the heretics, who all felt their souls quiver.


    they finally understood why these giant pythons had died in silence - the pale-red flames weren''t burning their flesh but their souls!


    they wanted to flee, but it was already too late. the flames passed over their bodies, burning their souls to ashes, leaving only their husks to fall into the blood below.


    xu yi activated dark stealth, concealing himself in the shadows.


    he didn''t even glance at the heretics. his attention was fixed on the red lotus longsword the entire time, his eyes showing a faint trace of fear mixed with an undeniable excitement.


    was the method recorded in that ancient tome really just for repairing a holy artifact?


    now the aura of the red lotus longsword was so formidable that even he, its owner, felt alarmed, and this aura was still climbing - the red lotus longsword was still growing stronger! sear?h the n?vel?ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    xu yi didn''t know if the red lotus longsword before him could still be called an exorcism holy relic.


    the rat teeth of the evil god ratma had merged with the longsword; large amounts of resentful snake blood had been poured into it, altering its form.


    cryptic black patterns covered the crystal-red blade. its guard grew fierce and protruded like blood-stained thorns.


    the originally tranquil and harmonious blade of red lotus now exuded an ominous and sinister presence; it was practically a demon blade!


    being an exorcism holy relic, the burning of the soul was the red lotus flame''s ability.


    but now the red lotus karma flame was mutating. the red got deeper and deeper, resembling fresh blood, and the flame became darker and more sinister.


    the black-red flames suddenly erupted and shot towards the top of the "snake well" as if a volcano was erupting.


    the elimination task force was about to arrive at the ram cult''s lair. they sensed the tumultuous disturbance behind them and turned back abruptly, their eyes betraying an uncertain fear.


    "what terrifying flames, what exactly happened over there?" someone murmured to themselves.

 Chapter 174 The Blood Orchid Appears

    xu yi climbed to the top of the "serpent well" and looked around, he could no longer see any trace of the pythons, not knowing whether they had died out, or had fled in fear of the aura emitted by the demon blade red lotus.intense explosions came from the distance. xu yi looked on, the explosions had occurred in the ram cult''s stronghold. a large expanse of buildings was destroyed, and after the dust and smoke had cleared, the contents within the buildings were laid bare.


    xu yi''s pupils dilated, unable to hide the excitement in his heart.


    with the formidable strength of the eyes of obscurity, he saw a vast expanse of red amidst the black ruins, which was especially conspicuous.


    it was the blood orchid. the heretics had transplanted it from the primeval forest to this place.


    the river spread over, the river''s face was wide, and it formed a ring around the small island where the blood orchids were, firmly protecting them.


    the riverwater was pitch black, and not a single weed could be seen in the river.


    the members of the eradication team stopped in front of the river, each bearing injuries; it seemed their fight had not been easy.


    heretics stood on the opposite bank of the river, watching the eradication team with confident disdain.


    ed casually picked up the corpse of a heretic and threw it into the black river.


    with ed''s strength, he could easily throw the body into the center of the river. yet, as soon as it reached the river''s edge, a powerful sucking force acted upon the corpse, pulling it straight into the river.


    upon touching the water, the body dissolved at a rate visible to the naked eye. the members of the eradication team instinctively took a step back, their faces turning pale.


    xu yi, watching this scene from a distance, also furrowed his brow and murmured, "styx water!"


    how on earth had these heretics managed to divert the waters of the styx? he couldn''t comprehend it.


    the heretics inside "riverheart island" indeed had nothing to fear, for the styx water was the best protection.


    the styx flowed, forming a vast circle. anything that tried to cross over the styx, even the weightless human soul, would be pulled in and dissolved in an instant.


    this was the raison d''¨ºtre for the ferryman of the styx.


    "to cross the styx, common methods will definitely not work," xu yi was very clear about this.


    he jumped down from the "serpent well" and arrived at an open area where he took out the bone of nightmares.


    if there was anything on him that might cross the styx, it would only be the bone of nightmares. sea??h th§× nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    he needed to guard the demon blade red lotus and wait for red lotus to complete its ascension; he couldn''t go anywhere. he planned to use this time to refine the bone of nightmares into the evil god''s walk.


    refining it into the evil god''s walk was risky. the bone of nightmares could endure the transformation between illusion and reality without any issues, but this would accelerate its disintegration process, which was why xu yi had hesitated to start.


    now that he had finally seen the blood orchid, whether he could save the bone of nightmares would depend on its performance to come.


    xu yi took out the mature fruit of faith and pressed it fiercely against the bone of nightmares.


    since the bone of nightmares had already been imbued with his blood, there was no need to repeat this step. the authority of the evil god drove the fruit of faith, and black flames engulfed the bone of nightmares.


    the bone of nightmares was refined into the evil god''s walk, and the demon blade red lotus was also advancing slowly. what xu yi needed to do now was to wait peacefully.


    ...


    at the edge of the styx, the red-garbed archbishop hesitated for a moment, then took out a piece of cloth and spread it out on the ground.


    the cloth was about two meters long and one meter wide, very thick, resembling some kind of carpet, entirely purple with countless figures in prayer etched upon it.


    the archbishop bit his finger, dripping blood onto the carpet, and chanted softly.


    a miraculous scene unfolded; the carpet actually began to float, hovering in front of the archbishop.


    "an exorcism holy relic? connie''s magic carpet!" someone nearby exclaimed in surprise.


    the archbishop reached out to lightly touch the magic carpet. as if alive, the carpet flew toward the styx. the powerful pulling force reappeared, attempting to drag down the magic carpet.


    but the magic carpet suddenly shook, dispersing the pulling force, and upon seeing this, the archbishop in red finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    the magic carpet returned to his side, and the archbishop in red was the first to jump onto the magic carpet, followed by ed as the second, and the third was one of the church''s elite exorcists.


    carrying the three of them, the magic carpet flew across the river styx, with the extermination squad closely watching its flight. the cultists'' complexions changed slightly as they launched attacks, trying to bring down the magic carpet.


    but the magic carpet was too agile and too sturdy; bullets could not leave any marks on it, and exorcism artifacts were useless.


    with the three of them on board, the magic carpet crossed the styx and fired the first shot of "normandy landing."


    confronted with the surging tide of cultists, the three of them were like a small boat in a storm, at risk of being overturned at any moment.


    fortunately, the magic carpet continuously brought reinforcements, each one an absolute elite.


    the great battle between the church and the cultists began anew, a scene that has been replayed countless times over hundreds of years.


    it was a fight to the bitter end!


    as time passed, ed was covered in blood, panting as he surveyed the battlefield.


    both sides could be said to be evenly matched¡ªthe extermination squad had stronger individual fighters, but the ram cult had more people.


    a smile appeared on the corner of ed''s mouth. the members of the extermination squad hailed from all corners of the earth. many did not know each other, but as the battle progressed, they gradually became familiar with each other and spontaneously formed small teams.


    consequently, the combat strength of the elite squads was qualitatively improved, and the final victory would belong to them.


    at that moment, he noticed a disturbance behind him; the waters of the river styx were stirred, and something was emerging from them.


    his pupils suddenly contracted; it was a tall skeletal beast, emanating scorching black smoke from its body. the flesh that clung to its bones pulsed and was exceedingly eerie.


    more startled than ed was the archbishop in red; he wielded the magic carpet as a weapon to face the enemy. the carpet transformed into the shape of a spear, and with each thrust, a cultist fell to the ground.


    but his face suddenly changed drastically; he felt something pulling on the holy artifact in his hand, and divinity within it fluctuated violently.


    he quickly retreated, distancing himself from the skeletal beast, his face a mix of shock and anger.


    "it''s over!" ed realized the gravity of the situation and sighed inwardly.


    the archbishop in red and the holy artifact were their side''s strongest combat power, yet they were restrained by the skeletal beast before them.


    his heart raced with fear; where on earth did the ram cult find such a creature? its ominous aura was disconcerting.


    the extermination squad faced the grave threat, and ed''s peripheral vision caught the cultists'' reactions, causing him to pause.


    something was wrong. shouldn''t the cultists be revealing a smile and watching them with a victorious sneer?


    they looked just like them, all vigilant and focusing their attention on the skeletal beast.


    could it be? a possibility dawned on ed''s mind.


    continue your saga on empire


    the skeletal beast charged into the crowd, ignoring both the extermination squad and the cultists as it headed straight for the distant blood orchid.


    both the church and the ram cult were wary of each other and both feared the skeletal beast; they simply watched as it left without anyone attempting to stop it.


    of course, the skeletal beast was none other than the bone of nightmares, and at that moment, it was controlled by xu yi.


    he had been waiting beside the "serpent well," never expecting the bone of nightmares to complete its refinement before the demon blade.


    this made him, who had been a mere spectator, somewhat restless. after a moment''s hesitation, he decided to let the bone of nightmares come over first.


    during its forceful crossing of the river styx, the bone of nightmares almost collapsed, but fortunately, it was only a call across the shallower waters of the styx, which allowed it to climb out.


    he seemed to smell the blood orchid''s fragrance in the air, his flesh and even his crumbling bones revealing an intense longing.

 Chapter 175 Chainsaw Killer

    as he neared the blood orchid, bone of nightmares surged forward in a frenzied sprint.there weren''t many cultists guarding the blood orchid anymore; they had all rushed towards the riverside to deal with the extermination squad.


    xu yi, now a skeletal body, could not harness the power of the entries, but it did not affect his use of combat skills.


    in fact, no particular skills were needed. the bone of nightmares itself was the most formidable weapon. common exorcism artifacts could not harm him, while his bony hands could easily pierce through human bodies.


    cultists who tried to stop him fell into pools of blood, with the bone of nightmares stepping over a ground littered with corpses, advancing towards the blood orchid.


    the blood orchid was within sight, its seductive petals exuding a strange fragrance.


    the bone of nightmares directly lunged at the center of the bushes, where the main root was located.


    every holy relic was a unique entity; the blood orchid in front of him was not like the cat spirit holy tree, which possessed a conscious soul. it only had instincts.


    it was born in the primeval forest of borneo and instinctively used the blood orchid to attract pythons. the falling petals were consumed by the pythons, which then evolved to guard around the blood orchid.


    now that the "guards" were gone, the main root of the blood orchid trembled slightly.


    xu yi ignored it and manipulated the bone of nightmares to pounce on it. the bone of nightmares was covered in cracks; if it did not receive a replenishment of strong vitality, it would collapse any moment.


    the bone of nightmares grasped the main root of the blood orchid, and its skeletal frame shuddered violently.


    he suddenly felt the divinity within the main root of the blood orchid, faint yet incredibly unique, purer than any other divinity.


    the skeletal body trembled slightly, not because it was about to collapse, but out of excitement.


    the blood orchid, also known as the flower of transcendence, gained its miraculous "transcendence" thanks to this special divinity.


    the bone of nightmares began to absorb that faint trace of divinity. the flesh attached to the bone''s surface writhed as if it was a serpent, wrapping around the main root and climbing along the rootstock in all directions.


    a vast expanse of the blood orchid withered and died, and a chilling aura soared into the sky.


    the opposing forces at the edge of the river styx simultaneously stopped fighting, turned their heads towards the direction of the blood orchid, their faces filled with horror.


    "bishop norton, you take command of the battle, i''ll stop that monster!" ed suddenly retreated, intent on halting the resurgence of the bone of nightmares.


    but an even more formidable aura descended abruptly, and a blood-colored beam of light pierced the sky from afar. the cultists'' faces lit up with mad joy, chanting the eternity of the holy lord.


    ed''s complexion turned deathly pale in an instant, for the evil god''s summoning ritual was about to be completed!


    "get me over there, quick!"


    a familiar voice came from behind. ed turned sharply, his voice filled with joy, "xu yi? you''re alright!"


    after the demon blade red lotus was completed, xu yi rushed over immediately.


    archbishop norton threw out his magic carpet, and xu yi rode across the river styx. as soon as he landed, he commenced a massacre.


    in the battle between the two sides, firearms were rarely used. it wasn''t that firearms weren''t useful; it was that exorcists powerful enough had their ways of dealing with common firearms.


    the world was changing, and naturally, exorcists progressed as well. if just any ordinary person with a gun could threaten an exorcist, wouldn''t exorcists be too constrained?


    however, the gun in xu yi''s hands did not fall into this category. the alchemical revolver messiah, combined with the corruption silver bullets, greatly increased its lethal effect on exorcists. sear?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    being a master of marksmanship, he almost never missed. the battle quickly turned into a one-sided affair.


    "quick, let''s go!" xu yi had no time to tangle with those cultists. after breaking through the cultists'' defenses, he charged toward the distant blood-colored beam of light.


    he could already feel the terrifying aura of the evil god.


    ed understood this as well, and he rushed to follow. after archbishop norton stabilized the situation, he also led a group of people to catch up with the two.


    as they passed the sea of blood orchids, ed hesitated slightly.


    "forget about this place! stopping the descent ritual is what''s important!" xu yi pulled ed away forcefully.


    the archbishop and his people didn''t bother with the monsters inside the blood orchids, as archbishop norton knew this wasn''t the time to get sidetracked.


    the other exorcists were indeed interested in the blood orchids, but they also knew the skeleton monster was tough to deal with. without the church''s aid, they dared not act rashly.


    xu yi finally arrived at the site of the descent ritual. the altar was engraved with a complex array, and heretics shrouded in black robes stood around it. at the center of the pillar of light was a large coffin.


    the pillar of light suddenly contracted, and the bloodlight converged towards the center''s coffin. xu yi took out the holy water concentrate gifted to him by the archbishop and hurled it vigorously.


    the instant the holy water touched the blood-colored light pillar, the glass bottle shattered, and the holy water sprinkled out, melting a large hole in the light pillar.


    when archbishop norton saw this, his eyes lit up. he took out a crown and threw it into the hole in the light pillar.


    as the crown entered the array, it immediately burst out in a dazzling golden light. under the irradiation of the light, the blood array crumbled apart, and the towering light pillar turned into a phantom and dissipated.


    all the exorcists present breathed a sigh of relief. since the church had resolved to destroy the evil god''s descent ritual, how could they not be prepared? the crown was their trump card against the evil god''s descent.


    the ritual was interrupted halfway, and the heretics conducting it instantly died violently, falling to the ground with blood flowing from all seven orifices.


    ed strode towards the coffin, ready to destroy the evil god''s medium inside. only by doing this could they completely shatter the ritual.


    as he stood before the coffin, his complexion suddenly changed greatly, and he instinctively stepped back.


    a whirring hum came from the coffin suddenly, and the next second, it burst open, a cold light slashing across ed''s waist. discover exclusive content at empire


    ed''s clothes ripped, and he was drenched in cold sweat. the object that had swept across his waist was a rotating chainsaw!


    if he had been just a second slower, he might have already been slashed open.


    a tall figure emerged from the broken coffin, dressed in a suit and tie and covered by a butcher''s apron, looking genteel. but if one saw the chainsaw in his hands and the leather face that covered his head, they''d think otherwise.


    the scent of cursed items filled the air, and although the chainsaw was rusty, it still rotated. this was by no means a traditional chainsaw; vines penetrated into the motor''s interior, and the oil it used was as thick as blood.


    "the texas chainsaw killer!"


    information about the cursed item flashed through xu yi''s mind.


    aiming the alchemical revolver messiah at the killer''s head, xu yi readied to pull the trigger, but he suddenly found he couldn''t move at all. his body seemed to have turned into a statue, unable even to blink.


    a powerful domain arose, centered on the chainsaw killer, enveloping all the exorcists present.


    the area fell quiet, leaving only the buzzing of the chainsaw, like the roar of a wild beast.


    ed was the closest to the chainsaw killer, and as the chainsaw neared to bisect his body, a burst of golden light exploded in ed''s eyes. the power of the sacred body fully activated, and he forcefully broke free from the domain''s oppression.


    he rapidly retreated, gasping heavily, his body covered in sweat.


    as his prey fled, the chainsaw killer''s cold pupils didn''t waver. he stepped forward confidently, as if taking a leisurely stroll through his own slaughterhouse.


    the exorcists frozen in place became easy targets. as the chainsaw passed through them, blood gushed out, organs scattered across the floor, and the exorcists died with intense reluctance.


    "it''s the evil god!" xu yi suddenly realized.


    ordinary killers obviously couldn''t possess such formidable power. although the evil god''s descent ritual was interrupted, some of the evil god''s power had still entered the killer''s body.

 Chapter 176 The Worst Has Already Happened

    ```The sound of the chainsaw howled as the exorcists of the clean-up squad were slaughtered like livestock. Ed''s eyes were bloodshot as he roared and lunged at the Chainsaw Killer. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Holy Artifact Magic Carpet beneath Archbishop Norton suddenly shook violently. He also broke free from the suppression of the Domain, holding the Magic Carpet rolled into a Spear, charging at the killer.


    The two of them were repelled time after time, and yet, they kept lunging forward again and again because if they stepped aside, the exorcists behind them would fall to the chainsaw.


    Xu Yi struggled to free himself from the restraints, with the Power of Obscurity bursting forth, causing the bonds to loosen for a moment, but that was all. The Fog of Obscurity he controlled was not enough to break free from the Domain.


    Ed was pushed back once again, feeling a burning pain on his arm. He had been grazed by the edge of the chainsaw when he failed to dodge in time.


    The situation for Archbishop Norton was even worse. His face was pale, and he was drenched with sweat.


    Though he could wield a Holy Artifact and had more combat experience, he was quite old, and he didn''t possess a special body like the Sacred Body, so he probably couldn''t hold on much longer.


    Sweat seeped into his eyes, causing a brief sting. Archbishop Norton inwardly cursed, realizing his mistake and dodging instinctively, but it was already too late.


    The chainsaw grazed his waist, cutting through the outer flesh, and the blood wouldn''t stop flowing.


    Archbishop Norton pressed one hand against the wound, clutching the Magic Carpet Spear with the other, gritting his teeth and holding on as his cassock became soaked with blood.


    Both of their situations were perilous. Suddenly, Archbishop Norton bumped Ed out of the way, saving him from a lethal slash. Archbishop Norton roared at Ed, "Run!"


    Ed''s pupils were blood-red. He did not heed Archbishop Norton''s command but instead gripped his crucifix hammer and charged at the Chainsaw Killer.


    The Chainsaw Killer seemed tired of this game. Blood-red mist rose up from his body, sending terror throughout the area.


    The chainsaw suddenly changed direction, and the crucifix hammer in Ed''s hand was torn away by a massive force; his flesh and blood body was about to face the dreadful chainsaw head-on.


    Just then, a purplish-red curtain of air opened up, enveloping the paralyzed exorcists. To their surprise, they found they could move again.


    The fury of the exorcists had reached its peak. They each pulled out their trump cards, and a variety of powerfully offensive attacks rained down on the Chainsaw Killer like droplets.


    Ed looked toward the center of the red curtain of air, where Xu Yi was located.


    "Xu Yi, convincing you to join the squad was truly my best decision!" Ed exclaimed, his face filled with joy.


    "Hurry up! I can''t hold on much longer!" Xu Yi roared.


    The Fog of Obscurity couldn''t break free from the Domain, but then he remembered Annabelle''s Toy Treasure Box. When the Treasure Box was opened, it, too, counted as a kind of Domain.


    He only tried it as a last resort, not expecting it to actually succeed.


    The two Domains clashed, neutralizing the suppressive Domain of the Chainsaw Killer, allowing the exorcists to regain their mobility.


    Unable to face so many exorcists, the Chainsaw Killer quickly became covered in wounds. His powerful presence began to wane, and it seemed he was about to fall.


    Xu Yi sensed it was time. He scattered a large cluster of Soul Binding threads, tightly ensnaring the Chainsaw Killer.


    The threads continuously tightened, slicing the Chainsaw Killer''s body apart, and his soul was compressed into a Soul Jade.


    Xu Yi felt the presence of the Evil God on the Soul Jade, and a flicker of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.


    He didn''t immediately feed the Soul Jade to Annabelle, as it was not the right moment.


    [Entry Devourment activated, devouring¡­]


    [Congratulations on obtaining "Blank Entry: Chainsaw Master (Common White)"]


    [Congratulations on obtaining "Blank Entry: Beastly Body (Green Rare)"]


    Xu Yi was somewhat disappointed with the devoured entries.


    However, considering that the rite of the Evil God''s descent was disrupted and the Chainsaw Killer only inherited a fraction of the Power of the Evil God, he let it go.


    Xu Yi surveyed the surroundings; some exorcists were bandaging their wounds, others were silently collecting the bodies on the ground. Although everyone''s heart was heavy with sorrow, their faces showed relief.


    Xu Yi''s brow involuntarily furrowed.


    Though the rite of the Evil God''s descent was interrupted and the exorcists had put forth their strength, was the resolution of the Evil God''s medium too easy?


    ```


    He had encountered the Evil God Ratma and knew just how difficult it was to deal with such beings.


    A faint movement stirred in Xu Yi''s heart, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.


    For he felt that after the Bone of Nightmares had devoured the main root of the Blood Orchid, it had finally completed its ascension!


    But such good news only delighted him for a moment; his heart remained heavy with concerns.


    "What''s wrong?" Ed noticed Xu Yi''s perturbation and asked softly.


    "Don''t you think the Evil God was dealt with a bit too easily?" Xu Yi didn''t hide his thoughts and spoke directly.


    Ed frowned as well, and although he felt that their mission was far from easy, having almost been annihilated, he trusted Xu Yi and quietly started to think.


    "Now that you mention it, something does seem off. Weren''t there too few heretics guarding the ritual?" Ed said quietly.


    No sooner had he spoken than Archbishop Norton summoned them over.


    "Archbishop Norton, have you found something?" Xu Yi, seeing the seriousness on Norton''s face, asked immediately.


    "I also sense something amiss, but we need to move this stone slab to know for sure."


    Beneath the broken coffin, a heavy stone slab was covering something. The exorcists worked together to move it aside.


    Underneath the slab lay an Array, only two meters in diameter, with densely engraved incantations, leaving almost no space unfilled.


    Archbishop Norton squatted next to the Array to inspect it, his face suddenly turning ashen, his hand trembling slightly as he pointed at the Array.


    "We''ve been deceived! This isn''t the true site for the descent of the Evil God!"


    Shock was evident on the faces of those around him, all except for Xu Yi, who had already sensed something amiss, and not just because the Chainsaw Killer had been disposed of too easily.


    A question had been lingering in his mind: what about the souls of those Chainsaw Killers?


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    The souls of the Chainsaw Killers had been implanted with the Soul Stealing Seed, yet he had never felt its presence.


    "But the Array just now was so grand, and the formidable presence of the Evil God couldn''t have been faked. How could the descent ritual be a sham?" one of the exorcists said, unwilling to believe what was happening.


    "I didn''t say the descent ritual was fake," Archbishop Norton explained. "The ritual is divided into two parts: one for energy transmission and another for energy reception. The true medium for the Evil God is elsewhere."


    "Then let''s destroy this Array right now!" an exorcist blurted out instinctively.


    Archbishop Norton shook his head with a sorrowful expression, "Do you know why the Heaven''s Crown destroyed the Blood Array yet didn''t destroy the Array under the stone slab?"


    He spoke sadly, "Because the Array had already been activated, and the true descent ritual might have been completed a day or two ago. That blood-red pillar of light was just a distraction."


    Everyone''s face turned pale, to think all their efforts had been futile.


    Xu Yi silently released his hand from the Alchemy Revolver. If it had been just ten minutes earlier, he might have been able to prevent all this with the Resurrection Coin.


    But one or two days ago, he was powerless to help.


    "Does this mean there''s a traitor among us, that our actions have been exposed?" someone voiced their suspicion.


    "Not necessarily! Although our actions were covert, gathering so many people, it''s impossible for no word to leak out," Ed quickly said, calming the panicked crowd.


    "If the Evil God descended one or two days ago, why haven''t we received any message?" someone questioned.


    Although mobile phones couldn''t be used here, the church possessed special Magic Artifacts for communicating with the outside world.


    This reminder jolted the church personnel to their senses, who quickly took out their Magic Artifacts, hoping to contact the church headquarters.


    Just then, a magnificent aurora spread from the horizon, glorious and illuminating the dark Land of Ceris.


    Upon seeing the beautiful aurora, Godfather Norton''s face changed drastically.


    "No good! They intend to close the entrance of the Land of Ceris!"

 Chapter 177 Darkness Is Approaching

    As Bishop Norton spoke, Xu Yi''s face also slightly changed.The Land of Ceris, being part of the Darklands, would have its connection to the outside world severed once the aurora appeared and dispelled the darkness.


    There was a certain time each year when the aurora would appear, but their calculations before coming had assured them that there were still two full months until the arrival of the aurora.


    This could only mean one thing: the premature appearance of the aurora was the work of heretics!


    Xu Yi climbed up the towering pillar beside the altar, using the vision of the Eyes of Obscurity to search for the cultists.


    "Over there! They''re trying to escape!"


    He quickly noticed something amiss; cultists were jumping into a pool, one after another, at the northeast corner of the altar¡ªundoubtedly, the pool was an entrance.


    "Stop them!" Ed bellowed.


    Everyone charged in the direction Xu Yi had indicated, fully aware that it was all a trap.


    It was too late to stop the aurora from appearing; now, the only thing they could do was to leave the Land of Ceris before it closed off.


    All of them burst into extreme speed, Xu Yi looked up at the sky, the aurora was about to traverse the Land of Ceris.


    He knew it was too late and fell slightly behind the others.


    The moment he dashed into the ruins, two plumes of black smoke flew out from his body¡ªit was the phasing Samurai Armor and Demon Blade Red Lotus.


    The speed at which the Incarnation of the Evil God walked far exceeded his; it might still have a chance to pass through the entrance and return to the real world.


    Bishop Norton mounted the Magic Carpet, his speed as quick as lightning; he might have had a slim chance to jump into the pool, but the cultists gave up their chance to leave, blocking him determinedly.


    This was the terrifying aspect of cultists; to accomplish their mission, they were willing to give up their lives at any moment.


    The extermination squad and the cultists erupted into battle once more; the battlefield was chaotic, and no one noticed that two streams of black smoke quietly infiltrated the pool¡ªit was the Ghost Samurai and the Demon Blade Red Lotus.


    Before the aurora pierced the sky, another wisp of black smoke entered the pool¡ªit was the Bone of Nightmares arriving from the Blood Orchid.


    Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief; with the Incarnation of the Evil God departed, he still retained the ability to intervene in the real world, without being completely helpless.


    ......


    Brooklyn, New York.


    Xu Changrong handed over the severely injured murderer to the police who came for the handover, feeling slightly guilty as he concealed the syringe in his pocket.


    "Did you find the body?" Xu Changrong asked, attempting to cover his unease.


    "We found it. Such a brutal murderer, to have sealed the body inside a concrete wall," the policeman remarked.


    He suddenly gave a start and quickly checked the murderer''s pulse; the murderer, who had been breathing just a moment ago, now had a pulse that had suddenly stopped.


    The United Kingdom, Lennocktown.


    Under the guidance of the Black Carp, Lisa found Harry hiding in a mine tunnel.


    This bloodthirsty murderer who had slaughtered more than twenty people was in terrible shape, with his chest caved in, left hand broken, and his protective mask punctured, his breathing sounding like a broken bellows.


    Lisa took out a syringe filled with the Soul Stealing Seed and approached the miner Harry, administering the injection into his neck.


    The miner Harry tried to resist, but Lisa easily subdued him.


    After the injection was done, Lisa was about to end his life when he suddenly collapsed; she felt a very faint soul fluctuation.


    France, Paris.


    In Josse''s sculpture studio, the lights were still on late at night. Human wax statues were scattered around the room, with the outer white wax shattered, revealing the horrific bodies inside.


    Two figures fought among the wax statues; Ailan seized an opportunity, severing her opponent''s left hand with her blade, then immediately retreated to avoid a counterattack.


    But she suddenly froze; Josse''s pupils went dull, and the dagger fell from his hand to the floor.


    Ailan sensed something was off, and pounced towards Josse, injecting him with the syringe before his eyes lost focus completely. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had injected only half the syringe when his heart stopped beating.


    Ailan frowned, staring at the body for a moment before taking out a small book and opening it.


    There were already seven or eight bright red crosses drawn in it; she moved her pen to the last name and marked a cross.


    Closing the book, Ailan sighed deeply.


    These days she had been rushing about, sometimes taking four or five flights in a single day. Now, at last, things had come to a pause, and she could finally take some rest.


    ......


    The Land of Ceris.


    The church''s personnel squatted on the altar, adding various arcane incantations on top of the original array while also setting up the Exorcism Artifacts they brought.


    "Although we are trapped here, it doesn''t mean we can''t do anything. I plan to use the Evil God''s descent ritual to reverse-engineer the Holy Light Array,"


    Bishop Norton explained softly.


    Xu Yi nodded, acknowledging his understanding.


    But he didn''t take much heed of the so-called Holy Light Array.


    After all, they were up against an Incarnation of the Evil God on earth, and it was a remote array at that. How effective could it possibly be?


    Bishop Norton caressed the Connie Magic Carpet with a look of reluctance, "To unleash the true power of the Holy Light Array, I plan to use the Magic Carpet as the core of the array."


    Xu Yi was slightly startled, suddenly looking forward to the Holy Light Array.


    Bishop Norton was prepared to sacrifice the Connie Magic Carpet, using an Exorcism Holy Relic to enhance the power of the array.


    "Your Excellency, the headquarters is asking us if we know the true location of the Evil God''s descent?"


    A church member suddenly turned and inquired, his hand holding a Crystal Ball for communicating with the church headquarters.


    Bishop Norton sighed and shook his head helplessly.


    Despite having expended so much mental strength, they still didn''t know the exact location of the Evil God''s descent.


    "In New York! In the outskirts of New York, Bru Town!"


    Suddenly, Xu Yi''s voice came from beside him. Bishop Norton turned in surprise as Xu Yi looked up at the aurora in the sky, his gaze hollow.


    ......


    On the outskirts of New York, Bru Town.


    The heretic, Hunter, knelt before the colossal coffin, feeling the chilling breath inside, his body trembling with excitement.


    He continuously bowed his head in worship, "Great Holy Lord, may You walk among us, spreading Your glory, and may the rebels die by Your blade."


    During the act of worship, the chains on his body were pulled, clinking with the sound of metal colliding.


    "Hunter, aren''t you the traitor?"


    A deep voice came from behind, and the large shadow shrouded in a black robe obscured the view of his face.


    "Lord Fick! Please believe me, I would never do anything to betray the Holy Lord!" Hunter pleaded, knocking his forehead to the ground repeatedly.


    Fick watched Hunter silently, then after a while, he spoke slowly, "The Holy Lord needs fresh blood to awaken from his slumber. To prove your loyalty to the Holy Lord, would you be willing to help Him truly descend upon the earth?"


    The standard descent ritual was very loud, so they initiated the main Array in the Land of Ceris, while the auxiliary Array was set up in the mortal realm.


    At the same time, they allowed the Incarnation of the Evil God to enter temporary sleep, thus the commotion of the descent ritual would be minimized, preventing it from being discovered by the church''s people.


    A dagger was thrown in front of Hunter, who without a word picked up the dagger and stabbed it into his heart. Blood splattered, spilling over the coffin.


    Hunter slowly collapsed to the ground, his eyes growing dim, but the coffin remained still.


    "I was deceiving you! I can''t believe you actually fell for it!" Suddenly, a sly smile appeared on Fick''s face. Enjoy new adventures from empire


    "God Cheater Fick, your sense of humor is as twisted as ever," a delicate female voice suddenly sounded from behind him.


    Fick remained silent, not even turning around, just keeping a smile on his lips.


    "Since Hunter isn''t a problem, that means the issue is with that guy named Xu Yi... His presence could very well interfere with our plans," the woman''s voice rose again.


    "No matter, he has already caught the attention of the Evil God of the Ram. Once the Incarnation of the Evil God awakens, He will naturally deal with him," Fick said nonchalantly.


    "If that''s the case, let''s proceed according to the plan!" The woman''s voice gradually drifted away.


    Fick walked towards the coffin, pouring an unknown liquid over the coffin lid. "Evil God of the Ram, it''s time for you to wake up. This little town before you is your baptismal ground. After the baptism, go and do what you need to do!"


    Fick spoke in a carefree manner, his words devoid of any reverence for the Evil God of the Ram. The followers of the Ram Cult could never imagine that the Fick they admired was a fraud.


    But to Fick''s surprise, within Hunter''s corpse, the Nest of the Evil God had faithfully recorded the entire scene and transmitted it to Xu Yi.

 Chapter 178 Lord Ghost Samurai Will Protect Us

    Land of Ceris.Xu Yi''s expression was solemn. The images transmitted back from the Nest of the Evil God had suddenly clarified many things for him.


    Previously, the Ram Cult was like a rat crossing the street, only able to hide in the dark corners and never dared to face the Church.


    But now, not only did they manage to lead the Church on a merry chase, they also quietly allowed the Evil God to descend successfully.


    If they had this kind of ability, why had they only managed to cling to survival all these years?


    Now he understood, there was a mysterious organization manipulating everything from the shadows.


    "God Cheater Fick, from what organization do you hail?"


    "Xu Yi, how did you know that the Evil God descended in Bru Town?" Ed asked, voicing his perplexity.


    "Bru Town has previously shown traces of the Evil God''s presence, and there were also a considerable number of heretics."


    Of course, Xu Yi couldn''t reveal that it was because of the surveillance from the Nest of the Evil God.


    Previously, when the Ghost Samurai headed to Bru Town to deal with a psychopathic killer, they were ambushed by heretics.


    He originally thought it was a trap set by the Ram Cult, but upon reflection, he realized that many details didn''t add up.


    The goal of the Evil God of the Ram was the souls of those murderer-maniacs, there was no need for the heretics to set an ambush to protect them.


    Now thinking about it, perhaps because the descent location of the Evil God was nearby, they came over to check and happened to run into the Ghost Samurai.


    Ed still harbored some doubts, but he did not inquire further because Xu Yi''s gaze was gradually growing vacant.


    Xu Yi''s mind had split into three parts, each controlling one of the "Footsteps of the Evil God."


    Almost simultaneously, the Samurai Armor and Demon Blade Red Lotus passed through the pond, but unexpectedly, they emerged in completely different locations. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Samurai Armor and the Bone of Nightmares had good luck, both appearing near New York. The Demon Blade Red Lotus was the least fortunate, appearing directly in a pond in Buffalo Town.


    Even after Phasing, and with their astounding speed, traversing a city would still take about half an hour.


    ......


    Bru Town.


    This was once an ordinary town, now completely surrounded by the military.


    Entos gazed at the town''s entrance from afar, the intense gunfire was continuous, small missiles streaked across the sky, their long fiery tails illuminating the dark night. When the missiles landed, flames soared into the skies, the earth trembled, and the explosion sounded like thunder.


    "Target acquired! Commence saturation bombardment!"


    Entos heard the military commander''s voice through his headset.


    "Let''s hope the military can eliminate that monster!" Entos sighed deeply and turned to command the citizens of Bru Town to evacuate.


    Most of the town''s inhabitants were wearing pajamas, having just entered their dreams, when suddenly, soldiers came knocking at their doors, urging them to evacuate.


    At first, they did not take it seriously, only realizing the severity of the situation when they felt the earth shaking in the distance.


    Even if they were facing a terrorist invasion, would it really necessitate such a huge commotion? They were puzzled.


    "Little Alice, do you need help?" Entos crouched in front of a small girl.


    The little girl looked delicate and lovely, only five or six years old. At this age, she should have been the liveliest, hopping and playing naughtily everywhere.


    But she moved incredibly slowly because she had only one leg, limping along with the aid of a crutch.


    At the age of three, a car accident took her leg and her parents. Afterward, she lived with her grandmother, but six months ago, her grandmother passed away as well.


    Such a young child should have been sent to a relief home, but Little Alice was unwilling. She has been looking after her grandmother''s house, saying that if she left, the house would soon fall into disrepair. She wanted to protect her grandmother''s house and her cat Mimi.


    Mimi was a stray cat Alice had taken in, also with a missing leg, which gave the impression of shared sympathy between them.


    When confronted with Entos''s question, Little Alice shook her head, "Thank you, sir, but I can do it alone."


    All the people here were carrying big and small bags filled with their valuable possessions, but little Alice only had a cloth bag that contained a family photo and her white cat named Xiao Mi.


    Next to the white cat, there was also a rag doll stuffed into the bag. The stitches of the doll were rough, and it was clear that the little girl standing before him had made it by hand.


    For others, cash and jewelry might be the most precious things, but to the little girl here, her parents'' picture, the cat that kept her company, and the doll were the most important things in her life.


    "Are you scared?" Entos curiously asked.


    The people around them heard the thundering sounds of artillery, their faces could not hide the terror, but little Alice was different; she seemed more like she had prepared fruit and snacks for a picnic.


    Little Alice shook her head and hugged the doll inside her bag tightly, "I''m not scared! Because Lord Ghost Samurai will protect me!"


    Because of the poor craftsmanship of the doll, Entos then realized that the doll in her bag was actually the Ghost Samurai Evil God that had appeared before.


    It was said that little Alice had once been kidnapped by a murderer and buried in the ground, but it was the Ghost Samurai who had saved her.


    Entos was somewhat dumbfounded. How could an Evil God possibly save anyone? It must have been just a hallucination from the little girl being too scared.


    However, he didn''t say much more. No matter what, he wasn''t about to argue with a poor little girl over such things.


    "Hurry up and get on the bus! There will be chocolate cake in the safe place!" Entos hurried Alice to leave. Find your next adventure on empire


    He sensed something was off. Just a while ago, he could still hear the commander issuing orders through his earpiece, but at some unknown point, no new orders were coming through.


    He took out his communicator, trying to contact the commander, but only heard a hissing busy signal, and Entos fell silent.


    As the commander lost contact, the distant artillery fire gradually died down, only to be replaced by piercing screams.


    "It''s okay! The Great Exorcists from the church will surely deal with that monster!"


    Entos had a bad premonition, but he could only comfort himself this way.


    Time quietly passed, and most of the people had gotten on the bus. Because the carriage was too crowded, Entos took little Alice to the front of the bus, intending to seat her in the passenger seat.


    Suddenly something crashed in front of him. With the help of the moonlight, Entos saw what it was in the darkness¡ªa corpse.


    Entos felt as if his blood had frozen. He could barely breathe. The body was wearing a gorgeously red cassock, a garment in the church only the Archbishop could wear.


    Although he had only seen him once, he recognized him immediately. It was the Great Exorcist who had come to support them from the church.


    The Great Exorcist was beyond dead, his torso severed below the chest, his organs spilling all over the ground, and his face still bore the expression of terror from his moment of death.


    Entos mustered all the courage he had and slowly turned around.


    He finally got a clear look at the legendary terrifying Evil God: a towering figure over two meters tall, wearing a white hooded mask, dressed in a black and blue jumpsuit, the dagger in his hand still dripping with blood.


    The figure looked like an oddly dressed ordinary man; he wouldn''t even scare children at Halloween.


    But when Entos locked eyes with him, his heart stopped in an instant. Such indifference and ferocity in those eyes, he couldn''t even describe.


    "To encounter the legendary Evil God Michael before death is not too bad!"


    Entos didn''t know where his sense of humor came from, making a quip about himself, perhaps knowing he was doomed had given rise to some courage inside him.


    The real Michael Miles was long gone, and City Hall did not know the real name of the Evil God of the Ram, but because Michael was wearing a Cursed Item, the Evil God was referred to as "Michael."


    Little Alice sensed the cold and murderous intent from Evil God Michael, her slight frame trembling uncontrollably, yet even in such a moment, she was still trying to soothe her agitated cat.


    "Xiao Mi! Don''t be afraid! Lord Ghost Samurai will protect us!" Alice whispered softly.


    Entos shook his head with a bitter smile. If the Great Exorcist from the church had died at his hands, what good would muttering about the illusory Ghost Samurai do now?


    Evil God Michael slowly walked towards little Alice, and Entos stood in front of her. His dignity would not allow Alice to die before his eyes.


    "Lord Ghost Samurai!" Alice suddenly cried out in alarm.


    Entos instinctively turned his head to look, guessing that Alice might have been scared senseless, babbling nonsense.


    But then he froze. From the darkness behind Alice, a black and red suit of armor really did emerge, with black-gold flames quietly burning in the pupils.


    The Ghost Samurai had truly come! Entos''s eyes widened in disbelief.

 Chapter 179 The Descent of the Holy Light

    Xu Yi finally arrived, which was good news, but the bad news was that the first to arrive was the Ghost Samurai.Last time, the Ghost Samurai had used the Demon-Suppressing Flame beyond what the armor could withstand; now it was in a semi-fractured state and couldn''t exert its full power.


    Xu Yi watched the Incarnation of the Evil God, Michael; the opponent did not have an overwhelming aura, but he could clearly feel the terror emanating from him.


    There are many forms of power, some explosive like a bomb, and some silent like a laser; often, the latter is much more terrifying than the former, and the Evil God Michael undoubtedly belonged to the latter category.


    The Evil God Michael was drawn to the Ghost Samurai and was a bit puzzled¡ªwhy would someone carrying the aura of an evil deity stand in front of him?


    He had only just descended, and his wisdom was not yet awakened.


    This was also a common problem with the descent of Evil Gods; they needed to undergo a baptism of blood before they could fully recover their cognitive abilities, and the town of Bru at present was the site of his baptism.


    Xu Yi manipulated the Ghost Samurai to stride boldly towards Michael.


    The other party had become his sworn enemy; whether it was the disruption of the descent ritual last time or the snatch of the Bone of Nightmares, once the opponent regained his memory, Xu Yi would probably be the first one to be killed.


    When he passed by Alice, he recognized her as the little girl he had saved at Vincent''s farm last time.


    What he didn''t expect was that she was a believer of the Ghost Samurai, as a continuous stream of the Power of Faith rose from her and poured into the Ghost Samurai.


    Entos, caught between the two Evil Gods, felt almost scared to death, but fortunately, the two Evil Gods didn''t have the time to deal with him, a small ant, which he secretly found relieving.


    He grabbed Alice and bolted toward the car ahead.


    The car had been waiting for them; the driver, after all, was a soldier and didn''t dare to leave without orders.


    Most importantly, the driver didn''t notice Michael at first, and by the time he did, Entos was already sprinting towards them; departing in a rush wouldn''t make much difference in just a second or two.


    "Drive!" Entos pressed his voice low, but anyone could hear the urgency in his words.


    The vehicle started and shot forward, and Entos breathed heavily, feeling a sense of relief after a narrow escape; he stuck his head out of the window, looking back at the battlefield.


    In his mind, the Ghost Samurai stood no chance against the Evil God Michael and could probably only hold on for about ten seconds. Remembering that it took Michael only a few minutes to deal with the Great Exorcist.


    But surprisingly, the Ghost Samurai stretched out a finger and, from a distance, lightly tapped the Evil God Michael.


    The gesture seemed harmless, even somewhat playful, but the effect was horrific¡ªa pillar of white light fell suddenly, reaching from heaven to earth.


    The Evil God Michael was enveloped in white light, as if he had fallen into the radiation layer of the sun, and unimaginable heat scorched his body, causing Michael to let out a bestial roar.


    Entos was puzzled; wasn''t the Ghost Samurai an Evil God? How could the white pillar of light carry a sense of sanctity?


    The white pillar of light that pierced heaven and earth was, of course, not a power Xu Yi controlled¡ªit was the power of the Holy Light Array.


    His true body was right next to the Holy Light Array, so naturally, he knew when the Array was activated.


    Xu Yi was inwardly shocked. It was a force to be reckoned with, a force that had sacrificed the Exorcism Holy Relic, and if he had been engulfed in the Holy Light at this moment, the Ghost Samurai Armor would undoubtedly have disintegrated instantly.


    The intense heat of the Holy Light targeted only Michael, with no change to the ground beneath his feet.


    Yet what shocked Xu Yi even more was the Evil God Michael; under such high temperatures, even Jason, who possessed Hyper Accelerated Regeneration, would likely be evaporated substantially.


    Yet Michael only had his outer skin charred¡ªit was hard to imagine just how sturdy his body was!


    Blood oozed from Michael''s body surface, flowing around him, resisting the power of the Holy Light.


    The power of the Holy Light was staggering, but this power was not without its drawbacks; after lasting for more than ten seconds, the Holy Light gradually dissipated.


    ```


    Michael, with his skin severely charred, flipped open his coveralls, revealing his bare chest.


    Xu Yi instantly noticed something abnormal in Michael''s chest, which resembled the dry, cracked earth, with dense fissures spreading outwards.


    He had a sudden realization: although the Evil God Michael had dealt with the Great Exorcist, he was not unscathed¡ªa severe wound plagued his chest.


    "The opponent isn''t invincible!" hope surged within Xu Yi''s heart.


    Michael''s palm overflowed with eerie blood, floating in the air like tendrils.


    He violently pressed his hand on the fissures in his chest, filling the gaps between the cracks with blood.


    The pain of the Evil God Michael was alleviated, as he regained his indifferent demeanor.


    Without a single word, nor any preparatory movement, Michael suddenly disappeared on the spot and reappeared in front of the Ghost Samurai the next second. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sharp dagger instantly pierced through the Samurai Armor, and the clenched fist holding the dagger also struck the armor. The Ghost Samurai was sent flying violently, striking the building behind and penetrating more than a dozen walls before slowly coming to a stop.


    Xu Yi''s expression shifted slightly¡ªjust one strike nearly shattered the Ghost Samurai''s armor. What terrifying strength!


    He finally understood why the Church''s Great Exorcist had died at the hands of the opponent in just a few minutes.


    Michael didn''t have as many tricks as Ratma, but having more abilities didn''t necessarily mean being stronger. His sheer force left others utterly powerless.


    Xu Yi attempted to control the Samurai Armor to stand up, but the armor emitted sounds of being overwhelmed and cracking. He instantly realized that if he continued to force it, the armor would surely fall apart.


    Michael didn''t give him any chance to struggle; the instincts residing in his soul dictated obliteration.


    Xu Yi''s vision blurred for a moment, and Michael had already appeared before him.


    Compared to his incredible strength, his speed was equally astonishing.


    Michael lifted his foot and stamped down viciously. The Ghost Samurai''s head shattered instantly, and the ground was stomped into a huge hole.


    The dark golden flames inside the head dissipated, and Michael could no longer sense the aura of the Evil God, turning away to pursue those who had fled.


    Fick hid in the forest, looking out over the battlefield.


    The situation was somewhat unexpected; the people of New York City Hall had managed to react so quickly and organize an attack, but he didn''t pay it much mind.


    A hastily assembled team could not possibly deal with the descent of the Evil God of the Ram, even if it were just a fraction of his power.


    As for the so-called Evil God Ghost Samurai, he held them in disdain.


    He recognized at a glance that the opponent was nothing but a charlatan. Any exorcist who was slightly stronger could take the opponent down.


    Indeed, once the holy light disappeared, the Evil God took care of the Ghost Samurai as easily as crushing an ant on the roadside.


    Fick shifted his attention away from the Ghost Samurai.


    Now, his thought was that the Incarnation of the Evil God would quickly complete the Blood Baptism and then proceed with the planned tasks, so that their organization could benefit.


    But suddenly, he turned his head sharply, his gaze refocusing on the Ghost Samurai.


    The once shattered armor was now awkwardly standing up.


    It wasn''t just standing up; there was a momentum about the armor. The aura of the armor had completely changed, revealing a presence that sent shivers down one''s spine.


    Fick''s face was filled with astonishment¡ªwhat had happened to cause such a drastic change in the opponent''s aura!


    ```

 Chapter 180 Wailing Storm

    Fick stared blankly at the Ghost Samurai Armor, finally noticing the anomaly¡ªit was bones! An extra skeleton had appeared inside the armor!The surface of the skeleton was covered with fresh flesh, which was shockingly golden in color.


    Countless tiny tendrils, also golden, sprouted from the flesh, twining around the broken pieces of armor and reassembling them.


    The armor was reborn, and the golden flesh that repaired the cracks looked like some sort of bizarre pattern, giving the entire armor a unique aesthetic appeal.


    Naturally, the skeleton was the Bone of Nightmares. In the midst of fending off the Evil God Michael, the Bone of Nightmares had finally arrived.


    Xu Yi hadn''t expected that the evolved Bone of Nightmares, upon discovering the shattered Ghost Samurai Armor, would develop a desire to fuse with it, leading to the scene before him.


    Michael suddenly turned around, his indifferent pupils revealing impatience.


    He teleported in front of the newborn Ghost Samurai and used the same trick, piercing the armor with a dagger.


    Though the dagger, specially geared for him by the Ram Cult, wasn''t a Holy Artifact, it could still be called a Divine weapon¡ªextremely sturdy. Yet when it collided with the Bone of Nightmares, it snapped off instantly.


    The evolved Bone of Nightmares had a degree of sturdiness that was incomparable to before.


    Xu Yi violently threw a punch, utilizing combat techniques as the newly reborn Ghost Samurai, his power several hundred times that of a human body.


    The target of his fist was Michael''s chest, which had once been wounded by a Great Exorcist, a known weak point.


    When the fist collided with the chest, a thunderous boom echoed.


    Xu Yi''s expression shifted slightly. The force of his punch, capable of blasting a large hole through more than ten centimeters of iron plate, left the opponent unscathed, while he himself was forced back two steps by the recoil.


    Fick watched the battle from afar, a brutal skirmish between two fierce beasts. Fists pounded, bone hands slashed across, buildings collapsed in chunks due to the battle, with deep pits scattered across the ground.


    Battles between supernatural beings are usually bizarre and obscure, but Michael or the Ghost Samurai, both opted for this most primitive and dangerous method of combat.


    Fick was increasingly irritated; in terms of strength and speed, the Evil God was dominating, leaving the Ghost Samurai without the power to resist, just taking a beating, repeatedly knocked to the ground.


    But the opponent rose again and again, like an indestructible cockroach, becoming more and more valiant the more it fought.


    He really couldn''t understand what was the point of this fight?


    Time went by, and Fick suddenly found his breathing growing rapid.


    Even though Michael still had the upper hand over the Ghost Samurai, Fick keenly sensed that something was off.


    As the fight proceeded, the Ghost Samurai''s momentum grew stronger, while Michael''s punching power weakened with each strike.


    What in the world was happening? It felt like Michael''s power was being siphoned off by the Ghost Samurai!


    Fick became even more agitated, vehemently stomping on Hunter''s corpse to vent his rage.


    Xu Yi manipulated the Ghost Samurai to lunge at Michael once more, the black-gold flames replacing his pupils revealing excitement.


    Deserving of great expectations, the Bone of Nightmares, with its Divine-power absorbing ability, was truly a natural-born God Slayer!


    The Ghost Samurai was indeed no match for the Evil God Michael, but as time elapsed and the Bone of Nightmares constantly nibbled away at the opponent''s Divinity, the tide would change¡ªMichael would eventually be slain by the Bone of Nightmares.


    Michael''s intelligence was not yet awakened, but he instinctively sensed that something was amiss, fear appearing in his pupils for the first time.


    He punched the Ghost Samurai back. Usually, he would follow up with an immediate counterattack, but this time he didn''t, standing still in a daze.


    But Xu Yi felt something ominous, a chilling sensation down his spine.


    He suddenly heard wailing, as if a thousand, ten thousand devils were weeping beside his ear, the sound sweeping in all directions.


    The vehicles carrying the residents of Bru Town had already driven far away, but they were still affected by the wailing. Everyone inside felt as if their brains were struck by a heavy blow, some passed out on the spot, while others screamed in agony, clutching their heads as blood streamed from their orifices.


    With no one controlling the military vehicles, those with luck only collided with the car in front, and the less fortunate flipped over, taking everyone inside with them.


    The black and golden flames in the Ghost Samurai''s pupils flickered violently as he struggled against the wailing sound, and Xu Yi grew increasingly anxious, because this terrifying wail was merely a prelude to the enemy''s attack!


    Blood-red streams of air rose from the body of the Evil God Michael, whirling around Michael, gaining speed with each rotation.


    The hurricane formed, initially just enveloping Michael, but as time passed, it grew larger and taller.


    The high-ranking officials at the City Hall, who were observing the battlefield from a distance, silently lowered their binoculars, staring blankly at the scene before them.


    The blood-red hurricane soared into the clouds, connecting heaven and earth. The clouds were tinged red by the hurricane, and debris flew everywhere; it was like the end of the world.


    The hurricane swept over everything, be it the town''s buildings or the forests beyond the town.


    The vehicles that had escaped from Bru Town were also affected. Positioned on the fringe of the hurricane, they were not pulled directly into its center, thus avoiding a fate of being ground to bits.


    But the immense suction flung the vehicles high into the air before slamming them down with a thunderous crash.


    "Is this the power of an Evil God?" The worldview of the officials in New York was severely shaken.


    Even from such a distance, they could feel the strong winds; the temporary camp was nearly blown away, their clothes snapping in the gale.


    A steel plate was sucked into the center of the hurricane and in the blink of an eye, the solid steel disintegrated into dust.


    It was hard to imagine what terror awaited at the center of the hurricane.


    Xu Yi was right in the center of the blood-red hurricane, which the Evil God had summoned specifically for him.


    The hurricane was not merely terrifying in its crushing force; those blood-red streams carried a powerful quality of "Annihilation," one that even the Bone of Nightmares could not withstand.


    The Ghost Samurai was in grave danger within the blood-red hurricane; his outer layers of armor shattered, his golden flesh annihilated, and his gray bones were exposed, with cracks running along them.


    The black and golden Demon-Suppressing Flame emanated from the Ghost Samurai in an attempt to counter the blood-red hurricane, the flames flared wildly before being blown out completely.


    After an indeterminable length of time, the blood-red hurricane slowly dissipated, and the Ghost Samurai was flung out by the last gust, crashing heavily to the ground.


    Those items that had been swept high into the sky by the hurricane now began to fall: the remains of buildings, ancient trees reduced to mere trunks¡­these remnants had only been on the edge of the hurricane, so they were not entirely destroyed.


    The debris fell around the Ghost Samurai, even smashing directly onto his head, but the Ghost Samurai remained motionless.


    The Ghost Samurai''s body was covered in armor, but now its original appearance was unrecognizable.


    Most of his torso was crushed, with only the left chest attached to a severed arm, the rest of his limbs gone without a trace.


    Only the head remained intact, although the light within its pupils had extinguished.


    The Ghost Samurai lay quietly among the debris, as if dead. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sir, shall we launch the missiles?" An officer on the temporary observation post asked the person in charge in a soft voice.


    "Do you think a small missile could deal with that monster? And if we deploy a large missile, do you know how many towns are around and how many people haven''t had the chance to evacuate?" The person in charge stared at the officer with an icy gaze.


    The officer was at a loss for words, stepping back in shame.


    "Have you contacted the church? These matters are better handled by professionals." The person in charge inquired of a communications officer beside him.


    "The church''s people are on their way here, but it will take some time before they can arrive."


    The person in charge fell silent for a moment, then sighed deeply, "Let''s evacuate the people from the surrounding towns first! If it really comes down to it, we may have to try launching a large missile... or alternatively, reach out to that organization."

 Chapter 181 The Little Bird on the Thorns

    Land of Ceris, the edge of the altar.Xu Yi leaned against a pillar, closed his eyes to recuperate, when suddenly his complexion turned deathly pale, and he fell to the ground in pain.


    The bloodstorm not only destroyed the Ghost Samurai; the consciousness he had attached to the Armor also suffered severe damage.


    For that very reason, his connection with the Ghost Samurai was forcibly severed.


    His brain was hazy, feeling as if he had been up for three consecutive nights without a single full night''s sleep, and now he just wanted to close his eyes and sleep soundly.


    But he knew he couldn''t, now was definitely not the time to sleep!


    "Xu Yi, what''s wrong?"


    Ed noticed Xu Yi''s abnormal state and hurried over, his face full of concern.


    Xu Yi had no strength to reply; he took out a dagger and violently pierced his thigh. The intense pain made him instantly alert, and he reconnected with the Ghost Samurai.


    ......


    On the outskirts of Bru Town.


    In a barren forest, the soil suddenly began to move, and Fick crawled out of the ground.


    The moment the bloodstorm appeared, he sensed something was amiss. He dug a deep pit in the ground and hid inside, avoiding disaster.


    "What astonishing power!" Fick said with a light chuckle of admiration.


    He was in a very good mood at the moment, as the troublesome Ghost Samurai had finally been dealt with. Once the Evil God Michael completed the Baptism by blood, this matter could finally be put to rest.


    But his face suddenly showed an astounded expression, followed by indescribable anger.


    The previously silent Ghost Samurai began to tremble, and the faint light in its pupils lit up once more.


    It''s still not dead! What a vile thing!


    Fick erupted in anger. If it weren''t for the fact that approaching now would attract the indiscriminate attack of the Evil God, he would have wanted to personally go and grind the Ghost Samurai to ashes.


    Xu Yi reestablished the connection with the Ghost Samurai and began to assess its condition.


    It was as bad as it could be; only one hand remained, and it was broken. How was he supposed to confront Evil God Michael like this? Was he supposed to bite with his teeth?


    Xu Yi scanned his surroundings, attempting to find the remains of the Ghost Samurai amid the ruins.


    He didn''t find the remains of the Armor, but he saw something else; his rotating head suddenly froze, the light in his pupils stilled, as if extinguished.


    Amid the ruins stood the remnants of a structure, likely where a beam had been. The concrete wrapped around it had dissipated in the storm, leaving exposed rebar.


    A tiny figure hung from the rebar; the sharp steel had pierced her left chest, and she looked like a little bird caught on thorns.


    The wind blew, and the little girl''s body swayed unsteadily, her only leg fluttering along with the white cotton skirt.


    Lil'' Alice, this strong little girl, the Ghost Samurai''s only believer, had still been unable to escape the fate of death in the end.


    The storm had swept up the fleeing convoy, and the little girl was thrown high into the air. Although she didn''t fall into the eye of the storm, her body had been impaled by rebar as she fell from the sky.


    Miraculously, the little girl still clutched a doll in her hands.


    It was difficult to imagine the strength a little girl would need to hold onto something in her hand amidst the whirlwind; to her, that thing must have been very important.


    But what surprised him was that the doll was very crudely made; Xu Yi exerted a great deal of effort before recognizing it¡ªit was actually a plush doll of the Ghost Samurai.


    Why had she held so tightly onto a doll of the Ghost Samurai? It wasn''t even worth a dollar, was it? He simply could not understand.


    Yet inexplicably, he felt an emptiness within, unable to articulate exactly what he was feeling.


    If Xu Yi had understood the little girl''s background, perhaps he would have grasped the reason why.


    For Alice, after the only grandmother who loved her passed away, she had nothing left in this world to cling to. The belief that sustained her was to protect her grandmother''s house and take care of the small white cat, Mimi.


    But Mimi was not only a stray cat, she was also an old cat, and would soon leave Alice as well.


    Alice was aware of this; she had planned that when Mimi died, she would buy a coffin and they would lie in it together.


    She would leave a note, asking Uncle Hans next door, to bury the coffin in the yard behind the house, because she had no extra money to buy a gravesite, and her grandmother was also buried there.


    That way, she could always watch over her grandmother''s house and live happily ever after with Mimi and her grandmother, as a happy family. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the plans of the killer had disrupted her plans.


    She wasn''t afraid of death, but she was a bit worried about leaving Mimi alone and felt a bit of regret that she couldn''t complete her plan for a happy family.


    It was at this time the Ghost Samurai appeared.


    Others said how terrifying the Ghost Samurai was, that he was an Evil God.


    But she knew that Lord Ghost Samurai was a very gentle person, who not only took off the suffocating paper bag from her head but also thoughtfully helped dug out the top layer of dirt so she could use her hands to push the soil off herself.


    Actually, she wanted to call out to Lord Ghost Samurai that day, hoping he would pat her head, just like her grandmother did.


    But her grandmother said not to bother others, so she didn''t say anything, just silently praying.


    From that day on, she suddenly developed a desire to live.


    Because she wanted to grow up properly and then find Lord Ghost Samurai to thank him in person.


    The sound of footsteps roused Xu Yi from his reverie; the Evil God Michael had returned, realizing that the Ghost Samurai was still alive and prepared to come and annihilate him.


    Xu Yi, controlling the Ghost Samurai, turned his head to gaze at the Evil God Michael.


    For some reason, he had never felt as intense a desire to kill his opponent as he did at that moment!


    In the shadows in the distance, Fick revealed a relieved smile on his face, he even wanted to burst into laughter; the Ghost Samurai had completely lost the ability to resist, and the Evil God was about to kill him!


    Just then, the sound of a sonic boom came from the sky, and Fick abruptly looked up to see a trail of fire falling from the horizon.


    Has the government gone mad, launching a large missile at this time?


    Frightened, Fick jumped up from the ground, instinctively wanting to run away.


    He had chosen this place specifically because there were many surrounding villages, and it wouldn''t be possible to evacuate everyone right away; the government wouldn''t likely launch a large missile.


    After running a few steps, he suddenly stopped; it didn''t seem to be a missile.


    The trail of fire headed straight for the Evil God Michael; Michael dodged, and as the trail of fire hit the ground, there was neither a shattering of earth nor a sky-filling blaze. The fire trail fell silently to the ground.


    Fick saw clearly what was inside the trail of fire; it was actually a knife, with black patterns moving on the crystal red blade, and the thorn-like hilt flickering with a sinister glow.


    The long knife was slanted into the ground, black and red flames entwined around it, and the fiery breeze scattered the dust on the ground.


    What knife was this? And why would it appear here?


    Fick was full of questions, but suddenly his eyes widened; he saw a shocking scene.


    The Evil God Michael was deliberately distancing himself from that knife, fearing the fire on it.


    He suddenly realized that the long knife was something even more terrifying than the Exorcism Holy Relic.


    "It''s fine! Even if the knife is formidable, it''s just an inanimate object. Without someone to wield it, it can''t unleash any power," Fick repeatedly reassured himself.


    His heart gave a sudden shudder; the Ghost Samurai, lying on the ground, propped up his remaining body with a severed hand, the fire in his pupils as fierce as erupting lava.

 Chapter 182 One Strike! Slay the God!

    Xu Yi gazed at the Demon Blade Red Lotus, the sword that had traveled the farthest from Bru Town, which had finally arrived at this moment.Having undergone the baptism of the divine corpse, the tempering of heavenly fire, and the Life Cleansing Blade Pool with the blood of a giant python, the Red Lotus Longsword had long transcended the level of an Exorcism Holy Relic.


    He had absolute confidence that with this sword he could break through the defenses of the Evil God Michael, but unfortunately, he no longer had hands to grip the blade.


    A gust of wind passed by, and little Alice, who was hanging onto the steel rebar, suddenly let go. The Ghost Samurai doll in her hand fell before Xu Yi.


    Embroidered behind the doll were two words, "Strength" and "Hope".


    Little Alice clung to the Ghost Samurai doll not only to find solace but also to constantly remind herself to never lose hope in life and to learn to be strong.


    Xu Yi turned his head to look at little Alice and suddenly felt that he should pat the cute little girl''s head and offer her some encouragement.


    But unfortunately, he no longer had hands.


    An astonishing scene unfolded. With the emergence of a strong will, the golden flesh that had been dormant suddenly started to wriggle, entwining over the armor and spreading in all directions.


    The flesh filled in the missing armor''s arms, constructing new flesh and armor, including the bones beneath the armor.


    "Blood Orchids!"


    Xu Yi suddenly realized, the Bone of Nightmares had devoured the special divinity of the Blood Orchid and achieved Transcendence. The characteristic of "indestructibility" contained within the golden flesh was activated at this moment.


    "Flesh Ghost Samurai" was formed, the golden sheen on the flesh gradually faded, transforming into the original color of the armor.


    Xu Yi did not immediately draw the Demon Blade Red Lotus. Instead, he turned around to face little Alice, broke off the steel rebar piercing her chest, and carefully laid her down on the ground, then patted her little head.


    He actually felt a sense of warmth, as if the little girl had come back to life, nuzzling his hand with her head, but he knew that it was all just an illusion.


    The onlooking Fick felt like he was on the verge of madness. The Ghost Samurai had come back to life again, and its momentum had become even more terrifying than before!


    Xu Yi turned around and strode toward the Evil God Michael while drawing out the Demon Blade Red Lotus.


    The usually advancing Michael actually backed away, quietly retreating; his body''s instincts told him to stay away from the Ghost Samurai before him.


    Black-gold flames rose from the Ghost Samurai, the Demon-suppressing Domain descended, and the Evil God Michael felt as if his body weighed a thousand pounds, making it difficult to move.


    Last time, using the body of the Ghost Samurai, Xu Yi could barely call upon the Demon-Suppressing Flame. But at this moment, it felt effortless.


    The Demon Blade Red Lotus also erupted in flames. The Red Lotus Karma Flame melded with the Demon-Suppressing Flame, forming a massive Firestorm Scroll that shot up into the sky.


    "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could he become so powerful!"


    Fick screamed in hysteria, clenching his fists but unable to hide the fear within.


    The fire gave him a feeling even more terrifying than the previous Wailing Storm of the Evil God.


    At the observation station in the distance, the person in charge was on the phone with someone from the church. He felt the approaching Firestorm behind him and turned his head abruptly.


    He was stunned, staring blankly into the distance as the phone slipped from his hand.


    His eyes glazed over as he murmured involuntarily, "My God! What on earth is that!"


    The sky-piercing Firestorm Scroll began to transform. In the blink of an eye, it had become a towering giant clad in Samurai Armor, identical in shape to the Ghost Samurai, wielding a Flame Longsword several hundred meters long.


    Xu Yi had only intended to unleash the power of the flames, whether it was the Demon-Suppressing Flame or the Red Lotus Karma Flame.


    He hadn''t expected that their combination would result in a miraculous chemical reaction, fusing and catalyzing each other into the Flame Giant before him.


    Clasping the Demon Blade Red Lotus, he felt as though all of creation was bowing before him, a delusion wrought by harnessing too overwhelming a power.


    Xu Yi felt as if his body was about to ignite; the power of the Flame Giant was too explosive, and he couldn''t wait to release it.


    He raised the Demon Blade Red Lotus, and the Flame Giant similarly raised a hundred-meter long Flame Longsword.


    The Evil God Michael''s body surged with a blood-colored flow of energy, forcibly breaking free from the Demon-suppressing Domain, but his first response was not to fight back, but to turn around and flee.


    "So, you know fear too," Xu Yi whispered softly.


    Michael burst forth with unprecedented speed, like a red bolt of lightning.


    But suddenly, his body froze mid-air, emitting a wild beast-like howl.


    "Eating things indiscriminately can upset your stomach!" Xu Yi watched the Evil God Michael indifferently.


    Black branches suddenly grew inside Michael''s body, piercing through his flesh and firmly nailing him to the ground.


    More and more branches appeared, and Michael seemed to become the main root of the vines, protected by the branches and hanging mid-air.


    To descend, the Evil God had devoured too many souls filled with murderous demonic thoughts.


    At this moment, the Soul Stealing Seed lurking inside the foe erupted. The seed took root and sprouted, growing dense, thieving divine vines.


    First, Michael suffered an assassination from the Great Exorcist, then the scorching of the Holy Light Array, followed by the Bone of Nightmares absorbing his Divinity, and using the Wailing Storm also extracted a steep price.


    Michael, who was outwardly strong but inwardly exhausted, was now taken advantage of by the Soul Stealing Seed. As the Seed usurped Michael''s power, it also trapped him securely, turning him into a target.


    With a single slash, Xu Yi caused a reaction like a tsunami.


    The Flame Giant''s longsword followed suit, and all the flames surged, converging towards the longsword and spreading thousands of meters. The fiery sword qi pierced through the small town, piercing through the Evil God Michael.


    Everything in the path of the fiery sword qi was annihilated, whether it was the town''s concrete roads, the robust divine vines... or even the being referred to as a "god"!


    The surging flames illuminated the pupils of the Evil God Michael, whose cold eyes, filled only with the desire to kill, now only showed fear.


    "No!" Fick roared in anger, unable to accept the reality of the Evil God''s defeat.


    "Prepare the large missiles! Lock on the target, and fire immediately if the target loses control!" The people at New York City Hall were scared witless by the Ghost Samurai, even contemplating the use of large missiles.


    The Evil God Michael was annihilated in the flames, and a wave of immense weariness suddenly overwhelmed Xu Yi, his body trembling, nearly causing him to fall.


    Meanwhile, the Flame Giant behind him also dissipated greatly in that staggering moment.


    So tired! He had never felt so exhausted, only wanting to fall into a deep sleep right away.


    But there was still one thing he hadn''t done.


    Mustering his energy, he turned his head toward Fick''s direction, and with the last bit of strength in his body, he struck fiercely with his sword. The Flame Giant did the same, and after this final slash, it completely faded away.


    The fiery sword qi appeared once more, albeit a hundred times less powerful than before, yet for humans, it remained an unstoppable force.


    "No! I can''t die yet!"


    Fick, who could calmly deceive an Evil God, was now like a panicked stray dog, frantically running in an attempt to avoid the fiery sword qi.


    Xu Yi had no energy left to pay heed to the fate of the God Cheater Fick. He instinctively activated the Evil God''s Phasing Ability, escaping towards the outskirts. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment, his only thought was that he must not faint here and let the Ghost Samurai fall into the hands of the government.


    [Entry Devouring initiated, devouring in progress...]


    "Killing a target with Evil God''s Walk can devour an entry too!" This was his last thought before losing consciousness.

 Chapter 183 The Crossroads of Fate

    Bru Town.The once peaceful and harmonious town had now become a complete ruin, with City Hall personnel bustling over the rubble, collecting any useful clues.


    The Great Exorcist from the Church had finally arrived, and he inhaled sharply at the sight of the "canyon" before him.


    The "canyon" cut right through the entire Bru Town, extending to the distant mountains and splitting a small hill in half.


    "Was this truly split open with just a single slash?" The Great Exorcist found it hard to believe.


    He had already examined the scene report and had no intention of doubting New York City Hall, his question was purely an expression of his astonishment.


    At the same time, he felt somewhat relieved that he had arrived late; facing such an enemy would have likely left him with little chance of survival.


    "Have we found out anything about the Ghost Samurai''s background?" the Great Exorcist asked.


    The adversary was undoubtedly the Evil God of the Church of the Ram, and now that the Church''s lair had been eradicated, the other party capable of killing the Evil God of the Ram was without a doubt even more dangerous.


    "The Ghost Samurai was first spotted in Bru Town, and after investigation, the people he killed back then were also heretics from the Church of the Ram. So, our guess is that the Ghost Samurai and the Evil God of the Church of the Ram may be archenemies!" the officer replied.


    "Are there any other clues?" The Great Exorcist wasn''t satisfied with this answer.


    "Someone said they saw similar armor in the Warrens'' Collection Room."


    The Great Exorcist''s spirits lifted instantly, "Is there a photo?"


    Two photos were handed over, but after only a glance, the Great Exorcist returned them with a speechless look, "This is what you call similar? Is Audrey Hepburn similar to your grandmother as well, because both are women?"


    Xu Yi had already considered the issue of exposure, so he had deliberately altered the appearance of the Ghost Samurai armor during the transformation between illusion and reality. Even if Ed came personally, he probably would not recognize it.


    The Demon Blade Red Lotus had undergone even greater changes after being tempered by the Power of Faith; there was no need to worry about it being identified.


    "The report said there was another ''Peeker'' besides us at the time, right?" the Great Exorcist asked, changing the subject to avoid high blood pressure. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes, the final slash made by the Ghost Samurai was aimed at that person! That guy was really strong, considering he could dodge an attack of that magnitude... We only found a severed hand at the scene," the officer remarked with a sigh.


    "Perhaps we could find useful clues from this person."


    "Don''t worry! We''ve already tightened security at all entry and exit points in New York, and since the person has lost a hand, which is a significant trait, we believe news will come before long," the officer said softly.


    ......


    The Land of Ceris.


    The attending physician was examining Xu Yi while Ed paced anxiously. After a moment, the doctor finished and Ed quickly asked, "How is it?"


    The doctor hesitated for a moment, "It''s strange, there''s nothing wrong with his body, and his breathing is stable. It''s more like he is... asleep."


    Asleep? Ed was momentarily stunned, finding it hard to believe, "But hasn''t he been asleep for almost two days and nights?"


    The doctor was also puzzled and was about to answer when he suddenly looked up towards the sky, "Isn''t the aurora changing?"


    Ed also looked up to see, and a surge of joy burst in his eyes, "It''s not changing, it''s dissipating. Once the aurora dissipates, we can leave this place immediately!"


    "Mr. Ed, Archbishop Norton requests your presence, there seems to be trouble with the Styx?"


    Sudden hurried footsteps approached as a member of the Church reported, and Ed suppressed his excitement.


    As soon as he arrived at the riverbank, he sensed something amiss.


    "The water level of the Styx is rising!"


    The water of the Styx was indeed rising; he had only stood by the riverbank for a brief half minute, and the water level had risen two inches. At this rate, "Riverheart Island" would soon be submerged.


    The Church of the Ram had existed here for so many years without incident, so why had the water suddenly started to rise?


    Ed couldn''t figure it out, he turned his head towards the upper reaches of the river and froze.


    A tiny shadow appeared at the point where the river flowed in.


    Golden light flashed across Ed''s pupils as he made out the dark figure, his face suddenly turning deathly pale.


    "Run! It''s the Ferryman! The Ferryman is coming!" Ed roared.


    Archbishop Norton also realized the seriousness of the situation; the Ferryman only ferries the souls of the deceased, and it was obvious what would happen if they encountered him.


    As he ran back, he looked up at the sky, "Most of the aurora has dissipated, and the portal to the Land of Ceris and our world has already opened, we must leave immediately!"


    "But the aurora hasn''t completely faded, the portal is chaotic at this time," Ed furrowed his eyebrows.


    Archbishop Norton was startled, then he understood what Ed meant.


    If the portal was chaotic, the worst that could happen to them was failing to return to Buffalo Town and ending up somewhere else, but compared to encountering the Ferryman, that was undoubtedly a minor issue.


    Ed was worried about Xu Yi, as in the chaos of the portal, even if someone dragged Xu Yi with them, it was highly likely they wouldn''t end up in the same place.


    In normal circumstances, that would be fine, but now that Xu Yi was in a deep coma, and the exit was certainly going to be a body of water, Xu Yi could very likely drown.


    "Pour blackwater down Xu Yi''s throat and stuff two Blood Orchid flowers in his mouth, so even if he is submerged in water, at least he can hold on for one day," Archbishop Norton quickly figured out a plan.


    Ed''s eyes lit up, they could leave a Tracking Talisman on Xu Yi, and one day should be enough time for them to find him.


    Ed, holding Xu Yi, jumped into the pool and swam toward the bottom, feeling the pull of the vortex below, and he tightly grasped Xu Yi.


    Everything began to spin around him, and Ed felt like he was about to suffocate, desperately swimming towards the surface.


    He burst out of the water, gasping for air, while looking around,


    To his surprise, his luck was exceptionally good, returning to the pool in Buffalo Town, but he was the only one there.


    He blankly looked at the torn fabric in his hand, which was ripped from the sleeve of Xu Yi''s clothes, he desperately tried to hold on to Xu Yi but still couldn''t overcome the suction of the portal.


    ......


    New York, Queens.


    A gang boss known as "Jack" stood in front of a huge wooden crate, waving his hand, his subordinate hurriedly opened the crate.


    Inside lay Samurai Armor, black and red in color with golden patterns etched onto it, inside which was a skeleton, exuding a ferocious beauty.


    "Where did this armor come from?" Jack asked curiously.


    "It was sold to us by two pickpockets, they said they found it in a forest, I reckon it was stolen from some declining noble''s house, the appraiser said it''s of good Quality and could fetch a nice price," his subordinate answered.


    Jack nodded, "This item is quite rare, I guess we need to go to Japan to get a good price for it."


    "Understood, boss. It will be on a container today, headed for Japan."


    ......


    New York Airport.


    Fick, wanted by New York City Hall, was boldly present here, accompanied by a tall woman.


    "Fick, how does the new arm you''re fitted with feel? Is it more satisfying to use when fighting?" The woman gave Fick a seductive wink.


    Fick remained silent, the woman''s codename within the organization was "Succubus," and she had a pretty bad reputation. He wanted nothing to do with her.


    Moreover, he was in a terrible mood and really didn''t want to talk.


    "Fick, are we really going to leave New York with our tails between our legs? Why don''t we blow up City Hall or kill that Xu Yi guy you hate?"


    The woman clearly had no intention of letting it go that easily.


    Fick was slightly tempted, not to blow up City Hall¡ª that was meaningless.


    If he could kill Xu Yi, he might be able to redeem himself.


    But for some reason, the image of that terrifying Flame Giant and the fiery blade qi that almost killed him flashed in his mind.


    He shivered and shook his head, "Let''s just leave quickly. The organization has been preparing in Japan for so long, the big plan is about to start, we better go help them right away!"

 Chapter 184 The Blood Throne

    North of Rome, Spolaro.Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes, everything before him was blurred, and a woman''s face came close to his, her face was flawless, bathed in a warm glow.


    Had he died and gone to heaven, and the figure before him was an angelic sister?


    Xu Yi was somewhat astonished, since when had heaven''s perks become so good? This angelic sister was a bit too pretty!


    He felt a softness against his lips, and then a strong rush of air into his mouth. His throat itched, and Xu Yi coughed violently, expelling the water from his lungs.


    No! He had a Resurrection Coin!


    Even if he were dead, he should be entering the Resurrection Space, not heaven.


    The intense coughing brought Xu Yi to his senses, and memories started flooding back into his mind.


    He remembered, he should be in the Land of Ceris right now, so where was this?


    Xu Yi suddenly sat up, pushing the girl in front of him away. The girl was indeed beautiful; anyone who saw her would be dazzled.


    But he sensed a demon aura on her.


    He reached for his waist, only to find nothing there. The Alchemical Revolver Messiah and the Annabelle doll were gone!


    A young man happened to pass by and saw the girl fallen on the grass. He hurriedly walked up and helped her up, "Carlyle, are you alright?"


    The girl named Carlyle, after staring blankly at Xu Yi for a moment, silently stood up.


    She was soaked to the bone, and a chill wind made her shiver uncontrollably. Hugging herself, she lowered her head and walked on.


    Xu Yi looked around; behind him was a vast lake, and his clothes were also wet from the lake.


    He gradually realized that the girl wasn''t performing some evil ritual; she had found him floating on the lake, jumped in to rescue him, and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.


    The demon aura on her was faint, indicating she had only encountered a demon, and wasn''t one herself.


    But Xu Yi had just awoken, his brain was still in a fog, and all his actions were subconscious. He hadn''t expected to react so excessively and scare her.


    Xu Yi realized this and wanted to apologize, but unfortunately, she was already far away.


    "What exactly happened afterward? What''s the condition of the Samurai Armor now? Was it discovered by the people of New York City Hall?"


    His mind was filled with questions, and he instinctively tried to connect with the Ghost Samurai to assess the situation, but a sharp pain in his head forced him to stop the connection immediately.


    First came the "Wailing Storm" from the Evil God, then the forceful connection to the Ghost Samurai that drove that terrifying flame power.


    His soul had sustained no small injury, which was why he had remained unconscious for so long.


    There was something poking against his chest. He took it out and saw it was a metal card with a message from Ed.


    Understanding the whole story, he prepared to call Ed to report his safety.


    A gust of cold wind made Xu Yi shiver.


    Though his body had been transformed by the Fog of Obscurity, his soul was wounded and had been soaking in the water for so long that he was already weak.


    His stomach rumbled. Xu Yi realized that rather than announcing his safety, what he needed more urgently was to find a hotel, take a hot bath, and fill his belly.


    ......


    Kennato Hotel.


    Carlyle had tossed and turned for a long time before she finally drifted off to sleep. In her drowsy state, she thought she heard the sound of the door opening.


    She wanted to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and she just couldn''t pry them open; her body was also immobile.


    Through the dimness, she sensed someone at the side of the bed.


    There were indeed two people standing by the bed, an old male servant and a dressed-up nobleman.


    "Natalie!" the man gazed at Carlyle with obsession, yet he called out another name.


    The man leaned down, intending to kiss Carlyle.


    Just at that moment, a shadow flew in through the open window and hit the man directly in the face, thwarting his plan to kiss Carlyle.


    Carlyle suddenly woke with a start, sitting up in bed to find no one beside her, just an apple with a few bites taken out of it.


    Realizing something, Carlyle ran barefoot to the window, where a somewhat familiar figure was sitting on a bench in the hotel courtyard, munching on an apple.


    She wanted to greet him, but a rich scent of flowers suddenly enveloped her, and Carlyle''s pupils turned dull.


    "So impatient to begin, are you?" Xu Yi murmured softly as he sat on the bench.


    He had already spoken to Ed on the phone and decided on their next steps.


    But Carlyle had saved him, and he certainly couldn''t just walk away, at least not without dealing with the demon that was haunting her. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The night was deep; Carlyle appeared at the hotel entrance, where a vintage car had long been waiting for her. Carlyle got into the car, which slowly started moving, with Xu Yi leisurely following behind.


    Brucunto Theater.


    Tonight, the ancient theater was ablaze with lights, with a ballet drama being performed on stage¡ªan adaptation of Swan Lake, and the audience filled the seats, their attire and decorations extremely retro.


    The audience''s pupils turned red, their excitement growing, for the climax of the drama was imminent!


    Carlyle, playing the White Swan, danced upon the stage, so beautiful and captivating, but this beauty was about to become a thing of the past. The demonized incarnation playing the Black Swan would soon plunge the dagger in her hand straight through Carlyle''s heart.


    When that happened, the demonic sacrificial ritual would be completed, and the Ferocious Spirits imprisoned here would be released.


    Just as the dagger was about to land, the demonized incarnation of the Black Swan suddenly screamed and fell to the ground.


    The Ferocious Spirits were stunned, uncertain of what had just happened.


    At that moment, applause and a man''s magnetic voice came from the grandstand above, "Bravo! Truly spectacular! It''s rare to witness such a marvelous performance; I simply must add to the excitement!"


    The Ferocious Spirits opened their mouths wide, their eyes unable to hide their terror.


    The man held a huge Black Swan in his hands¡ªone as tall as a man, the very demon that had imprisoned them!


    Xu Yi looked down at the reaction below, quite pleased with himself.


    It was no trouble at all for him to sneak into the theater, find the demon living beneath it, and deal with the "Lesser Demons" controlling the place. With his current strength, handling such minor demons was straightforward.


    The Fog of Obscurity in his hand erupted, and with one grip, Xu Yi crushed the neck of the Black Swan and casually tossed its body aside.


    "No!" The Ferocious Spirits let out a piercing roar, unable to escape their fate of being reduced to ash.


    The demon had imprisoned them, and it was also the source of their souls. Once the demon perished, they too would be immediately annihilated.


    Xu Yi, however, paid no attention to the Ferocious Spirits below; he quietly looked at the blood of the Black Swan in his hand.


    [Ability "Blood Scent" activated, mystery blood information retrieval complete.]


    [Blood of the Black Swan, "Quality: e", "Fusion Success Rate: 75%", "Promotion Potential: Blue Common".]


    These details came from the new Entries ability Xu Yi had recently obtained after devouring it from the Evil God Michael.


    [Blood Throne: (Blue Common¡ªRed Epic)


    Stage 1¡ªBlood Scent:


    When close enough, you can sense the information of mysterious blood traces including "Quality", "Fusion Success Rate", and "Promotion Potential".


    Stage 2¡ªBlood Fusion Ascension:


    You can merge with any mysterious blood, and your body will ascend to the "Divine Tier". The higher the quality of the blood, the higher the level the Entries can reach.


    (ps1¡ªFailure Immunity: If the fusion fails, you will not die of bodily collapse.)


    (ps2¡ªDignity Salvage: If the fusion fails, you will randomly draw a body strengthening effect of the "Blue Common" level.)


    (ps3¡ªPrime Posture: If the fusion is successful, you can be immune to all negative effects of mysterious blood.)]


    It was Xu Yi''s first encounter with an Entry whose levels varied so greatly.


    At the sight of the Entry information, Xu Yi could hardly contain his excitement¡ªthe Entry could potentially reach the highest "Red Epic" level!


    Keep in mind that Hyper Accelerated Regeneration and the Authority of the Evil God were only of "Red Common" level.


    The higher level the Entry, the more earthshattering the change every time its Quality level went up.


    "Rare Quality" was almost three times stronger than "Common Quality".


    If you compared "White Entry" level to ordinary employees, then "Red Entry" level would be like billionaires.


    If an ordinary employee''s salary tripled, it would mean a few thousand more, but what if a billionaire''s wealth tripled?


    The potential of the Blood Throne to reach the "Red Epic" level was extraordinarily dominating!

 Chapter 185 Surprise on the Plane

    "How come you''re here?" Carlyle Hamilton looked at the seat beside her, utterly puzzled."I bought a ticket for this flight and just happened to be assigned to this seat, so here I am!" Xu Yi shook his plane ticket in hand.


    Carlyle and Xu Yi had stayed in Spolaro for three days. As an ancient city with a long history in Rome, there was an abundance of sights worth seeing.


    Under the pretense of "thanking her savior," the two had spent three days together wandering around Spolaro.


    Xu Yi finally had a chance to rest a bit, firstly to allow his injured soul some relief, and secondly, to wait for the return of the Annabelle doll.


    When they emerged from the Land of Ceris, they were forcibly separated by the chaotic spatial passage.


    Fortunately, Annabelle was quick-witted and immediately put Xu Yi''s Alchemy Revolver into the Treasure Box after realizing something was amiss.


    Although they were both in Rome, they were several cities apart. It took three days for the Annabelle doll to find him. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I remember this flight doesn''t seem to be going to New York, right?" Carlyle wanted to take out her ticket for a look; she remembered Xu Yi saying he lived in New York.


    "Did I say I was going to New York? My destination is Cambridge in Boston," Xu Yi replied truthfully.


    "What are you doing in Boston?" Carlyle asked, her heart tentatively hopeful.


    "I''m preparing for an admissions interview at MIT," Xu Yi answered softly.


    The so-called admissions interview was merely a formality, not only because of his grades but more importantly, the Church had already arranged with MIT for him to join the "Mysterious Blood Research Group."


    Last time he visited the Land of Ceris, the Church had promised that all exorcists involved could make a not too excessive request, and that was Xu Yi''s request.


    "The Blood Throne" required high-quality blood to complete promotion, and where else could one encounter large quantities of mysterious blood if not in various research labs?


    In a world rife with anomalies, as the most exploratory and maddest of scientists, how could they not study these things?


    In fact, every elite institution has some form of cooperation with the Church and organizations like the exorcists.


    "So will you be staying in Boston for school?" Carlyle felt her heart flutter with joy.


    She had come to Rome intending to apply to the Ballet Academy here, but chickened out at the last moment due to her nerves. Your next chapter is on empire


    Now she had to settle for applying to the dance academy in Boston.


    "Maybe going to school in Boston isn''t so bad!" Carlyle stole a glance at Xu Yi.


    Lately, she had been dreaming of the scene at the theater every night, where Xu Yi appeared like a hero descended from heaven, saving her from dire straits.


    "By the way, when we parted last time, you said if we met again, you would tell me a secret. Can you tell me now?"


    Xu Yi leaned in close to Carlyle, observing her innocent yet charming face intently.


    "A secret? I was just talking nonsense," Carlyle quickly turned her head away to avoid Xu Yi''s gaze, her face blushing all the way to her ears as her heart raced with nervous excitement.


    Xu Yi didn''t press further and shifted his gaze to look around.


    His eyes were involuntarily drawn to a person in front of him on the right: a woman in her thirties with wavy hair and slightly dark skin, likely biracial.


    The woman noticed him too, turning her head and giving Xu Yi a cold glance.


    Xu Yi silently withdrew his gaze, his attention having been drawn to her because she was an exorcist, and an exceptionally powerful one at that.


    Such a potent aura was hard to ignore.


    "A Great Exorcist?" Xu Yi muttered to himself.


    There were about two thousand Great Exorcists within the United States, which seemed numerous, but spread across the vast land of America, finding them was like looking for a needle in a haystack.


    It was unexpected to encounter a Great Exorcist on a plane; he wasn''t sure if his luck was good or bad.


    "Dear passengers, our airline has prepared a rich selection of lunches for you to choose from,"


    The flight attendant came by pushing the meal cart, stopping beside the female exorcist.


    Xu Yi glanced at the flight attendant absentmindedly, an automatic reaction, but then he froze, goosebumps covering his body.


    The flight attendant took a hand grenade from underneath the cart, pulled the pin, and without throwing it at the female exorcist, hurled it towards her companion instead.


    He was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his thirties, wearing round-frame glasses that gave him a very refined and handsome appearance.


    After boarding the plane, the man was engrossed in a book, so immersed that even as the hand grenade was about to blow him to smithereens, he remained absorbed in it.


    The female exorcist, however, suddenly lunged forward, shielding the man with her own body, while the jewelry on her body emitted a green glow.


    "Stay down! Don''t move!" Xu Yi pressed one hand onto Carlyle''s head, preventing him from poking his head out of curiosity.


    His other hand reached for the Anna Belle on his waist, and the next second, the Alchemy Revolver appeared in his hand.


    The "hand grenade" exploded in front of the female exorcist, not with an explosion but with a dense red mist. The female exorcist was caught off guard and inadvertently inhaled a breath of the fog.


    Rather than a hand grenade, it was more fitting to say it was a smoke bomb. Xu Yi knew this was no ordinary smoke; he quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and, pulling Carlyle, retreated from the spreading red mist.


    Under the cover of the red mist, many of the passengers fell into a deep slumber.


    Not all, however, as more than a dozen people suddenly leaped up, unaffected by the red mist, and pounced toward the female exorcist.


    As they were mid-air, they opened their mouths to roar, revealing two vicious fangs.


    "Vampires!" Xu Yi exclaimed in shock.


    Vampires were extremely rare, even exorcists rarely had the chance to encounter them. Yet now, more than a dozen had appeared at once. Could this be entering the lair of vampires?


    The female exorcist''s eyelids grew heavy, clearly affected by the red mist.


    But as a Great Exorcist, she chanted an unknown language, and strange waves swept across the area. The vampires that lunged at her were blown away, their bodies pierced by an invisible force, and blood sprayed out.


    The Great Exorcist didn''t dare to pursue her advantage, holding onto a metal suitcase in one hand and protecting her unconscious companion with the other.


    Drops of vampire blood splattered onto Xu Yi''s hand, and his "Blood Scent" ability activated once again.


    [Next-gen vampire blood, "Quality: C," "Fusion success rate: 21%," "Promotion potential: Blue Epic"]


    Xu Yi swiftly glanced at the information and shielded Carlyle as they headed toward the cockpit.


    He suddenly felt a chill down his spine and swiftly turned around to look.


    A tall figure slowly emerged from the aisle, a very handsome man with meticulously styled pale gold hair and a face that was slightly pale.


    Xu Yi hurriedly pulled Carlyle aside to clear the path.


    In such a dire situation, anyone who could stay calm was clearly not an ordinary person. It was best for them to not stand in his way.


    Although these vampires were frenzied, they at least retained a shred of rationality and did not truly use a hand grenade; otherwise, a plane crash would leave hardly anyone alive.


    The man suddenly began to accelerate, and Xu Yi''s pupils dilated suddenly at the man''s shocking speed, which was like lightning.


    Even with his Supra-dynamic Vision, he could only see an afterimage.


    The man was undoubtedly also a vampire, charging straight for the female exorcist. The female exorcist rang the Bone Bell in her hand, and the strange waves appeared again, freezing the rushing vampire in mid-air, as if trapped in amber.


    The female exorcist flicked her wrist, and the silver bracelet transformed into a snake that shot out and pierced through the man''s heart.


    Xu Yi watched as blood splattered onto the aisle, hesitated for a moment, then touched it.


    [First-gen vampire blood, "Quality: B," "Fusion success rate: 8%," "Promotion potential: Red Common"]


    The man was likely the leader of these vampires, a powerful first-gen vampire.


    The quality and promotion potential of his blood skyrocketed to "Red" level, but the fusion success rate terrifyingly dropped, not even reaching one tenth.


    A roar suddenly sounded as the passengers who had been in a deep sleep on their seats suddenly opened their eyes and lunged at the suitcase in the hands of the female exorcist.


    The passengers began to undergo drastic changes, their strong bodies tearing through their shirts, coarse hair erupting from within, and their heads turning bestial as they became ferocious wolf heads.


    Xu Yi was so astonished he was at a loss for words. Not only were there swarms of vampires on this plane but also a significant number of werewolves.


    What was most shocking was that these two "natural enemies" were actually joining forces against a human!

 Chapter 186 A-grade Blood

    The exorcist''s face grew grim as she faced the siege by vampires and werewolves.Xu Yi, however, kept his gaze fixed on the metal case in the opponent''s hand, a case much larger than an ordinary briefcase and engraved with unknown runes, with a chain extending from the case connected to the exorcist''s bracelet.


    Undoubtedly, whatever was inside the case was extremely valuable.


    The exorcist began to chant again, urgently and quickly, but she was only halfway through when she was forcibly interrupted.


    Some of the werewolves lunged towards her unconscious companion, and the exorcist, without hesitation, swung the metal case in her hand, sending the werewolves flying.


    Clearly, in her mind, the man was more important than the metal case.


    The original vampire removed his restraint, and a sharp dagger slid out from his sleeve. Seizing the moment the exorcist was attacking, he cut through the chain on the case with a single slash.


    The exceptionally strong werewolf, having been ready to pounce, burst from the side, roaring as he lunged for the metal case in the exorcist''s hand.


    Just as the case was about to be snatched away by the werewolf, the exorcist instinctively retracted it.


    The werewolf lunged at thin air, butting his head against the corner of the case, and a great force came upon her. Unable to hold on, the exorcist watched as the case flew out of her grip.


    Xu Yi was stunned because the case happened to fly toward him, and he caught it instinctively.


    Everyone turned their heads, their gazes falling upon Xu Yi. Even the vampires on the ground flipped over and stood up, charging straight at Xu Yi.


    "Hey, hey, hey! Let''s talk this out!"


    Xu Yi had intended to throw the case away, but he hesitated because a new piece of information was conveyed by his sense of smell. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Unknown creature''s blood, "Quality: A", "Fusion Success Rate: 2%", "Promotion Potential: Red Rare"]


    Even the blood of the original vampire could only be rated a B. What kind of creature was inside the case? Xu Yi was astonished.


    During his moment of hesitation, the vampires had already pounced on him. Xu Yi decisively pulled the trigger.


    The vampires neither dodged nor avoided, and even though they were hit by the bullets, they might only feel pain for a moment. But suddenly, their expressions changed, and they screamed as they fell to the ground.


    Moments later, their bodies turned to ash and scattered.


    "Brother, times have changed!" Xu Yi blew on the barrel of the revolver. Seeing groups of vampires appear, he had already switched to corrupted silver bullets.


    While corrupted silver bullets could restrain vampires, they weren''t usually deadly with one shot. Mainly, these vampires had injected themselves with an Anti-Sunlight Factor potion, allowing them to move about in sunlight.


    But now, the corrupted silver bullets disrupted the potion''s effects, and the vampires were unable to withstand the burning of the sunlight, being burned to ashes alive.


    The vampires retreated in terror, but the werewolves pounced. Xu Yi kept pulling the trigger, repelling the werewolves.


    However, the Alchemy Revolver ultimately only had six bullets. No matter how fast he reloaded, there were bound to be gaps.


    As the sharp claws of a werewolf came down, Xu Yi no longer cared how precious the contents of the case were and used the case to defend himself.


    The great force transmitted through the case to Xu Yi, causing his expression to change slightly.


    Even though he had unleashed the Fog of Obscurity, in terms of strength, he was still far behind creatures like werewolves.


    Other werewolves pounced from behind, and just as it seemed impossible for Xu Yi to dodge, Carlyle, that fool of a girl, actually stepped in, trying to use her handbag to block the werewolves.


    While Xu Yi was touched, he still wanted to say there was no need for such actions; he was fully capable of handling the situation himself. However, by doing this, Carlyle was exposing herself to danger.


    The Annabelle doll at his waist swung, ready to join the fight.


    At that moment, a lightning-fast shadow darted over and kicked away the werewolves that were trying to sneak attack.


    The original vampire glanced coldly at the werewolves and commanded in a deep voice, "Don''t cause unnecessary trouble! Grab the stuff!"


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed slightly. Although the original vampire had not glanced at Carlyle from start to finish, his actions clearly protected her.


    Could it be that Carlyle knew this vampire?


    Xu Yi looked towards Carlyle and felt that didn''t seem right. Carlyle looked bewildered, clearly not understanding what was happening either.


    As the situation grew more complicated, Xu Yi no longer had time to ponder it. The werewolf''s sharp claws kept slashing down, and Xu Yi blocked them with the case, his hands trembling from the tremendous force.


    But the case couldn''t hold on longer than Xu Yi; its surface was pierced by the werewolf''s sharp claws, leaving deep gashes.


    Through the gaps of the claw marks, Xu Yi caught a glimpse of what was inside the case.


    It was part of some creature''s body, wrapped in yellowing bandages. Beneath the bandages, charred flesh and blood could barely be made out.


    The progenitor vampire had also joined the battle, and Xu Yi''s pressure skyrocketed.


    The opponent''s speed could very well be described as ghostly, and it was only with the help of the Eyes of Obscurity that he could barely track the opponent''s movements.


    He didn''t dare to shoot rashly, ensuring he didn''t fire at the body of the airplane.


    Moreover, the opponent was too fast. Even with his superb marksmanship, he couldn''t guarantee a hit.


    Only at this moment did Xu Yi realize the frailty of his own body.


    The Fog of Obscurity had enhanced his body, and he certainly stood out among humans.


    But compared to real supernatural creatures, he was still too weak, whether in strength or speed.


    Even with the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entries, he couldn''t bridge this gap.


    Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entries could grant him strong vitality, but they did not significantly enhance attributes like strength and speed.


    Blood Throne!


    Xu Yi understood that to overcome these shortcomings, and even reach higher levels, this entry was currently the best choice.


    He took a deep breath and refocused on the fight at hand.


    Although his strength was inferior to that of a werewolf and his speed less than a vampire''s, that didn''t mean he had no way to cope with the situation.


    But compared to a grueling fight, there was indeed a simpler way.


    Xu Yi flipped the case so that the side with claw marks faced his chest, using the intact side to fend off the werewolf''s attacks.


    Unnoticed by all, Annabelle, which had been at Xu Yi''s waist, had appeared in the case and then slipped away silently.


    "Here, take it back!" Xu Yi threw the metal case forcefully, and it flew toward the female exorcist. Continue reading on empire


    "Sorry!" the female exorcist apologized and leaped into the air, catching the metal case in one go.


    Taking advantage of the delay created by Xu Yi, the female exorcist dispelled the invasive red fog from her body, restoring her to peak fighting condition.


    The werewolves and vampires turned their attention, pouncing towards the female exorcist. Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, adopting a ''none of my business'' attitude, and pulled Carlyle to hide in the hallway of the plane.


    The "treasure box defense battle" erupted once again, and the exorcists were ultimately defeated, as she had to protect her companions and avoid harming innocents.


    Under the principle of avoiding damaging valuables, they were no match for the werewolves and vampires.


    The progenitor vampire seized the metal case, withdrew with a host of werewolves and vampires through the rear cabin door, and parachutes flickered past outside the clouds.


    Jumping from such a height would be deadly for an ordinary person, but for werewolves or vampires, it was merely an exhilarating flying experience.


    The still-shaken pilot came to tidy up the aftermath, the female exorcist woke her companion, and together, they approached Xu Yi.


    "My name is Mia, and I''d like to apologize again for involving you in such a dangerous situation," the female exorcist bowed slightly.


    The attitude of the other party surprised Xu Yi; some haughty Great Exorcists wouldn''t condescend to apologize to a ''nobody'' like him.


    Just now, she had deliberately protected the ordinary people, which revealed her character.


    Xu Yi shook his head, indicating there was no need to thank him, and turned his attention to the man beside Mia, whose ''heroics'' earlier had made quite an impression on him.


    "May I know how to address this gentleman?"


    "Hello, and thank you very much for your help with Mia. My name is Daniel, a professor of biology at MIT," the man shook hands with Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi was momentarily stunned; he was about to join the biology department at MIT himself. Could this man be one of his future teachers?


    "If I may ask boldly, what was in the box that attracted the werewolves and vampires to fight over it?" Xu Yi inquired.


    "That object was found in an ancient tomb. If the carvings on the walls are not incorrect, it should be the legendary Ryan," sighed Daniel.


    "Ryan?" Xu Yi echoed in confusion.


    Daniel retrieved his luggage, found a book, and handed it to Xu Yi, "If you''re interested in this subject, you might consider reading this book."


    Xu Yi didn''t refuse and accepted the book.

 Chapter 187 The Perfect Blood of Werewolf and Vampire

    Boston.In a cramped room, Xu Yi read under the dim light of a desk lamp.


    This book given to him by Daniel, "Rhine Secrets," mainly told stories of werewolves and vampires.


    The first half of the story was a love story, where a female werewolf fell in love with a handsome male vampire, and despite her pack''s opposition, she resolutely decided to be with him.


    The plot points felt awfully familiar to Xu Yi, "Vampire Romeo" and "Werewolf Juliet," and in the end, due to their families'' long-standing hatred, both died for their love.


    The difference was that after they were together, they actually had a baby.


    Werewolves could mate with other werewolves or even humans, but it was impossible for them to reproduce with vampires, as vampires simply lacked the ability to procreate.


    That baby was Ryan, who miraculously inherited both the werewolf''s and vampire''s abilities!


    The latter part of the story changed tone dramatically, chronicling how Ryan sought revenge for his parents, how he united the werewolf and vampire tribes, and eventually established his own kingdom in a remote area.


    "This story is purely fictional!"


    Only upon reaching the last page did Xu Yi find this line, and he just looked blank out of speechlessness.


    When he found the author''s name on the back of the book, he felt even more frustrated.


    "Written by Daniel Finn!"


    So was this book based on real events, or was it just a story made up by Daniel? S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi took a piece of charred flesh from the toy treasure box and observed it on the table.


    This flesh came from the legendary Ryan; when the treasure box was in his possession, he secretly had Annabelle dig out a small piece.


    Of course, he dared not steal it all, as the werewolves, vampires, or the Great Exorcist Mia would all come looking for trouble.


    But secretly taking a small piece was no problem.


    "A-grade blood" had already met his minimum expectations, and if the blood throne advanced to "Red Rare" level, that would be a very powerful entry indeed.


    But a "2%" fusion success rate was truly headache-inducing, essentially meaning failure.


    "Is there any way to increase the success rate?"


    Xu Yi frowned and pondered deeply; he knew such speculation was highly likely, but couldn''t come up with a solution on the spot.


    A faint voice reached Xu Yi''s ears, the sound of Carlyle speaking with his aunt.


    The room''s soundproofing was poor to begin with, and Carlyle''s aunt wasn''t trying to be discreet¡ªin fact, it seemed she intentionally let him overhear.


    "Carlyle, tell me honestly, is that boy your classmate, or your boyfriend?"


    "Aunt, don''t overthink it. Xu Yi is here just for one night because he lost all his money when he fell into the water," Carlyle tried to keep his voice low.


    "What falling into the water? I think he''s too poor to afford a hotel, so he ran to our house to stay. It''s very possible he has ulterior motives! Carlyle, I''ve been around longer than you, and I''m telling you, you have to be careful choosing men. Don''t be deceived by the sweet words of poor boys¡­"


    The prattling voice continued for a moment, then abruptly Xu Yi''s door was pushed open, and a clearly exasperated Carlyle appeared at the doorway.


    "Xu Yi, don''t take my aunt''s words to heart. She''s just that kind of person, never sparing anyone her words!" Carlyle apologized.


    "Of course not. Besides, your aunt isn''t wrong!" Xu Yi said, smiling as he watched Carlyle.


    "What do you mean?" Carlyle was momentarily taken aback.


    "That I have ulterior motives towards you!" Xu Yi chuckled in reply.


    Carlyle''s face flushed crimson instantly, unable to say a word, he closed the door with a bang and hurriedly left.


    "Did he misunderstand something?" Xu Yi set down the book he had been holding, which had been covering the piece of Ryan''s flesh on the table.


    The moment Carlyle got close, the flesh of Ryan seemed to "come alive."


    Numerous black tendrils shot up, rushing towards Carlyle''s direction, making it obvious to anyone that the flesh of Ryan was yearning for him.


    "Does Carlyle have some connection with this flesh of Ryan? Or does Carlyle possess some sort of special physical constitution?" Xu Yi wondered, puzzled.


    As night deepened, Xu Yi suddenly opened his eyes while lying in bed, turned his head toward the window, and noticed a slender silhouette cast upon it.


    "Finally here!" Xu Yi sat up, turning over. Through the Symbiotic Eye shared with Annabelle, he sensed the situation outside.


    A shadow stood on the windowsill, as light as a feather, with a black cape fluttering in the wind.


    Although his appearance had greatly changed, Xu Yi recognized him at first glance¡ªthis was the primordial vampire he had encountered on the plane.


    The blood information recorded by "Blood Smell" could be sensed by him even from a great distance.


    With Xu Yi''s resources, a simple phone call to Ailent would make him an esteemed guest at any hotel in Boston.


    He had specifically come to Carlyle''s relative''s home to wait for the other party.


    During the flight, he had a premonition that the other party would not let things rest, and as expected, they had come.


    Next door was Carlyle''s room. This vampire, not sleeping late at night and attempting to sneak into a young girl''s room, obviously had malicious intentions.


    As a model citizen, Xu Yi certainly couldn''t let this go unchecked. He casually picked up an orange from the table, walked to the window, and hurled it over.


    The vampire easily dodged the orange, watching Xu Yi with a cold gaze.


    "Staring at me like that, are your eyes getting dry? You wouldn''t mind if we talk over there, would you?" Xu Yi pointed outside.


    Carlyle''s aunt''s home was close to the park, which was quiet and deserted in the late night¡ªperfectly suited for a battlefield.


    Xu Yi jumped out from the window and headed toward the park. The primordial vampire hesitated for a few seconds before following.


    "May I know your name?" Xu Yi asked while walking.


    "Barton!" The vampire was sparing with his words.


    All of a sudden, Xu Yi stopped and turned to face the vampire, loosening his wrists. "So, Mr. Barton, would you care to tell me the purpose of your visit here?"


    Without a word, Barton charged at Xu Yi. He was ready for a swift and decisive battle to rid himself of this bothersome fellow before getting down to his real business.


    His complexion suddenly changed, because a puppet had unexpectedly blocked his way.


    The puppet exuded an ominous aura, especially its pair of pupils packed with densely clustered blood-red Necromantic Spells, which sent shivers down one''s spine.


    Annabelle, as a Curse Puppet, only had control over the "Soul Ascension Curse" seal, never really able to unleash her true strength.


    But things were different now. With the passage of time, Annabelle had finally maxed out the "Curse of Evil."


    Together, the "Curse of Evil" and "Necromantic Spells" could be combined into the "Cursed Eye" entry. At this moment, Annabelle was using the "Cursed Eye" to stare at Barton, a sinister smile on her lips.


    Barton suddenly felt a heaviness in his body and his breathing became slightly rapid. The strength within him was being stripped away relentlessly.


    This was one of the abilities of the Cursed Eye: "Evil Curse."


    The Evil Curse randomly applied curse effects to the target, and the most terrifying aspect was that these curses could stack. Every half hour, another layer of curse could be added.


    In other words, the longer the fight dragged on, the greater Xu Yi''s chances of winning.


    Red curses swirled around Xu Yi''s body. The "Soul Ascension Curse" was activated, enhancing Xu Yi''s combat ability.


    With one party strengthened and the other weakened, the gap in their physical abilities was significantly narrowed.


    Most importantly, Xu Yi had prepared a specialized method for dealing with an opponent as fast as a vampire.


    Xu Yi scattered handfuls of red silk threads, and the sturdy golden threads firmly enclosed the area.


    "Alright, the stage is set, let''s begin!" Xu Yi took out the Alchemy Revolver, watching the other party with a smile.


    As time passed and the moon was obscured by clouds, the battle finally ended.


    "Such a pity!" Xu Yi watched the retreating figure in the forest and inwardly sighed in disappointment.


    In the end, the other party had escaped, but they had also been seriously injured, and would not dare to come back anytime soon.


    "It''s not entirely without gain!" Xu Yi flipped the syringe in his hand.


    Experience more tales on empire


    During the battle, he had drawn a syringe full of the other party''s blood. The blood of the primordial vampire was now in his hands.


    He tossed the syringe into the space of the Treasure Box and checked on the status of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree.


    A deep purple fruit had appeared on the Cat Spirit Holy Tree. It wasn''t the Fruit of Faith, but the "Fruit of the Evil God."


    This fruit had originated from the Soul Stealing Seed. Initially, when he used the Soul Stealing Seed against the Evil God Michael, he thought only of imprisoning him, not expecting this unexpected boon.


    As the core power of the "Thief of the Evil God," he had underestimated this ability.


    [The Fruit of the Evil God is growing, with an estimated remaining time: 19 hours and 23 minutes.]


    "I wonder what ability it''ll steal from the Evil God of the Ram?" Xu Yi mused curiously.

 Chapter 188 The Strength of Prime Posture

    Xu Yi had just opened the door when he saw a scene that was heartening.Sunlight shone through the skylight onto Carlyle, where the slender and soft girl stood on one leg, performing ballet movements. She began to stretch her body, each line flowing with youth, and every inch of her skin was as smooth and lustrous as jade.


    If you could wake up to this scene every day, it would certainly be a feast for the senses.


    "Good morning!" Xu Yi greeted.


    Carlyle hadn''t finished today''s morning class yet, so she just smiled sweetly, considering that an answer.


    A massive figure suddenly blocked Xu Yi''s view; Carlyle''s aunt stood in front, staring intently at him.


    "Sorry, I got up too late today, didn''t make breakfast, so you should go eat outside!"


    Though she claimed to be sorry, her tone was harsh, like stones hitting Xu Yi''s head, effectively serving as a notice to see him off.


    "Someone will come to pick me up later; I truly apologize for last night''s intrusion!" Xu Yi''s mood was not affected in the slightest, as he kept a faint smile on his face.


    Carlyle''s aunt''s tense face slowly relaxed, and she had to admit that his elegant demeanor was indeed pleasing to the eye.


    But she knew that just being good-looking was useless; she was a living example of that, having to rely solely on herself, life had been too hard.


    So she stayed silent.


    The doorbell rang suddenly, and Xu Yi saw a car parked outside.


    "Carlyle, I must leave!" Xu Yi called out.


    "I''ll see you out!" Carlyle hurriedly ended her morning exercise and rushed back to her room to change.


    When Carlyle''s aunt opened her door and saw the car outside clearly, she was stunned¡ªit was a Maybach, undoubtedly a top-of-the-line luxury car.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, I''ve purchased all the gifts as per your instructions and put them in the trunk!" A formally dressed driver respectfully opened the car''s trunk.


    "Please, help bring the things inside!" Xu Yi casually instructed.


    Carlyle''s aunt was completely dumbstruck; she could tell that Xu Yi wasn''t just putting on airs¡ªthe way he nonchalantly directed the driver without any change of expression showed that he was accustomed to such things.


    "Sorry for the bother yesterday, please accept these little gifts as an apology!"


    Xu Yi said with a smile, then got into the car and told the driver to leave.


    Both of them watched as the Maybach drove away, too stunned to come back to their senses for a long time.


    "Oh no! I forgot to say thank you!" Carlyle''s aunt suddenly clapped her hands and regretfully exclaimed.


    She turned her head and fixated on Carlyle, her eyes gleaming, "Carlyle, how do you know Mr. Xu Yi? What does he do? What''s his family situation like?"


    Carlyle was momentarily stunned, and when she came to, her first reaction wasn''t joy, but a sense of panic.


    She suddenly felt that she was very, very far from the world Xu Yi belonged to.


    ......


    In Cambridge, at MIT.


    Xu Yi stood in front of a gigantic fish tank; the material of the tank was obviously not ordinary glass, as it housed a fierce wild crocodile.


    "Pay attention to that golden little fish!" Daniel reminded from beside him.


    Xu Yi''s gaze was instantly captured by the little fish, which was only the size of two thumbs, slender in build, its golden scales shimmering as though crafted from gold leaf.


    The fierce crocodile spotted a tasty morsel and clamped down on the golden fish in one bite.


    The crocodile''s bite force was terrifying, capable of reaching 12,000 pounds, enough to crush bones with ease; yet, the golden little fish remained unscathed in the face of the crocodile''s biting.


    The fish struggled free from the crocodile''s mouth, revealing a row of sharp teeth, and lunged at the crocodile.


    The tough hide of a crocodile needs no explanation, but against the little fish''s teeth, it was as fragile as tofu, and the crocodile was soon gnawed to a bloody mess, the water in the tank stained red.


    Xu Yi watched the scene in the fish tank that defied all common sense and remained silent for a long time.


    After he arrived at MIT, the first thing he did was attend an admissions interview, after which he was brought here, to the secretive "Mystic Blood Research Group 5" located beneath MIT.


    Here, the security was strict; not only were there modern protective measures, but also an extensive exorcism array. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi felt a vague sense of familiarity and upon inquiry, he learned that MIT was involved in the research of the New York War God Repository.


    "How are our research findings?" Daniel asked with pride as he stood in front of an aquarium.


    Daniel was the leader of Research Group 5, and while it was somewhat coincidental, it was also within reason, given that he was a biology doctorate from MIT.


    It was a Common member who had initially received Xu Yi, but upon seeing him, Daniel took over the task himself.


    "Amazing! What species is this little golden fish?" Xu Yi asked curiously.


    "This is just a common Pomacentridae from the Americas, but it has been injected with Olivedo''s blood," explained Daniel.


    "Olivedo''s blood?"


    "Olivedo was an Ancient Roman who lived in a village oppressed by the gods, and he wanted to rebel. But he lacked the power until one day, he encountered a dying Dragon."


    Daniel spoke softly, "After bathing in the Dragon Blood, Olivedo''s body became invincible. He later took revenge on the gods, slaughtering many divine beings."


    Xu Yi was skeptical of Daniel''s story. He had read "The Secret History of Ryan" and was unsure if Olivedo''s story was also "by Daniel."


    "Our Group 5''s research goal is to recreate Olivedo''s blood, and for this, we have studied the blood of many mystical creatures," Daniel shifted his gaze.


    Xu Yi followed Daniel''s gaze and felt a sudden surge of excitement.


    Row upon row of low-temperature storage cabinets were pieced together to form five "silver walls," housing various supernatural creatures'' blood.


    As Xu Yi looked at those blood samples, he felt an itch in his heart.


    "So, has our research succeeded?" Xu Yi quickly adapted to his new role and already considered himself a member of the blood research team.


    Whoever said he wasn''t part of the blood research team, he would have words with them!


    "Of course not! Otherwise, we''d be opening champagne to celebrate instead of slogging away here doing experiments," Daniel tapped the aquarium, "Keep watching."


    The alligator inside the aquarium no longer moved, its brain eaten away.


    The little golden fish began to sprout grotesque tumors on its surface, becoming terrifyingly ferocious. No longer satisfied with the dead alligator, it started striking the aquarium, attempting to attack the people outside.


    As the aquarium shook, Xu Yi worried that the fish might break free and stage a classic biological crisis.


    But Daniel remained calm. After the little fish hit the glass several times, its body suddenly burst open and turned into a pile of mush.


    "Right now, Olivedo''s blood has two major drawbacks. One, it causes uncontrollable mutations after being injected, and even worse, the effect only lasts seven or eight minutes before the subject explodes," said Daniel.


    Xu Yi''s mind suddenly stirred. He remembered one of the effects of the "Blood Throne," "Prime Posture."


    If the blood merger was successful, the negative effects in the blood would be eliminated.


    That is to say, if he could successfully integrate Olivedo''s blood, both the mutations and the explosive death would cease to exist.


    Xu Yi was thrilled inside. He hadn''t paid much attention to this effect before, but now, it seemed like a "Divine Skill"!


    Mystic blood from various strange creatures was bound to have adverse effects.


    Moreover, the higher the Quality of the blood, the stronger the negative effects.


    For instance, Olivedo''s blood, like that of werewolves and vampires, would cause werewolves to involuntarily transform during the full moon, significantly reducing their intelligence.


    The drawbacks of vampire blood were even more apparent: fear of sunlight, Holy Water, and silver Magic Artifacts, plus the necessity to feed on fresh blood¡ªwith so many drawbacks one could fill a basket.


    However, with the enhancement of "Prime Posture," these negative aspects would be stripped away.


    Xu Yi felt he had underestimated the "Blood Throne" entry and silently resolved not to merge rashly.


    After all, the Blood Throne only offered one chance to merge!

 Chapter 189 Genius of Mysticism

    ```The team members were cleaning the fish tank, sorting out the bodies of the small fish that had burst and died, preparing to conduct a comprehensive examination.


    Xu Yi walked over to the monitoring station and gently touched the body of the small fish with his hand. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ["Olivedo Blood," "Quality: A," "Fusion Success Rate: 23%," "Promotion Potential: Red Rare"]


    Xu Yi was slightly startled, as Ryan''s blood, also A quality, had only a 2% fusion success rate, yet the Olivedo Blood before him astonishingly had 23%!


    What could be the reason for this?


    "What''s wrong? The flesh and blood of these mutated creatures cannot be touched directly, remember to wear gloves next time!" Daniel noticed Xu Yi''s anomaly.


    Xu Yi looked at Daniel, his eyes lighting up; the perfect Solace Provider was right here, wasn''t he?


    "Professor Daniel, may I ask how can we increase the fusion success rate of the biological material with Olivedo Blood?" Xu Yi asked eagerly for guidance.


    "There are generally three methods. The first is purification, which we have pretty much perfected. The impurities in the Olivedo Blood now are extremely few," he said.


    Daniel led Xu Yi to another workstation, which was piled with odd and exotic items and felt less like a high-tech laboratory and more like a wizard''s workshop.


    "The second method is blood fusion. In fact, Olivedo Blood is created using this method, combining the blood of approximately 12 different creatures," explained Daniel.


    Xu Yi''s mind suddenly raced. Couldn''t he also use the same method to synthesize blood of a higher quality?


    "Our current research focus is trying to fuse more kinds of blood to resolve the side effects."


    Daniel sighed deeply. "It''s incredibly difficult because different types of blood mixed together cause a strong rejection reaction. To find a suitable neutralizer, we have already tried thousands of methods."


    Joining this laboratory had been the correct choice for Xu Yi; armed with the laboratory''s data, he could avoid many detours.


    But this also posed a major challenge; these experts had been researching for so long to achieve these results.


    He, an outsider, even with the benefit of the Scholar Entries, could he really surpass them?


    "And the third method?" Xu Yi prompted, noticing Daniel hadn''t continued.


    "The stronger the physical constitution of the injection subject, the stronger their endurance, and naturally, the higher the success rate. But since our ultimate subjects are humans, this method serves only as a reference," said Daniel.


    Xu Yi pondered. Logically, if he could obtain the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entries, wouldn''t that mean he could enhance the success rate for every type of blood?


    Someone approached Daniel and said something, causing him to frown slightly.


    "When you join Team Five, you''ll start off with the blood purification work. Olly, show the newcomer the ropes!"


    After speaking, Daniel swiftly left, as if there was some problem with the experiment.


    Xu Yi naturally had no objection to this arrangement; blood purification was a skill he had wanted to learn.


    Olly was a young man with some freckles on his face and a constant, approachable smile at the corner of his mouth.


    "Man, you must have some strong connections! I don''t know how much effort I put in to join this research group! You, on the other hand, get this opportunity just as you start your freshman year, and you even know Professor Daniel," Olly said enviously.


    Xu Yi smiled and said little else.


    His seemingly effortless entry into Research Team Five actually involved many factors.


    The church''s recommendation had played a part, as well as Xu Yi''s student status.


    But these weren''t the most crucial elements; the most critical was his identity as the "New York Hero."


    MIT would certainly investigate his background; without the resplendent note of "saving New York," even with the church pulling strings, they would not have agreed to his joining.


    "These are all introductory books. Like a regular student, you study the theoretical knowledge, and when you''re free, you help around in the lab a bit."


    Olly brought over a large box of books. "This way, by the time you''re a junior, you should be able to conduct some simple experiments."


    ```


    Xu Yi looked at the heavy tomes in the box and nodded.


    For him, with the scholar entries, it didn''t take that much time at all.


    But what troubled him was that these were only the basics; even if he mastered them all, it was impossible to fuse something of the caliber of Olivedo''s blood.


    Should he ask Daniel for help?


    Just as this thought surfaced in his mind, Xu Yi shuddered and instinctively rejected it, sensing that such an action would be extremely dangerous.


    "It''s safest to have the technology in one''s own hands," Xu Yi could only take it one step at a time now.


    "Take it slow, there''s no need to rush. It''s dinner time now, let''s go eat!" Olly consoled.


    He thought Xu Yi''s frustration was due to the overwhelming amount of material to learn.


    As soon as Xu Yi left the laboratory door, he encountered a familiar figure outside, Mia, the Great Exorcist he had met on the plane, standing under the shade of a tree with a thermal box, looking expectant.


    "Let''s go! Us bachelors can''t enjoy such a luxury, she''s here to bring food to Professor Daniel," Olly said, patting Xu Yi on the shoulder with a sigh.


    "So, they are husband and wife?"


    Xu Yi suddenly understood some things; even if Daniel was in charge of important scientific research projects, it would be too extravagant to have a Great Exorcist as personal protection, right?


    Now the answer was clear.


    "Not yet, but it''s about the same. They''re planning to get married in two months," Olly said with envy.


    Mia also noticed Xu Yi, and after a brief pause, she nodded in greeting.


    "Not to change the subject, but the food in our school cafeteria is exceptional, especially near Building 8..." Olly hadn''t finished speaking when he was suddenly interrupted by Xu Yi.


    "Sorry, I''m in a bit of an emergency right now, I''ll treat you to a meal next time!" Xu Yi said before hurriedly leaving.


    Olly stared at Xu Yi''s retreating figure, a bit confused. Could it be that his plan to fleece the rich junior had been seen through?


    Xu Yi walked swiftly, feeling slightly exhilarated.


    [The Fruit of the Evil God is ripe; do you wish to merge it immediately?]


    To be cautious, Xu Yi didn''t activate it in public. Instead, he returned to his nearby residence, where Ailent had already arranged everything in advance.


    He locked the room''s door and drew the curtains. Everything was ready.


    The Evil God Fruit appeared in Xu Yi''s hand. With a thought, it merged from his palm into his body.


    His body trembled violently, and his eyes became vacant.


    His vision shifted to the endless void, where he glimpsed the colossal figure in the shadows, too grand, majestic, and eerie for words.


    It was the true form of the Evil God of the Ram! Xu Yi understood instantly.


    The glimpse lasted only a moment before Xu Yi was back in his room, breathing heavily.


    After a long while, he finally caught his breath, but he was confused.


    Was that all the effect of merging the Evil God Fruit?


    He instinctively checked the system panel and his eyes lit up instantly.


    [You have acquired the "Maxed-out Entry: Genius of Mysticism (Green Epic)"!]


    [You have obtained the "Entry Synthesis Path: Master of Mysticism = Scholar x3 + Genius of Mysticism"!]

 Chapter 190 Divinity Shrine Maiden

    Xu Yi''s gaze settled on "Genius of Mysticism" and, besides the Combat techniques from last time, he witnessed a maxed-out entry once again.[Genius of Mysticism: 100/100 (Green Epic)


    Ability 1 - Mystical Comprehension:


    You are a genius in the field of Mysticism, possessing extraordinary comprehension of Mystical knowledge.]


    Despite being a green, epic entry with only one ability, its simplicity couldn''t mask its power.


    Xu Yi equipped the "Genius of Mysticism" entry and then began searching through the box.


    Amongst the books given by Olly, besides modern biological knowledge, there was one from a witch titled "Configuration of Phantom Vine Mushroom Potion," claimed to be supplementary reading to relax Xu Yi''s mind.


    Though built upon modern science, the laboratory was, after all, researching magical creatures; how could it not delve into the theories of Mysticism?


    While in the laboratory, Xu Yi had casually flipped through the book, which was covered in symbols of unclear meaning, more abstract than a child''s scribbles,


    and after looking at them, his forehead began to throb slightly.


    But now things were different; he felt as if he''d stepped into the witch''s perspective who compiled the book. Why were the texts written that way? What did the symbols in the corners mean?


    The book''s intended meanings were all unfolding before his eyes.


    "This entry''s ability is too powerful!" Xu Yi exclaimed in amazement.


    He felt as though he wasn''t reading a book to learn but inheriting the witch''s experiences and memories!


    The volume was thin, and he quickly finished reading it.


    He closed his eyes slightly, sorting through the memories in his mind, and after a moment, he opened his eyes and understood the principle of configuring the Phantom Vine Mushroom Potion completely.


    Xu Yi''s eyes shone as if they were two lightbulbs, comparable in strength to the power of the entry devouring, not at all inferior to the Soul Stealing Seed.


    The entries gained from the Soul Stealing Seed were all maxed-out entries, not requiring the hard grind for experience.


    And the scope of theft was broader; if it were entry devouring, it could only steal from the targets he killed; the dull and ignorant Incarnation of the Evil God, Michael, obviously wouldn''t have an entry like "Genius of Mysticism."


    Only an incarnation of the Evil God, a terrifying monster that had lived for who knows how many years, could potentially fathom the secrets of Mysticism to be stolen.


    [Entry Synthesis Path: Master of Mysticism = Scholar x3 + Genius of Mysticism!]


    Xu Yi stared at the synthesis path for a long time.


    He had an inexplicable premonition that the "Master of Mysticism" entry might be the key to synthesizing high-quality blood.


    "Scholar x3," which means stacking the Scholar entry three times, he had already acquired it once, and he was about to get the second time.


    [Scholar, current progress: 52/100]


    In recent times, he took some time off to study, and the entry''s progress had unwittingly reached over half.


    "I wonder what the effect of the super-brain computation will be?"


    Xu Yi always remembered that once he could stack the Scholar''s ability three times, he would be able to use the super-brain computation ability.


    Sadly, he had been too busy to grind for the Scholar entry, and now was a good opportunity to max out the entry while researching the mystical blood.


    Xu Yi opened the thick "Introduction of Biology," ready to study, but after only two pages, he suddenly closed the book.


    It wasn''t because he had caught the dreadful virus named "I''m already tired today, I''ll definitely study hard tomorrow!"


    He was a little excited; due to soul damage, he hadn''t been able to connect with the Ghost Samurai, but after so many days of rest, he could finally sense the Ghost Samurai.


    Xu Yi closed his eyes slightly and the Cat Spirit, Bastet, transformed into Fire Gui. His thoughts entered the Fire Gui, resonating with the distant Ghost Samurai.


    ......


    Xu Yi''s consciousness merged with the Ghost Samurai, and as he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze uncontrollably fixed in place, unable to move away.


    A vibrant, youthful girl wearing an elaborate shrine maiden''s attire was gradually shedding her clothes, piece by piece, from the red Hakama to the white kimono outerwear, to the close-fitting under-kimono.


    Finally, the girl bent down to remove her red-laced grass shoes and kimono socks, revealing her perfect bare feet to the air.


    A steamy wooden tub sat beside her, and as she stepped on a stool, she slid her slender, fair legs into the tub; maybe because the water was a bit hot, her toes curled up slightly, her glistening toenails appearing almost transparent.


    The girl was fully submerged in the water, with the brewing steam obscuring the view, and Xu Yi shifted his gaze away.


    The reason he had been staring at her was not because he had just merged with the Ghost Samurai and couldn''t control it freely. He could only say, which member could withstand such a test?


    Xu Yi did not light up the "Eyes of Flame," because he was not familiar with the surroundings yet, and the best way to go was to maintain the status quo.


    The Ghost Samurai Armor sat upright in the shrine, beneath the vermilion horizontal beam, from which white talismans hung on hemp ropes, but they were mostly decorative and didn''t have much power for exorcism.


    Xu Yi looked around, increasingly puzzled; this architecture didn''t seem like America''s style.


    "Yametekudasai..."


    The one who called out was not the girl in the barrel, but the old crone standing beside a pillar, her frail body enshrouded in a large black robe, her face covered in wrinkles.


    Of course, the other party didn''t just shout one word; she said a series of words, but unfortunately, Xu Yi only understood one word, all thanks to the "study folder" from his previous life.


    Witch''s attire, the vermilion shrine, and a language full of recognition...


    Had the Ghost Samurai returned to Japan?


    Xu Yi was a bit stunned; just a second before he lost consciousness, he vaguely remembered the Ghost Samurai fleeing into a secluded forest. How had he reconnected with the Ghost Samurai only to find himself in Japan?


    The old crone''s tone was harsh, obviously scolding the girl, but sadly Xu Yi didn''t understand a word.


    "The situation is a bit bad!" Xu Yi checked the Ghost Samurai''s condition. The Bone of Nightmares had consumed most of the divinity, and the golden Transcendence flesh had turned grayish, merging with the bones.


    The Demon Blade Red Lotus, after phasing, was attached inside the Ghost Samurai Armor, which was the most favorable situation.


    The usage of the "Transcendent Flame" indeed demanded a huge price to pay.


    The so-called "Transcendent Flame" was a terrifying flame created by fusing the Demon-Suppressing Flame and the Red Lotus Karma Flame, using divinity as the catalyst.


    The last strike annihilated the Incarnation of the Evil God, Michael.


    After checking, Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief.


    Although things were a bit dire, it was fortunate that the Origin hadn''t been harmed; he just needed a good rest for a while, and most likely he would recover.


    "What is this?" Xu Yi suddenly found a small black spot inside the armor, and his heart immediately rose.


    But he quickly let out a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted from his heart.


    That turned out to be the Soul Core of little Alice!


    The Evil God told his followers not to fear death, for after dying, their souls would return to the Holy Lord and attain eternal life; this wasn''t entirely a deception.


    If devout followers died, their Soul Cores would drift toward the Evil God with the Power of Faith.


    The Evil God could resurrect the souls of devout followers, but that required the consumption of the Power of Faith.


    Xu Yi glanced at the Cat Spirit Holy Tree. A "half-ripe" Fruit of Faith hung upon it.


    Right now was when the Fire Gui Potion was being distributed, and the patients with heated souls were being treated, which meant the growth of the Power of Faith was even greater than before.


    This situation would likely continue for some time. Xu Yi estimated that after two ripe Fruits of Faith emerged, the growth of the Power of Faith would plummet.


    To revive Alice''s soul would only need a quarter of the Fruit of Faith, but now was clearly not the right time.


    Suddenly, Harada Mieko''s complexion within the barrel turned deathly pale; though she was immersed in warm water, her body shivered uncontrollably as if she had fallen into icy depths.


    Xu Yi knew her name because the old crone, who was chattering beside him, kept repeating the word "Harada Mieko"; even if he did not understand Japanese, he knew it must be this young girl''s name. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The old crone''s face also changed dramatically, her words becoming extremely urgent as she looked frequently toward the shrine''s door.


    The old crone was also an exorcist, but in Xu Yi''s eyes, her power was rather ordinary. If the Ghost Samurai wished to kill her, it would be a matter of a single stroke.


    Xu Yi''s attention stayed on Harada Mieko, not because she was beautiful or because she was still bathing.


    She carried a faint divinity that did not come from the outside but from inside her body; in other words, she was a person born with Divinity.


    Such people were extremely rare and usually either became powerful exorcists or sweets in the hands of Evil Spirits and Demons.


    An icy breath flowed from the entrance of the shrine, and Xu Yi felt a familiar yet foreign presence, much like an Evil Spirit, but slightly different, filled with the rich scent of blood.

 Chapter 191 How Does Your Excellency Intend to Deal with This?

    A cold presence emerged, and Harada Mieko trembled even more violently. She instinctively wanted to flee but was sternly stopped by the old crone.Harada Mieko pressed her hands together, her eyes closed, praying, muttering unknown prayers under her breath.


    Xu Yi was a bit taken aback¡ªcould these two people be fools? Even knowing that something was wrong, they didn''t run, but instead prayed there. Which deity would have the time to take care of your matters?


    From time to time, Harada Mieko would open her eyes to look at the Samurai Armor; suddenly, Xu Yi realized that the deity they were praying to was him.


    But how on earth did the Ghost Samurai become the object of their prayers?


    Could it be that someone recognized the divinity of the Samurai Armor, so they bought it, constructed a shrine, and prayed for protection?


    If it were anywhere else, people probably wouldn''t dare to do this, but in the peculiar country of Japan, everything was possible.


    Suddenly, a gust of wind lifted the hemp ropes hanging from the shrine, and with the wind appeared a monster.


    The pale-faced woman wore a sinister smile; she was hunchbacked, clearly with a human body, yet without limbs¡ªin their place were sharp sickles.


    Xu Yi stared at the monster in astonishment. The creature was very strange, exuding an Evil Spirit''s aura, yet it had a physical body, giving the impression of a combination of an Evil Spirit and a Supernatural Creature.


    According to Japanese definitions, it should be called a Monster.


    The Monster stepped towards Harada Mieko, her eyes gleaming with a bloodthirsty light. To them, a Divine Body was comparable to an exquisite delicacy, but its visit here was not just to simply devour her.


    Harada Mieko''s body shook like a sieve, and her chanting became even more devout.


    The crone pulled out a cane, trying to stop the Monster, and to buy precious time for Harada Mieko.


    Her hands trembled slightly, clearly aware that she was no match for the Monster.


    Xu Yi quietly watched this unfold, with no immediate intention of slaying monsters or performing an exorcism.


    He couldn''t step in rashly just because the girl was pretty. What if all this was a trap?


    Although the likelihood was small, Xu Yi had no desire to reveal the details of the Ghost Samurai for a stranger.


    Suddenly, the bottom of the wooden barrel lit up, hiding an Array that Xu Yi had not noticed.


    The moment the Array appeared, Xu Yi suddenly felt Harada Mieko''s thoughts, the thoughts of offering to the deity.


    Black specks of light rose from Harada Mieko and drifted toward the Samurai, disappearing into the Armor in the blink of an eye.


    Xu Yi was stunned before he realized that those black specks were Harada Mieko''s Core of Faith. Like William, she had become one of his devout followers, her life and death under his control.


    The cold presence behind her grew closer, and the despair on Harada Mieko''s face became more apparent, but she could do nothing more than continue to pray.


    She was born with an omen, never crying or fussing¡ªthe delivering doctor said he saw golden light swimming in her eyes.


    From a young age, she wore an Amulet, crafted from white jade, obtained by her father from a renowned local monk.


    The Amulet was extremely precious; if her father hadn''t saved the monk in his youth, he would not have been willing to part with it and give it to her.


    But tragically, the Amulet shattered a few days before, without any collision¡ªjust suddenly breaking apart.


    When the family''s Shrine Maiden discovered the broken Amulet, her face paled, and she said a great disaster would soon befall the family. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To save her life and continue the family line, they used their connections to find a Vessel for the deity, which was the Samurai Armor.


    She was told that as long as she was devout enough, she could become God''s Maid and receive the deity''s blessing.


    But she had been devout enough, so why hadn''t the deity answered her?


    The old crone''s body shook; she suspected she had been deceived. There was no sign of movement from the warrior Armor in the shrine behind her.


    That might not be a Vessel for any god at all, for no deity could resist the lure of making Harada Mieko a God''s Maid.


    The Kamaitachi Monster drew closer, and the crone clutched the Exorcism Artifact hidden in her sleeve. If there were truly no other way, she would have to call for the exorcists stationed outside.


    The Kamaitachi Monster suddenly stopped, turning its gaze to the direction of the shrine. The crone''s heart leapt with hope, she stepped back twice while also sneakily glancing behind her. Experience more tales on empire


    In the shrine, the Samurai''s pupils suddenly lit up, with two flickering flames burning quietly deep within, as a majestic aura spread in all directions.


    The crone let out a sigh of relief. Considering the Ghost Samurai''s imposing aura, it should be classified as a relatively powerful "god".


    Although they called the Ghost Samurai a god, she was well aware that the so-called gods of their country were mostly just spirits of the mountains and the wilds!


    Naming themselves gods was completely self-aggrandizing.


    She now just hoped that the Samurai Armor in front of her would prove effective, at least enough to drive the Kamaitachi Monster away.


    But the next second, her eyes widened in shock. The Kamaitachi Monster''s body trembled slightly, the creature was actually in fear!


    A misty black shadow appeared in front of the Kamaitachi Monster, it was the Ghost Samurai seated within the Shrine, and in its hand was an alluring dark red longsword.


    As the longsword came slashing down, the Kamaitachi Monster, a creature known for its speed, should have responded with a tempestuous counterattack, using the sickles on its body to slice through its enemy.


    But at that moment, the Kamaitachi Monster couldn''t move.


    It was as if a great mountain was pressing down on it, the already hunched figure was pushed even lower, almost prostrate on the ground.


    The old woman stared blankly at the Ghost Samurai Armor, which was enshrouded in a faint black and golden flame. The flames exerted a tremendous pressure, making one instinctively want to kneel and bow.


    Could it be that what she encountered was not a mountain spirit, but a real god?


    Her body trembled slightly, the situation had gone completely beyond her control, and if the other party were to decapitate her with a single strike, she would not find it strange.


    The sword in the Ghost Samurai''s hand came down, fortunately, its target was the Kamaitachi Monster.


    The Kamaitachi Monster raised its hooked sickle to meet the attack, but its sturdy sickle was surprisingly cut in two by a single strike, and it let out a scream of pain as the longsword did not slow down and split open its chest.


    Xu Yi took action decisively, after accepting Harada Mieko''s devout faith, he suddenly had a new idea.


    "Perhaps I can treat the other party as a ''Vessel''!"


    His true body wasn''t here, and it was impossible to monitor the Ghost Samurai''s situation at all times. To avoid being ambushed when "offline," he needed to find a safe hiding method.


    After phasing, the Evil God could attach itself to a Divine Item, and the Demon Blade Red Lotus did just that, clinging to the inside of the Armor.


    Harada Mieko was born with Divinity and was his devout believer, making her body a safer vessel than ordinary Divine Items.


    Dense, fishy blood splattered on the Ghost Samurai Armor, and Xu Yi was slightly startled.


    [Kamaitachi Blood, "Quality: C", "Fusion Success Rate: 62%", "Promotion Potential: Blue Epic"]


    The ability of "blood scent" came into play, something he hadn''t anticipated, it seems to be a "soul ability" that does not require the true body.


    Xu Yi looked at the system information, somewhat surprised.


    The success rate of fusing Kamaitachi Blood was a bit too high, wasn''t it? Over sixty percent!


    Was it just Kamaitachi that was special, or were all the monsters in Japan like this?


    Xu Yi''s interest was piqued instantly; if he could find out the reason for the high success rate, could he replicate it?


    The Kamaitachi Monster retreated in horror. Although it was said that the Ghost Samurai had no eyes, it still sensed the other''s intention, the desire to dissect it.


    The Ghost Samurai raised its longsword... At that moment, a large number of red silk threads surged into the Shrine''s gate, binding the Kamaitachi Monster and pulling it out of the range of the Demon-suppressing Domain.


    "There''s even monster-snatching going on!" Xu Yi was immediately displeased and turned his head to look.


    Amidst the dense red silk threads, an extremely beautiful woman approached Xu Yi, every move she made exuded a powerful charm.


    The charm was not just aimed at humans; even mountain spirits were affected, regardless of gender.


    Harada Mieko''s face blushed, her legs intertwined and she involuntarily let out a low moan.


    The Ghost Samurai was also charmed, the dusky golden flames on the armor vanished, the suppressive domain stopped working, and the flames within its pupils faded.


    The armor stood still as if it were a sculpture.


    The smile on the woman''s face grew even more radiant. She stretched out her hand, the red silk threads swirling around it, preparing to bind the Ghost Samurai.


    A dazzling blade light suddenly shone, the woman''s smile froze on her face, and the Red Lotus Longsword split her face in two.


    The light in the Ghost Samurai''s pupils flared up again, Xu Yi looked disdainfully at the other party, wanting to charm him?


    He chose to log off directly and then reconnect, how did you plan to deal with that?

 Chapter 192 I really am a sentimental person!

    The woman in red''s face was split into two, but she did not die, her face merging back together like rubber clay.Xu Yi swung his blade again, yet the woman in red dodged in a flash, appearing a few meters away, with those red threads dragging her along.


    The Ghost Samurai did not immediately follow up with an attack but instead looked down at the blood splattered on his armor.


    [Blood of Wheel-head, "Quality: B", "Fusion Success Rate: 52%", "Promotion Potential: Red Common"]


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up, although the success rate of fusion had slightly decreased, it was still over fifty percent.


    This meant that the high fusion success rates with Monster Blood were likely not a fluke!


    Xu Yi gripped his blade tightly as the Ghost Samurai turned into black smoke and drifted towards the monster called Wheel-head, who flashed away, further distancing herself from the Ghost Samurai.


    Red threads densely covered the entire shrine, Xu Yi frowned slightly; as long as the threads existed, this place was essentially the opponent''s home ground.


    Dealing with the enemy on their home ground was not an easy task, especially in the weakened state of the Ghost Samurai.


    The sharp Demon Blade Red Lotus sliced through the red threads, which broke at the sound, but new threads immediately took their place, seemingly endless.


    A shadow suddenly struck from behind, the Ghost Samurai spun around fiercely but it was too late¡ªit was Wheel-head''s head.


    Wheel-head in front bore no resemblance to the beautiful woman from before, her neck stretched shockingly long, probably over ten meters.


    Wheel-head''s elongated neck coiled around the Ghost Samurai like a snake.


    The Ghost Samurai could have used Phasing to evade, but it did not; it stood stiffly in place, letting the opponent coil around it.


    Xu Yi was secretly pleased; he was worried about how to get close to the enemy, but to his surprise, the enemy actively approached him.


    A flicker of Red Lotus Karma Flame passed over the long sword, and Wheel-head let out a shrill scream. The purpose of Red Lotus Karma Flame was to burn away the soul, which even a monster could not endure.


    During the previous battle with the Incarnation of the Evil God, Michael, the Red Lotus Karma Flame had been greatly depleted; now only a thin layer could envelop the surface of the long sword, and the terrifyingly powerful flame sword qi couldn''t be used temporarily.


    The Wheel-head, which had been strangling the Ghost Samurai, loosened its grip and hung limply on the ground like a rotten snake. Xu Yi swung his long sword, decapitating his opponent.


    A shadow suddenly flashed in front of the Ghost Samurai; it was the returning Kamaitachi monster. Xu Yi was a bit surprised; he hadn''t expected these monsters to be quite so loyal. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In today''s society, monsters that honored loyalty were rare; Xu Yi was quite touched.


    Touched as he was, he sliced the Kamaitachi monster in half at the waist.


    The bodies of the two monsters were still twitching on the ground, evidently possessing a tenacious vitality, but even the most resilient monsters could not withstand the smelting of Red Lotus Karma Flame.


    A dark red flame gathered at the tip of the sword, aimed at the head of the Kamaitachi monster, ready to execute it.


    Just then, a huge suction force came from outside, dragging the bodies of the monsters on the ground. Xu Yi was a little annoyed; his crucial moments had been interrupted not once, but twice!


    Ignoring the looming massive shadow outside, he pierced through the Kamaitachi''s head with a single stroke, the Red Lotus Karma Flame incinerating the monster''s soul.


    In a moment of haze, Xu Yi heard an angry, mournful roar that sounded neither human nor beast.


    The Ghost Samurai flashed in front of Wheel-head, but regrettably, the strong suction force had already swept away Wheel-head''s body. He stepped forward, pursuing Wheel-head. Read exclusive adventures at empire


    The strange roar rose again, Xu Yi halted his steps and looked up.


    At last, he saw clearly the source of the roaring; it was an enormous house, floating above the city, seemingly invisible to everyone else.


    The style of the house was that of a fortress from the last century, its surface covered with various scratches and stains, full of a sense of the ravages of time.


    Huge black tentacles extended from the base of the house, writhing in the void, and for a moment Xu Yi could not tell if the house before him was an inanimate object or a living entity.


    The door of the house opened wide, the body of Wheel-head was sucked inside, and it seemed, due to the death of the Kamaitachi monster, the house expressed an emotion of anger.


    A powerful suction acted upon the Ghost Samurai, attempting to pull it into the house. Xu Yi''s heart burst with laughter... because he sensed Divinity emanating from the house.


    He did not resist the suction and let it pull the Ghost Samurai into the house.


    The house clearly wasn''t as small as it seemed from the outside; inside was an independent Different Space.


    Red chains swept in from all directions, each carrying a faint touch of Divinity. To Xu Yi, these chains looked as appetizing as delicious, spicy snack strips.


    The chains bound Xu Yi, and as the Ghost Samurai''s severed head was reattached, it let out an excited shriek. This Eight Monster House had a suppressing function; once bound by the chains, it was difficult to leave.


    She seemed to already envision the scenes of tormenting him at will in the future.


    But her excitement soon turned to confusion as the Eight Monster House began to shake violently, as if a human were suffering from a stomach upset after eating the wrong thing, making incomprehensible noises.


    Suddenly, the bottom of the Eight Monster House opened up, and a dark shadow was ejected, landing heavily on the roof.


    The Ghost Samurai sat up from the debris on the roof and chased after the Eight Monster House.


    If only the Ghost Samurai could speak, he would surely have screamed at it not to leave!


    Where else could he find a place that allowed him to absorb Divinity so easily if it left?


    The Eight Monster House sped up, moving as swiftly as lightning, as if a mad dog were chasing it.


    White mist billowed around the Eight Monster House, concealing the structure. As the mist gradually dissipated, the house vanished along with it.


    Xu Yi could only stop in his tracks, heaving a long sigh.


    "Why can''t you let me stay a few more minutes? You don''t have to fully revive me, but at least let the Demon Blade Red Lotus recover first!"


    He felt that the house was being too stingy.


    "Such a great Power Bank, I wonder when I''ll encounter it again!"


    Xu Yi was curious about how the house had formed. It wasn''t very strong, yet it possessed a considerable amount of Divinity.


    The Ghost Samurai returned the way it came. Harada Mieko had already dressed in a shaman''s robe, standing respectfully beside the Shrine.


    "Gather the Monster corpses! Offer them to me!"


    Xu Yi ordered Harada Mieko. He neither spoke Japanese nor could he talk, but since she had become his devout believer, he could use the voice of the soul to make her understand his meaning.


    This Monster Blood, he would have to find a way to send it back to the United States for research.


    Harada Mieko suddenly "heard" Xu Yi''s voice, shivered, and quickly bowed deeply in respect.


    The Ghost Samurai transformed into black smoke, surging toward Harada Mieko, whose body tensed, but she did not dare to resist. From now on, she was the God''s Maid, and she must serve the god for life.


    The black mist entered Harada Mieko''s body, and Xu Yi, feeling that the Ghost Samurai had found a safe "logging off" spot, severed the connection contentedly.


    Another benefit of hiding inside Harada Mieko''s body was that he could lie in wait.


    People born with Divinity were absolutely delectable meals for creatures like monsters.


    From now on, Harada Mieko effectively had a "monster-attracting aura."


    The blood of this country''s monsters was very beneficial to his blood research project, and he intended to collect more Monster Blood.


    Moreover, he had a premonition that the strange house and the monsters inside it would not let things rest so easily.


    Though they had just parted ways, Xu Yi was already looking forward to the next encounter with them.


    "Ah! I truly am a passionate person!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but lament.

 Chapter 193 Progenitor Vampire

    At dusk, Xu Yi returned to his residence, a standalone villa in Boston''s wealthy district.With his current family fortune, there was naturally no longer a need to pinch pennies, so Ailent directly stepped in and purchased for him a luxurious villa in Boston.


    Xu Yi tucked a couple of books under his arm¡ªone was "Introduction to Modern Biology," and the other was "Japanese for Beginners."


    Learning another language was critically necessary, otherwise the actions of the Ghost Samurai in Japan would become extremely inconvenient.


    He had just come back from MIT, and it must be said that indeed a school is the most suitable place for learning.


    [Scholar +18, Current progress: 70/100]


    Less than a day had passed, and his Scholar entry had added 18 points of experience, filling up the Scholar entry was just within reach.


    Xu Yi went straight to the basement.


    The original purchase of this villa, aside from the quiet surrounding environment, was primarily because it came with a basement that could be transformed into a laboratory.


    The basement only contained some essential lab equipment like beakers and Petri dishes, which were practically worlds apart compared to MIT''s Blood Research Group Five.


    But Xu Yi did not envy them in the least because he had the Nest of the Evil God.


    The Nest of the Evil God was the most advanced experimental observation equipment, leading current technology by who knows how many years; it was also one of the sources of his confidence in devising high-quality blood potions.


    The other source of confidence was naturally his entry "Genius of Mysticism."


    Xu Yi cut a small piece from the charred flesh of Ryan and placed it on a Petri dish, then brought out the blood of the Vampire Progenitor.


    After these days of study, he was no longer ignorant about mysticism.


    The blood of Ryan, as the perfect fusion of werewolf and vampire blood, had the potential to revive as long as it came into contact with fresh blood.


    But the flesh of Ryan he held was too severely damaged, with very low activity; it probably required high-quality fresh blood to possibly revive.


    The blood of the Vampire Progenitor was poured over Ryan''s flesh, and, as expected, being of the same origin, the vampire blood was absorbed in an instant.


    "Such tenacity of life!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but exclaim.


    The charred flesh of Ryan actually began to freshen up and twitch from time to time.


    Xu Yi ground the flesh into mince and poured it into saline to create a potion. He only wanted to observe the characteristics of Ryan''s flesh and didn''t need to make it too complex.


    A white rabbit had already been fed into the Nest of the Evil God beforehand. Xu Yi injected the potion into the rabbit.


    The Nest of the Evil God projected a three-dimensional dissection image into his mind, allowing Xu Yi to clearly see a large expanse of blood-colored energy radiating outward from the injection site. Continue your saga on empire


    The rabbit began to mutate, its flat teeth becoming extremely sharp, its soft fur turning rough, and its pupils turning blood-red.


    Xu Yi began to believe that it was truly Ryan''s flesh, as the rabbit exhibited both vampire and werewolf characteristics.


    But it also inherited their bloodthirstiness, and the mutated rabbit lunged at Xu Yi, who remained unmoved. With a mild "pop" sound, the rabbit crashed into the "glass."


    Of course, the rabbit couldn''t break the "glass" because Xu Yi was using a Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    Even the powerful Bone of Nightmares could do nothing but stay quietly within the Magic-Prohibiting Box, let alone a mutated rabbit.


    With the Nest of the Evil God combined with the Magic-Prohibiting Box, it was simply a perfect "research combo"!


    Xu Yi recorded the characteristics of Ryan''s blood on paper. At that moment, the rabbit''s mutation became even more severe. The bone structure of the rabbit''s head protruded, the abdomen contracted, and the sharp hairs stood on end one by one.


    The rabbit''s aura grew increasingly strong, but suddenly, with a "pop," the rabbit burst open, and its fresh blood splashed within the Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed, not because of the rabbit''s explosive death, which could have been anticipated.


    He frowned because he discovered an "anomalous object" within the rabbit''s body.


    The Nest of the Evil God extended two tentacles, the sharp ends of which could rival a dissecting scalpel. With stability and precision far surpassing that of professional surgeons, the Nest of the Evil God opened the flesh and plucked out a strand of black thread.


    The "dissecting scalpel" feature of the Nest of the Evil God was something Xu Yi had only discovered not long ago.


    The more he used the Nest of the Evil God, the more he realized its convenience; it was like it had been created for experimentation.


    Xu Yi stared at that strand of black thread, the more he looked at it, the more uneasy he felt.


    If one observed closely, they would notice that the black line was actually shaped like a tadpole, but without eyes or similar organs, and a mouth that nearly filled the entire head. When its mouth opened, two rows of sharp teeth were revealed.


    Xu Yi reached out his hand, touching the "black tadpole" through the Magic-Prohibiting Box. His blood-sensing ability was activated¡ªunexpectedly, this thing also belonged to mystic blood.


    [Unknown Mystical Blood, "Quality: S", "Fusion Success Rate: 0%", "Promotion Potential: Red Epic"]


    S-level! It''s actually S-level blood quality!


    Xu Yi was stunned. According to the information provided by his blood scent ability, this substance was supposed to be an "impurity" in Ryan''s flesh and blood.


    What kind of "impurity" could possibly possess S-level quality?


    But what the hell is a 0% fusion success rate?


    Other blood, even if the success rate is low, still has a rate of success.


    Xu Yi vaguely felt a premonition that whether it was purification or potion fusion, it might be impossible to improve the success rate of this blood.


    The "black tadpole" swam toward a corner of the Magic-Prohibiting Box, and even after encountering obstacles, it did not change direction, persevering toward the same direction.


    After observing for a moment, Xu Yi finally discerned the black tadpole''s intent.


    "Is it trying to go somewhere?"


    After pondering for a moment, Xu Yi''s curiosity ultimately got the better of him. He picked up the Magic-Prohibiting Box and walked outside.


    ......


    It was a dark and windy night, and Xu Yi hid in the shadows of a tall building.


    His body merged with the darkness, making it difficult for anyone passing by to detect his presence.


    [Dark Stealth, Current Progress: 88/100]


    As the final component in synthesizing the Shadow Sharpshooter, how could Xu Yi not be diligent? Whenever there was a chance, he would farm experience for Dark Stealth.


    He peered at the building across from him. The curtains were parted by the wind due to the window not being properly closed.


    In such darkness, ordinary people couldn''t possibly see what was inside, but Xu Yi was clearly not included among them.


    Through Eyes of Obscurity, he saw an extremely depraved scene inside.


    In the hall, bodies were spread out everywhere, men and women piled haphazardly on top of one another. Compared to the scene before his eyes, a luxurious feast seemed tame.


    What surprised Xu Yi the most was that some of the figures inside were vampires, and others were werewolves.


    He suddenly understood why the black tadpole had brought him here.


    After absorbing the blood of vampires, the black tadpole longed for more and subconsciously swam towards the direction of the vampires.


    "Blood Tracking" is the black tadpole''s innate ability.


    So many werewolves and vampires gathering together¡ªcould it really be just to unleash their bestial natures? S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi was somewhat perplexed. If they wanted to unleash their animalistic side, there were plenty of ways to do so. Why seek out their natural enemies?


    He slipped across to the opposite side under the cover of darkness.


    His heartbeat was suppressed to an almost inaudible level, and his breathing was virtually nonexistent; his presence merged with the surroundings. This was the power of Dark Stealth.


    Xu Yi crouched in the shadows of the windowsill, ears perked up, listening to the conversation inside.


    "Are we really going to take on the Progenitor?"


    Xu Yi had never expected to overhear such explosive information just after his arrival.


    The Progenitor mentioned by them naturally referred to the Vampire Progenitor.


    Vampires aren''t supposed to kill other vampires¡ªwasn''t that one of their laws? Why are they making an exception now and targeting the Vampire Progenitor?


    Xu Yi''s interest was thoroughly piqued.


    He had been searching for the Vampire Progenitor in secret, even asking Ed and the church for help.


    His search for the Vampire Progenitor was, of course, for the fragments of the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entries, and now he was only missing the last piece!


    Killing ordinary vampires, even the first generation, wouldn''t yield a fragment of Hyper Accelerated Regeneration.


    Considering that the fragments of Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entries fell only from characters, like the Undying Murderer Jason or the Thief God Ratma, one can understand.


    Killing a first-generation vampire would at most yield "accelerated regeneration," and though it''s only a single word difference, the effects are worlds apart.


    To obtain the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entries, one would need at least a progenitor-level vampire.

 Chapter 194 The Loli Has Three Good Qualities

    ```The hall suddenly quieted down, vampires ceased speaking, and werewolves were silent as well. Xu Yi, as an eavesdropper, felt as if a cat were scratching at his heart.


    "I suppose the Progenitor can understand our situation." A vampire suddenly let out a sigh, then cursed out loud, "It''s all because of the damned Wasting Disease!"


    The werewolves and vampires in the hall made no movements, and Xu Yi''s courage gradually grew. He peered into the hall through a gap in the balcony.


    Because he was closer now, he saw some details he hadn''t noticed before; these werewolves and vampires all looked a bit off.


    They were naked, so it was clear to see the condition of their bodies¡ªthe female vampires'' skin was pale, the female werewolves'' muscles seemed more elastic...


    Of course, these were not the main point; the main point was that their bodies, more or less, all exhibited signs of emaciation.


    The blonde, big-waved female vampire''s arm, the curly-haired female werewolf''s calf, looked as if their flesh had been sucked away by something. The skin was taut against the bone, and the bulging veins resembled centipedes, giving off a fierce and terrifying appearance.


    This must be the Wasting Disease the others were talking about, Xu Yi thought.


    Could it be that vampires and werewolves had formed an alliance because of the "Wasting Disease"?


    A sudden epiphany struck Xu Yi, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt this was the truth.


    The "Wasting Disease" was clearly not isolated to a few vampires or werewolves¡ªit was a disease spreading through both races.


    The consequences of the disease had to be terrible; otherwise, even the Undead vampires would not fear it so much.


    "Can Ryan really cure the Wasting Disease?" A vampire raised a question.


    "According to our clan''s records, this isn''t the first appearance of the Wasting Disease. The kingdom built by Ryan had suffered from it before, and those sick werewolves and vampires were all cured by Ryan," someone answered.


    "Unfortunately, Ryan''s remains have too low activity. Ordinary blood is useless; only the Progenitor''s primal blood will suffice," someone sighed.


    Primal blood is the origin of vampires; without it, the life of a vampire comes to an end.


    "Wasn''t there another plan? To artificially create a Ryan!"


    No sooner had the words been spoken than they were met with objections, someone scoffed at the idea.


    "What are you thinking? Relying on mere potions rather than making an effort ourselves! According to legend, wasn''t Ryan the ''Saint Heir'' that came into existence after the union of a vampire and a werewolf?"


    As lascivious laughter rang out, an utterly degenerate scene unfolded once again.


    Xu Yi didn''t leave, not because he wanted to watch the live show, but because he was waiting for an opportunity.


    Soon, the werewolves and vampires had all fallen into a deep sleep, and Xu Yi silently approached a vampire, placing the Sleeping Flower under their nose to inhale an excessive amount of its scent.


    A moment later, Xu Yi didn''t hesitate any longer. He pried open the vampire''s mouth and stuffed the Nest of the Evil God inside it.


    The Nest of the Evil God wriggled into the body, quietly lying in wait.


    Xu Yi looked around to ensure nothing was overlooked, then turned and left.


    He was already looking forward to the beginning of the vampire''s great fratricidal action.


    ...¡­


    MIT.


    Xu Yi came out of Scientific Research Group Five and stretched languidly.


    "Another fruitful day!" Xu Yi said with a smile at the corner of his mouth; he had mastered the essence of blood purification.


    Leaving the laboratory door, walking down the long corridor, Xu Yi saw Olly at the end of the hallway, leaning motionless against a column.


    "I''m in love!"


    As Xu Yi approached, he heard Olly''s serene exclamation.


    "With whom?" Xu Yi was a bit puzzled; Olly spent all day in the lab, how could he have found a girlfriend?


    "Even though I don''t know her name, the moment I saw her, my withered heart felt as if splendid sunflowers had suddenly bloomed," Olly said, his eyes not blinking as he stared ahead.


    "Sounds like you''re a poet held back by biology!"


    Xu Yi quipped spontaneously, then followed Olly''s gaze outward.


    Not far away, a petite girl stood under a tree, the swirling tree shadows fell on her delicate little face, and her black and white chiffon dress fluttered with the wind, her turquoise eyes reflecting the sky above.


    "So you like this type, huh!" Xu Yi commented with interest.


    ```


    "You don''t understand, do you? Not everyone likes women with curvy figures. How should I put it? Girls who are petite and delicate have their own appeal," Olly attempted to summarize in one sentence. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Lolita has three goods: light body, soft..."


    Olly''s eyes lit up, "Well summarized. I didn''t expect you to be a fellow enthusiast. By the way, what''s the third good?"


    Xu Yi paid him no mind and walked straight towards the girl under the tree.


    "Hey! What are you doing~"


    Olly let out an exclamation and hurriedly followed, only to witness a scene that broke his heart.


    The girl under the tree suddenly revealed a sweet smile, put down the two boxes she was holding, and pounced on Xu Yi. Xu Yi caught her and spun her around in the air.


    "Lisa, you finally came!" Xu Yi set Lisa down on the grass and ruffled her hair.


    "I''ve applied for early graduation and plan to find a school nearby," Lisa said softly.


    Since she had embarked on a superhuman journey, she naturally didn''t need to follow the path of common people.


    Maria would come later; she needed to stay with her mother now.


    Having completely let go of her scum father, Maria could move on, but her mother couldn''t see things that way yet. Maria needed to stay home and keep her company for a while.


    "Olly, let me introduce you. This is Lisa." Xu Yi turned to look at Olly behind him.


    "I heard," said Olly listlessly. "The flower in my heart has withered. Henceforth, in this land, no such splendid blossom shall ever bloom again."


    Lisa looked at Xu Yi, puzzled, as some rather impolite thoughts flashed through her mind.


    Xu Yi explained, "He''s a friend from school, studies poetry, so he''s a bit whimsical."


    Olly nodded; now he could only change his major tearfully, or else he would be treated as a madman.


    Xu Yi ignored him; after all, Olly''s ''garden'' dried up a few times every week. He was probably used to it by now.


    "I''ve brought your things." Lisa picked up the boxes.


    Xu Yi hadn''t had time to retrieve the Nest of the Evil God, which had been planted in the heretic Henry, and had to ask Lisa for a favor.


    "Why are there two?" Xu Yi was a little puzzled, as Lisa handed him two boxes.


    "One of the boxes contains clothes you had customized at Martin''s." Lisa''s gaze toward Xu Yi gradually became dangerous.


    Xu Yi sweated slightly on his forehead; Martin was the tailor who had made the witch outfit for Lisa previously. Impressed by Martin''s skilled craftsmanship, Xu Yi had placed an order for several items as well.


    He hadn''t expected to be too busy to pick it up, and now Lisa had brought it to him.


    "Ah, they''re just some training outfits... You must be hungry, right? Let''s go eat first." Xu Yi decisively deployed the topic change technique.


    "Is there anything for me inside?" Lisa pressed on.


    "There is... Of course, there is!" Xu Yi answered stiffly.


    Late at night, in the villa.


    Lisa had changed into her "training outfit," her cheeks flushed slightly. "Is this what you call a training outfit?"


    "You know Japan, right? Their female high school students like to wear these kinds of clothes¡ªwhite blouse, pink and blue checkered pleated skirt; you can also call it a jk skirt. The bowtie at the collar matches the skirt in color," Xu Yi responded softly.


    "But what does this have to do with special training?" Lisa frowned slightly.


    "Think about it, if you were in Japan and needed to disguise yourself as a high school girl, wouldn''t this be familiarizing you in advance?" Xu Yi blatantly made things up, without the slightest trace of embarrassment.


    Lisa stepped closer to Xu Yi and finally pressed up against him. She leaned into Xu Yi''s ear and whispered, "Don''t think I don''t understand anything. Aside from the jk skirt, are there also sweet Lolita dresses and elegant Gothic skirts?"


    Xu Yi felt the warm breath on his ear, tickling him, and he was momentarily stunned before realizing that Lisa was actually flirting with him!


    How could he endure this?


    He hugged Lisa tightly and pressed her down on the sofa. "Well, well! Hidden so deeply! Tell me, where did you learn all these things?"


    "They... they''re all things my sister told me about." Lisa, who had only heard about such things and never had any practical experience, blushed deeply when Xu Yi held her.


    "I heard... it''s supposed to feel good. Is it true?" Lisa''s voice was as faint as a mosquito''s. If Xu Yi weren''t so close, he wouldn''t have heard her.


    "Why don''t you try it and find out?" Xu Yi whispered back in Lisa''s ear.

 Chapter 195

    Under the dim light of the late-night desk lamp, Xu Yi flipped open his "Xu Yi''s MIT Study Diary," the words inside could only be described as "shockingly eye-opening."August 16:


    The vampires will act soon, I must max out my Dark Stealth before they do, combine the Shadow Gun God Entries, and officially ascend to the realm of Great Exorcist!


    I''ve decided! Starting today, study hard! Grind those entries hard!


    PS: Lisa rested in bed for half a day.


    August 17:


    The idea of using Harada Mieko to lure monsters really worked, I''ve killed three minor demons in the past two days, but it''s a pity I didn''t encounter the Haunted House from the other day, I''m starting to miss it!


    In the evening, played poker with Lisa.


    August 18:


    The progress on the Scholar Entries is very good, should be able to max it out for a second time soon. The study of Japanese is also going smoothly, found a Japanese teacher, though she''s nothing like the ones in the movies.


    In the evening, as usual, played poker with Lisa.


    August 19:


    Harada Mieko''s status in the family has been rising sharply, even overshadowing the head of the family, and she even hired a master of swordsmanship to teach her ancient Japanese swordplay.


    This is good because I can use the Ghost Samurai to secretly learn alongside, and the Swordsmanship Master Entries steadily increase.


    Lisa seems to have developed a taste for it and keeps pestering me to play poker, no help for it, just have to satisfy her.


    August 20:


    Played poker with Lisa.


    August 21:


    "Xu Yi, oh Xu Yi! How can you be so corrupt! Have you forgotten the plan you set out before?"


    The Master said, "I reflect on myself thrice daily."


    Can''t go on like this anymore!


    August 22:


    Played poker with Lisa.


    August 23:


    Played poker with Lisa. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    And so, two days passed like this.


    "At last!" Xu Yi''s sigh echoed in the darkness, the system message he had been waiting for finally appeared.


    [Dark Stealth +2, Current Progress: 100/100]


    Xu Yi couldn''t wait to combine the entries.


    [Entry Composition Path: Gunfight Technique + Dark Stealth + Eyes of Obscurity = Shadow Gun God!" Invested! Entry composition starting!]


    Looking at the brand-new entry, Xu Yi was thrilled.


    Meanwhile, the Nest of the Evil God lurking among the vampires also overheard an important piece of information.


    "Tomorrow at noon, the ''Progenitor Eternal Sleep'' plan will be initiated!"


    Xu Yi never expected such a coincidence, he looked at the Shadow Gun God information and felt even more confident about tomorrow''s operation.


    ...


    In an unnamed forest, a desolate manor stood silent, even at the bright noon, the surroundings of the manor seemed eerily gloomy.


    "Indeed, vampires know vampires best!"


    Xu Yi stood on a distant mountain, looking toward the manor, sighing leisurely.


    Shadowy figures appeared around the manor, some of them clothed in black robes covering their entire bodies, wrapped up tightly, without a doubt, these were vampires.


    Although they had all injected themselves with the "Anti-Sunlight Factor" potion in advance, the intense sunlight still affected them; they could only shield themselves from the sun with their clothes.


    The other group, who were not wearing black robes, were naturally werewolves, dressed in combat suits and carrying heavy backpacks on their backs.


    The vampires must have been watching the weather forecast before setting out, to have chosen such a clear day for action.


    Such bright sunshine, and at high noon¡ª even a Progenitor vampire would likely struggle to cope.


    The sunlight was just one factor.


    The werewolves and vampires began to engrave magic arrays around the estate.


    Having delved into Mysticism and having a foundation in Necromantic Spells, Xu Yi made reasonable progress and could roughly recognize that the arrays being engraved were specifically designed for vampires: the "Sun-Gathering Array."


    The werewolves unloaded their massive backpacks and took out high-pressure vapor bottles one after another.


    If Xu Yi was not mistaken, they likely contained mercury vapor infused with the pollen of the blue Mercury flower, which could greatly harm vampires.


    There were no fewer than three hundred high-pressure vapor bottles, distributed all around the estate.


    Xu Yi marveled inwardly; the vampires were well-aware of their fears, bringing all these things here truly showed they were a group of "devoted descendants."


    "This is truly undutiful! How could one treat an old person like this?" Xu Yi placed the Annabelle puppet on the ground, "Go! Leave a door for the old man."


    Annabelle crept towards the estate, maintaining its toy form, only the size of a palm and possessed the ability of Dark Stealth, moving silently.


    The only thing that could potentially give it away was the scent it carried. Although vampires and werewolves didn''t have a keen sense of smell for soul-type creatures, there was still a chance it could be discovered.


    Therefore, it was crucial for Annabelle to pick the right spot to approach, which happened to be the area the "traitor vampire" was in charge of. Under the interference from the Nest of the Evil God, he "overlooked" Annabelle.


    Annabelle stopped at the edge of the Sun-Gathering Array, activated its Curse Puppet abilities, and the "Curse" flashed over the Sun-Gathering Array.


    The Curse had been inscribed and was ready to trigger, capable of disrupting the operation of the Sun-Gathering Array.


    "Simply leaving a door open for the old man is not enough; we must give a proper welcome to our guests!"


    Xu Yi walked towards a dense forest, which he had chosen in advance as the "reception area."


    ...


    Barton stood on the outskirts of the estate, ensuring everything was ready. He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with determination, "Let''s begin!"


    The werewolves, wielding silver exorcism artifacts, stepped into the derelict estate.


    Due to bloodline suppression, common vampires stood no chance against a Progenitor, rendering them virtually powerless, so the main fighters in this battle were the werewolves.


    "The Progenitor has been sleeping in the basement of the estate for decades due to serious injuries. Remember not to trigger the traps; I''ve already told you how to circumvent them," Barton reminded them uneasily.


    The lead werewolf nodded and directed the team deeper into the estate.


    Barton paced back and forth, taking deep breaths to try calming himself, but he couldn''t fully settle his nerves.


    Suddenly, a roar came from within the estate; Barton''s eyes lit up. He recognized a mix of indescribable anger and pain in the sound.


    That meant the first step of the plan was a success; the werewolves had successfully ambushed the Progenitor vampire!


    The estate trembled, the basement was destroyed; years of neglect led to a domino effect of collapse, large sections of the building fell, and soon, the estate became rubble.


    Shadows dashed from the debris of the estate, those were the werewolves who had entered. Now in beast form, their sharp claws broke through the obstacle of fallen rocks.


    Twenty werewolves had entered the estate, but less than ten emerged; the collapsing buildings couldn''t have killed the werewolves, the answer was self-evident.


    Barton''s expression remained unchanged; he had anticipated this moment. Despite being grievously wounded and in slumber, the Progenitor vampire was undeniably powerful.


    The werewolves had escaped, and the Progenitor vampire did not pursue them, presumably wary of the fierce sunlight outside.


    "Activate the array, release the mercury vapor!" Barton ordered, everything was under his control.


    The array activated, drawing sunlight from its surroundings, and the blistering sun scorched the area.


    All of the mercury vapor was released together, not scattering with the wind. The improved Sun-Gathering Array was designed not only to collect sunlight but also the mercury vapor.


    The vapor crept through the crevices of the debris, spreading into the underground.


    This was akin to "smoking out moles," as the creatures can''t withstand the smoke and ultimately flee their holes; the same was expected of the Progenitor vampire. If it didn''t come out, it risked death by an excessive amount of mercury vapor.


    One minute, two minutes... five minutes passed.


    Barton grew increasingly anxious, and just as he was about to lose his composure, a dark figure flew out from the ruins of the estate!

 Chapter 196 Silent Domain

    Barton''s hanging heart finally settled as he made out the figure in the air.The figure had already become emaciated to the point of resembling a dried corpse, but it did not have the "centipede marks" characteristic of marasmus, which clearly indicated that it was simply due to a long time without fresh blood.


    Barton''s determination to obtain the origin blood strengthened. Why should it be that he didn''t suffer from the disease while their descendants had to face marasmus, which could claim their lives at any moment?


    "Barton!" the Vampire Progenitor roared in anger.


    Due to the bloodline resonance, the Progenitor sensed Barton''s presence. The chaos in his brain gradually cleared, and he understood his current situation.


    "Dracula, yield your origin blood, and we shall let you go!"


    Barton looked at the Vampire Progenitor indifferently. Blood smoke fizzed from the latter''s chest¡ªit was the result of a werewolf''s sneak attack.


    The werewolves had pierced his chest with an exorcist''s Cross.


    "Barton! I want you dead!" Dracula''s blood-red pupils radiated bone-chilling fury.


    It was he who had turned Barton into a vampire personally, never expecting that the latter would now seek to kill him.


    Giant bat wings unfolded from his back as Dracula took to the sky, attempting to escape the Deadland.


    This area was not only covered by a Sun-Gathering Array, but also filled with mercury vapour, making every second Dracula stayed closer to death.


    "Fire the Spear Guns!" Barton ordered curtly, no longer wasting words.


    He knew the other was buying time, trying to heal the wound in his chest, but he was equally eager for the mercury vapour to assail him.


    The werewolves launched their Spear Guns, each specially-made silver spear flying forcefully.


    The Spear Guns soared into the air, as if a silver rain were falling.


    "Such a beautiful scene!"


    From a high mountain in the distance, Xu Yi, holding a paintbrush, looked down and mused leisurely. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A canvas stood before him, his brush moving back and forth across the paper.


    Below, a fierce battle raged. The Spear Guns pierced through Dracula''s wings, and nets made of silver metal kept falling, trapping him. Dracula tried to break out of the Sun-Gathering Array time and again, only to be driven back by the blazing Array, roaring continuously.


    Xu Yi on the mountain seemed like an artist out for a spring outing, his face showing a free-spirited expression while the cool breeze blew and tree shadows swayed.


    Soon, the portrait of the Vampire Progenitor Dracula appeared on the paper. Judgment had a remarkable effect on high-speed targets, and Xu Yi certainly needed to prepare.


    The battle had reached a fever pitch, and Barton''s face showed a gleam of delight.


    The plan was going unexpectedly well!


    But this was also within reason. He had followed Dracula for decades and knew the latter''s weaknesses all too well. He had planned meticulously, whereas Dracula had been in deep slumber, ignorant of the outside world.


    With various factors combined, Dracula''s defeat seemed almost inevitable.


    Just as Dracula was about to collapse, a sound like breaking glass suddenly came from the northeastern corner of the Sun-Gathering Array.


    Barton''s heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition washing over him.


    The premonition quickly turned into reality as the Array in the northeastern corner dissipated, akin to a sturdy cage being breached with a large hole.


    "Quick! Stop him!" Barton roared.


    But it was too late. Dracula wouldn''t miss such an opportunity. Under the continuous fall of the Spear Guns, he forcefully broke through the Sun-Gathering Array.


    Before Dracula could catch his breath, a horde of werewolves lunged at him to attack.


    The Vampire Progenitor''s combat power was terrifying; his speed was ghostly, his sharp claws could easily tear through steel, but the werewolves threw themselves at him without hesitation. If they couldn''t obtain his origin blood, it was highly likely they wouldn''t survive anyway; they might as well give it their all.


    The brutal slaughter resumed. Werewolves died one after another, but Dracula was also nearing depletion, his speed more than halved from before.


    He knew he couldn''t go on like this; otherwise, he would be worn down to death here.


    A mist of blood steamed from Dracula''s body ¨C he had no common blood left in him; this was the power of the origin blood being utilized.


    An overwhelming momentum swept through, as Dracula suddenly burst forth, his speed even faster than at his peak, like a blood-red lightning bolt.


    In the blink of an eye, Dracula slaughtered several werewolves, then flew swiftly towards the distant woods.


    "Pursue him! We absolutely cannot let him get away!" Barton''s heart sank to the bottom of the valley.


    Vampires absorbing the blood of their own kind not only fail to heal their wounds but also produce various side effects.


    The blood of a werewolf is even more deadly poison to vampires, which is one of the reasons why they are natural enemies.


    Once Dracula escapes into the mountains and drinks the blood of other creatures, the chance to kill him becomes extremely slim.


    Once he recovers, he will definitely launch a cruel revenge.


    The werewolves pursued the blood shadow, which had almost disappeared from view, but they knew that such extreme speed could not last for long, and they needed to find him before Dracula could feed.


    Dracula rushed into a dense forest, and dived into a pile of grass; the sunlight was temporarily blocked, and the long-missing sense of cool appeared, making him so comfortable he nearly moaned out loud.


    He had been scorched by the sunlight just now, and would have turned to ash if he were a common vampire; it was only because he was a powerful Vampire Progenitor that he could hold on.


    At that moment, a dark shadow appeared in his field of vision. Dracula''s eyes burst with a surprised delight; it was a deer, a lost deer!


    At this moment, he was like a wanderer lost in the desert, not having touched a drop of water for three days and nights; he had never craved blood so desperately.


    He pounced fiercely, biting into the deer''s neck and greedily sucking its blood.


    All the gifts of fate had their chips marked in the dark.


    How could he be so lucky to stumble upon a lost deer right here?


    Even if Dracula really hit the jackpot, the noise of his crash should have scared the deer away long ago, so why would it wait here foolishly?


    All this was the "welcome gift" Xu Yi had prepared for Dracula.


    The deer had been specifically caught by him, and after inhaling the scent of Sleeping Flower, it became drowsy, which was why it wasn''t scared off by the noise of Dracula''s fall.


    If he had been fully alert, Dracula might have noticed these abnormalities, but his condition was too dire at the moment, and his only thought upon seeing the deer was to feed.


    "I hope he likes the extra ingredient I added to the deer blood," Xu Yi said with a smile on his lips.


    He had intentionally placed the deer in the dense forest, waiting for the other to come over.


    Within a hundred miles, this dense forest was the coolest place; Dracula, having been scorched so miserably by the sun, naturally wanted to "cool down" as soon as possible.


    If the other party did not come as he expected, Xu Yi would have taken action directly; fighting under the blazing sun would still be to his advantage.


    Dracula greedily sucked the blood, and in the tree shadows not far behind him, Xu Yi merged completely with the darkness, so much so that not even the insects moving through the trees could detect him.


    "It''s time!"


    Xu Yi took out the Alchemy on the left face Messiah, aimed at Dracula''s heart, and pulled the trigger, instantly emptying the magazine.


    As the blood entered his body, Dracula felt himself coming back to life. Although the amount of blood was too little to heal much, it at least made him feel less awful.


    Just then, he heard a whooshing sound behind him. Instantly trying to dodge, he was still too slow, or rather, the bullets were too close!


    The first bullet penetrated his heart, and although the remaining five missed the heart due to his evasion, they still hit his chest.


    Why hadn''t he heard the gunshot?


    Dracula''s mind was filled with questions. Even now, with severe injuries, his hearing shouldn''t have deteriorated to such a terrible state!


    His complexion changed slightly; the wounds hit by the bullets wouldn''t heal and were accompanied by a familiar burning sensation.


    It was bad blood silver bullets! Dracula suddenly realized.


    He had been hit by these bullets before; even though he didn''t know why the power of the bad blood silver bullets had decreased, he wasn''t at his peak state like in the past.


    Dracula attempted to use his muscular strength to push the bullets out, but they suddenly "exploded" inside his body. The bursting energy shook his insides, and he instinctively screamed in pain.


    "The Silent Domain expands!"


    Xu Yi finished reloading the bullets in the Alchemy on the left face Messiah and stared coldly at Dracula, pulling the trigger once more.


    Around him, within a radius of one meter, whether it was the sound of gunfire, cocking of the hammer, or even the smell of gunpowder smoke... nothing could escape.


    The bad blood silver bullets produced only a faint whoosh as they left the Silent Domain.

 Chapter 197 High Noon Has Arrived

    Dracula had been wary, yet he was still hit by the bullet.He dodged the first two bullets, but the subsequent bullet appeared right where he was evading, making it seem as if he had deliberately crashed into it.


    Instantly, Dracula realized he was facing a gun expert who had anticipated his moves in advance.


    The strange energy within the bullet exploded inside him once again, and Dracula let out a pained howl.


    He stared intently at the shadows behind the trees, and this time he finally located the source of the bullets.


    Since he had been discovered, Xu Yi had no need to hide any longer, so he lifted the Silent Domain and stepped out from the darkness. Stay updated through empire


    The tactic he had just used against the vampire, of course, came from his newly acquired Entries.


    [Shadow Gun God: (Blue Epic)


    Ability 1 - Silent Domain:


    Merging the Fog of Obscurity with darkness to create a Silent Domain, where firing a gun emits no sound, vibration, or smell.


    Ability 2 - Dark Mist Bullet:


    Infusing the bullets with the Fog of Obscurity, which significantly increases the bullets'' power, and triggering the fog within them can create an "explosive" effect. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ability 3 - Bullet Trajectory:


    By infusing the bullets with the Fog of Obscurity, one can control the fog to make the bullet curve, loop, or spin in its trajectory.


    Ability 4 - High Noon:


    Utilizing the Eyes of Obscurity at full capacity to discern an opponent''s weaknesses, with a five-second lock-on time, firing will instantly empty the magazine, and the bullets will strike the opponent''s weak points.


    Bullets infused with a great amount of Fog of Obscurity, if the opponent is in a weakened state, have a certain chance to achieve a one-hit kill effect!


    (ps: When locking onto an opponent, they will inevitably sense the incoming danger.)]


    Xu Yi could easily ambush Dracula, all thanks to the "Silent Domain" ability.


    This ability is simply an assassin''s favorite, a boon for the Resurrection Coin bearer.


    Dracula screamed miserably¡ªimitation bad blood silver bullets couldn''t be so powerful; it was the effect of the "Dark Mist Bullet" at play.


    Previously, Xu Yi had thought about coating bullets with the Fog of Obscurity to increase their power.


    But he later found that it simply didn''t work, as the Fog of Obscurity couldn''t be manipulated once it left his body.


    He hadn''t expected that after acquiring the "Shadow Gun God", not only was his prior idea fulfilled, but the outcome far exceeded his expectations.


    With just the blue Epic grade "Shadow Gun God" Entries, his combat power was comparable to that of a Great Exorcist, constituting a complete and powerful combat style.


    Dracula flapped his blood wings and roared as he rushed towards Xu Yi.


    His extensive combat experience told him that when facing a marksman expert, one must never show their back, as it would only serve as a target for the shooter.


    The proper approach was to get close to the foe; even if their marksmanship was precise, moving the gun would take time, and that was more than enough for him to twist off his opponent''s head.


    Xu Yi''s lips curved upward as he stepped forward to meet the charge.


    Generally speaking, keep distance when facing close combat to kite the opponent.


    But Xu Yi knew very well that his burst speed couldn''t possibly surpass Dracula''s, so increasing the distance was utterly impractical.


    If getting up close was inevitable, why not confront the enemy head-on and catch them off guard?


    Moreover, he wasn''t really afraid of being approached at close range.


    "Seeking death!" Dracula paused when he saw Xu Yi advance instead of retreating, then anger filled his being.


    The opponent wasn''t afraid of him closing in, for a mere human?


    The sound of a gunshot rang out again¡ªDracula was fixated on Xu Yi''s hand, and the moment Xu Yi pulled the trigger, he had already predicted the bullet''s path and dodged with ease.


    Dracula''s brow furrowed slightly¡ªhe had closed in on his adversary, yet the look on his enemy''s face was not one of panic but resolve, as he continued to pull the trigger, firing shot after shot until again the magazine was emptied.


    "Is it just a bluff?" Dracula sensed something was amiss, but Xu Yi was right before his eyes, and he could already smell the sweet scent of his blood. He lunged forward violently.


    But his expression suddenly changed; he heard a whizzing sound, a whizzing sound coming from behind.


    It was already too late to dodge; the first bullet entered the back of his head, and the strange energy exploded once again, splattering his brains.


    The subsequent bullets followed closely, penetrating Dracula''s heart.


    Dracula fell heavily to the ground; his wounds had accumulated too much. These few shots were like the last straw that broke the camel''s back. Finally, he couldn''t suppress the injuries within his body.


    Xu Yi took a few steps back, watching his opponent coldly, silently reloading his bullets.


    Only after acquiring the "Bullet Trajectory" ability could he truly claim to be a Sure Shot, especially at close range, where the opponent had no chance to dodge the bullets controlled by the Fog of Obscurity.


    Xu Yi took aim at his opponent''s head, ready to fire again.


    Countless facts have told us that a follow-up shot is always an essential step, but his expression suddenly changed, the Fog of Obscurity poured into the ground beneath his feet, and he swiftly retreated.


    Dracula on the ground had disappeared, and even the powerful dynamic vision of the Eyes of Obscurity only captured a flash of red shadow.


    Dracula was enveloped in a blood mist; Xu Yi''s muscles tensed, a light sweat on his forehead. The opponent had once again used the power of the progenitor blood!


    If the opponent could win the fight, his power would permanently decline.


    But it also indicated something, that the opponent had reached a desperate situation. If he could withstand this burst of power, victory would belong to him.


    But he still underestimated the power of a progenitor vampire; Xu Yi didn''t even have time to pull the trigger as a long trail of blood shadow attacked, Dracula''s sharp hand blade coming their way.


    A sudden sharp pain in his abdomen, Xu Yi braced himself against the pain, pulling the trigger. The bullet flew towards Dracula, tracing a "c" shape path.


    Dracula was still in the state of Blood Ignition; he actually reached out, forcefully catching the bullet and crushing it to pieces.


    Xu Yi''s breathing was labored, his back drenched with cold sweat.


    That was close! Just a little more, and he might have had to use a Resurrection Coin!


    In front of his chest, Annabelle''s head had been pierced through, her lone remaining eye struggling to move.


    Even with Annabelle''s sturdy body, she couldn''t withstand it, unimaginable just how strong that strike had been!


    Dracula''s initial target wasn''t Xu Yi''s abdomen, but his heart. He had no way to dodge, but fortunately, Annabelle blocked it for him, affording him that sliver of time to dodge.


    Facing the vampire, Xu Yi''s speed had been constantly overwhelmed; his frail body had become his greatest disadvantage. Xu Yi increasingly yearned for the Entries of Hyper Accelerated Regeneration, the power of the Blood Throne.


    Dracula had intended to pursue his victory and end Xu Yi completely, but then he heard the urgent footsteps; werewolves and vampires were approaching.


    Dracula gave Xu Yi a cold glance and turned to leave.


    Xu Yi clutched the pierced abdomen with one hand and held the Alchemical Revolver Messiah in the other, aiming at Dracula.


    Dracula didn''t look back; in his state of "Blood Ignition," he could easily dodge the bullets fired at him. But now, killing wasn''t important; escaping and healing his wounds through vampiric means was the priority.


    Suddenly, his hairs stood on end; he felt a lethal threat coming from behind.


    [High Noon locked on, countdown 5, 4...]


    Dracula realized something was seriously wrong and tried to speed up his escape, but his body suddenly froze; some mysterious force rooted him to the spot.


    He glanced behind with the corner of his eye; the other person had stabbed his portrait with a knife.


    Judgment had only bound him for a brief second. After all, it was just a green-level Entry, inadequate against a progenitor vampire like Dracula, but it was enough.


    "Does Deer Blood taste good?"


    The faint words seemed like a greeting between old friends, but fear suddenly exploded in Dracula''s heart, recalling the scene that was indeed very wrong.


    But as a vampire, he was extremely sensitive to blood; if the Deer Blood was poisoned, he would have definitely noticed it. What exactly had gone wrong?


    [High Noon locked on, countdown¡­3, 2, 1.]


    Xu Yi''s fingers almost became afterimages, repeatedly pulling the trigger; the remaining bullets in the Alchemical Revolver Messiah flew out at almost the same moment, heading straight for Dracula.


    Dracula knew he couldn''t dodge the bullets and could only brace himself. Progenitor blood ignited, his body shrouded in a blood mist.

 Chapter 198 Wings of Blood

    Dracula''s complexion suddenly turned ashen. A flash of black and crimson flames sparked from his body, and the blood fog dissipated downward.Xu Yi wanted to laugh with abandon, for he knew the outcome was decided!


    He was well aware that due to a vampire''s sensitivity to blood, injecting poison into the body of a wild deer would undoubtedly be detected.


    At that moment, not only would he fail to weaken the opponent, but he would also alert them, causing the sneak attack plan to fail.


    So, what he had infused into the body of the deer was not poison but human blood, his own blood.


    Besides being human, he also bore the identity of an Evil God.


    For an Evil God, blood was the medium.


    Just now, he had used the authority of the Evil God to drive the blood within Dracula''s body, bringing forth the Demon-Suppressing Flame.


    The Demon-Suppressing Flame appeared for only a brief moment, merely a flash, but in certain moments, it was deadly.


    The instant the exorcism flame appeared, the bullet of Judgment simultaneously arrived. Dracula had three weak spots on his body: between the eyebrows, the heart, and the throat.


    "No!" Dracula roared in anger.


    Originally, by burning his primeval blood, he could forcibly block the bullets, but now the blood mist had been weakened, and the bullets pierced flesh and blood, hitting his weak points.


    A strange fluctuation descended upon him, and Xu Yi seemed to see three vortexes of the Fog of Obscurity forming on Dracula''s body, spinning in different directions.


    The flow of the vortexes suddenly stopped, as if the clock of life had been frozen.


    High Noon had arrived¡ªslaughter effect triggered!


    In a roar filled with reluctance, the ages-old Vampire Progenitor collapsed to the ground with a thunderous fall.


    [Entries devouring initiated, devouring in progress...]


    System information appeared, and Xu Yi had no time to rejoice as a strong sense of dizziness suddenly overcame him. He steadied himself against a nearby tree to remain upright.


    The dizziness, apart from being a symptom of his severe abdominal injury, was also an after-effect of triggering "High Noon has arrived." The Fog of Obscurity within him had been hollowed out.


    He had intended to take Dracula''s skeleton with him, but upon reflection, he decided to abandon the idea.


    With the Treasure Box damaged and its space unavailable for the moment, leaving with a skeleton while he was severely injured was far from simple.


    Moreover, he had no idea how to extract the primeval blood from the skeleton.


    Of course, the most important reason was that if he took the skeleton with him, he would have to face a relentless pursuit from a large group of werewolves and vampires.


    To risk his neck for uncertain gains was not in his nature.


    Having achieved his objective, Xu Yi no longer hesitated and turned, sprinting down the mountain.


    Beneath the mountain was a turbulent river with a yacht moored on the bank. It was something Xu Yi had prepared in advance, intended to quickly escape from werewolves and vampires.


    Amid his hasty sprint, he took out a syringe from his pocket. The potion was made from the Leaf of Redemption.


    Upon injecting the potion into his body, the bleeding in his abdomen improved.


    Xu Yi jumped onto the yacht. The engine roared, and the propellant stirred up a white wake on the surface of the river.


    The pursuing werewolves and vampires stood on the riverbank, watching as Xu Yi made his escape. They could have continued the chase, but with the Progenitor''s skeleton in their hands, there was no need to complicate matters further.


    Besides, how easy could it be to deal with someone capable of taking down the Vampire Progenitor?


    Xu Yi set the yacht to autopilot and lay on the deck, waves of weakness washing over him.


    Although Dracula''s hand blade had not pierced his heart, it had penetrated his abdomen, severing his intestines into several pieces.


    The Leaf of Redemption could only heal wounds and had no effect of resurrection, much less could it restore the intestines to their original position.


    If he couldn''t get to a hospital in time for surgery, Xu Yi might not live much longer unless he used a Resurrection Coin.


    In this bizarre world, the body of an ordinary human was indeed at a great disadvantage.


    But Xu Yi suddenly laughed, for he had finally received the information he had been waiting for.


    [Entry Devoured Successfully!]


    [Congratulations on obtaining "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entry Fragment x1"] Continue reading at empire


    [Congratulations on obtaining "Blank Entry: Wings of Blood (Green Epic)"]


    [Wings of Blood: 0/100


    Description: Bone grafting into the body, wings of blood unfold.


    Ability 1 - Levitation Flight


    Ability 2 - Blood Escape]


    When Xu Yi saw the Wings of Blood, his eyes lit up.


    Flight has always been one of mankind''s dreams, and Xu Yi was no exception, but now was not the time to consider this. He tossed the "Wings of Blood" into the entry library.


    [You now possess "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entry Fragment: 5/5" and it will automatically synthesize into "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entry (Red Common)"] sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Caution: Equipping the "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entry" will involve deep modifications to your body and result in unconsciousness, so please be mindful of timing.]


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed slightly; he hadn''t anticipated this, but his guts were torn apart, and if he didn''t equip the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entry now, he might lose his life.


    The yacht docked, and Xu Yi looked around, seeing a deserted forest before him.


    Without much time to consider, Xu Yi let the yacht drift away, so it wouldn''t reveal his location.


    "If only I had asked Lisa to delay her trip to Japan!"


    Xu Yi exhaled deeply. Yesterday, Lisa flew to Japan to retrieve the Monster Blood from the Ghost Samurai.


    But these were minor issues; by now, the Annabelle doll had significantly recovered and was at least able to fend off wild beasts.


    Xu Yi felt the last bit of strength in his body being drained away; he crashed headlong into a cave.


    Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entry! Equip!


    ...


    Boston, a secluded Vineyard Manor on the outskirts.


    An ancient altar lay hidden deep within the manor, its black stone floor etched with intricate grooves. From a bird''s-eye view, those grooves formed the pattern of an Eternal Flower.


    At the center of the altar was a cylindrical stone platform, on which lay charred chunks of flesh; these were the remnants of Ryan.


    Barton looked around, his mood unclear whether it was excitement or anxiety. He took a deep breath and resolutely commanded, "Begin!"


    A large group of werewolves and vampires stood on either side of the altar. They sliced their wrists in unison, and thick, pungent blood flowed into the grooves.


    The blood moved within the grooves, converging toward the center, as if "lighting up" the black altar with its freshness.


    The stone platform at the altar''s center drew the blood flowing towards it, and the blood sprung up like a fountain onto Ryan''s remains.


    The charred shell peeled away and the remnants absorbed a massive amount of blood, becoming more vivid, but that was it; there was no sign of life in Ryan''s remains.


    "The time has come!"


    The mysterious figure, shrouded in a black robe, stood beside Barton and softly reminded him.


    Barton retrieved a glass vial from his bosom, the blood inside a dark purple hue - it was the Progenitor Blood of Dracula.


    As he prepared to walk toward the altar, an inexplicable palpitation struck him, making him ask hesitantly, "Are you sure this will resurrect Ryan?"


    "Even if it doesn''t resurrect Ryan, we will obtain more active blood, making it easier to develop potions."


    Seeing Barton''s indecision, the mysterious person continued, "Don''t worry, haven''t we already implanted that thing into the remnants of Ryan? Should anything unexpected occur, we''ll be able to handle it."


    Barton finally made up his mind, striding towards the center of the altar and twisting off the cap of the vial.


    In the moment just before he was about to pour the blood out, he thought he heard someone roaring at him to stop. Barton was a bit stunned, but before he knew it, the Progenitor Blood had already been poured onto Ryan''s remains.


    "It should be fine!"


    Barton reassured himself. Even if Ryan were to come back to life, the many werewolves and vampires present, along with the item previously embedded in Ryan''s flesh, should be sufficient to handle him.

 Chapter 199 Evil Deity

    Night fell over the deserted forest on the outskirts of Boston, with a fire quietly burning.Xu Yi sat cross-legged beside the fire, the flames illuminating the huge claw mark on his chest, blood dripping down.


    But a miraculous scene occurred, those wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, and in the blink of an eye, they were as good as new.


    This was the power of Hyper Accelerated Regeneration!


    When he awoke, he found not only his torn intestines restored to their original state, but the various scars left from combat had disappeared as well, his body restored to a "perfect" condition.


    Xu Yi clenched his fist, feeling an endless power inside his body, and he couldn''t help but be overjoyed.


    Although Hyper Accelerated Regeneration didn''t enhance strength or speed, it greatly increased his vitality and stamina.


    During combat, he no longer had to be overly cautious, fearing a little bump or scrape would cut his fighting power in half.


    Next to the fire lay the body of a brown bear, and the claw mark on Xu Yi''s chest had come from this big fellow.


    After waking up, he was covered in a thick layer of blood scabs and felt terribly uncomfortable, so he decided to go to the river for a bath.


    Unexpectedly, the brown bear had been peeping at him, which sparked Xu Yi''s fury, and he decided to teach this shameless bear a good lesson.


    "If I had known, I wouldn''t have brawled with the brown bear!" Xu Yi mused leisurely.


    There were no bullet holes on the bear''s body, its head was a mess of flesh, smashed by Xu Yi''s own fists, one after another.


    "That really hurts!" Xu Yi winced in pain.


    Hyper Accelerated Regeneration might heal wounds quickly, but pain was unavoidable; in fact, the pain was even more intense due to the rapid healing.


    "How will you compensate for my wounded soul?" Xu Yi looked towards the brown bear.


    A moment later, the aroma of meat filled the air, a pair of bear paws and the best part of the back ribs were strung up and roasting over the flames, sizzling.


    Xu Yi kept swallowing his saliva as his stomach growled, he had been asleep for a day and a night and was now starving.


    The meat would take a while to cook, so Xu Yi, feeling a bit bored, decided to watch a live broadcast.


    Through the Nest of the Evil God, Xu Yi''s gaze pierced through thousands of mountains and rivers, descending upon the vampire.


    When he clearly saw the situation before him, he was stunned.


    In front of him was a huge altar, blood converging towards its center; amidst the surging blood and flesh, a humanoid form was slowly taking shape.


    Could this be Ryan?


    Feeling the overwhelming aura of the other, Xu Yi couldn''t help but speculate.


    He looked around and noticed a strange person.


    There was a person in black standing next to Barton, shrouded in a black cloak, their face meticulously concealed.


    Xu Yi frowned slightly, not knowing why, but the figure gave him a vague sense of familiarity.


    As time passed, Ryan''s body became more and more "lifelike", with all limbs intact and even his facial features vaguely visible. An ominous aura emerged, and Xu Yi felt an inexplicable unease.


    Suddenly he remembered the black tadpole extracted from Ryan''s flesh.


    Ryan''s blood quality was only A-grade, but the black tadpole was S-grade. What kind of creature''s blood was it?


    A dark shadow suddenly pierced through Ryan''s body, wildly dancing in the air.


    It looked like a black snake without eyes or similar organs, just a huge mouth that, when opened, revealed a menacing set of teeth.


    It was the "black tadpole" magnified dozens of times, and Xu Yi''s unease grew stronger.


    He wondered, how could someone as powerful as Ryan have died?


    The thought took root and grew like a weed in his mind, impossible to dismiss.


    He had a premonition that the answer to this question would be very important.


    Almost instinctively, Xu Yi took out the Magic-Prohibiting Box from the Treasure Box.


    The black tadpole had been lying quietly in the box, but as soon as Xu Yi took it out, it became frantic, banging against the box walls and opening its gaping maw, as if it wanted to bite him.


    Xu Yi paused, wondering why the black tadpole suddenly became so violently aggressive when it hadn''t before.


    Then he realized, it was because of the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration!


    The Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entries had transformed his body, as well as his blood.


    The black tadpoles craved blood of high quality; previously, they had disdained his common human blood. Now that he possessed the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entries, his blood had become exceptionally sweet, stimulating a bloodthirsty frenzy in the black tadpoles. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi no longer cared whether the barbeque was done or not, he tossed it into the Treasure Box and then sprinted out of the woods ¨C he needed to find a place with a signal to make some inquiries.


    Enjoy more content from empire


    His phone had been out of signal, but fortunately, he found a small town nestled between the mountains.


    Xu Yi forcefully broke into a resident''s home, using just a look to fend off the brawny male homeowner.


    The homeowner wanted to retrieve the shotgun from the cabinet, but a stack of Franklins tossed in his face quickly dissuaded him.


    "I need to borrow your phone."


    Ignoring the homeowner''s surprised look, Xu Yi dialed the number for Daniel''s family.


    "Professor Daniel? I have some crucial questions I hope you can answer," Xu Yi said, cutting to the chase, with no time for pleasantries.


    "Daniel is still in the lab."


    To his surprise, a woman''s voice came through the phone. It took Xu Yi a moment to realize, "Mia?"


    "It''s me, what do you need to ask? I might be able to help you," Mia said, sensing the seriousness in Xu Yi''s tone and immediately sounding more attentive.


    "It''s about Ryan''s death. Do you know how he died?" Xu Yi did not conceal his intent.


    "I don''t know, Daniel might, but I can''t reach him right now. However, I know someone who certainly knows more about Ryan than Daniel does," she replied rapidly but clearly.


    As a Great Exorcist, Mia had dealt with many critical incidents and was far beyond the capabilities of common people.


    For the sake of secrecy, Scientific Research Team Five didn''t have things like telephones, making it difficult to get in touch with Daniel.


    "Who?" Xu Yi asked eagerly, surprised at this unexpected good news.


    "Kohl, the archaeologist who was in charge of the Ryan ruins excavation. This is his home number. I''ll call first to brief him on the situation," Mia explained.


    "Okay!" Xu Yi hung up promptly. This was not the time for idle chatter.


    While waiting, he looked through the window and noticed a black motorcycle in the courtyard.


    "Is that yours?" Xu Yi asked the male homeowner, who quickly nodded.


    Xu Yi drew a bundle of Franklins from the Treasure Box space and casually threw it to him. He had stored a considerable amount of US dollars in the Treasure Box space, just for emergencies.


    "I''ll fill up the tank for you right away!" The homeowner grabbed the US dollars, grinning from ear to ear; the money was enough to buy three new bikes.


    Feeling it was about time, Xu Yi dialed the new number, "Is this Professor Kohl?"


    "Mia has told me everything, ask whatever you want!" A hoarse voice came from the other end of the line.


    "Could you tell me how Ryan died?" Xu Yi asked, getting straight to the question he most wanted to know.


    "Ryan?" Kohl paused, surprised that Xu Yi was in such a hurry to ask about an academic matter.


    But he quickly responded, "According to the inscriptions excavated from the tomb, our interpretation leads to a speculation that Ryan might have committed suicide."


    "Suicide?" Xu Yi hadn''t expected such an answer at all.


    He immediately pressed on, "Why would Ryan commit suicide?"


    "Ryan''s kingdom had faced a very rare disease. Ryan cured his subjects'' illness, but oddly enough, according to our understanding, Ryan knew no medicine," Kohl continued.


    "Then Ryan disappeared for a while, and shortly after, his remains were found in the basement of the kingdom, apparently having died from self-immolation."


    Could it be the wasting disease? A thought suddenly struck Xu Yi.


    "Although the reason for Ryan''s suicide is unknown for now, the word that kept appearing frequently as we deciphered the inscriptions translates to¡­" Kohl took a deep breath before speaking more slowly, "Evil Deity."


    Xu Yi hung up, mounted the motorcycle, and twisted the throttle to the max. The bike roared and darted forward.


    The leather jacket rustled in the wind; it was a gift from the bike''s owner to Xu Yi.


    He continued to observe the altar through the Nest of the Evil God, with more and more "black snakes" emerging from Ryan''s body, like countless tentacles. The "black snakes" roared at those present, and a foreboding aura filled the air.


    Xu Yi needed to get there immediately to halt the ritual.


    He didn''t want to play the role of a firefighter, but the memory of the black tadpoles in the forest was still chilling.


    He also didn''t want to meddle, but if he left it alone, would the creature inside Ryan''s body, once it smelled his blood, spare him?

 Chapter 200 Even the Heavens Dont Wish for the Monster to Be Born

    A certain villa in Boston.Mia, standing by the phone, felt inexplicably uneasy recalling the call Xu Yi had made earlier.


    As she was lost in thought, the phone suddenly rang again, a call from Boston''s Special Event Handling Group.


    She served as the team leader within the "Special Events Group."


    "Mia, there''s been a huge incident! The Star Basin has started moving!" came the urgent voice of the group leader from the other end of the line.


    Mia froze. The Star Basin was a massive stone basin located on Mount Qila in Boston. In order to protect the Star Basin, the Special Events Group had built their base on Mount Qila.


    The Star Basin had been in existence for three hundred years, and throughout that time, it had only moved three times. Each movement had brought a major catastrophe to Boston, without exception.


    And now the Star Basin was moving again?


    "Why is the Star Basin moving? Have you reached any conclusions?" Mia asked anxiously.


    "Based on our analysis, the source of the disaster seems to be coming from the east of Boston."


    Mia instinctively turned her head; her home''s window faced directly east of Boston. Stretching her gaze, she could faintly see lightning gathering there.


    ...


    Dark clouds amassed above the altar, thunder roared and lightning snaked through the clouds, all appearing shortly after the ritual had begun.


    More and more "Eyeless Black Snakes" grew out of Ryan''s body, writhing tentacle-like, their powerful and ominous presence sweeping across the entire scene.


    The werewolves and vampires present trembled slightly, looking to Barton for guidance with their eyes.


    "Are you sure nothing will go wrong?"


    Barton glared at the mysterious person, his gaze seemingly lethal, his voice icy.


    "The stronger Ryan becomes, the better his chances of curing his wasting disease, right?" the mysterious person replied indifferently.


    "It better be!" Barton said through clenched teeth, enunciating each word.


    At the climax of the ritual, blood light soared into the sky, turning the dark clouds above crimson-red as blood-colored lightning surged.


    "The blood light is too noticeable; it''s bound to attract the attention of the Special Events Group," Barton''s first wife whispered as she approached.


    Over the years, Barton had taken three wives, but his first wife was the one he loved the most.


    Barton forcefully suppressed the irritation in his heart, "It''s fine, the ritual is almost complete. By the time they arrive, we will have already withdrawn."


    Suddenly, a low laugh emanated from the center of the altar, causing everyone there to start. The laugh was filled with wild joy but also carried a chilling madness.


    All eyes instinctively turned to the altar, where the humanoid figure at the center had fully materialized, suddenly opening its eyes.


    Barton, seeing its eyes clearly, felt a jolt in his heart.


    The figure''s eyes were pure black, devoid of any whites, and within the deep blackness was a blood-colored religious cross, ominously upside down.


    Barton knew Ryan''s eyes were not like this; the eyes before him were brimming with a violent lust for slaughter.


    He felt the hairs on his body stand on end.


    "Reverse Cross, Evil Deity! You are not Ryan, you are the Evil Deity!"


    The mysterious figure in black suddenly roared in horror, unable to keep calm any longer.


    He grabbed Barton''s arm, his pupils bloodshot as he stared hard at Barton, "Quick! Detonate the Sighing Rose!"


    Barton, too, realized something was terribly amiss and quickly pulled a black button from his pocket.


    "Sighing Rose" was a miniature bomb, tiny in size, but it wasn''t the bomb itself that mattered, it was the "Reaper Ashes" inside.


    Reaper Ashes was an alchemical item, whose production methods had long been lost, making each portion irreplaceable. It was only because vampires lived so long that they had managed to save such a valuable item.


    Barton resolutely pressed the button, detonating the Sighing Rose.


    A muffled explosion came from the heart of the Evil Deity, weak in power, causing negligible harm to it.


    But pink mist spread from the heart of the Evil Deity, enveloping it like a blooming rose.


    This was the origin of the bomb''s name "Sighing Rose": at the moment of explosion, the pink mist bloomed like a rose, but under the cover of "Reaper Ashes," even the mightiest of humans could only emit a helpless sigh.


    The body of the Evil Deity dissolved at a visible rate, and Barton let out a slight sigh of relief.


    But the next second, whooshing sounds erupted from the mist; numerous "Eyeless Snakes" flew out, opening their massive jaws and pouncing toward the surrounding werewolves and vampires.


    The Eyeless Snakes were simply too fast; even the vampires, known for their speed, failed to evade and were bitten by the vicious snake jaws.


    Screams echoed throughout the entire altar as vampires and werewolves struggled desperately.


    They tried to tear off the Eyeless Snakes, but the snake bodies were astonishingly resilient, and most horrifying was the fact that the Eyeless Snakes would inject a potent paralytic toxin into their prey leaving their bodies weak and unable to resist.


    The Eyeless Snakes were not just sucking blood; they were like blood pumps, and in the blink of an eye, the blood of the werewolves and vampires was drained, leaving them as desiccated corpses.


    "No!" Barton howled in sorrow and rage.


    Because he and the mystery man were far enough away, they had escaped disaster, but his vampire kin gathered around the altar, none had managed to escape.


    His eyes seemed about to split apart as tears silently slid down his face.


    Among the dead vampires were not only his close friends, his loyal followers, but also his beautiful wives who had lived with him for centuries, standing by each other even through the most difficult times.


    But now, in just an instant, they were all gone. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment, all he could think about was revenge; he had to have revenge!


    "It''s over! All over! We''ve released something a thousand times more terrifying than any demon!" the mystery man muttered hopelessly, collapsing to the ground with lifeless eyes.


    Barton gripped the mystery man''s collar tightly, pulling him close, his eyes fierce as if he was about to explode in a killing frenzy, "Tell me! Tell me how to kill this monster! Or I will kill you!"


    "It''s impossible now, the Evil Deity has devoured so much blood from werewolves and vampires, we can''t kill him anymore; I should have realized sooner... Now we can only hope for the Special Affairs team," the mystery man said, filled with regret.


    Barton was all malice; he wanted to kill the man before him and then go to the altar to fight the monster to the death, but he forcefully held back.


    "Leader Barton, what do we do now?"


    The vampires that had luckily survived gathered around Barton, their faces couldn''t hide the terror, and their eyes were so lost.


    "Let''s go! We need to leave this place immediately!"


    Barton knew he couldn''t die yet; he at least needed to get the remaining vampires to safety, so he issued the order despite his harrowing grief.


    He glanced at the mystery man sitting on the ground, hesitated for a moment, but still picked him up.


    Low laughter once again filled the air as the Evil Deity emerged from the pale pink mist, with Eyeless Snakes wildly writhing behind him.


    The being appeared unharmed, as if the Reaper Ashes had no effect at all.


    Everyone''s faces changed, and Barton immediately gave the order to scatter and run, thinking to save as many as possible.


    Above the clouds, lightning brewed to a climax, with branch-like bolts incessantly striking down.


    Strangely, all the lightning seemed to strike only the Evil Deity on the altar, as if even the heavens were reluctant to let this monster be born.


    Outside Vineyard Manor, the military had already arrived.


    Beyond the standard armored vehicles, they had deployed tanks, and even new weaponry loaded with small missiles.


    The exorcists from the Special Affairs team also arrived; they needed to investigate the source of the bloodshed, and Mia''s squad was the first to get there.


    Amidst the wild lightning, a charred figure walked slowly out, a dismissive smile hanging on his lips, as if mocking the weakness of the lightning.


    A chill ran up everyone''s spine, especially when they caught sight of the being''s Reverse Cross black pupils.


    Mia took a deep breath, gripped the dagger in her hand, her veins bulging on her palms.


    She was unsure if she could leave this place alive today.


    ...


    The motorcycle leaped down from the hilltop, its engine roaring under the strain, and Xu Yi raced from the forest on the outskirts, finally arriving here.


    While the possessed vampire had died, the Nest of the Evil God was still active, and he might see the battle between the Evil Deity and the Special Affairs team.


    The fight could only be described as one-sided, the Evil Deity slaughtering the Special Affairs team''s exorcists as though they were mere ducks and dogs, with only Mia capable of putting up a fight.


    But then the battle shifted elsewhere, and he could no longer see the fight.


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    Even from a distance, Xu Yi could see the explosions of missiles and the roar of tanks, the relentless gunfire.


    But as he got closer, those noises disappeared, leaving a silence so eerie it was chilling.


    Due to the violent driving, the motorcycle finally broke down and stopped, luckily just as he had reached his destination.


    Xu Yi looked towards the nearby manor, the overturned tanks, armored vehicles ablaze, and corpses strewn about like Hell on Earth.


    Before he could even bring his bike to a stop, a frenzied figure suddenly pounced out of the darkness, its pupils conveying a bone-chilling craving, as if it had seen the meal of a lifetime.

 Chapter 201 Giving the Evil Deity a Little Shock

    Xu Yi coldly watched the Evil Deity that lunged at him.The skin of the Evil Deity was pure black, with faint red patterns that appeared and disappeared on its body, and the Eyeless Snake writhing behind it like giant, unfurled black wings.


    Xu Yi had just arrived when the Evil Deity couldn''t wait to rush out from the manor. His guess was correct; the opponent indeed could sense high-quality blood.


    For someone whose veins coursed with special blood, the Evil Deity in front of him was a natural predator.


    Xu Yi drew his Alchemy Revolver from his waist, ready to stop the charging Evil Deity, but before he could fire, a cold light suddenly flew towards the Evil Deity¡ªa long nail engraved with complex patterns.


    The nail hit the Evil Deity''s chest, causing its body to seemingly petrify, frozen except for its eyes.


    But the long nail was being pushed out inch by inch.


    "Run!" a figure shouted from a hiding corner and rushed towards Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi clearly saw who it was: a young woman in her twenties with pale gold curly hair, wearing the uniform of the special organization.


    "I''ll draw away the monster! You get going!" The woman saw Xu Yi standing still and looked at him with eyes full of urgency.


    Xu Yi touched his nose. She couldn''t possibly think he was just an ordinary person who had wandered in, could she? Didn''t he have the air of an exorcist?


    He looked down at himself and saw the dirt all over from his travels, making him appear dusty.


    He was also wearing the leather jacket gifted by the motorcycle enthusiast, and ironically he looked a bit like a homeless wanderer.


    After acquiring the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entry, his body had been transformed.


    The magnetic field characteristic of a Psychic was overshadowed by his powerful physique, which was probably why she mistook him for an ordinary person.


    The woman suddenly pulled out a dagger and cut her palm, holding her hand high.


    "The blood of ordinary people doesn''t attract Evil Deities that much!"


    Xu Yi wanted to say something, but to his surprise, the Evil Deity actually turned its head and stared intently at the woman, showing a covetous expression in its eyes.


    He suddenly realized that the woman''s blood was also out of the ordinary.


    The woman turned and ran, the Evil Deity roared, and an Eyeless Snake detached from behind it and, like an arrow released from its bow, shot towards the woman.


    Xu Yi''s brows furrowed tightly. The woman was fast, evidently boosted by some special power, but suddenly her face turned pale as she clutched her heart and crouched on the ground.


    This wasn''t the ability of the Evil Deity, rather the woman had an underlying condition.


    "Mora!" A shout came suddenly as Mia, carrying a severely injured person, emerged from the manor.


    She had just come out when she saw a scene that filled her with fury. Mora suffered from congenital heart disease which had always been suppressed by the family''s secret techniques. Unexpectedly, the illness erupted at that very moment.


    She was too far from Mora, it was too late to stop her.


    Mora clutched her heart, in so much pain she couldn''t stand, unable to do anything but watch as the Eyeless Snake struck.


    Just when she was in utter despair, a gunshot rang out, and a bullet hit the Eyeless Snake''s head with precision, blasting it apart and spraying black blood as the long serpent body fell to the ground.


    Mora looked up in astonishment; it was the wandering man who had fired the shot!


    Mia and the exorcist she had rescued ran towards Mora and helped her up.


    "Take her and leave! If you stay here, you''ll only get in my way," Xu Yi said indifferently to Mia.


    "Be careful then," Mia hesitated, but seeing the confidence in Xu Yi''s eyes, she nodded.


    "Thank you for saving me. The Finns will not forget your kindness," Mora said after taking the medicine she carried, her complexion becoming much rosier.


    Xu Yi waved his hand, not giving it much thought.


    But the words "the Finns" felt familiar, as if he had heard them somewhere before.


    The Evil Deity didn''t pursue Mia and the others; its gaze was firmly fixed on Xu Yi. For some reason, it felt pressure coming from this human.


    Mia left safely with the exorcist, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.


    A familiar exorcist leaned in close to Mia and whispered, "Mia, who was that man just now? We might let it go, but even you, a Great Exorcist, sent him away!"


    Although the other party didn''t show it, they still felt it, there seemed to be a faint disdain in the way the other party looked at them.


    ......


    Xu Yi certainly felt disdain, although he had never fought with the Evil Deity, but through observation of the Nest of the Evil God, he still had a rough understanding of the abilities of the Evil Deity.


    The other party could heal their wounds by sucking blood. These people staying here could only act as blood bags for the other party.


    "Alright, with the annoying guys out of the way, I have only one request for you..." Xu Yi suddenly pulled the trigger, "Don''t run!"


    The Evil Deity was enraged by Xu Yi''s arrogant attitude, charging towards him with a roar, wanting to drain Xu Yi of all his blood.


    A purple-red curtain of energy suddenly rose from Xu Yi''s body, enveloping the Evil Deity, who was somewhat puzzled, as he didn''t feel any effect.


    Of course, the energy curtain came from the Treasure Box, which Xu Yi had stumbled upon. The purple-red Barrier actually acted like a Different Space.


    He had Annabelle open the "Different Space," not to pull the other party into the space of the Treasure Box, but to isolate the Evil God''s aura from his body so that he could exert his full strength.


    "The stage is set, let''s begin!"


    Xu Yi flexed his neck, making a creaking noise.


    Black-gold flames appeared on the surface of Xu Yi''s body, the signature Demon-Suppressing Flame of Bastet.


    Previously unable to use it due to his frail body, he now could use it at will, thanks to the Red Level Entries, Hyper Accelerated Regeneration.


    Far away on the high mountains, Mia and her group had finally retreated to a safe stronghold. They watched the battle below through binoculars.


    They were all too stunned to speak at the moment.


    They had originally thought that the man would at most hinder the monster for a moment, but now it was clear that he was set on killing the creature!


    The Special Affairs team had deployed so many soldiers, so many exorcists, and none of them could handle the monster, but now it was being done by a single person.


    At first, the man was slightly at a disadvantage, but as the battle progressed, he fought more and more fiercely, fearlessly charging into the fray, while the monster gradually weakened, the battle slowly falling under the man''s control.


    "Who... who is that man?" They looked to Mia, hoping she could give them an answer.


    Mia was equally shocked. When she met Xu Yi on the plane, he was not nearly as powerful as he was now. Was he hiding his strength, or did he restrain himself because he was on a plane and feared injuring innocents?


    In the midst of the battlefield, the Evil Deity roared repeatedly. Even the bombardment of rockets couldn''t stop it, its body quickly recovering from the onslaught.


    But facing these small bullets, its powerful healing ability seemed to have stopped working, the wounds difficult to heal.


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    Worse still, the bullets carried a special Energy, continuously destroying his body.


    The pupils of the Evil Deity''s Reverse Cross glinted with rage. Humanity''s biggest weakness was its frail body; even the strongest exorcist could not avoid this.


    No longer dodging bullets, and paying the price with his left eye ruptured, he finally got close to his foe. The sharp claws sliced open the man''s chest, the Eyeless Snake tearing at his flesh.


    The Evil Deity roared with excitement, but his expression changed quickly when he saw the man''s wounds healing before his very eyes!


    This left him somewhat staggered. Was he facing a human or a horrifying monster in human flesh?


    The impact of those black-gold flames on him was the greatest. Every time he got close to the man, he could feel an immense pressure, his speed drastically reduced, his advantage in speed completely negated.


    The surging Eyeless Snake forcibly broke through the suppression of the flames, biting into Xu Yi, trying to inject an overdose of poison into his body.


    But the poison had barely left the snake fangs before it was burned away by the black-gold flames, the head of the Eyeless Snake also charred to a crisp.


    As time passed, the length of the battle far exceeded expectations, fear showing in the pupils of the Evil Deity. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had thought his opponent would soon run out of strength, but after such a long time, there was no change in the opponent''s actions. On the contrary, it was he who slowed down due to the inability to recover from his injuries.


    The Evil Deity stared intently at the Puppet floating in the air.


    He initially didn''t pay much mind to the Puppet that kept harassing him; the curses it cast were too weak.


    But as time went on, his body became heavier and he lost strength faster.


    It was only then that he realized his body was covered with dense Cursed Seals, the curse now too strong to resist.

 Chapter 202 The Paradise of Mysticism Researchers

    The balance of victory began to tilt, and Xu Yi''s face revealed a smile.With the synthesis of the Shadow Gun God, acquisition of the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration entries, and combined with the assistance of the Annabelle doll, his battle system had taken shape.


    This was also the reason why he dared to face the Evil Deity alone.


    As long as the opponent couldn''t kill him in one hit, he would wear them down alive, with a primary focus on torture.


    But the smile on his face suddenly froze, and the thing he feared most still happened... The Evil Deity began to turn tail and run! sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t run! Look how delicious my blood is, I''ll let you have a couple of sips!"


    Xu Yi shouted frantically, but the Evil Deity turned a deaf ear and ran wildly with an astonishing speed.


    The major flaw of his combat system was now evident.


    He was too slow, barely keeping up with burst speed from the Fog of Obscurity, but this method consumed too much of the fog and was by no means sustainable.


    As the distance gradually widened, Xu Yi used all his strength to fling the Annabelle doll out.


    Powered by the added force of his malefic control, the Annabelle doll crashed down in front of the Evil Deity like a cannonball. A purplish-red curtain opened, attempting to collect the opponent into the Treasure Box.


    The Evil Deity roared, its powerful might breaking free from the constraints of the Treasure Box''s space. Your next chapter awaits on empire


    But this bought Xu Yi precious time, as he aimed the Alchemical Revolver Messiah and started the countdown to High Noon.


    5, 4¡­ 3, 2, 1!


    The Evil Deity''s weakest spot was all concentrated in one place, its heart.


    The bullets, laden with a vast amount of Fog of Obscurity, were discharged from the gun, and nearly simultaneously hit the heart. The execution effect wasn''t activated, but the powerful burst of the Fog of Obscurity blew a large hole in the Evil Deity''s heart.


    Annabelle charged toward the Evil Deity, her wooden palm driving into the wound in its heart.


    The Evil Deity let out a piercing scream. It had the opportunity to destroy the Annabelle doll, but at that moment, it focused solely on escape.


    Enduring the pain, the Evil Deity shook off the Annabelle doll and transformed into a streak of black light, darting into the dense forest behind the Vineyard Manor, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.


    "It still got away!"


    Xu Yi, exasperated, punched a tree in front of him, snapping the tree forcefully.


    Indeed, the Evil Deity was not Xu Yi''s match at the moment, but only because it had just revived. The fresh blood it had consumed was not enough for it to return to its peak.


    Letting it escape this time was like releasing a tiger back into the mountains.


    And yet, he didn''t really have any good way to keep it from fleeing; he truly didn''t possess a means to capture it.


    Xu Yi walked over to the Annabelle doll, which was fighting against a black, jelly-like substance. That was a piece of the Evil Deity''s heart, which, even after being detached from the main body, still possessed powerful vitality.


    Xu Yi grabbed the black jelly-like substance, squeezing it tightly.


    Black and gold flames rose from his palm, the jelly squirmed painfully under the intense heat, and after venting for a moment, Xu Yi threw the black mass into the Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    This thing might actually come in handy.


    ...


    Sunrise, the Finn Manor.


    Xu Yi quietly observed the man before him.


    The middle-aged man named Carlyle was the head of the Finn family. To show their gratitude, they had someone invite him to the Finn Manor early in the morning.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, thank you very much for saving Mora! As such, our family has prepared a job for you, which we hope you will like," Carlyle said with a smile.


    Xu Yi quietly looked at Carlyle, wondering what the man was getting at.


    The Finn family, even among the many exorcism families, was of renowned reputation. They were considered "Sages" among exorcists, "Array Masters," known for their research into arrays.


    Faced with such an invitation from an exorcist family, it was hard for Xu Yi to outright refuse, so he accepted the invitation.


    He had anticipated possibly a round of banquets, or even an lovers-party, and was fully prepared to offer harsh criticism, only to encounter this?


    The only person to receive him was Carlyle, not even a single maid from the Finn household was present.


    Moreover, he never expected that the Finn family''s way of showing gratitude would be "offering him a job"!


    What kind of modern gratitude was this? Were the Finns always so practical?


    Although he had no intentions of laboring for anyone, Xu Yi was genuinely curious about what kind of job they had prepared for him.


    "What job?" he asked subconsciously.


    "Librarian," Nox said softly.


    Xu Yi looked utterly confused and even thought he had heard wrong.


    "The task of organizing the library has always been handled by the elders of our family, but recently, one of them fell ill and was hospitalized, so we are looking to find someone to temporarily take over," Nox added.


    Great! Not only a librarian, but also a temp! Xu Yi had no idea if there was a need for pre-job training to learn the skill of "taking the blame."


    Xu Yi was about to walk away when Nox suddenly produced a large metal key and inserted it into what seemed to be a wall in front of them.


    With the crisp sound of gears moving, the "wall" slowly opened, and Xu Yi could see clearly that it wasn''t a wall at all, but a concealed door.


    Nox pushed the door open, proudly introduced to Xu Yi, "This is where you''ll be working, the Thoth Library."


    Xu Yi stepped through the door and was stunned by the array of ancient tomes inside.


    Thoth is the god of wisdom in Egyptian mythology, also the scribe of the Netherworld, creator of the Book of Death.


    Using "Thoth" to name a library clearly showed the Finns'' confidence.


    Xu Yi''s gaze swept across the bookshelves, and then he couldn''t look away anymore; his heart started pounding fiercely.


    "The Origin of Magic Array," a book that came in three volumes, hard to find even one outside, but here, all three volumes were available.


    "Diana''s Herbal Record," written by the original witch, with less than ten copies of the reproduction ¡ª here was the original.


    "Red Stone Alchemy," a lost alchemical tome, for which exorcists had once been willing to go bankrupt to obtain, now simply lying on the shelf.


    For anyone involved in the study of mysticism, entering this library would bring only one feeling ¡ª paradise!


    It''s likely only the Church''s treasures could surpass this library, worthy of the renowned Finns.


    "I wonder what Mr. Xu Yi thinks of this job?" Nox asked with a smile looking at Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi swallowed hard, he knew well enough that the job was just a pretext; they were giving him the opportunity to read these tomes on mysticism.


    He had previously announced his desire to find mystical writings. This was no secret, and the Finns could easily discover it with a little investigation.


    What he hadn''t expected was that they would choose to repay him in this way.


    "The original librarian fell ill and won''t be back for seven days. During this period, you will temporarily take over his duties," Nox said matter-of-factly.


    "Only ill for seven days?" Xu Yi, facing Nox''s increasingly dangerous gaze, hurriedly explained, "I mean, shouldn''t he have a good rest for some time after recovering? After all, he is an elderly man."


    "Then how long do you think he should recuperate?" Nox asked with interest.


    "How about ten years?" Xu Yi asked tentatively.


    Nox turned and walked away.


    "Let''s talk this over! How about eight years, five years, or even one year?" Xu Yi still didn''t give up.


    Nox suddenly stopped, and Xu Yi''s face showed a joyous expression ¡ª had Nox agreed?


    "Mr. Xu Yi, I forgot to mention that your work starts now, and in seven days at this time, someone will come to replace you," Nox finished speaking and left the library without looking back.


    Xu Yi watched the library doors close and didn''t dare waste any time, quickly moving toward the bookshelves to search for the alchemical pharmacology books he needed most urgently.


    Outside, Nox had just settled into position when the butler emerged from the side.


    "Master, I don''t understand, even if we need to thank the gentleman for saving Miss Mora''s life, is it really necessary to let him into the Thoth Library? Almost no outsiders have ever been allowed in there," the butler asked, perplexed.


    "An Evil Deity has appeared!" Nox sighed deeply.


    Seeing the butler''s continued bewilderment, Nox explained proactively, "According to the ancient tomes, an Evil Deity seeks out the strongest supernatural blood to devour its power and achieve the ultimate ''Nirvana''; then, no one will be able to stop it."


    The butler''s expression shifted subtly, clearly, he had thought of something.


    "Our Finn family''s blood is not common; we might become a target for the Evil Deity," Nox continued.


    "Xu Yi is very powerful, even among Great Exorcists, he stands at the top. Building good relations with him now might prove to be very effective later on."


    "If we are to befriend him, we might as well do it thoroughly. Didn''t he ask the Special Affairs team to secretly protect a young girl named Carlyle?" the butler suddenly spoke.


    "What are you suggesting?" Nox asked.


    "Young Master Reno and Miss Flan happen to be looking for a dance teacher."

 Chapter 203 Onmyoji

    The Finn Manor, Totte Library.Xu Yi had thrown himself entirely into his "work," and in the evening, he heard the system''s prompt.


    [Scholar Entries+3, Current Progress: 100/100]


    "It''s almost like having divine assistance!" Xu Yi took a deep breath,


    He had only seven days to study at the Totte Library, so he had to be fully focused, putting in three hundred percent concentration to learn.


    In such a state, his learning efficiency skyrocketed like a rocket. In just one afternoon, he had completed the remaining progress for the Scholar Entries.


    Xu Yi closed his eyes, feeling the changes in his brain. He didn''t know how much time had passed when he slowly opened his eyes, a light flickering in his pupils.


    [Scholar x2: White Epic


    Ability 1 - Accelerated Learning:


    Your learning speed far exceeds that of ordinary people.


    Ability 2 - Multitasking:


    You can do two completely different things at the same time, like drawing a circle with your left hand and a square with your right with ease.]


    After the Scholar Entries stacked, there was even this unexpected gain! Xu Yi felt a bit excited.


    The Entries not only reached the "White Epic" level, but he also gained the "Multitasking" ability.


    Xu Yi casually synthesized the Hypnosis Entries, merging Psychology and Scholar to create the brand-new "Hypnotism."


    This ability, often appearing alongside the "Time Stop" series, was something Xu Yi planned to study carefully. It was then that his stomach started growling.


    He hadn''t eaten anything all afternoon.


    On his way to the dining room, he suddenly heard someone calling his name from behind, "Xu Yi?"


    Xu Yi turned around to find Carlyle in a dance dress, standing at the end of the corridor, elegant and graceful.


    ......


    Carrying two plates of food, Xu Yi followed Carlyle.


    He had intended to eat in the dining room, but Carlyle said it wouldn''t look good for them to eat there since they were "hired hands." So he took two plates of food, planning to head to the place Carlyle had described as "quiet and comfortable" to dine.


    Carlyle stopped in front of a door, took out a key, and opened it.


    Xu Yi stepped into the room first, curiously looking around, "Is this your boudoir?"


    "Of course not! I''m only staying here temporarily until my part-time job is over, then I''ll be leaving." Carlyle locked the door from inside, "I really didn''t want to come here because I had to stay here, but..."


    Carlyle looked dejected, her brows slightly furrowed.


    Seeing her pitiful expression, Xu Yi suddenly laughed, "They offered you too much money, right?" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Exactly! Being a dance teacher here for a while almost covers the tuition for the new semester." Carlyle suddenly cheered up, "But now that I see you''re here, I''m not scared anymore!"


    "Why?" Xu Yi asked, intrigued.


    "I''m a dance teacher, you''re a library administrator; we''re both working part-time jobs here. As long as we stick together, there''s absolutely no problem." Carlyle made an energizing gesture.


    Xu Yi thought about it for a moment and realized what the Finn family was up to, but he didn''t reject the goodwill of the Finn family.


    After all, he had entered the Totte Library, and accepting a little kindness didn''t seem to matter.


    The Evil Deity''s whereabouts were unknown, and given its nature to crave high-quality fresh blood, it might target Carlyle. The flesh and blood remnants at Carlyle''s aunt''s house vividly showcased the word "craving."


    He had intended to monitor the situation personally, but the appearance of the Totte Library had disrupted his plans.


    With Carlyle turning up here, he could read and study at ease.


    "By the way, where will you sleep tonight?" Carlyle suddenly asked.


    "They didn''t arrange a room for me." Xu Yi chatted with Carlyle while they ate. Indeed, Noss hadn''t mentioned anything about it.


    "Oh no, that''s bad! You''re not going to have to sleep in the library, are you?"


    Carlyle suddenly exclaimed, "I''ve heard from classmates that they take part-time jobs at private libraries, and to avoid running back and forth, they just find a corner to lay down a mat and make do for the night... By the way, how many days are you going to work here?"


    "Seven days," Xu Yi answered casually.


    "Then what are we going to do?" Carlyle frowned in concern, then looked up in confusion, "Isn''t your family very rich? Why do you need to take a part-time job here?"


    "To experience life," Xu Yi blurted out an excuse.


    "How can you, a young master from a rich family, put up with such hardship!" Carlyle was quite worried.


    Xu Yi thought she looked kind of adorable. He didn''t say that he could easily find a place to stay, and then he froze.


    After much hesitation and struggle, Carlyle finally gritted her teeth, "If you don''t mind, you can stay at my place for these few days!"


    Xu Yi glanced at the only bed in the room and asked subconsciously, "Together with you?"


    Carlyle''s cheeks turned slightly red as she hastily explained, "You can sleep on the bed, I''ll make do with a spot on the floor."


    Xu Yi stared at Carlyle for three seconds, then nodded, "Alright! I really appreciate it, kind and beautiful Ms. Carlyle!"


    "Then how are you going to thank me?" Carlyle asked, her face flushed but still trying to maintain composure.


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    "Payday treat for dinner," Xu Yi replied with a light chuckle.


    He chatted with Carlyle, while using his newly acquired "Multitasking" Ability to remotely observe the Ghost Samurai''s condition.


    Lately, the "Demon Blood Collection Plan" had not been going smoothly. It was unclear whether the monsters were tipping each other off or for some other reason, but Harada Mieko''s "Monster Luring" efficiency had drastically decreased, with hardly any monsters being slain recently.


    Xu Yi suddenly put down his fork, and looked up sharply, "Carlyle, you speak Japanese, right?"


    Carlyle nodded, "When I was learning dance, I had a roommate from Japan. We lived together for five years, and I learned some common phrases from her."


    "That''s great! Help me translate this!" Xu Yi removed the plate and handed paper and a pen to Carlyle.


    ......


    In Japan, within the solemn shrine.


    Harada Mieko was dressed in a red witch outfit, sitting cross-legged in the empty hall. She looked stunningly beautiful in the candlelight, a pity that there was no one to appreciate it.


    That wasn''t entirely true, at least Xu Yi could see her.


    A shadowy figure swaggered into the shrine. The feigning Harada Mieko opened her eyes, feeling the powerful aura of the newcomer and instinctively gripping the long sword at her waist.


    Ever since becoming God''s Maid, her family had not only arranged for her to learn swordsmanship, but also educated her in Exorcism Spells.


    She was well aware that the shadow in front of her was not something she could deal with.


    Misty smoke flew out from within her, and a massive figure stood before her. Looking at the majestic Ghost Samurai, Harada Mieko felt an immense sense of security.


    The eyes of the Ghost Samurai lit up with fire, and Xu Yi, now inhabiting the Samurai Armor, looked puzzledly at the shadow in front of him.


    It was a snow-white fox, walking upright and about half a person tall.


    The fox before him seemed quite different from the monsters he had encountered before.


    As the Ghost Samurai appeared, the powerful aura around the fox waned like a receding tide. The fox bowed to the Ghost Samurai and spoke human language, "I apologize for using such a trick to meet the esteemed Ghost Samurai, but it was the only way."


    Xu Yi remained silent. Although he had spent his spare time learning Japanese these days, he had only been learning for so short a time that he could only understand some simple everyday vocabulary.


    He needed to relay it to Carlyle first to have her translate before he could understand what the other party was saying.


    Of course, Harada Mieko could convey the meaning through a soul connection, but that would be too risky, giving away the fact that a Japanese deity did not understand Japanese?


    Seeing no response from the Ghost Samurai, the white fox didn''t seem to mind and continued, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Arakawa, I am an Onmyoji, and this fox is my Shikigami. I apologize for not being able to visit in person."


    No wonder the other party felt so strange to him¡ªit was a Shikigami. Xu Yi eyed the figure suspiciously, wondering what the other was plotting.


    "To express my apologies, I''ve brought a gift this time," said the white fox, as it snapped its fingers like a human.


    At the snap, a burst of red smoke erupted. As the smoke gradually cleared, a metallic cage appeared at the fox''s feet.


    Xu Yi looked in surprise at the contents of the cage¡ªit was the monster "Cyclops"!

 Chapter 204 Melting Flame

    Xu Yi watched the monster inside the iron cage.It appeared to have a human form, but its body was more slender, and its jet-black hair spilled down to its waist.


    From the back, one might mistake it for a gracefully swaying woman, but a look at the creature''s face would only evoke a chilling terror, as it only had a bloody red cyclops eye and no other facial features.


    After encountering that strange house last time, it was only natural for Xu Yi to have Harada Mieko investigate.


    He learned the name of the house, "Eight Monster House."


    As the name implied, eight monsters resided in the Eight Monster House, in addition to the Kamaitachi female monster he had slain and the runaway Wheel Monk, there was the Cyclops now shoved into the cage.


    There were also five other monsters: Cat Woman, Boxed Girl, Wall Crawler, One-legged Woman, and Giant Mage.


    "Ghost Samurai, how do you find my sincerity?" White Fox patted the cage by her feet.


    The shrine fell silent as Xu Yi waited for Carlyle to translate, so the Ghost Samurai remained motionless throughout, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.


    Xu Yi was momentarily lost in thought but then remembered he should respond, even though he didn''t know what the other party was scheming, delivering a monster to him was certainly commendable.


    He couldn''t speak, but he could express himself with body language.


    Just as he was about to make a reaction, the other party suddenly spoke up.


    "I knew I couldn''t deceive Ghost Samurai! Such keen eyesight, indeed!"


    White Fox sighed deeply. The Ghost Samurai was staring at him, obviously having sensed something about that object.


    Xu Yi was full of question marks. He hadn''t said or done anything; how did he suddenly have "keen eyesight"?


    White Fox pulled out a black purse and opened it up. Xu Yi''s attention was immediately drawn; the Bone of Nightmares sensed the Divinity inside.


    White Fox turned the contents of the purse upside down, and out came a piece of mud the size of a thumb.


    "You must be very clear about the origin of the Eight Monster House and its eight monsters," White Fox said softly.


    I have no clue at all; please enlighten me! Xu Yi thought to himself.


    As if White Fox heard Xu Yi''s internal monologue, she continued on her own, "They were all born from the Mud God Stele."


    White Fox lifted the piece of mud in hand, "What I have here is a fragment of the Mud God Stele. Your goal, Ghost Samurai, must be to kill the eight monsters and restore the Mud God Stele."


    Xu Yi knew she had misunderstood something. His hunting of monsters was merely for research on their blood. As for his focus on the Eight Monster House, it was purely because its Divinity was a nourishment for the Ghost Samurai''s recovery.


    "According to Ancient Tomes, the Mud God Stele may contain the secret to Ascension to Godhood."


    White Fox watched the Ghost Samurai intently, trying to see a hint of longing in the flames of his pupils, but she was disappointed; there was no change in the Ghost Samurai''s gaze.


    Of course, the Ghost Samurai was unfazed because Xu Yi was waiting on Carlyle to translate¡ªthe term "Mud God Stele" had dipped into Carlyle''s knowledge deficit. He pondered awfully hard for a long time before reluctantly translating it.


    By the time Xu Yi caught on, the moment had passed.


    Furthermore, divinities were dime-a-dozen in Japan; Xu Yi wasn''t aware that, as an orthodox Onmyoji, she surely referred to true divinities and not those braggart spirits and quirks. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No matter how much the Onmyoji behind the fox racked her brain, she wouldn''t fathom that the Ghost Samurai she was talking to not only lacked a common language but also lacked the common knowledge of Japan''s exorcism circles.


    "It seems Ghost Samurai is full of confidence, determined to succeed!"


    The Onmyoji behind the fox stopped probing and stated bluntly, "For this, we, the Onmyoji Association, are willing to lend you a helping hand."


    White Fox bowed slightly, offering up the fragment of the Mud God Stele in her hands.


    Carlyle translated this sentence exceptionally quickly, and Xu Yi immediately understood their meaning. He hastily controlled the Ghost Samurai armor to nod and ordered Harada Mieko to take action.


    Harada Mieko stepped forward and took the fragment of the Mud God Stele from White Fox''s hands.


    "What do we need to give in return?" Harada Mieko asked quietly, looking at White Fox.


    Xu Yi couldn''t help wanting to give Harada Mieko a thumbs-up; she was indeed his chosen one, voicing the very question he most wanted to ask.


    Who ever heard of a free lunch? If the offer wasn''t for some hidden purpose, then restoring the Mud God Stele must be incredibly difficult, or it could be a mix of both.


    Whatever her motives, he had already decided: to eat the sugar-coating and return the cannon fire. At worst, it would only mean having the Ghost Samurai leave Japan!


    "Not long ago, the Yin Yang Banner suddenly broke, and we joined with a host of Onmyoji for divination, which led to an unprecedentedly dire omen," White Fox''s tiny pupils flickered with fear.


    Harada Mieko wanted to ask more, but White Fox had already ended the conversation, "So, there''s no need for Ghost Samurai to worry. We offer the Mud God Stele fragments merely to form a good connection, hoping that when the time comes, we can receive a small favor from Ghost Samurai."


    After finishing, White Fox''s mood dropped, no longer in the mood for conversation. He bowed to Ghost Samurai and left.


    A great disaster in Japan? Xu Yi watched White Fox leave, his thoughts churning.


    Harada Mieko held the Mud God Stele fragments in both hands and respectfully presented them to Ghost Samurai.


    Xu Yi casually took them.


    He didn''t really care about the stele fragments.


    After all, they were just a gift from someone else. How good could they possibly be? But soon, his expression changed.


    The moment Ghost Samurai came into contact with the Mud God Stele, the Samurai Armor vibrated suddenly, resonating with the Divinity within the fragments.


    Wasn''t this too coincidental?


    Xu Yi cursed inwardly. Before, Annabelle had chosen the Samurai Armor because it harbored Divinity. Now he finally knew where that Divinity came from.


    It was from the Mud God Stele fragments!


    The craftsman who forged the Samurai Armor had mixed in fragments of the Mud God Stele with the armor.


    As the Samurai Armor vibrated, the Bone of Nightmares began to tremble, the transcendent flesh writhed, the Demon-Suppressing Flame surged uncontrollably, and the Red Lotus Karma Flame of the demonic blade ascended¡­


    Since the Samurai Armor had been destroyed multiple times and had already fused with other things, that meant the Mud God Stele fragments had merged with the Ghost Samurai.


    Xu Yi stared at the Mud God Stele fragments in his hand, hesitated for a few seconds, then released control over Ghost Samurai.


    The Divinity of the Bone of Nightmares was the first to merge into the fragments, followed by the Demon-Suppressing Flame, and then the Red Lotus Karma Flame of the demonic blade¡­


    The fragments absorbed so much yet remained unchanged. Xu Yi knew it was due to a lack of "fuel."


    The golden transcendent flesh poured in, and the fragments were instantly ignited. The flame was not the black gold of the Demon-Suppressing Flame, nor the dark red of the Red Lotus Karma Flame, but a pale purple, emitting an unimaginably high temperature.


    Xu Yi stretched his arm out, keeping distance from the flame.


    The temperature of the flame was extremely high. If not for the fact that the flames were controlled by Xu Yi, the intense heat confined to a small area, it would have spread out.


    Otherwise, Harada Mieko, who was nearby, would have suffered severe burns and the shrine itself would have been set on fire.


    "Melting Flame," Xu Yi named the new fire, referring to the seemingly all-consuming high temperature.


    Xu Yi focused on the Melting Flame, frowning slightly.


    The new fire was indeed powerful, but its drawbacks were equally clear. It was only the size of a fingernail, and no matter how Xu Yi tried to fuel it, the flame showed no signs of growing.


    Such a small fire could perhaps only be used for toasting something tiny.


    The Melting Flame''s "fuel" was also extremely lavish - the regeneration speed of transcendent flesh is limited. Without affecting the combat power of Ghost Samurai, it could probably only burn for about ten minutes a week.


    Xu Yi looked toward the shrine, where there was a box containing the husk of the Kamaitachi monster, its blood already drained.


    "According to what that White Fox said earlier, it seems there are also Mud God Stele fragments inside the body of the Kamaitachi monster," Xu Yi mused.


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    Xu Yi threw the Melting Flame onto the box, the high temperature enveloping the Kamaitachi monster inside.


    The husk of the monster was incinerated at a visible rate, leaving only a trace untouched by the flames, which continued to sear without change.


    That was the remnant of the Mud God Stele from within the body of the Kamaitachi monster.


    The remnants were attracted by the Melting Flame, flying into the core of the fire. The two small fragments merged to form a larger remnant.


    The fire that was the size of a fingernail grew to the size of an egg.


    As the volume of the flame increased, the amount of "fuel" it consumed decreased - a contradiction to common sense, yet what Xu Yi desired the most.


    "This monster is as good as dead!"


    The pupils of Ghost Samurai blazed intensely with fire.

 Chapter 205 Cat Woman x Girl in the Box

    Japan, Harada District.Lisa, dressed in a comfortable hoodie, with a camera hanging around her neck and a backpack on her shoulders, looked like an American tourist out to enjoy Japan.


    She gazed at the shrine within the high walls, where she felt a distinctive presence.


    "Miss Lisa, that shrine is a private domain, and it''s off-limits for touring!" the guide, emerging from somewhere, said softly.


    Lisa nodded, "I got it, I''m just going to use the restroom."


    She didn''t head for the restroom, though, but turned and slipped into a secluded corner. She looked around to make sure no one was there and took a palm-sized metal box out of her backpack.


    The metal box opened to reveal only two things: one was a golden needle a half-inch long; the other was an iron plate full of bronze rust marks.


    Both items came from the church. Xu Yi had sought help from Ed, and the church lent out these two Magic Artifacts because of their relationship.


    Lisa took out the needle, aimed it at her arm, took a deep breath, and plunged the needle in completely.


    Blood seeped out but stopped soon after. Lisa moved her hand a little bit. Aside from a slight stinging sensation, it didn''t affect her much.


    As the needle pierced her skin, Lisa''s demeanor began to change. Her exorcist''s magnetic field disappeared, and her skin also seemed to darken.


    Most of the witch''s abilities were restricted, with only a Passive Ability similar to a pseudo holy body remaining.


    Lisa took a few deep breaths before she could adapt to her weakened body.


    A wisp of black smoke suddenly appeared behind Lisa, vaguely taking the form of a Ghost Samurai.


    The black smoke drifted towards the iron plate. Lisa watched silently, waiting for the smoke to fully merge into the plate, and then wrapped the divinity-infused plate tightly in a Shroud to carry with her.


    "I wonder if the plan will be successful?" Lisa took a deep breath.


    If it were just for the blood of a monster, she wouldn''t need to come in person; she was here on a mission.


    ......


    Darkness fell upon the land.


    Rather than following the tour group to Japan''s bustling red-light district, Lisa went alone to a damp, chill place known as the "slums."


    The guiding stray cat suddenly stopped in front of a decrepit factory, letting out a mournful meow. Lisa signaled for the cat to be quiet as they climbed through the broken window.


    In the bustling city, stray cats and dogs were oftentimes more useful than the police. Whenever Lisa arrived at an unfamiliar place, she would seek information from the local cats and dogs, usually gaining useful insights.


    This time was no exception. This stray cat had told her that a terrible monster was mutilating its kin here.


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    By the light of the moon shining through the window, Lisa could make out the factory''s interior.


    Numerous ropes hung from above with "packages" tied to them. Lisa unwrapped a few, and her face turned pale as she clenched her fists involuntarily.


    Inside the packages were cats with their limbs removed. Moreover, some of them weren''t cats at all, but¡­ humans.


    The sound of wheels scraping against the ground suddenly echoed through the space, followed by the opening of the warehouse doors. A hunched figure pushed a stroller into the factory.


    The stroller held a package, identical to those hanging above.


    The hunched figure suddenly twisted its head towards Lisa. In the darkness, the creature''s pupils were particularly clear¡ªnot human, but slitted like a cat''s, emitting a strange green glow.


    Had she been discovered? Lisa''s heart skipped a beat.


    Under normal circumstances, she could have just fought it out, but now her abilities were sealed. If she unsealed them, it would pretty much mean the failure of her plan.


    It looked like her only option was to escape!


    The hunched figure pulled a flat-headed spear from behind and began to step toward where Lisa was.


    Lisa acted first, violently throwing a brick she picked up from the ground and then sprinting towards the window. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The brick was split in two with a single slash. The monster watched Lisa''s retreating figure, letting out a feline roar as it burst forward, leaping at its prey like a savage beast.


    Suddenly, a dark shadow leapt from the side, colliding with the monster. It clawed viciously at the creature¡ªwith the sharp claws of the stray cat that had led Lisa here.


    The little stray cat showed its teeth and hissed at the monster, and the monster, enraged, chopped the little stray cat in half with a single stroke.


    Lisa''s pupils flashed with fury, but for the greater good, she could only grit her teeth and leave, silently resolving to seek revenge against the monster.


    In the dark alley, Lisa ran headlong, the sound of a blade scraping the ground in pursuit echoing from behind her.


    All of this was witnessed by Xu Yi.


    For Lisa''s safety, and to control the progress of the plan, Xu Yi of course made sure Lisa carried the Nest of the Evil God with her.


    In fact, Harada Mieko had already led her clan members to spread out around Lisa, escorting her from all sides.


    Xu Yi knew this couldn''t go on, with Lisa''s Ability sealed she could never outrun the Cat Woman.


    Just as he was about to order Harada Mieko to intercept the Cat Woman, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared in front of her.


    Shrouded in a black cloak, the figure''s face was indistinguishable, holding a black spear in their hand, the spear engraved with blood-colored runes.


    Xu Yi was slightly startled. Could it be one of Harada Mieko''s people, making a move ahead of time?


    The Cat Woman, facing the suddenly appearing shadow, grew even more enraged, its vertical pupils glaring as it gripped its machete with both hands and leapt high into the air.


    Confronting the whistling machete, the shadow stood undaunted, hurling the spear in hand which impaled the Cat Woman, pinning her to the wall.


    Xu Yi frowned slightly; this couldn''t possibly be one of Harada Mieko''s people, for there was no one in the Harada family that powerful.


    Two more shadowy figures emerged, carrying a cage between them.


    Inside the cage, a woman was imprisoned, her skin deathly pale with not a hint of color. Her head was firmly encased in a metal box, and within the murky liquid, a ferocious head rolled continuously.


    That wasn''t a normal person at all, but rather one of the "Eight Fiends," the Girl in the Box.


    "These people are targeting the Eight Fiends! Could they also be here for the Mud God Stele fragments?"


    Xu Yi instantly had a bad premonition. His Eight Fiends hunting plan had just begun, and he hadn''t expected someone to cut in already.


    Lisa escaped in a taxi, unaware of the change in circumstances, thinking the black-clad figures behind her were reinforcements arranged by Xu Yi.


    With Lisa gone, the Nest of the Evil God also left, and Xu Yi lost sight of what was happening behind him.


    In the Tototh Library, Xu Yi put down the book in his hands, deciding to focus first on resolving the matters in Japan.


    ......


    In a dark alley in Japan,


    God Cheater Fick flicked the blood off his spear and coldly glanced at the Cat Woman on the ground, ordering, "Put the monster in the cage!"


    "Yes, Lord Fick!" The black-clad figures behind him quickly bowed in response.


    Fick showed no intention of helping, standing aside to rest, gently rubbing his right arm which looked sullen.


    Back in New York, his arm had been severed, and though a new one was swiftly attached, it was not the "original part." It was fine normally, but during combat, the joint of the arm always ached faintly.


    The failure in New York was the worst mark on his record; every time he thought of it, he felt displeased.


    But every time he remembered that terrifying Flame Giant, he felt somewhat disheartened. The organization wouldn''t confront such a powerful being just for his sake.


    Yet, relying on himself alone, he had no idea when he would be able to exact his revenge.


    "Forget it! Better to follow the organization''s plans! If I can complete the arrangement in Japan, the organization will be able to gather greater power, bringing us closer to the ultimate goal," Fick thought and sighed, getting to his feet.


    Suddenly, footsteps sounded from the end of the alley. A startlingly beautiful girl emerged from around the corner, and Fick eyed her with an interested expression.


    He could sense the exorcist''s presence on the girl, but it was too weak to be a threat.


    Having not enjoyed the company of such stunning women since arriving in Japan, Fick unconsciously licked his lips.

 Chapter 206 Look How Scared the Child Is

    Harada Mieko stared at the two cages on the ground; the monsters inside had completely died."You want these monsters?" Fick looked at Harada Mieko like a fox eying the meat it had long craved.


    He spoke fluent Japanese, virtually without an accent, convincing enough that one might believe he was a native of Japan.


    As the notorious "God Cheater," what he took the most pride in was his study of various languages, whether it was the esoteric Demon Language or the long-lost Dragon Script. He had dabbled in all, not to mention the mere Common Japanese.


    Harada Mieko did not deny it and nodded her head.


    "Then what will you trade for them?"


    Fick, holding a spear, took steps towards Harada Mieko, exerting significant psychological pressure.


    Xu Yi watched Fick drawing closer, feeling that handling the situation was going to be tricky.


    He was now like a rabbit trying to plow a field¡ªwilling, but powerless.


    The Ghost Samurai before him was all show, most of its strength concealed within the divine iron flakes on Lisa''s body; to surprise the Eight Monster House, the majority of its power was hidden.


    If a fight were to start, this "Slovenly Ghost Samurai" would likely be of no help.


    As the other party came closer, Xu Yi could see the other''s eyes clearly; something stirred in his heart.


    There is an old saying that eyes are the windows to the soul; not that he wanted to understand the other party, but their eyes gave him a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen them somewhere before.


    "What do you want?" Harada Mieko frowned, disliking the other party''s gaze.


    "That depends on what you can offer me," Fick continued to advance.


    A figure suddenly flashed through Xu Yi''s mind¡ªthose eyes and that unique deep intonation... Why did the other person resemble the God Cheater, Fick, so much?


    He couldn''t clearly see the other''s full appearance; the man''s right hand was also intact, and he was somewhat unsure.


    "Who cares whether it''s him or not? Even if it''s a mistaken identity, it''s not him who would feel the embarrassment!"


    Comforting himself with this thought, Xu Yi unapologetically gave Harada Mieko an order.


    Harada Mieko was slightly taken aback; she had intended to negotiate properly, but, having just received a divine edict, she followed the "Oracle" and coldly spoke out:


    "What to trade? How about your head?"


    Facing Harada Mieko''s sudden change of demeanor, Fick felt a bit annoyed, feeling like he had been played.


    He didn''t want to play the game of coaxing any further; with his power, what would it matter if he took her away by force?


    He decided to leave her with an "unforgettable lesson"!


    But the next second, Fick''s eyes widened in shock.


    "The god told me to inform you, ''He has caught you!''" Harada Mieko suddenly said in a grim tone.


    Fick''s body trembled violently.


    A black mist spread out behind Harada Mieko, condensing into a majestic figure with a dark red helm, fish-scale pattern shoulders, a golden head-covering, and horns like a demon.


    It was the frequent visitor of his nightmares, a lingering shadow¡ªGhost Samurai.


    Fick''s right arm throbbed with pain, but it wasn''t real pain.


    There''s an ancient Huaxia proverb, "Once bitten by a snake, one fears the well rope for ten years."


    Seeing the well rope, one recalls the incident of being bitten by the snake. His situation was even worse; due to extreme fear, his body was experiencing "Phantom Pain."


    The demon sword slipped from the Ghost Samurai''s hand, and dark red flames leapt up.


    Without a word, Fick turned and fled.


    All these were subconscious actions, not even deliberated by his brain, like a mouse running from a snake, instinctively wanting to escape immediate danger.


    Two men in black stood there dumbfounded; moments later, they dropped the cages with the monsters and ran after Fick.


    This mission was under Fick''s responsibility, and now that the person in charge had fled, how could they, mere underlings, stay and face death?


    Given Fick''s level of fear, it was hard to imagine what terrifying entity they were facing!


    Xu Yi watched, astonished. Was the Ghost Samurai really that intimidating?


    It took a long while before he assured himself that the other party had genuinely fled and was not plotting any tricks.


    He looked at the two dead monster bodies on the ground, with gratitude in his heart.


    "Look how scared this kid is! Next time you encounter them, you need to properly thank them... It would be best to completely cure their fear so it never recurs even in the next life!"


    ......


    The taxi drove towards the deserted outskirts, and the driver couldn''t help but ask, "Miss, where would you like to go?"


    Lisa took the taxi solely to escape the pursuit of Cat Woman, without any specific destination in mind.


    When the driver had asked her where she wanted to go, she had just pointed in a direction randomly, never expecting to actually end up in the desolate outskirts.


    Just as she was about to speak up, a cry for help suddenly came from ahead.


    "Help! Save me!"


    A woman dashed out from the side of the road, causing the driver to feel a chill. In the wilderness, a woman with her long hair flowing and her white dress stained with blood looked unsettling to say the least.


    The driver was reluctant to stop the car, but then Lisa spoke up, "Stop the car! I know that person."


    As they got closer, the driver saw the woman''s silhouette and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.


    The taxi stopped, the door opened, and the woman rushed into the taxi. After seeing Lisa in the back seat, her eyes suddenly lit up.


    "Lisa! It''s so good to see you here! I''m so glad! Thank you for saving me!"


    The woman was a bit incoherent.


    "Kawano Go, what exactly happened?" Lisa asked softly.


    Kawano Go was someone she had met on the plane. Originally just a fellow passenger, the woman had suddenly struck up a conversation with her.


    Lisa''s trip to Japan was for a mission, and she didn''t want to interact too much with ordinary people, but this woman had given her a feeling similar to that of Maria.


    It wasn''t a resemblance in appearance or aura, but a similarity at the soul level.


    Out of curiosity, they had chatted for a while and Lisa learned that the woman had just returned from studying in the United States.


    "Go! Get out of here quickly! There''s a monster here!" Kawano Go''s pupils were filled with fear, her body trembling involuntarily.


    Kawano Go spoke in Japanese, and after the driver heard her, he too became somewhat panicked, instinctively pressing down on the accelerator to speed up the car.


    They drove a good distance without anything happening, and Kawano Go gradually calmed down, her breathing slowing from its frantic pace.


    "Why are you here so late? Isn''t your boyfriend with you?" Lisa pressed.


    On the plane, she remembered that Kawano Go had a boyfriend who was very gentle and submissive towards her.


    "I came here to camp nearby, my boyfriend... my boyfriend didn''t come," Kawano Go said, her head lowered and her voice getting softer. Continue your adventure at empire


    Lisa frowned, worried. There were no wounds on the woman''s body, yet her white dress was stained with blood. Whose blood was it?


    She hadn''t had the chance to ask when suddenly the driver stepped hard on the brakes, causing them to lurch forward into the backs of the seats.


    "Why did you stop suddenly?" Lisa shook her head, feeling a bit dizzy. With her abilities sealed, her physical condition had deteriorated significantly, and she was not used to it.


    "There''s someone... someone in front of us!" The driver stammered, possibly spooked.


    Lisa looked out of the window and indeed there was someone in front of the car, less than half a meter away, meaning if the driver had been a second slower, that person would have been hit.


    It was a seductive-looking woman with slightly curly hair, bright red lips, very pale skin, dressed in orange clothing, and holding a white paper umbrella. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you suicidal? Standing in the middle of the road!" The driver cursed fiercely.


    Just then, a heavy rain began to fall, drowning out the driver''s swearing. After cursing for a bit and seeing the woman remain unmoved, he turned the car around, planning to drive around her.


    The woman hopped in front of the car again, blocking the way. This road was narrow, making it impossible for the driver to get around her.


    Finally, the driver couldn''t take it anymore and prepared to get out and give the woman a piece of his mind.


    "Don''t get out! Just drive straight through her!"


    Kawano Go suddenly spoke up, her eyes flickering with a mad glint.


    "Crazy!" The driver shouted angrily. Today had truly been a terrible day for him, encountering one lunatic after another.


    "Don''t get out!" Lisa of course knew there was something off about the woman in front. She tried to stop him, but the driver had already pushed the door open and stepped out.


    The driver stood under his umbrella, confronting the woman blocking the road, about to scold her.


    But he suddenly stood frozen, feeling as if his heart was about to stop.


    The woman had only one leg, but it wasn''t an amputation. There was no sign of amputation on her body, as if she was born with just one leg.

 Chapter 207 The Return of Eight Monster House

    The gorgeous one-legged woman flashed a brilliant smile at the driver, revealing her yellowing, rotten teeth. The driver screamed and retreated, but the woman''s oil-paper umbrella began to spin, casting the rainwater aside.An invisible wave pierced through the curtain of rain, and the fleeing driver let out a terrible scream as one of his legs snapped off in response.


    The driver screamed as he crawled on the ground, blood oozing incessantly from his wound, washed away by the rain, leaving a long trail of blood spreading further ahead.


    The one-legged woman turned her head to look in the direction of the taxi, while Lisa''s eyelids twitched violently, squeezing into the driver''s seat.


    She didn''t even have time to fasten her seatbelt because the one-legged woman had already hopped in front of the car. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luckily, the driver hadn''t turned off the engine earlier, so there was no need to restart it, which bought Lisa precious time.


    She floored the gas pedal, ramming the one-legged woman expressionlessly, creating a loud bang. The car''s front end caved in, and the one-legged woman was sent flying a few meters away, crashing heavily onto the roadside.


    The one-legged woman lay in the grass, motionless. Lisa seized the chance to drive up to the side of the driver with the severed leg and shouted to Kawano Go, "Get him in the car!"


    Kawano Go was shaking all over, as if petrified by fear, huddled in the back seat, immobile.


    Lisa frowned slightly and had to risk getting out of the car to drag the driver into the back seat. She didn''t have time to bandage him up, as her peripheral vision caught the one-legged woman standing up again.


    Lisa returned to the driver''s seat, fastened her seatbelt, and floored the gas pedal once more. The taxi roared forward, and she could vaguely see the lights of the city in the distance.


    A shadow suddenly appeared up ahead, something massive falling from the sky.


    Lisa''s eyelids twitched, and she swerved violently trying to dodge it.


    But it was too late. The taxi collided with something, leapt into the air, flipping twice before crashing down with a thunderous noise.


    Lisa''s head was spinning, but luckily she had her seatbelt on, which prevented her from being thrown out.


    She bit her tongue lightly to bring herself back to her senses, tore off her seatbelt, and pushed the door open.


    To her surprise, Kawano Go was also unharmed, crawling out of the car before her, while the driver was unconscious inside, his condition unknown.


    A huge shadow loomed over them, and Lisa turned around to see what the taxi had hit. It was a foot, a giant''s foot.


    The giant, with an ugly visage, stood in front of the road, its skin blackened, and its hair, messy like seaweed, hung down.


    Before she could make any further moves, the giant''s back arched, it opened its mouth and ferociously expelled a powerful gust of air.


    Lisa couldn''t resist at all and was blown into the air.


    In mid-flight, a hand suddenly grabbed her. It was Kawano Go, who had also been blown away, screaming in terror as he instinctively tried to grab onto something near him.


    They fell downward, below them lay a small, well-lit village. As an exorcist, even in this situation, Lisa remained calm.


    She spotted a cattle shed and forcibly twisted her body, pulling Kawano Go with her to land on the haystacks in the shed, avoiding serious injury.


    But she didn''t have time to catch her breath. An eerie sound came from behind, and turning her head, she faced a massive head rolling toward them from the dark tunnel, its crimson pupils staring at them.


    Xu Yi had mentioned it before ¡ª this massive head seemed to be called "Tu Bi."


    "Run!" Lisa growled, taking off.


    "Help! Somebody help!" Kawano Go ran, crying out for help.


    The village was brightly lit, and silhouettes hovered behind the windows. Laughter of children could occasionally be heard.


    This village clearly had inhabitants, but despite such commotion outside and the presence of a huge monster, the villagers seemed unaware of anything, their peace undisturbed.


    Suddenly Lisa understood. They had entered the "Different Space." The village seemed close at hand, but in reality, it was separated by a whole other world.


    "We have to split up! I''ll draw the monster away!" Lisa said after a moment''s thought, not wanting to involve the others.


    Kawano Go hesitated for a second before nodding his head.


    Lisa picked up a brick from the side of the road and hurled it at the wall, trying to provoke the creature.


    But the wall simply gave her a cold glance before continuing its pursuit of Kawano Go.


    Lisa was taken aback and suddenly understood; the monsters'' target wasn''t her.


    The monsters were after Harada Mieko because of her "Divine Body". The Eight Monster House had not made a move, evidently startled by the Ghost Samurai.


    To lure out the Eight Monster House, Xu Yi came up with a plan. Lisa''s "pseudo holy body" was also a special type of physique, which might be able to draw out the Eight Monster House.


    Discover stories with empire


    Lisa had originally thought it was because of her "pseudo holy body" that these monsters had been attracted to her.


    Now, looking back, it was the Cat Woman she had approached first at her lair; the other monsters appeared one by one only after encountering Kawano Go.


    And the first monster Kawano Go met was clearly not the one-legged woman; seeing her did not trigger any reaction, which indicated he had encountered some other beast before.


    All these monsters were coming for Kawano Go!


    Did he have something special about him? Lisa was puzzled.


    "Help! Save me!" Kawano Go obviously realized this too and came running back to Lisa for help.


    "Run into the alley!" The corner of Lisa''s eye caught a glimpse of a small alley in front of a courtyard, and her eyes lit up.


    The wall''s head was huge, so it probably couldn''t enter the small alleys.


    As they ran into the alley, the wall did not follow, instead watching them coldly from outside the alley.


    They dashed through the alley, but every time they tried to break out, the shadow of the one-legged figure under the oiled paper umbrella would flash by, or the giant head of the wall would roll past outside.


    Lisa looked up to see the Giant Mage perched on a distant tower, coldly overlooking them.


    "It seems these monsters are trying to herd us toward a specific place!" Lisa suddenly realized.


    The alley finally came to an end, and Kawano Go''s face lit up with joy as he sped toward it.


    Lisa and Kawano Go suddenly stopped in their tracks when the sound of the waves reached them from ahead; the end of the alley was actually connected to a sea!


    Clearly, this was irrational; no village would build houses so close to the sea, as rising tides would flood them in minutes.


    Lisa reaffirmed that the place they were in was not reality.


    Upon seeing the sea, Kawano Go seemed to remember something terrifying, his body trembling uncontrollably.


    There was no moonlight in the sky, and the sea was pitch black, and just then, lights suddenly appeared on the sea, coming not from a lighthouse, but from a fort-style house.


    The huge house floated on the surface of the sea, and the waves constantly lashed against the walls of the house, splashing white foam.


    The house drew nearer, and through the water''s surface, the enormous tentacles beneath the house could be seen undulating.


    The front door of the house stood ajar, with a "Welcome" sign hanging next to it. Warm, bright light spilled from inside, and a figure could vaguely be seen standing by the door, quietly watching them.


    At last! Lisa took a deep breath; her long-awaited target had finally appeared.


    "No!" Kawano Go, upon seeing the person beside the door, suddenly turned and ran, as if they were more terrifying than the monsters behind him.


    But it was too late. A tremendous suction came from inside the door, and neither Lisa nor Kawano Go could resist being drawn in, and the door slammed shut.

 Chapter 208 Submission

    Lisa smashed hard onto the ground, but she endured the pain and got up to survey her surroundings.She stood at the center of the living room, with Kawano Go at her feet. The ceiling of the living room was over thirty meters high with a diameter surpassing five hundred meters, resembling a square.


    From outside, they had seen the house, which was not as large as this living room, indicating the existence of an independent "Different Space" within.


    Lisa cautiously looked around, realizing they were surrounded by monsters.


    There was a one-legged woman holding an oiled paper umbrella, a wall-crawler with only a head, and a silent, staring Giant Mage.


    Besides these, there was also a red-dressed woman whom they had not seen before. Her head soared high, her neck writhing like a snake''s. Lisa remembered Xu Yi mentioning this; it must be the monster known as "Spinning-Head".


    Kawano Go stood up and hid behind Lisa, her body could not stop trembling. Lisa whispered comfortingly, "Don''t worry! We''ll be out of here soon!"


    Upon entering the "Eight Monster House", Xu Yi''s plan was achieved, and Lisa could finally remove the seal to unleash her true strength.


    As the monsters closed in on them, Lisa prepared to remove the "Magic Restraining Needle". Just then, someone pushed her from behind, directing her towards the monsters.


    Lisa fell to the ground and, turning her head, stared blankly at Kawano Go as she fled.


    What was happening? Had Kawano Go betrayed her?


    Lisa couldn''t quite understand, not why Kawano Go would betray her¡ªafter their last encounter with the mind-killer demon, she had seen the wickedness of human hearts; mere betrayal didn''t matter to her.


    She simply couldn''t understand how someone could be so stupid.


    Did she think that using her to halt the monsters for a moment would allow her to survive?


    Kawano Go, who had fled in panic, suddenly returned, stepping backwards little by little.


    Had her conscience kicked in? Lisa thought it unlikely.


    "I''m sorry! I''m so sorry! I didn''t mean to! I didn''t mean to leave you behind!" Kawano Go kept retreating, her body shaking uncontrollably.


    A man walked slowly out from an alley, and Lisa recognized him as Kawano Go''s boyfriend. His condition was terrible; half of his head had been gnawed off, and blood stained his body.


    Lisa understood many things.


    The blood on Kawano Go''s skirt came from her boyfriend. They had encountered a monster together, but Kawano Go threw her boyfriend away and ran alone.


    Even her boyfriend had become a "scapegoat"; what more for her, someone Kawano Go barely knew? Lisa realized the truth. Stay tuned for updates on empire


    Kawano Go was tightly embraced by her boyfriend, whose strength almost seemed to snap her waist. Kawano Go screamed horribly as she cast a pleading look towards Lisa, but Lisa ignored her.


    Kawano Go hadn''t expected Lisa to save her, after all, Lisa was in danger herself. It was just an instinctive reaction.


    Then suddenly, she froze.


    Lisa''s eyes showed not fear of death, but an overflowing battle spirit. She stretched out her hand and fiercely drove it into her own arm, pulling out a slender needle.


    Taking a deep breath, Lisa felt as though she had lifted a heavy burden off herself.


    With the seal released, Witchcraft power once again filled her body. Clenching her fist, Lisa closed her eyes slightly.


    The one-legged woman with the oiled paper umbrella approached Lisa, spinning her umbrella, ready to dispatch her, but suddenly sensed something awry; her intended prey erupted with an imposing aura.


    Lisa''s eyes snapped open, emitting a brilliant golden glow from her pupils.


    Divine Arrival activated!


    Unlike the time she faced Evil God Ratma, Lisa could now activate Divine Arrival at will, and she could even control the aftereffects.


    Lisa swung her fist decisively. Wrapped in Witchcraft power, her fist, carrying immense force, caused a sonic boom as it directly hit the face of the one-legged woman. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The one-legged woman''s head burst open, and as she fell, Lisa said coldly, "Please do not open umbrellas indoors!"


    Kawano Go was utterly stunned. She had never imagined that Lisa, who had fled with her, possessed such power.


    A flicker of regret crossed her eyes as she realized her foolishness. If she had just stayed behind Lisa, she would have naturally been protected, but now, everything was too late.


    But if Lisa was so strong, why had she waited until now to reveal her power?


    "Save me! Please save me!" Kawano Go looked at Lisa with hopeful eyes.


    Lisa remained unmoved, for she saw the resentment deep within the other''s eyes. She was kind, but that did not mean she was foolish.


    Kawano Go looked at Lisa, who made no move, and began cursing incessantly, but the cursing quickly stopped as her boyfriend opened his mouth wide and bit through her throat, spurting blood.


    In resentment and unwillingness, Kawano Go''s body cooled gradually.


    Gulin''s head watched the one-legged woman on the ground, who no longer moved; anger flashed in his eyes.


    The Kamaitachi Monster was brutally killed, Cyclops was nowhere to be found, and Cat Woman, along with the girl in the box, should have appeared according to the plan, but there was no sign of them.


    Now, with the one-legged woman severely injured on the ground, only three of the Eight Monster House remained, suffering a massive loss.


    Gulin''s head let out a roar of anger, and the Mud God Stele and Giant Mage rushed towards Lisa together.


    Lisa quickly retreated, creating some distance, and took out an iron sheet covered with bronze rust from her bosom, unwrapping the layers of the Shroud around it.


    Gulin''s head''s complexion changed abruptly, and at the same time, the Eight Monster House began to tremble; they felt a familiar presence on the iron sheet, a presence they detested.


    A thick black fog poured out from the iron sheet, rapidly condensing into a tall Ghost Samurai.


    "Finally inside!"


    Within the Ghost Samurai, Xu Yi felt a sense of relief; the Bone of Nightmares picked up on the Divinity spread throughout the Eight Monster House and trembled slightly with excitement.


    The doors of the Eight Monster House suddenly opened, and a powerful force of repulsion acted on the Ghost Samurai, trying to "throw" him out.


    The repelling force belonged to the "Rule Power," which was hard to resist with just one''s own strength; fortunately, Xu Yi was prepared.


    "This move again? That''s certainly not a good way to treat a guest, and I do have an invitation!"


    Xu Yi activated the remnants of the Mud God Stele within him, which resonated with the Eight Monster House. Their kindred essences caused some cognitive dissonance in the Eight Monster House.


    The repelling force suddenly vanished, and Xu Yi was a bit taken aback, not expecting the effect of the Mud God Stele to be so beneficial.


    Seeing that the expulsion failed, the Monster Mud God''s huge head rolled towards the Ghost Samurai.


    It opened its massive mouth, and its shadow engulfed the Ghost Samurai, who did not resist and was swallowed whole.


    The Monster Mud God''s enormous eyes spun excitedly, but the next second, it started to writhe in pain on the ground, retching repeatedly, trying to vomit out what was in its mouth.


    But it could not spit it out, as if there were a fishbone stuck in its throat.


    Inside the Monster Mud God''s mouth, the Ghost Samurai, engulfed in flames, held the Demon Blade Red Lotus and pierced through the Monster Mud God''s upper jaw.


    The Monster Mud God felt as if it had swallowed a fireball; unable to bear the pain, it actually tore its own mouth apart and flung the Ghost Samurai out.


    As soon as the Ghost Samurai landed, the Giant Mage fixed his gaze on him.


    The Giant Mage took a deep breath, his back bulging high, gathering wind force. He opened his mouth wide, and a violent wind descended upon the Ghost Samurai.


    The Ghost Samurai remained unmoved, the Demon-Suppressing Flame rose, and the "Monster Wind," as if encountering its natural predator, dissipated its force, leaving only a gentle breeze blowing in all directions.


    The lower half of the Ghost Samurai''s body suddenly phased, turning into rolling black smoke, lifting him into the air.


    He approached the Giant Mage, the Demon Blade Red Lotus slicing through the latter''s throat, blood gushing out while the Red Lotus Karma Flame scorched his soul, eliciting a painful howl from the Giant Mage.


    With the Monster Mud God and Giant Mage fallen one after the other, Gulin did not step forward, knowing full well that even if she joined the fray, she would be no match for the Ghost Samurai.


    Gulin waved her hand, and countless chains surged from all directions. Xu Yi wasn''t panicked, since Gulin had already used this tactic before, and it was undoubtedly a last-ditch effort.


    The Ghost Samurai was tightly wrapped in chains, immobilized.


    But the Bone of Nightmares vibrated excitedly, pushing its powers to the fullest, greedily absorbing the Divinity of the Eight Monster House, with the Ghost Samurai''s momentum growing ever stronger.


    Xu Yi sensed something different than before, the Eight Monster House trembled slightly, seemingly expressing a willingness to submit!


    Why had the Eight Monster House not shown this behavior before?


    Perhaps it was due to the remnants of the Mud God Stele on him! The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was likely.


    "Could it be possible to subdue the Eight Monster House?"


    Just at the thought of the possibility, Xu Yi''s heart pounded uncontrollably.


    The Eight Monster House not only had its own independent Different Space but also various mystical abilities. In some ways, it was no less remarkable than Annabelle''s Treasure Box space.

 Chapter 209 Sea Monk

    The Ghost Samurai absorbed the Divinity of the Eight Monster House, and wheels-first''s eyes flashed with terror. She also perceived the surrender of will from the Eight Monster House, which infuriated her.Although she could drive the Eight Monster House, she was more like a "housekeeper". She had always longed for true control over the Eight Monster House.


    But despite her years of effort, she couldn''t match the Ghost Samurai''s mere fifteen minutes!


    Wheels-first roared, and the walls surrounding the Eight Monster House suddenly opened up. A second ago, they were in a hall with no windows; the next, they found themselves on an open-air terrace facing the breath of the tide, with waves splashing onto the floor.


    Wheels-first pulled a bone flute from her bosom. Lisa sensed something was wrong and charged towards wheels-first, trying to interrupt her actions.


    But wheels-first''s neck stretched long, her head shot up towards the sky, and she blew the bone flute clenched in her mouth. The sharp, piercing flute sound traveled towards the end of the ocean, and wheels-first laughed excitedly.


    Xu Yi turned to look towards the ocean. Gigantic waves surged forward, and 10-meter-high crests smashed violently against the Eight Monster House as if to sink it.


    A huge mountain rose from the sea, drawing closer. Xu Yi suddenly realized that it was not a mountain at all, but the head of a monster.


    The monster kept rising, and its full appearance gradually emerged before their eyes. It was a whale-like creature with charred black skin that was rough and uneven.


    The monster opened its large mouth, which lacked teeth. Instead, countless pale human hands stretched out from the gaps, acting as a substitute for teeth.


    The monster opened its "eyes", where two pale human heads turned, one female on the left and a male on the right.


    Xu Yi felt a powerful pressure emanating from the monster, far surpassing that of the other monsters.


    "Sea Monk!" After pondering for a moment, Xu Yi recognized the monster''s identity. He had recently been learning about Japan''s supernatural creatures.


    The Sea Monk opened its mouth and released a huge roar towards the sky, sounding like the wails of millions tormented souls.


    Wheels-first continued to play the bone flute. Few knew that the Eight Monster House had not eight, but nine monsters. The Sea Monk before them was an avatar split from the Eight Monster House.


    The human heads in the Sea Monk''s pupils looked at the Ghost Samurai and emitted a laugh of ambiguous meaning.


    The Sea Monk opened its mouth and spewed thick black water. The Ghost Samurai, bound by chains, had no way to evade or phase out of reality.


    As the black water splashed onto the Ghost Samurai, Xu Yi felt a slight burning pain in his brain. His complexion changed slightly; the connection with the Ghost Samurai had almost been severed!


    It was either the opponent''s good luck or some special ability that allowed her to detect the Ghost Samurai''s biggest weakness.


    If the Ghost Samurai were compared to a car, the normal mode of operation would involve someone entering the car and driving manually. But his current situation was more akin to "mental Wi-Fi" for remote control, whose stability could not compare with the former.


    If the black water continued to assault him, the control might break, and the Ghost Samurai would become like a puppet with its strings cut.


    Wheels-first writhed her snake-like neck excitedly and swallowed the bone flute, laughing maniacally.


    The Eight Monster House was hers! No one could snatch it away!


    She stared intently at the Ghost Samurai, her eyes glimmering with desire. Perhaps she could even use the Eight Monster House to control the Ghost Samurai before her.


    Once again, the Sea Monk spat out thick black water. This time, a figure appeared in front of the Ghost Samurai, swung a furious fist, and the mere force of the punch blew back the black water.


    That was Lisa. She was well aware that if anything happened to the Ghost Samurai, she would not escape unscathed, so she acted decisively.


    Wheels-first scoffed at Lisa, not considering her a threat at all, as long as the Ghost Samurai did not intervene. The young girl before her was nothing in her eyes.


    Still, she joined in the assault. She wanted to resolve matters swiftly to deal with the Ghost Samurai.


    Lisa was in grave danger. Not only was she no match for the Sea Monk alone, but with wheels-first added to the equation, her current endurance was solely due to the explosive power bestowed upon her by "Divine Arrival".


    Xu Yi did not act immediately; he was waiting for an opportunity.


    The moment came quickly!


    Wheels-first attempted a sneak attack from behind Lisa, her guard gradually lowering, foolishly turning her back to the Ghost Samurai.


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up, the Ghost Samurai indeed could not move, but he could control more than just the Ghost Samurai.


    Upon fixating on the back of Lisa''s neck, she pounced with a fierce bite, her pupils flashing with a bloodthirsty glow, as if she could already see the scene of Lisa''s neck being snapped by her teeth.


    But her body suddenly shivered, she felt the threat of death, a threat coming from behind her.


    But hadn''t the Ghost Samurai already been bound by chains?


    Struggling to turn her head, a dark red light illuminated her eyes, before she had the chance to clearly see what was inside the light, her head was already penetrated.


    Demon Blade Red Lotus pinned her to the ground, Red Lotus Karma Flame burning her, as she let out bursts of agonized screams.


    Strictly speaking, Demon Blade Red Lotus actually also belonged to "Evil God''s Walk," its forging process was the same as that of the Ghost Samurai.


    The Bone of Nightmares was unable to separate from the Samurai Armor, because the Armor had previously shattered, and the Transcendence flesh on the Bone of Nightmares had already fused with the Armor.


    A part of Xu Yi''s intention slipped into Demon Blade Red Lotus, turning it into a "Flying Dagger."


    Although it could not resonate with the Demon-Suppressing Flame to unleash a stronger power, facing the current situation, it was already completely sufficient.


    Red Lotus Karma Flame ascended, engulfing the head of the creature, burning its soul.


    The creature fought for life with its "head" severed, and it actually directly abandoned its head, the neck breaking and flying back to the body.


    Xu Yi paid no attention to the creature, as it no longer posed a threat, his focus was now on the Sea Monk.


    The Sea Monk was far beyond what Lisa could handle, and she was engulfed in dangerous situations, looking like she could barely hold on anymore.


    Demon Blade Red Lotus flew towards Lisa, who did not sense any danger from the blade, and she also saw that the blade flew from the Ghost Samurai.


    Before setting off, Xu Yi had told her to trust the Ghost Samurai completely, just as she would trust Xu Yi himself.


    Without any hesitation, she grabbed Demon Blade Red Lotus, the dark red Red Lotus Karma Flame repelling the Sea Monk. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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    Although Lisa''s training was in boxing, and she''d only learned a bit about using swords through sparring with Ailan, she wasn''t completely ignorant.


    Leveraging the power of Demon Blade Red Lotus, she actually managed to temporarily withstand the Sea Monk.


    Originally, if Xu Yi personally controlled Demon Blade Red Lotus, he could exert even greater power, but now he didn''t have the energy, as he was brewing the "Ultimate Move."


    He wanted to resolve the current situation quickly, for some reason, he had a vague feeling that something was not right with the Eight Monster House.


    The Sea Monk roared incessantly, the two human heads in its pupils spinning rapidly, the smiles on the faces vanishing.


    They sensed an imminent danger, anxiously scanning around, but strangely enough, they couldn''t locate the source of the threat.


    The humans below kept attacking, the dark red flames burning its soul, causing it to suffer bouts of intense pain.


    The Sea Monk became more and more irritable.


    Lisa suddenly let out a fierce shout, and Demon Blade Red Lotus descended; the dark red Red Lotus Karma Flame surged, transforming into dazzling blade light, slashing towards the Sea Monk''s eyes.


    After swinging that strike, the flames on the blade simmered down, evidently consuming a lot.


    Lisa was a bit stunned, that previous slash wasn''t hers, she didn''t have that ability.


    The Sea Monk opened its massive maw, a pale giant hand extended from within, grabbing the fiery blade aura, the pale giant hand was incinerated to the bone, revealing chilling white bones.


    The "blade aura" collapsed, the remaining Red Lotus Karma Flame splashed towards the Sea Monk''s eyes.


    Of course, it was Xu Yi secretly manipulating the Demon Blade; the Red Lotus Karma Flame was merely a feint, the real trump card was still to come.

 Chapter 210 The Heart of the Demon

    The Ghost Samurai suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a scorching fireball.The fireball wasn''t eye-catching, merely the size of an egg, but its flame was pure gold, like magma, making it hard to imagine just how high the temperature at the center of the fireball could be.


    The fireball floated leisurely toward the Sea Monk, and because the Red Lotus Karma Flame temporarily blocked the Sea Monk''s vision, and the fireball''s size was small, the Sea Monk failed to notice it right away.


    Lisa wanted to press her advantage, but she suddenly found that she couldn''t move the Demon Blade in her hands, as if it were a steel column nailed in place. The Demon Blade started to move backward, dragging Lisa with it.


    Lisa paused for a moment and silently withdrew from the Sea Monk, as if realizing something.


    The pale giant hands from the Sea Monk''s mouth broke off, and it finally noticed the small fireball. The human heads within its pupils trembled violently, finally recognizing the source of the danger.


    But the small fireball was too close for avoidance.


    The small fireball flew into the Sea Monk''s mouth, and the human hands that served as teeth reached out to block the fireball, but as soon as they neared it, they were scorched to a crisp.


    The Sea Monk let out a terrified roar, sensing the horrific high temperature of the small fireball, but it was all too late.


    At the heart of the small fireball rested the remains of the Mud God Stele, which had absorbed the Demon-Suppressing Flame, the Red Lotus Karma Flame, and the Divinity of the Bone of Nightmares, finally completing its metamorphosis.


    At that instant, the transcendent flesh upon the remnants burnt away, the suppression lifted, and the Melting Flame erupted forth.


    A "sun" rose slowly from the Sea Monk''s mouth, its resplendent light like the rising sunrise, so bright that it hurt to look at it.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, the radiant light began to fade, and Lisa opened her eyes to look.


    The enormous Sea Monk collapsed thunderously; sea water splashed up, and more than half of its head had been evaporated by the flames, leaving its flesh and blood charred.


    The lackluster remains of the Mud God Stele flew back onto the Ghost Samurai.


    With the death of the Sea Monk, the other monsters could no longer stir up any trouble. Xu Yi controlled the Demon Blade Red Lotus, cutting them down one by one.


    [Ability Devouring activated, devouring in progress¡­]


    [Detected "Same-Origin Entries x6", upon sacrificing all, a chance to obtain "High-Tier Entry x1" is available, do you agree?


    (ps: Green Rare: 59%, Green Epic: 32%, Blue Common: 8%, Blue Rare: 1%)]


    Xu Yi was slightly startled, not expecting Ability Devouring to have this hidden setting.


    Six entries, according to his experience, were likely to be mostly "Green Tier," with almost no chance of reaching Blue Tier.


    Should he exchange them or not?


    Xu Yi did not hesitate to choose "Yes".


    For him now, entries below Blue Tier no longer offered much of an improvement.


    The difficulty of obtaining entries above Blue Tier increased dramatically, and Xu Yi currently only had the "Blue Epic" level Shadow Spear God.


    He did have a number of Red Entries, but a look at the devouring targets showed they were almost all beings of the Evil God level.


    Now that he had a chance to obtain a Blue Tier Entry, of course, he couldn''t pass it up.


    [Congratulations on obtaining "Blank Entry: Monster Heart (Blue Common)"]


    Xu Yi clenched his fist in excitement, even a mere 8% chance had come through, what luck!


    [Monster Heart: 0/100


    Ability 1 - Heart of the Monster Granted (Unlocked)


    Grant the target Heart of the Monster. (1/1)


    Ability 1 - Flesh Feast (Unlocked)


    After devouring the flesh of supernatural creatures, all abilities will be strengthened.


    Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Ability 2 - Body of the Monster (Locked)


    Ability 3 - Power of the Monster (Locked)


    Ability 3 - Monster Thoughts Boiling (Locked)


    (PS: After equipping the Heart of the Monster, irreversible mutations will occur in the body (abnormalities, scale growth, double wings on the back, etc.), please choose the target of the Heart of the Monster carefully.)


    Xu Yi instinctively looked at Lisa, and there was no doubt that this entry suited her perfectly.


    Of course, it couldn''t possibly be Lisa who equipped the Heart of the Monster. Although she could gain tremendous power, the cost of mutation was too great, making it hard to accept.


    However, the Heart of the Monster could be granted to the Black Carp. As the owner of the Black Carp, the stronger the Black Carp became, the more Lisa would naturally benefit.


    As the head of the Ghost Samurai passed away, without a controller, the Eight Monster House''s walls reappeared around them, stacking up like building blocks, and in the blink of an eye, the open courtyard once again became a closed living room.


    The tentacles underneath the Eight Monster House no longer moved; the massive body was pushed by the sea onto the shore, getting stranded on the beach.


    The giant tentacles were still writhing unconsciously, but they no longer had the strength they did before¡ªthe Ghost Samurai had absorbed too much of the Eight Monster House''s divinity.


    The gates of the Eight Monster House flung wide open, and Lisa peered out the door, faintly able to see the town they had passed through while escaping.


    The town was a long distance from the seashore; she remembered that soon after they left the town, they had arrived at the seaside.


    The dull sound of the tides gradually became clearer, the salty sea breeze hit her face, and suddenly the whole world came alive.


    Lisa realized, she had left the Different Space and returned to the real world.


    Several figures hurried towards the seaside; leading them was a pretty young girl, and Lisa suddenly had a premonition that this girl was Xu Yi''s "partner" in Japan.


    Harada Mieko, along with people from the Harada family, arrived carrying huge boxes, climbing up from where the tentacles lay, which no longer had any will to attack.


    They were able to get there so quickly, of course, because they received the "Oracle" of the Ghost Samurai.


    Harada Mieko and her assistant started working; they opened the iron boxes that they brought, took out long needles, and inserted them into the dead monster''s body.


    As the small blood pump started working, the monster''s fresh blood was drawn into metal containers as thick as a thigh.


    Aside from the head of the Ghost Samurai within the Eight Monster House, as well as the Wall and the Giant Corporation, someone also swam out to the Sea Monk floating on the sea to draw its blood.


    Eventually, all of the "Blood Storage Tanks" were gathered around Harada Mieko, who then stuffed the tanks into a large metal box and carried them up to the beach.


    Two metal boxes were left behind. The boxes were particularly heavy; it was clear that they weren''t empty.


    Harada Mieko stepped forward, lifted the lid of the box, and inside was the monster snatched by the Ghost Samurai from someone else''s hands.


    Lisa looked at the body of the Cat Woman inside the box and exhaled a turbid breath, feeling as if this were revenge for the little wildcat that had guided them.


    Harada Mieko tilted the boxes, dumping the bodies of the Cat Woman and the girl from inside the boxes onto the floor.


    Remnants of the Mud God Stele flew out of the Ghost Samurai''s mouth, engulfing the monster corpses on the floor with the Melting Flame. As each monster corpse was incinerated, the Mud God Stele grew larger.


    All the remnants merged together, and Xu Yi gazed intently at the Mud God Stele the size of a fist, feeling excited.


    The larger the Mud God Stele became, the stronger the power of the Melting Flame it could unleash.


    Of course, this required the willingness to use "fuel." The act just now consumed transcendental flesh that would take a week to regenerate, not to mention the divinity that was channeled into it.


    If not for the Bone of Nightmares continuously absorbing the divinity of the Eight Monster House, he simply wouldn''t have had so much divinity to squander.


    The chains wrapped around the Ghost Samurai gradually loosened; at this moment, he had attained partial control over the Eight Monster House.


    The Eight Monster House trembled slightly, and Xu Yi somehow understood what it was trying to convey.


    The Eight Monster House was pleading, begging the Ghost Samurai not to absorb any more divinity.


    Xu Yi''s brows inadvertent furrowed. The Eight Monster House''s plea was very normal, but beyond that, he also felt its fear.


    Mysteriously, the object of its fear was not the Ghost Samurai but something else inside the Eight Monster House. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could it be that there was an even more terrifying monster within the Eight Monster House?


    Xu Yi was a bit puzzled.


    The Ghost Samurai grasped the chains beside him, and as his control over the Eight Monster House deepened, he could vaguely sense the movements of the other chains.


    At that very moment, some chains were silently moving towards the depths of the Eight Monster House.

 Chapter 211 The Gift Delivered to the Doorstep

    The Ghost Samurai followed the chains forward, finding the interior space of Eight Monster House to be even larger than Xu Yi had imagined; it took him a while to reach his destination.It was a structure akin to a skylight, into which dense chains converged, spreading downwards; Xu Yi stood at the edge of the skylight, looking down.


    Chains within the skylight bound a person¡ªthat was the long-dead Kawano Go, his blood seeping out and flowing along the chains, transporting downwards.


    Xu Yi''s brows furrowed tightly; clearly, Kawano Go had been used as a sacrifice.


    Although it was not evident what kind of physique Kawano Go had, he was definitely not a commoner, otherwise he wouldn''t have been selected as a sacrifice.


    But who was the intended recipient of this sacrifice? Could there really be a terrifying monster lurking within Eight Monster House?


    A dark and indistinct aura suddenly rose from the bottom of the well, causing Xu Yi''s complexion to change slightly¡ªsomething was awakening down below!


    ......


    "We need to leave immediately!"


    In the grand hall of Eight Monster House, Harada Mieko suddenly turned to face Lisa and spoke in English. Though her English was somewhat broken, it was still clear enough to understand her.


    "What happened?" Lisa asked with confusion.


    "I just received an oracle," Harada Mieko replied softly, herself also unsure of what had happened.


    The moment everyone left Eight Monster House, an extremely ominous aura emanated from behind them, sending shivers down everyone''s spine.


    Within Eight Monster House, Xu Yi warily watched the skylight.


    Kawano Go''s blood had been completely drained, his body turned into a withered corpse, which the chains then whipped into fragments.


    The chains began to ascend, pulling up something from the bottom of the well, suspending it in midair.


    Xu Yi instinctively stepped back twice as the Demon-Suppressing Flame surfaced on the Ghost Samurai.


    He looked in astonishment at the center of the chains, which was actually a hammer, a forging hammer, with a handle as thick as an arm and a head larger than a human''s.


    The hammer was covered with blackish-green rust, and several massive cracks spread across its body, seeming as though it would crumble apart at any moment.


    Could this hammer be the terrifying monster concealed within Eight Monster House? Xu Yi was somewhat puzzled.


    At the center of the hammer, there was a horizontal red line which suddenly "opened"¡ªthat was not just any line, but a huge blood-colored eye.


    The bloody eye spun rapidly in all directions, then fixed its gaze on the Ghost Samurai, making Xu Yi''s heart feel as if it was being squeezed by an invisible hand.


    As the Ghost Samurai''s control over Eight Monster House grew, the binding chains had gradually loosened, but at this moment, the chains once again tightly bound the Ghost Samurai.


    In the blink of an eye, the Ghost Samurai lost control over Eight Monster House.


    No wonder Eight Monster House had submitted so easily!


    Xu Yi suddenly realized that both the Wheel-headed figure and the Ghost Samurai''s control over Eight Monster House was an illusion.


    There had always been only one Controller of Eight Monster House, and that was the bizarre monster hammer before him.


    To truly control Eight Monster House, one must first deal with the monster hammer at hand!


    Xu Yi fixed his gaze on the opponent, as if facing a formidable enemy.


    The pupils of the Ghost Samurai unexpectedly changed; the flames within them had been black and gold, but now turned blood red, identical to the blood eye on the hammer.


    Xu Yi''s soul sensed a special fluctuation, similar to what he had experienced when he fought the Wheel-headed figure, but evidently it was stronger this time.


    "Is it trying to enslave the Ghost Samurai?" Xu Yi was slightly stunned.


    Had the Wheel-headed figure not informed the hammer of the situation?


    Even if the hammer''s "Charm" ability was strong, as long as he logged off, it would be helpless.


    The monster hammer suddenly flew toward the Ghost Samurai, firmly attaching to it; from it, a blue gelatinous substance emerged, winding around the Ghost Samurai, attempting to burrow into his body.


    Xu Yi was astounded; it seemed the monster hammer also sought to possess the Ghost Samurai!


    If the hammer could enslave the Ghost Samurai, this approach would indeed not be wrong, but to Xu Yi, wasn''t this like throwing meat buns to a dog?


    The monster hammer was infused with a rich Divinity; whether it was Eight Monster House or the divinity within these chains, all originated from the hammer.


    The closer the Bone of Nightmares got to its target, the faster it absorbed divinity.


    He had just been pondering how to approach the other party when, to his surprise, in the next second, they eagerly presented themselves at his doorstep.


    The blood-colored pupils of the forging hammer were fierce and terrifying, yet Xu Yi saw the confusion of recent awakening in them, and a hint... of clear foolishness.


    The other had practically stuffed the meat into the Ghost Samurai''s mouth, leaving no reason to refuse.


    Xu Yi, controlling the Ghost Samurai, hugged the forging hammer tightly and, as his spirit was nearly at its limit, he decisively chose to log out.


    The Bone of Nightmares'' instinct was to absorb the divinity of nearby objects, and even without someone controlling it, it would continuously siphon the forging hammer''s divinity.


    The sea began to retreat, and the massive Eight Monster House was once again taken back into the sea. Its tentacles touched the water, seemingly regaining some vitality, and it slowly began to move. The Eight Monster House sank to the bottom of the sea, finally disappearing from everyone''s sight.


    Harada Mieko stared blankly at the vanishing Eight Monster House.


    She used to be able to feel the Ghost Samurai residing within her, but now it was gone; some of the Ghost Samurai in her had merged with the main body upon entering the Eight Monster House.


    A streak of red light suddenly flew up from the seabed, breaking through the water, and the Demon Blade Red Lotus fell in front of Harada Mieko, slantedly piercing into the sand.


    Harada Mieko instinctively grabbed the Demon Blade Red Lotus, her eyes suddenly brightened, for she once again received an oracle: to search for the remnants of the Mud God Stele. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The remnants of the Mud God Stele were much larger than a fist; the piece in Xu Yi''s hands was merely a small portion of the Mud God Stele.


    ......


    In the library of the Totet, Xu Yi was all smiles.


    The matters in Japan had finally come to a close. When the forging hammer''s divinity was completely drained, that would be the day the Ghost Samurai took control of the Eight Monster House!


    "It''s time to focus and grind the scholar entries!" Xu Yi cheered himself on.


    [Scholar, current progress: 42/100]


    He had only been in the library of Totet for less than three days, yet the progress of the scholar entries far exceeded his expectations.


    After obtaining the second batch of scholar entries, a series of learning-related abilities were slightly enhanced, and his learning efficiency increased once more.


    But to achieve the feat of "over half in three days" was still far off, all because of the "Genius of Mysticism."


    With this "Dragon-slaying Blade" of Genius of Mysticism in hand, the once abstruse and difficult knowledge of mysticism became mere small fries in front of him, easily dispatched like chopping vegetables and melons.


    And the experience gain for the scholar entries was tied to learning efficiency.


    As they say, "A steady stream of small hacks is not as good as one big hack!" Without a doubt, "Genius of Mysticism" was that big hack.


    As long as he studied the knowledge of mysticism, his scholar entries would soar at rocket speed.


    "At this rate, I might be able to max out the scholar entries again in another three days!"


    Thinking of this, Xu Yi felt a fiery enthusiasm in his heart.


    For maxing out the third scholar entry would not only grant him the ability of "Super Brain Computation," but also allow him to synthesize "Master of Mysticism."


    Xu Yi immersed himself in the ocean of mysticism when suddenly, the door to the library was pushed open. The visitor was neither Nos nor the Finn family''s butler, but someone completely unexpected.


    Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Professor Daniel?" Xu Yi questioned.


    "Hello there!" greeted Professor Daniel, weakly, his face a bit pale.


    Daniel headed confidently towards a corner, clearly familiar with the library.


    This library was accessible only to members of the Finn family; his being here was an exception. Daniel''s familiarity with this place suggested an obvious answer.


    The other was related to the Finn family.


    Xu Yi suddenly remembered something¡ªthe book that Daniel had given him bore his full name, "Daniel Finn."


    "Is something the matter?" Daniel looked puzzled at Xu Yi, who had been staring at him since he entered.


    "Professor Daniel, you look a bit pale. Are you ill?" Xu Yi inquired gently.


    "Yes! I caught a bit of a cold, been resting at home the past few days," Daniel coughed timely.


    "Professor, didn''t you catch that cold four days ago? I remember hearing thunder that day," Xu Yi casually asked.


    Daniel''s hand froze slightly while grabbing a book, "I don''t remember clearly, but I suppose it was when I was dealing with the fish tank in the lab, I accidentally got my clothes wet and didn''t change them in time, so I caught a cold."

 Chapter 212 Palace of Memory

    Totte Library.Nos Finn''s brow furrowed slightly because Xu Yi''s actions greatly puzzled him, as the latter casually picked up a book from the shelf and rapidly flipped through its pages.


    Most of the books in the library were opaque and difficult to understand tomes of Mysticism, and even reading them word for word, paragraph by paragraph, was hard to comprehend.


    Sometimes spending weeks of time to understand just one chapter was nothing unusual.


    With the speed at which Xu Yi was flipping through the books, let alone grasping the knowledge within, it was doubtful he could even retain a basic impression.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, your library assistant job will be over the day after tomorrow!" Nos kindly advised.


    "It''s precisely because my term ends tomorrow that I need to seize the time! There are so many good books, it would be such a pity not to glance through them!" Xu Yi remained immersed in the grand task of "book scanning."


    Nos sighed to himself, aware that very few outsiders had ever entered the Totte Library. In his view, the other party should cherish this opportunity and use the remaining time to understand as much as possible.


    Instead of using this precious chance just to "feast his eyes."


    But at this point, he felt it was inappropriate to advise any further.


    Of course, Xu Yi understood his meaning, for he had prepared himself similarly before, but plans couldn''t keep up with changes¡ªthe "Sharingan" had appeared!


    Yesterday at noon, with the support of his dual external assistance systems, the third Scholar Entries arrived on schedule.


    [Scholar x3: (Green Rare)


    Ability 1 - Accelerated Learning:


    Ability 2 - Multitasking:


    Ability 3 - Super Brain Calculation:


    Unleash your brainpower and you will experience what is meant by "As One Desires."


    (PS: This ability will impose a heavy load on the psyche, please use with caution!)


    ]


    After stacking the Scholar Entries three times, it had astonishingly evolved from the initial "Common White" quality to "Green Rare"!


    Xu Yi was somewhat surprised. If he continued down this path, was it possible to evolve into "Blue," "Red," or even "Gold" quality Entries?


    "Super Brain Calculation" was an ability he knew about early in the morning; he didn''t have time to try it out before hastily initiating Entry synthesis.


    Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    [Genius of Mysticism (Green Epic) + Scholar x3 (Green Rare) = Master of Mysticism]


    [Master of Mysticism: (Blue Rare)


    Ability 1 - Palace of Memory:


    Any record related to Mysticism that you have glanced at will be cataloged into the Palace of Memory in your brain, readily accessible at any time.


    Ability 2 - Mysticism Inspiration:


    Sacrifice an Entry, and you will gain a continuous flow of inspiration, accelerating your Mysticism research process.


    (PS: The higher the quality of the sacrificed Entry, the better the effect.)


    Ability 3 - Revelations of Mysticism:


    When research in Mysticism hits a deadlock, contact with related objects has a certain chance to yield Revelations of Mysticism.


    ]


    As expected, the Master of Mysticism was a "Blue Rare" level Entry.


    "Revelations of Mysticism" mainly played up the metaphysical aspect, which could almost be ignored on a normal basis.


    Upon seeing "Mysticism Inspiration," Xu Yi''s eyes suddenly lit up.


    Wasn''t this ability tailor-made for synthesizing high-quality blood?


    The deeper Xu Yi''s understanding of the Totte Library became, the more he regretted that such a wealth of precious texts was available to him for only seven days.


    "If only I could move the whole Totte Library away!"


    This thought had crossed his mind more than once.


    Now the dream had come true!


    The Palace of Memory was already constructed in his mind, and whenever he recalled it, a vast palace-like library would appear before his eyes.


    The Mysticism books he had just flipped through were neatly arranged on the shelves.


    He picked up a book at random; every symbol, every word on it was crystal clear. He had even "copied" the original smudges.


    "Not having a single book from the Totte Library copied into the Palace of Memory would be a grave error on his part!"


    Time was tight, and the task was heavy; Xu Yi plunged into the great endeavor of "copying books."


    Unfortunately, Carlyle wasn''t quite so perceptive.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, the Special Affairs team has entrusted me to¡­"


    He hadn''t finished his sentence when he was interrupted by Xu Yi.


    "Mr. Carlyle, I''m very grateful to you for providing me with the job opportunity of a librarian, but unfortunately, it will end the day after tomorrow at noon."


    What Xu Yi said was very euphemistic, which translated to, "Don''t disturb me while I''m reading!"


    Carlyle was taken aback, thinking to himself that it was just flipping through books, how could taking a break possibly matter?


    But he couldn''t say that outright, and could only compromise resignedly, "I will inform the butler that your work time will be extended by half an hour."


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up. How could a few words take half an hour? This was purely a bonus!


    "Mr. Carlyle, how may I assist you?" Xu Yi placed a bookmark in the book and asked with a full-faced smile.


    This "face-changing" act astonished Carlyle, and it took him a while to collect his thoughts. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The general location of the Evil Deity has been found by the Special Affairs team," Carlyle got straight to the point.


    Xu Yi''s brows involuntarily furrowed at the mention. The danger posed by the Evil Deity was clear not only to Xu Yi but also to the authorities in Boston.


    The Special Affairs team hadn''t stopped looking for the Evil Deity during this time.


    It was unknown whether the Evil Deity was too good at hiding, or if the Special Affairs team was too "leisurely," considering they had only found its location now!


    "Where?" Xu Yi asked.


    "Upstream of the Charles River, the Special Affairs team is preparing. The action starts in three days, with the aim of striking to kill!" Carlyle looked at Xu Yi, "The Special Affairs team asked me to inquire whether you will participate in the encirclement operation."


    "Tell them, we''ll be there on time!" Xu Yi nodded. There was nothing to hesitate about.


    He knew full well the principle of ''when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold''; if he couldn''t deal with the Evil Deity, he probably couldn''t even sleep soundly.


    ...


    Finn Manor.


    A glass shattered on the floor, and Carlyle crouched before the broken pieces, clutching her finger with unstoppable blood flowing from the wound.


    "Miss Carlyle, let the maid clean up these pieces!" The butler hurried over, relieved to see that she only had a small cut on her finger.


    "I''m sorry, I will pay for the glass, you can deduct it from my salary," Carlyle murmured apologetically.


    "It''s just a glass, Miss Carlyle, don''t worry about it. Let''s go get that wrapped up!" said the butler, leading Carlyle away.


    The maid was cleaning up the glass fragments on the floor when Daniel stopped her.


    "I will have someone take care of this, you go and clean my room!"


    After sending the maid away , Daniel looked around to ensure no one was present, then picked up a piece of shattered glass.


    That fragment was stained with Carlyle''s blood.


    ...


    Carlyle sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her bandaged finger in a daze.


    The work at Finn Manor was quite easy, teaching dance both in the morning and in the afternoon for two hours each session.


    The students were also sweet and obedient, those five or six-year-old boys and girls were at a charming age.


    Unfortunately, she rarely saw Xu Yi.


    In one corner of the room lay a floor mat, complete with pillow and bedding, arranged by the butler. They had agreed that she would sleep on the floor mat, and Xu Yi would take the bed.


    But in the end, the floor mat went to Xu Yi.


    Concerning the "co-living life," Carlyle was quite nervous. Sleeping in the same room with him, could something special happen?


    But she quickly set her mind at ease. Xu Yi was simply too busy. Upon returning to his room, he would fall asleep immediately, often for just three or four hours.


    After waking up, Xu Yi would head out the door again at breakneck speed. They hardly had any chance to talk, let alone anything else happening.


    This meant there was no need to be nervous, but for some reason, Carlyle felt a faint disappointment.


    "This is so frustrating!" Carlyle yawned. She was a bit sleepy but dared not sleep.


    For some reason, she had been repeatedly having the same dream lately.


    In the dream, it was pouring rain, and she stood by the rapidly flowing riverbank. An enormous shadow rose from the river, cold eyes piercing through the rain curtain, watching her. She was too scared to move, shivering in terror.

 Chapter 213 I Just Like This Kind of Bad Girl

    "You''re awake!"Just as Xu Yi opened his eyes, he heard Carlyle''s voice expressing surprised delight.


    "What happened to me?" Xu Yi''s head felt heavy and foggy, and whenever he tried to concentrate, his temples would throb with pain.


    He began to recall the previous events.


    Rushing against time, he had finally managed to transcribe all the books from the Thoth Library into the Palace of Memory before the deadline.


    Then, utterly exhausted, he returned to his room and fell straight into sleep.


    "Not long after you fell asleep, you developed a high fever. I used a wet towel to cover your forehead and the fever subsided; otherwise, I would have had to take you to the hospital."


    Carlyle brought over a cup of warm water, "Are you thirsty? Drink some water quickly!"


    A fever? Xu Yi was stunned for a moment, as he hadn''t experienced a fever since coming to this world.


    As his body grew stronger, he hadn''t even suffered minor ailments like headaches, so why would he suddenly have a high fever?


    Was it an after-effect of the Palace of Memory, or was there another reason?


    In just over two days, "copying" tens of thousands of books on Mysticism would certainly strain him, even though it only required a glance from his eyes.


    "Thank you!" Xu Yi was indeed thirsty and took the warm water to drink.


    As the warm water entered his stomach, Xu Yi felt significantly reinvigorated. His robust constitution, granted by Hyper Accelerated Regeneration, allowed him to recover swiftly.


    As he "inspected" the Palace of Memory in his mind, looking at the neatly arranged books on the shelves, a sense of satisfaction naturally arose within him.


    "Isn''t this the same as carrying a library with me?"


    Transcribing books into the Palace of Memory didn''t mean he had mastered the knowledge inside, but he could access it anytime, anywhere.


    "I''ve heard the church has even more Mysticism books. I wonder if I''ll have a chance to see them?"


    Xu Yi had already begun to consider targeting the church.


    Suddenly, Carlyle yawned mightily, and it was only then that Xu Yi noticed the faint dark circles under Carlyle''s eyes.


    "Haven''t you been resting?" Xu Yi felt a bit guilty.


    Carlyle shook his head, "Don''t get me wrong, it''s not just from looking after you. These days, I''ve been sleeping restlessly, constantly having nightmares."


    "Can you describe your nightmares?" Xu Yi asked.


    Carlyle detailed his nightmares, leaving Xu Yi somewhat puzzled afterward.


    Usually, recurring nightmares stem from either sudden major upheavals or being plagued by something like an Evil Spirit.


    The former could be ruled out, as Carlyle had been living luxuriously at the Fein Manor these days, hardly seeming like he had suffered major setbacks.


    The latter also seemed unlikely; an Evil Spirit would have a hard time escaping his notice, and if one were strong enough to do so, it would do more than just give Carlyle nightmares.


    "Let''s do a psychological diagnosis," Xu Yi finally decided to give it a try.


    "What do I need to do?" Carlyle accepted without hesitation.


    "Lie on the bed, and just relax," Xu Yi took out an old-fashioned pocket watch. With his ability, he didn''t need any tool, but using the pocket watch was about looking professional.


    The pocket watch swayed rhythmically in front of Carlyle.


    "Follow the pocket watch with your eyes and imagine yourself lying on a soft cloud, your body relaxing..." Xu Yi began to guide Carlyle.


    "Are you trying to hypnotize me? When I was little, I saw a psychiatrist who also tried to hypnotize me, but unfortunately, they were never able to..."


    Carlyle had not finished speaking when he heard Xu Yi snap his fingers, then he drifted into a deep sleep.


    "I''m not your ordinary psychiatrist," Xu Yi murmured softly.


    After acquiring the "Hypnotism" entry, Xu Yi was using it for the first time. Combined with the scent of the Sleeping Flower, the hypnotic effect was exceptional, and rare were those who could not be hypnotized. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire


    "You are now returning to that nightmare once more; we need to ascertain the source of this nightmare..." Xu Yi started to guide Carlyle''s subconscious, "What do you see?"


    "I... I see a gigantic shadow," Carlyle''s body subconsciously trembled slightly.


    "Don''t be afraid, you are absolutely safe, and I''m standing right beside you..."


    Xu Yi kept comforting him, "Slowly lift your head and gradually make out what''s inside the shadow, now tell me, what is it?"


    Carlyle calmed down and quietly narrated, "I see a huge black snake. The snake has no eyes, only a mouth, and double wings growing on its back... I also see a person standing on the snake''s head, with blood-red inverted crosses in their pupils."


    Blood-red inverted cross? Evil Deity!


    Xu Yi was startled. How could Carlyle dream of an Evil Deity when there should''ve been no contact between them?


    "The monster is swimming towards me!" Carlyle''s body started trembling violently.


    Seeing that the hypnosis was about to fail, Xu Yi quickly induced again, "Don''t be scared! The thing you trust the most, that makes you feel safe, is right by your side. Just turn your head, and you''ll see it!"


    "Mhm, I see it. There''s Xu Yi and... a unicorn!" Carlyle''s face was no longer pale.


    A unicorn? How could there be a unicorn!


    Xu Yi was even more astonished. Unicorns were a hundred times rarer than werewolves or vampires, and it was uncertain if any living unicorns still existed.


    "Have you ever seen a unicorn?" Xu Yi asked softly, meanwhile browsing through the books in the Palace of Memory.


    About unicorns, he knew very little. The only thing he had ever encountered related to them was the blood of a unicorn, which could sustain the life of a dying person for a short period of time.


    Having a library with him at all times had its advantages, and now it was showing. He quickly found records related to unicorns.


    "It was probably when I was six years old. I got tricked by a classmate into a dense forest. It got dark, and I was so scared; there were wolves in the forest! Then I saw a very beautiful white horse. It had snow-white fur untouched by any dirt, with a colorful horn on its head."


    Xu Yi was so surprised he couldn''t speak. Not just ordinary people, even slightly weaker exorcists would have a hard time surviving an encounter with a unicorn.


    Unicorns may look pure, but they are extremely bloodthirsty and aggressive creatures that attack humans on sight. Yet, it had spared Carlyle?


    According to ancient tomes, if a person faced a unicorn and wasn''t attacked, they would receive the unicorn''s blessing.


    What the blessing entailed was unknown because there were so few cases.


    Xu Yi suddenly remembered something. The abnormal reaction from Ryan''s flesh when it came close to Carlyle the other day, could it have something to do with the unicorn''s blessing?


    But what about this strange dream?


    Xu Yi continued his research and eventually discovered a clue. The strongest ability of a unicorn was its power to predict the future.


    Could it be a premonition dream? Xu Yi thought it over and could only come up with one possibility.


    Otherwise, there was no explaining why Carlyle, who had never seen an Evil Deity, would dream about it.


    Xu Yi asked a series of questions but didn''t get much useful information. He lifted the hypnosis, and Carlyle slowly awakened.


    After waking up, Carlyle looked down at himself. His clothes were neatly on, and he found no suspicious stains.


    People who have been hypnotized can''t remember the questions they were asked during the session.


    "What are you looking for?" Xu Yi asked, puzzled.


    "Nothing!" Carlyle''s cheeks were slightly red.


    If it''s nothing, then it must be something! Xu Yi recalled Carlyle''s recent actions and looked at him incredulously, "You wouldn''t happen to like reading some strange or unusual books, would you?"


    Since technology wasn''t so advanced yet, it was likely only "comic books."


    "What strange or unusual books?" Carlyle covered his body with a blanket, his legs entwined.


    Xu Yi moved closer to Carlyle, his breath falling on the other''s face, making Carlyle''s face even redder.


    "I remember you saying you had a female roommate from Japan and that your Japanese is pretty good. You usually read those Japanese language learning materials, right?" Xu Yi "interrogated."


    "Just... just ordinary Japanese learning materials," Carlyle sounded flustered.


    Xu Yi''s gaze shifted to Carlyle''s suitcase. It was always locked, and now it seemed there might indeed be some "private items" inside.


    "Are we good friends?" Xu Yi looked into Carlyle''s eyes, which were evasive.


    Moments later, Carlyle was curled up under the covers, covering his face and not daring to look at Xu Yi. Xu Yi, meanwhile, ended up with a few books in his hand. He flipped through them, disappointed.


    "Why are there only words, no pictures?"


    And it was all in Japanese, which he couldn''t understand with his current level of proficiency.


    "Do you think I''m a... bad girl?" Carlyle''s voice trembled slightly.


    "Bad girl?" Xu Yi returned to the bedside and lifted the blanket from Carlyle''s face, staring into his eyes, "This is just normal learning. How could it make you a bad girl?" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi touched Carlyle''s burning face with his hand, "Besides, I like this kind of ''bad girl'' too!"


    Carlyle''s face turned so red it looked like it might start smoking.


    Xu Yi threw back the covers and crawled in as well, "We don''t have time to waste! Teacher Carlyle, teach me Japanese fast!"

 Chapter 214 Divine Punishment Plan

    The light illuminated the villa''s basement fully, with Xu Yi donned in a white lab coat, his face expressionless beneath the mask."The thirty-fifth Demon Blood fusion experiment begins!"


    Xu Yi systematically blended the fresh blood of various monsters, with the Kamaitachi female demon making up 12%, the wheel-headed goblin 21%...


    He added the auxiliary fusion potion, stabilizer, catalyst stone, and other ingredients according to the formula.


    This formula originated from group five of MIT''s blood scientific research department, with slight modifications by Xu Yi.


    "Finally, the fresh blood of the Sea Monk, making up 11%."


    Xu Yi activated the array on the workbench and used a glass rod to stir the potion, which was originally a blackish-red but gradually became transparent as he mixed.


    The array''s cyan light shone on the potion, and Xu Yi stared intently at it.


    A low explosion sounded, a blinding flash of light passed through the potion momentarily, and the potion reverted to red. Xu Yi sighed deeply.


    The experiment had still failed!


    After leaving the Fiennes Manor, Xu Yi returned to his own villa. With the demon blood already in place, he began the experiment without delay.


    Xu Yi drew a drop of blood and let it fall onto the back of his hand, activating the blood''s olfactory ability.


    [Unknown blood, "Quality: B", "Fusion success rate: 43%", "Promotion potential: Red Common"]


    "That''s still a significant improvement!" Xu Yi consoled himself.


    When the experiments first began, just mixing the nine kinds of demon blood together would cause violent explosions, with the malevolent energy of the blood overflowing.


    If not for Xu Yi''s ability for Hyper Accelerated Regeneration, he would have probably already spent several Resurrection Coins by now.


    "The fusion of the nine types of demon blood should have far greater potential!"


    Keep in mind, the quality of the Sea Monk''s blood had already reached B grade. Now, they were merely forcibly mixed together, not even achieving the effect where 1+1>2.


    There was still a long road to success in the experiment.


    Xu Yi used a syringe to extract the potion and injected it into the body of a small white rabbit.


    He took out his beloved scientific research duo: "Nest of the Evil God + Magic-Prohibiting Box".


    The rabbit injected with the blood began to mutate, with fine scales growing on its skin and its body deforming...


    Through the observation of the Nest of the Evil God, Xu Yi quickly recorded the potion''s various data, his writing flying furiously. Two minutes later, the rabbit exploded violently, and flesh scattered.


    [The "Strength" entry burns, gaining mystical inspiration...]


    Xu Yi closed his eyes slightly, promptly activating one of the abilities of "Mysticism Master".


    "Strength" descended from a mountainous deformed murderer, with seven entries, languishing unused in the entry library until now, when it finally came into play.


    He had already attained "Mystical Inspiration" five times; this would be the sixth.


    Xu Yi''s pupils became dull, but his mind spun rapidly. Scenes of the experiment flashed through his head.


    Inspiration was a lavish commodity, usually in a state of drought, but now inspiration rushed in like a flood, engulfing Xu Yi.


    He could even pick and choose, selecting the best inspiration from the deluge.


    "This ability is simply a Divine Skill for scientific work!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but exclaim.


    As the "Strength" entry burned to ashes, Xu Yi had pinpointed the problem.


    "The Sea Monk''s blood contains a powerful toxicity that needs a specific material to neutralize the poison."


    He squinted slightly, searching through the data in his Palace of Memory.


    A myriad of mystical materials appeared before him. There were not a few materials that could neutralize the poison of the Sea Monk''s blood, the challenge lay in doing so without affecting the original properties of the potion. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Trying them one by one could take a considerable amount of time.


    This was no longer a matter of inspiration. Even burning more entries would not solve it, and what''s more, there were not many entries left.


    "Maybe I should try superbrain computation?"


    An idea suddenly came to Xu Yi''s mind. He had never attempted to use this ability since he acquired it.


    He closed his eyes, and his soul seemed to leave his body. He began to view things from a "god''s-eye perspective".


    Countless pieces of information flowed before his eyes, like stars. The stars began to interconnect, with dense flashes of light flickering, his brain transcended limitations, and started to deduce at high speed.


    One material after another was ruled out...


    Xu Yi suddenly opened his eyes, his face turning pale; it was as if the back of his head had been struck hard by a sledgehammer, and he steadied himself using the desk.


    He breathed heavily, the aftereffects of the super brain calculations far exceeded his expectations; he should have exited around 30 seconds in.


    But that feeling of "everything in the world being within one''s grasp" was just too wonderful; he was immersed in it until he was forced out by the onset of the aftereffects.


    It took Xu Yi a long time to recuperate, finally feeling a slight improvement, although there was still a dull pain in his temples.


    Although he was pale, Xu Yi''s eyes were sparkling; he knew which materials to choose now.


    "Moonlight Grass! What''s missing is Moonlight Grass! As long as we add Moonlight Grass, there is a high probability of successful fusion!"


    The door to the basement was pushed open, and naturally, the only person who could freely enter this laboratory was Lisa. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "A call from the Secret Group," Lisa began, then suddenly stopped when she noticed Xu Yi''s pale face and asked anxiously, "Are you okay?"


    Xu Yi shook his head, "What could be wrong? You know how strong my body is. It''s quite a coincidence, I was just about to contact the Secret Group myself."


    Lisa looked at Xu Yi''s departing figure, concern showing in her eyes; Xu Yi''s body was indeed strong, but often, what was consumed was not merely physical strength.


    "Martin! It''s quite the coincidence, I was just about to talk to you. I urgently need Moonlight Grass, send some over!" Xu Yi picked up the phone that hadn''t been hung up and spoke as if he were completely at ease.


    There was silence on the other end of the call from Martin.


    As the head of the Boston Secret Group, Martin had seen all sorts of people over his five years in this position, but he had never met anyone quite like Xu Yi.


    They had only met once, so why did Xu Yi act like they were old friends?


    "We''re the Secret Group, not your ''material warehouse''!"


    Martin said this through gritted teeth.


    Xu Yi had asked the Secret Group for mystical materials not once or twice.


    To be precise, this was the eighteenth time, and he had inquired about mystical materials eighteen times in less than two days.


    "Wasn''t it you who said to come to the Secret Group if there was trouble? Right, the materials from last time are almost used up, find me some more, thanks, Martin!" Xu Yi responded as if it were no big deal.


    Polite, indeed! Martin felt a sour taste in his teeth. He fell silent for a long while before nodding eventually, "Understood, I''ll have it sent over later."


    Wasn''t the other party a powerful being who could fend off an Evil Deity on his own? For the sake of enlisting him, should he put up with this?


    Of course, he could only choose to forgive him!


    Xu Yi felt completely justified in using the "Secret Group material warehouse", considering the great risks involved in dealing with an Evil Deity.


    Although it''s true that ''when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'', he wasn''t one of the Bostonians; if things really went south, he could just move to another city.


    "By the way! Did you call me for something?" Xu Yi suddenly asked.


    Martin slapped his forehead; he had been so wrapped up in his irritation that he almost forgot what was important, "The Retribution Plan starts tomorrow at noon, 12 o''clock!"


    Xu Yi''s expression became serious, "Understood! I''ll be there on time!"


    ......


    In a secluded manor somewhere in Boston.


    Barton headed straight into the depths of the manor.


    It was hard to imagine that such a modernized laboratory existed within an old-fashioned manor, equipped with all sorts of high-end devices.


    He gazed at the white figure conducting experiments and spoke with a cold expression, "Where is it?"


    "Barton, I remember you were from a noble family before becoming a vampire. Didn''t anyone ever teach you to knock before entering?" the person said softly.


    "Nobility? After my tribe, after my beloved wife died at the hands of an Evil Deity, there was no more nobility left, only an Avenger!" A deep hatred flickered in Barton''s eyes.


    "Enough talk! Give it to me!" Barton was growing impatient.


    The figure paused for a moment, took out a metal box from the cabinet, and passed it to Barton, "The Ryan Potion is still not perfected; no one can withstand the power of the potion."


    "I didn''t trust my superhuman intuition before, which led to the tragedy caused by the Evil Deity. Now I choose to believe in myself... I will find a suitable vessel for it!" Barton took the metal box and walked away without looking back.

 Chapter 215 God-melting Blood

    The villa''s underground research lab."Finally!" Xu Yi stared at the semi-transparent potion in front of him, took a deep breath, and his expression was filled with excitement.


    [Demon King''s Blood, "Quality: A", "Fusion Success Rate: 42%", "Promotion Potential: Red Rare"]


    After the Moonlight Grass was delivered, Xu Yi immediately began to verify his hypothesis. After several failures, he finally found the right formula.


    The mixture of nine types of demon blood was a success!


    He named this blood "Demon King''s Blood."


    "This is a moment of epoch-making significance!"


    Xu Yi was extremely excited, the successful configuration of the blood meant that he had taken a big step towards his goal of reaching the "Blood Throne."


    It also meant that his "Nest of the Evil God-Mysticism Inspiration-Palace of Memory" scientific research system was entirely feasible.


    Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    In the future, he would be able to use this research system to study even more things.


    "Even letting the ''Bloodline Potion'' shine once more is not impossible!"


    Bloodline potions, like alchemy, were also things that had been lost for a long time, with only bits and pieces of descriptions left behind.


    The ultimate goal of the MIT Blood Group Five, the "Olivedo Dragon Blood Elixir", was also a type of bloodline potion.


    Xu Yi took out the "Blood of Olivedo."


    [Blood of Olivedo, "Quality: A", "Fusion Success Rate: 23%", "Promotion Potential: Red Rare"]


    As a member of the MIT Blood Group Five, he naturally could come into contact with this type of blood.


    There would inevitably be a little "scrap" left over from experiments; Xu Yi used the Annabelle doll unnoticed to take a bit.


    Xu Yi took out another type of blood.


    [Ryan''s Blood, "Quality: A", "Fusion Success Rate: 11%", "Promotion Potential: Red Rare")


    Ryan''s flesh, after being cultivated artificially, regained its vitality, allowing Xu Yi to have a continuous supply of Ryan''s blood.


    The prerequisite, of course, was to remove the Evil Deity''s blood within it.


    After purification, Ryan''s blood''s fusion success rate had increased from single digits to double digits, but that was already the limit.


    "Three kinds of A-grade quality blood; I wonder what they can fuse into!" Xu Yi was somewhat expectant.


    Simply A-grade blood was nowhere near enough to satisfy his ambition.


    In fact, he also had S-grade quality "Evil Deity''s Blood" on him. But no matter what he tried, whether it was purification or blood fusion, the fusion success rate of the Evil Deity''s Blood was 0%.


    Clearly, there was some factor he didn''t know about that prevented the Evil Deity''s Blood from being fused.


    Xu Yi took a deep breath and began the most basic of attempts.


    The neutralizing solution was first injected into the steel cup.


    Previously he had been using glass cups, but the Otherkind blood when mixed was too volatile, and the glass cups easily shattered, so he switched to steel cups.


    Because it was just the first attempt, the three types of blood began to fuse in an equal one-to-one ratio.


    The blood was injected in turn, first the pale red Demon King''s Blood, then the golden Blood of Olivedo, and then the dark red Ryan''s Blood.


    Xu Yi held no hope for this tentative experiment, but miracles often happen when least expected.


    The three types of blood mingled and a dazzling light lit up within the cup.


    The high-quality blood stirred the ability to sense blood, and the information about the blood appeared before his eyes.


    [Unnamed Blood, "Quality: S-", "Fusion Success Rate: 9%", "Promotion Potential: Red Epic"]


    Xu Yi was stunned. S- grade blood had appeared before his eyes without any warning.


    But his excitement lasted only a short second. As more blood was mixed, the unnamed mysterious blood became contaminated with "impurities" and exploded with a bang.


    Xu Yi quickly dodged behind a cabinet to avoid being affected.


    The laboratory was a mess, yet Xu Yi''s eyes were gleaming brighter and brighter as he noticed new information popping up in the system.


    "[Mysticism Revelation triggered! This moment you understand that this path is feasible, even if thorns cover the way ahead.]"


    Xu Yi suddenly realized, he had thought it was the Goddess of Luck bestowing her mercy, but it turned out the Mysticism Revelation had been triggered.


    In the "Mysticism Master" entry, a Mysticism Revelation is like a lottery ticket bought on a whim¡ªdispensable but hitting it meant a "jackpot." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Scientific research is like exploring in a maze, with countless paths appearing before you, not knowing which is right and which is wrong.


    If you find out early that the path is wrong, that''s okay, but the worst is thinking you''re on the right path.


    When you exhaust all your mental strength and reach the end of the path, only then do you realize it''s a dead end, that feeling is simply devastating.


    Although he did not manage to fuse a finished potion, just knowing this path was viable was a tremendous achievement.


    Xu Yi quickly tidied up the laboratory and tried again.


    But without triggering the Mysticism Revelation, the experiments were too dreadful to behold, with little to no progress made in half a day.


    "God-melting Blood is indeed not that simple!" Xu Yi sighed deeply.


    The so-called God-melting Blood is "a blend of various mystical bloods prepared for the assault on the Blood Throne."


    Xu Yi started cleaning up the laboratory, as he had no time for further experiments¡ªthe "Damnation Plan" was about to commence.


    ...


    Upstream of Charles River, near the Ar Mountains.


    Xu Yi stood on high ground, surveying the expanse: the Stone Mountain range intertwined like tangled gray snakes, this desolate area showing only traces of wildlife.


    He turned to Martin beside him, "Old Martin, is the Evil Deity hidden inside?"


    Martin nodded and handed Xu Yi a bottle with a colorful potion, "This potion from the Crystal Frog can mask your scent when applied, preventing the Evil Deity from detecting you later."


    "Team Leader Martin! This potion looks pretty good, give me two more bottles!" Xu Yi''s eyes lit up as he heartily clapped Martin on the shoulder.


    The Crystal Frog is a rare mystic creature, skilled in camouflage and very elusive, making its potion naturally precious too.


    "No more! Just this one bottle!" Martin rolled his eyes. When there''s trouble, he''s Team Leader Martin; when there isn''t, he''s Old Martin; Xu Yi really could be enough.


    Martin led Xu Yi to a cave entrance, whispering, "You''ve fought with the Evil Deity before, and its scent is all too familiar to you. Our mission is simple: determine that the being inside is the Evil Deity."


    Xu Yi nodded, as he was already aware of these details before coming.


    The cave wasn''t cramped enough to prevent two people from passing through but was extremely low, forcing them to bend as they proceeded.


    The path inside was complicated, a veritable maze; somehow Martin managed to navigate it smoothly.


    They walked in the darkness for roughly an hour, neither using a light to avoid startling anything; Martin relied on a night vision device to see, while Xu Yi depended on his Eyes of Obscurity.


    Suddenly, the space before them opened up, and Xu Yi halted. He finally realized why this cave was so flat.


    Densely packed wolf spiders gathered below; normal ones are at most as big as a dinner plate, but any below were larger than a grown wild buffalo.


    Clearly, they were not ordinary natural species but supernatural creatures.


    Xu Yi stood at the edge of the Dissolving Cave, his muscles relaxed, not ready for a confrontation.


    All the spiders below were dead, their bodies shriveled, their blood drained.


    Xu Yi began to believe the Evil Deity was here; to welcome its "Metamorphosis," it needed to absorb the blood of numerous supernatural creatures, and the giant wolf spiders were evidently an ideal choice.


    Martin suddenly gripped Xu Yi''s arm, his body shivering uncontrollably.


    Xu Yi followed Martin''s gaze, instinctively holding his breath, his muscles tensing up, his hand reflexively reaching for the Alchemy Revolver at his waist.


    In the depths of the Dissolving Cave, amid the pile of giant wolf spider corpses, a black cocoon floated there, with a heartbeat like a drum pounding away.


    With each heartbeat, Xu Yi felt a prickling pain in his body, and simultaneously, his blood olfactory ability kicked in.


    Indeed, what he saw was the Evil Deity! And it was an Evil Deity on the verge of Metamorphosis!

 Chapter 216 Doomsday Blade

    Xu Yi gazed at the black cocoon in front of him, and he really wanted to act immediately, to snuff out the danger in its infancy, but after pondering for a moment, he held back.Because he wasn''t certain of a fatal blow.


    Martin made a gesture for Xu Yi to leave, and Xu Yi nodded. The two of them withdrew to the surface and returned to the safety of the temporary command post.


    "Are you sure that''s an Evil Deity?" Martin asked aloud.


    "It''s indeed the aura of an Evil Deity, but..." Xu Yi''s eyebrows knit slightly, he pondered for a long time but couldn''t make sense of it.


    He remembered Carlyle''s dream¡ªif it really was a foretelling dream, the Evil Deity should have appeared in the midst of a vast river.


    Perhaps the Evil Deity had been born from the Dissolving Cave and then entered the river?


    Xu Yi suddenly thought of another possibility, his thoughts becoming even more chaotic.


    "I think we should prepare for both possibilities, regardless of whether the thing in the cave is the Evil Deity or not, we can''t relax our search for the Evil Deity." After pondering for a moment, Xu Yi gave his suggestion.


    Martin also furrowed his brow, "Personally, I completely agree with your idea, but searching for an Evil Deity requires a lot of manpower and resources, and I don''t know if the higher-ups will agree. I can only try my best."


    "Maybe things aren''t as complicated as you think!" Martin patted Xu Yi on the shoulder, "Relax a little, next, I invite you to watch a fireworks show, one that''s extremely splendid."


    Martin led Xu Yi to the command center, where the commander ordered in a commanding voice, "Activate the Demon-sealing Magic Array!"


    Upon the command, a blue and red light lit up in the distance, Xu Yi looked towards the Ar Mountains and exclaimed, "What an enormous undertaking!"


    The Demon-sealing Magic Array is quite common, not too complicated to inscribe, but the one before them enveloped half of the Ar Mountains, its scope terrifying to behold.


    But what kind of attack requires the use of an Array with such a wide range? Xu Yi was puzzled.


    "It''s a good thing the Evil Deity chose such a remote place for its Metamorphosis, otherwise it would be harder to handle," Martin suddenly exclaimed.


    Before Xu Yi could ask, the commander issued a new order through the communicator, "All units begin self-check¡­ Self-check complete, ignition countdown, 5, 4¡­ 3, 2, 1! Ignite and launch!"


    Following the commander''s order, a loud noise came from not far away, and a burst of fire shot into the sky, trailing a long tail of flames, soaring into the high altitude.


    "Missiles?" Xu Yi was somewhat puzzled.


    Using missiles against an Evil Deity seemed a little unreliable, didn''t it?


    Missiles surely wield tremendous power, but the idea of killing an Evil Deity with them was practically impossible.


    "Just watch, and you''ll understand, these are not ordinary missiles," Martin said, sensing Xu Yi''s confusion and explained softly.


    As the missile reached its zenith, it then plummeted, its trailing Golden Tail like a resplendent sword of light, piercing into Stone Mountain.


    There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a rumble as the missile collided with Stone Mountain.


    The missile bore through, unstoppably, those solid rocks crumbling like foam before it.


    "We''ve outfitted the missile with a drill warhead capable of penetrating hundreds of meters into the rock layer," Martin explained, suddenly growing excited, "Watch closely! Here it comes!"


    An explosion roared from deep within Stone Mountain, not violent, and after one second, two seconds¡­ five seconds passed, and nothing happened.


    Was it a dud? Xu Yi wondered.


    Suddenly, a beam of golden light broke through from atop Stone Mountain, more and more beams emerged, densely packed until the mountain was riddled like a sieve.


    Using the power of his Eyes of Obscurity, Xu Yi could see clearly the objects within the light¡ªthey were clumps of Golden Crystals, irregular in shape.


    "What are those Crystals?" Xu Yi asked instinctively.


    "Have you heard of the Sighing Rose?" Martin asked with a smile, playing coy.


    Xu Yi had recently read quite a few books on mysticism, and of course, he was aware of the famous Sighing Rose.


    In the Sighing Rose, "Reaper Ashes" were the masterpiece of alchemy. Common people holding Reaper Ashes could easily kill an exorcist, but unfortunately, the method of making it had long been lost.


    "That kind of golden crystal is something we created through researching Reaper Ashes. Although the raw materials are extremely precious, the manufacturing process is incredibly tedious, and there is a high chance of failure, but..."


    Martin said with pride on his face, "Its power is absolutely astonishing, far surpassing Reaper Ashes, over fifty times more."


    Xu Yi found it a bit hard to believe, as Reaper Ashes were developed for various supernatural creatures.


    Evil Spirits, Demons, werewolves, vampires, and the like, all supernatural creatures were restrained by Reaper Ashes.


    If Martin wasn''t deceiving him, then to supernatural beings, weren''t these golden crystals like atomic bombs to common people?


    Countless golden crystals suddenly shattered, and dazzling light burst forth. From afar, it looked as if a golden sun had risen from deep within the mountains.


    Both the sky and the earth were golden, as if they had been gilded.


    Xu Yi''s expression changed subtly, and the hairs on his body stood on end.


    Even from such a distance, he could feel the intense radiation of the golden light, and he suddenly started to believe what Martin had said.


    If he were at the center of the light, even with his Hyper Accelerated Regeneration ability, he would not have been able to survive.


    Even Hyper Accelerated Regeneration had its limits, and the intense radiation would completely "burn dry" his body!


    "We named this golden crystal ''Doomsday Crystal,'' and this missile is the ''Doomsday Blade,''" Martin said solemnly.


    "Boston truly deserves to be a place that gathers many Institutes of Higher Learning!" Xu Yi exclaimed in admiration.


    In today''s era of rapid technological advances, mysticism naturally evolved as well. After all, only a minority of people possessed the talent of an exorcist, but studying mysticism required intelligence, and humanity has never lacked for intelligence.


    After witnessing the Doomsday Missile, Xu Yi''s reverence for the "technology" of this era instantly increased by several levels.


    "If it weren''t for the Evil Deity being so dangerous, those above wouldn''t be willing to use the Doomsday Missile. The difficulty of making such missiles is tremendous, and so far, there are only two," he said.


    Martin suddenly looked at Xu Yi, and his tone changed, "I heard you''re interested in the study of mysticism and have joined MIT''s Blood Group Five. Would you be interested in joining our Doomsday Crystal research team?"


    A thought crossed Xu Yi''s mind; he was completely clueless about Doomsday Crystals. They couldn''t possibly be inviting him to join the research team for his scientific research skills.


    This was an olive branch specifically extended by the special affairs team to recruit him.


    Of course, Xu Yi "coveted" the technology of Doomsday Crystals.


    He now had quite a few methods at his disposal, but the defects were also very clear. The number of "Ultimate Moves" that could end a battle with a single strike was pitifully few.


    If he could "borrow" the technology of Doomsday Crystals, perhaps he could fill this gap.


    He pondered for a moment and then nodded in agreement.


    Joining the Doomsday Crystal research project didn''t mean he had to become a beast of burden. When it came to "slacking off," he had a unique talent.


    Half an hour later, everyone began to don their protective suits.


    Xu Yi saw Professor Daniel among the crowd and nodded at him as a greeting.


    The radiation from the Doomsday Crystals would take a full year to dissipate completely, but after half an hour, the radiation intensity would drop by eighty percent. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that time, as long as they wore the protective suits properly, there wouldn''t be much of a problem. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire


    They needed to enter the cave to confirm the situation of the Evil Deity.


    As the saying goes, they needed to see the living or, in death, the body. Without confirming the death of the Evil Deity with their own eyes, they probably wouldn''t be able to sleep peacefully.

 Chapter 217 There is still a huge cocoon

    Xu Yi once again entered the cave.There were no signs of collapse in the cave, but there were many more holes around; all were caused by the flying Doomsday Crystal Stones.


    The radiation from the Doomsday Crystal Stones seemed to only affect various "lifeforms," which made Xu Yi all the more curious about them. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Although the "Doomsday Blade" is said to be a missile, its working principle is more like that of a shrapnel grenade.


    During the explosion, countless Doomsday Crystal Stones scattered, covering the entire space, then used strong radiation to kill the target.


    When the Doomsday Blade fell, the sensation the Evil Deity experienced must have been similar to that of a chick thrown into an oven.


    They arrived at the previous nest of the giant spider. One of the staff members accidentally touched the carcass of the giant spider, which instantly collapsed.


    This triggered a domino effect, with one spider carcass after another collapsing into ash that drifted away.


    Martin secretly swallowed, fearing that if humans were affected by the glow of the Doomsday Crystal Stones, their fate would probably not be much different from that of the spider carcasses.


    Xu Yi stood once again in front of the giant cocoon, but the drumming heartbeat was gone, and the spine-chilling aura had vanished completely.


    He could not feel any sign of life from the giant cocoon.


    He reached out to touch it, and the black cocoon collapsed with a loud bang, emitting a mist of blood-colored steam. Within the steam, Xu Yi sensed a rich presence of Evil Deity.


    Beyond the blood-colored steam, there was nothing else inside the cocoon.


    Under the strong radiation of the Doomsday Crystal Stones, every inch of the Evil Deity''s flesh had been completely dissolved.


    Everyone present sighed with relief and smiles appeared on their faces.


    Xu Yi also felt a sense of relief, but suddenly, his eyelid began to twitch uncontrollably.


    The left eye twitches for wealth, the right eye for disaster.


    It was his right eyelid that was twitching.


    Of course, he knew that the belief "right eye twitching means disaster" was completely unfounded, and that an eyelid twitch was just a physiological reaction with no predictive power, but a shadow still fell over his heart.


    "We can''t be careless! Start the search immediately, we mustn''t overlook any area!" Martin instructed.


    Everyone meticulously inspected every inch of territory, and Xu Yi joined in the search. They could be said to have turned over every stone, yet they found nothing suspicious. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Martin and Xu Yi exchanged glances, their anxious hearts finally settling down.


    Professor Daniel crouched beside the giant cocoon, beginning to collect the debris.


    The cocoon, made of biological tissue, constructed from the Evil Deity''s flesh and certain special substances, had an unimaginable solidity. Even after being hit by the Doomsday Blade, it hadn''t turned to ash.


    Such a precious material naturally had to be reclaimed by the special affairs team, and Daniel was an external member of the team.


    Xu Yi picked up a fragment of debris and pressed hard on it, but it didn''t budge.


    He suddenly froze, not because he found out that the Evil Deity was still alive, but because the Mysticism Revelation had appeared once again.


    [Mysticism Revelation triggered!]


    [You saw the Evil Deity''s giant cocoon and thought of the Evil Deity''s ability.


    The Evil Deity gained strength by absorbing blood. Such a mix of blood flowed in the Evil Deity without causing any conflict, indicating the existence of a "Universal Fusion Agent" within the Evil Deity''s body.


    So you decided to use the Evil Deity''s body as a "Fusion Furnace" to help you create the God-melting Blood.]


    In Xu Yi''s view, the Mysticism Revelation was definitely a "narration system," a pity it wasn''t controllable, and he had no idea when it would trigger.


    The hints given by the Mysticism Revelation were certainly correct, but it was too late now that the Evil Deity was already dead.


    "Why didn''t the mystical revelation trigger just now?" Xu Yi was somewhat frustrated.


    If it had been triggered the first time he saw the giant cocoon, there would have been some room to maneuver. Now, all he could do was look at the remnants and sigh.


    To concoct the "God-melting Blood" following the usual route would take at least another year.


    That was only because he possessed a series of "Scientific Research Divine Artifacts"; otherwise, the time would be indefinitely prolonged.


    It took nine years for Olivedo''s blood to achieve the current results, and that was with the foundation of a large team.


    Xu Yi returned to the temporary command center, took off his protective suit, and changed back into his own clothes.


    At that moment, Daniel suddenly came over and handed Xu Yi an invitation, its pale red background adorned with a multitude of roses, looking particularly romantic.


    "What''s this?" Xu Yi had a guess, but still asked out loud.


    "Inviting you to attend Mia''s and my wedding, three days from now, at St. Na Church," Daniel said, his face beaming with a radiant smile.


    "Congratulations! I''ll definitely be there!" Xu Yi smiled and offered his blessings.


    He had long heard that the two''s wedding was in preparation, but because of issues with the Evil Deity, it was delayed. Now that the Evil Deity was dealt with, their wedding could finally go ahead as planned.


    ...


    Charles River.


    The river flowed through Boston''s Maple Leaf Town, and due to geographical reasons, this stretch of the river was especially deep and the currents particularly rapid.


    It was pitch black at the riverbed where sunlight couldn''t reach. Fifty meters further down from the riverbed lay a black giant cocoon embedded within, pulsing periodically.


    If Xu Yi saw this scene, he would undoubtedly leap up in shock, as the black giant cocoon was identical to the one inside the cave!


    The sound of a heartbeat emerged from the cocoon, but it was masked by the rapid flow of water.


    Suddenly, the top of the cocoon split open, and a large mass of black shadows surged out from the gap, the opening in the cocoon quickly healing.


    The black shadows dispersed; they were "Iron Filament Worms," so fine they were thinner than a strand of hair, almost undetectable to the naked eye of an ordinary person.


    Swarming "Iron Filament Worms" drilled out of the riverbed, swimming in the water.


    A plump herring swam past the "Iron Filament Worms," mistaking them for some delicious food, curiously inspecting them.


    Before the herring could act, one of the "Iron Filament Worms" had already burrowed into the fish''s body through a gill slit. The herring shuddered, and then nothing else happened; it swam away as if nothing had occurred.


    Fishermen from Maple Leaf Town rowed their boat and pulled in the nets. A father and son hauled the net onto the boat, their faces beaming at the sight of the fat and fresh herring.


    "Let''s sell these fish in the city while they''re fresh!" The father''s face radiated with the joy of a good harvest.


    Meanwhile, back at her aunt''s house, Carlyle suddenly woke up from her nap, her forehead drenched in cold sweat.


    Since her last hypnosis therapy with Xu Yi, she hadn''t had any nightmares for a while, but for some reason, they had returned.


    And compared to before, the nightmares were even more vivid.


    Carlyle sat on the bed for a long time, restless.


    After hesitating for a moment, she picked up the "Introduction to Japanese" from the desk, hesitated again, and stuffed another book titled "Innovative Japanese Teaching Material" into her bag, her cheeks coloring slightly as she got up to leave.


    "Carlyle, where are you going?" her aunt''s voice called out from the kitchen.


    "I''ve taken on a part-time job recently, teaching someone Japanese," Carlyle replied without turning back and left the house.


    "Weren''t you teaching dance? When did you start teaching Japanese?" her aunt muttered to herself but still admonished, "Be safe out there!"

 Chapter 218 Mutation

    In the villa''s yard, Lisa was watering the flower beds with a watering can, the pale yellow tulips creating a warm atmosphere.Suddenly, she looked up toward Carlyle, who was crossing the yard''s gate.


    "Good morning, Lisa!" Carlyle stopped in his tracks, greeting her timidly.


    "Do you like Xu Yi?" Lisa suddenly put down the watering can, gazing into Carlyle''s eyes.


    Carlyle''s face instantly flushed, sweat broke out on his forehead, and he was so nervous he almost passed out.


    Had she been found out after all?


    She had been tutoring Xu Yi in Japanese for three days now.


    At first, she thought it was their beautiful time alone together, but when she discovered Lisa''s presence, it felt like someone had struck her forehead with a sledgehammer, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.


    Xu Yi hadn''t hidden anything from her, nor had he used honeyed words to deceive her; he simply mentioned that if she was willing, she could continue to help with tutoring the next day.


    Carlyle returned to her aunt''s home in a daze, shut herself in her room, and lay there for the entire day, her aunt so anxious that she kept asking questions outside the door.


    She should have taken the initiative to cut ties with Xu Yi, but the next day, as if possessed, she still slung her bag over her shoulder and went to Xu Yi''s villa.


    She didn''t know why, maybe it was out of reluctance, or perhaps she wanted to see Xu Yi once more.


    If there was a first time, there could be a second, and with a second, a third; thus, on the third day, she arrived as expected.


    Over these days, her interactions with Lisa made her realize that Lisa really was an amazing girl, beautiful, gentle, and kind-hearted, often feeding stray cats.


    Lisa also invited her to work as a caregiver at an orphanage, where all the children were very fond of Lisa. Carlyle had more than once marveled at how Lisa was the most perfect girl she had ever met.


    But the more perfect Lisa seemed, the more Carlyle felt guilty; she couldn''t bear to break up the relationship between Lisa and Xu Yi because of herself.


    For this reason, she had been suppressing her emotions these past days, pretending she was just working a part-time job.


    "It''s all over! Now everything is over!" Carlyle felt a bit despondent.


    Lisa had been very nice to her these past days, and she had always thought that Lisa was unaware of her feelings, only to realize that Lisa had noticed after all.


    But Lisa''s next words completely stunned her.


    "I think highly of you, hang in there!" Lisa said with a smile on her face.


    "What... what do you mean?" Carlyle''s mind was a mess, wondering if Lisa and Xu Yi had had a falling out, or if Lisa was being sarcastic?


    But Lisa''s demeanor didn''t seem like that at all.


    Lisa smiled and offered no explanation.


    She wasn''t being sarcastic; she truly thought that way.


    It wasn''t because there were no feelings between her and Xu Yi; quite the contrary, their relationship had long surpassed the stage of a young couple''s "quarrels and frolics."


    They had been through too many things, each far beyond the imagination of ordinary people, and their deep feelings couldn''t be simply expressed in words.


    Moreover, as they stepped into the supernatural, they began to care less about worldly conventions.


    "I''ll tell you another piece of news; after a while, another ''friend'' will come over, a woman, very beautiful. Compared to her, I actually prefer you," Lisa dropped another "bombshell."


    "You, you guys..." Carlyle felt her values were shaken like never before, speechless, and dumbfounded.


    Just then, Xu Yi suddenly came out through the door, glancing at Lisa and Carlyle with curiosity, but he didn''t ask more.


    "Carlyle, we''re not going to study Japanese today. We''re preparing to attend a friend''s wedding. I''ve prepared clothes for you, do you want to come?" Xu Yi asked gently.


    Carlyle, momentarily stunned, still nodded her head.


    The Maybach carried the three away from the villa. Before they headed to St. Na Church, they first went to MIT, where Xu Yi needed to visit Blood Group V.


    He had recently been trying to synthesize "God-melting Blood," but unfortunately, the experiment was proceeding slowly, leaving him somewhat discouraged.


    A tributary of the Charles River flowed past MIT, and the three people and one cat strolled by the riverside, the water flowing quietly.


    The Black Carp that had always been following Lisa suddenly darted into the river, its figure disappearing from the surface in an instant, heading towards the riverbed.


    "Black Carp?" Lisa voiced her confusion.


    She wasn''t worried about the Black Carp drowning, for after obtaining the "Heart of the Apparition," the body of the Black Carp had mutated, and it could survive for a long time even without breathing.


    What puzzled her was why the Black Carp would suddenly plunge into the river?


    The matter must be extremely urgent; otherwise, the Black Carp would definitely have explained the reason to her. Xu Yi had also thought of this and stood with Lisa at the riverside, waiting quietly.


    "Oh no! The Black Carp fell into the water!" Carlyle was frantic; she was very fond of the Black Carp, the black cat with human-like intelligence.


    Just as she was about to go into the river to rescue the Black Carp, it suddenly surfaced and swam back to shore.


    "Lisa, did you forget to feed the Black Carp today?" Xu Yi joked.


    The Black Carp held a fish in its mouth; it turned out that it had jumped into the river to catch a fish.


    But his expression quickly turned serious as the Black Carp threw the fish on the ground, growling low at it, with fur bristling.


    "There''s something strange about this fish!" Lisa stared at the fish on the ground with caution.


    Xu Yi threw a Flying Dagger, pinning the fish to the grass. Annabelle''s Treasure Box space unfolded, and the air curtain isolated the Evil Deity''s presence. Xu Yi snapped his fingers, and the Demon-Suppressing Flame engulfed the fish on the ground.


    The fish on the grass struggled painfully, its body quickly shriveling up.


    Lisa looked at the fish on the ground skeptically, while Xu Yi, relying on his powerful vision from the Eyes of Obscurity, identified the root of the problem.


    He reached out and tore open the shriveled body of the fish, pulling out a slender black thread from within.


    The thread wound around Xu Yi''s fingers, seemingly trying to burrow into his body, but under the searing of the Demon-Suppressing Flame, the black thread could only squirm in agony.


    Xu Yi stared at the black thread in his hand, his expression suddenly changing; the thread was clearly a much-reduced Eyeless Snake!


    He felt the presence of the Evil Deity in the black thread.


    "The Black Carp says there should be seven or eight more strange fish like this one in the river," Lisa said softly.


    Xu Yi had a bad premonition. Just this short stretch of the river had seven or eight such "Eyeless Snake Threads," so how many might there be in the entire Charles River?


    He picked up his phone and called Martin from the Special Affairs Team.


    The call had just connected, and before Xu Yi could speak, Martin''s hoarse voice came through from the other end.


    "Xu Yi! Something big has happened! A lot of ''vampires'' suddenly appeared in Boston, and they are utterly irrational, sucking the blood of anyone they see."


    "Are you sure they are vampires?" Xu Yi asked in return.


    "Indeed, they don''t quite resemble vampires; their pupils are black, and as they suck more blood, their skin also turns black," Martin replied truthfully.


    "Have you continued to investigate the Evil Deities lately?" Xu Yi asked urgently.


    "We have been investigating, but as you know, we can''t maintain the same level of search effort as before," Martin''s voice became fainter, somewhat lacking in confidence.


    Xu Yi''s voice grew colder, "Then let me tell you some ''good news,'' the Evil Deity is not dead!" Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire


    "What?" Martin''s frightened voice came through, "What exactly is going on?" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You guys go check the fish in the Charles River!" Xu Yi said impatiently and hung up the phone.


    Screams suddenly emanated from within MIT, and Xu Yi turned his head to look in the direction from which they seemed to come, which appeared to be from the direction of Blood Research Group Five.


    He suddenly realized something, his expression changing slightly as he rushed toward the source of the screams.

 Chapter 219 Snatching Olivedos Blood

    Scientific Research Unit Five building front entrance.Xu Yi saw the "vampire" that Martin mentioned, and he recognized the person, a security guard at the gate.


    Of course, the security of Blood Research Five couldn''t rely on these Common people; their duty was to turn away students who wandered in by mistake.


    At that moment, the person was lying on top of another security guard, two sharp fangs protruding, fiercely biting into the prey''s neck, greedily sucking the fresh blood.


    The "vampire" sensed movement behind it and turned its head abruptly, its pitch-black pupils revealing a faint blood-colored Reverse Cross.


    Xu Yi was startled; he suddenly had the illusion that what stood before him was an Undead Evil Deity resurrected.


    More and more shadows gathered, and Xu Yi glanced around, counting at least eight, each with pitch-black skin and blood-colored Reverse Crosses in their pupils.


    One of the "vampires," in particular, was exceptionally tall, with eight eyeless snakes growing out from behind and writhing wildly.


    Xu Yi''s scalp tingled; judging from their aura alone, these beings were scarcely weaker than the Evil Deity entity he had encountered before.


    He remembered the giant cocoon in the cave, and he was certain that it was the Evil Deity.


    "The Evil Deity should have the ability to create avatars!"


    Considering the scene before him, how could he not understand this point?


    He had a premonition of how severe the situation was; these people had all been transformed into Evil Deity avatars after consuming fish laced with an "extra ingredient."


    It was unimaginable how many Evil Deity avatars were lurking within the city of Boston.


    The Evil Deity avatars stared at Xu Yi, a covetous glint in their eyes.


    But instead of attacking Xu Yi, they turned and rushed toward the building behind them.


    "The original entity is manipulating these avatars from behind the scenes!" Xu Yi immediately realized.


    Given the Evil Deity''s craving for his blood, only this reason could explain why it was restraining itself from attacking.


    Just then, Lisa and Carlyle caught up, and after Xu Yi instructed them with a few words, he chased after the Evil Deity.


    The Evil Deity avatars burst into the building, standing at the edge of the elevator shaft.


    The elevator shaft was hidden, and ordinary people would find it hard to discover, but sadly, the scent of Olivedo''s blood coming from underground rendered the hidden design futile.


    But at the moment the security was attacked, the alarm bell had already been triggered; the elevator now locked, no longer functional.


    The elevator shaft door was made from a thick alloy plate over twenty centimeters, strong enough to withstand artillery fire.


    Sharp claws grew from the tips of the Evil Deity''s fingers, ripping through the alloy plate.


    The Evil Deity jumped into the elevator shaft and its claws severed the steel cables of the elevator, which fell rumbling downward. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Yi wanted to follow the jump, but several shadows suddenly shot out from the elevator shaft, lunging at Xu Yi.


    Not all of the Evil Deity''s avatars had left; they had left behind four to stop Xu Yi.


    The fight was imminent; a purplish-red barrier unfolded, Xu Yi holding the Alchemy Revolver and pulled the trigger, bullets whistling towards the Evil Deity.


    The avatars of the Evil Deity were not as strong as the original entity, but Xu Yi was struggling to cope with the siege.


    Yet, given enough time, he would still be able to handle these Evil Deity avatars.


    The trouble was, he didn''t have that much time to spare.


    Screams occasionally came from below in the elevator shaft; the exorcist guards stood no chance against the Evil Deity, relying on the maze-like layout to contend with them.


    But Xu Yi knew well that the maze wouldn''t hold off the Evil Deity for long.


    The strength of the maze lay in its intricate pathways, but if the walls of the maze lacked the effect of "trapping enemies," the entire maze would be reduced to mere decoration.


    Perhaps even the designer of the maze couldn''t imagine that the metal walls that could withstand artillery bombardment were as fragile as clay in the face of the Evil Deity''s sharp claws.


    The scent of Olivedo''s blood acted like a compass, guiding the Evil Deity.


    "Can''t wait any longer!" Xu Yi knew he had to break free from the siege immediately.


    The avatars of the Evil Deity were already formidable; if they consumed the blood of Olivedo, their strength might climb another rung.


    ```


    And there was no doubt that the incarnation would fuse with the original body, and when that happened, all the blood of Olivedo would be transferred onto the original body.


    It was hard to imagine just how terrifying the Evil Deity''s original form would become!


    After paying the price of having his abdomen pierced through, Xu Yi forcibly broke through the encirclement of the Evil Deity''s incarnation and rushed into the elevator shaft, pursued closely by the Evil Deity from behind.


    ...


    Deep within the laboratory.


    The Evil Deity went straight to the "cold storage room," the place where the blood of Olivedo was stored.


    The exorcists who had tried to stop it had all turned into icy corpses, and the laboratory researchers, sensing danger, had already gone into hiding.


    Attracted by the blood of Olivedo, the Evil Deity paid no attention to these common people.


    The walls of the cold storage room were made of Auric Copper, a material of alchemy incredibly more durable than steel by a thousand times. The Evil Deity''s sharp claws could only leave a few scratches on it.


    However, the Eyeless Snake trailing behind the Evil Deity suddenly opened its vast maw, spraying black viscous fluid onto the walls, corroding holes into the Auric Copper-crafted walls.


    With the cold room''s defenses breached, the Evil Deity reached through the cold mist and retrieved a copper jar.


    Gazing at the "golden liquid" inside the jar through the hollow sides, the desire in the Evil Deity''s eyes almost spilled out.


    The "golden liquid" was Olivedo''s prime blood, extremely precious; even the blood used for experiments was diluted from the original.


    The Evil Deity opened its massive maw, ready to swallow the entire copper jar to dissolve the durable material with its corrosive stomach acid.


    Suddenly, a hand emerged from the shadows behind the Evil Deity and firmly grasped the jar.


    At the critical moment, Xu Yi finally arrived, having shaken off the intercepting Evil Deity''s incarnation with his knowledge of the terrain.


    The incarnation of the Evil Deity howled in anger. The Eyeless Snakes behind it lunged at Xu Yi, but a purplish-red barrier unfolded, and Xu Yi was surrounded by Demon-Suppressing Flame, which repelled the snakes.


    Just as a great battle was about to unfold, a deep explosion sounded from within the jar, causing Xu Yi to start.


    He suddenly remembered Daniel had once mentioned that the jar was rigged with a self-destruction mechanism. It could remotely detonate a tiny explosive inside, releasing a special solution.


    The blood of Olivedo would mix with the solution and quickly turn into waste water.


    It seemed the laboratory''s director had felt there was no way to stop the Evil Deity and, to prevent the prime blood of Olivedo from falling into the wrong hands, had activated the self-destruct program. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No! We could still have saved it!"


    Xu Yi felt a sense of urgency. He had hurried here not only to stop the Evil Deity but also because of his interest in the prime blood of Olivedo.


    With the extensive experiments involving God-melting Blood, the little blood of Olivedo he had quietly taken was no longer sufficient.


    The blood at the top of the jar had already darkened, and it was clear that as the solution spread, the entire jar''s contents would turn to waste water.


    The incarnation of the Evil Deity was also aware of this and was even more frantic than Xu Yi. Ignoring Xu Yi, a swarm of Eyeless Snakes attacked the jar, secreting black liquid from their mouths.


    The material of the copper jar was unknown, even more durable than Auric Copper, but under the assault of the black liquid, it too was corroded with holes.


    The prime blood of Olivedo flowed down, and the undamaged parts sparkled with a golden light.


    Upon the scent of the prime blood, the Evil Deity''s body began to shudder, initially from excitement but quickly turning to anger.


    With a sudden motion, Xu Yi threw the Annabelle doll from his waist. The purplish-red barrier enveloped the falling prime blood, and in an instant, it vanished from sight.


    "Thank you! Kind-hearted soul!" Xu Yi even wanted to give the Evil Deity''s incarnation a thumbs-up.


    But the next second, he quickly distanced himself from the "kind-hearted soul." A terrifying presence arose from the Evil Deity''s incarnation, and Xu Yi felt a familiar gaze upon him.


    The original Evil Deity had been watching the situation here closely, and enraged by the theft of Olivedo''s blood, it had fallen into a rage.


    Unmoved, Xu Yi knew that his relationship with the Evil Deity was one of life and death. The other side coveted his blood, and he had grievously wounded the other.


    The more one owes, the less one worries; now, taking the blood of Olivedo was without any burden on his conscience.


    Rapid footsteps came from outside; reinforcements from the special unit had arrived. The Evil Deity''s incarnations gave Xu Yi a cold glance but did not attack. Instead, they charged outside, preparing to break through.


    Xu Yi followed. The Evil Deity''s incarnations may have spared him, but he was not about to let them go.


    He had always remembered the "Nest Borrowing Incubation" plan. He had thought the Evil Deity was slain by the Doomsday Blade, but to his surprise, the situation had turned around dramatically, resulting in so many incarnations of the Evil Deity!


    ```

 Chapter 220 Brain Worm Separation Surgery

    Outside MIT on Portland Street.Xu Yi violently threw the reinforcing bar in his hand, the bar whistling as it pierced through an Evil Deity''s avatar, nailing it to the ground.


    The Evil Deity roared in anger but couldn''t break free. It was impaled with dozens of reinforcing bars, transformed into a hedgehog. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Finally caught one!" Xu Yi exhaled a breath of foul air.


    He''d chased the avatars of the Evil Deity all the way here from the underground research lab of the scientific research team five, but the avatars hadn''t paid him any attention and merely focused on fleeing.


    Xu Yi didn''t feel proud, but instead his mood grew heavier.


    Because he knew very well that the Evil Deity''s avatars avoiding him was only temporary; once they possessed the power to "devour" him, they would definitely strike without hesitation.


    The avatars of the Evil Deity inherited the tenacious Vitality of the original body, but after being cursed by Annabelle and continuously devastated by Dark Mist Bullets, they had become extremely weak.


    Xu Yi took the opportunity to pick up the reinforcing bars from the road, nailing the Evil Deity''s avatar to death.


    The steel bars came from a construction truck.


    A construction truck had crashed into a concrete pier by the highway, scattering its load of reinforcing bars all over the place. The out-of-control truck caused a multi-car pileup, and wreckage of vehicles littered the area.


    None of the car owners stood by their vehicles, waiting for a traffic officer to sort things out; instead, they ran away in terror.


    The construction truck driver pried open the door, his limbs twisting bizarrely. As he walked, his eyes turned pitch-black, and sharp fangs grew in his mouth.


    This was the first time Xu Yi had witnessed a human transforming into an Evil Deity''s avatar. He pulled the trigger, and the Bad Blood Silver Bullet pierced through the driver''s skull.


    The driver fell to the ground at the sound, but soon he rose again and, like a wild beast, lunged toward the crowd, which screamed and fled in panic.


    Scenes like this kept unfolding throughout the city of Boston.


    The entire city was thrown into chaos, the incessant wail of sirens, occasional explosion sounds, and the screams of the crowd woven into a frantic symphony.


    The driver was also nailed to the ground with reinforcing bars. Xu Yi squatted next to him, forcefully pried open the driver''s mouth, and stuffed the Nest of the Evil God into it.


    Nest Borrowing Incubation has a prerequisite; the connection between the original body and the avatars must be severed, or it would simply be warming up the Evil Deity.


    "Let''s see how you control these avatars!"


    The Nest of the Evil God infiltrated every corner of the Evil Deity, and Xu Yi first checked the brain. The driver''s brain had completely rotted away into a lump of decayed flesh.


    Thorn-like spikes had grown on the surface of the driver''s bones, and the blood had become turbid and viscous.


    Xu Yi''s gaze focused on the driver''s heart, where an Eyeless Snake, as thick as a little finger, was coiled around the heart, merging with it.


    One could imagine the scene: Iron Filament Worms the size of a strand of hair lurking within the heart, which, in an instant, absorbed a large amount of the host''s blood and grew to the thickness of a little finger.


    As it continuously devoured fresh blood, this Eyeless Snake would keep growing.


    The Nest of the Evil God''s tentacles approached the Eyeless Snake noiselessly, the tip turning into a sharp spike. The Eyeless Snake sensed something amiss and slowly began to "Awaken".


    Xu Yi pressed his hand on the Evil Deity''s chest, a purple-red aura spreading out; the Demon-Suppressing Flame emanated from his palm, forcefully suppressing the Eyeless Snake.


    Seizing this opportunity, the tip of the Nest of the Evil God penetrated the body of the Eyeless Snake. The Eyeless Snake began to wriggle frantically, and Xu Yi increased the intensity of the Demon-Suppressing Flame.


    Suddenly, the Eyeless Snake inflated like a balloon. Sensing danger, Xu Yi quickly backed away.


    The next second, the Eyeless Snake exploded, blasting a huge hole in the driver''s chest, and black viscous fluid splashed out, corroding everything it touched into black water.


    A tiny Eyeless Snake drilled out from the driver''s chest. Before Xu Yi could stop it, the creature had already entered the sewer through a nearby manhole cover in search of its next host.


    But Xu Yi had already obtained what he wanted; the Nest of the Evil God had fully discerned the structure of the Eyeless Snake.


    Xu Yi glanced at the structural diagram of the Eyeless Snake and felt a chill on his scalp.


    The structure of the Eyeless Snake was both simple and complex.


    Simple in that all of its cells were rhombic, tiny granules.


    Complex in its organs, the rhombic granules made up tens of thousands of organs, simply terrifying.


    Yet he had found the target, mainly because it was a bit conspicuous¡ªan organ of pure black had a small white spot, the size of a fingernail, like a white maggot.


    ```


    The maggot''s surface was covered with a multitude of wrinkles, resembling a human brain.


    All the organs were connected to the "Brain Worm," and without a doubt, the "Brain Worm" was the core of the Eyeless Snake, as well as the key to the control of its avatars.


    Xu Yi returned to the side of the Evil Deity he had previously captured, his brow furrowed in deep thought.


    The Evil Deity he had just encountered had only been recently born, and the Eyeless Snake at its heart was still very weak, yet even so, he couldn''t perform the "Brain Worm Separation Surgery."


    Should the Eyeless Snake detect something amiss, it would self-destruct and escape, leaving no opportunity to make a move.


    However, without performing the Brain Worm Separation Surgery, to disconnect the Evil Deity''s avatar from the control of its original form, the plan of "Nest Borrowing Incubation" would be nothing but a pipe dream.


    "What on earth should I do?" Xu Yi murmured softly to himself.


    ......


    St. Na Church.


    Sunlight streamed through the church''s stained glass windows, casting rays of light onto the flowerbeds where white rose flowers intermingled with pink hydrangeas. The statue of Jesus watched quietly from its pedestal, as if bearing witness.


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    The entire wedding venue was decorated just right, appearing both solemn and romantic. Even the pickiest guest should be nodding with a satisfied smile, yet Daniel''s brows were slightly furrowed.


    Daniel''s frown wasn''t due to dissatisfaction with the wedding venue, but rather he stood at the church''s entrance, gazing out toward the city.


    St. Na Church was located in the suburbs, all serene and lovely, yet the city was noisy, with piercing alarm sounds occasionally interspersed with loud explosions.


    Could it be a major car accident had happened?


    Daniel looked toward the incoming road, but still no cars were coming.


    The Finn estate was a fair distance from here, but by this time, family members coming to the wedding should have arrived.


    For some reason, he felt an inexplicable sense of palpitation.


    ......


    The Finn estate.


    "Hurry up! We''re going to be late!"


    The family head, Noss, glanced at his watch and urged.


    The members of the Finn family, dressed in formal attire, carrying various gifts, bustled around the cars, looking exceptionally busy.


    Each face was beaming with smiles.


    Although Daniel had not inherited the exorcist Talent of the Finn family, the bridegroom was still an important member of the Finn family, and they naturally could not miss such a significant occasion.


    Suddenly, fierce barking came from the direction of the courtyard wall. Noss''s brows knitted together; the Finn estate kept a number of Bulldogs for guarding the house.


    This reaction was clearly due to the intrusion of strangers.


    "Butler!" Noss didn''t want to waste time, ready to have the butler send the intruder away.


    This kind of thing happened every now and then, as people seeing the immense and beautiful estate couldn''t help but want a closer look.


    The barking quickly stopped, and Noss''s face darkened.


    The cessation of the barks wasn''t because the intruder had left, but because the Bulldogs had been killed, as he heard the whimpers of the dogs.


    But before they could react, vague figures surrounded them, and everyone couldn''t stop trembling.


    The figures surrounding them had pitch-black skin, and within their inky pupils flashed a blood-red Reverse Cross,


    Evil Deities! They were all Evil Deities!


    One could not count the number of Evil Deities at a glance, already more than thirty ¨C where had so many of them come from? Noss''s face showed terror.


    "Run! Run!" Noss blocked the figures, shouting in a low growl.


    Facing so many Evil Deities, they could not possibly be a match; the only thing they could do now was to buy time.


    The butler took out a phone, hesitated for a moment, but then chose to make the first call to the Special Affairs Team.


    ```

 Chapter 221 The

    On Portland Street.Xu Yi gazed at the Evil Deity''s embodiment lying on the ground, his eyes shining. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He reached out his hand, and a wisp of black mist condensed at his fingertips. He pressed it against the chest of the Evil Deity, and the mist penetrated the chest, infusing into the Eyeless Snake''s body.


    This mist was the Power of Faith.


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    Although he was not in New York, the myth of Fire Gui still circulated there, and he occasionally received the Power of Faith. Combined with the "deposit" from healing the heat soul disease, a mature fruit of faith had already formed on the Cat Spirit Holy Tree.


    As for why he suddenly thought of the Power of Faith, it was entirely because just minutes ago, the Mystical Study Apocalypse had been triggered again!


    [Mystical Study Apocalypse triggered!]


    [As the main body of the Evil Deity acts as a "terminal computer," the more embodiments it controls, the more information it needs to process.


    Given this, why not try to become a hacker, using an "Information Bomb"?


    The Power of Faith might be able to help you.]


    If the "Mystical Study Apocalypse" could be reliably activated, Xu Yi would even be willing to trade Red Level Entries for it!


    The occurrence of the "Mystical Study Apocalypse" this time was a real lifesaver.


    The sudden outbreak of the Evil Deity''s embodiment was like Goujian, who had endured great hardship, suddenly quitting as a coachman and even kicking the master he had served off the horse.


    This could only be because the "Goujian" Evil Deity had accumulated enough strength to no longer fear him, and even had a way to deal with the Doomsday Blade.


    By the time the metamorphosed Evil Deity appeared, Xu Yi could only flee with his tail between his legs, and if things got even worse, he might face relentless hunting from the Evil Deity.


    The hope for reversal now lay in the "God-melting Blood."


    As the Power of Faith entered the Eyeless Snake''s body, Xu Yi, through the vision provided by the Nest of the Evil God, stared intently at the Eyeless Snake, not blinking.


    The Mystical Study Apocalypse only provided a theory; countless variables could occur during the operation, and it was possible to fail due to a single missed detail.


    The Eyeless Snake suddenly convulsed, and Xu Yi breathed a slight sigh of relief, the opponent had not "awakened," nor had it self-destructed.


    This was a good start.


    Seizing the opportunity, the Nest of the Evil God transformed its front end into a spike, piercing into the Eyeless Snake''s body.


    An anatomical diagram of the Eyeless Snake appeared in Xu Yi''s mind; he almost wanted to throw a punch in celebration.


    Inside the Eyeless Snake''s body, the Brain Worm lay as if paralyzed, motionless.


    This was because the Brain Worm had been "overloaded."


    An "Information Bomb" is what a hacker uses to inject a massive amount of information to attack a server, causing the server to collapse.


    The Power of Faith, composed of the thoughts of countless beings, contains an astonishing amount of information, which the Brain Worm could not process, causing its "CPU" to burn out.


    "We can''t relax yet!" Xu Yi took a deep breath, focusing his mind.


    The tentacles of the Nest of the Evil God turned into sharp scalpels, carefully dissecting the Eyeless Snake.


    This process could not harm any other organs; if the borrowed "nest" was damaged, all previous efforts would be for naught.


    It could only be the Nest of the Evil God; otherwise, no human could have completed this "surgery."


    The chest of the Evil Deity was cut open, and the fingernail-sized white Brain Worm was delivered by the tentacles; Xu Yi took it and squeezed.


    He watched as the Brain Worm''s fluids splattered, and a feeling of elation rose within him.


    He casually used the Demon-Suppressing Flame to burn the Brain Worm to ashes.


    "Brain Worm Separation Surgery successful, next is Nest Borrowing Incubation, let''s hope for success!" Xu Yi took a deep breath and took out a syringe of blood.


    ...


    Boston, Special Affairs Building 9.


    Martin ran wildly through the hallway. Glancing back, he saw no sign of those terrifying figures and leaned against the metal wall, gasping for breath.


    "At least the plan was a success!" A faint smile struggled onto Martin''s lips, but the memory of his teammates immediately dampened his spirits.


    The number nine building of the Special Affairs Unit stored the blood of various supernatural creatures, even more than what was held in MIT''s blood group five.


    When a large number of Evil Deities appeared in the city, they had a premonition that they would come here, and sure enough, as expected, this place was soon invaded.


    Fortunately, they had managed to destroy the blood of the supernatural creatures before the Evil Deities arrived.


    But those teammates, who had fought alongside him, now lay here forever.


    He released his hand from the wound on his abdomen, as blood nearly dyed his combat suit red.


    He knew he needed to find a safe place to bandage his wound, or he too would die here from excessive blood loss.


    But he had only taken two steps when he suddenly stopped, feeling as if the blood in his entire body had turned cold, as three Evil Deities that had nearly grown into their complete forms stood before him.


    The Special Affairs Unit divided these Evil Deity clones into three stages, incubation period, juvenile, and complete form.


    The so-called complete form of an Evil Deity clone was characterized by the clear emergence of blood-red Reverse Cross patterns in the pupils, and eight Eyeless Snakes growing from the back.


    The combat power of a complete form Evil Deity was extremely frightening, only a Great Exorcist could deal with them.


    Unfortunately, there were not many Great Exorcists in the Special Affairs Unit, and among them, Mia had taken leave to prepare for her wedding today.


    "I''m afraid Mia won''t be able to get married today!"


    Martin felt a tinge of regret as he had watched Mia and Daniel come this far, and they were both his friends.


    The reason he could afford to let his thoughts wander now was because he knew he couldn''t possibly escape.


    Knowing that he was about to die here, he actually relaxed.


    Footsteps came from behind; he didn''t need to turn his head to know it was the chasing Evil Deity.


    Martin, with shaking hands, fumbled in his bag for a cigarette, intending to light it, but found that his lighter had somehow been lost.


    A bitter smile appeared on his face, the wish to have a smoke before dying, unfulfilled.


    He took out the only hand grenade left on his belt. Even in death, he wanted to cause some trouble for these Evil Deities.


    Suddenly, a terrifying roar came from behind, and Martin turned his head to look; a special Evil Deity charged from the end of the passage.


    This Evil Deity was covered in pale-gold scales and had no Eyeless Snakes on its back, yet its aura was even more terrifying than that of a complete Evil Deity clone!


    Could there be a stronger stage beyond the complete form of an Evil Deity clone?


    Martin was a bit puzzled, but not panicked.


    Now any Evil Deity could easily take his life; the appearance of a stronger one was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.


    But he suddenly froze because the newly appeared Evil Deity didn''t attack him. Instead, it charged at its own kind, abruptly grabbing the neck of another Evil Deity clone, the veins on its arms bulging as if wanting to twist its comrade''s neck off.


    Martin was stunned, completely unsure of what was happening.


    Could it be that Evil Deities could have internal conflicts? Or was the newly appeared "Evil Deity boss" giving a tough lesson to its underlings?


    But this lesson was too fierce, wasn''t it? It was going straight for killing its comrade.


    The Evil Deities present were dazed for a moment, clearly sensing the presence of a comrade from the other, yet why would it attack them?


    But in the next second, they all let out angry roars and pounced on the newly appeared Evil Deity.


    They had received new instructions, to immediately eliminate the "kin" in front of them.


    Martin was baffled, because all the Evil Deities went to attack the newly appeared "companion," and every single one ignored him.


    He tentatively took two steps; none of the Evil Deities paid him any attention, another two steps, still nothing.


    "If this keeps up, I''m going to get out of here," Martin raced toward the other end of the corridor at full speed.


    As he ran, he couldn''t suppress his curiosity and turned his head to look at the battlefield, and he was slightly taken aback.


    He suddenly noticed the biggest difference in that Evil Deity¡ªits pupils had no blood-red Reverse Cross!


    Could there be traitors among the Evil Deities? Martin wondered, full of questions.

 Chapter 222 Test Subject X Annihilates

    Martin hid in the room, bandaging his wounds while covertly observing the battle amongst the Evil Deities.Humans are such complex creatures, just now desperate to flee, but now that he could run, he temporarily did not want to leave.


    Martin wanted to figure out what exactly was happening, which might help solve the chaos of the Evil Deities in Boston.


    It wasn''t just Martin spying on the battle of the Evil Deities, Xu Yi, using his Dark Stealth Ability, was hiding in the shadows of the buildings, quietly watching the Evil Deities slaughter each other.


    That strange Evil Deity was naturally his creation. After completing the "Brain Worm Removal Surgery," he injected three types of high-Quality blood into the Evil Deity''s body.


    Olivedo''s blood, Demon King''s blood, and Ryan''s blood.


    What he did not expect was that the Evil Deity''s clone developed a strong bloodlust after the blood injection.


    The body of the Evil Deity even began to "swell," and if it could not absorb fresh blood in time, the entire Evil Deity clone would likely explode.


    Of course, he couldn''t let the test subject attack Common people, so with a stroke of genius, he used the Nest of the Evil God to suggest to the test subject.


    "The blood of Evil Deities is plentiful and good, go suck it quickly!"


    The test subject began to wildly attack other Evil Deities; as the test subject continued to grow stronger, individual Evil Deities could no longer satisfy it¡ªit began attacking groups of Evil Deities.


    Therefore, the test subject came here and happened to save Martin by coincidence.


    Martin did not know that he owed his life to some "Wool Fleece King"; at this very moment, he was intently watching this "rebellion" among the Evil Deities.


    The siege was extremely intimidating, after all, it was six Evil Deities close to their complete forms, but even more astonishing was the traitor.


    Martin had seen the sharpness of the Evil Deities'' claws¡ªthey could easily tear apart Special Alloy.


    But the claws couldn''t even rip through the traitor''s defenses!


    The surface of the opponent was covered in Pale Gold scales, unimaginably tough.


    The traitor also couldn''t break through the siege. As the saying goes, two fists are hard to beat four hands. But what he was facing was far more than four hands; those Eyeless Snakes were attacking the traitor like a storm.


    But the next moment, a sudden change occurred.


    Sharp bone spurs grew from the traitor''s palms, these bone spurs were ink-colored, shimmering with a metallic sheen.


    The bone spurs instantly pierced two Evil Deities, nailing them to the walls. The metal walls were like butter faced with those bone spurs.


    The Evil Deity behind him pounced to bite, and another bone spur grew from the traitor''s back, piercing through the Evil Deity in one stroke. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    Martin was stunned; this traitor''s strength was simply too formidable, completely on a different level!


    Xu Yi, watching from the side, was equally surprised. He knew that after injecting three types of blood, the test subject''s strength would surge, but he hadn''t expected it to soar to this extent.


    The test subject bit into the other Evil Deities, sharp fangs piercing into their bodies, voraciously sucking their blood.


    The test subject roared towards the sky, its aura still growing stronger!


    "What Quality will the fused blood have in the end?" Xu Yi marveled incessantly.


    Now was not the time to collect blood. The test subject''s boiling blood was like an erupting volcano; right now, it was impossible to extract the "Source Blood."


    The test subject devoured the blood of the Evil Deities completely, a pair of flesh wings broke through its back and grew, vibrating the wings, the test subject smashed through the building walls and took to the sky.


    This amount of blood was far from enough; it needed more blood from Evil Deities.


    Xu Yi watched as the test subject left, with the Nest of the Evil God in existence, he could keep track of the other''s situation at any time.


    "We need to create more test subjects!" Xu Yi muttered to himself in his heart.


    A single test subject could extract very little "Source Blood."


    Besides, you can''t put all your eggs in one basket, in case one test subject encounters a problem.


    He checked the Nest of the Evil Gods in his possession.


    Originally, there were eight, but to enhance the control of the Ghost Samurai, one was permanently expended, leaving seven.


    That is to say, he could create six more test subjects.


    ...


    Daniel floored the accelerator, tires screeching violently against the road, emitting a piercing noise.


    As the groom of an imminent wedding, he was actually abandoning his bride-to-be and driving away from the wedding venue alone.


    Daniel gripped the steering wheel tightly, his right eyelid twitching continuously.


    He called the Finns estate, but no one picked up, and he had a nagging Premonition, so he needed to visit the estate to see what had happened.


    The car eventually entered the city, but there was a traffic jam ahead, the highway was filled with the wreckage of vehicles, yet there were no drivers to be seen, screams came from afar from time to time.


    "What the hell happened?"


    Daniel tried calling Martin''s number again, still getting a busy signal; Martin had not answered the phone.


    He wanted to make another call, but then he received a call from Mia.


    "Daniel, where are you now? Don''t you dare enter the city!" Mia''s anxious voice came through the phone.


    "Why?" Daniel asked, puzzled.


    "People from the Special Affairs team found me. They told me that many avatars of the Evil Deity have appeared in the city; it''s very dangerous, you must not enter the city! Just stay in the church!" Mia said urgently.


    Upon hearing the word "Evil Deity," Daniel''s body shuddered violently.


    "Mia, take care of yourself!" Daniel fell silent for a moment before hanging up the phone abruptly.


    Daniel slammed the gas pedal, crashing forcefully against the guardrail on the side to make a U-turn. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He knew a back road that could take him to the Finns estate, but the road was extremely bumpy and narrow; this luxury car would be scrap after one trip down it.


    But he couldn''t care less at this point.


    The car drove on the narrow dirt path, Daniel taking deep breaths, his forehead covered in cold sweat.


    The Finns, as an exorcist family, had some members inheriting the "Silver Blood," born exorcists.


    This extraordinary blood was, for the Evil Deity, an exquisite delicacy!


    From a distance, Daniel could already see the Finns estate, with fierce flames burning there.


    "It''s okay! It''s okay! The Finns have so many exorcists!"


    Daniel kept reassuring himself, but his breathing grew more and more rapid, and cold sweat soaked his back.


    Just as the car was about to fall apart, he finally reached the Finns estate.


    The gate of the estate was wide open; a rich smell of blood wafted from within, and Daniel sprinted into the estate.


    "Unc... Uncle!" A faint voice came from the bushes next to the door.


    Daniel rushed over and parted the bushes; a little boy about eight years old was lying there.


    "Maji!" Daniel was a bit surprised; he reached out to hold Maji, warm liquid flowed onto his hand, he looked down and was stunned.


    It was blood, warm blood flowing from Maji''s abdomen onto his hand.


    A hole had been torn in Maji''s abdomen, the size of a fist, and such a horrifying wound would only make any doctor shake their head helplessly.


    "Uncle! It hurts!" Maji frowned in pain.


    "Maji! It''s alright! Uncle will take you to the doctor immediately, right now!" Daniel picked up Maji and rushed toward the entrance.


    He pressed firmly against Maji''s abdomen, but it was a penetrating wound, and the blood just wouldn''t stop flowing.


    "Uncle, I... I might not be able to be your ring bearer, have Eli replace me," Maji said softly.


    Daniel suddenly remembered that Maji was indeed the ring bearer for the wedding today.


    At that moment, he was dressed in the ring bearer''s clothes¡ªa black suit, a white shirt, and a boutonniere pinned to the collar, looking like a little gentleman.


    "It''s okay, uncle''s wedding is postponed too, and when you are better, I still want you to be my ring bearer, okay?" Daniel asked softly.


    No one answered him.


    He suddenly stopped; he could clearly feel the body in his arms quickly grow cold.


    Daniel stood at the entrance holding Maji''s body, a look of utter bewilderment on his face.


    Strange noises came from behind the mansion, Daniel, holding Maji''s body, subconsciously walked toward it.


    The courtyard was littered with corpses, their blood drained dry, but Daniel still recognized them.


    That one on the handrail was Uncle Ralph, who often took him down to the river to fish when he was a child; under the stone stump was his cousin Haynie, who had just told him about her boyfriend... They should have had beautiful lives, but now they would sleep here forever.


    His body shook violently, and he suddenly fell to his knees; two corpses lay tightly embraced in front of him, even death had not separated them, they were his parents.


    Daniel was born into the Finn family but did not possess the Talent to become an exorcist, but neither his parents nor other family members had ever despised him.


    Tears silently slid from the corners of his eyes, the color of the tears was no longer transparent but blood-red.

 Chapter 223 Rise of the Evil Deity Flower

    Deep within the manor, a beastly roar suddenly erupted, and Daniel whipped around, his ferocious gaze as if choosing someone to devour.He saw the Evil Deity avatar thrown through the air.


    The Evil Deity avatar spotted Daniel as well and charged at him with a howl, but a loud gunshot rang out, and the bullet struck the Evil Deity''s head, causing it to crash against a stone pillar nearby with a scream.


    Struggling to rise, the Evil Deity didn''t attack again and instead fled toward the exterior of the manor.


    Turning his head, Daniel saw Xu Yi, revolver in hand, emerging from the depths of the manor.


    "It''s a pity I came too late," sighed Xu Yi.


    He had been capturing Evil Deity avatars to perform Brain Worm Separation Surgery, and just as he completed the seventh specimen, he suddenly received a distress call from Noss.


    But he was too far from the Finns'' manor; by the time he arrived, Noss had already died in battle, and the Finns'' manor had turned into Hell.


    "It''s temporarily safe now, you can all come out," Xu Yi suddenly said.


    Color returned to Daniel''s dulled pupils, and footsteps sounded from within the manor as small figures emerged one by one.


    They were all children, the oldest around eleven or twelve, the youngest only two or three; terror filled their eyes, but they bit their lips, refusing to let themselves cry.


    This was the ancestral teaching of the Finns: the strong do not shed tears.


    "The people of the Finns'' family would rather die than retreat, using their bodies to buy time, protecting these children," Xu Yi spoke indifferently.


    "Thank you! If it weren''t for you, these children wouldn''t have survived this long," Daniel said, bowing sincerely.


    "As long as these children survive, there is still hope for the Finns'' family..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, the ground suddenly shook violently.


    Xu Yi quickly realized something and swiftly climbed a tall building nearby to look in the direction of the epicenter, then he froze.


    The epicenter came from upstream of the Charles River, at the edge of Boston''s city limits.


    A monstrous black pillar rose from the river, spanning half the river''s surface.


    The black pillar continued to rise, ever taller. Boston''s tallest Hancock Tower was only 241 meters, but the black pillar had long surpassed the Hancock Tower, appearing to be over five hundred meters tall.


    The black pillar became the city''s tallest structure, simply looking up one would see it.


    Xu Yi''s pupils abruptly constricted as the top of the black pillar suddenly erupted with viscous black flesh that spread out like black petals.


    The pillar split open, and a black cocoon slowly ascended, embedded in the center of the petals.


    That was the true "Cocoon of Metamorphosis"; the previous massive cocoon in the cave was simply a decoy for the Special Affairs Team!


    Xu Yi heard the rumbling heartbeat again, so grand that it could be heard even from the outskirts of the city.


    He shivered unconsciously, the ominous atmosphere suffocatingly intense.


    ...


    In an underground shelter in Boston.


    The original command room had been invaded by an Evil Deity avatar, so they had moved here as a makeshift command post.


    "Launch the Doomsday Blade!" someone said with a deep voice.


    "Are you insane? That monster is in Maple Leaf Town! The town is right on the edge of the city, do you have any idea how many people will die if the Doomsday Blade falls there?"


    "Then what do you propose we do? Do we have any other way to deal with that creature?" the voice of the speaker was strained to its breaking point.


    Martin sat quietly in a corner, silently listening to the argument, saying nothing.


    Although he was the leader of the Special Affairs Team, he was just that¡ªa leader. Those arguing were Boston''s core upper echelons, and he had no right to speak.


    "Have we sent out the invitation to the titled exorcist?" the seasoned army general suddenly said.


    Martin''s eyes lit up, as he certainly had heard of the "titled exorcist."


    "A ''Title'' is not just any ordinary nickname or alias; only after being jointly recognized by governments and churches can one be granted an exclusive title."


    As for the ''Title Exorcists,'' they''re known as the strongest among exorcists."


    "Invitations have already been sent to all Title Exorcists. The ''Evil Dragon Empress Yukeni'' has responded to our call and is on her way, which should take about five hours," someone answered.


    Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a slight sigh of relief.


    "I''m afraid we can''t wait that long!" The special warfare minister from Boston suddenly spoke up, pointing to the monitor, "Look at the footage sent back by the cruise missile."


    Everyone turned their gaze to the monitor, and their expressions darkened considerably.


    "Launch the Doomsday Blade!"


    A moment later, Boston''s mayor was the first to break the silence.


    "But..."


    "Retrieve three Exorcism Holy Relics from the ''Golden House'' and engrave the ''Void-splitting Magical Formation''!" the mayor commanded in an indisputable tone.


    The "Golden House" is a facility similar to New York''s War God Repository, where various rare treasures are stored.


    "The Void-splitting Magical Formation can indeed stop the radiation from spreading, but can the three Exorcism Holy Relics power it?" someone questioned doubtfully.


    "Add the Star Basin as well," the mayor declared without an ounce of hesitation, clearly having considered this beforehand.


    "Once the Star Basin is moved..."


    The speaker suddenly stopped talking because this was the best solution so far, even though it meant sacrificing the Star Basin, a precious treasure capable of predicting disasters.


    ...


    Xu Yi rode his motorcycle at breakneck speed toward the "Evil Deity Flower," zooming along the road.


    The closer he got to the Evil Deity Flower, the more distinct the drumming heartbeat became, almost like thunder.


    A powerful suction force suddenly assailed Xu Yi, causing his blood to churn as if trying to burst through his skin and fly away.


    Xu Yi tensed his muscles to counteract the suction.


    "What''s this?" he exclaimed, looking up in surprise. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Evil Deity Flower suddenly oozed a black liquid that began to rotate around the giant cocoon, forming a fierce water spout.


    The strong suction came from the black water spout.


    While Xu Yi could resist the suction due to his robust physical constitution, ordinary people were not so fortunate, especially those near the Evil Deity Flower.


    Their bodies collapsed in an instant as blood continuously spilled from within them, turning into a mist that wafted toward the Evil Deity Flower in the sky.


    The suction grew stronger, and it seemed that in a few minutes, everyone within several kilometers would be drained of blood and left as desiccated corpses on the ground.


    "Deadly danger ahead! Everyone, please evacuate immediately!"


    Fighter jets circled above the city, blaring the warning through loudspeakers in a loop.


    Truth be told, there was no need for an alert, as everyone was already aware of the danger. They were fleeing for their lives, but the area was too crowded. Fortunately, military vehicles on the outskirts expedited the evacuation process.


    Xu Yi also observed many exorcists, who, despite the strong pull of blood, were engraving magic arrays around the Evil Deity Flower.


    These exorcists wore the same uniform and worked at high speed, evidently very familiar with the arrays.


    "No wonder they could engrave such an exaggerated array around Stone Mountain last time; they have a specialized team trained for this!" Xu Yi suddenly realized.


    Gauging what the Boston authorities intended to do, he no longer rushed in recklessly; instead, he moved away from the Evil Deity Flower and climbed to the top of a tall building to watch.


    A golden blaze suddenly rose on the horizon, descending like a Holy Sword of Judgment.


    Xu Yi watched the Doomsday Blade intently, unsure whether this frightening ''missile'' could eradicate the Evil Deity.


    The cocoon before him wasn''t the ''decoy'' in the cave meant to divert attention; it was nothing short of the real thing.

 Chapter 224 Breaking Cocoon

    The "Doomsday Blade" missile whistled down, its long tail of flame slicing through the sky, the alloy warhead reflecting the inverted image of the Evil Deity.The missile exploded with a roar, and Golden Crystal flew out, spreading throughout the space.


    Feeling the imminent danger, the thick petals of the Evil Deity''s flower closed up, forming a bud that tightly protected the huge cocoon of the Evil Deity.


    The towering black column suddenly twisted, and Xu Yi, looking at the huge "bud head," realized that the so-called "pillar reaching the sky" was in essence an enormous Eyeless Snake.


    Perceiving it could not escape, the Eyeless Snake coiled itself up, using its own body to protect the giant cocoon.


    The Doomsday Crystal cracked open, its radiant light illuminating the entire area as if a golden sun had risen from this spot.


    A huge Array lit up at the same time, an invisible curtain enveloping the whole area and blocking the radiation from the Doomsday Crystal.


    If not for this Array, it''s likely that not many people would have survived within several kilometers, and Xu Yi would not have been able to watch from a close distance.


    Even so, Xu Yi still felt an intense burning sensation; his skin suffered severe burns. Had it been a Common person, they would probably have died before even reaching the hospital.


    In the midst of the golden light, the giant Eyeless Snake crumbled to dust and dissipated.


    This was the pinnacle of the fusion between alchemy and modern technology. Xu Yi had seen the Doomsday Blade before, but he still marveled at it.


    The glow slowly faded away, and the Array, too, dimmed as its energy was exhausted. The dust from the radiation hit him full on, and the burning on Xu Yi''s skin grew even more intense. It was then that he realized the Array''s complexity.


    Looking around, within the range covered by the Doomsday Blade, there was no trace of any living being, only a black cocoon floating on the surface of the river.


    This was a normal phenomenon; the last time the Doomsday Blade fell, the cocoon in the cave also remained. All the more so this time with the protection of the enormous Eyeless Snake.


    The water flowed over it, and the black cocoon crumbled into debris, falling into the river.


    Xu Yi let out a slight sigh of relief. It seemed that even the formidable Evil Deity had no way to withstand the power of the Doomsday Blade.


    But the very next second, his pupils suddenly constricted to pinpoints as he stared intently at the river''s surface.


    The water suddenly rippled, and a skeleton rose from the river, quietly floating on the surface, completely lifeless.


    But Xu Yi could clearly see that fine black flesh was surging within the eye sockets of the skeleton, condensing into black eyeballs with blood-red Reverse Crosses distinctively marked in the pupils.


    The Evil Deity was not dead!


    Xu Yi was stunned. That was an incredibly resilient Vitality; to be able to survive a direct hit from the Doomsday Blade was extraordinary.


    "My name is Noavius!"


    Though the Evil Deity was nothing but bones, lacking organs like a throat, it somehow made a sound.


    The voice thundered through heaven and earth.


    Xu Yi''s face looked grim. To deal with the Evil Deity, he had searched for a good deal of knowledge related to it.


    The term Evil Deity did not refer to an individual, but to a group. No one knew how they came into being. There was speculation that they came from outer space, not originating from Earth.


    Once an Evil Deity emerged from the "Cocoon of Metamorphosis," it would possess a unique "True Name," and at that point, it would become extremely horrifying.


    Xu Yi caught a glimpse of excitement in the eyes of the Evil Deity, and paused slightly.


    He always had a question.


    Why did the Evil Deity have to be so "high-profile"? Could it not hide at the bottom of the river quietly, waiting for the day it would break out of the cocoon?


    The Evil Deity wasn''t a creature without intelligence; on the contrary, it was very intelligent, otherwise, it wouldn''t have thought to use a "false nest" to confuse the special affairs team.


    Could it be that it wanted to use the power of the Doomsday Blade to help break out of its shell?


    Xu Yi suddenly thought of a possibility, and a chill ran through him.


    The more he thought about it, the more he felt this was very likely. The indestructible nature of the Metamorphosis Cocoon was well known; even under the radiation of the Doomsday Crystal, it could still retain remnants.


    Even for the mighty Evil Deity, breaking out of the giant cocoon would be a difficult feat.


    Thus, the Evil Deity took a crazy risk, using the Doomsday Blade to forcefully undergo Metamorphosis, and now it had succeeded!


    "Could another Doomsday Blade be possible?"


    He felt that if another blast of the Doomsday Blade could be launched, it may be possible to eliminate the Evil Deity.


    Xu Yi gazed towards the horizon, hoping to see the golden flames rise from there once more, but regrettably, nothing happened.


    This Martin is too honest, huh? Saying there were two Doomsday Blade missiles, and there truly were only two.


    The fighter jet climbed higher, its camera continuously focused on the ground below, transmitting the footage back to the command center.


    Everyone in the command center fell silent, no matter how hard they tried, they could not believe that even the Doomsday Blade was unable to eliminate the Evil Deity.


    "Continue to send invites to the title-holding exorcists, dealing with this kind of monster, I think even ''Dragon Empress Yukeni'' is not guaranteed to be safe," the mayor softly ordered.


    "We''ve been inviting the whole time, but what do we do now?"


    "Mobilize all forces, stop the Evil Deity from entering the city, and better yet, lead it away from the city," the mayor said with a helpless sigh.


    "The one on top of the skyscraper seems to be Xu Yi?" someone suddenly spoke up.


    The fighter jet''s camera had captured Xu Yi.


    "The Xu Yi who defeated the Evil Deity before? Could he possibly have a way?" another person spoke excitedly.


    "Don''t daydream! Once the Evil Deity has emerged from its cocoon, it is completely a different being. Xu Yi is indeed very strong, but he is still quite far from ''title-holding exorcist'' status," the person shook their head.


    Xu Yi did not know that he was being discussed, and even if he did, he would not have cared. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire


    Suddenly, several copies of the Evil Deity appeared in his field of view, racing wildly towards the pile of bones.


    Xu Yi sensed that something was terribly wrong. He drew out the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, focused his mind, and aimed at the bones.


    High Noon was activated!


    The Evil Deity Noaveis sensed the locked intent and turned to glance at Xu Yi. It''s unknown if it was because it was too weakened, but it made no move.


    Five-second countdown ended and six silver-white bullets howled as they left the chamber, cutting through the sky, hitting the Evil Deity''s eyes and temples.


    Xu Yi watched the Evil Deity closely, secretly hopeful.


    High Noon had the "execute on low health" effect, and the Evil Deity seemed to be very weak. If High Noon''s "special effect" could be triggered, there might be a chance to kill the Evil Deity.


    The Evil Deity''s eyes were pierced through, the massive amount of Fog of Obscurity contained in the bullets exploded, blowing the eyes to smithereens.


    However, those bullets that hit the temples only left shallow white marks on the black skeleton, which healed in the blink of an eye.


    At the same time, those copies of the Evil Deity rushed to Noaveis''s side. Noaveis reached out a hand and rested it on the clones. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The bodies of the Evil Deity clones began to melt, like butter being burned, turning into a black liquid that flowed towards Noaveis; it was completely absorbed.


    Noaveis was reborn, transforming into a tall humanoid figure, skin black as ink with blood-red patterns engraved on it, resembling twisted serpent shadows.


    All of Xu Yi''s muscles tensed. Suddenly, he could no longer sense Noaveis''s aura, as if what stood before him was just a stone. This did not mean the opponent was weak, quite the contrary, it was because its level was now far beyond his own.


    Noaveis turned its head to look at Xu Yi. From its gaze, Xu Yi saw many things¡ªhatred, bloodthirsty desire, and... disdain.


    Noaveis'' figure suddenly blurred, making Xu Yi''s hairs stand on end. The blurring was because its speed was too fast, even the Eyes of Obscurity could not track its movements.


    A purple-red energy barrier unfolded, and Demon-Suppressing Flame rose from Xu Yi''s body. Although he could not catch the opponent''s movements, it was definitely correct to be preemptively cautious.


    Xu Yi suddenly turned around to find Noaveis standing on the edge of the rooftop, quietly watching him.


    A gunshot rang out. Xu Yi instantly emptied the chamber of the Alchemical Revolver, but Noaveis did not dodge. The bullets left only faint white traces on its body.


    Xu Yi''s expression changed. If his attacks couldn''t even breach the defense, how was he supposed to fight?

 Chapter 225 Escaping by a Hairs Breadth

    Annabelle hovered above Xu Yi''s head, transforming into her original form, a doll in a white dress that emanated a unique fluctuation.Black patterns appeared on Noah Weiss''s body, the curse of Annabelle.


    But Noah Weiss''s muscles bulged, and the black patterns were forcibly expelled from his body.


    Xu Yi had an expression as if he''d seen a ghost, the opponent had actually managed to expel Annabelle''s curse through sheer physical strength.


    He sprinted towards the edge of the rooftop, the "Breaking Cocoon" of the Evil Deity was incredibly strong, escape was the only option now.


    He pressed the detonator in his hand, he hadn''t been idling on the rooftop, having placed a large amount of explosives around it.


    The explosives erupted thunderously, dust and smoke billowing everywhere.


    Of course, the explosives couldn''t harm Noah Weiss; they were only meant to disrupt his vision and create an opportunity to escape.


    He dashed off the rooftop, and in the instant his feet left the ground, a pair of glider wings appeared in his hands, which he had prepared in advance and stored in his Toy Treasure Box.


    Xu Yi flew off into the sky, instantly distancing himself from the building.


    But a dark silhouette suddenly appeared behind him, a palm piercing through his chest, yanking out his heart.


    Xu Yi violently spat out a mouthful of blood, still desperately clutching the steel frame of the glider, kicking out at Noah Weiss with all the strength in his hind legs.


    Noah Weiss fell towards the ground and slammed violently into an overhanging billboard, creating a deep dent in the steel construction.


    Noah Weiss lifted Xu Yi''s heart to his face, his eyes shimmering with excitement, ready to stuff the heart into his mouth.


    But the heart suddenly combusted without any flame, instantly turning into a blazing fire, the black-gold Demon-Suppressing Flame engulfing Noah Weiss.


    The glider carried Xu Yi farther away from Noah Weiss, his whole body dripping with cold sweat, grimacing in pain.


    Having lost his heart, an ordinary person would have been dead beyond doubt; fortunately, he possessed the Entries for Hyper Accelerated Regeneration, and his missing heart was visibly regrowing.


    Of course, he didn''t believe he could escape merely with explosives and a glider; his blood and flesh were excellent mediums for the Demon-Suppressing Flame, which was the source of his confidence in escaping.


    Xu Yi breathed a slight sigh of relief; he was now far from Noah Weiss, who was entangled by the Demon-Suppressing Flame and lacking the ability to fly, so he shouldn''t be able to catch up that easily.


    But suddenly, a chill enveloped Xu Yi, and he sensed the presence of death, his head whipping around.


    Noah Weiss was standing on the billboard, the Demon-Suppressing Flame on his body already dispelled. He stretched out his index finger, aiming it from afar at Xu Yi.


    A black liquid flowed out from Noah Weiss''s palm, converging at his fingertip, a large amount of the dark water taking on a sparkling glow.


    Noah Weiss flicked his finger, and a massive column of black water shot towards Xu Yi, skimming the edge of a building on its way, instantly corroding away the solid steel exterior.


    The column of water moved incredibly fast, Xu Yi had no way to avoid it, and was engulfed along with the glider.


    The black water fell down, leaving the spot where Xu Yi had been completely empty.


    The cameras on the fighter jet faithfully recorded this scene, the footage transmitted back to the underground command center, where everyone fell silent.


    Until recently, Xu Yi could chase the Evil Deity around frantically; now, he was utterly powerless to fight back.


    "Mayor, can the exorcist with the title truly kill that monster? I''m afraid we need to prepare for the worst," someone broke the silence.


    The mayor sighed, "Let''s wait till the Dragon Empress arrives. If that''s still not enough, we''ll have no choice but to contact that organization."


    The scene of Xu Yi being devoured by the black water was not witnessed only by the people at the command center.


    Far away, on a tall building, Lisa and Carlyle watched through binoculars.


    "Xu Yi¡­" Carlyle collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably, her mind a blank, not daring to think back to what had just happened.


    "Take care of yourself!" Lisa said softly, then turned and went downstairs.


    Lisa''s voice was gentle, and her facial expression didn''t change much, but when Carlyle made eye contact with her, she glimpsed the terror and overwhelming grief in her eyes.


    Carlyle knew very well that Lisa was rushing to the spot where Xu Yi had fallen.


    If Xu Yi truly had died, one could imagine that Lisa would undoubtedly charge at the monster in an attempt at revenge, even if it meant her own death.


    Noah Weiss leapt down from the tall building and landed with a crash.


    He knew Xu Yi wasn''t dead; he could still smell the sweet scent of blood emanating from them.


    Their scent hadn''t shifted, meaning they likely sustained severe injuries and couldn''t move anymore.


    This situation was most advantageous, and at the thought of devouring that sweet blood soon, Novavis roared in excitement.


    Just then, a rocket whizzed through the air and smashed into Novavis''s face, exploding on impact.


    Such an attack was so trivial that Novavis didn''t even bother to dodge; he turned his head and saw a figure crouching in an alley, a rocket launcher on their shoulder.


    The scene was captured by a camera and transmitted back to command, where everyone was stunned.


    "Is that... Daniel?"


    They could hardly believe it. Even Xu Yi was no match for the Evil Deity; Daniel, just an ordinary person, dared to challenge it with such a laughable approach?


    Daniel threw aside the rocket launcher on his shoulder and stood straight, facing such a terrifying monster with no trace of fear on his face.


    The vampire Barton once said, "True Avenger feels no fear."


    Today, he finally understood the meaning behind those words.


    After making arrangements for the surviving children of the Finns, he started to hurry over, which is why he was a bit late.


    Novavis watched Daniel with interest, not attacking immediately.


    Because he smelled sweet blood from him, the blood was still fermenting, far from its most delicious moment.


    Daniel''s phone kept ringing; Mia called him relentlessly. He picked up the phone as if he didn''t care that the Evil Deity was right beside him.


    "Daniel, I''ve got the children! Where are you? I can''t see you," Mia''s anxious voice came from the other end of the line.


    "Mia, if possible, please take care of those children, and... forget about me!" Daniel crushed the phone in his hand, his face showing an indecipherable expression.


    He turned his head to the Evil Deity and said softly, "You were released by me; now, it''s my turn to send you back to Hell!"


    ......


    In a building far away, Xu Yi lay on the cold ground, his face void of any color from the intense pain.


    Novavis was right; Xu Yi wasn''t dead, but he wasn''t far from death either. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His entire body had been dissolved by black water, leaving only a head.


    In the last moments, he decapitated himself and threw his head to avoid certain death.


    Hyper Accelerated Regeneration has its limits; if the body sustains too much damage, exceeding ninety percent, including the brain, it becomes very difficult to regenerate.


    Now that his brain was preserved, given time, his body would slowly recover.


    Xu Yi felt somewhat fortunate to possess the entry of Hyper Accelerated Regeneration; otherwise, it would have been extremely difficult to survive this encounter.


    Despite having a Resurrection Coin, facing such a formidable power, it would only mean dying a few more times unless he rewound to a much earlier point and stayed far from the Evil Deity.


    Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed, and Xu Yi heard a cry filled with extreme sorrow. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    "Xu Yi!"


    Lisa''s face turned ghastly pale at the sight of Xu Yi''s head on the ground, nearly fainting from grief.


    "I think I can still be saved!" Xu Yi quickly spoke out, fearing something untoward might happen, feeling somewhat relieved that his vocal cords were also preserved.


    Xu Yi''s voice was so weak it was mostly breath, and Lisa couldn''t make out what he was saying, but seeing the head move, she burst into tears of joy.


    Lisa had a rough understanding of Xu Yi''s ability, which is why she rushed over immediately.


    "Lisa, I need your help!" Xu Yi looked intently at Lisa.


    Running away wasn''t his style, and with the Evil Deity''s powers, he didn''t know where he could possibly flee to.


    He wanted to reclaim the original blood from the test subjects and attempt to break through to the "Blood God Throne"!

 Chapter 226 Recycle the Origin Blood

    ```Fighter jets were monitoring the Evil Deity Noahves, while the people in the command center watched the footage being transmitted back, feeling puzzled.


    As a Common man, how did Daniel have the courage to challenge the Evil Deity?


    At that moment, the camera swept to the alley behind Daniel, where a metal box lay scattered about.


    "What''s that?" someone with sharp eyes suddenly asked.


    "Pilot number 158, direct the camera to the alley behind Daniel," an officer promptly ordered.


    The camera slowly focused, revealing the metal box to be open, with two syringes indiscriminately thrown inside, emptied of their contents.


    But there were some remnants at the edges of the syringes. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What is that, it looks a bit like Olivedo''s Blood?" someone said in confusion.


    Olivedo''s Blood was pure gold in color, yet the residual liquid was tinged with a faint purple.


    "Could it be that the research on Olivedo''s Blood was successful?" The speaker suddenly had a realization, eyes lighting up.


    The Olivedo''s Blood project had always been under Daniel''s supervision, and due to his special status, he only needed to report the progress of the project once a month.


    Therefore, they were also unclear about which stage the project had actually reached.


    "Look at Daniel, this doesn''t look like a successful research outcome," another person shook their head.


    A bestial roar emanated from Daniel''s throat as fine golden scales began to grow from his skin, and dragon horns pierced through his forehead, protruding menacingly.


    "How could there be such severe Dragon Transformation symptoms?" someone exclaimed in surprise.


    The ultimate goal of the Olivedo''s Blood experiment was to create a potion that could grant humans a strong physique without changing their human form.


    No one wanted to live bearing the appearance of a monster.


    So clearly, what was before them was not the perfected Olivedo''s Blood.


    "This couldn''t possibly be the Dragon Blood Burst Potion, could it?" someone suddenly spoke up.


    During the research on Olivedo''s Blood, in one fortuitous experiment, they created a special potion, namely the Dragon Blood Burst Potion.


    It could induce Dragon Transformation, granting immense strength, even comparable to that of a Great Exorcist.


    But there was only one consequence to taking the potion: death.


    Originally, they wanted to create a "Suicide Squad" with this potion, but Daniel refused, not willing to create such an "inhumane" drug.


    Without Daniel''s approval, they had no choice, after all, he was a member of the Finn family.


    Apart from Daniel, no one else had the capability to research Olivedo''s Blood.


    Unexpectedly, Daniel had secretly continued his research and even achieved results.


    A gigantic shadow suddenly obscured Daniel as terrifying dragon wings burst forth from his back, and Daniel violently looked up, his pupils shining like molten gold.


    "Even dragon wings have grown out, how could it reach such a degree of Dragon Transformation?"


    Someone in the command center cried out in alarm.


    "Obviously, this is an enhanced version of the Dragon Blood Burst Potion, it seems that Daniel has done very in-depth research on this potion behind the scenes."


    Noahves watched Daniel quietly, not interrupting the other''s "ascension," finding the scent of his blood increasingly tempting.


    But he suddenly turned his head, frowning in the direction of Xu Yi, who had started to move.


    Not wanting to wait any longer for his "meal to be ready," he prepared to deal with Xu Yi first.


    A deep roar suddenly sounded, with Daniel fully transforming into a half-human, half-dragon creature, he lunged at Noahves.


    The enhanced Dragon Blood Burst Potion could only last for half an hour.


    After half an hour, he would die regardless, with no chance of survival, so he had to make the most of the time.


    ```


    Before coming, he had already prepared himself for death.


    But there was one thing Daniel deeply regretted.


    He should have stopped Xu Yi, so Xu Yi wouldn''t have died.


    However, he couldn''t follow Xu Yi right away, as the city was filled with divis of the Evil Deity, and those children were the Finns'' hope, which couldn''t be compromised.


    What he didn''t know was that by stopping Noahvis, he had inadvertently saved the lives of Xu Yi and Lisa.


    ......


    In the alleyways of Boston, Lisa, with Holy Advent Mode activated, was sprinting madly with a backpack on her back that carried Xu Yi''s head.


    A large group of divis of the Evil Deity was in chase behind her, like sharks that had scented blood.


    Although the divis were numerous, they were dispersed across the vast city, maybe one or two every few kilometers.


    Even with the worst luck, it was unlikely to attract so many divis of the Evil Deity, yet there were twelve.


    It was obviously because Noahvis had issued commands to the divis of the Evil Deity.


    If Noahvis knew he wasn''t dead, why didn''t he come personally? Xu Yi wondered.


    But regardless, this was absolutely good news for them.


    Lisa''s face was pale, this being her second time activating Holy Advent.


    Although she had fully mastered the Witch of the Holy Hunt''s Ability and the side effects were much lessened, if she kept activating it repeatedly, the cumulative side effects would become very severe.


    The Black Carp had inherited the "Heart of the Evil Creature" for too short a time and had hardly devoured any supernatural creature flesh, so it was of no help at all.


    "Hang in there! Reinforcements will arrive soon!" Xu Yi''s voice was hoarse, but at least it was clear enough for people to understand what he was saying.


    He had already recovered quite a bit, with his heart and chest grown back, only missing the limbs now.


    A dark shadow swooped down from the sky like a hawk, rushing toward the group of Evil Deity divis.


    Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire


    These terrifying divis of the Evil Deity, in the face of that dark shadow, were like little lambs, as their bodies were pierced by sharp bone spikes, their blood drained dry.


    Xu Yi quietly watched the shadow, the test subject had grown stronger over this period, becoming even more terrifying.


    He grew increasingly curious about what Quality the incubated God-melting Blood had reached.


    Test Subject One killed all the divis of the Evil Deity, then suddenly turned its head, with blood-red pupils staring at Lisa.


    Lisa''s body tensed up, ready to flee, as the other was too strong and she would stand no chance.


    "Don''t worry! It''s just a little lamb!" Xu Yi comforted in a soft voice, not considering Test Subject One a threat at all.


    Suddenly, Test Subject One let out a piercing scream, falling to the ground and writhing in agony, its chest torn open as a tangle of black tentacles emerged from within.


    Of course, Xu Yi had safeguards against the test subject, for what if the test subject became too powerful to control?


    So, during the Brain Worm removal surgery, the Nest of the Evil God took the opportunity to infiltrate the Eyeless Snake''s body.


    With the Eyeless Snake in the heart being the core of the Evil Deity''s divi, once under control, it could cause no more trouble.


    After the core of Test Subject One was destroyed, its flesh quickly rotted, giving off a foul stench.


    Lisa walked straight over and picked up the Nest of the Evil God from the ground, which was wrapping something with its tentacles.


    Lisa placed the Nest of the Evil God into the Copper Jar, the tentacles of the Nest opened up, and platinum-colored liquid flowed into the jar.


    This was the incubated God-melting Blood, only the size of a mung bean.


    Xu Yi had anticipated this, as high-quality blood was refined, not simply increased by the amount of blood the test subject absorbed.


    "Let me get close to the blood!"


    What Quality was the God-melting Blood now? Xu Yi couldn''t wait to find out.

 Chapter 227 S-Rank God-melting Blood

    ```Lisa moved the copper jar closer to Xu Yi''s nostrils, activating his blood olfactory ability; Xu Yi stared at the system information and his eyes widened.


    [God-melting Blood (Upgraded Filthy Version)], "Quality: S", "Fusion Success Rate: 8%", "Promotion Potential: Red Epic¡ª¡ª??"


    S grade! It was actually S grade quality blood! S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The predictions of Mysticism Revelation wouldn''t be wrong, meaning that if one were to follow the normal fusion pathway, in the end, they could only produce "S-" quality God-melting Blood.


    The enhancement in quality was clearly the result of the work of the Evil Deity.


    You must know that the blood of the Evil Deity is also "S" grade.


    Xu Yi looked toward the end of the information: "Red Epic¡ª¡ª??".


    This piece of information was highly intriguing. According to the description of the "Blood Throne", after devouring high-quality blood, the entries could reach up to the "Red Epic" level.


    But now question marks had appeared.


    Could it be that the "Blood Throne" could exceed the Red Epic level?


    "God-melting Blood (Upgraded Filthy Version)", whether it was the quality or the promotion potential, both invigorated Xu Yi, but seeing the fusion success rate, his face fell.


    A success rate of less than ten percent was simply too dismal to behold.


    "Let''s first reclaim all of the original blood and then refine it to see if we can increase the fusion success rate." Xu Yi immediately decided.


    Fortunately, he had created seven experimental bodies; otherwise, with such a small amount of original blood, the refinement would be extremely challenging.


    ...


    Inside the spacious and well-lit mansion.


    "How could this be?" Xu Yi stared at the God-melting Blood in the test tube with furrowed brows; the situation with the God-melting Blood was completely beyond his expectations.


    His body had now fully recovered, with both arms and legs regrown.


    After reclaiming the last experimental body''s blood, they found a nearby house, which seemed to have been vacated by its inhabitants who had probably fled for safety.


    Noahvis could come after them at any moment, and Xu Yi didn''t have time to return to the villa, leaving him no choice but to conduct experiments here.


    Fortunately, Annabelle''s toy space contained an entire set of tools.


    A meow woke the daydreaming Xu Yi as Black Carp came to his side.


    "You''ve worked hard!" Xu Yi petted Black Carp''s head.


    Black Carp had just been out on a task, carrying a "clone" of Xu Yi towards another direction in the city.


    The so-called clone was flesh cut from Xu Yi, to which some potion was added; the "enhanced" flesh emitted a strong stench of blood, attracting the Evil Deity away.


    This was a necessary action; otherwise, with the Evil Deity clone constantly harassing them, Xu Yi would not be able to concentrate on purifying the blood.


    "But now is not the time to rest." Xu Yi pulled out a Nest of the Evil God and tossed it to Black Carp, who swallowed it in one gulp.


    Black Carp left the house again, disappearing from Xu Yi''s sight after a few leaps.


    Black Carp was preparing to find Noahvis.


    The fact that Noahvis had not pursued him was unsettling to Xu Yi, so he could only send Black Carp on a dangerous mission with the Nest of the Evil God to monitor the enemy.


    As Black Carp departed, Xu Yi''s attention returned to the experiment.


    The God-melting Blood was a platinum color, dazzling and eye-catching, but upon close observation, one could see hair-like black strands mixed within.


    The goal of the blood purification was to separate these "black hair-like strands".


    However, he had tried every method and even burned entries, using the ability "Mysticism Inspiration", but found no clue whatsoever.


    At this moment, he began to miss "Mysticism Revelation", but it stubbornly remained untriggered. Xu Yi knew he couldn''t pin his hopes on luck.


    ```


    ```


    Could it be that the God-melting Blood hatched from the Evil Deity''s avatar cannot be purified, just like the blood of the Evil Deity itself? Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Should I try to merge it directly? After all, there''s an 8% success rate," Xu Yi suddenly thought to himself.


    ......


    This was a battle to the death between two monsters.


    Claws and dragon wings ripped through the air, golden flames collided with the sticky black liquid, causing violent explosions, and the surrounding buildings collapsed with a roar.


    Transformed into a dragon, Daniel was enveloped in golden flames, and his sturdy dragon scales were torn apart; blood had just started to spill when it was evaporated by the flames.


    Daniel gasped heavily, and due to the dragon transformation, his breath was intensely hot.


    He was covered in wounds, but Noahvis appeared to have only light injuries, with only his chest showing cracks like shattered glass.


    Daniel had expected this situation; he didn''t think that just by injecting the Dragon Blood Burst Potion he would be a match for an Evil Deity.


    "To kill Noahvis, there''s only one chance!"


    Daniel felt the object in his pocket, his expression intensely focused.


    During the fight, he had been protecting the contents of his pocket to prevent them from being destroyed.


    On a high building not far away, Black Carp watched the fierce battle below quietly, and Xu Yi''s monitor had finally been positioned.


    Through the view from the Nest of the Evil God, Xu Yi finally understood why he had narrowly escaped disaster.


    Although the other had changed greatly, he still recognized who it was; seeing Daniel didn''t surprise him too much.


    From the look in Daniel''s eyes when Xu Yi saw him at the Finn estate, he knew that Daniel would definitely go all out against Noahvis.


    It wasn''t just for revenge, but also to clear his own sins.


    If looked at from another angle, the "extermination" of the Finn family could be said to be the "hidden hand" behind Daniel.


    Although that wasn''t his intent, the fact remained.


    The resurrection of the Evil Deity originated from the erroneous judgement of vampires and werewolves; they had intended to resurrect Ryan, not realizing that the Evil Deity lurked within Ryan''s flesh and blood.


    The "truth" was already quite clear; Finn self-immolated because he discovered the Evil Deity hiding within his body, and since he could not expel it, he chose to "perish together."


    The vampire Barton had hesitated at first, because he had premonitions of danger and thought about stopping the ritual, but it was Daniel''s persuasion that continued the ceremony.


    When Xu Yi was at the Totte Library, he recognized Daniel''s identity; he was the mysterious man in black standing next to the altar.


    The battle had now reached its most intense phase.


    Daniel''s dragon wings were torn off, and scalding blood gushed from the wound; Daniel''s massively powerful punch landed on Noahvis''s chest, and a smile suddenly appeared on his lips.


    His attack wasn''t sophisticated, but he remembered one thing: to keep striking the opponent''s chest relentlessly.


    A cracking sound came from Noahvis''s chest, and his seemingly indestructible body was finally breached; Daniel''s hand plunged into Noahvis''s chest.


    But Noahvis''s counterattack was even more fierce; he drove his hand into Daniel''s eye socket, scooping out the eyeball and tossing it into his mouth to chew vigorously.


    Daniel, enduring the intense pain in his eye socket, fumbled a syringe from a hidden pocket and thrust it into Noahvis''s wound, injecting all the purple potion inside it into Noahvis''s body.


    Noahvis, who had been expressionless until then, suddenly let out a cry of pain, flinging Daniel away and slamming him hard against the nearby building.


    The panting Daniel suddenly laughed; the purple potion was made from the extract of the remnants of the giant cocoon.


    Through his research, Daniel discovered that the cocoon wrapping around the Evil Deity contained a particular toxin that was extremely deadly to the Evil Deity.


    This was also one of the reasons why the Evil Deity needed to use the Doomsday Blade to break the cocoon.


    Purple patterns spread across Noahvis''s body, and he coughed violently, spitting out murky black blood.


    In agony, he collapsed to the ground, curling up and convulsing involuntarily.


    ```

 Chapter 228 Exploiting a Bug

    ```Noahveis struggled in agony for a moment before gradually becoming still, lying motionless on the ground.


    Daniel''s eyes lit up, not expecting the toxin extracted from the giant cocoon to be so effective.


    He stood up, ready to deal with Noahveis.


    But suddenly, Noahveis''s chest burst open, and a pitch-black heart was forcibly squeezed out, along with the purple toxin.


    Noahveis slowly opened his eyes, his face unable to hide his fatigue, and a flash of anger shone in his eyes.


    He rose abruptly, with strong corrosive black water converging in his palm, turning into a sharp "black blade"; Daniel wanted to back away, but it was too late.


    The "black blade" pierced through Daniel''s abdomen, his intestines corroded into a flow of bloody fluid, as Daniel screamed in agony.


    Noahveis opened his gaping mouth, his teeth fine and sharp as he bit into Daniel''s arm; even the tough dragon scales couldn''t stop it, the flesh tore open, and even the bones inside were bitten through.


    Daniel was tightly "embraced" by Noahveis, with no chance to break free. Both of his arms were gnawed off, completely losing the power to resist.


    A look of despair flashed in Daniel''s eyes, as Noahveis was about to bite into his skull and suck out his brain matter.


    Silver light suddenly flashed, piercing Noahveis''s yet-to-heal chest with precision; it was a long needle engraved with complex patterns.


    The long needle penetrated Noahveis''s body, growing countless spikes, like a thorn bush.


    Noahveis winced in pain, retracted one hand to pull the thorns from his chest; Daniel seized this opportunity to break free from Noahveis''s grasp.


    Daniel was all too familiar with the long needle that had stabbed into his opponent''s chest; he turned his head and saw the last person he wanted to see.


    "Mia! Get out of here!" Daniel roared.


    Although he had said his goodbyes to Mia over the phone and entrusted the children of the Finns to her, she had still come.


    Mia tossed a chain; the chain was only as thick as a thumb, and a half an inch long, but as it flew through the air, the front end of the chain began to extend, quickly growing to a hundred meters long.


    The chain wasn''t aimed at Noahveis; it flew towards Daniel, binding him tightly.


    "Don''t worry about me! Get out of here!" Daniel yelled anxiously, sensing what Mia was intending to do.


    Mia turned her head toward the direction of the city, struggling to sense a familiar presence; she suddenly felt something and pointed towards the chain.


    The chain soared into the sky, taking Daniel away from the battlefield.


    Mia was well accustomed to this sort of thing, just like the countless times she had protected Daniel before.


    Of course, Noahveis wouldn''t just watch his "delicacy" escape from under his nose; he lunged at Daniel with force.


    Mia slashed her own palm, blood flowing into the bronze bracelet in her hand.


    She chanted in some ancient, unknown language, and flung the bracelet with force; the bracelet intercepted in front of Noahveis and exploded violently.


    A vast amount of liquid metal poured out from the bracelet, forming a dense thicket of sharp thorns; Noahveis was trapped amid the Thorn Forest, and for a moment was unable to move. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No common Magic Artifact could achieve this; this was Mia''s Exorcism Holy Relic, the Guardian Thorns.


    "Be careful!" Daniel shouted a warning.


    He tried to struggle out of the chains, but he was too injured and too weak; if not for the effects of the Dragon Blood Elixir, he would have already died.


    Noahveis''s feasting had been interrupted time and again, and he was completely enraged; he rammed his head into the metal thorns, his head shattering, but countless Eyeless Snakes burrowed out from under his neck, replacing his head.


    The prior Noahveis at least maintained a human form; now, he had transformed into a horrifying monster.


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    The Eyeless Snakes used their razor-sharp teeth to tear apart the metal thorns, forcibly breaking through the blockade of the Exorcism Holy Relic.


    "No!" Daniel screamed in despair.


    Mia was focused on controlling the Exorcism Holy Relic; therefore, she didn''t see when an Eyeless Snake, having broken away, wriggled out of the Thorn Forest and moved behind her.


    The body of the Eyeless Snake coiled, then shot forward, instantly piercing through Mia''s abdomen; her white wedding dress, not even changed in her rush, was stained red with blood.


    Two lines of bloody tears slid down Daniel''s cheeks; at that moment, all the light in his pupils extinguished as he let the chain carry him away.


    ......


    Xu Yi took deep breaths, adjusting himself to an optimal state.


    ```


    He no longer hesitated, jabbing the syringe into his own arm, and injecting the platinum liquid entirely into his body.


    After a moment of hesitation, he still decided to directly inject the God-melting Blood, although there was only an 8% chance of successful fusion. But what if it could create a miracle?


    [High-quality blood has been detected entering your body. Do you wish to initiate "Blood Fusion Ascension" on the Blood Throne? (Note: "Blood Fusion Ascension" can only be activated once; please choose carefully!)]


    Xu Yi didn''t hesitate and chose "Yes."


    [Prepare for a severe reaction as "Blood Fusion Ascension" will commence.]


    Xu Yi suddenly screamed in agony, falling to the ground and convulsing in pain.


    Lisa''s face was full of anguish, but she couldn''t do anything because Xu Yi had already instructed her that no matter what she saw, she should not interfere. All she needed to do was guard the door and prevent Evil Deities from disturbing.


    Xu Yi felt as though he had plunged into magma, his flesh and blood starting to melt away, and he desperately yearned for a basin of water to pour over his body, to help cool him down.


    The next second, his wish was granted.


    He shivered from the cold, as if he had fallen into a frigid polar lake, the piercing chill engulfing his whole body, his cells freezing into ice shards.


    But he would have preferred to continue enduring the scalding of the magma.


    The alternating torment of ice and fire ravaged Xu Yi from within, as he waited in extreme pain for salvation, for that touch of "Sweet Spring" to heal his tattered body.


    But the "Sweet Spring" didn''t come; instead came a system notification.


    [The "Blood Fusion Ascension" is about to fail. The "Salvation" ability will be initiated, and the entry is fixed at "Blue Common" level.]


    It had failed!


    The miracle did not happen; the 8% chance of fusion success was indeed too low.


    Xu Yi, enduring the pain, reached for the Alchemical Revolver Messiah he had prepared beforehand and pointed it at his temple.


    Before Lisa could react, he pulled the trigger.


    The "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration" entry was always enabled by default, but Xu Yi could also choose to turn it off. Just before pulling the trigger, he turned off the "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration" entry.


    The bullet penetrated his brain, and without the aid of the "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration" entry, his body was no more than an ordinary human''s.


    Xu Yi had committed suicide.


    A faint golden light shone before his eyes, and it had been a long time since Xu Yi returned to the Resurrection Space.


    He had a total of 22 Resurrection Coins on him, including the 16 he had been left with before, and the 6 he had acquired from signing in over the past six months.


    With one Resurrection Coin used, 21 remained.


    The failure of "Blood Fusion Ascension" meant that the entry would be locked at the "Blue Common" level, which was a complete waste for such a precious entry as the Blood Throne.


    But he had Resurrection Coins. As long as he committed suicide before the failure, allowing time to rewind, it was as if the failure never happened.


    Xu Yi had realized this bug long ago, which is why he proceeded with the fusion despite the mere 8% chance.


    This was like buying a lottery ticket; if the fusion were successful, there would be great joy. If not, the loss of one Resurrection Coin was also acceptable.


    Time rewound, and Xu Yi resurrected ten minutes earlier.


    He stood in front of the lab table, staring silently at the God-melting Blood inside the test tube.


    He now had two choices.


    One was to continue injecting the God-melting Blood, gambling on that 8% chance; the other was to flee, to get far away from a city like Boston.


    After the recent attempt at fusion, he had felt that the chance of successful fusion was slim.


    The latter seemed like a good choice; now that he had obtained the God-melting Blood, given time, he would surely find a way to increase the odds of a successful fusion.


    But Noahvess was being bombarded by the Doomsday Blade and poisoned by the toxins in the cocoon, in a weakened state, which made it the best time to deal with him.


    If Xu Yi waited until he had succeeded with the blood fusion, by then, Noahvess would have certainly recovered. If the adversary ingested more Supernatural Creature blood by that time, his strength would become even more terrifying.


    Moreover, escaping Boston was a challenge in itself, and once Noahvess dealt with the obstruction, he would undoubtedly come after Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi furrowed his brow, hesitating.

 Chapter 229 Ryans Resurrection?

    Xu Yi pondered over breakthrough strategies, and before he knew it, more than ten minutes had passed.He took a deep breath, ready to make a decision when suddenly, a dark shadow crashed through the window glass and burst into the room.


    It was a monster covered in blood.


    Lisa immediately assumed a battle stance, and Xu Yi also tightened his grip on the Alchemy Revolver, but when he got a clear look at the intruder, he stopped Lisa, who was about to attack.


    "Professor Daniel?" Xu Yi spoke softly.


    He had been monitoring the battle situation through the Nest of the Evil God and knew that Mia had sent Daniel out, but he didn''t expect him to be sent to his location.


    Could Mia think that being with him was safer? Xu Yi couldn''t help but let out a wry smile. He was hardly in a position to protect himself.


    As an Exorcism Artifact, the chains that sent Daniel here had already exhausted their energy.


    Daniel could easily break free, but he didn''t. He lay on the ground, motionless.


    Daniel''s eyes moved, glancing only momentarily at the test tube before shifting his gaze away, staring blankly and lifelessly at the ceiling.


    "Professor Daniel, could you take a look at this potion for me?" Seeing Daniel, Xu Yi''s eyes lit up as he spoke urgently.


    In the realm of supernatural blood research, Daniel was the true master.


    Born into the Finn family and with the Totte Library open to him from a young age, Daniel, with his outstanding talent, immersed himself in relentless study, a level of dedication that Xu Yi, a "latecomer," couldn''t match.


    So maybe he knew why the God-melting Blood couldn''t be purified.


    Professor Daniel did not respond, his gaze remaining empty on the ceiling.


    Thanks to the Dragon Blood Burst Potion, he was able to stay alive temporarily, but his heart was already dead.


    He didn''t want to do anything, and he couldn''t do anything.


    He even hoped that the potion''s effects would wear off soon. Every minute and every second he was alive was so painful, so agonizing.


    Seeing Daniel in this state, Xu Yi''s brows furrowed slightly.


    Even if a gun were pointed at his head now, Daniel would not respond.


    The psychic trauma he had suffered was too severe. His brain had automatically closed off his self-awareness, refusing to communicate with the outside world.


    Luckily, Xu Yi was an expert in this field. With his knowledge in Psychology Entries, he knew exactly how to bring someone back to their senses.


    "Professor Daniel, you must have always been troubled, haven''t you? Despite being born into the Finn family, you were just a Common person, unable to inherit the Talent of an exorcist. As an ambitious person, you couldn''t accept that."


    Xu Yi used the Cold Reading Technique to construct a psychological portrait for Daniel.


    "So you studied the family''s knowledge desperately, and you finally found a path to achieve transcendence: Olivedo''s blood. However, the experiment stalled after reaching a certain stage."


    Xu Yi walked over to Daniel, quietly looking into his eyes.


    "Of course, that wouldn''t stop you. You planned to resort to Ryan''s fresh blood. For that, you didn''t hesitate to cooperate with werewolves and vampires, staging an elaborate charade on the plane. Once you had Ryan''s remains, the next step was Resurrection, to uncover the secret of his blood..."


    Xu Yi''s voice suddenly turned biting cold, "The Evil Deity resurrected because of you, and you killed your own family! You also killed the person you loved the most! But you don''t feel guilty, you only regret that you couldn''t set foot on the path to transcendence!"


    Xu Yi''s words were too venomous, so much so that even Lisa couldn''t bear it and turned her head away.


    Daniel finally reacted, he roared as he rose up and pounced toward Xu Yi like a wild beast.


    But both of his hands were broken, he possessed no fighting strength at all, Xu Yi grabbed Daniel''s collar and slammed him hard onto the lab bench.


    Xu Yi stared down at Daniel with a fierce gaze, "Did I speak incorrectly? You coward! Mia has really gone blind to fancy someone like you. You''re not even dead yet, but you''re giving up already? Do you even want to take revenge?"


    When Daniel heard the word "revenge", a trace of spirit finally appeared in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he spoke softly, "What do you need me to do for you?"


    "Help me purify this blood, I''ll kill Noavies for you!"


    Xu Yi decided to risk it all, better to give it a fight than flee like a beaten dog.


    Daniel stared into Xu Yi''s eyes and nodded, "Alright! Tell me about the situation with the Blood Potion."


    The situation was urgent; Xu Yi explained the process of creating the blood in the simplest terms, without hiding anything.


    If this had been any other time, Daniel would surely have been astonished by Xu Yi''s thinking, but he knew there was no time left. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Inject the Blood Potion into my heart."


    Although Xu Yi was a bit puzzled, he still did as told.


    After the God-melting Blood was injected into Daniel''s heart, his complexion became even paler, his body suffused with surging blood energy.


    A moment later, he collapsed on the ground wearily, his voice hoarse as he said, "Cut open my chest." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With no hands, Daniel needed Xu Yi to do it for him.


    The knife cut open Daniel''s chest, squeezing out platinum-colored blood. Xu Yi caught it with a test tube, observing closely¡ªthe impurities had indeed decreased.


    [God-melting Blood (Slightly Purified Version), "Quality; S", "Fusion Success Rate: 13%", "Promotion Potential: Red Epic - ??"]


    Xu Yi involuntarily furrowed his brow, the fusion success rate rose from "8%" to "13%". There was indeed an improvement, but it was much too small.


    "This is the limit of what I can do," Daniel explained, "Vampires and werewolves suffer from wasting disease because ''Evil Deity Pollutant Factors'' are present in their blood, which are the impurities in the God-melting Blood."


    "So, Ryan is able to cure the wasting disease because he can absorb the Evil Deity Pollutant Factors?" Xu Yi probed.


    Daniel nodded, "Exactly, I was just imitating Ryan, using the Dragon Blood in my heart to absorb the pollutant factors. But I am not Ryan, after all, this is the best I could do."


    Daniel sounded somewhat disheartened, "A substantial purification would require nothing less than Ryan''s resurrection."


    He raised his head, looking at Xu Yi, "You should leave quickly! I know all that you said just now was to purposely enrage me. I thank you once again on behalf of the children of the Finns."


    Xu Yi did not respond, examining the God-melting Blood within the test tube.


    Should he attempt it one more time? He was in a dilemma, as the fusion rate had improved, but the extent of that improvement was too small.


    Just then, the sound of a sonic boom suddenly came from the horizon, drawing Xu Yi''s and Daniel''s attention instantly. They looked up from the balcony window.


    A figure streaked across the sky, flying towards the direction of Noavies.


    Immense wings unfolded behind the figure, and within the crimson pupils seemed to burn blood-colored flames. As the figure roared, the sharp fangs of a vampire were revealed.


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    It was a very beautiful girl, with a strange totem mark on her forehead, where the sun and moon intertwined.


    Xu Yi''s eyes widened in surprise, his face in disbelief because it was Carlyle!


    What surprised him even more, Daniel suddenly exclaimed, "It''s Ryan! Ryan is resurrected!"

 Chapter 230 If Someone Steals Something You Love

    ```Half an hour ago.


    Carlyle sat on the rooftop floor, his face a portrait of utter bewilderment, after witnessing Xu Yi dissolving into the black water and then seeing Lisa leave.


    At that moment, the rooftop door was pushed open, and a dark figure stepped in slowly. Carlyle turned his head alertly.


    It wasn''t a split-off of the Evil Deity. The figure looked somewhat familiar. After ruminating for a short while, Carlyle finally remembered, "You''re the vampire from the plane? Why did you help us that day?"


    "Because you are special," Barton answered blandly.


    That day on the plane, vampires were grappling for the box containing Ryan''s flesh, nearly harming Carlyle.


    But it was all a play put on by Barton and Daniel. The whereabouts of Ryan''s flesh were also leaked to him by Daniel.


    Before the plan began, Daniel had emphasized repeatedly not to inadvertently harm innocent people, so the entire "robbery" was unusually restrained.


    However, that alone wasn''t enough to compel Barton to take action and fend off his own kind.


    The first generation of vampires stood a certain chance of awakening innate abilities, and he was one of the lucky ones. His ability was "Premonition."


    At the time of resurrecting Ryan''s flesh, he had a premonition of impending doom.


    At that moment, however, he thought that the worst-case scenario would merely be that a resurrected Ryan went berserk.


    With the werewolves and vampires present, they could handle it completely, and Daniel was also there advising him. To cure the wasting disease, he made the risky choice to proceed.


    That was also his most regretted decision.


    The reason Barton saved Carlyle was because of his premonition ability.


    The instant he saw Carlyle, he had a premonition that she would be the next "Ryan."


    "Do you like Xu Yi?" Barton suddenly broke the silence.


    Carlyle was stunned; she could never have anticipated that Barton sought her out to ask about her feelings.


    She couldn''t deny it, and with her head lowered, said nothing.


    Barton looked off into the distance, his gaze tinged with reminiscence, "I also had a girl I liked, to be precise, my wife, but sadly, they are all dead, killed by my own hands."


    With a tone devoid of emotion, Barton spoke of the most tragic event, and Carlyle''s body stiffened.


    "Maybe they didn''t want me to seek vengeance but just wanted me to live well. Yet, I still have to do it. Do you know why?" Barton turned to look at Carlyle.


    "To lessen the pain in your heart?" Carlyle unconsciously covered the area where her heart was, a dull ache throbbing there.


    Barton didn''t continue this subject, and instead, intentionally or unintentionally asked, "Do you think if you died, Xu Yi would avenge you?"


    Carlyle curled up, tears silently cascading down.


    Her life had been saved by Xu Yi, and although he had always said that they were even, having saved each other once,


    she knew after understanding Xu Yi''s strength that Xu Yi wouldn''t have died from drowning at all.


    "I want revenge. Do you have a way?" Carlyle suddenly looked up, staring intently at Barton.


    She knew he wouldn''t have come to her for no reason. If he was mentioning revenge, he must have a method in mind.


    Barton pulled out a syringe, the liquid within was bright and translucent red, refracting light like a ruby gemstone.


    "This is the Ryan Blood Potion, it grants you tremendous power, turning you into Ryan. The monster that arose initially was defeated by Ryan, who then fell into a deep slumber."


    After the resurrection of the Evil Deity, Barton revisited the Ancient Tomes left behind by the vampire lineage.


    From the subtle clues in the text, he pieced together the true events of history.


    Originally, upon Ryan''s death, as the Vampire Progenitor, Dracula saw an opportunity. He had never been content living under Ryan''s rule.


    To legitimately claim the kingdom''s throne, he sought to become the new "Ryan."


    Thus, he consumed Ryan''s flesh and blood.


    At first, Dracula''s powers did indeed amplify significantly, but soon after, he realized he had contracted a severe case of the wasting disease.


    They are all descendants of Dracula, with his blood coursing through their veins; naturally, the wasting disease would manifest in them.


    A similar fate befell the werewolves. The crazed Dracula, after contracting the disease, attacked the werewolf progenitors, feeding them his own original blood, hoping to exterminate the werewolves with it.


    ```


    Dracula, as the original vampire, what kind of devastating injury could have caused him to slumber beneath the ancient tomb for centuries?


    The injuries were just an excuse; in reality, he used his slumber to delay the onset of the exhaustion disease.


    "Why me?" Carlyle simply couldn''t understand why she, an ordinary person, was chosen by the other party.


    "I''ve told you, you are special."


    Barton didn''t explain much, but he also didn''t choose to deceive her.


    "Ryan''s Blood Potion can indeed grant you great power, but that''s assuming the fusion is successful. If it fails, there''s only one outcome: death."


    With Barton''s power, he could easily force the Blood Potion on Carlyle, but he wouldn''t do that. He wanted to leave a glimmer of hope for the surviving werewolves and vampires. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You choose for yourself!" He placed the Blood Potion on the ground and turned to leave.


    Carlyle stared at Barton''s retreating figure, lost in thought. After hesitating for a moment, she picked up the syringe from the ground with trembling hands.


    Could she really merge with the Ryan Blood Potion? And if she failed, what then?


    Even if she succeeded, could she truly defeat that terrifying creature?


    All her life she had been timid, even afraid to sleep in the dark at night.


    She suddenly remembered something that happened while she was a dance teacher at the Finn estate. Her room, possibly due to a wiring issue, suddenly had no working lights.


    It was a moonless night, and the darkness engulfed her room. She was terrified, huddling under the covers and shaking, fearing that some monster would leap out of the darkness and devour her.


    She recalled an incident from her childhood, when a classmate, envious of her dancing awards, lured her into an abandoned equipment room under the pretense that their teacher had asked for her help to clean it.


    Then she was locked inside. The place was so secluded that despite her screams for help, no one came.


    At just seven years old, she tired herself pounding on the door and eventually fell asleep in the equipment room.


    When she awoke, it was completely dark outside.


    It was another moonless night. She was trapped in the pitch-black room, too scared to cry out loud for fear of attracting some monster, sobbing quietly as she trembled.


    It wasn''t until the next morning that she was found by the police.


    After that day, she had to sleep with the lights on, often waking up suddenly in the middle of the night.


    Her aunt, aware of her habit, always prepared a flashlight beside her pillow, but she had come in such a hurry this time that she forgot to bring a flashlight.


    As she shivered, at a loss, the door suddenly opened.


    "You''re still up so late?"


    Hearing Xu Yi''s familiar voice, Carlyle was no longer afraid.


    "Go to sleep early! Early to bed and early to rise makes you healthy," Xu Yi, dragging his weary body towards his makeshift bed, fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.


    "What time is it? And still saying ''early to bed.''" Carlyle muttered quietly.


    Something miraculous happened: Listening to Xu Yi''s steady breathing, she inexplicably felt comforted and, before she knew it, fell asleep.


    This was the first time in many years that she slept without the lights on, and she slept remarkably well.


    But now Xu Yi was dead, and she would never hear that comforting breathing again.


    Carlyle silently removed the cap from the syringe, aimed the needle at her arm, and stabbed it down fiercely.


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    When she was very young, children who disliked her always snatched her toys, tearing apart the ones she cherished.


    Whether she told the teacher or her mother, they would only advise her to be generous, saying it was just a toy after all.


    Until one day, unable to bear it anymore, she fiercely hit the child who took her toy, making them cry out loud.


    Though she was scolded by the teacher afterwards, she felt happy because, from then on, no bad children took her things anymore.


    That was when she understood a principle.


    If someone takes something you love, you can''t be a coward or back down, but need to fiercely show them what you''re made of!


    Carlyle pressed the injection button, administering all the Blood Potion into her body.


    Her eyes were filled with an unwavering resolve.


    Ever since her encounter with a unicorn as a child, her "Sixth Sense" had become particularly strong, and she had a premonition that she would succeed!

 Chapter 231 Purifying God-melting Blood

    "He actually succeeded!" Daniel exclaimed in surprise as he watched Carlyle fly away, taking a moment before he could find his words."Professor Daniel, do you know what happened?"


    Xu Yi looked to Daniel, whose reaction suggested that he knew the reason Carlyle had become "Ryan."


    "We had some of Ryan''s flesh preserved, and after the incident with the Evil Deity, Barton had me extract Ryan''s blood from it to create a syringe that could fuse," Daniel explained.


    Daniel sighed, "The success rate of the syringe fusion is less than one in a thousand. For a common person, an injection pretty much means a one-way ticket to death. I have no idea how Carlyle did it?"


    Xu Yi thought of the unicorn. Carlyle had been blessed by a unicorn when he was little. Could it be related to this?


    "I''ve studied Carlyle''s blood before, and it''s just the blood of a common person!" Daniel said with a puzzled look on his face.


    Xu Yi was slightly taken aback, then suddenly thought of something else.


    Back at Carlyle''s aunt''s house, when Carlyle was close to Ryan''s flesh, dark tendrils appeared on it.


    He had assumed those tentacles came from the Evil Deity, appearing due to a desire for Carlyle''s blood. Now, according to what Daniel said, Carlyle''s blood seemed quite ordinary.


    Could the appearance of those dark tendrils have been due to Ryan''s persistent will?


    "Did you just say, as long as you can purify the God-melting Blood, you could kill Noavies?"


    Daniel suddenly turned his head, staring intently at Xu Yi, in desperate need of affirmation.


    "I can''t say for sure, but I have about a sixty to seventy percent confidence," Xu Yi said, trusting in his blood abilities, but still not making any overpromises.


    "That''s enough! Let''s go to Carlyle, and I will teach her how to absorb the Evil Deity''s corrupting factors!" Daniel said, invigorated.


    So long as they could kill Noavies, it did not matter if there was a sixty to seventy percent chance or even a one percent chance; he would try it.


    "No need," Xu Yi shook his head, looking up towards the skyline, "They''re here!"


    Noavies climbed atop a high-rise, leaping from building to building.


    Although it could not fly, its sturdy body easily negated the force of falling. Black water spouts formed around its body, the swirling causing a powerful suction.


    Wherever Noavies went, it was like the Grim Reaper passing through, and not even those who hid inside buildings could escape; their blood was drawn out from their bodies.


    Dense threads of blood flew up from below, pouring into Noavies'' body.


    Since breaking out of its cocoon, Noavies constantly fought and sustained injuries. It now needed to absorb blood to heal its wounds.


    A dark shadow chased after it; it was Carlyle.


    Carlyle fluttered her black wings behind her, her fingernails growing sharp and menacingly. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She lunged at Noavies, her nails slicing like knives.


    Xu Yi and Daniel both had a clear understanding of how firm Noavies'' body was, yet the sharp nails actually tore through its flesh, leaving it riddled with bloody gashes.


    Xu Yi noticed something even more subtle; Carlyle''s hands were covered in a pale red flame. The red was so faint, almost transparent, and had it not been for his Eyes of Obscurity, he probably wouldn''t have noticed it.


    Those flames appeared to be quite effective against the Evil Deity.


    Xu Yi suddenly remembered, the Evil Deity seemed to have been thwarted by Ryan before.


    Ryan self-immolated, forcing the Evil Deity into dormancy¡ªwas it the same semi-transparent flame as the one right now?


    With each of Carlyle''s strikes, she danced on the edge of the Grim Reaper''s scythe.


    With her speed as fast as lightning, and the ability to fly, she repeatedly dodged Noavies'' "captures."


    The moment she would be caught by Noavies, the battle would come to an end.


    The pale red flames, although they restrained the Evil Deity, were limited to merely causing harm; to kill Nuoyawesi, the intensity of these flames was far from sufficient.


    "Even though the fusion with the Blood Potion was successful, obtaining power close to Ryan''s will still require a long period of blood replacement," Daniel was clear about the situation.


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    A huge azure light prison suddenly rose from the ground, trapping Nuoyawesi.


    The special group could no longer hold back and intervened; if the Evil Deity were allowed to continue, an unknowable number of people in this city would perish.


    They silently inscribed an Array, and as soon as Nuoyawesi entered the Array''s range, they immediately activated it.


    A large group of exorcists emerged from hidden corners, their various methods rushing towards the Evil Deity like a storm of wind and rain.


    "Carlyle!" Xu Yi''s eyes lit up and seizing the opportunity, he called out loudly.


    He had not dared to make a sound just a moment ago, fearing that it would distract Carlyle and give Nuoyawesi a chance to catch them in a perilous situation.


    Now that the special group had intervened and Carlyle was in the observation phase, he dared to speak out.


    Carlyle, hearing the familiar voice, turned her head sharply and with the powerful vision of the Blood Clan, spotted Xu Yi inside the house.


    "Xu Yi!" Carlyle came rushing down, smashing through the house''s window to lunge toward Xu Yi, unable to hide her excitement.


    Xu Yi felt like he had caught a cannonball; he patted Carlyle''s head, knowing that now was not the time for comfort and took a step back.


    He looked into her eyes, "Carlyle, I need your help!"


    Carlyle also realized the gravity of the situation and nodded solemnly.


    Daniel began explaining that the principle of extracting the Evil Deity''s corrupting factors was not complicated, and since this was originally Ryan''s ability, Carlyle, who had fused with Ryan''s blood, understood it quickly.


    "Will extracting the Evil Deity''s corrupting factors harm Carlyle''s body?" Xu Yi asked with concern.


    "There will certainly be damage, but it won''t be fatal; she''s very likely to become seriously ill," Daniel did not conceal the truth.


    Xu Yi wanted to ask more, but Carlyle stopped him.


    "It''s okay, let''s get started!" Carlyle looked at Xu Yi, her gaze resolute.


    Xu Yi hesitated for two seconds before passing the God-melting Blood over.


    Carlyle lightly touched the test tube with her fingertip, drawing the God-melting Blood to stick onto her sharp nails; she then pierced her own chest with her fingernail and injected the blood into her heart.


    Her body surged with blood qi, her complexion turning extremely pale.


    A moment later, she withdrew her hand from her chest, allowing the God-melting Blood on her nail to flow back into the test tube.


    Xu Yi intently watched the God-melting Blood in the test tube, the platinum blood becoming even more brilliant, and at the same time, the ability to sense blood activated.


    [God-melting Blood (Refined), "Quality: S", "Fusion Success Rate: 31%", "Promotion Potential: Red Epic¡ª??"]


    "I''m sorry, this is the best I can do!" Carlyle said weakly, sitting on the sofa, her voice hoarse.


    Xu Yi shook his head, "You''ve already done very well."


    Only a 31% increase in the fusion success rate was actually within Xu Yi''s expectations.


    The corrupting factors of the Evil Deity were inherently difficult to remove, and Carlyle was not Ryan, after all; the gap in their strengths was significant.


    Xu Yi was aware that reaching this level was already the limit.


    "Let''s hope for success!" Xu Yi prayed silently.


    To speed up the effect, he inserted the injection into his own heart and without hesitation, emptied it.


    A familiar burning sensation spread, and Xu Yi collapsed to the ground in agony.

 Chapter 232 Blood Fusion Ascension to Godhood

    Xu Yi stared at the God-melting Blood in the test tube, his face looking very ugly.After Carlyle''s purification, the success rate of fusion had risen to 31%, but he still failed, paying another Resurrection Coin for it.


    Theoretically, a 31% chance wasn''t low, and with continuous attempts, success was bound to happen eventually.


    But when exactly would that success be?


    He had at most five resurrection opportunities per day, so what would he do if these ran out and the fusion still hadn''t succeeded?


    At that point, there would be absolutely no room for error.


    Xu Yi was well aware that he couldn''t afford to rely on luck, and he planned to try two more times; if that still didn''t work, he would have to consider other methods.


    But he didn''t act rashly; instead, he turned to Carlyle.


    "Carlyle, were there any tricks to your fusion with the Ryan Blood Potion?"


    According to Daniel, the chances of successfully fusing with the Ryan Blood Potion were less than one in ten million, so could Carlyle''s success really be just luck?


    "I''m not too sure either," Carlyle said, her expression one of confusion; but then something seemed to dawn on her, and she muttered to herself, "A colorful light... I remember, during the fusion, I think I saw a colorful light."


    Xu Yi frowned and pondered, completely clueless.


    After Carlyle absorbed the Evil Deity''s polluted factors with her body, she became significantly weakened. For any living creature, those polluted factors were as deadly as poison on contact with blood.


    She lay on the couch, her body close to a semi-comatose state.


    But she knew she couldn''t afford to fall into a deep sleep; Xu Yi still needed her help. She kept herself awake by biting the tip of her tongue with her sharp fangs, using the pain to stay conscious.


    "Xu Yi, give me your blood, and I want to try something," Carlyle said, propping herself up with great effort.


    Xu Yi hesitated a bit; she was in such bad shape, it really wasn''t a good idea to take any more risks.


    Yet, meeting Carlyle''s determined eyes, he passed the test tube to her.


    Carlyle once again penetrated her heart with her sharp nails; her muscles tensed, and she trembled from the intense pain.


    When she withdrew her nails, her face was as pale as a sheet of paper, and her forehead was drenched in cold sweat.


    On her nails was a drop of heavy blood, her source blood.


    Having become the new "Ryan," she had inherited the abilities of werewolves and vampires, and naturally, she possessed source blood.


    After extracting her source blood, her strength would permanently decline, and it would be difficult to recover.


    Carlyle dripped the source blood into the test tube.


    The source blood was Crystal Red, like a transparent red crystal. Xu Yi noticed something peculiar: at the center of the source blood, a rainbow-colored light was twinkling.


    Common sense suggested that adding new blood could potentially ruin the God-melting Blood, but Xu Yi didn''t care; at worst, he would spend another Resurrection Coin.


    He chose to trust Carlyle.


    Xu Yi thought about going over to support the weakened Carlyle and offer her some comfort.


    But Carlyle shook her head, stopping Xu Yi''s motion. She handed the test tube back to Xu Yi, revealing a faint smile on her lips.


    The next second, her eyes closed, and she collapsed softly onto the couch.


    Xu Yi was greatly startled and quickly checked on Carlyle, finding she had fallen into unconsciousness due to extreme weakness; he let out a slight sigh of relief.


    He observed the test tube held before his eyes, and a special fragrance wafted over; his vampiric sense of smell activated, and then he was stunned.


    [God-melting Blood (Blessed), "Quality: S+", "Success Rate of Fusion: ??", "Promotion Potential: Red Epic¡ª??"]


    A slew of question marks likewise filled Xu Yi''s mind, swiftly followed by overwhelming joy.


    Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    The quality of the God-melting Blood had actually reached "S+", surpassing that of the Evil Deity''s blood!


    Meanwhile, Noah Weiss, who was battling the Special Affairs team, suddenly turned his head and looked in Xu Yi''s direction. He had never encountered such a sweet scent of blood, not even from the original Saint Heir!


    He exuded a massive amount of black water from his body. The black water, like blades, slashed through the cyan Array light screen, shattering it.


    The exorcists from the Special Affairs team changed their expressions drastically, but they soon realized that the Evil Deity wasn''t attacking them but diving towards the ground below.


    Xu Yi, sensing the situation above, didn''t hesitate to inject the "s+" Quality God-melting Blood into his heart.


    The system showed an unknown question mark as the fusion success rate, but he inexplicably had an intuition that this time it would succeed!


    Xu Yi suddenly had a revelation; what he had taken from Carlyle''s heart wasn''t only Ryan''s original blood, but also the unicorn''s "blessing."


    Otherwise, it wouldn''t be possible for the blood to reach "s+" Quality.


    By transferring the unicorn''s "blessing" to Xu Yi, Carlyle would from then on completely lose this blessing.


    The gift was extravagantly precious, but Xu Yi was well aware that the more it was so, the more he couldn''t let down the other''s expectations.


    The God-melting Blood spread from his heart to his entire body, bringing about pain a hundred times more intense than before, like a violent storm.


    He felt every cell in his body being crushed over and over again.


    He fell to the ground, his body convulsing wildly, in so much agony that he couldn''t even make a sound.


    The people present watched Xu Yi with concern, fearing that he would literally die of pain.


    The pain was simply too much to bear!


    One second Xu Yi would faint from the pain, and the next he would be awakened by it. He felt as if he had fallen into an abyss of agony; not even the tortures of Hell could compare.


    His body was covered in blood, every pore seeping fresh blood, with all the organs inside his body being destroyed by the explosive blood energy, turning into a mush of flesh.


    Just as his consciousness was about to disintegrate, a "Sweet Spring" suddenly surged from his heart, pouring over his battered body. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Blood Fusion and Divine Ascension successful! Your body is about to step into the "Divine Tier"!]


    The pain gradually left Xu Yi, replaced by warmth, as if after trekking through the cold snow for countless years, he suddenly immersed himself in a hot spring shrouded in steam.


    Success! Finally, success!


    Xu Yi took a deep breath, his consciousness in a state between fainting and clarity.


    In the real world, Xu Yi suddenly stopped convulsing. A platinum gel-like liquid overflowed from his skin, enveloping his body and quickly solidifying.


    A long, cocoon-like shape appeared before everyone''s eyes.


    The people present instinctively moved away from the white cocoon, feeling an unprecedented oppression, as if an ancient Fierce Beast were lying within it, with thunder-like heartbeats coming from the cocoon.


    In the underground command room.


    The higher-ups in Boston also saw the white cocoon. Even though they couldn''t feel the aura of the cocoon, they could speculate from the reactions of those present.


    The Mayor of Boston suddenly stood up from his chair, almost shouting out the order, "Command the exorcists of the Special Affairs team! At all costs, protect that white cocoon!"


    The very moment the white cocoon appeared, he clearly saw Noah Weiss''s body trembling slightly.


    The Evil Deity was actually in fear! The Evil Deity was actually afraid of the creature inside that white cocoon!


    The heartbeat of the white cocoon woke Lisa. She suddenly realized something, lunged toward the white cocoon on the floor, and scooped it up.


    Divine Arrival activated, pale gold light flashed through her pupils as Lisa, holding the white cocoon that Xu Yi had transformed into, dashed toward the door.


    The walls of the room were smashed, and the Eyeless Snake on Noah Weiss''s neck roared along. Daniel and Carlyle, the two sweet "delicacies" nearby, were well within reach.


    But Noah Weiss didn''t pause for even a second, chasing after Lisa.


    From the white cocoon, Noah Weiss not only smelled the sweetness like never before but also felt the threat of death.


    There was nothing more important than eradicating this threat.

 Chapter 233 Chase Between Life and Death

    Lisa felt the gale roaring behind her as the terrifying Noaves chased after her.Her forehead was drenched in cold sweat. Even with Divine Arrival activated, her speed was no match for Noaves, not to mention she was currently carrying the heavy white cocoon.


    The breath of Xu Yi inside the cocoon kept rising, but he still needed a bit more time to Break the Cocoon.


    "What should I do? What should I do?"


    Lisa was frantic; she wasn''t afraid of death, she was just worried about failing to protect Xu Yi inside the cocoon.


    "Run! We''ll stop that monster!"


    People in the same uniform stood ready ahead, and one who appeared to be the captain shouted to Lisa in a low voice.


    "Thank you," Lisa said softly as she ran past that group of people.


    The captain shook his head, "Protecting this city is, after all, our Special Affairs team''s responsibility."


    They surely knew how dangerous this mission was, but they still came because they had too many relatives and friends living in this city.


    If the Evil Deity went on a killing spree in the city, their loved ones would not be spared either.


    ......


    The Evil Deity pursued Lisa, leaving the room in disarray with only the unconscious Carlyle and the weak Daniel left behind.


    Daniel lay on the ground, his body curled, trying to bite at the buckle on his waist with his mouth.


    But his body was long and slender, and even when he bent it with all his might, he couldn''t reach the buckle.


    This attempt only caused his wounds to split open again, his body drenched in blood. Daniel was extremely anxious as the duration of the Dragon Blood Burst Potion was coming to an end.


    "Need a hand?"


    It was at that moment he heard a faint voice of inquiry from his side.


    "Barton!" Daniel looked around in surprise, his body suddenly relaxed. "There''s a small mechanism on the side of the buckle. After you open it, please help me take out what''s inside!"


    The vampire Barton crouched down beside Daniel, turned the mechanism on the buckle, and pulled out a brass needle about half a finger long.


    The brass needle was wrapped in dense gray vines, and the vampire smelled the scent of death from it.


    "This is the Finns'' treasure, the Grey Soul Tree Needle," Daniel explained casually. "I need one more small favor from you, help me insert the needle into my skull."


    Without hesitation, Barton inserted the Grey Soul Tree Needle into Daniel''s skull. Daniel''s body shuddered, emanating a spiritual aura.


    The ability of the Grey Soul Tree Needle was simple: it sacrificed one''s own soul to obtain great power for a short time.


    Daniel hadn''t used the needle before because he knew that even with it, he had no way to deal with Noaves.


    Later, when both of his arms were bitten off, he no longer had the chance to use it.


    Now, seeing a glimmer of hope for revenge, he knew that Xu Yi and Lisa still needed his help; he couldn''t fall just yet.


    Daniel''s body shook violently, his eyes turned blood red, and something was emerging from within him, gray vines.


    Vines grew from the broken stumps of his arms, intertwining and eventually weaving into the shape of arms.


    Daniel propped himself up with newly-formed arms, stood up, smashed through the wall, and roared as he chased in the direction where the Evil Deity had vanished.


    Barton watched Daniel leave and then walked slowly to Carlyle, injecting a vial of blood into Carlyle''s body.


    Daniel left in such a hurry that he only glanced at Barton, and if he had observed closely, he would have noticed wrinkles appearing on Barton''s face, and his hair turning white.


    Generally speaking, vampires are ageless creatures, but they do have the potential to age when their origin blood is drawn out in large quantities.


    Now, this origin blood had all been transferred into Carlyle''s body.


    ......


    Lisa raced through the city''s alleys, not daring to stop for a moment.


    Even though the Special Affairs team was intercepting, Noaves was still furiously chasing her from behind.


    "Fountain Plaza is just ahead!" Lisa breathed a slight sigh of relief.


    The Special Task Force members informed her that upon reaching Fountain Plaza, a combat helicopter would be waiting for them, the Evil Deity''s only weakness, might be its inability to fly. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As long as they boarded the helicopter, they would be temporarily safe.


    Lisa could already see the helicopter hovering above Fountain Plaza, which required somewhat open terrain to reduce altitude and let down the rescue ladder.


    Next to the rescue ladder, two soldiers were on standby, ready to leave with the cocoon as soon as they arrived.


    But a black column of water suddenly came from behind, instantly piercing through the helicopter.


    That was the move Noah used against Xu Yi before.


    The helicopter began to fall, crashing into a residential building in a twisted heap before exploding with a roar.


    Lisa''s face changed color; before, the Evil Deity hadn''t attacked these helicopters because they maintained a certain altitude, beyond the Evil Deity''s attack range.


    These helicopters hovering above the rooftops were easy targets for Noah.


    Noah likely attacked the helicopters without hesitation, having realized their plan.


    With the helicopters down, Lisa had no choice but to continue her desperate run.


    At that moment, a tremendous roar came from behind her, spreading like thunder to all corners of the city.


    Lisa didn''t know what had happened, but the roar came from Noah, filling her with a profound unease.


    In the command center underground, everyone''s face turned pale.


    They discovered the purpose of Noah''s roar immediately through the footage captured by the helicopters.


    Vague figures were rapidly darting through the city, surging towards the location of the Evil Deity.


    Noah was summoning the city''s avatars of the Evil Deity!


    "With so many avatars of the Evil Deity, it''s impossible for the Special Task Force to stop them, order them to pull back!" After a moment of rational thought, the mayor gave the order.


    The screeching sound of a chair leg scraping the floor interrupted the meeting as someone suddenly stood up, pushed the chair behind them away, and strode towards the exit.


    "General Sass, where are you going?"


    "If you wish to hide in this rat hole, that''s your choice, but as long as I can still hold a gun, I will not back down," General Sass replied without looking back, leaving the room.


    Everyone present remained silent; General Sass was 82 years old, and his presence at the strategy meeting was merely a sign of respect.


    Throughout the meeting, he had remained silent, so no one had expected him to take a stand at that moment.


    In a corner, Martin, who was wrapped in bandages, also stood up and silently followed in General Sass''s footsteps.


    "Report! The Special Task Force refuses to comply with the order! They insist on continuing to block Noah!" the dispatch officer suddenly announced.


    After a long silence, the mayor finally let out a sigh, "Open the Golden House, and send them the Exorcism Artifacts inside."


    He suddenly understood that rationality wasn''t everything when it came to making a decision.


    ......


    Lisa continued to run towards the next open area, as the people on the helicopter hadn''t given up on rescuing her.


    Screams of agony intermittently came from behind her, each one striking Lisa''s heart like a heavy hammer.


    She knew there was a group of people behind her sacrificing their lives, trying to stop the Evil Deity''s advance.


    Gradually, the screams disappeared, and the commotion from the battle ceased as well.


    Lisa didn''t have time to grieve; she ran desperately forward.


    She was acutely aware that she carried the last hope on her back, the heartbeat coming from the cocoon was becoming more even and forceful.


    Xu Yi would soon emerge from the cocoon.


    Lisa suddenly stopped in her tracks; the surrounding silence was excessive, as if even the air had congealed there.


    She slowly lifted her head, her heart sinking to the bottom of the valley.


    Countless dark shadows clung to the high-rises, encircling her completely, as if she had fallen into a black ocean of the Evil Deity''s avatars.

 Chapter 234 Breaking Cocoon

    The dense clones of the Evil Deity fell like rain, blocking out the light from the sky.Lisa looked up from within the shadows, positioning the white cocoon behind her body, ready to fight to the death.


    A sharp gust of wind suddenly pierced the air, and a dark figure burst out of the alleyway at breakneck speed, its form distorted and elongated, like a black dagger cutting through the encirclement of Evil Deity clones.


    "Run!" Daniel finally arrived and roared at Lisa.


    There was no time for pleasantries; Lisa followed behind Daniel, sprinting with all her might.


    The clones of the Evil Deity ignored Daniel, converging on Lisa, but Daniel let out a roar like a wild beast, as a mass of gray vines shot from his body, entwining the Evil Deity clones.


    He was actually holding back all the clones of the Evil Deity with his own strength.


    As Daniel watched Lisa escape, a smile curled at the corner of his mouth, but his pupils suddenly contracted, and he bellowed, "Watch out!"


    A terrifying figure descended from above; Noahweis, having dispatched all the obstacles in its way, had finally caught up, lunging at Lisa, who was now too late to dodge.


    "As fellow Avengers, I can''t let you hog all the limelight!"


    The faint voice resonated by Daniel''s ear, and without looking back, he knew who had come.


    Vampire Barton spread his wings and charged at Noahweis without hesitation, using all his might to knock Noahweis aside.


    Noahweis landed, the Eyeless Snake on its head retracting back into its neck, and a black gel-like substance oozed out, reforming into a head. It didn''t even glance at Barton.


    Barton slowly fell to the ground, his blood gushing unstoppably, his body riddled with holes. During that brief confrontation, the dense Eyeless Snakes had pierced through his torso.


    Taking advantage of the moment, Lisa had already covered some distance when a look of surprise appeared on her face, "Carlyle?"


    Carlyle was waiting for her up ahead. Although she still looked deathly pale, being here at least meant she had regained her ability to move.


    In the urgency of the moment, Carlyle simply nodded, acknowledging Lisa.


    She took the white cocoon from Lisa''s back and, flapping her wings, took to the sky.


    Lisa, on alert, turned to look back at Noahweis and froze. Noahweis was not pursuing but standing in place, coldly watching Carlyle''s retreating figure.


    Had the opponent given up? Lisa was puzzled.


    The dense black shadows suddenly leaped towards the sky; those were the newly arrived clones of the Evil Deity.


    The clones of the Evil Deity that Daniel had intercepted were the earliest to arrive, and more clones from far away continued to hurry towards their location.


    When the clones of the Evil Deity reached their highest point, their bodies suddenly exploded, spattering viscous black blood which didn''t fall to the ground but floated in the air instead.


    More and more clones of the Evil Deity exploded, covering the entire sky with black blood, like a dark curtain blocking the sun and Carlyle''s escape path.


    Carlyle stopped in front of the black curtain, not daring to move forward, sensing intense corrosiveness from it.


    The black curtain, like an inverted bowl, sealed off the space, cutting off the route of escape.


    Suddenly, a faint shattering sound rang out, a subtle noise that, to those present, exploded like thunder.


    A look of ecstatic joy appeared on Carlyle''s face, while Noahweis''s expression turned to shock... The shattering sound came from the white cocoon on Carlyle''s body; the cocoon had cracked open, and an intense, violent aura spread out.


    Noahweis completely panicked, the Reverse Cross in its pupils flashing with dazzling blood-red light, as a vast amount of black liquid spilled from its body. Around it, a multitude of dense black spheres condensed.


    One could imagine that each sphere would unleash a horrifying black water spout, and Carlyle was like a bird trapped in a cage, with no place to escape to.


    "If possible, please take care of my people." Barton, his body riddled like a sieve, suddenly stood up and called out to Carlyle in the sky.


    Carlyle paused for a moment, then nodded.


    A relieved expression crossed Barton''s face; he hadn''t been able to sleep well for some time, haunted by the repeating scenes of his kin''s deaths every time he closed his eyes.


    Now he could finally lay it all down and get a good night''s sleep... a sleep that would last forever.


    He lunged at Divine Arrival without the slightest regard for his own body being melted by the dark water, holding Divine Arrival tightly as he pressed the button in his hand.


    A deep explosion sounded, and pink mist surged from within him, enveloping him and Divine Arrival, as a massive pink "Rose Flower" quietly bloomed.


    Before setting out, Barton had planted numerous Sighing Roses inside his body, he was well aware that to unleash their maximum power, they had to be detonated at close range.


    When he left, he had already prepared himself to face death.


    A dark shadow burst through the pink mist. Divine Arrival looked up and let out an enraged roar, with its outer skin corroded into a rugged and fearsome state.


    Of course, the Sighing Roses were not enough to kill Divine Arrival, a monster not even the Doomsday Blade could destroy, but they did interrupt its "Ultimate Move," buying precious time.


    Simply using the word "anger" was insufficient to describe Divine Arrival''s feelings; it squeezed the primal force from its heart, permanently sacrificing its own strength for an unparalleled speed.


    Divine Arrival disappeared from the spot in an instant, and Carlyle instinctively twisted her body to protect the white cocoon with her own. In the next second, her back was torn apart, nearly severed at the waist.


    Divine Arrival stood behind Carlyle, its eyes filled with malicious intent.


    That strike was meant for the white cocoon, but Carlyle''s sudden turn foiled its plan.


    As Carlyle fell, she threw the white cocoon in her arms towards Lisa before she lost consciousness.


    Lisa caught the white cocoon and ran desperately towards the outside.


    Divine Arrival watched Lisa coldly, knowing the area was already sealed. Where could she possibly escape to?


    "Faster! Even faster!"


    Lisa burst into extreme speed, but she felt it still wasn''t enough.


    Her gaze caught the edge of the black curtain, where someone was using their own body to forcefully hold open a small gap.


    As Daniel''s body, wrapped with the Vines of the Grey Soul Tree Needle, collided with the black curtain, it corroded, emitting black smoke.


    He could no longer just be described as covered in scars; he was utterly disfigured. If it weren''t for the Vines of the Grey Soul Tree Needle holding his body together, he would probably have turned into scattered chunks of flesh.


    Daniel had always been a charming and handsome middle-aged man; no one could associate the creature before them with him. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The light in his eyes was on the verge of collapsing, but he was forcibly burning his last soul, refusing to fall.


    Lisa frantically urged her legs, trying to run faster.


    But reality does not shift with the will of humans, and Divine Arrival, having sacrificed its primal force, was far too fast for Lisa.


    Just as Lisa neared the edge of the black curtain, Divine Arrival appeared behind her, its hand blade cleaving through the air, splashing countless dark waters around, creating a storm of blood and a pungent smell in its wake.


    The force of this strike was enough to destroy a mountain, and both Lisa and the white cocoon in her arms wouldn''t be spared!


    In Divine Arrival''s blood-red eyes was a cruel smile.


    Just then, a pale and slender hand suddenly extended from Lisa''s embrace, grabbing the hand blade with the power to shatter mountains, as effortlessly as if holding a cup of tea.


    The surging mighty force dissipated upon that pale, slender hand, as if dust brushed off a blanket.


    "You can leave the rest to me!"


    A reassuring voice arose, and in the next second, Lisa passed out.


    Although she hadn''t fought Divine Arrival head-on, she had triggered Divine Arrival countless times, and the cumulative side effects had long since overwhelmed her body.


    Xu Yi broke the white cocoon with a wave of his hand, catching the unconscious Lisa as she fell.

 Chapter 235 The sun today is just like it was that day

    ```The helicopter hovered above the black curtain, its camera constantly on, transmitting the images back to the command center underground.


    People inside the command center walked back and forth, their eyes full of anxiety.


    They urgently wanted to know the situation within the black curtain, but the helicopter was simply unable to break through. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dense throngs of divine pariah clones gathered around the black curtain, like black tidewater, and by rough estimates, there were no fewer than three thousand.


    Moreover, a great number of divine pariah clones were still rushing to the area, leaving them unclear about the actual number of these clones inside the city.


    Just as they were at a loss, the black curtain burst thunderously, reverting into black blood that scattered down like dark rain, all droplets converging towards Noahweiss, infusing into its body.


    People inside the command center quickly focused their attention, a bit stunned.


    The white cocoon burst open, and the reborn Xu Yi and Noahweiss looked at each other from afar.


    They had anticipated a fiercely brutal battle but didn''t expect the two sides to be so harmoniously excessive, merely gazing at each other without any intention of engaging in combat.


    Noahweiss didn''t want to attack but didn''t dare to.


    An extremely terrifying aura had locked onto it, causing its body to tremble slightly, too frightened to make any rash moves, or even to flee.


    The fact that the other did not attack was to its advantage, as it had always been in an injured state, and now it finally had time to recover.


    Xu Yi only glanced at Noahweiss a few times before looking away, finding Carlyle collapsed on the ground.


    Carlyle had almost been bisected at the waist, with only a small amount of flesh and blood connected. Such a wound would have been considered fatal for a common person.


    Fortunately, Carlyle, having merged with Ryan''s blood and gained the abilities of vampires and werewolves, possessed an exceptionally strong vitality.


    Xu Yi bandaged Carlyle''s wound with a medical wrap, and the other''s breathing gradually stabilized.


    Xu Yi looked up and waved at the helicopters lingering in the sky, but with so many divine pariah clones gathered below, ordinary people simply didn''t have the courage to come down.


    A red helicopter suddenly descended, all the other helicopters were black, making this red one particularly conspicuous.


    The helicopter landed next to Xu Yi, the pilot was Xu Yi''s acquaintance Martin, and the elderly general sat in the co-pilot''s seat, saluting Xu Yi, who nodded in response.


    Xu Yi sent the two unconscious individuals onto the helicopter, casually hanging Annabelle''s doll on Lisa''s waist, and asked Annabelle to protect them both, to prevent any accidents.


    The rotor blades whirled, and the helicopter flew away until they reached a safe zone, and the divine pariah clones did not dare to attack.


    Xu Yi looked back at the tragic battlefield, where too many people had died along the way to buy him time.


    None of the special affairs group members who tried to stop Noahweiss survived; their bodies were scattered among the ruins. Xu Yi even spotted the traces of soldiers among them, common people who were like ants in front of the divine pariahs.


    While he was in the cocoon, he couldn''t do anything, but his consciousness remained clear, able to sense his surroundings.


    Xu Yi''s gaze fell upon Daniel. He hadn''t sent Daniel onto the plane for treatment because there was no need.


    Daniel''s body and soul were like candles about to burn out, managing to hold on until now was nothing short of a miracle.


    Daniel stumbled through the ruins as if looking for something.


    Xu Yi was initially puzzled, until he suddenly realized, this seemed to be where the battle had started, it was unexpected that in their pursuit, they had circled back to the beginning.


    Daniel crawled on a patch of house ruins, his hands woven from vines, scraping aside the rubble, pushing heavy cement columns.


    Somehow, he managed to accurately find Mia within, Xu Yi speculated that perhaps some kind of telepathy Magic Artifact was at play.


    Miraculously, Mia was still alive, even able to remain conscious.


    Xu Yi ran over joyfully, but when he clearly saw Mia''s condition, his heart instantly chilled.


    Mia''s chest had been pierced through, her heart and other organs corroded away, such a wound was simply beyond saving.


    Silver needles crowded her skull, Mia had used some Secret Technique to cling to life.


    This method caused significant damage to the soul, even potentially leading to the soul''s direct demise.


    In this world where ghosts exist, if the soul remains, there is still a slim chance of resurrection, but if the soul is lost, then everything is over.


    Moreover, this required enduring extremely severe pain.


    Mia of course knew all this, but why did she still choose to do it? The answer went without saying.


    "Daniel, is that you?" Mia heard the noise, a hint of color returning to her pale face as she softly asked.


    Once again hearing the familiar and gentle voice, Daniel''s body could not help but tremble violently. He attempted to reply, but his vocal cords had been ripped out by the divine pariah clones, only managing to emit "heh heh" sounds.


    "Daniel, we finally got married today, you looked so handsome in your suit," Mia''s consciousness also began to drift, her expression hazy as she murmured.


    ```


    Daniel first underwent Dragon Transformation, followed by his body being overtaken by grey vines, his entire face more fierce than a monster''s, so far removed from handsome.


    Xu Yi gazed into Mia''s eyes, inside her eye sockets was nothing but murky fluid, just black blood flowing.


    Mia had gone blind. The corrosive black liquid had splashed into her eyes, corroding away her eyeballs.


    Perhaps it was for the best, Xu Yi couldn''t help thinking.


    That way, in Mia''s eyes, Daniel could always remain the same graceful figure, wearing a coat and wrapping a scarf around his neck as he walked on the campus of MIT, still able to make female students look back repeatedly.


    Daniel reached out his hand, tenderly caressing Mia''s face, but his hands had turned into vines, no longer able to feel the warmth on Mia''s face.


    As Daniel bent down, an exquisite ring box fell out of his shirt pocket.


    He knew that he couldn''t marry Mia today, couldn''t even see her for the last time, but he still carried the wedding ring with him, like holding tightly to the last glimmer of hope in the abyss of despair.


    Xu Yi looked at the ring box silently. Today was the day of Daniel''s and Mia''s wedding, where they should have stood smiling on the stage, accepting blessings from friends and family.


    Xu Yi would have then presented the big red envelope he had prepared in advance, saying it was their local custom, to give a cash gift when attending a friend''s wedding.


    If Daniel refused, he would tease him with a laugh, saying when you get married in the future, just pack a red envelope for both you and your spouse.


    Why had things turned out this way? What could he still do for two such dear friends?


    Xu Yi fell silent for a moment, then suddenly stood up straight, tidied his clothes, and became solemn in demeanor.


    He looked at Daniel and said aloud, "Daniel, do you take Mia to be your wife? To love her, to guard her, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and to never part till death?"


    Daniel, hearing Xu Yi''s voice, was slightly startled.


    In the brief moment of surprise, countless images flashed through Daniel''s mind, all of the times he had spent with Mia.


    The images finally stilled at the scene when he first met Mia, on a sunny afternoon.


    At that time, he was only eight years old, feeling insecure for not inheriting the family''s Talent and unable to become an exorcist, often hiding from other children his age in the family.


    Like always, he hid in the forest behind the manor, quietly reading. When he grew tired of reading, he stood up, wanting to take a walk in the forest.


    Suddenly, a little head popped out from the bushes ahead, bumping right into his chest and knocking him to the ground.


    Daniel got up, about to get angry, but then he saw a frail little girl standing in front of him, frantically apologizing with a panicked face.


    Daniel looked at her pitiful appearance, and suddenly couldn''t bring himself to be angry, simply muttering "clumsy" under his breath.


    He found the clumsy girl in front of him unfamiliar, and upon returning home and asking his elders, he learned that her name was Mia, a friend''s child fostered with them by the Finns, to be picked up soon.


    But one year, two years... ten years passed, and that person never came.


    So, Mia lived with them, both of them went to school and grew up together, until today.


    "I... do."


    Daniel, by some unknown means, perhaps through some unimaginable fortitude, weakly uttered those three words.


    Xu Yi turned his head to look at Mia and asked, "Mia, do you take Daniel to be your husband? To love him, to guard him, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and to never part till death?"


    "I do!"


    Mia''s response was cheerful, her face breaking into a sweet smile, as if the flowers were blooming under the spring sun.


    Daniel fumbled to open the box and took out the dazzling diamond ring, trembling as he slid it onto Mia''s finger.


    Mia felt the coolness on her finger and smiled sweetly again.


    There was something she had never told Daniel; on the day they first met, it was intentional.


    Feeling a bit frightened and uneasy about arriving in a new place, not daring to face the strangers in the house, she wandered in the forest.


    She saw Daniel reading under a tree and observed him secretly for a long time, sensing his loneliness, like seeing another version of herself.


    So, she hid deliberately in the bushes, wanting to give him a little "surprise," never expecting to actually bump into him.


    The sun shone on Mia''s face, and although she couldn''t see, she could feel its warmth.


    Mia''s wedding dress had been completely drenched in blood. She nestled in Daniel''s arms and murmured to herself, "Daniel, today''s sunshine feels just like that day, doesn''t it?"


    Daniel didn''t answer her, his hand slowly dropping as if to embrace her.


    "May the Father in heaven bless you. From now on, may you live in peace and joy, love and cherish each other, through thick and thin, till the end of life..."


    Xu Yi suddenly stopped his recitation, for those words had already been fulfilled.

 Chapter 236 Violent Beating!

    Xu Yi moved the giant stone slab, sealing Daniel and his wife to protect their bodies from being destroyed by the remnants of the battle.He stood up, his eyes on Noawis, where the rage seemed to erupt like volcanic lava.


    Xu Yi walked towards Noawis, who let out a beast-like roar but did not move forward to meet the enemy. Instead, it commanded the Evil Deity clones to rush at Xu Yi.


    The cameras of the fighter jets were all aimed at Xu Yi.


    In the underground command room, everyone''s hearts hung in suspense, staring intently at the screen.


    Then they witnessed a bizarre scene.


    The surging tide of Evil Deity clones was like a black frenzy, with Xu Yi in its midst like a tiny flat boat that could be capsized by the waves at any moment.


    But there was no sign of panic on Xu Yi''s face. He strolled forward as if he were in a park with beautiful scenery, admiring the flowers and greenery around him.


    The Evil Deity clones that got close to Xu Yi suddenly flew backward, exploding in mid-air before they could land, as black blood spurted out.


    "Is this some kind of exorcism technique?" someone asked in confusion.


    Xu Yi kept his hands in his pockets, showing no intention of taking them out. They could only assume it was some kind of technique.


    Someone stared at the screen for a long time, then shook their head. "It''s not a technique; it''s his fists! The opponent''s punching speed is so fast that the cameras can''t capture it. Look, his arm''s position is actually changing slightly every second."


    The people present were dumbfounded. If it were some powerful technique, they could understand, but the idea of achieving such an effect with just his fists seemed unbelievable.


    Indeed, Xu Yi was using his fists. After assimilating the God-melting Blood, he felt like he was controlling the body of an ancient Fierce Beast, with endless strength flowing from within.


    "Here it comes!"


    Someone in the command room suddenly shouted, snapping the dazed crowd back to attention as they fixed their gazes on the screen.


    The "Evil Deity clone" corridor had reached its end, and Xu Yi now stood before Noawis.


    They all realized that Xu Yi was very strong at this moment, but since he had not fought Noawis head-on, they were still a bit worried.


    Noawis was too powerful, a monster that even the Doomsday Blade could not kill.


    Xu Yi made his move, his fist seemingly leisurely, like an old man in the park practicing health-preserving Tai Chi.


    Could such a light and floaty fist really deal with Noawis? They were very doubtful.


    The resilience of Noawis''s body was unimaginable; even anti-tank sniper rounds could only leave a white mark on its surface.


    The fist seemed leisurely, but Noawis couldn''t dodge it, and its face showed a look of terror.


    The fist fell, and Noawis''s recently regenerated chest burst open instantly, like a glass mirror smashed by a hammer, shattering into countless pieces.


    Noawis was flung back like a cannonball, crashing through several buildings before finally stopping, embedded in a metal advertising wall.


    Everyone in the underground command room was stunned. Could such power truly belong to a human?


    Suddenly, Xu Yi disappeared from the screen, and the next second, when they again saw him, he had already appeared in front of Noawis.


    This was because his speed was so fast that the cameras couldn''t catch his movements, so it looked like a "blink."


    Xu Yi prepared to punch again, but Noawis suddenly erupted, grabbing hold of Xu Yi. Its chest split open, and surging black water gushed out, enveloping Xu Yi.


    This was black water capable of easily corroding Magic Artifacts. A Common person''s body wouldn''t last a second in it before being completely corroded.


    Corrosive black smoke wafted from Xu Yi, and his skin turned charred and wrinkled as if it had been burned by a large fire.


    "Is this all the strength you have?"


    Xu Yi seemed not to feel the pain on his body, as a knee strike sent Noawis flying, crashing to the ground with a thunderous tremor.


    ```


    He shook his entire body, the charred skin began to peel away, revealing the smooth and fair skin underneath, just as a snake sheds its old skin.


    In the underground command center, what they were about to witness was an unprecedented beating.


    Yes, a beating.


    Noahvis''s jaw was kicked with force, his neck snapped, his face deformed due to the tremendous power, and he was sent flying into the air; the next second, his back was fiercely kicked by a roundhouse kick.


    Before it could touch the ground, Xu Yi was already waiting below, delivering a punch to its abdomen, and thick black blood was uncontrollably spat out.


    Xu Yi seemed to be playing a "solo volleyball game," where he was both the blue and the red team, and Noahvis was the volleyball.


    The people in the command center watched with blood boiling, feeling an indescribable refreshment, as if they had suddenly drunk an ice-cold beverage on a scorching day.


    The once-feared Noahvis was now without the ability to fight back, just like a street thug encountering a professional fighter, pinned in a corner getting mercilessly pounded.


    Xu Yi tore off Noahvis''s arms and carelessly tossed the broken limbs into the air, just as Noahvis had done to Daniel.


    He tore at Noahvis''s waist, as if ripping apart a catfish; Noahvis let out a piercing scream, but could only watch as Xu Yi tore it in two.


    Thick, black blood gushed out, splashing onto Xu Yi, who remained expressionless.


    Today, only one of them, he or Noahvis, would leave this place alive!


    Noahvis, now reduced to half a body, was crawling on the ground, but it suddenly burst into mad laughter, as if it was the one with the upper hand. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    The people in the command center were puzzled, unsure what Noahvis was craze about¡ªcould it be that its brain was damaged by Xu Yi''s beating?


    The next second, their hearts lifted to their throats.


    Xu Yi''s stride halted abruptly, his complexion turned a sinister black and red, and he violently spat out a mouthful of blood, convulsing as he collapsed to the ground.


    Tiny eyeless snakes pierced through his skin, exposing half their bodies, with two rows of sharp teeth continuously opening and closing, frantically gnawing at Xu Yi''s flesh.


    This scene was horrifying beyond belief, sending chills down the spines of everyone in the command center.


    They recalled a type of parasitic worm called the dragon nematode. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This parasite would burrow into a person''s body, using the host''s flesh as a breeding nest, and when they had multiplied sufficiently, they would bite through the flesh and bore out of the skin.


    The eyeless snake before them was evidently a thousand times more terrifying than the dragon nematode.


    But when had Xu Yi become infected?


    Noahvis''s eyes shimmered with excitement, as it had realized when Xu Yi was breaking cocoon that there was its "parasite" inside the opponent''s body.


    It didn''t know the reason, but this was undoubtedly a great opportunity.


    If it were a Common person, merely by triggering those "parasites," it could easily kill the host, but Xu Yi''s body was too strong, even stronger than those so-called Sons of God.


    So it controlled its own blood, surreptitiously splashing it onto Xu Yi.


    Using its blood as a medium, it transferred its own life force into Xu Yi''s body, nourishing the parasites and enabling them to grow.


    Now that the time was right, the parasites burst forth from the body, and it would kill the host, devour his flesh, and ascend to the highest existence!


    Xu Yi tried to control his muscles in an attempt to expel the parasites from his body.


    Of course, this was impossible, because these parasites were not foreign objects but already part of his body.


    It is said that what brings success as an Evil Deity can also cause downfall as an Evil Deity.


    He used his Evil Deity clone to quickly integrate the God-melting Blood, but the toxins of the Evil Deity also fused with his body, impossible to eradicate.


    Xu Yi could only writhe in agony on the ground, helpless.


    ```

 Chapter 237 Prime Posture!

    Noahweis absorbed the blood of several Evil Deity avatars, and its lower half regenerated.It stared at Xu Yi with eyes filled with hunger.


    In the underground command center, everyone''s face turned pale, not expecting the hope that had just kindled to be extinguished so quickly.


    If Amber''s eyes could gush fire, the object of her gaze would be reduced to ashes.Nouab hvaaved a


    Something was off, though the opponent was struggling in pain, his complexion showed no sign of panic; instead, it seemed as if he was waiting for something.


    Holy white flames suddenly rose from within Xu Yi''s body, enveloping him completely.


    "It''s finally here!" Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, his furrowed brows relaxing.


    The holy flames didn''t harm Xu Yi''s body in the slightest, but the black, minute Eyeless Snakes, like creatures of impurity that died at the sight of light, melted away in the fire.


    [Prime Posture: If the fusion is successful, you can become immune to all negative effects brought by the mysterious blood!]


    This was one of the abilities of the "Blood Throne", and Xu Yi once believed this to be the most powerful ability listed in the entries.


    Didn''t Xu Yi know that using Evil Deity avatars to incubate the God-melting Blood would bring serious after-effects, or even become a wedding dress for Noahweis?


    He dared to do so because of the confidence "Prime Posture" provided him.


    Under the fire of Prime Posture, not only were the Evil Deity toxins removed, but the abnormal mutations from Olivedo''s blood, the Corruption from Demon King''s blood, and the bloodthirsty loss of control from Ryan''s blood... A series of their after-effects were all cleansed, leaving only the most pure power within his body.


    "Are you very disappointed?" Xu Yi stood up, patting the dust off his clothes calmly as he walked towards Noahweis.


    Noahweis roared in anger but dared not approach.


    "Stop wasting time, I know you haven''t used your full strength, and my friends are waiting for me to take them home!" Xu Yi stared into Noahweis''s pupils.


    Angry light flickered in Noahweis''s pupils; it fell silent for a moment, then raised its head and let out a roar. The present Evil Deity avatars also began to howl, their voices shaking the heavens, audible even several kilometers away.


    The Evil Deity avatars rushed towards the battlefield, their target not Xu Yi, but Noahweis.


    The moment they approached Noahweis, their bodies started melting, turning into a black gel-like substance. Noahweis opened its hands, allowing the gel to surge into its body.


    More and more Evil Deity avatars melted into black liquid, Noahweis standing amid the black tide, as if it were the master of all.


    Xu Yi watched emotionlessly.


    While studying the Evil Deity avatars, he knew that these avatars were the power Noahweis had split off, and it could recall them at any moment.


    The opponent had previously placed its hopes on killing him with Evil Deity toxins, but now that the plan had failed, Noahweis understood that if it didn''t use all its strength, it was likely to die at his hands directly.


    Why hadn''t Noahweis used its full strength before?


    Perhaps it was because there was a certain drawback to merging with the Evil Deity avatars, Xu Yi thought.


    All of the Evil Deity avatars had disappeared, and in their place was a massive black egg, so huge its volume surpassed that of the neighboring buildings over thirty stories tall.


    Ominous aura permeated from within the giant egg, so strong that even Xu Yi could not help but tremble slightly.


    A crisp cracking sound was heard, a fissure ran through the entire egg, spreading in all directions, and the giant egg shattered with a thunderous explosion.


    A vast black shadow broke through the shell, letting out a heaven-shaking roar that caused the entire city to tremble in its cry, including those hiding in underground shelters.


    Xu Yi slowly raised his head, and the black shadow obscured the daylight ¡ª it was a gigantic "Dragon".


    The snake-like body, spanning several kilometers, was covered in black scales, and four wings that covered the sky and sun flapped wildly, whipping gusts of wind in all directions.


    The "Dragon''s" head was a huge circle, on which were carved two slim lines ¡ª a horizontal white line and a vertical red line.


    Both lines split open simultaneously; the white line was two rows of fierce teeth, while the red line was a huge Cyclops, with the blood-colored Reverse Cross flickering in its pupil.


    Xu Yi looked up at the "Evil Deity Dragon", and the Evil Deity Dragon''s overwhelming aura assailed him like a storm, as if he were at the center of a tempest.


    The Evil Deity Dragon lashed its long tail, and thick black mist poured from its body, enveloping the entire area, turning nearby steel skyscrapers into streaming black water in an instant.


    While it was still a sunny day outside, with sunlight shining everywhere, Xu Yi felt as though he were in the dark where he couldn''t see his hand before his face, with the sound of water''s violent tides coming from every direction.


    Without any hesitation, he turned and ran towards the Charles River.


    "Xu Yi is running away?" Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    In the underground command center, the dead silence persisted for a long time before someone slowly asked.


    No one answered him. Even through the screen, they could feel the terror of that monster, and recalling its recent furious roar, they still shivered slightly.


    Even if Xu Yi had run away, they could understand, after all, who would want to face such a horrific monster?


    The light in their eyes faded.


    "I''m afraid not even the Evil Dragon Empress can handle that creature, call the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization! Have them send someone to deal with it," the mayor said softly.


    He hesitated for a long time before making the decision, and when he finally spoke, it was as if all his strength had been drained, leaving him leaning powerlessly against the chair.


    "Xu Yi didn''t run! I knew Xu Yi wouldn''t run! He''s leading the Evil Deity out of the city!" All of a sudden, someone in the corner jumped up from his seat, his face alight with wild joy.


    All eyes instantly returned to the screen, where the combat helicopter had been following Xu Yi''s figure, and he had stopped at the banks of the Charles River.


    "This is the place!" Xu Yi looked around; he was now far from the city, with nothing but the Charles River and an open plain nearby.


    Of course he wouldn''t run; so many had fearlessly faced the Evil Deity to allow him to succeed in Breaking Cocoon, their hopes resting upon him...


    His good friends were still waiting beneath the ruins for him to return with the good news that the Evil Deity had been killed, waiting for him to lay white roses of mourning by their graves.


    How could he possibly run?


    Before the Evil Deity Dragon even arrived, the black mist surged towards him, terrifying in its breath and intense corrosive power, almost suffocating.


    Xu Yi stood resolute against the onslaught of the mist, immovable.


    The Evil Deity Dragon opened its ghastly maw, and a large amount of mist gathered in its mouth, the terrifying power making the entire space tremble.


    Xu Yi began to chant softly in an ancient language unknown to many, profound and solemn.


    His body''s vital energy surged, and a platinic aura flowed out, enveloping his entire body. His hair began to change, turning from pitch black to platinum and whipping wildly in the howling winds. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The platinum aura lifted his body; he floated in front of the Evil Deity Dragon, his eyes tranquil yet holding the roar of raging storms.


    He gazed at the Evil Deity Dragon, as if a sovereign sitting high on his throne, looking down upon his subjects.

 Chapter 238 Blood as Sacred!

    The Evil Deity Dragon stirred its wings, cleaving winds to forge its path, as a stream of black breath surged forth from its mouth.Xu Yi watched the fall of the black breath, it seemed as though a collapsing world were rolling towards him, yet he did not back down; a platinum aura roared around his body like flames.


    The platinum aura collided with the black breath thunderously, cleaving the world into inky blackness on one side and dazzling whiteness on the other, the boundary between black and white so keenly defined.


    Xu Yi dared to face the Evil Deity Dragon, bolstered by his own confidence.


    [Blood Throne: (Pale Gold)


    Ability 1 - Body of Demigod:


    A culmination of many extraordinary bloodlines, fermented in darkness, born of miracles, one of the strongest bodies above mortals and below deities.


    Ability 2 - Blood as Sacred:


    Until your blood is completely consumed, they shall revere you as: Holy!]


    After devouring the God-melting Blood, the entry for "Blood Throne" had been utterly transformed.


    The previously complex system of abilities was gone, leaving behind only two, but they were undeniably powerful!


    The rank of the Blood Throne was "Pale Gold".


    Yes, it was not the ultimate "Red Epic" of the Blood Throne, but "Pale Gold".


    "Pale Gold" is an entry rank that lies between red and gold.


    As for the Blood Throne becoming a golden entry, Xu Yi never harbored such grand ambitions, he had a faint feeling that gold entries might pertain to the "Domain of the Gods".


    In thinking so, Crystal Lake''s Jason, who possessed two golden entries, was undoubtedly a very special existence.


    But to merely call it a "Red Epic" could not capture the strength of the Blood Throne, thus the "Pale Gold" entry emerged.


    Platinum light flickered in Xu Yi''s pupils, at this moment he had ignited the blood within him, feeling an unprecedented surge of power.


    In the underground command center.


    Everyone huddled together, leaning forward, their eyes unblinkingly fixed on the screen.


    "Mr. Mayor, should we call the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization?" a subordinate suddenly asked.


    "Not so fast! Let''s wait and see!" the mayor quickly stopped his subordinate.


    The screen showed only the light of black and white, which gradually dissipated, revealing Xu Yi suspended in mid-air, to their quiet relief.


    The Evil Deity Dragon whipped its wings, roaring as it charged towards Xu Yi.


    Facing such a monstrous behemoth that could shatter a mountain with its impact, Xu Yi showed no intention of dodging; instead, he extended a hand.


    What was he planning to do?


    Those in the underground command center were puzzled, but in the next second, they were stunned, their mouths agape wide enough to swallow an egg.


    With only one hand, Xu Yi had stopped the charging Evil Deity Dragon in its tracks!


    The visual spectacle was akin to an ant lifting a fully grown African elephant.


    Xu Yi pressed down with a single hand, forcefully pushing the beast''s head downwards, as though making it bow in submission before him.


    Seizing the opportunity, Xu Yi leapt onto the back of the Evil Deity Dragon, took a deep breath, and concentrated "Blood Ignition" in his fist before throwing a fierce punch.


    The fierce punch sent out a whistling sound sharp as a whistle, a result of achieving a sonic boom with the speed of his punch.


    Sensing danger, the Evil Deity Dragon violently twisted its serpentine body trying to shake Xu Yi off. Xu Yi''s balance was disturbed and his punch deviated from its intended trajectory, striking the dragon''s wing instead. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    The wing was pierced through, the overwhelming force of the punch continued unabated, barreling towards the Charles River below.


    The Charles River erupted into a massive chasm, as if a meteorite had crashed there, the water recoiling into a colossal whirlpool.


    "Is this even possible for a human?"


    The people in the command room watched the battle on the screen, shocked into numbness, as Xu Yi time and again reset their understanding.


    "Mayor, do you think Xu Yi can defeat the Evil Deity?" someone suddenly asked.


    The mayor shook his head, "I''m not sure, but I know that the Xu Yi we see now is definitely stronger than any titled exorcist I''ve seen."


    He had seen a titled exorcist in action before, and although they were also beings to look up to, nearly the pinnacle of what humans could achieve.


    But compared to the current Xu Yi, there was clearly a significant gap.


    "If Xu Yi can defeat the Evil Deity! It would be great if he could stay in Boston!" someone suddenly exclaimed.


    The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional. The mayor''s eyes suddenly lit up, thinking that if he could keep someone stronger than a titled exorcist in Boston, wouldn''t the city''s security... His mind drifted into pleasant fantasies.


    But how could he keep Xu Yi in Boston? His brain raced furiously.


    Xu Yi, unaware that he had become a target of interest, was completely focused on the Evil Deity Dragon.


    He gasped lightly; the Evil Deity Dragon was covered in wounds, almost all of them penetrating, as thick black blood dripped into the Charles River, steaming up large swathes of black smoke.


    Xu Yi had no injuries on his body, but he knew that he had to speed things up.


    The ability "Blood as Sacred" was indeed powerful, but there was a significant drawback¡ªit required the burning of one''s own blood. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He hadn''t taken it seriously at first, after all, he had the "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration" entry that continuously produced new blood, but to his surprise, "Blood as Sacred" burned blood at such a fast rate.


    In less than half a minute, half of the blood in his body had been burned.


    "This ability, if not for the support of ''Hyper Accelerated Regeneration,'' would indeed be too dangerous to use!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but exclaim.


    Xu Yi suddenly jumped off the back of the Evil Deity Dragon, which instead of feeling relief, began to tremble violently.


    "It''s all going to end now!" Xu Yi took a deep breath and stretched out a finger, pointing distantly at the Evil Deity Dragon below.


    The first reaction of the Evil Deity Dragon was not to counterattack, but to turn and flee.


    The scene of escape was eerily familiar, only now the roles were switched, with the Evil Deity being the one fleeing for its life.


    Xu Yi burst out shouting, and in an instant, the blood within his body was completely burned away, leaving his body emaciated as if he were a dried-up corpse.


    A surging platinum-colored flow gathered at his fingertips, changing Xu Yi''s expression. Even as the Controller, he felt his heart race with fear.


    The light sphere at his fingertips, no bigger than an egg, contained an excessively violent energy, with its twinkling platinum light unbearably bright.


    "Divine!"


    Xu Yi took a deep breath and tapped his fingertip lightly.


    The platinum-colored light sphere was instantly activated, the radiant light burst forth, shooting out like a massive sword of light, piercing the heavens and earth.


    Xu Yi''s hand, controlling the "light sword," cracked inch by inch, yet no blood flowed out, because the blood within Xu Yi''s body had long been burnt to nothing.


    The brilliant platinum light engulfed the Evil Deity Dragon, which let out a piercing scream, its pupils flashing with bone-deep terror as its flesh slowly dissolved in the light.


    The sword of light continued relentlessly, sweeping over the Charles River, instantly vaporizing the water, even cutting through the riverbed, stopping the flow¡ª the Charles River was forcibly "severed"!


    "My God! Is this divine?"


    In the underground laboratory, everyone gazed at the screen, murmuring in disbelief.


    The light gradually dissipated, and the Evil Deity Dragon was nowhere to be seen. Xu Yi, like a dried-up corpse, fell from the sky, but on his face was a brilliant smile, blooming like a flower.


    [Entry Devouring Activated, Devouring in progress...]


    System information rang in his ear. Xu Yi let his body plummet into the Charles River, looking back in the direction he came from and let out a long breath, "My friends, I have avenged you!"

 Chapter 239 Giving Me a Mountain for Free?

    Inside the Boston villa."Which one should I choose?" Xu Yi gazed at the information on the panel, deeply conflicted.


    He rubbed his temples and pulled the linen blanket on his legs up a bit, the entire living room was exceptionally warm, with flames burning vigorously in the fireplace.


    Yet overnight, Boston had suddenly turned cold.


    Strictly speaking, with Xu Yi''s Body of Demigod, he wouldn''t have to worry about the mere cold, but he still used the fireplace, just like any ordinary person.


    The battle yesterday had drained him of too much blood, and even with the Entries for Hyper Accelerated Regeneration, he was a bit anemic.


    Not to mention using the fireplace, he even wanted to make himself the first cup of brown sugar water of the autumn to drink.


    He was alone in the villa, with the wind creeping in through the gaps in the windows, making it seem very desolate, which he found a bit uncomfortable.


    He had just returned from the hospital, Carlyle had awakened, but was extremely weak and couldn''t recover in a short span of time.


    Lisa''s condition was even worse than Carlyle''s, remaining unconscious, the cumulative side effects of continuous Divine Arrivals had caused significant damage to her body.


    Xu Yi sighed and refocused his attention on the system panel.


    [Entry Assimilation Successful. Congratulations on obtaining "Entry: Source of Woe (Red Common¡ª¡ª??)"]


    He rubbed his hands together, and although he had seen it many times, it still excited him.


    This was the Entry he had assimilated from the Evil Deity Noah Ves, and even though it was only one Entry, Xu Yi felt that it was enough to count for many.


    "Red Common¡ª¡ª??" Its meaning was simple, indicating that this Entry was a growth-type Entry and, unlike the Blood Throne, this Entry actually had no upper limit to its growth!


    That means, if one were incredibly lucky, it could grow into a gold Entry or even a top-tier purple Entry.


    [Only after the "Source of Woe" has been determined will the "Source of Woe" Entry be officially activated. (Note: Once the "Source of Woe" is confirmed, it cannot be replaced. Please choose carefully.)]


    [Please select the type of woe bond: person/object?]


    Xu Yi was encountering this type of Entry for the first time, which actually required a choice to proceed to the next step.


    To choose "person" meant to choose oneself as the source of woe. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    This was the path Noah Ves had taken. Upon becoming the source of woe, one would acquire two abilities, "Split Evolution" and "Fusion Transcendence".


    "Split Evolution" allowed Noah Ves to split into a multitude of copies, each capable of assimilative evolution.


    "Fusion Transcendence" involved the fusion of the copies and the original, amassing myriad forces in one body to achieve Transcendence.


    The Evil Deity Dragon was the outcome of Fusion Transcendence.


    This ability had a significant limitation, it could only be used three times.


    Xu Yi finally understood why Noah Ves, despite being beaten so miserably, was reluctant to merge with his Evil Deity copy.


    The assimilative evolution of the Evil Deity copy was far from reaching its limit, and to merge early would waste one of the "Fusion Transcendence" opportunities.


    After much hesitation, Xu Yi finally made a choice.


    [You have chosen "object" as the source of woe, please choose a suitable vessel as soon as possible.]


    Choosing oneself as the source of woe and achieving a further "Fusion Transcendence" of the body was indeed tempting.


    But numerous copies would weaken the Body of Demigod, which would greatly reduce the power of Blood as Sacred, effectively asking him to temporarily give up his greatest advantage.


    What''s more important, after "Fusion Transcendence," the body would undergo uncontrollable mutations, just like the Evil Deity Dragon.


    For an Evil Deity-like monster, of course, that wasn''t a problem, but Xu Yi, being "New York''s Great Exorcist" and "Boston''s Savior," still cared about his idol burden, even if just a "tiny bit".


    A black gel-like substance surged in Xu Yi''s palm, eventually hardening into a sculpture, which resembled a cobra wearing a crown.


    Xu Yi gently stroked the crown, which was studded with three gray-white gemstones.


    When encountering an object that could become the "Source of Woe", the gemstones would light up, and the higher the Quality of the object, the more gemstones would illuminate.


    When he fused the sculpture with the object, he would obtain the "Source of Woe".


    Xu Yi had absolute control over the Source of Woe.


    Xu Yi took out the Alchemical Revolver Messiah and placed it in front of the cobra statue, but not a single gemstone on the crown lit up.


    Even the Messiah, a legendary Exorcism Artifact, couldn''t even qualify for "One-Star"?


    Xu Yi was very surprised, having not expected that the Source of Woe had such high requirements for objects!


    He wondered what kind of treasure could be rated as "Three-Star" level. Xu Yi was very expectant.


    Xu Yi glanced at the antique wristwatch on his hand, realizing the time was almost up. He stood up, and as he opened the door, he found that it had started to drizzle outside.


    "This really is weather fit for a farewell," Xu Yi sighed and stepped out the door, holding a black umbrella.


    He was dressed in a black suit, black trousers, and a white rose pinned to his lapel.


    Today was Mia and Daniel''s funeral.


    The funeral was held in the Finns'' family cemetery, and amidst the drizzle, Xu Yi stood holding a black umbrella in front of the tombstone, which had a photo of the couple on it.


    It must have been taken when they were in college. Daniel was wrapped in a scarf, wearing glasses, looking gentle and refined. Mia was clinging close to Daniel, her smile as bright as flowers.


    "May all loving hearts find their wishes fulfilled."


    Xu Yi placed the bouquet of white roses he was holding down and murmured softly.


    ...


    Boston City Hall.


    "So, you''re saying you want to give me a mountain?" Xu Yi lifted his head, scanning the three people in front of him, feeling a bit dazed by this huge windfall.


    Not long after attending the funeral, he had run into Martin. At Martin''s enthusiastic invitation, he came here.


    In the grand and elegant City Hall, there were only three people present¡ªMartin, the familiar old face; the Mayor of Boston; and an official he did not recognize, who introduced himself as Miller.


    "Are you sure this is not a joke?" Xu Yi looked into Miller''s eyes, asking.


    The most prominent figure here, of course, was the Mayor of Boston, but his personal presence was merely to show respect to Xu Yi. The real conversation was still with Miller in front of him.


    Martin was purely a decorative piece, a mascot to ease the atmosphere.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, please be assured of our sincerity!"


    Miller spread out the map of Boston and drew a circle on it with a red pen, "The reason we''re giving you Notting Hill is that this mountain is on the edge of the city. Once a dedicated road is made, it will only take 20 minutes to drive to the city center, and even closer to MIT¡ªjust 15 minutes."


    Miller, as if he were a real estate agent, enthusiastically introduced, "Notting Hill has beautiful scenery, and many people come to play there often. If a villa could be built on the top of Notting Hill, the view would definitely be fantastic!"


    "Xu Yi, don''t you like peace and quiet? Notting Hill is big enough. You can build a few laboratories there in the future, so no one will disturb you," Martin chimed in.


    "Exactly, Mr. Xu Yi, as an exorcist, you surely need to experiment with Exorcism Techniques regularly. You could set up a dedicated area on Notting Hill for that purpose..." Miller went on and on.


    Xu Yi remained silent.


    "Mr. Xu Yi... Do you think Notting Hill isn''t quite right?"


    Seeing Xu Yi stay quiet, Miller tentatively ventured, "We actually have other options. Within the borders of Boston, as long as it''s not private land, you can choose anything. Even private lands, we can negotiate them."


    Finally, Xu Yi couldn''t hold back any longer, "So what you''re saying is, you want to give me the entire Notting Hill for free?" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Of course! Free of charge and totally legit, with all the necessary documents. If Mr. Xu Yi trusts us, we can even help construct the wall and a villa in the mountains, also free of charge."


    Xu Yi was at a loss for words; he even wondered if he had not fully woken up.


    He remembered a cartoon he saw once, in which there was a family of hitmen called the Zodiarcs that lived on the vast Kukulu Mountain.


    Now, with just a nod of his head, he could enjoy the same perks.


    Just then, Xu Yi''s phone suddenly rang. It was Ed, whom he hadn''t seen for a long time.


    After listening for a moment, his furrowed brow suddenly relaxed, and he finally understood why such a pie had fallen on his head out of the blue.


    People from the Church were rushing over to confer upon him a "title."


    He had become a titled exorcist.

 Chapter 240 Of course were taking everything

    "This title, isn''t it a bit too ''chuunibyou''?"Xu Yi looked at the golden card in his hand and scratched his head.


    The golden card was delivered by people from the church. They came quickly and left just as fast, leaving behind only the golden card and a deep blue crystal ball.


    Engraved on the card was Xu Yi''s title: "Holy Flame War God".


    This made him feel somewhat embarrassed, but after learning about the titles of other exorcists, he got over it, glad that others were in the same boat.


    The church people had left, but the "uninvited guests" stayed behind; of course, the uninvited guests were from Boston''s standpoint.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, long time no see!" Entos greeted Xu Yi warmly.


    "Entos, aren''t you supposed to be in New York? What brings you here?" Xu Yi asked with a smile.


    He recalled the days when they fought side by side against rat swarms in the sewers of New York and felt a strange sense of nostalgia.


    "I heard Mr. Xu Yi has become a title-bearing exorcist, so I came on behalf of New York to offer congratulations," Entos replied with a smile.


    He took out an extremely heavy metal box, which, after a series of complex unlocking procedures, slowly opened, with golden light seeping through the cracks.


    "This is a little congratulatory gift we''ve brought," Entos said proudly."


    Xu Yi peered inside, and in the box lay a circular section of "metal" with jagged ends and inscrutable intricate patterns engraved on it.


    "Is this a fragment of the Spear of Longinus?!"


    Before Entos had the chance to introduce it, Mil suddenly exclaimed.


    Xu Yi was also surprised; he''d certainly heard of the Spear of Longinus, the spear that had once pierced Jesus. After absorbing the Holy Blood of Jesus, it turned into a "Holy Artifact" with immense power.


    Strictly speaking, the Spear of Longinus falls under the category of Exorcism Holy Relics.


    But there are gaps between Exorcism Holy Relics, just like there are gaps between people, sometimes even wider than the gap between humans and dogs.


    Exorcism Holy Relics can be roughly divided into three levels: "Heritage Level," "Epic Level," and "Mythic Level."


    Without a doubt, the Spear of Longinus belonged to the top-tier Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic.


    The Exorcism Holy Relics Xu Yi had encountered before, whether it was Saint O''Hagan or the Red Lotus longsword, were all Heritage Level.


    He was in contact with a Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic for the first time.


    Xu Yi subconsciously looked at the snake sculpture on his waist and paused slightly.


    The gemstones on the statue lit up, but that wasn''t the reason for his pause. It was normal for the Source of Woe to react when encountering a legendary Exorcism Holy Artifact.


    What surprised him was that even with a legendary Holy Artifact like the Spear of Longinus, only two gemstones lit up!


    What kind of treasure could light up three gemstones?


    "This is certainly not a ''small'' congratulatory gift!"


    Xu Yi shifted his gaze from the remnants of the Spear of Longinus and stared into Entos''s eyes, "We are friends. If there''s anything you need help with, feel free to speak frankly."


    "It''s truly just a congratulatory gift. Of course, I''ve also brought greetings from New York. May I ask when Mr. Xu Yi plans to reside in New York? We have prepared several villas there for you," Entos replied with a smile.


    Xu Yi understood that whether it was New York or the upper echelons of Boston, their requests were actually quite simple: to have him settle down locally.


    The rationale was simple; having a "big leg" nearby meant that even in a major disaster, there would be more confidence, and one could sleep much more peacefully on a regular basis.


    Mil looked a bit disheartened. He wanted to say that Boston also had Exorcism Holy Artifacts, but compared to the Spear of Longinus before them, they seemed rather inadequate.


    Although it was merely a fragment, the might of the Spear of Longinus was incomparable to any ordinary Exorcism Holy Artifact.


    Most importantly, between the fragments of the Spear of Longinus, there was a sensing effect.


    That is to say, by holding a fragment, there was a small sliver of hope to find the entire Spear of Longinus.


    Mil looked towards the Mayor of Boston, who subtly nodded. Mil knew what to do next.


    "The remnants of the Spear of Longinus is indeed a grand gesture!" Mil suddenly stood up.


    He silently opened the briefcase in front of him, took out a stack of papers, and laid them before Xu Yi, "But when giving a gift, what''s most important is that it touches the heart."


    Xu Yi curiously examined the documents on the table and then exclaimed in surprise, "These...


    "Yes, what''s inside are all the Mysticism-related Scientific Research projects in Boston. As long as Mr. Xu Yi agrees to settle in Boston, all these projects can be fully accessible to you."


    Mil provocatively glanced at Entos, "We can also make a copy of the Doomsday Blade''s information and hand it over to Mr. Xu Yi."


    As the eyes of Entos and Mil met, it seemed as though lightning was sparked, filling the room with the scent of gunpowder.


    Suddenly, they both turned their heads to look at Xu Yi, "We wonder, Mr. Xu Yi, which city do you think is better to live in?"


    Xu Yi looked at the remains of the Spear of Longinus in the box and then at the stack of documents.


    After hesitating for a moment, he raised his head, "How about this, I stay in Boston on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and in New York on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays?"


    Entos and Mil were instantly stunned; they hadn''t considered this option. Wasn''t this the same as a playboy telling two girls, "Let''s take turns dating"?


    "Of course, that''s a joke, since commuting every day would be a huge waste of time."


    The next sentence from Xu Yi made them both breathe a sigh of relief, but they were quickly taken aback again.


    "Actually, it doesn''t really matter where I live. After all, it only takes an hour and a half to fly from Boston to New York," Xu Yi said softly.


    Mil carefully glanced at Xu Yi, "So¡­ what do you mean?"


    "I can promise you that if a disaster occurs in the city, I''ll step in to help." Xu Yi stood up, pulling the metal case and documents in front of him.


    Only children make choices; of course he wanted it all!


    After all, whether it''s one sheep or two, they''re both herded; his father and friends lived in New York, he couldn''t just ignore what happens there.


    In the following period, he still needed to use Boston''s resources for research, so it was best to maintain good relations on both sides.


    "Of course, I can''t guarantee that I can solve every problem."


    For caution''s sake, Xu Yi added another line.


    After pondering for a moment, Entos and Mil looked at each other and actually found Xu Yi''s words quite reasonable. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Of course, no problem! If there''s anything that requires Mr. Xu Yi''s help, we will also provide a reward," the Mayor of Boston suddenly spoke up, finalizing the matter.


    Xu Yi looked at him with satisfaction; worthy of being a mayor, he indeed had the knack for recognizing the essentials.


    Just as things were seemingly resolved, Xu Yi stood up, ready to visit Lisa and Carlyle at the hospital, but the blue Crystal Ball on the table suddenly began to flash red.


    What was this about? Xu Yi was momentarily surprised.


    It seemed that the people from the church had left the Crystal Ball behind due to the awkward atmosphere without having time to inform him about its purpose.


    The red light flashed more and more urgently, and Xu Yi stepped back a bit from the Crystal Ball because it looked too much like a countdown timer on a bomb about to go off.


    "What''s happening with Japan?" murmured Mil.


    Seeing the confusion on Xu Yi''s face, he suddenly remembered that Xu Yi did not know the function of the crystal ball, slapped his forehead, and said, "Mr. Xu Yi, if you look closely inside the red light, do you see a flag?"


    Xu Yi nodded; indeed, he could see the flag of Japan within the red light.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, you can think of this blue Crystal Ball as a ''help-seeking platform.'' If a city or country encounters an unsolvable problem, they will send out a call for help," Mil explained.


    "Do all titled exorcists have such a Crystal Ball?" Xu Yi guessed roughly how it worked.


    Mil nodded, "Correct! We in Boston have a Companion Crystal Ball, colorless and transparent. When we encountered the Evil Deity, we sought help through the Companion Crystal Ball from all titled exorcists, and it was the Evil Dragon Empress, Yukeni, who responded to us."


    "Evil Dragon Empress?" Xu Yi voiced his confusion; he hadn''t seen any sign of her.


    "Madam Yukeni is quite a distance from Boston. By the time she arrived, Mr. Xu Yi, you had already resolved the issue," Mil explained.


    Xu Yi noticed that Mil hesitated to speak further but did not press for more detail. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What''s the situation in Japan?" Xu Yi queried.


    He certainly wasn''t concerned with the ups and downs of Japan.


    He never considered himself a Savior; being able to protect those he cherished was already quite enough. Strengthening himself has always been for that purpose.


    His concern was about the "Ghost Samurai"; still dormant in Japan, Xu Yi wondered when he would be able to subdue that demon hammer.


    With Japan now facing problems, he wasn''t sure if the situation would affect the Ghost Samurai.


    Mil shook his head, "I''m not sure, but the urgency of the red flashing light indicates that the situation in Japan is already very bad."


    "How bad?" Xu Yi asked instinctively.


    "Possibly to the extent of national extinction!" Mil said gravely.

 Chapter 241 Cursed Land of Execution

    Japan, Tokyo Airport.Xu Yi was clad in a loose hoodie, with a baseball cap on his head and a mask over his face, leaving only his eyes visible, covering himself up tightly.


    This getup, if not for someone who knew him extremely well, would certainly prevent others from recognizing him.


    Although with his current strength, it would be of little consequence even if someone were to recognize him, he still opted for a low-profile approach to avoid unnecessary complications.


    After much deliberation, he finally decided to come to Japan, but he did not accept the Japanese Government''s invitation, instead, making an unannounced visit.


    The "Ghost Samurai" was like a jewel buried in his backyard; now, suspecting it might be in trouble, his first thought was to quickly dig it up and hide it back at home.


    The country of Japan is surrounded by the sea on all sides, a typical island nation.


    The air was filled with a faint smell of the sea breeze; Xu Yi took a deep breath, but suddenly froze, standing still on the spot.


    [You have checked in at the "Land of Cursed and Execution", successfully, Congratulations on obtaining "Resurrection Coin x44"!]


    The system notification appeared so abruptly that he was stunned for a long time before he realized what had happened.


    The check-in notification for the Land of Fear had not appeared for a long time; he didn''t expect its return to be such a "smash hit"!


    Among all the known Lands of Fear, the highest was "The Dwelling Place of the Thief Evil God Ratma," totaling 36 Resurrection Coins; now it had reached a whopping 44!


    And that wasn''t even the most terrifying part; he was now at Tokyo International Airport, a bustling hub of activity and prosperity.


    The fact that a notification for the Land of Fear could emerge in such a place indicated only one thing: beneath the prosperous fa?ade of Japan, a complete "decay" had taken hold.


    Previously, when he traveled across Japan using the Ghost Samurai, he met someone claiming to be an Onmyoji who told him that Japan would soon face a major disaster.


    He didn''t expect it to be true.


    Without hesitation, Xu Yi hailed a taxi and headed for the Ina Sea fishing village. Right now, all he wanted to do was resolve the issue with the Ghost Samurai and then leave Japan.


    On the way there, he kept silent, his sullen face making the taxi driver afraid to even breathe too loudly.


    Thanks to his Psychic Abilities, Xu Yi was particularly sensitive to all sorts of supernatural energies; he could feel it¡ªa cold chill shrouding the entire nation of Japan.


    He couldn''t comprehend how such a vast scope had been achieved; even the Evil Deities couldn''t manage it.


    "Is there still hope for Japan?" A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.


    The taxi arrived at the Ina Sea fishing village, and Xu Yi went straight to the seaside.


    Under the blue sky and white clouds, the waves lapped at the silvery beach, giving him a sense of familiarity¡ªit was here that he had dealt with the Sea Monk, and the Eight Monster House had sunk into the sea from this spot.


    Xu Yi plunged into the ocean, his Body of Demigod allowing him to move underwater without the fear of drowning. He descended deeper, where darkness enveloped him, reaching depths beyond the reach of sunlight.


    He concealed his presence and communicated with the Ghost Samurai in secret.


    A massive shadow slowly emerged in the depths, Xu Yi stared at the Eight Monster House before him, his eyebrows tightly knit.


    Tightly-wound chains entangled the Eight Monster House, its doors and windows vanished¡ªas if it were a sealed fortress.


    The Eight Monster House appeared briefly for a few seconds before vanishing again.


    The Eight Monster House was quite special, existing between illusion and reality; now it had completely entered the realm of illusion. If it weren''t for the Ghost Samurai "playing tricks," the Eight Monster House wouldn''t have manifested physically.


    Naturally, the Ghost Samurai was fine, not just fine, but in an unprecedentedly good condition.


    For the Spirit Hammer to attempt to "bewitch" the Ghost Samurai was like winking at a blind man¡ªwithout Xu Yi''s possession and control, the Ghost Samurai was merely a cold "Divinity Absorbing Machine".


    The Spirit Hammer grew increasingly thinner, while the Ghost Samurai grew stronger by the day.


    As the two continued their "close-quarters engagement," signs of mutual integration appeared. Had this happened in the past, it would have been a great occurrence.


    This meant that the speed at which the Ghost Samurai absorbed divinity would become faster, and controlling the Spirit Hammer would be just around the corner.


    ```


    "According to the normal progress, it would probably take another two or three months to subdue the Hammer of Demons."


    Xu Yi was in a dilemma. With his current strength, he could forcibly separate the Ghost Samurai and the Hammer of Demons, but doing so would also affect the Ghost Samurai.


    Being affected a little was still okay, but he feared the Hammer of Demons was a "hothead" that would rather self-destruct than submit.


    At that time, the essence of the Ghost Samurai would inevitably be damaged, irrevocably.


    "Forcible separation is not advisable, I''ll have to think of other methods." Xu Yi had come for the Hammer of Demons and the Eight Monster House, and he certainly did not want to lose both his wife and his soldiers in the process.


    He didn''t even dare to take action himself, fearing that the Hammer of Demons would sense his strength and choose mutual destruction.


    Xu Yi had never imagined that there would be a day when he would be troubled because he was too powerful.


    "This matter can only be resolved over the long term," Xu Yi sighed deeply.


    He returned to Ina Sea Fishing Village, his mind weighed down with concerns.


    Japan now was like a smoker sitting on a powder keg, never knowing when a spark might land on the fuse and then, with a loud bang, blow Japan sky high.


    He couldn''t possibly ignore the Ghost Samurai; the Ghost Samurai was too precious, for it possessed a body of a walking Evil Deity with the potential for Ascension to Godhood!


    Ina Sea Fishing Village was a remote little hamlet far from the city. Xu Yi, too lazy to travel back and forth, found a house in the village and settled down.


    The night was deep when Xu Yi sat cross-legged on the balcony contemplating the issue of the Ghost Samurai. At that moment, the sound of a cat''s meow accompanied by the sound of running echoed up the stairs.


    At first, Xu Yi paid it no mind, thinking it was a villager''s child chasing a cat.


    But he quickly realized something was amiss. Under the influence of the Resurrection Coin, the original homeowner had not only cleaned the house but had also wisely taken his family to stay with relatives.


    Moreover, he distinctly remembered that this house had only two elderly people and a young couple; there were no children at all.


    A cold wind wandered through the courtyard, and Xu Yi concentrated, sensing an unusual chill.


    He was surprised because that chill was very well-concealed and had almost evaded his Psychic Perception, but once detected, it penetrated deep into the bone marrow.


    Actually, exorcists also specialize in different areas: some are adept at dealing with ghosts and spirits, others with Supernatural Creatures. Xu Yi now, undoubtedly, was more proficient in dealing with the latter. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    He activated his Dark Stealth ability, silently merging into the darkness, following that chilling sensation.


    Under the table in the room, he found the source of the cold. His muscles tensed instinctively.


    Xu Yi himself was startled. Only when faced with a threat to his safety would his body react like this.


    But now, he was a Body of Demigod, and he would remain unflustered even when facing powerful Evil Spirits. What''s more, in his perception, the filth under the table was at most a Ferocious Spirit.


    Could he have perceived it wrong?


    Xu Yi focused his gaze. It was a little boy about seven or eight years old, pale all over, bare, huddling under the table, head down, fiddling with something.


    Suddenly the boy turned his head, eyes pitch black, void of whites, like a deep abyss.


    It was staring at Xu Yi''s position.


    Discovered? Xu Yi was even more astonished. He knew his Dark Stealth wasn''t absolute, but he hadn''t expected to be spotted by a little ghost that didn''t even qualify as a Ferocious Spirit.


    Xu Yi hesitated for a moment, then stepped out of the dark and walked towards the little boy. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He "smelled" a blood scent on the other party, so potent it was nauseating. This was definitely not any "Benevolent Ghost."


    To be completely safe, Xu Yi prepared to light a bit of his blood inside his body, activating the "Divine" ability to completely obliterate the evil ghost.


    "If I were you, I wouldn''t choose to act,"


    Just then, a light female voice came from the shadows nearby. The voice was appealing, yet very cold, like the chill waters on an iceberg.


    Xu Yi turned his head, and in the shadow of the windowsill, sat a figure with a lithe figure, her long hair dancing in the night wind.


    ```

 Chapter 242 Severe Case of Second-year Syndrome (Chuunibyou)

    Xu Yi''s attention was primarily focused on the newly appeared person, who he perceived as far more threatening than the ferocious spirit of the little boy under the table.As the dark clouds cleared from the sky and the moonlight poured down, the girl''s skin appeared so pale it was almost transparent. Her hair, too, was white, like frost or snow, with sharp, knife-like features that exuded an air of unspoken nobility.


    The moment the girl appeared, the pale boy crawled out from under the table, clutching a bloody eyeball in his hand. He glanced at the girl and dashed towards the door.


    Xu Yi hesitated for a moment but didn''t follow.


    He had come to realize that the ferocious spirit of the boy was too eerie, so it was better for him to wait and see what would happen.


    "You''re not American, are you?" Xu Yi asked, noting that her features and temperament were very distinct from the Americans he had encountered.


    "Russian," the girl replied sparingly.


    "We only have green tea here, no vodka. Would you like some?" Xu Yi brewed a pot of tea on his own initiative.


    "You are the strongest man I''ve met," the girl said, looking at Xu Yi with a detached air.


    Xu Yi nearly choked on his tea and coughed twice, "That''s an easy misunderstanding to provoke, you know! Breaking into a young man''s room through the window in the middle of the night... But why not the strongest person?"


    "Because the strongest person is me!" The girl''s icy face was filled with pride.


    "You really are confident," Xu Yi sat down and scrutinized her carefully.


    She was indeed strong, perhaps the strongest exorcist Xu Yi had ever encountered. The reason he could sit there drinking tea so calmly was that he had ascertained she bore no malice towards him.


    "If you want to marry me, you just need to defeat me," the girl said, unconcerned with Xu Yi''s evaluating gaze.


    Xu Yi quickly put down his teacup, not daring to drink anymore, fearing he might choke to death. He looked at the unfamiliar girl speechlessly, "Do you Russians always speak so..."


    He wanted to say bluntly, but that didn''t quite capture it. To describe her as unrestrained didn''t seem right either, as the girl maintained a serious demeanor, as if she was discussing some profound truth.


    "My name is Yukeni." The girl ignored the conflicted Xu Yi and jumped down from the windowsill, striding straight towards him.


    "The Evil Dragon Empress Yukeni?" Xu Yi wasn''t surprised by the girl''s self-introduction; he had already begun to realize who she was.


    As a recently acclaimed exorcist, he was of course familiar with his "colleagues."


    The combination of her threatening presence, youth, and iconic pure white hair left no doubt that she was Yukeni, reputed to be the most talented exorcist in history.


    "Please don''t mention that foolish title," Yukeni frowned slightly.


    Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, "At last we''ve found some common ground! When I have time, I''ll definitely go and file a complaint with the church to have the title changed. By the way, what would you like it changed to?"


    "The strongest exorcist in history!" Yukeni answered without hesitation.


    Xu Yi put down his teacup, silent for a long time, "I was too hasty before; I take back what I said earlier."


    Clearly, the girl before him was afflicted with a severe case of "Chunibyo," or second-year middle school syndrome.


    "Why did you tell me not to go after that ferocious spirit?" Xu Yi tactfully changed the subject.


    "I''ve killed it several times, and then it became like this," Yukeni released the seal on her body, and a special aura spread out.


    Xu Yi was inwardly alarmed; her words disclosed much, namely, that the ferocious spirit was tough to kill, perhaps unkillable, or else it wouldn''t have been "killed" multiple times by Yukeni.


    "Is this a curse?"


    What shocked Xu Yi more was the fact that Yukeni had been cursed!


    The curse had been forcibly suppressed by Yukeni earlier, so Xu Yi hadn''t detected it.


    Being a titled exorcist, even though Xu Yi didn''t know what her abilities were inclined towards, it was unlikely that she would be easily cursed.


    "This curse is very special. According to those useless Onmyoji from Japan, it''s called a ''grudge,'' basically an insurmountable entity," Yukeni said irritably.


    She had heeded the call of the Japanese Government and came with the intention of making some extra money and honing her skills, but she didn''t expect to encounter such a troublesome thing.


    "A grudge?"


    "There are certain extremely rare and special people called ''Nasha.'' If a Nasha dies harboring a grudge and establishes a curse before death, it would create a ''grudge,''" Yukeni explained.


    "For common people, contact with a grudge means certain death and will spawn a new grudge. It will spread endlessly like this. It''s more like a virus, a virus that cannot be killed," she continued.


    "You stopped me just now to prevent me from being cursed with resentful energy?" Xu Yi suddenly realized something.


    "The little demon you saw just now is a part of the curse, and it''s not as simple as ''not killing it means you''re safe.'' The moment you set foot in Japan, or even just come into contact with someone carrying the curse, you could be cursed." Yukeni explained.


    Xu Yi understood what she meant; not killing the Ferocious Spirit might mean he could escape the curse, but if he killed it, he would definitely be cursed.


    "Is it that terrifying? By your logic, isn''t the world doomed?" Xu Yi became increasingly nervous as he listened.


    "A few days ago, I left Japan to visit Boston and received some good news."


    Yukeni''s tone softened, "The further you are from Japan, the weaker the effect of the curse. If you''re scared of dying, just find some place far from Japan to hide."


    "You really are a model worker for exorcists!" Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief and ridiculed lightheartedly.


    Yukeni accepted the invitation from the Japanese Government, left for Boston even before the matter was resolved, discovered that there were no problems, and then hurried back here without delay.


    "By the way, thank you. If it weren''t for you solving the problem in Boston, my situation right now would probably be worse," Yukeni said softly, expressing her gratitude.


    "So you mean to say you made a wasted trip and wasted your time?"


    Xu Yi wasn''t surprised that Yukeni knew of him, considering she had been to Boston. Out of curiosity, she would have wanted to see the person who resolved the issue.


    "How could it have been a waste of time? There''s definitely an appearance fee!" Yukeni looked at Xu Yi with a perplexed expression.


    Xu Yi was left speechless, and he also realized that the "appearance fee" probably wasn''t small.


    "So, the reason you came to remind me was to thank me for earning you an appearance fee?" Xu Yi asked softly. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What else?" Yukeni looked at Xu Yi with a look of surprise.


    "Of course... that''s exactly it!" Xu Yi took a sip of tea to ease the awkwardness.


    He looked at the curse on Yukeni, frowning and speaking out, "Is this curse really impossible to remove?"


    Xu Yi walked towards Yukeni, who suddenly became a little nervous, "Why are you getting so close to me?"


    Xu Yi burnt a strand of his blood, activating the ability "Holy," as a platinum-colored stream of energy converged at his fingertips, resembling flames.


    "You want to dispel the curse? Don''t waste your time. I''ve tried so many methods, all to no avail," Yukeni said, noticing Xu Yi''s actions and letting out a quiet sigh of relief. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    No sooner had her words fallen, the platinum-colored flames incinerated the black-red curse surrounding her body.


    "How... how did you do that?" Yukeni stared at Xu Yi in a daze.


    Xu Yi wasn''t happy about dispelling the curse; he remained deeply furrowed in thought because the next second, the black-red curse spread back onto Yukeni''s body.


    To the initial observer, Yukeni''s curse seemed somewhat similar to that of the Evil God Ratma, but it was actually completely different.


    The curse of the Evil God Ratma is difficult to eliminate because it is of a high "tier." If one finds energy of an even higher "tier," it can be dispelled.


    However, the curse at hand was different; Xu Yi actually felt the sense of "rules."


    "Don''t look so worried; the fact that you could temporarily burn away the curse has surprised me, and it is not without effect..." Yukeni felt her own body, "The curse has weakened by more than half."


    "That''s only temporary. The curse will soon return to its original state, or it might even become stronger."


    Xu Yi was more pessimistic than Yukeni; only those who have come into contact with the ''resentful energy'' can understand its horror and how difficult it is to deal with.


    At the same time, he understood why Yukeni had returned to Japan.


    She must be looking for a way to remove the ''resentful energy.'' Otherwise, with this thing staying in her body, it''s like a ticking time bomb.


    "How did you know I was here?" Xu Yi suddenly thought of something.


    He looked at Yukeni questioningly; could she have been following him?


    Yukeni seemed to sense Xu Yi''s thoughts and rolled her eyes at him, "Don''t overthink it, I''ve been staying here for a while, just next door."


    "You live nearby and you''re wearing a combat suit in the middle of the night?" Xu Yi had noticed her peculiar attire long ago.


    "This combat suit isn''t for your sake." Yukeni looked out the window, her gaze deep and distant.

 Chapter 243 Thumbs Up

    The watchtower was the tallest point in the entire Ina Sea fishermen''s village, where Xu Yi and Yukeni stood at the summit, holding a telescope and gazing toward the reefy shores.It was too far from the sea, even Xu Yi needed the aid of a telescope to clearly see the scene at the seaside.


    "Here they come!" Yukeni suddenly spoke.


    Xu Yi quickly focused and finally saw the person Yukeni had been waiting for.


    A group of uniformed individuals appeared by the seaside, their uniforms emblazoned with the words "Tokyo Marine Protection Organization."


    "This method of deception is really quite clever!" Xu Yi soon discerned something amiss; those people seemed to be setting up exploration equipment but were actually constructing some sort of Array.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed slightly; he thought he recognized someone but wasn''t a hundred percent sure.


    That person looked very similar to the God Cheater Fick who had planned the Evil God of the Ram incident, except that both of his hands were intact and his face was gaunter.


    "Hadn''t the Onmyoji of Japan already divined that there was a great disaster going to happen? Why did it still end up like this?" Xu Yi suddenly recalled something.


    Previously, when the Ghost Samurai had operated in Japan, Xu Yi hadn''t sensed any aura of curses and grudges, but now, in such a short time, the entire country had become a land of cursed retributions.


    Yukeni looked at Xu Yi with surprise; she didn''t expect that Xu Yi would even know about this.


    "The speed of the curse''s spread can only be described as terrifying. In just three short days, it enveloped the entire country. By the time those Onmyoji discovered it, it was too late to stop."


    Yukeni looked down, "The reason it spread so fast is that the organization behind these people was stirring the pot."


    Yukeni''s brows gradually furrowed, "That organization is extremely enigmatic, its name still untraceable. We only know that their organizational totem is a door."


    "Have you ever tried catching one of these door organization''s people and applying some force?" asked Xu Yi.


    "Severe interrogation is useless, the souls of those people are cursed to seal their lips; as soon as they try to reveal information related to the organization, they would instantly perish," Yukeni shook her head.


    As they chatted idly, the Array had been completed.


    A woman, who seemed to be the leader, entered the center of the Array while holding something shrouded in black cloth.


    As the black cloth was lifted, inside was a plant resembling the Lotus Palm with dark purple petals. The petals were closed, like the pupil of a wild beast.


    The woman cut her wrist and poured the blood onto the plant. Instantly, the petals opened, revealing not a bud at the center, but a small piece of black-golden debris, the size of a fingernail, with an uneven edge.


    Xu Yi looked down in astonishment. At the moment he saw that piece of black-golden debris, the Source of Woe sculpture at his waist began to tremble.


    Such a great distance shouldn''t have caused a reaction from the sculpture, which could only mean one thing.


    The quality of that black-golden debris must be very high and particularly suited as a Source of Woe.


    Xu Yi was very tempted, but unfortunately, because of the distance, it was impossible to determine the actual level of the item.


    The woman placed the plant in the center of the Array, which activated silently; there was no glow, no earth-shattering noise, but Xu Yi smelled a rotten, dead rat putrid stench.


    "We exorcists find this scent disgusting, but not everything else necessarily will," Yukeni commented with a wrinkle of disgust on her forehead.


    No sooner had she finished speaking than water ghosts, their bodies covered in seaweed, emerged from the water.


    As time passed, ferocious fish-headed humanoid monsters, two-headed sea serpents... various odd-shaped dark creatures continued to appear.


    Later, not just from the sea, the surrounding land monsters were also attracted.


    Suddenly, the seabed surged, and an enormous creature began to rise from the sea, darkening Xu Yi''s expression.


    Within a radius of several kilometers, who else could have such presence except the Eight Monster House?


    He was somewhat puzzled; was the attraction of that black-golden debris really that strong? The Onmyoji were already hard-pressed dealing with the Ghost Samurai, yet they still had the urge to go "hunting wild game"?


    Today, Xu Yi first encountered Yukeni, then ran into these door organization people. It all seemed like a coincidence, but every coincidence must have an underlying inevitability.


    The nearby dark creatures were definitely not something those from the door organization would concern themselves with. From the start, their target had been the Eight Monster House.


    Yukeni took out a golden short staff from her waist which surprisingly had a telescopic structure. With a flick of her hand, the short staff extended into a long staff.


    "Where are you planning on going?" Xu Yi instinctively asked aloud.


    "According to my investigation, that ritual object is very important to the organization."


    Yukeni''s expression was icy, "Since that''s the case, I''ll just snatch it away. I refuse to believe the mastermind behind this can remain seated. Once they come to us, we''ll capture them and force them to reveal the method to resolve the curse and resentment."


    The plan could not be said to be rudimentary; it was practically non-existent.


    But Xu Yi didn''t hesitate to follow her. If it didn''t concern Eight Monster House, he might have been content playing the role of a bystander, but now he simply couldn''t sit still. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A horde of Dark Creatures surged toward the heart of the Array where the remnants lay, their eyes revealing utter ravenousness, but faster than they were the Eight Monster House.


    A dense mass of chains flew out from Eight Monster House, sweeping aside competitors along the way, heading for the black-golden remnants.


    Just as the chains were about to touch the remnants, the competitors'' eyes turned bloodshot in a flash, yanking at the chains like mad, trying to prevent them from reaching the mysterious remains.


    Eight Monster House was enraged. It hadn''t expected these ant-like creatures to dare obstruct it. The chains whipped wildly, smashing the obstacles in front to pieces.


    Seeing this, Xu Yi subconsciously shook his head.


    The one controlling Eight Monster House was Pestle. Previously, Xu Yi''s evaluation of it was "pure foolishness," but now, it seemed he had misjudged.


    This wasn''t foolishness; it was outright brainlessness.


    Let alone whether Eight Monster House could recognize the "fishing law enforcement" trap, the other party''s actions were tantamount to activating a "taunting aura."


    The Dark Creatures present swarmed toward Eight Monster House. They clambered onto it like a horde of Ghouls, biting savagely with their sharp teeth, tearing with their claws.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi''s eyes lit up, and he wanted to loudly praise the Ghost Samurai for their excellent work.


    Taking advantage of Eight Monster House''s battle with the swarm of monsters, the Ghost Samurai accelerated the absorption of Divinity. If this continued, in just a week or two, they could completely subdue Pestle and gain control of Eight Monster House.


    "Hand over the ritual object!" Yukeni suddenly burst out, clutching the golden scepter and charging forward.


    Xu Yi wanted to facepalm. If it were up to him, he would definitely creep over stealthily, launching a sneak attack with a few shots first, trying to take down one or two.


    This approach had nothing to do with strength; it was purely out of habit, something the rivers and lakes called "LYB syndrome."


    Yukeni swung her golden scepter, and Xu Yi had thought her to be an "exorcist" type, wielding various powerful Exorcism Techniques with ease.


    But when Yukeni confronted the people from the organization, she resorted to sheer brute force.


    The golden scepter swung with a ferocity that could shock anyone''s eyeballs, with no one able to withstand its blow. Those hit by the scepter were either killed or wounded.


    A transparent aura enveloped Yukeni''s surface, silencing all the attacks that landed on her, merely causing ripples in the aura.


    Yukeni reached the center of the ritual object, and the golden scepter smashed down hard. The strange plant was suffused with a rich purple light, and the unstoppable scepter was blocked.


    A furious dragon roar suddenly erupted, and a gigantic dragon''s phantom, burning with green flames, appeared above the scepter. Wielding the power of the Evil Dragon, Yukeni forcibly broke through the purple light.


    She reached out to take the ritual object, but her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a purple shadow, and she instinctively dodged.


    Purple tentacles swept by from where she had been, their power immense. The Dark Creatures affected were obliterated instantly.


    The tentacles came from the leading woman of the organization, with dense black fog billowing behind her, countless tentacles emerging and dancing around her.


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    A peculiar pattern appeared on the woman''s forehead, depicting a tightly shut brass door with strange creatures engraved on it, bird-headed humanoid figures with numerous pale hands growing from their backs.


    "Take the Sin Remains!" the woman shouted angrily.


    Yukeni swung the golden scepter again, not to block the tentacles, but to withstand the attack with her body.


    The scepter struck the strange plant like hitting a baseball, sending the object, known as "Sin Remains," whistling towards Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi reached out and caught the strange plant in his hand.


    "Fantastic! Home run!" Xu Yi gave Yukeni a thumbs up.


    But his next action left Yukeni stunned, Xu Yi, holding the object, turned and ran.

 Chapter 244 Kayako

    Yukeni watched as Xu Yi ran away, stunned for a long while before she snapped back to reality.Isn''t he escaping a little too decisively? Without any hesitation or delay.


    But they were clearly title exorcists, easily capable of sweeping these people, so why run away?


    Of course, Xu Yi had to escape¡ªhe still had to deal with the Eight Monster House, and although they were foolish, he couldn''t let them know his true strength for the sake of caution.


    If he scared them off, it would complicate the implementation of his plans afterward.


    "Catch him! We must take back the Sin Remains!"


    The people from the organization pursued, and Xu Yi deliberately slowed down.


    Wherever his gaze swept, vague shadows danced about; those Dark Creatures were also following.


    The Eight Monster House shivered, its chains flying wildly around it, in a state of extraordinary anger and agitation.


    Previously the Eight Monster House could transform into a ghostly form, floating above the city, but now, because of the Ghost Samurai, it couldn''t do the same and could only watch helplessly as Xu Yi took the object and left.


    The peculiar plant in Xu Yi''s hand writhed desperately; its petals, sharp like teeth, continually gnawed at Xu Yi''s hand.


    But it soon realized that the hand gripping it was even harder than steel.


    Xu Yi glanced indifferently at the "Lotus Palm" in his hand; its assault stopped instantly. It felt an oppressive sensation akin to suffocation, aware that this person could easily put it to eternal sleep.


    The Lotus Palm withdrew its squirming petals, reverting to its original state, as lifeless as ever.


    "Well, aren''t you quite insightful!" Xu Yi mocked.


    Taking advantage of the time he was escaping, he searched through the Palace of Memory and indeed found information about the Lotus Palm.


    It was a Supernatural Creature known as "raptor bird"; although it appeared to be a flower, it was actually a bird.


    This bird was very intelligent and afraid of death. It could isolate supernatural energy fields, its effect being a hundred times stronger than that of the Common Shroud.


    "Don''t kill him first! He''s Yukeni''s companion. Capture him and use him to threaten Yukeni!"


    Someone shouted from behind. Xu Yi turned his head to see a "familiar" face, likely one of God Cheater Fick''s men.


    Members of the organization surrounded Xu Yi, looking at him as if he were meat on a chopping board, not in the least concerned that Xu Yi might resist.


    Fick stepped forward from the crowd, glancing indifferently at Xu Yi.


    He didn''t ask if Xu Yi was willing to hand over the Sin Remains voluntarily; it was as if Xu Yi was an ant on the roadside, easily crushed at any time.


    With the might of the Body of a Demigod, Xu Yi didn''t need to use a "Magic Restraining Needle" to lock away the energy inside his body.


    To others, he seemed no different from an ordinary person at this point and could not be sensed as an exorcist.


    Xu Yi was nearly amused to anger, starting to wonder if he had been too low-profile by completely concealing his presence, to be taken as an easy target.


    The raptor bird watched the members of the organization that surrounded them, seemingly already able to foresee their fate; they had no idea of the terror of the demon before them.


    Xu Yi surveyed his surroundings.


    They were quite far from the coast now; the Eight Monster House could not sense the situation here. Around them was an open mudflat, uninhabited by people.


    "Alright, this is the place," Xu Yi turned, his face expressionless as he faced the crowd.


    The members of the organization hesitated, wondering if this person had been frightened out of his wits.


    Fick, more alert than the others, harbored a bad premonition and waved for someone beside him to make the first move.


    The individual headed straight for Xu Yi, a dagger sliding out from his sleeve; with a flash of cold light, the dagger aimed directly at Xu Yi''s throat, ruthlessly swift.


    But the dagger was caught between two fingers. Xu Yi held the dagger as easily as if it were a cigarette.


    With a subtle application of strength in his hand, the sturdy dagger snapped, and as Xu Yi''s hand brushed over that person''s head, the individual instantly collapsed onto the ground.


    Fick''s pupils constricted sharply, and there was a significant dent in the top of the fallen man''s skull, with brain matter and blood leaking out.


    Everyone present changed color; they realized they had kicked an iron plate.


    Could the man who mixed with the Dragon Empress Yukeni be an ordinary person?


    They had first thought of seizing back the Sin Remains, but they soon despaired; their attacks on the opponent caused not the slightest ripple.


    But with a casual strike from the opponent, someone would inevitably fall to the ground, their heart shattered, their skull twisted off.


    Most importantly, the other side always seemed nonchalant, clearly not using full strength. They would rather face Yukeni than deal with this monster.


    "Run!" Someone shouted, and the encircling members of the door organization scattered like birds and beasts, yet Fick unusually remained in place, knowing it was too late.


    Xu Yi disappeared from the spot, and those fleeing only felt a breeze brush past them, a breeze of slumber, and they fell into a sleep so deep that it was enviable.


    "Why didn''t you run?" Xu Yi, having dealt with everyone, turned his head and looked at Fick with curiosity.


    Fick didn''t directly answer; he took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the fear in his heart, "Spare me, and I can tell you some secrets."


    Xu Yi neither agreed nor refused, but just looked at him with a calm gaze.


    Fick knew that without revealing some information, he couldn''t gain his trust, "The root of the curse comes from a Japanese woman named Kayako..."


    Xu Yi listened quietly; the matter was actually not complicated.


    Kayako, with an inferiority complex, secretly adored her classmate Kobayashi Junsuke but never dared to confess. Later, out of desperation, she married her neighbor Saeki Takeo and had a son named Takeshi.


    Life was tolerable until Saeki Takeo went to the hospital for a check-up and discovered he had oligospermia, starting to suspect that Takeshi was not his biological son.


    Once the seed of doubt was planted, the outcome was inevitable.


    Kayako''s notebook, used to record her unrequited love, the unrequited love was still, Takeshi''s art teacher... These things became the straw that broke the camel''s back.


    Furious to the extreme, Saeki Takeo brutally abused Kayako and killed her alive, hiding her body in a closet at home.


    "When we found the ghost of Kayako, we thought it was just a common evil spirit. What happened next, you can probably guess..."


    Fick quietly observed Xu Yi, trying to gauge his thoughts through his facial expressions, but Xu Yi''s expression remained indifferent.


    "I can tell you how to lift the curse, but on one condition, that you spare me."


    Fick''s voice was full of persuasiveness, "We don''t really have any grievances between us, and I can guarantee I will never appear before you again. Even if you let me go, it won''t affect a strong person like you."


    Xu Yi appeared somewhat moved, and Fick was secretly overjoyed, but he didn''t show it on his face.


    In reality, Fick had no idea how to resolve the curse, and not just him, no one in the organization knew either.


    There was nothing unusual about Kayako''s story, similar stories happened every day all over the world. What was rare was the person Kayako, as well as the strange land of Japan.


    Kayako''s emergence involved tens of thousands of factors; change any of them, and the "curse" as it is now wouldn''t have formed.


    It''s no exaggeration to say that the birth of the "curse" is a miracle within miracles, just a dark miracle.


    "To solve Kayako, you need very complex steps, first, you need to find Kayako''s burial site..."


    Fick''s lies came as easily as breathing, but he wasn''t just making things up randomly; he stitched together many exorcism cases, and it sounded like the real deal.


    This was actually his talent, also the source of the "God Cheater" title.


    "Lying" was his innate ability; even the most outrageous lies would make someone believe.


    Later he came into contact with exorcists and thought lying only worked on common people, then he discovered, not just exorcists, but ferocious spirits, demons, and even evil gods... all were similarly effective.


    Although the stronger the being, the weaker the effect.


    But as long as his fabrications were "true" enough, they could still be astonishingly effective. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi nodded frequently, engrossed in the story.


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    Fick was secretly pleased, full of disdain for Xu Yi; no matter how strong, he was still tricked by him!


    His body trembled slightly, barely able to contain the excitement within; this was his pathological hobby, every time he deceived a powerful being, he would tremble with excitement.


    "So..." Fick was at the crucial point of his story when he suddenly stopped speaking, looking at Xu Yi.


    His meaning was simple: if he wanted him to continue, Xu Yi had to make a promise, and he wasn''t worried about Xu Yi reneging, because they would sign a Soul Contract next.


    "Is that all?" Xu Yi suddenly looked up, seeming to watch Fick with an enigmatic fascination.


    Fick was taken aback, Xu Yi''s reaction was different from what he had expected?


    Platinum-colored energy converged in Xu Yi''s hands, and as Fick stood dumbfounded, Xu Yi''s hand pierced through Fick''s head.


    The energy flickered out, and the "Holy" burnt Fick''s brain, incinerating all the organs within his body.

 Chapter 245

    Xu Yi quietly looked at the corpse hanging from his hand. He originally thought the other party would reveal some explosive secret, but after listening, he only had one thought in his mind.That''s it?


    Xu Yi took decisive action, not because he detected that Fick was lying.


    If he had known, he would have been full of admiration; the other party''s "lying" ability couldn''t just be described as a talent, it was more like a divine skill!


    Aside from being somewhat cautious at the beginning, throughout the process, he never doubted that Fick was telling lies.


    Such a person is a born deceiver.


    The reason Xu Yi acted was very simple.


    He wasn''t there to save Japan anyway, so it didn''t affect him if he didn''t know how to lift the curse.


    "Fick knows how to lift the curse, so the higher-ups of other organizations must know as well, after all, Fick isn''t the boss of the organizations."


    "If he could easily interrogate to find the solution, there''s no reason Japanese Onmyoji couldn''t do the same, they shouldn''t be that useless."


    That was the thought that flashed through Xu Yi''s mind at the time.


    If it had been something he could solve easily, that would have been fine, but Fick made it sound too complicated. Xu Yi found it too bothersome and decided to take action.


    However, that said, only by making the process seem incredibly complicated would the lies appear more real.


    If Fick knew what Xu Yi was thinking, he would probably be so frustrated he''d spit blood; his cause of death was because he made his lies too believable!


    Xu Yi was about to withdraw his hand from Fick''s pierced skull, but he suddenly started, the blood burning within his body, the "holy" radiance reappeared.


    His palm tightened as if it had grasped something.


    "I curse you! I want you to die a horrible death!" The soulful voice of Fick came through, roaring and swearing at Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi expressionlessly observed the thing in his hand, a squirming soul.


    This was something he had not anticipated, that "holy" could not only destroy the physical body but also incinerate the soul. A common exorcist would have died, body and soul destroyed, by merely touching it.


    Yet Fick''s soul was still alive!


    A sudden and inexplicable chill descended upon him. Xu Yi looked down to see blood dripping continuously from Fick''s toes, the blood was murky and dark.


    The powerful force of the holy had instantly dried up Fick''s internal organs, so where did the blood come from?


    In Fick''s arms was a broken glass bottle; the black blood was flowing out from it.


    Xu Yi recognized the bottle; it was a special magic artifact designed to shatter automatically upon detecting the host''s heart stop beating.


    Typically, such bottles contained corrosive acid that Dead Soldiers used to destroy evidence, but the blood in front of him was clearly not that.


    Xu Yi''s expression changed subtly as he felt a cold energy creeping up his body.


    He had seen this kind of energy before on Yukeni; this black blood probably came from someone who died from the curse.


    In the end, he was still contaminated by the curse!


    "Now that I''m dead, you won''t get off easy either! I was lying to you just now; the curse can''t really be lifted! Prepare to live in the hell of the curse!" Fick laughed madly.


    Xu Yi was unmoved. The power of the holy allowed him to come into physical contact with the soul. He held Fick''s soul and continuously scorched it with Holy Flame.


    There is no such thing as an indestructible soul, especially not in the presence of Holy Flame; it would just take a bit more time, that''s all. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Blood as Sacred" has many ways of application, "Full Release" mode, "Point" mode, "Bestow Blood" mode...


    This ability has very strong potential for development, and Xu Yi was still exploring it.


    "Full Release" mode is what he used when facing the Evil Deity Dragon, a typical example of "open for a moment of exhilaration, followed by a cremation."


    "Point" mode, on the other hand, is the complete opposite, following an economical and sustainable approach.


    He was now using the "Point" mode. In order to deal with any potential dangers that might arise, he definitely wanted to preserve his strength as much as possible.


    Xu Yi silently waited and, after a moment, realized that besides being tainted with a curse, nothing happened.


    His gaze fell upon the fierce bird at his waist.


    During the combat, he had used a rope to tie the fierce bird to his waist because, as a living creature, it couldn''t be stored in his toy space.


    The sin-imbued dark-gold Sin Remains were embedded in the center of the fierce bird. Xu Yi had wanted to forcibly remove it but discovered that doing so would trigger an Array hidden within the bird''s body, so he gave up the idea.


    In addition to the fierce bird, a statue of the Source of Woe hung at his waist, and at this moment, the three gemstones on the Source of Woe lit up, flickering with a faint red light.


    Three-star level! It was actually three-star level Source of Woe material!


    Xu Yi touched the Sin Remains, feeling their icy chill.


    He was genuinely curious, where had this thing come from? After all, even the remnants of the Spear of Longinus were merely two-star.


    He was excited for a moment but quickly regained his calm.


    He didn''t choose to merge because the amount of Sin Remains was too little, just the size of a fingernail.


    To choose "object" to become Source of Woe, there was no doubt, it was intended for crafting an exclusive weapon.


    What could he craft with such a fingernail-sized remnant? An embroidery needle? He did not want to follow the path of the invincible Eastern champion.


    Moreover, after an object becomes a Source of Woe, it needs to undergo division, and with such division, he estimated that he couldn''t even make a needle.


    "If only there was a bit more..."


    Xu Yi sighed deeply. If he had the size of a fist, he could mix in other materials to craft a weapon, but what he had was far too little.


    He scanned the surroundings, where murky shadows circled around hesitantly. The Dark Creatures that were attracted by the Sin Remains didn''t want to leave, but they were fearful of the Holy Flame''s power and didn''t dare to come close.


    "Close the petals!"


    Xu Yi had just said it casually when, unexpectedly, the fierce bird immediately closed its petals, being excessively obedient.


    With the petals covering the Sin Remains, the foul stench disappeared, and the peering Dark Creatures would soon leave.


    Xu Yi had no intention of dealing with these Dark Creatures because they were simply unkillable.


    Japan, a land no bigger than a bullet, could give birth to so many "impurities," which was extraordinary to the extreme.


    But those Dark Creatures suddenly became "shrivelled," like balloons that had their air sucked out, not even managing to emit a scream.


    Suddenly, a bizarre bubbling sound emanated from the darkness. Xu Yi became instantly alert; that bubbling was certainly not the usual magnetic voice one would hear.


    It was more like the sound made when trying to breathe with a cut throat, before finally running out of breath, where the exhale is obstructed by flesh and blood.


    An eerie figure appeared from within the darkness, a woman with pallid skin.


    Her white slip dress was covered in bloodstains, and her filthy, long hair cascaded down the side of her face. She suddenly lifted her head, her bleeding eyes staring intently at Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi took a deep breath. Without doubt, what he now faced was the root of the curse, Kayako.


    Kayako''s limbs were twisted as she crawled through the darkness.


    Wherever she went, those Dark Creatures would collapse one after another, and a large amount of dark energy surged into her body.


    Xu Yi''s complexion grew grim; he suddenly understood the mission of the organization. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Dark Creatures drawn by the Sin Remains were all nourishment for Kayako!


    That is to say, if he allowed the Ghost Samurai to stay in Japan, they would definitely draw Kayako''s attention, and the outcome would be unpredictable.


    "This is the grand masterpiece of our organization! Kayako originally didn''t possess the ability to absorb other Dark Creatures, it was we who bestowed it upon her!" Fick cackled maniacally.


    Xu Yi''s eyebrows were tightly knotted, this legendary organization was utterly devoid of conscience!


    The curse was already terrifying, and if it were combined with the ability to devour other Dark Creatures, he couldn''t even begin to imagine what it might become.

 Chapter 246 Do you think you can kill me?

    Kayako advanced step by step, and Xu Yi felt the entire space begin to twist, the chilling aura like tiny insects wanting to burrow into his body."I''m dead! You can''t escape! You''ll come to keep me company in death!" Fick grew increasingly maniacal.


    "You think this thing can kill me?" Xu Yi glanced at Fick indifferently.


    Blood as Sacred! Full throttle!


    A platinum aura surged from Xu Yi''s body, and his hair turned the same platinum color, a sign that he was invoking the power of Blood as Sacred to its full extent.


    With a light tap of his finger, the platinum aura transformed into a blazing sword of light, enveloping Kayako.


    Xu Yi''s hair color quickly returned to normal black; he had powered Blood as Sacred to its limits, this time for only two seconds.


    But that was enough time.


    The light faded, and nothing remained in front of him; Fick was dumbfounded that the opponent had instantly vanquished Kayako!


    In these past days, he had clashed with Kayako numerous times and knew how formidable she was; had it not been for "Ash" protecting them, they would likely have died at Kayako''s hands.


    The supposed "Ash" was actually a mix of the cremated remains of Takeshi and Kobayashi Junsuke, which, after a series of processes, became an alchemical item capable of disguising their scents.


    Takeshi was Kayako''s son, and Kobayashi Junsuke was her "moonlight." These two items might be the last remnants of goodness in Kayako''s heart.


    They had used the Ash to deceive Kayako, escaping her curse.


    He had never imagined that someone could eliminate a fragment of Kayako so cleanly and efficiently! S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mr. Fick! It''s time to go!" Xu Yi said softly.


    Fick started in alarm; how did the other party know his name? But he would no longer have the chance to unravel this mystery.


    Xu Yi''s palm clenched fiercely, the Holy Flame blazing intensely.


    Fick let out a heart-wrenching scream as his soul slowly dissipated within the Holy Flame.


    [Entry Devouring initiated, devouring in progress...]


    [Acquired "Soul Entry: Deceiver''s Soul (Tainted)"]


    [Deceiver''s Soul:


    Trait 1 - Corruption:


    A tainted Soul Entry that leads to the corruption of the soul, altering its characteristics; use with extreme caution!]


    Trait 2 - Purification:


    Only after the tainted soul is purified will the corresponding entry level and abilities be revealed.]


    Soul Entry? Xu Yi was briefly stunned; this was an entirely new type of entry he had never seen before.


    This was clearly a "Three No''s" entry: no level, no guarantee, no knowing of the effects.


    Blank Entries required constant experience grinding, while Red Ladder Entries were unlocked one after another. The current Soul Entry, without a doubt, needed purification.


    "No wonder Fick''s soul could withstand the Holy Flame!"


    Xu Yi suddenly understood; Fick''s soul was extraordinarily special. It was rare for someone to possess such a soul talent, perhaps one in ten million.


    Although he did not know the function of this Soul Entry, he presumed it must be precious.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi turned his head, gazing toward Tokyo. The color of the sky had changed; previously, it was pitch-black, devoid of moonlight and starlight.


    But now, a bloody light pierced through the clouds, illuminating the entire Tokyo.


    The blood-red clouds began to fall from the sky, as if the heavens were collapsing, each cloud hovering above Tokyo within reach.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed; under each blood cloud, he sensed intense and murky evil thoughts. One could imagine that hordes of Dark Creatures were gathering there.


    The blood clouds were clearly man-made; the only ones capable of making such a spectacle were from the Gate Organization.


    If it had not been for him and Yukeni, a blood cloud would likely have been floating above this beach as well.


    Xu Yi had a sudden insight: if he were part of the Gate Organization, he wouldn''t just conduct the ritual in one location. The more "feeding points" for Kayako, the better.


    Footsteps sounded, and Yukeni walked over holding a head; this was the woman she had fought earlier, the result of the battle evident without words.


    Yukeni stood behind Xu Yi, not mentioning his earlier escape.


    That was just a minor episode; she could tell that Xu Yi had his reasons for acting that way.


    "I''m planning to leave Japan!" Yukeni looked up at the sky.


    The sky was covered with blood clouds, signaling that the organization''s plan was in full swing. At this time, Japan became extremely dangerous. Compared to the reward promised by the Japanese Government, the risk was completely disproportionate.


    She was just a "Bounty Hunter," not the guardian deity of Japan, so of course, she chose to leave.


    Xu Yi nodded, not surprised by Yukeni''s decision. If it weren''t for lingering matters, he too would want to leave this haunted place immediately.


    "I''ll give you the Sin Remains!" Yukeni glanced indifferently at the Sin Remains on Xu Yi''s waist and turned to leave without any hesitation.


    Since she had decided to leave Japan, the Sin Remains had lost their significance to her.


    Moreover, she had a premonition that if she asked Xu Yi for the Sin Remains, it was very likely that it wouldn''t go smoothly.


    For a powerful exorcist like Xu Yi, extending a favor was not a bad idea.


    "Regal as always! Farewell, Empress!" Xu Yi gave a thumbs up.


    The Sin Remains were of great use to him; if she had asked for them, it really would have been troublesome.


    "I also need to hurry up and wrap things up!" Xu Yi watched Yukeni leave, then turned and rushed toward the nearest blood cloud.


    He had already thought of a way to take the Ghost Samurai with him intact and unharmed.


    If the plan went well, he could also pick up two more "prizes" on the side.


    The nearest blood cloud hovered above a small town. It was deep into the night, a time when everyone should have been sound asleep. Yet they were all walking out of their homes, looking up at the sky with a frightened gaze at the blood cloud.


    A woman in white appeared abruptly on the street, holding an oil-paper umbrella, her head hung low so that no one could see her face clearly.


    At first, the residents didn''t pay much attention, just found it a bit strange, until they noticed that rain was constantly drizzling around the woman, while elsewhere remained unchanged.


    "Rain Woman!" someone suddenly shouted in alarm.


    Xu Yi had been learning Japanese for a while and could barely understand. The Rain Woman was a type of Japanese monster said to be a woman who harbored resentment against her husband.


    With the appearance of the Rain Woman, more and more eerie entities appeared in the town.


    The Enenra with constantly emerging human faces in the grey smoke; the Kappa with bird heads, human bodies, and shells on their backs; various Evil Spirits exuding a strong scent of blood... Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Yi looked around and saw no one from the organization.


    They must have fled as fast as they could after attracting the surrounding Dark Creatures because this place was about to become Hell.


    "Open!"


    Xu Yi looked at the Acacia on his waist; it immediately opened its petals, more obedient than a pet trained for over ten years.


    Underneath the blood cloud, all the monsters immediately turned their heads in Xu Yi''s direction.


    They were attracted by an extremely "sweet" scent, but upon arrival, they found the source of the fragrance to be gone, with only a hint of it lingering in the air.


    But now that rich fragrance was present again, desire evident on their faces as they surged towards Xu Yi.


    A vast procession of monsters followed behind Xu Yi, who looked unphased as they made their way toward the sea.


    "Behave, and I''ll let you live; otherwise..." Xu Yi unhooked the Acacia from his waist without finishing the sentence, trusting the creature understood.


    The petals of the Acacia twitched slightly, as if nodding. In terms of knowing which way the wind was blowing, it had quite the talent.


    Xu Yi sliced open his palm, and his glistening blood flowed out. He dropped the blood onto the Acacia''s petals, and the "remote detonated bomb" was complete.


    Xu Yi returned to the beach he had been at before.


    Blood was splashed all over the sand but no bodies to be seen, leaving it unclear whether they were disposed of by Yukeni or devoured by the Eight Monster House.


    The sea began to churn, the Eight Monster House reemerged, and its tentacles excitedly thrashed, whipping up raging waves.


    It was, of course, excited because it caught the scent of that enticing fragrance again.


    Xu Yi dodged the chains flung by the Eight Monster House, leapt onto the roof, and casually tossed the Acacia at the Eight Monster House. The Acacia grew a dense network of roots from its base, clinging to the Eight Monster House.


    "Hope you enjoy your lovely evening!" Xu Yi jumped down from the Eight Monster House and quickly moved away.


    By now, Xu Yi''s intentions were quite clear; he was obviously trying to play the role of the "fisherman," watching as the sandpipers and the clams grappled with each other.


    The previous battle by the sea had inspired him; he wanted to artificially accelerate the swallowing process of the Ghost Samurai.


    Once everything was done, not only would the Ghost Samurai return to its prime condition, but he would also gain control over the Eight Monster House and Monster Hammer.


    Although he did not know the origin of the Monster Hammer, he knew that the hammer was far from ordinary.

 Chapter 247 The Doomed Demon Hammer

    The chains of the Eight Monster House surged toward the bird of prey, whose Sin Remains were a rich tonic for the Demon Hammer.If the Demon Hammer devoured the Sin Remains, it might completely suppress the Ghost Samurai, but Xu Yi showed no intention of making a move.


    A purple light shield rose from the body of the bird of prey, and though the chains swept against it, they only caused ripples to spread.


    This light shield could fend off Yukeni''s attacks. Since the Eight Monster House was not as powerful as Yukeni, it was completely non-problematic for the bird of prey to hold off for a while.


    Moreover, the Eight Monster House was not in a position to dedicate all its energy to fighting the bird of prey.


    Ghosts flowed toward the Eight Monster House like a tidal wave, forcing it to confront the enemy. The chains danced wildly, and a melee was about to erupt.


    "It''s time to steal a march!" Xu Yi lurked in the shadows, surveying the scene with a slight focus of his spirit.


    Deep within the Eight Monster House, the Demon Hammer was fully integrated with the Ghost Samurai. The Demon Hammer, engrossed in controlling the Eight Monster House, failed to notice the faint glow of fire in the depths of the Ghost Samurai''s pupils.


    The Bone of Nightmares flickered with light, incessantly devouring the Divinity of the Demon Hammer.


    Previously, the Bone of Nightmares had devoured the Divinity of the Demon Hammer out of instinct. Now, with Xu Yi''s mind-possessing it, it switched from "passive" to "active," and the speed of divinity absorption began to accelerate.


    In fact, this speed was not yet the limit of the Bone of Nightmares, but in order to be cautious and not alert the Demon Hammer, Xu Yi only slightly quickened the pace.


    After a few more minutes, he sped up just a little more. It was like boiling a frog in warm water, gradually increasing the temperature.


    "I hope it''s not too late!" Xu Yi watched the Demon Hammer intently.


    The cracked Demon Hammer began to fade in color. It was originally bronze, but now over half of it had turned the color of gray rock.


    At this rate, it would take about half an hour more.


    ......


    Japan, the Harada family.


    The core members of the Harada family had gathered together, falling silent after listening to Harada Mieko''s narration.


    Dressed in a red shrine maiden outfit, Harada Mieko sat with the long sword in her arms, at the head of the room.


    In Japan, the seating arrangement is significant. Her position at the head of the room was entirely due to her status as God''s Servant.


    At noon, she suddenly received an Oracle instructing the Harada family to evacuate Japan. However, since family members were scattered across the country, they didn''t arrive until the afternoon.


    If they hastened, they might have left before dark, but now it was already deep into the night and they were still in the ancestral home of the Harada family.


    "How can we just leave when the Harada family has lived on this land for hundreds of years?" the white-haired elder said with a stern expression.


    "Recently, a large number of Japanese high-ranking officials discreetly left. It''s very likely something big is happening. I think we should immediately have all family members evacuate,"


    The current head of the Harada family was a vigorous middle-aged man with more decisiveness and a keener sense of crisis than the older generation.


    An argument arose between the old and the new factions. Neither side could persuade the other, but the quarrel abruptly ceased as Harada Mieko suddenly stood up from her kneeling cushion.


    "Harada Mieko?" the family head asked in confusion.


    "I''m preparing to leave Japan," Harada Mieko stated. Since she could not persuade her family to leave, she chose to follow the Oracle herself.


    At that moment, screams came from the streets. The family head had a bad premonition and quickly stood to push open the window and look out.


    Blood-red clouds fell from the sky.


    While he was stunned, the urgent sound of footsteps approached, with the guards running over, huffing and puffing.


    "It''s bad, family head. Homoto, Kyuyama, and Koizumi¡ªthese three families have joined forces and raided our residence, demanding the Sword of God,"


    "How dare they?" the family head exclaimed in shock and anger.


    Everyone''s eyes turned to Harada Mieko, and their gazes focused on the Sword of God at her waist¡ªthis was the Demon Blade Red Lotus bestowed by the Ghost Samurai.


    ......


    On the white beach, the remains of monsters were scattered everywhere, the intense stench of blood detectable even several kilometers away. The chains of Eight Monster House bound a Kappa, tearing it into pieces.


    This was the last of the monsters.


    Eight Monster House let out a sinister howl, hardly able to conceal the excitement in its voice. Although it was covered with scars, the final victory still belonged to it.


    "It''s coming!" Xu Yi, observing from the dark, took a deep breath. Whether he could succeed or not all depended on his next move.


    At the same time, the energy of the Ghost Samurai was depleted, the purple barrier broke, and chains like a swarm of snakes bound the Ghost Samurai, dragging it into the depths of Eight Monster House.


    The Ghost Samurai was taken to the deep well at the heart of Eight Monster House, a place densely covered with chains.


    The Demon Hammer and the Ghost Samurai rose from the well together. Trembling slightly, the eyes on the hammer suddenly opened, staring with desire at the Sin Remains in the center of the Ghost Samurai. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Its gaze was fixated on the Sin Remains, failing to notice the Ghost Samurai quietly gathering strength, preparing to break free from the binding chains.


    The Ghost Samurai was pulled in front of the Demon Hammer, its handle squirming, transforming into a bronze serpent. The serpent opened its massive jaws, lunging to bite at the Sin Remains.


    The serpent suddenly let out a terrible scream, writhing in agony.


    The remote-detonated bomb set up by Xu Yi had gone off!


    Shiny blood surged from the gaps in the Ghost Samurai''s petals, seemingly alive, wrapping around the Demon Hammer.


    The next second, the blood turned into white-gold flames, and the hammer twisted in agony amidst the fire.


    This was another use of "Blood as Sacred."


    Xu Yi could inject his will into his blood and control it as he desired, and blood was the fundamental aspect of "Sacred." As long as there was blood, he could use the power of "Sacred."


    The white-gold Holy Flame slowly extinguished. After all, the blood that could be hidden within the Ghost Samurai was limited, and this amount could only burn for two seconds.


    Rolling white smoke rose from the Demon Hammer. Its pupils were still fixated stubbornly on the Sin Remains.


    It lunged at the Sin Remains once again, but the snapping sound of breaking chains suddenly rang out, and an armored hand suddenly grasped the serpent formed by the hammer''s handle.


    The flames in the pupils of the Ghost Samurai burned fiercely like lava, gazing quietly at the Demon Hammer.


    The Demon Hammer struggled desperately, but the hand of the Ghost Samurai was immovable like a vice.


    The struggle lasted three minutes, during which the Demon Hammer attempted every possible method, only to watch its own Divinity being devoured helplessly.


    It began to panic, a light of fear flickering within its bloody eyes.


    It offered submission to the Ghost Samurai, but the Ghost Samurai remained unmoved, greedily absorbing the Divinity of the Demon Hammer.


    Upon realizing the inescapable fate of destruction, the Demon Hammer made a frantic decision to perish together with the Ghost Samurai!


    Xu Yi, possessing the Ghost Samurai, watched the Demon Hammer quietly, not feeling the slightest bit of panic.


    Most of the Demon Hammer had turned to ash-gray, only the part with the pupils retained its original color.


    Like a frog in gradually heated water, it was now bereft of the power to resist.


    A shadow flew out from within the Ghost Samurai¡ªit was the Mud God Stele. The Mud God Stele ignited golden flames, and the Melting Flame enveloped the Demon Hammer.


    The Demon Hammer tried to mobilize its last strength, but it disintegrated within the Melting Flame.


    The Bone of Nightmares erupted with powerful devouring force, completely consuming the last vestige of the Demon Hammer''s Divinity.


    The pupils of the Demon Hammer turned to ash-gray, and the soul within the hammer was completely annihilated.


    "We did it!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but rejoice, even wanting to pop open champagne to celebrate. Now, all he had to do was wait for the Ghost Samurai to pass through the Demon Hammer and take full control of Eight Monster House. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 248 Yamata no Orochi and the Demon Hammer

    Xu Yi walked towards the Eight Monster House, and with each step, the Eight Monster House faded a little more, as if its colors were being washed away.By the time Xu Yi reached the Eight Monster House, it had completely turned to ash-white, resembling a statue, its tentacles thoroughly hardened.


    This was because the Divinity of the Eight Monster House had been devoured by the Ghost Samurai.


    The hidden door of the Eight Monster House emerged, and Xu Yi entered. Inside, it had turned into an ordinary house, bereft of any magical spatial abilities.


    Xu Yi arrived at the depths of the Eight Monster House, where a ancient well was situated, with chains scattered all around.


    The bird of prey did not attempt to flee, or rather, it did not dare to¡ªXu Yi gestured to it, and the bird obediently jumped onto his waist.


    Xu Yi looked at the forging hammer, which suddenly began to vibrate. The handle gripped by the Ghost Samurai started to show color.


    The Ghost Samurai absorbed the Divinity of the forging hammer and the Eight Monster House like an emperor conquering territories; now that the city had been taken, of course he would send loyal subordinates to control the capital.


    The Divinity of the Ghost Samurai flowed continuously into the forging hammer.


    Xu Yi''s eyes were full of anticipation, knowing that once he controlled the forging hammer, taking over the Eight Monster House would be a matter of course.


    But he suddenly frowned, because as the Divinity was infused, the surface of the forging hammer revealed a minuscule human face.


    The human face glared at the Ghost Samurai, its pupils flashing with bone-chilling hatred.


    "There''s actually another soul hidden inside the forging hammer!"


    Xu Yi was secretly relieved. Thankfully, controlling the forging hammer required infusing it with Divinity, which also forced the hidden soul to emerge.


    He approached the forging hammer, and the Holy Flame emerged from his fingertips, enveloping the human face on the hammer. The face twisted in agony but slowly dissipated within the Holy Flame.


    The Ghost Samurai suddenly exerted force, and the forging hammer that had been stuck to his chest was finally ripped off.


    The forging hammer gradually gained color, as if a painter was applying pigments to it. Its ash-white pupils "lit up" again, not with a crimson glow but with the same black gold as the Ghost Samurai.


    The surrounding chains came to life, slowly revolving around the Ghost Samurai as if welcoming the birth of a new king.


    The Ghost Samurai now completely controlled the forging hammer!


    Xu Yi''s face broke into a smile, and soon, he would experience what is known as a double blessing.


    [Entry Devouring activated, devouring in progress...]


    [Congratulations on acquiring "Blank Entry: Ando-na''s Sword Forging Art (Green Epic)"]


    [Ando-na''s Forging Art: 0/100


    Ability 1 - Memory Fragments of Ando-na: (Unlocked)


    After equipping this entry, you will gain a part of Ando-na''s memory. Your forging skills will be slightly improved.


    Ability 2 - Forging Intuition: (Locked)


    When forging weapons, your intuition will allow you to select more suitable raw materials.


    Ability 3 - Forging Mastery: (Locked)


    You have grasped the mysteries of forging, and can create various weapons as you desire.]


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up. He hadn''t expected that eliminating the hidden soul within the forging hammer would bring such an unexpected joy!


    Without hesitation, Xu Yi immediately equipped Ando-na''s Forging Art.


    Having obtained the Source of Woe, the next step was, of course, to craft weapons. This entry was like sending charcoal in snowy weather.


    The moment he acquired the entry, a stream of information flooded into his mind. Xu Yi closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them.


    "Yamata no Orochi Hammer?"


    Xu Yi examined the forging hammer in the hands of the Ghost Samurai, surprised.


    After digesting the memory fragments of Ando-na, he finally knew the name of the forging hammer and learned about its origin.


    The "backings" of the forging hammer were even more terrifying than he had imagined.


    "Although ''Qi Serpent'' was unfamiliar to most, mentioning ''Yamata no Orochi'' would be recognized by everyone in Japan; it was the terrifying monster that once battled with the Japanese deity Susanoo."


    Ando Mei could be said to be Japan''s most talented master blacksmith in history. By the age of 16, he had already mastered all the secrets of Japanese sword forging and then began to travel to other countries to learn their forging techniques."


    Thirty years passed in a flash, and there was no news from Ando Mei; many people believed he had met with foul play and sighed in regret.


    Ando Mei had not died; rather, he had secretly returned to Japan. Using records from ancient tomes, he found the remains of Yamata no Orochi."


    He planned to use the precious materials he had collected over the years, along with the remains of Yamata no Orochi, to create an unprecedented forging hammer."


    In some respects, he indeed succeeded. The Qi Serpent Hammer was forged, but it devoured his flesh and blood, and his soul became trapped within it."


    The reason why the Qi Serpent Hammer seemed to have such low intelligence was also related to this.


    The monster that was born from the remains of Yamata no Orochi was constantly struggling with Ando Mei for control over the Qi Serpent Hammer, which, if it had been on a human, would be akin to a split personality."


    The so-called ''Eight Monster House'' was the room where Ando Mei forged the Qi Serpent Hammer and was also transformed into a monster by it.


    The name ''Eight Monster House'' was not without basis; it was the lingering sorrow of Yamata no Orochi at work."


    The chains were also stained with color, which spread in all directions from the ''Eight Monster House'' along the chains."


    The Ghost Samurai was infusing divinity into the Eight Monster House through the chains."


    "At this rate, it shouldn''t take long to completely take control of the Eight Monster House!"


    Xu Yi felt exhilarated at the thought of soon having a ''Different Space'' without restrictions that prevented humans from entering.


    At this moment, the Zhi bird at his waist suddenly started to twist. Xu Yi was puzzled; could it be that the Zhi bird, seeing his delay in keeping his promise, was ready to make a break for it and escape on its own?


    A cyan light shone out from the Zhi bird, and Xu Yi''s expression changed slightly.


    He had always known that there was some sort of array on the Zhi bird, which would activate instantly if it encountered any external force.


    But no external force was present now, yet the array still activated!


    The ''Sin Remains'' at the center of the Zhi bird suddenly fell off and flew towards the sky. Xu Yi instinctively reached out his hand, attempting to grasp the ''Sin Remains''.


    But his hand passed right through them, and Xu Yi almost cursed out loud.


    He suddenly understood the function of the array on the Zhi bird; once triggered, the ''Sin Remains'' would enter a Different Space and become ethereal."


    This was the organization''s contingency plan, as the ''Sin Remains'' were so important they naturally wanted to prevent accidental loss."


    Xu Yi could only watch helplessly as the ''Sin Remains'' flew away, but he was still somewhat unwilling to give up."


    "Open it!"


    Xu Yi ordered the Ghost Samurai.


    Though the Ghost Samurai had not yet taken full control of the Eight Monster House, opening a small window was still possible."


    Chasing after the ''Sin Remains'', Xu Yi jumped out of the small window, feeling reluctant to let go. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although the ''Sin Remains'' were only a tiny bit, having some was better than none, especially considering that three-star ''Source of Woe'' materials were extremely rare."


    He stood on the roof of the Eight Monster House, his gaze following the ''Sin Remains'', but then he was suddenly struck dumb.


    The ''Sin Remains'' soared into the sky, leaving a trail of light behind as if a meteor had just passed by."


    There wasn''t just one such streak of light; Xu Yi could see over twenty, each containing fragments of ''Sin Remains''."


    Xu Yi''s heart pounded rapidly; the only downside to ''Sin Remains'' was their scarcity, and now more had appeared before his eyes."


    The lines of light converged towards the same place, and one didn''t need to think too hard to realize that it must be where the organization intended to perform the final ritual, which was also the most dangerous spot."


    To go or not to go?


    Xu Yi hesitated for a long time but decided to check it out in the end.


    After all, with his current strength, coupled with the soon-to-be-controlled Ghost Samurai of the Eight Monster House, even if he couldn''t snatch the ''Sin Remains'', he should still be able to make a safe retreat."


    If he missed this opportunity, he had no idea when he might encounter three-star ''Source of Woe'' materials again!

 Chapter 249 Am I Actually the Great Demon?

    Tokyo, Japan, this bustling metropolis had now turned into a boiling cauldron of chaos, with screams and sobs piercing the sky.The roads were so clogged with cars that nothing could get through, drivers pressed their horns in desperation, but to no avail, they could only abandon their cars and flee.


    The masses surged towards the outskirts like a tide, every face etched with fear, whether they were ordinary citizens, or police and soldiers, all were trying to escape.


    "The Exorcism Association" was a local, unremarkable exorcist studio, now blended into the crowd, preparing to leave Japan.


    Only two people were in the studio, Moto Suzuki with his apprentice Haruka Mizuno. As exorcists, they had more confidence than ordinary people, and at this moment, they could still observe their surroundings.


    The sky was a bloody red, and the heavy clouds seemed to be crushing down on the region.


    Under the illumination of the blood light, things that lurked in the city''s dark corners began to emerge.


    Carrying huge scissors, the grotesque Slit-Mouthed Woman; a Half-Bodied Corpse dragging itself on the ground; a Bone Woman with a beautiful face but a ghastly skeletal body¡­


    More and more monsters appeared, the scene was as if the infamous painting "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons" had leaped from fantasy into reality.


    The worlds of the living and hell were reversed; the demons walked the earth, while mortals fell into hell.


    At this moment, an incredible figure suddenly appeared in Haruka Mizuno''s field of vision.


    While everyone else was fleeing outwards, this person was walking into the city against the stream of people, leisurely and out of place.


    Could it be an accomplished exorcist senior?


    Haruka Mizuno''s eyes lit up, and she wanted to approach to possibly cling to a powerful ally, but just as she took a step, Moto Suzuki violently pulled her back.


    "What do you think you''re doing?" Moto Suzuki did not dare to look directly at the person, only observing them from the corner of his eye.


    Haruka Mizuno was slightly stunned and asked in confusion, "To meet such a formidable senior is rare, I wanted to say hello."


    "Do you think there could be such a powerful exorcist? Look around you!" Moto Suzuki shouted angrily.


    Haruka Mizuno''s face suddenly went pale as she finally noticed what was off.


    As more and more demons appeared, everyone was avoiding them, but that person was doing the exact opposite¡ªthe demons seemed to instinctively avoid that person.


    "Could that person be some Great Demon¡­"


    Haruka Mizuno hadn''t finished her sentence when Moto Suzuki covered her mouth and dragged her away.


    Xu Yi''s gaze swept over the crowd, noticing the two looking at him with terror; he was a bit puzzled but didn''t take it to heart.


    Observing the fleeing masses, he once again profoundly realized the truth that the weak are like chaff.


    Although he possessed a certain degree of strength, above that of ordinary people, he felt it was not enough.


    The stronger he became, the deeper he felt the world to be. At this moment, the icebergs hidden beneath the surface were slowly surfacing, more and more terrifying entities beginning to emerge.


    The monsters that appeared during this period were more numerous than those of the past few decades.


    He had come in search of the Sin Remains, which he now knew the location of, but he was not in a hurry to go there yet.


    With such a major event happening in Japan, would the Onmyoji just stand by idly and watch Japan march towards destruction?


    He had no desire to be a sacrificial lamb.


    Moreover, that place was surely a dragon''s den and a tiger''s lair; he needed to be fully prepared before going there.


    What he needed to do now was to find a "Substitute."


    ...


    Surrounded on all sides, Harada Mieko found herself encircled by people with no escape.


    "Hand over the Divine Sword! We will spare your life!"


    "No more nonsense, let''s just kill her and take the sword, we don''t have time!"


    The members of the three major families could, of course, hear the commotion outside, and they were actually beginning to regret their actions, having spent too much time fighting over the Divine Sword.


    But if they left now, not only would they lose the Divine Sword, but they would also have to face the dangers outside; they were in too deep to back out.


    They had received news that a great disaster would strike Japan and had thought to fish in troubled waters, seizing the opportunity to snatch the envied Divine Sword from the Harada family.


    ```


    Harada Mieko remained silent, merely gripping her long blade Red Lotus and expressing through her gaze an unwavering determination to die before surrendering.


    The screams around her gradually faded, but this was not a good sign, implying that there weren''t many of the Harada clan left.


    Originally, they could have escaped this catastrophe by following the "Oracle," but unfortunately, due to their stubbornness, tragedy ensued.


    Harada Mieko gasped for air, her body covered with wounds. Her clothing was actually soaked with blood, but because she wore a red shrine maiden outfit, it wasn''t so obvious.


    She silently prayed to the Ghost Samurai, but as before, there was no response.


    This made her wonder if the gods had abandoned them because they did not follow the Oracle.


    The members of the three great families closed in step by step, and Harada Mieko''s heart sank.


    "You all seem to be quite at your leisure."


    A light sigh suddenly echoed in the courtyard, startling everyone. They turned in unison toward the source of the sound, as Xu Yi slowly emerged from the shadows of the corner.


    "Who are you?" the speaker''s voice trembled slightly.


    None of the three families dared to move forward, all feeling the terror emanating from the man before them, their bodies taut.


    "Don''t worry, everyone, I''m just passing by to conduct an experiment," Xu Yi said, walking directly toward Harada Mieko.


    Harada Mieko stared blankly at Xu Yi, making no move to guard herself.


    After a long daze, excitement suddenly appeared on her face, and then she knelt down reverently in front of Xu Yi, lifting the blade above her head.


    She had once again received an Oracle, instructing her to obey the man before her implicitly.


    "If you want to live, then show me your value," Xu Yi looked at Harada Mieko indifferently.


    He was neither her nanny nor the guardian god of the Harada family.


    Previously, he had used Harada Mieko to lure monsters, while indirectly protecting her. In a way, Harada Mieko had benefited more.


    As for the Harada family, it''s even more needless to say that they had expanded their family''s influence under the guise of the Ghost Samurai''s name.


    He had warned the Harada family before, telling them to evacuate Japan as soon as possible, and he had done more than could be expected of anyone.


    So when the Harada family faced the siege of the three great families, he had no intention of assisting. If Harada Mieko hadn''t still been of use to him, he wouldn''t have even come here.


    Xu Yi pricked his own finger, and crystal red blood oozed out, the droplets landing on Harada Mieko''s forehead.


    He chanted softly, "I grant thee blood, refine soul with blood, the blade that cannot be wielded shall never be wielded, yet the blade that can be wielded, shall cut down all."


    The blood on Harada Mieko''s forehead disappeared, Xu Yi turned and left without hesitation.


    Those who sought to snatch the Demon Blade Red Lotus were simply delusional; both the Demon Blade Red Lotus and the Ghost Samurai, as "Evil God''s incarnations," were under his control all along.


    "Kill¡­ kill him!"


    The people from the three great families stared at Harada Mieko, who had her eyes tightly closed, their hearts overtaken by fear. Unable to hold back any longer, they charged at her, shouting.


    Harada Mieko suddenly opened her eyes, her pupils reflecting a red light. Her Demon Blade Red Lotus was enveloped in fierce crystal red flames.


    Xu Yi stood at the entrance of the Harada family''s home, a smirk forming on his lips.


    The "Substitute" for the Ghost Samurai had been found!


    The reason he sought out Harada Mieko was to find someone who could control the Ghost Samurai in his place.


    He possessed the ability to multitask, which was fine in everyday life, but if confronted by a formidable enemy, and he had to control his own body while manipulating the Ghost Samurai, it would be a "path to certain death."


    His plan was simple, to use the "Divine Blood''s" ability to infuse willpower and make his blood the medium to connect Harada Mieko''s intentions with the Demon Blade Red Lotus.


    The plan had gone so smoothly that even Xu Yi himself hadn''t expected it, but he knew that it had much to do with Harada Mieko herself.


    As a Divine Body, Harada Mieko was already beyond ordinary people, and both the Ghost Samurai and the Demon Blade Red Lotus had resided within her body for a while.


    "Now let''s see how Japan plays its hand," Xu Yi looked up toward the direction of Meiji Shrine.


    ```


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 Chapter 250 Yasakani no Magatama

    Xu Yi left the Arihara family mansion and stepped into a small alley by the street.Several corpses were scattered in the alley¡ªan all too normal sight in "Hell City," where ghosts and goblins lurked everywhere. But Xu Yi''s body tensed up instantly. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The eerie sound of bubbling echoed again, and the pallid figure of Kayako crawled out from the shadows of the corner, perching on those corpses.


    Xu Yi relaxed slightly because Kayako did not turn her head, and he didn''t know whether she hadn''t noticed him or had become more subdued after he had destroyed one of her clones earlier.


    Then he witnessed an extremely horrifying scene: Kayako left one of the corpses, and a brand new ghost clone of Kayako crawled out from the body.


    This was the terror of the "curse grudge"¡ªevery time Kayako killed someone, a new clone was born!


    At this rate, the entire city, the whole of Japan, would become Kayako''s playground.


    "I hope it doesn''t spread to other countries!" Xu Yi worried.


    Five brand new Kayako clones were born in the alley, and they suddenly turned their heads in unison, looking in Xu Yi''s direction, as Xu Yi braced himself for a confrontation.


    After a moment of staring, the Kayakos turned and walked away. They were unsure of their chances against Xu Yi, so they decided to indulge in the "delicacies" outside to strengthen themselves first.


    A group of Kayako clones swarmed towards the street''s ghouls and the city was thrown into complete chaos as the creatures stirred and crowds screamed in terror.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed. For now, the Kayakos, out of fear, had not swarmed him, but this was only temporary.


    The number of Kayako clones would surely grow, and once these clones devoured the ghouls and grew stronger, they would definitely come for him.


    So, the thought of saving others was out of the question¡ªhe had his own safety to worry about.


    What could he do to avoid these Kayakos?


    Xu Yi thought of the Gate Organization. Its members were active in this type of city as well; how did they avoid the curse grudge?


    Suddenly, inspiration struck, and he pulled out a thumb-sized glass bottle from his pocket, filled with unknown ashes he had found on Fick.


    Xu Yi gazed at the ashes and, after a moment of contemplation, sealed his own powers using the formidable control afforded by his Demigod Body.


    In just a few seconds, he went from being a "Great Demon" to an ordinary person.


    When he had first entered the city, he deliberately let the aura of his Demigod Body emanate to intimidate the ghouls.


    Otherwise, he would have had to spend a lot of effort just to deal with those ghouls but now, with both the ghouls and himself in peril, he just had to be cautious of Kayako.


    A clone of Kayako noticed the change in Xu Yi, and its crimson pupils watched him with puzzlement.


    Xu Yi quickly opened the bottle cap, releasing a special scent, and then he saw something miraculous.


    The Kayako clone twisted its head and turned away.


    "It actually works!" Xu Yi was a bit surprised, but his brow soon furrowed again.


    A blood-red grudge surrounded his body, the aura of the curse grudge, acting like a beacon for Kayako to sense his location anytime, anywhere.


    His goal had been to "sneak around," but obviously, that was no longer possible in this situation.


    Platinum flames rose from his body, and the power of Blood as Sacred temporarily scattered the curse of the grudge.


    This attempt was just a random effort by Xu Yi, but to his delighted surprise, it took a whole ten minutes for the curse to return.


    Previously, when he dispersed the curse afflicting Yukeni, it took less than half a minute before the curse reappeared.


    Could the reason be his Divine Body?


    Xu Yi quickly realized that the Holy Flame could dispel the curse, and this power originated from the blood of his Demigod Body.


    The Demigod Body could deceive Kayako with the ashes, along with the Dark Stealth... these combined abilities made it possible for him to be "invisible" for a short time in this city.


    Xu Yi looked towards Meiji Shrine, his eyes brightening more and more.


    He had previously learned quite a bit about Japan and knew that the Meiji Shrine was a place similar to the War God Repository in New York or the Golden House in Boston.


    "Go there and take a look, there might be unexpected gains!"


    Xu Yi moved through the shadows, and every once in a while, he would use the Holy Flame to burn away the newly formed curses on his body.


    Suddenly, the crisp sound of thunder came from ahead, and Xu Yi leaped onto a tall building to look toward the direction of the sound.


    The sound coincidentally came from the Meiji Shrine.


    Blinding thunderbolts arose from the main hall of the shrine. The lightning was green, shooting up from below like an unstoppable katana, splitting open the thick blood clouds hanging over the city.


    "What''s that?"


    Xu Yi was somewhat surprised. With his powerful vision, he could see the source of the thunder and lightning.


    It was a magatama the size of a fist, similar to jade material, within which one could see a ferocious Thunder Beast roaring, its gaze burning bright.


    Below the magatama, an unknown Array was engraved, and a large number of Onmyoji were clustered around it, holding white Soul Summoning Banners and chanting something with their heads bowed.


    The Onmyoji''s hunting robes were black, the most common color, but the exorcist standing at the center of the Array was dressed in a pure white hunting robe.


    "The Great Onmyoji!" Xu Yi softly said.


    He was somewhat familiar with Japan''s circles, knowing that only Great Onmyoji would wear pure white hunting robes, their strength equivalent to that of a Great Exorcist.


    Could it be? Xu Yi''s eyes fixed on the magatama amidst the lightning, and he suddenly gasped in surprise.


    He knew now what it was, the Yasakani no Magatama, one of Japan''s Three Sacred Treasures, a Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic!


    The last time he had seen the Spear of Longinus, it was only remnants. This was the first time Xu Yi had seen a complete Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic.


    Thinking about it, it made sense. At a time of life and death, Japan would have to make use of its most treasured artifacts.


    Xu Yi noticed movement at his waist and looked down.


    The Source of Woe statue vibrated slightly, and the gemstones on it lit up again. To Xu Yi''s surprise, even a complete "Mythic Level Holy Artifact" was merely "two and a half stars," with the last gemstone showing only a faint red light.


    What on earth was the Sin Remains?


    Xu Yi was not thinking this for the first time. The Sin Remains continuously refreshed his understanding.


    The Sin Remains, the size of a fingernail, could reach "three stars," yet a complete Mythic Level Holy Artifact could not.


    The thunder and lightning sparked by the Yasakani no Magatama broke through the blood-red clouds but did not continue upwards, instead transforming into dense swarms of thunder snakes.


    The thunder snakes traveled along the cloud layer, heading in all directions. When they reached above the demons, they struck down with a crash.


    Weak demons dissipated immediately, while more powerful demons were paralyzed, stuck in place, unable to move.


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    Kayako''s clones also suffered heavy losses, but those that had devoured many demons were unusually strong.


    The Yasakani no Magatama''s lightning could not even bind them; they flickered forward through the lightning as if they were scenes from a video, abruptly dropping frames.


    Those powerful Kayako clones converged toward the Meiji Shrine, more and more of them.


    Xu Yi secretly felt relieved, thankful that he had hidden his aura. If he had been moving ostentatiously throughout the city, he might have been the target of these Kayako clones.


    Could Japan''s Onmyoji deal with these Kayakos?


    Xu Yi was very curious about the answer to this question.


    He couldn''t help but be curious; the power of the Mythic Level Holy Artifact was clear for all to see, with the Yasakani no Magatama''s thunder and lightning being able to envelop the entire Tokyo.


    It was impossible for him not to covet it.


    The Demon Blade Red Lotus was close but still not at the level of a Mythic Level Holy Artifact.


    If this group of Onmyoji were to fall, Xu Yi wouldn''t mind "helping" by picking up the Yasakani no Magatama.

 Chapter 251 Surprise in the Treasure Room

    The Onmyoji, dressed in black hunting garb, stood like a high wall of darkness; Kayako surrounded them, their bodies deathly pale.Black and white were starkly delineated.


    The Kayako could not harm the Onmyoji, for the Yasakani no Magatama was protecting them, but the Onmyoji''s complexions were gradually turning pale.


    Even the Great Onmyoji at the center of the array could not possibly activate the Yasakani no Magatama to such a terrifying extent, almost enveloping the whole of Tokyo.


    The Yasakani no Magatama was also drawing on the strength of the surrounding Onmyoji, even their lifespans.


    As the stalemate stretched on, Xu Yi saw no immediate outcome and quietly turned to head deeper into the Meiji Shrine.


    "I hope the location hasn''t changed!"


    He had not known where the "treasure" of Meiji Shrine was hidden before, but after assimilating the memory fragments of Ando Mei, he was clear.


    As a once brilliant Forging Master, Ando Mei had been fortunate enough to enter the "Treasure Room" of Meiji Shrine.


    This was precisely why Xu Yi had made a special trip to Meiji Shrine.


    Following the route in his memory, Xu Yi went deeper.


    In the past, there would have been sentinels every few steps, the defenses incredibly tight, but now everyone had been pulled out, and Xu Yi''s entry was as easy as walking into his own backyard.


    With Japan suffering such a severe calamity, the guards were either forewarned and had left Japan, or had been redeployed elsewhere.


    Nor would they have imagined that at such a time, someone would actually want to enter the "Treasure Room."


    In fact, there were not entirely without "guards," as ghastly white figures flashed into existence now and again; the divided spirits of Kayako were all converging on Meiji Shrine.


    Within this city, except for Xu Yi, there were probably few who dared to appear so brazenly before Kayako.


    To some extent, the ability "Blood as Sacred" was a counter to Kayako.


    A heavy metal door appeared ahead, but it couldn''t stop Xu Yi, who broke through the door with force, his fist wrapped in Holy Flame, pulling no punches. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sturdy metal doors, along with the powerful protective Arrays, shattered at once, leaving a gaping hole ahead.


    Such commotion would, under normal circumstances, have attracted swarms of guards, but now, no one paid any attention.


    Or even if someone did notice, they were too preoccupied to care.


    As the door to the treasury burst open, disappointment was written all over Xu Yi''s face.


    The shelves in the Treasure Room were empty, with only scattered remnants.


    He had anticipated this before coming, as Japan faced a calamity that could have "annihilated" the nation. At such a time, it would have been senseless not to make use of the Exorcism Artifacts if they were still hidden away.


    Despite understanding this, he was still somewhat disappointed.


    Xu Yi wandered around the treasury, the remaining "trash" not worthy of his attention, and he didn''t even entertain the thought of picking it up.


    He was about to leave when his gaze swept across the wall at the far end.


    In Ando Mei''s memory, there was a time he was selecting materials to forge a weapon for a Great Onmyoji, and while engrossed in his selection, someone suddenly appeared behind him, giving him a start.


    Ando Mei had once suspected there was some sort of secret door in this wall.


    Xu Yi didn''t need confirmation of the rumor, the suspicion alone was enough; there was no harm in trying to see if it was true or not.


    Looking for minute clues and pondering carefully was out of the question. Xu Yi ignited his blood, and his fist, cloaked in Holy Flame, once again fell, blasting a large hole through the solid metal wall.


    As the dust began to settle, Xu Yi looked at the hole, his eyes growing brighter by the second. Behind it, there was indeed a hidden room.


    "What a delightful surprise behind the gloom!"


    He caught a glimpse of the contents in the room, and his lips curved involuntarily into a smile.


    Even a large number of Exorcism Artifacts would not have pleased him so, for at his level, Common Exorcism Artifacts were of little help to him.


    To the side of the "Treasure Room" was actually a library!


    Without a doubt, anything preserved here would be various texts on Mysticism.


    Having encountered the Doomsday Blade and personally created the God-melting Blood, he was acutely aware of the value of mystic knowledge, holding the potential to create endless possibilities.


    Since the entry for "Pale Gold" blood had appeared, he had an epiphany that relying solely on consuming entries would likely not yield entries of a higher tier than gold.


    That was a power from another stratum.


    "Scientific Research" had provided him with another path to ascend to the greatest heights.


    In such a critical moment, it was obviously impossible for Xu Yi to "copy" books into the Palace of Memory one by one, he didn''t have the time, nor did he need to bother.


    He directly moved them into Annabelle''s Treasure Box.


    Looking at the mysticism books packed tightly in the Treasure Box, Xu Yi smiled gleefully.


    This trip to Tokyo City, even if he hadn''t captured the Sin Remains, with these books, he could leave contentedly.


    ......


    Xu Yi had just left the Treasure Room when his body involuntarily shivered.


    With the strength of a Body of Demigod, even if he soaked in ice water during the dead of winter, he would not have this reaction; it wasn''t a physical coldness but rather one that stemmed from the psychological.


    The lightning that tore through the blood-red clouds was gone, the Yasakani no Magatama had vanished, the Onmyoji''s corpses were scattered around the Array, and one after another, Kayako spawn were climbing out from the corpses.


    The dense crowd of Kayako wandered within the Meiji Shrine.


    Xu Yi looked out, not only in the Meiji Shrine but also in the streets and alleys of Tokyo, there were figures of Kayako.


    The running crowds had disappeared, even those oddly shaped ghouls were nowhere to be seen.


    The city was unnervingly quiet, Xu Yi felt an overwhelming sense of solitude as if in this vast city, only he and the wandering Kayako were left.


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    The immense sense of solitude brought about a suffocating fear; had Xu Yi not had strong psychological fortitude, he might have turned and fled at this moment.


    Steady! Steady!


    Xu Yi took deep breaths repeatedly, forcing himself to stay calm, but when he walked, he quickened his steps subconsciously.


    By the arch of the Torii, Xu Yi saw a familiar silhouette. It was the Great Onmyoji who had activated the Yasakani no Magatama before.


    The other party was clearly already dead, leaning against the red arch, devoid of any signs of life.


    He had ultimately been defeated; they had underestimated the curse. Xu Yi himself, let alone the Japanese Onmyoji, felt his skin crawl.


    He had entered the Treasury, and the books were moved out in just over half an hour.


    In just over half an hour, Tokyo had become a city of death, the terror of the curse far surpassed Xu Yi''s imagination.


    If it weren''t for his fixation on the Sin Remains, he would have left long ago.


    Xu Yi hurried towards the corpse as if the Yasakani no Magatama was already within his reach.


    Although he had no regard for the upper echelons of Japan, he wasn''t about to sabotage their self-rescue plans; if the other party were still alive, even severely injured, he would not have taken action.


    But if the other party was dead, that was a different story.


    Who picked it up didn''t matter; moreover, he didn''t believe that anyone would dare to pick up items under the watchful eyes of the dense Kayako.


    Xu Yi approached the back of the red pillar by the arch and, upon seeing the Great Onmyoji''s dead body, was slightly taken aback.


    Not because the other party''s death was too tragic¡ªthis city had too many corpses with terrifying states of death¡ªbut rather because the Great Onmyoji''s heart was pierced by a long sword.


    The other wasn''t killed by Kayako but by one of his own!


    This was easy to deduce; the long sword was thrust into the heart from behind, and the dead Great Onmyoji''s face was full of disbelief.


    One could imagine the scene at the time; although the Great Onmyoji was severely wounded by Kayako, he hadn''t died but managed to escape with the help of the Yasakani no Magatama.


    The Great Onmyoji fled ahead, his disciple following closely behind.


    Taking advantage of the Great Onmyoji''s momentary observation of the surroundings, the disciple boldly made his move, the long sword piercing through the Great Onmyoji''s heart, and snatched away the Yasakani no Magatama.


    Subsequent events confirmed his guess; Xu Yi didn''t find the Yasakani no Magatama on him.


    He sighed and quickly adjusted his mood, ready to head to Mount Fuji.


    That was where the Sin Remains gathered, and also where the organization was executing its final plan.


    But as he was about to leave the Meiji Shrine, something unbelievable appeared in his field of vision; it was the corpse of an Onmyoji, wearing a black hunter attire.

 Chapter 252 The Holy Artifact That Was Delivered to the Door

    "Is it really mine now?" Xu Yi looked at the magatama in his hand, about the size of a fist, and scratched his head, feeling an intense sense of unreality.The magatama was heavy in his hand and bore a slight heat. The Thunder Beast that had been roaring within was now gone. If he hadn''t previously witnessed the immense power of the Yasakani no Magatama, he would have thought it was just an ordinary piece of jade.


    The Yasakani no Magatama had been found on the body of an Onmyoji, who was undoubtedly the "traitor."


    "Humans really are a species that loves to fight among themselves!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but sigh.


    Whether the "traitor" lashed out due to past grudges or simply wanted to seize the Yasakani no Magatama was now impossible to discern. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the outcome was tragic: the Great Onmyoji lay dead beside the Torii, and although the traitor had taken the Yasakani no Magatama, he didn''t manage to escape from Kayako''s grasp.


    After studying the Yasakani no Magatama, Xu Yi came to a very disheartening conclusion.


    He was unable to use the Yasakani no Magatama.


    This Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic was peculiar, seemingly requiring a certain special bloodline to activate. The Yasakani no Magatama even rejected his demigod blood.


    In the fragmented memories of Ando Mei, there was mention of Japan''s Three Sacred Treasures, which could only be wielded by someone with the "Imperial bloodline."


    Xu Yi glanced at the corpse lying on the ground.


    The traitor''s goal must have been to take the Yasakani no Magatama and with the power of the Holy Artifact, leave Japan and be free as a bird.


    Clearly, he wasn''t aware of the bloodline issue, or he might not have resorted to murder.


    Xu Yi gleefully pocketed the Yasakani no Magatama.


    Who wouldn''t love a Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic obtained for free?


    Moreover, who says that a Holy Artifact must be used for combat? Couldn''t it have other uses? An outrageous idea was forming in his mind.


    Mount Fuji is located on the outskirts of Tokyo, a stratovolcano straddling Shizuoka Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture. Xu Yi had to traverse almost half of Tokyo to reach it.


    But he was not alone; along the way, there were a great number of "fellow travelers."


    Kayako''s dense offspring began to move throughout the city, their direction aligning with Xu Yi''s, all heading towards Mount Fuji.


    Xu Yi was not surprised by this. The sinister organization had expended so much effort to spawn Kayako, surely not just to destroy Japan; they must have other objectives.


    Suddenly, rain began to fall from the sky, a persistent drizzle. Xu Yi instinctively drew his clothes tighter around him, but it was futile.


    The rain was blood-red, icy, and bone-chilling.


    The blood clouds overhead spread, previously allowing glimpses of sky, but now that was gone, as if the entire world was enveloped in blood.


    A multitude of black cats appeared on the streets, Kayako''s favorite cats before her death. Takeshi, a naked, pale boy, chased after the black cats, clutching a blood-red eyeball in his hand.


    From the houses along the road, came the sound of knives chopping bones. In each room, a man was being dismembered, the same man who had killed Kayako through domestic violence, Saeki Takeo.


    Under Kayako''s immense grudge, reality had been warped; the Land of Fear was starting to reveal its true power.


    A tingling sensation appeared on Xu Yi''s skin. He took a deep breath and silently quickened his pace.


    The grudge was too intense; it even began to affect his demigod body.


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    Xu Yi reached Mount Fuji, where a group of Onmyoji appeared at the base of the mountain, led by two Great Onmyoji in pure white hunting garb.


    He slowly exhaled, relieved to see living people at last. Walking alone through the city of Tokyo was simply suffocating.


    "What is that?" Xu Yi looked up at Mount Fuji, his expression changing subtly.


    A blood-red colossal gate stood midway up the side of Mount Fuji, carved with unknown creatures: the heads of crows, human bodies, and countless pale skeletal hands extending from the backs of the creatures, conveying an ominous feeling.


    Members of the sinister organization surrounded the gate, arms spread wide, chanting indecipherable spells, their faces filled with zeal.


    The Onmyoji could not attack them, as a complex Array inscribed on the ground was protecting them. The Onmyoji were attempting to break through it.


    In front of this colossal gate, Kayako''s incarnations became unusually "quiet." They neither attacked the organization''s members nor the Onmyoji, but instead crawled directly towards the gate.


    The Array surrounding the enormous gate did not stop them, they charged toward the gate, and a strange scene occurred, the instant they touched the gate, their bodies instantly dissipated.


    More and more Kayako surged towards the gate like moths plunging into magma, each one melting away to nothing.


    Thick, viscous blood gushed from between the doors, which slowly began to open.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed, the organization was using the Kayako to ram the gate, trying to open it this way.


    He remembered the incident with the Evil God of the Ram, could Fick''s aim have also been to use the power of the Evil God of the Ram to open this gate?


    Extreme terror and ominous aura seeped out from the crack of the door, sending chills down Xu Yi''s spine. He felt a presence more horrifying than the Evil Deity, and not just one!


    Among all the people in the organization, one seemed out of place.


    He was not taking part in chanting the rituals, nor did his face bear the fervent anticipation of almost attained success, instead, he watched everything with cold detachment.


    The man wore a skull mask and was shrouded in a black robe, holding a scythe that shimmered with a sinister red glow in his hand.


    The gap in the gate grew wider, and Skull Face took out a black and gold stone from within his bosom.


    Hidden in the shadows, Xu Yi immediately perked up, locking his gaze onto the object in the other''s hand¡ªthere was no mistake, it was the Sin Remains.


    Not the size of a fingernail, but the size of a fist.


    This size was sufficient to meet the minimum requirements of the "Source of Woe"!


    Xu Yi''s eyes were ablaze, yet he did not rush out immediately, opting to continue observing the situation.


    The ritual was clearly reaching a critical juncture, and Xu Yi did not believe the Onmyoji of Japan could hold their patience much longer.


    The two Great Onmyoji repeatedly looked back towards Tokyo with furrowed brows and anxious expressions.


    What exactly had happened over there?


    Logically, even if the plan failed, they should have been able to use the power of the Yasakani no Magatama to break out and rendezvous with them.


    Why had they still not been seen?


    No matter how hard they thought, they could never have imagined that the Great Onmyoji had not fallen to the Kayako, but to the treachery of one of their own.


    The ominous aura grew increasingly intense; the two Great Onmyoji exchanged glances, deciding not to wait any longer¡ªone of them produced a paper doll made from spell paper.


    He casually threw the paper doll into the air, from which a thick purple mist burst forth; as the purple haze dispersed, a creature of strange appearance materialized before them.


    With a crimson face, a tall and long red nose, holding a feather fan, the creature was tall with black wings growing from its back.


    Xu Yi recognized it, it was the Shikigami known as "Daitengu."


    The Daitengu rushed towards the Formation, waving the feather fan in its hand to conjure a black, bizarre wind. The other Onmyoji also exerted their strength, and the Array shattered with a crisp crackling sound.


    "Attack!" The Onmyoji, who had been suppressing their rage for too long, finally had the chance to vent their anger. They charged towards the people of the organization with roars.


    These Onmyoji were elite, and their numbers were several times that of the organization; Skull Face seemed to sense the unfavorable situation, abandoning his subordinates and fleeing towards the peak.


    As more and more Kayako were annihilated, the enormous gate finally opened a crack wide enough for one person to pass through.


    Black ash suddenly sprayed from within the gap, causing Xu Yi''s expression to shift; he felt intense radiation from the ash, no less potent than that of a Crystal Stone.


    The Onmyoji that lunged forward were no different than if they had collided head-on with a Doomsday Blade; their flesh and bones dissolved together in the ash.


    "How ruthless!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but exclaim.


    Only Skull Face avoided the ash; he clearly knew in advance what would happen once the door opened but did not warn the members of the organization, instead using them as bait.


    Xu Yi secretly rejoiced that he didn''t act impulsively to take the lead; otherwise, it would have been him facing the terrifying ash.


    Even with confidence in his own body, he didn''t want to touch such a thing.


    The black ash continued to spew forth while the gate kept opening wider. Xu Yi''s face grew more and more grave; he sensed that something horrifying was rapidly approaching from behind the gate, and there was more than one.

 Chapter 253 The Sword of Gathering Clouds and the Yata Mirror

    The massive gate had opened halfway, and Xu Yi heard murmuring voices in his ears, voices that would drive any common person into madness and cause their soul to fall into corruption.There wasn''t just one type of murmuring; it was tens of thousands of bizarre sounds gathering together, whispering in unison.


    Xu Yi, in agony, clasped his head, burning his blood to activate the power of the Holy Flame, finally dispersing those murmurs.


    The colossal gate connected to another world, a world that imprisoned a multitude of strangeness, Xu Yi suddenly realized.


    The surge of weirdness raced toward the gate, blood-colored human-faced spiders, poison snakes with baby heads... They were almost frenzied with excitement as if they were devils imprisoned for millions of years and had suddenly seen the prison doors open.


    Xu Yi''s scalp tingled as he sensed presences behind the gate not inferior to that of the Evil Deity''s dragon, and not just one of them. He barely managed to suppress the impulse to flee.


    As the weirdness was about to burst through the gate, it was as if they had hit something, and their bodies were repelled and flung away.


    Xu Yi let out a slight sigh of relief. Although these weird creatures seemed close at hand, the space between them was indeterminably vast.


    The gate continued to open wide, and the black ashes gradually dissipated, revealing to Xu Yi''s astonishment that there were still people standing unyielded inside.


    A Great Onmyoji dressed in pure white hunter''s garb stood shoulder-to-shoulder. The person on the left held a mirror shaped like a flower petal with eight tips, the back etched with many ancient characters. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The central round mirror resembled clear pond water with ripples flowing from time to time.


    Xu Yi instantly recognized the mirror, one of Japan''s three Holy Artifacts, the Yata Mirror.


    The Great Onmyoji on the right held a long sword, two shaku and seven sun eight bu in length, the blade like an iris leaf, the body of the sword solid, the hilt resembling the joints of a fish, the color of the blade bone white.


    This was a long sword nurtured within the Yamata no Orochi, an invisible wind wandering around the sword, continuously blowing away the black ash to protect the two of them.


    The Sword of Gathering Clouds, one of Japan''s three Holy Artifacts, also known as the Kusanagi Sword.


    Along with the Yasakani no Magatama on Xu Yi, the three Holy Artifacts of Japan were gathered together.


    Xu Yi fixed his gaze on the Yata Mirror and the Sword of Gathering Clouds, his eyes flickering with light.


    The three Holy Artifacts of Japan required the bloodline of the Emperor to activate, and Xu Yi had no interest in becoming a so-called descendant of the Emperor.


    But ever since he obtained the Yasakani no Magatama, a crazy idea had formed in his mind, which was to "merge" the three Holy Artifacts, then combine them with the Sin Remains to forge a Source of Woe weapon of his own!


    Of course, for now, these were all just fantasies in his head; he only had the Yasakani no Magatama, nothing else.


    The two Great Onmyoji lunged toward Skull Face as if they were archenemies who were particularly hostile upon meeting each other.


    They survived with the help of the Holy Artifacts, but their disciples were not so fortunate; they perished in the black ashes.


    The great battle was on the verge of erupting. Skull Face swung his Long Scythe to meet his opponents, tracing an arc of cold light.


    Xu Yi had roughly figured out the strength of Skull Face; he was just a step away from the title of exorcist. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    Far stronger than a Great Exorcist, but at the moment, he could only retreat in defeat.


    With every slash of the Sword of Gathering Clouds, a howling Wind Blade followed, shredding everything it touched into pieces.


    The ripples of the Yata Mirror reflected Skull Face''s figure, making him feel as if his blood had frozen, his movements laborious.


    The two Holy Artifacts were too powerful; Skull Face was no match and could only defend passively.


    The Sword of Gathering Clouds suddenly changed its tactic, slashing toward the Sin Remains in Skull Face''s hands.


    In the midst of battle, Skull Face constantly shielded the Sin Remains, unwilling to put it away or to allow it to drift far from the gate.


    This clearly related to a part of the ritual, and with the keen combat insight of a Great Onmyoji, he had long noticed this.


    Skull Face''s expression shifted subtly as he waved his Long Scythe instinctively, attempting to block. But the other Great Onmyoji had already closed in, the reflection of Skull Face in the Yata Mirror binding him, rendering him immobile.


    The original target of the Sword of Gathering Clouds was to cut through Skull Face''s wrist and snatch away the Sin Remains.


    But at the final moment, Skull Face forcibly broke free from the bindings of the Yata Mirror, attempting to pull his hand back.


    The Sword of Gathering Clouds severed the fingers, striking upon the Sin Remains with a crisp metallic clash.


    The sharp Sword of Gathering Clouds could easily slice through steel, an expression less than adequate to describe its capability, yet not even a white mark was left on the Sin Remains it had struck.


    The Sin Remains were blasted away, flying towards the high skies.


    Xu Yi''s eyes shone like incandescent lamps; his long-awaited opportunity had finally arrived!


    He burst forth from the shadow in which he was hiding; his Body of Demigod at full speed, he instantly moved from the foot of Mount Fuji to halfway up the mountain.


    Just as he was about to rush forward and snatch away the Sin Remains, a sudden sense of palpitation came over him.


    He hesitated for a moment and then stopped, sliced open his own finger, and the blood that sprayed out formed red threads in the air.


    This was the ability of the "Soul Jade" entry, the Binding Soul Thread.


    The Binding Soul Thread was originally formed from congealed blood. Previously, when suppressing the Soul Jade, he had been afraid of losing too much blood, and he didn''t have the ability to control his blood, so he had always used red threads stained with blood in its place.


    After mastering the ability of "Blood as Sacred," he was now able to control his own blood.


    But he had never tried it before; using it this time was a sudden stroke of inspiration. That gate was too peculiar; for the sake of caution, it was still safer to use the Binding Soul Thread.


    The Binding Soul Thread wrapped around the Sin Remains, and Xu Yi was overjoyed. He yanked hard, attempting to pull the Sin Remains back towards him.


    Skull Face, seeing the Sin Remains about to be taken away, bellowed and swung out his Long Scythe fiercely.


    As the scythe flew through the air, it twisted and morphed into a ferocious giant dragon, lunging towards the Great Onmyoji, temporarily forcing the two back.


    Skull Face charged towards the Sin Remains, reaching for them with his intact hand. As his hand touched the blood threads, he did not take much notice; with his strength, snapping these threads seemed like child''s play.


    But his expression suddenly changed; white-gold flames erupted from the blood threads, and he felt the terror of those flames. He wanted to pull his hand back, but it was too late.


    The power of "Blood as Sacred" exploded, and the Holy Flame instantly destroyed his hand, and Skull Face screamed as he fell.


    "So it can also be used like this!" Xu Yi''s eyes lit up.


    He hadn''t used the Binding Soul Thread for a long time, and he didn''t expect that, combined with the blood of a Demigod, it could achieve such a good effect.


    "Between entries, it''s not just fusion that works; if matched properly, they can also have very good effects."


    Xu Yi suddenly had a revelation.


    The Binding Soul Thread pulled tight, and as the Sin Remains were about to be pulled away from the massive gate and fly back into Xu Yi''s hands...


    At that moment, black-gold roots suddenly stretched out from behind the massive gate, instantly wrapping around the Sin Remains. The Holy Flame rose on the Binding Soul Thread, yet it seemingly couldn''t destroy those roots.


    Xu Yi''s expression changed; unnoticed by him, the massive gate had completely opened, and behind it lay a dark and desolate world.


    The black-golden ancient tree swept away the eerie beings blocking the gate with its roots. The beings could only bow their heads low, as if welcoming the arrival of a king.


    From the ancient tree, Xu Yi sensed a tsunami-like terrifying presence, making one''s hair stand on end.


    He couldn''t understand why other eerie beings failed, but this ancient tree could pass through the massive gate?


    The Sin Remains suddenly began to melt, like butter being heated, and merged into the roots of the tree.


    The two were of the same origin, or it could be said that the Sin Remains were originally a part of this ancient tree.


    Xu Yi suddenly understood¡ªthe fragments of the Sin Remains were like a compass, guiding the arrival of the ancient tree, serving as a medium for the descent of an Evil God.


    Kayako, the massive gate, the Sin Remains... Everything had become clear now; the organization''s goal was to summon this black-golden ancient tree!

 Chapter 254 The Original Sin Mother Tree

    ```The roots kept spreading from inside the door, and the aura of the black golden ancient tree made Xu Yi''s body tense, ready to activate "Blood as Sacred" at any moment.


    He didn''t have to worry about there being too few "Sin Remains" to forge a weapon anymore; the black golden ancient tree before his eyes was entirely made of "Sin Remains."


    But he didn''t feel happy at all; he would rather have had just the fist-sized amount of "Sin Remains" as before.


    The aura of the black golden ancient tree was even stronger than that of the "Evil Deity Dragon," and he had no confidence in killing it.


    "The Original Sin Mother Tree! The Original Sin Mother Tree has finally descended!" Skull Face yelled maniacally, dancing around like a madman.


    He suddenly turned his head, staring at Xu Yi and the two "Great Onmyoji" with a glint of hatred in his eyes ¨C it was these three who had destroyed his own hands.


    "With the Original Sin Mother Tree''s arrival, none of you will be able to escape!" Skull Face cackled wildly.


    Xu Yi quietly retreated, preparing to make a run for it.


    The aura of the Original Sin Mother Tree was too horrifying; there was no advantage in a head-on confrontation.


    What''s worse, as the giant door fully opened, the "Kayako" were no longer drawn to it. They wandered around Mount Fuji, unwilling to leave.


    Xu Yi looked back towards Tokyo; more and more "Kayako" streamed out from the city, moving towards their location.


    Blood-colored clouds gathered overhead, and soon this area would be twisted by the "Kayako''s" resentment, eventually becoming sealed off and completely transforming into a land of death.


    Xu Yi took two steps back, but then he suddenly stopped.


    The Original Sin Mother Tree behind the door was obscuring the sky like an ancient demon god; its roots swept out, shaking both earth and mountains, the thinnest part of them thicker than his thigh.


    Yet the roots that extended out were only as thick as his little finger.


    Moreover, something was off about the aura; those extending roots did not have the suffocating sense of oppression.


    Xu Yi looked at the "inside" and "outside" of the door, feeling a gap like that between "instant noodle packaging" and the "actual noodles" after they have been made.


    As the ancient tree''s body continued to emerge, this feeling of discrepancy grew stronger.


    Could it be that the Original Sin Mother Tree was just for show? A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.


    Xu Yi decided not to leave, opting to observe a little longer.


    The two "Great Onmyoji" were also ready to retreat, but seeing Xu Yi''s actions, they hesitated slightly, then stopped as well.


    Nobody fled, and nobody made a move, resulting in a tense standoff.


    In this eerie atmosphere, the Original Sin Mother Tree came through the giant door, which was running out of energy, and slowly started to close under an unstoppable force.


    Everyone''s gaze was fixed on the Original Sin Mother Tree; the two Great Onmyoji were dumbstruck, and Xu Yi was a bit stunned as well.


    The Original Sin Mother Tree before them was about three meters tall and five meters in diameter, whereas the tree seen through the giant door was over a hundred meters tall, with a huge canopy that obscured its full shape.


    It wasn''t just the volume of the Original Sin Mother Tree that was seriously reduced, but also its aura.


    The Original Sin Mother Tree before them felt much weaker, and there was an indescribable sense of frailty.


    "How can this be?" Skull Face suddenly couldn''t laugh anymore; he looked like a duck with its neck wrung, his expression blank.


    This was also his first experience with such a situation. He only knew he had to summon the Original Sin Mother Tree from behind the door to prepare for his organization''s next plan, never expecting this outcome.


    Hope rekindled in the eyes of the two Great Onmyoji; perhaps the Original Sin Mother Tree before them was the root cause of Japan''s disaster, and resolving it might save Japan.


    They lunged towards the Original Sin Mother Tree.


    The Original Sin Mother Tree seemed to sense the danger approaching, and roots flew out, not to block the Great Onmyoji, though.


    The roots reached for the Kayako lingering around, piercing the bodies of the spirits, popping them like bubbles.


    The lingering blood-colored energy in the air was absorbed by the roots and channeled into the main body, causing the tree''s canopy to suddenly increase in size. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    The expression on both the Great Onmyoji and Xu Yi''s faces changed.


    They both realized that the Original Sin Mother Tree''s reduction in size was simply the price it paid to pass through that door and not because it was inherently weak.


    If it could gather enough energy, the Original Sin Mother Tree could return to its full glory.


    ```


    The Great Onmyoji suddenly accelerated, taking action one after another.


    The Sword of Gathering Clouds slashed continuously, Wind Blades danced in the air, clear water surged from the Yata Mirror, and the icy stream constantly washed over the Original Sin Mother Tree.


    Xu Yi bellowed, his speed soaring to the ultimate, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of the Original Sin Mother Tree.


    They all realized that time was pressing, and they had to resolve the opponent before the Original Sin Mother Tree could recover.


    Xu Yi swung his fist fiercely, his knuckles wrapped in roaring Holy Flames. As his fist struck down, the Original Sin Mother Tree shook thunderously but did not crack.


    Xu Yi''s expression shifted slightly; this was the first time he had seen anything that could directly block Holy Flames.


    Holy Flame is not actually flame, but only similar in form; its essence is highly concentrated energy that bursts forth in an instant upon contact, destroying everything.


    The Sword of Gathering Clouds, one of Japan''s Three Holy Artifacts, was known for its sharpness, yet when it slashed at the body of the Original Sin Mother Tree, it merely left a white mark.


    Xu Yi suddenly understood why Sin Remains could be rated as "three-star" level; this kind of resilience alone was enough to astound.


    His expression grave, the Original Sin Mother Tree, though shrunken and weakened, had a tangible body nonetheless.


    If he fully invoked Blood as Sacred, perhaps he could breach the Original Sin Mother Tree''s defenses, but to what end?


    He could not possibly kill the Original Sin Mother Tree before his blood ran out.


    "Thinking to prevent the Mother Tree from reviving, you are deluding yourselves!"


    Skull Face regained that contemptuous look, the sturdiness of the Original Sin Mother Tree giving him confidence.


    Despite his words, he still controlled the serpent that the Scythe of the Reaper had become, hurling it towards the battlefield to relieve the pressure on the Original Sin Mother Tree.


    Xu Yi''s complexion turned even grimmer.


    It was difficult enough dealing with the Original Sin Mother Tree; it continued to absorb strength from Kayako, and now there was an added troublemaker, worsening the situation.


    His eyes briefly met those of the two Great Onmyoji; he was startled to see that they could still maintain their composure, their eyes flickering with confidence.


    "Friend, could you hold him off for us?" one of the Great Onmyoji suddenly asked, obviously referring to Skull Face.


    "What are you planning to do?" Xu Yi asked curiously.


    "From our earlier exchange, we have discerned the ancient tree''s weakness. Our Holy Artifacts are especially good at dealing with such tough nuts!" the Great Onmyoji replied softly.


    Though puzzled, Xu Yi nodded in agreement and turned to intercept Skull Face.


    One of the Great Onmyoji cut his own palm, smearing the blood on the Yata Mirror. The blood was continuously drawn away, leaving the Great Onmyoji''s face pale. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But clear spring water gushed from the Yata Mirror, and instead of falling, it hovered in mid-air, slowly rotating around the Yata Mirror, forming a massive whirlpool.


    Xu Yi instinctively distanced himself from the vortex, his soul sensing a pulling force, sending tremors through it.


    He glanced at the Original Sin Mother Tree and was taken aback.


    The Original Sin Mother Tree trembled violently, its faint soul being dragged away from the tree.


    "This is just the beginning?" Xu Yi was astonished. The Yata Mirror had only just been activated; the suction force was far from its peak and wasn''t even "focused" yet, just the diffused fluctuation.


    The wave wasn''t strong, and with Xu Yi''s "mediocre" soul strength, he could withstand it; there was no reason why a monster like the Original Sin Mother Tree couldn''t.


    Xu Yi caught sight of the red giant gate behind the Original Sin Mother Tree; he suddenly realized that since the Original Sin Mother Tree came through the giant gate from another world, its soul had become highly unstable, easily dislodged by the slightest force.


    The Great Onmyoji must have noticed this particular weakness of the Original Sin Mother Tree.


    The slowly rotating vortex sped up, turning into a fierce water spout that flew toward the Original Sin Mother Tree and hovered above it.


    A powerful pull on the soul acted upon the Original Sin Mother Tree, its soul being dragged out inch by inch.


    Xu Yi''s heart pounded, and he licked his somewhat dry lips.


    If the Original Sin Mother Tree''s soul was extracted, wouldn''t only its shell remain? Such a large piece of Sin Remains, if it could be used as a Source of Woe...


    This was a possibility he had not even dared to contemplate before.

 Chapter 255 Transformation of the Source of Woe!

    The soul of the Original Sin Mother Tree had been pulled out more than half by the Yata Mirror, while Skull Face desperately tried to break through the defense, but was stopped by Xu Yi time after time.Skull Face completely panicked, continuously roaring with ferocity in his eyes, wishing he could tear Xu Yi apart and devour him alive.


    "I know you''re anxious, but don''t be in such a hurry!" Xu Yi said, smiling, speaking warmly and softly to console.


    The leaves of the Original Sin Mother Tree suddenly started to tremble, making a sound like the clashing of metals.


    It''s impossible for the wind to move those leaves, even when the Original Sin Mother Tree moves, the leaves remain unmoved, as if the whole body is cast from steel.


    The leaves moved because the Original Sin Mother Tree was manipulating them.


    There were seven crowns on the Original Sin Mother Tree, and the leaves of the crowns surged, transforming into human heads with fierce features.


    The lips on the faces of the leaves undulated, and they actually produced sound, like the clanging of metallic cavalry.


    That was an unknown language, yet Xu Yi somehow understood the meaning of those words.


    Pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust¡­ Those were the seven deadly sins of humanity.


    In the surging waterspouts, as the soul of the Original Sin Mother Tree was about to be completely yanked out, the sound made the remaining bit stubborn as a lasting eczema difficult to pull away.


    A fierce wind suddenly blew in the arena, as another Great Onmyoji made their move, similarly cutting open their palm and a large amount of blood was absorbed by the Sword of Gathering Clouds.


    The Sword of Gathering Clouds flowed with a violent wind, which began to materialize into azure, swirling around the sword.


    The azure wind seemed to rotate slowly, but Xu Yi knew it was a visual illusion, the speed of the wind exceeded the limit of what the human eye could perceive each second, resulting in this effect.


    The Sword of Gathering Clouds slashed towards the soul of the Original Sin Mother Tree, and as the soul, an ethereal thing, would normally remain unaffected by ordinary wind, the soul of the Original Sin Mother Tree let out a piercing scream.


    "So, the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan are all weapons against the soul!" Xu Yi suddenly realized.


    The Yasakani no Magatama, Thunder and Lightning Soul Setting; the Yata Mirror, soul-absorbing through the swirling water; the Sword of Gathering Clouds, soul-slicing with the wind.


    With the Yata Mirror and the Sword of Gathering Clouds working together, the soul of the Original Sin Mother Tree was finally pulled out, flying towards the Yata Mirror high in the sky.


    All of a sudden, the Original Sin Mother Tree "froze," the changing faces on the crown fixed, no longer emitting sound. The roots hunting Kayako halted as well, as if they were sculptures.


    The Source of Woe snake sculpture at Xu Yi''s waist started to shake violently, the three gemstones lighting up with a blinding red glow. The red light was thick as blood, and anyone could see the longing of the Source of Woe sculpture.


    Xu Yi stared straight at the Original Sin Mother Tree, with an undeniable yearning in his eyes.


    With the soul extracted, what remained was the husk full of Sin Remains, simply the perfect source of woe!


    Xu Yi no longer intercepted Skull Face, rushing towards the husk of the Original Sin Mother Tree.


    "You¡­ what are you going to do?" Skull Face suddenly became anxious, his face filled with panic, firmly blocking Xu Yi''s path.


    At that moment, their roles were completely reversed. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi looked coldly at the other party, with "Blood as Sacred" at full strength, he could kill the opponent in just three seconds.


    The reason he hadn''t was that the situation had always been unclear, and he was worried that after the blood was exhausted, he wouldn''t have enough strength to deal with the dangers that followed.


    "Hold on!" yelled the Great Onmyoji wielding the Sword of Gathering Clouds.


    The soul of the Original Sin Mother Tree was on the brink of being absorbed into the Yata Mirror, but at that moment, the waterspouts vanished abruptly.


    The Great Onmyoji wielding the Yata Mirror turned pale, his body uncontrollably shaking, the hand that transmitted blood was withered like kindling.


    Activating the soul absorbing ability of the Yata Mirror had expended too much of the Great Onmyoji''s energy.


    Bear in mind that when previously activating the thunder and lightning of the Yasakani no Magatama, a large group of Onmyoji had gathered. However, now he stood alone.


    The Great Onmyoji was utterly spent, his body squeezed of every last bit of strength, otherwise he would definitely have held on for that extra second to absorb the Original Sin Mother Tree''s soul into the Yata Mirror.


    The soul of the Original Sin Mother Tree showed full excitement, having been prepared to be sealed, it hadn''t expected to break free.


    It turned and rushed towards its husk, trying to return to its original body. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Another Great Onmyoji held the Sword of Gathering Clouds, standing in the way of the soul of the Original Sin Mother Tree. He was definitely not going to watch idly as their plan fell apart.


    Surging white-gold streams of energy burst forth from Xu Yi''s body, his black hair turning white-gold as well. Xu Yi didn''t hesitate for a moment, fully activating "Blood as Sacred" and swinging his fist fiercely.


    Facing the oncoming punch, Skull Face''s pupils suddenly constricted. He exerted all his strength to resist, but was still overwhelmed by the terrifying force, his left chest blasted open with a gaping hole as he was sent flying backwards.


    Xu Yi paid no attention to whether Skull Face had died or not; his figure flashed, appearing in front of the Source of Woe Mother Tree.


    To avoid prolonging the battle, he knew he must race against time.


    He deactivated the power of "Blood as Sacred," saving every bit of blood energy he could, as he no longer needed this power for what was to come.


    A purple-red barrier spread out, enveloping the Source of Woe Mother Tree. Xu Yi tried to collect the husk into his toy space but found it utterly impossible.


    The husk in front of him appeared metallic, but was in fact a living entity.


    Though devoid of a soul, it still maintained an astonishing vitality, and Annabelle''s toy space could not contain living things.


    A howl of a soul came from behind, as the soul of the Source of Woe Mother Tree sensed Xu Yi''s actions and frantically thrashed its roots.


    These roots were not aimed at the Great Onmyoji but rather at the soul''s own physical husk.


    Countless roots burrowed into their own body, like scalpels piercing into flesh; with a violent pull, the Source of Woe Mother Tree let out a piercing scream.


    It had actually torn its own soul apart.


    The soul of the Source of Woe Mother Tree split into seven parts, one for each canopy, which corresponded perfectly to the Seven Deadly Sins.


    The Great Onmyoji''s expression darkened as he swiped at the air with the Sword of Gathering Clouds, unable to block all the souls at once.


    "Pride" and "Wrath" broke through the defenses, charging at the husk.


    Knowing he had no time to think it through, Xu Yi reached for the Source of Woe Serpent Sculpture at his waist and pressed it fiercely against the Source of Woe Mother Tree''s husk.


    The Serpent Sculpture vibrated, indicating that the object in front of it met the criteria for fusion.


    [Do you choose the "Source of Woe Mother Tree Husk" as the Source of Woe? Once confirmed, it cannot be changed.]


    Having made his decision, Xu Yi did not waver; he promptly chose to agree.


    Besides, material of "Three-Star" grade was already the best choice for the Source of Woe.


    The Source of Woe Serpent Sculpture suddenly came to life, the king-crowned cobra slithering rapidly among the branches to reach the Source of Woe Mother Tree''s main trunk.


    The body of the cobra melted, flowing like water into the Source of Woe Mother Tree''s body.


    [Source of Woe transformation initiated, estimated time "8:00".]


    Transformation would take eight minutes, which was entirely within Xu Yi''s expectations, as both Hyper Accelerated Regeneration and Blood Throne had required time.


    The husk of the Source of Woe Mother Tree shook suddenly, its surface gloss dimming as if coated with a layer of dust.


    With the Source of Woe transformation underway, the Source of Woe Mother Tree''s vitality rapidly declined, its body dying.


    As the souls of Pride and Wrath approached, Xu Yi pricked his finger, his blood turning into soul-binding threads that wrapped around the soul, but only capturing the soul of Pride, while the soul of Wrath charged directly at the Source of Woe Mother Tree''s husk.


    Xu Yi''s heart leaped to his throat, but quickly settled back down.


    The soul of Wrath failed to enter the body, as if it had hit an iron plate and was repelled, flying away.


    With the Source of Woe in the midst of transformation, Xu Yi gradually gained control over the Source of Woe Mother Tree''s husk, it was no longer ownerless, so naturally, the soul could not return.


    Xu Yi quietly breathed a sigh of relief, but almost immediately, his brows furrowed.


    He looked towards the metallic giant gate standing on Mount Fuji, which, like a wax figure under high heat, had melted by more than half.


    He had noticed this phenomenon earlier; in fact, the gate had begun melting not now, but as soon as the soul of the Source of Woe Mother Tree was extracted. However, he had no time to pay attention to it.


    Xu Yi scanned his surroundings, slightly startled to find that Skull Face had disappeared.


    He suddenly had a very bad premonition.

 Chapter 256 The Trump Card of the Gate Organization

    ```The melting speed of the giant gate began to accelerate, viscid metal liquid flowing everywhere as an ominous aura quietly spread.


    Xu Yi paced back and forth by the Original Sin Mother Tree, his eyes filled with unmistakable anxiety.


    The souls of the Seven Deadly Sins wandered around the husk of the Original Sin Mother Tree, unwilling to leave. The next second, their spirit bodies suddenly shuddered.


    The Great Onmyoji was nearing his end, but Xu Yi''s anxiety infected him. He injected himself with a Potent Potion, and after regaining a bit of strength, he immediately activated the Yata Mirror.


    At the same time, another Great Onmyoji brought the Sword of Gathering Clouds to its limit, its Wind Blades slicing through those souls.


    With the cooperation of the Yata Mirror and the Sword of Gathering Clouds, the souls of the Seven Deadly Sins were all captured within the Yata Mirror.


    Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, but the faces of the two Great Onmyoji were deathly pale as they looked out to see swarms of Kayako surging through the city.


    Although they had anticipated this, the sight still filled them with despair.


    They had thought that destroying the gate organization''s plans would save Japan, but now they saw they were too naive; the source of the Kayakos was not the Original Sin Mother Tree.


    At this moment, a sudden scream came from behind, startling all three of them as they turned their heads to look.


    Ripples appeared in the air, and a figure fell from the sky, revealing the previously vanished Skull Face.


    The adversary had used some sort of sorcery to hide himself, covertly observing and waiting for an opportunity to seek revenge.


    Xu Yi was perplexed as to why the adversary had chosen this moment to appear, especially since the souls of the Original Sin Mother Tree had been sealed.


    Skull Face hadn''t even touched the ground when his body, still in mid-air, was enveloped by the stick metal liquid.


    "No!" Skull Face struggled desperately, but it was futile.


    He was forcibly sacrificed, his body emitting billowing, burning crimson flames. The flames spread throughout the entire metal gate, accelerating its melting into liquid metal, transforming visibly before their eyes.


    The metal liquid condensed in the air with the sound of rolling magma, swiftly morphing into a monster.


    Xu Yi had seen the monster before, sculpted on the door, with the head of a crow and the body of a human.


    The difference was that the "Crow Man" was much smaller than the depiction on the door, merely the size of an average person, and had only eight bone hands instead of the countless many.


    Crow Man suddenly opened its eyes, golden pupils flashing with kingly majesty.


    It suddenly extended its hand and a ghastly white light converged in its palm, forming a Spear. With a powerful throw, it hurled the Spear forward.


    The three of them were on high alert, only to see the light flash by, the Spear already in front of one of the Great Onmyoji, who instinctively raised the Yata Mirror to block it.


    The Yata Mirror, as a Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic, was exceptionally sturdy, even capable of withstanding attacks from the Doomsday Blade.


    The Light Spear struck the Yata Mirror, which resounded with a loud tremor. A crisp cracking sound followed, and a crack actually appeared on the Yata Mirror!


    The complexion of everyone present changed, and Xu Yi suddenly realized that the panic he had felt when approaching the gate did not come from the Original Sin Mother Tree inside, but from the gate itself.


    This giant gate was the trump card of the gate organization!


    The two Onmyoji reacted in unison, turning and bolting away from Mount Fuji.


    They had already carried out their utmost effort, and resolving the issue of the Original Sin Mother Tree had not been enough to save Japan. Now, with such a terrifying creature appearing, their only thought was to flee the scene immediately.


    Xu Yi did not run; he watched Crow Man with every muscle tensed.


    He couldn''t flee; the Original Sin Mother Tree was transforming into the Sin Remains, a process that could not be disrupted by excessive external forces.


    If he ran away, the transformation would almost certainly be deemed a failure.


    Crow Man''s goal was no doubt to recover the Original Sin Mother Tree. After all the effort and planning put into summoning it, it certainly wouldn''t just "hand it over" easily.


    Crow Man''s gaze swept over Xu Yi and turned towards the fleeing Great Onmyoji.


    For a being of absolute power like it, this was hardly a choice to make. With a flicker of its form, a sharp sonic boom resounded; its speed had surpassed that of sound, causing a sonic boom. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    The next second, Crow Man had already intercepted the path of the two Great Onmyoji as they tried to escape.


    The two Onmyoji knew they couldn''t escape and fought back with all their might.


    The Sword of Gathering Clouds descended, a fierce gale falling from the sky, composed of innumerable small Wind Blades sharp enough to cut alloy into shreds, capable of inflicting harm on the soul.


    ```


    The Crow Man remained unmoved, standing quietly in the wind as if the deadly Wind Blades falling upon him were nothing more than an inconsequential spring rain.


    The lethal Wind Blades were dissipated by an invisible force.


    The Crow Man struck again, sending the chilling Light Spear flying once more, aiming at the same person as before.


    Without a doubt, the other party''s choice was correct. The Great Onmyoji who had been operating the Yata Mirror for an extended period was nearing exhaustion, presenting a weak point among the three.


    All the Great Onmyoji could do was continue to use the Yata Mirror to defend. The mirror vibrated intensely again, and the cracks spread into three lines.


    If this continued, the Yata Mirror would very likely be destroyed!


    It was unimaginable that someone could, through sheer strength, damage a Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic.


    Despair crossed the faces of the two Great Onmyojis, their eyes dull and lifeless.


    "Don''t be scared by it! It can''t keep up this attack for much longer, look at its arms behind!" Xu Yi suddenly spoke up, his expression solemn but not yet desperate.


    The two Great Onmyojis were briefly startled before looking closely, hope reigniting in their eyes.


    In their tension, they had missed the detail that Xu Yi pointed out about the Crow Man.


    Originally, the Crow Man had eight arms behind its back, but now only six remained. Considering the two Light Spears that had been thrown, the conclusion was obvious.


    Each time it launched a Light Spear, it sacrificed an arm.


    The terror of the Light Spear was such that if it could be conjured endlessly, they would stand no chance. But now, there was a glimmer of hope for survival.


    Xu Yi also joined the fray, well aware of the principle that one falls with the other in close association.


    If the Crow Man took down the two Great Onmyojis, he would undoubtedly be next. His goal now was to hold out until the Source of Woe transformation was complete, which would make escaping much easier.


    He couldn''t run away now; the husk of the original sin mother tree was incredibly heavy, and thinking of escaping from the Crow Man with its terrifying speed while carrying the husk was a pipe dream.


    The three joined forces against the Crow Man, but the effect was minimal, their attacks leaving only superficial scratches on its body.


    If Xu Yi were to unleash "Blood as Sacred" with all his might, he could shatter the opponent''s body, but it was impossible to eliminate the Crow Man before his blood was exhausted.


    Besides, his objective was to stall for time, waiting for the Source of Woe transformation to complete, not to kill his opponent.


    The Crow Man''s attacks were rigid, making Xu Yi suspect for a moment that it was a robot.


    One by one, the Light Spears fell, always targeting the Great Onmyoji holding the Yata Mirror, as if intending to follow through with the initial combat strategy.


    Another Light Spear struck down, with the Yata Mirror held up against it.


    Four arms had vanished from behind the Crow Man; this was the fourth Light Spear, and the Yata Mirror was riddled with cracks.


    A crisp shattering sound suddenly rang out, and the Great Onmyoji wielding the Yata Mirror spat blood, their pale face showing black meridians as if they were on the verge of death.


    Everyone''s faces turned ashen. Under the relentless assault of the Light Spears, the Yata Mirror finally couldn''t bear the strain, its central mirror shattered, and the rippling wave effect it once emitted disappeared, leaving the mirror dull and listless, bereft of its former wonder.


    The Great Onmyoji suddenly threw the Yata Mirror towards the Crow Man, as if casting away a scorching hot iron.


    Containing tremendous Energy, the shattered Mythic Level Holy Artifact unleashed a surge of power, creating spatial turbulence.


    The Crow Man got caught in the spatial turbulence, emitting a piercing, metallic-sounding screech.


    Soul after soul streamed out from the Yata Mirror, those of the original sin sealed within.


    Xu Yi suddenly understood the Crow Man''s intention. It wasn''t simply targeting the easy prey; its initial goal had been to Release the souls of original sin from the Yata Mirror. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It would carry out the next order only after completing this task.


    The souls of original sin were also drawn into the spatial turbulence. Virtually weightless, such light entities were instantly swept into the spatial rifts, vanishing without a trace.


    Spatial rifts are treacherous, any ordinary person entering them would only meet a certain death, but Xu Yi didn''t believe the souls of original sin could be annihilated within them.


    Even the Sword of Gathering Clouds could only harm them, not obliterate them.


    The spatial rifts were like a gust of wind, and the souls of original sin were like dandelions, floating with the rifts, possibly appearing in any corner of this world, or even in Another World.


    Xu Yi''s brows furrowed. Without thinking, he knew those souls of original sin would likely cause a great deal of trouble.

 Chapter 257 Xu Yis Dilemma

    The spatial turbulence had dissipated, and Crow Man still stood tall.Spatial turbulence couldn''t banish him, much less kill him, but Crow Man had also sustained heavy injuries, covered in wounds.


    One of Crow Man''s arms had vanished behind him, the wounds on his body healed, and his dull pupils once again brightened.


    At the cost of a white-boned arm, he regained his peak condition.


    He grabbed the shattered Yata Mirror, his gaze falling upon Xu Yi.


    Now that the soul of the Source of Woe''s Sin Mother Tree had been released, the next natural step was to reclaim the body of the Sin Mother Tree.


    The white-boned arm behind him dissipated once more, and in his hands the Light Spear converged, as Crow Man''s white-boned arms continued to be consumed, now leaving just two.


    The light-spear was thrown, the arc it traced through the air almost imperceptible, while Xu Yi burned blood, the platinum-colored energy surging out, prepared for the confrontation.


    The spear inherently sought a target, making evasion futile, leaving no choice but to withstand it head-on.


    Just as the light spear was about to hit Xu Yi, it suddenly changed direction, heading toward the Great Onmyoji who had lost the Yata Mirror.


    Lacking the protection of the Yata Mirror, the Great Onmyoji stood defenseless before the light spear, like a young bird stripped of its feathers.


    Xu Yi''s expression shifted slightly, as he realized Crow Man was more cunning than he had imagined, understanding well the importance of eliminating the root of a problem.


    Just as the Great Onmyoji was about to be pierced by the light spear, a figure suddenly leaped out and forcefully pushed the Great Onmyoji away.


    But that figure was not so lucky, as the light spear, manipulated by Crow Man, pierced through the figure''s chest, the blood that should have spurted not even having a chance to spray before it was evaporated by the intense heat.


    "Brother!"


    A piercing cry rang out, and Xu Yi paused for a brief moment, not having expected the two of them to be brothers, although they did bear a certain resemblance.


    "Little brother... I''m sorry, I had promised to take you to the Arctic, but now I must go back on my word... However, you must promise me, to go see the Northern Lights in my stead!"


    The elder of the Great Onmyojis stuffed the Sword of Gathering Clouds into his brother''s hand, pushing him away.


    The Sword of Gathering Clouds suddenly began to tremble, rising with violent winds; the gale carrying the elder brother''s hopes, sweeping the younger brother toward the sea at great speed, disappearing from Xu Yi''s sight in the blink of an eye.


    Crow Man stood in place, but its head suddenly cracked open, turning into a streak of light, chasing after the fleeing Great Onmyoji.


    Seeing the headless figure before him, Xu Yi''s first reaction was not to attack, but to rush towards the body of the Source of Woe''s Sin Mother Tree.


    He intended to take this opportunity, to move the Sin Mother Tree''s body and hide it, hoping that even if it was found, it would buy some time.


    But the headless figure suddenly moved, blocking Xu Yi''s path.


    Although the opponent was headless and eyeless, Xu Yi still felt something akin to a gaze coming from it.


    Xu Yi tensed, but he didn''t launch an attack, as the opponent seemed to have no intention of doing so either.


    [Source of Woe conversion in progress, estimated remaining time "3:15"] Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    He glanced at the conversion progress, more than three minutes left. The best strategy for now was "if the enemy doesn''t move, I won''t move," to simply let the time pass.


    But after just over ten seconds, Crow Man''s head returned, its beak stained with blood and still holding the Sword of Gathering Clouds¡ªone of the Three Holy Artifacts.


    Without a doubt, the brother hadn''t survived either, their wish to see the Northern Lights in the Arctic would never come to fruition in this lifetime.


    Crow Man''s head returned to its place, and it retrieved the Sword of Gathering Clouds from its mouth. Xu Yi suddenly realized that from the beginning, the target included these two Holy Artifacts.


    Crow Man coldly watched Xu Yi, who continuously adjusted his breathing, understanding he would have to face Crow Man alone, in the time to come.


    As such, the pressure would surely double.


    But his eyes suddenly shone with a brightness, his peripheral vision glancing toward the direction of the Ina Sea.


    ...


    On the beach beside the fishing village of Ina Sea.


    As the final tentacle of the Eight Monster House took on color, it was no longer an immobile sculpture; it came to life, with its base tentacles eagerly writhing.


    The chains that had been wrapped around the Eight Monster House retracted into the building as if unsealing a spell, and its massive body ascended into the sky, exuding a vibrant energy.


    The Ghost Samurai had finally gained control of the Qishe Hammer and the Eight Monster House!


    The Eight Monster House became faintly visible in the air until it completely vanished, entering an ethereal state. In this state, its speed was unmatched, and it soared toward Tokyo.


    As it passed over the home of the Harada family, the Eight Monster House suddenly materialized again, with chains bursting from the entrance, flying towards Mieko Harada''s residence below. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mieko Harada rushed out from her family''s shrine.


    For some reason, Kayako''s ghost seemed reluctant to approach the shrine. After dealing with the people from the three major families, Mieko had always hidden within the family shrine.


    Even if the ghosts of Takeshi or the black cat occasionally entered, with the soul-suppressing power of the Demon Blade Red Lotus, she could barely protect herself.


    At that moment, receiving another "Oracle," she did not hesitate to leave the "safe" shrine.


    The chains wrapped around Mieko Harada, and before Kayako''s ghost could react, Mieko was pulled into the Eight Monster House.


    Those who had fortunately survived in the city hid in the shadows, watching Mieko Harada enter the Suspended House with envious eyes.


    The Eight Monster House once again turned ethereal and darted toward Mount Fuji; it needed to reach the battlefield immediately.


    ...


    A fist enveloped in Holy Flame struck down, causing the Yata Mirror to vibrate thunderously as streams of white-gold energy scattered in all directions.


    Xu Yi abruptly withdrew his fist and dodged to the side as the sharp Sword of Gathering Clouds sliced past his neck, nearly severing his throat with a single strike.


    The Crow Man held the Yata Mirror in his left hand and the Sword of Gathering Clouds in his right. Although it could not wield the power of the Holy Artifact, as pure shield and sword, the Holy Artifacts were rare and formidable weapons in the world.


    Xu Yi''s pupils suddenly contracted. He caught sight of another bone hand behind the Crow Man dissolving, and without a moment''s hesitation, he went all out with "Blood as Sacred!"


    Platinum-colored hair fluttered in front of Xu Yi''s forehead as he extended a finger, and a light sphere the size of an eyeball formed at his fingertip.


    Holy!


    The light sphere burst open, transforming into a resplendent sword of light, clashing head-on with the spear made from the Crow Man''s bone hand, destroying the summit of Mount Fuji in the process.


    Xu Yi teleported behind the Crow Man, his fist packed with explosive energy striking down, and the Crow Man''s back shattered with cracks spreading to its limbs.


    Every punch Xu Yi landed was accompanied by the Crow Man''s ear-piercing scream, akin to metal scraping on glass.


    Although Xu Yi had the upper hand, his brow remained furrowed.


    This was because he knew the situation was temporary; as soon as the blood in his body was burnt out, he would enter a weakened state, and the tables would turn completely.


    The Crow Man seemed to sense this as well and kept its sole remaining white bone arm in reserve, waiting for Xu Yi to weaken before delivering a fatal blow.


    Xu Yi knew he couldn''t continue like this. When only one-fifth of his blood remained, he decisively exited the full-on "Blood as Sacred" mode.


    The Crow Man''s head suddenly detached, turning into a streak of light and flying behind Xu Yi, as its beak viciously pecked down.


    The beak barely missed scraping across Xu Yi''s scalp, startling him into cold sweats¡ªhe nearly had his head pierced through.


    Upon leaving the full-on "Blood as Sacred" state, his speed and reflexes, among other attributes, decreased, making it difficult to keep up with the Crow Man''s assault.


    With the headless body unaffected, brandishing the dual Holy Artifacts, it lunged at Xu Yi.


    Surrounded by the head and headless body, Xu Yi was in imminent peril, his life hanging by a thread several times over.


    In his current predicament, going all out with Blood as Sacred would allow the enemy to wear him down. Without it, he was no match.


    Just then, Xu Yi suddenly turned his gaze to the horizon, his eyes flashing with surprise and relief as he let out a breath he seemed to have been holding.


    The Ghost Samurai had finally arrived!

 Chapter 258 The Three Holy Artifacts in Hand

    The Crow Man suddenly stopped his attack, and Xu Yi looked at his opponent with confusion. Could it be that the opponent had detected the Ghost Samurai approaching?He had specifically instructed the Ghost Samurai to phase, sneaking over stealthily.


    The crow''s head hovered in the air, coldly watching Xu Yi, its eyes suddenly becoming lively.


    "You are very strong, would you be interested in joining our Ring of Destruction?"


    The enemy actually wanted to recruit him on the spot? Xu Yi was slightly taken aback.


    As for the crow''s head speaking with a human voice, he wasn''t too surprised; he had long guessed that there was a puppet master behind this metal Crow Man.


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    Ring of Destruction?


    Xu Yi finally knew the true name of the "Door Organization," a group he had never heard of before.


    "What are the benefits of joining the Ring of Destruction?"


    Facing the enemy''s recruitment, Xu Yi''s spirits instantly rose. Not that he wanted to join the Ring of Destruction; the members of this organization were outright madmen.


    Resurrecting the Evil God of the Ram, providing a breeding ground for Kayako to "split" and destroy Japan.


    And those were just the things Xu Yi was aware of; there were likely many similar deeds happening behind the scenes. Although he wasn''t exactly a paragon of virtue, he wasn''t mad enough to go that far.


    But as long as the other party was willing to talk, he could engage them in conversation until the end of time!


    [Source of Woe transformation in progress, estimated time remaining "1:32"]


    Less than two minutes were left for the transformation of the Source of Woe.


    "This world will inevitably decay, only by joining our Ring of Destruction can you obtain a ticket to the new world. Come! Join us!" The Crow Man''s eyes flashed with intense madness.


    "What kind of benefits does the Ring of Destruction offer?" Xu Yi shifted his terminology soundlessly.


    In Psychology, using "we" can often lower the other party''s guard and give them the illusion that "he is interested in the Ring of Destruction."


    Xu Yi had already thought of a topic; he would start by discussing the benefits of the Ring of Destruction, talk about "social and medical insurances," while complaining about the boss to build rapport with the other party.


    Then he would say that he was very interested, but just didn''t know enough about the organization and needed to learn more.


    But he forgot, he was dealing with a lunatic organization; lunatics do not play by the rules.


    "You have three seconds to think about it, joining our Ring of Destruction would be an honor for you," the Crow Man had no intention of answering.


    Xu Yi was taken aback for a moment but immediately adjusted his strategy, "I am willing, I am willing to join the Ring of Destruction."


    Let alone giving a mere verbal commitment, he would even sign a contract if necessary; at that moment, even a saint wouldn''t mind using such a tactic to buy time.


    "Since you are willing to join our Ring of Destruction, offer up the origin of your soul!" The Crow Man stared intensely at Xu Yi.


    "This..." Xu Yi''s forehead broke out in a light sweat; he hadn''t expected the conversation to break down so quickly. There really was no reasoning with a madman.


    His brain worked at high speed, trying to find an excuse to keep stalling, but the Crow Man didn''t give him the chance.


    "You dare to deceive me! You''re seeking death!" The Crow Man was unwilling to wait even a second longer; his pupils were once again covered with golden light.


    The last bone hand behind the Crow Man disappeared, and Xu Yi tensed up. What puzzled him, however, was that the terrifyingly powerful Light Spear did not materialize.


    From underneath the crow''s head and above the neck of the headless figure, a large quantity of metallic liquid suddenly surged forth, and in the blink of an eye, the liquid filled in the missing parts.


    Two complete Crow Men appeared before Xu Yi!


    Xu Yi suddenly realized that the bone hands behind the Crow Man were essentially an "Energy Box." Their function was not limited to creating Light Spears but also to heal wounds and even create clones.


    Facing one Crow Man, Xu Yi was already at his wit''s end, let alone two; however, his face didn''t show too much tension.


    The two Crow Men charged at Xu Yi, who burnt the blood within his body, his black hair turning to platinum blonde as he fully activated "Blood as Sacred."


    The Crow Men attacked Xu Yi from front and back. Ignoring the one behind him, he lunged fiercely towards the one in front.


    His eyes fixated on the Yata Mirror and Sword of Gathering Clouds on the opponent''s body, which were in the hands of the front Crow Man as it was formed from the main body.


    He extended his finger, and brilliant platinum light converged at the tip, burning the last of his blood at a high rate. He was going all-in with this strike!


    The Crow Man was momentarily startled, sensing the terrifying energy contained within the Light Sphere, but he couldn''t understand one thing.


    Despite the "Reincarnation Device" being precious, it was after all just a puppet; what''s more important, even if the opponent chose to die together with him, there was still another clone left.


    But his expression suddenly changed as he sensed the piercing wind of fire behind him, no less powerful than the energy of the platinum light sphere bearing down on him.


    "It''s not just you who possesses clones," said Xu Yi''s indifferent voice.


    Billowing flames appeared behind the Crow Man, with the Ghost Samurai standing in the center of the fire, like a deity residing in the Land of Flames.


    He gripped the Demon Blade Red Lotus tightly, and the flames surged again, coalescing into a massive Flame Giant.


    Not far from the battlefield, Eight Monster House transformed into a phantom to hide, with Harada Mieko sitting cross-legged within.


    Her body trembled slightly, her forehead covered with sweat, her eyes tightly closed, revealing her tension and excitement at the moment.


    She couldn''t help but feel nervous and excited; she had never imagined that there would come a day when she would "control" a "god"!


    "Go all out!" The Oracle sounded in her ear once again.


    It was no longer the raspy voice of before but the voice of a young man, one she had heard in the Harada family estate.


    She understood by now that the so-called "god¡ªGhost Samurai" was merely part of the man''s controlled power.


    At this moment, Harada Mieko''s consciousness was attached to the Ghost Samurai. Having gained the Ghost Samurai''s perspective, she saw clearly the figure within the platinum flow and didn''t know whether the man was human or divine.


    If he was human, it was hard to imagine someone could be so powerful.


    But soon, she had no time to ponder these matters as the power of the Ghost Samurai was rallied, making her tremble slightly under the surging force.


    She was well aware that this power did not belong to her; she was merely a "tool."


    But being a "tool" of a "god," she didn''t mind at all.


    She swung her blade fiercely, releasing a torrent of intense fiery blade qi, splitting the heavens and earth asunder.


    The Crow Man knew it was impossible to survive the pincer attack, but he still prepared for his last stand, buying time for his other self.


    Sacrificing half of his Reincarnation Husk in exchange for inflicting heavy damage on the opponent was not a bad deal.


    But suddenly, he was stunned. The fiery blade qi swept past him, targeting his other half instead.


    Such an "equal-opportunity" attack would never destroy any part of his Reincarnation Husk¡ªwhy would the opponent do this?


    He knew that without the element of surprise, it would have been very difficult to destroy even a part of his Reincarnation Husk.


    Caught off-guard, Xu Yi had already reached him, the Light Sphere shattered, and "Holy" engulfed him from above, depriving him of all external senses.


    The overwhelming fiery blade qi headed towards the other Crow Man, instantly swallowing him up.


    The platinum radiance and the towering flames churned together, overshadowing the blood-red light in the sky.


    As the light gradually dissipated, Xu Yi stood beside the Ghost Samurai, panting heavily.


    His hair color returned to black, the blood within him nearly burnt out. Moving forward, his combat prowess would be negligible, but his eyes were sparkling bright.


    He looked at the Yata Mirror in his left hand, then the Sword of Gathering Clouds in his right, unable to hide the delight in his eyes.


    After admiring them for a moment, he gleefully placed the two Holy Artifacts into the Toy Treasure Box; with the Yasakani no Magatama he had obtained earlier, all three of Japan''s Holy Artifacts were now in his hands.


    Prior to coming to Tokyo, he couldn''t have dreamed of such a day.


    Just now, he had not only attacked the Crow Man''s head but also seized the two Holy Artifacts from his hands.


    Of course, his success was due to Xu Yi''s strategy of "Assembling straw boats to borrow arrows."


    From the outset, Xu Yi''s target had not been to destroy the Crow Man but the Holy Artifacts in the Crow Man''s possession.


    After all, even if he had destroyed one Crow Man, what of it?


    With his blood nearly depleted and his battle strength close to nothing, the only option left was to rely on the Ghost Samurai, ultimately boiling down to a 1v1 situation.


    Rather than that, it was better to gain something tangible, and most importantly, he had never forgotten his "original intention."


    His goal was to stall for time until the Source of Woe''s transformation was complete, not to annihilate the Crow Man.


    Now that both Crow Men were seriously injured and would need no small amount of time to recover, it was much better than facing a fully-powered Crow Man.


    With the time thusly stalled and two Holy Artifacts obtained, he had truly hit the jackpot.

 Chapter 259 Annihilation Realm

    The two Crow Men were covered in cracks, but they were not yet on the brink of annihilation. When they recovered, their reaction was almost identical: they let out an angry roar at Xu Yi.Even for their Organization of the Ring of Destruction, a Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic was an exceedingly rare treasure.


    But now, they were all gone, whether it was the Yata Mirror or the Sword of Gathering Clouds.


    Just thinking about it made him feel as if his heart was bleeding.


    "You''ll regret this!"


    One of the Crow Men gave Xu Yi a cold glance, and after dropping those fierce words, surprisingly, he did not launch an attack but turned to flee.


    Xu Yi was stunned, watching the other leave in a daze, but then he suddenly thought of something, and his expression changed.


    "Quick! Help me take this tree away!"


    Xu Yi didn''t even have time to use the voice of the soul to give orders to Harada Mieko, instinctively roaring out loud. Fortunately, Harada Mieko knew some English and could understand what Xu Yi meant.


    Xu Yi and the Ghost Samurai rushed to the front of the original sin Mother Tree, one on each side, and heaved its heavy husk up, then ran wildly towards the outside.


    The remaining Crow Man did not pursue them but stood still in place. Upon close observation, it could be seen that the golden light in his pupils had dissipated.


    The Crow Man''s chest slowly split open, revealing the mechanical construction inside that was so complex it made one''s scalp tingle.


    Just one look, and Xu Yi understood that the Crow Man in front of him was Alchemical Machinery, but he had never heard that Alchemical Machinery could reach such heights! sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The gears turned swiftly, and the mechanical parts in the chest were quickly emptied, revealing the core below: a drop of black water, with three rings rotating around it in different directions.


    The black droplet flickered with a strange light, flashing on and off, with the flashing speed increasing, like a time bomb set to explode at any moment.


    It didn''t take a genius to figure out that the Crow Man was preparing to "self-destruct," and the power of it would undoubtedly be astonishing.


    The original sin Mother Tree''s husk was extremely heavy, and even with Xu Yi and the Ghost Samurai lifting it together, they could not run fast.


    Previously, to avoid the Eight Monster House being affected by the battle, they waited on the outskirts of the fight, but it was too late to hurry back now.


    Nobody expected that the Crow Man would have such a trick up his sleeve.


    But a few steps into their frantic escape, Xu Yi''s eyes suddenly lit up.


    [Source of Woe conversion completed...]


    At this critical moment, the conversion of the Source of Woe was finally complete, and Xu Yi could no longer feel the life force of the original sin Mother Tree.


    Without any hesitation, and not even waiting to listen to the system''s prompts, he hurriedly threw the original sin Mother Tree into the Treasure Box.


    But a black curtain of air suddenly rose from the Crow Man, spreading in all directions, enveloping Xu Yi and the Ghost Samurai, forming a black circular Barrier.


    Xu Yi and the Ghost Samurai were abruptly immobilized as if they had fallen into solidifying glue, unable to move.


    Without any hesitation, Xu Yi burned the last bit of blood in his body to activate the ability "Blood as Sacred," shaking off the bindings.


    The fire in the Ghost Samurai''s pupils died down, and he stood there motionless. This damned Barrier even isolated thoughts, something Xu Yi had never encountered before.


    Since Harada Mieko''s thoughts were forcibly blocked, the Ghost Samurai naturally turned into a puppet without strings.


    Xu Yi lunged towards the Ghost Samurai, hugging his legs... his actual legs. The posture wasn''t very elegant, but in a matter of life and death, none of this mattered, especially since there was no one else around.


    The reason for this posture was because only by holding onto the Ghost Samurai''s legs could he avoid getting in the way of the other''s sword swings.


    With the physical contact, his thoughts reconnected with the Ghost Samurai, and the fire in the Ghost Samurai''s pupils relit.


    Torrents of flames rose from the Ghost Samurai, where Demon-Suppressing Flame and Red Lotus Flame intertwined. The Mud God Stele inside the Ghost Samurai also began to tremble.


    This time there was no Flame Giant, but a continuous stream of flames gathered on the Demon Blade Red Lotus.


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    "Cut through it!" Xu Yi roared angrily.


    He could feel that once the barrier was formed, with his current state, escaping was impossible, so he had no choice but to break through before the barrier was fully established.


    The Ghost Samurai swung the sword fiercely, executing a simple diagonal slash, but the surging fiery blade aura rushed forth like a soaring firebird heading straight ahead.


    The Ghost Samurai chased after it, taking cover behind the fiery blade aura, with a human-shaped pendant dangling from his leg.


    ......


    Tokyo Bay.


    A huge battle helicopter hovered over the sea, the shoreline crowded with a massive number of Kayakos, their blood-red pupils fixed on the helicopter within easy reach.


    Japan suffered the "Kayako Disaster" with a vast number of people fleeing to the airports and seashore. The beaches, now thronged with people, also became a breeding ground for the birth of Kayakos.


    The dense Kayakos below were a terrifying sight that could make the faint-hearted''s heart stop on the spot.


    But the pilot, as if blind to the scene, smoked a cigar, flipping through a bikini magazine, passing judgment on the long-legged models featured inside.


    In the rear of the plane sat two middle-aged men, one fat and one thin, easily distinguishable.


    They wore black suits and white shirts, looking tired, like white-collar workers who had just returned from a business trip.


    The only difference was that sewn onto their collars was an insignia of a stele, imbued with an ancient and desolate feel.


    Their eyes were somewhat bleary, but they suddenly widened, looking in the direction of Mount Fuji in Tokyo, exclaiming in surprise, "Annihilation Realm?!"


    In the direction of Mount Fuji, a "sun" slowly rose. The sun was not scorching, not even warm, and was entirely black.


    The black "sun" enveloped half of Mount Fuji, and after reaching its maximum size, it began to shrink rapidly. In the blink of an eye, the sun shrank to a pinpoint and then disappeared completely.


    Everything that was enveloped by the black sun vanished, leaving Mount Fuji looking like a half-eaten burger.


    "Who is fighting with those lunatics from the Organization of the Ring of Destruction?" one of the men asked, puzzled.


    "The headquarters used the Eye of the Ancient God for a few seconds of observation and confirmed it''s Xu Yi," the other man answered.


    "Xu Yi? That rising exorcist who recently competed with us for business in Boston, how did he end up in Japan?"


    "Who knows? But to force the Organization of the Ring of Destruction to deploy the Annihilation Realm... that''s absurdly strong. That''s nearly the pinnacle of what humans can achieve, isn''t it? I wonder if he can survive this time?"


    "What''s the use of being strong? In the face of those truly great beings, what can humans count for, or even gods, for that matter?" the thin white-collar snorted.


    "All right, let''s get down to business! I want to finish early so I can find me a girl and really relax," the fat white-collar stretched lazily.


    "Business? Do we have any business left? Hasn''t it all ended?"


    "Wasn''t I to eliminate Japan''s grudges and make the country''s leaders..." the fat white-collar suddenly stopped talking. With Japan in its current ghostly state, it was already a name without substance¡ªwhere were any leaders left?


    "So what do we do now?"


    "Well, everyone goes back to their own home, and finds their own mother! Eradicating grudges is too much trouble, and besides, this country, Japan, isn''t worth anything anymore. The headquarters won''t make us do such thankless work."


    No sooner had the words left his mouth, the fat white-collar man looked up, surprised, and glanced at his companion. He had just received a communication from headquarters ordering them to retreat.


    "I told you so!" the thin white-collar shrugged.


    The helicopter returned the way it had come, and until they disappeared, the Kayakos below did not dare to make a move; they felt a presence on the plane that made them tremble.

 Chapter 260 The Fall of Japan

    A certain unnamed sea area on the outskirts of Tokyo.Xu Yi drifted on the sea surface, his face withered, emaciated like a dried corpse; his eyes were tightly closed, and he had fallen into a coma.


    Under the sea, dense shadows gathered in Xu Yi''s direction; they were all ghastly creatures that had escaped from Japan. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire


    In the terrifying "Kayako Spectral Tide," whether human or creatures living in Japan, all were driven to the sea like ducks.


    For some reason, Kayako was reluctant to leave Japan, akin to an Earthbound Spirit.


    A large group of creatures surrounded Xu Yi, their eyes gleaming with a hungry green light, as Xu Yi seemed like a fresh piece of meat among wolves.


    But the creatures hesitated to pounce, afraid of the aura emanating from him.


    Suddenly, a small boat slid over, and those creatures scattered like rats upon seeing a cat.


    "You really are in a sorry state!" Yukeni on the boat exclaimed as she looked at Xu Yi''s pitiful condition.


    She suddenly regretted not bringing a camera; if she had captured this scene, she might have extorted a few Exorcism Artifacts from Xu Yi later on.


    She reached out to pull Xu Yi back into the boat, but seeing the grime all over him, she retracted her hand in disgust.


    She looked around the boat and finally found a harpoon, inserted it into the gap of Xu Yi''s belt, and picked him up... Xu Yi hung like a salted fish on a drying pole.


    "Isn''t there a gentler way?"


    Just at that moment, Xu Yi gradually woke up and stared resentfully at Yukeni.


    Yukeni couldn''t be bothered to exchange words with Xu Yi and simply threw him onto the boat, where he landed on the deck with a thud.


    Xu Yi didn''t have time to inspect his own injuries and immediately started to communicate with the Ghost Samurai.


    They were shrouded by a black barrier, but relying on the Ghost Samurai''s flaming slash, they had bravely cut a path to survival.


    Unfortunately, as they were escaping, the black barrier suddenly constricted; they were caught in the annihilating force, and Xu Yi, severely injured, quickly lost consciousness.


    Xu Yi sensed the position of the Ghost Samurai and quietly breathed a sigh of relief; the Ghost Samurai was right beneath him.


    The Ghost Samurai and he had fallen into the sea together, but due to the difference in weight, the Ghost Samurai plummeted towards the seabed, while Xu Yi''s blood drained away, his body lightened, and he ended up floating on the surface.


    But he remembered that before losing consciousness, he had surely handed over the control of the samurai to Harada Mieko, asking her to take him out of Japan.


    Shouldn''t he be appearing in the Eight Monster House by now?


    Xu Yi connected with the Ghost Samurai and inspected the situation at the Eight Monster House through it, and was left speechless.


    He had forgotten a very important point; Harada Mieko simply didn''t know how to activate the Eight Monster House.


    When Xu Yi asked her to leave Japan, she controlled the Ghost Samurai, taking Xu Yi and rushing towards the sea coast, the samurai''s might deterring Kayako and ensuring their safe arrival at the seaside.


    The Eight Monster House, uncontrolled, would automatically follow its master, and Harada Mieko was suspended behind the Ghost Samurai.


    Without incident, an incident still occurred.


    The Demigod blood Xu Yi gifted to Harada Mieko was very limited; as a medium connecting with the Ghost Samurai, the blood was slowly consumed.


    By the time they reached the sea, all the blood had been used up, the Ghost Samurai ran out of power, which led to the current situation.


    Harada Mieko had no idea how to leave the Eight Monster House and could only fret inside.


    This ridiculous mix-up made Xu Yi want to cover his face, but thankfully the result was good; he had finally left Japan safely.


    Thanks to the "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration" entries, the blood in his body regenerated, and Xu Yi slowly recovered some strength; his muscles weren''t as shriveled anymore.


    "Thank you for going out of your way to save me," Xu Yi said, sitting up and expressing his gratitude to Yukeni.


    "Don''t flatter yourself," Yukeni retorted, "I just happened to be patrolling here!" Her tone then shifted, "And even without me, you wouldn''t die."


    Aside from being melodramatic, Xu Yi discovered another trait of Yukeni''s, the stubbornness of a "dead duck." Who would patrol this godforsaken place?


    Yukeni suddenly looked up towards the horizon, where the sounds of battle approached.


    "Work''s come up! I need to leave first," Yukeni said, pulling out a golden wand, which she casually tossed, and it extended in length.


    "What work?" Xu Yi said, briefly stunned.


    "The church has sealed off the area, asking for my help," Yukeni replied, as she tapped her golden scepter lightly, and a sinister green dragon''s phantasm appeared out of thin air.


    "You''ll have to swim back on your own!" Yukeni jumped onto the back of the dragon, which flapped its wings and soared high into the sky.


    "Could you at least..." Xu Yi watched Yukeni disappear into the horizon and helplessly closed his mouth.


    Only then did he notice a milky-white cloth floating in the sky, embroidered with diamond-shaped patterns and stained with large patches of blood that vaguely outlined a human figure.


    Under the sunlight, those bloodstains refracted a golden glow.


    "The Holy Shroud!" Xu Yi recognized it at a glance.


    That was no ordinary shroud used for making clothes; common shrouds were just a poor imitation of it.


    That cloth had once wrapped the body of Jesus, stained with the blood of the True God, and was one of the Church''s Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relics, greatly surpassing any of the three Holy Artifacts of Japan.


    The Holy Shroud, suspended high, emitted a faint golden light, and the range it enveloped was terrifying, covering the entire island of Japan, including the surrounding sea area.


    "If only it were mine!" Xu Yi licked his lips.


    Ever since acquiring the three Holy Artifacts of Japan, he had contracted a condition known as "Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic Delusion Syndrome."


    Its symptoms include the urge to touch, look at, and then slip any Mythic Level Holy Artifact into one''s pocket, without any need for brain intervention.


    The trigger for this disease, Xu Yi thought, was most likely because he was about to use Sin Remains to forge a weapon. Mythic Level Holy Artifacts were excellent auxiliary materials.


    At this thought, Xu Yi''s weakened body burst forth with strength anew; he needed to hurry back to a safe place to check on the status of the Sin Remains.


    Many ships were anchored on the sea, crowded together densely like a steel fortress on the water.


    A disaster had struck Japan, and people wishing to flee the country had basically two ways: airplanes and ships. However, airports quickly fell, and more and more people surged toward the coast.


    Even Kayako, as terrifying as she was, couldn''t annihilate so many people instantly; these lucky ones made it onto ships and escaped to this place.


    They were desperately trying to leave Japan, but the ships were blocked by the Barrier of the Holy Shroud and unable to leave.


    "The Church is acting like a quarantine station!" Xu Yi quickly grasped the Church''s intent.


    Those fleeing from Japan were like freshly slaughtered pork; if they showed no signs of "grudges," they would be stamped "inspected and passed" by the Church.


    If a whiff of a grudge was detected, then they would be temporarily detained to see how things evolved.


    "The Church has acted so swiftly, they must have known about Japan''s grudge issue for a while," Xu Yi mused.


    He completely understood the Church''s choice, having experienced how difficult grudges were to deal with, and it was likely that the Church had no better solution either.


    Though Japan had always been America''s submissive little brother, it was not on the Church''s home turf. Solving the problem there was even more challenging.


    Xu Yi looked off into the distance and spotted Yukeni''s figure, his mouth twitching slightly at the sight.


    The people facing her were as silent as cicadas in winter, shrinking their heads like quails before her.


    He suddenly understood what Yukeni''s "work" was; she was clearly acting as the Church''s enforcer, intimidating those trying to flee by force.


    "This Yukeni must be the reincarnation of a workaholic emperor!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but criticize.


    It seemed Yukeni could always find "jobs"¡ªfirst in Japan, then in Boston, and now, even in this situation, she still managed to snag a gig from the Church! Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi found the situation utterly unfathomable; he had never seen such an abstractly titled exorcist, but then again, he had only ever come across Yukeni.


    He was in no rush to enter Eight Monster House now, preferring instead to check out the situation ahead.


    Gliding over the sea in his small boat, Xu Yi looked back at Japan, where the silhouettes of Kayako were visible everywhere on the island, like white mold growing over the land.


    The country of Japan had perished!

 Chapter 261 Original Sin Armament

    Xu Yi paddled the boat, and it drifted towards the perimeter of the Barrier.There, several huge ships were moored, their hulls painted with gigantic crosses; they belonged to the church, and that was where Xu Yi was heading.


    The journey was not smooth; there were "ships" blocking the way ahead.


    Not everyone could be lucky enough to board a large ship; more Japanese people were escaping the island country in small boats.


    But their luck wasn''t the worst. Afloat on the sea were large amounts of "black seaweed," which were actually corpses bobbing in the water.


    Those who couldn''t find a boat, facing pursuit by Kayako, what can they do? Of course, they only had the option of jumping into the sea. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A body floated towards Xu Yi''s small boat, blocking the path ahead.


    It was a Japanese high school girl, wearing a white shirt, a black pleated skirt, and black strapped leather shoes.


    The girl''s clothes were soaked by the sea, her fair skin faintly visible, her slim and straight legs undulating in the water.


    The girl''s appearance was of the same caliber as Maria''s; despite being young, she exuded an incredibly alluring charm.


    Her oval-shaped face featured a tear mole under her left eye, which was extremely enchanting.


    Japanese high school girl, uniform, a beauty beyond compare... A series of words flashed through Xu Yi''s mind, and he took a deep breath of cold air.


    "How can such a beautiful girl float on the cold sea surface?" Xu Yi reached out and touched the girl''s stunning face.


    Suddenly, his hand exerted force, and he forcefully pushed the girl back into the water.


    Although he was weak, his strength was not something ordinary people could imagine; with this one push, the girl plunged into the water like a depth charge.


    "So it''s best for you to sink to the bottom of the sea," Xu Yi said with a cold face, continuing to row.


    "Hey! What are you doing? How can you treat a lady like that? Even if she''s a corpse, you this..."


    The nearby boat owner, who had seen Xu Yi''s actions, was about to angrily shout, but upon locking eyes with Xu Yi, he immediately cowered like a mouse, lowering his head and not daring to speak.


    Strangely, the high school girl actually floated up from the sea again, and it seemed that Xu Yi''s push had somehow awakened her, as she kept coughing out the water in her lungs.


    The boat owner was a portly middle-aged man in a suit, who upon seeing the high school girl wake up, revealed a surprised and pleased expression on his greasy face, and couldn''t help but swallow his saliva repeatedly.


    The boat owner hurriedly paddled over to the high school girl.


    Xu Yi initially wanted to say something, but after thinking it over, he decided to let it go.


    He dropped the urge to help, respecting the fate of another.


    If he was not so weak now, lacking the confidence to deal with that thing, he would definitely have let the other party know that not everything can be touched!


    The high school girl was rescued onto the boat, coughing violently; after expelling the water in her lungs, she slowly came to consciousness.


    "Thank you for saving me, my name is Tomie Kawakami!" the high school girl spoke faintly, her gaze constantly following Xu Yi''s retreating figure.


    ...


    As soon as Xu Yi boarded the church''s ship, the church staff welcomed him, respectfully leading the way in front of him.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, this way, please. We have already prepared a room for you!"


    Xu Yi wasn''t surprised that they could recognize him.


    "Friend of Ed," "Destroyer of the Ram Cult''s Lair," "The youngest titled exorcist in history"... With a series of such titles, if this were a game, then his reputation within the church would be at least of the "known by all" level.


    Even though he now looked "thin" to the point of being unrecognizable, the fact that Yukeni had made a special trip to pick him up in the boat meant that his identity could be guessed even with toes.


    "We''re all in distress, so why does he get to stay in a room while we have to be out here in the cold wind?"


    A discordant voice suddenly rang out; Xu Yi wasn''t the only one who had boarded the ship.


    As an organization "spreading goodness and love," whether for reputation or other reasons, the church would provide humanitarian care to these shipwrecked people; naturally, they would offer assistance.


    Hearing that Xu Yi had a room while they had to endure the winds on the deck, they naturally became discontented.


    "On what grounds? Of course, because with his full strength, a single punch from him could sink our ship," the crew member said disdainfully, glancing at the person.


    "What nonsense are you spouting?" The priest hurried over when he heard the commotion and scolded the man.


    "Wasn''t it you who said..." The crew member was stunned, and the surrounding refugees cast doubtful glances at him.


    "How could Mr. Xu Yi''s strength possibly be so weak? If Mr. Xu Yi were to strike with his full power, not a single wreck of our three ships would be left!" the priest said in a cold voice.


    Xu Yi felt so embarrassed he thought he could dig out a three-bedroom apartment with his toes. Although what the other person said was true, wasn''t this just too awkward?


    The troublesome part was that the refugees instantly stopped causing a fuss and began looking at him with eyes full of awe.


    Xu Yi hurriedly quickened his pace, fearing if he stayed any longer, he would wear right through the soles of his shoes.


    The room was the best class on the ship. After inspecting the facilities, Xu Yi nodded in satisfaction.


    This room even had a private bathroom with hot water available 24 hours a day, which seemed a bit extravagant for a ship sailing on the sea.


    Xu Yi, covered in grime and having soaked in the sea for a while, hadn''t felt it during the battle, but now that he''d relaxed, his whole body felt uncomfortable.


    After a hot shower, changing into clean clothes, and finishing the seafood feast sent over by the church, he felt completely revitalized.


    "It''s time to check on the status of the Source of Woe!"


    Xu Yi locked the door and drew the curtains, unable to wait any longer.


    He first checked the system information.


    [Transformation of Source of Woe complete, "Evil Deity Origin" entry automatically changed to "Sin Armaments"!]


    [Sin Armaments: (Red Common¡ª??)


    Ability 1 - Remains of the Seven Deadly Sins:


    The Sin Origin Tree automatically splits into seven parts of Sin Remains, consisting of: Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust.


    (ps1: After devouring the corresponding "Soul of Sin," the Sin Remains will grow.)


    (ps2: After devouring the corresponding "Origin of Sin," the Sin Remains will grow significantly and will activate the Serpent of the Finale''s ability, receiving a mysterious gift.)


    Ability 2 - Ultimate Weapon of Sin: (0/3)


    The Seven Sin Armaments can fuse to become the "Ultimate Weapon," which will integrate all the powers of the weapons and undergo a "rank leap."


    (ps1: This ability can only be activated three times, and the current activation count is zero.)


    Ability 3 - Serpent of Finale:


    The Serpent of Finale can detect the growth progress of the Sin Armaments. Each fusion resets the growth progress, and the potential ceiling is automatically raised. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    The Serpent of Finale can take the "Power of Sin" to its "ultimate" form! (This ability is extremely rare, please handle with caution.)]


    Xu Yi took out the Sin Remains from the toy space, all seven parts.


    Even the shrunken Origin Tree of Sin was too large for this room. The reason Xu Yi was able to take them out was because the Sin Remains had ''shriveled''.


    Xu Yi looked at the Sin Remains on the table, his face filled with relief.


    The seven parts of Sin Remains in front of him were only the size of a palm, dry and meager in weight.


    The Origin Tree of Sin seemed like a sponge soaked with water; after the transformation into the Source of Woe, the water in the sponge had been squeezed out, and those dried-out sponges had to go through intense compression to become what the Sin Remains looked like now.


    Fortunately, he hadn''t chosen those tiny bits of Sin Remains as the object for the transformation, otherwise, he might not have been able to forge even a needle now.


    Xu Yi picked up the "Pride" Sin Remain and tapped it, its hardness astonishing.


    Although the Origin Tree of Sin had shrunk and compressed, its strength and quality had risen a level, and Xu Yi was already looking forward to the weapons that would be forged from the Sin Remains!

 Chapter 262 Having Quite the Blast!

    Xu Yi stared at the system panel, and what he cared about the most, of course, was the growth of the Sin Remains."Soul of Sin" and "Source of Sin" were both fertilizers for the Sin Remains, but their effects were vastly different. If "Soul of Sin" was a handful of fertilizer a person could casually pick up, then "Source of Sin" was like a ton of fertilizer!


    The former could only sprout two tender shoots from the Sin Remains, while the latter could make the Sin Remains grow into a towering tree.


    "I wonder where those Sources of Sin have drifted off to with the spatial turbulence," Xu Yi sighed.


    He had previously confused the two; those souls that split off from the Mother Tree of Sin weren''t Souls of Sin but Sources of Sin.


    As for the Soul of Sin, that was easy to understand.


    Xu Yi casually picked up the "Sloth" Sin Remains on the table and silently communicated with it; the world in front of him began to change.


    The metal walls of the room turned into grey mist, and through that mist, the moving blue dots outside were visible.


    Those blue dots were actually the "Souls of Sloth," with each blue dot representing a person, a person dominated by the vice of "Sloth."


    More or less, everyone possesses "Sin," whether it be Pride, Greed, or an abundance of others.


    Xu Yi switched to the "Gluttony" Sin Remains in his hand, the blue dots disappeared, replaced by red ones. This time, he saw the "Souls of Gluttony."


    Once he had mastered the corresponding Sin Remains, he could possess the "Eye of Sin," seeing the respective Souls of Sin.


    "Could it be that the way for Sin Remains to grow is to slaughter nine million to become the best among the best?"


    Xu Yi certainly didn''t want to become a devil who killed without blinking an eye.


    At that moment, a special red dot appeared in his field of vision, much larger than the others. If the previous ones were fireflies, the red dot in front of him was a Red Lantern.


    The "Red Lantern" appeared in a peculiar location, actually at the bottom of the ship. The next second, the ship jolted violently as they came under attack.


    "Damn it! It''s the Mermaid King! How did such a monster get here, what is the interception team doing!"


    Xu Yi heard the curses followed by the sound of hurried footsteps, but soon after, the restless ship quieted down again. In his field of vision, the "Red Lantern" disappeared.


    This was the stronghold of the church; it would be odd if those eerie creatures barged in here and met with a good end.


    "Ah! This damn thought pattern!" Xu Yi smacked his forehead.


    It wasn''t just humans who had "Sin"; Dark Creatures also had it, and theirs were countless times stronger than those of humans.


    Xu Yi glanced at the Sin Remains on the table and took out a fist-sized sculpture from the toy space.


    "Serpent of Finale?" Xu Yi stared at the sculpture, voicing his confusion since the statue in front of him didn''t quite match the imposing name.


    The Serpent of Finale had seven heads, each marked with different symbols representing the Seven Deadly Sins.


    The serpent heads were round and chubby; they neither bared fangs nor claws, and their pupils weren''t filled with bloodlust. The more one looked, the more endearingly clumsy they seemed.


    "The ultimate Power of Sin..." Xu Yi murmured softly, extremely curious about what this was.


    At that moment, the "Lust" Sin Remains on the desk began to vibrate abruptly. Xu Yi was slightly startled; he placed his hand on the "Lust" Sin Remains, which quickly stopped vibrating.


    The next second, a gentle knock came from the door. Xu Yi looked up with an unexplainable glint in his eyes and went to open it.


    "I''m terribly sorry to disturb you. My name is Tomie Kawakami. I heard you have hot water here; may I use your bathroom?"


    The high school girl in uniform stood outside the door, looking pitifully at Xu Yi. Perhaps because her clothes were wet from seawater, her body trembled slightly.


    Under such circumstances, which man could refuse?


    "Of course, please come in!" Xu Yi decisively stepped aside.


    A beautiful girl asking to use the bathroom... Xu Yi found the plot all too familiar, his heart already starting to praise the situation.


    Whether by intention or accident, Xu Yi didn''t put away the Sin Remains on the table. Tomie Kawakami walked into the room with her clothes in her arms and glanced at the Sin Remains.


    "You know how to use the shower in the bathroom, right?" Xu Yi casually locked the door from the inside as he spoke.


    The door was locked, ready to speed off, and nobody was getting off early!


    Tomie Kawakami nodded and walked straight into the bathroom. Moments later, the sound of trickling water filled the air, provoking all sorts of imaginative thoughts.


    "Ah!" A cry of surprise suddenly came from the bathroom.


    "Are you okay?"


    "I twisted my ankle and can''t move!" came a voice on the verge of tears from inside.


    "Let me have a look!"


    As a concerned citizen, how could Xu Yi stand by while a delicate girl suffered?


    He turned the doorknob and, just like some thrilling scenes depicted, the door wasn''t locked. It opened with a twist.


    Even though he was prepared for it, Xu Yi couldn''t help feeling his blood boil when he saw the scene inside.


    Tomie Kawakami sat on the floor, holding her ankle in pain. Even though she was curled up, her exquisite figure was fully visible, with wet hair clinging to her chest, her skin so pale it was nearly transparent.


    "I''ll carry you out first!"


    Xu Yi turned off the shower and wrapped Tomie Kawakami in a bathrobe, then lifted her by the waist. A faint fragrance wafted from her, reminiscent of heather.


    Tucked in a bathrobe, Tomie Kawakami sat on the edge of the bed, her delicate figure subtly revealed.


    "All my family is gone, I''m the only one left, and in the future, I don''t know..." Tomie Kawakami suddenly began to cry softly, her appearance pitiable and endearing.


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    What followed should have been Xu Yi moving forward, gently holding her, whispering comforting words, then laying down together, and something delightful happening.


    Xu Yi hurriedly walked toward Tomie Kawakami, his breathing slightly heavier.


    Just then, the iron door shook with a bang, and the lock was kicked open. A smooth, straight leg came through the door, swiftly withdrawing.


    Yukeni strode in, glanced at Xu Yi, then at Tomie Kawakami wrapped in the bathrobe on the bed, and raised an eyebrow, "Oh, you seem to be enjoying yourself! Did I interrupt something?"


    Tomie Kawakami remained silent, a picture of sorrow.jpg.


    "Want to join us?" Xu Yi invited Yukeni with a calm smile on his face.


    "Sure!" Yukeni actually nodded, accepting the invitation.


    Tomie Kawakami''s head shot up in shock.jpg.


    Who was the one playing games now?


    Yukeni and Xu Yi walked toward Tomie Kawakami together. Suddenly, Tomie Kawakami''s expression turned cold; she sensed something amiss¡ªthe two weren''t planning to play some threesome game but were preparing to make a move on her.


    She lunged desperately for the Sin Remains on the table, uncaring as her bathrobe fell away.


    Yukeni had meant to intercept her, but seeing Xu Yi standing still, she paused briefly, stopping in place.


    Tomie Kawakami grabbed the Sin Remains of "Lust" from the table, her face lighting up with surprise. She knew very well that with her current strength, she stood no chance of escaping from the two before her. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without hesitation, she pressed the "Lust" Sin Remains against her chest.


    "Handsome boy! Thank you for returning my shell to me!" Tomie Kawakami blew Xu Yi a seductive kiss, her action exuding an extraordinary charm.


    But she froze, looking down in disbelief.


    Logically, the "Lust" Sin Remains should have merged with her body, but now the leaf-shaped Sin Remains had pierced her heart, blood flowing unstoppable.


    "You''ve never tried, so how would you know if I''m small?"


    Xu Yi strode toward Tomie Kawakami, his mouth teasing, but his expression was as icy as frost, showing none of the earlier bewilderment.


    The creature wasn''t a ghost or what''s typically known as a Dark Creature, which is why the church hadn''t noticed this "slip-through."


    Xu Yi could sense something was off about her because when he encountered her, the demigod blood in his body started to stir, resisting the invasion of a mysterious force like a "Charm Aura."


    Back on the sea surface, he had vaguely felt that she was targeting him, but he didn''t know why.


    Now he understood¡ªshe had come for the "Lust" Sin Remains. Tomie Kawakami had actually merged with the Soul of Sin of "Lust"!

 Chapter 263 The Holy Stone from Heaven

    "It''s like a pie falling from the sky!" Xu Yi looked at Tomie Kawakami, who lay in agony on the ground, his face filled with joy.He was naturally very interested in the so-called "ultimate Power of Sin", but had been vexed by not knowing where the Source of Sin had drifted off to¡ª he hadn''t expected it to come knocking at his door!


    Tomie Kawakami''s heart had been pierced by the "Lust" Sin Remains, and blood gushed out profusely.


    Although she seemed to exhibit symptoms similar to those of ordinary people with grave injuries, Xu Yi still did not approach her, but instead watched her warily.


    The "Lust" had entered a spatial rift and drifted near the islands of Japan, which was somewhat unexpected for Xu Yi, but not an impossibility.


    If extreme situations were to arise, it was even possible that all seven Sources of Sin could be surrounding Japan.


    Xu Yi was well aware that the host chosen by the "Lust" Origin couldn''t possibly be an ordinary person; Tomie Kawakami must have some special trait that made her compatible with the "Lust" Origin.


    "Save me!" Tomie Kawakami extended her bloody hand, her eyes pitiful yet filled with an undiminishable Charm, to which no ordinary man could resist.


    Xu Yi remained unmoved; he had already roughly figured out what was happening.


    Sin Remains and the Source of Sin would sense each other''s presence and be drawn to each other, much like a king and his steed; the loser would be devoured, becoming the victor''s strength, and the winner would claim everything.


    This was meant to be an extremely brutal battle, but unfortunately,


    he had cheated!


    Because of the Entries, the Sin Remains had been converted and were completely under his control, rendering this not a fair match from the beginning.


    Xu Yi was starting to look forward to the reaction of the hosts of the Sources of Sin when they came to him and discovered the truth; it would surely be interesting.


    The hosts wanting to reclaim the "Sin Remains" would have to take him down first, but Xu Yi believed his survival ability was still quite good. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration", combined with the "Blood God''s Throne", and lastly the "Resurrection Coin" as the safety net... his survival ability was almost at its peak.


    "But still, I shouldn''t be reckless! Aside from the hosts chosen by the Sources of Sin, the Ring of Destruction will surely get involved; facing pincer attacks from both sides then might be problematic..."


    Xu Yi thought of the fearsome Alchemical Machinery and the dark Barrier that had nearly killed him, and his heart sank again.


    The "Lust" Sin Remains vibrated, bursting into a pink glow.


    It sensed the Origin within Tomie Kawakami, and under Xu Yi''s manipulation, it prepared to devour that Origin.


    But Tomie Kawakami suddenly stopped screaming; she gave Xu Yi a radiant smile, "Handsome, we''ll meet again!"


    Before Xu Yi could react, Tomie Kawakami suddenly collapsed, her body withering and disintegrating at a rate visible to the naked eye.


    Xu Yi stared at the pile of white ashes left on the ground, his brows slightly furrowed.


    The "Lust" Origin had actually disappeared!


    Seeing the cooked duck fly away, Xu Yi felt a sense of loss; he speculated that this might be Tomie Kawakami''s ability.


    He bent down to pick up the Sin Remains, and a large amount of pink light flitted across the Sin Remains, visible only to Xu Yi, their master.


    "Not bad! At least there''s a consolation prize."


    Although the Lust Origin escaped, a small part of it had still been devoured by the Sin Remains, which grew stronger as a result.


    Most importantly, the Serpent of Finale''s ability had been activated.


    Although he was eager to know the effect of the Serpent of Finale, with Yukeni nearby, it clearly wasn''t a good time.


    "Thank you for your noble intervention, Your Highness Yukeni, the Supreme Exorcist and Dragon Empress of Evil."


    Xu Yi was beginning to get a sense of how she liked things; the more "chuuni" the title sounded, the more she liked it.


    Yukeni had specifically come because she sensed something odd about Tomie Kawakami''s aura.


    Though he could have dealt with it himself without her help, he still had to acknowledge this favor.


    "Hmph! If it wasn''t for seeing you in such a pitiful and weak state, like a sick dog, I wouldn''t have bothered coming!" Yukeni huffed and turned to leave.


    "Farewell, Princess Yukeni," Xu Yi said, unfazed by Yukeni''s haughtiness.


    ...


    Golden sunlight sprinkled across the white sand beach where a mass of shredded flesh suddenly drifted in, getting stranded on the shore.


    It wriggled like a maggot as it crawled across the sand, and as it moved, the flesh mass grew, expanding until it transformed into the shape of a human.


    It was Tomie Kawakami, naked.


    "He was really savage... but I like that so much!"


    Tomie Kawakami''s legs twisted together as she rolled on the beach, uttering incomprehensible moans.


    Moments later, she stood up, flushed, as a female corpse floated onto the shore, dressed in what appeared to be the attire of a Japanese office lady.


    Kawakami swiftly stripped the clothing from the corpse and put them on, appearing slightly bulky but doing nothing to hide her beauty.


    A fisherman happened by the seaside and, spotting Tomie Kawakami, became mesmerized, staring blankly at her.


    "Do you like me?" Tomie Kawakami approached the fisherman, unprompted.


    "Of... of course!" The fisherman stuttered, swallowing saliva repeatedly.


    "If you like me, why not dismember me?" Tomie''s tone was gentle, yet the words she spoke were chilling.


    ...


    The room''s door lock was broken by Yukeni, but Xu Yi couldn''t be bothered to have someone fix it. To those with even a slight degree of strength, the door was nothing but a decoration.


    To prevent the unwary from coming in, he hung a ''Do Not Disturb'' sign outside and asked Annabelle to stand guard.


    "What exactly is the ultimate form of the Power of Sin?"


    Xu Yi rubbed his hands together, excitedly taking out the Serpent of Finale.


    The Serpent underwent a change. The pupil of the "Serpent of Lust" on the far right, originally grey-white, now featured a pinkish speck, bringing the Serpent to life instantly. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    An excited expression spread across Xu Yi''s face.


    The pink speck was only the size of a sesame seed, but its significance was epoch-making, like adding the finishing touch to a dragon painting.


    Though it was just a whiff of the Source of Lust that had been absorbed, the "Serpent of Lust" was now activated, like opening the meridian channels.


    To create "the ultimate Power of Sin" in the future, the Source of Lust would not be needed; common Souls of Lust would suffice, reducing the difficulty by tens of thousands of times.


    The mouth of the "Serpent of Lust" had always been sealed shut, but now it suddenly opened, and a deep red liquid trickled out¡ªthat was "the ultimate Power of Sin."


    Xu Yi hurriedly took out a test tube to catch the liquid below the Serpent''s mouth.


    The amount of liquid was minuscule, coalescing into a drop the size of a green bean at the bottom of the tube, gently rolling.


    "Is this the fabled Philosopher''s Stone?"


    Xu Yi held the test tube in front of his eyes, gazing at the deep red droplet inside, contemplatively sighing.


    He had never imagined that "the ultimate Power of Sin" would turn out to be the Philosopher''s Stone.


    The Philosopher''s Stone had many epithets, "the panacea," "the alchemist''s Holy Grail," "the Holy Stone from heaven," "the culmination of Alchemy."


    Each title indicated the extraordinary nature of the Philosopher''s Stone.


    The "red droplet" before him bore no relation to the word "stone," that''s because the Philosopher''s Stone at the moment of its birth is a liquid; given time, it solidifies, turning into a red Crystal Stone.


    Mesmerized by the profound and dazzling light emanating from the Philosopher''s Stone, Xu Yi was completely captivated, losing track of time.


    After an indeterminate period, cheers could be heard from outside the room, signaling the end of the church''s "quarantine." They would soon be able to leave this place.


    Xu Yi packed away the Philosopher''s Stone, eager to return to his Boston lab and thoroughly test the capabilities of the Philosopher''s Stone.

 Chapter 264 The Incredible Ability of the Philosophers Stone

    Boston.In the basement of the villa, Xu Yi was disassembling the Alchemical Revolver Messiah.


    He had to be fully focused; such a complex piece of old alchemical machinery could be nearly impossible to restore if damaged even slightly.


    With his current abilities, he seldom needed to use the Messiah, but as it was an "old friend" that had been with him for a long time, he naturally couldn''t bear to spoil it.


    If it wasn''t for the "treasure" he discovered in the Palace of Memory, a design of the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, he wouldn''t have taken the risk.


    However, he could not quite understand why the design of the Alchemical Revolver Messiah would appear in Japan''s Meiji Shrine.


    "I''ve finally finished disassembling it!" Xu Yi heaved a long sigh of relief.


    The large table was covered with various parts; Xu Yi placed the core of the revolver in front of him, pried off a crystal stone from it, and examined it closely.


    The crystal stone was diamond-shaped and completely transparent, resembling amber.


    This was the Holy Gold Stone, the most important component of the revolver, on which the Messiah relied to bless the bullets, all thanks to this mung bean-sized crystal stone.


    Xu Yi removed the Holy Gold Stone, obviously for the Philosopher''s Stone experiment.


    In fact, any kind of material would suffice for the Philosopher''s Stone experiment, not necessarily the Holy Gold Stone, but given the scarcity of the Philosopher''s Stone, choosing just any material would be an extravagant waste.


    At first, he considered the Doomsday Crystal Stone, but after pondering for a long time, he decided on the Holy Gold Stone.


    As the saying goes, rarity carries value; the Doomsday Crystal Stone was plentiful among Boston''s upper echelons, but the Holy Gold Stone might be this one piece in front of him.


    "Now comes the moment to witness a miracle!"


    Xu Yi took out the mung bean-sized Philosopher''s Stone, hesitated for a moment, then still cut it into two halves.


    Frugality is a virtue, especially since he didn''t know when he would be able to obtain a new Philosopher''s Stone.


    In a specially made test tube, he added both the Holy Gold Stone and the Philosopher''s Stone, took a deep breath, and poured in the high-purity Holy Water.


    The Philosopher''s Stone was activated, and Xu Yi stared intently at the changes within.


    The color of the Philosopher''s Stone changed from deep red to gold, then to its shape, from a semi-ellipse to a diamond, and its volume increased more than tenfold.


    In the blink of an eye, the Philosopher''s Stone disappeared, replaced by a peanut-sized Holy Gold Stone.


    "Incredible! Truly incredible!" Xu Yi exclaimed in admiration, feeling as though his worldview had been renewed.


    He never imagined that there could be something capable of defying the principle of "matter" exchange and transforming into any kind of substance!


    Indeed, it lived up to its reputation as the ultimate achievement of alchemy, the Philosopher''s Stone.


    The "counterfeit" Holy Gold Stone was several times larger than the original.


    Although the Philosopher''s Stone did not follow the principle of "matter" exchange, it adhered to the principle of "energy" exchange.


    If the conversion target was a material of lower energy level, such as gold, it could probably transform an entire mountain of it.


    The "counterfeit" Holy Gold Stone was not only larger in volume but also more lustrous, as if crafted from pure gold.


    In contrast, the original Holy Gold Stone had only a faint gold color, like a lamp about to go out.


    This wasn''t because the counterfeit was superior to the original, but because the original Holy Gold Stone had been used for so many years that its energy had almost been exhausted.


    The "brand new" counterfeit Holy Gold Stone was bursting with energy, of course outshining the original with brightness.


    "I''m glad I didn''t choose the Doomsday Crystal Stone!" Xu Yi toyed with the new Holy Gold Stone, unable to put it down.


    The quantity of Doomsday Crystal Stones was one thing, but Xu Yi suddenly realized that the Sacred Goldstone before him contained energy two to three times stronger than that of Doomsday Crystal Stones of the same volume!


    What''s more important, the energy of the Sacred Goldstone was purer; its "radiation" was also milder, targeting only Dark Creatures without harming humans.


    This was a rare advantage since the biggest drawback of the Doomsday Blade was its radiation.


    If Dark Creatures appeared in the city, one strike of the Doomsday Blade might not even kill the Dark Creatures, but instead, a large number of humans might fall first.


    "No! Using it for missiles is still too wasteful!" Xu Yi remembered the "Crow Man" of the Ring of Destruction.


    After witnessing the power of Alchemical Machinery, he developed a great interest in this area.


    Besides their complex mechanical structure and alchemical arrays, the biggest challenge with Alchemical Machinery was the energy source; perhaps the Sacred Goldstone could achieve a breakthrough in this regard. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Could it be that the Ring of Destruction summoned the Source of Sin Mother Tree just for the Philosopher''s Stone?" As Xu Yi packed up, he suddenly thought of something.


    He was preparing to go out; he needed to test the production rate of the Philosopher''s Stone before he could make his next decision.


    ...


    In one of the bases of the Ring of Destruction.


    Twelve metal figures stood within a huge palace. These figures varied in shape, and if Xu Yi were here, he would recognize one of them as the "Crow Man" he had encountered before.


    The pupils of the metal figures lit up one by one. The Crow Man looked around and said leisurely, "As before, eight of the twelve have arrived, let''s start the meeting! The theme of this meeting is the Source of Sin Mother Tree Plan."


    "What''s there to discuss? Isn''t it a simple matter? Kill Xu Yi, retrieve the shell of the Source of Sin Mother Tree, and then find the scattered Origins of Sin," one of the metal figures answered.


    "Of course, we will do these things, but we need to slow down for the moment."


    The Crow Man started speaking on his own, "Because of the actions in Japan, we''ve been targeted by those flies of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, and we need to lie low for a while."


    "I agree with Augustus''s statement. The Rebirth Machinery and the Annihilation Realm both allowed the opponent to escape, showing that they are not so easy to kill," another metal figure chimed in.


    "So, what about the plan?"


    "Actually, we''ve entered a bit of a mental trap. Since the shell of the Source of Sin Mother Tree is gone, why not take an even bigger ''billion'' step?" the Crow Man Augustus said with a deep voice.


    "What do you mean?"


    "The Origin of Sin will automatically seek out suitable hosts. We find ''them,'' nurture ''them,'' and thus create a stronger Source of Sin Mother Tree!" the Crow Man Augustus said, his expression exhilarated.


    "Are you thinking of opening the Gate of Truth directly?" a figure next to him exclaimed in surprise.


    "Exactly, creating the Philosopher''s Stone with the Source of Sin Mother Tree is too slow. We might as well open the Gate of Truth directly and enter the Realm of Truth!"


    Augustus''s voice was filled with yearning, "The Realm of Truth, where mountains made of condensed Philosopher''s Stones can be found everywhere, and the rivers flow with the deep red essence of the Philosopher''s Stone."


    "But doing this will consume a large amount of the organization''s resources. You must be clear, the organization''s plans are not limited to just this one," someone raised an objection.


    "Let''s decide by vote!"


    Augustus didn''t say much more, scanning around, some metal figures silently raised their hands while others remained standing still.


    "Eight members voted, six in favor, two against, the vote passes! The Gate of Truth Project shall commence immediately!" Augustus could hardly hide his excitement in his voice. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By opening the Gate of Truth and replicating the "Forbidden Object," killing Xu Yi would be as easy as turning over one''s hand.


    "Eternal life to the Ring of Destruction!"


    In the midst of the resounding chanting, the pupils of the metal figures in the palace extinguished one by one.

 Chapter 265 Theyre All Little Blackies

    Night had fallen, and Boston, a city that should be bustling at night, was unusually quiet. The damage wrought by the Evil Deity upon this city had not yet healed, and many were still immersed in their sorrow.But for the members of the Special Affairs Team, they didn''t even have time to grieve.


    Since the chaos caused by the Evil Deity, the number of spirits and demons in the city had more than doubled. During this period, the Special Affairs Team had been incredibly busy, their feet barely touching the ground.


    In an apartment on the outskirts, the Special Affairs Team had taken refuge in a room at the end of a hallway. One of them lowered their voice and angrily scolded a boy with naturally curly hair,


    "You really are a piece of garbage! You can''t even inscribe an Array without making a mistake; no wonder the Finns were wiped out by the Evil Deity!"


    Cass Finn''s breathing was rapid, his face flushed with anger.


    His hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly, but ultimately, he did nothing. He stood in the corner with his head down, silent.


    Cass was sixteen years old, one of the surviving members of the Finn family.


    As the oldest survivor, he took it upon himself to carry the burden of his family, joining the Special Affairs Team, hoping to restore his family''s honor.


    Unfortunately, his talent was truly average. Despite his extremely hard work, he was still holding the team back.


    The door to the room was suddenly knocked on, and everyone tensed up instantly, not even daring to breathe heavily.


    They had come here to deal with an Evil Spirit called "Mord the Maiden Slayer."


    But they had underestimated the strength of the Evil Spirit and, due to Cass''s error, they had fallen into a very dangerous situation.


    Could it be that Mord was just outside the door? Had the creature caught up with them so quickly? Their hearts were in their throats.


    "Don''t be nervous, the Evil Spirit hasn''t found us yet. Can you open the door?"


    A magnetic voice came from outside the door, leaving everyone bewildered, except for Cass. No matter what, he would never forget that voice.


    Cass walked straight to the door, intending to open it.


    "Are you crazy? What if it''s an Evil Spirit outside? Some spirits like to masquerade as people to gain trust," someone stopped Cass.


    Cass shook his head firmly, "No, spirits can only imitate voices, not auras. Besides, if it''s a powerful Evil Spirit, hiding here is useless."


    The door clicked open, and upon seeing the person outside, Cass spoke respectfully, "Good evening, Mr. Xu Yi. My name is¡­"


    His words were cut off by Xu Yi.


    "You don''t need to introduce yourself again. I remember you; you''re Cass. That day at the Finn Manor, you helped calm your scared brothers and sisters. You did an excellent job, making a deep impression on me," said Xu Yi softly.


    Cass was stunned, a warm feeling flooding his heart. He hadn''t expected Mr. Xu Yi to remember his name.


    Xu Yi''s gaze swept across the room with a puzzled look.


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    He had come out tonight to hunt for the Soul of Lust. With the information provided by the Special Affairs Team, he had quickly located his target.


    The Evil Spirit didn''t cause any stir and was dealt with cleanly by him.


    After the Sin Remains had devoured the Soul of Lust, Xu Yi was quite pleased, but he waited and waited without seeing the Serpent of Finale open its mouth to spit out the essence of the Philosopher''s Stone.


    He communicated with the Serpent of Finale and received news that struck like a bolt from the blue:


    To "forge" the Philosopher''s Stone, a very key factor was still needed!


    Xu Yi stood in place, dazed for several minutes, and at that moment, the Lust Sin Remains in his hand started to vibrate.


    He had thought it was Tomie Kawakami coming to find him again, but to his surprise, under the guidance of the Lust Sin Remains, he found this group of raw recruits.


    "Mr. Xu Yi! The savior of Boston, known as the ''Holy Flame Warrior God''? Is it the Mr. Xu Yi?" someone in the group suddenly screamed out.


    Xu Yi''s mouth twitched slightly, wishing they wouldn''t bring up that title so they could have a proper conversation!


    But considering that everyone here was sixteen or seventeen, the age where adolescent fantasies peaked, he could only resign himself to their fervor.


    Xu Yi''s gaze swept across them again, and in an instant, they all straightened their backs, their faces flushed with excitement and their eyes full of fanaticism, giving Xu Yi the impression that he was the subject of a failed art student''s fantasy.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, I grew up listening to the tales of your deeds. I am a huge fan of yours!" one of the girls said, looking up at Xu Yi with admiration.


    Xu Yi''s eyes also began to twitch¡ªwhat fans? These must be haters!


    He was only a few years older, so how could they have "grown up" listening to his deeds?


    "My whole family are your fans! My grandma has told me since I was little that Mr. Xu Yi is a great exorcist!" another girl promptly followed.


    The others joined the conversation, each trying to outdo the others. Xu Yi felt as though he had aged decades in an instant, as if he were grandparent material already.


    Indeed, this group was full of little devils. If it weren''t for their earnest and passionate gazes, Xu Yi might have let them taste the wrath of the ''Seven Wolves''.


    Since they were all his ''grandchildren'', educating them a bit wouldn''t be a problem, right?


    Xu Yi''s gaze suddenly turned icy as he stared at the boy who was mocking Cass. The boy immediately became flustered and at a loss for words.


    "Cass is dragging you down, and you can settle things with him, even give him a beating if needed, but you shouldn''t make jokes about the Finns! Your survival might just owe something to the Finns," Xu Yi said gravely.


    He wasn''t exaggerating. Without the Finn''s Thoth Library, without Daniel and Mia''s desperate defense, he might not have been able to deal with the Evil Deity.


    "I''m sorry!" The boy lowered his head in shame.


    Xu Yi didn''t press the issue further. After all, it was understandable for a boy of this age to say the wrong thing in a moment of anger.


    The sound of chains dragging suddenly came from the end of the corridor. The Evil Spirit Mord emerged from around the corner, squinting with a lustful smile on his face.


    Xu Yi felt the message from the Sin Remains. The Evil Spirit before him carried a high concentration of the Soul of Lust.


    His target tonight was to hunt down such Evil Spirits, but without a new supply of Philosopher''s Stones, his enthusiasm waned. He felt lazy and lethargic, lacking the will to engage.


    "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and deal with this Evil Spirit!" Xu Yi said, glaring at the stupefied crowd, frustration boiling inside him.


    Did these little devils think he would be their free labor?


    "Mr. Xu Yi, aren''t you going to take action?"


    "Me, a mere spectator? How could I steal your training mission?" Xu Yi decisively turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind an audience of gaping onlookers.


    "He... he really left!" Everyone was disordered as if they had fallen into a trap.


    Of course, Xu Yi hadn''t really left. He was using his Dark Stealth Ability to observe from the shadows.


    He was very curious¡ªsince it wasn''t because of that pervert Tomie Kawakami, why had the Sin Remains led him here?


    "What do we do now?" A group of greenhorns looked somewhat at a loss.


    "Run!" Cass was the first to snap out of it, realizing they stood no chance in a head-on fight against the Evil Spirit, they needed to avoid the sharp edge for now.


    Evil Spirit Mord flung out the chains in his hands, accurately binding two of the group''s girls just as they were part of the team.


    "As expected, a leopard can''t change its spots!" Xu Yi muttered a curse under his breath.


    Although the two girls were suspect of being little devils, their admiring eyes couldn''t fake their sincerity; he couldn''t just stand by and watch them get hurt.


    But he wasn''t in a hurry to take action. This kind of Evil Spirit was an easy kill for him.


    The two girls were dragged away by the chains, getting closer and closer to Evil Spirit Mord. The others knew they couldn''t escape and had no choice but to turn back and face the enemy desperately.


    The battle was between weaklings, much like a fight between two equally matched amateurs.


    Yet Xu Yi found it quite entertaining. The battle was fraught with danger and dramatic turns, full of intrigue. It was a pity he didn''t bring popcorn.


    As time passed, Xu Yi took a step out from the darkness.


    These greenhorns were about to collapse; it was time for him to intervene. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everyone was battered and in a critical situation, and just then, Cass, severely injured and on the ground, let out a roar like a dying flash, rising from the ground and rushing towards the Evil Spirit, placing himself in front of the two girls.


    "What is that?!"


    Xu Yi widened his eyes in surprise. Holding the Sin Remains, his Pupils of Sin spontaneously activated, and Cass''s body turned into a cloud of mist.


    Within that cloud of mist, he saw a golden heart that kept beating!

 Chapter 267 The True Strength of the Serpent of Finale

    Xu Yi gazed at the "Heart of Gold" on Cass''s body, his eyes gleaming.Although he did not know what it was, he had a premonition that the Heart of Gold could very well be the key to creating the Philosopher''s Stone.


    "Cass, catch the Sword in the Stone, your destiny!"


    Xu Yi threw the Sin Remains of Lust toward Cass.


    Cass''s exorcism Talent was poor, and if there were no accidents, his accomplishments would be very limited in this life.


    By then, not to mention revitalizing the Finns, whether he could even sustain a living as an exorcist was unknown. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But now the turn of events had appeared!


    Xu Yi had forged the "Alchemical Sword: Seven Deadly Sins," but never intended to keep them for himself.


    Cultivating seven weapons as one person was like managing seven alternate accounts, he simply did not have the energy, and the efficiency was too poor.


    His initial plan was to find "Proxy Hosts."


    The "Proxy Hosts" were originally meant to be people close to him, after all, it''s best not to let water flow into others'' fields, but an unexpected turn of events forced him to change his plans.


    If the Heart of Gold truly was the key to creating the Philosopher''s Stone, then Xu Yi was willing to give Cass a chance to become a Proxy Host.


    In that case, as long as Cass did not betray Xu Yi, he could grow alongside the Sin Remains of Lust and control the power of the Sin Remains.


    Compared to Cass, the Sin Remains of Lust is no less significant than the Sword in the Stone was to King Arthur, both capable of changing their destinies.


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    As the Evil Spirit Mord pounced toward him, Cass was drenched in cold sweat. Hearing the voice behind him, he instinctively caught the "Sword in the Stone."


    The "Sword in the Stone" was shaped like a willow leaf, as if made from countless intertwined wires, and it did not even have an edge. Yet inexplicably, he felt it was a weapon.


    Moreover, it was a living weapon; he could feel the "Sword in the Stone" breathing, feel its heartbeat.


    His own heartbeat gradually became the same as the "Sword in the Stone," their heartbeats merging as one.


    Cass''s hands trembled violently, feeling as though he was holding a writhing, furious dragon about to break free from his grasp and soar into the sky.


    Immense power flooded into his body, he was like a balloon pumped too full, about to explode. He had to release that power immediately.


    "Slash!" Cass leaped up, wielding the Sin Remains of Lust, and roared as he slashed toward the Evil Spirit Mord.


    The constant smile on the face of the Evil Spirit Mord vanished, its body shaking uncontrollably as if encountering a natural enemy. Indeed, the Sin Remains of Lust was the bane of such Evil Spirits.


    The Sin Remains of Lust cut through the Evil Spirit Mord, the chains that attempted to block it were as if non-existent, shattered under the Sin Remains'' strike.


    The Sin Remains pierced the Evil Spirit''s skull, the fear frozen on its face, and its form exploded like a punctured balloon, dissipating with a loud pop.


    The special affairs team members were stunned, staring dully at the "metal shard" in Cass''s hand.


    What kind of weapon was that? It allowed Cass, who had always been the weakest link, to slay the Evil Spirit Mord that had pushed them into a corner!


    Could it be an Exorcism Holy Relic? Such power, it might even be the Legendary Level of Exorcism Holy Relic!


    Xu Yi also stared intently at the Sin Remains of Lust, without blinking an eye.


    The Soul of Lust from the Evil Spirit Mord was devoured, it was a pink "Human-Faced Snake," as thick as a little finger, scaleless, with a surface covered in fine tentacles, and the snake''s head bore the face of the Evil Spirit Mord.


    The "Human-Faced Snake" was sucked into the Sin Remains, then traveled along the palm into Cass''s body.


    Xu Yi was slightly startled and wanted to stop it, but he quickly calmed down.


    The human-faced snake did not harm Cass¡ªor rather, it did not have the ability to. It circled inside Cass''s body, finally plunging into the "Heart of Gold."


    The Heart of Gold was located in the center of the chest, clearly not an actual heart.


    Xu Yi now realized that the so-called Heart of Gold was likely a kind of soul trait, combined with a series of virtues such as "Bravery," "Determination," and "Selflessness."


    The Sin Remains of Lust had brought him here, clearly for the Heart of Gold.


    "Original Sin" and "Virtue," these two things seem unrelated, like the two sides of a coin.


    But Xu Yi didn''t find it strange, as it''s like what Taoism says: the harmony of Yin and Yang is the Tao.


    The more Xu Yi thought about it, the more he was convinced that the Heart of Gold was key in creating the Philosopher''s Stone.


    Once the human-faced snake left the Heart of Gold, its size decreased substantially, shrinking from the thickness of a pinky finger to that of a hair strand.


    "It''s been purified!" Xu Yi''s eyes lit up as he even sensed a trace of the Origin from the human-faced snake.


    As the human-faced snake returned to the Sin Remains, a white mist enveloped it. The snake melted away like snow, and the mist turned from white to pink.


    Xu Yi had an epiphany; that pink mist was the "Power of Lust."


    The Power of Lust abruptly vanished within the Sin Remains, and Xu Yi took out the Serpent of Finale. Indeed, the pink mist had already appeared inside the Serpent of Finale.


    Xu Yi lightly touched the snake''s head, which represented "Lust," but there was no response.


    "Why hasn''t the Philosopher''s Stone been created yet?"


    As Xu Yi contemplated this, the Serpent of Finale began to vibrate slightly. An invisible force acted upon the pink mist, causing faint ripples to form.


    The ripple continued unabated, and the pink mist gradually turned into a pure pomegranate red, exhibiting a gem-like luster.


    Xu Yi''s breathing quickened slightly.


    Having always considered the "Ultimate Ability" of the Serpent of Finale, an Original Sin weapon, as nothing but an overrated accessory mainly used to monitor the growth progress of the Sin Remains.


    Now he understood the meaning of "pushing the Power of Sin to its ultimate limit!"


    Under normal circumstances, one would need to gather all seven Powers of Sin and merge them together to create the Philosopher''s Stone.


    But now, with the Serpent of Finale''s ability, it bypassed this process entirely. Only one Power of Sin was needed to craft the Philosopher''s Stone.


    The difficulty wasn''t just reduced by a notch or two; it was as if the "Abyss Mode" had been switched to "Simple Mode"!


    Xu Yi put away the Serpent of Finale, in high spirits, as the Philosopher''s Stone finally seemed within reach.


    He walked over to Cass and took the Sin Remains of Lust from him.


    Cass looked at the Sword in the Stone in Xu Yi''s hand with a sense of loss.


    He had just felt a power moving inside him. Though it ultimately disappeared, a trace remained, making him feel much stronger.


    This was, in fact, what Xu Yi called "growing together."


    "What, you like this weapon? The harbinger of the Finns'' new era," Xu Yi said with a smile, teasing Cass.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, do you think I can restore the Finns to their former glory?" Cass asked, voicing the question that had always lurked in his heart.


    "Of course, in your hands, the Finns might even surpass their past achievements!" Xu Yi patted Cass on the shoulder, showing his confidence in him.


    "But¡­" Cass hesitated to proceed.


    "Even if you don''t believe in yourself, don''t you trust me?" Xu Yi suddenly changed his tone. "You know where I live, right?"


    "Mr. Xu Yi, you mean¡­" Cass abruptly looked up, his eyes filled with incredulity.


    "We can exchange exorcism insights when you''re free." Xu Yi turned to leave. "Oh, and there''s a family banquet at my place tomorrow. If you''re interested, you''re welcome to join!"


    "I''ll definitely be there!" Cass exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement, almost shouting to ensure Xu Yi heard him.


    After Xu Yi left, the special affairs team members gathered around Cass, their envy almost tangible.


    "Cass! I heard that not even Boston''s elite are invited to Mr. Xu Yi''s banquets. Our team leader knows Mr. Xu Yi personally but isn''t on the guest list either!"


    Cass was still in a daze, feeling like he''d been hit by a meteor of fortune. He couldn''t understand why Mr. Xu Yi was treating him so well.


    "I must double my efforts! I can''t let Mr. Xu Yi down!" Cass clenched his fists, silently making a firm resolution.

 Chapter 267 Family Banquet

    The sun shone brightly, and a barbecue party was in full swing in the backyard of Xu Yi''s villa.Since Notting Hill wasn''t finished yet, Xu Yi was temporarily living here. The considerate higher-ups in Boston, fearing neighborhood disputes leading to an American-style community incident, decided... to ensure Xu Yi had no neighbors.


    They bought all the surrounding villas and gifted them to Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi had the backyard fence taken down, now the entire lawn had become his backyard, exceptionally spacious.


    A long table stood on the grass, capable of seating twenty to thirty people, but at the moment only three individuals occupied Nuo Da''s dining table, with everyone else consciously keeping their distance¡ªeven Xu Yi had escaped to a corner to grill skewers.


    A plate of grilled lamb skewers was placed at the center of the table, emitting a rich meaty fragrance.


    Among the three, Carlyle was the first to lose restraint, reaching out to grab one.


    She didn''t particularly favor grilled skewers because high-fat foods tended to make her gain weight easily, though after becoming "Ryan," that concern was no more, but the habit remained.


    However, the skewers grilled by Xu Yi counted as "made with love," which made her especially eager to eat them.


    Just as her hand was about to touch the skewers, a light voice came from the side.


    "Aren''t you vampires supposed to only like fresh human blood? Since when did you also fancy grilled skewers? Oh! Sorry, I forgot you''re half werewolf too; do you have a special preference for raw meat?"


    Maria sat on the stool, unfazed and without even glancing at Carlyle.


    Such "overly frank words" obviously weren''t something Maria could say; it was Ailan in control of the body now.


    Maria had learned to be smart, swiftly letting Ailan take over whenever she faced situations she wasn''t adept at handling.


    Carlyle tensed up instantaneously, her words failing her.


    Under normal circumstances, she was quite adept at retorting, but when faced with Maria, the "original partner," her confidence waned.


    She cast a pleading look toward Lisa, but Lisa gazed vacantly into the azure sky, as if lost in thought.


    No one spoke, and the air grew even heavier.


    Cass, who had been invited over for the family banquet, intended to grab a drink from the long table, but he suddenly shivered.


    He could feel the heavy atmosphere, as if suddenly stepping from a bright sunny day into a cloudy, impending rainstorm.


    He shrank back, indeed choosing intuition, and turned to leave.


    It''s better not to drink this beverage!


    "Hey, why isn''t anyone eating? It''ll be less delicious once it cools down!" Xu Yi came over with a fresh plate of skewers, "Nevermind, I''ll take away this cold plate then!"


    Xu Yi was about to take the platter away as he spoke.


    Ailan, with a quick raise of her eyebrows, grabbed a handful and placed it in front of her; Lisa followed suit; Carlyle took the rest of the skewers, plate and all.


    "I thought you guys didn''t fancy the skewers I grill?" Xu Yi''s face beamed with satisfaction.


    This time he didn''t just set the plate down but began distributing the skewers from the platter.


    "Here! This is for Lisa, I know you like spicy, so I added extra chili powder especially for you."


    "Maria and Ailan share the same taste, both ''sweet-toothed,'' so I brushed them with sesame sauce and honey."


    "Carlyle, you don''t like meat, so I grilled some vegetables for you."


    Having distributed the skewers in hand, Xu Yi then began to steer the conversation actively.


    "Oh right, Carlyle, weren''t you wanting to learn how to bake cakes? Maria is an expert in that area, you can ask her for advice."


    "Both Lisa and I love cakes, though it''s the Chinese kind, Maria, do you know how to make ''Chinese cakes''? We actually call them pastries..."


    Under Xu Yi''s "cloud-shifting, rain-spelling" maneuver, "the weather" cleared up momentarily, the tense atmosphere dissipated, and the three women started chatting, becoming more and more enthusiastic. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Women are magical like that; as long as there''s a common topic, they naturally have an endless supply of conversation topics, and eventually, no guidance from Xu Yi was needed.


    After a hearty chat, the three who had just been "skewer competitors" became sisters who could share secrets with each other.


    Cass, observing on the side, regretted not bringing a notebook before leaving the house.


    Mr. Xu Yi was not only a master of exorcism but also a master of life!


    One platter was skewers! Another was also skewers!


    But their significance was different; these were "test points" that needed to be noted down!


    Cass silently resolved to learn more from Mr. Xu Yi and strive to become a winner in life.


    After quelling the "disaster that could have been caused by a platter of skewers," Xu Yi returned to the grill. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Old Xu, are you keeping something from me?" Xu Yi suddenly turned his head, looking towards Xu Changrong who was grilling skewers next to him.


    Not only had Maria come to Boston, but old man Xu Changrong had also arrived.


    Others might not notice much, but Xu Yi, with the Body of a Demigod, was very sensitive to various energies.


    Xu Changrong was enveloped in a chilling ghostly aura; if he went out late at night with that aura, he could probably frighten someone to death, or even be mistaken for the "Ghost King" by an exorcist.


    Of course, Xu Changrong was not really the Ghost King, all of this was due to the "Dark Chef" Entries.


    "Just how many ghosts has old man eaten!" Xu Yi was secretly shocked.


    A Dark Chef could cook demons and ghosts, making "Dark Cuisine," and after eating these dishes, the one with Hell''s Tongue would grow in power.


    Xu Yi checked his father''s entry information through the entry contract.


    The Dark Chef had actually gone from "Green Rare" to "Green Epic," and in some time, it might evolve into a blue entry.


    This Dark Chef and old man were just too perfectly matched, weren''t they?


    Xu Yi felt there was still great potential in his father, and if possible, he would need to upgrade the Dark Chef entry further.


    "Indeed, I can''t hide anything from you. I''ve transferred the Chinatown restaurant in New York to your second uncle!" Xu Changrong sighed.


    Second uncle?


    Xu Yi suddenly heard this long-forgotten name and hesitated for a moment before recalling who it was, indicating just how insignificant the second uncle was in his mind... he was utterly insignificant.


    Although what he had intended to ask wasn''t this, his curiosity was still piqued.


    "Why did you transfer the restaurant to second uncle?"


    As Xu Changrong narrated the story, Xu Yi''s eyes grew wider; after hearing it, he completely reevaluated the second uncle.


    "So, second uncle married a woman who isn''t exactly a sheriff, and now plans to live a decent life?"


    Xu Yi was astounded; second uncle not only liked persuading prostitutes to reform, but he also wanted to reform himself¡ªthat was rather fierce!


    "Then what are you planning to do in the future, old man?"


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up, as he had just been wondering how to persuade the old man to come to Boston, and now it seemed that he had been saved the trouble.


    "I actually do plan to open a restaurant, but not in the ordinary sense of a restaurant."


    Xu Changrong glanced carefully around and lowered his voice, "It would be the kind that''s easygoing to work at, with some company, preferably female and somewhat pretty..."


    "Got it! Don''t worry about a thing, old man! I assure you I''ll arrange everything clear and above board!" Xu Yi gave the other man a look that all men would understand.


    Xu Changrong, seeing the earnest look in Xu Yi''s face, breathed a sigh of relief.


    He too had been busy for half his life; now that his son was successful, it was time for him to enjoy life.


    But he soon realized that the "clear and above board" Xu Yi mentioned, was indeed crystal clear.

 Chapter 268 Pride Acknowledges Its Master

    The family banquet was halfway through when the doorbell at the front yard suddenly rang.Xu Yi was slightly puzzled, wondering who would come at this time?


    He glanced around and his gaze settled on Cass; besides Lisa, he was the most familiar with the situation in Boston.


    "Cass! Go check it out!" Xu Yi called out.


    Carrying a skewer, Cass scurried eagerly to the front yard. Far from being annoyed at being ordered around by Xu Yi, he felt honored instead.


    Moments later, Cass hurried back, "Mr. Xu Yi, it''s team leader Martin."


    "It must be something very important!" Xu Yi instantly understood.


    New York''s top brass paid close attention to his every move; thus, Martin knew about the family banquet. If it hadn''t been something of great importance, the other party definitely wouldn''t have come to disturb him.


    Martin was pacing back and forth in the front yard with an anxious look on his face. As soon as he saw Xu Yi, he hastily spoke up, "Professor Robert is missing!" Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Professor Robert who led the design of the Doomsday Blade?" Xu Yi was slightly taken aback.


    He had been in contact with Robert, who had previously resolved many of his doubts about the Doomsday Blade. Xu''s evaluation of Robert was that he was a genius among geniuses!


    It was no exaggeration to say that Robert was responsible for eighty-percent of the effort in developing the Doomsday Blade.


    Robert''s importance to Boston was unquestionable,


    Even if Boston''s mayor encountered trouble, Martin would wait until the next day to see Xu Yi; but not in Robert''s case¡ªRobert was too important to Boston.


    Without Robert, Boston''s mysticism research would be set back thirty years in an instant.


    Whenever Xu Yi was free, he would call Robert for a detailed discussion. The intention was as clear as daylight to everyone.


    He was looking forward to bringing Robert into his team to assist him in his research.


    "What exactly happened?" Xu Yi pressed on with his inquiry.


    He felt an opportunity was presenting itself!


    Although Robert was a towering man, the tactic of a hero saving the "beauty" worked just as well on men... perhaps even better.


    Does he not understand the weight behind a male revolutionary comrade!


    "After taking over Daniel''s project, Robert began poring over the materials on the Blood of Olivedo. One day, he suddenly announced he would go to Egypt seeking inspiration..."


    Martin started recounting the events as Xu Yi listened quietly.


    Xu Yi was also aware of the affair; after Daniel''s accident, no one else with the capability to take over the Blood of Olivedo project could be found, eventually leaving Robert in charge.


    And the Blood of Olivedo was not Robert''s first additional responsibility¡ª in fact, he was juggling thirteen projects in total.


    The principle was "whether it''s one sheep or a herd, you still have to herd them."


    "A few days ago, the news came back that Professor Robert had found key materials. But just as he was about to return, he suddenly changed his mind, saying he detected a massive soul power and wanted to investigate it,"


    Martin sighed deeply, "To our surprise, this morning we received word from Egypt that Professor Robert has gone missing."


    A colossal fluctuation of soul power? A thought flashed through Xu Yi''s mind, and he instinctively asked, "What was the exact time when the soul fluctuation occurred?"


    Martin frowned and recalled, "It should have been three days ago, around 1:35 am."


    The timing was a perfect match! Xu Yi''s eyes brightened as he remembered when Crow Man shattered the Yata Mirror and the Source of Sin was swept into the turmoil of time and space; it was almost exactly at that time.


    Could that sudden immense fluctuation of soul power be the Source of Sin?


    After all, the timing was too coincidental.


    But it might be just Xu Yi''s wild speculation. Lately, he had been busy with the matters regarding the Sin Remains and the Philosopher''s Stone, nearly becoming obsessed with this area.


    However, it was still worth checking out for himself, and the worst outcome would be a wasted trip.


    "Although a rescue team has been dispatched, we still don''t feel secure, so we would like to ask Mr. Xu Yi if you could bring Professor Robert back,"


    After Martin finished speaking, he added another sentence, raising his voice purposely, "Whatever requests Mr. Xu Yi has, we will do our best to satisfy them."


    Clearly, this brought up the topic of "reward."


    "Let''s talk about that after I bring Robert back!" Xu Yi had no intention of exploiting the situation.


    Having received so many "gifts" from Boston''s higher echelons, he couldn''t refuse to help them in this situation¡ªit would be unjustifiable.


    Moreover, even without a reward, he would go to save Robert.


    How could he stand by and do nothing when a "good brother" was in trouble?


    Of course, if Robert refused to join Xu Yi''s "gang," the situation might be different.


    "I''ll set off as soon as I finish what I''m handling!" Xu Yi looked up at the sky; the sun was gradually sinking, and the glow of the sunset was about to emerge.


    Full of gratitude, Martin left. Before he departed, he suddenly mentioned something.


    "Oh right! Mr. Xu Yi, various countries are now planning the Exorcist Academy, and we might need your help at that time!"


    Exorcist Academy? Xu Yi was slightly startled but didn''t ask any further questions, instead turning back to the backyard.


    The barbecue party in the backyard was in full swing. Xu Yi clapped his hands to draw everyone''s attention.


    "Everyone, come over here!" Xu Yi took out a heavy metal box and placed it on the table.


    Seeing Xu Yi''s serious expression, everyone knew there was an announcement to be made and gathered around.


    "I called you all here today not just because it''s been a while since we last met, but more importantly..." Xu Yi slowly lifted the lid of the box, and a dark golden light spilled out, "to see who is the legendary King Arthur!"


    Inside the box, a metal plate was welded, with seven slots embedded in it, housing the Sin Remains of the Seven Deadly Sins.


    He slit his own palm and dripped his blood onto each of the seven Sin Remains in turn.


    The Sin Remains trembled faintly, reviving from their slumber after absorbing the fresh blood of their host, Xu Yi.


    In the crowd, Cass clenched his fists subconsciously, his palm still tingling up to now.


    Only he knew what those things, resembling pieces of iron, were truly like once awakened: incredibly brutal.


    "Come on! Each of you, try to pull one out!" Xu Yi didn''t beat around the bush and started calling names directly, "Ailent, you first!"


    Ailent came forward. He had temporarily closed New York''s Holy Flame Exorcism Studio and had brought his wife and kids with him, clearly prepared to continue in his role as Xu Yi''s "housekeeper" in Boston.


    Ailent swallowed nervously.


    Who doesn''t have a dream of being an exorcist?


    Unfortunately, his talent was truly lacking, the kind that even Xu Yi found difficult to salvage, so he gradually gave up on the idea.


    But now the opportunity had come. Today, old Ailent wanted everyone to see what "accumulating steadily to strike decisively" meant, what "an old steed in the stable" was like¡ªhe had recently learned quite a bit of Xia Kingdom''s culture.


    "Ah!"


    Ailent retreated with his hand covered, having just gripped the "Lust" Sin Remain, his hand felt as if it had been pricked by needles.


    "Next!" Xu Yi called out, expressionless.


    Among the Sin Remains of the Seven Deadly Sins, the Sin Remain of Lust was the least difficult, with Pride expected to be the most challenging.


    "I''ll do it!" Maria strode forward.


    Xu Yi recognized by merely hearing the sound that it was Ailan controlling the body; after all, he was too familiar with the two of them, often studying their physical makeup as comrades in battle.


    Ailan walked straight to the metal box, reaching for the "Pride" Sin Remain, and Xu Yi silently activated "Pupils of Sin."


    Out of everyone, he had the highest expectations for Maria and Ailan.


    Dual Soul as One, Maria also possessed the rare soul Talent of "Bravery," "Decisiveness," "All-out"¡ªqualities that were vividly demonstrated in Ailan.


    If Maria didn''t possess the "Heart of Gold," then Xu Yi could think of no one else who would.


    Ailan grasped the "Pride" Sin Remain, the most brutal and most powerful among all Sin Remains.


    A "Heart of Gold" flickered in the center of Ailan''s chest, far more radiant than Cass''s.


    All this was within Xu Yi''s expectations, but what came next was critical; it was the level of acceptance from the Sin Remain toward Ailan.


    Ailan''s hand suddenly trembled, and a pained expression appeared on her face, but she didn''t let go, gripping the Pride Sin Remain tightly.


    Ailent''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    If it were just physical pain, perhaps he could have endured it, but that stabbing sensation was upon the soul, absolutely unbearable for a human being.


    Ailan and the "Pride" Sin Remain were locked in a standoff for a full five minutes, Ailan''s face pale without a trace of blood, but she showed no intention of letting go.


    She was an exceedingly proud person; she couldn''t stand being rejected by a piece of "iron."


    Even if it meant dying right there and then, she would not let go. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi sensed Ailan''s thoughts and wanted to speak out to stop her, but just then, the "Pride" Sin Remain suddenly ceased vibrating.


    Ailan was accepted! Xu Yi was overjoyed.


    Relaxed, Ailan showed a faint smile but then collapsed towards the ground the next second, caught by Xu Yi.


    "You did an excellent job; now you can rest assured," Xu Yi soothed Ailan''s furrowed brow.

 Chapter 269 Setting Sail

    "The trial by sword journey" was still ongoing. Fueled by the uplifting start with Ailan, Xu Yi was in high spirits, but his face soon darkened more and more. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."Old man, give it some effort! At least hold on for three seconds!"


    "Carlyle, can you show the same dedication you have when studying Japanese late at night? You''re giving up after just three tries?"


    "Cass, you don''t need to try anymore, you''ve already passed!"


    Xu Yi grew increasingly irritable, his face etched with the phrase "to hate iron for not becoming steel."


    He had crafted the "Alchemical Weapon: Seven Deadly Sins," aiming for it to be a Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic.


    Even if it didn''t reach that level fresh out of its creation, with continuous growth through absorption, it would certainly reach and even surpass that level.


    What chance does an ordinary exorcist have to obtain a Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic?


    Even acquiring the most common Exorcism Holy Relic is a tough call.


    Missing this opportunity, it would probably be very difficult to come by another one.


    And most importantly, the Sin Remains were bound to specific individuals; other than Xu Yi, only they themselves could use them.


    "Next... Anna, why don''t you give it a try?" Xu Yi asked, subconsciously softening his tone.


    Anna instantly became nervous, her palms sweating profusely.


    William stood by her side, his heart hanging in the balance, quietly cheering his sister on.


    He knew his sister had feelings for Xu Yi, even to the point of being lovesick. When Xu Yi called him to Boston, he mustered the courage to pitch the idea, hoping to secure an opportunity for his sister.


    Unexpectedly, Xu Yi agreed promptly and decisively.


    Xu Yi looked at Anna in front of him, feeling somewhat conflicted.


    Ask men what style of girl they like, and some will say cute, others will say mature, and those with more unique tastes might even prefer a tomboyish style.


    But in the end, you''ll find they actually just like anyone who is beautiful.


    Xu Yi did have a bit of a soft spot for Anna, which was why he had agreed to let her come over and give her a chance.


    Of course, the main reason was, her Favorability had reached the rare point of 98, almost catching up to Maria and Lisa''s.


    "Ah, this damn irresistible charm that has nowhere to be released!" Xu Yi sighed inwardly.


    Anna was very eager to pull out the Sin Remains, but reality does not shift with personal will; Anna simply did not possess the Heart of Gold, nor did she have the conditions to make the Sin Remains accept her.


    So, as you would expect, she failed.


    The light faded from Anna''s eyes, and those beautiful eyes lost their usual vivacity.


    "If you''re willing, you can become my secretary and help me manage my daily affairs." At that moment, Xu Yi spoke slowly.


    "Really?" Anna''s head shot up, her eyes instantly brightening.


    "If you''re willing, then sign your name on this." Xu Yi took out a parchment scroll, which was the rarely used "Bond Contract."


    This had been his plan all along. He had only discovered after becoming a titled exorcist that this "position" could be quite troublesome at times.


    Since becoming a titled exorcist, visitors increased by the day, mostly comprising high-level individuals from various major cities and nations, and Xu Yi found it difficult to refuse them.


    It wasn''t because of their special status; in his eyes, the difference between those dignitaries and common folk was¡­ non-existent.


    This was the confidence of someone from "the pinnacle of humanity''s supernaturals."


    Xu Yi had roughly figured out the hierarchy represented by the Entries; "Golden Entries" belonged to the gods'' Domain.


    Although Jason''s combat prowess was somewhat poor, there was no doubt that abilities such as "Undead" and "Infinite Evolution" unequivocally belonged to the powers of a True God.


    As for minor Evil Gods like Ratma, at best they could be considered "False Gods," and the gap between False Gods and True Gods was even greater than the gap between a common person and a False God.


    So the "Pale Gold" rank of the Blood Throne was basically the peak of humanity.


    Yet Xu Yi felt no sense of security. There''s a saying that rings true: the more you know, the more you revere.


    He had just touched the very tip of the iceberg beneath the surface of the sea.


    The reason Xu Yi entertained those dignitaries was straightforward; they came bearing gifts, such as rare meteorites, lost tomes of Mysticism...


    The most absurd part was that they didn''t have any specific requests; they simply wanted to make a good impression on him.


    Who could refuse that? Who wouldn''t be bewildered?


    That''s why he needed a secretary to receive them.


    Lisa and Maria simply had no time for it, and having them deal with such affairs was surely a case of underutilizing their talents.


    Carlyle was very willing to do the job, but as the "Second Ryan," how could Xu Yi allow her to settle for that?


    Although Ailent would have been suitable for the job, he was somehow lacking, after all, a male secretary could never carry the weight of a "confidante."


    Those high-ranking officials might not be able to meet Xu Yi in person, but a little investigation would reveal the relationship between Anna and her.


    Thus, the officials would willingly present their gifts, for who doesn''t understand the power of influence from one''s bedside?


    And Xu Yi could rest easy and focus on building his strength!


    "In the future, I can make Anna my spokesperson to handle affairs with commoners," Xu Yi thought to himself.


    Anna, without a moment''s hesitation, decisively signed her name on the parchment scroll.


    "Cass, would you like to sign a devil''s contract too?" Xu Yi looked towards Cass.


    Cass''s Loyalty Value had unexpectedly reached 91, which Xu Yi had not anticipated.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, I would be most willing to become your demon disciple!" Cass, too, did not hesitate, taking the contract and signing his name immediately.


    Good! This young man has truly paved his way forward!


    Only Lisa and William remained in the group who hadn''t attempted the trial yet.


    Lisa stepped forward and took the Sin Remains of "Sloth," and the "Heart of Gold" appeared on Lisa''s chest, but Xu Yi sighed in disappointment.


    Because the Heart of Gold was simply too dim, like a candle flame that was about to extinguish.


    He had observed that the Heart of Gold was not very rare; among ten thousand people, there would be one who possessed it, which was already a quite significant ratio.


    But most were like Lisa''s¡ªdim Hearts of Gold, with virtually no chance of gaining the recognition of Sin Remains.


    "How is the industrial transfer coming along?" Xu Yi inquired of William, who was by his side.


    Under William''s management, Bastet Pharmaceutical Company was thriving, showing signs of becoming the leader in New York''s pharmaceutical industry.


    Xu Yi''s focus in the future would definitely be in Boston, as it had some of the richest scientific research resources in the world.


    As a loyal follower of Xu Yi, William naturally had to move there too.


    "Nearly half done!" William answered truthfully.


    "Speed it up! You''ll be busy soon," Xu Yi instructed.


    When Xu Yi started his company, it wasn''t just to become a leading industry in the mortal world; he intended to draw upon the trends of the supernatural realm.


    He had a premonition that the resources required to achieve "True God" status would be tremendously immense, and the company would become his tool for harvesting resources.


    Therefore, he had to plan ahead.


    While Xu Yi and William were chatting, Lisa had already finished her "Trial."


    Xu Yi was about to comfort Lisa and tell her not to be discouraged when suddenly, he sharply raised his head, staring at the Sin Remains of "Sloth" in Lisa''s hand.


    Lisa was waving the Sloth Sin Remains, seemingly feeling if it was a good fit.


    She passed the trial just like that? Xu Yi was somewhat astonished.


    Although he was speaking with William, most of his attention was on Lisa. Only in the beginning did she frown slightly when she first grasped the Sloth Sin Remains; then nothing else happened.


    In Lisa''s hands, the Sloth Sin Remains were as docile as a little kitten.


    Surely, this degree of compatibility was too high?


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    Xu Yi quickly understood the reason.


    He initially thought that only Maria had passed the test but was pleasantly surprised that Lisa had as well. Xu Yi was in high spirits, feeling that he could already celebrate with champagne tonight.


    "The last one, it''s your turn, William!" Xu Yi urged.


    William approached the metal box and grasped the "Greed" Sin Remains without any hesitation.


    If one had a high compatibility with certain Sin Remains, they could feel it as soon as they got close, though it could also be a random selection, like Ailent''s.


    The Greed Sin Remains trembled, and a dazzling Heart of Gold appeared. William endured the pain for a moment, and greed settled to calmness.


    William''s Heart of Gold wasn''t as bright as Ailan''s, and his compatibility wasn''t as high as Lisa''s, but it was a perfectly balanced middle value.


    Xu Yi felt that tonight''s celebration wouldn''t be just popping champagne but could escalate to a raucous pool party!


    Having three people pass the test, along with Cass previously, meant that four of the Seven Deadly Sins had confirmed proxy hosts.


    Xu Yi and William signed a Bond Contract, bestowing the Entries "Beastly Body" upon each other.


    This Green Item, borrowed from the Chainsaw Killer Leatherface, had been in Xu Yi''s "pocket" for a long time, with no suitable occasion to give it away¡ªnow was the perfect time for that.


    Xu Yi looked around at everyone, his eyes filled with fervor.


    These people were the crew for his upcoming "voyage." As for whether they could navigate the "Sea of True God," everything remained unknown.

 Chapter 270 Would you say its delicate or not?

    ```Darkness had fallen over the remote suburb as Xu Yi and his father, Xu Changrong, walked one after another.


    "Where exactly is this restaurant you''re talking about?" Xu Changrong was completely baffled at the moment.


    After the barbecue party ended, Xu Yi had suddenly mentioned taking him to see a restaurant, and initially Xu Changrong was very pleased, thinking that his son had really grown up and learned to show filial piety.


    The party had just finished, and they had settled on a restaurant¡ªXu Yi must have prepared it in advance just for his father.


    But the further they walked, the more bewildered he became. What kind of restaurant would be located in such a desolate place?


    "We''re here!" Xu Yi suddenly stopped.


    Xu Changrong''s hand stealthily reached for his waist. Today, he would show Xu Yi what ''father''s authority'' really meant.


    In this place devoid of even a ghost''s shadow, where could a restaurant possibly be coming from?


    Father thought his son was lost, and drew out the Seven Wolves!


    Seeing that Xu Changrong was about to use the "Divine Artifact," Xu Yi quickly snapped his fingers. "The restaurant is here."


    The Eight Monster House slowly emerged from the air, its gigantic tentacles dancing in the sky.


    Xu Changrong stood there gaping at the Eight Monster House, but after a moment, he snapped back to reality. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In recent times, he had encountered no shortage of ghosts and Evil Spirits and was no longer the clueless Chinatown cook he once was.


    "This is the restaurant? What kind of restaurant is built within a ''grave''?"


    Xu Changrong was still frantically upset, having a vague premonition that his retirement dreams might be shattered.


    Xu Yi had always thought the Eight Monster House looked like a fortress, but hearing Xu Changrong calling it a tomb, he had to agree there was a resemblance.


    "Would it look a bit better with a signboard?"


    Xu Yi muttered to himself, then took out the signboard for "Xu''s Family Restaurant" from the Treasure Box and attached it to the Eight Monster House.


    He stepped back to Xu Changrong''s side to gauge the effect, his own cold sweat pouring out instantly while Xu Changrong''s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.


    Unfortunately, the signboard for "Xu''s Family Restaurant" was vertical and, when placed atop the Eight Monster House, it resembled gravestone in front of a tomb.


    "Calm down! Stay calm!" Xu Yi hurried to appease his father, whose "Seven Wolves" was already half-drawn.


    He sighed; it looked like his plan to conserve Divinity was going down the drain.


    He connected with the Ghost Samurai, and inside the Eight Monster House, the Ghost Samurai, holding the Magatama Hammer, channeled Divinity along the chains into the Eight Monster House.


    The Eight Monster House started to transform rapidly, its rocky material turning into wood.


    The essence of the Eight Monster House was "semi-living flesh." Whether rock or wood, it was all just a facade for the flesh underneath, like a Chameleon.


    Moments later, a luxurious, traditional Chinese restaurant appeared before them, its wooden structure painted a bright red, full of ancient charm and adorned with dragons and phoenixes.


    Xu Changrong swallowed covertly.


    Although this restaurant wasn''t exactly conventional, which Chinese chef wouldn''t reject such an antique restaurant? Who didn''t harbor the dream of being a royal chef?


    "Didn''t we agree there would be someone to accompany me?" Xu Changrong started to nitpick.


    "Follow me!" Xu Yi led the way into the Eight Monster House.


    Xu Changrong trailed behind, looking around in amazement. The restaurant wasn''t just for show; the interior was equally luxurious.


    Xu Yi, however, was full of heartache. Does it look nice? This all came at the expense of Divinity.


    Although the Eight Monster House could freely change its appearance and interior design, it all required Divinity, and he was in short supply. It was painful to waste it on something like this.


    But if he didn''t make the Eight Monster House right, his father''s passive resistance would be a problem later on.


    "Dad, come see the employees I''ve prepared for you!" Xu Yi beckoned as two employees walked over with grace.


    "Have you forgotten the requirements I told you?" Xu Changrong was dumbfounded as he looked at the two approaching individuals.


    "No, I haven''t forgotten! It''s a female, and she needs to be delicate-looking!" Xu Yi nodded earnestly. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Is this the kind of delicate you meant?" Xu Changrong felt he was on the brink of collapse.


    "You just say whether it''s a female and if she''s delicate or not, right?" Xu Yi decided to throw in the towel.


    Xu Changrong''s mouth twitched uncontrollably; he found himself unable to refute.


    Standing before him were two women, one large and one small; the larger was about sixteen or seventeen, while the smaller was just seven or eight, and a ghost at that.


    Delicate! They were just too damn delicate!


    "Let me introduce you," Xu Yi said, pointing at Harada Mieko. "This is Harada Mieko, who will be responsible for future procurement and related tasks."


    ```


    Harada Mieko bowed deeply to Xu Changrong, who quickly returned the gesture.


    "This is little Alice, she can be responsible for the reception work in the shop!" Xu Yi said, pointing to another person.


    Little Alice was the girl who had died at the hands of the Evil God Max. As a devout follower of the Ghost Samurai, her remaining soul had clung to the Samurai Armor.


    It was not until recently that her soul was revived by Xu Yi using the Power of Faith.


    Little Alice walked with a bounce in her step; she had been lame in one leg before, but now that she had become a spirit, she could finally walk normally, even jumping three feet high.


    So she was in high spirits and did not feel sad about becoming a ghost; instead, she found it fun.


    "Hello, uncle!" Little Alice greeted politely.


    Xu Changrong quickly smiled and nodded. He had always been a soft touch with "little radishes" like her.


    The first time Lisa snuck into his kitchen, he gave her the freshly cooked chicken wings, and the regulars grumbled about it for a long time afterward.


    "You guys go ahead and have fun!" Xu Yi watched Harada Mieko and little Alice leave, his expression suddenly becoming serious.


    He looked at Xu Changrong, "Dad, I have a favor to ask of you!"


    "What is it?" Xu Changrong slouched on the lobby sofa with a resigned expression.


    Xu Yi had brought him here, and he had already guessed what it was about.


    "Dad, I need your help to find the Source of Sin." Xu Yi took out a "seven-bead bracelet" he had prepared earlier.


    The small beads on the bracelet were actually the Sin Remains of the Seven Deadly Sins, and he had expended a great deal of effort to separate even that tiny amount from the Sin Remains.


    That was because he was the master of the Sin Remains; otherwise, it would have been impossible.


    Xu Changrong didn''t say much. He took the bracelet and listened quietly as Xu Yi explained how to use the chains.


    "Besides the Source of Sin, I also need you to find Divine Remains!" Xu Yi said in a deep voice.


    He was looking for Divine Remains, of course, to forge the "Alchemical Weapon: Seven Deadly Sins."


    "With Sin Remains as the raw material" and "aiming for Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relics," just hearing these two requirements was enough to understand how difficult the weapon''s forging would be¡ªit was basically "Abyss plus level."


    The forging skills could be obtained through "Ando''s forging art."


    But the skills were the easiest part of forging; the "materials," "flame," and "Array transfer" were the real challenges.


    The main material was, of course, the Sin Remains, and for the auxiliary materials, Xu Yi planned to go big and use entirely Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relics!


    You have to know that you only get one chance to cast, and once the Sin Remains have merged with other materials, they are hard to separate again, so it has to be done right in one go.


    If you''re going to use it, use the best!


    If Xu Yi shared this idea with anyone else, they would surely think he had gone mad.


    Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relics were incredibly precious! And Xu Yi actually wanted to melt them and then reforge weapons?


    Actually, Xu Yi did not have this idea to begin with; he just wanted to use some precious auxiliary materials to forge, but after he automatically obtained the Yasakani no Magatama, the thought silently crept into his mind.


    The moment he seized the Yata Mirror and the Sword of Gathering Clouds, there you go, if he did not use Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relics as the auxiliary materials, even if the forging were completed, he would probably wake up from a nightmare in the middle of the night, full of regret.


    Isn''t that just torturing someone with OCD?


    "Array transfer" was the biggest challenge when choosing Divine Artifacts as auxiliary materials; the only solution Xu Yi could think of was to delve into the Study of Magic Arrays and then figure out a way from there.


    "Flame" was a crucial part of forging. If the flame wasn''t hot enough to melt the Sin Remains, forging weapons would be out of the question.


    But fortunately, the Ghost Samurai''s "Melting Flame" could barely melt the Sin Remains. It just needed more time, which was really a test of "Divinity."


    The "Melting Flame" was essentially a concentration of the power of the Ghost Samurai and Bastet.


    The Divinity of the Bone of Nightmares, the transcendence of flesh from the bone, the Demon-Suppressing Flame of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, and the Red Lotus Flame of the demon blade.


    Then through the Mud God Stele as a medium, all the powers were consolidated.


    Only such an outrageous combination of powers could melt the Sin Remains.


    Everything else was manageable since they were renewable resources, but "Divinity," that was tricky because once used, it was gone.


    With the current Divinity under the Ghost Samurai''s control, he could at most forge two Alchemical Weapons, definitely not seven.


    Thus, finding Divine Remains had become a priority.


    "Divine Remains? What is that, and can I really find it with my powers?" Xu Changrong was a bit doubtful of himself.


    Just from the name, you knew Divine Remains wouldn''t be simple; he was barely managing against some Evil Spirits, was he qualified to be involved in such a matter?


    "Come with me!" Of course, Xu Yi had considered this problem, and he gestured for Xu Changrong to follow.

 Chapter 271 The Sun Golden Scripture and The Undead Black Scripture

    Xu Yi led Xu Changrong to the "Skylight," a deep ancient well leading to an unknown place.The land of the Skylight was the core of Eight Monster House, and it was the only area that could not be altered by Divinity.


    The Ghost Samurai stood quietly beside the ancient well. Though still, Xu Changrong could still feel its awe-inspiring authority.


    "This is the Ghost Samurai. Its power is almost equal to mine, but still falls a little short!" Xu Yi explained softly.


    Xu Changrong was even more astonished. Although he didn''t know how strong his son was, he could guess from bits and pieces he picked up from those around him.


    The armor before him was on the same level as an exorcist?!


    What Xu Yi said next made his eyes widen, "In the future, you will control the Ghost Samurai."


    That''s right, Xu Yi planned to grant Xu Changrong "permanent access" to the Ghost Samurai.


    He couldn''t do it before, but now, with the Body of a Demigod and combined with the Power of Faith, he could open the channel of intention between Xu Changrong and the Ghost Samurai.


    This was a decision he made after careful consideration.


    He had already surpassed the power of the Ghost Samurai and no longer needed its protection. But it would be a waste to let such a powerful force languish in storage.


    So who would control the Ghost Samurai?


    Of course, it couldn''t be Harada Mieko. Although she had controlled the Ghost Samurai once and made a stunning impression, this wasn''t reason enough for Xu Yi to let her take charge.


    Such immense power had to be placed in the hands of someone absolutely trustworthy.


    He had only three options in mind: "Lisa," "Maria," and "Dad Xu Changrong."


    That''s right, just three. Even Carlyle wasn''t among them. It wasn''t that he didn''t trust Carlyle; it''s just that her mindset was too defeatist.


    Even now, Carlyle still considered herself "a female college student dreaming of becoming a ballet dancer," completely unaware that she had become the second Ryan, king of werewolves and vampires!


    Those werewolves and vampires afflicted by the wasting disease sought out Carlyle. After she helped them get rid of the disease, they looked up to her as their leader.


    But Carlyle wasn''t conscious of this at all, thinking she was just casually lending a hand, just as her aunt would help neighbors buy some bread.


    "I hope Ailan can change Carlyle''s attitude a bit!" Xu Yi sighed.


    He was troubled by Carlyle''s indifferent attitude, so ignoring her pitiful look, he let Ailan take her to undergo trials.


    The emphasis was that it takes a "villain" to train a "villain"!


    Even now, he could still remember Carlyle''s dumbstruck expression as if she had been hit by a bolt from the blue.


    Xu Yi hardly thought about it and chose his dad, Xu Changrong, for a simple reason: he was the most suitable.


    Having Xu Changrong control the Ghost Samurai would be like acquiring a top-of-the-line vehicle from Eight Monster House, with which he could wander anywhere at will.


    The Ghost Samurai would hunt down Evil Spirits and other Dark Creatures for him, allowing him to utilize his dark culinary arts to cook "delicious" dark cuisine and thereby enhance his own strength.


    It was evident that Xu Changrong didn''t have an aversion to dark cuisine; otherwise, he wouldn''t be emanating such a ghostly aura.


    "Can I really do it?" Xu Changrong began his usual self-doubt.


    Usually fathers buy their sons luxury cars and houses, and hire professional bodyguards. But in the Xu family, why had everything turned upside down?


    "We of the Xu family cannot say we can''t do it!" Xu Yi stated categorically.


    Xu Changrong looked speechless, as these were the words he used to admonish Xu Yi as a child.


    "In a moment, I will open access to the Ghost Samurai for you," Xu Yi casually pulled out a small notebook and passed it over. "This is the manual. Dad, familiarize yourself with it when you have time!"


    Xu Changrong had no choice but to take it.


    Just then, the Annabelle doll on Xu Yi''s waist began to vibrate.


    "I almost forgot!" Xu Yi slapped his forehead and took out a small vine ball from the space and threw it towards the ancient well.


    The little vine ball began to expand and, in just a moment, returned to its original form. It was the Cat Spirit Holy Tree that had been in the toy space.


    The roots of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree clung to the walls of the ancient well, extending downward, and the Leafs of Redemption and Sleeping Flowers began to unfold.


    The ancient well was discovered by Ando unintentionally, and since the well water contained some unknown power, Ando decided to build the forge chamber around it.


    After the forge room was contaminated by the flesh and blood of Yamata no Orochi, the ancient well also underwent a change. Its other functions were still unclear, but at the very least, it was beneficial to the Cat Spirit Holy Tree.


    "Let me introduce another friend to you, Bastet."


    Xu Yi released Bastet the Cat Spirit from the Treasure Box space. As soon as Bastet emerged, it darted outside, looking very much like a wild horse off its reins. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t leave this room," Xu Yi cautioned, and then took the opportunity to release all the cat souls, instantly livening up the quiet Xu''s family restaurant.


    Bastet the Cat Spirit was almost driven mad in the toy space, so Xu Yi, fearing it would develop ''Yu Yu Syndrome,'' decided to change its living environment.


    Xu Yi clapped his hands with a sense of satisfaction welling up inside him.


    In Xu Yi''s eyes, Xu''s family restaurant was perfect: the strong Ghost Samurai that safeguarded it, the versatile Cat Spirit Bastet, the capable Harada Mieko, and the obedient and adorable little Alice!


    Through Xu Changrong''s eyes, Xu''s family restaurant was hopeless: an immobile suit of Armor, a big Cat Spirit that was hard to control, a Japanese Shrine Maiden with whom he couldn''t communicate, and child labor that even a heartless boss would disdain!


    After taking care of everything, Xu Yi left the family restaurant, walking alone through the desolate wilderness as he needed to catch a plane to Egypt.


    ...


    Egypt, Library of Alexandria.


    Xu Yi sat at a desk, leafing through the documents left by Robert, his gaze finally settling on an "Ancient Page" with a grave expression.


    He had barely arrived at the Egyptian airport when a car was already there to take him to the library.


    The original Library of Alexandria had long since vanished into the dust of history; this new library was jointly funded by the church and Boston, storing books on Mysticism.


    The people in charge of transport even asked Xu Yi if he wanted to go to the hotel first.


    Although they were anxious, they knew they couldn''t rush, and couldn''t afford to slight Xu Yi just because they wanted to find Robert back.


    But when Xu Yi heard of the Library of Alexandria, he made an immediate decision. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    What kind of damned hotel? He was the man who intended to live in the library!


    The reason they needed to go to the Library of Alexandria was that Robert had been working there before his disappearance, and maybe some clues were left behind.


    Being new to the place, Xu Yi didn''t feel right directly copying the Mysticism materials there, even though no one dared to stop him, but he still planned to investigate Robert''s case first.


    "Boston''s security team assigned to Robert is just too garbage! They don''t even know where he disappeared," Xu Yi mumbled to himself as he translated the "Ancient Page."


    If the security team knew Xu Yi''s opinion, they would undoubtedly feel wronged.


    One late night, Robert suddenly announced that he needed to leave urgently.


    The security team didn''t pay much attention; having worked with him for so long, they were well acquainted with the ''peculiarities'' of the genius scientist and knew they couldn''t stop him, so they could only arrange for someone to follow and protect him.


    Robert went to the desert, and at first, everything seemed normal, but when the team reached a certain area, a sandstorm began to blow mysteriously.


    The scale of the sandstorm was terrifying; it lasted the whole night before it subsided.


    Then, Robert went missing, along with the entire security team, without a trace, and the Magic Artifact on him for tracking also failed.


    The "Ancient Page" contained Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, which Robert had been trying to translate before he disappeared.


    Actually, translating this was not Xu Yi''s job; Boston had hired several experts in this field, but after seeing the hieroglyphics on the Ancient Page, something clicked in Xu Yi''s mind.


    This sister... cough, I seem to have seen these hieroglyphics somewhere before!


    He searched through the Palace of Memory and was surprised to find that they indeed existed, within the materials of the Finns.


    Comparing it to the Ancient Tome, Xu Yi searched word by word and finally translated a few terms.


    "Something about a sun scripture, something about a black scripture..." Xu Yi muttered to himself, then suddenly, he was struck by a realization, his eyes widening in shock.


    Sun Golden Scripture! Undead Black Gold Scripture!


    The legendary books that are the origin of magical arrays!

 Chapter 272 Sandstorm and the Extra Sun

    Xu Yi was afraid that he''d encounter issues like "Master Kang" and "Handsome Kang," or "Six Walnuts" and "Six Nuclear Bombs," so he didn''t rush to conclusions and translated it word by word.There was no mistake, it indeed was the "Sun Golden Scripture" and the "Undead Black Scripture."


    Even though the concept of counterfeit products did not exist during that era, these two books were too important; they were the origin texts of magic arrays.


    Generally speaking, most knowledge-based matters don''t follow the theory that "the older, the better" because knowledge evolves daily and monthly as long as someone studies it, gradually reaching higher levels. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unless there was a disruption in the continuity of this knowledge, like what happened with "alchemy" and the "study of magic arrays."


    The discontinuity in alchemy was due to the mysterious destruction of the "Eye of Truth."


    As for the study of magic arrays, it was due to the loss of the Sun Golden Scripture and the Undead Black Scripture, as well as the downfall of ancient Egypt.


    Xu Yi inexplicably thought of the Crow Man from the Ring of Destruction.


    That level of alchemical machinery, if placed in the modern alchemy circles, would be like comparing a smartphone to a rifle and an alien laser gun.


    "Could the Ring of Destruction have grasped ancient alchemy?" Xu Yi couldn''t help but speculate.


    The study of magic arrays, its origin was ancient Egypt; originally, it wasn''t called by this name but was referred to as Inam, meaning "power stolen from the Gods."


    The most classical example is the "Spear of Longinus," which was initially just a common spear in the hands of the Centurion Longinus. But after piercing Jesus and being stained with Jesus'' blood, it became a mythic holy artifact.


    The reason why the spear could ascend to heaven in one step was because of Jesus'' divine blood, which bestowed upon it a "Sacred Array."


    In fact, all mythic level holy artifacts possess Sacred Arrays.


    Sacred Arrays originate from the Gods and are a power exclusive to them; the first pioneers who studied this area were the ancient Egyptian priests.


    They found that certain objects that were stained with the flesh and blood or the remains of true gods developed peculiar patterns.


    The priests copied these patterns, and those were the earliest embryonic forms of magic arrays.


    By chance, the priests discovered that drawing these patterns with certain specific materials could produce magical abilities, and from there, research into magic arrays became unstoppable.


    "Could the difference between true gods and mortals be because their bodies contain Sacred Arrays?"


    Xu Yi suddenly thought of a question. Although his current body was powerful, it definitely couldn''t reach such a degree.


    There was a period in ancient Egypt that was extremely prosperous; it was during that time that countless talented individuals devoted themselves to the research of magic arrays, and a plethora of results emerged.


    The pharaoh of the dynasty commanded people to synthesize the essence of these magic arrays, and finally, they compiled two remarkable books, the Sun Golden Scripture and the Undead Black Scripture.


    After the disappearance of the two remarkable books, the dynasty of ancient Egypt quickly declined. A large number of priests died, leading to the disappearance of the study of magic arrays for a while, until it somewhat recovered now.


    It''s not that no one tried to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors to compile the Sun Golden Scripture and the Undead Black Scripture anew, but they soon found out that they were like a blind monk chasing alchemy¡ªit was a pipe dream!


    In the era of ancient Egypt, true gods definitely existed, and each one was a warmonger, similar to turf warriors, engaging in grand battles every few days, with the occasional true god falling.


    In such cases, wouldn''t there be an abundance of divine remains and the flesh and blood of true gods?


    But after the "Twilight of the Gods," the true gods vanished without trace. Without research materials, what could be studied?


    "Talk about a blessing in disguise!"


    Xu Yi''s interest in these two scriptures had already surpassed saving Robert. If Robert knew this, he''d probably cry himself to faint in the restroom.


    Merging Sin Remains with a mythic holy artifact is not about throwing both into a furnace, carelessly burning them together to make a messy stew.


    To retain the properties of a holy artifact, he must first transfer the "Sacred Array" on it and then imprint it onto the new alchemical weapon.


    This involves research into magic arrays.


    How to transfer if one is not familiar?


    Xu Yi studied the ancient page back and forth but didn''t glean any valuable information; as for clues regarding Robert''s disappearance, there was not even a smidgen.


    He stood up, scanned around, ignoring the flock of "famous detectives" immersed in searching for clues.


    These well-known experts on ancient Egypt were getting on in years and were exceptionally brilliant; the condition of their hair was rather pitiable.


    Xu Yi subconsciously touched his own hair and sighed with relief.


    If he could pull out a few hairs from his balding head, that feeling of shock would be a hundred times more intense than waking up in the middle of the night to see Kayako suddenly appearing at his bedside.


    Xu Yi started to "scan" through the books, scanning tirelessly.


    The members of the rescue team glanced at Xu Yi and then paid him no further attention, as they didn''t really expect him to find any clues. They saw Xu Yi as a "high-powered deterrent."


    After finding Robert, they would be able to get him out of danger immediately.


    "So he''s just killing time!"


    Seeing Xu Yi flip through one book after another only reassured them further.


    No one was allowed to take materials out of this library.


    Before anyone realized it, three days had passed. The rescue team members were growing increasingly anxious and the atmosphere in the library was becoming more oppressive.


    Yet Xu Yi carried on as if nothing was wrong, doing whatever he needed to do.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t care about Robert''s situation, it was just that panicking wouldn''t help¡ªhe wasn''t good at finding missing people.


    In the span of these three days, he scanned all the books in the Library of Alexandria into his Palace of Memory, staying up two nights in the library to do so.


    Many of the mysticism books here were about magic arrays.


    Xu Yi wasn''t surprised; after all, the library was located in Egypt, the origin of magic arrays.


    Over these days, the "Bald Detective Group" had also changed their research focus to a "Treasure Map."


    They believed Robert''s disappearance must be related to the treasure map.


    To Xu Yi, what they called a treasure map looked more like ghostly talismans¡ªfull of messy lines and incomprehensible symbols.


    Just then, hasty footsteps sounded, causing everyone to look up. This was a library, where everyone was deep in research, and the sudden noise was irritating.


    The library door was flung open violently, and a member of the rescue team came in, gasping slightly, "The... the sandstorm has appeared again!"


    Everyone immediately stood up, and Xu Yi''s attention was caught as well.


    The sandstorm mentioned by the member was, of course, the one that had led to Robert''s disappearance.


    Over the past few days, they had proposed many theories, one of which was that the appearance of the sandstorm might have opened a breach to a Different Space, into which Robert and others had been sucked in, thus their complete disappearance.


    "There''s also the sun, a golden sun has appeared in the sandstorm," the person continued.


    Everyone frowned, wondering if the person was drunk and spouting nonsense. How could an extra sun appear in a sandstorm?


    Xu Yi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly his eyes widened.


    It couldn''t be the real sun¡ªthere was one possibility that could explain such a phenomenon.


    The Sun Golden Scripture must have been activated!


    Similar instances were described in related texts.


    The members of the rescue team quickly discussed the situation and decided to take action.


    They entered the sandstorm, reasoning that even if it was just a chance, it was better than sitting in the library, waiting for death.


    This wasn''t just a figure of speech; if they kept sitting around, Robert was doomed eventually.


    The convoy was quickly assembled, and after discussion, they decided to break the library''s rules and take all the materials they had studied over the past few days with them.


    The materials were placed in a safe, and naturally, for safety reasons, they were entrusted to Xu Yi.


    The convoy raced down the road, and from a distance, Xu Yi could already see the sandstorm. The rescue team members hadn''t exaggerated, the sandstorm was obscuring the sky, looking apocalyptic.


    In the center of the sandstorm, one could see a golden sun. Xu Yi sensed an unusual aura from it.


    He became more convinced that it was a fluctuation caused by the Sun Golden Scripture.


    The sun disappeared quickly, but the sandstorm continued. The driver pressed the gas pedal to the floor in silence. Although the last sandstorm had lasted all night, they couldn''t afford to gamble and had to hurry.

 Chapter 273 Youve Found a Way to Seek Death

    The convoy sped along, arriving at the edge of the sandstorm when Xu Yi suddenly shouted, "Be careful!"But it was too late, the off-road vehicle shook violently as something exploded beneath it.


    The explosion wasn''t fatal, simply flipping the off-road vehicle onto the ground, but a special fluctuation followed immediately after, buzzing in Xu Yi''s ears, causing a momentary daze before he returned to normal.


    Xu Yi was somewhat surprised; with his current elite body condition, he shouldn''t be affected this way even if he were in the center of an explosion.


    "An alchemy bomb?!" A term flashed through his mind.


    This reaction, this effect, it was the only thing he could think of.


    Could it be that the Ring of Destruction was trying to ambush him?


    He wasn''t wrong to think so; alchemy bombs were a type of alchemy product that had long been lost to history.


    In his memory, only the Ring of Destruction possessed the ability to create such lost alchemy products.


    Xu Yi''s muscles tensed, ready to activate "Blood as Sacred" at any moment.


    He knew if this was an assault by the Ring of Destruction, a flood of relentless attacks would certainly follow.


    What a pity for the rescue team members, the driver passed out over the steering wheel, the fluctuation from the alchemy bomb was soul-targeting, hardly something one could guard against.


    "They''ve all fainted, hurry up! Once we find the Guiding Holy Map, we''ll leave immediately!" came a hoarse male voice suddenly.


    The Guiding Holy Map? Xu Yi was momentarily taken aback.


    While he was stunned, someone pulled open the car door.


    Xu Yi instinctively clenched his fist; the power gathered in this fist was enough to shatter a small mountain, but he suddenly stopped, his facial expression a bit blank.


    "Mo Yi! There''s someone still awake here!" a large, fat man pointed at Xu Yi and exclaimed.


    "Idiot, didn''t I tell you before? Don''t use real names, use code names!" came a raspy female voice.


    "Oh, oh! Scorpion, there''s someone still awake here, could it be there''s something wrong with your alchemy bomb?" The fat man''s forte was obedience.


    "You''ve already said it, what''s the use of switching back now!"


    One didn''t need to see her face to know the woman speaker was likely wearing an expression of helplessness.


    Mo Yi peeked into the car, looking at the alert Xu Yi and muttered to himself, "It shouldn''t be! Could it be that the old cripple fooled me, selling me inferior quality materials?"


    "Eight out of ten times, that''s the case! Just one look at that old cripple and you can tell he''s no good, his eyes always sticking to you, lecherous and with a sleazy face," the fat man cursed angrily.


    The two of them began chatting as if nobody else was around.


    Xu Yi felt like he was Ye Gucheng facing Ximen Chuixue at the pinnacle of the Forbidden City, with Ye Gucheng preparing to unleash his secret technique ''Heavenly Flight'', only to surprisingly find a naive rookie who had just entered the martial world on the rooftop.


    It wasn''t the Ring of Destruction but two clumsy thieves, no, three to be precise.


    Another man with a scarred face was rummaging through things in the vehicle behind, and though he wore a mask, the huge scar that spread to his forehead was far too conspicuous.


    "Look, there''s a safe here!" the fat man pointed at the metal box at Xu Yi''s feet and shouted.


    "Kid, if you''re smart, open the box quickly, otherwise I can''t guarantee that your head won''t gain an extra hole!"


    Scarface, upon hearing the noise, came over, holding a gun aimed at Xu Yi''s head, a flash of bloodlust appearing in his eyes.


    A tough character? Xu Yi understood instantly.


    The first two were merely bumbling thieves, but the man before him was definitely a ruthless thug. Xu Yi had encountered many sadistic killers before, and he was not mistaken in his feeling.


    The man was also an exorcist, with at least the strength of someone in the elite ranks.


    But for Xu Yi, this man was just a slightly stronger ant; he''d already sentenced him to death.


    Most annoying when someone points a gun at me?jpg!


    "Don''t you recognize me?" Xu Yi, however, didn''t immediately make a move.


    The Guiding Holy Map mentioned by these people oddly reminded him of the "Ghostly Talisman."


    A group of Egyptologists couldn''t decipher the Ghostly Talisman, but he''d gleaned its name from the mouths of a trio of crooks; this gave him a new idea.


    "Who are you? Why should we know you?" The fat man looked down at Xu Yi disdainfully, feeling that he was truly stupid for not understanding the situation even now.


    Even if you''re the son of an Arab billionaire, should their hearts harden and the trigger be pulled, it wouldn''t stop them from dying on the spot.


    Xu Yi''s ability to disguise his ''Body of Demigod'' was too strong, and these people could not spot any flaws.


    The chubby man thought the pretty boy in front of him would yell and scream and then say something like "My dad is so-and-so," but instead, he patted his chest, heaved a sigh of relief, and said, "That''s good, that''s good!"


    It seemed that even "Xu Yi, the titled exorcist," wasn''t familiar to every exorcist, especially in a place as far from America as Egypt.


    Xu Yi''s action confused the chubby man; he wondered if the person in front of him was a fugitive.


    "Open the box! Right now!"


    A flicker of murderous intent flashed through Scarface''s eyes. He didn''t want any fuss and moved the pistol closer by two inches, pressing it against Xu Yi''s forehead.


    The Vanno bomb, because of its inferior-quality materials, had a poor effect that could only knock someone out for two minutes at most, and time was almost up.


    You''ve chosen a path to death!


    Xu Yi glanced at Scarface but chose to open the metal box, wanting to verify if these people truly knew what the "Ghostly Talisman" was.


    As soon as the box was opened, Mo Yi searched inside it, and upon discovering the Ghostly Talisman, his eyes lit up, and then he nodded at Scarface.


    The trio of robbers was happy, and so was Xu Yi; he had finally found someone who knew the goods!


    "This guy knows Sister Mo Yi''s name, what do we do?" the chubby man suddenly asked.


    "Kill him!" Scarface didn''t utter a word before he thought about pulling the trigger.


    But Mo Yi pushed Scarface''s hand away, "Forget it, don''t complicate things. Let''s get out of here! It''s not like I''m the only one with this name." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Scarface put away the gun; if the person concerned had no objections, he certainly wouldn''t insist on making trouble.


    "We''re going to..." Scarface was half-way through his sentence when he suddenly turned pale and aimed his gun all around.


    The rescue team was already regaining consciousness. They were all one in a million elites. If it wasn''t for the unexpectedly effective ancient alchemy bomb, they would never have been in such a dire situation.


    "No one moves, or I''ll kill him!"


    Scarface suddenly had a flash of inspiration, aimed the gun at Xu Yi, and took him as a hostage.


    The rescue team looked at Scarface as if he were a fool.


    Of all the people to take as a hostage, it had to be Mr. Xu Yi. They feared Xu Yi could kill the three stupid thieves just by lifting a finger.


    Don''t they see they haven''t even opened their holster? Such is their absolute trust in Mr. Xu Yi!


    But soon their eyes went wide.


    Xu Yi shakily got out of the car and even raised his hands, "Yes! You mustn''t shoot, I don''t want to die!"


    What acting worthy of an Oscar winner! Mr. Xu Yi, if you go to Hollywood and don''t win an Oscar, then all the judges of that year should be executed!


    Xu Yi winked at the rescue team captain behind the robbers'' backs.


    Although the captain didn''t know what Xu Yi was planning, he understood the signal and cooperated in acting out a "cop-and-robber hostage drama," ultimately watching as the three robbers took Xu Yi away into the swirling sandstorm.


    As the sandstorm hit them, Scarface pulled out a magic artifact that emitted light to repel the sandstorm and protect the four of them.


    "What shall we do with this guy?" the chubby man asked, pointing at Xu Yi.


    "Take him with us for now!" Scarface wasn''t feeling charitable; he was afraid the others would catch up, and then they could use Xu Yi as a hostage.


    Xu Yi was very cooperative, even excessively so, voluntarily putting on the Self-Destructing Collar.


    While the two men watched over Xu Yi, Mo Yi frowned at the Ghostly Talisman, muttering to himself, which made Xu Yi even more certain that the other party definitely knew what it was.


    The quartet trudged through the sandstorm, occasionally stopping to allow Mo Yi to decipher the Guiding Holy Map.


    They arrived at the center of the sandstorm, where sands howled around them like wild beasts.


    "Stay close to me! Don''t lose track of me!"


    Mo Yi dropped this line and moved ahead through the sandstorm on a strange trajectory.


    After an indeterminate length of time, the view suddenly opened up, the sandstorm disappeared, and everyone stared dumbfounded at the huge object in front of them.


    It was a massive pyramid, so large that its end was not visible at a single glance.


    What was most eerie was that the pyramid was inverted, its tip buried into the ground, with its base pointed skyward.


    "Indeed, professional tasks require professionals!"


    Xu Yi''s eyes sparkled at that moment; he sensed an unusual presence lingering in the air, coming from that golden sun.

 Chapter 274 Sun Golden Scripture Obtained

    ```Xu Yi gazed at the inverted pyramid before him, but his peripheral vision was on Mo Yi, his curiosity piqued about this woman''s identity.


    The ability to create the lost alchemy bombs, as well as decipher the so-called Guiding Holy Map, surely meant that her identity was far from ordinary.


    However, it was thanks to her that he had successfully entered this place¡ªsuch a grand and eerie inverted pyramid would have caused a sensation had it appeared in the real world.


    This place was clearly a Different Space.


    Normally speaking, entering a pyramid would be rather troublesome.


    As the tomb of pharaohs, pyramids would be completely sealed with giant stones from the day they were built, but now they didn''t have to worry about that problem.


    For some reason, the pyramid before them had collapsed, creating a large hole.


    Xu Yi''s expression darkened as he saw clothes scattered around the hole, which belonged to the uniform of Robert''s security team.


    Within the garments, only decayed skeletons remained¡ªtheir flesh had been gnawed away by something.


    It was clear that Robert and his group had been here.


    Xu Yi scanned the area and did not find Robert''s "woolen coat." He breathed a sigh of relief, perhaps Robert was still alive.


    "Go in!" Scarface ordered Xu Yi with his handgun.


    Being here meant not having to worry about pursuers, but the pyramid was full of traps, which Xu Yi could use to "clear mines," putting him to good use.


    Xu Yi wasn''t in a rush to deal with the three stooges¡ªthey were quite useful, especially Mo Yi.


    "As tools, of course they should give off all their light and heat!"


    Scarface definitely couldn''t imagine that Xu Yi was thinking the same thing as him at the moment.


    "What did you guys come here for?" Xu Yi asked, attempting to probe them.


    "Shut up! Open your mouth again, and I''ll blow your head off with one shot!" Scarface warned.


    Xu Yi gave him a cold look but decided to let him continue his antics a bit longer.


    Scarface suddenly shivered. He hadn''t seen Xu Yi''s gaze and assumed the temperature inside the pyramid had dropped.


    The deeper they went into the pyramid, the darker it got. Mo Yi switched on her flashlight, and a bright beam swept across, revealing a flash of gold.


    Mo Yi paused, then shifted the flashlight back, fixing the beam on the flash of gold as her pupils involuntarily dilated.


    Xu Yi''s pupils also dilated. In a corner of the Underground Palace, there lurked a half-human-height Golden Scorpion, its golden color too conspicuous to hide.


    The Golden Scorpion emitted a thick, cold aura, clearly one of the Dark Creatures. With Xu Yi''s current strength, it was remarkable for him to encounter a Dark Creature so out of the blue.


    What surprised him was not just the creature itself but the book embedded in the Golden Scorpion''s back.


    The book cover was gold, very thick, as if made of pure gold. In its center, a golden sun was engraved, surrounded by densely packed mystical symbols.


    There was no mistaking it¡ªthat unique aura was impossible to fake.


    "Sun Golden Scripture!" Scarface suddenly roared, unable to contain the greed in his heart, and lunged towards the Golden Scorpion.


    The Golden Scorpion seemed startled and scurried into a side tunnel, fleeing into the depths.


    Almost simultaneously, all four of them chased after the Golden Scorpion.


    The paths inside the tunnel were intricate and complicated, and Xu Yi quickly lost the three bandits. Scarface paid no mind to Xu Yi; his eyes were only on the Golden Scorpion.


    Mo Yi frowned and glanced back at Xu Yi''s figure. If he wanted to escape, there was no need to follow them into the tunnel.


    Was he afraid that the Self-Destruct Collar on his neck would explode? That was the only explanation she could come up with.


    Xu Yi intended to separate from the trio because he planned to take a shortcut¡ªthe shortest distance between two points is a straight line.


    The solid stone layers could stop ordinary people, but not him¡ªhis body itself was a powerful Stone Crushing Device.


    Using his Spirit Communication Ability, he locked onto the Golden Scorpion''s location and forcefully made a shortcut, intercepting the creature en route.


    The Golden Scorpion was shocked by Xu Yi''s sudden appearance, instinctively swinging its tail to stab at him. Xu Yi did not dodge but reached for the Sun Golden Scripture on the scorpion''s back.


    Just as his hand was about to grasp the Sun Golden Scripture, the ground suddenly collapsed, and both the man and the creature tumbled downwards among the falling debris.


    When Scarface arrived, he caught only a glimpse of a golden streak inside the hole. He hesitated for two seconds, then also leaped down.


    ```


    The wind howled past his ears, and Scarface crashed heavily to the ground. Luckily, the entrance wasn''t too high off the ground, and his body was strong enough to withstand the fall, only sustaining some superficial injuries.


    The sound of heavy objects hitting the floor followed one after another, with Mo Yi and the fatty joining in afterward.


    Scarface heard noises coming from ahead but paid no attention to the other two as he chased after the sounds. He suddenly stopped, his eyes full of irrepressible eagerness.


    Golden Scorpion limbs were scattered all around, and thick, dark green blood was splattered. Xu Yi stood beside the corpse of the Golden Scorpion, holding a Golden Book in his hands.


    The Sun Golden Scripture!


    "Hand over what you have in your hands!" Scarface bellowed.


    At that moment, his eyes could only see the Sun Golden Scripture, completely entranced, neglecting some crucial details.


    How could the Golden Scorpion be smashed to pieces by such a drop when he himself wasn''t killed? And why would Xu Yi appear before them? sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mo Yi and the fatty also hurried over, their desire for the Sun Golden Scripture not as intense, allowing them to maintain a sliver of rationality.


    They sensed something ominous; their "hostage" was far too calm, so calm it was almost indifferent.


    As if aimed at him was not a pistol but a child''s toy; as if what he wore around his neck was not a collar that could explode at any moment, but merely a decorative necklace.


    Seeing the scattered limbs of the scorpion on the ground, they involuntarily shivered and instinctively stepped back.


    "Oh, are you commanding me?" Xu Yi asked emotionlessly as he looked at Scarface.


    Scarface, impatient, took a few steps forward, wanting to snatch the Sun Golden Scripture from Xu Yi''s hands.


    But his body suddenly felt cold as he met Xu Yi''s icy eyes. His body trembled involuntarily, as if standing before him was not a human but some horrifying fierce beast.


    At that moment, his rationality finally returned. He wanted to flee, but it was already too late.


    He suddenly felt pain in his limbs and then he couldn''t feel the existence of his limbs anymore.


    His arms and legs were torn off by Xu Yi, and blood gushed out. Xu Yi casually tossed the severed limbs aside to mix with the remains of the Golden Scorpion.


    Xu Yi tore off the Self-Destruct Collar around his neck, which triggered the device to explode with a loud bang. Xu Yi stood unmoved at the epicenter of the blast.


    The smoke from the explosion gradually cleared, and Mo Yi only then realized what had happened¡ªit all took place too quickly.


    The explosives in the collar were placed by her, and she knew too well the lethality of the Alchemy Gunpowder against a living being. Seeing Xu Yi enveloped by the explosion, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.


    The next second, Mo Yi''s pupils constricted sharply, and the fatty next to her reacted the same way, turning to flee.


    "Dare to take a fifth step and see what happens," Xu Yi said, standing at the epicenter of the explosion, unharmed, his upper garment slightly damaged, as he watched the two trying to escape.


    They stopped abruptly, the fatty suspended mid-step, daring not to set foot down, for it would have been his fifth step.


    His body leaning forward, with another leg in midair, he had no choice but to fall straight forward.


    The fatty winced in pain, but his first reaction wasn''t a scream, but to look back at Xu Yi, fearing that the distance he fell would be counted as the fifth step.


    Seeing that Xu Yi made no further move, he finally exhaled in relief.


    Not allowed to take a fifth step¡ªwas this like the Five-Step Snake?


    The fatty felt a quiet resentment but dared not to show it.


    Mo Yi''s face was pale, realizing she had kicked an iron plate, and not just any iron plate, but a titanium alloy one.


    It wasn''t the quality of the Vanow bombs that was the issue, but that the opponent was strong enough to be immune to the Vanow bombs!


    Was this still a human? A chill of fear crept into Mo Yi''s heart.


    Xu Yi ignored the two who were scared silly, focusing instead on the Sun Golden Scripture in his hands, frowning.


    The Sun Golden Scripture was not a fake; of that he was sure.


    But acquiring such a precious treasure so easily gave him an unreal feeling.


    He looked up, scanning his surroundings.


    It wasn''t just the Sun Golden Scripture that was odd about this place¡ªsomething else was amiss, but he couldn''t quite put his finger on it at the moment.

 Chapter 275 The Conspiracy of the Ring of Destruction

    In the depths of the inverted Pyramid.Robert walked through the dark corridors, exuding an air of leisure.


    The traps along the way couldn''t harm him; he was enveloped by a thin layer of pale red film, and those terrifying Arrays were dispelled by an invisible force.


    If Xu Yi had witnessed this scene, he definitely would have been too surprised to speak.


    The higher-ups in Boston went to great lengths to save him, yet Robert faced no danger at all. Entering the bizarre inverted Pyramid was like returning to his own backyard.


    "The Puppet has been destroyed, our actor the Golden Scorpion has taken its bow, but its mission is also complete."


    A voice suddenly echoed through the corridor, a strange sound filled with the clang of metal collision.


    Robert turned his head, looking up to the left, where a copper-colored Mechanical Bird was suspended in the air.


    The Mechanical Bird was only palm-sized, its wings fluttering slightly, but it was clear that its ability to float in the air was not significantly related to these wings.


    The back of the Mechanical Bird was hollow, with one red and two blue pointers rotating counterclockwise inside, revealing the intricately complex mechanical structure beneath.


    If Xu Yi were here, he could instantly recognize the origin of the "Copper Clock Bird," its skull bearing the pattern of a door.


    That was the symbol of the Ring of Destruction.


    "You really guessed right, Xu Yi actually came!" Robert exclaimed to the Copper Clock Bird.


    "Just basic judgment! Given your importance to Boston, they were sure to come for you, and the most assured way was, of course, to ask Xu Yi."


    A human-like smugness flashed through the sapphire-like pupils of the Clock Bird.


    "Without any guidance along the way, weren''t you afraid he wouldn''t find this place?" Robert was a bit puzzled.


    He knew that this place was located in a Different Space, and even if he left behind the Guiding Holy Map, getting here was still a very difficult task.


    "The more arrangements are made, the easier it is to expose ourselves, don''t underestimate the other party''s ability."


    Robert nodded, having to admit that the other party was right, and indeed the plan had succeeded.


    "When can I return to the organization?" Robert suddenly asked aloud.


    "Soon! Once you''ve hollowed out everything valuable from Boston, you''ll be able to return to the organization," the Clock Bird said, landing on the backpack behind Robert to conserve energy.


    As the destination was still a while away, Robert felt particularly inclined to chat.


    "Is Xu Yi really that difficult to deal with? Even the Sun Golden Scripture was willing to be used as bait!"


    Instead of answering directly, the Copper Clock Bird began talking about something else.


    "We''ve investigated Xu Yi in the shadows, his rate of growth is too astonishing. If the Sea of Divinity hadn''t dissipated after the Twilight of the Gods, we would''ve even suspected him of being a Divine Reincarnation!"


    The Clock Bird''s tone suddenly changed, "With the Havara Labyrinth, even if we can''t kill him, we can keep him quiet for a while. Recently our organization has been troubled by that group of maggots from the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization."


    Robert nodded knowingly; he already had his answer.


    It seemed Xu Yi was indeed very troublesome; otherwise, based on his knowledge of the organization, such "cowardly" methods would never be used.


    They referred to the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization as "flies," "maggots," "cowards lurking in the shadows."


    And the mockery from the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization toward them was much simpler, uniformly calling them "madmen."


    As a member of the Ring of Destruction, he couldn''t help but clarify, it wasn''t mockery, but a fact... the people of the Ring of Destruction were indeed a bunch of madmen.


    "Isn''t it too much of a pity to let the Sun Golden Scripture go just like that?"


    Robert felt distressed thinking about the trap requiring the sacrifice of the Sun Golden Scripture.


    After all, the Sun Golden Scripture and the Black Scripture of the Dead were books of the origin of Magic Arrays, even within the Ring of Destruction, they were treasures hard to come by.


    "The organization has already mastered these two books, there''s nothing to regret. Moreover, I''ve left a surprise in the Sun Golden Scripture; I won''t let anyone reap the benefits so easily," the Clock Bird stated coolly.


    The Clock Bird knew the saying that one cannot catch a wolf without a baited trap, and without the Sun Golden Scripture as a lure, getting Xu Yi into the Havara Labyrinth would basically be impossible.


    "I hope our Mr. Xu Yi has a good experience in the Havara Labyrinth!" Robert responded nonchalantly, using it to mask his dissatisfaction.


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    The higher-ups in the organization had indeed researched thoroughly, but he had not even touched the Sun Golden Scripture or the Black Scripture of the Dead.


    He had originally planned to request them for study upon his return to the organization, but now they were gone.


    "Actually, not only the Sun Golden Scripture, we''ve also brought the Undead Black Scripture!" Clock Bird suddenly spoke up.


    Robert''s eyes lit up, and he secretly thought to himself, could it be that his efforts were finally being recognized by the organization, and they specially brought the Undead Black Scripture for him to study?


    But soon, his eyes dimmed.


    "Next, we need your assistance to speed up the emperor''s resurrection process through the Undead Black Scripture," the brass Clock Bird said gravely.


    Although Robert was disappointed, he knew he had no bargaining power and respectfully responded with a yes.


    ......


    Xu Yi looked at the scattered remains of the Golden Scorpions ahead, his brows tightly furrowed.


    They had returned to this place again, for the fifth time!


    After obtaining the Sun Golden Scripture, he had wanted to leave, only to find out that this area was actually a labyrinth.


    While Xu Yi''s memory and spatial abilities were not bad, he had no desire to foolishly solve it.


    For labyrinths, he had a special way of solving them, which was "to bulldoze through."


    Sturdy stone walls couldn''t stop him at all. Once he was sure of the direction, he went straight ahead, smashing through any walls he encountered with his iron fists.


    He had been walking in the labyrinth for over half an hour. Normally, such a length of time would be enough to walk back and forth in a pyramid, yet he was still trapped here.


    Xu Yi looked back, behind him was a straight "artificial passage," chiseled out by his own hands.


    What exactly was the problem?


    He realized that relying solely on brute force was not going to get him out of this maze.


    "It''s over! It''s the Havara Labyrinth! We''re doomed!" Mo Yi suddenly sat down on the ground, his eyes vacant. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi hadn''t killed the "band of three robbers"; Mo Yi was left alone, his identity and background piquing Xu Yi''s curiosity.


    The fatty was just an insignificant person, but Xu Yi was afraid that killing him might put too much pressure on Mo Yi.


    If Mo Yi had a mental breakdown and went for a self-destructive retaliation, refusing to guide him out of this Different Space, that would be troublesome.


    Cudgel Man had Scarface slung on his back, limbs torn off.


    Scarface''s wounds had been sprayed with special hemostatic medicine and wrapped with bandages; he wouldn''t die just yet.


    Xu Yi hadn''t killed Scarface either. It wasn''t that he was compassionate, but he had a premonition that Scarface might still be of use.


    "What is the Havara Labyrinth?" Xu Yi asked, as Mo Yi seemed to recognize the origin of the labyrinth.


    "The Havara Labyrinth, a masterpiece from the prime days of ancient Egypt, constructed by a multitude of priests summoned by the pharaoh, using the power of magic arrays," Mo Yi said, his expression one of despair.


    "On the day the labyrinth was completed, they claimed that even a god could not exit if he didn''t understand magic arrays."


    It was indeed the magic arrays! Xu Yi understood; he had had a suspicion before, and now he could be one hundred percent certain.


    Typically, magic arrays are used for defense or attack, but this one before him was different, it was countless times more advanced.


    "An illusion? No! It must be... sensory hypnosis!"


    Xu Yi felt his heart sinking; he knew he had encountered a big trouble.


    He was, after all, in a Body of Demigod, and even his senses could be hypnotized, indicating the terrifying nature of this magical array maze.


    "According to you, as long as one understands magic arrays, they would be able to leave this place, right?" Xu Yi looked towards Mo Yi.


    "Are you a master of magic arrays?" Mo Yi abruptly looked up, staring intently at Xu Yi, his eyes filled with hope.


    "I only have a superficial understanding, but..." Xu Yi suddenly changed his tone and took out the Sun Golden Scripture, "I can learn now."


    Mo Yi''s eyes brightened. Why hadn''t she thought of this before¡ªthe Sun Golden Scripture, known as one of the origins of magic arrays, was in their hands.


    If they thoroughly studied this scripture, why worry about not being able to leave?


    With a smile on his face, Xu Yi opened the Sun Golden Scripture, only to become stunned; his complexion instantly turned grim.


    The pages of the Sun Golden Scripture suddenly grew dim.

 Chapter 276 Racing Against Time

    ```The pale purple potion smeared on the Sun Golden Scripture caused Xu Yi''s face to change dramatically.


    Under the effect of the potion, the pages of the scripture became dim, and what was worse, the inscriptions started to fade away and seemed likely to disappear soon.


    Xu Yi abruptly closed the Sun Golden Scripture. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The potion was some kind of alchemical product that only took effect upon exposure to sufficient air when the pages were opened, which was why Xu Yi had not been able to detect it until then.


    Xu Yi, who could see in the dark, realized that closing the pages did nothing at all, as air was just a catalyst; once the reaction began, it was irreversible.


    Xu Yi detected the scent of conspiracy.


    The material of the Sun Golden Scripture was unique; not even flames could destroy it. Clearly, this particular alchemical potion was specially made to target the Sun Golden Scripture.


    Ring of Destruction!


    The name of that organization flashed through his mind again, as those capable of scheming these events, and bearing a grudge against him, could only be the Ring of Destruction.


    No wonder the Golden Scorpion appeared so abruptly, no wonder the Sun Golden Scripture was so easily obtained¡ªeverything could be explained now.


    "It seems they want to trap me to death here!" Xu Yi understood the Ring of Destruction''s intentions.


    But he quickly had no time to think about these things, as he reopened the Sun Golden Scripture and sniffed it, a quick way to detect the components of the potion.


    The essence of the Black Aoflower!


    A peculiar, pungent scent wafted up, and Xu Yi inwardly sighed, indeed it contained that substance.


    Having worked on the God-melting Blood potion before, Xu Yi had obviously encountered alchemical potions, and having come into contact with the Black Aoflower a few times, he recognized it immediately.


    The Black Aoflower was typically used to erase inscriptions, which corresponded with the scene before him.


    He took out the "Neril Cleansing Solution" from his toy space.


    This was a potion created by someone named Neril, which could neutralize other alchemical potions, including the essence of the Black Aoflower.


    Luckily, his habit of hoarding things in his toy space, akin to "hamster syndrome," turned out to be life-saving now.


    As the Neril Cleansing Solution poured out, Xu Yi breathed a slight sigh of relief; the specially formulated cleanser was effective, and the inscriptions no longer faded.


    But his heart was soon on edge again.


    The Arrays on the Sun Golden Scripture began to "mold over," with light black stains spreading over them.


    The alchemical potion made by the Ring of Destruction was obviously superior in rank to the Neril Cleansing Solution; to prevent the inscriptions from disappearing had already pushed it to its limit.


    "What to do now!" Xu Yi grew a bit anxious.


    This labyrinth might not be able to trap him to death, as no matter how powerful a maze of Arrays might be, it needed energy to operate. As long as he persisted in destroying it, the energy would eventually run out.


    But being trapped for too long would severely disrupt his plans; one delay could lead to many.


    If things went even worse and he were trapped for five or six years, by the time he got out, he might not even be able to keep up with the times.


    Xu Yi tried to copy the Sun Golden Scripture into his Palace of Memory, only to find that it had limited effect.


    The Sun Golden Scripture was precious precisely because of the "Miniature Magic Arrays", which made it utterly uncopyable.


    Xu Yi gazed at the "Miniature Magic Arrays," and he couldn''t help but marvel.


    The ancient Egyptian priests were truly masterful, managing to minimize the Arrays to such an extent that they could be etched into a book.


    "Three hours! At most three hours, and the Arrays will become completely ineffective due to the potion''s erosion."


    With time pressing, Xu Yi had no time for further thought; he pricked his finger and let his blood drip onto the first Array.


    The Array was activated, a faint blue light spreading out.


    Xu Yi closed his eyes slightly and felt the flow of energy within the Array.


    ```


    ```


    Looking at Array diagrams was like studying from pictures, no matter how fast your hands moved, it was impossible to become a master that way.


    Only by experiencing it firsthand, feeling the Array''s breath, the silky flow of Energy, and the effects coming and going, could one truly become a master-level figure.


    The God-melting Blood contained Xu Yi''s thoughts, which made his senses more acute and, invisibly, accelerated his learning process.


    This was an unexpected joy.


    He planned to spend three hours to learn the content of the Sun Golden Scripture!


    If others knew about this, they would certainly think he had gone mad, but there was no other way, the best solution at hand was to learn the content of the Sun Golden Scripture.


    Although it was a crazy idea, Xu Yi still had some confidence.


    When he first learned the "Herbal Record of Diana," the original witch, it took him only four hours, and if he could improve his efficiency a bit more, it wasn''t impossible.


    He hoped the "Genius of Mysticism" Entries would lend him some strength! Xu Yi shouted inwardly.


    Moments later, Xu Yi opened his eyes, his face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.


    The first step of learning had hit a Waterloo, the Array was indeed activated, and he could vaguely sense the flow of its Energy.


    But he did not understand ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.


    Without explanations and left to fumble on his own, who knew when he could decipher the principles within.


    In other words, in order to learn the Knowledge of Magic Arrays on the Sun Golden Scripture, he first had to learn a language.


    But ancient Egyptian was obscure and difficult to grasp, and not even a genius could learn it in a short period of time.


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    What was even more fatal was that ancient Egyptian did not fall within the scope of Mysticism; the "Genius of Mysticism" Entries were useless.


    There was simply not enough time!


    "The Array of Nicu."


    A faint female voice came from beside him, and Xu Yi sharply turned his head, staring intently at Mo Yi, "You understand ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs?"


    Mo Yi nodded and explained, "The introduction says that this is the Array of Nicu, mainly used for defense."


    That''s right! How did he not think of it before? If Mo Yi could decipher something like the "Ghostly Talisman," what was so strange about recognizing ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs?


    Hope reignited in Xu Yi''s heart.


    "The Sun Golden Scripture has been smeared with Alchemical Potion, and the Array on it will soon become invalid, you help me translate the ancient Egyptian on it," Xu Yi quickly explained.


    He took out paper and pen from the toy space and handed them to Mo Yi, looking into her eyes, "Make sure there are no mistakes, otherwise we will both be trapped to death here!"


    Mo Yi nodded, she was clearer about the horrors of the Havara Labyrinth than Xu Yi and was in no position to hinder the process.


    With Mo Yi''s translated content, Xu Yi''s learning speed of the Sun Golden Scripture was like "a bicycle turning into a motorcycle," instantly soaring.


    "It actually took ten minutes!" Xu Yi roughly grasped the first Array and subconsciously glanced at the time, his eyebrows involuntarily knitted.


    The Arrays on the Sun Golden Scripture were extremely abstruse, among all the Mysticism materials he had ever encountered, they definitely ranked at the top.


    What was worse, this was only the first Array, the difficulty would only increase as he progressed.


    With his current pace, there was absolutely no way to learn the entire content of the Sun Golden Scripture before the Array expired.


    Xu Yi resolutely decided to cheat, "Super Brain Calculation" activated!


    The side effects of this Ability were very strong, he rarely used it, but now there was no room for consideration, no matter the method, as long as it could speed up the learning process even slightly, he was willing to try it.


    Under the effect of "Super Brain Calculation," the anxious look on Xu Yi''s face disappeared, and he devoted himself wholeheartedly to learning.


    The shackles of his brain were unlocked, it was like an old computer suddenly being replaced by a supercomputer, a constant stream of information flooded his mind, then being swiftly analyzed.


    He had only one thought in his mind at that moment, faster, even faster!


    ```

 Chapter 277 Giving a

    Xu Yi took out the carving knife and walked over to the unconscious "Cudgel Man," Scarface.To quickly master the content of the Sun Golden Scripture, relying solely on brain power was inadequate; "practice" was also necessary.


    The human body had always been an excellent medium for arrays. To verify whether an array was feasible, one only needed to inscribe it on the human body and then "test run" it.


    This method was explicitly written in black and white on the Sun Golden Scripture, and he was prepared to give it a try.


    The knife descended, and fresh blood flowed from the chest of Scarface.


    The fat man watched everything, his body shaking like a sieve.


    He secretly felt relieved that he had treated Xu Yi fairly well before, or else he would have become another "human draft paper."


    He and Mo Yi were friends. Scarface had suddenly approached them, proposing to collaborate and split any discovered treasure fifty-fifty.


    He and Mo Yi had never planned to kill anyone from the beginning, which was why they had tried to stop Scarface.


    Scarface woke up in pain several times, but since Xu Yi had injected him with an anesthetic, he couldn''t even commit suicide; he could only watch helplessly as Xu Yi inscribed on his body.


    He regretted it, he truly regretted it. He shouldn''t have offended this demon!


    He wanted to beg for mercy, but all he could muster were meaningless grunts. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Yi, worried that Scarface might die suddenly, kindly injected him with a potion made from the Leaf of Redemption to maintain his life.


    His hand holding the knife was incredibly steady, not shaking in the slightest.


    This was the solid foundation laid down by his previous work as a Sculptor, and learning Necromantic Spells.


    Necromantic Spells were actually a kind of array too, albeit a weakened version, forsaking the powerful effects of arrays for convenience.


    "This familiar sensation!" The more Xu Yi inscribed arrays on Scarface''s body, the stronger that familiarity became.


    Necromantic Spells were inscribed on corpses; the Sun Golden Scripture''s arrays, on living flesh... a flash of insight suddenly streaked through his mind.


    He attempted to use his knowledge of Necromantic Spells to analyze the arrays of the Sun Golden Scripture.


    The more he analyzed, the more excited he became.


    They had so many similarities!


    He became certain that even if Necromantic Spells didn''t originate from the Sun Golden Scripture, they definitely had connections to ancient Egypt, at the very least derived from it.


    Xu Yi''s eyes grew brighter and brighter. The connection between Necromantic Spells and the Sun Golden Scripture meant that when it came to learning the Study of Magic Arrays from the Scripture, he was not "starting from zero" but had a robust foundation.


    Racing down the "path of arrays," if he had been running before, now he was in a supercar with "triple-core brakes."


    A Genius of Mysticism, paired with hyper brain computation, and finally grounded in the foundation of Necromantic Spells.


    Mo Yi was so astonished she was at a loss for words.


    As an interpreter, she could plainly sense that the content of the Sun Golden Scripture got more esoteric and difficult to understand as it went on, making her translation increasingly challenging.


    Yet Xu Yi''s learning speed hadn''t slowed in the slightest. She could feel that Xu Yi was initially unfamiliar with the arrays of the Sun Golden Scripture.


    What was this terrifying learning speed?!


    Xu Yi was indeed learning fast, but the price he paid was not small; his face was pale, and even with his Demigod Body, he seemed slightly unsteady.


    The aftereffects of hyper brain computation, which drained "spiritual power," were severe, and no physical strength could counteract them.


    The aftermath of hyper brain computation was just one part, the most formidable "chasm" was still time.


    Now, less than five minutes remained from the three-hour deadline.


    But of the Sun Golden Scripture''s content, he had learned less than sixty percent.


    Time ticked away as the Sun Golden Scripture''s arrays crawled with "mold."


    Xu Yi took a deep breath, closed his eyes slightly, and when he opened them again, platinum flames surged from his eye sockets.


    He deactivated the "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration" entry and then activated the "Blood as Sacred" ability, incinerating his internal organs.


    With his Body of Demigod, even suicide was now not so easy.


    The Resurrection Coin''s golden light enveloped him.


    After failing the injection of God-melting Blood, he had only 19 Resurrection Coins left, but upon reaching Kayako''s "Ring of Destruction," the number of Resurrection Coins skyrocketed by 44.


    He now had a total of 63 left.


    The consumption of one Resurrection Coin was child''s play for Xu Yi.


    This was something Xu Yi had planned for early on.


    He was well aware that no matter how much he improved his learning efficiency, it was impossible to master the entire content of the Sun Golden Scripture within three hours.


    So he chose to use a "Resurrection Coin! Extend my time, damn it!"


    He didn''t use several coins at once but prepared to use them one by one because before the resurrection, he would enter the "Resurrection Space" to stand by.


    In the Resurrection Space, he could stay up to a maximum of ten minutes.


    That is to say, one Resurrection Coin was not giving him an extra five minutes but fifteen minutes!


    He had just felt the energy pattern of a new array, and he had also memorized the content translated by Mo Yi. He began to frantically calculate in his mind.


    Ten minutes passed, the Resurrection Coin activated automatically, and Xu Yi returned to five minutes prior.


    "Switch to this page!" Xu Yi immediately flipped the Sun Golden Scripture to the new content.


    Mo Yi was taken aback but followed Xu Yi''s command and skipped pages to translate.


    Because time reverted to five minutes earlier, the aftereffects of hyper brain operations had weakened considerably, and Xu Yi absorbed the knowledge of the new magic arrays without pause.


    After five minutes, the second Resurrection Coin continued, then the third... until the fifth, Xu Yi still resolutely extended the time.


    This was his first time using up all of his Resurrection Coin chances within a single day.


    Xu Yi dared to do so because, coincidentally, the current time was 11:58 PM, and in two more minutes, the uses of the Resurrection Coins would refresh.


    In those two minutes, nothing happened, and he smoothly transitioned to midnight.


    The Resurrection Coin activated again.


    After using another three Resurrection Coins, Xu Yi stopped the act of "extending time" and let the Sun Golden Scripture be destroyed by the alchemical potion.


    Because he had reached "The Final Array."


    Of course, he hadn''t comprehended The Final Array, but he no longer needed to waste Resurrection Coins. After dripping blood five times, he had already figured out its energy flow.


    All that remained was to contemplate and digest the knowledge.


    Scarface''s body was covered with the engravings of various arrays, turning into a bloody mess, and even after being injected with an overdose of Potion of Redemption, his life could not be saved.


    His breath completely disappeared.


    Xu Yi''s eyes remained closed, and it took him half an hour before he finally opened them.


    He hadn''t fully grasped The Final Array, which was incredibly complex.


    If the difficulty of previous formations had increased from elementary to university level, then The Final Array would be analogous to "The Seven Great Mathematical Problems of the World." It was not something that could be grasped in a short amount of time.


    "Fortunately, I''ve memorized everything, and I can analyze it slowly in the future."


    Xu Yi took a deep breath, and he had a vague premonition that to fully comprehend The Final Array, he must combine it with the content from "Necromantic Black Scripture."


    He looked around Havara Labyrinth with a subtle smile on his lips.


    Although he hadn''t comprehended The Final Array, with his current level of magic arrays, solving the Havara Labyrinth was not difficult.


    Xu Yi was about to stand up when suddenly he felt dizzy, and he collapsed to the ground.


    His face was pale as paper, yet he couldn''t hide his excitement.


    "It''s nothing short of a miracle!" he couldn''t help exclaiming.


    In three hours, to master all of the content from the Sun Golden Scripture except for The Final Array was truly insane! S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But in reality, it was more than just three hours.


    He glanced at the remaining Resurrection Coins; he had used a total of eight, leaving him with fifty-eight.


    Each Resurrection Coin had gained him an additional fifteen minutes, meaning he had a total of 120 extra minutes, which was two more hours.


    Even so, it was an insane feat.


    "Such a wild deed, even I couldn''t have foreseen it, so the mastermind behind the Ring of Destruction definitely wouldn''t have expected it."


    Xu Yi''s eyes sparkled with an indescribable light, "So it''s time, to deliver a surprise to my ''old friend''!"

 Chapter 278 Who Are You Fooling?

    In the depths of the Pyramid, Robert stood before the circular pool.The pool flowed with a black liquid, small insects swimming within, and anyone who drew near would suffer their frenzied attacks.


    The Pharaoh''s Golden Coffin stood at the center of the pool, quivering continuously as the Pharaoh sculpture on its surface churned out billowing black smoke which formed skull faces that roared angry at Robert.


    "It''s time to welcome our Emperor, Ramses the Second''s awakening!" the Red Bronze Clock Bird said solemnly.


    Among all bearing Ramses'' name, only Ramses the Second could truly be called "Great Emperor," with others merely twinkling stars adorning the sun and moon.


    Ramses the Second was the most famous Pharaoh in ancient Egypt, a true king of Pharaohs.


    As the sound of its voice faded, an invisible fluctuation emanated from the Clock Bird, parting the black liquid in the pool to create a direct path to the Pharaoh''s Golden Coffin.


    "Go! Bring the Underworld Black Sutra to our Emperor. My presence might cause misunderstandings, so this task is yours to undertake," the Red Bronze Clock Bird said softly.


    Robert held the Underworld Black Sutra, completely unwilling in his heart.


    Offering the Underworld Black Sutra to Emperor Ramses would accelerate the emperor''s resurrection, restore him to his peak more quickly, and also allow him to control the power of the Dark Magic Array.


    But once offered, the Underworld Black Sutra would be "annihilated."


    Having already lost the Sun Golden Scripture, he felt it was a great pity, and now the Underworld Black Sutra was about to be lost too...


    However, he didn''t say anything and walked straight toward the Golden Coffin.


    He was well aware of his status. Although his scientific research ability was strong, geniuses like him were dime a dozen within the Ring of Destruction.


    Genius and insanity are separated by a fine line indeed.


    The Red Bronze Clock Bird watched Robert''s departing figure with a sense of relief.


    Trapping Xu Yi in the Havara Labyrinth and using the Underworld Black Sutra to awaken Emperor Ramses, its plan was perfectly accomplished!


    Just then, the sound of something cutting through the air came from behind. Robert instinctively turned his head to look, but he couldn''t see anything.


    The Sapphire pupils of the Clock Bird, possessing hyper-dynamic vision, clearly saw what was approaching swiftly, disbelief flashing across its eyes.


    Xu Yi?!


    How could he possibly be here? Wasn''t he supposed to be trapped within the Havara Labyrinth? The Clock Bird was utterly puzzled.


    Xu Yi''s process of solving the Havara Labyrinth was anything but smooth.


    Even though he had learned the Knowledge of Magic Arrays from the Sun Golden Scripture, there was still a long way to go before he could apply it.


    Fortunately, he could burn Entries to gain "Mystical Inspiration," speeding up the process.


    Those Dark Creatures he casually destroyed would also consume some Entries, but those low-level Entries could no longer offer him any improvement and had become mere "firewood."


    After leaving the Havara Labyrinth, sensing the anomaly deep within the Pyramid, he used the Dark Stealth ability to quietly approach. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had not expected to arrive just in time to witness the offering of the Underworld Black Sutra and thus made his decisive move.


    The Red Bronze Clock Bird, stunned for a moment, quickly recovered.


    The clock on its back suddenly stopped, and within a radius of five hundred meters centering it, space suddenly "froze." Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    The water in the pool ceased to flow, and even the howling wind sound disappeared.


    "Time Standstill!" the indifferent voice of the Clock Bird came through.


    If it had been anyone else, they would certainly have been intimidated by the Clock Bird, after all, "Time Standstill," this forbidden power, was something anyone would be wary of, not daring to act rashly.


    But Xu Yi''s movements did not pause for an instant, and he charged straight into the frozen Domain.


    The Clock Bird was taken aback; it hadn''t expected its opponent to be so decisive.


    "We''re both ancient foxes, no use putting on an act like a ghost story; who could possibly be fooled?" Xu Yi thought with scorn.


    Xu Yi was all too familiar with the fluctuations of time, and the essence of the Resurrection Coin was the reversal of time; the "Time Standstill" domain before his eyes was completely false.


    The purpose was simply to hoodwink him, to buy time.


    Xu Yi activated "Blood as Sacred" with full force, his speed skyrocketing to the extreme. Reaching the altar at the center of the pool was merely a blink of an eye.


    The Pharaoh''s Golden Coffin shook thunderously, a crack appearing, and a hand wrapped in linen stretched out, reaching for the Sun Golden Scripture in Robert''s hand.


    Despite the fact that Emperor Ramses had just awakened, he still perceived the aura of the Sun Golden Scripture and felt the threat from Xu Yi.


    "Reach not your hand, for if you do, it shall be chopped off!"


    Xu Yi extended a finger; the power of "Holy" converged at his fingertip, turning into a blazing sword of Holy Flame, which he slashed downward; the hand of Ramses was severed on cue.


    Robert had intended to hide the Sun Golden Scripture, but feeling a gaze like that of the Grim Reaper from behind, he didn''t dare do anything in the end and just stood there holding the scripture blankly.


    He finally understood why the Ring of Destruction found Xu Yi so troublesome.


    Such a terrifying presence, he had only felt it from a few elder members of the Ring of Destruction.


    Xu Yi snatched the Sun Golden Scripture abruptly, flipped through the pages quickly, and then breathed a sigh of relief.


    Perfect! There were no Alchemical Potions on it!


    He hurriedly stored the Sun Golden Scripture into toy space, and had it not been unlucky to "pop champagne at half time," he would have liked to celebrate with a couple of bottles of champagne.


    It was a case of "after bitterness comes the sweet"; having just mastered the Sun Golden Scripture, and now obtaining the Sun Golden Scripture, it was truly like a double blessing.


    The Copper Clock Bird didn''t speak but instead let out a piercing scream, expressing its rage in this manner.


    If it knew the Knowledge of Magic Arrays of the Sun Golden Scripture had also been learned by Xu Yi, it would probably explode with anger!


    The ground shook thunderously as the heavy sarcophagus door fell, stirring up clouds of dust.


    Emperor Ramses, wrapped in linen, stepped out from the Golden Coffin, holding the Pharaoh''s staff, his pitch-black pupils scanning everyone present.


    "Seeing your lord, why do you not kneel?"


    Emperor Ramses spoke in ancient Egyptian, but it contained the Voice of the Soul, allowing everyone present to understand his meaning.


    In his time ruling over ancient Egypt, every land and person he saw belonged to him. Hence, he believed those in front of him ought, by all rights, kneel to him in tribute.


    However, the actions of the two people and the bird before him were a bit unexpected.


    One of them was running away with his head down.


    To this, Emperor Ramses could somewhat understand; having just awakened, they must be fleeing in fear of his majesty, which was quite understandable.


    Robert ran not because of any connection with Emperor Ramses; she simply wanted to seize the opportunity while Xu Yi''s attention was on the mummy to quickly escape from the terrifying man that was Xu Yi.


    Emperor Ramses'' gaze then fell on the second person.


    The look in their eyes was highly displeasing to him; there was no shred of awe or reverence, but rather like someone looking at appetizing prey.


    Xu Yi stared at the mummy before him, his eyes gleaming.


    Although it was all a trap set by the Ring of Destruction, Robert had not lied; indeed, he had sensed a strong soul fluctuation, and Xu Yi was not mistaken.


    The Origin of Sin! The Origin of Sin of Greed was within this mummy!


    Xu Yi felt that this time he had really come to the right place, first the Sun Golden Scripture, then the Sun Golden Scripture, and now the Origin of Sin of Greed.

 Chapter 279 Woken Up by a Regular Attack

    The Clock Bird made of red bronze suddenly let out a high-pitched cry, a soulful sound specifically directed toward the soul of Emperor Ramses."You''ve just awakened and are no match for the person before you. Leave immediately!"


    "Are you teaching me what to do?" Emperor Ramses, upon hearing the Clock Bird''s "transmission," flew into a rage.


    He, the venerable Pharaoh of the ancient Egyptian dynasty, would fear a mere mortal?


    But he still retained a shred of reason and did not advance directly. He waved his Pharaoh''s scepter, striking the ground fiercely, and a burst of black fog erupted from the scepter.


    "Come forth, my loyal guardian!"


    The ground shook again and the Sphinx, which had been a statue, rose from the ground. It had been inanimate, but after absorbing the black mist from the scepter, its eyes became lively.


    The Sphinx came to life and bounded towards Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi glanced at the "toy" in front of him, completely disregarding it. He took out the Greed Sin Remains and walked straight toward the so-called Pharaoh.


    Emperor Ramses''s body suddenly stiffened, and then he stared intently at the Greed Sin Remains in Xu Yi''s hands.


    He should have been in eternal slumber in the Pharaoh''s Golden Coffin, but the Origin of Greed had awakened him, reviving him once more.


    "Get it! Get it!"


    A voice called out incessantly in the depths of his heart. Emperor Ramses was well aware that if he could merge with the Sin Remains before him, his power would undergo a substantial enhancement.


    "We must leave now! After gaining strength, we will find a way to take back the Sin Remains." The Clock Bird landed next to Emperor Ramses''s ear and once again emitted a soulful sound.


    Emperor Ramses ignored the Clock Bird''s words, finding the Mechanical Bird somewhat noisy.


    Holding the Greed Sin Remains as if it were a dagger, Xu Yi, covered in Holy Flame, slashed from left to right.


    The Sphinx shattered with a boom, stone chips flying everywhere.


    Emperor Ramses''s forward lunge halted abruptly, and Xu Yi''s plain strike completely snapped him out of it.


    Fear flickered in his eyes. The sensation he got from the man before him was something he had only felt in the presence of the gods.


    "Move quickly! Move quickly!" The Clock Bird kept crying out.


    This time, Emperor Ramses didn''t find the Clock Bird to be noisy. Instead, he felt its words were like pearls of wisdom, so he turned and fled.


    Xu Yi naturally would not give up the "fat meat" that had landed in his mouth. Just as he was about to give chase, the black water of the circular pool suddenly splashed and surged towards Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi sensed the tiny insects within the black water which had been awakened by Emperor Ramses.


    "Khasi Insects!"


    Xu Yi''s pace came to an abrupt halt. At first, he had paid no attention to these insects, as they weren''t able to obstruct him.


    But upon closer observation, he discovered they were actually insects recorded in the Sun Golden Scripture.


    Khasi Insects, also known as "Array Devouring Insects," could devour an Array and then store it within their bodies for some time.


    These Insects were thought to be extinct; he hadn''t expected to find them here, and in such numbers.


    Xu Yi hesitated for a moment, then decided to first "subdue" this group of Khasi Insects.


    He had always been troubled by the "Array Transfer" of the Holy Artifact. Perhaps this group of Khasi Insects could bring him a pleasant surprise.


    The most important thing was that subduing this group of Khasi Insects wouldn''t take much time.


    A purple-red curtain of light rose from the Annabelle doll, enveloping the Khasi Insects.


    In this desolate place, where Khasi Insects could live for hundreds of years without eating or drinking, they clearly couldn''t be normal creatures.


    Xu Yi collected all the Khasi Insects into the toy space and pursued Emperor Ramses.


    With his familiarity with the Pyramid, Emperor Ramses had already taken a shortcut with the Clock Bird and arrived outside the Pyramid.


    ```


    They hadn''t even had a chance to catch their breath when Xu Yi''s figure followed closely behind.


    "Really like a bad penny!"


    Emperor Ramses could never have imagined there would come a day when he would be chased like a panicked stray dog.


    He knew that if this continued, he would definitely be caught by Xu Yi. He slammed his staff into the sandy ground, with black smoke continuously pouring into it.


    Terrifying roars erupted from beneath the earth, and shadowy figures crawled out of the sand, like demons returning from Hell.


    The shadows'' upper bodies were human, but their lower halves were that of scorpions, with their hands transformed into pincers.


    Xu Yi looked at the "scorpion-men" before him, his brow slightly furrowed.


    To him, the scorpion-men were not strong, and, like the Sphinx he had encountered before, were considered "toys."


    But when the number of toys increased, a qualitative change could occur.


    Like a tide, the Scorpion Legion surged forward, blocking the path, and Xu Yi found himself unable to break through for a moment.


    Xu Yi dared not activate "Blood for the Holy" at full force; he was always on guard for the Ring of Destruction. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Ring of Destruction was an organization that was far too dangerous. The previous Crow Man, as well as the final "black circle," left a deep impression on him.


    Thus, he had to retain enough strength to fend off any sneak attacks from the Ring of Destruction.


    It is important to note that he had already used up three Resurrection Coins today, leaving only two chances, so he couldn''t help but be cautious.


    Wielding the Greed Sin Remains, Xu Yi fought off thousands as if possessed by the spirit of Zhao Yun of Changshan, brutally carving a bloody path through the Scorpion Legion.


    His gaze caught sight of the Mechanical Bird of the Ring of Destruction, and his heart skipped a beat, thereby hastening his attempt to breakthrough.


    The Mechanical Bird''s wings suddenly fell off, fluttering in the air like withered leaves.


    Complicated patterns were etched on the wings, and those patterns blossomed with a dazzling blue light, alerting Xu Yi to the presence of an intense Array aura.


    Although the previous "Time Standstill" was a bluff, he was certain that the Spatial Magic Array before him was real.


    As for the effect of the Spatial Magic Array, one could guess it had to do with Spatial Jumps or the like simply by thinking with their toes.


    Xu Yi''s expression turned urgent, and the more anxiously he fought, the more openings he exposed, nearly having his head clipped off by the pincers of scorpion-men several times.


    Emperor Ramses observed this scene, his expression subtly changing.


    He fixated on the Greed Sin Remains in Xu Yi''s hand, a look of longing in his eyes. He had been ready to give up, but now, he decided to try one more time.


    He let go, allowing the staff in his hand to fall. It burrowed into the sands and disappeared from view in the blink of an eye.


    While Xu Yi was fully engaged in combating the scorpion-men, a golden shadow suddenly emerged from beneath the sand.


    It was the golden staff of Emperor Ramses, which now transformed into a long snake, fiercely biting onto the Greed Sin Remains. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire


    Caught off guard, Xu Yi lost his grip on the Greed Sin Remains which were snatched by the golden serpent, quickly slithering back to Emperor Ramses.


    Xu Yi bellowed in rage, seemingly venting the frustration in his heart.


    Emperor Ramses, seeing the Greed Sin Remains within reach, could hardly conceal his excitement.


    The Spatial Magic Array was extremely intricate, and the Copper Clock Bird assured itself that Xu Yi had not yet attacked, pouring its energy into the Array, thus it did not pay much attention to the "interaction" between the two.


    Had it noticed, it would have been on alert.


    Was Xu Yi''s weapon so easily taken?


    The staff-snake returned to Emperor Ramses, who couldn''t wait to grasp the Greed Sin Remains. He pressed it against his chest, ready to merge.


    At that moment, he suddenly heard a low chuckle. The laugh came from Xu Yi, and Emperor Ramses looked up in confusion.


    Why could his opponent chuckle when the Sin Remains had been taken?


    ```

 Chapter 280 The Bullet of the True God

    Emperor Ramses bowed his head, staring blankly at the Sin Remains of Greed piercing his chest.What should have merged with his body now seemed to possess its own will, brazenly rebelling and stabbing deep into his chest.


    Worse yet, the Sin Remains began to emit a powerful suction force, pulling at the Source of Greed within him.


    Having been resurrected because of the Source of Greed, if it were to be devoured, he would naturally return to darkness.


    He tried to pull out the Sin Remains, but they clung to his body like locusts, and it took all his strength to pull it out an inch.


    Emperor Ramses''s gaze swept toward the battlefield, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw Xu Yi with a smile on his face.


    Platinum energy surged from Xu Yi, forcibly repelling the surrounding scorpion creatures. With a light tap of his foot, he shot through the scorpion army like a long knife, heading straight for Emperor Ramses.


    Where could Emperor Ramses be unaware that the opponent had been concealing his true strength all along, pretending to be weary?


    How could he be like this? Why is his heart still so tainted despite being so powerful?


    Xu Yi felt the fluctuations from the Sin Remains and involuntarily curled a smirk on the corner of his mouth.


    As the saying goes - a single brilliant move can prevail over everything. To trick one is to trick all. Last time it was Tomie Kawakami, this time it was Emperor Ramses.


    Even though Emperor Ramses''s mouth was wrapped in burlap, for some reason, he always felt that the opponent''s mouth was particularly lifted.


    The Sin Remains even made his mouth curl!


    Xu Yi fully activated "Blood as Sacred" and charged at Emperor Ramses.


    Since the Ring of Destruction was not taking action, he would not blame himself for lacking martial virtue, for once he devoured the Source of Greed, the opponent would be powerless.


    Emperor Ramses wanted to flee, but suddenly the Sin Remains burst with a tremendous suction force, pinning him in place. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seizing the opportunity, Xu Yi grabbed Emperor Ramses''s neck, pressed him to the ground, and with his other hand, he gripped the hilt of the Sin Remains and drove it deeper into Ramses''s chest.


    The Sin Remains''s suction erupted again, pulling the Source of Greed within the emperor into itself.


    The Copper Clock Bird sensed the commotion behind it, glanced back, and its eyes almost popped out.


    It had been focused on setting up the Formation, and in the short two or three seconds it looked away, it didn''t expect the situation to have changed so drastically.


    "It seems I have no choice but to use ''that'' now!"


    Although it was reluctant, it knew it had to use it, or Emperor Ramses would fall right here.


    The Copper Clock Bird opened its mouth, and a bluish-grey gun barrel extended out, aimed distantly at Xu Yi. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Yi felt a chill over his body, and he abruptly turned his head to look in the direction of the Clock Bird.


    The powerful vision of the Eyes of Obscurity allowed him to see what was inside the gun barrel.


    It was a strange bullet. The body was unknown, but the tip was a diamond-shaped bone that was golden, even more dazzling than gold.


    The Copper Clock Bird''s pupils locked onto Xu Yi, a bullet with a "Bone of True God" as its tip, designed to pierce through everything.


    As long as it hit a vital spot, even a "pseudo-god" would fall immediately.


    The gun barrel shook violently, and scorching red steam released from the gaps in the Clock Bird''s body as the bullet, enveloped by firelight, was shot towards Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi''s first instinct was to dodge, but the bullet''s speed was too fast. With his Supra-dynamic Vision, he could only see a faint trace of light.


    Unable to dodge, he could only raise his arm to shield himself.


    "Blood as Sacred" activated to its fullest, with surging Holy Flame gathering on his arm. Even a potent Alchemical Bullet, facing the direct onslaught of the Holy Flame, would be destroyed into dust.


    However, the golden bullet pierced through the Holy Flame as if it did not exist.


    Around the bullet was a Domain, and Xu Yi suddenly realized, "Except for a Domain of equal strength, the bullet could ignore everything!"


    The "golden bullet" hit his arm, and with the solidity of a Demigod Body, he could withstand a small missile unharmed.


    Yet, against the small bullet, his solid body was as fragile as foam.


    The bullet penetrated his arm, with no blood splattering because it had been transformed into "Holy Flame" to withstand the bullet.


    Xu Yi''s expression violently changed as a powerful energy wreaked havoc inside his arm, completely beyond the Holy Flame''s defense.


    Suddenly, he could not feel his arm at all; it had completely necrotized.


    ```


    Centipede-like black spots appeared on the arm, and even more ominously, those spots were spreading toward the chest.


    Xu Yi made a split-second decision, forcefully tearing off the numb arm and throwing it away, black blood splattering on the ground.


    He didn''t breathe a sigh of relief until he saw the fresh blood at the stump of his arm.


    "Lucky I didn''t risk any more, if it had hit a vital area, I definitely would have been done for here!" Xu Yi thought, frightened.


    Where in the world did those terrifying things come from, those artifacts called the Ring of Destruction?


    First the "black droplet" in the Crow Man''s chest, and now the "golden bullet," the depth of this organization''s resources is shocking.


    Emperor Ramses finally seized the opportunity, grabbing and fiercely throwing out the Greed Sin Remains embedded in his chest.


    What was once greatly desired is now scrupulously avoided; it''s likely that Emperor Ramses, now psychologically scarred, wouldn''t dare to integrate with the Greed Sin Remains again.


    Blue light streaked across the field, Emperor Ramses roared excitedly, while Xu Yi frowned deeply.


    The Spatial Magic Array was finally complete, and Emperor Ramses charged towards the blue vortex.


    Xu Yi hesitated for a moment, but didn''t move.


    The barrel of the Clock Bird was always pointed at him, and he could see the second "golden bullet" inside it.


    Even with one experience under his belt, he still had no confidence in dodging the bullet.


    The "gun" was designed with this scenario in mind, extremely accurate and fast, specifically to counter high-speed targets.


    The figure of Emperor Ramses disappeared into the vortex, and the bronze Clock Bird plunged into the vortex as well.


    The blue vortex gradually dissipated, the Clock Bird''s metallic wings out of energy, crashing to the ground.


    As Emperor Ramses departed, the Scorpion Legion could only roar in frustration before dissolving into sand.


    "Not a total loss!" Xu Yi casually beckoned, and the Greed Sin Remains flew into his hand like a sword.


    The Greed Sin Remains trembled, their aura growing stronger.


    Xu Yi took out the Serpent of Finale, and upon the snake head representing "Greed," a ghostly green glow appeared in the pupil.


    "The finishing touch" achieved!


    Although the Sin Remains didn''t consume all of the "Source of Greed," they did swallow a part, and compared to the time with Tomie Kawakami, it was a much larger quantity.


    In the mouth of the "Greed" snake was a new Philosopher''s Stone, but Xu Yi did not extract it on the spot.


    Who knows if there were spies of the Ring of Destruction around; such important secrets obviously couldn''t be exposed lightly.


    He put away the Serpent of Finale.


    Now that the "Greed" Sin Remains were activated, there was yet another way to acquire Philosopher''s Stones.


    Xu Yi didn''t leave immediately but instead squatted down in front of the severed arm.


    The arm had completely decayed, and when poked lightly with a stick, thick black fluid oozed out.


    Even now, he was still a bit apprehensive; if the bullet had hit his head or heart instead of the arm, his life would definitely have been forfeited.


    The entry for Hyper Accelerated Regeneration was completely ineffective against that bullet.


    After prodding with the stick for a while, Xu Yi finally found what he was looking for in the severed arm.


    After washing away the filthy blood on the casing with clear water, the full appearance of the bullet was finally revealed.


    Complex arrays were engraved on the casing, and from a cursory look, they seemed to have the effect of increasing speed.


    Xu Yi stared intently at the bullet''s head and sighed in disappointment.


    The bullet''s head was gone!


    This was actually expected. The energy that made Hyper Accelerated Regeneration ineffective, overwhelmed the Holy Flame, and caused the flesh to necrotize, all came from the golden, diamond-shaped bone that served as the bullet''s head.


    Now that the energy was completely exhausted, the bullet''s head naturally disappeared as well.


    Xu Yi, not quite willing to give up, took out a high-powered magnifying glass and placed the bullet under it.


    Although the Eyes of Obscurity were powerful, to see even finer details, professional equipment was still required.


    ```

 Chapter 281 Robbery for Wealth and Lust

    Xu Yi suddenly clenched his fist and couldn''t help but let out a cheer.


    He had already given up hope, but life is like that, some surprises always come when you least expect them.


    Through a high-powered magnifying glass, one could see a tiny speck of gold at the junction between the bullet head and the shell casing, even finer than dust.


    To ensure a firm connection between the bullet head and the shell casing, the bullet was designed with an embedded style, which is why there was a bit of powder residue left at the joint.


    Xu Yi carefully placed the shell casing into a box and sealed it well.


    Although there was only a tiny amount of powder, which wouldn''t really do much, he had the Philosopher''s Stone!


    He could use the Philosopher''s Stone to "copy" the golden diamond-shaped bones.


    With the acquisition of the Body of Demigod, his powerful physique solved most problems, the Alchemy Revolver had long been set aside, and the highly practiced gun skills had also become redundant.


    This is really too much of a pity!


    The biggest problem with guns is their power.


    The "golden bullet" before him gave him hope.


    If he could replicate the golden bullets, he could breathe new life into the Alchemy Revolver and even turn it into a trump card in his hand.


    "The Ring of Destruction really has too many good things!" Xu Yi thought to himself.


    He remembered the "black droplet" on the Crow Man''s chest, which must also be something extremely precious.


    "If there''s a chance, it would be nice to ''visit'' the base of the Ring of Destruction."


    Xu Yi suddenly turned his head and looked toward the east, muttering to himself, "I wonder if our ''tour guide'' will be up for it?"


    ......


    Robert struggled to move forward in the midst of the sandstorm.


    He had not only left the Pyramid but also exited the Different Space; he was now back in the real world.


    The terrifying sandstorm showed no signs of abating; on the contrary, it became more violent over time. Fortunately, he had a Magic Artifact for protection.


    Just then, he saw figures in his field of vision and was shocked. Could it be that Xu Yi had caught up?


    But he soon breathed a sigh of relief because there were two figures; it couldn''t be Xu Yi.


    "Brother, what a coincidence, you''re also strolling in the sandstorm?" one of the fat men suddenly turned around and greeted him enthusiastically.


    Dammit, who strolls in a sandstorm! Robert had no intention of communicating; he just wanted to leave this place quickly. If Xu Yi, that Demon, caught up, it would be troublesome.


    He turned around and walked in the opposite direction.


    "Brother, there''s a pit that way, it''s dangerous!" the fat man called out again.


    This was a desert, not a road with its manhole cover removed; where would there be a pit? Robert didn''t stop, but instead, quickened his pace, planning to distance himself from the two lunatics.


    But after only a few steps, a muffled sound came from beneath the ground, and Robert''s eyes rolled back as he collapsed onto the sand.


    "Mo Yi sis, why are we still listening to that guy and hiding here, even after we''ve escaped?" the fat man asked as he dug up the buried Vano bombs from the sand.


    They were too poor, and even the bases of these Vano bombs were worth some money, which is why he thought of recovering them.


    "Shut up and just do as I say!"


    Mo Yi''s gaze was more far-reaching than the fat man''s; she was very clear that this might be an opportunity, one that could help them escape their current predicament.


    The fat man muttered under his breath but still obediently tied Roberto up tight with ropes and injected him with a large dose of anesthetic.


    The sandstorm gradually subsided, and Xu Yi''s figure appeared in front of Robert.


    He had deliberately let Robert go, not wanting the Ring of Destruction to know what he was about to do next.


    He had secretly left his own blood on Robert''s body and with the blood sense, he could easily locate Robert before leaving the desert.


    Xu Yi glanced at Mo Yi and his companion, a bit surprised.


    He had casually mentioned for them to watch the exit of the Different Space, but he hadn''t expected them to actually do it, much less capture Robert, which saved him a great deal of effort.


    "Good job! You''ve certainly cleared the path!" Xu Yi looked at the two with approval.


    The chubby man subconsciously puffed out his chest as if he were a soldier undergoing an inspection by his leader.


    Damn it! He actually felt a sense of "honor", what was that about?


    Once Xu Yi confirmed that Robert was unconscious, he took out the "Nest of the Evil God" and stuffed it into Robert''s mouth.


    He knew the Ring of Destruction had a "Soul Prohibition", which meant one couldn''t speak about anything related to the Ring of Destruction or betray it.


    But what if the person didn''t know they had become a "double agent"?


    Xu Yi felt it was necessary to give it a try.


    He had long been curious about the base of the Ring of Destruction, and as the custom of reciprocity goes, when others had shown such warm hospitality, how could he not return the favor?


    It was just that the Ring of Destruction was too shy, not even leaving an address, so he had to find his own way.


    Once the Nest of the Evil God merged into Robert''s body, the big "Surveillance Guard" was essentially in place.


    "I hope it won''t be seen through too soon!" Xu Yi silently prayed.


    Although the Nest of the Evil God was sufficiently stealthy, the Ring of Destruction had too many tricks, and he wasn''t confident he could keep it a secret forever.


    "Go! Strip off his clothes!" Xu Yi didn''t want to do it himself and commanded the chubby man beside him.


    The chubby man''s body shuddered as he stripped the clothes while casting a terrified sidelong glance at Xu Yi. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He never imagined the other party would have such a taste!


    Was the reason he was spared because the other party took a liking to him? No way! He had been chaste for many years.


    "Get lost! Leave the underwear!" Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Yi felt that the other party''s gaze was off and with a kick, sent him flying away.


    The chubby man crashed into the sand, and while he breathed a sigh of relief, for some reason, he also felt a bit disappointed.


    He glanced at Robert''s bare body and suddenly swallowed hard.


    He had once heard a saying, every guy believes his orientation is normal before he realizes he''s gay. Could it be that he...


    "I''ll drag him away a bit farther so he won''t offend Mo Yi''s eyes," said the chubby man as he dragged Robert away, feeling it was necessary to verify something important.


    Xu Yi began searching through Robert''s possessions.


    The reason he had the chubby man strip Robert was to give Robert the illusion: "He was being robbed of his possessions..."


    His gaze suddenly caught the figure of the chubby man, and in his mind, he silently completed the rest of the thought: "...and also robbed of his dignity."


    Now, Robert should not just be suspicious, but thoroughly convinced.


    Beyond that, Xu Yi had another purpose, which was to look for clues.


    No sooner had the Source of Greed awakened Emperor Ramses than the Ring of Destruction appeared; Xu Yi was absolutely convinced that the Ring of Destruction had a method of searching for the Origin of Sin.


    The method of search controlled by the Ring of Destruction was far more advanced than his.


    He had to carry the Sin Remains with him and be within a hundred meters to sense the Origin of Sin.


    This range was simply too small; actively searching was akin to looking for a needle in a haystack.


    Xu Yi flipped through the documents Robert carried and unexpectedly made a discovery; a certain place was repeatedly mentioned in the documents.


    The Bermuda Triangle!


    Could that be where the next Origin of Sin would appear? Xu Yi couldn''t help but wonder.

 Chapter 282 Mainly Because I Like Teaching and Educating People

    Boston, Notting Hill.


    The maple trees on the hill were swaying in the cold wind, their leaves turning red in layers from the higher ground to the lower, like a gradient of colors meticulously painted by a famous artist.


    "I''m sorry! I couldn''t find Robert," Xu Yi apologized softly.


    "You''ve done your best, it''s just Robert''s bad luck," Martin, the head of Boston''s special affairs team, looked dejected and couldn''t hide the disappointment on his face.


    Robert was a pillar of the Boston Research Institute, and now that the pillar had collapsed, many projects were left without anyone to take over them, which greatly troubled the Boston high-levels. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi actually thought it was for the best, better to have the pain all at once than prolong it. With Robert, that unreliable guy, staying in Boston indefinitely, who knew what trouble he would cause in the future.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, I came here today, actually, to discuss something important with you," Martin quickly adjusted his mood and perked up again.


    "Oh, what is it?" Xu Yi became interested.


    He glanced at the safety case in Martin''s hand. Such cases, crafted from a special alloy, were generally used only when storing extremely valuable items.


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    He hadn''t been able to bring Robert back, and no matter how generous the Boston high-levels were, they wouldn''t "reward him handsomely." He was quite curious about what was inside the case.


    "I''m here on behalf of various countries and cities in Europe, to sincerely invite Mr. Xu Yi to join the Isotope Institute and take the position of Honorary Professor," Martin said with a serious expression.


    "Isotope Institute?"


    Xu Yi was startled for a moment; Martin had mentioned something about an institute before, but he had not expected it was laying the groundwork for now.


    He had not even graduated from MIT yet, and his academic abilities were quite average. Since they were inviting him to join, Isotope couldn''t possibly be an ordinary school.


    There was only one explanation, Isotope was an academy for exorcists.


    In fact, there were not a few private organizations that teach exorcism informally, but a specialized Exorcist Academy was something Xu Yi was hearing about for the first time.


    "The salary we offer for the Honorary Professor position is one high-quality Exorcism Artifact per month," Martin quickly added.


    For someone holding the title of exorcist, talking about money was just an insult.


    It might just be a "Magic Artifact," but considering it was a monthly salary, this was already quite a substantial offer.


    But Martin knew well that Exorcism Artifacts alone would not be enough to sway Xu Yi, so he promptly played his second trump card.


    "In addition, we will provide a welcome gift for the Honorary Professor."


    The case in Martin''s hand had been pre-set with the code, and could now be opened directly.


    Golden light illuminated Xu Yi''s eyes. Inside the case was a spear tip, and without Martin''s introduction, Xu Yi instantly recognized its identity.


    A fragment of the Spear of Longinus, and more importantly, the spearhead part.


    This spear tip obviously didn''t belong to Boston; otherwise, Xu Yi would have known about it long ago. It was likely brought over from another country.


    "This is no small gift," Xu Yi said, peering deeply at Martin.


    With the Spear of Longinus broken into three pieces, if he could obtain the spearhead in front of him, only the final handle section would be missing.


    A Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic, even just a fragment, was an incredibly precious treasure.


    "Where is the Isotope Institute?"


    Xu Yi neither agreed nor declined, instead asking for more details about the institution.


    "It is in Boston, quite close to Notting Hill. By car, it will take about half an hour to reach..." Martin began to introduce details about the Isotope Institute.


    Xu Yi was not surprised that The Isotope Institute was established in Boston, after all, Boston had a strong academic atmosphere, and America was a leading country in exorcism education.


    "When does the academy start?" Xu Yi asked another question.


    He had learned that if he took the job, he would become the head of the Martial Combat Department.


    He had little interest in training novices, mainly because he was just too busy lately. He was studying the undead black economy, grinding for experience with the Ando-name forging art entries, and preparing the auxiliary materials for forging...


    "At the beginning of next month," Martin replied.


    "That soon?" Xu Yi looked surprised; considering it was already mid-month, there were only a little over ten days left until next month.


    How could they possibly get an academy up and running in such a short time?


    Martin noticed Xu Yi''s confusion and took the initiative to explain, "Actually, Isotope Institute had begun preparations five years ago, and was ready to open a year ago. However, due to some details, the countries involved couldn''t reach an agreement, which led to the delay until now."


    "How did it suddenly all come together?" Xu Yi was somewhat puzzled.


    Such a situation definitely meant that some countries had made compromises, which was no easy feat.


    "Because of Japan," Martin answered.


    Xu Yi understood instantly, the nations were clearly frightened by the "extinction of Japan." Compared to minor benefits, survival was more important, and so they pushed through with impressive efficiency.


    The topic ended, and the atmosphere once again became awkward.


    Xu Yi was ready to decline, although the spearhead of the Spear of Longinus was tempting, he was too busy lately to bother training a bunch of rookies.


    Moreover, he already knew the whereabouts of the remains of the Spear of Longinus and naturally had other methods to acquire it.


    "Thank you very much..."


    Martin, just from hearing the beginning, already knew what was going to follow, and realized it was time to play his trump card.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, please take a look at this document first."


    Martin handed Xu Yi a document, and upon a single glance, Xu Yi could not look away.


    "The Gram Sword, the legendary dragon-slaying sword."


    "Andvari''s Treasure, the Gold-Attracting Ring renowned in the Roman epic."


    "Mistilteinn, also known as the Evergreen Sword, a life-giving sword born from the divine tree."


    ...


    There were five in total, all of them Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relics!


    Such a big move clearly wasn''t something a single country could afford; these were indeed the efforts of an Exorcist Academy built by the collective power of many nations.


    Xu Yi remained silent, looking at Martin, waiting for an explanation.


    "If the Honorary Professor can train ten Great Exorcists, as a token of gratitude, we will offer one Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic, which includes those listed here," Martin explained softly.


    Xu Yi suddenly realized why they were willing to offer Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relics!


    After all, no matter how powerful a Holy Artifact is, if the Controller is a rookie, it won''t be able to exhibit much strength.


    Ten Great Exorcists were reliable combat forces, far more cost-effective than fancy-looking Mythic Holy Artifacts.


    "Mythic Holy Artifacts and so forth are actually not that big of a deal, the main thing is that I like teaching and nurturing talent," Xu Yi said, extending his hand smoothly to take the box from the other party''s hand.


    Time, like water in a sponge, can always be found if you squeeze.


    One of the perks of becoming a professor at the Isotope Institute was the opportunity to select "good fruit" at will.


    The students who managed to enter the institute, even if not exorcism elites from various countries, were still individuals with exceptional talent.


    The chances of finding Sin Remains hosts were much higher than simply wandering outside.


    The most important thing was that the Mythic Holy Artifacts were too tempting.


    In order to create the "Alchemical Weapon: Seven Deadly Sins," he needed to collect more Mythic Holy Artifacts.


    After receiving a satisfactory response, Martin left contentedly.


    "Boss, do you want to check on the construction progress of Notting Hill?" Ailent had been standing not far away, and upon seeing Xu Yi in conversation with Martin, he tactfully waited beside.


    Xu Yi looked back at Notting Hill. Now, Notting Hill changed every day, and a tall wall had been built around it. Under the supervision of the Boston high-rises, the construction was proceeding rapidly.


    "You''re handling the details, and that''s good enough," Xu Yi said, acting the role of a hands-off boss. He had come today for a more important matter.


    "What about the thing I asked you to forge?" Xu Yi asked aloud.


    "It''s already forged, do you want to see it now, boss?" Ailent asked.


    Xu Yi nodded.

 Chapter 283 True God Keres

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    Xu Yi''s brow finally relaxed a bit when he returned to the villa.


    What he had asked Ailent to find someone to make was actually a Forge Station, along with some molds for swords and blades.


    Since he planned to forge weapons, naturally, these items were essential.


    He had just gone to check on them, and the situation could be summarized in one phrase: lighting a lamp in the daylight¡ªa waste of wax.


    The materials used for the Forge Station were top-notch and would certainly suffice for forging ordinary items, but they fell far short of the standards needed to forge the mythical "Seven Deadly Sins."


    "It seems I must find another way!"


    Xu Yi scratched his head in irritation, realizing he had underestimated the difficulty of forging the "Seven Deadly Sins."


    However, the greater the challenge of the forging, the greater the enhancement it would bring him upon success.


    By then, he would not just be a master in forging, but also a master of Magic Arrays, Master Alchemist...


    "It''s time to do something cheerful!"


    Xu Yi went down to the laboratory in the basement and took out the Serpent of Finale, lightly tapping the snakehead representing "Greed" with his finger.


    The serpent''s mouth opened, and a liquid that resembled Red Crystal, the Philosopher''s Stone, flowed out, falling into a test tube.


    "So much!" Xu Yi looked at the red liquid in the test tube and was initially stunned, then immediately thought, "Don''t stop! Please, don''t stop!"


    The Philosopher''s Stone ultimately settled at just over 30ml in volume.


    This was a far cry from last time''s "one mung bean size."


    "If this is just a part of the Origin, how much Philosopher''s Stone would there be if I devoured the entire Origin?" Xu Yi was already looking forward to his next "encounter" with the soul of original sin.


    Xu Yi stored the fresh Philosopher''s Stone and took out the half-piece from last time.


    He had already removed the fragments from the "golden bullet" ahead of time and placed them in another test tube; he then threw in the half-piece of the Philosopher''s Stone and added a catalyst, waiting for the miracle to occur.


    After several dozen seconds, a golden, glittering bone appeared in the test tube, and Xu Yi sensed a rich Divinity.


    His expression changed slightly. He had encountered Divinity many times before but never this particular kind.


    In a daze, he even felt the illusion that the golden bone before him was alive, silently observing him.


    Xu Yi took a deep breath, pushing that strange sensation out of his mind.


    He began to consult his information.


    The benefit of having a built-in library in his head was evident now, as after half an hour of searching, he finally found the relevant information.


    "A True God''s bone?!"


    Xu Yi was both surprised and unsurprised.


    Surprised because it was his first time directly encountering something on the level of a "True God."


    He was not surprised because only something at the level of a True God, capable of disregarding Hyper Accelerated Regeneration and threatening his life, would make sense.


    Xu Yi placed the True God''s bone under a magnifying glass to observe the patterns carefully, eventually finding a matching record in the "Catalogue of Gods'' Bones."


    "The divine remains of Keris, also known as the God of Decay, the God of Destruction, the God of Corpses..."


    He remembered the scene where his arm started to rot, which happened to correspond with the description in the documents.


    How, exactly, did the Ring of Destruction manage to preserve the remains of Keris? Xu Yi was very curious.


    Normally, when people speak of divine remains, they default to the bones of "False Gods."


    According to records, after the Twilight of the Gods, a dusting of divine downfall ash blew for three days and three nights. The flesh and bones of the True Gods... anything related to the True Gods was erased by the divine downfall ash.


    Xu Yi gazed at the True God''s bone, the size of a little finger, in his hand and felt a more vivid sense of its rarity.


    "This True God bone can barely create one bullet head."


    Xu Yi''s heart was ablaze with excitement¡ªif he could replicate the "Kres Bullets," he''d have an extra ace up his sleeve!


    He took out the bullet casings left by the Ring of Destruction and began to study the Array inscribed on them.


    Having a bullet head was one thing, but to unleash its true power, one must have the matching casing, and even the gun that fires the bullet was particular.


    And the challenge with the casing lay in the Array.


    After studying the Sun Golden Scripture, his understanding of Magic Arrays was no longer rudimentary. After examining it for a moment, he almost cursed out loud.


    "Damn Ring of Destruction! Setting a Soul Prohibition on a person is one thing, but to have Array misdirection on a bullet casing too!"


    Studying the Array on the bullet casing was not only unhelpful but actually harmful.


    The Arrays there were a mix of truth and falsehood, easily leading one astray, potentially never finding a way back.


    After pondering for a while, Xu Yi took out the bad blood silver bullets gifted by the church, as well as the dust-covered Demon-Breaking Flame Bullets.


    With his growing knowledge of Magic Arrays, looking at these two bullets now, he could discern many details.


    The engravings on these two bullets clearly had the "same origin," and Xu Yi even suspected they came from the same Array.


    It was likely that the "original Array" was too complex, so the designer broke it down. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The person who made the Alchemical Revolver Messiah and the three types of Exorcism Bullets must be a Master of Magic Arrays," Xu Yi couldn''t help but sigh. Breaking down an Array was a skillful job indeed.


    "What a pity, I haven''t found the Grim Reaper Piercing Bullet!" Another sigh from Xu Yi.


    Without the Grim Reaper Piercing Bullet, it was nearly impossible to assemble a complete Array, much less restore it.


    Should he design a whole new Array himself?


    The thought had barely surfaced when Xu Yi shook his head.


    It wasn''t that he couldn''t do it; after all, he had studied the Sun Golden Scripture, and he also had the Undead Black Scripture on hand.


    But ancient Egypt knew nothing of bullets, and to adapt an Array to fit a bullet would require an immense amount of time¡ªa resource he currently lacked the most.


    First the Forge Station, then the Kres Bullets¡ªthe plans were continuously frustrated, and Xu Yi felt a bit dizzy and nauseous.


    "Forget it, let''s go check out the place I''ll be working at in the future!" Xu Yi prepared to step out.


    ......


    Following the map provided by Martin, Xu Yi drove alone to Isotope Institute, finally arriving just before sunset.


    He stood in front of the grand gates of the academy, involuntarily admiring aloud, "It truly is worthy of being an exorcism academy established with international funding!"


    The Isotope Institute primarily boasted an "inhuman luxury," with the doorstep paved with expensive marble. The last time Xu Yi had seen such marble was in the lobby of a five-star hotel.


    The school entrance was lined with many cars, all of them luxury models, and shadows of numerous people could be seen within.


    The security guards at the entrance recognized Xu Yi and stood straight, saluting him.


    Walking into the academy, Xu Yi nodded repeatedly, expressing his satisfaction with the place he''d be working at.


    Putting everything else aside, at least the design of the academy was done with care¡ªany corner could serve as a "tourist check-in spot."


    "Brother Xu Yi!"


    As Xu Yi walked down the tree-lined avenue of the academy, a cute and lively female voice suddenly called out from behind. He paused, as it had been a long time since he had heard someone address him that way.


    He turned around, only to see two familiar figures.


    Judy, and besides her, her father and one half of the renowned Warren duo, Mr. Ed Warren.

 Chapter 284 The Lost Ancient Kingdom

    "How did you guys end up here?" Xu Yi looked at Judy and then at Ed, feeling inexplicably elated.


    Coming across an old friend like this was almost as delightful as the joy of "an unexpected reunion in a foreign land."


    "I''m accompanying Judy here to report," Ed replied with a smile.


    "Judy is also coming to the Isotope Institute?" Xu Yi was a bit surprised.


    After all, little Judy was only seven or eight years old, and Ed was such a doting father, could he bear it? Being an exorcist was a high-risk job.


    But then he thought about it and understood.


    With the backing of many countries behind the Isotope Institute, the amount of resources it could garner was quite frightening. Not to mention, which exorcism organization could afford to hire titled exorcists?


    According to what Xu Yi knew, in addition to himself, there were four other titled exorcists who had agreed to teach.


    The Warrens were both exorcists; they had more guts than ordinary parents.


    And they certainly could sense that the world was becoming more and more dangerous, and they were worried, what would happen to little Judy if something happened to them.


    So they thought it best to let little Judy start learning how to protect herself early on.


    As for the issue of little Judy''s age, there was no need to worry at all; the Isotope Institute had no age restrictions. It was all about Talent.


    "Brother Xu Yi, this is the gift I prepared for you."


    Judy suddenly pulled out a box wrapped in colored paper, looking like a birthday present.


    Unconsciously, Xu Yi felt his pocket. When a little girl gives a gift upon meeting, shouldn''t he give something in return?


    But, embarrassingly, he had nothing suitable to give as a gift on him¡ªsurely he couldn''t just pull out a stack of cash as a gift, right?


    "When did you prepare the gift?" Ed, noticing Xu Yi''s discomfort, spoke up to help out.


    Judy sneakily glanced at Ed, feeling a bit guilty, and whispered, "Just... at home."


    She wasn''t lying¡ªit was indeed at home, and even in Ed''s study.


    Xu Yi took the gift from little Judy''s hand.


    It might not be something precious, but it was still a thoughtful gesture from little Judy. Even if it contained only a small candy, it would make him happy for the whole day.


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    Judy, seeing Xu Yi accept the gift, sighed in relief.


    Her eyes rolled around, and she spoke slowly, "Sorry, Dad, I had to rush to Boston, so I didn''t have time to prepare a special gift, which is why I took one of your things."


    Judy knew Xu Yi was in Boston. As his little fan, she always paid close attention to his information, sometimes even phoning him.


    "Took one of my things?" Ed was momentarily taken aback, then realized that all the important items were kept in the "Occult Museum," which Judy could not enter without his company, so he relaxed.


    "Which place did you take it from?" Ed asked.


    "Inside the owl ornament in your study," Judy muttered quietly.


    There was something she didn''t say out loud, "That secret compartment in the ornament was really hard to open!"


    "What?" Ed was shocked all of a sudden.


    Seeing Ed''s reaction, Xu Yi knew it was something valuable. He didn''t want Judy to get scolded, so he prepared to hand the item back.


    "You took the Death Piercing Bullet!" Ed exclaimed in surprise.


    Xu Yi''s hand paused, and he silently put the item back in his pocket, tucking the little gift box away.


    At that moment, little Judy looked like an Angel in his eyes!


    He had been troubled about where to find the last Death Piercing Bullet, but after a trip out, the bullet had come into his hands in such a manner.


    "Sorry!" Judy apologized, with her head bowed.


    However, what she was thinking was, it''s okay! At most, Dad will be upset for four or five days, as long as Brother Xu Yi is happy!


    If Ed knew what Judy was thinking, he''d definitely cry himself to a faint in the bathroom.


    Other people''s daughters are their fathers'' little cotton-padded jackets, but why is it that in his family, the jacket is filled with black-hearted cotton?


    "Ed, although Judy is at fault, don''t you have some fault too?" Xu Yi, of course, could not let little Judy''s painstaking efforts go to waste, so he stepped forward.


    Can you withstand his hundred years of boxing skills, Ed?


    Ed looked up at Xu Yi abruptly, a dumbfounded expression on his face. Where had he gone wrong?


    A moment later, the two were seated in an upscale restaurant outside the Isotope Institute.


    Ed insisted that Xu Yi treat him. He ordered a mountain of dishes, not caring whether they were tasty, only looking at price. He was determined to take Xu Yi to the cleaners.


    Given their friendship, once he knew how much Xu Yi needed that Reaper Piercing Bullet, he certainly wouldn''t stint, but to "give" it away in such a manner was a bit depressing.


    "The alcohol here''s not bad, want to order a few bottles?" Xu Yi kindly suggested.


    Liquor was much more expensive than food¡ªperhaps the entire table of dishes wouldn''t compare to the price of a single good bottle.


    Ed hesitated for a few seconds, but ultimately gave up.


    He was angry and yet still thinking of saving him money. Xu Yi was truly touched. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He''s going to make me cry!


    "We''re colleagues now. We should get together more often when we''re free," Xu Yi suddenly changed the subject.


    He had only just found out that the Isotope Institute had invited the Warrens to serve as teachers at the school.


    "I''m just a humble teacher, and you''re an Honorary Professor. I can''t climb that high," Ed was still feeling resentful.


    "Wow! Brother, you''re amazing, actually an Honorary Professor!" little Judy''s eyes shone as she stared at Xu Yi.


    Ed''s mouth twitched, eventually sighing deeply.


    "What do you know about the Bermuda Triangle?" Xu Yi''s expression grew a little more serious.


    The Bermuda Triangle refers to a triangular area on the Atlantic formed by lines connecting Bermuda in the UK, Miami in the United States, and San Juan in Puerto Rico.


    After learning about the Bermuda Triangle from "Nickel and Dime" Robert, he sent Lisa and Maria to investigate, and they should have already arrived.


    The church had well-informed sources, and since Ed had a deep connection with the church, perhaps he could learn some "secrets" from them.


    "I can''t hide it from you!" Ed sighed heavily.


    Xu Yi instantly became alert, seeing that Ed obviously had "solid information", but he remained calm. Knowing Ed, he would soon start "confessing" voluntarily.


    It wasn''t because Ed was a blabbermouth, quite the opposite; Ed was usually too reserved, with too many concerns and difficulties speaking his mind.


    In front of Xu Yi, however, he had no such reservations. Since Xu Yi''s identity was special, he was a rare confidant for Ed.


    "You must have heard about the Lost Ancient Nation," Ed lowered his voice.


    Xu Yi''s heart skipped, he had only been hitting the bush, not really expecting such explosive news.


    "It''s probably more than just speculation, right?" Xu Yi began fishing for more information.


    Ed nodded, not denying it, "In the waters of the Bermuda Triangle, the church recovered wreckage from the ruins of Atlantis."


    "As far as I know, the church''s exploration of the Bermuda Triangle has been going on for more than a day or two, always quiet. Why the sudden discovery now?" Xu Yi was curious.


    In fact, it wasn''t just the church¡ªmany major organizations had this line of business, exploring "Mystic Lands" and excavating ancient ruins.


    "Recently, personnel stationed in that area of sea suddenly detected strong soul fluctuations," Ed explained softly.


    "That night, there was a massive earthquake on the seafloor, a terrifying maelstrom forming that lasted the entire night. The next morning, some previously unseen wreckage surfaced and was salvaged by the church."


    Powerful soul fluctuations, unexpected natural disasters, lost ruins... Xu Yi thought of the inverted Pyramid of Egypt.


    He was about seventy to eighty percent certain that the Source of Sin had descended upon the Bermuda Triangle.

 Chapter 285 Owuwa

    In the dead of night, the Eight Monster House, transformed into "Xu''s Restaurant," soared through the void, with Xu Yi vigorously swinging the hammer in the Forge Chamber, the sound of blacksmithing never ceasing to echo.


    "Forty! Forty!"


    The tool he held in his hands was merely the "small hammer," while the "big hammer" was in the hands of the Ghost Samurai.


    The Qi Snake Hammer required Divinity to operate, and since he was merely grinding experience for his forging art Entries and not forging the Seven Deadly Sins, the "small hammer" was sufficient for the task.


    At the moment, Xu Changrong was piloting the Eight Monster House, bound for the Bermuda Triangle.


    Since the Bermuda Triangle might reveal the Source of Sin, he naturally had to make the trip.


    Given such a long distance, flying by plane would normally be the more cost-effective choice, as the "Void Sneak" feature of the Eight Monster House consumes a thread of Divinity per hundred kilometers.


    Now short of Divinity, he should have cut costs where possible, but considering the peculiarities of the Bermuda Triangle, perhaps requiring a venture into the depths of the ocean, he decided to use the Eight Monster House.


    The "Forge Chamber" was situated within the Eight Monster House, right beside that ancient well.


    As the Cat Spirit Holy Tree delved into the ancient well, water unexpectedly began to spring forth from the dry well, something Xu Yi had not anticipated at all.


    He speculated it might be a trait of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree that stimulated the well, causing it to revive.


    The spring water was icy cold to the bone, too cold even for the Body of Demigod to be immune against, and Xu Yi was overjoyed, as this water was undoubtedly an excellent liquid for quenching swords and blades.


    After a long journey, the Eight Monster House finally arrived in the waters of the Bermuda Triangle.


    "First, contact Lisa and the others!" Xu Yi took out a transparent Crystal Ball.


    This translucent Crystal Ball was an Alchemy Artifact, its main function was communication, and it was very expensive; Xu Yi had spent a great deal of money to custom order ten of them.


    In such a place, where satellite phones often fail, this supernatural method of communication was more reliable.


    The Crystal Ball lit up with a faint red glow, within which the shadows of figures could be seen running.


    Xu Yi felt that this Alchemy Crystal Ball, compared to the brick phones of this era, was much more superior; not only was it smaller in size, but it also had "video functionality."


    "Xu Yi?" Lisa''s completely distorted voice came through, along with the piercing screams of terror.


    Xu Yi was startled for a moment, then quickly realized that Lisa might be caught up in a battle.


    "Where are you?" Xu Yi asked urgently.


    "We''re on a cruise ship! The latitude is approximately 32¡ã1883''N, longitude 64¡ãW. No good, it''s coming back!"


    As a thunderous boom sounded, the Crystal Ball''s "connection" was severed.


    Xu Yi''s expression changed slightly, and he immediately took out the Navigational Dimensional Instrument to locate their position.


    The Eight Monster House sped ahead at full throttle, and twelve minutes later, Xu Yi finally arrived at the "scene of the incident."


    The massive cruise ship had capsized, the wreckage of its cabin floating on the sea surface, along with a multitude of lifeboats. Bizarrely, there was not a single person on the lifeboats, not even a body to be seen.


    "Where are Lisa and the others?" Xu Yi''s heart also began to rise with anxiety.


    At that moment, a black shadow burst through the azure sea surface and flew into the sky, allowing Xu Yi to heave a sigh of relief as he saw the shadow.


    The shadow flapped its massive black wings¡ªit was Carlyle in his vampire form.


    In Carlyle''s hands were two people, none other than Lisa and Maria.


    As it happened, the area designated for Maria''s training with Carlyle was near the Bermuda Triangle. Learning that Xu Yi was investigating the Bermuda Triangle, Lisa had also rushed over.


    This marked the first time the "Three Sisters" had joined forces.


    A shadow pursued from the sea below, swirling toward Carlyle and the two women.


    It was a tentacle akin to an octopus''s, with just the end of the tentacle being five meters thick, making one wonder how immense the body attached to it must be.


    No wonder the fate of the cruise ship was so tragic, for in the grip of this creature, even the mightiest ocean liner was nothing more than a delicate toy.


    Seeing that segment of the tentacle, a glint of delight flashed in Xu Yi''s eyes.


    He carried a metal box that was trembling slightly. Upon opening the box, inside were the seven Sin Remains, and the one representing "Gluttony" was tremoring intensely.


    He had never imagined that just upon arriving at the Bermuda Triangle, a surprise would already surface.


    ```


    That was the host of "Gluttony" Origin.


    Xu Yi drew out the "Gluttony" Sin Remains and hurled it fiercely towards the tentacle.


    The "Baiting Technique" was activated once again!


    Feeling the aura of the Gluttony Sin Remains, the tentacle indeed gave up on Carlyle and the others, grabbing hold of the "Gluttony" Sin Remains in one swoop.


    Just as the tentacle attempted to devour the Sin Remains, they suddenly "rebelled", piercing deep into the tentacle and traveling through the "flesh passage", advancing unstoppably downwards.


    The tentacle seemed to realize the "intentions" of the Sin Remains; it trembled violently, just like a gecko discarding its tail to survive, and willingly severed itself.


    Dark green blood surged out from the sea, the huge tentacle floating on the surface.


    Xu Yi summoned with a gesture, and the Gluttony Sin Remains flew back into his hands.


    His complexion was a bit off; the usually miraculous "Baiting Technique" had failed.


    It wasn''t that the opponent had perceived his intentions, but that its body was too massive. To the opponent, this tentacle was akin to human body hair.


    The Gluttony Sin Remains stabbing into "body hair" obviously couldn''t devour the Origin of Sin.


    "We must find the core of the opponent and insert the Sin Remains into it!" Xu Yi instantly understood.


    The core had to be at the center of the body, but the opponent''s body was so colossal that it was impossible to reach there with just the power of the Sin Remains.


    There were no shortcuts this time; Xu Yi had to take action himself.


    "Quick, come inside!" Xu Yi beckoned to Carlyle.


    Carlyle, stunned by the floating "Xu Family Restaurant", hesitated for a moment but, trusting Xu Yi, still led Lisa and Maria into the Xu Family Restaurant.


    Xu Yi immediately issued orders to the Ghost Samurai and the Eight Monster House plunged into the water. As it neared the severed tentacle, Xu Yi casually dragged the tentacle into the Eight Monster House. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    The Eight Monster House sank into the deep sea, as if returning to its home field, chasing in the direction from which the tentacle had vanished.


    Xu Yi checked the condition of Carlyle and the others, relieved to find they weren''t seriously injured.


    "What exactly is that monster? Why did it attack you?" Xu Yi asked curiously.


    "That should be Awatuwa, the guardian deity of Atlantis, according to legend."


    While explaining, Lisa retrieved a fragment from her person, "It probably attacked us because of this."


    "Is this the relic from the Atlantis ruins that was swept out by the underwater vortex?" Xu Yi took the fragment and examined it with curiosity.


    The fragment was only half of a whole and appeared to be some kind of bladeless knife, serrated like a saw.


    The more Xu Yi looked, the more familiar it seemed, and looking in the direction of the Forge Chamber, a realization dawned on him.


    Wasn''t this a file?


    This kind of tool is occasionally needed when forging weapons.


    He suddenly remembered that according to records, Atlantis was an ancient nation where alchemy was exceedingly advanced, in both potion synthesis and weapon forging.


    "Is it possible to find a forging station and a series of forging tools inside ancient Atlantis?" A thought suddenly crossed Xu Yi''s mind.


    The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.


    To create "Alchemy Tools: Seven Deadly Sins," the equipment in the forge chamber would not suffice.


    The Eight Monster House tracked tirelessly; they had entered the deep sea where light had completely vanished, leaving only darkness.


    At that moment, a faint purple light illuminated Xu Yi''s eyes.


    In the glow was an eerie "Sea Serpent", its body purple as if forged from purple crystal, yet reflecting the luster of metal.


    The Sea Serpent had eight heads, each engraved with a complex gateway symbol.


    Ring of Destruction! Xu Yi''s heart skipped a beat.


    What was worse, the heads of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent suddenly twisted as one, with sixteen scarlet eyes fixating directly on the Eight Monster House.


    ``` S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 286 Mysterious

    The Eight Monster House possessed the "anti-peeping membrane" function, which allowed people on the inside to see out, but prevented those on the outside from seeing in.


    Xu Yi''s gaze, through the "window" of the Eight Monster House, was fixed on the eight-headed sea serpent, his body tensed, ready to fight at any moment.


    He knew the Eight Monster House definitely couldn''t deceive the other party. It was called "Void Sneak," but in essence, it was just dynamic camouflage, combined with a Silent Domain.


    Even if the camouflage were perfect, movement in the sea still caused ripples in the water.


    Common creatures might not notice, but in front of the alchemical machinery of the Ring of Destruction, it was mere child''s play. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Among the alchemical machinery that appeared with the Ring of Destruction, the eight-headed sea serpent gave Xu Yi a sense of unfathomable depth, far stronger than the copper Clock Bird.


    But even the "harmless" copper Clock Bird was in command of the horrific "True God Bullet."


    The red glow in the pupils of the eight-headed sea serpent grew more intense, its mouth slightly opening¡ªa prelude to an attack.


    At that moment, two dark figures approached swiftly; Xu Yi turned to look.


    He had assumed they were from the church because, having the capability to dive deep into the sea, probably only the church could be in this region.


    But the instant he saw them clearly, he knew they were definitely not from the church.


    He instinctively clenched the Sin Remains in his hand; the vibe those two gave him could only be described with two words: bizarre.


    The two were dressed in pure black full-body armor, neither resembling a diving suit nor traditional armor. At first glance, they looked more like two pupae, except the swirl pattern on their surface took the shape of spiraling vortexes.


    The "Chrysalis Armor" completely wrapped them up, even covering their eyes; it was unclear how they were able to see.


    From these two "pupa people," Xu Yi couldn''t sense the slightest trace of an exorcist, they seemed more like common people.


    But for some reason, he shivered slightly as though he had encountered a terrifying natural enemy.


    The moment the pupa people appeared, the eight-headed sea serpent stared fixedly at them, turning its back on the "Xu Family Restaurant."


    Obviously, in the eyes of the eight-headed sea serpent, the "Xu Family Restaurant" was utterly insignificant compared to the pupa people before it.


    What surprised Xu Yi even more was that the sea serpent, which came from the "madmen organization," didn''t attack first but chose to leave instead.


    It turned around sharply and dived toward the depths of the sea with lightning speed.


    "Where did you trash come from, disappear!"


    One of the pupa people suddenly turned their head, giving the Eight Monster House a casual glance.


    Xu Yi''s expression darkened; in these deep seas, the reason he could hear the other''s words clearly was because they were transformed into the sound of the soul by the "Chrysalis Armor."


    The other pupa person remained silent but raised a weapon in hand. It resembled a Mauser Gun, but with a shorter barrel.


    When the trigger was pulled, what shot out was not a bullet, but a spearhead about the length of a finger.


    Logically, in such deep-sea conditions, even bullets fired from a sniper rifle would be affected by the high pressure of the seawater and thus lose their accuracy.


    But the spearhead forged ahead relentlessly, the deep-sea pressure having no effect on it at all.


    Without needing a warning from Xu Yi, Xu Changrong knew that the spearhead was not to be trifled with, maneuvering the Eight Monster House to dodge.


    Yet, midway through its flight, the spearhead began to accelerate, defying all logic. It grew faster and faster, until eventually the spearhead''s shadow was completely obscured with only the parted water trail visible.


    The Eight Monster House struggled to dodge. Just when it seemed to have successfully evaded, the spearhead abruptly changed direction, fiercely plunging into the "wall" of the Eight Monster House.


    There was no earth-shattering noise, as if the object that hit the Eight Monster House was just an ordinary spearhead.


    But the tentacles beneath the Eight Monster House instantly ceased moving, and even the camouflage couldn''t be maintained; it took shape in the water and began to plummet downward.


    The pupa person gave the "Xu Family Restaurant" a glance, then paid it no further attention, as if they had merely squashed an insignificant ant on the roadside; they pursued the eight-headed sea serpent. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    Inside "Xu Family Restaurant," Xu Yi''s face looked somewhat unsightly.


    If he hadn''t sealed all the entrances in advance, by now the seawater would have already surged in.


    With half of a divine body, Xu Yi was immune to the crushing pressure of the deep sea, but it wasn''t that easy for everyone else, not to mention that they also had to contend with an oxygen-free environment.


    Eight Monster House could absorb oxygen from seawater, performing an internal and external exchange. Now that Eight Monster House was paralyzed, that function was naturally lost.


    He had to "cure" Eight Monster House before the oxygen inside was depleted.


    Other parts of Eight Monster House were sealed, and the ancient well was the only passage out. Xu Yi jumped into the well, its water icy and bone-chilling.


    At the bottom of the well was actually a spatial tunnel. Passing through the spatial tunnel, Xu Yi could appear in any area of Eight Monster House.


    After a bout of dizziness, when Xu Yi opened his eyes again, he was already in the midst of the deep sea.


    He found the spot where Eight Monster House was "struck by the arrow", the arrow''s power wasn''t strong, with half of it still sticking out of the wall.


    The arrow was dull and dusty, not appearing unusual, but Xu Yi dared not touch it directly with his hands.


    He donned thick metal gloves, grabbed the tail of the arrow, and yanked hard.


    But the next second, his expression changed.


    The metal gloves were actually "melting," not the type of melting like metal corroded by concentrated sulfuric acid, but more like decay, as if the metal had turned into deadwood and then had been nibbled by termites for decades.


    As the gloves decayed, Xu Yi inevitably came into contact with the arrow.


    An eerie energy surged into his palm, and suddenly he couldn''t feel it anymore, completely numb as if it had been anesthetized.


    What was worse, the "anesthesia" kept spreading along his arm.


    Xu Yi turned fierce and yanked hard again. Fortunately, although his hand was numb, it still clutched the arrow tightly, and he was able to forcefully pull it out.


    Because he couldn''t feel his hand, he couldn''t shake the arrow off, so he resorted to the simplest and most violent method. He tore his arm off and then threw it away.


    Xu Yi watched his arm fall, his face looking somewhat unsightly.


    It was the right arm again that he tore off; he had done the same in Egypt not long ago, and it had only just finished regenerating.


    He had come to realize that the arrow was imbued with some kind of "anesthetic toxin."


    The toxin was obviously not applied afterward but was integrated into the material during the forging of the arrow.


    But to be honest, this was beyond Xu Yi''s understanding of "poison." In the face of that substance, his demigod body was almost ineffective.


    Xu Yi had planned to bring the arrow back for study, but once the arrow was removed from Eight Monster House, it seemed to trigger some mechanism, starting to decay as well, and it disappeared with a sweep of the seawater.


    "Just don''t let me get the chance!"


    Xu Yi returned to Eight Monster House, gritting his teeth.


    It wasn''t because he had self-amputated and become Yang Guo, but due to the depletion of divinity.


    In order to remove the residual anesthetic toxin in Eight Monster House, he had to first isolate it, then break off half of "Xu Family Restaurant," and finally consume divinity to repair the wall.


    Divinity was already scarce for forging weapons, and now that so much was consumed, he felt as if his heart was bleeding.


    Nonetheless, Xu Yi felt somewhat fortunate that the toxin in the arrow was sparse and the size of Eight Monster House was sufficiently large, not affecting the core; otherwise, Eight Monster House might have directly "collapsed."


    Eight Monster House continued to dive deeper, as the word "cowardly" didn''t exist in Xu Yi''s dictionary.


    But he liked to be strategic, so he changed Eight Monster House''s position to avoid directly running into those two chrysalis people.


    This was merely a strategic retreat. How could it be considered cowardly?

 Chapter 287 Sneaking into the Village

    Xu Yi had never expected that the opportunity for revenge would come so quickly!


    After submerging for over half an hour, they finally arrived at the seabed where a long and narrow canyon stretched out for dozens of kilometers like a scar on the ocean floor.


    The canyon was extremely deep and seemed bottomless, but a blood-red glow emerged from below, as if an ancient fierce beast was opening its gaping maw.


    The fissure in the canyon appeared quite "fresh" and must have formed recently, unlike other seabed canyons that had become incredibly smooth over time due to constant erosion by water currents and couldn''t possibly be so rough.


    Xu Yi recalled the underwater earthquake Ed had mentioned, surmising that the canyon must have been created then.


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    Two chrysalis-armored figures were circling within the canyon, seemingly in search of some passage.


    Xu Yi scanned the surroundings but did not spot the eight-headed sea serpent.


    This was actually within his expectations; the Ring of Destruction gave him the impression that its members were all "masters" in their own right.


    If not a Master of Arrays, then a Master Alchemist, and even the peripheral member Robert was a master of scientific research, evidencing the terrifying depth of the Ring of Destruction''s resources.


    After studying the Sun Golden Scripture, Xu Yi became particularly sensitive to arrays and soon noticed a hidden array within the seabed canyon.


    Though the two chrysalis-armored figures wielded terrifying weapons, they didn''t seem familiar with arrays, moving chaotically below like headless flies.


    "Since you can''t find the array, let me give you a hand. Who says I''m not a handsome and kind-hearted man?"


    Xu Yi left the Eight Monster House, activated Dark Stealth, and sneaked over alone.


    ......


    "Colin, still no discovery?" one of the chrysalis-armored figures asked their companion.


    Although their "Chrysalis Armor" covered their eyes, their vision was not obstructed, but instead their senses were greatly enhanced.


    After all, this was a full-body armor crafted from the "shed skin" of a supreme being.


    "Daniel, I don''t understand this stuff. Should we call Tony? He is an expert in this field," the other chrysalis-armored figure said helplessly as he shook his head.


    "Absolutely not! We secretly donned the Black Abyss attire without the organization''s knowledge. If we''re found out, we''re in big trouble," the chrysalis-armored figure named Daniel quickly shook his head.


    "So, what do we do now?" Colin asked, standing there, looking lost.


    Just then, a blue light suddenly caught his eyes; he looked in the direction of the glow and saw something flickering in the depths of the canyon.


    "Look! Could that be the entrance to Atlantis?" Colin exclaimed.


    "Who cares, let''s just go and find out," Daniel took the lead and swam towards the place where the blue light flickered.


    At the center of the blue light was a small whirlpool, gently rotating and looking enchantingly beautiful.


    Without saying a word, Daniel swam towards the whirlpool, and Colin didn''t hesitate either, following close behind. Soon, both their figures vanished into the whirlpool. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi stepped out from his hiding spot, quite taken aback.


    They just went in like that?


    He had triggered the array here, causing the whirlpool to appear.


    The blue-light whirlpool certainly led to the ruins of Atlantis, but it was a "trap passage" specially prepared for intruders.


    He had prepared a series of contingencies to lure the two men into it, but before he could use them, they had eagerly plunged in themselves.


    "Could it be that the two are not right in the head?"


    Xu Yi thought of how they started with trash talk upon arrival and behaved arrogantly, indeed seeming somewhat mentally unsound.


    After pondering for a moment, he quickly put the matter out of his mind.


    He found the key node of the array, activated it to reveal the true entrance, and a whirlpool appeared again, this time emitting red light.


    Xu Yi returned to the Eight Monster House, and under the control of the Ghost Samurai, it descended into the whirlpool.


    After a dizzying sensation, a sudden weightlessness struck as the Eight Monster House plummeted directly downwards¡ªthey had left the deep sea.


    Tentacles danced below the Eight Monster House as it switched from "Deep Sea Mode" to "Flying Mode," drastically slowing its descent.


    During his descent, Xu Yi looked out and was shaken by the scene before him.


    A blue energy curtain expanded, forming an inverted bowl shape. The seawater was pushed aside by the energy curtain, with pure white light cascading down from above.


    Under the glow of this light lay a massive circular city that resembled an intricate metal labyrinth, with roads crisscrossing in every direction and a colossal statue of the sea god standing at the city''s center.


    The once City of Water¡ªAtlantis¡ªmust have been an extremely bustling capital, but now it had all become a thing of the past.


    The statue of the sea god was broken in the middle, the central palace had collapsed, and all around the city were ruins and broken walls, the whole city covered with a thick layer of dust.


    This was clearly a Different Space, where the energy curtain that pushed aside the water was neither from an Array nor some alchemical Artifact, but rather a feature of the Different Space itself.


    Atlantis had "fallen" who knows how many years ago, and even if there were any powerful Arrays, they should have run out of energy long ago.


    The channel Array outside was still able to maintain itself because when not activated, it would automatically enter a silent state, consuming virtually no energy.


    Through the energy curtain, Xu Yi finally witnessed the legendary Ouvwah itself.


    He had tried to imagine it as grandiose as possible, but he still underestimated the enormity of Ouvwah.


    The creature floated above the energy curtain, obscuring half of Atlantis, and that was only a small portion of its body.


    Legend had it that when Ouvwah swam directly above Atlantis, the light of the entire city would be blocked out, and darkness would fall.


    When Ouvwah unfolded its body, light would once again descend.


    Ouvwah governed the night and day of Atlantis.


    That was just the main body of Ouvwah, not including its vast tentacles that spread out for hundreds of kilometers.


    As Xu Yi gazed at Ouvwah, an involuntary sense of fear rose in his heart.


    It was not because the creature was too powerful, but rather a "fear of large objects" that was rooted in human genetics.


    He took a deep breath and adjusted his mentality.


    Above Ouvwah, he spotted the long-lost Eight-headed Sea Serpent. It was apparently engaged in "friendly negotiations" with Ouvwah, but it seemed to be going poorly.


    Ouvwah continuously attacked the Eight-headed Sea Serpent with its tentacles, but the serpent skillfully dodged each one.


    The Eight Monster House descended into the ruins of Atlantis without causing any disturbance and kept its camouflage feature activated throughout.


    Their plan was simple.


    "Enter the village quietly, don''t fire any guns."


    They aimed to first find the "Royal Forge Chamber" of Atlantis. If the forging equipment inside was still usable, then they would strip it bare.


    Xu Yi planned to deal with this matter before figuring out how to extract "Gluttony''s" Origin.


    "We''ll split up and act separately, but remember to be extremely careful!"


    Xu Yi glanced at the "Three Sisters." After pondering for a moment, he decided to have Lisa, Maria, and Carlyle help with the search.


    As for old man Xu Changrong and Harada Mieko, they stayed in the Eight Monster House, ready to provide support at any moment.


    The four set off in different directions, as they had discussed earlier. Xu Yi''s target was the center of Atlantis, where the statue of the sea god stood, as that was the most likely place for the "Royal Forge Chamber" to be.


    Xu Yi hurried through the ruins, and along the way, he saw many novel things, but he didn''t stop for any of them.


    This city had completely become a city of the dead, devoid of any trace of life, and even more eerie, not even a single bone could be found.


    But he was not here to uncover the true reason behind the fall of Atlantis, so he did not get sidetracked.


    Xu Yi arrived at the city center. He searched for a good half an hour, but it was all in vain.


    Could it be that the Forge Chamber is not here? The thought involuntarily popped into his head.


    Just as he was considering whether to change the search area, a blue ice fog suddenly burst from the southeast, rising into the sky and forming a massive "mushroom cloud."


    That direction?


    Xu Yi was momentarily stunned before his expression suddenly changed, as that was the area Carlyle was exploring.

 Chapter 288 My task is completed!

    Xu Yi burned his blood, bursting with urgency, as he sprinted towards Carlyle''s direction.


    At this moment, his heart was burning with anxiety because the ice mist had just surged towards the sky, attracting Otova''s attention, who temporarily ceased the battle to gaze down assessing the situation.


    The Eight-headed Sea Serpent also ceased its attack because its original goal was not to kill Otova but to "persuade" it.


    Both monsters'' strengths were not to be underestimated, and Xu Yi had to find Carlyle before they did.


    Just then, a vortex suddenly appeared in the sky above Atlantis, accompanied by blue lightning. Xu Yi watched intently, suddenly feeling an ominous premonition.


    The next second, the premonition came true as two Chrysalis soldiers fell from the vortex.


    "They''re actually alive!" Xu Yi was too shocked to speak.


    Those blue lightnings were actually "Space Blades" formed due to the folding of space, and even with the Body of Demigod, getting repeatedly slashed by those "Space Blades" would not allow one to survive.


    Yet, the Chrysalis soldiers seemed unharmed, with only their "Chrysalis Armor" covered in various scratches that were slowly disappearing.


    What in the world could they have been made from?!


    Xu Yi suddenly understood why the two had jumped into the vortex without hesitation, not because they were foolish, but because they had no fear.


    No wonder the Eight-headed Sea Serpent could only choose to temporarily avoid sharp violence; the defensive power of that "Chrysalis Armor" was astonishingly formidable.


    Worse still, the two Chrysalis soldiers were also drawn by the ice mist and rushed toward the direction where the mist rose. With the help of their "Chrysalis Armor," they could leap dozens of meters with each step.


    The only good news was that Xu Yi was the closest and arrived first.


    "Carlyle!" Xu Yi called out softly.


    Within the cold mist, he saw Carlyle''s figure.


    "Come quickly! I think I''ve found something interesting!" Carlyle''s voice quivered with excitement.


    Could it be the Forge Chamber? Xu Yi, taken aback, stepped quickly into the icy mist.


    The mist was emanating from a hidden metal room, where a steady stream of ice mist poured out. Xu Yi hesitated to enter, his gaze scanning over the walls, his heart pounding secretly.


    The material used to forge this room was extraordinary, with intricate patterns etched into the walls, which were actually some kind of Array.


    In the corners of the wall, one could occasionally see hollowed-out gears, meaning the room was a creation of some Alchemical Machinery.


    "How did you find this place?" Xu Yi exclaimed in surprise.


    The room''s security level was certainly "Max" grade; even with brute force, Xu Yi had no confidence he could open it.


    Moreover, the room was clearly expertly camouflaged; if the door had not been opened, it would appear as nothing more than an exceptionally ordinary Atlantis-style residence from the outside.


    "I saw a small unicorn pattern on the door and out of curiosity, I just pressed it, and then this nine-grid puzzle popped up," Carlyle explained.


    Carlyle pointed to the upper right corner of the door where there was a small unicorn pattern.


    Xu Yi''s mouth twitched slightly, the pattern was very small and hidden under the door frame, difficult to find even with deliberate searching, let alone just passing by.


    He looked towards the "nine-grid puzzle" Carlyle was pointing at, growing more curious.


    The nine-grid puzzle was clearly the "Key" to the room, a pattern of a crown.


    What was strange was that the puzzle had already been restored, so the Treasury in front of them was able to open.


    It was as if someone had gone through great pains to forge a highly secure Treasury but after its completion, left the key in the keyhole, not taken away.


    Could it be that an abrupt event occurred, so there was no time to scramble the nine-grid puzzle?


    Xu Yi was utterly baffled.


    "This nine-grid puzzle is too simple; I randomly fiddled with it, and the pattern was restored," Carlyle muttered quietly.


    Xu Yi widened his eyes, staring at Carlyle in disbelief.


    You must be the reincarnation of the Goddess of Luck!


    The nine-square grid puzzle is simply restoring the pattern, and it''s not difficult, as there are thousands of ways to solve it.


    But the difficulty lies in, among these thousands of methods, only one is "correct," and using any other method would make it impossible to open this door.


    In short, Carlyle had to follow a strict sequence: move one puzzle piece to the left, then the second, the third, and if any step in between is wrong, the door would instantly lock.


    Yet Carlyle casually tried, and he actually figured out the correct password. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What kind of heaven-defying luck is this?


    Finally, the icy fog in the room dissipated, and Xu Yi saw the metal room clearly¡ªit was empty, with only a metal vine tree standing tall in the center.


    Amongst the entwined metal vines was a "crystal box" the size of a palm, emitting icy fog.


    A syringe was encased in the crystal box, with liquid the color of sapphires flowing inside. The liquid seemed alive, constantly changing into various shapes.


    Anyone could guess that the potion inside the crystal box was of immeasurable value.


    Xu Yi carefully walked into the room and grabbed the crystal box among the metal vines, and nothing unexpected happened during this process.


    The crystal box was cold and piercing to the touch. Xu Yi tried to store the crystal box in his Toy space but found that it was not possible.


    Annabelle''s "Heart of Toy" rule had failed for the first time.


    But now clearly wasn''t the time to dwell on these matters, and he, along with Carlyle, strode out.


    The moment they stepped out of the door, Xu Yi suddenly stopped because the sky suddenly grew overcast. Since there were no clouds drifting in this place, there was only one reason for the darkening sky.


    Xu Yi slowly raised his head; the massive Omuva pierced through the mist curtain, floating above Atlantis, its crimson pupils coldly overlooking him.


    It wasn''t just Omuva; the eight-headed Sea Serpent of the Ring of Destruction and two chrysalis people from an unknown organization were also present.


    They were surrounded!


    "Hand over the Poseidon Potion! We will spare your life," one of the chrysalis people said, the Mauser gun in their hand pointed at Xu Yi, their eyes fixed on the blue potion inside the crystal box.


    It was actually the Poseidon Potion! Xu Yi was startled.


    He had certainly heard of the Poseidon Potion''s reputation. When he first crafted the God-melting Blood, he had learned about various alchemical potions.


    The Poseidon Potion was dubbed "God Ascension Drug." Compared to the harsh usage conditions and hard-to-control side effects of other alchemical potions, the Poseidon Potion was simply a breath of fresh air.


    It could be injected by ordinary people.


    Even more astonishing was its effect. Though one could only guess from snippets in ancient tomes, a person who successfully injected the Poseidon Potion could at least attain the strength of a "Great Exorcist."


    In other words, if an ordinary person injected the Poseidon Potion, they could instantly become a Great Exorcist, which was nothing short of a meteoric rise.


    Xu Yi suddenly understood; the two chrysalis people had come for the "Poseidon Potion."


    No wonder they attacked without a word when they were in the deep sea¡ªthey were preemptively eliminating potential rivals.


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    The situation was extremely unfavorable for Xu Yi. If he wanted to keep the Poseidon Potion, he would have to face a "three-pronged assault."


    Even with the Ghost Samurai on his side, they stood no chance.


    Xu Yi pulled out a "little toy" from the Toy space, a ball of white clay.


    He had made it during his free time with divine punishment Crystal Stone.


    He covered his hand movements with his arm and silently stuck the clay into a corner of the crystal box. The white clay quickly became transparent and was virtually undetectable without close inspection.


    The fingers of the chrysalis person were already on the trigger, ready to attack at any moment.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi flung the crystal box towards the Eight-headed Sea Serpent and shouted, "Boss, I''ve completed my mission!"

 Chapter 289 The Specially Prepared

    The eight-headed Sea Serpent grasped the thrown crystal box with one of its heads, its eyes shimmering as it stared at Xu Yi''s fleeing figure.


    The other''s strategy was not clever, but it was effective, and it knew very well that the Poseidon Potion was now a hot potato.


    Whoever held it in hand would face an onslaught.


    Everyone understood the principle, but to be able to abandon the Poseidon Potion without hesitation was not something ordinary people could do.


    The eight-headed Sea Serpent knew that to hand over the Poseidon Potion now would be the best choice.


    But the Poseidon Potion was simply too tempting.


    Besides granting immense strength, the Poseidon Potion had an extremely important effect, rejuvenation and curing diseases.


    It thought of its original body lying within the organization''s "Eternal Coffin," and felt an itch in its heart.


    Even if the "Transference Mechanism" was powerful, it couldn''t compare to the compatibility of one''s own flesh and blood.


    Moreover, the Transference Mechanism had a significant drawback; if the soul remained attached to the Transference Mechanism for a long time, it would become contaminated and descend into madness.


    Such madmen, in the headquarters of the Ring of Destruction, were very common. Normally were injected with an overdose of sedatives, falling into a deep slumber.


    The eight-headed Sea Serpent hesitated for a long while but still couldn''t bear to give up the Poseidon Potion.


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    "Hand over the Poseidon Potion!"


    The Chrysalis people''s gaze fell on the eight-headed Sea Serpent in an instant, turning a blind eye to Xu Yi''s escaping pair.


    The Poseidon Potion was too important for them, even if the opponent was one of the "High Executors" of the Ring of Destruction, they would not back down.


    Seeing the eight-headed Sea Serpent remain silent, they resolutely pulled the trigger, and spears laced with potent poison took flight.


    The battle was about to erupt, not just with the Chrysalis people, but the tentacle monster, Ovwa, also joined the fray.


    Xu Yi, of course, could tell that Ovwa''s intelligence was quite low, otherwise the eight-headed Sea Serpent would not have met with repeated setbacks in its communication with it.


    Atlantis had been extinct for who knows how many years, but Ovwa still guarded this place persistently.


    To it, anyone who attempted to steal the relics of Atlantis was its enemy.


    The eight-headed Sea Serpent was caught between two fires, although it was powerful, danger lurked all around.


    Seeing the eight-headed Sea Serpent in a sorry state, Xu Yi secretly felt lucky.


    He who hesitates is lost.


    He, of course, also desired the Poseidon Potion, but he was well aware that even if he could keep it, the price to be paid would be immense.


    By then, whether it was the Casting Platform or the Source of Greed, he would have to give them up for sure.


    Xu Yi''s pocket suddenly emitted a red glow, and he fished out the Communication Crystal Ball, Lisa''s voice coming through from inside the ball.


    "We found the Forge Chamber!"


    "Fantastic! Where is it?"


    Xu Yi felt that bringing the "three sisters" was the right decision indeed.


    After getting the exact location, Xu Yi started contacting the Ghost Samurai, instructing them to control the Eight Monster House to come for backup.


    "Carlyle, go and meet up with them, try to move everything from the Forge Chamber into the Eight Monster House!"


    After giving his orders, Xu Yi set off alone, sneaking back stealthily.


    Of course, he didn''t forget that the primary goal of his trip was the Source of Greed.


    The remnants of the battle swept through the ruins of Atlantis, Xu Yi hid in the shadows, observing the battle in the field with a secretly pounding heart.


    The eight-headed Sea Serpent frequently opened its maws to spew out terrifying venom.


    The effects of each venom differed; some had strong corrosive properties while others could form bone-chilling frost...


    Ovwa''s tentacles had wrapped around the eight-headed Sea Serpent, slowly constricting with tremendous force that could grind steel into powder.


    A red barrier appeared around the Eight-headed Sea Serpent, stubbornly holding off the constricting tendrils.


    The Chrysalis warriors decisively pulled the trigger, and the spear arrows with automatic tracking pierced through the barrier, striking the Eight-headed Sea Serpent.


    A layer of purple crystal covered the surface of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent, which shattered under the force of the spear arrows, sending fragments flying in disarray.


    The Eight-headed Sea Serpent did not show signs of "poisoning", clearly aware of those spear arrows; the layer of purple crystal was the solution.


    But judging by the thickness of the purple crystal, it wouldn''t hold out much longer.


    The Eight-headed Sea Serpent was well aware that if the fight continued, it would not only fail to complete the organization''s mission but might also lose this incarnation here.


    It glanced at Awowa and made a choice.


    "After all, as long as the organization''s plan succeeds, later on, I can use the Philosopher''s Stone to refine the Panacea." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Eight-headed Sea Serpent broke free from Awowa''s tentacle restraints, opened its maw, and emitted a sound like metal clashing, "I can hand over the Poseidon Potion to you, but only if you help me deal with Awowa and put it to sleep with the Twilight Arrows."


    Since Awowa did not intend to cooperate, then he would have to resort to strong-arm tactics, take Awowa back to base, where there were plenty of ways to control it.


    "Why should we trust you?" The two Chrysalis warriors seemed a bit tempted.


    "Don''t you carry contracts with you? I am willing to sign my name on the contract," the Eight-headed Sea Serpent spoke in a deep voice.


    The two Chrysalis warriors looked at each other and nodded.


    Xu Yi clearly saw the so-called contract, which was another parchment scroll, but he knew that his "Entries of Bonds" contract was just for show, relying on the system.


    The parchment scroll in the Chrysalis warriors'' hands definitely possessed some kind of miraculous power.


    The Chrysalis warriors quickly wrote down the text on the parchment scroll and then threw it to the Eight-headed Sea Serpent, greatly reducing the pressure it only needed to deal with Awowa.


    As it dodged, it read the text of the contract.


    "This clause needs to be changed. I can only ensure to hand over the Poseidon Potion. As for whether you can get it or not, that''s your business. Suppose it''s seized by someone along the way, do you expect me to help you retrieve it?"


    After a brief discussion, the Chrysalis warriors still agreed and nodded.


    They didn''t believe that anyone could steal the item right from under their noses.


    Xu Yi felt a surge in his heart as he heard the contract''s contents, and a glimmer of light flowed in his eyes.


    The contract was sealed, and both the Eight-headed Sea Serpent and the Chrysalis warriors breathed a sigh of relief.


    The situation quickly reversed, and Awowa was forced into retreat under the combined attack from both sides.


    Arrow after arrow of the "Twilight Arrows" penetrated Awowa''s body, and no matter how vast its size was to dilute the poison within the spear arrows, there was a limit to everything.


    Moreover, the Eight-headed Sea Serpent was assisting from the sidelines, constantly spewing out a sleep-inducing poison mist from its maw.


    A moment later, Awowa finally "fell asleep", its massive body plummeting from the sea, collapsing half of the Atlantis ruins and causing a thunderous rumble.


    Xu Yi watched the sleeping Awowa, suppressing the urge to strike. Now was not the optimal moment.


    "Our work here is done, hand over the Poseidon Potion!" The Chrysalis warriors glaringly eyed the Eight-headed Sea Serpent.


    The Eight-headed Sea Serpent had no intention of reneging, as the consequences of breaking the contract were too severe, which it was not willing to bear.


    It looked at the Poseidon Potion with reluctance and then, under the urging of the Chrysalis warriors, threw out the crystal case.


    Xu Yi watched the crystal case in mid-air, his eyes glistening.


    The opportunity had arrived!


    But he was not about to move forward to snatch it, after all, the two Chrysalis warriors were too tough to handle, possessing the grotesquely sturdy "Chrysalis Armor", and the terrifying "Twilight Arrows".


    And he had a hunch that the Chrysalis warriors had other tricks up their sleeves.


    He took out a sapphire and quietly activated the Array on it; this was a "remote control switch", its function to activate the "transparent clay" stuck on the crystal case.


    "I hope both parties will like the little surprise I''ve specially prepared!"

 Chapter 290 The Poseidon Potion About to Expire

    A golden glow illuminated from the crystal box, and a look of astonishment flashed across the pupils of the eight-headed sea serpent. The cocoon person let out a terrified howl.


    They wanted to stop it, but it was already too late.


    The glow naturally came from the Skyre Crystal, as Xu Yi needed only a brief second to activate the Array and trigger the Skyre Crystal.


    Hidden beneath the "Dust of Obscurity," an alchemy product with chameleon-like properties, the Skyre Crystal quickly became "one" with it upon contact.


    Under the intense radiation of the Skyre Crystal, the crystal box melted like snow - it wasn''t as durable as imagined.


    A faint cracking sound suddenly came from the crystal box; though slight, it was like thunder to the ears of those present.


    Xu Yi, too, showed a stunned expression; the syringe inside the crystal box had actually shattered!


    Usually, precious items like the Poseidon Potion were stored in extremely durable containers that were difficult to damage.


    Therefore, his initial goal had only been to destroy the crystal box, disrupt the trade, and muddy the waters.


    What Xu Yi didn''t know was that, due to its uniqueness, the Poseidon Potion must be stored in a "super subcooled" environment and the potion itself was corrosive.


    No matter how sturdy a material, under the persistent double onslaught over the years, it would become fragile.


    "You dare to play us!"


    The cocoon person watched the container shatter and blue liquid splash out, utterly enraged, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.


    Suddenly recalling the prior events, they realized why the other party unexpectedly amended the contract¡ªit was an ambush waiting for them!


    The eight-headed sea serpent withstood two Twilight Arrows, wanting to explain something, but then he stopped himself.


    He remembered Xu Yi''s parting call, "Boss!"


    That meant, in the eyes of the two, Xu Yi and he were conspirators, and even if he claimed it was Xu Yi''s trickery, they would think he was mocking them.


    With no chance to defend himself, as altering the contract before was for caution, he could now only swallow his bitterness silently.


    Xu Yi, the chief culprit, stared fixedly at the scattered blue liquid in the air, his eyes gleaming.


    The Poseidon Potion had merely spilled, not become unusable; it just had to be collected again.


    However, disappointment soon clouded his eyes.


    The cocoon people wasted no time; producing a metal flask, also an alchemy product, they opened it, and the spilt Poseidon Potion was sucked into the bottle.


    Yet to Xu Yi''s surprise, despite having recovered the Poseidon Potion, the cocoon people were not satisfied; they were increasingly furious.


    One of the cocoon people suddenly extended a finger to the center of their forehead, and their "Chrysalis Armor" automatically split open at the chest, revealing a heart black as ink "leaping" out from within.


    The heart hovered in front of the cocoon person, with numerous tentacles writhing and dancing like worms.


    The instant the heart appeared, to Xu Yi''s shock, he spied a hint of terror in the eyes of the eight-headed sea serpent, trembling as if a rodent in the sights of its natural serpentine predator.


    The eerie heart throbbed vigorously, a vertical slit formed on it, and an eye adorned with centipede-like patterns opened from within the slit, coldly watching the eight-headed sea serpent.


    The sea serpent''s scales emitted dense steam, its speed suddenly increased, not for attacking but for fleeing upward toward the energy isolation barrier. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two cocoon people did not immediately pursue, instead taking out the previously signed contract and tossing it towards the dark heart.


    As soon as the parchment scroll touched the heart, it burst into flame without ignition, and at the same time, fearsome bony wings grew from the heart''s back.


    With a fierce flap of the bone wings, the heart transformed into a streak of black light, chasing after the eight-headed sea serpent.


    The heart''s speed was astonishing. Just as the sea serpent was about to pass through the barrier above, the heart caught up and struck the sea serpent harshly.


    The heart shattered upon the body of the eight-headed sea serpent, and those "fragments" didn''t fall off; instead, they clung to the serpent, with tentacles writhing as if a group of black caterpillars were crawling over its body.


    The eight-headed sea serpent let out a mournful howl, its metal body shaking uncontrollably.


    Xu Yi watched, his hair standing on end. The serpent was an alchemical beast, and even sturdier than his demigod body; if it was in such a sorry state, he could only imagine a worse fate for himself.


    He glanced surreptitiously at the two cocooned people and silently shivered. He had already guessed at their identities.


    Suddenly, the tail end of the eight-headed sea serpent split open, its parts forming a metallic flower whose pistil was inlaid with a purple, rhombus-shaped crystal stone.


    The crystal stone refracted scintillating light, the luminescence covering the surface of the serpent''s body like a light veil, temporarily isolating those "black caterpillars" as it continued to flee upward.


    "Don''t let it escape at all costs!"


    One of the cocooned people roared loudly and chased after the eight-headed sea serpent.


    They had used the precious Heart of the Reaper; of course, they couldn''t let their quarry escape so easily.


    Xu Yi watched both the beast and men depart, waiting silently.


    Only after he was sure they wouldn''t double back did he emerge from his hiding spot.


    He cast a glance at Autowah, who was "sleeping soundly", without disturbing him, and began searching through the ruins of Atlantis.


    "Found it!"


    Xu Yi eyes sparkled with joy. He moved aside a broken metal load-bearing column and found the remains of a Poseidon Potion injector in a crevice below.


    What delighted him even more was the hint of "enticing blue" at the needle of the syringe ¡ª the remnant of the Poseidon Potion.


    The cocooned people could not possibly have collected all of the Poseidon Potion; there was bound to be some left behind, Xu Yi had foreseen this and thus hadn''t fought for it.


    It was this very decision that had spared him from disaster; otherwise, he might have ended up taking a bullet for the eight-headed sea serpent.


    The cocooned people must have realized this too, but they didn''t care ¡ª such a small amount of Poseidon Potion was negligible to them.


    Xu Yi carefully collected the remaining Poseidon Potion, a flicker of excitement on his face.


    Such a tiny amount of Poseidon Potion would be practically useless to others.


    But not to him, he was someone who possessed the Philosopher''s Stone!


    He could use the Philosopher''s Stone to replicate the Poseidon Potion.


    Xu Yi carefully examined the Poseidon Potion and after a moment, he prepared to put it into his toy space, but his hand suddenly stopped.


    The color of the potion seemed to be fading.


    He stared unblinkingly at the potion in the tube, his expression changing. It wasn''t an illusion; the Poseidon Potion was indeed fading.


    The fading of the color indicated that certain components in the potion were evaporating ¡ª the Poseidon Potion was deactivating!


    He recalled the "alchemical treasury" he had encountered earlier.


    There was an important reason why the Poseidon Potion was stored in the alchemical treasury, beyond just security, which was for storage.


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    Whether it was the cold mist, the metal vines infused with energy, or the cold crystal boxes, they all indicated the stringent storage conditions required for the Poseidon Potion.


    He now understood why the cocooned people, despite having obtained the Poseidon Potion, were still so furious and eager to condemn the eight-headed sea serpent to death.


    Without the protection of the crystal box, once the Poseidon Potion was removed from the syringe and exposed to the air, it would quickly deactivate.


    "Fifteen minutes, at most fifteen minutes, and the Poseidon Potion will turn completely into waste water!"

 Chapter 291 All-in

    Xu Yi quickly stored the Poseidon Potion and took out the Greed Sin Remains, striding toward the Treasure Awl.


    Knowing that the Poseidon Potion was about to lose its effectiveness, he couldn''t wait to return to the Eight Monster House to prepare the potion.


    Xu Yi stood in front of the Treasure Awl, feeling urgent yet somewhat hesitant.


    The body of the Treasure Awl was too vast; to assimilate the Origin of "Gluttony," he had to dissect the outer flesh and enter the core.


    During this process, the Treasure Awl would definitely regain consciousness. Although weakened by the toxin from the Twilight Arrow, it would still obstruct his dissection progress.


    Back and forth, it might take half an hour, by which time the Poseidon Potion would have long since become ineffective.


    "I can let the Ghost Samurai act as the dissection workers!" Xu Yi quickly thought of a solution.


    Just as he was about to summon the Ghost Samurai, his gaze caught the direction where the Eight-headed Sea Serpent had vanished, and an idea suddenly flashed through his mind.


    "Maybe I can wait a bit longer!" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi had personally experienced the toxin from the Twilight Arrow and knew it wouldn''t be ineffective so quickly; the Treasure Awl wouldn''t recover any time soon.


    In other words, there was no rush to dissect the Treasure Awl.


    "Perhaps there''ll be unexpected surprises!" Xu Yi took out the Nest of the Evil God and threw it into a hidden corner.


    Before ambushing from the bushes, it''s a good habit to prepare in advance!


    Xu Yi sensed the location of the Eight Monster House and then sprinted at full speed.


    ...


    In the southwestern corner of the Atlantis ruins, a group of enormous oval-shaped buildings stood tall. Xu Yi found Lisa and others inside one of the "giant eggs."


    "This is a bit too exaggerated!" Xu Yi said, his eyes twitching slightly as he watched the busy crowd.


    Everyone was in and out of the "Royal Forge Chamber," bustling like a team of ants transporting food.


    The "Royal Forge Chamber" was just a name Xu Yi casually coined because all the items inside were stamped with the "Poseidon Mark."


    Xu Yi had learned from an Ancient Tome that only the royal family of Atlantis had the right to use items bearing the "Poseidon Mark."


    This information might seem trivial, but it could be worth a fortune at certain moments.


    There were plenty of forge chambers in Atlantis, so how could they find the best one in a short amount of time?


    The answer lay in the "Poseidon Mark."


    Xu Yi had previously instructed Carlyle to empty the forge chamber, which was just a jest, but to his surprise, they took it seriously.


    "What''s that in your hand?" Xu Yi asked, his mouth twitching as he glanced at the white oval pad in Harada Mieko''s hand.


    "I don''t know either!" Harada Mieko hastily replied before running off to search for more "treasures."


    Xu Yi wanted to say something but held back because the item looked too much like a toilet seat!


    "They haven''t started treating this like a supermarket shopping spree, have they? And the kind that costs zero dollars."


    Xu Yi suddenly considered a possibility, shook his head, and decided not to bother with the group of women who had gone overboard with "shopping."


    At the skylight room in the Eight Monster House, Xu Yi looked at the remnants of the Poseidon Potion, took a deep breath, and said, "If we''re going to play, let''s make it big!"


    He held a nail-sized piece of the Poseidon Potion in one hand and 30ml of the solidified Philosopher''s Stone liquid in the other¡ªhis entire stock.


    Without hesitation, he poured all the Philosopher''s Stone into the test tube of the Poseidon Potion and then added a catalyst.


    He went all-in!


    Once again, a miraculous scene occurred as the Philosopher''s Stone obeyed the law of conservation of energy and transformed into the Poseidon Potion.


    30ml of Philosopher''s Stone yielded just over 60 ml of Poseidon Potion, nearly doubling in volume.


    The potion in the crystal box was about 20ml, clearly, to achieve the best effect, it was best to inject a dose of 20ml.


    That is to say, through the transformation of the Philosopher''s Stone, he now had three full doses of Poseidon Potion.


    "No good, still can''t make it!" Xu Yi looked at the Poseidon Potion and sighed.


    Although the Poseidon Potion transformed from the Philosopher''s Stone restored peak potency, the process of "neutralization" was irreversible, like dominoes; once started, there was no turning back.


    "I must hurry now!"


    Xu Yi glanced at his wristwatch, divided the potion into three syringes, and walked out of the skylight room.


    The "three sisters" had already finished their "brick-moving" journey and were waiting outside early.


    "This is the Poseidon Potion, inject it now," Xu Yi handed over the Poseidon Potion.


    All three did not hesitate, took the potion, and immediately injected it into their bodies.


    Xu Yi closely monitored their condition while frequently checking the time.


    ......


    On the edge of Atlantis, mushroom-like dwellings had all turned to ruins, with purple poison fog rising across the space and a foul stench pervading the air.


    "Damn it! He still got away!" one of the pupa people said with hatred.


    Although their initial goal was the Poseidon Potion, if they could kill a high-ranking minister of the Ring of Destruction and confiscate a high-level reincarnation artifact,


    upon their return to the organization, they could legitimately turn a "private job" into an "official matter," earn a lot of credit, and get promoted.


    Their relentless pursuit of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent, and the anger they showed, was just superficial; this was the real reason.


    "Forget it, Daniel, the other party is seriously injured and won''t dare to come back anytime soon. Let''s hurry up," another pupa person advised.


    Daniel, the pupa person, nodded and took out the metal bottle for collecting Poseidon Potion.


    He hesitated as he took out two syringes and said,


    "Colin, injecting the Poseidon Potion actually carries certain risks. I need the Poseidon Potion urgently because of cancer, but you don''t need to take this risk."


    "No worries, Daniel, we''re good friends! We face dangers together!" Colin said, unconcerned.


    He scoffed at Daniel''s words, the risks seemed negligible to him; it was obvious that the other party was just reluctant because injecting 20ml of Poseidon Potion was needed to achieve the best effect.


    Daniel said nothing more, even though he was upset, he had to endure it.


    After all, the Poseidon Potion was about to expire, and there was no time for them to argue anymore.


    He divided the Poseidon Potion he had into two portions.


    In the process, he was a bit sly; he first poured 10ml into his own syringe and then handed the rest to Colin.


    Considering that some potion was spilled, what was left was certainly less than 10ml.


    Colin noticed this too and pursed his lips but didn''t say much. The same reason as before, they no longer had time to argue.


    They lightly pressed their fingertips to their foreheads, and this time it was not their chests but their arms that split open.


    If Xu Yi saw their arms, he would certainly be very surprised. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    The arms of the two were different, one person''s arm was thin and bony while the other''s was bursting with fat.


    But one thing was the same, they both lacked muscle; it was clear they hadn''t undergone any rigorous training, just ordinary humans.


    How could two ordinary people be crushing an Eight-headed Sea Serpent from the Ring of Destruction?


    This was simply unbelievable.


    The two couldn''t wait to inject the Poseidon Potion into their bodies, and shortly after, they screamed in agony and fell to the ground, convulsing.


    "Something''s wrong! This potion is a problem!"

 Chapter 292 The Systems Bug

    In the Eight Monster House.


    Xu Yi looked at the scene before him, his complexion extremely ugly, his eyebrows knitted into a "´¨" character.


    Lisa lay on the ground, her body convulsing continuously; Maria''s seven orifices were bleeding, her breathing weak; Carlyle was even worse off, his skin cracked all over, like a clay figure exposed to intense sun.


    They had just injected the Poseidon Potion and, in just half a minute, they had turned into this ghastly state.


    Dissection images floated before Xu Yi''s eyes. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The dissection images came from the Nest of the Evil God, which he had ingested early in the morning to observe the changes within their bodies.


    Golden light flickered in Lisa''s body, a power deriving from Holy Blood.


    Maria and Ailan''s bodies were intertwined with black and white mist, the power of Twin Souls.


    Within Carlyle, a balanced ring formed by red and black liquids, was the "Ryan''s Power," a fusion of werewolf and vampire strengths.


    The Poseidon Potion was unlocking the "shackles" within their bodies.


    At first, everything went smoothly, but for some reason, as soon as the Poseidon Potion reached into their genetics to begin the genetic-level transformation, the situation took a nosedive.


    Could the Poseidon Potion be fake?


    This thought flashed through Xu Yi''s mind.


    But that didn''t make sense either. Would the Atlanteans go to such lengths to preserve the Poseidon Potion only to deceive others?


    This was simply illogical.


    Xu Yi saw the three of them growing weaker and weaker and did not think of stepping forward to save them.


    He glanced down at his watch; the time was almost up.


    Platinum flames surged from his eye sockets, his internal organs incinerated to nothingness as he decisively chose self-immolation.


    Time rewound to five minutes earlier.


    Xu Yi stood in the middle of the skylight, holding the Philosopher''s Stone, preparing to pour it into the tube containing the Poseidon Potion.


    This was his plan from early on, as the Resurrection Coin was not just an extra life; it was also a chance to try and err.


    That''s why he dared to go all-in with the Philosopher''s Stone, injecting the potion into Lisa and the others without hesitation.


    "Should I continue to experiment?"


    This was the problem that Xu Yi would have to face next.


    Logically, he had five resurrection opportunities per day, and to be safe, he needed to keep at least two of them in reserve.


    That meant he could attempt it two more times.


    But was it worth it? After all, each Resurrection Coin was extremely precious.


    Xu Yi poured the Philosopher''s Stone into the tube with the Poseidon Potion.


    He had already thought of the answer to this question while in the Resurrection Space.


    The Poseidon Potion was too precious. According to ancient tomes, Atlanteans who injected the Poseidon Potion saw significant enhancement in their physical condition and possessed the "Armor of Poseidon."


    "Armor of Poseidon" was not actual armor but referred to the increased physical strength after enhancement, impervious to swords and immune to malign influences, as if wearing a mythological armor.


    Moreover, the Armor of Poseidon granted the ability to breathe deep underwater.


    "If the records don''t lie, the effect of a single Poseidon Potion should at least be comparable to a Red Common entry!"


    Red Entries, even Common ones, were extremely precious.


    Even now, Xu Yi struggled to acquire entries of the Red Level.


    It wasn''t because of his strength, but because it was difficult to encounter targets from which to absorb "Red Entries."


    The Red Level entries on him were either from an Evil God or from something as bizarrely extreme as an Evil Deity, exceedingly rare.


    For Xu Yi, who possessed a Body of Demigod, the effect of the Poseidon Potion was weak, but for Lisa and the others, it was a different story.


    If it were a Red Epic entry from the Combat System, their strength should be not much different from that of titled exorcists. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    With the enhancement from the Poseidon Potion, coupled with the boost from the Seven Deadly Sins of Alchemical Weapons, along with their own inherent abilities


    taking everything into account, their strength could already be considered to have one foot in the realm of titled exorcists.


    And how many titled exorcists were there in the world?


    If the plan succeeded, a powerful force would rapidly coalesce around Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi used the Philosopher''s Stone to replicate the Poseidon Potion once again, but he didn''t immediately let the three of them inject it; instead, he started to concoct the potion.


    The Nest of the Evil God could not only observe changes in the human body but also analyze the components of the Poseidon Potion.


    Just now, during his review in the Resurrection Space, he had already noticed a certain "sign."


    Perhaps it wasn''t that there was a problem with the Poseidon Potion, but that the "person" was the issue!


    The Poseidon Potion was a potion that acted at the genetic level. It was formulated, of course, for Atlanteans.


    Could it be that the genes of the Atlanteans and those of modern humans are different?


    The more Xu Yi thought about it, the more he felt it was possible.


    [You have sacrificed "Wings of Blood" and gained Mystical inspiration!]


    Wings of Blood, a green Epic Entry from the Vampire Progenitor Dracula.


    This Entry had not found the right time for use, but now the time had come.


    Time was too pressing. If he were to create a "Genetic Harmonizing Elixir" in the normal way, it would be impossible, so he had to choose to cheat.


    Inspiration surged in like a flood. If the inspiration from burning a white Entry before was like a small stream,


    then the current inspiration was like a wide and mighty river.


    The inspiration was endless, and Xu Yi quickly concocted the potion.


    Ever since the "poisoning incident" with the Sun Golden Scripture, he always had a large number of semifinished potions on hand, just in case.


    In just one short minute, he had concocted the "Genetic Harmonizing Elixir."


    "Come! First, inject the Poseidon Potion, and then this harmonizing potion."


    Xu Yi had the three women inject the potions, racing against the clock.


    After the two potions were injected one after the other, Xu Yi''s face once again turned ugly.


    Because it had failed again!


    "As expected, it was too rushed! To concoct the appropriate potion in such a short amount of time, it would take a miracle."


    Xu Yi sighed and then resolutely used the second Resurrection Coin of the day.


    Within the Resurrection Space, he reviewed the entire process. He was certain now; it was indeed a matter of genetic differences.


    The Poseidon Potion was formulated for Atlanteans. Modern humans, due to subtle genetic differences, had a "rejection reaction."


    "It seems I can only give up."


    Xu Yi gradually calmed down. Although trying again would increase the success rate, it would only go from 1% to 10%.


    The probability was too small, and it was not worth wasting a Resurrection Coin.


    But he hadn''t gained nothing; from the analysis of the Nest of the Evil God, he had gotten many inspirations, and perhaps he could attempt to make a "Lesser Poseidon Potion."


    Golden light enveloped Xu Yi''s eyes, and he once again appeared in the room with the skylight.


    This time, because of concocting the potion, time had moved a bit further back, and he was about to pour the Philosopher''s Stone into the test tube when he abruptly stopped.


    "Whew! The timing was too close to the limit this time; if I had been two seconds later, I probably would''ve had to do it all over again."


    Xu Yi praised himself as a "Master of Time Management."


    He prepared to put away the Philosopher''s Stone, glanced at the system panel out of habit, and then froze, staring intently at the system''s Entry library.


    The Wings of Blood Entry lay quietly inside!


    Wasn''t this Entry sacrificed and transformed into Mystical inspiration? Why did it still appear in the Entry library?


    He had always assumed that after an Entry was burned, it would disappear; after all, time had been rewound, but the Mystical inspiration obtained would always stay in the brain.


    Could it be a bug in the system?


    Xu Yi stared intensely at the system panel, feeling a mix of elation and apprehension, like finding a winning lottery ticket on the side of the road, yet suspecting it to be fake.


    The system did not respond, nor did any bug correction message appear.


    Xu Yi''s eyes shone like two high-wattage bulbs!


    He suddenly understood that this was not a bug, but an inherent feature of the system.


    His body trembled slightly from the excitement. Although it might seem like only a small bug, the potential benefits it could bring were unimaginable.


    Xu Yi resolutely decided to pour the Philosopher''s Stone into the Poseidon Potion.


    He had a bold idea!

 Chapter 293 From Today Onwards, Please Call Me a Scientific Research Genius!

    Xu Yi stared intently at the system panel, his eyes seeming to burn with flames.


    If no miracle descended, then he would actively create one!


    [You have burned "Psychic Painter," gaining mystical inspiration!]


    This was just the beginning, far from the end.


    [You have burned "Eyes of Obscurity," "Soul Jade," "Wings of Blood"...]


    After the green items, came the blue ones.


    [You have burned "Shadow Gun God,"...]


    Then, there were the red-tiered entries.


    [You have burned "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration," "Weapons of Original Sin"...]


    Finally, there was the sole pale gold entry.


    [You have burned "Thrones of Blood," gaining mystical inspiration!]


    Great efforts bring forth miracles!


    He sacrificed all the burnable entries he had.


    Having lost these entries, Xu Yi became an ordinary person, a feeling of unprecedented weakness overcame him, replaced by a torrent of inspiration.


    Burning green Epic-level entries was like a river of inspiration, but now it was as if he had plunged into an ocean; he was surrounded by inspiration, inexhaustible and unending.


    To quickly filter out the best ideas, he also activated "Super Brain Calculation."


    At that moment, Xu Yi''s pupils suddenly dilated.


    Finding a bug in the mysticism talent was already an immense surprise, but he didn''t expect an additional "Grand Gift Pack."


    [The hidden effect of Mystical Talent Activation has been triggered! When an excess of inspiration is gained, Mystical Talent Activation will forcibly start.]


    "This is the correct way to use the Resurrection Coin and Mystical Talent Activation!" Xu Yi was beside himself with excitement.


    The strength of "Mystical Talent Activation" was undeniable; it was with this ability that he was able to concoct the "God-melting Blood."


    But its biggest drawback was its uncontrollability.


    Now things were different. With just one Resurrection Coin, he could have the chance to activate it, and also be endowed with a continuous flow of inspiration.


    It was like winning big time!


    Various projects flashed through Xu Yi''s mind: the "True God Bone Bullet Project," the "Mythical Holy Artifact Array Transfer Project"...


    Projects that had been progressing slowly, or had only existed in concept, could now be scheduled for execution.


    [Mystical Talent Activation: What can you do to make two enemies get along? The method is simple, just make them no longer enemies!]


    At first glance, this sentence might seem a paragon of pointless literature.


    But Xu Yi''s eyes brightened; perhaps he had been thinking the wrong way all this time, always trying to harmonize human genes with the Poseidon Potion. Maybe he could take a different approach.


    He started concocting potions. Under the influence of Mystical Talent Activation and a wealth of inspiration, he had never felt his thoughts flow so clearly.


    It was like when solving a problem, the brain doesn''t need to think at all, the next step just automatically appears in front of him.


    Xu Yi rapidly composed the potion and approached Lisa and the other two women.


    He first injected them with the concocted potion, then with the Poseidon Potion.


    His eyes sparkled as he observed the changes in the three women''s bodies through the Nest of the Evil God, full of anticipation.


    The Poseidon Potion entered their bodies and spread rapidly, beginning its scan.


    If it detected the gene scent of an Atlantean, it would take effect; otherwise, it would cause a "rejection reaction."


    Whether this trait was intentional on the part of the creator or an accidental effect was unclear.


    This coincidentally created a "technology blockade," also the main reason for the frequent failures in injections.


    The Poseidon Potion detected the "Atlantean" gene scent and its efficacy penetrated deep into the genes, commencing the transformation.


    "It''s working!" A look of excitement appeared on Xu Yi''s face.


    The reason why the Atlantean gene scent appeared in the three women''s bodies was all thanks to the "Gene Scent Camouflage Potion" he had just concocted.


    Changing a person''s genes, or the properties of the Poseidon Potion, was too difficult.


    Instead of that, it made more sense to "deceive" the Poseidon Potion, making it believe that its subjects were Atlanteans, thereby circumventing the "technology blockade."


    How could two enemies get along?


    "As long as we keep them in the dark, not letting them know they are enemies, isn''t that enough?"


    The principle of the disguise potion is the same; its effects can only last for a duration, but once the Poseidon Potion''s transformation is complete, whether the disguise wears off or not, what does it matter?


    "Mysticism''s Revelation really is a bug!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but sigh.


    Because the prompt from Mysticism''s Revelation is definitely accurate, which can avoid taking the wrong path.


    Lisa fell into a deep slumber, her aura climbing with each breath.


    But the situation for Maria and Carlyle was completely different; their skins split all over, blood uncontrollably spilling out.


    The potion had failed again, yet there was not a hint of disappointment on Xu Yi''s face.


    His thought process wasn''t wrong; he was just a step away from success. The step he missed was that he had neglected the individual differences of each person.


    Everyone''s constitution is different, and the Gene Scent Camouflage Potion may have varied effects on different people.


    Even if people suffer from the same illness and take the same medicine, the effects can still be vastly different.


    The best outcome was for Lisa, and that was because the potion concocted just now happened to suit her constitution.


    "Next, all we need to do is to tailor-make the disguise potion for each person!"


    Xu Yi resolutely self-immolated, using his third Resurrection Coin for the day.


    This Resurrection Coin was indispensable.


    Even if the disguise potion had been a great success, he still had to rewind time to save those sacrificed entries.


    He had 58 left originally, but after using 3, there are now 55 remaining.


    Xu Yi looked at the remaining Resurrection Coins with a fervent gaze.


    In the past, most of the time Resurrection Coins were used passively, but now that he knew about this bug, he planned to take the initiative, not wasting the daily opportunities to use Resurrection Coins.


    "You scientific geniuses, your talents are indeed terrifying, but I''m sorry, from today onwards, the title of strongest scientific genius, is mine!"


    Xu Yi stayed within the Resurrection Space, pondering over the potion concoction details, and time quickly passed.


    When golden light enveloped him and Xu Yi opened his eyes again, there was no sign of urgency on his face.


    Since he had already confirmed going all-in with the Philosopher''s Stone, there was no need to worry about timing anymore.


    He started tailoring the potion, and this time, with relatively ample time, he made the concoction more meticulously, which resulted in a better effect.


    A moment later, three doses of the disguise potion lay before him. After Lisa and the other two injected their respective potions, they once again injected the Poseidon Potion.


    They quickly fell into deep slumber, their breathing steady and strong, their aura continuously rising. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Poseidon Potion was unlocking the "Genetic Lock" in their bodies.


    "It''s finally a success!" Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, but without too much excitement.


    Because he had anticipated all of this, after all, it was a matter of course.


    ...


    In a corner of the Atlantis ruins.


    "Headquarters! Calling headquarters!"


    Chrysalis Armor-wearing Colin convulsed on the ground, his skin cracking, blood dying his entire body red.


    Daniel''s situation was even worse; his chest was blown open, and through the bloody bones, one could see the rapidly beating heart beneath, almost fearing it would explode the next second.


    This is what happened to them after injecting the Poseidon Potion.


    They suspected that the Eight-headed Sea Serpent was behind this, but now there was no way to seek revenge; what they needed to do was to preserve their own lives.


    "Communication established, I''m Aisha from headquarters customer service, how may I assist you?" The crystal on the collar of the Chrysalis Armor lit up with a red glow.


    "Help! Save us!" Colin cried out hoarsely.


    "Your identifications have been detected. Due to your violation of directives, you have been dismissed by the organization, and the Black Abyss Garment will be retrieved immediately."


    Aisha''s sweet voice came through, but to Colin and the other, it sounded more terrifying than the words of a demon.


    "No! Please! Please don''t dismiss us, my uncle is..."


    Colin couldn''t finish his sentence because the Black Abyss Garment on their bodies suddenly began to wriggle, compressing inward relentlessly.


    In their despairing gaze, their bodies were crushed into a mass of gore, blood gushing from the creases like high-pressure fountains.


    The Black Abyss Garment compacted to the size of a palm, transforming into two strange birds, which after determining their bearings, took flight.

 Chapter 294 Wounded Prey Comes Knocking

    Xu Family Restaurant.


    Xu Changrong lay on the sofa in the hall, bored to death.


    Actually, he didn''t want to stay there either. Just a few days ago, he had caught an Evil Spirit but hadn''t had the chance to deal with it. He had intended to make a bowl of red braised pork with it.


    But there was no helping it; he still had to take his son''s task seriously.


    Lisa and the Cat Spirit Bastet were chasing each other around the hall, frolicking and playing; Harada Mieko was practicing swordsmanship in the corner, hoping to be of use when the critical moment arrived.


    Harada Mieko had activated the "visitor privileges" of the Ghost Samurai, which was something Xu Changrong asked Xu Yi to do, simply for the purpose of... slacking off.


    Sometimes, when Xu Changrong really didn''t want to go out looking for "ingredients," he''d have Harada Mieko do it. After a while, the time Harada Mieko spent controlling the Ghost Samurai even exceeded that of Xu Changrong.


    Xu Changrong occasionally taught Harada Mieko swordsmanship as well, but not Japanese swordsmanship, rather the blade techniques of Xia Kingdom.


    Over the years, he might seem like just a chef, but he had perfected the family''s swordsmanship during the processes of chopping and stir-frying.


    "How long do I have to keep watch like this!" sighed Xu Changrong.


    He looked up, expecting to see the layout of the Xu Family Restaurant hall, but instead, he saw a massive tentacled monster.


    About ten minutes earlier, Xu Yi had hurried back to the Xu Family Restaurant, saying that he had an important task for his old man.


    So Xu Changrong controlled the Ghost Samurai to sneak into the Atlantis ruins, stealthily arriving at the designated location, hiding in the shadows, and monitoring his surroundings.


    At first, he was a bit surprised, but after watching for a while, he got used to it. After all, he could only keep watch now and couldn''t go up to slice off a few tentacles for a teppanyaki meal.


    Right then, a purple shadow abruptly appeared above the tentacled monster, and Xu Changrong instantly perked up.


    ......


    Seeing that Lisa and the others were stabilizing, Xu Yi''s hanging heart had just settled when a Cat Spirit suddenly burst into the room, meowing softly.


    All these Cat Spirits were underlings of Bartes, possessing no small amount of intelligence; they all knew that Xu Yi was busy with important things and would never barge in without good reason.


    "Could it be..."


    Xu Yi paused for a moment before quickly switching perspectives, his thoughts connecting with the Nest of the Evil God he had left near Ottawa.


    To concoct potions against the clock, he had to concentrate fully.


    Multitasking was for everyday situations; just now, he didn''t have the energy to pay attention to anything else, which is why he asked his old man for help.


    The Cat Spirit was clearly sent by his dad to notify him.


    "It actually came back!" Xu Yi looked up at the Eight-headed Sea Serpent in the sky, feeling a bit excited.


    He had suddenly realized that, with the temperament of the Ring of Destruction, it shouldn''t have given up so easily. So he chose to "wait for the hare by the stump."


    He was also secretly glad that he had temporarily given up on dissection. Otherwise, judging by the timing, he would have barely been halfway through it by now.


    If so, he would not only miss out on the Poseidon Potion but also have to face the ambush of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent¡ªlosing out on both ends.


    Xu Yi checked again to make sure that Lisa and the others were stable, then quickly left the Xu Family Restaurant and headed towards the Eight-headed Sea Serpent.


    Luckily, he had prepared in advance, positioning the Xu Family Restaurant nearby so that he could quickly reach the battlefield.


    Xu Yi chose not to meet up with the Ghost Samurai but instead lurked on the opposite side, creating a potential for a pincer attack.


    He hid in the darkness, his gaze fixed on the Eight-headed Sea Serpent above, his eyes gleaming.


    The Eight-headed Sea Serpent was in a rather sorry state at the moment, its metallic body heavily damaged in multiple places, with purple steam spurting out now and then.


    But that wasn''t the worst part. Black centipede-like patterns covered its body, and the Eight-headed Sea Serpent shuddered from time to time, clearly suffering from severe injuries.


    Xu Yi''s eyes shone brighter and brighter.


    Low health, lying in wait in the bushes, all elements present!


    Suddenly, the Eight-headed Sea Serpent opened its mouth, and eight "buds" were spat out, scattering around Ottawa.


    He once again spewed out purple fog, which was absorbed by the flower bud, activating it. The petals unfurled, forming a metallic flower.


    At the center of the metallic flower was a purple gemstone, shimmering with radiant light that poured out, refracting into a purple light screen.


    Eight light screens pieced together to form a massive cage, suspended over the sky of Owatpa.


    Xu Yi furrowed his brow as he stared at the light screen, which gave him a familiar sensation, as if he had seen it somewhere before, but couldn''t recall it at the moment.


    The Eight-headed Sea Serpent continued to spew purple fog unceasingly, its metallic body shaking more violently.


    "It''s time!"


    Xu Yi took a deep breath and sent a signal to Xu Changrong through the Ghost Samurai.


    ......


    "Looks like it''s due for a major repair!" Karen sighed deeply after inspecting the state of the Reincarnation Mechanism.


    The Twilight Arrow wasn''t easy to withstand, let alone facing the even more terrifying "Heart of the Reaper." Fortunately, he was controlling an S-grade Reincarnation Mechanism, otherwise, it would have already been destroyed.


    But even so, the price paid was extremely dear.


    "But as long as the organization''s plan is fulfilled, the rest doesn''t really matter." Karen''s heart throbbed at the thought of the benefits after completing the plan.


    Just then, two frightening auras surged suddenly, heading towards him, one in front and one behind.


    Karen was shocked as his gaze swept across two streaks of light, one platinum and the other fiery red.


    Within the surging platinum currents, Xu Yi''s hair floated, having fully activated "Blood as Sacred."


    The opportunity was rare, and he naturally wielded his full strength, aiming for a one-hit kill!


    He extended his finger, and a platinum light sphere converged at his fingertip.


    "Holy!"


    The blazing Holy Flame, like the Sword of Judgment, enveloped the Eight-headed Sea Serpent.


    Meanwhile, amid the flames, the Ghost Samurai wielded the Demon Blade Red Lotus.


    At this moment, it was Xu Changrong controlling the Ghost Samurai, and after some time familiarizing himself, he had become very proficient in all its abilities. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Demon Blade Red Lotus was a Japanese sword, not the same type as the kitchen knives he usually wielded.


    But at his level of swordsmanship, mastering one technique was equivalent to mastering all. With just a bit of practice and by taking inspiration from Harada Mieko''s swordsmanship, he had even managed to innovate.


    "One Slash of Fiery Flame!"


    A crescent of flaming sword qi surged out, only two meters long, which was far shorter than the dozens of meters of flaming sword qi that Xu Yi typically unleashed.


    But size did not always equate to power.


    Sometimes, quite the opposite is true: when the flames are highly concentrated, their power can exponentially increase.


    The flaming sword qi passed through the air, slashing towards the Eight-headed Sea Serpent.


    Karen controlled the Eight-headed Sea Serpent to dodge. Regardless of its "severely injured" status, even at its peak, it couldn''t withstand the "Light Sword" and "Fire Blade."


    But the sneak attack was too sudden; one second he was focused on activating the Array, and in the next, the "Light Sword" and "Fire Blade" were right before his eyes.


    The Eight-headed Sea Serpent was engulfed in light, with dazzling radiance spreading in all directions, so bright it was like a supernova exploding, prompting Xu Yi to squint instinctively.


    After a moment, the light faded, and Xu Yi peered intently below.


    A huge crater appeared in the midst of Atlantis, half of Atlantis completely turned to ruins.


    Owatpa was also affected, with large chunks of its body evaporated, leaving no blood at the wounds, only charred marks, as the flesh had been carbonized by the high temperature.


    Owatpa awoke to pain, emitting a heaven-shaking moan, but due to the toxin from the Twilight Arrow still present, it could only flail its tentacles weakly.


    Xu Yi paid no attention to Owatpa, his gaze fixed on the center of the explosion.

 Chapter 295 Shield of Creation x Tears of Heaven

    The Eight-headed Sea Serpent''s limbs were scattered across the deep pit, with only three of the eight heads still attached to its torso, its body ruptured, its complex structure laid bare for all to see, and plumes of steam billowing out.


    Xu Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief. The "Bush Ambush" plan was extremely successful; under the baptism of his and the Ghost Samurai''s ultimate move, even the Alchemical Machinery of the Ring of Destruction couldn''t withstand it.


    But the next second, his heart suddenly lurched. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The serpent''s torso split open abruptly, the metal components below separating, gears interlocking with each other, pushing something from the center of the body outward.


    Xu Yi had seen a similar situation before, on the Crow Man, whose chest held a black droplet that left him with a rather "wonderful" memory.


    "Watch out for dodging!" Xu Yi urgently shouted a warning.


    The situation this time was much better than the last. Both his and the Ghost Samurai''s strength were at their peak, and with their guard up, they should be able to escape the area of effect in time if the "Black Sun" happened again.


    No black droplet appeared this time; instead, there were two somewhat familiar objects, nested within the metal device and enveloped by numerous metallic tentacles.


    One of the objects appeared to be a shield, the size of a palm, earthen yellow in color, looking as if it was casually molded from yellow clay by the roadside, with very simple lines engraved on it.


    The other was a teardrop-shaped gemstone, the size of a fist, wholly azure, with phantoms floating within, breathtakingly beautiful.


    "That is¡­" Xu Yi suddenly exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise.


    No wonder it felt familiar; he had seen them before in the "Mythic Weapons Genealogy," they were two Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relics.


    Shield of Creation: Nikun Ti!


    Tears of Heaven: Ernis!


    Xu Yi, who needed Mythic Holy Artifacts to forge the Seven Deadly Sins, naturally knew about them.


    He stared at the two Mythic Holy Artifacts, suddenly having a realization.


    The three main parts of Alchemical Machinery were material, Alchemical Array, and energy.


    Sturdy materials and extraordinary Alchemical Arrays were somewhat understandable for Xu Yi, but the energy source was something he couldn''t figure out.


    But now he understood, it was the Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relics!


    "No wonder the Crow Man was so eager to seize Mythic Holy Artifacts!" Xu Yi suddenly realized.


    Mythic Holy Artifacts, also known as "Saint Weapons," were given this title because they were very choosy; not just anyone could activate them.


    Like the three Saint Weapons of Japan in Xu Yi''s possession, only someone with the blood of the Emperor of Japan could activate them.


    But looking at the Eight-headed Sea Serpent in front of him, it was clearly not within the "Saint" category.


    "It''s hard to imagine that the Ring of Destruction could actually ignore the restrictions of the Mythic Holy Artifacts and draw out their energy!" Xu Yi whispered in awe.


    The "Shield of Creation" and "Tears of Heaven" suddenly burst into intense light, and the Array inside the serpent''s body was activated, energy converging towards the center, condensing into a deep purple Light Sphere.


    Xu Yi felt the surging energy within the Light Sphere and was somewhat terrified. He prepared himself, ready to dodge at any moment.


    The fist-sized purple Light Sphere finished charging, traced an arc through the air, and flew towards Xu Yi and the Ghost Samurai.


    Xu Yi had become a bird of alarm and immediately burned his Holy Blood, fleeing to the side.


    The Ghost Samurai reacted even quicker than Xu Yi, phasing and escaping downward as soon as the Light Sphere rose.


    Xu Yi evaded the purple Light Sphere, quietly breathing a sigh of relief, but the next second, his heart shook for no apparent reason.


    "That''s not right!" He immediately sensed something off. If it was the opponent''s "Ultimate Move," how could they have avoided it so easily?


    Since the Light Sphere didn''t change direction or explode violently, it continued unabated, toward the purple light screen above.


    The Light Sphere entered one of the metallic flowers, and the octagonal light screen suddenly blazed, dense runes scampering across it.


    Xu Yi''s complexion shifted drastically, as he finally understood¡ªthe Light Sphere''s initial target wasn''t to attack them but to activate the Array before them!


    The rich fluctuation spread out, and he finally remembered where that familiar sense came from.


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    He had seen a similar Array before, in Japan, when he snatched a piece of Sin Remains from the claws of the Ring of Destruction.


    The Sin Remains were embedded on a hawk, and ultimately, the Array within the hawk activated, causing the Sin Remains to "phase" and escape into a Different Space and flew away.


    The Array before him was the spitting image of the earlier one, only on a much larger scale.


    Considering that the Eight-headed Sea Serpent belonged to the Ring of Destruction as well, it wasn''t strange for them to know the "Phantomization Array"; perhaps the Phantomization Array was one of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent''s signature abilities.


    "The opponent has activated the Phantomization Array, they plan to forcibly send away Otuwa!"


    The situation was highly favorable, could they really stand by and watch the cooked duck fly away?


    A look of distaste crossed Xu Yi''s face; he had yet to devour the "Gluttony" Origin.


    He took a sudden step forward and punched at the "Metal Flower" in the air, his fist passing through it.


    The Array had already taken shape, and these Metal Flowers had already phased into the Different Space. What remained in front of him was only a projection.


    "Should I use the Resurrection Coin?"


    Xu Yi hesitated for a moment, then decided against it. He only had two chances left to resurrect today, and if he used it, he''d be down to one.


    Moreover, the most critical problem was how to stop that Light Sphere?


    The terrifying energy contained within the Light Sphere was real. Should he go up and resist it himself, or should he use the Ghost Samurai?


    The Ghost Samurai was integral to his subsequent plans. If it were destroyed, there would be no replacements.


    So this was an open conspiracy. Even though Xu Yi knew the goal of the Light Sphere was to activate the Phantomization Array, he was powerless to stop it.


    Bit by bit, the purple light screen crept downwards, causing Otuwa''s body to phase from top to bottom.


    After a moment of stunned contemplation, Xu Yi charged at Otuwa. He entered Otuwa''s body with no resistance.


    "Just as I expected!" Xu Yi was overjoyed.


    Indeed, the Phantomization Array couldn''t be stopped, but since Otuwa was so massive, it could only phase part by part.


    That meant the Phantomization Array inadvertently served the purpose of "disassembling" its body.


    "Once it ''disassembles'' to the core layer, I can devour the Gluttony Origin before the light screen does!"


    Xu Yi''s heart steadied.


    Just then, the body of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent trembled, its tentacles attached to the Holy Artifact snapped, and various clasps opened in succession.


    The Shield of Creation and the Tears of Heaven were ejected. Deprived of their energy source, the Eight-headed Sea Serpent collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.


    The two Holy Artifacts flew towards the purple light screen, and seeing the "Metal Eye" attached to them, Xu Yi immediately understood what was happening.


    The "Metal Eye" on the Holy Artifacts was unquestionably a part of the Array.


    Simply put, if the Holy Artifacts entered the purple light screen, they too would enjoy the effect of the Phantomization Array.


    "Damn it! Letting Otuwa escape is one thing, but now even the Holy Artifacts intend to leave!" Xu Yi muttered darkly, cursing inwardly.


    Xu Changrong quickly grasped the state of affairs and commanded the Ghost Samurai to move forward, intercepting the Mythic Holy Artifacts.


    Both Mythic Holy Artifacts suddenly split apart, aiming to enter the purple light screen from completely opposite directions, clearly being controlled by someone from behind.


    Xu Changrong found himself at a loss, being only able to intercept one of the Artifacts.


    Xu Yi glanced at Otuwa below him; there should still be some distance before the light screen reached the core. Grinding his teeth, he dashed toward the other Holy Artifact.


    The Holy Artifacts weren''t flying swiftly. If they continued towards the light screen, Xu Yi and the others would definitely capture them.


    But just then, both Holy Artifacts suddenly halted and retreated quickly; within the blink of an eye, they were about to fly out of their sight.


    Distract and deceive! The term flashed through Xu Yi''s mind instantly.

 Chapter 296 Full of Harvest

    The Shield of Creation and the Tears of Heaven flew into the sky, while Xu Yi stood still without moving.


    Indeed, a Mythic Level Holy Artifact was very tempting, but what was more important was to absorb Gluttony''s Origin, which would not only activate Sin Remains of Gluttony but also obtain the Philosopher''s Stone.


    "Leave it to me!"


    The voice of the old man resounded in Xu Yi''s mind, their thoughts all connected to the Ghost Samurai. Through this medium, they were able to communicate soul to soul.


    Without hesitation, the Ghost Samurai set off in pursuit of the Shield of Creation.


    Xu Yi sighed with relief. If it had been any other time, he would have wanted "kids to make choices, he''d want them all."


    But now he could only rely on the old man; getting one was better than none.


    The purple light continued to shroud down, and Xu Yi''s eyelids suddenly twitched. He gripped the Sin Remains of Gluttony tightly in his hand and pounced out like a wolf.


    The Owova House belonged to soft-bodied creatures, with loose, red flesh on the outside, but the flesh underneath suddenly turned black and very firm, full of muscle-like fibers.


    This mass of flesh was round, embedded in the center of the Owova, beating like a heart.


    The core of the Owova House had finally appeared!


    The Sin Remains of Gluttony in Xu Yi''s hands vibrated, sensing the aura of Gluttony''s Origin.


    A mass of tentacles surged forward, blocking Xu Yi''s path. Covered in Holy Flame, he didn''t hesitate to rush into the "mountain of flesh."


    He cut through like a knife through butter, the tentacles unable to slow him down in the slightest.


    He had arrived at the core layer. Xu Yi violently plunged the Sin Remains of Gluttony into the black flesh.


    The Owova trembled all over and let out a pained whimper. Xu Yi ignored it and began to manipulate the Sin Remains.


    A terrifying suction force erupted from the Sin Remains, pulling and absorbing Gluttony''s Origin.


    The black flesh dried up and cracked at a rapid pace, turning into white powder and scattering. Xu Yi looked up at the purple light above and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.


    "Thinking of escaping with Gluttony''s Origin? Not so easy!"


    He cut his own finger and let the blood drip onto the Sin Remains. With the boost from the host''s blood, the Sin Remains roared violently, and the absorption speed soared once again.


    The layers of black flesh turned to dust, and the Sin Remains burrowed deeper. But just then, the Sin Remains suddenly collapsed inward.


    Beneath the black flesh, a deep pit had formed!


    Xu Yi suddenly realized something and looked up sharply.


    From a distance, a large mass of black flesh surged out, shooting towards the purple light in the high sky like a fountain.


    Xu Yi stood in place, not stopping it because it was already too late.


    "This Owova isn''t as dull as it looks on the surface," Xu Yi sighed. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It had even learned to carry out a covert operation!


    The layer of core left behind was a distraction for him, while the majority had been secretly transferred.


    Should he use the Resurrection Coin? After pondering for a moment, he shook his head.


    The Resurrection Coin was precious to begin with, and after finding the bug inspired by mysticism, its worth had risen several levels.


    Plus, even if he were to start over, he would only be able to absorb a bit more of Gluttony''s Origin, not all of it.


    A fiery red figure returned, and the Ghost Samurai tossed something to Xu Yi. He caught it swiftly and observed it closely.


    "Dad! Well done!"


    Xu Yi caressed the small shield in his hands, beaming with joy, and couldn''t help praising aloud.


    "Shield of Creation: Nikun Ti" in hand!


    The old man didn''t respond, the flame in the pupils of the Ghost Samurai had dimmed, indicating the old man was almost "half-disconnected."


    What was he rushing "offline" to do?


    Xu Yi retracted the Sin Remains of Gluttony, no longer paying attention to the body of the Owova.


    He looked around and began to search the area around the deep pit, occasionally digging through the soil or moving aside large rocks and metal.


    Moments later, he returned to the center of the pit, dropping the remains next to the Eight-headed Sea Serpent.


    "Brother, I did my best. I could only find seven heads; no matter what, the last one couldn''t be found."


    ```


    Of course, no one responded to his teasing; the Eight-headed Sea Serpent lay in the deep pit, completely motionless, with the red glow in its snake eyes extinguished.


    But Xu Yi was not naive enough to believe that this solved the problem of a major general from the Ring of Destruction.


    He was well aware that the alchemical machinery in front of him was merely a "Substitute," and the soul attached to it had long since escaped.


    "Truly a marvel of ingenuity!" Xu Yi squatted beside the wreckage of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent, unable to help himself from exclaiming in admiration.


    His gaze was primarily focused on the serpent''s hind body, where the structure of the "Holy Artifact Initiator" was even more exquisite and complex than he had imagined.


    I wonder if there''s any disrupting Array?


    Xu Yi muttered as he collected the remains of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent, his face a bit grim recalling the "Golden Bullet."


    A sudden blaze of fire shot across the sky from the horizon, and Xu Yi sharply turned his head in that direction¡ªit was where the Eight Monster House was.


    Could it be? An idea suddenly struck him, and a glint of insight flashed through his eyes as he broke into a mad dash.


    He looked around and saw that his old man, Xu Changrong, had already commanded the Ghost Samurai to return.


    From a distance, Xu Yi saw the Eight Monster House and the Ghost Samurai standing beside it, so he slowed down his pace and let out a breath of relief, his face unable to suppress a smile.


    At that moment, Harada Mieko was holding a long sword, floating in mid-air.


    Of course, Harada Mieko had no ability to fly; the reason she was suspended was because she was wrapped in dense Vines, as if wearing a quaint suit of "Vine Armor."


    Black-gold flames spread around her.


    Those vines naturally came from the Cat Spirit Holy Tree Bastet, and the flames were the Demon-Suppressing Flame.


    "Looks like Bastet and Harada Mieko get along quite well!"


    Xu Yi felt somewhat sour; he had previously wanted Bastet to provide him with the "Vine Armor," but Bastet refused him on the grounds that "How could my Origin be risked?"


    Now it was even willing to come out of the Eight Monster House to assist Harada Mieko.


    If Bastet knew what Xu Yi was thinking, it would definitely slowly pop out a "?"


    Why wouldn''t it let him use it¡ªdidn''t Xu Yi have any sense at all?


    It was he who had tricked Bastet into the toy space and made it stay there for so long, unbearably boring.


    Now, having entered the Eight Monster House, Harada Mieko not only played with it every day but also treated it to delicious food¡ªhow could the treatment be the same?


    Harada Mieko suddenly shouted in anger, using a Sword Skill similar to that of Xu Changrong, and a surge of flame sword qi erupted.


    Although its power was reduced by countless times, it was already more than enough.


    The flame sword qi shattered the "Metal Eye," which was the alchemical machinery used by the Ring of Destruction to manipulate the Tears of Heaven.


    The Tears of Heaven fell from the sky, caught by Harada Mieko in one swoop!


    "How about my apprentice?" Xu Changrong casually strode out from the restaurant, raised his eyebrows, and boasted to Xu Yi.


    "Awesome!" Xu Yi gave a thumbs up.


    He suddenly understood what his old man Xu Changrong meant by "Leave it to me"; it wasn''t a random choice to command the Ghost Samurai to pursue the Shield of Creation.


    Because the direction in which the Tears of Heaven fled happened to allow the Eight Monster House to intercept.


    With both Holy Artifacts in hand, Xu Yi felt he could finally get a good night''s sleep tonight.


    "What''s next? Leave?" Xu Changrong asked.


    Xu Yi shook his head, "Wait a bit, we still have a fridge we haven''t taken."


    They returned to the battlefield, Xu Yi and his group collaboratively knocked down the surrounding structures to expose the entire "Alchemical Treasury."


    The mist from within the Alchemical Treasury had dissipated, cessation of operation, likely due to the complete depletion of its Energy.


    Following the fine tradition of not being wastefully extravagant, they carried the Alchemical Treasury into the Eight Monster House. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Even if we can''t decode and repair it, taking it apart for its components is excellent."


    Xu Yi patted his hands clean, confirmed there was nothing left behind, and entered the Eight Monster House to return the way they came.


    He switched to the Nest of the Evil God''s vision to check on Lisa and the others, but he suddenly froze.


    He had sent out four Nest of the Evil Gods in total. Aside from the three with Lisa''s group, there was one on the informer Robert.


    He had subconsciously shared the vision of all the Nests of the Evil God; Lisa''s trio was doing well, but the one behaving unusually was Robert.


    ```

 Chapter 297 Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

    The heavy curtains blocked out the sunlight, and in the dimly lit room, only a small lamp was lit, illuminating the corner.


    Robert stood under the light, standing respectfully.


    With his undercover identity exposed, it was naturally impossible for him to return to Boston, but fortunately, he had previously delivered quite a bit of technology to the organization and had made no small contribution.


    Furthermore, with the Ring of Destruction drawing tight surveillance from the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, they were really short on manpower... Of course, if one were a formal member of the Ring of Destruction, there wouldn''t be many "living people," that is.


    So, it was only logical that he would be entrusted with a significant task.


    Xu Yi now shared the vision with the Nest of the Evil God within Robert''s body. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For a while, Xu Yi had been keeping an eye on Robert from time to time, and after leaving Egypt, Robert had actually returned to the United States.


    After quite the roundabout journey, Robert arrived in Maine, USA, and "settled down" here.


    Xu Yi sensed an unusual aura in an instant.


    He didn''t believe that Robert had grown weary of a life of deceit and was looking to wash his hands clean of it. Whenever he had a chance, he would check on Robert''s status, and today he finally caught the other party''s "Achilles'' heel".


    Rustling sounds came from the darkness, something crawling on the ceiling, finally emerging into the light.


    It had the head of a Western evil dragon, a body like a lizard''s, black scales refracting a faint light, serpent-like vertical pupils fixed on Robert below.


    Of course, what''s most crucial was the symbol of the door carved on the "Lizard Dragon''s" forehead.


    The Ring of Destruction''s new Alchemical Machinery had appeared!


    Xu Yi was instantly invigorated. Whether it was the Crow Man, Copper Clock Bird, or even the Eight-headed Sea Serpent.


    Wherever these alchemical machines appeared, they usually heralded a "major event".


    What could be the Ring of Destruction''s latest significant motion? Xu Yi instantly thought of the Source of Sin.


    "Has the spokesperson been found?" the Lizard Dragon asked with the distinctive metallic clashing sound of alchemical machinery.


    Robert dared not take it lightly and promptly replied, "I''m already in contact with the target, and there should be some results in a couple of days."


    A spokesperson? Xu Yi was taken aback for a moment. Perhaps he had guessed wrong.


    If they were dealing with the Source of Sin, the usual tactics of the Ring of Destruction would be "deceive, negotiate, then take action."


    First try to deceive, if that doesn''t work, negotiate nicely and offer benefits. If all else fails, they''d resort to forceful methods and take by power.


    That''s precisely how they handled Otowa.


    He had never heard about the need for a spokesperson.


    Xu Yi wanted to glean more information, but the Lizard Dragon didn''t give him the chance. After asking the question, it left, as if its visit was merely a formality.


    ...


    Maine, located in the northeastern corner of the United States in the New England region, borders the Atlantic Ocean to the south and Canada to the north. It is the homeland of a certain electric eel.


    "Is this a lack of morality or a degeneration of human nature?" Xu Yi paced to a restaurant and casually ordered a few Western dishes.


    He had been planning to return to Boston, but with the Ring of Destruction''s movements, he changed his destination to a somewhat remote small town in Maine.


    As dusk fell, the streets were bustling with people, exuding a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.


    Xu Yi had not come alone; the Eight Monster House had brought them here from the Bermuda Triangle.


    Originally, he did not intend to go out. Dad was about to cook in Eight Monster House, but after he glanced at tonight''s "menu," his face turned green instantaneously.


    Saut¨¦ed Water Ghost Loin! Braised Evil Spirit Meat! Teppanyaki Otowa Squid!


    Truly dark cuisine!


    Although he knew that after Xu Changrong cooked those things, even ordinary people could eat them and the taste would be quite good.


    But could there really be anyone who, facing a plate of colorful food that still steamed with a bloody aura, would dare to pick up their chopsticks?


    The answer is: Yes!


    He watched Harada Mieko pick up a piece of bloody kidney meat, pop it into her mouth, and savor it with relish, while heaping praise on the Old Man''s cooking skills.


    Whether it was Cat Spirit Bartes or even little Alice enjoying those "dark cuisines," he could understand, as they were all soul-class creatures, but Harada Mieko was human!


    What was most exaggerated was that Xu Yi could tell that Harada Mieko''s enjoyment wasn''t just to please the Old Man, but that she genuinely liked those dishes.


    No wonder the Old Man held her in such high regard, wanting to take her as his direct disciple and even giving her special permission to control the Ghost Samurai.


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    Not just the Old Man, Cat Spirit Bartes, and little Alice were very fond of Harada Mieko too.


    She was a true "social wonder" indeed!


    And it was not just others, Xu Yi himself felt a strong liking for Harada Mieko too.


    In the days he spent at the Eight Monster House, there was always water at the perfect temperature in the bathtub before his bath; when he awoke in the morning, breakfast was already served by his bedside...


    Actually, these were nothing much; what was most impressive about Harada Mieko was that she seemed to possess the ability to read people''s minds.


    This ability wasn''t acquired through training but was innate.


    She always knew what Xu Yi was thinking and then responded in the most comfortable way possible, her words making one feel rejuvenated.


    "If Harada Mieko decided to take the path of a green tea...," Xu Yi shook his head, "I dare not think about it, I really dare not!"


    While eating his dinner, Xu Yi switched his vision to the Nest of the Evil God.


    Lisa and the other two had not awakened yet, but their momentum grew day by day as the Poseidon Potion stimulated their potential and transformed their bodies.


    He checked their information through the Bonds entry, and a new piece of information had appeared in their panels.


    [Descendant of Poseidon (Red Common), Entry generating...]


    It really was a Red Level entry! Xu Yi was looking forward to seeing just how strong they would become once they integrated their power.


    Xu Yi''s hand holding the fork suddenly paused, then he quickened his eating pace.


    His outing wasn''t just for something as simple as eating.


    Leaving the restaurant, Xu Yi blended into the crowd and quietly walked forward.


    Robert abruptly turned his head and surveyed the crowd of people; finding nothing, he frowned and withdrew his gaze.


    Was he being overly sensitive? Robert wondered to himself.


    In the shadows, Xu Yi looked at Robert''s retreating figure curiously; he had thought Robert would make a big move, but the man was only tailing a young girl.


    If the young girl was devastatingly beautiful, he could understand, but he really didn''t see anything special about her.


    She had average looks, an average body, and was not an exorcist; just an ordinary girl from the eastern United States that couldn''t be more common.


    Following them, they arrived at a "bonfire party."


    Young men and women gathered together, freely exuding pheromones, and the group even brought a large speaker system, playing music with a background hiss on repeat.


    Xu Yi suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked around.


    Something was very wrong!


    These people were at the age where their hormones were raging; the music they should like ought to be passionate rock, yet the music coming from the speakers was Tchaikovsky''s famous piece "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy."


    He couldn''t believe that the young people''s taste in music had reached this level!


    Moreover, these people''s bodies danced passionately, but their rhythm didn''t match the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" at all.


    "The music these people are hearing is different from his!"


    Xu Yi instantly came to this conclusion.


    At that moment, a shrill scream suddenly tore through the night sky as the young girl Robert had been following convulsed and fell to the ground, her soul aura vanishing.


    She was dead!


    Xu Yi tensed all over; the girl had died right before his eyes, and he had noticed nothing amiss except for that tune.

 Chapter 298 Bizarre Death

    Xu Yi scanned the area several times but still found nothing unusual.


    The girl''s face was a bloody blur; her eyeballs had flown away, and her nose and lips had turned into a pile of mush, as if she''d been gnawed on by some wild beast.


    If the girl''s manner of death hadn''t been so horrifying, it might have been possible to attribute it to a sudden illness like a heart attack, but the scene clearly suggested something more sinister.


    Xu Yi had encountered many strange and mysterious cases, but this was the first time someone had been killed under his watch, so silently and unnoticed.


    The partygoers at the bonfire also discovered the girl''s tragic state, and screams echoed one after another, throwing the scene into chaos.


    Xu Yi instinctively used the Nest of the Evil God to observe Robert, who had a dark expression on his face, as if the sudden incident had also disturbed him.


    However, he suddenly showed an excited look, and his body even trembled slightly with agitation.


    Without paying any attention to the dead girl, Robert hurried away.


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    What could have caused Robert to react like that? Xu Yi grew more curious, but he did not follow him, confident that with the Nest of the Evil God, he could monitor his movements at any time.


    The urgent sound of police sirens filled the air as the authorities arrived swiftly, with local residents also drawn to the commotion.


    "Rubbernecking" is a universal behavior, regardless of race.


    The residents whispered among themselves, and Xu Yi also emerged from the shadows to blend into the crowd.


    "Such a death can only mean she offended the Sugar Plum Fairy!" an elderly person sighed deeply.


    "The Sugar Plum Fairy? What''s that?" Xu Yi asked.


    The elderly man glanced at Xu Yi, noticed his designer clothes which were of inconceivably high price, and relaxed a bit.


    This kind of "rich young master" wouldn''t be after anything from him; surely it was mere curiosity that brought him over to see what the fuss was about.


    "I don''t know either."


    Xu Yi had hoped to gather some useful information from the residents but didn''t expect him to just shake his head.


    Without waiting for Xu Yi to ask further, the man offered an explanation:


    "Those who''ve seen the Sugar Plum Fairy are all dead, so naturally, nobody knows what it is. People killed by the Sugar Plum Fairy all die the same way, with their faces eaten away."


    The elderly person took a long breath, "At the scene of death, if you''re unlucky, you might hear the ''Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy'' tune, which is why we call it the Sugar Plum Fairy."


    "Unlucky?" Xu Yi gave a slight start.


    "That''s right, anyone who hears that tune could become the Sugar Plum Fairy''s next target," the old man explained softly.


    After a brief inquiry, the police let the coroner take the body away, making the scene seem like just a formality.


    With no spectacle left to watch, the crowd soon dispersed.


    Xu Yi was ready to leave, but he was suddenly stopped by a girl.


    The girl had pale gold wavy long hair and a few freckles on her face, a minor flaw, but overall, she was a youthful and pretty girl.


    "You heard that tune, didn''t you?" she asked.


    The girl kept her head down, not daring to look at Xu Yi, and her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, like a mosquito''s buzz. If it weren''t for Xu Yi''s keen hearing, he wouldn''t have been able to discern what she was saying.


    Although the girl seemed very nervous and harmless, Xu Yi''s expression instantly became severe.


    While he had been tracking earlier, he had been completely submerged in darkness, even Robert hadn''t noticed him.


    How did this girl know he had been at the murder scene? And how did she know he had heard the ''Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy''?


    After all, this girl was supposed to be a common person... Xu Yi''s muscles suddenly tensed up as he realized he had been wrong; she was not a common person at all.


    Within the girl lay a surging energy, extremely subtle, flickering in and out of detectability.


    One could not notice it without paying close attention.


    The girl noticed Xu Yi''s change, and her body uncontrollably began to tremble. She still kept her head down, clutching the corners of her clothes tightly; she even started to stutter when she spoke.


    "If¡­ if you see¡­ a little girl, before she turns around, you¡­ you tell her that you are¡­ are Carrie''s good friend!"


    After she said those words, the girl ran away as if fleeing.


    Xu Yi''s gaze followed the girl, but he didn''t chase after her. He had already left a mark on her; as long as she wasn''t too far away, he could track her down.


    Carrie?


    The name echoed in his mind. Who was Carrie?


    With his mind full of questions, Xu Yi returned to the Eight Monster House and to his workshop, glancing at the time¡ªit was almost midnight.


    He decisively started his "High-Dimensional Scientific Research" for the day.


    Entries burnable for sacrifice were offered up one by one, as if an endless stream of mystical inspiration poured into his mind. The epiphany of mysticism was triggered simultaneously.


    He wrote and drew on paper, his pen flying across the surface.


    In those five minutes, he seemed to become an existence of a higher dimension, "overlooking" the knowledge of lower-dimensional civilizations. Everything seemed to have no secrets left to him.


    Five minutes passed, and he resolutely set himself on fire.


    A moment later, Xu Yi opened his eyes again, his face unable to contain the smile. He exhaled slowly and said, "Finally!"


    Using a Resurrection Coin close to midnight allowed for the greatest avoidance of accidents, as after midnight the usage count of the Resurrection Coin would refresh.


    In his eyes, the most cost-effective method was to use a Resurrection Coin every three to five days.


    Because the mystical inspirations derived from the sacrifice of a large number of entries took about three to five days to completely assimilate.


    So far, he had used 2 Resurrection Coins and still had 53 remaining.


    "When will I be able to find the Land of Fear again?"


    After tasting the sweetness of "Resurrection Coin research," Xu Yi felt he just couldn''t stop.


    In fact, he had already mobilized the forces around him to gather information about the Land of Fear, but the Land of Fear was not easy to find.


    There were three bullets on the table¡ªDemon-Breaking Flame Bullet, Corrupted Silver Bullet, and Grim Reaper Piercing Bullet.


    Under normal circumstances, merging the three arrays on the bullets would take three to five months, even in the most ideal situation.


    But by exploiting the Resurrection Coin, it only took a mere three days, utterly insane!


    "Let''s call it the Throne of Cyrus!"


    Xu Yi couldn''t be bothered to come up with a name; after all, it was used on the Cyrus bullet.


    "What I need to do now is to forge a finished product first, then validate it through practice, and refine and improve it bit by bit."


    Xu Yi stretched lazily, ready to go out and make a cup of coffee¡ªhe had more "cultivating" to do tonight.


    With his physique, he wouldn''t feel tired even without coffee, but without a cup on the table, something seemed to be missing, almost driving his OCD insane.


    In the lobby, a famous Peking opera about the Yang Family Generals was playing¡ªone of the few entertainments Xu Changrong enjoyed.


    The old man, barely in his forties or fifties, was fascinated by this "elderly activity." Xu Yi often felt incensed with his lack of competitiveness. Compared to that, even dancing in the square seemed like a youthful activity.


    The Eight Monster House had excellent sound insulation; even if firecrackers were set off inside, none of it would be heard outside.


    As one piece ended, the track automatically switched. Xu Yi suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    One second before it was a Peking opera full of Huaxia charm, and the next second it transformed into an elegant Tchaikovsky classic, "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," sounding once again in Xu Yi''s ears.


    It was coming!

 Chapter 299 Divine Might?

    Xu Yi silently prepared himself for danger, glancing around him. He waited for a full minute, but nothing happened.


    Was he being overly suspicious?


    Perhaps the old man was just tired of Huaxia''s traditional culture and wanted to try some foreign stuff, to cultivate his sentiments for a balanced harmony of yin and yang?


    Just then, Harada Mieko walked by with a cup of coffee in hand through the corridor.


    "I''ll just take it myself!" Xu Yi said softly.


    Whenever he stayed up late these days, Harada Mieko would bring him coffee.


    Harada Mieko completely ignored Xu Yi and walked past him without stopping.


    Xu Yi scratched his nose, feeling a bit awkward. Perhaps he had been presumptuous; the coffee might not have been for him after all.


    But then his brow furrowed suddenly. No, something was amiss. The cup holding the coffee, distinctly noticeable with its macho pink ceramic design, was clearly his.


    And with Harada Mieko''s high emotional intelligence, she wouldn''t ignore him. Even if the coffee wasn''t for him, she would have passed it to him with a smile.


    Xu Yi reached out to stop Harada Mieko, but his hand passed right through her body. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As expected!


    He suddenly realized it was a Different Space.


    In Harada Mieko''s field of vision, he didn''t exist at all.


    No wonder the girl had died soundlessly; back then, she must have been pulled into a Different Space.


    The reason Xu Yi could still see others was that he had heard that piece of music while Harada Mieko had not.


    "To enter the Eight Monster House without a trace and pull me into a Different Space without warning, that being must be no ordinary creature," he took a deep breath.


    In an instant, his vision blurred, and the next second, a little girl abruptly appeared in front of him, her back to him.


    The little girl looked to be around eleven or twelve, wearing a beautifully crafted ballet dress. The bottom part was white tulle, while the upper part was adorned with pale gold lace. The girl was standing on tiptoes, seeming light and elegant.


    Instinctively, Xu Yi reached toward his waist and pulled out the box containing the Seven Deadly Sins.


    Inside the box, "Envy" from the Sin Remains trembled slightly.


    The Origin of "Envy" had been found!


    Xu Yi hadn''t expected that the search for the Source of Sin would be so smooth, and of course, he had the Ring of Destruction to thank for that.


    The little ballerina continued to have her back to him, and from behind, she appeared to be a cute and pretty girl.


    The ballet-dancing little girl began to turn around slowly¡­


    Xu Yi was actually quite curious about the girl''s appearance, but given that she had the ability to pull him into a Different Space silently, he couldn''t be too cautious.


    After a moment of hesitation, he decided to stick to the "strategy."


    "I am Carrie''s good friend," he said quietly.


    The ballet-dancing little girl was clearly the legendary Sugar Plum Fairy. The Sugar Plum Fairy paused slightly at Xu Yi''s words and stopped moving.


    It actually worked!


    Xu Yi was stunned for a moment. He had simply acted on the principle of "it doesn''t hurt to try," as speaking a few words didn''t cost much effort.


    But the next second, the Sugar Plum Fairy still turned around slowly.


    Xu Yi got a clear view of her face. His pupils contracted sharply. The girl''s face lacked eyes, nose, and other facial features, sporting only mouths.


    The mouths were circular, and not just one; they were stacked on top of each other, ring within ring, full of sharp teeth resembling the mouth of a lamprey.


    A low murmuring reached his ears, and the darkness behind him suddenly transformed into countless hands that grabbed him tightly, rendering him immobile.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy moved closer to Xu Yi, the teeth on her face dancing.


    Xu Yi remembered the girl, speculating that her facial features must have been gnawed away by these sharp teeth.


    A heavy scent of blood rushed at him, and the Sugar Plum Fairy drew ever nearer, now only half a meter away from Xu Yi.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy, as tall as Xu Yi''s chest, leaped at him, lunging for his face with her teeth.


    "Little girl! Didn''t your mother ever tell you to brush your teeth regularly? Otherwise, you''ll get bad breath," he said.


    Platinum-colored streams of energy surged from Xu Yi''s body, "Blood as Sacred" activated with full force.


    The strength of these "Hands of Darkness" was astonishing; even a Dragon would be bound in place, yet now they were forcibly torn apart by Xu Yi.


    The box in his hands opened automatically, and the "Envy" Sin Remains silently fell into Xu Yi''s grasp.


    Xu Yi thrust the Sin Remains in his hand fiercely into the head of the Sugar Plum Fairy.


    But the next second, his expression changed slightly, because the feel of the dagger was wrong.


    He reached out to grasp the Sugar Plum Fairy''s neck, but his hand passed through, as if holding onto a bundle of air.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy slowly dissipated, like colorful bubbles being popped, and the "Envy" Sin Remains fell from the air.


    The music of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy disappeared, replaced once again by the staccato drama of a theatrical voice.


    Harada Mieko at the end of the corridor sensed the commotion behind her and turned her head, looking at Xu Yi who had suddenly appeared with confusion.


    Xu Yi stood still, his eyebrows tightly knit.


    No wonder the Ring of Destruction had to find a "Proxy"; although the host of Envy''s Origin was powerful, it was far from being unstoppable.


    It was really because the opponent''s Ability was too peculiar.


    If the tune couldn''t be heard and the Sugar Plum Fairy hadn''t approached him actively, he wouldn''t have even seen a shadow of the opponent.


    But even upon seeing the opponent, there was no guarantee he could do much.


    Xu Yi was already very fast, yet the opponent had entered a "Phasing" state before the Sin Remains could land.


    "What is the weakness of the opponent''s Ability?" Xu Yi pondered with a frown.


    When launching an attack, the opponent must become "solid", so he needed to seize that brief moment.


    Xu Yi replayed the recent battle in his head, but the opponent had retreated after one strike, offering him no chance to try anything.


    He had wanted to use another Resurrection Coin, but after deliberating, he gave up.


    Having already used one, using another would be too extravagant. Most importantly, even with another chance, he had no confidence in touching the opponent.


    "The opponent had a clear reaction upon hearing the name Carrie; who exactly is Carrie?"


    Xu Yi recalled the girl he had encountered that day and decided to investigate the situation first thing in the morning.


    He returned to his workstation, when suddenly an idea struck him.


    Ever since the events of the day, he knew Robert would act soon, so whenever Xu Yi had a free moment, he would check on Robert''s status.


    Now he had finally got something.


    ......


    At Robert''s residence, he looked at the "Lizard Dragon" in front of him with excitement.


    "Grand Steward! I''ve made an important discovery!"


    "Oh, let''s hear it. Weren''t you pursuing the Sugar Plum Fairy today? How is the Proxy? Did you convey our intentions to the Sugar Plum Fairy?" the Lizard Dragon asked with interest.


    "The Proxy is dead, and I''ve delivered the message to the Sugar Plum Fairy, but there has been no response. It''s highly likely she has refused," Robert replied urgently.


    "Is that the so-called important discovery?" the Lizard Dragon''s voice cooled.


    "Of course not. Today I heard the tune of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and briefly entered that Different Space, but I didn''t feel any presence. If I''m not mistaken..."


    Robert took a deep breath to suppress the excitement in his heart, allowing him to deliver the punchline, "The Sugar Plum Fairy might have come into contact with the Black Void Gate."


    "What? Are you sure it''s the Black Void Gate?"


    The Lizard Dragon leaped in front of Robert, its pale gold vertical pupils staring at him intently, as if verifying whether he was lying.


    "I''m not sure, to be honest. It''s just a possibility," Robert''s tone shifted abruptly, "but even with a slight possibility, it''s worth us trying, isn''t it?"


    The Lizard Dragon''s eyes flickered with light, obviously contemplating. After a long pause, it slowly began to speak, "Are you suggesting that I apply for the authorization to use that thing?"


    "Exactly!" Robert nodded eagerly. "To capture the Sugar Plum Fairy quickly, we can only rely on that thing. And if my guess is right, we might gain a guide to the Black Void Gate."


    "I understand. Wait for my message," the Lizard Dragon was evidently tempted but did not agree at once and swiftly crawled away.


    And Xu Yi witnessed this entire scene. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 300

    "The Black Void Gate?" Xu Yi whispered.


    He had never heard of this object before, but judging from Robert and the Lizard Dragon''s reactions, the Black Void Gate must be of utmost importance to the Ring of Destruction.


    He began to sift through the materials in the Palace of Memory.


    Whenever he had the chance, he would supplement the Palace of Memory with new books, and now its collection was in no way inferior to the Church''s.


    Darkness quietly passed, and the first light of dawn appeared. Xu Yi had spent the entire night searching and finally found some clues.


    "The Black Void Gate, one of the three primeval origins, It is the beginning, and it is also the end!"


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    Xu Yi whispered, with a glint of light flashing in his eyes.


    ......


    At Kerry High School, Xu Yi strode towards the school gate.


    The security guard at the gate wanted to step forward to inquire, but upon catching a whiff of a faint floral scent, he stood rooted to the spot and even saluted Xu Yi.


    The scent of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree''s Sleeping Flower, combined with hypnotism, was simply a deadly weapon against common people.


    Using a lingering scent from before, Xu Yi found the girl from that day, who was currently in class.


    He did not disturb her, but went straight to the principal''s office. When he came out, he had an extra stack of documents in his hand.


    "So it was Carrie!" Xu Yi looked at the information on the files and realized in an instant.


    Carrie White, 17 years old this year, living with her mother Margaret, depended on each other for survival in a small town.


    Based on the information, she was just a common high school student. Why did she know the Sugar Plum Fairy? What was her relationship with the Sugar Plum Fairy?


    Xu Yi was very curious.


    The bell signaling the end of class rang, and the students filed out. Carrie was mixed in with the crowd, carrying a backpack and walking with her head down. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But suddenly, a few girls stopped her and took her to a secluded corner on the edge of the school. Carrie didn''t even dare to say no and clutched her clothes tightly.


    Xu Yi, watching from the shadows, shook his head.


    In America, the "beacon of freedom," zero-cost shopping, American Kendo, and school violence were simply commonplace.


    "Chris, why did you call me here?" Carrie asked with her head down, not daring to look at the girl who was the leader.


    "Are you really stupid, or just pretending to be?" Chris said, patting Carrie''s face lightly, "You little slut, how dare you seduce Mark!"


    "I didn''t, it was Mark who came to me, and I barely even talked to him," Carrie hurriedly shook her head in denial.


    Chris violently pushed Carrie to the ground, "You think playing dumb will get you through this?"


    A group of girls surrounded Carrie. Xu Yi watched as they slapped her, and his brow furrowed slightly.


    Just as he was about to step forward, Carrie suddenly screamed. One of the girls had grabbed her hair and yanked it, causing Carrie to cry out in pain.


    An invisible wave of energy burst forth uncontrollably from within Carrie, sweeping outwards.


    The volleyball in Chris''s backpack exploded bombastically, shocking everyone present and causing them to halt their actions.


    As the instigator of it all, Carrie turned out to be the most frightened, curling up in the corner, trembling uncontrollably.


    Xu Yi was inwardly shocked; the energy that had just erupted resembled the ability of "Telekinesis."


    Among exorcists, whether it was "Psychic" or "Ghost Eye" abilities were considered normal, but this was his first time witnessing a human possessing the ability of "Telekinesis."


    One must know the potential of this ability was incredibly high!


    How could an ordinary family''s girl awaken such a power?


    If talking about Talent alone, girls like Belissa and Maria were much stronger.


    "What a pity," Xu Yi sighed as he looked at Carrie huddled in the corner.


    To become a powerful exorcist, having talent alone wasn''t enough; one''s mentality was also crucial, especially when dealing with all sorts of strange beings.


    Carrie was indeed frightened. She took a washed-out snowman doll from her backpack, clutching it tightly in her hand, and incessantly recited from the Holy Bible.


    "Our Father in heaven..."


    Chris snapped out of her panic and tossed away the deflated volleyball, glancing coldly at Carrie. She too had been scared out of her wits, which made her feel as if she had lost face.


    She looked at the snowman doll in Carrie''s hands and, for some reason, a wave of revulsion surged within her, compelling her to try and snatch it away.


    Xu Yi''s expression turned serious as he closely watched the snowman doll in Carrie''s hands.


    There was a special kind of resentment blanketing the doll, something he had felt before on the Sugar Plum Fairy.


    Carrie''s hands gripped the snowman doll so tightly that Chris, with all her strength, couldn''t pry them open.


    "Come over and help!" Chris shouted angrily at her lackeys behind her.


    The stunned crowd finally snapped out of it and hurried forward to help.


    Carrie used her body to protect the snowman doll, but without unleashing the energy within her, how could she possibly stand against seven people?


    The snowman doll was forcefully taken away, and the disgust in Chris''s eyes deepened as she looked at it in her hand.


    She took out a lighter, intending to burn the doll.


    Xu Yi didn''t stop her but instead looked on in anticipation.


    He was curious to see if burning this doll, which was connected to the Sugar Plum Fairy, would cause her to appear.


    The doll was engulfed by flames and turned into charred ash; nothing out of the ordinary happened. There was no melody heard, nor did the Sugar Plum Fairy seek revenge on them. Xu Yi let out a disappointed sigh.


    Carrie watched in a daze as the doll she clung to was reduced to ashes, unable to comprehend what had happened.


    "No! Don''t burn my sister!" She screamed in agony, as if she was about to pass out.


    Chris looked at Carrie''s miserable figure with a rush of gratification, but then she suddenly froze because Carrie had stopped crying out and rose from the ground, eyes blazing red as she stared down Chris.


    "What... what are you going to do?" Chris involuntarily stepped back, swallowing nervously. Confronted with Carrie''s gaze, she felt as if she were being hunted by a beast.


    Carrie didn''t pay any attention to her and suddenly lunged at Chris, gnawing at her ear with her mouth, blood streaming down.


    "She''s mad! She''s insane! Pull her off me!" Chris screamed out in pain, calling for help.


    Carrie behaved like a madwoman. Being a master of psychology, Xu Yi knew very well that Carrie had some sort of mental illness.


    "Mental illness... Excellent!" Xu Yi''s eyes lit up.


    He wasn''t afraid of Carrie''s mental illness; he was afraid she was too timid, too scared to fight back.


    Xu Yi looked down at the box beside his feet, always carrying it to sense the presence of the Sugar Plum Fairy, as it contained the Sin Remains.


    Inside the box, the "Jealousy" Sin Remains trembled slightly.


    It wasn''t because the Sugar Plum Fairy had appeared, but because he saw the "Heart of Gold" once again, this time in Carrie.


    "It really is miraculous that someone who appears so fragile on the surface could also possess a Heart of Gold," Xu Yi sighed softly.


    The Sin Remains were reacting on their own, not subdued, indicating a very high compatibility with Carrie, a situation similarly experienced by Cass.


    With the super Talent of "Telekinesis," the Heart of Gold, and the active response of the "Jealousy" Sin Remains... one could say that she was the most suitable proxy host for the "Jealousy" Sin Remains.


    Xu Yi was somewhat tempted, but for her to become a host for the Sin Remains, "Loyalty" was the most important criterion.


    If her Favorability or Loyalty Value wasn''t above 90, he wouldn''t even consider it.


    But he could consider giving her a chance.

 Chapter 301 Resurrection and The Door

    After Carrie entered a state of frenzy, her strength was so surprisingly great that six people couldn''t pull her off Chris.


    But the screams alarmed the school security, who were instantly startled when they saw Chris screaming on the ground.


    Chris''s father was a well-known local wealthy businessman, and if something happened, the school would probably be held accountable.


    Looking at the other one, they recognized her as well; Carrie was also a celebrity in the town.


    Not because of Carrie, but because of her mother.


    Carrie''s mother was always babbling incoherently, spreading her twisted dogmas everywhere, despised by the townspeople, and Carrie herself was ostracized because of her mother.


    The security guards saw that Carrie had gone mad and brought a steel fork used for capturing large ferocious dogs, as well as an iron cage for impounding rabid dogs, preparing to capture Carrie.


    Xu Yi couldn''t stand it anymore; if Carrie really was caught with a steel fork and locked in an iron cage like a wild dog, she would probably go insane for real.


    After all, she was just a girl in the bloom of youth; how could she endure all that?


    Mental illness is merely an issue with the mind, not true madness.


    Xu Yi walked out from the shadows, the scent of the Sleeping Flower emanating from his body, and the ticking of the clock permeated the whole scene.


    As he walked past the security guards, they stood there as if bewitched, unmoving.


    The female students who were bullying Carrie also stopped their actions.


    Carrie, sensing the scent of the Sleeping Flower, saw her agitation subside slightly. Noticing the commotion, she lifted her head and stared blankly at Xu Yi.


    "Relax! With me here, no one can hurt you," Xu Yi''s voice was as gentle as flowing water.


    A glimmer like that of lake water flashed in Carrie''s bloodshot eyes.


    ......


    Fiat Hotel, the revolving restaurant on the third floor.


    Carrie sat by the window in a white dress, as gentle piano music wafted through the restaurant.


    Having returned to normal, she once again became that timid little girl, her head lowered, not daring to look at Xu Yi across from her.


    She fiddled with the hem of her white dress, a gift from Xu Yi.


    In the hotel bathroom, she washed off the blood and filth from her body and changed into fresh clothes, finally not looking so embarrassed.


    Xu Yi didn''t rush to ask questions, letting Carrie eat first, but Carrie couldn''t help herself and took the initiative to speak, knowing why Xu Yi was there.


    "The Sugar Plum Fairy is my sister."


    With just that first sentence, Xu Yi was taken aback, completely beyond his expectations!


    Carrie wanted to say more, but Xu Yi quickly pushed the dessert on the table toward her, "The chocolate mousse cake here is really good, try it!"


    Walls have ears, this place is not suitable for such conversation.


    Xu Yi realized that the information from Carrie''s mouth was very important; if the Ring of Destruction found out, it could cause a lot of trouble.


    Although they couldn''t discuss the Sugar Plum Fairy, they could talk about something else.


    Xu Yi suddenly picked up an iron spoon from the table and tapped the bowl with it, attracting Carrie''s attention with the "clang" sound as she looked up curiously at Xu Yi.


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    Xu Yi placed the iron spoon in his palm, slowly tightened his grip, and then let go.


    The iron spoon had been transformed into a thin wire.


    Carrie''s eyes bulged in amazement.


    "Want to learn? Do you want to truly change your destiny?" Xu Yi''s voice was like the whisper of a demon.


    Carrie nodded subconsciously; no one does not desire to control their own destiny, especially someone who has suffered bullying like her.


    "So what should you call me?" Xu Yi coaxed.


    "Teacher," Carrie answered respectfully.


    Xu Yi nodded with satisfaction. His decision to take Carrie as his student wasn''t impulsive but after careful consideration.


    She had astonishing talent and possessed the Heart of Gold, making her a fine successor to the "Envy" Sin Remains.


    Most importantly, her favorability had reached an astonishing 82.


    This was actually not hard to understand; for a love-deprived girl like Carrie, if she encountered a man who was mature, strong, and handsome,


    and that man also saved her, treated her well, bought her new clothes, and took her out to eat,


    she was very likely to fall easily.


    In Xu Yi''s view, such a girl was the so-called "easily exploitable type."


    But Xu Yi had no such intentions towards Carrie, so from the beginning, he set the tone for a "teacher-student relationship" to dispel many of Carrie''s thoughts.


    "The day is still young, we have time for the first lesson after becoming my student!" Xu Yi stood up and picked up the coat from his chair.


    ......


    Chris returned home from the hospital, angrily tossing her clothes onto the sofa.


    Her left ear was bandaged, and even though anesthesia had been applied, it still ached faintly at that moment.


    Carrie had almost bitten off her ear; she had wanted her father to call the police, but her normally indulgent father not only did not seek revenge for her but also scolded her and told her not to mention the incident again.


    Seeing her father''s evasive expression, she knew she had hit a wall; however, she really couldn''t understand where Carrie, who had always been her "toy" at school, got such backing from?


    Chris was feeling stifled and decided to watch TV to alleviate the gloom in her heart.


    The music of "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" came from the television, and Chris stiffened; she had, of course, heard of the legend of the Sugar Plum Fairy.


    It must be a coincidence! It must be a coincidence!


    Chris comforted herself, but she moved towards the door slowly, prepared to flee at a moment''s notice.


    A little girl in a ballet costume suddenly appeared before her; Chris could not help but start trembling.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy slowly turned around; this was the prelude to "Hand of Darkness".


    But just then, a majestic roar sounded; the body of the Sugar Plum Fairy paused and then dissipated like foam.


    Chris gasped heavily, still unsettled, when she locked eyes with a pair of indifferent golden vertical pupils; the black Lizard Dragon clung to the ceiling, quietly watching her.


    Just as she was about to scream, her body shivered violently the next second, and she fainted.


    The Lizard Dragon glanced in the direction where the Sugar Plum Fairy had vanished, then turned his gaze back to Chris.


    He had followed the scent of the Sugar Plum Fairy, planning a surprise capture, but she had still managed to escape, as slippery as an eel.


    After a moment of thought, he picked up Chris with a claw and swiftly disappeared from the room.


    ......


    The Xu family restaurant.


    "To be precise, the Sugar Plum Fairy used to be my sister," said Carrie, taking the milk tea passed to her by Harada Mieko and expressing her thanks.


    "How did she become like this?" Xu Yi asked curiously.


    They had already returned to the Eight Monster House, where they could speak without fear.


    Only the Sugar Plum Fairy could sneak in here soundlessly; even the Ring of Destruction didn''t have this ability.


    "The year I turned thirteen, my sister fell down the stairs and died," Carrie said with a sorrowful expression, a flash of memory in her eyes.


    Xu Yi didn''t interrupt her, listening attentively.


    "That night, I had a dream. I heard my sister calling me. I woke up with a start, I missed her so much, so I sneaked off to the chapel. Her coffin was still there, the funeral wasn''t until the next day."


    Carrie continued on her own, "But what I didn''t expect was that the lid of her coffin was open, and what surprised me even more, my sister sat up from the coffin."


    Carrie took a deep breath before she continued, "At that time, I was ecstatic, thinking my sister wasn''t dead. I joyfully called out to her, but my sister didn''t pay any attention to me. She got out of the coffin and walked towards a heavy black iron door."


    Fear flickered in her eyes, "During the day, I had been to the chapel and was certain that there was no door there."


    "What did that door look like?" Xu Yi''s heart stirred, and he quickly asked. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Black, with black and red rust all over it, engraved with twisted figures..." Carrie seemed to recall something and her expression became exceptionally pained.


    "Let''s not recall that door for now. Keep going," Xu Yi interrupted, sensing that the door might be the legendary Black Void Gate.


    That door might contain some kind of Mental Contamination, hence he interrupted Carrie''s reverie.


    "When my sister walked up to the door, it suddenly opened. She walked straight into it... I was desperate to follow her, but as soon as I got to the door, it closed. I tried to push it open, but as soon as my hand touched the door, I fainted."


    Carrie came back from her memories, "When I saw my sister again, she had already turned into the Sugar Plum Fairy, but she seemed to remember me and never hurt me."


    Xu Yi pondered the information in his mind: resurrection from death, the Black Void Gate... he faintly realized that he might have stumbled upon a "secret essence" of this world.


    "What are your plans now?" Xu Yi asked Carrie.


    Carrie lifted her head, her eyes resolute, "I want to stop my sister! She can''t go on killing people!"


    "Then you need to focus on your studies!"


    One important reason Xu Yi had taken in Carrie as a student was to deal with the Sugar Plum Fairy.


    The snowman doll was a gift from Carrie''s sister, bearing the scent of the Sugar Plum Fairy.


    Even though the doll had been burnt, the Sugar Plum Fairy had never shown up, which led Xu Yi to believe that she might be intentionally avoiding him.


    Catching the Sugar Plum Fairy by waiting around was almost impossible, but Carrie was a possible avenue.


    According to Carrie, if the Sugar Plum Fairy appeared near her, she could directly enter her Different Space.


    Xu Yi guessed that this might be related to Carrie having also come into contact with the Black Void Gate.

 Chapter 302 Begin Action

    The floor was inscribed with an Array, its twisting lines and enigmatic runes forming a perfect circle.


    Carrie sat cross-legged at the center of the Array, a red glow illuminating her face, her body trembling slightly, but beyond that, no change occurred.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed. The solution used to draw the Array was concocted from the nectar of Jacaranda flowers, mixed with the powder of Red Crystals, along with his own Demigod blood.


    An "Awakening Array" drawn with such superior materials should have had a significant effect.


    Why was there no effect on Carrie?


    Xu Yi suddenly realized that guiding out the power within Carrie''s body might be more complex than he anticipated.


    He took out the Nest of the Evil God and had Carrie swallow it.


    Once the Nest of the Evil God dispersed inside Carrie''s body, an internal structural diagram appeared before Xu Yi''s eyes.


    He froze instantly.


    He even rubbed his eyes, doubting what he had seen.


    Regular medical equipment might not detect any issues, but the Nest of the Evil God went deeper.


    Carrie''s body, seemingly no different from an ordinary person''s, had already mutated.


    The junctions of cells were filled with transparent "snaps"; the center of her bones covered with a thin layer of black membrane...


    "Is it because of that Black Void Gate?" Xu Yi pondered with a frown.


    Awakening is akin to opening the "Box of Strength" within the body.


    Due to the mutation in Carrie''s body, her "Box of Strength" was particularly sturdy, making it hundreds of times more difficult to open than for others.


    The increase in difficulty did not bother Xu Yi; instead, his eyes shone with excitement.


    The harder the "Box of Strength" is to open, the more powerful the ability gained upon its opening!


    "It''s getting late today. Come over again after school tomorrow," he said.


    Xu Yi needed to contemplate the method for Carrie''s awakening.


    In the following days, Xu Yi was exceptionally busy.


    Lisa and the other two still hadn''t woken up, but according to the feedback from the Nest of the Evil God, their bodies were growing stronger.


    Xu Yi concocted a special nutrient solution and injected it into them.


    The Thrones of Cyrus bullets entered the manufacturing stage. The bone of a True God corroded metal, requiring exceptionally high-quality materials for the bullet casings.


    Xu Yi searched and finally found the scales of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent solved the problem.


    Once again, thanks to the brothers of the Ring of Destruction!


    After school, Carrie would come over.


    After trying numerous methods, Xu Yi finally had a clue and prepared to tailor-make an "Awakening Potion" for Carrie.


    In this time, Robert was acting out of the ordinary, no longer chasing the Sugar Plum Fairy everywhere as before.


    Instead, he was hiding in his house, drinking tea and reading the newspaper every day.


    Xu Yi felt not joy but a growing heaviness in his heart. He knew all too well this was just the calm before the storm.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy not only carried "Envy" at its Origin but even more crucially, it was related to the Black Void Gate.


    Compared to the Black Void Gate, "Envy" at its Origin seemed not so important after all.


    If the Sugar Plum Fairy hadn''t entered the Black Void Gate, it might have been just an ordinary Evil Spirit.


    But after entering the Black Void Gate, the abilities it controlled became a major headache for Xu Yi and the Ring of Destruction.


    Carrie had only touched the Black Void Gate, yet her body had mutated, and even her "Telekinesis" ability might have been granted by the Black Void Gate.


    Xu Yi had thought about seeking support from the church, but after careful consideration, he gave up on the idea.


    The church''s true attitude towards the Ring of Destruction was still unclear, and he had a premonition that if the church learned of the Black Void Gate, it might have other intentions.


    Amongst the undercurrents, five days passed quietly.


    On the fifth night, as the time neared midnight,


    Xu Yi gazed intently at the bullet in his hand.


    Compared to the "Golden Bullet" of the Red Copper Clock Bird, the bullet before him seemed rustic and unembellished. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The bullet''s head was dull gray, with no hint of anything supernatural.


    In Xu Yi''s view, the purpose of a bullet was to kill. Ostentatiousness was useless; a golden bullet head would only make the enemy more cautious.


    ```


    So, he deliberately applied an "alchemical dusting" to the bullet heads, following the "lyb" route.


    "Keris bullet, first shooting test, begins now!"


    Xu Yi loaded the Keris bullet into the Alchemy Revolver, the "Messiah" which he had reassembled. This old pal would shine and radiate warmth in his hands once again.


    He aimed at the "target" in front of him, Ghost Samurai Armor.


    Common targets simply couldn''t test the power of the Keris bullets, so he chose the Ghost Samurai.


    He pulled the trigger, and the Alchemy Revolver recoiled sharply.


    The Keris bullet, with its Divine Bone tip and casing of scales from an Eight-Headed Sea Serpent, was inscribed with the Throne of Cyrus.


    Even the flame used to fill the bullets was replaced with specially made Alchemical Dust, greatly enhancing its power beyond just a star and a half.


    The bullet hit the Ghost Samurai with precision, piercing its skull. From the bullet hole, white spread out in a large patch, the white areas turning to powder and fluttering down.


    Xu Yi''s face registered surprise.


    The Keris bullet "killed" the Ghost Samurai!


    He suddenly realized the principle of the Keris bullet was Energy Annihilation.


    Anything it came into contact with would have its energy invaded.


    If the energy wasn''t sufficient to resist the Divine Bone, the object would be thoroughly "killed."


    That is to say, theoretically, with enough Keris bullets, he could kill anything, including a Ghost Samurai.


    "Another ace up my sleeve!" Xu Yi happily stowed the Alchemy Revolver away.


    From devouring the soul of "Gluttony" within Otto Wa, he obtained more of the Philosopher''s Stone than he had from the Mummy, a full 33ml.


    Each Keris bone required about 3ml of Philosopher''s Stone to produce.


    He planned to replicate six more "tips" to complete a full chamber''s worth.


    He saved the remaining 15ml of Philosopher''s Stone for a time of need.


    These thoughts flashed through Xu Yi''s mind in reality only a few seconds had passed, and he tirelessly burned Entries, initiating Mystical Insights.


    The theme this time was: "Carrie''s Energy Awakening Plan."


    With one Resurrection Coin, not only did he complete the "debut" of the Keris bullet but also advanced the progress of the experiments, achieving two goals with one action.


    He had used another Resurrection Coin before to perfect the Keris bullet design; now, he had only 51 Resurrection Coins left.


    Another two days passed.


    At the Xu Family Restaurant, Xu Yi held a syringe, looking intently at Carrie in front of him, "Are you ready?"


    Carrie took several deep breaths, and after a long while, she nodded.


    Xu Yi didn''t hesitate and injected the specially made "Awakening Potion" into Carrie''s body.


    The potion was costly, but Xu Yi didn''t feel it was a waste, as Carrie''s Favorability had already reached 88.


    Over these days of contact, Carrie had earned Xu Yi''s approval.


    Carrie began shaking violently, her eyes turning blood-red one moment and regaining clarity the next, repeating this cycle as her Aura steadily climbed.


    Suddenly, she cried out in agony like a wild beast, as surging Energy burst forth, shattering the room''s glass instruments into a chaotic whirling of shards.


    "Did it work?" Xu Yi felt the powerful fluctuations washing over him and was filled with joy.


    But the next second, Carrie fell unconscious, collapsing limply to the ground.


    "Such a pity!" Xu Yi used the Nest of the Evil God to examine Carrie''s condition inside, sighing deeply.


    The potion was effective, as the "Box of Strength" inside Carrie had been opened; however, the mutation caused by the Black Void Gate caused the box to close again.


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    Xu Yi didn''t feel disappointed; instead, he was full of anticipation.


    Because once the box had been opened once, it could be opened countless times, and upon subsequent openings, it would change from "Hell Mode" to "Simple Mode."


    Time passed, and another day went by.


    That noon, Xu Yi, as usual, kept surveillance on Robert, when his expression suddenly turned serious.


    Robert, who had been quiet for many days, finally made a move, leaving his house where he had stayed for days, to a secluded house in the suburbs.


    Xu Yi saw the situation in the spacious hall clearly, and his heart tightened.


    In addition to the Lizard Dragon, the Crow Man and the Clock Bird were also there; Xu Yi felt the pressure instantly.


    The Ring of Destruction was taking the Sugar Plum Fairy more seriously than he had imagined.


    ```

 Chapter 303 Falling into Darkness

    The three great alchemical machines had gathered, and Xu Yi felt the situation was getting difficult.


    If it were only the Lizard Dragon, he and the Ghost Samurai could easily suppress it, but with the addition of the Crow Man and the Clock Bird, the tide of battle flipped instantly.


    He subconsciously checked on Lisa and the other two, who still hadn''t awakened.


    After injecting the "Poseidon Potion," their strength would soar, and together they could at least match one Ghost Samurai.


    The bottles and jars on the table contained various alchemical potions. Robert was clearly aware of the mission and began drawing an array inside the hall as soon as he entered.


    In the center of the array, Xu Yi spotted a familiar face, Chris.


    She had burned the object saturated with the resentment of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and was likely marked for "hunting" by the Sugar Plum Fairy.


    "So the plan for the Ring of Destruction is to use Chris as bait to lure out the Sugar Plum Fairy?"


    Although it was just a guess, Xu Yi felt it was very likely correct.


    ...


    The bell signaled the end of classes, and Carrie headed to the Xu Family Restaurant because the special training for today was canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.


    Carrie walked with her head down, kicking small stones on the ground, not hiding the look of disappointment on her face.


    "Carrie, there''s a dance at school tonight, are you going?" Suddenly, a female classmate extended an invitation.


    Carrie remembered her, one of the rare few in class who didn''t show obvious malice and occasionally even spoke to her.


    "I..." Carrie could not bring herself to utter her refusal, being someone who was terrible at saying no.


    "Come on! You disappear as soon as class is over; it''s not good for class unity," the classmate, who also served as a class officer, added.


    If there had been training, Carrie would have refused without hesitation, but she suddenly didn''t want to spend the evening alone. After hesitating for a long time, she finally nodded and agreed.


    The dance was bustling, and most importantly, she felt kindness from her classmates for the first time. Even those who used to bully her rarely offered her a smile.


    She didn''t understand why, but she was happy nonetheless.


    If someone has never tasted candy in their life, just a little sweetness could immerse them completely.


    But when she, the Lucky One, stood on the stage ready to receive the special gift of the night, a bucket of sheep''s blood from above brought everything to an abrupt halt.


    Carrie felt the cold and stench of the sheep''s blood on her and the laughter from beneath the stage pierced her like knives.


    Anger spread like wildfire in her heart, and the shackles in her mind seemed to loosen at this moment.


    "Kill them! Kill them all!" A deranged voice echoed in her ears.


    Carrie felt as if she held the power of life and death, able to kill everyone before her with a mere thought.


    Her hand slowly rose, but she suddenly stopped... because she had a premonition that if she gave in to her inner anger and killed everyone, she might fall into uncontrollable darkness.


    "The Black Void Gate has invaded your body, making your emotional responses a hundred times stronger than an average person. You need to control your emotions, whether it is cowardice, fear, or anger!"


    Xu Yi''s words suddenly echoed in her ears.


    Carrie took deep breaths to calm herself down.


    She kept reassuring herself, "It''s really nothing, just a loss of face, after all. The teacher said that once you control your power, all of this is just an illusion."


    In her eyes, she had only one teacher, and that was Xu Yi.


    She gradually calmed down, ignoring the mockers, leaving the dance with her head held high instead of bowed, as if she were the ''queen'' of the gathering.


    The laughter died down, and everyone stared blankly at Carrie''s figure, completely at a loss as to where she found such courage.


    Unbeknownst to everyone, under Xu Yi''s subtle influence, Carrie had changed.


    When she got home, she forced herself to regain her composure, but her heart trembled when she saw the white dress laid out on the dining table.


    The white dress was a gift from Xu Yi. The day she got home, she had taken off the white dress and hid it, not expecting her mother to find it.


    She could face humiliation at the dance calmly, but the thought of her mother, and the small black room in the attic with just a mirror, made her body tremble involuntarily.


    She could already anticipate, a tempest was about to break.


    "Carrie, where did this dress come from?"


    But what Carrie didn''t expect at all was the unheard-of tenderness in her mother''s voice.


    "Don''t... it was a gift from someone else," Carrie said after a long pause, barely above a whisper.


    She felt as though she was living in a dream, where every night she fantasized about having such a gentle mother.


    "From a man or a woman?" her mother''s voice was still so soft, even carrying a hint of encouragement with a smile on her face.


    "A... a man!" Carrie couldn''t help but tremble as she spoke.


    She remembered once receiving a gift from a boy, even if it was just a pen he gave her casually.


    That day, not only was she punished by kneeling for three hours, forbidden to eat dinner, but she was also locked in the small dark room in the attic for an entire day.


    Her mother believed that women who accept gifts from men were loose whores and that women shouldn''t marry and have children; the offspring produced were unclean.


    She preached these twisted doctrines around town every day, and everyone saw her as a plague, closing their doors tight at the sight of her.


    But Carrie remembered her mother wasn''t always like this.


    Everything changed since her father had an affair, gambled, and intended to offer her mother to settle his debts.


    "Drink this cup of coffee, warm up, then take a bath and get some good sleep!" her mother said.


    Unexpectedly, her mother didn''t get angry but instead made her a cup of coffee; Carrie''s eyes moistened as she watched the steam waft up from the brown liquid.


    Suddenly, all the grievances she suffered today seemed insignificant.


    She obediently drank the coffee, and an overwhelming sleepiness washed over her like a tide; she couldn''t resist and fell into a deep sleep.


    After who knows how long, she heard the harsh sound of sharpening a knife echoing in her ears as she drifted in and out of consciousness.


    She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt like they weighed a ton. Her mother''s voice mixed with the sound of the knife sharpening; startled, Carrie finally came to. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mother..." Carrie''s mind went blank as she took in the scene before her.


    She was bound to a load-bearing column in the center of the restaurant with thick hemp ropes, her mother squatting beside her, sharpening a sharp cleaver.


    "Mother, what... what are you doing?" Carrie shuddered uncontrollably as she saw her mother hunched over, sharpening the knife.


    "What am I doing... I''m of course thoroughly cleansing you of your filthy existence!" her mother replied sharply, lifting her head with the boning knife reflecting her bloodshot eyes, a look of madness on her face.


    ...


    Xu Yi loaded the slender bullet into the Barrett sniper rifle, aiming it at the old wooden house below.


    This type of anti-materiel firearm could even penetrate tank armor; against a house made of wooden planks, it was naturally effortless.


    He used a common sniper rifle instead of the Alchemy Revolver because his target was not alchemical machinery but a common person.


    He was prepared to kill Chris outright!


    Chris stood in the center of the formation, her expression dull and pupils gray. This was because most of her soul had already been extracted by the Array to create bait to attract the Sugar Plum Fairy.


    Even if she were rescued, she wouldn''t survive a day.


    Xu Yi had no intention, nor the ability, to save her. By killing her now, she could at least preserve a small part of her soul.


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    Once Chris died, the no longer fresh bait would make it difficult to attract the finicky Sugar Plum Fairy, akin to tempting a capricious carp.


    The three great alchemical machines of the Ring of Destruction were hidden away; only Robert was bustling about in the hall.


    Relying on the Nest of the Evil God within Robert to pinpoint her location, Xu Yi could ascertain Chris''s position even with his vision obstructed by the layers of the house.


    Xu Yi decisively pulled the trigger; with a muffled shot from the silencer, the bullet pierced through the house''s walls, aiming for Chris.


    Just as the sniper''s bullet was about to pierce Chris''s chest, it seemed to hit something solid and was instantly deflected.


    The shadow of the Lizard Dragon appeared in the air, using its long tail to wrap around Chris and acting as an invisible shield.


    Xu Yi''s expression shifted slightly, his plan foiled by the unforeseen ability of the Lizard Dragon.


    But he had no thoughts of using a Resurrection Coin for another attempt.


    Killing Chris was a temporary solution; given time, the Ring of Destruction could find a replacement.


    It wasn''t worth wasting a Resurrection Coin.


    Before Xu Yi could take any further action, the Crow Man had already reached his hiding place in the attic, his Reaper''s Scythe striking down fiercely.

 Chapter 304 With a Blade in Heart, Carving Through Thorns on Ones Own

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    "Mom, I know I was wrong, I won''t do it again!" Carrie cried incessantly, her eyes full of pleading.


    "No! Only with your death can the filth be thoroughly cleansed." Carrie''s mother, holding the sharp boning knife, walked steadily towards Carrie.


    Carrie cried until her throat was hoarse, and eventually, she couldn''t make a sound anymore, only silently shedding tears.


    Although her mother always said that they should not have been born, that they were impure, a violation of the rules, and even administered physical punishment, locking them in a dark room.


    But she never imagined that her mother would actually want to kill her.


    "Kill her! Kill her, and you can control your own destiny!" That deranged voice echoed in her ears again.


    Carrie just cried, even though she knew her mother wanted to kill her, she still couldn''t bring herself to act.


    "You''re just like your sister, so disgusting."


    Carrie''s mother looked at Carrie''s face, as if she saw again that familiar and hated person; Carrie resembled her father more.


    She raised the boning knife, intending to plunge it into Carrie''s heart, but the floor was a bit slippery from the water used for sharpening the knife, and her foot slipped.


    The boning knife didn''t pierce the heart but gashed Carrie''s arm instead.


    Yet Carrie didn''t even care about the pain in her arm, she just stared blankly at her mother.


    She keenly sensed that there was something wrong with what the other had said and instinctively blurted out, "My sister, what happened to her?"


    "Your sister was even more annoying, at such a young age wanting to learn ballet to seduce men!"


    Carrie''s mother''s expression was manic, "That day after school she came home wearing her ballet outfit. As she was going down the stairs, I pushed her hard from behind, it was fantastic, her head hit the corner of the wall sticking out below, and she just died on the spot!"


    With the boning knife in hand, Carrie''s mother swung it, alternating between fake crying and laughing loudly, "You all should die, just like your father!"


    This was no longer a mere case of mental illness; she was a complete maniac.


    "Mother killed... killed my sister!" Carrie trembled uncontrollably.


    Even in the most horrendous nightmare, she couldn''t have imagined such a thing, but now it was cruel reality.


    Carrie''s mother raised the boning knife again, this time aiming carefully at the heart, and she was so close she couldn''t possibly miss.


    "Kill her! Kill her to avenge your sister!" That voice of ultimate madness reverberated in her ears.


    Black spots appeared in Carrie''s eyes, like ink falling into clear water, the blackness spreading to her pupils. After a moment, her eyes had turned into abyss-like black, devoid of any light.


    Gushing waves of energy erupted like a volcano, and the boning knife that was about to strike was forcefully stopped in front of her chest, unable to advance even an inch.


    The cutlery on the table trembled non-stop, fruit knives on the rack rose into the air, and the entire house shook; around Carrie hovered the orange-red flames of demon fire.


    Those orange-red flames had no temperature, but as they swept over Carrie''s mother, the latter''s gaze turned vacant, standing there in a daze.


    Carrie let out a feral roar, the ropes binding her snapping instantly. The suspended sharp objects shot out, puncturing Carrie''s mother all over in an instant.


    Carrie''s pitch-black pupils glanced at her mother on the ground, her face expressionless.


    Her soul was descending into darkness, on the verge of becoming a demon.


    The Black Void Gate, also known as the Gate of the Fallen, has the innate ability to lure souls into depravity.


    At that moment, the clear sound of a doorbell rang. Carrie reached out toward the void, and the boning knife flew into her hand.


    She walked step by step to the door, glanced at the lock, and the lock sprang open by itself.


    An opaque box came through, inside was a pale pink cream cake with a small tag that read: Happy Birthday, Carrie.


    Standing outside the door, Harada Mieko held the birthday cake; she was also holding a bouquet that blocked her view, so she didn''t immediately notice the blood on Carrie.


    "Xu Yi couldn''t make it, so he asked me to bring you the cake first, he also left a message for you," Harada Mieko said softly.


    When Xu Yi had gotten Carrie''s information from the school, he had also taken note of her birthday.


    Carrie''s hand relaxed, allowing the heavy boning knife to fall to the ground. She took the cake and flowers from Harada Mieko, inhaling the scent of cream and blossoms.


    "Right, today is my birthday," Carrie murmured to herself. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those who remembered her birthday were truly few, and those who cared about it, there was not even one.


    She remembered once, she mentioned to her mother wanting a birthday cake, and her mother slapped her hard, then made her reflect in the dark room.


    It turns out, in this world, there are still people who remember her birthday and are willing to buy her flowers and a cake.


    So, she wasn''t alone after all!


    Carrie''s blackened eyes gradually receded as she placed the cake on the table and found a greeting card among the flowers. The card contained a message from Xu Yi.


    "Happy Birthday to my lovely student Carrie. I''m very sorry that due to an unexpected incident, I can''t be there to celebrate your birthday in person. As for your birthday gift, it''s a secret for now."


    From your teacher''s postscript: "Harbor the Boning Knife, brave the brambles and thorns with heart!"


    Tears fell silently from Carrie''s eyes, and the moment a tear dropped on the card, she suddenly came to her senses and carefully tucked the card away.


    This was something she would cherish for a lifetime.


    Suddenly, Carrie looked up sharply; she sensed the presence of her sister. After her ability was awakened, her perception ability had been enhanced countless times.


    At the same time, she detected Xu Yi''s presence as well.


    "Not good! Teacher is in danger!" Carrie set down what she was holding, leapt lightly, and flew out like an arrow released from its bow.


    Of course, her physical fitness wasn''t naturally that strong; this was the power of active control.


    ......


    Xu Yi rolled to dodge an attack from Crow Man, pushed off the ground, and his speed suddenly burst, crashing into Crow Man''s chest and swinging a punch.


    Crow Man''s right hand shook, and the Scythe of the Reaper in his hand pulled back, aiming to chop at Xu Yi''s head.


    Compared to the Crow Man Xu Yi had seen last time, the metallic arm behind him had disappeared, but that did not mean he had become weaker.


    On the contrary, he was even more difficult to deal with.


    The absorbent edge on the new weapon, Scythe of the Reaper, made Xu Yi''s scalp tingle.


    Xu Yi had to change his move midstream, ducking his head, while using an Iron Mountain Lean to bump his opponent away.


    A dense blood light suddenly shone from the window. Robert felt threatened and triggered the Array in advance.


    Although this would weaken the effect of the Array, it was the safest course of action.


    A red figure suddenly dropped from the roof. Ghost Samurai, wielding the Demon Blade Red Lotus, brought down flame-like sword qi like splattered ink. Its target was neither Robert nor Chris, who was protected by the Lizard Dragon.


    But the Array etched on the floor!


    Ghost Samurai had been hiding nearby, waiting for Xu Yi to draw everyone''s attention before striking fiercely.


    Xu Changrong, truly a "disciple of a noble lineage," chose the perfect moment, and by the time Robert and the Lizard Dragon reacted, the fiery sword qi had already cleaved the Array into two.


    A smile flickered across Xu Yi''s lips. Although destroying the Array could only temporarily delay the Ring of Destruction''s plan, what he lacked the most right now was time.


    With enough time, he would have the chance, before the Ring of Destruction, to consume the "jealousy" Origin of the Sugar Plum Fairy.


    The old gramophone in the hall suddenly started to play autonomously, the vinyl record began its slow rotation, and the classical "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" melody floated through the air.


    Xu Yi looked as if he had seen a ghost.


    He had already destroyed the Array, and not only were the three major pieces of Alchemical Machinery gathered here, but he and Ghost Samurai were also present.


    To the Sugar Plum Fairy, this place was nothing short of Dragon''s Den and Tiger''s Lair. Why would she still appear?


    Suddenly, Chris opened her mouth and spat out the innards of some unknown creature, the crimson guts wriggling slowly on the ground.


    Although Xu Yi didn''t know what they were, they definitely had something to do with the abnormalities of the Sugar Plum Fairy.


    The light in Crow Man''s pupils flickered for a moment, and Xu Yi quickly sensed something odd. Crow Man''s attacks suddenly became "mechanical," rigid and lacking the previously fluid motion.


    Ghost Samurai also engaged with the Lizard Dragon, who showed the previous ability to become invisible, but it wasn''t as "ghostly" as imagined.


    The brass Clock Bird hovered in the air, constantly harassing Ghost Samurai.


    The power of the Ring of Destruction''s three major Alchemical Machinery weakened, but Xu Yi''s face darkened.


    The reason for their weakness was that the Alchemical Machinery had switched from "active control" to "AI mode," hence their rigid behavior.


    So where had the souls controlling the Alchemical Machinery gone?


    Xu Yi looked towards Chris, and the answer was self-evident. The Ring of Destruction had somehow entered the Different Space of the Sugar Plum Fairy!


    This feeling was very unpleasant. Xu Yi felt as if he had gone blind, powerless to do anything but watch.

 Chapter 305 Sending Charcoal in Snowy Weather

    Xu Yi punched back the Crow Man and rushed towards the house below.


    By now, he had no choice but to try and exploit something in Chris''s situation, to see if he could stop the Ring of Destruction.


    He burst through the wall of the house, his expression growing increasingly ugly.


    Chris''s face was gnawed beyond recognition, her body lying on the ground, lifeless.


    Although she was dead, the music from the old player did not cease; the Sugar Plum Fairy was still there.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy had killed her target, so why was she still here?


    Obviously not because she didn''t want to leave, but because she couldn''t; the Ring of Destruction had somehow trapped her there.


    Xu Yi felt a sense of frustration; even if he wasn''t a match for the three great pieces of alchemical machinery of the Ring of Destruction, at least he could have fought a glorious battle.


    Unlike now, even if he could defeat the Crow Man before him, it wouldn''t decide the direction of events.


    The key still lay with the Sugar Plum Fairy!


    Just then, a swooshing figure approached from afar, and Xu Yi instinctively looked up, exclaiming in surprise, "Carrie!"


    Excitement quickly surfaced on his face; Carrie was flying over, which meant she had awakened her abilities!


    His attention had been entirely on this side before, and he hadn''t noticed Carrie''s condition, nor did he understand how she had suddenly awakened.


    But in any case, this was a godsend in the nick of time.


    "Teacher!" Carrie, upon seeing Xu Yi safe and sound, breathed a sigh of relief.


    With her mother''s betrayal, Xu Yi was now her sole pillar of support.


    Xu Yi suddenly roared, "Blood as Sacred" at full strength. The Crow Man couldn''t adapt to Xu Yi''s surge in power for a moment and was blasted away, crashing heavily into the ground.


    Xu Yi didn''t expect to achieve success with one hit; he suddenly changed his form, just to snatch a bit of time.


    "These people want to take the Sugar Plum Fairy away, now it''s up to you to stop them!" Xu Yi rushed to Carrie''s side and quickly briefed her.


    He knew it wasn''t realistic to ask Carrie to kill the Sugar Plum Fairy; Carrie clearly still had deep feelings for her sister, otherwise, she wouldn''t carry the snowman doll her sister had given her.


    So he was only asking Carrie to stop the Ring of Destruction.


    He could refrain from devouring the Origin of "Envy," but he wouldn''t let the Ring of Destruction take the Sugar Plum Fairy away!


    Xu Yi quickly took out the Alchemy Revolver and the Sin Remains of "Envy," handing them to Carrie with a reminder, "Conserve the bullets!"


    Even if Carrie had awakened her abilities, it was still too much of a stretch for her to contend with the three great ministers of the Ring of Destruction.


    Lacking the strength, she had to rely on equipment.


    Carrie nodded solemnly and dashed towards Chris.


    Although Chris was dead, she was still a nexus, allowing Carrie to enter the Different Space based on the nexus'' location.


    The Lizard Dragon detected an unfamiliar presence entering the room; its "AI" automatic enemy elimination mode activated. It opened its mouth, and black energy began to converge within.


    The energy erupted outwards, a black pillar of light sweeping across like a longsword, seemingly about to bisect Carrie at the waist.


    The Ghost Samurai suddenly leaped forward, the back of his blade resting against his left arm, powering both arms simultaneously, using the Demon Blade Red Lotus to block the lethal black pillar of light.


    Carrie seized this opportunity, hurriedly rushing to Chris''s side and stepping into the Different Space as her figure slowly vanished.


    Xu Yi immediately switched his viewpoint to the Nest of the Evil God.


    Previously, in order to prepare the Awakening Potion, the Nest of the Evil God had remained inside Carrie and had not been taken out.


    The good news was that the Different Space did not sever his connection with the Nest of the Evil God, allowing him to clearly see the situation inside.


    He suddenly stilled for a moment; in the Sugar Plum Fairy''s Different Space, instead of alchemical machinery, he saw three men.


    The three men varied in height and build, but shared one feature: they were all elderly, with white hair and brows, a symbol of a gate engraved on their foreheads.


    These people were in soul form, clearly behind the control of those pieces of alchemical machinery.


    For some reason, Xu Yi felt that these three men looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before.


    Together, the three of them chanted in an unknown language, with powerful waves sweeping across the area following their chant.


    One of them merely glanced indifferently at Carrie, and she was frozen in place, unable to move.


    Not just Carrie, even the Sugar Plum Fairy could not break free from the chanting voices.


    The power that restrained them did not come from the three people before them, but from something far more terrifying; the trio were merely acting as conduits.


    Xu Yi had originally pinned his hopes on Carrie, but now, before she could even make a move, she was already "knocked down."


    "I have to take the risk!" he took a deep breath.


    He prepared to join forces with the Ghost Samurai, launching a surprise attack. Their target wasn''t the Crow Man or the Lizard Dragon, but the Copper Clock Bird.


    The Copper Clock Bird was too hateful, its power not very strong, yet proficient in assisting, with endless Arrays emerging one after another.


    Many times, when he and the Ghost Samurai were about to gain momentum, they were interrupted by the Arrays of the Copper Clock Bird.


    The age-old wisdom that the first to kill in a group battle is the support! Indeed, a compelling aphorism.


    Moreover, the enemy stubbornly held on to their "Golden Bullet," only occasionally extending the barrel of the gun to intimidate them, which was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads, truly agonizing.


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    Xu Yi and Xu Changrong communicated through telepathy and approached the Copper Clock Bird inconspicuously. Without needing to exchange glances, they suddenly launched their attack.


    The Ghost Samurai turned and delivered a swift One Breath Slash, unleashing a long-gathered power surge, and his fiery sword energy shot straight toward the Copper Clock Bird.


    Letting his father control the Ghost Samurai was indeed the right choice, Xu Yi felt immensely fortunate.


    His father''s swordsmanship and combat awareness were top-notch, only such a person could unleash the true power of the Ghost Samurai.


    And his father was also one of the few people Xu Yi would entrust his back to without any hesitation.


    At the same moment, Xu Yi exerted his full strength to activate "Blood as Sacred," with platinum energy converging at his fingertips, the scorching Sword of Judgment slashed down.


    The Copper Clock Bird had no way to avoid it, but in the next second, the image of the Clock Bird dissipated like a bubble, while the Lizard Dragon took its place, bearing the brunt of the attack instead.


    Flame and Holy Flame fell with a thunderous crash, unleashing powerful Energy on the Lizard Dragon, causing its surface body to crack and countless tiny fissures to appear. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although the Lizard Dragon was gravely injured, there was not a hint of a smile on Xu Yi''s face.


    If the "combined strike" had landed on the weaker Copper Clock Bird, it might have directly destroyed it.


    And because Xu Yi had launched a surprise attack on the Copper Clock Bird, he had exposed a huge vulnerability at his back. Naturally, the Crow Man would not miss such a golden opportunity.


    The Scythe of the Reaper surged with a thick blood-red glow, and as the scythe slashed down, Xu Yi had no time to dodge in his haste, and his back was cleaved open in one strike, severing his spine as well.


    Xu Yi''s face contorted with pain, and what was worse, he found that his Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Ability was inhibited, recovering at an extremely slow pace.


    He had anticipated all these before launching the surprise attack.


    Yet, after paying a sufficient price, he had not achieved the desired result.


    Now seriously injured, the battle ahead would only grow more difficult.


    He subconsciously checked the situation of the Eight Monster House; Lisa and the others were still unconscious, and even Harada Mieko, with the addition of the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, was not ready to join a battle of this magnitude.


    At that moment, Xu Yi suddenly froze.


    The Copper Clock Bird, which had been hovering steadily in the air, began to wobble.


    Within the Different Space of the Sugar Plum Fairy.


    The chanting grew more urgent; a strong oppressive force bore down on the Sugar Plum Fairy. It couldn''t withstand the pressure, its legs slowly bent, and it was on the verge of kneeling before the trio of the Ring of Destruction.


    "Sister!" Carrie cried out in anxious anger.


    The Energy within her was stirred, and an orange-hued Demon Fire burst forth from her body, actually forcibly dispersing the oppressive chanting.


    Just as she was about to move, the oppressive force surged back at her. She could only shakily raise her Alchemical Revolver and aimed at one of the members of the Ring of Destruction.


    The people from the Ring of Destruction contemptuously glanced at Carrie.


    They recognized the gun in Carrie''s hand as the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, but so what? Even Exorcism Bullets were nothing more than a tickle to them.


    Carrie had undergone shooting training in the Eight Monster House, and although her marksmanship was average, at such a close distance, and with an immobilized target, she could still ensure accuracy.


    The orange flames surged again. Seizing the moment when the suppression had dispersed, she decisively pulled the trigger.

 Chapter 306 The Three Primordial Gates

    The Alchemical Revolver Messiah vibrated thunderously, and Carrie almost lost her grip. She only managed to stabilize it by using her ability to control it with her mind.


    In fact, she didn''t know what abilities the gun had; she acted out of trust in Xu Yi.


    Just to be cautious, she fired three shots.


    This was also because Xu Yi had instructed her to conserve the bullets, otherwise she might have emptied the chamber.


    The bullets left the barrel with a trail of flame, targeting the trio within the Ring of Destruction. The one in the center had particularly narrow eyes that resembled those of an eagle.


    "Eagle Eye" coldly glanced at the bullets. He was currently in a soul state, and ordinary physical bullets were useless against him.


    Even Exorcism Bullets could be ignored with the protection of the Soul Gate that they possessed.


    As the bullets came within inches, "Eagle Eye"''s expression suddenly changed.


    Having the strongest perception among the three, he acutely sensed something off about the bullets¡ªthey carried the aura of True God bone!


    "Be careful!" he bellowed, dodging to the side.


    On his left was Augustus, the Crow Man, and on his right was Byron, the Red Copper Clock Bird. Both reacted almost simultaneously to his warning.


    But in terms of strength and soul intensity, Augustus was far superior to Byron.


    Augustus narrowly dodged the bullets, but Byron wasn''t so lucky; a bullet pierced through his chest.


    The expression on Byron''s face froze as he realized it at the moment he was hit¡ªit was a bullet with a True God bone from Keres as the tip.


    But he couldn''t understand why he hadn''t felt its presence earlier, being so familiar with the True God bone of Keres.


    What he didn''t know was that Xu Yi had put in a great deal of effort to mask the aura of the True God bone.


    He had not only developed a new type of Alchemical Dust, but also designed a special Array.


    For this, he had paid the price of a Resurrection Coin.


    If it were any common exorcist, they would have been oblivious to it. It was only because these individuals had exceptionally strong perception.


    The "Energy Annihilation" ability of the Keres bullet began to take effect, and Byron''s calm face turned to one of terror. He looked to the other two for help, "Save me! I don''t want to die yet!"


    Augustus lunged toward Byron, but it was already too late.


    Stripped of the reincarnation device, Byron was like a warrior stripped of his armor. Even with the protection of the Soul Gate, his soul couldn''t resist the True God bone.


    Byron''s soul dissipated as if it were being burned away by flames.


    The remaining two from the Ring of Destruction had their faces change drastically, their gaze locked on Carrie.


    By having bullets tipped with True God bones, she possessed the power to kill them.


    Carrie herself hadn''t expected that the gun Xu Yi gave her would be so powerful.


    She raised the Alchemical Revolver again, aiming at Augustus. The orange flames burst forth from her body, momentarily breaking the spiritual suppression she was under.


    Augustus''s face showed a slight change, but he managed to remain calm.


    The primary reason Byron was hit was due to his carelessness. Now that they knew about the bullets, it wouldn''t be easy for her to hit them, given their speed.


    What concerned him more were those orange flames.


    That was not the ordinary Soul Fire at all!


    Ordinary Soul Fire wouldn''t be able to break the suppression of the Soul Gate.


    They had paid the price for their underestimation. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Augustus! Don''t hesitate any longer," Eagle Eye suddenly roared.


    Augustus nodded, understanding that the longer they delayed, the more uncertainties there would be.


    ......


    In the space of reality.


    The Red Copper Clock Bird fell unsteadily. Of course, it did not possess actual AI intelligence; all its actions still relied on the soul, though the percentage of usage was different.


    A look of surprise burst forth in Xu Yi''s eyes.


    He hadn''t expected Carrie to bring such a big surprise; taking her on as a student was, indeed, the right choice.


    The true debut of the Kris bullets was utterly "stunning."


    The red copper Clock Bird smashed onto the ground with the light in its pupils completely extinguished.


    No matter how precious the alchemical machinery, it was just an outer shell for the members of the Ring of Destruction. If one shell was destroyed, they could easily replace it and continue to cause trouble.


    But unlike the previous Eight-headed Sea Serpent, this time what died was a soul.


    Xu Yi instantly had one less formidable enemy!


    The Ghost Samurai rushed fiercely towards the red copper Clock Bird.


    Xu Changrong, who was controlling the Ghost Samurai, received Xu Yi''s instruction to snatch the mechanical bird.


    At the same time, Xu Yi threw the Annabelle doll he was holding.


    The energy source of these alchemical machines was a Mythic Level Holy Artifact; if he could snatch another one, that would be a huge windfall!


    As he injected the Accelerated Recovery Injection, he glanced at the Crow Man and the Lizard Dragon and was taken aback.


    The Crow Man stood still, showing no intention of intervening.


    Could it be that the opponent was so generous that they didn''t even care about a mythical weapon?


    Just then, a thick grey fog suddenly burst forth from the red copper Clock Bird, quickly enveloping the entire area.


    Xu Yi heard low cries of sorrow, not from a single person, but from thousands upon thousands of people.


    He had a very bad premonition.


    An abrupt gust of wind parted the curtain of fog, and Xu Yi shuddered involuntarily; he didn''t know when, but a door had appeared amidst the fog.


    The door wasn''t exceptionally large, about three meters tall and two meters wide, blood-red throughout, with unclearly carved human faces as if seen through a gelatinous film, densely packed together.


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    Xu Yi had seen this door before on Mount Fuji of Japan, where the Crow Man had summoned the Primordial Sin Tree using this door.


    The door before him, in terms of size and the patterns on its surface, was quite different from the one he had seen on Mount Fuji, but Xu Yi was certain it was the same door.


    The aura of the door was too unique to be imitated.


    Last time he was far from the door, and it was not aimed at him; he only felt the door was strange ¨C now close to it, its aura was downright hair-raising.


    "The Soul Gate, one of the three Primordial Gates," Xu Yi took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.


    It was normal for the appearance of the gate to be different from the last time.


    The Soul Gate, also known as "The Ever-Changing Gate."


    The form it takes upon each arrival differs with the souls sacrificed.


    Ever since he heard about the Black Void Gate, Xu Yi had been searching for related information, but the data he could find was very limited.


    The so-called three Primordial Gates are the ever-changing "Soul Gate," the abyss of corruption''s "Black Void Gate," and the most mysterious "Gate of Truth."


    The Soul Gate suddenly began to tremble, emitting a grating hum that seemed to shatter one''s soul.


    The antique gramophone in the hall was still playing the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," but its music abruptly became choppy until it turned into piercing, unbearable noise.


    Xu Yi heard the Sugar Plum Fairy''s screams; the alternate space of the Sugar Plum Fairy was broken, and everything within that space appeared in the real world.


    A bone-ash light orb suddenly rose into the sky, coming from one of the Ring of Destruction''s members. After throwing the light orb towards the Soul Gate, his soul returned to the Crow Man.


    Sharp wails came from the light orb; it was the essence of a soul.


    Xu Yi felt a chill on his scalp. A soul elixir the size of a fingernail would require the souls of tens of thousands of ordinary people to extract.


    The essence before him was the size of a fist, and at its center, it even displayed "vaporizing" characteristics.


    One could hardly conceive the number of souls that had to be consumed to produce such an orb of soul elixir.


    Xu Yi desperately wanted to stop it, but ever since the Soul Gate appeared, a powerful suppression swept across the room, making it difficult for him to even lift a finger.


    The light orb moved at an extremely fast speed, and in the blink of an eye, it entered the Soul Gate.

 Chapter 307 The Gathering of the Twin Gates

    ```


    The fragrance of heather diffused from the door, and after the Soul Gate swallowed the soul essence, the door began to shimmer with a blood-red glow, unsettling fluctuations sweeping in all directions.


    Xu Yi''s face suddenly turned pale, as he found himself unable to move. Find exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    His soul was firmly locked within his body, an awful feeling, akin to being a common person sealed in concrete.


    "This is the end!" Xu Yi lamented in his heart.


    In such a situation, he had become nothing but a target, wasn''t he just at the mercy of the Ring of Destruction?


    He looked around and suddenly froze.


    Neither the Crow Man nor the Lizard Dragon took the opportunity to attack him.


    Obviously, it wasn''t that the people of the Ring of Destruction had a sudden change of heart, wanting to get along. There was only one possibility for this situation.


    "The suppression of the Soul Gate isn''t targeted at individuals, but at everyone, even the Summoner of the Ring of Destruction is not spared."


    Xu Yi quietly let out a sigh of relief. Actually, when he thought about it, it made sense.


    If the Ring of Destruction truly had complete control of the Soul Gate, one of the Primordial, there would be no need for them to hide at all.


    According to the information Xu Yi had found, the emergence of gods in decline was inseparably linked to the three Primordial Gates.


    In theory, the Primordial Gates should not be something that could be controlled by humans.


    Under the suppression of the Soul Gate, everyone present had turned into puppets.


    A "creak" suddenly sounded as the Soul Gate slowly opened a crack, and Xu Yi couldn''t stop trembling; he felt an insurmountable chill.


    In fact, his body didn''t move an inch; it was his soul that trembled, for the chill was aimed at the soul.


    Mad yet gentle whispers entered his ears, and Xu Yi had never heard such eerie voices. He felt very, very sleepy, yet his mind was exceedingly active.


    It was like a severe insomniac torn between extreme fatigue and extreme excitement.


    The only outcome if this continued would be madness.


    Gradually, Xu Yi felt an intense itching on his scalp, as though a swarm of lice were scurrying over his head, but his body could not move at all, he was utterly unable to scratch.


    The itching became more intense and spread throughout his body, tormenting Xu Yi like cruel torture.


    "Deep breaths! Deep breaths!" A gentle voice suddenly came into his ear.


    Xu Yi subconsciously followed the instructions. His body was clearly immobile, yet he somehow performed the act of taking deep breaths. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He smelled the rich scent of heather and his body felt more relaxed than ever before; whether it was fatigue or irritability, or the itching of his head, it all disappeared at the same moment.


    He wanted to take another deep breath...


    "No!" Xu Yi suddenly woke up.


    He could understand being tortured, but that sense of comfort was clearly problematic. The Ring of Destruction went through so much effort to summon the Soul Gate, surely it wasn''t just to give him a spa treatment, right?


    "The Soul Gate wants to control him!"


    He immediately thought of a possibility, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.


    "Blood as Sacred," full release!


    Xu Yi struggled to muster a shred of strength and kindled the blood within his body; a platinum-colored glow could not spread out, only slowly circulating on the surface of his body.


    Although he still couldn''t move, he had at least dispelled the discomfort. He looked around.


    Eerie orange-red flames enveloped Carrie''s body, and her condition seemed better than Xu Yi''s.


    ```


    "Blood as Sacred" in its full activation could be achieved, and Carrie did just that!


    Of course, this didn''t mean Carrie''s strength was on par with his, it was just that the energy of "Demon Fire" was of a higher tier, and it happened to counter the murmurs of the Soul Gate.


    "Indeed, someone who has encountered the Black Void Gate and has not fallen into corruption!" Xu Yi thought to himself in amazement.


    The Ghost Samurai stood still, the flames in its pupils extinguished. Xu Yi released a sigh of relief.


    The old man was cunning enough to sense something was wrong and immediately logged off, avoiding the fate of being controlled.


    A cracking sound of bones twisting suddenly erupted.


    "What can move?" Xu Yi was startled and tried to move his eyeballs to look.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy that was pinned to the ground suddenly moved. It slowly got up, its face filled with sharp teeth started to ooze blood, which kept dripping down, making it even more terrifying.


    It staggered toward Carrie, its jagged footsteps uneven, the teeth on its face writhing like tentacles.


    "The opponent is controlled by the Soul Gate." Xu Yi immediately realized.


    To be able to walk freely under the suppression of the Soul Gate, other than becoming a "Wraith" of the Soul Gate, he could think of no other reason.


    "Run... run!" Xu Yi used all the strength in his body to squeeze out a word from his throat.


    The Ring of Destruction indeed couldn''t manipulate the Soul Gate, but as summoners of the gate, they could have a "hunting exemption right" - the Soul Gate would not attack them.


    Besides, all the "creatures" present would become targets for its enslavement, and if it couldn''t enslave them, it would have the Wraiths kill them!


    Xu Yi was already prepared to spend a Resurrection Coin, the only solution he could think of now was to leave with Carrie before the arrival of the Soul Gate.


    The Soul Gate was clearly the trump card of the Ring of Destruction, such a thing that only exists in descriptions of fragments of Ancient Tomes was definitely not something he could currently contend with.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy stopped in front of Carrie, ready to pounce and bite at her.


    Tears silently slid from the corners of Carrie''s eyes. Perhaps it was the magic of the Demon Fire, or maybe some other reason, but she miraculously broke through the suppression of the Soul Gate and spoke with a hoarse voice, "Sis... sister!"


    The body of the Sugar Plum Fairy suddenly froze, and whether it was Xu Yi''s illusion, he felt a sensation known as "pain" emanating from it.


    Could a monster like the Sugar Plum Fairy have emotions? Xu Yi wondered curiously.


    Xu Yi suddenly shuddered, not from the cold, but from a peculiar sensation on the surface of his skin, as if snakes were slithering on it, cold and moist.


    And there was not just one snake, but a mass of them, coiling around his body, moving along his limbs, occasionally flicking their tongues, licking his skin.


    Xu Yi felt a chill down his spine, and his hairs stood on end.


    He soon realized why this sensation arose; behind the Sugar Plum Fairy, the phantom of a door appeared abruptly.


    The door was entirely black with many reliefs closely set upon it, depicting all kinds of monsters and even humans. Xu Yi saw engravings of the Sugar Plum Fairy on it.


    The pupils of Crow Man and Lizard Dragon suddenly burst with dazzling light, as if they were faces of humans filled with unrestrained desire.


    "Black Void Gate!" A name flashed through Xu Yi''s mind.


    He never imagined that the Sugar Plum Fairy would summon the Black Void Gate. Although it was only a phantom, after all, it was one of the Primordial.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy shook violently as if seized by an epileptic fit.


    The energies of the Black Void Gate and the Soul Gate rampaged inside it, fighting each other like sworn enemies, using the body of the Sugar Plum Fairy as a battlefield.


    The pale skin of the Sugar Plum Fairy cracked, and thick black blood slowly seeped out.


    The complexity of the situation had exceeded Xu Yi''s imagination; he couldn''t guess what would happen next. He could only wait and see how things would unfold.

 Chapter 308 One Heart Seeking Death

    The shadow of the Black Void Gate enveloped the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the old-fashioned record player in the hall resumed normal function, with the music no longer cutting in and out.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy took a slow step backward, breaking free from the control of the Soul Gate.


    In the end, it was the Black Void Gate that claimed victory in this battle, for its connection with the Sugar Plum Fairy was closer and more easily influenced.


    "Don''t be reluctant, after this mission is over, I will compensate you with resources, along with the others," the Lizard Dragon suddenly spoke in a soft voice.


    The Crow Man hesitated no longer, took out a clump of Soul Elixir, and tossed it towards the Soul Gate.


    The Soul Gate absorbed the new Soul Elixir, and the blood-red light on its door flickered rapidly. The crack of the door widened slightly, and an even more powerful suppression enveloped the entire area.


    Xu Yi''s complexion changed slightly. He had believed that the suppression he felt just now was already the limit of the Soul Gate, but the current scene made him realize that was just the tip of the iceberg.


    The more the door opened, the stronger the power of the Soul Gate became.


    The Black Void Gate was collapsing, on the verge of falling apart, and the body of the Sugar Plum Fairy trembled violently.


    After all, the Black Void Gate here was only a projection and stood no chance against the actual Soul Gate¡ªit was only to be expected.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy was not powerful enough to summon the true form of the Black Void Gate over.


    With the Fairy retreating slowly towards the Soul Gate, Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief.


    It seemed that the Ring of Destruction also didn''t want any complications and was focused on securing its gains as soon as possible. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Though he hadn''t been able to devour the Origin of "Envy" or stop the plans of the Ring of Destruction, at least the losses weren''t great.


    When something as "bug-level" as the Soul Gate appeared, Xu Yi had already prepared for the worst.


    The footsteps suddenly ceased, and Xu Yi looked towards the Sugar Plum Fairy in astonishment.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy suddenly turned back, charging towards Carrie. Unlike its previous slow steps, this time it was a frantic sprint.


    Had the Ring of Destruction suddenly changed its mind, deciding to deal him a spiteful blow before leaving?


    But why target Carrie instead of him? Was it wary of Carrie''s Talent?


    Xu Yi couldn''t figure it out, and he had no time left to think.


    Because of the Black Void Gate, the Soul Gate''s suppression weakened for an instant, and Xu Yi burned a large amount of blood at once, finally breaking through the suppression and rushing towards Carrie.


    He had only taken two steps when the suppression descended once more, and Xu Yi''s speed was slow as a snail''s crawl.


    It was too late to stop it, and Xu Yi prepared to use the Resurrection Coin, but the next second, his eyes widened in shock.


    Carrie held the Alchemical Revolver Messiah in her right hand and clutched the "Envy" Sin Remains in her left. The "blade" of the Sin Remains faced forward.


    The reason for her grip was to draw the blade quickly in case of danger.


    This was her achievement after specialized training at the Eight Monster House.


    But due to the suppression of the Soul Gate, she had been stuck in this posture the whole time.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy charged at Carrie not to bite her face, but to let its body slam into the blade of "Envy" Sin Remains!


    The Sin Remains stabbed into the Sugar Plum Fairy''s chest, and thick black blood flowed out.


    Under the suppression of the Soul Gate, Xu Yi had difficulty even protecting himself, let alone controlling the Sin Remains to perform the "Flying Dagger" technique.


    But activating the Sin Remains to devour the Origin of "Envy" was still no issue.


    The black and gold Sin Remains vibrated, continuously devouring the Origin of "Envy."


    Xu Yi had never experienced such a smooth sensation; previous extractions of the Origin had always been like squeezing toothpaste, because the hosts of the Source of Sin would desperately resist, but the Sugar Plum Fairy before him was actually cooperating.


    The other side was hell-bent on dying!


    Xu Yi could finally confirm one thing¡ªthe Sugar Plum Fairy must still retain some memories from its life, having not completely fallen and turned into a creature acting solely on instinct.


    The other side didn''t want to become a Puppet of the Soul Gate and lose its last bit of rationality, so it chose the most resolute method.


    Suicide!


    The watching Lizard Dragon let out an angry roar, and panic flashed in the eyes of the Crow Man.


    When they saw the Sugar Plum Fairy suddenly turn back, they knew something was wrong, but they couldn''t directly control the Soul Gate; they could only watch as everything unfolded.


    The price for summoning the Soul Gate was even more exaggerated than they thought¡ªtwo clumps of Soul Elixir was just what was visible on the surface. Privately, they had to sacrifice something far more precious.


    Having paid such a high price, if they were to also lose the Origin of "Envy," they would probably sustain an unbearable loss.


    What was worst was that they could do nothing but hope the Soul Gate would exert its power now.


    The countless faces on the door suddenly moved, emitting a silent roar in unison.


    The Soul Gate was enraged, and an icy breath swept through like a tsunami. The already precarious Black Void Gate now flickered like a candle in the wind, on the verge of shattering.


    "There''s not enough time!" Xu Yi sighed in regret.


    Even with the Sugar Plum Fairy''s cooperation, it still took time to consume the Source of Sin, and so far, only a fifth had been devoured.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy also realized this point. Once the projection of the Black Void Gate vanished, it would no longer have any leverage against the Soul Gate.


    It shoved Carrie aside and lunged at Xu Yi with force.


    Xu Yi was startled. He had only just gotten close to Carrie, and upon realising that the Sugar Plum Fairy had no intention of harming her, he had stood his ground.


    He was now very close to the Sugar Plum Fairy. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Under the suppression of the Soul Gate, he had no means of dodging and could only watch helplessly as the Sugar Plum Fairy pounced on him, sinking its sharpened fangs into Xu Yi''s shoulder.


    Xu Yi hadn''t expected such an unwarranted calamity; he couldn''t understand why the Sugar Plum Fairy, before losing control, would still give him such a bite.


    They didn''t have such a significant grudge, did they?


    Dark purple smoke rose from his arm as if it were being eroded by sulfuric acid, and Xu Yi''s face twisted in agony.


    The pain was unbearable! It was too excruciating!


    Even being bisected or beheaded hadn''t felt as painful as this. Since acquiring the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entries, such injuries had become commonplace and he had gradually become accustomed to them.


    But now, just a single bite made it feel like he was about to faint from the pain.


    The shadow of the Black Void Gate completely dissipated, and the Sugar Plum Fairy, before being fully controlled by the Soul Gate, pushed Xu Yi away.


    The next second, the Sugar Plum Fairy''s body stiffened on the spot.


    "Sis¡­ Sister!" Carrie, realizing what had happened, couldn''t stop her tears from falling.


    Xu Yi was already considering the matters of the next cycle.


    With the projection of the Black Void Gate gone, the Sugar Plum Fairy controlled, and his own blood nearly burnt out, even resisting the Soul Gate''s invasion was difficult.


    He had no more points of turnaround left.


    But just then, the red light flickering on the Soul Gate disappeared, and under an invisible force, the door slowly closed.


    "Is this¡­ the energy of the Soul Gate running out?" Joy flashed in Xu Yi''s eyes.


    He looked towards the Crow Man; if the opponent could produce another orb of Soul Elixir, he would have no choice but to admit defeat.


    "What a pity!" the Crow Man sighed inwardly,


    He really wanted to keep Xu Yi here forever, but he couldn''t do it.


    It wasn''t just the Soul Elixir that was simple; the main purpose of the Soul Elixir was to protect them from the Soul Gate''s attacks while allowing it to exert even greater power.


    The true summoning of the Soul Gate was by another item, and the energy of that item was about to run out, with the Soul Gate soon returning to nothingness.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy did not attack Xu Yi but walked into the Soul Gate with big strides, as the door slowly closed behind it.


    A thick gray mist surged towards the Soul Gate, and moments later, the mist, along with the Soul Gate, disappeared.


    Everyone regained mobility; the Crow Man and the Lizard Dragon turned their heads to stare at Xu Yi, their pupils flickering with dangerous light.


    Xu Yi quickly called out to his father, and flames reignited in the eyes of the Ghost Samurai, who stood with his sword in front of Xu Yi.


    Carrie reached out to support the tottering Xu Yi, and he took the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, silently hiding it behind him, and feigned extreme weakness, as if he was about to pass out.


    Although he was seriously injured and his blood was nearly exhausted, honestly, they were the ones with the upper hand.


    The reason lay in the Alchemy Revolver he held.


    Inside the chamber of the Alchemy Revolver, there were still three Keres bullets.


    This weapon in his hand, compared to in Carrie''s, was like two different arms altogether.


    With the "Shadow Gun God" Entries, he could maximise the weapon''s potential.


    "The Ghost Samurai is definitely not a match for those two. Once they gain the upper hand and let their guard down, I''ll sneak in that shot¡­ Then, with the enhancements from ''Silent Domain'' and ''Bullet Trajectory,'' there''s a great chance of hitting their core."


    Xu Yi had already scripted the scenario in his mind.


    Unfortunately, the Ghost Samurai and the Lizard Dragon didn''t take the bait; they merely glanced at the hand in which Xu Yi hid the Alchemical Revolver and silently turned to leave.


    "What a pity, such a perfect script!" Xu Yi let out a sigh, watching them leave.


    A sneak attack might have worked, but if the opponent was already on guard, the effect might not be as good. Xu Yi wasn''t willing to waste the Keres bullets.

 Chapter 309 Wounds That Cannot Heal

    The blue garden cart slowly drove into Carrie High School, and a crowd of teachers and students gathered on the sports field, whispering amongst themselves, starting to discuss what the so-called "mysterious gift" could be.


    The school''s PA system had announced early in the morning that teachers and students who had attended last night''s banquet should assemble on the sports field for the distribution of a mysterious gift.


    The garden cart stopped next to the sports field, but nobody paid much attention, as it was common for the garden cart to enter the campus to water the trees.


    However, their attention was quickly caught by an exceedingly handsome man who leaped off from the driver''s seat, scaled up to the rear rack with fluid grace, and unhooked a high-pressure water gun, aiming it at them.


    "Surprise!"


    Xu Yi smiled faintly at the crowd and then decisively turned on the switch of the high-pressure water gun.


    A liquid gushed out from the barrel of the gun, red in color and with a pungent stench¡ªit was sheep''s blood.


    The blood sprayed out, drenching everyone on the sports field in a shower of gore, as people screamed and scattered.


    Xu Yi laughed wildly as he waved the high-pressure water gun, targeting whoever ran first, leaving many knocked over by the force of the blood-stained water.


    As the storage tank of the garden cart gradually emptied, Xu Yi looked down at a group of "bloodied people" with satisfaction, nodded, and hung the water gun back on its hook before dashing back to the driver''s seat.


    "Is this really... alright?" Carrie hesitated in her choice of words from the passenger seat.


    "It''s fine, just a little prank on them¡ªthey''re sure to understand," he reassured.


    With a light chuckle, Xu Yi started the garden cart and drove away with confidence, glancing at Carrie who seemed to have something to say but hesitated, and declared loudly, "As my student, you should go ahead and do whatever you want without worry¡ªif there''s any issue, I''ll sort it out!"


    Xu Yi certainly had the backbone to say this; he was among the few standing at the top of the Pyramid in this world.


    Carrie felt a warm sensation in her heart, knowing Xu Yi was standing up for her¡ªa feeling she had never experienced before in her life.


    Xu Yi glanced at the Favorability panel and couldn''t help but smile when he saw that Carrie''s Favorability score had unknowingly reached "92".


    "Oh, right, a belated birthday present!" Xu Yi took out an invitation-like card from his pocket and handed it to Carrie.


    "What is this?" Carrie asked curiously as she accepted it, and instinctively read aloud after opening it, "Isotope Institute admission application?"


    As an Honorary Professor at Isotope, Xu Yi had one admission spot he could use to recommend someone to Isotope Institute every year.


    The reason why there was only one spot was understandable to him, given that the academy was funded by various governments, which naturally prioritized their own people.


    "It''s time you changed schools, and with it, your living environment."


    Turning his head to look at Carrie, Xu Yi spoke gently, "I''ve heard about your mother''s incident; think of your past life as a nightmare. Now that you''ve woken up, what awaits you is the brilliant sunshine."


    Carrie''s eyes instantly reddened.


    "Next stop, destination Boston!"


    Xu Yi spun the steering wheel around, but suddenly his brows furrowed in pain, and he unconsciously covered his right upper arm with his hand.


    The arm that had been gnawed by the Sugar Plum Fairy had healed around the wound, but for some reason, a small central area remained necrotic.


    He had tried everything: injecting potions, cutting away the flesh, even tearing the arm off completely.


    However, after the arm had healed, the rotten flesh would soon reappear, and it would occasionally cause sharp pains.


    "This wound doesn''t seem to be affecting my body so much as it does my soul!"


    Xu Yi''s brows were tightly furrowed, "And moreover... it doesn''t seem as simple as just a wound."


    ...


    Isotope Institute.


    After surveying his "domain", Xu Yi nodded frequently, quite pleased with what he saw.


    True to a facility jointly funded by the governments of various countries, the offices provided to them, the Honorary Professors, were indulgently inhumane in their extravagance, even the floors were made of precious Alchemy materials.


    Upon his return to Boston, he took Carrie to Isotope Institute early in the morning to register, and now he was in his office.


    Standing by the window, he looked out to see the shadows of eaves and trees with uniformed students coming and going, exuding a lively vitality.


    Isotope Institute was about to commence a new school term, and the academy, once quiet, was now bustling with activity.


    At that moment, the office door was flung open with a hint of anger. It slammed against the wall with a loud "bang," and a figure strode in.


    Xu Yi furrowed his brows, his face turned stern, and he took on the authority of an Honorary Professor, determined to reprimand the "lunatic" who had barged in.


    He turned around and hurried toward the individual, picked up the coffee cup from the desk, and held it up high¡­ then offered it forward, "I just made some coffee, would you like to try it?"


    Yukeni glanced coldly at Xu Yi, "Now you deign to come back?"


    "I ran into some issues on the road, so I got held up," Xu Yi looked at the box in Yukeni''s hand, his eyes lighting up instantly, "Is this possibly?"


    Yukeni sat down on the genuine leather chair, looking around, "Your office, why does it seem a bit larger than mine?"


    "Illusion, all illusions!"


    Of course, Xu Yi wouldn''t say that as the city''s "own kin," the Boston''s upper echelons had specifically reserved the largest office with the best view for him.


    Yukeni, the ice queen with a secondary school syndrome, titled as the "Dragon Empress" amongst exorcists, had also joined the Institute and become Xu Yi''s colleague.


    As for Yukeni joining the Isotope Institute, Xu Yi wasn''t surprised in the slightest.


    To Yukeni, who wouldn''t forget to grab a windfall even when fleeing, how could she turn down the generous benefits of Isotope, let alone resist the temptation of a Mythic-Level Holy Artifact?


    Three weeks prior, Yukeni had called Xu Yi, saying she needed his help with something, but Xu Yi, due to a series of events, had stood her up.


    Yukeni began drinking the coffee from the table, and Xu Yi took the opportunity to take the box from her hands.


    The box wasn''t locked, which was very much in line with Yukeni''s style.


    "Do you want my treasure? If you want it, I''ll give you everything, come and take it! I''ve put all my treasure in the box!"


    There was no doubt, this was the true thought of the chuuni girl, Yukeni.


    The lid of the box was lifted, revealing a portion of a dark golden spear lying quietly inside, and Xu Yi''s face showed an excited expression.


    With the debris in front of him, he had finally assembled the Spear of Longinus!


    Some time ago, Yukeni had heard that Xu Yi was looking for the fragments of the Spear of Longinus, stated she had a lead, and asked Xu Yi to wait for good news. Unexpectedly, Yukeni had indeed found it. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire


    "We are old friends after all. Why bring a gift when you visit? That''s really strange," he said.


    Xu Yi smoothly closed the box and, with practiced movements, picked it up by the handle and started to walk away with it.


    Unfortunately, he had only taken two steps before Yukeni grabbed the box, her cold gaze fixed on Xu Yi.


    "Is there something you want? Let''s see if I can get it. Let''s make a trade," Xu Yi said without changing his expression, handing the box back to her.


    "Have you heard anything about the ''mentorship selection''?" Yukeni, instead, brought up a different topic.


    Xu Yi nodded, as he certainly knew something about it.


    The five titled exorcists were like the Five Peaks Sword Sect; if students wanted to learn real skills, they needed to pay respects to a sect first.


    "Don''t you want the fragments of the Spear of Longinus? Just help me beat that old witch Hekaseth during the mentorship selection, and I''ll give you the fragments!" Yukeni''s voice was tinged with anger.


    "Do you know Hekaseth?" Xu Yi asked, slightly startled.


    Apart from Xu Yi and Yukeni, the Isotope Institute had invited five titled exorcists including the Deadly Poison Witch Hekaseth, as well as Priest Arturo graced by God.


    As for the last one, the candidate had been decided, but there were some minor issues yet to be settled.


    That individual, touted as the strongest titled exorcist in history, would not only become an Honorary Professor but also assume the role of the principal.


    In reality, students only had four "mentors" to choose from, as the principal was not among them.


    Yukeni nodded unwillingly.


    Xu Yi could tell that Yukeni didn''t just know Hekaseth, she likely had a history with her. Every time Hekaseth was mentioned, Yukeni''s eyes blazed with anger.


    "You should seek help from someone more capable!"


    Xu Yi pondered for a long while, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from the relic. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to assemble the Spear of Longinus, but because the task was truly difficult to handle.


    sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 310 The Truth Behind the Ring of Destruction

    Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Are you incapable or something?" Yukeni stared coldly at Xu Yi, her opening words as vicious as "a man''s most poisonous curse."


    "Is this really a question of capability? Hekaseth is 157 years old this year, a well-known Master of Poison Alchemy, profoundly skilled in various Exorcism Techniques, having mentored a host of powerful individuals."


    Xu Yi tried earnestly to persuade her, hoping to make Yukeni change her request, "Would you choose the same if you were a student?"


    "Hekaseth."


    Though reluctant, Yukeni still opted for the truth.


    Her tone shifted suddenly, "If it were easy, why would I come to you for help? Why would I offer the precious remnants of the Spear of Longinus?"


    The logic in that was so sound that Xu Yi found himself at a loss for words.


    He stared intently at Yukeni''s head, coveting her thick golden hair, "How about changing your hairstyle?"


    "Why?" Yukeni was baffled by Xu Yi''s bizarre train of thought.


    "It''s like going to a hospital, if you see a young doctor, you''d definitely feel they''re unreliable."


    Xu Yi''s tone shifted, "But if at that moment, your hair suddenly fell out, patient trust automatically adds ten thousand, work experience jumps by ten years, and an intern instantly becomes an associate chief physician!"


    "Do you believe I''m about to shear you bald first!"


    Yukeni''s fingers tightened, and the handle of the coffee cup was crushed into powder.


    Xu Yi was about to speak when the door was suddenly knocked.


    "Come in!" Xu Yi said softly.


    He had long sensed a powerful presence approaching, and he had an idea of who it was.


    "Is Mr. Xu Yi present? I am Hekaseth, and I hope my visit isn''t too presumptuous."


    The elderly person with white hair stood at the door, leaning on a cane, her face kind and gentle, resembling a matriarch from an ordinary family.


    Her eyes alone, one crimson left eye and one deep green right eye, made one feel as if they were being watched by a demon from Hell if looked at for too long.


    This pair of "heterochromatic eyes" was said to be the result of mutations due to exposure to excessive amounts of poisonous Alchemical Dust when Hekaseth was young.


    "Ms. Hekaseth, it is really too kind of you, I should be the one to visit you."


    Xu Yi hurried over, but his muscles tensed up suddenly. It wasn''t because of Hekaseth, but because of the person behind her.


    Hekaseth had not come alone; she was accompanied by a young man.


    But soon, Xu Yi''s tense body relaxed, and he asked in a low voice, "And this gentleman is?"


    "This is my great-grandson, Norvi." Hekaseth introduced with a smile.


    Yukeni looked at Xu Yi strangely, unsure if it was her imagination, but Xu Yi seemed to care more about the great-grandson than the old witch Hekaseth.


    If the youngster were a beautiful girl, she might have understood, but it was a man.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, have you met Norvi before?" Hekaseth was also a bit puzzled.


    "No, not at all! He just looks familiar. It reminds me of someone I used to know."


    Xu Yi took out a box of "Chicken Claw Cookies" from a drawer, opened it, and placed it on the table, "These are a local specialty I brought back. They taste quite good; you should try them."


    Indeed, Hekaseth had only come for a visit, and after leaving the gift, she and her great-grandson left. Yukeni, who looked displeased upon Hekaseth''s arrival, also picked up her box and left.


    Xu Yi sat on the sofa, frowning in thought.


    ...


    Outside the Isotope Institute, back at the same restaurant as before.


    After seating himself, Xu Yi reached out to Ed impatiently, "The documents you brought for me?"


    "I understand why you asked for the student''s records, but why do you need Hekaseth''s detailed information?" Ed took a stack of documents out of his briefcase, looking puzzled.


    "Little Judy and Carrie, go ahead and order first!"


    Xu Yi casually instructed before taking the material, finding the section about Hekaseth, and starting to search through it on his own.


    Little Judy curiously sized up Carrie. Xu Yi had introduced her as his student, but their relationship seemed to be much closer than that.


    Although Carrie was no longer as timid, she still felt a bit uncomfortable under Little Judy''s inquisitive gaze.


    Under normal circumstances, Xu Yi would definitely have tried to liven up the atmosphere to get Carrie and everyone else acquainted, but he wasn''t in the mood to do so now, rapidly skimming through the material.


    The information about Hekaseth wasn''t provided by the institute but was obtained by Ed from the church, thus it was more comprehensive and detailed.


    His flipping hand suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed intently on a portrait in the material.


    He had seen the person depicted not long ago and, to avoid mistaking identity, checked carefully, confirming that they were indeed the same individual.


    "Got you, Augustus!" Xu Yi muttered to himself.


    Augustus was the Crow Man of the Ring of Destruction!


    Or rather, the operator of the Alchemical Machinery that was called "Crow Man" was Augustus.


    The core members of the Ring of Destruction were hard to come by as they acted within the body of alchemical machinery.


    If it weren''t for the special nature of the Different Space of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Xu Yi wouldn''t have been able to see their true faces at all.


    Today, Xu Yi had been startled upon seeing Hekaseth''s great-grandson and was nearly moved to act.


    Norvi and Augustus looked too alike; they were like two versions of the same mold, one "aged" and the other "youthful."


    Although "half-brothers from different fathers" existed in the world, the likelihood was far too small. Xu Yi became vigilant and unexpectedly discovered an earth-shattering secret.


    The reason Norvi looked so similar to Augustus must be due to "Atavism"¡ªAugustus was a member of Norvi''s ancestral lineage, and moreover, a significant figure.


    Augustus, born in 1680, his death year unknown, was a highly renowned master of Alchemy of his time.


    If Alchemy hadn''t experienced a discontinuity after 1710, such figures would have been included in textbooks, with a status comparable to Newton''s in the realm of physics.


    "Who are the other two?" A question suddenly surfaced in his mind.


    Although he hadn''t yet discovered the identities of the other two, given that they had been contemporaries with Augustus, it was highly probable they were also masters of their time.


    The reason they looked familiar when he saw them was most likely because he had seen their portraits in some Ancient Tome.


    This could explain how the Ring of Destruction had managed to master those lost techniques and create such terrifying alchemical machinery. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But how did people from several centuries ago manage to live until the present day? New doubts emerged in his mind.


    "Soul''s Gate!" Xu Yi instantly thought of the answer.


    Given the terror and peculiarity of the Soul''s Gate, it was not impossible for them to have preserved their souls from destruction.


    This also explained why their activities required the use of Alchemical Machines; it was likely that their bodies had long since decayed beyond repair.


    In a moment of clarity, Xu Yi seemed to glimpse the true nature of the Ring of Destruction.


    The core members of the Ring of Destruction were all elite figures from history, individuals who could lead the currents of their times.


    What was it that such a group of people had come together for?


    Xu Yi sensed the scent of conspiracy as if an invisible hand loomed over his head.


    He suddenly thought of another question: could Hekaseth be one of the Ring of Destruction?


    After all, Augustus was an ancestor of Hekaseth''s, and it was possible that even joining the Isotope Institute had been at the instruction of Augustus.


    It wasn''t impossible; after all, Hekaseth was an exorcist, but hadn''t Robert been the chief scientist of Boston?


    Moreover, judging by the proclivities of the Ring of Destruction, ordinary people wouldn''t even catch their eye.


    With this thought, Xu Yi''s expression became unprecedentedly solemn.

 Chapter 311 The Black Void Gate Reappears

    Little Judy was looking for Carrie to chat with, her temperament far more lively than Carrie''s, but she suddenly stopped talking, carefully watching Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi''s face was gloomy, his Body of Demigod unconsciously beginning to unleash, The waiter had intended to serve the dishes, but feeling that terrifying aura, his body trembled slightly, not daring to come closer.


    The bustling restaurant gradually became quiet, and the atmosphere was particularly tense.


    "Xu Yi..." Ed whispered a reminder.


    Xu Yi snapped out of it, realizing he had just lost control, and quickly resealed the Body of Demigod.


    "Sorry, I was just too absorbed in my thoughts," Xu Yi explained.


    To ease the tense atmosphere, he looked towards little Judy and took the initiative to ask, "Judy, you would support your brother, wouldn''t you?"


    Little Judy certainly understood what Xu Yi meant.


    Three days after school starts, the Honorary Professors would hold public classes, and all students would attend.


    After the public classes, students would choose their mentors based on their own situations.


    Judy cautiously glanced at Ed, "Dad said, although you are very strong, Brother Xu Yi, you are too young, and following you, we wouldn''t learn much."


    Xu Yi sneered and turned his head, staring daggers at Ed, once again unsealing the Body of Demigod, but only targeting Ed himself.


    Feeling Xu Yi''s "death glare," Ed instantly broke into a sweat.


    His daughter was a tough cookie, but to also betray him like this? Xu Yi was obviously in a bad mood today; was he going to get hit later?


    "Ed, and to think I regarded you as my best friend, just you wait!"


    Xu Yi, with itchy teeth from resentment, gestured with a wave of his hand, "Waiter, bring me three bottles of the most expensive wine you have here, and let Mr. Ed pick up the tab!"


    Ed subconsciously clutched his wallet, as if he could see the image of his savings sprouting little wings and flying away.


    "At the public class in three days, little Judy, make sure you listen carefully; I''ll have a surprise for you."


    "What''s the surprise?" Little Judy, ignoring her heartbroken father, asked excitedly.


    She didn''t want to choose the Deadly Poison Witch at all, which is why she had specifically mentioned it in front of Xu Yi.


    "Since it''s a surprise, of course, it has to be kept a secret!"


    Xu Yi flipped through the information on the new students, worthy of the "Exorcist Training Base" jointly established by various governments. With a casual flip, he could feel the Talent oozing out.


    He had already made up his mind: no matter whether Hekaseth was from the Ring of Destruction or not, he needed to be cautious.


    "So many exceptionally talented good seeds, it would be such a pity if they were led astray."


    Whether it was for the Spear of Longinus fragment in Yukeni''s hands or to complete the academy''s task of "ten Great Exorcists" and to sooner obtain the reward of the Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic, he had to strive hard.


    "Maybe in this batch, I could find a suitable proxy host for the Sin Remains!"


    Now, among the "Seven Deadly Sins of Alchemical Weapons," only "Wrath" and "Gluttony" were left without suitable candidates.


    ...


    The executive stretch Mercedes-Benz was speeding towards Notting Hill; Carrie gazed at the brightly lit streets, lost in thought.


    Compared to the bustling Boston, her hometown could only be considered a remote small village.


    Xu Yi, on the other hand, was fiddling with the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.


    Today, he discovered that there was a small crack on the barrel of the Alchemical Revolver.


    "The power of Ceres bullets are too strong; this old Alchemical Revolver can''t withstand it."


    He now had two options. One was "patch it up and keep using it," with the drawback that it might explode mid-use.


    The other option was to "remake it from scratch," to reforge a new one.


    But this method would take a considerable amount of time, and Xu Yi had so much to do right now that it was very difficult to squeeze out the time needed.


    The car stopped in front of Notting Hill, and Carrie looked around in confusion. It was a desolate area with only a high wall, not looking like there was a house to be seen.


    Could it be that they were also staying in the Eight Monster House tonight?


    Suddenly the high wall "opened up," and it was then that she realized there was a hidden giant door on the wall, which led to a huge forest. A wide road meandered through the forest.


    The car drove into the forest, and Xu Yi introduced, "Welcome to your new home. The view of this backyard is quite nice; you can come here often in the future."


    "Backyard?" Carrie voiced her confusion.


    "That''s right, the area enclosed by the high wall is all part of our property," Xu Yi explained casually.


    Just at that moment, the car reached mid-mountain, and Carrie could only catch a glimpse of the high wall''s silhouette.


    She opened her mouth wide, unable to speak.


    Who has a backyard that measures an entire mountain?


    The car arrived at the mountain''s summit, where a cluster of exquisite villas nestled among the trees, interconnected in a way that one might believe them to be the palace of an emperor.


    "Teacher, are you... are you a king?" Carrie asked, stunned.


    For a country girl, all of this was simply too much to fathom.


    "Then you would be a princess!" Xu Yi said, finding Carrie''s dumbfounded look quite amusing, and he teased her.


    "You''ll live in this villa from now on! I''m just next door. If you have any problems, you can ask the butler, or come and find me," Xu Yi said as he got out of the car, casually pointing toward a villa.


    The construction of the "Notting Hill Villas" had actually just been completed in the past few days, but considering the time the project started and the scale of it, the progress had been miraculous. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was also thanks to the full support of the Boston and New York governments.


    Xu Yi entered the villa and, after a series of checks, made his way to the underground laboratory.


    Looking at the familiar setup and instruments, Xu Yi felt as if he was in a different world.


    Daniel had died, Robert had gone missing, and no one was left to take over "Blood Group Five."


    After discussing with the upper echelons of Boston, he decided to relocate Blood Group Five into his villa, hence the scene before him.


    The main research project of Blood Group Five was the "Olivedo Dragon Blood Elixir."


    As they were unable to overcome the "Dragon Transformation" and "Mental Breakdown", the project had to be shelved temporarily.


    "Let this project be completed at my hands!" Xu Yi took a deep breath.


    He was still confident; he had previously conducted research on Olivedo Dragon Blood, and when creating the God-melting Blood earlier, he had accrued a wealth of experience.


    In addition, when he had analyzed the components of the Poseidon Potion, he had gained quite a few insights.


    Of course, what was most important was that he could cheat!


    The Olivedo Dragon Blood Elixir was the "Trump Card" he had prepared for the public lecture!


    Xu Yi began to prepare the Potion with familiar ease, but just as he was halfway through, he suddenly collapsed to the ground, his entire body drenched in cold sweat.


    He tore open his shirt at the shoulder where the Sugar Plum Fairy had bitten him, and from the wound that had never healed, thick black smoke suddenly surged forth.


    The chilling, damp, and slimy sensation returned, stronger than before, causing his body to shiver slightly.


    He heard the sound of frenzied laughter, not just from one person, but thousands upon thousands of people laughing maniacally. Xu Yi clutched his head, rolling on the ground in agony, feeling as if his head would explode.


    A strong sense of weightlessness suddenly hit, and Xu Yi felt as if he was plummeting down fast, surrounded by pitch darkness.


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    Beneath him, a red light suddenly lit up, and he could see what it contained -- a gate, the Black Void Gate!

 Chapter 312 Weakness x Disciple

    ```


    Xu Yi fell from the sky and crashed into the blood-colored swamp, yet he sustained no injuries, only splattering a great deal of mud.


    He touched his own body and quickly understood his situation; his current form was that of a soul.


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    "What in the world is going on?"


    Xu Yi took a deep breath and raised his head to look ahead, where the light source of the entire swamp stood, the Black Void Gate.


    He felt a strong call, yet it wasn''t overbearing. He calmed down slightly and walked towards the Black Void Gate.


    After all, he had no way to leave this place and could only take one step at a time.


    The closer he got to the Black Void Gate, the brighter it became, and the more he was able to see.


    Suddenly, he turned his head sharply and took a defensive stance.


    A massive figure emerged from behind him, Xu Yi had to look up to see the full appearance of the creature. It had the body of a human, with extremely long limbs, and in place of a head was a blooming other-worldly flower.


    The other-worldly flower Giant paid no attention to Xu Yi and walked straight towards the Black Void Gate.


    Xu Yi watched the figure leave and breathed a sigh of relief. Its presence was too terrifying; had they fought, he feared he would not have been a match.


    There was no turning back now, so he continued forward.


    Xu Yi''s expression grew increasingly troubled as, since the appearance of the other-worldly flower Giant, more and more colossal beings arrived one after another.


    Even among them, the other-worldly flower Giant could only be considered a "medium-sized organism."


    A mountainous Red Lantern spanning several kilometers, a two-headed snake as long as several kilometers, Xu Yi was less than an ant in front of them.


    "Where do all these terrifying creatures come from?"


    Xu Yi was somewhat puzzled; after all, as an exorcist with the title, he was at the pinnacle of human achievement. If there really were so many terrifying monsters in reality, humans would have likely perished long ago.


    It wasn''t until he encountered some creatures smaller than him that he finally understood.


    It wasn''t that the other creatures were too strong, but rather that he was too weak.


    This swamp was a place where victory was determined by "spirit strength."


    The stronger the soul, the larger the body would be; the weaker the soul, the smaller the body.


    Xu Yi was indeed powerful, but that was all predicated on his "Body of Demigod." Without his body, his soul was only slightly stronger than an ordinary person''s.


    "This must be my greatest weakness!" Xu Yi thought to himself.


    In truth, he had sensed this before, but the methods to strengthen his soul without side effects were far too few.


    Besides, with the protection of the Body of Demigod, ordinary strangeness could not affect his soul, so this weakness was always covered up.


    But facing something on the level of the Black Void Gate, the role his proud Body of Demigod could play was extremely limited.


    In this Soul Swamp, his weakness was magnified to the extreme.


    These colossal beings in reality might not be a match for him, but here, he could only shrink in a corner, trembling.


    Fortunately, there seemed to be some restrictions in this space; all souls that entered here could not attack each other.


    A dense crowd of monsters swarmed in front of the Black Void Gate, unable to move forward.


    Within a ten-meter radius of the Black Void Gate, there was an invisible taboo, no soul could break through that layer of taboo.


    Xu Yi was suddenly taken aback; he had been on the outside looking in, not expecting a pathway to suddenly clear among the monsters forward.


    Since when had monsters become so "respectful to the old and caring to the young," knowing to make way for a weakling like him?


    He soon realized it wasn''t that the monsters'' morals had improved, but rather an invisible force had parted them, forcibly creating a path.


    In this place, only the Black Void Gate could achieve such a feat.


    Xu Yi hesitated for a moment, then stepped towards the Black Void Gate, quite curious as to why the Black Void Gate singled him out for special treatment.


    The taboo in front truly was lifted, and Xu Yi stood steadfast in front of the Black Void Gate.


    An unknown language suddenly echoed in his mind, yet inexplicably, Xu Yi understood the meaning within.


    "To exchange?"


    Xu Yi was stunned. Exchange? Exchange what?


    His brain whirred rapidly, deducing that since it was an exchange, that meant he possessed something the Black Void Gate wanted. What could it be? Could it be his soul?


    A purple light flickered through his mind, and within that light, tiny figures writhed.


    The Black Void Gate did indeed desire a soul, but not his; it wanted the Deceiver''s Soul.


    The Deceiver''s Soul, originating from Fick of the Ring of Destruction, had been left collecting dust in the Entries since no purification method was found.


    "Is there something special about the Deceiver''s Soul?"


    ```


    Given that it''s something the Black Void Gate desires, it definitely cannot be common, and moreover, this thing is extremely scarce; he has only encountered it once until now.


    "What will I receive?" Xu Yi''s suspended heart relaxed slightly.


    The Black Void Gate operates under the guise of "exchange," perhaps because it cannot forcibly take what it needs, or maybe it must adhere to some rules.


    But regardless, he was still somewhat safe for the moment.


    "One summoning of the true form, or the gift of a method for soul strengthening."


    Xu Yi''s heart stirred upon receiving the Black Void Gate''s response, and he was also a bit conflicted.


    Either choice was an absolutely top-tier reward.


    Naturally, summoning the Black Void Gate needs no further mention, for if the timing was right, it might have an unexpectedly significant effect.


    As for the method to strengthen the soul, it could make up for his weakness of possessing a frail soul; its impact would be enormous.


    After hesitating for a long time, Xu Yi chose neither.


    If he had to make an immediate choice, he guessed he would pick the second option, given that he had Resurrection Coins, and if the situation turned truly dire, he could still revert time.


    But since the Black Void Gate was not urging him, that meant he didn''t need to decide right away, and he had ample time to consider.


    There was another important reason, and that was his lack of trust in the Black Void Gate.


    These words were only from the Black Void Gate''s perspective; who knew if it would keep its promise after receiving the Deceiver''s Soul.


    Even if it did keep its word, if it gave him an inferior quality soul strengthening method, wouldn''t he have suffered a huge loss?


    So he was not in a rush to make a decision.


    The Black Void Gate seemed to sense Xu Yi''s thoughts, and a strong gust of wind suddenly flooded through the slit in the door, blowing Xu Yi away like a light feather in an instant.


    After spinning around for an entire day, Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes.


    He was back in the familiar basement; the bright light was reassuring, and he breathed a sigh of relief subconsciously looking at his right arm.


    The rotting flesh on his arm had fallen off, replaced by a black mark that depicted a gate.


    "A disciple?!"


    A rush of information entered his mind, and Xu Yi understood the function of this mark¡ªit would allow him to trade with the Black Void Gate at any time.


    He thought of the Gate of Destruction''s gate mark, both were gate marks, only that one was the Soul Gate, and the other was the Black Void Gate.


    "Could it be that the Gate of Destruction wanted from the Sugar Plum Fairy¡ªthis mark?"


    Xu Yi suddenly thought of many things. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the same time, he understood why, before being controlled, the Sugar Plum Fairy had bitten him that one time.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy did not intend to harm him but was offering a form of "reciprocation."


    The other party had bestowed upon him the Black Void Gate''s mark as a thank you for taking care of Carrie and to prevent the Ring of Destruction from obtaining the mark.


    Why was the Sugar Plum Fairy still able to retain her thoughts even after entering the Black Void Gate?


    What exactly is inside the Black Void Gate?


    Xue Yi was filled with questions.


    Because of the Black Void Gate matter, he had completely lost any desire to sleep and prepared to stay up all night researching the Dragon Blood Elixir.


    Perhaps it was the result of accumulated effort, but the process of researching the Dragon Blood Elixir went exceptionally well.


    In just one night, the potion''s progress had already surpassed 50%, and though the difficulty increased towards the end, this speed was already very fast.


    A busy Xu Yi left the laboratory after an entire night, ate breakfast, and went directly to the Eight Monster House.


    One benefit of moving to Notting Hill was that the Eight Monster House no longer had to be placed outside; there was plenty of space in the "backyard."


    There was no one inside the Eight Monster House, as Xu Changrong and his group had gone into town to enjoy themselves, and Xu Yi, as usual, first checked on the condition of Lisa and the other two.


    "It should be soon!" Xu Yi said, looking at the three with increasingly strong auras, joy written all over his face.


    After ensuring everything was alright, he turned back to the laboratory to continue his research on the potion.


    In the following days, Xu Yi stayed in the laboratory practically all the time.


    During that period, he burned two more Resurrection Coins to access miraculous capabilities, leaving him with 51 Resurrection Coins.


    Time silently passed, and it was the day before the public lecture.


    Xu Yi, unkempt and covered in grime, emitted a fermented scent, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, gazing at the potion in his hands that shone like gold.

 Chapter 313 Lively Jumping Corpse Number One

    "What a beautiful city!"


    The man stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling Boston at night, and sighed leisurely, but suddenly his tone changed, "It''s a pity, though, that such a beautiful city will soon be out of sight."


    The reflection in the floor-to-ceiling window revealed the man''s appearance: black cropped hair, black-framed glasses, and a slightly handsome face that gave the impression of a societal elite. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, no common person could have such profound eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything.


    "Boss, what''s so great about a broken city? You should pay more attention to me instead," a beautiful figure pushed the door open and entered. If Xu Yi were here, he would have certainly recognized her.


    Long black hair, the distinctive teardrop mole under the eye, enchanting peach-blossom eyes.


    That was Tomie Kawakami, who had once attempted to seduce Xu Yi, only to be killed by him in return.


    "You should just call me West! ''Boss'' sounds strange."


    The man did not turn his head, "And besides, Tomie, haven''t I told you before? I don''t have those worldly desires."


    "Got it, boss," Tomie Kawakami responded insincerely, throwing West a coquettish glance, "Boss, did you study in Boston back in the day?"


    "No, I studied medicine at the University of Zurich in Switzerland," West shook his head, his eyes flashing with memories.


    "If only I could have gone to the same school as you, boss. Then, we could have had a sweet campus romance!"


    Tomie Kawakami gazed at West''s back, her eyes full of admiration¡ªany normal man seeing such a look might find it difficult to resist.


    West nodded as well, sighing leisurely, "Yeah! If only I''d met you sooner... then I could have dissected you a few more times!"


    Such chilling words would cause anyone who heard them to shudder. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    But Tomie Kawakami was not frightened at all; instead, she looked at West bashfully, her face blushing like peach blossoms, as if he wasn''t talking about dissection, but rather whispering sweet nothings.


    "Boss, those metal creatures are here again! We better keep our distance from those guys, their intentions are probably not pure," Tomie Kawakami suddenly frowned.


    "Don''t worry, Tomie, we just have mutual needs!" A smile tugged at the corner of West''s mouth, "We''ll see who ends up losing more in the end!"


    "Let him in!" West''s smile vanished.


    The door opened, and a strange scene unfolded. Another Tomie Kawakami stood outside the door, gesturing an invitation.


    In fact, this hotel had more than just two Tomies. Over thirty Tomies were stationed in various corners of the hotel.


    This was Tomie Kawakami''s ability, Infinite Division and proliferation.


    A slender shadow crossed the threshold and appeared in the room¡ªit was a metallic giant snake with purple scales that opened and closed, with fine mist steaming out from the gaps of the scales.


    If Xu Yi were here, he would feel a sense of familiarity.


    This was obviously the Eight-headed Sea Serpent he had seen in the Bermuda Triangle, but the once eight-headed creature now had only one, its strength greatly diminished.


    For the core member of the Ring of Destruction, losing a body was a significant loss.


    "The ''Mist Hole'' is about to open, and it''s time for your plans to proceed," the Purple Sea Serpent said in a grave tone.


    "Of course, no problem!"


    West nodded with a smile, took out a large syringe from his pocket, and jabbed it violently into his arm, drawing out a full tube of blood.


    His blood was not red, but a strange fluorescent green, its faint glow illuminating West''s pale face.


    "Sir, is this the meal you ordered?"


    A hotel staff member walked in, pushing a meal cart. What was eerie was that she seemed oblivious to the metallic giant snake nearby and the two Tomies in the room; her vision was obscured by a cloud of black mist.


    "That''s right, please bring it in!" West looked at the female staff member with a smile full of cordiality.


    As she approached West, he wasted no time in lifting the syringe in his hand and violently stabbing it into her neck.


    The waiter struggled in pain but was firmly embraced by West, who maintained a smile as he watched the potion inject entirely into the server''s body.


    "All done! ''Super Zombie No. 1'' has been born, now all we need to do is wait for the good news!"


    West released the waiter, who collapsed onto the ground, unconscious and still convulsing.


    ......


    The morning light, like a golden gauze, hung at the edge of the sky while Xu Yi, holding a large bouquet of lilies, stood in front of a tombstone, the wind fluttering his black coat.


    Adhered to the tombstone was a wedding photo of Daniel and Mia taken before their marriage, both beaming with happiness.


    Xu Yi placed the flowers in front of the tombstone and then took out a test tube, filled with a golden liquid that flowed within.


    Platinum currents emerged from his fingertips into the test tube, igniting the golden liquid in an instant. Xu Yi set the burning test tube before the tombstone, allowing it to burn away completely.


    "Daniel, your lifelong wish, I have finally fulfilled it for you," Xu Yi murmured softly.


    Sudden hurried footsteps approached, and Yukeni, fuming with anger, rushed over but softened her expression upon seeing the tombstone.


    "The public class is about to start, don''t you care at all?" Yukeni glared at Xu Yi, her frustration palpable.


    "Who says I don''t care? Haven''t you seen I''m here to pray to a friend for blessing?" Xu Yi lied with ease.


    "Do you really think that joint recruitment will work?" Yukeni furrowed her brows.


    "In the Xia Kingdom, there''s an old saying, ''A wise man submits to circumstances... cough cough... three cobblers with their wits combined exceed the wisdom of the venerable Zhuge Liang.''


    Switching back to English, Xu Yi added, "It means that there''s strength in numbers. Alone, each of us is no match for Hekaseth, but united, it''ll be a different story."


    Yukeni was skeptical, but she still nodded. She had no better plan at the moment, after all.


    "How will we divide the newcomers when they arrive?" Yukeni asked, raising a new concern.


    "What''s there to divide? What''s mine is yours, and what''s yours isn''t mine!" Xu Yi said dismissively with a wave of his hand.


    If Xu Yi''s words were to be fully translated, they would mean, "My classes are yours, and the Great Exorcists you cultivate will belong to all of us."


    Xu Yi had too many things to take care of and no time to mentor students, so he concocted this "mutually beneficial" solution.


    "Will the academy agree to this?" Yukeni still harbored some doubts.


    "Who could object to a decision made by the two of us, Honorary Professors? The president?" Xu Yi replied with a slight smile aimed at Yukeni.


    Yukeni was taken aback for a moment but then realized something.


    The selected president had not yet assumed office, and the only ones with the authority to oppose were the other Honorary Professors. As Father Shen''en favored Xu Yi and Hekaseth was alone, her opposition was destined to be ineffective.


    "You''re really cunning!" Yukeni exclaimed.


    "I''ll take that as a compliment," Xu Yi replied, non-committal.


    Xu Yi and Yukeni''s public class was set outdoors, and the staff had already set up a podium for them. On the vast lawn, stretching out into the distance, there was a sea of heads moving about.


    Little Judy quietly approached Xu Yi''s side, keeping her voice very low, and reported the military intelligence she had just gathered.


    "Professor Hekaseth''s public class has just ended. The reaction was extraordinarily enthusiastic, with many people saying they''re prepared to choose Professor Hekaseth as their mentor."


    Xu Yi gave little Judy a reassuring glance.


    Under the distant shade of trees, Norvi watched the two on the podium with knitted brows, "Will their actions have any impact on grandmother?"


    Hekaseth could not help but chuckle quietly, "Norvi, you must understand a principle, anyone who gets into the academy is someone the governments want to cultivate vigorously, they all come with a mission, they can''t simply do as they please."


    Norvi''s furrowed brows relaxed, and a smile appeared on his lips.


    He understood his great-grandmother''s point. The new students arrived here with mostly one goal: to strengthen themselves. Engaging in any frills was completely pointless.


    Who to choose for a rapid increase in strength? That was a question that hardly needed consideration.

 Chapter 314 Diffusion

    Yukeni sat up straight, her fair little face taut, her fingers unconsciously gripping the speech script so tightly, she almost poked a hole through it. Anyone could see how nervous she was. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    "You seem really nervous?"


    This was the first time Xu Yi had seen Yukeni like this, and he found it particularly amusing.


    The Iceberg Empress Yukeni, who could keep her composure even in the face of surging strangeness, was now so nervous over a mere public lecture.


    Xu Yi silently regretted not bringing a camera. Otherwise, capturing this dark piece of history would have been perfect for blackmailing Yukeni.


    "How is that possible! Are you joking?"


    Yukeni''s main trait was a mouth as tough as diamond.


    In fact, Yukeni had suffered from insomnia the night before, thinking about the open class and reciting the speech script over and over.


    Speaking in front of a crowd was something she had never done before.


    "That''s really too bad, if you''re nervous, I was thinking of giving you a tip," Xu Yi sighed regretfully.


    "I''m free anyway, let''s hear it!" Yukeni said seemingly nonchalantly, but she was all ears.


    "Just imagine everyone down there as strangeness, then give it another try."


    Xu Yi began to impart the "Attention Diversion Technique."


    At that moment, the school bell rang, signifying the start of the open class.


    Yukeni stood up reflexively and subconsciously used the method Xu Yi had taught her.


    "They''re all strangeness below! They''re all strangeness below!" She mentally hypnotized herself and used some kind of secret technique.


    Suddenly, the crowd below began to emit a thick dark aura.


    Yukeni''s eyes lit up; the method was actually effective, and she suddenly didn''t feel nervous at all.


    She casually tossed away the speech script and confidently walked to the center podium.


    She clenched her fist and smashed it onto the podium, the wooden structure instantly splintering into pieces. The force of the punch did not diminish as it hit the steel frame of the platform below, spreading cracks outward.


    "Listen up, or I''ll slaughterr you all!"


    Yukeni used her usual tactic for dealing with strangeness.


    The whole room fell silent.


    Xu Yi covered his face; the method was very effective, but maybe a little too much so.


    Yukeni scanned the audience, her formidable presence overflowing, causing everyone to feel a bit suffocated, looking at her with solemn expressions.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi''s eyes sparkled. If Yukeni followed the same path as Hekaseth, it would surely be a failure.


    She was neither as amiable as the other appeared to be, nor as experienced.


    Now, going against the grain and using her own strength as the "selling point" was also a strategy. It was like a blind cat running into a dead mouse.


    "It is your honor to attend my open class..."


    Yukeni was fully into her role, even spontaneously changing the content of the speech script, which originally should have started with "I am very honored to be standing here to give you all an open class...".


    The people below, listening to Yukeni''s "passionate" lecture, were all fully engaged. To be precise, they were like facing a formidable enemy.


    They had no choice but to be on high alert. The moment anyone''s attention wavered, Yukeni''s gaze would sweep over them, the overwhelming presence of the exorcist bearing down, making them break out in a cold sweat instantly.


    The short half-hour lecture felt like a form of torture under Yukeni''s command.


    Not far away, Norvi also saw this scene and secretly rejoiced.


    This method of lecturing was pushing students away, wasn''t it? It seemed his great-grandmother was sure to win!


    After the lecture, there were ten minutes of rest.


    Yukeni returned to her seat in the back, her overwhelming aura vanished, leaving the crowd to sigh in relief and begin whispering amongst themselves:


    "I didn''t expect Professor Yukeni to be so powerful, I''m actually considering taking her class now."


    "Indeed, Professor Hekaseth may have rich teaching experience, but isn''t strength the most important thing? If one doesn''t possess strength themselves, how can they teach others to be strong?"


    "That''s the truth..."


    Yukeni had already snapped out of her self-hypnosis state. She remembered her own performance just now and looked visibly uneasy. However, upon hearing the discussions below, her back straightened instantly.


    That''s right! She was stronger than that old witch Hekaseth!


    Norvi, hearing the conversations below, felt so distressed he wanted to vomit blood. Could this really be happening?


    "Don''t worry!" Hekaseth patted Norvi''s shoulder, "This is actually quite easy to solve."


    She stepped forward, and an aura every bit as imposing as Yukeni''s burst forth. It lasted only a brief second, but that was enough.


    The chatting students turned their heads abruptly, only to find that the source of the aura was Heksis, and surprise showed on their faces.


    "Great-grandmother, you always have a way!"


    Norvi was overjoyed at the foot of the stage, while Yukeni on the stage had a gloom on her face so thick it seemed water could drip from it.


    "It''s okay, we still have our trump card."


    Xu Yi consoled in a soft voice, smiling as he picked up a case from beside his feet and opened it to reveal rows of golden potions, "First-stage Dragon Blood Warrior potion!"


    ...


    Aiden Hotel.


    Emma rubbed her neck, feeling an unusual soreness there, but she couldn''t recall how it happened.


    She remembered that she was delivering a meal to a guest when she accidentally slipped, hit her head on the door frame, and then passed out.


    The kind guest had even helped her to the resting room. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That person seemed quite handsome!"


    While thinking, Emma changed out of her work uniform and stepped out of the changing room.


    "Emma, are you off work?" A colleague coming to take over greeted her.


    Emma was about to respond when she suddenly felt an unusual heat in her throat, she exhaled a breath of warm air, unable to speak, and could only smile and nod her head.


    Her colleague smelled a faint warm scent carrying a pleasant floral fragrance, "Emma, did you change perfumes recently? It smells quite nice, what brand is it?"


    Emma was stunned for a moment; she had overslept that day and had barely managed to put on some makeup, completely forgetting to apply perfume. She shook her head, "I didn''t put on any perfume today."


    As her colleague watched Emma''s retreating figure, she muttered resentfully, "What''s with the attitude? Just because she changed perfumes doesn''t mean she can''t share the brand!"


    After walking a few steps, the colleague felt discomfort in her throat, she tightened her clothing around her. The weather was getting colder recently; she hoped she wouldn''t catch a cold.


    Emma waited for the bus by the stop, and passersby glanced her way, all drawn by the enticing aroma.


    Even after Emma boarded the bus and left, the scent lingered on.


    The bus, carrying Emma, wove through the city''s streets, with the rich fragrance continuously spreading farther, the bus like a moving source of the scent.


    The fragrance dispersed at an alarming rate, and everyone who smelled it began to feel a burning sensation in their throats; their breath also carried a hint of the fragrance.


    Emma got off the bus but didn''t go home; her throat was not just burning, her entire body felt excessively hot.


    She touched her forehead only to be startled by how cold it felt, like a block of ice.


    Staggering into the hospital, she registered for emergency care. Her exhaled scent was so strong it was almost choking, causing the people around her to cover their noses and retreat.


    Suddenly, Emma began to cough violently, covering her mouth in panic. After a moment, when the coughing subsided, she looked at her hand in shock.


    On her hand was a greenish viscous liquid that appeared to be her blood!

 Chapter 315 Outbreak

    "Limited quantity, first-come-first-served!"


    Xu Yi, holding a megaphone, waved the registration forms in his hand, shouting non-stop like a street vendor threading through lanes and alleys.


    The students below flocked forward eagerly, fearing they''d miss out on the opportunity if they were even slightly late.


    "Me! I want to choose Yukeni as my mentor!"


    "And me!"


    The young priests in the crowd had complex expressions. Due to the special nature of their identities, they could only choose Father Arturo, or else they all would have wanted to register.


    The reason for this scene had to be traced back to several minutes earlier.


    Xu Yi brought out the "Dragon Blood Warrior Phase One Potion."


    The so-called "Dragon Blood Warrior" potion was naturally made using the blood of Olivedo.


    Through Xu Yi''s relentless effort (cheating), he not only eliminated the side effects of "Dragon Transformation" and "Mental Breakdown," but also enhanced the potion''s power to a new level.


    He took to the stage to briefly introduce the potion''s details and then stopped talking, instead looking for a "lab rat" on the spot.


    There was no response from below the stage.


    Even though Xu Yi was an Honorary Professor, who would dare to try a potion of unknown origin?


    This was when the importance of a "plant" became apparent. Carrie and Cass stepped forward in turn and injected the potion in front of everyone''s eyes.


    It hadn''t been long since school started, but everyone had already figured out the identities of those around them.


    They might not know Carrie, but they knew Cass, recognizing him as the "orphan" of the Finn family, with a deep connection to Xu Yi.


    If Xu Yi dared to inject Cass with the potion, that at least meant one thing, the potion was safe and reliable.


    Then they were firmly "planted"!


    After Cass injected the potion, his strength visibly increased, and his body became unbelievably sturdy, impenetrable by blade or spear.


    Even though they used only common weapons for the test, it was enough to demonstrate the potion''s remarkable effects.


    "This is only a phase one potion. The effect of the phase two potion is three times that of the current one!" Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Yi then threw another bombshell, "The effect of the phase three potion is ten times that of the current one!"


    Taking advantage of the stunned crowd, Xu Yi continued to speak aloud:


    "If you choose me and Yukeni as mentors, you will get the Dragon Blood Warrior Phase One Potion; after accumulating enough credits, you''ll receive the Phase Two Potion; among those, students with excellent grades and top ten credits will get the Phase Three Potion directly!"


    The venue was dead silent, but this was merely the calm before the bomb detonated.


    "After injecting the Dragon Blood Phase Three Potion, I can assure you that even if you are dreadful at fighting, you will be able to step halfway into the realm of a Great Exorcist!"


    Xu Yi outright threw the "ace in the hole"!


    The place erupted in noise instantly, their greatest wish for entering the Isotope Institute was to become a Great Exorcist.


    But now someone was telling them that just by injecting three potions, they could approach this realm¡ªthey were bound to be shocked.


    "You don''t need to doubt the truth of this. I can swear on Professor Yukeni''s reputation it is definitely worth it," Xu Yi added a guarantee.


    Yukeni slowly punched out a "?" mark.


    Xu Yi was indeed not lying; the realm of the Great Exorcist was equivalent to the blue entries of the Combat System, and after injecting the Dragon Blood Warrior Phase Three Potion, one could obtain "Green Epic" level entries.


    The atmosphere on-site was completely ignited, and the crowd surged towards Yukeni, scrambling for the registration forms on the table.


    "How... how can he do this!"


    Norvi trembled with anger when he saw this scene¡ªsince when were public classes conducted like this?


    Hekaseth''s face turned grim, and after giving Xu Yi a deep, meaningful glance with her heterochromatic eyes, she turned and left.


    ......


    ```


    "This will be a fight where I stake my honor!"


    Xu Changrong''s gaze fixed intently ahead, his expression serious. He took several deep breaths before slamming down on the red button in front of him.


    The claw machine''s four-pronged hook spread open, descending slowly, clutching the crown of a small pink bear''s head as if to snatch away its very soul.


    The hook rose, carrying the bear plushie toward the exit, but halfway there, it wobbled, and in Xu Changrong''s eyes, which were nearly bursting with rage, the pink bear fell.


    "Mommy! Mommy! That uncle failed again, that''s the 30th time!"


    The little girl beside him hopped and shouted excitedly, her face alight with joy. To an unknowing observer, it might seem like she had just won a big prize.


    Xu Changrong slumped, his eyes dulled, like a defeated warrior who had been captured.


    "Master! How about we try a different one?" Harada Mieko stood behind Xu Changrong, suggesting in a low voice.


    "But I really like this little bear so much!" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only Xu Changrong and Harada Mieko could hear this sentence, as the soul-state Alice stood in front of the glass cabinet of the claw machine, her eyes brimming with longing.


    "I refuse to believe that a mere plushie can defeat me!" Xu Changrong gathered his spirits again and bought thirty more coins.


    One game coin after another fell into the machine, with one failure after another, Xu Changrong was now drenched in sweat.


    He inserted the last coin and pressed the start button mechanically, holding no hope anymore.


    And then, the miracle occurred at that moment, as the hook picked up the pink bear and carried it safely to the exit.


    Xu Changrong retrieved the pink bear from the exit, his face still filled with disbelief.


    He stared at the plushie, whose fur was nearly plucked bare, and for some reason, he felt an inexplicable palpitation.


    Screams suddenly came from outside; Xu Changrong hurried to the store entrance.


    On the street, two people were in pursuit: a man in a hood carried a lady''s handbag, followed by a uniformed urban businesswoman.


    The scene, at first glance, resembled a thief being chased by his victim.


    But Xu Changrong was fixating on the woman. She gave him a very familiar feeling, much like the "ingredients" he often came into contact with.


    The sprinting woman suddenly leapt forward, with a distance so astonishing that not even an Olympic long jump champion could achieve such a feat.


    She pounced on the man ahead of her, fiercely biting into his neck. Amidst his agonized screams, the man''s throat was viciously torn open, and blood spurted out.


    This horrific scene threw everything into chaos. People screamed, others called the police, some cursed as they tried to step forward and intervene.


    The woman released the breathless man, raising her bloodstained face, her green pupils scanning the crowd, flickering with a hungry glow.


    As the woman lunged at the crowd, people screamed and scattered in all directions, with no one foolishly standing still. They had all realized something was wrong, thanks in part to the baptism from the previous Evil Deity''s chaos.


    Xu Changrong instinctively wanted to step forward. With his strength, dealing with the woman in front of him wouldn''t be difficult.


    But he suddenly halted because the lifeless man suddenly moved, his body contorting as he stood up, his pupils turning the same hungry green.


    The dead man was resurrected, and at the same time, Xu Changrong caught a whiff of a rich fragrance, sending a shiver down his spine and making his hairs stand on end.


    In that scent, he felt a chilling breath of death!


    "Hold your breath!" Xu Changrong abruptly shouted in anger while Harada Mieko subconsciously complied.


    Screams mixed with explosions came from afar. Xu Changrong immediately understood what was happening, and his expression turned grave.


    "Quick! Let''s get out of here and make it back to the Eight Monster House first!"


    In such chaotic circumstances, only by returning to the Eight Monster House and connecting with the Ghost Samurai could he feel a sense of safety.


    Amidst the chaotic crowd, Xu Changrong carried Harada Mieko as they ran frantically, with Alice attached to the Magic Artifact Xu Changrong had with him.


    As they passed by the Central Plaza, Xu Changrong paused briefly. There stood a large truck in the plaza; how it had arrived there was anyone''s guess.


    People in black robes lifted the truck''s tarp, revealing a huge metal spire underneath like a bull''s horn. They unloaded the goods nonchalantly, as if completely oblivious to the turmoil around them.


    Under normal circumstances, Xu Changrong would have investigated further, but now he couldn''t afford the distraction. After a few glances, he hurried away with Harada Mieko.


    ```

 Chapter 316 The Arrival of the Misty World

    Yukeni looked at the thick stack of application forms on the table, and even her typically Iceberg-like expression couldn''t help but reveal a smile.


    The very first batch of students at Isotope Academy numbered roughly two thousand. Apart from those who chose Arturo, preparing to follow the path of the church, the majority were gathered here.


    The number of people didn''t really matter. What was important was getting to see Hekaseth swallow her pride.


    After all, she had been seriously duped by that old witch Hekaseth in the past.


    "I''ll leave the follow-up to you. Preparing the Dragon Blood Warrior Potion requires a lot of time and energy. I need to get started right away!"


    Xu Yi was talking nonsense. Once the formula was confirmed, as long as there were enough raw materials, it really wouldn''t take much time at all.


    He was simply looking for an excuse to become a hands-off boss.


    But just then, a succession of screams suddenly came from the direction of Boston.


    Xu Yi and Yukeni exchanged a glance, leaped onto the towering clock tower beside them, and looked out into the distance.


    With their powerful eyesight, Xu Yi saw clearly the scene within the city: amid the billowing smoke, figures scrambled to escape.


    This all-too-familiar scene filled Xu Yi with an ominous premonition.


    "You guys go find Professor Arturo!" Xu Yi instructed the students below, then exchanged a look with Yukeni, and they both rushed towards Boston.


    From atop the city''s skyscrapers, Xu Yi looked down below, his pupils suddenly shrinking.


    Panicked crowds fled, chased by "people" with fierce and grim countenances, their pupils glowing with a fluorescent green light.


    Those who fell behind were pounced upon, their throats bitten through, blood spurting from their tracheas.


    What was even more horrifying was that those who fell and lost their breath soon convulsed and contorted as they stood back up.


    "Biological crisis? A zombie outbreak?"


    These words flashed across Xu Yi''s mind.


    Everyone knows that in movies, biological crises are often associated with human extinction.


    "These are man-made living dead, probably created using some sort of potion. Once the effect of the potion wears off, these infected will die instantly."


    Yukeni saw through the trick at a glance; in her years of wandering and adventuring, she had gained more experience than Xu Yi.


    Upon hearing this, Xu Yi let out a sigh of relief. Anything but a zombie crisis would be preferable.


    The living dead spotted the two on the high building and leaped ferociously, their jumping prowess nothing short of astonishing.


    Yukeni casually swung her golden scepter and smashed the head of the "jumping corpse," splashing its fluorescent green blood.


    Xu Yi and Yukeni both turned pale and dodged the blood. The blood gave them an extremely eerie feeling.


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    Although they didn''t know the consequences of being tainted, it definitely couldn''t be anything good.


    Xu Yi''s waistband vibrated slightly. It was the Sin Remains.


    For the convenience of sensing the Source of Sin, he had fashioned the seven Sin Remains into a belt, which he wore around his waist.


    The presence was faint, but the Sin Remains could still detect it; it was the aura of the "Pride" Origin!


    ...


    Boston, Blue Lake Park.


    A gigantic piece of Alchemical Machinery rose from the lake, a silver sphere floating on the surface of the water, its flickering red light casting the water as red as blood.


    "Bring me the location marker!"


    The black-robed figure with a striking forehead mark stood above the surface of the water and reached out his hand to those behind him.


    A heavy metal box was handed to him. After opening the metal box, inside was a fist-sized piece of "Amber."


    The unknown golden gel enveloped a pale bone, a bone from the "Fog World." After the Fog World receded, anything from that world would face annihilation.


    To take something from inside out, special methods were required, and this golden gel was one of them.


    The Fog World first appeared when a military experiment accidentally opened a portal to Another World.


    The people from the Ring of Destruction brought out this piece of bone from within.


    The "metal giant egg" floating on the lake was the initial experimental unit, which the Ring of Destruction obtained, then repaired and improved.


    The man in the black robe inserted the golden "Amber" into the center of the giant egg and forcefully pulled down the activation lever.


    The red light of the giant egg flashed more and more rapidly, the lake water evaporated due to the high temperature emanating from the base, forming a large expanse of mist.


    The alchemy machinery rumbled and roared deafeningly, amidst which a black "lightning" appeared above the giant egg, that was not lightning, but a spatial rift.


    Fierce hurricanes, along with the thick mist, gushed out from the rift, forming a "Fog Tornado" in the sky.


    The mist-ridden world had descended!


    ...


    After a brief discussion, Xu Yi and Yukeni decided it was best to find the secret antagonist first.


    The city was overrun with far too many jumping corpses, and with such a virus-like spread, it was very difficult to stop.


    Most importantly, who knew how many potions the antagonist still had?


    Once they had painstakingly cleared the jumping corpses only for the enemy to inject another dose, their efforts would have been in vain.


    "But how do we find them?"


    Yukeni furrowed her brow, based on her experience, such people are like sewer rats, hiding themselves very well.


    "Just follow me," Xu Yi said, feeling the vibration of "Pride" Sin Remains at his waist.


    He was certain that these jumping corpses were the doing of the host of the "Pride" Origin.


    At that moment, a furious wind swept in from afar, the howling wind like wailing demons, and a torrential downpour immediately followed, shaking the entire city of Boston in the storm.


    "A typhoon? How could it be at this time?" Yukeni raised a protective shield and looked up at the pitch-black sky, murmuring.


    "It''s not as simple as a typhoon."


    Xu Yi looked towards the distance, the dense white mist rolling in like a tsunami, and in an instant, Boston was engulfed.


    "Is this the breath of Another World?" Yukeni sensed the unusual aura within the mist and her expression turned serious instantly.


    "That''s right, two worlds are merging. If nothing unexpected occurs, the exit of this space has already been locked down!" Xu Yi''s expression was also grave.


    The outbreak of the jumping corpses crisis, the sudden typhoon, the merging worlds... he sensed a rich conspiracy looming. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They pressed on through the storm, both the special response team and the military stationed in Boston had been mobilized, but the typhoon''s arrival greatly impacted their rescue operations.


    Violent explosions suddenly resounded, and even through the storm''s fury, the sound of the blasts was distinct and clear.


    Yukeni looked towards the direction of the explosion, her face suddenly changed, "Damn! That''s in the direction of my house, my daughter Millet is still at home, I have to save her!"


    A daughter? Xu Yi''s eyes widened, he wouldn''t have guessed such explosive news, Yukeni actually had a daughter!


    For some reason, he suddenly felt a tad sour.


    While he was in a daze, Yukeni had already vanished from sight, the "Secret Antagonist Search Squad" crumbled in an instant, leaving only him behind.


    Xu Yi followed the directive of "Pride" Sin Remains, speeding through the city.


    He suddenly stopped, the "Pride" Sin Remains at his waist vibrating intensely.


    He looked ahead, in the coffee pavilion of Fountain Plaza, a scholarly man wearing glasses was leisurely drinking coffee, totally out of place amid the hellish surroundings.


    The man also noticed Xu Yi, lifted his head, and revealed a gentle smile to Xu Yi, "Nice to meet you for the first time, let me introduce myself, my name is West, and it''s a pleasure to meet you."


    The host of "Pride" Sin Remains was found.


    Xu Yi was puzzled, he couldn''t sense any strange aura from the man, as if he was just an ordinary human.


    You should know, among the seven deadly sins, "Pride" was at the top, the strongest presence amongst the Origins of Sin.


    And yet, the "Pride" Origin had chosen a human as its host?


    Xu Yi felt like he was in a dream.

 Chapter 317 Unscrupulous Merchant

    Feeling the gaze of the man named West, Xu Yi felt uncomfortable all over.


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    It wasn''t the sensation of being targeted by a powerful being, but rather because of the other''s pair of eyes.


    Gazing into those eyes was like staring into the abyss, giving him the feeling of being completely seen through.


    Xu Yi suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.


    "Cold Reading Technique! And it''s a soul-level Cold Reading Technique!"


    Xu Yi possessed psychology entries, and when he used the Cold Reading Technique to scrutinize common people, they would feel as if he saw through them.


    But against exorcists or the strange, it would often fail.


    The variables of the mystical side were too numerous.


    The other''s "Cold Reading Technique" was obviously several levels higher than his.


    Xu Yi kept moving backward. Logically, with the "Pride" Source of Sin before him, he should have approached and plunged the Sin Remains into the other''s heart, devouring the origin.


    But his sixth sense was constantly warning him, causing a throbbing pain at his temples.


    Something''s wrong, terribly wrong!


    The Sin Remains should have sensed the other, and the other should have sensed the "Pride" Sin Remains as well.


    Yet the other paid no heed, showing none of the urgency of other hosts and not even glancing at the "Pride" Sin Remains on his waist.


    And the other was too calm! A calmness that was somewhat terrifying.


    "What a pity! You shouldn''t have come!" West suddenly sighed.


    Xu Yi''s face changed dramatically, he activated "Blood as Sacred" to its full extent, turned around, and tried to flee, but he could only retreat as the Grim Reaper''s scythe, enveloped in a thick dark aura, sliced down towards him.


    The Crow Man, holding the Grim Reaper''s scythe, blocked his way, staring at him coldly.


    It wasn''t just the Crow Man; a purple metallic Sea Serpent appeared on his left, a hefty Lizard Dragon on his right, and behind him was an alchemical machinery he had never seen before ¨C a silver giant ape.


    He was surrounded, by the four great Alchemical Machinery of the Ring of Destruction!


    A blinding light suddenly rose from the ground, forming a cage of light, trapping him securely.


    Xu Yi''s expression was gloomy, he understood, this was simply a trap, a trap aimed at him!


    The "Pride" Origin was the bait, and he was the fish that took the hook.


    The four great Alchemical Machinery of the Ring of Destruction, plus the Array before him, had formed an inescapable net ¨C he had nowhere to run.


    The Crow Man looked down at Xu Yi, a gleam of excitement flashing in his pupils.


    Their internal members'' hatred for Xu Yi was second only to the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    On their path to search for the Source of Sin, they could always see Xu Yi''s figure, like a stick stirring in the mud, causing them endless unrest.


    Now they could finally deal with him and breathe a sigh of relief. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Ring of Destruction seldom moved out in force.


    Though they called those of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization timid worms, they had to admit that the power controlled by the Organization was not something they could resist.


    If they moved out in full force, it would undoubtedly attract the attention of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, and they might be wiped out in one fell swoop.


    But now there was no need to worry about these matters. After the merging of the Mist World and Boston, this space had been sealed off, like a besieged city, where the people inside couldn''t get out, and those on the outside couldn''t come in.


    That''s why they dared to appear so openly.


    What puzzled the Crow Man was that Xu Yi''s face showed no sign of panic. Could it be that the other still had a trump card to turn the situation around?


    Xu Yi had no trump cards. In just a few seconds, he had assessed the situation before him, which could be summed up in four words, "A Certain Death Situation."


    What could he do? Of course, the only choice was to give up.


    This Resurrection Coin couldn''t be saved no matter what.


    Just as he was preparing to self-immolate, a sharp pain suddenly came from his right arm, the mark of the Black Void Gate burning hot like a branding iron.


    Before he could react, he suddenly felt disoriented, and in the next second, he found himself in the Soul Swamp, standing in front of the Black Void Gate.


    "Do you wish to make an exchange?"


    If this were a game, a prompt would pop up in front of Xu Yi at this moment, "The Black Void Gate has sent you a trade request ¡ª do you accept?"


    This Black Void Gate really was relentless!


    It was like an extremely diligent insurance salesperson, seizing every opportunity to pitch to you.


    ```


    However, the timing chosen by the Black Void Gate was indeed very precise; if it had not been for his possession of Resurrection Coins, summoning the Black Void Gate would have been his only path to survival.


    "Since I''m here already!"


    Xu Yi silently muttered to himself, then without hesitation, he agreed to the trade request.


    He did not summon the Black Void Gate but instead exchanged it for the method of soul strengthening.


    The Black Void Gate fell silent for a good while, perhaps stunned by Xu Yi''s "bold move."


    There''s a popular saying, "To learn the Dao in the morning and die in the evening would not be regretted," Xu Yi really was prepared to forsake even his life for strength!


    Xu Yi had already decided to use the Resurrection Coin, so summoning the Black Void Gate was pointless; it would be better to discover what the so-called "method of soul strengthening" actually was.


    If it was something knowledge-related, perhaps he could find a loophole.


    Xu Yi''s vision blurred for a moment, and in the next second, he found himself high in the sky, plunging downward.


    His body felt light and ethereal, in a complete state of soul.


    "Is this... Boston?" Xu Yi recognized the familiar buildings below him at a glance.


    He also saw "himself," surrounded by four massive alchemical machines, but they all seemed frozen in time.


    "The world of the soul he was in had a time flow hundreds of times faster than the ordinary world, which explained the phenomenon," Xu Yi suddenly realized.


    As his soul flew over the skies of Boston, his mind filled with questions. What could the so-called "method of soul strengthening" possibly have to do with Boston?


    Suddenly, he started to fall.


    He instantly recognized the target location: Boston''s iconic Lighthouse Mountain.


    "Lighthouse Mountain seems quite different now!" Xu Yi observed the mist-enshrouded Lighthouse Mountain and felt an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity.


    The thick layers of earth did nothing to stop him as he passed through the dense soil and suddenly a "purple sea" loomed ahead, waves raging fiercely.


    He crossed the "Purple Sea" and arrived at a black void.


    Golden light suddenly illuminated his eyes, and he saw a dense web of golden threads before him, intertwining as though alive.


    Xu Yi''s soul could not stop trembling, his pupils dilated, showing utter terror, and... delight.


    Even the colossal entities he encountered in the Soul Swamp did not impart such an intense oppressive feeling.


    No! To even compare them would be an insult to the golden threads before him.


    If it hadn''t been for the Black Void Gate''s protection, his soul would have been annihilated before it even neared this place.


    Spirit of a True God, this had to be the remnant soul of a True God!


    Only the spirit of a True God could possess such overwhelming oppressive power.


    Logically, since the Twilight of the Gods, the bones of the True Gods had all but disappeared, so how had this "vast" spirit of a True God been preserved?


    Although the spirit of the True God before him was nothing compared to its glory days, it was still an unattainable "colossus" for humanity!


    "Could it be because of this overlaying world?"


    Xu Yi was well aware that the real Boston could not possibly contain the spirit of a True God; therefore, it could only come from that "misty world."


    The Black Void Gate brought him here, perhaps intending to help him merge with the spirit of the True God present?


    This trade was too beneficial!


    This thought flashed through Xu Yi''s mind, but soon, his complexion turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.


    His soul was pulled back with astonishing speed, and within the blink of an eye, he found himself back in front of the Black Void Gate.


    "Trade completed!"


    Xu Yi felt something being drawn out of his soul; it was Fick''s Deceiver''s Soul.


    "So the so-called method of soul strengthening was just providing an address?"


    Xu Yi was numb, black-hearted merchants who engaged in deception weren''t this nefarious; at least they still provided some meat, but this action was akin to giving away only the location of a sheep.


    Fortunately, Xu Yi had no intention of dealing fairly with the Black Void Gate.


    With the trade concluded, Xu Yi''s soul returned to his body. He looked around and, under the blank gazes of the alchemical machinery, he resolutely self-immolated.


    Even towards the end, in an effort to maximize resources, he burned a large number of entries and activated the ability of Mysticism inspiration to derive "Ando''s Renowned Forging Technique."


    "Ando''s Renowned Forging Technique" was his recent focus for a breakthrough.


    ```

 Chapter 318 Subgod

    Time rewound to five minutes earlier, and the sound of an explosion came from the other end of the city.


    "Damn it! My daughter¡­"


    Yukeni hadn''t finished her sentence when Xu Yi cut in, "Your daughter is also my daughter, let''s go! We''re going to save her now!"


    By now, Xu Yi had realized that the explosion had not happened by chance but was premeditated, aimed at luring Yukeni away and leaving Xu Yi to walk into a trap alone.


    Knowing it was a trap, Xu Yi, of course, wouldn''t go there, but to prevent the people from the Ring of Destruction from taking desperate measures and intercepting him halfway, it was best to stay with Yukeni.


    Of course, he had another important purpose, and that was Lighthouse Mountain.


    Yukeni''s home was conveniently located near Lighthouse Mountain, and he planned to check out the situation there. If it really possessed the spirit of a True God... Xu Yi''s heart became exceptionally fiery.


    "Okay... alright!" Yukeni looked at Xu Yi in surprise, how did he know what she was about to say?


    ......


    In the coffee pavilion at Fountain Plaza.


    West hesitated for a moment before picking up the coffee in his hand and then placing it back on the table. He was already feeling a bit of a need to urinate, and if he drank any more, he would probably have to go to the bathroom.


    "Why hasn''t Xu Yi arrived yet? Could it be that the other party hasn''t sensed his presence?"


    West''s brain was running at high speed as he began to consider where the mistake had been made.


    The seemingly crude ambush had actually been calculated by him with great care.


    He had calculated everything, including Xu Yi''s personality, Yukeni''s situation, and even the reactions of Isotope Institute and Boston''s higher-ups.


    He replayed the plan in his mind but still couldn''t find any flaws.


    "Interesting! Truly interesting!"


    West suddenly laughed. After he obtained the Origin of Pride, his memory and computational abilities had been enhanced beyond imagination. This was the first time his calculations had been wrong.


    "Let''s go! Xu Yi is not coming anymore!" West stood up, ready to leave.


    Although he didn''t know where the mistake had occurred, he could be sure that Xu Yi would not come now.


    "It seems the plan will have to take another direction," West thought to himself.


    He had originally planned to kill Xu Yi, but now that his plan had been uncovered, his interest in the Xu Yi he had never met had grown. He decided to change his plan.


    ......


    Xu Yi arrived at Yukeni''s rental, where the explosion had been caused by a neighbor''s gas leak.


    "This is your so-called daughter, Little Rice?"


    Xu Yi looked at the blue-eyed Persian Cat in Yukeni''s arms, speechless.


    "Is there a problem?" asked Yukeni as she put the Persian Cat into a cat carrier and slung it on her shoulder.


    The cat carrier was pink with blue accents, with two long ears drooping down. It didn''t at all match Yukeni''s attire or temperament, appearing somewhat cute.


    "Not a big problem, only... this cat seems to be male!" Xu Yi mumbled quietly.


    Yukeni stood frozen, thunderstruck, "You''re not kidding me?"


    "It''s actually quite easy to distinguish between a male and female cat." Xu Yi casually shared some tips and then looked at Yukeni in astonishment, "You''ve had it for so long, you can''t tell if it''s male or female?"


    Yukeni didn''t respond, her face the very picture of shattered faith.


    Xu Yi could understand her feelings; anyone whose daughter suddenly turned into a son after so many years would probably look like this.


    "It''s okay, cats can be neutered. Once the testicles are removed, a male cat can somewhat become a female," Xu Yi consoled in a soft voice, but he couldn''t hide the smile tugging at his lips.


    The Persian Cat suddenly curled up, its body trembling violently.


    Could the cat actually understand what he was saying?


    Xu Yi was a bit surprised. According to his senses, the Persian Cat in front of him was just an ordinary cat, not a Spirit Cat like the Black Carp.


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    And could a cat be that terrified? It seemed as if it wanted to find a crevice to completely hide itself in.


    An inexplicable wave swept over Xu Yi, causing him to shudder, and his body hair bristled.


    He and Yukeni simultaneously turned their heads, looking out from the huge floor-to-ceiling window, vaguely making out Lighthouse Mountain in the distance.


    Fog enshrouded Lighthouse Mountain, and a colossal shadow emerged within the mist.


    What a massive creature it was, practically blotting out the sun!


    They couldn''t make out its true form, only its rough silhouette, resembling an enormously magnified mammoth.


    But it was definitely not any mammoth, as enormous tentacles grew from its body, ceaselessly dancing in the air.


    Flocks of flying creatures swarmed around the shadow, as though they were guarding their king.


    "What on earth is that?" Xu Yi couldn''t help but exclaim in amazement.


    The creature''s aura was too terrifying; even from such a distance, they still felt an intense suffocation.


    It could be said to be one of the most terrifying creatures Xu Yi had seen to date.


    "Subgod!" A term suddenly flashed through Xu Yi''s mind.


    Not a "false god," but a "subgod," an existence second only to a true god.


    Xu Yi now started to believe that there indeed was a true god''s spirit on Lighthouse Mountain; otherwise, it was unexplainable how such a terrifying creature could have been spawned.


    He suddenly looked down, and the Sin Remains at his waist vibrated again, this time it was the "Sloth" remnant.


    That vast shadow was the host of the "Sloth" origin.


    A feeling of powerlessness rose in Xu Yi''s heart; with his current strength, trying to devour the origin of Sloth within the creature was simply overestimating himself.


    "The Ring of Destruction summoned the foggy world in Boston, ambushing me was just incidental; their real target is probably the origin of Sloth before us."


    A sudden enlightenment gripped Xu Yi''s mind.


    "We''d better leave this place quickly!" Yukeni packed up her luggage hastily and pushed open the door, ready to depart.


    Even with Yukeni''s confidence, she wouldn''t rashly challenge such a monstrous creature.


    Residents poured out of their tightly shut homes; they had been hiding inside to guard against the attacks of the living corpses. But after witnessing the terrifying entity atop Lighthouse Mountain, they could no longer suppress their horror and began to flee en masse.


    Whether it was fear of the "Subgod" or not, the living corpses were nowhere to be seen in this place.


    Watching the fleeing crowds, Xu Yi, for some reason, felt a sudden palpitation surge up from the depths of his heart, and his right eyelid twitched uncontrollably.


    Billowing flames soared into the sky from the southwest of the city; Xu Yi sharply turned his head to look and was stunned for a moment.


    That blaze originated from the Ghost Samurai''s Fireblade Qi.


    The Fireblade Qi temporarily cut through the fog, and Xu Yi, straining his eyes to see into the distance, spotted the towering Flame Giant.


    That was Ghost Samurai''s most powerful form, also the most energy-consuming mode, used only in desperate situations.


    Who could have forced his father to use such a form?


    Xu Yi thought of a possibility, his face instantly paled, and at the same time, his father Xu Changrong''s cry for help echoed in his mind.


    "My father is in danger!"


    Xu Yi activated "Blood as Sacred," and his speed surged as he sprinted toward the direction of the Flame Giant, which was in Notting Hill.


    Yukeni hesitated slightly as she watched Xu Yi''s departing figure.


    She was well aware that the adversary that made Xu Yi feel threatened was no ordinary being; if she followed, she could likely put herself in danger.


    "Forget it, consider it repayment for him helping me deal with that old witch," she murmured, ultimately deciding to follow him.


    But in fact, the agreed compensation, the remains of the "Spear of Longinus," had already been handed over to Xu Yi.

 Chapter 319 Critical Moment x Awakening

    Xu Yi rushed back to Notting Hill, and the ominous premonition in his mind came true.


    The Ghost Samurai were being pushed back under the siege of the Lizard Dragon and the Purple Sea Snake, while the Crow People and the Silver Giant Ape floated above Notting Hill, watching indifferently.


    The four great Alchemical Machineries of the Ring of Destruction, having failed to ambush Xu Yi, chose to take direct action.


    After this part of the world was isolated, their deeds became even more reckless.


    "The main target has finally returned!"


    The Crow People turned their heads to look at Xu Yi, they hadn''t immediately finished off the Ghost Samurai because they were concerned that Xu Yi, knowing the situation was irretrievable once the Ghost Samurai collapsed, would choose to hide.


    So they temporarily left the Ghost Samurai, using them as bait.


    With platinum-colored hair fluttering, "Blood as Sacred" fully unleashed, Xu Yi charged towards the Ghost Samurai without a word. If he didn''t help now, the Ghost Samurai might fall into "silence" once again.


    To his relief, the crafty old dads had already hidden Notting Hill''s people in the Eight Monster House, which in turn was hidden deep within Notting Hill''s air-raid shelter.


    There were Arrays for concealment there, which would not be found for a while.


    Xu Yi''s intention to rescue the Ghost Samurai was thwarted, as the Crow People and the Silver Giant Ape blocked his way.


    As the Giant Ape''s fist descended, Xu Yi subconsciously clenched his own and threw a punch out. The two fists collided thunderously, the strong winds from the impact spreading in all directions like a hurricane, toppling the trees of Notting Hill en masse.


    Xu Yi''s expression changed slightly. This was the first time he had encountered someone who, even with "Blood as Sacred" fully activated, could stand toe-to-toe with him in a head-on clash without being at a disadvantage.


    Although he hadn''t actively used the power of the Holy Flame.


    The Crow Man''s attack came right after, with the Grim Reaper''s scythe swinging down, unable to reach Xu Yi, as a golden scepter extended from behind to block the scythe.


    "Yukeni!"


    Xu Yi''s face brightened with joy. He wasn''t certain if Yukeni would take action; the terror of the four great Alchemical Machineries was well known, and while Xu Yi had a good relationship with Yukeni, it had not reached the level where they would risk their lives for each other.


    "You helped me deal with that old witch Hekaseth, so I''ll lend a hand this time to even it out," Yukeni said as hard-mouthed as ever.


    With Yukeni''s appearance, Xu Yi felt his pressure suddenly reduced.


    The Purple Sea Snake decisively abandoned the heavily injured Ghost Samurai and pounced towards Xu Yi.


    Out of all the Alchemical Machineries, none bore a greater grudge against Xu Yi than Karen did.


    His strongest transmigration machine, the "Eight-Headed Sea Monster," had been confiscated by Xu Yi, and even the most important Holy Artifact was not recovered, forcing him now to use a lower-level transmigration machine, significantly reducing his power.


    Yukeni felt the terror of the Crow Man firsthand only after engaging in battle, and simultaneously felt astonished by Xu Yi''s strength.


    Xu Yi was facing two opponents and not falling behind!


    But only Xu Yi himself knew what was really happening. This situation was temporary; once the blood in his body was burned out, things would be instantly reversed.


    This was also one of his weaknesses, although he could burst forth with great power in a short time, it was not lasting.


    "I must find a way to break the deadlock!" Xu Yi thought anxiously to himself.


    The Ghost Samurai were under siege from the start, by the time Xu Yi arrived, it was already in a state of serious injury, to hold on until now was already quite difficult.


    Yukni, though slightly weaker than the Crow Man, was able to fight back and forth, relying on the bizarre soul of the Evil Dragon.


    He looked in the direction of Isotope Institute, but people were still not coming.


    The reason Xu Yi chose to settle in Notting Hill was actually an important one, it was close enough to the Isotope Institute.


    Such an exaggerated battle noise should have attracted the attention of the institute by now.


    To say nothing of Hekaseth, at least Arturo should have come. He had a relatively good relationship with the Church.


    Definitely, he must have been held up by something!


    Xu Yi''s expression grew heavier for he couldn''t hold on much longer and feared he couldn''t wait for Arturo''s support.


    Just then, a figure suddenly burst out from Notting Hill, leaping into the sky with a long sword, brutally slashing toward the head of the Purple Sea Snake.


    This strike, whether it was the timing of the entry or the angle of the slash, was perfect.


    But what was most astonishing was the power of the strike.


    The hefty Purple Sea Snake was forcefully "smashed" downwards, crashing into the forest below with a thunderous roar.


    "Ailan!"


    Xu Yi, seeing the familiar figure before him, exclaimed with surprise.


    At this critical moment, Maria and Ailan had actually awakened!


    He switched to the vision of the Nest of the Evil God, Lisa and Carlyle were still asleep.


    This was actually quite understandable, as everyone''s bodily talents were different, the speed at which they digested the Poseidon Potion naturally varied too.


    Among the three of them, as the "Twin Souls" of Maria and Ailan, her talent was undoubtedly the strongest.


    Xu Yi took a moment to check Maria and Ailan''s panel interface, and indeed, there was an additional entry.


    [Descendant of the Sea God: (Red Common)


    Ability 1 - Sea God''s Armor:


    Your body is as tough as starstone and can ignore the deep sea''s crushing pressure, breathing freely in the ocean.


    Ability 2 - The Strength of Mias:


    Legend has it that Mias was the strongest sea beast, possessing the power to "move mountains"; the entry owner will gain strength no less than Mias''s.


    Ability 3 - Talent of the Soul''s Chant:


    Your talent will be greatly enhanced, and through "Soul Chant," the talent can be realized in a short time. ]


    Ailan fell down, but the Purple Sea Snake rose from the debris of the trees, lunging towards Ailan with a bite, completely frenzied with rage.


    Ailan paid no attention to the Purple Sea Snake below her, instead, she looked at the long sword in her hand.


    This sword was her carefully selected Exorcism Artifact, which had no problem dealing with common specters, but in the face of the Alchemical Machinery of the Ring of Destruction, it was somewhat lacking.


    Under the fierce collision just now, a slim crack appeared on the long sword, which continued to spread, until finally with a "bang," the long sword completely shattered.


    An Ailan with a long sword and without a long sword were on completely different levels of combat ability.


    A fiery red shadow suddenly pierced through the sky, flying towards Ailan, who grasped the flaming shadow with one hand; as the flames gradually receded, a Crystal Red blade was revealed.


    It was the Demon Blade Red Lotus of the Ghost Samurai.


    Although Xu Changrong had been passively taking hits, he had always been paying close attention to the surrounding battle situation, a habit he had developed since childhood.


    As part of an Ancient Martial Arts family, he had participated in "group battles" many times as a child.


    In the chaos of dozens of combatants, if you didn''t keep your wits about you, you''d wake up the next day with a face swollen like a pig''s head.


    Upon realizing that Ailan lacked a handy blade, he immediately threw the Demon Blade Red Lotus that was in his hand; after all, he was currently on the defensive, and having a blade or not didn''t make much of a difference to him now.


    Xu Yi burst forth, punching back the Silver Giant Ape. He cut his own finger and let the blood drip onto Ailan''s forehead. He was granting Ailan the authorization to use the Demon Blade Red Lotus.


    Ailan fiercely gripped the Demon Blade Red Lotus, and pink flames surged forth.


    She sang softly, and as her voice spread out, it exploded like thunder.


    The Chant of the Talent!


    Thick black energy surged from within Ailan''s body, but her eyes were the pure white flames of sanctity; black and white were in such harmony.


    The black flow came from Ailan''s talent, while the white flames came from Maria; this was the first time both of their talents manifested on their body simultaneously.


    Facing the charging Purple Sea Snake, Ailan remained unfazed, reeling her sword in front of her chest, and causing injury to the Purple Sea Snake while deflecting its force at the same time.


    Xu Yi watched the fierce battle between Ailan and the Purple Sea Snake with inward shock.


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    Although the Purple Sea Snake was a second-rate piece of Alchemical Machinery, at least an exorcist with the title of exorcist was needed to contend with it.


    In other words, Ailan''s strength was now comparable to that of a titled exorcist!


    Even though it was the weakest kind.


    Mainly, Ailan''s combat instincts were too strong, and her swordsmanship was too exquisite. Even Xu Changrong, a master of swordsmanship, had to admit defeat in her presence.


    "The Demon Blade Red Lotus seems not quite compatible with Ailan. If she had a better sword, perhaps Ailan''s strength could rise another level," Xu Yi thought. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi''s desire to create the Alchemical Weapon "Seven Deadly Sins" grew even stronger.


    With the Purple Sea Snake held back, Xu Yi''s pressure greatly decreased, and he finally got the chance to vent his frustration, counterattacking the Silver Giant Ape.


    Two minutes slipped by silently, as two figures quickly approached from the horizon. Xu Yi was immediately overjoyed; Arturo and Hekaseth had finally arrived.


    The Crow Man suddenly pulled back, clearly understanding that their grand scheme was gone.


    It was very regrettable that they hadn''t killed Xu Yi, but they had prepared another plan. His chest tore open, and he spat out a piece of golden "amber."


    Inside the golden gel was sealed a pale skeleton.

 Chapter 320 Incoming x Overt Plot

    Xu Yi recognized that clump of golden gel as a substance known as "Void Bug Gel," made from the blood of void bugs, yet void bugs had been extinct for hundreds of years; he never expected someone to still possess it.


    Although he didn''t recognize the pale skeleton, wrapped in void bug gel as it was, it must be extremely valuable.


    But in the next second, the Crow Man''s palm forcefully tightened, crushing the void bug gel and the pale bones inside to dust.


    The remaining alchemical machinery had returned to the Crow Man''s side; they showed no surprise at his actions, evidently having discussed this beforehand.


    Xu Yi was on high alert, for the annihilation barrier created by the Crow Man''s black droplets had left a deep impression on him. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Crow Man opened his hand, allowing the ashes to scatter.


    A gentle breeze blew, and the ashes floated down like a fine powder of rain, sprinkling around Notting Hill.


    One second, two seconds... five seconds went by, and Xu Yi didn''t feel anything out of the ordinary.


    There was neither a terrifying energy emanating from the powder nor a deadly toxin; it seemed to be just plain ash.


    The four great alchemical machines gave Xu Yi a cold glance and then turned to leave.


    Xu Yi wanted to follow them, but the conditions did not permit it.


    They, the remnants of their forces, simply didn''t have the means to detain the enemy.


    The fact that Arturo and Hekaseth could come to their aid at all was a stroke of luck; to expect them to fight to the death with the Ring of Destruction would be asking too much.


    "Thank you for coming!" Xu Yi said as he approached.


    Arturo nodded solemnly, "The school was just attacked by a large horde of living dead, so we were delayed."


    It really was the Ring of Destruction causing trouble, Xu Yi thought to himself.


    A buzzing sound suddenly came from the sky, and the people conversing turned their heads in unison to look into the mist.


    A massive "black cloud" was rapidly approaching, and Xu Yi''s brows furrowed. Holy Flame gathered in his hands, and he swung his fist forcefully, dispelling the dense fog with a strong gust of wind.


    His expression changed slightly as he discerned the true nature of the "black cloud," a dense swarm of flying monsters.


    It wasn''t just the "black cloud"; there was also a "black river" following behind. The crawling creatures didn''t move as fast as the flying ones, so they fell behind.


    Everything became clear, the white bone powder from the Ring of Destruction was used to "lure monsters"!


    Where did so many monsters come from?


    Xu Yi thought of the "Subgod" he had seen at Lighthouse Mountain, surrounded by a dense throng of unidentifiable creatures, which appeared similar to the attacking monsters now before his eyes.


    Could that pale skeleton have come from the "Subgod"? Xu Yi couldn''t help but wonder.


    "I''ll take my leave first!" Arturo''s face was grave; the monsters'' path happened to cross Cohen Cathedral, so he had to go help.


    Hekaseth and Xu Yi nodded to each other and also left. Xu Yi''s impression of Hekaseth had improved, considering it already quite commendable that she had even come once.


    "I''m going back to the institute," said Yukeni before departing.


    Yukeni might seem cold, but she was actually a very responsible person. Even though her students had only been introduced to the basics less than a day before, she was still worried about their well-being.


    A dark shadow plummeted down, and Ailan drew her sword and sliced. The shadow was cut in two, and its parts still writhed on the ground.


    It looked like a hybrid of a fly and a scorpion. As Xu Yi crouched in front of it, it suddenly lashed out with its scorpion-like tail.


    Xu Yi didn''t dodge, letting the tail strike his arm, producing a "ting" sound. He felt a slight prickling pain.


    The "fly-scorpion" didn''t have a strong attack, but the toxin carried on its stinger was troublesome; even he would be affected if subjected to the toxin for an extended period.


    Moreover, within the "black cloud," this wasn''t the only type of monster. From what he could see, there was also a kind of "Wing-Fingered Eagle," sporting the fleshy wings of a bat, the body of an eagle, and a head of sharp bony protrusions.


    Xu Yi actually didn''t quite understand why the Ring of Destruction would sprinkle Bone Powder on Notting Hill.


    He didn''t necessarily have to stand guard at Notting Hill, and if push came to shove, he could just pack up his family and leave first since he owned the Eight Monster House.


    No, that''s not right! Xu Yi realized he had fallen into a thinking trap; these monsters weren''t necessarily drawn here because of him.


    A map of Boston sprang to mind, and if he connected Lighthouse Mountain with Notting Hill, he would discover that this line precisely bisected half of Boston.


    It wasn''t simply a matter of distance!


    Xu Yi recalled the buildings that this line passed through, including significant churches and Boston''s government assembly hall.


    What was fatal was that there were a series of incredibly important Scientific Research bases, including the Doomsday Blade project.


    Regarding how secretive the Doomsday Blade''s Scientific Research base was and how the Ring of Destruction knew of it, don''t forget about Robert, that double-dealer.


    Even the Ring of Destruction''s choice to set the battlefield in Boston might have something to do with Robert''s contributions.


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    The golden "Small Sun" suddenly rose from within the fog, and terrfying ripples spread in all directions¡ªit was the "Doomsday Arc".


    Initially, when facing the Evil Deity, the higher-ups of Boston suffered the drawback of "difficulty to use within the city", so the research team used Crystal Stone to modify the "Doomsday Arc".


    Although its power was reduced, it became more restrained, and most importantly, the range of radiation was significantly suppressed, so as long as one wasn''t directly affected, there was generally no harm.


    "You''re really playing a clever game!" Xu Yi exclaimed in admiration.


    He had probably figured out the Ring of Destruction''s plan. The reason they blocked him at Notting Hill was just coincidental.


    Even if he didn''t live at Notting Hill, they would have sprinkled Bone Powder there regardless¡ªit was part of their plan all along.


    The Ring of Destruction''s target was the "Subgod" on Lighthouse Mountain.


    The "Subgod" itself was terrifying enough, and if you added the monster army surrounding it, it was even more formidable.


    If Xu Yi wanted to deal with the Subgod, he would also plan to take out the monster army first.


    When the Ring of Destruction summoned the world of mist in Boston, it wasn''t just for him; they wanted to use the power of Boston to annihilate that monster army.


    Whether it was the Doomsday Arc, the students and instructors from the Isotope Institute, or even Xu Yi himself, all were pawns on the Ring of Destruction''s chessboard.


    More and more "Small Suns" rose within the fog, signifying that the Doomsday Blade Scientific Research team had obviously already engaged the monster army.


    Xu Yi felt a sense of helplessness; even though he saw through the Ring of Destruction''s plan, he was unable to stop it. It was an overt scheme, and Boston''s authorities couldn''t simply ignore these monsters.


    "Perhaps it''s not entirely a bad thing!"


    Xu Yi thought of the Subgod on Lighthouse Mountain, and the spirit of the True God beneath it.


    With his own power, he wasn''t capable of dealing with the Subgod. Maybe he could take advantage of the Ring of Destruction''s effort and try to scavenge and absorb the Origin of "Sloth".


    He had to venture deep into Lighthouse Mountain, find the spirit of the True God, and also avoid the Subgod''s gaze.


    The Ring of Destruction''s confrontation with the Subgod would be the perfect opportunity!


    "It looks like I need to prepare well!" Xu Yi''s mind was racing; the opportunity was rare, and he had to make thorough preparations.


    "Let''s retreat first!" Xu Yi prepared to leave, as Notting Hill being the "final destination" would soon attract a large number of monsters converging there; there was no need to face these monsters head-on.


    The Ghost Samurai suddenly rushed to Xu Yi''s side and grabbed hold of the remnants of the "Scorpion Fly" from the ground.


    Xu Yi looked at the Ghost Samurai with curiosity, wondering if Xu Changrong intended to pick up these remnants to cook with?


    This wasn''t an unprecedented occurrence; Xu Changrong often brought all sorts of bizarre things back to the Eight Monster House.


    But then he froze in surprise, as the remnants withered rapidly in the hands of the Ghost Samurai, with Pale Gold Energy flowing into the Ghost Samurai''s body.

 Chapter 321 The Great Gift from the Ring of Destruction

    "This monster contains divinity within its body!" echoed the soul voice of Xu Changrong in Xu Yi''s mind.


    Xu Yi was startled as he never expected that such weak creatures as "scorpion-flies" could possess divinity.


    In his subconscious, only those particularly powerful beings were thought to possess divinity. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Perhaps it''s due to the spirit of the True God."


    Xu Yi grew more certain that beneath Lighthouse Mountain lay the spirit of a True God.


    The divinity in the scorpion-flies was extremely faint, so much so that if it weren''t for the Bone of Nightmares'' exceptional sensitivity to Divinity, it would''ve been impossible to detect.


    Xu Yi looked towards the "dark clouds" swarming on the horizon, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    This was not an unwarranted disaster, but rather a great gift sent by the Ring of Destruction!


    The faint divinity in the monsters would be difficult for others to extract, but for the Bone of Nightmares, it was not a problem at all.


    The amount of divinity that could be extracted from a single creature was quite limited, but there was strength in numbers, and the "dark clouds" before his eyes likely numbered in the tens of thousands.


    And this was just the vanguard¡ªthe number of monsters that would follow was likely to be even greater.


    Xu Yi, observing the "golden mini-suns" continuously rising in the city, suddenly found them displeasing; were they destroying monsters, or were they destroying his divinity!


    The "suns" disappeared suddenly, as the output of the Doomsday Arc was still very limited due to time and material constraints.


    The "dark cloud" rolled in from above, plunging Notting Hill into darkness; enveloped by the fog, it was as if night had fallen.


    "Shall we leave now?" Xu Changrong asked through a mental link.


    "Leave? Notting Hill is our home, and we must stand or fall with Notting Hill!" Xu Yi replied decisively.


    Xu Yi and his two companions charged through the horde of monsters, with numerous beasts falling along the way.


    He and Ailan even thoughtfully tossed the monsters'' limbs to the Ghost Samurai to facilitate the absorption of divinity by the Bone of Nightmares.


    The platinum Holy Flame swept across, Xu Yi''s most common group attack skill, but after using it once, he stopped.


    The Holy Flame, powered by burning blood, was too potent. It completely "burnt" away the bodies of the scorpion-flies, and naturally, the divinity within dissipated as well.


    For the first time, Xu Yi felt that having too much power could actually be a disadvantage.


    After a moment of contemplation, he finally remembered a skill he had kept in reserve. He slashed his palm open, and his blood surged out, coalescing into crimson threads in the air.


    A faint platinum aura spread along the threads. The Soul-binding Lines from the Soul Jade''s entries, enhanced by the God-melting Blood, became exceptionally sharp.


    The Soul-binding Lines sliced through the monsters'' bodies. Limbs and severed arms fell like rain, and blood spattered everywhere.


    However, the monsters were too numerous, and the three of them couldn''t possibly slay them all.


    Xu Yi, seeing that the Ring of Destruction didn''t seem eager to turn back for another attack, called Harada Mieko from the Eight Monster House to join the battle, but it was still like trying to extinguish a fire with a cup of water.


    But the worst was not this; the storage limit for divinity within the Bone of Nightmares was nearly reached.


    The effect of accumulation was terrifying!


    Ever since the Bone of Nightmares was born, the divinity within had been in a state of deficit; when had it ever fought such a wealthy battle?


    Without a doubt, all thanks were due to the "good brothers" of the Ring of Destruction!


    The Bone of Nightmares had absorbed a vast amount of divinity, which should have been good news, so why did Xu Yi feel that it was so troubling?


    Because after the monsters died, within about ten minutes, the divinity in their bodies would evaporate.


    This was discovered by Xu Changrong.


    So now they faced an extremely awkward situation; if they continued killing the monsters, the divinity would be wasted without a vessel to contain it.


    Not just any object could store divinity.


    But if they stopped killing the monsters, once the Ring of Destruction made its move against the Subgod, this loyal monster army would surely come to the aid, and then, dealing with them would become extremely troublesome.


    Surely they couldn''t possibly be hunting these monsters while fending off the Subgod and the Ring of Destruction, could they?


    When exactly the Ring of Destruction would make its move was unclear to Xu Yi. It might be in an hour or two, perhaps tomorrow, or maybe in a few days.


    With so little information, he couldn''t possibly estimate.


    So his current mood was very anxious, for there might be just this one chance to easily obtain a vast amount of Divinity, and once this opportunity passed, there would be no such shop after this village.


    "We need to find a way to use the Divinity as soon as possible!"


    Xu Yi thought it over and decided this was the best method so far.


    Forging the Alchemical Weapon "Seven Deadly Sins" was immediately put on the agenda.


    He wasn''t fully prepared, but he had no choice but to rush it¡ªfortunately, he had everything needed for the forging of the Seven Deadly Sins.


    Leaving the Ghost Samurai to continue hunting monsters, Xu Yi hurried back to the Eight Monster House.


    In the forge chamber of the Eight Monster House, Xu Yi touched the cold forge station and opened the system panel at the same time.


    [Ando''s Forging Art, current progress: 42/100]


    He was about to embark on the forging of the "Seven Deadly Sins," yet the forging art was not fully mastered, but Xu Yi wasn''t worried about this in the slightest.


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    He had been too busy recently to afford any time to grind the forging art.


    But even under such circumstances, the entries'' progress was about to go over half.


    The reason was simple: cheating.


    For such "knowledge category" entries, under the push of a surge of inspiration and mystical revelations, the progress skyrocketed like riding a rocket.


    The only certainty was that it cost a bit of Resurrection Coin.


    But now he couldn''t worry about that anymore.


    Nightfall came quietly, yet the restlessness of Boston didn''t cease, with screams and beasts'' roars continuing incessantly.


    In the dead of night, Xu Yi finally maxed out "Ando''s Forging Art," at the cost of two Resurrection Coins, leaving only 48 Resurrection Coins on him.


    This was the third Resurrection opportunity he had used that day, thankfully, midnight was about to arrive, and the Resurrection count would soon reset.


    Xu Yi wanted to start forging the Alchemical Weapon "Seven Deadly Sins," but now there was a problem.


    Forging the "Seven Deadly Sins" required both him and the Ghost Samurai to be present, but without them, relying solely on Ailan and the others was hard enough for self-protection, let alone monster hunting.


    "Teacher! We''ve come to help you!"


    Carrie''s voice suddenly came from outside the Eight Monster House, which to Xu Yi, sounded like a heavenly melody.


    Because Carrie wasn''t alone in her return¡ªYukeni was with her, along with the students they recruited at the Isotope Institute.


    Xu Yi left the Eight Monster House and saw a crowd of unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar faces in front of the villa, feeling incredibly relieved.


    When he helped Yukeni with "student recruitment," he didn''t contemplate this scenario at all.


    In this moment of emergency, these people were nothing short of life-savers.


    "Help hunt the monsters outside and bring them to the front of this villa, each one will count as one academic credit," Xu Yi surveyed the crowd and declared loudly, "Accumulate a thousand credits for a second-stage Dragon Blood Elixir! Accumulate ten thousand points for a third-stage Dragon Blood Elixir!"


    To motivate everyone, he didn''t go for something abstract; he offered tangible rewards.


    "Long live the teacher!"


    The atmosphere on-site instantly exploded; they had come to help, originally just hoping to earn some Favorability in front of Xu Yi, but they didn''t expect such an unexpected surprise.


    It was as if they could already envision acquiring the third-stage Dragon Blood Elixir, becoming a Great Exorcist, and returning home in glory.


    "Thank you!" Xu Yi walked over to Yukeni and expressed his gratitude sincerely, "I owe you one, and I can grant you one request, as long as it doesn''t violate my ethical code."


    Yukeni was momentarily taken aback but didn''t say anything, only humming in response.


    Tsundere, no matter the situation, was always tsundere.


    With the addition of Yukeni and Isotope''s students, Xu Yi and the Ghost Samurai were finally free to attend to other tasks.


    Xu Yi washed his face, took a deep breath, and adjusted himself to the best condition.


    The forging of "Seven Deadly Sins" began!

 Chapter 322 The Utterly Complex Forging

    ```


    Eight Monster House, skylight forge room.


    Xu Yi stared intently at the Yata Mirror, not blinking an eye.


    The process unfolding before him was the "Array Transfer," the first step in forging the "Seven Deadly Sins," and also the most critical one.


    Golden flames constantly scorched the Yata Mirror, from which both the Ghost Samurai and Xu Yi kept their distance.


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    Those golden flames were created using the Mud God Stele as a medium, integrating both the Demon-Suppressing Flame and the Red Lotus Karma Flame, fueled by divinity and transcendental flesh, thus forming the Melting Flame.


    The temperature of the Melting Flame was so high that even though the Ghost Samurai tried hard to suppress it to prevent the heat from leaking out, the entire forge room was still sweltering.


    The Yata Mirror flickered with light, its mysterious inscriptions appearing and vanishing, and Xu Yi remembered the etching from a few hours earlier, his hand faintly aching.


    These were the inscriptions of the Holy Artifact itself.


    To make the Array of the Yata Mirror visible was no simple task, but luckily, he had previously collected a batch of the now-extinct Cassi Bugs from deep within the pyramid, making this task much simpler.


    After the Array became visible, the next step was analysis; using the knowledge from the Sun Golden Scripture, he parsed the entire energy flow of the Array.


    Under the effect of the "Entries Burning Technique," his ability with Arrays had become considerable, not inferior to those Array masters steeped in this field.


    Just these two steps alone were enough to dissuade most people, yet these were the simplest parts in the forging of the "Seven Deadly Sins."


    What followed was "Array Solidification."


    Using the power of the Undead Black Scripture, Xu Yi stabilized the Array of the Yata Mirror and began to etch with an "Array Carving Pen."


    Typically, the tip of an Array Carving Pen is made of Red Crystal, but Red Crystal is utterly useless for mythic Holy Artifacts.


    Seized by a sudden inspiration, Xu Yi used the Philosopher''s Stone as a substitute, significantly enhancing the effect.


    Although using the Philosopher''s Stone consumed a certain amount, it was entirely within an acceptable range.


    After the Philosopher''s Stone was tainted with a specially crafted expensive potion, Xu Yi began to outline the entire Array.


    There could not be a single mistake during this process; a single error in the strokes, or a break in any of them, would render all efforts futile.


    What''s most important is that Array Solidification is not a one-time affair; it requires a total of 36 solidifications.


    That is to say, for the intricately complex Array of a Holy Artifact, he had to etch it no less than 36 times without error!


    Relying on the enhancements of several Entries like Painter, Sculptor, and others, as well as the precision control over his body provided by the Body of Demigod, Xu Yi gritted his teeth and bore the burden.


    To use a mythic Holy Artifact to forge the "Seven Deadly Sins," the steps involved were truly so intricate they could make one''s scalp tingle!


    If it wasn''t for Xu Yi''s rich abilities in Entries and the possession of various bizarre objects, one wouldn''t even dare to imagine undertaking this task.


    Under the refinement of the Melting Flame, the Yata Mirror gradually melted.


    To successfully transfer the Array, two conditions must be met: the Holy Artifact must melt, and the Array on it must remain undamaged.


    Melting the Yata Mirror alone would only yield "scrap" of no use whatsoever.


    The first alchemical weapon Xu Yi prepared to forge was "Gluttony," one of the Seven Deadly Sins.


    This was not his choice; it was decided by the Yata Mirror itself.


    The natures of different Sin Remains vary, and the Yata Mirror was more compatible with the remains of Gluttony, so that''s what he chose to forge.


    In other words, regardless of which first alchemical weapon he was to forge, he would use the Yata Mirror as the material.


    Even though the Yata Mirror was damaged by the Crow Man, that does not mean it was not strong.


    On the contrary, the Yata Mirror is an extraordinarily powerful mythic Holy Artifact.


    Could the Source of Sin be sealed by just any ordinary Holy Artifact?


    The Yata Mirror was damaged simply because it is not famed for its sturdiness; after all, each mythic Holy Artifact has its unique strengths.


    Amongst the Holy Artifacts he had access to, the sturdiest was undoubtedly the Shield of Creation.


    As for whether the Yata Mirror was damaged, it didn''t matter for weapon forging, since in the end, it was meant to be melted down.


    As long as its Array was undamaged, the same applied to the Spear of Longinus.


    The reasoning for choosing the Yata Mirror as the first forging target was quite obvious.


    Collecting the spirit of a True God couldn''t possibly be done with a random box, could it?


    ```


    The Yata Mirror''s ability to collect souls was the most suitable for this task, which is why he chose to use the Yata Mirror to forge the first alchemical weapon.


    Suddenly, the Yata Mirror inside the Melting Flame trembled, and Xu Yi''s face changed slightly, as he suddenly had a bad premonition.


    The array on the Yata Mirror flashed brightly and in the next second, shattered into countless pieces like a mirror.


    The array transfer had failed!


    Xu Yi''s eyebrows furrowed tightly, the failure of the array transfer not only caused all his previous efforts to go down the drain but also rendered the Yata Mirror completely useless.


    ......


    "It really is lively! It makes me want to join in!"


    In Notting Hill, someone sighed softly. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A man dressed in a wide black robe stood in the shadows of the trees, watching the "lively" scene below.


    Strange and grotesque creatures rampaged everywhere, while the students of Isotope Institute fought bravely.


    The man also took a special look at the black cat in the battlefield, which moved swiftly, biting one monster a couple of times, then another.


    He could tell that the black cat was extraordinary; it seemed to be devouring the flesh and blood of these monsters, then evolving.


    "It would be nice to dissect it if I had the chance!" The man felt pity.


    "With our current identities, do we still need to make contact with Xu Yi?"


    A charming female voice rang out behind the man.


    The man smiled silently, "What do you think our status is in the eyes of the Ring of Destruction? Collaborators? Or perhaps... domesticated poultry?"


    ......


    Eight Monster House.


    Xu Yi, looking at the "discarded" Yata Mirror, decisively burned his entries to exchange for mystical inspirations.


    Mysticism revelation activated at the same time.


    [Mysticism Revelation: When a holy artifact melts, the solid state of the array turns into a flowing liquid state. Relying solely on carving is not enough to stabilize the array. Why not try to draw inspiration from the "Flowing Array" technique?]


    Forging the "Seven Deadly Sins" would not be a success in one go, especially in the exploratory initial phase.


    Xu Yi dared to take on this seemingly impossible task because of the "try again" feature of the Resurrection Coin.


    In order not to waste the Resurrection Coin, before time reversed, he would also burn entries to gain mystical inspirations, achieving "multi-use" of a single coin.


    Time reverted to five minutes earlier.


    The Melting Flame was still refining the Yata Mirror, and Xu Yi ordered the Ghost Samurai to stop because the melting point had not yet been reached, thereby the array on the Yata Mirror was not damaged.


    He made adequate preparations, but the array transfer still failed.


    He had been mentally prepared for this, but disappointment was inevitable.


    Luckily, the revelation of mysticism showed him the way, otherwise, this point alone would have caused him to be stuck for years, or even decades.


    Xu Yi took out the remnants of the eight-headed Sea Serpent, the outer shell of this alchemical machinery had been disassembled by him, leaving only the core structure inside.


    The "Flowing Array" technique, mentioned in the mysticism revelation, originated from the core in front of him.


    It was by employing this technique that the Ring of Destruction was able to steal the power of the legendary holy artifacts.


    The so-called "Flowing Array" technique, simply put, makes the array within the holy artifact move.


    When the array is static, bypassing the seal is practically impossible, but once the array starts to move, one can "fish in troubled waters".


    In his spare time, Xu Yi also studied the alchemical machinery, and was familiar with its structure.


    He analyzed the technology and compared it with the array transfer, gradually gaining insights, which brought a smile to his face.


    "Boss! Someone''s looking for you outside, says they''re an old friend!"


    Ailent suddenly appeared outside the forge chamber, gently knocking on the door.


    With Notting Hill short on hands, Ailent, as the housekeeper, naturally could not idle around; he was mainly responsible for tallying the monsters'' numbers and keeping records for each student.


    An old friend?


    Xu Yi was stunned for a moment; which old friend would come to find him at this time?

 Chapter 323 Subgod Behemoth

    Xu Yi arrived at the entrance of the villa and the moment he saw the two figures in black robes, his body tensed up.


    If it really were an old friend, even in the oversized black robes, he should have been able to sense the familiar aura of the other party.


    The two figures in front of him exuded an odd, chilling sensation.


    One of the figures lifted their hood, revealing stunning features that Xu Yi recognized instantaneously¡ªthe face was just too distinctive.


    Tomie Kawakami?!


    Xu Yi lunged forward, the Sin Remains of Lust landing in his hands, but strangely, the Sin Remains of Lust showed no reaction.


    Tomie Kawakami did not dodge, letting the Sin Remains of Lust pierce through her, but not a speck of Origin was absorbed by it.


    "The Tomie Kawakami in front of me is just an empty shell!" Xu Yi realized instantly, which explained why the Sin Remains of Lust had no reaction; the soul of the Origin was not in the body at all.


    Xu Yi stopped his attack¡ªan empty shell meant no threat, and he had no interest in exerting efforts against a "silicone doll".


    The other black-robed figure lifted their hood, and the refined man with glasses spoke softly, "It''s our first meeting, so let me introduce myself, my name is..."


    "West! What are you doing here?" Xu Yi interrupted him.


    West''s expression faltered for a moment, realizing something had slipped out of his control. By all means, Xu Yi shouldn''t have known who he was.


    Xu Yi watched the stunned West, a cold smile forming in his mind.


    No matter how clever you are, you can''t outmatch the power of my cheating.


    Originally, during the ambush, West had introduced himself, but then Xu Yi used a Resurrection Coin to rewind time, so naturally, West had no knowledge of that incident.


    Taking advantage of West''s momentary distraction, Xu Yi lunged again, the Sin Remains of Pride slipping into his hand and he slashed out with his blade.


    West''s neck was severed, his head fell to the ground with a thud, and rolled several times on the floor.


    Tomei Kawakami''s expression did not change in the slightest; she walked over to the head, squatted down, picked it up, and turned the face toward Xu Yi.


    Although the body was gone, the features on the head were still moving, not even hindering the ability to speak. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I didn''t expect Mr. Xu Yi to have such a penchant for pranks," said West.


    West glanced at the Sin Remains of Pride in Xu Yi''s hand and then looked away.


    Xu Yi shrugged his shoulders, giving it a try had no drawbacks¡ªthere might be an unexpected gain, and it was also a form of probing.


    The other party indeed knew about the Sin Remains being under his control! Xu Yi understood.


    A yearning for the Sin Remains of Pride shone in West''s eyes, yet he maintained his restraint.


    "As a member of the Ring of Destruction, what are you sneaking around here for?" Xu Yi put emphasis on the word "sneaking."


    "Of course, I wish for Mr. Xu Yi to become a friend," West said with a smile on his lips.


    "Friends? Do you think we can be friends?" Xu Yi said with an amused look at the other man.


    "Certainly, our positions are actually aligned. Surely Mr. Xu Yi also sees that all of us, the Origins of Sin, are merely pawns of the Ring of Destruction; though we do not know our final outcome, it''s probably going to be tragic," West said, the smile fading from his face, becoming serious.


    Alarm bells rang inside Xu Yi''s mind; the danger of a man like West was that he always kept a card up his sleeve.


    Though his words sounded extremely sincere, the man who could betray the Ring of Destruction could naturally betray a "friend."


    "Spit it out! What is your true purpose in coming here?" Xu Yi ran out of patience; he was in a hurry to forge the Seven Deadly Sins.


    "Since we''re here to make friends, of course we couldn''t come empty-handed. We''ve brought a gift," West gestured with his eyes to Tomie Kawakami.


    Tomie Kawakami held a box in her hands. At West''s signal, she opened the box and placed it in front of Xu Yi.


    After observing for a moment and ensuring that the box contained nothing more than ordinary files, Xu Yi casually picked them up for a glance, his expression turning serious instantly.


    Surprisingly, the files contained information about the "Subgod" of Lighthouse Mountain.


    "Behemoth!"


    He looked at the introduction on the material, learning the opponent''s name for the first time.


    Not only did it contain an introduction to Behemoth, but there was also a topographic exploration map of the lighthouse, which was a pleasant surprise for Xu Yi.


    Since the fusion of the two worlds, the topography of Lighthouse Mountain had undergone significant changes.


    With this exploration map, the Ring of Destruction might be a bit more relaxed when dealing with Behemoth.


    But it was different for him. With this exploration map, he would be able to locate the spatial node where the spirit of the True God resided more easily.


    The people of the Ring of Destruction would never expect that beneath Lighthouse Mountain lay a Different Space. If it hadn''t been for the Black Void Gate taking him there once, he would never have guessed it.


    This secret was something Xu Yi would absolutely never reveal. Forget the Ring of Destruction, even those exorcists with titles like Hekaseth would go crazy for it.


    "This exploration map came at quite a cost, claiming the lives of over a dozen people from the Ring of Destruction."


    West keenly perceived Xu Yi''s gaze and spoke up, elevating the value of the "gift."


    Seeing Xu Yi''s eyes flicker, West didn''t skimp on sharing more information. "This foggy world is called ''Shamore,'' accidentally connected to by a military during an experiment called the ''Arrow Project''."


    "When does the Ring of Destruction plan to make a move on Behemoth?" Xu Yi suddenly changed his tone, asking the question he was most concerned about. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    "Three days from now, at noon."


    West didn''t hide anything as he spoke softly, "I''ll leave you with one more piece of news. The people from the Ring of Destruction have been watching you using ''Roy''s Ancient Lamp.''"


    Roy''s Ancient Lamp was a rare Magic Artifact that could determine his location by locking onto his aura.


    Xu Yi had expected this. Ever since the negotiation with the host of the Source of Sin, his frequent interference had practically invited precautions.


    "Before the Ring of Destruction makes a move on Behemoth, we will come over once again, hoping to drink some warm coffee at that time."


    After West spoke, both his head and Tomie Kawakami''s body began to melt, like wax in high temperatures.


    Xu Yi looked at the pile of flesh on the floor, his brows tightly knit.


    With only three days left, he didn''t know if he could finish crafting "Gluttony."


    ...


    At one o''clock in the early morning two days later.


    Under the smelting of Melting Flame, the Yata Mirror slowly melted as Xu Yi stared intently at the flickering Array on its surface.


    This was his sixth attempt at the "Array Transfer" experiment.


    In other words, he had already used up five Resurrection Coins, with only 43 left.


    For the first time, Xu Yi felt the pain of spending "money" like water. At this rate, the few Resurrection Coins he had would not last long.


    The core structure of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent was too complex, and even with his ability to cheat, decoding the work wouldn''t be finished quickly.


    But no matter, he only needed to grasp the basic principles. After all, he wasn''t tasked with creating a new one from scratch.


    He slightly modified the core structure of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent and used it as a "Magic Array Solidifier" for the Holy Artifact. The effect was quite remarkable.


    The Yata Mirror''s surface had begun to melt, and the Array showed no signs of collapsing, prompting Xu Yi to clench his fists involuntarily.


    As the Yata Mirror melted halfway, the Array began to flicker unstably, and Xu Yi''s heart leapt to his throat.


    After a moment of flickering, the Array managed to hold together.


    His hands were covered in sweat.


    The Yata Mirror completely melted into a radiant golden metallic liquid, and the Array stabilized fully, no longer flickering.


    Thank you, Ring of Destruction! Thanks to the Eight-headed Sea Serpent brothers for the "Magic Array Solidifier"! Xu Yi wanted to shout with excitement.


    The most difficult step in forging the "Seven Deadly Sins" had, at last, been conquered.

 Chapter 324 lybs Favorite

    Xu Yi looked at the melted Yata Mirror, and without hesitation, he took out the "Gluttony" Sin Remains.


    The Gluttony Sin Remains were more robust than even mythical Holy Artifacts, and if melted by common means, it would require an exceedingly long time to liquefy.


    Luckily, as the master of the Sin Remains, Xu Yi could make the Sin Remains cooperate actively.


    He cut his own palm, letting his fresh blood drip onto the "Gluttony" Sin Remains, until they were completely enveloped by blood.


    The "Gluttony" Sin Remains fell into the golden flames, the Ghost Samurai poured more Divinity into the fire, and the Melting Flame began to heat up.


    Xu Yi then took out a series of materials¡ªfire gold, Variegated Iron, Venus coal¡­


    Each material was priceless in the Exorcist Realm, and even Xu Yi, as a titled exorcist, had spent a lot of effort to gather them.


    He threw these materials into the Melting Flame in proportion.


    These materials would help the Sin Remains and the Yata Mirror blend together better, while also imbuing them with more features.


    "I hope everything goes smoothly!"


    Xu Yi took a deep breath and took out the mold he had prepared in advance.


    The mold was made of "Steam Copper," a magical material that would gradually sublimate upon high heat, like water vapor.


    The metallic liquid formed by the melting of the Holy Artifact and Sin Remains would undoubtedly have an extreme temperature, making it hard to find materials that could withstand such heat.


    Therefore, he did the opposite and used Steam Copper as the mold.


    As long as the shape of the metallic liquid could be just slightly solidified, he could then use a hammer to continuously strike it into shape.


    The mold was in the shape of a dagger.


    Gluttony and Wrath Sin Remains still had no host, and Xu Yi didn''t plan to look for one anymore. He intended to keep them for his own use.


    Among cold weapons, he was most proficient with daggers and long knives, and he planned to prioritize forging these two weapons.


    Amid an anxious wait, all materials completely melted. By that time, the sky outside had already brightened slightly, and Xu Yi had gone through another all-nighter.


    The molten gold-colored metal fell into the mold, instantly turning the mold red-hot due to the astounding temperature.


    From the skylight, Xu Yi drew extremely cold well water, into which the mold was plunged for quenching. With a "hiss," a large amount of the well water evaporated, filling the room with mist.


    His heart thumped wildly, and even with his self-control, he couldn''t help but be excited. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He knew very well that with this step, success was now very close.


    After a large amount of water had evaporated, the temperature of the metal finally began to drop slightly. The Steam Copper had long since disappeared, fortunately having fulfilled its purpose.


    The Ghost Samurai waved a hand, and a golden shadow flew out of the well water, now bearing some resemblance to a dagger.


    The dagger was still incredibly hot at this point, but having turned into a semi-solid, Xu Yi could easily control it as the master of the Sin Remains.


    This would save him a lot of effort.


    "Next is the forging!"


    Xu Yi sat down cross-legged, his mind fully immersed in the Ghost Samurai. He couldn''t relax just yet and must continue the effort to forge the "Gluttony" into existence.


    The Ghost Samurai moved to the Forge Station, where the dagger automatically landed.


    This Forge Station from Atlantis was a Meteorite Iron from Beyond the Heavens that hadn''t been much processed. After flattening two sides, it was made into a Forge Station with an impressive durability.


    The Ghost Samurai beckoned, and the forging hammer fell into his hand.


    Divinity was channeled into the forging hammer, and it "came to life," with its massive blood-red pupils widening and emitting a thick black mist.


    The forging hammer slammed onto the "Gluttony" dagger with a crisp clanging sound, causing the Forge Station to rumble violently.


    Even semi-solid Gluttony could not be affected by a common forging hammer, only a legendary object like the forging hammer had the right to forge it.


    Xu Yi focused intently on hammering the dagger as the forging hammer''s black current repeatedly washed over Gluttony.


    His confidence in forging the Alchemical Weapon "Gluttony" in such a short time partly came from the forging hammer before him, which could accelerate the forging process.


    The sound of hammering was continuous. Were it not for the superior soundproofing of the Eight Monster House, the noise might be heard for several kilometers around.


    As time passed and the sun climbed higher, it remained gloomy for Boston, with thick fog obscuring the entire sky.


    During the forging, Xu Yi used two more Resurrection Coins¡ªnot due to failure, but because some details had not been handled well.


    Xu Yi''s perfectionism had kicked in; he strived for perfection, not settling for any flaws.


    Now, he was left with only 41 Resurrection Coins.


    "It''s time," Xu Yi stopped swinging the Qishe Hammer.


    The "Gluttony" dagger lay quietly on the forge station, dull and unassuming in appearance.


    This was the final product. For a weapon as sturdy as "Gluttony," any post-forging polish or honing was a joke.


    After cooling down, the toughness of "Gluttony" was beyond imagination; there was simply nothing around that could be used to grind it.


    Even sharpening was unnecessary.


    The edge had already been perfected during the forging, a function of the Qishe Hammer.


    Xu Yi brought over a barrel of Dragon Blood Warrior Potion, which he had managed to concoct while waiting for the materials to melt.


    Such a large barrel of Dragon Blood Elixir was worth a fortune.


    If it were put out in the open, it would surely cause a frenzy, but here, it was merely an "Activator."


    One final step remained before the "Gluttony" dagger could be deemed a success.


    As the dagger plunged into the Dragon Blood Elixir, the liquid instantly boiled but produced no mist; the dagger absorbed all of it.


    "Come to life!" Xu Yi''s fist clenched tightly, unable to conceal the excitement in his eyes.


    Suddenly, he heard a heartbeat, like the beating of drums, as loud as thunderous roars, causing the whole room to vibrate with the sound.


    After absorbing all of the Dragon Blood Elixir, the dagger shook violently, no longer dull; a luxurious dark golden glow bloomed.


    The "Gluttony" dagger was complete!


    Xu Yi couldn''t contain the joy within him and roared triumphantly.


    Once the first one had been successfully crafted, the subsequent forging of the "Seven Deadly Sins" would naturally follow.


    A terrifying fluctuation suddenly emanated from the dagger.


    "Not good!" Xu Yi''s expression changed slightly. He intended the "Seven Deadly Sins" as a secret weapon, and this disturbance, if spread, would reveal his hand.


    He immediately activated the Eight Monster House, locking the doors and windows in an instant.


    The Eight Monster House was fully sealed, but it was still not enough; the fluctuation was too strong. The Cat Spirit Holy Tree suddenly stretched out, its vines covering the "Gluttony" dagger, with the Demon-suppressing Domain taking effect.


    The "heartbeat" lasted for a whole minute before gradually ceasing.


    Xu Yi beckoned, and the "Gluttony" dagger flew into his hand. He examined it closely, overwhelmed with delight.


    Before forging the dagger, he had no expectations for its aesthetic appeal.


    It was cast in one piece, with no post-forging polishing or engraving, merely an "Iron Lump."


    Its main appeal was its plain and unadorned functionality.


    Yet the finished product took his breath away.


    The shape of the dagger might be described as majestic or rudimentary, as it couldn''t be finely carved due to the mold''s simplistic design.


    The crowning touch was the pattern on the dagger.


    The entire dagger was covered in patterns, resembling flowing water or some kind of profound script, looking exceptionally dazzling.


    Xu Yi understood that these patterns were manifestations of the Yata Mirror''s flowing Array.


    The more he looked at the "Gluttony" dagger, the more he adored it, unable to put it down.


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    But soon, the dagger "dimmed" again, returning to its pitch-black "fire-stick" appearance.


    As Xu Yi infused power into it, the dull dagger once again radiated light, reverting to its original form.


    "It even has this feature!"


    Xu Yi hadn''t expected such a pleasant surprise; the "Gluttony" dagger had two states, "Activated State" and "Normal State."


    In its Activated State, the dagger was dark gold with dazzling flowing patterns.


    In its Normal State, it was dull, looking like a failed product. In this state, it had a benefit.


    That was the complete containment of its aura. Not only other people wouldn''t be able to sense the strong aura of the dagger, but even the Source of Sin couldn''t detect the aura of Sin Remains on it.


    "This is just the kind of thing lyb would love!" Xu Yi joyfully stashed the dagger away.


    He glanced at the time; there was about one day left before the Ring of Destruction would launch an attack. He decided to push the limits and forge another Alchemical Weapon.

 Chapter 325 Tang Sword

    Xu Yi took out the "Tears of Heaven" Ernis, preparing to use it for the alchemy of the weapon "Wrath".


    Among the Holy Artifacts he had acquired, the legendary Tears of Heaven definitely ranked in the top three.


    For this Holy Artifact involved a very rare Ability: the power of space.


    It was not only capable of sensing space but also able to tear it to some extent.


    To obtain the spirit of the True God, having only a "Storage Container" was far from enough, one also needed to find "the Key to open the door".


    And the power of the Tears of Heaven was that very Key.


    As Xu Yi prepared the materials to forge "Wrath", the door was once again gently knocked.


    "Boss, that ''old friend'' of yours is here to see you again!" Ailent''s voice came from outside the door.


    Xu Yi was somewhat surprised; he had thought the other party would wait until the evening to come over, not expecting them to show up in the middle of the day.


    The villa''s waiting lounge.


    "Still no coffee prepared, I see?"


    West let out a long sigh, his tone could not hide his disappointment.


    His desire for coffee was not to test Xu Yi; he was the type of person who would get uncomfortable if he didn''t drink coffee every few hours.


    Xu Yi disregarded West''s complaint; he never considered the two of them friends, they couldn''t even count as guests, so naturally, he wouldn''t prepare coffee.


    If he hadn''t been concerned about attracting the attention of the Ring of Destruction, he wouldn''t have let them in at all.


    Whether it was West or Harada Mieko, in essence, they were no different from the people of the Ring of Destruction¡ªall madmen.


    "Speak! What is your purpose for coming this time?" Xu Yi was direct and got straight to the point without any pretense.


    "I wonder, Mr. Xu Yi, have you brought the Pride Sin Remains?" West inquired. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi directly took out the "Pride" Sin Remains and tossed them to West. In this situation, he wasn''t worried about the other party trying to cheat.


    But what happened next made Xu Yi''s eyes widen in surprise.


    West gripped the "Pride" Sin Remains and without a word, pierced his own heart with them.


    What was even more shocking was that the "Pride" Sin Remains began to vibrate, activating on their own, devouring Origin.


    With a pale face, West pulled out the Pride Sin Remains and threw them back to Xu Yi.


    When Xu Yi caught the Pride Sin Remains, his face was still a bit stunned.


    What in the world was going on? West had willingly allowed the Sin Remains to devour part of his Origin!


    The situation he had pondered over for so long, had been so easily achieved.


    Could it be that the West before him was not a ''silicone doll'' but the actual person?


    Suddenly, Xu Yi thought of a question, staring intensely at West, his eyes gleaming.


    "There''s no need to ponder; this is all the Origin this body has, and besides, this Origin should be sufficient for you to activate the Sin Remains," West said.


    A chill went through Xu Yi''s heart; the other party had guessed he needed Origin to activate the Sin Remains!


    Dealing with someone as intelligent as this was troublesome because you never knew when the other party might see through you.


    He didn''t proceed with any action, not because he trusted West, but because he knew that someone with West''s intellect would never leave such a significant oversight.


    "What on earth do you want to do?" Xu Yi asked with a frown, now having difficulty grasping West''s intentions.


    "No need to be nervous, I just wanted to show you a bit of my sincerity," said West with a smile on his face, "My request is actually quite simple. I want a tiny bit of the ''Lust'' and ''Pride'' Sin Remains, not much, just a little is enough."


    West immediately explained, "Many people might think that the relationship between Sin Remains and Origin is a zero-sum game... But I believe they can cooperate, because they don''t need to completely devour each other in order to undergo a qualitative change."


    Xu Yi was once again shocked by West''s statement because very few people had ever considered this possibility; West''s way of thinking was truly extraordinary.


    He suddenly understood why the other party had done this, West was very clear, there was simply no foundation of trust between them.


    If he rashly asked him to hand over the Sin Remains shards, he would definitely refuse.


    Instead of going back and forth, why not just put the "ace in the hole" on the table?


    The effect was indeed outstanding, Xu Yi was a bit stunned by the blow and even began to ponder whether to give them a tiny piece of the Sin Remains.


    "If I''m not mistaken, you''re still missing the ''Wrath'' and ''Sloth'' Origins, aren''t you?"


    Although it was a question, West''s tone was filled with absolute certainty.


    "Let me also give you another piece of news, the host for the Wrath Origin has been found by the Ring of Destruction, and they are also in the city of Boston."


    Xu Yi was still processing this information when West immediately threw another ace in the hole. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    "I can tell you the location of the Wrath Origin. Not just the Wrath Origin..."


    West''s tone shifted, "Even the Sloth Origin, when we go to subdue Behemoth, I could create an opportunity for you."


    Xu Yi pondered for a long while, finding no reason to refuse, West was just too meticulous in his dealings.


    "If I get the chance, I will definitely kill you," Xu Yi said, fixing his gaze on West''s eyes, his expression dead serious.


    Such a person was too dangerous; despite his wariness of West, he was still persuaded by him.


    "To me, you are a friend. There are too many foolish people in this world, it''s rare to find one to my liking," West said with a sincere look in his eyes.


    What he said wasn''t just for show; it was his genuine inner thought.


    Of course, if he planned something that required killing Xu Yi, he would not hesitate to take action.


    Xu Yi took out the "Sin Remains Bracelet".


    Previously, to get his dad, Xu Changrong, to help search for the Source of Sin, he had taken a little bit from each Sin Remains to make the bracelet, never expecting that it would come in handy now.


    He took off the "Lust" and "Pride" Sin Remains from it and tossed them to West, who smiled slightly.


    West told Xu Yi the location of the Wrath Origin and discussed some details with him.


    "I hope we have more opportunities to cooperate!" West, adjusting his reflective glasses, smiled and bade Xu Yi goodbye.


    ...


    Inside Eight Monster House.


    Xu Yi gazed at the katana before him, his eyes nearly glued to it, completely unable to look away.


    The Alchemical Weapon "Wrath" was successfully forged!


    He glanced at the time; there were still 2 minutes left until noon.


    "Seven Deadly Sins," as weapons of the same lineage and origin, have one advantage: once the first is forged, the rest are like drawing gourds based on the first and become much simpler to create.


    That''s why he was able to forge "Wrath" in just a short day.


    But even so, new problems inevitably arose during the forging process, and for this, he spent a Resurrection Coin, leaving him with only 40 coins left.


    Among all cold weapons, Xu Yi had a particular fondness for long swords, and when thinking of forging one, he immediately thought of a katana, thus the style of "Wrath" was decided.


    His swordsmanship was also not weak.


    [Swordsmanship Master, Current Progress: 92/100]


    He had equipped this entry for a very long time, and even without deliberately grinding for it, with such a long time, the entry was about to be maxed out.


    "Wrath" has a blade length of 75cm and a hilt length of 27cm, the most standard dimensions for a katana. Its pattern is different from that of "Gluttony," displaying radiating pine needle patterns, looking exceptionally gorgeous.


    "Boss, Ed is here," said Ailent''s voice from the door.


    Just in time! Xu Yi''s eyes lit up, he quickly packed up his things and left the Forge Chamber.

 Chapter 326 The Bizarre Domain

    Notting Hill Villa.


    "Where did this cave man come from?" Ed was drinking tea in the villa''s living room when he suddenly saw a "beggar" walk in.


    "It''s me!" Xu Yi messed up his tangled hair, and dandruff flew about wildly.


    Not only had he not slept in several days, but he also hadn''t bathed, at most just washing his face. The place he stayed was the sweltering forge chamber, so his appearance was a bit shabby.


    He didn''t have time to clean himself up either, as he was about to head to Lighthouse Mountain. The campaign against the Behemoth by the Ring of Destruction was about to begin.


    "Did you bring the stuff?" Xu Yi asked eagerly.


    "I managed to borrow it from the church with great difficulty; don''t you dare break it," Ed instructed warily as he opened the box he was carrying.


    Inside the box lay two Magic Artifacts, one was a tattered black cloak and the other was a white painted wooden Faceless mask.


    "Well, I must say, that cloak suits you," Ed remarked as he picked up the tattered cloak and held it up against Xu Yi, expressing his admiration.


    "This is the Shadow Cloaking Cloak? It can restrain the Array of Roy''s Ancient Lamp?" Xu Yi gave Ed a look and took the cloak but did not immediately put it on.


    "Do you still not trust me to handle things?" Ed picked up the mask and handed it to Xu Yi, "This is the Imposter Mask, capable of disguising one''s aura, baffling Roy''s Ancient Lamp, but there''s a problem."


    "What problem?"


    "The Imposter Mask must be used by someone with a close bloodline to achieve its full effect," Ed explained.


    Close bloodline? Would it not suffice for my father to use it?


    Xu Yi thought instinctively, but he quickly realized something was amiss. With his ascension to demigodhood through blood fusion, his blood had become that of a demigod.


    If his father were to use it, how much effect would it even have?


    He was in a quandary, and with time running out, he simply didn''t have much left to consider his options.


    "Boss! Carlyle has woken up!" Ailent suddenly came to his side and whispered.


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up, feeling a bit of joy.


    Looking at the Imposter Mask in his hands, he suddenly had an idea.


    ......


    The incessant humming of wings was relentless, and the entire Lighthouse Mountain had become a haven for monsters, making Xu Yi''s infiltration particularly difficult.


    And that was with the Ring of Destruction drawing away the majority; otherwise, the monsters on Lighthouse Mountain would only be more numerous.


    Green worms bristling with barbs crawled before his eyes, Xu Yi lay prone in a muddy pit, his body blending with the shadows. However, he suddenly dared not move, his body trembling slightly,


    A massive shadow passed over his head, blocking out the sky''s light. Xu Yi eyed the enormous figure above with his peripheral vision. It was his first time seeing the Behemoth''s form.


    The creature had a head similar to a beetle but was covered in a multitude of white tentacles slowly waving.


    The Behemoth''s legs were extremely long, like towering columns, hexapod.


    Nests were constructed along its legs, with creatures like scorpions and flies entering and exiting.


    Xu Yi could not have imagined that such a powerful being as the Behemoth would be willing to enter into a peculiar symbiotic relationship with these flying creatures. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, the Behemoth let out a tremendous moan, like an elephant''s roar, yet filled with the dignity of a king.


    Corpses, jumpy as tides, swarmed from afar. The air was thick with a strong scent as Xu Yi observed these oddly shaped animated corpses, his brow furrowed.


    A few days ago, the jumpy corpses he had seen, though terrifying, at least resembled humans. The ones before him now could be described as "ghouls and monsters."


    Some had grown four arms on their backs, like spiders; some had sprouted eight legs, crawling like centipedes; others had turned into huge mounds of flesh seven or eight meters tall¡­


    "These jumpy corpses are evolving on their own!"


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed. West''s ability was even more bizarre and difficult to deal with than he had imagined.


    And, whether it was just his impression or not, he actually felt that West posed an even greater threat than the Ring of Destruction.


    Behemoth had obviously sensed the approaching danger, emitting a sound and summoning the monsters back to the city of Boston.


    The "dark cloud" rolled in from the horizon and had shrunk massively compared to before; it was clear that the Ring of Destruction''s plan had been a success.


    A purple barrier suddenly rose from the ground, forming a huge imprisoning light that encased most of Lighthouse Mountain.


    "What a grand gesture!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but exclaim.


    To prevent the horde of monsters from interfering with their plan, the Ring of Destruction had actually spared no expense in setting up an enormous Array around Lighthouse Mountain.


    Each second this purple barrier existed, it was like "funds" being burned away, draining a vast amount of energy from precious treasures.


    "What good people!" Xu Yi immediately followed with another exclamation.


    In his eyes, these monsters were all "Power Banks" for the Ghost Samurai, and he had worried that a large number of monsters would die in this punitive war.


    But now, with the Ring of Destruction separating the monsters, preserving them, if this wasn''t the act of good people, then what was?


    Of course, the Array''s ability to block off the monsters was also thanks to the massive culling over the past few days, coupled with a considerable number of monsters that hadn''t managed to return in time.


    As the four great Alchemical Machineries appeared, the battle to subdue Behemoth fully erupted, with the terrifying aftermath of the fight sweep through like a hurricane.


    The entire area was filled with flying sand and rocks, and Xu Yi''s eyes lit up. If not now, when?


    He crawled rapidly within the Worm Pit, not caring about the filth and vermin droppings in the tunnels; he was already dirty enough and didn''t mind getting a bit dirtier.


    The tomb-like Lighthouse Mountain was right in front of him. Xu Yi attached a Nest of the Evil God onto a black stele, ensured a good line of sight, and then charged toward Lighthouse Mountain, engulfed in thick fog.


    Lighthouse Mountain was beautifully scenic, a place he had visited several times, mainly to take walks with Lisa.


    Lilac petals fell from the top of Lighthouse Mountain as Xu Yi and Lisa walked side by side on the grass-lined cobblestone path, with Lisa''s white dress bouncing up and down. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    He suddenly missed that period very much. He had been so busy recently that there were few opportunities to go out and enjoy nature with Lisa and the others.


    Lighthouse Mountain had changed dramatically at this moment; it was covered with many honeycomb-like formations, barely recognisable from before.


    Whenever Xu Yi came to a scenic spot, he paused for a moment, with the pleasant images from his memories flashing through his mind.


    "I wonder how Lisa is doing?" Xu Yi suddenly missed Lisa very much.


    Where others might have reminiscences triggered by objects, he didn''t need to; he had left a Nest of the Evil God inside Lisa, so he switched to her perspective.


    He saw Lisa lying quietly in bed, her aura growing stronger, with a genuine smile on her face.


    But in the next instant, he broke out into a cold sweat.


    Something wasn''t right¡ªvery wrong!


    The moment he switched to Lisa''s perspective, he finally noticed the anomaly.


    There was no doubt he liked Lisa and missed the good times they shared.


    But it was hardly the time to indulge in such nostalgia during the critical moment of seeking the True God''s spirit.


    His gaze returned to the lighthouse.


    That feeling of melancholy had vanished at this point, and as he looked at Lighthouse Mountain''s attractions, they no longer held that same charm¡ªit was like looking at a devil''s lair.


    He switched his perspective again, surveying the battlefield where the Ring of Destruction battled Behemoth.


    Whether it was the four great Alchemical Machineries or the seething undead on the ground, all seemed to be lackadaisical in their efforts. Yet those engaged in the battle, whether human or monster, were incredibly immersed, as if they were acting fervently.


    It all looked exceedingly strange.


    "It''s the Domain! It''s the power of the Domain!"


    Xu Yi suddenly realized that Behemoth had unleashed a special Domain, and anyone within it would succumb to its influence unconsciously.


    If he hadn''t been able to use the Nest of the Evil God to shift views and see Lisa, he might have been immersed in those emotions, walking around the lighthouse as if he were there for a leisurely outing.


    The Domain was a prerogative of the True Gods; he never imagined that Behemoth would possess such power!

 Chapter 327 Almost Cried to Death!

    Xu Yi, after all, was at the edge of the Behemoth Domain, found it easier to free himself. After shaking off his "idle" status, he immediately entered the interior of Stone Mountain.


    The complexity within Stone Mountain, termed "Hive", even surpassed Xu Yi''s expectations, rivaling a vertical labyrinth.


    But thanks to West''s provided prospecting map, he had roughly pinpointed the location of the True God''s spirit. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi took out the "Gluttony" dagger and used the usual technique for dealing with labyrinths.


    Between two points, the straight line is the shortest.


    Even without activation, the "Gluttony" dagger could match any Divine weapon,


    Although there is the word "stone" in the name of Beehive Stone Mountain, it is totally different from natural stone, even tougher than Auric Copper.


    But in front of the sinister blade of "Gluttony", it was only a matter of exerting a bit more effort.


    As the dagger penetrated the mountain wall, he discovered it was actually hollow. The sound of cutting echoed in the empty crevice like a blown panpipes, spreading far and wide.


    Xu Yi immediately stopped his actions, as he suddenly had a bad premonition.


    The premonition quickly became reality as rustling sounds came from all directions, a swarm of "Drill Worms" surged towards him, their front ends split into three heads, each with a sharp drill. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Yi sighed, sheathed the dagger, drew out the "Wrath" katana, and charged towards the army of worms.


    This was his first time using the "Wrath" katana and its usefulness even exceeded his expectations.


    The Drill Worms crumbled in the face of the katana, and Xu Yi felt the pleasure of cutting vegetables with ease, like a caveman who had been using a stone knife but suddenly switched to modern metal cutlery.


    And this was without even activating "Wrath".


    "I should have forged the Seven Deadly Sins sooner!"


    Having used it just once, Xu Yi felt he could never let it go again.


    In the cave, bodies of insects piled up like mountains. Xu Yi had dealt with the incoming Drill Worms, but his brows were furrowed tight.


    Because he knew that what he had faced was just a small part of the swarm, and if he continued cutting the mountain wall, there would definitely be even more Drill Worms coming.


    These bugs didn''t pose a big threat to him, but they would severely impede his search for the True God''s spirit.


    "Can it really only be by groping blind within the caves?"


    Xu Yi switched his perspective to the Nest of the Evil God, and the situation of the Ring of Destruction was not good. As an onlooker, he could clearly feel that the Alchemical Machinery was becoming more and more powerless.


    He thought of the boiling frog in warm water; by the time the people of Ring of Destruction realized something was amiss, it would likely be too late.


    The people of Ring of Destruction were probably going to take a huge tumble here!


    Thus, the time left for him was running short. Without the Ring of Destruction to draw fire away, coming alone to find the spirit of the True God was far too dangerous.


    Xu Yi walked into a passage, advanced more than ten meters, then suddenly turned back, rummaging through the heap of insect corpses.


    He found some pale gold gel within the bodies of the Drill Worms, which, when pinched, felt somewhat like QQ candy.


    In his mind, he recalled the information about Behemoth.


    Behemoth had little interest in humans, neither consuming people nor the monsters of the misty world, appearing to be a vegetarian.


    Yet the original misty world had no plants, so what exactly did Behemoth eat?


    Such a terrifying being couldn''t possibly survive on thin air!


    The pale gold gel in front of him might be the answer.


    Without a doubt, this gel all came from deep within the cave, but everything has a cause, the gel couldn''t just appear out of nowhere.


    Xu Yi once again sliced through the mountain wall. This time his goal wasn''t to create a direct pathway. After Drill Worms swarmed over and he handled most of them, he purposely left a few behind.


    "I hope these Drill Worms are not a collective intelligence."


    The so-called "collective intelligence" is when all the worms are controlled by the queen, forming a single entity without independent thoughts.


    He made a small cut on the body of a worm, inserted the Nest of the Evil God, and after it penetrated every part of the Drill Worm''s body, he used the Hypnosis ability.


    Xu Yi rarely used this ability because it only worked on creatures that were weak and had simple minds, like the Deformed People he encountered before.


    If these Drill Worms were a collective intelligence, the Nest of the Evil God''s hypnosis would be useless.


    "Go! Go find Behemoth''s food!" Xu Yi commanded through the Nest of the Evil God.


    The Drill Worm began to wriggle, burrowing towards the depths, and Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, quickly following behind.


    The deeper he went, the more certain he became that his conjecture was correct, for he was getting closer and closer to the dwelling place of the True God''s spirit.


    He didn''t know how much time had passed when Xu Yi suddenly stopped and could hardly wait to pull out the "Anger" katana.


    Before him was a vast "Mine Cave," where one could occasionally see golden gel on the walls; countless Drill Worms were busy collecting these gels.


    The routes within the cave were indeed complex, but the Drill Worms, as diligent "workers," couldn''t possibly forget the "work site."


    Xu Yi activated "Anger"; the dark gold blade slightly illuminated the dark Mine Cave. The katana trembled, emitting a pleasant light ringing that echoed through the expansive space, with all the sounds converging at one point.


    That was the node into the Different Space.


    Xu Yi was overjoyed, as his guess turned out to be right.


    The golden gel couldn''t be produced out of nowhere; it was the result of the underground rocks being mutated by the influence of the True God''s spirit.


    In other words, the places where the gel was denser were closer to the source of the True God.


    Xu Yi burned the blood in his body, and a platinum-colored current continuously flowed into the katana, making the patterns on it burst forth with dazzling light.


    This was the first time he had used the "Spatial Rupture" Ability granted to the katana by the Holy Artifact Tears of Heaven.


    With a forceful swing of his sword, a black line shot through the air, slashing onto the node of the Different Space.


    Xu Yi heard a sound akin to the shattering of glass, as numerous black lines spread out like centipedes from the node.


    The space was torn apart, and through the cracks, Xu Yi saw a purple "ocean" beyond.


    "Found it!" exclaimed Xu Yi, eyes gleaming with surprise and delight.


    But the next second, a chill rose suddenly up his spine, goosebumps pricking up; he felt a gaze, a commanding presence that seemed to crush him.


    Without a doubt, in such a place, that gaze could only belong to the Behemoth!


    Not only were the creatures in the mist symbiotic with the Behemoth, but the Behemoth and the spirit of the True God were also in a symbiotic relationship.


    If the Behemoth lost the spirit of the True God, it would likely weaken swiftly, or even die outright.


    Now that someone had found the spirit of the True God, how could the Behemoth not be anxious?


    Xu Yi switched his view to the Behemoth, which was fighting with the Ring of Destruction, as it suddenly turned and took massive strides towards Lighthouse Mountain.


    Compared to hunting down these invaders, it was clearly more important to clear out the rodents from the rice barrel!


    Sweat beaded on Xu Yi''s forehead as he began to hesitate. If he entered the Different Space now, he would definitely be caught red-handed by the Behemoth, and he feared there would be no escape.


    He was already prepared to retreat. Although the spirit of the True God was indeed tempting, he didn''t want to stubbornly press on with something that was guaranteed to fail.


    He didn''t want to waste a Resurrection Coin for no reason.


    But just then, the four great Alchemical Machinery suddenly erupted with terrifying fluctuations, because the Behemoth''s sudden departure caused the "Warm Water Boiling a Frog Domain" to exhibit a slight oversight.


    The members of the Ring of Destruction were the elite of the elite, and the reason they were caught was that the Behemoth''s Domain was too bizarre and too stealthy.


    But as the oversights appeared, they instantly realized what was happening.


    "Stop him! His Domain is about to collapse, he''s trying to escape!" the Lizard Dragon roared.


    Under normal circumstances, this assumption would not be wrong.


    The Behemoth had been dominating all along; it could theoretically continue to suppress them with its Domain, so why would it suddenly leave now?


    Because the Domain was about to collapse, of course!


    The people from the Ring of Destruction seemed to see the hope for victory.


    The more eager the Behemoth was to leave, the more convinced the members of the Ring of Destruction became of their assumption and they desperately tried to stop it.


    They did not know that the spirit of the True God was hidden beneath Lighthouse Mountain, otherwise they would definitely have surmised this was the case.


    Xu Yi watched the Alchemical Machinery doggedly stopping the Behemoth, nearly moved to tears.


    What good people they were! What a grand fellowship! He was about to cry his heart out!


    Determined not to waste the hard-earned efforts of the Ring of Destruction, Xu Yi resolutely charged into the Different Space.


    With the Ring of Destruction holding it back, the Behemoth couldn''t return immediately, providing him with an operable window of opportunity.

 Chapter 328 On the Seventh Day After Death, Burn Two Sets of Paper Offerings

    Xu Yi rushed towards the Purple Sea, but in the next second, his body was repelled and sent flying, while his soul felt a pulling force.


    His complexion changed slightly, as the Purple Sea in front of him seemed to only allow entry to souls.


    His soul could be described as "feeble", and without the protection of the Body of Demigod, it would probably be very difficult to cross the Purple Sea.


    Moreover, he was more worried about another issue¡ªcould the "Gluttony" dagger enter the Purple Sea?


    If even the "Gluttony" dagger could not enter, then truly all would be lost.


    The dagger flew towards the Purple Sea but was stopped just outside of it.


    Xu Yi''s heart kept sinking, but just then, flowing water-like patterns emerged on the surface of the dagger, and it transformed into a stream, merging into the Purple Sea.


    Xu Yi quietly breathed a sigh of relief; luckily, the worst-case scenario had not occurred.


    He stared at the "Gluttony" dagger and suddenly thought of a solution. He charged towards the Purple Sea again, this time not resisting the pulling force, allowing the Purple Sea to extract his soul from its shell.


    A boundless chill surged over him, and Xu Yi felt like his soul was about to freeze solid.


    He still underestimated the Purple Sea; with such low temperatures, not to mention crossing the Purple Sea, he might not even manage to walk a few dozen metres before his soul would be annihilated.


    But the "Gluttony" dagger flew to Xu Yi''s side, and copious amounts of vapor emanated from the dark golden blade. The vapor wrapped around Xu Yi, and his soul was pulled into the dagger.


    Xu Yi exhaled comfortably, feeling as if he had moved from the cold outdoors of mid-winter to a room heated by a warm air system, dispelling the chill from his body. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The "Gluttony" dagger had inherited the Yata Mirror''s most core ability, which is the "Soul Seal".


    Since it could seal other souls, it could certainly seal his own soul, especially since he, as the owner of the dagger, could release the seal at any time.


    In this way, wouldn''t the sealing function essentially be a protective one?


    His body left outside suddenly started moving. This was Annabelle using her Ability of Evil Control to manipulate it, Annabelle, with his body, dodged the Drill Worms in the area.


    After shaking off these worms, it would return here.


    "We need to hurry!" Xu Yi took a deep breath and controlled the dagger to delve deeper into the Purple Sea.


    Even a Demigod Body''s soul can''t be separated from its body for too long, as the Grim Reaper''s attack was targeted at souls, not bodies.


    Besides, nobody could predict when Behemoth might return, so he had to hurry.


    The "Gluttony" dagger glided through the Purple Sea like a small boat; this wasn''t an actual sea, but a certain kind of special energy.


    The Purple Sea suddenly began to surge, coalescing into a huge purple figure¡ªthe projected image of Behemoth.


    Even hidden within the "Gluttony" dagger, he could still feel the terrifying aura emanating from that figure.


    He understood, this was the last line of defense set up by Behemoth!


    Behemoth''s projection stomped down, and the "Gluttony" dagger was immobile; it was restrained by a terrifying energy.


    Xu Yi''s face grew solemn because he realized he had no strategy left, he simply couldn''t surpass the obstruction of Behemoth''s projection.


    ...


    Outside Lighthouse Mountain.


    "He''s almost done for! Show some real skills!"


    Crow Man swung the Grim Reaper''s scythe, staunchly blocking in front of Behemoth, and he roared at the Silver Giant Ape beside him.


    The Silver Giant Ape glanced indifferently at Behemoth, keenly sensing that the latter''s movements had become sluggish, and its attacks careless.


    In such a high-intensity battle, the opponent definitely couldn''t afford to be distracted, which meant only one explanation.


    The opponent was on the brink of defeat!


    Actually, the reason why Behemoth became distracted was entirely because he was controlling the projection within the Purple Sea.


    The Silver Giant Ape suddenly leaped into the air, and the surface of its right arm opened sequentially, revealing the complex mechanical structures beneath. He fiddled with a small hourglass inside, reversing the hourglass, and the red sands inside cascaded swiftly.


    Two thin streams of red steam were expelled from the nostrils of the Silver Giant Ape. He clenched his fist and brought it down hard, and the surging red steam burst out from the crevices of his right arm.


    His fist detached like a missile and shot toward Behemoth below.


    The detached fist smashed into Behemoth''s head, which was impervious to both slashing and burning, and hammered it inward forcibly.


    But this was just the beginning. Seeing the Crow Man and other Alchemical Machinery withdrawing from Behemoth, one could tell this punch was not so simple.


    Connected to the detached fist was that small hourglass. At this moment, as the last of the red sand fell, surging Soul Fire burst forth, instantly enveloping Behemoth and forming a giant fireball.


    The fireball was like a furnace, continuously smelting Behemoth.


    A smile appeared on the face of the Silver Giant Ape. These flames damaged more than just the body; they were also Soul Fire, capable of burning the soul.


    ......


    Xu Yi tried to forcibly drive the "Gluttony" dagger, but it was in vain. Without the infusion of Holy Flame, the dagger simply couldn''t shake Behemoth''s projection.


    He was already thinking of retreating. The situation was exceedingly grim, and he even contemplated suicide to save on Resurrection Coins.


    Because it was close to exceeding the five-minute threshold¡ªif he delayed any longer, he feared he would have to use two Resurrection Coins at once.


    Just then, the projection of Behemoth suddenly vanished, like a burst bubble.


    What happened?


    Because the event was so sudden, Xu Yi was stupefied.


    But he quickly realized something must have gone wrong on the battlefield and hurriedly switched his view.


    At the base of Lighthouse Mountain, a crimson fireball stood at the center of the battlefield, as if the sun had risen from that very spot.


    "In the future, when burning paper offerings on the seventh day of death, remember to burn double for our comrade of the Ring of Destruction," Xu Yi couldn''t hide his elation.


    Just when he thought he was out of options, the "Ring of Destruction" struck a heavy blow, causing Behemoth to suffer severe damage and forcing the projection to interrupt.


    Of course, he wouldn''t let such an opportunity slip away. He exerted his full power to drive the "Gluttony" dagger, which sped through the Purple Sea.


    With a slight "pop," Xu Yi felt like he had broken free from a sticky gel, and the "Gluttony" dagger passed through the Purple Sea, arriving at the center of the space.


    "Finally found you!" Xu Yi gazed forward with concentration.


    Radiant golden lines flowed in the black void, mesmerizing and daunting, and the terrifying pressure of True God''s spirit crushed down like a collapsing sky. The "Gluttony" dagger shook continuously.


    Although it was just a remnant of True God''s spirit, only in facing it directly could one comprehend its terror.


    He had been too na?ve before. Even if the "Gluttony" dagger inherited the power of the Yata Mirror, could it really seal such a fearsome spirit of a True God?


    However, the Magic Curse "Since You''re Here" began to take effect, and Xu Yi decided to give it a try no matter what it took.


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    He drove the "Gluttony" dagger, and a vast amount of mist spread, forming a huge "Fog Tornado," and a strong suction force swept across the area.


    An embarrassing scene unfolded ¨C the golden lines remained unaffected, as if what they faced was not a tornado but merely a gentle breeze brushing past.


    Xu Yi''s face darkened, unhappy with the dismal results. He had known the quest to seal would not be smooth, but for the effect to be so weak was a bit too much blow to his pride.


    Stuck, Xu Yi fretted as if he were an ant on a hot pan.


    At the other end of the battlefield, Behemoth was utterly enraged. A thunderous roar emanated from the center of the fireball, changing the expressions of those present; they collectively felt a palpitation.


    They couldn''t understand. Shouldn''t Behemoth have been very weak by now? Why did it seem only to grow stronger?


    The fireball encasing Behemoth exploded violently, and thick white vapor emanated from its body. Its pupils were pitch-dark as ink, coldly scanning the Alchemical Machinery around it.

 Chapter 329 Teasing the

    The situation on the battlefield was precarious, and if the Ring of Destruction hadn''t been affected by that bizarre Domain, they might have had the strength to fight.


    But now, their power was merely half of what it had been at their peak.


    As Behemoth exerted its full strength, the Ring of Destruction could barely hold off the assault.


    The reason they persisted was that they believed Behemoth was in its "last throes," and if they could just weather the storm, victory would still be theirs.


    However, Xu Yi knew all too well that the miracle they hoped for would not come; this was far from Behemoth''s limit.


    The Ring of Destruction wouldn''t last much longer, and the time remaining for him was dwindling as well.


    He took a deep breath, forcibly calming himself down.


    He opened the system panel and browsed through his Abilities one by one. His Abilities were diverse, but he could ignore the lower-level ones, focusing mainly on the Red Entries.


    "Evil God Authority: The Ultimate Art of Stealing"¡ªthis Entry comprised five Abilities, but the ones most frequently used were the first three.


    "Soul Stealing Seed" had only been used once, to deal with the Evil God behind the Ram Cult.


    As for "Divine Transition," it hadn''t been triggered even once, but Xu Yi was well aware that as the Ultimate Ability of "The Ultimate Art of Stealing," Divine Transition was definitely not that simple.


    It had not been triggered simply because he hadn''t unlocked it correctly.


    But this was not the time to dwell on such matters; his gaze was fixed on the "Seed of the Evil God."


    This Ability targeted the soul, and the true spirit before him was also a soul... A light flickered in Xu Yi''s eyes as he had an inexplicable premonition that this Ability might just work miracles.


    A Soul Stealing Seed floated out from the dagger, drifting towards the golden strands in the void.


    The golden strands appeared not to notice the Soul Stealing Seed and continued to swim about on their own.


    "It''s working!" Xu Yi''s eyes lit up.


    Like a drifting dandelion, the Soul Stealing Seed successfully "took root" on a golden strand and settled like a spore.


    Xu Yi had no idea what the nature of the Soul Stealing Seed was, but he knew it was extremely inconspicuous.


    Even the great Evil God behind the Ram Cult had failed to detect the Soul Stealing Seed, allowing him to steal the rare "Genius of Mysticism" Entry.


    Xu Yi felt that he had gained a slight control over the golden strands. Although it was extremely weak, it was a good start.


    He continued to produce more Soul Stealing Seeds, and a large number of "dandelions" floated towards the golden strands, latching onto them.


    The tips of the golden strands were thick with Soul Stealing Seeds. Xu Yi stopped producing more, not because he didn''t want to, but because he couldn''t.


    Producing Soul Stealing Seeds consumed Soul Power, and although each one didn''t require much, their numbers quickly added up.


    His soul was already very weak, as if a person had lost a couple of kidneys.


    An already not so robust soul was now in even more dire straits; if he couldn''t collect the True God''s spirit, it would be a terrible loss.


    "Last try!" Xu Yi took a deep breath and once again activated the Soul Seal Ability of the "Gluttony" dagger.


    A surging "Water Mist Scroll" reappeared, and at the same time, Xu Yi released all the Soul Stealing Seeds.


    The Soul Stealing Seeds instantly sprouted an abundance of "black roots," finer even than the golden strands, growing within the True God''s spirit, attempting to take control.


    Under the dual effects of the "Gluttony" dagger and the Soul Stealing Seeds, they finally had an impact; the golden strand thick with Soul Stealing Seeds was swept into the Water Mist Scroll. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    The golden strand slowly "floated" towards the dagger, and Xu Yi stamped his feet in urgency, nearly wishing he could pull it forward himself.


    At the same time, he switched his viewpoint to observe the battle raging outside.


    After just one glance, his heart leapt violently.


    The four great alchemical machinery lay scattered around the battlefield, emitting plumes of steam. Though not completely destroyed, they had little fighting power left.


    Behemoth claimed the final victory; it took long strides toward Lighthouse Mountain. Within five or six steps, it had reached the Stone Mountain where Xu Yi stood.


    "Faster! Even faster!" Xu Yi prayed anxiously.


    Perhaps his prayers took effect; the segment of golden thread was finally swallowed by the dagger. The thread burst into an unfamiliar environment, struggling, but it was too late.


    This seal space is typically "brittle on the outside but steel on the inside." After the Source of Sin was sealed, it could only rely on external forces for rescue.


    Now that it had become a sturdy "Sin Remains body," breaking through the seal had gotten even more difficult.


    But Xu Yi celebrated too soon.


    The end of the thread littered with Soul Stealing Seeds was pulled into the seal space, but the rest of the thread remained unaltered, like an old monk in meditation, utterly unmovable.


    The entire Stone Mountain shuddered thunderously as Behemoth stomped down, splitting the solid and massive mountain in two.


    "This is bad!" Xu Yi''s face turned stark pale.


    But suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind, the epitome of a desperate wit borne of Behemoth''s immense pressure; otherwise, he probably couldn''t have thought of it on his own.


    He lightly touched his forehead, and a black fruit flew out from between his brows, the matured Fruit of Faith.


    Since the New York Ratma incident, the Cat Spirit Bastet had been able to draw very little piety each day, but the accumulated faith had still congealed into a mature Fruit of Faith.


    The Fruit of Faith had no physical form. For convenience, he had stored the fruit within his soul.


    "What does a True God desire most?"


    The answer was obvious ¨C faith.


    The segment of golden thread pulled into the seal space instantly became violent, like a manic-depressive mental patient erupting into an episode, madly lunging towards the Fruit of Faith as if a venomous snake striking at its prey.


    Unfortunately, even though the golden thread shot out straight, there was still a distance between it and Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi felt as though he was teasing a chained savage dog with a delicious sausage, tempting fate at the edge of danger.


    The golden thread suddenly stretched forward, driven by its longing for faith, and it erupted with great strength, pulling the external thread into the seal space by force.


    The threads not attached to the Soul Stealing Seeds, upon sensing the scent of faith, acted even more frantically, as if demons had passed the gates of Hell to arrive in a world abundant with blood and flesh.


    The spiritual essence of the True God, dormant for untold years, perhaps even hungrier than famished ghosts, struggled towards the Fruit of Faith.


    This was like a domino effect; once the first is toppled, the rest follow due to the chain reaction, gradually collapsing.


    It appeared as if the essence of the True God was entangled by innumerable lines, but in reality, it was only because it was too long¡ªthere was only one line.


    As more of the thread entered the seal space, Xu Yi was terrified. He was engulfed by lines all around.


    If this weren''t the domain of the Taotie dagger, he would probably have been devoured alive by the furious spiritual essence of the True God. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Should I just throw them the Fruit of Faith to eat?"


    No sooner did this thought arise in his mind than Xu Yi shuddered.


    He had a premonition that if the spiritual essence of the True God consumed the Fruit of Faith in his possession, something terrible would happen.


    Behemoth stomped down on Stone Mountain again. The immense mountain shattered with a thunderous crash, and Behemoth''s body emitted a thick white vapor flow, flattening the superficial layer of the mountain in an instant.


    At that moment, all of the essence of the True God entered the seal space. Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stowed away the Fruit of Faith.


    But his heart was suspended once more, because he faced an even more dire issue next.


    How to escape from the clutches of Behemoth?

 Chapter 330 Still the Ring of Destruction

    Xu Yi controlled the "Gluttony" dagger to return at high speed, the purple sea visibly thinning before his eyes.


    The Purple Sea, which relied on the spirit of the True God, was now essentially being "stolen", so naturally, it would disappear swiftly.


    A roar came from within the Purple Sea, and Xu Yi subconsciously kept his distance from the sound, which was the cry of the Behemoth''s projection.


    Few meters after flying away, he suddenly turned back.


    The voice contained anger, but also conveyed a sense of pain.


    If he went straight out now, he would definitely be directly blocked by the Behemoth''s true body.


    Therefore, he must come up with some special method.


    The waves of the Purple Sea churned, and the significantly downsized Behemoth writhed and roared in pain within it, that was the Soul Split of the Behemoth.


    This space was isolated from the outside, and the projection of the Behemoth could show up promptly to obstruct because its Soul Split was here.


    Even a True God needed a medium to cast an ethereal shadow.


    The Soul Split had been here for an untold number of years, already fully merged with the Purple Sea; now, as the Purple Sea dissipated, the Soul Split was like a fish out of water, and if not promptly retrieved, would soon "thirst to death".


    Of course, the chances of this happening were very low because the main body of the Soul Split was outside, and under normal circumstances, it could be recovered promptly.


    Xu Yi gazed at the Soul Split, his brain rapidly processing.


    If the Soul Split dissipated, the main body would definitely suffer a backlash, and as long as there were problems with the Behemoth, his chances of escaping would increase.


    "Maybe the Ring of Destruction can still bring him an unexpected surprise?"


    Now whenever Xu Yi thought of the Ring of Destruction, he would inexplicably harbor great expectations, not knowing from where such an absurd thought originated.


    Even if the Soul Split is a "fish out of water", it was a fierce Sand Tiger Fish, and getting rid of it was not easy.


    But Xu Yi knew where to find an even more ferocious predator.


    The "Gluttony" dagger neared the Behemoth''s Soul Split, and even though it was already in great pain, the moment it detected the intruder, it instinctively lunged forward.


    Xu Yi was not the least bit panicked, he unsealed a very small part of the Divine Spirit, and a light mist emanated from the "Gluttony" dagger, a golden thread extending from within the mist.


    The moment the golden thread gained freedom, it flailed wildly, like a frenzy unleashed hound, eager to tear apart all living creatures nearby.


    The Divine Spirit was like a venomous snake entering hibernation, which if left to slumber, would not feel hunger.


    But now, someone not only woke it but was also tempting it with delicious food right before its eyes, and the most hateful part was that it could see but not eat.


    In such a situation, it was hard for the Divine Spirit not to rage.


    Just then, the Behemoth''s Soul Split appeared before it, even launching an attack, how could it bear this?


    The golden thread thrashed wildly, like a venomous snake biting, and like a slicing blade, cutting the Soul Split into pieces. In just a moment, the Soul Split met annihilation amidst a sorrowful whimper.


    Xu Yi promptly took out the Fruit of Faith; the rampaging golden thread, smelling the Fruit of Faith, needed no extra effort from Xu Yi as it automatically burrowed into the sealing space.


    ...


    On Lighthouse Mountain.


    The instant the Soul Split was annihilated, Behemoth let out a pained whimper, its massive body slowly falling to the ground, causing the land to tremble with a thunderous vibration.


    Xu Yi himself did not expect that destroying the Soul Split would have such a remarkable effect.


    The Soul Split was even more important to Behemoth than imagined.


    The Crow Man Augustus had already fallen into despair. The terror of the Behemoth exceeded expectations, especially that eerie Domain at the beginning that kept diminishing their strength.


    By the time they realized, it was already too late.


    But seeing the suddenly suffering Behemoth collapse to the ground, a thought flashed through his heart.


    Perhaps this time the Behemoth was truly at the end of its rope.


    The colossal resources spent on the Ring of Destruction had resulted in a disastrous defeat, much like the sunk cost of a gambler, reluctant to accept such a devastating loss.


    Next time! Perhaps next time they could turn the tables.


    The gambler''s mentality of the Crow Man Augustus was completely ignited.


    His heart hardened, and he made a decision.


    The machinery on the surface of his chest parted, gears whirring rapidly to reveal a black droplet wrapped by three golden rings at the center.


    This was the "Tears of the Reaper," the essence extracted from the bones of the Grim Reaper, his trump card. His Tears of the Reaper were now few and far between.


    The "Light Sphere" encasing the Tears of the Reaper rolled out, and Augustus caught it in one swift motion, stuffing it into the Crow Man''s mouth.


    The next second, the Crow Man''s head fell off, carrying the Tears of the Reaper and flying towards the Behemoth.


    ...


    Xu Yi hurriedly left the Different Space.


    The Dissolving Cave had already collapsed, with heavy boulders crashing down and the constant sound of rocks being crushed above, signaling the suffering Behemoth rolling in agony amidst the rubble.


    Annabelle carried Xu Yi''s body, darting out of a narrow cave formed by the collapse, Xu Yi''s body unscathed.


    The soul inside Annabelle, after this long period of learning, had acquired a not-so-weak intelligence.


    "Fantastic!" Xu Yi exclaimed, quickly returning to his own body.


    He shivered violently, since the Soul Stealing Seed had already left his soul weak, and now the "rigor mortis" of the body multiplied the feeling of weakness countless times.


    He had never felt so frail before.


    "It seems I need to find a way to strengthen my soul as soon as possible!"


    If he continued to ignore the weakness of the soul, at some future point, he would definitely take a big fall because of it.


    "For now, I need to think of a way to get out of here first!"


    Xu Yi looked around, trying to find a safe passage when suddenly, a powerful qi locked onto him.


    Although the Behemoth was in excruciating pain, it did not hinder its search for Xu Yi, the thief.


    "Damn!" Xu Yi''s heart skipped a beat, and at the same time, he was a bit puzzled.


    How could the enemy lock onto his position so quickly? Keep in mind, he had not only sealed the Body of Demigod but also utilized the effects of the cloaking cloak; the enemy shouldn''t have been able to discover him so easily, right?


    His palm suddenly became incredibly hot, the heat coming from the "Gluttony" dagger, which was in its Activated State. Ordinarily, the dagger should be "biding its time."


    But at the moment, the dagger was flickering with scorching red light, and the temperature was still rising.


    "It''s the spirit of the True God sealed in the dagger!"


    He suddenly snapped out of it, the strength of the True God''s spirit was beyond his expectations; even sealed in the dagger, it was still able to wreak havoc.


    The aura of the True God''s spirit seeping from the dagger revealed his location.


    Realizing this, he immediately took out the Magic-Prohibiting Box and threw the dagger into it.


    The effect of the Magic-Prohibiting Box was very significant, the flashing red light on the dagger gradually subsided, and Xu Yi threw the Magic-Prohibiting Box back into his Toy Space.


    Although he had solved the issue with the "Gluttony" dagger, his heart continued to sink.


    Behemoth had locked onto his position, and quietly retreating was going to be very difficult.


    Once exposed, he would face not just the pursuit of the Behemoth but also the people from the Ring of Destruction who would definitely react. Caught in the crossfire from both sides, he had no hope of survival. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cold sweat slid down his forehead when suddenly, a terrifying fluctuation came from above. He had felt this fluctuation before, at Mount Fuji of Japan.


    The Crow Man had made a move, and it was a major one!


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    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up instantly, because the target of the Annihilation Barrier was not him, but the Behemoth above his head.


    When the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up first!


    He switched to the Nest of the Evil God''s perspective outside, a huge black Light Sphere crushing down on the back of the Behemoth, a scene reminiscent of Sisyphus crushed under a boulder in mythology.


    It''s still the brothers from the Ring of Destruction after all!


    Xu Yi mentally gave the Crow Man a huge thumbs-up.

 Chapter 331 Bye-bye!

    The Behemoth issued an angry roar, urgently wanting to capture the thief. The thief wasn''t a petty burglar; they were an unparalleled great thief who had stolen its most precious treasure.


    But it was powerless to do so, as it had to contend with the Annihilation Realm and could only watch as Xu Yi''s scent drifted further away.


    The scent of the Divine Spirit vanished, and if Xu Yi were to escape its sensory range, it would likely be difficult to find him again.


    Clutching the katana named "Rage", Xu Yi slashed through the obstructing solid rock in front of him.


    His brothers from the Ring of Destruction had created such a great opportunity for him, and he certainly could not afford to waste it.


    With the map of Lighthouse Mountain in his mind, he had already planned an escape route for himself. After about half a minute of rushing, he fiercely cut through the thick wall in front of him.


    The mountain rocks collapsed, and the sound of flowing water came from behind the hole.


    Although Lighthouse Mountain had undergone massive changes, it still retained some of its previous constructions, and the sewer from the old Lighthouse Mountain lay just behind the hole.


    Xu Yi jumped into the sewer and then sprinted with all his might.


    While running, he took out a spray and doused his body vigorously.


    It was not because he couldn''t stand the foul stench of the sewer but to eliminate the scent from his body, the spray being some kind of Alchemical Potion.


    The path ahead suddenly ended, but he had already escaped to the outskirts of Lighthouse Mountain, and with the katana "Rage", he pierced through the cement slab above him.


    First, he carved a hole the size of a palm, letting Annabelle go out to scout for dangers, and after confirming it was safe, he carved a larger hole.


    The exit turned out to be right in the center of a bush, he flipped himself over, hiding in the shadows of the bush, looking back at Lighthouse Mountain.


    The "Black Iron Sphere" gradually dissipated; the Behemoth, unable to bear the burden, collapsed thunderously to the ground as if it was a toy crushed by a heavy object, with a huge crack appearing on its back.


    The crack continued to spread, reaching towards all corners of its body, and the terrifying presence of the Behemoth began to wane.


    "Did the Ring of Destruction actually manage to take down the Behemoth?"


    Xu Yi was a little surprised, but he also wondered whether the destruction of its Soul Split truly had such a tremendous impact on the Behemoth?


    Should he go back to seize an opportunity?


    He pondered this question because the chance to devour the Origin of Sloth was too precious to miss.


    "Forget it! Better be safe than sorry, especially since I''ve already obtained the most precious Divine Spirit."


    After thinking for a moment, Xu Yi abandoned the tempting idea, scanning the entire battlefield. The purple barrier was still standing tall, keeping a dense crowd of monsters at bay.


    His gaze swept over the throng of reanimated corpses on the battlefield, slightly startled.


    The remaining animated corpses were much more numerous than he had anticipated, looking as if they were cursed with "Sloth", too lazy to muster any effort.


    "Such terrible acting!" Xu Yi muttered to himself.


    But there was nothing to be done; although West was pulling the strings behind these animated corpses, making them perform complex commands was asking too much of them.


    Given West''s intelligence, he might have already noticed the peculiar Domain of the Behemoth, perhaps even before Xu Yi did.


    Xu Yi''s eyes landed on one of the animated corpses.


    It was a male corpse with bull horns on its head and a long scorpion tail extending from its back.


    Though its appearance was bizarre, it didn''t stand out amidst the host of demons and ghouls.


    Xu Yi felt the presence of "Pride", Sin Remains, on that animated corpse.


    Without a doubt, that was the Sin Remains pearl he had "gifted" West.


    Could this be West''s true body?


    He immediately shook his head, as it seemed highly unlikely, having guessed as to West''s Ability.


    West could transfer his thoughts and soul to other animated corpses at will, so killing him was extremely difficult.


    Ring of Destruction''s choice to collaborate with West rather than controlling him was definitely related to his abilities.


    Xu Yi had always had a question on his mind.


    What exactly did West want with that tiny piece of Sin Remains he so desperately sought from Xu Yi, and what kind of attribute could he gain by merging with Sin Remains?


    Xu Yi could still sense the Sin Remains, but attempting to control it had become exceedingly difficult, as West had placed some sort of taboo on it.


    Moreover, using that tiny piece of Sin Remains to devour West''s Origin of Pride was simply impossible.


    Perhaps West had foreseen this, which is why he only asked for a small piece of Sin Remains.


    The reanimated corpses suddenly became restless, surging towards the Behemoth whose breath was already weak. Cunning West prepared to desperately grab some attention.


    But for some reason, Xu Yi''s eyelids suddenly started twitching violently.


    The next second, the Behemoth''s massive body shattered like a broken mirror, its white skeletal remains turning to flying ash before even hitting the ground.


    The Alchemical Machinery was heading towards the Behemoth, but they stopped abruptly in their tracks.


    Although the Behemoth''s huge body had dissipated, there was a white flesh cocoon in the air, gently trembling.


    The flesh silkworm shuddered more and more violently until white, jade-like tentacles suddenly pierced through the cocoon, tearing it open violently, as the "White Jade Butterfly" emerged from its Breaking Cocoon stage.


    Although it had the shape of a butterfly, its head still resembled that of the original Behemoth, only shrunk countless times.


    Behind it were not wings, but writhing white tentacles, densely packed, with the only resemblance to a butterfly being its body.


    An even more frenzied aura erupted forth, causing everyone present to feel a stinging pain like that of needle pricks.


    "Phase Two Transformation!"


    The term suddenly flashed through Xu Yi''s mind, and he felt a bit relieved that he hadn''t approached earlier. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But his heart began to race; he didn''t know if the potion to erase his presence would work, and if the Behemoth still locked onto him, then that would be bad.


    The Ring of Destruction''s members all realized they had been wrong¡ªthe Behemoth was far from running on fumes. This was just what they had wishfully thought.


    The next second, the purple light shield shattered, and the Ring of Destruction voluntarily disabled the Array.


    Xu Yi had been waiting for this moment; he powered his way towards the outside, running frantically, while simultaneously turning his head to watch the Behemoth''s movements.


    His heart skipped a beat. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    The Behemoth was coming straight for him!


    This was it, he hadn''t been able to completely erase his presence after all.


    Xu Yi looked around the battlefield and suddenly had an idea.


    The Ring of Destruction''s Alchemical Machinery scattered in all directions, a natural choice since all four major pieces of machinery were seriously damaged. If they fled in the same direction, it would be easy to be wiped out all at once.


    The direction chosen by him and the Purple Sea Snake, coincidentally, was the same.


    He suddenly had a plan. He dived into Dark Stealth, constantly watching the Purple Sea Snake behind him; if the enemy turned left, he turned left, if the enemy fled to the right, he also moved to the right.


    The main idea was to keep the direction consistent.


    Karen inside the Purple Sea Snake felt that he was terribly unlucky, out of a one-in-four chance, it had to be his turn.


    The Behemoth was already close; there was no way he could escape the pursuit.


    Rather than being caught and brutally tormented, it was better to go all out¡ªat least that way he could probe the enemy''s strength.


    With his decision made, Karen turned around and charged directly towards the Phase Two Transformation Behemoth.


    He had never considered that the Behemoth''s target of pursuit was not him at all.


    Xu Yi had been waiting for this moment; he knew the Ring of Destruction''s members would not just sit and wait for death.


    "See you later!" Xu Yi leaped into a tributary of the Charles River.


    He had been considering what the Behemoth might have used to sense him. His breath had been sufficiently restrained, and he had the assistance of a shadow cloak and Dark Stealth.


    After thinking it through, the most likely explanation was scent.


    The state of filth on his body was, frankly, beyond words.


    Xu Yi moved stealthily underwater, allowing the swift currents to wash away the grime from his body. After travelling a distance, he surfaced by the riverbank and took out a bunch of potions to eliminate the scent from his body and sprayed them vigorously.


    He looked back in the direction of the Behemoth; the Purple Sea Snake was being torn apart like a child''s toy into separate pieces, falling from the sky.


    Xu Yi eyed the wreckage of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent with some envy.


    He knew there would definitely be Holy Artifacts among the remains, but in such a moment, even if he had the courage of a bear and a leopard, he wouldn''t dare go back to retrieve them.


    "What a pity, I''m still one Mythical Artifact short of forging the Seven Deadly Sins."


    Xu Yi felt deeply regretful.


    But what relieved him was that the Behemoth finally stopped coming straight at him like it had been doing before and instead stood midair, roaring furiously.


    He still didn''t dare to completely relax; he continued to move stealthily through the river for a distance, applying the potion several times before finally climbing onto the bank and running towards Notting Hill.

 Chapter 332 Knight of Destruction

    Xu Yi returned to Notting Hill, and could no longer restrain the joy in his heart, clenching his fist and shouting aloud.


    It truly was snatching food from the tiger''s mouth, he had brazenly stolen the spirit of the True God right from under the watch of Behemoth and the Ring of Destruction.


    There was no doubt that the spirit of the True God was the most precious thing in this fog-enshrouded world.


    "Xu Yi, you''re back!"


    Carlyle, wearing an Imposter Mask, flashed out and looked at Xu Yi with surprise.


    The Imposter Mask required a user with similar bloodlines to produce the best effect, so Xu Yi, struck by inspiration, had Carlyle drink his blood.


    Carlyle, inheriting the vampire''s Ability, was an expert in manipulating blood.


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    "Is there any movement over there?" Xu Yi asked.


    The people from the Ring of Destruction responsible for surveilling him were around Notting Hill; this was due to the nature of the Roy ancient lantern, which worked better the closer it was to the target.


    Xu Yi had stealthily found the surveillance person, but instead of alerting him, he conducted counter-surveillance.


    "All as usual, there''s no movement," Carlyle shook his head.


    Xu Yi sighed in relief, this way, in the eyes of the Ring of Destruction, he had never left Notting Hill.


    Even if the Ring of Destruction discovered something afterwards, they were unlikely to suspect him.


    The likelihood of the incident involving the spirit of the True God being leaked would thus be greatly reduced.


    "Boss! Someone from the Boston government is here!" Allen hurried over.


    Xu Yi nodded, he was not surprised by the arrival of someone from Boston. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If it were not for the Living Dead, followed by the Land of Fog, Boston would have sent someone long ago.


    He took off his Shadow-Cloaking Cloak, and also had Carlyle remove the Imposter Mask, because standing sufficiently close meant the Roy ancient lantern would not detect two Xu Yis.


    Xu Yi met the higher-ups from Boston, and to his surprise, Arturo, the titled exorcist, was also there.


    "Since you''ve seen the person, there''s no need for me,"


    After dropping a comment, Arturo hurried off. There were many matters waiting for him at the church, and he could come today only as a favor to Xu Yi,


    Xu Yi nodded toward Arturo as a greeting.


    "Mr. Xu Yi, this is the MistorDin!" One of the men suddenly handed over a slender metal box.


    "Wasn''t it said that only after training ten Great Exorcists would one obtain a Holy Artifact of myth?" Xu Yi voiced his confusion, yet his hands did not slow as he deftly received the box.


    He suddenly understood why they had specifically requested Arturo to come.


    A Holy Artifact as important as this naturally required an expert escort, and the situation in Boston was particularly dire.


    The MistorDin, also known as the "Evergreen Sword."


    This was the Holy Artifact that he had picked out early on, and as a "Bostonian," naturally, he had certain privileges.


    Among the available Holy Artifacts, the Evergreen Sword was one of the most powerful; the others were more or less lacking.


    "For Mr. Xu Yi, it''s just a matter of time." The man''s tone suddenly changed, "Not sure about the Dragon Blood Warrior Potion..."


    Xu Yi had anticipated this; with a Potion that could mass-produce high-level fighters, how could the Boston high-ups not covet it?


    After a brief discussion, the men left satisfied.


    Xu Yi was equally pleased; with the Evergreen Sword in hand, he had gathered all the Holy Artifacts he needed to forge the "Seven Deadly Sins."


    Of course, he had not handed over the formula for the Dragon Blood Warrior Potion.


    Right now, it was only the initial intent to cooperate; the Boston higher-ups were not yet conceited enough to think about exchanging the Potion''s formula for a Holy Artifact.


    The early bestowal of the Holy Artifact was just a meeting gift; the actual item for trading the Potion''s formula would still require negotiation from both parties.


    Xu Yi opened the metal box, and the light blue blade mirrored his profile; the Evergreen Sword was indeed a fine Holy Artifact.


    But after a few glances, he put it away.


    After all, it was all going to be melted down, so aesthetic quality didn''t matter in the slightest.


    "We need to hurry up and forge the remaining Seven Deadly Sins!"


    Xu Yi looked around, the number of monsters surrounding Notting Hill had dwindled significantly since they had all been called away by Behemoth.


    During his absence, the Ghost Samurai had once again absorbed a tremendous amount of Divinity, filling up the Bone of Nightmares with it.


    The Divinity of a single "Nightmare" could probably forge two of the "Seven Deadly Sins."


    In Boston at that time, there were still a great number of monsters left, but with Behemoth scouring the city for the Ring of Destruction, a battle between them was inevitable.


    Once a major battle broke out, monsters carrying Divinity would surely die in great numbers, and if he didn''t act quickly, he feared he would eventually be unable to find any creatures from which to replenish Divinity.


    Eight Monster House, Forge Chamber.


    Next, Xu Yi was to forge "Pride" and "Envy."


    The users of "Pride" were Maria and Ailan, and as a swordsmanship grandmaster, it was only natural for "Pride" to be forged into a long sword.


    Among many long sword designs, Xu Yi eventually chose the Japanese Samurai Sword; no other reason than Ailan was used to it.


    The "Yasakani no Magatama" was placed in golden flames, and the Melting Flame continually smelted the Holy Artifact, which was the perfect match for the Sin Remains of "Pride."


    In fact, of the three Sacred Treasures of Japan, the Yasakani no Magatama had left the deepest impression on him.


    Back then, the green Thunder Strikes that filled Tokyo were startlingly powerful.


    Now, using it to forge "Pride" seemed particularly fitting.


    The next weapon he planned to forge was "Envy," in the style of a knight''s sword, using the Sword of Gathering Clouds.


    Carrie, as the proxy host for "Envy," possessed a decent Talent in long sword skills.


    Carrie''s orange-red sinister flame, combined with the Sword of Gathering Clouds'' soul-cleaving ability, might have unexpected effects.


    Whether it was the Yasakani no Magatama or the Sword of Gathering Clouds, both Holy Artifacts were targeted at the soul.


    Xu Yi''s intention in forging them in advance was quite clear.


    He was preparing to take action against the people with the Ring of Destruction!


    ......


    Boston, in a hidden basement somewhere.


    The lighting was dim, the three great Alchemical Machinery of the Ring of Destruction hidden in the shadows, and no one had spoken for a long time, making the atmosphere particularly heavy.


    "The plan to capture Behemoth failed, and Karen''s Reincarnation Machinery has been destroyed."


    After a long silence, it was the Lizard Dragon that finally broke the quiet.


    "Let''s use ''that'' thing!" the Crow Man hesitated for a moment before saying gravely.


    The Lizard Dragon instinctively objected, "That thing is too precious to our Ring of Destruction. If something goes wrong, there''s no way to recover from it!"


    "Do you have a better idea?" the Crow Man retorted coldly.


    To defuse the tension, he quickly added, "The Mist World can only exist for so long. Once the mist world recedes and we return to reality, we''ll inevitably have to face the pursuit of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization."


    The Crow Man sighed, "And you all know that, due to the time-anchor, this is our only chance to summon the Mist World. Without the host of Sloth''s Origin, we simply can''t open the Gate of Truth."


    He glanced at the Lizard Dragon and Silver Giant Ape, "Now it''s just the three of us here. Let''s take a direct vote. Those in favor of using the ''Knight of Destruction,'' raise your hand!"


    The Silver Giant Ape glanced at the Lizard Dragon and raised its hand, the Lizard Dragon no longer opposing.


    "It takes time to prepare to use the Knight of Destruction. And the awakening will cause quite a stir."


    The Silver Giant Ape looked a bit worried, "We are currently targeted by Behemoth, the ceremony might be affected when the time comes."


    "How is Xu Yi doing?" the Crow Man didn''t answer, but instead inquired about the Lizard Dragon.


    "The same as usual, he''s been staying in Notting Hill," the Lizard Dragon replied softly.


    A mysterious red light flickered in the Crow Man''s pupils, "Since that''s the case, let''s keep our opponent busy!"

 Chapter 332

    Xu Yi, cloaked in a shadow-hiding cape, hastened through the streets of Boston.


    The streets were excessively quiet, not a soul in sight; enveloped in a thick fog, Boston was akin to a ghost town.


    The reason no one was seen was that the government had moved Boston''s residents to a safe place.


    Surprisingly, there wasn''t even a sign of the reanimated corpses.


    The reanimated corpses couldn''t have been eradicated entirely; the only explanation was that West had hidden them away, though Xu Yi wasn''t sure whether it was a conspiracy of the Ring of Destruction or West''s own volition.


    Two days had passed since the journey to Lighthouse Mountain.


    In these two days, he had forged the weapons "Pride" and "Envy," with their Controllers, Maria and Carrie, following close behind him.


    The three of them had ventured out at this time because the Divinity within the Ghost Samurai was completely depleted.


    The monsters carrying Divinity were now mostly gathered around the Behemoth, and he alone wasn''t enough to challenge the opponent.


    Thus, he remembered the "good brothers" of the Ring of Destruction.


    These days had not been good for the "good brothers" of the Ring of Destruction, always hiding in secrecy. Now was the time to help them find liberation!


    Xu Yi suddenly stretched out his hand, signaling to stop, and Maria and Carrie immediately halted.


    They had reached their destination; ahead lay an ordinary-looking residence that betrayed no signs of anomaly, with neither patrols nearby nor any hidden sentries detected.


    Had West deceived him?


    But no matter how much he pondered, Xu Yi couldn''t think of any reason West would have to deceive him.


    "Is the host of the ''Anger'' Origin really here?" Xu Yi asked, somewhat doubtful.


    ......


    "It''s time to add a little excitement to the mix!"


    The Crow Man silently arrived at the outskirts of Notting Hill. Looking at the tranquil and peaceful villa atop the hill, he whispered to himself.


    Removing his own head, the Crow Man threw it toward Notting Hill where it burst into a dazzling red light, like a fireball, exceptionally conspicuous against the dark night sky.


    Yukeni had been residing on Notting Hill during this period, as her place of living, being too near Lighthouse Mountain, had already turned to ruins.


    The moment she spotted the Crow Man''s head, she somersaulted out of the window, golden scepter in hand, summoning the phantom of an Evil Dragon.


    However, the head of the Crow Man did not confront her directly, slippery like an eel, constantly circling the skies of Notting Hill, spreading the unique fragrance of Alchemical Machinery in every direction.


    The Crow Man''s head was incredibly fast, and Yukeni found herself unable to deal with the foe in that moment.


    A massive "shadow" suddenly emerged on the horizon as the Behemoth led its monster army toward Notting Hill.


    Yukeni''s complexion changed; she could feel the terror of the Behemoth, and worst of all, Xu Yi happened to not be at Notting Hill tonight.


    To fight, or to flee?


    ......


    Xu Yi stood in the shadows, frowning as he scrutinized the residence ahead.


    While he did not think West would deceive him over something like this, what puzzled him was that his "Anger" katana showed no reaction whatsoever.


    After pondering for a moment, he cast aside the concern.


    Big moves could create miracles; wouldn''t a forceful approach clarify whether there was an issue or not?


    To avoid accidental harm to the innocent, he took out his Night Vision Device.


    This product from the military sometimes proved to be incredibly effective.


    After putting on the Night Vision Device, he scanned the area and surprisingly found no heat source inside the house, not even a mouse.


    Xu Yi began to believe that the host of the "Anger" Origin was indeed here.


    Because Arrays could easily block the Night Vision Device.


    He had also confirmed with the people from the government of New York that everyone in this area had been evacuated, and he was free to act as he wished.


    "This city is too dreary; it needs a splash of color."


    Xu Yi took out a fist-sized golden metal sphere, which was a "toy" he had obtained from the higher-ups in Boston, the Doomsday Arc.


    He suddenly turned his head violently back toward the direction of Notting Hill.


    There was still some distance from here to Notting Hill, and even with his strong vision, he could only see a faint glint of firelight.


    But that was okay, for he had left the Nest of the Evil God in Notting Hill, and he was about to switch perspectives. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The moment he saw the crow''s head, Xu Yi understood what was happening.


    The Ring of Destruction obviously wanted to use its own aura as bait to lure Behemoth into attacking Notting Hill, aiming to use the situation to their advantage.


    Xu Yi didn''t know whether to say "great minds think alike" or that it was a case of "birds of a feather flock together," because that''s what he had thought as well.


    He and the Ring of Destruction had come to the same conclusion!


    Xu Yi took out the Magic-Prohibiting Box and took out the "Gluttony" dagger, but a moment later, he threw it back into the Magic-Prohibiting Box and put it away.


    The aura of the Spirit of the True God was exposed.


    At the edge of the city on Notting Hill, the Crow Man looked at the furiously approaching Behemoth with joy in his heart.


    The plan was a success!


    But just then, Behemoth suddenly turned and, with a massive army of monsters in tow, flew toward the direction of Boston.


    The Crow Man Augustus was stunned; he couldn''t understand why his head had suddenly lost its allure.


    The next second, a golden light rose from the direction of Boston, and Augustus''s face changed in an instant.


    ......


    Xu Yi pressed the switch on the metal sphere and threw it violently. The sphere, like a cannonball, pierced through the walls of homes, plunging downward.


    If there was a problem at this place, it was most likely in the basement.


    The Doomsday Arc went into fierce action, and golden light shone through the doors and windows of the house, lighting up the mist-shrouded Boston for a moment.


    A group of people in black robes streamed out of the house, screaming in agony.


    Their bodies were extensively burned by the radiation of the Doomsday Crystal Stone, but the marks on their foreheads were still visible.


    The people of the Ring of Destruction! There really was something fishy going on here!


    The next second, two more figures burst through the walls, emitting hot steam all over their bodies.


    Xu Yi was taken aback; those were the Lizard Dragon and the Silver Giant Ape. He had only come to find the host of the "Pride" Origin, but it felt like he had poked a hornet''s nest, with so many people suddenly emerging.


    The Lizard Dragon and the Silver Giant Ape were both shocked and angry.


    They couldn''t understand how their message had been leaked, seeing the ritual interrupted at its most crucial stage by the strong radiation.


    The two coldly watched the darkness where Xu Yi stood as the imminent clash between the two sides was about to erupt, when suddenly, rolling "dark clouds" approached from the horizon, Behemoth arriving with its army of monsters!


    As the saying goes, enemies are especially jealous when they meet.


    Without saying a word, Behemoth lunged toward the Lizard Dragon and the Silver Giant Ape.


    In Behemoth''s eyes, the Alchemical Machinery and the thieves were accomplices.


    If they weren''t accomplices, why would they go to such lengths to stop it, to buy time for the thieves?


    Moreover, it had just sensed the aura of the Spirit of the True God here; obviously, the Spirit of the True God was in the hands of these iron-clad toys. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    The Lizard Dragon and the Silver Giant Ape''s expressions changed slightly as they didn''t understand how Behemoth had discovered them.


    They looked again at the spot where Xu Yi had been, only to see that it was now empty.


    Xu Yi, as a quality, moral, and idealistic good youth of society, obviously couldn''t interfere with others'' fierce fighting.


    While the other party was startled, he had already quietly left with Maria and Carrie.


    He kept his eyes on that house, his gaze flickering with intensity.


    There was definitely something wrong with the house in front of him, whether or not it was the location of the "Pride" Origin''s host; it was an important hidden location for the Ring of Destruction.


    And the moment the Doomsday Arc erupted, he felt a special presence from the underground of the house, extremely subtle, yet extraordinarily powerful.

 Chapter 334 Metal Coffin vs Angry Tree

    While the Ring of Destruction and Behemoth were engaged in their fierce battle, Xu Yi and his two companions stealthily entered the house, only to discover there was no door leading to a basement.


    This was clearly abnormal, as most houses of this structure are usually built with basements in mind.


    However, they did come across the metallic sphere from the Doomsday Arc, which was broken and battered, embedded in the floor.


    Given the force with which Xu Yi had thrown it, it should have easily pierced through seven or eight walls, yet now it was merely embedded in the floor, suggesting something fishy below.


    Xu Yi removed the metal sphere and peered down through the hole, where the light from the Array flickered unpredictably.


    While the Array was sturdy, the spot now in front of them had withstood the radiation from the Doomsday Crystal Stone, so it was only natural that it would be damaged.


    "This way, we can save ourselves a lot of effort," he said.


    Xu Yi took out his "Anger" katana. The dark golden blade flickered with black arcs of electricity as the ability to destroy space was activated.


    A complete Array was akin to a robust dam, and the hole before them was like an "ant hole" in that dam. As the katana pierced the Array''s weak spot, the entire Array was torn apart by the black electric arcs.


    With the support of the Array gone, the floor already damaged by the Doomsday Arc collapsed with a thunderous crash.


    Xu Yi and his two companions fell along with the rubble into a vast circular passageway that had been completely hollowed out beneath the house.


    Though underground, the circular passageway was far from dimly lit; alchemical lamps on the walls shone as bright as daylight.


    The light also illuminated the figures in black robes below, who were concealed under the Array and thus unaffected by the radiation of the Doomsday Crystal Stone.


    They noticed Xu Yi and his party, but surprisingly, they did not prepare to counterattack. Instead, they just stood in place, quickening the incantation speed of the chants they were reciting.


    Beneath their feet flowed an unknown black, viscous liquid, making up a complex Array, exuding an ominous aura.


    Xu Yi studied the Array, his brow involuntarily furrowing.


    As a master of Runes, he could usually understand the general function of an Array with just a glance.


    But the Array before him was highly peculiar, with many elements contrary to his understanding.


    "Could this be some kind of awakening ritual?" he could only tentatively conclude.


    Regardless of the type of Array, destroying it could never be wrong!


    Xu Yi and his companions landed safely, ready to launch an attack, but in the next second, they were all stunned.


    The members of the Ring of Destruction suddenly pulled out daggers, not to resist, but to pierce their own hearts in unison, and then removed the daggers, allowing blood to gush from the wounds.


    The rich scent of blood pervaded the air as members of the Ring of Destruction fell one after another, their blood flowing on the ground.


    "They truly are a bunch of madmen!" Xu Yi gasped in shock.


    Yet something felt off. Even if they knew they were no match, these people should not be resorting to suicide.


    The blood on the ground wasn''t just flowing aimlessly; it was being absorbed by the Array, which began to emit a faint red glow.


    Xu Yi''s expression changed slightly, realizing that these people were not avoiding battle but were accelerating the effectiveness of the Array by sacrificing themselves.


    He immediately took out an Alchemical Potion from his toy space and threw it toward the Array ahead.


    The potion was contained in a common glass bottle that shattered upon hitting the ground, and the thick green liquid splattered over the Array.


    Once the Array came into contact with the liquid, it produced billowing fumes with a pungent odor. It was an "Array Dissolving Agent," specifically designed to destroy Arrays.


    The Array became unrecognizable, and Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief. But just at that moment, the ground at the center of the Array suddenly split open, and something hidden below slowly rose amidst the sound of heavy machinery.


    A rust-covered metal coffin sealed within a block of ice ascended. As the metal coffin rose, the ice block rapidly melted, and a thick mist spread, mingled with the fresh scent of plants.


    Xu Yi merely took a whiff and felt so refreshed that all the pores on his body opened up.


    He cursed inwardly, quickly holding his breath.


    Based on experience, the aroma very likely contained toxins, yet despite waiting, he experienced no onset of poisoning. Instead, he felt a slight fortification of his soul.


    Ever since a large number of Soul Stealing Seeds had split off last time, his soul would occasionally throb with a vague pain, signifying that the foundation of his soul had been injured.


    There are many methods to replenish a depleted body, but the soul is much more complex than the body, making it very difficult to repair.


    For the moment, he could not think of any good solutions.


    The metal coffin was covered in red rust, and the patterns engraved on it were no longer discernible, undoubtedly an ancient artifact with a long history.


    The creaking of stuck gears emanated from the metal coffin as the lid slowly split open in the middle, releasing a stream of black energy skyward, instantly corroding the flooring above and even the entire house.


    Outside the house, the Lizard Dragon and Silver Giant Ape were in abject distress. Already at a disadvantage against Behemoth, they were also facing a surging horde of monsters.


    But upon seeing the black energy rising skyward, their spirits were instantly lifted, and they simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.


    "The ritual is about to be completed!"


    In the secret passages underground, Xu Yi fixed his gaze on the metal coffin, his body tense, an eerie sensation crawling over his skin from the energy seeping out of the coffin.


    At the same time, the strange aroma that strengthened the soul grew even more potent.


    Although he was curious about the source of the fragrance, he was already contemplating a retreat.


    The aura seeping from the metal coffin was even more suffocating than that of Behemoth!


    "Xu Yi, there''s a secret door here!"


    Maria suddenly spoke up; her soul perception was stronger than Ailan''s, making her better suited for scouting. When battle wasn''t a necessity, she took control of the body.


    Xu Yi glanced over and confirmed the presence of a concealed Array.


    Not intending to waste time deciphering it, he thrust his sword "Anger" through the wall, shattering the Array along with it.


    Kicking open the secret door, he peered inside and was taken aback for a moment.


    In the center of the room stood a massive square "glass box." With just one glance, Xu Yi knew the material of the "glass box" because he had something similar in his possession. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Such a large Magic-Prohibiting Box, it''s a wonder where the Ring of Destruction acquired it from!" Xu Yi exclaimed in surprise.


    Ancient trees occupied the Magic-Prohibiting Box, almost completely filling it. The trees were devoid of leaves, featuring only gnarled trunks and a tangle of roots.


    Upon sensing someone enter the room, the still, withered wood instantly sprang to life, its trunk flailing like tentacles against the Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    "The withered wood before us must be the host of the Origin of Anger!"


    Xu Yi suddenly realized. No wonder the "Anger" saber couldn''t feel the presence of the Origin. It was being blocked by the Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    Not many things could isolate the aura of the Origin, and the Magic-Prohibiting Box was one such rarity.


    This "Angry Tree" seemed to have quite a temper!


    Xu Yi looked at the withered wood inside the Magic-Prohibiting Box and then at the metal coffin being progressively opened outside. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After pondering for a few seconds, he sliced through the chains of the Magic-Prohibiting Box and then, along with Maria, fled the room like smoke.


    Once released from the Magic-Prohibiting Box, the "Angry Tree," having accumulated rage for a long time, finally unleashed its fury, violently attacking everything around it.


    Walls were punctured, and the Magic-Prohibiting Box was hoisted up high before being smashed down with a crash.


    Xu Yi and his companions had already escaped to the surface. Standing on the edge of a deep pit, he peered down. The "Angry Tree" was heading straight for the metal coffin, rage robbing it of all sense.


    The dense tree trunks enveloped the metal coffin, the "Angry Tree" lifting the coffin high into the air.


    It was ready to repeat its prior action.


    Just then, a rust-red mechanical arm extended from inside the coffin, gripping the branches of the Angry Tree.

 Chapter 335 Hes Not in a Hurry, but Someone Else Is

    Xu Yi stared at the mechanical arm, feeling the vast expanse of ancient years from it.


    His pupils suddenly constricted as the part of the Angry Tree grasped by the metallic arm withered at a visible speed, like a sugarcane strip drained of its juice.


    This withering spread to other parts of the Angry Tree like a plague.


    The life force of the Angry Tree was being devoured continuously, and it let out a fox-like wail, its body trembling in agony while its numerous branches violently beat against the Metal Coffin.


    The Metal Coffin, seemingly rusty and old, was extraordinarily robust, showing no signs of cracking.


    The space below the corridor was empty except for the bodies of the members of the Ring of Destruction scattered on the ground. The Angry Tree grabbed the corpses from the ground, tearing some into pieces, while tossing others into the air.


    Xu Yi dodged bodies thrown from below. Observing the dire state of the Angry Tree, he felt a bit relieved; it was fortunate that he hadn''t recklessly approached the Metal Coffin earlier.


    As the "Angry Tree" vented, the houses above the corridor were also littered with corpses and sticky blood everywhere.


    Xu Yi focused on the bodies on the floor, his eyes flickering with contemplative light.


    "Quickly change into these black robes!"


    A plan slowly took shape in Xu Yi''s mind, and he spoke urgently.


    Maria and Carrie didn''t ask why; they took off their original hooded long coats without disgust for the bloodstains on the black robes and quickly changed into them.


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    Xu Yi threw the two corpses into the toy space and took out two potions, injecting one into each person.


    After the injections, the two rapidly "died."


    He had injected them with a death-feigning potion. As long as they did not move on their own, for the next ten minutes, they would all be "dead."


    Xu Yi scanned the room to confirm their position, then moved the two to a dark corner while placing their weapons at their side.


    "Pride" and "Envy," these two weapons, were pitch-black and emitted no fluctuations when not activated. It would be difficult to notice them in the dark environment.


    Once everything was in place, Xu Yi slipped into the shadows, waiting for a "lucky one."


    Below, the Angry Tree had withered by half, but Xu Yi had no intention of snatching food from the tiger''s mouth.


    He was in no hurry; after all, it was only the life force of the Angry Tree being sucked away, not its Origin.


    The more the life force of the Angry Tree was drained, the weaker it became, and the easier it would be for him to act afterward.


    He wasn''t rushed, but he knew others were.


    ...


    The Silver Giant Ape smashed through the rooftop of the house and hurriedly made its way to the underground corridor.


    It had been pleased when black currents had surged into the sky earlier, taking it as a sign that the Knight of Destruction had been successfully awakened.


    But when they heard the fox-like screams, they knew something was wrong.


    They had brought the Angry Tree here to open the Gate of Truth, which required the tree to retain enough energy within its body.


    Knowing the abilities of the Knight of Destruction, after the Angry Tree was ravaged by it, even if it didn''t die, it would be severely weakened, how could it be used to open the Gate of Truth?


    The roar of the Lizard Dragon kept coming from outside; they were hard-pressed to deal with the Behemoth even when working together, let alone the Lizard Dragon alone.


    Currently, the Lizard Dragon had activated the "Black Prison mode," forcibly boosting its combat power in order to hold the Behemoth at bay.


    Thus, from any perspective, it needed to speed up.


    It took out a hollow metal tetrahedron, and its fingertip split open, revealing an extremely fine metal injector.


    The injector automatically extended, and a drop of bright red blood fell onto the metal tetrahedron.


    At the center of the tetrahedron was a rust-red gyroscope that, upon absorbing the blood, began spinning rapidly, emitting a humming sound.


    As he arrived above the tunnels, he glanced at the bodies scattered around, paying them no heed.


    These were merely peripheral members of the Ring of Destruction; they died for the ideal of a "new world," a fitting end.


    In the dark corner overlooked by the Silver Giant Ape, Xu Yi slowly opened the Magic-Prohibiting Box. He eyed the silhouette of the Silver Giant Ape, his gaze that of a hunter''s.


    His right hand had already been wearing a glove, a special isolation glove prepared for concealing his presence.


    The "Gluttony" dagger was coated in a thick, black liquid and lay quietly inside the Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    The black liquid was not any kind of poison, just a very "friendly" energy transfer potion with no toxicity at all.


    The Silver Giant Ape had its back to him, only ten meters away¡ªhe knew the moment had come!


    A massive amount of blood burned within his body; "Blood as Sacred" fully unleashed, Xu Yi burst forth at extreme speed, lunging towards the Silver Giant Ape.


    The Silver Giant Ape sensed the movement behind it and sneered inwardly.


    Did it really think he was unprepared? Did it really think he was oblivious to why things below had turned out this way?


    Although he was in a hurry, he had been vigilant of every little movement around him.


    He spun around abruptly, his metal arm emitting a thick red steam, blocking the dagger.


    A flash of "panic" crossed Xu Yi''s face; it seemed that after his sneak attack was exposed, he was somewhat at a loss.


    He swung the dagger wildly, the collision with the opponent''s metal producing a piercing noise.


    The Silver Giant Ape''s nostrils spewed two streams of red steam, its body glowing red. It swung its fist fiercely, the heavy punch hitting Xu Yi''s chest with great force.


    Xu Yi was sent flying into the wall, wood chips flying everywhere.


    Under the cover of the wood chips, Xu Yi quickly threw the dagger back into the Magic-Prohibiting Box, which he closed and withdrew into his toy space.


    He also took off the glove on his right hand and flung it at the Silver Giant Ape.


    The Silver Giant Ape, thinking Xu Yi had thrown some kind of lethal weapon, shifted to the side to dodge it.


    When it realized it was just a common glove, it caught it subconsciously.


    In the era in which he lived, knightly honor was still revered; when someone threw a glove at you, it signified a challenge and an insult.


    If you didn''t dare to catch it, it meant cowardice and evasion, so he caught it out of a conditioned reflex.


    Xu Yi was slightly taken aback; he had thrown the glove simply to get rid of the True God''s aura.


    He had thought that even if the glove was torn apart, it could contaminate the opponent with some of the True God''s essence. He had not expected the opponent to catch it outright.


    What was this move?


    While both were momentarily stunned, the roof suddenly broke open, and the Behemoth descended from the sky with boundless rage. Its myriad tentacles surged towards the Silver Giant Ape, each tentacle emanating scorching white energy flows.


    The Silver Giant Ape couldn''t understand why the Behemoth had suddenly abandoned the Lizard Dragon and was coming straight for him, bringing with it an overwhelming fury.


    Could it be because of the glove? The Silver Giant Ape looked down at the glove in his hand instinctively.


    This was the Behemoth''s furious blow, its full-powered attack. The Silver Giant Ape could not dodge and could barely take a defensive stance, protecting the core in its chest.


    White tentacles pierced through the metal body of the Silver Giant Ape, and large quantities of steam sprayed from the wounds.


    The Silver Giant Ape began to shake violently, the light in its pupils flickering on and off.


    Being pierced was not fatal, but what was deadly was a special vibration spreading from those tentacles into its body, approaching the core in the chest.


    If left unchecked, this reincarnated machinery would be completely destroyed, and even its soul could be damaged.


    A dark shadow suddenly rushed in, enshrouded in black energy flows; the Lizard Dragon had finally escaped the besieging army of monsters outside and had come to the rescue.


    The Lizard Dragon opened its mouth wide, and inside, a black orb cracked open, forming a metal flower.


    The Metal Flower spun, and a violent black energy flow surged out; the Lizard Dragon exhaled a black "Dragon Breath."


    The "Dragon Breath," like a sharp sword, managed to sever the Behemoth''s tentacles in one fell swoop, but after releasing the Dragon Breath, the Lizard Dragon visibly weakened. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Still, it exerted its last strength, charging at the Behemoth and dragging it away from there, giving the Silver Giant Ape time to recover.


    In the ignored shadows, Xu Yi took out the Alchemical Revolver Messiah, his eyes fixed on the trembling Silver Giant Ape. He knew the time had come!

 Chapter 336 Fanatics Soul

    The Alchemy Revolver was loaded with six Cres bullets, the True God bone tips would be indestructible.


    Xu Yi raised the Alchemy Revolver, six red dots appeared in his view, locking onto the Silver Giant Ape.


    High Noon has arrived, activate!


    The Silver Giant Ape shuddered violently, feeling it was targeted by the gun barrel, its weaknesses exposed.


    If these were common bullets, it could resist with its sturdy reincarnated body, but it sensed the aura of True God bones.


    It was clear that if its weaknesses were hit, this reincarnated body would be directly destroyed.


    The surface of the Silver Giant Ape wasn''t covered in hair but in fine metallic scales, which at this moment undulated and overlapped to fit together.


    Moments later, the Silver Giant Ape transformed into a "giant egg," its strongest defensive form.


    The five-second countdown ended.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    "Here it comes!" The Silver Giant Ape braced itself with utmost attention, but no matter how long it waited, the bullets didn''t come, and its body felt no impact.


    Xu Yi watched the Silver Giant Ape quietly, a faint smile playing on his lips.


    No bullets were fired because he hadn''t even pulled the trigger; the "bang bang bang" was mimicked by his mouth.


    Who said that after triggering High Noon, he must pull the trigger and shoot bullets?


    Cres bullets were so precious; he''d be immensely pained to use even one, let alone six.


    And knowing that firing wouldn''t yield good results, persisting in pulling the trigger would be stubborn, wouldn''t it? S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Just a little joke between good friends, no need to be so tense!" Xu Yi said with a light chuckle.


    The Silver Giant Ape waited a moment longer, but the bullets never came, and the sensation of being targeted also vanished.


    It realized it had been played!


    The Silver Giant Ape exited its "silver egg" state, returning to its normal state where it could move. It glared at Xu Yi, its eyes seemingly spitting fire.


    If it didn''t have more important things to do, it would have already pounced to fight Xu Yi desperately.


    "I know you''re in a hurry, but just hold on for a second!" Xu Yi said calmly and softly.


    Upon hearing this, the Silver Giant Ape''s rage surged again, but apart from that, it felt nothing special, purely taking Xu Yi''s words as provocation.


    But to Maria and Carrie, it meant something completely different.


    This was the signal agreed upon between Xu Yi and them. When Xu Yi said this, it meant they could act.


    Maria quietly transformed into Ailan, whose expertise lay in hiding; fighting was naturally left to Ailan.


    The Silver Giant Ape had first suffered a surprise attack from the Behemoth, then faced the lock of Cres bullets, under immense mental pressure.


    Upon realizing Xu Yi was toying with him, he relaxed suddenly, followed by full-blown anger.


    His moods were like a roller coaster, up and down, having undergone such intense changes, his vigilance at that moment was at its worst.


    The Silver Giant Ape forced his gaze away from Xu Yi, deciding to ignore him.


    He had thought the organization''s labeling of Xu Yi as a "troublemaker" wasn''t objective enough, but now it seemed his mother was too objective!


    The Silver Giant Ape''s attention was all on Xu Yi, but what it didn''t see was two bodies rising slowly behind it, with sharp swords in hand.


    Ailan and Carrie were only three steps away from the Silver Giant Ape.


    This was no coincidence. The positions for Xu Yi''s ambush and their feigning death had been carefully calculated.


    The goal was to position the Silver Giant Ape at a specific spot. The current situation was even more perfect than Xu Yi had envisioned.


    The two lunged almost simultaneously, Carrie being closer to the foe, so her attack arrived first.


    The "Jealousy" knight''s sword was activated, the black and gold blade covered in undulating cloud patterns.


    The cloud patterns started moving, and the slicing force of the fierce wind spun around the blade. This was the ability inherent to the Sword of Gathering Clouds.


    Carrie was fully focused, and the orange-red Demon Fire appeared out of nowhere, blending into the torrential wind. The fire fed off the wind, morphing into a raging Firestorm Scroll that whirled around the knight''s sword.


    Carrie was still a novice at swordsmanship. She couldn''t control this power, and the knight''s sword almost slipped out of her hand. She gritted her teeth and thrust the long sword in her hand forward.


    The quality of this thrust was very poor; it merely struck the Silver Giant Ape''s sturdy back, emitting a crisp clanging sound.


    But, fortunately, the Firestorm Scroll began to take effect, and the Silver Giant Ape was engulfed by the surging flames.


    The Silver Giant Ape didn''t care at first, as mere flames could not harm a reincarnation machinery.


    However, its expression quickly changed, because those were not common flames¡ªit felt the scorching heat.


    The flames could actually penetrate the "Soul Casket," affecting its soul!


    The "Soul Casket" was located in the chest of the reincarnation machinery and was protected by a series of tight components, but because of the powerful energy invasion from the Behemoth, some loopholes had appeared in these tight defenses.


    Its soul had been safely contained within the "Soul Casket," but under the onslaught of the Demon Fire, it was shockingly ejected!


    The functions of the "Soul Casket" were incredibly powerful, capable of pulling its soul back into the casket and stabilizing it in just a mere second.


    But it was this brief second that became the straw that broke the camel''s back.


    Ailan, holding a katana, rushed forward frantically.


    The "Pride" katana was activated, and the blade flickered with lightning-like patterns, unleashing an abundance of green sparks.


    She swung the katana to deliver a slash, a cut that could be deemed perfect¡ªwhether it was the transfer of power or the precision of the slash.


    The katana sliced into the neck of the Silver Giant Ape, penetrating three inches, astonishingly cleaving through the hard metallic body!


    The sparks swirling around the blade found a vent, pouring into the interior of the Alchemical Machinery. The whole contraption was enveloped by the green sparks.


    The Silver Giant Ape suddenly discovered in horror that it could not move; those green sparks had paralyzed its soul, preventing it from returning to the "Soul Casket."


    "It doesn''t matter! The reincarnation machinery possesses powerful energy dispelling functions. Just hold on for a moment and it will be over," it reassured itself internally.


    Moreover, even if it couldn''t return to the "Soul Casket," it could still forcibly activate the soul severance function and return to the Well of Eternity.


    Its peripheral vision caught sight of Xu Yi, and its heart trembled violently.


    Xu Yi''s lips moved slightly, though no sound came out, but it still understood what he was about to say¡ªthose two words: "Goodbye!"


    A tremendous fear suddenly engulfed the ape, leaving its mind blank.


    Xu Yi resolutely pulled the trigger, no gunshot was heard; the sound was obliterated by the Silent Domain.


    To be cautious, he fired twice in succession.


    This was not the time to be sparing.


    The bullets from the Alchemy Revolver spun out of the chamber, aimed at the Silver Giant Ape. Under the assault from Carrie and Ailan, the ape''s "vital points" were completely exposed.


    The ape couldn''t even make a defensive move, so the bullets were bound to hit their mark.


    Even the alchemical machinery of the Ring of Destruction couldn''t withstand bullets made from the bones of a True God; the bullets punctured through the chest of the Silver Giant Ape, precisely hitting its soul.


    After losing its protection, the ape''s soul was as fragile as an ant in the face of the Curie''s bullets that could dispel any energy.


    With two muffled thuds, the Silver Giant Ape slowly collapsed to the ground, and Xu Yi heard the system prompt in his ear.


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    [Entry Devouring activated. You can choose to devour a Common Entry or the "Soul Entry." Please make your selection?]


    Xu Yi decisively chose the "Soul Entry."


    This wasn''t really a multiple-choice question; the value of the Soul Entry was evident from the attitude of the Black Void Gate towards it.


    [Congratulations, you have obtained the "Fanatic''s Soul"!]

 Chapter 337 Ominous Presence in the Armor

    ```


    Xu Yi simply didn''t have enough time to check the "Fanatic''s Soul" when a tearing sound suddenly came from below. His eyes brightened, and he decisively pulled out the "Angry" Tang sword.


    To avoid being drained, the Angry Tree actually tore off part of its body and was desperately trying to survive with its short "tail".


    It finally realized the horror of the Metal Coffin, and using its roots as limbs, it climbed rapidly up the wall.


    Xu Yi certainly wouldn''t let this opportunity pass, as it was the moment when the Angry Tree was at its weakest, so he violently threw the Tang sword in his hand.


    The Tang sword, like a dark golden arc of light, instantly penetrated the Angry Tree, nailing it to the wall.


    The Angry Tree never expected that there would be an old sixth waiting for it above.


    It had just escaped the demonic cave, only to fall immediately into another trap.


    The Tang sword was now in an activated state, and the Angry Tree finally sensed the aura of the "Angry" Sin Remains on the sword, its numerous branches reaching out to engulf the Sin Remains.


    But suddenly, the Tang sword erupted with a terrifying suction force, drawing a great deal of its Origin.


    In pain, the Angry Tree howled and fell from the wall.


    Xu Yi felt a bit of pleasure; the Sin Remains, after being forged into an alchemical weapon, still had an even stronger devouring power.


    The weakened Angry Tree was now just meat on the chopping block. Xu Yi looked at the falling Silver Giant Ape with some hesitation.


    The Ring of Destruction''s alchemical machinery was priceless, and he was also very interested in the metallic tetrahedron in the other''s hand, which might be related to the existence inside the Metal Coffin.


    But the Silver Giant Ape bore the aura of a True God''s spirit, and if he were to fight for it, he would also be drawing the attention of the Behemoth.


    Truly, the spirit of the True God was both a blessing and a curse!


    As he hesitated, the Silver Giant Ape suddenly moved. It wasn''t that it had come back to life, but something was pulling it.


    While Xu Yi hesitated, a black shadow crashed through the ceiling and swooped down, grabbing the Silver Giant Ape.


    The Crow Man finally returned. When he saw the Behemoth suddenly turn around in Notting Hill, he had a bad premonition and hurried after it all the way.


    He felt the soul''s breath dispersing from the Transcendence Apparatus, and his body trembled violently, his heart filled with disbelief.


    He fiercely lifted his head, looking at Xu Yi, his pupils flashing with ferocity.


    Xu Yi and the Crow Man locked eyes, both expressionless.


    Neither wanted to be the first to look away, for the one who did would be admitting defeat in this battle of wills.


    After a moment, it was the Crow Man who first admitted defeat, slightly lowering his head.


    The Crow Man was filled with fear. This time was different from the last; last time it was because his soul had left the Transcendence Apparatus, but this time it had not.


    If Xu Yi could kill the Silver Giant Ape, was he also capable of killing him?


    He didn''t understand how the other party had done it.


    A thunderous boom came from above, and the roof, already full of holes, finally collapsed completely.


    A shadow, steaming with scalding steam, heavily crashed beside the feet of the Crow Man.


    It was the Lizard Dragon, struggling to get up, but with its metallic body emitting blinding electrical arcs, it fell to the ground again.


    Behemoth hovered above the roof, roaring furiously at the Crow Man and the Lizard Dragon.


    The Lizard Dragon alone was no match for the Behemoth.


    Xu Yi signaled to Ailan and Carrie with his eyes, telling them to move behind him. While Behemoth had the upper hand, he had a nagging bad feeling.


    The Crow Man glanced around; the Silver Giant Ape was dead, the Lizard Dragon was seriously injured, and the Angry Tree was being drained of its Origin continuously. Now only he remained with the ability to fight.


    What he had to face were not just Behemoth and its horde of monsters but also the possibility of being killed by Xu Yi and his group. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The situation couldn''t be worse, but there was no sign of panic in his eyes. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    He took the metallic tetrahedron from the hands of the Silver Giant Ape. The gyroscope inside had stopped spinning, but with a flick of his hand, it started spinning again, emitting a high-speed buzzing sound.


    The Crow Man picked up the Lizard Dragon and headed towards the underground passage.


    "Stop him!" Xu Yi instantly realized the other''s intention and his expression changed slightly.


    Ever since the Angry Tree severed its "tail" to escape, the Metal Coffin had been silent, and the metallic arm had also retracted back into the coffin. Now, the Crow Man was clearly planning to awaken something inside the coffin.


    ```


    Xu Yi raised his Alchemy Revolver, aimed, and pulled the trigger; it wasn''t a time to hesitate using the precious Kres bullets.


    The bullet thundered out of the barrel and flew towards the Crow Man.


    At the same moment, Behemoth moved too, its head tentacles parted, revealing jaws like those of an ant, from which a dense white light burst forth, shooting a fine beam straight at the Crow Man.


    Facing the onslaught, the Crow Man remained expressionless.


    He fiercely kicked, sending a Silver Giant Ape underfoot flying like a soccer ball, positioning it in front of him.


    "This is bad!" Xu Yi''s face changed drastically, and he turned to throw himself towards Ailan and Carrie.


    The battered Silver Giant Ape flickered with rapid red light, the energy within its Alchemical Machinery becoming extremely unstable.


    The Crow Man actually dared to abandon the precious Alchemical Machinery and detonated the Energy Supply Matrix inside the Silver Giant Ape!


    But he had to admit, this was perhaps the best response.


    Xu Yi instantly burned a large amount of blood within his body, and a white flow surged out, converging into a point in front of him.


    The "light point" was punctured, not turning into the sword of Holy Flame for attack, but instead becoming a huge shield, enveloping the three of them¡ªXu Yi, Ailan, and Carrie.


    The Silver Giant Ape exploded with a bang, and the violent energy poured out, turning into a red inferno.


    Both the Kres bullets and Behemoth''s attack were nullified within the red inferno.


    The red inferno bore down, colliding with the shield of Holy Flame, and all Xu Yi could see was dazzling light; nothing else was visible.


    A moment later, the light slowly dissipated, Xu Yi looked at Ailan and Carrie, and secretly let out a sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, the opponent had made a hasty countermeasure and hadn''t completely detonated the energy within the Alchemical Machinery, so he was able to withstand it.


    Looking around, the house was completely gone, and the skyscrapers in the surrounding hundred miles had been leveled.


    Behemoth''s body was shrouded in scorching streams, but it hadn''t lost its combat strength, which was expected, as even Xu Yi had not been killed by the explosion.


    In the centre of the underground passage Array at the bottom of the deep pit.


    The Crow Man stood beside the Metal Coffin, extending his hand to let the metallic tetrahedron in his hand fall into the coffin.


    A foreboding premonition grew stronger in Xu Yi''s heart. He reached out his hand, summoning the "Angry" Tang sword from the Angry Tree, and it returned to his grasp.


    The Angry Tree had avoided the recent explosion by being closer to the Crow Man.


    To fully absorb the Fanatic''s Soul would take considerable time, but Xu Yi was no longer planning to stay here.


    After all, he had already absorbed quite a bit of the Origin, so he knew when to quit while ahead.


    Amidst the sound of gears turning with great difficulty, the figure inside the Metal Coffin slowly sat up, and Xu Yi, somewhat surprised, got a clearer look at the silhouette.


    That was not the high-grade Alchemical Machinery he had imagined, but rather a suit of retro knight Armor.


    The Armor should have been wholly black, but perhaps due to poor preservation, it was covered in dark red rust.


    Peering through the gaps in the Armor, it appeared empty, with nothing extraordinary visible.


    He even wondered if he was being too anxious.


    Xu Yi could wait, but Behemoth had completely lost its patience, lunging towards the Crow Man, its tentacles oozing with white adhesive substance.


    The adhesive was highly corrosive, something even the Ring of Destruction''s Alchemical Machinery couldn''t withstand.


    But the Crow Man stood still, without any intention of defending.


    Xu Yi smelled that fragrance again, very much like the fresh scent of plants and grasses.


    The knight Armor inside the Metal Coffin suddenly moved, it violently pounced towards Behemoth, but before it could make contact, it became bound by tentacles, and the white adhesive fell upon the Armor, corroding it into thick smoke.


    The Armor trembled slightly, something was pouring out from within it.


    Xu Yi felt his hair stand on end, and what emerged were certain Vines, black-green in color, leafless, covered with mysterious inscriptions.


    Those Vines gave him a very contradictory feeling, full of vitality, yet ominously foreboding.


    He finally realized what was making his skin crawl, it wasn''t the knight Armor, but rather something inside the Armor; the Armor was just a vessel.

 Chapter 338 Severed Hand and Harvest

    Vines entangled Behemoth, and Xu Yi watched the following scene with utter horror as Behemoth began to tremble violently, shaking like a sieve.


    The same thing that happened to the Angry Tree was now happening to Behemoth; its body rapidly withered away. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Behemoth struggled furiously, but it was to no avail.


    Xu Yi was shocked. The Angry Tree was not that strong, so it made some sense for the knight armor to siphon its vitality.


    But Behemoth, a being that commanded Domain power, couldn''t escape either!


    What on earth were those vines?


    "Let''s go! We need to leave immediately!"


    Xu Yi, leading Ailan, hurried away, but they hadn''t gotten far when suddenly, a whooshing sound came from behind.


    The back of Behemoth split open like a cicada''s shell, and a white, octopus-like creature squeezed out from the crack, chasing after Xu Yi.


    Not only did Behemoth suffer a fate similar to the Angry Tree, but its escape tactics were also alike, choosing to slough off its old self.


    "Brother, I don''t know you like that!"


    Xu Yi inwardly cursed his bad luck; he was actually quite conflicted.


    Of the Seven Great Sources of Sin, only "Sloth" remained unabsorbed, and he naturally wanted to achieve completion.


    Without a doubt, this was Behemoth''s weakest moment, and the "Sloth" Origin was tantalizingly within reach.


    But damn it, the sinister knight armor was following closely behind, and by choosing the same direction as Xu Yi, Behemoth seemed intent on bringing disaster in its wake.


    "Starvation kills the fearful, fortune favors the bold," Xu Yi muttered to himself, teeth clenched, as he made his decision.


    "You two head back to Notting Hill!" Xu Yi instructed Ailan and Carrie, then turned and sprinted in another direction.


    He wasn''t being reckless for the sake of it, but because he had used too much blood to resist the explosion just moments ago.


    His blood was now nearly depleted, and the burst of speed he was experiencing was fleeting, and he would soon be overtaken.


    Better to act than wait passively!


    Plus, he was betting that the knight armor would choose to attack Behemoth first.


    Compared to killing him, the Crow Man would probably prefer to capture Behemoth.


    The shell-less Behemoth was very close to him now. Xu Yi suddenly turned around and lunged at Behemoth, the "Sloth" Sin Remains silently sliding into his hand.


    Behemoth was taken by surprise, but it had no time to react as Xu Yi, clutching the "Sloth" Sin Remains, viciously stabbed it into Behemoth''s body.


    The "Sloth" Sin Remains erupted with a powerful suction force.


    Under normal circumstances, the Sin Remains could not have absorbed anything from Behemoth''s Origin.


    But now, weakened, Behemoth could only watch helplessly as its Origin was drained by the Sin Remains.


    Behemoth let out an angry roar, tinged not just with pain but also with terror.


    Because the knight armor was catching up, and thin vines flew out from its gaps, piercing Behemoth in an instant.


    Xu Yi grit his teeth, enduring the intense pain from all over his body.


    His arms and chest were lacerated and bleeding profusely from Behemoth''s corrosive tentacles, his flesh severely corroded down to the bone.


    If it weren''t for the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entries resisting the corrosion, his internal organs would have already been affected.


    Xu Yi looked miserable, but there was a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.


    Because he had bet right¡ªthe knight armor had chosen to attack Behemoth first, not him.


    With a fierce kick, he struck Behemoth and used the recoil to shoot backwards.


    Behind him lay the old city district, where he stood a chance of escaping through the intricate routes if he could just make it there.


    His pupils suddenly constricted to pinpoints as another thin vine shot out from the armor at great speed, wrapping around his arm instantly.


    A strange suction force emanated from the vine, rendering all defensive measures useless in the face of the vine''s power.


    It was only a matter of one or two seconds, yet his arm had already completely shriveled up, thin as a bone.


    Xu Yi''s face was tense, judging by this rate, it would only take another three or four seconds for him to be drained dry and turn into a skeleton.


    Fortunately, he had seen the Angry Tree sacrifice itself before, giving him a clue about what to do.


    He raised his right hand, wielding the "Angry" machete, and cleanly sliced off his left arm.


    Green Thunder Strikes and orange Firestorm Scrolls suddenly rose from below, forming a wall that blocked the pursuing Knight of Armor.


    Ailan and Carrie hadn''t left; seeing Xu Yi in peril, they decisively turned back to rescue him.


    Xu Yi was at the end of his strength, staggering a few steps before Ailan caught him, and they all ran wildly toward the old city district nearby.


    While fleeing, Xu Yi did not forget to extend his hand, summoning the "Sloth" Sin Remains.


    The Sin Remains emitted a "buzz" as it flew out from Behemoth''s body, pursuing Xu Yi.


    Crow Man coldly watched Xu Yi''s receding figure; he was eager to keep him, but he was powerless to do so at that moment.


    Behemoth had already withered considerably, and its struggles became weaker and weaker.


    Crow Man took out a red syringe and injected it into Behemoth''s body; Behemoth trembled violently, and its tentacles hung limply.


    The black-green Vines released Behemoth and retracted into the Knight of Armor.


    Crow Man raised the Grim Reaper''s scythe high and slammed it down, nailing the crawling Angry Tree to the ground.


    He found the Magic-Prohibiting Box intact amidst the ruins and locked the Angry Tree back inside.


    The Knight of Armor moved towards the Metal Coffin, its body swaying unsteadily like an old man on his last legs.


    As it climbed into the coffin, like a wind-up toy running down, the entire suit of Armor crashed to the bottom with a metallic clatter.


    Crow Man too came to the side of the Metal Coffin, checking on the Knight of Armor and breathed a sigh of relief.


    That was the fundamental reason he did not pursue Xu Yi; the Knight of Destruction had limited operational time.


    He found Xu Yi''s severed hand amid the debris, staring at the hand and a thoughtful gleam flickered in his eyes.


    After a moment, he solemnly pocketed Xu Yi''s severed hand.


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    ...


    Xu Yi looked at Notting Hill, so close at hand, and let out a long sigh of relief; returning here meant safety.


    The blood from where his arm had been cut off had stopped, and under the influence of the Hyper Accelerated Regeneration Entries, a new arm was growing at a visible rate.


    He checked his gains for the night; aside from the Fanatic''s Soul, he had also consecutively devoured the "Angry" and "Sloth" Origins.


    In theory, this should have been quite the haul, but thinking of that suit of Knight of Armor and the strange Vines from the Ring of Destruction made him restless.


    What was most important was that the other party had already gathered the Seven Great Hosts of the Source of Sin!


    The Ring of Destruction had expended such great effort, surely it couldn''t just be for the sake of playing around?


    There was definitely a great conspiracy he didn''t know about behind it all.


    Xu Yi couldn''t help but put himself in their shoes, considering where he would choose to enact the plan if he were with the Ring of Destruction.


    The most likely place was this misty world.


    For the moment, it was Isolated from the outside world, with fewer variables and less resistance, nowhere was more suitable than here.


    Xu Yi shook his head, clearing the chaotic thoughts from his mind.


    Even knowing that the Ring of Destruction was planning something big, he could only warn the Boston higher-ups a bit; stopping them was beyond his power.


    He looked back toward the battlefield, where panicked cries of birds could be heard intermittently.


    After Behemoth had been captured, the monster army seemed at a loss, flying aimlessly throughout the city.


    The capture of Behemoth wasn''t entirely without benefit; at the very least, they could hunt these Divine creatures again to "recharge" the Ghost Samurai.


    "Right now, the most pressing matter is to seize the time and forge the remaining Seven Deadly Sins!"

 Chapter 339 Deification Formation

    Xu Yi watched as the Spear of Longinus gradually melted in the flames, his expression excited.


    He was now forging the "Sloth" spear, which was also the last of the Seven Deadly Sins series of alchemical weapons.


    He switched his perspective to the Nest of the Evil God and saw that Lisa''s exclusive weapon was about to be completed, but Lisa had still not woken up.


    It was unknown whether it was due to Lisa''s unique physique or some other reason that she was taking an exceptionally long time to assimilate the Poseidon Potion.


    Five days had passed since the great battle, and during these five days, he had forged the weapons "Greed" and "Lust."


    "Greed" was a foiled sword, somewhat similar to the weapon used by fencers.


    In the sport of fencing, the blade is not sharpened to protect the opponent. Of course, the foiled sword Xu Yi created was as sharp as it could be.


    The reason for making it into a foiled sword was that William, acting as the proxy host, was only skilled with this type of weapon.


    When "Greed" was activated, the blade was covered with vine-like patterns, these magnificent designs coming from the Evergreen Sword of Misteldin.


    "Lust," on the other hand, was a recurve knife.


    This type of knife also has a more resounding name, that is, the Nepalese kukri.


    The Finns were most famous for the recurve knife, and Cass, who was determined to revitalize the Finns, naturally chose this style of weapon.


    The "Lust" was forged with the Shield of Creation, and the blade was covered with tortoiseshell-like patterns, looking somewhat plain and unadorned.


    This knife was the sturdiest among the Seven Deadly Sins series.


    "Finally, it''s completed!"


    The night was deep, and Xu Yi gazed at the "Sloth" in his hands, feeling an unparalleled sense of satisfaction rise within him.


    After such long preparations and a rushed start to the forging, luckily, the outcome was perfect.


    Xu Yi put away the completed Seven Deadly Sins,


    Logically, after completing the forging of the Seven Deadly Sins, he shouldn''t celebrate wildly, but he should at least take a good rest.


    During this period, Xu Yi had been working non-stop, without any time to rest, and now he was utterly exhausted physically and mentally.


    But he couldn''t rest yet; there were more important tasks to be completed. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Now that the Seven Deadly Sins have been completed, I can move on to the next step," Xu Yi took a deep breath.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t want to rest, but the Ring of Destruction loomed over his head like the Sword of Damocles, ready to fall at any moment.


    Although these five days seemed calm, he felt he could already smell the scent of an approaching storm.


    ......


    Xu Yi went to another room in the Eight Monster House and took out the Serpent of Finale from his pocket.


    During this time, there had been a great harvest of the Philosopher''s Stone.


    The Philosopher''s Stone originally had only 15ml left, but after consecutively devouring "Envy," "Wrath," and "Pride" origins, the total amount had reached an astonishing 120ml.


    However, he took out the Serpent of Finale not for the Philosopher''s Stone, as it had an even more important role this time.


    The room in front of him was newly opened and, so far, was the largest room in the Eight Monster House.


    A huge metal plate lay at the center of the room, 20 centimeters thick, made of the expensive Auric Copper.


    Auric Copper is known for its sturdiness, and with the same volume, it is tens of thousands of times more expensive than gold; such a large plate of Auric Copper was invaluable.


    It was with much difficulty that Xu Yi had managed to get it from the upper echelons of Boston.


    Deep grooves, entwined like snakes, were carved into the metal plate, with precious red mercury flowing through them. These grooves formed a circular array, and the complexity of the array was dizzying.


    With his improving forging skills, forging the remaining three alchemical weapons wouldn''t have taken five days.


    The reason for the delay was that he had also taken the time to carve the array before him. This array came from the Sun Golden Scripture and the final chapter of the Black Scripture of the Dead.


    As the ultimate secret of the origin book of arrays, Xu Yi had spent two Resurrection Coins to integrate them together and make some modifications.


    ```


    He now only had 38 Resurrection Coins left.


    He named this Array "Deification Formation"!


    The Deification Formation had eight major nodes, each with a circular metal altar, into which Xu Yi inserted the Seven Deadly Sins one by one into the grooves of the altars.


    "Pride" katana, "Envy" knight''s sword, "Wrath" tang dao.


    Then came "Sloth" spear, "Greed" foiled sword, "Lust" recurve knife, and finally "Gluttony" dagger. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    With Behemoth captured, Xu Yi no longer had to worry about the essence of the True God leaking out.


    When Xu Yi obtained the essence of the True God, he kept turning it over in his mind: what method could he use to absorb the power of the essence of the True God?


    It was like holding a treasure but being unable to use it.


    The feeling was akin to sleeping in a nest of coins but only being able to eat cornbread every day, extremely frustrating.


    The essence of the True God was too powerful; if he tried to integrate it forcefully, his soul would end up being blown apart.


    The problem was actually solvable, but what was most difficult was that the essence of the True God possessed soul imprints that were not easily erasable.


    Without purification, direct integration would result not in Xu Yi, but in a strange creature wearing someone else''s skin.


    After much pondering, Xu Yi finally thought of a solution: the very Deification Formation before him.


    He planned to seal the essence of the True God within himself, but not completely, leaving a very small gap.


    If it were just to achieve this little function, there would be no need for such a complex Array or for such a big fuss.


    The real challenge was that he needed to attach a "filter" over the gap.


    The "filter" would only allow the passage of pure soul energy, blocking everything else.


    In this way, he could use the essence of the True God as a "Power Bank," incrementally absorbing the soul energy within it to gradually strengthen himself.


    Such a powerful Array obviously demanded an ultimate carrier.


    Xu Yi searched hard but was unable to find a suitable one, never realizing until it hit him that the carrier for the Array had been on him all along.


    In fact, it wasn''t due to his oversight; rather, the Serpent of the End had only undergone metamorphosis recently.


    Xu Yi looked at the Serpent of the End in his hands; the seven serpent heads'' eyes were all lit up, the sculpture seemingly coming to life and exuding an indescribable aura.


    He had never expected that by collecting the seven origins of sin, he would receive such an unexpected surprise!


    To describe the Serpent of the End as the carrier of the Array, the word "perfect" would suffice.


    As the host of the Serpent of the End, he could easily integrate the Serpent into his soul without any adverse reactions.


    As the root of the Seven Deadly Sins, the Serpent of the End''s robustness goes without saying, plus it can mobilize the power of the Seven Deadly Sins at any time to suppress the essence of the True God.


    Xu Yi placed the Serpent of the End on the central altar of the Array, his gaze sweeping over the many "containers" surrounding the Array.


    The area occupied by the Array was not particularly large; the reason the room was so vast was due to the surrounding "containers."


    These were of course not actual containers but merely shared a similar shape; all of them were crafted from precious metals.


    Xu Yi preferred to call them "Doomsday Batteries."


    The main ingredient of the "Doomsday Batteries" was raw Sky Scourge crystals, with over thirty auxiliary materials; the metal casing on the outside was no ordinary material either, utilizing the energy-conducting technology recently researched by the Boston high echelon.


    These batteries, connected one after another, formed wall after wall, and the primary reason the room was so large was to accommodate these batteries.


    The Sky Scourge crystals inside the "batteries" weighed a full ten tons!


    The Boston high echelon was willing to make such a significant investment of course because of the Dragon Blood Warrior Potion formula; this was the result of negotiations between the two parties.


    The energy consumption of the Deification Formation was incredibly immense, and without these Doomsday Batteries, it would be impossible for the Array to operate smoothly.


    Xu Yi pulled down the heavy switch, the Doomsday Batteries began supplying energy, and with a thunderous roar, a magma-like golden glow flowed into the Array, and the Deification Formation was slowly activated.


    ```

 Chapter 340

    Xu Yi slightly released the seal of the "Gluttony" dagger, and golden strands flew out from the dagger; his heart suddenly quickened.


    The True Spirit seemed to sense the impending danger and wildly danced in the air, its might astonishing.


    Fortunately, Xu Yi was cautious enough to only allow a small segment of golden thread, as long as a finger, to unfurl from the dagger.


    The Deification Formation began to take effect, and a formidable power acted on the True Spirit, gradually pulling the golden filament towards the Serpent of Finale.


    The sculpture of the Serpent of Finale actually came to life, its seven heads lunging at the True Spirit, gnashing at the golden threads and swallowing them into its belly.


    As the saying goes, the beginning is the hardest part, and after the first step, the rest could naturally unfold.


    The process of sealing the True Spirit went smoother than he had imagined; without any further complications, all the golden threads were consumed by the Serpent of Finale.


    Xu Yi took a deep breath, attempting to calm his nervous emotions.


    In the entire process, transferring the True Spirit was the easiest part; what followed was the most dangerous phase.


    He carefully checked the Array etched upon the Serpent of Finale, especially the "Filter" section.


    The "Filter" was the cornerstone of the Array, not only responsible for filtering the chaotic Energy of the True Spirit but also serving as the Array''s "emergency exit."


    After inspecting it over ten times to ensure not a single detail was missed, he cautiously opened the "small window" reserved on the Array.


    His focus was at its peak, attentive to every movement within the Array, and after a moment, a smile formed on his lips.


    Everything went exceptionally well; there were no abnormalities in the Array, and the "Filter" was solid as a rock.


    Pure Soul Energy overflowed from the Serpent of Finale, stirring a desperate longing in his Soul, like parched land yearning for the quenching of spring water,


    Xu Yi entered the center of the Array, following the specific path to the central altar, and picked up the sculpture of the Serpent of Finale.


    As the sculpture touched the space between his eyebrows, a miraculous scene unfolded¡ªthe Serpent of Finale turned ethereal and merged into his Soul.


    This scene appeared simple but was in fact the most challenging point of the whole process.


    Had it not been for the special nature of the Serpent of Finale, and had he not been the host for the Serpent of Finale.


    Any other object would likely have caused major issues, either causing Soul disorder due to mutual repulsion or contaminating the Soul with foreign elements.


    But due to the nature of the Serpent of Finale, this step became remarkably easy.


    Xu Yi involuntarily closed his eyes, a look of enjoyment on his face.


    Although the Soul Energy leaked by the True Spirit was but a drop in the ocean, for Xu Yi''s fragile Soul, it was akin to a great tonic.


    He absorbed the pure Soul Energy ceaselessly, yet his complexion suddenly turned pale, devoid of any color.


    The Soul Energy output by the True Spirit kept increasing, reaching beyond his tolerance threshold!


    This was clearly not normal; no matter how powerful the Array was or how well optimized, the amount of Soul Energy that could be extracted was very limited.


    Such an abundance of Soul Energy had only one explanation: the True Spirit was actively providing him with Soul Energy.


    In the original design of the Deification Formation, Xu Yi had only considered how to extract Soul Energy from the True Spirit.


    Who would have guessed the True Spirit would play by its own rules?


    His Soul was about to burst!


    He wanted to close the "window" of the Array, but as the Controller of the Array, he found himself unable to do so.


    It was like closing floodgates in a dam: easy when the flow was gentle but incredibly difficult when the current became fierce.


    Xu Yi''s body trembled in agony, yet he managed to maintain some semblance of composure.


    When designing the Array, to prevent any unforeseen incidents, he had added a "circuit breaker" function to the Array for "power outage protection."


    But this was the last resort of protection.


    To disconnect the spirit of the True God was nearly impossible; if the spirit of the True God were under his control, there wouldn''t be a need for such trouble.


    Therefore, the so-called power outage protection was simply disconnecting oneself, forcing oneself to log out.


    The Serpent of Finale suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, and Xu Yi felt a strong suction force on his soul. He couldn''t resist it, nor did he need to.


    He let his soul be absorbed into the sculpture of the Serpent of Finale.


    His vision blurred for an instant, and the next second, he found himself in a strange place.


    "So this is what the interior space of the Serpent of Finale looks like," Xu Yi murmured as he looked around.


    Red walls were all he could see, shimmering with the glow of red crystals. He stood in the void, not because he had levitated, but because there was a layer of a transparent barrier beneath his feet.


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    Looking down through the barrier at the spirit of the True God, it was clear that this transparent barrier could isolate auras; otherwise, the spirit of the True God would have lunged at him long ago.


    Golden flames flowed over the spirit of the True God, and even through the barrier, Xu Yi could feel the terror of those flames.


    His expression changed slightly; the flames were converging toward the exit, forming a golden "sun."


    Under the radiance of the "sun," a hole was burnt through the Array''s "Filter," just like when a prison cell''s door suddenly opens, and the spirit of the True God excitedly darted out.


    Golden threads flew out from the Serpent of Finale, which resided within Xu Yi, and the moment the threads flew out, they connected to Xu Yi''s body.


    In reality, Xu Yi''s eyes suddenly snapped open, and the golden light in his pupils was as bright as a supernova exploding.


    The spirit of the True God combined with the Body of Demigod; the effect of these two merging was simply unimaginable.


    At that moment, Xu Yi was a God!


    The room shook violently; the Eight Monster House could not contain the aura belonging to a god, and it trembled uncontrollably in fear.


    The students from Isotope, driving a monster truck filled with monsters, were in high spirits as they returned to Notting Hill.


    The presence of the god swept over them, the driver slammed on the brakes so hard the truck nearly flipped, but no one cared. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, and their backs were drenched in cold sweat.


    Within the Eight Monster House, Xu Yi gazed at the spirit of the True God that had escaped its confines, his expression serious but not completely out of control.


    The "Gluttony" Dagger within the Array suddenly shook intensely, ringing with a clarity like that of a bell, and the dark golden light on its blade was as bright as a fire.


    It wasn''t only the "Gluttony" Dagger that was shaking; the "Pride" katana, the "Sloth" Spear... every Alchemical Weapon of the Seven Deadly Sins trembled violently.


    The sounds they emitted were distinct; some were uplifting like the beat of a drum, others deep like a cello... They were like a renowned orchestra, performing a piece that was nothing short of perfect.


    In this symphony performed by the Seven Deadly Sins, the golden thread that had just escaped from the Serpent of Finale was suddenly halted in midair, immobilized.


    Meanwhile, the Array atop the Serpent of Finale also operated at full capacity, preventing the spirit of the True God from moving.


    The metal plates of the "Lightning Punishment Batteries" billowed hot steam, emitting an incredible heat; these "batteries" were outputting at maximum capacity, pouring surging Energy into the Deification Formation.


    Within the deep grooves of the Array, what flowed was no longer red mercury but a molten, golden glow that formed complex interlocking patterns.


    The Lava Array rose up, enveloping the escaping spirit of the True God.


    The gold thread of the spirit of the True God had barely stretched an inch, unable to resist the power of the Array and was progressively forced back by the Array.


    Xu Yi had expended so much thought and prepared a wealth of resources to construct the Array before him, not just to complete the sealing but also to avoid any accidental occurrences.


    The spirit of the True God was driven back into the Serpent of Finale, and the hovering Lava Array did not disappear; they quickly shrank and encompassed the Serpent of Finale.


    Xu Yi, having honed his skills through the trial of forging the Seven Deadly Sins, was now very adept with this flow technique of the Array.


    The Lava Array was branded onto the Serpent of Finale, making its patterns exceptionally clear. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The golden glow gradually dissipated, and the Array on the Serpent of Finale was also strengthened to completion.


    After this step, unless Xu Yi actively undid the Array, it would be very difficult for the spirit of the True God to have another chance to escape.


    At the same time, the "container" in the room exploded with a great clump of black smoke; the energy of the Red Crystal Stones was exhausted.

 Chapter 341 The Arrival of the Door

    Boston, a hidden underground chamber.


    The Lizard Dragon stood up from the thick green liquid, twisting his head forcefully, as mechanical scales lifted along with his body, emitting dense black steam from the gaps.


    "Finally repaired!" the Lizard Dragon let out a breath. Continue your journey at My Virtual Library Empire


    The Crow Man stood beside the sink, quietly watching the Lizard Dragon, "The hosts of the seven deadly sins have all been found, and it''s time to start the rebirth plan."


    The Lizard Dragon nodded, "Calculating the time, the Mist World is about to dissipate as well, we need to hurry."


    He looked at the Crow Man and suddenly changed the subject, "Is there some difficulty?"


    The Crow Man seemed hesitant, clearly having something he wanted to say.


    "What''s your view on Xu Yi?" Instead of answering directly, the Crow Man asked a question in return.


    A thought struck the Lizard Dragon, he and the Crow Man had known each other for several hundred years, and were extremely familiar with each other. When the latter brought up Xu Yi, he guessed what the other was planning.


    "Do you want to use the Gate of Truth against Xu Yi?"


    The Crow Man did not deny it, "You must have seen the threat Xu Yi poses to our Ring of Destruction. Initially, he was merely a troublemaker, but now he''s become an assassin, holding power that could kill us!"


    "Do you have a detailed plan?"


    The Lizard Dragon felt heavy-hearted, remembering the deceased Silver Giant Ape.


    The Crow Man spoke the truth, Xu Yi''s growth was too rapid. If not contained, he would definitely become a grave threat to the Ring of Destruction.


    Without a word, the Crow Man took out Xu Yi''s severed hand.


    The Lizard Dragon, looking at the curse inscribed on the severed hand, suddenly realized, "You want the Knight of Destruction to take this hand and enter the Gate of Truth."


    At this point, the Crow Man had no reason to hide anything and nodded.


    The Lizard Dragon frowned, "Wouldn''t that be too dangerous? If he crosses through the Gate of Truth''s baptism, it might affect the World Tree Seed''s rebirth."


    "Crossing through the baptism of the Gate of Truth?"


    The Crow Man suddenly let out a cold laugh, looking at the Lizard Dragon and retorting, "Do you think that''s possible?"


    The Lizard Dragon couldn''t help but smile wryly, feeling that he was worrying too much. To pass through the baptism of the Gate of Truth, one had to be a god!


    ...


    West walked along the streets of Boston late at night, looking up.


    He could actually see a shadow of the starry sky, something that was invisible just two days earlier. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The fog has thinned!" West sighed, this sign indicating that the Mist World was gradually receding.


    The Crow Man stood two paces behind West, holding a sharp Grim Reaper''s scythe in his hand. Rather than walking together, it was more like the Crow Man was escorting West.


    West, as if he heard nothing, continued to admire the night view of Boston''s streets, suddenly stopping.


    Before him at Fountain Plaza, a horn-like metal tower stood silently.


    Such an eye-catching thing had remained unnoticed, clearly indicating the metal tower possessed camouflage or some kind of concealment ability.


    The gates of the metal tower were wide open, with the Crow Man standing at the entrance watching West, making a welcoming gesture.


    West made no move, standing still with his customary smile, "Where''s the thing I want?"


    The light flickered in the Crow Man''s eyes, and after a moment of hesitation, he took out a heavy metal book.


    The ancient tome appeared rusted, its cover engraved with some kind of unknown script.


    If Xu Yi were here, he''d be astonished, for the book in front of him was the legendary Book of Ainoton, a divine book gifted by the gods to mortals, something that only existed in legends.


    West received the Book of Ainoton, and even with his self-control, he was overwhelmed passionately.


    He began flipping through it, completely absorbed, until the Crow Man spoke up, pushing him to snap back to reality.


    "Truly fitting for the Book of Ainoton that records the secrets of life and death!" West sighed contentedly.


    Crow Man watched West expressionlessly, "You''ve received what you wanted, it''s time to fulfill your promise."


    "Of course!" West beckoned towards a spot not too far away, and a fat jumping corpse burst out from the shadows, obediently standing in front of West.


    West tossed the Book of Ainoton to the jumping corpse, and the corpulent undead opened its huge mouth to swallow the heavy metal book in one gulp.


    The hefty jumping corpse darted off, disappearing into the shadows of the buildings after a few leaps and bounds.


    West walked toward the door of the metal tower, his smile a bit stiff on his face.


    Although he had anticipated this, he couldn''t help feeling jittery when he actually stood in front of the door.


    "I hope the Sin Remains are up to it!"


    West sighed inwardly and stepped into the tower, and the heavy metal door closed behind him with a "bang".


    ...


    In Notting Hill, within the skylight chamber of the Eight Monster House.


    Xu Yi sat cross-legged under the Cat Spirit Holy Tree, imitating the posture of a Taoist in meditation, his eyes slightly closed, breathing slowly and deeply as if becoming one with nature... Bullshit!


    The effect of meditation couldn''t be called weak, it was simply non-existent.


    Since the essence of the True God had been sealed within the Serpent of Finale, the spirit had completely given up.


    Without the active supply of the True God''s spirit, the Array could only extract a woeful amount of Soul Energy.


    And there was no helping it; in order to ensure stability, the Array naturally sacrificed some of its efficiency.


    Hence, Xu Yi began trying various methods to absorb more Soul Energy, even resorting to the esoteric practice of meditation, but to no avail.


    Xu Yi was so devoted to this because the current absorption rate was excruciatingly slow.


    To fully absorb the spirit of the True God, who knew how long it would take.


    He sighed and decided to go out for a walk to clear his mind. As he was about to leave the villa, his pupils suddenly dilated.


    The darkness of Boston was abruptly illuminated as seven massive pillars of light shot into the sky, each a different color, converging toward a single point.


    "That''s... the old barn cemetery!" Xu Yi recognized the location of the convergence.


    He felt a familiar presence within the pillars of light, the aura of the Origin of Sin, and immediately realized that the actions of the Ring of Destruction had begun!


    At the center of the converging lights, a vast white vortex slowly formed, and an indescribable essence emanated from the vortex, making Xu Yi''s body tremble uncontrollably.


    A massive and heavy gate descended from the vortex, golden throughout with dense text inscribed on its surface, ranging from twisted Dragon Script to various ancient texts.


    The moment the door appeared, Xu Yi identified it as one of the three primary Origins, the Gate of Truth!


    Xu Yi stared at the door, a very ominous premonition making his heart feel oppressed.


    ...


    The old barn cemetery.


    Crow Man and Lizard Dragon stood under the Gate of Truth, silently watching the gate''s opening.


    Crow Man couldn''t help but exclaim, "As expected of the true essence of the Gate of Truth, this pressure is suffocating!"


    "Let''s act quickly, before everyone gets drawn over here!" urged Lizard Dragon impatiently.


    Crow Man nodded, no longer wasting words. He approached the Metal Coffin, awakening the Knight of Destruction inside.


    The body of the Knight of Destruction shook violently, not because there was an issue with the Armor, but because something inside was expressing its hunger.


    Crow Man took out a severed hand with dense curse inscriptions on it¡ªit was Xu Yi''s hand.


    The Knight of Destruction grabbed the hand and soared into the sky, flying towards the Gate of Truth high above.


    Under the hopeful gazes of Crow Man and Lizard Dragon, the Knight of Destruction passed through the Gate of Truth, swallowed by the golden light, vanishing from sight.

 Chapter 342 The

    Notting Hill.


    Xu Yi suddenly found himself immobilized, like an insect trapped in amber.


    He tried hard to move his eyes, looking towards the Gate of Truth at the edge of the sky. It was clearly a gate, yet he felt the gate observing him.


    With his peripheral vision, he noticed that others were merely astonished by the terrifying aspect of the gate; their movements were not affected.


    Why was the Gate of Truth singling him out? Could it be because of the Ring of Destruction?


    What terrified him most was the fact that he could not move at all, and even the flow of blood in his body seemed to have stopped. He could not activate "Blood as Sacred."


    In other words, he couldn''t even kill himself!


    "Could this be the true power of the three great gates?" Xu Yi was extremely alarmed.


    In front of the Soul Gate and the Black Void Gate, he was quite pathetic, but at least suicide was an option.


    Of course, this did not mean that the Gate of Truth was more powerful than the other two; it was more likely that the previous two gates did not exert their full strength. This could be inferred from the extent to which the gates were opened.


    The Soul Gate and the Black Void Gate were only slightly ajar, while the Gate of Truth in front of him was almost fully open.


    A powerful suction force suddenly acted upon Xu Yi; he couldn''t resist and was pulled into the sky.


    "Xu Yi!" Maria, also standing in front of the villa, was the first to notice Xu Yi''s anomaly and shouted angrily.


    She rushed towards Xu Yi, trying to pull him down.


    But the next second, she was bounced away. Xu Yi was enveloped in an invisible force field that no one else could get close to.


    Xu Yi floated in the high sky. He was like a kite tied to a string, and now the other end was reeling him in; he could only watch helplessly as he was pulled away.


    As he drew closer to the Gate of Truth, he saw the Crow Man and the Lizard Dragon below. They looked at him coldly.


    He tried every method, even attempting to make a deal with the Black Void Gate.


    But the Black Void Gate, true to its nature of a cunning merchant, probably thought the Gate of Truth was too troublesome, and Xu Yi''s bargaining chips were not enough. It didn''t respond at all.


    "What is inside the Gate of Truth, exactly?"


    Xu Yi knew he couldn''t escape; as the Gate of Truth enlarged before his eyes, he grew curious.


    His body was pulled into the Gate of Truth, engulfed in a strong golden light.


    Strangely, he felt no pain; instead, there was an indescribable lightness throughout his body. It was as if a weary traveler was soaking in a warm spring, with both body and mind being healed.


    His soul gradually sank into the light. After an unknown period of time, he slowly opened his eyes.


    The sunlight was exceptionally dazzling. Xu Yi squinted for a while before adjusting to the light, and found himself lying under an ancient tree with a vast canopy.


    He looked a bit bewildered, as if he had forgotten something important. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t remember it.


    "Xu Yi, why are you still here? The god ascension ceremony is about to begin!" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A youth clad in bright silver armor suddenly appeared behind him and exclaimed in surprise.


    Xu Yi remembered what the important thing was. Yes, he was to participate in the god ascension ceremony today.


    Because he was too excited the night before, he hadn''t slept at all, and just prior to the event, he had somehow felt sleepy and inadvertently dozed off.


    The air was filled with an unknown fragrance; the god ascension ceremony was ready to commence.


    The attendees of the ceremony seemed endless¡ªa statement not quite accurate because they were not people, but divine beings, with seven-colored divine light shining behind them.


    Palm-sized flower fairies flew chaotically through the air, leaving colorful petals to fall from the sky wherever they passed.


    In front of the crowd, Xu Yi saw his father, the Divine King of the Divine Kingdom, and of course, he was the "Son of God."


    Today was his coming-of-age day and also the time to inherit his divinity.


    Standing behind his father was a goddess of similar age, standing gracefully.


    The goddess was dressed in a cloud-green flowing yarn skirt, wearing a crown of vines and flowers, watching his beautiful face was an incredibly pleasant experience.


    When the goddess realized Xu Yi was looking at her, she immediately hid behind her mother. But she couldn''t help peeking out, her face flushed with shyness as she stole glances at Xu Yi.


    She was his betrothed, and after the god ascension ceremony, he would marry her.


    His father was the Divine King, and he was about to take over the Divine Kingdom. His fianc¨¦e was so beautiful and charming¡ªit was as if he was a "God-given" winner in life.


    The Ascension Steps, forged entirely from heavenly gold, lay before him. There were twelve steps in total, and at the very top sat a dazzling, diamond-shaped Divinity.


    As long as he ascended the steps and reached the top to claim the Divinity, he would ascend to godhood!


    "Go! Remember to let down all your defenses and accept the baptism of the Divine Kingdom''s light!" His father''s eyes were filled with encouragement.


    "You can do it!" his fianc¨¦e clenched her fist and whispered words of encouragement.


    Xu Yi smiled and nodded in response. Taking a deep breath, he stepped onto the first of the Ascension Steps.


    White divine light surged from all directions, carrying a strange fragrance. Xu Yi was enveloped in the light, and every cell in his body was leaping for joy, greedily soaking up the divine light.


    As he stepped onto the Ascension Steps, everyone was behind him, so he couldn''t see how everything behind him had suddenly changed.


    The encouragement in his father''s eyes, the Divine King, had vanished, replaced by cold indifference. His fianc¨¦e no longer looked shy but stared at his back with a mocking expression.


    The gods who had come to witness the ceremony were not radiating seven-colored divine light but thick, dark mist and the aura of blood.


    Those beautifully featured Flower Fairies were, in actuality, fleshless skeletons, and instead of scattering petals, they were shedding pieces of white bone.


    ......


    Notting Hill.


    Maria''s heart was filled with anxiety at that moment, but she knew she must not panic.


    Xu Yi had been sucked into that door, and Lisa lay unconscious. The only person in Notting Hill who could take charge was her now.


    She kept taking deep breaths, forcibly calming herself down.


    They had to rescue Xu Yi¡ªthere was no doubt about that. What mattered was how to do it.


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    There were two possible ways, one was to follow through the door.


    But no sooner had this thought emerged in her mind than she dismissed it.


    Although she didn''t know what the door was, if even Xu Yi couldn''t withstand it, they would be even less likely to do so. By entering it, not only would they be unable to save Xu Yi, they might even endanger themselves.


    "Then the only option left is to sabotage the ceremony!" Maria gazed determinedly at the source of the light.


    Once she made her decision, Maria didn''t hesitate; she commanded Ailent to gather everyone while she returned to the Eight Monster House.


    Moments later, when she emerged again, she was followed by a metallic cabinet.


    The metallic cabinet opened to reveal seven weapons of various shapes, neatly arranged. It was the first time the Alchemical Weapons, "Seven Deadly Sins," were revealed before the crowd.


    After being used to amplify the Deification Array, the "Seven Deadly Sins" had remnants of the scourging Crystal Stones'' radiation, so Xu Yi temporarily stored the "Seven Deadly Sins" in the cabinet, intending to wait for the radiation to dissipate before distributing them.


    Now that Xu Yi was absent, it was natural for Maria to act on his behalf.


    "I''m going now to destroy the nodes of the ceremony. Decide for yourselves what you will do!"


    Maria swept her gaze around; familiar faces surrounded her, as Ailent had gathered everyone.


    After speaking, she took the katana "Pride" from the cabinet and ran towards one of the sources of the light, feeling a kinship in its aura.


    "As Mr. Xu Yi is a benefactor of our Finns, how could I stand by while he is in danger?" said Cass as he took the Recurve Knife "Lust" from the cabinet. Xu Yi had been his savior, and he couldn''t leave him to face death alone.


    William silently stepped forward and picked up the Foiled Sword "Envy."


    He felt the battle intent boiling inside him as he held the sword, having waited for this moment for a very long time.


    Carrie silently took down the Knight''s Sword "Envy."


    Though her strength was not great, she was willing to risk it all. Xu Yi was not only her teacher but also her "family."


    "Do you need our help?"


    A cool voice suddenly sounded from behind. Yukeni, accompanied by students from the Isotope Institute, had come of their own volition, without being summoned by Ailent.


    "Our teacher is in trouble. As his students, how could we just sit back and do nothing?" little Judy exclaimed with a clenched fist amid the crowd.


    While the others discussed teaming up, a fiery figure swept across the sky. The Ghost Samurai, under the direction of Xu Changrong, flew at high speed toward one of the ceremony nodes.

 Chapter 343 Heading Towards Destruction

    Xu Yi greedily absorbed the Divine Light, feeling an unprecedented level of power surge through him, as if no one in heaven or earth could be his match.


    But the Divine Light was soon completely devoured, and an intense sense of weakness swept over him like a tidal wave.


    This feeling was truly dreadful, like a deity from the heavenly realm suddenly plummeting to the status of a mere mortal.


    He couldn''t wait to lift his leg and take a step, ascending to the next level.


    A more intense white Divine Light surged toward him, and he, like a parched traveler in the desert, stumbled upon sweet spring water and eagerly guzzled it down.


    An incomparable sense of fulfillment filled his body; he felt himself becoming stronger and stronger.


    But the same scene repeated itself, the light faded, and a powerful sense of weakness hit him, driving him subconsciously to ascend to the next level.


    What Xu Yi didn''t know was that, in reality, his body was becoming thinner and thinner, his cheeks hollowed, and his dark circles more pronounced.


    Compared to his body, the damage to his soul was far more severe, as his soul grew lighter and lighter, like the trace erased by an eraser.


    During his ascent, the feelings of power he experienced were all illusions, but the feelings of weakness were real, and his soul was gradually fading away.


    But the weaker he became, the more he craved to absorb more Divine Light, the more he absorbed, the more weakened he became, completely trapped in a vicious cycle, akin to quenching one''s thirst with poison.


    Behind him, the walls of the grand temple began to shed their outer layer, revealing the mottled bloodstains beneath.


    The so-called gods were no longer glittering and beautiful; their complexions turned dark, their pupils blood red, their teeth sharp, they were like malevolent spirits.


    They watched Xu Yi with indifference, witnessing his steps towards ruin.


    ......


    At Fountain Plaza, within the Horn-shaped Metal Tower.


    West let out an agonized scream as black and green vines fell from above and pierced deeply into his body.


    Even someone as strong as West could not break free from these vines and could only watch helplessly as the power was drained from his body.


    His body of disguise was useless against the Ring of Destruction, for the Ring held the ability to perceive the Source of Sin, and he had no choice but to come in his true form.


    The ability to transfer his soul was also unusable, as the link between him and the living corpses was severed by the eerie tower.


    As massive amounts of Origin and Vitality were extracted from his body, an endless sense of weakness enveloped him, and West could only gasp for air.


    If this continued, he feared he would be drained completely, until he died.


    But his face did not show despair, instead, he looked around the tower''s interior with great interest.


    Ever since he merged with the Origin of "Pride," he had the ability of "Insight into Everything."


    He could see that these metal towers were not crafted by humans; many parts contained "anti-human" design details.


    Though he couldn''t see the outside world, he could guess the target of the Ring of Destruction, which was likely the legendary Gate of Truth.


    When the people of the Ring of Destruction found him, they first tried to "threaten" him, but sensing that he was a tough opponent, they switched to "temptation."


    West had no interest in the grand promises of the Ring of Destruction; he had only one demand, which was knowledge, vast amounts of Mysticism knowledge.


    He was fortunate enough to enter one of the Ring of Destruction''s "Archive" places, and he was amazed by the multitude of Ancient Tomes there.


    Although the Ring of Destruction destroyed the knowledge about the "Three Great Gates" in the books, he had deduced it from the clues left behind.


    If Xu Yi knew this, he would definitely be astonished.


    He was only a false genius created by "burning Entries," while West was a true genius.


    Especially after merging with the Origin of "Pride," West''s thinking ability was probably unimaginable.


    West was well aware that to keep the Gate of Truth open, these metal towers were indispensable.


    The common members of the Ring of Destruction had limited abilities; it was clearly not enough to protect these towers, so what should they do at this time?


    West could probably guess the thought process of the Ring of Destruction.


    At that moment, spider-like metal arms reached down from above, and at the tip of the metal arm was a syringe filled with a dark black Potion, flowing inside.


    The Potion was injected into West''s body, causing intense agony to spread throughout his body.


    Clenching his teeth, he struggled to activate his Ability.


    This was one of the abilities Xu Yi gained after fusing with the soul of "Pride", he was able to analyze any potion injected into his body.


    "A powerful vitality, consciousness shrouded, bloodthirsty madness..."


    As more information was analyzed, the smile at the corner of his mouth grew more intense, the effect of the potion was almost what he had guessed.


    "Everything is within the plan!" West murmured softly.


    Moments later, as the potion began to take effect, West let out a bestial roar, his pupils turned a bloody red, and he completely lost his sanity.


    If it had been any other time, he might have been able to resist the effects of the potion, but now he was too weak.


    The red vines detached from West''s body, and the heavy door of the metal tower slowly opened, West subconsciously walked towards the door.


    With every step he took, his body underwent corresponding mutations.


    By the time he reached the doorway, he had transformed from a cultured social elite into an unequivocal monster.


    His eyeballs in his pupils split, turning into blood-red compound eyes; two exceptionally thick arms extended from under his armpits; six pitch-black wings grew out of his back.


    This was his true form as the "Origin of Pride"!


    Entering his true form was not West''s intention, but the effect of the black potion.


    The potion not only caused him to lose his sanity, but also forcibly stimulated the little energy he had within his body, which was clearly draining the pond to catch the fish.


    The Ring of Destruction, of course, didn''t care, for them, the host of the Source of Sin was nothing more than fuel, the key to opening the Gate of Truth.


    Now that the gate was open, these hosts were naturally useless.


    But rather than waste them, they might as well use them to guard the metal tower, utilizing them to their full potential.


    When Maria arrived at Fountain Plaza, she happened to encounter West stepping out from the door; sensing the terrifying aura on him, her expression became extremely grave.


    She conveyed the information she had detected with her soul ability to Ailan, and her body was also taken control by Ailan.


    This was the combat mode they had figured out together: Maria was responsible for reconnaissance, while Ailan was in charge of combat; they were like a navigator and a race car driver.


    Ailan stared at the enemy before her with unprecedented seriousness.


    Among all the opponents she had encountered, the one before her could definitely be ranked at the top, and she realized she was no match for the monster in front of her.


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    She took a deep breath, clearing the chaotic thoughts in her mind, as there was no way she could retreat from this battle.


    Just then, an unexpected change occurred.


    The manhole covers around the streets were suddenly blown off, and grotesque animated corpses surged out of the sewers, howling in rage.


    Ailan''s heart sank; she had not been certain she could deal with the monster before her, let alone with a horde of these animated corpses.


    But a surprising scene unfolded, the animated corpses didn''t attack her but instead lunged at the six-winged monster.


    The six-winged monster began an unmatched slaughter, the animated corpses fell like harvested straw, one swath after another.


    But the dictionary of the animated corpses didn''t contain the option to give up; they acted more like robots following strict orders, continuing to throw themselves forward relentlessly.


    Of course, the horde of animated corpses was no match for the six-winged monster, but Ailan keenly sensed something was amiss.


    When the animated corpses died, their bodies would explode, splashing fluorescent green blood onto the six-winged monster.


    This blood seemed to have a strong restraining effect on the six-winged monster, and as it became more and more stained with blood, it started to weaken.


    As time passed, the six-winged monster''s weakness reached a threshold, the horde of animated corpses brought it down, and began to devour it ferociously. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a short while, flesh, and even the bones of the six-winged monster, were gnawed away, leaving only a "small stone" hovering in the air.


    The "small stone" randomly flew into an animated corpse, entering its body.


    The flesh of that animated corpse began to wriggle, and in the blink of an eye, it had transformed from a fierce-faced monster into a refined man.


    If it weren''t for the bloody, tattered clothes he wore, he could even be described as graceful and elegant.


    The man found a pair of bloody black-framed glasses on the ground, wiped them casually with his clothes, and put them back on.


    West gazed at Ailan with a smile on his lips, "Do you want to destroy these spires? I can help you with that!"

 Chapter 344 When the Map is Unfurled, the Dagger is Revealed

    Above the "Stairs of Ascension to Godhood", Xu Yi stepped onto the twelfth step, Divine Light so dense it was like a lake, and he greedily absorbed the Divine Light around him.


    Unconsciously, he was about to reach the top.


    The Divinity, radiating a rainbow of light, was close at hand, and as long as he swallowed the Divinity, he could ascend to godhood.


    In Xu Yi''s eyes, the Divinity was dazzling, as if crafted from the most beautiful gemstone in the world, but to the "gods" behind him, it was clearly a pitch-black heart oozing with pus and blood.


    The "gods" looked on with eager eyes, for as soon as Xu Yi consumed that heart, everything would be settled.


    By then, Xu Yi would fall into being an "Illusory Ghost" like them, staying forever within the Gate of Truth, enduring endless torture.


    They were in too much pain, and it was only when a newcomer arrived that they could derive some pleasure by tormenting the newcomer.


    Xu Yi picked up the Divinity from the altar, the Divinity warm to the touch.


    The chance to become a god was right before his eyes, but for some reason, he felt an inexplicable sense of palpitations.


    The feeling of heart palpitations was fleeting, replaced by an even stronger desire, as a grey shadow once again clouded Xu Yi''s vision.


    The gods below grew anxious as Xu Yi showed "no movement" after a long time.


    In the endless torment of the eons, their spirits were already twisted, their past memories dissipated; they had become thoroughbred wraiths, taking pleasure in tormenting others.


    If they saw someone escape from here, it would hurt more than if they were killed!


    "Brother Xu Yi, hurry up and accept the Divinity! Don''t you want to marry me?" His fiancee''s soft voice rang out. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let down all your defenses, undo every restriction in your body, and accept this power to ascend to godhood!" The voice of the Divine King seemed to possess a kind of magic that made people involuntarily comply.


    The doubts in Xu Yi''s mind were also fleeting, and after a few seconds, he couldn''t even remember the doubts, the Gate of Truth''s manipulation of his spiritual wisdom continued to take effect.


    He subconsciously followed his Divine King father''s words, completely letting down his guard and removing all the restrictions within his body. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    As the command was issued, the "Deification Array" on the Serpent of Finale quietly unlocked.


    The Serpent of Finale, being an inanimate object, could not discern whether Xu Yi''s command was given willingly or under deception.


    It loyally executed Xu Yi''s order.


    As the "Deification Array" unlocked, the spirit of the True God inside the Array couldn''t wait to rush toward the exit, like a prisoner seeing the cell door opening.


    Golden filaments flew out from the Serpent of Finale, instantly linking to Xu Yi''s body.


    The instant the spirit of the True God escaped, the Serpent of Finale''s "power-off protection" activated, forcefully pulling Xu Yi''s soul into the Serpent of Finale.


    Xu Yi suddenly found himself in a strange space, confused.


    Could it be that the enemies of the Divine Kingdom did not wish for him to inherit the Divinity and made their move against him? Xu Yi pondered secretly.


    Why didn''t his father stop them? Were their methods really that ingenious?


    Such was the terror of the Gate of Truth; it blinded Xu Yi''s spiritual wisdom and altered his memories, and even after he had left the Stairs of Ascension to Godhood, he still couldn''t escape the illusionary realm.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi looked up.


    As the host of the Serpent of Finale, after entering this space, the outside scene was automatically projected above the void.


    He saw "himself" standing at the top of the Stairs of Ascension to Godhood, holding the glittering Divinity in hand, his eyes filled with gold as intense as flowing magma.


    Was it really the enemy''s conspiracy? His body had actually been taken over! Xu Yi thought darkly, watching the impostor on the stairs.


    The impostor''s hand suddenly clenched forcefully, veins on the back of his hand exposed, and the Divinity was crushed into ash and scattered.


    Xu Yi was stunned, the enemy had actually destroyed the Divinity!


    But he was also puzzled, shouldn''t the Divinity be extremely sturdy? How could it be destroyed so easily?


    The gods below cursed loudly, but the impostor remained expressionless as golden flames began to rise from within him.


    With a wave of his hand, the sky filled with golden flames swept through like a ferocious storm in all directions.


    As the flames swept over the Stairs of Ascension to Godhood, the golden steps began to fade, revealing the mottled bloodstains beneath.


    The flames swept over the assembled deities and their divine light faded away, each god turning into a desiccated corpse with glints of hatred flashing in their eyes.


    The elves in the sky too transformed into skeletons, scattering fragments of fine white bones throughout the heavens and earth.


    Only the Divine King and Xu Yi''s fianc¨¦e remained unchanged.


    "Destroying Divinity, are you trying to rebel?" bellowed the Divine King''s father, his commanding voice thundering across the sky like a clap of thunder.


    "Xu Yi, why not willingly inherit the Divinity? I am still waiting for you to marry me," implored the fianc¨¦e, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at Xu Yi.


    As Xu Yi beheld this scene, his hairs stood on end¡ªhe knew all too well what was happening.


    An illusion! All of it was an illusion!


    His brain suddenly throbbed with intense pain, and clutching his head, Xu Yi fell to the ground in agony. Moments later, when he reopened his eyes, the grey light that had clouded his vision dissipated, restoring clarity to his sight.


    Xu Yi was now fully awake and understood the situation completely.


    Any creature that enters the Gate of Truth would undergo a "Baptism," with memories altered and cognition manipulated.


    If one fails the test and doesn''t attain godhood within the illusionary realm, then both their body and soul would be eternally condemned here, becoming "Illusory Ghosts" that wander within the Gate of Truth.


    Just the thought of it broke Xu Yi out in a cold sweat.


    If his soul were to be damned here, since it wouldn''t count as a complete death, the Resurrection Coin wouldn''t activate.


    The souls that fail Baptism would not awaken but would have their memories completely rewritten to become the Wraiths of a True God.


    Xu Yi took deep breaths, for the first time feeling death looming so closely.


    Although not completely dead, becoming an Illusory Ghost without one''s own thoughts wasn''t much different from death.


    This ordeal taught him a lesson: the Resurrection Coin was not omnipotent. In certain extreme conditions, the Resurrection Coin was utterly useless.


    Fortunately, the beings in this world capable of engineering such a situation were few and far between. After all, the Gate of Truth was a "Primordial" entity.


    Only then did Xu Yi begin to assess his own state; his soul was far weaker than before¡ªfrail like a Wandering Soul that could dissipate at any moment.


    Previously, he had only harmed the foundation by extensively converting essence from the Seed of Thefts; now, he was gravely ill to the core.


    Even without external forces, given his current condition, if he did not remedy the deficiencies of his soul, he likely had only a year or two left to live.


    "Should I use the Resurrection Coin?"


    Xu Yi''s soul was indeed in a dreadful state, and he instinctively wanted to save himself.


    But after contemplating for a moment, he despondently realized that even if he started over, he still had no confidence in breaking free from the Gate of Truth''s deception, and would likely blunder towards death in a daze.


    "What Baptism? Isn''t it just murder?" Xu Yi couldn''t help but think.


    Could ordinary people truly pass the Baptism of the Gate of Truth?


    The only method he could think of to break the cycle was to see through the false gods.


    But how could a "Common" person recognize the truth about these gods, especially when their senses had been dulled?


    It''s like a villager from an isolated community who''s never even heard of Aj; if you brought them a pair of counterfeit sneakers from Putian, would they really be able to tell the difference?


    "Thank goodness I have the Spirit of a True God within me!" Xu Yi felt relieved.


    The reason the Spirit of a True God could see through the deception was because it was itself a True God. Even though it was just a Remnant Soul of a True God, discerning these fakes was still an easy feat.


    While relieved, a deep worry began to rise in Xu Yi''s heart.


    This time was different from the last time. Last time not only was there the help of the Deification Array, but the Spirit of a True God had only escaped slightly.


    This time around, the entirety of the Spirit of a True God had broken free, like a flood dragon returning to the sea, with nothing left to stop it.


    Xu Yi truly could not think of a way to reseal the Spirit of a True God and reclaim his body.


    As Xu Yi pondered, the "gods" revealed their true colors.


    They surged forward like a tide toward the Spirit of a True God on the high platform, emitting furious roars, their eyes betraying a deep-seated hatred.

 Chapter 345 Through

    On the highways of Boston, Ailan and West were sprinting toward the suburbs, heading for the source of the next column of light.


    As Ailan watched West''s retreating figure, she recalled the events that had transpired minutes ago.


    The man who claimed to be "Xu Yi''s friend" had resuscitated and relentlessly controlled the animated corpses to help her destroy the metallic tower.


    Although he had just assisted her, she remained vigilant.


    Xu Yi had never mentioned this friend, and the man gave off an aura that was too dangerous.


    West seemed not to notice Ailan''s icy demeanor, his lips always curled in a genial smile as he shared with her his escape story.


    But then his tone shifted abruptly, "Seeing how anxious you are, could it be that something has happened to Xu Yi?"


    Ailan glanced at West indifferently and did not respond.


    "Seems like I guessed right!" West did not pursue further. He looked up toward the Gate of Truth hanging in the sky, deep in thought.


    Moments later, in the midst of their mad dash, Ailan suddenly came to a halt, for they had reached their destination.


    In front of them stood a horn-shaped metal tower, from which a light that pierced the heavens burst forth, surging toward the gate high above.


    Ailan instinctively gripped the handle of the katana named "Pride," her muscles tensed as she watched ahead with caution.


    Around the metal tower, stunningly beautiful women roamed with scarlet pupils, like starving hounds in search of food.


    There wasn''t just one of these breathtaking women; they were gathered together in masses, and what was chilling was that they all bore the exact same face.


    Even more disturbing was that they casually picked up sharp objects from the ground and continuously dismembered their own bodies.


    "This is my friend, Tomie Kawakami. You can just call her Fujiang!" West introduced softly. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    A smile still graced West''s face, as if what he saw was not the gruesome self-mutilation, but friends practicing the art of flower arranging at home.


    At the same time, Tomie Kawakami also noticed West and Ailan. In unison, they turned, their slender waists twisting as they pounced toward the two of them.


    As they moved, a pale pink mist emanated from their bodies.


    "Try not to inhale this mist, or it will be problematic!" West warned quietly.


    Facing the oncoming tide of "Fujiang," West showed no trace of panic. With a wave of his hand, the animated corpses hiding in the shadows burst forth, positioning themselves in front of him.


    There were three of these special jumping corpses, no longer human in shape, their limbs atrophied, and their heads merely tiny points, while their bellies were grotesquely swollen, looking like balloons filled with air.


    As they moved, they bounced more like rubber balls.


    Suddenly, they opened their mouths, and black dust poured out in a fierce downpour, quickly enveloping the approaching Tomie Kawakami.


    The bodies of Tomie Kawakami, coated in dust, seemed to have been doused in concentrated sulfuric acid as they writhed in pain on the ground, melting away like snow.


    Ailan thought back to the scene before and understood that the man named West had anticipated all this.


    All of the Tomie Kawakamis had vanished, leaving behind only sticky pools of liquid. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    West squatted before one of the puddles, reaching into the viscous fluid, and drew out a little black and gold "pebble."


    Looking at the "pebble," Ailan suddenly felt it was familiar.


    Her gaze swept to the katana "Pride" in her hand, and she realized that the material of the "pebble" was similar to that of her sword.


    With a gesture from West, an animated corpse resembling a cabinet walked over to him. He reached into the corpse''s chest and pulled out a test tube containing a pink flesh blob.


    He carelessly shattered the test tube, and the flesh blob snaked toward the "pebble," swiftly engulfing it.


    The flesh blob writhed and began to multiply, its volume expanding and form becoming clearer until it fully grew into a person.


    "Hello there!" the resurrected Tomie Kawakami said as she caught the clothes tossed by West and greeted Ailan.


    Ailan paid no attention to her; her heart was filled with urgency.


    Drawing her blade, she gathered fierce lightning upon her sword and swung it violently, creating an effect akin to a sword aura.


    The ghostly green lightning pierced through the horn-shaped metal tower, causing it to tremble violently.


    West was not idle either, controlling the jumping corpses to attack.


    ```


    The undead leaped toward the metal tower, detonating violently; luminescent green blood splattered on the tower as acrid smoke billowed from it.


    Black-green vines emerged from the crevices of the metal tower, like snakes trying to bite everyone, but they seemed unable to leave the tower. After exposure, they withered rapidly, turning to dust.


    The pink beam of light shooting from the top of the tower slowly dissipated, and the Gate of Truth''s doors closed slightly after losing two "power supply lines."


    ......


    Xu Yi looked on in astonishment at the scene before him.


    The Illusory Ghosts came surging forward, no longer concealed, while the spirit of the True God stood in their midst, like a lone vessel steadfast in the storm, seemingly on the verge of capsizing at any moment.


    However, the expression on the Spirit of the True God remained unchanged, its golden eyes coldly indifferent as if observing a swarm of ants.


    In fact, the outcome indeed matched its "Pride."


    Golden flames erupted from its hands, solidifying into a blazing sword of light which swept across, cutting down the Illusory Ghosts en masse like wheat.


    The Spirit of the True God was like an unrivaled warlord, with the Illusory Ghosts before it mere foot soldiers, unworthy of mention. This was a merciless slaughter.


    The Illusory Ghosts pressed on relentlessly, seemingly indifferent to their own demise¡ªdeath, in a sense, was a release for them.


    These Illusory Ghosts were not the true terror; the actual horror lay in those "Divine Lights."


    Xu Yi had now seen the true nature of the "Divine Light," which was resentment so intense it could take form.


    They materialized into nightmarish creatures of terror, too hideous to imagine, and roared as they charged at the Spirit of the True God.


    These "Divine Lights" were not the tools of the Illusory Ghosts; they originated from the Gate of Truth, an "evil energy" spawned by the gate.


    Even the mighty Spirit of the True God could not withstand these Divine Lights.


    As the Divine Light continued to barrage it, the Spirit of the True God began to dissipate, its golden lines growing dimmer.


    Xu Yi was deeply pained.


    Although the Spirit of the True God had escaped from its predicament, it was, after all, a treasure he had obtained through immense hardship. Watching it being ravaged was almost unbearable.


    His soul was close to disintegrating, and the Spirit of the True God was the best "nourishment." Without it, where would he find something to restore his soul?


    Xu Yi gazed mournfully at the Spirit of the True God, but then he was suddenly taken aback.


    He noticed something was off; the golden lines hadn''t completely vanished, they had just lost their luster and turned transparent.


    Because they were semi-transparent, he hadn''t been able to detect them at first glance.


    A surge of excitement erupted in Xu Yi''s eyes; indeed, the Spirit of the True God had been diminished, but what was removed from it was more of the indelible marks on the spirit.


    It was due to the properties of the "Divine Light," which could erase memories and cloud the spirit. Naturally, the marks on the Spirit of the True God were the first to be targeted.


    "In other words, after being washed by the Divine Light, what''s left is the pure essence of the soul!"


    Upon realizing this, Xu Yi''s heart began to pound uncontrollably.


    Although the Spirit of the True God was weakened, compared to an unusable Divine Spirit, the pure essence of the soul was far more advantageous.


    Xu Yi watched the "Battle of the Divine Spirits," inwardly shocked.


    If it were Xu Yi, not to mention the soul-searing Divine Light, even the Illusory Ghosts alone would be too much for him to handle.


    Yet the battered Spirit of the True God, combined with Xu Yi''s Body of Demigod, was able to exert power beyond that of a Subgod.


    Wielding the scorching sword of light, the Spirit of the True God actually managed to annihilate all the Illusory Ghosts, but it didn''t stop swinging its sword; streaks of golden flame slashed into the void one after another.


    Just as Xu Yi was beginning to wonder if the Spirit of the True God had lost its mind, a massive rift tore open in the void.


    With the appearance of the crack, the entire world began to crumble and fall apart.


    "This world is fake, too!"


    Xu Yi''s face was full of surprise; the illusionary realm was incredibly realistic, and he couldn''t spot any flaws.


    It was at that moment that a cold voice echoed in his mind: "Having undergone the Baptism, you have obtained the qualification for exchange."

 Chapter 346 The Path to Ascension to Godhood

    ```


    Xu Yi listened to the strange voice in his mind and, after a moment of stunned silence, realized it was the voice of the Gate of Truth.


    When he had made a trade with the Black Void Gate before, the voice had also directly appeared in his mind.


    He was a bit confused; how had he passed the Baptism? Wasn''t he beaten to a pulp?


    The illusionary realm was crumbling, the whole world turned into fragments, and a gray rain of shards fell all around. The spirit of the True God stood amidst the rain, his molten gold eyes devoid of any emotion.


    Xu Yi suddenly understood; it wasn''t he who had undergone the "Baptism," but the spirit of the True God.


    However, the spirit of the True God had no intelligence, only residual instincts. That was why the Gate of Truth attributed the rewards to him.


    Wasn''t this like a pie falling from the sky? Xu Yi was overjoyed.


    A burning sensation suddenly appeared at the center of his forehead. Xu Yi instinctively covered it, and suddenly his mind was filled with new information. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He released his hand, and there it was¡ªthe brand of the Gate of Truth.


    "The disparity is just too big!" Xu Yi sighed with ease.


    Xu Yi possessed the brand of the Black Void Gate and had seen the brand of the Soul Gate. As part of the three great gates, the difficulty of obtaining their marks was worlds apart.


    The brand of Xu Yi''s Black Void Gate was given by the Sugar Plum Fairy. In that Soul Swamp, he saw many creatures like himself with the mark.


    On the bodies of those in the Ring of Destruction, many had the mark of the Soul Gate, which meant that obtaining the mark of the Soul Gate was not difficult.


    But to obtain the mark of the Gate of Truth was extremely difficult, incredibly difficult!


    The "Baptism" of the Gate of Truth wasn''t meant for someone to pass at all. Xu Yi only managed to scrape through by relying on the spirit of the True God.


    "Will you trade?"


    The voice of the Gate of Truth once again filled his mind, emotionless as before.


    Two souls floated before Xu Yi, the "Deceiver''s Soul" and the "Fanatic''s Soul." It seemed that the currency for trading with the Gate of Truth and the Black Void Gate was similar.


    "What can I get?" Xu Yi''s heart stirred, having a premonition that the opportunity to trade was extremely rare, and he didn''t want to miss it.


    "Knowledge!"


    The answer that came back to him was two cold words.


    Xu Yi instinctively asked, "Can I receive any type of knowledge?"


    This time the Gate of Truth did not reply.


    A silvery sea suddenly appeared before Xu Yi¡ªnot a real one, but an image projected into his mind by the Gate of Truth.


    In the sea, each droplet of water represented a body of knowledge¡ªMechanical Alchemy, Potion Configuration, Bloodline Rebirth... various types of common knowledge, as well as the unheard-of, were all laid out before him.


    This was the true "Sea of Knowledge."


    "Worthy of the Gate of Truth!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but exclaim.


    Even the legendary god of knowledge, it seemed, would not possess more knowledge than the Gate of Truth.


    There was an overwhelming amount of knowledge, leaving Xu Yi''s eyes dazzled and unsure of how to choose.


    "If only there was a filter feature!" A thought suddenly popped into his mind.


    The waves of the sea abruptly began to churn. A portion of the water was pushed aside, and new water filled in. Xu Yi watched this scene in surprise.


    The Gate of Truth fulfilled his request; with a mere thought, the relevant knowledge would appear before him.


    After filtering through keywords, the view before him "cleared up," because Xu Yi''s keyword was "Ascension to Godhood," and knowledge in this area was naturally scarce.


    Xu Yi suddenly couldn''t look away; his eyes were fixed on what lay ahead.


    In the center of the Sea of Knowledge was an exceptionally large and clear droplet of water. The knowledge it represented was "Methods of Ascension to Godhood in the Age of Low Magic."


    "This is the one!" Xu Yi cried out in his heart.


    In the Gate of Truth''s illusionary realm, the scene of ascension to godhood was not randomly generated; it was a projection of the deep, insatiable desire within Xu Yi''s heart.


    Who wouldn''t want to ascend to godhood?


    ```


    In this world, only by becoming a god can one truly control one''s destiny.


    He had a strong premonition that this world was gradually "collapsing."


    This idea wasn''t unfounded; according to the Ancient Tomes, eras when the three Primordial Gates frequently appeared were usually times of great disasters.


    Xu Yi reached out his hand, wanting to touch the water droplet.


    "Insufficient chips, transaction cannot proceed!"


    The cold voice of the Gate of Truth sounded again.


    Xu Yi''s excitement came to an abrupt halt, feeling as if his head had been violently struck. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    The feeling was akin to learning one had won a jackpot, only to be told the next second that the redemption period had passed, and the ticket was void.


    He took a deep breath and adjusted his mindset.


    When one thought about it, how could such precious items be exchanged with a "Deceiver''s Soul" or a "Fanatic''s Soul"?


    The most valuable part of this Dharma Door was the words "Age of Low Magic."


    If there was an "Age of Low Magic," naturally, there was also an "Age of High Magic."


    The Ancient Times were the so-called "Age of High Magic," when gods and spirits were abundant.


    Back then, becoming a god was much easier than it is now; the methods for Ascension to Godhood during those times were not as common as dirt, but they were not exceedingly rare either.


    The current era is the "Age of Low Magic," where the path to godhood has been severed, and many exceptional individuals attempting to tread the path to godhood have come to a painful and bloody end.


    Xu Yi stared at the "Dharma Door for Ascension to Godhood during the Age of Low Magic," sighing deeply.


    Although he very much desired it, given the circumstances, he could only sigh in vain.


    "As a first-time baptism recipient, this transaction will not adhere to the principle of equivalent exchange, and the chips required for the transaction will be substantially reduced¡­ Chips are still insufficient, transaction cannot be completed."


    The voice of the True God Gate suddenly spoke up, giving him a glimpse of hope, only for it to be shattered the next second.


    "Highly crystallized power of time detected, use it to complete the chips?"


    Highly crystallized power of time?


    Xu Yi was slightly taken aback as three golden Resurrection Coins appeared before his eyes.


    The Gate of Truth could actually detect Resurrection Coins! Xu Yi was slightly shocked, for it was the first time he encountered something that could sense the presence of Resurrection Coins, something even the Black Void Gate could not do.


    To exchange or not to exchange?


    Xu Yi could feel that the three Resurrection Coins before him were included in today''s five chances of resurrection, not from his stash of Resurrection Coins.


    Which meant that after the exchange, he would only have two chances of resurrection left for the day.


    The only good news was that it was not far from midnight.


    Although he would receive Resurrection Coins just by signing in, if he were to put the Resurrection Coins in the real world, they would be treasures beyond compare.


    Because it was his first baptism, the chips needed for the "Dharma Door for Ascension to Godhood during the Age of Low Magic" had been greatly reduced.


    Otherwise, three Resurrection Coins would still be far from enough to exchange for the method to Ascension to Godhood.


    Xu Yi reached out his hand, touching the water droplet.


    There was not much to hesitate about; the "Dharma Door for Ascension to Godhood during the Age of Low Magic" was too precious. Missing this opportunity, it would be difficult to come by again.


    "Transaction completed!"


    The cold voice of the Gate of Truth rang out once more.


    The moment Xu Yi''s hand touched the water droplet, a surge of information flooded into his mind, and his eyes suddenly deepened, with a galaxy-like glow flickering within his pupils.


    After a long while, the silver light in his pupils faded, Xu Yi exhaled deeply, his heart stormy and unable to calm down for a long time.


    The "Dharma Door for Ascension to Godhood during the Age of Low Magic" was even more precious than he had imagined, for this path wasn''t to become a True God, but an "Otherworldly God"!


    In this age, there was no longer the fertile ground for the birth of a True God.

 Chapter 347 Extraterrestrial Demons

    "Otherworldly deity!" Xu Yi muttered the term incessantly.


    In the information provided by the Gate of Truth, it was not explicitly stated how powerful otherworldly deities are, but one thing was for certain: they were much stronger than common True Gods.


    Otherworldly deities, also known as "Gods Beyond the Dominion."


    If it were True Gods who abhorred them, they would also be called "Demon Gods of the Outer Realm," a name reflecting the dread True Gods felt toward these otherworldly deities.


    In the ancient era, once an otherworldly deity descended, the True Gods would attack en masse, afraid their status was under threat.


    This world was not meant to have the laws of otherworldly deities; the Gate of Truth only included it in the "Sea of Knowledge" due to an extremely fortuitous circumstance.


    Xu Yi forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart.


    Acquiring the "Otherworldly Deity''s Laws" was indeed something to be ecstatic about, but the most important thing now was to leave the Gate of Truth first.


    Although he had obtained the mark of the Gate of Truth, he only had the right to trade with the Gate of Truth.


    The Gate of Truth would not courteously show him out just because he made a deal with it; to leave this place, he had to rely on himself.


    The Illusory World collapsed, and the spirit of the True God took control of his body, appearing in the real world within the gate.


    Upon surveying his surroundings, Xu Yi gasped in shock.


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    Philosopher''s Stones! They filled his vision!


    The sky of the Gate of Truth was golden, reflecting the red below.


    Mountains overlapped one after another, constructed entirely of Philosopher''s Stones. Crystal Red streams wound around the mountains, meandering forward, the rivers flowing with liquid Philosopher''s Stones.


    This scene had an immense impact on Xu Yi.


    It was like a tribe that had lived in a parched desert all their lives, where water was extremely precious, each drop a lifesaver. When they suddenly moved to an oasis, witnessing the vast lakes, their worldview began to collapse.


    Xu Yi felt something similar.


    The Philosopher''s Stones he couldn''t bear to use normally were as common as dirt within the Gate of Truth!


    However, he quickly noticed something was off: the Philosopher''s Stones were marred by black lines, and "Divine Light" occasionally rose from them.


    He had already witnessed the terror of the "Divine Light," which could be described as a supreme toxin; even the spirit of a True God couldn''t escape unscathed.


    "It seems like these Divine Lights are one with the Philosopher''s Stones," Xu Yi realized.


    The Philosopher''s Stones birthed the Divine Light, and the Divine Light, in turn, nurtured the Philosopher''s Stones; they were in a symbiotic relationship, impossible to separate.


    Meaning, all the toxic Philosopher''s Stones here were unusable. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon realizing this, Xu Yi felt a sense of balance in his heart; even though the Serpent of Finale produced fewer Philosopher''s Stones, at least they could be used.


    Not far ahead, Xu Yi saw a familiar silhouette.


    The worn knight''s Armor from the Ring of Destruction stood by the riverside, motionless, like a sculpture.


    Xu Yi finally understood why the Armor was so rusted.


    Under the onslaught of the potent Divine Light, the rust on the knight''s Armor got heavier and heavier.


    The knight''s Armor had once entered the Gate of Truth!


    Clasped in the hands of the Armor was an arm, and Xu Yi sensed a familiar aura from it.


    It was his lost limb!


    Xu Yi''s expression subtly changed, that day, to escape, he had sacrificed an arm, never expecting it would end up here.


    The arm was covered in mystical runes that flickered with light, part of the Divine Light being absorbed into the runes.


    Xu Yi''s teeth itched with frustration; no wonder he was targeted by the Gate of Truth, no wonder he found himself here ¨C it was all the Gate of Truth''s doing!


    If not for the spirit of the True God, he might have perished here.


    Xu Yi, following the gaze of the knight''s armor, felt a chill in his heart.


    In the red river flowing with the Philosopher''s Stone, a black-green seed suspended above the surface, half as dark as ink and the other half as fresh green as jade.


    On that seed, Xu Yi sensed a surging vitality and a rich scent of death.


    Both life and death existed simultaneously in one object, which was extremely strange.


    The quietly flowing river suddenly started to boil, and a giant vortex formed slowly around that seed.


    All the Philosopher''s Stone in the river was drawn towards it, the seed engulfing the energy of the Philosopher''s Stone with a whale''s voracity.


    Xu Yi was completely taken aback, his eyes widening in disbelief.


    The seed was drenched in the highly concentrated "Divine Light", which could erode the spirit of a True God, yet when it fell upon the seed, it was completely ignored!


    He caught a glimpse of the True God Spirit in his peripheral vision.


    The complexion of the True God Spirit suddenly changed; even when faced with the oncoming Illusory Ghosts, it remained expressionless, but now, fear was evident on its face!


    "What on earth is this seed?" Xu Yi wondered with rising suspicion and intrigue.


    Given the current situation, the Ring of Destruction summoning the Gate of Truth must have been to bring this seed here.


    But why bring it here? Xu Yi was a bit puzzled.


    After the mysterious seed absorbed a large amount of the Philosopher''s Stone''s energy, a new seed coalesced alongside it, brimming with lush greenery and vitality.


    Xu Yi suddenly realized that the seed embodying both life and death was not natural.


    It was likely cursed by something, which is why such a condition arose.


    The Philosopher''s Stone had the ability of "Rejuvenation", something Xu Yi had witnessed long before.


    Whether it was Orichalcum or the Poseidon Potion, as long as the energy of the Philosopher''s Stone was sufficient, it could return the replicated thing to a perfect state.


    "The Ring of Destruction went through great lengths to bring this seed here, just to make use of the Philosopher''s Stone to rejuvenate the seed!" Xu Yi suddenly had a revelation.


    The vitality of the seed intensified, and Xu Yi felt concepts such as "grandeur", "rebirth", and "primeval" emerging from it.


    Just as the vitality of the seed was about to reach its peak, to give birth to a new magnificent being, the next second, the seed suddenly withered, drying up and disintegrating at a visible pace, scattering into the river.


    The knight''s armor guarding the seed remained unmoved as if it had anticipated this outcome.


    In the time that followed, the same scene played out repeatedly.


    The mysterious seed devoured the energy of the Philosopher''s Stone, new seeds were replicated, vitality kept surging, reaching a certain point then suddenly withering away... the cycle of rebirth continued endlessly.


    What puzzled Xu Yi was that the True God Spirit showed no intent to leave, seemingly entranced.


    "Brother, stop watching! We should hurry up and get out of here," Xu Yi muttered to himself as he watched the True God Spirit.


    His foray into the Gate of Truth had already earned him the incredibly precious "Divinity of a Foreign God".


    Once he left this place, he could then figure out how to gather the resources needed for Ascension to Godhood.


    Moreover, it was only by leaving this place that he could possibly make use of the power of the Alchemical Weapon "Seven Deadly Sins" to take back his body.


    He couldn''t fathom what the True God Spirit was thinking, since it lacked sentience and acted purely on instinct, perhaps not even grasping the concept of "taking refuge".


    Although the True God Spirit no longer needed to deal with the Illusory Ghosts, as long as it stayed within the Gate of Truth, it would continuously endure Divine Light''s scouring, its golden threads growing dimmer.


    Time passed, and Xu Yi grew increasingly anxious, yet both the knight''s Armor and the True God Spirit stood as statues, motionless.


    In this lengthy ordeal, Xu Yi suddenly felt his spirits lift.


    He detected a strange fragrance, and despite being separated from it by the body controlled by the True God Spirit, and even the Serpent of Finale, he still smelled that aroma.


    The instant he smelled the fragrance, his soul, which was in deep affliction, felt somewhat revived.


    He had witnessed the "seed drama" countless times before, but this time it was different. The newly replicated seed was actually sprouting!

 Chapter 348 The Bold Ones Die by Their Own Courage

    Tender green sprouts burst forth from the new seed, while the half-black, half-green old seed completed its historic mission and shakily flew back into the knight''s armor.


    The flowing river was cut off!


    Tons of red river water were drawn up to the sky, converging towards the young sprouts; an enormous amount of energy was extracted from the Philosopher''s Stone, and amidst the wild Divine Light, the sprouts remained immobile.


    The size of a fingernail, the tender shoots began to grow slowly. Xu Yi looked around in surprise.


    Not just the rivers, but the crystal red mountains began to fade too, the bright red turning into withered white.


    Centering on the sprouts, the color of ash and white spread in all directions as if the entire world was losing its luster.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi remembered the Kui Ba from the legends of Xia Kingdom. When Kui Ba appeared, it scorched a thousand miles; although what was happening before him turned gray instead of red, the effect was similar.


    "What on earth is that seed that it requires such a massive consumption of energy to grow?" Xu Yi thought to himself, shocked.


    The silent spirit of the True God suddenly moved, swooping down on the sprout like an osprey.


    This spirit of the True God actually wanted to pick the fruit!


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    Xu Yi was startled.


    The spirit of the True God, lacking intelligence, acted on instinct. Yet even in such a situation, it risked being annihilated by the Divine Light to snatch the sprout.


    "It''s said that the timid die of hunger and the bold die of excess, but brother, isn''t your courage a bit too much?"


    It wasn''t just the spirit of the True God; Xu Yi''s own heart was also itching to act.


    One could tell by thought alone that this sprout must be something extraordinary.


    But he had only a damaged soul''s body, and without the protection of the Serpent of Finale, he risked annihilation every minute, let alone snatching away the prize.


    The knight''s armor lunged at the spirit of the True God. As the guardian, it wouldn''t allow anyone to touch the sprout.


    Golden flames clashed with the black-green vines, and the spirit of the True God was locked in a deadly struggle with the knight''s armor. Terrifying ripples spread in all directions, causing the gray ground to crack.


    Xu Yi took deep breaths not because he was about to make a significant decision, but to inhale more of the fragrance that spread throughout the air.


    After the seed germinated, the scent became even richer; for the first time, Xu Yi realized that "heartening" was not just an adjective ¨C his soul felt so comforted that it trembled slightly.


    It was not just comfort; his soul was being healed.


    Before, like a critically ill patient waiting for death, he was now past the critical phase and ready to be transferred to a common hospital ward.


    "Just by absorbing the fragrance, my soul has received such incredible nourishment; if I could get my hands on this sprout..."


    After a few seconds of contemplation, Xu Yi decided to make a move.


    Since he was idle anyway, trying wouldn''t hurt. What if there were unexpected gains?


    The sprout had already grown an inch tall, and the jade-like tender leaves were quivering; pale gold veins flowed, forming extremely complex patterns.


    Xu Yi stared intently at the sprout, creating a Soul Stealing Seed.


    Given his current state, the Soul Stealing Seed was his only option. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Had he not absorbed the fragrance and had his feeble soul somewhat recovered, he might have hesitated.


    The Soul Stealing Seed drifted out from the sculpture of the Serpent of Finale, leaving the body behind.


    The spirit of the True God was locked in fierce battle with the knight''s armor and did not notice Xu Yi''s subtle action.


    But as soon as the Soul Stealing Seed emerged outside, it suddenly couldn''t move, too weak to break through the pressure of the Gate of Truth.


    Feeling utterly frustrated, Xu Yi wanted to spit blood. He had anticipated possibly being discovered by the spirit of the True God or the knight''s armor, not failing right at the doorstep.


    He perfectly embodied the phrase, "dying before achieving victory."


    He was out of options, but the next second, the Soul Stealing Seed tremulously moved an inch forward.


    "Why did the pressure from the Gate of Truth suddenly weaken?"


    Xu Yi looked towards the horizon in surprise, where a huge golden whirlpool was gradually shrinking.


    That was the entrance and exit of the Gate of Truth, and also the source of the oppressive force.


    ...


    In Boston, at the depths of Rose Park, thick fog churned, and screams were unceasing.


    Students from Isotope Institute, clutching their wounds, writhed in pain on the ground, covered in grass clippings.


    In the clearing around the horn-shaped metal tower, the Sugar Plum Fairy in a white ballet dress roared, her face adorned with layers of sharp teeth swaying fiercely.


    White tentacles burst from its back, all covered in sharp teeth.


    As the tentacles swept across, even a slight scratch from the sharp teeth inflicted intense pain, comparable to the tenfold agony of childbirth.


    "Tie it up!"


    Little Judy stood at the edge of the battlefield, issuing commands.


    Her job appeared easy, but everyone understood her difficulty; her face was pale, and her tiny body trembled uncontrollably.


    Under her control, the silver chains wrapped around the Sugar Plum Fairy like snakes.


    This wasn''t just any Magic Artifact, but the Holy Artifact "Ogus Chains."


    Although it was a Common level Holy Artifact, it was still a top-tier treasure that exorcists could only dream of obtaining.


    Ed, ever the doting father, somehow managed to get a Holy Artifact for little Judy upon learning she was enrolling at Isotope Institute.


    But little Judy''s abilities were limited, and using the Holy Artifact to confront a creature like the Sugar Plum Fairy was still too much for her.


    If it weren''t for the "Dragon Blood Warrior Three-Stage Potion" Xu Yi had injected her with earlier, she probably wouldn''t have been able to activate the Ogus Chains.


    All those present were students of Xu Yi and Yukeni, and even the weakest among them had been injected with the second stage of the Dragon Blood Warrior Serum, with quite a few having received the third stage.


    As they pounced to attack, their pupils occasionally flashed with golden light.


    Now they were spread around the Sugar Plum Fairy, each grabbing a corner of the Ogus Chains.


    "Pull!"


    Cass, holding the Recurve Knife "Lust" in one hand and the chain in the other, roared loudly.


    This former straggler of the special affairs team had grown into a dependable warrior, constantly mindful of his mission to revive the Finns.


    The students of Isotope Institute pulled together, tightening the Ogus Chains, securely trapping the Sugar Plum Fairy.


    Cass handed the chain to a classmate beside him and lunged forward, the "Lust" Recurve Knife emitting a heavy pale gold glow.


    The glow condensed into a huge shield before him, forcefully pushing aside the tentacles waving around the Sugar Plum Fairy, and drawing them away from her.


    At this moment, the Sugar Plum Fairy''s guard was wide open.


    "Carrie!" Cass screamed.


    All that they had done was to create an opportunity for Carrie''s killing blow; only she had the power to slay the creature before them.


    "Sister..." Carrie''s body shook uncontrollably, hardly able to hold onto her "Envy" Knight''s Sword.


    She was well aware that her sister had died and that what remained was a creature of pure murderous intent, yet she still couldn''t bring herself to strike.


    In her heart, there remained a sliver of hope.


    Hoping that one day, suddenly, her sister would awaken from the monster''s body, walk over to her, take her hand, and say, "Carrie, let''s go fly a kite!"


    As if everything was just like when they were children.


    "Carrie! Strike now!"


    Cass was starting to falter; the glow from the Recurve Knife "Lust" forming the shield was on the verge of collapse.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy suddenly exerted strength, one tentacle breaking free, sweeping across the people pulling the chains, eliciting their piercing screams.


    Yet even amidst such excruciating pain, they did not let go, tightly holding onto the chains.


    The screams jolted Carrie awake, and she suddenly realized that if her sister were still alive, she surely wouldn''t want to become a monster that hurts others.


    She couldn''t put her classmates in danger for her selfishness, this was no longer just Kelly High School; for the first time in her life, she tasted the flavor of friendship.


    The "Envy" Knight''s Sword vibrated, its blade emitting a dazzling light, and Carrie lunged forward. The sword pierced through the Sugar Plum Fairy''s chest, and fiery flames exploded within the creature''s body.


    The Sugar Plum Fairy''s body disintegrated in the flames, her monstrous face collapsing like burnt charcoal, while Carrie stared at the Sugar Plum Fairy, holding the sword''s hilt.


    "Thank you!"


    In a daze, Carrie seemed to hear her sister''s voice.


    Coming back to her senses, Carrie realized she was already in tears.


    The "Envy" Knight''s Sword trembled excitedly as it absorbed the last of the Sugar Plum Fairy''s Origin, growing rapidly in power.


    While Carrie was lost in thought, the others didn''t stop; they collectively destroyed the Horn-shaped Metal Tower, and the giant pillar of light slowly faded.


    With that, three towers had been destroyed, causing the Gate of Truth in the sky to close off slightly more.

 Chapter 349 Extremely Urgent!

    "Almost! Just a hair away!"


    Xu Yi stared at the Soul Stealing Seed crawling through the air like a snail, his eyes wide as brass bells.


    Since a moment ago, the suppression from the Gate of Truth inside had been continuously weakening, allowing the Soul Stealing Seed to finally move.


    He could roughly guess the reason; it must be that the energy supplied to the Gate of Truth was diminishing.


    Though it crawled at a snail''s pace, with perseverance, it would eventually reach its destination, and the Soul Stealing Seed finally neared the young sprout.


    As the sprout grew, its demand for energy increased, and the commotion from its devouring became more and more exaggerated.


    A hurricane formed around the sprout, swallowing the energy of this world with the force of a whale, whipping up sand and stones.


    Perhaps these Philosopher''s Stones were dispensable to the Gate of Truth, which showed no intention of stopping it.


    The Soul Stealing Seed reached the edge of the hurricane, and it was swept up into it. Although it was a soul construct without a physical form, there existed "Divine Light" within the hurricane.


    The "Divine Light" wasn''t even specifically targeting the Soul Stealing Seed; it merely brushed past it, and the Soul Stealing Seed instantly crumbled into pieces.


    Xu Yi''s complexion turned ugly; who knew how much effort he had spent dodging these "Divine Lights" along the way.


    It was like a parkour game, overcoming countless hardships only to fall into a pit when the end was in sight.


    Just then, Xu Yi suddenly heard the sound of flowing water. He was stunned for a moment¡ªwhere did the water come from in this place?


    The crystal red liquid poured down from above his head, not reaching the ground but slowly streaming in the air.


    Philosopher''s Stone, and a new one at that.


    Xu Yi soon realized it must be the Alchemical Weapon "Seven Deadly Sins" devouring a new Origin.


    The Gate of Truth completely isolated his perception; he couldn''t even switch to the perspective of the Nest of the Evil God to check on the outside situation.


    In fact, he still had a lot of Philosopher''s Stones left, but they were all in the toy space; he was inside the body of the Serpent of Finale and couldn''t bring them in.


    Xu Yi watched the flowing Philosopher''s Stones, a speculative light flashing in his eyes.


    He suddenly had a plan.


    The "river" of Philosopher''s Stone abruptly stopped, and a ladleful of crystal red liquid floated in front of Xu Yi. The river in front of his eyes looked vast, but if placed in reality, it was roughly 30ml.


    Xu Yi created another Soul Stealing Seed.


    He had that sprout to thank for this opportunity; if it hadn''t been for the unusual fragrance the sprout emitted, nourishing his soul, it would have been difficult for him to create another Soul Stealing Seed.


    The Soul Stealing Seed drifted towards the Philosopher''s Stone, hiding in the center of the Philosopher''s Stone.


    Exactly! Xu Yi planned to use the Philosopher''s Stone as "Armor," to protect the Soul Stealing Seed inside.


    He hadn''t given up on that sprout.


    The Knight''s Armor and the True God''s Spirit were both soulless constructs, but the battle had escalated to this extent, the conflict subtly intensified.


    Blazing light formed golden wings behind the Spirit of the True God, the wings beat, and the flames of Fire Feather shot towards the Knight''s Armor like swords.


    The Knight''s Armor was wrapped in dense vines; the vines bore black flowers, falling petals spun and slashed around it.


    The Fire Feather was cut, sparks exploded, showering down like rain of light.


    As they fought fiercely, neither noticed that a sesame-sized Philosopher''s Stone flew out from the body of the Spirit of the True God, heading towards the sprout.


    The hurricane swept up that single Philosopher''s Stone, blending into the "sandstorm,"; no one could tell this Philosopher''s Stone was different from the others. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi painstakingly manipulated the Philosopher''s Stone through the Soul Stealing Seed, flying towards the sprout.


    Now, calling it a sprout was no longer appropriate. After devouring a great deal of energy, the sprout had become a "three-leafed plant," with three leaves like emeralds trembling slightly in the hurricane.


    Xu Yi still thought too simply; an invisible Barrier enveloped the "three-leafed plant," even the Divine Light was deflected, let alone his tiny Philosopher''s Stone.


    But the next second, a suction force suddenly acted on the Philosopher''s Stone; its energy was absorbed, and the Soul Stealing Seed, mixed with that energy, flew into the "three-leafed plant."


    The surprise was so sudden that Xu Yi couldn''t react at first.


    The "Clover" actually started to actively absorb the Soul Stealing Seed!


    He was stunned for a moment, then immediately switched to the perspective of the Soul Stealing Seed.


    Everywhere he looked was filled with the green of emerald, the sky and earth teeming with a thriving vitality. Floating above this green space was a cluster of golden warmth.


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    Xu Yi stared at that orb of warmth, no bigger than the size of a palm, and after a moment, he realized that it wasn''t the sun at all, but the newly born soul of the "Clover."


    Without any hesitation, Xu Yi commanded the Soul Stealing Seed to pounce towards the "Golden Soul."


    The Soul Stealing Seed, which was separated from Xu Yi in his weakened state, was of course not very powerful, about as frail as a life-threatened old man.


    But the soul in front of him was not much stronger, like a newborn infant; the two were more or less evenly matched.


    The Soul Stealing Seed successfully merged with the soul before him.


    Xu Yi secretly rejoiced, thankful that he had been just in time. The soul was continuously growing stronger, and if he had been any later, his weak Soul Stealing Seed would not have stood a chance.


    He decisively activated the Soul Stealing Seed.


    The Soul Stealing Seed sprouted a mass of roots that spread inside the "warmth," as the "warmth" writhed in pain.


    As a soul born of the Clover, it was indeed a mighty entity, but having just been born without any spiritual wisdom, it was like a newborn baby holding a sword, completely clueless on how to use it.


    Even if someone invaded its body, it could only "cry out loud."


    Xu Yi''s soul shuddered slightly, not out of fear, but due to excitement.


    Because as the Soul Stealing Seed took effect, he actually had a sense of control over that soul, even though it was extremely faint.


    But if little gains accumulate over time, it was not impossible to eventually control it.


    Not only a sense of control, but the Soul Stealing Seed also siphoned off a bit of the soul''s power. It wasn''t much, but it was enough to replenish his soul, giving him a breath of life back.


    But the good times didn''t last long; the energy of the Soul Stealing Seed was quickly exhausted, and the Great Endeavor of Theft collapsed midway.


    Without stopping to take a breath, Xu Yi created another Soul Stealing Seed, wrapped it with the Philosopher''s Stone, and sent it out.


    All he had now was one belief: as long as his soul did not dissipate, the production of Soul Stealing Seeds would not stop!


    This opportunity was too rare, if the soul inside had been even a little bit stronger, the Soul Stealing Seed would have been ineffective.


    One by one, the mung bean-sized Philosopher''s Stones flew towards the "Clover."


    The soul within the "Clover" didn''t learn from its mistake; it had no idea where its main troublemaker came from. It was like a baby, instinctively "eating food" when hungry.


    Xu Yi repeated the same trick over and over.


    Those from the Ring of Destruction could never have imagined, by sending Xu Yi into the Gate of Truth wanting to kill him, they actually gave him the chance to stealthily rob them blind.


    But the worst happened¡ªthe Philosopher''s Stones were exhausted!


    It''s not that Xu Yi didn''t want to use a mung bean-sized Philosopher''s Stone to carry several Soul Stealing Seeds, but that he couldn''t.


    When the "Clover" devoured the Philosopher''s Stone, the Soul Stealing Seed would hide within its energy flow.


    But each Philosopher''s Stone had limited energy, and if there wasn''t enough energy, or if there were too many Soul Stealing Seeds hidden within, it would cause the Soul Stealing Seeds to be "squeezed" out.


    Once exposed, the fate of the Soul Stealing Seed was self-evident¡ªit would be annihilated by the Divine Light in an instant.


    Because of his earlier greedy attempt, he lost several Soul Stealing Seeds, which made him feel very distressed.


    Where could he get more Philosopher''s Stones?


    Urgent, urgent, extremely urgent!


    Xu Yi was so frantic that he was hopping mad, like an ant on a hot pan, because if he didn''t take action quickly, the soul within the "Clover" was going to become strong.

 Chapter 350 Half Human Half Demon

    Yukeni and William followed the beam of light, but couldn''t find the metal tower. The somewhat desolate outskirts were covered by the endless yellow sand.


    It was hard to imagine that such a large-scale sandstorm could appear in this urban area.


    Yukeni waved her golden scepter, and a turquoise light shield enveloped them both as they walked deeper into the blinding sandstorm, where visibility was less than an arm''s length.


    "Mere mortals dare to step into the territory of the gods!"


    Suddenly, the yellow sand condensed into a huge face that blocked Yukeni''s path, roaring angrily at the two of them.


    "What god are you?"


    Yukeni couldn''t help but laugh, feeling that the other side was somewhat insane. This creature, not even worthy of being called a false god, dared to claim to be a deity.


    "I am the god who rules over all people, the god of the yellow sand, no! I am Emperor Ramses, the Pharaoh King of Egypt, no! I am a god!"


    The huge face made of sand contorted in pain, beginning to spout nonsense.


    The sky filled with yellow sand suddenly became violent, with black streams attached to the grains. They wrapped around the light shield created by Yukeni, the space within the shield being compressed relentlessly.


    Yukeni glanced at William, her brows slightly furrowing.


    When they split into groups, Yukeni originally wanted to be alone because she alone was equal to an entire class, but then William suddenly proposed coming with her in the same direction.


    In the current situation, William inevitably seemed like a bit of a drag.


    If it had been only her, she could have directly charged into the midst of the yellow sand, but now she had to consider William, which gave her a feeling of being restrained.


    William was a very astute person; how could he not see through Yukeni''s thoughts? He chuckled softly, "Don''t mind me, I can assure you of my safety."


    Yukeni looked at William, her eyes filled with doubt.


    William slightly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the color of his pupils had changed. His left eye remained the usual ice blue, but his right eye was like burning charcoal, a crimson red.


    Thorn-like patterns spread across William''s face, but only covered half of it. Black and red streams emanated from his body, filling the small array space with a thick scent of blood.


    Yukeni quickly stepped back two paces, warily watching William.


    She felt a familiar aura emanating from William, the aura of a great demon! S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m very sorry if I''ve frightened you!" William bowed in apology.


    Yukeni stared at William''s left eye, her face filled with surprise.


    She had seen cases like William''s before; this was an indication of demonic possession, where humans turned into creatures that only knew slaughter.


    But William''s eyes were vivid, his demeanor composed, and he was still able to converse with her, not at all like he had lost his sanity.


    "Half-human, half-demon?"


    Yukeni had never seen such a condition before, and couldn''t hide her astonishment.


    Although she didn''t know how William managed it, she surmised that it must require enduring inhuman torment while possessing an incredibly strong willpower.


    William merely smiled, offering no further explanation.


    His heart had been tainted by the Evil God Ratma, and in order to resist the corruption, he suffered inhuman pains day and night, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.


    Later, Xu Yi gifted him the "Body of the Berserker" entry, and to William''s amazement, he discovered that he could slightly control the Power of the Evil God.


    William thought it was Xu Yi''s doing, but in fact, "Body of the Berserker" was just the final push. The long-term exposure to the Evil God''s energy caused his body and soul to mutate; that was the real reason.


    By a stroke of luck, William consumed the heart of a demon.


    That was the most dangerous encounter; he nearly lost his mind, but fortunately, he managed to hold on.


    It was that event that triggered his complete metamorphosis. The Dragon Blood Warrior potion he injected afterwards was just icing on the cake.


    Once Yukeni was sure that William could protect himself, she gripped her golden scepter tightly, and a copious amount of eerie green flames burst from the gemstone at the top.


    The flames morphed into the huge phantom of an evil dragon, and Yukeni''s body merged into the phantom of the evil dragon.


    The phantom of the evil dragon shook its wings and surged into the heavens, smashing headfirst into the vast expanse of yellow sand.


    Without the protection of the array, tens of thousands of tons of yellow sand poured down, and William was instantly wrapped tightly in the sand.


    The sand kept compressing as if it were an ultra-heavy hydraulic press, flattening even blocks of steel, and the sand coalesced into a giant egg.


    The aftermath of the battle occasionally swept across, but there was no sign of movement within the "giant egg."


    As time passed, a deep roar suddenly came from within the sand, and violent waves blew away large amounts of it. The center of the roar was temporarily cleared, creating a dust-free zone.


    The phantom of the evil dragon stretched its head and bit down hard on a mummy, which was clearly the culprit behind the sandstorm.


    The "ball of yellow sand" suddenly burst open, and William, his body streaming with black energy, broke free from his constraints, the "Greed" foiled sword in his hand shining brilliantly.


    He soared into the sky, ignoring the mummy''s roar, as his sword pierced through the opponent''s chest.


    Since the mummy was already a dead thing, having its body pierced was only a minor injury; even Yukeni had no good way to handle it.


    But the next moment, an intense green glow burst from the "Greed" foiled sword, and bright flowers sprouted from the mummy''s body.


    This was the ability of the "Evergreen Sword," a holy artifact that controlled life, possessing a powerful "life-force."


    Life is the bane of death, and Emperor Ramses let out a cry of terror, but still couldn''t prevent his body from crumbling, petals falling with his disintegrating form.


    The "Greed" foiled sword trembled excitedly, continuously devouring what remained of Emperor Ramses'' origin.


    ...¡­


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    "Luck is really bad, to pick the most troublesome guy!"


    Xu Changrong looked at the "White Jade Butterfly" in the high sky and let out a long sigh.


    He had seen the "White Jade Butterfly" before, when it roamed the skies of Boston with a horde of monstrous legions.


    He had heard from Xu Yi that this monster was called Behemoth, an entity close to a god.


    At this moment, Behemoth''s might was far from its previous state, but it was still not something he could handle alone.


    Xu Changrong had his Ghost Samurai perform a roll to dodge the tentacles of Behemoth, his heart already beating a retreat.


    With the power of the Ghost Samurai, he should have been able to destroy an energy source point, but he hadn''t expected his luck to be so poor as to encounter Behemoth.


    In the moment Xu Changrong let his guard down, a tentacle struck the back of the Ghost Samurai. The swing of the tentacle seemed light and effortless, but the force it contained was terrifying.


    The Ghost Samurai was sent flying like a cannonball into a nearby embankment. The solid dike was breached upon impact, and the river water it held back immediately burst forth.


    Xu Changrong cursed under his breath as a deep gash appeared on the back of the Ghost Samurai, emitting hissing white smoke. The caustic liquid in the gash was spreading and hard to erase.


    Just then, footsteps suddenly came from behind. Xu Changrong froze for a moment; Behemoth had no feet, so where were the footsteps coming from?


    He quickly realized that the sound was not coming from the direction of the Ghost Samurai, but from the Eight Monster House.


    His true body inside the Eight Monster House turned around abruptly, and upon seeing the figure behind him, he exclaimed with surprise, "Lisa! You''re awake!"


    Lisa had just awoken and her eyes were still somewhat dazed. She instinctively touched her belly, feeling warmth in her palm.


    Noticing Xu Changrong''s furrowed brow, she asked, "What''s happened, do you need my help?"


    "Of course! Your timing couldn''t be better!"


    Xu Changrong pointed at the standing cabinet in the hall, "The weapon Xu Yi prepared for you is ready."


    Lisa walked up to the metallic standing cabinet; only three weapons were left inside, and her gaze immediately settled on the spear.


    From the first glance at the spear, she knew it was the weapon prepared for her; she felt a resonance with it.


    The moment she gripped the spear, the confusion in her eyes dissipated, leaving only a surging desire for battle.


    The Black Carp was already waiting at the doorway of the Eight Monster House, eagerly greeting its master''s arrival.

 Chapter 351 The Light of Godslaying

    The Behemoth pursued relentlessly from behind, the Ghost Samurai fleeing in panic, his body riddled with wounds.


    Xu Changrong''s actions perfectly illustrated what is meant by: trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice!


    Originally, the Ghost Samurai had escaped the range of the Behemoth''s pursuit; the Behemoth would only move around the metal tower like a pigeon protecting its nest.


    But knowing that Lisa would soon come to support him, the extinguished scheming in Xu Changrong''s heart was rekindled.


    He used his Divinity to neutralize the corrosive liquid behind him, planning to use the Ghost Samurai''s phasing stealth Ability to quietly destroy the tower.


    The result was obvious, he had failed.


    If Lisa did not arrive soon, he would not be able to hold on!


    A sudden gust of wind descended from the sky, and a huge figure swooped down. It was not Lisa, but a ferocious beast with black wings on its back and gorgeous patterns swirling in its golden vertical pupils.


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    Xu Changrong was somewhat unsure, the behemoth in front of him did indeed resemble the Black Carp upon first glance, whether it was the furry ears or the slender cat tails.


    But since when had Black Carp become so huge?


    Even more astonishing was the creature''s aura, as wild as those Fierce Beasts that rampaged during the Era of Gods.


    The winged beast let out a cat''s cry at the Ghost Samurai, and it was this cry that confirmed to Xu Changrong that it was undoubtedly the Black Carp.


    Xu Changrong suddenly remembered something, during this period, Black Carp had often been spotted near the piles of monster corpses.


    When he saw Black Carp, it was either eating or on its way to find food.


    He hadn''t paid much attention to this before because all cats are gluttonous, right?


    But now looking back on it, considering the speed at which Black Carp consumed food, the amount of monster flesh and blood it had eaten was probably far beyond imagination.


    If Black Carp was simply hungry and looking for a bit to eat, there would be no need to consume so much monster flesh and blood, especially since that flesh and blood wasn''t even palatable.


    "Black Carp devoured those monster''s flesh and blood in search of evolution!" Xu Changrong suddenly realized.


    ["Talent of the Beast''s Heart" current progress: 100/100]


    If Xu Yi were here, he would definitely realize that unnoticed, Black Carp had, through its own efforts, completely filled up the blue-level "Talent of the Beast''s Heart" Entries.


    Black Carp opened its mouth, and a jet of pitch-black liquid spewed forth, instantly enveloping the approaching Behemoth.


    The black water was extremely heavy, comparable to "Niyas Steel," which is the heaviest substance of equal volume that the Alchemist Domain can currently produce. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even the powerful Behemoth was affected by the black water, its speed noticeably slowed down.


    Lisa sat on Black Carp''s back, holding a Spear, her golden pupils radiating a strong aura of majesty.


    She was in a "Divine Arrival" state now, the aftereffects were negligible, and "Divine Arrival" could be used as a permanent boost.


    The dark gold "Spear of Sloth" thrust forward, the flame patterns on the Spear''s body kept flickering, and the tip collided with the body of the Behemoth, emitting a crisp sound of metal striking metal.


    Xu Changrong prepared to step forward to help, having witnessed the strength of the Behemoth, which could be described as perverse.


    But then Lisa uttered a low shout, an imposing might exploding from her, the gold light in her pupils intense as if a volcano were erupting.


    She managed to forcefully drive back the Behemoth and at the same time, her Spear pierced through the Behemoth, white blood flowing out.


    Xu Changrong looked at Lisa in astonishment, for in that moment, he felt the presence of a "god" emanating from her.


    That was actually the aura of the True God Jesus.


    Back when Lisa was still a common person, she had merged with the Holy Blood of an avatar of Jesus, and after being catalyzed by the Poseidon Potion, she had glimpsed the path to the "Divine Body."


    The Behemoth let out an angry roar, it, too, sensed the divine aura from Lisa and was completely enraged, its countless tentacles wildly thrashing.


    "There''s no time to waste, go all out now!"


    In the midst of the battle, the voice of a third person rang out. Xu Changrong turned his head to look, his eyes filled with surprise, "Maria, you came too?"


    "I''m Ailan, remember not to get it wrong next time!"


    Ailan had destroyed two metal towers in quick succession, yet her fighting strength had hardly been depleted because both times she had received assistance from West, which made things exceptionally easy.


    Unfortunately, after West rescued Tomie Kawakami, they went their separate ways.


    "I''ll create an opportunity for you two!"


    Controlling the Ghost Samurai, Xu Changrong turned and pounced toward Behemoth, taking the lead.


    With his first step, surging flames erupted from the Ghost Samurai, instantly forming the Flame Giant.


    With his second step, the Sword of Fire that pierced the heavens coalesced in the giant''s hand.


    With the third step, the Flame Longsword came slashing down, and Behemoth was engulfed by the roaring flames.


    But Xu Changrong quickly discovered to his horror that his all-out strike had only managed to break through Behemoth''s outer skin.


    Behemoth appeared to be a soft-bodied creature, its layer of supple flesh was already impressively defensive, but beneath the flesh, there lay even sturdier white bone plates, shielding its core.


    In fact, at this moment, Behemoth had already weakened significantly.


    If it weren''t for the fact that the seed was simply too bizarre, the Ring of Destruction wouldn''t have been able to capture Behemoth at all.


    Although Xu Changrong was frightened, he still faithfully executed his mission.


    His sword skill changed in his hands, shifting from offence to defence, the towering inferno transforming into a flaming cage that ensnared Behemoth.


    Ailan intoned solemnly, her clear and melodious chanting voice spreading through the air, "Talent''s Chanting" activating.


    In response to her, the sound of wild thunder emerged, and the power bestowed upon the Sword of Pride, the Katana, by Yasakani no Magatama was pushed to the limit.


    The dense fog in the sky was suddenly pierced open, revealing a huge, ghostly green pillar of thunder that reached from heaven to earth. Ailan closed her eyes slightly, letting her body suspend in the midst of the thunder pillar, as the surging power of thunder and lightning gathered in the longsword in her hand.


    She opened her eyes abruptly and slashed out with the most powerful strike she had delivered to date.


    "Thunder Slash!"


    Ailan''s body shot forward, a streak of lightning spanning the sky.


    Thunder, Ailan, and the longsword... all three fused into one, the longsword and Behemoth intersecting, and against all odds, Behemoth''s incredibly tough bone plates were actually cleaved open!


    Inside Behemoth, a mass of purple flesh writhed¡ªthis was its origin.


    "Lisa!" Ailan shouted loudly.


    She could only deliver this cut once in a short time, meaning they had only one chance.


    Lisa didn''t need Ailan''s reminder; she had already begun her action.


    She too began to chant, but unlike Ailan''s clear voice, her mouth seemed to contain thunder, and with every word, the sound of thunder poured forth.


    A golden radiance enveloped the entire spear, bright and blinding. Within a hundred miles, everything was lit up in gold, as if Lisa was holding the sun in her hands.


    The Black Carp shook its wings mightily, propelling itself to the ultimate speed and carried Lisa across the sky.


    The veins on Lisa''s hand stood out as she thrust the spear with all her might, "Sloth" piercing through Behemoth''s core. The golden light burned like purgatory, scorching the purple flesh.


    The Spear of Longinus was the spear that had slain the True God, Jesus, and thus it inherently possessed the "god-slaying" characteristic.


    "God-slaying Light" began to take effect, the purple flesh dissolving in the light as Behemoth emitted a piercing scream.


    "Greed" Spear vibrated, excitedly devouring the remnants of Behemoth''s origin within.

 Chapter 352

    Within the Gate of Truth.


    The soul within the "three-leaf clover" grew continuously stronger, and Xu Yi could only watch helplessly, finding the experience especially agonizing.


    "Moderation is essential, don''t be greedy!"


    Xu Yi took deep breaths repeatedly, performing self-hypnosis.


    Moments later, he felt that his inner self had become still as an ancient well, neither overjoyed by external things nor saddened by personal matters, like a monk who had attained enlightenment.


    The sound of flowing water appeared again, and a new Philosopher''s Stone fell from the sky. Xu Yi let out an excited shriek and dashed toward the Philosopher''s Stone.


    What "not overjoyed by external things"? That''s all nonsense. Even the Buddha fights for a stick of incense, right?


    The newly appeared Philosopher''s Stone was about the same size as before, roughly 30ml.


    Xu Yi felt somewhat regretful because such a small amount of the Philosopher''s Stone could not sustain him for long.


    "This truly shows the insatiability of human desire!" Xu Yi sighed.


    He had just thought that if only he could have a tiny bit more of the Philosopher''s Stone, now that he had far exceeded his expectations, he became dissatisfied again.


    The next second, a stronger current sounded, and a large quantity of Philosopher''s Stones emerged from the void. This time they were around 100ml, a real windfall!


    Xu Yi began to suspect if he was the illegitimate son of the Goddess of Luck. Whatever he thought of, came true?


    In the following time, Xu Yi completely transformed into a "perpetual motion machine".


    He created Soul Stealing Seeds, inserted them into the Philosopher''s Stones, the Soul Stealing Seeds invaded the "three-leaf clover," gaining more control and at the same time stealing a part of the soul''s energy...


    The Philosopher''s Stones were rapidly depleted.


    Xu Yi breathed heavily, experiencing "shortness of breath".


    Now being a spiritual entity, such reactions that belonged to the body should not appear on him.


    That can only mean one thing: his soul had weakened to an extreme, even more serious than when he was gravely ill before, half a step into the incinerator.


    Where in the world is there such a thing as a perpetual motion machine? It seemed like the Soul Stealing Seeds replenished his spiritual energy, but that was only a surface-level supplement; the origin of the soul continued to deplete.


    Although the rate of consumption was slow, the accumulation was substantial, and the consequences were still unbearable.


    "The soul will not dissipate! The creation of Soul Stealing Seeds will not halt!"


    This was not just a slogan; Xu Yi remained true to this philosophy.


    This opportunity was too precious; no matter what, he couldn''t waste it, even if he had to spend his last resources.


    But it wasn''t the soul that gave out first; it was the Philosopher''s Stones.


    When the energy of the last Philosopher''s Stone was absorbed, the Soul Stealing Seeds burst forth with massive roots, deeply invading the soul of the "three-leaf clover".


    Xu Yi''s soul trembled violently; he felt as though he had merged with something, experiencing the rise and set of the sun, the rotation of the heavens and the earth, the eternal universe...


    He also felt as though he had become one with all the elements of the universe, sensing the profound and mysterious ultimate truth of heaven and earth. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His soul plummeted at high speed, a vast, lush ancient tree growing larger and larger before his eyes, mysterious information flooding into his mind.


    He murmured subconsciously: "World Tree!"


    That profound and mysterious feeling vanished abruptly, and Xu Yi shivered, staring incredulously at the "three-leaf clover" outside.


    The seed from before was actually a seedling of the World Tree!


    But how could that be?


    According to ancient tomes, when the Twilight of the Gods came, the roots of the World Tree had already been gnawed through, and after its collapse, it was completely destroyed.


    It was also because of the disappearance of the World Tree that the gods headed towards their doomsday, eventually vanishing into the long river of history.


    "The Ring of Destruction or the True God really has great divine skills!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but exclaim, astonished that even a seed of the World Tree could be found.


    Xu Yi watched the "three-leaf clover" devour energy, his eyes alight with fervor.


    Now, referring to it as a "three-leaf clover" was no longer appropriate, for as it continuously consumed energy, it had transformed from a clover into a small sapling with lush branches and leaves.


    The Philosopher''s Stone was exhausted, and the Great Endeavor of Theft came to another halt, but Xu Yi was not at all anxious because there was no longer any need to be.


    The soul of the World Tree had grown from an infant into a child. Although it was only the soul of the World Tree at a child''s stage, it was no longer vulnerable to the invasion of the Soul Stealing Seed.


    A child wielding a sword could also kill.


    Xu Yi did not feel any regret, for the current state was already the best scenario he had anticipated.


    The golden soul of the World Tree was laced with a network of black roots.


    Within the soul of the other, the black network only occupied a very small portion, but most importantly, it had already integrated with the soul.


    If the infant "tree spirit" was likened to a startup company, then Xu Yi was the angel investor, holding about 5% of the company''s shares.


    These shares were core shares, original shares that couldn''t be diluted; even if the company grew into one of the Fortune 500, he would still retain a 5% stake.


    These "black networks" that had split from Xu Yi''s soul would grow and strengthen along with the soul of the World Tree.


    Xu Yi thought about becoming a "shareholder" of the World Tree, and his heart was filled with excitement.


    Such a situation could only be caused by countless favorable conditions aligning.


    Xu Yi had already successfully pilfered the home base while the knight in armor continued to battle with the spirit of the True God.


    The knight''s armor was rusted all over; what was previously a faint outline of the armor''s original appearance could no longer be seen.


    That rust covered it like barnacles, slowing the movement of the armored knight.


    The spirit of the True God was not much better; most of its golden threads had extinguished, and the remaining few were dim, clearly unable to endure much longer.


    But compared to both of them, this space was the most tragically affected.


    The ground was cracked everywhere; rivers had dried up, leaving their ashen beds exposed. Groups of mountains collapsed, leaving rubble scattered all around.


    Under the voracious absorption of the World Tree, this space''s "red" had nearly disappeared, with only a few remnants at the far end.


    In fact, the number of Philosopher''s Stones in this space wasn''t as exaggerated as imagined; it was only because they were all clustered together that they appeared so plentiful.


    In the distant lands, the desolate Gobi remained, devoid of any trace of Philosopher''s Stones.


    Just now, having been used to feasting, the World Tree was reluctant to shift to a diet of broth and water, but unfortunately, there were hardly any Philosopher''s Stones left.


    The World Tree suddenly took to the air.


    In this world, there existed another source brimming with powerful energy.


    A golden-red sphere hovered in the air, radiating light like the sun, but its material seemed metallic.


    The "sun" was composed of numerous square metal blocks pieced together, each inscribed with dense script.


    As Xu Yi watched the World Tree rush towards the metallic sphere, his expression changed subtly, for that was the true body of the Gate of Truth.


    "They''re really getting bolder by the moment!"


    Xu Yi''s heart leapt. If it had been before, he would have wished for the World Tree to meet its demise, but now he was a "shareholder" of the World Tree.


    If the World Tree were in its complete form, challenging the Gate of Truth would be understandable, but now it was only a two-to-three-year-old toddler still learning to talk; challenging the Gate of Truth was suicidal, wasn''t it?


    The Gate of Truth sensed the World Tree''s challenge, and as a being of pure reason, it would not possess emotions such as anger, only the most direct response.


    The metal sphere suddenly cracked open, and a dense gold light shone through the gaps. Within that light, Xu Yi saw a silver eye, its pupil made up of concentric circles of mysterious script. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    As the eye descended, layers upon layers of metal surged like the tide, and in the blink of an eye, it assembled into a massive mechanical body.


    The Cyclops in its metal giant form watched the scene below, and Xu Yi''s heart grew cold. Even hidden within the body, inside the Serpent of Finale, he still felt as if he had been seen through.

 Chapter 353 Snatching Food from the Tigers Mouth

    The World Tree, on discovering the Cyclops metal giant, didn''t retreat but instead went to meet it head-on.


    Facing such an "iron-headed kid," Xu Yi could do nothing but watch helplessly as the other went to its death.


    The soul of the World Tree had just been born, not long ago. Its spiritual intelligence unopened, it was like a one- or two-year-old child, totally unable to discern danger.


    A dull metallic collision sound suddenly rang out, as the knight''s armor, despite being severely struck by the spirit of the True God, forcibly disengaged from the fight and lunged towards the World Tree.


    The task bestowed on it by the Ring of Destruction was to protect the World Tree. The knight''s armor was more like an intelligent robot, always loyally executing its commands no matter when.


    The steel plate on the chest of the knight''s armor suddenly opened up, revealing a hollow torso, inside which was a black box surrounded by magenta soil.


    This box was clearly a means by which the Ring of Destruction restricted the World Tree. The moment the box appeared, the World Tree was sucked into it without any resistance, its roots wandering through the red soil.


    Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief; the "brother" of the Ring of Destruction was still as reliable as ever.


    The steel plate on the chest of the knight''s armor slowly closed, as it prepared to leave with the World Tree.


    Suddenly, a hand grabbed the slowly closing steel plate, that hand belonged to the spirit of the True God, which had no intention of letting the World Tree go.


    "Brother! You really are putting ''money'' before your life!"


    Xu Yi''s eyes widened, never having imagined that even at this point, the spirit of the True God would still be unwilling to give up on the World Tree.


    The Cyclops giant focused its single eye on the World Tree. Silver sparks flickered within its pupil as a terrifyingly powerful energy converged.


    As Judgment seemed about to fall, the spirit of the True God was not thinking about escaping but still intent on seizing the World Tree. Wasn''t this a case of putting ''money'' before life?


    The spirit of the True God''s eyes flashed with golden light as it stared intently at the World Tree, the word "coveting" practically written on its forehead.


    It reached out, grasping the World Tree tightly with veins throbbing on the back of its hand.


    The spirit of the True God''s instincts urged it on, for it knew swallowing the World Tree would bring it immense benefits.


    Only instinct-driven creatures, when faced with equally matched battles, might show great fighting strength, for their focus was undivided.


    But if facing a formidable opponent, they would appear quite foolish.


    The spirit of the True God never considered that the World Tree, which could ignore Divine Light, was not something it could easily provoke.


    The World Tree suddenly moved. Its leaves, which not even a hurricane could stir, fell off, drifting in front of the spirit of the True God and attaching to its forehead like a talisman.


    "Brother, don''t mess with me!"


    Xu Yi panicked instantly, for the spirit of the True God was using his body.


    But the next second, his anxiety melted away, for the World Tree didn''t deign to lay hands on him.


    To put it accurately, his body, which he took pride in as the Body of Demigod, wasn''t even a blip in the World Tree''s perception. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, he also felt an inexplicable pang of sadness.


    The falling leaf of the World Tree slowly burned. The green flame had no heat, yet it drew out a golden thread, hovering in front of his brow.


    The spirit of the True God''s thread struggled furiously but couldn''t escape, enveloped by an invisible domain.


    The green flame crept up the golden thread. As the thread''s luster burned away inch by inch, the only thing left was a transparent thread, the purest force of the soul.


    Only a tiny bit of the falling leaf remained, and in an instant, it burned up completely, turning into roaring green flames that enveloped the transparent thread.


    The thread condensed and finally formed a clear, translucent crystal, emitting an enchanting soul essence.


    Xu Yi had not expected the opportunity to come so suddenly, his soul instantly left the Serpent of Finale and returned to his own body.


    His soul abruptly felt a chill, as if plunging into the frigid air of an Ice Cellar¡ªthis was "rigor mortis," his soul had been away from his body for too long.


    Even more fatal was the fact that his soul was now exceedingly weak, like a critically ill patient in the final throes of illness, and this chill seemed to threaten the very existence of his soul.


    It wasn''t that Xu Yi had not anticipated this; rather, he had no choice.


    If the soul did not return to the body and allowed the body to remain here, it would still be a road to death in the end.


    Because of the deal with the Gate of Truth, today he had only two chances left to use the Resurrection Coin.


    Worse yet, even if he were to come back to life, returning to ten minutes prior, he would still be powerless and could only watch as everything unfolded all over again. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire


    However, Xu Yi had not given up; he had long calculated everything in his mind, and there was still a glimmer of hope in front of him.


    He mustered all his strength to raise his hand and fiercely grabbed the "Core of the True God" floating in front of his glabella.


    A warmth spread from his fingertips, like a person about to freeze to death in a blizzard suddenly grasping a warm water bottle.


    The warmth spread along his arm and through Xu Yi''s entire body. Xu Yi shook fiercely as the severe cold was dispelled, and he felt as if he had come back to life.


    Pure soul energy surged from the Core of the True God, not only dispelling the rigor mortis but also saving his gravely endangered soul.


    The World Tree trembled with anger; it had expended one leaf to laboriously craft the "Core of the True God," and now someone was hijacking it halfway through?


    Verdant tendrils stretched out from the chest of the Armor, entangling Xu Yi''s arm.


    At the same time, the energy within the Cyclops metallic giant had condensed to its limit, and a slender silver beam shot out.


    Its original target was the World Tree, but Xu Yi was standing in front of the World Tree, making him the shield for the other side.


    Cold sweat ran down Xu Yi''s forehead instantly¡ªif he were to be affected by the Cyclops'' attack, how could he possibly survive?


    Just then, the knight Armor suddenly moved; its directive was to protect the World Tree, and by now it was too late to flee. It twisted its body abruptly, turning its back to the silver beam to use its own bulk to protect the World Tree.


    Since the roots of the World Tree were entwining his arm, Xu Yi was naturally flung behind the knight Armor as well.


    The silver beam hit the knight Armor, but not its back¡ªinstead, it struck its head.


    The knight Armor feared that the power of the silver beam was too great, that it would pierce through its body and then harm the World Tree, so with all its might, it attempted to change the position of the World Tree.


    The Armor indeed succeeded, but its head was exposed directly to the silver beam and instantly vaporized.


    Without losing momentum, the silver beam skimmed over the top of Xu Yi''s head, causing him to break out in goosebumps, narrowly missing being hit.


    But he had no time to worry about the beam now; he felt a familiar suction force on his arm. No, to be precise, it was several times stronger than before.


    The roots of the World Tree began to devour his vitality. Xu Yi still clenched the Core of the True God in his right hand; of course, the World Tree would not allow anyone to steal what it considered its own!


    Instinctively, Xu Yi thought to sever his arm, which was the solution he came up with at that moment.


    His left hand had just begun to rise when his brain suddenly buzzed, a strong ringing taking over his ears, sapping all his strength, leaving him unable to exert any force.


    The World Tree had made its move, far more powerful than that half-alive, half-dead seed; it didn''t give Xu Yi any chance to amputate his arm to save his own life.


    Darkness descended before Xu Yi''s eyes, and it seemed like the shadow of death had enveloped him.

 Chapter 354 Today is a Good Day

    Just as Xu Yi was about to be drained into a mummy by the World Tree, the World Tree suddenly trembled violently, and the strong suction force disappeared.


    Within the soul of the World Tree, the black network erupted into a wild commotion, churning like waves.


    Xu Yi''s identity as a "shareholder" came into play, disrupting the World Tree.


    Seizing the opportunity, Xu Yi broke free from the roots of the World Tree and dashed forward frantically.


    He felt immense relief in his heart, knowing that if he hadn''t stolen some control over the World Tree, he would certainly have perished here.


    The leaves of the World Tree quivered non-stop, with countless roots wildly dancing in the air to express its fury.


    It clearly had no intention of letting Xu Yi, this little thief, get away; its roots began to stretch out, chasing after Xu Yi.


    The Knight Armor had lost its head, but it could still move; its weaknesses were different from those of humans.


    It was undisturbed by Xu Yi''s thievery, its sole mission being to protect the World Tree, with everything else being of no concern.


    The black box erupted once again with a pulling force, sucking in the roots of the World Tree, and the Knight Armor forcibly closed the steel plates at its chest.


    Xu Yi felt as if he''d been pardoned, and silently gave a thumbs-up to the Knight Armor.


    He attempted to store the True God''s Core in the Toy Space but found it impossible, an issue he had encountered only once before.


    But then, the Serpent of Finale within his soul suddenly emitted a suction force and the True God''s Core was absorbed by the Serpent of Finale, sealed within it.


    Pure spiritual power continuously overflowed from the Serpent of Finale, and Xu Yi inhaled those strands of spiritual force, moistening his parched soul.


    The enormous effort he had put into inscribing Arrays on the Serpent of Finale hadn''t been in vain.


    Without the resistance of the True God''s spirit, the extracted soul power was tens of times greater than before.


    This soul power was precisely what he could absorb, without any waste.


    Soon enough, Xu Yi had no time to pay attention to these things as the Cyclops Metal Giant was in pursuit.


    Although the other party was there to discipline the World Tree, who knew if innocent bystanders would get hurt? It was wiser to steer clear, just to be cautious.


    He ran for his life towards the golden vortex in the distance, but deliberately took a long detour to separate himself from the Knight Armor.


    The Metal Giant chased after the Knight Armor, and Xu Yi heaved a sigh of relief; the Giant''s target was indeed the World Tree.


    Xu Yi didn''t dare linger; the harvest from entering the Gate of Truth this time couldn''t just be described as bountiful; it was explosive.


    Not only did he acquire the "Otherworldly Laws" and became a "shareholder" of the World Tree, but he also obtained the True God''s Core. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If something were to go wrong now, resulting in complete failure, he wouldn''t even have a place to cry.


    The space within the Gate of Truth was filled with a saltpeter-like scent, the ground was scorching hot, and wisps of black and red smoke were intermittently rising.


    Xu Yi hurried along, as the Divine Light and Philosopher''s Stone were being resurrected.


    It was also thanks to the World Tree; had it not devoured all of the Philosopher''s Stones here, causing the Divine Light to dissipate,


    With his own strength, he probably would have been doomed after just a few dozen meters.


    The Knight Armor leaped into the golden vortex; the Cyclops Metal Giant did not continue the pursuit, for the Gate of Truth''s task was merely to drive away, not to strike fatally.


    The Cyclops Giant turned to look at Xu Yi, and Xu Yi''s heart instantly rose to his throat, but fortunately, after just a glance, the Giant returned to the metallic sun above.


    Xu Yi exhaled a sigh of relief and followed by jumping into the golden vortex.


    ...


    The Crow Man and the Lizard Dragon stood beneath the Gate of Truth, as they watched one pillar of light after another extinguished in the sky, their hearts filled with urgency.


    The pillars were extinguishing too rapidly, much faster than they had anticipated.


    Logically, those Original Sin hosts should have been able to hold on for quite some time, especially "Pride" West and the host of "Sloth," Behemoth.


    Yet the metal towers guarded by these two had been destroyed long ago.


    "Can this amount of time allow the World Tree to be reborn?" the Lizard Dragon asked, filled with concern.


    The Crow Man remained silent, the atmosphere exceptionally heavy.


    Just then, a red figure emerged from the Gate of Truth, and a knight clad in rust-red armor fell from the sky and crashed in front of the Crow Man with a thunderous roar.


    The Crow Man looked at the armor on the ground in astonishment; he was well aware of the might of the Knight of Destruction, but now even his head had been destroyed.


    What exactly had he encountered inside the Gate of Truth?


    "The vital spirit within the Knight of Destruction is exhausted!" the Lizard Dragon concluded after examining the armor.


    The Crow Man''s heart skipped a beat. If the vital spirit was spent, could the World Tree still be intact?


    Suddenly, the chest of the Knight of Destruction sprang open, revealing a quiet green sprout nestled within a black box.


    "The World Tree! The World Tree is alive!"


    The Lizard Dragon trembled with excitement; had he not been in a resurrected body, he might have been moved to tears.


    The black box was crafted from the withered World Tree, and the soil inside came from the Land of Origin, the very earth that had once nurtured the World Tree, which is why the newly born World Tree was willing to stay inside.


    The Crow Man, too, was caught up in euphoria. They had been standing guard here, rather than protecting the metal towers, precisely to wait for the World Tree, to prevent any mishaps.


    The Crow Man used a lid made of the same material to cover the black box, then carefully lifted the entire box out, and finally, he wrapped the box securely with bandages inscribed with curses.


    Suddenly, a whooshing sound came from the sky, and the Crow Man whipped his head around.


    He was like a courier transporting precious cargo, where any slight disturbance could set his nerves on edge.


    "Xu Yi?!" The Crow Man looked at the figure in the sky with disbelief, racking his brain but unable to figure out how the other had survived the Gate of Truth.


    Xu Yi, of course, also saw the Crow Man. He glanced at the black box in the latter''s hands, his eyes flashing with a fleeting desire.


    But his first reaction was not to seize it, but to turn and flee. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire


    Only after leaving the Gate of Truth did he have the mind to examine the state of his body, which was a gruesome sight, like a room ravaged by a Husky.


    Damn the spirit of the True God! Xu Yi cursed internally, his teeth itching with rage. Without his own body to care for, they had been recklessly wasted.


    This damage was deep-seated, and even with the Entries for Hyper Accelerated Regeneration, it was impossible to recover quickly.


    Now his soul was not only weak, but his body was also a mess, with hardly any fighting strength left. If he didn''t hurry away, was he supposed to just wait for death here?


    "Stop him!" The Crow Man hesitated for a moment, then suddenly came to his senses and bellowed.


    It was clear what Xu Yi''s state was with just a casual glance¡ªhe was at death''s door.


    He felt some regret; he should have realized this much sooner, but he had been too shocked before to react immediately.


    Xu Yi had only made it a few steps when a dark shadow charged out from the side. His face changed slightly and he forced a trace of strength from his body, dodging with a posture as if he were gnawing the mud.


    The Lizard Dragon pounced and missed, but he didn''t rush to attack and instead watched Xu Yi coldly.


    He had caught on quicker than the Crow Man; he had already moved the moment the Crow Man spoke.


    He observed Xu Yi rolling on the ground, his eyes mocking.


    He felt extremely pleased at that moment, not only because they had resurrected the World Tree, but also because he had the opportunity to kill Xu Yi¡ªit was truly a wonderful day.


    But he suddenly froze; despite Xu Yi''s dire straits, a smile appeared on his face.


    If Xu Yi knew what the Lizard Dragon was thinking at that moment, he would definitely agree; he too felt it was a good day.

 Chapter 355 Is Having More People Really Useless?

    ```


    The Lizard Dragon whirled around, watching warily behind it, as two figures emerged from the midst of the fog, the leader''s face cold as frost.


    "Good evening, Evil Dragon Empress Yukeni!" Xu Yi called out loudly, seeming very enthusiastic.


    He couldn''t help but be enthusiastic; at this critical moment, reinforcements had arrived just in time!


    Xu Yi didn''t forget William and nodded at him; William smiled in response.


    After dealing with Emperor Ramses, Yukeni and William rushed here upon noticing someone coming through the gate high in the sky.


    The Lizard Dragon''s gaze remained fixed on Yukeni, completely disregarding William at his side.


    As far as it was concerned, William was just a Common exorcist, posing no real threat.


    However, when William let out a bestial roar and entered a half-human, half-demon state, the savage aura assaulting everyone''s senses, the Lizard Dragon''s expression subtly changed.


    The Crow Man stepped out from behind it, standing shoulder to shoulder with the dragon.


    Seeing his longtime friend at his side, the Lizard Dragon breathed a sigh of relief; although the opposition had larger numbers, since Xu Yi was seriously injured, the advantage was still theirs.


    "Having more people is useless..." the Lizard Dragon said leisurely.


    "Oh, is that so?"


    A voice answered from within the thick fog.


    Three figures strode out from the fog, the leader being Ailan with a katana in his grip, his eyes as sharp as the blade he held.


    Lisa sat on the back of the greatly enlarged Black Carp, silent and wordless, yet no one could ignore her, her golden eyes emanating an awe-inspiring authority.


    The Ghost Samurai in flaming red armor provocatively stared down the Lizard Dragon; it was none other than his talkative father who had spoken earlier.


    The Lizard Dragon was lost for words, Xu Changrong''s statement hitting right at the heart.


    But this was just the beginning, far from the end.


    Shadowy figures emerged from the fog, led by Arturo and the members of the Church, dressed in uniform black, the experts from Boston.


    The Lizard Dragon and the Crow Man''s moods grew heavy; they were completely surrounded and stood no chance against the force arrayed against them.


    Xu Yi took out an Alchemy Revolver from his toy space, loaded only with common Exorcism Bullets, and pulled the trigger.


    With the first shot fired, everyone struck together, with a barrage of attacks enveloping the two targets.


    After leaving the Gate of Truth, Xu Yi''s "communications" finally restored, he used the Ghost Samurai as a medium to contact Xu Changrong. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire


    The Ghost Samurai, rushing towards the Lizard Dragon, suddenly paused, then changed directions, charging at the Crow Man while silently going into the Phasing state.


    The Lizard Dragon and Ghost Samurai struggled to cope; they could barely dodge, let alone counter.


    Every person present was an expert among experts, a force powerful enough to effortlessly destroy a small country, now all directed against just two individuals.


    A chill green lightning bolt slashed towards the Crow Man, who, to avoid the blade, took on the brunt of Arturo''s "Holy Nail", a costly evasion.


    The blade came from Ailan, wielding the "Pride" katana, a sword that inherited the ability of the Yasakani no Magatama.


    The green lightning could paralyze souls, a nemesis for reincarnation devices; thus, the Crow Man preferred any other attack over being hit by the bolt.


    However, Arturo''s "Holy Nail" was no less formidable; radiating a terrifying power, the Crow Man was blasted underground, and with a thunderous boom, a deep crater was formed.


    The members of the Church and the experts from Boston ceased attacking.


    Seeing their assaults were ineffective against the two "iron beasts", they voluntarily took up a support role, jointly crafting a mighty Array, restricting the pair''s movements.


    So none of the attacks could be taken lightly, even from William, the weakest among them; his "Greed" Foiled Sword possessed a too-strange life-reversing ability.


    A golden "Spear of Judgment" fell from the sky, Lisa threw her "Sloth" Spear, able to summon it back at will and thus not worrying about losing it.


    The breath of the light that had slain gods made one''s blood run cold, the Crow Man struggled to evade but was still hit, his shoulder pierced by the spear, fissuring inch by inch.


    Before the Crow Man could breathe a sigh of relief, he was suddenly overcome with a chilling sensation rising from deep within.


    Xu Yi gripped the Alchemy Revolver with one hand, aiming straight at the left chest of the Crow Man.


    ```


    He had studied the structure of the Eight-headed Sea Serpent, and with the careful observation he had just made, he was reasonably certain that the Crow Man''s left chest must be where the core was located.


    The trigger was pulled, and the bullet roared out of the chamber.


    It wasn''t a Common Exorcism Bullet being fired this time but a Keres Bullet, its tip made of True God''s bone charging forth irresistibly.


    The Crow Man couldn''t dodge; he swung the Scythe of the Reaper in his hand, not to cut down the bullet¡ªhe knew that was impossible¡ªbut rather slashing toward his own chest.


    The moment the scythe touched his body, it transformed into a multitude of metal components, stacking over his left chest to form a sturdy shield.


    The bullet collided with the shield, which only held up for a mere two seconds before being penetrated. The bullet embedded itself inch by inch, piercing through the Crow Man''s outer armor, and after the energy of the True God''s bone was exhausted, the bullet casing became lodged inside.


    The Crow Man hadn''t yet had the chance to feel relieved when a fiery red figure suddenly pounced from behind¡ªthat was the Ghost Samurai.


    In fact, when the Ghost Samurai had vanished, the Crow Man had remained on alert, but as lethal attacks followed one after another, he was powerless to react.


    The Crow Man''s soul suddenly surged with dread because the Ghost Samurai didn''t pursue his advantage but instead lunged at his chest.


    To prevent it from being lost, he had the black box containing the World Tree attached to his chest and was constantly guarding it.


    "The Ghost Samurai was after the World Tree from the very beginning!" The Crow Man suddenly realized.


    In truth, Xu Changrong didn''t know what the box contained. He had just received a soul transmission from Xu Yi, instructing him to snatch the black box from the other''s possession.


    The Ghost Samurai wasn''t wielding the Demon Blade Red Lotus in his hand, but the Orochi Hammer instead.


    As a vast amount of Divinity was infused, the vertical pupil on the Orochi Hammer opened, and the hammer itself glowed with a deep golden-red hue.


    Inside the Samurai Armor, flames surged, and the Ghost Samurai erupted with full force, striking the black box hard with the Orochi Hammer.


    The black box, crafted from the World Tree, was exceptionally durable and remained undamaged. However, under the enormous force, it was knocked free from the Crow Man''s grasp.


    The Ghost Samurai dived for the black box.


    "No!" The Crow Man was a mix of shock and fury.


    He would rather the other be coming for him. Forget this Resurrection Machine¡ªeven his soul wasn''t as important as this World Tree specimen.


    Having endured repeated blows, the Crow Man was in a phase where his old strength had faded and new strength hadn''t yet emerged, so he simply had no means to stop it.


    Just as the Ghost Samurai was about to seize the black box, a dark shadow suddenly leapt out from the side. The Lizard Dragon slammed into the Ghost Samurai, knocking him away, and clasped the black box.


    Half of the Lizard Dragon''s body was destroyed, with uncontrolled electrical arcs leaping across it, revealing the terrible cost it must have paid for this dive to save.


    Xu Yi inwardly sighed with regret, just a bit more, and he could have captured the World Tree!


    He gazed into the Crow Man''s eyes, and for some reason, he suddenly had a bad premonition. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It seemed to him that he saw a determination within the other''s red stone pupils.


    "Arturo, take the black box and leave!" the Crow Man suddenly spoke up.


    The Lizard Dragon was stunned. "Arturo" was his True Name. In their operations outside, they never used each other''s True Names to maintain secrecy.


    He was so surprised that he missed the latter part of what the Crow Man, Augustus, had said.


    Given their current situation, how could he possibly leave with the black box?


    The Crow Man''s gaze landed on the knight''s Armor not far away. The headless Armor lay there quietly, motionless.


    "Augustus, you..." Arturo, the Lizard Dragon, suddenly understood what the other intended and inadvertently called out his True Name.


    The Crow Man said nothing; he flung his hand, and the rust-stained knight''s Armor flew toward him.


    "Stop him!" Xu Yi shouted in rage.


    He had in fact been watching the armor on the ground all along. Its terror had left a deep impression on him.


    But with both members of the Ring of Destruction already in dire straits, and the knight''s Armor still motionless, he had felt somewhat reassured.


    He hadn''t approached the knight''s Armor himself, for fear of triggering a reaction, causing it to suddenly come alive.


    Now that the Crow Man had summoned the knight''s Armor, he didn''t know what the other was planning to do, but it was definitely not going to be anything good.

 Chapter 356 Violent

    ```


    A barrage of attacks swept toward the Crow Man, who astonishingly did not dodge or evade, simply standing still, allowing those attacks to hit him.


    The Ghost Samurai did not attack the Crow Man, but carrying the Serpent of Finale hammer, he strode toward the knight''s Armor.


    The golden hammer crashed down on the Armor, sending it flying like a cannonball.


    Xu Changrong''s reasoning was simple. Since the enemy wanted to summon that broken Armor, wouldn''t driving it away solve the problem?


    Seeing the knight''s Armor being driven away from the Ghost Samurai, Xu Yi''s heart did not ease, because both the Crow Man and the Lizard Dragon seemed too calm.


    The Crow Man''s left eye was destroyed, and one of his metal legs was broken. He knelt on the ground, still looking in the direction of the knight''s Armor.


    Suddenly, the knight''s Armor disintegrated, and a black seed with a green hue burst out of the wreckage, flying towards the Crow Man.


    Xu Yi gazed at the half-rotten World Tree Seed.


    Compared to when he first saw it, the seed now looked much more withered, as if on its last breath.


    It seemed that driving the knight''s Armor and entering the Gate of Truth had not been without cost to the seed.


    Xu Yi raised his gun and fired, his Caris bullet intercepting the seed with precision.


    The invariably effective Caris bullet only managed to stop it momentarily. Once the Energy of True God''s bones was exhausted, the seed still entered the Crow Man''s body, like a drop of water merging into the sea.


    The Lizard Dragon turned its head away, unable to bear the sight.


    To unleash the power of the World Tree Seed, there are usually two types of carriers: one is the Spirit of All Living Things, and the other is like them, "Eternal Souls."


    But whether it is a Spirit of All Living Things or an Eternal Soul, once they become a carrier for the World Tree Seed, they can no longer separate until the seed has consumed the carrier''s soul entirely.


    This meant that the Crow Man, having merged with the seed, was doomed to die.


    The metallic scales on the surface of the Crow Man opened and closed, fine vines spreading from the crevices, wrapping his body tightly. In the blink of an eye, he had transformed into a "Tree-man."


    The vines bore black-green leaves that caught fire, whirling the black-green flames into the Crow Man''s body. Columns of dark green steam billowed from him.


    The complexion of everyone present changed, their bodies trembling slightly, their souls shivering.


    An overwhelmingly wild aura assaulted them. They felt like they had reverted to being ordinary people, navigating a small boat on the ocean, while a raging tempest enveloped them, threatening to capsize their vessel at any moment.


    With the black box clasped tightly in its arms, the Lizard Dragon had understood.


    Augustus had done more than just make his soul into a carrier. He had ignited the seed, and with it, his own soul.


    He had left no way out for himself, thus reaching this frightful extent.


    Instinctively, the eyes of everyone there turned to Xu Yi. Although nobody said it aloud, they all looked to him as their mainstay, including both Boston and the church people.


    They were all well aware that they stood no chance against the Tree-man.


    To fight or to retreat, Xu Yi had a clearer understanding than any of them.


    But then they were startled, for Xu Yi had vanished. In fact, he''d slipped away quietly as soon as the Tree-man entered its frenzied state.


    They didn''t think Xu Yi had fled from the battle; rather, they were curious about the purpose of his action.


    "Try to buy as much time as possible! Xu Yi has gone to prepare the secret weapon!"


    The Ghost Samurai roamed the battlefield, whispering, transmitting this message to each person.


    ......


    Xu Yi sat astride the Black Carp, its wings beating as they flew towards the source of the beam of light.


    Of the seven beams in the sky, only two remained, their light gradually fading. Without sufficient Energy for the sacrifice, the Gate of Truth was slowly closing.


    The moment the tree seed entered the Crow Man''s body, Xu Yi knew that there was no turning back.


    Even if he could start over with a Resurrection Coin, he had no confidence in stopping the opponent, especially since he only had two more chances to resurrect today. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire


    His body was still not fully recovered, and the power he could wield was very limited. Rather than being a bystander there, it was better to seek a way to solve the problem.


    Xu Yi checked the Serpent of Finale within his soul.


    On the Serpent of Finale, the serpent heads representing "Envy," "Greed," and "Sloth" were now brimming with dazzling radiance.


    ```


    This indicates that these three Source of Sin weapons have already "charged up."


    He was aware of the past events, how "Envy" Sugar Plum Fairy, "Envy" Emperor Ramses, and "Sloth" Behemoth were all taken care of by the corresponding weapons.


    Having devoured the remnants of the Origin, these three arms had reached the standard for fusion.


    "If the ''Ultimate Weapon'' can be combined, perhaps it can resolve the Crow Man!"


    This was the solution Xu Yi had come up with.


    The "Ultimate Weapon" can be fused three times in total, and this was only the first time, so the energy requirement wasn''t very high.


    "There are still four Source of Sin weapons left, Anger and Gluttony are manageable, but what about Lust and Pride?"


    Xu Yi''s brows wrinkled involuntarily, at this point all he could do was take it one step at a time.


    ......


    "Cass! Block it!"


    Following little Judy''s roar, Cass charged forward with the "Lust" Recurve Knife in hand, a dark yellow shield blocking in front of his classmates.


    The tentacles surged forward, and the shield stood firm like a dam intercepting a flood.


    Carrie shouted loudly, slashing with the "Envy" Knight''s Sword in her hand, sending a fierce firestorm towards the tentacled monster in front of them.


    Since their "tower pushing squad" was relatively far from the Gate of Truth, they had not been able to keep abreast of the situation there and were still faithfully carrying out the original plan.


    "Has it become so small?"


    Xu Yi was surprised looking down at the "Gluttony" host, Augustus, who had been so colossal back in the Atlantis ruins.


    He finally arrived at one of the metal towers.


    This was thanks to the Black Carp, otherwise, with his gravely injured body, who knew when he would have reached it.


    Augustus was only the size of an adult, plainly human-shaped, yet not a single human organ could be found on it, its entire body composed of tentacles.


    It was uncertain how the Ring of Destruction had modified it, turning it into this state.


    "This has to be a quick battle!"


    Xu Yi knew he had no time to waste, as the people on the battlefield were in dire straits, so he had to act fast.


    He lifted his Alchemy Revolver and aimed, activating the Silent Domain, he pulled the trigger, firing two consecutive shots with Cass bullets.


    Now was not the time to care about the precious Cass bullets.


    The bullets hit Augustus in the chest and head, respectively, prompting a painful scream from him as the tentacles flailed wildly.


    Xu Yi''s eyes brightened, he knew the opportunity had come.


    At the same time, two streams of light fell from the sky, landing in Xu Yi''s hands, they were the "Gluttony" Dagger and "Anger."


    After leaving the Gate of Truth, he had started summoning these two weapons. The weapons left Notting Hill, and only now reached his hands.


    As blood blazed, Xu Yi squeezed out the little remaining strength in his body and violently hurled the "Gluttony" Dagger.


    The black-gold dagger passed through the gaps in the tentacles, piercing through Augustus'' chest. The severely injured Augustus couldn''t resist, and the Origin inside it was gradually extracted.


    At this moment, a golden light flew across the sky, illuminating the foggy layers of Boston, that was the Doomsday Blade aiming for the last source of light.


    Boston''s most powerful weapon had finally been activated.


    It wasn''t that Boston''s higher-ups were slow to respond, but because the other high towers were around the city outskirts, the Doomsday Blade, with its powerful radiation, was not suitable, and the Doomsday Arc''s power was not enough. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The metal tower protected by the "Angry Tree" was supposed to be in the city as well.


    However, after the Angry Tree''s hiding spot was discovered, the Ring of Destruction''s people had no choice but to move it outside the city, which provided the opportunity to use the Doomsday Blade.


    The Doomsday Blade fell, and Xu Yi watched as the golden sun rose from the horizon, its dazzling light reflecting off the surrounding fog and turning it golden.


    Xu Yi was somewhat pleased because this meant he could save a lot of time.


    The mere radiation from Doomsday Crystal Stones couldn''t harm the Origin of Sin, so he didn''t have to worry about the Origin being destroyed.

 Chapter 357 The Arrival of the Sea of Trees

    "Hurry up! Faster!"


    Xu Yi urged the Black Carp beneath him subconsciously, and with a roar, the already speeding creature pushed itself to go even faster.


    All the columns of light in the sky had disappeared, and without the energy sacrifice, the Gate of Truth slowly closed, finally vanishing into the mist.


    Xu Yi reached the spot where the Doomsday Blade had fallen, finding the Angry Tree barely clinging to life, and used his katana to absorb its Origin.


    He was now rushing back; he had left the Nest of the Evil God at the edge of the battlefield, which allowed him to monitor the situation there at any time.


    After fusing with the half-decayed seed of the World Tree, Crow Man''s powers had likely exceeded his expectations. In just a short while, the situation had become perilous.


    Just then, the direction of the battlefield suddenly shook violently, and Xu Yi didn''t need to use the Nest of the Evil God to see what was happening over there.


    An enormous Sea of Trees had risen there, towering into the clouds, with dark green vines writhing like a horde of snakes.


    Even from such a distance, Xu Yi could feel the suffocating pressure.


    "Is this... a Domain?!"


    Xu Yi''s heart sank to the bottom of his stomach, a Domain stronger than that of Behemoth had formed there.


    ......


    At the edge of the Sea of Trees, Tomie Kawakami turned to look at West beside her and asked, "What should we do now?"


    "Mr. Xu Yi is our old friend, of course, we should lend a hand," replied West, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose with a smile.


    Tomie Kawakami rolled her eyes. Women were said to be fickle, but she thought the man before her was even more so; just over ten minutes ago, he was singing a different tune.


    She remembered West speaking righteously: "The Ring of Destruction has been of great help to us; we cannot allow them to be bullied by others."


    "You really are a weathercock!" Tomie Kawakami couldn''t help but retort.


    "How can I be called a weathercock? A weathercock supports the stronger side, whereas we support the weaker side," West shrugged.


    "Do I also need to award you the title of Ambassador for Poverty Alleviation?" Tomie Kawakami said with a speechless expression, "Isn''t it just that you want them to both suffer losses?"


    "Don''t make me out to be so dark," said West, suddenly serious, "Alright, no more idle talk, if we don''t take action now, our good friend is going to be in trouble."


    Tomie Kawakami pursed her lips; to say the word "dark" about him was an insult to the word itself¡ªit should be "perverse" instead. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ......


    Lisa ran wildly through the Sea of Trees, with dark green vines sweeping in from all directions. It was as if she was walking in an ocean of vines.


    Her mind was highly focused. In this Sea of Trees, even a withered leaf could become a lethal weapon; she had nearly had her throat cut by a leaf just moments before.


    The vines were terrifying; if one carelessly got entangled, the vitality from within would be continuously drained away.


    The Spear of Sloth swept across, severing the sneakily attacking vines on the side, sending wood chips flying.


    Lisa dared not linger and continued to flee forward. The vines could regenerate endlessly; they couldn''t possibly be dealt with completely.


    In the midst of her frantic run, Lisa felt her stomach instinctively and placed the Spear across it for protection.


    A dark shadow suddenly leaped out from the side. Lisa''s golden pupils trembled with horror. This time it wasn''t a vine but the Crow Man.


    His true body had been lurking within this Sea of Trees all along, watching everyone, ready to strike at any moment!


    Lisa managed to activate the god-slaying light of the Spear, but she had witnessed his terror and knew well that this alone wouldn''t be enough to fend him off.


    A look of despair filled her eyes when suddenly, a familiar figure descended from the sky and slammed into the Crow Man, brutally crashing him into a tree stump.


    The Black Carp flapped its wings, beating back the vines rolling towards Lisa, who landed on the Black Carp''s back, and together they fled at high speed.


    Looking at Xu Yi''s figure ahead, Lisa''s eyes were filled with worry, yet she felt a strange sense of reassurance.


    Xu Yi''s left hand gripped the "Gluttony" dagger as it burst into light.


    He exerted all his strength to activate the Soul Seal''s ability, but he discovered that the Crow Man''s soul was thin and had already completely fused with the half-rotten seed.


    Vines on the Crow Man''s body surged, weaving into a dense vine net that swooped down towards Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi''s right hand wielded the "Anger" longsword, which, with its "Spatial Cutting" ability, was the sharpest among the Seven Deadly Sins.


    The longsword cut through the vines in front, but it couldn''t defend from behind, as a vine silently appeared behind him, falling like a spear and instantly piercing through his chest.


    Feeling the vitality being rapidly extracted from his body, Xu Yi''s eyes sharpened as he prepared to fuse the "Ultimate Weapon."


    Although the two weapons "Pride" and "Lust" were not fully charged yet, and a forced fusion would reduce the potential of the "Seven Deadly Sins," he couldn''t worry about that now.


    Just as he was about to summon the "Seven Deadly Sins," a figure in a red slit dress suddenly charged out, throwing herself at the vine that had pierced through Xu Yi.


    "Tomie Kawakami?!"


    Xu Yi was slightly startled; he hadn''t expected to see her in such circumstances.


    Tomie Kawakami embraced the vines, throwing a seductive glance at Xu Yi, "Handsome, we meet again!"


    As she spoke, a dense black light spread from Tomie Kawakami''s body, violently flickering, causing Xu Yi''s eyelids to twitch and instinctively shield his face with his hand.


    The next second, Tomie Kawakami''s body exploded with a boom, the black light enveloping both the vines and the Crow Man below that wanted to pursue.


    Xu Yi managed to get free, but he was covered in dust; his forehead drifting hair was destroyed by the black light.


    She had definitely done it on purpose, considering the control Tomie Kawakami had shown over the explosions, they shouldn''t have reached him. She was taking revenge for the grudge from a previous cut.


    More and more identical red figures appeared, swarming Tomie Kawakamis, like ants, surged towards the Crow Man.


    "Black light bombs" detonated one after another, Xu Yi watching in amazement as the Crow Man "bounced" through the explosions.


    Tomie Kawakami''s ability to divide infinitely, combined with self-destruction, was simply a perfect match of abilities.


    The ground shook suddenly, the entire Sea of Trees agitated like boiling water, the vines rushing like a black-green tidal wave in the same direction.


    A giant over twenty meters tall broke into the Sea of Trees, the giant had three enormous heads, each crowded with fierce faces.


    Its limbs "branched outwards," which were actually pale human arms and legs. It was clear to see that the giant was formed from the fusion of countless writhing corpses.


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    The genteel West stood on the shoulder of the writhing corpses, offering a warm smile to Xu Yi below.


    With Tomie Kawakami and West joining in, there was no doubt they were strong reinforcements, but Xu Yi''s brows furrowed involuntarily.


    Even though they claimed to be his friends, he was very clear that there was basically no friendship between them.


    And someone like West wouldn''t help him out simply due to "friendship."


    "What exactly are these two''s motives?" Xu Yi wondered to himself.


    The vines of the Sea of Trees could extract vitality, piercing into the writhing corpse giant''s body like the tubes of a blood machine, continuously sucking out the giant''s life force.


    This was not simply "vitality" but "Driving Energy," more aptly put, even dead creatures still had driving energy, and the vines could absorb most of it.


    The driving energy of the writhing corpses giant was ghastly green. After being absorbed by the vines, they began to lose control, attacking each other.


    West''s intelligence was astounding, so how could he make such a foolish mistake as to send a "Power Bank" in? He had surely anticipated a strategy for the Sea of Trees.


    With Tomie Kawakami and West''s involvement, the situation began to turn, developing in a favorable direction.


    Just then, an angry roar suddenly rang out from beneath the Sea of Trees.


    Xu Yi shivered slowly, every hair on his body trembling.

 Chapter 358 Stab Me!

    The Crow Man was completely enraged; he flew above the Sea of Trees, his body enveloped in black flames.


    The Sea of Trees surged, countless vines gathered toward the Crow Man, intertwining like snakes. Eventually, they congealed into a huge "Vine Orb," suspended in the air.


    The Vine Orb suddenly cracked open with a vertical slit, which gradually widened.


    Xu Yi''s heart felt as though it was being fiercely squeezed by an invisible hand; that was no vine orb, but a gigantic eye orb.


    In the center of the eye orb, wrapped by vines, was the Crow Man, whose body had completely dissolved, leaving only a skull that served as the pupil.


    The Crow Man fixed his gaze on the undead giant below, and a black-green flame suddenly rose from the giant''s body.


    These flames were unstoppable and dissolved everything; the undead giant melted like wax in the fire, utterly powerless to fight back.


    West, who was on the giant''s shoulder, was also affected by the flames. If it weren''t for his special ability to transfer souls, he would probably be dead by now.


    Xu Yi hid behind a huge boulder, keeping his breath completely restrained, not daring to show himself.


    The flames were too bizarre; he couldn''t even detect how they appeared, with absolutely no energy fluctuations at all.


    The battlefield fell into a strange silence, everyone hid, only Tomie Kawakami relentlessly launched self-destruct attacks, but they were incinerated by the flames before even getting close to the eye orb.


    Everyone realized the horror of the "Vine Eye," akin to the Grim Reaper descending to the mortal world, where its gaze reached became a death zone.


    "Thank goodness for Tomie Kawakami!"


    Xu Yi felt somewhat relieved; if it were not for Tomie Kawakami constantly engaging the enemy, they probably wouldn''t be able to hide safely.


    Moreover, the Crow Man in this state seemed to have issues with intelligence, apparently only attacking the nearest targets foolishly.


    Otherwise, with the Crow Man Augustus''s intellect, he definitely wouldn''t get entangled with these Tomie Kawakamis, but would come straight for them.


    But he was well aware that this situation would not last long.


    Although Tomie Kawakami could divide infinitely, division still had to obey the law of energy conservation, and the growth of her splits was slowing; her energy was about to run out.


    Arturo was seriously injured, hiding in a deep pit receiving treatment. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    William had half of his body shattered; luckily, his vitality was astonishing, and his torn body was slowly healing.


    Ailan was covered in blood; after an overpowering burst, even his body, enhanced by the Poseidon Potion, couldn''t bear it, with pores rupturing all over him.


    The Ghost Samurai''s eyes dimmed with fire, his Divinity greatly consumed. Lisa, due to Xu Yi''s timely rescue, was in the best situation of all.


    Xu Yi took deep breaths continuously; his already frail body was dealt another blow on top of an injury.


    He faced a severe problem, whether to fuse the "Ultimate Weapon" or not.


    It was no longer about whether the potential of the Seven Deadly Sins would decrease, but whether the "inferior quality" weapon that melted out could solve the "Vine Eye" above.


    Though it might just be two weapons not fully charged, the impact on the Ultimate Weapon was immense, like two short planks in a bucket.


    The ground suddenly writhed, and an undead burrower emerged from underneath, its ferocious face quickly transforming into West''s refined visage.


    Xu Yi eyed West, a flash of murderous intent passing through his eyes.


    Although he knew the other had ulterior motives, at the end of the day, they had helped them; he couldn''t bring himself to betray someone once they had outlived their usefulness.


    "If you kill me, can you deal with that big guy?"


    West asked casually as if not talking about his death, but stepping on an insignificant ant.


    Such keen perception! Xu Yi inwardly shuddered while being startled by the other''s composure.


    But since it was already mentioned, Xu Yi didn''t have much to hide, "There''s no need to kill you all; I just need to borrow some of your Origin."


    As Xu Yi spoke, he felt quite embarrassed.


    Origin is not only the source of power but also the source of life. To ask to borrow someone''s Origin is akin to asking a normal person to lend a few decades of life, which is likely to get you chased down the street by someone with a knife.


    But Xu Yi was quickly taken aback by the response.


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    West not only had no intention of pursuing him, but he also clapped his hands vigorously, his eyes revealing a look of surprise, "That''s great! I thought we would have to be killed to accomplish this?"


    Huh? Xu Yi stared at West, wondering if he had heard wrong.


    West looked at Xu Yi with anticipation, as if he could hardly wait for Xu Yi to stab him a couple of times.


    Xu Yi felt a bit uncertain, wondering why the other party was willing to make such a big sacrifice, what was it for?


    The strangest part of the entire incident was that the other party hadn''t made any demands.


    That''s what he was thinking, but Xu Yi''s movements weren''t slow.


    He summoned the "Pride" katana from Ailan. There was no battle at the moment, so taking the katana had no effect on Ailan.


    "This doesn''t seem quite right," Xu Yi said, rubbing his hands together.


    He said it didn''t seem right, but the katana had already plunged into West''s chest, the blade vibrating and absorbing the "Pride" Origin.


    West''s face instantly turned pale, his Origin had already been extracted by the metal tower once, and now it was happening again. Even someone as strong as West found it hard to bear.


    But he did not utter a sound, even managing to offer Xu Yi a faint smile.


    Once the "Pride" katana was fully charged, West had collapsed onto the ground, breathing in more than he was breathing out.


    Even if Xu Yi had a heart of stone, he couldn''t bring himself to continue extracting the other''s Origin, so he pulled out the "Pride" katana.


    "What happened?" Tomie Kawakami came hurriedly. She had even taken off her red high heels and was holding them in her hand, her feet covered in mud, and she was slightly panting.


    However, it''s also outrageous to wear this high-end evening dress suitable only for high-profile parties during battle.


    During the wait, Xu Yi had already summoned the "Lust" Recurve Knife.


    West, struggling to stand with his weakened body, took the recurve knife from Xu Yi''s hand, smiled, and walked towards Tomie Kawakami, plunging the knife into her chest.


    The "Lust" Recurve Knife vibrated, continuously devouring Tomie Kawakami''s Origin.


    Xu Yi found it hard to watch; West could no longer be described simply as a "scumbag"¡ªhe was downright "trash".


    The look of astonishment on Tomie Kawakami''s face flashed by, but what could she do? Of course, she could only choose to forgive, as she had chosen this man herself.


    Tomie Kawakami collapsed weakly to the ground, and the distant "Puppet Horde" was also affected, unable to divide any further.


    The ground was littered with stumps; those trees and vines had all broken, forming the "Vine Eye" in the sky. But one of the stumps suddenly cracked open, and a Lizard Dragon burst out.


    Xu Yi''s heart trembled violently; he hadn''t expected the Lizard Dragon to still be around, he thought Crow Man had already sent it away.


    What was the Lizard Dragon planning to do by suddenly appearing at this time?


    The crippled Lizard Dragon looked towards Lisa''s hiding spot, a sharp glint in its eyes.


    Xu Yi''s ominous premonition came true, the other party was planning to serve as a "guide" for Crow Man.


    The Lizard Dragon opened its mouth and spewed a black flame. The black flame destroyed the mound where Lisa was hiding, revealing her.


    The pupils representing death in the arena were now fixed on Lisa, who had been swept clean.


    "Your daughter is really cute!" West suddenly said softly.


    the words were light and seemingly disconnected, unrelated to the current situation, but when they reached Xu Yi''s ears, they were like a stormy sea.


    He recalled some small details about Lisa; her gaze always seemed to linger on her stomach invariably, always avoiding any harm to her belly.


    And why did the Poseidon Potion take so long to modify Lisa?


    The Nest of the Evil God was still in Lisa''s body; he switched his perspective to probe using the Nest of the Evil God.


    Inside Lisa''s belly, he felt the breath of life.


    That was his and Lisa''s child!

 Chapter 359 Ultimate Weapon! Converge!

    Xu Yi''s eyes instantly turned crimson as he pulled the "Lust" recurve knife from Tomie Kawakami''s chest, the knife now fully charged, its blade trembling.


    He roared and lunged forward, with only one thought in his mind, he absolutely couldn''t let Lisa get hurt.


    Though already terribly weak, he somehow mustered the strength for one more push, pushing his speed to its absolute limit as he violently collided with Black Carp, who flew away like he had been struck by a battering ram.


    Xu Yi couldn''t possibly choose to crash into Lisa, so unfortunately, it had to be Black Carp.


    Black-green flames appeared out of nowhere, Xu Yi had no time to react before he was engulfed by them.


    He shuddered violently; those flames had no heat, but instead carried a bone-chilling cold that seemed to freeze his very soul.


    Strangely enough, the flesh on his body''s surface was dissipating.


    "Merge!" Xu Yi took a deep breath and silently chanted in his heart.


    The Alchemical Weapon "Seven Deadly Sins" suddenly began to quiver intensely, even the "Envy" katana in Carrie''s hands.


    A black-gold film covered Xu Yi''s body, shielding him from those terrifying black-green flames and giving him a temporary respite from the cold, restoring his mobility.


    He gripped the "Lust" recurve knife tightly in his hand and, drawn by the knife, leaped into the air, lunging towards the "Vines Eye."


    Lisa had narrowly escaped disaster, but she wasn''t out of danger yet; someone had to draw the attention of the "Vines Eye," or those horrifying flames would fall upon her.


    "Xu Yi!" Lisa cried out in anguish and fury.


    She thought Xu Yi was preparing to sacrifice himself to give her a chance to escape, she wanted to rush over, but Black Carp firmly bit onto the hem of her dress.


    She suddenly calmed down, because Xu Yi gave her an "OK" gesture, and from what she knew of Xu Yi, if he was truly ready to face death, that wouldn''t be his reaction.


    The Lizard Dragon watched the scene with cold indifference.


    Even a seed of the World Tree in decline was not something these people could resolve; at its peak, even the Divine King had to bow before it.


    For the Lizard Dragon, Xu Yi''s calm demeanor was nothing but a brave front, a desperate fight of a cornered beast.


    But he soon realized that something was amiss, not because of Xu Yi, but due to the streaks of light traveling through the air, each carrying a dark gold weapon.


    The "Seven Deadly Sins" circled around Xu Yi as if guarding their king, Xu Yi stared emotionlessly at the Vines Eye so close to him.


    The Vines Eye felt provoked by Xu Yi, and surges of flame materialized out of the void, coalescing into a hideous clawed hand. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In front of the immense flame hand, Xu Yi felt like an ant facing a human hand.


    He was grabbed roughly, as the flames continued to squeeze inward, the black-gold membrane on the brink of failure.


    The "Lust" recurve knife emitted a clear resonance, and a light brown shield emerged from within the knife; he held it up and forced his way through the flames ahead.


    He was now very close to the Vines Eye, towering vines swept towards him, and he drove the recurve knife into the vines with force.


    Great swathes of vines disintegrated like moths to a flame, but more vines came sweeping forward, snagging the recurve knife away.


    Xu Yi ignored this, his body falling downward as he casually seized the "Wrath" katana beside him, allowing the katana to carry him up again.


    He reached the core of the pupil, the Crow Man now within reach, but he was already enveloped by the onslaught of vines.


    No place left to dodge, Xu Yi grasped the "Gluttony" dagger in his left hand and hurled it at the Crow Man.


    The dagger''s Soul Seal ability activated, unleashing a powerful suction force, but before the dagger could reach the Crow Man, it too was swept away by the vines.


    Not just the "Gluttony" dagger, the surrounding "Pride" katana, "Sloth" spear, "Envy" knight''s sword, and "Greed" foiled sword were all tightly entangled by the vines.


    The Crow Man seemed to have regained a bit of his consciousness, and as he looked at Xu Yi so close at hand, a flash of satisfaction passed through his pupils.


    Unfortunately, he could not see even a hint of panic on Xu Yi''s face.


    Xu Yi formed a hand seal with his left hand, and the remnants of the Crow Man''s rationality made him wonder, could the opponent be about to use some Eastern European secret technique?


    There was a special sect in that place that used hand seals to wield their abilities.


    He saw a mocking smile on Xu Yi''s face and suddenly realized that it was not a hand seal at all, but a thumbs-down gesture of contempt.


    The Crow Man flew into a rage, and he was determined to make the other party pay the price.


    But the surging vines suddenly couldn''t advance any further; the weapons entwined by the vines started to tremble violently, erupting in a splendid black and gold light. The lights interconnected, forming a huge array in mid-air.


    The Seven Deadly Sins Array!


    The Crow Man was enveloped in the array, feeling as if a Divine Mountain was crashing down on him, ready to crush him into dust.


    "Is... is this all your capability?" The Crow Man''s voice trembled weakly.


    Logically speaking, his sanity was about to dissipate, but even in such a state, he still wanted to mock Xu Yi, which showed how deep his hatred for Xu Yi was.


    Suddenly, the Crow Man opened his mouth, and a dense black light surged out, with the half-decayed World Tree seed at the center of the light, which had almost turned completely black at this moment.


    The black light swept over, and the light screen of the Seven Deadly Sins Array cracked, resembling shattered glass, with fissures spreading continuously.


    Xu Yi smiled and chose not to retort.


    He was always a little more generous towards those about to die.


    The Seven Deadly Sins Array was just the prelude to integration, the real show was yet to come.


    "Ultimate Weapon! Condense!"


    Xu Yi shouted in his heart.


    The seven alchemical weapons trembled in unison, the sounds they emitted forming a rousing tune. If this tune had a name, it would be called "Judgment!"


    The "Ire" katana broke free from Xu Yi''s hands and flew into the air, with the other alchemical weapons flying towards the same point.


    All seven weapons emitted a rich light, colliding like six meteors, but there was no explosion, no earth-shattering noise, just light¡ªa brightly shining, extreme golden light.


    The light slowly faded, and the seven alchemical weapons disappeared, leaving only a strangely shaped long knife quietly floating in the air.


    It was a knife, exceptionally thin and long, shaped like a willow leaf.


    Various patterns emerged on the blade¡ªwaterflow, lightning, vines... They intertwined densely, forming some kind of profound text.


    Even though the Crow Man felt no energy from the knife, he involuntarily trembled slightly.


    With a thought from Xu Yi, the long knife automatically flew up in front of him.


    He took a deep breath and reached out to grasp the "Ultimate Weapon" before him.


    The reason the Ultimate Weapon took the form of a long knife was that the weapon he was adept at using was a long knife; the Ultimate Weapon would transform into different weapon forms depending on the abilities of its host.


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    West, noticing the situation above, couldn''t help but exclaim.


    He had a premonition that the weapon in Xu Yi''s hand could completely kill him.

 Chapter 360 Just a Lament before the End

    The Crow Man looked at Xu Yi''s spear in fear, not sensing danger from the spear itself, but rather, the greatest danger of them all.


    That spear had already far surpassed any mythical Holy Artifact.


    Could it be a "Divine Instrument"?


    The Crow Man had never seen a Divine Artifact, as they had long since disappeared into the river of history, so he could not be certain.


    He spurred the decaying World Tree seed, and towering black-green flames surged toward Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi ignored the raging flames; the moment he grasped the Ultimate Weapon, the dark golden film covering his surface expanded, condensing into the phantom of the Serpent of Finale.


    The Serpent of Finale raised its head in a silent roar, a Domain forming, isolating the sky-full of flames. Xu Yi stood still in the midst of the sea of fire, unmovable.


    This was one of the abilities of the Ultimate Weapon, holding the spear, the Domain formed by itself, firmly protecting Xu Yi.


    This was why Xu Yi dared to enter here with a severely injured body.


    The Crow Man, finding the flames useless, let out an angry hiss. Countless vines broke and fell from the sky, twisting and entangling each other, morphing into human shapes.


    The vine men fell into the sea of fire, and the flames rushed toward them, igniting them in an instant and turning them into blazing torches.


    A dense crowd of fire creatures lunged at Xu Yi.


    Each fire creature was stronger than a Great Exorcist, and because of the special nature of the flames, even a titled exorcist could only beat a hasty retreat.


    Xu Yi swung his sword expressionlessly; his condition was very bad at the moment, and he couldn''t even use "Blood as Sacred." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Due to the violent use of the spirit of the True God, his body was full of dark injuries that were difficult to heal, and if he forcibly burned his blood, it could even cause a backlash.


    But it didn''t matter, he had the "Ultimate Weapon"!


    Even an ordinary person wielding this weapon could slay kings and pierce gods.


    Xu Yi brandished his sword skills wildly. The Tennen Rishin-Ryu of Japan, Shinto Munen-Ryu, the Willow Leaf Fufeng Sword Technique of the Xia Kingdom, the heavy cavalry sword techniques of Europe... He effortlessly employed various schools of swordsmanship.


    He possessed the "Master of Swordsmanship" Entries, and after such a long time of tempering, the Entries had long been maxed out.


    Theoretically, such a high-level entry should have very limited effect in high-rank battles, but if you''re holding the "Ultimate Weapon" in your hand, everything changes.


    Within the meteor-like radiance of the sword light, the fire creatures fell apart, cut into pieces and dropping down.


    Even the sharpest sword could not kill them because the vines possessed a powerful regenerative ability, and the flames were not physical entities.


    But the Ultimate Weapon was different, it wasn''t just about cutting, it was about issuing a decree of death.


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    The sword''s blade cut through the bodies of the fire creatures, annihilating all the energy within them, somewhat similar to the bone of the True God of Keres.


    "My God! Can he really kill his way through those fire creatures?" Arturo exclaimed in shock.


    He knew the terror of those fire creatures better than anyone, and if he wasn''t mistaken, those black-green flames should be the legendary "Auroran Fire."


    The flames that were used when True Gods were subjected to punishment were of this kind.


    The dense crowd of fire creatures gradually thinned, clearing the space around Xu Yi, who held the spear with an expressionless face, like an executioner.


    Panic flickered in the eyes of the Crow Man, his reliance on the fire creatures had been so easily dealt with by Xu Yi!


    The Lizard Dragon also sensed trouble and quietly moved to the outskirts of the battlefield.


    He wasn''t afraid of death, but he was concerned about the newly born World Tree.


    He and Augustus could die, but the newborn World Tree must be taken back to the Well of Eternity.


    He felt a bit of regret, he should have left earlier.


    But on one hand, he was afraid of being intercepted midway, and on the other, how could he have imagined that even Augustus, who had become the seed''s carrier, would still be no match for Xu Yi.


    Suddenly, Xu Yi slashed downwards, the piercing sword light flying toward the Lizard Dragon.


    Although he was fighting with the Crow Man, he was also paying close attention to the movements below, and the Lizard Dragon''s slight movements could not escape his eyes.


    The Lizard Dragon inwardly lamented, not expecting Xu Yi to still pay attention to the situation below amid such an intense battle, which also meant that the opponent still had spare energy,


    The Crow Man roared like thunder, and although he became muddled from burning his soul, he remembered one thing above all else, which was to ensure the Lizard Dragon''s safe escape.


    He manipulated the vines to intercept the sword light, the skies full of vines shattered, and the sword light gradually dissipated.


    The Lizard Dragon had already escaped a distance, Xu Yi had put so much thought into keeping the World Tree seed behind, he couldn''t let the Lizard Dragon slip away right under his nose.


    Xu Yi abruptly turned around and pounced toward the Lizard Dragon.


    The Lizard Dragon''s remnant soul was filled with dread, not to mention that he was now just a broken body, even at his peak, he was no match for Xu Yi at this moment.


    The Crow Man let out a heaven-shaking roar, as the "Vine Pupil" collapsed, the sky-full of vines and flames gathered towards the Crow Man, forming a gigantic firebird.


    The fiery behemoth pounced on Xu Yi, opening its massive maw to swallow him whole.


    Lisa looked on worriedly at this scene, but she also had an inexplicable confidence, believing that Xu Yi would not fall so easily.


    Inside the fiery behemoth, the surging flames turned into a furnace, compressing the domain of the Serpent of Finale.


    The black-green flames turned solid, and the sticky magma continuously scoured the phantom of the Serpent of Finale, Xu Yi once again felt that bone-chilling coldness.


    Even the domain of the Ultimate Weapon was no longer able to completely protect him.


    The sticky black-green magma once again transformed, solidifying into spears, striking the phantom of the Serpent of Finale like meteors crossing the sky.


    Cracks actually appeared on the Serpent of Finale!


    "It seems I have to use that move!" Xu Yi took a deep breath.


    He was reluctant to use that move because it would bring severe consequences, but now he couldn''t afford to worry about that.


    He fiercely gripped the hilt, fine spikes sprouting from it, piercing his palm and making the blood flow.


    The Ultimate Weapon absorbed Xu Yi''s blood, the blade trembling violently, its tremors like thunder.


    The Crow Man suddenly heard the sound of thunder, not only coming from inside the magma, but also from above his head, and he instinctively looked up.


    Black clouds gathered overhead, and black lightning snaked through the clouds, the Crow Man shivered slightly, he felt a breath of annihilation in those black bolts.


    Before he could act, the black lightning within the clouds had condensed to its limit, numerous black pillars of lightning crashed down, piercing through the fiery behemoth, the whole sky was filled with dense black light.


    "Such terrifying power indeed!"


    West looked up, murmuring unconsciously. Next to him, Murakami Tomie trembled with fright.


    In the world-ending black lightning, the fiery behemoth slowly dissipated, Xu Yi broke through the Magma Furnace, bathing in a column of lightning, as if he was a deity wielding the power of thunder.


    The black lightning didn''t dissipate but instead converged towards the Ultimate Weapon in Xu Yi''s hand, the blade enveloped by thick lightning, turning ink-black.


    Xu Yi looked down at the Lizard Dragon, the blade of the Ultimate Weapon slashing, and the surging black sword light descended like divine punishment, the Lizard Dragon''s eyes full of despair.


    The Crow Man roared and rushed out, bearing the sword light with his own body, thick vines burst from within him, but they were one by one extinguished in the black sword glow.


    The black sword light dissipated, but the Crow Man''s body vanished, leaving behind only a black seed.


    The World Tree seed at this moment showed no hint of green, its surface covered in cracks, as though a breeze could completely shatter it.


    Augustus''s Remnant Soul flickered on the seed, furiously roaring at Xu Yi, his eyes filled with deep-seated hatred.


    "Just the wails before death!"


    Xu Yi shook his head, gripping the hilt tightly, ready to deal with the Crow Man once and for all. The blade of the Ultimate Weapon was still shrouded in black lightning, ready to unleash the sword light.


    But just as the long sword was about to strike down, Xu Yi suddenly felt a premonition.


    He had a feeling that destroying this World Tree seed might trigger some kind of terrifying event.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed tightly, it wasn''t an impossibility, after all, it was a seed of the World Tree, even if it was on the verge of exhaustion.

 Chapter 361 Betrayal

    Xu Yi twisted the hilt in his hand, and the blade pointed downward at the Lizard Dragon, the light of the blade illuminating Xu Yi''s stern eyes.


    The seed of the World Tree could not be easily destroyed, but when dealing with Lizard Dragons, there was no such concern.


    A terrifying black light slashed out once more, the Crow Man powerless to stop it, only able to rage impotently.


    Despair filled the eyes of the Lizard Dragon, but he chose not to let his soul return to the Well of Eternity.


    Perhaps he preferred to die here than to leave in humiliation; or perhaps he was still holding out for a turn of events.


    The blade''s light smashed down, slashing a gorge hundreds of meters deep into the ground, shaking the earth and the mountains.


    Ailan was a bit taken aback because the cut had not hit the Lizard Dragon directly.


    The Lizard Dragon was only grazed by the edge of the light, its lower half completely obliterated, but its upper half remained intact. The Lizard Dragon was severely injured but not utterly destroyed.


    "Is this... a miss?" Ailan exclaimed in surprise.


    Given her understanding of Xu Yi''s swordsmanship, he shouldn''t make such a rudimentary mistake.


    She looked up at Xu Yi above her, her heart beating anxiously.


    Xu Yi was kneeling, propping himself up with his sword, breathing rapidly; on his arm, a green light was stealthily spreading.


    Xu Yi suddenly turned his head, looking fiercely at West below.


    He had been poisoned!


    The one who poisoned him couldn''t be the Crow Man, for while he held the Ultimate Weapon, the Domain of the Serpent of Finale would protect him, and no toxin could penetrate his body.


    Then the poisoner could only have been from before his fusion with the Ultimate Weapon.


    Who could have poisoned him silently and have the motive to do so? It could only be West.


    West, with a full smile on his face, walked toward the Lizard Dragon alongside Tomie Kawakami, ignoring the murderous gazes of everyone present as if they were of no concern.


    The Lizard Dragon watched the two approach, completely perplexed.


    Just now, they had rescued Xu Yi and helped deal with Augustus; how had they so quickly become allies with them? Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    They had almost died because the Ring of Destruction had sent them into Gusta; they should have nothing but hatred for the Ring of Destruction, not gratitude.


    Why were they now lending their hand to help? The Lizard Dragon couldn''t fathom it.


    Could it be that these two were also after the World Tree? The Lizard Dragon instinctively clutched the black box in his hands, warily watching West.


    Xu Yi''s breathing became harsh, his vision darkening in waves.


    He recalled for a moment, concluding that the poisoning must have happened when he extracted the Origin from West; West might have anticipated this very moment.


    "What a terrifying thought!"


    Xu Yi sighed inwardly but was not too anxious.


    Because he could feel that the poison he had been afflicted with was likely only a paralytic toxin; West did not seem to have the intention of sending him to his death.


    There was no rage of betrayal, as he had never considered West one of their own, thus the notion of betrayal did not apply.


    He was merely curious about what West was truly after with all his actions.


    Regardless, he did not intend to let West leave alive; he gritted his teeth, forcing strength out of his body.


    His consciousness grew increasingly fuzzy; not only because of the poison, but more critically due to the aftereffects of wielding the Annihilating Black Thunder.


    His soul itself felt unstable, as if it might leave his body at any moment.


    With shaky determination, he stood straight, summoning the last of his strength, swinging his sword at the Lizard Dragon below.


    The black light that pierced heaven and earth fell once again, not only enveloping the Lizard Dragon but also West and Tomie Kawakami.


    The smile on West''s face disappeared, and his expression turned more serious than it had ever been.


    The sword''s light contained a peculiar Domain in which his soul was locked, preventing any transfer.


    In other words, if he couldn''t withstand this cut, he would die!


    West let out a roar of rage as his body began to mutate.


    Pupils split to reveal blood-red double irises, as burly arms extended from his armpits, six jet-black wings unfurled behind his back, fluttering noisily.


    West transformed into his true form, which was also his strongest form!


    Tomie Kawakami pounced towards West, and by the time she was mid-air, she had already become a beautified serpent with only a head, her serpentine body not covered in scales, but in the tender, smooth skin of a human.


    She coiled around West, the beautified serpent started to melt, turning into a white glue-like substance, enveloping West''s body, acting as Armor. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    West opened his ghastly wide mouth, a lurid green glow gathering within.


    Under the illumination of the glow, the ground began to rot, and in a moment''s time, the vicinity had turned into a swamp of poison.


    The black blade light was nearly upon him; West felt as if a Divine Mountain was crushing down on him, forcing his knees to bend, slowly bringing him to kneel.


    This action seemed to stir something in West. What a proud being West was¡ªhis roar of defiance came from deep within his throat, as the lurid green light burst forth from his mouth.


    The green light beam met the black sword light head-on, halting the seemingly unstoppable blade light, but before West could rejoice, the beam began to disintegrate inch by inch until it was completely annihilated.


    Amidst roars of unwillingness, the black blade light engulfed West, who dissolved as snow meets the sunlight.


    Until this moment, the Lizard Dragon was still in a state of confusion.


    West had betrayed them without warning and just as inexplicably blocked a strike for him, dying here now in the same bewildering fashion. He could not make heads or tails of the situation.


    But regardless, he had managed to survive for now.


    Xu Yi''s body shook violently, his soul becoming more and more unstable. The aftereffects of using "Annihilating Black Thunder" were getting worse.


    Yet, he still forced himself to stand upright, poised to deliver a second strike to finish off the Lizard Dragon.


    Suddenly, he heard a cracking sound. It wasn''t loud, but to Xu Yi, it was crystal clear.


    He turned abruptly, looking towards the decayed World Tree seed. Completely collapsed, the seed turned into black dust and scattered.


    At the spot where the seed dissipated, Augustus''s Remnant Soul laughed maniacally, having just intentionally destroyed the seed of the World Tree.


    A sense of inexplicable dread emerged in Xu Yi''s heart, and before he could react, he saw a tiny black dot appearing where the seed had collapsed.


    Dense black threads crawled out from that small point, spreading out like a spider web in all directions.


    Xu Yi''s face instantly turned pale; he had no more thoughts of killing the Lizard Dragon. He turned and fled outside, reacting just like the rest of the people below.


    He knew all too well what those black threads were; his "Wrath" katana could also cut similar black lines, which were rifts in space.


    However, the one or two black rifts created by the "Wrath" katana were child''s play compared to what he was now witnessing.


    "He''s simply a madman!" Xu Yi cursed inwardly.


    By destroying the seed intentionally, Augustus triggered a massive spatial collapse, which would not only kill him but also affect the Lizard Dragon below.


    But he couldn''t say the other''s choice was wrong; getting caught in a spatial rift, the Lizard Dragon had a one in ten thousand chance of surviving, while staying here meant certain death.


    Xu Yi was not only physically drained, but his soul was also exceptionally weak; right now, he relied entirely on the Ultimate Weapon to flee for his life.


    He spared a glance below; during his battle with the Crow Man, the people below had retreated far to the edge of the battleground to avoid the collateral damage. They shouldn''t have any problems avoiding the spatial collapse.


    Xu Yi''s heart suddenly lurched; from the corner of his eye, he saw Augustus, who clearly wasn''t prepared to let him go just like that, charging at him with a roar.


    Augustus was left with only a Remnant Soul, and with the seed gone, he too would soon dissipate,


    He was planning on taking Xu Yi down with him!


    Xu Yi turned his blade towards Augustus, readying himself to thoroughly settle this tenacious adversary.


    But a sudden and inexplicable pressure descended upon him, making him immobile. Green flames burned all over the approaching Augustus''s body.


    He had seen those flames before¡ªthe nascent World Tree had possessed such flames, under which the spirit of a True God was utterly powerless.


    "Not only has Augustus destroyed the seed of the World Tree, he has also unleashed the last bit of power from the seed," Xu Yi realized suddenly.


    If he had been at his peak and wielding the Ultimate Weapon, he could have broken free; but now, his condition was dire.


    His body had been ravaged by the spirit of a True God, and he was poisoned by West. With a weakened soul, he also had to endure the side effects of "Annihilating Black Thunder."


    To make matters worse, the Domain of the Ultimate Weapon was starting to collapse due to his highly unstable soul.


    He could only watch helplessly as Augustus, laughing viciously, charged through the phantom of the Serpent of Finale and towards him!

 Chapter 362 Havent I gotten on the car yet?

    Xu Yi felt slightly relieved because, after the Crow Man Augustus passed through the phantom of the Serpent of Finale, the flames enveloping his body rapidly diminished, indicating that the residual power from the World Tree seed was nearly exhausted.


    Augustus''s eyes were filled with resentment, using the last bit of strength from the seed, his soul fiercely collided with Xu Yi''s frail body at death''s door.


    As they collided, Augustus "bang" annihilated.


    [Entry Devouring activated, you can choose to devour a Common Entry, or you can choose to devour a "Soul Entry", please choose?]


    Had the troublesome Augustus really just died like that?


    Xu Yi was stunned for a moment, although he hadn''t done anything, since the opponent had collided with him at his back, causing his soul to dissipate, it was regarded as his kill.


    But he soon had no time to care about these things and didn''t even have the chance to make a choice.


    His soul was already unstable, and the final resentful collision from Augustus somehow knocked his soul out of his body.


    Xu Yi reached out trying to grasp his body, as if a person suddenly falling off a cliff instinctively tries to grab onto something nearby.


    But his hand suddenly froze, not just his hand, his whole body was immobile.


    "It''s the residual energy of the World Tree!" Xu Yi suddenly realized.


    Even if his soul was weak and unstable, it shouldn''t have been knocked out by a mere hit from Augustus.


    It was all the doing of the World Tree, not only knocking his soul out of his body but also rendering him unable to move.


    Xu Yi''s body, having lost the control of his soul, slowly closed its eyes, as if it were falling into a coma.


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    In his hand, the Ultimate Weapon, uncontrolled by anyone, automatically disassembled.


    In the burst of dark golden light from the blade, seven weapons scattered away like meteors.


    Without the drive of the Ultimate Weapon, Xu Yi''s body fell from the air.


    "Xu Yi!" Lisa''s eyes were on the verge of splitting, and she roared out loud.


    The others paused in their tracks, ready to turn back and rescue. Xu Yi was right at the center of the collapsing space; if they let him fall, he would definitely be swept into the chaos of spatial currents.


    The chances of surviving in the spatial turbulence were no better than winning a top prize in the lottery.


    A dark shadow moved faster than everyone else; as Lisa''s shout echoed, the Black Carp had already pounced forward.


    It shrank its body to the size of an ordinary cat, and its wings on its back followed suit. It weaved through the black space cracks with the agility of a swallow in the rain.


    It gripped the edge of Xu Yi''s clothes in its mouth, its black wings flapped, evading space cracks amidst life-threatening dangers, causing the onlookers below to hold their breath subconsciously.


    "Wait for me! I haven''t got on board yet?"


    Xu Yi wanted to shout, but he was incapable of doing anything; he couldn''t even kill himself now, let alone remind the Black Carp.


    He could only watch helplessly as the Black Carp retreated with his body.


    The Black Carp didn''t notice him, which wasn''t surprising. This space was filled with numerous spatial fissures, which greatly disturbed perception.


    And with the urgency of the situation, the Black Carp simply didn''t have time to inspect carefully.


    As for the pervasive soul essence around them, everyone instinctively assumed it was the dissipated soul of Augustus.


    Nobody could have imagined that Xu Yi, who wielded his blade and slaughtered all around him, would be "so easily defeated", his soul knocked out of his body by a mere Remnant Soul.


    "Forget it!" Xu Yi sighed.


    If he was swept into the spatial turbulence now, his death was inevitable, but he could be better prepared after resurrection.


    The black "spider web" swept over, and Xu Yi''s soul, like dry leaves beside a hurricane, was instantly swept into it.


    The rampaging spatial rifts engulfed the entire scene, and the Lizard Dragon lay quietly on the ground.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t want to escape, he couldn''t.


    His reincarnation device was too severely damaged, leaving him with hardly any ability to move. If it weren''t for his obsession with the World Tree, he would have long allowed his soul to return to the Well of Eternity.


    If only the Clock Bird or the Purple Sea Snake were still here!


    The Lizard Dragon sighed. If it were those two, they might have been able to use the Spatial Magic Array to send the World Tree away.


    Unfortunately, the Clock Bird was indirectly killed by Xu Yi, and the Purple Sea Snake had long been destroyed by Bessmos. Such is fate.


    A black line swallowed the Lizard Dragon, pulling him into a spatial rift.


    The Lizard Dragon''s body was stained with a lot of blood and flesh, which belonged to West, who had blocked attacks for him. In the end, West couldn''t withstand the black blade light; his body exploded and splattered onto the Lizard Dragon.


    The moment the Lizard Dragon was drawn into the spatial crack, two pea-sized clumps within the blood and flesh suddenly writhed and moved quickly to the black box by his chest.


    Because the Lizard Dragon''s injuries were too severe, he didn''t notice anything out of the ordinary.


    Lisa took Xu Yi from the Black Carp''s mouth and was taken aback. The Xu Yi before her eyes was left with only a body, his soul had flown away.


    Could it be that Xu Yi was already dead?


    There was a buzzing in Lisa''s head, and her vision darkened. She staggered a couple of steps and barely steadied herself by holding onto the Black Carp.


    "Don''t lose composure now; Xu Yi is temporarily alright!" Xu Changrong hastily controlled the Ghost Samurai and hurried forward to comfort her.


    The Ghost Samurai was connected to Xu Yi''s soul. If anything happened to Xu Yi, Xu Changrong would be able to feel it.


    Although he couldn''t contact Xu Yi for the time being, he was certain that the latter was still alive.


    ......


    Black storms swept through the pitch-black space, where everything was colored black, and black spatial fissures streaked across like lightning.


    The Lizard Dragon looked at the black storm that was within arm''s reach, his eyes filled with despair.


    The black storm contained raging Spatial Force; anyone caught within would be instantly torn to shreds.


    At that moment, the black box at his chest popped open on its own. The World Tree inside stretched out its green leaves, and a pale-green barrier rapidly formed, enveloping the Lizard Dragon.


    A surge of joy flashed in the Lizard Dragon''s eyes. He was well aware the World Tree wasn''t trying to save him; it was merely preserving itself.


    He was simply an ant caught by coincidence under the eaves of the World Tree protecting itself from the rain.


    The Lizard Dragon, along with the World Tree, was drawn into the black storm. The frenzied Spatial Force wreaked havoc on the barrier, and he watched in horror.


    Luckily, the World Tree was powerful enough, and the barrier it created was sturdy, so they navigated through the black ocean like a small boat.


    The Lizard Dragon''s attention was entirely on the World Tree, completely unaware of two slender purplish-gold Metal Bugs that were slowly moving along the bottom of the black box.


    The "small boat" drifted through the spatial turbulence for a very long time, so long that the Lizard Dragon''s soul became incredibly weary. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was a prolonged torture. If he were not under the protection of the World Tree, he would have died long ago.


    A purple dot suddenly appeared ahead, and the Lizard Dragon''s eyes lit up instantly, the excitement in his heart undeniable.


    The dot was a spatial node, the only exit from this space.


    He exerted all his energy to control the wreckage, swimming toward that spatial node.


    The moment he entered the spatial node, a blinding purple light filled his entire field of vision. The two Metal Bugs lurking behind the black box climbed rapidly into the black mud inside the box, following its walls.


    The World Tree''s roots wrapped around the Metal Bugs, toying with them back and forth like a cat with its toy.


    The Metal Bugs were motionless, as if lifeless, and the World Tree quickly lost interest, leaving the bugs lying in the mud.


    The Lizard Dragon felt as though he''d been tossed into a high-speed tumble dryer.


    Just as he felt his soul might be shredded, a strong sense of weightlessness overcame him, and he fell from the sky, his eyes catching sight of a vast forest below.


    A wave of ecstasy overtook the Lizard Dragon. He had actually survived!


    He immediately contacted the organization, and the organization responded quickly. This indicated that he hadn''t fallen into some Different Space; he was still on Earth, which was undoubtedly excellent news.


    He informed the organization of his situation, and they were sending someone to retrieve him as fast as they could, planning to bring him back to the Well of Eternity.

 Chapter 363 Freddies Hunting Show

    Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes to see a yellowing ceiling above him. He instinctively looked around, and the walls of the shabby room were adorned with tools like mining pickaxes and shovels.


    He gradually woke up, realizing he was in a strange place. He violently sat up from the bed, warily looking around, his muscles tensed.


    No danger came, only the cold wind blowing through the window answered him.


    He felt extraordinarily cold, shivering uncontrollably. He wrapped himself tightly in the moldy, thin blanket on the bed, but still felt not a trace of warmth.


    [Due to the lack of selection for a long time, the system has automatically chosen to devour a Soul Entry based on previous patterns.]


    [Congratulations on obtaining the "Soul of the Obsessor"!]


    Xu Yi stared blankly at the system message, which showed that it was sent three days ago¡ªthat meant he had been unconscious for three whole days!


    He was completely numb.


    He recalled being engulfed by space turbulence after which, his soul was already weakened by the aftereffects of the Annihilating Black Thunder; the space turbulence made him even more drowsy.


    But just before he lapsed into unconsciousness, he vaguely remembered seeing a purple light point heading straight for him.


    "What kind of shitty luck is this?" Xu Yi covered his face, completely speechless.


    That purple light point must be the legendary space node.


    Nodes were incredibly rare within space turbulence. Although one wouldn''t go so far as to say finding one was like looking for a needle in a haystack, it was at least like looking for a needle in a lake.


    But he encountered such a low probability event as soon as he was caught in the space turbulence.


    Xu Yi was at a loss for words. When he wanted good luck, it eluded him; when he did not wish for it, it came unbidden. Indeed, fate had played a cruel joke on him.


    This also meant he had no way to use a Resurrection Coin to start over.


    The howling cold wind finally stopped, and Xu Yi sighed in relief, feeling his body gradually warming up.


    A normal breeze could never have this effect¡ªhe realized what was happening. He was now a soul body; the wind just now was aimed directly at his soul.


    If he was a soul body, why could he touch this bed? And why could he feel the softness of the blanket?


    Xu Yi was filled with doubts.


    The decrepit wooden door creaked open, and Xu Yi leaped out of bed, glaring with apprehension at the door.


    The door opened and a weary man walked in. When he saw Xu Yi awake, he paused.


    Xu Yi let out a sigh of relief. He didn''t detect much threat from the "sturdy man" before him.


    The other man was exceptionally tall, over two meters by his estimate, with shoulders wide and broad, the kind of vigorous general who could ride a horse just on his shoulders in ancient times. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    But he was also extremely lean, with only a thin layer of flesh over his bones, looking like a skeleton that hadn''t shed its skin.


    "My name is Handon. I rescued you," the burly man said bluntly.


    Xu Yi wasn''t surprised by this; he had expected it. But what the man said next left him stunned.


    "To save you, I spent a lot of food. You''ll be working off the debt in the mines from now on!"


    Xu Yi thought to himself, really? What kind of repayment method was this?


    He felt grateful to the man who saved him, and he didn''t expect the man should have helped him for nothing. Asking for compensation was indeed a perfectly normal thing to do.


    But why insist that he work off the debt by mining? Was the man a ruthless mine owner?


    Yet looking at the man''s skeletal figure, he didn''t seem the type. What kind of mine owner would allow himself to become so wretched?


    The man was also a soul, and Xu Yi really wanted to ask, "Brother, you''ve turned into a ghost, why are you still obsessed with mining?"


    Could this be some kind of new Hell? Perhaps even Satan would hurry over to study and learn from it overnight!


    Xu Yi stood up and walked toward the window, while Handon put away the pickaxe he was holding without paying any attention.


    When Xu Yi drew the curtains, it wasn''t sunlight that shone in but a gentle, water-like blue light. He gazed out of the narrow window and was stunned.


    The sky was a dream-like blue, without a single cloud, and star-like glimmers twinkled in the depths of the sky.


    What floated in the sky wasn''t the sun, but colorful light spheres, densely packed like the foam balls in a children''s amusement park. He didn''t feel the slightest heat from these spheres.


    The entire world gave him a dream-like feeling.


    "Am I really in a Different Space?" Xu Yi murmured to himself.


    He had already suspected something was off about this place earlier on.


    "Calling it a Different Space isn''t exactly wrong! This is the Realm of Dreams, the eternal prison for souls. Those who stray into this place will never be able to leave."


    When Handon spoke these words, his gaze was very complicated, filled with profound sadness and intense longing, but ultimately everything was shrouded by despair.


    Xu Yi tried to contact the outside world but found it impossible, whether it was switching to the Nest of the Evil God''s perspective or attempting to establish a connection with the Ghost Samurai.


    His heart kept sinking, yet he wasn''t desperate. With his Ability, he should be able to find a way out.


    "Is there really no way to leave?"


    Xu Yi asked out of curiosity, noting the intense desire in the man before him to leave this place.


    Handon couldn''t help but let out a scoff, "Many people who first arrive here have a similar reaction to yours, thinking they can find a way out... But soon they all despair, either committing suicide or allowing themselves to become corrupted, eventually turning into monstrosities that are neither human nor ghost¡ªDream Beasts."


    Xu Yi didn''t argue; he had some confidence in saying he could leave.


    He still had a last resort, which was either the Black Void Gate or the Gate of Truth. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even if the cage of this Different Space were ever so robust, it couldn''t possibly prevent the descent of these Primordial Gates. He could use the Soul of the Obsessed he had to enable one of these gates to open.


    But unless it was absolutely necessary, Xu Yi wouldn''t do that.


    Because the opening of a gate only meant giving him a chance to enter the world within.


    There was no need to mention the world beyond the Gate of Truth, although the Divine Light had become scarce, the process of Baptism wouldn''t be omitted.


    Even if Xu Yi were given another chance, he didn''t have the slightest confidence he could survive the Baptism, especially without the assistance of the True God''s spirit this time.


    Moreover, each Baptism offers a different illusionary realm, who knows what it would be like the second time around.


    In Baptism, his mind would be clouded, his memories tampered with¡ªso-called experience in passing through would have no effect at all.


    As for the world behind the Black Void Gate, he knew nothing.


    But after Carrie''s sister entered the gate and came back in that horrific state, it must undoubtedly be a highly dangerous place.


    In that moment, the colorful spheres in the sky suddenly extinguished, and the blue sky swiftly turned blood-red. The whole world was instantly enveloped in a dense bloody light.


    One moment it was like a dreamy amusement park, the next it seemed to have turned into Hell.


    Handon''s face changed drastically instantly, he hurled himself to the window, locked it tightly, and pulled the heavy curtains closed.


    He watched Xu Yi intently, his face stern as he admonished, "Don''t make a sound at all costs! And definitely don''t go outside!"


    Before Xu Yi had a chance to ask what exactly was going on, he suddenly heard a rampant voice:


    "Good evening, residents of Amusement City! Please stay quietly in your homes, and do not wander about, to avoid accidental injury."


    The voice paused for a moment, "What you are about to enjoy next is... the Hunting Show brought to you by Freddie!"

 Chapter 364 Lord of Dreams

    Xu Yi peeled back a sliver of the curtain and peered outside.


    In the center of the distant crossroads, a figure stood silently, wearing a brown-black top hat and dressed in a red and green striped sweater, which seemed ludicrously mismatched.


    Xu Yi unconsciously held his breath; the other party was emaciated, his skin marred by not a single spot unscathed, covered with scars left by burns.


    What drew the most attention was the other''s right hand; as the fingers moved, the sharp iron claws made of metal danced along.


    Without a doubt, the person before him was Freddy.


    Xu Yi stared intently at Freddy, as though engraving the figure into his mind¡ªhis brain whirred at high speed, comparing the sight before him with the information in his head.


    "This dream world is known as Amusement City, and Freddy is its master, the existence that rules over everything here," Handon whispered very quietly.


    He turned his head to look at Xu Yi and was stunned.


    To his astonishment, he saw a gleam of excitement in Xu Yi''s eyes!


    Is this newcomer a madman? Handon was filled with doubt, as the other gazed at the terrifying Freddy as if he were observing some rare treasure.


    Xu Yi ignored Handon, his gaze still fixed firmly on Freddy.


    Freddy clapped his hands, and a thick fog rose at the center of the street. As the mist gradually dissipated, a black metal box emerged from it.


    The hefty door of the box swung open, and a group of people screamed as they ran out, scattering in all directions.


    Xu Yi watched the people with confusion; they were all young girls. His perplexity wasn''t due to this, but rather because those people weren''t real humans.


    To be precise, they weren''t actual souls but more like marionettes.


    "What are those?" Xu Yi asked, puzzled.


    Handon didn''t answer, instead, he rummaged through a cabinet for paper and pen and wrote "Toy Girls" in bold characters.


    Indeed, they were toys. Freddy chased after the girls, piercing their chests with the iron claws in his hand and severing their heads, with blood splattering everywhere.


    The screams of the girls and Freddy''s laughter echoed through the entire street. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Yi remained expressionless. If the scene had been real, he surely would have been filled with righteous indignation and would not have stood by idly.


    Even though the screams of these "little girls" were piercing, they were after all fabricated doll toys; a closer look would reveal their facial expressions to be overly exaggerated, incredibly stiff, and mechanical.


    Freddy looked upon the bodies strewn all over, his crazed smile gradually solidifying and then disappearing, replaced by a deep disappointment.


    He knew better than anyone that these were merely toys he had created.


    Tormenting these toys could only grant him a fleeting pleasure, followed by an even stronger sense of emptiness.


    "Why? Why have I been forgotten?" Freddy roared in anger. He, like a madman, began banging his head against a street sign beside the road, his iron claws flailing wildly.


    Xu Yi quietly observed Freddy in the throes of his tantrum, saying nothing.


    At that moment, Handon handed a piece of paper to him¡ªthe paper read:


    "This dream is controlled by Freddy. Once Freddy is forgotten, he can no longer connect with the real world and can only drift through the Dream World."


    Xu Yi had an epiphany. No wonder Handon told him not to make a sound; if they were discovered, they might well be killed on a whim by Freddy in this state.


    If this were the real world, with his Body of Demigod and the Ultimate Weapon, he could certainly beat the other party until they were searching for their teeth on the ground.


    But here, the other could hang him up and beat him.


    This place was somewhat similar to the Soul Swamp behind the Black Void Gate; the stronger the soul, the greater the fighting power.


    Although his soul was continuously nourished by the core of a True God, it had been too short a time, and he was only at the level of Common people.


    Suddenly, the house shook violently, the entire world quaked, and Xu Yi exclaimed in surprise, "An earthquake?"


    But just as suddenly, he realized¡ªthis wasn''t the real world, how could there be an earthquake?


    Xu Yi glanced at Handon, who seemed just as perplexed, as if it was the first time he had encountered such an occurrence.


    "Someone is summoning! Someone is actually summoning this Dream World!" Handon suddenly exclaimed, no longer concerned that Freddy was just outside.


    His face was a mix of surprise and desire, his body even trembling slightly with excitement.


    Freddy was even more ecstatic, dancing wildly in the streets, a dance that the craziest of madmen couldn''t match, jubilant, yelling and shouting.


    The blood-red canopy in the sky suddenly dissipated, replaced by a translucent "frosted glass," with the colorful starry sky assaulting the senses, splendorous and dreamlike.


    "Every twinkling star is a Dream World," Handon explained, and now that Freddy was so happy he was almost insane, there was no need for subterfuge anymore.


    The stars twinkled densely, but Xu Yi noticed the differences among these "stars."


    First was the size; the difference could be as much as ten thousand times. Their "Amusement City" belonged to the exceptionally large sort.


    According to Handon''s introduction, the bigger the "star," the stronger the Controller''s ability.


    At that moment, an immense black Light Sphere suddenly caught their eye. Compared to that sphere, Freddy''s Amusement City was like comparing a marble to a basketball.


    "That''s the Lord of the Black Prison, Isoson, the most powerful existence in the Dream World," Handon explained softly.


    The "Amusement City" continued on its way, flying through the dense array of stars.


    "It seems that these stars are getting brighter!" Xu Yi suddenly noticed something.


    The farther they went, the brighter the surrounding stars became. Not only the surrounding stars, but their "Amusement City" also grew increasingly luminous.


    "The more a Dream World is forgotten, the dimmer it becomes. Amusement City is getting brighter now, which means we''re getting close to the Dream Rift River," Handon said.


    Xu Yi soon saw the so-called "Dream Rift River."


    The Rainbow River surged violently, cleaving through the air like a blade with a heavy and powerful presence, yet it seemed as light as a feather, drifting in the black void, its flowing sound crisp like wind chimes.


    "This is the legendary Dream Rift River, the border between the real world and the Dream World!"


    Handon couldn''t help but sigh with emotion; he had only heard of it before, but this was his first sight of it.


    The Dream Rift River was immensely vast, and Amusement City, in front of the river, was not much more than a splash of water in comparison as the city submerged into the riverflow.


    No water rushed in. The Dream Rift River was not a real river; each "drop of water" was someone''s dream.


    The Dream Rift River was composed of the dreams of living beings, predominantly those of humans.


    A drop of white light like rain penetrated the barrier of Amusement City and fell downwards, the light becoming more intense as it descended, finally so bright that it was blinding. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The light gradually faded, and Xu Yi could see the figure within the brightness, exclaiming, "Little Judy!"


    How could Little Judy appear here?


    Could her soul have been swept into a spatial rift as well?


    Little Judy poked her head around, seemingly full of curiosity about everything here.


    Xu Yi quickly spotted something unusual; she was not a soul but an idea projection. The so-called idea projection could be regarded as a shadow of the soul.


    He breathed a sigh of relief; it should still be quite simple for an idea projection to leave this world.


    After all, a shadow always chases its body, and as long as Little Judy woke up, she could leave this world.


    "You know each other?" Handon asked in surprise, looking at Xu Yi. This was Freddy''s controlled world, and yet someone Xu Yi knew had appeared; he wasn''t sure if that was good luck or bad.


    Handon felt a stirring within him. If this was someone Xu Yi knew, perhaps they could help pass a message?


    "Has someone finally remembered me, Lord Freddy?" Freddy hopped and skipped in front of Little Judy, his excitement evident.


    He had been forgotten for far too long, so long that he began to question whether his story had been drowned in the river of history.


    "Who''s Freddy?" Little Judy raised her head, eyeing the grotesque figure before her with confusion.

 Chapter 365 Youre Not Even Willing to Call Me Mr. Freddie?

    Little Judy''s statement not only stunned Freddy, but Xu Yi, who was hiding and peeking, was also taken aback.


    According to Handon''s statement, it was evidently little Judy''s dream about Freddy that had caused this situation, yet now little Judy said she didn''t recognize Freddy.


    Of course, little Judy didn''t necessarily need to know Freddy''s name; she might have seen a picture of him or heard stories about him.


    Thoughts by day, dreams by night, eventually leading to the projection of thoughts into Amusement City.


    But from little Judy''s behavior, that just didn''t seem to be the case. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Little Judy looked at Freddy with curiosity.


    Freddy''s appearance was indeed terrifying, and if it were a common person, they definitely would have been scared into a shrill scream, but he was facing the daughter of exorcist parents, little Judy, who had been exposed to the supernatural since childhood.


    Although Freddy was terrifying, he was not scary enough to frighten little Judy.


    "How can you not know who I am? How can you not know who I am?" Freddy stared at little Judy, murmuring to himself, his gaze blank, like a worshiper whose faith had collapsed.


    "Why should I know you? I am not here to find you, sir in the retro sweater."


    Little Judy looked around distractedly, not understanding why she was the only one who had arrived here.


    "You won''t even call me Mister Freddy! You won''t even call me Mister Freddy!"


    Freddy completely lost his temper, and when he roared the second time, his mouth opened enormously wide, big enough to swallow little Judy whole.


    To Freddy, being ignored was more painful than being killed.


    Little Judy took off running; she had already been secretly communicating with the Ogus Chains and found no response, her body had also become extremely weak.


    Now, she could only try to buy time by running.


    She headed towards the nearby residential buildings, and as a master of hide-and-seek, she quickly planned an escape route in her mind.


    But she had underestimated Freddy''s power in this Dream World.


    Freddy''s body grew taller incessantly; in the blink of an eye, he had transformed into a giant over eight meters tall, towering above the surrounding low-rise buildings.


    With one step, his huge foot hit the ground, causing it to shake thunderously.


    Just in one step, he caught up to the fleeing little Judy.


    Usually, Freddy wouldn''t reveal his true power right away; he preferred to watch his prey run and enjoyed the process of slowly tormenting them.


    But he was too angry now. He had waited so many years just to be remembered one day, to return to Elm Street and complete his revenge.


    Yet now, someone was telling him, he was insignificant, and no one remembered him at all!


    Xu Yi grabbed a shovel from the wall in passing and shoved the door open as he charged out.


    He couldn''t just abandon little Judy, and besides, he needed her help to pass on an important message.


    Handon watched Xu Yi''s retreating figure, his face changing several times, but finally gritted his teeth and followed.


    Little Judy rolled away, awkwardly avoiding the giant foot coming down; the ground cracked open with a roar.


    "Why isn''t it time yet?"


    Little Judy breathed heavily, her whole body covered in cold sweat; she just needed to hold on for ten minutes, and then people outside would forcibly awaken her.


    For the first time, she felt that ten minutes were incredibly long.


    She sat up and darted forward, feeling her blood run cold as three black walls appeared in front of her. In her panic, she had run into a dead end.


    Little Judy turned around, the horrifying giant standing there behind her, looking down at her coldly.


    "Sorry about this!" Little Judy unclenched her fist with a sigh in her heart.


    Suddenly, the sound of something cutting through the air came from behind; little Judy saw a shovel tracing a long arc in the sky as it headed straight for the giant Freddy.


    Little Judy turned her head abruptly, exclaiming with delight, "Brother Xu Yi!"


    "Run!" Xu Yi grabbed little Judy and turned to flee; now was not the time for pleasantries.


    Freddie casually brushed aside the shovel and stared coldly at Xu Yi''s retreating figure.


    He was somewhat puzzled; as the ruler of Amusement City, he recognized every soul there.


    Could it be a new soul brought by the spatial fissure from three days ago?


    Most of the residents in Amusement City were captured by him in the past, but a small part had been swept in by the spatial turbulence.


    At that time, he was busy nursing a hangover and had no mood to pay attention to these matters.


    Freddie didn''t immediately give chase, for he had also calmed down by now.


    Although the other party clearly did not recognize him, he was still able to enter this Dream World of his. He could not understand why, but if he killed Xu Yi now, he would soon have to return to that forgotten dark corner.


    "What is this smell?" Freddie''s nostrils twitched, and he paused for a moment.


    The scent was very unique; he was sure this was his first time smelling it, yet for some reason, there was a sense of "familiarity."


    Freddie couldn''t figure out why it felt familiar all of a sudden.


    He frowned and continued to stare at Xu Yi''s back; that scent originated from Xu Yi. His eyes kept moving, and he actually stood there, lost in thought.


    "Brother Xu Yi! I finally found you!"


    The two were sprinting through a narrow alley, and little Judy looked back at Xu Yi with surprise in her eyes.


    "Looking for me? How did you find your way here?" Xu Yi had many questions in mind. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    "We used the soul passage in the Ghost Samurai as a stepping stone, Uncle Arturo borrowed ''Er Di'' from the church, and Sister Lisa and the others set up the Array... We entered the Array together, but somehow, only I arrived here," little Judy explained.


    "Er Di" is a Mythic Level Exorcism Holy Relic shaped like a twisted Metal Flower, reputed to be the most powerful tracking Holy Artifact.


    The church had always treasured this Holy Artifact, and it was really decent of Arturo to be able to help borrow it.


    Xu Yi was puzzled as well; could it be because little Judy was young enough to fit Freddie''s predilection for tormenting? But Lisa and the others also looked like young girls, which wasn''t a sufficient reason.


    Could it be because of the psychic resonance?


    Xu Yi had a sudden thought; he remembered that when he first met little Judy, they had experienced psychic resonance.


    Now that he thought about it, it was because their souls'' frequencies were similar, which caused this effect.


    So, no one else managed to enter, and only little Judy had come to "Amusement City."


    "What''s the method to get out?" Xu Yi anxiously asked, knowing that Lisa and the others would never venture carelessly.


    "In ten minutes, whether I''ve found you or not, I will be forcibly awakened," little Judy estimated the time, "In about three minutes, I should be able to leave."


    Xu Yi''s heart did not relax.


    Three minutes was neither too long nor too short,


    Although Freddie had stopped for some unknown reason, in this Dream World under his control, surviving for three minutes was extremely difficult.


    At that moment, Freddie suddenly began jumping excitedly like a madman. He was still in his Giant form, and each leap caused the ground to thunderously shake.


    Xu Yi was stunned; Freddie''s behavior was even more excited and exhilarated than before.


    No! "Crazed" would be a more fitting description. Freddie''s face, twisted with excitement, was now marked by two streams of bloody tears.


    "It''s the soul of a deity! It''s the soul of a deity!" Freddie roared with excitement, his roars rolling out like thunder in all directions.


    A chill went down Xu Yi''s spine, his heart plummeting into the abyss.

 Chapter 366 Domain Soul

    Xu Yi''s face was somber as water, the "Soul of the Gods" Freddie spoke of was referring to him.


    He certainly was not the Soul of the Gods, who had ever seen such a weak Soul of the Gods?


    It was all because of the True God''s nucleus, having absorbed the power of the True God''s nucleus, his soul had more or less become tainted with its corresponding aura.


    But such an aura wasn''t something just anyone could discern. To be precise, over ninety-nine percent of beings couldn''t make out the difference.


    "Freddie is the Domain Soul!"


    At this moment, Xu Yi''s feelings were a mix of contradiction, anxiety, and irrepressible excitement.


    The moment he had seen Freddie, he had begun to suspect.


    "Domain Soul" originated from the laws of otherworldly gods exchanged through the Gate of Truth. To become an otherworldly god required three conditions.


    These conditions were: "Divine Body," "The Power of Darkness," and "Domain Soul."


    He now possessed the Body of Demigod, and to transform into a "Divine Body," he needed to find the "Divine Kingdom''s Graveyard," also known as the Burial Ground of the Gods.


    As for "The Power of Darkness," he needed to find a demon from another world.


    Otherworldly demons were not creatures of Earth; they hailed from Another World.


    In fact, the Evil Deity Xu Yi had once encountered was one of these demons, only not strong enough to birth "The Power of Darkness."


    "Domain Soul" was an extremely rare type of soul which, upon birth, often came with the creation of a Domain.


    Undoubtedly, Freddie, who controlled Amusement City, was a Domain Soul!


    Xu Yi needed to become a Domain Soul first if he wanted to ascend to otherworldly godhood.


    "The situation is dire now, but isn''t it also an opportunity!" Xu Yi forced himself to calm down.


    Freddie ruled over this dream world, and unlike little Judy, Xu Yi couldn''t leave when the time came. In other words, no matter what, he was bound to be "arrested" by Freddie and had no chance of survival.


    Xu Yi''s gaze grew steely, startling little Judy at his side; the ferocity in his eyes almost seemed to leap out like knives!


    Little Judy knew all too well that Xu Yi''s ferocity was not aimed at her but at the monster behind them.


    She had a premonition that Xu Yi had made a decisive plan.


    Xu Yi looked around, frowning deeply.


    He indeed had a plan, prepared to execute a desperate gambit, but he needed someone to buy him some time.


    This sort of thing was far too dangerous; he didn''t want little Judy to take the risk.


    If something happened to little Judy, he didn''t know how he would face Ed in the future. Besides, Judy had specifically come to help him.


    "Quick, this way!"


    A familiar voice suddenly came from the side. Handon poked his head out of a sewer manhole cover.


    Seeing Handon, Xu Yi''s eyes lit up.


    Having lived here for countless years, the other party must be exceedingly familiar with the surrounding terrain; following him would be far better than their aimless wandering.


    He didn''t hesitate and dove into the sewer with little Judy.


    They were both in grave danger; there was simply no reason for Handon to harm them.


    The sewer was devoid of wastewater and any foul smells; the walls were covered with dense green moss, emitting a fragrance of plants.


    This was the dream world after all, and likely didn''t have any real wastewater.


    "Handon, do you need our help with something?" Xu Yi suddenly asked.


    At the question, the leading Handon instinctively held his breath. Wasn''t he risking his neck to save the two just to hear those words?


    "What is your request?" Handon looked into Xu Yi''s eyes.


    At his age, he was well aware of a simple truth: to gain something, one must lose something.


    Xu Yi found it somewhat difficult to speak in the face of Handon''s frankness.


    "You want me to lead Freddie away, right?"


    However, Handon spoke without changing his expression, "Sure! I can lead Freddie away, but you need to do me a favor!"


    Since Handon had decided to help Xu Yi, he had thought everything through before he left the house, and naturally, he wouldn''t hesitate now.


    "Tell me!" Xu Yi never expected that Handon would agree so decisively.


    Handon''s gaze fell on little Judy and he spoke deliberately, making sure every word was crystal clear.


    "Mississippi, Nazareth Town, go find a girl named Gina."


    Handon took a deep breath, and his eyes were so dim yet so gentle, "Tell her that Dad is sorry, that Dad spoke out of turn, and tell her not to wait anymore!"


    Handon had managed to persist in this prison-like place for so many years because of his daughter. Before he was drawn into this Dream World, he happened to have promised to celebrate her birthday in the evening.


    Time and again in his midnight dreams, he would dream that his daughter, clad in a little white cotton dress, stood under the olive tree in front of the house, her sapphire-like eyes staring intently at the path leading to the village, with longing in her gaze, and a cake with a little bear toy on it on the stone table beside her.


    So many years had passed, and he had extinguished the thought of leaving the Dream World. Now, his only hope was that someone could pass a message to his daughter.


    For that one message, he was prepared to give his life.


    "I''ve got it memorized!" little Judy felt the weight of that message and nodded solemnly.


    Xu Yi took out a piece of paper from his pocket, handed it to little Judy and whispered, "Remember to destroy it after you''ve read it."


    The paper and pen were both obtained from Handon, and the content had been hastily written on their way here.


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    "Let''s split up and run!"


    A fork appeared ahead, and Xu Yi decisively chose the right path, while little Judy escaped alone through the left path.


    This wasn''t an abandonment of little Judy, quite the opposite; it was a form of protection for her.


    In Freddie''s eyes at this moment, his "soul of the deity" should be of much greater weight.


    Suddenly, a "cave" appeared on the side of the sewer, built against the concavity of the drainage system; this was Handon''s "secret base" where he had originally discovered Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi and Handon entered the secret base, with subtle soul fluctuations occasionally emanating from inside.


    ...


    "Is it really the soul of a True God?"


    After his initial excitement, Freddie suddenly became apprehensive. He couldn''t be entirely certain, as he had only heard it through the grapevine.


    If it turned out to be fake, wouldn''t he have celebrated for nothing?


    In this Dream World, the strongest entity was the Lord of the Black Abyss, Isoson, who had become so powerful because he had devoured a portion of the deity''s soul.


    Freddie had never seen the soul of a deity, but after smelling that scent, he inexplicably had a premonition that it was the legendary soul of a deity.


    Xu Yi, however, knew the answer to this question because a Domain Soul has a special Perception Ability for deities.


    Because of his apprehension, Freddie found himself standing still for quite some time.


    Of course, this was also because he had absolute confidence that, in this Dream World, no one could escape from the palm of his hand.


    "They''ve actually split up?"


    Freddie could sense that the owner of the divine aura and the impolite little girl had separated and were fleeing in different directions.


    After hesitating for a moment, he still chose to follow the direction of the one with the divine aura.


    The soul of the deity was too important to him. What if the other party had some special means to escape?


    Moreover, once he devoured the power of the soul of the True God, there would be no need for passive waiting, no fear of being forgotten, and he would attain the ability to directly invade others'' dreams.


    "It might even be possible to turn this Dream World into reality, transforming it into the Divine Kingdom!"


    Freddie let out a bizarre cry, his body rapidly shrinking as he rushed towards the direction of Xu Yi''s aura.


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 Chapter 367 Am I Freddie? Or Xu Yi?

    Black walls suddenly appeared ahead, completely blocking the path, and the figure in a hooded black robe leaned against the wall, gasping for air.


    He clearly remembered that there wasn''t a wall there before. Freddie had used his ability to alter the terrain here.


    "Poor little mouse, seems like you''ve run out of options?"


    Freddie came from the other end of the sewer, his Iron Claw scraping against the walls, making a grating sound.


    His steps quickened, his eyes filled with hunger, he couldn''t wait to devour the "True God''s soul" in front of him.


    The shadow suddenly lifted its hooded black robe and turned its head, staring at Freddie with an innocent face, "Mr. Freddie, what do you want with me?"


    "How could it be you?" Freddie exclaimed in shock. He had followed the divine aura here but hadn''t expected to find Handon.


    He moved close to Handon, sniffing like a dog. It was indeed the same divine aura he had smelled before, but now it had become very faint and was rapidly dissipating.


    "You dare to play me!"


    Freddie was fully aware of what had happened by now. His opponent had used some method to transfer that aura onto Handon.


    Freddie''s left hand suddenly gripped Handon''s neck, bulging veins visible on his burnt arm as his eyes blazed with rage.


    Handon struggled to breathe, his body twitching unconsciously. In his eyes was both despair and the relief of an impending release.


    Just when he thought he was about to die, Freddie suddenly let go.


    Freddie, as if tossing a broken sack, slammed Handon hard against the wall. It would be too easy to kill Handon like this; he was still useful to Freddie. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Besides, he had more important things to do.


    Freddie took a deep breath and slightly closed his eyes. His perception became extremely sharp; the soul auras of everyone in Amusement City flashed through his mind.


    He suddenly opened his eyes, a cruel smile playing on his lips, "Found you! Little mouse!"


    ......


    Xu Yi leaned against a decaying wooden door, staggering out of the "secret base." His face was so pale it was void of any color, his eyes occasionally flashing with clarity and then dimming.


    The roaring sound of thunder suddenly exploded overhead, and even within the sewer system, the power of the thunderstorm could be felt. It was easy to imagine that the storm outside must be fierce. Water from the raging storm gushed into the sewer through the covers, creating a noisy torrent.


    Xu Yi felt an inexplicable fluctuation in the water and realized this was not ordinary water but a method Freddie was using to find him.


    Transferring the aura hadn''t been as difficult as expected. The aura all originated from the core of the True God. All he had to do was stop absorbing from the core and then attach a few strands of the aura onto Handon.


    He chose a direction away from Freddie and broke into a run.


    Due to the heavy rain, the light had vanished. It was pitch black ahead, and only the sound of the water flow and Xu Yi''s footsteps could be heard in the sewer, creating an eerily quiet atmosphere that sent shivers down one''s spine.


    His heart pounded wildly, and his steps quickened unconsciously. He suddenly collided with something that felt like the moss on a wall but with a bit of softness.


    But he quickly realized something was off because the "moss" was slowly turning around.


    A candle abruptly lit up the darkness around, its flame placed on a blood-red cake. Xu Yi recoiled because he saw clearly that it wasn''t a cake at all but a beating heart. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Surprise!" Freddie, holding the cake, thrust his hideous face out of the darkness, no more than ten centimeters from Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi instinctively turned to run, but he suddenly stopped.


    With the help of the candlelight, he saw the scene around him clearly. He was surrounded; Freddie was everywhere, forming a wall that tightly enclosed him, even right over his head.


    Every Freddie''s eyes shimmered with a bloodthirsty red, like a ferocious beast eyeing a large piece of delectable meat.


    Xu Yi let out a roar and charged toward the human wall before him.


    But the cold gleam of the Iron Claw suddenly lit up his eyes, his chest was pierced through, blood splattering out. Since he was in the form of a soul body, the "Hyper Accelerated Regeneration" entries couldn''t take effect.


    All the Freddies closed in on him, their Iron Claws rising and falling. Xu Yi''s screams were pitiful, his body was dismembered, his flesh scattered everywhere, emanating a rich divine aura.


    Unable to restrain their desire, the Freddies pounced like rabid dogs sharing a feast, as if they were starved people savoring a rare delicacy.


    More Freddies who hadn''t managed to snatch the flesh on the ground lunged at Xu Yi.


    Of course, a soul body had no flesh, but the Freddies, borrowing this world''s ability, materialized the soul, intending to devour Xu Yi with it.


    At first, Xu Yi could still scream, but later on, he couldn''t make a sound at all, he only felt intense pain, unbearable agony!


    His flesh had been gnawed clean, his organs eaten piece by piece, leaving only a skeleton behind, but the "Ghouls" were not satisfied with this.


    The teeth of the Freddies became incredibly sharp, the crisp chewing sounds echoing continuously in the gloomy sewers.


    Xu Yi''s body was devoured, even the blood splattered on the ground was licked clean.


    Countless Freddies gathered in the sewer, their maniacal laughter spreading throughout Amusement City, the souls of Amusement City shuddering and trembling.


    The bodies of the Freddies suddenly merged like wax candles, a mountain of flesh fused together with black root-like lines forming amid the gore.


    The flesh compressed continuously, eventually solidifying into the singular Freddie, who silently felt the changes in his body, a mysterious energy flowing within him, making him shudder with excitement.


    "Power! The power to break free of chains!"


    Freddie hopped around, dancing with joy. He could feel the shackles that bound him were gone, and he could become even stronger.


    Plans to become stronger flashed through his mind in an instant.


    He snapped his fingers, and a soft incandescent light bulb lit up above his head.


    He pulled out a mirror from his hat, and his severely burnt face was reflected in it. He stared at himself in the mirror, a slight furrow forming in his brow.


    This was clearly the face he was most familiar with, yet for some reason, he felt it to be somewhat strange.


    Freddie blinked, and that odd feeling quickly disappeared, everything returning to normal.


    "A wonderful life is waiting for me!"


    Freddie cheered, not taking the matter to heart¡ªit was normal to feel a bit different after just devouring a divine soul.


    He put away the mirror and fiddled with his sweater''s collar.


    He suddenly froze. That action was subconscious, not thought through at all.


    But he had never had that habit. He wore a striped round-necked sweater that did not need much attention¡ªnormally, only shirts or coats required occasional collar straightening.


    "That''s right, what is my name? Barton, Karen, Noite, Xu Yi, or Mondo? No! That''s not right!"


    Freddie suddenly felt a splitting headache; he clutched his head and shook it vigorously. Moments later, the headache was gone, and everything was back to normal.


    "I am Freddie! Yes, my name is Freddie!"


    He muttered to himself, and the grey haze before his eyes temporarily dissipated.

 Chapter 368 The Invisible Him

    ```


    "I''m actually back?" little Judy looked around at the familiar faces, and at the lush greenery of Notting Hill below, feeling a bit dazed.


    "Judy, are you okay?" Ed hurried forward, eyeing little Judy up and down with a face full of concern.


    Ed had initially opposed Judy entering the Array to save Xu Yi, not because he was unwilling to save Xu Yi, he had even joined the rescue plan himself.


    But as a doting father, that bit of "selfishness" was hard to avoid.


    little Judy shook her head, glanced around, and asked with confusion, "Did none of you manage to enter that strange place?"


    "No! If it weren''t for you, we would have thought the Array wasn''t working at all!"


    Ed shook his head, relieved to see his daughter could still speak normally.


    The gazes of those present fell on little Judy, their eyes eager, but they all refrained from speaking, giving little Judy time to adjust.


    little Judy looked down at her hands, which were empty. In that world, she had been holding a note left to her by Xu Yi.


    "Paper! Give me paper!"


    little Judy called out urgently; she wanted to write down the contents while her memory was still fresh. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A moment later, little Judy looked at the content on the paper, identical to her memory, and let out a sigh of relief.


    She looked up at the people around her and didn''t beat around the bush, "I saw Xu Yi!"


    "Where is Xu Yi? Is he all right now?" Lisa finally couldn''t hold back and asked anxiously.


    "I''m not sure, but Xu Yi left us a message." little Judy shook her head. She and Xu Yi had split up to escape, so she didn''t know what had happened afterward.


    Lisa took the note from little Judy''s hand, and the first line read: "I am carrying out a secret plan, all is well, you don''t need to look for me for now!"


    Lisa fell silent, while little Judy understood the meaning behind the words.


    Xu Yi was afraid they would encounter danger; that place was too mysterious. After entering there, one''s strength would be reduced to one-tenth, and Magic Artifacts would disappear.


    Lisa''s eyes turned red involuntarily and she touched her stomach subconsciously.


    "Lisa, please forgive me for not being with you at this moment, I hope you can take good care of yourself... Maria, remember to spend more time with your mother, Carlyle..."


    The rest was filled with rambling words, and also concerns about the ownership of the "Gluttony" dagger and the "Anger" katana.


    Everyone present changed their expression after reading this, because Xu Yi''s words seemed too much like a last will and testament.


    It seemed Xu Yi had anticipated this moment, as the message on the paper suddenly changed.


    "This is not a last will and testament, so please don''t look so mournful. What follows is what I need to ask of you."


    The people present paused, realizing they had misunderstood.


    "I need you to help me find the Burial Ground of the gods! This is very important for my ''resurrection.'' The only clue I''ve obtained now is that the Burial Ground might be in the Arctic Ocean."


    This was Xu Yi''s last message, and it sent a jolt through everyone present.


    Since Xu Yi was asking them this seriously, it also meant that Xu Yi was indeed safe for the moment, and that what he had given was not a last will and testament.


    ......


    The residents of Amusement City gathered together, shivering involuntarily as they looked upon Freddie on the high platform.


    Most of these residents were men, and the few women who were present were "broad and heavy-set," with ages all above forty.


    It wasn''t that no young souls entered here, but rather that they had been brutally killed by Freddie, especially the girls.


    Freddie sat leisurely in a plush sofa with his legs crossed, humming a tune, seeming to be in a good mood.


    However, the residents who saw Freddie''s smiling face felt a chill to their bones.


    "Let me introduce you, this is my butler, who will manage you from now on! His words are my words. You know what will happen if you disobey," Freddie gestured with a hand as he introduced.


    The residents trembled even more, not because the new butler was terrifying or ferocious, but because they could see no one there.


    The spot Freddie pointed to was empty.


    "Xu Yi, how do you feel about your new job?" Freddie asked.


    ```


    "Excellent! As long as it helps you, Freddie, I''m happy!" someone answered him.


    Freddie clapped his hands joyfully, "As for you, I certainly trust you, we are brothers who grew up together since childhood."


    The people present lowered their heads, not daring to look at Freddie, feeling a chill down to their bones.


    Although they always thought Freddie was a madman, he was only homicidal, and his everyday behavior and logic were still normal.


    But now, it seemed that he had really gone insane, actually talking to the air!


    Handon was also among the crowd, just that he was firmly bound and lying on the cold ground.


    He couldn''t see Xu Yi either, but as one of the participants, he probably knew something about the situation.


    Could it be that Xu Yi''s plan had succeeded? A flash of joy passed through his eyes.


    Xu Yi surveyed the entire scene, silent.


    Naturally, the people there couldn''t see him, because he was Freddie, and Freddie was him.


    The plan could be said to have succeeded but also failed.


    Handon had bought him time; the first thing he did in the "secret base" was to summon the Gate of Truth.


    He made a trade with the Gate of Truth.


    Using Augustus''s "Soul of the Obsessed," he exchanged it for the "Soul-Loss Ice Crystal."


    The Gate of Truth, compared to the Black Void Gate''s conniving merchant, was much better, adhering mostly to the principle of equivalent exchange.


    The most important thing was that, other than knowledge, as long as the Gate of Truth owned it, anything could be exchanged, provided you had enough bargaining chips.


    The so-called "Soul-Loss Ice Crystal" was the true nature of the "Baptism."


    The moment he entered the Gate of Truth, his soul was invaded by the Soul-Loss Ice Crystal, his wisdom clouded, his memory altered.


    The Soul-Loss Ice Crystal was undoubtedly an incredibly precious item, luckily the Obsessor of Augustus was equally rare and fetched a good price at the Gate of Truth; however, he was only able to exchange it for a piece as big as a fingernail.


    There was no doubt that the Soul-Loss Ice Crystal was a poison among poisons; to prevent any accidents, Xu Yi conducted a very dangerous "surgery."


    He divided his own soul.


    The principle behind soul division is actually quite simple; it is to generate a large number of Soul Stealing Seeds and disperse the soul among them.


    This may sound simple, but in practice, it''s like dancing on the edge of a knife¡ªa slip could lead to soul disorder and complete mental breakdown.


    Fortunately, he was experienced in splitting Soul Stealing Seeds, and of course, the most important was the core of the True God.


    The split seeds, of course, needed a vessel.


    Although the Serpent of Finale could also serve as a vessel, it paled in comparison to the core of the True God.


    And for this, he should thank the World Tree; if the World Tree hadn''t erased all the marks of the spirit of the True God, the divided portions of the soul wouldn''t dare to enter the core of the True God.


    In this way, Xu Yi divided his soul into two parts: one merged with the core of the True God, and the other remained in place.


    To be precise, his soul should be said to have been divided into three parts, with another part within the World Tree.


    The "him" that Freddie devoured had been infused with the Soul-Loss Ice Crystal, thus bringing the "Soul-Loss Virus" into Freddie''s body.


    As the manipulator of the Soul-Loss Ice Crystal, Xu Yi could use the Soul-Loss Virus to do some "interesting" things.


    For example, clouding Freddie''s wisdom, inserting or altering some memories, sensory deception. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    His soul was indeed devoured by Freddie at first, but as the Soul-Loss Virus took effect, most of what Freddie saw afterwards were illusions.


    It wasn''t that he devoured Xu Yi, but rather Xu Yi devoured him.


    Xu Yi watched Freddie, his mood heavy.


    Logically, in the "Battle of Devouring," he was entirely the active party, as the opponent''s wisdom and senses were all clouded.


    But now, the one controlling the domain of the soul body was Freddie.


    Because the strength of his and Freddie''s souls were far too different, Xu Yi had to concede and lurk within Freddie''s soul.

 Chapter 369 Entrust My Life to You

    "Aside from Xu Yi''s appointment, today we have another important matter, the punishment of a traitor!"


    Freddie''s gaze suddenly turned vicious as he stared at Handon, who was tied up like a rice dumpling, below the stage.


    All eyes present fell upon Handon, heads bowed, hiding the sadness in their eyes, feeling something akin to the sorrow of one animal when another animal dies.


    Handon had built a good network of connections, and many had benefited from his kindness.


    "Let''s discuss the method of punishment, shall we throw him into a pot of boiling oil, or slice him into thin sashimi-like slices?" Freddie asked with interest.


    His reason for keeping Handon was to make an example out of him.


    He had already devoured the soul of a deity, breaking the shackles on him, and he needed to consume more "Dream Ore" to become even more powerful.


    In order to get the miners to mine efficiently, he needed such a rally, and Handon was the sacrifice for the rally.


    Xu Yi originally intended to directly alter Freddie''s memory, making him forget about Handon, but he realized the risk was too great,


    Altering normal memories was one thing, but if the altered memory conflicted with Freddie''s interests, it could easily cause Freddie to "wake up."


    That was to be expected, after all, not being within the Gate of Truth, doing so much with just a tiny Ice Crystal of the soulless was already amazing.


    "Freddie, I think it''s too easy on Handon just to kill him like that, he did betray you after all," Xu Yi suddenly spoke up.


    "Oh, do you have a better suggestion?" Freddie asked curiously.


    He still trusted this "good brother" Xu Yi, who, in his memory, had helped a lot and was also very capable.


    The bodies of the people below trembled again. In Freddie''s eyes, he was speaking with Xu Yi, but to the others below, Freddie seemed to be talking to himself.


    "Why not make him mine, do the dirtiest, most exhausting work, and even when others rest, he can only stay in the mine." Xu Yi said softly, "This would not only serve as a warning but also make full use of him."


    Freddie clapped his hands in approval, "You always have the solutions, let''s do that!"


    Xu Yi''s eyes flickered as he looked at Handon below.


    For now, he could still hide within Freddie''s soul, interfering with him, but their difference in power was staggering, and he would soon be truly devoured over time.


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    Most importantly, without a continuous infusion of energy, the Ice Crystal would quickly "wither" and become ineffective.


    He no longer had a soul body that could move freely, and to push his plan forward, he could only rely on the help of others. Handon was undoubtedly the best choice.


    ...


    In the center of Amusement City, the massive mine stood silently, reflecting the blue light of the sky canopy, with a variety of fungi plants densely scattered over it, dazzling and surreal in color.


    Far different from the desolate and lonely mines imagined, the mine in front of them could be considered a tourist attraction.


    But to the residents of Amusement City, the beautiful mine only spelled fear in their eyes.


    All over the mountain were the entrances to mine shafts, marked by exaggerated graffiti door plates with numbers.


    Handon, laden with heavy chains, made a clinking sound as he moved. He came to a stop in front of one of the mine entrances, Mine Shaft Zero.


    The others subconsciously kept their distance from Mine Shaft Zero.


    Among all the mine caves, Mine Shaft Zero was the most special and the most dangerous because it wasn''t man-made, it was there from the start.


    Ordinary people could easily fall seriously ill and then die in misery just from passing by the entrance of Mine Shaft Zero and being hit by its frigid wind.


    "Go inside!" Freddie stood behind Handon, his tone unusually gentle, "As long as you mine enough Dream Ore, you can redeem yourself!"


    Handon felt disdain in his heart; entering Mine Shaft Zero, was there any chance of survival?


    But he stepped forward, his body trembling as he walked into Mine Shaft Zero. By entering the mine, he could live a little longer, whereas refusing entry meant death right now.


    Ever since he saw Xu Yi and little Judy, a strange hope had risen in his heart, a hope to see his daughter once more. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn''t know why he had developed such an extravagant wish.


    Handon had just stepped into the mine passage when a gust of wind blew by, making him shudder uncontrollably.


    The wind blowing out of the mine corridors was referred to as "Hell''s Wind," and no amount of insulation was effective against it.


    Hell''s Wind occasionally made its way to the town; however, the force was much weaker at such a distance, yet now he was facing it head-on.


    The Mine Cave was slowly undulating, but Handon paid it no heed; a multitude of tendrils hung from above, their forms varied, clearly coming from different plants.


    The tendrils, like thin snakes, crawled up Handon''s back, their tips sharp enough to pierce easily into his flesh.


    Handon felt a chill on his back as his energy was continuously extracted; he didn''t feel much pain, just a slight tingling.


    He was already accustomed to this feeling.


    Here, they weren''t merely mining; every piece of Dream Ore was life-consuming work.


    "What''s with this mine?"


    The sudden voice from behind startled Handon; he whipped around, his eyes lighting up with joy, "Xu Yi! You''re actually alive?"


    It was indeed Xu Yi, standing there quietly behind him, a slight smile on his lips.


    "Sounds like you rather wish I weren''t."


    As Handon started to explain, Xu Yi interrupted him, "We''ll talk about this later. Now, let your guard down and allow me to possess your body; I can''t maintain this state for long."


    Only then did Handon take a good look; Xu Yi''s form was incredibly faint, like an image projected into the air, flickering on and off, on the verge of disappearing.


    The surrounding tendrils did not move towards Xu Yi, clearly indicating he was not a physical being.


    Following Xu Yi''s instructions, Handon let down his guard. Xu Yi''s apparition dissolved, and a Seven-Headed Hydra sculpture no bigger than a palm landed on his shoulder.


    The sculpture glowed with a dense red light before it began to melt; moments later, a Seven-Headed Hydra mark appeared on Handon''s shoulder.


    He wasn''t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt a little warmer.


    "It''s not your imagination; the Serpent of Finale can somewhat protect your soul."


    Xu Yi''s voice suddenly echoed in his mind, and although Handon was shocked for a moment, he soon adapted to the situation.


    "Before we talk about the matter at hand, I need you to answer one question. Are you afraid of dying?" asked Xu Yi softly.


    "Who isn''t afraid of dying?" Handon replied wryly. A bad life is better than a good death, especially for someone like him with such a strong fixation.


    Suddenly, his tone changed. "But I''m in such a state now that death isn''t far off. If you need help with anything, just tell me!"


    "That won''t do. You can''t survive the upcoming trial with just the intention to help."


    Xu Yi''s voice was distant. "How about this! If you endure the trial and manage to survive, I will take you out of here, to see your daughter."


    "You''re not deceiving me, are you?" Handon trembled with excitement.


    "You have a daughter waiting for you at home, and I also have a daughter about to be born. Both of us future dads, how could I lie to you?"


    Xu Yi answered frivolously, without the solemnity of making a promise, but Handon believed him immediately, feeling Xu Yi''s sincerity.


    In Handon''s eyes blazed a fierce fire, the light of hope.


    "As long as you can let me see my daughter again, I entrust my life to you! Whatever you ask, I will do!"

 Chapter 370 The Bridal Gown Plan

    Xu Yi paid no attention to Handon, who was acting as if he had been injected with chicken blood, and steered the conversation back on track, "So, what''s the deal with this mine?"


    "This mine is not a mountain in the traditional sense. Some say it''s alive, constantly growing."


    Handon spoke about the mine with deliberate vagueness, "Based on my guess, there must be something at the center of the mine, absorbing the stray energy of the Dream World... With the chaotic energy sedimented, that''s why the mine seems to be growing incessantly."


    Handon glanced at the deep underground mine shaft, "Among the miners, there''s a legend that there wasn''t a mine here at the beginning, just a dilapidated house."


    Xu Yi nodded in understanding, "If I''m not mistaken, that house should be the origin of this dream, where the source of Freddie''s power is also hidden."


    This conjecture wasn''t baseless; after being attacked by the Soul-Loss Virus, Xu Yi could partially access Freddie''s memories.


    But within Freddie''s memories, there existed a "codebook."


    If one tried to force it open, it would immediately trigger Freddie''s countermeasure, causing him to "awaken."


    Still, Xu Yi managed to deduce some information about the "codebook" from clues, which involved this mine.


    Upon hearing this, Handon was struck with a thought, "You want me to go deep into the mine?"


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    "Exactly! I need you to get there and secretly place something that must not be discovered by Freddie," Xu Yi nodded.


    Handon had an epiphany, "So the reason you suggested I keep working inside the mine was to prepare for this."


    Handon''s brow furrowed quickly, "If that''s the source of Freddie''s power, no matter how careful we are, any small thing placed there will definitely be discovered." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t worry! I''ll create an opportunity for you; if it''s discovered, not just you, but I too would die."


    Xu Yi tried to reassure Handon, but Handon became even more panicked after hearing it.


    If something happened to him, Xu Yi might still have a chance to save him.


    But if something happened to Xu Yi as well, then they were truly finished!


    ......


    The vibrantly colorful mine suddenly shook violently, followed by a thunderous explosion, and Mine Shaft Seven belched out pungent black smoke.


    Freddie was standing not far from the mine shaft, dancing with excitement, "Xu Yi! You really have a way! The engineering explosives you''ve made will increase the mining efficiency by hundreds of times!"


    "Glad I could help."


    Xu Yi smiled modestly, though he inwardly disdained Freddie''s approach.


    How much dream ore could a few hardworking miners dig with shovel after shovel?


    Good tools are what liberate productivity.


    Even though this was the Dream World, as a master of scientific research, creating a simple engineering explosive was a piece of cake for Xu Yi.


    Freddie was beside himself with excitement.


    With the engineering explosives, he could obtain a massive amount of dream ore, and his strength could improve even faster.


    Yet Xu Yi was heavy-hearted, for this was a risky move.


    As Freddie absorbed more dream ore, his strength would get stronger and stronger, and the speed at which Xu Yi would be consumed would also increase.


    But for the sake of the plan ahead, he had to be ruthless.


    "If the plan goes smoothly, then all of what Freddie is doing will become his own burial gown," Xu Yi hoped secretly.


    The miners present dared not look at Freddie, with half his face showing excitement while the other half was furrowed with concern, forming an exceptionally eerie appearance.


    ......


    Handon, leaning against the mine wall, was panting heavily.


    His body had slimmed down considerably compared to before, now just skin and bones.


    It had been five days since he entered Mine Shaft Zero.


    If not for the protection of the Serpent of Finale, he would have been blown to smithereens by the "Hell''s Wind" of this place.


    "Where on earth does this Hell''s Wind come from?" Handon couldn''t help but wonder.


    He took a deep breath and braced himself.


    After these days of exploration, he had roughly figured out the path to the center of the mine, and Xu Yi had also sent a message¡ªthe action could begin now!


    The mine was not pitch-black inside; it was surrounded by luminous algae. But the light stopped here, and beyond was total darkness, where one couldn''t see their own hand in front of their face.


    The howling "Hell''s Wind" blew from ahead, and even with the protection of the Serpent of Finale, Handon felt the biting cold.


    He had only explored up to this point before; beyond was a completely unfamiliar territory.


    He tore a large patch of luminous algae off the wall and resolutely walked in.


    The mine tunnel wasn''t as terrifying as imagined, except the Hell''s Wind was stronger and there was no luminous algae.


    Handon kept moving forward, but he suddenly stopped, his pupils dilating.


    He was back where he started!


    He was certain it wasn''t a similar entrance; a piece of the luminous algae was missing from the wall¡ª it was the one he had removed earlier.


    "I''ve been walking straight the whole time, how could I have ended up back here?" Handon felt a flicker of unease.


    "Don''t panic! Go in again!"


    Xu Yi''s voice suddenly rang in Handon''s mind, and Handon almost jumped with joy.


    The soul split Xu Yi entrusted in the True God''s core was very weak, and most of the time it would slip into a sleep, awakening only at crucial moments.


    Handon walked in circles again, and without any surprise, he ended up back where he had started.


    "Go in again!"


    Xu Yi''s voice remained unfluctuating.


    Without any hesitation, Handon stepped into the passage once more.


    "Stop! Cover your eyes; from now on, follow my commands. Take three steps to the left, then walk forward five steps..."


    Handon''s left side was a black mine wall, and he hesitated slightly, but trusting in Xu Yi, he did as he was told.


    After moving two steps sideways, he suddenly froze, feeling no resistance at all!


    His heart settled, and he followed Xu Yi''s instructions precisely.


    Xu Yi surveyed the surroundings, realizing that this stretch of mine was actually an array.


    Although similar to the Havara Labyrinth within Emperor Ramses'' Pyramid, it was, in fact, something totally different; the array before him was naturally formed.


    Freddie had no knowledge of magic arrays, nearly as illiterate as one could get regarding such matters. Discovering this array and making use of it was already the extent of Freddie''s capabilities.


    Freddie was probably still quite pleased with himself, believing that no one could get through this natural maze-like magic formation.


    "You can open your eyes now!" Xu Yi''s voice sounded again.


    Handon opened his eyes and felt instant joy.


    He was finally not running around in circles back to the starting point. Before him was a spacious Dissolving Cave.


    But Xu Yi''s brows furrowed, for from the cave''s ceiling hung dense masses of roots filling the entire Dissolving Cave.


    They entangled like snakes, and by all common sense, they were not something that one could easily get past with just their toes.


    These tendrils were highly problematic. Currently possessing no combat strength, Handon, who had been just a common person before entering here, simply couldn''t deal with these roots.


    Was the plan doomed to stop here?


    As Xu Yi was pondering, Handon suddenly stepped forward, retrieving a flattened metal bottle from his inner pocket.


    Upon opening the bottle, a white-ash powder poured into Handon''s hand, which he then sprinkled in front of the writhing tendrils. The roots squirmed away as if they were snakes encountering realgar powder.


    "I observed the habits of the mine''s plants, and then I found a type of stone in the mine. Those plants would always avoid areas where that stone was present. I collected those stones and ground them into powder," explained Handon.


    He added, "I used to work at a flower farm."


    "Were you a researcher at the flower farm?"


    Xu Yi found it hard to believe that Handon, with his rugged appearance, was actually a scientific researcher.


    Handon shook his head, "No, a planting worker."


    "Genius!" Xu Yi wished he could give a thumbs-up.


    Having navigated the "Forest of Tendrils," Handon finally reached the core of the mine.


    A decrepit hut suddenly appeared ahead, its walls covered in burn marks, and a collapsed cross could be seen on the roof.


    As Handon approached the hut, stepping over the ruins of the outer wall, his body shivered violently because he felt something watching him, a troubling presence that sent chills down his spine.

 Chapter 371 Tampering

    Freddy''s body under the sweater trembled slightly as his gaze avoided the black-robed figure before him.


    The black-robed figure was not human but a black insect with a face resembling a Sacred Beetle, its hands and body replaced by tentacles, yet it could speak like a human and was even well-versed in human etiquette.


    Freddy shivered not because of fear but because he was forcefully suppressing a devouring desire within him.


    The insectoid before him was a messenger from the Lord of the Black Abyss, here to collect Crystal Stones from Amusement City.


    The Lord of the Black Abyss, being the most powerful entity in the Dream World, tolerated the existence of Dream Lords like Freddy only for the purpose of periodically collecting a quota of Crystal Stones.


    In Xu Yi''s view, the practice of Isoson, the Lord of the Black Abyss, was not particularly clever, but it was a sustainable way to harvest crops repeatedly.


    Freddy was a bit puzzled; he hadn''t felt such a strong devouring desire when he had encountered the insectoid people before.


    Could it be because the ''Spirit of the Divine'' had unlocked the shackles on him? He couldn''t help thinking.


    The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.


    Xu Yi spied on Freddy''s thoughts and almost laughed out loud.


    This was not because of the ''Spirit of the Divine,'' but because Xu Yi had influenced Freddy''s perception; creating something out of nothing was difficult, but amplifying Freddy''s desires was easy.


    Especially for an uncontrollable entity like Freddy.


    Freddy''s face displayed a variety of expressions¡ªhunger, savageness, restraint, disdain, and more¡ªall squeezed into one face, making his muscles completely out of control and looking particularly ferocious.


    The "Insect Envoy" pretended not to see and walked past Freddy.


    Although it mimicked human behavior, that was only for the sake of better collecting Crystal Stones; it was a creation of the Lord of the Black Abyss, essentially an emotionless "machine."


    There were many Lords of the Dream World, and he had seen all sorts of odd creatures; with the deterrence of the Lord of the Black Abyss, even if they wanted to kill him, they had to hold back.


    "Are these all the Crystal Stones for this time?"


    The Insect Envoy walked up to two large metal barrels filled with azure Crystal Stones that twinkled with a star-like brilliance.


    These were the legendary Crystal Stones.


    Freddy looked at the two barrels filled with Crystal Stones, his face filled with reluctance.


    Although now equipped with engineered explosives, making ore extraction more efficient, Crystal Stones were after all a scarce resource, and in limited supply.


    Previously, he could be indifferent because, due to soul restrictions, he couldn''t absorb much of the Crystal Stones.


    But now that the restrictions were broken, each Crystal Stone less was like cutting his own flesh.


    Red light suddenly radiated from the pupils of the Insect Envoy, scanning over the barrels.


    He nodded in satisfaction; the quantity of ore in the barrels was sufficient, Freddy hadn''t played any tricks in this regard.


    "Very good! I will inform Lord Isotope and make sure you are rewarded," said the Insect Envoy with a polite remark.


    Freddy abruptly raised his head, staring piercingly at the Insect Envoy.


    The Insect Envoy was startled¡ªFreddy''s gaze was fierce, as if he intended to tear him to shreds. The Envoy didn''t understand why Freddy would react this way; what had he done wrong?


    The Insect Envoy hadn''t misspoken, but his words, when they reached Freddy''s ears, automatically turned into "Not enough! Just this much ore? Double it!"


    "Hasn''t it always been this amount?" Freddy forcefully suppressed the urge to kill, his body trembling uncontrollably.


    "Mr. Freddy, there''s no problem with the amount, and I really appreciate your cooperation. I will report back to Lord Isotope accurately," said the Insect Envoy, thinking Freddy hadn''t heard clearly, and repeated himself.


    But to Freddy''s ears, it sounded more like, "Freddy, who do you think you are? You''re just a dog kept by Lord Isoson, you''ll hand over as much as you''re told!"


    Freddy''s body shook violently, his fists clenched tightly, his teeth clattering.


    Xu Yi watched all this with a cold eye; of course, he was the one interfering in secret, tampering with part of Freddy''s senses.


    "Forget it, Freddy! We can''t afford to offend the Lord of the Black Abyss, and it''s not the first time this has happened anyway, just endure it and it''ll be over," Xu Yi said quietly.


    It sounded like he was speaking for Freddy''s benefit, but anyone with experience in mediating conflicts knew that such words were like pouring oil on a fire, subtly reminding Freddy that this oppression had been going on for a long time.


    Freddy took a large stride towards the Insect Envoy, and finally sensing something amiss, the Envoy began to panic and retreat rapidly.


    "Mr. Freddie, please calm down! We can talk it over!"


    But what reached Freddie''s ears automatically turned into, "Freddie, try touching me and see what happens?"


    Freddie''s anger reached its peak, and he could no longer bear it. He roared and pounced.


    The sharp Iron Claw slashed down, the insect messenger was torn to shreds, and Freddie devoured the flesh and blood with great gulps, looking crazed. He became more addicted the more he ate, a wonderful sensation he had never experienced before welled up within him.


    Of course, this was also Xu Yi''s doing. He sacrificed a sliver of his own soul power, infusing it into Freddie''s body.


    In the short term, this would weaken his own power, but in the long run, it would allow him to implement his plan better and "tame" Freddie more effectively.


    "Lord Isoson will not let you go!"


    The insect messenger only had one head left, but it could still speak.


    This sentence didn''t need Xu Yi''s "translation" because it was the other party''s true words.


    Freddie also realized this, and the more irritated he got, the more he wanted to vent, so he smashed the insect messenger''s head with a punch.


    That punch completely cut off all of Freddie''s routes of retreat.


    "Freddie, we now need to consider a problem, that is, how to deal with..."


    Xu Yi had not finished speaking when Freddie suddenly turned his head and dashed towards the direction of the mine.


    "He really is sensitive!" Xu Yi sighed in his mind.


    He had timed Handon''s action with care, deliberately choosing the time when the envoy of the Lord of the Black Abyss came to collect the Dream Stones. Unexpectedly, at such a crucial moment, Freddie still instantly sensed something was amiss.


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    "I hope the arrangements behind this will be effective!" Xu Yi could only pray in his heart.


    ......


    In the depths of the mine, Handon stepped over the charred threshold, his shoes scraping across the ground layered with ashes, producing a "crunch" sound.


    The air was still filled with the scent of something scorched, as if the fire had happened not long before.


    "Hurry up! Freddie has noticed something off!"


    Xu Yi''s voice suddenly appeared in Handon''s mind.


    Startled, Handon quickened his pace, but this made even more noise.


    A shadow appeared upon hearing the sound, and Handon''s hairs stood on end the moment he saw it.


    It was actually Freddie; how could he be here? S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Handon''s instinct was to run, but Xu Yi stopped him, "Don''t panic! He can''t see us."


    Handon was already completely convinced by Xu Yi, and without thinking, he instinctively stood still.


    Just as Xu Yi had said, the "Freddie" in front of him was like a blind man, completely oblivious to him.


    Handon gradually calmed down and now noticed some details: the Freddie in front of him was not wearing a striped sweater, nor did he have metal claws on his hands.


    "We''ve indeed found the right place; this charred corpse is Freddie''s real body!"


    Xu Yi''s excited voice resonated in Handon''s head.


    Handon was stunned for a moment. This was a Dream World, where everything was "illusory." But if what Xu Yi said was true, was the charred body in front of him actually real?


    "Why can''t he see us?" Handon communicated with Xu Yi in his mind, a skill he had only recently learned.


    "It''s because this place is Isolated. Look up, and you''ll know why," Xu Yi replied.


    As told, Handon looked up and saw a Seven-Headed Hydra sculpture the size of a palm floating above the room, emitting a Pale Gold light screen that enveloped the entire house.


    Handon suddenly understood. He had felt a gaze when he approached the house, but it disappeared quickly, and he thought it was his imagination. It turns out the protective barrier was the work of this small sculpture.


    "There''s little time, I need you to kiss him!" Xu Yi suddenly said.

 Chapter 372 The Source of Hells Wind

    "What did you say?" Handon thought he had heard wrong and instinctively asked aloud.


    "You kiss a charred corpse! And not a peck, but a deep French kiss," Xu Yi''s voice was devoid of any fluctuation.


    "This isn''t okay, is it?"


    Just thinking of that scene made Handon break out in goosebumps.


    If it weren''t for the fear of attracting the charred corpse''s attention, he would have been wailing and holding his head by now.


    "Why isn''t it okay? Haven''t you heard of facing challenges head-on?" Xu Yi replied.


    "Isn''t there another way? I''d rather stab myself twice!" Handon felt like he was going mad.


    "There''s no time to consider other options, we must act immediately, think of your daughter!" Xu Yi said urgently, glancing at the Serpent of Finale floating in the air.


    As a Remnant Soul, he neither had the strength nor the materials to lay out the Array, fortunately, he had inscribed the Deification Formation on the Serpent of Finale beforehand.


    Only by relying on the Deification Formation could they sever the link between Freddie''s soul and body.


    However, the Deification Formation could only be released once and for a brief period, so they had to move quickly.


    Upon hearing about his daughter, Handon, however reluctant, had to face it head-on.


    Xu Yi wasn''t surprised by this; he knew Handon would agree, as a father''s willingness to make sacrifices for his daughter far exceeds imagination.


    Handon lunged out fiercely, and the charred corpse couldn''t dodge. Without Freddie''s soul connection, it was like a robot with a crashed operating system.


    The charred corpse was toppled to the ground, but instinctively it locked its arms around the object in front of it and pulled with ferocity.


    Handon screamed in agony under the tremendous force; he felt like he was going to be torn in two.


    A golden light suddenly appeared on Handon''s shoulder, that was Xu Yi activating the Core of Truth.


    The Core of Truth, like a small boat, swiftly navigated across Handon''s body under Xu Yi''s control.


    Xu Yi''s Soul Split was attached to Handon, and if they separated rashly, it would not only increase the risk of being discovered but also weaken the soul.


    So unless it was a very good opportunity, it was best not to separate.


    Moreover, if their plan failed, he could still save Handon by a forceful "Descent."


    The pain ignited Handon''s fighting spirit, he went all in, ignoring his body that felt like it was being squeezed in two, and fiercely "kissed" the charred corpse.


    That was more a bite than a kiss. Handon bit down hard on the charred corpse''s lower lip, like a wild animal gnawing at its prey.


    "Well done!" Xu Yi was exhilarated; he could already sense the passage into Freddie''s true body.


    His goal for today was simple, to let the Core of Truth lurk within Freddy''s original body!


    So it was not that he wanted to make things difficult for Handon, but that there was simply no other way.


    With their current capabilities, it was impossible to breach the charred corpse''s body, so they had to opt for "an illness enters by the mouth."


    The golden light streamed into the charred corpse''s mouth, but then a freezing cold wind surged.


    Xu Yi''s soul shook violently, had it not been for the protection of the Core of Truth, the wind would have dispersed his Soul Split just now.


    It was unexpected that the "Hell''s Wind" of Mine Shaft Zero actually blew from within this charred corpse.


    The Core of Truth made no progress in the raging wind, and Xu Yi grew even more anxious.


    He had devoured Freddie, but because his own soul was too weak, he could only watch as he was slowly consumed by backlash.


    He could manipulate Freddie''s memory, misdirect Freddie''s actions, but that was already his limit.


    To truly control the Domain Soul and annihilate Freddie, they had to approach it from a different angle, and the original body before him was the best way to do so.


    This charred corpse was the origin of this dream and also the entity of Freddie; gaining control of this corpse would be akin to having the greatest say in matters.


    ......


    Freddie watched the nearby mine with a sense of urgent panic.


    For some reason, he suddenly could not sense the presence of his entity anymore. The entity was not only the source of Amusement City, but it was also the means by which he absorbed the dream ore.


    If something went wrong, it would have a very significant impact on him.


    The mine was now very close; just then, a thunderous boom erupted from deep within the mine, shaking it violently as numerous plants tumbled down from the mountain.


    Freddie rushed towards the source of the explosion, subconsciously assuming that the explosion was where the incident had happened.


    This was due to Freddie''s human habits, aided by Xu Yi''s manipulations. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi needed to delay Freddie temporarily, at least to give Handon time to retreat.


    The explosion occurred in Mine Shaft Three, and Freddie grabbed a miner who was rushing out of the shaft¡ªcovered in soot¡ªignoring his appearance, he demanded with fury, "What on earth is going on?"


    "The batch of engineering bombs that were piled up¡ªthey exploded!" the miner replied, trembling intensely.


    Freddie spun around abruptly. To others, it appeared that he was talking to thin air, but in Freddie''s eyes, he was facing Xu Yi.


    "Speak! What exactly has happened here?" Freddie''s eyes were fierce.


    The engineering bombs were Xu Yi''s creation; this event was undeniably connected to Xu Yi.


    Although the memories implanted in Freddie had Xu Yi as his friend, for someone like Freddie, once betrayed, he wouldn''t hesitate to tear apart even a brother, let alone a friend.


    Freddie had guessed correctly, it indeed was Xu Yi''s sabotage, but Xu Yi was far from panicked.


    "Where is Joseph, the keeper of the bombs?" Xu Yi asked aloud.


    The miner couldn''t see Xu Yi, but these words came from Freddie''s mouth.


    If Freddie had a true friend who could have recorded this moment for Freddie to see, he might have realized how peculiar his current situation was, but, alas, that was impossible.


    "Joseph... he... ran away!"


    The miner, afraid of being implicated, hastened to dissociate himself, "It''s really not my fault, I told him not to smoke near the bombs, but he just wouldn''t listen!"


    Xu Yi sighed deeply, while Freddie''s expression was as dark as deep water. To better manage the miners, he had promoted two "confidants"¡ªJoseph was one of them.


    Xu Yi had previously suggested that he replace Joseph, but Freddie had not agreed, never imagining it would lead to this kind of accident.


    Xu Yi snickered internally; all of it was part of his plan. He had already thoroughly investigated Joseph and knew the man to be an incorrigible smoker.


    Expecting a smoker not to smoke was as feasible as expecting no traffic jams during the Spring Festival¡ªan impossible event.


    Everyone believed it was the smoker Joseph who carelessly ignited the bombs, Joseph included.


    But only Xu Yi knew that all this was part of his well-laid scheme. As the creator of the bombs, adding a timing device for detonation was simplicity itself.


    To ensure that "witness" Joseph, and the other miners, would survive, Xu Yi even designed a special "explosion warning device" that created a terrifying burst of flame as a special effect, allowing enough time for those nearby to escape.


    "Find Joseph for me!"


    Freddie demanded furiously, ready to flay Joseph alive.


    But the very next second, his expression changed dramatically, and he sprinted towards Mine Shaft Zero.


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    He had come to check on his entity''s condition, so how had he inexplicably ended up handling affairs?


    He shook his head, feeling a bit dizzy, suspecting it might have been due to being angered by the messenger of the Lord of the Black Abyss.


    And of course, all of this was inseparably connected to Xu Yi.

 Chapter 373

    In the cabin deep in the mine, Sweat''s entire face turned beet red; he was about to be strangled to death by a charred corpse.


    Xu Yi was ready to abandon the plan and save Sweat when suddenly, a booming explosion sounded, shaking the entire mine violently¡ªthe bombs had been detonated.


    The reason for setting the bombs was to delay Freddie''s speed and ensure their safe evacuation. One could say that the sound of the explosion was the signal to retreat.


    If they didn''t succeed this time, they could find another opportunity next time.


    But if Sweat were lost, finding another suitable "Agent" would be an incredibly difficult task.


    However, the next second, the "Hell''s Wind" blowing from the charred corpse''s mouth suddenly stalled.


    The surprise came so suddenly that Xu Yi almost couldn''t react in time. Without considering the reason, he controlled the Core of the True God and charged into the body of the charred corpse.


    The moment the Core of the True God reached the esophagus, the violent "Hell''s Wind" blew out from the respiratory tract once again. Xu Yi secretly wiped the sweat from his brow; that was close! He had almost failed to make it inside!


    Why the "Hell''s Wind" had suddenly disappeared, Xu Yi pondered briefly and probably figured out the reason.


    This charred corpse acted like a magnet, constantly attracting the "iron products" of the Dream World. Because of the strong magnetic force, those "iron products" kept penetrating deeper into the magnet, and over time, the two were fused together.


    Simply put, the mine was also a part of the charred corpse''s body.


    When the charred corpse exhaled "Hell''s Wind" to stop the Core of the True God, the intense explosion that followed was akin to someone getting punched in the stomach while exhaling; it would be odd not to be winded.


    The Core of the True God continued to travel deeper along the esophagus.


    Now there was a very important issue: how to hide the Core of the True God so that Freddie would not discover it?


    This was arguably the most crucial step. If something went wrong here, all their efforts would be in vain.


    But Xu Yi had already thought of a solution.


    The Core of the True God suddenly dispersed, transforming into a clump of semi-transparent silk threads.


    This was its original shape. The reason it became a core was that it had been forcibly compressed by the World Tree. Now, Xu Yi was releasing it once again.


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    The semi-transparent silk threads entered the blood vessels of the charred corpse, adhering to the inner walls, merging seamlessly with their texture.


    Xu Yi once more spurred the Core of the True God into action. The semi-transparent silk threads became completely transparent, difficult to detect even under a microscope.


    "It all depends on whether Freddie can find it now!" Xu Yi took a deep breath.


    He controlled one end of the "Threads of the True God"; driving it into the charred corpse''s heart. The charred corpse, in pain, finally released Sweat.


    "Run!" Xu Yi''s voice echoed in Sweat''s mind.


    Sweat suddenly turned his head; he pushed the charred corpse away and forced his body to stand up.


    His brain was foggy, but he knew he couldn''t fall here. He staggered out.


    The charred corpse, in pain from the pierced heart, had no strength to pursue Sweat.


    The Serpent of Finale hovering above the house suddenly shook, an invisible wave sweeping downward. This was the last straw that broke the camel''s back¡ªthe dilapidated house collapsed with a roar.


    The best way to hide evidence of a crime was to leave a scene littered with irrelevant traces.


    With Freddie''s abilities, it would be nearly impossible for him to find definitive clues amid the rubble, especially with Xu Yi interfering.


    Xu Yi would do his utmost to lead Freddie to believe that the ramshackle house collapsed because it was affected by the explosion.


    Even if Freddie had his suspicions, as long as he didn''t discover the "Threads of the True God" inside the charred corpse, they would have passed this hurdle.


    The last bit of the Array''s power on the Serpent of Finale was exhausted, and the Isolation was lifted.


    The statue chased after Sweat, returning to rest on his shoulder, protecting him as he left.


    ......


    Freddie ran like crazy until he finally reached the center of the mine.


    He saw the collapsed house, his eyes raging, but upon finding the charred corpse still in reasonably good shape, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.


    Xu Yi had originally thought that Freddie would search for clues among the ruins, but he had clearly overestimated Freddie, who had no such intention at all.


    However, Freddie''s next move caused Xu Yi''s heart to tighten in an instant.


    Freddie used his metal claws to chop off one of his fingers, which fell to the ground and began to wriggle, transforming into a long, slender worm a moment later, with Freddie''s face on the worm''s front end.


    The "Freddie worm" crawled towards the charred body. It landed on the face of the charred body, suddenly became ethereal, and instantly merged into the body.


    The worm was a split soul of Freddy.


    Xu Yi suddenly realized something terribly bad, he was unable to interfere with the worm!


    Because the split "Freddie worm" was, for the time being, an independent entity, which shattered his idea of disrupting Freddie''s perception to conceal the line of the True God.


    "What if the line of the True God is discovered?"


    Xu Yi''s heart sank, and he had to prepare for the worst; the only solution he could think of was to perish together.


    Could Freddie have sensed something abnormal about himself, noticed his presence?


    This thought had just occurred to Xu Yi when he dismissed it; if Freddie had indeed thought that, Xu Yi would have been able to sense it.


    The "Freddie worm" in front of him was clearly one of the opponent''s abilities, he just wasn''t aware of it.


    The Freddie worm moved within the charred body, attempting to find anomalies.


    After crawling around without discovering anything, Xu Yi had not even had time to breathe a sigh of relief when the worm suddenly began to split, and more tinier "Freddie worms" scattered in every direction.


    The more worms there were conducting the search, the greater the chance of discovery, a fact Xu Yi understood all too well, but he could do nothing other than pray silently.


    Unfortunately, his prayers seemed to have the opposite effect... Several worms swam into the inner wall of a blood vessel, slowly passing by the "line of the True God."


    The worm stopped in front of the line of the True God, and a puzzled look appeared on Freddie''s face on its head.


    "Could it have been discovered?"


    Xu Yi''s heart rose to his throat, but fortunately, after a few glances, the worm swam straight ahead.


    Just when he thought he was safe, that worm came back, and what was more fatal was that it brought back five more worms.


    Unsure of itself, so it called for companions to check together?


    Xu Yi''s heart grew increasingly anxious, this kind of waiting was just too torturous.


    Fortunately, this group of worms also failed to detect anything unusual, and after roaming around, they dispersed.


    But Xu Yi didn''t feel any relief, because the original worm seemed to have taken issue with this place, repeatedly coming back to check.


    Xu Yi wished he could catch that worm, steam it, then deep-fry it, and have a stir-fry feast!


    But he had to admit, he was getting anxious, because given enough time, the line of the True God would always be discovered.


    Suddenly, the worm stopped next to the line of the True God, motionless, its eyes staring straight ahead.


    This... Xu Yi silently gathered his power, ready to perish together.


    Just then, the sound of thunder roared, the violent clamor as if intending to shatter the whole world, and Freddie''s face instantly changed.


    There was no thunderous weather in the Amusement City; every weather condition was controlled by him. This thunder was not from the Amusement City, but from the outside world.


    Xu Yi, however, breathed a sigh of relief; the "reinforcements" he was waiting for had finally arrived!


    Freddie began to recall the severed finger now that there had been sufficient time for examination, and all the worms left the charred body, reforming into the shape of the severed finger at the forehead. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The severed finger flew back to Freddie''s hand; the moment it was reattached, a flood of information poured into Freddie''s mind.


    Xu Yi didn''t dare to tamper with this information, as it was all too easy to give himself away.


    Freddie breathed a sigh of relief, for he found no anomalies upon his own body.


    As for that "stubborn worm," amid the torrent of gathered information, it was like a speck of glass in a pile of sand, hardly noticeable.

 Chapter 374 Western Lv Bu, Dream Dong Zhuo

    Amusement City suddenly shook, and pebbles from the roof of the Mine Cave started to fall with a rustling sound, as if an earthquake had arrived.


    Freddy could no longer stay put and turned to leave.


    After he had gone far away, inside the charred body, a Soul Stealing Seed was silently born within the blood vessels, drifting towards the heart and merging into it.


    The Soul Stealing Seed was inherently covert, and combined with Xu Yi deliberately influencing Freddy''s perception, everything happened without a sound, unnoticed by anyone.


    On his way out of the Mine Cave, Xu Yi was overwhelmed with ecstatic joy. His plan''s success meant he had taken a significant step towards becoming a Soul Master.


    It wasn''t until he reached the mouth of the Mine Cave and looked up at the sky that his excited heart instantly cooled down.


    Although he had anticipated it, the actual appearance of the adversary still unavoidably sent a shock to his heart.


    The black "sun" hovered above Amusement City, its outer blood-colored halo reflecting down, bathing the entire Amusement City as if it were soaked in a Blood Pool.


    Xu Yi originally thought that by killing the Maggot, the Lord of the Black Abyss would at most send an army for retribution. He hadn''t expected the adversary to directly "open" the entire Black Abyss world.


    The black "sun" kept falling, like a heavy lead ball, and the protective light screen of Amusement City started to crack like a spider web, which was the cause of the previous "earthquake" in Amusement City.


    Freddy''s face turned extremely ugly. He mobilized the world''s power to fortify the light screen, barely holding off the Black Abyss world.


    But suddenly, a purple-black "small sun" shot out. Something was wriggling inside the Light Sphere, and its shadow cast on the ground by the blood light showed huge wings cloaking the sky. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In front of that creature, Amusement City''s defense screen was as if non-existent. The screen instantly "burned" open a hole, and the enormous black shadow, along with the streams of chaos from the Dream World, poured in.


    Xu Yi''s face also turned quite bad.


    On that black shadow, he felt an overwhelming oppressive force, like a tsunami about to engulf him in an instant.


    He suddenly regretted killing the Maggot.


    But allowing Freddy to kill the Maggot was also unacceptable; he had to distract Freddy''s attention and disturb his mindset. Ordinary events would never be sufficient, so he had to "lead the wolf into the house."


    It''s just that this "wolf" was terrifyingly strong.


    The shadow drew closer, and Xu Yi, seeing its form, instantly felt a chilling dread.


    Its massive wings bore the pallor of dead bones. Its abdomen was blood-red, and the patterns on it outlined the shape of a human body.


    It had four centipede-like long tails, with dense black fur all over them.


    At first glance, it looked like a creature, known as the most terrifying moth, the Death''s-head Hawkmoth.


    But it was countless times larger than the Death''s-head Hawkmoth and much more ferocious and frightening. Its insect head was fitted with a human head, and on the head was the face of a beautiful woman, eyes tightly shut.


    This was the most powerful existence in the Dream World, the Lord of the Black Abyss, Isoson.


    Let alone taking action, just one glance, and Xu Yi felt his sanity rapidly draining, his soul involuntarily trembling slightly.


    "This should... achieve the desired effect," Xu Yi consoled himself with a bitter smile.


    The reason he had "led the wolf into the house," allowing Freddy to kill the Maggot, was to keep Freddy preoccupied.


    Although the line of the True God had evaded inspection once, as long as Freddy was free, he would inevitably check from time to time. So to minimize the risk, he had to keep Freddy busy.


    But now the question wasn''t about being busy; it was about whether they could survive or not.


    "Why kill the Maggot, give an explanation within one minute, or else... annihilation!"


    Isoson, with a woman''s face, spoke in a man''s tone. The face on the head did not move as if it were a sculpture embedded on top, while its abdomen vibrated instead.


    Freddy clearly panicked, looking around in a fluster, trying to find a lifesaver.


    "This is too unreliable," sighed Xu Yi internally, but he couldn''t just watch Amusement City fall, nor could he let Freddy die.


    He had already fused with Freddy, and a forceful separation would cause severe damage.


    Moreover, he wasn''t sure if the Lord of the Black Abyss would treat him as Freddy''s Soul Split and casually kill him¡ªhis guess was that it most likely would.


    Of course, the most important thing was... his Soul Split had already infiltrated Freddy''s true body. By absorbing the power of the True God''s thread, he could continuously create Soul Stealing Seeds.


    It wouldn''t be long before he could control Freddy''s true body.


    ```


    The original form is like the root of an ancient tree, even if the ancient tree grows lush and leafy, without its roots, it will wither quickly.


    By then, Xu Yi would be able to launch a "Rebellion" and completely seize control from the domain soul, Freddie.


    In other words, half of the domain soul is already in the bag!


    "Freddie, have you ever heard a saying, ''He who can bend and stretch will conquer the world''!" Xu Yi hurriedly spoke out.


    "What do you mean? Stop talking about those grand principles, just tell me directly! What should I do!" Freddie said with an impatient demeanor.


    Xu Yi suddenly paused, realizing he had overestimated Freddie. He also decided not to bother with psychological construction, as there wasn''t time for it.


    "Just say that you couldn''t stand to see such a weak Maggot serve as Isoson''s left and right-hand man. You killed him because of jealousy," Xu Yi began to devise a plan.


    "What? You want me to submit to Isoson!" Freddie exclaimed in shock.


    "You can''t think of it that way..."


    Xu Yi felt a twinge of pain in his head, knowing indeed that it was difficult to persuade someone; he probably wouldn''t accept it either if he were in that position.


    "Such an easy method, why didn''t you say it earlier?"


    Freddie complained, then knelt down in front of Isoson, proclaiming loudly, "Lord Isoson, if you do not disdain, I, Freddie, am willing to acknowledge you as Godfather!"


    Xu Yi watched, dumbfounded; he always thought Freddie had a low bottom line, but the other party had no bottom line at all!


    Freddie and Xu Yi both anxiously looked at Isoson, now that the "Western Lv Bu" had shown up, it was time to see if the other party was the "Dream World''s Dong Zhuo."


    Isoson''s wing-flapping abruptly paused, even he was a bit stunned by Freddie''s move, and for a moment, he didn''t know how to respond.


    The death of the Maggot did not cause Isoson sadness.


    If he wished, he could create thousands of Maggots at any time; Maggots were merely products on a "production line."


    The reason he controlled the entire Black Abyss world was more about asserting his authority; he did not allow anyone to challenge his rule.


    Isoson gazed at Freddie, his mind beginning to work.


    Xu Yi, seeing Isoson''s expression, felt a surge of joy; the other''s hesitation indicated there was a chance.


    "Quick! Say some more good words!" Xu Yi urged.


    "My admiration for Lord Isoson is like the endless flow of the Nile River..."


    Xu Yi was still thinking about what to say, but Freddie had already started to "rap."


    Xu Yi had to admit, rap really was a racial Talent of black people, and Freddie as a "Burnt Man" was simply a Talent overflow.


    Suddenly, Isoson opened his mouth and spat out a white Maggot with purple wings.


    "Swallow the Soul Devouring Bug!" Isoson said in a deep voice.


    Whether it was Freddie''s rap taking effect or Isoson seeing potential in Freddie''s strength, Isoson agreed to the request.


    Freddie looked at the Soul Devouring Bug close at hand, and even if he was reluctant, he had to swallow it and even had to keep a smile on his face.


    Xu Yi also felt frustrated inside.


    In his view, Freddie had already become his property, and now someone had placed a "taboo" on him ¡ª it was no wonder he felt annoyed.


    Xu Yi''s gaze locked onto the Lord of the Black Abyss, and a wild idea suddenly sprouted in his mind.


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    "Princes and generals, do they have any kindred?"


    Since he had already found the domain soul, why not try to cultivate it into a "Soul Master"?


    The so-called Soul Master is the overlord of the soul, an existence even stronger than a domain soul.


    A domain soul can also achieve the status of a strange god, but if it were to become a more powerful Soul Master, the resulting strange god would definitely be stronger.


    And for a domain soul to become a Soul Master... Xu Yi took a deep look at Isoson.


    ```

 Chapter 375 The Tragedy of the Heroes of Liangshan

    The azure "Amusement City" sailed through the pitch-black Dream World, with Freddie gazing into the distant sky, the colorful reflection of Dream Droplets dancing in his pupils.


    If a philosopher were to witness this scene, perhaps it would provoke deep contemplation, but here it was Freddie, who could only let out an expletive, "Isoson, I fuck your xxx!"


    One couldn''t blame Freddie, Xu Yi actually felt like cursing too.


    Freddie had become Isoson''s underling, not to the extent of selling a diamond for the price of a horse bone, but at least some degree of open-handed hospitality should be offered, with good food and drinks as a welcoming gesture.


    However, Isotope skipped all those steps, going straight to the ultimate form: "killing the donkey once the grinding''s done".


    Compared to them, the tribulations of the Heroes of Liangshan could be considered comical.


    Freddie might as well carve the character for "miserable" on his forehead!


    "Is the Kingdom of Sorrow really that dangerous?" Xu Yi couldn''t help but ask aloud.


    Fate can be so cruel. Not long ago, he and Freddie were at each other''s throats, but now they were grasshoppers on the same string.


    Of course, this was because Xu Yi had come to regard Freddie''s domain soul as his own property.


    The Soul Split lurking within the charred corpse was ceaselessly producing Soul Stealing Seeds, leaving Freddie with no spare time to check.


    Freddie let out a cold laugh, "What are we to do in the Kingdom of Sorrow? We are going to subdue it! Do you understand the implication of subduing?"


    Xu Yi fell silent, for subduing implied that the Kingdom of Sorrow was not under the control of the Lord of the Black Abyss.


    To stand against the Black Abyss, even if not as powerful as Isoson, must be an extremely tough adversary. And now they were sending Freddie to deal with it?


    Wasn''t this just like sending Freddie to his death?


    But there was no choice, even if reluctant, they had to go. If they went, there was a glimmer of hope for survival, but if they didn''t, death was certain.


    The colorful luminance began to rise from the horizon, and the spanning Dream Rift River appeared before their eyes.


    They weren''t actually headed to the Kingdom of Sorrow but to the Dream Rift River. Even when being led to the gallows one should catch a breath; Isoson "benevolently" gave them three days to prepare.


    "How are we to retrieve them, with our hands?" Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire


    The Amusement City stopped at the edge of the Dream Rift River, Xu Yi gazed at the colorful river and inquired.


    "To retrieve something, of course, we use a net," Freddie waved his hand, and the blue light shield of the Amusement City began to transform, morphing into a gigantic net of light.


    Previously, Freddie''s power was nowhere near this level; forget creating a "Dreamcatcher Net," he couldn''t even get the Amusement City close to the Dream Rift River.


    But since merging with the "Soul of the Divine," the shackles within him were unlocked, allowing him to continue absorbing dream ore and augment his strength.


    After Isoson gave Freddie the order that day, he left. Whether he forgot or did it deliberately, the dream ore that should have been delivered was left behind.


    Fearing he might not live to eat again, Freddie devoured all the dream ore without hesitation.


    Only after his powers greatly improved was he able to perform such a feat.


    Xu Yi, too, secretly felt relieved. If Freddie weren''t so preoccupied, with his current strength, a further check on the charred corpse might have been disastrous.


    "With my ability, the Dreamcatcher Net can only be used thrice. We must not act rashly but must capture some powerful beings."


    Having gone through so much, Freddie had finally learned to be cautious.


    Xu Yi peered into the Dream Rift River, each droplet containing a microcosm, some human, others bizarre creatures.


    It''s not just humans who dream; dreaming is instinctual for most creatures.


    The reason they were here at the Dream Rift River was to seek "strong support."


    After his evolution, Freddie had finally acquired the ability he had longed for, which is "actively entering dreams".


    They planned to fish out those powerful beings, bring them to the Kingdom of Sorrow, and then forcibly pull them into the Dream World to serve as their muscle.


    So creatures that were too weak would be of no use to them.


    "What a charming little darling!" Freddie stared at the silhouette of a little girl within the droplet, his face dripping with desire.


    Freddie was an undeniable demon who took pleasure in the torment of humans, especially little girls.


    "Freddie, we''re running out of time!" Xu Yi had to speak up to warn him, genuinely afraid that Freddie would do something reckless.


    "I know! I know! As long as I can survive this time, I will dismember eight little cuties every day!"


    Freddie had already begun to fantasize about his "beautiful life" in the future.


    But Xu Yi knew very well that Freddie would never have this chance, even if he could make it back alive, Xu Yi would counterattack and take full control of the Domain Soul.


    Reluctantly, Freddie turned his gaze away and after a long pause, finally began to focus on the task at hand, searching for powerful creatures. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi observed along with him, but despite looking for a long time, he couldn''t discern any clues.


    It seemed that finding the powerful creatures'' "Dream Droplets" was part of Freddie''s innate ability, and at this stage, Xu Yi couldn''t be of much help.


    Xu Yi retracted his gaze, but the next second, he fiercely turned his head, staring intently at the direction he had just been looking.


    A drab droplet floated past him, and his eyes chased after it, as a familiar figure emerged within it.


    "Freddie, catch that grey droplet!" Xu Yi suddenly exclaimed excitedly.


    "Which one? Is there a brawny man wearing a hockey mask inside it?" Freddie asked in confusion, "He looks pretty common too. If you''re not sure, don''t make a mess."


    "Trust me! Choose him! He might be our hope for surviving the Kingdom of Sorrow," Xu Yi was overjoyed.


    He never expected that he would encounter the Dream Droplet of Jason from Crystal Lake in the Dream Rift River.


    Although he had never been to Crystal Lake, he would occasionally keep tabs on the situation there, after all, that''s where Jason''s hunts took place.


    As far as he knew, once the Church was aware of Jason''s ability, they chose to seal off Crystal Lake and deploy a special tranquilizing mist 24 hours a day, forcing Jason into a deep slumber.


    This method of solving the problem was indeed wise.


    So it was not incomprehensible for Jason to appear in the Dream Rift River.


    Through the refracted light and shadow of the Dream Droplet, one could roughly understand the dreams Jason was having, unsurprisingly also filled with killing.


    "Fine! This guy does look annoying! He should be somewhat useful, I guess!"


    Who knows what Freddie''s thought process was, but it appeared that because he found Jason annoying he had chosen him.


    Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief; he had been prepared to use sensory interference to force Freddie to choose Jason, saving him considerable effort now.


    Probably because it was the first choice, Freddie had been rather indifferent in his selection, and it would probably be more difficult to persuade him to do the same later on.


    "You won''t regret this!"


    Xu Yi watched as Freddie retrieved Jason''s Dream Droplet and slipped it into his pocket, relieved.


    Jason was a rare owner of "double gold entries"!


    With this, Xu Yi felt much more confident about the trip to the Kingdom of Sorrow.


    At the same time, he also had his own ulterior motives; he was very curious if Jason, the Undead in the real world, could be killed in the Dream World.


    If he could devour Jason''s entries, Xu Yi descended into fantasy.


    But even if Jason couldn''t be killed, with him causing chaos, their journey should be considerably easier.


    Xu Yi couldn''t afford to just sit back either; he continued to search along with Freddie, in case they could find another treasure of a "boy."


    Unfortunately, there were no more gains in the time that followed.


    Freddie, being picky, actually took a full three days to select the appropriate Dream Droplet and catch it with the Dreamcatcher Net.


    "Mr. Freddie, we are your guides to the Kingdom of Sorrow, please proceed!"


    Fearful of Freddie''s procrastination, Isoson sent two insect handlers to urge them as soon as time was up.


    "Okay... alright! We''ll set off now!"


    Freddie looked at the two insect handlers in front of him, his smile uglier than crying.


    He had originally planned to delay for ten days or a fortnight. Now, his dream was shattered.

 Chapter 376 Land of Pain

    Amusement City had reached the edge of the Dream World, with blood-colored heavy clouds spread out in front, like a rose garden stained with blood.


    "Crossing this Thorn Forest is the Kingdom of Sorrow."


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    The two insect controllers coldly watched Freddie, as they took out a black sphere from their pockets and handed it to Freddie, "Hold onto the Black Abyss sphere, and you can pass through the Boundary Membrane."


    "I feel a bit..." Freddy suddenly clutched his stomach in pain.


    But before he could finish, one of the insect controllers indifferently added, "The Black Abyss sphere will deactivate in ten minutes."


    Freddie''s expression of pain froze; he had wanted to delay for a while longer, but it seemed there was no way now.


    He casually threw the Black Abyss sphere on the ground, and the sphere burst open, forming a "soap bubble."


    The "soap bubble" enveloped Freddie and floated upward, flying into the red clouds. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi''s brows suddenly furrowed; he had been puzzled about why these red clouds were called the Thorn Forest.


    But when Freddie entered the cloud layer, he suddenly understood.


    His soul was pierced with pain, as if he was navigating through a dense thicket of thorns, the thorns slicing through his flesh, blood running in rivulets.


    His soul fused with Freddie''s, and Freddie could feel the pain; he could feel it just as acutely.


    "This space is filled with an invisible force field that acts directly upon the soul," Xu Yi concluded.


    Freddie grimaced in pain, but for him, a devil, pain was just part of daily life.


    The "soap bubble" traveled through the cloud layer for a moment, and suddenly a gray light screen appeared ahead, which was the Boundary Membrane of another dream.


    The Black Abyss sphere provided by Isoson was reliable; the "soap bubble" merged with the light screen effortlessly, and Freddie fell from the sky.


    "Ah!" Freddie instinctively let out a scream, not because he had acrophobia.


    Xu Yi also put on the mask of pain, thinking that upon entering this dream, the sensation of being pricked would weaken or even disappear, but instead it intensified several fold.


    He suddenly understood why this dream was called the "Kingdom of Sorrow"; no one who entered could escape the pain.


    "What should we do next?" Xu Yi was forced to speak, to distract himself.


    "See... do you see that mountain?"


    The pain Freddie was experiencing intensified, as after all, the soul and body were controlled by Freddie; he shakily extended his hand, pointing into the distance.


    Xu Yi didn''t need Freddie to point it out; the moment he passed through the Boundary Membrane, he had already seen it, a huge mountain looming amidst the mist.


    "What''s your plan?" Xu Yi asked.


    "That mountain is where the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Sorrow is located. We go there, secretly plant the engineering bomb, push the button on the remote, boom, the Royal Court is blown sky high, and we''re done with a perfect job!" Freddie clapped his hands.


    Xu Yi wanted to cover his face; he shouldn''t have asked Freddie, as it would be strange for Freddie to come up with a good plan.


    But he didn''t have a better idea right now, so he had to take it one step at a time.


    Freddie descended, and suddenly a modern city appeared before him. They landed on the outskirts of the city, and the moment they touched down, the "soap bubble" shattered, and the falling force dissipated completely.


    "Are we supposed to walk there?" Freddie looked toward the distant mountain peak, feeling a bit weak in the knees.


    The entire Kingdom of Sorrow had only that one mountain, visible from afar, so getting lost was not a concern, but walking there on foot was sheer torture.


    In other places, this would be fine, as Freddie''s strength was astonishing, but this was the Kingdom of Sorrow, within the Thorn Stand, where every step taken was torture.


    "Don''t worry; when we were falling, I saw plenty of vehicles in the city. We can find a car," Xu Yi reassured.


    Freddie stepped into the city, where the streets were almost devoid of people, with only a few figures seen vaguely in the distance. The traffic lights flashed monotonously, adding to the desolation.


    "Why do these buildings look so strange?" Freddie muttered softly.


    Xu Yi immediately noticed upon entering, at first glance, this appeared to be a modern metropolis, but upon closer inspection, one could spot many "distorted" aspects of the city.


    The high-rise buildings were leaning, the streets were almost devoid of straight lines, twisting and winding like earthworms, and the traffic signals were in disarray.


    "Driver! Taxi!"


    A yellow cab suddenly passed by them, and seeing a living soul at last, Freddie certainly wasn''t going to let this chance slip away.


    His method of hailing the cab was simple and rough, grabbing the rear door handle with a hand whose tendons stood out in agitation, his leather shoes rubbing against the ground, emitting a burnt scent.


    The taxi finally stopped, the safety lock popped, and the rear door opened.


    "Come on!" Freddie eagerly waved Xu Yi over.


    To the others, of course, Xu Yi was invisible, and Freddie''s actions in the eyes of normal people were no different from those of a madman. Yet the driver showed no reaction, sitting silently in the driver''s seat, facing forward.


    No matter how one looked at him, the driver emanated a sense of eeriness, but Xu Yi still "got in the car." As before, they didn''t have many options.


    "To that mountain!" Freddie said brusquely, his pockets completely empty, clearly intending to hitch a free ride.


    However, the driver didn''t ask anything, stepped on the gas, and the cab sped along the road, indeed heading towards the high mountain.


    The taxi reached the downtown area, but there were still very few pedestrians on the streets, though the number of cars had gradually increased.


    As light cast upon the interior, the taxi driver''s face was reflected on the shinny decorative strips of the car, and two hideous faces flashed by, causing Xu Yi to startle.


    He noticed something strange¡ªthere was no rearview mirror inside the car, and they had never been able to clearly see the driver''s face.


    A thunderous roar suddenly exploded above, and within a few short seconds, the sky had completely darkened.


    The moment the thunder sounded, the driver forcefully stepped on the accelerator. The car behind them couldn''t stop in time and slammed into them. The whole car drifted sideways, hitting the guardrail on the side of the road, which emitted a cracking sound.


    "Do you even know how to drive..."


    Freddy instinctively cursed out loud, but then he suddenly stopped talking, as the driver turned his head violently, staring at Freddie with two faces twisted in agony.


    Freddy swallowed quietly, his own face could be considered terrifying, but he was far less so compared to the "double-faced person" before him.


    More importantly, as he stared at those contorted faces, the stabbing pain intensified.


    The driver didn''t pay any attention to Freddie and stepped out of the car directly.


    It wasn''t just him; the doors of the surrounding cars also opened, and the people inside got out silently. They all had two fused faces, their expressions similarly distorted by pain.


    Footsteps echoed from the high-rise buildings by the road, and an increasing number of people emerged from the structures, densely crowding together and looking up at the sky.


    Xu Yi finally understood why the city seemed so deserted¡ªit turned out that the vast majority of people had hidden away.


    Another thunderclap sounded, and a heavy downpour began, the rain falling on the car windows, blurring the view with its blood-like color.


    "Damn! What the hell kind of place is this!"


    Freddy pushed open the car door in frustration, and even he, as slow on the uptake as he was, knew something was terribly wrong.


    All the double-faced people raised their heads, allowing the rain to pelt their faces, a hint of pleasure emerging on their agonized, twisted features.


    Their next actions sent a shiver down Xu Yi''s spine.


    A chef in a white robe raised the kitchen knife in his hand and violently chopped it down on his own head, shattering the skull, brain matter splattering out.


    One of his faces was in extreme pain while the other exhibited extreme pleasure, creating a particularly eerie sight.


    It wasn''t just the chef; all those present made use of whatever sharp objects were at hand. Some had small knives they carried, others took forks from inside stores, and some even rushed towards the sharp signs on the street...


    The sharp implements pierced flesh, blood splattered, and pained screams and pleasured moans rose in unison, making Xu Yi feel like he was in Hell.

 Chapter 377

    "Fuck! These people are all crazy!" Freddie cursed as he watched the self-mutilating crowd.


    For a madman to call others mad was quite the irony, one lunatic polishing another.


    Xu Yi''s expression suddenly changed, and he roared, "Quick! Freddie, start hurting yourself!"


    "What kind of bullshit are you spouting, have you gone mad too?" Freddie cursed back. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    But it wasn''t long before he couldn''t curse anymore, as the self-harming people turned to stare at Freddie coldly. In this self-mutilation party, Freddie looked so out of place.


    Freddie had many flaws, but he had one good point: he knew to correct his mistakes.


    He raised his metal Iron Claw, aiming it at his own chest, and stabbed himself, letting out a wretched scream.


    "Not bad acting!"


    When Xu Yi saw this, he wanted to compliment, but in the next second, the pain transferred to him, causing his entire soul to shudder in agony.


    Xu Yi had once suffered a severe abdominal injury, but the pain he felt then was nothing compared to one ten-thousandth of this current torment.


    "This dream realm multiplies the suffering by several orders of magnitude!" Xu Yi suddenly realized.


    The Parasitic Human Faces who had been looking at Freddie all simultaneously withdrew their gazes, and Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief. Although it was truly painful, he at least gained something.


    But the next second, he suddenly froze.


    A new face had grown out of Freddie''s chest, the face of a completely unknown man.


    The man''s eyeballs rolled and fixed their gaze directly on Xu Yi. A chill went through Xu Yi''s heart¡ªthe other could actually see him!


    Could it be due to a sensing between "Parasites"?


    "Freddie! Get out of here!" Xu Yi roared, feeling that something terrible was happening.


    There was no need for Xu Yi''s reminder. Freddie was already sprinting forward, but as soon as he moved, the "Thorn Stand" that covered the area began to take effect. The faster one went, the stronger the effect.


    Freddie screamed miserably, and Xu Yi was also in a bad way, but he soon had no time to deal with these issues.


    Sudden fear exploded in Xu Yi''s heart as the man''s face lunged at him. The other wasn''t only able to spot him but also accurately pinpoint his location!


    The human face bit into Xu Yi''s soul, and he convulsed violently.


    Pain! It was excruciating!


    It was as if someone was drilling a hole in his scalp with an electric drill and then pouring salt and pepper into his brain.


    "Xu... Xu Yi?" Freddie saw Xu Yi''s figure flicker momentarily, then disappear, then appear again.


    He didn''t think too much of it, assuming it was just a hallucination caused by the extreme pain.


    "No...nothing!" Xu Yi responded with difficulty; the momentary intense pain nearly made him unable to maintain the sensory interference on Freddie.


    Xu Yi felt terrible, knowing what he did now about the Kingdom of Sorrow, he would have done anything to stop them from coming here.


    This dream realm was his Achilles'' heel.


    The man''s face was still biting onto his soul, and the pain came at him like tidal waves, one after the other.


    Fortunately, Freddie couldn''t see any of this for the time being.


    Xu Yi could guess at the behavior pattern of the "Parasitic Human Face": it wanted to turn Freddie into one of the double-faced people.


    When the human face found that Xu Yi had already taken possession, it naturally considered Xu Yi an obstacle, aiming to eliminate him quickly.


    "Damn it! This is like stepping on a landmine for Freddie!" Xu Yi cursed internally, but he was also quietly relieved, "Thankfully! Aside from the intense pain, the face can''t do anything to him."


    He checked Freddie''s body once more, and the shock nearly suffocated his soul.


    Somehow, two new human faces had quietly crawled onto Freddie''s body, one of a young girl and the other of an old man.


    ```


    Two human faces stared intently at Xu Yi, slithering like snakes, and suddenly bit down on him.


    Even more intense agony surged through Xu Yi''s body, and his soul actually showed signs of disintegration!


    When God closes a door for you, He usually locks your window as well.


    Freddie, who ran wildly, suddenly stopped, there was no road ahead, not because he had entered a dead end, but a gigantic wall of people stretched out in front of him.


    Freddie''s abnormal actions were nevertheless discovered, as he was the only person running wildly in the street.


    Without warning, those self-harming people stopped their actions and surrounded Freddie in unison. Freddie looked around, only to see twisted and hideous conjoined faces everywhere.


    The person with two faces lunged at Freddie, who swung his metal Iron Claw, weaving a dense net with the blade edges.


    All the two-faced people who approached him were like they had fallen into a meat grinder, their bodies torn apart and limbs scattered everywhere.


    A dark shadow suddenly leaped from the ground and ferociously pounced on Freddie, who let out a painful scream.


    That was a human face that had fallen off of a limb, the bodies more like their clothing, easily cast aside, whereas the conjoined faces were their true form.


    More and more shadows pounced on Freddie, who was soon covered in human faces.


    "Where''s the Dream Droplet? If you''re not using it now, are you waiting to use it at your funeral?" Xu Yi couldn''t help but curse angrily.


    Finally, Freddie came to his senses. He took out a glass bottle from his pocket and threw it into the air. His Iron Claw struck it, and the bottle shattered with the sound, scattering three shimmering droplets, each glowing differently.


    In such a terrible situation, he could no longer keep to the initial plan of using them one by one; he just threw them all out at once.


    Freddie opened his mouth, spewing out black ash mixed with sparks. The ash enveloped the three droplets, an invisible force acting upon the spectral bodies within the droplets.


    Three spectral figures were pulled out, growing larger and larger.


    A giant mantis covered in wondrous patterns screamed, its eyes filled with the coldness of a superior hunter, but upon seeing the densely packed two-faced people, its tiny eyeballs shook in shock.


    Another silhouette was a fish that resembled a catfish but was as large as a tiger shark, covered in black barbs.


    The moment this bizarre fish hit the ground, its long tail swung fiercely, sweeping away a large group of two-faced people while trying to escape outwards, showing more intelligence than expected.


    But it was no use, faces started falling off the heads en masse, leaping like fleas and quickly enveloping the strange catfish.


    With screams, the catfish crashed to the ground, the patterned mantis trembled all over, its wings vibrating rapidly, attempting to fly away, but despite the frantic flapping, it found it couldn''t take off at all.


    Underneath it, the two-faced people transformed into chains of human bodies, locking it down tightly.


    The human faces began to gnaw at the mantis and the bizarre catfish, both colossal creatures twisting in pain as their bodies were gradually consumed.


    Freddie was dumbfounded, his two greatly anticipated and powerful creatures had been dealt with just like that?


    As for the "The Faceless" selected by Xu Yi, he had no hope left.


    "Quick! Follow The Faceless!" Xu Yi''s hoarse voice suddenly rang out.


    Freddie paused for a moment and turned his head. In an unassuming corner among the crowd, a burly man with a hockey mask on his face and a machete in hand was cutting down two-faced people, one after the other.


    No matter how many of The Faceless surged forward, the man''s hand didn''t tremble at all, it was terrifyingly steady.


    "We meet again at last!"


    Xu Yi gazed at Jason''s back, seeing his old acquaintance once more, he found that Jason had become even more formidable than before.


    "I admit this ugly fellow does indeed have commendable courage, but what''s the use of that? Courage doesn''t equate to strength." Freddie felt he was about to die here.


    "Hang in there!" Xu Yi didn''t have much confidence either, not in Jason, but in them.


    He looked around, more and more two-faced people were converging towards their location.


    Although the three creatures summoned by Freddie attracted a great deal of attention, there were simply too many two-faced people, and their pressure had not lessened at all.


    Thunder roared in the sky as the blood rain intensified, and the two-faced people''s attack became even more frenzied.


    ```


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 Chapter 378 Divine Transition

    In the pouring rain, Jason silently swung his blade, and a blood-red trail splattered along the edge of the knife. Along with it, Jason''s right arm flew off.


    Several faces clustered on Jason''s shoulder, brutally biting off his hand.


    Without his large machete, Jason''s deterrence plummeted, and he was quickly toppled to the ground. The two-faced people tore at his body like a pack of wolves.


    Jason gradually ceased struggling.


    "See, I told you! In the end, you''re still going to die here!"


    Freddie''s face was very ugly, but he kept prattling on incessantly.


    Xu Yi paid no attention to Freddie, the chatterbox. He knew that Jason was not so easy to kill.


    The other party possessed the golden entry "Unlimited Resurrection," so how could he be so easily finished off?


    Jason''s flesh was completely devoured, but suddenly a thick arm burst out from the chest of one of the two-faced people, grabbed the head above, and violently twisted it off.


    "What kind of monster is this that can even resurrect?" Freddie screamed in shock. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The reborn Jason ripped open a bloody stomach and reappeared in front of everyone. He picked up a fire ax from the ground and chopped at a two-faced man ahead. The head was split in two.


    Xu Yi saw envy in Freddie''s eyes, but to Xu Yi, it seemed Freddie''s ability, in some respects, was not inferior to Jason''s.


    The use of "forceful dream entry," unless it was on an entity so powerful it was outrageous, was irresistible. This one ability could be said to ignore the gap in strength.


    But Freddie''s most powerful ability lay in "turning illusion into reality."


    The Amusement City he controlled could potentially become real, an ability not even the Lord of the Black Abyss, Isoson, possessed.


    Once Amusement City became reality, what would it become?


    Without a doubt, that would be a Divine Kingdom.


    Thunder exploded fiercely, and branched lightning fell from the sky, illuminating Xu Yi''s pale face. He looked towards Freddie''s feet in horror.


    A large swarm of illusory faces crawled up from Freddie''s feet, like bloodthirsty ants, and Xu Yi was the tempting piece of flesh. His body was soon covered with faces.


    Sharp teeth rose and fell, and Xu Yi was crazily gnawed at,


    Pain surged like a tidal wave, and his consciousness was immediately submerged. His head became void of thought, leaving only one sensation, pain! Unbearable pain!


    The last scene Freddie witnessed was Xu Yi being overwhelmed by a group of two-faced people, and in an instant, he was gone without a trace.


    Of course, all of this was fake.


    Xu Yi was well aware that once he was engulfed by pain, he could no longer interfere with Freddie''s senses.


    To avoid a significant loophole, he performed "the final curtain" before a large number of faces arrived.


    It must be said, Xu Yi, as a "con man," was extremely dedicated to his craft. He was close to dying, yet he was still thinking of deceiving Freddie.


    "Brother, you''re finally dead!" Freddie suddenly let out a sigh of relief.


    Just before losing consciousness, Xu Yi heard Freddie''s words and couldn''t help but shudder in his heart.


    What did Freddie''s words mean?


    Had the other party discovered him long ago and deliberately brought him here, just to get rid of him?


    But he couldn''t continue to think any further, as in the next second, his every thought was occupied by pain.


    His soul began to be gradually annihilated.


    After an indefinite amount of time, a familiar voice forcefully called him back.


    [Soul fluctuations have reached the threshold, Divine Transition is commencing!]


    Along with the system''s prompt, Xu Yi finally regained a bit of consciousness.


    Divine Transition? He was taken aback for a moment.


    This was the Ultimate Ability of the "Evil God Authority: The Essence of Theft," but since its acquisition, it had never taken effect.


    After so long, he had almost forgotten about this matter, never expecting it to come into play today.


    Xu Yi discovered that within his soul, crystal stone-like veins had formed, spreading in all directions.


    These were not actual crystal stones, nor were they physical entities, but rather a higher-grade form of the soul.


    [Your soul is being sublimated, current progress: 28/100.]


    "Damn it! Still useless!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but curse in his mind.


    The trigger conditions for "Divine Transition" were extremely harsh, requiring the soul to endure extreme oppression, strong enough to cause the soul to collapse.


    Extreme pain also counted as oppression.


    But frustratingly, in order to sublimate the soul, one had to first endure all this until the value was full, and only then would this ability take effect.


    If one could persist through all that, what need would there be for Divine Transition?


    Although the soul would become incredibly sturdy after the transition, turning into Soul Crystallization, in this situation, it was utterly useless.


    "Can''t say it''s completely useless, at least it provides some psychological comfort!" Xu Yi could only fully indulge in his spirit of self-reassurance.


    The activation of Divine Transition, at the very least, showed him a faint hope of survival.


    But when he glanced at the slowly crawling progress, despair overwhelmed him once again.


    Taking advantage of the "Overbearing Body" time activated by Divine Transition, Xu Yi hurriedly looked towards Freddie, needing to understand the meaning of those words just now.


    Freddie was covered in two-faced figures.


    Although Jason had attracted the vast majority of attention, there were simply too many two-faced figures present for Freddie to escape.


    The iron claws in Freddie''s hands suddenly disintegrated, metal shavings flying about, instantly clearing the two-faced figures around his head.


    "Here comes your Uncle Freddie!"


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    Freddie suddenly let out a strange cry, his head shooting up into the air. He didn''t try to flee outwards, but rather charged towards Jason.


    With the lesson of the strange catfish before him, he knew very well he couldn''t easily fly out.


    The dense faces began to leap toward him, and Freddie''s head started to twist, transforming into a long worm. The worm wriggled left and right, managing to burrow through the ferocious faces as if passing through a sea of blossoms without a single leaf sticking to it.


    The long worm that Freddie had become wrapped around Jason''s waist, melting into a lump of mush, and firmly adhering to Jason''s body.


    Jason tried tearing it off with his hand but found that he couldn''t remove it right away. As the two-faced figures lunged at him again, he had to give up for the moment and focus on dealing with the immediate threat.


    Freddie''s face began to coalesce on Jason''s back. He looked at the two-faced figures rushing at him from behind and let out a strange cry, "Big guy, watch your back for sneak attacks!"


    "Thought you had been found out, huh?" Xu Yi sighed in relief when he saw this scene.


    It makes sense, after all. With Freddie''s brain, how could he have discovered him?


    Freddie wanted to stick to Jason, but was afraid that Jason, desperate and cornered, would intercept his head midway.


    Indeed, it was a case of suspecting others of what one is capable of oneself.


    In Freddie''s mind, if he were Xu Yi, he would definitely choose to intercept; if he couldn''t take him along to escape, he would rather they all die together.


    "This is good!"


    Xu Yi was not at all upset by Freddie''s selfishness; in fact, his behavior allowed Xu Yi to focus on dealing with those phantom faces.


    Xu Yi''s soul suddenly began to tremble as the "Overbearing Body" of Divine Transition ended, and the pain returned fiercely.


    He glanced at the system panel; the progress of Divine Transition had reached only "32," leaving Soul Crystallization a faraway dream.


    For the upcoming time, he didn''t know how he would endure it all.


    Just then, the ground suddenly began to shake violently. Xu Yi at first thought it was an earthquake, until he saw the surrounding high-rise buildings swaying down like giant snakes, and he realized the severity of the problem.


    The city... had come to life!

 Chapter 379 Reversal

    ```


    Jason fully activated his murderous mode, becoming the grim reaper to any creature that moved before his eyes.


    Twisted and adhesive faces were split open, their screams incessant.


    The accumulated water in the streets rose steadily, as Jason stood atop a crimson sea, which floated an abundance of severed limbs, and faces that were cleaved but had not died immediately cried in agony upon the water''s surface.


    Even the deepest pits of Hell could scarcely conjure a scene so grotesque.


    The deluge of blood showed no sign of abating, and the number of Faceless did not diminish; as some died, new ones took their place.


    Jason died and resurrected over and over again.


    With each awakening, he swung his blade indifferently, never tiring as though he were a relentless killing machine.


    With each resurrection, he grew stronger, but was still no match for the overwhelming horde of the Faceless.


    Until a blood-red blade light suddenly burst forth!


    "Wow! Dude, aren''t you exaggerating a bit? How do you get stronger with every death?"


    Freddy kept exclaiming in surprise, now too scared to call Jason a "big guy" anymore, opting instead for a brotherly tone.


    Every time Jason was on the brink of death, Freddy sneakily hid himself away, only to immediately stick to Jason after his resurrection.


    Jason paid no mind to Freddy''s strange cries, continuing to silently swing his blade, each slash sending forth a blood-red light.


    Heaps of the Faceless fell, just as a farmer swings his scythe, harvesting rice.


    This was the true power of the "Infinite Evolution" golden entry, each of Jason''s evolutions was not random.


    If he fell into magma, with his body repeatedly scorched, he would evolve after a few times to have a body adapted to high temperatures. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, facing an excessive number of Faceless, he evolved an ability for "area attacks."


    Beneath the crimson blade light, no matter how many Faceless there were, they were not enough to sate his slaughter.


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    Thus the entire city began to tremble; it finally could not sit idly and awoke.


    No wonder the city looked so strange; it was alive to begin with, and with every slumber, due to the multitude of city details, it couldn''t possibly restore everything completely.


    The rushing Faceless suddenly stood still, no longer endlessly surging towards Jason; their bodies began to melt and merge with the city itself.


    Their agonized and twisted faces appeared on the facades of surrounding buildings, their eyes indifferently gazing upon Jason below.


    Jason held two makeshift knives, taken from the hands of the Faceless.


    He looked up at the thousands of faces attached to the skyscrapers, his eyes beneath the hockey mask unflinching.


    The skyscraper crashed down like a giant serpent, and Jason swung his knives to defend, but the two forces were simply not in the same league; he was flattened on the highway, his flesh splattering.


    Within the splattered flesh, the equally flattened Freddy rolled his eyeballs around, looking left and right, wondering where Jason would resurrect next.


    Having been resurrected numerous times, Freddy had grown experienced.


    "What the hell is with this water!"


    Water from the shattered street began to backflow, drenching Freddy, who felt a chill rush over him and violently shivered.


    Freddy only felt a growing coldness around him, but Xu Yi, lurking inside him, was in utter terror.


    Every time Xu Yi weathered the onslaught of the face attacks, he gained a short respite.


    His consciousness barely recovered when he saw a tidal wave of phantom faces swelling towards him.


    "This city is the breeding ground for the phantom faces!" Xu Yi realized suddenly.


    His heart sank instantly, knowing there was no way he could withstand the "face tide."


    His soul, already like a flickering wick in the wind, was devoured in an instant, leaving behind only a withered "wick."


    The faces let out an excited roar, a sound only Xu Yi could hear.


    Of course, they were excited; by devouring the "wick" before them, they could seize Freddy''s body, gifting the city of anguish another duality.


    Sharp teeth gnawed at the "wick," but to their surprise, no matter how hard they tried, they could not inflict the slightest harm on the "wick."


    ```


    Xu Yi had all but given up on hope when suddenly fortune took a turn.


    "It''s the Soul Split!" Xu Yi suddenly realized.


    Now only the core part of his soul remained, which was also the part that connected to the other Soul Splits.


    His Soul Split was in two parts, one of which was inside the charred corpse, gradually merging with the core of a True God, becoming resilient.


    But it was clearly not this part that allowed him to endure the tearing pain.


    He had another part of his soul residing within the body of the World Tree.


    The relationship between the Main Soul and the Soul Split was like a person and a kite, connected by an invisible string.


    If the Main Soul was destroyed, it was like the person leaving, and the string to the kite being cut, the kite would drift away with the wind, and without a person''s help, crashing was the only possibility.


    That part of the soul belonged not only to Xu Yi but also to the World Tree, which certainly did not want to lose this part of the soul, so it was sending energy to the Main Soul through the string.


    "World Tree! Freaking awesome!" Xu Yi wanted to cheer.


    He had seized the Tree Spirit of the World Tree with the idea of a "long-term investment", and he had not expected such a quick return.


    But his excitement wasn''t solely for that reason, it was more about Divine Transition.


    [Divine Transition, current progress: 52/100]


    The World Tree could only ensure that his last soul would not be destroyed, but the pain he was enduring would not disappear, and now, this pain was actually becoming the experience for Divine Transition!


    "Let the pain be even more intense!" Xu Yi shouted in his heart.


    What became more intense wasn''t the pain, but the high-rises all around.


    Jason''s endless Resurrections seemed to have enraged the city, and the huge skyscrapers merged into one another, becoming a "Hydra" with sharp metal spires as heads.


    The frenzied attacks of the "Hydra" squashed Jason over and over again.


    No one knew how long this situation lasted until a "clang" that resonated to the heavens erupted.


    The "clang" originated from Jason''s body, the massive metal spire struck his body, as if hitting a metal anvil, and Jason was unharmed.


    "Don''t be so outrageous, if you keep this up... I might have to kneel before you!" Freddie never stopped his chatter, at any time.


    Xu Yi also found it outrageous, not because Jason had evolved an "indestructible body," but because of the power, such enormous "high-rises" crushing down on Jason, and yet he didn''t move a single step back.


    Jasen, shrouded by skyscrapers, suddenly lifted his head, the blood-red light in his pupils intense as if about to ignite.


    Jason stomped on the ground, the earth cracked, and he shot up into the sky, his blood-red energy streams also rocketed upwards, annihilating the parts of the skyscrapers that were hit by the energy.


    "He has even evolved this kind of technique!"


    Xu Yi suddenly regretted letting Freddie bring Jason into the Dream World. If Jason returned to the real world, God knows what could happen.


    If the opponent evolved the ability to leave Crystal Lake, it would be a disaster for the real world.


    But if he hadn''t brought Jason in, Freddie''s Domain Soul would have surely perished, and he himself might have been trapped in this forsaken place forever.


    The blood-red energy streams converged into Jason''s hands, compressing into a huge blood-red cleaver. With one swing, he annihilated a building.


    At this moment, Jason was terrifyingly formidable, so much so that even Freddie, who was constantly babbling, didn''t dare to speak, fearful of drawing Jason''s attention and being extinguished on the spot.


    Jason, who had been powerless against him before, was a different story now.


    Fortunately, the city posed a greater threat to Jason, who wanted to prioritize dealing with the tenacious enemy.


    The entire city was trembling, moving with thunderous roars, seemingly venting its rage.


    But in the next second, the restless city suddenly became quiet, the skyscrapers lay flat on the ground, like tame kittens.


    Xu Yi was suddenly taken aback, because the rain... had stopped.


    It wasn''t that the rain had ceased entirely, rather it had literally stopped in mid-air, the blood-colored raindrops hanging suspended, as if the whole space had been immobilized.


    Unbeknownst to anyone, the space had been enveloped by a vast shadow.

 Chapter 380 Done For

    Xu Yi suddenly discovered, in astonishment, that those illusory faces were fleeing from his soul as if they were escaping.


    Seeing this scene did not make him feel happy at all.


    Something abnormal indicated the presence of evil spirits, and he still needed these illusory faces to contribute to the progress of his Divine Transition.


    If circumstances had allowed, he would have pleaded with them not to go.


    An enormous shadow enveloped them overhead; the clouds were dense, making it impossible to see what was above, but Xu Yi could still roughly guess the identity of the being.


    Unbeknownst to them, the peak where the royal court was situated had disappeared without a trace.


    Breaking through the clouds, the shadow descended slowly, and Jason looked up, a rare expression of solemnity in his eyes.


    Xu Yi gasped in shock¡ªit was an immense mountain of flesh, the pale beige fat rolling like waves, bringing with it an indescribable sense of discomfort.


    Growing on the meat mountain was a layer of "moss," which was an interconnected formation of contorted faces in agony.


    In the center of the mountain was a giant pair of fiery red lips, slightly upturned as if smiling.


    The meat mountain before them may not have been as powerful as Isoson, but the eerie feeling it gave was beyond comparison.


    "F**k Isoson! You motherf**ker set me up! This Kingdom of Sorrow is actually Oss''s territory!" Freddie suddenly cursed out loud.


    The meat mountain Oss moved toward Jason as if the sky itself were collapsing. Jason''s vision was utterly engulfed by the meat mountain.


    But no matter who the enemy was, Jason did not hesitate for a second, silently swinging his large cleaver.


    A blood-red blade light soared into the sky, striking the base of the meat mountain. The fatty waves of the meat mountain surged, absorbing the blade light silently, dissipating it without a trace.


    The massive meat mountain fell, but Jason wasn''t crushed into a pulp; at the moment he touched the meat mountain, the fat became as soft as cotton, and he was instantly swallowed up.


    Inside the meat mountain, it was pitch black, but faint red lights began to shine, emanating from the surrounding flesh, growing brighter and brighter.


    This was not a good sign; along with the emergence of red light, the temperature of the entire space began to rise rapidly.


    The flesh glowed hot, its temperature alarmingly high, and this intense heat targeted the soul specifically. Jason felt as if he had fallen into a steel furnace, and after struggling for a moment, his body began to melt away.


    "That''s it, we''re all done for!" the transformed flesh worm Freddie writhed in agony.


    Although Freddie screamed continuously, he did not seem to show signs of dissolving.


    "This guy''s vitality is really tenacious!" Xu Yi could not help but admire. He might have underestimated Freddie''s ability to "survive against the odds."


    Xu Yi soon had no time to pay attention to Freddie, because the extreme pain reappeared, and if the previous sensation of pain was like the tide, now it was like a tsunami.


    On the verge of completely losing consciousness, he glanced at the system panel.


    [Divine Transition progress: 56/100]


    Xu Yi was completely submerged by the pain, feeling like a little boat navigating the sea of sorrow, the boat being pushed under the waves time and again, but thanks to the World Tree''s protection, he resurfaced time and again.


    He was in so much pain he wanted to kill himself, but he didn''t even have the capacity to commit suicide, he could only endure the endless agony.


    God knows how long had passed, he got so used to the pain that it even started to numb, and the agony began to subside.


    Xu Yi''s consciousness gradually returned, but he just stared blankly ahead, doing nothing, thinking nothing.


    After a long while, he began to check the information on the system panel.


    [Divine Transition progress: 91/100]


    He only needed to hold on a little longer, and the Divine Transition would be complete, but he didn''t feel any regret.


    If it weren''t for the fact that there was no other choice but to endure it passively, he would have chosen to give up long ago.


    It wasn''t something that a human could endure. He felt that his mind was a little off now, but he didn''t even have a chance to perform a self-check.


    After a very long time, Xu Yi finally felt up to observing his surroundings.


    To his surprise, Freddie had also managed to survive, truly worthy of being an extremely rare Soul of the Realm; indeed, he possessed a few tricks.


    However, it was evident that Freddie wasn''t having an easy time either. The insect he had transformed into was completely shriveled up, lying within the mush that Jason had turned into, without a sound.


    An incurable chatterbox suddenly fell silent; one could imagine just how weak he must be.


    Xu Yi couldn''t see Jason''s figure; inside the "Red Furnace," all he could make out was a lump of rotten flesh.


    One could imagine that due to the excessively high temperature, Jason, having just resurrected, was immediately melted.


    But now, the temperature around was gradually dropping, and the burning red light was also fading.


    Xu Yi was a bit puzzled. Could it be that Oss thought he had already killed Jason and therefore stopped the smelting?


    Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of two eyeballs, dazzling as gold, with lava seeming to flow in their pupils.


    Though the color had changed, and the presence too, he still recognized them immediately; those were Jason''s eyes, that same indifference to life as if it were mere vegetation.


    "Sun Wukong got fiery-golden eyes from Laozi''s Eight Trigrams Furnace, but what has this Jason developed?" Xu Yi couldn''t help but want to make a snarky remark.


    He suddenly understood why the temperature had dropped.


    Eyes could be said to be the most fragile organs in the human body, but now, even the eyeballs couldn''t be melted, so what use could the "Red Furnace" still have?


    The flesh mountain Oss must have realized this point, hence stopped the smelting.


    Oss must be utterly bewildered right now. The tactics that were once invincible, now he couldn''t kill any of the three people.


    "A bit late!" Xu Yi sighed in his heart, obviously referring to Oss.


    In his opinion, to deal with Jason, the best would be to choose suppression or something similar; trying to kill him completely was just too difficult.


    Oss was only now reacting, which was somewhat late. He had already sensed an aura that sent chills down his spine.


    From the pupils as the origin, black tendons extended in all directions, forming a human shape. Flesh was rapidly growing on the meridians, and Jason was reborn!


    Jason looked around. The furnace''s remaining heat couldn''t harm him in the slightest. He suddenly opened his mouth and roared; a blood-colored beam of light surged out from Jason''s mouth.


    Jason twisted his body, and the blood-colored beam, like a scalpel, sliced through the base of the flesh mountain. The faces on the flesh mountain screamed in agony, and fresh blood gushed from the incisions, falling like a torrential downpour.


    "Awesome....!"


    Freddie wanted to cheer, but he was too weak, his voice hoarse. He slowly coiled around Jason''s thigh...which was, in all sorts of ways, truly clinging to a powerful coattail.


    Jason temporarily didn''t pay attention to Freddie, perhaps sensing that Freddie posed no threat. Jason rushed towards the flesh mountain above, which secreted a massive amount of blood. The blood congealed into a red Crystal Wall.


    The strength of the Crystal Wall far exceeded the Boundary Membrane, but in the face of Jason, it was not durable at all, and the wall shattered inch by inch.


    Jason, like a sharp knife cutting into the flesh mountain, saw the faces on the mountain reveal expressions of fear, sensing the imminent danger.


    The premonition came true; a blood-colored beam shot out from within the flesh mountain, sweeping across like a sharp broadsword, slashing the mountain apart. Large chunks of flesh plummeted, and blood rained through the sky.


    The faces on the flesh mountain let out thunderous howls, as Jason had thoroughly enraged it. The flesh mountain began to contract, and Jason was forcibly expelled.


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    Jason wanted to charge again, but he suddenly found that he couldn''t move.


    The flaming red lips above the flesh mountain silently parted, forming a black vortex within, swiftly shaping. The enormous suction force acted upon Jason; he was slowly being pulled towards that vortex.


    Xu Yi''s face changed in an instant; compared to suppression, the flesh mountain Oss had chosen a more ruthless method¡ªexile.


    At the other end of exile, undeniably, lay a terrifying land of death. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Whether Jason could survive was not clear to him, but he and Freddie were almost certainly doomed.


    Freddie also realized this, trying to escape from Jason''s body; but just as he was about to leave Jason''s thigh, he was almost sucked into the vortex.


    Xu Yi stared at the black vortex inside the red lips, his heart filled with extreme anxiety, yet he was utterly helpless.

 Chapter 381 Crash into it!

    "It''s all over! To think that I, Freddie Krueger, would die here so quietly, unnoticed¡ªeven if I had to die, it should have been with everyone''s attention on me!" Freddie''s eyes were filled with despair.


    Just then, he caught a glimpse of an incredible figure in the city below, and couldn''t help but exclaim, "Xu Yi! You''re actually still alive?"


    Xu Yi pushed open the manhole cover of the sewer and stealthily poked his head out.


    No matter what, Freddie could never have imagined that Xu Yi was still alive!


    "Dammit!" Xu Yi cursed inwardly, thankful that this was just an image he had created in Freddie''s mind through intervention.


    If this had been real, that shout would have ruined the hard-won chance of escape that Xu Yi had managed to create.


    Freddie''s thinking was simple: he feared Xu Yi would try to escape alone and not come to save him because if their roles were reversed, that''s exactly what he would do.


    "Seems like you''re really disappointed?" Xu Yi rolled his eyes.


    In Freddie''s eyes, Xu Yi''s face seemed to have two faces on it right now.


    Seeing this, Freddie would naturally fill in the blanks about how he survived, decreasing the chances of getting caught.


    "You''re so unrighteous, having such a good method and not even telling me!" Freddie accused first as the guilty party.


    "If you want to die, keep chatting with me here!" Xu Yi was completely hopeless about Freddie''s character.


    "You have a way? Brother, tell me quickly! If I can get out of here alive, I will make sure to repay you well," Freddie said excitedly.


    As for Freddie''s words, of course, Xu Yi didn''t believe a single one, but who made the other party a Domain Soul, and all of his abilities would soon belong to him.


    "Oss is fully occupied with dealing with this hero, so it''s the weakest moment. Go and invade his core now!" Xu Yi roared.


    "Are you telling the truth?" Freddie expressed his skepticism.


    The black vortex spun faster and faster, the suction grew stronger and stronger, Jason''s body steamed with blood-colored airflow, resisting the pull of the vortex, but still inching towards it.


    "Trust me! I have absolute confidence!" Xu Yi shouted at the top of his lungs.


    He had no confidence at all; he was just bluffing Freddie, resorting to desperate measures.


    But he wasn''t just speaking nonsensically; he was making some basic judgments based on the current situation.


    As for whether it would succeed or not, only heaven knew. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His thought was that even if it didn''t work, it could still create some disturbance to Oss and prevent Jason from being banished.


    "Possessive Invasion" was one of Freddie''s abilities, which Freddie had wanted to use to devour Xu Yi, but he had been taught a lesson by the Soul-Shattering Ice Crystal.


    "If you''re lying to me, you''re dead!" Freddie stared into Xu Yi''s eyes, trying to judge whether he was being deceived.


    To Xu Yi, his threat was utterly unimpressive.


    Freddie could not see any flaws, and since he didn''t have any other options left, he took the risk to attempt it.


    His forehead suddenly split open, revealing a dark, insect-like eye that shot out a green beam. The beam was ethereal, ignoring the pull of the black vortex and landing on the mountain of flesh.


    Xu Yi wasn''t surprised by this scene; while snooping through Freddie''s memories, he had specifically researched this information, which was why he could come up with this plan.


    The situation was at a standstill for the moment, with Jason getting closer and closer to the dark vortex. If things continued like this, the final victory would surely belong to Oss.


    Although only two or three seconds had passed, to Xu Yi, the time felt excruciatingly long.


    The insect that Freddie had transformed into suddenly began to twist in agony, nearly breaking free from Jason''s body and getting sucked away by the black vortex, but thankfully Xu Yi intervened.


    So it had failed after all? Xu Yi''s heart sank to the bottom. A makeshift plan was reliably unreliable.


    "Damn it, Xu Yi, you really are a prophet!" Freddie''s lifeless eyes suddenly lit up, and he let out a strange cry.


    "You succeeded?" Xu Yi couldn''t believe it.


    "It seems so? I can now control the Kingdom of Sorrow," Freddie said, his tone a bit hesitant.


    "Freddie is amazing!"


    Xu Yi couldn''t help exclaiming. Typical invasions start by controlling the host before gaining control over all their possessions. He hadn''t expected Freddie to achieve control in one fell swoop.


    "Freddie, why haven''t you stopped the vortex? Do you want to take a trip to outer space?" Xu Yi glanced at the sky and suddenly froze.


    The black vortex still remained, and Jason was getting closer and closer to it, his body trembling, looking like he could be sucked in at any moment.


    "What black vortex? Didn''t I tell you? I have gained control over the Kingdom of Sorrow!"


    Freddie''s tone was full of dissatisfaction, hurriedly saying, "Tell me quick! What should I do next? I''m about to be sucked in!"


    "This dreamscape doesn''t belong to Oss; it''s also an invader!" Xu Yi suddenly understood.


    No wonder Freddie didn''t know Oss was in the Kingdom of Sorrow, no wonder Freddie was able to so easily take control ...


    It was because Oss had devoured the original owner of this dreamscape before he could seize control over the Kingdom of Sorrow.


    The dream obtained by force was inherently not tightly connected. Now, with Jason having diverted most of his attention, it was somewhat justifiable that Freddie could exploit the opening and enter.


    "Hurry up and think of something! If I survive this, I promise I''ll reward you handsomely!" Freddie, seeing the blackness of the abyss so close, was completely panicked.


    Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Don''t rush me! I''m thinking!" If he were physical, Xu Yi would be sweating buckets by now.


    "Get the Kingdom of Sorrow out of Thorn Forest!" A flash of inspiration shot through Xu Yi''s mind; he had suddenly thought of a plan!


    "What good will that do?" Freddie couldn''t understand the purpose of doing this.


    "Stop the bullshit and just do it!" Xu Yi urged him.


    Understanding the urgency, Freddie dared not waste any more time. The Kingdom of Sorrow shook violently and then began to move slowly, gaining speed.


    To get a better view, Freddie turned the grey Boundary Membrane transparent. The sky suddenly brightened, and they could see the red clouds enveloping the Kingdom of Sorrow.


    The Kingdom of Sorrow was like a starship navigating through red fog.


    "Faster!" Xu Yi shouted fiercely.


    "This is the fastest it can go!" Although Freddie said that, he still tried to make the Kingdom of Sorrow travel a bit faster.


    The Kingdom of Sorrow passed through the fog, and Jason and Freddie were left with less than three meters to the black vortex. And the life-threatening issue was that the red airflow surrounding Jason suddenly began to recede.


    Without the red airflow to resist the suction, he would likely not last even a second!


    "I guessed it right!" Xu Yi looked up at the sky and let out a breath of relief.


    After leaving the red fog behind, the view became completely unobstructed. The familiar black "sun" hung quietly in the sky¡ªthat was the Black Abyss belonging to Isoson.


    He had already figured out Isoson''s plan. The reason he accepted Freddie was to use him as a pawn, to probe into the depths of the Kingdom of Sorrow.


    Isoson''s initial goal was to eliminate Oss.


    So, Isoson would definitely be watching nearby after Freddie entered the Kingdom of Sorrow, and now, as expected, he hadn''t been mistaken.


    "Crash into it!" Xu Yi suddenly spoke up.


    "What?" Freddie was stunned for a moment, not understanding what Xu Yi meant.


    Xu Yi''s eyes were fierce as he roared, "Control the Kingdom of Sorrow and ram it into the Black Abyss!"

 Chapter 382 Bewitching

    The Kingdom of Sorrow drew ever closer to the Black Abyss, and Freddie trembled when he heard Xu Yi tell him to charge into it.


    "Is this really a good idea?" Freddie hesitated. "Have you forgotten that damned bug? My life is still in Isoson''s hands."


    "What are you afraid of? If you don''t say anything and I don''t say anything, how would Isoson know it was you?"


    Xu Yi felt disdain for his lack of ambition, what kind of a murderer had such a cowardly disposition?


    As the "neighbor" of that Soul Devouring Bug, it made sense that he would make a special effort to understand it. The bug was dormant within Freddie''s Soul Core and lacked the ability to spy.


    "Right! Isoson won''t know it was me doing it!" Freddie''s eyes lit up instantly.


    He stared at the Black Abyss above, his teeth chattering with rage, as a flood of new hatreds and old grudges surged to his heart.


    All of a sudden, the Kingdom of Sorrow accelerated and collided with the Black Abyss with a thunderous crash.


    This collision carried a touch of personal vendetta. Freddie had exerted all his strength, to no avail; the Black Abyss didn''t budge at all. Instead, a massive crack appeared on the Boundary Membrane of the Kingdom of Sorrow.


    "That won''t work!" cried Freddie, his face etched with disappointment.


    "Don''t panic, they will make their move," Xu Yi assured him.


    No sooner had Xu Yi''s words fallen than the Black Abyss suddenly "opened its gaping maw," swallowing the Kingdom of Sorrow whole.


    The translucent Boundary Membrane of the Kingdom of Sorrow allowed them to see the other side, and conversely, the outside could also see in. At this moment, Oss of the Flesh Mountain looked truly pitiful, his body dripping with fresh blood.


    Since Isoson''s target was Oss of the Flesh Mountain, he would not pass up such an opportune moment.


    The light within the Black Abyss was very dim, with only a cluster of purplish-red light floating in the center, like a solitary lamp.


    The "buzzing" sound was incessant, as swarms of giant insects filled the air. The bugs were divided into dozens of tribes, their shapes twisted and bizarre -- the entire Black Abyss was essentially a giant insect cage.


    The land of the Black Abyss was covered with grass, black and long, waving in the wind like a dark sea on a night devoid of stars or moon, the tides surging.


    After entering the Black Abyss, Freddie lost control of the Kingdom of Sorrow, which plummeted downwards and crashed, grass blades chaotically flying about.


    The Kingdom of Sorrow shook violently, and Jason, too, was affected. The external force became the last straw that broke the camel''s back.


    The air currents around Jason suddenly dissipated, and a tremendous suction force struck him; it seemed he would be sucked into the black vortex.


    "No!" Freddie screamed in agony.


    At that moment, the black vortex suddenly reversed, spinning in the opposite direction. The suction turned into repulsion, and Jason was shot out like a cannonball.


    "Wow! I''m alive again!" Although Freddie was somewhat confused by the situation, the moment the suction disappeared, he reacted instantly, quickly detaching himself from Jason''s leg to avoid collateral damage.


    Xu Yi could roughly guess what had happened. The sudden "change of heart" in Oss of the Flesh Mountain was, of course, due to the Black Abyss.


    From the series of events preceding this, it was evident that Oss possessed considerable intelligence. His decision to exile Jason was to prevent the Kingdom of Sorrow from being destroyed.


    But now that the Kingdom of Sorrow had been swallowed by the Black Abyss, and with Isoson, the old enemy approaching, Oss shrewdly shifted his strategy.


    Xu Yi was able to discern this simply because the direction in which Jason was "shot" out was precisely where Isoson was located.


    A shadow descended from the sky like a grey moth, Isoson faced the incoming "bullet" with disdain. One of his centipede-like tails swept casually, and black flames engulfed Jason.


    Isoson didn''t take Jason seriously, thinking he was merely another insignificant ant, easy to dispose of. His gaze was fixed solely on Oss.


    Little did he know, just over ten minutes ago, Oss had thought the same and had already been taught a lesson by Jason.


    Jason paid no heed to the black flames on his body, once again condensing a giant cleaver in his hand. As the cleaver came down, a bloody blade light flew towards Isoson.


    In Jason''s eyes, there were no concepts of factions; every living being was his target, so he didn''t feel like he was being used as a pawn.


    Isoson''s left wing was split open by the bloody blade light, and a myriad of tentacles spewed out from the cut, intertwining with each other to restore the wing to its former state.


    However, after that strike, Isoson finally began to take Jason seriously, but he didn''t have the time to deal with Jason for the moment, as Oss suddenly made a move.


    The blood-colored meat mountain suddenly split apart, turning into a sky full of "Flesh Snakes," each one with a face twisted in agony at the front.


    The "Flesh Snakes" swept across the sky like a meteor shower, flying towards the Boundary Membrane.


    This was Isoson''s territory, and of course, Oss wouldn''t think of settling a victory or defeat with Isoson here, so retreating was the best choice.


    Isoson suddenly flapped his wings, appearing in front of Oss with an agility that belied his massive body, and his widespread wings intercepted all of the "Meteors."


    Of course, he wouldn''t let Oss leave easily.


    Jason wanted to pursue, but he was engulfed by a swarm of bizarre insects. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What are you doing?" Xu Yi suddenly spoke up, looking perplexedly at Freddie beside him.


    Whether by coincidence or Freddie''s intention, the place where Freddie had fallen was precisely where Xu Yi''s illusion was located.


    The flattened "Freddie''s Worm" hit the ground and began to squirm rapidly, reverting to its original form in a moment, albeit much thinner, but still looking lively.


    "Can''t you see?" Freddie was sprinting across the land of the Kingdom of Sorrow, his direction being the dark Boundary Membrane in the distance, "Of course it''s to escape! If we don''t run now, we will surely die!"


    "Why would we die?" Xu Yi asked softly.


    Freddie suddenly froze, turning his head to look back. Isoson was busy dealing with Oss, and Oss was even more preoccupied.


    As for the swarming insects overhead, without Isoson''s command, and strictly speaking, since Freddie was also a member of the Black Abyss, not even a single bug attacked him.


    The Kingdom of Sorrow beneath his feet had also transformed back into a silent city. Freddie had briefly gained control of the Kingdom of Sorrow, and now those two-faced creatures no longer attacked him either.


    "Right! Why am I running?" Freddie finally came back to his senses, realizing that he was not in danger at all.


    "Moreover, even if you wanted to escape, where could you go? How would you pass through the Boundary Membrane and traverse the dreamlike void?"


    Xu Yi''s voice was low as he began to persuade gently, feeling more like a demon than Freddie.


    Freddie stood still, his eyes somewhat bewildered.


    Xu Yi did not let up on Freddie, pressing his advantage, "And have you forgotten the worm inside your body? Even if you could escape back to Amusement City, what would you do afterward? Would Isoson let you go?"


    Xu Yi paused briefly, giving Freddie time to think, "Even if Isoson let you go, would you want to be Isoson''s dog for the rest of your life?"


    Freddie suddenly turned his head, glowering at Xu Yi with a fierce expression.


    He had been completely exposed by Xu Yi''s words; his current behavior was nothing more than angry humiliation.


    Xu Yi seemed oblivious to the ferocity in Freddie''s eyes. He leaned in close to Freddie''s ear, lowered his voice, and spoke softly. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Freddie''s head jerked up, staring at Xu Yi with surprise. The Xu Yi at this moment was so unfamiliar it was terrifying.


    The words that Xu Yi whispered in his ear were, "Why not consider devouring Isoson?"

 Chapter 383 The Only Chance

    "Impossible! How could I possibly devour Isoson?" Freddie shook his head repeatedly in response to Xu Yi''s persuasion.


    Xu Yi, however, smiled, because Freddie''s answer was "How could it be possible?"


    This meant that the other party was already tempted; he simply lacked a starting point.


    What he needed to do now was to give the other party a glimmer of hope.


    "Do you see that light?" Xu Yi raised his head, looking towards the purple-red glow at the center of the Black Abyss.


    That was the core of the Black Abyss, as well as the location of Isoson''s Origin.


    The Black Abyss in front of him was similar to Amusement City, to be precise, the structure of every dreamscape was more or less the same, each possessing a core.


    However, Freddie and Isoson had different approaches to their cores; Freddie chose to hide his core away, while Isoson''s methods were more clever, turning the core into a "weapon".


    So that glow was not the Black Abyss'' weakness, but it might be the most dangerous thing instead. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire


    Haven''t you seen that even Oss didn''t attack that light? Xu Yi knew it was the core of the Black Abyss, and there was no way Oss was unaware.


    "Of course I know what that is. You''re not thinking of destroying the core of the Black Abyss, are you?" Freddie suddenly exclaimed in surprise.


    "As long as we can destroy the core of the Black Abyss, we can significantly weaken Isoson, and then there will be an opportunity to devour him," Xu Yi revealed his plan.


    Freddie suddenly grabbed Xu Yi by the collar and slammed him against a nearby signpost, his eyes fierce, "These are the secrets of each dreamscape, how could a common man like you know this?"


    "So I''ve slipped up after all!" Xu Yi sighed inwardly, it seemed that pushing too hard would still cause problems.


    "Didn''t you tell me all this? Have you forgotten? Think about it more!" Xu Yi began to interfere with Freddie''s consciousness, while also inserting memory fragments.


    Freddie''s gaze grew vacant; the brain was a fascinating thing, the more you try to confirm something over and over, the more you feel it might have happened before.


    After recalling for a moment, he began muttering to himself, "Right... it seems there was such a thing."


    "Now isn''t the time to dwell on these matters, this is our only chance, miss it and you''ll remain Isoson''s lapdog forever!" Xu Yi hurriedly shifted Freddie''s focus.


    "What should we do?"


    It was probably the words "lapdog" that had struck a nerve in Freddie as he silently made up his mind, "You might not understand the terror of that purple-red light, we might die before we even get close."


    "Don''t we still have your brother?" Xu Yi jerked his chin towards Jason''s direction.


    Jason was being attacked by a swarm of insects, and after dying twice, Jason had evolved again and was now slaughtering the swarm.


    "What kind of monster have you dragged up!" Freddie was inwardly alarmed, yet also somewhat pleased; the stronger the other party was, the higher their chances of success in their plan.


    "But now there''s a problem, how do we get your dear brother to attack that light?" Xu Yi frowned, this would not be easy, Jason was completely uncontrollable.


    "That''s easy!" Freddie looked brimming with confidence, suddenly shouting towards Jason, "Hi, brother! That big Light Sphere, hit it!"


    Freddie gestured emphatically, looking like someone in a foreign land communicating with locals through movements.


    "If that method works, then..." Xu Yi looked skeptically at Freddie, but his eyes suddenly widened in shock, as if seeing a ghost, unprepared for the metaphorical slap in the face.


    Jason actually followed Freddie''s instructions and charged towards the purple-red sphere of light.


    "I told you he''s my brother, how could he not give me that bit of face?" Freddie said, smugly raising an eyebrow.


    After pondering for a moment, Xu Yi suddenly understood; Freddie must have tampered with something while attached to Jason, this too was within the domain of things Freddie could do.


    Jason, with a red cleaver in hand, raised it high and brought it down towards the purple-red light.


    The blood-red blade flashed through the Light Sphere, as easily as slicing a cake. The thing inside the light finally revealed itself; it was a clump of wriggling purple-red hair.


    ```


    The hair merged back together, so it wasn''t that the blade cut the opponent apart, but rather the opponent actively split to avoid the blade.


    Xu Yi and Freddie simultaneously took a sharp intake of breath, feeling secretly relieved in their hearts.


    Fortunately, it was Jason who was sent to attack that core, not themselves.


    Purple-red hair began growing on Jason''s body, becoming thicker and longer until eventually, it completely swallowed him.


    A gust of wind blew by, and the tuft of hair scattered with the wind, leaving no trace of Jason.


    Xu Yi had seen many ways to die, but turning into a ball of hair was a first for him.


    He didn''t even know when Jason had been affected.


    No wonder even the flesh mountain Oss didn''t want to provoke this thing; in some ways, Isoson''s strategy was indeed successful, a pity it encountered Jason.


    A palm suddenly appeared above the hairy mass and reached for it rapidly, but the moment the palm touched the hair, the whole arm turned into hair and disintegrated.


    This time, Jason died even quicker, managing to form only an arm before meeting his end.


    But Jason, with the "Undead" entry, was just too bugged; he kept resurrecting and evolving.


    Until a reborn palm once again caught the ball of hair, and no more hair grew on the arm¡­ Jason had evolved a counter to the hairball.


    Xu Yi suddenly heard a piercing scream, like a piece of metal scraping on glass, exceptionally grating.


    He couldn''t believe the hairball was actually capable of making noise.


    Isoson abruptly turned around; he had been so distracted by Oss that he had no mental strength to spare for anything else.


    If not for the scream, he might not have noticed at all.


    Of course, this was also because he had immense confidence in the core, never believing anyone could deal with it.


    Isoson flapped his wings hard, the gale forcing Oss back, ready to reinforce the core.


    But how could Oss let him do as he wished? The scattered human-faced snakes suddenly came together, fusing into a long "flesh rope."


    The "flesh rope" tightly coiled around Isoson, and even though it was burnt by the corrosive slime on Isoson''s surface, billowing black smoke, it didn''t let go at all.


    The reborn Jason gripped the purple-red ball of hair; sensing danger, the ball began to disperse, attempting to escape.


    But an invisible domain enveloped them, compressing them more and more, smaller and smaller.


    "A domain ability has evolved as well?" Xu Yi was a bit flabbergasted.


    Although it was only a rudimentary use of a domain, it was still the power of a domain. Xu Yi had tasted this power himself, with the Ultimate Weapon formed by the fusion of the Seven Deadly Sins. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He dearly missed his Body of Demigod; if he had his body, he could definitely teach the monsters present a lesson, Jason excepted, of course.


    Isoson let out an angry roar, but could only watch helplessly as the hairball was compressed into a tiny red sphere.


    "Pay attention to the opportune moment!" Xu Yi glanced sharply at the captivated Freddie beside him.


    The instant the Black Abyss core was destroyed was the easiest time to invade Isoson and Freddie''s only chance.


    Freddie swallowed nervously, his gaze fixed on Isoson, his eyes full of excitement and anticipation.


    Xu Yi was also very expectant; if Freddie could devour Isoson, there was a high chance he could evolve into a "Soul Master."


    But to devour a being as powerful as Isoson, a very great cost must be paid.


    That would be Freddie at his most inflated and also his weakest, and also the best time for Xu Yi to instigate a "rebellion."


    ```

 Chapter 384 Secret Exposed

    Isoson was entangled by Oss and couldn''t break free, but he was able to control the insects in the Black Abyss, a massive swarm of which surged towards Jason.


    Jason ignored the threat of the swarm, forcefully squeezed his palm, and a purple-red small sphere burst under his grip, releasing dense masses of hair.


    There was no escaping for those hairs as they were incinerated by the domain''s power, turning into ashes that scattered.


    The core was annihilated!


    In that instant, Isoson let out a piercing scream, like the combined howl of tens of thousands of demons from Hell.


    It plummeted downward, reeling from the backlash that came from the destruction of its essence, rendering it unable to control its body.


    Freddy danced with excitement, the consequences of Isoson''s body being destroyed were more significant than he had imagined.


    But the next second, he cursed out loud, "Shit! Someone''s actually trying to steal the fruits of victory!"


    The Flesh Snake that Oss had transformed into suddenly melted, its white gelatinous substance turned into a membrane covering Isoson, who looked like a moth trapped in a bag.


    Xu Yi''s brows involuntarily furrowed; Oss was even shrewder than expected, trying to take the opportunity to consume Isoson first.


    But at this point, they had no choice but to act. Glancing at Freddy, who was still watching the scene unfold, he couldn''t help but vent his frustration, "Are you planning to wait till Christmas next year to make your move?"


    Freddy hesitated for a few seconds before finally gritting his teeth and making a decision.


    He too understood that if he didn''t act now, he would lose his chance.


    Freddy''s head suddenly broke off, rocketing towards Isoson''s head like a cannonball, the only area not covered by the white membrane.


    Oss did not fail to cover that part by choice; it was simply unable to, even though Isoson had lost consciousness, there was still an invisible force protecting it.


    The white membrane surged and formed into a hand, shooting towards Freddy, obviously, Oss did not want another player in the mix.


    But Freddy zigzagged left and right, agile like a hairless monkey, evading the pursuit of Oss and crashing against Isoson''s protective barrier.


    Freddy exploded violently, transforming into a mass of "Slime" that firmly adhered to the barrier.


    The "Slime" emitted scorching red light, and the barrier corroded to form a small hole through which Freddy slipped in.


    "Truly a Domain Soul!" Xu Yi inwardly sighed. The protective barrier that even Oss couldn''t handle had been exploited by Freddy.


    Jason glanced at the "fusion monster" in the void, took up his blood-colored cleaver, and was about to step forward to join the fray, only to be stopped by a sky-full of strange bugs from the Black Abyss blocking his path.


    These strange insects were indeed Isoson''s loyal minions; without guidance, they still carried out their duties.


    Freddy landed on Isoson''s head, his Slime form rapidly dissolving, as Xu Yi followed him into the heart of Isoson''s soul.


    Before them lay utter darkness, save for a speck of purple-red firelight floating above.


    This was the heart of Isoson''s soul, core of the core, resembling the Black Abyss somewhat.


    A white shadow flashed past them suddenly, and when Xu Yi made out what was inside the shadow, it was a fierce face, a hundred times more horrifying than any demon.


    It was the core of Oss''s soul.


    "Release the great Lord of the Black Abyss!" Freddy screamed strangely, chasing after it.


    Even though his soul''s true form was an insect, its speed was astonishing, and in the blink of an eye, it caught up to Oss.


    He evidently wanted to devour Isoson, yet carried on with the appearance of a loyal servant, his intention was clear.


    If Isoson recovered and sought retribution, he could at least attempt to justify his actions.


    Xu Yi felt there was no need for such pretense; Freddy might as well carve "traitor" on his forehead. As long as Isoson was not a complete fool, he would not be deceived.


    Within the purple-red flames, a white moth lay coiled, its wings slightly trembling, looking particularly frail. This was Isoson''s soul essence.


    The moment Oss saw the little moth, his hideous face revealed an intense desire. He opened his mouth wide and pounced aggressively as if he wanted to swallow the moth whole.


    Surrounded by purple-red light, the moth remained untouched. As Oss came into contact with the light, his face was scorched, emitting black smoke, but within the next second, his face healed back to normal.


    Oss seemed to be enraged and lunged again, this time opening his mouth to an extremely exaggerated degree, much like a python swallowing prey much larger than itself.


    He swallowed Isoson''s essence in one gulp, but it was clear he suffered as well; his entire face turned bright red, as if he had swallowed a scorching hot fireball.


    "Spit him out! Spit out Lord Isoson this instant!" Freddy panicked immediately, repeatedly ramming his insectoid body against Oss''s human face.


    If Isoson were to be consumed by Oss, wouldn''t that mean all his efforts were in vain?


    Freddy, of course, objected. In his view, it was his contribution that led to the destruction of Isoson''s physical form, as he had been the one to instruct Jason to attack Isoson''s true self.


    Oss was exasperated by Freddy''s incessant harassment.


    He had only temporarily swallowed Isoson, and he must consume Isoson''s power as much as possible before Isoson awakened.


    Although Freddy was quite insignificant and hardly posed any real threat to him, the persistent harassment was undoubtedly slowing down the consumption process.


    Oss''s human face coldly observed Freddy, with blood-red ashes blowing from his nostrils.


    Caught off guard, Freddy was hit by the ashes and let out a scream akin to a screeching chicken.


    Oss thought these ashes, which even Isoson was reluctant to touch, would suffice to deal with Freddy, but to his surprise, despite the screams, Freddy showed no signs of disintegration.


    "Say what you will, but Freddy sure has a knack for clinging to life!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but marvel.


    Just when one would think Freddy couldn''t hold on any longer, he somehow always managed to survive, a hidden ability of his.


    Steam hissed from between Oss''s teeth, his face bright red and glowing as if it was a piece of iron heated to redness; the Isoson within him was resisting.


    He knew he couldn''t continue to deal with a cockroach like Freddy; Isoson was about to wake up and he needed to speed up the process.


    Confronted with Oss''s icy glare, Freddy felt a chill in his heart, unsure of what Oss would do next.


    Oss''s lips clearly didn''t move, yet a voice came out, "You have no chance of defeating me. Just give up!"


    Freddy froze for a moment; his opponent''s gaze was as if meant to kill him, but his final words were just a harsh threat, which seemed an overkill.


    Xu Yi''s nerves instantly tensed. Of course, Oss wasn''t merely spouting threats. In fact, Xu Yi had altered the content that Freddy heard. Oss''s original words were, "To be manipulated without knowing, how foolish!"


    Oss had discovered his presence!


    In reality, Xu Yi''s ability to hide within Freddy was not due to any clever methods but rather because Freddy was alone, with no one to warn him.


    Now, to deal with Freddy quickly, Oss decided to reveal this "secret."


    "Was it tampered with again? Indeed, not a bad trick," Oss praised. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Yi had a terrible premonition and immediately attempted to intervene through Freddy, trying to disrupt his actions, but the gap in strength between Freddy and Oss was too vast to make any difference.


    Green light radiated from Oss''s eyes, the light so swift that Freddy could not evade. He braced for a terrible attack, thinking the worst.


    But strangely, he suffered no harm at all. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, Freddy''s brain reeled with various images flashing through his mind, all of them from after his encounter with Xu Yi.


    His body began to tremble slightly, his complexion grew increasingly worse, and at last, he looked up and roared, "Xu Yi!"

 Chapter 385 The Sparrow Stalks Behind

    Facing Freddie''s roar, Xu Yi could only play dead, as he certainly wouldn''t admit anything. And who knew if the other party was just bluffing?


    He was inevitably breaking into a sweat. According to his plan, he should have waited until he gained full control over his original body before making a move.


    Currently, the invasion process of Freddie''s original body was just barely halfway done.


    "Xu Yi! Get out here!"


    The thought of someone hiding inside his body without his knowledge, all while his memories were being altered, sent chills down Freddie''s spine.


    Xu Yi was continuously interfering with Freddie''s perception and using his brains to try and talk his way out of this situation.


    A ferocious light flashed in Freddie''s eyes as he made a silent resolution. He suddenly let out a painful howl, and his insect body trembled violently.


    Xu Yi''s complexion turned pale, for he gradually felt Freddie''s presence fading away.


    The insect body split open, and a much smaller bug crawled out, its head still bearing Freddie''s badly burned face.


    The small bug only wriggled slowly for a moment before stopping, gasping for breath. The forced separation had required a huge toll on Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi took control of the remaining insect body, which rapidly changed to assume his likeness.


    His soul was now dozens of times stronger than before, but he felt no joy.


    What remained of Freddie were only the soul forces, the core abilities of a soul domain, like "entering dreams" or "dream materialization", all of which had been taken away.


    Oss had been coldly observing all along, and at the moment Freddie forcefully split, Oss''s nostrils spouted red ashes once again.


    Xu Yi, still adapting to the new body, had no way to dodge as the bloody ashes enveloped him, and his body melted away like snow in sunlight.


    The "powerful" new soul body, he had possessed it for less than three seconds before it was gone.


    Without the support of Freddie''s core abilities, even with a strong soul force, it was nothing but rootless duckweed, easily destroyed in an instant.


    As Xu Yi dissipated, a smile finally appeared on Freddie''s pale face. But the smile soon faded as Oss stared at him with shining eyes.


    Under the blood-red ashes, Xu Yi''s soul instantly fell apart, but Freddie only screamed a few times, clearly showing something special about Freddie.


    Oss was in an unprecedentedly good mood, feeling as if it was his lucky day. Not only could he devour Isoton, but he had also encountered the "treasure" that was Freddie.


    "What are you going to do? Isoton is yours, is it not enough if I just leave now?" Freddie desperately tried to escape.


    Oss ignored him. As a qualified Dreamland King, he naturally chose to take everything.


    "If you keep this up, I will have to call my brother!" Freddie shouted loudly.


    He was just bluffing Oss. He had no such ability. Leading Jason to attack Isoton''s core had already pushed him to his limits.


    Oss actually did stop, but Freddie''s joy lasted only a second before an oppressive figure suddenly appeared ahead of him, Jason, with a large machete, coldly watching everyone present.


    Jason had slaughtered all the bugs in the Black Prison and, following the scent of souls, had entered this Soul Space.


    "Brother, you finally came to save me!"


    No sooner had Freddie finished speaking than he was met with a sharp slash of the blade, as everyone in the vicinity became targets for Jason''s slaughter.


    Freddie retraced his steps back to where he came from, an action that seemed like walking into a trap, but Oss avoided it as much as he could, retreating even faster.


    Compared to Freddie, the guy with the hockey mask was the real trouble.


    An eerie scene unfolded in the Soul Space, what should have been a bloody slaughter became a game of eagle catching chicks.


    Undoubtedly, Jason was the fierce eagle, Freddie the chick, and Oss, not wanting to provoke Jason, just wanted to quickly digest Isotope.


    Xu Yi was hiding in the dark, quietly watching the "frolic" below.


    He naturally hadn''t died. His soul''s outer shell was naturally destroyed, but the soul''s core was not so easily broken, especially since he had the World Tree as a "bodyguard".


    Even the Furnace of the flesh mountain Oss hadn''t been able to do much to it.


    The reason he could hide was also thanks to the soul transmigration process reaching 91%, after which his soul core had crystallized and had become almost transparent.


    This Soul Space was originally dim, and with the soul core being only the size of a fingernail, Xu Yi''s deliberate concealment naturally made it very difficult to detect.


    Xu Yi looked at Oss and Freddie in the midst of battle and suddenly felt his hair stand on end.


    After extricating himself from the battlefield, he came to a full awakening and saw things he couldn''t see before.


    Whether it was Oss or Freddie, their bodies were covered with white down, and at the corners of their eyes appeared mantis-like patterns.


    This sign of "insectification" must have also appeared on his previous self, yet he hadn''t noticed any abnormalities at all.


    No wonder Isoson, as the Lord of Dreams, could be so easily dealt with; it had been a trap from the very beginning.


    Everyone thought Isoson was a piece of succulent meat, but in fact, it carried deadly poison; "Mental Contamination" was Isoson''s strongest ability. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sudden reverberations from outside startled Xu Yi, and at first, he didn''t know what was happening. But after connecting with his Soul Split, he understood.


    A tear had opened in the Black Abyss, and massive lands had pushed in, it was the familiar Amusement City.


    Isoson''s attention was all in this Soul Space, with no energy left to consider the Black Abyss. At this moment, the Black Abyss''s defenses were at their weakest, hence the collision with the Amusement City created a breach.


    Freddie was summoning the Amusement City. After experiencing Xu Yi''s "betrayal," he had completely lost the possibility of competition, and now he just wanted to leave.


    After the Amusement City entered the Black Abyss, it accelerated to the utmost limit, aiming for Isoson, its massive moth body suspended in the air.


    The strange bugs within the Black Abyss had been almost entirely massacred by Jason, so there were hardly any obstacles, and the Amusement City made its way unimpeded, crashing into Isoson''s head with a thunderous impact.


    The collision was precise, hitting right on Isoson''s brain core, which was the connection point between the Soul Space and the outside world.


    The collision was naturally accurate because Freddie had used himself as a "beacon" to guide the Amusement City.


    A small breach appeared in the Soul Space, and Freddie, seeing the exit so close at hand, was overjoyed.


    But he suddenly let out a scream and began to roll in agony in the air.


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    He was only a mere ten meters from the exit, yet it became a distance unattainably far.


    "Isoson!" Freddie howled in pain. At this crucial moment, Isoson had managed to activate the Soul Devouring Bug within Freddie''s soul.


    This also demonstrated the formidable power of the Soul Devouring Bug. Freddie had paid a severe price to separate from Xu Yi, but he couldn''t rid himself of Isoson''s Soul Devouring Bug.


    A tremendous terror exploded in Oss''s heart as he heard Freddie''s roar and suddenly had a bad premonition.


    Wasn''t Isoson swallowed whole by him? Why then did it still have the power to affect Freddie?


    He opened his mouth, intending to spit out the Origin of Isoson he had ingested, but the Origin moth suddenly split open, transforming into a Soul Devouring Bug, which dashed fiercely into Oss''s body.


    Oss became as tormented as Freddie, writhing in pain, yet, he was stronger than Freddie and sought to harness the power within his body to forcefully suppress the backfire from the Soul Devouring Bug.


    His peripheral vision caught sight of his reflection, and he froze, his entire face covered with white down, his inner strength unresponsive.


    He instantly understood the whole series of events and was filled with despair.


    In the pitch-black Soul Space, the greatly reduced shadow of the gray moth slowly emerged, and in that moment, Isoson had complete control over the situation.


    The powerful Jason was swinging his knife at the air, seemingly affected by an illusion, and Isoson had also found a way to deal with Jason.


    But Isoson didn''t prioritize dealing with the traitor Freddie nor tackle his mortal enemy Oss; instead, his gaze settled on an empty space.


    Xu Yi felt an imminent sense of danger because the spot where Isoson was looking was precisely where he was hiding.


    He thought he had hidden himself well, but this was Isoson''s Soul Space; how could the other not find him?


    "This guy wants to devour him!"


    From the opponent''s gaze, Xu Yi read a spine-chilling hunger.

 Chapter 386 Nobody shall live!

    Watching Isoson spread its wings and fly towards him, Xu Yi could actually understand the creature''s thoughts.


    Of all those present, Freddie was already like meat on the chopping board, and Oss had lost the power to resist. Only Xu Yi still had the ability to act.


    If his soul had been just like any other, that might have been fine, but a crystallized soul looked so tempting that naturally, Isoson couldn''t let it go.


    Xu Yi burst out at high speed, charging towards Jason, firmly intending to divert the disaster elsewhere.


    Freddie glanced at Isoson, whose attention was now all on Xu Yi, which meant that now was the best time to escape.


    But his condition was so bad that it was very difficult for him to get out on his own.


    He gritted his teeth and made an extremely risky decision.


    In the Amusement City, a charred corpse suddenly emerged from the mines and rushed towards the city''s edge.


    That was the point of impact where the Amusement City collided with the moth, and also the exit from this Soul Space.


    As the charred corpse was Freddie''s main body, approaching the exit of the Soul Space was akin to exposing his own weakness to Isoson.


    If his main body was also controlled, then he truly wouldn''t stand a chance of turning the tables.


    But there was no choice, only by having his main body come to his aid would there be a possibility of escape. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Freddie let out another wail of despair, and the worm-like body, as thick as a thumb, split once again. Repeating the trick, he managed to escape the control of the Soul Devouring Bug through division.


    He was now only the size of a strand of hair, truly at his weakest point where he couldn''t even wriggle.


    The charred corpse reached the exit of the Soul Space and extended its hand. Freddie felt a pulling force, and his tiny worm-like body flew towards the charred corpse.


    As he drew closer and closer to the charred corpse, Freddie''s eyes brightened, but then he suddenly froze, his face filled with disbelief.


    The charred corpse had suddenly entered the breach in the Soul Space!


    It wasn''t Isoson meddling; the charred corpse had entered the Soul Space of its own volition.


    "Xu Yi! fuckxx!" Freddie suddenly burst out cursing. The only one with both the ability and the motive to do all this was Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi was not only lurking inside his body, affecting his mind, but had also stealthily invaded his main body!


    Indeed, it was Xu Yi''s doing, but at the moment, Xu Yi wasn''t even thinking about Freddie''s curses; he suddenly couldn''t move.


    Isoson had somehow fixed him in place.


    Xu Yi, watching Isoson approach, wasn''t too panicked; he had anticipated this.


    After all, this was Isoson''s Soul Space, where the creature was the absolute ruler.


    Realizing this, Xu Yi had already thought of a plan, and having the charred corpse enter the Soul Space was part of it.


    Isoson opened its mouth, and from within, a suction emerged that pulled Xu Yi into it.


    Isoson''s devouring ability was not something the flesh mountain Oss, or Freddie, could compare with, because its strongest ability was Mental Contamination.


    The power of the World Tree might prevent Xu Yi from being extinguished but couldn''t keep him from being contaminated.


    Even in the best-case scenario, he would simply be lingering on inside Isoson, which was not what he wanted.


    Darkness gradually enveloped Xu Yi, and a fierce light appeared in his eyes, "If I can''t live, then none of us will!"


    He chose to flip the table.


    The creatures within the Soul Space shuddered slightly, sensing something terrifying descending upon them¡ªit was a golden gate, exuding an imposing aura that surged in all directions.


    Xu Yi had summoned the Gate of Truth. He may not have had any Soul Entries, but he had something even more desirable to the Gate of Truth¡ªResurrection Coins.


    He spent one Resurrection Coin to exchange for the brief arrival of the Gate of Truth.


    He now had only 39 Resurrection Coins left.


    The door slowly opened, and every creature present felt a pull. If everyone had been at their peak, they might have resisted, but they were all in the state of their soul origin.


    Without any exception, including Jason, who was deluded by illusions, all presences were sucked into the Gate of Truth.


    In the moment before entering the Gate of Truth, Xu Yi, through mental suggestion, planted a "Memory Bomb" in his soul, ready to burst as soon as it came into contact with critical information.


    This was his preparation for the Baptism of the Gate of Truth.


    Since Xu Yi took the initiative to open the Gate of Truth, he naturally had some confidence.


    "It all depends on whether the system is powerful enough!" Xu Yi took a deep breath.


    It was undoubtedly a risky move, last time passing through the Baptism of the Gate of Truth was purely good luck.


    Whether he could survive this time was anyone''s guess.


    But once past the Baptism, the rewards would be unparalleled, and the victor would gain everything!


    Xu Yi actively fell into a deep sleep, which could delay the effect of the Soul Devouring Ice Crystal.


    As long as it could increase the chances of survival, even if just a sliver, he was willing to try.


    "I hope this illusionary realm isn''t too difficult this time!" Xu Yi prayed silently.


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    Golden light illuminated Xu Yi''s eyes as he slowly woke from his slumber, the bright sunshine pouring in through the window, making the whole room gleam.


    "Daddy! You''re such a sleepyhead, the sun is already shining on your butt."


    The finely sculpted little girl lay at the head of the bed, her eyebrows furrowed, looking adorably mature beyond her years.


    Xu Yi was dazed for a moment, stretched lazily, and sat up in bed, touching the little girl''s head, "Daddy hasn''t forgotten? Today I''m taking you to the amusement park; go get mom to help you change your clothes!"


    The little girl cheered and bounced away, Xu Yi watched her bare little feet and shook his head helplessly.


    Xu Yi was seen as a winner in life by many, with a beautiful wife who loved him, a charming daughter, no mortgage or car loans, having inherited several buildings from his family, living a wealthy life just by collecting rents.


    With money and leisure time, and no bad habits, his usual life was collecting rent, playing games at home, and going out with his daughter and wife.


    The only less-than-perfect thing was that he always came up empty-handed when fishing!


    Suddenly, the phone started ringing, showing the time "09:09," Xu Yi frowned slightly; he didn''t remember setting this alarm.


    But he didn''t make much of it, dismissing the alarm and getting up to wash up and dress.


    Life, as beautiful as a blooming flower, proceeded in an orderly fashion.


    With very little work to do and no life pressures, every day was about enjoying life, a lifestyle that was simply too comfortable.


    But one thing was strange: the alarm on the phone would always go off at "09:09," initially he thought it was a phone malfunction, but after switching several phones, the issue persisted.


    Even when he deliberately did not take his phone to bed before sleeping, at that time, he still heard the alarm sound.


    He visited a psychologist who said he was under too much stress and needed to learn to relax.


    Xu Yi thought it was nonsense; if that was considered stress, wouldn''t that mean workers lived in hell?


    In saying that, it seemed true; the life of a worker was indeed difficult.


    Xu Yi started taking strong sleeping pills, which initially worked, but over time, the pills became ineffective, and he heard the alarm sound again.


    The alarm sound grew louder and more frequent, as he became surrounded by the piercing noise, even covering his ears did nothing.


    Only he could hear this alarm sound, and he began to question if he was going mad until one day, a strange thought popped into his head.


    "What if the problem isn''t with me, but with the world instead?"


    The moment this thought emerged, his brain exploded with a bang.

 Chapter 387 The Moment of Harvest!

    ```


    Xu Yi''s brain exploded with noise the moment the flood of unfamiliar memories rushed in, and he lost consciousness.


    "Honey, what''s wrong with you, don''t scare me!"


    "Dad, wake up! I''ll be good from now on, I won''t make you angry anymore!"


    The sound of weeping by his ears was heartbreaking. Xu Yi slowly awakened, vaguely feeling that he had forgotten something, but whenever he tried to recall it, his temples throbbed with pain.


    "Husband, you just scared me to death!" His wife clasped her chest, her body trembling slightly with residual fright.


    "Dad, you''re finally awake!" His daughter''s face was streaked with tears, her eyes as red as a rabbit''s.


    Xu Yi looked at the "wife and daughter" before him, reached out to touch them, but suddenly stopped halfway.


    He took a deep breath, suppressing the reluctance in his heart, and stood up from the bed, walking towards the windowsill.


    "Daddy! What are you doing?" His daughter looked at him, puzzled. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi suddenly smiled, his expression gentle, "I am very thankful for the happiness you''ve given me these days, but I''m sorry, someone else is waiting for me to return!"


    "Daddy! Don''t you want me anymore?" His daughter seemed to realize something, and her crying broke down, her sobs gut-wrenching.


    Xu Yi gritted his teeth and forcefully turned his head away.


    A voice in the depths seemed to tell him that there was only one chance, and if he hesitated, he would fall again and never have another opportunity.


    He violently opened the window, and without looking back at the calls of his wife and daughter, he jumped out.


    "What if all the memories in his brain were false? What should he do then?"


    The moment he jumped out, a thought flashed through Xu Yi''s mind.


    He thought of his wife and daughter weeping after his death, his parents collapsing, and he immediately regretted it, but it was too late, falling from a twelve-story building, he was bound to die.


    His body collided with the hard concrete ground, blood splattered out, but Xu Yi''s consciousness did not fade; his soul soared higher and higher until he was completely awake.


    "Just a little more! Just a little more!" Xu Yi''s breath was rapid, as if trying to suck in all the air in the world into his lungs.


    It had been so incredibly dangerous just now; had he hesitated even a second longer, he would have remained forever trapped within the Ice Crystal''s illusionary realm.


    The moment he jumped out the window, he had already regretted it, but since he had chosen to jump from the building, once he leapt out, there was no room for second thoughts, which allowed him to break through the illusion.


    The "Memory Bomb" he had set up undoubtedly had taken effect, with "reality of the world" as its fuse; as soon as he began to doubt the reality around him, the fuse would ignite, and the bomb would explode.


    Those surging unfamiliar memories were the effect of the Memory Bomb.


    But logic dictated that given the frightening effects of the Soul Stealing Ice Crystal, there should have been no chance for the Memory Bomb to detonate at all.


    Last time he entered the Gate of Truth and was sucked into the Serpent of Finale, he never awoke, never once doubting the reality of the world from beginning to end.


    Xu Yi looked towards the system panel, where a new notification had appeared.


    [Divine Transition Progress: 100/100, Soul Crystallization complete; your soul has gained the trait: "Immortal Purity".]


    Whether it was his self-induced slumber or the setting up of a "Memory Bomb," they were mere tricks; his trump card was actually the system.


    That raises a critical question: when does the system issue notifications?


    You should know that the system doesn''t have a timer function, and it only sends "strong notifications" for some vital content, like the previous activation of Divine Transition.


    To resolve this issue, one must go back to "Divine Transition."


    Divine Transition is like a dam built over a river, exceptionally sturdy, but as soon as the first crack appears, the integrity of the dam is greatly reduced.


    The first activation of Divine Transition is the most difficult, after which the difficulty plummets.


    ```


    ```


    He was devoured by Isoson and suffered Mental Contamination when Divine Transition was activated¡ªeven the Soul Stealing Ice Crystals could advance the progress.


    Before being pulled into the Gate of Truth, the progress of Divine Transition had already reached 91%. He was confident he could reach 100% before his soul was annihilated.


    As he predicted, but what he couldn''t anticipate was that even the system''s "strong prompt" could not pull him out of the illusionary realm.


    "But all phenomena have traces to follow!"


    Although the system''s prompt did not awaken him, it still provided hints within the dream.


    The system message appeared at "09:09", so within the illusionary realm, the alarm clock kept going off at "09:09" repeatedly.


    It was because of this anomaly that he began to doubt, which triggered the Memory Bomb and offered him that slim chance of survival.


    It took a long while before Xu Yi had the energy to check his own condition. When he saw the state of his being, he felt as if he could sweat bullets in fear.


    His soul had previously been reduced to the size of a fingernail, and now it was only the size of a grain of rice. If the progress of Divine Transition had been any slower, he might have truly dissipated into nothing.


    "Divine Light" kept washing over his soul.


    If it had been before, he certainly wouldn''t have withstood the Divine Light, but due to Soul Crystallization and acquiring the trait of "Immortal Purity," the mere remnants of his soul were excessively sturdy.


    "Finally, I''m not a glass cannon anymore!"


    Xu Yi couldn''t contain his joy; from now on, he no longer had to worry about his soul being instantly snuffed out.


    Moreover, the trait of "Immortal Purity" played a very important role in his moment of clarity within the illusionary realm.


    "Immortal Purity" not only made his Soul Core extremely durable but also allowed him a certain level of "Poison Resistance," which to a certain extent weakened the effect of the Soul Stealing Ice Crystals.


    "Now it''s time to reap the rewards!"


    Xu Yi could hardly hide his excitement as he turned his head to look. On the desolate land of the Gate of Truth, four figures floated: the charred corpse, Freddie, Oss, and Isoson.


    "There''s enough here for a game of mahjong!"


    Xu Yi looked at the charred corpse, whose Soul Split inside had already been annihilated¡ªnot due to the Baptism of the Gate of Truth.


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    He knew the Soul Split couldn''t withstand the Baptism, so before entering the Gate of Truth, he had the Soul Split completely disintegrate into the Soul Stealing Seed.


    Instead of allowing it to be annihilated by the Baptism, it was better to make a final contribution.


    Xu Yi flew out of the mouth of Isoson, who was immersed in the illusionary realm and utterly unaware of any outside changes.


    His soul flew into the charred corpse''s body and landed in the True God''s Thread.


    The moment he touched the True God''s Thread, a tide of pure soul power surged towards him.


    Previously, he was unable to absorb a large amount of power from the True God''s Thread because his soul was too weak, "Insubstantial and Unreplenishable." Now, he had no such concerns.


    A large number of Soul Stealing Seeds flew out, entering every corner of the charred corpse. Supported by the huge soul power and with no interference from Freddie, he smoothly took control of the charred corpse.


    The charred corpse moved its fingers and then raised its legs¡ªit was Xu Yi getting used to the new body.


    The reason why he allowed the charred corpse to enter the Gate of Truth was simple: he himself did not possess the ability to devour, so he had to borrow a nest to hatch the egg.


    The charred corpse approached Freddie, opened its mouth, and suction generated on its own. Freddie''s Remnant Soul was drawn in, a "Magnetic Attraction" between the primary body and the soul.


    Right when Freddie was about to be devoured, he desperately awoke for a moment. Xu Yi was a bit surprised; that''s the power of a domain soul, such a small stimulus could make Freddie react this way.


    But it was all too late now; at that moment, Freddie was too weak. Under Freddie''s desperate gaze, the charred corpse devoured him.


    As the Controller of the charred corpse, it was equivalent to him having devoured Freddie. Xu Yi''s soul shook violently, a burning sensation emerging.


    ```

 Chapter 388 Calling x Awakening

    ```


    The moment the sensation of searing heat swept over him, Xu Yi didn''t feel discomfort, but rather like a weary person soaked in a warm spring, he drifted into sleep.


    This was the prelude to the soul''s impending evolution after devouring the realm spirit Freddie.


    Xu Yi knew that he would soon fall into a deep sleep, so he needed to hurry. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Whether it was Oss''s twisted face or the spine-chilling moths of Isoson, at this moment, they all seemed very dim, as the divine light from the Gate of Truth continuously washed over them.


    This way, the difficulty of Xu Yi devouring them could also be reduced.


    Xu Yi controlled the charred corpse, approached Oss, and opened its mouth wide, resembling a snake, and swallowed Oss in one bite.


    A look of agony appeared on Oss''s face, but he wasn''t able to wake up and remained immersed in the dream world woven by the Ice Crystal of lost souls.


    The burning sensation in his abdomen grew stronger and stronger, feeling as if there was a ball of charcoal rolling inside, and Xu Yi''s drowsiness intensified.


    He hurriedly controlled the charred corpse to approach Isoson, intending to repeat the same trick. Just as Isoson was about to be devoured, he suddenly opened his eyes.


    Xu Yi was startled. Isoson wasn''t like Freddie; if the other awakened, Xu Yi certainly wouldn''t be able to deal with him.


    But he quickly let out a sigh of relief as Isoson''s eyes were lifeless, merely exhibiting a "stress response."


    The opponent also failed to break free from the illusionary realm. If the Baptism of the Gate of Truth were so easily overcome, that would be really absurd.


    The charred corpse swallowed Isoson in one bite.


    The heat spread throughout his entire body, and he felt as if he had plunged into scorching hot magma, becoming so drowsy he could no longer keep his eyes open.


    Jason stood on the desolate boundary, with divine light continuously washing over his body.


    Xu Yi had no time to care whether the Gate of Truth could kill Jason; he forced himself to stay alert and rushed toward the golden vortex.


    He had to leave the Gate of Truth before falling completely unconscious.


    A safe place was required for the soul''s evolution, and clearly, the present circumstance was not suitable.


    Xu Yi controlled the charred corpse and crashed into the golden vortex, returning to the original spot.


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    With Isoson devoured and the Soul Space dissipated, he appeared directly inside Isoson''s body, yet he even lacked the strength to break free.


    An overwhelming wave of sleepiness hit him, and he could no longer resist it and fell into a deep sleep.


    The Gate of Truth slowly closed and then vanished, leaving only the vast Black Abyss and the large, slowly undulating body of the gray lantern moth, with the Kingdom of Sorrow and Amusement City rotating around it.


    Xu Yi hadn''t completely lost consciousness, rather he fell into a state of semi-consciousness.


    He felt as if he''d fallen into a gigantic dye vat, filled with filthy dye. Those dyes sought to taint his soul with different colors.


    These dyes were in fact the lingering soul imprints, whether from Oss, Isoson, or Freddie, their soul imprints weren''t so easily erased.


    Xu Yi had to face these soul imprints if he wanted to devour them.


    These soul imprints had strong contaminating properties. Being contaminated might not lead to possession, but could likely cause a series of symptoms including mental fragmentation.


    A transparent crystal bobbed in the large dye vat yet remained untainted by any filth.


    Following the Divine Transition, Xu Yi''s Soul Crystallization emerged. The "Immortal Purity" feature it acquired, quite simply, saved his life!


    Without this feature, Xu Yi wouldn''t have dared to so boldly devour the souls of the three.


    Xu Yi''s soul was growing stronger and constantly undergoing metamorphosis.


    ......


    Amusement City.


    Handon lay on the grass, with a blade of grass in his mouth, bored and aimlessly looking up at the sky.


    ```


    Ever since Freddie disappeared, these miners no longer had to work at the risk of their lives, but there was also no way to leave, as this place was like a huge cage.


    Before, one could still see the enormous moth bodies in the void, but as time passed, the moth bodies gradually wore away and scattered, and now only a "sun" remained, hanging silently in the sky.


    The "sun" was originally black, like a coal sphere, but gradually, the coal sphere began to become transparent, and now over half has turned into a crystal ball.


    It was at this moment that a meteor flew out from the "sun," speeding towards Amusement City.


    Handon leaped up from the ground swiftly.


    This was the first time such a thing had happened, but generally speaking, the chances of something bad happening were much greater than that of anything good.


    The meteor fell straight in front of him, with dazzling light bursting forth; yet at the moment of landing, it caused no disturbance whatsoever.


    As the light faded, Handon saw the figure within the light and exclaimed in surprise, "Xu Yi?"


    He was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, and began to dance with excitement, "Did the plan succeed? Have you finally awakened?"


    "Sort of!" Xu Yi smiled and greeted him.


    Handon was a bit puzzled. An awakening was just an awakening. Why was the answer "sort of"? He glanced at the "sun" in the sky and had an epiphany.


    Xu Yi hadn''t fully awakened yet; his current state could be viewed as a Soul Split.


    The Main Soul was still undergoing a metamorphosis, and only when the "sun" in the sky turned completely transparent would he be fully awakened.


    The reason it took such a long time, apart from devouring the three Freddies, was that he needed to assimilate the power from the True God''s lineage, which couldn''t be completed quickly.


    Splitting the soul would undoubtedly reduce the efficiency of assimilation, delaying the time of full awakening, but it couldn''t be helped; he had his reasons for doing so.


    He sensed little Judy''s call for help.


    This was an arrangement he had with little Judy. If there was something important, the other would use the Array to summon him.


    In fact, this wasn''t the first cry for help. There had been one before, but at that time, it was the critical moment of the devouring, and he simply couldn''t respond.


    Xu Yi felt the call in his mind, and his eyes suddenly became incredibly deep. His gaze pierced through countless times and spaces, seeing a blurry shadow.


    He stretched out his hand, invisible threads surging forth. The threads swept toward the shadow, pulling it closer, the shadow gradually becoming clear, and finally transforming completely into a person.


    "Eh! The Array wasn''t fully activated, how did I get in?" little Judy opened her eyes in confusion.


    This was of course Xu Yi''s doing. After having devoured Freddie, even just as a Soul Split, he could use part of Freddie''s ability.


    Little Judy kept observing Xu Yi, seeing not only that he was safe and sound, but also that he seemed even stronger. She couldn''t help but let out a sigh of relief. It looked like Xu Yi''s plan had probably succeeded.


    "Did you summon me because there''s something important?" Xu Yi asked.


    Little Judy took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "We''ve found the Burial Ground of the gods!"


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up; this truly was a double blessing, but little Judy''s next words made him freeze in his tracks.


    "The Burial Ground of the gods is indeed important, but compared to that, I think there is something even more important for you to do."


    Little Judy looked up and gazed at Xu Yi, "Perhaps you should first go see your daughter."


    "Daughter?"


    Xu Yi was a bit puzzled; in his memory, Lisa had only been pregnant for a short period, was little Judy suggesting he should go see an ultrasound photo?


    "In two days, it''ll be your daughter''s second birthday!" little Judy sighed deeply.


    Xu Yi was completely stunned. After inquiring for a long time, he finally confirmed one thing.


    Almost three years had passed since he entered the Dream World.


    During the time of devouring and merging, he didn''t feel the passage of time at all.

 Chapter 389 World Turmoil x News of the Burial Ground

    The colossal "Black Sun" raced through the Dream World, signifying the birth of the new kingdom of the Black Abyss. After Xu Yi devoured Isoson, he naturally became the master of the Black Abyss.


    At this moment, the kingdom of the Black Abyss, having absorbed Amusement City and the Kingdom of Sorrow, had become even stronger than before, its speed akin to lightning.


    The Dream Rift River appeared ahead, and Handon had long arrived at the edge of the Black Abyss, peering eagerly into the distance.


    Currently, Xu Yi was merely a Soul Split; with his current ability, he still couldn''t leave the Dream World, but he could use Freddie''s ability to enter dreams.


    Initially, Handon was promised a chance to return to his daughter''s side. Xu Yi might not have the ability to do so just yet, but he could let Handon meet his daughter through entering her dream.


    Even so, Handon trembled with excitement.


    The Dream Rift River was vast and boundless, and locating the dream of a specific person was no easy task.


    After inheriting Freddie''s ability, Xu Yi could perform key information searches.


    His gaze suddenly fixed, unable to shift away, staring intently at one particular Dream Droplet.


    Within that droplet, he felt a blood connection, which made his search especially straightforward¡ªit was almost as if he saw her at first glance.


    The little girl''s figure flickered within the droplet; obviously, a mixed-race child, with white-gold curly hair, pupils dark as ink, features bearing the delicacy of Easterners, yet her skin was exceptionally fair.


    "Xu Xiaoyu, huh?" Xu Yi murmured to himself as he gazed at the figure in the droplet.


    This name was given by his father, Xu Changrong, on a whim, but Xu Yi fell for the name the moment he heard it.


    In the droplet, Xu Xiaoyu''s eyebrows were tightly knit, clearly experiencing a nightmare. Xu Yi lightly tapped his fingertip, and a stream of light flew out, sinking into the Dream Droplet.


    Xu Xiaoyu''s furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and a sweet smile appeared on her face. Xu Yi himself couldn''t help but curve his lips into a slight smile as he dispelled Xu Xiaoyu''s nightmare, gifting her a night of pleasant dreams.


    "I''m sorry!" Xu Yi''s eyes brimmed with intense remorse. The loss of fatherly love during a little girl''s upbringing was something that could never be truly compensated for.


    He didn''t disturb Xu Xiaoyu, possibly because he didn''t want their first meeting to be within a dream, or perhaps because he was afraid¡­


    It might be hard to believe, but Xu Yi has encountered untold numbers of terrifying creatures, even gods, yet at this moment, he actually felt a bit daunted to face Xu Xiaoyu.


    Xu Yi found Lisa''s dream within the Dream Rift River. He jumped into the river, which had no temperature, and he felt no collision at all.


    The moment his fingers touched Lisa''s Dream Droplet, his entire body was sucked in.


    "Entering dreams" had two applications: one was to force someone into the Dream World, and the other was to enter someone else''s dream.


    Compared to the first, the second method was undoubtedly more gentle. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lisa had seen Xu Yi in her dreams and wasn''t surprised, as little Judy had already informed her in advance. Neither of them spoke, merely embracing each other for a long time.


    Even though it was a fictitious world, Xu Yi could almost smell the fragrance of lilies after the rain on Lisa''s body.


    It was a long while before they began to talk.


    Lisa kept talking, and Xu Yi listened quietly; too many things had happened in these three years.


    Among them, the most significant event was the global sea level rise, leading to the relocation of many coastal countries, with rumors of the apocalypse running rampant.


    "Do you know the reason?" Xu Yi knit his brows, filled with a very bad premonition.


    "All countries are investigating with all their might, but so far, there''s still no explanation that everyone finds convincing," Lisa replied, her brows equally furrowed.


    Xu Yi had been asleep for three years, but she had been living in the real world; she understood the impact of this event much more profoundly than Xu Yi did.


    The sea level is rising at an astonishing rate; scientists have studied that if it continues at this pace, in another ten years, all of the world''s land will be submerged.


    To address the crisis of rising sea levels, numerous countries are already planning the "Noah''s Ark" plan, beginning to build survival fortresses at sea.


    Lisa mentioned many more "minor disasters."


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    "Minor disasters" are only minor when compared to the rising sea levels; in reality, each disaster is a huge paranormal event capable of destroying nations, and many countries have been destroyed as a result.


    The past three years can be described as a living hell for all creatures.


    "Not long ago, we found the Burial Ground of the divine spirits in the Arctic Ocean!" Lisa gradually brought the conversation back on track.


    Xu Yi''s spirits lifted; such frequent disasters had already given him a sense of an impending storm.


    To protect himself and his family in the face of a great disaster, he must possess immense strength, and his desire to become stronger grew ever more intense!


    The path to becoming stronger was already clear; that was to become a "different god."


    The three conditions of "different godhood" are a Domain Soul, Dark Power, and a Divine Body.


    His soul was already not just a Domain Soul, and once the devouring and fusion were complete, he would become an even more powerful Soul Master.


    He had yet to figure out Dark Power, but hope for the Divine Body was already in sight.


    To ascend to a Divine Body, the Burial Ground of the divine spirits was key.


    "But unfortunately, the Burial Ground of the divine spirits is already claimed, and we are trying to find a solution," Lisa said gravely.


    Xu Yi felt a shadow pass over his heart upon hearing this.


    Given the strength of Lisa and her associates, they could virtually do as they pleased around the world, with few organizations able to muster so many titled exorcists.


    Moreover, out of respect for him, whether in New York, Boston, or the church, all were willing to provide assistance. Lisa and her group were already at the top of the world''s power structure.


    Yet when Lisa spoke of the Burial Ground of the divine spirits, her expression was incredibly guarded, indicating that the organization occupying it must indeed be very troublesome.


    "Which organization is it?" Xu Yi asked.


    "The Ancient God Sacrificial Organization," Lisa replied softly.


    Xu Yi fell silent; there was no doubt that the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization was a fearsome adversary.


    In Atlantis, those two "cocoon people" had left a very deep impression on him, and he later found out that those two "cocoon people" were just ordinary members of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    It''s unknown how many similar "cocoon people" there might be.


    The Ancient God Sacrificial Organization was also the biggest enemy of the Ring of Destruction. Given how powerful the Ring of Destruction was, yet they acted so cautiously, avoiding the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization at all costs.


    This alone indicated just how terrifying an entity the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization was.


    In fact, the high echelons of various countries knew that there was one organization that reigned supreme over them, and that was the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    No wonder Lisa was so guarded; even the current Xu Yi had no good solutions when facing them.


    "We have already prepared an Array Golden Coffin for your body; the issue now is how to bury the coffin within the Burial Ground of the divine spirits," Lisa suddenly said. "We already have a rough plan for this."


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up instantly, and he asked urgently, "What plan?"


    "Going head-to-head with the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization is clearly not a good choice. So we''re planning to have the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization''s people ''help'' us bury the coffin," Lisa answered quietly.

 Chapter 390 Loud Conspiracy

    Arctic Ocean, Verkoyansk, Harbor Gas Station.


    No one could have imagined that in such a freezing place, a large gas station would be built, hidden between the crevices of icebergs.


    "Hasn''t arrived yet?" Xu Yi looked out the window of the waiting room, gazing towards the end of the icy sea.


    Of course, Xu Yi''s soul was in the Dream World, and the reason he could see the real world was thanks to the Annabelle doll.


    What he had not expected was that he would find Annabelle''s dreams within the Dream Rift River.


    After so many years of growth, the soul born within the doll had intelligence that could rival that of humans.


    After he entered Annabelle''s dream, the "Symbiotic Eye" became effective once more.


    Not only the Symbiotic Eye, he could also speak through Annabelle as a medium, though his voice had a "puppet" flavor, very stilted and deliberate.


    "Should be soon." The voice virtually whispered in his ear.


    Xu Yi turned his head to find the Annabelle doll sitting on Maria''s shoulder.


    Maria''s hair was loose, she wore a fuzzy bear skin hat, and a long knife hung at her waist as the cold wind lifted her woolen coat.


    Years had gone by, and Maria had matured quite a bit, already appearing every bit the qualified warrior, but her eyes remained as clear as ever.


    A black dot suddenly appeared at the end of the icy sea, drawing closer and closer, until Xu Yi could make it out clearly¡ªit was a giant military transport plane with no national insignia, a true "Three No''s aircraft."


    The transport plane would refuel here before flying directly to the Ocean Base in the Arctic Ocean.


    Without question, the transport before him belonged to the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, and it was also Xu Yi''s hope for entering the Burial Ground with his physical body.


    "The transport plane has arrived! Hurry up and get ready!"


    A figure burst into the waiting room suddenly¡ªit was a young man in his twenties, with messy hair, a pale face, and thick dark circles under his eyes that gave the impression of someone frail, the epitome of "young, but physically hollowed out."


    The young man was wrapped in a thick military coat, which bore a small insignia at the collar¡ªan amalgam of lightning and flame striking an ancient, circular stele.


    This was the emblem of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, known as the "Ancient God Pattern."


    Indeed, the young man in front of them was a member of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    To bury a body in the heavily guarded Burial Ground without an inside man¡ªhow could that be possible?


    "Can we trust this guy?" Xu Yi asked.


    "We''ve investigated him. He was abandoned by his parents as a child and was brought up by his grandmother who made a living doing odd jobs. He''s a filial person."


    Maria answered softly, "Now his grandmother has fallen seriously ill; common medical treatments are of no use. We promised him that as long as he gets the items into the Burial Ground, we will provide the secret medicine to cure his grandmother."


    "Doesn''t the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization have such secret medicine?" Xu Yi was puzzled.


    Logically speaking, an organization that could suppress the Ring of Destruction shouldn''t lack such things.


    "Of course they do, but the medicine requires points to redeem, and Bob is just a peripheral member. By the time he has enough points, his grandmother would probably have been buried long ago," Maria explained.


    "Since he can betray the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, is there a possibility he could betray us?" Xu Yi frowned slightly.


    "Very likely," Maria nodded, "but this is the only choice we have. Most importantly, his grandmother is now being treated at a hospital in Boston."


    Xu Yi nodded; Boston was essentially their stronghold. While their methods weren''t the most honorable, having a hostage was a stark necessity.


    "Hey, hey! You''re discussing your conspiracy out loud in front of the person involved, is that really okay?"


    Bob, unable to bear it any longer, said, "Besides, I''m not some traitor; I''m just a worker for the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization. At most, I''m just taking some kickbacks, isn''t that a common occurrence?"


    "Let''s hear your plan," Xu Yi said, unfazed by the complaints. His discussion about this matter with Maria in front of the other party was, of course, meant as a warning.


    "The plan is simple. You''ll hide in a box, and after the transport plane takes off, rumbling for over ten hours, the box will reach the Ocean Base. You find a chance to sneak into the Burial Ground, and that''s that!" Bob clapped his hands together.


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    "It sounds as simple as hitching a free ride," said Xu Yi expressionlessly.


    "Of course!" Bob exclaimed confidently.


    "Maria, can we really rely on this guy?" Xu Yi suddenly felt the future was bleak.


    "Hey, hey! You can question my character, but not my ability!"


    Bob was unwilling to let it go, "Sister Maria, you know I''m the most reliable person around. It was with my help that you successfully killed that monster."


    He stared at Maria, trying to get her to vouch for him. But the next second, he was "shot through the heart."


    "Indeed, Bob is not reliable, so we will need to make our own efforts afterward," Maria replied.


    A harsh grating sound filled the air as the transporter landed on the deceleration track and steadily approached the gas station.


    "The transporter is here. Let''s stick to the plan!" Bob had no time to chat anymore and hurriedly pushed the door open to leave.


    The hatch of the transporter opened, and the first person to disembark was a middle-aged man with a potbelly. Bob approached him with a smile plastered across his face.


    Middle age often brings with it the crisis of hair loss. This man''s crisis was particularly severe, with only a few strands stubbornly clinging to the top of his head.


    The man wore a suit and tie and carried a black briefcase, looking like nothing more than a common office worker from the city.


    Could it be that the transporter wasn''t from the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization? Xu Yi was filled with confusion.


    But looking at Bob gave him a different impression¡ªas if it was more than just enthusiasm, almost sycophantic.


    Bob couldn''t possibly mistake his own boss, could he?


    However, very soon, he didn''t have that doubt anymore. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Eight figures jumped down from the plane and lined up in front of the hatch, dressed in black "Chrysalis Armor," emanating an aura so oppressive it was suffocating.


    Wanting to safely enter the cabin meant first distracting these men, and Xu Yi was very curious as to what method Bob would use.


    "Manager Caiden, our people have prepared a welcome feast for you," Bob said softly.


    Caiden was all business, "That''s not necessary. Just fill up the plane with fuel, and we will leave immediately!"


    "There won''t be any delay. It''ll take some time to fill it up anyway, and the banquet is something we''ve prepared with great care."


    Bob gestured toward the lounge.


    Caiden followed the direction of Bob''s finger and saw the metal doors slowly open. Dancers with ample curves sat on either side, winking at Caiden, deliberately exposing their pale thighs.


    Caiden swallowed his saliva secretly¡ªwho could resist such a temptation?


    "Since you''ve prepared the banquet with such sincerity, it would be a waste not to attend."


    Caiden coughed and then regained his composure, looking at those present as if nothing were amiss.


    "The brothers have all worked hard, too. Let''s all go together; the more, the merrier!" Bob looked toward the eight guards present.


    Caiden knew well that if he didn''t let them go, morale would crumble, but the transporter couldn''t be left unattended.


    "Number 3 and Number 5, you stay for now, we''ll rotate in half an hour." After a moment, the experienced Caiden came up with a solution.


    Just two guards remained, significantly reducing the difficulty of entering the cabin. But Xu Yi had underestimated Bob¡ªtwo female soldiers suddenly appeared, walking toward the remaining guards.


    They wore uniforms, but their actions and demeanor made it obvious they weren''t real soldiers¡ªa bold red lipstick, heavy makeup, and swaying hips as they walked.


    If it weren''t so cold outside, Xu Yi felt Bob might have had them wear slits up to their thighs.


    The "female soldiers" began to idle chat with the guards left behind, getting closer and closer.


    "Is this a military refueling station or a nightclub!" Xu Yi expressed his amazement.


    Then he suddenly changed his tone, "Since Bob has created such a great opportunity, we can''t waste it. Let''s start the action!"

 Chapter 391 Carpooling

    "I didn''t expect it to be so easy to get in!"


    Maria walked into the empty engine room and sighed leisurely.


    There was no thrilling infiltration, nor was a circuitous route needed; she simply changed into a workstation uniform, put on a mask, and, dragging a fuel nozzle, approached the airplane''s rear door.


    Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention, she slipped in like a wisp of smoke¡ªso effortlessly that it felt surreal.


    Annabelle crawled out of Maria''s pocket, her ability to shrink at will proving exceedingly convenient.


    Xu Yi looked around the cabin, where the lights were dim, illuminated only by the small orange lights overhead.


    There were several huge metal boxes placed in the engine room, unsecured but coated in a layer of black gel.


    The gel squirmed non-stop, chilling to the bone. It was obvious that the gelatinous material was not to be trifled with, so the idea of opening the metal boxes easily was laughable.


    Each metal box had a number, and following Bob''s instructions, Maria proceeded all the way to the back of the cabin, where she found the designated box, number 9407.


    The moment Xu Yi saw the box, he understood why Bob had them look for this particular one.


    9407 was the only box without the black gelatinous substance; it was simply locked.


    But it was no common lock¡ªit was some kind of alchemy product. However, compared to the black gel, the lock in front of them was undoubtedly much easier to deal with.


    Just as they were observing the alchemy lock, footsteps suddenly echoed in the darkness.


    Maria was startled; with her perception, she hadn''t noticed someone in the corner! Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her muscles tensed, she cautiously gazed into the darkness, gripping the hilt of "Pride," her katana, ready to switch to Ailan at any moment.


    "What a coincidence, I didn''t expect to meet Miss Maria here!"


    Xu Yi was slightly taken aback. The voice from the darkness sounded eerily familiar; he hadn''t expected to encounter an acquaintance here.


    Two figures slowly emerged, with the orange light illuminating the face of the person in front, lenses of his black-framed glasses reflecting a ray of light.


    "West?!" Xu Yi was instantly stunned.


    He had seen West before entering the Dream World, so there was no feeling of it being a lifetime ago.


    When West was swallowed by the blade light, Xu Yi knew the man hadn''t been killed so easily; now, it seemed that hunch was confirmed.


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    "How did you get here?" Maria asked coldly, her blade slightly drawn.


    She wouldn''t forget that if it hadn''t been for West''s betrayal at the critical moment, Xu Yi wouldn''t have been drawn into the Dream World, and they wouldn''t have been separated for three long years.


    If it weren''t for the wrong circumstances, she would have drawn her sword and struck by now.


    West still wore a faint smile as if he had run into a long-lost friend rather than an enemy.


    Three years had passed, and West''s appearance hadn''t changed, but Xu Yi felt that he had become stronger and more commanding.


    The figure in black behind West stepped forward, his cold gaze fixed on Maria, and a chilling light flickered in his silver pupils.


    Xu Yi watched the man in black, his eyebrows furrowed.


    The man was an alchemical machinery of the Ring of Destruction, with a snake''s face and a human body, his metallic scales a reddish hue.


    The tension was palpable as if Xu Yi could already smell the gunpowder.


    "Don''t fight! Everyone calm down, you''re all accomplices, aren''t you?" Bob suddenly burst in, appearing between the two.


    "What do you mean by that?" Maria stared at Bob, her gaze as sharp as a sword.


    Bob''s forehead was covered in cold sweat; he knew that if he couldn''t provide an explanation, things would likely turn ugly.


    "Your goals are the same, to enter the deep-sea base, isn''t that what accomplices are?"


    Bob was in an awkward situation¡ªhe had thought to double his earnings, but he hadn''t expected there to be enmity between the two parties.


    Yet difficult as it was, he had to proceed. He could only grit his teeth and explain.


    Xu Yi was speechless¡ªit was like thinking you were in a private car, only to drive a short distance before the driver tells you there are other passengers to be picked up.


    Maria''s katana slowly slid from its sheath, the blade''s light illuminating Bob''s face, who twitched at the corner of his eye, already prepared to flee.


    "Miss Maria, this isn''t exactly the best place to settle things, how about I apologize after we leave this area?" West spoke softly.


    Maria sheathed her sword again, well aware that now was not the time to act on impulse.


    All she had done was to warn Bob¡ªif she really had wanted to engage, she would''ve switched to Ailan by now.


    "That''s better! There''s an old saying in Xia Kingdom, ''Harmony brings wealth'' after all!"


    Bob, his forehead beaded with sweat, hurriedly pulled a key from his pocket. The key was very ancient-looking, and as he inserted it into the keyhole and turned it, metal box number 9407 slowly opened.


    A frigid mist surged towards them; within it, Xu Yi could see a massive dragon head¡ªnot of Xia Kingdom, but of a Western dragon, yet with some differences that made it look even more fearsome.


    The dragon head was ice-blue, resembling an ice sculpture, with mist emanating from it.


    But the "ice sculpture" suddenly opened its eyes, golden vertical pupils coldly sweeping over those present.


    It was alive.


    "No need to worry! It''s merely for show, its core has been removed, so it has no aggressive capabilities for now!"


    Bob said this, but as soon as he opened the box, he darted several meters away, hiding behind everyone else.


    No wonder box number 9047 had no vinyl! Xu Yi suddenly understood.


    Vinyl must be an extremely precious material, not even abundant within the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization. The dragon head in front of them, posing not much threat, did not warrant the waste of vinyl.


    "Whoever wants to enter the deep-sea base should hide inside this dragon head. The rest of you don''t need to go in, it''s not exactly a nice place inside," Bob suddenly coughed, reminding those present.


    West turned his head to look at a snake-headed figure beside him, "You can leave first! I will contact you if needed."


    The snake-headed man respectfully bowed before retreating back into the darkness.


    Xu Yi watched the scene, eyebrows furrowed.


    West had also once collaborated with the Ring of Destruction, but back then, he was more of a pawn.


    The snake-headed man gave off a presence not inferior to Crow Man, yet he seemed to behold respect from West, and his actions indicated complete obedience to West.


    What exactly happened over these three years that led to such a change?


    West stepped into the metal box. Annabelle followed close behind; her toy space contained the Golden Coffin engraved with the Magic Array, within which laid Xu Yi''s body.


    Carrying the Golden Coffin around would make too noticeable a target, thankfully there was Annabelle.


    Annabelle had just entered the metal box when she suddenly fell from her space, unable to maintain her floating state.


    "A Magic-Prohibiting Box?!"


    Xu Yi looked around; there was another layer of transparent "glass" inside the metal box.


    No wonder upon opening the box, the dragon head didn''t even think of escaping. With its core removed and the presence of the Magic-Prohibiting Box, there was no possibility of escape.


    They had just entered the box when the sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the cabin, startling Xu Yi.


    The footsteps were particularly crisp, the kind made by "cocoon people" as they moved.


    Maria''s grip tightened on the hilt of her katana, and West''s brow furrowed as well.


    Xu Yi inwardly cursed their bad luck - of all times, it had to be now, and it was too late to hide.

 Chapter 392 Three Ways to Eat One Fish

    The sound of footsteps grew closer and closer, and Xu Yi could already see the silhouette of the "Pupa Person," the black armor emitting a tremendous sense of oppression.


    That armor was called the "Black Abyss Combat Attire," for short, Black Abyss Gear, which was the battle gear of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    It was said that there were even more advanced combat gears, but those were top secret, and even Bob had no clue about them. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My Dreamland is called Black Abyss, shouldn''t this gear be mine?"


    Xu Yi couldn''t help feeling sour inside, the Black Abyss Gear was way too OP, and he couldn''t help but be envious.


    Maria''s knife was already half drawn, ready to act at any moment. Suddenly, Bob extended his hand, signaling Maria to stay calm.


    Maria hesitated for a moment, then sheathed her knife.


    Bob flicked a cigarette from his pack, placed it between his lips, and didn''t bother to light it.


    With a look of disdain on his face, he walked straight toward the Black Abyss Army.


    "Brother, I''ve already made a deal with your manager."


    Bob pulled a key from his pocket, "But share and share alike, this key can open box number f1803 at the headquarters of the Swiss Bank."


    He handed over the key, "This is a little token of appreciation, I hope you like it."


    The Black Abyss soldier looked around, said nothing, took the key, and turned to leave.


    After everything that happened today, Xu Yi felt like his entire worldview had been shattered.


    The Ancient God Sacrificial Organization could be said to be the most powerful force in the world, yet it gave him a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu to South Korean political circles, where corruption was rampant.


    He wasn''t sure if this was an isolated case, or if the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization was all like this.


    "These strange pieces of flesh can fetch a high price on the black market, and the Black Abyss Army often uses them to make a little extra cash," explained Bob.


    Xu Yi couldn''t help admiring that Bob did have his reliable moments; this trick of creating something from nothing was indeed clever.


    Bob had been holding onto a safety deposit box, which he suddenly tossed to West.


    Xu Yi was stunned. What was he up to now?


    "Brother with the glasses, help me cut some flesh from Gui Tang, lock it in the box, and then toss it out," Bob instructed.


    Seeing that everyone was staring at him, Bob hurriedly added, "Thank you!"


    Well, look at that! The man''s got manners! Xu Yi thought, full of thoughts he couldn''t express.


    He had thought that Bob had just made up a lie to fool the Black Abyss Army, but it turned out to be true.


    "Carpooling" was one thing, but this guy actually pulled off a "triple dip"!


    West opened the box, which contained blue ice crystals.


    He actually cut off a piece of meat the size of a palm from the dragon''s head. According to Bob, the dragon''s head was known as Gui Tang.


    "Is this enough?" West, ever unpretentious, even asked with a smile.


    "More than enough, thank you so much, I''ll treat you to tea someday!" Bob responded grandly.


    Once Bob had the safety deposit box, he reached out to close the metal door.


    "How are we going to get out later?" Xu Yi finally couldn''t contain himself and spoke using Annabelle''s body.


    "Don''t worry, I''ve arranged everything!" Bob gestured an OK sign.


    Xu Yi couldn''t shake off the feeling that Bob''s plan wasn''t reliable, but as the heavy metal door shut loudly, they were plunged into darkness.


    Xu Yi and West moved in the dark, approaching the massive dragon head called Gui Tang, cutting a hole at the severed neck big enough to hide in.


    The dragon head Gui Tang roared in pain, but it could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.


    Their actions were almost identical, covering themselves with a special potion and then crawling inside the body of the dragon head Gui Tang.


    In the darkness, no one spoke, the transport plane roared to life, taking off. After a long while, it began to descend slowly.


    Xu Yi heard the sound of waves hitting a solid object, they must have arrived at the seaborne base in the Arctic Ocean.


    The metal box jostled again. After an unknown duration, it was unloaded, leaving only the transparent Magic-Prohibiting Box. Finally, the light was restored.


    Xu Yi instructed Annabelle to hide well. Using the ability of the Symbiotic Eye, he cautiously peeked outside.


    What came into view was a black, circular tunnel. Patrolling above it were soldiers of the Black Abyss army; at a glance, there were over thirty of them.


    With such formidable power, even a Demon God arriving here wouldn''t be able to escape easily.


    Above the Magic-Prohibiting Box was a metal arm with eight claws firmly gripping the box.


    The metal arm suddenly shuddered, taking the Magic-Prohibiting Box down along with it.


    The light within the tunnel was dim; Xu Yi could barely make out large, arched platforms built along the edges of the tunnel.


    Those platforms were piled with dense arrays of Magic-Prohibiting Boxes, each a treasure of immense value if placed outside.


    Xu Yi found this unsurprising, as the Magic-Prohibiting Boxes were originally manufactured by the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    Each Magic-Prohibiting Box contained an abnormal creature, some ghosts, and even giant beasts¡ª all sorts of strange entities.


    What was the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization planning to do with so many captured creatures? Xu Yi was very curious.


    The Magic-Prohibiting Box continued downward, and after every few hundred meters, another platform emerged.


    Xu Yi noticed a pattern: the lower the platform, the more powerful the abnormalities within the Magic-Prohibiting Boxes.


    Upon reaching the 05 level platform, the metal arm jerked suddenly, preparing to move the Magic-Prohibiting Box onto the vacant space on the platform.


    The platforms were organized by the ranks of strength, which meant that Dragon Head Ghost Tang belonged to the range of creatures for this area.


    But West suddenly peeked out, staring above, where the threads lurking on the outside of the Magic-Prohibiting Box began to squirm.


    It was a nearly transparent thin line, as thin as a hair, very difficult to detect.


    That line was evidently left by West outside the Magic-Prohibiting Box, now creeping up the metal arm.


    The metal arm hesitated a moment, as if it had jammed, but after a while, it continued downward with the Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    The mechanical arm was also an alchemical product. If West had indeed joined the Ring of Destruction, with the alchemy skills at their disposal, hacking into the metal arm would be well within his capabilities.


    "What exactly is West here for?" Xu Yi grew even more curious.


    The situation was undoubtedly in his favor; the Divine Burial Ground was deep in the sea, and the further down he went, the closer he got to his target.


    The Magic-Prohibiting Box whistled downward, and they reached the 17th level platform.


    There were significantly fewer Magic-Prohibiting Boxes on the platform¡ªXu Yi swept his gaze around and was inwardly shocked.


    A fishman king wearing a Thorn Crown, a fierce Fallen Angel with black wings on its back, and even a unicorn radiating holy light... the strengths of these abnormalities were no less formidable than a titled exorcist.


    Yet the Magic-Prohibiting Box was still moving downward.


    The metal arm thundered, reaching its maximum extension, and they arrived at the deepest part of the tunnel, the 18th level platform.


    On this platform, there was only one Magic-Prohibiting Box, which contained a seated clown wearing a vintage European performance costume, his face painted with thick white makeup, and his jaundiced yellow eyes resembling those of someone with severe hepatitis.


    The ghastly-faced clown, sensing the disturbance, lifted his head and gave a faint glance before returning his gaze.


    Without a doubt, the clown in front of them was West''s target.


    However, Xu Yi was a bit puzzled. The clown seemed much weaker than the abnormalities on the previous level, seemingly more fitted to appear on the third or fourth level platform.


    "Hello, Mr. Pennywise!"


    West emerged from beneath the dragon''s head, approached the edge of the Magic-Prohibiting Box, and greeted through the "glass."


    The clown seemed a bit intrigued but remained seated on the ground, simply twisting his head to watch West. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    "Mr. Pennywise, if you dislike that appellation, perhaps I may call you by another name, Deathlight," West said with a faint smile on his face.


    Suddenly called by his true name, the clown sprang up from the ground and only came to a halt after crashing into the side of the box. He stared intensely at West, his expression ferocious.


    In the Dream World far away, Xu Yi''s eyes lit up upon hearing the name "Deathlight," and his heart began to beat thunderously.

 Chapter 393 The Cosmic Evil God

    Xu Yi forcefully suppressed the excitement in his heart, perked up his ears, and eavesdropped on West and the clown''s conversation.


    He had once read about "Deathlight" in an Ancient Tome.


    "Deathlight" comes from Another World, a terrifying existence living beyond the Black Tower, a powerful cosmic Evil God.


    The reason Xu Yi was so excited was that "Deathlight" belonged to other demonic beings!


    When he was searching for information initially, he didn''t consider "Deathlight" at all, not because it wasn''t powerful enough, but because it was too powerful and had long since vanished without a trace.


    "Deathlight" had once descended in Derry, which has now disappeared into the river of history.


    To become an Evil God, Xu Yi had to fulfill three basic conditions: a realm soul, a Divine Body, and dark power.


    And other demonic beings were key to the dark power.


    It was an unexpected pleasure, like planting willows without intentions only to find them casting shade, encountering this surprise before heading to the Burial Ground of the Spirits!


    But soon enough, Xu Yi could no longer smile. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What exactly do you want from me?" Pennywise the clown suddenly revealed a sinister smile on his face, with an unusually sharp and soft voice.


    "Before we discuss that, let me take care of a minor issue first."


    West suddenly turned his head, looked towards the Annabelle doll, and his gaze gradually became dangerous.


    Xu Yi felt a tightness in his heart, knowing that although they were in the Magic-Prohibiting Box and past combat abilities couldn''t be utilized, Annabelle still wouldn''t stand a chance against West.


    He was just a bystander and couldn''t help.


    Annabelle''s toy space still held his body, and it had to be kept safe no matter what.


    The more anxious his heart became, the faster his brain operated.


    As West approached closer, Xu Yi completely took over Annabelle, and spoke solemnly, "Long time no see, West!"


    West was taken aback. Although the sound came from Puppet, he still recognized the familiar tone and questioned in confusion, "Xu Yi?"


    "Aren''t you disappointed that I didn''t die?" Xu Yi asked softly.


    West shook his head, "I never thought you were dead. You''re not that weak. You must have been hiding unknown powerful cards."


    Xu Yi inwardly sighed; indeed, the person who understands you best isn''t your companion, but your opponent.


    West frowned slightly. If it were an ordinary opponent, he could have ignored them, but encountering Xu Yi made things difficult.


    He had witnessed Xu Yi''s terror, wielding the ultimate weapon, clashing against the semi-decayed seed of the World Tree.


    Although he was much stronger than before, had Xu Yi been treading water all these years?


    He had specifically investigated Xu Yi, and his growth rate was astonishingly fast.


    So, taking action against Xu Yi here might not be a wise choice.


    Xu Yi saw West''s hesitation and quickly struck while the iron was hot, "We can temporarily cooperate. I need to enter the Burial Ground of the Spirits, which I imagine doesn''t conflict with your plans."


    West pondered for a moment, then nodded, showing a sincere smile, "I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation this time."


    Xu Yi was well aware that this cooperation wouldn''t be pleasant.


    He didn''t know West''s purpose, but it seemed that the other party needed to leverage the power of Pennywise, while he needed to "smelt" the other for dark power.


    So, there would inevitably be a moment when they crossed swords.


    Transparent threads emerged from the mechanical arm, weaving over the Magic-Prohibiting Box, reaching the lock, and inserting into the keyhole. After a moment, "click," the lock was opened.


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    This efficiency, even the most skilled locksmiths, would probably only sigh in inferiority.


    Xu Yi had been worried about how to leave the Magic-Prohibiting Box, but unexpectedly, thanks to West''s help, he achieved it easily.


    The door of the Magic-Prohibiting Box closed again, the metal arm above trembled, and the box began to ascend, Dragon Head Ghost Poppy would return to its designated Platform 05.


    Thus, the chances of being discovered were greatly reduced.


    West came to the Clown''s Magic-Prohibiting Box and the transparent thread from his hand shot out, jumping onto the lock of the box, intending to repeat his old trick.


    But as soon as the thread touched the lock, pale gold symbols emerged on the surface of the Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    The thread jerked back onto West like an electrically shocked eel.


    West''s brows furrowed, as with his knowledge, he could barely recognize those symbols as ancient Essano script.


    To break the taboo of these ancient characters was an extremely tricky matter.


    "There''s no use trying again, this Magic-Prohibiting Box is specially made, and once opened, it will immediately trigger an alarm. In my current state, it''s not possible to escape from here."


    The Clown Pennywise''s face revealed an enthusiastic smile.


    With the hope of escaping this damned place, he was naturally excited, though that smile, in the eyes of ordinary people, would be described as nothing less than sinister and horrifying.


    "Do you have any good suggestions?" West, as expected, didn''t try again.


    "Find the Origin! As long as we can find my Origin, I can lead you out of here!"


    The Clown Pennywise licked his lips, issuing a sinister laugh:


    "Even if I could go out now, with my frail appearance, I doubt I''d be of any help to you, right? As long as we find the Origin, I''ll be able to restore most of my strength."


    Xu Yi wasn''t surprised by this, he had already guessed it; if Dragon Head Ghost Poppy had its core dug out, then the Clown, this terrifying being, would be no exception.


    When the Clown Pennywise saw that West remained silent, he quickly added, "I can sense it; my Origin is in the vicinity, no more than ten kilometers away."


    "Do you have an exact location?" West thought constantly, beginning to formulate a strategy in his mind.


    "At such a close distance, even with this annoying box in between, I should be able to feel it. Now, the sensing is so vague, if I''m not mistaken..."


    The cunning light flickered in the Clown''s orange-yellow pupils, "It must be interfered by the aura of a Divine Body."


    Xu Yi was startled, not expecting that after all that searching, it would come back to the Divine Burial Ground again.


    The Clown''s Origin was hidden there too.


    West still did not speak, with so many unknowns, he disliked doing unguranteed actions.


    "I can sign a Soul Contract with you!" The Clown Pennywise knew he had to show some sincerity to move the man in front of him.


    He had been trapped here too long, and he yearned to escape this place.


    "I will find a way," West finally responded. He took out a Parchment Scroll contract, handing it to the Clown Pennywise, clearly well-prepared.


    Throughout the process, Xu Yi didn''t say a word.


    In his current state, he didn''t even have the right to speak and set terms.


    But in his heart, he had already sworn, he must obtain the Clown Pennywise''s Origin before West.


    Once the Clown acquired the Origin, it would undoubtedly become extremely difficult to deal with.


    Moreover, the current Clown Pennywise was just a shell; only by finding the Origin would there be a chance to smelt out the power of Darkness.

 Chapter 394 Each Fleeing From Imminent Disaster

    West''s lower half turned into a slick serpentine body, while Annabelle was suspended in the air; they moved forward in the narrow passage without making a single sound.


    After leaving the eighteenth-floor platform where the clown resided, they found a hidden maintenance hatch.


    They crawled into the maintenance hatch, heading downward, preparing to reach the Burial Ground of Divine Bodies first.


    They did not know how long they had walked in the dim maintenance tunnel when a sudden bright light came through.


    A "glass window" was embedded in the side of the maintenance tunnel, made of the same material as the Magic-Prohibiting Box, which was the only way to withstand the deep-sea pressure.


    The deep sea should have been pitch-black, as sunlight could not penetrate here, but several huge lamps floated in the sea, illuminating the ocean floor.


    Gigantic skeletons lay across the seabed; judging from their shapes, they must have been giants tens of meters tall in life, with orderly sternums like the arches of monasteries. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It wasn''t just one skeleton; they were haphazardly overlapping each other, forming a vast Bone Mountain.


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    Xu Yi gazed at those skeletons, frowning slightly.


    Even after such a long time of death, these skeletons still maintained a remarkable majesty.


    Without a doubt, what lay before him was the remains of divine beings; they were about to reach the Burial Ground.


    So many divine beings gathered together, only to fall in the end; who exactly were their enemies, and how powerful were they?


    Xu Yi suddenly thought of a problem, his mood turning heavy.


    But soon, he began to feel a faint excitement.


    Because as long as he could secretly bury the Golden Coffin beneath Bone Mountain, the plan would be considered complete.


    The Golden Coffin came with a stealth effect, making it very difficult to be discovered.


    Following the normal pace of excavation, by the time the Golden Coffin was found, his body should have already ascended to a Divine Body.


    Finding the Burial Ground of Divine Bodies and burying a corpse within it to transform into a Divine Body sounded somewhat unbelievable,


    But if others tried to mimic his method, it would be an utterly futile effort.


    It was understandable; if it were that simple, Divine Bodies would already be commonplace.


    Performers on stage make their crafts look effortless, but who knows how much effort they have put in behind the scenes.


    Xu Yi was no different; the reason everything seemed so simple was that he had already completed the prerequisite by chance, which was the Ghost Samurai.


    Inside the Golden Coffin, along with Xu Yi''s body, was the Ghost Samurai.


    The Burial Ground of Divine Bodies was just a medium, a Furnace.


    He was merely using the magnetic field of the Burial Ground of Divine Bodies to merge his own body with the Ghost Samurai, to undergo the Metamorphosis into a Divine Body.


    Without the Ghost Samurai, being buried here would be completely useless.


    The circular metal tunnel led directly to the seafloor, appearing like the Sea-Calming Divine Needle, with the tunnel''s lower section connected to a massive deep-sea base.


    Constructing such a base in the deep sea, with the required technology and resources, was unimaginable.


    Only a power at the level of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization could build it.


    West and the Annabelle doll continued forward, and after a short while, they reached the end, which had been welded shut.


    West opened his mouth, spitting out a fluorescent green liquid. The sturdy metal plate corroded away, creating a hole through which West and Annabelle emerged one after another.


    After they left the maintenance tunnel, the fluorescent green liquid evaporated, and the corroded metal unbelievably began to regenerate, soon returning to its original form without a trace of damage.


    They entered the deep-sea base, where they encountered highly integrated mechanical creations; the technological level of this base was decades ahead of the modern world.


    The base was extremely quiet, eerily akin to walking into a tomb, without a ghost in sight.


    Xu Yi was secretly pleased because the fewer people there were, the more advantageous it was for his actions.


    But soon, he learned the hard way what it meant to go from elation to despair.


    A black shadow appeared behind them without a sound, resembling some canine creature, its body enveloped in pure black Armor.


    The material of the armor was similar to that of the Black Abyss robes, with the only difference being the fiery-red patterns that ran from the top of the head to the back.


    Xu Yi''s heart sank in secret; the fact that he hadn''t noticed these hounds was one thing, after all, the "Symbiotic Eye''s" ability was limited, but surprisingly, even West had failed to detect them.


    The "Black Hound" before him possessed an extremely powerful stealth ability.


    The pupils of the Black Hound emitted a sanguine light, continuously scanning West and Annabelle.


    "Whitelist search failed! Intruders identified, proceed with annihilation!" the Black Hound uttered in a cold mechanical voice.


    By the time the Black Hound had conducted its search, West had already made his move; he still had the form of a human head on a snake''s body, his slender serpentine torso suddenly coiling around the Black Hound.


    The serpent''s body tightened unceasingly, its immense strength capable of easily crushing Auric Copper, yet the body of the Black Hound remained unmoved, terribly resilient.


    Suddenly, the Black Hound opened its mouth and exhaled a ghostly blue breath. That breath contained a terrifying chill as white frost rapidly spread over West''s serpentine body.


    West''s expression shifted subtlely, realizing that in just a few minutes at this rate, his entire body would freeze into an ice sculpture.


    He chose to "cut off his tail to survive," the frozen part of his serpentine body falling down to shatter upon impact with the ground.


    More and more dark figures were rushing towards this place, making Xu Yi''s heart plummet.


    At a cursory glance, there were no fewer than seven Black Hounds approaching.


    If one Black Hound was so difficult to deal with, what about seven!


    No wonder there were no troops from the Black Abyss at this underwater base; these Black Hounds were the best guards.


    The troops from the Black Abyss, being human, were prone to inertia, whereas these Black Hounds were akin to creations of Alchemical Machinery, tirelessly working twenty-two hours a day.


    West knew all too well that he couldn''t linger in this place, having been discovered, the Black Abyss army could arrive at any moment.


    Once surrounded, escape would be as difficult as if their wings were clipped.


    The remaining half of his serpentine torso slammed fiercely into the ground, propelling his head forward, shooting out more than ten meters in an instant.


    "As they say, in great peril, everyone looks out for themselves!" Xu Yi sighed inwardly.


    West''s escape was astonishingly fast, leaving Annabelle with no chance to keep up.


    But the good news was, most of the Black Hounds were chasing after West, with only one remaining still in place.


    Judging by their strength, West posed a far greater threat than Annabelle, showing the high level of intelligence in these Black Hounds.


    The Black Hound left behind lunged at Annabelle with the speed of lightning.


    Annabelle''s white dress billowed as she exuded an imposing aura. Mysterious runes appeared in her azure eyes as she gazed at the Black Hound.


    Suddenly, the Black Hound plummeted to the ground, crashing heavily and creating a thunderous roar.


    A dense network of runes spread over its body, interlinking with each other like thickly blossoming vines.


    This was the power of the "Cursed Eye"; Annabelle was not simply standing still. After years of study, her Curse Technique had reached a truly astonishing level.


    Instead of pressing her advantage, she fled at full speed.


    The bloody glow in the Black Hound''s eyes burst forth, and the runes on its body were violently torn apart.


    After all, Annabelle was facing a secret weapon of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, and even the most powerful Curse Technique could only serve to delay time.


    Annabelle zigzagged through the underwater base, trying to shake off the Black Hound behind her, but to no avail.


    Xu Yi grew increasingly anxious because the longer the delay, the more disadvantageous for them.


    Once the Black Abyss troops arrived, the difficulty of their escape would increase exponentially.


    Bursting out of a corridor, Xu Yi looked back; the Black Hound had not caught up for the moment, and he let out a slight sigh of relief.


    Using her ability to shrink her body, Annabelle lured the Black Hound into a narrow passage, temporarily trapping it.


    But this was only temporary; Xu Yi had already heard the sounds of metal being torn apart, and knew the passage wouldn''t hold the Black Hound for long.


    "Where are we?" Xu Yi looked around.


    Lacking a map and pursued by the Black Hound, they could only focus on fleeing desperately, without any direction.


    But by chance, it seemed they had arrived at the core area of the underwater base.

 Chapter 395 Mysterious Magic Point

    ```


    Before him was a factory where Xu Yi saw no workers, only endlessly rising and falling mechanical arms and robots bustling about.


    This kind of fully automated factory, even in Xu Yi''s era, could not be fully realized. The technology mastered by the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization had completely surpassed that of the time.


    A massive furnace hung in front. Suddenly, its outlet opened, and a black gelatinous liquid flowed out into the "glass basin" below.


    The "glass basin" was made of the same material as the Magic-Prohibiting Box, and it was several times thicker than the standard one.


    If it weren''t for the fact that Annabelle couldn''t destroy the "glass basin," Xu Yi would have insisted she take away the black gel matter.


    The viscous gel exuded a familiar, enthralling scent. It was used to create clothing from the Black Abyss.


    No need to say how precious Black Abyss clothing was, Xu Yi couldn''t help but covet it.


    "How exactly is this gel material produced?" A thought suddenly popped into his mind.


    They say give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.


    Since he couldn''t steal the gel, if he could unravel the mystery in making the Black Abyss clothing and replicate it, that would be even more delightful.


    The pursuit of black hounds couldn''t break free, and Annabelle continued upward along the production line, trying to trace back to the source.


    Laid out on the conveyor belt were bones cut into segments.


    The precious divine carcasses were simply placed on the assembly line, giving an inexplicably jarring feeling.


    Xu Yi suddenly understood why the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization went to great lengths to build the factory deep under the sea.


    After the divine carcasses were cut, Divinity would evaporate faster, so they had to be used quickly.


    Annabelle pressed on, and Xu Yi suddenly held his breath in concentration, watching the circular "crusher" that appeared in front.


    The outer shell of the crusher was transparent, made of the same material as the Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    There were just too many advantages to this kind of material, so it was used extensively.


    The sharp blades whirled at high speed, continuously slicing through the contents. What was inside was a pale red skin tissue, seeming like it had been shed from some vast creature.


    "What in the world is that?"


    Xu Yi felt a chill down his spine, the skin tissue emitting an extremely ominous presence.


    He had never encountered such a terrifying thing, as even entirely inanimate skin tissue could exert such an overpowering oppressive force.


    Xu Yi took deep breaths to calm his inner terror.


    He stared at the skin tissue, a thought suddenly striking him.


    He had Annabelle continue up the production line not only to discover the secret behind the manufacturing of the Black Abyss clothing but also to find a way to escape.


    Relying solely on hiding was not going to be enough to escape the pursuit of the black hounds.


    In the struggle against the black hounds, he had already noticed that these creatures had a very strong Perception Ability.


    It wasn''t ordinary sensory perception but likely related to the soul, a type of detection that was incredibly difficult to evade.


    That''s why they were discovered as soon as they came in.


    Xu Yi, seeing the skin tissue, had a notion but it felt too risky, and he hesitated to commit to it.


    Annabelle kept moving forward, and they reached the beginning of the production line.


    Xu Yi looked up at the colossal furnace overhead and suddenly realized why the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization transported the captured monstrosities here.


    The furnace was a semi-hollow design, and through the Magic Prohibition Glass, he could see the scene inside.


    Whether it was the ferocious Three-Headed Snake or a specter clad in red, they were dissolved in the furnace in mere moments after falling in.


    The dark brown solution flowed out, traveling down through a transparent pipe below.


    Monstrosities were also one of the raw materials for creating Black Abyss clothing.


    The furnace thundered and a gigantic jelly droplet fell into it. Xu Yi was somewhat stunned, staring intently at the oddity.


    The other monstrosities that fell into the furnace dissolved in an instant, causing no stir at all.


    But the jelly monster in front of him kept changing shape, crazily slamming into the furnace, trying to break free.


    ```


    Although it also showed signs of dissolving, the speed was very slow, which demonstrated the strength of the creature before him.


    "Is this... a UFO demon spot?!"


    After searching through his memory, Xu Yi finally confirmed the creature''s identity.


    Such a powerful being, if it had ever appeared, would have undoubtedly left some record behind.


    The UFO demon spot was a terrifying creature that had once destroyed three towns, but then it disappeared without a trace. Unexpectedly, it had appeared here.


    Xu Yi''s eyes grew brighter, for the UFO demon spot came from beyond this realm and was also a type of otherworldly demon.


    In other words, he could smelt dark energy from the UFO demon spot!


    Although it would be extremely rare.


    He hadn''t expected to encounter such a rare otherworldly demon from the outside world in quick succession here¡ªclearly, the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization was a big and powerful operation.


    A fierce roar suddenly erupted, and the Black Hound tore through the corridor forged of special metal, charging over frantically.


    It was utterly enraged.


    The red lines on its back split open, and out poured a dense array of metallic tendrils, with blue currents of electricity flowing through them.


    Xu Yi could feel the terrifying energy contained in those currents, and his complexion shifted slightly.


    His peripheral vision caught the UFO demon spot inside the Furnace, and a bold idea suddenly popped into his mind.


    "Annabelle, act now!"


    Xu Yi gave the order mentally, without much time to think. He was ready to take a desperate gamble.


    Annabelle flew quickly towards the Furnace, spraying out a white powder. The top of the Furnace had ventilation ducts for heat dissipation, and the powder spread inside through these ducts. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The powder erupted in a burst of colorful light, and Xu Yi secretly heaved a sigh of relief.


    Thank goodness!


    Fortunately, the Furnace hadn''t destroyed the powder but had allowed it to take effect¡ªperhaps it was because this Furnace targeted only the eerie.


    That powder was concocted by Xu Yi, using the Sleeping Flower as the main ingredient, to create the Soporific Pollen.


    Xu Yi intended for Annabelle to carry the pollen to deal with those not wearing Black Abyss garments, but he didn''t expect it to be used here.


    Enveloped in a rainbow glow, the UFO demon spot suddenly became motionless, falling into a deep slumber.


    It wasn''t so much the effect of the Soporific Pollen, but rather the UFO demon spot had chosen to actively enter into a dream state.


    To be melted alive in the Furnace was an excruciating experience.


    Therefore, the UFO demon spot chose to escape.


    It preferred to die in its sleep rather than endure such torment.


    ......


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    In the Dream World, Xu Yi withdrew his consciousness from Annabelle and focused entirely on observing the Dream Rift River.


    He had brought the Black Abyss to the Dream Rift River and had been staying here just for moments like this.


    With the ability he inherited from Freddie, he swiftly located the UFO demon spot within the river.


    He leapt out, plunging into the Dream Rift River, and invaded the UFO demon spot''s dream.


    Normally, even if he managed to invade the UFO demon spot''s dream, he couldn''t do much, as dreams are but illusions.


    But as time passed, more than two-thirds of the "sun" hovering above the Black Abyss had become clear.


    The moment when Xu Yi would absorb all the soul energy was not far off.


    As the Main Soul grew stronger, he mastered new abilities.


    The "sun" suddenly emitted a dazzling burst of light, which shone on the droplet of Dream World, making it sparkle radiantly.


    In fact, Freddie''s "Dream Entry" ability had a second phase, which was to use the dream as an anchor to shift from dream to reality.


    Xu Yi was preparing to let his Soul Split descend upon the underwater base and then savor the taste of ascending to "Divinity."

 Chapter 396 Soul Split Descends

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    Within the underwater base.


    The Ghost Samurai quietly slept in the Furnace, but suddenly, its top began to surge, and a face gradually surfaced¡ªit was Xu Yi''s face.


    With the help of his Main Soul, he jumped from the Dream World to reality.


    Xu Yi''s complexion changed slightly. Although he had anticipated this, only by truly experiencing it did he understand how terrifying the Furnace was.


    Bursts of heat rushed at his face, and the high temperature in the Furnace could directly target the soul.


    Xu Yi''s face began to blur, as if it were melted wax, but he actually breathed a sigh of relief.


    Because only the surface was dissolving, the Origin had not been damaged for the time being.


    The reason why his soul''s Origin was so robust was not only due to Soul Crystallization but also because of Freddie.


    As a Domain Soul, setting everything else aside, the ability "Origin Constancy" alone was already incredibly powerful.


    Luckily, when he encountered Freddie, the creature had already been forgotten for many years, unable to draw energy from the dreams of others, else it would have been more troublesome to deal with.


    "I must speed things up!" Xu Yi thought urgently.


    The Soul Split had descended into the real world, relying on the strength of the Main Soul. If too much time passed, the Main Soul would not be able to endure it since it hadn''t completely devoured and fused yet.


    Once the fusion was complete, there would be no need to be so cautious. The soul could easily jump from the Dream World to reality.


    The metal tentacles on the back of the Black Hound danced, and wild blue currents spread out like wings. It charged towards Annabelle with incredible momentum.


    Annabelle didn''t retreat. A purple aura curtain unfolded from her, and Toy Space was released. A "pencil case" continuously expanded until it became a heavy Golden Coffin.


    The surface of the coffin was etched with complex circuits, and the faint light of an Array quietly flowed.


    The lid of the coffin slid open on its own, and a Crystal Red figure appeared before Annabelle. The Crystal Red longsword parried the electrical tentacles blanket attack.


    The pupils of the Ghost Samurai glowed with dark golden flames once again.


    Due to the isolation of the Dream World, Xu Yi couldn''t connect with the Ghost Samurai, but now that the Soul Split had descended, he could, of course, control the Ghost Samurai again.


    The battle commenced. Xu Yi controlled the Ghost Samurai, working with Annabelle to combat the Black Hound.


    At the same time, he needed to multitask and deal with the matters concerning the Ghost Samurai.


    Xu Yi brought the Perception Ability, inherited from the Lord of the Black Abyss, into full play. Black ripples penetrated the inner workings of the Ghost Samurai, and the ripples seemed to touch upon something.


    He pushed his Perception Ability to the limit. The ripples intensified, causing invisible chains to gradually appear.


    "No wonder there is no escape!"


    Xu Yi gazed at the silver chain and suddenly understood.


    The invisible chain must be a Mythic Level Holy Artifact. It delved into the innermost parts of the Ghost Samurai, firmly binding a purple "slug."


    That was the Origin of the Ghost Samurai.


    With the Origin locked, it was impossible for the Ghost Samurai to escape the Furnace, which is why it appeared so desperate.


    The chain turned red-hot, and the melting speed of the Ghost Samurai suddenly surged.


    The peculiar creatures falling into the Furnace melted quickly, not just because of the high temperatures, but the chain was the true trump card.


    The chain could transmit high heat, acting directly upon the Origin, and that''s why those creatures appeared so defenseless.


    "The power of the Furnace is terrifying, but this isn''t necessarily a bad thing!" Xu Yi thought to himself.


    To obtain the dark force, he had to "squeeze" the aberrant demons to their limits, which meant a "high-pressure environment" was indispensable.


    Usually, to construct a qualified "high-pressure environment," one would need to arrange an extremely complex Array.


    But the Furnace before him had reduced the difficulty by more than half.


    Although the difficulty decreased, with their current conditions, it was simply impossible to arrange an Array.


    At this moment, the many abilities of Xu Yi manifested their advantage.


    He possessed an ability that could substitute for an Array, albeit a weakened version of it.


    The Golden Coffin was not closed, and another shadow flew out from within, Xu Yi''s body suspended in mid-air, his eyes tightly closed. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The body, of course, had not "come to life", and the Soul Split hoped to return to the body, but it still needed to endure the "corpse stiffness".


    Three years had passed, and the "corpse stiffness" had reached an extremely terrifying level, only a Main Soul evolved to the "Soul Master" stage might possibly endure it.


    The reason why the body flew out of the Golden Coffin was, naturally, due to Annabelle''s evil control ability.


    Annabelle was floating beside the Golden Coffin, she only needed to apply Curse Technique, and did not need to fight up close like the Ghost Samurai, so she was still able to assist Xu Yi.


    The Ghost Samurai erupted in vain, slashing out with a fierce flame blade aura, driving back the black hounds.


    It withdrew to the side of the body and used all its strength to slash, Xu Yi''s arm was cut open.


    Even the Body of Demigod, without the support of the soul and "dead" for three years, had become far less defensive than before.


    Blood flowed out, the blood was actually still fresh, exuding a faint platinum color ¨C this was the strength of the Body of Demigod.


    The blood did not fall, but floated in mid-air, solidifying into crimson threads.


    These were the Binding Soul Threads, one of the abilities of the "Soul Jade" entries.


    Xu Yi planned to use the furnace in front of him, in conjunction with suppressing the "Soul Jade", to forcefully extract dark energy from the hovering demonic speck.


    The Binding Soul Threads entered the furnace, a faint blood mist steamed from its surface, showing no signs of disintegration, the powerful blood withstood the high temperature of the furnace.


    The crimson threads flew towards the hovering demonic speck, and at this moment, the slumbering demonic speck suddenly woke up, the jelly-like body surged and enveloped Xu Yi''s face.


    It wanted to possess Xu Yi!


    Though its Origin was bound by chains, if it made up its mind to forcefully separate, some Origin could still escape.


    But here lay the problem: how could the separated Origin survive?


    Bear in mind that it was inside the furnace, actively separating Origin was undoubtedly a path to death.


    But now, with Xu Yi''s arrival, there was a way to solve the problem, as long as it could possess Xu Yi, there was a chance to escape from here.


    Facing the "stab in the back" from the hovering demonic speck, Xu Yi''s face showed no panic.


    How could the weirdly cunning, experienced Xu Yi be unaware and unprepared?


    The hovering demonic speck suddenly froze; it controlled the body to envelope Xu Yi''s face, but a new face suddenly appeared beside it.


    It hurriedly controlled the body to cover the newly formed face.


    But it quickly realized that this was just the beginning, more and more faces grew out, densely packed and covering its entire body.


    The hovering demonic speck continued to cover these faces, but the faces kept regenerating, seemingly endless.


    This was Oss''s ability of "Endless Faces", Xu Yi had inherited not only Freddie''s abilities; as he continued to devour and assimilate, the abilities he mastered would become increasingly numerous.


    The hovering demonic speck suddenly contorted in pain, relentlessly slamming against the furnace''s inner walls.


    In its bid to possess Xu Yi, it had blocked the furnaces refining, wanting to maintain its best state.


    But such a method had side effects, which was that once the Isolation failed, it would suffer an even more severe backlash.


    Isolation also had a time limit, otherwise it wouldn''t have chosen to enter slumber to avoid the pain.


    When the hovering demonic speck realized it could not possess Xu Yi, it gave in to despair, causing the Isolation to fail prematurely.


    "A great opportunity!"


    Xu Yi''s eyes lit up, and he quickly controlled the Binding Soul Threads to weave into a net, enveloping the hovering demonic speck.

 Chapter 397 So This is What Feeling Like a God is Like!

    The UFO Demon Point was bound by a dense net, and under Xu Yi''s control, the blood-colored net continuously tightened, compressing the body of the UFO Demon Point.


    The UFO Demon Point tried to break free, but it was futile.


    As time elapsed, Xu Yi''s face had detached from the UFO Demon Point, suspended in the Furnace; his eyes grew increasingly brighter.


    A bead resembling a green gemstone appeared at the center of the Soul Binding Line, shining with a crystal-clear luster, the UFO Demon Point had been suppressed into a Soul Jade.


    Yet, the Soul Binding Line did not loosen; it kept tightening.


    The Soul Jade was exceptionally sturdy, and Xu Yi, who was controlling the Soul Binding Line, felt a considerable amount of effort was required.


    Right at that moment, the chain binding the UFO Demon Point''s Origin turned a glowing red, as if it had been scooped out of magma.


    The entire Furnace shook thunderously, sensing the tenacity of the UFO Demon Point, it activated a hidden mode, and the temperature escalated by a whole dimension.


    Xu Yi also felt the pressure, his incarnate face was significantly dissolved, but still, relying on his tenacious soul Origin, he managed to bear it.


    The rapidly operating Furnace, the glowing red Holy Artifact chains, the continuously tightening Soul Binding Line... under the intense pressure constructed by the three forces, a crack appeared on the Soul Jade, spreading continuously.


    Xu Yi suddenly got excited because within the cracks of the Soul Jade, he saw a black-purple light.


    That light gave off an immeasurably profound and suffocating sensation.


    Dark Force! There was no doubt, the black-purple light before his eyes was the Dark Force!


    In fact, before taking action, Xu Yi hadn''t held much hope, but to his surprise, he had actually succeeded.


    A crisp cracking sound suddenly echoed, the Soul Jade totally shattered, and those fragments, just as they sprayed out, were incinerated by the high temperature, leaving only a piece of Dark Force the size of a fingernail suspended in mid-air. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The power of the UFO Demon Point was limited, the Dark Force extracted was only a tiny bit.


    Suddenly, a strong suction force erupted from the bottom of the Furnace.


    The equipment detected the powerful energy, preparing to suck it away, to be transported to the underneath of the production line.


    Xu Yi had painstakingly "squeezed" out that wisp of Dark Force. If it were to be absorbed by the Furnace, he feared he might be so frustrated as to vomit blood.


    Fortunately, he had made preparations in advance. Guarding beside the Soul Jade, the moment it shattered, he lunged forward and swallowed the Dark Force in one gulp.


    Upon ingesting the Dark Force, a terrifying high temperature washed over him, and Xu Yi''s face twisted in pain. The sensation was akin to a common person swallowing a glowing coal ball.


    But the next second, the heat dissipated, replaced by extreme cold, and his face almost froze solid.


    The Dark Force transitioned between extreme heat and extreme cold; this contradictory sensation of "fire and ice" was enough to drive someone insane.


    But that wasn''t the worst part. As the temperature changed, the Dark Force twinkled uncertainly between the red and blue lights.


    Xu Yi could feel the extremely unstable energy above him; the current Dark Force was like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.


    "Dark Force not extracted through proper methods is indeed unreliable!"


    Xu Yi knew he had to act quickly. Once the Dark Force detonated, they would be the first to suffer.


    His face started to distort, changing into threads, seeking to escape through the exhaust vent of the Furnace.


    After all, the Furnace was an automated machine, not as intelligent as humans, operating only according to preset programs.


    Without any unexpected incidents, Xu Yi safely escaped from the Furnace.


    "Success or failure hinges on this one action!" Xu Yi stared at the body before him, silently rallying himself.


    Because he was unclear about what would happen next. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    The Soul Split, carrying the Dark Force, hurtled toward his body.


    It was like a droplet of water falling into the vast sea, the Soul Split merged with the body without any hindrance.


    A brutal chill engulfed him, freezing his soul like it was stiff, yet because he had endured the destruction of Dark Force before, he found it tolerable somehow.


    But he was well aware that this was only temporary.


    If the Soul Split stayed in the body for too long, it would certainly be completely frozen, then annihilated; being reborn was not such a simple affair.


    Xu Yi''s soul suddenly quaked violently, as he felt an indescribably profound sensation, which, in the language of Xia Kingdom, would be called "Unity of Heaven and Man."


    The fingernail-sized, sporadic Dark Force, the Soul Split equivalent to a low-version souled realm, the body but a Body of Demigod... Each element fell short of reaching otherworldly deity standards, but for some inexplicable reason, they were oddly compatible.


    The three forces began to merge, and Xu Yi, caught in the state of "Unity of Heaven and Man," let out an agonizing scream.


    He felt utterly terrible, as if on a bitterly cold night, he was sleeping cozy and warm in his bed, but the next second, someone stripped him naked and threw him into a freezing lake.


    Yet this degree of pain was just the beginning, the suffering intensified ceaselessly, far surpassing what he had experienced during the Divine Transition.


    This was pain no living creature was meant to bear!


    A face suddenly appeared on Xu Yi''s body, a visage so distorted by pain it was beyond recognition, that face suddenly peeled away, and Xu Yi within the body let out a long sigh of relief.


    "Thank you, Oss!" Xu Yi praised inwardly.


    Oss was the Dream Lord governing pain; Xu Yi had inherited the ability to transform pain from Oss, and this was what allowed him to endure.


    The Black Hound suddenly halted its assault, coldly watching the Ghost Samurai.


    This was not a good sign, for the longer it failed to break through the Ghost Samurai''s blockade, the more thoroughly enraged it became.


    Its entire body split open, tendrils bursting forth, madly flailing in the air, while terrifying arcs of lightning blazed like a blue sun.


    The Black Hound had fully unleashed itself, transforming into its most primal, and strongest form.


    The "blue sun" surged towards the Ghost Samurai, but even with the Ghost Samurai and Annabelle combined, they were no match for the fully unleashed Black Hound.


    As the horrifying electric storm swept through, suddenly, the "blue sun" came to a standstill in mid-air, unable to advance any further.


    Even those wildly dancing tendrils froze as if space itself solidified, with the Black Hound appearing like an insect encased in amber.


    Suspended in the air, Xu Yi''s body suddenly opened its eyes, out of nowhere.


    His pupils were no longer the black of before, nor the platinum of "Blood as Sacred," but a blackish-purple, with exquisite patterns faintly visible in the depths of the pupils.


    Those eyes were profound and mysterious, filled with supreme authority, as if all beings of the world were mere ants before him.


    Dark Force, souled realm, Body of Demigod... the three powers had finally merged within him.


    "So this is what it feels like to be a god!" Xu Yi remarked in a drawn-out sigh.


    He was utterly immersed in the sensation of tremendous power; the Black Hound that he had felt was unbeatable now seemed like it could be extinguished with a mere flick of his hand.


    He had made the Black Hound freeze in mid-air with just the residual power of a god, without even making a move.


    But suddenly his brow furrowed; he sensed something was amiss.

 Chapter 398 Trial Card of the Foreign God

    The dark purple pupils suddenly went out, and Xu Yi''s formidable presence vanished. The restrained black hound regained its ability to move and lunged at Annabelle with terrifying electrical tendrils.


    Thankfully, in the next second, Xu Yi''s pupils lit up again, and the black hound was once more frozen in mid-air.


    Just now, Xu Yi''s ability had gone out of control!


    Dark Force, Domain Soul, body¡­ These three seemed to have merged, but in reality, there was a significant gap between them, like strangers living under the same roof.


    There was still something very important missing for the three to truly merge, and Xu Yi had no idea what it was for the time being.


    This information was worth its weight in gold. The data provided by the Gate of Truth did not mention this.


    It wasn''t that the Gate of Truth was obstructing; rather, there were too few examples of becoming a foreign god, so it was reasonable for the Gate of Truth to lack complete information.


    Of course, it might also be because none of the three had met the conditions yet.


    "This power can probably only be used once," Xu Yi realized clearly.


    But the question was, how should this power be used?


    To kill the black hound before him would be meaningless.


    After killing this one black hound, there would still be many more to come.


    He could also use this power to send Annabelle away.


    But they had finally entered this place, and leaving now would mean all their efforts had been in vain.


    Xu Yi''s senses had become exceptionally sharp at this moment; he could already sense the Black Abyss army''s approach. There wasn''t much time left for him to think.


    Then, a spark of inspiration struck his mind; he knew where to use this one-off power.


    Ferocious energy erupted from his body, sweeping out in all directions.


    At the same time, the elevator rumbled downwards, and the Black Abyss army was about to arrive at the seabed base.


    The moment the elevator doors opened, the Black Abyss army felt a sudden chill in their bodies. They gripped their weapons tightly, ready for combat.


    But as time ticked by, nothing happened.


    The Black Abyss army arrived at the scene and breathed a sigh of relief.


    A puppet had been torn to shreds by the black hound, debris scattered everywhere. The black hound reverted to its original form, its red pupils flickering, not detecting any hidden enemies.


    "Requesting reinforcements! Sector b502 requesting reinforcements!"


    The cries for help echoed in the ears of the Black Abyss army. They turned in unison and ran to another battlefield.


    ...


    Amidst the howling winds, Xu Yi watched the skies warily, as blades whirled at high speed creating a violent tornado.


    He and Annabelle were in what had been referred to as the "Crusher" earlier.


    Annabelle was unharmed, for the black hound had only shredded one of her Substitutes.


    There were not just one of those substitutes; several spares were kept in the toy space.


    The power of the "Crusher" was far superior to that of the Furnace, otherwise, it wouldn''t be able to slice through those terrifying organic tissues, but after all, it was just a machine, and being a machine meant there were blind spots. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Annabelle made herself as small as a grain of rice, firmly adhering to the outermost ring of the Crusher, just barely avoiding the blades'' cuts.


    Xu Yi was not nervous because of the blades'' impressive cutting force, but rather because of the patches of skin in front of him.


    If any of these skin tissues had even a hint of activity, they wouldn''t need to attack actively ¡ª the radiation emitted from them would be enough to completely paralyze Annabelle.


    Thankfully, the skin truly was dead material, and he breathed a sigh of relief.


    The lid of the Crusher was made of a "glass" similar to the Magic-Prohibiting Box, but it did not possess the function to prohibit magic because its base was metallic.


    Xu Yi had wanted Annabelle to collect some of the skin tissue, but just as the thought arose, his sixth sense suddenly kicked in, giving him a feeling of palpitations.


    He immediately stopped Annabelle, his soul about to grow into a "Soul Master," his Sixth Sense genuinely capable of acting as an early warning.


    The Crusher was near a sealed state, and entering its interior was not simple. Annabelle was able to get in here, of course, because of Xu Yi''s "pseudo foreign god" one-time experience card.


    He forcibly stopped the high-speed rotating blades, allowing Annabelle to slip in through the gap in the axle.


    "The most dangerous place is often the safest,"


    With this philosophy in mind, Xu Yi made the adventurous decision to hide Annabelle inside the Crusher.


    In fact, he had this idea the moment he saw the skin tissue.


    The magnetic field emitted by these skin tissues could definitely interfere with the Black Hound''s perception because the original owner of the skin tissue was simply too terrifying.


    The result proved his prediction correct.


    If the power of the "Pseudo-Alien God" merely stopped the blades and sent Annabelle inside, that would be far too childish.


    In reality, when Xu Yi was in the "Pseudo-Alien God" state, doing these things hardly took any effort.


    What that power could achieve was far more than that.


    "The real effort comes at night!" Xu Yi secretly anticipated.


    ......


    Late at night, Caiden lay in bed exhausted, not wanting to move a muscle.


    He had finished attending Bob''s banquet, returned to the base all happy, and was planning to rest for a few days when unexpectedly, an intruder appeared in the base.


    That guy was truly troublesome!


    It wasn''t that the opponent was too scary, but that he was too slippery; they had expended a great deal of energy to deal with him.


    "Who knows which damn guy let the intruder sneak in!"


    Caiden complained inwardly, completely unaware that he was cursing himself.


    Drowsiness overwhelmed him, and Caiden fell soundly asleep. Between wakefulness and dreams, he heard a knock on the door.


    "Who is it at this late hour?" Caiden asked angrily, especially grumpy after being woken up.


    "We''ve received emergency orders from superiors. Another intruder is suspected; search the entire base!" came an icy voice from outside the door.


    Since it was an order from higher-ups, Caiden, despite being full of complaints, had no choice but to get up.


    "Where''s my document case?" Caiden''s gaze swept over the side of his bed, and he paused in confusion.


    He remembered clearly placing the document case by his bed before sleeping, so why was it missing now?


    As he pondered, he suddenly found the document case in the corner of the bed.


    "How did I not notice that just now?" Caiden muttered quietly.


    But he didn''t give it much thought, assuming it was because he had just woken up and was still dazed.


    Caiden grabbed the document case, which suddenly "came to life," melting like wax and spreading over his body. In moments, he was completely enveloped by armor.


    By its design, the armor closely resembled that of the Black Abyss, but it was adorned with many red flame-like patterns.


    This was the new combat gear: "Red Devil."


    Clothed in the Red Devil armor, Caiden stepped out into the corridor outside his room. He felt something was slightly off but couldn''t pinpoint the problem.


    Moments later, he brushed the thought aside. Wearing the Red Devil armor, he wouldn''t be affected by illusions or strange abilities.


    But what Caiden didn''t know was that what he was wearing wasn''t the real Red Devil armor at all.


    He was currently in the Domain of Dreams, with his real body still lying on the large bed in his room, sound asleep.


    Tonight, it wasn''t just Caiden who had fallen into the Dream World; the majority of the Black Abyss military personnel were dreaming.


    They each woke up within the base but experienced different dreams, some patrolling, some transporting materials, some repairing equipment...


    The reason they all fell into dreams simultaneously was naturally because of Xu Yi.


    Using that force, Xu Yi unfolded the "Domain of Dreams" and planted "Dream Seeds" within everyone''s bodies.


    The ability of the "Dream Seed" is quite common in the Dream World; many Dream Lords possess it, let alone Xu Yi at this moment.


    However, no Dream Lord has ever been able to implant a Dream Seed through the Black Abyss attire.


    It was only with the one-time power of the "Pseudo-Alien God" that Xu Yi managed to do this.

 Chapter 399 Foreknowledge of the Trump Card

    In the Dream World.


    Xu Yi looked at the drastically altered Black Abyss world, silent and speechless.


    The waves rolled tumultuously, and a massive metal platform floated on the sea''s surface, beneath which a circular tunnel connected to the ocean base.


    Without a doubt, what lay before him was the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization''s Ocean Base in the Arctic Ocean. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everything about the Ocean Base was confined within a long box, the sea''s edges cut off vertically, not a drop of water spilling out.


    People inside the box couldn''t observe the outside world, but Xu Yi could sense everything within the box.


    A "semi-transparent sun" hovered above the box; that was where Xu Yi''s Main Soul resided, its cool radiance descending.


    Constructing dominant dreamscapes was an ability of the Dream Lord, though few Lords would do so as it required a significant amount of soul power.


    But as he was about to become a Soul Master, Xu Yi had also become more lavish with his resources.


    Moreover, "copying" the Ocean Base held substantial significance.


    People bustled about within the Ocean Base, and they were not illusions but real existences.


    This was one of the abilities of the Dream Seed, which could bring people into the Dream World without them noticing.


    The people in the base felt a strange phenomenon, where an "absent" object, which didn''t exist a second ago, would suddenly appear as if they''d suddenly become confused.


    That was another effect of the Dream Seed, which of course required the support of the Main Soul''s power.


    The Dream Seed stole the thoughts of those who entered the dream, while the Main Soul materialized the missing objects.


    The ocean base constructed by Xu Yi was, of course, just a shell, as he couldn''t construct things beyond his cognition.


    But that didn''t matter; as more personnel entered the base and more information was collected, more and more details were filled in, the ocean base would become increasingly realistic.


    Spending such great effort to construct the Ocean Base in the Dream World might seem laborious and thankless.


    After all, knowing where there is a stool inside the base, or where an extra flowerpot has been placed, didn''t seem very useful.


    But what if it included knowing every lock''s code, every secret passage, every hidden chamber?


    "I wonder where West has gone off to?"


    Xu Yi hadn''t discovered West''s dream, but when he had first unfolded his Dream Domain, he had distinctly sensed West and had also implanted a Dream Seed in him.


    For some reason, the seed hadn''t taken effect.


    He didn''t believe that West had been dealt with by the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization; he had to admit that West was very strong in all aspects, whether in power or wisdom.


    Three days quietly passed by.


    "It''s time," Xu Yi gazed at the Ocean Base within the Black Abyss, taking a deep breath.


    With the frequency of entering dreams increasing, even if in detail, it was almost indistinguishable from reality, but it wasn''t enough yet; he still lacked some "core information."


    He planned to conduct a "live exercise" within the replicated Ocean Base.


    ...


    Caiden lay on a comfortable bed, yawning mightily.


    For some reason, he had been waking up feeling very tired lately, as if he had been dreaming about something, but every time he woke up, he couldn''t remember.


    Of course he couldn''t; before they left the Dream World, Xu Yi would exert a lot of effort, with help from the Main Soul''s power, to erase their memories of the Dream World.


    If the people in the base dreamt for three straight days, even a blind person could sense that something was amiss.


    The worse Caiden slept at night, the more he wanted to sleep, falling into a vicious cycle.


    As he pondered, he fell into a deep sleep once again.


    A sharp, piercing siren suddenly blared, and Caiden jolted awake, instinctively reaching for the briefcase beside his bed, as the base''s alarms were triggered.


    The alarm wasn''t something to be triggered lightly; it was only sounded in case of a level one attack that might endanger the entire Ocean Base.


    The last time someone infiltrated the base, it was merely a level four attack.


    "Tunnel anomalies are rioting! All personnel, prepare for combat!"


    Caiden had just donned the Red Devil combat suit when the dispatcher''s urgent voice reached his ears.


    He violently pushed the door open and rushed out.


    Roaring mixed with gunfire came intermittently, and the sounds of battle were everywhere within the base.


    Caiden''s heart sank; widespread combat indicated that the escaped anomalies weren''t just one or two, but a large group.


    He was puzzled, as the Ocean Base''s circumstances shouldn''t have allowed such a large-scale escape of anomalies.


    But soon, he had no time to dwell on these thoughts, as the dispatcher''s increasingly urgent voice came through.


    "Attention all personnel! The clown Pennywise has broken free on the 18th floor! I repeat, the clown Pennywise has broken free on the 19th floor!"


    Caiden''s expression shifted slightly; he was well aware of the terror that was the clown Pennywise, for capturing it had cost the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization a heavy price.


    Pennywise was also the most terrifying anomaly in this base.


    "Attention, Red Devil combat sequence! Pennywise is moving towards the Origin, intending to reclaim it. Red Devil combat sequence, proceed to protect!"


    Caiden instinctively turned around.


    The Red Devil combat sequence was also considered part of the organization''s upper echelons, and they all knew the location of Pennywise''s Origin.


    Caiden ran wildly through the corridors, just as he thought to accelerate, he collided with an acquaintance.


    The other person was also dressed in a Red Devil combat suit, with corresponding numbers on the collar, and he recognized the person''s build.


    Encountering an acquaintance, Caiden suddenly felt a bit more at ease, his desire to confide was overwhelming, he couldn''t help but ask out loud, "What on earth is going on? Is it the Holy Lord stirring again?"


    Of course, Caiden was in a dream world, and Xu Yi had been observing this dream world the whole time; he was taken aback when he heard the word "Holy Lord."


    The title "Holy Lord" wasn''t uncommon, appearing in many cults.


    But the one mentioning it now was from an upper-level member of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, where those so-called Evil Gods were usually just their hunting targets.


    "Could the Holy Lord be the shadowy mastermind behind the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization?" Xu Yi wondered.


    He suddenly thought of the discarded skin tissues in the Crusher.


    "The last disturbance of the Holy Lord caused worldwide sea levels to rise; what''s the cause this time?" Caiden was deeply alarmed.


    This alarm far exceeded the potential destruction of the Ocean Base.


    Fear detonated in Xu Yi''s heart; he hadn''t expected to overhear such explosive information.


    The rise in global sea levels was actually due to the Holy Lord behind the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization!


    He couldn''t even begin to imagine the magnitude of power required to change the entire world''s landscape.


    Xu Yi wanted to use the Dream Seed to glean more information about the Holy Lord.


    But the next second, the Dream Seed on Caiden began to fail, and Xu Yi was startled, halting immediately, not daring to probe any further.


    There were taboos within Caiden''s soul that would activate if information about the Holy Lord was involved.


    Xu Yi could only keep his fears hidden deep within, as the most important thing now was to focus on the task at hand.


    The dream exercises continued, and this time Xu Yi gained a lot of information, some of which was extremely precious.


    Including the location of Pennywise''s Origin, the hidden forces of the base, the deceitful traps¡­ Xu Yi''s eyes shimmered with excitement.


    This information was of great significance, almost as if he knew all of the opponent''s cards before the card game had even started.

 Chapter 400 Ring of Destruction Strikes with a King Bomb

    West floated amidst the seawater, now reduced to but a head, his black-rimmed glasses gone, yet the characteristic smile still hung on his face.


    "As expected, it failed!" West sighed deeply.


    The base of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization proved to be formidable; even he had expended a great deal of effort to escape.


    The surrounding water suddenly surged, and glimmers of light sparked in the ocean depths as the Alchemical Machinery of the Ring of Destruction materialized behind West.


    This included Xu Yi''s old acquaintances: the Eight-headed Sea Serpent, the Silver Giant Ape, and the snake-faced man he had just seen.


    Of course, there were those he had never seen before, like a bat covered in eyes all over its body and a metal Rose Flower exhaling blue frost.


    The Alchemical Machineries bowed slightly, clustering around West as if guarding their king. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If Xu Yi saw this scene, he would certainly be astonished.


    West was not just a simple member of the Ring of Destruction; he resembled more the ruler of the Ring of Destruction.


    West looked out into the distance; the ocean floor was black as ink, yet his vision was not hindered in the slightest, peering through the depths to observe the Ocean Base of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    Infiltrating the Ocean Base and then rescuing the clown Pennywise was a plan he had never expected to succeed from the start¡ªit was just a low-cost attempt.


    If it were successful, well and good, but failure was of no consequence either.


    "Proceed with the original plan!" a glint of light flashed in West''s eyes.


    The five great Alchemical Machineries bowed to take their orders, swimming toward the base deep in the sea.


    ...


    Within the Black Abyss, Xu Yi was collecting information with glee through dream rehearsals, his eyes getting brighter and brighter.


    But the next second, his expression suddenly changed.


    People in the dream were showing signs of Awakening collectively!


    Normally, under the effect of the Dream Seed, even with some small disturbances, they wouldn''t wake up, sleeping more soundly than pigs.


    The emergence of collective awakening signs could only mean one thing: something significant had happened at the Ocean Base!


    The signs of awakening in those who had entered the dreams were becoming stronger, and Xu Yi could no longer suppress them; he quickly erased all the dream memories.


    Through the Symbiotic Eye, his attention returned to Annabelle.


    He had just adjusted to the change in perspective when he felt the Crusher jolt violently; then he realized it was not just the Crusher¡ªthe entire Ocean Base was shaking.


    What had happened? Xu Yi wondered.


    Sudden, urgent siren sounds went off, and Xu Yi was stunned; he had just heard this sound during the dream rehearsal and had not expected it to manifest in reality.


    At the same time, he felt a soul presence akin to his own, another of his Soul Splits.


    He had only two Soul Splits; apart from the one at present, the other resided within the World Tree.


    The World Tree had arrived, right outside the Ocean Base!


    Because the Soul Split was close enough, Xu Yi could barely switch to the viewpoint of his other Soul Split.


    His perspective changed again, appearing in the deep sea, and he saw the World Tree once more.


    It was no longer the small sapling of before; the World Tree now stood ten meters tall, lush and leafy.


    The growth of the World Tree required Energy; it was hard to imagine how much time and how many resources the Ring of Destruction had spent to reach this stage of growth.


    "Perhaps not obtaining the World Tree at first is not such a bad thing after all," Xu Yi thought to himself.


    Had it been up to him, it might have been difficult to grow the World Tree to such an extent.


    Xu Yi, who had a "primitive share" in the World Tree, owned a soul split within the body of the World Tree. As the World Tree grew, the soul split grew with it, becoming almost as strong as his Main Soul now was.


    Although once the Main Soul devoured all Energy, it would definitely become stronger than the current soul split.


    But one thing was clear, apart from the initial intrusion, he had not expended any effort on the growth of the soul split.


    What was most terrifying was that, as the World Tree continued to grow, this part of his soul would also keep growing.


    "Choosing the right stock with potential is better than ten years of hard work!" Xu Yi couldn''t help but sigh.


    Forced investments are still investments, aren''t they?


    The World Tree''s roots lashed out at the tunnels of the base, shaking the Ocean Base violently under their immense force.


    The Ring of Destruction had made its move, and it was a royal flush right off the bat.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed, as he actually began to worry about the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, unsure if they could handle it.


    He naturally didn''t care about the life or death of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization; to be precise, he wished for its destruction.


    But times had changed. After so many days collecting information, he had already come up with a plan to steal the Clown Pennywise''s Origin.


    If the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization was no match and allowed the Clown''s Origin to fall into the hands of the Ring of Destruction, the difficulty of obtaining it later would likely increase by several dimensions.


    The World Tree intensified its attack, and the Ocean Base shook violently once again, the lights going out in an instant.


    "Quick! Let''s get out of here!" Xu Yi''s eyes lit up as he hurriedly ordered Annabelle.


    The lights of the base had gone out because the base''s energy supply system had been affected; the rapidly spinning Crusher "lost power," and the blades slowly came to a stop.


    Annabelle dodged the slowing blades, retraced her steps, and slipped out through the gaps in the rotating shaft.


    Their luck was quite good. The second they left the Crusher, the power supply resumed, and the blades started spinning again.


    Red gelatinous substances suddenly dripped down from the gaps in the ceiling. They wriggled on the ground and, moments later, transformed into people, and they were people Xu Yi knew.


    Tomie Kawakami, in a deep red evening gown, strolled through the base, looking around leisurely, not at all like an infiltrator but more like a tourist at a scenic spot.


    The Black Hound came charging in, pouncing toward Tomie Kawakami, opening its huge maw, and with its sharp fangs, bit off Tomie''s neck in one bite.


    Xu Yi quickly had Annabelle hide behind the Crusher, and a second later, black light flooded the area, an intense explosion sweeping through.


    The sturdy metal floor was destroyed in the explosion.


    Xu Yi clicked his tongue in amazement. Tomie Kawakami''s self-destruction power had increased by who knows how many levels compared to before.


    "Should we go to the Burial Ground or the Red Engine Room?" Xu Yi hesitated a bit.


    Without a doubt, now was the best time to bury the Golden Coffin in the Burial Ground.


    The Ring of Destruction''s attack on the Ocean Base had muddied the waters, and it is only in muddy waters that one can catch fish.


    But he was also afraid of missing out on the struggle for the Clown''s Origin, which was in the Red Engine Room.


    After pondering for a moment, he thought of a solution.


    After days of gathering information, Xu Yi knew the layout of the base better than his own home.


    He had already anticipated any problems that might occur on the way to bury the Golden Coffin.


    Now that the Black Hounds and Black Abyss army had been drawn away, the biggest obstacle had disappeared. He just needed to be wary of the patrolling Mechanical Jellyfish in the Burial Ground; everything else was just a minor issue.


    He had long formulated a detailed plan. All Annabelle had to do was follow it, silently bury the Golden Coffin, and it shouldn''t be difficult at all.


    Therefore, he decided to split up with Annabelle.


    "The items I had Maria prepare beforehand should be arriving now," Xu Yi thought to himself.

 Chapter 401 Clown Comes Out of the Cage

    ```


    Bob opened his bleary eyes, rubbed the sleep from the corners, and stretched a great big yawn.


    Gazing out the small airplane window, he had arrived at the Ocean Base in the Arctic Ocean.


    For a well-connected "fixer," getting someone to help him temporarily move to this ocean base for a while was not a difficult task.


    "Sister Maria is really not playing fair, drugging me like that!"


    Bob scolded in his heart, but he had to admit, he slept exceedingly well.


    The moment he stepped off the plane, the base platform shook violently.


    "Do they really have to make it this big of a deal?"


    Bob, seeing the Black Abyss army sprinting across the platform and hearing the shrill siren from inside the base, had a bad feeling.


    Instinctively, he rushed toward the plane, trying to escape this dangerous place. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Did you forget why you came here? Your grandmother is still waiting for your medicine," a voice suddenly rose.


    Bob paused, instinctively looking toward his abdomen, because the source of the voice was right there.


    "Damn it!" Bob exclaimed loudly.


    "Keep it down, or it could be bad if you''re discovered!" Xu Yi glanced around; given the current chaos at the base, Bob''s shout hadn''t attracted much notice.


    On the side of Bob''s abdomen, a face had abruptly appeared¡ªit was Xu Yi''s likeness.


    Maria had drugged Bob with a sleeping potion so that he would enter a dream state, allowing Xu Yi to invade his dreams and forcefully shift into reality.


    Bob recognized Xu Yi and calmed down slightly.


    He hurriedly said, "I''m just an ordinary person, what skills do I have to participate in such big events with you guys!"


    "Don''t sell yourself short; you have great potential, and I''m quite optimistic about you!" Xu Yi consoled him offhandedly.


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    Such reassurance, obviously ineffective, was met with disbelief by Bob.


    To avoid wasting everyone''s time, Xu Yi decided to use a more direct approach.


    "If you don''t do as I say, I can take control of your body and make you jump into the Arctic Ocean."


    Xu Yi spoke leisurely, "You wouldn''t want to become a floating corpse in the Arctic Ocean, would you?"


    "Aren''t you supposed to be the good guys? How can you do this?"


    Bob gaped, his worldview shattered.


    "I never said I was a good guy! Besides, who said that good guys can''t use these methods?"


    "The hell! I was wrong about you; I never thought you''d be this kind of person!" Bob cursed angrily.


    "You make it sound like I''m some kind of faithless scoundrel."


    Noticing Bob, the chatterbox, was attempting a rebuttal, Xu Yi quickly cut him off: "Enough with the yelling! Where''s the thing you were supposed to bring?"


    Bob went behind a cargo box where, for the time being, there was no one around. He pulled out a palm-sized iron box from his pocket, embossed with unknown ancient script.


    Xu Yi opened his mouth, and a sucking force emanated from it, swallowing the box in an instant.


    This was an ability inherited from Oss, a Different Space inside the mouth resembling a human face, with a very small capacity, only enough to fit a few small trinkets.


    "As long as you follow my commands, everything promised to you will be fulfilled, and I can also help you step into the realm of the extraordinary, granting you mighty powers," Xu Yi began to make tempting promises.


    Bob suddenly became cooperative.


    Xu Yi thought to himself that this was not bad at all; it seemed his skill at making promises had improved.


    "Brother, no, boss! After the task is completed, you can''t kill to silence me, okay?" Bob voiced his concern cautiously.


    "Why would you think that?" Xu Yi was taken aback.


    "Let''s be frank, boss! You guys are part of some Evil God organization, right?" Bob looked terrified, "What righteous person would have these kinds of abilities?"


    Scared by his own abilities!


    Xu Yi was speechless but had to admit, whether it was the way he appeared or his abilities, he now seemed more akin to an Evil God.


    No, that''s not right! The three entities he had absorbed could also be described as Evil Gods.


    "Shut it! Keep prattling on and I''ll eat you!" Xu Yi outright revealed his "true nature."


    Bob was thoroughly cowed this time; moments later, he even took the initiative to ask, "What should we do now?"


    "Enter the underwater base."


    "But I have no clearance to go in there!" Bob was troubled.


    ```


    "You just need to do as I say!" Xu Yi fully embraced the role of the "Evil God".


    ...


    "Did you design this underwater base? You seem to know it too well!"


    Bob stared at the factory outside the elevator doors, his mouth agape in astonishment.


    On their way here, he had his eyes opened; every time he thought they had hit a dead end, Xu Yi always found a way, exploiting various bugs to help him succeed.


    "Go straight! Then turn right!" Xu Yi issued a new command.


    Bob had barely taken two steps when there was a tremor ahead. Two Black Abyss soldiers were forcing another Black Abyss soldier against the metal wall, their daggers aimed at the throat, evidently intent on taking his life.


    "Is this a mutiny?"


    Bob was stunned; he had never heard of the Black Abyss army engaging in infighting.


    It wasn''t that the controllers were particularly unified, but because the Black Abyss suits were "networked", any act of betrayal would result in the revocation of the suit''s usage rights.


    While he was musing over this, the overwhelmed Black Abyss soldier suddenly began to transform, taking on the appearance of a clown.


    "As expected, I can''t fool you guys!" The clown let out a bizarre laugh at the two Black Abyss soldiers.


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed the instant he saw the clown.


    The clown Pennywise had actually been released!


    But after thinking about it, he felt that this was only to be expected.


    The Ring of Destruction had deployed the World Tree, and West had already familiarized himself with the clown''s situation. To rescue the clown wasn''t difficult.


    However, this was the worst news for Xu Yi.


    Dealing with both the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization and the Ring of Destruction was already stretching him thin, and now there was an additional cosmic Evil God to contend with.


    But at the moment, he could only take one step at a time, see one step ahead.


    Although the two Black Abyss soldiers had apprehended the clown Pennywise, they were on high alert, not daring to relax in the slightest.


    The next second, they were startled to find that the clown in their grasp had disappeared, only to reappear several meters away in the corridor.


    "It''s teleportation!"


    Xu Yi knew of the clown''s ability; only a power of such high caliber would allow the clown to escape so effortlessly from the grasp of the Black Abyss soldiers.


    Xu Yi was secretly alarmed; even after his Origin had been excavated, the clown Pennywise still retained the ability to use such a high-level power!


    The two Black Abyss soldiers didn''t spare a glance at Bob as they rushed after their target.


    Bob swallowed nervously, but the next second, his heart leaped into his throat as a squad of Black Abyss soldiers charged out.


    The pair they''d encountered before were just the vanguard. Of course, there wouldn''t only be two soldiers dispatched to handle the clown Pennywise.


    The main force had left, but one Black Abyss soldier remained, striding towards Bob.


    "I''m done for!" Bob''s back was instantly drenched with sweat.


    "Don''t worry, just stay calm and face it; I''ll be stepping away for a bit."


    After Xu Yi spoke, his face disappeared from Bob, choosing to log off temporarily to avoid any slip-ups.


    Bob became even more panicked.


    But what he couldn''t understand was that the soldier merely took a sample of his blood, conducted a simple check, and then quickly left without asking him a single question.


    When the Black Abyss soldier left, Xu Yi''s face returned to Bob.


    Xu Yi wasn''t surprised by this result; through dream practice, he had already learned of the Black Abyss army''s emergency response strategies.


    They only needed to ascertain that Bob hadn''t been mentally compromised by the anomaly and was a member of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    Whether he was an auxiliary member or a formal one, they didn''t care in the slightest.


    This was one of the reasons Xu Yi needed Bob.


    In fact, if Bob hadn''t been from the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, their journey thus far wouldn''t have been so smooth.


    Xu Yi''s Soul Split needed to manifest in the real world via a medium, and if it were any other member of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, they simply wouldn''t have followed his commands.


    But to overtly seize control of their minds would be detected.


    Following Xu Yi''s instructions, Bob continued forward.


    Shortly after, a red metal building appeared ahead; this was the "Red Engine Room", the core location of the clown Pennywise.

 Chapter 402 Crouching in the Corner

    "The door of the ''Red Engine Room'' had been broken through, and a dozen Black Abyss members surrounded the clown, activating some alchemy product that enveloped the area in a pale red light."


    "The light did no physical harm to humans, but the space around was immobilized, clearly meant to prevent the clown from escaping."


    "Seeing that a terrifying battle was about to break out, Bob should have run away or at least found somewhere to hide, but instead, he suddenly charged toward the Black Abyss soldiers like a madman."


    "The Black Abyss soldiers gave Bob a cold glance and threw a fierce punch straight at his heart."


    "With the immense strength of the Black Abyss soldiers, Bob would undoubtedly die if his heart was hit."


    "As the fist was about to make contact, Bob''s body suddenly dodged to the side. The punch hit his arm instead, instantly shattering it."


    "Bob was flung like a sandbag and smashed against the wall."


    "What was I thinking just now?" Bob''s pupils cleared as the black energy dissipated.


    He had indeed lost his mind, actually thinking about attacking the Black Abyss soldiers!


    "Pain suddenly shot through his temple, and then a voice appeared directly in his mind."


    "The soul is connected, just think what you need in your mind, don''t speak out loud!"


    Xu Yi quickly explained, "Just now, you were being controlled by the clown''s psychic power¡ªit was my oversight, I didn''t expect the enemy''s abilities to be so subtle. It won''t happen again."


    "Boss, can you be reliable? My hand is gone!" Bob said with a mournful face.


    "Don''t make such a fuss, it''s just a hand. There are plenty of ways to regenerate an arm. If it weren''t for my protection, you''d be seeing your great grandmother by now!" Xu Yi consoled. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Boss, just let me go!" Bob, looking at the horrifying battle unfolding, felt his scalp tingle and once again thought about retreating.


    "Alright!" Xu Yi agreed crisply.


    Bob was stunned. How had the devil suddenly become so agreeable?


    But whatever the case, it was a good thing. Just as he was about to crawl out from beside the door, sudden fast and dense footsteps came from outside.


    Reinforcements from the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization had arrived; there were only five of them, but they were all wearing a higher-level Red Devil armor.


    Bob''s face changed slightly. Although he was from the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, if he impeded the Black Abyss soldiers'' operations, they wouldn''t hesitate to strike him down.


    Couldn''t they see that he was being controlled by the clown? Of course, they could. But to avoid complications, they planned to dispose of him anyway.


    The Black Abyss soldiers had done so much, would these higher-authority Red Devil soldiers show mercy and let him go?


    He dared not bet on it.


    The Red Devil soldiers, who had come to support, were, of course, aiming to capture the clown Pennywise, but they couldn''t take any action because another group of people blocked their way.


    The leader, wearing black-framed glasses and always with an inscrutable smile, was followed by oddly shaped alchemical machinery, each one imposing.


    Bob crawled back in a flash.


    "Weren''t you going to leave?" Xu Yi asked "curiously."


    "Boss, stop messing with me. In this situation, can I even leave?" Bob was on the verge of tears.


    If it had been the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization members, he might have had a slim chance of survival, but the group that had just appeared was clearly the invaders.


    They could only leave through the door, and those invaders certainly wouldn''t be stingy and would finish him off as a member of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization without a second thought.


    "Stop talking! See that corner on the left? Crawl over there, now!" Xu Yi urgently instructed.


    Bob, usually a chatterbox, didn''t dare to talk this time and scrambled into the corner of the Red Engine Room.


    The next second, the Red Engine Room shook violently, and the aftermath of the battle swept through like a hurricane, with wild energy remnants scattering everywhere.


    Traces of overflowed energy flew towards him, and Bob suddenly realized that Xu Yi had no intention to protect him at all, letting the energy hit him without interference.


    He was instantly gravely injured and nearly died.


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    "You... you!" Bob tried to speak out and question him, but he was too weak to muster any strength.


    "Relax, I''ll make sure your soul doesn''t dissipate, and your body retains a bit of vitality. If you, a common person, remained lively and well on such a battlefield, that would be the real surprise," Xu Yi softly reassured.


    He couldn''t reveal himself now; otherwise, the plan would definitely fail. In his current state, his ability to hide was incredibly strong.


    Bob gradually calmed down. Indeed, as Xu Yi had said, even though his body was damaged, his consciousness was still clear.


    Bob was just too weak, not only compared to these monsters with their overwhelming powers, but even among humans, Bob was considered a complete weakling.


    To those present, such a person was no different than an ant by the roadside.


    Everyone at the scene was engrossed in intense combat, paying no attention to him.


    Xu Yi stood by like an onlooker, watching the battle unfold.


    The Red Devil''s forces were naturally very strong, controlling blood-red flames like a wild beast of fire.


    But the Ring of Destruction was better prepared, with Alchemical Machinery cooperating smoothly, and the unfathomably powerful West, supported by the clown Pennywise on the sidelines.


    Clearly, the Ring of Destruction had the upper hand in the battle before them.


    Yet Xu Yi knew very well that this situation would soon change.


    The sound of thunder suddenly came from outside the corridor; West''s brow furrowed, while the Black Abyss army and the Red Devil''s army did the opposite¡ªtheir morale soared as they quickened their pace of attack.


    A massive figure entered the Red Engine Room, standing taller than the Red Devil''s forces at three meters high, clad in gear just like them.


    This gear was different from the others, entirely blue and covered in dazzling lightning that struck through the air, turning the sturdy metal floor black where it scorched.


    It was Inason, the highest authority of the Ocean Base.


    The reason he arrived so late was to activate the gear he was wearing.


    The "Wrath of God" gear, the strongest armament currently possessed by the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    Inason pounced towards West, clearly recognizing that West was the leader of the invaders.


    The idea of capturing the leader first is similar in both the East and the West.


    With the addition of the "Wrath of God" gear, the situation instantly reversed. Amidst the terrifying power of the thunder, West was forced into retreat.


    "Boss, I really don''t understand! How could an ordinary person like me be involved in such a high-level battle? Why did you insist on having me come along?"


    Bob had never witnessed such a furious battle; at the edge of the battlefield, he felt each second was agonizing.


    "No! Being a common person is actually an advantage," Xu Yi replied softly.


    Bob thought Xu Yi had gone mad. But as a grasshopper tethered to a string, he could only hope what Xu Yi said was true.


    "What should we do now?" Bob asked.


    In this situation, even pretending to be dead in a corner was an enormously stressful ordeal.


    "Do nothing, just lie here! Something will help us open that door soon!" Xu Yi answered.


    Bob gazed towards the end of the Red Engine Room where there was an ancient red copper door, firmly closed.


    Doubtless, the convergence of these people here was all for what lay behind the door¡ªthe Ancient God Sacrificial Organization was there to guard it, whereas the invaders aimed to seize it.


    He really didn''t understand what Xu Yi meant. Could it be that once the door opened, they would have the capacity to join the fray? Did Xu Yi still have some sort of ace up his sleeve?


    If Xu Yi was truly that powerful, why would he need a common person like him to enter here?

 Chapter 403 The True and False Treasury

    The situation was very unfavorable for the Ring of Destruction, West had sustained serious injuries, and the Eight-headed Sea Serpent was left with only one head.


    Xu Yi felt this scene was eerily familiar; it was always the Eight-headed Sea Serpent that ended up injured.


    Surging seawater suddenly poured in, instantly submerging their ankles, and a part of the Ocean Base had been breached, letting seawater flood in through the gap.


    The incoming seawater became more abundant, but it quickly changed appearance; the turbid water turned blood red, nearly filling the entire room with blood-colored waves.


    "It''s an illusion created by the Clown!"


    Xu Yi instantly realized that such an extensive amount of bloodwater could not possibly exist in the deep sea.


    But to his surprise, this illusory seawater actually showed signs of "turning the virtual into reality."


    And to know, "turning the virtual into reality" was an ability of a True God.


    This was still because the Clown had lost its Origin; if it were at its peak, couldn''t it manipulate elements and even space-time at will?


    He became more resolute in his plan, he absolutely could not allow the Clown to regain its Origin.


    "Ready!"


    Xu Yi''s voice echoed in Bob''s soul, startling him back to his senses.


    Xu Yi was well aware that the Clown''s use of the Bloodwater Illusion was just to distract them; the real trump card was about to arrive.


    Serpentine shadows slithered through the water, not just one but many. They did not attack anyone present but headed straight for the red copper door at the end.


    Those were the roots of the World Tree.


    The World Tree had breached the Ocean Base, and its roots had spread inside.


    "How dare you!" Inason realized the intent of the roots, and he roared in anger. He wanted to stop them but was entangled tightly by West.


    The strength of the red copper door was undoubtedly formidable, yet it was facing the World Tree. The roots erupted with bright green light, and under it, the red copper door gradually melted away.


    The attention of everyone present was fixed on the red copper door, except for Bob and Xu Yi.


    Bob anxiously watched the two roots approaching, failing to understand why they were targeting them.


    As the roots caught fire with a green flame, Bob thought they were doomed. If the sturdy red copper door could not withstand these flames, his frail body stood no chance, not even Xu Yi could save him.


    The roots struck, but their target was not Bob; instead, they hit the metallic floor beside him. The layers of metal shattered, revealing a reddish-coppery metal a foot deep.


    The roots emitted green flames, and the metal melted away, creating a hole about half a meter in diameter.


    "Quick! Jump in!"


    Bob, still full of questions and dazed, suddenly heard Xu Yi''s shout.


    He didn''t have time to think; he instinctively followed Xu Yi''s command.


    His body was already on its last breath, unable to move, but suddenly a surge of power entered it, reviving his motions. He plunged through the hole.


    The other root lashed out, striking the wall beside it. The wall shattered, and large metal fragments tumbled down, concealing the hole.


    Bob fell through, but he was unharmed¡ªXu Yi had protected him.


    Xu Yi''s face appeared on Bob''s body, he opened his mouth and expelled a red stream. The stream precisely impacted the metal debris at the hole''s entrance.


    It was the "Flame of Pain" inherited from Oss; the high temperature took effect inside the metal, melting it without releasing any scorching heat¡ªthat was the unique property of the Flame of Pain. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    As the Flame of Pain receded, the metal quickly solidified, blocking the entrance; no more seawater followed them down.


    In the Red Engine Room, Inason looked towards the corner where Bob had been just moments before, his brow slightly furrowed. A pile of metallic rubble lay collapsed there.


    The murky seawater and the Clown''s Blood Sea illusion, coupled with the distraction of the numerous roots on the red copper door¡ªhe hadn''t noticed Bob''s actions.


    He didn''t detect anything amiss. Xu Yi had been exceedingly careful, plus the World Tree''s energy was causing interference.


    He glanced in that direction, out of habit, because that area of the Red Engine Room contained a secret known only to a few.


    ```


    ......


    "How did you come to know this secret?"


    After hearing Xu Yi''s explanation, Bob''s eyes widened in astonishment.


    Following the Energy infusion from Xu Yi, his battered body began to heal rapidly, leaving no serious issue except for the arm that was initially destroyed.


    "Of course, I have my methods, so you just need to do as I tell you, and I guarantee you''ll get what you wish for."


    The reason why Xu Yi took the trouble to explain was to instill confidence in the other party.


    Because the upcoming task could only be accomplished with Bob''s help.


    There was a secret within the Red Engine Room that Xu Yi had discovered through a dream exercise.


    Behind the door of the Red Engine Room, there was no origin of the clown Pennywise at all!


    The clown''s misjudgment was partly due to the magnetic field interference of the Burial Ground of the gods and partly due to a Holy Artifact.


    There was a Holy Artifact behind the Red Engine Room that could imitate the essence of everything.


    The clown''s origin was not within the Red Engine Room, but below it.


    It must be said, the designer of the "true and false Treasury" was truly talented.


    If someone opened the upper bronze door and realized they had been fooled, they''d be outraged, never thinking that the real deal was right beneath their feet.


    The reason why the roots of the World Tree were helping them was quite obvious.


    It was because of the Soul Split within the World Tree itself.


    To think of controlling the whole World Tree with a Soul Split was like a fool''s dream, but manipulating a couple of roots was manageable.


    Xu Yi opened his mouth and spewed flames towards the water on the ground, evaporating the seawater, and the scalding steam drifted into the corridor.


    After a series of events, Bob''s confidence in Xu Yi had indeed increased, and he didn''t even ask the reason for Xu Yi''s actions. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As steam enveloped the whole room, Xu Yi spewed out a box from his mouth, the same one he had asked Bob to bring in earlier.


    "You remember what I told you, right?" Xu Yi asked, his expression serious as he looked at Bob.


    Bob picked up the box from the ground, hesitant, "Is it really that simple?"


    Don''t worry, everything is within my plan."


    All of a sudden, Xu Yi''s face contorted with pain. He forcefully separated from Bob, and his face fell to the ground.


    Bob took deep breaths to adjust his state and stepped into the white mist of the corridor.


    Xu Yi watched the walls around the corridor nervously, waiting for any reaction. When there was none, he slowly exhaled and then continued to spew flames periodically to maintain the steam-filled state of the room.


    Bob walked down the metal corridor, initially with trepidation, but after about ten meters, when nothing happened, he grew bolder and quickened his pace.


    About three minutes later, he reached the end of the corridor, where there stood a metal column. A box, identical to the one he was holding, floated above the engraved pillar.


    Purple mist swirled around the box, sucked away by the pillar.


    Even someone as inexperienced as Bob knew that the pillar was absorbing the Energy from the object inside the box.


    Bob swallowed nervously, approached the column, and grasped the substitute box firmly with trembling hands, bringing it close to a corner of the true box.


    The purple mist crept over the substitute box, and when the mist had completely enveloped it, Bob''s hands were already slippery with sweat.


    He took a deep breath, then gritted his teeth and pushed the true box with the substitute box, forcing the true box out.


    He instinctively reached to catch the true box, but his overly tense muscles slowed his reaction.


    The box fell onto the metal floor with a crisp sound, causing Bob''s heart to skip a beat.


    ```

 Chapter 404 Rookie Beats Expert

    Bob''s heart had climbed to his throat; he was utterly focused, paying attention to every rustle of grass and gust of wind around him. Time ticked away second by second, yet nothing happened.


    Bob let out a long sigh of relief and almost collapsed to the ground.


    "Is it seriously this simple?"


    Bob picked up the box from the ground, still feeling a bit incredulous.


    How could something so important be left here without any protection?


    That was like tossing a gem of immeasurable value onto the streets.


    What Bob didn''t know was that the room he was in was a Chamber of Mechanisms filled with peril; triggering any one of them would mean certain death.


    The mechanisms were hidden behind the metal walls, inactive.


    This was actually easy to understand; once a mechanism was activated or even partially activated, there would definitely be a leak of energy.


    It was like police officers attempting to catch a criminal; the officers wear uniforms and carry weapons. Gathered together, even several kilometers away, the criminal would likely detect them.


    An inactive state was akin to police in plain clothes, significantly reducing the chance of being detected.


    If a place is heavily guarded, it''s obvious to everyone that there''s something amiss.


    The ploy of a "fake treasury" was simply an exercise in futility.


    The condition to activate the mechanisms was the detection of Abnormal Energy.


    This created a bug; what would happen if a creature with too low an energy entered the room?


    During dream exercises, Xu Yi repeatedly experimented until he finally confirmed something.


    If a Common person entered, the majority of the mechanisms would not activate, except for the heat-sensing systems.


    So before Bob went in, Xu Yi had filled the entire room with steam.


    He had attempted multiple times in his dreams before eventually discovering this method.


    The simpler the tactic, the more effective it was.


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    With the only threat to Bob, the sensing system, neutralized, Bob naturally took to it like a fish to water.


    Xu Yi stood at the end of the corridor, gazing out like a statue longing for its partner.


    Although everything had been rehearsed time and again in dreams, who knew if something would go wrong in reality?


    Only when he saw Bob''s figure emerge from the thick fog did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    The designer of the Treasury probably couldn''t have imagined that his painstakingly designed Chamber of Mechanisms could be circumvented by a Common person with nothing more than steam.


    This was actually the result of a cognitive trap.


    People rack their brains to design a cage for weasels, but who would anticipate an ant getting in?


    Perhaps this is what they call "a novice defeating the expert" in legends!


    This was also one of the reasons Xu Yi absolutely had to have Bob come here.


    However, to be fair, a Common person would never be able to get here under normal circumstances.


    Not to mention how a Common person might enter a well-defended Ocean Base, let alone know of this hidden Treasury.


    Even if they managed all that, they wouldn''t be able to break through the "red copper" on the Treasury''s surface.


    Of course, that wasn''t actually red copper, but merely resembled it; it was an extremely strong material, much stronger than the "glass" of the Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    Only something as unreasonable as the World Tree could damage the "red copper" in a short span of time.


    In the end, it could only be said that the method of dream exercises was far too unconventional.


    Even if a game is exceedingly difficult, as long as one can keep retrying, the end can eventually be reached.


    Moreover, he could steal the "strategy guides" from people''s minds through the Dream Seed.


    Xu Yi looked at the box in Bob''s hand, and the worry that was hanging in his heart finally settled.


    In fact, it wasn''t merely a Common person plus steam that had undone the entire Chamber of Mechanisms.


    The "fake box" was also key.


    The material used to make the fake box was "Deceiver''s Clay," a very rare substance that could only be found on subterranean mud monsters.


    Xu Yi sought the help of Maria and the others through entering their dreams.


    It took all of Maria and her connections'' efforts to find the Deceiver clay within a mere three days, and to create a fake box using the template provided by Xu Yi.


    The function of the Deceiver clay was simple; it absorbed the target''s energy and then disguised the target.


    This function had a mysterious similarity to the Holy Artifact of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    The difference was the Deceiver clay''s effect was short-lived, lasting only about three hours.


    "This thing is too cold to hold!"


    Seeing Xu Yi not taking any action, Bob hastily put the box on the ground, rubbing his hands together and blowing hot air on his hands.


    The box had a strong ability to conceal its aura, but the Origin of the clown was too powerful, and if the energy that was leaking wasn''t drawn out, the box would soon become overwhelmed.


    Xu Yi exhaled flames toward the box, and the icy chill of the box alleviated slightly.


    But this method could only offer temporary relief, as over time it would lose its effect.


    Xu Yi opened his mouth, and sucking force emerged once again.


    He wanted to swallow the box into the Different Space within his mouth. The box sent forth a resisting force; indeed, the box couldn''t enter the Different Space.


    Of course, this wasn''t the handiwork of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization; they would have preferred to hide the box in a Different Space, it was all because of the clown''s Origin taking effect. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi''s face switched back to Bob, who had no choice but to pick up the box and stuff it into his pocket.


    "Boss, what do we do now, go back the way we came?"


    Bob was troubled. If they returned the same way they came, could their gang of "thieves" go undetected?


    He thought of the horde of monsters above and shuddered.


    It was like stealing a gemstone from an exhibition hall, then taking it for a stroll past the police. Who could endure that?


    In his view, going back the way they came was simply courting death.


    "What shall we do!" The more Bob thought about it, the paler his face got, and his body even began to tremble slightly.


    "Do you see that button on the wall? Press it," Xu Yi''s indifferent voice came.


    Bob hesitated for a moment but saw there was indeed a button on the wall which he instinctively pressed.


    The heavy door slowly opened.


    "If there''s no door, how do you think others come and go?" Xu Yi said softly.


    The corner of Bob''s mouth twitched; he had also walked into a thinking trap. Even the sturdiest of doors were to keep out enemies, while exiting a room from the inside was, of course, a very simple matter.


    He poked his head out and saw no guard in sight, just a room full of miscellaneous items, looking like a storeroom.


    The entrance to the Treasury was located in a place like this? He was a bit puzzled.


    Xu Yi''s expression did not change at all; he already knew all this. To deceive passersby, of course, they couldn''t station a bunch of people outside.


    In fact, apart from the head of the Ocean Base, Inason, no one knew there was a Treasury here.


    The door closed automatically, without any gaps, and from the outside, it appeared as just a wall with no flaws whatsoever.


    "How do we leave now?" Bob asked, his expression excited.


    "Return to the factory we were at earlier," Xu Yi replied softly.


    Bob froze because the factory was at the very bottom level of the base, nowhere near the direction of leaving.


    "Now that we have the goods, shouldn''t we be hurrying to leave?" Bob was filled with doubts.


    Xu Yi did not explain, not because he didn''t want to leave with the clown''s Origin, but because he couldn''t.


    If the clown Pennywise was so dangerous, why would the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization keep the Origin near the clown?


    Was it because they were worried the clown couldn''t retrieve its own Origin?


    The reason was actually quite simple; if the Origin strayed too far from the clown, it would self-destruct.


    That''s why the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization opted for the method of energy extraction, continuously weakening the clown''s Origin.


    Stealing the clown''s Origin was only the first phase of Xu Yi''s plan, and the simplest part at that; what followed was the real challenge.

 Chapter 405 Solution to the Deadlock

    ```


    The battle in the Red Engine Room had reached a climax, with thunder and flames splashing everywhere and the room filled with scorching steam.


    The sturdy "Red Bronze Door" had been broken by the World Tree, and Clown Pennywise, seizing the chance, broke free from the besieging Red Devil Army and lunged towards the door.


    Clown Pennywise let out an excited, strange laugh. He finally saw the thing he had longed for.


    The ebony spider, trapped in the Magic-Prohibiting Box, was his Origin, the cosmic "Deathlight" from the depths of space.


    West''s brow furrowed slightly, sensing something amiss, but he still threw a strand of webbing toward the Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    The semi-transparent webbing landed on the lock, sliding rapidly into the keyhole. Blistering light burst from the thread as it self-destructed, simultaneously destroying the lock''s internal structure.


    With a "click," the lock was undone.


    Clown Pennywise pounced on the Magic-Prohibiting Box, flipping open the lid. The ebony spider leapt towards him at high speed, and his face''s excited expression froze abruptly.


    Something seemed wrong with the Origin.


    The Clown had no time to react as the spider suddenly transformed into a bizarre, black curved dagger, leaving a slender wound on the Clown''s face.


    The curved dagger flew towards Inason, who caught it in his grasp.


    "Evani!" West said slowly, looking at the curved dagger in Inason''s hand.


    As a well-known mythical Holy Artifact, he naturally knew the effects of this Holy Artifact.


    He had been puzzled about how such an important thing as the Clown''s Origin could possibly be left in a Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    Now it seemed it was indeed a fake.


    The Clown had always maintained a faint smile on his face, even when surrounded and under attack. But now he was not smiling. He stared coldly at Inason, his amber pupils flickering with rage.


    Black mist swirled around the Clown, clearly some kind of Ultimate Move was brewing, but in the next second, the mist dissipated, and the Clown abruptly turned his head towards the door.


    As everyone looked on in confusion, the Clown''s figure suddenly appeared outside the door, running wildly towards the lower levels.


    A few members of the Red Devil Army hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed in pursuit.


    Inason felt a surge of covert joy. Clown Pennywise''s departure from the Red Engine Room suggested that the adversary had not detected the hidden Treasury.


    At first he was pleased, but for some reason, he had a bad premonition.


    His gaze naturally fell upon the metal mound in the corner.


    His right eyelid twitched abruptly. Although he was not familiar with the saying "left for wealth, right for calamity," he still threw a punch on impulse, sending a bolt of lightning flying out.


    The metal mound was blasted open, revealing the patchwork metal beneath, molten and solidified, clashing with its surroundings. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inason''s heart skipped a beat as the ominous premonition in his mind proved true.


    ......


    "This will do!" said Xu Yi as his face fell away from Bob''s.


    Without a medium, a Soul Split was like an Earthbound Spirit, unable to move around freely in the real world, but he no longer needed to go anywhere.


    He returned to the Crusher where Annabelle had been hiding.


    Indeed, this was the "final battleground" he had chosen.


    "You remember the route, right? Retrace your steps; it will be hard for you to escape otherwise. You came through the Burial Ground, and Annabelle is waiting for you there," Xu Yi instructed Bob.


    Loud explosions came intermittently from above. Tomie Kawakami''s assault was focused on the tunnel above, where the Black Hound and the majority of the Black Abyss Army were assembled.


    That place had become a fiercely contested battlefield, and Bob, a common man, could not possibly return to the surface.


    "What about you?"


    Whether it was a bond formed along the way or fear of running away alone, Bob asked quietly.


    "Of course, I''ll be here waiting to be besieged," Xu Yi replied.


    ```


    Bob thought Xu Yi was joking, but in reality, he spoke the truth.


    "If you don''t leave now, soon you won''t be able to leave at all," Xu Yi frowned.


    Bob hesitated for a moment, then turned and hurried to the lower levels, where the battle raged above, it was paradoxically the safest place.


    Xu Yi gazed at the box sealing the clown''s Origin.


    The box could temporarily isolate the aura of the clown''s Origin, but as time went by, more and more Origin Energy spilled out, and without a huge Array to extract the energy, the box would inevitably fail.


    That is to say, it was only a matter of time before the clown''s Origin would be discovered.


    Once the clown''s Origin was exposed, he would face more than just the clown.


    Neither the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization nor the Ring of Destruction would let him off the hook.


    Let alone he was merely a Soul Split; even if he unleashed all his power, he could not possibly be a match for them.


    It could be said that this was almost a checkmate situation.


    The reason for "almost" was that, after much contemplation, he finally thought of a way out.


    The Crusher exploded with a roar, the explosion destroying its power system and the bearings above, the sharp blades slowly ceasing to rotate.


    These were the miniature bombs Annabelle had left inside.


    Having stayed in the Crusher for so long, how could they have done nothing?


    Xu Yi glanced at the box on the ground, then resolutely opened his mouth and swallowed the box whole.


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    This time he was not swallowing the box into a Different Space, but devouring it, he was going to devour the clown''s Origin!


    Xu Yi''s face twisted with pain, not to mention that it was only a Soul Split here, even the Main Soul might not be able to devour the clown''s Origin.


    But precisely because it was the Origin, he could act boldly, at worst, sacrificing the Soul Split before him.


    Once the Soul Split died, he would have to stay in the Dream World for a long time.


    Xu Yi had hesitated for a long time before making this decision.


    After devouring the clown''s Origin, he didn''t stop there; he plunged into the Crusher without pause.


    With the power of his Soul Split, he could not possibly be an opponent of the clown''s Origin. Once the box dissolved, he would likely be devoured in return, so he had to bring in "outside help."


    Taking a deep breath, he braced himself mentally and then opened his mouth, gulping down the flesh tissue within the Crusher.


    The tissue, carrying intense radiation, was like swallowing scalding lava.


    But that wasn''t the worst of it¡ªthe tissue also had an indescribable weird taste, even cutting off his sense of taste was useless; for the first time, he encountered a taste that directly affected the soul.


    Several times he wanted to spit it out, it was as if he had drunk a mixture of fermented bean sauce and stinky tofu topped with rotten cabbage leaves.


    But still, he endured the nausea and swallowed all the flesh tissue.


    He never wanted to experience that again.


    As he swallowed the last piece of tissue, a white figure approached rapidly; clown Pennywise crashed onto the Crusher, his face pressed against the glass exterior wall, looking even more ferocious.


    "You ate something that doesn''t belong to you!" the clown stared straight at Xu Yi''s face.


    The sound of approaching footsteps grew, as people from the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization and the Ring of Destruction arrived one after another, their gazes falling upon Xu Yi.


    West, seeing the face belonging to Xu Yi, furrowed his brows.


    Xu Yi regarded West as a formidable opponent, and West felt the same; with his understanding of Xu Yi, he knew that the latter would not simply surrender without a fight.


    "So many people have come, it''s enough for a party now!"


    Xu Yi''s face was exceptionally pale, but his lips curled into a smile, "I wish you all a delightful evening!"

 Chapter 406 Aberration

    Xu Yi''s face suddenly cracked open, with fine cracks spreading across the entire face as a rich purplish-black light spilled from the fissures.


    The sealed box melted away, and the clown''s Origin finally saw the light of day once more.


    The members of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization''s faces turned ashen, aware of the fully intact clown''s terror; yet they still forcibly suppressed the panic within their hearts.


    Clown Pennywise could absorb others'' fear.


    The more fear directed towards Pennywise, the stronger he became.


    With the clown Origin''s emergence, this should have been good news for the Ring of Destruction, but West''s brows furrowed even tighter, sensing that something was even more amiss.


    Xu Yi''s face suddenly turned white, not an ordinary pallor, but as though smeared with a copious amount of white paint.


    His lips turned a bloody red and stretched into a grotesque smile, looking just like a clown.


    Exactly as Xu Yi anticipated, the Soul Split proved no match and was instead invaded by the clown''s Origin.


    "Thank you for your hospitality!" Clown Pennywise performed a frenzied dance, his excitement obvious to anyone.


    Xu Yi''s face flew out from the Crusher, and Clown Pennywise opened his arms wide, embracing the face. As they fused together, surging purple streams gushed out from the clown''s body.


    With the clown regaining his Origin, exaggerated laughter echoed throughout the factory.


    He had been imprisoned for far too long. Faced with his Origin so close at hand, how could he resist such temptation?


    West felt a nagging unease, knowing Xu Yi as he did; it was unlikely that he would just surrender without a fight.


    The reason Xu Yi ceased resisting and allowed himself to be captured was because this was part of the plan all along.


    He had put his Soul Split into a "Return to Silence" state, preserving only the most core of his consciousness, which was at its most resilient in this state.


    At this moment, the people from the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization should be moving in to capture the clown, yet they silently retreated, their bodies shaking uncontrollably.


    They discovered the Crusher was now hollow¡ªthose pieces of skin tissue had vanished!


    Only they knew the true owner of that skin tissue, and the horrifying, brutal existence it represented.


    The face that had swallowed all the skin tissue was now merging with Clown Pennywise, and all that tissue must be inside the clown''s body!


    Clown Pennywise was preparing to leave this place. Although he very much wished for revenge, he also clearly understood the strength of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization; otherwise, he would not have been captured previously.


    He suddenly felt something unusual in his chest and looked down, only to be left stunned.


    A giant purple pupil appeared on his chest, coldly observing everyone present.


    Clown Pennywise, already an entity of extreme madness and darkness, couldn''t help but tremble uncontrollably at the sight of that pupil.


    As a cosmic horror deity presiding over fear, he was now experiencing fear himself.


    "Thank goodness I let go early!" Xu Yi inwardly sighed with relief the moment he saw the purple pupil.


    If he had not been decisive enough to discard the majority of his Soul Splits, he might not have been able to preserve even this last bit of consciousness.


    To them, those skin tissues were like Dragon Blood to common people.


    In various myths, there are examples of ordinary humans who, after consuming or bathing in Dragon Blood, acquired great powers.


    However, the word ''ordinary'' deserves a big question mark.


    Successful consumption of Dragon Blood either requires various coincidences or that the person already possesses a powerful lineage.


    For actual commoners, Dragon Blood is extremely toxic and dreadful.


    Usually, there''s only one outcome for them: to be corrupted by the Dragon Blood, transforming into deadpools or other bizarre creatures.


    The current situation was similar; the original owner of that skin tissue was far too menacing, and even a monster like Clown Pennywise couldn''t contend with it.


    Clown Pennywise''s pupils suddenly turned a deep red, baring his teeth at those present like a bloodthirsty beast sighting a herd of prey.


    He struggled to contain the bloodlust within him, but such control was unsustainable; under the influence of the skin tissue, his reasoning was gradually deteriorating.


    This was Xu Yi''s plan, to use the skin tissue to cause the clown to mutate and lose control, attacking everyone present.


    Suppressing the dark power requires the Clown to be in a "high-pressure environment."


    For the Clown, neither the Furnace nor the Soul Bind Lines could provide enough pressure.


    Xu Yi suddenly changed his thought, considering the numerous Alchemical Machineries of the Ring of Destruction and the top combat forces of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization''s branch gathered here.


    Was there a better way to create pressure for the Clown than challenging this group of people?


    Of course, whether this method could squeeze out the dark power, Xu Yi wasn''t sure.


    Because it was simply unpredictable.


    Dreams couldn''t realize things beyond one''s cognition; no one knew what would happen after swallowing those skin tissues.


    But compared to the previous deadlock, this at least provided Xu Yi with a sliver of opportunity.


    The Clown''s mutations continued; lumps of flesh surged on both sides of his shoulders, rapidly morphing into two heads, each with a face identical to the Clown''s.


    However, the left face was as indifferent as ice, while the right sported an exaggerated smile.


    His back suddenly split open, and arm after arm emerged from the rift, their nails sharp.


    In the blink of an eye, he had transformed into a three-headed, six-armed monster.


    He let out a beast-like roar, unable to restrain the surging killing intent in his heart, and pounced on the closest Silver Giant Ape.


    The Silver Giant Ape belonged to the Ring of Destruction; under these circumstances, the Clown actually struck at his own "partners," clearly having lost his sanity, making no distinction between friend and foe.


    Arms suddenly shot into the air, and a mass of metal parts scattered.


    Everyone present changed color; they had all witnessed the Silver Giant Ape''s sturdiness, and yet, in just an instant, its arm had been torn off.


    As the Clown Pennywise made his move, the scene immediately descended into chaos.


    At first, the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization thought about annihilating the enemy, but they soon realized how naive they were.


    The Clown darted among the crowd, wielding fire, wind, thunder, and lightning at his command.


    Every casual strike carried an unimaginable force, and within moments, three soldiers from the Black Abyss were torn apart, dying on the spot.


    Under the pressure of the Clown Pennywise, the Ring of Destruction and the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, two opposing forces, temporarily joined hands.


    But even so, they were still no match for the Clown.


    The mutated Clown was terrifyingly strong; the pupils on his chest occasionally emitted dazzling purple glows, which petrified the space wherever they reached, and those petrified could only become meat on the chopping board.


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    "That''s just too exaggerated!"


    Xu Yi, observing secretly, was shocked; even if the Clown had taken back his Origin, he couldn''t possibly be this terrifying.


    It was all the effects of those skin tissues.


    The more he saw, the more Xu Yi was shocked, and a shadow fell over his heart.


    The Ring of Destruction was also in a difficult position at this point.


    Now that the Clown had not only escaped confinement but had also taken back his Origin, he could soon be of use to them.


    But there was one prerequisite: that was to deal with the out-of-control Clown.


    The eyes of all the Alchemical Machinery fell on West; West was a very decisive man, and he immediately made a decision.


    A host of tendrils suddenly surged down from the ceiling, immediately enveloping the Clown Pennywise.


    The Clown tried to use his teleportation ability to escape, but the tendrils lit up with green light, and the Clown was trapped within the roots.


    In this Ocean Base, the World Tree was the only one capable of dealing with the mutated Clown. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    West didn''t want to give up on the Clown Pennywise just like that, so he borrowed the power of the World Tree.


    But the next second, the tendrils of the World Tree suddenly shook violently.

 Chapter 407 Prophecy of World Destruction

    At the moment when the World Tree exhibited an anomaly, the clown Pennywise immediately seized the opportunity and teleported to escape the shackles of the roots.


    West''s brows were tightly furrowed. The trembling of the roots just now wasn''t because of Pennywise''s ability, but because there was something wrong with the World Tree itself.


    Within the World Tree, Xu Yi had a Soul Split. He could see the situation of the World Tree more clearly than West and he immediately switched perspectives.


    Outside the Ocean Base, the high-pressure seawater surrounded the quietly floating World Tree.


    The World Tree and the Ring of Destruction merely had a cooperative relationship, and it appeared here only out of consideration for the regular nutrients provided.


    That it had offered help with its roots was already more than could be asked, and it did not wish to squeeze into the narrow house.


    At this moment, a massive shadow descended from above the sea, looking like a gigantic submarine aircraft carrier.


    But as the shadow approached, Xu Yi finally saw clearly, it was actually an island, a pure black island.


    Engraved beneath the island were giant symbols: fire, lightning, and ancient monuments.


    Those were the symbols of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    The Ocean Base was invaded, and, of course, they called for reinforcements, but they had not expected the reinforcements to be an island.


    Golden lightning gathered beneath the island, boiling seawater was instantly pushed aside, and in a flash, a vacuum appeared around the island.


    The lightning struck down with a deafening crash, hitting the World Tree below, which trembled violently, its branches and leaves shaking.


    Xu Yi''s expression slightly changed, for he sensed the presence of a Domain amidst that golden lightning.


    If the World Tree were in its prime or even just a "Mature Body," it could easily destroy the island above.


    But now, it was only ten meters tall, which for it was nothing but a "Juvenile."


    At this stage, its only goal was growth, and it did not want to waste energy on such trivial matters.


    So, it made a decisive decision, withdrew its roots, and fled swiftly. It disappeared into the seabed in the blink of an eye.


    In the factory of the base, West''s brows were still tightly locked. With the loss of the World Tree''s strong support, it was more difficult to deal with the rogue clown.


    What''s worse, he also spotted the island at sea.


    The reinforcements from the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization had arrived, and if they stayed any longer, they feared they would be completely trapped.


    West looked around and did not issue the order to retreat but instead took out a sack.


    The sack was opened, and its contents were poured out on the ground. Xu Yi saw clearly what those were, and his face suddenly changed. Those were precious essences of souls.


    He already knew what West was going to do, but he was powerless to stop it.


    A grey fog suddenly swept the area, and an ancient door emerged within the mist.


    The essences of the soul on the ground ignited simultaneously, and surging Soul Energy poured toward that door, which began to open slowly.


    Everyone present felt a powerful suction they could not resist.


    The only one who might have escaped was the rogue clown, but with his sanity completely lost and drawn to the scent of the soul essences, he actually went forward to snatch them.


    This was no different than walking into a trap.


    What West had summoned was, of course, the Soul Gate, and as its doors opened halfway, everyone present was swept inside.


    All around was pitch black, and Xu Yi only felt himself falling continuously. He sighed inwardly, knowing the plan was doomed.


    In this situation, it was simply impossible to continue harnessing dark energy.


    Even this Soul Split would have to be abandoned here.


    Behind the three Primordial Gates, there corresponded a world, and he had entered the Gate of Truth twice, narrowly escaping with his life.


    One could imagine that the world behind the Soul Gate would definitely be equally terrifying.


    ```


    Moreover, from the current situation, the Ring of Destruction still has some control over the Soul Gate, extinguishing even the last sliver of hope.


    Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes but did not see Pennywise.


    His consciousness core should have been inside Pennywise''s body, but not seeing the other party probably meant he had been separated from it.


    He looked around, and mirrors loomed in every direction, as if he were in a labyrinth of mirrors.


    The mirrors reflected his figure, each one different¡ªsome showed him during his childhood, others in his youth... and some depicted his elder years, with white hair.


    They lined up in the mirrors, like an abridgment of his life.


    Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief because the reflections in the mirrors depicted the life of "Xu Yi" and not him from before he crossed over.


    He pondered what terrible ability this mirror world might have.


    At that moment, his reflections in the mirrors disappeared, replaced by a ferocious tsunami.


    The tsunami was so vast it blotted out the sky, tirelessly pushing forward. Ahead of it lay vast stretches of land, but even extensive landmasses couldn''t contend with the sea, and the land was crushed beneath the tsunami.


    Cities upon the land were destroyed in an instant, and residents fled in terror.


    Xu Yi''s gaze reached farther, to the end of the land, where a towering column of magma burst forth into the sky. Molten rock fell away, revealing the massive, crimson arm within.


    The scene stopped abruptly there, and footsteps sounded from behind. Xu Yi turned to look¡ªWest was slowly approaching him.


    Xu Yi neither launched an attack nor took a defensive stance, because it was unnecessary. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To be the fish on the chopping block.


    A failure must be acknowledged; this was someone else''s domain, and resistance was futile.


    Of course, he was as indifferent as a "pig being boiled," mainly because it was just a Soul Split that was present. If it died, it would at most lie dormant in the Dream World for some time. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    To Xu Yi''s surprise, West also showed no intention to attack. He walked up beside Xu Yi and they stood shoulder to shoulder.


    "Do you know what the images in the mirror represent?" West asked softly, his tone gentle as if two friends were chatting leisurely.


    Xu Yi shook his head; he couldn''t figure out what West was getting at.


    "It''s a prophecy, of future events that will take place."


    Without waiting for Xu Yi to ask, West continued to explain, "The Soul Gate possesses the ability to foresee. Through these mirrors, one can occasionally glimpse fragments of the future. The scene you just saw is one such future event."


    "Are you saying that in the near future, this land will be submerged by the sea?" Xu Yi furrowed his brow.


    West shook his head, "Not just this land, but the entire world will be submerged by the sea."


    "Like the legend says, God will unleash a great flood to destroy the world?"


    Xu Yi felt heavy-hearted because he understood that what West said was quite probable, as the sea level was rising every day.


    "Quite so, but it''s not God who will destroy the world. The God of now doesn''t have such great power."


    West stared solemnly into the mirror.


    Xu Yi instantly understood that the one who would destroy the world was the owner of the arm in the image.


    He asked curiously, "Why are you telling me all this?"


    Instead of answering directly, West brought up another topic.


    "I lurked in the Well of Eternity for a long time, the core of the Ring of Destruction. I once had the chance to destroy the Ring, but I gave up and joined them. Do you know why?"


    "Is it because of these prophecies?" Xu Yi could roughly guess the sequence of events.


    "Exactly! The Ring of Destruction''s creed is to kill the Destroyer of Worlds, to save the world at all costs!"


    Suddenly, West turned his head and looked directly into Xu Yi''s eyes, his expression earnest, "Join us! Together, we might be able to change everything!"


    ```

 Chapter 408 The Dagger Revealed at the End of the Plot

    Facing West''s invitation, Xu Yi fell silent.


    There was no way he could agree; after all, those with different principles don''t work well together. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All he was considering was whether the other party was lying¡ªdid the Destroyer of Worlds really exist?


    Xu Yi felt a heavy weight in his heart; although there was no concrete evidence, he inexplicably had a premonition that the other party wasn''t deceiving him.


    Was this world really heading towards destruction?


    Neither spoke for a long time, and after the prolonged silence, Xu Yi shook his head, "I will not join the Ring of Destruction."


    To save ten people by sacrificing one¡ªwas this method right or wrong?


    Xu Yi did not want to ponder such moral dilemmas; he simply felt that the Ring of Destruction might not be a reliable way to save the world.


    "Come on! Make it quick, just strike me down!"


    Xu Yi was ready to face death; since he had refused the "amnesty" of the Ring of Destruction, it was natural that the other party would not spare his life.


    West looked at Xu Yi with a sigh, his eyes full of disappointment.


    But he did not bring down the killing blow; instead, he waved his hand, and the densely packed mirrors in front of them parted, revealing the battleground behind them.


    The battle had reached a feverish intensity, with the distorted clown grasping the head of a soldier from the Black Abyss army. His gaunt palm exerted force, crushing the helmet along with the head inside, with brain matter and blood splattering.


    Inason controlled the "Wrath of God" armor, swinging punch after punch, with the surrounding glass mirrors shattering thunderously.


    He had no intention of fighting; he just wanted to escape from this place.


    If even the strongest force of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization was like this, the battle situation was naturally one-sided.


    Inason grew increasingly anxious; he had shattered so many mirrors, yet the number of mirrors in front of him did not seem to reduce at all.


    As mere onlookers, Xu Yi and West stood at the edge of the battlefield, yet Inason acted as if he did not see them at all, his gaze never once pausing on them.


    It was obvious that the other party''s sense had been blocked.


    Xu Yi looked at West with confusion; what was the meaning of not killing him and instead showing him these scenes?


    Was it to torment him properly before killing him?


    It was completely inconceivable that West would have such a hobby.


    But the next second, he was stunned.


    "Do you want to get something from behind the clown Pennywise? I can help you," West said softly.


    "What do you mean?" Xu Yi was even more puzzled by West''s intentions.


    "Do you think the clown is still of use to us now?" West countered.


    The clown''s distortions continued; dense spines grew from his body, and his aura became increasingly terrifying, but this was not a good sign.


    The clown was overexerting his power, gradually moving towards collapse.


    "Why not make use of something that is doomed to be useless?" West said with a smile.


    "Why would you help me?" Xu Yi didn''t believe that pie could simply fall from the sky.


    "Haven''t I already said it? If it means killing the Destroyer of Worlds, we are willing to pay any price!" West replied softly.


    "Did you see something about the future in the Soul Gate?" Xu Yi asked curiously.


    West smiled but did not answer directly, "The Destroyer of Worlds is not just targeting us, but the entire world. We''re not enemies; we''re refugees in the same boat."


    "Helping you this time is also a way to express my apology, as I was indeed wrong about our last encounter," West added.


    Even though West looked sincere, Xu Yi was not a three-year-old child who could be easily swayed by a few apologetic words.


    But he spoke up anyway, "I need to compress the clown Pennywise to the extreme."


    It''s just an offhand remark, and it doesn''t cost anything, what if West really did turn over a new leaf?


    "Well then, let us begin!" West suddenly snapped his fingers.


    Six figures abruptly appeared before Xu Yi, scattered around the battlefield¡ªthey were the alchemical machinery of the Ring of Destruction.


    Xu Yi was aware that they had been there all along; the reason he had not seen them was because the Soul Gate had misled his perception.


    The six pieces of alchemical machinery suddenly emitted scalding steam, and surging energy was injected underground. Complex lines lit up on the ground, forming an intricate array that enveloped the entire battlefield.


    No way! Art, you can''t be serious? Xu Yi was surprised as he looked at West.


    As a master of arrays, he could tell at a glance that this array possessed a "compression" ability.


    "How did West know he needed to "compress" Pennywise, and so had prepared the array in advance?"


    New questions popped into Xu Yi''s mind.


    As if reading his thoughts, West explained, "Thousands of types of arrays are pre-engraved here. Whichever one is needed can be activated at will."


    Xu Yi suddenly realized, and became very curious about how the Ring of Destruction managed all this, given that this was the interior of the Soul Gate.


    But he didn''t ask out loud because he knew too well that the other party wouldn''t answer.


    The members of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization were like headless flies; they only felt the oppression around them getting stronger, but they couldn''t see the alchemical machinery of the Ring of Destruction, nor could they sense the array under their feet.


    They couldn''t escape and instead became mere tools that bound Pennywise.


    Xu Yi''s heart was shocked, and at the same time, he pondered in his mind how he would cope if the Ring of Destruction used this move against him.


    There were limbs and debris everywhere, blood dyed Pennywise''s costume red as the armies of the Black Abyss and the Red Devil fell one after another, leaving only Inason dressed in the "Wrath of God" armor.


    Inason''s body couldn''t stop shaking; ever since he had obtained the "Wrath of God" armor, he had never conceived of a day when he would be killed.


    Pennywise''s face was covered in cracks, and suddenly, those cracks opened into octopus-like mouths, and the highly distorted clown no longer retained any human form.


    Inason seemed to have a premonition of his death and made his final bow.


    He lunged at Pennywise of his own accord, the Wrath of God armor flickering with intense lightning. The lightning grew brighter, until it finally burst forth, resembling the rise of the Bird of Thunder before one''s eyes.


    All Xu Yi could see was blue¡ªthe blue sea of lightning.


    Inason had detonated his Wrath of God armor, attempting to take Pennywise down with him.


    The glow of the blue lightning gradually faded, and West suddenly reached out, grabbed at the void, and Xu Yi then saw clearly that in the distance, there was a blue Bird of Thunder, swiftly trying to escape.


    The Bird of Thunder suddenly let out a cry of agony, it was Inason''s voice¡ªhe had no intention of dying with Pennywise but had intended to use the self-destruction of the Wrath of God armor to escape.


    Of course, West would not let Inason leave alive.


    The glow of lightning completely vanished, and the power of Wrath of God''s self-destruction could easily level a nation, but Pennywise looked like he had only sustained superficial injuries.


    Pennywise took a step forward, then suddenly found himself unable to move, suspended in midair.


    A bright red light illuminated Pennywise, and his body began to shrink as though it were being put into a compressor, his limbs folding inward.


    The light came from the array beneath his feet, the lines that outlined the array turned a glowing red, vibrated intensely, a sign the array had been pushed to its limits.


    A formidable pressure acted on Pennywise; he was turned into a lump of flesh, no bigger than a football.


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    But squeezing out the dark force, this level was still far from enough.


    "The array can only achieve so much. If you want to continue, I do have an idea," West spoke slowly.


    "What idea?" Xu Yi asked subconsciously.


    "Summon the Black Void Gate! Use the powerful force generated by the collision between the Black Void Gate and the Soul Gate to compress Pennywise," West replied softly.


    Xu Yi abruptly turned his head to gaze at West.


    This time the cards were on the table¡ªhim helping Xu Yi was probably for the Black Void Gate!

 Chapter 409 Dark Power Crystal

    ```


    "I''m just offering an idea, as for whether to use it, that''s entirely up to you," West said, responding to Xu Yi''s scrutinizing gaze with a smile.


    Xu Yi looked up at the clown Pennywise. The Array''s powerful force had only compressed the clown into a lump of flesh; it hadn''t really hurt him at all.


    It wasn''t that the Array wasn''t strong enough; even if Xu Yi had set it up, it would not have been much stronger than the one before him.


    Xu Yi furrowed his brows, knowing very well that just relying on the Array''s Energy, it was simply not possible to suppress the dark power.


    Clown Pennywise was far too powerful, especially after swallowing that unknown skin tissue. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Yi tried to summon the Black Void Gate and, unexpectedly, there was a response. It seemed that Soul Split could indeed summon the Black Void Gate.


    By taking this action, he indicated he was already tempted.


    "There''s no time left!" West suddenly exclaimed.


    As his words fell, the lines of the Array flickered like an overloaded fuse and with a "bang," they broke. The Array''s efficacy plummeted, and the clown''s body burst forth.


    But that wasn''t the worst part. Black ash fell from the clown''s body, fluttering around as if his body were like burnt dry branches, collapsing.


    Indeed, there was no time left. If they didn''t make a decision immediately, once the clown reached Annihilation, there would be no way to suppress the dark power anymore.


    "I don''t have the sacrificial offerings to summon the Black Void Gate," Xu Yi suddenly said.


    By saying this, it meant that he agreed to West''s plan.


    West was right. To extract the dark power from the clown, perhaps only something on the level of the Primordial Gate would suffice.


    Without delay, West took out three high-Quality Soul Elixirs and placed them in front of Xu Yi, clearly well-prepared.


    As the Soul Elixirs burned, the mark of the Black Void Gate emerged on Xu Yi''s forehead. A vast fog quietly descended, with the pitch-black gate faintly visible within it.


    Xu Yi summoned the Black Void Gate, and he was also very curious about what West was going to do with the Black Void Gate.


    The moment the Black Void Gate appeared, the entire Mirror World shook violently, with the Soul Gate seemingly expressing its rage.


    Overwhelming power pressed down like a collapsing heaven upon the Black Void Gate, which stood resolute against it, its doors bursting with dense black light.


    The clash of two unimaginable forces sent shockwaves spreading. Xu Yi felt like he was caught in a furnace, about to be incinerated.


    It was not an illusion; his Soul was slowly dissipating.


    A figure suddenly stood before him, blocking his path. It was West, and Xu Yi looked upon his silhouette with a complex gaze.


    Small black vortexes appeared in the air. They were only the size of a thumb and spun slowly, seemingly powerless, but that was definitely an illusion.


    One of the Red Devil''s Armor was drawn up into the sky. The Red Devil''s military hardware was undoubtedly solid, but as it fell into the vortex, it was instantly shredded.


    More and more small black vortexes appeared, like a drizzle upon the surface of a lake, stirring the waters.


    This pleasing scene undoubtedly contained unimaginably terrifying power.


    West snapped his fingers, and Xu Yi suddenly widened his eyes in disbelief.


    The Alchemical Machinery around them simultaneously channeled Energy into the Array, tossing clown Pennywise "towards" the center of the vortexes.


    Before summoning the Black Void Gate, Xu Yi had been ready for anything, but he had not expected West actually not to betray him, instead honoring the promise!


    Clown Pennywise let out a piercing scream, struggling to break free from the vortex but being pulled back again and again.


    Xu Yi was just caught in the aftershock and his Soul Split was at risk of disintegrating. It was hard to imagine the enormous pressure the clown faced at the epicenter of the collision.


    The clown''s body was torn apart by the vortex. A palm-sized, ink-colored spider rushed out of the body, but it managed to escape only half a meter before being sucked into a new vortex.


    The clown''s Origin was exposed, covered with a dense mass of eyes, different from what had been seen before ¨C it seemed even the clown''s Origin had not escaped a twisted fate.


    The ink-colored spider struggled frantically, to no avail. Realizing it could not escape, it curled up into a ball, attempting to endure the onslaught. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ```


    Under the effect of the vortex, the "ink blob" grew smaller and smaller... a faint purple glow flickered.


    Xu Yi suddenly became excited. In the purple light, he sensed a familiar aura, it was the aura of dark power!


    The dark power before his eyes was much purer than what had been extracted from the alien demons.


    "Continue!" West once again took out five soul elixirs.


    With things having come this far, there was no way Xu Yi could back down. Seeing there was hope to suppress the dark power, how could he possibly give up?


    Even if it meant facing betrayal by West, that issue would be for later. The immediate priority was to first extract the dark power.


    Missing this opportunity, he feared that it would be very difficult to find such a powerful extraterrestrial creature again.


    The five soul elixirs ignited instantaneously. With the new sacrifice, the heavy doors of the Black Void Gate began to slowly open, and the vortex in the sky instantly doubled in size.


    Immense power acted upon the clown. The "ink dot" was compressed to its limit, bursting forth a dazzling purple light.


    As the light slowly faded, a radiant purple crystal stone floated at the center of the vortex, withstanding the pressure of the swirl.


    "This is the true source of the dark power!" Xu Yi stared at the crystal stone, extremely excited.


    But in the next second, West suddenly lunged forward. Xu Yi was taken aback. Could it be that West intended to snatch the "Dark Crystal"?


    He subconsciously wanted to rush forward but then forcefully stopped himself. Even Pennywise the clown couldn''t survive the clash between the two gates; how could he, a mere soul split, survive?


    West''s target was not the Dark Crystal but the Black Void Gate itself. He rushed into the Black Void Gate and disappeared in the blink of an eye.


    Xu Yi inwardly clicked his tongue. West must have some understanding of how terrifying the world behind the Primordial Gate was.


    However, given West''s ability, it was difficult to say whether it was his original self that entered the gate.


    As West entered, the Black Void Gate began to close. The vast vortex generated by the clash of the two gates slowly dissipated.


    This was, after all, the interior space of the Soul Gate. As the energy of the sacrifice was exhausted, the Black Void Gate naturally did not wish to remain and directly confront the Soul Gate.


    Xu Yi was tensely scanning his surroundings in an instant.


    Although West had left, the Alchemical Machinery of the Ring of Destruction was still present. Given his current condition, he was clearly no match for it.


    But to his surprise, the surrounding Alchemical Machinery showed no intention of moving against him.


    "West actually planned to help him!" Xu Yi was somewhat stunned.


    The preciousness of the "Dark Crystal" was evident to even a blind person. The fact that the alchemical machinery ignored it was clearly signaled by West.


    By now, West''s status within the Ring of Destruction was anything but ordinary.


    As the Dark Crystal was about to fall into his hands, Xu Yi felt agitated, yet for some reason, there was also an uneasy premonition in his heart.


    The bad premonition came true as a face suddenly appeared on the Dark Crystal, the face of a smiling clown.


    Pennywise the clown had not died!


    Indeed, as an ancient cosmic Evil God, his ability to cling to life was simply staggering. Even in such circumstances, he managed to retain a hint of his origin, clinging to the Dark Crystal.


    But that was all it could do. It was evident that Pennywise had been weakened to the extreme.


    With the vortex having dissipated, Xu Yi lunged towards the Dark Crystal, and a look of panic appeared on the clown''s face on the crystal.


    In the clown''s view, Xu Yi was in league with the Ring of Destruction. Why else would the alchemical machinery around help Xu Yi?


    Now trapped in this unknown space, depending on his current condition, he clearly could not escape.


    Pennywise''s gaze swept over the Black Void Gate, and in an instant, he made a decision.

 Chapter 410 - 410: Did I turn into Pyramid Head?

    Xu Yi looked at the clown on the Dark Power Crystal, his eyelid twitched violently; he could already anticipate what the other would do next.


    He burst forth at full speed, lunging toward the Dark Power Crystal.


    The Black Void Gate was brimming with ominous vibes, and clearly, the other side was not safe, but for the clown Pennywise, this was not a matter of choice. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Staying here meant certain capture, and rather than that, it was better to enter the gate where there was a glimmer of hope for survival.


    Pennywise manipulated the Dark Power Crystal, flying towards the Black Void Gate.


    Xu Yi cursed inwardly, knowing it was bad news; he was still a little distance away from the Dark Power Crystal when he suddenly opened his mouth wide, unleashing a powerful suction force.


    For reasons unknown¡ªwhether Pennywise was too weak or it was intentional¡ªhe put up no resistance and was sucked into Xu Yi''s mouth.


    "Thank you for the exquisite meal you''ve so graciously prepared!"


    Suddenly, Pennywise burst out laughing, his voice barely hiding the excitement.


    Never had he imagined that he would have the chance to turn the tables so dramatically!


    The "exquisite meal" Pennywise referred to was, of course, Xu Yi''s soul, which he intended to devour.


    When Xu Yi approached, Pennywise realized that their situations were similar, both had exhausted their Soul Power, leaving only their Origin consciousness.


    In such circumstances, what mattered was the level of one''s Origin.


    Whichever had the higher level would be the victor!


    Being a cosmic Evil God known as "Deathlight," Pennywise did not believe that Xu Yi''s soul could possibly be of a higher level than his own, which was why he allowed himself to be swallowed without resistance.


    However, he quickly realized something was off¡ªXu Yi''s soul Origin was actually a Crystal Stone!


    Even for their "Deathlight" kin, who were known for their soul-based abilities, their souls were merely liquid in form.


    Fear gripped Pennywise''s heart, and his instinct was to flee.


    "Now you think of escaping, but isn''t it a bit too late?" Xu Yi sneered inwardly.


    If it were a human soul, it certainly wouldn''t rival Pennywise in level, but his Origin was that of a Soul Master.


    Pennywise''s action was akin to throwing oneself into the tiger''s maw.


    Xu Yi''s soul enveloped Pennywise, and his devouring ability activated.


    Amidst a series of screams and pleas, Pennywise''s consciousness gradually dissipated.


    But before Xu Yi had time to rejoice, the nearby Black Void Gate suddenly erupted with a sucking force, and he couldn''t resist being pulled into it.


    "What double blessings!" Xu Yi sighed to himself.


    Although he had acquired the much-coveted Dark Power Crystal, he had also fallen into the Black Void Gate, uncertain if he could escape with the crystal.


    He seemed to plummet into the deep sea, surrounded by endless darkness, wave after wave of coldness assailing him; he was powerless to do anything but succumb to the downward pull of his soul.


    "Owner of the mark spotted, initiating identity assignment."


    A cold voice suddenly echoed in his ears; Xu Yi had heard it before¡ªit was the voice of the Black Void Gate.


    Identity? What identity? He was a bit puzzled.


    He didn''t have time to ponder further as an irresistible drowsiness swept over him, and he gradually lost consciousness.


    ...


    Half an hour before, in the Arctic Ocean, the Burial Ground.


    Annabelle maneuvered through the massive skeletons, avoiding all surveillance and reaching the central area.


    It shrunk its body down to the size of a fingernail and shot towards the seabed. Its body shimmered with a silvery light, indicating some Magic Artifact had been activated.


    The hard seabed could not halt its progress; it burrowed downward.


    After traveling about two hundred meters, a purple mist opened up, and a pint-sized Golden Coffin appeared within the mist, expanding continuously.


    Made from a special metal, the Golden Coffin forced the surrounding earth and stone apart, setting itself firmly in place. The coffin vibrated slightly as the Array silently took effect, and the bodies inside¡ªXu Yi''s and the Ghost Samurai¡ªbegan to glow with a faint golden light.


    The two began to fuse.


    Annabelle retraced its steps back the way it came, leaving behind a tiny wormhole which was quickly concealed by the loose soil.


    It followed Xu Yi''s instruction to return to the exit beneath the ocean base, and through the gap, Bob, frantic with urgency, could be seen hopping up and down.


    Annabel connected with Bob and swam towards the deep sea in the distance. At that moment, golden lightning illuminated the seabed, and a massive shadow descended from above.


    Bob shivered with fright and repeatedly urged Annabel to hasten their escape.


    As long as they got a certain distance away, they would be safe. Maria was there, waiting to rendezvous with them.


    ...


    Unaware of how long he had been asleep, Xu Yi was startled awake by the shrill sound of the air raid alarm and abruptly opened his eyes.


    He instinctively checked his memory. Although the abilities of the three Primordial Gates were different, items like the Lost Soul Ice Crystal shouldn''t appear behind the Black Void Gate, but it was best to be cautious.


    A moment later, he slowly exhaled in relief.


    His memory hadn''t been tampered with, as he could still see the system''s panel information.


    Although many abilities were inaccessible due to only being a Soul Split, including the Resurrection Coin.


    Xu Yi sensed a familiar presence within his body and felt somewhat reassured.


    The Dark Power Crystal was still inside him, not lost.


    This was immensely good news for him.


    Xu Yi attempted to move his body, only to find he was utterly incapable; his soul seemed to have been sealed within a statue, unable to budge.


    His vision was incredibly poor, as if someone had slipped a doll''s mask over his head. He could only vaguely discern the outside world, a blood-stained iron table.


    He strained to see more, and suddenly his body jolted as if activating some ability, and his "vision" changed.


    The sensation was strange, as if his eyes had suddenly moved to the top of his head, obtaining a panoramic view.


    Everything in front of him was cloaked in a faint blood glow. It took him a while to adjust before realizing that the blood glow wasn''t coming from the environment, but rather there was something wrong with his "eyes."


    He finally saw himself clearly, then froze.


    In the claustrophobic room, "he" stood in front of a narrow iron window, half-naked, with rippling muscles, and wearing a brown leather apron used by butchers on his lower half.


    With a height nearing three meters, he imposed an overwhelming sense of oppression.


    The item on his head wasn''t some doll mask, but an incredibly heavy, sharp, triangular pyramid covered with squirming blood vessels and blackened blood.


    Had he become a Pyramid Head? S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi was stunned for a long time before suddenly recalling a conversation he''d heard earlier. The sentence about identity endowment from the Black Void Gate¡ªcould it be referring to the Pyramid Head before him?


    What was the purpose of the Black Void Gate doing this?


    Xu Yi then remembered the Sugar Plum Fairy who had gifted him the gate mark.


    The Pyramid Head before him, like the Sugar Plum Fairy, was filled with twisted and ominous vibes.


    Xu Yi felt heavy-hearted, because with the precedent set by the Sugar Plum Fairy, he likely could be twisted into a monster that only knew slaughter.


    The so-called Black Void Gate was actually the Gate of the Fallen, so such an event was not surprising.


    If it were only a Soul Split that was lost, it would be one thing, but now that the Soul Split carried the Dark Power Crystal within, he had to find a way to get it out at all costs.


    The air raid siren grew more urgent. Xu Yi looked out through the narrow iron window; an old-fashioned town enveloped in fog, with ashes drifting in the sky at all times.


    A coldness suddenly spread over him, and at the same time, changes occurred outside.


    Just a few seconds ago, though the weather outside the window was foggy, at least a sliver of daylight was visible. But now, boundless darkness swept over.


    Xu Yi felt as if he had entered another world from one.


    But the good news was, he found that he could move.


    On the bloodstained metallic surface of the table, lay a hefty cleaver, about two meters in length and thirty centimeters in width, with a sharp edge.


    He grasped the handle and violently hoisted the large cleaver, resting it on his shoulder


    This series of motions was incredibly natural, as if the cleaver had always belonged to him.


    Though he had become a monster, arriving in an unfamiliar place, it was still better to be armed for self-defense.

 Chapter 411 - 411: The Murder March

    Xu Yi dragged the heavy cleaver forward, but after only a few meters, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him.


    He gripped the handle of the cleaver tightly, warily looking ahead, yet he quickly relaxed.


    In front was a little girl, who appeared to be only eight or nine years old, with black hair sticking together and scattered across her forehead.


    The little girl stared straight at Xu Yi, her eyes rimmed with pale blood-colored eye shadow.


    There was no doubt that Xu Yi''s current appearance was extremely horrifying and fierce, but there wasn''t a hint of fear in the little girl''s eyes, just a trace of curiosity in her scrutinizing gaze.


    In such an unsettling place, and with such a demeanor, the little girl before him was clearly not an ordinary person.


    "My name is Alesha," the little girl suddenly said.


    A surge of inexplicable information flooded into Xu Yi''s mind, and he knew the identity of the little girl before him, which left him utterly shocked.


    She was actually the "Creator"!


    Of course, she was not the god from the myths who created the world, but rather, this eerie world had been born because of the little girl.


    Even the Pyramid Head form he had taken on was the handiwork of the little girl.


    His mission, having been created, was to protect Alesha.


    Alesha walked forward silently, and Xu Yi subconsciously followed.


    At the end of the corridor was a heavy metal door, its surface etched with intricate patterns, out of place against the minimalistic metallic corridor.


    The metal door creaked open, and Alesha stood by its side, quietly waiting.


    Through the door, all one could see was darkness, and the strange murmurs coming from beyond suggested that what lay behind the door was far from welcoming, but Xu Yi had no choice in the matter.


    He had a premonition that if he didn''t enter beyond the door, he would die.


    Alesha leapt up, and with Xu Yi''s current form as the Pyramid Head, broad-shouldered and thick-armed, and Alesha''s petite figure, she landed steadily on Xu Yi''s shoulder, with Xu Yi barely feeling her weight.


    Without any further hesitation, Xu Yi strode through the door.


    Endless darkness enveloped him, and after an indeterminate amount of time, his vision slowly returned.


    Before him lay a vast expanse of ruins with oddly shaped architectural debris everywhere.


    All the ruins were covered with a layer of viscous black-red flesh that was alive, undulating like waves.


    Blood-colored light shone down from above, its source not some sun but a massive pupil, coldly watching over the bloody flesh ruins below.


    Upon encountering the giant pupil, Xu Yi''s body involuntarily shivered.


    He suddenly realized that these ruins were the true world behind the Black Void Gate; the foggy town he had been in was merely an outpost for entering this place.


    More and more figures appeared in the bloody flesh ruins, among them a giant serpent made of human skulls; a monstrous spider with a baby''s face; deformed people with two heads dragging their bloody intestines as they crawled along the ground...


    Every being that entered these bloody flesh ruins was, without exception, a corrupted monster, swarming in vast numbers with no end in sight.


    Suddenly, a dull bell sounded overhead, and only then did Xu Yi notice that beneath the blood pupil hung an ancient clock, black and connected by chains. The bell''s toll spread in all directions.


    Before Xu Yi could react, a segment of bloody intestine climbed down from below, coiling around his body and arms.


    The two-headed Deformed Person controlling the intestines suddenly lunged at Xu Yi, its wide-open mouth filled with sharp fangs.


    A boundless fury mixed with a savage bloodlust surged up within him, and he exerted force with both hands, snapping the intestines wrapped around him inch by inch.


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    He reached out with his left hand, grabbing the approaching two-headed Deformed Person, and with his other hand, he swung the heavy cleaver, instantly severing the bloody intestines attached to the lower part of the Deformed Person.


    The two-headed Deformed Person let out a piercing scream.


    Sitting atop Xu Yi''s shoulder, Alesha glanced indifferently at the two-headed Deformed Person, and both heads spontaneously combusted, turning to ash in an instant, which Xu Yi then crushed to dust with one squeeze.


    Xu Yi suddenly paused, and as the two-headed Deformed Person died, a mysterious energy flowed into his body.


    He felt he had become stronger, both in terms of strength and the sturdiness of his body.


    Xu Yi looked out, and everywhere was the brutal slaughter.


    There was no such thing as factions, for all that met the eye were enemies. Their only purpose was to kill the corrupted creatures they saw.


    The whole ruin had turned into a meat grinder, and Xu Yi was one of its operators.


    He continuously swung the machete in his hand, slicing through the corrupted creatures that lunged at him.


    He let out excited roars, and with each enemy he killed, his bloodlust was satisfied.


    He was completely immersed in the combat, for he discovered that with each enemy he killed, he could absorb some of their strength.


    The feeling of growing stronger was intoxicating; he was engrossed in it, unable to extricate himself.


    Of course, not all the corrupted creatures were weak; he encountered formidable enemies several times, the most dangerous of which was once when¡ª


    he faced a monster that was half charred black and half a beautiful woman. He was engulfed by the cyan flames she spat out.


    The flames had a strong corrosive nature. He saw with his own eyes how one after another, the corrupted creatures melted away under the flames.


    He thought he wouldn''t be able to withstand it, after all, how could a brute who only knew how to hack at people with a knife stand against a "mage"?


    To his surprise, the flames couldn''t corrode his body at all, only causing him extreme discomfort.


    He suddenly realized that the Pyramid Head he had become possessed an ability similar to "Impervious to All Laws".


    He successfully killed the creature, and the surging power that flowed into him excited him immensely.


    It was then he realized that, in this battlefield of flesh and blood, Alesha was also a high-ranking entity. The Pyramid Head guardians she created were naturally no weaklings either.


    Xu Yi thrived in the chaotic combat, all thanks to his mastery of swordsmanship.


    Although the soul split that had become the Pyramid Head couldn''t use the system entries'' powers,


    entries such as swordsmanship master, which placed more importance on experience and skill, were naturally usable by him.


    Extensive knowledge of swordsmanship was very suitable for such a chaotic battlefield.


    With relentless fighting and devouring, Xu Yi grew stronger and stronger, his aura wildly bloodthirsty like a Demon God from Hell.


    "Looks like it''s time to create a new one!"


    Alesha sat quietly on his shoulder, watching Xu Yi with a look of regret in her eyes.


    After all, it was rare to create a Pyramid Head with such high potential.


    Any dark creature chosen by the Black Void Gate couldn''t resist entering this battlefield.


    To survive here, you had to keep on fighting.


    In theory, with every enemy killed, one''s own power would grow stronger, an allure that no dark creature could refuse.


    But since entering this place, Alesha had never actively killed a corrupted monster. Only when the Pyramid Head was in a tight spot would she lend a hand.


    Could it be that Alesha didn''t want to grow stronger, or that she couldn''t bear to harm the creatures around her?


    Clearly, that was impossible. Alesha gazed at the battlefield''s slaughter with indifferent eyes.


    Limbs of corrupted creatures scattered, thick blood spattered on him, Xu Yi killed with relish, lost himself in the killing, submerged completely in it.


    His gaze flickered to Alesha on his shoulder, and a surge of murderous intent rose within him, making Xu Yi shiver violently.


    Something was off! Absolutely off!


    Alarm bells were sounding in Xu Yi''s mind, and he immediately became alert. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why would he suddenly have the urge to kill Alesha for no reason?

 Chapter 412 - 412: Surviving After the Calamity

    Xu Yi recalled the scenes from before, feeling a chill throughout his body.


    The creatures before him were Dark Creatures corrupted, and Xu Yi naturally had no psychological burden when killing them. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Yet, immersing himself in such brutality and bloodlust was not his nature; it felt as if he had become someone else.


    Xu Yi examined his soul''s Origin, his heart sinking continuously.


    His once crystal-clear soul was now shrouded in a layer of black fog; his spirit was becoming tainted, his soul starting to fall into Corruption.


    Xu Yi caught Alisa''s gaze, his heart trembling violently; it was the look one gives to a dead man.


    "The killing intent that I just revealed must have been noticed by her!"


    Xu Yi instantly understood the cause and effect.


    If his soul hadn''t been tainted, he would never have done something so foolish.


    Pyramid Head was Alisa''s creation; naturally, she had means to restrain him. Moreover, there was no conflict between them; they were, in fact, comrades on the same boat.


    He would have to be insane to want to kill her.


    "No, I must find a way to remedy this!"


    Xu Yi knew he could not go on like this, or else the only outcome waiting for him would be "house cleaning" by Alisa.


    But he soon had no time to ponder these thoughts, as the Dark Creatures surged toward him like a tide. He swung the machete in his hand instinctively, the sticky black blood dripping along the blade.


    New Energy surged into his body; if before, he found this energy as sweet as fine wine, now it felt like poison, to be avoided at all costs.


    The strong desire for slaughter rose in his heart once more; with great difficulty, Xu Yi managed to fend off those murderous impulses with his strong willpower.


    But he was well aware that this was only a temporary solution, not addressing the root cause.


    This time he had overcome it, but what about the next time, and the time after that?


    Xu Yi glanced at Alisa on his shoulder with envy; he suddenly understood her approach. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had created Pyramid Head to avoid getting her own hands dirty and absorbing too much Abnormal Energy, which would lead to the Corruption of her soul.


    Whether humans or Dark Creatures, once completely corrupted by the Black Void Gate, they would become hounds of the Black Void Gate.


    Xu Yi couldn''t replicate Alisa''s method; he could only try another plan.


    He stopped killing the Corrupted creatures and chose to evade, to avoid battle as much as possible.


    But it didn''t go smoothly.


    Pyramid Head was built for strength, not agility.


    And there were too many Corrupted creatures around; he was quickly surrounded.


    He tried not to kill the creatures around him, but this idea was obviously too naive.


    In a battleground like a meat grinder, it was either kill or be killed; the difficulty of becoming a compassionate monk is evident.


    At first, he could still withstand attacks with a body "Impervious to All Laws," but as time went on, he encountered increasingly terrifying creatures.


    "Impervious to All Laws" was clearly an exaggeration; it only allowed him to achieve a certain degree of "Magic Immunity," and his body was soon covered in blood.


    "I''ll die if this continues!" Xu Yi realized the seriousness of the problem.


    Only by fighting can one become stronger here; he was temporarily in the first echelon, but as he kept avoiding battles, he was standing still while the other creatures continuously grew stronger. He would definitely be eliminated in the end.


    Alisa looked at Xu Yi in surprise, somewhat astonished at his performance.


    But she didn''t say anything, just sitting quietly on Xu Yi''s shoulder.


    "This is an absolute dead end!"


    Xu Yi looked at the oncoming wave of Corrupted creatures, feeling despair.


    To survive here, one must not stop fighting. But the more one fights, the more Abnormal Energy absorbed, leading to the soul''s Corruption.


    A terrifying human-faced rose attacked; it was an entity no weaker than Xu Yi. He had no choice but to set aside other thoughts and focus entirely on the enemy.


    The silvery flash of the blade flickered; the human-faced rose rapidly dodged, not wanting to be cut despite its strong regenerative ability.


    Those seemingly simple cleaves carried the effect of annihilation.


    Their strengths were very close, but Xu Yi, with Alesia as his "support," eventually gained the upper hand.


    A flaw in the human-faced rose''s defense appeared, Xu Yi''s eyes brightened, and he leaped instinctively, swinging his sword with all his might for the decisive blow.


    The moment the sword cut through, he regretted it, but it was too late to pull back.


    The human-faced rose was split in two and gradually annihilated. A surge of energy flooded into Xu Yi''s body, making him stronger, but his desire for slaughter also reached its peak, and he let out a bloodthirsty roar.


    The desire for slaughter came like a wild brushfire, about to burn his rationale to ashes.


    Suddenly, a cool sensation flooded his mind, like an unexpected rain shower that extinguished the fire.


    Xu Yi''s sanity began to return.


    He searched for the source of the coolness, pausing in surprise; it was coming from the dark crystal within his soul.


    For some unknown reason, the dark crystal seemed to be fusing with his soul.


    This fusion was like lightning striking flammable earth. Although still lacking the catalyst of a Divine Body, the power generated was, if not Divine Power, at least Sub-Divine Power.


    Xu Yi gazed at the weak purple-black light, his heart pounding with excitement.


    Mere traces of Sub-Divine Power had quenched the desire for slaughter caused by the Black Void Gate.


    It was hard to imagine how mighty one would be as a true Abnormal God?


    Alesia looked at Xu Yi with surprise. She couldn''t understand how he did it, but his desire for slaughter had dissipated significantly.


    Her eyes flickered with light; she had never encountered such a special "Pyramid Head" before.


    "Perhaps I can use his power to achieve my revenge!" A thought suddenly sprang into Alesia''s mind.


    The battle was still ongoing. The emergence of Sub-Divine Power greatly calmed Xu Yi''s mind, but he still dared not indulge in more killing because the Sub-Divine Power was too rare.


    After resolving two crises of Corruption, the Sub-Divine Power was depleted.


    Xu Yi had no time to think further as another formidable enemy appeared¡ªa giant heart covered with ghastly white limbs.


    This was the most troublesome enemy he had encountered since entering this place.


    The fight dragged on for a long time. Finally, the heart exploded in mid-air, and the viscous rain of blood and flesh fell like a storm, with Xu Yi standing in it, sword in hand.


    Being a Pyramid Head, exhaustion was a foreign concept, but defeating the heart made him feel waves of weakness wash over him.


    Energy once again filled his body, and the terrifying desire for slaughter nearly annihilated him. He instinctively wanted to integrate with the dark crystal to obtain new Sub-Divine Power.


    But the next second, an unexpected problem occurred¡ªthe dark crystal could not continue to fuse.


    Without fusing with the dark crystal, deprived of Subgod power, his only choice was to withstand it.


    Under the relentless assault of the murderous urge, he thought of giving up many times, but in the end, he persevered.


    Xu Yi''s consciousness gradually returned, and he saw the dazzling wall of fire with gratitude, glancing at Alesia on his shoulder.


    While he struggled against his desire for slaughter, he naturally couldn''t face his enemies. Fortunately, Alesia was willing to lend a hand, temporarily holding off the attack from the Corrupted creatures.


    He had survived another onslaught, but not a trace of joy arose in Xu Yi''s heart.


    Because he knew very well that this was his limit; next time, it might be too hard to endure.


    Just as Xu Yi felt the grip of despair, the dull tolling of a bell sounded again, and the Corrupted creatures within the ruins stopped their advance, even those locked in the heat of battle.


    Alesia on his shoulder took a deep breath, and the familiar door appeared once again in front of them. It seemed that only they could see that door.


    The monsters in the ruins vanished suddenly, suggesting that each creature had its own door to leave this place.


    "Is the battle over?"


    Xu Yi stared dumbly at the door before him, feeling a sense of relief like one who has survived a great disaster.

 Chapter 413 - 413: Finding It Nowhere After Endless Searching

    Passing through that door, Xu Yi returned to the previous metal corridor, where the walls and floor were smeared with blackened bloodstains; yet, in Xu Yi''s eyes at this moment, there was a slight feeling of warmth.


    "Five days later."


    Alisha jumped off Xu Yi''s shoulder, leaving behind these words before her figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor.


    Xu Yi felt heavy-hearted, understanding the implication of Alisha''s words.


    Five days later, such a massacre would recur, no, it would be even more brutal.


    Because those who had survived the last round of killing were all powerful beings.


    The opponents were getting stronger, and what was even more deadly was that he still had no way to resolve the issue of his murderous desire.


    Could it be that when the time came, he would simply allow his soul to become corrupted and completely lose his sanity?


    Xu Yi returned to his previous room and hadn''t yet had the chance to explore further when suddenly it became bright outside the window.


    The drifting ash and dense fog appeared once more, and he again lost the ability to move, immobilized on the spot.


    Since he couldn''t move, Xu Yi took the opportunity to calm down and think about the next plan.


    Undoubtedly, the most urgent matter was to find a way to fuse with the darkness crystal.


    Only then could he obtain more Sub-Divine Power to withstand the next Ruins War.


    Moreover, there was another benefit; if the Soul Split could fuse with the darkness crystal, then when it returned to the Main Soul later, he could save the step of fusion.


    But the problem now was, how could he fuse with the darkness crystal?


    He tried to actively fuse with the darkness crystal, but to no avail.


    After much thought, he felt that it was likely due to his transformation into Pyramid Head. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn''t know how long had passed when Xu Yi once again heard the urgent air raid siren. The drifting ash outside the window disappeared, and the heavy darkness fell, restoring his ability to move.


    He stood up and, dragging the heavy cleaver, entered the corridor he had been in before.


    The door at the end of the corridor had changed, transforming into a simple metal grid door.


    Amidst the grating sound of metal, Xu Yi pushed open the door. As soon as he crossed the threshold, a mass of shadows surged from both sides.


    Xu Yi gripped the handle of his cleaver tightly, but then he let go almost immediately.


    The large mass of shadows comprised swarms of cockroaches, each one the size of a fist with human faces, looking ferocious and hateful.


    However, the appearance of such cockroaches seemed perfectly reasonable in this bizarre place.


    The human-faced cockroaches swarmed around Xu Yi as he walked forward. He didn''t feel threatened by the human-faced cockroaches; rather, he felt an inexplicable sense of closeness.


    Outside the door lay the same corridor, but both sides were lined with metal cages. Inside the cages were charred human figures who, hearing the noise, threw themselves against the doors, stretching their arms out in an attempt to grasp something, their mouths emitting pained moans.


    Xu Yi stared at the charred human figures, feeling an inexplicable surge of abhorrence.


    This surge of abhorrence seemed completely unprovoked, as if... bestowed upon him by this world.


    He raised the cleaver in his hand and, with a single swing, severed the reaching arms with One Breath Slash.


    In the moment he severed those arms, he sensed a gaze on him, carrying a feeling of familiarity.


    Xu Yi walked out of the prison, ascending, and the buildings around him were coated with a layer of sticky, black blood. Still, he could make out the occasional landmark indicating that this was a school.


    His footsteps were heavy, attracting the entities inside the school, which were also groups of charred human shapes but smaller in stature, likely the students of this school.


    The charred human shapes swarmed towards him, and Xu Yi casually knocked them away.


    He walked directly toward a corner of the school, drawn by something there.


    He stopped in front of a door marked with the women''s restroom symbol.


    In such a situation, clearly there was no need for hesitation. He pushed open the door of the restroom, where the bloodstains were worse than elsewhere, and drops of blood constantly dripped down from the ceiling.


    Suddenly, the door of a restroom stall burst open, and a ghastly mummy writhed in agony inside. The eyes of the mummy were covered, its tongue hanging out, and its entire body was entwined with thorn iron wire, tormented to no end.


    Xu Yi gazed at the desiccated corpse as that inexplicable abhorrence appeared once more, and it was a hundred times more intense than before.


    There was an identification badge hanging on the chest of the desiccated corpse, and the name "Colin" was faintly visible, followed by his position at this school, a cleaner.


    The moment Xu Yi saw the name, the feeling of abhorrence in his heart burst forth, and he raised the machete to split the corpse''s head in two.


    The desiccated corpse emitted a piercing scream as thick, black blood splattered, and Xu Yi suddenly froze on the spot, his gaze as if penetrating through the river of time, witnessing events of the past that had occurred here.


    The cleaner Colin was cleaning the toilets when a figure burst through the door, their face etched with panic.


    Xu Yi was surprised as he watched the person, who seemed to be Alesha, but he hesitated, unable to be sure because everything from their attire to their temperament was vastly different.


    But he soon realized that this world, created because of Alesha, likely contained memories of her before the demonic possession.


    An infuriating scene unfolded. After a moment of hesitation, cleaner Colin slowly moved toward Alesha, a look of lust in his eyes.


    Alesha had not yet become the "Master of the World"; she was just an ordinary little girl who was dragged by Colin into a toilet stall...


    As the memory faded, Xu Yi looked at the monster still struggling and writhing in the bathroom stall, and he quickly stepped forward.


    He suddenly understood why this monster appeared here¡ªit was the manifestation of Alesha''s desire for retribution, trapping the abuser in this place for endless torture.


    Xu Yi felt that just killing this person was letting him off too easily, thankfully the abuser had not truly perished.


    He dragged the creature out from the toilet stall, using every method at his disposal to torture it.


    During this process, Xu Yi felt that gaze upon him once more.


    While he had not been entirely certain before, now he was, the gaze belonged to Alesha.


    In the vague sense, he felt Alesha''s approval.


    "It seems this world was created by Alesha for the sole purpose of avenging those who once harmed her," Xu Yi suddenly felt.


    One could guess that Alesha''s life before becoming the Lord of the Darkness must have been extremely tragic.


    Under Xu Yi''s relentless torture, the desiccated corpse died in agony.


    Xu Yi''s body shuddered suddenly, his sense of this world changed; the world seemed to have accepted him.


    If they were strangers before, they had now become acquaintances who could call each other by name.


    Being accepted by this world was not just a change in feeling; he had gained more powers from this world.


    He could now harness the power of this world. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Xu Yi concentrated on feeling out the World Power, which crept up his body like black serpentine tendrils.


    He suddenly became excited, feeling as if fortune had come to him when he least expected it.


    For the dark crystal that he had previously been unable to fuse suddenly showed signs of merging!


    Unexpectedly, the key to merging the dark crystal was this world.


    No doubt about it! Creating a world with individual strength, what else could it be but a Divine Kingdom?


    Although the "Divine Kingdom" created by Alesha starkly contrasted with the traditional sense of a Divine Kingdom.


    Previously, he had attempted a lower-tier fusion of "Dark Power, Main Soul, and Divine Body," and the resulting Divine Power was extremely unstable.


    At that time, he sensed that something was lacking, and now it seemed that he was right.


    A mark of becoming a True God is having one''s own Divine Kingdom.


    While Subgods differ from True Gods, they too need the power of a Divine Kingdom to complete the fusion.


    This world undoubtedly possesses consciousness, and that consciousness is Alesha.


    To harness more World Power, one needs to gain Alesha''s trust.


    If the ambition is greater still, then it would be to devour the other, and seize the Divine Kingdom.

 Chapter 414 - 414: The

    ```


    Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes, feeling the purplish-black glow within his body, as the mountain that weighed upon his heart finally shifted a bit.


    He had just now harnessed the World Power, fused with the dark crystal, and successfully refined Sub-Divine Power.


    With Sub-Divine Power, there was hope of withstanding the assault of the killing desire and avoiding complete corruption.


    "But it''s still far from enough!"


    Xu Yi looked at the three strands of Sub-Divine Power he had refined, each not even as thick as a hair.


    Expecting to rely on such a tiny bit of Sub-Divine Power to get through the next ruin melee was nothing but a fool''s dream.


    Moreover, the Sub-Divine Power wasn''t just about reducing the killing desire; it had many other uses.


    The simplest of which was to allow him to burst forth with immense strength in a short period. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, unless it was an emergency, Xu Yi wouldn''t do this. Right now, the most important thing was to cope with the killing desire.


    "It looks like I need to prepare for defense!"


    Xu Yi had a plan in mind.


    To mobilize World Power, the key was how much access Arace gave him; hence, the focus of his next actions was to increase Arace''s favorability.


    He left the school and came to the deserted streets.


    Ash fell like fluff from the sky, and Xu Yi looked out into the distance, where atop a tall mountain stood a dilapidated metal sign, faintly bearing the words "Silent Hill."


    Suddenly, he turned his head and looked toward the center of the town.


    In this world, as black as ink, there was a place where lights were on, incongruously bright.


    Xu Yi became interested and followed the light to its source.


    The streets were eerie and terrifying, with charred human shapes flickering in and out of sight. He suddenly stopped; a familiar figure appeared in front of him. Arace, with her back to him, was gazing at the church ahead.


    Arace heard the footsteps behind her but didn''t turn around. Instead, she extended her hand, pointing ahead.


    Xu Yi understood her intent; dragging his machete, he made his way straight to the church.


    The machete scraped against the ground, emitting a grating noise.


    As he passed by Arace, Xu Yi glanced at her; her deep pupils hid an overwhelming hatred.


    There was clearly someone in the church whom Arace despised, and it was a blood-deep enmity at that.


    Xu Yi was puzzled. As the creator of this world, why wouldn''t Arace take action herself and instead direct him to do it?


    But regardless, this was an opportunity. If he could seek revenge for Arace, would he need to worry about not being able to raise her favorability?


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    Xu Yi stepped onto the stairs in front of the church, only to find that no matter what he tried, he couldn''t move forward anymore.


    "I knew it wouldn''t be that simple!" Xu Yi sighed inwardly.


    An invisible barrier lay ahead, and no matter how hard he tried to break through, the barrier remained unyielding.


    He suddenly realized that what was in front of him was not some barrier but the force of the world''s rules.


    There was a rule around this church, preventing both Arace and the monsters she created from entering.


    Such a rule, which imposed such great restrictions on herself, could not possibly have been made by Arace.


    Someone else made the rule, and that person also controlled a power similar to Arace''s.


    One could guess that if Arace was once a common person, to become what she is now was clearly caused by some other energy.


    "For example... the birth of an Evil God!"


    Xu Yi looked up at the unknown emblem atop the church, forming a conjecture in his heart.


    The symbol at the top of the church wasn''t the well-known Cross of Jesus, but an unknown symbol, a circle linked with a cross.


    Xu Yi began to recall.


    Since he was merely a Soul Split, he couldn''t access the Palace of Memory, but fortunately, he had read a vast amount of relevant books before.


    He recalled for a long time and finally found the related information.


    The mark was known as the Seal of Metatron, a symbol of the Fallen Angel Samael.


    ```


    Although the name "Samael" contains the word "angel," Samael is an undeniable grand Evil God.


    Arace watched as Xu Yi was unable to make any progress, a flash of disappointment crossed her eyes, ready to turn around and leave.


    "Should I give it a try or not?" Xu Yi began to hesitate.


    He still had a trump card, but he wasn''t sure if it was worth using right now.


    After pondering for a moment, he decided to "go for broke."


    Because the church in front of him held great significance for Arace.


    Inside the church were not only Arace''s enemies but also the key to Arace''s strength.


    A Divine Kingdom yet it harbored a place that even the Creator couldn''t enter¡ªthis church was clearly Arace''s greatest weakness, a cancer of the Divine Kingdom.


    If he could take over the church right in front of him, Arace''s Divine Kingdom could become complete and gain even stronger power.


    The chaos of the ruins was not just targeting Xu Yi but also putting enormous pressure on Arace.


    Seeing that Arace was about to leave, Xu Yi steeled his heart and made a decision.


    You can''t catch a wolf without risking your child; how can there be any returns without investment?


    The trump card he referred to was naturally the three strands of Sub-Divine Power within him.


    Only power of this caliber could possibly break through the Divine Kingdom''s rule restrictions.


    A strand of Sub-Divine Power burned quietly, and Xu Yi felt as if a bomb had been stuffed inside him; the bomb exploded, and a powerful energy filled his entire body.


    He abruptly took three steps forward before slowly coming to a halt, the sensation of a barrier arising once more.


    The steps leading into the church were about 30 meters away, by his estimation.


    One strand of Sub-Divine Power was clearly not enough to break through the entire blockade. To enter the church, he would need at least ten strands of Sub-Divine Power.


    Xu Yi did not continue to burn his Sub-Divine Power, as he had already achieved his goal.


    Arace fixed her gaze on Xu Yi''s retreating figure, her eyes blazing with intensity.


    This was the first time she had seen a monster from Silent Hill penetrate to such a depth.


    Although there was still a distance to enter the church, this undoubtedly gave her hope.


    "At least I haven''t made a loss!"


    Xu Yi felt a surge of joy because Arace''s Favorability toward him had increased significantly.


    At the same time, he gained more privileges in the world of Silent Hill, able to mobilize more of the World Power.


    With this, he could once again merge with the black crystal, gaining Sub-Divine Power.


    Xu Yi glanced at Arace, feeling a tacit understanding.


    Arace granting him world privileges was clearly no coincidence; she must have seen through his mind.


    She might look like an eight or nine-year-old girl, but that was merely her outward appearance; for all he knew, she might be older than him.


    Bits of ash fluttered down from the sky, Xu Yi sensed something¡ªdarkness was about to retreat, and the foggy world would soon descend.


    He turned his head and noticed that Arace had already left. He dragged his broadsword back to the room he had been in earlier.


    In the time to follow, as soon as Xu Yi regained his ability to act, he would search the Silent Hill world for "Abhorrence" monsters, gaining Arace''s favor by torturing them.


    He also discovered something strange.


    Every time he journeyed from the foggy outer world to the pitch-black, eerie Inner World, some of the monsters would "refresh," most notably Colin in the restroom.


    It seemed that Arace wanted them to endure endless torture without release.


    Every time Xu Yi resumed action, he would visit that bathroom stall to torment the monster.


    But as time went on, the Favorability he exchanged from Arace lessened. This was to be expected, as after all, Arace was not a game NPC.


    Five days passed quietly.


    The ornate iron gate appeared once more, and they were about to enter the world behind the Black Void Gate again.

 Chapter 415 - 415: Another Divine Kingdom Owner

    Stepping through that door, Xu Yi found himself once again amidst the fleshy ruins.


    The huge pupil still hung above, but unlike last time, there were more debris of buildings around them¡ªthey must have come close to the center of the ruins.


    Dim figures emerged, and Xu Yi gripped the handle of his sword, accounting for the Sub-Divine Power within him.


    After so many days of effort, he had refined a total of seven strands of Sub-Divine Power.


    "With so little Sub-Divine Power, I wonder if I can withstand this slaughter?" Xu Yi was filled with worry.


    A dull tolling of bells rang out, like the clarion call to war, while the corrupted monsters let out excited roars, responding to the bells above.


    Xu Yi looked around warily, a cruel battle on the verge of breaking out.


    As the slaughter began, Xu Yi felt the differences immediately.


    The average strength of the corrupted monsters was much stronger than the last time, none of them to be taken lightly.


    Although Xu Yi was psychologically prepared, the situation was worse than he had imagined.


    Centipede tendrils swarmed in from all around, Xu Yi brandished his sword in a horizontal swipe, severing the tendrils that fell to the ground.


    But there were just too many centipede tendrils, and Xu Yi''s body was tightly ensnared.


    During the previous melee, Alesa could just occasionally step in to assist, dabbling in the fray.


    But now, that was no longer an option¡ªshe had to give it her all to keep Xu Yi from defeat.


    The sharp broadsword spun, creating an arc of sword flowers; with a fierce turn of the blade, it cleaved a humanoid ant in two.


    As Xu Yi continued to slay enemies, his strength grew stronger, and the annihilation effect of his sword became increasingly terrifying.


    Xu Yi killed another formidable foe, but there wasn''t a trace of joy in his heart.


    An intense desire to kill surged within him, and he burned a strand of Sub-Divine Power to dissipate the bloodlust.


    At this point in the battle, he had only two strands of Sub-Divine Power left.


    The Sub-Divine Power was depleting much faster than he had anticipated.


    Xu Yi stood with his sword, taking a brief rest.


    But the next second, his heart suddenly throbbed with anxiety¡ªhe felt as if some terrible thing had fixed its gaze upon him.


    He spun around sharply.


    It was a titanic black jellyfish, floating weightlessly in the air. Its body was covered with the maws of piranhas, the sharp fangs bared.


    However, Xu Yi''s attention was not on the jellyfish. There was a man atop it, with pitch-black skin, bald, and with exceptionally pronounced facial features.


    A mark was carved in the man''s forehead, with two triangles overlapping.


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    Xu Yi stared at the man, as if facing a formidable enemy.


    The man gave him a familiar sensation; Xu Yi glanced at Alesa on his shoulder and suddenly understood.


    The man was like Alesa, another being who wielded control over a Divine Kingdom.


    The black jellyfish too was a creation of his, in the same class as Xu Yi''s current Triangular Head.


    Alesa stood up from Xu Yi''s shoulder, watching the man intently, her expression grave.


    She felt a lethal threat.


    The jellyfish''s tentacles fell like a rain of arrows, and Xu Yi charged forward against the barrage.


    The advantage of wearing the metal Triangular Head became apparent as it blocked most attacks.


    He leapt forcefully, his sharp blade tracing a semi-circle, making a heavy and powerful cut that split the black jellyfish in half.


    The flesh around the jellyfish''s wound squirmed, unable to heal due to the sword''s annihilation effect.


    The jellyfish''s maws opened, but instead of spitting venom, they released a web-like substance.


    The black "web" wove into a net, enveloping Xu Yi in an instant. He was as a small insect caught in a spider''s web, unable to struggle free.


    Xu Yi pondered how to escape, and at that moment, flames ignited on his blade¡ªflames from Alesa.


    The fire was the bane of the "web," burning it away. Xu Yi danced with flaming sword in hand, and amidst the black webbing, his blade was like a dragon of fire tracing through the air.


    Fire, a long sword¡­ This gave Xu Yi the illusion of being back among the Ghost Samurai. He tried to manipulate those flames and sensed Alesa''s will within them.


    Alesa, feeling something, glanced at Xu Yi and then handed over the control of the flames to him.


    At first, Xu Yi couldn''t manipulate the flames proficiently, but as time went on, he became more skillful and fluid in his control.


    It was hard to imagine such a bulky figure wielding a heavy chopping knife with such agility.


    The blade danced faster and faster, at one moment like a spinning hurricane, at another like a meteor streaking across the night sky¡­ Soon he reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship: Unity of Man and Blade.


    Xu Yi let out a deep roar as his blade slashed down, and a dazzling burst of firelight erupted. The flames moved effortlessly, and a crescent-shaped blade of fire surged out, severing the black jellyfish''s tentacles in one clean swipe.


    What had been an evenly matched battle changed with Xu Yi''s use of the fiery blade energy.


    Amidst the ink-like fiery blade energy, the black jellyfish screamed horribly, and the man atop it had half his head sliced off.


    "So-called Divine Kingdom bearers are nothing special after all!"


    Xu Yi''s mentality was somewhat inflated, but his combat strategy remained conservative.


    In this wasteland of flesh and blood, the creator of the Divine Kingdom couldn''t draw upon the Divine Power and was barely stronger than a common corrupted creature.


    But he quickly realized he had been horribly mistaken.


    Xu Yi cut through the connection between the man and the jellyfish, exposing the bloody spine.


    Xu Yi''s heart skipped a beat as a thought struck him.


    If the black jellyfish was the man''s creation, why would he connect his body with the jellyfish?


    He knew that binding the two together would expose him to the erosion of murderous desires.


    Xu Yi realized something was amiss, but it was already too late; he was too close to the enemy.


    The man who was at death''s door suddenly burst with strength and lunged at Xu Yi.


    The man''s flesh split open, revealing the true form hidden inside.


    It was an unknown Otherkind, with a slender and curved head resembling a Hook Scythe.


    The Otherkind''s surface was covered only by a thin layer of black flesh, with densely packed bones underneath, and at the end of those bones was a long tail, tipped with a sharp barb.


    Xu Yi couldn''t dodge in time and was embraced by the creature from behind.


    The sharp tail fell like a Spear Gun and, to his surprise, pierced through his sturdy body after only a moment''s resistance.


    The tail burrowed deep into Xu Yi''s heart region, instantly pulverizing his heart.


    Xu Yi trembled all over due to the excruciating pain.


    Seeing that the situation was dire, Alesa kicked off the ground and leaped away from Xu Yi''s shoulders.


    This sequence of actions flowed like water, perfectly exemplifying, "In the face of great disaster, each flees for themselves."


    Xu Yi, being a creature like a triangle-headed monster, should have been able to move even if his heart was shattered, or even if his internal organs were emptied.


    But now, he couldn''t muster any strength, even lifting an arm was difficult.


    Xu Yi felt bursts of icy coldness in his heart, and that chilling sensation spread continuously.


    He suddenly realized that the tail had not only pierced his body but also injected some kind of toxin into him.


    "Impervious to All Laws" should have included resistance to toxins.


    Yet now, it had no effect at all because those toxins were above physical and mental toxins¡­ rule-based toxins.


    The strength of the creature caught Xu Yi completely off guard.


    After all, it was on a completely different path than Alesa''s.


    It didn''t let its creations fight for it; instead, it actively absorbed the energy generated from fighting to strengthen itself.


    Naturally, it had to be stronger than Alesa under this continual growth.


    Alesa floated mid-air, preparing to flee. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It wasn''t that she didn''t want to save Xu Yi, but in her eyes, Xu Yi was already done for at this point.

 Chapter 416 - 416: Desperate Situation

    The Pyramid Head''s heavy body fell to the ground, the machete clattering to the side. Xu Yi felt himself rapidly withering as behind him, the Otherkind was siphoning off his blood and strength.


    Alesha glanced at the hopeless Xu Yi, preparing to leave.


    The moment she turned around, the Otherkind that was clinging onto Xu Yi''s back suddenly lifted its head, staring in the direction where Alesha stood.


    It seemed to be dealing with Xu Yi, but its attention was always on Alesha.


    As the owner of the Divine Kingdom, it certainly knew which was the main course and which was the dessert.


    Suddenly, its brow split open, spewing out a mass of black shadow.


    The shadow moved so fast no afterimage was visible, as if it had teleported through space.


    The shadow appeared in front of Alesha in an instant, a shrinking version of the Otherkind.


    It spread its slender limbs, embracing Alesha''s head. The tips of its limbs also had sharp barbs that firmly embedded into Alesha''s skull.


    The Otherkind repeated its old trick, swinging its long tail to pierce the back of Alesha''s head.


    Alesha''s head throbbed with pain, her body erupting in towering flames to resist the toxin''s invasion.


    Her body was paralyzed and she could not move.


    Alesha''s eyes were filled with panic because in this battlefield, there were not only the two of them. Powerful enemies were everywhere, and falling from the sky like her, she was simply a living target.


    The battlefield of flesh and ruins was just that cruel. One second you might have the upper hand, the next you might be killed.


    Even someone like Alesha, an owner of a Divine Kingdom, might fall here.


    Xu Yi lay on the ground, unable to move. His consciousness was becoming increasingly blurred, and he knew very clearly that if he didn''t act soon, he would die here.


    The incredibly precious dark crystal, once lost, would have an infinitely small chance of being recovered.


    The Otherkind on his back was now focused on Alesha, providing him with the perfect chance to act.


    A wisp of Sub-Divine Power burned silently within his body. The powerful force dispelled the toxin, and Xu Yi regained his ability to move.


    He grabbed the Otherkind''s neck with a reverse grip before it could react, and yanked out the long tail that had pierced into his body.


    Black blood gushed out, pieces of his heart clinging to the barbed tail.


    Xu Yi stood up and flung the Otherkind away because he was clear that with his current power, he couldn''t overcome his opponent.


    He had no thoughts of pursuing his advantage. Instead, he turned around and sprinted towards Alesha.


    His thinking was clear: relying solely on his own power, it was impossible to kill the Otherkind, let alone escape alive from this place.


    At this moment, he and Alesha were bound by fate. If Alesha died, he was done for.


    Xu Yi leaped into the air, kicking away a corrupted creature that was attempting to sneak attack Alesha.


    It was a monkey-like creature that appeared frail and not very threatening. Yet any monster that had survived until now was not to be underestimated.


    The reason Xu Yi could kick it away was due to the Sub-Divine Power still lingering in his body.


    Burning the last remains of the Sub-Divine Power within him, his hand burst forth with a purplish-black glow like raging flames.


    Xu Yi grasped the Otherkind on top of Alesha''s head and exerted his strength. The creature was crushed, its flesh and bones incinerated by the purplish-black light.


    Xu Yi then took hold of Alesha''s shoulders, and while the last bit of Sub-Divine Power hadn''t run out, he dashed toward the edge of the area.


    Seeing its ready prey about to escape, the Otherkind was completely infuriated. It pounced towards Xu Yi, emitting a piercing scream.


    That scream was like some sort of command; Xu Yi and Alesha, in their frantic escape, were suddenly rooted to the spot.


    The Otherkind''s body suddenly split open, its bones fracturing inch by inch.


    The fractured bones didn''t fall but grew rapidly, in the blink of an eye forming a creature with a tiny head and an enormously large chest.


    The creature leaned down, enclosing them. Xu Yi looked up, surrounded by layers of bones.


    He tried to rush through a gap in the bones, but a thick black liquid began to ooze from them.


    They found themselves as if in a sea of black, with the waters about to engulf them at any moment.


    Black and red flames spread out, forming a fiery barrier that isolated the black water, protecting Xu Yi and Alesha. Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Alesha; saving her had indeed been useful.


    But the next second, Xu Yi''s heart lurched.


    The fiery barrier was collapsing!


    Xu Yi roared at Alesha, not that he didn''t want to speak, but he couldn''t.


    After he became Pyramid Head, he had lost the ability to speak.


    The flame barrier was collapsing further, Alessa''s face was pale, and her body trembled slightly, as she was seemingly about to give out.


    Could it be? As another owner of the Divine Kingdom, why is the gap so great?


    Xu Yi secretly grumbled to himself.


    But he knew he couldn''t blame Alessa, after all, her strength had been halved from the beginning, and she was unwilling to consume corrupted energy for growth.


    If she doesn''t fall, who does?


    "Think of something!"


    Xu Yi suddenly heard Alessa''s voice, yet the Alessa before him hadn''t moved her lips at all.


    Xu Yi was startled for a moment, then realized, this was soul communication¡ªhe and Alessa were connected by their thoughts.


    That meant he could now communicate with Alessa.


    Xu Yi''s mindset was a bit shaken; he had saved Alessa in the hopes that she would unleash a cosmic burst and kill the Otherkind.


    But now she was asking him for help?


    What could he do? He was merely a creation of hers!


    The flame barrier suddenly cracked open, and viscous black water surged in, quickly flooding over Xu Yi''s shins.


    Xu Yi felt despair; it seemed he was doomed to be unable to send out the dark crystal.


    "If only we were in Silent Hill!" Xu Yi thought.


    In Silent Hill, he could have Alessa grant him more world permissions, allowing him to harness the World Power and fuse with the dark crystal.


    If he had enough Sub-Divine Power, perhaps he could turn the tide of battle.


    He glanced at Alessa; the black water had already reached her neck, soon to submerge her head.


    No! That''s not right!


    A lightbulb went off in Xu Yi''s head, as he realized there was a flaw in his thinking.


    He didn''t necessarily need to return to Silent Hill to borrow World Power.


    Alessa, as the creator of Silent Hill, embodied a rich World Power within her.


    Which meant, all he needed to do was to merge with Alessa, to borrow the World Power from her.


    "Do you want to survive?"


    Hearing Xu Yi''s voice of the soul brought a glimmer of hope back into the desperate Alessa''s eyes. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She turned her head to look at Xu Yi, waiting for his next words.


    "Lend me your power! Fuse with me!"


    Xu Yi conveyed his plan for survival through the voice of the soul.


    Xu Yi had thought Alessa would hesitate and struggle for a long time, but she agreed after only a brief moment of hesitation.


    Xu Yi was unaware that all the monsters Alessa created were based on her own desires.


    She longed for revenge.


    So, those who slandered and maligned her were locked away in the underground prison.


    The janitor Colin, who had once harmed her, was trapped within a restroom stall, enduring endless torment.


    At the same time, she also yearned for protection.


    Having been fatherless since childhood, she felt vulnerable because she didn''t have a father.


    Thus, based on this yearning, Alessa created Pyramid Head.


    Pyramid Head was tall and full of strength¡ªa representation of the father Alessa imagined should possess those qualities.


    Since Alessa had never seen her father and was unclear about his appearance, Pyramid Head wore a metallic pyramid, concealing his face.


    Alessa was so decisive because she innately trusted Pyramid Head.


    The actions Xu Yi had taken to consistently improve favorability played a certain role too.


    Of course, the most important reason was that Alessa had no other choice.


    She couldn''t die yet; she hadn''t completed her revenge!

 Chapter 417 - 417 Disciples

    Xu Yi lifted his hand, but such a simple action became exceptionally difficult due to the viscous black water.


    He originally wanted to grab Alesha''s shoulder, but because of the black water, his palm landed on Alesha''s head, as if he was gently stroking her skull.


    Alesha was startled.


    Where Xu Yi''s palm touched Alesha, black light flashed incessantly.


    Alesha''s body turned ethereal, transforming into a stream of black mist that merged into Xu Yi from his hand.


    Xu Yi''s body shook, and countless scenes flashed before his eyes, with Alesha undoubtedly the protagonist of these images.


    Baby Alesha became the vessel for the Evil God''s birth because her mother was deceived.


    However, because of her young age, Alesha could only harbor half of the power.


    The cult organization manipulating from behind fooled the residents of Silent Hill into calling Alesha a witch.


    As a result, Alesha faced discrimination from the townspeople, leading to her being tortured endlessly.


    Seeing the opportunity was ripe, the cult claimed that only through a baptism could Alesha cleanse herself of her sins.


    So, Alesha was sent to the altar again, to undergo the Evil God''s birth ritual. But unfortunately, an accident occurred during the ritual, sparking a fire.


    Silent Hill was also a mining town, and in an instant, the entire town was engulfed in flames.


    Alesha too was caught in the great fire, her body nearly charred, but miraculously, she did not die.


    This miracle was, of course, due to the Power of the Evil God within her.


    Although Alesha survived, she totally lost her ability to move and could only lie in the hospital bed every day, suffering torture.


    In her endless agony, Alesha developed extreme hatred; under the catalysis of the Power of the Evil God, the world of Silent Hill was thus born.


    "No wonder the Alesha before me is so weak!"


    Having learned of Alesha''s past, Xu Yi finally understood this problem.


    The Alesha before him was not even the real body; the charred figure lying in the hospital was the real one¡ªshe was merely a vengeful avatar created by the real body.


    Xu Yi didn''t know whether to say Alesha was lucky or unlucky.


    Certainly unlucky for her tragic life, but lucky that she did not get possessed after receiving the Evil God''s power.


    There was only one possibility, which was that the Evil God was actually dead, its consciousness long extinguished, leaving only its power lingering.


    Was this a coincidence or deliberate?


    Xu Yi felt it was the latter; that cult organization must have realized this and was thus obsessed with summoning the power of Samael.


    Xu Yi''s consciousness gradually recovered, and his body was covered with black lines that looked like twisted, entangled Iron Thorn.


    He had merged with Alesha, feeling the surging World Power within.


    Black serpentine World Power rushed towards Xu Yi. His soul rapidly fused with the dark crystal, continuously extracting the Sub-Divine Power.


    The fire barrier completely collapsed, and tons of black water poured down, swiftly submerging Xu Yi.


    Otherkind sensed its prey''s resistance fading away and let out an excited roar. But the next second, its slender pupils revealed a look of fear.


    Amidst the sky of black water, Xu Yi suddenly clenched his fist, and a violent black-purple energy surged out from within him.


    He charged into the black water, which parted automatically wherever he went. He reached out his hand, and the scattered machete flew towards him, grasped in his grip.


    Otherkind looked at that figure within the black water in disbelief.


    It actually felt the threat of death.


    Behind the Black Void Gate, the fleshly wasteland was unlike the outside world.


    In the outside world, Otherkind could escape through countless methods like soul quiescence or parasitism.


    But in the fleshly wasteland, that was not possible; here, once a soul became too feeble, it would be forcibly annihilated.


    This was also why even the most powerful beings could easily die here.


    Otherkind realized something was wrong and tried to flee.


    Its head had just separated from its body when the oppressive Pyramid Head already appeared in front of it.


    Xu Yi raised his machete, and the surging Sub-Divine Power converged towards the blade.


    The Otherkind let out a piercing scream, abandoning its body as its head shot out, trying to flee into the distance.


    Its speed was astonishing, appearing hundreds of meters away in an instant.


    Xu Yi made no superfluous movements, simply swinging his sword. The Sub-Divine Power transformed into a narrow arc of sword energy, chasing after the Otherkind.


    No matter how the Otherkind turned, the sword energy always followed it, closing the distance until, with a cry of terror, the sword energy engulfed the Otherkind''s head and instantly destroyed it.


    An overwhelming desire to kill surged forward, and for the first time, Xu Yi felt that this was a good thing.


    Because it meant that the troublesome Otherkind was dead.


    The more powerful the aberration, the more life-saving tricks it had, but here, many methods would fail to work.


    For Xu Yi, this was actually an advantage, as the Pyramid Head he had become had a limited repertoire, specializing only in combat.


    Xu Yi used the Sub-Divine Power to quell the raging urge to kill.


    He checked the situation within his body and found that a third of the Black Crystal had fused with his soul.


    To think that after so many days of effort, he hadn''t even reached one percent fusion.


    Xu Yi felt the surging Sub-Divine Power within him, which did not swell.


    Because he knew well that all this Sub-Divine Power was nothing but rootless duckweed.


    No matter how abundant the Sub-Divine Power was, it would eventually run out, especially in such a bloody battlefield, where it was used up even faster.


    The only solution to this problem was to completely integrate with the Black Crystal.


    Because once the Black Crystal was completely integrated, it could devour other energies and transform them into the Power of Darkness.


    At that moment, dozens of figures began to encircle Xu Yi.


    Dealing with the Otherkind was not entirely a good thing.


    The remarkable stroke he had just executed attracted the wariness of the corrupted creatures around him.


    There were not many creatures left in the ruins, but without exception, they were all extremely powerful beings.


    At this stage, the battle shifted from a free-for-all to a situation where the bad money drives out the good.


    Because the slightly weaker corrupted creatures, out of fear, would band together to target the stronger ones first.


    Xu Yi grew increasingly tense, aware that the upcoming battle would be even tougher, and the slightest lapse could spell his demise right there.


    Just then, the muffled tolling of a bell rang out once more, and Xu Yi took a deep breath of relief.


    This round of slaughter was finally weathered!


    The door reappeared, and Xu Yi stepped through it, returning to the world of Silent Hill.


    Xu Yi''s vision flickered, and the figure of Alessa reappeared before him. She looked at Xu Yi with an expression filled with unusual emotions.


    Of course, Alessa had not died, she had merely merged with Xu Yi, essentially sharing the world authority of Silent Hill with him. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Such terrible luck!"


    Recalling the information gleaned from Alessa''s memories, Xu Yi inwardly sighed.


    The Black Void Gate summoned Dark Creatures into the Flesh Ruins to select disciples through a process akin to cultivating gu insects.


    This selection only occurred once every ten years, but for some reason, a new round had started just five years after the last.


    The melee would continue until only ten survivors were left.


    From those ten, the Black Void Gate would pick the three strongest to become its disciples.


    During the last round, since Alessa did not actively devour corrupt energies, she wasn''t strong enough in the latter stages to become a target of the collective attacks, and managed to survive by luck.


    Also, because of her weaker power, she was not chosen as one of the three disciples.


    What exactly is the Black Void Gate selecting disciples for?


    Xu Yi was very curious.


    But he pondered it only for a moment before putting it out of his mind, for he had more important matters to attend to.

 Chapter 418 - 418: Defeated Just Like Xiao He

    In the jet-black world, the only light came from the church. At the top of the long steps in front of the church''s door, Xu Yi gripped a large cleaver, his whole body seething with a desire to kill.


    A day had passed since he returned from the wreckage of flesh and blood.


    In that day, he had done only one thing, which was to mobilize the World Power of Silent Hill to merge with the dark crystal.


    The results were very significant; the fusion progress of the dark crystal had already reached 2/3.


    But this was the limit, and the further he went with the fusion, the more difficult it became.


    Compared to before, Xu Yi was already much stronger, but it was still far from enough because the next melee would definitely be more dangerous.


    Only by fully merging the dark crystal could he ensure that he would survive the return.


    His footsteps heavy, Xu Yi walked step by step towards the church, with Alessa watching his back, her eyes filled with hope.


    Almost all the World Power in Silent Hill that belonged to Alessa had been borrowed by Xu Yi.


    To continue merging with the dark crystal, he needed more World Power. The best way now was to take back the other powers that belonged to Alessa.


    After merging with Alessa, Xu Yi had also become one of the supreme rulers of Silent Hill. He could feel that some of Alessa''s powers were inside the church.


    Entering the church now was not just about avenging Alessa. It was also the lifesaving remedy Xu Yi needed to survive in the wreckage of flesh and blood.


    Xu Yi stamped on the ground and began to accelerate, crashing into the church like a cannonball. That familiar barrier sensation appeared again, and the Sub-Divine Power within him burned, the violent energy forcefully breaking through the barrier.


    Xu Yi burst into the church.


    Since its inception, the church had never been invaded by monsters, so there was not even a guard.


    The faithful were conducting mass and similar rituals, holding white candles in front of their chests. The candlelight illuminated the sunken faces inside their eye sockets.


    The smell of blood mixed with the howling wind rushed in, and a large number of candles were extinguished. The congregation instinctively looked towards the door and froze in the moment.


    A ferocious monster stood at the entrance.


    For a moment, they thought they were trapped in some nightmare until screams were heard, and everyone woke up as if from a dream.


    The believers fled in terror, some screaming hysterically; others crouched in corners, praying non-stop... The scene was complete chaos.


    A robed believer, holding a Magic Artifact, quickly stepped forward, chanting prayers.


    Xu Yi ignored the power of the Magic Artifact, raised his cleaver, and swung it wildly, limbs and blood flying together.


    The crowd became even more terrified, and screams erupted.


    Everyone panicked and retreated, but there was one exception.


    It was a middle-aged woman with slightly curled hair, dressed in a special formal robe, looking appropriate and in stark contrast to the gaunt, pale-faced believers around her.


    "Lord of the Church, save us!" the surrounding believers begged in unison.


    Xu Yi recognized the person at the same time, Cristobalara, the female leader of the cult.


    There wasn''t a trace of fear in the cult leader''s eyes. Xu Yi did not understand where her courage came from, her strength was roughly equivalent to that of a Great Exorcist.


    From her pocket, cult leader Cristobalara pulled out a metal medallion, which Xu Yi recognized¡ªit was the seal of Metatron.


    The moment Xu Yi saw that seal, he felt a strong desire rise within him, an intense urgency to obtain it.


    That seal contained the missing part of Alessa''s power!


    Xu Yi walked towards the cult leader, knife in hand, with a tsunami of murderous intent sweeping over. The cult leader stood resolute, simply touching the metal medallion with her fingertip.


    "Expel!" the cult leader chanted softly.


    A powerful force acted upon Xu Yi, stopping him in his tracks, unable to move.


    He burned the Sub-Divine Power within him, trying to break free from the hold, but it had no effect.


    The direction of the force abruptly changed, and he was immediately propelled out, flying away from the church.


    The cult leader watched the spot where the Pyramid Head disappeared, her eyes gleaming.


    The appearance of Pyramid Head gave her a strong sense of crisis.


    "It looks like I need to speed things up!" the female cult leader thought to herself.


    ...


    Xu Yi sat up from the collapsed house, feeling very troubled.


    Having great strength yet being unable to use it was an incredibly uncomfortable feeling!


    As one of the Controllers of the Silent Hill world, he also possessed the powerful Sub-Divine Power.


    Logically, dealing with a Great Exorcist should have been an easy task.


    But as the saying goes, "Xiao He is what Xiao He fixeth; Xiao He is also what Xiao He ruineth."


    Most of his powers stemmed from the World Power of Silent Hill, and as a beneficiary of this power, he had to follow the rules of this world more strictly than anyone else.


    Forcing against it could likely lead to the collapse of this world.


    The opponent held the seal of Metatron, which meant they held some control over the rules of this world, at least the ones within the church.


    That was why he was so easily expelled.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll think of something."


    Xu Yi reassured Alesha, who was waiting outside, in a soft voice.


    Since Alesha had merged with him, she was no longer appearing and disappearing unpredictably; instead, she often stayed by his side, for reasons unknown.


    Alesha gave no response, her gaze indifferent, showing no sign of disappointment.


    Many times, Xu Yi felt that Alesha was like a puppet, with very few emotional fluctuations.


    "If only I could make contact with the outside world," Xu Yi sighed inwardly.


    He could now only appear in the Outer World and the Inner World of Silent Hill, unable to go to the real world.


    He also couldn''t connect with the Main Soul of the Dream World to send dreams to Maria and the others.


    Alesha, on the other hand, had two channels through which she could make contact with the outside world, though they were hardly satisfactory.


    One was to contact her physical body in the outside world.


    Unfortunately, her body was severely burned and she could only lie in a hospital bed, unable to speak, let alone do anything else.


    The other channel was "Kind Alesha."


    This involved the origins of Alesha.


    The one in Silent Hill should be called "Evil Alesha," or more accurately, "Avenger Alesha."


    To better execute her revenge, the original split the evil side from the kind side within her.


    That way, the weakness in her personality wouldn''t hinder the revenge plan.


    Now, "Kind Alesha" lived peacefully in a world outside of Silent Hill. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Previously, Evil Alesha was still capable of summoning the other through telepathy, but one day, the connection just broke off.


    It was likely that the exorcist used some means to isolate the telepathy.


    Silent Hill had also been sealed off by the local government due to its excessive danger, and no one had entered for a long time.


    In the following days, Xu Yi explored all over the world of Silent Hill, trying to find a way to break the deadlock, but ended up with nothing to show for it.


    Three days passed like this, and only two days were left before the opening of the Flesh and Blood Battleground.


    "It seems that the plan to reclaim my power will have to be put on hold!"


    Xu Yi was preparing wholeheartedly for the battle of the Flesh and Blood Battleground, but unexpectedly, at this time, people actually entered Silent Hill, and more than one.

 Chapter 419 - 419: Wrath of the Wind

    Xu Yi, with a sense of trepidation, came to the entrance of Silent Hill, where a broad suspension bridge stretched into the depths of the fog.


    Ash, the town''s signature, floated in the sky, and there was no doubt that it was still daytime in the Outer World.


    Prior to this, Xu Yi could only operate in the Inner World, but after becoming the Controller of this world, that restriction no longer applied.


    A figure slowly emerged from the mist, and Xu Yi''s eyes widened.


    The person''s attire and demeanor were different from Alessa''s, but they looked strikingly alike.


    Even twin sisters couldn''t possibly look so similar.


    On the person, Xu Yi could sense an aura identical to Alessa''s.


    He quickly realized that it was the benevolent Alessa, and shockingly, she had entered Silent Hill!


    In the real world, she would probably be called Sharon.


    Could it really be such a coincidence? Xu Yi had a bad premonition.


    But regardless, Sharon''s appearance here was a good sign for him.


    It meant that there was a possibility for Alessa to regain her full strength.


    Xu Yi didn''t rashly approach because something was clearly off about Sharon.


    Sharon moved slowly, her hands cuffed and her feet shackled with heavy chains.


    The chains scraped against the ground, making a clanking noise.


    More figures walked out of the mist, all wearing the same black uniform adorned with a symbol of a circle connected to a cross on the collar.


    Xu Yi had seen those uniforms before, inside the church of Silent Hill.


    Heretics from the outside world? Xu Yi furrowed his brows.


    The group of Heretics was more than twenty strong, and they were pulling a trolley. On the trolley, welded a hospital bed with a charred figure lying on it, life sustained by a breathing machine and an IV drip.


    Standing beside him, Alessa straightened up, her eyes filled with bone-chilling rage and hatred.


    That charred figure was Alessa''s own body.


    He could never have imagined that both Alessa''s body and another part of her soul would appear in Silent Hill at the same time.


    Xu Yi''s heart burned with anticipation; if the three could merge, Alessa could become stronger.


    At that point, eroding the church''s rules and exacting revenge within the church seemed not entirely impossible.


    Dark figures converged toward the entrance of Silent Hill, the only monsters that could appear in the Outer World.


    Their hands were severed, their movements difficult, as if they were trapped in black membranous suits.


    These "suited ones" were attracted here by the commotion.


    Facing the sudden appearance of the suited ones, the Heretics showed no panic, but rather an air of familiarity.


    The suited ones arched their torsos, and through a large hole in their chest, spewed forth a black liquid which was not only corrosive but also extremely hot.


    Xu Yi''s heart sank; the suited ones weren''t particularly strong on their own, but dealing with them en masse was no easy feat.


    Yet these people were well-organized and clearly prepared.


    They were not here by mistake but had come with intent.


    This was not good news for Xu Yi.


    After the Heretics dispatched the suited ones, they prepared to continue onwards when they heard the sound of metal scraping across the ground. A menacing figure with a Pyramid-shaped headgear stood in their path, exuding a chilling presence.


    How could such a terrifying monster appear in the Outer World of Silent Hill?


    The Heretics wondered with confusion.


    Xu Yi watched the Heretics before him, equally puzzled.


    Although his power was diminished in the Outer World and not as strong as in the Inner World,


    it should still have some deterrence, right?


    The Heretics before him seemed utterly fearless.


    Xu Yi stepped forward, his cleaver slicing through the air, the blade drawing a semicircle.


    Confronting the sharpness of the blade, the Heretics'' expressions changed slightly, but they remained composed. One of them drew a metal disc from within their clothes and presented it to Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi was stunned; that was actually the Seal of Metatron. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had just seen this thing in the church not too long ago, how could it appear here?


    Could it be a fake?


    The next second, a powerful force acted on Xu Yi, and he was pushed out, his feet scraping the asphalt ground, gouging out two deep indentations.


    Only then did Xu Yi notice some details: the two Metatron seals were not exactly the same, the notches on their edges were in opposite directions.


    The two seals could fit together! He suddenly realized.


    Xu Yi stood at the edge of the road, watching the team leave.


    Although not in the church, the Metatron seal could not exert its maximum power and was unable to directly banish Xu Yi, but Xu Yi likewise couldn''t get close.


    "This is so frustrating!"


    Xu Yi was miserably upset¡ªalthough he had become the Controller of Silent Hill, why did it feel like he couldn''t do anything right?


    The heretics headed toward the church, heavy-hearted.


    With such a display, one could guess the opponent''s purpose with a bit of thought.


    The cult organization must be planning to use the original body and the kind-hearted Alessa as a medium to seize the remaining power of Samuel.


    It really is a case of misfortunes never come singly!


    Xu Yi sighed deeply in his heart.


    As for regaining the power in the church, he still had no clue on this end, and then bad news came from the other.


    If the heretics really got hold of the other half of Alessa''s power, the difficulty of taking it back would increase many times over.


    "Hurry up! Move faster!"


    The leading heretic suddenly urged, frequently glancing back towards the entrance of Silent Hill.


    Could there be someone else?


    Xu Yi immediately became interested.


    These heretics weren''t this panicked even after seeing him¡ªwho on earth was coming?


    Not long after the heretics left, a burly man emerged from the mist, wearing a neatly tailored suit with his silver-grey hair neatly combed back.


    The man''s eyes were lined with wrinkles, indicating some age, yet he didn''t feel at all like an old man in the twilight of his years.


    His azure blue pupils burned with passion, his vitality surpassing that of the young.


    "It''s actually him!" Xu Yi was stunned for a moment.


    He hadn''t expected to see his former colleague under such circumstances.


    Xu Yi used to be an honorary professor at the Isotope Institute. It had been so long since he''d shown up, he wondered if he might have been dismissed.


    The designated principal of the Isotope Institute, for various reasons, had been unable to arrive at the school.


    Therefore, Xu Yi had never seen the person in real life, only pictures.


    The legendary exorcist, Wrath of the Wind: Rein Gasol!


    Rein''s appearance here was most likely to pursue that group of heretics.


    Xu Yi and Alessa hid themselves.


    Although Xu Yi and Rein were sort of "fellow countrymen," there was no feeling of compatriots meeting and shedding tears of joy.


    In his current state, it was highly probable that upon seeing him, Rein would unsheathe his sword and strike.


    Rein looked around, deciphering the direction the heretics had taken from the battle marks all over the ground, and pursued.


    At that moment, the urgent air raid siren suddenly sounded. Silent Hill was about to darken, entering the Inner World.


    "Find a way to delay him, don''t let him go straight to the church,"


    Xu Yi turned to Alessa, communicating through telepathy.


    Although Rein was powerful, the church was, after all, the cult''s home ground, with heretics possessing the Metatron seal capable of harnessing the World Power of Silent Hill.


    If Rein rashly entered, he might easily get into trouble. After all, they were colleagues at one time, and Xu Yi certainly couldn''t stand by and do nothing.


    Xu Yi watched Rein''s retreating figure, his eyes flickering.


    Rein''s arrival gave him a new idea about taking back Alessa''s power.

 Chapter 420 - 420: Putting on a Show for the Fellow Villagers

    In the depths of the mine, a cold wind blew up from the underground. Xu Yi stood at the edge of the shaft, looking down into the pitch darkness below.


    Alesha went to distract Rein, and Xu Yi was naturally not idle either. In order to ensure the plan went smoothly, he needed an assistant.


    Xu Yi reached out towards the mine shaft, as the black World Power was mobilized, creeping into the shaft like worms.


    He closed his eyes slightly, his own strong desire as if materializing, merging with the World Power and pouring into the well together.


    After an indeterminable amount of time, a "hehe" sound came from the depths of the mine shaft, like a person with a slashed throat gasping for breath.


    Chains hung down from both sides of the shaft, and at this moment the chains began to shake, as something was climbing up them.


    A smile appeared on Xu Yi''s lips. This was his first time using the "Divine Kingdom''s" creation function, and he hadn''t expected the process to go so smoothly.


    "It''s about time to put on a show for the fellow villagers!" Xu Yi murmured to himself inwardly.


    ...


    Rein pulled out his throwing axe and kicked away the puppet spider that had been dismembered to only a torso.


    With a flick of his wrist, the green-bronze short axe vibrated, and the sticky black blood slid off the axe on its own.


    Rein paid no attention to the monster at his feet, instead looking around.


    He was originally going to chase down the heretics, but a shadow caught his attention, creating an inexplicable voice inside him, urging him to follow. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had followed the shadow here, but when the shadow disappeared, he instead encountered a monster, which he had to deal with first.


    He didn''t feel threatened by the shadow, but most importantly, for some reason, the shadow gave him a faint sense of familiarity, even though this was his first time here.


    The shadow was, of course, Alesha, who had followed Xu Yi''s orders to lead Rein here.


    The feelings that Rein had were all influenced by Alesha''s use of Silent Hill''s World Power.


    Rein stepped on the broken limbs of the puppet spiders as he moved forward, creating a crisp crunching sound. He looked at the wreckage on the ground and suddenly felt uneasy.


    The puppet spider''s ability was very strange, able to turn human bodies into puppets and then remove the puppets'' heads to mount on its own body, constantly growing stronger.


    Although the puppet spider''s ability was eerie, Rein had seen it all; logically, such a creature shouldn''t make him feel uneasy.


    Rein suddenly halted, as a small object amidst the debris caught his attention.


    He instinctively crouched down, swept away the ash on the small object and when he saw it clearly, his heart skipped a beat.


    The small object was made of metal, a diamond-shaped shield entwined with vines in the middle of a circle.


    It was the school emblem of Isotope Institute!


    Why would the school emblem appear here, had students from the institute come here before?


    Rein recalled the school''s missing files, and his heart couldn''t help but panic.


    After all, Isotope Institute was an Exorcist Academy, and it was only natural for students to go out on expeditions, facing dangers was inevitable.


    The ground was littered with scattered puppet heads, and in the haze, there were one or two faces that seemed particularly familiar to Rein.


    Rein''s hand trembled violently.


    His initial reluctance to become the principal of Isotope Institute was strong, as he was accustomed to being alone.


    But he couldn''t resist the persistent persuasion of a good friend, and he ultimately agreed to take the position.


    He had no children, and his family had been wiped out in brutal conflicts.


    He hadn''t felt any special attachment to Isotope Institute at first, only thinking about getting paid for the job.


    But after becoming the principal, his lonely heart was gradually warmed by those genuine young people.


    This reminded him of the carefree days of his youth, living without a worry within his family.


    As time passed, the bonds with his students deepened, turning the school into his new home, and he began to see the students there as his own family.


    He had come here originally to investigate a cult organization, but now he felt there were more important things he needed to look into.


    Judging by the style of the building, this place must have been a hospital in the past. Sounds came from above, and Rein followed them until he stopped in front of a barred gate.


    He pushed open the gate, and the sight before him ignited the fire of rage in his heart.


    The room was filled with monsters dressed in white nurse outfits, their bodies voluptuously shaped, enticing to behold.


    But that was only if one didn''t look at their faces. Their faces were swollen and twisted, their features indistinct and blurred.


    The reason for Rein''s anger was not directed at these monsters, but at the far end of the group of monstrous nurses, where a blood-stained metal iron bed stood.


    A petite humanoid monster could only wriggle on the iron bed because it was bound by heavy chains.


    Rein knew it was a boy because he was wearing the distinctive men''s uniform of the Isotope Institute, which was already worn and stained with blood.


    The swollen-faced nurses had no eyes; they located by sound, and the noise of the door opening disturbed them.


    Holding scalpels and syringes, they lunged en masse towards Rein.


    "I''m in a very bad mood right now, so you''re really out of luck!"


    Rein took a cigarette out of his pocket, lit it, and put it in his mouth, watching the swollen-faced nurses charging towards him with an indifferent gaze.


    He drew the short axe from his waist and advanced without expression; he desperately needed to vent the anger in his heart.


    With each swing of his axe, Rein unleashed a Wind Blade with astonishing cutting power. The swollen-faced nurses who neared him seemed to fall into a hurricane meat grinder.


    This is why Rein was known as the "Wrath of the Wind," with a human body, he commanded the Domain of Wind.


    A moment later the fierce wind died down, and the ground was strewn with mutilated bodies. Rein strode over those remains to the iron bed and quietly stared at the monster on it.


    The boy''s head had vanished, replaced by a giant drill made of black, twisted flesh.


    "Child, may your soul find peace, may you go to the country of your dreams..."


    Rein crossed his hands over his chest, his head bowed low, chanting a prayer for the soul.


    This drill-headed boy in uniform was actually a monster created by Xu Yi.


    Creating a monster required two conditions: World Power and a strong desire. That desire would manifest as various characteristics in the monster.


    Both the Isotope Institute''s uniform and the boy''s drill head reflected Xu Yi''s desire to leave Silent Hill and return home.


    That''s why the uniformed boy was created so successfully.


    After finishing his prayer, Rein raised his head and examined his surroundings; the strange symbols on the walls were mostly obscured by bloodstains.


    Rein''s pursuit of the cult organization had changed from mere disgust to outright hatred.


    Rein swung his axe, cutting the chains that bound the boy.


    With the chains broken, the boy burst from the iron bed and suddenly lunged at Rein, the black drill on his head spinning at high speed, emitting a terrifying whine.


    Facing the imminent attack, Rein simply stood still, his gaze filled with pity as he looked at the monster boy.


    Just as the whining drill was about to strike, the monster boy suddenly stopped and forcefully twisted his body towards the corner, rushing off.


    Rein watched the back of the monster boy, a glint of relief in his eyes, but more so, sadness.


    He clenched the handle involuntarily, the veins on the back of his hand standing out.


    What Rein didn''t know was that the reason the monster boy had given up the attack was not because he recognized him, but because it was an order from Xu Yi.


    In fact, everything in front of him had been carefully arranged by Xu Yi, which was obviously a deception, but at that time, Xu Yi couldn''t care less.


    The monster boy crashed into the corner, and the solid wall, under the spinning drill, was as fragile as foam, the monster boy burrowing further in, creating a tunnel.


    Rein looked at the dark tunnel before him, hesitated for two seconds, and then jumped in after him.

 Chapter 421 - 421: Mysterious Big Gift

    Xu Yi poked his head out from the tunnel, and what came into view was an abandoned room filled with clutter, most of which had already decayed, covered in a thick layer of dust.


    He wanted to move forward, but the familiar sensation of the barrier emerged once again.


    The position he was in was at the base of the church, and the barrier protecting the church was a massive circle, with no exceptions even at its foundation.


    The Sub-Divine Power within him blazed, as Xu Yi prepared to forcefully break through the barrier, this time the strength of the barrier had increased several-fold compared to before.


    This was because when he breached the barrier, he carried two "prohibited items" with him.


    In his left hand, he held the drill-bit schoolboy, and in his right, he carried Alesha.


    Although the barrier was strong, it ultimately shattered in the face of the abundant Sub-Divine Power.


    Xu Yi controlled his heavy body, landing lightly.


    "I wonder where Rein has hidden himself?" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi looked around, but not even a ghost''s shadow could be seen.


    The drill-bit schoolboy had created two tunnels, in addition to the one right in front of him, the other also led to the base of the church.


    Rein had entered the church through that tunnel, by this time he must have gone into hiding since no sounds of battle had come from within the church.


    Xu Yi felt extremely urgent, but at the moment he couldn''t do anything but lie low temporarily.


    To act now would still result in being sealed and banished by Metatron, so the best opportunity would be to wait for the cult organization''s ritual to start.


    Xu Yi was anxious because the next slaughter in the ruins was about to commence.


    The familiar air raid siren sounded, darkness quietly descended, and Xu Yi inwardly sighed, "It''s still too late after all!"


    Feeling helpless, he got up, preparing to head to the Blood Sea ruins. All he could hope for now was that the cult''s ritual wouldn''t happen while he was away.


    Xu Yi suddenly stopped, looking puzzledly at Alesha, who seemed to have no intention of following.


    Just then, Xu Yi felt a call from the Black Void Gate, countless times stronger than before.


    A surge of information flooded his mind, and Xu Yi suddenly realized that the Black Void Gate only required a ruler of Silent Hill to enter, and it did not specify which one.


    Now Xu Yi was also one of the rulers of Silent Hill, meaning either he or Alesha could stay behind.


    Xu Yi and Alesha exchanged glances, both remaining silent.


    The peril of the Blood Sea ruins was unquestionable, to say that whoever entered was practically stepping through death''s door.


    Xu Yi certainly wanted to survive, carrying the invaluable Dark Crystal with him; if he could take it out, achieving the position of a foreign god was not an unattainable matter.


    Alesha saw that Xu Yi made no move and turned to proceed.


    Someone had to enter the Blood Sea ruins, or they both would die.


    Just as Alesha took two steps, Xu Yi reached out a hand to stop her.


    "Let me go!"


    Xu Yi communicated with Alesha using the voice of the soul.


    If Xu Yi entered the Blood Sea ruins, he still had a chance to survive, but for Alesha, it was a certainty of death with no return.


    Last time Alesha decisively lent him the World Power because she trusted him. Now Xu Yi could not make the decision to send Alesha to her death either.


    Moreover, once the cult''s ritual began, Alesha needed to stay on the scene to seize those powers that belonged to her.


    So, for either reason, the person who should go to the Blood Sea ruins was him.


    Alesha gazed at Xu Yi''s back, a rare flicker of emotion appearing in her indifferent eyes.


    ...


    Xu Yi''s consciousness gradually recovered, and he was once again in the Blood Sea ruins.


    The scene of the ruins changed again, with black high walls all around, forming a vast circle, somewhat reminiscent of the ancient Roman Colosseum.


    He stood in the center of the Colosseum, the vast pupil in the sky seemed almost within reach.


    More and more shadows appeared within the Colosseum, and Xu Yi''s heart sank further and further.


    He felt incapable of crossing the black high walls, this slaughter in the ruins had actually confined the space.


    In such a narrow place, the fighting would undoubtedly become even fiercer.


    Under the huge pupil, the Ancient Clock swayed; the moment the somber bell tolled, Xu Yi felt numerous gazes lock onto him.


    Each gaze belonged to an extremely strong creature of corruption, without exception.


    It seemed Xu Yi''s performance last time had made a deep impression; as soon as the battle began, so many monsters had set their sights on him.


    Xu Yi kicked away the obstructive fish in front of him and slapped away an attempt at a sneak attack by a monkey with the back of his knife, continuing his desperate sprint.


    The monkey let out a piercing screech as insect-like wings sprouted from its back, and its chest pulsed with flesh, resembling a man-eating flower.


    "This monkey really holds a grudge!" Xu Yi cursed inwardly.


    Last time, he had only kicked it once, but now it acted as if it had a deep-seated vendetta akin to a blood feud, relentlessly pursuing him to the death.


    Giant leaves covered with skull patterns fell in front of him, and Xu Yi immediately altered his course, preferring to carve a bloody path through monsters rather than touch that leaf.


    For a touch from that leaf would place upon him a powerful curse, one that even Sub-Divine Power struggled to dispel.


    No sooner had Xu Yi broken through the encirclement than he felt as if his chest had been blasted by a cannonball, sending him flying backwards.


    The huge figure of the Void Fish flickered in and out of view in the air, prompting Xu Yi to swear internally.


    The most troublesome was that invisible Void Fish, whose sneak attacks were nearly impossible to guard against.


    Seeing the encroaching horde of corrupted creatures, Xu Yi knew he couldn''t go on like this. Although he had plenty of Sub-Divine Power, it couldn''t withstand such reckless depletion.


    The problem was, he could think of no way to break the situation.


    While running wildly, Xu Yi felt something wrap around his neck from behind. Startled, he knew trouble was imminent.


    As the saying goes, a prolonged defense will inevitably break, and he had indeed exposed a flaw, which that vengeful monkey had seized upon.


    The monkey clung to the back of his neck, the chest-born man-eating flower latching firmly onto his back.


    The flow of energy inside Xu Yi, including his Sub-Divine Power, became extremely sluggish.


    The surrounding creatures of corruption swarmed over, and by now it was too late to consider burning Sub-Divine Power to break free.


    "Am I to fall here?" Xu Yi sighed internally.


    Just then, a huge shadow descended from the sky; it was a massive hand-spider.


    The center of the spider was a tumorous bulge, surrounded by pale human arms in place of its limbs, with colossal hands braced against the ground.


    The hand-spider caught the monkey on Xu Yi''s neck, exerted force violently, and tore the monkey off, hurtling it like a cannonball at the Void Fish attempting a sneak attack.


    The other massive arms swept across, flinging the nearby monsters away.


    Xu Yi looked at the hand-spider before him with shock and bewilderment.


    Was it helping him, or did it want to monopolize the "delicacy" all to itself?


    The face-spider pounced in front of Xu Yi, the tumorous center churning as a familiar face slowly emerged.


    "West?"


    Xu Yi was stunned, not expecting the hand-spider to actually be West!


    So much had happened after passing through the Black Void Gate that he had almost forgotten about West.


    He hadn''t expected West to have turned into a monster, let alone to have survived until now.


    "I''m sorry! I left a mark on you, but it is on account of that mark that I was able to recognize you,"


    West''s voice was very coarse, his expression desolate, a far cry from his previous confidence in everything he did.


    "We don''t have much time, so I''ll be brief. I will create an opportunity for you soon; seize the chance to kill all these monsters," West said urgently.


    "Why help me?" Xu Yi voiced his confusion.


    "I did a lot of preparation before coming in, but I still underestimated the Black Void Gate. I can''t resist the urge to kill, and my consciousness is about to dissipate."


    A rich blood color crept into West''s pupils.


    A smile suddenly crossed West''s face as he looked at Xu Yi and said softly, "Maybe... you are the Chosen One."


    The Chosen One? What did that mean?


    Xu Yi''s mind was full of questions, but clearly, there was no time for thorough questioning in this situation.


    "Remember! Find a way to survive until the end, and then become a disciple; you might just obtain a mysterious great reward," West instructed earnestly, staring into Xu Yi''s eyes.

 Chapter 422 - 422: The Gun Hits the Bird that Sticks Its Neck Out

    West''s pupils were almost consumed by the blood-red light, knowing he couldn''t wait any longer. The man-spider swelled up like a balloon and suddenly exploded, its flesh turning into white threads that swept across the area like a tidal wave.


    The surrounding monsters couldn''t dodge in time and got entangled in the strands, unable to break free.


    With West''s ability, it certainly wasn''t just about entrapment. The corrupted monsters'' bodies began to dissolve, and what was most horrifying was that their origin was forced to reveal itself.


    Xu Yi, of course, would not waste such a good opportunity. He held his knife horizontally in front of his chest, burning a large amount of Sub-Divine Power within him.


    He swung his blade fiercely, the knife tracing a perfect circle, and the terrifying knife energy spread out in all directions.


    Wherever the knife energy passed, flesh and blood disintegrated, and the souls of the monsters, along with their origin, were shredded to pieces.


    The corrupted monsters were like fodder thrown into a shredder, the weaker ones dying on the spot.


    Waves of corrupt energy poured into his body, but with that, the desire for slaughter grew even more terrifying.


    Fortunately, the Sub-Divine Power was sufficient to gradually eradicate this lust for killing.


    Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes and clenched his fists, feeling the powerful force within him.


    This was the most substantial power he had absorbed since entering the Black Void Gate and the greatest enhancement he had received.


    Xu Yi looked around. Limbs and remains were everywhere. The surviving monsters all looked at him, fear actually emerging in their eyes.


    Xu Yi''s joy didn''t last long. The multitude of monsters fighting in the arena suddenly stopped and started crowding towards him.


    "Indeed, the bird that sticks out gets shot!" Xu Yi sighed inwardly.


    He had, with West''s help, killed a large number of corrupted monsters, and thus absorbed a vast amount of energy, becoming the strongest in the arena.


    And the so-called strongest was also the thorn in the eye of all monsters.


    Not only had his situation not improved, but it had also become even more dangerous.


    ......


    Not long after Xu Yi left, a grand chanting began to echo through the church. Rein hid in a dark corner of the great hall, spying on the sacrifice ritual before him.


    Rein saw the little girl, Sharon, at the center of the ritual, chained to an iron frame, which had a peculiar mark at its center.


    The iron frame, suspended in mid-air, swayed gently. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    One of Rein''s goals for this mission was to rescue Sharon.


    As a legendary exorcist holding the title of headmaster at the Isotope Institute, of course, not just anybody could manipulate him.


    The reason he came in person was because he once owed a debt of gratitude to Sharon''s foster parents.


    There were two sides to the iron frame; the other side bound a charred human figure, whose eyes brimmed with despair and hatred.


    Rein sensed a rich Dark Force emanating from the figure and his eyes showed a trace of pity.


    Because he knew very well that the other was not born as an Evil God but had a miserable life led astray by the Cult.


    "Such a shame!"


    Rein sighed inwardly. If he had discovered the person earlier, he would have undoubtedly invited them to join the Isotope Institute.


    He felt an exceptionally strong Mental Power from the person, whose Exorcism Talent was incredibly astonishing; even among his students, none was stronger.


    The ritual began, and a woman in a lavish robe approached the core node of the Array, where all energies converged.


    "The other must be the leader of the Cult," Rein thought to himself.


    He felt a subtle fluctuation from the female cult leader and was secretly relieved.


    Thank goodness he had sneaked in from underground; had he encountered her head-on, he would have suffered a tremendous loss.


    If he wasn''t wrong, she also wielded some of this world''s Rule Power.


    He then thought of the monster boy in the school uniform, his eyes filled with a forlorn expression.


    After leading him to the bottom of the church, the boy could not enter and had to retrace his steps, his current whereabouts unknown.


    "But these guys are really cautious!" Rein thought to himself.


    Even though they held some authority in this world, there were still heavily armed guards in the church, especially around the main entrance.


    What Rein didn''t know was that it was because the church''s main entrance had been visited by Xu Yi not long ago, and the heretics were extremely wary.


    The grand chanting reached its climax, the Array''s light illuminated the dome of the great hall, and the high priestess took out two metal tokens from her bosom, those were the seals of Metatron.


    A force acted upon the seals of Metatron, making them rise into the air and merge into one.


    Rein''s eyes suddenly lit up, he had waited so long, and finally, the moment had come.


    Now was the most crucial moment of the entire ritual, the Array''s manipulator had to be fully focused, thus it was also the most vulnerable time.


    Rein gripped the Pella Axe of the Storm in his hand, a legendary Holy Artifact.


    He took a deep breath, and power brewed, the massive strength of the storm converging upon the axe.


    He burst out of the shadows, hurling the Axe with all his might.


    The Axe of the Storm spun, blue Wind Blades cutting across the sky, its target wasn''t the high priestess, but the seal of Metatron hovering in midair, a crucial point of the entire ritual.


    The high priestess sensed the terrifying force of the storm and her face went pale in shock.


    Because of the Array, Metatron''s seal was firmly fixed in midair, difficult to move, making it an excellent target.


    The high priestess''s heart hardened suddenly, and as she lunged towards the seal of Metatron, she used her body to block the Axe of the Storm.


    Her body shielded the seal of Metatron, but the spinning axe bisected her lower body, and the remnants were obliterated by the hurricane.


    Rein thought it a pity in his heart; he was just a bit short of destroying the source of the Array, but the enemy was too decisive.


    Although the enemy was left with only half a body, he had to admit her choice was correct.


    With the blessing of World Power, even if half of her body was destroyed, she wouldn''t immediately die, and she might even use the power of the church to achieve "resurrection".


    The high priestess turned abruptly, her eyes fixed on Rein, revealing a deep hatred.


    Her efforts of several years were ruined in an instant.


    Once the ritual was disrupted, it couldn''t be restarted for several years. To collect the items needed for the ritual, the organization''s resources had been nearly exhausted.


    The invader was indeed strong, but this was her home ground, and she was determined to make him pay the price.


    The Axe of the Storm began to return, trying to reach its master''s hand, but the high priestess reached into the void, and the Axe was held motionless in midair by a strong force.


    Rein''s expression changed slightly, knowing full well the strength of the Axe''s return.


    The Axe being stopped in mid-return had happened less than a handful of times.


    Rein''s expression turned uglier, as he realized it wasn''t just the Axe of the Storm, his own body was also immobilized, unable to move.


    He was prepared for a bloody battle, but at that moment, a shadow pounced from a corner.


    Rein was momentarily stunned; he felt a familiar aura from that shadow, the same one that had led him to the hospital.


    "Stop her!" the high priestess saw the shadow and her complexion drastically changed, she bellowed.


    But it was already too late, or perhaps Aleysha had chosen the timing too well.


    In fact, Aleysha didn''t have such a keen strategic insight, but Xu Yi had told her that after Rein launched his attack, she just needed to follow through with her move.


    For Rein, an experienced exorcist, the ability to grasp the moment was absolutely top-notch.


    Aleysha''s target was the iron frame directly above, she crashed into Sharon, who was bound to the frame, and as if without a body, passed right through Sharon''s form.


    Sharon''s face showed a painful expression, but she didn''t die, only the part of the soul belonging to Aleysha within her was reclaimed.


    Aleysha, undeterred, continued through the iron frame, merging into the burnt black human figure.


    The unconscious burnt black figure suddenly opened its eyes, the purple-black glow in its pupils burning fiercely like flames.


    The Origin, the benevolent soul, the malevolent soul... three in one, Aleysha was finally complete at this moment.

 Chapter 423 - 423 Revenge!

    The low chanting inside the church faded as people looked up in horror at the charred human figure overhead, the black flesh creeping across the vault of the church, covering the colorful murals.


    The World Power of Silent Hill was eroding the church.


    The charred human figure was naturally Alessa, her body enveloped in swirling air currents, as if wrapped in black flames.


    The chains that bound her had been burnt through, her arms crossed in front of her chest, reminiscent of the fabled Iron Maiden Joan of Arc undergoing torture.


    A multitude of Thorn Iron Wires surged out of Alessa''s body, sweeping across the entire venue.


    The worshippers panicked and fled, but it was futile. They were entangled by the Thorn Iron Wires, their bodies pierced through and hanging in mid-air.


    Blood splattered down, and screams interwove into a tune that seemed to come from Hell.


    Alessa looked at the scene before her, a sense of vindictive satisfaction in her eyes.


    All of a sudden, she turned her gaze towards the direction of the female high priest, Chrisbethala, she certainly couldn''t forget her, the woman was the root cause of everything, and the person she hated the most.


    The Thorn Iron Wires rushed towards the female high priest like a tide, and the helpless upper half of the high priest, who couldn''t evade, was wrapped in Thorn Iron Wires and torn to shreds in the blink of an eye.


    Rein watched the high priest being torn apart, his heart slowly eased.


    But his relief was quickly replaced by anxiety, as he realized that the restraints on his body had not vanished.


    The Thorn Iron Wires surged toward Metatron''s Seal, another part of the Evil God''s power.


    If Alessa could devour that power, she would gain complete control over the entire world of Silent Hill.


    Metatron''s Seal was covered in a mass of flesh, and when Thorn Iron Wires surged towards it, the flesh suddenly writhed, transforming into a Flesh Snake.


    The Flesh Snake, with Metatron''s Seal, wriggled out of the gaps in the Thorn Iron Wire Mesh.


    The flesh continued to contort and transform, and in the blink of an eye, it became a pallid-skinned woman.


    The female monster had no eyes, only two dark hollows that sank deeply in. Four sharp semicircular blades were respectively inserted into her ears and both sides of her vertex. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The "Knife Blade Woman" wielding a "7" shaped metal Hook Scythe, her teeth, exposed due to her absent lips, clacked menacingly, her body emanating a torrent of hatred.


    The "Knife Blade Woman," who had transformed from the female high priest, hadn''t wanted to do this initially.


    Although this allowed her to merge a part of the Evil God''s power, she had also completely turned into a monster and could never change back into a human.


    Knife Blade Woman gripping the Hook Scythe, lunged at Alessa, her potent aura completely dominating that of Alessa.


    She was destined to be stronger than Alessa, for most of Alessa''s power had been used in creating the world of Silent Hill and its various monsters.


    Alessa''s power was dispersed; she usually had Pyramid Head to protect her, but now she was alone.


    The Evil God''s power within her, however, was wholly invested in herself.


    The surging Thorn Iron Wires rushed towards Knife Blade Woman, like a black Don River.


    Knife Blade Woman swung her metal Hook Scythe, so sharp it was, that the sturdy Thorn Iron Wires were easily cut through.


    Knife Blade Woman broke through the Thorn Iron Wire Mesh, and as she drew closer to Alessa, she let out an excited roar.


    Even though Alessa controlled powerful forces, her physical form remained frail, and if she was approached, she was doomed to be no match for her.


    Rein prepared to watch the battle from the sidelines, and even though the shadow seemed to bear him no malice, he considered both Knife Blade Woman and the shadow to be evil Dark Creatures.


    The best outcome would be for both to be injured, after which he would come out to clean up the situation.


    Just then, a shadow suddenly lunged out¡ªit was the schoolboy with a drill, his black head spinning rapidly as he rushed towards Knife Blade Woman.


    "Don''t go!" Rein''s face changed abruptly, and he bellowed in anger.


    The boy had once been his student, and though he had turned into a monster, he didn''t want to see him die before his eyes.


    But he was too far away from the other party, and it was already too late to stop them now.


    The axe-headed girl looked indifferently at the school uniformed boy rushing towards her, swinging her hook scythe casually.


    The school uniformed boy was of course no match for the axe-headed girl, his body along with his head were bisected by the hook scythe.


    The axe-headed girl didn''t realize that the creature she had casually slaughtered was not just a monster, but also a landmine.


    The monster boy''s limbs fell from the sky, turning into black ashes before hitting the ground, leaving only a tattered school uniform fluttering in the air like a waving flag.


    Rein bowed his head, shadows covering his face, obscuring any discernible expression.


    He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and put it between his lips.


    Those who were familiar with Rein knew that he didn''t have a smoking habit; he only smoked when he was extremely angry and distressed.


    The axe-headed girl''s attention was all on Alesha, the restraints she had placed around her having been lifted long ago. Rein reached out his hand and beckoned the Storm Axe back from the ground.


    There was no wind inside the somber church, yet Rein''s silver-gray hair suddenly began to dance, followed by his black suit fluttering fiercely.


    A hurricane converged towards Rein, the invisible air elements seemingly gaining physical form, condensing into a sacred Storm Giant.


    Rein stood at the center of the Storm Giant, holding the short axe, like a war god out of myth and legend.


    Rein took a step and instantly crossed tens of meters, appearing right behind the axe-headed girl.


    The axe fell with the force of a raging wind, and the axe-headed girl desperately dodged.


    Rein swung his axe silently, scattering Wind Blades, and the church''s floor was marked with dense cuts.


    The axe-headed girl twisted and turned amidst the barrage of Wind Blades, inwardly shocked.


    If it wasn''t for being within her Domain, if they were outside, perhaps just one encounter would have been enough for him to slay her.


    But this also demonstrated the strength of the Divine Kingdom from another perspective.


    The axe-headed girl''s situation was terrible; not only did she have to face the powerful Rein, she also had to avoid the Thorn Iron Wire that filled the sky.


    Under the combined assault of Rein and Alesha, the axe-headed girl''s defeat was evident.


    The axe-headed girl suddenly roared, forcefully breaking through the barrier constructed by the Thorn Iron Wire Mesh, and pounced towards Alesha.


    The sharp Hook Scythe swung down, carrying a terrifying aura of death with it.


    The Hook Scythe stopped less than ten centimeters from Alesha''s head, the dense Thorn Iron Wire entangling it, restraining both the scythe and the axe-headed girl in the air.


    Rein, of course, wouldn''t miss such an opportunity; he shouted forcefully and hurled the Storm Axe in his hand.


    The Storm Axe spun, carrying ferocious power, and grazed above the axe-headed girl''s head, splitting her head in two in an instant.


    The axe-headed girl struggled desperately, her split head trying to close back together, but the Thorn Iron Wire entwined her head, preventing the wounds from healing.


    More Thorn Iron Wire burrowed into the wound, piercing in and out of the axe-headed girl''s body, weaving into a steel blossom.


    Rein watched as victory was secured, quietly heaving a sigh of relief.


    With his extensive combat experience, he could tell that the axe-headed girl being able to break through the Thorn Iron Wire Mesh was because Alesha was deliberately luring the enemy deep in order to secure victory in one fell swoop.


    However, such a tactic had one major flaw: it required one to use themselves as bait.


    Rein wondered why Alesha would take such a huge risk. Even if she hadn''t done so, and the fight had continued, victory would still have been theirs.


    What made Alesha take such a risk? After all, if the plan had failed, the situation could have been reversed instantly.


    Alesha appeared to be in a great hurry; what was the other side so eager to do?

 Chapter 424 - 424: The Descent of the Divine Weapon!

    The Blade Maiden''s body was torn apart, revealing Metakron''s Mark, which was swiftly enveloped by the Thorn Iron Wire and carried towards Alyssa.


    Rein hesitated for a moment but chose not to intervene.


    He could clearly see that the mark was imbued with a dense Dark Force, which would likely make the one who devoured it terrifyingly powerful. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, they had been comrades in battle just moments before, and turning against each other so suddenly seemed somewhat improper.


    Moreover, he could tell that the other still held onto a good amount of kindness.


    During the battle, they had been deliberately protecting Sharon behind the iron frame.


    "I hope my choice wasn''t wrong," Rein sighed inwardly.


    As Metatron''s Mark merged into Alyssa''s body, she was wrapped in thick black streams of energy, and her intimidating presence began to rise steadily.


    Seizing the moment, Rein jumped behind the iron frame and rescued Sharon.


    After checking her condition, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    Sharon had only fainted and was not seriously harmed.


    Holding Sharon and preparing to leave, Rein noticed black flesh oozing from the crevices in the walls, gradually spreading across the entire hall.


    The rules of the world within the church were crumbling, and Silent Hill was becoming unified.


    The black streams around Alyssa slowly dissipated, revealing her charred skin covered in cracks that began to spread across her entire body.


    Her hair suddenly began to grow wildly, reaching her shoulders in the blink of an eye.


    Alyssa''s body trembled, and the charred skin on the surface fell off, unveiling the pale flesh beneath.


    With Silent Hill''s blessing, Alyssa shed her burnt shell and was reborn.


    Rein watched the reborn Alyssa with wary eyes, keeping Sharon protected behind him, aware of the many Dark Creatures he had seen turn on him without recognition.


    Alyssa merely gave him a faint glance and casually tossed him a lantern before flying straight out of the church.


    Rein watched as Alyssa left, holding the bright lantern in his hands, lost in thought.


    In this dark world, firelight held a unique significance.


    He could feel that the lantern would lead them out of this world.


    ...


    Among the ruins of flesh and blood, Xu Yi surveyed his surroundings; only about thirty Corruption creatures remained.


    If he could hold out just a little longer, until there were only ten creatures left alive, the war would be over.


    By then, he would undoubtedly be the last victor, for he was unquestionably the strongest in the field.


    "What a pity!"


    Faced with such an advantageous situation, Xu Yi could only sigh deeply.


    He checked his condition: his left arm had been completely torn off, and there was a hole the size of a washbasin in his chest. If his vitality weren''t so stubborn, he would have died long ago.


    The Pyramid on his head was also broken, and the machete had been utterly shattered; he had thrown away the hilt carelessly.


    Xu Yi felt a weakness like never before.


    Worst of all, there was hardly any Sub-Divine Power left in his body.


    He couldn''t hold out much longer.


    The remaining Corruption creatures closed in on Xu Yi, reluctant to attack immediately because they had all been frightened by his killings.


    Xu Yi with sufficient Sub-Divine Power had been too cruel.


    "If I die, none of you will have it easy!"


    With a hardened heart, Xu Yi triggered the remaining Energy within him, preparing for a grand finale explosion!


    At the same time, he intended to conceal the Dark Crystal quietly. If he had another chance to enter, he would bring the Dark Crystal out with him.


    This was the best plan he could think of for the time being.


    The Corruption creatures were getting closer, and Xu Yi was ready to self-destruct.


    Just then, a myriad of Thorn Iron Wires descended from the sky, enveloping Xu Yi.


    He subconsciously wanted to resist, but the next second, he forcibly stopped.


    On those Thorn Iron Wires, he felt a familiar presence.


    Xu Yi was ensnared by the Thorn Iron Wires, which did not harm him; instead, they pulled him out of the encirclement of the corrupted monsters.


    He looked up and at the center of all the Thorn Iron Wires, he saw a familiar figure.


    "Alessa!" Xu Yi exclaimed in surprise.


    He was a bit puzzled, how did Alessa get in?


    He suddenly realized something, every time he entered the fleshly ruins, it was only when leaving that he could see that door again.


    But that did not mean the door in Silent Hill had disappeared.


    If that door had not closed, naturally Alessa could come in.


    "Alessa... seems a bit different?"


    Xu Yi quickly noticed the anomaly.


    The previous Alessa gave him an "empty" feeling, but now that feeling was gone, she seemed complete.


    Just as the corrupted monsters were about to dispose of Xu Yi, a strong enemy, a disruptor appeared, and they angrily pounced toward Alessa.


    A massive amount of Thorn Iron Wires burst forth from behind Alessa, fluttering violently as if they were steel wings spread open.


    The Thorn Iron Wires wove into a dense net, ensnaring the surrounding corrupted monsters.


    A few corrupted monsters forcibly broke through the dense net, but as soon as they got close to Alessa, they were flung away by whips made of woven Thorn Iron Wires.


    "When did Alessa become so strong?" Xu Yi was secretly shocked.


    It must be known that the remaining corrupted monsters were without exception, extremely powerful beings.


    If it were the previous Alessa, not to mention dealing with so many corrupted monsters, facing one alone would have been impossible.


    Could it be that during his absence, the cult had started the ritual, and Alessa had successfully reclaimed her own power?


    The more Xu Yi thought about it, the more he felt this was the truth.


    And he wasn''t sure if it was his illusion, but Alessa''s eyes seemed to have become much more expressive; they hadn''t had so many emotional fluctuations before.


    But no matter how strong Alessa was, she couldn''t possibly be a match for so many corrupted monsters, her moves gradually became predictable, and soon, her weaknesses were exploited.


    The situation reversed instantly, Alessa was at a disadvantage and in imminent danger.


    At that moment, Alessa glanced at Xu Yi, and from that look, he saw a strong trust, and at the same time, he understood the meaning behind it.


    With his only remaining hand, Xu Yi opened his arms toward Alessa.


    Without any hesitation, Alessa threw herself toward Xu Yi.


    "Father!"


    Xu Yi suddenly heard a voice and was stunned.


    Amidst the cacophony of monsters roaring and the grating sound of Thorn Iron Wires rubbing against metal, the voice was so faint that Xu Yi doubted he had heard correctly.


    But without a doubt, Xu Yi could feel an extremely special emotion emanating from Alessa.


    Xu Yi felt an inexplicable sense of relief; his choice to leave Alessa outside while he entered the fleshly ruins hadn''t been wrong.


    It made sense after thinking about it; since Alessa had reclaimed the remaining part of her power, it also meant she had completed her revenge inside the church.


    She no longer needed to borrow Xu Yi''s power.


    The dangers of the fleshly ruins went without saying, Alessa could have simply stayed outside and peacefully played her role as Master of the World.


    Why would she risk entering here?


    The only explanation was Alessa''s special feelings for Xu Yi.


    What Xu Yi did not know was that Alessa had reclaimed her dispersed powers, which included Sharon''s kind soul.


    She was complete now, but it was precisely because of this that her being contained much more of humanity.


    Alessa merged into Xu Yi''s body, and Xu Yi felt a surge of new World Power.


    This World Power came like a tsunami, merging into the stagnated metamorphosis of the dark crystal, pushing it forward once again.

 Chapter 425 - 425: Mental Breakdown

    Xu Yi''s internal crystal was dissolving, the previous fusion had reached two-thirds, and now, under the influence of the World Power, the progress climbed incrementally, quickly reaching 99%.


    But this last fraction was particularly difficult.


    Xu Yi knew he had encountered a restraint; such restraints usually required a lengthy wear-down process to break through, but he did not have that kind of time.


    He took a brief breath and then directed all of the World Power toward the internal crystal, surging forward.


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    At this moment, he could only believe in the miraculous strength of brute force, so he chose to go all-in!


    In the tsunami of World Power, the last fraction of the crystal finally dissolves, fusing with Xu Yi''s soul.


    Unable to contain his excitement, Xu Yi had waited so long, and finally, the moment had arrived!


    His soul changed; it was as black as ink with a purple mist wafting on the surface.


    His soul suddenly trembled and flew out of his body, into the void, arriving in a wholly strange world.


    All of this happened in an instant, yet he felt as if he had traversed endless space and time.


    Golden chains interwove in the void, ancient text engraved upon them, mystical and vast.


    In this chain-bound realm, Xu Yi felt so insignificant, like an ant gazing upon a human kingdom.


    He traveled swiftly through the chains, then came to a sudden stop. He was surrounded by dense golden chains.


    In that moment, he felt he was at the origin of the world, which was both the beginning and the end.


    The surrounding chains suddenly parted, trembling slightly, the sound of an ancient bell booming, as if fearful yet seeming to welcome "its" arrival.


    A dark golden chain descended from above; it was larger than the others, its engraved text even more archaic and vast.


    Xu Yi sensed the breath of vast eons. He could do nothing but watch as the chain approached.


    The dark golden chain pierced through his soul; a profound and mysterious message flowed into his mind. Before he could fully comprehend it, the next second he was jolted awake.


    Xu Yi opened his eyes; he was back in that carcass-littered wasteland.


    He clenched his fist, feeling the surging Sub-Divine Power within, never having felt so powerful.


    Black blood gushed from Xu Yi''s wounds. In the blink of an eye, the large hole in his chest was filled, and his severed left arm grew back.


    Thorn Iron Wire from the sky wove into bizarrely shaped armor around his body.


    He spread his right hand, and the remaining Thorn Iron Wire rushed toward his palm, instantly fusing into a huge machete.


    A dark shadow emerged at the back of Xu Yi''s neck, the same familiar scent, the same familiar mode of attack.


    The peculiar monkey was extremely agile and its ability to escape was top-notch; Xu Yi had tried several times to kill it but never succeeded.


    The monkey repeated its old trick, but it soon found that the Energy within Xu Yi was as violent as a flood.


    It wanted to stop the Energy flow, only to find it was impossible.


    While the monkey was stunned, Xu Yi reached out and grabbed its head.


    The monkey tried to escape, but it suddenly discovered with terror that all its usual escape techniques were useless; an invisible force firmly shackled it.


    Xu Yi exerted force in his palm, brutally crushing the monkey''s skull, splattering its brain matter.


    A black-purple torrent burst forth from Xu Yi''s palm, instantly annihilating the monkey''s remnants.


    "Finally, no need to pinch pennies!"


    Xu Yi felt the Sub-Divine Power transforming within him, his mood better than ever before.


    Before, using the Sub-Divine Power was like someone counting their remaining grains during a famine, but now he could indulge and consume meat heartily.


    Finally, he no longer had to worry that the Sub-Divine Power would suddenly run out.


    While Xu Yi was dealing with that strange monkey, the assault from the Void Fish also arrived, striking Xu Yi from the side.


    The sturdy armor was unbelievably penetrated, the lone horn of the Void Fish twinkling with a cold light as it thrust towards Xu Yi''s waist.


    But to its horror, the horn that had once been invincible could not pierce through Xu Yi''s body.


    A layer of purplish-black energy covered Xu Yi''s waist.


    The Void Fish tried to escape, but the armor writhed, transforming back into thorn iron wire, which instantly bound the Void Fish in layers.


    Realizing the peril it was in, the Void Fish attempted to break free, but in the next second, black flames emerged from the iron wire, quickly turning into a fierce inferno.


    Amidst shrill screams, only a charred red skeleton was left in the center of the flames.


    The leaf covered in skull patterns had already arrived above Xu Yi''s head, evidently an excellent opportunity to strike.


    However, seeing Xu Yi neatly dispatch two "accomplices," it realized something was amiss and instinctively thought to turn and flee.


    Xu Yi quietly watched the figure, not pursuing but simply swinging the thorn machete in his hand.


    Crescent-shaped black blade energy surged out at high velocity, engulfing the leaf in an instant.


    The blade energy erupted, and violent energy swept in all directions. As the dust slowly cleared, there was no longer any sign of the leaf.


    Xu Yi''s "instant triple kill" was frankly too shocking, even for the monsters consumed by bloodlust, who at this moment regained their senses and retreated in terror.


    "Thought you could attack and run? It won''t be that easy!"


    Xu Yi, however, did not intend to let them escape, brandishing the machete as he pounced towards the nearest corrupted creature.


    At this moment, the roles of hunter and prey were reversed!


    Armed with sufficient Sub-Divine Power, Xu Yi was like the Grim Reaper descended.


    The corrupted creatures before him were all formidable beings on the outside, but in the presence of Xu Yi, they were like lambs to the slaughter.


    Xu Yi beheaded the monster fish covered in suckers, ready to find the next unfortunate victim.


    Just then, a dull clang of a bell rang out. All the corrupted creatures stopped in their tracks, feeling as if a great burden had been lifted.


    Xu Yi looked around, and before he knew it, only ten corrupted creatures were left in the Colosseum.


    Suddenly, the cold giant eyes in the sky cracked open, and three massive chains fell, each chain''s end suspending an Iron Throne.


    "The time has finally come?" Xu Yi inwardly sighed.


    To become a disciple was to have the chance to receive a mysterious gift.


    Xu Yi was indeed curious about what West had said.


    The gaze of the giant eye scanned the remaining corrupted creatures, and Xu Yi was brimming with confidence.


    Even if bound together, the remaining corrupted creatures stood no chance against him, and becoming a disciple seemed almost guaranteed for the strongest among them.


    The chains, seemingly alive, hoisted an Iron Throne before the face of a man-faced fly.


    The man-faced fly buzzed excitedly, and the moment it flew onto the Iron Throne, the throne began to melt. A golden liquid enveloped it, forming a huge golden metallic cocoon.


    A terrifying aura constantly emanated from within the cocoon.


    Without a doubt, securing the Iron Throne meant becoming a disciple of the Black Void Gate.


    Xu Yi wasn''t the first, but he didn''t mind. After all, the man-faced fly was closest to the Iron Throne, quite possibly by a matter of proximity.


    But Xu Yi''s expression quickly changed when the second Iron Throne appeared before a curious rock from which eerie baby cries emanated at intervals.


    Xu Yi managed to keep his composure for the time being. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Until the final Iron Throne appeared in front of the hunchbacked man with a cane and a red hat.


    He was slightly upset.


    After all, he was the strongest one present, so why hadn''t the Black Void Gate chosen him as a disciple?

 Chapter 426 - 426 Bell Holder

    The heavy chains were slowly retracted, and the three eerie golden eggs rose, swallowed by the gigantic pupil.


    Xu Yi tightened his grip on the knife. If not for his fear of the Black Void Gate, he would have wanted to chop the accursed eyeball to pieces.


    The other party had actually preferred to choose three "weaklings" instead of making him a disciple!


    "Though its eyes are so wide, it is blind," he thought.


    Xu Yi could only complain inwardly. Even though his strength had surged after fully merging with the Dark Crystal, it was still far from enough to confront the Black Void Gate.


    Of course, it was not as easy for the other party to kill him as it had been before.


    Not becoming a disciple wasn''t too regrettable; after all, his initial goal had only been to survive.


    He was just a bit curious about what the mysterious gift West had mentioned actually was.


    Now that he hadn''t become a disciple, it seemed the mystery would remain unresolved.


    But why hadn''t the Black Void Gate chosen him?


    "Could it be because of the desire to kill?" Xu Yi thought over and over, finding this to be the only reason.


    The Sub-Divine Power had neutralized the killing desire within him, allowing his consciousness to remain intact, thus making him an imperfect puppet.


    It was understandable that the Black Void Gate didn''t like his rebellious nature.


    As the corrupted monsters disappeared, the Colosseum gradually became emptier. Xu Yi waited and waited, but the door for departure never appeared.


    What mischief was the Black Void Gate up to now?


    His eyebrows quietly furrowed.


    The sound of chains sliding echoed again, the Ancient Clock bound by chains slowly descended, its surface etched with mysterious patterns.


    Xu Yi watched the hovering Ancient Clock, gripping his machete, ready for battle.


    Was the Black Void Gate trying to "force the good into prostitution" because it couldn''t affect his desire to kill?


    Regardless, he would not surrender without a fight.


    The Ancient Clock suddenly tolled, its majestic bell echoing throughout the Colosseum, carrying an invisible force trying to invade Xu Yi''s body.


    He tried to dispel that force, but his normally infallible Demigod Power suddenly failed, and strangely, he felt no threat from the force.


    In the next second, the scene before his eyes abruptly changed. He stood in the void, with dark golden chains weaving around his body.


    He had seen those chains before in the space that was "both the beginning and the end" after merging with the Dark Crystal, the "Chain King" he had witnessed there.


    The toll of the bell entered this space too, but now it sounded completely different; his mind became clearer than ever before.


    He stared at the ancient scripts on the chains and suddenly understood their meaning.


    Those were the scripts of rules, above the Domain, the force of laws, and they had another name¡ª "Divine Authority!"


    Xu Yi was secretly alarmed.


    Even a True God would need countless years of cultivation to come in contact with Divine Authority.


    And he was at most a Subgod, yet he was also able to touch the "Divine Authority"?


    Could it be because he was destined to become an Outer Heaven Demon? Xu Yi couldn''t help but speculate.


    "What is my Divine Authority?" he wondered. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet, no matter what, the premature appearance of Divine Authority was definitely good news.


    The Ancient Clock tolled again, shaking Xu Yi''s mind violently. The ancient texts on the chains seemed to come alive, dancing like dragons and snakes.


    Countless images flashed before his eyes, flowers blooming and wilting, birth and death, grasslands turning into deserts with the passage of time...


    Xu Yi clenched his fists, struggling to contain his excitement; he finally understood what his Divine Authority was¡ªit was Time!


    Time Divine Authority had always been a forbidden power, out of reach for Subgods, and even Divine Kings couldn''t control it.


    Xu Yi was ecstatic. He had never dreamed that he would control the powers of time, a sensation similar to an ordinary person being struck by a multimillion-dollar jackpot.


    Could it be because of the Resurrection Coin?


    Thinking about it, that seemed the only reason¡ªthe essence of the Resurrection Coin was the reversal of time.


    With every use of the Resurrection Coin, his soul was tainted with the essence of the Time Law, which is why his Divine Authority involved this forbidden power.


    Xu Yi focused intently on the ancient scripts on the chains, trying to decipher them to glean more about Time Divine Authority.


    He had a premonition that Time Divine Authority could be converted into Blank Entries.


    As long as the entries appeared on the system panel, obtaining them was only a matter of time, and his heart was ablaze with anticipation.


    Just then, the sound of the bell suddenly ceased, his mind becoming incredibly sluggish, feeling as if he had turned into a vegetative state.


    This was, of course, just an illusion caused by the loss of the Ancient Clock''s enhancement, his thinking reverting to a normal state¡ªthe contrast was just too great. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire


    The scene before him changed again, and he returned to the Colosseum.


    The giant floating pupil had disappeared, and the small Ancient Clock quietly lay in his palm, connected to a chain end.


    "A Bell Holder, huh?" Xu Yi looked at the Ancient Clock in his hand, a stream of information flooding his mind, and he understood the whole story.


    No wonder the Black Void Gate hadn''t chosen him as a disciple; it had seen his potential and wanted him to become a Bell Holder.


    As a Bell Holder, he could summon the Black Void Gate at any time and obtain partial authority over the gate.


    Xu Yi suddenly remembered the Soul Gate.


    The Soul Gate must also have a role similar to "Bell Holder," which had already been obtained by West; otherwise, West couldn''t have thrived so well within the Soul Gate.


    "Was the Black Void Gate fishing?" Xu Yi scoffed inwardly.


    As everyone knows, fishing requires baiting, and that bait was clearly the "superbrain" experience just now.


    To decipher Time Divine Authority, an extraordinary amount of energy was required.


    The Black Void Gate certainly wouldn''t help without a price.


    It gave Xu Yi a taste of "sweetness" first, enticing Xu Yi to continually borrow its power.


    As for the goals of the Black Void Gate, it was either salivating over his body or his soul.


    While Xu Yi pondered, the blood-stained metal door reappeared. Xu Yi hurried forward, stepping over the threshold.


    After a brief darkness, his vision was restored, and he was back in the familiar corridor.


    "I''m finally back!" Xu Yi sighed in relief.


    Returning from the flesh and blood ruins, even the hideously terrifying Silent Hill seemed somewhat welcoming.


    Suddenly, terrifying roars erupted from outside, the sounds coming from the Dark Creatures of Silent Hill.


    Xu Yi was puzzled; these Dark Creatures usually "kept to themselves"¡ªwhy were they so agitated now?


    Xu Yi hurriedly left the passageway and climbed to a higher point of Silent Hill to look out.


    Shadows spilled like tide from inside the building; swarms of face-roaches emerged; swollen-faced nurses left the hospital where they usually stayed; puppet spiders jumped up and down, emitting sharp screeches...


    What on earth had happened?


    He could feel the panic of these Dark Creatures.


    Xu Yi released his senses¡ªhis soul briefly merged with Silent Hill. He sensed a strange power steadily invading Silent Hill.


    "How is this possible?" Xu Yi was incredibly surprised.


    Silent Hill, born from Alessa''s resentments, could be seen as a manifestation of Alessa''s spiritual world, almost completely isolated from the outside world.


    Yet that power disregarded the barriers of worlds and forced its entry¡ªthis was something even gods would find difficult.


    What was most terrifying was that this force wasn''t specifically targeting Silent Hill. It seemed more like floodwaters passing through, with Silent Hill merely being affected incidentally.


    "Something big must have happened outside!"


    A very bad premonition rose in Xu Yi''s heart.


    He urgently wanted to know the situation in the outside world, but given his current situation, he simply couldn''t leave Silent Hill.


    While he was deep in thought, he suddenly sensed a "thread"¡ªit was the soul thread connecting him and the Main Soul.


    This thread had always been there, but due to the isolation of Silent Hill, the signal was lost midway, like a cut phone line.


    Why had it suddenly reconnected?


    After thinking it over, Xu Yi figured it had to do with Alessa completely mastering Silent Hill. After all, with the "obstacle" removed, it made sense that the signal grew stronger.


    Now there was a signal, but there was still a big problem.


    Normally, as long as his soul entered this thread, he could return to the Main Soul, naturally making contact possible.


    But now his soul had merged with the body of the Pyramid Head and couldn''t separate, so this method was impossible.


    "If the mountain won''t come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain!"


    Thinking it over, Xu Yi realized there was only one way¡ªto have the Main Soul come to him.


    At this moment, the Main Soul was still in slumber; otherwise, it wouldn''t be so troublesome¡ªthey could have made contact the moment the line was connected.


    Undoubtedly, the Divine King was very eager for the Dark Crystal. Could he perhaps use the Dark Crystal as bait to lure the Main Soul into awakening?


    It was certainly worth a try.


    The Dark Crystal had already merged with his soul; with a slight stimulation, the rich essence of the Dark Crystal traveled along the soul thread.


    Xu Yi suddenly froze in place.


    The moment the essence of the Dark Crystal transmitted, there was a response from the other end¡ªthis was more effective than he had anticipated.


    But that wasn''t why he was stunned.


    "Isn''t this response a bit... too intense?"


    Xu Yi felt something enormous approaching along the soul thread.

 Chapter 427 - 427: Collapse of the Black Abyss

    The entire world of Silent Hill shook violently, as if struck by some colossal creature.


    Xu Yi suddenly looked up to see a crack in the sky of Silent Hill, through which a giant purple-black Light Sphere could be seen.


    Unexpectedly, he had only tried to connect with the Main Soul, but the Main Soul had brought along the entire nation of Black Abyss! Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    As the capital of the Dream World, Black Abyss had no physical form, being essentially a dream.


    Otherwise, it would not have been possible for it to arrive here through just a soul thread.


    A cold glow cast shadows from the edge of Black Abyss.


    Xu Yi was puzzled; logically, Black Abyss should isolate all light, preventing any from escaping.


    He stared intently, only then noticing the web-like cracks densely covering Black Abyss.


    Before he could react to what was happening, the next second saw the cracks spreading rapidly, and the entire Black Abyss collapsed thunderously.


    What in the world was happening? Xu Yi was dumbstruck.


    Amidst the purple-black energy and ash, a familiar figure appeared, plummeting from the sky.


    Xu Yi reached out, and his Sub-Divine Power erupted, pulling the figure down to rest at his feet.


    "How did you turn out like this?"


    Xu Yi, surprised, looked down at Handon, gaunt with moss-like black patterns covering his body; his left hand and right leg gnawed away.


    The bite marks looked as though they were made by some large beast.


    Yet, there were supposedly no beasts in Black Abyss; he had cleared out all the more dangerous monsters, leaving only the original residents of Amusement City.


    "Who are you?" Handon, seeing the monstrous figure before him, instinctively wanted to flee, but his injuries were too severe for him to get far.


    "Handon, don''t be nervous; I am Xu Yi." Xu Yi stopped, afraid to agitate Handon.


    "Xu Yi? I didn''t expect to see you again; it''s really great!" A light reappeared in Handon''s eyes.


    Perhaps hearing his own name or for some other reason helped Handon believe.


    "Let''s not talk too much now." Xu Yi crouched beside Handon.


    Though curious about what had happened, Handon''s condition was dire, and Xu Yi was thinking of ways to treat him.


    But Handon did not stop talking; instead, he began to ramble, "The people of the Dream World have gone mad, killing each other, biting one another, but that''s not the worst part..."


    He couldn''t help but show a look of horror, "The Dream Rift River has dried up!"


    Handon''s words struck Xu Yi like a hammer, suddenly clarifying why Black Abyss had collapsed.


    The Dream Rift River was the source of the Dream World; if it dried up, the Dream World would cease to exist¡ªhow could Black Abyss possibly survive on its own?


    "Hold on!" Xu Yi could only encourage Handon, continuously injecting Soul Power into his body¡ªthe only treatment he could think of, though it was not very effective.


    "I really want to go back and see!"


    Desire flashed in Handon''s eyes and then suddenly ceased; being on the brink of death, not even an infusion of Soul Power could heal him, and he could not return once more to see his daughter.


    As Handon turned to ashes and scattered, Xu Yi was left in silence.


    After a moment, he somewhat recovered his senses; it was not yet time to mourn.


    He suddenly thought of a question; could the Dream Rift River dry up?


    After all, the Dream Rift River was the core of the Dream World, a derivative of the real world, as long as the real world remained intact...


    At that point, Xu Yi paused, recalling West''s prophecy about the apocalypse.


    Could the apocalypse be real?


    As he pondered, the glow in the sky suddenly became scorching, illuminating the dark region of Silent Hill.


    He looked up to see a semi-translucent "sun" hanging in the sky.


    The "sun''s" shell was as clear as crystal, while its core was pitch black.


    Xu Yi sighed with relief. Although there had been a problem with the Black Abyss, thankfully, the Main Soul had not been affected.


    The Main Soul, radiating light, fell down and was caught by Xu Yi who flew upwards, as if it had no weight at all.


    The moment he touched the Main Soul, a continuous stream of Soul Power was injected into Xu Yi''s body.


    During his absence from the Dream World, the Main Soul had been diligently refining Freddie and the others.


    At this moment, the Main Soul was like an oversized "Soul Charger."


    The Soul Power fused with the Dark Crystal, and a surge of Sub-Divine Power filled his body.


    Xu Yi clenched his fist, adapting to the surging power within him, feeling confident that he could compete even if a True God stood before him.


    The ''sun'' that the Main Soul had turned into kept shrinking, finally becoming the size of a fist.


    The clear, crystal-like light that enveloped it disappeared, leaving only a mass of inky black, which was the power yet to be refined.


    Xu Yi casually pressed the shrunken Main Soul against his chest, absorbing it into his body.


    "Indeed, it didn''t revert back!" Xu Yi examined himself and sighed.


    Even though he had fused with the Main Soul, his body remained that of a triangle-headed figure; although its outward appearance was unchanged, immense transformations had occurred inside.


    After integrating a vast amount of Soul Power, this body had been rendered from illusion to reality.


    At the same time, the long-missed system prompt tone came.


    The system was deeply bound with the Main Soul, which was why he had previously been unable to use the power of Entries.


    [Congratulations on acquiring the Entry: "Dull Star" (Gold Rare), current progress: 100/100.]


    [Congratulations on acquiring the Entry: "Soul Master" (Gold Rare) current progress: 91/100.]


    Previously, the highest level Entry he had obtained was only pale gold, but now not only did gold rare Entries appear, but two appeared at once.


    Xu Yi was not too surprised; all this was within his expectations.


    In the Divine Burial Ground of the Arctic Ocean, the Golden Coffin still contained the evolving entity, and once it was recovered, the gold Entry would increase.


    Xu Yi continued to check the system information when his eyes suddenly widened, incredulously looking at the latest piece of information. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Congratulations on acquiring the Entry: "Divine Authority - Master of Time" (Purple Epic), current Entry inactive, progress bar unable to display.]


    Purple Epic! It was a Purple Epic! This was the highest-tier Entry in the system!


    "Too bad it''s still inactive," Xu Yi felt regret in his heart.


    As long as the progress bar appeared upon activation, even if the experience was hard to obtain, there would eventually be a day when it was filled.


    He didn''t know what the activation method for the Entry was; presumably, it had something to do with time.


    The cold glow disappeared, and Silent Hill returned to darkness. A bloody arc crossed the night sky, something falling from the high sky.


    The Black Abyss belonged to the Dream World; it shouldn''t have left anything behind after its destruction, right?


    Confused, Xu Yi instinctively reached out to catch it. It was a round gemstone, flashing with urgent red light.


    "Sound Keeping Stone?!"


    Because some time had passed, he had almost forgotten about that. It was something he had created using Soul Power, not affected by the Black Abyss, with the function of preserving voices.


    Xu Yi worried that after leaving the Black Abyss, Lisa and the others would not be able to find him, so he had left the Sound Keeping Stone for contact.


    Originally colorless and transparent, the gemstone had now turned blood-red, meaning that the message he had left inside had been received and new voice messages had been stored.


    "Hope this message isn''t too old!" Xu Yi silently prayed.


    He infused Soul Power into the Sound Keeping Stone, the message was retrieved, and Lisa''s urgent voice appeared in his mind, causing Xu Yi''s expression to change instantly.


    The message mainly consisted of two points: firstly, in the real world, Dark Creatures had suddenly started a rampage, fiercely attacking humans.


    The second point was that taking advantage of the rampage of the Dark Creatures, Judy and Xu Xiaoyu had been abducted by a terrible Demon, and Lisa, Maria, and others were trying to rescue them.


    Xu Yi hadn''t expected the situation in the real world to have deteriorated to this extent.

 Chapter 428 - 428: Ghost Nun

    Maria looked around, noticing the ground covered with scorching, golden lava as the acrid smell of sulfur pervaded the air.


    Logically, the boiling lava should have raised the temperature, but here it was quite the opposite; it was extremely low, one might even say freezing, with icy white fog drifting all around.


    "Is this Hell?" Maria murmured to herself.


    Both Judy and Xu Xiaoyu had Locating Magic Artifacts on them. When their locations were tracked, everyone got quite a shock¡ªboth of them had been abducted into Hell.


    It wasn''t their fault they hadn''t been able to protect them; who could have anticipated that one second they were in peaceful Boston, and the next, they were under attack by an onslaught of Dark Creatures.


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    It was especially unfortunate that at that time, Judy was out shopping with Xu Xiaoyu, so they were not around to respond immediately.


    Maria felt an oppressive heaviness in her heart, realizing that their opponent this time was likely a Hell Demon.


    It was a straightforward deduction; the scene of disappearance bore signs of the Gate of Hell being opened, something Common Demons were incapable of doing, only a Hell Demon could control the Gate of Hell.


    Maria turned her head back, looking at the rescue team behind her.


    The rescue team consisted of thirty-two members, all of them among the top experts, but she didn''t feel much confidence in her heart.


    Such a small group trying to rescue someone from the hands of a Hell Demon probably wasn''t enough.


    But there was no choice, time was of the essence, and the Array''s capacity for transport was limited. Being able to assemble these people in a short time was almost the limit.


    "Be careful!" Maria suddenly turned her head alertly, shouting a warning, and at the same time she relinquished control of her body to Ailan.


    Ailan drew the twin blades from her back, the katana "Pride" in her left hand and the Tang Sword "Anger" in her right. The weapons were activated, and their blades shimmered with beautiful patterns.


    "Anger" Tang Sword used to belong to Xu Yi, but after Xu Yi disappeared, in accordance with his last wishes, they sought out a new owner for "Anger" Tang Sword to gather Original Sin Energy.


    But the sword was not so easily controlled, and in the end, it was Ailan who wielded it.


    Everyone in the rescue team instantly gripped their weapons tighter and looked around. Vague shadows began to emerge from the ice fog; they were surrounded!


    Ed was naturally a member of the rescue team. It wasn''t just Xu Xiaoyu who was abducted by a Demon God, but his daughter, Judy, too.


    "I should have kept a closer eye on them!" Ed regretted in his heart.


    But he also knew that regret was pointless now, and he had to concentrate and deal with the situation at hand. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fortunately, before they set off, when he went to the church to pray, God had answered him, leaving a "seed" within him.


    A dark shadow leaped out from the ice fog, and Ed instinctively blocked it with his Holy Cross Hammer.


    Sharp claws struck the head of the hammer, sending sparks flying.


    Ed''s hand went to his waist, drawing out the dagger from his belt. The black dagger blossomed with a brilliant dark golden glow and violently stabbed toward the shadow.


    If Xu Yi were here, he would definitely recognize that the dagger in Ed''s hand was the "Gluttony" dagger.


    Ed had become the Proxy for the "Gluttony" dagger.


    The dagger pierced through the shadow, and the shadow screamed, attempting to retreat but was subsequently struck down by the rest of the rescue team members, pinning it to the ground.


    The shadow didn''t die completely; it was still struggling and writhing madly on the ground.


    It was a monster with goat-like horns, resembling a human body but much taller, about three meters, its surface covered with volcanic rock-like scales, and a ferocious countenance.


    "Demon True Body!" Ed''s face turned pale.


    In the real world, one could only see the Demon''s avatars, rarely the True Body, but this was Hell.


    As the Demon roared with anger, battle was imminent. A tide of Demons surged toward them, as the members of the rescue team unleashed their abilities, with lightning and flame bursting forth.


    Ailan stood amidst the raging lightning, her twin blades whirring to leave afterimages, and her sword energy swept through the Demon Tide, the high voltage lightning annihilating a large number of Demons.


    Lightning was greatly effective against these Demons, but there was no hint of a smile on Ailan''s face.


    She looked around and felt her heart sinking.


    "Look for an opportunity to break through!" she bellowed.


    There were simply too many Demons, swarming densely, as far as the eye could see. If they couldn''t break through soon, they all risked perishing here!


    The response to Ailan was not a human voice, but an animal''s roar, mixed with the distinctive meow of a felid.


    Named "Black Carp," the Cat Demon flapped its wings, and the strong wind blew away the dense ice fog. Seizing the moment the fog cleared, Lisa on the back of Black Carp saw the distant Stone Pillar Forest.


    Even from such a distance, one could still feel the grandeur of those pillars, each one piercing the sky and reaching deep into the earth.


    Lisa''s eyes instantly reddened, her "Sloth" Spear swept horizontally, knocking the demons in front of her flying.


    She patted the Black Carp beneath her, who let out an angry roar, then resolutely charged into the midst of the demon horde.


    "Lisa!" Ailan roared from behind her, but Lisa acted as if she couldn''t hear, her whole body erupting with a pure light, carving a bloody path through the Demon Tide.


    Lisa had left a Tracking Talisman on Xu Xiaoyu, and at this moment, she sensed Xu Xiaoyu''s presence in the Stone Pillar Forest.


    How could she, as a mother, bear it?


    ...


    Judy walked through the Stone Pillar Forest, gripping Xu Xiaoyu''s wrist tightly. Grasping so forcefully that his wrist turned pale without her noticing.


    She felt something peering at them from the shadows, but when she suddenly turned, there were only the huge grayish-white pillars with their monster statues at the top, dried and cracked like weathered rock.


    Judy quickened her pace, but after just a few steps, she abruptly stopped, staring at the red ribbons tied around the pillar ahead, feeling her hair stand on end.


    The red ribbons were her markers to denote their location.


    She had returned to the starting point.


    At the top of each pillar were various monster statues, none exactly alike. Theoretically, even a blind person couldn''t make a wrong turn, yet this was the third time.


    Were they experiencing a ghost hitting a wall?


    A cold sweat formed at Judy''s temples. With her current abilities, a common ghost hitting the wall should have been totally apparent, yet she had not noticed anything amiss.


    "Don''t worry! Xiaoyu, I will definitely get you out of here!" Judy muttered to herself, comforting both Xu Xiaoyu and herself.


    Xu Xiaoyu didn''t speak, his expression indifferent, appearing even calmer than Judy. It was unclear whether it was because of his young age not understanding the gravity of their situation or some other reason.


    Suddenly, the sound of something cutting through the air came from behind. Judy, now as jumpy as a scared bird, whipped around.


    It was a full set of nun''s clothing, the black robe and white headscarf and wimple fluttering fiercely in the air.


    She relaxed slightly, but then immediately sensed something wrong. In this eerie place, the appearance of a nun''s habit was suspicious no matter how one looked at it.


    Most importantly, the clothing moved as if alive, lunging towards Xu Xiaoyu.


    Judy was shocked and instinctively stepped in front of Xu Xiaoyu.


    The nun''s habit enveloped her in an instant, and Judy struggled to break free, but the next second, she felt a cold touch on her wrist.


    She was grabbed by something.


    Judy slowly lifted her head, as if plunging into an ice cellar.


    The shrunken nun''s habit had been propped up, and unbeknownst to them, a figure had appeared inside the habit.


    To call it human would be inaccurate; the face beneath the white headscarf was hideous and terrifying, the pale skin cracked like flaky white wall paint, with blood-red pupils and razor-sharp teeth resembling those of some large wild beast.


    Although Judy had seen a myriad of terrifying monsters, facing this face still caused her body to uncontrollably tremble, chilled to the core.


    "Ghost Nun Valak!"


    Seeing the nun''s habit and that hideous face, Judy finally remembered some things.


    When she was young, she had seen this figure and it had left a profound impression because her father, Ed, had nearly died at the hands of Ghost Nun Valak.


    They had been dragged into this place amid chaos, so she hadn''t been able to see the Ghost Nun.


    Was the Ghost Nun seeking revenge? Judy couldn''t help but wonder.


    Her parents once jointly expelled the Ghost Nun, thwarting her plans; now, it seemed logical that she had come for retribution.


    But Judy felt it was not so simple, for the Ghost Nun''s attention wasn''t on her at all. Instead, she stared intently at Xu Xiaoyu, her blood-red pupils revealing a deep hunger.

 Chapter 429 - 429: Hope of Activating Divine Authority

    The Ghost Nun suddenly released Judy''s hand, yet Judy still couldn''t move; she felt as though her body had been frozen into an ice sculpture, even lifting her hand was difficult.


    Judy knew then that her body had been invaded by demonic Qi.


    At this point, Judy realized that the Ghost Nun''s actual target wasn''t her, but Xu Xiaoyu.


    "Xiaoyu! Run!"


    Judy summoned the strength within her body, barely breaking through the suppression of the demonic Qi, and roared out.


    At the same time, taking advantage of this opportunity, Judy activated the Holy Artifact; the Ogus Chains around her waist shot out like a snake, tightly binding the Ghost Nun.


    The Ghost Nun seemed not to see the chains, continuing to walk forward as the chains broke straight and cracked under the strain.


    She stared at Xu Xiaoyu, her eyes filled with desire.


    Judy hadn''t guessed wrong; her target was indeed Xu Xiaoyu.


    This world was about to end, and even if She hid in Hell, She couldn''t escape this catastrophe.


    She had to find a body that could withstand Her power to escape this collapsing world.


    Now She had found it!


    Instead of running away, Xu Xiaoyu stepped toward the Ghost Nun.


    After a moment of shock, Judy suddenly understood Xu Xiaoyu''s intention; Xiaoyu didn''t want to escape alone, as doing so would certainly leave her here to die.


    Although Xu Xiaoyu was not even three years old yet, Judy couldn''t treat her as a mere child,


    Xu Xiaoyu was exceptionally precocious; she could already read and write at a very young age. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet, however precocious, what could she do facing the Ghost Nun?


    The Ghost Nun drew closer to Xu Xiaoyu, the cold aura enveloping Xiaoyu, whose pupils suddenly burst out with brilliant light, a white-golden sun emerging within them.


    An unbelievable scene unfolded; under Xu Xiaoyu''s stern gaze, the Ghost Nun began to retreat!


    Judy had once heard her father say that Xu Xiaoyu was a once-in-a-millennium exorcist prodigy. She hadn''t really believed it since she had seen many prodigies at the Isotope Institute.


    But now, seeing Xu Xiaoyu''s eyes, she suddenly understood her father''s words; to repel the Ghost Nun with just her innate ability was unimaginable!


    However, the white-golden sun in Xu Xiaoyu''s pupils soon dimmed.


    Even if Xu Xiaoyu was a prodigy, she was not even three years old; managing this much was already the limit.


    The Ghost Nun advanced step by step toward Xu Xiaoyu, her black nun''s habit brushing against Xiaoyu''s face.


    "No!"


    Just then, a roar came from outside the Stone Pillar Forest, and a holy light fell from the sky, striking the Stone Pillar Forest.


    Amid the light was Lisa, riding a Black Carp and wielding the "Sloth" Spear, her body covered in blood, panting heavily.


    Breaking through the Demon Tide was no easy feat; she had paid the price of her life''s deterioration to achieve this.


    But now she couldn''t worry about that; if she could save Xiaoyu, she was willing to give anything.


    Lisa roared again, her "Sloth" Spear emitting a dazzling dark golden light.


    She fiercely thrust the spear, the light from the spear streaking through the sky like a comet toward the front, but the "comet" suddenly halted mid-air, unable to advance an inch.


    Ripples spread outward from the tip of the spear; an invisible barrier existed around the Stone Pillar Forest, blocking all unauthorized entities.


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    The Ghost Nun glanced at Lisa indifferently, aware that the domain of this Stone Pillar Forest was strong but wouldn''t hold for much longer, so She knew She couldn''t wait any longer.


    She burst into an aura of blood-red, and the Ogus Chains that bound Her instantly shattered, scattering around.


    In Lisa''s desperate eyes, the Ghost Nun reached out her pale hand toward Xu Xiaoyu.


    At that moment, a human face suddenly emerged on Xiaoyu''s body, an extremely familiar face.


    Seeing the face, Lisa cried out, "Xu Yi!"


    It was indeed Xu Yi''s face; he had once entered Xu Xiaoyu''s dream within the Dream Rift River, and as a father, he certainly wouldn''t leave without setting some precautions.


    The human face came from the Soul Master''s ability, a remnant soul left inside Xu Xiaoyu by Xu Yi to protect her.


    Lisa''s eyes burst with delight, but the light lasted for only a second.


    Xu Yi''s face stood in front of Xu Xiaoyu as the Ghost Nun reached out, grabbed Xu Yi''s face, and squeezed it effortlessly, shattering it like a snowball.


    After all, facing an enemy of the Demon God level, a strand of Xu Yi''s remnant soul could naturally not be very effective.


    The Ghost Nun roared in anger, repeatedly interrupted and becoming a bit furious.


    Her palm reached toward the top of Xu Xiaoyu''s head, and ancient black patterns emerged on her palm.


    Xu Xiaoyu''s body trembled slightly, she was talented and usually calm, but at this moment, she couldn''t help but feel scared.


    A hand stretched out from the shadows behind Xu Xiaoyu, grabbing the Ghost Nun''s wrist.


    It was a hand throbbing with veins, muscles bulging.


    "Could it be reinforcements have arrived?" Judy hoped, following the arm with her eyes, only to have her heart sink instantly.


    It wasn''t reinforcements at all, but another monster.


    Yet, she noticed something odd; Xu Xiaoyu was actually smiling!


    Perhaps due to her extraordinary talent, Xu Xiaoyu''s personality was somewhat indifferent, only showing her childlike side in front of her mother.


    She rarely saw Xu Xiaoyu smile when they played together, yet now, facing a monster, she was smiling.


    Could it be the monster''s ability?


    Judy looked puzzled at the monster in front of her, the metallic triangular head emitting a chilling aura.


    "Triangular Head" was, of course, Xu Yi, who was relieved to see Xu Xiaoyu safe and sound.


    He had finally made it!


    Traversing from the Silent Hill through space into Hell was not an easy feat, but fortunately, he had become the "Bell Holder."


    As long as it wasn''t used to decipher the Time Divine Authority, opening a portal was not a matter of forfeiting freedom; a few sacrifices were sufficient.


    Xu Yi looked at Xu Xiaoyu''s smiling face and paused.


    Could she have recognized him?


    It wasn''t impossible since his remnant soul resided within Xu Xiaoyu. Others might not detect his spiritual aura, but Xu Xiaoyu might.


    Logically, it should be good that his daughter recognized him, but he felt a tinge of regret.


    What father doesn''t want to appear brave and handsome in front of his daughter? Unfortunately, he now bore the appearance of Triangle Head.


    Judy''s eyes brightened as if she had discovered a new continent, for she realized that the "Triangular Head" in front of her was not an enemy.


    Upon seeing Triangle Head, the Ghost Nun immediately perceived a great threat.


    The enemy of an enemy is a friend.


    She also grew curious, just what was the story behind this Triangle Head?


    After all, the Ghost Nun was a Demon God-level monster, and it was sufficiently wary!


    Xu Yi''s grasp gradually tightened, powerful enough to crush a Holy Artifact, but suddenly the sensation of contact disappeared as the Ghost Nun''s arm phased, pulling away.


    The Ghost Nun watched Xu Yi warily, sensing a threat from him.


    Xu Yi didn''t pursue further, instead surveying the surrounding Stone Pillars.


    When he had arrived, he had noticed that these stone pillars were filled with an immense aura of ages; he could feel the pulsation of time from them, and they seemed to have existed for countless years.


    Xu Yi was sure he didn''t have this ability before; after pondering for a moment, he suddenly understood¡ªit was the "Time Divine Authority."


    Although the Time Divine Authority was inactive and grey, it didn''t mean it was useless.


    "Could devouring the Power of Time within these stone pillars perhaps activate the Time Divine Authority?" Xu Yi thought to himself.


    As a purple Epic Level ultimate Entry, he naturally desired to possess it.

 Chapter 430 - 430 Seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods?

    Xu Yi looked around and noticed that there were exactly seventy-two stone pillars here, each crowned with a monster sculpture that seemed familiar.


    "Seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods?"


    A term flashed through his mind.


    If he had encountered the complete seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods, Xu Yi would have definitely taken to his heels, but right now, his heart remained unfazed.


    For after the twilight of the gods, the seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods had all but vanished.


    The twilight of the gods had not only affected the "Good Gods"; the demons of Hell had not escaped the catastrophe either.


    Xu Yi clenched his fist, gathering Sub-Divine Power, and fiercely struck at a nearby stone pillar.


    To absorb the Power of Time within these pillars, he must first destroy them, and he had also realized that the Origin of the Ghost Nun before him was contained within these pillars.


    The punch, carrying the Sub-Divine Power, could pulverize even a mountain forged of alloy, but when it hit the stone pillar, the pillar only trembled slightly.


    The durability of these Demon God Stone Pillars was beyond anyone''s expectations.


    However, the punch was not entirely futile; the terrifying strength broke the Domain hovering around the Stone Pillar Forest, and Judy and Xu Xiaoyu felt a lightness in their bodies.


    Judy took the opportunity to scoop up Xu Xiaoyu and sprint towards Lisa, who was coming to their aid.


    The Ghost Nun howled in rage, clearly not willing to watch her precious Host Body slip away.


    She vanished on the spot, and in the next second, appeared ghost-like behind Xu Xiaoyu, reaching out to crush Judy''s head. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Are you really taking me so lightly?"


    Xu Yi felt overlooked, extended his hand, and fine Thorn Iron Wires spread from his arm, solidifying into a huge cleaver in his grasp.


    He surged forward with a speed incongruent with his huge frame, instantly appearing behind the Ghost Nun, slicing off her head with one strike.


    Xu Yi frowned slightly, because the sensation of the slice wasn''t right; the opponent likely had abilities like "Body Voidification." But that didn''t matter; he had a way to deal with such abilities.


    Initially, the Ghost Nun was dismissive of Xu Yi''s slice, but soon she realized something was wrong. Intense pain came from the sliced part along with an abnormal Energy invading her body.


    The Ghost Nun tried to dodge, but it was too late. Xu Yi''s swordsmanship was exceedingly skillful; even a heavy cleaver could dance in his hands.


    Amidst screams, the Ghost Nun''s body was dismembered, and the voided parts could not regenerate. Sub-Divine Power was the bane of such abilities.


    The cleaver pierced through the Ghost Nun''s body once more, and the blade erupted with raging Sub-Divine Power. The black-purple aura, like a steaming flame, instantaneously burnt the Ghost Nun''s body to nothing.


    Taking advantage of the mayhem, Judy had already taken Xu Xiaoyu away from the Ghost Nun, meeting up with Lisa outside the Stone Pillar Forest.


    Xu Yi was not relieved by this; he saw a black "tide" rolling in from not far away. That was the surging Demon Tide.


    Lisa unleashed her full strength and briefly surged out of the Demon Tide, but as the demons were summoned by the Ghost Nun, they all moved in this direction, and the rescue team also got caught in the fray.


    "We won''t be able to get Xiaoyu and the others out of here unless we deal with these demons!"


    Xu Yi''s brow furrowed as he saw the scene unfold before him.


    He was about to take action against the Demon Tide when, suddenly, a bone-chilling roar came from behind him. He swiftly turned to look; one of the stone pillar tops cracked open.


    Roars emanated from within the statues, as streams of black mist flowed towards them.


    Although Xu Yi had dismembered the Ghost Nun, he had not killed her, and those black streams were the Ghost Nun''s Origin.


    Cracks on the statue multiplied; as a ferocious dragon head burst through the stone casing, the monster finally revealed itself.


    It was actually a child, but no one would truly treat It as a child. With wings on Its back and pupils as if lava flowed within, It exuded an aura of violence.


    Underneath the child was a fearsome Two-headed Demon Dragon, which became utterly docile when caressed by the child.


    Xu Yi suddenly understood; this child was the true form of the Ghost Nun, the sixty-second of the Seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods, Valak.


    He was a bit surprised; he hadn''t expected that after the Twilight of the Gods, a Demon God of this level could still survive.


    Valak forcefully patted the two-headed Demon Dragon beneath him, and the Demon Dragon charged toward Xu Yi. Xu Yi stood resolute and unafraid, meeting the charge head-on.


    The battle was on the verge of breaking out, and the members of the rescue team watched the fight between the two sides with hearts pounding.


    With each collision, gusts of wind were stirred up, as if the whole world was situated within the realm of a storm.


    The sky seemed to be torn apart, lightning and flames flickering between the clouds, illuminating the godly and demonic figures.


    Lisa and the other two finally regrouped with the rescue team, and Ed checked on Judy and Xu Xiaoyu''s conditions, breathing a sigh of relief.


    "We need to find a way to leave this place quickly!" Ed said urgently.


    The thoughts of those present were the same as Ed''s, but everyone understood that it was not going to be easy; they needed to find a safe place to set up the Array in order to leave.


    However, they were surrounded by a dense crowd of Demons. How would it be easy to break through?


    Meanwhile, the battle on the other side was raging.


    Valak was brimming with confidence as he faced Xu Yi.


    After all, this was Hell, His home ground. As the king of Hell, the final victory would inevitably belong to Him. No one could challenge His majesty as a Demon God.


    But soon He sensed something was amiss. Those eerie energies invading His body were actually burning the Divinity within Him.


    Divinity was His Origin, and once it was exhausted, He would cease to exist. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That is to say, the opponent possessed the ability to kill Him!


    Valak considered this and His gaze toward Xu Yi completely changed. Where in the world had this pyramid-headed monster come from?


    Xu Yi, however, fought more fiercely as the battle progressed. Although he was using "Sub-Divine Power," this "sub-god" referred to a foreign god.


    The foreign god, also known as the Outer Heaven Demon, was the bane of True Gods, and Valak was no exception.


    Valak knew that things could not continue like this. He suddenly leaped up, leaving the back of the two-headed Demon Dragon. A flash of sorrow passed through the dragon''s pupils, and then it resolutely plunged toward Xu Yi.


    The Demon Dragon let out an earth-shattering roar, with energy surging within its body like a volcanic eruption.


    Xu Yi''s expression changed slightly as he probably guessed what the other side was planning to do¡ªit was clear they intended to live by the creed "art is an explosion."


    It was already too late to avoid it; dense Thorn Iron Wires burst from his back, weaving into an eerie Armor on the surface of his body.


    He was preparing to take the hit head-on!


    The Demon Dragon exploded with a thunderous boom, and the massive shockwave swept outwards like a tidal wave, with Xu Yi feeling as if he were at the center of a tsunami.


    He frowned slightly, sensing that something was amiss.


    The power of the explosion was unexpected¡ªnot too strong, but too weak, and it also contained a very strange form of energy.


    The remnants of the explosion swept over the Stone Pillar Forest, and a shocking scene ensued. Even the stone pillars that not even Xu Yi''s full-powered punch could shake, were now collapsing and turning into stone dust.


    Each pillar in this place had once been the Origin of a Demon God. Although most of the Demon Gods had fallen, ancient and terrifying powers still lurked within.


    As the pillars collapsed, the sealed energies were released, and a grey-red stream flowed into Valak''s body.


    Xu Yi felt a rich Power of Time within those streams. He wanted to absorb that part of the power, but he was simply no match for Valak.


    Most of it rushed into Valak, with Xu Yi only capturing a very tiny portion.


    This situation was inevitable; Valak was one of the Seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods and belonged to the "locals," so it was natural that he, an outsider, would be repelled.


    Although Xu Yi had absorbed only a tiny part of the Power of Time, he keenly noticed that the grey Time Divine Authority entry on his panel seemed to have gained a slight gloss.

 Chapter 431 - 431: Ultimate Weapon - Second Stage

    After absorbing a massive amount of Alien Energy, Valak''s childlike body began to swell, growing immensely large, completely blotting out the sun.


    Xu Yi had to tilt his head back just to see the full extent of his adversary, who was even larger than a foot of his. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Valak''s skin turned as dark as ink, with crimson, blood-like light flickering in his eyes.


    He opened his massive mouth, revealing sharp, menacing fangs, and let out a deafening roar.


    Blood-red lightning and black flames erupted, tearing apart the space, filling it with web-like spatial cracks.


    Facing Valak''s onslaught, Xu Yi had only one thought: the sky was falling.


    But this also triggered the ferocity within him; instead of retreating, he advanced, stomping on the ground and shooting into the thunder and flames like a cannonball.


    The entire space was filled with thunder and flames, making evasion impossible, so there was no need to dodge any longer.


    Yet the terror of these thunder and flames was beyond expectation; his thorn iron wire armor began to crack, and his flesh started to dissolve.


    He endured the thunder and flames, appearing behind Valak like a ghost, and slashed at the Demon God''s head!


    The blade struck Valak''s neck with a booming shock, producing a clang of metal collision.


    Xu Yi was startled; this strike was nearly his full strength, and the blade was imbued with substantial Sub-Divine Power.


    This blade bore the Power of Godslaying, yet it merely scratched Valak''s surface?


    Was his opponent''s power really that terrifying?


    But Xu Yi soon realized something was amiss; if the opponent was truly that strong, he would have been crushed long ago, there was no need to wait until now.


    Suddenly, the sound of shattering filled the air, and the blade in his hand broke; Xu Yi''s eyes lit up with joy.


    For he knew why Valak was so powerful¡ªit was Divine Authority, a Divine Authority focused against weapons enveloping his body!


    Any weapon that came close to his body was subjected to a "shattering" command.


    Before the blade even reached his body, it had already broken, as though it were a "clay stick." Even with his mighty Sub-Divine Power, without a medium, the power he could exert was limited.


    Seeing Xu Yi''s blade shatter, Valak''s face twisted into a frenzied smile.


    He had just been worried that the strange energies might affect his Divine Authority; now he could finally put his mind at ease.


    He roared again, and the thunder and flames spewing from his mouth turned into a thousand wild snakes, rushing at Xu Yi, who was engulfed in the blink of an eye.


    Xu Yi could only resist hard with his Sub-Divine Power, but even so, his body sustained irreversible damage.


    The flames and thunder spewed by Valak also contained a kind of Divine Authority; had it not been for the strength of the Sub-Divine Power, he would have likely perished here.


    "To defeat him, I must have a suitable weapon, a weapon capable of slaying gods!"


    It was either Valak''s bad luck or Xu Yi''s good fortune that such a weapon existed here.


    Xu Yi took a deep breath and began to summon with his thoughts.


    On the battlefield below, Lisa pierced a demon''s head with the "Sloth" spear.


    She gasped for air as she retracted the spear, unsure of how many hundreds of demons she had killed.


    But the demons in front of her continued to surge like a tide, seemingly endless.


    She knew that if this continued, they would all be exhausted to death here.


    At that moment, her "Sloth" spear suddenly trembled; Lisa instantly understood the meaning¡ªsomeone was summoning it.


    Lisa looked up toward the triangle-shaped figure in the sky.


    By this point, she understood that the triangular figure was Xu Yi.


    Although she didn''t understand why Xu Yi had transformed into this, she knew that the key to escaping Hell lay with him.


    "Please!"


    Lisa whispered softly, then released the "Sloth" spear from her hand, transforming it into a streak of light flying towards Xu Yi.


    Not just the "Sloth" spear, Ailan''s "Pride" katana and "Anger" Tang Sword, as well as Ed''s "Gluttony" dagger¡­ one after another, the Sin Weapons soared into the air.


    As carefully chosen Sin Weapon hosts by Xu Yi, they were all in the rescue team, and now within Hell, the "Seven Deadly Sins" had already assembled.


    The seven weapons spun around Xu Yi as if stars circled the moon.


    His decision to seek hosts for the Seven Deadly Sins was undoubtedly wise, three years had passed, and he had no time to nurture the Seven Deadly Sins, but now each weapon had fully absorbed the Original Sin Energy.


    Valak looked at those dark gold weapons, suddenly feeling a bad premonition, He took in a deep breath, his cheeks puffed up, his face turned beet red, and terrifying energy gathered in his mouth.


    He was clearly preparing his ultimate move, planning to completely destroy his opponent.


    Valak suddenly opened his mouth and expelled a large wave of Energy Tide, the furious energy instantly enveloping Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi ignored the surrounding energy powerful enough to destroy heaven and earth, his focus entirely on the seven weapons.


    The seven weapons, like meteors, flew towards the same point and collided with a bang, yet failed to trigger any noise, each weapon vanquished as if they were mere illusions, but the surging energy came together.


    A slender sword slowly emerged from the illusion, its dark gold blade was covered with engravings of pine needles, flowing clouds, flames, and thunder, anyone could sense the terror of this blade.


    "Ultimate Weapon: Second Stage, Merge!"


    Xu Yi reached out and grabbed the hilt; the sword felt alive, he seemed to be holding a writhing fierce dragon.


    Indeed, the long sword came "to life," in the blink of an eye, it transfigured from a slender sword into a strangely shaped large cleaver.


    The style of the Ultimate Weapon wasn''t fixed, it changed according to the user''s body size and preferences.


    The transformation of the Ultimate Weapon didn''t stop there, a dark gold gel-like substance gushed from the hilt, covering Xu Yi''s entire body, slowly solidifying, and eventually forming a set of fully enclosed armor, its surface filled with the patterns of the Serpent of Finale.


    "I never expected the second stage of the Ultimate Weapon to have such a transformation!" Xu Yi was somewhat surprised.


    Previously, Alessa''s Thorn Iron Wire could also transform into armor, but compared to the current Dark Gold Armor, it was like comparing heaven to earth.


    The Energy Tide had already arrived, the phantasm of the Serpent of Finale emerged from Xu Yi, the so-called "Absolute Defense" Domain Power actually couldn''t withstand the terrifying Energy Tide and started to corrode. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Luckily, the robust armor transformed from the Ultimate Weapon was enough to withstand the terrifying Energy Tide.


    Valak saw Xu Yi engulfed by the Energy Tide and secretly heaved a sigh of relief, but for some reason, he felt a bit uneasy.


    At that moment, He saw a shadow flash through his view.


    "It''s that damn triangular head!"


    Valak cursed internally, not understanding how his opponent had breached the Energy Tide.


    Xu Yi of course would not solve the mystery for him; he had broken through the Energy Tide using the Ultimate Weapon.


    Once the Ultimate Weapon entered its second stage, it even possessed the ability of Spatial Jump.


    He rushed at full speed towards his opponent, well aware that the ability of Spatial Jump would only be effective the first time it was used.


    Although he had ample Demigod Power and wielded the Ultimate Weapon, his opponent was after all a Demon God-level being.


    To annihilate his opponent, there was only one chance!


    Xu Yi tightly gripped the trembling Ultimate Weapon, suppressing the explosive energy within the weapon to avoid being detected by Valak.


    Valak once again inhaled in a whale-like manner, the surging energy condensed in his mouth.


    The group from Hell including Lisa slightly changed their expressions, even from such a distance, they could feel the radiation of that energy.


    It was as if Valak''s mouth contained a fissioning planet.


    Xu Yi, however, was pleasantly surprised; Valak was obviously brewing his ultimate move, the power of the ultimate move was certainly terrifying, but its release required a "pre-animation."


    This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!


    The Sub-Divine Power within him burst forth, veins on his arms bulging as he used all his strength to throw the Ultimate Weapon in his hand.

 Chapter 432 - 432: Slaying Demons and Destroying Gods

    Dark golden streams of light descended from the sky at an astonishing speed. Valak saw the alien-shaped weapon within the streams, and his gaze did not betray the slightest hint of panic.


    He was ready to endure this attack head-on!


    Though risky, he no longer wished to wait; the world was undergoing drastic changes, and he needed to seize the host body and depart this realm soon.


    As long as he could withstand this assault, he was confident he could deal with the enemy.


    Moreover, he had absolute faith in his Divine Authority, the "Demon Breath Absolute Weapon," a power capable of destroying the vast majority of weapons, including Divine Artifacts.


    The Ultimate Weapon flew toward Valak, with a pale grey mist obstructing it before the blade. Upon contact with the mist, the Ultimate Weapon violently trembled, its surface light dimming. Still, it pierced through the mist, stabbing into Valak''s brow.


    Valak felt an inexplicable unease. The "Demon Breath Absolute Weapon" had undoubtedly taken effect but failed to destroy the strange weapon, indicating its extraordinary nature.


    Oddly, however, he did not sense much of a threat from that weapon.


    But he couldn''t worry about that now. The arrow was notched; he had to release it.


    He opened his mouth, and even a slight leak of the ferocious Energy Tide was enough to send chills down one''s spine.


    Just then, a black bolt of lightning struck down violently onto Valak''s brow, causing his entire body to shudder.


    "Where did this lightning come from?"


    Valak realized something and abruptly looked up.


    Above him, thick clouds gathered, their hue a dark purple. Black lightning forked through the clouds with a thunderous roar that was deafening.


    Valak''s complexion turned pale, for he could guess what was about to happen next.


    Amidst a thunderous roar, a torrent of black lightning enveloped Valak. He let out a wretched scream as his massive body shook uncontrollably.


    Something was wrong! Absolutely wrong!


    The power of the black lightning was indeed shocking. But with his mighty Divine Body, such a terrifying effect should not have occurred.


    "It''s that bizarre weapon!" Valak suddenly understood.


    His bodily defenses were undeniably strong, but even the sturdiest fortress is breached from within.


    That weapon acted like a lightning rod, not only drawing the odd, high-altitude black lightning but also serving as a conduit to channel the black lightning into his body. That''s why it held such frightful power.


    The threat of Death loomed over Valak. He stretched out a massive hand, trying to pull out the "Thorn in the Flesh", but the weapon seemed to have grown into his body and was difficult to remove.


    Xu Yi silently observed Valak''s actions, his heart tranquil as a still well.


    Had Valak realized the special nature of the Ultimate Weapon and thwarted it with all his might, the victory of this battle might have belonged to him.


    But his Pride had been too great, his haste too urgent, and that was what gave Xu Yi an opportunity.


    Valak''s pupils revealed a heart-palpitating hatred and madness. The next second, he slowly opened his mouth, filled with an Energy Tide that had been brewing to its peak.


    Within the dark glow were the colorful ashes, a sight of mesmerizing beauty.


    But Xu Yi had no appreciation for it. Facing the Energy Tide, he felt like an ant perched on the edge of a frying pan, knowing that a slip would lead to certain Annihilation.


    "I can''t get hit directly!" Xu Yi''s inner voice cautioned. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    Otherwise, even possessing Demigod Power, he would still fall here.


    Xu Yi turned and charged toward the purple clouds above, where his chance of survival lay.


    Valak''s pupils developed silver rings, firmly locking onto Xu Yi. With the Eye of Death''s aid, no one could escape the Energy Tide.


    With a furious roar from Valak, the Energy Tide finally burst forth, threatening to Annihilate the very space it traversed.


    The Energy Tide wound like a variegated black river, meandering yet relentlessly pursuing Xu Yi, much like the legendary Gun of Destiny, Kunguni''er, which once thrown, must inevitably hit its target.


    As the Tidal River threatened to engulf Xu Yi, at that critical moment, Valak let out a piercing shriek.


    His body trembled violently, but more importantly, the silver rings in his pupils... dissipated.


    The Eye of Death was key to controlling the Energy Tide, and as it faded, the Energy Tide immediately spun out of control. The energy river that should have consumed Xu Yi merely brushed by him.


    Xu Yi''s triangular-headed form couldn''t sweat, but he felt as if he had been scared into a cold sweat.


    He wasn''t hit directly by the Energy Tide; only the fringes reached him. Yet even so, his body was corroded extensively, as if a Common person had fallen into a pool of sulfuric acid.


    "Thank goodness I was prepared!" Xu Yi silently breathed a sigh of relief.


    He looked down below. Valak''s skin was cracked, and dark lightning poured from his orifices like an overloaded electrical device.


    Of course, this was Xu Yi''s handiwork. Given the terror of Valak''s Ultimate Move, Xu Yi naturally had made preparations.


    The sky continued to be struck by black bolts of lightning. It seemed Valak had adapted to those lightning strikes and no longer feared them. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In reality, Xu Yi was manipulating the black lightning, concealing it within the Ultimate Weapon.


    Seconds before, the Ultimate Weapon had acted like an overloaded battery.


    Xu Yi controlled the release of the black lightning, and the terrifying Energy rampaged within Valak''s body.


    In intense pain, Valak could no longer sustain the Eye of Death, causing the Energy Tide to lose control.

 Chapter 433 - 432 Slaughtering Demons and Destroying Gods_2

    "It''s time!" Xu Yi, carrying his severely corroded body, struggled to rush into the clouds.


    Below, Valak, due to the backlash of the Energy Tide and the rampant lightning and thunder, couldn''t move for a moment¡ªit was an excellent opportunity.


    Xu Yi merged with the purple clouds, just like a child returning to the mother''s womb. The pain from the corrosion eased, and his whole body felt indescribably relaxed.


    "Come on! Release your full power!" Xu Yi''s spirit probed into the purple clouds, which surged wildly as if responding to him.


    The power of this purple lightning summoned by the Ultimate Weapon was, of course, far from mere this. The strength displayed now was still far from the limit.


    The purple clouds churned like a tsunami, and dense lightning radiated out.


    Before, lightning continued to fall, but now it had all ceased, gathering together, their might becoming even more terrifying.


    The black Thunder Day formed in the sky, its dreadful might making Valak realize something was wrong. A resounding roar filled the air, but it couldn''t mask the fear in its heart.


    Valak''s body began to phase, turning into a sky-full of grey mist, the surging mist like a tsunami.


    The rescue team was dealing with the surrounding demons while paying attention to the battle above. They watched the sea of mist with heavy hearts.


    But suddenly, they were stunned,


    The grey mist fled, not toward the Thunder Day in the sky, but toward the outskirts.


    They thought Valak had some powerful move up its sleeve but didn''t expect it to cower and attempt to flee.


    The mist moved incredibly fast, having flown far away in the blink of an eye.


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    Just as Valak seemed about to leave, suddenly the mist stopped, and a huge head emerged from it.


    Valak felt a tremor in its heart as it unexpectedly couldn''t maintain its "phased" state, revealing its true form.


    A pitch-black glow flickered on its forehead.


    It understood¡ªit was that weird weapon; it had been locked on from the beginning, with no chance of escape.


    If it had prepared properly, to withstand the upcoming attack, there might have been a chance, but to use such precious time to flee?


    "After all, it''s been too long since the last battle!" Valak sighed in its heart.


    Back when the Seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods still existed, they were both kin and rivals, constantly fighting each other.


    But as the Demon Gods died one by one, there were no more opponents for it in Hell.


    Over time, even the battle instinct almost faded away.


    Now it was too late for regrets, as with a thunderous explosion, the Black Sun burst, and seven thunder snakes spanning heaven and earth plunged down.


    "My God!" The rescue team stopped their fight, looking up at the black thunder in the sky, their mouths agape in silent awe.


    The rescuers could stop because the demons below were deterred by the seven Thunder Snakes in the sky, prostrate on the ground, unable to move. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The seven "Black Thunder Snakes" pounced on Valak, who was instantly engulfed in thunder.


    The thunder raged over its body, each black lightning bolt containing destructive power, Valak''s flesh dissolved layer by layer.


    Valak let out a piercing scream, desperately struggling, but the flowing black lightning formed a huge vortex, its strong suction preventing any escape.


    Beneath the cage of black lightning, Valak''s flesh dissolved completely, leaving only a large skeleton, from which the Ultimate Weapon fell.


    Xu Yi emerged from the lightning, reaching out to grasp the Ultimate Weapon. At that moment, the vast black lightning converged on the Ultimate Weapon.


    Xu Yi carelessly waved the Ultimate Weapon, without any specific technique, like a child swinging a stick under the blue sky, but the power was unparalleled.


    Terrifying beams of electric light radiated from the weapon, where they landed, the bones crumbled into ash, floating in the skies above Hell.


    Xu Yi stood amongst the floating ashes, his excitement barely contained, for he felt the dense Power of Time, overflowing in the air.


    But a new problem arose¡ªhow to absorb this Power of Time?


    As he was agonizing over it, those strands of Power of Time actively drew closer to him, entering his body.


    "It''s Divine Authority, the Master of Time Divine Authority is actively absorbing these Powers of Time!" Xu Yi suddenly understood.


    He had sensed the Power of Time in the Seventy-two Demon God Pillars before also because of the Divine Authority.


    Xu Yi subconsciously checked the entries panel, and the entry for the Master of Time had changed; it had been grey and was now gradually gaining luster.


    This meant that the entry for the Master of Time was being activated.


    "As long as the entry is activated, no matter how difficult, there''s a way to grind it to full!" Xu Yi was full of anticipation.


    Moments later, Xu Yi slowly opened his eyes, then let out a disappointed sigh.


    The ashes had dispersed, the Powers of Time had all been absorbed by him, but sadly the entry had not been fully activated, only covered with a faint purple hue.


    "The revolution is not yet a success!"


    Xu Yi felt a bit regretful, but it was also within reason, after all, it was an Epic Level top-tier entry, and activating it was surely not a simple matter.


    "They''re retreating!" The rescue team below shouted in surprised joy, as the Demon Tide started to recede, like the tide going out.


    These demons had all been summoned by Valak, and now with Valak''s fall and the terror of the recent thunder, they naturally didn''t want to stay and fight to the death.


    "Judy, are you all okay?"


    Ed wasted no time checking on his daughter and Xu Xiaoyu, relieved to find both in reasonably good condition.

 Chapter 434 - 432: Slaying Demons and Destroying Gods_3

    At that moment, he caught a faint stench and turned his head in confusion, looking toward the man beside him. The foul odor was emanating from him.


    To enter Hell, one naturally needed a person proficient in Spatial Magic Arrays, and this man was the reinforcement he had sought from the church.


    Considering the return journey, these Magic Array Masters had also come along.


    During the battle, they had kept these individuals securely protected in the middle, to prevent any mishaps.


    "Kanter?"


    Ed voiced his doubts, for he knew the man; they had fought side by side many times, which was why the other was willing to risk helping out.


    As for the stench on Kanter''s body, Ed didn''t pay much attention; they were in Hell after all, and they had just encountered a Demon ambush¡ªit was only sensible they''d get a bit smelly.


    He just wondered, why had Kanter suddenly come out of the protective circle?


    The Demon Tide had not yet fully receded; they were still not completely safe.


    Just then, Kanter suddenly accelerated, running wildly towards Xu Xiaoyu with unbelievable speed.


    "This is bad!" A shiver ran down Ed''s spine as he realized something was amiss; the normal Kanter would never do this.


    More fatally, he saw the eerie patterns appearing in Kanter''s pupils... Those were the Divine Marks unique to Valak.


    Valak had not died, and somehow, he had managed to take over Kanter''s body!


    With his Divine Body destroyed, he was still not ready to leave; he intended to possess Xu Xiaoyu, which indicated that Xu Xiaoyu must be extremely important to Valak.


    He must stop him!


    This series of thoughts flashed through Ed''s mind in the blink of an eye, and his gaze became resolute.


    Valak was too fast, and everything had occurred too abruptly; there wasn''t even enough time for Ed to shout a warning, he could only stand in front of Xu Xiaoyu.


    Valak slammed into Ed violently, yet the force was strangely insubstantial, failing even to budge Ed''s body. But suddenly, Ed stood frozen, motionless.


    "Daddy!" Judy couldn''t comprehend what had happened, but an unexplained panic seized her, and she cried out in alarm.


    When she looked into Ed''s eyes, she was stunned; in those eyes, there was not a trace of life, just a void of death.


    The collision from Valak, seemingly forceless, had been aimed at the soul.


    From the outside, Ed appeared unharmed, yet his soul had been shattered¡ªValak''s wrathful strike was no laughing matter.


    Ed fell, and the others finally reacted, charging towards Valak in a frenzy.


    But a purple-black mist rose from Valak, creating an unnamed Barrier, instantly repelling those attempting to help.


    Valak ignored the rest, pouncing towards Xu Xiaoyu.


    He had to act fast, before Pyramid Head could react, to recapture the Host Body.


    But just as he took a step, that strange weapon which caused him psychological terror fell from the sky, instantaneously shattering the Barrier he had created.


    "How can it be so quick?" Valak was taken aback.


    Of course, Xu Yi''s reactions were swift; he was absorbing the spilling Power of Time, all the while alert to every movement around him.


    Usually, the Power of Time could only be absorbed after Valak''s death, but it was obviously a trap set by Valak, designed to dull his vigilance.


    But Xu Yi had already noticed this.


    Because the Entries system remained silent, without devouring any Entries, he knew Valak had not died.


    Xu Yi had originally thought Valak might be hiding within the Demon horde, the best place to conceal oneself.


    Never had he expected that Valak would instead possess a member of the rescue team, right under their noses.


    However, Xu Yi was puzzled.


    "If Valak had such an ability, why hadn''t he used it on Xu Xiaoyu before?"


    There must be some restrictions to this kind of Possession.


    Because of this reason, Xu Yi didn''t anticipate what happened, leading to Ed''s serious injury, and now his life hung in the balance.


    Valak''s possessed body suddenly collapsed, like a deflated balloon, leaving nothing but an empty skin with a vacant stare.


    A wisp of black smoke drilled out from the skin; Valak realized that he could no longer achieve his goal and that if he lingered any longer, he might actually die here, so he decided to flee.


    Focused solely on escape, Valak was oblivious to the fact that Ed, who by all rights should have died, suddenly stood up behind him.


    Ed quietly watched the fleeing black smoke, the dull pupils in his eyes brightened again, and a golden Holy Cross emerged within them, exuding an indescribable majesty.


    Many devout followers in the rescue team witnessed Ed''s resurrection, their eyes ablaze with fanaticism, their bodies trembling slightly with emotion.


    They knelt on the ground, their expressions pious, mumbling prayers softly, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..."


    Xu Yi, however, vigilantly watched Ed.


    No! Something''s not right! The person before him wasn''t Ed at all.


    This holy and ancient aura, along with the Holy Court personnel''s reactions... the person before him was the True God of the Holy Court, True God Jesus!


    "Do not worry, my avatar has only temporarily borrowed this divine body to also heal his severely wounded soul,"


    "Ed" said, seeing the anxious look in Judy''s eyes, gently explaining.


    He turned to look at the escaping black smoke; Valak felt the presence of True God Jesus and hurried his escape.


    "Ed" reached out his hand towards the direction of the black smoke and clenched it, and an invisible confinement descended, halting the black smoke in place, unable to flee. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    The black smoke started to writhe desperately, its surface swirling, reflecting Valak''s ferocious visage. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although it was only the avatar of Jesus that had descended, Valak was severely injured and stood no chance.


    Golden flames rose from "Ed''s" hands and instantly turned into a three-headed serpent of fire, lunging at the black smoke.


    The black smoke was ignited, the flames with purification properties burned continuously, and wretched screams echoed from within the smoke.


    Valak, knowing escape was impossible, made a crazed decision; the black smoke contracted rapidly and, with a thunderous explosion, violently burst, sending black currents crashing in all directions.


    The rescue team bore the brunt, but "Ed" alone stood before them, raising a golden barrier, blocking out all the black currents of bone-devouring soul extermination.


    As the battle seemed to cease, the Ultimate Weapon, stuck in the ground, suddenly surged, black Thunderstorm Flash turned into a lightning serpent, opening its fearsome maw towards the void.


    A wisp of black smoke appeared out of nowhere.


    Valak hadn''t died; his self-detonation was a feint to escape by feigned death. Fortunately, Xu Yi had anticipated this, opened his Soul Power to the fullest, and kept an eye on any slight movement, ready to catch Valak red-handed.


    Under the sintering of the black thunder and lightning, the black smoke was completely dissipated, and Xu Yi finally heard the system notification and let out a long sigh of relief.


    [Entries Devouring initiated, the target contains special Power of Time, do you wish to use it to activate the "Master of Time" entry? Or proceed with standard devouring?]


    Xu Yi hadn''t expected such a serendipitous windfall, and he naturally chose the former without hesitation.


    If he devoured the entry, a golden Epic Level entry would probably have been the limit, but how could it compare to the purple Epic Level "Master of Time"?


    A profound power poured into Xu Yi, and he felt as though he had trekked for ages in the river of time, yet in but a moment he had aged significantly.


    "What a pity!"


    Xu Yi looked at the system panel with a regretful gaze.


    The entry for the Master of Time was still not activated; it truly was the top-tier purple Epic Level entry, even more difficult to obtain than he had imagined.


    To think that he devoured something close to the level of a True God like Valak.


    But this also precisely indicated that the power of the Master of Time entry would far exceed expectations.


    "It should be soon!" Xu Yi felt enthusiastic as he watched the color of the purple Epic entry grow more vibrant.


    He quickly refocused, his gaze falling on "Ed." For some reason, he had a feeling that this divine being had come specifically for him.

 Chapter 435 - 433: The Advent of the End of the World

    "Who would have thought, in this era, such a powerful Outer Heaven Demon could still rise!"


    "Ed" gazed at Xu Yi, letting out a long, leisurely sigh, his pupils, filled with floating Holy Crosses, brimming with amazement.


    "How should I address you? Jesus Christ? The True God of our times?" Xu Yi''s tone carried a hint of jest, without a trace of reverence for the True God.


    He was no longer the weak human, becoming an "alien god" was just a matter of time.


    After Ed sustained a heavy injury, Jesus was able to descend immediately, obviously because the "Holy Seed" had long been planted inside Ed.


    The Holy Seed couldn''t be implanted in just a short time; it required a prolonged ritual.


    That is to say, Ed had long been chosen as the medium for Jesus''s descent.


    Although Ed might have accepted this fact, as his friend, Xu Yi still felt indignation.


    "After this matter is resolved, I will return the body in its entirety and destroy the Holy Seed. I hereby make this sacred promise."


    Jesus, possessing abilities like "mind reading," vaguely sensed Xu Yi''s thoughts and spoke softly.


    Xu Yi looked at Jesus before him with suspicion. As the Holy Court''s True God, who regarded human life as trivial, when had he become so easy to talk to?


    Even with his newfound strength, he still wasn''t a threat to Jesus, at least not yet.


    "May I ask for your help?" Jesus said directly, with no intention to beat around the bush.


    "Let''s hear it."


    Xu Yi wasn''t surprised, nor did he immediately refuse. He was curious, what would a True God request?


    "I would like you to enter the headquarters of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization and cause the Ancient God''s Brain to fall back into slumber," Jesus answered.


    Xu Yi had not expected to become involved with the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, and what was this Ancient God''s Brain?


    Jesus took the initiative to explain without Xu Yi having to ask, "The Ancient God''s Brain can be seen as Chronos''s Spiritual Sea of thoughts. As long as the Ancient God''s Brain is asleep, the Ancient God will continue to slumber."


    "Chronos?"


    For some reason, the moment he heard this name, Xu Yi felt an inexplicable chill.


    Even Jesus, as strong as he was, revealed a touch of fear in his eyes when mentioning this name, piquing Xu Yi''s curiosity further.


    "The Ancient God Chronos, He is the culprit behind the rise of the world''s sea level, the unrest of the Dark Creatures is also because of Him, and He has many other names, the creator of Twilight of the Gods, the ultimate Destroyer of Worlds..."


    The more Jesus spoke, the heavier Xu Yi''s heart sank.


    Any one of these titles could chill one''s blood, yet they were all concentrated on Chronos.


    "Once Chronos awakens, the apocalypse program will surely initiate, reducing the world to nothingness," Jesus said gravely.


    "Why seek me out?"


    Xu Yi didn''t immediately refuse but asked instead.


    If what Jesus said was true, he simply couldn''t stand by and do nothing. He understood the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.


    In an apocalyptic event, no one could preserve themselves, especially when he had so many people he cared about.


    "The vicinity of the Ancient God''s Brain has extremely intense radiation barriers. Not to mention humans, even gods would find it difficult to approach."


    Jesus continued to explain, "My main body is suppressing Chronos; with just an incarnation, I can''t get deep into the Ancient God''s Brain. I have been looking for someone who can do this, until I detected your presence."


    Xu Yi fell silent.


    Jesus did not say more. Stretching out a finger, He lightly touched Xu Yi''s forehead and extracted a golden point of light. Under Jesus''s control, the light drifted toward Xu Yi.


    Not feeling any threat from the light dot, Xu Yi didn''t interfere.


    As the light merged into his body, he understood that it was Jesus making a promise with his Origin soul, proving there was no deceit. Even the system panel reflected corresponding prompts.


    After much contemplation, Xu Yi finally agreed. He simply couldn''t refuse.


    ...


    The vast forest surged in the wind like dark green waves, and a serpentine river flowed through it, the only path hidden beneath the dense canopy. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Standing high above, Xu Yi and Jesus looked out upon the forest, the image of ordinary woods, countless in America.


    It was hard to imagine that the headquarters of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization would be in such a place.


    However, Xu Yi noticed something peculiar. On their way, they encountered frenzied oddities, but this place seemed peaceful with the passage of time.


    Abnormalities suggested something sinister; this place was clearly out of the ordinary.


    Xu Yi and Jesus suddenly stopped, not because they didn''t want to proceed, but because they couldn''t. An invisible barrier lay ahead.


    Jesus extended a finger to touch it, and a golden screen made of diamond-shaped cells emerged. Xu Yi could even sense the aura of Divine Authority on it.


    The barrier was troublesome, but Jesus evidently came prepared. He pressed His hand on the barrier, a golden flame rising from His palm, melting a large hole in it.


    "The rest is up to you," said Jesus, his voice filled with a sense of weakness, even the Holy Crosses in His pupils dimming. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    Breaking through the barrier had not been a simple task for Jesus''s incarnation.


    "What you need to do is place this object at the center of the Ancient God''s Brain." Suddenly, a cup appeared in Jesus''s hand, all gold and adorned with peculiar reliefs.


    As Xu Yi took the cup, he sensed an intense Divinity about it.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, this was the legendary "Holy Grail," a true Divine Artifact.

 Chapter 436 - 433: The Arrival of the Worlds End_2

    Xu Yi didn''t feel much envy because after the Seven Deadly Sins had undergone the Second Stage of fusion, they had also reached the level of a Divine Artifact.


    Guided by the Holy Grail, Xu Yi found a small cottage in the woods.


    The cottage was not dilapidated and must have been inhabited from time to time; surrounded by dense trees and a lake nearby, it really seemed like an excellent place for a summer retreat.


    Two cars were parked in front of the cabin, and judging by the leaves on the car windows, they had been there for a day or two.


    Xu Yi only saw the cars, not the people.


    No one would have guessed that beneath such a simple wooden cottage lay the headquarters of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization.


    Jesus had already informed him of the layout here, and so he made his way directly to the basement.


    The basement was full of clutter, dolls with sinister smiles, rusty old record players, and some outdated household items.


    Cursory glance around, there were no exceptions, everything here was a Cursed Item. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    A faint smell of blood wafted over, and following the scent, he came to a corner, lifted the wooden floor there, and a pitch-black passage suddenly appeared before his eyes.


    Inside the passage lay a corpse, that of a man, gutted with blood all around, his eyes wide with unwillingness and terror. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A unique stench lingered in the air around the man, and it was likely that he had been killed by a zombie or some other kind of Dark Creature.


    "Such a rich Power of Destiny!"


    Xu Yi looked at the body and exclaimed sincerely.


    Humans were a strange creature¡ªthough weak, some possessed something that even gods coveted: the Power of Destiny. The man before him was one of them.


    Those filled with the Power of Destiny were usually superb sacrificial offerings.


    Continuing downward, Xu Yi made a surprising discovery at the end of the passageway: an elevator, not an old-fashioned one but a high-tech variety.


    He recognized the material of the elevator box walls as "glass" from a Magic-Prohibiting Box.


    Inside the elevator, too, lay a corpse; it was a youthful woman, her heart gouged out, her eyes frozen wide open in death.


    Like the man before, this woman was also a "Fate Person," evidently another intended sacrifice.


    Xu Yi entered the elevator, which had no floor indicators at all. He walked inside and the elevator doors automatically closed, carrying him downwards.


    There was no elevator shaft to speak of, the view was unusually open. Dim white light illuminated the dark space, with countless transparent boxes standing in the void.


    These were all Magic-Prohibiting Boxes, each containing different Dark Creatures, from the weaker Earth Cave People to powerful extraterrestrial beings...


    A similar scene, Xu Yi had once witnessed at the Arctic Ocean Branch of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, but here there were more Dark Creatures, as numerous as stars.


    The elevator suddenly entered a dark corridor, approaching the endpoint. Xu Yi quietly channeled his Sub-Divine Power within, preparing for battle.


    The battle power at the Arctic Ocean Branch was so astonishing, the headquarters would likely have even higher-grade combat equipment.


    The elevator doors opened. Outside the metal corridor, it was quiet¡ªno swarms of black hounds, nor a host of Divine Wrath Weapons awaited.


    This strange scene left Xu Yi puzzled for quite a while.


    Had he come to the wrong place?


    Or was there a more terrifying ambush awaiting him?


    At that moment, urgent footsteps came from ahead, along with panicked voices.


    "How could this happen? All of the base''s defenses have failed, even the Ancient God''s Eye can''t operate!"


    "Who could know? Such a situation has never arisen in a thousand years!"


    Xu Yi''s heart stirred, no wonder there was no ambush and even the guards were as good as absent¡ªthe base had a significant problem.


    He had investigated the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization and knew that the so-called "Ancient God''s Eye" was an ultra-powerful surveillance device.


    "How''s the sacrificial ritual going?"


    "The Japan branch moved away a while ago, Buenos Aires has already failed, Madrid looks hopeless too, and other places have been interrupted due to the sea level rise and bizarre riots... this is the last hope."


    "If the sacrifice fails..."


    The two cut off their conversation, the atmosphere became exceptionally heavy as they kept their heads down and continued walking.


    Xu Yi''s triangular-headed body gradually turned into black smoke... Since the Ancient God''s Eye was out of commission, he no longer feared using his Phasing ability, leading to a sudden, inexplicable restraint.


    Just then, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded, followed by a dense metallic friction. The two walking stopped in their tracks as if they realized something, their faces instantly turning pale.


    The metal walls suddenly opened, revealing hidden elevator doors all around, and it wasn''t just elevators that were revealed, but something far more terrifying.


    "How is this possible!"


    The two were incredulous¡ªthe prohibition on the Magic-Prohibiting Boxes had suddenly failed, something that had never happened before.


    However, with the failure of the weapons, this seemed within the bounds of reason.


    But for them, this was virtually fatal.


    The spacious corridor quickly became crowded, countless Dark Creatures leaped from the elevator doors, werewolves covered in black fur, skinless beings constantly dripping with blood...


    In just a moment, the place had turned into a paradise for the bizarre, a hell for humans.


    The two men raised their rifles... Deprived of the organization''s armaments, they could only use such "primitive" weapons, offering them no sense of security.


    It''s worth mentioning, the armaments of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization were exceptionally perverse; its members were Common people, but with armaments, they could rival powerful Dark Creatures.

 Chapter 437 - 433: The Arrival of the Worlds End_3

    The two of them pulled the trigger, and the sound of gunfire erupted.


    But this not only failed to eliminate the monsters but instead roused their ferocity, and in the blink of an eye, the duo had been torn to shreds.


    Xu Yi also ran into trouble, as he was actually blocked by a group of vengeful spirits.


    He chose not to go on a killing spree because there were simply too many strange things here, and he didn''t have that much time to waste.


    He showed his true form, and even in the circle of the strange, the triangular head was a rightful "big shot."


    A stern aura spread out, and the obstructing oddities instinctively cleared a path, and Xu Yi strode forward.


    Looking at the uncaged oddities, Xu Yi felt his unease grow even more intense.


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    He suddenly stopped, warily looking towards a corner.


    These monsters had just left the Magic-Prohibiting Box and were now wantonly unleashing their excitement, a veritable dance of demons.


    Yet there was one oddity strolling leisurely, and the others instinctively kept their distance from it.


    It was a tall man with extremely pale skin, dressed in retro monk''s armor from the Middle Ages, the most striking feature being the sharp long nails that filled its hairless head.


    "Nail Head" looked towards Xu Yi, who instantly became alert. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Among these monsters, the strength of Nail Head was leaps and bounds ahead; even Xu Yi felt the pressure.


    Nail Head showed no intention of making a move, gave Xu Yi a casual glance, and walked away.


    Xu Yi saved himself the effort, continuing on the predetermined route.


    The Ancient God Sacrificial Organization was in utter disarray, no one was managing things, and his way was unusually smooth.


    The deeper he went, the simpler the surrounding buildings became, until they were finally just mud-brick walls.


    "Your deaths will give rise to a new world!"


    A hoarse female voice suddenly came from ahead, filled with seduction, and Xu Yi, curious, stopped in his tracks, allowing his mental power to extend and investigate.


    In his mind''s eye, a scene was projected: towering walls of the Dissolving Cave embedded with five massive stone tablets inscribed with ancient pictograms that conveyed a sense of distortion and madness.


    Blood flowed over the tablets, with three already saturated in moisture, and the remaining two slowly seeping blood.


    Beneath the tablets lay two people, a man, and a woman, drenched in blood, breathing fewer breaths in than out, seemingly not long for this world.


    "So this is the legendary Ancient God Altar!" exclaimed Xu Yi inwardly.


    Since encountering the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, he had been clandestinely investigating this group.


    Common people haven''t even heard of this organization, but the higher-ups of various countries were well aware because the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization had reached an agreement with them.


    Should the countries face Dark Creatures they could not resolve, they could seek help from the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization; however, in turn, when it came to selecting the "Fate Person," the countries were expected to cooperate.


    Thus, once ordinary people were targeted by the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, death was their only fate.


    The Fate Person would, through various "fortunate coincidences," gather together, then be brought to a specific location, where an altar prepared by the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization awaited.


    They would be killed by Dark Creatures deployed by the sacrificial organization, their blood drained, and their souls infused into the ancient tablets, completing the sacrifice.


    And their target of sacrifice was, of course, Ancient God Chronos.


    The purpose was simple: to keep Chronos in a slumber through the Power of Destiny, ideally never to awaken.


    Should Chronos awaken, it would be a disaster for the entire world.


    Hence, the countries of the world turned a blind eye to the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, allowing it to grow to this extent.


    Xu Yi did not intervene, nor did he plan to save anyone, as it was futile; he didn''t wish to waste his time here.


    He continued deeper, with the Ancient God''s Brain lying further within.


    As he pressed on, side passages vanished, leaving only a single passageway.


    There used to be tight security along the way, but with the outbreak of oddities, the guards were gone, and the sturdy alloy doors proved no obstacle to him.


    After an unknown distance, he suddenly felt a powerful magnetic field, suffocating, far more terrifying than the arrival of the Gate of Truth.


    Violet luminescence illuminated the darkness below, and unexpectedly, he stumbled upon a vast cavity.


    The glow came from dense interweaving threads, resembling a huge maze of light or neural pathways.


    The Ancient God''s Brain was there!


    Xu Yi''s gaze shifted, inwardly astounded.


    Not only was the Ancient God''s Brain present, but there was also a colossal factory.


    The factory stretched as far as the eye could see, full of mammoth machinery of unknown purpose, still in operation, with lightning flashing through the cables and heat waves rolling above the machines.


    "They''re extracting power from the Ancient God''s Brain!" Xu Yi was too shocked for words.


    The machinery ingested the light from above and, after a series of processes, a black substance resembling skin fell from the output slot.


    "Isn''t this the same strange substance I saw at the North Pole Base?"


    Amongst the factory''s equipment, Xu Yi spotted numerous "armaments." At this moment, how could he not understand?


    All the "Advanced Equipment" of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization originated from Ancient God Chronos.


    They extracted power from the Ancient God''s Brain, transformed it into that black substance, and used it to forge various types of equipment.


    That''s why the armaments of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization were so powerful.

 Chapter 438 - 433: The Arrival of the Worlds End_4

    "I hope this goes smoothly!" Xu Yi felt an inexplicable irritability, but he forcefully suppressed his emotions and stepped into the Domain of the Ancient God''s Brain.


    Violent Energy assaulted him in an instant, causing Xu Yi''s complexion to change slightly, as he felt like a piece of meat dropped into a high-speed blender, about to be shredded into smithereens.


    He quickly mobilized the Sub-Divine Power within his body, forming a protective barrier on the surface of his skin.


    The Sub-Divine Power was continuously depleted, but, thankfully, it withstood the onslaught of Energy.


    Xu Yi finally understood why Jesus had sought him out; without the Sub-Divine Power, he too would have likely had to retreat.


    In this desolate, life-forbidden zone, Xu Yi subconsciously hastened his pace, wishing to complete his task quickly and then leave.


    After what seemed an eternity, Xu Yi stopped. The Holy Grail in his hand began to tremble, emitting a crisp humming sound.


    Xu Yi exhaled deeply; he had finally reached the core of the Ancient God''s Brain, and things had gone unexpectedly smoothly.


    He relaxed his grip, allowing the Holy Grail to fall. The Grail burst into a pure white light, like a dreamy moon illuminating this core area, calming the agitated "neural fibers" as the purple luminescence gradually dimmed. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The white light carried a force that steadied the heart, easing Xu Yi''s irritability.


    "That should do it!"


    He looked around, preparing to move, when an inexplicable sense of palpitations surged up, akin to a grazing rabbit suddenly sensing the presence of a hungry wolf behind it, sending shivers down his spine.


    "With the power he currently possesses, he feels like a rabbit, so what kind of terrifying existence must that thing be?"


    A thought flashed through Xu Yi''s mind.


    ...


    The Ancient God Altar.


    Norris watched as the life of the sacrificial victim drained away, the ancient stele saturated with blood, her heart, hanging in suspense, finally settled.


    The Ancient God Sacrificial Organization was on the brink of collapse, but as long as the sacrifice was completed, appeasing the Ancient God Chronos, everything could be quelled.


    Just then, a shattering sound came from above, and Norris snapped her head up, her pupils filled with disbelief, "How is this possible? How is it possible?"


    The ancient stele had actually cracked!


    During their long sacrifices, there had never been a problem with the stele; they had even tried to take samples from it to analyze its composition.


    But the stele was deemed indestructible, impervious even to their most powerful cutting equipment.


    Yet, unexpectedly, it had now cracked.


    Norris''s face drained of color, a much more terrifying thought occurring to her: the cracking of the stele meant the sacrifice had failed.


    "The end of the world is here!" Despair filled Norris''s eyes.


    ...


    In the core region of the Ancient God''s Brain, Xu Yi looked warily around, somewhat puzzled.


    That sense of heart palpitations had appeared very suddenly, and disappeared just as swiftly, making him question whether he had been delusional.


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    But he was all too aware that, at his level of strength, the likelihood of a delusion was incredibly low.


    At that moment, the Holy Grail suddenly cracked, and a golden pupil opened in the fissure, emitting two beams of golden light that swept across the area.


    Wherever the beams of light went, the purple luminescence scattered.


    The golden pupil on the Holy Grail, naturally from Jesus, indicated that this Divine Artifact was a part of Jesus himself, but at this moment, Xu Yi distinctly saw fear in Jesus''s eyes.


    For a brief instant, Xu Yi thought he heard a snicker.


    The next second, the Holy Grail fell, and the vast "neural fibers" dissipated, leaving behind a pitch-black void.


    Xu Yi''s heart felt like it plunged into the icy depths of the Ice Cellar, the snicker emanating from Chronos, mocking their overestimation of themselves.


    This Ancient God''s Brain was nothing but an illusion, Ancient God Chronos had already Awakened, but He hadn''t acted immediately. Instead, He lay in wait, biding His time through the vulnerability of Awakening while retracting His power.


    That''s why the weaponry of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization had become ineffective; the essence of their armament was the embodiment of Chronos''s power.


    All was already irretrievable, the countdown to the apocalypse had silently begun.


    Xu Yi felt somewhat dazed.


    Suddenly, the ground shook violently, as the terrifying forces rose from beneath it, like ten thousand volcanoes erupting in unison.


    Xu Yi immediately Phased, turning into black smoke as he fled upward, with the horrific Energy chasing after him from behind.


    He returned to the surface, hovering in the sky, staring down in horror.


    The thunderous roar echoed from the depths of the earth, audible to those thousands of miles away. The bizarre creatures hunting humans in the cities trembled, expressing their supreme reverence for the voice''s owner.


    The ground cracked open, a cottage in the woods swallowed by a vast fissure, roiling dirt mixed with scorching lava surged out, the scene akin to the coming of the apocalypse.


    But this was just an insignificant prelude.


    A colossal arm suddenly stretched out from the earth, its surface cracked like lava, its fingers spread wide against the sky, signaling an air of utter domination.


    The Ancient God Chronos had escaped confinement, the twilight of the gods had arrived, the world''s end had come!

 Chapter 439 - 434 Leviathan Hell

    The moment the Ancient God broke free, a magnificent chorus suddenly erupted as if myriads of choirs were chanting in unison, yet there wasn''t a single living person here.


    "It''s the Power of Faith!" Xu Yi suddenly realized, the voices he heard were all emanating from the overflow of the Power of Faith.


    He had once possessed faith, but compared to this immense faith before him, it was like the difference between the bright moon and a firefly.


    The God capable of possessing such enormous Power of Faith, in today''s world, there was only one.


    Holy light descended from the sky, within which a giant golden cross faintly emerged, Jesus in a white robe slowly descended, behind His head was a massive halo of white light, the thick Power of Faith drifting out.


    Besides Jesus, eight other beings descended as well, no, to be precise, eight deities.


    Their appearances and attire varied, but they shared one thing in common, each harbored great Divine Power within.


    These before him may be the only remaining gods in the world.


    Together, they would be an unimaginably formidable force. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nine deities hovered mid-air, forming a strange Array with Jesus at the center, like two intersecting diamonds.


    The deities waved their arms, numerous Holy Artifacts flew out, each one in the Exorcism World would be a treasure people fought over, now all appearing here together.


    "What kind of Array is this?"


    With Xu Yi''s knowledge of Arrays, he couldn''t recognize what type it was, only knew it must be immensely powerful.


    This was actually stating the obvious, pillars upheld by nine great deities, countless Holy Artifacts as fuel, and Divine Artifacts in operation, it would be odd if it weren''t powerful.


    A huge light prison descended from the sky, carrying supreme might, golden light walls flickering with dense ancient Divine Marks, radiating strands of electricity.


    The light prison secured the giant hand, the awakening Chronos was forcibly quieted down.


    "Jesus must have prepared in advance!" thought Xu Yi.


    As a powerful True God, Jesus likely sensed something early on and prepared for the worst scenario.


    Gathering the gods and preparing an Array for suppression could not be accomplished in a short period of time.


    The roar of the Ancient God came again from beneath the earth, the golden light prison shook, the gods'' faces changed slightly, inputting Divine Power with all their might, barely stabilizing the Array.


    The gods'' faces were not looking good, although they were fully suppressing, they still let something "escape."


    Xu Yi could feel it too, mixed within the roar was a certain "decree," spreading far and wide in all directions.


    As seconds and minutes passed, the ground suddenly shook, not from beneath but all around. The distant sky also darkened, enormous rings of "clouds" constricting towards the center.


    Xu Yi looked out and suddenly realized, those weren''t clouds at all but an endless Weird Tide.


    The "decree''s" ability was to summon, Chronos, as the origin of Dark Creatures, naturally possessed the ability to manipulate oddities.


    "We must... we must stop them, suppressing the Ancient God still... still needs time, reinforcements will arrive soon!"


    Jesus spoke intermittently, revealing the tremendous pressure Chronos was imposing on Him, operating the Array nearly exhausted all His Mental Strength.


    Xu Yi had no choice, he was now on the same rope as Jesus, to be exact, every human being in the world was on the same chariot.


    He looked around, there were many Dark Creatures, but at this moment, in his eyes, they could be described with one phrase, "mere chickens and dogs." Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Ants may kill an elephant in great numbers, but could never bite a Dragon to death.


    Xu Yi gripped his machete, casually unleashing waves of sword energies tens of meters long, the forceful blade emitting purple-black lightning, darting swiftly.


    Where the blade light passed, Dark Creatures fell like harvested wheat.


    Under Xu Yi''s protection, not a single Dark Creature could approach the Array.


    The gods, seeing Xu Yi so ferocious, finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Joy appeared on Jesus'' face, He had brought Xu Yi to this place, not without the intention of having him serve as a guard.


    "You despicable creatures, dare to defy the great existence!"


    From deep underground came an authoritative voice, it was an unknown ancient language, also the voice of the soul, everyone present understood it.


    The ground shook violently again, before the gods could react, four streaks of light shot into the sky, outside the range of the Array, so the gods couldn''t suppress them.


    Everyone, humans and gods alike, prepared for battle, thinking the streaks of light were the "Divine Punishment" from the Ancient God, but the lights had no intention of attacking them.


    "White, red, black, grey," the four streaks of light scattered in four directions, vanishing from everyone''s view in the blink of an eye.


    Xu Yi continued to slaughter the Dark Creatures attempting to approach, and the gods also strove to suppress the Ancient God, but the mood was very heavy.


    Those four streaks of light, surely could not be "fireworks" the Ancient God set off for their enjoyment.


    The Weird Tide suddenly parted, the scene resembled a black sea cleaving open, a tall figure walked slowly from the opening path.


    Xu Yi clenched his knife handle, watching the incoming figure warily.


    He had seen the person before, not long ago, in the underground base of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization, the concerning "Nail Head."


    At this moment, the impression he gave Xu Yi became even more unfathomable.


    Xu Yi fixed his gaze on the person''s forehead, there was an additional mark, a black mark resembling a Rose Flower.


    He was very familiar with the aura of the mark, it was one of the fleeing four streaks of light, the aura from that jet-black light.

 Chapter 440 - 434 Leviathan Hell_2

    Xu Yi suddenly remembered some legends, "White, Red, Black, Grey," four rays of light, could they correspond to the legendary Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?


    The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, also known as the Four Horsemen. They are respectively the White Horse Knight¡ªPlague, the Red Horse Knight¡ªWar, the Black Horse Knight¡ªFamine, and the Grey Horse Knight¡ªDeath.


    The Four Horsemen are from the Holy Bible, but the one who is about to destroy the world now is not Jesus, nor are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse controlled by Jesus.


    Perhaps these contents initially described an Ancient God.


    "The Gate of Hell is open for you!"


    While Xu Yi remained on guard, Nail Head had already made a move, whispering an incantation while suddenly producing a box in his hand.


    The construction of the metal box looked incredibly complex, its surface adorned with patterns like "The Sun, Peeping Eye, Tower of Pain," and others.


    The moment he saw those patterns, Xu Yi suddenly knew the other''s identity¡ªhe had seen this box in an ancient tome from Aenod.


    Leviathan Rubik and Hell Monk!


    He hadn''t expected such a legendary creature to appear at this time, especially an "ultra-enhanced version" blessed by an Ancient God.


    The Rubik seemed to be a type of puzzle box, which Nail Head opened using a special technique. A terrifying suction, like a black hole, emerged making Xu Yi torn between advancing and retreating.


    The Rubik connected to another world, and the best course would naturally be to evade, a capability Xu Yi possessed.


    However, behind him was the gods'' Array, and once evaded, the Array would surely be affected. If it caused the Ancient God to escape, all would be lost.


    But if he didn''t evade, he would be sucked into another world. Without his protection here, what of the Array then?


    Just as Xu Yi hesitated, a complex pattern of "Silver Time Flower" suddenly outlined across the sky, a symbol of a Spatial Magic Array.


    A dense multitude of phantoms descended from the Array, most clad in standard priest robes, holding various weapons, pale golden Crosses, silver Judgement Hammers...


    Reinforcements had actually arrived at this time!


    Xu Yi inwardly cursed the bad timing.


    What appeared now were only phantoms, but by the time the people truly arrived, they would meet the moment when the abnormal world''s gate was wide open.


    Completely unprepared, they would undoubtedly suffer heavy losses.


    With a hardened heart, Xu Yi made a decision.


    Instead of evading, he lunged toward the Rubik.


    Nail Head was momentarily stunned by Xu Yi''s actions¡ªwasn''t this like walking into a trap?


    But he quickly figured out what Xu Yi intended. He tried to retreat violently, but it was already too late.


    Xu Yi, bearing the suction comparable to a black hole, grabbed the Rubik with one hand and Nail Head''s arm with the other.


    "If evasion is impossible, then take the Rubik and Nail Head along; it could significantly reduce the pressure on the reinforcements."


    That was Xu Yi''s thought.


    "Besides, even if trapped completely, there are still ways to escape, though the cost of that method is too great. He wouldn''t use it until the last moment."


    Nail Head, undeniably decisive, realizing he couldn''t break free, brutally tore his own arm off.


    The terrifying suction came, and Xu Yi could no longer resist. With one hand gripping the Rubik and the other holding Nail Head''s severed arm, he was swallowed by the pitch-black portal.


    ...


    "Is this the Hell that Nail Head spoke of?"


    Xu Yi looked around; this place was less like Hell and more fitting to be called a labyrinth, and furthermore, a three-dimensional one.


    Everywhere¡ªfront, back, left, right, above, below¡ªwere twisted, folding paths.


    Thinking of leaving here by conventional means was simply folly.


    "It seems the other side wants to trap him here!"


    Xu Yi didn''t sense any danger, yet his heart sank gradually.


    Though reinforcements had arrived, against seemingly endless Dark Creatures, how long could they hold?


    Moreover, the real world was already beyond mere chaos¡ªit was in utter turmoil, and he was very worried about Maria and others.


    "Fortunately, I held back." Xu Yi tightened his grip on the Rubik.


    Before being devoured by the Rubik, he had anticipated such a situation; seizing the Rubik was not only to deprive Nail Head of this treasure but also to facilitate escape.


    The Rubik was the key to another world and also the coordinate point, akin to a lighthouse at sea.


    With the Rubik, he could summon Silent Hill to descend. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When the two worlds collided, creating spatial fissures, he might have a chance to leave.


    Summoning Silent Hill required concentration and was time-consuming.


    Just as he was preparing to summon as quickly as possible, footsteps and familiar sounds echoed in the labyrinth.


    "This place is called Leviathan Hell, not Hell in the traditional sense, but accurately, a super-dimensional space named Mysterious Realm."


    Xu Yi looked towards the voice, stunned¡ªhe had unexpectedly encountered an acquaintance here.


    "West?"


    West looked the same as before, wearing black-rimmed glasses, well-mannered, but Xu Yi felt his heart sink as he saw something on his forehead.


    There was a mark there, a grey mark.


    Although the pattern was entirely different from Nail Head''s, without a doubt, it was a powerhouse granted by Ancient God. Xu Yi sensed a familiar aura from it.


    The Grey Knight of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!


    Xu Yi could never have anticipated that West would betray.


    By now, the very purpose of creating the Ring of Destruction had surfaced completely.


    The sleeping Ancient Gods were like a guillotine hanging over the world, ready to drop at any moment.


    The creators of the Ring of Destruction realized this situation; unwilling to live in such fear, they tried to change.

 Chapter 441 - 434 Leviathan Hell_3

    In the end, they found a method, one that could be called madness.


    It was to trigger the apocalypse ahead of time.


    The reason Ancient God Chronos could not be killed was that He was the Source of Darkness, and most Dark Creatures in the world were born because of Chronos.


    As long as there were enough Dark Creatures, even if severely wounded, Chronos would still be able to recover.


    During the era of countless gods, so many gods fell to put Chronos to sleep.


    But if the apocalypse was triggered in advance, eradicating the vast majority of Dark Creatures in the world, it might be possible to destroy Chronos forever.


    West, as a high-ranking member in the Ring of Destruction, had now actually become a lackey for Chronos?


    "The Ancient God is awakening too quickly, and too unexpectedly, the world will face a great purge. To survive, we must side with the Ancient God. You''re a smart man, and you should know this is the wise choice."


    West, as if reading Xu Yi''s doubts, explained on his own.


    Xu Yi said nothing. He didn''t want to accuse anyone, he just wanted to know if the other party could withstand the knife in his hand.


    He was about to make a move, when a bone-chilling cold surged from the other end of the labyrinth, enveloping the blood-soaked shadow that approached step by step.


    Dressed in blood-stained work garments, holding a short-handled machete, and wearing a hockey mask on his head.


    The youth from Crystal Lake, Jason.


    Compared to the first time he saw him, Jason was now undoubtedly much more powerful, his twisted and insane aura was truly chilling.


    "Wasn''t he trapped in the Gate of Truth?"


    Xu Yi secretly marveled, never expecting the Gate of Truth couldn''t grind him down, but instead let him escape.


    On Jason''s hockey mask was a also mark, a red thorn mark.


    The Red Knight, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.


    "He''s really taking him seriously!" Xu Yi thought ruefully.


    He was also puzzled; his threat was really so great that they had deployed three Apocalypse Knights to deal with him.


    His gaze fell unconsciously on the Entries panel, where the "Master of Time" entry flickered with a faint light.


    Jason suddenly accelerated, and as he charged towards Xu Yi, his body began to undergo a horrifying mutation; his already exaggerated muscles swelled again, looking like a raging dragon.


    Jason''s abdomen split open, spider-like compound eyes opened, each little eye moving frenziedly.


    Xu Yi felt an increase in pressure, completely unable to concentrate and summon Silent Hill.


    ...


    Boston, Notting Hill.


    The magenta spatial array pattern illuminated at the mountain top, and the rescue team, seeing the familiar ground, all breathed a sigh of relief.


    They had finally returned from Hell.


    Lisa looked down at Xu Xiaoyu in her arms; perhaps too weary, Xu Xiaoyu was soundly asleep.


    Seeing her daughter''s small face, a smile appeared on Lisa''s face, but she quickly sensed that something was wrong.


    Was her daughter sleeping too soundly?


    One would know that spatial traversal comes with intense mental shocks, and even if very sleepy, one should have woken up.


    She touched Xu Xiaoyu''s forehead and was immediately startled.


    Xu Xiaoyu''s forehead was burning hot, but eerily, her cheeks were still pale and clean, not like a common cold fever.


    "Xiaoyu! Xiaoyu!" Lisa called out anxiously, but no matter how she called, there was no response from Xu Xiaoyu.


    Even worse, Xu Xiaoyu''s body was also extraordinarily hot, as if every inch of flesh and blood was burning, sweat barely emerging before being evaporated by an invisible heat wave.


    Lisa felt like she was holding a scorching fireball, but she still held on tightly to Xu Xiaoyu, afraid that if she let go, Xu Xiaoyu would be gone, without considering that she might get burned.


    "There''s no need to panic!"


    Yukeni was also among the rescue team, and as an experienced exorcist, she seemed to have seen this condition before.


    She came over to examine Xu Xiaoyu closely.


    She heard strong heartbeats coming from Xu Xiaoyu''s chest, at the same time feeling a strange power.


    With every heartbeat, the power inside Xu Xiaoyu grew stronger, like a volcano amassing power for an imminent eruption.


    Yukeni immediately had a guess, she touched Xu Xiaoyu''s forehead with the Golden Scepter, and the light of the checking Array shone, her face revealing a smile.


    "Don''t worry, it''s bloodline awakening!"


    Yukeni exclaimed softly, "To awaken at such a young age, and with such a strong power, her future is boundless."


    Suddenly, alarm sirens tore the tranquil sky, urgent and piercing, like needles stabbing into one''s eardrums.


    "What happened?"


    The rescue team was taken aback, looking towards the edge of the city.


    Boston City was not by the sea, but now a massive wall of water was rising at the city''s edge. It was rolling and roaring, like an uncontrollable behemoth, ready to devour everything. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The city buildings seemed so fragile in front of the giant wave, instantly toppled, debris swirling with the raging waves.


    Vehicles, trees, screaming people running all disappeared in a blink of an eye, the city''s outline gradually blurring.


    It was like a scene from mythology, God creating a flood to end the world.


    The creator of the flood was clearly not Jesus, but the dark Source, Ancient God Chronos. Although still trapped in the Abyss of the Underworld, His power was already seeping out, beginning to affect the whole world.


    "Quick! Raise the boat up!"


    Maria saw the surging flood approaching, her face changing slightly, called out urgently.

 Chapter 442 - 434 Leviathan Hell_4

    The tranquil Notting Hill suddenly began to shake, fissures opening up at its base. Accompanied by the roar of an engine, the entire Notting Hill lifted from the ground.


    Rock and soil were pushed aside by invisible hands, revealing a massive ship clad in silvery metallic armor, carved with intricate and ancient array patterns, the arrays flickering with the glow of rubies.


    Even before the global sea level had risen, the people of Notting Hill harbored a vague premonition of dread.


    So using the Eight Demons as a core, along with alchemy technology, various arrays, and modern technology, they transformed Notting Hill into a ship.


    This ship, called "Noting," became their Noah''s Ark amidst the floodwaters.


    One by one, colossal wheels rose from the sea. In fact, the preparation of "Noah''s Ark" wasn''t just on their part¡ªany power with a bit of strength was secretly preparing these life-saving behemoths.


    The people of Noting had not yet settled their spirits, completely taken by surprise that Boston, such a bustling city, turned into a vast ocean in a matter of minutes.


    The "Noah''s Arks" gradually gathered, and the people who escaped death stood on the decks, staring blankly at the boundless sea.


    At this moment, the grand ringing of a bell resounded in everyone''s minds, and then they saw a vision.


    A grotesque giant hand rose from the ground, while a host of gods led by Jesus set an array to trap it; relentless Dark Creatures surged forth, the priests guarding the array in grave danger.


    At the same time, a torrent of information rushed into everyone''s minds, and they suddenly understood the whole story.


    They had no doubt as to its veracity; after all, the facts were laid out before their eyes¡ªfrom the riot of Dark Creatures to the flooding of the city.


    Most importantly, they all felt an innate, revulsive presence that made them sick to their core.


    "What do we do now, head to the Land of the Apocalypse?"


    The name "Land of the Apocalypse" came from the information in their minds.


    Everyone''s gaze fell on Xu Changrong. Although in Notting Hill, Xu Changrong was not the strongest.


    But his special status, coupled with his wise handling of affairs, meant he made many critical decisions.


    "Of course we will go to the Land of the Apocalypse," declared Xu Changrong decisively, "but before that, we will head to the Arctic Ocean."


    ...


    Xu Yi ran wildly through the labyrinth when he suddenly halted, facing a cold, hard white wall.


    He had once again reached a dead end.


    A terrifying figure chased after him from behind, Jason''s pupils burning with a cold flame.


    The moment he caught up with Xu Yi, he pounced without a word.


    His machete swung, each slash like the Grim Reaper''s scythe, suffocating with its oppressive force.


    Xu Yi counteracted with his sword. Their clashes shattered the very space around them.


    "How many times has Jason died within the Gate of Truth? He''s evolved to such an extent!" Xu Yi''s heart continually sank.


    Jason possessed the golden "Entries of Infinite Evolution (pseudo)," getting stronger with each death.


    To others, the Gate of Truth was a dead end, but for Jason, it was a place of leveling up.


    Probably the Gate of Truth, too, seeing Jason grow increasingly powerful, didn''t want to waste resources killing him and thus released him.


    Now, with the power of the Ancient God Mark as a buff, Jason''s combat force was off the charts.


    But what troubled Xu Yi even more was West, who was almost invisible on the frontline battlefield.


    In Xu Yi''s view, West''s form flickered in and out of view like ripples on water, ghost-like.


    West rarely made a move, but each strike was exceedingly lethal.


    Compared to Jason, who was like a frenzied beast, West was like a venomous snake hidden in the bed, even more chilling.


    Xu Yi found a weak point in Jason''s onslaught. His power as a Subgod exploded, ready to slay Jason with one swing of his sword.


    Just at this moment, an elusive disturbance descended, silent yet overwhelming. Xu Yi''s swinging strength was reduced to half.


    The Mysterious Realm called "Leviathan Hell" wasn''t just a simple labyrinth, it was like an invisible undercurrent, constantly impacting the fight. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Caught in a triple assault, Xu Yi was like prey trapped in a snare, struggling in the throes of death.


    Under such intense combat, Xu Yi was simply overwhelmed, not to mention summoning Silent Hill to leave this cursed place.


    Jason''s spider eyes on his abdomen suddenly shot a piercing black light, an attack he hadn''t used before. Xu Yi, caught off guard, was hit squarely.


    His body became petrified, unable to move.


    Such an opportune moment, of course, West would not miss. He suddenly appeared behind Xu Yi, his serpent-shaped dagger piercing Xu Yi''s heart in an instant.


    Overcome by an infinite sense of weakness, Xu Yi had just regained mobility when Jason closed in. Xu Yi''s head was severed with a single blow.


    ["Do you wish to use a ''Resurrection Coin'' immediately?"]


    Xu Yi chose "No."


    Sitting cross-legged in the silent Resurrection Space, Xu Yi slightly closed his eyes.


    This was already the third entrance into the Resurrection Space today, meaning he could only resurrect two more times at most.


    Facing Jason and West, both enhanced by the Ancient God, and the strange Leviathan Hell, he really didn''t have a good solution.


    But he did not feel despair; his gaze landed on the array panel.


    The "Entries of the Master of Time" flickered faintly.


    Xu Yi had just noticed this when he died and came to the Resurrection Space; he could comprehend the laws of time, speeding up the acquisition of "Entries of the Master of Time."


    "The understanding of the Divine Authority of the Master of Time must come from the Resurrection Coin!"


    At this moment, Xu Yi was eager for the acquisition of the "Entries of the Master of Time." He had a premonition that this could be the key to a turnaround.


    There was very little time to remain in the Resurrection Space, and he could not waste it.


    He immediately cast aside all distractions and immersed himself in contemplation. Traces of the Power of Time enveloped his body, the aura of the years ethereal and vast.


    On the array panel, the light of the "Entries of the Master of Time" grew brighter.


    The unlock was very close now.

 Chapter 443 - 435: Acquisition of Divine Authority

    Arctic Ocean, all that met the eye was the churning seawater.


    Blue flames suddenly appeared above the ocean, and then outlined a brilliant Array.


    Accompanied by a deafening roar, the silvery bow of the ship emerged from the Array, followed gradually by the hull to the stern.


    Noting reached the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization''s North Pole Branch.


    It was a survival ship that everyone had invested countless resources into building, and of course, it wasn''t meant to sail only on the surface of the sea.


    It was engraved with several high-tier Arrays, including the space-traversing Array, which, of course, required a spatial anchor, which Xu Changrong and others had already arranged here.


    The massive sea base ebbed and flowed in the water, at times surfacing, at others being driven into the sea.


    The once thriving base of the Ancient God Sacrificial Organization was now abandoned and desolate.


    Noting delved deeper into the ocean, where the only light was from the searchlights amid the endless darkness.


    The mounting pressure of the deep sea was all repelled by Noting''s Array as they finally reached the seafloor.


    Noting''s movement stirred the water, sweeping away a corner of the sand and silt on the ocean floor to reveal a pile of bones underneath.


    With a leg bone diameter exceeding three meters, they clearly weren''t the skeletons of humans.


    These Divine Remains, buried deep under the sea for who knows how many years, were still extremely sturdy. But now, washed by the water, they disintegrated into ash because their Divinity had been devoured.


    Beneath Noting, its hull split open, and a massive metal arm descended. The rotating drill bit easily pierced through the seabed''s rock layer, tunneling downwards.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, the drill bit suddenly stopped, unable to advance any further.


    "We''ve found it!"


    Xu Changrong, who was operating the metal arm, was delighted. He immediately switched modes¡ªthe drill bit retracted into the arm, which switched to a claw that tightly grasped the Golden Coffin in the mud.


    The Golden Coffin wasn''t supposed to be retrieved for a while, but given the circumstances, they had to move ahead of schedule.


    The intricately inscribed Golden Coffin slowly ascended. Xu Changrong breathed a sigh of relief, but the next second, his heart skipped a beat.


    The sea floor, previously illuminated only by the searchlight, was now lit with points of red light¡ªthese were the eyes of the Dark Creatures, radiating bloodthirsty Greed.


    "Why hasn''t the detection Array worked?"


    Xu Changrong was stunned for a moment until he realized that the Divine Remains might have caused a chaotic disruption of the magnetic field here, affecting the operation of some of Noting''s Arrays.


    "Hurry up! Even faster!"


    Xu Changrong kept pressing the retrieval button. Doing so wouldn''t speed up the metal arm''s retraction. It was just an subconscious action driven by his inner urgency.


    Dark Creatures had already pounced. Some rushed towards Noting, while others swarmed towards the Golden Coffin.


    Should they lose the Golden Coffin in such dire straits, it would be difficult to reclaim it.


    After all, it contained the body of Xu Yi!


    A blinding bolt of lightning suddenly struck the Golden Coffin, enshrouded within the light was Ailan, wielding dual blades, standing on the deck. Noticing something amiss, she had immediately rushed down.


    The lightning snake-like blade light danced wildly in the water, preventing the swarming Dark Creatures from approaching the Golden Coffin by even an inch.


    Under Ailan''s protection, the Golden Coffin was smoothly brought inside Noting, but they were now completely surrounded by Dark Creatures.


    They attempted to break through several times, only to be quickly engulfed by the waves of Dark Creatures.


    "No good! If this continues, we''ll be trapped here!"


    People on Noting gathered on the deck, stares of terror peeking through as they looked at the impenetrable Dark Creatures.


    In the exchange of glances, they silently reached a consensus: someone had to cover the retreat.


    However, with so many Dark Creatures gathered here, the fate of any rear guard was unquestionable¡ªeven for the strongest Ailan. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the crew hesitated, a silver light lit up in the water, within which stood an upright figure.


    "Cass?" They were too astonished to speak; they had never seen Cass like this.


    Cass stood erect, facing the surging Weird Tide, his pupils showing no trace of fear.


    He was holding the Recurve Knife "Lust."


    During his time in Hell, Xu Yi had summoned the knife away, but after killing Valak and the dissolution of Ultimate Weapon, it returned to its respective host proxies.


    "I''m sorry I can''t say this in person. Please convey to Mr. Xu Yi that I''ve always considered him a mentor and thank him for saving the surviving members of the Fein family."


    Cass'' voice rang out on Noting.


    He was using a soul transmission, allowing everyone to hear him, even through layers of water.


    The Dark Creatures, overwhelming as the waves, had already surged over. Cass did not have time to speak further; he confronted the Dark Creatures head-on.


    No one on Noting said a word to dissuade him. It wasn''t that they were cold-blooded or overly selfish, but they knew it was beyond retrieval.


    Cass'' skin cracked open inch by inch, emitting a silver radiance rather than blood.


    The Fein family had garnered such a grand reputation in the Exorcism World due to their unique bloodline, a pity there hadn''t been an awakening in a long time.


    The recently departed family head could not have imagined that the Silver Blood of the Fein family would awaken in the "least expected" Cass.


    At this moment, Cass had ignited his internal "Silver Blood," with power surging like a tsunami from within, and the radiance around him grew ever more dazzling.


    The light spun, forming a silver wheel that crushed everything in its wake like a meat grinder. The sea water evaporated, and the Dark Creatures were reduced to fine blood foam, scattering in an instant.

 Chapter 444 - 435: Acquisition of Divine Authority_2

    With this overwhelming power, Cass managed to carve a path through the Weird Tide, allowing the Noting to break through the encirclement.


    However, it was only temporary; the Noting would soon be surrounded again.


    Cass stood in front of the Noting, the light bursting from his body forming a silver barrier that forcibly blocked the Weird Tide.


    He suddenly threw the "Lust" recurve knife in his hand, which spun towards the Noting and was caught by Lisa.


    Cass looked back at the Noting one last time, seeing the members of the Fein family on deck and showing a faint smile.


    He quickly withdrew his gaze and glared at the Weird Tide close at hand, issuing an all-out roar, "Silver Blood Fein, glory forever!"


    Blinding light flared up, as if a silver sun had risen from the seabed, and the approaching Weird Tide dissipated like snow. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seizing the opportunity, the Noting rapidly accelerated and escaped from the Weird Tide.


    There was not a trace of joy among the people on the Noting; they all looked towards the deep sea, hoping to see a figure leap up from there and laugh, saying it was just one of his pranks.


    But there was nothing; the silver light completely extinguished in the pitch-black seabed.


    ...


    In the Resurrection Space, Xu Yi sighed repeatedly, he had died again.


    After Jason and West received the blessings of the Ancient God, their power became terrifying, especially in the Weird Tide of Leviathan Hell, he was no match at all.


    He had already used four Resurrection Coins, meaning he had only one resurrection left for today.


    Despite being more anxious than ants on a hot pan, he had to calm down.


    Time in the Resurrection Space was extremely limited; he needed to make haste.


    He composed himself and his spiritual power spread out like ripples.


    After several previous attempts, he had some clues.


    He continuously adjusted his soul''s frequency, and the moment it synchronized with the Resurrection Space, his soul shuddered suddenly.


    The world before him darkened, and after several seconds, his perception slowly returned.


    The world had transformed, golden shards floating in the space, each piece inscribed with mysterious, tadpole-like runes.


    "The Eye of the Soul has finally opened!"


    Xu Yi took a deep breath; only by opening the Eye of the Soul could he penetrate layers of fog and interpret the Time Law here.


    But he quickly frowned, the complexity of the Time Law exceeded his expectations, and according to the normal interpretation speed, he didn''t have enough time.


    He felt like he had entered a treasury but was agonizing over lacking the key to open it.


    At that moment, a "golden snake" emerged from the center of his forehead and danced in the air¡ªbut it was not a snake but a chain.


    This was the chain Xu Yi saw when he was perceiving Divine Authority, in the realm "both the beginning and the end."


    As soon as the golden chain appeared, it attracted the floating shards like a magnet.


    The other end of the chain was connected to the top of Xu Yi''s skull; the moment those shards were attracted, thousands of runes flowed down the chain into Xu Yi''s sea of spirit.


    The golden runes, like shimmering fish swimming in the ocean, stirred up fierce winds and waves wherever they went.


    Xu Yi''s soul trembled wildly; he suddenly understood those texts and glimpsed the mysteries of time.


    Concurrently, the "Master of Time" entry on the panel began to come alive, like rice paper smeared with thick paint.


    After a long time, Xu Yi suddenly opened his eyes, thousands of runes swimming in his golden pupils.


    [Divine Authority - Master of Time (Purple Epic): 0/100


    Description: Hold dominion over the scepter of time, controlling the river of time with transcendent power.


    Ability: Time Balance (Unlocked)


    Consume physical strength, life, lifespan, body, soul, Resurrection Coins, etc., to manipulate time. (Including but not limited to Time Standstill, Time Reverse, Time Acceleration)


    Unlock method: Burn entries, interpret the rules of time.]


    Xu Yi could barely contain the excitement in his heart; the long-coveted Purple Epic entry was finally in his grasp.


    Though there was only one ability, its effect was absolutely dominant!


    Once the entry appeared, just given time, he could fill it up.


    But thinking of his current predicament, it was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on his face, snapping him back to reality.


    The Ancient Gods were awakening; the apocalypse was imminent, and what he lacked most now was time.


    And there was an even worse problem.


    He was now a caged beast; he had hoped that obtaining the entry for the Master of Time would allow him to turn the tides against the odds.


    But now, it didn''t seem like this entry could be of any immediate help.


    He had hunted many Dark Creatures in the past, accumulating numerous useless entries.


    He had sacrificed over thirty "white-green" level entries, but the Master of Time entry had only pitifully increased from zero to "0.1/100".


    "To max out this Master of Time, the low-level entries I need might require days!"


    The only good news was that the sacrifice did not need full-value entries; Blank Entries could also be used, and the higher the level of the entries, the better the effect.


    As the Resurrection Space gradually dissipated, Xu Yi awakened, returning to five minutes earlier.


    The dilemma before him remained the same¡ªhow to escape Leviathan Hell. As for counter-killing Jason and West, he was not that naive yet.


    Actually, he had another method; that was to abandon the body of the Triangle Head. The power generated by self-detonation was enough to break the shackles of Leviathan Hell, allowing the Remnant Souls to return to Silent Hill.


    But the loss would be great.


    This body not only merged with the Dark Crystal but also held most of the strange soul''s power.

 Chapter 445 - 435: Acquisition of Divine Authority_3

    Once he gave up, his strength would be greatly diminished.


    Xu Yi had never used this method, not only because he wanted to obtain the "Master of Time" entries, but also because this was a very important reason.


    "We still have to try summoning Silent Hill!" After thinking it over, he decided to use the old method and wait until it was absolutely necessary, then self-detonate to escape.


    Thinking of this, Xu Yi felt somewhat frantic.


    Because of the isolation caused by Leviathan Hell, summoning Silent Hill was like trying to download a 4k movie in an area with a weak signal, with the progress bar crawling slower than a turtle.


    He didn''t have time to think too much, as Jason and West''s attacks had already arrived, and he could only drag it out.


    Time passed, and Xu Yi struggled desperately.


    He completely changed his tactics to guerrilla warfare, simply needing to stall until Silent Hill arrived to be freed.


    But ideal is substantial, reality is skeletal.


    He had lasted almost two hours, but the progress was just barely over half.


    This was the longest he had ever held out, thanks to his prior experience; having died so many times, he was naturally familiar with the methods of Jason and West.


    "How much longer can I hold on?"


    Xu Yi felt a bit anxious because West had sensed his intentions and began changing his strategy, no longer attacking from the shadows but directly joining forces with Jason to strike.


    His pressure skyrocketed.


    Just as he was struggling to cope, a sudden suction force acted upon him.


    Xu Yi was shocked, thinking it was one of West''s underhanded moves, something he had never seen before.


    But he quickly realized something was amiss; the suction force had no attacking intent, it seemed rather to be pulling him out of Leviathan Hell.


    It was like a kite with a broken string, suddenly tied back to its line.


    Xu Yi''s eyes brightened, how could he miss such a good opportunity?


    He took out the Leviathan Rubik and furiously injected it with Sub-Divine Power.


    This was a discovery from before; once the Rubik experienced an energy counterflow, it would destabilize the space.


    Twisted black electric arcs emanated from the Rubik, leaving it undamaged, but the surrounding space began to warp, creating a "Rat Hole" in the solid maze.


    The "Rat Hole" alone couldn''t allow Xu Yi to leave, and it appeared for only an instant.


    But now it was different; even across the Leviathan Hell, the pulling force was so intense that now with a breach, the arriving suction force was like a hurricane.


    Jason and West realized something was wrong and tried to intervene, but it was already too late.


    The "hurricane" forcibly widened the "Rat Hole," engulfing the below Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi didn''t resist, letting the hurricane sweep him away.


    Although he didn''t know where this suction force came from, as long as it could get him out of here, it was a great boon.


    Jason and West''s terrifying attacks came down, but unfortunately for them, Xu Yi had already made a swift exit.


    West stood in place with an indecisive expression.


    With the Rubik now in the hands of the other party, it meant that it was no longer possible to use the same trick to trap Xu Yi again.


    ...


    Xu Changrong gazed out, the colossal hand of the Ancient God seemed to crush the firmament, and the Arrays set by the gods shone as bright as the Sunrise.


    After they had salvaged the Golden Coffin from the Arctic Ocean, they initiated the Noting''s Spatial Jump Array and arrived at what was known as the Land of the Apocalypse.


    The Noting didn''t dare to get too close, only able to stop on the periphery. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Centered around the Ancient God''s Hand, waves of Dark Creatures surged incessantly, their stench so strong it was nauseating. The guard squad, led by a priest, struggled to hold them off, fortunate to have continuous reinforcements arriving.


    People around the world knew that this was a critical moment of life and death; no one could survive on their own.


    Together, they managed for the moment to hold back the Dark Creatures, but the encirclement kept shrinking, looking perilously close to collapse.


    Xu Changrong actually wanted to join the fight as well; after decades of living, facing an imminent disaster, he quite enjoyed the thrill of fighting to the brink.


    If humanity won, the world would be rebuilt; if they lost, there wasn''t much to say ¨C it would just mean death.


    The reason he was still on the Noting was that there were more important things to do. He turned to Ed beside him and asked in a deep voice, "Are you ready?"


    Ed stood on the deck casually, showing no sign of his previous severe injuries.


    Jesus was credible, not only healing Ed''s soul wound but also restoring his body.


    Ed didn''t answer immediately; he checked the Array once more, fiddled with the Golden Coffin to ensure everything was fine, and then nodded, "Let''s start!"


    The Array''s light brightened, and the body inside the Golden Coffin emitted a strong suction force.


    Ed had come looking for help shortly after the Noting landed, saying that Xu Yi''s soul was trapped in a Different Space, and they needed to quickly rescue him, leading to the current situation.


    A body has a strong attraction to a soul; they used the Array to further amplify this power.


    Not long after the Array was activated, huge waves crashed over them, the cabin in the forest was demolished by the sea in the blink of an eye, and even the Land of the Apocalypse, situated at a high elevation, was flooded.


    The Ancient God''s arm reached out from the sea, gods floated in the air, and an endless stream of Dark Creatures bobbed in the water, resembling a black current.


    In Xu Changrong''s peripheral vision, a white dot suddenly appeared... in this realm dominated by black, a splash of white was extremely conspicuous.


    The "white dot" made the Dark Creatures scatter wherever it went, afraid of being affected.


    Xu Changrong''s heart skipped a beat because that white dot was heading straight for them!

 Chapter 446 - 435: Acquisition of Divine Authority_4

    Other dark creatures moved out of the way, possibly because of something even more sinister.


    At the same time, Xu Changrong was a bit puzzled.


    The Noting had activated its camouflage array. It might not have been detected, or rescuing the Ancient God might have been a higher priority, and the other dark creatures did not bother with them.


    But that white dot was heading straight toward them, as if it were targeting them.


    The white dot drew closer and Xu Changrong gradually made out a moving white island, with black algae undulating on it like a swarm of snakes.


    The island drew ever closer and Xu Changrong''s pupils suddenly dilated; it was not an island at all, but a person, a towering female Giant.


    The Giant''s white long dress almost covered the entire island, and what wriggled on the island was not black algae, but her black long hair.


    At this moment, the female Giant stood up, and through her black hair, a white mark on her forehead was faintly visible.


    If Xu Yi were here, he would certainly recognize her identity¡ªit was Kayako.


    She had not only transformed Japan Island into a spectral realm but had also become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse of the Ancient God.


    Kayako''s massive body began to shake as if a cow was shaking off fleas. Those "fleas" were miniature versions of Kayako, only the size of ordinary people. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They piled up, forming a massive human wall, and in an instant, surrounded the Noting.


    Countless Kayakos opened their eyes, their crimson pupils focusing on the Noting. The ship''s concealment array instantly failed.


    The terrifying grudge seemed to materialize, rushing toward the Noting; everyone on board felt excruciating brain pain, as if countless insects were crawling in their brain matter.


    Xu Changrong struggled to resist and his gaze inadvertently caught Ailent on the deck.


    Ailent, as Xu Yi''s earliest follower, though he had access to unimaginable resources, his talent was indeed poor and his abilities limited, always acting as a steward.


    Under the terrifying mental assault, Ailent fell to the ground in agony, clutching his head and rolling over and over.


    After a moment, he suddenly stopped, jerked his head up, and his pupils turned into turbid ink-black.


    Ailent crawled on the ground, his limbs twisting oddly but moving fast as he lunged toward the nearest person.


    Xu Changrong wanted to stop him but, having to resist the grudge attack himself, he could only watch helplessly.


    Fortunately, at that moment, Maria sprung from the side and grabbed a hold of Ailent.


    Maria, with her unique dual soul body and strong spiritual power, barely resisted the grudge attack.


    Xu Changrong''s anxiety did not abate, as there were more vulnerable people on the ship than just Ailent.


    Worse still, the massive Kayako was getting closer.


    If the advance force was this troublesome, how terrifying would the main body be?


    Xu Changrong grew increasingly anxious, then suddenly his eyes fell on Ed standing beside him, and he paused.


    He managed to resist the grudge attack, and Ed certainly could as well.


    However, Ed had no intention of stopping the chaos on the ship; instead, he was frantically operating the Array.


    Suddenly, a blue storm whipped up above the Golden Coffin, the fierce wind tearing open the space, and a black spatial crack expanded.


    But Xu Changrong soon had no time to care about that, as the great Kayako, dragging Japan Island, approached. It seemed slow, but its speed was extremely fast, and it crashed into the Noting.


    The inscription array on the Noting flashed brightly, trying to maintain stability.


    But beneath the massive Kayako''s skirt surged numerous blood-red bugs; they swarmed toward the Array, spitting black tainted blood from their mouths.


    The defensive Array was contaminated, flickered a few times, and then completely failed.


    Xu Changrong grabbed the railing on the deck, steadying himself when suddenly, the sky darkened¡ªsome colossal object was blocking the sunlight.


    He jerked his head up, his body uncontrollably trembling.


    The giant Kayako''s resentful pupils stared at the Noting, slowly bending down its torso, its giant mouth oozing black blood, opening wider and wider until it was larger than even the Noting.


    Just as the Noting was about to be swallowed whole, suddenly the Golden Coffin on the deck emitted a piercing metallic scraping sound, and the locked coffin lid was forcibly pushed open, with purple-gold electricity spraying out from within.


    The light pierced the heavens, like a sharp scalpel, slicing up from under the giant Kayako''s chin, bisecting its entire head.


    "Finally emerged!"


    A long sigh came from within the light, which gradually dimmed, replaced by a familiar figure suspended in the sky.


    "Xu Yi!" Xu Changrong shouted in surprise as he saw the figure in the sky.


    Xu Yi smiled and nodded at his father, scanning quickly around the Golden Coffin, quickly grasping the situation.


    His ''elders'' had helped a lot, bringing the body buried in the Arctic Ocean here. Ed was indeed a good brother, barely healed from a severe soul injury, he was urgently setting up the Array to save him.


    If not for these people, he would still be trapped in that ghastly place.


    As long as he was out of Leviathan Hell, even the so-called Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse would find it hard to kill him.


    Besides, he was not the same person he once was!


    [Condition detected, proceed with entry fusion?]


    The system voice sounded, and Xu Yi silently chose to agree.


    "Dark Power" and "Soul Master" entries were successively loaded into the Fusion Furnace, followed by "Divine Body"¡ªin a moment, the Fusion Furnace erupted with an extremely dazzling purple light.


    [Congratulations on obtaining the entry "Heavenly Demon God" (Purple ¨C Common)!]

 Chapter 447 - 435: Acquisition of Divine Authority_5

    "Could it actually be something other than an Outer Heaven Demon?"


    Xu Yi looked at the panel information, taken aback for a moment, but he quickly realized that this must be because of the "Soul Master."


    After all, the title he had obtained was a level higher than the "Outer Heaven Demon," so the integrated entry was naturally stronger.


    What Xu Yi didn''t expect was that even the "Heavenly Demon God," which he had obtained through great difficulty, was just a "Common Purple" level entry.


    "It seems I have slightly underestimated the preciousness of the Master of Time!" Xu Yi thought to himself.


    The "Master of Time" entry was probably not as simple as just a Sudden Insight of Divine Authority; its appearance likely had deeper reasons.


    Xu Yi watched as the "Heavenly Demon God" entry''s progress soared; in the blink of an eye, it had skyrocketed to 52% and continued to climb.


    Unfortunately, the progress of the entry did not reach full value, stopping at 92%.


    "What a pity!"


    Xu Yi sighed, glancing at the Golden Coffin where a small amount of Bone Powder and golden stone fragments remained.


    These items all came from the Ghost Samurai.


    The so-called Divine Body was about stealing the power of Divine Remains and integrating the body with the Ghost Samurai.


    But now with the Golden Coffin dug out prematurely, the integration of the body and the Ghost Samurai was incomplete, naturally resulting in an incomplete Divine Body.


    In such a case, the entry naturally couldn''t reach full value.


    "But it''s enough for now!" Xu Yi checked the newly acquired entry.


    [Heavenly Demon God: 92/100 (Common Purple)


    Ability-1: Malign Divine Power (Unlocked)


    Ability-2: Soul Lord''s Domain (Unlocked)


    Ability-3: Demon God Body (Unlocked)


    Ability-4: Heavenly Demon True Understanding (Locked)]


    Apart from "Heavenly Demon True Understanding," the other abilities were already unlocked.


    Xu Yi clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body; he felt incredibly strong.


    Kayako''s severed head fell, but her stomach suddenly bulged out, resembling that of a pregnant woman ready for childbirth.


    The next second, her stomach burst open, and a huge placenta nested with sticky black blood squeezed out, densely covered with countless pupils. The myriad of blood-red pupils rotating simultaneously was utterly hair-raising.


    The placenta dispersed, and a myriad of umbilical cords surged towards Xu Yi, enveloping him in the blink of an eye.


    Xu Yi sensed that he had been submerged in a "sewer" rife with bloodthirst, resentment, curses... it was as if the filthiest things in the world were all concentrated in one place. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If this had happened before, he would have found it very tricky, but things were different now.


    Xu Yi extended his hand, and dark purple lightning began to glow in his palm.


    Wherever the lightning touched, whether physical umbilical cords or intangible resentments and curses, they were all turned to ash and smoke.


    This was the power of Malign Divine Power.


    After becoming a Heavenly Demon God, the power of a Demigod evolved into Malign Divine Power, a force whose effects were simple and crude: one power to break all spells!


    Xu Yi held out his palm, and the lightning of Malign Divine Power condensed into a long blade.


    He swung the blade wildly, the qi of the blade that could break all spells crisscrossed and Kayako''s massive body fell apart.


    The people aboard the Noting all let out a collective sigh of relief; although the apocalypse had arrived, seeing Xu Yi appear gave them an inexplicable sense of security.


    As Xu Yi swung his blade, the wall of heads enclosing the Noting crumbled; every single head let out a piercing scream, faces painted with terror, and those who had been possessed on the ship gradually came to their senses.


    Ed felt the oppressive aura unintentionally emanating from Xu Yi and was secretly shocked.


    The oppressiveness reminded him of Jesus.


    Could it be that Xu Yi had become so powerful that he was comparable to the True God Jesus? Ed wondered.


    Of course, Xu Yi hadn''t reached the level of Jesus, but he was not far off.


    He didn''t have time to pay attention to Ed; he was trying to figure out how to kill Kayako, who was proving to be incredibly troublesome.


    He had sliced up her body, destroyed the infested Japan Island, but had still not managed to kill her; the system panel had yet to show any entry devouring prompts.


    Xu Yi looked around, a bolt of electricity flashed in his pupils; he activated the Soul''s Eye, then saw white mycelium moving at the bottom of the sea.


    The mycelium was incredibly fast, vanishing from Xu Yi''s view in the blink of an eye. Strangest of all, with his current abilities, he couldn''t track it.


    Could that be the true form of the curse?


    Xu Yi had never seen such a bizarre thing.


    But at this time, he had no time to worry about Kayako; his gaze turned to the main battlefield.


    ...


    Above the main battlefield.


    Rein suddenly twisted his head as a deadly chain whisked past his ear; if he had been a second slower, his head would have been pierced through.


    He took a deep breath, suppressing the trepidation in his heart, and watched over Nail Head, who was being besieged, with utmost vigilance.


    As a legendary exorcist with the title Monk and the head of Isotope Institute, his exorcism experience was rich, yet he had never encountered such a troublesome entity.


    Even the Evil God he faced in Silent Hill was nothing compared to this.


    "Watch out!" Rein suddenly bellowed, throwing his Storm Double Axe which swept out in the air in a chilling arc towards a man wrapped in a white turban.


    Rein recognized him as the exorcism master known as "Snake Tamer" from India.


    "Snake Tamer" was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized the danger and his face turned pale with fear; with a quick dodge forward and tilt of his head, he threw himself forward.


    The next second, Nail Head, dressed in a monk''s attire, appeared behind him, swinging the Soul Hooking Scythe, nearly severing the Snake Tamer''s head.


    "Snake Tamer" narrowly escaped; despite being shaken, as an experienced exorcist, he immediately launched a counterattack.


    A burst of colorful mist exploded from his hand, instantly transforming into a colossal rainbow serpent that coiled around Nail Head.


    The exorcists present were experts from all over the world; they wouldn''t let such an opportunity slip by and unleashed their trump cards, bombarding Nail Head with a barrage of attacks.


    The expression on Nail Head''s face didn''t change as the next second, his figure abruptly vanished from within the rainbow serpent, making the attacks miss their mark.


    Rein''s expression was extremely grave; they had long discovered Nail Head''s "Flash" ability and joined forces to construct a space-sealing array in an attempt to restrain him.


    But it seemed to be ineffective.


    His level of ability was far beyond their imagination.


    The exorcists present were filled with dread, their resolve wavering; was this terrifying creature really something they could handle?

 Chapter 448 - 436 Half-Decayed God

    The battle was still ongoing, and Rein''s brow furrowed even more tightly, as the morale of their side ebbed away.


    Morale, though invisible and intangible, was incredibly important, and it could even tip the scales of victory.


    A piercing scream suddenly rang out; the Snake Tamer fell from the sky, his chest punctured by a large hole, yet no weapon that inflicted the wound was visible until splattered blood outlined the trace of a chain.


    Rein''s heart shuddered, instantly vigilant of every little movement around him. He hadn''t expected Nail Head to possess such an ability¡ªthe invisible chains were exceedingly difficult to contend with.


    With the death of the Snake Tamer, the exorcists, already low in morale, even began to harbor thoughts of fleeing. Rein knew he couldn''t let this continue.


    "Friends, now isn''t the time to give up. I''m about to create an opportunity for you!" Rein bellowed.


    He still had an Ultimate Move left.


    He hadn''t used it before because there was a high probability that he would die after deploying it.


    But now, he couldn''t care less. With the apocalypse upon them and humanity at stake, what was the use of saving his life if not to do something meaningful?


    However, the next second, Rein''s pupils dilated as he suddenly found himself unable to move; a faint purple barrier enveloped him.


    The barrier appeared silently and with intense suppression, giving no one time to react.


    Rein struggled to move his eyes, scanning his surroundings.


    The barrier was an enormous pyramid shape, its surface adorned with inscriptions he had never seen before, their style unlike anything from Earth.


    The Pyramid Barrier was like amber, trapping the exorcists inside like insects.


    "It''s over!" Rein sighed internally.


    He wasn''t particularly afraid of death, but it was a pity that he couldn''t unleash his Ultimate Move for one last performance.


    But he was puzzled deep down. If Nail Head had such powerful abilities, why hadn''t he used them at the beginning instead of waiting for their morale to wane?


    He strained to look behind, and was startled.


    Nail Head was frozen in mid-air just like them, but most importantly, a look of horror sprawled across his pale, dreadful face.


    "Could it be that this barrier isn''t Nail Head''s doing?"


    Just as this thought surfaced in Rein''s mind, he saw a robust hand appear behind Nail Head, grasping his neck.


    The hand forcefully exerted pressure, the veins on the arm bulging, and then violently ripped off Nail Head''s head.


    "Xu Yi?!" Rein stared at the owner of the hand, uncertain.


    As the principal of the Isotope Institute, he naturally had access to the data of honorary professors, which included photos of Xu Yi.


    He hadn''t expected to encounter him under such circumstances, and he wasn''t even sure if it was really Xu Yi.


    Xu Yi smiled and nodded at Rein, clearly recognizing him.


    Of course, the Pyramid Barrier was his handiwork; this new ability was called the Soul Lord''s Domain.


    The Domain had only two functions: "Suppression" and "Magic Ban."


    All the arrays carefully laid by the exorcists couldn''t limit Nail Head''s teleportation, but in front of the Soul Lord''s Domain, Nail Head had no room to maneuver.


    Xu Yi''s palm erupted with purple lightning, its power astonishing, piercing through the surrounding space.


    Amid bursts of purple lightning flashes, it destroyed Nail Head''s head and annihilated his body along with the sturdy monk''s Armor.


    Rein and the others were dumbfounded. Had the Nail Head, the source of their dire situation, been dealt with just like that?


    The gods above also noticed the Soul Lord''s Domain, their eyes flashing with surprise. This level of power was nearing that of a True God.


    At this critical moment, the appearance of such powerful reinforcement was undeniably delightful for them.


    These remnants of gods, in reality, were the ones most afraid of Ancient God Chronos breaking free.


    Their essence was based on usurping the authority of the Ancient God, who would undoubtedly not forgive these "thieves."


    In the last twilight of the gods, they had witnessed the brutality of the Ancient God, prompting them to risk everything, even their lives, to seal the Ancient God.


    In fact, they had always been committed to keeping the Ancient God dormant and also prepared for a secondary plan should the Ancient God awaken. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, the Ancient God had awakened too quickly and too strangely, leading them into this predicament.


    Unbeknownst to anyone, a flash of black mist passed through Jesus''s pupils as he looked on at Xu Yi''s silhouette.


    Xu Yi had destroyed Nail Head but remained on high alert and even did not dispel the Soul Lord''s Domain, despite knowing this ability consumed substantial Divine Power.


    The lack of an Entries devouring message indicated only one thing¡ªthat Nail Head was not dead.


    Xu Yi increased the output of his Divine Power; the Domain lit up with a red detection light as the black Rose Flower Mark gradually became visible.


    He controlled the Soul Lord''s Domain, attempting to bind the Mark, but it seemed to be in another dimension, slowly drifting away.


    "Is this the work of the Ancient God?" Xu Yi''s brow furrowed.


    He remembered Kayako, who also used the Ancient God Mark to escape his pursuit.


    Knowing he couldn''t kill Nail Head completely, Xu Yi removed the Soul Lord''s Domain.


    At that moment, he smelled a unique scent of blood mixed with a faint fragrance and an inexplicable sense of familiarity.


    Xu Yi looked toward the source of the smell, emanating from a group of exorcists in the northeast corner.


    In this blood-drenched battlefield, being stained with blood was the most natural thing, yet Xu Yi couldn''t understand why he was drawn to them.

 Chapter 449 - 436 Half-Decayed God_2

    Those people were wholeheartedly battling the Dark Creatures, but the next second, a sudden mutation occurred.


    Their bodies began to swell, turning into balls of flesh and blood in an instant, and before Xu Yi could intervene, they exploded with a "bang," with blood splattering everywhere.


    The blood was fluorescent green and carried a strong corrosivity.


    Blood scattered on the sea''s surface, creating ripples, as a figure emerged from the sea, West looking around with a smile.


    No wonder Xu Yi felt a sense of familiarity; the smell came from the "Jumping Corpse" virus made by West.


    After escaping from Leviathan Hell, West also left, but instead of taking immediate action, he lurked in the ocean, silently spreading the virus.


    "West has already appeared, where is Jason?" Xu Yi thought of this and a shadow fell over his heart.


    Jason was a brute, not at all good at hiding, yet Xu Yi had been unable to spot him.


    This was not necessarily a good thing; anomalies always suggested evil.


    The target West chose for his "poisoning" was particularly cunning, fittingly, the weakest point in the defense line.


    The defense line, centered around the Ancient God''s arm, was made up of exorcists from various countries, but their levels varied, and the northeast corner was the weakest group, most susceptible to the virus''s festering.


    When a gap appeared in the northeast corner of the defensive line, West certainly did not miss this golden opportunity, his body breaking through the seawater, rushing towards the gap.


    His body mutated rapidly, three heads and six arms, ferocious yet majestic, his body covered in fluorescent green patterns.


    After mutating, West''s demonic flames reached the sky, causing the exorcists present to tremble, knowing they couldn''t resist.


    "Has West turned into a lackey of the Ancient Gods, and his brain degenerated too?" Xu Yi wondered.


    Although West''s approach was fierce, with his intelligence, he should have known that as long as he was still here, the other party could not succeed.


    Or was there another conspiracy?


    The thoughts in his mind did not affect his actions, and Xu Yi''s figure suddenly vanished from his original spot, appearing in front of West the next second.


    He also knew how to use the "Flash" skill, and was even stronger than Nail Head.


    He swung his leg fiercely, kicking West in the face¡ªan action full of personal grievances. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xu Yi had long wanted to do this, as West, a higher-up of the Ring of Destruction, was supposed to be utterly opposed to the Ancient Gods, yet unexpectedly switched sides during the battle.


    West crashed heavily into the sea, the immense force causing seawater to splash thousands of meters into the air.


    Before the sea could settle, waves surged up, a shadow swiftly ascending from the seafloor.


    "Is West this tough?" Xu Yi was puzzled.


    The kick he had delivered was without any reservation, injected with full Divine Power, intending to kill West.


    The shadow grew larger, with flowing light and shadows that looked less like West and more like a school of fish.


    A school of fish? Xu Yi realized something was amiss, what school of fish would dare approach this bloody battlefield; likely they would be annihilated by the aftershocks of the battle before even getting close.


    The vanguard of the "school of fish" broke through the sea surface, leaping high into the air, lunging at the nearest exorcist to bite.


    That exorcist only felt a blur flash by, and the next second, an intense pain in his chest.


    Everyone witnessed a terrifying sight: the exorcist screamed, transforming into a bloody skeleton, plummeting downward.


    From the eye sockets of the skeleton emerged a four-legged serpent, its thick black skin covered in scarlet spots, and the head displayed distinct malicious dragon traits, with sharp facial bones and a ferocious skull.


    However, it differed in that its mouth was filled with densely packed, sharp teeth, resembling deadly sickles, with protruding golden pupils scanning the crowd, displaying a brutal, bloodthirsty desire.


    "Dragon Salamander!"


    Xu Yi had seen this creature in an Ancient Tome, extremely ferocious, preying on dragons, a calamitous presence in ancient legends.


    Yet, this creature should have been extinct.


    Xu Yi took a closer look and realized they differed from those described in the tomes; normal Dragon Salamanders did not have blood-colored spots on their bodies, nor spines at the tail end.


    He also sensed the aura of an Ancient God on the Dragon Salamander.


    "This Dragon Salamander has been modified by the Ancient Gods¡ªCorpse Dragon Salamander!"


    This explained why these extinct ancient creatures were appearing here¡ªthey had been transformed by the Ancient Gods, remaining dormant around them until now.


    Xu Yi''s face slightly changed as this reminded him of something: Dragon Salamanders are social creatures.


    The sea surface boiled the next second, like water coming to a boil, and masses of Corpse Dragon Salamanders leaped from the sea.


    Xu Yi scanned his surroundings but could not spot West.


    This gave him a strange feeling; it was as if West appeared merely to alert him to these Dragon Salamanders.


    The swarm of Dragon Salamanders lunged at the exorcists, their sharp teeth reflecting a chilling light.


    The defense line was already precarious, and encountering the Corpse Dragon Salamanders was like a hammer striking a decaying wooden barrier, watching the defense line about to be completely torn apart.


    The faces of the exorcists showed expressions of despair.


    However, Rein let out a roar full of battle intent; he threw the short axe in his hand, its rotating blade carrying a cutting Wind Blade, flying towards the Corpse Dragon Salamanders.


    A Corpse Dragon Salamander, leaping high, was struck directly, the powerful Holy Artifact, the Storm Axe, only leaving a white mark on its body.


    The faces of those present changed, the difficulty of dealing with the Corpse Dragon Salamanders far surpassing their expectations.


    Two exorcists in medieval Armor stepped forward; their armor was from a rare "suit" of Holy Artifacts, with astonishing defensive capabilities.

 Chapter 450 - 436: The Semi-Decayed God_3

    Their idea was simple, which was to rely on the strong defense of the armor to shield against the incoming Corpse Dragon Salamanders.


    The Dragon Salamanders were only thumb-sized, and as they flung themselves onto the exorcists, they quickly burrowed towards the gaps in the armor.


    The exorcists remained unmoved, as the Holy Artifact''s armor seemed to have many gaps, but that was just a superficial appearance; it was a "set" that came with its own domain, enveloping the entire body.


    The Dragon Salamanders that crawled into the armor''s gaps soon scuttled out, and the exorcists'' mouths tugged into a smile. However, in the next second, their expressions changed.


    The Dragon Salamanders gnawed on the outer surface of the armor, leaving two rows of bite marks, but this was just the beginning. As green liquid secreted from the mouths of the Dragon Salamanders, the armor corroded to form a small hole.


    With the armor''s domain breached, the Dragon Salamanders quickly infiltrated inside, and soon after, horrendous screams emanated from within the armor.


    The exorcists'' faces instantly turned pale as they realized that not only was the defensive power ridiculous, but the creatures could even gnaw through Holy Artifacts.


    One such opponent was already troublesome enough, and the number of Corpse Dragon Salamanders surging from the seabed seemed to be endless.


    "Now is not the time to give up."


    A whisper suddenly sounded, soft yet eerily penetrating every person present.


    One figure strode forth, standing tall like a spear, blocking the horde of Corpse Dragon Salamanders with a contemptuous stance, as if what lay before him was not a horde of deadly ancient creatures but a bunch of ants.


    The masses of Corpse Dragon Salamanders instantly enveloped the figure, their grating teeth gnashing sound the only thing audible.


    The flicker of hope that had risen in the exorcists'' hearts was immediately snuffed out when they heard a faint voice, from the same person.


    "Dark Sun!"


    That voice sounded like a command, and a violet-black light emerged from within the crowd of Dragon Salamanders, a light that was not scorching, even somewhat gentle, yet its effect was unparalleled.


    Not even the Storm Axe could slice through the shell of the Dragon Salamanders, yet they carbonized instantly when swept by the violet-black light, turning into dust that scattered.


    Thus, "Dark Sun" was actually an intensely condensed Soul Lord''s Domain.


    After the compression, the scope of the domain became smaller, but the effect of the "Magic Ban" had increased several folds.


    The shell of the Corpse Dragon Salamanders was so robust primarily because of "Anti-membrane," a domain-like substance overlaying the surface of the Dragon Salamanders.


    Within the compressed Soul Lord''s Domain, the "Anti-membrane" became ineffective, effortlessly annihilated by the divine power; Corpse Dragon Salamanders evaporated into nothingness.


    Rein suddenly stopped, having prepared himself for death, ready to use his flesh to block the Corpse Dragon Salamanders, but now he was forced to retreat.


    He had a premonition that if he got any closer to that violet-black sun, he would be annihilated just like those Corpse Dragon Salamanders.


    "Can such power truly be wielded by a human?"


    Rein even doubted whether a god could achieve this level of power.


    Xu Yi was not content with just blockade; he charged toward the densest parts of the Corpse Dragon Salamanders, turning them into ashes where the Dark Sun''s light reached.


    The ash mingled with blood-red particles that fell into the sea, tainting the waters red.


    The sea itself was then quickly evaporated by the energy emanating from Dark Sun, and a red mist spread, turning the entire area into a blood-soaked marsh.


    [System Notification: Entry Devouring Triggered, Congratulations on Acquiring "Corpse Dragon Skin" x10 (Blue Rare).]


    [Congratulations on Acquiring "Chomping Teeth" x30 (Green Epic)]


    The system panel was flooded with notifications, dozens of messages scrolling all at once as the inventory of entries rose rapidly. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The speed of Dark Sun''s killing was already beyond compare, capable of killing hundreds of Corpse Dragon Salamanders in an instant, but Xu Yi still found it too slow.


    The number of Corpse Dragon Salamanders emerging from the seabed seemed endless, while the range covered by Dark Sun was extremely limited.


    But this was unavoidable; to maintain the power of Dark Sun, he had to choose to compress the domain.


    The Corpse Dragon Salamanders had formidable regenerative abilities, and if they couldn''t be killed in one hit, they would quickly recover.


    With his current efficiency, he could only block some of the Corpse Dragon Salamanders; eventually, the defensive line would be breached.


    Moreover, he needed a massive amount of entries at this moment.


    Whether low-level or high-level entries, all could be transformed into nutrients to nourish the "Master of Time" entry.


    At this moment, the progress of the "Master of Time" had reached 2%.


    "How then, can I increase the killing speed?"


    Xu Yi quickly arrived at the answer; he needed a powerful weapon!


    ...


    On the periphery of the battlefield, the crew aboard the Noting readied themselves for combat.


    Due to Kayako''s attack, Noting''s cloaking array failed, drawing the Dark Creatures that sensed their presence swarming towards them.


    Fortunately, most Dark Creatures were targeting the rescue of the Ancient God, so only a small part converged on them, which they could barely handle.


    They were even more concerned about the main battlefield as Xu Yi was surrounded by Corpse Dragon Salamanders. They could only occasionally see the fleeting violet-black light, proof that Xu Yi was still alive.


    Just as Ailan finished off a Dark Creature, the twin blades in his hands started to tremble.


    "Pride" sang like a taut string, "anger" a Tang Sword boomed like a heavy drum; they seemed to come to life, erupting a fierce will to battle.


    Ailan suddenly realized something, let go of the handles, and the two blades turned into dark golden light, flying towards the horde of Corpse Dragon Salamanders.


    One after another, beams of light rose from the Noting; "Sloth" Spear, "Lust" Recurve Knife, "Greed" Dagger... "Seven Deadly Sins" felt the summons and soared into the sky.