Chapter 9: Blasphemy and Pursuit

【 You have entered the Apocalypse chapter. 】

【 Chapter 323. 】

【 You open your eyes and find yourself waking up in a dilapidated church in the form of a roaming soul. 】

【 Pure moonlight shines through the church’s broken dome, revealing the thick clouds that cover the night sky. The cold wind howls like the roar of a demon from the Abyss. 】

“The game’s time seems to be synchronized with the real world…”

This was Lin Xun’s third time logging into the game, and the scenes within the game had also changed as time passed.

【 You spent 1 point of soul strength to reshape the ‘Perishing Blood Sun Cultist’ body. 】

【 Current soul strength: 1/2. 】

Lin Xun continued playing the game, opening doors and beating people with his club as he headed eastward.

As expected, the monsters had indeed been resurrected.

“They’re all tender little napa cabbages.”

His eyes shone as he continued on his happy harvest journey.

【 You have defeated the “Perishing Blood Sun Cultist,” and your experience points have increased slightly. 】

【 The power within the body begins to boil. The Perishing Blood Sun Cultist’s body level has been upgraded. Current body level: 9. 】

【 All monsters in the area have been slaughtered. You no longer need to feign praise for the sun. 】

This time, after harvesting the vegetables, the quality of the items dropped by the monsters had significantly decreased. They were all junk, with no spiritual drops or special items.

Was it because I was just unlucky this time, or does repeatedly farming monsters decrease the drop quality…?

Lin Xun controlled the body of the Blood Sun Cultist and continued to advance, entering the High Tower.

The wolf dogs on the first floor of the High Tower hadn’t been resurrected, and their bodies had also disappeared.

He went straight to the third floor…

The Blood Sun Church’s disciplinary knights appeared again, but this time, the available text was different from before.

【 In the main hall stands a heavily armored knight clad in metal plates, his hands resting on his greatsword. Behind his blood-red cloak is a glistening golden treasure chest. The chest plate of his armor is engraved with a filthy blood sun. Clearly, he is the Blood Sun Church’s most powerful warrior—the disciplinary knight. 】

【 The disciplinary knight’s scarlet eyes stare at you, and you feel a heavy pressure weighing down on you. 】

【 What should you do? 】

【 1. Mutter to yourself, “It can’t see me, it can’t see me…” and retreat to the second floor of the High Tower. 】

【 2. Raise your dagger and strike with all your might to let it know what cruelty is. 】

【 3. Pretend to be passing by and walk around the disciplinary knight to climb the stairs leading to the fourth floor of the High Tower. 】

The third option had changed from flattery to walking around.

Lin Xun’s heart was filled with a thousand thoughts. If this option had been available at their first meeting… he probably would have… would have still chosen to praise the sun.

He clicked on the third option and went to the fourth floor of the High Tower first, just in case he couldn’t defeat the disciplinary knight and wasted a life.

【 You pretended to be passing by and didn’t look at the disciplinary knight, then tiptoed closer to the spiral staircase. 】

【 The disciplinary knight’s gaze followed you, but his footsteps didn’t move, and he still stood straight, guarding the golden treasure chest behind him. 】

【 You climbed up the stairs and reached the top of the High Tower. 】

【 Even thick clouds couldn’t block out the bright moonlight, and the white light spilled onto this round open-air platform. The massive pure white crescent moon sculpture that used to be in the center of the platform had been transformed into a Blood Sun Sculpture, and scarlet mist swirled around it. 】

【 Would you like to touch the Blood Sun Sculpture? 】

Lin Xun hesitated. Touching it wouldn’t kill him, right?

But there didn’t seem to be any other options at the moment. He could either go downstairs and fight the disciplinary knights or touch the sculpture.

【 You took a large step forward, the scarlet aura surrounding you. 】

【 Your hands touched the ‘Blood Sun’ sculpture. 】

【 A filthy power gradually infected your body, and a mad will occupied your mind. 】

【 Your connection with the ‘Blood Sun’ deepened, and you felt the gaze of an unknown entity. 】

【 Your body distorted into twisted organs, and you gained a new skill: Bloody Pineal Gland. 】

【 Bloody Pineal Gland (Superior Skill): Wholeheartedly worship the Blood Sun for its blessings. Under the Blood Sun’s rays, the pious will receive a temporary +5 level boost. 】

【 You discovered that in the center of the round sun of the Blood Sun Sculpture, there seemed to be a bright red gem embedded. 】

【 What is your next action? 】

【 1. The gem glows with a strange light, clearly valuable. Use your dagger to pry it off. 】

【 2. Sincerely worship the ‘Blood Sun’ sculpture, kowtow three times, and thank it for its blessings. 】

【 Spread out your arms and pretend nothing happened. Quietly retreat to the third floor of the High Tower and hide your name and deeds. 】

Lin Xun had just acquired a new skill, but before he could even celebrate, the game immediately presented him with a choice.

His rational mind told him that options 2 and 3 were the more normal choices.

But the situation right now was like this: if you were playing LOL and the Taurus suddenly used his ultimate move to send five enemy players flying, could you resist using your ultimate move as Yaso?

It’s just one life, after all. Lin Xun firmly chose option 1.

【 The greedy Apostle ultimately couldn’t restrain his desire. 】

【 You climbed up the sculpture and pried off the bright red gem with your dagger. 】

【 You obtained the Blood Sun Gem (Epic) 】

Epic? Just hearing it made Lin Xun raise an eyebrow.

The game text flew rapidly.

【 You desecrated the Blood Sun Sculpture! 】

【 You will be pursued by the Blood Sun Church’s disciplinary knights until your death! 】

【 Heavy footsteps approached you. The disciplinary knights appeared behind you at some point. 】

【 Their scarlet eyes shone with rage. The disciplinary knights unsheathed their great swords and charged at you… 】

【 You died! 】

This could be considered a death well deserved, couldn’t it?

Lin Xun looked at the large “DIE” on the screen, but his heart was filled with excitement.

【 You open your eyes and discover that you have been reborn in the ruined church as a roaming soul. 】

He hurriedly opened the inventory to check out the newly acquired epic item.

【 Blood Sun Gem (Epic Item): The countless prayers of the fallen Blood Sun Church members have allowed the degenerate power of the Blood Sun Sculpture to coalesce into this scarlet gem. Upon use, you will gain one point of divinity. 】

Divinity? It sounded similar to spirituality. Was it also some sort of currency?

Lin Xun clicked to use it.

【 You have used the “Blood Sun Gem (Epic)”. You have gained one point of divinity. 】

【 You have unlocked the Apostle Panel. 】

Another new function? Lin Xun clicked on the Apostle Panel.

【 Soul Imprint: Swordsmith 】

【 Soul Strength: 1/2 】

【 Soul Talent: Myriad Manifestations, your soul has a unique taste, encompassing all things and accepting all. Possessing any body is effortless. Talent Effect: Significantly improves compatibility with bodies (+15%), one additional body slot. 】

【 Sacred Item: None 】

【 Soul Shell Slot: 2/2. ‘Perishing Blood Sun Cultist’, ‘Guardian Knight of the White Moon Church’ 】

Lin Xun didn’t have time to worry about what the Sacred Item was for the time being, because he saw that there was an additional plus sign next to his soul talent!

Could it be… Lin Xun pressed the plus sign button, full of anticipation.

【 You have consumed one point of spirituality, and your soul talent level has increased by one! 】

【 Soul Talent: Myriad Manifestations +1. Your soul has a unique taste, encompassing all things, accepting all comers. Possessing all bodies is easy. Talent effect: Significantly improves compatibility with bodies (+25%), two additional soul shell slots 】

As the level of his soul talent increased in the game, Lin Xun felt a spiritual shock in reality. The fatigue from staying up late was swept away, and some changes seemed to have occurred in his body.

He walked into the bathroom and discovered that his reflection seemed to have become… more handsome.

The dark circles under his eyes from years of cultivating had vanished without a trace. His slightly nearsighted eyes, which had previously seemed lifeless, were now bright and shining, as if there was a solid light within them.

He had always been good-looking, and in high school, he would often find a pile of anonymous love letters in his desk.

After just reporting to the university, he was stopped by a senpai who asked if he wanted to join the model club. After much persuasion and exchanging contact information, she finally let him go.

“Now I’m pretty much at the peak of attractiveness? Hm, I guess I’m only a little bit inferior to my readers.”

Lin Xun rubbed his face, picked up his phone, and returned to the game.

In the Apostle’s panel, the number of available shells had increased to 2/3, and the compatibility bonus for all shells had increased to +25%!

He had made a huge profit this time! Lin Xun felt the same kind of joy as winning the lottery. Myriad Manifestations was undoubtedly his foundation in the game.

Aside from the increase in shell slots, the 25% compatibility bonus was already a huge advantage.

At this rate of leveling up, Lin Xun would be able to possess any monster in the game, regardless of whether it was humanoid or not.

However, the text that continued to display on the screen made him freeze.

【 Heavy footsteps approached you. The disciplinary knight had appeared outside the church at some point… 】

Huh?

Three question marks slowly appeared on Lin Xun’s forehead.