White Plague: Am I a World Spy

Bai Yi felt a tremor in his hand as the prompts on the panel flashed frantically, including one that caught his attention:

[You touch the artifact Soul of Death (fake). Your health decreases by 5% per second, and your sanity decreases by 5% per second. The collection of evil thoughts is exempt from the decrease in sanity value.]

He loosened his grip slightly, and the Evil Soul was lifted by a swarm of gold-eating bugs, floating beside him. It seemed that this artifact needed to be bound, but Bai Yi had no idea how to do so. He sensed that if he tried to store it in his space ring, it might destroy the ring entirely.

Not far from Bai Yi, Charles was walking toward the exit, neither of them using their full speed. An unspoken tension hung in the air, thickening the atmosphere of the post-war ruins.

With a gleam in his eyes, Bai Yi contemplated the world core he had just acquired. He knew Charles would be a formidable opponent, especially in his current weakened state. Strategies swirled in his mind as he assessed his chances of defeating him.

Charles, too, was deep in thought, weighing his own options. After a long pause, he finally broke the silence. "White Plague."

The tension in the air dissipated, as Charles was the first to abandon any idea of confrontation. He recognized that he couldn't match the speed and power of the gold-eating bugs and was uncertain about Bai Yi's remaining cards.

Bai Yi didn't respond. Instead, he activated his space ring, causing a plague doctor's suit to materialize. He tore off the tattered strips of fabric that clung to him and donned the robe of the Plague Doctor. This gesture signified his own abandonment of the idea of conflict. Charles could only see 70% of the panel, and Bai Yi wasn't confident enough to challenge him directly.

"I will leave Dawn. The gods crave more souls and the collapse of order. I'll give up on Tobu City. You can withdraw your surveillance area," Charles said, stretching lazily.

He continued, "But be warned, there are still a few dangerous individuals who haven't shown up yet. You should be cautious. Pu Sheng has gone to the Abyss, which means he's abandoned the gods and is going solo. The mutation zone will become increasingly perilous."

As he spoke, darkness began to envelop his figure. He added with a smile, "Once we've stabilized our growth, I'll need your cooperation. I plan to descend upon Dongwu City. Don't die before then."

Without waiting for Bai Yi to reply, Charles faded away, his silhouette disappearing into the shadows.

Bai Yi paused, adjusting his Death robe and appreciating how well it fit. He dismissed the Curtain of Apocalypse as mere graduation attire for players who reached level 30—though expensive, it lacked true value. The Plague Doctor Set, however, exceeded his expectations.

[Name: Epidemic Doctor Set I]

Quality: Special clothing

Durability: 200/200

Effect: Curse Resistance +100

Set effect: Wearing the bird-beak mask grants Poison Resistance +100, blocking some invasions of the Black Death Curse.

Equipment requirements: None

Description: Death costumes in despair, praying to defeat the Black Death by adopting the guise of the Grim Reaper.

Price: 2000 gold coins.

With a resistance of 100, he was immune to all silver-level curses and poisons, and could block some gold-level threats. This equipment was top-tier in terms of resistance, aligning perfectly with Bai Yi's needs.

Once he stepped out of the ruins, he found himself alone in this upper world. Leaning against a thick tree, he casually sat down and began to review his panel data. The recent god-slaying had significantly boosted his power.

[You killed an ancient god above your level (regret), gaining +300,000 XP, plus a 300% XP bonus for killing gods: +900,000 XP, and an additional +300,000 XP.]

[God-killing bonus: Free attribute points +10, skill points +10, optional God-killing reward ×1.]

[You obtained the seven-star title: God Hunter.]

[You receive exclusive rewards for the dark side: God's Sin x1, Extreme Evil Expertise x1.]

[You obtain the Black Death Pathogen World Core, unlocking the World Management section on the panel.]

[You acquire the artifact Shahun (fake).]

[Your experience has reached the maximum value, excess experience converted into additional experience. After reaching maximum, future gains will be reduced by 80%. Complete the promotion task soon.]

[Your Dark Hunter absorbs the blood of God: Strength +10, Agility +10, Endurance +10, Intelligence +10, Charm -1.]

Reading through the prompts, Bai Yi gained a clearer understanding of the ancient gods' formidable power. Defeating even one required weakening it through the God's Showcase, and it took a coordinated effort among three bosses, consuming countless resources.

He pondered the implications: if Cersis were still alive, would Shia stand a chance at all? The extreme measures taken by the Federation became even clearer. With dozens of ancient gods and more demigods lurking outside Xia, the federations, though seemingly stable, were like fragile boats on a stormy sea. One wrong move, and they could capsize.

Setting aside these complex thoughts, Bai Yi focused on the rewards. The title of God Hunter was particularly striking; it represented a direct reflection of the panel's power. This power didn't truly belong to Xia, while expertise was something Bai Yi could potentially awaken. Each choice of expertise resonated with his abilities, suggesting that the panel was designed to accelerate growth and unlock potential.

This was the true strength of the White Plague—a potent tool for harnessing his capabilities.

[Name: God Hunter]

Attribute: Title

Quality: ★★★★★★★

Wearing Effect: Any damage inflicted on a divine unit will cause soul damage. You will be immune to the negative effects of divine power, and your favorability among all divine units will be defined as disgust.

Wearing Requirements: Must have hunted a divine unit above demigod level.

Introduction: God? Just prey.

Bai Yi stared in awe. This title was exceptionally powerful; it exempted him from the detrimental effects of divine power. This meant that in his next encounter with a god, he wouldn't suffer continuous deductions to his sanity and health points. Moreover, every attack would inflict soul damage, making it feasible to breach divine defenses. The title truly lived up to its Seven Stars rating.

He turned his attention to the next reward with growing anticipation.

[World Management Section:]

Submit the world core to the panel, and this world will reset as a player-specific copy. Each time the world undergoes reincarnation, you will receive optional rewards. The amount of rewards is proportional to the size of the world—larger worlds yield greater rewards. During the inlay period, you can enter and exit this world freely, but you cannot hunt important NPCs or items at will. The world core can be removed after one complete cycle.

Bai Yi was momentarily taken aback. This concept was unfamiliar to him, but he sensed a deeper implication. Whether as a player or an NPC, he grappled with the true nature of this panel. When considering himself a player, he could dismiss it as advanced technology, albeit convoluted. However, this felt like something far beyond the reach of any game company.

His brow furrowed in contemplation. The panel appeared to be demanding the world core—a sort of leasing agreement. This idea unsettled him. If the panel was not merely a product of a game company, but rather an entity with its own intentions, then what was its purpose?

Was it possible that the Shia world was a genuine realm, untouched by the technological limitations of Blue Star? If so, what was the nature of the players and their connection to the gods?

Bai Yi's thoughts raced. The disappearance of the gods, the resurgence of ancient powers, and the emergence of players—was there a correlation? Could the absence of gods have facilitated the players' arrival, or was the panel somehow responsible for their fate?

He recalled the narrative: [The Lord of the Gods, Destiny, was gravely injured for unknown reasons, prompting the gods to rise against him. They fought fiercely for supremacy.] Was this "unknown reason" somehow linked to the game itself?

His mind spun with possibilities. If Blue Star was indeed capable of such manipulation, what did it aim to achieve? The blending of worlds? The consumption of Shia to fuel its own growth? Or perhaps the extraction of its rules for self-improvement?

A chilling realization struck him: if these assumptions held true, he might be considered a traitor to this world. He could be an intruder, while others might have been native to Shia. The original owner of the panel, Old Wolf, had perished upon players' arrival—could he have been a traitor too?

Bai Yi's thoughts whirled as he assessed the implications of these revelations. The players were restricted from signing contracts with NPCs—a crucial point that underscored the potential dangers they faced. This limitation indicated that the panel was not infallible nor overly intrusive in the world's affairs.

Reframing his understanding, Bai Yi began to see a clearer picture. The relationship was not one of master and servant but rather a partnership driven by mutual interests. As long as their goals aligned, he could trust the panel, even if it were an entity with a dubious reputation.

With newfound confidence, Bai Yi shifted his focus to the next reward: the God-Killing Reward.

[You unlock the God-Killing Reward x1. Please choose one of the following three options:]

Exclusive Weapon: Your dark side has absorbed the blood of a god. Sacrifice the artifact Soul-Devil (fake) to obtain a dark side exclusive weapon that can grow.

God's Skills: You can randomly acquire a god's ability, including skills and specialties from ancient gods.

Power of the Ancient God: Obtain a portion of the pure power of an Ancient God.

Bai Yi considered his options carefully, ruling out the third. While valuable, the pure power of an ancient god paled in comparison to the potential of the other two options. The upper and lower limits of divine skills were enticing; he could gain extraordinary abilities or expertise.

He glanced at the pseudo-artifact's description.

[Name: Evil Soul]

Quality: Artifact (fake)

Durability: ???

Effect: ???

Introduction: ???

Price: ???

The artifact's obscurity intrigued him. He understood that its true nature would only reveal itself in time. Without hesitation, he sacrificed the artifact. The prospect of acquiring an exclusive weapon that could grow was too enticing to pass up.

As he made his choice, the artifact froze momentarily, then an almost surreal energy coursed through it. Before his eyes, the massive sickle began to fade in color. A blood-red light surged from the artifact into his chest.

His heartbeat echoed in his ears, and the scarlet hue in his vision gradually infiltrated his consciousness. He suddenly found himself witnessing a grotesque scene: a goblin laid bare on an operating table, a man in a white coat performing a gruesome surgery. The heart was removed and replaced, tentacles fused with flesh, and black eyes were implanted.

This was the dark genesis of evil thoughts, a process Bai Yi had experienced countless times. The latest memory flashed—his own dissection. He took control of the procedure, cutting into his own artery to release the essence of his dark side, injecting himself with vile blood, reshaping his being.

Despite the excruciating pain, his willpower held firm, and he continued to operate on himself, gradually suturing the wounds as the healing properties of the substances took effect.

When his vision cleared, Bai Yi looked around, the world still in ruins, the crimson in his eyes fading back to normal. He glanced down at his chest, where he could see his internal organs. Beside his pulsating heart lay a pitch-black scalpel.

A flash of realization struck him. The virtual scalpel from his earlier vision had somehow manifested in his body. He reached out, and the scalpel melted into a dark light, flowing into his hand.

Feeling its reality, he examined the scalpel—a ten-centimeter handle with a five-centimeter blade, perfectly balanced in his grip.

He checked its properties:

[Name: Blade of Extreme Evil]

Quality: Top quality

Equipment Durability: 10/10

Effect 1: Sharpness: 30

Growth: Grows by absorbing blood, malice, and souls.

Current Growth Rate: 0%

Equipment Requirements: Exclusive equipment.

Growth: A special effect can be awakened with each quality increase.

Introduction: The exclusive weapon of extremely evil creatures. It grows as they do. How terrifying will it become after drinking blood?

Price: Cannot be sold.

Bai Yi released the scalpel, which vanished instantly, reappearing next to his dark heart. He relished the moment—this bounty from the God Hunter was beyond his expectations.

He briefly noted the last reward, the Evil Expertise, and sensed its immense value.

[You have unlocked 1 Extremely Evil Specialty. Please choose one of the three specialties below.]