Chapter 9: Sacrilege and Pursuit _1

[You have entered the Doomsday chapter.]

[Chapter 323]

[You open your eyes, finding yourself in the form of a Wandering Soul, lying within a ruined church.]

[The cool moonlight filters through the holes in the cathedral's dome, with the dense and heavy clouds seemingly suppressing the nightsky. The chill wind is shrieking, like the roar of a demon from the Abyss.]

"The game time seems to synchronize with the real world…"

This is Lin Xun's third login to the game, and the in-game scenes have changed with the passage of time.

[You have consumed 1 point of soul strength and reshaped the 'Fallen Blood Sun Disciple' shell.]

[Current soul strength 1/2]

Lin Xun continues his game process, quietly ambushing his targets and heads towards the east.

As he expected, the tide of monsters has resurrected.

"These are all fresh cabbages ready plucking."

With delight in his eyes, he continues happily on his harvest journey.

...

[You have defeated the 'Fallen Blood Sun Disciple', experience has slightly increased.]

[The power within the Shell starts to boil. The level of the 'Fallen Blood Sun Disciple' shell increases, current level: 9]

[The monsters around have all been massacred, you no longer need to perform pretense, but praise the sun.]

This time after the harvest, the quality of the drops from the monsters has clearly dropped significantly. They're all junk, without any spiritual drops or special items.

"Is it just bad luck this time, or does repeatedly farming monsters lead to lower drop quality…"

Lin Xun, controlling the Blood Sun Disciple's shell, continues to march on, entering the tower.

The wolves on the first floor of the tower haven't resurrected and their shells have disappeared.

He directly rushes to the third floor of the tower...

The Law Knight of the Blood Sun Church has appeared again, but this time the optional text is different from before.

[In the hall, a heavily armored knight is standing upright, resting with his double-handed great sword. Behind the red cloak is a dazzling golden chest. The chestplate of his armor is engraved with a Profane Blood Sun. Apparently, he is one of the Blood Sun Church's core forces — the Law Knight]

[The Law Knight's crimson eyes focus on you and you feel immense pressure.]

[What should you do?]

[1. Chant "It can't see me, it can't see me…" and retreat back to the second floor of the tower.]

[2. Raise the dagger, strike violently, let it know, what cruel means.]

[3. Pretend to pass by, bypass the Law Knight, ascend the staircase to the fourth floor of the tower.]

The third option has turned from fawning to taking a detour.

Lin Xun's mind races. If there had been this option at the first meeting… he figures, he would still choose to praise the sun.

Clicking on the third option, he decides to first go to the fourth floor of the tower to have a look, lest he waste a life without defeating the Law Knight.

[You pretend to pass by, avoiding eye contact with the Law Knight, and sneak towards the spiral staircase.]

[The Law Knight's gaze follows you, but his feet remain still, standing upright, protecting the golden chest behind him.]

[You ascend the stairs and reach the top floor of the tower]

[The thick clouds failed to block the bright moonlight, and its clean white light pours down onto this round outdoor platform. The massive sculpture in the center of the platform, originally a Bright New Moon, has been transformed into a Profane Blood Sun. A crimson aura revolves around the Blood Sun like an echo.]

[Do you want to touch the Profane Blood Sun statue?]

If I touch it, I'm not going to die, right? Lin Xun hesitates slightly.

But it seems that there are no other options at present, either go downstairs to fight the Law Knight, or touch it.

[You stride forward, the crimson aura circles around you.]

[Your hands touch the 'Profane Blood Sun' sculpture.]

[A Profane force gradually invades your body, a mad will occupies your mind.]

[Your connection with the 'Profane Blood Sun' deepens and you feel the gaze of a mysterious existence.]

[Your body mutates to sprout distorted organs, thus grasping a new skill—Bloody Pine Cone.]

[Bloody Pine Cone (Excellent Level Skill): The Devout belief in the Profane Blood Sun brings you blessings. When bathed in the Blood Sun, the faithful can get a temporary level +5 increase.]

[You notice a bright red gem set in the center of the Profane Blood Sun statue.]

[What's your next move?]

[1. The gem shines with a strange luster. It looks valuable. Pry it out with a dagger.]

[2. Sincerely worship the 'Profane Blood Sun' statue, lightly knock your head three times to thank for its blessings.]

[3. Spread out your hands, pretend nothing happened, quietly retreat back to the third floor of the tower, concealing your deeds and fame.]

Lin Xun had just acquired a new skill, before he could even celebrate, the game text immediately popped up with a multiple-choice question.

Reason told him that options 2 and 3 were somewhat normal.

But the current situation was like playing LOL, when Malphite suddenly unleashes a devastating ultimate, knocking up five enemies, could you, as Yasuo, resist not using your ult?

"At worst, I'll just lose a life." Lin Xun decisively chose the 1st option.

[Greedy apostle, you ultimately couldn't restrain your inner desires.]

[You scramble up the statue and pry off the bright red gem with a dagger.]

[You have obtained the Blood Sun Gem (Epic).]

Epic? The name alone sounds awesome, Lin Xun raises an eyebrow.

The game text quickly changes.

[You have desecrated the Blood Sun Statue!]

[You will be ceaselessly hunted down by the "Law Knights of the Blood Sun Church!"]

[Heavy footsteps are approaching you, the Law Knight has somehow already appeared behind you.]

[Raging crimson eyes. The Law Knight draws his two-handed greatsword, and charges towards you...]

[You have died!]

Isn't this a case of reaping what I've sown, dying a fitting death?

Looking at the word "death" on the screen, Lin Xun's heart was surprisingly thrilled.

[You open your eyes to find yourself reborn as a wandering soul in a dilapidated church.]

He quickly checked his inventory to examine the new epic item he had just obtained.

[Blood Sun Gem (Epic level item): Countless devoted believers' worship has allowed for the Profane Blood Sun statue's fallen power to concentrate and form this bright red gem. Upon usage, you will receive 1 divinity point.]

Divinity? It sounds similar to spirituality, could it be some sort of currency?

Lin Xun clicked 'Use'.

[You have used the "Blood Sun Gem (Epic)", you have received 1 divinity point.]

[You have unlocked the Apostle Panel.]

Another new feature? Lin Xun opened the Apostle Panel.

[Soul Mark: Sword Casting Master]

[Soul Strength: 1/2]

[Soul Talent: Thousand Faces and Million Forms. Your soul has a unique taste, embracing everything and declining nothing. You can easily possess any shells. Talent effect: Greatly enhances Shell compatibility (+15%), +1 Shell slot.]

[Sacred Objects: None]

[Shell Slots: 2/2. "Fallen Blood Sun Follower", "The Guardian Knight of the White Moon Church".]

He temporarily ignored what the Sacred Objects was, because Lin Xun saw an additional plus sign next to his soul talent!

Could it be… Lin Xun expectantly clicked on the plus sign.

[You spent 1 divinity point, Soul Talent level +1!]

[Soul Talent: Thousand Faces and Million Forms +1. Your soul has a unique taste, embracing everything and declining nothing. You can easily possess any shells. Talent effect: Greatly enhances Shell compatibility (+25%), +2 Shell slots.]

As the talent level increased in the game, Lin Xun in reality also felt an invigorating shock, instantly kicking his sleepiness from staying up all night, as though there were some changes in his body.

He went to the bathroom and saw in the mirror that he seemed to have become… even more handsome.

The dark circles from years of being a bookworm had vanished, the slightly lackluster eyes due to mild myopia were full of spirit, as though there were actual light in them.

He was never an ugly fellow, getting numerous anonymous love letters in high school tucked into his desk.

In university, he had just finished moving into the dormitory when he was stopped by a senior female student, asking him if he wanted to join the modeling club. In the end, he had to beg his way out, after exchanging contact details.

"Have I reached the apex of handsomeness? Mmm, guess I still fall just a little short compared to my readers."

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

Shells Slot in the Apostle panel was now 2/3, and the compatibility bonus with all Shells increased to +25%!

He struck gold this time! Lin Xun felt the same exhilaration as one would from winning the lottery. The Thousand Faces and Million Forms talent was without a doubt the foundation for him in this game.

Let's not even mention the increase in Shell slots, just the increase in 25% of compatibility alone.

If he kept leveling up at this pace, as long as he was able to defeat any enemy, human or monster, he would be able to possess their shells in the future.

However, the following display of game text left him stunned.

[Heavy footsteps are approaching you, a Law Knight has somehow appeared outside the church door...]

???

Lin Xun suddenly had three question marks forming above his head.