[You have entered an apocalyptic chapter.]
[Chapter 323]
[You open your eyes and find yourself, once again in the form of a feeble wandering soul, awakening inside a ruined church.]
[Moonlight streams through the broken dome above, casting pale silver light. In the night sky, thick, oppressive clouds loom. A cold wind howls like demons roaring from the depths of the abyss.]
"The in-game time seems to sync with the real world..."
This was Lin Xun's third time logging into the game, and the environment had changed with the passing of time.
[You consume 1 point of soul strength and reshape the Corrupted Blood Sun Cultist Shell.]
[Current soul strength: 1/2]
Lin Xun resumed the game’s progression: crack open the door, sneak attack, and head east.
As expected, the monster horde had respawned.
“These are all juicy little cabbages, one by one…”
His eyes gleamed as he happily resumed his harvesting spree.
---
[You have defeated a ‘Corrupted Blood Sun Cultist.’ Your experience has slightly increased.]
[The power within the Shell begins to boil. The level of your ‘Corrupted Blood Sun Cultist’ Shell has increased. Current Shell Level: 9]
[All surrounding monsters have been sin. You no longer need to feign devotion. Praise the Sun.]
This time, however, the quality of the dropped items had clearly deteriorated, mostly junk, with no Spirit Essence and no special items.
“Is this just bad luck, or does farming the same monsters over and over reduce drop quality…”
Controlling the Blood Sun Cultist Shell, Lin Xun pushed onward and entered the tower.
The wolfhound on the first floor hadn’t respawned, and its Shell had vanished as well.
He headed straight for the third floor...
The Blood Sun Church’s Padin of Discipline appeared once again, but this time, the selectable dialogue options had changed.
[In the hall stands a heavily armored knight in full metal pte armor, resting both hands on a greatsword. Behind his blood-red cape is a golden treasure chest. On the chest of his armor is engraved a corrupted Blood Sun. Clearly, he is a core combatant of the Blood Sun Church: a Padin of Discipline.]
[The Padin of Discipline’s crimson eyes fix upon you. You feel a heavy pressure.]
[What will you do?]
[1. Silently chant, “It can’t see me, it can’t see me…” and retreat to the second floor.]
[2. Raise your dagger and strike with all your might, show it the meaning of cruelty.]
[3. Pretend to be passing by, sneak around the Padin of Discipline, and ascend the stairs to the fourth floor.]
The third option had changed, from fttery to stealth.
Lin Xun’s mind was racing. If this option had appeared the first time… he probably… probably still would have chosen to Praise the Sun.
He clicked the third option, better check out the fourth floor first. If he couldn't beat the Padin, it would be a waste of a life.
[You pretend to be passing through, avoiding eye contact with the Padin of Discipline, and tiptoe toward the spiral staircase.]
[The Padin’s gaze remains fixed on you, but it does not move. It stands tall, guarding the golden chest behind it.]
[You ascend the stairs and reach the tower’s top floor.]
[Even the thick clouds cannot block the radiant moonlight. A soft white glow bathes the open-air circur ptform. At the center once stood a massive Radiant Crescent sculpture, but it has been altered, now shaped into a Corrupted Blood Sun. Crimson energy swirls around it ominously.]
[Do you wish to approach and touch the Corrupted Blood Sun idol?]
Will touching it get me killed? Lin Xun hesitated.
But there didn't seem to be any other choice, either fight the Padin or touch the idol.
[You stride forward. Crimson energy coils around you.]
[Your hands make contact with the ‘Corrupted Blood Sun’ idol.]
[A filthy power begins to infiltrate your body. A frenzied will overtakes your mind.]
[Your connection to the ‘Corrupted Blood Sun’ deepens. You are being watched by an unknown presence.]
[Your body mutates with twisted organs, and you gain a new skill, Blood Pineal Gnd.]
[Blood Pineal Gnd (Fine Skill): A devout gift from your wholehearted worship of the Corrupted Blood Sun. Under its gaze, faithful believers receive a temporary +5 level bonus.]
[You notice that embedded in the center of the corrupted idol is a crimson gem.]
[What will you do next?]
[1. That strangely glowing gem clearly isn’t cheap, use your dagger to pry it out.]
[2. Kneel and sincerely worship the ‘Corrupted Blood Sun,’ kowtow three times in thanks for its blessing.]
[3. Spread your arms and act like nothing happened. Quietly descend to the third floor, hiding your glory.]
Lin Xun had just received a new skill, and before he could even enjoy it, the game threw another multiple-choice question at him.
Reason said that options 2 or 3 were probably safer.
But the situation was like this: you’re pying League of Legends, your Malphite nds a five-man ult, and you're Yasuo. Can you resist pressing R?
“Worst case, I waste a life.” Lin Xun decisively chose option 1.
[The greedy Apostle could not restrain the desire in his heart.]
[You climb the idol and use your dagger to pry out the crimson gem.]
[You have obtained Blood Sun Gem (Epic).]
Epic tier? Sounded amazing. Lin Xun raised an eyebrow.
The game text rapidly scrolled.
[You have desecrated the Blood Sun idol!]
[You will be relentlessly hunted by the Blood Sun Church’s Padin of Discipline!]
[Heavy footsteps approach. At some point, the Padin of Discipline has appeared behind you.]
[Its crimson eyes bze with rage. The Padin of Discipline draws its two-handed greatsword and charges toward you…]
[You have died!]
Guess that was asking for it. A fitting death?
Lin Xun stared at the big red “YOU HAVE DIED” on the screen, but he was actually thrilled.
[You open your eyes and find yourself, once again in the form of a feeble wandering soul, awakening inside a ruined church.]
He quickly opened his inventory to check the new epic item.
[Blood Sun Gem (Epic Item): Formed from the condensed corruption surrounding the Blood Sun idol, shaped by the worship of countless corrupted believers. Upon use, grants 1 point of Divine Power.]
Divine Power? It sounded simir to Spirit, was it a type of currency too?
Lin Xun clicked “use.”
[You have used “Blood Sun Gem (Epic).” You gained 1 point of Divine Power.]
[You have unlocked the Apostle Panel.]
Another new feature? Lin Xun opened the Apostle Panel.
[Soul Imprint: Swordsmith]
[Soul Strength: 1/2]
[Soul Talent: Thousand Faces, Ten Thousand Forms. Your soul has a unique fvor, accepting all forms and rejecting none. Possessing any Shell becomes effortless. Talent Effect: Greatly increases compatibility with Shells (+15%), Shell Slots +1]
[Relics: None]
[Shell Slots: 2/2. ‘Corrupted Blood Sun Cultist,’ ‘Guardian Knight of the White Moon Church’]
He didn’t have time to worry about what Relics were, his eyes immediately caught the “+” next to his Soul Talent!
Could it be…? Lin Xun excitedly pressed the plus button.
[You consumed 1 point of Divine Power. Soul Talent Level +1!]
[Soul Talent: Thousand Faces, Ten Thousand Forms +1. Your soul has a unique fvor, accepting all forms and rejecting none. Possessing any Shell becomes effortless. Talent Effect: Greatly increases compatibility with Shells (+25%), Shell Slots +2]
As his in-game talent leveled up, Lin Xun felt an actual jolt of energy in real life. The fatigue from staying up te was swept away, and even his body felt subtly transformed.
He walked to the bathroom and found that his reflection looked… sharper, more handsome.
The dark circles from years of cultivating like a shut-in had vanished. His once near-sighted and dull eyes were now piercing, almost glowing with light.
He had always been good-looking, in high school, he often found stacks of anonymous love letters in his desk.
During college, right after orientation, a senior had stopped him and asked if he wanted to join the modeling club. It took a lot of smooth talking and an exchange of contact info to get her to let him go.
“Guess I’ve crossed the threshold into next-level handsome? Hmm, maybe just a notch behind my readers.”
Lin Xun rubbed his face, picked up his phone, and returned to the game.
In the Apostle Panel, his Shell Slots had increased to 2/3, and all Shell compatibility boosts were now +25%!
This was a massive win! Lin Xun felt the thrill of hitting the jackpot, his Thousand Faces, Ten Thousand Forms talent was undoubtedly the foundation of his gamepy.
Even setting aside the extra Shell Slot, just the 25% compatibility boost alone was huge.
At this rate, if he kept leveling up, it wouldn’t matter whether the enemies were humanoid or not. As long as he could defeat them, he could possess their Shells.
But the next game prompt froze him in pce.
[Heavy footsteps approach. The Padin of Discipline has somehow appeared outside the church…]
???
Three question marks slowly appeared over Lin Xun’s head.
