Beneath the rift in the Sky Dome, one could glimpse the fires of distant stars falling from the heavens.

The earth shook and the heavens trembled.

The darkness behind amassed like an approaching tsunami, forming an iron wall thousands of feet tall that closed in inch by inch, its speed increasing rapidly.

"There are still over four hundred people left."

Great Bone huddled in the shadow of a tall building, his face pale as he watched the rapidly descending numbers on the system panel. In just ten short minutes, the count had plummeted from one thousand two hundred to four hundred.

The tide of darkness drew ever closer. He looked up at his teammate, unable to bear the looming pressure and stirring restlessly. "What do we do?"

"Hold tight. Don't move," Tian Minjing replied, squatting behind a wall with clenched teeth. "Stand firm. Move and you die."

The streets outside had turned into complete chaos.

When all the Sublimators were forced by the dark tide to gather in the Central District, the outbreak of conflict was inevitable.

No, it should be said that, just as everyone had thought and expected, the slaughter began smoothly and normally.

The chaos of the battle and the danger of the scene exceeded all expectations.

Yet, more terrifying than the contestants were the monsters that came from who knew where.

It was as if they had inadvertently entered the lair of cannibalistic creatures. With the spread of the mist, everything became ghastly and horrifying. Invisible Ghosts wandered in the fog, while the Sky Dome above continued to emit the screeching cries of non-human entities.

Something was raging and roaring in fury.

Blazes of fire swept across repeatedly, reducing everything to ashes.

Apart from a dozen or so faint, ferocious presences, all other contestants could only shrink in corners, guarding their meager spoils of war, waiting for this tide of Disaster to pass.

At the very least, they hoped not to come away empty-handed.

But the Abyss didn't want their stakes. Instead, it generously bestowed upon them more blood.

Nearly like a tide, thick Plasma spurted from under a shattered manhole cover, forming a downpour that selflessly splashed in all directions. Wherever the bloodwater fell, ugly tentacles grew out and sought victims to devour.

A multitude of soulless living corpses wandered between the bloodwater and the tentacles.

Those who had once dressed in ancient attire—Court Officials, nobles, and warriors—had all become unrecognizably deformed, either with Snake Faces, multiple eyes, multiple legs, or transformed into beasts. Some humongous creatures shook entire streets as they ran, while others moved silently like Ghosts.

The one thing they had in common was the hunger in their eyes and the craving for the souls of the living.

"Beautiful, oh so beautiful…" The bloodstained Court Officials crawled atop the corpses, maintaining their elegance even when indulging in Gluttony, savoring the blood with grace as if delighted by the feast. "Today's dishes are exceptionally delectable indeed."

"Bitter, oh so bitter! Torn apart by chariots, such bitterness!"

"Save me, Father! Don't send me to be a living Sacrifice…"

"I hate you! I hate you all, you useless things! I hate you!"

The raspy cries of misery and bursts of laughter echoed through the dark streets.

The entire Xiematai had finally shed its former disguise; the Disaster Miracle that had slumbered in the darkness was awakened. After being intensified, everything swiftly transformed into a nightmare.

And deep within that nightmare, a stern howl suddenly resounded.

Could that be... the howl of a wolf?

The world stood still for a moment.

As that distant howl grew gradually closer, beyond the mists and above the blood-red crack in the Sky Dome, a dazzling star plummeted. It transformed into a White Wolf, landing before Ye Xueya.

Amidst countless white hairs whirling in the wind, a holy and majestic aura arose from the White Wolf.

The countless tentacles that had grown from the Sun Shaman Embryo were sliced neatly in two under the White Wolf's gaze. The cuts were sharp, devoid of any life force, and the tentacles turned to ash before they even hit the ground.

Ye Xueya was taken aback for a moment before she broke into a cheerful laugh.

"The old man is finally going all out this time…"

She reached out. The White Wolf soared up, its form made of starlight beginning to crack and break, replaced by an intense, pale glow so dazzling it was hard to look at, which then settled into her hand.

A rainbow streaked across the sky.

Such an illusion abruptly appeared in everyone's consciousness.

"Sleek White Wolf, follows the righteous path; responding to portents, it transforms its nature, and in its mouth, it carries the spirit hook…"

As Ye Xueya chanted, this weapon, long associated with Xuan Niao, burst forth with a terrifyingly sharp aura. The pale light coalesced, forming an oddly shaped hook.

"You wretched woman, prepare to say goodbye to your past!"

As if dictating the turn of Sky's Command, symbolizing a shift in destiny, the Divine Nature now clung to the edge of the hook. Amidst Ye Xueya's laughter, it struck down towards the rotting visage of the Sun Shaman Embryo.

"—Take my Rebirth Hook!"

The heavens and earth split asunder.

A dog's bark?

In the darkness, Huai Shi looked up incredulously, gazing at the sky shrouded in darkness and thick fog. Then, a hideous screech burst forth.

It was like the screech of a disfigured woman, a spiteful sound that filled one with dread.

Soon, an endless rain of blood spilled through the gloomy clouds, pouring down.

The foul-smelling blood carried an eerie vitality that infiltrated everything it touched. Wherever it fell, clusters of flesh grew from the soil and stone, seeking victims to devour.

As the jade railing collapsed, the main gate of the Imperial Palace suddenly flung open with a thunderous crash. The eerie sound of the Kagura Bell, along with the ghostly dance, spread to every corner.

Under the chill flame of candles, the priests with their backs to the gate and the shrine maidens dancing before the fire all turned their heads in unison, twisting them nearly one hundred eighty degrees. Their stiff, pallid faces, each with a pair of blank eyes, stared intently at the sudden intruders.

The chilling aura that had just made Huai Shi shiver emanated from them.

At first glance, they looked handsome, each face flawless. But then one would detect an indescribable wrongness, akin to the deathly pallor only a corpse possesses.

It was as if they were pieced together from countless fragments. Every perfect feature continuously shifted until, eventually, it became difficult to discern with the naked eye whether one was seeing an illusion or something else.

One would be drawn in by a coldness like the chill of a grave, uncontrollably wanting to plunge into it.

"Still… not enough… Your offerings… still not enough…"

Amidst shrill screams from the Sky Dome, the High Priest spoke, his voice stiff, seemingly terrified yet devoid of any emotion, "—The Huangquan is enraged!!!"

Then, the assisting priests and priestesses let out hungry shrieks.

"Live sacrifices!"

"Live sacrifices!!"

"Live sacrifices!!!"

"Looking for a promotion? Shouldn't you talk to HR about that?" Hidden behind his helpful big brothers, Huai Shi shook his head indifferently. "What does this have to do with our cold-hearted Department of Justice?"

BOOM!

The group of "big brother" shadows wasted no time on chatter. With an air that spelled doom for all copyright infringers, they swung their briefcases and charged at the priests before them.

In an instant, the priests' robes tore apart. Hideous giant Spiders burst from within, madly stabbing at the shadows with their legs.

Shell after shell broke open. The lovely exteriors were torn asunder, and the monstrosities brewing within emerged, bathing in sticky blood and letting out piercing roars.

This scene of a demonic assembly left Huai Shi slack-jawed.

Even looking like this, they still want to claw their way up the ranks! Your Company is really damn cutthroat; a bit more effort and they could probably rank among the top hundred corporations of Hell!

At the back, Huai Shi only had time to mutter this criticism before his gaze was drawn to something enshrined on the Divine Position.

It seemed to be the remains of some ancient artifact. The irregular copper fragment was only palm-sized. Its surface was smooth and even, as if from a Bronze Mirror, its edges adorned with faded patterns.

The Gold that once decorated it had been replaced by the patina of Bronze, worn by time. Yet the mirror piece appeared empty and elusive, reflecting nothing, as if it were a gap in space leading somewhere unknown.

Rainbows of light flitted across it; bubbles of illusion appeared and vanished. In its reflection, the world was void.

Now, the broken mirror piece, enshrined on the Divine Position, had been connected to the entire Imperial Palace through the Sacrifice.

It was ceaselessly devouring the Source Substance offered in the Sacrifice, emitting an inexplicable glow and forming a membrane that enveloped the entire Imperial Palace.

A Border Relic? Or perhaps a shard of the Philosopher's Stone? Huai Shi couldn't tell.

But he was sure of one thing: this item was definitely valuable!

Just looking at it, an indescribable hunger surged from within his heart!

I want to acquire it, to own it, to dominate it, to devour it…

Mine, mine, mine, mine, MINE!

The Mountain Ghost Stigma within him was already excited to the point of madness; that kindred greed instantly turned his eyeballs red.

His eyes were fixed on that piece of copper; he could no longer look away.

No, I have to figure out a way to get my hands on it.

Huai Shi rubbed his hands frantically, his mind racing with nefarious intentions. After all, with members of the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy here, taking their things is practically righteous and justified. I don't even have to pay when I eat out at Little Cat Paradise! So what's the big deal with taking your broken mirror?! This logic is fatally compelling—yes, fatally, if I'm not careful. It could cost me my life. So I have to think thrice before acting.

Taking advantage of the chaotic battle between the Department of Justice and the priests and priestesses, Huai Shi lurked in the shadows, creeping forward.

His method involved using his Yin Soul talent to fade from sight, then holding the Fan before his face while muttering in his heart, You can't see me, you can't see me.

Whether it was because this ostrich strategy was particularly effective, or because the allied forces' offensive was too strong, Huai Shi, Fan still in hand, crouched in the shadows untouched by candlelight. He darted and weaved, advancing in a zigzag, several times brushing past the edges of those monstrosities as he crawled by.

The Divine Position grew closer and closer. The Bronze Mirror began to stir, as if beckoning to him.

It cast a ray of light.

Under the bright light, Huai Shi involuntarily sprang from the shadows.

In his hands, the Fan trembled. Flames spontaneously ignited, instantly consuming its worn surface, leaving only a bare handle in Huai Shi's grip.

I'm screwed...

The shattered main hall descended into a suffocating silence for a moment.

In the midst of the chaotic fight between demons and ghosts, a youth suddenly popped up, the handle of the Bald Fan in hand, having snuck right up to the Divine Position.

Feeling the shocked gazes from all around, Huai Shi turned stiffly, offering an awkward yet polite smile.

The next moment, the young man leaped, swinging his Axe and cleaving the head of a deformed priest obstructing his way.

"What are you looking at?!" Huai Shi roared viciously back at the group of priests. "Still not going to thank Brother Huai Shi?!"

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