For the Aus Continent, still in the feudal era and under theocratic rule, Avallo's corruption was the most difficult to combat and to reverse.

Take, for instance, Urgos, the Eternal Hungry Claw, symbolizing endless greed... not just lust, but encompassing all worldly desires.

His followers are mostly debauched nobles, greedy bandits, and insatiable merchants. Upon realizing their mission, they would claim to be "Desirers," and offer their souls and lives to Urgos in pursuit of unquenchable desires.

The methods to please Urgos are quite twisted as well.

Pure famine or poverty cannot satisfy Urgos; it must be artificially created inequality. This means that two states must coexist—

Some can never satisfy their needs and barely survive, while others are equally insatiable, though due to an abyss of desires.

Then there was the "Deceitful Fog" Novel that Mist Town had recently encountered.

Its entity is an indescribable smoky form composed of thousands of contorted faces and nightmares.

It shares similarities with Avallo but is distinctly different. Those corrupted by it are often not the highest rulers of the kingdom, nor the lowest tier but detectives thirsty for the truth, treasure-seeking explorers, Judgment Chiefs scrutinizing conspiracies, and scholars who delve too deep into the spiritual realm.

Its believers are more often the social middle-class elites, and its corruption usually completes unnoticed, with its signature event being the utterance of the name "Novel" from baseless reasoning—that is the beginning of a Madman's descent into madness.

One pleases Novel by weaving massive conspiracies, ensnaring more people into them, actively or passively spreading arrogant words, and promulgating twisted truths.

The "Nameless Book" does not describe rituals to summon Novel, only noting its unpredictable harm and the difficulty of discerning its nature. Pure idiots often fail to attract Novel's attention; it is usually the true scholars, explorers, and Judgment Chiefs capable of seeking the truth who initiate the ritual.

The corruption of Novel is greatly deceptive and unlike the "Crown of Pride" and "Eternal Hungry Claw" does not cause immense pain from the onset. By the time some realize the presence of corruption, it is often in its advanced stages.

As for the "Flame of Destruction," as the last of the four gods of Chaos, it symbolizes slaughter itself, its form being a giant skeleton ablaze.

It burns with an eternal fire, wielding a sword that can cleave city walls. Lands it crosses turn to scorched earth, and every warrior who has fought it becomes its uncontrollable follower, contributing to its faith... whether they believe in it or not.

Those who devoutly worship it call themselves "Doomsday Warriors." They often please their deity through the most pure and primal method—

Kill, kill, kill!

As long as one slaughters enough sentient beings, one has the potential to become a "Chosen of the Flame of Destruction."

However, according to the "Nameless Book," warriors fighting for faith are not subject to Calmandes's corruption. The Chosen of the Flame of Destruction often arise in ignorant, savage tribal communities, particularly among beastman tribes.

Their totems, like their messy bloodline, sometimes unintentionally shift into the shape of Calmandes... it seems to be an unconscious act.

Although the harm from the Flame of Destruction is immense, its method of spreading fear is straightforward, and its "Doomsday Warriors" often fall into self-destructive strife, making it less of a threat than the first three.

"...Novel rarely abandons a conspiracy it has begun. Those marked by it are highly likely to be targeted again, even if they enter the cycle of reincarnation. Its mark is like nectar, constantly attracting Madmen. Before deducing its name, they will deduce His name until the grand conspiracy is complete. And the person who escapes its schemes time and again will become the most dangerous eternal chosen, becoming His spokesperson in this world."

When Luo Yan read this line, he felt a slight contraction in his heart.

He vaguely felt as if there were eyes watching him from behind the bookshelf.

Calm down—

Novel couldn't possibly be here; the heart-enchanting corruption only appears in one's mind.

Luo Yan took a deep breath, chased away the self-scaring thoughts from his mind, and chose to confront the Corruption of Chaos and the fear lurking deep in his subconscious.

"Novel's corruption subjectively stems from the ignorance deep within people's hearts and living long in the realm of lies, objectively from the suppression of the truth by divine and royal powers... thus becoming paranoid on the path of truth-seeking and ultimately going astray."

"It's worth mentioning that while Novel's corruption is common among mid-tier individuals like scholars and Judgment Chiefs, it frequently arises in the remote areas of civilization and is rarely found in these populations' dense capitals, cultural, and academic centers."

This clue was important.

It even could be said to be a great help to him.

"It seems that unraveling Novel's conspiracy might not be so difficult after all..."

Implementing education and enlightening thought could eradicate some ignorance, while establishing a relaxed academic exchange environment could prevent the "Madmen"'s emergence.

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