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Chapter 397: Reunion with the Blood God Cult Leader
🕑 Added 2024-10-26 14:39:55 +0000 UTCManu hurried over, carrying the dazed Mingge, his expression serious as he approached Rhett and the others. He looked at Rhett gravely and said,
"Something's not right. Just as I was about to descend, I was struck by a strange force... Hmm?"
Before he could finish speaking, he noticed the black and white heart-shaped stones that had appeared in Rhett's hand. His eyes widened in surprise.
"This... this is it!" Manu stepped forward, carefully examining the black stone and even holding it in his hand. He looked at Rhett with a heavy expression, "There's no doubt about it, this is the same energy I sensed earlier. Although it's lost its vitality and seems dead, it definitely comes from the same source as the one that attacked me!"
"What exactly is this? Where did you find it?" Manu studied the heart-shaped stone for a while, feeling its smooth, unbreakable surface, which seemed to contain a mysterious power. He then looked up at Rhett for answers.
"You're saying you only sense a familiar energy from the black stone?" Rhett pondered for a moment and responded with a question instead of an answer.
"Yes, the white stone is entirely different. Although I can feel another strange energy from it, it’s vastly different from the black heart-shaped stone," Manu replied.
"I see..." Rhett nodded slightly, beginning to understand.
He then recounted everything that had transpired earlier to Manu in full detail.
"Black and white angels?" Manu frowned. "Can you describe their appearance?"
Rhett thought for a moment and said, "Simple."
With a wave of his hand, the air gathered into a mass of earth elements, which Rhett controlled to recreate the black and white angels based on his memory. Although he couldn’t add colors, the general shape and structure were accurate.
"The one on the left, holding the bow and arrow, is the white angel. The one on the right, wielding the trident, is the black angel." Rhett pointed to the two earthen statues floating in the air.
Manu stroked his chin, deep in thought. "Hmm, angels... That rings a bell. I seem to have some fragmented memories about angels in our world, but my memory on this topic is so incomplete that I can’t recall much."
Rhett's eyes flickered with curiosity. "Do they look the same as these?"
"No, absolutely not!" Manu looked at the earthen statues decisively and said, "These ones feel completely foreign to me. We’ve never had power like this in our world."
"Hmm..." Rhett fell into silence, not saying anything more.
Manu then asked, "Where did you find these stones? Did you take them from some part of the angels' bodies?"
"No, they weren't taken from any particular part. After they died, their bodies condensed into these heart-shaped stones. It was very strange," Rhett explained, taking out the third heart-shaped stone—the one supposedly containing the power of the God of Love. He compared it to the black and white stones. The texture and aura were distinctly different, though their shapes were somewhat similar.
"Rhett, would you mind if I took these stones to study them?" Manu’s eyes gleamed with curiosity, eager to explore the mysteries of these angelic beings.
"Go ahead. Take them. I hope you can unlock their secrets soon," Rhett said, tossing the three heart-shaped stones over to Manu. "By the way, I want to remind you that while your spiritual power is unique, it’s still limited, and it’s holding back your true potential in alchemy. I think you should spend some time meditating to strengthen it. Do spiritual potions work on you?"
Manu shrugged. "I don’t have a digestive system, so I can’t break down potions into substances that would benefit my spiritual power. That’s one thing I’m envious of you for."
Rhett clicked his tongue. "What a shame. If only you had Mingge’s abilities…"
"Mingge's abilities?" Manu was puzzled for a moment. "Are you talking about the Soul Howl? How does that relate to our conversation?"
"Hasn't Mingge told you?" Rhett looked up, as if realizing something. "Ah, right, he only discovered this ability in our last simulation. He probably hasn’t had the chance to tell you yet."
"Speaking of which, why hasn’t he woken up yet?" Rhett glanced at Mingge, who was still slumped on Manu’s shoulder, showing signs of frustration.
"Perhaps his soul is still too weak," Manu speculated. "But what exactly is this new ability Mingge discovered?"
"Well, it seems he can devour souls to enhance himself. Not only that, but he can also take over others and even absorb some of their memories," Rhett said with a sigh. "It’s a dangerous power—almost seems unrelated to the Blood Demon lineage but has more in common with the Soul Demons. Although, his appearance differs greatly from theirs."
Manu’s eyes lit up. "Mingge has such an ability?"
He muttered to himself, "If it can devour memories, it could be highly valuable if used correctly…"
"Could we turn him into a walking library, devouring the souls of knowledgeable people like top alchemists from various kingdoms and storing vast amounts of information?" Tyrell suggested enthusiastically.
Before he could finish, the temperature around them dropped suddenly.
Under Rhett’s stern gaze, Tyrell quickly realized his words had been poorly chosen. He waved his hands frantically, "No, Father! I didn’t mean it like that! I was only suggesting it be done to heinous criminals…"
Rhett’s expression softened, and after a moment of contemplation, he shook his head. "No, even if someone is highly talented in alchemy, if they’re a serious criminal, the kingdom would likely pardon their offenses if they didn’t commit treason. Even in the worst case, there would be someone to take the fall for them."
Reilei, standing to the side, nodded in agreement. "Father is right. Using Tyrell’s conditions, you probably wouldn’t find a single suitable target! But I can think of one person who would absolutely meet your criteria."
"Who?" Tyrell asked in surprise.
"The Blood God Cult Leader!"
The voice came from Manu's shoulder.
At some point during the conversation, Mingge had quietly regained some of his strength, though he still appeared weak and frail.
"Don’t push yourself. If you’re tired, just keep resting," Rhett glanced at Mingge, having only recently noticed his recovery. But seeing how frail he still was, Rhett didn’t rush to ask him questions.
"I’m fine. That nightmarish energy has already been digested," Mingge said, struggling to stand upright from Manu’s shoulder. He now leaned against Manu's neck.
"Are you sure you're okay? You still seem weak," Manu turned his head, frowning in concern.
"It’s not a big problem. I’ll recover with a bit of rest. Of course… If there’s a soul for me to consume, I could recover faster." Mingge’s eyes darted nervously toward Rhett, worried that his words might earn him a reprimand.
Rhett gave him a meaningful look. "That request can be arranged. But you mentioned the Blood God Cult Leader earlier, and that reminded me of something—do you think there’s another version of yourself inside his body?"
At those words, everyone fell into deep thought.
Even Manu frowned, seeming surprised that he hadn’t considered that possibility before.
"That… seems unlikely," Mingge snapped awake, his sleepiness vanishing in an instant.
"The world of the family sanctuary doesn't generate duplicate souls, but Mingge… wasn’t born from the sanctuary, right?" Manu crossed his arms, coolly analyzing the situation. "For now, it's an open question. The best way to find out would be to investigate directly. Since the simulation is unfolding smoothly, the Blood God Cult Leader must exist in this world, and there’s likely a Blood Demon fragment inside him as well."
Rhett squinted, realizing that Manu’s logic was sound. He quickly agreed with the plan.
One week later.
After settling his three sons in Twilight City, Rhett, along with Manu and Mingge, arrived at a desolate mountain in the northern region of the Greyroot Kingdom.
This area lay near the borders of the Scorchstone Mountains. Just another ten kilometers to the northwest would officially take them into the Scorchstone Mountain Range.
Based on the information gathered from interrogating captured Blood God Cult alchemists over the past few days, Rhett had pinpointed this location as the most likely hiding spot of the Blood God Cult Leader.
The area was uninhabited and frequently patrolled by high-level magical beasts. Without Saint-level strength, no one could survive here for long.
But Rhett, of course, was not concerned about that.
As Rhett stood atop a mountain peak, casually swatting away a white eagle that had intended to attack him, the entire surrounding world suddenly plunged into darkness.
Rhett’s expression shifted slightly. Sensing a familiar presence, he paused briefly before a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
True to the nature of an ‘old friend,’ the Blood God Cult Leader had come to greet him before Rhett could even begin his search.
Just as he was about to greet his "old friend," a foul, corrosive liquid shot toward his neck from the darkness.
Rhett remained unfazed, gathering his spiritual power to summon three spikes, which he shot forward with great force.
Though similar in appearance, each spike radiated a different kind of energy, representing three distinct forms of arcane power.
The spikes pierced through the corrosive liquid easily, tearing through it without obstruction and heading straight for the figure hidden in the darkness.
A pained scream echoed faintly from the shadows.
"Impossible! Condensing Arcane, Shattering Arcane, and Dismantling Arcane—all at the grandmaster level! How could such a monster exist in this world?"
Hidden in the shadows, the Blood God Cult Leader, who had been struck with overwhelming force, was left in complete shock.
It had taken him a tremendous amount of energy and effort to barely deflect the attack. Now, he hovered in the air, his face grim as he stared at Rhett. "Who are you? I’ve never seen you among the human Saints before! And what are those things by your side?"
He stared at the fiery light and the bat-like phantom beside Rhett with uncertainty. Both radiated strange vitality, yet they were utterly foreign to him.
Normally, the Blood God Cult Leader would never have initiated a confrontation. He was too cautious for that.
But the Blood Demon fragment residing within him had given him direct orders to take Rhett down at all costs and capture that mysterious presence—likely the transparent bat—alive.
However, the power Rhett had just unleashed far exceeded the Cult Leader’s expectations. After that first exchange, he realized Rhett was far more formidable than anticipated—a force that could break him if he wasn’t careful.
Rhett, on the other hand, felt a wave of mixed emotions as he faced the Blood God Cult Leader—once known as Janka, a former student at the Golden Blood Academy. There was a certain complexity to his attitude toward this figure.
Initially, he had thought of Janka as a wicked villain, evil to the core.
But as the truth behind their history was revealed, Rhett realized that Janka was little more than a foolish, pitiful madman…
"Hello, Janka," Rhett called out into the darkness, as if he could see the Cult Leader hidden within.
At that moment, Janka, who had been struggling with the decision to fight or flee, froze in shock. Hearing his true name called out had stunned him even more than the power of Rhett’s attacks.
His pupils contracted as he pointed a trembling finger toward Rhett. "What… What did you say? Who is Janka?"
He was still clinging to the hope that this was all just a coincidence.
But Rhett merely smiled. "Janka, do you want me to help you get your revenge?"
Hearing Rhett’s calm and resolute tone, Janka’s heart sank. It was clear that this man knew his true identity.
But Janka frowned, his confusion evident. "Revenge? Revenge for what? I don’t understand what you’re talking about. You’re just spouting nonsense…"
Even as he spoke, Janka turned to flee, disregarding the Blood Demon fragment’s commands. He had no desire to continue this confrontation.
"Aren’t you seeking revenge for Shaman and for Headmaster Gunnars of Golden Blood Academy? I can help you…" Rhett's voice followed him like an unbreakable chain, dragging him back toward Rhett.
Janka turned around, his steps growing more resolute as he walked slowly toward Rhett. For the first time in centuries, the anger and bitterness he had been suppressing flared up uncontrollably.
He stared directly into Rhett’s eyes. "Who are you, and how do you know about all of this?"
At this moment, Janka realized there was no point in hiding anymore. He decided to lay his cards on the table, eager to understand Rhett's true intentions.
"Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is that I know you’re nothing but a pawn to the Blood Demon. In the future, you’ll never have the chance to seek revenge in the Underworld. The only person who can help you… is me!" Rhett stated confidently as he stared Janka down.
For the first time, the once-proud Janka deflated in Rhett’s presence.
This man had seen through his entire plan. Despite his frustration and anger, Janka felt compelled to ask, "Why should I believe you? Can you kill the Blood Demon? Or take me to the Underworld?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Janka let out a pained grunt, coughing up blood as his face twisted in agony.
Rhett’s expression changed, realizing that the Blood Demon fragment inside Janka was acting up.
Unlike Mingge, the Blood Demon fragment had been corrupted by the Blood Demon’s will. Its powers and personality had been twisted into something far more sinister, full of malice and bloodthirst.
Rhett had already discussed this with Mingge. Although Mingge’s connection to the fragment might give him some influence over it, it wouldn’t be easy to defeat it in a single blow.
Rhett hurriedly said, "Quick! Force the Blood Demon fragment out! I’ll help you destroy it!"
"Pfft!"
Janka spat out another mouthful of blood, laughing bitterly. "Unless you tell me how to kill the Blood Demon, I won’t believe you!"
"If you don’t trust me now, you’ll lose your only chance for revenge!" Rhett urged, his expression anxious. "If you trust me, stop resisting, and I’ll show you what I can do!"
"Don’t forget the promise you made to Shaman!" Rhett’s voice rang out powerfully.
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