CHAPTER 989: CHAPTER 182: THE ANCIENT DEITY’S COMMISSION

The God of the Deep Sea, worshipped by the Tentacle Cultists, is an ancient deity opposed to the Lord of the Deep Sea.

This ancient deity perceives the insignificant believer and Lu Li as indeed grace, and the divine oracle granted makes the Tentacle Cultists tremble with fanatic fervor.

He demands Lu Li to accomplish one thing.

The arbitrary demand of the God of the Deep Sea is like humans commanding ants; regardless of the unequal power, or the unequal price to pay.

But when ants truly form a connection with humans, the assistance they gain also far exceeds their imagination.

Although he was defeated in the struggle with the Lord of the Deep Sea, his status is not inferior to the Lord of the Deep Sea.

Lu Li must be careful not to let the aura of the God of the Deep Sea distort his consciousness, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

"What does He want me to do?"

The Tentacle Cultists reverently and fanatically narrated the divine oracle of the God of the Deep Sea: deep in the old sewers of Midnight City, an auction of rare treasures is about to start. Go there and retrieve the last auctioned item.

It sounds like some kind of trial.

The God of the Deep Sea has countless believers, retrieving the item doesn’t need outsiders to help, unless for some reason the believers cannot enter the old sewers.

"Will you come with us?"

The Tentacle Cultist revealed private matters: "We cannot set foot on the deep grounds."

Lu Li had no choice. Even if the God of the Deep Sea wouldn’t pay a reward, he would have to accept the commission; otherwise, the devout Tentacle Cultists before him would tear them apart.

However, it might not be as bad as imagined; at least the Tentacle Cultists provided a crystal-like Strange Currency to pay for that item’s bid.

The moment Lu Li touched it, the pale blue crystal frost spread along his palm; only by tossing it to Ophelia did he stop the frost from continuing.

This Strange Currency brought through a ritual by the Lord of the Deep Sea was confirmed by a twisted figure: a crystalline formed after a powerful soul’s death, the top-tier Strange Currency.

Ophelia soon handed it over to Merchant Anthony for storage; she was also affected by the Crystal Strange Currency, her charred hand resembling cooled magma.

Before leaving, they went to the neighboring Vine Camp. The Prophet was not yet awake, Puxiu suggested Lu Li use the power of the Dreamwalker.

Lu Li didn’t do it. He wasn’t yet familiar with the power of the Dreamwalker. If he couldn’t leave the dream once he entered... he would be lost in the time stream for billions of years.

Leaving the Twisted Vine Church, they headed to Rodest Port. Along the way, the anomalies dispersed due to the group composed of dozens of Heretics.

Safely reaching the port, before boarding the ship, the leader of the fleeing sect found Lu Li.

The ocean-going ship is expected to be completed in half a month; they hope Lu Li would come to see them off.

Boarding the Andrea, the Tentacle Cultists also followed on the ship; they will go with Lu Li to the Barren Lands.

Under the watch of a few fleeing sect believers, the Andrea sailed into the thick darkness, its wake dissipating into the ceaseless sea waves.

...

Gurgle gurgle——

The coffee on the stove boiled, spreading its aroma.

Philia took down the kettle and poured it into a coffee cup in front of Lu Li, also pouring a bowl for Puxiu.

"Thank you, Miss Ophelia."

Puxiu was listless.

He was still immersed in the sadness of losing a companion. But with time, he would gradually accept Katerina’s departure.

At least Katerina was still alive and possibly living longer than they all. If not for this encounter, she would eventually die like an Evildoer one day.

"What are you... thinking about."

Ophelia put down the kettle and asked Lu Li, who was spreading out a map and contemplating.

"Landing site."

Because of Andrea, they no longer had to disembark at Storm Corner to take a long-distance convoy into the depths of the old sewers to reach Midnight City’s old sewers through this long route.

But it didn’t mean other routes were easy. Even if they took the known route with old sewers, the nearest town to the coast was only 150 miles less than the Storm Corner route.

Moreover, they were not clear about the areas the old sewers extended to.

They urgently needed a map of the old sewers, which could only be obtained from Vena Ice-Free Port.

Lu Li detached from his thoughts and told Merchant Anthony: "I need a map of the old sewers."

The request was passed to Mayor Matteus, who was overwhelmed because of the Exorcist incident, and he hesitated, answering that doing so might expose Lu Li’s whereabouts.

"Then let them expose it."

The old sewers are vast enough, even if the Judiciary Guard knew, they could do nothing.

Mayor Matteus grabbed the phone and called an assistant, instructing him to collect maps of the Barren Lands, old sewers, the Shattered Lennon Islands, and the World’s Ridge Mountains as fast as possible.

"Is it His Excellency Lulian?" Assistant Valendo couldn’t help but ask, and after confirmation, he exited the office and went to a street outside to the Privy Council under the dim streetlights.

He wasn’t received; on the contrary—the Privy Council members all avoided him, as if evading some deadly plague.

After the Exorcist incident, only a small portion of officials remained loyal to Mayor Matteus.

"The mayor needs maps of the Barren Lands, old sewers, the Shattered Lennon Islands, and the World’s Ridge Mountains."

Assistant Valendo found them, conveying Mayor Matteus’s instructions, although they all knew those truly in need were His Excellency Lulian.

He had the subordinates watch the entrance, followed by anxious waiting.

Unfortunately, exposure was inevitable; when the subordinates rushed over to inform them that the Judiciary Guard had arrived, they had to stop collecting.

"We only found maps of the Barren Lands and the old sewers..."

"It’s too late... give it to me first!"

Assistant Valendo hurriedly looked behind, hearing surprised shouts and dull footsteps coming from the adjacent hall, and headed to the back door with only the compiled maps of the Barren Lands and old sewers.

Squeak——

The back door was pushed open a gap, and the assistant Valendo looking out saw the subordinate being questioned by the Judiciary Guard, then quietly closed the door again.

He climbed up to the second floor step by step, crossing the window; he heard questioning from downstairs.

"Who just left?"

"It’s Assistant Valendo!" someone shouted.

Then the dull footsteps left.

Assistant Valendo gritted his teeth, climbed out of the window, and leaped down, using the mist tide to obscure his form.

But the mist tide also prevented him from seeing the ground and he unexpectedly sprained his foot.

Holding the documents tightly, he limped around the Judiciary Guard’s blocked area, heading to the City Hall.

Passing by an onlooker, Assistant Valendo called him over: "Call the mayor to summon the merchant! Wait..."

Two minutes later.

Assistant Valendo staggered to the steps in front of the City Hall.

"Search him."

The waiting Judiciary Guard approached coldly.

After letting them search him roughly, Assistant Valendo asked, "Can I go in now?"

No one from the Judiciary Guard responded, only making way for the blocked steps.

Assistant Valendo dragged his sprained foot up the stairs, and when the guard could no longer see him, he quickened his pace towards the mayor’s office.

Bang!

The breathless assistant Valendo pushed open the door, looking at Mayor Matteus behind the desk: "Mr. Mayor..."

"Already sent over."