CHAPTER 313: 129 BEAST TIDE (PLEASE COLLECT)_3

Hodgson and Nancy had recently made a fortune with their Magnolia Magic Artifact Shop.

It was said—

On its best day of business, the Magic Artifact Shop sold dozens of Demonized Items, raking in a profit of nearly one hundred Magic Stones.

This made Hodgson walk as if carried by the wind.

The people who had come over from Black Swamp crowded around him, flattering and fawning over him.

As for Carl...

He had also been busy lately.

"Master of Essence!"

"King of Thousand Forms!"

"Lord of Fear!"

"Taiwei Jade Emperor!"

"..."

In the Divine Domain Fragment, Carl, seated on a stone chair, looked solemnly at the figures continually kneeling in the mist.

This wasn’t the first time.

In recent days, people had continuously invoked the Divine Name of the "Taiwei Jade Emperor" and tried to make contact with him.

Again?

Conni...

It seems you still haven’t given up!

During the battle at Freedom Port, Conni had personally witnessed Quincy break through the realm of Great Knight to become a Legendary Knight.

He had even found the mark of the Taiwei Jade Emperor amidst the ruins.

After returning to Jiliu City, he began covert experiments, seemingly trying to communicate with the Evil God, the "Taiwei Jade Emperor."

But Conni was clever.

He had not used himself for the experiments. Instead, he had "accidentally" leaked several books about the Evil God.

The few who had "coincidentally" obtained these books tried to make contact with the Evil God on their own.

It was a pity that Conni was not aware that sincerely invoking the Divine’s title meant everything about oneself was exposed to the Divine’s gaze.

The memories of those kneeling were laid bare before the Divine, including the process of stealing the books.

Of course, this included Conni’s deliberate complicity.

It seems Quincy ’stole’ the books from me and then consulted Conni, which is why he also has a copy, Carl mused.

That’s normal.

Conni is a legendary captain of the Endless Sea Domain, his knowledge of the mystical far exceeds others.

Hah...

If I hadn’t been worried he’d see through my ruse, I probably would have chosen him for the experiments first.

However...

Stolen books? That’s a trick I’ve played before!

Shaking his head, Carl felt somewhat speechless.

He had no plans to make contact with other ’followers’ until he had thoroughly researched the Divine Domain Fragment.

But he couldn’t stand someone constantly buzzing in his ears, disturbing his peace.

Conni!

Narrowing his eyes, Carl snorted coldly. So you want to play, do you? Then I’ll play along!

「Jiliu City.」

Wu Meng was a pirate. He had more than a dozen lives on his hands, had defiled other men’s women, and had killed the old and the young.

He was an out-and-out villain.

He didn’t believe in karma, or that good deeds were rewarded and evil deeds punished.

However, he feared death.

Especially after learning he had a serious illness, he tried every conceivable method to save himself.

By a ’chance’ encounter, he obtained a peculiar book that recorded a Divine known as "Taiwei Jade Emperor."

An Evil God!

As a literate pirate, Wu Meng still possessed basic common sense.

Apart from the few well-known Righteous Gods, any being with the title ’Divine’ was an Evil God.

But for someone on the brink of death, an Evil God could be a Righteous God if it could save his life.

As for selling one’s soul...

What was there to fear?

If selling one’s soul could be exchanged for mighty power and endless treasure, he believed few could resist such a temptation.

Following the book’s instructions, he drew the symbol of the Divine on the ground, placed Divine Grace Coins on it, and dripped his own blood onto them.

Finally, kneeling in the center, he emptied his mind and silently chanted the titles:

"Master of Essence!"

"King of Thousand Forms!"

"Lord of Fear!"

"Taiwei Jade Emperor!"

"..."

After a long time.

"Useless!"

Wu Meng opened his eyes, his face filled with despair.

He had actually known for a while that the likelihood of success was slim; after all, not even the Righteous Gods were responding.

Let alone an Evil God.

Shaking his head, he pushed open the door and walked out of the room.

Before him was a bustling port, with bare-chested sailors and workers busy on the docks.

Looking at those young, energetic figures, Wu Meng’s eyes darkened, and his hands unconsciously clenched tighter.

Why?

These lowly, incompetent people can continue to live, while I, a Knight, am about to die.

Shit!

He gritted his teeth, a surge of malice welling up within him.

Before I die, I’ll definitely let it all out! I’ll chop down ten or eight people to be buried with me!

And women...

As the thought crossed his mind, he tied his coin pouch tightly to his waist and strode toward the bustling center of the city.

Since he was going to die anyway, there was no telling who would benefit from the money left behind. Naturally, he intended to spend it all while he still could.

Arriving on the street and watching the crowd come and go, Wu Meng once again felt an inexplicable murderous urge.

He had the impulse to draw his sword and slash wildly.

If I’m going to die, none of you will have it easy either!

This malice had been lingering in his heart for the past few days. When it finally erupted, he would surely go insane.

"Hmph..."

He exhaled sharply, suppressing the restlessness in his heart, and strode towards the most famous tavern nearby.

He would eat and drink his fill before considering anything else.

"The ships that went out to sea are back. I heard they have water monkeys on board. Elder Carl will definitely be pleased to hear it."

"Right!"

"Let’s go and check it out."

"After so long, a ship that ventured into the distant seas has finally returned. We shouldn’t have any more problems with our fish harvests from now on."

The unfamiliar voices made Wu Meng involuntarily stop in his tracks. He turned and blocked the two speakers.

"Hm?"

Susan looked at the man who had stopped in front of them with a puzzled expression and frowned, "Do you need something?"

"Conni, do you know him?"

"No!" Conni’s eyes narrowed as he slowly shook his head. "I don’t know him."

He actually did recognize him. One of my own ’pawns,’ Conni mused, though I’m sure he doesn’t recognize me—at least, not well.

Standing before the two, Wu Meng’s eyes were vacant. The muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, forcing a strange expression onto his face.

"Conni!"

"Conni!"

His voice was low, like a sound emanating from the depths of a sewer—eerie, cold, nauseating...

Conni’s expression changed, and he subconsciously pulled Susan behind him.

"Come find me."

Wu Meng’s body swayed, blood gushing from both eyes. A grotesque smile spread across his face, and his voice twisted, "Come find me quickly!"

"Hurry, I can’t wait any longer!"

BANG!

Before he could finish speaking, his body suddenly exploded, as if a high-explosive bomb had been hidden inside him.

Blood, flesh, and splinters of bone flew through the air, covering the street and enveloping Conni and Susan like a sudden, violent downpour.

SPLATTER! SPLATTER!

Severed limbs and pieces of flesh rained down. The flesh that landed still possessed vitality, crawling towards Conni like maggots.

Two eyeballs, mixed with the blood, blinked, their mouths opening and closing as the strange voice echoed in Conni’s ears.

"Come on!"

"Weren’t you looking for me?"

"Come on!"

"Come on!"

"..."

Conni’s face turned white. He stumbled backward repeatedly, his body trembling uncontrollably. Then, his stomach churned, and he violently threw up.

Worm-like maggots writhed in the vomit, causing Susan to let out a horrified scream.

"Ah!"