Chapter 98: The Black Moon Church with Many Weirdos
Facing Xia Feng's cold expression, Cha Naxue wanted to say something, but suddenly, a sharp hissing sound pierced through the sky—like nails scraping against a blackboard—so shrill it made everyone's scalp tingle.
Everyone looked up and saw the cracks above the field widening. This was because the number of people had reached the required threshold. Sensing this, the disaster realm opened its entrance, inviting them inside.
Of course, the disaster realm was the ability of a disaster beast, and its intentions were far from benevolent.
Only by luring more spiritual masters to their deaths under its rules could it grow stronger.
A low hum reverberated as black light surged from the dark fissures, spreading outward in waves. Xia Feng immediately felt an invisible force tugging at him, attempting to drag him into the alternate space.
He realized he could resist this time, unlike during his previous encounter on Blood Evil Street, where he had been powerless.
Must be because my spiritual pressure has reached the second level now.
As the thought crossed his mind, Xia Feng relaxed his focus, and the scenery before him shifted abruptly.
They found themselves in a clearing encircled by dense forest.
At the center stood a colossal tree, thirty meters tall, its bark twisted into the gnarled face of an old man.
The wooden face slowly opened its eyes, its withered lips curling into a sinister grin.
"Welcome, everyone, to Mijia's Forest," it croaked. "You may call me… Grandpa Mi."
Grandpa? Xia Feng glared at the grotesque tree face. You're just a shameless beast. Who'd call you "Grandpa"?
"Grandpa Mi~" Yulina's voice dripped with sickly sweetness, sending shivers down everyone's spines. "Could you tell me where Brother Wen Zaiye is?"
The old man's face froze. "…?"
After a long pause, it chose to ignore the revolting tone of the human woman. Its raspy, sinister voice echoed through the shadowed woods:
"Rules of the Disaster Realm. A thousand bark keys are hidden within this forest. Only one is real—the key that unlocks the seal of the tree house. The bearer of the true key may enter. Inside, three fruits await: the Soul-Infused Fruit, the Life Fruit, and the Wisdom Fruit. Choose one to take. Once claimed, the disaster realm's seal will lift, and survivors may leave."
The rules were simple—just a tedious treasure hunt. Xia Feng's interest waned the moment he heard them.
However, the mention of the Soul-Infused Fruit caught his attention.
The Soul-Infused Fruit came from the Soul-Infused Tree, which, like the Tree of Life and the Tree of Wisdom, was a spiritual plant descended from the World Tree.
Consuming the Soul-Infused Fruit could enhance a spiritualist's spiritual power.
Spiritual power and spiritual pressure were two critical measures of a spiritualist's strength. Spiritual pressure functioned like mana—fueling the use of spiritual attire—while spiritual power was more esoteric.
Normally, the death of the body meant true death. But if a spiritualist possessed sufficiently high spiritual power, their soul could linger in the world long after physical demise, awaiting a chance at resurrection.
More practically, spiritual power served as a defense against certain spiritual attire and weapons—hypnosis, mind control, psychic assaults, and the like.
Though spiritual power naturally increased with each level a spiritualist attained, it often proved inadequate against mental attacks from peers or even weaker foes.
Thus, the Soul-Infused Fruit was a coveted treasure among spiritualists.
Xia Feng couldn't help but glance at the black-skirted woman beside him. He didn't know the exact nature of Mu Qingtong's spirit weapon, but its effects were clearly mental.
If he could elevate his spiritual power to overwhelming heights, he'd no longer have to fear this little Witch of Destruction.
Mu Qingtong noticed Xia Feng's eager gaze and smirked, her eyes curving with amusement.
"Mr. Xia," she said lightly, "dreams can hold anything you desire."
Tch— Xia Feng looked away.
Hope was slim. Mu Qingtong's spirit weapon was Alpha-grade. Even if its full power was restricted by her spiritual pressure level, it was nothing to scoff at.
A spiritual fruit could greatly enhance mental strength—but whether it could elevate him enough to rival Mu Qingtong's spirit weapon remained uncertain.
"Grandpa Mi," Yulina pressed, unwilling to let it go, "you still haven't told me where Brother Wen Zaiye is!"
"He's dead."
"Dead?"
Rustle—
Over thirty branches hung from the giant tree, each one suspending a bloodied corpse.
The old man lowered one branch, revealing a fresh-looking body. Blood still gushed from its wounds, as if death had come only recently.
"If you mean him," the old man said flatly, "he lingered in the disaster realm too long. Couldn't withstand the erosion of the evil force. Ended up taking his own life."
The moment the corpse came into view, both Cha Naxue and Yulina's eyes locked onto the aqua-blue pendant dangling from its neck.
Tears of the Moon Goddess!
The divine artifact they had been searching for.
But before either could speak, the branch swung violently, hurling the corpse toward a distant treehouse. The door slammed shut behind it, sealing the body inside as emerald light enveloped the entire structure.
The old man's voice turned grim.
"Enough, humans. I suggest you find the real key quickly. Otherwise, the concentrated evil here will kill you long before starvation or thirst does."
Though the forest was small, the density of evil energy rivaled the most corrupted zones of the Evil Dragon Forest. A second-level spiritualist would last, at most, two hours.
Hearing the warning, the two Black Moon Church factions huddled together, whispering strategies.
Xia Feng observed them silently. Twenty knights in total—ten under Cha Naxue's command, the other ten loyal to that pretentious woman. The divide was clear.
Is No. 17 hiding among them?
Right now, Xia Feng cared only about finding No. 17. The key hunt could wait. Let these fools scramble for the Tears of the Moon Goddess and the Soul-Infused Fruit.
No. 17's message in the Wheel of Life had specified the meeting point: 3,000 meters north of the evil beast.
All he had to do was go there and wait.
"Fair lady, might I have the pleasure of your acquaintance?"
Gongsun Ze had sidled up unnoticed, his peach-blossom eyes fixed on Mu Qingtong with a practiced smile.
"I am Gongsun Ze from the Northern Territories. Would you care to accompany me?"
As he spoke, those ever-charming eyes glinted with something unnatural. The smirk tugging at his lips turned sly.
Mu Qingtong's golden pupils frosted over. A flash of murderous intent surfaced—then vanished just as quickly. Her voice, cold and resonant, echoed directly into Xia Feng's mind:
"He just used mental interference on me. He's trouble. Help me deal with him."
(End of Chapter)