Heavenly Show Points: 1 (5%)
Zhong Shenxiu occupied a quiet room by himself, evaluating the Heavenly Show System.
"I've finally scraped together a point."
He looked over his various skills, falling into deep thought, "Normal martial arts and arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting can be discarded. In fact, I only have two choices: Primordial Qigong and Profound Yin Soul. With Primordial Qigong, I'm close to becoming a beginner, but for the sake of survival, I should first improve the remnants of Profound Yin Soul..."
That thing within him had always been a major concern for Zhong Shenxiu.
After all, there were only a bit more than ten days left until the next full moon.
And as for the wheel of the Blood Moon, it was unknown when it would hang in the sky and claim his life.
Zhong Shenxiu made up his mind and used his only point of Heavenly Show Points on the remnants of the Profound Yin Soul.
The Heavenly Show System immediately displayed a message:
[Do you wish to consume 1 Heavenly Show Point to enhance the remnant of the Profound Yin Soul?]
[Profound Yin Soul remnant enhanced!]
[Profound Yin Soul: Level 1]
"The Spirit Platform is the size of a Square Inch, Illuminated by the Ming Wu Xuan Guang, the Xuanyin Gate allows one to witness spirits and deities..."
In an instant, a special level of enlightenment rose in Zhong Shenxiu's mind, granting him considerable insight into this Daoist Skill.
He had been a mere Martial Artist and had not studied Daoist Skills, with only a vague understanding of some Daoist terms.
If Su Daoshi had been the one to practice this skill before, there might have been a chance to succeed, but for him, the probability was pitifully small.
However, with the help of Heavenly Show Points, Zhong Shenxiu's comprehension of the remnant skill surpassed Su Daoshi in an instant, understanding many subtleties of this Daoist Skill.
"Indeed... this is just a method to enslave spirits. Typically, once one reaches the first level, one can manipulate the attached yin ghosts to harm others... Unfortunately... the taboo of this Daoist Skill is controlling a soul that far surpasses one's own strength, with even the possibility of the servant turning master..."
Zhong Shenxiu's expression suddenly darkened.
The more he grasped the Daoist Skill, the more he felt that Su Daoshi's mere persistence was an incredible stroke of luck.
Now, after mastering the first stage of Profound Yin Soul, his ability to 'witness spirits and deities' had suddenly increased tenfold, and he wanted to take a good look at that 'thing' inside his body.
Zhong Shenxiu focused his mind on the Spirit Platform, visualizing an inch of Xuan Light emanating from the Spirit Platform, penetrating throughout his body.
Suddenly, he shuddered, and all his senses plunged into darkness.
A voice entered Zhong Shenxiu's ears.
He suddenly opened his eyes, finding himself in a magnificent hall.
On the ceiling, a silver chandelier crowded with candles dripped thick layers of melted wax.
By his side, an elderly man dressed in a tailcoat with grizzled hair, looking very much the butler, was bowing in reverence, "Count, the offerings have been prepared. We can start the ritual now."
Zhong Shenxiu made a move as if to straighten his collar.
He wore a black velvet formal suit with two rows of golden buttons running down from the collar, each engraved with an intricate crest.
"No... rather than saying it's me, it's more like I've entered the body of this Earl, and with the stance of an observer, I'm watching his impressively profound experiences?"
Zhong Shenxiu had a slight epiphany.
Although that thing had possessed him, to some extent, it was also a part of him, and naturally, he could share some memories.
"Looking at the situation... Su Daoshi hit the jackpot, summoning the vengeful spirit of a certain Heisting Earl?"
Zhong Shenxiu couldn't control the body; he could only watch as he walked down the lengthy stone corridor, out of the castle, and saw the solemnly waiting Knights in the square ahead.
These Knights, clad in armor like canned sardines, moved with agility, clearly each one was an elite.
Even Zhong Shenxiu had to admit that if he was surrounded, he wouldn't be at an advantage.
The Heisting Count took the lead, arriving near a great canyon on Black Mountain.
The Knights lined up on both sides, like the most loyal guards, yet did not approach the canyon crevice.
Zhong Shenxiu, following the butler, step by step, came to the edge of the crack.
The scenery around him was roughly the same as later on but also different.
The biggest anomaly was the construction of a massive altar near the crevice.
Zhong Shenxiu had not seen this structure during his patrols; it had obviously become ruins, with even the debris cleared away immaculately.
At this moment, the altar still stood, its forged style bizarre and unparalleled.
Twisted, asymmetrical, bloody, mad...
Zhong Shenxiu seemed to see a black altar whose stones appeared like writhing flesh, surrounding numerous mysterious symbols.
In a trance, however, he forgot everything he had seen.
Or rather, he only knew this was a 'conceptual' altar, unable to describe its precise structure, nor able to rebuild one from scratch.
Above the altar, a figure in a black robe was already waiting.
Enshrouded in his black robe, his voice deep and hoarse with a moist and slimy feel, it gave one the creeps at the mere sound.
"Shall I offer soul and flesh to the True God... Will the god bless me, bless the entire Felix Family, so that we may rule this land for generations?"
Zhong Shenxiu heard 'himself' ask such a question.
Although it was in a foreign language, he understood its implication.
"Hehe... Count, what do you take gods for?"
The black-clothed Priest lifted his head to reveal a face as withered as tree bark, with crimson eyes and vertical pupils, staring at the Count like a snake: "The lord I serve is no Pseudo-God but a real Divine Spirit! Unfathomable, indescribable, beyond ordinary human imagination, to such an existence, what would believers who are less than ants and some rubbish-like sacrifices count for?"
The Earl didn't get angry, or perhaps he already knew, and calmly inquired, "Then... what's the purpose of holding this ritual?"
"Naturally, it's the hope of attracting Its attention!"
"Alas, we are but ignorant and insignificant creatures, the likelihood is less than one in a ten thousand, but the True God won't respond to prayers, the Divine Power, however, can react on its own..."
The robed figure slowly responded.
"That great being, even without noticing us, its power could still autonomously reflect upon the ritual?"
The Earl seemed determined: "I will believe in It, the great being from the boundless chaos... I hope It will protect me, protect the kingdom I've built, to endure forever..."
Zhong Shenxiu's spirit was lifted, knowing that this Earl was about to begin the offering.
But the next moment, an unprecedentedly terrifying feeling suddenly surged, letting him know that if he continued 'watching,' it would bring great danger.
Zhong Shenxiu jolted awake, looking at his own chest, his expression complex: "The first generation Heisting Earl?"