The God of Malice is Watching the Land: Chapter 8 Questioning
This mysterious girl, who didn’t appear in any official files but was active in various incidents before the Calamity Tide erupted, wasn’t a secret to humanity’s most important pillars.
Although, for various reasons, almost all reports deliberately erased her figure, information about her was still secretly delivered to almost all “Destruction” level ability users.
Including, but not limited to, the Ghost Town incident, the Yan City Flower Street incident, the Yan City War, the Lannister Incident, the Noah Incident… until Miss Luo Yan ascended the peak of the Holy Mountain, the trail completely vanished.
And now…
They were being asked to go to the peak of the Holy Mountain and bring her back?
What kind of damn mission was this!
The old Sword Saint frowned. As Mister Five’s grandson, he knew many things, whether he should or shouldn’t.
Including the peak of the Holy Mountain…
Even Dawn, at its peak, didn’t dare to approach it, and the Misters were extremely wary of it.
After visiting Noah, Mister One warned all Dawn members not to approach the Holy Mountain, preferably not even the Sanctuary.
However, no one knew what she encountered when she visited Noah back then.
On the other hand, the fact that the Twelve Saints hadn’t dared to retrieve the Saint’s remains from the peak of the Holy Mountain for hundreds of years indicated that there must be some unspeakable, terrifying things there.
Besides the old Sword Saint, Wu Jianming and the Lin Qingfeng couple were naturally not fools either. They could also sense the strangeness of this situation and looked questioningly at Zang.
Although everyone had to do their best and make due contributions in the face of humanity’s crisis, this act of sending others to their deaths wasn’t encouraged.
Everyone present was a “Destruction” level ability user, the most important pillars of humanity. There was no one who could command anyone else, even the deceased Noah couldn’t change this situation if he were standing here.
If Zang didn’t give a convincing reason, these human pillars who had come from afar wouldn’t carry out this so-called mission.
“…The peak of the Holy Mountain is indeed dangerous, but the danger isn’t the peak itself, but what lies beyond the starry sky.” Zang said slowly,
“The Church of the End Gods once spread the terror beyond the starry sky. In their mad and incomprehensible descriptions, some parts were indeed true—that the Primordial Demons are the World Will of this world, known as the ‘Gods’.”
Although many people who had touched the core of civilization knew this, the Noah Holy Church had never publicly acknowledged it.
To acknowledge that the ten Primordial Demons who destroyed the world were actually the Gods of this world?
Wouldn’t that indirectly acknowledge the doomsday theory spread by the Church of the End Gods?
Although these were facts, not all facts had to be fully explained and made public, especially important information like this that could cause widespread panic and a crisis of trust.
“And this world… or rather, this universe, isn’t just the land beneath our feet, but also the vast starry sky and the unknown distance beyond.”
Zang looked up slightly, his gaze seeming to penetrate the dome of the white temple, seeing the starry sky hidden by dark clouds,
“Whether it’s the madness of the Gods, or the destruction of the Old Era, all the mysteries, all the truths…
“As long as you stand on the peak of the Holy Mountain, you can witness it with your own eyes… but whether you have the ability to accept it all is what determines the qualification to stand there.”
Zang glanced calmly at the crowd and whispered,
“We… don’t have the ability… we can’t take this step, and now, we can’t take it anymore.”
All nine Saints were contaminated by “malice.” Contacting the truth in this state, the consequences would probably be unimaginable.
In fact, “Destruction” level ability users were the most suitable candidates to ascend the peak of the Holy Mountain. Those who could reach “Destruction” level were superior in both character and ability.
However, the peak of the Holy Mountain had always been closed off to “Destruction” level ability users. Firstly, because every “Destruction” level ability user was crucial to humanity, losing even one was an incredibly painful accident.
Secondly, “Destruction” level ability users were too strong. Hamid, who hadn’t even reached “Destruction” level back then, caused a gap in an entire generation of human experts after converting to the Gods. What about a “Destruction” level ability user?
The Twelve Saints didn’t dare to gamble, and couldn’t afford to.
But now, they had no choice… but to gamble.
The Sanctuary was filled with the black Manjusaka flowers of the Witch of Absolute Death and the ghastly shadows of the Demoness of Terror. Although they seemed to be confronting each other, they were constantly fighting, the danger level so high that even the four “Destruction” level ability users who sneaked in didn’t dare to touch it lightly.
Although the peak of the Holy Mountain, less than a kilometer away from the white temple, wasn’t affected at all, and even the echoes of the Gods halfway up the mountain had inexplicably disappeared, no news came back.
The peak of the Holy Mountain, without wind, without sun, without sky, without earth, was the only blind spot in the world. Not only did it escape the Gods’ prying eyes, but even all worldly means couldn’t obtain any information from it.
Only by personally stepping onto the peak of the Holy Mountain could one witness everything.
After Zang finished speaking, silence fell upon the white temple.
The old Sword Saint’s face was grim, his thoughts unknown. Dawn’s Wu Jianming crossed his arms, his stern gaze scrutinizing every Saint.
And Lin Qingfeng and Su Qinyin’s expressions were calm, but everyone knew they were whispering to each other through telepathy.
This silence lasted for a while before being broken by Zang’s coughing.
“Cough cough…”
Zang coughed violently several times, the blood he coughed up a deathly gray-purple, its corrosiveness even difficult for the white temple to withstand, sizzling and emitting white smoke.
“Everyone, please make a decision quickly,” Zang said weakly, “We probably don’t have much time left. ‘Malice’… only by experiencing it personally can one know its true terror.”
Not pain, not torture.
But pleasure.
Terrifying pleasure.
This feeling of seemingly dominating everything constantly surged in the hearts of the Saints contaminated by “malice.” They had to constantly restrain this desire arising from their hearts, lest they degenerate into mindless Calamity monsters.
Compared to pain and torture… this mind-eroding pleasure was the most terrifying existence.
The four “Destruction” level ability users fell silent. They could see that the time Zang mentioned wasn’t their time.
But the Saints’ time.
After being contaminated by “malice,” their existence had entered a countdown.
What was even more terrifying was that you knew this countdown was ticking away, but you didn’t know how much time was left.
“I have no objections.” The old Sword Saint spoke first, shrugging. “Miss Luo Yan gets along well with my Wen’er. Logically and emotionally, I, as an elder, have to help.”
Wu Jianming hesitated for a moment, seemingly choosing his words, then said with a straight face,
“She has… quite a connection with our Dawn’s Mister One…”
He almost gritted his teeth saying this.
Indeed, quite a connection. Occupying Mister One’s remains and running around for a while, what else could it be…
Lin Qingfeng and Su Qinyin exchanged glances and said in unison,
“We have no objections either.”
“Very well, on behalf of the Noah Holy Church… and the Saint, I thank you all for your help,” a faint smile appeared on Zang’s pale, aged face, but then it slightly darkened, “But there is one thing, please remember… when you ascend the peak of the Holy Mountain, please do not look up.”
“…”
Hearing this, everyone fell silent.
Do not look up…
“The peak of the Holy Mountain is where the Saint’s remains lie, and also a blind spot unreachable by the Gods, the only place where one can directly gaze upon the starry sky above.”
Zang’s voice was weak, but he persisted in finishing these extremely important instructions,
“However, facing the Saint’s remains is already quite dangerous, and the truth beyond the starry sky is even more terrifying… It’s enough for Miss Luo Yan to know the truth. Anything else is just adding unnecessary risk.”
Zang spoke these words with such a serious expression, it couldn’t be a joke, let alone a trivial matter.
Everyone present was also a veteran “Destruction” level ability user, the pillars of current human civilization, not curious children.
They had all directly or indirectly experienced the War of the Witch of Absolute Death, and coupled with the ongoing battle in the Sanctuary, everyone present knew very well that some things absolutely couldn’t be touched, especially the so-called truth.
“Understood.”
The old Sword Saint put away his usual playful expression, took a deep breath, and nodded slightly.
The others did roughly the same, nodding to the Saints.
This mission, which only “Destruction” level ability users were qualified to participate in, was probably the most mysterious and dangerous mission in this world, besides directly facing the Primordial Demons.
Calling it a “Destruction” level event wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
“After bringing Miss Luo Yan back, send her out of the Sanctuary as much as possible,” a difficult smile appeared on Zang’s face. “I wish you all… good fortune in battle.”
“…For humanity.”
The nine Saints simultaneously placed their fists on their left shoulders and bowed slightly in respect.
The four “Destruction” level ability users looked at the nine Saints, also slowly raised their hands, and returned the salute according to the etiquette of their respective city-states,
“For humanity.”
And also for… the self-sacrificing Twelve Saints.
The nine Saints remaining in the white temple were already destined to die. Perhaps after everyone returned from the Holy Mountain, only two… no, only the last Saint, “Shadow,” would remain in the world.
The erosion and spread of “malice” were irreversible. The white temple was both isolating the outside world and sealing the inside.
Before the incident was completely resolved, the white temple wouldn’t open again. The nine Saints calmly welcomed their end, their death.
The gloomy sky offered little light, grayness and silence covering the entire land, the “malice”-filled Sanctuary stirring restlessly.
Four figures quietly left the white temple. As the temple door closed again, the sealing barrier reformed.
“To… the Twelve Saints.”
Everyone silently paid their last respects to the white temple, then hurriedly flew towards the Holy Mountain, which was close yet seemed thousands of miles away.
Their goal… was the peak of the Holy Mountain!
……
“Excuse me, who are you?”
Xinya stared at Miss Luo Yan in front of her. Her every move was identical to the Miss Luo Yan she knew, yet there was always a hint of strangeness.
The difference in hair and eye color didn’t explain much, more importantly…
Her cooking was actually edible!
And delicious!
How could this be… Miss Luo Yan’s cooking was renowned throughout the world for its law-like destructiveness, one of the top ten ghost stories circulating on the forum.
The maids who suffered back then were still tirelessly describing how terrifying Miss Luo Yan’s cooking was, even prompting a major figure to speak out personally.
—Miss Chris, the national idol of the Free Federation, and also the second daughter of the Lequista family, one of Noah’s three great families.
Miss Chris’s personal account of Miss Luo Yan’s numerous crimes had been pinned to the top of the forum, and the biggest resentment stemmed from the food.
It was said that Miss Chris was forced to eat it for three consecutive days…
How terrifying, how cruel!
“I… am Luo Yan.”
Miss Luo Yan nodded and said indifferently.
Her impeccably gentle tone, her flawless indifferent expression, were no different from the Miss Luo Yan in her memory.
“Could it be related to her trip to the peak of the Holy Mountain? Was some kind of curse lifted or something…”
Anna touched her chin, she didn’t feel anything was wrong.
Wasn’t it good that Miss Luo Yan’s cooking was delicious? Did she have to have a flashback to be satisfied?
The head maid was so strange…
Felt like a masochist.
“…”
Xinya didn’t continue questioning, because she wasn’t sure either; these were just her intuitions.
Even Anna, who came to Noah with Miss Luo Yan, acknowledged the “Miss Luo Yan” before her, so Xinya really had nothing more to say.
“Since Miss Luo Yan has returned, I assume you have completed the mission given by the Saints.”
Xinya adjusted her emotions, her usual elegant and calm expression returning. “Such an important matter, we should inform the Saint immediately.”
“Saint?” Before Miss Luo Yan could speak, Anna asked with a puzzled expression, “Which one? Saint Illusion? Or…”
She had been locked in her room during this time and knew nothing about the outside world, let alone the fact that most of the Twelve Saints were sealed in the Sanctuary.
“It’s Saint Shadow. She also instructed me that if I saw Miss Luo Yan, I must inform her.”
Xinya’s gaze remained fixed on Miss Luo Yan, trying to discern some clues from this black-haired girl.
But it was useless. Even when she brought up Saint Shadow, Miss Luo Yan remained unmoved, just nodding indifferently.
Could it be… she was the real deal?
Regardless, once Saint Shadow arrived, everything would become clear.
Thinking of this, Xinya took out her communicator and dialed the number she remembered clearly but had never called before.
