Ji Xia remained silent as Shi Yu continued her soliloquy.
It wasn't that he was trying to appear profound, but rather that he was utterly confused by the situation before him.
Ji Ning had arranged for him to stay in Yanxiang Manor, and the countless dark shadows within the manor were apparently the "Spirit Offerings" Shi Yu mentioned.
According to her, these Spirit Offerings possessed extremely malevolent powers. An inherently evil being could assimilate them—the greater the evil, the more could be assimilated.
Conversely, those with remnants of conscience would be cursed by the Spirit Offerings, driving them insane and ultimately leading to their demise.
What Shi Yu didn't anticipate was the existence of the Great Solar Soul-Melting Furnace within Ji Xia.
To the furnace, these Spirit Offerings were akin to urgently needed fuel. They were devoured and refined entirely, reduced to black smoke that was suppressed within the furnace.
Shi Yu assumed Ji Xia had assimilated so many Spirit Offerings and concluded he was an extraordinarily wicked person.
Once Ji Xia pieced together the context of the events, he finally spoke slowly, "Who are you?"
"Assimilating the Spirit Offerings means you've earned the right to receive power from the Revered Deity," she said confidently.
"You were able to assimilate so many Spirit Offerings—you must be desperate for power, willing to do anything wicked to obtain it."
Ji Xia remained silent.
Shi Yu's eyes sparkled with confidence. "Then join us!"
Ji Xia raised his gaze to meet hers, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Join you? You can give me power?"
Shi Yu shook her head. "We cannot."
"But," she continued, her eyes gleaming with fanaticism, "the Revered Deity can. He is one of the oldest gods in the Boundless Wildlands, capable of granting mortals unparalleled power!"
Ji Xia's heart sank.
By now, Ji Xia was no longer the clueless newcomer from when he first transmigrated. He understood that the gods of this world were very real.
Whether it was the Grand Wind, the Father of the Land, or Mordo, their existence was indisputable.
These mighty gods seldom manifested before mortal eyes, but their divine acts persisted throughout history.
For example:
The Father of the Land wielded vast authority. If any being swore an oath in his name, his power would bind them for life. Breaking such an oath, regardless of the being's strength, even a Spirit Palace master, meant their soul would be consumed by him.
The evil god Mordo, while not as influential as the Father of the Land, was nonetheless terrifying. Ji Xia had witnessed the offerings and rituals that summoned Mordo's shadow in the Kingdom of Gouqun, leaving a deep impression.
As for the Grand Wind, the deity worshiped by Da Fu and Tai Cang, his miracles were rare. Ji Xia had limited knowledge of Da Fu's records concerning him. In Tai Cang's texts, he was only vaguely described, alongside rites and regulations for worship. Very little was said about his powers.
Even so, Ji Xia had ceased calling himself the Grand Wind's envoy in the Boundless Wildlands, as he now fully understood the might of deities.
Now, Shi Yu was telling him that a deity could grant them power—and that the beings receiving this power were required to assimilate Spirit Offerings through endless evil and desire.
This was undoubtedly an evil god akin to Mordo!
"How do I get out of this?" Ji Xia pondered, preparing to find an excuse to escape.
Suddenly, raindrops began to fall from the sky, landing between him and Shi Yu.
These raindrops were pitch black, ink-like. Upon hitting the ground, they sprouted tiny arms, crawling toward each other and merging into a humanoid shape.
A half-humanoid figure!
This entity's skin was as black as ink, covered in raised script—not runes, but incomprehensible symbols.
"Four stars fallen, rivers of blood opened wide, the realm of the dead shattered asunder!
Revered Lord of Shadows, resplendent and mighty, the destruction of Tian Sang draws near!"
Line after cryptic line adorned its body, illuminated under the strange, dim light around them.
The half-humanoid crawled forward, leaving a trail of inky liquid. Each droplet sprouted limbs, crawling back into its body.
It was the epitome of grotesque.
As the figure approached, Ji Xia realized that everything around him had turned pitch black.
The surrounding light sources had morphed into an indescribable darkness, casting eerie illumination over the scene.
Shi Yu immediately clutched her chest and bowed. "Dark Priest!"
The half-humanoid crawled closer, addressing Ji Xia.
"So, you're the one who assimilated over forty thousand of my Spirit Offerings?"
The Dark Priest's lofty tone made it seem as though he was speaking to a mere worshiper.
As he spoke, one droplet of ink on the ground expanded rapidly, morphing into an eye that gazed directly at Ji Xia.
Sensing danger, Ji Xia invoked the Great Solar Soul-Melting Furnace. Black smoke began to emanate from the furnace, surging through his body, forcing the inky eye to shrink and reabsorb into the Dark Priest.
"Very good. Such a pure assimilation vessel is a rarity—I've only encountered one other in centuries."
The Dark Priest grinned hideously, his facial script writhing grotesquely. "I ask you, are you willing to serve the Revered Deity?"
Ji Xia glanced at the ink-black space surrounding him, carefully considering his response.
"What will I gain?"
Hearing Ji Xia's blunt question, the Dark Priest let out a sinister laugh.
"Now I understand why you could assimilate so many Spirit Offerings—you're greedy, filled with desire!"
His laughter ceased, replaced by a voice dripping with temptation.
"Serve the Revered Deity, and you will gain a perfect body, unmatched strength!"
"A perfect body?" Ji Xia asked skeptically.
The Dark Priest didn't answer but instead turned to look behind Ji Xia.
Turning, Ji Xia saw Shi Yu standing there. Her once flawless body began to decay rapidly, swelling grotesquely, her skin turning a purplish hue.
Long, slender, hair-covered legs burst from her bloated back, piercing the ground and holding up her monstrous body.
Under the support of these spider-like legs, she towered over Ji Xia, her gaze filled with zeal and ecstasy.
Then, like a chrysalis breaking open, her human form tore apart, revealing a spider-like creature with hideous mandibles and dark, chitinous plating.
The sight filled Ji Xia with immense shock—and the Great Solar Soul-Melting Furnace within him with uncontrollable excitement and... hunger.