A True Believer

"Woooooo----------"

The warning horn sounded from far away, as though it had startled the candle burning quietly in the room.

The flickering flame made Wuyi, who had been waiting for news, open his eyes.

"What is that..." He looked outside.

"It sounds like a warning that Evil Spirits are attacking." Wang Sha, who was keeping him company, set down his work as well, a puzzled look appearing in his eyes. "Please don't worry. I'll go find out what's happening."

"Push me over there." Wuyi removed the mask from his face—it made breathing a little easier for him.

"But your body—"

"I'm not dead yet. Do as I say!" the Pope raised his voice.

"Yes, I understand." With things having come to this, Wang Sha could only obey. Just as he pushed the wheelchair and prepared to take him to the outer-ring corridor, someone pushed open the recuperation room's door ahead of them.

The visitor was none other than Venerable Pingtian.

"Lord Wuyi, the Evil Spirits have appeared again. Judging by the scale, this is a new assault!" Even her usually detached voice carried an added note of urgency.

The news made the Pope's heart sink.

The faint hope that this might be a false alarm shattered at that moment.

"What about the vanguard that went down the well?" He could not help gripping the armrest. "Have we received any news from them?"

"The only camp we can contact is on the forty-third level. They are now trapped within Skywell and can no longer provide aid to the deeper strongholds." The Venerable shook her head.

"How could it be... so fast?" Wuyi found it hard to believe. In the past, Evil Spirit assaults had gradually intensified. Once the forward outposts spotted abnormalities, they had at least a chance to retreat. But