The Mess Got Bigger

Zhu Shen watched the direction where Bibi Dong's Love Letter had vanished, his heart hammering against his ribs. Tang San looked on, dazed; he had only just finished absorbing his spirit ring and had yet to recover his senses.

The fluctuations of evil energy deep within the forest grew increasingly intense, causing the ground to tremble. Zhu Shen grabbed Tang San and pulled him up. "Run!"

"Teacher, what on earth is happening?" Tang San stumbled as he was dragged along.

Zhu Shen had no time to explain; that love letter had headed straight for the source of the evil energy. The red dot on his system map was closing in.

The two had only run a few steps when a roar erupted from the depths of the forest. The sound of trees snapping echoed one after another.

Zhu Shen glanced back and cursed under his breath. He had really messed up this time; Bibi Dong's Love Letter had lured trouble right to them.

Tang San suddenly stopped. "Teacher, my perception has sharpened."

The purple diamond-shaped mark on the back of his head flickered as his external spirit bone, the Mandala Eye, activated. He could clearly sense that surge of evil energy.

"There is something ahead, and it is very strong." Tang San's face turned pale.

Zhu Shen gritted his teeth. "Take a detour!"

But it was already too late. A pink stream of light flew back from the dense forest, the envelope of the love letter stained with dark red blood.

The envelope hovered before Zhu Shen, trembling slightly. The bloodstains on it radiated a familiar, sinister aura.

[Warning! "Bibi Dong's Love Letter" has come into contact with high-concentration Evil God energy. The item is undergoing a mutation...]

Zhu Shen reached out to grab it, but the envelope dodged him abruptly. It circled around and pointed toward the depths of the forest.

"Is it guiding us?" Tang San frowned.

Zhu Shen's expression darkened. Had this piece-of-trash item gained sentience? Yet, he dared not discard it; it was the key to raising Bibi Dong's favorability.

As he hesitated, the ground split open. Black vines burst from the soil, lashing toward their ankles.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass erupted instantly, and with a pole-vaulting motion, he lifted them both into the air. Zhu Shen unfurled his Dragon Wings and caught Tang San.

"Fly out of here!" Zhu Shen flapped his wings with all his might.

But the black vines pursued them, moving with astonishing speed. Like living snakes, they wove into a net in mid-air.

Zhu Shen unleashed his Dragon Breath, the golden flames severing a patch of vines, but more surged up from the ground.

"Teacher, below!" Tang San exclaimed.

The forest floor collapsed, revealing a massive cavern. Deep within the cave, a dark red light flickered.

That was where the evil energy was coming from. The love letter flew inside without a moment's hesitation.

Zhu Shen cursed and dove in after it. Tang San was dragged down with him.

The cave was deep, and Zhu Shen used his Dragon Wings to cushion their landing. The space inside was vast, resembling an underground temple.

Twisted runes were carved into the walls, exuding an ominous aura. In the center stood an altar, much like the one in the previous Evil God Temple.

But this one was larger and more ancient. A figure knelt upon the altar, draped in dark red robes.

The person had their back to them, cradling the love letter in their hands. Blood dripped from the envelope, only to be absorbed by the altar.

"Finally... finally found it..." a hoarse voice rasped.

The figure turned around, revealing a withered, gaunt old man. His face was etched with deep wrinkles, yet his eyes were unnaturally bright.

"A remnant of the Evil God Temple?" Zhu Shen shielded Tang San behind him.

The old man laughed, a grating, piercing sound. "A remnant? No, I am the Gatekeeper. I have guarded this place for three hundred years."

He held up the love letter. "This carries the aura of the Pope... and the pure soul power that Lord Evil God craves."

Zhu Shen's heart sank. How could Bibi Dong's Love Letter be connected to the Evil God?

The old man's eyes burned with fanaticism. "Using this as a medium, the ritual can be completed! The Holy Child is about to descend!"

The altar began to glow, and the runes lit up one by one. The love letter hovered in mid-air, its pink light intertwining with the dark red evil energy.

"Stop him!" Zhu Shen charged forward.

He swiped his dragon claws at the old man, but they were blocked by a membrane of light. The old man paid no heed, continuing to chant his incantations.

Tang San whipped out his Blue Silver Grass, aiming for the love letter, but the grass withered the moment it touched the envelope.

The power of the love letter was spiraling out of control. It was absorbing the evil energy from the altar while simultaneously releasing the Pope's spirit power fluctuations.

As the two forces clashed, the cavern began to shake. Debris rained down from the ceiling.

The old man spat out a mouthful of blood, yet he laughed even more maniacally. "Almost... it is almost time..."

Zhu Shen attacked the light membrane with everything he had, alternating between Dragon Breath and dragon claws. Cracks appeared on the membrane.

Tang San switched to his Clear Sky Hammer and slammed it into the fissures. The membrane shattered.

The old man turned, a ruthless glint in his eyes. He waved his hand, and black vines surged from beneath the altar.

These vines were thicker and covered in barbs. Zhu Shen's Dragon Wings were ensnared, dragging him toward the ground.

Tang San avoided the attack with a pole vault and fired poison needles at the old man. The old man didn't dodge; the needles melted three feet away from him.

"It is useless... the ritual has already begun..." Blood leaked from the old man's seven orifices, yet he stood perfectly straight.

The love letter suddenly exploded, and a pink ball of light expanded. A phantom image emerged from within the glow.

A luxurious robe, the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown, and a stunningly beautiful face. It was a projection of Bibi Dong!

The old man knelt on the ground: "Welcome... welcome, Holy Child medium..."

The phantom of Bibi Dong opened her eyes, her purple gaze icy. She looked at the old man, then at Zhu Shen and Tang San.

"Yu Xiaogang?" the phantom spoke, her voice ethereal.

Zhu Shen was stunned. This projection had consciousness? Before he could answer, the phantom of Bibi Dong raised her hand.

A beam of purple light shot toward the old man. The old man screamed as his body began to disintegrate. Yet, he was still laughing: "It is done... the Holy Child... has descended..."

The altar exploded, and dark red light surged into the sky. The ceiling of the cave shattered, revealing the heavens above.

Within the light, the silhouette of an infant slowly took shape. It kept its eyes closed, radiating pure evil energy.

The phantom of Bibi Dong frowned and reached out to grab the infant. However, her hand passed through the light, unable to make contact.

"Evil God reincarnation... ritual..." the phantom whispered, looking at Zhu Shen, "Destroy it!"

Zhu Shen snapped to his senses and unleashed his Dragon Breath with full force toward the infant. Golden flames engulfed the light.

The infant opened its eyes, its pupils pitch black. It opened its mouth and let out a silent shriek.

The shriek transformed into a shockwave, blasting Zhu Shen and Tang San away. The phantom of Bibi Dong flickered, becoming translucent.

"Yu Xiaogang... take my love letter... and come find me..." After saying this, the phantom dissipated into the air.

The envelope of the love letter re-formed and landed in front of Zhu Shen. The bloodstains on it had vanished, replaced by several purple patterns.

The infant walked out of the flames; it had grown slightly, looking like a three-year-old child. Its skin was pale, its gaze hollow.

"Mo... ther..." it spoke, its voice overlapping as if countless people were speaking at once.

Tang San felt his hair stand on end. Zhu Shen grabbed the love letter and pulled Tang San up: "Run!"

The two rushed out of the cave, but the infant did not pursue. It stood in place, tilting its head as it watched them leave.

Back on the forest floor, Zhu Shen collapsed to the ground. Tang San gasped for air, his back drenched in cold sweat.

"Teacher... what was that..."

"Something cooked up by the Evil God Temple." Zhu Shen looked at the love letter in his hand; the patterns were glowing.

["Bibi Dong's Love Letter" mutation complete. New effect: Can sense fluctuations in Evil God energy. Favorability bonus increased to 30%.]

Zhu Shen gave a bitter smile. His bond with Bibi Dong was now deeper, but the trouble was even greater.

That infant, the Evil God Reincarnated Body. It called Bibi Dong "Mother"? Was it because the love letter carried the Pope's aura?

The thought was terrifying. Zhu Shen decided to return to Spirit City immediately. He had to tell Bibi Dong about this.

The two packed their things and left the Soul Hunting Forest. Along the way, the system notification sounded.

[Ding! Detected that the host has triggered the major plot event "Evil God Reincarnation." Rewards obtained: Evolution Points +500! Dragon God Bloodline purity increased to 25%! Obtained special item: Evil God Bane (one-time use item).]

Zhu Shen looked at the 500 evolution points with mixed feelings. This reward had been earned at the cost of his nerves.

Tang San suddenly said: "Teacher, my soul power has reached level thirty-five."

Absorbing a five-thousand-year soul ring beyond his limit, combined with his external soul bone, had allowed him to jump two levels. But Tang San could not bring himself to be happy.

The scene just now had been too bizarre. The Evil God, the Pope, and that strange love letter of his teacher's.

He looked at Zhu Shen, wanting to speak but hesitating. Zhu Shen patted him on the shoulder: "We'll talk when we get back."