The Divine Sacrifice Fire

The next morning, faint birdsong rang out from the jujube tree outside the window, clear and pleasant.

Gu Jianlin yawned. He hadn't slept all night; he'd spent the entire time studying.

It had been a long time since he'd studied this hard. The courses at school were all basic stuff to him and required no effort to understand, but the supernatural world was different. Everything was new and fascinating.

He'd finished reading the Ether Association's code of conduct and the common knowledge about Ascenders.

What interested him most, and was also the most valuable, was the introduction to the Divine Priest Path.

"Without a doubt, among all the ancient paths of the East, the Divine Priest Path is the strongest. If you ask me why, it's because I'm a Divine Priest—the strongest Divine Priest. I've roamed the world for two hundred and ten years and never met my match."

—King of Azure.

Gu Jianlin could only conclude that this guy was showing off.

He had no idea who King of Azure was, and even the Deep Sky Network had no information on him.

He was only a rookie who'd just entered the supernatural world, and still had no idea what "the strongest" really meant.

But if the person currently lying on Mount Li was also the strongest, then King of Azure's strength was a little terrifying.

Of course, the document hadn't actually been written by King of Azure. It had simply borrowed that line.

He'd distilled the following key points from it:

First, the Divine Priest Path had the fewest people among the ancient paths, because advancing was difficult and the path was hard to master.

Second, the Divine Priest Path was the most versatile. No one knew when it had first appeared, but it had flourished in the State of Chu during the pre-Qin period and left behind a brilliant culture. That was why it had been named after Nine Songs.

A quick search on Baidu would reveal that Nine Songs was a section of The Songs of Chu. Originally, it was the name of an ancient song from Chinese myth and legend, which Qu Yuan of Chu rewrote during the Warring States period.

There were eleven pieces: "Eastern Emperor Taiyi," "Lord of the Clouds," "Xiang Jun," "Lady Xiang," "Grand Life Controller," "Junior Life Controller," "Eastern Lord," "River Earl," "Mountain Spirit," "State Martyr," and "Ritual Soul."

No one would be unfamiliar with Qu Yuan—the man who drowned himself in the river in their elementary school textbooks. The Dragon Boat Festival was said to have originated because of him.

The ascension sequence of the inheritance path was:

Life Controller, Junior Life Controller, Grand Life Controller, Lord of the Clouds, Star Lord, Heavenly Lord, Eastern Lord, Eastern Emperor...

As for the final stage, it was unknown for now. Perhaps it involved classified information that wasn't being disclosed.

The essence of a Divine Priest's abilities lay in mastering the secrets of life and gaining great power by communicating with nature.

There were two core abilities.

First, Life Perception.

Second, the Divine Sacrifice Fire.

The former was passive; the latter was active.

"The Divine Sacrifice Fire draws on the life force of nature through communication with it, then returns that energy to the user. Flowers, plants, and trees—and even certain animals—can all be used as sources."

Gu Jianlin murmured, "They must mean that pale flame."

He focused his attention. The five fingertips of his outstretched right hand ignited with pale ghostfire.

He tried pressing his hand against the cactus on the windowsill and said softly:

"Sacrifice!"

The ghostfire on his fingertips flickered. Countless black incantations twisted and spread like living things, as if forming a mysterious, profound ancient array in the void. Clusters of flames blazed to life.

Before his eyes, black smoke rose from the bright green cactus, and it withered strangely.

Gu Jianlin understood.

The moment the cactus withered, a rich life force surged into him like a cool spring.

The wounds on his forehead and shoulder began to itch.

After a moment's hesitation, he removed the bandages and gauze.

To his surprise, his injuries had already healed completely!

The scrapes on his back had healed, too.

Amazing!

Gu Jianlin was truly stunned by what he'd just seen. This was a superpower.

After using the Divine Sacrifice Fire, he clearly felt a little dazed, as though something had been drained from him.

If he wasn't mistaken, he'd used up some of his spirituality.

Only then did he truly feel like an Ascender.

Besides that, a Tier Zero Divine Priest also wielded another ability: the Ghost Curse Technique!

Using an opponent's bodily tissue, clothes, or everyday items as a medium, the user could burn their own life force to cast a curse and inflict physical or mental harm. It was extremely difficult to resist.

It seemed like an ability that traded injury for injury, but that wasn't really the case.

After all, those on the Divine Priest Path weren't afraid of getting hurt at all. They could draw on life force to replenish themselves at any time.

"I think I understand why they say the Divine Priest Path is hard to master. If an ordinary person gained Life Perception, they'd suddenly have an extra sense. It'd probably be hard to get used to, and those rhythms would affect them when they interacted with other people," Gu Jianlin murmured.

There were so many living things in the world, so many people, so many rhythms.

Whether good or bad, they all echoed in your ears. It really could be a kind of torture.

Gu Jianlin, however, was used to it. His own profiling ability was already strange enough.

"Also, the Divine Sacrifice Fire is the same. After drawing on the cactus's life force just now, I clearly felt a little addicted to it. If I can't restrain myself, I might not be able to stop."

Gu Jianlin made a calm assessment.

As for the Ghost Curse Technique, he still hadn't used it and didn't know what it felt like.

After reading those documents, he knew that losing control was what Ascenders feared most.

Once they lost control, they would become Fallen.

And the Divine Priest Path seemed to have a serious effect on the mind.

"Since I've already become a Divine Priest, I should figure out how to advance as soon as possible."

Gu Jianlin checked the time. It was already seven in the morning, and he'd have to go back to school that evening.

The night before, he'd already entered the redemption code in the Deep Sky Network's supply depot.

He'd redeemed three bottles of Spirit Potion and his custom Alchemy Armament.

For an Ascender, Spirit Potion was the most important thing needed to advance!

Just then, the door next door suddenly opened.

Su Youzhu stumbled out, yawning sleepily.

"You didn't sleep?"

She had no makeup on, yet she still looked delicate and pretty. She wore a loose pink slip dress and slippers.

A cowlick stuck up from the top of her head.

"I had some things to take care of last night."

Gu Jianlin nodded. "Mom and Uncle Su are coming back tonight. Have you finished copying your homework?"

At that, Su Youzhu's face fell. "There's too much. I haven't finished copying it."

Seeing her like this, Gu Jianlin guessed her period was about to start.

Remembering what she'd said about him the night before, he twitched at the corner of his eye.

"If you didn't sleep well, go back and get some more rest. I already ordered breakfast."

He offered the suggestion sincerely.

Su Youzhu gave a quiet hum and went into the bathroom.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Thinking the food delivery had arrived, Gu Jianlin got up to answer the door.

To his surprise, a man in black was standing outside, holding a cylindrical parcel and a briefcase-sized safe.

"Deep Sky Network, at your service."

He lowered his voice and held out the items. "Gu Jianlin, reserve officer. Please sign for these."

Gu Jianlin froze. He hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly, and instinctively took the parcel.

The man in black turned and left without a backward glance.

"Who was it?"

Su Youzhu poked her head halfway out of the bathroom, looking delicate and cute.

Gu Jianlin looked at the label on the parcel.

"Deep Sky Technology, beginner Spirit Potion, model CMJ113."

The safe, meanwhile, had a conspicuous label on it.

"Deep Sky Technology, modified suppressed Desert Eagle, equipped with one hundred Alchemy bullets. Use with caution!"

Seriously, why had these people put the names right on the packaging?

Gu Jianlin thought there was no way he could let her see these. He quickly hid them behind his back. "It's nothing, just a delivery."

"Then why are you hiding it?"

Seeing how tense he looked, Su Youzhu asked suspiciously, "You didn't buy a fleshlight, did you?"

Gu Jianlin froze, his expression blank.

"You don't have to hide it. Use it if you want."

Su Youzhu said expressionlessly, "I understand. It's a normal need for you boys."

Gu Jianlin: "..."

No, I don't think you understand...

On the top floor of the Deep Sky Technology Building, Lu Zijin fiddled with a tablet, her face expressionless. "Joker's a Tier One Magician. There's nothing unusual about him. The problem is that he stole two Mythic Armaments. What a pain..."

The office's glass door opened automatically, and footsteps approached from the side.

"Sis."

Lu Zicheng hurried in, his expression grave.

"Sit."

Lu Zijin leaned back in the soft leather chair, her long, slender legs swinging beneath her skirt.

Lu Zicheng sat opposite her and asked directly, "How did it go?"

Though she hadn't slept all night, Lu Zijin still looked as delicate as a doll. Ascenders at the level of a department head had far more energy than ordinary people. "I talked with the Tribunal for two hours. See for yourself."

She yawned languidly and tapped the tablet screen, playing a recording.

"Saint Li Qingsong's position is that since this newcomer has the potential to challenge opponents above his rank, he should make use of his talent."

"After all, the organization Joker belongs to has already set its sights on him. Whether or not he joins this mission, they'll come after him. We're looking forward to seeing him perform well on the mission. If he manages to kill Joker, those two Mythic Armaments can even be his spoils of war."

A man's voice spoke with condescending arrogance. "This is a test of a genius."

Lu Zicheng recognized the voice. It belonged to Deacon Nie of the Tribunal.

What the hell did they mean, he could keep the Mythic Armaments as spoils of war? They were sure good at making empty promises.

It was like saying they'd give you the Ether Association president's seat if you plucked the moon from the sky. Utter nonsense.

Lu Zicheng cleared his throat. "It's too dangerous for Little Gu to take part in this mission. The organization Joker belongs to has always wanted to get his father's keepsake from him, even though no one knows if it even exists. Sis, I want to help him in secret."

"You taught me to repay kindness with kindness," he emphasized. "Professor Gu helped us. We owe him one."

Lu Zijin replied lazily, "I know, but we have to follow procedure. If you're by Little Gu's side, Joker's Danger Premonition will detect you. What would be the point? We still wouldn't be able to lure those Fallen out. You can't stay by his side all the time."

For a brief moment, Lu Zicheng's expression darkened.

"Joker's actions are being orchestrated by the Yan Family. Yan Wu wants to make a show of strength before taking office."

Lu Zijin said quietly, "Ever since the Blood Moon Massacre, the Tribunal and the families that follow them have suffered heavy losses. They've always suspected Professor Gu of hiding something, but their investigations have never turned up anything."

"So?"

"The Tribunal had given up, but Li Changzhi's appearance made them suspicious again."

Lu Zijin paused. "This time, they'll be watching closely. They don't just want to eliminate those Fallen; they also want to see if there's anything special about Little Gu. Besides, Feng City's assessment mission is connected to the Omega Project. Helping him would be cheating."

Lu Zicheng said gravely, "What's Little Gu supposed to do? If I can't protect him in secret, he'll be in too much danger."

A sly look flashed through Lu Zijin's clear, luminous eyes. She scoffed, "What does your stupid idea have to do with me?"

With that, she turned and left.

Lu Zicheng didn't get angry, though, because before leaving, his sister had placed an elegant gift box on the table.

He had a bad feeling. He asked suspiciously, "The Corpse Bride Veil? The Heavenly Derivation Coin?"

Without even looking back, Lu Zijin played dumb. "What? I don't know."

Lu Zicheng opened the box. Just as he'd expected.

A blood-red veil.

An ancient copper coin.

The Heavenly Derivation Coin would help determine whether that boy was in danger, allowing him to predict threats in advance and ambush them.

With Gu Jianlin's current rank, his divinations couldn't possibly be wrong.

After all, it was a treasured heirloom of the Lu Family, a precious Mythic Armament from the Baize Clan.

The Corpse Bride Veil could temporarily conceal your presence, so no one would discover his whereabouts.

Lu Zicheng put a hand to his forehead. "Help me..."

It was a kind of Mythic Armament, and it could conceal the wearer, but it had a side effect: after putting on the veil, you'd have nightmares for a full month. In the dreams, you'd become a female corpse's groom, keeping her company through the long, lonely nights...

This time, the Lu Family had probably repaid the favor in full.

A 4,000-word chapter. Another one coming in the middle of the night!