When the ritual began and Xu Zhi's body was enveloped in red light, she vaguely recalled the [Cup] Fanatics she had encountered in Cloud City and the ritual array they had constructed.
The circuits here were clearly more complete than those drawn by the Fanatics in Cloud City, and the ritual process was more rigorous as well. Naturally, the effects were far more intense.
Almost the instant the red light rose, Xu Zhi felt an intense sensation of being peered at and torn apart, as though it came from an abyss.
Deep crimson overflowed from the circuits, crawling over her skin and infecting her body, transforming her flesh and blood while tearing at her soul and guiding her toward corruption.
Most fatal of all, it did not make Xu Zhi feel any pain.
Pain kept people awake. Only comfort made them lose themselves.
Her soul seemed to be soaking in a hot spring. Even the tearing sensation felt like someone frivolously stroking her hair, relaxing her, lowering her guard, until her consciousness was torn apart by scarlet.
But.
Though the sensation was exceedingly dangerous, Xu Zhi could barely resist it and remain lucid. First, her consciousness was currently split in two. Her true body within the Lost Land constantly reminded her to stay awake, preventing her from becoming immersed in it.
Second, she had endured the powerful Temptation that had repeatedly nearly made her lose herself when leaving the Lost Land. Perhaps it had improved her resistance. Now, when facing [Cup], she was instead able to withstand this strange sensation.
The Spirit Vessel possessed no supernatural abilities, nor did it have the [Eye of Secrets]. She could not see the changes in her own body, but she could sense something constantly invading her body and changing her entirely. The only