The Ritual

"That Commissioner Zhang is really bleeding people dry like that!"

One transport flag and six collection flags were placed not far from the temporary council hall.

The newly appointed Grand Speaker was stripped naked and tied up, with patterns resembling blood drawn on his chest and back.

What Zhang Xuezhou did was undoubtedly bizarre, so much so that even Nagos, who had been looting the main city of Brampeda, came back to watch the spectacle.

"What does the Lineage mean by this?" Omega asked in a low voice.

The question of Omega is something many people want to know.

Although many people knew that Zhang Xuezhou wanted to take 500 milliliters of blood from Grian, no one expected there to be such a procedure, let alone that a flag was raised.

"It's a ritual!"

Nags frowned, feeling that Zhang Xuezhou was too bold, actually displaying characteristics completely inconsistent with normal humans in public.

If the members of the Scarlet Alliance State's committee were even slightly suspicious, Zhang Xuezhou's style of doing things would inevitably lead to interrogation and investigation until all matters related to the Fire Meteor creatures were uncovered.

Without absolute power, being overly unconventional is not a good thing.

He didn't understand why Zhang Xuezhou acted so high-profile, nor did he understand the purpose of raising the banner.

Nags even felt that Zhang Xuezhou shouldn't have revealed his gene serum and strength too early. His body was too inconvenient, and his strength couldn't be used at all while he was unconscious, which would inevitably render his power ineffective.

There was no solution to the situation Zhang Xuezhou faced, and Naggs felt that this pioneer would ultimately lead a mediocre life.

But Naggus doesn't mind cooperating with them, allowing him to gain some of their advantages.

Naggus knew the effects of the potion, but he didn't understand Zhang Xuezhou's current actions, nor did he know what benefits such actions would bring.

"Why do I feel like this ritual is a bit like what demons do in movies and TV shows?" Arnold asked in a low voice.

"A demon?"

Naggs chuckled softly.

Zhang Xuezhou merely bound Grean and drew some blood from Grean's wrists to draw patterns, while he himself fought his way in and out of the British Alliance State seven times, almost wiping out the once deeply rooted Aristocratic Clan families, with nearly ten million people dying in the war.

Compared to him, Zhang Xuezhou's behavior is nothing.

Furthermore, Zhang Xuezhou spearheaded the establishment of a provisional parliament, preventing the Aomeijia Alliance from dragging on for too long and minimizing the later chaos and disorder.

Not to mention that the current Aomeijia Alliance is also facing a massive spider swarm disaster, which required the establishment of a temporary parliament to organize a large-scale evacuation, saving countless lives.

If someone like Zhang Xuezhou acts like a demon when he performs a small ritual, then what is he?

Naggus felt that Zhang Xuezhou had already done a great service, and that whatever he did, in whatever form it took, had nothing to do with evil.

He just didn't understand the point of doing this.

"Is it a surrender document that Grean is reading?"

After being bound and bled, Grian read aloud from a manuscript.

Naggs listened carefully for several seconds and concluded that what Grian was reciting was a letter of surrender on behalf of the New Aomeijia Alliance.

Nagoth could hear it clearly, as could some of the higher- Sequence Holder. Many members of the Montes Lineage had drastically changed their expressions, while Human Dynasty curses at Grian, feeling that he was utterly disgraceful.

Despite the criticism, the majority of people remain silent, and few dare to speak out.

Few Scarlet Alliance State remained in Brampeda, while the Aomeijia Alliance was in disarray, with dozens of high- Sequence Holder constantly relocating during this period. They either sold off their assets at low prices or abandoned them altogether, taking their Lineage and technical personnel with them on a massive migration.

In this situation, although it appears that the new Aomeijia Alliance is in power, the new parliament actually lacks cohesion.

Even though they felt ashamed of Grean's behavior, no one spoke up to question or stop him.

Silence reigned all around, with only Grien's penitent chanting and Zhang Xuezhou's low chanting filling the space.

"He actually possesses a life-bound artifact, allowing him to communicate with powerful figures across the vast world!"

Amidst soft chanting, Zhang Manqian took out a bronze tortoise statue and placed it in front of Zhang Xuezhou.

When Zhang Xuezhou reached out and picked up the bronze tortoise statue, Naggus felt an overwhelming, heavy aura emanating from the tortoise, as if his head had been struck by a heavy hammer, and his vision went black.

When he regained his senses, he only felt a drop of blood silently falling from his nostril.

This startled Nagos. A drop of blood from his nose was nothing, but he had only been spying and had already suffered a backlash without actually touching the other party's body.

Once Naggs encounters the true nature of the object of his spying, he can already foresee his fate.

This is an absolute gap, just like the difference in strength between an ordinary person and Sequence Holder.

This shouldn't be a power appearing in this world. Nagos didn't need to think to guess its source, and he knew the approximate status of such a powerful being.

"His background is too good!"

Naggus's face showed a hint of bitterness.

He had previously thought that the Sinkhole No. 2 was completely destroyed and that Zhang Xuezhou was sickly and incompetent, never imagining that Zhang Xuezhou had a powerful backer.

Having support and not having support are two different things, especially when the other party can still contact them.

Perhaps a powerful figure in the world will grant Zhang Xuezhou an ability, or bestow upon him a treasure, or even tailor-make a special gift for him after learning about his situation; any of these possibilities could give Zhang Xuezhou an advantage.

What's more troublesome is the relationship between them. If they coexist peacefully and compete fairly, that's fine; the other party might be able to afford to lose. But if he uses excessive means or resorts to dirty tricks, he might be resented. Even killing Zhang Xuezhou wouldn't mean the end of the matter; on the contrary, it could cause all sorts of trouble, even extending into the distant future.

Nags frowned, finding this relationship extremely troublesome to handle.

His only consolation was that he hadn't competed with Zhang Xuezhou, and their relationship hadn't deteriorated; otherwise, he wouldn't have known when he would encounter insurmountable trouble.

"Someone as poor as me can't compare!"

Nagoth has never been recognized as the strongest in any particular sequence level, but Nagoth's sword is the strongest genetic weapon that all Sequence Holder must acknowledge.

But knowing his own family best, and despite seemingly possessing top-tier resources and being the Lineage in the British Alliance State, Naggs never felt wealthy.

Compared to explorers with real family wealth or those backed by powerful figures, Naggus felt his advantages were insignificant.

He has even completely replicated the abilities he once possessed, no longer having any precognitive abilities.

If others catch up to his sequence level, it will be very difficult for Naggs to maintain his leading position.

Lacking sufficient resources and the confidence to enter the Ninth Sequence, and with the fire meteor creatures constantly revealing themselves as they erode Qin Meng, Nagos found it difficult to resist their individual powerful abilities, and he was indeed quite anxious at the moment.

The world is constantly changing, and Naggs finds his advantages are diminishing.

"That old fox Badun is too good at hiding things. We didn't get to the bottom of him this time, and our room for maneuver is getting smaller and smaller. I wonder if Zhang Xuezhou can..."

Nags thought about Zhang Xuezhou's gene therapy drug and couldn't help but wonder if Zhang Xuezhou could come up with an even better drug in the future.

As Naggus pondered the potential benefits Zhang Xuezhou might bring, he saw Zhang Xuezhou, who was holding a ceremony in the distance, stand up and walk towards him.