Chapter 164: Purifying Malice: Two-Engraving Hanged Man

Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Purifying Malice: Two-Engraving Hanged Man

The shell was about the size of his palm. It was pure white with a smooth, flawless surface, looking like a precious work of art.

Vili gently tapped the shell’s surface with his finger, and it made a hollow, muffled sound.

’Do I need to cut this shell open to get what’s inside...’

Vili tried to pry it open, but to no avail.

This shell must have been specially treated. Otherwise, it wouldn’t look so aesthetically pleasing, nor would it be this hard.

A flicker of Fighting Spirit suddenly appeared on Vili’s fingertip, and he slashed at the seam of the shell.

CRACK. Vili sliced a thin line along the shell’s seam.

Vili frowned slightly. He could clearly sense wisps of malice seeping out from inside the shell. Its concentration was a whole tier higher than before.

’This Malice Power is so familiar...’

Vili thought for a moment and realized this malice was very similar to the one he’d sensed from Selena.

’Could the thing inside be related to the Purple-striped Sea Elf tribe?’

He wouldn’t get an answer to that question now. He would have to wait until he returned to White Bear Town and ask Selena in person.

Without further hesitation, Vili pried the shell open.

The moment the shell was pried open, a wave of Malice Power surged toward him.

On instinct, Vili activated his Power of Justice, dispelling the Malice Power completely.

’Such pure Malice Power...’

Vili could clearly sense that this Malice Power was incredibly pure. In other words, the being that had sealed this Malice Power inside the shell must have been a powerful source of evil itself.

To Vili’s surprise, however, while the Malice Power was pure, its intensity wasn’t very high.

This could only mean one thing: the Malice Power within the shell had decayed significantly over a long period.

Vili didn’t dwell on the issue, instead fixing his gaze inside the shell.

A Gogyou-shaped black pendant floated within the shell, its surface covered in a faint purple sheen.

At a glance, it looked like any other ornament, but if you stared at it for too long, you would find it was like a whirlpool, unconsciously pulling you in.

Vili activated his Power of Justice and reached out to touch the Gogyou-shaped pendant.

’Such dense Energy... Is this the Water Element?’

A look of shock appeared in Vili’s eyes.

As the Power of Justice on his fingertip dispelled the Malice Power clinging to the surface, he felt an incredibly abundant, gentle, and refreshing Energy contained within the black pendant.

Since Vili practiced the Frost Knight Breathing Technique, a variation of the Water Attribute, he had some understanding of the Energy in the pendant.

’This pendant itself doesn’t contain any Malice Power... If I’m not mistaken, it must have previously fallen into the hands of some powerful Purple-striped Sea Elf, becoming tainted with Malice Power over time... But for some unknown reason, the pendant was lost. After a long period, much of the Malice Power has dissipated...’

Vili had already formed a rough hypothesis.

’But even so, the pendant’s own Energy has been tainted and saturated. To remove all of it will require the Power of Justice to continuously grind it away.’

Vili weighed his options for a moment, probed it a few more times, and finally decided to act and dispel the Malice Power within the pendant.

Although this Malice Power was of a high Level, not much of it remained. Vili’s Power of Justice was now basically comparable to that of a Two-Engraving Hanged Man, so he was very confident he could restore the pendant to its untainted state without harming himself.

’In that case, let’s begin...’

Vili cupped the black pendant in his palm, quieted his mind, and closed his eyes. The Power of Justice spread from his heart throughout his body before slowly surging into his palm.

The Power of Justice washed over the black pendant again and again, carrying away a portion of the Malice Power with each pass.

Time ticked by, and Vili became completely immersed in the task.

Suddenly, Vili’s eyes snapped open.

’Success!’

With all the Malice Power inside the black pendant dispelled, Vili instantly sensed the dense aura of the Water Element.

Every cell in his body suddenly felt replenished. Even the circulation of the Fighting Spirit within him quickened slightly.

A look of pleasant surprise appeared in Vili’s eyes. This Water Element pendant would be of great benefit to his practice of the Frost Knight Breathing Technique!

Vili was about to test it out when his vision suddenly swam, and another surprise appeared before his eyes.

"Dispelled Silver Level Malice Power. Title upgraded to [Two-Engraving Hanged Man]. Reward: 5 attribute points."

"Upon obtaining the title [Two-Engraving Hanged Man], your Extraordinary Power of Justice will be further enhanced. This power will strike fear into the hearts of evildoers, and you will master the Hanged Man Ability: [Seal of Justice]. Furthermore, you will master all the application and combat techniques for the Two-Engraving Level Power of Justice. [Note]: The Power of Justice granted by this Title Attribute Panel will not fade due to the host’s own changing views on the nature of Justice."

[Vili Ferren—Constitution: 14; Intelligence: 12; Attribute Points: 5]

’I’ve actually been promoted to Two-Engraving Hanged Man!’

At this moment, Vili was overjoyed. ℴ

He never expected to receive an upgrade to his Hanged Man title just by dispelling the Malice Power from the black pendant. This was a truly pleasant surprise.

Advancing as a Hanged Man was more complex than advancing as a Knight.

The special nature of the class meant that advancement couldn’t be achieved through rote practice. Instead, true growth in power came from triumphing over evil and sin time and time again.

That was why most Hanged Men spent their entire lives on a ceaseless quest to fight evil.

It was almost unheard of for one to stay in a single place as long as Vili had.

’My Constitution went from 12 to 14. That two-point increase was granted by the Two-Engraving Hanged Man title itself. On top of that, there’s the reward of 5 attribute points.’

A faint smile appeared on Vili’s face.

He knew very well that if he allocated all 5 attribute points to Intelligence, then combined with the buff from the black pendant’s Water Attribute Element, he could become a Senior Knight in a month at most—a rank others might not reach even after decades!

’The rewards from this voyage have far exceeded my expectations.’

Vili had only intended for it to be a relaxing trip, but he never expected to gain so much.

This only deepened Vili’s anticipation for what the ocean held.

Within this vast, boundless expanse, there were far too many riches and secrets.

’I really have that Gray Whale to thank. If it hadn’t accidentally swallowed the shell containing the pendant, I never would have gotten it.’

’However...’

A flicker of doubt crossed Vili’s eyes. ’What exactly is this pendant?’

For now, it seemed he would have to wait until he returned to White Bear Town and find Selena for answers.

She was the only one who might possibly know the origin of this black pendant.