Lord of Prayer

Chapter 229: Chapter 168: Swagger and Swindle (Part 2)

“Oh, the Crimson Sect…” Zhou Chen trailed off, glancing out the pitch-black window before giving a faint smile. “My friend out there, come on in and talk.”

A dark figure vaulted through the window. It was a masked woman with her hair in a ponytail and a cold look in her eyes. Judging by her figure, she didn’t seem to be very old.

“I am Mandala. Who are you?” the woman asked, her gaze cold. As fellow Deacon-level individuals, they were all ruthless, proud, and arrogant. None of them would be subservient to another.

“’Butcher.’ That’s what everyone calls me,” Zhou Chen said, giving the Steward codename he’d casually made up for himself.

“You’re not the Steward of Hong City.” Mandala’s eyes narrowed. She knew exactly who represented the Eternal Fire in Hong City.

“I was just passing through Hong City recently when I noticed something interesting going on, so I decided to stop and take a look,” Zhou Chen said with a smile. “Miss Mandala, would you be willing to share some intelligence?”

“Why don’t you ask the Eternal Fire?” Mandala said coldly.

“Have you ever heard the saying about two tigers on one mountain, Miss Mandala?”

Zhou Chen’s eyes turned icy, glinting with bloodlust. He twisted the Holy Fire Ring on his finger, which radiated a malevolent aura, and smiled faintly. “I am a believer in absolute authority. The reason I wander is because I cannot tolerate anyone sharing my power, anyone ruling alongside me. I’ve already killed four Stewards before this. I’m afraid that if I meet the local Steward, I won’t be able to stop myself from taking him out.”

The claim sounded insane, but Mandala didn’t really doubt it.

It would be an embarrassment for a Steward of the Abyss Church *not* to be a little unhinged or have a few strange habits.

’Still, she was inwardly alarmed. Killing four Stewards and still wandering around unscathed, without any internal sanctions from the Church, meant this “Butcher” had an extremely high status within the Eternal Fire. He was not to be trifled with.’

And that Holy Fire Ring… the malevolent aura it exuded was exceptionally potent, far beyond that of any ordinary Steward.

After a brief assessment, Mandala decided to share what she knew. The matter was hardly a secret among the higher-ups in the Abyss Church; anyone could find out by asking a Deacon-level operative. But if this madman met the local Eternal Fire Steward…

The relationship between Hong City’s Crimson Sect and the Eternal Fire was decent enough, thanks in no small part to Viper’s efforts. If Viper were to die, who knew what attitude the next Steward from the Eternal Fire would have. It might disrupt the Crimson Sect’s plans. Maintaining the status quo was for the best.

“We are searching for a Forbidden Ancient Book that contains the secrets of the Abyss.”

“Three days ago,” Mandala explained, “a massive energy fluctuation erupted in Hong City. The Church’s Fortune Tellers say it’s connected to a long-lost Forbidden Ancient Book, so we’re trying to find it.”

“A Forbidden Ancient Book containing the secrets of the Abyss?” Zhou Chen’s interest seemed to be piqued. “What book is it?”

Mandala shook her head. “I don’t know. The name of the Ancient Book was erased years ago by the Star Association using a memetic program. All our records show is a redacted black square.

Legend says it was written by a madman who stared directly into the essence of the Abyss. In his frenzy, he wrote down all the forbidden knowledge he saw, perceived, and understood about the Abyss. The moment he finished, his soul was twisted and torn apart, a sacrifice for the Forbidden Book’s debut into the world.

In year 26 of the New Calendar, a city in Western Europe underwent Abyssalization overnight. Over a million people were killed, and nearly two million more suffered irreversible corruption and mutation. The source was that very Forbidden Book, which had just come into the world.”

Mandala looked at Zhou Chen, her voice flat as she warned, “If you decide to go after it, you will make an enemy of the entire Crimson Sect. It is our objective.”

’A Forbidden Book containing the Abyssal Essence… Why the hell did it make me travel through time?’ Zhou Chen grumbled internally. Outwardly, he just chuckled, displaying the disdain his persona demanded. “And the Blood Race? They’re after the book too.”

“No, they’re chasing something far more illusory,” Mandala scoffed. “A bunch of fools. They’re taking rumors born of nothing but shadows as fact.”

“What rumors?” Zhou Chen pressed.

“Eternal life.”

Mandala said with contempt, “A group of base, dark creatures, trying to find true immortality to escape their wretched nature.”

’Eternal life…’ Zhou Chen’s heart leaped. He instantly recalled the forum post he’d seen earlier: Someone in Hong City was researching an Eternal Life Machine!

“The Blood Race moves fast. They locked down related information for nearly three days. It was only today that we managed to gather some intelligence.

A master and his apprentice, both scholars, lived in this old residence. They somehow found the long-lost Forbidden Ancient Book and claimed to have glimpsed the secret to eternal life within it. No one believed them, so they hid away in this backwater to research their so-called Eternal Life Machine.”

Mandala continued, “The energy wave that swept across Hong City three days ago was the result of them activating the Eternal Life Machine. Afterward, the apprentice was injured and fell into a coma. He was taken in by the Star Association to recover. The old scholar, however, vanished. He has the Forbidden Ancient Book and the so-called Eternal Life Formula.

The Blood Race got a tip from somewhere, put the area on lockdown, and rushed over to clear the place out. Now they’ve mobilized all their forces to find that old scholar.

If you have any leads, contact us. The Crimson Sect will reward you handsomely.”

’One of them is recovering at the Star Association… so the cursor on my map over the Star Association must be him…’ Zhou Chen hadn’t expected to gain so much useful intelligence from this encounter.

“So that’s what the Blood Race is after. Eternal life… Heh. How naive.” He smirked. “As for working together… you’d be better off talking to the local Steward. I’m not interested in cooperation.

My principle has always been simple: finders, keepers!”

Arrogant. Domineering. He showed no fear whatsoever, even when faced with a threat from the Crimson Sect.

’Besides, the one making the bold threats was “Butcher,” the Eternal Fire Steward. What did that have to do with Zhou Chen?’

Mandala didn’t fly into a rage. She simply watched him with a cold expression.

“You’re welcome to try.”

She waved her hand, signaling two of her masked subordinates to go upstairs and search for clues that might not even exist.

Killing intent, faint but palpable, rose from Zhou Chen. He chuckled. “If you get in my way, don’t expect me to be gentle just because you’re a woman… Hmm, you have a nice figure. If the face under that mask is pretty enough, I might even let you live a while longer… HAHAHA…”

He chuckled under his breath as he walked to the window, then leaped out with a light spring and was gone.

Mandala’s fists clenched, the veins on them bulging. She was clearly enraged, but she didn’t make a move. The risk of exposure from a fight here was too great. Besides, she wasn’t at all confident she could take down “Butcher.”

·

On the highway, Zhou Chen sped along on his motorcycle, its bright headlight a sword piercing the thick darkness.

’Tonight’s haul was pretty good,’ he thought. ’Thinking back, the Blood Race probably bailed when they realized the Crimson Sect had shown up. A Steward’s combat power is nothing to scoff at… This disguise as an Eternal Fire Steward is incredibly useful. The bluffing and swindling is just so damn satisfying.’

His thoughts raced. ’Known intel: A master and apprentice, both scholars, possessed a Forbidden Ancient Book containing the Abyssal Essence. From it, they glimpsed the secret to eternal life, created the Eternal Life Formula, and began researching an Eternal Life Machine. Their first experiment three days ago unleashed a massive energy wave.

Perhaps that energy tore through time and space, and combined with other bizarre factors, is what caused me to time travel.’

’According to the Crimson Sect, their goal is the Forbidden Ancient Book. The Blood Race’s goal is likely the Eternal Life Machine. Speaking of which, the Blood Race is already extremely long-lived, so why would they still pursue immortality…

In any case, both items are connected to the missing old scholar. My hope of getting home probably rests with him as well.

So, the key now is to find that missing old scholar.’