Chapter 729: The God of Ritual in the Hall of Radiance

["It's right here..."]

The Anchor flashed through Ye Qiyan's hand.

An anchor point had been left on the second floor.

Furthermore, several Nano Giant Sting Bees had been released from the Matrix space into the second floor, waiting silently.

He would come here sooner or later anyway.

"Mr. Ye Qiyan, we've arrived."

The elevator reached the highest point of the Pagoda.

The place that housed the sun.

The third floor.

The Hall of Chalk.

The Steward remained in place, bowing slightly, clearly not intending to follow inside.

Ye Qiyan raised an eyebrow and stepped through the door ahead.

In the blink of an eye, he found himself in a pure white space.

The sun that illuminated the entire Eternal City hung directly above their heads.

This was the top of the Pagoda.

"Hello, Ye Qiyan."

A hollow voice echoed through the space.

Ye Qiyan averted his gaze from the sun and looked toward the center, at the figure seated on a throne.

He didn't bother to reply, walking straight over instead.

Looking at the skeletal man before him, there was slight surprise in his heart, but his face remained perfectly calm.

"As I suspected, you're also a Train Conductor from the Wasteland."

"My name is Fang Cheng, the King of this world. I came here a thousand years ago and established the Eternal City."

"A thousand years? This world's time flow is only one-to-five. Are you trying to say you're a Train Conductor from two hundred Wasteland years ago?"

"No, not that long."

A hint of human emotion gradually crept into Fang Cheng's voice.

"It's because this world wasn't originally just Level 9. It fell from Level 11 down to Level 9 over a millennium. That's why, finally, a Train Conductor was able to enter this world."

"That person is you."

"Looks like I got pretty lucky then."

Ye Qiyan paced around the space.

His eyes swept across his surroundings.

Strands of Different Color energy, starkly conspicuous within the radiant light, were gradually condensing.

"I used every last Train Coin I had left to call upon a single person. I... hope to receive your help."

"Let's hear it."

The condensing black energy scattered the moment he turned his gaze toward it.

As if surprised that Ye Qiyan could detect its existence.

"Do you... know about gods?"

The instant Fang Cheng uttered those words.

A sinisterly grinning figure suddenly dropped from the sun high above, arm reaching out toward Ye Qiyan at terrifying speed.

Zzzzap!!!

A sharp, piercing crackle filled the air!

The Wandering Star Holy Sigil clashed with that arm, and bolts of black lightning, solidified from Curse runes, erupted violently.

"What?!"

Ye Qiyan calmly looked at the sneaking attacker.

His gaze was like looking at a bug.

"How did you notice me?"

The sneak attack was blocked, and the figure dissolved into black smoke, landing not far away, revealing a form identical to Fang Cheng but unmistakably a different entity.

"Don't you think the stench on you is a bit strong?"

The Title [Blasphemer Against the Gods] was equipped.

From the moment he'd entered this space.

Ye Qiyan had sensed an intense wave of malice and divinity.

If this thing hadn't been radiating that malice, he might not have detected it immediately.

But unfortunately for it, it carried malice.

Even a god.

Against Ye Qiyan, who possessed nine Demon Cards, as long as they showed hostility, how could they possibly escape his eyes?

"Hehe, kid, you're really unlucky. The moment you set foot in this world, your fate was sealed!"

"I am the great god! The Ritual Rite God!"

"Human, I see you're not bad. You actually managed to spot me."

"So, I'll give you a chance!"

"Now! Kneel! Submit! When I ascend to a higher divine rank, I will grant you the position of Apostle!"

The black, smoky divine aura surged through the dazzling space.

That sun erupted with even more brilliant radiance, constantly pushing back against the divinity.

This time, the sun still won.

But its light now bore several inerasable black spots.

Clearly, that radiance couldn't hold out much longer.

"Hmph, no matter. In another year, Fang Cheng's power won't hold anymore. Then we'll see who can stop me!"

"Oh, and kid, don't think about getting other Train Conductors to help! No one else can enter this world anymore!"

"I am a member of the Curse-Sacrifice God's Divine Sequence. I traded my own divinity and original body to curse this world! Even your train system can't send anyone else into this former Level 11 world!"

"You! Are the last one!"

"Either submit! Or die! Kid! Make your choice!"

Ye Qiyan raised an eyebrow, looking at the Ritual Rite God who was full of arrogance, completely convinced it was the ultimate victor. Suddenly, he grinned.

"Let me ask you something."

"Huh? Why should I answer a mere human—"

"Silence. Listen carefully."

Ye Qiyan raised two fingers.

A Card Sequence was pinched between them.

[Demon Card · Bewitchment]

"Card Sequence?! You—you're a Card Sequence holder?!"

"Shh~"

Ye Qiyan pressed the edge of Bewitchment against his lips, looking with great interest at the False God before him.

"So, according to you, other gods can't get into this world either?"

A sense of dread welled up in the Ritual Rite God's heart. It inexplicably felt that if it answered this question, something terrifying would happen.

But what could be so terrifying?

Even if it was a Card Sequence holder, so what?!

It was a B-grade god! Even an ordinary Card Sequence holder, before they'd fully grown, couldn't possibly be its match!

Right! Nothing to panic about!

One more year! One more year, and it would claim victory!

So!

What did it matter if it answered?!?!

"Yes! Kid! There's absolutely no way a third party can enter this world—"

"Alright, stop. The questions aren't over yet."

"You!!"

Another Demon Card appeared in Ye Qiyan's hand.

[Defiance × Bewitchment]

Even more chaotic demonic whispers echoed through the Ritual Rite God's mind.

Its eyes grew hollow.

And Fang Cheng's crumbling original body, witnessing this scene, revealed an expression of shock he hadn't shown in years.

And hope.

It seemed...

The Train Conductor he had called here with everything he had...

Was... exceptionally strong.

"Second question. Are there other gods in this world?"

The Ritual Rite God tried to regain control of its condensed body, but found that at this moment, its divinity, its self, even its very essence as a god, were all being driven in a single direction, beyond its control.

Everything within it was urging it.

To answer.

"Yes... the Lord of Night's corpse... is actually... a... C-grade God... it... it's also... one of the Curse-Sacrifice's... subordinates..."