Chapter 723 - 79: Divine Spirit?
Su Changxing was a bit puzzled. Since they were lacking food, why would they keep someone like Weigen, who was locked up, alive? Isn’t that a waste of food?
Although Weigen was skin and bones, since he was alive, he had been given some water and food, however little.
"Why haven’t they killed you?" Su Changxing asked.
Weigen recalled the experiences over these days and said uncertainly, "It seems to be because of a statue, purchased by our Black Dog Gang. They keep asking me about the statue’s location."
"A statue, what statue?"
"An antique our boss bought before, acquired at a low price from a down-and-out merchant. But it wasn’t us who initially wanted it; it was meant for a noble in the city later."
"The statue’s shape is quite bizarre—rat-headed with a human body, made entirely of copper. However, the statue cracked in the middle and only half remains."
Weigen recalled and said, "At that time, I personally went to buy it. As soon as I saw it, I felt it was very strange. Shortly after that, the plague broke out in Maelon."
"So the statue remains with our gang and has not been sent over. No one knows what these lunatics want with it."
In his view, these Rat God Cult members are utterly mad, frenzied day and night, with personalities that swing from extreme violence to kindness.
Listening to Weigen, Su Changxing turned to Mike, who looked thoughtful, and asked, "Is there such a statue in the factory?"
He suspected these Rat God Cultists had obtained the other half of the statue.
Mike shook his head and said, "Not that I’m aware of, though I haven’t been to the topmost level of the factory."
Su Changxing then looked at Mike’s daughter, Eliza, and asked, "Do you know?"
Eliza hesitated for a moment and then said, "I’ve been to the topmost level of the factory; there’s a statue made of brass with half a rat head."
"Every night, those Rat God Cultists kneel and pray facing the statue."
It seems that’s the case.
Could the so-called plague be related to this statue?
Su Changxing considered this possibility but felt it unlikely. If this statue truly caused the plague, then everyone in the factory would be doomed.
The plague also varied in levels. The plague Mike and others were infected with was the mildest, though potentially fatal, it required a longer cycle to be lethal.
The plague on the Source of Plague was terrifying; once contracted, it might result in rapid death.
Weigen was lucky not to catch the plague from the Source of Plague in such circumstances.
However, the Source of Plague was similar to his previous situation; while carrying the plague, he couldn’t control it.
Thinking of this, Su Changxing grew more interested in the Rat God Cult. His abilities were related to the plague, and so was the statue.
"Their leader is quite strange; you’d better be careful." Weigen recalled that night’s scene and reminded him.
Su Changxing asked, "What happened?"
Weigen explained:
"That night, if it weren’t for their leader, we wouldn’t have lost. We had more firearms."
"But their leader made us blind, unable to see anything, which is why we didn’t win."
Su Changxing nodded, took some white bread and dried meat from the Pocket Galaxy, and handed it to him: "Stay here, and we’ll take you away when we return later."
Weigen took a big bite of the bread immediately, having no appetite, but knowing he must eat, or he would die: "Thank you, sir."
Mike then suggested, "I can leave my daughter to take care of him."
Su Changxing didn’t object, "That’s fine."
Staying here is certainly safer, and it’s close to the exit, allowing a quick escape. Mike was likely aware of this, which is why he left his daughter.
Following this,
he walked deeper with Mike and saw a group of naked men waiting for them. Leading them was a skinny bald man, his skin mostly ulcerated.
The number wasn’t large, around forty to fifty men, but all were young and strong.
"He’s the High Priest of the Rat God Cult, Chad," Mike cautiously warned from behind, then stepped back two steps.
This person gave Su Changxing a different feeling, like a Player, having broken through the world’s limitations.
Chad grasped his ulcerated scalp with a fierce expression and shouted, "You have some nerve to kill so many of us! Are you tired of living?"
Despite Su Changxing showcasing extraordinary martial power, they seemed unfazed, which was somewhat strange.
Su Changxing shook his head and said lightly, "Actually, I didn’t come here with any particular aim, just to take a look. But your reactions were too intense... Though I do find you quite unpleasant."
Chad scratched his chest again, now covered in blood, "Do you really think you can go against the Rat God? Ignorant mortal, you will feel the wrath of the God and regret what you’ve done."
Su Changxing saw black substances appearing around his body, spreading everywhere.
Soon after,
he felt surrounded by darkness, couldn’t see, hear, or smell anything, like being in a completely closed, pitch-black room.
What the hell?
He was taken aback, not expecting the opponent to have such means, able to completely shield his perception.
His perception value was close to fifty, and even Tier Five Extraordinary beings couldn’t completely shield his perception.
Chad saw Su Changxing standing still, motionless, and smirked wildly. This was an ability borrowed from the Rat God, just used for this heretic.
"Hahaha, pathetic humans, heretics are nothing. Kill him for me, and hang that old man!"
Mike looked bewildered, not knowing what happened. Su Changxing suddenly stood still, like he had fallen asleep.
These maniacs had truly mastered some mysterious power!
This was hard for him to comprehend, not understanding why such beasts could be favored.
Su Changxing was in a strange status; his perception seemed completely blocked, yet not.
He could sense the plague around him and used it to detect others’ positions.
Looking up again, he saw a black silhouette standing overhead—far away and yet large, at least a hundred times greater than him. Everything was vague, except for the rat tail sliding down from the air.
He felt an instinctive shiver, as if he had seen something significant, and through this peculiar method.
He had seen deceased Buddhas before and was sure there were Divine Spirits existing in the world, but how they existed remained unknown.
But he seemed to have seen it; what he saw was akin to a Divine Spirit.
The Rat God Cult wasn’t a randomly created false sect, but one truly sheltered by Divine Spirits and capable of communicating with the gods.
The truth is often abstract.
What Chad cast was indeed a Divine Art, borrowing the power of Divine Spirits to eliminate enemies.
This was ridiculous... Su Changxing thought, yet couldn’t muster a smile. Facing such existence made any means futile; death could come any time.
This world is indeed under divine attention, unlike their mundane world.
With a loud gunshot, two naked men approaching Su Changxing were shot in the head and fell.
Chad was full of surprise, unable to comprehend why Su Changxing could still move; the power from Divine Spirits shouldn’t have failed.
"Hurry, kill him! His eyes aren’t even open; he definitely can’t see!"
He appeared agitated, seeming very impulsive, yet retreated.