Lin Sheng calculated the time he had spent in the dark spirit world. He had stayed there for over a month, yet it was less than a week on the outside world. The different time streams confused him about the date.
Walking in the streets of a safe zone in Henricqal, he looked at the buildings. They were used to being abandoned. But now, because of the influx of people, they were occupied.
The clean electric vehicles had replaced many cars that burned fossil fuel. Most electric vehicles were modified to become smaller and practical. Space was limited in the safe zone. To accommodate more people and improve the congested streets, the owners of the workshops in Baine University had created these new types of electric vehicles. They were half the size of regular vehicles and capable of low altitude flying, greatly alleviating the traffic overcrowding in the area.
Lin Sheng watched as cars ran on the streets and flew between buildings. This supposed to be the wonder of the future had appeared before his eyes.
“Henricqal is nearly complete. Because of the Hand of the Underworld, I’ve almost forgotten about the Sanctum of Dusk; it needs upgrading. It’s time to do so now.”
He walked at a leisurely pace, leaving the research center and soon arriving at the Sanctum division.
The Sanctum of Dusk had accumulated a high amount of holy power. The great holy power font had been overflowing for a long time. The escaped holy power had filled the air with white spots that glowed in fluorescent light. These things were holy crystals. When the sanctum needed holy power, the holy crystals would automatically convert back into the pure, holy power.
Lin Sheng stepped in the sanctum, into the prayer hall, alerting no one. No one was here. The door was locked. Outside of prayer time, no one was allowed to come into this place. He came in front of the prayer altar and closed his eyes.
A massive map of Henricqal popped up in front of his eyes in the dark. The map rotated clockwise like a sand table at the will of Lin Sheng. Then came a faint sound from the map. The terrain started to sink and split in the middle. As the Henricqal map came apart in half, the black stone column rose again. He could clearly see a handprint on the black stone column.
“Please verify your handprint. The handprint of the Bonded is required before the next upgrade can proceed,” the soft female voice said.
Lin Sheng stepped forward and gingerly placed his right hand on the handprint on the column.
“Handprint verification complete. Welcome to the options page.”
A new dendrogram popped up right before Lins Sheng’s eyes, starting from the Sanctum of Dusk, forking up into six different branches.
“Addable Divine Spells:
“1—The Willpower Sanctum (capable of absorbing the wishes of the souls, creating the Ethereal Wisp.)
“(Ethereal Wisp: Level 8 energy creature, capable of long-range magic control and attack)
“Holy power required: 50,000. Raisable up to three levels.
“3—The Twilight Pool (a special Holy Power Font that is transformed by absorbing the Power of Dusk. Pool water can transform ordinary creatures into special holy light creatures with a certain probability.)
“(The holy light creature: a special creature with a strong physique and resilience, with the holy power of affinity.)
“Holy power required: 10,000. Raisable up to three levels.
“The Ring of Protection (formed by a massive amount of holy crystals. It is a special energy field that protects all living beings within the Sanctum area. The energy field could protect followers from mind and soul attacks.)
“Holy power required: 100,000. Raisable up to three levels.
“4—The Coalesced Holy Stream (irrigating the land with liquified holy power so that the living persons born will coalesce with the holy power and have a better aptitude in holy power cultivation.)
“Holy power required: 1,000,000. Non-upgradable.
“5—The Light of Judgement (The combination of the Power of Dusk and Holy Power Font, using the voice of chant as the activation key. It could judgment-attack any beings within the area of the Sanctum. The strength of the Light of Judgement corresponds to the amount of holy power in the holy power font. The more the holy power, the stronger the Light of Judgement.)
“Please remember only three persons could be authorized to use the Light of Judgement. Each release of the Light of Judgement will exhaust all reserves of holy power in the holy power font. Please use it with care.
“Holy power required: 1,000,000. Non-upgradable.
“6—Holy Crystal Font (Capacity is raisable to 10 million. Within a certain period. The holy crystals, by exhausting themselves, will automatically select individuals with enough purity and strength and convert them into holy spirits.)
“(Holy spirit: A soul life-form combined with holy power. It has all the memories and personalities of its past. Identical to resurrection.)
“Holy power required: 1,000,000. Non-upgradable.”
At the end of the dendrogram, Lin Sheng had noticed a fine text label.
“These six divine spells are the final upgrades, after which the Sanctum of Dusk will be complete, and this guidance process will start self-destruction.”
“These are the final upgrades?”
Lin Sheng felt a little disappointed. But then, this ritual circle of Sanctum construction was just something the masters from the Blackfeather City created. It was high-grade stuff. This was probably the best they could achieve.
He glanced at the capacity gauge of the great holy power font. It showed one million units of holy power. With no hesitation, he selected the holy crystal font option.
Something vibrated in the dark, and then the vibration quickly died down. The next thing he saw was the amount of holy power dropping to zero, then bounced back to around 200,000.
“Is it converted from the holy crystals?” Lin Sheng conjured.
Two hundred thousand units of holy power was just nice. So it was just as well spent on the Protection Ring, upgrading it to Level 2. After the steps were done, the upgrade would work itself and be complete in a few days.
Lin Sheng exited the menu.
After sorting out everything in the sanctums in Henricqal and Xylond, he returned to the research center. There, he left some instructions to Taozi before returning to the Dark Spirit Palace through the Darkspirit Gate.
Now was the critical moment where he was about to find the final piece of the fragment. He needed to be on the ball and present at the scene when necessary. The minute he stepped into the Dark Spirit Place, a dark spirit soldier came back with a report. Wasting no time, Djall Demonhand handed him the intelligence report.
Lin Sheng stood in front of the Darkspirit gate, taking the report and browsing through it quickly.
Powerful fighters appeared in the Black Desert. They defeated the vanguard and injured the Centaur Lord.
“Something powerful has appeared? That was quick!”
Lin Sheng felt a little surprised. The Centaur Lord was a middle-strength warrior in all his forces, more powerful than Djall Demonhand and the Fairy Empress. Even then, he was still defeated and injured.
“What is the situation now? Contact the Centaur Lord.” While speaking, he threw the intelligence report back to Djall Demonhand.
“The Giant King brothers and Sin Dragon Matriarch have gone to back him up. They should return soon,” replied Djall Demonhand.
“Any intel about the enemy?”
“We’ve got some.” Djall Demonhand handed him a second intel report.
Lin Sheng had a quick read and was wide-eyed, lips curling up in a smile. “Interesting! Interesting!”.
Djall Demonhand said, “The one who defeated the Centaur Lord was a tall man with a transparent round gemstone inlaid on his chest. He called himself the Moonstone messenger, who had received guidance from heaven to wipe out the invading enemy. After finding out and confirming the identity of the Centaur Lord and the dark spirit army, he unleashed his attack.”
“How did he defeat the Centaur Lord?” Lin Sheng had half guessed who the person was.
“He was extremely powerful and good in fighting. What was more important was that he had terrific attack resistance. All soul attacks and spells of other nature were ineffective against him. Beheading him and gouging out his heart wouldn’t kill him. He could restore himself in the blink of an eye. It was under such circumstances that the Centaur Lord was caught off guard and wounded.”
Lin Sheng nodded.
“Instruct the Fairy Empress, the Giant King brothers, and Sin Dragon Matriarch to bring all their forces. I want to capture that man alive.”
If he had guessed it correctly, the final piece of fragment must have become self-conscious, directing the powerful fighter whom it had given the power to lie in wait for the invading forces.
When Lin Sheng detected him earlier, he had also detected Lin Sheng. It happened in a split second before it disappeared. Lin Sheng thought it was the natural energy reaction of the final piece. But little did he expect it was a crucial behavior of the final piece which had become self-conscious.
