Rusty Stain bar.
This was an establishment set up at the border of the Chaos Demonic Sea.
The Lord of Total Distortion had set up various Mystic-type abilities like [Ocean’s Shelter], [Goodwill of the Sea], [Children of the Sea] and many others to make sure that this place would not be attacked by the Demonic Sea creatures.
Demonic Sea creatures——-
At the bottom of the ocean, there are some Demonic Sea creatures that have been living for over millions of years.
After withstanding the test of time, their very bodies have become terrifyingly powerful weapons, not even considering their other abilities.
Back when the Desolate race and Divine race broke apart the Primordial Wraith Realm, it was because they felt that these creatures were too troublesome to deal with that they purposefully left this vast ocean alone.
And currently, the ocean storm winds were wildly rampaging.
The heaven and earth themselves were being turned over their heads.
The fiends and devils were obediently staying cooped up inside the bar as the ocean outside howled and screamed.
A fiend clad in flames complained: 『 The commotion this time is a bit loud, I bet this monster is at least 6 million years old 』
Another fiend replied: 『 No, this same noise was heard about 30 years ago, the barkeep said back then that this guy is still in an adolescence stage, probably about 2 million years old 』
The flame fiend replied: 『 Whatever, who cares how long it had lived, I just know I’d feel dejected every time I’m here 』
「 Why? 」
『 Because you and I both know we’re never going to be able to eat those thing’s flesh 』
Another devil chimed in: 「 That’s true, the mother of that one just now has lived for 50 million years and likes to eat us the most——– I bet you bunch really don’t want to see her 」
Another drunk devil mocked them: 「 Then what are you garbage staying here for? Just leave 」
It was quite strong so the rest didn’t dare to say anything back.
Only the barkeep kept on talking: 『 There simply are too many opportunities in the Demonic Sea, and our master welcomes all explorers brave enough to visit this place. Just a reminder, you’ve already drunk too much, please pay attention to not cause a commotion in the bar 』
Listening to the barkeep, the devil noticed something in his words and stopped talking.
It lowered its head, kept drowning in its booze, and stopped mocking the rest.
Bam!
At this point, the door of the bar was opened.
A handsome-looking fiend entered the bar amidst the howling storm.
He was completely clean from top to bottom without a single bit of water on him.
This fiend wasn’t a familiar face so he drew the attention of many veterans here.
——the water of the Chaos Demonic Sea was full of fierce and ferocious energy so it wasn’t something that normal water control could deal with.
Only those who could directly connect to the ocean would be able to achieve such a feat.
This meant, at a glance, that this fiend’s power was related to the ocean.
Everyone silently made their conjectures.
The fiend walked straight to the bar.
『 What will you have? 』the barkeep asked.
“Thank you, but no thanks” Gu Qing Shan replied.
『 You came to the bar to stay out of the storm but won’t order anything, the boss will be upset 』the barkeep told him straight.
“I don’t want a drink, but I am in need of a little transaction” Gu Qing Shan replied.
The barkeep then smiled: 『 Ah, is that so? Then we can let this go, may I ask your identity? 』
“The Xie Qi Fiend King” Gu Qing Shan replied.
The barkeep looked at Gu Qing Shan and fell into thought: 『 The Xie Qi Fiend King? Hm, let me check today’s news—– yes, you just killed the Kings of two evil realms, appearance and race certainly matches, tch, your strength as well 』
The evil creatures sitting around quickly pulled their gazes back.
A powerful fiend who took over two realms couldn’t be considered a newbie, there was no need to try and offend him.
Another barkeep spoke: 『 If everything checks out, give him the Ruler-class treatment 』
『 Yes, indeed. Since you rule two evil realms, you are eligible for the Ruler-class treatment…』
“Thank you” Gu Qing Shan replied.
He randomly dropped some Demon Originite onto the table.
Demon Originite was a strong type of currency in the Wraith realm, capable of being used as forging material, engraving resources, spellcasting mediums, or simply money.
Seeing the Demon Originite, the barkeeps’ faces glowed every brighter.
A generous Ruler of an evil realm.
People like him were welcomed no matter the place.
The barkeep asked: 『 Excuse me but I have one last question I must ask you, do you have a Mystic-type ability? 』
“Of course, I know of your master’s rule, and I’m more than willing to follow it. After all, I’m here to do business” Gu Qing Shan calmly answered.
The barkeep hurriedly nodded, holding a much better impression of Gu Qing Shan.
——the other party had obviously made an effort to learn about this place before he arrived, and he hadn’t shown any violent tendencies or ill will yet.
Rulers like him were truly rare.
The barkeep said: 『 Then there are no problems, on behalf of my master, I welcome you into the Chaos Demonic Sea 』
He stepped out from behind the bar counter and led Gu Qing Shan to a small door at the back of the bar himself.
『 Please follow me 』
The barkeep knocked on the door a few times and gestured to Gu Qing Shan.
“Very well” Gu Qing Shan replied.
They both enter the door.
A faint light suddenly became bright.
Then Gu Qing Shan noticed that he was standing in a large plaza.
The plaza was made completely from smooth stone slabs, the streets clearly appeared clean, sturdy, and wide.
At the end of the plaza was a huge cathedral that reached through the clouds.
『「[ Aaaaaaaarghh! ]」』
Countless screams and howls of plain resounded from the wall outside the cathedral.
As Gu Qing Shan glanced over, he found that countless corpses lined the wall of the cathedral, some of them had already been stripped bare of flesh, leaving only bones behind.
Even so, the bones were still struggling and trying to get off the wall.
A constant flow of lava dripped down the wall of the cathedral without stopping.
『 Is this your first time here? 』the barkeep noticed Gu Qing Shan’s gaze and asked.
“Indeed” Gu Qing Shan replied.
Perhaps it was thanks to the Demon Originite from before, but the barkeep patiently explained: 『 It took quite a bit of effort to salvage this church from the bottom of the sea. Those salvagers still haven’t breathed their last even now 』
He shrugged and continued: 『 The master once spent a lot of effort to try and let these honest salvagers enter their eternal slumber, but this church truly is interesting. Any beings that are stuck to its wall will forever become a part of it and never to experience the peace of death 』
“And then?” Gu Qing Shan asked.
『 And then—— the master felt that this was ok as well 』the barkeep answered.
“Was this really an ancient structure hidden below the sea?” Gu Qing Shan asked with intrigue.
『 Indeed, it is quite an interesting antique, the master has been studying it for the past few hundred years 』the barkeep told him.
Gu Qing Shan nodded and expressed his understanding.
The master of the Rusty Stain Bar was the Lord of Total Distortion.
Everyone knew that he liked to excavate the ancient items hidden under the Demonic Sea.
At this point, a horse carriage arrived from the other side of the plaza, stopping in front of Gu Qing Shan and the barkeep.
The barkeep opened the door of the carriage: 『 Please come in, sir Ruler, it will take you to the church where you may conduct your business 』
“Very well, thank you, I will treat you to a drink when I return” Gu Qing Shan replied.
The barkeep chuckled, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth: 『 Sir Ruler, you truly are a generous customer. I shall leave you with one last advice 』
“Do tell”
『 The master has only established one single rule: Fairness. But the church also has its own rule that you can’t tell a lie. As long as you can accomplish these two points, you will not have to worry about becoming a decoration outside the church 』
“Thank you very much”
The carriage began to move and took Gu Qing Shan to the cathedral.
The carriage was being pulled by 6 black-scaled sea horses, but there was no handler.
Fortunately, it seems the sea horses were already used to this path, and since the carriage was extremely comfortable, there were no bumps on the way.
Gu Qing Shan sat in the carriage and silently thought about the barkeep’s advice.
If a market did not have a rule of fairness then no business could ever be conducted and it would not prosper.
So it makes sense for the Lord of Total Distortion to set up this point.
As for the cathedral…
Gu Qing Shan was extremely sure that the fiends and devils who came with the Lord of Total Distortion into the Demonic Sea were elites among elites.
Otherwise, the Lord of Total Distortion wouldn’t have brought them along.
But now, they couldn’t live or die, forever merged with the cathedral to endure eternal torture.
“You can’t lie… for the fiends and devils, this must also be a special kind of torture”
Gu Qing Shan chuckled, but he also had a worried expression on his face.
——indeed, this was also an obstacle to him.
Time quickly passed.
The carriage squarely stopped at the gate of the cathedral.
A sly and resourceful looking middle-aged male devil opened the door for Gu Qing Shan.
「 Sir Xie Qi Ruler, I am a first-rate employee of the Chaos Demonic Sea Exploration Association, glad to be at your service 」the middle-aged devil respectfully introduced itself.
“Then I shall trouble you. I have a mission I want to issue” Gu Qing Shan said.
The middle-aged devil spoke: 「 Before that, I must tell you that the master shall take 30% royalty from all transactions, missions, treasure hunts or even battle conducted here 」
“I know”
「 Then there are no problems 」the middle-aged devil smiled: 「 Sir Ruler, please come this way, I shall guide you to the mission hall 」
They entered the lava cathedral.
