Chapter 342: The Sacrifice Ritual
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 342: The Sacrifice Ritual
As they watched my departing figure, they couldn't help but feel a sense of wistful admiration.
Though they had only met for a brief conversation, they had already felt the vast disparity between them. Along the way, the self-proclaimed apprentices and scholars who had approached them seemed to hold these outsiders in high regard. Every time Xiao Han was mentioned, the look in their eyes was unmistakable—it was a level of respect that couldn't be faked.
Furthermore, these people subconsciously assumed the girls were incredibly powerful. Some had even tried to ask them highly technical questions, which sent the girls waving their hands in a panicked refusal.
Just as they were about to continue further, they were intercepted by the base's security personnel.
"Apologies, ladies. The area ahead is a restricted experimental zone. You cannot enter without the corresponding permissions."
"Eh?" The group was surprised, but they quickly expressed their understanding.
After all, the base wasn't a playground for tourists. Many areas had high confidentiality ratings or were even dangerous; entry was impossible without the proper clearance.
"Wait, but you shouldn't be able to stop us, right? What would you do if an outsider tried to force their way in?" Aiko, the most talkative of the group, asked curiously.
"That question... Apologies. If we are unable to stop an intruder, we immediately report the incident. The individual is then blacklisted from the Beyonder Research Base, and they would likely find themselves unwelcome throughout the entire Underground District. We would coordinate with other outsiders to deport them. Of course, if the intruder causes severe consequences, the higher-ups might notify Scholar Xiao Han. Given Scholar Xiao Han's rigorous attitude toward knowledge and research, I doubt she would stand idly by."
"Wait, you'd... notify Sister Xiao Han?"
"Yes. Are you friends of Scholar Xiao Han?"
"Of course! I've fought side-by-side with Sister Xiao Han. We're very close friends!" Aiko said, patting her somewhat flat chest.
"I see. However, I must apologize again; you still cannot enter the area ahead. This is a high-level containment zone that Scholar Xiao Han helped construct. The danger level is extreme. Without special authorization, we cannot grant passage."
"Oh..." Aiko hadn't expected that even their connection wouldn't work. It seemed they were out of luck.
But the more the guard insisted, the more their curiosity piqued. Especially since it was a "containment zone"—what on earth was being held there to require such high-spec security?
"Um... can I ask what exactly is being contained in there?"
"It contains the majority of the Nightmares that have appeared in the Underground District to date."
"Huh? You're just telling us that easily?"
"This isn't confidential information. If you really wanted to know, you could find out by asking around the base or by asking Scholar Xiao Han directly. However, I cannot disclose any deeper details. Likewise, I must ask that you do not attempt to trespass."
In the end, Tan Han and her group didn't push the matter. Ruining their reputation would bring them no benefit.
With the massive influx of outsiders, the scholars and technicians within the base had initially been the most excited. However, after interacting with them for a while, their enthusiasm had largely waned. They had come to realize one thing: not all outsiders were as formidable as Scholar Xiao Han.
Since they weren't on the same level, the scholars saw no need to be polite. The typical scholarly aloofness and eccentric temperaments began to resurface, mostly manifesting as a total lack of interest in the newcomers. After all, in the scholarly circles, they were at the very top of the "contempt chain."
Many scholars evaluated these outsiders as being... inferior to the base's apprentices.
"Ugh... those scholars sure change their tunes fast, don't they? I'm really curious how Sister Xiao Han manages to thrive in an environment like this. Whenever they mention her, they look so respectful."
After walking out of the base, Aiko kicked a stone by the roadside, looking quite frustrated. She was a student of the Dwarf Academy, and dwarves weren't known for having the best tempers.
Moreover, her Dwarven Forging skills had actually been dismissed as mere "blacksmithing"! If she hadn't been limited by the fact that she hadn't learned the more advanced forging techniques yet, she really would have loved to show them up.
"Perhaps that's just Xiao Han's charm," Tan Han said with a smile. "And... even if they don't say it, we should be aware that if we had the ability to capture, contain, and research Nightmares, we would probably receive similar treatment."
"Capture Nightmares... I can kill them, though it's a bit of a hassle. But capturing them alive? How is that even possible? Nightmares don't have physical bodies, and they're incredibly cunning!"
"True. And don't forget, the Ground Patrol is equipped with weapons called Type I Nightmare Killing Weapons. Those are likely the result of the research conducted on Nightmares..."
"Nightmare Killing Weapons... Oh! Among the armaments Ninglan Qiuyue brought up from the Underground District earlier, there were indeed some of those... I'm so jealous. How is Sister Xiao Han good at everything?"
* * *
As massive blackout curtains obscured the radiance emitted by the ley lines, the Underground District entered its nighttime cycle.
After I left the base, I had intended to head back, but after some consideration, I decided against returning immediately.
One thing was very clear: Ninglan Qiuyu was indeed in league with the Dream Demons. It was unlikely that all three Dream Demons were lying, and the fact that Ninglan Qiuyu actually had a Dream Demon on his person only confirmed it.
Before evening, the City Guard had retreated to the surface to prepare for the new City Lord's inauguration speech. However, Ninglan Qiuyu, the protagonist of the event, had not followed them up. Combined with his ambition to unify the surface and the underground, and the fact that he possessed the item to summon Dream Demons, one could deduce what he was planning even with their eyes closed.
The only thing I didn't know was how he intended to introduce the disaster to the Underground District.
But what was certain was that this young man, Ninglan Qiuyu, couldn't wait any longer and had already begun to move. He happened to pick the exact time I was heading back to rest, leading me to stumble upon him not far from the base.
I was currently standing in the area where they had been moments ago.
They had left behind a very complex pattern—a blood-red design. It was clearly a ritual array, or perhaps a ritual, drawn using blood.
I could sense the aura of transcendent power unique to Dream Demons within it, but there was an even stronger fluctuation of soul essence.
In other words, the fact that they had drawn this bloody ritual meant that one or more people had already died.
"What is this... something to summon Dream Demons?" I frowned as I looked at the complex arrangement and combination of runes. These runes were combined in a way I had never seen before, so I wasn't sure of the specific effect.
In the past, I might have been troubled, but not anymore.
I had teleported here in my main body, after all. I had everything I needed.
I reached into my storage equipment and pulled out an item: the Portable Ley Line Operating System.
It had been a while since I'd used it, but being so close to the ley lines, it booted up instantly. Using it to simulate the effects of this ritual was a simple task.
Of course, I could have also used a Dream Rewriting Spell to replicate it within a dream for testing, but I was afraid of accidents. What if I actually summoned a Dream Demon?
Therefore, it was safer to use the Ley Line Operating System for the simulation. It also allowed me to keep a backup. Mostly, it was just more convenient.
After a bit of work, I successfully ran the ritual on the ley line system. According to the system's analysis, this was a sacrifice ritual. Parts of the structure indicated it was likely a component of a larger-scale ritual, as this independent ritual was incomplete and contained structures meant to link with others.
However, one thing was certain: it sacrificed flesh and soul essence to summon an unknown entity. That was the extent of the possibilities provided by the Ley Line Operating System.
"Sacrificing... flesh and soul essence. Ninglan Qiuyu is planning something big." A cold sweat broke out on my back as the realization hit me. While I didn't particularly like the ordinary people of the Underground District, I had never intended to wipe them out. Ninglan Qiuyu, who had no personal grievances with these people, had essentially handed them a death sentence, treating them as mere consumables.
"Oh? If it isn't Miss Yang Yuehan. I certainly didn't expect us to meet here."
A sudden voice sounded behind me. It was Ninglan Qiuyu, whom I had assumed had already left.
"Hmm? Indeed." I put away the Ley Line Operating System and looked Ninglan Qiuyu in the eye. I didn't think I had been exposed so quickly, but I still didn't understand why they had doubled back.
Unless... they knew I was following them.
But how was that possible?
"I wonder if Miss Yang Yuehan can pretend that nothing happened?" Ninglan Qiuyu subconsciously touched his chest—specifically, a pendant similar to the one Ninglan Qiuyue wore. I could sense the aura of a Dream Demon inside it.
"Sure. I can't be bothered with your nonsense."
"Heh. As expected of the outsider who can see through Dream Demons. It seems my high regard for you wasn't misplaced."
"Are you laying your cards on the table?" I thought he would just let it go, but it seemed my unconventional response had prompted him to make the first move.
"You could say that. Was it you who killed the Dream Demon on Ninglan Qiuyue?"
"Who else?"
"I see you haven't shown a hint of surprise. You've suspected me for a long time, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you expose me?"
"Because I couldn't be bothered with your nonsense."
Besides, I had already disclosed this to the base's higher-ups. But looking at his attitude... had they not breathed a word to him yet?
"You might not care, but I can't exactly act like I didn't see you."
"Oh?" I looked at Ninglan Qiuyu and the two personal guards beside him. I could sense the aura of Dream Demons on the guards as well. He had directly allowed Dream Demons to possess their bodies? Dream Demons had such methods?
Combined with how the Dream Demon had previously shown techniques similar to Nightmares—pulling the City Guard's consciousness into a dream—this Dream Demon's repertoire was even more terrifying than I had imagined.
But seeing them approach me so recklessly, I confirmed another point: the base's higher-ups hadn't told him about my strength, nor the fact that I could interfere with both the dream and reality dimensions.
That's it? That's all they had?
How did they have the nerve?
"So, you've decided I'm a thorn in your side?"
"Naturally. The moment I learned you could see the traces of Dream Demons, I began to take you seriously. I even became wary of all outsiders. But after some testing, it seems only you are special. That makes things simple."
"I see. So you went to all this trouble just to get rid of me?"
"All this trouble?" A strange smile played on Ninglan Qiuyu's lips. "How is this 'all this trouble'? Getting rid of you is merely a side task..."
"The main goal is sacrificing the civilians here?" I cut him off.
Though it was phrased as a question, my tone was certain.
"Heh... those fools at the base think very highly of you. It seems you truly are knowledgeable, even understanding the methods of Dream Demons. It appears there's quite a connection between you outsiders and the Dream Demons, isn't there?"
"Guess whatever you want, but don't associate me with those disgusting things," I said lowly. As the two guards closed in, my spellbook was already primed, ready to slaughter them at any moment. "And... who gave you the confidence that two Dream Demons could take me down?"
"How will we know if we don't try?"
Just as he said those words with a smile, two slender beams of Focusing Fireball Spells pierced directly through the foreheads of the two guards. Even though I knew these two were just puppets controlled by Dream Demons and were technically innocent, I wasn't about to hold back now.
With two thuds, the men collapsed. Even the Dream Demons controlling them were utterly destroyed by the powerful, sudden spells. The compressed, explosive fireballs ignited their bodies instantly, and in the next moment, the two corpses on the ground were charred black.
In that instant, the smile on Ninglan Qiuyu's face froze. Terror sprouted in his constricted pupils.
He had dared to come personally to drive the Dream Demons to kill her precisely because he relied on the fact that outsiders in a dream couldn't harm him.
He looked at the two charred husks on the ground. Those were living people who existed in reality, just like him!
Subconsciously, Ninglan Qiuyu's body began to tremble uncontrollably. It was the pathetic display of a pampered man facing death. Fear had already seized his body. The smell of burnt flesh from the two men in front of him stung his nostrils, making him realize he had provoked the wrong person.
The next moment, his knees buckled, and he fell to the ground.
"Don't... don't kill me..." he pleaded in a trembling voice, his posture so low it was as if he wanted to crawl into the earth.
"Sigh... if you knew this would happen, why did you—wait?"
Just as I was sighing and wondering how to handle the situation, a powerful surge of energy suddenly erupted from Ninglan Qiuyu's body. A dark power slowly radiated from him. His limbs tensed, and his muscles bulged, tearing through his clothes.
The Dream Demon within the pendant finally revealed itself.
"You should have accepted the Abyss's blessing long ago. Only with power are you qualified to become the new King of Ninglan New City. That weak body of yours was nothing but a shackle."
"And I should thank you as well," the Dream Demon said, turning its gaze toward me.
I didn't hesitate. I flicked my wrist, and a Focusing Fireball Spell shot out.
Sizzle!
The entity raised a hand and conjured a shield, blocking the strike.
"Stop playing with such petty tricks in front of me. They might work against my clones, but not here."
"Clones?!"