102: Chapter 102 Facing the Dominator
The shadow resembled a newborn reed sprout, yet it also seemed to contain the forms of all things in the world.
At times it looked like a hunched human figure, at times like a towering withered tree, then transforming into a twisted mountain peak, and even like a mass of squirming, rotting flesh... Each transformation was accompanied by violent tremors and tearing of the surrounding space.
"Ah!!!"
Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the deathly silence.
In the Yanlong Empire's team, a young Ghost Controller was seen clutching his eyes, writhing in agony on the deck.
Blood continuously gushed from between his fingers.
Even more terrifying, it seemed as if countless worms were crawling beneath his skin.
Then, one by one, pinkish flesh buds pierced through his skin, beginning to grow frantically outward.
Clearly, he had been contaminated by some kind of rule, and his entire being was heading toward chaotic mutation!
"Don't look! All of you, don't look!!"
White Rose's face changed dramatically as she shouted sharply to stop them.
At the same time, a young man with delicate features, wearing Daoist robes, stepped out from the Yanlong Empire crowd.
He held an ancient Sanqing Bell in his hand and gave it a gentle shake.
"Ding ling ling..."
Supported by Rule Power, the crisp bell sound transformed into an invisible ripple, instantly enveloping the screaming Ghost Controller.
In an instant, those frantically growing flesh buds seemed to have met their nemesis, rapidly withering and falling off.
The Ghost Controller's screams gradually subsided, though the man still trembled violently, clearly having suffered a tremendous fright.
"Thank you... thank you, Captain Zhang..."
He thanked weakly.
Hearing this, the young man addressed as "Captain Zhang" merely gave a slight nod, his expression grave as he looked toward the distant ruins.
"That thing... is very dangerous."
"No kidding!"
White Rose said with exasperation.
She looked at Zhou Kai beside her and asked:
"What do you see?"
The prophecy pen in Zhou Kai's hand was trembling wildly, with even a few drops of black ink seeping from its tip.
"According to My Buddha, that is... a medium of the Celestial Standing Venerable!"
Zhou Kai took a deep breath, his voice somewhat hoarse.
"Moreover, the Terror Level of this medium alone has already reached S-Rank Ninth Tier!"
"And... Its true form is attempting to descend into reality through this medium!"
Hearing this, everyone's hearts sank.
The Terror Level of the medium alone was S-Rank Ninth Tier!!
No one could know what would happen if the true form of the Celestial Standing Venerable descended.
"Detour! Detour immediately!"
White Rose made an immediate decision.
"An entity of this level is not something we can provoke!"
"Our target is to resolve the spreading mist!"
Following her command, the Netherworld Dragon Boat began to turn slowly, attempting to avoid that bizarre Takama-ga-hara ruin.
However.
Right at that moment.
The Coughing Ghoul Clone, which had been standing beside Zhou Kai, suddenly moved.
It took a step forward, directly leaving the protective range of the dragon boat and stepping onto that curse-filled sea ruin.
Inside the Rebirth Temple.
Through the Clone's perspective, Lin Chuan stared fixedly at that ever-changing shadow.
Apart from the aura of the Celestial Standing Venerable, he also sensed an extremely familiar, extremely tempting scent.
That was... the aura of the ring of calamity!
"So it's you..."
An intense desire to devour surged in Lin Chuan's heart!
After the ring of calamity was severely damaged back then, who would have thought it had escaped here and even become the vessel for the Celestial Standing Venerable's descent!
"What are you doing?!"
Seeing this, White Rose was instantly shocked and furious.
"That's an S-Rank Ninth Tier taboo! Do you want to die?!"
"If you want to die, don't drag us down! If we disturb It, we're all finished!"
She shouted reprimands, wanting to stop the Coughing Ghoul's actions.
But Lin Chuan paid her no heed at all.
Not only that.
Zhou Kai also silently followed.
Next were the other Ghost Controllers from the Land of Rebirth on the Other Shore.
Like a group of loyal Believers, even if a mountain of blades and a sea of fire lay ahead, they unhesitatingly followed in Lin Chuan's footsteps.
"You... come back!"
White Rose trembled with anger, pointing at the backs of Zhou Kai and the others and cursing loudly.
Just as she was both shocked and furious, the Shaven Empire team beside her, led by Petrovsky, actually also followed!
Even that Black Church slowly drifted toward the direction of Takama-ga-hara.
"You..."
White Rose was dumbfounded.
She never expected that this group would collectively go insane!
"Captain White, what should we do?"
Her assistant beside her cautiously asked.
"What else can we do?!"
White Rose gnashed her teeth, her exquisite face twisting slightly with anger.
"Just watch from here!"
"I want to see just how they die!"
...Upon the Takama-ga-hara ruins.
As Lin Chuan's Clone drew near.
That shadow seated upon the divine throne seemed to sense something as well.
It stopped transforming. Though it lacked facial features, everyone could feel a cold, mocking gaze falling upon the group.
"Hehehe..."
"A swarm of insects approaching..."
"Perfect..."
"To serve as... offerings for my descent!"
BOOM!!!
An indescribably immense pressure of rules instantly erupted from the divine throne.
The entire Takama-ga-hara ruin trembled, countless rubble and debris floated up, forming a massive vortex in the air.
Waves of terrifying aura made everyone present feel suffocated, as if a great mountain were pressing on their chests.
"Cough cough cough..."
The Coughing Ghoul coughed violently.
But under Lin Chuan's control, it did not retreat half a step.
Instead, it raised its head, and from those turbid old eyes, two soul-shaking beams of black light erupted.
"Offerings?"
Using the Clone's mouth, Lin Chuan issued a low, hoarse voice.
"Who will be the offering... is not yet certain!"
Hum—!!!
Before the words faded.
Lin Chuan used the Coughing Ghoul as a medium to project his true form's rules.
"This is..."
White Rose in the distance widened her eyes.
"s-rank eighth tier rule fluctuations?!"
"That old man... is actually also s-rank eighth tier?!"
She had originally thought the Coughing Ghoul was merely an s-rank third tier Taboo Master.
But now, the rule fluctuations erupting from the Coughing Ghoul made her feel tremors and deep fear!
At this moment, the shadow on the divine throne also seemed somewhat surprised.
It twisted into a humanoid form, slowly extending a large hand composed of countless tentacles, grabbing fiercely toward the Coughing Ghoul.
"Become... a part of me!"
Clang!!
The Coughing Ghoul Clone controlled by Lin Chuan showed no weakness either, similarly erupting with several rules!
"Cough cough cough..."
Violent coughing echoed all around, churning up the seawater!
Simultaneously, Zhou Kai and the others also began to take action.