2: Chapter 2 The Crying Ghost, the Most Fanatical Believer

All the scenes were actually an illusion created by Lin Chuan.

This was also one of his only two Rule Abilities—[Blood-Tear Illusionary Realm].

Although this Rule Ability had no real lethality, it was more than enough to scare ordinary people.

Seeing the three men trapped in the illusion and trembling with fear, Lin Chuan activated his other Rule Ability—[Peeping].

Soon, images flooded into his mind.

These images were the memories of these three burly men!

Young Master Zhao had kidnapped a young girl on the street, assaulted her in a private room, and tortured her to death.

The three men were responsible for the aftermath, dumping the body in the wilderness and threatening the victim's family.

The girl's mother went to the Magistrates Office to complain but was beaten, and finally, she was chased all the way here by these three... This was the current state of this world!

In the dark corners where light could not reach, the web woven by power and money was sometimes even more terrifying than a Fierce Ghost.

"Heh..."

A cold sneer echoed in Lin Chuan's heart.

Although he had become a weirdness, his heart still fluctuated with emotion when facing the world's evil deeds.

Along with Lin Chuan's anger, the [Blood-Tear Illusionary Realm] he wove became increasingly terrifying!

In the eyes of the three burly men, Lin Chuan's Buddha statue body seemed to suddenly grow countless times larger, opening its giant mouth as if to swallow them whole.

"No... don't come over here!!"

"There's a ghost! There's really a ghost! Help!"

The psychological defenses of the three men completely collapsed. They rolled on the ground holding their heads, their bowels and bladders voiding uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, the originally desperate madwoman was exceptionally clear-headed at this moment.

She was not affected by the weird power; she only saw the Buddha statue on the Lotus Pedestal weeping blood and tears.

Seeing this, she felt no fear; instead, she showed an almost pathological fanaticism.

"The Buddha... has manifested..."

"The Buddha is helping me..."

With trembling hands, she felt the fallen steel pipe on the ground and pulled a sharp switchblade from the Bearded Man's waist.

She stood up.

The next moment, she walked over to the Bearded Man, who was still struggling in the hallucination.

Puchi!

Without any hesitation, the blade was thrust fiercely into that fleshy neck.

Blood gushed out, splashing across her face.

The warm, bloody scent seemed to stimulate her. She pulled out the knife and stabbed again, and again... "This is for Xiao Ya!"

"This is to pay back the Zhao Family!"

"Die! All of you, die!"

Ten minutes later.

Dead silence returned to the ruined temple.

There was only the sound of heavy breathing and blood dripping.

The three corpses lay scattered on the ground, having died miserable deaths.

The woman was covered in blood, holding the blade which was now nicked, as she stumbled toward the Buddha statue.

Using the last of her strength, she dragged the three corpses beneath the Lotus Pedestal and arranged them neatly.

Then, she knelt again, her blood-stained hands pressed together in prayer, and kowtowed heavily.

"My Buddha above."

"Please accept these offerings."

Her face was frenzied. Who in their right mind would sacrifice corpses to a Buddha statue!?

However, fortunately, Lin Chuan was not a proper Buddha statue.

He happened to be an weirdness Evil Buddha.

He did not reject the flesh and blood of living beings.

As the woman's words fell, wisps of visible black gas drifted from the three corpses and were absorbed into the Buddha statue by Lin Chuan.

[Received Offering: Sinful Flesh.]

[Gained Power Of Will: +30.]

Lin Chuan felt the power growing within him. The cracks on the surface of the stone statue seemed to heal by an imperceptible sliver.

But... it wasn't enough.

This bit of Power Of Will was not enough for him to truly take a step toward evolution.

However, at that moment, the woman kneeling on the ground suddenly raised her head.

Her eyes no longer held any attachment to life, only emptiness and resentment!

"Buddha..."

"These three dog lives are not enough... not enough to offset the sins of the Zhao Family."

"That Young Master Zhao is still at large, the Zhao Family still exists..."

"I am just an ordinary woman. I cannot kill Young Master Zhao, and I cannot fight the Zhao Family..."

She took a deep breath, her voice becoming exceptionally calm—so calm it was heart-palpitating.

"This disciple is willing to offer herself to you."

"My life, my soul, my flesh and blood... everything is for you."

"I only beg you... to punish the Zhao Family."

As the woman finished speaking, two blood-red options suddenly appeared before Lin Chuan's eyes.

[Triggered Special Choice.]

[Option 1: Accept the Sacrifice.]

[Reward: Power Of Will +200.]

[Reward: Unlock Rule Ability—Life-Reaping Sanskrit Sound.]

[Note: Once the Life-Reaping Sanskrit Sound is activated, it can kill units with a Terror Level lower than the owner's within the owner's perception range! It can also cause forced dizziness and suppression to units of the same level! There is also a probability of Enlightening surrounding units, making them convert to the owner and become Believers.]

[Option 2: Reject the Sacrifice.]

[Reward: evolution points +10.]

Lin Chuan fell silent.

If he obtained two hundred points of Power Of Will, it might allow him to evolve directly to E-rank.

But he still suppressed the greed in his heart and spoke slowly.

Of course, not with a mouth, but through a Rule Ability, projecting his voice directly into the woman's mind.

The voice was grand and cold, with a hint of metallic texture, as if coming from the Nine Abysses.

"Sacrifice means death."

"Have you truly made up your mind?"

This was the last sliver of humanity remaining in Lin Chuan asking.

The woman was stunned for a moment, as if she hadn't expected the Buddha statue to actually respond to her.

Then, she gave a miserable smile, her eyes reddening.

"Buddha, this disciple no longer has any attachments in this world..."

"As long as the Zhao Family can be made to pay the price, let alone death, even if I never transcend, this disciple is willing!"

Before her voice had even faded.

Determination flashed in the woman's eyes.

She suddenly raised the sharp blade in her hand and stabbed it fiercely into her own throat!

Puff!

Blood gushed out like a fountain, staining the offering table before the Buddha and splashing onto the cold stone statue.

She fell into a pool of blood, her body twitching, but her gaze remained fixed on the Buddha statue until the last glimmer of light faded. A hint of a relieved smile even lingered at the corner of her mouth.

Inside the temple, the air grew even more silent.

Lin Chuan watched this scene, his heart not stirred by much of a ripple.

"Since this is your choice."

"Then... as you wish."

At the same time, the panel before Lin Chuan refreshed again.

[Congratulations on obtaining Power Of Will +200!]

[You have accumulated more than 200 points of Power Of Will.]

[One-Click Evolution Module activated: Any fear value or Power Of Will you obtain in the future will be converted into evolution points at a 1:1 ratio! Consuming evolution points allows for direct upgrades and evolution!]

[You currently possess: 240 evolution points.]

[Consuming 100 evolution points now will allow you to immediately evolve to E-rank!]

Seeing the information on the panel, Lin Chuan did not hesitate. With a single thought, he immediately began the horror evolution!

Swish!!

As soon as the 100 evolution points were consumed, new pieces of information instantly popped up on the panel.

[Consumed 100 evolution points.]

[Level Up: F-rank → E-rank.]

[Unlocked Ability: Life-Reaping Sanskrit Sound.]

[Ability Description: Your chanting is no longer a whisper, but a life-claiming talisman.]

As his level increased, Lin Chuan felt his Control over the surrounding environment greatly enhanced.

His previous Rule Ability could influence a range of two meters at most.

Now, with a single thought, the Rule Ability could cover most of the main hall of the Buddhist temple.

Most importantly, after his Terror Level increased, his originally damaged Buddha statue body was partially repaired.

Inadvertently, he looked at the female corpse on the ground again.

At this moment, the female corpse was withered all over, as if all the moisture in her body had been drained.

Just as Lin Chuan intended to dispose of it, a sudden change occurred.

He saw that the female corpse... actually moved.

[Warning! Warning!]

[Detected that the corpse is undergoing weirdness transformation!]

[Strong obsession has led to its resurrection after death...]

Lin Chuan's mind focused, not daring to be the least bit careless.

He sensed that the weird aura emitted by the woman was even faintly about to surpass his own!

She had actually become a weirdness too!

And her potential was clearly significant.

At this stage, most weirdness are usually F-rank when they first recover.

But the woman was E-rank from the start!! And she was already very close to D-rank!!

Fortunately, she did not attack Lin Chuan.

She stiffly climbed up from the ground, the knife still stuck in her neck, her head tilted to one side with only a layer of flesh and skin connecting it.

Just as Lin Chuan was tense and ready to suppress the woman at any moment, she slowly turned around and knelt before Lin Chuan's Buddha statue once more.

Although her movements were stiff, she was incredibly pious.

[Alert! Alert!]

[This weirdness unit has voluntarily sworn fealty to you.]

[Obtained the first loyal Believer.]

[Believer Code Name: Crying Ghost.]

[Terror Level: E-rank.]

[Rule Ability: Weeping Sorrow! Living people locked onto by her will fall into sorrow within her crying and eventually die from weeping...]

[Possessing the first Believer, congratulations Master on obtaining the Special Ability: Blessing! Note: Consuming evolution points can grant a Blessing to a Believer! The lower the Terror Level of the Believer, the less the Blessing costs.]

"A Crying Ghost born from sorrow and anger?"

Lin Chuan looked at the "Crying Ghost" kneeling before him, understanding dawned in his heart.

Perhaps because she had voluntarily sacrificed herself while alive, even though she had become a weirdness, she still faithfully believed in him.

"Very well..."

"Since you believe in me, I shall grant you a Blessing."

With a thought, Lin Chuan mobilized the remaining evolution points.

New prompts instantly flashed on the panel before him.

[Consumed 10 evolution points, Blessing Believer "Crying Ghost".]

[Blessing successful.]

[Crying Ghost has obtained a new trait: Control.]

[Description: She can Control her own killing rules, locking onto specific targets to avoid uncontrollable consequences caused by indiscriminate attacks. At the same time, the Master can take over all her actions anytime, anywhere.]

Just as the prompt appeared, layers of dark light surged from Lin Chuan's body and shone upon the Crying Ghost.

Bathed in the dark light, a hint of agility gradually appeared in the Crying Ghost's originally dull, fish-like eyes.

"Go."

"Go to Changyang City and make the Zhao Family pay the price. I will be with you..."

"But remember, every debt has its debtor."

"Do not create unnecessary slaughter beyond the members of the Zhao Family."

This wasn't because Lin Chuan was kind-hearted, but because he still needed to develop low-key for now.

If the Crying Ghost went on a killing spree in the city and caused large-scale panic, it would surely attract the top Night Watchmen of the Ghost Suppression Department.

If the Ghost Suppression Department followed the trail and targeted him, it would be troublesome!

The Crying Ghost's tilted head nodded slightly.

weirdness usually lack intelligence; they are like machines that kill according to rules!

But the Crying Ghost before him clearly retained a sliver of her memories from when she was alive.

She possessed a certain level of independent thought and could understand Lin Chuan's words.

"Wu..."

Receiving Lin Chuan's command, she let out a low whimper, then stepped forward and vanished instantly... Just moments after the Crying Ghost left.

Before Lin Chuan could relax, rustling sounds emerged from the woods surrounding the ruined temple once again.

Clearly, more living people had arrived.