21: Chapter 21 Incarnation of Calamity

Elder Xie's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. As expected, the guard did not move, merely turning his gaze toward Han Feng.

"Slowly put that thing back into the pouch. Be careful not to damage it in the slightest. Han Feng, assign two more men to take them onto the spaceship and keep them in separate custody."

Although Han Feng was extremely confused, he did not question the order. He directly pointed to two men and had them take Man Hai and Tang Long onto the ship.

After several people boarded, Elder Xie spoke again, "Now, place that leather pouch on the ground. The movement must be light and slow. Then, board the ship yourself, find a single cabin, and lock yourself inside."

The guard was completely bewildered, but after receiving Han Feng's nod of approval, he immediately complied.

But this time, Han Feng couldn't help but ask, "Elder Xie, what's wrong?"

Elder Xie seemed to let out a slight sigh of relief. "Have your men stay far away."

Han Feng nodded and waved his hand; all the guards immediately dispersed into the surroundings.

After confirming that others could not hear their conversation, Han Feng asked again, "Elder Xie, what exactly is going on? It's just a mask; is there a need to be so nervous? Is it really a divine artifact?"

Elder Xie's aged face only then began to contort. "It's not a divine artifact, but it's more troublesome than one. That thing is called the mask of calamity; it's the inheritance item of the Sixth Saint under the Red God."

"The Saint's inheritance items... aren't they all with the Pope?"

"Of the seven Saints under the Red God, the inheritance items of five are with the Pope, and their inheritors are ranked by the Pope in the Apostle Sequence. But for the other two inheritance items, one is said to be in the Yuanwu Empire. The other hasn't appeared in the world for many years—and that is this mask of calamity."

"The Saints in the textbooks are all great and righteous, but the truth is not like that. This Sixth Saint is known in the Sect's chronicles as the Avatar of Calamity. Wherever he went, destruction and misfortune followed."

"Even his inheritance items and inheritors have inherited this misfortune; even contact can lead to contamination."

Han Feng clearly didn't believe it much. "Is it really that exaggerated? You can't even touch it?"

Elder Xie wiped the sweat from his forehead. "The Sect's records are even more exaggerated than this. Two thousand seven hundred years ago, beneath Mount Jishan on our border with the Yuanwu Kingdom, there was a Jishan City. After a certain Calamity Inheritor was killed there, all thirty million people in the main city died of disease within three days. The disease spread to over sixty small towns around Jishan City, and the total death toll was simply uncalculable. There are over a dozen disasters of such scale in the Sect's records. Those between one hundred thousand and one million number over a hundred. As for those under one hundred thousand, there are even more."

Han Feng couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air. "Are you saying that Mine Slave 5726 is the inheritor of this generation?"

"I'm not sure either, but it's a possibility."

Han Feng's expression was frighteningly grim. "Although I haven't found evidence yet, all sorts of signs indicate that there is a big problem with this person."

"Abnormal Mining ability, being in the same tunnel as that 305, and being the sole survivor of this riot."

"I prefer to use the presumption of guilt. If this person secretly planned the riot, ordered 305 to start it, and then silenced him... then his saving of Man Hai's life might have been a deliberate move to leave himself a witness to gain our trust."

"If he was intentionally sent by certain people to cause trouble, there must be a major conspiracy targeting the Duke."

Elder Xie shook his head, however. "Your suspicion makes sense, but the logic still doesn't hold up. If his ultimate goal was to infiltrate Feng City, couldn't he just go there directly? Why come to be a mine slave?"

"Some answers will surely only become clear after interrogation. I'm good at that; two hours is enough."

Elder Xie hurriedly advised again, "Absolutely not! According to the Sect's records, any act of harming the Calamity inheritance item or the inheritor could trigger calamity and misfortune."

"We can't even interrogate him? Then what should we do?"

"Hurry and finish the investigation. You and I will immediately report to the Duke and listen to his instructions."

...

About ten minutes later, the spaceship took off.

Tang Long was tied up securely and locked in a small dark room.

He checked the progress of the Calamity Sacrifice; he had accumulated over 6,000 sacrificed lives by now. In another six or seven hours, he would be able to save up for one resurrection. If he actively sacrificed 4,000 himself, he could also activate it immediately.

However, there shouldn't be a need to be so urgent.

In the Fire Eye X-ray state, at such a close distance, he could easily see through the barriers of the spaceship's walls.

Although the spiritual light from Han Feng and Elder Xie was exceptionally bright and lip-reading was somewhat difficult, he managed to interpret about fifty to sixty percent of it.

It turned out that his decision last night was correct; Elder Xie had recognized that mask.

However, the true influence of this mask was beyond his expectations.

The Sixth Saint, the Avatar of Calamity, and generation after generation of Calamity Inheritors who brought disaster wherever they went like a plague—it made even powerful experts like Elder Xie and Han Feng change countenance at the mere mention of them.

Speaking of which, this mask didn't seem to have that much power, did it?

They actually suspected that he was sent by another faction to cause trouble.

In that case, would they still easily grant him his freedom?

Though he was unwilling to admit it, things had become somewhat out of control at this stage.

His strength was still too weak, and he possessed too little information; even with a resurrection on him, it was difficult to control his own life and death.

Fortunately, they felt he couldn't be beaten or killed; hopefully, the Duke thought so too.

Also, combining the previous conversation between Elder Xie and Han Feng, Tang Long had obtained some additional very important information.

The current Governor of South Song City was named Xu Chaoyang.

He remembered very clearly that at the start of the game, the Governor of South Song City had this name.

Moreover, not long after, Xu Chaoyang broke away from Dongyu to become independent and established a South Song Kingdom.

In other words, the current point in time he was in was not much different from the game's opening!

If he could come into contact with players, the timing for him to take off would arrive.

Putting everything else aside, he could issue quests.

If he found someone unpleasant, he could just issue a kill quest, and he would have an assassin group that could resurrect infinitely.

At that time, who would dare to mess with him?

...

On the other side, in the main cabin of the spaceship.

Elder Xie and Han Feng stood side by side. On the large screen in front of them was the image of a clean-cut and kind-looking middle-aged man—it was exactly the Duke of Fengcheng, Ye Baiming.

At this moment, in one corner of the screen, the process of searching the golden mask from Tang Long's leather pouch was being replayed repeatedly.

After a while, the footage stopped.

Elder Xie bowed and asked, "Duke, did you see that thing clearly? It seems to be..."

On the screen was indeed the Duke of Fengcheng, Ye Baiming, but his usually steady face was very gloomy at the moment.

"It is indeed the legendary inheritance item of the Sixth Saint, the mask of calamity. What is your current location?"

Han Feng immediately said, "Elder Xie believes it's best if no one else comes into contact with this person. Those who participated in the mission today should be quarantined immediately. We are currently heading to Base No. 8."

Ye Baiming pondered slightly. "Such a star of disaster indeed cannot be brought back, but quarantine is not a foolproof plan either. If it is confirmed that he is indeed the inheritor, this is still a hot potato. Once calamity is drawn, it may not necessarily fail to spill over, and you will also suffer for it."

Elder Xie and Han Feng looked at each other. "What is your meaning?"

Ye Baiming hesitated for another moment. "I just looked at the records of this mine slave; it's said he has already collected five spirit stones. Is that true?"

Elder Xie nodded. "It's true."

Han Feng, however, immediately said, "My Lord, there are many suspicious points about this person; he cannot be easily released! Have you seen my report? If Base No. 8 is not far enough, I am willing to take him to a more distant place..."

Before he could finish, Ye Baiming raised his hand to signal him.

"Han Feng, even if it is eventually verified that he is a pawn sent by someone else, so what? The longer the person and the item are in our hands, the greater the danger to us. Do you understand?"

Han Feng bit his teeth. "Even so, we can't just let it go! Send this star of disaster far away and kill him with one stroke to give those behind him a lesson. I am willing to bear that so-called curse and misfortune!"

Ye Baiming sighed. "Your loyalty touches me. It's easy to kill a Calamity Inheritor, but that sacred inheritance object is indestructible and possesses memory; it will still leave behind hidden troubles. Moreover, I cannot let you sacrifice yourself easily, nor did I say we would just let things go."

Elder Xie also patted Han Feng's shoulder. "Listen to the Duke finish speaking."

Ye Baiming said, "Do not make an enemy of the Calamity Inheritor. Pretend to know nothing, then take him to the border between us and Song City and release him."

Hearing this, both Elder Xie and Han Feng showed surprised expressions.

"You mean... to lead this disaster toward Xu Chaoyang's side?"

Ye Baiming showed a hint of a smile. "To us, it is a disaster, but to them, it might not be. The Songcheng Sect originally stems from the Sixth Holy System; that mask is naturally their sacred object."

"Governor Xu is a man of great vision and strategy. Recently, he has been opening his arms wide, refusing no kind of talent, even recruiting Hetero-blood Species on a large scale."

"So that mine slave was attracted by his broad-mindedness; it has nothing to do with anyone else."

Elder Xie also laughed very happily. "The Duke is brilliant!"

Han Feng then asked, "Then how can we ensure that this mine slave will go to Song City according to our wishes?"

Elder Xie immediately said, "That's simple. Release Man Hai along with him and let him handle this."

Han Feng shook his head slightly. "Just that might not be enough. If 5726 really has an unusual background, someone with Man Hai's IQ might not be able to outmaneuver him. It's over three hundred miles from the border to Song City; there might be accidents. It would be better if I arrange two more people to monitor them all the way and ensure they reach Song City."

Ye Baiming nodded after a brief consideration. "People can be arranged, but they cannot be members of the guard, and any investigation must not link back to us."

"Don't worry, I will find some wild people from the mountain tribes within the Song City jurisdiction to take over."

Ye Baiming nodded again. "Very well, let's do it that way."