18: Of the twelve pillar gods, three have already departed.

"A... an instant kill!?"

Jiang Ruolai rubbed her eyes in a daze.

She suspected she was under an illusion Spell.

A level 21 humanoid BOSS was just insta-killed by Shen Pan in a single move?

However, she remembered Shen Pan had said...

...no matter what noise she heard, she must not make a sound or show herself.

Based on her trust in the big shot...

...she even specifically moved back a significant distance.

This was the second lesson her best friend taught her when she failed to make friends in middle school and became withdrawn.

When a professional big shot says something, you just listen and do it!

The single strike hit its mark.

In passing, it also killed all forty-plus elite orcs that were rushing over after hearing the commotion.

Having leveled up to Rank 16, Shen Pan felt something was wrong.

It was too easy!

Although in his full-power state, a single strike could indeed insta-kill a Second-tier BOSS...

...this was a mutated BOSS that had undergone Possession!

"The System hasn't given a notification..."

If the mission were completed, the System's settlement would arrive immediately!

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

An invisible storm seemed to whip up around the blood pool, blowing toward Shen Pan.

Not only that, but transparent swords, spikes, and flames completely submerged him.

A mental attribute attack!

Shen Pan's eyes narrowed as he prepared for the impact.

The result... he only felt waves of refreshing and comfortable sensations in his mind.

It was as if someone was giving his Soul a massage.

His whole being felt much more energized.

His Epic-Rank Talent, [Steel Will], had activated!

"Eh?"

A voice of confusion came from above.

"You brat actually have an item that can resist mental attacks!"

"To be able to insta-kill my vessel, plus this perfect Legendary creation... are you a top-tier Prodigy of Blue Star?"

"It seems this year's Awakening ceremony has already ended..."

A transparent figure without facial features emerged in the air, radiating a trembling pressure.

It made Jiang Ruolai, who was at the very edge hiding behind a giant rock with a concealment item, shiver uncontrollably.

She looked at Shen Pan with eyes full of worry.

"The future Calamity-Rank Demon God... he won't die prematurely because my interference caused a butterfly effect, right?"

She was just a destitute illegitimate daughter.

She didn't have any super trump cards that could reverse the situation.

Thinking this, Jiang Ruolai pulled out two earplugs that were said to grant immunity to mental abilities.

It's better... to first ensure she isn't accidentally injured by the opponent's large-scale mental skills.

Facing such an off-the-charts event...

...she could do nothing. "A Prodigy with at least a Legendary-rank Profession."

"If you fall here, I imagine Great Xia will have quite a headache."

"How about this: as long as you are willing to submit to me, I can decide to spare your life."

"I can even make you a true People of God!"

The translucent figure seemed to enjoy posturing, purposely not using an ultimate move to kill Shen Pan instantly.

Instead, it used constant verbal provocations, attempting to create anxiety and panic.

But all it received in return was a deep blue flying axe.

And Shen Pan's very 'friendly' middle finger:

"If you have the guts, then kill me! If you keep yapping, I'll smear you on the wall!"

The figure, feeling looked down upon, grew somewhat irritated.

"Hmph! Since you aren't afraid of mental attacks, how about this move?"

At that moment, the corpse of the orc BOSS that had long been dealt with stood up unsteadily.

And even more—the elite orcs who were just killed or had been dead for a while...

...all had pale green Soul fires ignite on their bodies as they stared eerily at the living person in the center.

This was his newly obtained blessing: Curse of the Necromancer!

It could grant the undead attribute to corpses that had been dead for less than two weeks.

It made every one of their attacks carry Wither damage that could not be defended against or resisted!

Furthermore, when they took a fatal hit, they would self-destruct, causing a large-scale Decay damage effect!

This kid is dead for sure!

The figure laughed triumphantly:

"So what if your talent is high? You can never contend with the Great Power of God!!!"

"Oh?"

Shen Pan asked back with a light chuckle, "Is a god that strong?"

[Epic Rank Spell: Curse of the Necromancer successfully replicated, learned!]

[Epic Rank Spell: Banshee's Howl successfully replicated, learned!]

[Epic Rank Spell: Soul Piercing successfully replicated, learned!]

...That's right, he cheated.

In just a few breaths, his talent had automatically learned 7 Epic Rank Spells!

His Replication had an upper limit for recording skills.

Which meant the opponent's pressure earlier was all just a bluff.

Their Rank wouldn't exceed Rank 56 at most!

Combined with the fact that the opponent didn't move to insta-kill him and even kept a wary distance, they were probably only around Rank 30.

It was just a pure specialization in mental attacks.

In that case...

...nothing to worry about!

Shen Pan flashed a brilliant smile: "It seems you aren't confident in killing me either!"

Then don't blame him for trying so hard to stay alive.

[Replication (Lv3)]:

Can directly record the skills of powerhouses not exceeding one's own Rank by more than 40 levels.

When a recorded one-time skill is unleashed again, its power is 130% of the original caster's attack!

Furthermore, this attack will also be boosted by the permanent 50% independent damage increase from his [Myriad Law Heavenly God]!

A full counter after recording your skills?

Wrong, this is a super-multiplier!

A luster of mental power flashed in Shen Pan's eyes as surging Mental Energy swirled around him.

The transparent figure froze and let out an incredulous roar:

"You actually have Mental Energy comparable to the Fifth-tier?"

"And these Spells I just used... how is this possible!"

This time, he truly felt the scent of death!

Isn't this brat only around Rank 10?

Even for a Mythical Rank Profession, it's impossible to have such high attributes and learn so many abilities at this stage!

Shen Pan gave a thumbs-up and showed a smile like a sunny boy:

"I'm a kind-hearted person and can't bear to see an enemy suffer while alive, so I can only ask you to die."

"Remember! This move is called: A drop of kindness shall be repaid with a surging fountain!"

The six recorded Spells targeting the mind and Soul...

...were returned in full to the transparent figure after their power was boosted!

"AAAHHH!!!"

The figure, completely devastated by its own Spells, instantly fell from the air, its body becoming much thinner.

It looked as if it might dissipate at any moment.

At the same time, wisps of black gas emerged from its body.

That was the Soul Origin that had been polluted and severed by the Soul attacks!

Those undead orcs, having lost the Spell's maintenance, turned back into corpses.

"Spell Fusion!"

Shen Pan constructed a pale blue bow and arrow that fused two Soul Piercings, aiming it at the thinning figure rolling on the ground.

Even if it wasn't as high as the damage recorded just now...

...it was still his strongest strike specialized for mental attacks under [Heavenly God] mode!

"Ah! Damn human, stop!"

"I am a People of God. If you kill me, the Desolate God Realm will not let this go!"

Desolate God Realm!?

Isn't this guy that mental ability user from the New World Society!

According to the information the System gave several times, the Desolate God Realm is something that appears in the Late Stage.

The third supernatural Awakening hasn't even come yet!

The System's emotionless, cold voice appeared again.

[You kneel blankly on the ground.]

[Looking up at the deity you believe in, being killed and devoured by that figure whose face cannot be seen clearly.]

[You hear ravings of pain and wailing in your ears.]

[The source of your Bloodline, a being of the Legendary Peak Rank and one of the twelve pillar gods of the Desolate God Realm.]

[The Nightmare Dragon, representing mind and Soul, has completely fallen.]

[You, who possess a faint Divine Bloodline, feel as if your spine has been removed, leaning weakly against the gradually cracking corner of the wall.]

[Despairingly watching a familiar golden figure, that divine bird capable of blotting out the sky, descend and transform into a woman with golden hair and golden eyes.]

[That is the God of the Sky, representing gold and purity.]

[He, or rather she, has already submitted to that human and betrayed the Desolate God Realm!]

[Dead silence descends.]

[You discover in horror that you can no longer make a sound, as if everything around you has been erased.]

[Air, light, spiritual energy, Bloodline Power, and even the Soul.]

[Everything turns gray and white; everything is disappearing, being extracted, being devoured, as if falling into an abyss.]

[Between heaven and earth, only black and white remain!]

[That figure walks over slowly, clutching a massive Godhead in his hand.]

[He is merely passing by, not even casting a gaze or showing malice toward you, yet it causes you, at the Epic Rank, to be on the verge of death.]

[Before losing consciousness, you hear the voice of that terrifying existence.]

[It feels inexplicably familiar... 'twelve pillar gods, three have fallen.']