151: Chapter 151 Sights in the Divine Realm: Decay Under the Holy Light

Opening Climax:

Before the dizziness of the cross-planar teleportation had even fully subsided, the air of the God Realm nearly made Zhang Hao vomit.

It wasn't that it smelled bad—on the contrary, the air was filled with an overly saccharine scent of "holiness," as if the incense of ten thousand churches, the ink of a hundred thousand Bibles, and the prayers of a million believers had all been crushed together, then mixed with honey and fermented for three thousand years.

It was so sweet it was bitter.

Holy to the point of being nauseating.

"This is... the God Realm?" Zhang Hao covered his nose, struggling to adapt to the dense divine energy in the air. As a ghost, he naturally felt repelled by this extremely bright environment, and white smoke was already sizzling off the surface of his soul body.

Su Qingyu raised her hand and placed a Purification Barrier over him. "Hold on, the laws here are suppressing us."

Lin Chen, however, had no reaction. He stood at the exit of the teleportation portal, looking around.

They had appeared in the God Realm's "Border Wastelands"—theoretically the most barren place, but the sight before them was still breathtaking:

The sky wasn't blue, but composed of countless layers of flowing golden holy light. Those lights rotated slowly as if they were alive, forming massive vortices. The ground was paved with milky-white jade, and from the cracks in the jade grew crystal-clear "Faith Crystals," each one spontaneously chanting hymns.

In the distance, floating mountains hovered above a sea of clouds, their surfaces embedded with magnificent divine halls, connected by rainbow-like light bridges. Occasionally, winged figures could be seen flying past, scattering specks of light dust.

It was as beautiful as a dream.

But Lin Chen narrowed his eyes.

What he saw was not the surface appearance.

Under the law-vision enhanced by the samsara seal, he saw much more:

Deep within those flowing vortices of holy light, thick black substances were settling—residual pollution from the Void Devourer, which, although suppressed by the holy light, was spreading slowly like cancer cells.

The soil beneath the jade ground had long since petrified and hardened, losing all vitality. If one listened closely to the chanting of those "Faith Crystals," they would find that every sentence repeated "I believe, I devote, I obey," without any variation, like a broken phonograph.

The most terrifying part was the angels flying past.

Their wings were bright and beautiful, but Lin Chen could see that the base of the wings was connected to countless hair-thin "Faith Conduits," which were continuously drawing the power of faith from the void. Meanwhile, the angels themselves were like exquisite dolls with their cores sucked dry, their eyes hollow and their movements mechanical.

"Boss," Zhang Hao whispered, "these angels... why do they feel like the walking dead?"

"Because they are." Su Qingyu's voice was cold. "I've seen it in my past life's memories—the angel legions of the God Realm were all converted into 'Faith Receivers' over a thousand years ago. Their true consciousness has long been drained away; what drives them now is the collective intent generated by the believers' prayers."

She pointed to a four-winged angel flying nearby. "Look at its eyes."

Zhang Hao looked closely—deep within the angel's eyes, there were no pupils, but two miniature golden vortices. In those vortices, countless human faces were tumbling, praying, and then dissipating.

Every believer's prayer would leave a residual image inside the angel.

When an angel's "term of service" ended (usually three hundred years), it would be sent to the "Holy Pool" for recycling. All residual images would be refined into pure faith power and handed over to the higher gods.

And the angel itself...

"Will turn into 'Holy Water' to nourish the next batch of angel embryos," Su Qingyu finished the sentence.

Zhang Hao shuddered.

A Melodramatic Twist:

While the three were observing, a commotion suddenly broke out in the distance.

An angel patrol had discovered them—or more accurately, had discovered the residual spatial fluctuations of the teleportation portal.

Twelve four-winged angels, holding glowing spears, rapidly approached in a combat formation. Their movements were so perfectly synchronized it was eerie, like twelve parts controlled by the same machine.

"Illegal entrants detected—"

The lead angel issued a mechanized declaration, the golden vortices in its eyes spinning wildly:

"Identification: Abyss aura, Netherworld aura, and... unregistered human soul."

"According to Article 337 of the 'God Realm Border Management Regulations,' you will be—"

Before it could finish.

Lin Chen raised his hand and threw out a document.

The document unfurled in the air, turning into a massive golden scroll covered in dozens of seals: from the Underworld Group, the Reformist Alliance, the Scales of Truth, and even a temporary passage permit from the Multiverse Business Arbitration Committee.

"We are the advance inspection team of the Underworld Group's 'God Realm Business Department.'"

Lin Chen's voice was calm, yet it clearly reached every angel's "receiver."

"We are here in the God Realm to conduct a 'cross-planar business environment inspection' and are preparing to invest in the 'God Realm Reconstruction Project.'"

"These are our legal entry documents."

"And—"

He threw out a second document:

"This is an 'invitation letter' issued by the Reformist Alliance, inviting our party to participate in the 'God Realm Market-Oriented Reform Seminar.'"

The twelve angels froze simultaneously.

The vortices in their eyes spun frantically, clearly verifying the authenticity of these documents.

Three seconds later.

"Documents... authentication passed."

The lead angel spoke mechanically, but for the first time, a faint wave of "confusion" appeared in its voice:

"However... the auras on your bodies... do not match the document registration information..."

"Abyss aura exceeds the limit... Netherworld energy concentration exceeds the safety threshold..."

"According to regulations... you must undergo... 'Holy Light Purification'..."

It raised its spear, the tip beginning to condense a blinding light:

"Please cooperate... otherwise, forced measures will be taken..."

The other eleven angels also raised their spears, the light from the tips merging together to form a massive purification array!

Zhang Hao's expression changed. "Boss, they're going to attack!"

"Attack?" Lin Chen smiled. "Are you sure?"

Instead of retreating, he took a step forward, walking right into the center of the purification array.

The blinding holy light instantly swallowed him!

"Boss!" Zhang Hao cried out.

But in the next second—

The holy light suddenly went out.

No, it didn't go out; it was... absorbed.

Lin Chen stood in place, completely unharmed. And in his hand, a pitch-black "coin" had appeared at some point—it was the condensed form of all the holy light he had just absorbed.

He tossed the coin and looked at the lead angel:

"According to Article 88 of the 'Multiverse Cross-border Business Activity Protection Law,' the host party, provided the visitors hold legal documents, may not subject them to 'forced purification,' 'energy suppression,' or 'identity discrimination' in any form."

"Violators must pay 'mental distress compensation' to the visitors at a rate of ten thousand nether talismans per minute, with any duration less than a minute counted as one full minute."

Lin Chen glanced at a non-existent watch:

"From the moment you raised your spears until now, it's been... hmm, 23 seconds."

"Let's call it one minute."

He held out his hand:

"Ten thousand nether talismans. Cash or card?"

The angel: "..."

Its mechanical mind clearly couldn't process this situation.

The vortices in its eyes flickered wildly, and finally, a few wisps of black smoke even drifted out—it had overloaded.

Just then—

"Stop!"

A majestic voice came from the sky.

A beam of golden light descended, transforming into a six-winged angel. Its wings were more magnificent, and the vortices in its eyes were deeper, but at least... it had a bit of "life" in it.

"I am the Border Guard Captain, Uriel."

The six-winged angel landed, glanced at the still-smoking four-winged angels, and frowned:

"Chairman Lin, my apologies. The 'cognitive modules' of these low-level angels are too outdated to handle complex situations."

It turned to Lin Chen, its tone polite but distant:

"I have already verified your documents with the Scales of Truth. They are legal and valid."

"Please follow me; I will arrange for you to go to the 'Temporary Reception Area.'"

"But before that—"

Uriel suddenly raised its hand and pointed at Zhang Hao:

"This Netherworld member has an excess of 'negative energy' and must be purified, otherwise he will pollute the God Realm environment."

It spoke with high-sounding words, but Lin Chen heard the subtext: a show of strength.

You want to bring a ghost into the God Realm? Fine, but let me "disinfect" him first.

Zhang Hao's face looked grim, and he was about to speak—

But Su Qingyu suddenly spoke up:

"Lord Guard Captain, are you sure you want to 'purify' him?"

Uriel looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"The 'negative energy' on him isn't ordinary ghostly energy," Su Qingyu said unhurriedly. "It's a 'Netherworld Origin Mark' enhanced by the samsara seal."

"If you forcibly purify it, you are equivalent to attacking the 'sovereignty symbol' of the Netherworld."

"And according to Article 12 of the 'Planar Sovereignty Mutual Respect Convention'—"

She paused, emphasizing each word:

"Attacking another party's sovereignty symbol is considered a declaration of war."

Uriel's expression changed slightly.

It clearly knew this convention—it was a basic rule signed and recognized by all planes in the multiverse.

"I... I am only acting according to the rules," Uriel's tone softened. "The God Realm environment is sensitive, we cannot..."

"Then let's act according to the rules."

Lin Chen interrupted it.

He raised his hand and drew a wisp of black energy from Zhang Hao—it was indeed the manifestation of the Netherworld Origin Mark. The black energy condensed in his palm, turning into a small phantom of the samsara seal.

"This is our 'sovereignty symbol.'"

Lin Chen handed the phantom to Uriel:

"According to regulations, you may conduct an 'environmental compatibility test' on it, but you may not damage, analyze, or replicate it."

"The testing time must not exceed three minutes."

"The inspection fee shall be borne by your side—according to the 'Special Item Inspection' fee standards of the God Realm, it is three thousand God Crystals per minute."

Uriel: "..."

It looked at the small mark in its palm, unsure whether to take it or not.

If it took it, it would have to pay nine thousand God Crystals—this money would have to come out of its own pocket, as the God Realm wouldn't reimburse it.

If it didn't take it, it would be admitting that its "purification requirement" just now was just making trouble for no reason.

It felt incredibly stifled.

But it finally bit its teeth and took the mark:

"...I will conduct the test as quickly as possible."

Lin Chen nodded and ignored it, looking instead toward the heart of the God Realm in the distance.

There, the holy light was even stronger, and the divine halls more magnificent.

But in his eyes—

A Thrilling Sense of Horror:

Just as Uriel was preparing to leave with the mark, a sudden change occurred.

From the direction of a floating mountain in the distance, a shrill scream suddenly echoed!

It wasn't a battle cry, but... a ritualistic howl filled with pain.

Immediately after, a massive crack opened on the surface of that floating mountain.

What poured out of the crack wasn't lava or holy light, but... a milky-white, viscous "liquid."

Soaking in the liquid were countless naked angels.

They had no wings, no halos, not even complete forms—they were like melted wax statues stuck together, bobbing in the liquid. Every face was frozen in an expression of extreme agony, mouths wide open in silent screams.

And above the liquid hovered three massive golden crystals. The crystals were frantically drawing "something" from the liquid—not energy, but the pain itself.

For every bit they drew, the crystals grew brighter.

And the angels in the liquid "melted" even more completely.

"What... what is that?!" Zhang Hao's voice trembled.

Uriel's face looked grim, and it tried to block their view, but it was too late.

Su Qingyu stared intently at the scene, her past life's memories surging wildly:

"It's a 'Faith Refinery'..." she said, her voice dry, "the God Realm's 'production line' for obtaining pure faith power."

She explained:

The faith power generated by the prayers of ordinary believers has too many impurities, containing all sorts of selfish thoughts. Directly absorbing it would affect the "purity" of a god's divine godhead.

So the God Realm invented this system—

They capture low-level angels (or the souls of devout believers who voluntarily "devote" themselves) and throw them into "Sanctification Pools," using special rituals to stimulate the purest "faith emotions" deep within their souls.

Then, they forcibly extract and refine these emotions, condensing them into "Faith Crystals."

One standard Faith Crystal requires the consumption of all the emotions and consciousness of three hundred angels.

And inside that floating mountain... there were at least three thousand "Sanctification Pools."

"They are..." Zhang Hao felt his soul body turning cold, "using angels as... raw materials?"

Uriel was silent for a long time before whispering:

"This is... a necessary sacrifice."

"Without pure faith energy, the God Realm cannot maintain its operation, the holy light will go out, and all living beings will..."

It couldn't go on.

Because just then—

A figure suddenly flew out from the direction of the floating mountain.

It was an angel... that still had consciousness.

It had only half a wing; the other half had been melted. Its body was covered in milky-white liquid as it stumbled and flew toward the border.

"Save... save me..."

It made a weak sound:

"I don't... don't want to turn into a crystal..."

"I still have consciousness... I still..."

Before it could finish.

A beam of golden light shot out from the floating mountain, accurately hitting its back.

The angel's body stiffened, and then... it began to melt.

Starting from the wings, to the torso, to the head. Within three seconds, it had turned into a puddle of milky-white liquid and was pulled back into the mountain by a suction force.

And the crack on the mountain's surface slowly closed.

As if nothing had ever happened.

The entire area was deathly silent.

Only the faint hum of holy light flowing in the sky remained.

After a long while, Lin Chen spoke:

"So, this is how the God Realm maintains its 'sanctity'?"

Uriel didn't speak.

But its silence was the answer.

Lin Chen nodded.

He turned, looking toward the floating mountain, and then toward the even more magnificent and holy buildings deeper within the God Realm.

Finally, he smiled.

There was no anger or sympathy in that smile, only... cold insight.

"I understand."

He said.

"Lead the way, Guard Captain."

"I can't wait—"

"to see just how rotten this 'decay under the holy light' really is."

Hook:

Uriel felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted and hurriedly led the way.

But while the three were following it toward the Temporary Reception Area—

Lin Chen suddenly felt that someone... was watching him.

It wasn't from the sky, nor from the ground.

But from... the "angel statues" standing along the roadside.

One of the six-winged angel stone statues, which had originally had its head bowed, had raised its head at some point.

Its stony eyes were staring fixedly at him.

Then, the statue's lips moved slightly.

There was no sound.

But Lin Chen read the lip movements:

"Be careful..."

"Sacrifice..."

"Tonight..."

The statue bowed its head again, returning to its original state.

It was as if everything just now had been an illusion.

But Lin Chen knew it wasn't.

He looked at Uriel leading the way, and then toward the highest "Pantheon" in the depths of the God Realm, which was shrouded in a nine-fold halo.

A pensive light flashed in his eyes.

It seems...

the God Realm's 'welcome ceremony'

is much more interesting

than he had imagined.