Chapter 149 - 148: Great Outbreak of Demon Qi

Chapter 149: Chapter 148: Great Outbreak of Demon Qi

Fiona was brought back to Cedar City by Li Ye, wrapped in toilet paper.

Li Ye stopped in every major city along the way. He continued to gift the Purifying Cloth to the powerful and influential, search for the Child of Destiny, and display the captured Desire Celestial Demon to the world.

The reason he bound her with the Purifying Cloth was to cleanse her tainted soul.

Li Ye never passed up an opportunity to promote himself and the toilet paper, as he still wanted to awaken new Derived Skills.

By now, Li Ye had given up his search for the final wisp of Demon Qi.

If the Demon Qi were in the human world, it would have surely distinguished itself by now, just like Fiona.

Since it hadn’t, only one possibility remained: the Demon Qi was in the Land of the Dead. It might have even been captured by the Skeleton Monarch already, just as he himself had captured Fiona.

Unfortunately, in this war, the Skeleton Monarch held the absolute upper hand. The Alliance had suffered repeated defeats, and they didn’t even know what the Skeleton Monarch looked like, let alone what weapon he used.

In other words, he and Fiona would most likely end up fighting a Skeleton Monarch who possessed an artifact containing Demon Qi.

This was obviously not good news, but Li Ye was no longer bothered by it.

He would deal with whatever came his way.

Had either of the two worlds Li Ye transmigrated to been easy?

’As time goes on, situations like this will only become more common. I’ll just have to get used to it.’

...

Fiona was unable to learn the origin of the leather whip.

The whip’s memories were sealed as well. Besides, Fiona hadn’t helped it awaken much of its Demon Qi, so its recovered memories were limited. It was completely clueless about everything.

In truth, the whip’s origin was irrelevant to Li Ye. It had just been an excuse to change the subject.

’So what if the Demon Qi inside the whip has an astonishing origin?’

All the Ancient Divine Artifacts had been reverted to their base forms to start their development anew, having long since lost their original powers.

’No one knew what they would become or what abilities they would evolve in the future.’

In Fiona’s hands, the whip was now just a ’whip of debauchery’; a single crack could send a person into ecstasy.

The Chaotic Heaven Silk was also straying further and further down a path of self-degradation, hurtling toward becoming something like the Primordial Golden Dipper...

’So, the past is the past. For these artifacts, the future is what matters.’

...

Li Ye was in no hurry to return to Cedar City. Using the search for the Child of Destiny as a pretext, he roamed the world, pursuing his own selfish interests.

In just a matter of days, a new group of Holy Guard Cultists had gathered around him.

Although he could travel faster alone, having a group of cultists with him better showcased the noble status of the Pope and was more effective for publicity.

After a replica version of the Purifying Cloth was developed by the alchemist Brian, it was rapidly promoted and distributed.

The Tri-Race Alliance worked around the clock to manufacture them, striving to get the Purifying Cloth into every home in the shortest time possible.

After all, the Undead were watching menacingly, ready to breach Longgu Fortress at any moment.

The only one the Alliance could rely on was the Savior, Aragon, who wielded the Holy Artifact. And the power of the Holy Purifying Cloth would only increase with its widespread use.

No one dared to treat this matter lightly.

Especially after Aragon absorbed the Angel’s Heart, it served as further proof that he was the Savior sent by Gandalf. The three monarchs, including Angus, had now placed all their hopes on Aragon.

The Holy Guard Cultists focused their main efforts on finding the fragments of the Angel’s Heart.

Meanwhile, the gifted elite who had obtained a True Purifying Cloth focused all their attention on researching its secrets.

Every one of them wanted to obtain Gandalf’s legacy and prove they were the true Child of Destiny.

Before long,

the rumors grew increasingly absurd:

...

"The Purifying Cloth holds a secret from Gandalf."

"Find the secret of the Purifying Cloth, and you’ll receive Gandalf’s legacy, become the Child of Destiny, and fight alongside Aragon."

"Gandalf hid his legacy within the Purifying Cloth. If you obtain it, you’ll have a chance to become a Demigod."

"Gandalf hid the secret to godhood within the Purifying Cloth."

"Find the secret of the Purifying Cloth, and you might summon the heroic spirits of the Ancient Gods to fight for you."

"Find the secret of the Purifying Cloth, and you will open the Gate of Heaven to welcome the descent of the Gods..."

...

These rumors arose spontaneously.

Of course, it was also possible they were deliberately fabricated by merchants who had obtained the Purifying Cloth and wanted to make an exorbitant profit.

After all, merchants would stop at nothing to turn a profit.

The instinct to pursue profit was ingrained in their very bones. Even with the world at a life-or-death crossroads, it didn’t stop them from drumming up hype.

But the common people believed it all.

Driven by these pipe dreams, people kept driving the price higher and higher, even though Li Ye gave away large quantities of the True Purifying Cloth in every place he visited.

Human nature is greedy. Everyone who obtained a Purifying Cloth wanted to become the Child of Destiny, to become a Divine Awakener...

Many people who interacted with Li Ye asked him about the authenticity of the rumors.

As a vested beneficiary, how could Li Ye possibly deny the rumors?

With a single, noncommittal statement—"I’m not sure if the rumors are true, but rumors don’t start for no reason. It’s very likely that those who obtained the Purifying Cloth received a revelation from a Divine Spirit in their dreams"—he casually fanned the flames.

A lack of denial was as good as confirmation, especially since it involved divine revelation.

Once word got out that Aragon, Pope of the Holy Guard Sect and Savior of humanity, had personally confirmed the rumors’ authenticity, people’s experiments with the Purifying Cloth grew even more frantic.

Ordinary people tried to unlock the secrets of the Purifying Cloth by burning it, soaking it in water, or dousing it with blood, saliva, and even various other bodily fluids.

Alchemists used more advanced methods, treating the Purifying Cloth with all sorts of materials, including but not limited to various acidic and alkaline liquids, the urine of Giant Dragons, snake venom, the blood of black bats, and so on.

...

Li Ye possessed a perceptive range of over one hundred kilometers, and Fiona had the Derived Skill, Auditory Enhancement. There were no secrets in their vicinity, and this was the kind of information they received daily.

...

Magnus was collecting the urine of nine hundred ninety-nine virgin boys to soak the Purifying Cloth.

Raymond was collecting Moonlight Water...

Beilun soaked the Purifying Cloth in wine made from rooster’s blood, then drank it down.

Daren was soaking the Purifying Cloth in dew...

...

"Aragon, the people of this world have gone mad! You’ve ruined this world."

Fiona stared at the world, which was descending further into madness, and felt completely numb.

She had thought the way she used the Whip of Desire was outrageous enough, but it paled in comparison to what Aragon was doing.

’That’s because you’ve never seen Emperor Jiajing’s alchemical ’Red Lead Pills’ or heard of ’Soaked Dates’. The ancient kings and nobles actually consumed that stuff. It was far more disgusting than what these people are doing.’

Li Ye glanced at Fiona, too lazy to explain. He just gave a nonchalant smile. "The Purifying Cloth is imbued with Demon Qi. How can you be so sure I’m destroying this world instead of saving it?

If I didn’t have them experimenting on the toilet paper in every way imaginable, this world would be truly beyond saving. We’d have no hope of defeating the Skeleton Monarch."

"Pay her no mind. I’m doing great," the roll of paper snorted in Li Ye’s mind. "If I keep developing at this rate, it’ll only take a few more worlds before I’ve recovered most of my power as the Chaotic Heaven Silk. Li Ye, I’ve awakened a new ability."

"What is it?" Li Ye asked, surprised. ’My third Derived Skill hasn’t even shown up yet. How did this thing develop another new ability?’

"If I wish, I can instantly drain all the filth from a person’s body," the roll of paper said smugly.

"What’s that ability good for?" Li Ye asked.

"It works in tandem with my Curse Power," the paper explained. "The more filth someone has, the more I can weaken them. If I keep evolving, one day my power will rival that of the Primordial Golden Dipper. Even if I ensnare an Immortal, I’ll be able to weaken them into a Mortal in an instant."

"..." Li Ye was stunned.

’Is this a case of eating its own words?’

’Clearly, the Chaotic Heaven Silk had forgotten all its former pride!’

’But what about my Derived Skills?’

’When will they ever awaken?’

...

Fiona knew Li Ye was communicating with the roll of paper, because her Little Leather Whip was also screaming frantically in her mind. "You idiot! Look at that thing! Just look at it! If you had half its ability, I wouldn’t be in this pathetic state!

You need to figure out a way to enhance my power, now! Otherwise, when we face the Skeleton Monarch, I suspect that bastard Aragon will use us as cannon fodder, or even sacrifice me to power himself up! We have to be able to protect ourselves!"

’Protect ourselves?’

Fiona looked down at her body. Li Ye had been "kind" enough to leave her head free, but her limbs and torso were still wrapped up like a mummy.

’Clearly, Aragon doesn’t trust me completely yet.’

’After all, I revealed my ability. One lash from my whip, and he’d be at my mercy. It’s only normal for Aragon to be wary of me.’

’I have to find a way to earn Aragon’s trust and get back to Pandora Headquarters alive.’

’I’ve learned so many useful tricks from Aragon. As long as I can make it back alive and enter the next world, I’ll definitely be able to grow stronger at an incredible rate. And I won’t have to worry about being possessed by my artifact, because I know it’s possible to communicate with it.’

’As long as I continue my wanton ways, the artifact will be too disgusted with my body to even consider possessing me. That’s a lesson learned from experience.’

’Of course, an artifact like that roll of paper is another story. That thing probably doesn’t think it’s dirty in the slightest.’

"Aragon, when are you going to let me go?" Fiona asked. "We have a common enemy. I’m not going to harm you just to face the Skeleton Monarch alone. There’s no benefit in that for me. Besides, I need to grow stronger if I’m ever going to be qualified to fight at your side."

"Soon. You still need a bit more time for purification. Besides, I haven’t figured out how you should be presented to the Holy Guard Sect," Li Ye said, glancing at Fiona. "After all, your past behavior was too wicked, and it conflicts with the righteous tenets of the Holy Guard Sect. If I release you and let you develop freely, they might lose their trust in me, their Savior."

’The Holy Guard Sect is righteous?’

’You’re making a fool of the entire world, and even the Saintesses who follow you are carrying around used sanitary napkins... ’

After roasting Li Ye in her mind, Fiona put on a winning smile and said, "Aragon, desire is a fundamental part of human nature. People have the right to pursue pleasure.

I could appear as a Desire Celestial Maiden reformed by you. Or the Goddess of Love and Sowing. The Earth Goddess, Gaia, presides over the birth of all living things, so I could also be..."