The two guards at the entrance did not understand what Lin Xiao meant by "perfect," but they obediently followed him into the cave.
As soon as they stepped inside, a nauseating stench of rot and blood assaulted their nostrils. Beneath his mask, Lin Xiao frowned slightly and cast a brief glance toward his companions.
The two men, however, appeared unfazed, clearly accustomed to the smell. The one who had spoken earlier continued eagerly, explaining what had been happening within.
"A short while ago, the Great Holy Spirit took us on one of his usual jobs. We found a batch of high-quality materials. He was planning to report it to the Holy Church—looks like the Holy Envoy arrived just in time."
Though it went unsaid, Lin Xiao knew perfectly well what kind of "business" that meant.
Most of the so-called Spirit Masters in this branch were not true evil Spirit Masters. They were originally bandits who had taken refuge here. The Holy Spirit Church had granted them a branch name in exchange for service. In return, they gathered "cultivation materials" for the Church.
In other words, their "business" was nothing more than robbery and murder.
He didn't need their explanations for long. Soon after, Lin Xiao saw with his own eyes the "materials" they had gathered.
The tunnel opened into a wide cavern, its walls fitted with a few old, scavenged soul-tools casting a dim light. Even with a Spirit Master's vision, it was difficult to see more than faint outlines of the people within.
A circle of rough stone tables and benches stood in the center. Seated in the main position was a burly man, nearly two meters tall, his upper body bare and muscles bulging under the flickering light.
In one shadowed corner lay a heap of naked corpses, their bodies filthy and defiled. Lin Xiao instantly understood where the stench had come from. What had transpired here moments ago needed no explanation.
"So it's the Holy Envoy himself who graces us."
The burly man looked up at the disturbance, his meaty face splitting into a fawning grin as he rose and cupped his hands respectfully toward Lin Xiao.
This was the man Lin Xiao had come to find—the Great Holy Spirit.
"Holy Envoy, to come so late at night—does the Church bring new orders?" the man asked as he approached.
"You've drawn too much attention lately," Lin Xiao said, stepping closer. "The Church's order is for you to keep quiet for now."
"Of course, Holy Envoy, you may rest assured. I've already given strict instructions—no one leaves the compound. We will not risk exposing ourselves."
"So," Lin Xiao asked, "everyone is here?"
The Great Holy Spirit glanced around, then nodded. "Yes, Holy Envoy. No one's slipped out."
"Good." Lin Xiao's voice was calm. His right hand lifted slightly.
The Great Holy Spirit waited for him to continue—but the next instant, five spirit rings flared to life around Lin Xiao's body: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black.
The first ring shone brightly, flooding the dim cavern with light—and revealing the shock frozen on the Great Holy Spirit's face.
"You're not the Holy Envoy. Who are you?"
Though he didn't understand why Lin Xiao had suddenly attacked, the Great Holy Spirit was no fool—anyone who had survived this long on the border wasn't. His instincts reacted instantly. Three yellow and two purple spirit rings rose around him, and a layer of needle-like hair sprouted across his skin like steel thorns.
Something clattered to the ground—it looked like small, dark-red seeds, each the size of a fingertip. Even so, several of the glowing red motes still burrowed into his flesh.
"Roar—!"
With a cry of pain, the Great Holy Spirit's massive frame swelled larger, and his fist, wreathed in wind, shot toward Lin Xiao's neck.
Lin Xiao pivoted lightly, body retreating in a burst of speed. His right palm opened, revealing a single dark-red seed spinning rapidly in its center.
In the next moment, his second spirit ring flickered. The seed sprouted before their eyes, branches curling and unfurling within seconds.
The Great Holy Spirit froze mid-motion. Beneath his skin, strange bulges writhed like living creatures.
"Puff—"
"Puff—"
"Puff—"
The sounds came one after another as the growths burst through his flesh, revealing the same crimson vines as those in Lin Xiao's palm.
They spread quickly, winding around his limbs, greedily draining the life force from his body. Within moments, the Great Holy Spirit collapsed to his knees, utterly drained.
"Brother—!"
A shout broke through the chaos. Lin Xiao glanced over to see a man hunched forward, a furry tail swaying behind him, his muzzle extending like that of a fox or hound—clearly in spirit possession.
He bore four spirit rings—the second strongest here, no doubt the Second Holy Spirit.
Unlike his fallen brother, the Second Holy Spirit immediately recognized Lin Xiao's power. Only someone from the Holy Spirit Church could wield such terrifying, flesh-devouring spirit techniques.
He didn't need to guess why Lin Xiao was here. The envoy hadn't come to warn them—he'd come to silence them before they could expose the Church's movements.
In a chaotic land like this, where bandits were countless, men like them had little value in the Church's eyes. Still, sending only a Spirit King to eliminate them all? That was an insult.
"Kill him!"
With that roar, spirit rings of every color flared across the cavern. The Second Holy Spirit charged first, his agile form darting from side to side before circling behind Lin Xiao, claws reaching for his back.
But Lin Xiao's movements were no slower. His right hand pulled back sharply, yanking the Great Holy Spirit's withered body into the air. As it flew toward him, Lin Xiao kicked it hard, hurling the corpse straight ahead.
The Second Holy Spirit saw the dark shape hurtling toward him. Knowing this was no time for sentiment, he sidestepped, letting the body crash behind him.
When he looked up again, the light around Lin Xiao had turned violet. His third spirit ring glowed with the power of a thousand-year ring. From the vines in his palm, a vivid red color began to bloom—then unfurled into a strange, blood-drenched flower.
Its slender petals curled backward, glowing with a sinister crimson hue—as if soaked in blood. It was a flower that bloomed on the border between life and death.
A faint fragrance drifted through the cave, masking the stench of decay. The Second Holy Spirit felt a cold terror rise behind him, but before he could turn—an explosion filled the cavern, and darkness claimed his sight.
(End of Chapter)