Oh no, looking at the current situation, Captain Yang and this mastermind behind the scenes know each other. This is dangerous.
Ye Feng looked left and right, his heart sinking slightly.
"Captain, I've changed my mind. Is it still too late for us to leave now?"
He turned his head to look at Yang Yong behind him, speaking politely yet awkwardly.
Yang Yong felt a struggle within him. After a moment of silence, he raised his head.
"Mole, don't go too far. I've given your Church some face, but you, a mere lackey of the Clown Gang, are trying to order me around?"
Yang Yong said coldly and sternly.
"Hahahaha... hahahaha."
The white-robed man by the altar burst into wild laughter.
"Security Officer Yang, you haven't forgotten the agreement with the organization, have you? Or do you want to break it? Even if you don't care about yourself, think about your daughter. You aren't always by her side, are you?"
The white-robed Mole sneered, his eyes equally cold and stern.
Seeing that his only reliance was now wavering, Ye Feng felt anxious as he watched.
His eyes narrowed. Yang Yong, who was speaking to Mole with his back to him, quietly slipped him a piece of paper. Inside the paper was wrapped a small knife, which had something imbued upon it.
He opened the note nonchalantly; it clearly read, "Trust me."
( _||| ) What does this mean?
Ye Feng understood that at this moment, he had no choice at all.
He had originally thought saving someone would be a simple task, but he hadn't expected the waters of this world to be so deep. Trusting Captain Yang might not necessarily lead to death, but not trusting him would definitely mean he was doomed.
"Mole, have you forgotten the agreement with your organization!"
"You can perform the sacrifice, but there must be no loss of life. I can pretend I didn't see anything."
"But I must take my subordinate with me. There is no room for negotiation!"
Yang Yong took out his pipe, took a deep puff, and said calmly.
Mole began to grow impatient.
Ever since his wife died, this Yang Yong had been timid and submissive, threatened by their Clown Gang for the sake of his daughter. Today, he actually dared to make demands.
"Yang Yong, you don't have the qualifications to make demands of me. Either hand this person over to me, or wait to collect your daughter's corpse!"
"As a believer of the God of Justice and Courage, you've abandoned the justice you uphold and lack the courage to confront evil. How much strength do you even have left?"
"Don't throw your life away for a stranger, hahaha."
Watching Mole prattle on, Ye Feng instantly understood why Yang Yong hadn't saved the girl; it turned out he was being threatened.
Then why did Yang Yong give him a weapon imbued with Divine Power and a note?
Wait, what if Yang Yong's plan was to kill him to silence him?
Then no one would know he had killed Mole.
Giving the weapon to Ye Feng—it was highly likely that Mole was right. Since the power gained by relying on a Deity must be tied to the essence of that Deity, failing to uphold that essence would inevitably lead to the deprivation of some power.
It was very likely that Yang Yong was no match for Mole right now!
Therefore, Yang Yong needed Ye Feng to strike with him!
"Enough, Mole!"
Yang Yong said through gritted teeth.
"I'll give you the person this time. Clean it up, and wait until I've left before you act. I don't want to see a colleague meet with misfortune in front of me."
Ye Feng was pushed hard by him toward Mole.
"Yang Yong, you're not only old, but you're also a coward. You traitor to the human race, you're not fit to be a Security Officer at all!"
Ye Feng caught the hint and put on a show as well.
Hearing himself called old, Yang Yong almost lost his composure; he was clearly only in his forties.
Seeing Ye Feng keep babbling, Mole walked up and slapped him.
"You brat, your mouth is quite foul."
He turned to look at Yang Yong with a smile on his face.
"Haha, Security Officer Yang, it just so happens that my experiment needs a material. Since we're brothers, I won't say thank you."
Mole grabbed Ye Feng and walked slowly toward the center of the altar.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
The bullets fired at Mole reached him, and several tentacles extended from his white robe. The bullets were blocked by blue ripples emanating from the tentacles, just like stones thrown into water, without making a sound.
"How could you so easily block my enchanted bullets?"
Yang Yong put away his warm smile, his face full of shock.
He was also a good actor. He had known all along that although Mole's strength was low, with his own current power, it wouldn't be easy to resolve this effortlessly.
"Yang, I've been guarding against you all along."
"I knew you wouldn't be reconciled."
"But you might not know that I've also been testing your current strength. Since you didn't choose to strike head-on, I'm afraid you don't have much strength left, do you?"
Mole revealed a smile of a conspiracy fulfilled. How could he underestimate Yang Yong? After all, Yang Yong used to be a True Believer, while he, Mole, was merely a General Believer. Even if the followers of the Old Ones had greater combat power, he couldn't possibly fight two levels above his own.
However, the secret hidden within him was too great; every person who knew about it had to be eliminated.
Mole hadn't originally planned to deal with Yang Yong right now, but since he had tested that he didn't have much combat power, it was best to eliminate the future trouble once and for all.
Yang Yong had to die; it was only a matter of time. He might leak the news. But this brat Ye Feng seemed to have some background; the boss had specifically instructed not to touch him.
"Yang Yong, seeing that you are about to die, I might as well tell you that I am no longer the person I once was."
He took off his white robe, revealing his body.
Small tentacles stretched and curled from time to time, moving in and out of various parts of his body, while faint White Mist nourished his decaying frame.
"Hahahahahaha, I had a miraculous encounter!"
"Just two days ago, I was walking in a foggy, gloomy alleyway when I met someone—someone who could change my destiny."
"It was an Old Man lying on the ground, dressed in rags, a pathetic piece of filth!"
"Do you know? As usual, I used my knife to cut the throat of this vermin, granting him salvation."
"Guess what? He glowed, right in front of me, turned into a mass of White Mist, and dissipated!"
Mole caught his breath and said excitedly.
"Where this vagrant had mistified and vanished, a glowing Gem remained. I suddenly realized that the path to my own salvation lay within it."
"This is a miracle. You understand, only a Believer of Pure White can control the White Mist."
"That Pure White Mist is calling to me. This whiteness is maddening. This is a miracle belonging solely to the Pure White Maiden!"
He pointed to the bound girl.
"But she defiled the sacrifice and deceived me! She clearly said she was pure!"
"She truly deserves to die."
"The sacrifice should have been completed long ago."
Mole punched the air in anger, appearing very agitated.
Ye Feng looked at the gradually dehumanizing Mole in front of him, feeling a bit horrified.
Is this... is this Cthulhu?
It was completely different from what he had seen in books. Only by experiencing it personally could one feel this kind of oppressive pressure.
"You... I don't understand this sacrifice, but she said she was pure, and you believed her? You're a bit of an idiot, aren't you!"
"I'm not trying to provoke you, but someone like you will never succeed."
"I am Ye Feng, just a passerby."
Ye Feng couldn't help but speak his mind.
Mole finally looked at Ye Feng directly for the first time. He nodded in approval, not looking angry at all, though the veins on his hands betrayed him.
"Your name is Ye Feng? Long time no see. I remember the last time I saw you was when you were crossing the street with your parents."
He reached out and pressed his hand over Ye Feng's lips, signaling him not to speak, while his eyes remained fixed on Yang Yong.
"Ye Feng is quite right. Yang Yong, you tell me, why is it that your apprentice understands this principle, but I don't?"
The White Mist on Mole's body grew thicker, and in its place, there were fewer and fewer tentacles.
Ye Feng saw the look Yang Yong gave him and understood the hint.
"Everyone's definition of purity is different. Perhaps in her understanding, she is pure. That's not a problem."
"However, you have failed."
Yang Yong, who had been silent for a long time, replied.
Mole stared fixedly at Yang Yong.
"Failed? No, it won't fail. There are other ways. By sacrificing life, one can also learn the Inheritance within!"
"She must die, and you, who know the secret, cannot live either."
He turned to look at Ye Feng and patted him on the shoulder.
"You can, Ye Feng. If you are willing to acknowledge me as your master, I can teach you to cultivate the power of Pure White."
Hearing Mole say this, Ye Feng thought to himself that if he agreed, Mole might lower his guard even more.
He immediately knelt down.
"Ye Feng has lived alone for over a decade and has never received love from others. Today, I am honored by the kindness of Lord Mole. I am deeply grateful. I hope Lord Mole will not mind, but I am willing to be your Adoptive Son and care for you in your old age."
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he knelt without hesitation and kowtowed to acknowledge him as his father.
After all, who would complain about wanting to stay alive?
"Hehehe... there are too many happy events today. It truly is my lucky day. Not only did I obtain the Inheritance of His Highness Pure White, but I also gained an Adoptive Son. In the future, your Adoptive Father will tell you everything about your parents!"
Mole split his wide mouth open, and another large mouth split open on his chest.
True, hearty laughter.
Those who adapt to circumstances are the wise. This Adoptive Son was so decisive; he was indeed extraordinary.
Yang Yong, standing to the side, was stunned. The two people in front of him were suddenly acting like a loving father and son, the atmosphere harmonious.
Yang Yong couldn't be sure if Ye Feng really wanted to acknowledge Mole as his Adoptive Father until he saw the little look Ye Feng gave him, confirming Ye Feng's intention.
He couldn't help but think that this child was flexible, deep, and had a bright future!
"Mole, stop pretending. You've said so much, isn't it just to stall for time? You're absorbing the power of the Altar."
Seeing that Ye Feng was in position, Yang Yong didn't want to delay any longer. Mole's state was getting better and better, and his chances of winning were decreasing, but this was also the moment when he was most relaxed!
"Since you don't want to let me go, let me see what kind of strength you have. And you, acknowledging a thief as your father—today I will send you father and son to the underworld together!"
Yang Yong took out his mysterious object, which was clearly a dagger, the same as the one he had just given to Ye Feng.
"Level 2 Mysterious Object"
"Justice Verdict"
This pair of daggers was Yang Yong's signature weapon, with astonishing power and a damage bonus against dark-type creatures.
"Great God of Justice and Courage, please listen to my call: Spear of Courage!"
Yang Yong knelt down and chanted loudly.
The dagger in his hand flew into the air, carrying an unstoppable force as it shot toward Mole.
This strike contained all his power; if he could kill him in one blow, that would be for the best.
"Hehehehehe... Yang Yong, what should I say about you?"
Mole was unhurried. With a thought, a thick layer of White Mist blocked his front. The dagger entered the White Mist as if entering another dimension and vanished.
"If this is all the strength you have, you can..."
Mole sneered.
"Puchi..."
The dagger pierced through Mole's chest.
The White Mist lost Mole's control and dispersed. The dagger inside, carrying powerful force, went straight through and pinned Mole to the wall!
"Cough, cough... you..."
He looked at Ye Feng in disbelief.
"We... we were supposed to be on the same side!"
"Cough, cough... everything shall return to Pure White..."
Mole muttered. He died with his eyes wide open, his body gradually mistifying. Soon, the entire room was filled with white haze.
"Adoptive Father Mole? Are you still alive? My child, I was only being threatened!"
Ye Feng called out, but there was only silence. It was as if he were the only one left here, and he couldn't receive any feedback from Yang Yong.
"Adoptive Father? Are you really dead?"
"Captain Yang?"
Still no response.
Trapped in the haze, he walked forward. The small factory building seemed boundless; no matter how he walked, he couldn't get out, and his heart gradually grew anxious.
He suddenly had a flash of inspiration. This mist seemed to belong to the Pure White Maiden, so what if he called out to her?
He did it without hesitation.
"Great Lord of Pure White, please listen to my call. Your most loyal believer is here calling to you."
Before he could finish, a crystal emitting seven-colored light suddenly appeared in front of Ye Feng.
He mimicked Mole's method and pressed the Gem against his forehead, sensing faint information. Because he hadn't performed a sacrifice, he couldn't learn anything.
To have this treasure in front of him and yet have no key—who could stand that?
He tried hard to think, throwing and smashing it, but the Gem had no reaction at all.
This thing, how is it like the Godhead of a New God in the Cthulhu novels from his past life's memories!
He searched through the memories in his mind, which contained books he had read in his previous life, recalling descriptions of Godheads.
Carefully examining its patterns and luster, Ye Feng concluded that this was a Godhead; there could be no mistake!
But it was common knowledge that a Godhead could not leave a Deity.
Could it be...
The Lord of Pure White?
Had fallen?
That's a bit trashy then, to be at that level!
Ye Feng was ecstatic. An ordinary person might not understand, but he had read thousands of Cthulhu-type books. A thing like a Godhead could be swallowed directly. As long as your nature was compatible with the Godhead, you could ascend to the heavens in one step and begin the path to godhood!
This Godhead belonged to the Pure White Maiden; it sounded like it should be a pure-hearted Deity, which happened to be compatible with him.
Thinking of this, Ye Feng swallowed the Godhead directly. He had only been a small office worker before; with a chance to ascend in one step, how could he resist?
As the Godhead was swallowed into his body, the surrounding White Mist began to gradually enter his body, and countless complex and mysterious pieces of information flooded his brain.
"Ah..."
Ye Feng hadn't expected that fusing with a Godhead would be so painful. This feeling was simply indescribable, hurting so much that he wanted to pass out several times.
He could no longer hold on. In his delirium, he heard a voice in his mind.
"Advanced to Faint Divine Power"
"Deity Vision"
"Believer Information"
"True Form of the Deity"
..
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