"Yes, it’s real."

Lu Cang scanned the contents of the decoded secret letter and read aloud:

"Miles, the location for the final Sacrifice has been set to the Valley of the Deep Fall, on December 1st."

"You must deliver the living humans who meet the Spirituality requirements to the Valley of the Deep Fall before this date."

"This concerns Pure White. Please be sure to destroy this letter after reading."

The entire decoded secret letter consisted of just three short sentences.

But the amount of information... was terrifyingly large.

"The location, the date, living people, Pure White."

Kumironi’s expression was incredibly serious.

"If what you say is true... Lu Cang, you’ve really deciphered some crucial intelligence for us."

’Pure White. It might be related to the Divine Descent of the White of Death and Destruction.’

’The day of the Moon’s transition is also the day its seasonal Effect is strongest...’

’I don’t know what their Ritual’s success rate is.’

’But no matter what, something like this must not be allowed to happen.’

"Ah Mo."

SWISH!

A figure in green robes appeared beside Kumironi.

A sheet of gold-and-green paper materialized in Kumironi’s hand. Rows of text instantly appeared upon it, and a gold-and-green brand was simultaneously stamped on the bottom right corner.

"Deliver this letter to the Bishop."

"As you command, Lady Kumironi."

The man named Ah Mo took Kumironi’s paper and vanished.

"Little Lu Cang, the Life Church will definitely remember your help..."

Lu Cang shook his head. "It’s nothing. I’m just happy I could help Sister Kumironi."

"It is I who doesn’t know how I can possibly repay you for all your help."

Lu Cang spoke from the heart.

Kumironi chuckled softly. "The information you’ve provided might concern the very survival of all of Ruelun..."

"No, perhaps not just Ruelun."

"If Pure White truly occurs."

Kumironi’s gaze drifted into the distance...

No one knew how much devastation a True Divine Being representing Death and Destruction would bring to the world if it were to descend.

Although the success rate for such a Ritual was extremely low.

But if it succeeded, it could spell a world-ending crisis.

"This isn’t a personal favor. You decrypted the secret letter, and the Life Church will remember it."

***

「For the next few hours.」

Chi Cheng and Iz had run off somewhere again. Lu Cang made copies of all the important books, lest the Church members coming and going took them, leaving him with nothing to read.

As for these books that were supposed to be sealed away, when everyone saw that he was using them, they turned a blind eye.

They let him read them or copy them first...

With Kumironi watching over him, everyone knew better than to cause trouble.

’So this is what privilege feels like?’

’Privilege is great.’

[Method for Refining a Space Container Capable of Storing Living Beings Through a Sacrificial Ritual.]

’A method like this actually exists?’

’It requires a blood Sacrifice of living people. That’s too gruesome.’

’It also requires an Enchanter to complete... Should I have Ai Jin learn this method? That doesn’t feel right.’

’But if I could get a Space Container that can store living things, I might be able to carry the Thousand Army Ant Mountain around with me.’

’I should discuss it with Iz.’

’As for the living people... could I use those captured Heretics from the Death Church?’

’I’ll probably have to consider the moral issues. From what I understand, the Lorren Kingdom is a rather ethical nation. I don’t know if I can use death row inmates for this.’

’Sigh, what a shame. I’ve been in this Otherworld for so long, but I still haven’t made any life-or-death enemies.’

’If I had a few mortal enemies, I could use them for the blood Sacrifice with a clear conscience.’

’It seems not having enemies isn’t entirely a good thing.’

Actually, aside from the secret knowledge, some of the other books also contained some decent information.

For instance, various Tier Two and Tier Three Death Spells.

He could learn all of them directly.

Even without the requisite Death Priest Level, he could use his Mage Level to learn them.

This trip with Iz and the others had been truly fruitful.

Lu Cang had attempted to trigger every single secret his Perception could currently detect.

As for the ones he couldn’t trigger... Lu Cang had pointed them out to Iz and the others.

With Lu Cang’s help, not only did Kumironi and her group learn about the final Sacrifice, but they also discovered the locations of several other Death Church strongholds. Lu Cang had even decrypted a list of Death Church members...

The Death Church had existed for thousands of years despite being strictly prohibited.

The reason they had survived so long was because they were hidden deep enough, and their methods of communication were secretive enough.

But the members of the Death Church probably never would have imagined that the information they had worked so hard to encrypt could be so easily broken by a Level 1 Decryption Scholar.

In truth, they should have destroyed this intelligence.

But the raid had been too sudden. The Level 6 Chi Cheng had charged in, giving them no chance to react.

Now, the Life Church and the Kingdom’s Judgement Hall had both been mobilized.

Listening to Kumironi’s orders to her people, he could tell that a new round of purges had begun.

’I never thought I’d be the one to stir up such a storm of blood.’

Night had now fallen.

Tonight’s gains: a Ritual to temporarily enhance Spirituality, the method for creating a Space Container that could store living beings, the method for creating a Death Puppet...

"It’s almost all Evil Techniques..."

Besides these evil Rituals, Refining methods, and knowledge, he had also learned one Tier Four, two Tier Three, and two Tier Two Death Spells that came after Ascension.

’I wonder why these people hid so much secret information in books.’

’If it weren’t for my ability of Peeping into Secrets, I would have missed out on so many hidden legacies.’

He gave the entire stronghold one final scan.

’I’ve read all the books I need to read, and I’ve investigated all the secrets I can. There’s nothing left for me here.’

Tomorrow was the War God Cup tournament.

If he were absent, it would count as a loss... and Lu Cang really wanted that Prophet Professional Secret Scroll.

A unique Professional Secret Scroll. He’d heard that such Professions were much stronger than ordinary ones.

Besides, Prophet sounded like an advanced version of Divination Master.

’If I master the Professional Abilities of a Prophet, maybe I won’t have to rely on a Divination Master in the future.’

Pari had indeed helped him a lot, but Divination Masters had also left Lu Cang with quite a bit of psychological trauma.

"Chi Cheng, can I go back now?"

"It is getting late. I’ll take you back."

It was a long way from the City in the Circle to here.

His own Speed was already quite fast now, but compared to Chi Cheng, it was still the difference between heaven and earth.

It took even him half an hour to run the distance. If Lu Cang tried to run back himself, the sun would probably be up by the time he arrived.

The only regret was that he didn’t get to discuss much Magic with Iz today.

All his Heart Power had been spent on cracking these secrets.

However, Iz had said she probably wouldn’t be going too far anytime soon, so there would be opportunities to talk more about Magic in the near future.

Also, tomorrow Kumironi would help him advance his Profession to Level 2 Decryption Scholar.

As for becoming a Level 4 Mage... Iz had given him *An Zheng’s Manuscript* and *Magic Enhancement Technique*.

For the Magic Enhancement Technique, she once again warned him not to study beyond his current stage, telling him it was best not to even look ahead... but that he should finish reading the current part before he tried to advance.

***

Back at the hotel.

Lu Cang lay on his bed, studying the Tier Four Magic Enhancement Technique.

"Magic Power controls infinite Elements, analyzes Arcane Magic, dissociates the soul..."

Reading the writings in the *Magic Enhancement Technique* now gave him a whole new sense of wonder.

"Magic Enhancement Technique, Fourth Stage: Void Magic Power."

Lu Cang understood...

In the instant he understood, the Magic Power within his body was no longer something like a flowing liquid or gas. Instead, it transformed into a void-like state that existed between being and non-being.

Magic Power was born from nothingness in every corner of his body.

After its birth, it returned to nothingness.

If his previous Magic Power had form and substance, something that could be intercepted and captured, his current Magic Power was completely formless and without substance.

When needed, a single thought could peel it away from its void nature, turning the intangible into the tangible.

"Such a profound insight..."

Reading this book was like reading Iz’s own thoughts.

’Her ideas are truly divinely inspired.’

’And as for my Body as Technique... what would happen if I were to transform my body in the same way as my Magic Power?’

’No, I’d better not try that rashly.’

Lu Cang sensed it was a bit dangerous; he might really turn himself into nothingness.

He had now learned the fourth stage of the Magic Enhancement Technique.

Lu Cang then turned his attention to An Zheng’s Manuscript. This was the item that had been delivered along with the Void Spirit Star Wood, though the manuscript had been addressed to both him and Iz.

He’d heard that An Zheng was the highest-Level Mage in the world.

A Level 8 Mage.

The manuscript had been in Iz’s possession for study until now.

Lu Cang didn’t mind, as Iz needed to confirm that the knowledge within posed no danger.

After all, it was something left behind by a Level 8 Mage.

Under the wrong circumstances, it could truly cause a Level 2 Mage to have a mental breakdown.