Chapter 256: Chapter 255: Hunting the Divine Abomination, the Ship Comes with a Thought

"A divine abomination?"

Su Ye muttered to himself, lost in thought.

From what he understood, the gods of the Far South Continent seemed to be different from the high-level cultivators of the Immortal Dao world.

For example, it wasn’t difficult for them to produce offspring.

The histories of many city-states recorded cases of them coupling with mortals and bearing numerous bloodline heirs within a few years!

Such reproductive efficiency was almost impossible for high-level cultivators of the Immortal Dao.

Even Crystallization Realm cultivators would find it extremely difficult to produce offspring on a large scale.

And yet, the gods could do it!

Such an advantage, however, clearly did not come without a price.

And the price the gods paid... seemed to be that their offspring were more likely to produce ’divine abominations’!

Divine Abominations!

They possessed richer Divine Blood and stronger divinity than divine heirs!

However... they were utterly devoid of reason, with deformed, inhuman bodies, and violent, cruel, and bloodthirsty personalities!

That was a divine abomination!

Normally, these deformed monsters, which brought shame to the majesty of the gods, would be destroyed soon after birth.

But the divine abomination in Aino City was an exception.

For certain special reasons, it hadn’t been destroyed. Instead, it was imprisoned at the bottom of the Fertile Pyramid.

In the sunless depths, it endured hunger and deprivation, cold and loneliness.

It had been there for over three hundred years!

According to the original plan, this divine abomination was supposed to wither away and die on its own within the next few decades.

Even gods weren’t eternal, let alone a divine abomination.

To have survived for several hundred years by sealing itself in slumber with no sustenance was already a testament to the power of its bloodline!

But Tewa Kan City’s declaration of war gave it an opportunity.

With their backs against the wall and ready to take everyone down with them, the Aino royal family and the temple restarted the Martial Combat Before the Gods. They continuously cultivated Blood Sacrifice Elixirs to feed the divine abomination.

This allowed the Fertile Divine Abomination’s power to begin recovering rapidly.

According to Bishop Moluo’s memories, Aino’s leadership estimated that with about another six months of the Martial Combat Before the Gods, the divine abomination could reach... or rather, return to the Fourth Tier!

At that point, they could use the release of the divine abomination as a bargaining chip to threaten Tewa Kan City and force them to retreat...

However...

Su Ye’s brow furrowed slightly.

According to Moluo’s memories, the monarch of Aino City was only at the Third Tier, while the other high-ranking officials like the High Priests and Warrior-Chiefs were only at the late to peak Second Tier...

’With that little strength, they’re feeding a divine abomination that was once at the Fourth Tier?’

’Heh.’

"They’re really courting death..."

Su Ye remarked faintly, his gaze flickering.

’The slightest oversight, and the divine abomination would lose control, turning the entire city’s million inhabitants into nothing but blood-food!’

"But... it seems this divine abomination has only recovered to the level of Tier Three Mid Stage?"

Su Ye’s eyes lit up, a deep interest flaring within them.

An interest in divinity!

Compared to capturing members of the royal family and collecting their incredibly faint wisps of divinity bit by bit... killing the divine abomination directly and seizing its concentrated divinity was obviously far more efficient!

Moreover, the entire city of Aino had been nourishing it for a year with the Martial Combat Before the Gods and Blood Sacrifice Elixirs...

It was like a plump fruit, rich with nutrients, just waiting to be harvested!

"Intel gathering is complete... I have a clear picture of Aino City’s strengths and weaknesses!"

"Then... it’s time to make my move!"

Su Ye smiled, a flame of eagerness flickering in his eyes.

’Fertility Divinity, Holy Spring Spirit Liquid, the Aino royal family’s thousand-year-old treasures... Naturally, they belong to the worthy!’

And as it happened, Su Ye’s ’virtue’ was very great and abundant!

BZZZT!

His will traveled north, following his connection to the Netherworld Boat and his Harmony sense, reaching the distant sea.

’To fight a divine abomination, I naturally have to be in my strongest state.’

’Which means...’

’Ship, to me!’

"Jiaojiao, come quickly!"

"Time to give these natives a little shock and awe from a floating airship!"

The truth is about to arrive!

...

WHOOSH.

The sea breeze blew.

The Ghostly Flood Dragon was moored quietly on the surface of the sea. Dark and imposing, it resembled a tall, majestic mountain peak in the dead of night.

Its anchor was dropped and its sails were furled, leaving only a few bare, cross-shaped masts.

At the very top of the mainmast, perched on a bone-like branch that extended to the sides, a small, slender figure sat in utter boredom. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Light as a feather~

"I’m a little bored. What should I do?"

"I’ve got it!"

An idea suddenly struck Jiaojiao.

She stood up, spread her arms, and toppled forward!

"Heh!"

Jiaojiao deftly hooked her foot around the mast, hanging herself upside down!

SWISH.

Her beautiful, jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, revealing her smooth, pale forehead.

"The world looks so interesting like this... Hehe..."

Jiaojiao giggled foolishly as she admired the completely inverted world.

But a few minutes later, a lonely expression crept onto her face.

"So lonely..."

"Master isn’t here, the emergency rations aren’t here either, just these dumb cursed crew members..."

"No one’s here to play with Jiaojiao."

"And it’s so desolate here. There’s nothing fun to kill for entertainment..."

"Awoooo!!!"

"Sooo boring!"

Just then, Jiaojiao’s expression suddenly changed.

As nimble as a swallow, she did a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree flip and landed back on her feet on the mast!

"Master is calling me!" Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up.

"Ghostly Flood Dragon, take off!"

The anchor retracted, the masts contracted, and the entire Ghostly Flood Dragon’s form rapidly changed, becoming more aerodynamic.

With a Magnetic Reversal, the Ghostly Flood Dragon broke free from gravity, rising into the air with the sound of splashing water!

"Let’s go!"

BOOM!

The plasma blood-flame thrusters roared to life!

The Ghostly Flood Dragon became a blood-red comet, speeding toward Aino City along the safe route Su Ye had provided!

...

「Two days later.」

「Aino City.」

The Martial Combat Before the Gods was held as scheduled.

Two days was too short a time for Moluo’s disappearance to attract much attention.

After all, as a Second Tier Priest from the temple who had mastered the ability of flight, what could possibly threaten him near Aino City?

There was some concern, but not enough for panic.

And so, the Martial Combat Before the Gods was held as usual, merely with a different presiding Priest.

SHING.

Warriors fought each other to the death, splattering blood everywhere.

The barbecue pits nearby were also fired up.

Nais sat in the VIP seats, a worried expression on his face. "There aren’t enough wins... By the next Martial Combat Before the Gods at the latest, Muer’s win record will be matched..."

’At that point...’

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

’Death...’

"No, I can’t give up yet. Maybe I can find a new Warrior attendant..."

But just as Nais was encouraging himself,

a commotion erupted outside the arena.

SWOOSH.

A bladed vine swept out, wrapping around the heads of several guards at the arena entrance and tearing them off. Their bodies collapsed to the ground!

Gushing blood caused a panic.

"Who dares cause trouble during the Martial Combat Before the Gods?!"