Chapter 3: Training/Strengthening/Distorting the Soul, the Soul Clock Tower believed that a sufficiently powerful soul might be able to resist corruption.
As for the other faction, the Kodo School, it couldn't even be described as strange. They researched and worshipped Ancient Gods, with the philosophy: since you can't defeat them, why not coexist with the Ancient Gods? Since they are deities, they should also be worthy of faith.
Worshipping Ancient Gods → Believing in Ancient Gods → Gaining the trust of Ancient Gods → Sending the Ancient Gods away, letting them plague other worlds. This was basically the Kodo School's philosophy.
Within the Kodo School, there were also other branches of thought. Since they couldn't fight the Ancient Gods, why not summon another Ancient God? Use an Ancient God to fight an Ancient God.
Please don't laugh. In the early days of the Ancient God's descent, the Kodo School appeared. They really did summon another Ancient God, one who controlled shadows. This Ancient God hadn't been around long before being killed by the Ancient God who descended first.
It was said that the Kodo School brought back the only remaining head of the Shadow Ancient God. All members mourned for a long time, then made the Shadow Ancient God's massive head into a specimen...
Between these two factions, Su Xiao had to choose one to investigate. The Soul Clock Tower was more convenient, but the 'Old Royal Capital·Taro' didn't have a Soul Clock Tower branch.
It used to have one. After a certain broken vessel went mad and slaughtered nearly one-tenth of the population of 'Old Royal Capital·Taro', the residents here worked together to drive out the Soul Clock Tower branch.
Su Xiao stood up and walked towards the street corner. He was going to check out the Kodo School branch, to investigate this faction that worshipped Ancient Gods.
Unbeknownst to him, the sky had turned a grayish-black. The sun behind the clouds tried its best to shine through, making the light on the streets somewhat dim.
A scream came from the third floor of a side building, followed by a low, guttural roar. Someone else had been corrupted.
With a crash, a hunched figure smashed through a window and landed a few meters from Su Xiao. It was a woman whose face was covered in black energy threads, her expression twisted.
"Roar!"
The woman roared, and faint black sound waves seemed to spread through the air. Just then, a fish-cleaning knife stabbed from behind her, sinking into the back of her neck, and then pushed forward.
The woman with the knife in her neck fell with a thud. The man who killed her knelt beside her corpse, his forehead pressed to the ground, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably as he struggled to suppress his sobbing. He had just ended the life of his beloved. This was a world plagued by the descent of an Ancient God.
Su Xiao continued walking. He had once again sensed the corrupting force up close. It was much more troublesome than he had anticipated. It was an erosion and alteration of the spirit.
As the cracks in the vessel increased, this corrupting force would grow stronger. The Ancient God was clearly thoroughly enraged, preparing to annihilate all life in the Dark Star World, and then suck this world dry.
After passing through several sparsely populated streets, Su Xiao stopped in front of a domed building. On this building was a circular emblem, the mark of the Kodo School.
There was no one guarding the entrance to the Kodo School branch. On the wall beside the door was a line of text.
'The faint light fades, and we have been waiting in the darkness.'
Su Xiao pushed open the door and entered the Kodo School branch. The first floor wasn't large. Shelves lined the walls, filled with all sorts of strange items. A few chairs were placed in the inner part of the room, where an old man was leaning back, fast asleep, his mouth wide open.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang barked. The sleeping old man woke up. He ran his hand back through his hair, barely touching a few strands before reaching the back of his head.
"How long has it been? Believing in Ancient Gods hasn't changed anything."
The old man muttered to himself, dissatisfied that believing in Ancient Gods didn't help with hair growth.
"Are you here to rob the place, or to join the Kodo School?"
The bald old man sized up Su Xiao, a hint of wariness appearing in his eyes. The -2 Charm attribute was starting to take effect.
"Not decided yet."
"It's wise to think it over. Hmm? What did you just say?"
The bald old man became even more wary. Although the Kodo School wasn't exactly a good-aligned faction, it wasn't an extreme evil one either.
"I haven't decided whether to join or leave."
"Good, that puts my mind at ease. It's just me, an old man, here. Got robbed a few days ago too. This damned place, Taro, is getting more and more unstable."
The bald old man pushed open the door to a small room. This room was a bit like a confessional booth, divided into two parts with a wooden partition in the middle. The partition had a small mesh window at its center.
The bald old man sat down on the inner side of the booth. Su Xiao, Bubu Wang, Baha, and Beini were on the other side. Amu blocked the door.
Bang.
The door to the booth was closed by Amu. The bald old man on the other side shook his head.
"First, let me introduce myself. I am Moros. If you join the Kodo School, I will be your guide. At this stage, there is a major disagreement within the school about how to believe in the Ancient Gods. You need to know this first."
As he spoke, the bald old man, Moros, became serious.
"A disagreement on how to believe in the Ancient Gods? So, you haven't decided whether to believe or not yet?"
Baha understood what was going on. Its impression of the Kodo School improved slightly.
"Ahem, don't be so blunt. We are still very devout. Maintaining devout faith prevents corruption. At this stage, there are 'quite a few' members in the school who believe in the Shadow God. After all, the Shadow God made a great sacrifice for us."
Saying this, a hint of nostalgia appeared in Moros's eyes.
"As far as I know, the Shadow God was..."
"Ahem! Let's continue the previous topic. The Shadow God is not to be blasphemed!"
Moros was very serious. He didn't mind believing in a fallen Ancient God.
"First, I need to know your names."
"Bai Ye."
"Baha."
"Woof."
"Meow."
"Recorded."
Moros pretended to write on a yellowed piece of paper. Paper was expensive. Before a member confirmed their joining, going through the motions was enough.
"Bai Ye, do you know about Ancient Gods?"
"I do."
Su Xiao certainly knew about Ancient Gods. After killing enough of them, you naturally understand.
"Good. Next question, what contributions are you prepared to make after joining the Kodo School?"
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. Continuing this Q&A was a waste of time. He needed to solve the problem more quickly. With that in mind, he gave Baha a look. Baha understood.
"Respected Elder Moros, we have thought it over carefully. We are not joining the Kodo School. This time, our goal has changed to robbery."
Hearing Baha's words, Moros had an expression that said 'I knew it.' He tucked the pen he was holding into his bosom. It was the most valuable thing in the entire branch.
"There are three loaves of bread in the cabinet upstairs. You can take whatever you want from the first floor. Remember to close the door when you leave. Gentlemen, begin. Everyone's time is precious."
Moros was very calm. This branch in the Old Royal Capital·Taro had long been abandoned. The people here were too 'simple'. They came to rob the place every three days on average. Who could withstand that? Was it worth fighting them to the death?
"Elder Moros, you might have misunderstood. I am more interested in you."
As Baha spoke, a smile appeared on its bird face.
"Huh? Hey! Don't mess around! I have the divine power of the Ancient Gods!"
Moros panicked. He quickly retreated to the corner, hands crossed in front of him, staring warily at Baha through the mesh window. Cold sweat broke out on his wrinkled old face.
"Damn it, we just want to ask you some questions."
"What questions?"
Moros remained vigilant.
"In the Kodo School, who knows where the Light King is?"
Baha lunged forward, its eagle claws shredding the wooden partition to pieces before embedding into the wall. Its sharp eyes stared at Moros.
"Asking these things, aren't you afraid of divine punishment from the Ancient Gods?"
Moros felt a sense of foreboding. These people didn't seem to be just simple robbers.
Hearing Moros's words, Baha smiled and said, "Do you really think we're afraid of that thing?"