Chapter 23: The Price
Underground Kingdom, Anlu.
A single-section train traveled along the street. Inside an insect tower by the roadside, a strange odor wafted out. The living habits of the bugs were too peculiar. Since the task was already done, Su Xiao didn’t plan to stay long.
Su Xiao intended to head to the Gem Street in “Danke City” first. He had a “good relationship” with the Kodo School there, and the next steps would be most convenient in that location.
The surrounding air-singing bugs began to chirp. When the spatial fluctuations dissipated, Su Xiao was already on the middle floor of an insect tower.
“It’s you again.”
The woman with a long braid spoke, her attitude noticeably warmer. In her eyes, Su Xiao had transformed from a suspicious person into a major client.
Ignoring the braided woman, Su Xiao descended the spiral staircase to the ground floor and walked out of the insect tower. The bustling scene of Gem Street came into view.
Su Xiao headed straight for Marcia’s inn. The elderly dog-and-cat couple had fled, so he had taken over the inn as a temporary lodging. The keys were with him, left behind by the pair before they bolted—clearly unwilling to oppose Su Xiao. After their escape, Su Xiao alone bore the brunt of the Kodo School’s retaliation.
Back at the inn, Su Xiao spotted a letter on the counter. Opening it, he found it was from Moros. The guy must have caught wind that the matter with the Goddess was settled, hence his return. The letter read:
‘Bai Ye, I’ve recently been to the Last Green Land. If you come this way, be sure to visit near Lake Po. Marcia and I miss you dearly—Moros, left.’
Su Xiao tore the letter to shreds. Calculating the time, Moros would indeed “miss” him. That hair-growth potion had a time limit, and Moros was probably starting to lose his hair again.
It wouldn’t have been like this normally. The potion had two stages: first, hair growth, then pore nourishment for a permanent effect. Unfortunately, the process was only halfway done when Moros fled.
Su Xiao wasn’t ready to go there yet. He’d first milk benefits from the Mother Goddess. She wanted to watch the show, and Su Xiao didn’t mind. When he fought ancient gods, he didn’t need anyone else’s help.
Aside from Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha, assistance from other combatants might actually hinder Su Xiao. Many of his blade techniques were wide-area abilities.
Entering the second-floor guest room, Su Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed and took out the worn container. The corruption force stored inside had reached 4120%. If Su Xiao hadn’t reinforced it, the thing would have exploded.
Closing his eyes, Su Xiao sat in meditation, focusing his mind on the worn container. A faint glow appeared before his eyes, and the air seemed to ripple like water.
Su Xiao opened his eyes. His spirit body was now inside a crude stone structure, with the Mother Goddess on a stone platform ahead.
“Godslayer, back so soon? Do you have questions? Ask freely. I cannot intervene in your battle with the ancient god—I am too weak.”
The Mother Goddess spoke “weakly,” her mass of rotting flesh slowly undulating, emitting a faint aura.
“I just exterminated all the corrupted bugs in the Underground Kingdom.”
Su Xiao tossed the worn container toward the Mother Goddess. Several tendrils extended from her body, catching it.
“Your strength exceeds my expectations. You are the one we’ve been waiting for.”
The Mother Goddess released a wave of joy, but inwardly, she was puzzled. How was this human so strong? Could this corruption force be fake?
After multiple checks, she confirmed the corruption force in the worn container was genuine.
“What do you want?”
“Everything.”
“As you wish.”
After saying this, the Mother Goddess fell silent.
“Where are the soul stones?”
“Godslayer, don’t be impatient. What’s here is your spirit body. I will send the soul stones, but it takes time.”
“…”
Su Xiao looked around, then walked toward the building’s exit. Seeing this, the Mother Goddess’s mental fluctuations tightened.
“Godslayer, what are you doing? Didn’t you say you wanted to ask me questions? Go ahead. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“No need. I’ve changed my mind.”
Standing at the doorway, Su Xiao looked out and saw a vast stone forest.
“Godslayer, what exactly are you doing?”
The Mother Goddess’s voice carried a hint of anger.
“I’m figuring out where this is.”
Su Xiao turned his gaze to the Mother Goddess, a smile forming on his face.
“And then?”
“Then I’ll find this place and kill you.”
“You…”
The Mother Goddess never expected Su Xiao to turn hostile so directly.
“You’re too impatient. Fine, even if it exhausts my divine power, I’ll send what you want to you.”
“Specific time.”
“Now.”
As the Mother Goddess spoke, several soul crystals flew out from behind the stone platform, vanishing into a mental energy vortex.
“Were you serious about killing me just now?”
The Mother Goddess’s mental fluctuations contracted.
“Just joking. You’re a god. Killing a god brings infamy.”
Su Xiao raised his hand, which puzzled the Mother Goddess.
“Give me the worn container.”
Hearing this, the Mother Goddess nearly released an aura of anger.
“You no longer need it. I have nothing left to give you.”
“If I can kill the ancient god, that thing might fill with the god’s blood.”
“This…”
The Mother Goddess hesitated. She had initially wanted to claim a share of the ancient god’s spoils at the lowest cost.
Before summoning Su Xiao, she thought the one to face the ancient god would be someone favored by this world—someone easily placated and encouraged. But upon meeting him, she realized it was nothing like that.
The Mother Goddess estimated that this human’s danger level was comparable to the ancient god’s.
“Godslayer, you carry the hopes of us all.”
As she said this, the Mother Goddess inwardly wished Su Xiao would perish alongside the ancient god.
“Would it be better if the ancient god and I died together?”
“Of course not…”
Before the Mother Goddess could finish, Su Xiao interrupted.
“Mother Goddess, I encountered an ancient god earlier. The Light King called it the Tree God. It descended into this world before the sealed ancient god. Isn’t that fascinating?”
“Very… fascinating.”
Hearing her reply, Su Xiao’s spirit body gradually faded, using the worn container as a medium to return to his main body.
Su Xiao opened his eyes. The mental energy he had released was only a fraction of his total. Even if destroyed, it would only cause mental damage—something he could heal in a few days with his alchemy skills. So he wasn’t worried about the Mother Goddess turning hostile.
Su Xiao picked up a soul crystal from his leg. The bed and floor were now scattered with numerous soul crystals. He collected them all into his storage space. In a way, this was the reward for killing the Wolf Spider Queen. Without that deed, the Mother Goddess wouldn’t have made the first move—her desire for a cut was obvious.
[You have obtained Soul Crystal (Complete) ×172.]
[You have obtained Soul Crystal Core ×1.]
[You have obtained Twisted Life Inscription (Immortal Rank).]
…
Su Xiao checked the properties of the [Twisted Life Inscription (Immortal Rank)] and found it was in a pending activation state, requiring some kind of main body.
The prompt was sparse, roughly meaning he needed to first obtain an Immortal Rank equipment piece. That equipment would have no initial bonuses but could be fitted with Immortal Rank inscriptions.
The number of inscriptions ranged from 3 to 5. The resulting abilities would vary based on the inscriptions, making it a combination type.
With too few clues on this front, Su Xiao simply stored the [Twisted Life Inscription] away.
He opened the World Communication Platform. It was time to purchase Immortal Rank gems from Apocalypse Paradise contractors. The specifics of the purchase would depend on the situation.