Rumble...

Two humanoid beings wearing leather ceremonial robes and with octopus heads silently drifted to the outer edge of the Lost City, observing the dissipating thunderclouds above and the dwindling thunder sounds.

One of them gently waved eight slimy purple-black tentacles on its face, and communicated with its companion through telepathy:

"Hahaha, Mousani, we are truly fortunate today.

The world's changes haven't happened long, yet we've encountered an Extraordinary from the Material World and... his exploration remains unfinished, with the beacon anchor ground still open."

As he spoke, the body beneath the gray ceremonial robe twisted continuously in the wind as though boneless, clearly unable to contain his inner excitement.

A novice Extraordinary entering the Spirit Realm must have only recently qualified, typically belonging to Tier 2 official tier. Their surprise attack two to one would likely assure victory.

Perhaps that beacon anchor ground, which resonates extraordinarily only with specific individuals, carries fatal risks for others.

However, for Extraordinary explorers and wizards in the Spirit Realm, their souls are already seen as the most precious treasures by others.

Especially in the Spirit Realm where there is no physical protection, capturing the opponent's soul is as good as having them at their mercy, isn't it?

Whether for blackmail to acquire resources and wealth in the Material World, or trading the Extraordinary's soul origin as valuable merchandise with powerful Spirit Realm beings, one can earn substantial returns.

Just like in the Lower Realm, the soul of humans, especially powerful Extraordinaries, in the Spirit Realm are as hard currency as gold in the Material World!

This is the usual practice of their faction, the Deceitful Dream Sect, when encountering "fellow countrymen" from the Material World in the Spirit Realm.

Once an opportunity arises, you gain enough for years!

As newly official members, they had previously watched the sect's veteran members feast while they couldn't even sip the broth.

Unexpectedly, during their patrol taking advantage of the Spirit Realm's recent shift, they were blessed by the Supreme "Source of Nightmare" and easily found quality prey.

"Akmen, you're right. But such a city, evidently unexplored, poses equally perilous for us.

If we venture deep into a place resonating strongly spiritually with the opposite party, we would be fighting on their turf, and we mustn't let our guard down even with a two to one advantage."

Wizards capable of Spirit Realm exploration and a few other Extraordinary professions, in this Soul's conceptualized Spirit Realm world, display their "true" form.

Now though, it's nearly impossible to distinguish any differences between these two based on appearance; they seemed cast from the same mold.

Although similar in appearance, the octopus head beside named Mousani was evidently steadier than his counterpart.

"Supreme 'Source of Nightmare', please heed the call of your loyal servants..."

Rhythmically wriggling tentacles surrounding the mouth extended into the void, their tips gradually disappearing, seemingly entering another plane to lightly touch a certain presence there.

[Divine Skill: Spiritual Divination]

Conducting divination on higher existences in the Spirit Realm is far more convenient than in the Material World, as arbitrary space rules bear no meaning here, allowing direct and easy execution without corresponding rituals.

"Got it, follow me!"

Moments later, Mousani, having received a response, tugged at his companion leading towards another city direction.

There lay the Lost City Poseidya's outer scattered temple, arena, observatory, military camp, Sun Palace, core buildings Aiven had temporarily abandoned due to initial dangerous reconnaissance.

....

Thundering sounds in the sky gradually faded.

The city's black insect screeches completely subsided.

"Huff... huff..."

Slightly disheveled, Aiven propped himself with his sword, despite his physical essence, crouching and panting heavily.

The last demon using the "Thunder Raven Drum" clearly represented the ultimate Secret Technique of the Desperate Thunder Swordsmanship, a formidable skill only employable by Tier 3 and above professions at least.

Though Aiven took a crafty approach.

Yet, against Thunderbolt power - even in the Elemental School known for its attack strength - how could it be easy to handle?

In its natural unleashed Thunderous might at the end, had it not been for the "yellow gemstone necklace" soul armor descended from the Vitalist School, shielding Aiven, he'd be gravely harmed.

If the injuries were too severe, it would significantly slow down Spirit Realm exploration progress and the Material World's privateer fleet development.

"However, it was worth it!"

Because the Three-eyed People's secret Desperate Thunder Swordsmanship was now fully acquired by him.

After briefly reviewing the swordsmanship's introduction, the smile on Aiven's face did not fade.

[Secret Technique: Instant Flash] originates from the Lightning Spear, representing extreme reaction, attack, and movement speed.

[Secret Technique: Thunder Mercury] originates from a black heavy hammer, representing explosive destructive force.

[Secret Technique: Thunder Breath] originates from chain scepter, listening to the world's pulse, harmonizing self-breath with universal resonance, slicing with the longsword, splitting with dominance beyond "Steel-Slaying" level.

[Secret Technique: Thunder God Battle Form] originates from the Thunder Raven Drum, ultimate Secret Technique... strong, very strong, extremely strong.

From recent firsthand experience alone, Aiven knew it was far superior to his best mastery, the White Sail Swordsmanship.

As he rose, eager to experiment with his new swordsmanship.

```

"Friend, it seems your status isn't very good, is it? Hehehe..."

Suddenly.

It was as if a voice came directly from the depths of his heart, yet to Aiven, it sounded like a slimy, icy slug crawling over his eardrum, nauseating to the point that he almost wanted to vomit blood.

When he previously activated [Witchcraft: White Bird], in order to obtain the maximum bonus, he absorbed almost all the seagulls he brought into the Spirit Realm into his body.

This, however, prevented him from noticing that intruders had suddenly appeared in his city!

But this time, the enemy was obviously not a mindless creature like the black bugs acting solely on instinct; speaking was not to make him prepare.

As it spoke to catch his attention, the attack had already followed closely.

[Divine Skill: Delusional Heart Sound]

Effect: Using a dark heart as a medium and sound as a carrier, it ignores physical defenses to pollute and curse the target on a spiritual level.

Before Aiven could see the enemy or make any effective defenses, the eerie laughter "hehehe" had already turned into waves of "poisonous juice" pouring into the depths of his soul.

"Ugh...."

Sizzle... Sizzle...

On the outside, Aiven's originally transparent and clean white light quality body seemed to be corrupted, gradually producing black spots, and quickly mutating into wriggling, disgusting black-red tumors.

In the blink of an eye.

Aiven seemed as though he had already exhausted his power in the previous combat. Facing the sudden and vicious attack, he seemed completely unable to resist.

"Huff... Huff..."

Lying on the ground like someone terminally ill, he gasped for air like a tubercular ghost, and a few breaths later, his cough deepened into violent ones that seemed to eject his lungs and heart.

Each cough spattered droplets of black mucus, which even covered his nose and mouth in utter disgrace.

"Ahahahaha, it's indeed just a fledgling who has just entered the Spirit Realm, solved so easily! The 'Source of Nightmare' of the Supreme in the Spirit Realm is indeed invincible!"

In the sticky, slimy laughter.

A hundred meters away, ripples spread in the air, and two humanoid creatures with octopus heads and wearing gray-white ceremonial robes slowly stepped out.

Clearly accustomed to this kind of robbery business, these Deceitful Dream Cultists relied on their tactics. They might be ineffective against various Spirit Realm creatures, but they targeted these "compatriots" from the Material World with precision.

Seeing Aiven completely lose resistance, they slowly lowered their guard and commented on him as if they were appraising a fat pig on a chopping board.

"Mousani, should we sell him to a Spirit Realm Lord or offer him to the sect for merits?"

"It's our first time with a trade like this; it's best to hand him over to the sect. When we gain experience, we can contact Spirit Realm Lords ourselves and sell our captured prey at a high price!"

At this moment, Aiven, lying on the ground as if struggling to breathe, finally lifted his head to see the intruders who attacked him.

They had no distinctive individual appearance, just sticky, black-purple octopus heads connected to gray-white ceremonial robes, bodies like soft animals.

'Barely human in shape, at least they haven't completely lost human self-awareness. However, they are homogenous, internally ugly and malicious, weak in self-concept, clinging to the strong....'

With just one glance, Aiven discerned their essence from their appearance.

The most likely explanation is that they are the Beloved of some higher mysterious being, gradually imbued with that mighty presence's power, leading to such high homogeneity.

"Before the night lengthens, we should take our prey away from here first."

"Alright, let's offer him to the sect and split the benefits evenly."

Sizzle....

As the tentacles on the faces of the two octopus heads mixed with mucus and began to extend gigantically, preparing to wrap Aiven up.

Achoo...

Aiven sneezed, but this time he expelled not black fluid, but a black seagull.

Achoo... another one.

In quick succession, three distorted seagulls were vomited out, and in a blink, they burst with tumor proliferation, turning into puddles of black slurry.

Looking again at Aiven himself, his appearance had completely reverted to its original transparent and clean state. Even if there were any residue left, it was not troublesome anymore.

Facing the encroaching tentacles, he wiped the black mucus from the corner of his mouth, expressionless:

"Sixteen tentacles? Let me show you who has more hands!"

Thwack—

With that, both his hands pierced through the flagstone, plunging into the earth beneath.

The power of the "Activated Spiritual Light" he gained a massive boost in the Spirit Realm was fully unleashed.

As the two octopus heads turned pale dramatically, a rumbling tremor shook the earth.

Giant hands of earth and stone broke through the ground one by one.

[Activated Spiritual Light: Hundred-armed Giant!]

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