The night fell, and a hazy moonlight spilled onto the streets, where a silver glow mingled with the sparse streetlights.

Walking out from Anbao Hall, on both sides were mottled ancient buildings of the Imperial Capital, where time had engraved traces on the walls.

Occasionally, a dog's bark would break the night's silence, only to be quickly swallowed by the heavy darkness.

After leaving Anbao Hall, Ye Bai oriented himself and then headed toward the distance.

To confront the statue that had acquired the Divine Crystal, Ye Bai had specifically brought the Paper Puppet along.

This statue was said to have the ability to disguise itself and could take on the appearance of a human.

Papermen of the Paper Puppet had already located the escaped statue according to the intelligence.

And with the Divine Crystal, the Paper Puppet could also ascend to become a being akin to a sacrificial spirit.

Red-light district of the Imperial Capital.

The place was a hub of bustling nightlife.

A handsome blond boy was indulging himself in revelry, surrounded by luxuries.

Around him were ladies in black stockings.

Some dressed as secretaries, some as nurses, and others as teachers — all sorts of beautiful women.

"Oh, Master Jin, you're so annoying," they teased.

The blond boy was leering at the ladies surrounding him.

He gulped down his saliva, ready to make a move.

The noisy bar suddenly erupted with an exclamation.

Dim lights cast upon a girl in a cheongsam.

She had a graceful figure, with intricate embroidery of a soaring peacock on her cheongsam that seemed to come alive amid the lights and shadows.

The girl's skin was like creamy jade, her soulful eyes resembling autumn water silhouettes, or as deep as the ocean, mysterious and captivating.

Holding a black-and-white patterned oiled paper umbrella, she walked towards the blond boy with every step exuding an indescribable charm.

Her every frown and smile pierced through the blond boy's heart like a sharp arrow.

That was the feeling of a heart fluttering, and a blush gradually appeared on the blond boy's face.

He stood up slowly and staggered after her.

Obsession was written on the blond boy's face.

"Master Jin is really impatient," someone jested nearby.

This person named Master Jin was a regular at the bar.

He followed the girl to the back door of the bar.

It was eerily quiet here, unusually so.

The girl stood quietly holding the oiled paper umbrella, her gaze fixed on him.

Her eyes were filled with tenderness, as if they transcended mountains and seas to reach him.

This gentle gaze made Master Jin's heartstrings quiver.

Yet, just as he stepped out the back door, the scenery around him abruptly changed.

He found himself in a desolate place, surrounded by craggy rocks.

"It wasn't easy to lure you out," a voice said.

"Fortunately, I observed your lustful tendencies."

"But that lust was an act; what you were truly fascinated by was the beautiful facade."

"Am I right?"

Ye Bai's voice came from beside him.

He walked eerily to one side.

A cold smile hung on his lips.

"Right, the Divine Crystal is on you, isn't it?"

"The statue of Svendal."

Svendal, an abyssal creature adept at taking human forms, luring people into secluded corners, killing them, and skinning them.

It was somewhat like Flame Country's 'Painted Skin' but even more powerful.

Each time Svendal killed an Exotic Beast, it would skin it and, during battles, could disguise itself as that creature.

It was like a real-life shapeshifter.

Svendal grinned, a hint of madness in its eyes.

"Where did I slip up?"

"I clearly disguised myself well."

Svendal was a boastful creature, skilled at using deceit to attack its opponents.

"Everywhere is a flaw."

"Even though you disguise well, a fake is still a fake."

"The rot, filth, and stench from the Abyss on you have already exposed you."

"Even if you're just a spirit-communicating stone statue."

The features of the blond boy burst forth with a mass of purple sludge.

The sludge quickly coalesced, transforming into a hunched, small figure in a purple cloak.

It looked greedily at the Paper Puppet.

This was a fine work of art, and Svendal genuinely wanted to peel off her divine outer skin, adding it to its collection.

On Svendal's back was a huge backpack.

Concealed within were the pelts of its prey.

It could instantly disguise itself as different Exotic Beasts.

In its brow was embedded a finely cut gem.

This was the Divine Crystal.

Only Gods can conceive Divine Crystals, and not those with merely weak Divine Power.

At least a God with lower-tier Divine Power would have this possibility.

"Tsk tsk, in fact, within that stone statue, there's my flesh and blood."

"Rather than a statue, it's more like my remains; it's part of the Abyss's invasion plan on Blue Star."

"Did you think I got the Divine Crystal by luck?"

"No, everything was planned!"

"My Divine Crystal was a treasure bestowed upon me by the Abyssal Demon God."

"You're truly fortunate to die at my hands."

"Your skin will also become one of my collection pieces."

Svendal grinned sinisterly.

Its gaze scanned Ye Bai like sharp daggers, as if seeing a prime piece of prey.

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