[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-becoming-a-god-through-horror":3,"chapter-becoming-a-god-through-horror-becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-175":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Becoming a God Through Horror",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2273718,4441,"Chapter 175: Kill the Demon: Cotton","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-175",175,"\u003Cp>“No!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice roared, but the body could not move; Jiali’s black hair whipped wildly, her eyes bulging with swollen veins, terrifying beyond words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The powerful invisible psychic force, even as Abalam strained with all his might, could not break free—he could only use magic power to attack Cotton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis, who had long noticed Cotton’s movements, saw runes flash in his eyes—he had clearly seen Abalam’s invisible attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive Blood Pearl, like a colossal dam spanning a great river, blocked all power and intercepted Abalam’s final hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of this, though seeming full of motion, occurred in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dagger plunged straight into Nael’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson blood gushed from the wound; Nael’s eyes locked onto Cotton with unyielding stare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cotton stared back at the girl, eyes filled with sorrow and pain—but he still twisted the dagger fiercely, ensuring the sacrifice’s death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the moment Nael died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The channel established by the sacrifice ritual closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abalam could no longer sense any of his remaining power; moreover, he could no longer return through the channel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remember—he was his true body now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dead meant truly dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rage flooded his soul; his gaze at Cotton burned with hatred—he could actually spit fire, yet now he could not move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only endure the searing pain that reached straight into his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aaaah! Priest! Witch! You have no idea who you’ve angered!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a third-rate villain’s line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis, who had kept his distance all along, sighed inwardly, said nothing, and pulled out a willow leaf—infusing half his magic power, he slashed out four golden willow blades, blazing with radiant golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All four blades struck Abalam’s flame spirit form, cleanly severing his arms and thighs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Louis’s eyes flared brightly, and he opened his mouth wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A terrifying suction force erupted—the still-burning arms and thighs were sucked straight into that abyssal maw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Abalam could only watch helplessly as Louis carved up his body like a pig, then devoured him alive!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who the hell is really the demon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Priest! What’s your name?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis remained silent, eyes half-closed, sensing the vast soul that had entered his belly—admittedly, demons, as evil spirits, were exquisite: aside from being extremely hard to digest, the quality and quantity they provided far surpassed evil spirits!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was a small bun; the other, a giant cake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… hmm, strange taste—spicy, burning, like eating Sichuan food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, Louis suppressed and ground the soul within his belly using the Five Elements’ Qi, then turned his attention back to Abalam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the poison fire burned, Abalam’s massive flame spirit body grew hazy—but still, Abalam remained defiant, showing no sign of surrender, only glaring venomously at Louis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After shattering another twenty emerald-green soul stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, after two minutes, Louis completely burned Abalam to ash—his massive form dissolved into a wisp of gray-white smoke, vanishing in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis still kept his Spirit Eyes open, scanning left and right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestured to Jiali, who, with her unparalleled control, ceased her output and flew over—her face pale, fine skin glistening with sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, her full-force assault had drained her significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiali shook her head. “Fine. Just a headache. A good sleep should fix it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go back to the car. Rest early.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiali shook her head again, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis did not press further, turning instead to the stone altar—Cotton the priest sat slumped on the ground, clutching a crucifix tightly, as if drawing strength from it to endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the altar, Nael’s corpse was still warm; blood had stained the surface red, her eyes wide open—death in unbearable agony, commonly called “dying with eyes unclosed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cotton looked up at Louis, immediately rising. “Hello, I’m Cotton. Thank you so much for destroying the demon and saving me from my mistake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the two had met briefly before, and Louis had used illusions to extract his full story, Cotton himself knew nothing—after mutual introductions, he honestly recounted everything from beginning to end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the end, he wept bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t believe it, yet I foolishly made a pact with that demon, took that bet—and never realized it was his trick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Letting it control this girl escape caused so much death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Cotton spoke, he glanced around, bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Louis and Abalam’s battle, this forest and clearing lay utterly destroyed—craters, fissures, and raging flames everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground was littered with blackened, charred corpses—women, elders, teenagers, girls…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In what had once been a lush forest, all animals fled in terror; birds in the sky struggled desperately for survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the result of Louis and Abalam’s battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already comparable to a miniature war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Louis had resolved Abalam in mere minutes—no prolonged struggle. Had it dragged on, the damage would have been far worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thankfully, this isn’t the town center,” Cotton sighed, gazing at the devastation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your contribution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sit down. Drink this.” Louis took a canteen from his waist, burned a talisman, and handed him the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cotton hesitated, but trusting this strange man, drank the ash-laced water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, miraculously, the bleeding in his abdomen stopped. Though pain remained, it was no longer life-threatening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is only temporary. You should go to the hospital and treat your wounds now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for this place, I’ve already notified someone to handle it,” Louis said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis still thought highly of this priest—just for daring to charge into battle holding a crucifix, he was a true warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he combined compassion with decisiveness—a remarkable man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add to that his final act of severing the channel, which genuinely aided Louis—so Louis returned the favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cotton shook his head. “I… I must return Nael’s body, then confess to Switz. I killed his daughter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Foolish. Do you truly believe Nael, impregnated by a demon, is still Nael?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, isn’t Switz himself hunting her? What do you have to confess?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Instead of confessing here, think about what you’ll do next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cotton fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis no longer paid him attention, beginning to inspect the sacrifice altar, ensuring nothing was left behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as he searched, Louis gave Jiali a glance—though she didn’t understand why, she paused, refraining from using psychic force to sweep the area, instead feigning meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Louis finished searching, Cotton seemed to have made his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked over, bowed deeply to Louis. “Thank you for your guidance. I now recognize my error. I will atone for my sins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This book I give to you. I’ve disappointed my father and grandfather. It belongs with someone capable like you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cotton handed Louis a dark red-covered book, three fingers thick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been passed down in our family. It records hundreds of demons and monsters my grandfather and father encountered or heard of during their time as priests. I hope it helps you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis accepted it without ceremony, flipping through it briefly—there was much inside: origins, traits, abilities, and even methods of handling them—all practical experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A true treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, Louis asked Jiali for a peachwood crucifix and tossed it to Cotton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had burned all his peachwood talismans in the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cotton took it, then walked toward town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He planned to first go to the town hospital, then enroll in the Vatican Exorcism Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he knew the truth of this world, to atone for his past sins, he would give everything—unwavering, relentless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis had already called the Bureau earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, after a quick inspection, he extended his palm, channeling his remaining half-magic power, and cast the Fire Manipulation Technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames from all directions surged toward Louis like swallows returning to their nests, even forming an aerial spectacle—a vast expanse of fiery clouds, breathtakingly beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, once the fire was contained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis turned to Jiali. “Alright, let’s go. Time to head back. This was a good haul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Abalam got unlucky this time—encountered… but who cares, he meddled too much…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice faded with distance, until gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over ten minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a path of blackened trees, a white young man sprinted out—eyes burning with fanaticism, face wrapped in gauze: Caleb, Switz’s eldest son, Nael’s brother!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to hear something, racing to the altar, ignoring the searing heat, overturning the bonfire, frantically searching through the ashes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hands blistered with burns, yet he did not stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he halted—spotting an untouched clump of flesh within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reverently lifted it with both hands, then walked to the site of Louis and Abalam’s battle, stared at the wide fissure, and leapt in without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the corner of the fissure lay a severed claw, oozing blood like lava.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed the two together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, it was as if a chemical reaction had occurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fetal mass of flesh began to liquefy, flowing toward the claw, while the claw itself instantly transformed into a flame spirit-body; the two began to merge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1480,"2026-06-19T23:34:28.869Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0937976676fba79f6278f41e37a08f3f164fa4ac974b9d9c4d1ce3194c780e85","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-176","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-174",253,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecoming-a-god-through-horror-cover.jpg"]