Chapter 479: The Fierce God

Wu Xian politely greeted Yu Rang.

After exchanging a few words with Wei Dian, Liang Jian Liang Jian Lingyu, and Liao Liao Yifang, he pulled Shi Ji and Du E together; the three of them exchanged knowing glances and quickly formed a small group.

After some casual chat, Wu Xian learned they had all come to Jinmu Building after becoming Lotus Chosen, following introductions from their personal assistants.

This Fudi is essentially a team-building event for Lotus Chosen.

There were also some people Wu Xian had never met before; besides Yu Rang, they were likely all new recruits who had recently become Lotus Chosen.

After waiting a while, it reached ten o'clock at night.

Yu Rang counted the number of people.

"Hmm, twenty-three in total. Everyone's here. Let's begin officially."

"I will now introduce you to what lies ahead."

"The Fudi we are about to enter is located on the fourteenth floor of Jinmu Building. This Fudi has existed for twenty years; every so often, a blood-written countdown appears on the wall of one of Jinmu Building's rooms."

"When the countdown ends, all life within Jinmu Building will be forcibly drawn into the Fudi. If fewer than twenty humans remain inside the building, the system will randomly select individuals from the entire Fuyuan City to make up the number."

"This time, the countdown ends at midnight tonight—we still have two hours. Plenty of time."

"There are twenty-seven other Jinmu Buildings scattered across major cities worldwide. Each city's Fudi activation time is independent, so we might encounter Chosen from other cities… though the odds are slim."

With that said,

Yu Rang pushed open the metal sheet.

Leading everyone into Jinmu Building.

As soon as they entered the metal sheet's boundary, Wu Xian felt a chill—meaning the Fudi had already begun affecting the real world, even though the countdown had not yet ended.

Wei Dian let out his signature strange laugh.

"Wait. If you don't explain clearly, I'm not going in."

"I'm sure all our assistants told us this is an entertainment Fudi."

"But it spans the globe, has persisted for twenty years, requires Lotus Chosen to enter, and is led by high-ranking members of the Creed… this doesn't look like entertainment at all!"

"Are you Creed members deliberately luring us Lotus Chosen here to use our strength to clear an exceptionally dangerous Fudi?"

After Wei Dian spoke, most others halted their steps. His suspicion echoed the doubts of many.

Yu Rang nodded.

"This Fudi's rank is indeed extremely high, for within it resides a Fierce God… a living Fierce God!"

Wu Xian fell silent.

He had just encountered the offspring of Hei Tian Zhu in the underground labyrinth—a Fierce God offspring still floating in amniotic fluid—that had required a divine-grade artifact to kill. A living Fierce God's power was utterly unpredictable.

This level of Fudi was far beyond what he could currently handle.

"But this Fierce God was defeated eighteen years ago by 'Jing Ke.' Since the Fierce God cannot be killed, it was sealed within that world instead."

When mentioning Jing Ke,

Yu Rang's eyes held a trace of envy.

He and Jing Ke held the same rank within the Creed.

But he had never had the chance to seal a Fierce God—his best achievements were merely repelling or severely wounding them. Even among all Chosen organizations worldwide, such feats brought immense prestige.

Wu Xian was also startled—he hadn't expected that scruffy old man to have such an incredible record. Du E raised her hand.

"So the Fierce God truly can't be killed? Some items have instant-death effects—couldn't we just use those to kill it?" Wu Xian nodded along; he himself had seen items like "Yellow Death" and "Dog-Head Guillotine," which could kill undead beings.

Yu Rang shook his head.

"All instant-death effects have limits. A Fierce God exists on another level entirely."

"Merely by existing, a Fierce God causes irreversible damage to the entire world. That's why, periodically, Jinmu Building draws people into the Fudi."

"After eighteen consecutive years and countless waves of Chosen entering, the place has become a sanctuary for Chosen to rest and recover. The Fierce God has turned into a peculiar landmark—so there's no need to worry."

"Every Lotus Chosen is a precious resource of the Fuyuan Chenghuang Office. We wouldn't send you to die needlessly."

After Yu Rang finished speaking,

Everyone's expressions relaxed slightly.

What convinced them wasn't Yu Rang's words today, but the long-standing reputation of the Fuyuan Chenghuang Office and Creed members.

The Fuyuan Chenghuang Office distributes rice, flour, oil, and grain to Chosen. When carrying out ordinary exorcism missions, they never act unless at least ten Chosen are assembled.

An organization like this values Chosen lives. It would never send outstanding Chosen into a Fudi as expendable pawns without reason.

Everyone walked up the stairs to the fourteenth floor.

Jinmu Building's elevator was intact—the Fuyuan Chenghuang Office regularly sent people to maintain it—but even Yu Rang refused to take the elevator.

As they climbed the stairs,

Yu Rang warned everyone to constantly monitor the count. Everyone stayed tense. Wu Xian heard strange sounds repeatedly and occasionally glimpsed a hand quickly retracting around corners.

This Jinmu Building didn't just contain the impending Fudi—it surely harbored other malevolent entities. Soon they reached the fourteenth floor. Du E, being small in stature, was panting from exhaustion, struggling to carry her luggage.

Wu Xian wanted to help, but found her suitcase incredibly heavy—he himself struggled to lift it upstairs. Eventually, Liao Liao Yifang picked it up with one hand, making the ascent much smoother.

The room at the center of the fourteenth floor

was the entrance point to the Fudi.

The room was large; across its front wall, vast amounts of blood spelled out today's date and midnight hour, the stench nearly overwhelming.

Yu Rang told everyone to stand in the corners of the room, then drew a circle around them with chalk.

"For the next period, please remain inside the circle. Do not step out under any circumstances."

"Due to the Fierce God's influence, Jinmu Building has always been a favored haunt of malevolent entities. And whenever the Fudi opens, wandering malevolences are drawn here, seeking to infiltrate the Fudi and break the Fierce God's seal."

"Therefore, before entering the Fudi, we always conduct a cleanup."

With that,

Yu Rang pulled from his pocket a piece of meat the size of a mahjong tile, still covered in skin—smooth, pale, with no visible pores.

He placed the meat on the floor and stepped back to wait.

"This is Tang San's flesh."

"Its scent spreads far. Any malevolent entity that consumes it gains enhanced power and limited immortality—so every malevolent entity in this building will be drawn here."

No sooner had he finished speaking

than a massive hand appeared on the door. The hand had no fingernails; blood dripped from between its fingers onto the doorframe.

"My… my fingernails… pretty?"

(End of Chapter)