Chapter 409: Mother Card

I only realize this now because the corresponding thought was directly stolen earlier? Will it tell Lun Na De? Ke Lai En's heartbeat unconsciously quickened a little; he tilted his head slightly and looked at Lun Na De, whose body had been taken over by the angel that stole the thought.

As everyone's thoughts drifted, Si Nuo Man had basically returned to his previous appearance, though his brown hair had acquired some gray strands and more wrinkles appeared on his face.

"You have twenty years left to live; even if you later ascend to a demigod, it won't increase, unless you become an angel."

Pa Lie Si's hoarse voice came from Lun Na De's mouth.

Then he reached forward, made a grabbing motion, and pulled out a painting frame about half a meter tall.

The back of the frame faced up, revealing nothing special.

"Do not point the front of this frame at anyone, nor at yourself."

"When using it, infuse spirit into the inside, aim the front of the frame at a living being for more than half a minute, and it will take effect."

Pa Lie Si gave a brief two‑sentence explanation and then fell silent; Lun Na De, as if suddenly awakened, glanced around, and after noticing the pitch‑black frame in Si Nuo Man's hand, he instinctively turned away from that direction.

Southern Continent, Xi Bai Lang, near Pa Si River Valley.

Lei Ke Dun and Si Nuo Man's silhouettes quickly formed inside a room bathed in dim, amber firelight; before that, he had already sent Ke Lai En, Ao Dai Li, and Fo Er Si back to their respective homes.

It was a study; opposite the desk, Sasilier, clad in an ornate black robe, lifted his gaze to Lei Ke Dun and Si Nuo Man, his eyes lingering more on Si Nuo Man and the frame in his hand.

After a brief moment of silence, Sasilier sighed, slightly raised his right hand and drew a veil of illusory shadow, covering the frame in Si Nuo Man's hand.

"This is something left by A Meng; try not to use it, as it may attract his attention, and its negative effects are strong."

"You stay by my side for now; we are already in the Fifth Era, and you will need plenty of time to adapt."

Sasilier spoke in a calm voice, withdrawing his gaze from Si Nuo Man, as if he had foreseen everything.

"Yes, His Highness Dark Angel!"

Si Nuo Man's words carried a pilgrim‑like sanctity.

Lei Ke Dun tilted his head slightly, and as he watched Si Nuo Man's reaction, thoughts stirred in his mind: it seemed that Sasilier, the 'Vice Ruler of Heaven,' once held a special status because he could directly represent the will of the Ancient Sun God? Si Nuo Man, with a solemn and earnest demeanor, walked to Sasilier's side, stood quietly nearby, bowed his head, and seemed to begin praying again.

Sasilier's gaze fell on the Southern Continent map occupying half the wall opposite him, and in a voice so calm it revealed no emotion he said:

"Where do you intend to start inserting yourself into the Southern Continent's conflicts?"

Lei Ke Dun turned to look at the map behind him, his gaze wandering; he took two steps forward and casually pointed to the Pa Si River Valley area, saying:

"Pa Si River Valley is a prime coffee‑bean region, relatively affluent compared to other areas, with a mature economy. It is currently contested between Yin Di Si and Lu En, and the Knowledge Church also meddles in this dispute."

"This will inevitably draw the Storm and Sun believers; the Knowledge Church cannot directly counter so many forces, and they may not even wish to join, as God and the Church of God are not entirely equivalent."

Sasilier mused, sighed, paused, then continued:

"I will have Li Ao Ma Si Te arrange contact with the native forces of Xi Bai Lang; you may choose to help them reclaim their land, or provide some necessary aid—this is the most reasonable way to intervene."

"Li Ao Ma Si Te?" Lei Ke Dun asked, puzzled; he had some recollection of the name, seeming to be a Aurora Sect saint trapped in the Divine War ruins. "He is the Black Saint and also the head of the Aurora Sect's mission in Xi Bai Lang."

Sasilier gave a slight nod while explaining, and as he spoke his right hand lightly tapped the table, producing a thud‑thud sound.

A moment later, a dense shadow surged from the room's corners and cracks, quickly coalescing into a mass that flowed like water, writhing and twisting in mid‑air until it solidified into a human silhouette.

It was a man whose face bore the marks of many hardships; deep wrinkles lined his forehead, eyes, and mouth, yet his hair was jet‑black and glossy, without a single silver strand, and his dark‑brown eyes held a flicker of madness.

"Your Highness!" Li Ao Ma Si Te's figure solidified, and he turned to bow before Sasilier.

"You converse; I will go handle those primal moonlight believers' issues."

Sasilier gave a slight nod, exchanged a brief word, then his figure instantly turned into darkness, taking Si Nuo Man with him as they left the room.

Lei Ke Dun turned his head toward the Black Saint before him and asked, puzzled:

"Primal moon believers?"

Li Ao Ma Si Te sighed, nodded, his madness‑filled eyes showing a hint of fatigue as he walked toward the window and said:

"Recently, Xi Bai Lang has seen a madman claiming to be a follower of the Great Mother; he appears to be an ancient alchemist who harbors great hostility toward all foreign forces on the Southern Continent."

"Beyond demigod power, his most terrifying aspect is the contamination from the primal moon; he can actively spread this pollution to surrounding things, whether living or dead."

"This level of pollution is extremely high; ordinary extraordinary beings who become tainted either lose control and turn into creatures that only reproduce, or fall directly into demonic god minions. Only His Highness Dark Angel can cleanse it."

Great Mother's follower? Has the Fallen Mother Goddess's corruption of this world reached this point? As thoughts drifted, Lei Ke Dun's inspiration was suddenly sparked; his eyes became profoundly void, losing focus, a vast emptiness like the sea before a storm.

A vague image rose in his mind: a tarot card depicting a voluptuous woman with a bare chest, leaning against a sturdy tree trunk, cradling a baby, surrounded by many small animals—a scene brimming with life.

The woman had chestnut‑colored wavy long hair, blue eyes, a high nose bridge, thin lips, facial features somewhat resembling Bernadette, and a faint smile at the corners of her mouth, like a loving mother watching her child.

In the card's upper left corner were the words "Sequence 0: Mother"! Lei Ke Dun snapped back to reality, a series of stabbing pains striking his head, making it hard even to recall the Profane Card he had just seen.

"Something's wrong; my spiritual intuition is warning me not to recall that Mother Card!" Li Ao Ma Si Te looked at Lei Ke Dun with puzzlement and asked, "What's the matter?"

Lei Ke Dun paused for a moment, then gently shook his head and said:

"It's nothing; a sudden stir of spirit gave me a vision of some scenes."

"I think I now understand what that Great Mother's follower is like."

"Oh?" Li Ao Ma Si Te looked at Lei Ke Dun with interest, awaiting his next words.

"It's a Profane Card, a Profane Card that's been polluted; I'll discuss it with people from the Earth Church, because they are the most urgent party regarding the polluted things at the source."

Li Ao Ma Si Te gave a noncommittal slight nod, then began briefing Lei Ke Dun on the current situation in Xi Bai Lang.

(End of Chapter)