In the Abyssal Empire, within the Temple of Myriad Demons.
The Serpent Mage · Earthly Ghost with eyes gleaming sinisterly, and the Falcon Mage·Heavenly Ghost draped in wings, were locked in mutual gaze, each harboring their own thoughts.
Ever since their lord, “The Eternal Winter Lord”, had held a private discussion with the “Singular Demon God” in the Hall of Abyssal Demons a few days prior, they had rarely seen the Eternal Winter Lord.
The Earthly Ghost could guess that the discussion was likely related to his own incompetence.
Although the Eternal Winter Lord did not explicitly say anything, nor did he punish the Earthly Ghost, the Earthly Ghost quickly realized after that damned “Kasi” betrayed them, that the information he last provided to the Eternal Winter Lord was flawed.
In other words, the assassination attempt personally carried out by the “Singular Demon God” had failed.
The unexpected failure forced the Earthly Ghost to admit that his pawns indeed contained uncontrollable factors, in contrast to the Heavenly Ghost’s more reliable pawns.
That was why he was facing the Heavenly Ghost at this moment. 𝑜𝓥𝓵ℯxt.𝗇𝓔t
“Hiss… Heavenly Ghost, thank you for your willingness to help me.”
“No need for thanks, as colleagues, it’s only right to help each other.”
The Heavenly Ghost was very polite, but he was not helping the Earthly Ghost out of the goodness of his heart, but rather to share in the merit.
The Heavenly Ghost had always wanted to get involved in monitoring the “Crosser”, but unfortunately, he was a step slower than the Earthly Ghost and it wasn’t appropriate to stir up trouble.
Now, when the Earthly Ghost failed and extended an olive branch, this was the development the Heavenly Ghost was most eager to see.
Based on the reference information provided by the Earthly Ghost, the Heavenly Ghost’s little sparrows had already located the crosser named “Banning” today.
From now on, no matter where he went, he couldn’t escape the surveillance of these aerial watchers.
However, the Heavenly Ghost’s surveillance network was not perfect.
Without nocturnal birds like owls and night herons, the Heavenly Ghost could not monitor at night because most birds are night-blind.
In addition, within buildings and underground caves, the Heavenly Ghost’s birds could not track the target’s movements.
At times like these, he needed the Earthly Ghost’s cooperation.
“Hiss… However, the Eternal Winter Lord doesn’t seem to care too much about surveillance recently, hiss…”
“Indeed, I always feel like he is preparing some big plan.”
The performance of the Eternal Winter Lord made the Earthly Ghost uneasy.
If the Eternal Winter Lord gave up on monitoring, it meant that he had no way to atone for his faults.
This kind of anxiety had been bothering the Earthly Ghost these days. After several considerations, he made a decision, a decision that could not be revealed to anyone before it was successful.
“Hiss… Anyway, I’ll need your cooperation for the surveillance, Heavenly Ghost, hiss… I have something to do, so I’ll go first.”
“Alright.”
.
Bidding farewell to the Heavenly Ghost, the Earthly Ghost sought a secluded location, sitting cross-legged, projecting his consciousness onto his “duplicate” far away in the Wester Kingdom of the Human Alliance.
At the same moment, within a cold, damp building somewhere in the Wester Kingdom, a black-and-white banded silver ring snake awakened.
The snake lay on a circular stone altar, beneath which a white-haired, one-eyed girl knelt on one knee, seemingly having waited a long time.
Elsewhere in the room, many other snakes coiled, fast asleep.
The silver ring snake hissed a few times, staring at the girl for several seconds before speaking.
“Hiss… Hey, Heloise, are you asleep?”
At the sound of the silver ring snake, the girl’s body jerked slightly, then she slowly raised her head.
“I pay my respects to Lord Earthly Ghost. I was merely testing my soul amidst the spiral of evil spirits…”
Although she said this, the girl couldn’t help but let out a small yawn, as if she had just woken up.
The Earthly Ghost, controlling the silver ring snake, heaved a silent sigh.
Among the reserve cadre of the Serpent Shadow Society, “Black Tigerwing · Heloise” was considered fairly competent, it’s just a shame that there seemed to be something wrong within her head.
However, even if her mind was a bit off, it didn’t affect her ability to carry out this task.
Rather, it was more like making the best use of everything, no heartache even if she died.
“Hiss… Fine, then you are prepared for the ‘Snake Blood Trial’, hiss?”
“I have no way out, only through the ‘Snake Blood Trial’ can I open the road to the future.”
Heloise’s answers always gave the Earthly Ghost a headache, after a moment of thought he understood that she was ready.
Thus, the Earthly Ghost, controlling the silver ring snake, slowly crawled into the spherical container on the altar.
Immediately, the container automatically closed, numerous spikes protruded from within the sphere, the spikes covered in the fresh blood of the sacrificed silver ring snake.
A few seconds later, the sphere automatically opened a small hole, fresh snake blood flowed from the hole, gathering in a bowl-sized pool on the altar.
“Hiss… Heloise, drink the ‘Trial Blood’, and begin your trial.”
In the corner of the room, another silver ring snake awoke, this was another snake controlled by the Earthly Ghost.
Heloise slowly walked to the small pool filled with snake blood, swallowing a mouthful of saliva.
From her somewhat pale face, it was easy to see that she was struggling intensely with drinking the fresh snake blood.
“My name is Black Tigerwing · Heloise…”
“I will swallow the world with the Eye of the Nefarious Tiger King…”
“Grant me power, Nefarious Tiger King, a mere ‘Snake Blood Trial’ cannot threaten your divine power at all…!”
After muttering a bunch of incomprehensible words to herself, Heloise dunked her head into the snake blood, gulping it all down!
Then, Heloise raised her blood-streaked face, looking at the Earthly Ghost with a confident expression as if to say “is that all?”
However, she only remained cool for less than three seconds, before quickly covering her mouth with both hands, lest the snake blood churning in her stomach be vomited out.
“Hiss… Well done, Heloise.”
The Earthly Ghost pretended not to see Heloise’s embarrassing moment, continuing to give her instructions.
“Next, you just need to kill the ‘Trial Target’, then the trial blood that has merged with you will greatly enhance your power… At that time, your wish can be realized.”
Heloise listened carefully, nodding vigorously, but she didn’t have the energy to speak.
Right now, if she opened her mouth, the snake blood that she had just forced down would be spectacularly vomited out.
“Your ‘Trial Target’ is a young man named ‘Banning’, all the detailed information is in the letter on the altar, you can read it carefully and start the mission immediately.”
The Earthly Ghost (silver ring snake) coiled up on the ground, raising its body, looking at Heloise with gloomy eyes as she, covering her mouth, walked towards the altar, and took the letter.
To be honest, the Earthly Ghost couldn’t associate Heloise with the word ‘reliable’, but it didn’t matter anymore.
As soon as Heloise drank the snake blood mixed with ‘Bloodfang Serpent’, the young man named Banning was doomed.