Chapter 601 - 360: Luoti

Chapter 601: Chapter 360: Luoti

"You don’t have your own followers?"

Lu Cang thought for a moment before asking in return.

At Lu Cang’s question, the smile on Luoti’s face seemed to freeze for a moment.

"The Deep Land is cut off from the outside world, and I have no way to make contact. That makes it difficult to gather my own followers."

Luoti replied readily.

She didn’t seem to have the usual aloof air of a Divine Spirit. Her attitude toward Lu Cang was quite amicable.

"No wonder I’ve never heard your name in the outside world."

Luoti’s smile froze again for a moment.

’This human... Is he messing with me?’

’Is it that I *don’t want* to be famous? Is it that I *don’t want* to be known by the world? Is it that I *don’t want* to have followers?’

’I’m the one who can’t get out!’

’I can’t get out of the Deep Land!’

’If I could get out, is there anyone in this world who wouldn’t know the name Luoti?’

Back then, she had a falling out with some nameless Moon, and her name was wiped from the world’s memory. Now, there wasn’t a single person left who recognized her.

Later, her Divine Kingdom expanded into the Deep Land, becoming intertwined with it.

After that, she lost all contact with the mortal realm.

But if she could secure the Moon Position, she could restore some of her connection to the mortal realm. She could even intervene in the world’s affairs, just a little, during the fifth month of every year.

"Oh... so that’s what your Trial is about?"

Luoti coughed lightly. "Not exactly."

"The Trial is the Trial... You still have to pass it before I can make use of you."

"If you can’t even pass the Trial, then you won’t be able to help me."

"However... given the special circumstances, I suppose I could lower the standards of the Trial for you."

’This Luoti is pretty reasonable.’

’But is this really a good thing?’

’I’m actually face-to-face with a real Divine Spirit?’

’Are Divine Spirits really this approachable?’

’And looking her right in the eye doesn’t seem to cause any harm.’

Lu Cang was filled with curiosity.

But at the same time, he remained vigilant.

’Her Authority... it sounds like it’s related to the Mind and Illusions.’

’A being of her level could probably trap me in an illusion without breaking a sweat.’

"Are you wondering why you can look directly at me, even though there’s such a huge gap between our power?" Luoti suddenly said.

Before Lu Cang could answer, Luoti continued, "That’s because I’ve put on clothes to conceal my Divinity as much as possible."

"If you were to see my true, naked form, you definitely wouldn’t be able to withstand it."

Lu Cang kept a straight face, but he couldn’t help scoffing internally.

’Do you have any idea what you’re saying? You shameless Divine Spirit. How many more times are you going to hint that you’re naked?’

’You’re reminding me so deliberately... you don’t actually want me to look, do you?’

’No... I’d better not think like that.’

’She possesses Authority over the Mind; she can probably see through my thoughts.’

’And she really did just see through what I was thinking.’

’She saw through me? Did Unsolvable Mystery not work?’

’Could it be that Unsolvable Mystery is ineffective against a true Divine Level being?’

Lu Cang had always wondered if his Talent could fail, and against what level of enemy it might.

Meeting Luoti now presented a perfect opportunity to find out.

Luoti looked at Lu Cang’s face.

Even though Lu Cang’s expression was a complete poker face, showing no change whatsoever.

But Luoti still read a wealth of thoughts from his face and said, "It seems you’re very curious as to why I can see through your thoughts."

"To be honest, you have a lot of secrets. I actually can’t see through you..."

"And I especially can’t see through your Mind Consciousness."

"However, no matter how deeply you hide your true intentions, your expression, your movements, the look in your eyes... not a single action escapes my notice."

’Oh...’

’In other words, Unsolvable Mystery is effective against her.’

’It seems I’m finally getting a grasp on the upper limits of Unsolvable Mystery. The power of a Divine Talent is enough to interfere with even a true Divine Spirit.’

"I don’t sense any nervousness from you. You must be very confident in your ability to escape the Deep Land, with a trump card I can’t interfere with."

"Hmm, that’s good."

"What I need is someone who can act for me in the mortal realm. If you didn’t have any tricks up your sleeve, I’d be the one in trouble."

Lu Cang said, "I don’t believe I’ve agreed to help you yet."

’This Luoti really is quite polite.’

’She keeps using the formal ’you’... Is she some kind of authentic Beijing Divine Being?’

In response to Luoti’s formal address, Lu Cang returned the favor, properly using the same respectful tone.

’Otherwise, it would feel a bit awkward.’

"No problem~"

"I’m sure you’ll agree. From the first moment I saw you, I could tell you were that kind of person."

Lu Cang sighed and asked, "What exactly do you need my help with?"

"I want a Divine Hall in the mortal realm, a Divine Statue, and then I’ll need you to spread the word of my existence a bit."

"Is that all?"

"Of course, there’s also my Divine Descent Ritual. If you could fulfill the conditions for the Ritual to allow me to descend, that would be even better."

’Another Divine Descent Ritual... this is the second one.’

A thought couldn’t help but flash through Lu Cang’s mind: what would happen if he used two different Divine Descent Rituals at the same time?

’Would General Manager Bai end up fighting with this one?’

"You seem to be thinking about something very impolite."

Lu Cang cut off the thought and looked at Luoti before him.

But another thought uncontrollably flashed through his mind.

’So what I was just thinking is even more impolite than thinking about you naked a moment ago?’

"That’s also very impolite."

’Tsk...’

’So even a fleeting thought like that can be detected?’

’A Divine Spirit who governs the Mind is truly a pain.’

"Secretly disliking someone in your heart is also quite impolite, isn’t it?"

Lu Cang suddenly felt a bit of admiration for An Su.

He could actually accept something so shameless as having all his thoughts read by someone else.

’Then again, when I remember that An Su even played the part of an ’M’ for someone while he was ’experiencing life’...’

’...I guess I can understand it.’

An Su’s mentality was basically: as long as he didn’t die, anything was fine. Even if he did die, it wasn’t a big deal. As for losing face... he’d lived for so long, he’d completely lost any concept of shame.

Following Lu Cang around, he didn’t feel there was anything wrong with having his freedom restricted.

In fact, he found it amusing and entertaining.

"If it’s just such a simple request, of course I can help."

"But I’ve heard that every Moon rewards its faithful followers according to their contributions..."

As long as there were no strings attached, Lu Cang didn’t mind temporarily acting as a "follower" for some Divine Spirit.

And in fact, Chosen One of the War God, Honorary Priest of the Life Church, heir to the Light Church... Lu Cang had dabbled in all sorts of identities.

He was a master of telling people what they wanted to hear.

As for whose follower he truly was...

He hadn’t signed any contracts. His mouth was his own, so of course he could say whatever he wanted.

"You needn’t worry about the rewards."

"The rewards I offer will be more than generous."

"However, before we discuss this matter, I still hope you can pass the Trial first to prove your true worth."

"Besides, it will also make it easier for me to send you out of the Deep Land."

"After all, the rules of this Trial weren’t set by me alone. If you don’t pass it, even I won’t be able to send you out, just as I can’t get out myself."

’That’s true...’

’If Luoti could really send anyone out of the Deep Land at will, she would have sent out all the trapped beings long ago to build her following. She wouldn’t be stuck here haggling with me.’

"You’ve actually already passed the first Trial, which was to test if you could wake up in the Deep Land."

"So next is the second Trial, which will test your combat power."

’Uh... combat power?’

’What a straightforward Trial.’

"You’re a Level 5 Reincarnator, correct?"

Lu Cang said, "Yes... but how did you know?"

’I’ve completely adopted her way of speaking. Without even realizing it, I’ve started subconsciously using the formal ’you’ as well.’

"Because ’I am a Level 5 Reincarnator’ is written all over your face."

...

’You can tell just by looking?’

’My power is clearly far beyond that of a Level 5 Reincarnator, yet she could still figure it out...’

"Then I will arrange a Trial at the Level 5 standard for you."

Lu Cang: "Understood. Thank you."

As Luoti’s voice fell, Lu Cang saw the surrounding darkness fade away, and a huge Tier Seven Demon appeared before him.

Luoti’s figure had already disappeared.

"Please be careful. This is a Tier Seven Falling Star Scorpion... an insect-type Demon. It’s a Tier Seven, Second Shedding level Demon, and it’s very dangerous."

The strength of a Tier Seven, Second Shedding Demon.

Back when Lu Cang was diving in the Secret Sea, he had killed quite a few of them. They were much stronger than Tier Six Submerged Land Level Demons, but... just his Undead alone included the Tier Seven, Fourth Shedding Level "Sea of Parasites".

’Dangerous?’

’What’s so dangerous about it?’

Lu Cang condensed a War Spear in his right hand. The giant scorpion before him unfurled its three tails, each tipped with a stinger as large as a planet.

The size of this giant scorpion felt like it was more than ten times the size of Earth.

’But...’

’A large size doesn’t mean great strength.’

Azure Sky Stream—Third Form: Illusion Strike·Dragon Annihilation Attack.

BANG!

With just a slight tremor of his right arm!

At a speed nearly invisible to the naked eye, he unleashed a flurry of strikes that converged on a single point in an instant.

With a BOOM, a perfectly straight line pierced through...

The massive scorpion Demon had a hole blasted straight through its center, turning it into a proper corpse.

The scene fell silent.

Luoti’s figure appeared beside Lu Cang again.

Seeing Lu Cang’s performance, Luoti’s mouth fell open, her expression filled with astonishment.

"You... are you really a Level 5 Reincarnator?"

Luoti had originally planned to go easy on him.

After all, if Lu Cang really didn’t pass the Trial, who knows how long she’d have to wait for the next person.

And coincidentally, the fight for the Moon Position was next month.

If she didn’t seize this opportunity, after a new Moon appeared in May, snatching the position from an existing Moon would be much more difficult than vying for a vacant spot...

Luoti really couldn’t get a read on Lu Cang.

So, she decided to arrange the lowest-intensity Trial for him.

Defeating a Tier Seven Demon at Level 5 was, for the vast majority of geniuses, actually considered quite a challenge.

Luoti was genuinely worried that Lu Cang’s strength would be insufficient to meet her requirements.

But she never expected Lu Cang to actually insta-kill it.

’Well now, he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.’

’Maybe she’d really hit the jackpot.’

"Well, your combat prowess is impressive!"

Luoti praised him generously.

’Of course it’s impressive.’

’After all, I don’t even know if there’s anyone else in this world at the Same Tier who can defeat me.’

"Alright, your combat prowess passes."

"Next up is the third Trial."

’These Trials are so arbitrary. They feel like some shoddy physical fitness test that it wouldn’t even matter if you skipped.’