Chapter 543 - 541: Return to the Twilight Tomb

Aside from those people, there were others in Dusk Town who did not participate in the worship. They seemed to be used to the behavior, going about their own business without paying any attention to them.

Upon entering, Hilia felt that the statue and the worshipping crowd didn’t seem like a ritual for a cult; it was just ordinary people praying.

Hilia was thoughtful. She didn’t disturb those people but instead looked around the street.

Soon, she found the person who posted the bounty in Dawn City.

A blacksmith selling ordinary iron goods at the street corner.

Hilia approached and stated her purpose, and the other party immediately became delighted, saying, "Great! In the past couple of days, the pollution around the village has gotten more unusual. One of my shop assistants went up the mountain to gather firewood and hasn’t returned for two days..."

The blacksmith prattled on and soon explained the details of the commission, complaining about trivial matters.

Hilia listened patiently and took advantage of the pause to ask, "What are they doing?"

The blacksmith looked over, pursing his lips, "They’re gathering to pray. If it weren’t for this nonsense, secretly praying away from the Holy Court, they’d be in trouble."

Hilia asked curiously, "Wouldn’t they be praying to the Evil God?"

"How could that be? If they really prayed to the Evil God, I’d be the first to leave."

"The statue doesn’t reveal who it is."

"Who knows what they’re trying to do? That’s why Dawn City didn’t send a bishop to help us."

Hilia thought of the commission on the Mercenary Guild board and shook her head.

Maybe it’s a regional difference. In her hometown, the Divine Hall doesn’t need to recruit people through the Mercenary Guild. They’re just dawdling around.

"How long have they been worshiping? Did it start recently?"

"Not really. It started a long time ago, back when I wasn’t even a blacksmith. Let me tell you, back then..."

The blacksmith began prattling on again.

Hilia listened absentmindedly, then interrupted his chatter, "I know, just wait. I’ll definitely bring your assistant back for you, even if I have to bring back a corpse."

The blacksmith was startled, "No need, if he’s dead, just leave a sign to prove it."

He mumbled softly, "It’s better if he’s dead, so his family won’t keep bothering me."

Hilia’s sharp hearing caught the words clearly, but she said nothing.

After bidding farewell to the blacksmith, she wandered around Dusk Town, inquiring others about the people worshiping the unknown statue.

Most people’s accounts were similar, essentially indicating that the recent pollution anomalies had nothing to do with them.

However, they could be vaguely related. After the pollution surged, they sensed a looming crisis and began gathering to pray more frequently.

Hilia was uncertain whether the pollution anomalies were connected to them. She planned to explore under the guise of the commission.

"That poor assistant, gone for two days, is probably dead. We’ll search briefly and, if not found, visit the former Dusk Sect outpost at the Twilight Tomb."

Deciding this, Hilia quietly left Dusk Town without alarming the crowd worshiping the unknown deity.

She had encountered many cases of worshiping unknown deities before. In most cases, their eventual faith pointed directly to a deity she knew well—

the image of Rose in her mind!

At this moment, Rose remained silent. Hilia believed the followers were genuine, similar to the Hiro Association, where worshiping the unknown deity eventually led to Rose...

However, Hilia wasn’t sure if the Hiro Association genuinely worshiped Rose. She learned from Benovia, who had ’betrayed’ the Holy Court for Rose’s embrace.

She affirmed that the Hiro Association’s god was indeed Rose, and Hilia believed it for the time being.

"This is the area where the blacksmith’s assistant disappeared. According to him, the assistant came here to chop wood, then in the evening, they realized he hadn’t returned and went searching, only to confirm his disappearance..."

Hilia mumbled to herself, slowly releasing her Spiritual Power, amplified by the Mage’s Hand, spreading it around to scan everything nearby.

No results.

Rose chuckled, "Your Spiritual Power has strengthened post-advancement, but it’s still a long way from meticulous scanning."

With that, he marked an obscure unknown.

Hilia made a funny face, "I know!"

She then mounted her Flying Broom, flying low toward the target point.

Before long, Hilia reached the target point, sighting only skeletal and fragmented remains below, and couldn’t help but frown.

Rose said, "The pollution mutation has caused nearby beasts to mutate into demons; encountering one is lucky if only one dies."

"Mutated demons... Isn’t Dusk Town very dangerous then?"

Rose replied, "Of course. Why, are you thinking of persuading them to leave?"

Hilia shook her head, "No, I have no intention of that. The bishops and city lords from Dawn City should have already done so. Dusk Town is a town, and logically, it should have a Divine Hall. If there isn’t one now, there surely was before.

"The Divine Hall’s withdrawal indicates significant issues here. They worship an unknown deity, so they won’t easily relocate and might even think the pollution and death miasma are gifts from the deity..."

The mutation wasn’t recent, according to the information she gathered. It’s been occurring for several months.

For months, rumors of people disappearing would occasionally surface.

Yet, despite this, they haven’t considered leaving and continue to remain in Dusk Town.

Very eerie.

Perhaps Dawn City investigated and found no source of anomaly, thus giving up.

Or maybe they’re still preparing an investigation team, dawdling until Dusk Town perishes before investigating...

Hilia shook her head to dismiss these chaotic thoughts.

Roar!

Just then, a loud roar came from the side.

Hilia nimbly evaded an attack from a wolf-shaped demon, an ice blade appeared, swiftly dispatching it.

"A demon of the second tier, against ordinary people, they hardly stand a chance."

Hilia documented the remains and the demon, digging a pit to bury the remains.

Afterward, she gazed in the direction of the Twilight Tomb.

"Since we’re here, Lord Rose, why not take a look at the Twilight Tomb?"

Hilia thought to herself, her body already obediently seated on the Flying Broom, skimming low over the treetops, heading towards the Twilight Tomb and Nether River.

Before long, she reached the area near the Twilight Tomb, its dense pollution comparable to the Golden Apple Stone Forest, engulfing her.

Following her Spiritual Power’s direction, Hilia slowly approached the so-called Nether River.

The voice of the Nether River Boatman gradually reached her ears.

"Look, ye creatures longing for the other shore, only by returning flesh to stardust and dispersing memory into the long night can you reach the far bank of the Nether River and see the tomb of eternity."

A boat glided over, and he said:

"Fare, 1 gold coin per person... How come you’re the only one?"