I told you to plant peas, and you summon Mordekaiser?

The black-robed cultist led the way. Chen Yang and Huang Aotian exchanged a glance, temporarily suppressing their questions, and silently followed.

We walked through the interior of the fortress.

The fortress retains its military-style structure, but many parts have been altered beyond recognition by the Corpse Cult.

Most of the walls were covered with eerie black runes.

The corridor was piled with black metal equipment of unknown purpose, emitting a faint smell of decay.

Everyone I encountered wore black robes and wandered by like zombies, utterly lifeless.

The atmosphere around them grew increasingly eerie, and Huang Aotian couldn't help but shiver.

"The rest area is just ahead. Please be patient, and someone will notify you to participate in the ceremony after dark."

He led the two to a simple stone house, opened the door, and gestured for them to enter.

Chen Yang nodded and led Huang Aotian into the house. The black-robed cultist stood at the door and added, "It's best not to wander around. There are some places in the fortress... that are not suitable for ordinary people to approach."

After saying that, he didn't linger and turned to leave.

This room was clearly a former soldiers' dormitory.

Watching his figure disappear at the end of the corridor, Huang Aotian, who had been holding back all the way, finally had a chance to speak.

"We just infiltrated like this? Inside the Corpse Cult? And we have to participate in the initiation ceremony tonight? Holy crap, this is too dreamlike."

Before he could catch his breath, he turned to look at Chen Yang, his face full of doubt: "Also, why was that coach so polite to you?"

Chen Yang smiled faintly, and as the gloves were removed, a crystal-green arm was exposed to the air.

Huang Aotian was dumbfounded: "I always thought you were still acting like a teenager, that's why you were wearing leather gloves, but you're telling me you actually have superhuman arms."

"I can't explain this clearly for now, but you just need to know that I'm different from those half-human, half-zombie guys, but the Corpse Cult seems to regard me as one of their own."

Huang Aotian looked at his missing arm and muttered, "Brother, do you think the Corpse Cult could help me get a Qilin Arm too?"

Chen Yang laughed and scolded, "This is no good thing. I want to see if the Corpse Cult has any way to turn my left arm back to normal."

"Hey, but why did we come in? Why don't we destroy this Corpse Cult? Such a big sect, who knows what good stuff it might have."

Huang Aotian looked very interested.

Chen Yang shook his head: "Let's not act rashly for now. We don't know the details of this Corpse Cult."

He then added, "According to the timeline, the Corpse Cult has occupied this place for at most a week. Most of the data in the fortress should still be intact. Let's go check it out; maybe we can find out Liu Yan's whereabouts."

"That makes sense, let's go."

“Hey hey…”

Chen Yang stopped Huang Aotian: "The fortress is too large and there are too many people around. Let's move out tonight."

In the evening, members of the religious group brought a simple meal: a plate of hard bread and a few brightly colored fruits.

Huang Aotian picked up a piece of bread, about to take a bite, but Chen Yang stopped him.

"Don't eat it."

Huang Aotian frowned and looked at Chen Yang with displeasure: "Why?"

"This stuff is of unknown origin. What if there's something wrong with it? We still have some dry rations we scavenged from the village in our backpacks. It's safer to eat those."

After listening, Huang Aotian thought for a moment and finally put down the food in his hand: "Alright, I'll listen to you."

Chen Yang stared intently at the food on the table.

This is a zombie cult; it's not surprising that there's anything in the food. He doesn't want to turn into a zombie while eating.

His purpose was clear: on the one hand, he wanted to find out if there were any files inside the fortress regarding Liu Yan's whereabouts.

On the other hand, he wanted to find out if this mysterious sect had a way to resolve the abnormality in his arm.

Night falls.

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, its silvery light bathing the earth.

A member of the cult knocked on the door of the stone house, handed over two black robes, and whispered, "Put these on, the ceremony will begin immediately."

Chen Yang took the robe and felt a slight chill emanating from it.

After donning the black robe, he exchanged a glance with Huang Aotian, nodded, and the two walked out of the stone house one after the other.

Led by members of the cult, they walked slowly through long and short corridors toward the central square of the fortress.

A huge bonfire burned in the center of the square, its flames leaping and flickering, illuminating the surrounding crowd of people in black robes.

At least a hundred new converts stood in neat rows under the firelight, dressed in black robes and wearing hoods.

On the outermost edge, countless ordinary believers, whose faces were obscured, held enormous scepters and formed a circle.

Behind the campfire, on a high platform, stands an ancient wooden altar. On the altar sits a doctrinal book that emits a faint glow, and next to it is a crystal skull that is crystal clear.

Behind the altar stood an old man, dressed in a black robe with gold trim, holding an exquisitely carved scepter in his hand.

Chen Yang heard hushed whispers:

"Is this our bishop?"

"No, the bishop is a middle-aged man, and he seems to be out. This should be one of the priests."

"You don't recognize him? This is our head coach!"

Chen Yang remained silent, carefully observing everything around him.

The old man on the altar raised his head, his gaze slowly sweeping over the new converts in the square, before speaking.

He chanted the ancient incantation in a deep and solemn voice, his voice deep and resonant.

As the incantation continued, the crystal skull began to emit a soft light, which spread out like flowing water, enveloping the entire plaza in a dim glow.

One by one, the new converts rose and walked toward the altar.

The priest picked up the book of doctrine, dipped his finger in the holy oil in the bowl beside him, and gently applied it to the forehead of each new convert.

The ceremony proceeded slowly, and Chen Yang watched everything before him, but remained secretly vigilant.

He and Huang Aotian also stepped forward to receive the holy oil dip.

This seemed to be just a routine ceremony, with nothing extraordinary happening.

As the ceremony drew to a close, the High Priest's incantations gradually ceased, and he set down the book of doctrine, gently tapping the ground with his scepter.

Accompanied by a deep echo, several members of the cult slowly walked up to the altar carrying a black tray.

On the tray lay a row of antique-looking small bottles, each bound by an exquisite metal chain, containing a pale purple liquid that shimmered faintly.

The instructor's gaze swept over everyone, his voice hoarse yet solemn: "This is holy water; it can cleanse the mortal world and awaken the hidden power within you."

"Only after drinking this can each new member become a true member of my Corpse Cult."

As soon as he finished speaking, the members of the cult began to distribute the small bottles to each person in turn.