Origin Paradise!

Without hesitation, Jiang He asked, "Green?"

The old priest nodded matter-of-factly. "Of the first generation, he was the only one left who died. There was nothing we could do; everyone has moments when they lack experience."

He said with feigned emotion, "I am actually a native of the Ashes world. The selection criteria for players in the End are far less stringent than those in Origins. I have to say that a large part of my ability to become a Gold player is thanks to their sacrifices."

Jiang He pondered. Since the old priest wasn't exactly a decent human being, there were some things he could discuss with him. In terms of the mission, this traitor shared fundamentally the same interests as him.

The plan to bear the evil of the world alone is laid bare, and the hatred of the entire world will undoubtedly be of unimaginable weight. However, the Gluttonous King has no shortage of appetite.

The old priest was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then raised his hands high, looked up and praised loudly, saying, "Such a magnificent ideal, as brilliant as gold!"

"The Savior willingly bears all sins!"

"He is a saint who walks the earth."

"When that hundred years are over, the high and mighty sorcerers will no longer exist. The struggling new humans will raise their heads. The Messiah who redeems the suffering of the world will finally end the era of the Abyss Demons and let the earth flow with milk and honey again."

After the old priest finished speaking, he returned to normal, lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then asked, "What do you think of this kind of propaganda?"

"There's no need," Jiang He replied.

In war, there exists a special situation where "fighting guarantees victory." As long as the fighting continues, fresh blood will constantly be added. In terms of politics, a clear governing philosophy is conducive to the establishment of factions and cliques.

For the Ash Age, a viable Abyss Ghost solution, even if it cannot become mainstream, can still attract countless people, either actively or passively, and serve as the foundation for the existence and development of a large organization.

Just as the Holy Kingdom adheres to the policy of atonement, every sin sorcerer needs to be inscribed with an atonement ritual at birth, so that all hatred is sealed in the body, and self-destruction when the sorcerer falls or when life ends, perishing together with the Abyss Demon.

The Empire adheres to the blood tax system, starting with the new humans to alleviate hatred, and uses the privileges and power of sin sorcerers to maintain stability, which is similar to putting out a fire with boiling water, using evil to fight evil.

As for the End Society, it represents radicalism, advocating that there can be no construction without destruction. It lives in the shadows of the Empire and the Theocracy, constantly absorbing outcasts who are rejected by the two orders. It is also an ideal place for rebels, murderers, ambitious people and the like.

The old priest genuinely felt regret and said with some reluctance, "Your Excellency, I believe that the future of this path is no less than that of the Church of Atonement. At that time, human rights will belong to me, and divine rights will belong to you. We may even have the hope of unifying the world."

Jiang He shook her head and replied, "Too slow, and the result may not be what we want. I want to know how many people are the strongest in the world."

The old priest explained helplessly, "On the Empire's side, the Speaker of the Council and the Grand Legion Commander are the strongest in every sense of the word. In addition, there is a Sleeper in Ash Academy who may fall at any time. It is rumored that he is the father of the Ash Duchess and a former noble leader."

"In the Papacy, the Pope, the Knights of Atonement, and the recently emerged Sister Temperance are the strongest. As for the End Society, it seems that there is only the Chairman."

"The Ash World is a special training base that Gold-level players cannot enter. Once they are promoted, they will be kicked out immediately to avoid affecting the stability of the base."

Jiang He frowned. Seven of the strongest were far beyond what he could currently handle.

Before the plan is launched, not only must the Long-Hate Dragon Spear be upgraded to enhance its strength as much as possible, but the number of the strongest spears must also be reduced.

"From now on, the task of monitoring and investigating the army commander will be entrusted to you," Jiang He said.

The old priest paused upon hearing this, then pointed to himself.

"I?"

"It's not like I'm asking you to fight him to the death."

Jiang He didn't give the other party any room to refuse, and simply closed her eyes to rest. As a traitor to the End, how could the other party possibly win by doing nothing?

The old priest looked pained. If he hadn't been afraid of death, he wouldn't have been there to assist from the far edge during the encirclement and killing.

……

The two stayed in the church until dawn.

As agreed, the Obsidian envoy, who was supposed to arrive promptly at 6:00 AM, was still nowhere to be seen.

The old priest's expression gradually turned serious. This was not good news. The Crimson Festival was to be held on the second day of the Bone Bell Festival. At this moment, the End Society and the cardinals of the Holy Kingdom had probably already begun to take action.

Jiang He opened her eyes and got up from her seat.

At the same time, a knock sounded at the church door.

He opened the door, and outside stood a young nobleman's servant, looking haggard.

"May I ask if you are Amber in person?" the young attendant continued. "Here is an invitation from His Excellency the Earl."

"Thank you." Jiang He took the invitation. With this from A-Da, he could enter the Scarlet Theater without donating blood and go directly to the VIP seats, saving him a lot of trouble.

The young man took his leave, and as he walked away, he couldn't help but rub his shoulders. A long-lost soreness and fatigue welled up from his body. With most of the nobles killed in the sudden attack of the End Times, there were no real positions in Carmel City. This was a great opportunity, and many people were running around all night.

Inside the church, the old priest set off to summon his commanders. By now, there was no need for covert searches; the die was cast, and even if they alerted the enemy, the cardinal would probably be reluctant to flee.

As dawn broke, the faint light struggled to pierce through the thick, dark clouds. The buildings along the street were, as always, riddled with holes. The air was thick with the pungent smell of gunpowder, mixed with a nauseating stench of decay. Occasionally, a few scraps of paper were lifted up by the breeze.

Jiang He left the church and walked to the Scarlet Theater.

Throughout Carmel, massive crowds converged on the theater, their gaunt faces, large and small, displaying a mixture of weariness and fervor.

The dilapidated city seemed to suddenly become prosperous again.

Entertainment, such a luxury, does not belong to the people. Imperial law clearly states that no ordinary citizen is allowed to leave any written record in any form, and all history must be based on the unified revised version issued by the Obsidian Council.

In the midst of a dull and painful life, the annual Scarlet Festival is a grand affair, with attendees often exceeding 100,000 people.

The price of the tickets is clearly written on the stone tablet at the entrance of the theater: either a crystal of abomination equivalent to a Sorcerer's breakfast, or 500cc of fresh blood. The organizers can accept either of these payment methods.

People occasionally collapsed from anemia and were dragged away by the soldiers of the Iron Legion, but many more remained enthusiastic, vying to donate blood. The Crimson Celebration, held simultaneously in fifty major cities, was a large-scale event that the people of the Empire had been looking forward to all year.

Holding the invitation, Jiang He went straight to the VIP section.

The VIP seats, located at the very top of the audience area, were packed with officers, nobles, and council members, offering a panoramic view of the entire theater.

In the center of the theater, a huge fountain was spewing black liquid, like the saliva of a demon. Around the fountain, several tall sculptures stood, their faces distorted and their limbs stretched out in strange postures, as if they were enduring unspeakable pain.

At the edge of the arena, several huge braziers emitted intense light, and billowing black smoke rose into the air.

At the very center of the VIP section, Count Felix and the commander of the Iron Legion took their seats. Although many people were still entering, the host standing on the fountain had already picked up the microphone.

"Distinguished guests, I hereby declare the Crimson Celebration of Ash Calendar 130 to begin! Now, please welcome the opening ceremony gifts!"

As the words fell, the audience fell into an eerie frenzy. In the seats closest to the platform, people's eyes were bloodshot and their neck veins were bulging, like wild beasts. Countless fragments of emotion, invisible to the naked eye, emanated from the spray of the fountain.

"Hurry up, I can't wait!"

"Nobody can take Miss Sissi from the Mandela family from me!"

"They are guilty, and the guilty should be punished!"

Before long, hundreds of soldiers carrying iron-burning weapons escorted "gifts" onto the stage. These women were all dressed in bright clothes and had smooth skin. As losers in various struggles over the past year, they would be given as gifts for the audience to vent their frustrations on.

"Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy your meal!" the host shouted, waving his hand.

The theater walls collapsed, and a large number of audience members rushed out on all fours. Such a barbaric scene made several newly arrived Iron-Burning Soldiers turn pale and involuntarily tighten their grips on their weapons.

Amidst the rising and falling wails, cries, and shrieks, a fierce battle erupted, fueled by the struggle for possession. Amidst the countless falling fragments of clothing, people began to die one after another. People hated and cursed each other until death.

At the Scarlet Theatre, a deafening roar of cheers and shouts swept through the entire city of Carmel.

In the VIP section, Jiang He remained calm as he reached out and covered the eyes of the little one in his arms.

"Big snake, what's wrong?" Zhuang Ya asked with a hint of curiosity.

"Not suitable for children," Jiang He replied, bowing her head.

Overhearing the conversation, the blond youth next to them turned around with a curious look and struck up a conversation, saying, "Brother, the way you're training your juniors, you'll only ruin her sooner or later."

Chapter 398 The Ghost of the Abyss

“Violence and reproduction are two timeless topics for humankind,” the blond youth said kindly. “Those who cannot adapt to the world will only be eliminated by it.”

Jiang He remained noncommittal, casually replying, "Let the world adapt to me."

The blond youth laughed incessantly, as if the jokes he was witnessing alone made his attendance worthwhile.

The primitive and barbaric opening ceremony ignited the atmosphere. Without any relevant laws or order, the organizers showed a low level of shame. As the host waved his hand again, countless crystalline spikes suddenly rose from the theater platform, piercing and killing thousands of people on the spot. The cruelty and bloodshed brought the atmosphere to its peak.

After a brief silence.

Excited roars became ubiquitous.

The host shouted, "The winner of the first no-rules 100-player battle will directly advance to the quarterfinals. Let's welcome the contestants to the stage!"

The crystal spikes retracted, leaving behind a mess of severed limbs and blood dripping from the edges. Hundreds of silver-ranked humans emerged from the contestant passage onto the platform, each armed only with rudimentary crystal weapons.

"Begin!" the host waved.

A chaotic battle immediately broke out.

Amid the cheers of the audience, the contestants clearly entered a frenzied state. Some focused solely on offense, completely disregarding their own lives, while others discarded their weapons and transformed into wild beasts, tearing at each other. As a newcomer, Ah Er navigated the crowd with ease.

The VIP seats are in the center.

The legion commander, who hadn't paid much attention to duels before, suddenly brightened up.

He carefully examined Ah Er's spear technique, which consisted of about eleven or twelve moves. It appeared exceptionally concise and simple, yet swift and fierce. All the movements were coordinated with his body, suggesting that it was likely not a learned skill passed down through generations, but rather something he had come to understand on his own.

Most importantly, this guy's overall combat strength has reached the peak of Silver rank, and he is ruthless and decisive in his actions.

"A genius!" the legion commander couldn't help but exclaim, turning his head to ask, "Count, whose son is he?"

It was rare for young nobles to hone their skills in duels, but it wasn't uncommon.

Ah Da, feeling a little embarrassed by Felix's appearance, replied, "After all, I'm not of noble birth."

"That saves trouble." The legion commander ordered directly, "Don't let him waste time on the stage. Report to the Howler Squadron immediately. If he's not qualified enough, he can be a squad leader for now. I'll give him some pointers when I have time."

The adjutant, feeling a pang of jealousy, said calmly, "Sir, such a rapid promotion might displease the wailing crowd, whose mental state is already unstable."

The legion commander turned his head and gave the other party a cold look.

The adjutant looked alarmed and hurriedly said, "I'll make the arrangements right away."

The adjutant left without stopping, and the legion commander relaxed, lazily smiling: "It's not a big deal if each of you has your own little schemes, but it's the lack of understanding of the situation that's the most dangerous. Trying to outsmart me when the End Society is bound to cause trouble, should I kill you or not?"

Count Felix immediately responded in agreement.

In the legion commander's view, the two of them sitting together meant that at least their lives wouldn't be in danger.

They could retreat easily even when facing two or three opponents, leaving only a matter of responsibility, which made the situation seem particularly loose.

But he didn't know that the person beside him was an imposter, and that he was actually the only one with real gold-level combat power.

……

Outside Carmel.

Black waves crashing against the mudflats.

The village that was originally built on the coast was destroyed, and all the fallen demons that roamed around it fled.

When a person's spirit is completely corrupted by hatred, they will be transformed into an abnormal creature called a Fallen Demon. Fallen Demons feed on hatred, frequently attack their dwelling places, and harbor extreme hatred towards humans.

But at this moment, the abnormal creatures were frantically fleeing.

On the mudflats, a train powered by an obsidian engine overturned, killing more than thirty A-level students from Ash Academy. Their Silver Peak strength was of no use, as half of the train's members were even Battlefield players.

A gaunt middle-aged man crushed the old mentor's head, and the gold fell from the sky.

“Duchess Ashes, Sylvia,” the thin, middle-aged man said indifferently, “On behalf of the Guild Master, I invite you to join the End Society.”

A hundred meters away, a tall young woman stood with a grim expression, holding a knife in her right hand. However, her left arm was missing, and blood was gushing from the wound. Her long silver hair was covered in dust. Both were made of ordinary gold, but there was a huge difference between them.

The enemy is the First Angel of the End Society, not a sorcerer, but an Abyss Demon born from humanity's hatred of humanity. It possesses intelligence and thought equal to humans, making it an anomaly among anomalies.

After a long pause, there was no reply.

The Ghost of the Human Abyss felt a little impatient. He quite liked this feeling, but he disliked the enemy who evoked it; the two were fundamentally different.

boom!

The ghost waved its hand from the depths of humanity.

The silver-haired woman was thrown sideways as if hit by a train, her body a bloody mess, but her eyes remained calm, her mind still working as she analyzed the current situation.

When the Human Abyss Demon attacks humans, it has three rather extraordinary effects in the same position: first, it hits directly; second, it deals 50% true damage; and third, it reduces damage.

The effective range of the former is roughly a village.

The latter, as long as one harbors hatred, even if only a trace of it, will trigger 50% true damage and a reduction effect.

Meanwhile, the third effect is even more perilous.

The Ash Duchess adjusted her stance, carving two furrows in the ground. She immediately gripped her sword and charged forward, unleashing the Heart Image Armament: Blade of Betrayal, simultaneously launching an attack in conjunction with the Betrayal Abyss within her.

—Two separate blades.

The blade flashed and struck the enemy with lightning speed.

The body betrays the mind, and the mind betrays the body; the specific effect is similar to dizziness, lasting approximately 0.5 seconds.