The man was in his 50s, dressed very modernly, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed reading glasses. His slightly graying hair was slicked back in a pompadour, and his narrow eyes, with a faint smile, looked down at the crowd.
"Lord Zhen Youdu!!"
The crowd cheered, their voices echoing through the valley.
Duan Chen, however, remained silent.
Because at a glance, he recognized the person who had arrived.
This person was not the so-called "Zhen Youdu" at all, but the principal, "Zhen Caodan," whom he had met at the Red Sun Kindergarten.
"Everyone is here, come and receive your provisions."
Zhen Youdu tipped over a cart of provisions behind him onto the altar. It contained fruits, vegetables, rice, flour, and some daily necessities. Receiving this divine grace, the crowd knelt down in gratitude.
Duan Chen's gaze grew colder.
This guy was actually posing as a god in this place.
How did he get into Jingcheng? Could he also be a sea monster?
Or an apostle of an evil god?
"Let the ceremony begin."
With a wave of his hand, Zhen Youdu grabbed a little girl from the supply cart.
She was wearing a beautiful, clean white dress, her long hair tied into two pigtails. Her cheeks were flushed and plump, and she looked no older than four or five years old, sleeping soundly with a teddy bear.
He gently placed the little girl into the stone coffin filled with red flowers on the altar and laid a bouquet of red flowers on her chest.
Zhen Youdu wore a kind and holy smile.
"It is your honor to be chosen as a sacred offering."
"Offer the purest soul to the Spirit of the Mountain, and it will surely protect our Yinshan—forever."
The believers erupted in a fervor, and the drums beat even louder.
Duan Chen's pupils contracted.
Zhen Caodan, Zhen Caodan, you are truly a scoundrel.
To bring a child from the kindergarten here and do such an inhuman thing!!
Suddenly, a sea monster, snarling and baring its teeth, was brought up in a cage.
After a series of mystical rituals, Zhen Caodan opened the cage and attempted to have it devour the little girl.
Duan Chen could guess what would happen next. Once the monstrous sea monster ate the little girl, it would instantly transform into her appearance. Regardless of whether it had lingering memories, such a "miracle" would be enough to convince the crowd of his divine status.
At the critical moment.
Bang—!
A gunshot rang out.
A spirit bullet streaked through the air and pierced the sea monster's body.
"Screech!!"
The sea monster cried out in pain. The crowd's expressions changed drastically, and they all looked towards the source of the bullet—
Zhen Caodan remained unfazed. His eyes narrowed as he shielded the sacrificial girl and shouted, "There's an intruder, mixed in with you! Quickly, find him and kill him!"
The crowd roared with anger, their spirits ignited.
Furious evil energy surged, and their cold eyes instantly turned blood red.
"Intruder, die!!"
"Intruder, die!!"
The dwarf was the first to sense the bullet flying from Duan Chen's direction. He immediately turned and swung his saber, his ferocious intent as if he wanted to tear Duan Chen to shreds.
Duan Chen dodged, the stickiness of the marshland hindering his speed.
The team of over ten people immediately surged forward.
Duan Chen moved calmly and mysteriously amongst the red flowers, fighting against many with one, his form flickering.
He charged towards the altar at top speed, his black saber slashing fiercely at Zhen Youdu!
Swish—!
A believer used his own body as a shield, blocking the blow for Zhen Youdu.
The blade tore through the believer's body, but Zhen Youdu seized the opportunity to escape.
He looked at Duan Chen with a cold smile, a hint of surprise in his eyes at his arrival.
"So it's you, Officer Duan."
"Bah, scum."
Duan Chen's face contorted with rage. He sprang forward again.
More and more people rushed to block him, more and more fell into the mire, and more and more got back up.
These living dead did not stop their actions when injured; only by completely severing the evil souls within their bodies could they be annihilated.
They felt no pain, had no thoughts, dragging their mangled limbs, their eyes red, constantly muttering—
"Intruder, die!"
"Intruder, die!"
Duan Chen battled the army of living dead alone, his saber's shadow painting a tragic hue.
Seeing that Duan Chen was about to be overwhelmed, he spun his gun barrel, charging it with terrifying spiritual energy.
There was no need to get bogged down with these living dead. As long as Zhen Youdu was eliminated, everything else would be manageable.
The Eye of Insight unfolded, and the scene was filled with the trajectories of countless living dead.
Duan Chen found the only gap and a cold smile curled his lips.
"Die, scum."
Bang!
The bullet shot out.
It passed through the groin of a primitive man, grazed the top of the dwarf's head, brushed past the wheat ears on a cavalry commander's helmet...
And then pierced Zhen Youdu's body.
"Damn it!!" Zhen Youdu roared as he was hit.
A spray of blood flowed from the bullet hole in his shoulder.
"Lord Zhen!!" The believers were momentarily distracted, and Duan Chen quickly disengaged and charged towards Zhen Youdu.
"Damn it, Duan Chen, you want to kill me? Delusional!"
Zhen Youdu's face contorted with malice, his evil aura rising steadily.
Duan Chen had no intention of giving him time to power up. He ran rapidly, firing several shots.
Zhen Youdu flicked his finger, and a primitive man with bulging muscles leaped in front of him.
He slapped the primitive man's back with his palm, injecting a viral infection. The primitive man's eyes bulged, his height increased, and his muscles tore through his clothes.
"This is my ability, the Infected. All the sick bodies I infect will have their strength multiplied, and perhaps awaken some wondrous abilities."
Zhen Youdu sneered as the bullets penetrated the muscular man's body, only to be absorbed by his muscles!
Duan Chen inwardly cursed. If all the hundreds of living dead here became his infected bodies, this would be troublesome.
A strange gleam flashed in Zhen Youdu's eyes. "You should be familiar with this feeling, shouldn't you? After all, you were a test subject when you were young."
"What?"
Duan Chen frowned.
"Oh my, you've forgotten everything, haven't you."
Zhen Youdu laughed madly, pointing to the cross scar on his forehead. "This is what you little brat left me. I thought you were long dead. That day at Red Sun Kindergarten, I almost vomited from disgust."
Duan Chen's heart sank.
It felt like a heavy hammer striking his heart.
The door reappeared before his eyes, his memories seeming to be sealed behind that door, along with the hooded little boy, and that bunch of red flowers!
No, now is not the time.
Duan Chen shook his head with determination.
"I'll kill you first."
"Oh, really? I couldn't kill you back then, so I'll kill you again now."
Zhen Youdu raised his hands, tilted his head back, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes. As if commanding a god, he ordered—
"Kill him."
Hundreds of bodies, corrupted by the infection source, raised their heads simultaneously. Their eyes glowed with an eerie red light, fixed on Duan Chen.
"Roar!!"
All the infected bodies let out bestial roars. They transformed into monstrous death knights, their muscles bulging, their fingertips becoming sharp.
They moved in unison, no longer in a chaotic mess.
They charged simultaneously, forming a strange formation, their sharp claws tearing up rocks and disturbing the red flowers, attacking Duan Chen without regard.