Gu Sang's iron-like fist came down heavily.
Bang!
The whistling wind roared past his ears. Tian Qi was smashed face-first into the mud, and a terrifying crack appeared beneath him.
"Is she someone you can covet? If there's a next time, I'll dig out your dog eyes."
Gu Sang's imposing voice boomed from above. Tian Qi, trembling, pulled his head out of the mud and injected himself with something.
His mushy brain gradually recovered, piecing back together his handsome face.
Tian Qi knelt on the ground, pressing his face tightly against Gu Sang's feet, his whole body shaking.
"Yes, this subordinate admits his mistake. Thank you, Apostle, for sparing my life!"
Xiao Fang watched it all silently, her heart unmoved.
"Gu Sang."
Gao Tian Kai suppressed his emotions, his fists clenching with audible cracks.
"You should address me as 'Apostle' now." Gu Sang looked at him coldly, the black mask with three holes on his face a symbol of his status.
"..." Gao Tian Kai gritted his teeth. "If I hadn't given you the mask, would you be where you are today?"
Gu Sang snorted, "Didn't you calculate that I would fail? You were the one who was stupid and missed your chance."
Gao Tian Kai's expression was gloomy, killing intent swirling in his eyes.
"Not convinced? Hmph, you can try to take it if you have the ability."
Gu Sang's surging demonic energy pressed down on Gao Tian Kai. The kneeling black-robed figures all trembled, some foaming at the mouth, their human forms even threatening to break.
Gao Tian Kai was covered in sweat. He lowered his head slightly, his voice as cold as ice, "Apostle, you jest."
Gu Sang snorted, showing his disdain for Gao Tian Kai's outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant attitude.
"Now is not the time for infighting. After we kill the intruders, I can duel you openly. But if we disrupt the Evil God's affairs, neither of us can bear the consequences."
"Alright, let's get rid of these insects first."
Gao Tian Kai nodded, cursing inwardly. With the power boost from the Evil God's mask, how could he possibly defeat you!
As the demonic energy dissipated, everyone could finally breathe. They prostrated themselves piously at Gu Sang's feet.
Gu Sang had thoroughly established his authority as the new official.
"Intruders, location."
Gu Sang lifted Manager Zhang from the ground.
Manager Zhang quickly closed his eyes and touched his forehead.
"West... Northwest! They're heading for the [Zeh Altar] in the northwest. They've just entered the outer reaches of Yin Mountain Marsh and are heading towards Wawa Village," he reported, his eyes snapping open.
At these words, all the sea demons present gasped, then broke into sly, sinister smiles.
"Heh heh heh~ Wawa Village, they're actually going to that Wawa Village."
"That's the territory of the Voodoo King Zhen Youdu. It's not easy for us to interfere."
"In any case, they'll die without a burial place. It's a pity their hearts can't be recovered."
"Wawa Village?"
Although Gu Sang was the new official, he didn't understand the structure of Mirror City as well as Gao Tian Kai.
"Ghosts, mass graves, crocodiles, voodoo, bizarrely twisted trees, and a mist that never dissipates... Yin Mountain Marsh has long been a dead land."
Gao Tian Kai grinned sinisterly, "There are many harmful gases there, and it's difficult for even us to get close. But strangely, the villages bordering the marsh are completely unaffected by these gases. Wawa Village is one of them, and the most peculiar one."
"The Zeh Altar is located in the center of the marsh. The Voodoo King Zhen Youdu isn't interested in the ritual, but he provides enough blood and hearts weekly to meet the quota, so the previous apostles turned a blind eye to it."
Gu Sang nodded, "Then let them walk into a dead end. There's no need to pay attention to them."
"No, I'm willing to personally lead three elite squads to intercept them and kill them before they go deep into Wawa Village to retrieve their hearts."
Gao Tian Kai kept his head down, his expression unreadable.
The sea demons exchanged confused glances. There was a team of powerful spirit hunters heading towards the Wind Altar, so why split forces to go after enemies who were surely doomed?
Gao Tian Kai, with his meticulous mind, noticed their confusion and explained,
"Psychic ability users are extremely rare. The opponent possesses the ability to headshot our psychic ability users from thousands of miles away. If such a talent were to join our ranks, they would be of great use. It would be too much of a waste to let them fall to the Voodoo King."
The sea demons suddenly understood, realizing that Apostle was indeed brilliant.
"Brother Ao, Tian Qi, Xiaoxiao, you three will come with me."
Gao Tian Kai turned to leave, but was blocked by a thick 'wall'.
"What? Do you have an objection to my command?"
Gao Tian Kai narrowed his eyes, his face contorting. A surge of psionic energy was hidden in his palm beneath his black robe.
Gu Sang sneered, "Gao Tian Kai, do you really intend to kill Duan Chen? You're rushing to get there so eagerly, are you afraid he'll actually die in the marsh and you want to intercept him halfway?"
Gao Tian Kai's face darkened, his rage barely suppressed.
"Do you know why the mask didn't accept you?" Gu Sang slapped Gao Tian Kai's shoulder twice, each blow carrying immense force. "Once some things are revealed, there's no point in talking further."
Gao Tian Kai suddenly waved his hand, and a massive psionic blade shot out, slicing horizontally. The space let out a deafening roar!
Clang!
Black and red blood splattered. A grotesque gash appeared across Gu Sang's abdomen.
But Gu Sang ignored the wound. He seemed to have discarded his sense of pain, and the horrifying injury began to heal itself bizarrely!
The sea demons were so terrified they dared not even breathe.
The Apostle who had always been submissive and obedient to the previous Apostle dared to attack?
Was he crazy? Did he not care about his life?
"Did I hit a sore spot?" Gu Sang snorted coldly. "Duan Chen is your sore spot."
Gao Tian Kai suddenly revealed a disdainful smile. "A cobbler who puts on a mask really thinks he's Zhuge Liang? Hmph, Gu Sang, don't get arrogant. Duan Chen is protected by that particular person. If you don't fear death, try touching him.
In any case, everything I do is for the revival of the Saintess, for the Evil God. Heaven and Earth are my witness."
"That's for the best."
Gu Sang looked at all the black-robed figures prostrating on the ground. "All of you, follow me to the Wind Altar."
"All of us? You mean all twenty-plus of us elite priests are going to the Wind Altar? Isn't that a bit extreme?" Ding Ding asked softly.
"Yes, all of you."
Gu Sang looked at Gao Tian Kai with contempt, the latter's face as dark as a bomb.
"Those who disobey my orders die."
Gao Tian Kai raised his head, flicked his sleeve, and said with a chilling smile, "Fine, we'll follow the Apostle's command. The land invasion plan is also completely suspended. If the revival ritual cannot keep up with the altar's destruction speed and we delay the Evil God's affairs, you'll bear the consequences yourself."
Gu Sang was silent for a few seconds. "You three, continue to create the magical inductions at your respective points on land."
He pointed at Brother Ao, Tian Qi, and Ding Ding.
"Yes!!" the three of them replied in unison.
"Hmph, I thought you didn't even care about the Evil God." Gao Tian Kai said contemptuously.
"I'm not in a position to be lectured by you, a failure." Gu Sang looked down at Gao Tian Kai, his eyes devoid of any human emotion.
After that, no one dared to delay. Manager Zhang immediately re-locked their position, locating Yang Jian's spirit hunter squad.
"Found them! East of the Valley of the Dead, just past Cloud Mist Mountain."
Under Gu Sang's lead, the black-robed figures swept forward in a massive wave.