After Wang Zhong left, Ying Yanyang suddenly sprang into action, pulling books from the shelves and corners of various rooms and piling them all onto his desk.
One after another, the pages flipped so quickly they were a blur. He scanned each book from beginning to end in no more than five breaths.
Yet, book after book was discarded from the table. Even after discarding all of them, Ying Yanyang couldn't find what he was looking for.
"A red fox, nine tails!"
"I'm absolutely sure I've seen it somewhere, but why can't I find this book now?"
Ying Yanyang stood straight in the room, his brow furrowed. He constantly recalled past events, when suddenly, his eyes lit up.
He vanished from the room. About ten breaths later, he reappeared, panting, holding a very strange book.
The book was pale yellow, several inches thick, with a skull drawn on the outside. Its material wasn't paper, but something akin to leather.
He approached the desk and slowly sat down, carefully opening the book, which was made of human skin.
This book was something collected from the Holy Spirit Cult during the Spirit Hall's purification operation years ago. The contents were too wild and disgusting. Although Ying Yanyang had obtained it then, he had merely glanced at it a couple of times before setting it aside.
It was made of human skin, filled with extremely chaotic and frenzied writings, utterly devoid of any reference value.
As soon as the book was opened, a strong stench and the smell of blood assailed him, causing Ying Yanyang to frown deeply.
Forcing down his nausea, Ying Yanyang focused, only to see that the first page was inscribed with the following words in blood:
The Holy Spirit is eternal, the gods descend! All spirits shall perish, only I am indestructible! All gods bow, my god is supreme!
The only eternal existence in this world is our Holy Spirit Cult! The Holy Spirit Cult endures for eternity, shining alongside the sun and moon!
All our disciples must also remember:
Death is merely slumber, awakening brings eternal life!
Such madness made Ying Yanyang shake his head in disgust. Where in this world was there an immortal being? They were merely a group of villains who couldn't distinguish reality from illusion.
He quickly turned to the next page, scanning it rapidly. He didn't find what he needed. He turned another page, still nothing. Page after page, until he had flipped more than half of the book, he found what he was looking for.
On this page, a drawing was smeared with blood.
Before a giant full moon, a terrifying behemoth stood atop a mountain peak, howling upwards. Nine long and powerful tails stood out prominently behind it.
Below the mountain peak, an ancient behemoth lowered its head, bowed, knelt, and prostrated itself. All these postures expressed the majesty of the beast before it and its kingly aura.
Among these behemoths, Ying Yanyang found a Titan Giant Ape, no bigger than a fingernail, in a corner. Xuanwu, Baihu, Luanbird, Kuangshe, Ju Ying - these powerful soul beasts, each considered an anomaly, were also bowing their heads, not daring to meet the gaze of the entity on the mountaintop.
What caught Ying Yanyang's attention the most was that in this picture, at the feet of the moon-howling beast, he discovered an extremely small human figure. If not for his excellent eyesight, he might have mistaken it for a tiny speck of dirt.
This tiny human figure was torn apart, its death gruesome.
Beneath this drawing, there was an inscription.
Holy Spirit Calendar, Year 147,841. The Holy Spirit Cult Master perished by the mouth of the Nine-tailed Demon Fox.
All disciples, upon seeing the Nine-tailed Demon Fox, must kill it!
These two brief annotations caused Ying Yanyang's brow to furrow deeply. These simple sentences revealed two pieces of information.
First, Wang Zhong's martial soul was named Nine-tailed Demon Fox, an ancient and top-tier fierce beast.
Second, the Holy Spirit Cult had a recorded history of 140,000 years!
This discovery sent a chill down his spine. An organization like a cult had existed for such a long time. Without some kind of support, they would have long vanished into the river of time.
But what was the support? Was it their doctrine? Yet, their so-called eternal life was merely a lie. The death of the Holy Spirit Cult Master was the best proof.
Even so, the Holy Spirit Cult not only existed for 140,000 years but still had a presence today.
"Could it be, as the saying seen earlier suggested, that death is merely slumber, and awakening brings eternal life? Is there still some entity that makes them believe this saying is true?"
"But the destruction of the Judgment Hall years ago, and the words of Judgment Elder Qian Daoliu, cannot be false. The Holy Spirit Cult Master has been replaced..."
Suddenly, Ying Yanyang felt a chill in his heart, his bones trembling.
Could the Holy Spirit Cult Master who died by the Nine-tailed Fox's mouth be the current one? Had he awakened from death?
He suddenly threw the book away. Ying Yanyang's forehead and body were drenched in sweat. This speculation momentarily made him want to become a follower of the Holy Spirit Cult.
Immortality, indestructibility - these two things could drive any living being on the continent mad!
"This book has a strange evil aura, leading people to depravity and madness!"
Taking a deep breath, Ying Yanyang dared not look further. He picked up the book, his palm ignited with fierce flames, burning the entire book to ashes.
He pushed open the window, letting the foul smell in the room dissipate. Ying Yanyang stared at the sunlight outside, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart. However, the fear and the impulse he felt earlier remained stubbornly, unable to be dispelled.
"No, I must find Sister Lian as soon as possible. She can help me cleanse my emotions and soul, otherwise, I might also fall into the path of evil soul masters."
He sighed heavily. Ying Yanyang was now both shocked and fearful.
Just a casual glance had turned him into this state, which was truly terrifying.
Suddenly, in Ying Yanyang's perception, another person entered the room, and he was familiar with this aura.
Turning around, he placed a hand on his shoulder and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Pope!"
Yes, the newcomer wore a crown and held a scepter. Who else could it be but Pope Bibi Dong?
"Regarding what happened to Wang Zhong, have you gained any insights?"
Bibi Dong cut straight to the chase, stating her purpose. Ying Yanyang did not hide anything and nodded solemnly.
"Reporting to Your Majesty the Pope, I have gained some understanding of Wang Zhong's two martial souls. While I wouldn't claim to grasp them entirely, it is sufficient to explain his unusual condition."
Bibi Dong nodded and sat down on the sofa, her expressionless face awaiting the rest of his report.
Ying Yanyang stood respectfully to the side, contemplating where to begin. Then, he organized the information he had gathered and began to present his findings.
"Wang Zhong's beast martial soul is named the Nine-tailed Demon Fox!"