A shadowy figure, imbued with a strange energy, appeared and immediately lunged towards Wen Wen's right hand.
Wen Wen attempted to intercept with his own power, but the energy was entirely ethereal. While he could sense it, he couldn't touch this force.
However, as the power passed over Wen Wen's right wrist, it suddenly paused. It then circulated through Wen Wen's body once more before stopping at the back of his left hand.
A small, intricate rune formed there. The rune appeared incomplete; a complete one would have covered the entire back of his hand, shaped like a cup.
"This rune is..."
Wen Wen looked around and noticed that Siforlomo, Lin Zhe Yuan, Liu Lang Xia, Tao Qing Qing, Ye Wen, and Li Na Tuo also bore similar marks on the backs of their hands.
The proprietress's hands, however, were bare. It seemed this phenomenon only affected those who had been part of the previous tour group.
Then, all seven individuals felt their hands begin to warm, and a piece of information entered their minds.
"Three days later, midnight, Salai City, Xia Zhu District."
"The Battle for the Cup of Divine Blood!"
"In the Xia Zhu District, killing other individuals holding a command token or severing their hand will allow you to obtain their command token!"
"The one who gathers all the command tokens wins the Battle for the Cup of Divine Blood. The prize is a wish granted by the Cup of Divine Blood, which will be fulfilled one hundred percent!"
"Failure to complete the Battle for the Cup of Divine Blood within the designated time, deliberate evasion, or disclosing this information to unrelated individuals will result in immediate transformation into a monster!"
Following this, an image appeared in Wen Wen's mind. It showed a scene from his childhood, a visit to a photo studio with his parents.
His father and mother stood behind, arm in arm, while Wen Wen sat in a small chair in front.
"By wishing upon the Cup of Divine Blood, you can return to a life like this..."
Wen Wen sank back into sadness, but this grief paled in comparison to that of the old bear, allowing Wen Wen to quickly break free from the alien emotion.
The others displayed varying expressions, evidently caught in similar emotional states.
"I must admit, the conditions offered are truly tempting..."
"If one doesn't participate or evades, there's a punishment more terrifying than death. It seems that anyone holding a command token is compelled to go to the Xia Zhu District for the Battle for the Cup of Divine Blood."
"To remove this mark, the minimum cost is to lose a hand. Coupled with that wish, even a demon hunter would find it hard to refuse the demands of the Cup of Divine Blood."
"This means we must engage in mutual slaughter. Furthermore, the fragment of the Cup of Divine Blood that has entered our seven hands is only half of the total. Others will compete with us for it later."
Wen Wen shook his head, understanding that the mark on his hand was a hot potato.
Even if he fulfilled its demands, the outcome might not be much better than failure.
He tried to expel it with his power, but he sensed nothing on his wrist. Even with all his strength, it was difficult to achieve anything.
The limit of the Cup of Divine Blood was unknown, but based on its current performance, even if the so-called "transformation into a monster" were to happen to Wen Wen, he had a chance of surviving.
However, for those below the True Order, they would be absolutely incapable of resisting the power of the Cup of Divine Blood.
Therefore, their mutual slaughter might be unavoidable.
It wasn't just him who realized this; Siforlomo and the others had also grasped the implications, their faces turning ashen.
Siforlomo pondered for a moment, then produced a document he possessed and presented it to everyone.
"This is a record from the Association of all wishes made to the Cup of Divine Blood. Not a single person has had a good outcome."
"Therefore, I do not advise anyone to participate in the Battle for the Cup of Divine Blood. Instead, we should sever our hands in the Xia Zhu District to break free from the Cup of Divine Blood's control. I will apply to the Association for limb restoration surgery for each of us."
"Furthermore, the phantom of the Cup of Divine Blood is incomplete, meaning others will compete with us. I therefore suggest that Mr. Gui Tan, who is the strongest among us, should not sever his hand, but rather participate and disqualify the others from the Battle for the Cup of Divine Blood."
Undoubtedly, Siforlomo's words presented the optimal solution to the current situation.
However, this plan failed to gain everyone's approval, as no one, except Siforlomo, knew if this document was genuine.
Even if all the content was true, who knew if they wouldn't be the exception when they made their wish?
Besides, if hands were to be severed, why should Wen Wen be exempt?
In this proposed plan, Wen Wen seemed to gain a significant advantage by not needing to sever his hand, but he would have to fight against individuals of unknown identity and bear immense risk when finally making his wish.
After Siforlomo finished speaking, everyone fell into silence.
"Does anyone agree with my plan?" Siforlomo asked tentatively, but no one spoke.
Siforlomo sighed, "Don't rush. We still have three days. Let's try to find a solution within these three days. If not..."
If not, they would have to participate in the Battle for the Cup of Divine Blood!
Except for Tao Qing Qing and Wen Wen, who trusted each other, everyone regarded the others with a degree of wariness.
Because even if they could ensure their own integrity and resolve as demon hunters, they couldn't guarantee that others shared the same mindset.
One should not harbor malice, but one must be vigilant. They were now in a competitive relationship, and no demon hunter would be foolish enough to let down their guard against potential enemies in such a situation.
"I guarantee that before arriving at Xia Zhu District, I will not initiate an attack on any of you," Ye Wen said, raising his hand. "But after arriving at Xia Zhu District, if anyone shows hostility towards me..."
"Before reaching Xia Cao District, no one will make a move," Liu Lang Xia stated, looking at the mark on his hand with a grave expression. "I will fulfill my duty as a demon hunter, but frankly speaking... I cannot trust anyone present."
Siforlomo's previous concealment had left Liu Lang Xia with reservations. The pairing of Wen Wen and Tao Qing Qing seemed rather sinister, and they might act recklessly and strike without hesitation.
"Actually, I trust you all quite a bit. Why don't you try trusting me? With me here, we probably won't end up fighting," Wen Wen said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, the others rolled their eyes. Wasn't he the biggest destabilizing factor?
Wen Wen had a malicious personality, was the strongest, and acted erratically. If Wen Wen were to truly harbor ill intentions, it would be difficult for them to escape his grasp.
Ultimately, the group dispersed unhappily. Only due to Siforlomo's insistence, they exchanged contact information before going their separate ways. Some didn't even return to their hotels to collect their luggage!