Chapter 44 – The Advent Cult’s Internal Factions, Arriving at the Cult Treasury

Protector Shadow was clearly quite optimistic about Su Xing, so he patiently explained:

“Our Advent Cult was established nearly a thousand years ago. After a millennium of evolution, the cult has split into three factions: the Transhuman Faction, the Zealot Faction, and the Coexistence Faction!”

After a brief pause, Protector Shadow continued:

“The people in the Zealot Faction are all a bunch of lunatics. They’re also the largest and most powerful faction in the Advent Cult. They worship the Grand Celestial Sovereign and hope to sacrifice themselves to bring the master race to Earth, using all of humanity as food—including themselves!”

Su Xing frowned slightly upon hearing this. The Zealot Faction was clearly the extremist element within the Advent Cult. To invite those alien beasts in, they were even willing to sacrifice themselves—it was truly incomprehensible.

“As for the Coexistence Faction, they place their hopes on the great master race taking pity on us humans. They hope that after the master race invades the real world, they’ll look favorably upon the Advent Cult’s efforts and allow most of humanity to continue living… Of course, in my view, those people in the Coexistence Faction have also had their brains kicked by a donkey. We’re nothing but ants—what right do we have to coexist with the great master race? We don’t have that qualification!”

After hearing Protector Shadow’s words, a peculiar expression appeared on Su Xing’s face.

The Coexistence Faction within the Advent Cult actually sounded like they retained some semblance of humanity. They believed the alien beasts’ strength far surpassed that of the human race, so they wanted to surrender in hopes of ensuring humanity’s survival.

But Su Xing knew in his heart that this was utterly impossible.

Once the alien race descended upon the real world, they would swallow it whole. Where would there be any talk of coexistence then?

In Su Xing’s view, the war between the alien race and humanity was clearly a war of extinction. The fact that those in the Coexistence Faction placed their hopes on the aliens’ mercy was truly laughable.

So Su Xing asked:

“Protector Shadow, what is the goal of our Transhuman Faction?”

A look of longing filled Protector Shadow’s face as he said:

“Our Transhuman Faction pursues closeness to the most original, natural aspect of the world… In this world overflowing with material desires, we firmly believe that nature is the closest thing to truth!”

Su Xing nodded slightly upon hearing this, thinking to himself that if it was just about loving nature, then the Transhuman Faction seemed fairly normal.

But what Protector Shadow said next left Su Xing completely speechless.

Protector Shadow declared with a hint of fanaticism:

“And humans are naturally the lowest race! They have nothing to do with nature whatsoever! Only the great master race is the species closest to truth and nature in this world!”

“Therefore, we must look to nature and become part of the master race. Even if we can only become low-ranking members, that alone would be enough to grant us the qualification to be close to nature!”

With that, Protector Shadow slightly lifted his black shirt, revealing the skin of his abdomen.

Su Xing was instantly stunned. A large patch of black mucus and organs resembling octopus suckers writhed frantically across Protector Shadow’s abdomen.

This… were these still human organs?

Su Xing immediately felt a wave of nausea. The skin beneath Protector Shadow’s clothes no longer bore any resemblance to a human form.

But Protector Shadow was still very proud, saying: “This is a gift bestowed upon me by the great master race. Our Transhuman Faction hopes that through modification, we can gradually transform from humans into members of the master race! I’ve already modified nearly one-fifth of my entire body, and I’ve even received the organs of the shadow beast, which is what gives me such formidable power!”

Looking at Protector Shadow’s fanatical expression, Su Xing was rendered utterly speechless.

So this so-called Transhuman Faction was essentially about grafting alien organs onto human bodies? Ultimately turning into monsters that were neither human nor beast!

When you thought about it, whether it was the Transhuman Faction, the Zealot Faction, or the Coexistence Faction, none of them were ideas that any mentally sound person could have come up with!

Su Xing instinctively took half a step back from Protector Shadow. This guy was truly revolting!

But Protector Shadow didn’t notice at all, continuing to ramble on: “Elder Medicine! Our Transhuman Faction’s power is among the top one or two of all three factions, and our faction leader possesses a full half of a master race body! As long as you’re willing to join our Transhuman Faction, I will absolutely report to the organization and find you a perfect master race body!”

Su Xing’s smile froze on his face. What? Transform into one of those neither-human-nor-beast monsters—who would want that?

So Su Xing forced a smile and said:

“Ahem, Protector Shadow, let’s discuss this matter another time! I’m still a newly appointed Elder in the cult, hardly qualified enough to receive such favor!”

Protector Shadow seemed to find nothing wrong with Su Xing’s words, so he nodded and said no more.

Before long, the group entered deep into the mountains. The mountain ranges stretched endlessly, and Protector Shadow led everyone to a massive boulder beside a cliff face.

The boulder stood over ten zhang tall and looked no different from any ordinary rock.

But Protector Shadow produced a token and placed it into a groove on the boulder, then spoke toward it:

“Protector Dragon! We’ve come to view the cult treasury!”

Soon, a translucent barrier of light appeared on the boulder. Protector Shadow beckoned to Su Xing, then stepped through first.

Su Xing followed close behind, though his mind was already churning like a stormy sea.

“A formation array! This is definitely a formation array from the cultivation world! Moreover, this method is extremely similar to the sect-protecting grand arrays used by cultivation sects! From the outside, it looks no different from an ordinary mountain rock, but inside, it contains its own separate world!”

Su Xing’s heart pounded as he stepped into the grand array.

Once inside, it was indeed a world unto itself.

An elderly man with a weathered face was dozing at the entrance to the treasury, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

Protector Shadow seemed to hold him in great respect, placing two jars of fine wine beside the old man before activating a mechanism to open the treasury.

Su Xing followed close behind. The moment he stepped into the treasury, the mountain of treasures piled inside made his jaw drop.

The treasury stood several dozen zhang high, and its interior space was as vast as a public square. Though clearly no sunlight could penetrate within, the treasury was brilliantly illuminated—rows upon rows of luminous pearls were embedded in the rock walls, making the interior as bright as day.

Even more astonishing were the countless gold and silver treasures scattered across the treasury floor like garbage, their value beyond estimation.

Su Xing had no doubt that if these treasures were brought to the real world, they could probably buy an entire nation!

Hundreds of billions? Trillions?

No, the unit of “billion” was probably no longer sufficient to describe the wealth before his eyes…

Yet ironically, such an abundance of treasures was the least valuable thing in the treasury, carelessly strewn across the ground, discarded like worn-out shoes.

Protector Shadow led Su Xing across the floor paved with gold and pearls, walking several dozen more meters deeper into the treasury before beginning his introduction:

“Elder Medicine, it’s no exaggeration to say that our Advent Cult’s treasury is not the slightest bit inferior to Great Xia’s national treasury… Besides these worthless trinkets underfoot, the treasury is divided into several zones: the Items Zone, the Equipment Zone, the Books Zone, the Rare Materials Zone… You have half a shichen to freely browse and select treasures. However, items in the treasury cannot be taken out at will—you’ll need to spend a certain amount of merit points…”

Su Xing was immediately dumbfounded.

The tons of gold and jewels underfoot… and in your mouth, they’re the most worthless things here?

But after seeing the treasury’s true treasures, Su Xing chose to shut his mouth…