The Statue of Redemption

After indulging in a spree of reckless spending, the boss couldn't be more pleased, thinking he had gained a lifelong client, someone who could keep him in business for years to come.

Yi Bai, on the other hand, was pleased with the treasure trove of gifts he had acquired. It was a win-win situation for both. Money had little meaning for Yi Bai now; it was just a number, easily obtained. With his identity as Mr. Cheng, whether at the Pingluan Palace or the Wujian Commerce, his name had become a golden brand. He had solved issues even as complex as those in Shenkang City, so the weight behind "Mr. Cheng" was anything but ordinary.

Back in the Enigmatic Forest, life had become dull and monotonous. Every day was spent either training his blood servants or traveling to train them. Lilith, with her rebellious spirit, continuously tried to take control during training sessions, much to Yi Bai's annoyance. Of course, he would never allow it. His ruthless "counter-capture archery" would quickly subdue her. In direct combat, Lilith was no match for him.

And so, when Yi Bai would enter his dream meetings with Yuanmeng and Hill, Lilith would sneak in little tricks to assert some dominance. Despite Yi Bai's constant reprimands, Lilith apologized but never changed her behavior. The spider demon, Ellice, had two minds about her predicament. Once proud of her long, powerful legs, she now found herself doubting her very existence as a spider demon.

But the thing that truly confused Ellice was her master's ambiguous stance. Yi Bai's attitude seemed as though he might devour her at any moment, yet his actions showed no clear intention to do so. If he simply consumed her, Ellice could give up and accept her fate. But instead, she was relegated to being his knee pillow, occasionally teased, and even made to watch. This uncertainty bothered her immensely.

She had a sense that Yi Bai was playing a game, but her proud nature led her to resist and maintain her composure. She couldn't let herself fall into his grasp so easily, not when she could still hold onto her dignity.

As the countdown to the next round of the game ticked down, Yi Bai wasn't rushing. He didn't need to wait until the final hour to deal with the high-level divine altar.

Under the corrosive torture of the Painful Blood Hand, the grotesque statue of the god had lost its power to scream. It wasn't the body that had been drained of strength, but its will.

[***** Statue of Greed: High-level Altar, Core of Shenkang City][Abilities: Corruption, Illusions, Manipulation...][Strength: Peak of the Red Garment][Current State: Blah, blah... (Your torture techniques have completely shattered the will of this evil god.)]

Yi Bai's Insight Eye transmitted raw, crystal-clear information. A slight smile curved on his lips. "Time to finish this. Let me see what this thing looks like after salvation."

A double-barrel shotgun materialized in his hands. He pulled the trigger.

Bang!!!

The explosive sound of the gunshot was followed by a bullet piercing through the air, its bright light engulfing the statue's form.

Yi Bai's Insight Eye locked onto the statue, observing its transformation.

The statue's body remained indestructible, possessing an indomitable force that no mortal weapon could break. However, its inner will was now shattered, reduced to a helpless, malleable form.

The redemptive bullet was like a beam of light, cutting through the endless dark abyss of the statue's mental landscape. It began to turn this grotesque, sinister world around. Slowly, the grotesque mouths on the statue's body began to close, their gaping seams disappearing. The divine aura of the Greed God started to dissipate, vanishing into the air like mist.

...

Shenkang City.

"Old Lan! Look!"

Ke Pengxing tugged at Lan Ming's sleeve, his eyes wide in disbelief, staring at the nearby altar.

After the Shenkang City issue was resolved, the people from Pingluan Palace had arrived almost immediately.

In a short time, Ke Pengxing had, through his own charisma, managed to integrate smoothly with Lan Ming and the other members of the Yun City branch of the Wujian Commerce.

"This… Everyone, stand ready!"

Lan Ming's eyes narrowed, and he quickly issued a command.

The people from Pingluan Palace, who were cleaning up the aftermath, immediately tensed up.

The change was all due to the once-inactive altars. The grotesque mouths on the statues had started to close—vanishing entirely!

The divine servants of Pingluan Palace, with their sharper senses, could feel the oppressive, chilling atmosphere in Shenkang City evaporating. It was as if the city was being thawed from an eternal winter into the warmth of spring.

"Wait a second, this change... Could it be!"

Lan Ming, also a divine servant, had heard from Li San Sui and the others about the events that had transpired in Shenkang City.

When he realized what was happening, his mind immediately turned to the "Mr. Cheng" they had all been hearing about.

His gaze shifted to the people who had been corrupted inside Shenkang City. Dark, ominous wisps of black smoke were visibly seeping out of their bodies.

Lan Ming's pupils contracted. He hastily pulled out his communicator.

"What's going on?"

Li Chong's voice came through.

"Get all members of Pingluan Palace to check if anyone in their ranks is showing abnormal signs. If black smoke is emanating from their bodies, restrain them immediately!"

Lan Ming's voice was urgent, and the atmosphere was tense.

"Understood!"

Li Chong, trusting Lan Ming, gave a quick reply before hanging up.

"Say, Old Lan, with the Shenkang City issue resolved, didn't we expect the traitors outside to go down, just like the corrupted ones inside the city?"

Ke Pengxing asked, a bit confused, still thinking the danger was over.

"They didn't," Lan Ming replied. "There seems to be some difference between the ones outside the city and those inside. They seem to have independent will and can act on their own."

"At first, we thought that once Shenkang City was cleared, it would be easy to root out the traitors."

"But that didn't happen. We found nothing in the Pingluan Palace, but maybe now there's a chance."

Lan Ming's instincts were sharp. He knew that whatever was happening in Shenkang City wasn't bad—it was a sign that things were turning around.

In his mind, Mr. Cheng's image only grew more prominent.

No matter what the man's motives were, he had just saved humanity from a terrifying crisis. He was like a hidden, nameless master who, in a crucial moment, had turned the tide and saved the world from disaster... and then disappeared without seeking fame or recognition.