Chapter 50: Assimilation, Advancement, and Clues!

【Evil Spirit Sorcerer】 (World-Class Boss) (Special Template)
Level: 2 (36%)
Evil Spirit Essence: You can devour all spirits imbued with pain, distortion, terror, despair, deformity, and death, using them as nourishment!
Immortal Divinity: Unknown

[Talents]
Near-Death Resurrection (SSS Rank): Upon death, you can resurrect at the brink of demise (5/5).
Evil Spirit Authority (SSS Rank): You can grasp the root of spiritual essence and reshape it.
...

[Skills]
Life Drain: Level 0 (56%)
Forbidden Weaving: Level 0 (24%)
Doom Orb: Level 0 (16%)
Scythe of the End (Forbidden Technique): Level 0 (4%)
...

In the dark and silent chamber, Zorn quietly examined his attribute panel.
His sequence experience had surged from 5% directly to 36%, as if riding an elevator upward.
This was the value derived solely from the spiritual essence contained within the Golden Skeleton of the Sun King.

“I already had some sacrifices in the hidden source before.”
“Digesting the Golden Skeleton this time increased my experience significantly. Combined with the resources from the hidden source, once fully digested, I might reach about 60% sequence experience.”
“The gap to level three isn’t that far.”
“I must gather resources quickly; this is much faster than leveling up slowly on my own.”

If Zorn did nothing, the world’s trajectory and storyline would remain unchanged.
In that case, he wouldn’t mind leveling up slowly and performing the tale of the “Evil God of Ten Mile Slope.”
Unfortunately, steam roared, evil spirits moved, and the church was gradually probing closer.
The world did not revolve around Zorn; he could not afford to slow down.

He slowly focused his mind.
At this moment, the ritual was not yet complete.
Zorn carefully felt the gaze from the starry sky.
Yet—there was nothing!
No penetrating insight or watchful eyes approached.

“Phew...”
After a long time, Zorn exhaled deeply.
“Unconsciously, I have already pried open enough power from the Black Mist.”
“Using the ritual to unleash power under the cover of the Black Mist means no one will detect me.”
“The city of Ogran is currently ravaged by disaster.”
“Whether it’s the church’s forces, the rulers of Ogran, or members of those evil spirit organizations, they are all watching in secret.”
“If they discovered I was using evil spirit power, they would surely watch closely.”
“Luckily, no one has perceived it!”

Zorn’s gaze returned once more to the immensely valuable Golden Skeleton of the Sun King.
He had only extracted the spiritual essence; the rest was equally valuable.

“By placing it into the disaster source, I can somewhat construct my own little golden throne.”
“The Sun King loved sitting high upon a majestic throne, overlooking everything.”

“Collecting his bones to build my throne—his spirit in the heavens would surely be pleased.”

Lost in thought, Zorn sent the Golden Skeleton into the disaster source through the ritual.
Previously, if Zorn had done this, he would have been discovered.
After all, the disaster source was shared by many evil spirits.
But now, armed with considerable Black Mist power and a private area hidden from others’ eyes, no one would know.
Even if they did, Zorn need not worry.
Other evil spirits could not enter the Black Mist zone he controlled.

With the ritual ended, the viscous Black Mist slowly dissipated.
Zorn felt a part of his trinity returning to the hidden source, continuing to conceal itself.
His spiritual will also returned to his physical self in reality.

“Using the Golden Skeleton throne as a core, serving as a second anchor point, will accelerate the digestion of the Black Mist.”
“Next...”
Zorn took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
“That is to find the old nest of the forbidden god organization, Forbidden Blood Source, in Ogran.”

The forbidden god organization, Forbidden Blood Source, had established an altar in a concealed place deep within the sewers to advance their ritual.
They extracted the forbidden blood of the superior entity known as the Twin-Ringed Serpent, contaminating the sewer environment to amplify the plague of rats.
They sought to grow stronger and achieve new glory.

From Zorn’s understanding, the forbidden blood drawn from the Twin-Ringed Serpent was not stored deep in the sewers.
Instead, it was kept at a secret base of Forbidden Blood Source within Ogran.
Finding this secret base would allow Zorn to steal or seize the forbidden blood extracted by Forbidden Blood Source.
This forbidden blood was a top-tier resource.
It could help Zorn unlock some special methods.

“However... the Forbidden Blood Source’s nest is not easy to locate.”
Zorn rubbed his brow.
Different versions marked different lairs for many organizations.
It was impossible to turn Ogran inside out looking for it.
Still, he had some clues. With proper use, he could follow the trail to find the Forbidden Blood Source’s nest in Ogran.

After sorting out his plans, Zorn looked toward the still-boiling giant pot where the “Giant Glutton’s Stomach” was simmering.
Previously, the stomach kept emitting dull hungry gurgles.
Now, it was silent, obediently churning in the pot.

Zorn had deliberately placed the stomach in this underground chamber to stew.
This way, whether releasing the burning power of the Golden Skeleton of the Sun King, or when his “True Self” descended, the spiritual level intimidation would keep the Giant Glutton’s Stomach docile, allowing smooth fusion rather than causing trouble.

Following the established procedure, having emptied the stomach, Zorn took it out to cool and drank the snake-swallowing potion purchased from the witch bishop.
After about ten minutes of digestion, as the potion’s effect maximized, Zorn swallowed the Giant Glutton’s Stomach whole.

Soon, intense pain erupted within the stomach.
Accompanied by coughing, blood was continuously spat out.

The pain lasted about half an hour.
As the pain faded, hunger began to swell.
Approaching the prepared food shelf, Zorn began to eat.
His diet consisted mainly of biscuits and pastries, paired with fresh cream cakes and some marinated meats.
Of course, the easiest way to fill the stomach—alcohol—was not forgotten.
Two small barrels of water and two barrels of mild fruit wine were placed in a corner.
Just these drinks were enough to fill the Glutton’s Stomach.

As food and drink combined, warmth spread within the stomach.
His body, weakened from three days of hunger, rapidly regained strength, even energizing Zorn.

In the dark, silent underground chamber,
“Ha... ha...”
Zorn sat cross-legged quietly.
A portion of viscous, eerie Black Mist silently seeped through the surrounding walls, slowly merging into his body.

Suddenly, Zorn’s perception sharpened, vividly sensing the “Trap Ritual” within the sewers.
“With the Golden Skeleton, my perception of the trap ritual area has greatly improved.”
“During this time... that Evil Spirit Knight has appeared near the trap ritual three times.”
“He seemed to sense the secret ritual I buried there, or was attracted by the thin Black Mist.”
“But the Evil Spirit Knight is not skilled at spiritual insight and lacks much knowledge in transcendence studies.”
“Though he had some scattered impressions, he made no concrete discoveries.”
“The second time he arrived there was the day before the rat plague outbreak, when the Evil Spirit Knight had already advanced to level three.”
“The day before yesterday was his third arrival.”
“He was contaminated and badly injured, lingering in that area for a long time.”
“It seemed he was waiting for his uncle.”
“According to their scheduled time, his uncle should meet him in the coming days.”
“If he doesn’t come, his uncle is likely dead.”
“If he comes, then following his uncle’s trail, I can track down the Forbidden Blood Source’s nest.”

In the following days, while adapting to the Giant Glutton’s Stomach, Zorn also accelerated his prying into more Black Mist within the disaster source.

Faced with the threat of the rat plague, Ogran City finally launched a powerful counterattack.
Thanks to the help of a “mysterious figure,” an effective way to counter the “Dark Realm–Sewer Junction” quickly spread among the rat catchers.
Do not attempt to fight darkness with torches, as it only invites the darkness’s backlash.
Using dark vision might be effective.
Detoxification potions appearing on the market were also effective against sewer miasma.
These potions sold out rapidly.

With countermeasures in place, official transcendents gradually entered the sewers to exterminate the rat swarms that had brought disaster to Ogran.

Every day, Zorn, while digesting his sacrifices, used the trap ritual as an anchor point to sense conditions within the sewers.

On this day, he finally awaited the opportunity.
The clue had come to him.