Lin Ye and the priest locked eyes, neither showing any fluctuation in their gaze as both firmly believed they were in the right and would emerge victorious.

"Ready?"

Lin Ye asked the priest.

"Bring it on!"

The priest answered loudly.

The two mutated monsters behind Lin Ye erupted with their final explosive power like bombs. Lin Ye initially planned to withstand it with his spiritual energy shield, but the moment his shield made contact with the energy, he suddenly remembered the pitch-black sphere he'd seen in the cruise ship's dark corridor.

That sphere had merely rotated normally yet reflected Lin Ye's collapse rune back onto himself.

Thinking of the black sphere, Lin Ye instinctively rotated his spiritual energy shield to deflect the explosive energy.

Rather than hitting the shield, the energy surge bizarrely bypassed Lin Ye and his group, striking the unprepared priest instead.

This was just retribution.

Without hesitation, all four unleashed their strongest attacks on the priest. A spiritual energy blade wreathed in violent energy sliced through the priest's body, while spirit-infused shotgun blasts shredded his upper torso.

Zhou Wen continuously used their talent ability to disrupt the priest's mental energy, while Hu Tingting swiftly moved to his side and shoved a spiritual energy bomb into what remained of his lower body.

BOOM!

The priest's body exploded.

Even then, he didn't die. A thin spiritual energy shield protected the remaining quarter of his upper body as he retreated on tentacles to the church altar.

This shield proved exceptionally resilient—Lin Ye triggered severing runes and slashed multiple times without penetrating it.

"Give up. This is my multiply-enhanced protection rune. You're strong, but still lacking in rune mastery," said the priest, showing no fear even facing death, instead lecturing Lin Ye on rune usage.

"This shield is indeed strong, but you can't sustain it much longer, can you? Without spiritual energy, even the strongest shield is useless," Lin Ye continued attacking as an ominous aura emanated from the priest.

"You're right, but this is enough. Didn't you want to see my trump card? I'll show you now."

The priest bowed his head in prayer. An invisible force swept through the church, expelling all impurities beyond its walls until only the priest and Lin Ye remained.

"Why weren't you expelled from this holy ground?" The priest looked at Lin Ye in surprise.

"Why didn't you use this earlier to kick us out?" Lin Ye equally surprised, having assumed the priest intentionally kept him here.

"This isn't some casual ritual. As a priest of the Salvation Cult, I can only perform this once in my lifetime—and it's irreversible."

The priest had no energy left to ponder Lin Ye's resistance to expulsion, focused instead on his crucial task.

"So what does this ritual do? At least let me die knowing why," said Lin Ye, now oddly calm. At worst, he could restart.

"It's a divine communion ritual. I'll borrow power from the nearest deity."

"...Why the nearest? Aren't you from the Salvation Cult? Shouldn't you borrow from your Salvation God?" Lin Ye grew concerned—if this ritual had power requirements limiting it to true deities, he was doomed.

"Simple rituals can't specify deities. Higher rituals exceed my capabilities," explained the priest, continuing his uninterrupted prayers while humoring Lin Ye's questions—he'd grown wary of this unnatural creature's tricks.

"What if the deity refuses?" Lin Ye sat calmly opposite the priest as if resigned.

"Deities aren't capricious humans. They're guidance, beacons, the only truth in endless chaos. This ritual doesn't reach true deities—just borrows faint afterglows from distant spacetime."

As the ritual neared completion, the priest finally relaxed.

"Then would you like to meet a real deity?"

Sensing the imminent mental connection, Lin Ye smoothed back his bloodied hair and straightened his clothes before asking solemnly.

When the connection established, the priest gaped dumbfounded at Lin Ye sitting regally before him.

After a long silence, the priest asked bitterly, "Humans can become deities? Then who should I save? Who can save me?"

"I don't know. I only know I'll send you to meet your god. Maybe you can ask it."

Lin Ye stood and drew Red Blade. The moment the priest connected to him, his fate was sealed.

"Divine one, let me complete the ritual. If I cannot save humanity, let my soul pay the price."

The priest's final prayer dissipated his body into mist, leaving only a translucent crystal resembling the Seed of Spirit—likely some psychic residue.

Storing the crystal and collecting the priest's vestments, Lin Ye exited after confirming nothing remained.

"Brother Lin! You're finally out! We couldn't enter, and you didn't respond in chat—we thought..." Zhou Wen exclaimed excitedly.

"That priest—is he dealt with?" Hu Tingting pressed urgently.

"Finished. The town should be safe now. Gather loot to bring back—message anything else in chat." Lin Ye headed to retrieve the supermarket refrigerator.

"Great! I'm stocking up on daily essentials—no shampoo is unbearable!" Hu Tingting cheerfully dragged Xu Changnian off to "liberate" supplies while Zhou Wen scavenged necessities. Lin Ye alone returned to the supermarket, loading useful items onto carts.

One hour later, the mist cleared. The four regrouped at the deserted town entrance with their supply carts when a pale green light door materialized before them.

They stepped through sequentially, returning to the train station.

"Let's exchange contacts," Zhou Wen suggested as a train approached in the distance.

After adding each other:

Lin Ye: Until next time.

Zhou Wen: Until next time.

Hu Tingting: See you next time then~

Xu Changnian: Until next time.

They boarded the arriving train in turn.

…………………

[Station Mission Complete. Reward: Special Metal Treasure Chest*1 for mission difficulty]

[Bonus Objective 1 Complete. Reward: Bonus Treasure Chest*1]

[Bonus Objective 2 Complete. Reward: Bonus Treasure Chest*1]

[Bonus Objective 3 Complete. Reward: Bonus Treasure Chest*1]

[Please Draw Today's Card]