299: The Bottled Prisoner (23)_1
“`
“I think I understand what ‘Sinners’ are all about now.”
Although Yun’s posture was full at the moment, from his recent Zen-like musings combined with the observations made along the way and his own mission, Fu Qian had come to think of another possibility.
What Yun considered to be without care or worry might just be a misunderstanding.
His actions, bereft of ostentation just now, were not about sublimating his essence but changing his form of existence.
Simply put, Fu Qian believed that the act of facing the statue and making motions to connect with the Goddess of Sin and Punishment and then purifying Sinflame could inherently be a kind of ritual.
Similar to the ceremonial act when ascending to a demigod status.
Except this one is very special, with almost no restrictions.
One does not need to be at the peak of the Fourth Phase, nor do they require a specific type of ability.
Any Transcendent, as long as they bask in the gaze of the goddess and become tainted with sins and then run to the statue to strike a pose for redemption, can complete it directly.
And the effects after the ritual’s success are equally special.
Transcendents who are purified do indeed undergo a qualitative change, but it’s not about ascending as an independent individual, it’s about combining with the Goddess of Sin and Punishment to form a unified whole in a special way.
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It’s like the oath taker and the sworn in a vow.
Only this time it’s the ‘Sinners’ and the Goddess of Sin and Punishment.
That’s why Yun feels his sword swings without care or worry.
Because the sin of that strike has already been undertaken by the Goddess of Sin and Punishment.
And those who have been purified once will no longer feel the pain of the Sinflame, for the same reason.
“I actually have to thank you.”
As he pondered, Yun’s voice rose again.
“It’s fortunate that there’s an individual who can experience this moment; otherwise, it would have been easy to indulge in one’s glory.”
He looked at Fu Qian with a serene smile.
“As a token of gratitude, I will grant you release shortly.”
“You are too kind.”
In the face of the decree of death, Fu Qian’s tone was quite perfunctory.
If his guess holds true, this Goddess of Sin and Punishment really has something of the “divine” about her.
Just like the one who descended upon Ariel, she too is almost a conceptual existence.
In fact, when you think about it, the Sinflame on everyone is itself akin to the physical manifestation of a special concept.
“You really don’t seem to be afraid of dying, do you!”
Yun seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Fu Qian’s excessively calm reaction, his gaze sharpening as he intently stared at him.
“Or do you think that without the advantage of the Sinflame, I’m no match for you?”
“Unfortunately, both guesses are wrong.”
Fu Qian shook his head, not sharing his deduction, and instead, stretched out two fingers.
“Firstly, regardless of the state, you are no match for me.”
“Additionally, I’m not planning to grant you release all too quickly.”
As he spoke, Fu Qian moved his shoulders.
With this simple action, there was an extreme sense of danger; Yun’s expression suddenly became fierce as he almost subconsciously launched an attack.
The shrill sound of slicing air filled the space as his long knife traced an unbelievable arc, followed by a bright blade light that engulfed the entire space.
Thump!
In the omnipresent storm of blades, the invisible black shields around Ailina broke one after another, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.
Though lacking the frightening momentum of the Sinflame compared to before, from a level of artistry, it did seem somewhat improved.
The human heart is indeed a wondrous thing, ah, just a bit of self-satisfaction can elevate one to such heights!
Fu Qian, while marveling, spent one of his lives directly.
[SAN Points reduced by 1]
The guests should be arriving soon, it’s best to end this quickly.
“`
The next moment, the sky was blotted out!
Hundreds, no, thousands of black and red tendrils burst forth from his right arm, entwined into a colossal alien limb that, like a glacier crumbling, enveloped Yun and everything around him.
The Biochemical Demon Arm, a move that had once killed the Black Knight in a single blow before reaching demigod status.