Carefree Path of Dreams

“Easily attract the hostility of ghouls?” Simon jumped in fright.

By the side, Nietzsche covered his mouth with both hands.

“You don’t have to make such a big fuss over it. Most extraordinary items will usually have some sort of side effect… For example, the Spirit Awakening Water’s side effect is already considered one of the more insignificant ones…”

Fang Yuan looked at Nietzsche with a smile. “So, do you want to try your luck with another bottle?”

“No! I don’t want one!”

Nietzsche ran out of the store as fast as he could and toward the end of the street where he saw the back of the female inspector. “Please wait!”

“What matter do you have?” Vivienne turned around and scrutinized Nietzsche.

“My name is Nietzsche, and I was in the store just now. I want to ask how Capone died. Was he attacked by a ghoul?”

“Ghoul?” Vivienne sneered. “Brat! Don’t listen to those rumors! Even though Capone’s wounds look like they were caused by some kind of wild beast, I’m more inclined toward a lion, tiger, or even a few stray dogs!”

After saying that, an annoyed expression appeared on her face. “Oh Black Iron God! I violated that cursed confidential regulation again. Brat, you have to promise me you won’t leak it!”

It’s… actually true! Nietzsche took a step back, and Fang Yuan’s description of the Ghoul Talisman appeared in his mind. If the heart or mind isn’t firm, the Ghoul Talisman will easily attract the hostility of ghouls… Hostility! This is it!

He took a deep breath. “There are ghouls wandering around Kimbert City!”

Bang!

In response, a car door shut.

Clearly, the female inspector did not believe a single word of what he had said at all.

Dejected, Nietzsche returned to the store and stared at Fang Yuan. “You are a murderer…”

“Brat, don’t spout nonsense…” Fang Yuan blew on his cocoa. “When I sold it, I had already made it extremely clear… Moreover, do you really believe there are ghouls around?”

“I believe!” Nietzsche replied in a deep voice.

“Seems like you’re a person with a story… Mind sharing with me?” Fang Yuan smiled. His voice contained a certain energy that made Nietzsche subconsciously relax and sit on the sofa.

“Story… What story do I have?” Nietzsche was shocked.

“For example, a certain imprint on your body. I don’t know when you got it, but I heard that anyone with one would eventually encounter misfortune…” Fang Yuan pointed at the back of Nietzsche’s neck.

“You know…” Nietzsche’s eyes were suddenly full of terror. “… the ‘Sin Imprint’ incident?”

“Sin Imprint?” Fang Yuan chuckled.

“Yes… The Sin Imprint is a sinner’s proof. Because this Sin Imprint runs through the bloodline of my family, our numbers have decreased significantly, and only a few of us are left…” Nietzsche bit his lips.

“I can tell you that this isn’t a Sin Imprint but a symbol!” Fang Yuan said lightly.

“Symbol?” Nietzsche questioned.

“As an offering for a certain ritual. It’s an imprint dedicated to a certain existence. Your ancestor should have been chosen as a sacrifice but fortunately managed to escape. But it’s a pity that despite escaping, it still continues to flow in your bloodline, attracting the attention of those from the darkness…”

Fang Yuan continued, “But I will neither tell you the name nor write it down because it will be blasphemy once relevant information appears. This is the source of all evil!”

“Yes, even the Church of the Black Iron God was unable to remove this curse… But after I grow up, it will erupt completely…” Nietzsche’s voice was firm and persistent. “Mister, do you have any suggestions?”

“What suggestion could I possibly have? I’m merely the boss of an ordinary convenience store… Moreover, my knowledge is limited to this…” Fang Yuan passed the buck irresponsibly. “I know you’re seeking extraordinary powers and are desperate to fight this curse, but let’s talk about the ghouls now!”

“You…” Nietzsche’s face turned red, and he wanted to throw the teacup at Fang Yuan’s face but did not dare to. His eyes seemed to be saying, How can you be this shameless?

“Don’t be angry! I’m really not the murderer. Furthermore, even if my Ghoul Talisman can attract ghouls, they would have to be nearby too!” Fang Yuan said with an innocent look.

“Have to be… nearby?” Nietzsche was frightened by this conclusion. “Are you saying that Kimbert City already had ghouls?”

“And there must be quite a few. Otherwise, how would it be so easy to encounter them? There might even be a ghoul lair!” Fang Yuan stared at Nietzsche. “After knowing this, what are you planning to do?”

“Of course, I have to find the lair!” Nietzsche replied without giving it much thought.

“Very good! Young man, you have the potential to open a detective society. Do you need my help?” Fang Yuan sipped his cocoa.

“Detective society?” Nietzsche was utterly confused by how Fang Yuan could jump from one topic to another.

“Archaeologist, artist, detective… are the easiest professions to come into contact with the extraordinary…” Fang Yuan said meaningfully. “For example, Vincent! You’re very interested in him, right?!”

“Yes, because he is indeed an Extraordinary, and my elder is sure of this. He once rescued my elder, who mentioned that his strength was much stronger than many long-lived species!” Nietzsche was full of admiration.

“Indeed, if you were as strong as Vincent, you probably won’t need to worry about that Sin Imprint anymore…” Fang Yuan nodded. “But let’s continue talking about the ghouls! Finding their lair is relatively simple. You just have to look at where a large number of homeless have disappeared or places with a chain of tomb robberies… But how do you plan on destroying them? Or rather, do you even know what ghouls are?”

“No…” Nietzsche shook his head, puzzled.

“They have blood-red eyes and dried-up skin, and they possess decent defense and extremely sharp claws… Of course, to deal with their attacks, you merely have to be prepared beforehand and equipped with proper firepower… However, this is definitely not the end of ghouls! Do you know what the essence of ghouls is?”

Fang Yuan reclined leisurely. He did not think that Nietzsche could answer, so he answered directly, “It is desire! A desire to eat excessively! Since it’s incorporeal, there’s naturally no way to destroy it! Even if you burned all of a ghoul’s flesh, its spirit would continue to reverberate in the air and linger around their grave until it finds the next suitable host…”

“So, does that mean there’s no way to get rid of them?” Nietzsche was dismayed.

“Ghouls are far from being invincible. Any extraordinary power can damage this gluttonous desire. Of course, the Church of the Black Iron God can probably do it too…”

After saying this, Fang Yuan waved his hand, gesturing for Morigu to send Nietzsche out.

After Morigu came back, she said nervously, “Mas… Mister! That imprint… I saw it! It’s a sacrificial imprint belonging to Omar… That human’s ancestor was once a sacrifice of Omar, and now the descendants of the family can’t escape the fate of being sacrifices…”

The fate of being an Outer God’s sacrifice was not easy to escape.

Once marked with an imprint, even if they could avoid it once, they would not be let off easily by the followers or worshippers in the future.

In fact, it would pass down the bloodline, and the spread of this poison would be endless.

“Why don’t you let me dispose of it?”

The extraordinary Morigu had always viewed Omar as an enemy and was clearly disgusted after seeing the imprint.

She knew that with this Sin Imprint, Nietzsche’s strength alone was definitely not enough to get rid of it. In the future, he would surely become a sacrifice and contribute to Omar’s happiness.

“Don’t be anxious, Morigu… My plan has yet to begin!”

Fang Yuan had a cheeky smile as he gently caressed the cover of the Book of Flesh. “As long as I have this, an increasing number of Omar’s followers will gather… And once they expand to a certain extent, they will naturally want to carry out some taboo rituals. For example, summoning an Eye of Darkness? And what if an Eye of Darkness was gotten rid of once more?”

“Then Omar might come down in person… Master, are you planning…”

Morigu Tata felt the trembling of her soul. Just thinking about an existence of that level was enough to make her tremble.

But her master actually dared to plot against this opponent. Just what realm was he at?

“That monster has been avoiding me ever since it ate a loss in our earlier encounter…” Fang Yuan sighed. “Leaving an existence like this alone is a hidden danger. Naturally, I have to get rid of it for good! In order to accomplish this goal of baiting it, I can’t expose my strength before its true body arrives…”

In fact, this was also a type of fishing and trapping.

Of course, Fang Yuan did not mention some of the other important points.

For example, settling the grudge was only one aspect. His true motive was still that Eyeball of Destruction. It seemed to be extremely interested in the intrinsic quality of the Outer Gods.

Otherwise, it was just a badly-damaged seal and not going to be of much benefit. It was mainly for research.

“I understand, Master… But can that human truly complete Master’s plan?”

Morigu Tata felt that she did not even need to do anything but simply reveal her true form, and that measly human would turn into a corpse in front of her.

“The potential of a human’s will to live is endless. Moreover, he has a trace of destiny and a natural hatred toward Omar. He makes a perfect chess piece and bait… Besides, an old swindler like me isn’t just going to watch…”

Fang Yuan smiled meaningfully. “Furthermore… we can have more than one piece of bait. Even if something unexpected were to happen to him, we could simply change to another one. We have plenty of time, and it’s normal for a war between Gods to last incomparable long, so what’s the rush?”

He stared into the void, as though he had already seen everything in the future.