Starting Hell Mode

As she spoke, the woman removed her hat and sunglasses completely.

Her skin was as pale as jade, her facial features exquisitely beautiful, delicate like an elf.

Her eyes were a deep jade-green, not bright, but like an abyssal chasm, always the first to draw others' attention.

Youyoufan Balletine, the Devouring Bishop of the Abyss Chapel, and a consort of the Evil God.

Xu Mu hadn’t expected her to come looking for him so soon.

"You really treat this place like it’s your home, don’t you? You have my contact info—couldn’t you have let me know before coming?"

Xu Mu sat up from the sofa and looked at the woman before him.

Still, from those jade-green eyes, she was likely from a non-human race, or a hybrid.

"I’ve spent the past few days back in the country, paying a fortune to consult several famous doctors. They all confirmed that my meridians are fine."

Youyoufan sat down on the single sofa beside Xu Mu, crossing her arms. "Are you trying to trick me?"

"Trick you about what?"

Xu Mu asked with a smile.

"My body isn’t crippled at all."

Youyoufan leaned back on the sofa, crossing one leg over the other.

"If you’re so sure, then why come to me?"

Xu Mu could clearly see that the larva of the Soul-Devouring Sacred Gu was still bathing in her blood.

He had left that larva on her originally to learn more about the Abyss Chapel organization.

"But I’m still not certain. What if I go out on a mission in the future and suddenly lose my Qi? What would I do then?"

Youyoufan spread her hands, her gaze fixed sharply on Xu Mu. "No more nonsense. I’m here this time to buy one of your pills in advance. I don’t want many—just one."

Xu Mu thought for a moment and immediately understood her intention.

She still didn’t believe she was truly crippled, so she only wanted to buy one pill. If she really couldn’t use her Qi later, she could use the pill to recover.

If she turned out to be perfectly fine after a month, then she wouldn’t need the treatment at all.

Xu Mu certainly wouldn’t agree. Even with the Sacred Gu, commanding its offspring had a distance limit.

It was like a mother calling her child home for dinner—you had to get close enough for the child to hear.

After a month, she’d be abroad, or exploring ruins, or even the Inner Realm. His gu worm wouldn’t be able to control her then, and the whole scheme would fall apart.

"I don’t have any."

Xu Mu shook his head slightly. "I’m still missing two eighth-grade and one ninth-grade rare treasures."

"You’re full of crap, Xu Mu!"

Youyoufan didn’t believe him at all. "Would you give a pill containing a ninth-grade treasure to a complete stranger?"

"Remember what I told you back then? I said it was love at first sight."

Xu Mu smiled as he stood up from the sofa to pour himself a glass of water. "I really don’t have the pill on me. That’s why I asked you to come back in a month."

"Don’t play games with me. I’m not taking it for free—what do you want?"

Youyoufan asked coldly.

"Even if you kill me, I can’t produce it. How about you first give me an eighth-grade Dragon Spine Blood Vine and a ninth-grade Divine Connection Grass?"

Xu Mu took a sip of water and said to her. "Give me the ingredients, and I’ll refine it for you now."

Youyoufan narrowed her jade-green eyes into slits. She’d heard of both treasures—they were indeed used to repair meridians.

"You told me to come back in a month. Do you have a way to get these things?"

Youyoufan inquired.

"Exactly. I’ve already sent someone to Shennong Cauldron to fetch the herbs, though it cost me quite a bit of treasure."

Xu Mu glanced at Youyoufan. "Don’t ask why. Just blame it on love at first sight."

Youyoufan snorted lightly, flicking her long golden hair. "I know I’m beautiful and all, but there’s no chance between you and me."

Xu Mu gave a faint smile. This woman actually bought into it.

Flat as a board, probably far from matching Meng Wanyue, and yet she thought she was a beauty.

"You’re saying that between us two, it’s absolutely impossible?"

"Exactly. Absolutely impossible."

Youyoufan said with utter seriousness. Now she truly believed him.

Xu Mu had only given her such a precious pill because he liked her.

"Well, if there’s no chance, then leave. I’m not saving you anymore."

Xu Mu waved his hand at Youyoufan. "My reason for saving you was to marry you. If you say it’s impossible, then why should I bother?"

"You—"

"What? Am I wrong?"

Xu Mu said expressionlessly.

Youyoufan narrowed her eyes slightly. She figured she’d just play along for now. Young men like him were the easiest to manipulate.

"Xu Mu, in principle, it is impossible. But if you move me deeply enough, I might just break my principles."

Youyoufan said with a smile.

"Makes sense. But the chances are pretty low, so I won’t be helping you for free anymore."

Xu Mu sat back down in front of Youyoufan. "I might hand over the pill to you later, but first, I want to know all the secrets of the Abyss Chapel."

"Your goal wouldn’t happen to be that, would it?"

Youyoufan suddenly looked at Xu Mu seriously.

"No, I have no grudge against you. Besides, your main enemy is the Vatican, not a small fry like me."

Xu Mu replied flatly.

"Go on, then. What do you want to know?"

Youyoufan wasn’t stupid. If it was common knowledge, she’d be willing to tell him.

If it was some secret, she’d have to weigh her options, since the pill decided her fate.

"This time, your Abyss Chapel rescued so many experts from Kunlun Mountain. What’s the purpose?"

Xu Mu asked, puzzled.

"Obviously, to recruit those experts to fight for us," Youyoufan answered without thinking.

Xu Mu paused, then continued. "Who are you fighting? The Vatican?"

"You don’t even understand that?"

Youyoufan was taken aback, then waved her hand. "Right, I forgot the national circumstances are different."

"What do you mean?"

"Simply put, the junction between the Inner Realm and the Outer Realm, within China’s borders, is basically Hell Mode from the start."

Youyoufan twirled her hair with her finger as she briefly explained things to Xu Mu.

In layman’s terms, in other countries—like Western nations—ordinary people mostly believe in the existence of gods.

These so-called gods are actually alien races emerging from the Inner Realm.

These alien races cultivate their own forces, teach followers, and train core disciples to practice.

Their goal is simple: to give back to their alien race.

In other words, these alien "masters" are seen as gods or divine messengers in other countries.

These aliens expand their influence in the Outer Realm to recruit more followers.

As long as the numbers are large enough, geniuses will also increase.

People with cultivation talent are then trained by these aliens and later fight for them.

But China is the one exception. Elsewhere, aliens coming out are gods or gods’ messengers.

But in China, aliens must obey the law and rules—or face extermination.

Hearing this, Xu Mu suddenly felt a bit sorry for the aliens living here. No wonder they all wanted to destroy Yanhuang.