Angelic Ritual

Deacon Wahl sighed: "Child, you are too pessimistic. The mortal world is not as bad as you think. Even if this world is truly dark, Angels can save everyone. Angels are omnipotent."

Shang Xing lowered his eyes, not replying. Seeing his submissive appearance, Wahl thought he had taken the words to heart and added a few more casual remarks. Just then, the doors of the grand hall at the end of the corridor opened, and several young men and women walked out.

Shang Xing looked over. There were six people in total, three males and three females. All six had extremely outstanding appearances, wearing pure white robes with neatly tied belts that accentuated their perfect figures. However, their fair necks were covered in intimate red marks.

Immediately after, numerous maids surrounded several figures in black hoods as they walked out. The cloaks completely covered their bodies and faces, revealing only deep eyes that radiated a chilling light, making one shudder. The six young men and women walked along the flower-lined path outside the corridor, occasionally casting cold, arrogant, and contemptuous glances toward them.

Deacon Wahl immediately stood up, ran to the side of the black-robed figures, bowed respectfully, and whispered something. The black-robed figures glanced toward the corridor, their searching gazes like sharp blades. Then, they said a few words to Wahl, who kept nodding, his bowing posture incredibly subservient.

After those people left, Wahl returned to the corridor and said, "They are the noble 'Barons', ordered by the Pope to inspect this 'Angel Ritual'."

Shang Xing thought to himself, so those black-robed figures were Barons, a noble class higher than commoners. Jia Mingkui knelt down and asked, "What is the Angel Ritual?"

Wahl replied, "It is a ritual to test whether you have the potential to become an Angel, and also an extremely interesting cultivation process..." His gaze swept past Ye Xuanyue and stopped on the others: "Among you, three will be chosen tonight to undergo the ritual."

"During the process, you must absolutely not resist or struggle. Remember, only by enduring can you become an Angel." Wahl said with deep meaning, "Let me see how great your determination to become an Angel is."

Hearing this, Shang Xing couldn't help but wonder what the ritual actually was. Recalling the red marks on the necks of those six people earlier, a wave of disgust and nausea rose in his throat. After giving his instructions, Wahl dismissed them to rest, saying that someone would come to notify them who had been chosen when dusk fell.

Shang Xing returned to his attic room, his heart full of unease. Who would be chosen to go? The crimson sunset stretched across the sky like blood. As the last ray of light sank, the light retreated, giving way to thick darkness. No one came to call him, and Shang Xing secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"It seems you weren't chosen," Mima said, flying over from behind. "Do you want to go watch the ritual?"

Shang Xing asked, "I wasn't chosen, how can I go?"

Mima replied, "I can take you to observe. Do you want to?"

Shang Xing thought for a moment, then nodded. Mima circled around him, and his body suddenly felt light, turning into a black butterfly. Mima flew out the window: "Follow me."

He flew after Mima, passing by the Angel statues. Under the moonlight, the hearts of the statues seemed to bleed, bright red blood dripping down their silver robes and onto the ground, forming brilliant blood flowers. Shang Xing watched in astonishment as the bloodstains soaked into the ground and vanished in an instant. A soft weeping sound reached his ears, as mournful as the curse of deceased souls.