**Chapter 188: Items Polluting the Goddess**
Clearly, the statue at the end of the star river was the Black Moon Goddess.
Mushroom, curiosity piqued, dashed towards the end of the star river. However, the distance between her and the statue remained unchanged. This star river seemed to have no end, stretching out into the infinite light-years beyond.
Despite the vast distance, the Holy Solution aura emanating from the Goddess was incredibly potent, allowing Xia Feng to sense it clearly even across the immeasurable expanse.
Xia Feng’s eyes burned with intensity as he looked up at the divine body of the Black Moon Goddess, enveloped in dazzling divine light, lost in contemplation.
“Absorb the red mist, but I can’t absorb it at all,” a complaining voice drifted over from a nearby star river at that moment.
Mushroom looked up and saw a woman using her spirit artifact against a mass of dark red mist, seemingly trying to absorb it. However, as the mist entered her body, terrifying blood vessels appeared on her face, and she hastily retreated in panic.
The red mist was precisely the selection criterion for the Black Moon Saintess. When someone first absorbed 10 meters of the red mist and their body remained unharmed, the Black Moon Goddess would awaken and bestow the Black Moon Mark upon them.
According to the established pattern, the higher a Spirit Master’s dark attribute, the more red mist they could withstand.
Mushroom also reached out, intending to touch the red mist, but Xia Feng quickly stopped her. “Don’t touch it yet.”
“What’s wrong?” Mushroom asked, puzzled.
Xia Feng’s heart sank. He clearly sensed a vast amount of Calamity Force contained within the red mist. Yet, strangely, it also possessed the Divinity of the Star God.
Since it contained Calamity Force, he should have been able to absorb it. However, through the sensation of the Calamity Demon Heart, Xia Feng realized he couldn’t absorb it at all, and it even seemed to repel him.
Coupled with the information that the Black Moon Goddess had been polluted…
“This red mist is likely the very thing that polluted the Black Moon Goddess. You aren’t competing to be the Black Moon Saintess anyway, so for safety’s sake, it’s best not to absorb it.”
“That makes sense,” Mushroom nodded.
“Li Hongdou, I’ve finally found you.”
Just then, a tall knight appeared on another star river. He leaped forward, his expression cold, and charged directly at Mushroom.
“Traitor, die!” the knight roared, bringing his longsword down towards Mushroom’s head.
*Clang!* A large hand easily caught the sword’s body. Without anyone noticing, a man in white clothes, wearing a mask, appeared in front of Mushroom.
The tall knight was taken aback, clearly not expecting Li Hongdou to have an ally. He said in a deep voice, “Who are you?”
Xia Feng didn’t answer. Instead, he calmly asked, “You’re a Black Moon Knight, aren’t you? Why are you trying to kill Li Hongdou?”
Naturally, it was on the Chief Judge’s orders to kill a heretic! The tall knight’s face remained impassive, offering no further explanation. He merely glanced at Xia Feng with a casual gaze and then exerted all his strength, preparing to cleave both of them down!
However, to his dismay, his sword wouldn’t budge. He stared at Xia Feng in astonishment, the horror dawning too late as he tried to retreat.
*Crack!* Xia Feng grabbed the tall knight’s neck and with a simple twist, snapped it. The immense strength made the knight feel like a mere chick, utterly incapable of resisting.
The knight’s soul simultaneously left his body, and with a look of terror, he attempted to flee, but Xia Feng effortlessly severed it with a single blow.
The enemy was dealt with in two seconds. Although he couldn’t glean any information from the knight, Xia Feng had a general idea of the dark reasons behind it. He couldn’t help but think that the Black Moon Holy See was truly corrupt, capable of any disgusting act.
While contemplating, a water-blue stone floated from the knight’s forehead. Xia Feng reached out and caught it.
[Water Obsidian +1]
Sensing the information that entered his mind, Xia Feng’s eyes lit up. He looked up at the surrounding endless star rivers. In this place where spirit robes couldn’t be used, as long as there weren’t multiple Tier 5 Spirit Masters, he was invincible and could plunder anyone he wished.
As for the Sky-Mending Stone Embryo that the two Holy Sees were vying for, Xia Feng decided to set it aside for now.
“Let’s go, big brother will take you to rob the rich and help the poor!”
Guided by the candlelight, Xia Feng could faintly sense the locations of nearby Obsidian.
***
On a certain star river. Fifteen silver-armored knights stood respectfully in three rows before a tall woman. A middle-aged female knight stood to the side, bowing and saying respectfully, “Lord Ito Mi, please rest assured. We are acting on the Chief Judge’s orders and will guard you safely!”
Ito Mi’s gaze calmly swept over the knights before her, and she nodded. There were ten Tier 3 knights, but no Tier 4. Oddly, there was one Tier 5 knight, making it a powerful formation.
“In fact, there are two Grade 5 Berserker Knights specially transferred from headquarters who haven’t joined us yet,” a Tier 5 knight named Rick stated, stepping out from the formation. He had also been transferred from another area. “With one Tier 5 and two Grade 5 Berserker Knights present, I believe we are certain to obtain the Sky-Mending Stone Embryo this time!”
Berserker Knights were a special class within the Black Moon Holy See, knights whose physical strength reached Grade 5 through special spirit materials, though their Spirit Pressure usually remained at Tier 2 or Tier 3.
Before he could finish speaking, Rick suddenly froze, lowering his head to look at the flickering patterns on his hand. His expression turned grim.
“What is it?”
“The subordinate sent to eliminate Li Hongdou died not long ago,” Knight Rick said in a deep voice.
“Li Hongdou?” Ito Mi’s eyes flickered, and she smiled. “Why are you killing her? Don’t kill her yet. Her skin is of great use to me.”
Rick was stunned by her words. He narrowed his eyes, nodded, and replied in a low voice, “Indeed, with such talent, her skin can be peeled off and used for your benefit.”
Ito Mi’s spirit artifact was exceptionally terrifying—a B-grade spirit artifact called the Human Skin Scissors!
It could not only peel the skin off living people to create Human Skin Puppets but also cover itself with their skin to alter its appearance, thereby gaining 30% of the puppet’s former strength, agility, and spiritual attributes.
This spirit artifact was thoroughly evil. Ito Mi had served as a nun in the Holy See for ten years before her possession of such a wicked artifact was revealed three years ago. It caused quite a stir, and she was almost executed as a cultist.
However, ultimately, under the Chief Judge’s strong advocacy, not only was she absolved of her crime, but because this spirit artifact could be incredibly powerful if utilized correctly, she was promoted and given a raise, becoming a Judgment Nun specifically tasked with punishing detestable apostates.
It had to be said that the Human Skin Scissors was indeed an excellent spirit artifact for torture and punishment.
The Chief Judge also uttered a famous saying: there are no evil spirit artifacts, only evil users.
All the clergy members were convinced by this statement.
“Do you know Li Hongdou’s current whereabouts?” Ito Mi asked calmly, but inwardly, she was already impatient to peel Li Hongdou’s skin. She found loli-like appearances particularly appealing, and Li Hongdou’s cute appearance perfectly suited her needs.
Of course, it was primarily to satisfy the Chief Judge’s needs. She understood very well that only by continuously pleasing the Chief Judge, who had perverse tastes, could she have a brighter future.
“I can pinpoint Li Hongdou’s location, Lord Ito Mi. Please follow me.”
Mushroom, now transformed into a blue mushroom, hid in the shadows. Hearing their conversation, her scalp nearly exploded.
Xia Feng was right. The Black Moon Holy See was indeed too chaotic and corrupt. Fortunately, she had joined the Element Holy See.
Xia Feng used Bronze Concealment to hide in the shadows, silently observing the knights in the distance.
Logically, these Black Moon Knights shouldn’t be here as they weren’t participants.
However, Xia Feng quickly understood. It was likely that the Black Moon Holy See had secretly arranged for these knights to disguise themselves as participants from various regions, obtain Obsidian, and enter the Miracle Star River with the objective of using their superior combat power to seize the Sky-Mending Stone Embryo.
But this was no longer important to Xia Feng. He narrowed his eyes, looking at the knights in the distance.
For some unknown reason, the strength of the sole Tier 5 knight, named Rick, had been sealed to Tier 4. This meant they were surrounded by him.
“Let’s go, we’ll find Li Hongdou first,” Ito Mi said with a light smile. But before she could finish, a white figure suddenly swept from the side, carrying an excited killing intent.
