Chapter 201 - The Locked Human Levels

“Missionary Gao Li, I’ll take Sudden Death King with me first.”

After regaining composure, the Netherflame Divine Emissary eagerly prepared to escort Lu Ran back to the Cult of Death’s Headquarters.

“Brother Sudden Death King, this is an excellent opportunity! You can head to the headquarters ahead of time!” Gao Li said earnestly, genuinely happy for Lu Ran.

After all, with Lu Ran gaining the cult’s favor, Gao Li would likely benefit and rise alongside him.

“Uh...” Lu Ran hesitated briefly.

“What’s wrong? Is something still holding you back?” the Netherflame Divine Emissary asked.

“Nothing!” Lu Ran replied.

“It’s just that I’ve always been more interested in research than combat. For example, exploring ways to remove the drawbacks of soul consumption, or learning how to create spirit weapons.

“I had even planned to assist Brother Gao Li in developing undead weapons, but now it seems I won’t have the chance...”

Understanding that Lu Ran was a unique talent rather than just a reckless fighter, the Netherflame Divine Emissary found his broad range of aspirations intriguing.

“No worries. If you’re interested, you can directly present your ideas to the cult leader once you arrive at headquarters. All of the cult’s research projects can be opened to you, provided you have the aptitude!”

“That will do...”

Lu Ran had been waiting for those exact words!

This trip would be his chance to uncover the methods behind forging and nurturing the Bone Sword of a Thousand Blades.

Meanwhile, Gao Li was moved to see Lu Ran, who was about to ascend to the headquarters, still expressing concern about helping him with his spirit weapon research.

Little did he know that if Lu Ran hadn’t triggered this hidden mission, his Bone Sword would have been secretly taken for study after the 30-day limit passed.

Now that Lu Ran had the chance to interact directly with the forging elders, he was naturally interested in forging something similar to the sword.

“Let’s go.”

The Netherflame Divine Emissary gestured, and a black wind swept Lu Ran into the air. Before he could process what had happened, Lu Ran found himself on top of the Netherflame Bone Dragon. Its bones were slippery, forcing him to hold on tightly to avoid falling.

“Is there anything else you need to settle?” the Netherflame Divine Emissary asked.

“No, nothing,” Lu Ran replied.

“Then let’s depart.”

With that, the Netherflame Divine Emissary commanded the Bone Dragon to take flight. As Lu Ran looked back at the courtyard filled with giant rat beast corpses, his gaze lingered on Gao Li and the taste-testing assistant.

“Brother Sudden Death King, until we meet again.”

Gao Li waved at Lu Ran, seemingly looking forward to their next encounter. Beside him, Black Feather nodded thoughtfully, curious about what Lu Ran’s reception at the headquarters might entail.

Would he truly become the Undead Holy Son?

If so, then even she could claim to have once served alongside a Holy Son.

“Mm. Goodbye, and thank you.”

Lu Ran alone understood that this departure would likely be their final meeting. After spending some time at the headquarters, he would probably finish this mission and leave this secret realm.

This ascension realm would then completely collapse. Though he knew they were just projections, Lu Ran was still grateful for their assistance over the past half-month.

As the Netherflame Bone Dragon ascended and disappeared into the clouds, Ming An City grew smaller and smaller in the distance...

***

On the Netherflame Bone Dragon.

By now, the scenery below was entirely obscured. Clinging to the bones, Lu Ran glanced at the Netherflame Divine Emissary who was standing at the forefront while gazing into the clouds.

“You seem excited. Are you not afraid of heading to the so-called Cult Headquarters?”

Without turning around, she could sense the anticipation on Lu Ran’s face. Her surprise was genuine. Even if Lu Ran was genuinely interested in necromancy, the outside world’s rumors about the cult were overwhelmingly negative.

The Cult of Death was widely known as an Undead Cult. Was this young man not the least bit worried?

“Afraid?”

Lu Ran smiled faintly but did not respond aloud.

If this were a PvE-type secret realm, maybe I would be. But this is a realm where death only sends me back to Limitless City. What’s there to fear?

Like a gamer knowing they could respawn, Lu Ran felt confident. Even if faced with a legendary creature, he would dare to take it on. However, just as his confidence swelled, he pinched himself.

No, I can’t get carried away. What if, like Principal Shi Zhen, I end up bringing a curse back with me from this realm...?

High above the clouds, the Bone Dragon continued its flight. Unbeknownst to Lu Ran, several of the Netherflame Divine Emissary’s other beasts had already flown off in different directions, moving at even greater speeds.

***

The Cult of Death Headquarters was situated within the Stellar Moon Continent yet simultaneously beyond it. The headquarters seemed to exist in a unique realm.

This extraordinary location ensured the cult’s survival despite its infamy. Within this ominous space, a continuous mountain range stretched infinitely. A beam of radiant light traversed the sky before vanishing into the void.

Within the void, a black-robed elder with a weathered, ancient face floated in meditation. Ghostly phantoms of dozens of terrifying creatures swirled around him, seemingly imprisoned in another dimension, their faint roars echoing.

A ripple disturbed the void. The beam of light from earlier, a soul fragment, entered. The elder grasped it lightly, letting vast information flow into his mind.

“Hm?” The elder opened his hollow eyes, surprise flickering across his face.

“A Soul Chef... Could he be the harbinger of change?” he murmured, shaking his head slightly before stepping into the void.

The phantoms behind him vanished without a trace. Moments later, at the summit of a pure black mountain, the Netherflame Bone Dragon landed. Lu Ran tumbled off, finding himself before a black-robed elder gazing at the overcast sky.

“Cult leader, I have brought the person you requested,” the Netherflame Divine Emissary said respectfully before retreating with the Bone Dragon, leaving Lu Ran alone.

Huh? Wait, you’re leaving already!?

Lu Ran felt a wave of discomfort at being left alone. Yet as the elder turned to face him, he quickly stepped forward and saluted.

“My respects to the cult leader.”

“No need for formalities. I know everything about you already,” the cult leader said.

“Now, show me how you strip a soul’s consciousness.”

“Certainly. I’ll need a giant rat beast to demonstrate.”

“Would other undead creatures suffice?” The cult leader frowned, puzzled by Lu Ran’s apparent preference for giant rat beasts.

When the Netherflame Divine Emissary escorted Lu Ran here, nearly all her necromantic pets had been mobilized to investigate his background in Ming An City, compiling a thorough report.

Though it was their first meeting, the cult leader already had a clear understanding of Lu Ran, including his excellent reputation among the cult’s followers in Ming An City.

“Other creatures will work.” Lu Ran nodded.

The cult leader waved his sleeve, summoning the spiritual body of an unconscious cow-like entity that floated toward Lu Ran. Drawing his Soul-Cutting Blade, Lu Ran placed his hand against the cow spirit, closing his eyes momentarily to focus.

With a single precise slash, he cleaved through the soul’s consciousness. As the Soul-Cutting Blade emitted faint waves of Culinary Intent, the cult leader’s keen perception locked onto these subtle vibrations.

After confirming this was indeed a Unique Culinary Intent, a hint of admiration surfaced on his otherwise impassive face.

“Is this enough?” Lu Ran asked.

“It is,” the cult leader replied, gesturing for him to approach.

“Child, come closer.”

Lu Ran hesitated briefly, uncertain of the cult leader’s intentions, but ultimately complied.

“Tell me. Would you like to become the Undead Holy Son? Do you desire to inherit the cult’s legacy? Do you aspire to stand at the pinnacle of this continent as a legendary necromancer?”

The cult leader’s questions left Lu Ran momentarily shaken. While he had anticipated a recruitment pitch of some kind, this outright proposition exceeded his expectations.

Still, Lu Ran knew his primary objective in entering the cult’s headquarters: gathering intelligence. Compared to resources or status, information was far more valuable.

“Cult leader, I am indeed deeply fascinated by necromancy. Moreover, I noticed that the actions of Brother Gao Li and others differ significantly from the so-called evil behavior attributed to the cult. That sparked my interest in joining and learning more firsthand.

“However, I didn’t expect to meet the cult leader so soon. If my abilities can contribute to the advancement of necromancy, I am, of course, willing to do my part. But what I want to know most is, why was the Cult of Death established in the first place?” Lu Ran faced the cult leader.

“Is its stated mission to ‘help beastmasters regain new life’ its true purpose?”

Ahh, this...”

Turning his hollow gaze toward the darkened sky, the cult leader said, “If I intend for you to become the Undead Holy Son, it’s only right that you understand the deeper truths.

“Yes, on the surface, the cult exists to aid beastmasters who have lost their familiars, giving them a second chance. But in reality, the cult was established for the sake of humanity’s future.”

“Humanity’s future?” Lu Ran was stunned, unable to connect the concept of an undead cult with safeguarding humanity.

“Haha.” The cult leader laughed.

This one is young. It’s natural for him to lack knowledge of the world’s truths.

“Tell me, do you know why this continent only has level 8 beastmasters? Why has no one ever reached level 9?”

“Why?” Lu Ran asked, startled.

“Because the legendary divine beasts that rule this world do not permit humanity to achieve level 9. This is a forbidden truth. Thousands of years ago, when humanity first developed the ability to tame familiars, their rise was meteoric.

“But this rapid ascent provoked fear among the legendary divine beasts, who worried that humans might one day attain the power to enslave them. Humanity’s survival hung by a thread—those creatures could have wiped us out with a single thought.

“Fortunately, not all legendary divine beasts were hostile toward humanity. Some chose to stand with us, leading to the establishment of a certain agreement...”

“What kind of agreement?” Lu Ran asked urgently.

“A pact to limit humanity. Some legendary species altered the world’s laws, placing a curse on human bloodlines to prevent the emergence of level 9 beastmasters.

“However, the pact included a loophole. If a human beastmaster could reach the level of a god using only mortal means, the curse would be lifted.

“At that point, humanity would regain its potential to produce legendary-level individuals and reclaim its place at the apex of the world. But achieving such a feat—to rival the gods as a mortal—is nearly impossible. Many have tried over the years, but all have failed.

“I founded the Cult of Death under someone’s guidance, all for the purpose of breaking this restriction—to free humanity from its chains. That’s all you need to know for now.

“However, developing the undead attribute is destined to be fraught with difficulty. While a few prodigies with exceptional willpower can master necromancy without succumbing to its drawbacks, that alone is not enough!

“For an attribute to reach its pinnacle, it cannot rely on just a handful of individuals. That is why the cult seeks to expand its followers, discover more talents, and strengthen this attribute. But for ordinary beastmasters, relying on soul consumption to grow is inherently challenging.”

“But now, things are different. For years, the cult has researched ways to eliminate the drawbacks of soul consumption. Yet something that eluded the vast resources of the cult was resolved by you—a young man who has only recently come into contact with undead power.

“Fate truly works in unpredictable ways,” he said, shaking his head.

“Although your method is difficult to replicate, you’ve already demonstrated remarkable talent. I want you to continue this research—to lower the barriers for ordinary people to become necromancers.

“Well, little one, are you interested?

“If, in the future, the undead attribute truly becomes the key to changing humanity’s fate—freeing it from the control of legendary divine beasts—your name will go down in history.”

Lu Ran’s heart trembled. He had imagined countless reasons for the Cult of Death’s existence, but none matched what he had just heard.

The cult leader’s explanation sounded reasonable, yet Lu Ran couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was still being concealed.

Is he telling the truth?

“Would you accept me as your master and become the Holy Son of the Cult of Death?” the cult leader asked once again.

“Do you possess the heart to challenge the gods as a mortal?”

“Master!”

Without overthinking whether the cult leader was hiding something, Lu Ran shouted his answer without hesitation. He absolutely needed the identity of Holy Son.

This role would determine how many resources he could gather over the next half-month in this ascension realm. Only with the status of Holy Son could he gain access to the cult’s most classified information.

“Hahaha, excellent!”

Hearing Lu Ran’s response, the cult leader smiled broadly, nodding in approval.

“From this moment forth, Sudden Death King, you are my first disciple as a Legendary Necromancer, as well as the Undead Holy Son of the Cult of Death!”

Lu Ran met the cult leader’s gaze, feeling an indescribable surge of emotion.

Oh my gosh, Dad, Mom, you’ve managed to climb to the uppers of The Other Shore, and now here I am, inadvertently becoming the heir to the largest necromantic faction on the Stellar Moon Continent... not just a high-ranking member, but an actual successor!

***

That day, violent tremors rippled through the Death Space, causing upheaval across its numerous peaks. One after another, necromancers from various disciplines received the news, their expressions shifting from surprise to shock.

“What? The cult leader has emerged from seclusion? And taken on a disciple?”

“The long-vacant position of Holy Son has finally been filled?”

Though it remained unclear whether the cult would organize any special ceremonies, the necromantic elders instinctively began gathering gifts—dragon souls, phoenix souls, whatever treasures they could muster.

After all, it wouldn’t do to meet the new Holy Son empty-handed.