【You have walked further into the domain of ██.】
【Obtained intelligence 5】
A crimson aura swirled around Xu Xiaoyou's body, entering through her pores, seeping into her lungs, and merging into her blood.
【Obtained constitution 1】
【Obtained strength 1】
【Obtained agility 1】
She vaguely felt her body undergoing subtle changes within the crimson aura; every cell seemed to cheer, merging with the crimson energy.
Her body felt lighter and lighter.
Her physical form became tougher, her thoughts more active, and her perception sharper.
Her very essence as a human seemed to be quietly changing.
The most direct evidence was the continuous stream of attribute-increase notifications popping up before her eyes, so dense they eventually occupied her entire field of vision.
She wasn't sure if this change was good or bad for her, nor did she know if she would turn into a monster if she continued to stay in contact with the heart before her.
This comfortable and warm sensation enveloped her, making her forget to think. Her will became like flickering smoke, impossible to focus, unable to produce even a single thought of resistance. Gradually, she closed her eyes.
Finally, her strength, agility, and constitution settled at 30, 40, and 30.
Still with her eyes closed, a blood-red slit slowly emerged on her cheek, just below her right eye.
Immediately after, dark blood flowed from the slit, and a dark red, maddened eye filled with the colors of desire opened, lacking any eyelashes.
【Resonance with the Heart of Desire · Gaze of Spiritual Vision has been unlocked.】
【Gaze of Spiritual Vision: Once activated, you will be able to analyze the essence of things. Note: Prolonged or frequent use will lead to a ██ transformation.】
It was a strange feeling. After opening that eye, the world seemed to be split by a boundary. Through her normal eyes, the heart was still beating powerfully.
But within the Gaze of Spiritual Vision, the heart slowly changed.
It turned into a kind, gentle woman whose face was filled with concern and who radiated a holy light.
She appeared Asian, with long brownish-auburn hair and a soft face. Her deep eyes seemed to gather all light within them. Upon seeing the woman, Xu Xiaoyou saw a scene.
The woman was in an autumn wheat field, wearing ordinary clothes, smiling peacefully and quietly as she stood in the sunlight watching her. Her eyes held only her, and her world contained only her.
She wasn't stunningly beautiful—her looks were quite ordinary—but simply by standing there, she made it impossible for Xu Xiaoyou to look away. She radiated a mysterious, beautiful, and powerful aura that made one subconsciously want to approach her, to become close to her.
"My child,"
the woman said softly.
She stepped forward and opened her arms to embrace Xu Xiaoyou. The crimson aura was the only way she could bring warmth to the girl before her.
In Xu Xiaoyou's eyes, the woman's light became increasingly sacred and dazzling, the love and indulgence on her face growing deeper.
It was as if she were about to be completely consumed.
Xu Xiaoyou calmed herself: "Mother."
Hearing her call, the woman smiled serenely.
"It seems you have heard my call."
Xu Xiaoyou did not speak.
She knew that all of this was nothing more than a disguise of the heart. All the beauty was merely a package presented by this eerie thing to deceive her. Once she truly surrendered to it, she would fall into madness.
She exerted all her effort to control her thoughts, refusing to associate the woman with any beautiful words.
As the dark red eye closed, the woman's image shattered, leaving only that exceptionally vivid red heart.
The heart's countless tentacles were now wrapped around her body, holding her aloft in mid-air. Multiple blood-red mouths opened and closed, emitting harsh, raspy sounds.
As those blood-red mouths stared at her, she felt as if she were facing a dark abyss.
"Child..."
"My child..."
She took the initiative to sever the connection with the heart.
As the scene before her returned to reality, three figures in the room were staring intently at her.
Xu Xiaoyou remained expressionless as the blood slit on her cheek appeared.
Upon seeing the Gaze of Spiritual Vision, the Prophet and Andre both shuddered, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"How is that possible!" the Prophet shouted. "Mother has truly recognized you as her child!?"
Xu Xiaoyou noticed that one of the six blood slits on the man's face had disappeared, leaving only five.
The man seemed to have aged significantly in an instant, his aura becoming incredibly weak.
"How is it possible..."
"What did I do wrong?" the man murmured as if he had lost his soul. "Why would Mother abandon me?"
"So, can I prove myself now?" Xu Xiaoyou said calmly.
The man's breathing became hurried. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but the words were stuck in his throat. No matter what, he couldn't speak.
After a long time, the man finally exhaled a long breath of turbid air, as if accepting his final fate.
His dull eyes looked back at Xu Xiaoyou.
"In that case, Andre, take her away."
Andre nodded and walked over to Xu Xiaoyou, lowering his posture: "Please come with me, Miss Prophet."
The previous hostility had vanished, replaced by a complete turnaround into cautious fawning, as if he were terrified of a single hint of displeasure showing on her face.
Xu Xiaoyou sighed internally; this guy really was pragmatic.
"Where are you taking Soya?"
Seeing the two of them leave, Alina became flustered and shouted anxiously.
No one answered her.
The heavy alchemical armor was inconvenient for movement, so Xu Xiaoyou simply took it off and stored it in a tool card.
Seeing a living human suddenly appear in the nest, the surrounding dismantlers crowded around, their eyes filled with excitement and longing.
"A human?"
"It's really a human!"
"Wait, why does she have Mother's aura on her?"
In the darkness, Xu Xiaoyou ignored the surrounding threats and continued walking forward.
Just as she had expected, after sensing the aura of the heart on her, not a single dismantler dared to attack; they all just watched from a distance.
Before long, she arrived at a large area surrounded by the flickering shadows of countless dismantlers submerged in the dark.
Whispers rose and fell. She looked up as a beam of white light shone down, so bright it was hard to keep her eyes open, forcing her to raise a hand to shield them.
"Everyone!"
Andre's voice drowned out all other noise.
"This beautiful lady beside me will be the head of our family from now on."
"Just moments ago, Mother recognized her!"
The vast space fell silent instantly; one could have heard a pin drop.
"What!?"
"A new... Prophet?"
"Prophet Mommy!"
Things were developing completely outside of Xu Xiaoyou's expectations, and her mouth twitched slightly.
The gazes of the countless dismantlers in the stands shifted from bloodthirsty to worshipful, and they began to cheer loudly.
It seemed everything was going a bit too smoothly?
Not only had she infiltrated the dismantlers' nest, but she had also leapfrogged into becoming the boss of these monsters?
But she had originally just come here to get her money back...
Just as she was thinking about how things should proceed next, Andre's tone suddenly shifted:
"As long as this lady can pass the trial set by Mother, just like the previous Prophet, then she will become the new Prophet and lead us in following Mother's will!"
"Hmm?"
Xu Xiaoyou sensed something was wrong.
Just as she was about to question Andre, the torches surrounding the arena were lit one by one, and the entire scene suddenly became bright!
She could see the layout now; it was similar to the Roman Colosseum she had seen in dramas, with heavy stone gates on all four sides and numerous pillars, fire pits, and spike boards scattered throughout the arena.
A strong sense of foreboding rose within her. Andre bowed to her, his expression respectful:
"Miss Prophet, what happens next is up to you."
"Please survive this."
After saying that, the stone beneath his feet suddenly rose, carrying him high into the air.
A stone gate began to rise slowly, emitting a heavy, rumbling sound.
Hearing the rustling movements and beast-like raspy cries from the darkness, Xu Xiaoyou let out a long sigh.
"I knew it wouldn't be that simple."
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