Eldritch Horror Theatre

There really was something!

Though visually jarring, the people present weren’t about to be frightened by such a scene.

What was truly astonishing was its sheer level of concealment.

Not only had it evaded a professional’s self-purification, it had remained completely hidden right in front of them up to this very moment.

It was one thing for this An Ke fellow, but the remaining three were all High-Tier Transcendents. Among them, this former Academy Dean was rumored to have had hopes of reaching Tier 2 many years ago...

Aike subconsciously glanced at Li He. Even though it happened suddenly, she hadn’t forgotten his previous instruction and didn’t act rashly.

”Quick, get it out of me!”

Unfortunately, as the victim, Lu Yi lacked such composure.

The wailing, briefly suppressed by Old Man Li He’s sword, quickly escalated into a roar of terror.

As a professional in purifying filth—a transcendent whose Rank seemed no lower than Fu Qian’s current level—he shouldn’t have been this flustered.But perhaps because he was a professional cleanser, the sight of such a thing emerging from his own body dealt a far greater psychological blow.

Barely managing to stay on his feet, Lu Yi stared fixedly at his lower abdomen. That grayish-white hair, along with the small, head-like sphere beneath it, had already squeezed out of the incision.

Next came ten fingers, as pliant as tentacles, grabbing both sides of the incision and tearing at it with all their might.

...

”I really didn’t notice it before.”

Unfortunately, faced with this monstrous scene, the ”midwife” who made the incision was in no hurry to continue, opting instead to start an impromptu consultation.

As if reading Aike’s doubts, Old Man Li confirmed the most astonishing possibility the moment she glanced his way: prior to this, even he hadn’t sensed a thing.

And that head of grayish-white hair was far too reminiscent of the story about Benjamin Laria from earlier.

Not to mention the shattered cradles scattered across the ground.

Their hollowed-out abdominal cavities also bore traces of hair. Had they all suffered a similar fate?

”So what do we do now? Get rid of this thing first? The connection between them seems very tight; I’m worried Lu Yi might die.”

Before Aike could say anything, Excellency Ji Ning quickly voiced her thoughts.

As she spoke, Lu Yi, unable to suppress his terror any longer, took matters into his own hands and activated his earlier purification method.

A holy radiance lit up almost simultaneously on the deformed body, yet its movements didn’t slow in the slightest.

This development practically proved two things at once.

First, as Excellency Ji Ning had noted, the two were still closely connected. Second, as Lu Yi had mentioned himself, purification had no effect.

”What does Mr. An Ke think?”

Yet at such a critical juncture, Old Man Li still didn’t make a move, instead punting Excellency Ji Ning’s question straight to Fu Qian.

”Without someone skilled in healing, he might indeed die.”

Though a bit abrupt, as everyone’s gaze converged on him, Fu Qian confidently agreed with Excellency Ji Ning’s assessment.

”The reason?”

Old Man Li, it seemed, wasn’t going to let him off that easily.

”Though it’s a total mess, that thing doesn’t look like it burrowed its way inside. Rather, it seems to have been born from Excellency Lu Yi himself.”

Yet Fu Qian, who always advocated seeking truth from facts, had never feared such a test.

...

”Besides the hair, the limbs and torso are all there. I even saw what looks like facial features. It really does resemble the little Benjamin mentioned earlier.”

In the blink of an eye, the small, withered body had squeezed more than halfway out. Wasting no time, Fu Qian continued explaining.

”But its distinctly abnormal skin tone feels a bit familiar. It doesn’t look like a real human body, but rather one forcibly molded together from various organs. Lu Yi’s organs.”

”Are you sure?”

At these words, even Excellency Ji Ning couldn’t help but frown.

Although as a Demigod her eyesight wouldn’t be poor even with her perception suppressed, the sight was so truly unpleasant that she hadn’t scrutinized every inch of its skin tone.

Looking closer after his reminder, she did indeed notice some abnormalities.

”Flesh and blood are my specialty.”

Flexing his arm so the muscles bulged exaggeratedly, Fu Qian didn’t hesitate to show off his pride as a brute.

Of course, with a loud tear, his previously well-fitted sleeve was inevitably ripped.

”Quick—”

Unfortunately, Lu Yi, whose self-purification had failed, clearly had no mind for this technical exchange. He couldn’t resist clawing at that hair with his hands.

”I agree with your view—Aike.”

Seeing this, Old Man Li finally shook his head and issued the order.

”To what extent can your ability target it?”

”Hmm... I should be able to keep him alive temporarily.”

Aike paused for a moment, but as a Demigod entrusted with heavy responsibility, she quickly understood his meaning.

If it was truly formed by kneading his organs together under a special power, destroying it directly would likely be no different from an execution. Instead, her ability was much more suitable.

The moment she realized this, she made a swift assessment.

”Then begin.”

Li He was decisive; he didn’t even ask how brief ”temporarily” was.

...

”Alright.”

Almost the exact moment Li He gave the order, Aike darted forward, her unlignified hand reaching straight for the struggling infant.

”Don’t—”

Perhaps the long-delayed treatment triggered some bad associations for Lu Yi.

For a moment, both he and the infant struggled subconsciously.

His cry, however, lasted only a second before both he and the infant fell into a stupor.

Something like a powerful mental pierce?

Without even turning to look, Fu Qian knew that Excellency Ji Ning had stepped in to assist.

When it came to burst support, Psychic Type users were truly powerful.

The effect was immediate; Aike’s hand reached through the incision unimpeded.

Miraculous!

The next moment, a wondrous scene unfolded.

From the inside out, starting from the abdominal incision that had been torn even wider, the tangled mass of flesh and blood rapidly hardened and crusted over, its color deepening.

By the time the change spread to the hair at the top, flecks of green actually seeped out from the grayish-white tuft.

Everything happened silently. By the time Aike withdrew her hand, Lu Yi’s consciousness seemed to have recovered. He stared at his stomach, his eyes darting frantically.

Blood no longer seeped from the wound. In its place was a burl-like growth and a ”tree” nestled within.

Indeed, the previously struggling small body didn’t regain its vitality; it was completely frozen in its final posture.

Its surface shared the same color as Aike’s other hand, and the messy hair on its head had even turned a verdant green.