Chapter 89

Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Glorious Will of the “Bishop” (4000-word Chapter)

“Swish—”

The sound of water accompanied the young girl as she stood up in the room.

A red-haired girl covered in blood rose from a bucket filled with blood.

She picked up a clean towel at the edge of the bucket and meticulously wiped the blood off her body until the originally pristine white fluffy towel was stained dark red.

The girl’s body swayed slightly, and she leaned her buttocks lightly against the edge of the wooden bucket. Lifting her right leg, she continued to wipe it with the towel.

After cleaning her right leg, she extended it outside the bucket and placed it on the wooden floor. She then cleaned her left leg that was lifted, not wasting a single drop of blood sticking to it.

Finally, the girl took the towel and vigorously wrung it out over the bucket until no more blood dripped from it, then hung the now dark red towel on the edge of the wooden bucket.

By this point, the bucket had accumulated nearly half its volume in deep, thick blood.

“Huff…”

Xia’er slowly exhaled, her body swaying as she walked toward the washroom.

Cold water washed away the blood stains from her body and hair tips, but despite her vigorous scrubbing, a strong smell of iron and blood still lingered on her skin.

After washing herself clean, Xia’er dried her body and put on her original plain light yellow blouse and dark brown long skirt, paired with white stockings and the academy’s standard small leather boots, before returning to her room.

She almost collapsed onto the wooden stool in front of the desk, leaning back against the table behind her as she tried to alleviate the intense dizziness coming from her brain.

After a while, Xia’er slowly opened her eyes and looked toward the window.

The curtains were tightly drawn by her, but a faint light still managed to seep through the edges after reflecting off the curtain and window repeatedly.

Morning had arrived.

Xia’er had become somewhat numb to letting her own blood. It felt like dying multiple times within a span of five or six hours.

However, this high-intensity self-harm allowed Xia’er to discover some knowledge—whether useful or not—that she wasn’t sure about.

Firstly, the negative effect of [Temporal Disorder]. Each simulation archive generated during [Temporal Disorder] is independent.

This means that within [Temporal Disorder], if an archive is triggered due to excessive blood loss—for example, causing the “Tempter” to fall into a coma or die—Xia’er would truly enter a state of apparent death until the time once again becomes disordered and switches to another archive.

Moreover, within [Temporal Disorder], one cannot use [Echo of Time] again.

When the one-hour [Temporal Disorder] ends, using [Echo of Time] again will refresh all archives.

Aside from the frequent switching every 3-5 minutes being a bit too much, the negative impact [Temporal Disorder] has brought to Xia’er currently is even less than the positive effects.

After all, for ordinary Xia’er in reality, any archive transformation makes her stronger than having no abilities in reality.

Additionally, organs severed during [Temporal Disorder] do not remain; they disappear along with [Temporal Disorder]. Not even skin fragments or hair strands are left behind. It seems only blood can be retained.

Most importantly, the main body is not considered an archive. Once [Temporal Disorder] switches to the main body, Xia’er must stop bleeding and rest—luckily, she was cautious enough to first make a small incision on her wrist to test when switching to the main body.

This detail was not mentioned by the simulated “Tempter” Xia’er, whether forgotten or intentional.

Besides gaining more understanding of the pocket watch’s ability, Xia’er also obtained some…

Could it be called medical knowledge? Or perhaps murder knowledge?

Initially, when Xia’er started letting her own blood, she directly severed her carotid artery, causing the “Tempter” version of herself to quickly fall into a coma until the transformation effect disappeared after the time limit.

However, through continuous experimentation with the stopwatch and constant bloodletting, Xia’er mastered some techniques for bloodletting.

After trying most of the arteries in her body, Xia’er discovered the most stable method for bloodletting.

First, use [Echo of Time], and when the countdown reaches the last four or five seconds, directly cut the abdominal aorta. The closer to the heart, the faster the blood pumps, and there won’t be death before [Echo of Time] ends, which would passively trigger [Death Reversal] and result in massive spirit power loss.

In subsequent [Temporal Disorders], each archive can start by cutting both wrists to slowly bleed out. When you feel the blood flow from your wrists stopping, or experience severe dizziness, or when the archive reappears during the second disorder, then cut your abdominal aorta to release the last wave of blood and enter a coma.

This formulaic method is what Xia’er devised to release the maximum amount of blood within limited time. Even so, after nearly six hours of effort, Xia’er managed to release only half a bucket of blood.

She felt that this method could drain at least half of her body’s blood, but given her small height and build, her estimated total blood volume was around three thousand one hundred milliliters. Combining several archives’ efforts, she barely managed to release half a bucket of blood.

Besides the pain each time the knife tip pierced her skin or entered her body, the hardest part was facing the impending fear of suffocation and shock from death.

This fear couldn’t be avoided each time, and every next time made Xia’er even more afraid of that cold, death-like sensation.

This is an instinctual fear of death, something Xia’er hasn’t been able to overcome yet, let alone become numb to.

Continuous confrontation with death drained Xia’er of a great deal of energy. Though she woke up just six hours ago, Xia’er was already feeling dizzy and blurred.

However, the plan wasn’t over yet. Xia’er still had things to accomplish and couldn’t simply fall asleep at this moment.

She turned around, no longer looking at her own blood, and instead picked up a pen, tearing a page from her notebook and began scribbling on it.

The blood arrays she had used were etched into her mind as if imprinted there. She could easily draw their reduced versions.

But she deliberately blurred out some parts, creating large gaps in the spiritual summoning blood array.

This was to prevent others from mastering this complex blood array and summoning spiritual beings.

Anyway, she only needed to keep the blood in the right place. When she arrived to use the blood array, it would naturally form. Moreover, according to the notes written by “Tempter” Xia’er, the formation speed of the blood array would be much faster.

This was the difference between well-prepared combat and unexpected encounters. With sufficient preparation, even an ordinary person could kill a low-tier Extraordinary Person.

Soon, Xia’er, using her left hand, filled the paper in front of her with An Su script, though the handwriting was uneven, it was still legible enough to convey the meaning.

This sheet of paper…

Xia’er was to be handed over to Georgine. There were a few tasks that needed arranging for her to do, along with some precautions.

After Georgine completed all of this, she would have Georgine burn the paper and scatter its ashes into the canal, completely erasing any trace.

Even if someone could discover what Georgine had burned, it would be absolutely impossible to find the original document again.

Having finished writing the letter, Xia’er placed the still uncoagulated blood plasma into a thermos using a kettle. By the time all of this was done, dawn had begun to break… glancing at the system time, it was already seven in the morning.

It’s about time…

Xia’er opened the simulation interface, habitually wanting to use one simulation to see how effective this action would be.

Although the previous several simulations had already convinced Xia’er that there wouldn’t be any more accidents, she was still somewhat uneasy.

Her spirit power was sufficient to complete another simulation… as long as she died quickly enough.

The simulation interface appeared before Xia’er, and after seeing the random date displayed on it, she nodded inwardly.

[Future: 100 Days (Sheng Year 741, September 29th, 7:00 AM) (Consumption: 100 Mortality Points)]

[Past: 5 Days (Sheng Year 741, June 16th, 7:00 AM) (Consumption: 10 Mortality Points)]

[Older Past: ***Day (???) (Consumption: 10,000 Mortality Points)]

[Dice Quantity: 1]

100 days later?

5 days ago?

Neither of these periods were worth Xia’er wasting mortality points or energy on simulating.

But Xia’er wasn’t disheartened; instead, she felt somewhat relieved.

Simulating the future cannot simulate beyond the days of fated death.

If doing all of this would lead to Xia’er’s death, then the system’s simulation would not possibly allow her to simulate 100 days ahead.

Could I live at least 100 more days?

Then no matter how perfect or imperfect this matter is, I must have resolved it.

Casually closing the interface, Xia’er thought for a moment and then raised her right hand.

A silver light flashed in her hand, and the [Satanic Crest] appeared.

To enable Georgine to rise against Jiti and make her work for her, the [Satanic Crest] was indispensable.

Only with this could her “proxy” implement the plan without obstruction.

Though it cost exactly 20 mortality points, Xia’er still decided to give it to Georgine. She just needed to pass through the crowded card district before executing the blood sacrifice.

With so many people around, she could directly use the system warehouse to recover the [Satanic Crest] from Georgine’s hands, ensuring no one noticed.

This command, Xia’er also wrote on the paper.

As for Jiti’s lie detection function? Xia’er wasn’t worried at all that Georgine would expose herself because of it.

Because Georgine wholeheartedly believed that she was the bishop of the Holy Church and truly believed she was conducting a divine servant summoning ritual, and also firmly believed that another bishop would arrive on the 23rd.

The ability from the “Reformed Monk” path could only be used to speculate on psychology, not as a prophetic ability to discern truth or falsehood.

Xia’er placed everything in an inconspicuous burlap bag. With her spirit slightly drained, Xia’er struggled to lift the bag and activated the “Tempter” transformation again.

Her mortality points dropped from 167 to 162.

…

At Borough City, Gemstone District, Gemstone Avenue, outside building No. 144.

Georgine stood by the door, eyes tightly closed, seemingly anxiously waiting for something.

Her eyes scanned every passing carriage, pedestrian, child, and even cats and dogs that ran by.

It was as if among them, there would be the bishop she met yesterday.

She had been standing there since four in the morning, not daring to slack off for a moment, fearing that she might miss the bishop’s orders.

Time passed second by second, and Georgine’s tensed nerves gradually began to relax.

If it weren’t for the lingering fear and oppression from yesterday still haunting her mind, she might have thought she had just experienced a vivid nightmare.

Just then, a plain carriage stopped in front of her, and its shadow enveloped her.

Instantly, Georgine’s slightly relaxed spirit tightened again. She quickly lowered her head, not daring to make any movement.

Kada—

The carriage door opened, and with a strong wave of bloody smell and a terrifying aura, a bag was thrown in front of her.

At the same time, a voice came from inside the carriage.

“There is a letter in the bag… it outlines everything you need to do and your deadline.”

“As for what to do… it’s all detailed inside.”

“Remember, Georgine…”

“This is a task you must complete even at the cost of your life.”

“I will always be behind you, waiting for your good news…”

“We’ll see each other on the 23rd.”

Georgine was sweating profusely and respectfully replied, “Yes, my lord.”

The carriage slowly drove away until the sound of the wheels disappeared. Only then did Georgine quickly pick up the heavy burlap bag and rush upstairs.

Back in the room, she opened the bag and soon saw a piece of paper.

Beside the paper, a crest with a familiar church emblem caught Georgine’s eye, momentarily stopping her breathing.

This was…

Georgine tremblingly reached out and picked up this sacred crest, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

This warm power, this familiar feeling… only bishops possessed such crests.

A year ago, she had glimpsed it once in the Underground Sanctuary, and she couldn’t forget the warm sensation she felt when she looked at it.

And now, this crest lay quietly in her palm.

Quickly, she unfolded the paper and carefully read the words written on it.

Soon, her breathing became heavier, and she couldn’t help but smile.

Me? Ritual host?

Divine Servant Summoning Ritual…

With this crest, she could command any believer to obey her and implement any disciplinary measures.

No one could resist her, because now she was the bishop’s appointed spokesperson…

A bright upward path appeared in Georgine’s eyes.

As for Jiti?

At least for now… she was no longer capable of causing Georgine even the slightest fear.

Because she held the bishop’s crest, even Priest Jiti would have to bow down to her.

Georgine quickly packed everything, burned the letter in her hand, took the crest and the bag, and hurried towards Derton Manor.