Chapter 366: The Old Butler
Those ghosts ignored everyone else, lying down one by one into the coffins. The ghosts entering the coffins would vanish like gas, leaving nothing behind.
But Lin Ye, sitting nearby, sensed something accumulating inside the coffins, gradually spreading to cover the bottom.
"The production base is underground! These spiritual remnants are the evidence! As long as we join forces, we can inherit everything from that old thing!"
The Masked Man's words were filled with temptation. This wasn't related to his linguistic ability, but simply because everything he said was the truth.
As long as they controlled the manor, they could control everything on this land. This place was the gathering point of power and profit.
Several seventh-tier spiritual energy users sitting in the front row were clearly tempted. They were just about to make a move when they discovered they had lost control over their own bodies.
This terrified them.
"What did you do to us?!"
"Dammit! There's something wrong with the medicine!"
"Young Mistress, I was wrong! I beg you, spare my life!" "Let me go! I didn't want to make a move!"
...
In the entire church, everyone except Lin Ye's group of four and the masked gang had their bodies controlled by Cecilia, including the manor's 'own people'.
"Apologies, your bodies are all property of the manor. I cannot allow you to act recklessly."
Cecilia turned her head to look at Lin Ye, and all those controlled by her also turned their heads in unison to look at Lin Ye.
Anna: Holy shit! That's terrifying! Boss, I'm scared!
Kumar: Is this some kind of control method? How do we break it?
Lucas: Break it my ass, we should be thinking about how to escape instead.
Lin Ye: Minor issue. You guys later...
The Masked Man wanted to abandon his companions and retreat from the church, but an old man dressed in a butler's uniform appeared at the church entrance, blocking the exit.
This butler was also a seventh-tier spiritual energy user.
Lin Ye sat up straight. Unlike those controlled seventh-tier weak spiritual energy users sitting in the front row, this old butler was a true powerhouse.
Those spiritual energy users in the front row gave Lin Ye the feeling of mid-level spiritual energy users forcibly elevated to a high level, which was why Lin Ye had been so brazen. But the old butler gave him a completely different feeling;
he wasn't confident he could defeat him.
The Masked Man charged at the old butler, but the old butler was locking eyes with Lin Ye, not even glancing at the charging Masked Man.
Boom!
The Masked Man was casually smashed aside by the old butler, crashing into a layer of spiritual energy shield. This spiritual energy shield was set up by the old butler, simply to avoid dirtying the church walls.
Lin Ye: Figure out how to save yourselves later. I might not be able to beat that old guy.
Anna: That old guy is that strong? I have a trump card that can kill high-level spiritual energy users.
Lucas: My innate skill is very strong;
it allows me to face a high-level spiritual energy user head-on for five minutes.
Kumar: I can collapse this church.
Lin Ye: If you don't want to die, don't interfere. Your reaction speeds can't keep up. Hide behind me, quickly.
Lin Ye took out the Stargathering Cup Replica, which he hadn't used for a long time, and drank the dazzling liquid inside that resembled starlight. The taste was average, but the mouthfeel and effect were excellent.
It was like drinking real stars. A star was born within Lin Ye's body, its starlight enhancing his overall strength. Until this star was exhausted, he could continuously use this power.
Only after the Stargathering Cup's effect was fully released did the old butler bow respectfully to Lin Ye.
This bow was a gesture of respect towards a guest. After this, it was time to fight.
Lin Ye nodded in acknowledgment, picking up the Cross-shaped Greatsword with both hands.
The old butler vanished from his spot, instantly appearing in front of Lin Ye.
In a world approaching stillness, the old butler's movements were still swift, but Lin Ye could clearly see every single one of his actions.
Previously, Lin Ye had been continuously compressing spiritual energy into the Cross-shaped Greatsword. In this instant, Lin Ye compressed the spiritual energy to a degree even he could no longer control.
This was a gain from the previous war. The Cross Scepter had enhanced his spiritual energy compression ability. Lin Ye had learned an upgraded version of the compression method, though he hadn't fully mastered it yet.
Not only that, Lin Ye also used the Cross-shaped Greatsword to reinforce this unstable compressed state, causing the spiritual energy to compress even further!
Then he swung the compressed spiritual energy greatsword forward!
Simultaneously, he traced a Severing rune in front of him!
"Die!"
The spiritual energy compressed to a certain degree erupted forward, shredding everything blocking Lin Ye's path. The old butler avoided the eruption's epicenter through some technique, but he was still grazed by the compressed spiritual energy greatsword.
He hadn't expected Lin Ye to unleash an attack of this magnitude in such an extremely short time. This made his move to get close to Lin Ye a reckless act, and it cost him an arm and part of his torso.
The church was sliced apart by the spiritual energy. The guests below the platform were all chopped into minced meat. In the entire church, apart from Lin Ye's group, only Cecilia, the old butler, and the Masked Man remained alive.
The Masked Man hid in a corner of the church ruins. Even though he wasn't in the direct line of fire and even used a life-saving skill, he was still severely injured.
Anna: ... Boss, you're awesome!
Lucas: Boss, you're awesome!
Kumar: Boss, you're awesome!
Lin Ye: Get ready to run. I can only use that move once. That old guy still has some fight left in him, and the manor owner over there hasn't even made a move yet...
Anna: Holy crap, this is the Shallow Sea difficulty!?
Kumar: Boss, do you need us to help you escape?
Lucas: I can cover the rear.
Lin Ye: No need. You definitely can't run faster than me. Besides, I still have two and a half trump cards left, though they're quite random and might not be useful.
Anna: As expected of a third-tier boss.
*Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap.*
Cecilia stood at the edge of the altar, clapping frantically. She looked at Lin Ye with greedy eyes. The applause echoed from various parts of the ruins. The minced meat pieced together into pairs of hands, matching her rhythm.
"This is truly wonderful! Your body is truly wonderful! Spending massive resources to trade with the system was so worth it! Truly worthy of being the system's most outstanding Survivor!"
Cecilia opened her mouth in a maniacal laugh, her face contorted, her chin touching her sternum.
Flesh and blood gathered, forming pillars of meat among the ruins. These meat pillars opened their mouths, erupting in waves of maniacal laughter.
"He crippled that old thing!"
"I never expected it to be this easy!"
"The system's Survivors are too strong!"
"These will be our new bodies!"
"Those three are almost processed!"
"But we can't handle that person!"
"It's fine! Once the vessel overflows, we can throw him into it!"
...
Various voices came from the mouths of the meat pillars, excitedly pouring out the words they wanted to say.
"Cough, cough... Let the Young Mistress go, and I'll spare your life..."
The old butler struggled to his feet from the ground. His wounds were almost healed.
"Old thing, what gave you the illusion that your Young Mistress ever existed?"