Even though Qi Zhiyong wanted to divert the disaster's wrath elsewhere, it was far from easy.
With the door blocked by the Great Disaster, his first task was to find a way to escape from inside—and that alone might consume all the resources he had accumulated over several days.
Qi Zhiyong flicked his hand, releasing a blinding golden light.
This was the Golden Light Curse!
The dazzling glow was meant to injure the lurking evil spirit.
The Great Disaster instinctively shielded its eyes from the glaring light. At that moment, Qi Zhiyong unleashed a second talisman.
Triple True Fire Curse!
Three fierce streams of flame surged forward. The Great Disaster casually swatted away two of them, extinguishing the fires instantly. The third fire missed its target, flying past the creature's neck.
Exactly the opening Qi Zhiyong was waiting for!
He immediately cast a third spell.
Fire Escape Technique!
This technique allowed him to merge into the flames and vanish without a trace.
In an instant, Qi Zhiyong disappeared, dissolving into the last remaining flame. When the fire died out, he was no longer inside the room but standing just outside in the corridor where the flame had vanished!
The Great Disaster roared in fury—it wasn't about to let the cooked duck fly away. It swung its massive hand back to grab him, but at the same time, Qi Zhiyong released a chain.
The chain was called the "Soul Hook Rope," a restraint used by underworld wardens. The hook at the end was razor-sharp, capable of tearing apart common spirits.
The chain automatically latched onto the Great Disaster's scapula, binding it tight. The once-mighty beast could now only shuffle forward slowly.
But Qi Zhiyong wasn't in good shape either.
A large chunk of flesh on his chest had been ripped open, blood soaking his tunic. Every breath sent waves of tearing pain through his body.
Yet he had succeeded!
Now that the monster was hindered, he just had to pry open any door and escape certain death.
Before he could move, a door swung open.
The room reeked of indescribable blood and flesh. Wu Xian and Shi Ji leapt out, one after the other, colliding with Qi Zhiyong. The three locked eyes, tense and wary.
Wu Xian immediately noticed Qi Zhiyong's grievous injuries.
He had swapped the door of his own and Shi Ji's rooms to test whether the markings belonged to the doors themselves or the rooms.
Since Qi Zhiyong had escaped from his room, Wu Xian's experiment was a success.
The ghost Yu Yinghua had marked the door!
Just then, Wu Xian caught sight of the terrifying Great Disaster looming behind Qi Zhiyong.
Only now did the beast reveal its true form.
Standing over two meters tall, its powerful frame was shrouded in a dark, bluish-black hue. Bulging veins writhed across its skin like earthworms. Two different chains bound its body; the left arm was sewn into its abdomen, while the right arm, heavily muscled, ended with nails sharp as steel awls.
Most horrifying of all was its face.
The skin had been torn open from the centerline by iron hooks, exposing hollow nasal cavities and a snarling, fang-filled jaw.
Seeing the Great Disaster beside Qi Zhiyong, Wu Xian instantly knew the other man had seriously underestimated the situation.
"Step aside! Whatever you're planning, I won't let you succeed."
Wu Xian raised his bronze coin spear threateningly, while Shi Ji drew his blade forged from "Child Urine Steel," its green edge sending a chill down Qi Zhiyong's spine.
"So that's how it is… so that's how it is!"
Qi Zhiyong's face darkened before a sudden realization dawned, lifting the fog of confusion that had plagued him for days.
"So I've been played all along!"
He had always suspected the handprint on his door was suspicious. And now, despite staying in an unmarked room tonight, he was attacked anyway. The only explanation was that Wu Xian was behind it all.
Then he noticed the weapons Wu Xian and Shi Ji wielded. His heart sank, especially at Wu Xian's bronze coin sword. Qi Zhiyong had seen a coin sword twice before, but never one so exaggerated as this.
And the grim scene inside the room widened his eyes further.
The crisis Wu Xian and Shi Ji had just faced was no small matter—danger severe enough to force them to flee their rooms. Yet, despite such peril, their wounds were still relatively light.
And himself…
The pain in his chest was intense; blood poured freely from the wound. In his current state, he was no match for Wu Xian and Shi Ji and had to find a safe place to heal if he wanted to survive.
"Ha… ha ha…"
Qi Zhiyong's expression flickered between grim and uncertain. In his mind, he ran through several desperate plans that would see both him and Wu Xian perish together—but in the end, he could only smile bitterly.
"I misjudged you. Your value far exceeds mine."
"If that's the case, then it's my duty to pave the way for your survival."
The rattling sound of the Soul Hook Rope came from behind him—the chain binding the Great Disaster was beginning to fray and give way. Still, Qi Zhiyong stood firm, blocking Wu Xian and Shi Ji from leaving.
"Wu Xian, do you have faith? Have you ever thought… about saving this dying world?"
"Bah! What nonsense are you spouting?" Wu Xian retorted, his forehead sweating from frustration. If he weren't afraid that killing Qi Zhiyong would cause the Great Disaster to switch targets onto himself, he would have acted already.
"You're a talented and valuable man. If there's a chance in the future, I hope you'll join us."
Shi Ji sneered, "Join your ass."
He secretly pulled out a clump of filth, prepared to smear it on Qi Zhiyong's face if he tried to stop them again.
The chains began to snap, and the Great Disaster's movements grew noticeably quicker. Qi Zhiyong sighed helplessly and shoved a small notebook into Wu Xian's hands.
"This might come in handy. Remember our name."
"We are the 'Creed.'"
With those words, Qi Zhiyong turned sharply, facing the snarling Great Disaster head-on.
He stomped hard on the ground, veins across his body instantly blackening. Drawing a short sword, he charged at the beast with a blood-crazed roar.
The blackened veins were the mark of the demonic power he had gained by worshipping the Earth Official — the Demon God Chiyou.
The technique was called the "Heavenly Demon Release."
Using it meant certain death—but before dying, it allowed him to unleash the full potential of his body, far beyond its natural limits.
The small dagger in his hand was the first divine gift he had ever received.
Its name was "Fish Intestine."
Qi Zhiyong leapt onto the Great Disaster, wildly stabbing with the Fish Intestine sword. Streams of foul, corrupted blood sprayed out. His fierce assault left both Wu Xian and Shi Ji staring in stunned disbelief.
Even the Great Disaster faltered for a moment.
To it, the living were nothing but food.
But now…
The food was fighting back!
Amid the brutal struggle, Qi Zhiyong recalled the moment he first joined the Creed.
In a noisy burger joint, he had been carelessly gnawing on a steak while a similarly rough man sat across from him. He bit into half a burger and slurred out a question:
"Jing Ke, you once told me that living in the Blessed Land is the meaning. But we both know—no one can survive forever. Sooner or later, we'll all die with no dignity in one of those hellish lands."
"So… is there anything more meaningful than just living?"
Jing Ke paused mid-bite, silence stretching between them.
"If there is," he finally said, "it's to ensure that those of greater value live on."
Qi Zhiyong smiled.