[You step out of the monster’s abdominal cavity and walk toward the dark, silent little town. A short chirp sounds from behind you, it’s the Courier Mole Cricket’s farewell call.]

[The gray light emitted by the unknown fungi on the stone walls is somewhat dim, making the entire town look like a gigantic beast lurking in the darkness. You can only rely on the oppressive, faint light to glimpse a tiny part of the beast’s true form.]

[You gradually approach Tentacle City…]

[There are no walls or ramparts at the town’s edge. The exposed streets and buildings all show a heavy Gothic style, with tall spires, flying buttresses, and large stained-glass windows.]

[You step onto the streets of Tentacle City. The surface under your feet feels soft, faintly carrying a strange sense of ‘vitality’.]

[It feels like the flesh tissue you touched in the Courier Mole Cricket’s abdominal cavity…]

[On both sides of the street are facilities that resemble street lamps. Each lamp post has an irregular shape, and in the shade at the top, a small, living, flickering light source is imprisoned.]

[The town is utterly silent, oppressive and eerie. At the end of the street, you see a gray-white figure wandering back and forth.]

[It walks aimlessly with staggering steps. Its wide gray-white robe conceals its body and face so that you cannot see its true appearance.]

[Do you want to go up and talk?]

The divine kingdom was the Desire Wet Nurse’s sphere of influence, so in theory he ought to switch to the Monastery Abbot shell with the Ascended prefix for exploration or interaction.

But this border town of the divine kingdom named Tentacle City gave Lin Xun a very bad feeling.

After carefully weighing his options, he decided to first use the Abbot shell and approach to talk, to see if he could trigger an event.

If anything looked off, he would immediately switch back to Greedy Wolf Star Lord.

[You walk forward, gradually approaching that gray-white figure…]

[It suddenly stops wandering and turns to look at you. From under its hood, a devouring, crazed gaze falls upon you!]

[The gray-white figure suddenly pounces toward you. Sharp jointed limbs beneath its robe flash with cold light…]

“Knew it!”

Lin Xun swiftly switched shells with lightning-fast hand speed.

[You possess the shell of Desire-Bearing Greedy Wolf Star Lord!]

[You form a sword seal with your fingers. The Star-Shifting Celestial Sword turns into a sharp streak of sword light that darts back and forth around the gray-white figure…]

[Before the gray-white figure can get close to you, it is turned into a sieve by the sword light…]

[You have defeated the Ascended Town Guard. Experience points slightly increased!]

[You have obtained Indomitable Fading Chunk of Spirit Essence *1.]

[You have obtained Guard’s Exoskeleton Mask (Rare-grade Equipment).]

[You look at the fallen Guard’s corpse…]

[Ascended Town Guard: A guard who once firmly defended the divine kingdom’s border. For unknown reasons, it fell into madness. Even when facing children who also believe in the Wet Nurse, it will attack without hesitation. It died to sword light that riddled its entire body with holes. Compatibility: 85% (+55%).]

[Do you want to possess this shell?]

[You possess the shell of the Ascended Town Guard!]

Lin Xun waited for a while, but no memory revival appeared, so he followed his usual habit and checked the panel.

The Town Guard’s panel was far better than the Abbot’s and came with an attack skill called Scythe Slash.

Just from the panel, it was hard to know what this shell actually looked like, and the cursed game had not given any concrete description of the Guard’s appearance.

After hesitating briefly, he still could not resist his curiosity and manifested the shell in reality.

He took one glance at the mirror, immediately dismissed the manifestation, and only after a long pause did he mutter with lingering fear, “Damn, curiosity killed the cat!”

“No wonder these things have to wear masks. Seriously… even a Martian alien species would probably feel inferior if it saw this face.”

He made up his mind that from now on, unless absolutely necessary, he would never manifest any shell obtained in this chapter. Even if he had to, he would make sure it was wearing a mask, wrapped up tight.

Lin Xun continued exploring Tentacle City…

Although the town’s architectural style was similar to that of humans, its roads branched in all directions with countless forks, like an anthill.

He wandered around for a long time, buzzing about like a headless fly. Not only did he fail to find a single location that could be explored, he eventually even circled back to the spot where he had first entered the town.

“Cursed game, you think something like this can stump me?”

There were many ways to break a maze. The stupidest method was exhaustive search, trying every forked path one by one until you eventually found the target.

Naturally, Lin Xun had a better way. He switched to the Greedy Wolf Star Lord shell and prepared to ascend by sword-flight…

[Suddenly, a figure jumps down from the rooftop beside the street…]

[Like the Guard, this figure’s entire body is covered by a robe, but unlike the Guard’s, its robe is a conspicuously deep black.]

[It strolls unhurriedly up to you. From behind the same-colored mask comes a scrutinizing gaze as it slowly speaks…]

[It has been a long time since I last saw an outsider. Judging from your appearance… hm, it seems you are a pitiful maggot-person with no faith.]

[Poor maggot-person, in its boundless generosity it has decided to give you a chance to become a proper worm again.]

[The stranger quietly leans close to your ear and softly asks if you know what the origin of all life is.]

[You think carefully, recall the information you learned earlier, and uncertainly answer, the Desire Wet Nurse?]

[The stranger flies into a rage. Just as it is about to act, it forcibly restrains itself. The gaze it casts on you is full of contempt, with a hint of pity…]

[Such a pitiful and foolish maggot-person. How could that despicable one possibly be the origin of all things?!]

[Since ignorant you have been deceived by heresy, it has the responsibility to correct your false doctrines and tell you the great truth.]

[The stranger spreads both limbs, lifts its face to the sky in an embracing posture, and devoutly proclaims that the greatest, most sacred existence in this world is its Lord.]

[As long as any lowly insect silently recites His name in its heart, it will be bathed in cleansing and purification, aberrating into a pioneer of life.]

[The Lord is the origin of all life, the firefly glow that illuminates the birth of all things. The Lord’s revered name is Primordial Firefly!]

[The stranger suddenly points to itself. From beneath its mask comes a voice dripping with confidence: pitiful and foolish maggot-person, you are both unfortunate and fortunate.]

[Your misfortune lies in your ignorance, and your good fortune lies in the existence standing before you, the Firefly’s Favored Servant!]

[Now, the Favored Servant of the supreme god pities your ignorance and grants you the chance to throw yourself into the Lord’s arms so that you may cast off your foolishness and join the great aberration!]

[Faithful Apostle, do you wish to join the Primordial Firefly’s oath faction?]

At the sight of the word Aberration, Lin Xun immediately understood.

The Primordial Firefly was very likely the unknown god that had bestowed a mission upon him.

“Join an oath, huh…”

He twitched the corner of his mouth.

If this person really were the Favored Servant of the main god, then joining the oath would surely earn him generous rewards. Choosing a faction that way would not be unacceptable.

But this guy’s entire look screamed con artist. He did not resemble a god’s Favored Servant at all, instead looking more like a small-time head of a pyramid scheme.

“Are divine Favored Servants really this lacking in dignity? When I was a god’s envoy, I had way more presence than you…”

[Seeing you hesitate, the stranger lets out a cold laugh and asks whether you do not believe in its identity as Firefly Favored Servant. Hmph, what pitiful ignorance!]

[The stranger waves its limbs about as if it were teaching you the truth…]

[The mission the Lord bestowed upon it is to spread faith in the realm of the despicable ones and let the lost little worms recognize who the true god really is.]

[For this, Primordial Firefly sent the Ancient Broad-Winged Horseshoe Crab to carry it here.]

[An ignorant thing like you surely has no idea what the Ancient Broad-Winged Horseshoe Crab represents…]

[Today, it will be the one to tell you!]

[The Ancient Broad-Winged Horseshoe Crab is a loyal guardian that protects the divine temple in myth and legend. It is a giant insect with enormous wings, hence the name Broad-Winged.]

[It sat upon the Ancient Broad-Winged Horseshoe Crab’s head and flew across the Sea of Aberration to reach the realm of the despicable ones…]

[As the stranger speaks, it lifts a corner of its mask, exposing the pitch-black carapace on its face, proving that it has already joined the aberrated and become a Firefly Favored Servant…]

[You have discovered Aberrant Missionary Kim!]

Lin Xun’s face went dark. “Doesn’t the Broad-Winged Horseshoe Crab swim in the sea? And I am pretty sure that thing does not have wings…”

He realized that if being granted a mission by a god and riding a free transportation service to reach the divine kingdom qualified one as a Firefly Favored Servant, then the Favored Servant of the Primordial Firefly was absolutely not the missionary in front of him, but himself.

“Huh? This guy has a name. Looks like he is a key story character.”

[Missionary Kim’s words are riddled with flaws. You conclude that although he belongs to the Primordial Firefly’s oath faction, he is definitely not the so-called Firefly Favored Servant.]

[What is your next move?]

[1. Form a sword seal and use one Northern Dipper Heaven’s Sword Technique Manual to kill this fake Firefly Favored Servant.]

[2. Pretend to believe Missionary Kim’s words, join the Primordial Firefly’s oath faction, and demand a reward.]

[3. Expose Missionary Kim’s lies and refuse to join the Primordial Firefly’s oath faction.]

[4. Claim to believe in Missionary Kim’s identity, but say that you still need to think carefully about whether to join the oath faction.]

After thinking for a moment, Lin Xun chose the fourth option.

Although the person before him was a fake, he was still a named key story character. Killing him outright would be sheer stupidity, and tearing off his mask and exposing him also seemed inappropriate.

Given his impostor status, joining the oath right now would probably not earn him any valuable rewards. It was better to choose the fourth option and drag things out for now.

[You look at Missionary Kim with deep admiration, pretending to be nervous and fearful as you apologize for failing to recognize his identity as a Firefly Favored Servant just now.]

[Missionary Kim readily accepts your apology and says that as a Firefly Favored Servant, he does have at least that much magnanimity.]

[He pats your shoulder and casually orders you that since you already know his identity, you should quickly swear the oath. You need not worry about anything else, for the Lord will accept every lost maggot-person.]

[You shake your head in feigned sorrow and say that your faith is not yet firm enough. To rashly swear an oath now would be a profanation of the Primordial Firefly.]

[You say you need a few days to strengthen your faith, then offer the most devout posture to swear the oath. Only that would show proper respect for the god…]

[The limb that Missionary Kim has been using to pat your shoulder suddenly freezes. His expression under the mask is surely something to behold.]

[He scratches the sparse fuzz on his head and thinks for a long time before continuing that your attitude shows that you are devout enough. Even if you were not devout, he would not care. No, the Lord would not care.]

[As long as you swear the oath and bathe in the Lord’s great radiance, you will naturally grow a devout heart…]

[…]

[No matter how Missionary Kim tries to persuade you, you stubbornly shake your head and insist that you must first purify your mind and strengthen your faith before you can swear the oath.]

[Missionary Kim grits his teeth in rage, constantly scolding you for your stupidity and obstinacy.]

[At last, he throws at you a membrane wing marked with many lines and symbols, along with a slender, tubular leg-carapace. Then, crossing both limbs over his chest, he looks at you coldly as he speaks…]

[Ignorant outsider maggot-person, aren’t you just trying to explore Tentacle City? You thought you could discover anything by blindly exploring?]

[To tell you the truth, not only Tentacle City, but all the key locations in the realm of the despicable ones are hidden beneath the ground under certain buildings. The town you see now is nothing but useless residential housing.]

[This map records a portion of Tentacle City’s locations. Once you have visited all of these places… heh, by then you will be crying and begging to throw yourself into the Lord’s arms.]

[Having said this, Missionary Kim jumps on the spot, leaps onto a rooftop, and vanishes after a few more bounds.]

[You have obtained Incomplete Tentacle City Map (Map)!]

[You have obtained Courier Mole Cricket Summoning Short Flute (Special Item)!]

[Courier Mole Cricket Summoning Short Flute (Special Item): A short flute made from the leg-carapace of some kind of insect. Once it is blown, you can summon the nearest Courier Mole Cricket to travel to any destination whose exact location you have learned.]

[Please note that this item can only summon a Courier Mole Cricket. The courier fee must be paid separately.]

[You unroll the transparent membrane wing in your hand and see that two locations are marked on it…]

[You have learned the exact location of the War Hatchery.]

[You have learned the exact location of Fuzzy Feather Altar.]

[You look toward the direction in which Missionary Kim departed, then look down at the map in your hand…]

[Do you want to continue wandering around the town, or blow the Summoning Short Flute?]

Not willing to take it at face value, Lin Xun used the Greedy Wolf Star Lord shell to rise into the air and examine the town.

In the underground space, there was no open-air flight height limit anymore, or rather, the height limit had become the stone ceiling above his head.

Using the Star Lord shell to fly high and look down, he saw that all the buildings in the little town looked the same, as if they had been stamped from the same mold. They were all residential structures with no exploration value.

It seemed that on this point, Missionary Kim had not lied to him.

“So all the key locations are hidden deeper underground? Figures it would take bugs to come up with something like this…”

Helpless, he landed and used the special item Courier Mole Cricket Summoning Short Flute.

[You take out the short flute made from a leg-carapace and raise it to your lips to blow…]

[The short flute makes no sound, instead sending out a summoning signal in some kind of wave you cannot hear…]

[…]

[Very soon, you feel the ground shaking under your feet…]

[A large pit sinks open before you, and from it emerges a Courier Mole Cricket you are very familiar with!]

[The Courier Mole Cricket does not move, and you do not move. You simply stare at each other in a four-eyed stand-off…]

[Suddenly you come to your senses and realize that this time you do not have the Dragon Knight’s Warrant and cannot ride it for free. You must pay the courier fee.]

[Do you want to pay 10,000 points of Spirit Essence as the courier fee?]

“Ten thousand Spirit Essence is not that expensive. This kind of transportation is pretty convenient. I wonder if I can tame one in the future and turn a public bus into a private car.”

Lin Xun pressed ‘Yes.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep