Having oneās soul strength reduced to zero meant the Apostleās primary shell would perish.
This kind of bookmark, created solely for killing, was something Lin Xun couldnāt even begin to guess how Amos had acquired.
He left the council chamber and returned to the castle hall.
[You enter the castle hall. An elderly man with a head of silver hair has been waiting for some time.]
[He wears a top hat and a black tailcoat, leaning on a silver cane.]
[The Castle Steward approaches and asks if you wish to engrave an exclusive mark onto your shell.]
This was an NPC within the castle, possessing several special functions, one of which was engraving the exclusive mark of the New World.
The New Worldās mark functioned like a special buff, once engraved onto a shell, it couldnāt be removed by ordinary means.
The mark was essentially a mental-control, brainwashing tool. If an Apostleās soul traits werenāt strong enough, they would become subconsciously influenced, resulting in a brainwashed state.
This āsoul traitā did not refer to soul strength, but rather the nature of their soul talent.
The stronger an Apostleās soul trait, the more powerful their soul talent.
Given how formidable Lin Xunās talent was, the mark wouldnāt be able to affect him in the slightest.
He considered the situation. The Engineer shell couldnāt be exposed in the open, so the mark would have to be engraved on another shell. At the moment, he was possessing the shell of an Earth Giant.
Lin Xun wasnāt sure whether Amos was still secretly observing him. Swapping shells on the spot might reveal his soul talent and draw unwanted attention.
More importantly, engraving a mark onto a shell didnāt expose oneās true identity. It was simply a method of mental control.
Having thought this through, he decisively selected āYes.ā
[Engraving markā¦]
[The Castle Steward has successfully engraved Amosās exclusive mark onto your shell!]
āThis place isnāt safe, time to leave!ā
Lin Xun exited the castle and hurried back to the Resting Page, clicking teleport.
[You are teleporting to Chapter 82740874ā¦]
[ā¦]
[ā¦]
[Teleport successful!]
[A feeble wandering soul awakens in an ancient lecture hallā¦]
Lin Xun let out a long breath. Oddly enough, the hell-difficulty chapter made him feel more at ease.
He re-equipped the two relics, regaining third point of his soul strength, along with a 60% boost in power.
He quickly opened his inventory and clicked on the Soul-Annihilation Bookmark.
He couldnāt let Transmitter beat him to it. Once he took out the New Worldās enemy, he could report to his superior afterward.
[You used the Soul-Annihilation Bookmark!]
[Please select the invasion modeā¦]
Lin Xun selected Targeted Invasion and entered Horseback Samuraiās true soul imprint: Sakai Warfiend.
[That Apostle does not exist!]
Damn it! One step too late!
There were only two possible explanations: either Amos had given him the wrong soul imprint, or Horseback Samurai was already dead!
Lin Xun hadnāt expected Transmitter to strike so fast. Just minutes after his chat with Amos, the other had already seized the opportunity.
Transmitter wasnāt just quick to switch sides, he was lightning fast at PvP too.
Lin Xun let out a helpless sigh and was just about to call his boss to report the situation whenā¦
His eyes narrowed.
A thought struck himā¦
ā
A young man in a white tracksuit sat on a sofa in his apartment.
Shen Haoyan recalled Amosās earlier promise in the council chamber. The light in his eyes grew darker and more vicious.
He had just returned to his own chapter and couldnāt wait to click the Soul-Annihilation Bookmark he had just obtained.
[You used the Soul-Annihilation Bookmark!]
[Please select the invasion modeā¦]
[ā¦ā¦]
[You have selected targeted invasion of Apostle Sakai Warfiend.]
[Invasion in progressā¦]
[Invasion successful! You have entered the chapter where Sakai Warfiend resides.]
[The Apostle wreathed in flickering white light sees you, raises his massive nodachi, and assumes a battle stance, fully alertā¦]
[Brave Apostle, how will you deal with him?]
[1. Persuade him to surrender. You, unable to bear needless killing, might choose to spare his life.]
[2. Raise your longbow, draw the string, and let him taste what true cruelty is!]
āSorry! Even though we were once under Talrosās banner, a wise man adapts to the times.ā
āIf you wonāt pledge loyalty to Lord Amos, youāre my enemy and a stepping stone on my climb upward!ā
āLord Amos, is about to become one of the Twelve Disciples, and has granted me the honor of serving as his proxy. An honor beyond compare!ā
Shen Haoyan muttered to himself, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.
He slammed the second option.
[You draw a massive arrow as thick as your wrist from the quiver on your back, then pull the longbow nearly as tall as your entire shellā¦]
[The Apostle glowing in white light seems to sense danger and charges at you, nodachi in hand, at incredible speedā¦]
[You close your eyes, listening to the whisper of the wind, then release the bowstringā¦]
[With a thunderous sound, a massive hole appears in the chest of the white-glowing Apostle, you can even see through the gaping wound to the scenery behind him!]
[You have defeated Apostle Sakai Warfiend. You gained 460 Spirit Essence.]
[Due to the special power of the Soul-Annihilation Bookmark, the Apostleās soul strength has been reduced to zero!]
[You have completely killed Apostle Sakai Warfiend!]
[Returning to your chapterā¦]
Shen Haoyan clapped and laughed loudly. Once I enter the New World, Iāll be sure to properly honor your memory, Mr. Stepping Stone.
He was just about to click the Resting Page to teleport back to the Disciple Sanctum whenā¦
Suddenly, game text appeared!
[A red glow flashes before your eyes. The entire world trembles faintly.]
[You are being invaded by an unidentified Apostleā¦]
[You feel the terrifying power of soul annihilation. Your soul begins to tremble in fear.]
āWhat!!ā
Shen Haoyanās face contorted in shock. Who could be invading him with a Soul-Annihilation Bookmark?
His soul imprint was only known to Lord Amos and the recently deceased Horseback Samurai.
Could it be that Amos never intended to make him a proxy at all, but merely used him to kill Horseback Samurai, then planned to eliminate him to cover it up?
Noā¦ that doesnāt make sense!
[A figure gleaming with red light stands tall like a mountain. The ground trembles with every step it takes.]
[You look up, the titanic being blotting out the sky is the invading Apostle, dragging an enormous spiked club as he approachesā¦]
āSuch overwhelming strength, who else could it be but Amos?!ā
āScrew you! I was the first to pledge allegiance to you, and this is how you repay me?!ā
[Trembling, your shell glows with white light. What will you do?]
[1. Kneel and beg, praying that your fellow god-chosen Apostle will show mercy and spare your life.]
[2. Raise your longbow and make a desperate last stand, proving that a true man can be slain but never humiliated.]
Shen Haoyan slammed the first option, choosing to beg.
He gritted his teeth and snarled, āYou better hope I donāt survive this. Youād better hope I donāt! Because if I do, Iāll repay todayās humiliation a thousandfold!ā
[Your knees buckle. You fall to the ground and kowtow repeatedly, begging the invading Apostle to spare you.]
[The deafening sound of approaching footsteps grows louderā¦]
[A terrifying wall of wind pressure slams into you. Your vision fades to blackā¦]
āAmos, may you die a miserable death!ā
Shen Haoyan screamed with all his strength, collapsing onto the sofa.
The front of his white tracksuit pants was soaked, reeking and foul.
[You died!]
[You were defeated by Apostle Lord of Cinders.]
āSo it was youā¦ how could I forgetā¦ it was youā¦ it wasā¦ā
Shen Haoyanās mouth fell open, pupils dilating, voice growing faint.
The phone screen continued to display.
[You lost 810 Spirit Essence.]
[You dropped Longbow of Windchant and Moonsong +5 (Rare+ Weapon)]
The screen then gradually dimmed. The game called The Book of Salvation had vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.