Jiang Yan had just wanted to ask what this thing was for and why it had appeared here, but a strange and inexplicable sense of dread pulled his gaze back to the sky that was still collapsing. He saw that as the players poured in their strength, the golden web grew far tougher, yet the collapse of the dungeon remained irreversible, and chunks of data glowing a ghostly blue continued to fall from the sky. As more and larger data blocks fell, the golden web holding up the sky gradually tightened. The threads, under extreme pressure, grew thinner and thinner, lighter and lighter in color. It was clear it was reaching its limit. “No…” Jiang Yan instinctively looked toward the [Divine System] on his personal system panel. It was a primal instinct embedded in his DNA, prompting him to draw on the players’ power of belief. At this moment, the players floating beneath the golden web were arguing in the flurry of falling rose petals about why Jiang Yan, who should have already become par...
[Please accept the main quest: Become the Son of Light, follow the teachings of the Goddess of Light, and ascend to the position of Pope.]
[Warning: During this quest, players will encounter opposition from the Dark Faction. Contact with the Dark Faction will result in corruption. If corruption reaches a certain level, the player will lose their Son of Light status, resulting in mission failure.]
...
"My dear child, you are like a pearl descending upon this world. I wish to grant you my most radiant blessing, transforming you into my divine incarnation. You will forever gaze upon humanity on my behalf, and after your death, your soul will ascend to heaven to stay by my side."
"Thus, I bestow upon you a sacred code. Humans are born burdened by the seven deadly sins: pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust. You must abide by this code and purge your soul of these sins, for only then can you join me after death."
"Remember... avoid anything that tempts you toward pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, or lust. Maintain the purest soul as you walk this earth. If you encounter anything that leads you to violate the code, end your own life to preserve your purity before your soul is defiled."
The serene voice of a woman recited these demands, some of which made Gu Zhan frown slightly.
End his life to preserve his purity? What’s the point of purity if you’re dead?
Opening his eyes, Gu Zhan found himself before a massive altar. The bright sunlight bathed him, bringing warmth but also an inescapable sense of being watched.
He couldn’t help but look up. The sun hung close overhead, not glaring but gentle, its rays feeling like someone’s gaze enveloping him entirely.
Behind him stretched a staircase over a hundred meters long, leading to a grand square at its base.
Numerous devout followers dressed in white robes were prostrating themselves on the ground, facing the altar.
Although their robes were also white, Gu Zhan noticed that his own garment bore silver patterns and gold trim, appearing far more luxurious. Beside him stood two elderly men in similarly ornate robes.
They watched Gu Zhan intently, waiting for the calm voice to fade before speaking.
"Please Holy Son, bow your head to receive your crown."
So, his starting identity in this dungeon was the Son of Light. Gu Zhan followed their instructions and bowed slightly.
As they lifted the crown and moved to place it on his head, Gu Zhan suddenly felt something was off.
His ankles felt cold, as if something was crawling up his body.
This white robe...
Why did it have weird sensation?!
Gu Zhan couldn’t stand properly no matter how he tried, ultimately freezing in place with his head lowered, remaining completely still.
Yet the unknown sensation became even bolder, creeping up from his ankle to his knee. Gu Zhan’s body involuntarily shuddered twice, drawing a sideways glance from the man crowning him.
The man’s expression was stern, as if scolding Gu Zhan for moving around.
Gu Zhan’s skin was very sensitive, and this slow, deliberate sensation—like someone lightly stroking him—was utterly unbearable.
Why is wearing a crown so troublesome?
He had no choice but to endure. This was obviously a very solemn occasion, and being discovered would be disastrous.
Finally, the sacred crown was placed on his head, allowing Gu Zhan to straighten his body. However, the strange sensation didn’t disappear with his movement. Instead, it grew even more audacious, creeping toward a more private area.
Gu Zhan’s expression shifted subtly, but outwardly, he remained calm and serious, exuding an intimidating aura.
In reality, all of his attention was focused on the peculiar sensation inside his white robe.
The people around him continued chattering endlessly, but Gu Zhan didn’t register a single word. Gradually, the hall fell silent.
The people at the base of the stairs rose to their feet, all staring uniformly at Gu Zhan.
Under their scrutiny, Gu Zhan felt somewhat baffled.
The man beside him, who had been helping to adjust the crown, quickly stepped in to explain, “Perhaps the Holy Son is too exhausted from the ordination ceremony. The goddess’s miracle has concluded, so today’s ritual ends here.”
The ceremony abruptly dispersed, leaving Gu Zhan with a sense of relief.
Suppressing his discomfort, he followed a maid who led him back to his residence.
His dwelling was a lavish palace adorned with marble relief columns, extravagant domes, and sheer white curtains everywhere.
The first thing Gu Zhan wanted to do upon returning was wash up, but the maid guided him to an indoor pool instead.
The pool, built of marble, reflected sunlight in a way that made the water appear extraordinary.
The maid spoke softly, “Please bathe here, Holy Son. This water has been blessed by the goddess of light. It can cleanse your body and spirit of exhaustion and impurity, aiding your cultivation.”
With that, she turned and left.
Gu Zhan stood silently beside the pool for a while, staring at it, before finally removing the strange ceremonial robe.
What surprised him was that the black markings on his abdomen and arm were still there.
Black markings and the goddess of light…
Putting these concepts together, it was hard not to suspect that these markings were a bad omen for Gu Zhan.
The quest had explicitly mentioned the importance of avoiding contamination.
Gu Zhan rubbed at the black lines on his body. Was this considered contamination?
He glanced at the pool again, then stepped in.
The water was icy and soothing as it washed over his skin.
But as soon as the black markings submerged, a faint pain began radiating from them, growing increasingly sharp.
Gu Zhan frowned slightly but didn’t stop, submerging more of his body into the water.
Next, his arm entered the water.
Unlike the markings on his abdomen, those on his arm caused much less pain.
Lowering his gaze to his abdomen, Gu Zhan murmured softly, “Mo Tuo, is that you?”
The room was completely silent, with no response.
It was unclear whether Mo Tuo wasn’t there or was deliberately refusing to respond.
Gu Zhan exhaled deeply, leaning against the edge of the pool. Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes.
---
Unknowingly, he fell asleep. In his dream, something approached him.
Black, sticky, and slimy, it wrapped itself around his body.
The oppressive sensation and suffocating pressure jolted Gu Zhan awake. He sat up abruptly, splashing water everywhere.
At the same time, the discomfort from the dream disappeared instantly, and the darkness was driven away by light.
Gu Zhan sat in the pool, taking a long time to regain his composure.
The pain from the black markings had subsided. Looking down, he noticed the markings were still there, though significantly fainter.
Can this water actually erase them?
He had always disliked these markings—they felt like a brand left by Mo Tuo, a monster who could appear and disappear in the astral space at will.
Though Gu Zhan seemed to hold power over him, in truth, he was utterly helpless.
Mo Tuo came and went as he pleased.
If this dungeon could somehow eliminate the monster’s influence over his body, wouldn’t that be ideal?
Gu Zhan didn’t fully understand the relationship between the system, monsters, and the dungeon. Mo Tuo had mentioned that monsters were the ones most bound by the rules. Perhaps there truly was a way to subdue him.
Leaving the pool, Gu Zhan picked up the clothes from a nearby rack.
Aside from the drafty ceremonial robes with their gold-trimmed skirts, the other clothing was relatively normal. He wore a soft, comfortable pair of wide-legged pants beneath the robe.
Dressed, he left the bathing area.
Outside the door, a maid was waiting.
“Holy Son, you stayed in the bath an extra hour today,” she remarked softly, bowing her head.
“Mm.” Gu Zhan responded indifferently, “The coronation ceremony was exhausting. I fell asleep.”
“Please take care of yourself, Holy Son. Your sacred body belongs to the goddess of light and must be cherished,” the maid said, leading the way.
Though her words seemed concerned, their content was unsettling.
Gu Zhan said nothing, following the maid back to his bedroom.
The bedroom, like the rest of the palace, was opulent and ostentatious. The walls were blindingly white, even in the darkness of night.
Gu Zhan lay down on the bed, pulling the sheets over his eyes as he tried to fall asleep.
In his dreams, the blackness returned. Thick and sticky, it clung to him.
Gu Zhan’s sleep was restless. His eyes twitched beneath his closed lids, and his arms shifted slightly.
As he slept, he failed to notice a smear of black creeping out from the edge of the white sheets.
It slithered out from beneath the bed and climbed under his robe.
Gu Zhan’s brow furrowed deeply, as if trapped in a terrible dream.
Very soon, the dream faded, and the black marks disappeared as well.
Gu Zhan's furrowed brow relaxed, and he drifted into deep sleep.
---
The next morning, Gu Zhan was awakened by a maid.
She stood at his bedside, her cold face devoid of any expression.
"Holy Son, you are awake. It is now time for morning readings. Please proceed immediately to the Confession Room to study the Holy Scroll of Light."
Gu Zhan immediately felt that he was less of a Holy Son and more like some kind of prisoner with a special status.
This dungeon had given him a few identity setups. For instance, the Goddess of Light was the only deity worshipped on this continent.
Moreover, the Church governed the world, and below the Pope was the Holy Son. Both were considered messengers of the Goddess of Light’s will and held the highest status on the continent.
It appeared to be a world ruled by religion. However, in reality, it was directly governed by the deity.
The Holy Son and the Pope were merely tools of the Goddess of Light—or perhaps, exquisite collectibles.
It was said that everything about the Holy Son was dictated by the preferences of the Goddess of Light. As children, candidates were selected from among the populace and raised in the Holy Court. Once grown, they were chosen by the Goddess.
Gu Zhan dressed himself and stood before the mirror.
It was unclear what era this dungeon represented, but the mirror was smooth and polished, perfectly reflecting Gu Zhan's image.
He had undergone slight changes compared to reality. His long silver-white hair flowed to the ground, his originally fair skin had become even paler, and dressed in pure white garments, the reflection seemed to shimmer with a soft glow.
Was this still him?
This didn’t seem like him at all.
Thinking of the Seven Commandments, particularly the one regarding "Lust," Gu Zhan pursed his lips slightly.
Children destined to become the Holy Son were separated from their parents from an early age, raised in the Holy Court, destined to remain celibate, and forbidden to have any close friends. Their hearts and eyes were meant to hold only the Goddess of Light.
It was hard to say whether the Goddess truly wanted someone to help her rule the world or merely desired an aesthetically pleasing collectible.
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