"Potion or ritual? What are you talking about?"
Silas didn't understand Ma'am M's question.
"Starting from Sequence 5, the toxicity of potions becomes extremely severe. Drinking it directly has an extremely high probability of causing a Beyonder to die on the spot or lose control."
Ma'am M explained.
"For this reason, a ritual must be performed simultaneously while consuming the potion to resist the negative effects it brings."
Is that how it works?
Silas thought to himself, seemingly having learned some secrets about potions.
Of course, he didn't trust Ma'am M, so he listened to her words with a skeptical attitude. "I want to know about both the potion and the ritual."
"I've only seen the Shepherd potion already prepared, but as for the ritual, I know a bit more about that."
Ma'am M said.
You just don't want to tell me the formula, do you?
"Then just tell me about the ritual."
"Alright."
Ma'am M said with a smile.
At this moment, even Cecilia, who was beside them, became curious. She sat down next to Silas, quietly listening.
Ma'am M spoke with a smile on her face:
"The Shepherd's advancement ritual is this: after consuming the potion, devour seven living people to replenish the body.
These people must be completely willing, actively sacrificing themselves to become offerings for the potion consumer."
"The Shepherd's unique ability 'Grazing' works on this principle: devouring the souls and characteristics of Beyonders, storing them within the body, and summoning them to be controlled when needed.
The potion creates a space inside the human body to store souls. This causes massive consumption of the potion consumer's flesh and blood.
If it cannot be replenished in time, they easily lose their sense of self and completely lose control."
"Additionally, if the sacrifice is a Beyonder who already possesses characteristics, then the requirement for offerings drops to four.
Because their body quality is better and can substitute for enough flesh and blood."
In the late-night interior of 6 Narcissus Street, under the warm light of the gas lamp, the red-haired, golden-eyed Ma'am M concluded her explanation with a gentle, calm tone.
However, the ritual content she described was so insanely twisted that hearing it sent chills down one's spine.
Voluntary sacrifice seems related to the authority controlled by the True Creator. But this ritual is truly evil.
Silas sincerely sighed inwardly.
Although Ma'am M's words certainly couldn't be completely trusted, after hearing the details of this advancement ritual, he felt that it might actually be true.
This ritual, overflowing with a sense of madness and depravity, completely matched his understanding of Shepherds.
Below Shepherd was Sequence 6 Rose Bishop. They possessed powerful flesh magic abilities.
Theoretically, they could swallow large amounts of flesh and blood in a short time.
Eating seven people shouldn't be a problem. As for her description of the Shepherd's core ability, "Grazing," it seemed to make sense as well.
The ritual itself wasn't complicated.
The most difficult part was gathering seven ordinary people who knew they would die but were still willing to sacrifice themselves, or four Beyonders. These people had to be completely willing.
From what Ma'am M implied, methods like hypnosis, threats, or bribes wouldn't work. If the person offering their body had even the slightest hesitation in their heart, the ritual would fail.
"This ritual really was tailor-made for your Aurora Order."
Silas sneered.
Yes, the Aurora Order never lacked fanatic believers willing to sacrifice their lives and bodies.
"That's because they all hold devout faith toward the Lord."
Ma'am M said, her tone calm.
"For someone like me who's outside the Aurora Order, I probably have absolutely no chance of advancement."
Silas mocked himself.
If he truly had the opportunity to reach Sequence 6, Rose Bishop, and fully digest it, even if he obtained the Shepherd potion, he would still be stuck at this step.
Then he heard Ma'am M's calm voice.
"Of course, there's still a chance."
"Is there?"
Silas glanced at her.
"Yes. Look, at least right now, there's a Beyonder beside you who's willing to die for you. You just need to find three more people like that, and you can attempt advancement.
You're only at Sequence 8 now. You have plenty of time to slowly cultivate people willing to die for you."
Ma'am M spoke in a gentle yet emotionless tone, as if she were stating something perfectly natural.
Silas froze, as if completely unable to understand her words.
After a moment, he finally realized that the "Beyonder willing to die for him" she mentioned referred to Cecilia beside him, his most important sister in this damned world.
"Shut up!"
Silas practically shouted, interrupting Ma'am M's next words.
He stood up abruptly and said to that woman who seemed completely devoid of human emotion, "I'm not like you lunatics. Family is far more important to me than advancement!"
"Is that so?"
Ma'am M paused, then smiled.
Her lips curved into a beautiful arc, but those golden eyes were as flat as if they were made of cold metal.
Her tone was abnormally gentle, carrying some kind of indescribable temptation:
"When you're stuck at a certain level for too long with no hope of advancement, you'll eventually feel anxious.
I've seen more than once people who betrayed their own convictions for this reason. Even your Church of Evernight had an archbishop who defected for advancement, didn't it?"
Silas clenched his fists.
At this moment, he really wanted to risk everything and fight to the death with this humanoid monster spouting a pile of garbage.
But looking at the anxious Cecilia beside him, he forced himself to hold back.
"As expected, I completely can't understand you people."
He said coldly, slowly sitting down.
"That's because you don't understand the true world deeply enough yet."
Ma'am M also said with a smile. "Well, it's already very late tonight. I'm going to rest now. Good night, you two.
Don't sleep too late, especially you, Cecilia. If you've just become a Beyonder, you must pay special attention to mental stability."
She had just been suggesting that Silas sacrifice Cecilia, yet now she was concerned about her health. This concern was superficial, just like a formulaic fixed phrase.
Having said that, she rose from the sofa, walked straight up the stairs, and returned to her guest room, leaving Silas and Cecilia sitting woodenly in the living room.
Stay calm. She did it on purpose. Don't let her words shake your spirit.
Silas breathed deeply, adjusting his state of mind.
"Silas..."
Beside him, Cecilia said worriedly.
"I'm fine."
"Brother, actually I don't..."
"I won't allow you to continue."
Silas looked up, decisively stopping his sister's next words. "I know what you want to say, but I absolutely won't allow you to do such a thing."
What Cecilia wanted to say was nothing more than that she was willing to sacrifice herself for Silas, to help him become a Shepherd.
But to Silas, his sister was far more important than advancement.
If he had to choose between becoming a Shepherd and Cecilia, he would choose Cecilia without hesitation.
Otherwise, why would he risk losing control to pray to the Hidden Sage for a way to save his sister, and fight desperately against Sharon, who was higher in sequence than him, at the risk of being burned to death?
If Cecilia disappeared, wouldn't all his efforts have been in vain?
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