Nightmare's Call

He then put a soft and breathable insole in the metal alloy boots. Punched with ventilation holes, the insole could absorb sweat, which would drip on the holy soil beneath.

After that, Lin Sheng picked up the portable adhesive and applied a thin layer on the bottom of the alloy boots.

“Done.” He picked up the alloy boots, put them on the ground, and tried to fit in his feet.

Stepping on the soft insole felt like standing on some cool and moist blanket. It felt weird.

But he could feel holy power running up his soles and spreading throughout his body.

As time went by, Lin Sheng felt the holy power under his feet grow more intense. His body soon heated up, his muscles felt bloated, and his thinking became much clearer. That was not all. His steps felt lighter. But he could feel no upsurge increases.

That was fine. Lin Sheng was happy with the result.

“I knew it. The holy soil works even in the shoes.” Lin Sheng decided not to take it off. He wore it all day; he wanted to know how long the holy soil would last.

After a small experiment, Lin Sheng went to the quarantine cell. The three prisoners were still practicing dark energy, each in a corner without interfering with the others.

“Time to build the Darkspirit Gate.” Lin Sheng went to the other quarantine cells, where he kept other evil Darksiders.

With his order, the Sanctum had sent out an army of transcendents to patrol the streets of Henricqal and arrest any suspicious transcendents. These were the people he caught.

But it did not mean arresting them would automatically bring more oblations. He had to screen them against the databases of Baine University, the Asterism of the Moon Basin. He also had to find out if they had any malicious intentions.

After a series of examinations, the Sanctum would invite them to join as a member of the Paladin.

Favorable treatment would be part of the deal if they agreed to join. Other than material, they would get the chance to learn Ashen Seal cultivation.

Once a Darksider got the Ashen Seal cultivation technique and practiced holy power, he would gain one or two levels of strength up in a very short time.

The actual rate of improvement would depend on the soul potential of the cultivator.

There was a precedent. A Darksider had gained a Three-Wing upgrade in just three days. He was only a One Winger who got his first enlightenment, originally just a wandering transcendent. After joining the Sanctum, he had upgraded from a One Winger to a suppressor-class Darksider. His spectacular improvement had caught the attention of Lin Sheng.

Such a huge increase in strength also motivated many arrested Darksiders to join the Sanctum family. Those insisted on not joining would be expelled after they were cleared of any problem.

Under Lin Sheng’s instruction, the suppression of the transcendents by the Sanctum was much greater than that of the three mysterious realms.

After checking out the captives, Lin Sheng returned to the quarantine cell of the Darkspirit Gate, which he had just separated. It was a spacious, sixty-square-meter hall. In the middle was the pattern of a ritual circle, carved in solid silver alloy in the floor. The circle glinted in a faint light.

Lin Sheng walked around the circle pattern as he examined it for flaws.

“By changing the summoning of dark spirits into continuous mode, then its signal into manual mode, things will be fine. Next, when the holy power font springs into life, it will become a stable energy source. And then set up a defense mechanism using the holy power, that will prevent any untoward from happening to the Darkspirit Gate.”

Lin Sheng was running through in his mind various preparation steps in summoning the Darkspirit Gate.

He was still cultivating to improve his strength, but the rate of improvement is gradually leveling off. It seems at Six-Wing level, he had reached the limit of the Rock Dragon bloodline. He was not happy about it because the Night Lord’s bloodline of the Shadow Dragonking was much stronger than his. Both were dragons, but one was so weaker than the other. He just did not know why.

“Holy power and dark energy are still mutually stimulating and rising. But it is leveling off, unlike the initial acceleration. It is the limit of my soul in converting the holy power, or I needs some special conditions to break into the Palatinate realm.” Lin Sheng believed that the latter was true.

Apparently, the Palatinate was not something he could achieve through accumulation. But there was hurry. Since he could not become a Palatinate yet, he might as well proceed with his plan.

The doorbell above the research center. “Did I not say before no one shall disturb me during experiments?” Upset, Lin Sheng walked past a row of experimental instruments, came to the door, and unlocked the triple-layer security door.

As the black metal door opened with a firm clinking sound, he saw two paladins in white armor standing outside.

“Tari, Vers, why did you leave your posts and come here?” Lin Sheng frowned at them.

Lin Sheng had promoted them as the chiefs patrolmen. Their jurisdiction area covered half of Henricqal. Originally a Three Winger and Four Winger respectively, they increased their strengths after joining the Sanctum. They were now Five Wingers in both the quality and quantity of dark energy. So they were loyal to the Sanctum.

As teachers in two separate colleges, the two discovered about the Sanctum when they investigated their students for joining it.

Two decades of experience had taught them they could never achieve this breakthrough without the stimulation of the Sanctum’s holy power.

Now, if they went without the holy power, their dark energy would decline to its initial level, or maybe even lower. This was the true reason they stayed loyal to the Sanctum.

“Sir, there is a nasty case happening at our jurisdiction border. We couldn’t handle it. And after some deliberation, we decide to report back to you,” said the staid-looking Tari.

“You can’t handle it? No combat alert means it’s not a combat type?” Lin Sheng squinted at them.

“Yes, sir! It’s not a fighting but something new emerging from the Black Tide. We didn’t dare to take it lightly,” Tari said, his face grave.

“Tell me more.” Lin Sheng came interested. He put on his coat and walked out.

.....

.....

The Red District of Henricqal.

A mirror-like shell covered over the adjoining buildings. Outside the buildings hung billboards of various sizes and shapes. In red, yellow, white, and purple, the billboards were reminiscent the prosperity the place once enjoyed.

At a Y-shaped intersection, dozens of patrolmen, led by the Paladins, were guarding the hundred-square-meter area in the surroundings.

Private vehicles of all types and a public bus jammed at the junction. But their engines were not running. There was not any a sound.