Chapter 82

Ye Zheng had to admit that there was indeed a certain gap in understanding between her and the readers from the higher dimension. Seeing the readers enthusiastically replying with words she could not understand, the Saintess hurriedly exited the forum.

“I always feel like the readers who like me have become even stranger lately. I recognize all those words individually, but when put together, they become hard to comprehend.”

『For you, it really is a bit too much. But it also shows that more and more people like you. Do you dislike everyone’s strange enthusiasm?』

The system asked curiously.

“Strange, but not without cuteness.”

Ye Zheng pondered seriously. “I think the strangeness comes from my lack of understanding of your world’s culture. That is my problem, not theirs.”

The system thought for a moment and decided not to shatter Ye Zheng’s idea. If she truly understood the outside culture and what the readers really meant, she would realize that everyone was simply this strange.

“By the way, how much popularity value do I have now?”

【Zhao Mei has 55,000 popularity points, Ye Zheng has 40,000. Remaining action points: 500. These are very impressive numbers!】

Ye Zheng was a bit surprised. Judging from the intensity of the forum arguments, she had thought “Ye Zheng” would surpass Zhao Mei in popularity.

『Ye Zheng stans really have strong combat power. That is rare among female character stans. Is it because you have the Saintess buff? The people who like you are all fanatically loyal like believers?』

The system did not understand either. It continued summarizing.

『The readers who like Zhao Mei have complex compositions: single stans, dream girls, CP fans. Male characters generally having higher popularity is normal. For “Ye Zheng” to have this many readers liking her is already a small miracle.』

『Moreover, because of the latest updated plot, Xi-Zhao CP has even gone a little viral outside the circle. Quite a few people came to 《Throne of the Aberrant Realm》 just for Xi-Zhao.』

Tragic beauty, strong yet pitiful, intense white moonlight aura, mysterious noble beauty, the spiritual pillar supporting the protagonist. With all these buffs, plus the heavyweight moonlit heart-to-heart scene, fanworks exploded immediately. Various fanarts and fanfics surged, attracting a large number of outsiders’ interest.

『No matter the dimension, selling BL is always the fastest way to become popular.』

The system could not help but sigh.

Ye Zheng gave a helpless smile. “So this is what selling BL means. Just having two men get a little close.”

A gentle knock came from the door. Ye Zheng turned to check herself in the full-length mirror, confirming her disguise was flawless before opening the bedroom door.

“Sorry to disturb you, Zhao Mei. I know it is a bit early, but an aberrant realm has appeared. It's very close to us.”

Pei Xi stood outside the door. A trace of guilt flickered in his solemn blue eyes.

He had dragged Zhao Mei to sit on the rooftop in the cold wind last night and even passed his worries onto him. He surely had not slept well.

But Pei Xi was very grateful for their open-hearted conversation last night. Zhao Mei had always been too mysterious in this team, always drifting on the edges. Yet after last night’s talk, Pei Xi felt ashamed of his previous thoughts. Zhao Mei was clearly a very trustworthy and reliable companion.

He had no doubt about what Zhao Mei said. There was always something convincing about this boy. They would surely achieve their dream of changing the world together.

“Where is this aberrant realm?”

The two youths strode forward side by side.

“On Wutong Street.”

The black-haired, green-eyed youth lowered his head thoughtfully. It seemed this was not the aberrant realm that appeared in Sieg Square from the manga spoiler.

✧✧✧✧✧

Four days had passed since the Ability Competition officially resumed.

In those four days, the Cloud Soarers team had cleared three aberrant realms, all of low level. Their current points stood at 280, ranking them third.

First place was Wu Shu’s team. Last time she unexpectedly destroyed the core of the blood-colored aberrant realm. The lower district city lord, honoring his promise despite pressure, awarded her team an astonishing score. Total points: 400, firmly in first.

Second place was the royal team. In recent days, Sykes had gone mad clearing six aberrant realms in a row. Points: 340. He looked poised to soon overtake first place.

The Cloud Soarers team members were all somewhat anxious. From the first stage of the Ability Competition, they had advanced triumphantly. Now, in this final round, they had clearly hit a bottleneck.

With the Cloud Soarers team’s lackluster start, Ye Zheng keenly sensed the oppressive, volcano-on-the-verge atmosphere simmering in the lower district, like dark currents surging beneath the surface.

“The saints again? They have been so arrogant lately.”

After another day of battle, the Cloud Soarers team returned to their hotel. Lu Qi picked up a flyer from the hotel dining table. It had only one simple line: “Saints follow the true god. The true god never fades.”

“The handwriting is crooked. Uglier than mine.”

The girl crumpled the flyer into a ball and threw it into the trash.

“Don’t the security team and the church do anything about this?”

Lu Qi asked in confusion. Even she, who paid little attention to politics, knew the church should not tolerate such heretics.

Roy snorted. “The church is too busy with its own troubles. I heard the Saintess from the royal team next door has been so busy she did not even come to compete.”

The quiet youth nearby raised his green eyes, listening to everyone’s conversation.

Pei Xi sighed. “Aberrant realms are appearing more and more. Everyone is already dissatisfied. Then the Pope scandal broke, right when the church was issuing a new round of Peace Coupons and the annual tax collection. The resentment toward the church exploded.”

“The growth of the saints is the most direct proof of everyone’s dissatisfaction with the church.”

Lu Qi asked curiously, “Then will the church fall?”

Roy mercilessly covered Lu Qi’s mouth. He said, “Alright, we had better end this topic. If someone from the church nearby hears us talking about this, it will cause trouble.”

“It's fine. Lu Qi can say whatever she wants.”

The youth pulled Roy’s hand away from Lu Qi’s mouth. Lu Qi immediately complained, “I was just a little curious.”

“It will not fall.”

Everyone looked toward the black-haired, green-eyed youth. He spoke. “As long as this land still believes in the God of Hope, the church will exist.”

Lu Qi blinked. “Even with such serious issues lately, it cannot affect the church?”

The youth paused for a moment, his voice carrying a trace of amusement. “It does have an effect. At the very least, they need something to appease everyone’s anger.”

Lu Qi continued curiously, “What something?”

The youth only patted her head and said nothing more. Pei Xi, however, suddenly understood. “For example, dealing with the Pope who caused all this. But the Pope cannot be taken down so easily.”

From what he knew, the Pope had very high prestige and strong control within the church. There was no suitable successor inside either.

Ever since learning the Pope was the mastermind behind the Blood Flower incident, Pei Xi had investigated. The more he dug, the more he realized Wen Jian was unshakable.

Pei Xi shook his head helplessly and shrugged, his expression somewhat dejected. “This is not something us students can get involved in. All we can do is win the current competition.”

The Cloud Soarers team members all knew the Pope Wen Jian was an unhealable scar for Pei Xi. They gathered around to comfort him for a bit before each returning to their rooms to rest.

Pei Xi watched his teammates leave. Only one figure remained quietly by his side.

“Zhao Mei, you should go rest too.”

Zhao Mei said nothing comforting, but his silent presence alone already conveyed wordless yet powerful care to Pei Xi.

The youth smiled at him and shook his head. “I just want to stay here a little longer. The room feels too stuffy.”

A trace of emotion flickered in Pei Xi’s eyes. A smile crept onto his lips. He nodded. “Then I will head back first. Rest early.”

He turned to leave, still thinking to himself that Zhao Mei also had this side that was not entirely honest. It felt like he had gotten to know him a little better.

After seeing Pei Xi leave, Ye Zheng put away her smile. She turned to find a pair of gloves, then, while no one was around, flipped through the trash bin beside the dining table.

“Found it.”

Ye Zheng pulled out a crumpled ball of paper from the trash, unfolded it. On it was written a single line: “Saints follow the true god. The true god never fades.” The handwriting was clumsy, like a child just learning to write.

She sighed. The team members loved chatting too much. Luckily the staff had not yet emptied the trash.

Back in her room, Ye Zheng soaked the crumpled flyer in water. Soon, something else appeared on the paper.

A pattern: an extremely arrogant and provocative smiling face. Ye Zheng gently shook the wet paper. A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared in her eyes. “As expected, it's her.”

This flyer had been personally written by Sela for her.

『What does she want to do? This is not some kind of terrorist attack foreshadowing, is it?!』

The system was somewhat worried. This character had already deviated from the original plot framework under Ye Zheng’s influence.

“Who knows? She might have just discovered that I am here and decided to say hello.”

『That is the least likely possibility!』

Slender fingers brushed across the damp, fragile paper. The moisture on it evaporated as though by magic. The now-dry paper showed slight deformation and creases, but since Ye Zheng had written with light force, her handwriting remained neat and elegant, forming a stark contrast with Sela’s dog-crawl-like scrawl.

The system was curious.

『What are you planning to do? Reply to her? Becoming pen pals with a villain is not a good choice.』

Ye Zheng let out a soft laugh. Sela seemed quite idle lately. She might as well give her something to do.

In the slightly dim, quiet room, the youth’s gaze on the paper deepened. She had a premonition that the aberrant realm hiding the divine sword from the manga spoiler was about to arrive.

That aberrant realm was definitely not low-level. Just the massive aberrant beast corpse beneath the divine sword was enough to make one’s blood run cold.

Sieg Square held the largest statue of the God of Hope in the lower district. Every day, many people made special trips to listen to the church clergy preach beneath it. The grand square was almost always packed with crowds.

Ye Zheng could not find a suitable reason to stop them. But Sela’s appearance had given her an idea.

The common folk of the lower district had seen many aberrant realms. A top-tier villain like Sela, who dared strike against nobles and even the Crown Prince, carried far greater deterrent power. Such a once-in-a-century arch-villain was rare.

Though some followed her, most ordinary people still feared her. Especially those who regularly went to Sieg Square to hear church sermons, Sela was the very definition of a detested and dreaded heretic to them.

Ye Zheng carefully stored the paper. Tomorrow someone would deliver it to Sela.

Besides that, she had made other preparations. Sieg Square needed some chaos so she could seize the opportunity to plant her own chance.

✧✧✧✧✧

Three days later.

Against the flow of fleeing crowds, the Cloud Soarers team rushed to the famously peaceful East District street known for Sieg Square.

Pei Xi had already seen the massive light barrier nearly enveloping the entire block.

This aberrant realm had occupied such a large area the moment it descended?

Pei Xi felt the clear, forceful pounding of his heart in his chest, especially strong and excited. His vision blurred slightly for a moment, as though some magic was pulling at him, calling to him.

“Let us go, Pei Xi.”

A hand rested on his shoulder. Pei Xi snapped back to reality. He turned and met a pair of calm, gentle green eyes.

It was as though he had suddenly found an anchor. Pei Xi let out a breath of relief, gave Zhao Mei a grateful smile, and led the Cloud Soarers team leaping straight into the massive aberrant realm.

White light flashed. When he opened his eyes again, the sight that greeted him was grand gray stone walls engraved with intricate patterns.

Pei Xi looked around in astonishment. They were inside a gigantic stone palace.

The circular stone walls enclosed them, with a door in every direction.

The black-haired, green-eyed youth had already walked to one of the doors and was carefully tracing the stone wall with his fingers.

“This seems to be a maze.”

The others present showed expressions of disbelief. Aberrant realms were always primitive, domains of aberrant beasts and plants. Any terrain could appear.

How could such a civilized structure exist in an aberrant realm?