Chapter 335: Investigation Results
The nearest poorhouse was located not far to the southwest, just south of the Vick University campus.
As expected—it was built in the same architectural style as the Ascendant Ritual site. Zhou Ning stood quietly at the mouth of the alley, observing for a while. From time to time, people in tattered clothes, looking exhausted and hollow-eyed, carried textile materials in and out. A guard stood at the entrance, and the moment anyone slowed their steps, he would roughly drive them away.
"Most of them are afflicted by misfortune, their life force severely depleted. If you plan to investigate, I suggest starting with the auxiliary facilities—see if there are any statues, altars, or alchemy circles that don't match standard specifications. Many demons and evil gods aren't after world destruction, but they're very interested in human resentment and life force," Molly said in his mind.
"I understand."
Zhou Ning nodded solemnly. Using his Qi Observation Technique, he could also see that these people's lifespans were indeed very short.
In fact, he had already suspected as much. From the two previous simulations he had conducted in the Apocalypse World, he had learned that the resurrection of the evil god Nyastora required vast quantities of death, blood, disease, and hatred—ideally, massive deaths occurring simultaneously.
The first resurrection had come from a man-made mining disaster—the Curse God Cult sacrificed two thousand miners from the Darkland Mine to summon Nyastora. The second time, his counterpart in that world had triggered it through an armed coup, purging thousands of rebels whose lingering resentment became the medium that summoned the god.
The collusion between the Curse God Cult and the Life Alchemy Society clearly had this kind of intent.
Switching his title to the Phantom Thief—better suited for infiltration—Zhou Ning's figure instantly blurred into an elusive shadow. Without a sound, he scaled the wall and slipped inside.
Inside, rows of low buildings lined both sides of the poorhouse, with a large factory in the center. Even though it was late at night, the lights inside still burned bright. The air was thick with dust and smoke, the acrid scent stinging his nose. Many ragged workers sat at looms, laboring tirelessly while coughing violently from time to time.
A narrow staircase on the right led up to the second floor, guarded by two watchmen at the base. At the top of the factory was a roof designed to hold crystals.
The low houses on both sides appeared to serve as dormitories. A few thin female workers stood at the doors, washing clothes.
Zhou Ning's gaze swept across the interior before settling on a lit room on the second floor at the west end of the factory.
Using his far-sight ability, he could clearly see a sign on the door: Director's Office.
Moving into the shadows, Zhou Ning fired a grappling hook toward the balcony railing. The hook drew him up silently, landing him by the side of the office.
Through the window, he saw a fat middle-aged man embracing a call girl dressed in a harpy cosplay outfit—playing rather shamelessly.
Not him. Zhou Ning frowned slightly, disappointed.
The man's aura was hollow, his vitality weak—he wasn't even a transcendent being. This was nothing like the cruel, cunning, and powerful demon Zhou Ning had imagined.
Wait—there's another door in this room.
Using his powerful Observation Haki, Zhou Ning sensed that there was a hidden space beyond it.
A thought flickered, and a wave of Conqueror's Haki spread soundlessly. The middle-aged man and the harpy girl both went rigid, eyes rolling back as they fainted instantly.
Zhou Ning leaped in through the window, then gave each of them a quick knock on the back of the head—just to make sure they stayed unconscious longer.
He walked to the wall and began to feel around. When his fingers pressed a certain brick, there was a click—a hidden door swung inward.
A thick stench of rot and mold poured out.
Inside was a large concealed chamber. At the center stood a small black altar, identical to the one Zhou Ning had found in Rivers' mansion. Upon it lay offerings of rotting food and a small idol of Nyastora.
On the walls hung several dark, heavy mirrors, each facing a corridor entrance.
From his position, Zhou Ning could see shifting black silhouettes moving inside the mirrors. He had encountered such creatures before—in the Elven King's Tomb. They were Mirror Phantoms, beings that mirrored whoever looked into them, reflecting the opponent's strength. They were often used for surveillance and alert purposes.
Zhou Ning strode forward, thrusting his hand into the mirror, and yanked out the Mirror Phantom guarding the entrance.
Thanks to the Phantom Thief's concealment effect and his lightning-fast reflexes, the creature didn't even have time to transform into his likeness before the Ripple energy engulfed it, reducing it to ashes.
[You have slain Mirror Phantom (Lv. 60). You gained 27,000 EXP!]
Not much experience, and no loot. Zhou Ning flicked away the ashes from his fingers and dusted off his hands lightly.
Aside from the black altar, the floor was inscribed with a massive, intricate alchemy circle that covered the entire chamber.
Alchemy arrays belonged to the advanced domain of applied alchemy. Zhou Ning barely understood the basics—let alone such a colossal, composite array. Even Professor Wesley might not be able to decipher it.
Still, the situation was clear enough—it confirmed his worst suspicion. This was indeed one of the seven Ascendant Ritual altars.
These lunatics actually planned to use the commoners of the entire Darkland City to complete the Ascendant Ritual.
The memory of that mural—where every citizen of the Elven Royal City turned into shadows and undead at once—sent chills down his spine.
With a grave expression, Zhou Ning crouched to try damaging the alchemy circle. Yet no matter how he disrupted the engravings, the silver liquid forming the array quickly restored itself, as if possessing regenerative properties.
As for destroying the entire place with overwhelming force—he could do that, but it would likely alert the masterminds, stirring the snake and jeopardizing later operations. He had to hold back—for now.
Along the inner wall stood a wooden ladder leading up to the ceiling. There, he found a concealed hatch that opened outward.
He climbed up nimbly, staying outside the mirrors' sight, and pushed open the hatch. Above was the crystal-holding spire, with an inconspicuous groove at its peak. He didn't yet know the activation method, but it was clear that placing a crystal there would instantly trigger the alchemy circle below.
After that, Zhou Ning proceeded to the other locations he had identified yesterday—three poorhouses in the Old District and a welfare home on Golden Clover South Road. The result: identical layouts, identical secret rooms, identical designs. Still no trace of Chris Fisher.
That was strange. There were only seven Ascendant Ritual altars in total, yet counting the newly built poorhouses and welfare homes, there were eighteen—and he had already found five identical ones.
Perplexed, Zhou Ning headed to the West Lin General Store. Leandro hadn't returned yet; only Ian was on duty.
Zhou Ning greeted him casually, exchanged small talk, and sat down to wait for Leandro's news.