After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

"Transcendent Test Subject 73, Tina, summoned the Dawn Goddess, wish granted."

"Transcendent Test Subject 74, ...failure."

"Transcendent Test Subject 79, Lin Xi, summoned the Dawn Goddess, wish granted."

There might be a possibility of names being common, but Lin Da believed that this probability was very slim; he leaned more towards the latter:

His own sister, Lin Xi, as well as the original team member, Five-star Character, "Hell's Judgment" Tina, had both been to the fourth layer and triggered the hidden storyline here!

Theoretically, each Mystic Realm would reset after an adventurer cleared it, and Black Crow's notebook, like a "Trophy,"

recorded the names of all adventurers who had completed the hidden storyline and made a wish to that something Dawn Goddess.

What was the Dawn Goddess?

What did Tina and Lin Xi wish for on the fourth layer?

The disappearance of Lin Xi, as well as the disappearance of Dark Shadow, could it be related to this wish...

Lin Da felt as if he was in the midst of a thick fog, excited to be close to the truth yet shivering at the face of the unknown.

"Have you ever heard of the Dawn Goddess?" he asked Kafni.

"What bullshit Dawn Goddess. There are only two deities on this continent, one is the Native God, World Tree Goddess Tricia, and the other is yours truly."

Kafni spoke dismissively, "Let me see, this Dawn Goddess must also be a Magical Creature that can be conquered, concocted by Tricia."

Lin Da thought about it and figured Kafni was probably right; the Dawn Goddess was merely a setting in this narrative-type Secret Realm.

But, did she possess some kind of magical power capable of fulfilling the wishes of adventurers?

Lin Da continued to flip through the notebook:

"After centuries of research, we have finally figured out the ritual to summon the Dawn Goddess.

We need an Array, then the heart of an S-rank or above Transcendent as the main sacrifice, supplemented with 1705 grams of Fragrant Pork, 2034 milliliters of apple-flavored strong liquor, the head of a three-year-old boy...

Wait,

then at midnight, chant a specific spell, and the Dawn Goddess can be called upon."

The more Lin Da read, the more unsettling it felt.

What kind of Goddess fancied the hearts of Transcendents and heads of little boys?

This was clearly some kind of yandere!

Lin Da was almost certain that his sister's disappearance was definitely related to the Dawn Goddess.

"We'll have to meet this fellow," Lin Da said.

"That's what I was thinking," Kafni sneered. "Some nobody popping up and calling herself a Goddess? Does she even have a diploma? Even Tricia, in my eyes, is just a country bumpkin!"

After Monica came out from her shower, the three discussed and unanimously decided to delve deeper into the Dawn Church and perform that summoning ritual.

"Wake up."

Lin Da used the Dark Whip to tie up Black Crow and had Kafni pour a bucket of cold water on his head.

"Sss."

Black Crow shivered.

Although a Transcendent, he seemed to have a very weak physique.

Lin Da found some gems similar to Demon Cores on this man.

Normal Transcendents, not in Werewolf form, used such external forces to cast spells.

In other words, confiscate the gems, and they're completely ordinary people.

"You're attacking a Church Envoy? Are you mad? Do you have any idea what you are doing?"

Black Crow yelled with a frightening tone but inward trepidation.

He looked at his stripped clothes and Lin Da's purple Energy Whip, both shocked and afraid: He'd misjudged the situation; based on the strength of this Energy Whip alone, at least an S-rank Transcendent, not someone he could handle!

"Not quite clear on the situation yet? Kafni, slap him," Lin Da snorted coldly.

"Alright."

Kafni picked up the slippers and with two crisp slaps, made Black Crow's mouth bleed, eliciting his compliance.

"I ask, you answer. Answer well, and I might consider letting you off the hook."

Lin Da took a sip of red tea and said, "First question, what were the wish contents for these Transcendent Test Subjects? What were the wishes made by Number 73, Tina, and Number 79, Lin Xi?"

"That sort of classified information... only the Bishop knows, I really don't know... ah! Stop hitting me, I truly don't know!"

Black Crow's face was swollen from Kafni's slapping, turning him into a fat panda head.

"Fine, I'll take your word for now. Second question, what is the Dawn Goddess?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"A deity that can grant any wish."

"Be more specific."

"Uh... that's what the Bishop says."

"You believe whatever the Bishop says? Kafni, hit him!"

Lin Da was infuriated; this was a completely brainwashed good-for-nothing. There was no way to interrogate any valuable information out of him!

Black Crow was beaten into unconsciousness.

Lin Da paced in the room with furrowed brows; it seemed that to find out the wish contents of Lin Xi and the others, he would need to meet this Bishop face to face.

No matter what, he had to infiltrate the Dawn Church.

He looked at his team members: "Town Portal Scrolls, have them at the ready. If anything unexpected happens, leave immediately."

"Understood." Kafni and the others nodded seriously.

With only seven days to stay in the Mystic Realm, Lin Da chose the most direct approach to get close to the Bishop.

...

A day later.

Black Crow, brimming with confidence, drove back to the Church residence. His face was still bruised, but his spirits were too excited to care, and he was almost ready to burst into song.

He glanced back disdainfully at the three people bound head to toe in the carriage: "You think a few ropes can hold me, Black Crow?"

Taking advantage of the three people sleeping, Black Crow escaped from the rope bindings and laid claim to their 'Magic Stones' used for casting spells.

With this, the Transcendents became toothless tigers, while Black Crow himself donned the Magic Stones to cast a Grass-type Spell: 'Blue Entanglement', tying Lin Da and the others up.

"I wanted to assimilate you into the Church. Well, you brought this on yourselves. The Bishop has been looking for S-tier Transcendents recently, so your three hearts will make a fine sacrifice to the Goddess!"

"I, Black Crow, an A-tier Transcendent, have actually captured three S-tiers. The Bishop was right; strength isn't everything, wisdom is!"

Black Crow, looking smug, glanced at the three 'unconscious' losers in the carriage, humming a cheerful tune, he snapped the whip and drove out of Dark Night City, onto a path leading to the deep mountains and ancient forests.

"Lin Da, my stomach is itchy, scratch it for me."

Kafni's arms were tied behind her, and she was afraid of breaking the ropes if she used too much force, so she had to ask Lin Da for help.

"Keep it down. If we get heard, the plan will fail."

Lin Da's eyelids twitched with annoyance, wishing he could throw Kafni out of the carriage.

Look at how well Monica was playing her part, nestled in his arms like an obedient big kitty.

Kafni was nothing but trouble; one moment it was an uncomfortable position, and the next, an itch here or there.

The floor of the carriage was indeed damp, and Lin Da was also feeling uncomfortable.

But enduring hardship is one of the essential qualities of an adventurer.

If you're afraid of everything, you might as well go home and raise kids!

Lin Da gave Kafni a silent warning with his eyes.

Alright, alright.

Kafni replied with the shape of her mouth.