When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 843: Chapter 222 The Open Conspiracy of Serpent Celestial Marshal Chapter 843: Chapter 222 The Open Conspiracy of Serpent Celestial Marshal Aiwass could roughly guess the thought process of the Lord of Scalefeather.

If the very existence of Aiwass implied unpredictability…

It would explain why the plans revolving around him, laid out by his Foster Father James and his grandfather Jacob, all failed due to unpredictable variables.

And it wasn’t just them.

From the Lohar Society and the Noble Red to the Succubus representing the Rose Cross Society… when these long-executed plans developed to the point of needing contact with Aiwass, sudden variables began to appear.

Now it seems, if Aiwass made everything that was certain become uncertain… then the best way to utilize him was not to try to control Aiwass.

Instead, use Aiwass to eliminate the “worst” options first, cutting off these future possibilities.

Afterwards, no matter how random things got, they would at least not be the worst-case scenario.

After all, no one desired to witness another Pillar God ascend to Supreme Heaven in this world—no one wished for the emergence of a new Supreme Heaven.

If the original “Transcendence” turned into “fall,” the whole world would likely veer towards chaos and Darkness.

However…

“This seems unnecessary for me.”

Aiwass said earnestly: “The Serpent Celestial Marshal… has other plans.”

Although saying this, Aiwass felt a bit peculiar—it was almost like making an alt account to praise oneself.

Nonetheless, the Ring of Ouroboros was indeed a ritual prepared by the Serpent Celestial Marshal.

And Aiwass believed that the Lord of Scalefeather certainly knew this.

Sure enough.

The Lord of Scalefeather just smiled and said, “Are you referring to the ‘Ring of Ouroboros’ ritual?

Indeed… He has even prepared ‘Ouroboros Continuation’ on the side of Star Antimony, just waiting for them to take the bait.

“He has disguised this ritual.

Those people would only believe that they can steal the power of the Celestial Marshal through this ritual and bypass the ascension ceremony to soar to the Sixth Power Level.

Since the ritual indeed holds this power, there’s no issue… After all, it’s a ritual personally created by the Serpent Celestial Marshal, there’s no way they could detect the problem with it.

“Furthermore, this ritual requires a Fifth Power Level sacrificial victim—this fits perfectly with the thinking of the Demon Scholars.

“In their worldview, a powerful ritual is always accompanied by a cost.

If this ritual required no sacrifice, they would immediately suspect a scam.

But because this ritual necessitates the sacrifice of a participant, it becomes extremely persuasive…”

At this, the Lord of Scalefeather chuckled with a scoff, “Those people are still at each other’s throats.

“Some have hidden the true cost of the ritual, while others have fabricated different costs to try to profit from it.

And those who know the true cost are deceiving each other.

They form these little groups and talk of making someone outside their group ‘the cost of the ritual,’ when in reality, they plan to use this opportunity to recruit others and eliminate rivals.

But those speaking do not realize that they are chosen as the sacrifice in another group.

“The benefits that tempt everyone, and the price that no one can afford—but only requires one person to pay—where the one paying the price will forever close their mouth.

Judging by the benefits they receive, they believe that the person will utterly dissipate, to the extent that even the chance to become a Demon will not be possible.

“For these Demon Incarnations, nearly everyone marked with the Mark of Sin, ensuring that their completely offended colleague would not become a Demon to seek revenge is also a very practical benefit.”

The Lord of Scalefeather praised his old friend, “I must say, the Serpent Celestial Marshal’s grasp of human nature is extremely precise.

“In this format, even those who understand the ritual find it impossible to extricate themselves.

“Because anyone who participates can ascend to the Sixth Power Level; no matter how many people advance a level, the price only needs one person.

From this perspective, each additional person leaving means a higher chance of being chosen as the price.

“Therefore, even if they have to deceive that person to come back, they won’t let anyone leave—even to the extent that those attempting to leave might be killed to deter others from leaving.

“After all, they don’t want the ritual to be destroyed.

And those who leave could potentially become Informers, turn into traitors of secret organizations.

And that would mean their hopes are dashed—”

…Is this the Serpent Celestial Marshal?

Aiwass felt a slight tremor in his heart.

The Serpent Celestial Marshal didn’t set any prohibitions for them, nor uttered a single lie.

“`

He merely introduced the underlying mechanism of this ritual in a few words…

and it sparked the greed, evilness, cowardice, as well as the irresistible transcendental instincts within these Fifth Power Level Transcenders.

Thus, the ritual began to spread spontaneously.

Victims unknowingly became accomplices, hunting other victims.

They were like crabs in a cage, pulling back those who tried to leave.

Everyone had to work together to complete the ritual, yet almost everyone’s position differed subtly.

For example, the King of Stibium, a member of the Rose Cross Society and an Alchemist, certainly did not wish to see too many become Sixth Power Level beings.

The Red Chancellor and the Black Chancellor had mysterious stances of their own.

Other Transcenders of the Rose Cross Society also had their thoughts.

Foreigners in particular harbored their selfish desires—one hundred percent of them did not want to witness the birth of several, or even a dozen, Sixth Power Level Transcendents in Stibium.

As they were embroiled in the deadly struggles and power struggles of various forces, no one had the spare energy to question whether the ritual itself was a farce.

Even if someone learned through some means the true plan of the Serpent Celestial Marshal or the nature of the Ring of Ouroboros ritual, their warnings would be futile—because the evidence could very well be forged by someone to prevent them from participating in the ritual; even if they wanted to escape, they could be accused of being an Informer to “sabotage everyone’s ritual.”

But, if you think about it…

“…this sounds somewhat familiar.”

Aiwass fell into contemplation.

This plan’s style…

really resembled Aiwass’s own.

He looked hesitantly at the Lord of Scalefeather: “So what do you need me to do then?

“Am I responsible for…

cleaning up after the Serpent Celestial Marshal?

To eliminate the Fallen Celestial Marshals they dragged down?”

“Yes.”

Lord of Scalefeather answered.

“But, is that really necessary for me to be involved?

It’s hard to say, but the Serpent Celestial Marshal’s plan for the first Ring of Ouroboros ritual must have accounted for this, and it wasn’t supposed to be ‘This is where Aiwass needs to come in,’ right?”

Aiwass retorted.

This was also a question that had perplexed Aiwass for a long time.

The Ring of Ouroboros ritual itself was the Serpent Celestial Marshal’s plan—or rather, conspiracy.

Its occurrence directly led to the spectacle of Celestial Marshals falling from the skies in droves.

And from a standing point, Aiwass was hostile to the Serpent Celestial Marshal.

Although the Serpent Celestial Marshal would protect Aiwass for now, the ultimate goal was to devour Aiwass.

—But if they were enemies, why would Aiwass clean up after the Serpent Celestial Marshal?

This question was resolved by players in the game.

But this world had no “players.”

Without players, who could defeat the Fallen Celestial Marshals?@@novelbin@@

Could it be that the Serpent Celestial Marshal merely intended to exile the Celestial Marshals to the Material Realm and had never considered how to kill these Celestial Marshals?

Also, there was another issue—

Aiwass pressed on: “Moreover, how does my killing the Fallen Celestial Marshals benefit you in the end?”

This was what puzzled Aiwass the most.

The Fallen Celestial Marshal was not the Bear Celestial Marshal, and though He wasn’t exactly benevolent, He didn’t really provoke other Celestial Marshals and Pillar Gods along other Paths.

To be precise, He took a liking to stealing high-quality souls and branding them with the Mark of Sin.

However, He didn’t act frequently as there were few in the Material Realm who turned into Demons.

Even if one were to have animosity towards Him, it should be the Serpent Father.

After all, the Fallen Celestial Marshal almost swayed an entire Path, tarnishing the reputation of Transcenders who were originally meant to symbolize “active ascent.”

—But then, what does it matter to You, the Pillar God of the Path of Adaptation?

“`