Global Evolution: I Transplanted the Supreme Divine Heart-Chapter 290 - 287: We Should Discuss Terms

Southwest of the Original Sin Continent, the Twisted Jungle.

Bai Pu and Blood Spider followed Father Arius's missionary team forward.

Bai Pu had already analyzed with Blood Spider that this mission, if taking only the native's factors into account, was actually not very difficult.

Because Father Arius was already adept at missionary work. Even without Bai Pu's involvement, recruiting 30 Thorn Recruits wouldn't be hard.

But the difficulty of this mission was unknown, implying the involvement of Awakened from enemy factions—like the Border Town Wanderer and Chen Ge who escaped last time.

While passing through the jungle, Bai Pu suggested if they could take a detour, as there was a possibility of enemy ambush in the jungle. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Father Arius dismissed the suggestion, saying, "The last victory already killed two self-righteous Blasphemers, and the two who escaped have long been scared! Under the protection of the brave Holy Warriors and devout Fanatics, we fear no Blasphemer."

Father Arius refused to take a detour, mainly because the vastness of the Twisted Jungle meant a detour could take several extra hours.

Currently, Bai Pu's Reputation Level was too low to gain the natives' attention with his words. He no longer tried to persuade, donned his cloak, and followed the team in silence.

Suddenly, the sound of rustling arose, and flying sand and rolling stones surrounded them.

Trees waved their branches and vines like whips, lashing and binding!

A Thorn Fanatic was pierced by sharp branches extending from two large trees.

Then the branches snapped to the sides like taut bowstrings, tearing the Thorn Fanatic's body apart, with blood gushing out!

Mystical Art: Enemy of Nature, Level 4 Effect: Tree Spear Rip!

It was the Forest Sage Chen Ge, striking once more.

Bai Pu raised his Tower Shield, standing in front of Blood Spider to block the trees' attack. Fortunately, they were in the inner circle, enduring less intense attacks.

Whoosh!

An arrow whistled through the air with great force, piercing the chest of a Thorn Saint Warrior and nailing him to a big tree behind! That tree was also affected by Enemy of Nature, its thick branches twisting and coiling, binding the Thorn Saint Warrior tightly.

The arrow exploded in the Thorn Saint Warrior's chest, erupting in a brilliant flash of electric light!

The Thorn Saint Warrior revealed his Twisted True Form and wasn't felled by that arrow, but the subsequent dazzling electric light made him tremble and convulse, his Life Value continuously dropping.

The formidable figure who shot this arrow slowly emerged among the trees.

He was a tall young man, handsome, with extraordinarily long arms, resembling the legendary abnormality of Uncle Liu — hands reaching past the knees.

He wore leather armor, with two heavy Thorn Cutting Sabers crossed on his chest, and carried a Great Bow nearly two meters long on his back! Such a powerful bow would be difficult to fully draw without a sufficiently exceptional arm span Talent.

The arrow just now was an attack from this young Archer.

Seeing he was an enemy, Bai Pu quickly threw out a Nine Chapters Detection without fear of being targeted by him.

[Lugo (Warrior Level 7)]

[Species: Humanoid Species/Human Race]

[Profession: Storm Sniper]

[Attributes: Power 75, Agility 105, Endurance ???, Spirit 42]

[Skill 1: Warrior's Tenacity: Gains 3500 extra Life Value and 10 points of Fixed Damage Reduction.]

[Skill 2: Storm Arrow: Fires an arrow with the power of a storm, infusing elemental damage of wind and thunder and subjecting the target to a control check based on both elements.]

[Skills 3~7: ???]

[Skill 8: Wind Manipulation Technique: Enables swift movements, increasing own Movement Speed (53) points. In the state of Wind Manipulation Technique, the precision of Remote Shooting will not decrease.]

Seeing the Level 7, Bai Pu realized it was a native powerhouse, as the Awakened who could come to the Original Sin Continent reached only Level 6 at most.

"Another Blasphemer! Kill him!" Father Arius's form twisted rapidly, transforming into a tendril monster with seven eyes, emitting a buzzing roar.

The remaining two Thorn Saint Warriors led the Fanatics charging towards Lugo.

Because Lugo was a highly threatening Archer, melee combat was the only option against him.

However, Lugo sneered, a gentle breeze swirling around him, as he floated lightly three inches above the ground, retreating while constantly drawing his Longbow.

Arrow after arrow, each so swift it left no time for defense!

Worse yet, Lugo could infuse wind and thunder elemental Energy into his arrows, greatly enhancing Sharp Damage with a paralyzing effect. Once hit by an arrow, a second and third arrow were inevitable!

The Thorn Fanatics, as Elites, had a Life Value of 2000 points, but under the barrage of such powerful bow shots, they couldn't withstand a few arrows before falling into a seriously injured state, drastically reducing their combat effectiveness.

Fortunately, Remote Shooting didn't have Combat Specialization's damage boost, otherwise, Lugo could have eliminated these Fanatics one by one in no time.

The two Thorn Saint Warriors leading them could only command the Fanatics to hide among the trees, looking for opportunities to advance and pursue. But this drastically lowered the efficiency of their pursuit.

"Dior, why aren't you going after them?"

Father Arius looked very displeased.

Bai Pu shook his head and said, "We are here to protect you."

"I have two Fanatics by my side, and I'm not a completely non-combat cleric!" Father Arius said loudly.

Yet before he finished speaking, from the other side of the dense forest, a quick troop surged out! Each of them bore the same crossed Thorn Cutting Sabers pattern on their chest armor.

Thorn Cutters!

These Thorn Cutters charged toward Father Arius like fierce tigers.

The two Fanatic guards did loyally step up. Behind them, Father Arius waved his tendrils, launching powerful Decomposition Beam attacks.

"Dior! Act now!" Father Arius buzzingly urged.

"I think we should talk terms." Bai Pu said calmly, "As you and Lord Archbishop Yajino stated, I joined the Thorn Church for Power. Last time I helped the Church to eliminate two Blasphemers, yet received no reward!"

"This time, joining the missionary is to help you accumulate Merit! Lord Bishop also promised participation in the Suffering Ceremony, after which you might receive true divine favor and become one of us!" Father Arius replied angrily.

"Sorry, I still prefer a more tangible promise." Bai Pu displayed the Admonition Stick in his hand, "For example, I really like this. As you promised last time, you would let me have the 'Holy Thorns' after we return to the Church, right?"

The Admonition Stick's high Durability could induce extra pain, granting an additional bonus for cultivating Steel Skin. Bai Pu's Steel Skin was nearing Level 2, greatly thanks to the effect of the Admonition Stick.

The reason Bai Pu was negotiating now was because the benefits from the Thorn Church were hard to obtain and required transforming into a monster and achieving a Revered or higher Reputation first.

But Bai Pu suspected becoming a monster meant giving up his identity as an Awakened and becoming a permanent part of the Original Sin World.

Of course, he would not consent to that.

Bai Pu wasn't impressed by missionary Merit accumulation; without Reputation, Merit is useless. Truly good things were not open for grabs! Better to strike while the iron is hot and grab some immediate benefits.

In short, Bai Pu doesn't accept any form of freeloading.