[You have successfully drawn the Corpse Explosion Rune. Special Rewards: Survival Points +3, Spirit Level +1.]

[You have successfully drawn the Undead Fury Rune...]

[You have successfully drawn the Elemental Heart Rune...]

[...Blink Rune...]

[...Heart Rune of Flesh and Blood...]

Wei’en had chosen not to exchange for Magic Runes from the Undead Magic system.

Instead, he selected the Core Rune of the Spiritual Mystery School’s Elemental Spell System—the Heart of Elements—and the Blink Spell, which was useful for making a quick getaway.

He also picked the Core Rune of the Blood Spirit School’s flesh enhancement system: the Heart of Flesh and Blood.

He was mainly concerned about the two new Origin sub-bodies. Without Rune Brandings on their foreheads, he felt they just didn’t look like proper Xiaoxi.

Immediately after, Wei’en spent 50 Survival Points to max out each of these five Magic Runes.

[Congratulations! You have acquired the knowledge of a max-level rune. Your Runology (Apprentice) progression: 6/10. Special Reward: Spirit Level +1.]

[...]

[Congratulations! You have acquired the knowledge of a max-level rune. Your Runology (Apprentice) progression: 10/10. Special Reward: Spirit Level +1.]

[Congratulations! Your Runology (Apprentice) has successfully advanced to Runology (Adept): 0/100. Special Rewards: Survival Points +10, Resilience Level +3, Spirit Level +3.]

He’d reached Runology (Adept)!

As this notification appeared, a vast and complex body of knowledge flooded into Wei’en’s mind.

He hissed, sucking in a breath through his teeth.

Even with his current Origin and Spirit levels, he still found it difficult to withstand such a massive influx of knowledge.

The patterns of all basic runes, the classifications of basic runes, methods of rune composition, drawing techniques, the theory of basic Rune Arrays...

All this knowledge related to apprentice-level runology was stored in his mind, waiting to be studied and absorbed.

A long time passed before Wei’en finally stood up, dizzy and seeing stars. He clung to the workbench, the world still spinning around him.

’What a massive system of knowledge...’

If he hadn’t obtained such a huge amount of runic knowledge this way, it would have likely taken him an immense amount of effort to read and memorize it all.

But now, simply by allocating points on his panel, he had obtained all the foundational theoretical knowledge of runology...

’All I can say is, the panel is god-tier!’

Wei’en rested with his eyes closed for over an hour before he started to feel a bit better.

However, given his current state, he probably wouldn’t be able to level up his apprentice-level Potion-making today.

’If another wave of potion-making knowledge hits me, my head will probably explode on the spot...’

’I’ll just learn a few Magic Potion recipes for now and put the rest off for a few days... I can also use the time to absorb this runology knowledge, which will help with building the Mechanical Puppet.’

The Rune Array for that Iron Heart Fury Mechanical Puppet was even more complex, as it was broken down and spread across various components. Without a certain level of skill in rune composition, it would be truly difficult to complete.

Next, Wei’en continued to study the Magic Runes, specifically trying to fuse them with the Death God Origin Rune.

The previous Mechanical Box (Death God) rune had brought him a huge boost, and it had also given him a strong craving to fuse more runes.

Unfortunately, after some preliminary research, he found that only the patterns of the Heart Rune of Flesh and Blood, the Blink Rune, and the Corpse Explosion Rune were hexagrams, which meant they could potentially be fused with the Death God Origin Rune.

As for the other two, the Undead Fury Rune was a seven-pointed star, and the Heart of Elements was an even more complex nine-pointed star.

Neither met the conditions for fusion with the Death God Origin Rune.

Fortunately, the subsequent fusion research went smoothly. He had the experience from last time, coupled with his new, profound understanding of basic runology.

This time, he successfully fused the three runes in less than an hour.

[You have successfully combined the Death God Olanir Origin Rune with the Heart Rune of Flesh and Blood and drawn the result. Evaluation: "Genius" is no longer enough to describe you; "freak" is more accurate. Special Rewards: Survival Points +5, Spirit Level +1, Resilience Level +1.]

[You have successfully combined the Death God Olanir Origin Rune with the Blink Rune and drawn the result... Survival Points +5, Spirit Level +1, Resilience Level +1.]

[You have successfully combined the Death God Olanir Origin Rune with the Corpse Explosion Rune... Survival Points +5, Spirit Level +1, Resilience Level +1.]

It was also worth noting that the Soul-Devouring Rune was even more complex than the Elemental Heart Rune, reaching a terrifying twelve-pointed star.

Looking back, he recalled that learning this rune had indeed taken a great deal of effort.

Once all these preparations were complete, Wei’en luxuriously drank a bottle of perfect-grade Enlightenment Potion, restoring his Spiritual Power to its peak state, and then began to brand the runes onto the Xiaoxi.

First, he branded the two newborn Xiaoxi with the Soul-Devouring Rune...

After that, he proceeded to brand the five newly learned runes onto the three heads...

Only the driver, who got nothing, smacked his lips, watching his three brothers scream "miserably," his eyes filled with envy.

’Baba, give me one too!’

...

...

Meanwhile, a low voice of despair once again echoed through the sky above the Laos District.

"Dawn will fade, the Red Moon will endure."

"A sorrowful dirge, all things wither and die."

"May we be Red Moon Servants for all eternity..."

"May the light of the Lord of the Red Moon shine upon the world forever, and may all worldly illusions become an eternal nightmare..."

Aside from those who had previously turned into handsome men and beautiful women, the new residents of the slums exposed themselves to the Red Moon under the guidance of these voices.

And, as time passed, these people also gradually transformed into Red Moon Servants, chanting in unison: "The Lord of the Red Moon will descend at last, bringing salvation or destruction..."

"Eternal life is truth~"

Padilla and Hector were watching with satisfaction when they suddenly heard this coquettish voice and froze...

"Did you hear that, Padilla?"

Padilla, dressed in a red robe, glared at him irritably. "I’m not deaf. Of course I heard it."

"It’s the Eternal Life Association..." Hector scanned the crowd in the district.

Handsome man, handsome man, beautiful woman, Clelia, Clelia, Clelia...

Hm?

’Wait, did something strange get mixed in?’

"It’s Clelia!!"

Padilla looked at the few Red Moon Servants who had taken on Clelia’s face. "Hector, what about the Despair Domain I had you set up?"

"No need to check. My setup is fine."

Hector’s expression was grim as he looked at the ’Clelias’. "It seems she’s already discovered this place..."

Padilla’s face fell as well. "Clelia, why are you here?"

"We’re all old friends. I just came by to catch up~"

One of the Clelias sashayed over to them with a seductive gait. "I have to say, the Red Moon Church’s corruption trait is very useful."

"Hmph!" Padilla turned her head away. "You only dare to send puppets."

"Oh? Are you angry now?"

Clelia shot a flirtatious glance at Hector and chuckled. "Look, even Hector isn’t angry. Why are you, the helper who was dragged into this, getting so worked up?"

"Clelia," Hector said coldly, "you’re the one who stole the totem from our Despair Sect, aren’t you?"

"Totem?"

Clelia tilted her head, thinking for a moment before it dawned on her. "Oh, you mean that thing? Tsk tsk, if your Despair Sect couldn’t even keep that safe, you deserved to lose it."

"Don’t think I can’t do anything to you just because your real body isn’t here."

"Is that so? Why don’t we test that theory?"

SNAP.

Clelia snapped her fingers, and the people in the district behind her, men and women alike, began to transform into her likeness one after another...

Hector froze when he saw this, murmuring, "We worked on this for two days..."

Fury erupted on Padilla’s face. "Damn it, give me back my followers!"

"Your followers?"

Clelia laughed scornfully. "Why don’t you ask them? See which one is your follower?"

"Why don’t you ask them, see which one..."

"Why don’t you..."

"...your follower..."

"...er..."

For a moment, the entire Laos District echoed with her distinctive voice, causing the expressions on Padilla and Hector’s faces to grow darker and darker.

"CLELIA!!!"

The massive roar pierced through the Laos District, carrying far into the distance...