In the Secret Realm, time passed at an astonishing speed.
"Mother of the World, this is the altar you requested..."
In a hidden area on the outskirts of a city, Mufeng, acting as the leader, stood atop a massive altar inscribed with demonic runes.
With an almost fanatical attitude, he conducted a ritual to communicate with the "Mother of the World" in front of everyone.
The "sacrifices" used by the priests on the stage were hundreds of bound members of other races.
Unlike the rituals for the Mother of the World in this world, all of these sacrifices were alive!
If anyone else discovered this, they would surely denounce it as desecration of the Mother of the World.
Anyone who dared to offer living beings as a sacrifice to the Mother of the World would be thrown into a burning pyre.
But unfortunately, this sacrifice was not truly for the "Mother of the World."
The real entity being worshiped was a powerful demon disguised as the Mother of the World.
Beneath the altar stood dozens of high-ranking members of various races, differing in age and attire, but all holding powerful positions.
Some were wealthy merchants, some were aged but still formidable generals, and some were royal heirs.
These high-ranking figures watched Mufeng perform the ritual with expressions full of regret, desire, curiosity, fear, and jealousy.
In fact, all of the sacrifices for this ritual had been collected by them!
Every one of these people had fallen into Mufeng's trap, ensnared by his "promise."
The reason they were willing to risk so much to participate in this ritual was because Mufeng had a deep understanding of their dark desires.
Mufeng turned to face this group of people with varying expressions and revealed a chilling smile.
Seeing this smile, their reactions became equally exaggerated.
"Hey, you little bastard!"
A corpulent man, dressed in gold and silver, pointed a fat finger at Mufeng.
"Why have you stopped the sacrifice? The blessing that would make me stronger hasn't reached my hands yet!"
This man was the wealthiest in the city.
The reason he risked so much to help Mufeng with the sacrifice was that despite his wealth, his personal power was too weak.
After repeatedly spending huge sums to sacrifice to the true Mother of the World, he had never received the blessings he sought.
In a society where strength is paramount, wealth without personal power is extremely dangerous.
So when he heard Mufeng's "promise," he dared to take the risk to participate in this sacrifice.
"Are you trying to fool us?"
"Just like those frauds I executed before!"
Another powerful member of a different race narrowed his eyes and glared at Mufeng.
Unlike the fat man, he was a mighty general.
He lacked nothing in personal strength or wealth.
The only thing he lacked was life itself.
As the commander of an entire army, he could feel his life force dwindling.
Everything he owned—his position, wealth, concubines, even his children—was gradually slipping from his control.
He swore he had heard his children secretly plotting to divide his possessions more than once!
To continue enjoying wealth and power, he had once pinned his hopes on the Mother of the World.
But unfortunately, the chance of receiving a blessing to extend life from her was so slim it was almost despairing.
Thus, after hearing Mufeng's promise, he mobilized several of his loyal warriors to collect the "sacrificial offerings" for him.
"If you dare fool us, you should know what will happen to you."
"Kid, be smart!"
"Don't try any tricks."
Several other high-ranking figures used similar tones to threaten Mufeng on the altar.
Of course, these cunning people had already prepared a backup plan.
If Mufeng were a fraud or failed to provide the promised "blessing," his fate would be far worse than death.
These people, capable of making hundreds disappear, could just as easily make Mufeng disappear.
Even if they received the blessing but later the followers of the Mother of the World discovered them, they could expose Mufeng as a fraud to protect their own wealth and status.
To ordinary people, in some ways, these powerful figures were even more terrifying than demons.
"Of course not, esteemed sirs."
Mufeng stood on the altar, looking at them with disdain.
"The sacrifice is complete!"
"Complete?"
The crowd below the altar looked at each other in confusion, as if nothing had happened.
"The will of the Mother of the World has already communicated with me!"
In the next instant, a breath-taking aura filled the entire chamber.
All the members of various races, regardless of their strength, began to tremble uncontrollably.
"This aura…"
The general's face turned pale. As the strongest among them, he understood better than anyone just how powerful the being Mufeng had communicated with was.
Even its mere presence could suppress him, twisting his soul into an indescribable form.
It was a terrifying existence beyond imagination.
On the altar, hundreds of members of other races simultaneously emitted horrifying screams and wails.
These were screams caused by pain that reached the very marrow of their bones, a torture no other world could replicate.
Their souls were being taken by demons from the abyss through the sacrifice.
Their bodies, at the moment the sacrifice completed, turned into black-red foul matter.
This matter then rapidly formed black-red whirlpools under the horrified eyes of the onlookers.
But the sacrifice was not yet over.
Amid countless astonished gazes, Mufeng walked to the center of the altar.
The black-red matter quickly gathered together.
A wisp of black energy appeared from nowhere and entered the collected matter.
Finally, a cocoon appeared.
A cocoon with black-red patterns on its shell appeared on the altar.
Mufeng touched the cocoon, turned around, and smiled at the high-ranking fools.
"This hidden sacrifice..."
"Is over!"
"Come and claim your reward!"
The demonic cocoon behind him writhed violently.