Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 546 The Ember Lamp and the Map

The soul has three parts and resides in the heavens, while the vital spirit has seven parts and follows the earth.

When the energies of heaven and earth are not in harmony, people will be in chaos; only when yin and yang are in harmony can people be at peace.

—From *Zi Bu Yu: The Record of the Soul*

The fog outside the theater finally lifted.

The embers flickered, and the few lanterns had long since burned to ashes, leaving only a faint red glow on the stone steps. A breeze blew, and sparks flew up, like fireflies scattered across the ground.

The God of Fate sat beside the dilapidated drum, wiped the dust off his hands, and spread out the cards that had fallen from the altar one by one.

Roland was packing up his equipment a short distance away, while Selene leaned against a stone pillar and swung her legs.

"Quiet nights are rare these days," Roland sighed, sliding down against the wall.

Si Ming didn't look up, and replied calmly, "When too many people die, there will be stillness."

"What a spoilsport." Celian stretched and laughed carefree. "Isn't this what we've been doing all this time?"

“Indeed.” Si Ming opened the card album and tapped a few cards lightly with his fingers. The firelight reflected off the metal frame, giving it a faint glimmer.

He first revealed three new cards.

[Low-Tier Life-Type Mystic Card]

"Dao Ma Dan: Blood-Stained Silk Chain"

The card depicts a female ghost wielding a sword. Upon activation, it summons a phantom sword spirit, creating a whirlwind-like bleeding area around it.

"Her dance always takes a dramatic turn at the end of the performance."

Selene whistled: "This one's good, beautifully danced and deadly."

Si Ming turned to the next page.

[Low-Tier Life-Type Mystic Card]

Martial Arts Performer: Breaking the Formation with Spear

Briefly enhances melee dash, summoning a ghostly figure to charge at the front line of enemies.

"He continued practicing shooting even after his death, for that play that would never end."

“I remember that gunshot,” Roland said in a low voice, “I was almost stabbed in the head just now.”

Si Ming paused for a moment, then replied calmly, "They're ours now."

The third card was flipped over; it was a clown's mask.

[Low-Tier Life-Type Mystic Card]

The Ugly Grand Tutor: A Laughing Face

When used, it creates an illusion, taunting enemies to attack the illusion itself.

"Laughter tinged with tears, tears tinged with resentment."

Selene looked at the mask and couldn't help but laugh: "This one suits you, Master. You're the expert when it comes to mocking enemies."

Si Ming did not answer, but instead took out two more thicker cards, their edges gleaming with a soft light.

[Mid-Tier Mystic Card of the Fate System]

The Founder of the Opera House: Huaguang Bodhisattva

It can summon a protective aura within a limited range to suppress evil and delay negative effects.

"A single incense stick illuminates the stage between the realms of life and death."

Roland looked at the golden light, a hint of respect flashing in his eyes: "This is a Fate type? It can actually delay the curse."

"There's one more." Si Ming turned to another page.

[Mid-Tier Mystic Card of the Fate System]

Farewell My Concubine

Once activated, it can share health and damage for a short period of time, forming a 'shared life and death' state.

"I have no regrets about sharing life and death in this life; once this song is sung, I will go to the Yellow Springs."

The firelight shone on the card, and the image of their embrace seemed to still be burning.

Celian rested her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling: "How romantic. To die together."

Si Ming raised an eyebrow: "Your understanding... isn't wrong."

Roland smiled: "Don't you think it's like the two of them? That moment was genuine."

Selene blinked and laughed heartlessly: "I'd have to choose the order in which I die first."

Everyone laughed. The laughter sounded somewhat hollow in front of the dilapidated theater.

Si Ming lowered his head and gently placed the last World-type card on his lap.

[World-type Mid-tier Mystic Card]

Purification of Ghosts and Impurities, Blessing at the Altar

Once activated, it generates a purification field that lasts for ten minutes; low-level vengeful spirits within the field automatically dissipate, purifying the contaminated layer.

"Once the altar is set up, the demons will disperse on their own."

This cartoon character is snow-white, with fine runes engraved on its edges.

Si Ming gently stroked the edge with his fingertips and whispered, "A World-type rule card. One card is dropped every time you purify."

"The altar instance..." Roland said thoughtfully, "So the instance itself is teaching people how to purify."

Si Ming nodded: "These cards are not for killing, but for 'purification.' The world is using rules to teach players how to maintain its order."

Selene leaned against the pillar, stretched, and her wingtips fluttered slightly in the night breeze.

"That sounds so boring. Fighting and killing is much more direct."

“You’re only good at dismantling, not repairing,” Si Ming said coldly.

“Then you fix it.” She winked and smiled. “I’ll take it apart, you fix it, we’ll work together perfectly.”

Roland couldn't help but shake his head.

The atmosphere that night was more relaxed than in the previous battles.

The wind blew through the valley, and the flames danced between them.

The God of Fate put the cards into the register one by one and closed the clasp.

"I learned a lot today. The kids' acting was better than most people's."

Roland nodded: "At least for now, we can catch our breath."

"Don't relax for too long." Si Ming looked up, his expression returning to its usual calm. "The dungeon won't give us any real rest time."

“Then take a moment to catch your breath and look at the stars.” Celian looked up, a smile playing on her lips.

The night sky was obscured by thin clouds, and the starlight was faint, but a few stars were still shining.

She reached out, as if trying to grasp the brightest one.

Si Ming glanced at her, said nothing, and simply pressed the last card to the bottom page of the card album.

The flame flickered slightly, reflecting the line of small text:
"Purity means to dispel impurity."

Below the stone steps, the wind blew, and the burned-down theater was completely swallowed by the night.

Their shadows stretched long in the firelight.
And the next mystery...
It has already been quietly launched in the shadows.

The fire crackled and popped, its embers dancing in the night, illuminating a piece of paper yellowed from the flames.

That was Roland's hand-drawn map.

The paper was covered with creases and stains, and the red pen lines were haphazard, yet they outlined the entire "Wangchuan Town".

He slowly and methodically marked the map as he wiped away the dust.

"There are currently three confirmed locations for the ritual altar."

He pointed to the red circle in the center of the map, his tone a little tired, "Ancestral hall, Woke Lane, theater. Two small altars have been cleansed, and the theater that was just purified is of intermediate level, a purification altar."

Selene chewed on a blade of grass, her eyes darting across the map: "So the theater monster we killed was equivalent to purifying an altar point?"

“That’s right,” Roland added from the side, “and the structure of this place is very fixed—small outer altars, mid-level altars, and finally leading to a deeper area.”

Si Ming leaned against the stone steps, staring at the map, his fingers tapping lightly on it.

"Based on the structure of the copy, this should be the sixth of the seven souls - the 'purification soul'."

"Seven Souls?" Roland looked up, raising an eyebrow.

Si Ming smiled slightly and asked lazily, "Have you ever heard of 'three souls and seven spirits'?"

“No.” Roland shrugged. “I’m not very familiar with your Eastern belief system.”

Selene blinked and tilted her head. "I don't understand either. But it sounds like one of those rituals where you draw circles on a grave."

Si Ming sighed softly.

He gestured in the air as if drawing an invisible altar, his voice low and calm.

"After a person dies, their soul returns to heaven, and their spirit returns to earth."

The three souls are 'Tai Guang, Shuang Ling, and You Jing', which belong to Yang;

The seven souls are 'corpse dog, hidden arrow, sparrow yin, swallowing thief, non-poison, purifying filth, and stinking lung', which belong to yin.

The soul governs life, and the soul governs form.

If the seven souls are impure, filth will permeate the air, causing chaos among both humans and ghosts. Therefore, Taoists set up altars to purify the souls and calm the spirits.
One jar purifies one spirit; seven jars combined complete the spirit.

The firelight illuminated his face, casting shifting shadows, and his voice carried a strange rhythm.

Roland listened, somewhat lost in thought: "So that means each altar in this instance represents the purification of a 'soul'?"

Si Ming nodded: "More or less. The overall mechanism of the dungeon is to allow players to 'purify their souls'—or rather, to cleanse the town of its filth."

Selene rested her chin on her hand and smiled lazily: "That's too much trouble, isn't it? They're all clean, and you have to fight monsters and perform rituals, it's like doing housework."

Si Ming ignored her joke and continued his analysis.

"Look here." He reached out and drew seven general directions on the map, circling a few blurry dots.

"According to the layout of Taoist altars, the spirit altar generally follows the earth's energy. The spirit we are currently purifying is in the southwest;"

If I'm not mistaken, the remaining six souls should be located respectively at the tomb passage in the north of the town, the river bend in the east, the ancient well in the south mountain, the government office in the city center, the old school, and the wharf in the east of the town.

Roland frowned: "Then we'd have to cross the entire town?"

"Yes." Si Ming closed his notebook and said calmly, "And after the Seven Souls, there will be the Three Souls Altar, which is a higher-level barrier node."

Selene blinked: "Sounds like a prerequisite level for the final dungeon."

“That’s right.” Roland picked up the conversation and nodded. “The Three Souls and Seven Spirits—this instance is a complete recreation of the ritual. We’re only just beginning.”

With a flicker of firelight, Si Ming raised his head, his expression thoughtful.

"The seal of Taotie should be located at the core of the Three Souls Altar. To obtain the Supreme Card, you must complete this entire ritual."

Roland folded the map neatly, leaned against the stone wall with a wry smile, and said, "It'll take a long time to get there."

"Perhaps," Si Ming smiled faintly, "but it's better than being killed by a dungeon."

Selene rolled her eyes: "I'd rather fight one more monster."

Si Ming glanced at her, a slight smirk playing on his lips: "You, all you know how to do is solve problems with blood and brute force."

She made a face: "Then use your brain, let's fight. Happy cooperation."

Si Ming chuckled and said nothing more.

The fire crackled softly at the sound of that joke.

A spark landed on the corner of the map, which Roland quickly extinguished.

He breathed a sigh of relief: "Anyway, at least we have a direction for now."

"Hmm." Si Ming closed the card album, stood up, and brushed the dust off his clothes.

"Let's solve the mystery first, then we can talk about it."

He looked up at the mountain path in the distance, where a light mist had begun to gather again.

The firelight illuminated his profile, revealing a calm glint in his eyes.

"If the seven spirits are not purified, the soul will be restless."

So we have to keep going.

Selene stretched and joked with a smile, "Let's go then, Mr. Fate. There might be more to come."

It's getting light.

The first rays of dawn peeked out from behind the mountain ridge, whitening the mist. The grass along the mountain path was bent low by the dew, and the air carried the scent of blood and damp earth.

Several people rested around a fire. The night breeze was cool, and the fire crackled softly.

Roland was spreading out a map, marking the route. Siming checked the card album while reorganizing the few low-level cards she had just cleared out, categorizing them and putting them into her backpack.

Selene, on the other hand, was unusually quiet.

She leaned against a rock, hugging her knees, her gaze fixed on the flames. Her usually teasing red eyes now seemed empty.

Si Ming was standing beside him, explaining the next steps.

They were heading northwest to the next area.

The map shows that the next Soul Altar may be hidden in that area.

But Celian didn't listen.

Her mind suddenly felt as if it had been gently pulled open by some force.

A series of unfamiliar scenes flooded in.

A snow-white room.

Outside the window is a vast expanse of blue sea.

The sunlight was so bright that it reflected glaring spots on the glass.

In the center of the room, a red-haired girl sat in a wheelchair. She was very thin, and her skin was almost transparent.

Her fingertips were connected to the ventilator, and the tubing made a slight gurgling sound in the air.

The girl looked up, a gentle smile on her face.

"I want to go outside and see... the world beyond that castle."

The sound was so soft it was almost blown away by the wind.

Like a dream, or like a forgotten memory.

Selene's breath hitched. Her mind went blank.

My chest tightened, and my heart felt like it was being gripped by something.

The next second, the screen shattered.

Only the flickering flame remained.

Her hands were gripping her knees so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

“I…” she murmured, her voice trembling.

"I am not her... I could not be her..."

The firelight reflected in her pupils, making them appear as red as if they were about to bleed.

Si Ming noticed her unusual behavior.

He turned his head, his brow furrowed slightly: "What's wrong?"

Selene jolted, as if startled awake. She looked up and forced a smile.

"It's nothing. I'm probably just too tired, it's just a hallucination."

Si Ming looked at her but did not speak immediately.

She quickly stood up, dusted herself off, and her tone became lively again: "Now that we know the topic, let's hurry up and set off! I can't wait for the next altar."

Roland looked up, smiled, and shook his head: "You seem to be in quite a good mood."

Selene shrugged, smiling brightly: "Of course. I'm a vampire princess, how could I be scared by a mere dungeon?"

The firelight illuminated her smile, making her appear no different than usual.

But Si Ming's gaze remained fixed on her face, as if deep in thought.

He didn't ask any further questions, but simply got up slowly and put the map away.

Backpack fastened, card album tucked into my pocket, and everything returned to calm.

"Let's go." His voice was steady, but it carried a hint of unnoticed heaviness.

"Let's go find the next 'Soul'."

Roland folded the map and picked up his weapon.

The fire was crushed by the god of fate with the sole of his boot, and the sparks turned into flying red and scattered in the wind.

Their shadows were stretched long in the morning light.

We walked along the mountain path, still wet with dew.

The wind blew through the valley, carrying away the lingering scent of the night and the last wisps of smoke from the theater.

The ruins fell completely silent.

Only ashes shimmered in the sunlight.

It's like last night's dream is still slightly burning.

The road ahead is long.

The new altar is still on the other side of the fog.

Selene walked at the back of the group.
Her fingers gently touched her chest.

My heartbeat was slightly erratic.

“…That’s not me,” she murmured softly.

"I am not her."

The wind whipped her hair, carrying away those words.

The soul follows the spirit; when the spirit is pure, the soul is at peace.

If even one thought is not pure, then all phenomena will be in chaos.

—From *Zi Bu Yu* (The Master Did Not Speak Of), Chapter on the Purification of the Soul.

(End of this chapter)