A vicious female is trapped in a beastly hell.

Chapter 543 Good boy, kill me
Upon hearing the system's words, Shen Tang froze on the spot.

She subconsciously looked up at Jialan beside her. He seemed unwilling to let anyone notice anything amiss, and like everyone else, he lowered his head and ate a few bites, his behavior as natural as any other normal person.

Shen Tang's eyes suddenly reddened, and her heart ached with a bitter feeling.

Jialan, who was always such a proud mermaid princess, can only live in this way now, and even has to pretend to be nonchalant so as not to worry them.

If it weren't for the system's reminder, Shen Tang thought: Jia Lan would probably continue to pretend like this for the rest of her life, never letting anyone see the truth.

After dinner, when she returned to the palace to rest, Shen Tang went to see Jia Lan alone.

He had just hung his coat on the hanger, wearing only a white satin shirt. His figure was slender and upright. Just standing quietly, he looked like a statue sculpted by the hand of a god, aloof and otherworldly.

He seemed to be preparing to rest, but when he saw Shen Tang arrive, he looked slightly flustered. "Tangtang, why are you here? Aren't you going to keep Xiao Jin and the others company?"

If it were the old Jialan, she would never have said these words.

He was just afraid that if she got too close, she would notice something was wrong with his body.

Shen Tang didn't say anything, but stepped forward and gently wrapped her arms around his waist.

The young man's waist was lean and strong, but it was completely different from before—no longer supple and warm, but cold and stiff, like an inanimate object.

He no longer tensed up with nervousness or felt his body temperature rise with joy as he used to. She used to be so familiar with the burning heartbeat in his chest, almost bursting out of his chest, and could hear it clearly... But now, she felt like she was holding a piece of wood or a stone, offering no response.

Shen Tang buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled, "...Why don't you hug me like you used to?"

The young man slowly raised his hand and wrapped it around her waist.

Despite being a deeply loved partner, his actions were as cautious as if he were carefully measuring, striving to be exactly the same as before.

Shen Tang closed her eyes, her voice tinged with bitterness, "Smell it, tell me which perfume I'm wearing tonight."

The young man stared at her, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, but he couldn't utter a single word.

"You can't smell it anymore, right?"

"..."

"You can't taste the food anymore."

"..."

"You... can't smell my scent anymore either."

"..."

Shen Tang hugged him tighter, and after a long silence, she asked in a low voice, "Can you still feel me?"

The young man remained silent, but the arm around her waist tightened. He didn't want her to worry, but he couldn't deny the truth.

He couldn't feel anything.

So, he couldn't feel anything at all.

Shen Tang buried his face even deeper, secretly raising his hand to wipe away the moisture from his face. Tears soaked his clothes, but he didn't notice.

Instead of collapsing as I expected, she looked up at him with a bright smile, though her eyes were still red. "If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely help you find your real body!"

She wants him back.

They came back completely intact.

Instead of being like this now, half-human, half-ghost, wandering the human world.

“Tangtang…” Jialan spoke with a sore voice, breaking the silence.

He loosened his grip on her slightly, looked down at her moist eyes, and slowly raised his hand to gently wipe away the tear stains from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips, while stroking her soft, long hair with his other hand.

Even though his body couldn't sense anything, his soul still retained the instinct of memory, as if he could truly touch her hair. His slender, jade-like fingers gently combed her long hair, as naturally and intimately as before, like a silent comfort.

He said softly, "Don't be sad, it's nothing. I'm already very content to be able to stay by your side in this way."

Jialan originally thought he would disappear forever, but he never expected to see the living Shen Tang again, to talk to her, to touch her, and to stay by her side—even if it was just through a doll-like body, it was enough for him.

Shen Tang stubbornly shook her head, "You shouldn't have ended up like this!"

She solemnly vowed, "If Ryūya reappears, I will definitely catch him and take your body back—"

"I won't allow it." Jialan gently pressed her fingers against her lips.

He, who had always been obedient to her, was unusually serious at this moment, shaking his head and saying, "Tangtang, you have already done enough for me, I am really satisfied, don't take any more risks for me."

He knew exactly how strong Ryūya was.

He was the one who was tricked and lost his body; she shouldn't have to bear the consequences.

Although Ryūya suffered a temporary defeat this time, he will undoubtedly be more vigilant in the future. As the contaminated land spreads, his power will only grow stronger.

Even if they meet again in the future, Shen Tang and the others may not be his match.

To reclaim his body and become an enemy of Ryuya could even invite more severe retaliation.

This was too dangerous for her.

Jialan looked down at the female in his arms, his long, slender, pale fingers gently stroking her slightly furrowed brows, his voice gentle and deep, "I am a secondary personality that was created from within. It is already good that I can retain my consciousness and stay by your side."

"For me, the most unbearable thing is losing you."

He actually felt lucky, at least he could still "see" and "hear" many things with his mental powers. Apart from not being able to eat, sleep, or feel anything, he was no different from a normal person.

“Lan’er, he lied to you. Personalities are only distinguished by strength or weakness, not by primary or secondary.” Runas’s voice suddenly came from the doorway.

Shen Tang and Jia Lan were both taken aback and looked at the high priest who was slowly walking in.

A hint of confusion flashed across Jialan's eyes. "Father? Why do you say that? But I'm no match for Liuye at all, I can't even put up a fight..."

"Father, am I too weak?"

If Jialan believed that she was just a secondary personality destined to be devoured, perhaps she wouldn't feel resentful.

But when he learned that he was not a secondary personality, yet still failed to regain his body, he felt not only resentment but also a deeper sense of guilt, realizing he had been utterly useless.

Runas looked at him with pity and explained gently, "You were suppressed by Ryuya because he has obtained the complete power of the curse, while you have not yet obtained the inherited power of the high priests of the past, so it is naturally difficult for you to contend with him."

He gazed intently at his son's pained and frustrated expression, his tone tinged with apology, "And the reason your power is unable to break through to a higher level... is because of me."

The power of the high priests of the sea tribe has always been passed down from generation to generation.

The old dies and the new is born, passed down from generation to generation, unchanging through the ages.

But Jialan is the only special branch that grew out of this main trunk.

Therefore, he lived as an ordinary merman and never awakened the power of the priest clan.

Jia Lan and Shen Tang had obviously thought of this, and shock appeared on their faces at the same time.

Jialan, in particular, stared blankly at her father, her lips moving slightly, but ultimately unable to utter a sound.

Lunas said those words for him.
"Only when I die will this power be passed on to you."

He walked step by step toward Jialan and said slowly, "I did not grant you the power of the priest before, although there was a trace of selfishness in my heart, and I could not help but covet the prosperity of this world. But more than that, I did not want you to bear this shackle. I hoped that you could escape the curse of the priest clan and live a free life like an ordinary orc child."

"The priesthood, though powerful, is also a shackle that carries heavy responsibilities."

His voice was deep, as if it contained profound memories and emotions. "I didn't want you to repeat the same mistakes and be bound by them. I secretly hoped that you and your partner could enjoy a normal, fulfilling life, peaceful and prosperous, and grow old freely... But now, I think you need this strength."

“I shouldn’t be selfish anymore; it’s time to hand it over to you.”

Runas walked up to Garan, took a short blade from his sleeve, and handed it to him.
The voice was extremely gentle, "Good child, kill me."

The blade gleamed coldly, reflecting both the high priest's kind and gentle smile and the young man's pale and fearful face.

“Father, I can’t…” Jialan staggered back a few steps, looking at the man in front of her. Her dry eyes could not shed tears, but her body trembled slightly, which showed her inner resistance.

How could he kill his own father!

Runas gazed at him tenderly, his voice steady and gentle, without the slightest fluctuation, yet carrying a certain alluring power, "Lan'er, only by obtaining the inherited power of the priest clan can you fight against Liu Ye."

"Let's do it, Lan'er."

Lunas remained as gentle and composed as ever, his emotions rarely fluctuating, like a stagnant pool of water.

This is a lesson that every high priest must learn.

Only by severing all emotional ties and desires, and by being free from the constraints of personal feelings, can one become a true priest and forever make correct and unregretful choices.

Jialan refused to take the knife from his hand.

finally.

Runas sighed softly, no longer pressing him, and with a flick of his wrist, the sharp blade pierced straight into his left chest.

"Father!"

Jialan could no longer contain her emotions and rushed forward to stop him, but it was too late.

Runas's body transformed into a pale golden light and gradually dissipated, while all of that light flowed into Jialan's body.

Jialan suddenly lost all strength and collapsed to the ground, her face showing pain as if her soul could not bear such immense power.

But what was immediately apparent was the rapid ascent of his overall cultivation level!
After losing his physical body, Jia Lan lost all his abilities except for his mental power. At this moment, his strength broke through to the tenth level and did not stop there, but went straight to the Yuan Beast level!

He even awakened a new superpower, the Supreme Purification System!

Long——

A deep, resonant bell rang out from within the Temple of Poseidon, echoing throughout the entire temple.

This is a bell that is only rung when a change of priests takes place.

It happens once every twenty years.

The moment the bell rang, it heralded the passing of the old high priest and the birth of the new one.

For the past twenty years, the bell has not rung; twenty years later, the belated bell has finally resounded.

Garuda awoke with a start from his sleep, as if sensing something. He put on his outer robe and hurriedly went to the outside of the temple, where he saw that several temple attendants had already come out.

They gazed in one direction, their faces filled with sorrow.

Garuda clutched her chest, feeling inexplicably short of breath. She staggered closer and witnessed the final moments of Lunas's dissipation.

She stood outside the palace, her lips slightly parted, but she didn't utter a word. Only a tear involuntarily slid down her cheek.

She didn't know why she was crying, and only when she raised her hand to wipe it away did she realize how wet it was.

After Lunas disappeared, only two things remained.

A palm-sized golden scale is the heart scale of Lunas, symbolizing his existence in this world.

At the same time, a pale blue bubble the size of a baby appeared on the ground—more accurately, a translucent fish egg.

The follicles glowed with a faint golden light, and the water seemed to envelop an infant, its lower body a pinkish fish tail that had not yet grown scales and showed traces of gold.

Logically speaking, this should be the initial state of a new high priest.

However, it lost the power passed down by the high priests of past generations.

The golden scale that had been suspended in mid-air slowly descended after losing its last bit of support, landing on the fish eggs.

Jialan stared blankly at the two items left behind by Lunas, standing there for a long time, unable to recover her senses.

An elderly man who appeared to be in his seventies or eighties stepped forward. He was wearing the uniform robes of the priests' temple, the robes showing signs of wear, indicating the length of his service.

He was a servant who always accompanied the high priest and conveyed the high priest's last words.

— Jialan can truly be reborn through this child's body.

The high priest looked remarkably similar to Jialan when he was young. Although he was not the original Jialan, it is believed that he will be able to adapt to the situation quickly.

However, this is tantamount to possession.

Jialan refused without hesitation.

He would never possess another's body to be reborn.

Although this child is the next incarnation of Lunas, he is essentially a completely new life. He should have a complete life of his own and should not become a vessel for his resurrection.

The elderly priest was not surprised by His Highness's kindness and compassion, and deeply understood it.

The old orc bent down and gently picked up the baby-sized egg, his movements practiced and tender, as if it were not the first time he had done this.

His shoulders relaxed slightly, as if, along with the departure of the high priest, a certain mission was about to come to an end.

"The curse of the priest clan began with him, lasted for seventeen generations, and ended in the eighteenth." The old man sighed softly, it was unclear whether the "he" he was referring to was Lunas or another old friend.

"He... can be considered to have escaped this curse of endless reincarnation."

Curse, curse, curse the mermaid.

This is the true curse upon the high priest.

"From now on, this child will just be an ordinary teenager among all living beings, which can be considered as fulfilling his wish before his death and returning to an ordinary life."

The old man, holding the still-unhatched mermaid egg, knelt tremblingly before Jialan, saying, "This old servant respectfully welcomes the new High Priest!"

All the servants in the temple came over.

They knelt together outside the palace, and as if in some mysterious ritual, they spontaneously began a solemn dance, making obscure gestures, striking profound poses, or roaming on the palace rooftops.

Viewed from above, it resembles the outline of some ancient totem, chanting a distant and mysterious ballad.

The mermaid's chanting seems to cleanse the soul, with a hint of sorrow and peace in her voice, as well as the joy of new life. It stirs the soul and makes one feel as if a strange power is flowing through their body.

Their dance moves and songs were synchronized and melodious, as if guided and controlled by an invisible hand.

The entire ceremony lasted for more than an hour before finally coming to an end.

The temple servants all prostrated themselves and knelt, bowing respectfully to Jialan, "We respectfully welcome the new High Priest!"

Jialan stood before the palace gate, her back straight as a pine tree, her figure like a sculpture, her temperament aloof and otherworldly. Although she was so close, there was an indescribable sense of distance between them.

The young man had a cool and aloof appearance, a tall and slender figure, and a pair of azure eyes like a vast and deep sea, clear and sparkling with golden light. His whole demeanor was increasingly noble and holy, as if containing compassion for all things, which made people admire him involuntarily. He was sacred and inviolable, and could only be admired from afar.

Shen Tang stared at the young man before her, momentarily stunned.

For some reason, she suddenly felt that... a vague and distant distance was slowly growing between her and Jialan.

The system squawked with delight, [Oh my god, host! We've really hit the jackpot! We've made a killing!!]

[Jialan now possesses top-tier purification abilities! Successfully obtaining his genetic data will undoubtedly yield an astonishing reward!]

Shen Tang was pulled back to her senses by the system's excited, off-key voice, and couldn't help but twitch her lips. "You're thinking too far ahead. He... can't have children now."

The system seemed to have been doused with cold water, immediately deflated, but quickly rallied again within two seconds. [Therefore, the host must find his body as soon as possible! Once he returns to his original form, Jialan will be a top-tier existence in this world, a tremendous asset to the host!]

Shen Tang shook her head with a hint of melancholy.

Although Jialan gained the power she longed for, enabling her to fight against Liuye, she also bore a heavy responsibility, destined to never be as free and unrestrained as before.

Two chapters combined, 4,000 words, goodnight~

I'll be traveling for the past week, so I'll maintain a basic update of 4000 words per day, though the update schedule might be irregular.