While I was chanting a curse, the system said I was Xiao Yan?

Tianyan stood there, looking at those fanatical faces, at those flushed faces and bloodshot eyes.

He stood on the steps, looking at Sonoda Shigeru's righteous and awe-inspiring face, and remained silent for a moment.

Then he sighed.

"Alright."

Tianyan's tone carried a sense of helplessness, as if he knew this would happen: "Although I really wanted to wait for you guys to pull out a gunner, it's obviously impossible now, so..."

"Feel sorry."

Sonoda Shigeru was taken aback: "What?"

"It was my fault."

Tianyan's voice was low, and his Yaksha mask was slightly lowered, as if he were reflecting on his actions.

"I should have thought of that. Your faith has become a part of your lives. How could you possibly disband the Panxing Cult just because I said a few words?"

The people in the audience were stunned for a moment, and then the commotion subsided somewhat.

Tianyan raised his head, looked at the faces of the people below the stage, and spoke sincerely as if he were talking to an old friend.

"I should respect your steadfast faith."

Shigeru Sonoda's expression finally relaxed a little.

He thought the sorcerer in front of him was afraid, that he had admitted defeat.

They thought the crisis was finally over.

"You finally understand."

Sonoda Shigeru's voice returned to calm, carrying a condescending tolerance: "Young people are prone to making mistakes, but as long as you are willing to correct them, Lord Tengen will forgive you."

He paused, and the corners of his mouth curved into a smile.

"Since you know you're wrong, then join us, join the Panxing Cult, believe in Lord Tianyuan together, and strive together for Lord Tianyuan's purity."

He reached out his hand, as if welcoming a lost lamb that had come to its rightful home.

"Come, stand on my side. I welcome you on behalf of the Panxing Sect."

Tianyan stared at the outstretched hand and remained silent for a moment.

Then he shook his head.

The shaking was very slow, without any hesitation.

"No."

Shigeru Sonoda's smile froze on his face.

Tianyan raised his hand and took something out of the storage ring at his waist.

That was a gun.

Black, metallic, it gleamed with a cold, hard luster under the chandelier's light. The gun barrel was not long, about twenty centimeters, and fit snugly in the hand.

The people in the audience were stunned for a moment, and then erupted into an even bigger commotion.

"That's...that's a gun!"

"He pulled out a gun!"

"He's going to kill people! He really did come to kill us!"

Sonoda Shigeru's pupils suddenly contracted, and the expression on his face changed from smugness to horror.

"What...what are you going to do?"

Tianyan did not answer him.

He raised the gun and spun it around in the light of the chandelier, making sure everyone could see its full size.

"Everyone, don't panic. Although this item looks like something from 1911, it's actually a divine artifact bestowed upon me by Lord Tengen, and it was personally blessed by Him!"

His voice was solemn and serious, carrying an unquestionable certainty.

The commotion in the audience was quelled by those words.

Some people stared wide-eyed, some gaped open, and some gasped in shock.

"A divine artifact?"

"Bestowed by Lord Tianyuan?"

"Impossible! How could Lord Tengen bestow such a thing!"

Tianyan introduced the product earnestly: "Only true believers can pass the test of this divine artifact. Those who pass will be recognized by Lord Tianyuan, ascend to His divine kingdom, and enjoy..."

He paused, glanced at the female believers below the stage, and then at the male believers.

"Serving of twelve virgins".

The female believers in the audience changed their expressions.

Tianyan added, "And there are twelve virgins to serve you."

The female believers looked a little better, and some of the male believers even smiled slightly.

"Of course, this is just one of the benefits within Lord Tianyuan's divine kingdom."

Tianyan pointed his gun at the ceiling, as if demonstrating something: "That's not the point. The point is, do you want to know if you are true believers?"

No one answered.

He lowered the gun from the ceiling and aimed it at Shigeru Sonoda.

Shigeru Sonoda's body stiffened abruptly.

His face was deathly pale, his lips trembled, his fingers trembled, and he looked like a mouse cornered by a cat: "You...you're insane...a sorcerer can't attack ordinary people!"

"Sir."

Tianyan's voice was soft and calm: "You just said that for the sake of Lord Tianyuan's purity, not to mention one Tianlizi, even ten or a hundred of them must die."

"Now, it's your turn."

"Are you willing to prove your faith in Lord Tengen for the sake of His purity?"

Sonoda Shigeru's eyes were wide open like saucers, his forehead was covered in sweat, and his lips were trembling; he couldn't utter a single word.

He's now in a dilemma!

If he shows even the slightest sign of hesitation, he will lose his position, and all his efforts will be reduced to ashes!

Therefore, the choice to make here is very clear!

His only hope now is that the other man's gun is unloaded!

"Shoot! If I even blink, I'm unworthy to be a member of the Star Chaser Cult!"

"OK!"

"You've got guts!"

Then Tianyan pulled the trigger.

"Bang!"

Gunshots rang out in the auditorium, their enormous echoes reverberating across the dome like a muffled thunderclap.

A black hole appeared in the center of Sonoda Shigeru's forehead, and blood gushed out from the hole, flowing down his nose. His eyes were still open, with the last trace of fear remaining in his pupils. Then, he fell straight down like a bag of cement that had been dumped.

"Thump."

The sound of the body hitting the ground was dull and heavy.

The auditorium was completely silent.

Everyone stared at the corpse on the ground, watching the blood slowly seep from his head, spreading across the white marble floor like a blooming red flower.

Then, the screaming began.

"ah!!!"

"Murder!"

"Lord Sonoda is dead!"

The believers scattered like a flock of startled birds; some rushed towards the door, some hid in corners, some collapsed to the ground, and some knelt down to pray.

Tianyan stood still, the muzzle of his gun still smoking.

He glanced at Sonoda Shigeru's corpse on the ground, and his tone became more assertive.

Wow!

"This gentleman's faith is extremely strong!"

"He has now ascended to Lord Tianyuan's divine realm to enjoy bliss!"

"Don't rush, everyone."

"The real test has only just begun!"

"Anyone want to participate?"

No one answered.

Most of the believers had already run to the door and rushed out without looking back. The door slammed shut behind them, and the sound of their footsteps faded into the distance.

The auditorium was nearly half empty.

There were still more than twenty left, all of them the most fanatical. There was something indescribable in their eyes, like fear, like fanaticism, or like a mixture of both emotions, making it hard to tell which was stronger.

Tianyan looked at them and nodded.

"very good."

He said, "Those with wavering faith have already been initially screened out, so let's begin."

He raised his gun and aimed it at the nearest bald, fat man.

The bald, fat man had been glaring defiantly at Tianyan, but when Yaksha pointed a pistol at his head, his legs went weak, and he knelt down, his crotch soaked.

"Wait, wait a minute!"

"Lord Tengen is watching you, don't embarrass yourself!"

"Bang!"

Gunshots rang out again.

The bald, fat man lay on the ground, next to Sonoda Shigeru, blood seeping from beneath their bodies and pooling together.

Tianyan turned the gun towards the next person, the tall, thin one.

The tall, thin man's eyes were wide open, his lips were moving as if he were chanting some kind of spell, his body was trembling, and his teeth were chattering, making a "clucking" sound.

"I am a devout follower of Lord Tengen... I pray every day... I have donated so much money..."

Tianyan tilted his head: "Really? Then you should ascend to His divine kingdom immediately!"

"Bang!"

The tall, thin man collapsed.

Tianyan turned the gun towards the next target.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

With each gunshot, a body falls.

After each shot, one less believer remains, and one more corpse lies on the ground.

With each person who fell, the crowd retreated one step.

The air in the auditorium grew increasingly heavy, and the smell of blood grew stronger.

Some people finally broke down during the Tianyan reload, screaming and rushing out of the main hall. Others had their legs go weak and scrambled away. Only a few die-hard cultists remained, their eyes still red, chanting Tianyuan's name.

Of course, all they got in return was the dark muzzle of a gun!

The Yaksha mask peeked out from beside the gun muzzle, its upturned corners seemingly in a smile: "Why so serious?"

"Smile!"

"Bang!"