This was Stirling's first time out of the Rock village.

  He was curious about everything surrounding him. He even took out the quicksand map in private and verified each mark on it.

  What a Magical map! It shows the routines with clear markings. Also, some herbs appear in real time.

  Stirling would sometimes pull out the quicksand map to study it. He felt more pleased each time with its improved effect.

  But soon, Stirling's smile faded.

  He noticed the group were heading towards the red cross marked on the quicksand map.

  A foreboding premonition struck Stirling without warning.

  Oh, my God! No way! Can't be unluckier!

  Stirling's body tensed at his own thought, but he didn't dare to make a sudden escape. The old man said every trip to the temple brought him new lamp oil and dried meat. This meat was crucial in keeping the villagers alive. First, Stirling had only one oil lamp at home. This one was stronger and lasted longer. Yet, once he used it up, it was gone. He couldn't refill it with another enhancement.

  Thus, Stirling had no choice but to head to the temple.

  Second, even though Stirling was at the back of the group, he felt the villagers ahead watching him. They kept glancing back to see if anyone had fallen behind. This meant Stirling had no chance of escape.

  I can take it only one step at a time. It shouldn't be a big deal. Otherwise, the villagers would have been wiped out eight hundred times.

  Stirling took a deep breath, suppressing his nervousness but becoming even more cautious. He touched the wooden plank in the package, feeling a small sense of comfort.

  The scenery outside the village looked normal. Flocks of birds sometimes flew by, adding a vibrant touch.

  Vegetation of varying heights lined the road, and a faint stream sounded in the distance. This made Stirling wonder if his experience last night was an illusion.

  Why was it so normal here during the day?

  Sure, it is bound to be a question without an answer. So, Stirling pushed his doubts aside. He observed everything around him as best he could.

  The group walked for most of the day, taking a collective break but soon setting off again.

  Finally, before sunset, they arrived at a small hill. Looking at the hill thick with plants, Stirling swallowed hard. This was the exact spot marked by the red cross on the quicksand map!

  Murphy's Law! What you fear will come true.

  Stirling felt a wave of bitterness. He saw the team ahead start their climb as the sky darkened. He did not want to wait, so he pursued them up the mountain.

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  Based on today's experience, the wilderness is safe during the day. But at night, things get trickier.

  And the place everyone calls a temple looks veritable.

  Stirling went up the mountain with the others. He spotted the temple high on the slope.

  The red cross on the quicksand map might have stuck with Stirling. As a result, seeing the strange new temple didn't give him any peace. Instead, a strange sense of unease crept up.

  Shit. Stirling gritted his teeth. He tried to calm himself before following the group up the mountain path.

  After a while, they finally arrived at the temple.

  In front of the blue-gray granite gate stood a monk in a gray linen robe. The monk, about thirty, smiled at the new group. "Welcome your visiting again," he said. "Please follow me into the temple."

  Stirling, standing at the back of the group, looked at the monk with a murmur.

  This monk was human too, but he had a livelier air than the thin villagers.

  Stirling reminded himself to remain calm. The Quick Sand Map's icons were accurate throughout the journey. So, the red cross marking this area was no coincidence.

  Stirling took a deep breath and gathered himself. He pretended to be calm, like the other villagers. He followed the group through the main gate and into the temple at a leisurely pace.

  As the last person entered, the temple gate closed like a giant beast's mouth. It let out a sharp creak in the dim light of the setting sun, echoing in the quiet mountains.

  The villagers were frequent visitors here. They followed the old man at the front. They walked through the temple's front courtyard. Then, they moved down the long corridor next to the main hall, heading toward the back.

  After a short while, everyone crossed the corridor and arrived at the courtyard at the back of the temple.

  Stirling, who was at the back of the group, had been observing the temple with great attention. But when they entered this back courtyard, he found it was very spacious. The walls had strange runes carved into them. Yet, the statue in the courtyard drew the most attention.

  The statue was about five meters tall, standing in the center of the courtyard. It depicted a middle-aged monk with a solemn expression and a stern demeanor.

  "Let's move, let's move!"

  The old man leading the group urged everyone to form a circle around the statue in the courtyard.

  Stirling wasn't sure what would happen next. Still, he had no choice but to follow the others and line up around the statue.

  When all the villagers were ready, the monk who had led them cleared his throat. He said, "Brothers and sisters, our abbot, Priest White, will give this month's sermon. All people must concentrate on listening and achieve a thorough understanding. Don't miss this opportunity."

  As he spoke, the monk bowed to the side. Stirling then noticed someone standing in the shadow next to him.

  "Children. I am Shepherd White. Today, the Supreme Blood God sent me here to give a sermon."

  An old monk with white hair stepped out of the shadows. His voice had a mild hoarseness. He had narrow eyes and long eyebrows, along with a beard. He descended step by step into the courtyard.

  Seeing this person, the villagers, who had been quiet, erupted into chaos. They all kneeled down with a thud and shouted, "Father, father!!"

  "Father, save us!"

  The scene shocked Stirling. But he had been staring, so he kneeled down in a quick motion as well. He slapped the ground with his hands, rising and falling, acting wildly.

  No kidding, in acting, he was invincible each time.

  "Our merciful Lord asks me to speak for him. As you can see, in this world, the end is near. An unknown horror is killing everyone—men, women, and children. No one can escape. Our sect, in the name of the Blood God, cares for all beings. We save you from suffering."

  Seeing such crazy villagers, Priest White smiled and spoke.

  As Priest White spoke, the villagers on the ground grew more frantic. Some even banged their heads on the ground, making dull thud sounds.

  Damn, they are complete maniacs.

  Stirling glanced at the surrounding commotion out of the corner of his eye and cursed in his heart. The sounds he heard became muffled by degrees, and he felt a wave of dizziness in his head.

  What the fuck?