No strange things are allowed to evolve!

As Jiang Shu pondered, the abbot had already squatted down.

He casually picked up a few items to examine them, then weighed them in his hand and nodded slightly in satisfaction: "Hmm, very complete. Although the quality isn't very high, with these offerings, it should be enough."

After getting up, the abbot glanced at the items and casually waved his hand at the rat-headed beast: "Go and do your own thing. I'll take care of the rest. I'll call you when the ceremony begins."

The rat-headed beast stood still, motionless.

The abbot turned around and, seeing him still there, asked in surprise, "What is it? Is there something else?"

"that..."

Feeling Jiang Shu's control and input, the rat-headed beast mustered its courage and asked:

"I'm curious, what kind of injury did you suffer?"

Upon hearing this, the abbot's expression suddenly turned somewhat gloomy: "This has nothing to do with you. Just do what you've been told, and someone will naturally give you what you want. As for the rest, ask less and mind your own business."

The rat-headed beast was startled by his imposing manner.

Jiang Shu, who was behind it, found it somewhat troublesome.

I thought that since he was facing someone he knew, the abbot would reveal some information about the current situation so that I could judge his current strength. But I didn't expect him to be so wary and not give me any chance at all.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Shu continued typing.

"I...I am a little worried." The rat-headed beast slowly translated, "These evolved beings are from the Bureau of Different Systems. I managed to bring them here to prepare for the blood sacrifice. I'm worried that if they receive reinforcements, and it's inconvenient for you, I'll be left alone..."

"No, that won't happen." The abbot said firmly.

"why?"

"Because they are now certain that the people who came this time can solve the problem here. They won't send reinforcements for at least a day, and by then I should have already completed the blood sacrifice. By the time they find out, it will be too late."

The abbot smiled and said, "I will take you away when the time comes. They won't be able to find us, so you can rest assured."

"Are you so sure?" The rat-headed beast was skeptical.

Seeing that he still didn't believe him, the abbot could only explain it more clearly.

"Do you know why they came to you?" the abbot asked.

"I don't know." The rat-headed beast shook its head. "I think it's because I'm obedient and have a clean background?"

"That's just one reason. The most important reason is that you're both weak and cunning."

The abbot said:

"The reason I say you're weak is because although you're level six, your ability value is only barely at the threshold. If it comes down to a direct confrontation, you might not be able to defeat that level five evolver over there. It's easy to create the illusion that anyone can easily solve your problems here."

Well, speaking of which, the fact that they actually sent a level 5 evolved being shows they take it quite seriously.

You're cunning because you have plenty of ways to ambush and scheme, and given your level, your skills are more effective against low-level evolved beings. You're practically the perfect template for playing dumb to catch a tiger.

Therefore, you have a better chance of capturing evolved beings who can be used as blood sacrifice materials without causing major trouble. That's why they found you.

After hearing this, the rat-headed beast looked astonished.

"How did you know all this about me?"

"Do you consider this a secret?" The abbot shook his head slightly. "For them, figuring out your background would be too easy."

The rat-headed beast paused for a moment, then sighed.

Does an evolved being like him not even deserve to have secrets?

However, he quickly recovered and continued to act as Jiang Shu's interpreter: "Didn't they consider the possibility that the Bureau of Different Systems might directly send out an evolved being of level six or above?"

“At other times, people who are bored might come on their own initiative,” the abbot said meaningfully. “But this time is different. This time, the person was directly assigned, bypassing their executive department.”

Hearing this, Jiang Shu, who was under the velvet cloth, was startled.

What does that mean?

How could the abbot know so much about the Bureau of Different Lineages?

How did he know that Bai Lian's task was a direct, one-on-one mission, rather than being delegated through Shen Mo?

Could it be that... there's a traitorous mole within the Bureau of Dissent?

Jiang Shu frowned.

The doubts are growing, and the situation is becoming increasingly complicated.

Chapter 83 Jiang Shu has always been adept at handling complex mechanisms (Second update, 3000 words)

Wherever there are crowds, there will inevitably be some malicious troublemakers.

Shen Mo had repeatedly reminded Jiang Shu that when the time came for him to make a name for himself, he would naturally do so, but before that, he should keep a low profile to avoid being envied or even plotted against.

Even Shen Mo, who always firmly believed in the principles and rules of the Bureau of Different Principles, dared not assure Jiang Shu that all the members would abide by the rules as he did, which shows how complex human nature is.

However, Jiang Shu did not jump to conclusions that there was a traitor. Evolvers have many methods, and it is impossible to draw a simple conclusion before the truth comes out.

But one thing is certain: the rebels understand the Bureau of Dissent, and at least in this matter, they have a plan and premeditation.

but...

Why go to such lengths for the abbot's blood sacrifice?

Thinking of this, Jiang Shu continued to control the rat-headed beast to extract information.

"So that's how it is. It seems they value you highly, going to such lengths for you." It flattered the abbot.

But to everyone's surprise, the abbot waved his hand and suddenly sighed with a sense of empathy: "No, actually I am the same as you in essence. Many times I am also helpless and have no right to choose. Just like you, you need to sublimate, but you can't prepare the necessary items on your own, so you can only do things for them."

And what about me? I'm also a lost dog, needing healing and a new place to stay. But for some reason, I can't move around freely right now, so I can only rely on their help.

The only difference is that what I can do is more important to them than what you can do, so I know a little more and am treated a little better, but fundamentally there's not much difference.

It was clear that the abbot was greatly affected. When he spoke, there was a sense of depression about him, and he even seemed to empathize with the rat-headed beast.

He didn't tell the rat-headed beast what he had gone through, but Jiang Shu knew perfectly well what had happened.

Jiang Shu wanted to comfort him: Don't be sad, it's just that you're the only one left on your family's household registration, it's just a little hardship.

However, in the end, the words were not spoken through the mouth of the rat-headed beast.

From the abbot's words, Jiang Shu also gained a new piece of information—strictly speaking, the abbot was not one of the rebels.

Or perhaps he wasn't originally a rebel, but after yesterday's events, the rebels found him and offered him a helping hand. In return, the abbot needs to do something for them after the blood sacrifice.

So Jiang Shu continued, having the rat-headed beast ask, "What do they want you to do?"

But this time the abbot did not answer, instead remaining evasive: "I cannot tell you that."

"Sorry, I was too talkative." The rat-headed beast quickly apologized, "I'm just very curious, please don't take offense."

"It's ok."

The abbot didn't take it seriously and simply ended the conversation: "So, are you relieved now? You can stop bothering me now?"

"Uh... okay." The rat-headed beast nodded and led Jiang Shu away from the cave.

Once back on the ground, and confirming that the abbot was busy inside and hadn't followed her out, Jiang Shu finally dared to lift the velvet cloth and make a sound.

"Is it okay to just leave them inside like this?" Jiang Shu asked with some concern.

"It's alright for now," the rat-headed beast replied. "Whether the offerings are dead or alive doesn't matter, they must be as fresh as possible. He's focused on the effect, so he definitely won't harm them before the ritual begins."

"Okay." Jiang Shu was temporarily relieved.

But when he took out his phone and saw that the message he sent to Shen Mo was still spinning, and there was still no response from Xue Wang and Ba Wang, his heart sank to the bottom again.

How can I stop the abbot if I'm on my own?

I asked the Rat-Headed Beast before, and he said that it wouldn't take long to build the altar needed for the blood sacrifice, at most an hour. What could I do in that hour?

While Jiang Shu was pondering, perhaps feeling that his own standing there, and Jiang Shu standing there too, created an awkward atmosphere, the Rat-Headed Beast tentatively asked, "Hero, why do I feel like you know him?"

“I do know him,” Jiang Shu replied casually. “We even have some history together.”

"Huh? Then why did you hide him if you knew him?" the rat-headed beast asked curiously.

Jiang Shu glanced up at him, then said dismissively, "Because I canceled his entire family's registration, disrupted his ascension process, causing him to abruptly stop, and almost caught him on the spot. So why do you think I hid him?"

"Uh..." The rat-headed beast was speechless.

You call this a predestined relationship? Isn't this just a tragic entanglement?

After hearing about Jiang Shu's heroic deeds, he began to feel a sense of awe towards Jiang Shu, along with a touch of relief.

Compared to what happened to the guy below, having my monthly wages taken away doesn't seem so unacceptable anymore.

Although Jiang Shu killed many of its offspring, there are countless such creatures. He only needs to work overtime for two days to quickly produce another batch. If they reproduce for a period of time, the scale will only grow larger.

It's nothing to it.

“I’d like to say,” Jiang Shu suddenly said, “Although you haven’t performed a blood sacrifice, you should still know a little about it, right?”

The rat-headed beast nodded.

"Do you have any way to stop him?"

"Well... yes, but..." The rat-headed beast seemed somewhat troubled.

Then, the next moment, he felt an invisible hand kneading his stomach through his intestines.

Immediately afterwards, he felt something gushing out of his esophagus.

"Have mercy, sir..."

Before he could finish speaking, stomach acid spilled out from the mouth of the rat-headed beast.

"...Affection."

Jiang Shu looked at him with disdain: "What, you're doing so poorly? You have no knowledge at all. Don't you eat?"

Suck.

The rat-headed beast sucked back.

"I've been busy since yesterday, haven't had time to eat..."

"He does have time to poop, and his intestines are quite clean." Jiang Shu complained, then urged, "Alright, stop talking nonsense and tell me in detail how to stop him."

Indeed, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

This time, the rat-headed beast cooperated much better.

"Actually, stopping blood sacrifice is not difficult. Blood sacrifice, as the name suggests, is not simply killing the sacrifice. It requires bloodletting. The life essence must be fully infused into the items required for the blood sacrifice to activate their properties. Then, like decocting Chinese medicine, the properties of the recipient and the items are fused together."

The subjects cannot move during this process, so someone needs to help them during the ritual. That's why he said he would call me when the ritual begins.

Therefore, as long as I don't bleed, theoretically the blood sacrifice cannot proceed smoothly.

Jiang Shu listened, seemingly lost in thought.

He had previously seen the same items among those prepared for blood sacrifice in the cave as those in the Yunfu Temple storeroom, but he was only somewhat suspicious.

But now, after hearing the description of the blood sacrifice and recalling the wooden barrels filled with blood plasma piled up in the corner of the warehouse, I am almost certain that those victims were the materials used for the blood sacrifice.

With so many human-shaped weasels at Yunfu Temple, heaven knows how many people have died.

But then, the rat-headed beast said helplessly:

"However, the problem is that although he is injured, he is not so badly unable to move. If I don't attack the sacrifice, he will attack me."

I don't know if I can beat him. Even if you trust me and stop controlling me, and we join forces, to be honest, I still think it's risky.

That's why I didn't answer you immediately.

Jiang Shu thought for a moment: "Is there any explanation for stopping it halfway through?"

The rat-headed beast was stunned for a moment, then said with a strange expression, "Yes, there is. After the blood sacrifice begins, the recipient needs to focus all their attention on their body and be ready to accept and integrate those characteristics at any time."

If I use my skill on him while he's conscious, he'll probably notice instantly and kill me before my skill takes effect.

But this is when the recipient's perception of the outside world is weakest, and they are most vulnerable. They certainly won't be able to notice it in time, and the degree to which they are affected by my skill will also be greater. However, if we can weaken them with my skill first, then the two of us working together will not be without a chance of victory.

“I understand. It’s like someone sitting on the toilet, completely focused on taking a dump—unprepared and vulnerable.” Jiang Shu used a fitting analogy, then was about to make a decision: “Then let’s do it this way…”

Seeing that Jiang Shu seemed genuinely unaware of anything important, the rat-headed beast finally couldn't help but remind him, "But if we do that, your companion will have to be bled out first. Are you sure that's alright?"

"Huh?" Jiang Shu belatedly realized, and with a hint of surprise, gave the rat-headed beast a thumbs up: "You've only been with me for a short time, yet you've already gained this kind of awareness. You're able to proactively remind me of something so important. It seems the transformation has been very successful."

"No, no..." the rat-headed beast said with a forced smile.

He was actually just worried that when he actually did it, Jiang Shu would realize what was happening and shift the blame onto him, yelling, "You wicked wretch, how dare you plot against me!" and then tearing his internal organs apart.