Reverend Insanity: Insatiable

**Masked Spirit's Will POV**

The master rose into the air as the qi of heaven and earth enveloped him. The sky darkened as it started to rain heavily, but I had no time to enjoy the rain, as something felt wrong. When the rain landed on the ship, it seemed to disappear.

The ship itself never got wet. Instead, it started to turn into dust. Whatever tribulation this was, it seemed to turn things to dust on contact. Using one of the gu masters gave me, called Qi Shape, I created a large dome to protect master and his ship.

As the rain hit the dome, I could feel its durability decreasing, and it was only a matter of time before it gave out. I wanted to grab master and bring him under the sea, but I could not disturb him now. I would have to create another dome over and over again to shield us.

As I continued to rebuild the shield, a yellow bell appeared in the sky, giving me a horrible feeling. It tilted, and instead of hearing a metallic ping, the sound of a bird rang out, confusing me. Another bell appeared and rang out with a strange swishing sound.

I had no idea what this tribulation was, but all I knew was that I couldn't let it continue undisturbed. I created some masks to collide with the bells. They rang out the odd noises, but they also cracked the bells as they were hit. Just as I was about to destroy them, a cry rang out from the sky and the ocean.

Looking up, I saw a group of metal-billed pelicans, with a thousand beast king leading them. As for the ocean, sharp-bladed fish began to attack the master's ship from beneath. They also tried to jump out of the sea to attack but were struck by the rain that burned them before hitting the dome and falling back into the sea.

It wasn't hard to figure out that the bells were calling these beasts. I summoned more masks and destroyed the first two bells, but several more appeared, ringing out with different sounds of beasts.

From the sea, a large swarm of spiders emerged, walking on the water. The storm clouds turned into small birds, seemingly shaped from the clouds themselves, their bodies emitting lightning. They were faster than all the other beasts, but just like the rest, they came straight at us.

Using Qi Shape gu, I began to rotate the dome to push away any beasts that got too close. I had to create more masks, not only to destroy the bells but also to attack the cloud birds, as they were the greatest threat here. The spiders were flung off the dome, with a few trying to attack from underneath only to be stopped by my masks that pushed them back.

However, from the spiders, several hundred beast kings emerged. All the other beasts stopped as they began to shoot water webs at the dome, slowing it down. But they didn't stay long, as the rain was destroying their webs and even harming the beasts.

Even though they were getting hurt by the rain, they didn't leave and continued their assault. The metal-billed pelicans dive-bombed the dome, speeding up its destruction. Had the master not given me multiple Qi Shape gu, this would have been much more dangerous.

The cloud-like birds started attacking the spiders and the dome, destroying one layer as I placed another. At least the beasts were also hostile to one another. They ended up fighting each other. Using the chaos to my advantage, I sped up my efforts to destroy the bells.

As I dealt with everything, a powerful beast voice rang out from the ocean. I looked down and saw a larger bell that had just rung. My instincts told me to destroy it immediately. I sent out a large Qi hand and used the master's Grip gu to crush the bell, but it wasn't enough, as it rang out again, releasing the strong beast voice again.

The sound terrified the other beasts, causing the fish, spiders, and metal-billed pelicans to flee. Only the cloud birds stayed as I crushed the bell once more, finally destroying it. However, it seemed I was too late, as I heard the same beast voice again, but there was no bell this time.

From the ocean, large green tentacles shot out, slapping the dome and cracking it like an eggshell. A large, thin green head, almost resembling a dragon, emerged from the sea. It was a desolate kelp kraken, a wood-path plant. As long as it has a piece of kelp, it can regrow. It can even change its shape to whatever it likes. That's why it often imitates a kraken or sea dragon.

This isn't good. I can't kill it easily, and normal killer moves will just annoy it. If I don't do something quickly, it can easily end master. I chose to unseal Masked Emotion gu, as with it, I'd at least be able to stall the beast. I could also injure it badly, but with its presence, as long as I make sure there are no other bells, all other beasts should stay away because of its aura.

As the beast continued to attack, I had to keep creating Qi-shaped domes to protect master and his ship. Eventually, I managed to unseal Masked Emotion gu. I concentrated and activated my Immortal Killer Move, Emotionless State.

A light pink mask flew toward the kelp kraken, which was busy dealing with other masks. The pink mask landed on its head and expanded to fit perfectly onto the beast. The kraken didn't even notice it until it was too late. It stopped moving, just staring, not reacting in the least, even as the cloud birds attacked it.

Emotionless State took all of a being's emotions and will to a degree, making the target uncaring about anything for a period of time. I could only hope master finishes before it breaks free from the effect as for each being it varies. The rain was starting to slow down, and with all my masks out, I destroyed any bells before they could ring, as they now appeared less and less.

These tribulations were too dangerous. Had I not been here, the master would surely not have succeeded in his ascension. Just this rain alone was capable of killing all around it. The beasts are an exception, as they have strong defenses and healing abilities. Without me, both master and his ship would have turned to dust. As for the beast-summoning bells, the master might have stood a chance against the weaker ones, but against that desolate beast, I highly doubt it.

---

**MC POV**

Everything was going well. I didn't even have to worry about the tribulations with Masked Spirit's Will here guarding me. I would only have to pay attention if I felt Dao Devourer activate, but it never happened.

Merging all three qi was a breeze, as I had done it before. Just as I felt my blessed land appear, I received a notification from the system:

**"Congratulations, player Crim Don Ito, on successfully merging the three qi. Please select a dao enlightenment to proceed with the ascension. The selection will determine the next tribulation."**

Well, I'll obviously get Food Path dao marks for ascending. So, what other dao marks would I want besides the second path I wish to walk? "I select Enslavement Path, system," I stated aloud.

**(Now proceeding with the ascension.)**

I then began to understand some of the prior issues I had while trying to understand the dao of Enslavement Path. My understanding of the great dao of Enslavement Path deepened to a strong master-level attainment. As I was being enlightened, I felt the presence of a desolate beast. I didn't have to act, as I could feel Masked Spirit's Will using the Immortal gu to deal with it.

The enlightenment unfortunately ended, but just as I felt the disappointment, the system rang out:

**"Congratulations, player, for being the first person to succeed in your ascension. Please select your reward."**

• Largest-sized blessed land with one guaranteed Immortal gu.

• Medium-sized blessed land with two guaranteed Immortal gu.

• Small-sized blessed land with three guaranteed Immortal gu.

• Medium-sized blessed land with one guaranteed Immortal gu and another period of enlightenment.

• Small-sized blessed land with quasi-grandmaster level attainment in one path and an Immortal gu recipe of the user's choice.

(The guaranteed Immortal gu must be a refined gu of the user and not have an Immortal gu already existing.)

These were the options the system gave me, and boy, were they all good. Immortal gu were amazing for any player and newly awakened Immortal, but I already have two and am confident in refining my Food Path gu to the Immortal rank. So, it wasn't that big of a deal to me.

The size of the blessed land was very important, as it dictates the flow of time and the Immortal bead production. It also helps with how many resources could be held and is a strong factor determining the gu Immortal's potential. However, there are ways to expand blessed lands, and even immortals who provide services to do so.

As a Food Path Immortal, I'll have many ways to expand my blessed land, with many immortals who'd want to be on my good side. So the most appealing choices were the last two. Guaranteed Enslavement quasi-grandmaster attainment would be amazing, but the guarantee of an Immortal gu was very tempting.

I'm more than confident in refining my Food Path gu, but when it comes to other gu, I'm lacking in refining them. It was to be expected since I'm not a Refinement Path gu master. So, being able to get an Immortal gu that'll more than help me is more than tempting. The odds are I wouldn't be able to refine it on my own.

Attainment can come at any time, and if I'm not meant to deepen it, then so be it, but a certain gu, even at rank 6, will be more than worth it. "System, I pick the medium-sized blessed land with one guaranteed Immortal gu and another period of enlightenment."

**(Acknowledged. Please select the gu of choice.)**

"I pick Karma gu." After saying this, I felt my blessed land form, and I was once again placed into an enlightenment phase. This time, I focused on how certain Enslavement Path gu could mesh with my gu to create strong killer moves.

It went smoothly, and my attainment was definitely raising. I felt I had reached quasi-grandmaster attainment, but it didn't go any further. The next level was incredibly vast, but it didn't matter. Now, many questions were answered, and I had many uses for my new attainment level. Eventually, my enlightenment time ended.

I opened my eyes and saw a peculiar scene. Light rain was destroying a qi dome that was protecting me and my ship, while a giant kelp kraken, wearing a pink mask, was being attacked by lightning-cloud birds, but it didn't react.

"Master, one of your gu has advanced to the Immortal rank." The spirit handed me a honey pot ant that seemed colorless but emitted the aura of a rank 6 gu.

"Good job. Now hand me all the gu. It's time I do the cleanup here." I eyed all the beasts, and even the rain seemed appetizing to me.