[You've ventured further into the ██ domain.]

[Intelligence increased by 5]

The crimson aura enveloped Xu Xiaoyou's body, seeped into her pores, saturated her lungs, and fused with her blood.

[Constitution increased by 1]

[Power increased by 1]

[Agility increased by 1]

She faintly sensed that her body was undergoing imperceptible changes amidst the crimson aura, every cell cheering, merging with these crimson auras.

The body grew increasingly light.

Her physique became resilient, her mind more active, her insight more acute.

The essence of her humanity seemed to be subtly altering.

The most immediate sign was the continuous pop-up of attribute enhancement notifications, densely packed, eventually occupying her entire vision.

Uncertain, she pondered whether these transformations were beneficial or detrimental and wondered if continued contact with the heart before her might turn her into a monster.

The comforting and warm sensation enveloped her, causing her to forget to think, her will was like fleeting smoke, unable to be gathered, without a trace of resistance, gradually closing her eyes.

Ultimately, her power, agility, and constitution settled at 30, 40, 30.

Her eyes remained closed, and suddenly, beneath her right eye, a thin blood seam slowly appeared.

Immediately after, pitch-black blood seeped from the blood seam, a lash-less, dark red, frenzied, desire-laden eyeball opened.

[Desire Heart Resonance · Spiritual Gaze has been unlocked.]

[Spiritual Gaze: Upon activation, you will be able to decipher essence. Note: prolonged use will lead to ██ transformation.]

The sensation was peculiar; upon opening her eyes, the world seemed divided by a boundary, the heart pulsating powerfully within her dual perspective.

Yet within the Spiritual Gaze, the heart slowly transformed.

It turned into a kind, gentle woman with a face full of care, radiating sacred light.

She appeared to be Asian, with long chestnut hair, a soft countenance, with deep serene eyes seemingly gathering all light within, upon seeing the woman, Xu Xiaoyou witnessed a scene.

The woman stood amidst an autumn wheat field, dressed in ordinary attire, smiling peacefully and serenely, standing quietly under the sun watching her, her eyes only on her, her world only containing her.

Though not stunning, her features were unbelievably ordinary, yet in that instance, Xu Xiaoyou couldn't avert her gaze, exuding a mysterious, beautiful, powerful aura that instinctively drew her in, wanting to become close with her.

"My child."

The woman softly spoke.

Stepping forward, she embraced Xu Xiaoyou, the crimson aura being the only warmth she could offer the girl before her.

In Xu Xiaoyou's eyes, the woman's radiance became increasingly divine and dazzling, the benevolence and indulgence on her face growing deeper.

As if intending to completely consume her.

Xu Xiaoyou calmed down: "Mother."

Upon hearing her call, the woman smiled faintly.

"It seems you heard my call."

Xu Xiaoyou remained silent.

She knew it was all a guise by the heart, all beauty merely an illusion crafted for her to see, intended to confuse her, once truly enticed, she'd fall into madness.

She fervently controlled her thoughts, refraining from associating the woman with any beautiful terms.

As the dark-red eyeball closed, the woman's image shattered, leaving only the vivid crimson heart.

The heart's countless tendrils now entwined her, suspending her in mid-air, the gaping blood-red mouths expelling harsh, hoarse syllables.

Those blood-red mouths gazed upon her, she felt herself facing the abyss of darkness.

"Child..."

"My child..."

She decisively severed her connection with the heart.

As the scene before her returned to normal, three figures stood in the room, fixated on her.

Xu Xiaoyou expressionless, the blood seam appearing on her cheek.

Upon witnessing the Spiritual Gaze, the Prophet and Andrea's bodies spasmed, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"How could you!" the Prophet shouted. "Mother truly recognized you as her child!?"

Xu Xiaoyou noticed, one of the six blood seams on the man's face vanished, leaving only five.

Suddenly, he seemed to age immensely, his aura becoming exceedingly frail.

"How could it be..."

"What did I do wrong?" the man muttered like one without a soul: "Why would Mother abandon me?"

"How about now? Can I prove myself?" Xu Xiaoyou calmly queried.

The man's breath hastened, mouth agape, attempting to speak, yet it was lodged in his throat, unable to be voiced no matter how hard he tried.

After a while, the man exhaled heavily, as if accepting his final fate.

He turned his dim eyes back to Xu Xiaoyou:

"Since that's so, Andrea, take her away."

Andrea nodded, stepping before Xu Xiaoyou, lowering his attitude: "Please follow me, Prophet Miss."

The erstwhile hostility vanished, his attitude shifted 180 degrees to cautious flattery, fearing her displeasure.

Xu Xiaoyou marveled at how darn realistic this guy was.

"Where to take Soya?"

Seeing the two depart, Alina appeared flustered, urgently shouting.

No one answered her.

The cumbersome Alchemy Armor hindered movement, Xu Xiaoyou simply shed it, stowing it in her tool card.

Witnessing a living human suddenly in the nest, surrounding Dissectors eagerly gathered, their gaze towards the girl filled with excitement and longing.

"A human?"

"It's truly a human!"

"Wait, why does she have Mother's aura on her."

In the darkness, Xu Xiaoyou ignored the threats around, continuing forward.

As she expected, sensing the heart's aura on her, none of the Dissectors dared approach and attack; they only watched from afar.

Soon, she arrived at a site, surrounded by shadowy, obscured by the dark Dissectors.

Murmurs rang incessantly, as she looked up, a beam of white light poured down, stinging her eyes, forcing her to raise her hand as a shield.

"Everyone!"

Andrea's voice overshadowed all noise.

"The lovely miss beside me shall be our matriarch from now on."

"Not long ago, Mother recognized her!"

The vast space instantly fell silent, quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

"What!?"

"A new... Prophet?"

"Prophet Mommy!"

The turn of events was completely beyond Xu Xiaoyou's expectations, her mouth twitched slightly.

The countless Dissectors on the stands shifted their gaze from bloodthirsty to worshipful, cheering loudly.

Did things go too smoothly?

She not only infiltrated the Dissectors' nest but also immediately became the leader of these creatures?

But initially, she only wanted to retrieve the money...

Just as she pondered this, considering the next development, Andrea beside her suddenly changed his tone:

"If this miss can undergo the test Mother established akin to the former Prophet, she will become the new Prophet, guiding us in following Mother's will!"

"Hmm?"

Xu Xiaoyou recognized something was amiss.

Just as she intended to query Andrea, the torches surrounding the site were ignited one by one, the entire scene brightening!

She saw the contours of this site, resembling a Roman Arena often seen in films, flanked by heavy standing stone doors, numerous pillars, fire basins, and spike plates scattered throughout.

The ominous premonition within grew intense, Andrea beside her bent, looking respectful:

"Prophet Miss, now it's up to you."

"Survive here."

Said, the stone slab beneath him abruptly lifted, carrying his body high.

Immediately a stone door slowly ascended, echoing a rumbling sound.

Upon hearing movements rustling in the darkness, beast-like hoarse cries arose, Xu Xiaoyou sighed.

"I just knew it wasn't going to be this straightforward."

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