American Exorcism Male God

Xu Yi paid no attention to Handon, who was acting as if he had been injected with chicken blood, and steered the conversation back on track, "So, what's the deal with this mine?"

"This mine is not a mountain in the traditional sense. Some say it's alive, constantly growing."

Handon spoke about the mine with deliberate vagueness, "Based on my guess, there must be something at the center of the mine, absorbing the stray energy of the Dream World... With the chaotic energy sedimented, that's why the mine seems to be growing incessantly."

Handon glanced at the deep underground mine shaft, "Among the miners, there's a legend that there wasn't a mine here at the beginning, just a dilapidated house."

Xu Yi nodded in understanding, "If I'm not mistaken, that house should be the origin of this dream, where the source of Freddie's power is also hidden."

This conjecture wasn't baseless; after being attacked by the Soul-Loss Virus, Xu Yi could partially access Freddie's memories.

But within Freddie's memories, there existed a "codebook."

If one tried to force it open, it would immediately trigger Freddie's countermeasure, causing him to "awaken."

Still, Xu Yi managed to deduce some information about the "codebook" from clues, which involved this mine.

Upon hearing this, Handon was struck with a thought, "You want me to go deep into the mine?"
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"Exactly! I need you to get there and secretly place something that must not be discovered by Freddie," Xu Yi nodded.

Handon had an epiphany, "So the reason you suggested I keep working inside the mine was to prepare for this."

Handon's brow furrowed quickly, "If that's the source of Freddie's power, no matter how careful we are, any small thing placed there will definitely be discovered."

"Don't worry! I'll create an opportunity for you; if it's discovered, not just you, but I too would die."

Xu Yi tried to reassure Handon, but Handon became even more panicked after hearing it.

If something happened to him, Xu Yi might still have a chance to save him.

But if something happened to Xu Yi as well, then they were truly finished!

......

The vibrantly colorful mine suddenly shook violently, followed by a thunderous explosion, and Mine Shaft Seven belched out pungent black smoke.

Freddie was standing not far from the mine shaft, dancing with excitement, "Xu Yi! You really have a way! The engineering explosives you've made will increase the mining efficiency by hundreds of times!"

"Glad I could help."

Xu Yi smiled modestly, though he inwardly disdained Freddie's approach.

How much dream ore could a few hardworking miners dig with shovel after shovel?

Good tools are what liberate productivity.

Even though this was the Dream World, as a master of scientific research, creating a simple engineering explosive was a piece of cake for Xu Yi.

Freddie was beside himself with excitement.

With the engineering explosives, he could obtain a massive amount of dream ore, and his strength could improve even faster.

Yet Xu Yi was heavy-hearted, for this was a risky move.

As Freddie absorbed more dream ore, his strength would get stronger and stronger, and the speed at which Xu Yi would be consumed would also increase.

But for the sake of the plan ahead, he had to be ruthless.

"If the plan goes smoothly, then all of what Freddie is doing will become his own burial gown," Xu Yi hoped secretly.

The miners present dared not look at Freddie, with half his face showing excitement while the other half was furrowed with concern, forming an exceptionally eerie appearance.

......

Handon, leaning against the mine wall, was panting heavily.

His body had slimmed down considerably compared to before, now just skin and bones.

It had been five days since he entered Mine Shaft Zero.

If not for the protection of the Serpent of Finale, he would have been blown to smithereens by the "Hell's Wind" of this place.

"Where on earth does this Hell's Wind come from?" Handon couldn't help but wonder.

He took a deep breath and braced himself.

After these days of exploration, he had roughly figured out the path to the center of the mine, and Xu Yi had also sent a message—the action could begin now!

The mine was not pitch-black inside; it was surrounded by luminous algae. But the light stopped here, and beyond was total darkness, where one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face.

The howling "Hell's Wind" blew from ahead, and even with the protection of the Serpent of Finale, Handon felt the biting cold.

He had only explored up to this point before; beyond was a completely unfamiliar territory.

He tore a large patch of luminous algae off the wall and resolutely walked in.

The mine tunnel wasn't as terrifying as imagined, except the Hell's Wind was stronger and there was no luminous algae.

Handon kept moving forward, but he suddenly stopped, his pupils dilating.

He was back where he started!

He was certain it wasn't a similar entrance; a piece of the luminous algae was missing from the wall— it was the one he had removed earlier.

"I've been walking straight the whole time, how could I have ended up back here?" Handon felt a flicker of unease.

"Don't panic! Go in again!"

Xu Yi's voice suddenly rang in Handon's mind, and Handon almost jumped with joy.

The soul split Xu Yi entrusted in the True God's core was very weak, and most of the time it would slip into a sleep, awakening only at crucial moments.

Handon walked in circles again, and without any surprise, he ended up back where he had started.

"Go in again!"

Xu Yi's voice remained unfluctuating.

Without any hesitation, Handon stepped into the passage once more.

"Stop! Cover your eyes; from now on, follow my commands. Take three steps to the left, then walk forward five steps..."

Handon's left side was a black mine wall, and he hesitated slightly, but trusting in Xu Yi, he did as he was told.

After moving two steps sideways, he suddenly froze, feeling no resistance at all!

His heart settled, and he followed Xu Yi's instructions precisely.

Xu Yi surveyed the surroundings, realizing that this stretch of mine was actually an array.

Although similar to the Havara Labyrinth within Emperor Ramses' Pyramid, it was, in fact, something totally different; the array before him was naturally formed.

Freddie had no knowledge of magic arrays, nearly as illiterate as one could get regarding such matters. Discovering this array and making use of it was already the extent of Freddie's capabilities.

Freddie was probably still quite pleased with himself, believing that no one could get through this natural maze-like magic formation.

"You can open your eyes now!" Xu Yi's voice sounded again.

Handon opened his eyes and felt instant joy.

He was finally not running around in circles back to the starting point. Before him was a spacious Dissolving Cave.

But Xu Yi's brows furrowed, for from the cave's ceiling hung dense masses of roots filling the entire Dissolving Cave.

They entangled like snakes, and by all common sense, they were not something that one could easily get past with just their toes.

These tendrils were highly problematic. Currently possessing no combat strength, Handon, who had been just a common person before entering here, simply couldn't deal with these roots.

Was the plan doomed to stop here?

As Xu Yi was pondering, Handon suddenly stepped forward, retrieving a flattened metal bottle from his inner pocket.

Upon opening the bottle, a white-ash powder poured into Handon's hand, which he then sprinkled in front of the writhing tendrils. The roots squirmed away as if they were snakes encountering realgar powder.

"I observed the habits of the mine's plants, and then I found a type of stone in the mine. Those plants would always avoid areas where that stone was present. I collected those stones and ground them into powder," explained Handon.

He added, "I used to work at a flower farm."

"Were you a researcher at the flower farm?"

Xu Yi found it hard to believe that Handon, with his rugged appearance, was actually a scientific researcher.

Handon shook his head, "No, a planting worker."

"Genius!" Xu Yi wished he could give a thumbs-up.

Having navigated the "Forest of Tendrils," Handon finally reached the core of the mine.

A decrepit hut suddenly appeared ahead, its walls covered in burn marks, and a collapsed cross could be seen on the roof.

As Handon approached the hut, stepping over the ruins of the outer wall, his body shivered violently because he felt something watching him, a troubling presence that sent chills down his spine.