I Save The World In A Doomsday Text Game

Chapter 202-1: The Offering Ritual, the Twelfth Disciple (1)

“Spirit Essence really does burn through fast…”

Lin Xun let out a sigh.

Another day passed, and the knowledge-type equipment he had listed on the Book of Trade was still selling miserably. Even lowering the price slightly hadn’t cleared out the stock.

But even if he did sell everything, it would only be enough to upgrade his new weapon, Chain Blade – Call of the Underworld.

The Book of Trade’s upgrade fees adjusted based on equipment quality.

He could still afford to enhance Epic grade gear, but the Legendary Broken Bow of Apollo had an upgrade cost so astronomical it made him wince.

At that moment, the game text suddenly appeared.

[The Lower-Tier Seat Pass for the Disciple Sanctum you hold emits a summons…]

[Please teleport to the Disciple Sanctum within one hour!]

Lin Xun raised an eyebrow.The New World’s Offering Ritual had begun!

“Perfect timing, right when I’d just spent all my Spirit Essence.”

He only had a four-digit sum left in his pockets. He was completely broke, couldn’t be more appropriate for attending the Offering Ritual.

He made his way to the Disciple Sanctum’s ancient fortress with practiced ease.

[You follow the guidance of the Lower-Tier Seat Pass and arrive at Council Chamber No. 11, stepping inside…]

[The hall is crowded with shadows. Layer upon layer of seats face the host platform, and many shells have already taken their places. You follow your pass’s instructions and find your seat.]

[Time remaining until the council begins: 52:36…]

[You may speak freely…]

[Faceless Courier: It’s that time again, everyone flaunting their piety.]

[Beekeeper: Never thought Lord Amos would become a Disciple of the Sanctum so quickly… Hah, this time my subordinates contributed a pile of Spirit Essence. I’ve saved up plenty myself, so you lot won’t steal the spotlight.]

[Machine Gunner: Same here.]

[Heroic Swordsman: +1]

[…]

[Faceless Courier: I hear Lord Amos is scouting for proxy agents lately. If you catch his attention during this Offering Ritual, you might soar straight to the top and become a Disciple’s proxy…]

[Beast Tamer: Damn, there’s an opportunity like that?]

[Greatshield Guard: I’m screwed. Those useless underlings of mine barely scraped together any Spirit Essence. If I’d known, I would’ve sold all my equipment…]

[Beekeeper: All the better, my Spirit Essence has been starving for this!]

[Heroic Swordsman: +1]

[Martial Artist: +10086]

[…]

Lin Xun lurked silently, watching these Apostles compete in displays of piety. The whole scene struck him as bizarre in a way he couldn’t quite name.

“They’re all brainwashed… it’s not surprising they act like this.”

While Lin Xun was staying perfectly rational, a private message arrived from Amos.

[Amos: How’s your Spirit Essence prepared?]

Lin Xun’s mouth twitched.

‘If I told you I was fully prepared, would you believe me, my lord?’

[Blood King: My lord, I am ashamed to say I’ve failed your expectations… Shall we proceed as planned?]

[Amos: …]

[Amos: Just this once. Don’t do it again.]

[Blood King: Thank you, my lord!]

The original plan was for Amos to lend him Spirit Essence so he could appear to be the most pious Apostle during the Offering Ritual and thereby justifiably inherit the position of proxy agent.

This ritual was hosted by Amos himself. The Spirit Essence loaned to Lin Xun would be offered up as tribute, then ultimately end up right back in Amos’s own pocket. It was basically passing coins from the left hand to the right.

For Amos, who wanted to elevate Lin Xun, the actual cost was negligible.

Lin Xun smacked his lips.

He had just borrowed three million from his female boss, and now here he was about to go into debt again in the New World. Sometimes fate really liked to play jokes.

But the debt to his female boss had to be repaid. As for his male boss… heh.

“If I become a proxy agent and use the profits I skim to pay back the debt to my lady boss, that’ll be another successful free ride…”

The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

[The Offering Ritual begins…]

[Two figures in black robes sat behind the host platform. The voice beneath their hoods echoed throughout the chamber.]

[Amos: Opening the gates to the New World requires your devout offerings.]

[Amos: As always, this Offering Ritual will proceed in open, named format. My proxy here, Fighter, will record all of your contributions.]

[Accumulated offerings remain the sole standard determining the order in which you pass through the New World’s gates.]

[For the day of the New World’s arrival to come swiftly, I ask that you all contribute your share.]

Lin Xun noticed that after the Offering Ritual started, the free chat window didn’t disappear, unlike during council meetings.

However, Amos’s speech appeared in the public channel, while the free chat behaved like a private team channel.

[Fighter: We will now begin the Offering Ritual in order of seat number…]

[First contributor, Rune Warlock!]

[…]

[Apostle Rune Warlock has donated 328,500 Spirit Essence.]

[Rune Warlock: My lord, I am truly ashamed. My subordinates were weak, and we barely scraped together less than two hundred thousand Spirit Essence. The rest came from my personal contribution…]

[Amos: No matter. Your devotion is known to me.]

After the Rune Warlock finished offering, his alias suddenly shot to the top of the speaker list, with ‘328,500 Spirit Essence offered’ displayed after his name.

Instantly, the free chat exploded.

[XXX: That’s all the Spirit Essence you have, and you dare call it an offering? I’m embarrassed for you.]

[XXX: Lord Amos has become a Sanctum Disciple, and you bring just three hundred thousand? How can you show your face?]

[XXX: If you were short, you could’ve borrowed from me. This pathetic offering is disgraceful!]

[…]

Lin Xun stared, dumbfounded.

He was stunned by this outrageous stunt from the New World.

[Fighter: Second contributor, Heroic Swordsman!]

[Apostle Heroic Swordsman has donated 553,000 Spirit Essence.]

[Heroic Swordsman: Lord Amos, a humble offering to express my respect…]

[Amos: Well done. Your devotion is known to me.]

As soon as Heroic Swordsman finished donating, his name predictably shot to the top of the ranking list, with 553,000 Spirit Essence contributed displayed prominently behind it.

The free chat channel instantly erupted again.

[XXX: Look at that, that’s what piety looks like.]

[XXX: Damn, I feel like the top spot is slipping further and further away from me.]

[XXX: Doesn’t matter. I’ll still make my move!]

[…]

Lin Xun’s expression at that moment looked exactly like the old man on the subway staring at his phone.

He finally understood what the so-called open, named system and the conveniently unclosed chat window were for.

This was basically a live donation leaderboard, broadcast in real time!

A bunch of Apostles who were already religious zealots were now driven into a frenzy of competition, each one desperate to outdo the others.

Even those without hope of claiming first place were determined to at least see their names ranked near the top.

Spirit Essence worth a fortune was flung around like it was just a string of casual numbers, as Apostles blushed red and donated it without hesitation.

They weren’t the least bit pained about it, but Lin Xun felt his heart clench just watching.