Chapter 117: The Divine Statue

Having reached an agreement with the married woman, Zhou Tian and Musu followed their new companions to their nearby encampment. Along the way, Zhou Tian learned that her name was Isha, the High Priestess who commanded the entire Spider Cult.

Before long, the party arrived at their destination. What had appeared to be a deep, ancient forest instantly transformed as they stepped across the threshold, revealing a towering statue before them.

It was not a cold, white stone carving, but a vibrant, full-color masterpiece. It depicted a woman of breathtaking beauty, her lips curved into a subtle smile. Her face was as delicate as peach blossoms, her lips painted a deep, cinnabar red. Her neck was elegant, her nose refined, and her eyes held the brilliance of the sun and moon. Her brows were arched in a gentle, alluring curve. She wore a purple silk dress that clung to her skin, which appeared almost lifelike in its texture. Eight sharp, lethal claws extended from behind her, yet instead of marring her beauty, they added a provocative, dangerous edge.

Beneath the statue, a cluster of purple tents was arranged in an orderly fashion. Each tent was topped with a translucent purple orb, with thin wisps of energy flowing from them toward the central idol. Eight white, silken threads stretched out from the statue’s claws, enshrouding the entire camp. They shimmered with dazzling purple runes, the very source of the illusion they had just walked through.

It was clearly an image of the Spider Queen. The statue possessed a strange, living quality, giving Zhou Tian an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

"This is the statue of the Spider Queen," Isha explained. "It has been passed down since ancient times and serves as the primary icon for our holy city. It has been worshipped by countless souls, granting it a unique spiritual presence. The Spider Queen herself has even possessed it, imbuing it with miraculous power."

Zhou Tian nodded. He had previously wondered why the cult would haul such a massive statue around on their travels; now he realized it was far more than a mere religious icon—it was a formidable weapon.

The Spider Queen was a female deity, and perhaps for this reason, the Spider Cult consisted entirely of women. They were all young women dressed in purple robes, or at most, mature, elegant ladies; there were no elderly members to be found. Whether they possessed a secret for eternal youth or some other reason remained a mystery.

As Isha returned, the eyes of the women in the camp turned toward them. Zhou Tian and Musu, in particular, drew intense scrutiny. The gazes directed at them held a certain suggestive intent that made Zhou Tian instinctively tense up. He took a quick, sweeping glance and felt a pang of regret that Zhou Zui was not with him; this would have been his element. Zhou Tian himself was too shy, and faced with so many beauties, he hardly knew what to say.

"The High Priestess has brought back two more young men! How handsome they are," a delicate voice chimed. A woman with an exquisite figure, clad in a purple robe that left her long, fair legs exposed, sauntered toward them, her appearance dazzling enough to leave one breathless.

"They are my chosen partners. Mind your manners!" Isha scolded with a slight frown.

"Is that so? What a pity," the woman replied, feigning disappointment. Her beautiful eyes lingered on the two men, her tongue darting out to lick her lips before she turned and sauntered away. The others followed suit, shifting their gazes elsewhere.

Behind Isha, Lingyu curled her lip in clear disdain. Musu remained expressionless, showing no reaction even to the sea of beautiful women.

"Gentlemen, let Lingyu guide you to your quarters. We depart shortly," Isha said to Zhou Tian.

"We? You are coming with us?" Zhou Tian asked, surprised.

"Yes. Why? I trust we won't be a burden to you," Isha replied, catching the reluctance in his tone.

"Of course not. I was only concerned that we might be a burden to you. Perhaps we should just meet at the Pantheon," Zhou Tian said with a smile. Traveling with so many women would be incredibly inconvenient. One woman was enough of a headache, let alone a whole group of them casting hungry looks his way. While he sought death, he did not particularly want to die of exhaustion.

Isha’s brows furrowed. Although Zhou Tian was speaking with self-deprecating humor, his meaning was clear: he did not want to travel with them. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "If you do not wish to travel together, I will not force the issue. However, I would like Lingyu to accompany you."

Lingyu looked bewildered, wondering how she had suddenly become part of the equation. Zhou Tian glanced at her. In truth, he didn't want her along, even if she was beautiful—he wasn't the type to lose his head over a woman. But seeing the deep crease in Isha’s brow, he realized she had already made a concession. Since they were partners, he didn't want to be overly confrontational.

Besides... he glanced at the stoic Musu beside him.

"Very well. Let Miss Lingyu accompany us."

"Mother, I... understood," Lingyu stammered. Seeing that the two had decided her fate—and that she was to be stuck with this lunatic, Zhou Tian—she looked at Isha with visible reluctance. But under the weight of her mother’s authoritative gaze, she could only offer a sullen nod.

"Even if you aren't traveling with us, you should at least rest here for a while. Surely you wouldn't deny me that courtesy?" Isha added.

"Of course not." This time, Zhou Tian did not refuse. After days of sleeping in the wild, exposed to the elements, a bit of comfort sounded welcome.

Isha finally smiled and gestured for Lingyu to lead them away. As they walked deeper into the camp, the women they passed bowed slightly to Lingyu. This struck Zhou Tian as odd. He could see that the respect shown to Isha was due to her status, but the reverence shown to Lingyu felt different.

Lingyu, however, remained cold, acknowledging no one. She led them to their tent and, without a word, turned and left. Zhou Tian didn't mind; it was clear she was in a foul mood, but that was no concern of his. He beckoned Musu into the tent and enjoyed a warm, comfortable sleep.

"Hey, Musu, why aren't you sleeping?" Zhou Tian asked upon waking, finding Musu sitting bolt upright, his long sword resting across his lap.

"I’m keeping watch, just in case," Musu replied calmly. He couldn't fathom how Zhou Tian could be so carefree.

"Don't overthink it. You’re not the protagonist of some grand destiny where the whole world is out to get you. No one is watching us that closely. Don't look at everyone through a lens of suspicion. But suit yourself," Zhou Tian said, shaking his head.