Chapter 108: The Domain of the Evil God

Several tentacles crawled up the obelisk like vines, leaving behind a layer of strange, black matter that exuded a repulsive aura wherever they passed.

Watching the obelisk transform before his eyes, something inside Steve seemed to shatter. He realized, more profoundly than ever, that Washington D.C. had truly become history.

The tentacles climbed with alarming speed, covering the entire obelisk in under a minute. Once they reached the pinnacle, they began to shift again. Countless viscous black substances radiated from the obelisk, rapidly spreading across the city. Seeing the sludge about to engulf them, the group scrambled to jump out of the way.

Qu Yizhi hurriedly conjured a layer of ice crystals beneath their feet, keeping them suspended and preventing any contact with the encroaching matter. The black substance continued its work; in the blink of an eye, everything within their field of vision—buildings and vegetation alike—was smothered by the dark layer. The city looked like a vision of hell.

"What exactly is happening?" Steve turned his gaze from the scene to Qu Yizhi. He had wanted to ask back in the underground, but the urgency of the situation had forced him to hold his tongue until now.

Having successfully elevated the group on the ice, Qu Yizhi breathed a sigh of relief and briefly explained what she knew.

"So, all of this is caused by a mere wisp of an Evil God's aura? That’s incredible," Natasha exclaimed, recalling that Thor had never displayed power of such a scale.

Knowing they lacked knowledge of True Gods and pressed for time, Qu Yizhi didn't elaborate further. "Once this fungal carpet covers the entire city, it will transform into a domain—a separate sub-space. After that, it will open the gates of hell and unleash countless demons."

Steve’s expression turned grave. "It seems this was the goal of the cult’s high command. I never imagined they had a secret weapon like this. If they succeed, the consequences will be unthinkable."

"What should we do now? Should we launch an attack against that invisible barrier?" Barton asked, glancing at the towering tentacles in the distance. He felt conflicted, as all their previous attacks had been easily neutralized.

"That might not work, Legolas. I’ve already tried. The demon’s barrier is similar to the anomalous space in Antarctica; our attacks are ineffective." Tony’s voice suddenly cut through the comms, and Iron Man appeared before them in a heartbeat.

"Tony! Are you alright? Why did we lose contact?" Natasha glanced behind him, where two more figures were rapidly approaching.

"I was trapped in a strange fog, but then it dissipated. I heard your discussion, so I didn't interrupt," Tony replied, nodding as he looked at the black obelisk nearby. "On my way here, I noticed the sky getting stranger, so I tested the barrier above. Every attack was neutralized, just like in the footage the military gave us." Tony retracted his faceplate and looked at Qu Yizhi with a solemn expression.

Qu Yizhi was silent for a few seconds. "I have a way to break this barrier, but I need your help."

Natasha’s eyes lit up. "Yizhi, what is it?"

Qu Yizhi scanned the group, seeing everyone—including the newly arrived War Machine and Falcon—staring at her intently. She offered a relaxed smile. "Don't worry, I won't put you in a difficult position."

"Is there a price?" Tony stared at her intensely. Having briefly touched upon the secrets of magic, he had firmly committed its "mathematical" principles to memory, one of which was the law of equivalent exchange. Whether it was the power of the dark path or the righteous, everything demanded a price—especially among dark factions, where blood sacrifices were common precisely because of this rule. He knew that to break a barrier tied to an "Evil God," one would likely need to invoke a "God" in response.

"Don't worry, Tony. After all, I’ve only just taken you as my disciples; I won't abandon you so easily." Qu Yizhi winked at Tony and Steve, a gentle smile softening her otherwise cold expression.

Steve remained silent after Tony spoke. He knew of the law of equivalent exchange, but as a newcomer to these arts, he lacked the deep knowledge to verify if Qu Yizhi was being truthful.

Tony, meanwhile, was busy analyzing her micro-expressions, using his database to gauge her psychological state. Concluding she wasn't lying, he suppressed his unease and compromised. "Perhaps you’ll enjoy the new Oriental chef I’ve hired."

Qu Yizhi led the group to the White House. It was close enough to the obelisk that they could still see it twisting and pulsing.

"This is it. The emissary chanted his spell right here," Tony said, bringing them to the spot where he had fought the cultist. Even though it was now covered in the black fungal carpet, Tony’s data analysis had identified the exact location.

"Very good, Tony. Thank you for your help," Qu Yizhi said. Tony bit back his sarcastic retort.

She had already explained her plan: they would pray to a True God. Upon encountering the Evil God’s aura, memories related to it had naturally surfaced in her mind, revealing the method to break it. To gain the aid of a True God, they needed to construct an altar and hold a sacrificial rite. The most important component was the heirloom she carried—the Heavenly Spirit Seal.

It was only after regaining her memories that she realized the necklace she wore was actually a storage device containing the treasures of the Spirit Sect. She was both the Saintess and the sixty-third Sect Master of the Spirit Sect.

She retrieved all the ritual supplies from her necklace. Tony couldn't take his eyes off the storage device until Natasha elbowed him to snap him out of it.