stonecrandall Page 411
Page 411
Ma Xianhong slowly raised his head, his eyes vacant, still reeling from the collapse of his worldview. Reference material? His masterpiece, the Divine Refinement of Divine Mechanism, one of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques, was just… reference material?
Before he could even process the boundless contempt contained in those words, he suddenly felt an indescribable unease.
An invisible, indescribable wave emanated from the man before him, like the most sophisticated scanner, instantly sweeping over his body, over the pile of mechanical creations called "Ru Hua" behind him, and even penetrating his brain, probing into the deepest recesses of his memory.
In that instant, Ma Xianhong had the illusion that he had been completely "formatted". Every detail of the Divine Refinement Technique, from the most basic refining methods to the core "enlightenment" method, to his own understanding and insights into the technique, and even those flashes of inspiration... everything was "copied" from his mind by an irresistible force.
This is not learning, not understanding, and certainly not stealing.
This is a higher-dimensional form of "reading" and "downloading." The other party doesn't need to understand at all; they only need to package the entire person, along with all the knowledge they possess, into a data file, and then... save it.
Within Zhou Ye's sea of consciousness, the core of the Herrscher of Reason was shimmering with a pale blue light.
[Target technology discovered: Advanced and refined technology.]
[Technology Level: Planetary Civilization, Basic Energy and Matter Conversion and Application.]
[Analysis begins...]
[Analysis complete. Core principle: Using spiritual power (Qi) as a medium, through specific structures (talismans, mechanisms), the basic composition of matter is altered, endowing it with pre-set "pseudo-life" instructions.]
[Already included in the database. Named: Divine Refinement (Original Version)]
[It can be optimized, refactored, and applied at any time.]
The entire process took less than three seconds.
"Thank you for sharing." Zhou Ye nodded, acting as if he had simply borrowed a book from the library. His natural manner sent chills down Ma Xianhong's spine. He had already taken what he wanted, so he generously gave back.
"In return, I'll give you some advice." Zhou Ye looked down at him. "Your concept of the Body Cultivation Furnace is too idealistic. Forcibly using external objects to synchronize and correct an individual's Qi, pursuing so-called equality, will only create a group of puppets who have lost their own will and whose Qi circulation trajectories are exactly the same. That's not completion, that's formatting."
You are depriving them of their right to be themselves, not giving them the freedom to be who they want to be.
After saying that, Zhou Ye stretched, as if he had completed a trivial task and was ready to end this short "journey".
The first objective of this trip has been achieved.
He turned and strode towards the exit of the square, seemingly too weary to even glance at the people there. When he reached Chen Duo, he paused, looked at the girl who was still sobbing softly, and casually said, "You have to walk your own path. If you can't figure it out, just find a place to eat and get a good night's sleep. The sky isn't falling."
After saying that, he continued walking forward, and as if remembering his next stop, he muttered to himself in a voice only he could hear, but in the quiet square, every word he said was clearly heard by everyone.
"I've got the Divine Machine Refinement in hand. Next... um, that guy from Quanxing who plays with insects, is he called Tu Junfang? I heard that his Three Corpses can stir up the dark side of people's hearts. I'll use it to test my Merit Jade Pendant and see what kind of substance this so-called evil really is."
As soon as he finished speaking, he had already reached the village entrance. 5.0
Everyone in Biyou Village, including Ma Xianhong, who had just gotten up from the ground and whose mind was still in a daze, heard these words.
Just moments ago, the crowd felt a sense of relief at Chen Duo's new life and a sense of shared sorrow for Ma Xianhong's crushing defeat. But the moment they heard those words, a chill even more biting than when they faced "Ru Hua" ran from the soles of their feet straight to the top of their heads.
What does this person think of the Eight Extraordinary Skills? Street food? Something to take whenever he sees something he likes?
What did he take Tu Junfang, the infamous "Three Corpses" of Quanxing, for? A guinea pig to test a new toy?
They suddenly realized that from beginning to end, this man had not come to challenge Biyou Village, nor to save Chen Duo.
He was just passing by.
Passing by, he casually "took" the Divine Machine Hundred Refinements. Then, he prepared to move on to the next "attraction" and take something else that interested him.
Biyou Village, Ma Xianhong, Chen Duo… everything was just a scene he casually flipped through on his journey.
Chapter 379 The Carnival of All Sexes
Nadutong Company, North China Regional Headquarters, late at night.
The highest-level red alert turned the entire building brightly lit, creating an atmosphere as oppressive as the sea before a storm. Xu San's report, along with the encrypted message containing his own sobs and screams, was immediately placed on the desks of all the senior executives.
An undefined level objective with the provisional codename "Visitor".
In less than a minute, the company's "Gu-body Saint Child" Chen Duo, who had been at a loss, was dealt with.
In a single sentence, the essence of "Divine Refinement" and the secret of "Biyou Village" were revealed.
Finally, he vanished into thin air and declared that his next target was Tu Junfang of Quanxing.
Every message was like a depth charge, causing an uproar in the conference room.
"Spatial transfer? Have you read Xu Si's on-site investigation report? There's no trace of Qi left. It's not a talisman, not an array, it's just a literal disappearance." A middle-aged cadre with a receding hairline tapped his fingers nervously on the table.
"The key point is Chen Duo! Chen Duo has been cured! Once this news is confirmed, the entire world of supernatural beings will be shaken! Our fundamental legal basis for the action against Biyou Village will no longer exist!" Another female executive 10 turned pale.
"Legal principles? Is this the time to discuss legal principles?" A director with a military background slammed his fist on the table. "We are now facing a monster who can see through all our secrets, ignore the inheritors of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques, and freely jump between spaces on a map! He specifically targets Tu Junfang. What is he trying to do? Is he demonstrating against the entire world of supernatural beings?"
“Tourists…that’s a brilliant code name.” The middle-aged cadre who spoke first gave a wry smile. “We are on high alert, while they are just sightseeing. This is not even a contest of the same scale.”
In the conference room, debate, shock, and panic mingled. But ultimately, everyone fell silent. They realized that, faced with the "visitor" described in the report, their prized intelligence network, action teams, and high-tech equipment all seemed utterly powerless.
They didn't even know who the other person was, where they came from, or what they wanted to do.
They could only wait and see where this "tourist" would "check in" next.
In stark contrast to the gloomy atmosphere at the headquarters of Na Du Tong, in the darker corners of the world of supernatural beings, this storm, triggered by "tourists," has sparked a carnival for madmen.
"Hahahaha! I'm dying of laughter! Village Chief Ma got his door kicked open and was rubbed against the ground? Ouch, my stomach hurts from laughing!" In a brightly lit private room of a bar, Xia He laughed uncontrollably, her voluptuous body swaying on the sofa, her eyes filled with seductive allure. The man beside her was blushing and completely captivated by the innate energy emanating from her. "That little virgin, always wearing that deadpan savior face, building his ideal world, well, now he's been directly told that his ideals are worthless. So satisfying!"
Sitting opposite her was a young man with black-rimmed glasses, who looked refined and cultured. Lü Liang, nicknamed "Scraping Bone Knife," licked his slightly dry lips, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with excitement. He waved his phone, which displayed scattered intelligence about the Biyou Village incident that he had obtained through special channels.
“Interesting, very interesting. A holy child who can purify a Gu body in a minute, what does that mean? Is Buddha descending to earth?” His voice carried a morbid pleasure. “What interests me even more is that he specifically asked for Tu Junfang. I really want to see with my own eyes whether Tu Junfang’s three corpses are more powerful, able to rip out this tourist’s heart, or whether this tourist’s bones are harder, able to shatter Tu Junfang’s worms.”
"Stop making sarcastic remarks." A deep voice rang out from the shadows in the corner. Acting sect leader Gong Qing emerged from the darkness, his usually gentle face now devoid of any smile. "I've reviewed the intelligence. Xu San's report, while containing some emotional exaggerations, contains the core information correctly. This tourist's ability system has surpassed our understanding of superhumans. This isn't a challenge; it's more like... a dimensional reduction attack."
Xia He and Lü Liang's laughter gradually subsided. They might be crazy, but they weren't stupid. The fact that Gong Qing would use the term "dimensional reduction attack" clearly indicated the seriousness of the situation.
"So what?" Xia He stretched, her body swaying dramatically. "If the sky falls, someone tall will hold it up. He's after Tu Junfang, not us. We can just watch the show."
"Watching a show?" Gong Qing shook his head, his eyes becoming profound. "Xia He, don't you understand yet? What is the essence of Quanxing? It's freedom, it's doing whatever you want. We are the opposite of the entire order of the supernatural world. Now, there has appeared someone who disregards the rules even more, is even more willful than us, and possesses overwhelming power. Do you think he is one of us, or... our natural enemy?"
These words silenced both Xia He and Lü Liang.
Yes, they enjoy chaos, but if a "source of chaos" that can easily wipe them out comes along, how can they continue playing?
Meanwhile, in another place, in a damp, dark underground cave.
This is the lair of Tu Junfang, the "Three Corpses." A strange stench, a mixture of decay and sweetness, permeates the air. Tiny black insects wriggle densely on the cave walls, making a rustling sound that sends chills down one's spine.
Tu Junfang sat on a protruding rock, wearing a faded overcoat, his face as pale as a corpse. He listened quietly to his subordinates' report, the contents of which were largely the same as those on Lü Liang's phone.
When he heard that the "tourist" had purified Chen Duo in one minute, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly on his expressionless face.
When he heard the "tourist" specifically ask to find him to test the "merit jade pendant," he finally revealed a morbid, twisted smile.
Around him, three demonic insects, several times larger than the other black insects and seemingly composed of pure malice, hovered restlessly. They sensed the intense fluctuations in their host's emotions.
“A person who can purify the Gu body of the Holy Child…” Tu Junfang murmured to himself in a hoarse voice, “How pure must the Qi, or rather the soul, within him be? Such a person says he wants to find my Three Corpses… Is he provoking me? Or… trying to attract me?”
He was obsessed with uncovering and manipulating the deepest "evil" in people's hearts. An absolute "good," or rather, "purity," was to him like the most deadly poison, yet also the most tempting delicacy. He couldn't wait to see what his 840-year-old self would see when it entered the body of such a being. Would it suffocate from overeating, or would it discover a previously unseen, deeper darkness?
Tu Junfang slowly stood up, the hem of his trench coat fluttering even without wind. For the first time, a flame called "fervor" ignited in his dead fish-like eyes.
He spoke to the few Quanxing members around him, his voice not loud, but carrying an unquestionable command.
"Let me tell you all, Quanxing has a new toy."
"Pass on my message: whoever can politely invite this tourist to me will see for himself just how filthy and interesting a person's soul can be."
……
Meanwhile, in Beijing, on an unnamed snack street.
The hustle and bustle of the night market completely dispelled the daytime heat. The aroma of cumin and chili, mixed with the malty scent of beer, wafted through the air.
Zhou Ye sat at a greasy plastic square table, a bowl of steaming fried liver in front of him, and a plate of freshly steamed pork and scallion buns next to him. He held a spoon in one hand and a bun in the other, eating with great relish, looking relaxed and content, as if everything he had done in Biyou Village was just a small pre-dinner entertainment.
The massive upheaval he caused in the world of supernatural beings seemed to exist in a completely different dimension from the man who was enjoying a bite of garlicky fried liver.
He had just stuffed the last bite of the steamed bun into his mouth and let out a satisfied burp.
Then, he raised his head, his gaze passing over the bustling crowd, and looked toward the street corner.
There, the wind seemed to have stopped.
Chapter 380 Insects and Gods
The wind at the street corner has indeed stopped.
Not only the wind, but also the cacophony of sounds in the area seemed to be filtered out by an invisible soundproof barrier. Several burly men who were playing drinking games froze in mid-air; a young mother pushing a stroller passed by, her smile frozen; even a few moths fluttering under the streetlights abruptly fell to the ground.
At the same time, their eyes became empty and sinister, and wisps of extremely faint black energy seeped from their seven orifices, only to quickly recede. They slowly turned around, their movements perfectly synchronized, like a group of puppets awakened from their trance, their gazes fixed on the man sitting in front of the food stall.
Zhou Ye didn't even put down his spoon; he simply wiped his mouth slowly with a napkin. He put the last bite of fried liver into his mouth, savoring its unique salty and savory flavor, before pushing the empty bowl aside and looking into the distance.
Behind the controlled passersby, a pale-faced man in a trench coat emerged from the shadows. A mocking, morbid smile played on his lips, like an artist about to admire his masterpiece.
"Tu Junfang?" Zhou Ye asked, his tone as calm as if he were asking a neighbor if they had eaten.
Tu Junfang didn't answer, but watched Zhou Ye with great interest. He wanted to see how this legendary, unfathomable "tourist" would react to an attack from an ordinary person. Would he kill him, or would he hesitate? Either way, it would allow him to glimpse a corner of the other's character.
He raised his hand slightly, a gesture that was both elegant and ruthless.
The passersby, controlled by the three corpses, had a surge of black energy in their eyes. Like wild beasts devoid of pain and reason, they pulled out all sorts of sharp weapons from their pockets, waists, and anywhere else they could hide something—fruit knives, screwdrivers, and even a broken beer bottle.
They let out meaningless roars and charged at Zhou Ye like madmen.
The food stall owner screamed in fright, tumbling to the ground with his chair, and crawling backward on all fours. The surrounding diners finally noticed the strange occurrence and scattered in all directions, screaming.
In an instant, this small area became an isolated island.
The blade, gleaming coldly under the dim streetlights, pierced Zhou Ye's throat, heart, and back of the head with a resolute momentum—each a fatal vital point.
However, the smile on Tu Junfang's face froze the next second.
All the sharp weapons stopped abruptly an inch away from Zhou Ye's skin.
They were as if they had crashed into an invisible, absolutely solid wall, unable to advance even an inch further. The controlled passersby used all their strength, their faces turning red, the veins on their arms bulging, but that thin inch of distance became an insurmountable chasm.
The space around Zhou Ye's body was solidified by his power as the Herrscher of the Void into an absolute defensive "shell".
"Using ordinary people as cannon fodder, is this your method?" Zhou Ye's voice was unreadable.
Tu Junfang's pupils contracted slightly. He didn't care that his attack was blocked; the world of supernatural beings had plenty of defensive methods. What he cared about was that the Three Corpse Demonic Insects he had released, which were attached to those passersby, suddenly transmitted an unprecedented and extremely terrifying signal to Zhou Ye after approaching within a certain range.
It wasn't the desire to fight, nor the greed to devour, but a kind of fear that originated from the deepest, most instinctive part of life.
Like an ant looking up and seeing the stars crushing down upon it.