Chapter 284: Chapter 142: Xinhua Academy, Part 4

"I created this aberration from the lingering wills of hundreds of civilians. The concept of a lingering will is quite simple."

"You just make the civilians endlessly oscillate between pain and pleasure. After they die, a trace of their consciousness remains in the corpse."

"Then, you gather these consciousnesses, stir up their resentful energy, and an aberration is formed."

"Unfortunately, it seems I failed as well. Their consciousnesses are too chaotic, making it impossible to produce a single, independent being. Of course, I did make some progress. Their collective instinct is more like a mind, but in the end, it’s still just an instinct."

As Wang Tianxing described these various cruel methods, he spoke as if he were discussing some trivial, unimportant matter.

Shen Bai’s eyes narrowed. "You’re even more cruel than the Sect Leader."

The Sect Leader’s evil, at least, had a source.

Yet Wang Tianxing described his own methods as a form of justice.

If this so-called evil were to spread, the consequences would be far-reaching.

Wang Tianxing tilted his head. "Cruel? No, not cruel. It’s salvation. We will succeed in the end."

"You’re very strong, capable of defeating someone in the Meridian Realm while only in the Five Organ Realm. I’ve been paying attention to you ever since you entered the Life and Death Road."

"That’s why I rushed to create it. Its existence will allow the fissure to be repaired."

"Give me your body. I so desperately want to study you!"

A fanatical light gleamed in Wang Tianxing’s eyes. His gaze upon Shen Bai was filled with avarice.

"You want my body?"

Shen Bai stroked his chin. "The last person who said they admired me is already six feet under."

"Six feet under?" Wang Tianxing froze.

Shen Bai nodded. "Yep. I sent him there myself. As he was dying, he seemed to have a sudden realization that everything he’d done was wrong."

It took a moment for Wang Tianxing to understand, then he burst out laughing. "Excellent! I like your attitude. But this situation is not something you can resolve."

"And why is that?" Shen Bai asked.

Wang Tianxing pointed to the brain-shaped aberration. "To kill it, you must first kill these soldiers. And it seems someone extremely important to you is among them."

"If you kill them, that power will feed back and strengthen the aberration. As a result, this General beside you will also fall under its control." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"And if you don’t kill them, that’s fine too. They’ll be slowly consumed, eventually turning into mindless husks, and the aberration’s power will still grow stronger."

"It’s a no-win situation, isn’t it? And I, for one, am quite pleased to see it."

Zhao Sheng wiped the sweat from his brow. "Lord Shen, when the time comes, you must kill me first, and then destroy the aberration."

Shen Bai shot Zhao Sheng a strange look. "What are you talking about?"

Zhao Sheng gave a bitter smile. "As things stand, it really does seem to be a no-win situation."

After hearing Wang Tianxing’s explanation, he felt that the situation truly was a dead end with no possible solution.

That’s why he was reminding Shen Bai not to hesitate. Dealing with the immediate threat was what mattered most.

Shen Bai said, "Zhou Qing is my brother. You expect me to just stand by and watch him die?"

"It’s just a mind control technique. It’s nothing."

Zhao Sheng asked bitterly, "This brain aberration is so preposterous. How could you possibly overcome it, Lord Shen?"

Wang Tianxing smiled faintly. "An aberration formed from collected lingering wills... you think you can solve it with just a few words? Shen Bai, you’re just wasting your effort. But fine. I’m curious to see just how you plan to resolve this."

With that, Wang Tianxing actually found a place to sit down, looking perfectly calm and unconcerned.

While they spoke, the brain-shaped aberration appeared motionless, but it was constantly attempting to control Shen Bai and Zhao Sheng.

Moreover, the expressions on Zhou Qing and the other soldiers were growing more and more vacant.

Just as Wang Tianxing had said, if this continued any longer, Zhou Qing and the others would become nothing more than mindless husks.

Shen Bai patted Amber on the head.

Amber understood immediately, sinking into Shen Bai’s body and disappearing.

Wang Tianxing saw this and remarked, "What incredible luck. A combat-type aberration that has even consumed a Deceit Transformation Pearl, giving it the ability to possess you and amplify your strength. But it’s still not enough. Even if you kill them all, it’s useless. Are you really going to watch your brother die before your very eyes?"

Shen Bai said calmly, "Why is watching my brother die the only option?"

Wang Tianxing sneered. "Then how do you propose to handle this?"

Hearing Shen Bai’s words, he merely thought Shen Bai was bluffing, a spent force trying to appear strong.

In Wang Tianxing’s eyes, the outcome was already set in stone. There was no solution.

Shen Bai said no more and slowly began to chant a Spell.

As Shen Bai chanted the Spell, characters resembling Immortal Text materialized, swirling around his body.

Moreover, an aura like that of a Banished Immortal began to flow from Shen Bai.

Zhao Sheng, who had been struggling against the voice in his mind, paused for a moment, then reacted with a start.

"This is... a Daoist Technique? Lord Shen, you know a Daoist Technique as well?"

He felt his mind, which had been muddled and trembling, instantly become clear and steady again.

Not only that, Zhao Sheng felt his mind become perfectly clear, all the chaotic, intrusive thoughts vanishing in an instant.

Right now, he even felt like pulling up a stool, sitting down, and gazing at the inverted scenery in the sky until he fell into a peaceful sleep.

It was a feeling of relief and liberation he had never experienced before.

Wang Tianxing, who had been so composed in his white robes, could no longer maintain his calm. His eyes widened. "A Daoist Technique! How do you know a Daoist Technique!"

"Have you gone mad, learning so many different things? If you had specialized in a single path, your realm would be far higher than this!"

A smile touched Shen Bai’s lips. "Realms are nothing more than numbers to me."

As his words faded, Shen Bai reached out and made a guiding gesture.