Extra's Strategy: Cultivate Protagonists, Become Invincible-Chapter 118: Detective Xuhan Doesn’t Miss

"The second time my suspicions about the true nature of this inheritance challenge became stronger was when all of us who had passed the first stage were forcibly converted into disciples of the Holy Land of Laws.

"Sure, it makes sense that it is a necessary precaution against various loopholes of the first stage, like allowing powerful cultivators to send in their clones or slaves. But later, after all four of us met and I got to relax a bit in the second stage, I reflected back onto my experience in this test. Some doubts inevitably popped out.

"Using the assumption that a powerful being might have been sealed here and the circle of laws were actually placed to suppress it, what would be the aim of practically enslaving the cultivators who enter this... prison?"

Zhao Weiqing instantly interrupted Han Xuhan. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"It doesn’t make any sense. Your theory so far contradicts that clue. Doesn’t that mean you were on the wrong line of thinking, to begin with?"

Han Xuhan shook his head, continuing with his explanation in an unfazed manner.

"Indeed, it does. But if we are willing to use our imagination a bit and assume that the being who has been suppressed by the circle of laws is so incredibly powerful that the unsuspecting cultivators who barge into his prison would end up becoming his tools for freedom, it makes sense in a twisted way, doesn’t it?"

"Powerful mystic cultivators have countless means to achieve such feats, such as possession, mind control, enslavement contracts, plain coercion, and means that I may not even understand. How hard could it be?"

A heavy silence fell on the surroundings when Han Xuhan spoke of the possibility. Mu Ran’s body was still as a rock. Xuhan Zhou’s neck was straining from her effort to glance at Han Xuhan’s face. Han Xuhan’s smiling, but mirthless gaze was on Zhao Weiqing’s masked face.

It was as if he could sense the perspiration gathering on the forehead of Zhao Weiqing’s prime vessel, as if he could see the unnerved look in his eyes behind the mask.

"Obviously, the people who suppressed the powerful being here did not want him or her to break out easily. But they also knew that talented cultivators would come flocking into this world fragment in search of fortuitous encounters.

"So the creator of the circle of laws designed such a mechanism that it would instantly turn the talented cultivators into slave-disciples of the Holy Land, unable to ever betray their cause and never collude with the powerful being imprisoned here to harm this place in any way. This also corroborates with the theory that there is a sealed being here and it intends to harm the Holy Land!

"Now, let’s fast forward a bit and think about the second stage of our journey, where the cultivators have to fight each other for the power sources.

"If we’re going by the original theory that this whole arrangement was just an inheritance test, its incredible brutality really stands out. The fog here is poisonous. There were several cultivators who died along the way or suffered worse fates like mutating into terrible zombies. Let’s not even talk about the innocent mortals who were forced to explore this place under threat.

"If the Holy Land of Laws truly designed such a test, they’d have to be a top notch demonic sect. But seeing how developed the sect is, it is impossible for the rest of the world to not know about the existence of such an organization. And as far as my research tells me, there have been no established demonic sects in the last few centuries around the seven regions.

"As you can see, the theory that this whole journey to the center of the fog is an inheritance test... It begins to contradict itself! The other theory begins to make more sense!

"So, let’s shift to our secondary theory, and consider everything to be a part of the arrangement that suppresses the powerful existence inside the fog. Several details will suddenly start making sense!

"To deprive a cultivator of their power, the most important step is to make them unable to use their qi. But against an opponent at higher levels of cultivation, it is quite a difficult feat to achieve. Any powerful expert worth their salt would be able to find a loophole inside the techniques used to deprive them of their qi. No technique is invincible or unbreakable in the face of time.

"Thus, another important issue can be unraveled using this clue. The emerald orbs, the incredible power sources that litter the foggy region like they aren’t worth a coin...

Had I not frequently bought artificially collected qi from my sect’s treasury, I might not have noticed how precious they are. Each of those orbs can be sold for thousands of spirit stones.

"You get what I’m saying, don’t you Brother Yun? These power sources were collected by depriving a powerful being, using various types of suppressive laws, just like the Seal of Myriad Laws floating above our head right now. It certainly worked its part on us three by sucking up our qi, hehehe..."

Han Xuhan’s vainglorious laughter rang through the silent land of laws.

Zhao Weiqing had never seen anyone appear so happy while explaining exactly how he had lost. Han Xuhan looked immensely satisfied while laughing maniacally for a good few seconds.

But Zhao Weiqing wasn’t satisfied, not at all.

"Even if you had such suspicions, it’s impossible for you to just figure out the existence of the trap by simply relying on your imaginary theories. I’m certain that there’s more to the explanation." He said after Han Xuhan had finished laughing.

"Okay, okay. But can you like... applaud me a couple of times or pretend to look shocked for a few moments? What I did here was very impressive, right?"

Han Xuhan sounded earnest with the request, but the gloomy silence that greeted his words made him realize that the request would not be kept. So he cleared his throat and continued.

"Now, we have already discussed the inconsistencies in the first and second stages of the ’inheritance test’ in the light of our two main theories. But while the secondary theory has gained some advantages in the second stage, the third stage immensely cracks down on it."

"The existence of the platform," Qian Yun said.

"Yes, the platform over there is obviously an incredibly complex relic that was placed here to judge the new disciples of the Holy Land. I have no doubts about that. It’s way too complicated to simply be a part of someone’s scheme to take control of the exploring cultivators. However...

"Think about it, if you were a sealed cultivator who wants to break out of your prison, but you do not possess the ability to gather qi or rely on your own body, what would you try to rely on?

"Something around you, perhaps? Something that can draw in other cultivators where you can conveniently place a trap for them?

"Now, what draws in other cultivators? We have our answer from the first theory- an irresistible inheritance test.

"This, is where both theories merge together instead of canceling each other out!"

This chapter is updat𝙚d by f(r)eew𝒆bn(o)vel.com