Chapter 321 The Power of Longing, Young Master's Last Words, Preparing to Evacuate
"Unexpectedly—"
According to Bai Zhou's understanding, this black mist was the aggregation of the curse pollution of the civilization graveyard and the resentment of the dead. It seemed tangible but was actually formless, impossible to drive away or resist.
However, at this moment, Bai Zhou neither used any secret techniques nor applied any life contract. He simply stood in place and focused his thoughts, and a hole was suddenly blasted in the black mist in the sky, as if the sky itself had been pierced!
At that moment, Bai Zhou even had a strange feeling—
even if the creature standing in front of him was a walking corpse at the peak of the life-forging master realm, it would probably only be able to flee in a sorry state in the face of this move, and would be reduced to ashes if it was not careful!
If he were to encounter a half-dead, fused corpse like the [Wings of Mourning] now, Bai Zhou would only need to unleash a single [Thought] to knock off most of the corpse from its body, making it unable to fly.
Special attack suppression is just that unreasonable. It's like an existence at the top of the food chain facing its prey, naturally possessing an advantage in suppression.
"This power—"
Bai Zhou felt a chill run down his spine, carefully pondering and comprehending it.
Soon, Bai Zhou discovered that the character "念" (nian, meaning thought/reflection) was quite similar to "光" (guang, meaning light/light)
. It was truly formless and intangible, possessing no real destructive power against most people and things. Rather than a power, it was more like Bai Zhou had grasped a "switch."
Like invoking a deity—the foundation of magic—but what kind of deity one could summon, whether evil, ancient, or righteous, and how many—depended on
the environment and luck.
With the character "念," he was like holding a treasure bowl, able to gather the invisible thoughts that gathered nearby, especially the resentment and obsession left by the dead, and then transform them into a kind of destructive, invisible mental force, specifically targeting people and things related to the deceased.
Naturally, the more thoughts there were, the greater the burden on Bai Zhou himself, and the deeper the negative impact.
Just now, Bai Zhou was surrounded by surging thoughts, the power unleashed was incredible to the undead. This wasn't because Bai Zhou was particularly powerful, but because he stood atop a snow-capped mountain filled with tombs of pre-civilizations. What this place lacked least was the resentment and obsession of his "predecessors."
If he were to actually go to the ancient battlefields and ruins where these predecessors had fallen, the power he could gather would likely be even greater.
At this moment, if some foolish undead creature were to stumble upon him—
However, the same move had also placed an unimaginable burden on Bai Zhou.
Even now, though everything had dissipated, Bai Zhou's lips remained pale, his heart pounded, and auditory hallucinations lingered in his ears.
"Bai Zhou? Bai Zhou! Bai Zhou—"
"Do you know—"
"I'm so stupid, really, all I know is—"
Whispering murmurs continued endlessly, the indistinct hallucinations blurring the lines between reality and illusion, making it impossible to discern who was speaking. In truth, it was all just Bai Zhou's own hallucination, and he didn't know how long this effect would last. A
mesmerizing call, seemingly emanating from the River of Three Crossings, stirred within Bai Zhou's mind, as if summoning his soul and spirit to some unknown distant place.
If this were on a battlefield, using this move would have essentially stripped Bai Zhou of most of his ability to fight head-on.
Those who aspire to the crown must bear its weight, just as Bai Zhou, upon hearing the last words of his predecessors, had to shoulder their wishes—the ability to gather their thoughts also required Bai Zhou to bear and understand those thoughts.
Those whispers, those obsessions, all eroded Bai Zhou's spirit.
Like an ordinary person struggling to recover from a depressing film, Bai Zhou essentially injected those emotions—whether melancholic or frantic—directly into his body, bearing them in the most direct and defenseless way.
The impact was indescribable; even the carefree Bai Zhou was struggling to cope, needing to stand still and feel the cold wind on the snow-capped peak for half a day.
What if it were someone more sentimental? After one or two such experiences, he would definitely be a patient with severe depression and schizophrenia, needing proper treatment from psychiatrists like
Paroxetine from the Blood Cult . Specifically— if he encountered a formidable, immortal undead, like the High Priest of Troy, Bai Zhou might have the opportunity to harness the surrounding longing for his own use— but he was also certain that he would immediately become a puppet of the High Priest's emotions, unable to extricate himself from that longing, believing himself to be the High Priest's alter ego. Therefore, Bai Zhou immediately determined the scope of application for the word "念" (nian, meaning "thought" or "reflection" ). It's useful, but use it with caution! Against undead or related items of the same or slightly higher level, Bai Zhou can use this ability to suppress them, but against those even stronger—
Bai Zhou would definitely turn and run.
However, despite this, it must be said that for the Chosen Ones, this ability is surprisingly useful. In the world of Blue Star, according to Ya, most of the Chosen One's paths and secret techniques cannot suppress the undead, and may even be suppressed by them.
Bai Zhou should be most aware of this, because the forbidden book in his possession, the "Dead Sea Scrolls," involves the undead, and the [Thousand Faces Moon] derived from it has unique characteristics that ordinary Chosen Ones cannot understand, as they are practically on a different level.
On the one hand, research into the boundary between life and death has always been a taboo that most Chosen Ones fear; on the other hand, undead creatures are the life-threatening enemies that Chosen Ones occasionally encounter.
In the Reflection Ruins, which is most important to the Chosen Ones, whenever ruins overflow from the depths of the Ruins to the surface, there are often lingering undead corpses guarding the place.
Their attacks carried the toxins of rotting corpses, impervious to pain, curses, and most injuries, often causing the Chosen Ones particular headaches.
The usually cunning Chosen Ones, in such situations, only regretted their lack of positivity.
Back at the Special Administration Bureau, Bai Zhou had heard rumors that Deputy Director Liu had managed to acquire the Thunderous Heavenly Bow because the powerful Forging Masters were busy besieging an extremely terrifying giant corpse in the ruins, suffering heavy losses as a result.
Not only the Reflection Ruins, but to Bai Zhou, the area beneath his feet felt like a graveyard of civilizations, with cursed and contaminated corpses lurking in the shadows as so-called "monsters"—the ominous gazes Bai Zhou sensed, watching him from the depths of various ruins. Occasionally, these
monsters would gather in tides, emerging from the mountains at night, requiring Blackrock City to defend against them with utmost vigilance and repair its walls.
Whether dealing with the undead of the Ruins or the mutated monsters from the corpses of the Sunset Mountains, the Chosen Ones often had no choice but to suppress them with fire and talismans.
According to Ya, there's a top-tier Chosen One organization, on par with the Tianjing Bureau of Investigation, that suppresses the Western Federation of Europe. It's called the Holy Tribunal of Judgment, formerly the Heretical Inquisition of the Cross—
it possesses the ancient Chosen One path known as the "Cleric," a rare and powerful method that significantly suppresses undead creatures.
As for now?
Bai Zhou, a Chosen One adventurer known for his combat prowess but lacking any special special attack, has, to a certain extent, gained the ability to suppress undead or monsters of the same level after acquiring the "Nian" (念) ability!
—As long as the undead harbors sufficient resentment or an unyielding unwillingness to let go.
Even—
the ever-thinking and imaginative Bai Zhou immediately realized that this ability, like other ancient characters, has great potential and much room for development.
Nian—longing, obsession.
In Bai Zhou's understanding, isn't a dying wish itself a form of the deceased's obsession?
Using a dying wish to attack the deceased?
Bai Zhou eagerly awaits that day.
In fact, even now, in Bai Zhou's perception, the other four ancient characters on the Sea of Ignorance, along with Bai Zhou's advancement to become a Fate Forger, have also seen their abilities rise accordingly, with significant enhancements in effects, range of influence, and power.
Not only that, but there are also Bai Zhou's "instincts."
Just as his body and soul underwent a comprehensive evolution after his life level improved, everything in the Fate Space, as the most important direct manifestation of his life, naturally also underwent a transformation!
"Buzz—"
After a long while, Bai Zhou, finally recovering, stood still, his figure no longer swaying. His heart stirred slightly at this moment.
No longer gathering nearby thoughts, he only mobilized the power of his own thoughts—
at this moment, images of Wancheng flashed through Bai Zhou's mind, the figures of his fellow villagers, Brother Liu Zhen and Ya, Fang Xiaoxia and the Gem Witch, and so on—
then, his individual thoughts converged, and it was as if a gust of wind was blowing past the hem of Bai Zhou's clothes.
"Whoosh—"
A pair of invisible hands, visible only to Bai Zhou, slowly coalesced in mid-air, grabbing a stone lying on the ground not far away and forcefully throwing it into the distance.
"Whoosh!"
The stone flew through the air, the whistling wind howling, looking quite imposing.
"That's all—" Seeing this, Bai Zhou was speechless.
Mobilizing one's own thoughts had the fewest side effects, but the effect was also pitifully small, roughly equivalent to Bai Zhou gaining a third invisible arm.
It was useful in some ways, and useless in others, but this was not beyond Bai Zhou's expectations.
After all, how strong could one's thoughts be? Unless Bai Zhou reached a high level in the Destiny Sequence in the future, his individual life was extremely powerful, and his experiences and emotions were exceptionally rich—
at that time, Bai Zhou's mere thought would be incredibly strong, perhaps then he would be able to develop killing moves like "Thoughts of Evening City Fist" or "Thoughts of Black Robe Palm" using the word "Thoughts"—Following
this, the invisible hands grabbed the only head on the ground that Bai Zhou hadn't buried.
The head hadn't completely turned into skull yet; fragments of flesh, not fully decomposed, still clung to it. Its appearance vaguely resembled the Blackrock City governor from Bai Zhou's memories.
Clearly, this was the young master from the governor's family who had been murdered, and Bai Zhou's initial target.
Floating atop this rather gruesome head was a clearly visible last message, the contents of which left Bai Zhou speechless.
He said:
"Life doesn't need baggage. I can finally enjoy every adventure I embark on." "
Even if I remain forever in the graveyard of civilization, I will die simply as myself, without any regrets, but—"
"Perhaps my only regret is that on the day of my departure, I had a conflict with my father and didn't say goodbye properly."
"As the last time we met, it certainly won't be a good memory, so if I could do it all over again, I would definitely tell him properly—"
"I love you, Dad. See you tomorrow."
"————" Bai Zhou held the head, looked at the last message in silence for a moment, then shook his head.
This young master, rigorously raised from childhood by a noble family, once the most outstanding and now the most rebellious child in the eyes of others—in his final moments, he no longer used the formal address of "Father," but instead called out "Dad" like a commoner's son.
"—Received, give it to me," Bai Zhou murmured in his heart.
Bai Zhou would take this head and deliver its last words to that old father.
He hoped the old man could bear it.
Then, the young man's last words would naturally be fulfilled.
With this, Bai Zhou's mission in the Hiro Empire had been completely and beyond accomplished.
The Destiny Forging was successful, and the Path of Destiny entered a new stage.
Successfully formed a contract, advancing to a second-tier ritual master.
Crowned [King of Battle], awakened his battle flames, and acquired the life contract [Overturning Blade and Sword, Heaven and Earth Style], paving a smooth path ahead.
He battled heroic spirits and vultures, dug up thatched huts, and transformed small logs into giant pegasus.
Even the bounty mission was completed; all that remained was for Bai Zhou to deliver his head to receive the gifts and friendship from the governor and the Kanutius family behind him.
Thinking this, Bai Zhou remembered the bounty reward he received at the One Heart Brotherhood—
[100 gold coins, promotion to eighth-class citizen, reward from the governor, and friendship from the Kanutius family!]
"Eighth-class citizen—"
In the Hiro Empire, strict hierarchical barriers and class divisions existed between each class of citizen. Becoming a ninth-class citizen allowed Bai Zhou to register as an adventurer with the guild and receive bounty missions.
So, what about becoming an eighth-class citizen?
Even the governor, driven mad by the dismemberment of his youngest son, personally promised him a chance to be promoted to seventh-class citizen, depending on whether he could seize the opportunity and soar to great heights.
A seventh-class citizen!
It's important to understand that seventh-class citizens are not commoners; in the Hero Empire, this is the true nobility, usually prefixed with "honorable."
Before Bai Zhou's imprisonment, his proud father, the minor nobleman Lucus Nes Noranus, was a noble seventh-class citizen—
however, whether citizen or city lord, that will likely have to wait until Bai Zhou returns to the Hero Empire.
Putting away the head and compass, Bai Zhou's gaze shifted from the pure white sunset to his wristwatch.
35:57:18.
Dusk was approaching, the sun was about to set, and in less than three minutes, the Hero Empire would enter its twilight—also the final moment of Bai Zhou's return to the mortal world.
This trip was incredibly fruitful; Bai Zhou's Trojan Horse was overflowing with riches, truly demonstrating what it means to be "overwhelmed with losses.
" "It's time to go back,"
Bai Zhou thought.
The Demon Assembly, the other Seven Sins, the Five-Colored Eyes family, and that Black-Eyed Young Master who sent people to provoke them—
they were all waiting in the mortal world, waiting for Bai Zhou to bring them surprises.
On the stage where demons danced wildly—the King of Sloth, the Lord of Desire, was about to ascend to the top of the Seven Sins!
Then, he would break the seal of the Seven Sins' House, obtain the Holy Relic Seal, and unlock the subsequent chapters of the Dead Sea Scrolls—
all these plans flowed through his mind, filling Bai Zhou, who was advancing to the Forging Realm, with boundless enthusiasm.
Since successfully completing the trial and advancing to the Forging Realm, Bai Zhou immediately swept away all fatigue, his spirits high and his blood surging.
From spirituality to destiny, from instinct to the ancient characters on the sea of ignorance, his entire being underwent a complete transformation. Every cell in his body craved a cathartic release, yearning for—
a satisfying battle!
However—
before that, as the sun was about to sink below the horizon, Bai Zhou returned to the "original site of the thatched hut," his face solemn as he examined the core of the domain suspended there.
The thatched hut was gone, but the core of the domain remained.
"Buzz—"
A cold, eerie light flowed quietly, a priceless treasure condensing the essence of an entire ancient snow mountain. The energy contained within was immeasurable; if it were to erupt, it could probably blast away most of the Listening Sea.
The mysterious and magnificent cold light swirled, shimmering in Bai Zhou's eyes.
Memories deep within his mind raced, and Bai Zhou tried hard to recall the scenes bestowed upon him by the last words.
Although the dying words only flashed through Bai Zhou's mind with images of humans and eagles, they weren't entirely devoid of connections to the core of the field.
Therefore, in these final three minutes, Bai Zhou had to quickly and seriously consider a question:
This thing—this priceless treasure that could never be found in the present world of Blue Star—
could he really not take it with him?