Eldritch Horror Theatre

Fu Qian had been telling the truth just now. He really hadn’t looked much into the Academy’s personnel matters.

”Weilon.”

Seeming to realize that Fu Qian had no reason to lie about this, the figure who had arrived in his Mythical Form fell silent for a moment before finally stating his name.

It was indeed an unfamiliar name.

”Linghui?”

”Linghui.”

Having already volunteered his name, the man admitted to Fu Qian’s follow-up question just as openly.

”Demigod?”

”Demigod.”

”Then you’re quite something!”Fu Qian pointed at Weilon.

”Aren’t you holding your Mythical Form a bit too effortlessly?”

Old Man Logan had once mentioned that even he could only fight in his Mythical Form anytime, anywhere because he was a Half-Step Divine Envoy.

But in terms of sheer ease, he was completely outclassed by the man standing in front of him.

Brother Weilon gave the impression that he could casually sit through two math classes in his Mythical Form without breaking a sweat.

”Haha...”

Weilon let out another low chuckle.

”A genuine demigod, as expected. Of course that’s your first reaction.”

”The mind is the foundation of all existence.”

After the praise, Weilon explained in a flat tone, not looking rushed in the slightest.

”If you can understand that, the negative effects of the Mythical Form will become much easier for you to endure.”

”Of course, I know that you people from Apocalypse would rather study how to grow a giant dragon from a single drop of blood.”

”More than that.”

Fu Qian recalled a colleague’s research topic that he had once stumbled across.

”There are people dedicating themselves to turning a giant dragon into a young girl.”

”Utterly pointless!”

Weilon snorted coldly, unsurprisingly displaying absolute contempt.

”If I wanted to, it would only take me a few minutes to make a dragon believe it was a woman.”

This guy was in a league of his own!

The man painted such a perverted picture with such self-righteous confidence that Fu Qian was left marveling.

”You are too.”

However, Weilon clearly wasn’t here to show off his lack of boundaries. A moment later, he changed the subject, delivering a heavily loaded threat.

”The power of the mind is terrifying to this degree!”

Fu Qian looked amazed.

”Then how did your mentor get beaten to death by me?”

...

Fu Qian’s counterattack was undoubtedly lethal. Although Weilon didn’t make a sound beneath his mask, an invisible turbulence seemed to ripple out from him.

”Yi’an’s genius isn’t something you lot can understand. You have no idea what you’ve done!”

As expected of a demigod from the Linghui Courtyard. Just when Fu Qian thought the man wouldn’t be able to hold back from attacking, Weilon unexpectedly restrained his impulse with his immense mental strength.

”But I do know. I beat him to death.”

Fu Qian didn’t hesitate for half a second.

Idealism would never understand the power of seeking truth from facts.

...

”I am here today precisely because of Yi’an.”

With just a few sentences, Fu Qian had successfully made the demigod Weilon give up on meaningless emotional outbursts and frankly state his purpose.

”I know there’s a tacit understanding right now. Linghui is destined to take the blame for this, thereby minimizing the impact on the Academy.”

Amid a mental influence even stronger than before—thanks to his Mythical Form paired with the Weeping Mask—Weilon’s tone was flat but carried a fierce edge.

”Even your return now is very likely the result of an agreement reached long ago. But unfortunately—I am someone who takes things seriously.”

”I had my doubts before I came, but the killer turned out to be a demigod hiding his strength... That discovery leaves me with no more reason to doubt.”

”I need to know the truth. I refuse to let Linghui suffer such an insult, and Yi’an...”

”With all due respect, an insult might just make Professor Yi’an even more excited.”

Although the pressure on his will grew heavier, Fu Qian still didn’t rush to activate his Mythical Form to match him. Instead, he offered a deadpan analysis.

Considering that guy’s actions, he thought the probability was quite high.

”But how did you pull this off? How could Naya downstairs not sense it?”

”Heh... That is the brilliant part.”

As if asked about his proudest trick, Weilon let out a low chuckle.

”In fact, this is why I came directly in my Mythical Form. In my original plan, this conversation would only have taken place in your subconscious.”

”This is the Void of Causal Origin.”

He swept a hand through the air, stirring up ripples wherever it passed.

”With me at the center, destiny is no longer woven with countless threads, but has instead become a tightly layered sphere.”

”Right now, our conceptual connection to the surrounding Transcendent Tier has been minimized. Coupled with a bit of cognitive interference, it’s perfectly normal for Naya, who doesn’t possess divinity yet, to remain oblivious.”

Void... of Causal Origin?

The naming conventions of the people in this world really left him speechless.

Although Weilon was putting on airs again, Fu Qian found it hard to hold back his urge to mock him.

”Now, let us face our minds directly and have a proper discussion.”

Naturally, Weilon was unaware of Fu Qian’s inner thoughts. Seeing that he didn’t speak, the man let out a cold laugh and clapped his hands lightly twice.

The next moment, Fu Qian realized the surrounding scenery was rapidly shifting. In the blink of an eye, the setting changed from a sunlit bedroom to a vast, pale room.

It even felt seemingly familiar. Was this Professor Yi’an’s Laboratory?

After a brief glance, Fu Qian quickly realized where this was.

”When I arrived that day, the scene I saw was something I will never forget for the rest of my life.”

Weilon’s voice was low, heavy with killing intent.

”And I believe that revisiting an old haunt should help make your memories clearer.”

”To be honest, you were very lucky. You ran away quickly.”

No, you’re the lucky one.

Fu Qian thought to himself, though the unseen methods displayed before him also piqued his curiosity.

”A dream?”

”How could it be? I’m not arrogant enough to try to hypnotize a Divine Being.”

Weilon snorted coldly once more.

”It’s just that the boundary between mind and reality has become blurred. Achieving this is no easy feat, especially against a demigod. That’s why I’ve wasted so much breath talking to you.”

”This isn’t an intrusion on your cognition, but an attunement of wills. And with this level of synchronization now established, it’s not something you can easily break free from.”

”Next, I expect you to be honest about what you’ve done.”

”That’s easy enough.”

Sensing the subtle changes within his mind, Fu Qian realized that due to the recreation of the scene, his will and emotions from that time were actually surging back as well.

Under these circumstances, trying to pull off a Perfect Disguise if one had actually done something would indeed be very difficult. Fu Qian couldn’t help but marvel at the effect for a moment.

”Logically speaking, shouldn’t Linghui have some more direct methods? For example, Ni Huayuan could just recreate the death imagery. Why go through all this trouble?”

”You’re right, but Yi’an’s state upon death was quite unusual; that method wouldn’t work... All right, enough nonsense. Professor Fu, did you murder him and frame someone else because Yi’an discovered your secret and you were worried he’d leak it?”

This story they’ve spun is actually quite airtight. The Linghui side must have racked their brains coming up with it, right?

Marveling internally, Fu Qian shook his head without the slightest pressure.

”No.”