Chapter 1521: Chapter 1516: Human Pillar (25)

"Lord Aike."

Perhaps due to a shared sense of urgency, the team’s travel efficiency had noticeably improved from before.

Of course, conversely, the atmosphere seemed even more oppressive.

And this time, it was surprisingly Fu Qian who attempted to lighten the mood, even going so far as to promptly apologize to the Night Watcher Demigod.

"Sorry I had to do that earlier, have you recovered a bit now?"𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"That was my duty in the first place, actually, I should be the one thanking you."

It was clear this gesture surprised Aike slightly, but after gazing at Fu Qian for a moment, she still fairly commented on the essence of the incident, suggesting there was no need to dwell on it.

"Furthermore, don’t worry, even though when I was repeatedly struck earlier, it seemed difficult to suppress a certain primal frenzy deep within my soul, now my mind is quite clear, and I’m quite certain I haven’t forgotten anything."

At the same time, Aike provided a very detailed account of her inner journey.

Of course, this wasn’t to emphasize her own merits; it was a way to express gratitude.

After all the interactions along the way, how could she naively believe the other party was truly concerned for her safety?

Everyone heard the conversation he had with Li He.

Clearly, both the elder and the younger seemed quite interested in this peculiar technique of mental annihilation.

The purpose of this person approaching must be to consult her feelings as the involved party, to aid in their subsequent assessment.

A demigod as a test subject is undoubtedly invaluable as a reference.

But it doesn’t matter; the previous expressions of thanks were always genuine.

The other party did indeed assist, and that alone was enough.

The frenzy within the depths of the soul.

Naturally, he couldn’t mistake Lord Aike’s sincerity, and as he listened intently, Fu Qian also recalled the sensation of self-flagellation with a whip.

"I indeed noticed earlier that there were some peculiar changes in your skin during the process, which should be a manifestation of that frenzy. I have a small question..."

And in the next moment, he meticulously inquired further.

"In your judgment, if struck by the whip again, would you develop resistance to such changes, or would the situation worsen?"

...

This time, Aike’s gratitude came much slower.

Fu Qian’s question seemed to plunge her into an unresolved introspection.

And the pride of a demigod clearly did not allow her to dismiss this commitment to gratitude.

Fu Qian, however, remained patient and didn’t press, simply walking beside her.

"I can’t be certain, but intuitively... it seems it would worsen."

Not making him wait too long, at a certain moment, Aike finally made a decision, looking at him earnestly as she answered.

Adaptation would not increase resistance; instead, the barrier restraining the primal instincts would become more fragile.

Memory might not be lost, but the dissolution of a certain "self" appears not so easily recoverable.

Or should it be called "humanity"?

Rubbing the dark red ring on his hand, Fu Qian naturally thought of the Crimson Angel with a similar style and a certain Second Phase Divine Envoy named Ariel.

Could that be the ultimate form of such dissolution?

The Tyrant’s version of mental destruction ultimately doesn’t turn a person into a madman but directly makes the "person" cease to exist?

Is this the true meaning behind the epithet of the Abandonment King, "the soul withers because of you"?

How truly different it is.

And if that’s really the case, besides Old Master Stoss, perhaps Miss Nepheli, with whom he once shared tea, is also worth discussing.

After all, Ariel seems to be her creation.

Indeed, learning is endless!

Feeling enriched, Fu Qian was quite pleased.

Of course, as the saying goes, happiness is best shared, and almost simultaneously, Lady Ji Ning, leading ahead, suddenly halted.

...

The design of the long dress clearly hadn’t considered walking convenience much, forcing Lady Ji Ning to hold and lift it slightly.

Now, however, her right hand had released her dress and reached into a cabinet, searching within.

Ornate and complex, the wooden cabinet was quite large in size.

Coupled with its considerable decay, finding anything within seemed clearly challenging—Lady Ji Ning withdrew her hand, holding a silver-blue, exquisitely crafted item of about forearm length.

From the moment she stopped, barely half a minute had passed.

The smooth and successful retrieval seemed to suggest she’d known it was there all along.

Even the route taken so far, in hindsight, involved hardly any unnecessary detours.

"We seem to have found the second trace."

With admiration, Lady Ji Ning had already turned around, presenting her find.

It was quite evident that the object, regardless of its pattern or design, was an exceptionally exquisite short staff, actually a sheathed dagger.

From its size, it seemed easy to imagine it "belonged" to Lady Ji Ning, meant for harming others or herself as a cosmetic knife.

"Oh?"

As this thought naturally surfaced, Lady Ji Ning, the involved party, without reservation, already held it by both ends, attempting to open it.

However, under the eyes of many observers, the seemingly slender short blade remained unmoved in the hands of the demigod.

"How is this possible..."

Skillfully probing up and down with her fingers, confirming no special structures, Ji Ning did not hide her bewilderment.

"Want someone else to try?"

Seeing even Mr. Li Sr. frowning, Fu Qian proactively offered a suggestion.

Changing hands...

This seemingly reasonable suggestion left Lady Ji Ning somewhat hesitant, appearing reluctant to share this item belonging to her.

"I’ll try a bit longer. This thing... is really dangerous; it’s best to minimize exposure."

After a brief consideration, she ultimately shook her head, seemingly resolute.

"Alright."

Sensing the sincerity in her words, Fu Qian didn’t insist.

"Rest assured, I’m confident this belongs to me. After all, even its coloration matches my outfit as a set, doesn’t it?"

Perhaps noticing the team’s morale flagging slightly, Lady Ji Ning, turning to resume the journey, playfully joked while handling the dagger.

...

In that instant, the air seemed to freeze slightly, more than a pair of eyes fixated between the dagger and Ji Ning.

Indeed, both embodied full grandeur, but for anyone with eyes, it was apparent that the two represented completely different styles of luxury; Lady Ji Ning’s reasoning...

"The dagger is silver-blue."

Simultaneously, Fu Qian validated a suspicion in his mind, sighed, and described the basic appearance of this second trace.

...

Upon hearing this, Ji Ning stood momentarily stunned.

"My lady."

Fu Qian, however, continued without pause, quietly gazing into her lively and spirited eyes.

"Can you truly still see after donning this attire?"

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