58: Sophistry by Celebrities: Confusing Concepts and Creating Lich Kings (Part 1)

The allied forces were like a bursting flood, surging into the interior of The Silent Temple.

The space inside the temple was far more vast than it appeared from the outside, as if some kind of spatial expansion technology had been applied. The towering dome was lost in a thick mist of death, its end invisible. Pale stone pillars, each requiring several people to encircle, supported the hall. They were carved with twisted reliefs depicting scenes of death and silence; the eyes of those reliefs seemed to watch the intruding living, making one's skin crawl.

The ground was covered in dust and bone fragments, and the air was thick with a stale scent and dense negative energy. The effects of the Annihilation Force Field became even more pronounced here. Despite the prior blessing of the Net of Law and Su Yueyao's continuous purification with Moonlight Power, the warriors of the allied forces still felt their bodies grow heavy and their energy circulation become sluggish.

[Environment Update]: Inside The Silent Temple

[Annihilation Force Field (Core Area)] Effect Strengthened:

All attributes decreased by 20% (actual decrease approximately 12%).

Life/Energy recovery speed reduced by 90% (nearly impossible to recover naturally).

Divine Thought perception suppressed to a range of one hundred meters around the body.

[Mental Whispers] upgraded to [Soul Torture], continuously performing willpower checks; failure results in the [Despair] status (Attack/Defense/Morale significantly decreased).

The remaining undead defenders relied on the hall's stone pillars, broken walls, and long-dried ditches to put up scattered but stubborn resistance. Skeleton archers fired cold arrows from the shadows, Wraith Mages chanted malevolent curses, and occasionally, one or two lurking [Shadow Lurkers] (LV28, specialized in backstabs and instant-death attacks) would suddenly burst forth.

The speed of the allied forces' advance slowed down significantly; every step forward was paid for in blood. The wounded were continuously carried to the rear for emergency treatment by Flower Fairies and Moon God Priests, but the negative energy environment within the temple greatly weakened the effects of healing Spells.

"Maintain formation! Do not advance recklessly! Long-range units, focus on clearing enemies behind obstacles on both sides!" Su Yueyao's cool voice echoed through the allied channel. Like a commander under the moon, she calmly deployed the troops. Moon Elf Rangers and Moonlight Beasts became the best scouts and sweepers, using their agility and moonlight stealth to constantly clear the traps and ambushes ahead.

Zhao Hao and the Young Golden Dragon became the sharp blades of the assault. Wherever resistance was stubborn, there was the golden dragon's blazing Dragon Breath and Zhao Hao's berserk dragon lance. They crushed through the undead's defensive lines like tanks, opening a path for the following troops.

Elwin guarded Lin Zhou's nearly incapacitated projection. Her Vast Righteous Qi was one of the most effective powers against [Soul Torture], protecting Lin Zhou and the surrounding area.

Lin Zhou's current state was extremely dire. His godhead was damaged, his Divine Power exhausted, and his consciousness was like a candle flickering in the wind. He forcibly squeezed out his last bit of Mental Energy to communicate with his personal space.

"Use [Small Divine Power Crystal]!"

A crystal about the size of a thumb, pure amber in color and appearing to have liquid light flowing inside, appeared in his hand. This was a reward from a previous mission, containing one standard unit of high-purity non-attribute Divine Power (equivalent to 1000 points of ordinary Divine Power), a precious resource for emergency recovery.

The crystal melted rapidly in his hand, turning into a warm and majestic current that poured into his parched divine fire and cracked godhead.

[Item Used]: Small Divine Power Crystal

Effect: Instantly restores 1000 points of Divine Power and slightly nourishes the godhead.

[Current Divine Power]: 1020/5000 (previously near 0)

[godhead Status]: Moderately damaged (repairing, temporarily unable to withstand high-load divine arts)

A sensation like rain after a long drought spread through his body. Lin Zhou's pale face regained a hint of color, and his illusory projection solidified considerably. Although the damage to his godhead could not be repaired in a short time, and he could no longer perform major moves like Words as Law, he had at least recovered basic mobility and a certain reserve of Divine Power.

He let out a long breath, his sharp gaze scanning the eerie hall. They had to find the path to the core area and locate the Lich's phylactery as quickly as possible!

"Mipo, Li Mo! Analyze the temple's structure, look for energy convergence points or abnormal spatial fluctuations!" Lin Zhou ordered.

Clever Hands Mibo immediately took out various detection tools; his [Micro-Perception] talent proved useful here. Li Mo controlled several small reconnaissance robots released by the Mechanical Goblinss, attempting to map the temple's internal structure.

Meanwhile, the allied forces continued to push deeper into the temple. After clearing a sacrificial pit guarded by hundreds of Skeleton Warriors and Wraith Mages, three forks in the road appeared ahead.

Each fork was deep and dark, emitting an unsettling aura. The passage on the left echoed with the sound of grinding metal and heavy footsteps, seemingly leading to a barracks or forge area; the middle passage was the widest, with a faint but powerful pressure of death emanating from it, likely leading straight to the main hall; the passage on the right was silent, but the air was thick with dense arcane energy and the scent of books, suspected to be the Lich's laboratory or library.

"Three paths... which one do we choose?" Zhao Hao landed back on the ground atop the golden dragon, looking at the fork with a furrowed brow. Splitting forces was a major taboo, especially in the enemy's lair.

Su Yueyao sensed for a moment and pointed to the middle passage: "The rules of death are most concentrated here; the Lich's main body is likely in the main hall. But the other two paths might also hide key information or traps."

Just as everyone was hesitating, Lin Zhou's heart stirred, and he communicated with the Temple of Civilization.

"Sanctuary, scan the three passages and analyze their rule inclinations and potential risks."

The Temple of Civilization vibrated slightly, and an invisible ripple swept through the three passages. A moment later, information was fed back.

[Left Passage]: Rule inclination: 'Death', 'Forging', 'Guard'. Risk Level: High. Suspected presence of a large number of constructs or undead war machines.

[Middle Passage]: Rule inclination: 'Death', 'Silence', 'Dominion'. Risk Level: Extremely High. Suspected to lead directly to the Lich's throne room, with a strong mental barrier.

[Right Passage]: Rule inclination: 'Arcane', 'Knowledge', 'Soul'. Risk Level: Medium. Suspected to be the Lich's study or laboratory, with many arcane Restrictions, but relatively thin death rules.

"The phylactery... where would a Lich put their phylactery?" Lin Zhou pondered. Normally, a phylactery is either carried on the person (but the Lich's main body is in the main hall, making a direct attack too risky) or hidden in the safest, most secluded place that is convenient for their Soul to return to. A study or laboratory is often the best place for conducting Soul research and setting up secret protective arrays!

"I suggest the main force attack the middle passage to draw the attention of the Lich's main body and most of the guards," Lin Zhou stated his judgment. "At the same time, dispatch an elite squad to secretly infiltrate the right passage and find the phylactery! A small force can be sent to the left passage for a feint to keep them occupied."

"A feint? Good idea!" Zhao Hao's eyes lit up. "I'll go to the main hall to meet that old bag of bones! As for the stealthy search work, leave it to..."

His gaze turned toward Snik Shadowclaw, who had just recovered a bit and was looking at Lin Zhou with expectant eyes, as well as those Moon Elves under Su Yueyao's command who were equally skilled in covert operations.

"The stealth squad will be led by Snik, with five of the most elite Moon Elf Rangers," Su Yueyao immediately made the personnel arrangements. "I will cast [Moonshadow Stealth Art] on them to enhance their stealth effects."

"Mipo will go along to identify and disarm potential arcane traps and confirm the phylactery," Lin Zhou added.

"Li Mo will provide technical support to keep communications open."

The stealth squad was quickly assembled:

Leader: Snik Shadowclaw (LV25 Ratman Hero) - Stealth, Lockpicking, Reconnaissance.

Members: Moon Elf Rangers x5 (LV26) - Stealth, Natural Perception, Moonlight Mark.

Consultant: Clever Hands Mibo (LV22 Gnome Elite) - Trap Identification, Potions, Sample Collection.

Technical Support: Li Mo (Remote Consciousness Connection) - Mechanism Cracking, Communication Maintenance.

Su Yueyao personally cast a powerful concealment divine art on the squad members. Their figures gradually faded until they almost merged with the surrounding shadows.

"Action!"

Under Zhao Hao's roar and Su Yueyao's command, the main force erupted with earth-shaking battle cries, surging like a flood toward the wide middle passage leading to the main hall, deliberately creating a massive commotion.

Meanwhile, the stealth squad slipped like ghosts, soundlessly entering the silent right passage filled with arcane energy.

Lin Zhou and Elwin remained with the central army at the fork, coordinating the battle on both sides while also serving as a reserve force. Lin Zhou seized every second to absorb the thin stray energy within the temple (though most was negative energy, it could be absorbed in trace amounts after being filtered by the Temple of Civilization) and swallowed a [Divine Nourishment Pill] refined by the Imperial Hospital to slowly repair the damage to his godhead.

The battle in the direction of the main hall was exceptionally fierce. Roars, explosions, dragon cries, and the shrieks of the undead were incessant; clearly, Zhao Hao and Su Yueyao had encountered powerful resistance.

The right passage, however, was terrifyingly silent at first.

Through the weak mental link established by Li Mo, Lin Zhou could intermittently receive information from Snik.

"The passage is very deep... there are bookshelves on both sides, filled with scrolls made of human skin and bone... ugh..."

"Found the first arcane trap, a [Slowness Field], already bypassed..."

"Energy reaction ahead, suspected guards... they are [Arcane Constructs] (LV30)! Three of them! Attempting to sneak past..."

Time passed minute by minute. The battle in the main hall seemed to have fallen into a stalemate, and the stealth squad had also lost contact; the mental link became extremely weak and unstable, as if interfered with by some power.

An ominous premonition rose in Lin Zhou's heart.

Just then—

A massive, cold Mental Energy, filled with wisdom and malice accumulated over endless ages, suddenly erupted from the deepest part of the temple (likely the main hall) like an awakening ancient Vicious Beast, instantly enveloping the entire Silent Temple!

This Mental Energy was so powerful that even Lin Zhou and Elwin at the fork felt a pang of palpitations, as if they were being watched by some extremely terrifying existence!

A low, raspy voice, sounding like two bones rubbing together, rang directly in everyone's Soul, carrying a hint of playfulness and absolute authority:

"Foolish ants... do you think that with these pathetic little tricks, you could hide from the great Sarathas?"

The Lich! It was awake! And it had clearly noticed the presence of the stealth squad!

"Your infiltration squad is quite interesting... a little mouse, a few moonlit fireflies... they are playing hide-and-seek in my 'Silent Corridor'," Lich Salazar's voice carried a cat-and-mouse cruelty. "And you, my primary guests, since you have come to my throne room, why are you still so... reserved?"

Before the voice had even finished, the sounds of battle within the middle passage leading to the main hall came to an abrupt halt! In its place was a suffocating silence! Even Zhao Hao's roars and the dragon's cries had vanished!

"Not good! Something happened in the main hall!" Elwin's face changed drastically.

Lin Zhou's heart also sank to the bottom. The worst-case scenario had occurred! The Lich had not only discovered the stealth squad but also seemed to have used some means to instantly control the main hall's battlefield!

What to do? Force an attack on the main hall? That would be walking into a trap! Rescue the stealth squad? They could hardly save themselves now!

In this moment of extreme crisis, the nearly severed mental link from the stealth squad suddenly transmitted Snik's urgent and terrified message, intermittent and mixed with massive interference:

"Dominator... we... were discovered... trapped in a... strange corridor... sound... the sound is gone! We can't hear each other... can't even feel... magic... it's... toying with us..."

Sound vanished? Perception isolated?

A flash of inspiration struck Lin Zhou's mind! Silent Corridor? Could it be... He immediately communicated with the Temple of Civilization: "Analyze the 'Silence' rule! Find its conceptual loopholes or contradictions!"

The Temple of Civilization glowed, sharing its understanding of the concept of "Silence" with Lin Zhou. At the same time, the light representing the thoughts of the [School of Names], which had been in an unlocked state, suddenly pulsed violently!

[School of Names]: The Dao of Logic, specializing in conceptual analysis and the debate of names and reality. It can confuse right and wrong, turn black into white, and find a glimmer of hope within the impossible. Unlocking requires 600 civilization points.

With the crisis at hand, Lin Zhou did not hesitate for a second!

"Unlock the [School of Names] thought!"

[civilization points deducted: 600 points, Remaining: 5190 points.]

[School of Names thought unlocked, current comprehension: 5%]

[Core Effects Activated]:

Concept Confusion (Elementary): Can briefly distort or blur the definition and boundaries of specific words or concepts.

Joining the Same and the Different (Elementary): Can find and amplify similarities between different things to create cognitive chaos.

Separating Hardness and Whiteness (Elementary): Can strip an inherent attribute from an object, causing it to temporarily lose that characteristic.

The School of Names! The Dao of Sophistry! It was precisely the Sharp Weapon needed to deal with this kind of rule trap!

A hint of realization flashed in Lin Zhou's eyes. He took a deep breath, mobilizing the portion of Divine Power he had just recovered and the power of the newly unlocked School of Names thought, forcibly pouring his Divine Thought along that weak mental link into the consciousness of Snik, who was trapped in the "Silent Corridor"!

He would use Snik's mouth to perform the sophistry of the School of Names and disrupt the rules of this "Silence"!