Chapter 44 The Five Senses are Obscured, Supernatural Powers Make Their Moves

[Just as the voice fell.]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's smile remained unchanged, but his figure flashed like a ghost, appearing behind you without warning.]

[“Pardon me, little friend.”]

[A thin but warm palm pressed gently against your shoulder.]

[“Buzz—”]

[You didn't even have time to react before an irresistible gentle force surged into your Sea of Consciousness.]

[Your five senses went dark, and your world plunged into absolute darkness and silence.]

[You passed out.]

[Inside the cave, only Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian and Cold Kite remained.]

[Looking at the youth slumped on the rock.]

[On Cold Kite's face, which was like an iceberg all year round, a rare hint of anxiety and complexity appeared.]

[“Elder Zhao!”]

[She took a step forward and spoke rapidly.]

[“This kid is definitely suspicious! He is full of nonsense; that 'finding treasure by the river' story is simply full of holes!”]

[“According to my analysis of energy fluctuations, the water-based Origin within him is extremely pure and domineering.”]

[“It's highly likely a secret treasure born from some high-level 'dimensional ripple'.”]

[“Furthermore, could he really advance to the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood in just half a year with only one dimensional secret treasure?”]

[“And with such a terrifyingly solid Foundation? This doesn't conform to martial logic!”]

[Cold Kite spoke faster and faster, as if listing your crimes.]

[“What's even more suspicious is that memory! So many experts in the Federation have obtained dimensional secret treasures.”]

[“But I've never heard of anyone receiving a 'Prophecy Legacy'.”]

[“This looks too much like a carefully woven trap!”]

[“And also.”]

[“In the presence of a 'Divine Ability', he actually dared to meticulously weave half-truths and lies. This is simply audacious!”]

[“With such a terrifying Heart-Nature, how does he look like a high school student?”]

[“He comes from a poor background and is an orphan; how could he have such sophisticated methods and insight?”]

[“Moreover, he's from Longnan. That border is so close to the Chaos Zone; the possibility of him being trained as a spy since childhood is extremely high!”]

[At this point, Cold Kite paused and took a deep breath.]

[Her tone suddenly shifted, becoming exceptionally firm.]

[“But!”]

[“I believe he didn't deceive us regarding the cult's conspiracy.”]

[“The urgency he showed when saving Liu Yiyi cannot be faked.”]

[“In the hospital, he could have minded his own business, yet he risked exposure to subdue Zhang Dehai and even left that warning letter.”]

[“A spy sent for infiltration would never do such redundant and dangerous things.”]

[“His heart's desire to help people is burning hot.”]

[Cold Kite looked at Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian with a hint of pleading in her eyes.]

[“Elder Zhao, although he's full of suspicious points, he's definitely not a lackey of the cult.”]

[“Throwing him into the Black Prison for interrogation... would destroy him.”]

[This was Cold Kite.]

[Cold as a blade on the outside, but warm-hearted on the inside.]

[While she listed your suspicions, she was actually using this 'criticize first, praise later' method.]

[To block any killing intent Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian might have, desperately trying to protect you.]

[“Hehehe...”]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian looked at the nervous Cold Kite and suddenly laughed, his eyes carrying a half-smile.]

[“Little Leng, you girl.”]

[The old man shook his head, his eyes full of kindness.]

[“You said so many bad things about the boy Li Ang and laid bare all his details.”]

[“Isn't it just because you wanted to say what I was going to say first, making it awkward for me to punish him severely? Am I right?”]

[Her thoughts exposed, Cold Kite's face flushed, and she stubbornly turned her head away.]

[“I'm just being realistic.”]

[“Rest assured.”]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian pulled back his smile, his gaze falling on your unconscious body, becoming deep and distant.]

[“I've lived to this age; I've seen more people than you've eaten grains of rice.”]

[“This kid indeed hasn't fully laid his cards on the table; he's hiding a big secret.”]

[“His techniques are ruthless and his Heart-Nature mature; he truly doesn't seem like a young man.”]

[“Although he's from the border, this actually proves his purity even more.”]

[At this point, Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian suddenly raised his hand.]

[He pointed to his eyes, his tone carrying an arrogance that looked down upon the world.]

[“Little Leng, don't forget, why can I sit securely in the position of Director-General of the Suhang City 'Alien Cult Investigation Bureau'?”]

[Cold Kite was startled, then seemed to realize something as her expression became solemn.]

[“It's because of... your eyes.”]

[“Exactly,” Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian said calmly. “It's because I have mastered the Karma Divine Ability.”]

[“Before these eyes, anyone involved with those cult brats, as long as their Realm is lower than mine...”]

[“No matter how deep they hide, the black threads of Karma on them cannot escape my gaze.”]

[“If he had truly joined the cult long ago, or if there were even a trace of an active sacrifice to an evil god in the depths of his Soul...”]

[“In my eyes, he would have been as black as charcoal long ago.”]

[The old man looked at you, his tone certain:]

[“But this kid's Karma threads are very clean.”]

[“Furthermore, when dealing with the evil doctor incident, although his methods were sophisticated, he didn't hide his bottom line as a 'human'.”]

[“He is clearly so sharp, bold, and careful; he knew we were coming, yet he still chose to trust us instead of fleeing for his life.”]

[“Based on these alone, he is definitely not a cult spy.”]

[“A cult cannot produce such a seed.”]

[Hearing this, Cold Kite breathed a sigh of relief, but then became puzzled: “Then what are you... doing?”]

[Since he trusts him, why knock him out?]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian gave a bitter laugh and sighed.]

[“I'm not going to punish him. On the contrary, I'm doing this to protect him.”]

[“Although this kid is indeed a Prodigy-like Genius with a mind far beyond ordinary people...”]

[“He is... in the end, still a high school student.”]

[“Limited by age and experience, he is still just a Martial Artist in the Qi and Blood Realm.”]

[“His strength is far from enough to guard the earth-shattering secret in his head.”]

[The old man's expression became incredibly serious.]

[“The methods of the Heart-Eroding Cult are impossible to guard against.”]

[“If that Masked Man of the Soaring Realm used a Soul-Searching Technique or more Advanced mental control on him...”]

[“The information in his head, and even the details of his lies, would be instantly exposed.”]

[“When that time comes, not only will our plan fail, but he will also die.”]

[“Therefore, I must leave some life-saving measures on him... and a Restriction.”]

[Hearing the word “Restriction,” Cold Kite's face changed drastically, and she was about to speak up to stop him.]

[“Little Leng!”]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian raised his hand to stop her, his tone unquestionable. “This is a necessary move.”]

[“Although both you and I trust him and believe he has no issues...”]

[“But... what if he himself doesn't know he has a problem? What if someone of higher status tampered with him?”]

[“What if his memory has truly been tampered with? What if it's a deeper suggestion? We must guard against this.”]

[“More importantly, this Restriction can lock away the memory of 'our intervention' in his mind.”]

[“When facing cultists, only if even he himself feels isolated and helpless will his fear and reactions be the most authentic.”]

[“Only in this way can we fool those old foxes.”]

[Cold Kite fell silent. She knew this was for the big picture and the only way for Li Ang to survive.]

[It's just that such a method is somewhat cruel for a youth.]

[“Rest assured.”]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian looked at the sleeping youth, a hint of apology flashing in his eyes.]

[“I know what I'm doing. I will only Seal the memory of him meeting us today; I will never pry into his past privacy or secrets.”]

[“This is the bottom line of being a Human Race Great Grandmaster.”]

[“If things end smoothly, this Restriction will automatically dissolve and turn into nourishment for his Divine Soul.”]

[“At that time, I will personally apologize to him, and what's the harm in taking him as my Final Disciple?”]

[After saying this, Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian no longer hesitated.]

[He extended a thin finger, and a golden glow lit up at the tip.]

[“Seal!”]

[With his low shout, the golden light sank into the space between your brows.]

[Deep within your Sea of Consciousness, a golden chain quietly took shape.]

[It did not crudely flip through the river of your memories but precisely cut out the time fragment of “this very moment.”]

[It wrapped all the memories of “Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian, Cold Kite, and the Fishing Plan” layer by layer, sealing them at the bottommost layer of your consciousness.]

[Unless specific trigger conditions are met, such as Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian personally unlocking it, or the time passing the “December 13th” node.]

[Otherwise, this memory would be as if it never existed.]

[Then he replaced this memory with one where, after finishing your actions in Wuyue City...]

[...you confirmed the Investigation Bureau was trustworthy and immediately used a fake identity bought from the black market to buy a ticket and return to your hometown, Longnan.]

[After finishing all this, Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's face turned slightly pale.]

[Clearly, performing such a delicate Divine Ability that doesn't harm the subject's Foundation took quite a toll on him.]

[“Alright, take him back to Longnan.”]

[“Remember, from now on, he is the bait, and we... are the hunters hiding in the shadows.”]