Chapter 58 Cult Methods, Hidden Truth

["Oh no! What's going on? I've never seen this before. How am I supposed to act?"]

["Should I faint? Should I chant along? Or should I roll my eyes back?"]

[Because the life simulator completely blocked the Mental Suggestion, your current consciousness is terrifyingly clear.]

[There isn't even a hint of feeling 'hypnotized'! You have no idea what the reaction should be after being 'hit'!]

[This is a performance where you don't know the script, and the audience is a powerhouse at the Peak of the Origin Opening Realm.]

[Cold sweat instantly drenched your back.]

[Just at this critical moment, when you were about to expose yourself because you didn't know how to follow the scene...]

["Buzz—"]

[The Virtual Personality exerted its power again.]

[Secret Code command detected... Virtual Personality taking over...]

[As Principal Liao Xianyu chanted, 'your' eyes began to lose focus.]

[Your originally tense body gradually relaxed, eventually becoming stiff.]

["Slipping glasses..."]

["Rotting corpse..."]

["Obedient dog..."]

["Yellowing manual..."]

[With every word Principal Liao Xianyu uttered, the light in your eyes dimmed another degree.]

[The expression on your face also gradually shifted from struggling to wooden and hollow.]

[Like a shell that had its Soul sucked out.]

["Above the clouds..."]

["December thirteenth..."]

[...]

[Until the final words fell:]

["The thirteenth step."]

[Boom!]

[Principal Liao Xianyu put down the book in his hand and looked at the hollow-eyed youth before him.]

[A look of extreme complexity flashed in his eyes.]

["Believer?" he asked tentatively.]

["Standing by at all times."]

[Your voice had no inflection, cold as a machine, answering without the slightest hesitation.]

[Hearing this answer, Principal Liao Xianyu's tense shoulders suddenly slumped, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.]

[He picked up the encrypted phone on the desk and dialed a number with no contact name.]

["Hello... it's me."]

[His voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of pleading.]

["It's done. The Secret Code verification passed; he is... completely under control."]

["Your plan succeeded! Quickly release my granddaughter!"]

["You promised me, as long as I cooperated, you wouldn't touch her!"]

[From the other end of the phone came a burst of raspy, eerie laughter that made one's teeth ache.]

["Jie jie... don't be in such a hurry, Principal Liao."]

["The plan has only just begun. This is just the first step; we still have many areas where we need your help."]

["After all, to deliver two Geniuses intact to Changlin Park..."]

["...we still need your 'personal escort'... Hahaha!"]

["You... you've broken your word!" Principal Liao Xianyu roared.]

["Beep... beep..."]

[The call was heartlessly disconnected.]

[Principal Liao Xianyu listened to the dial tone, his face ashen and veins bulging on his forehead, the phone in his hand nearly crushed.]

[But in the end, he just slumped powerlessly into his chair.]

["Damn it... damn it all..."]

[After a long time, he looked up and gazed at you, who was still in a 'hypnotized state,' with a complex expression, his lips trembling slightly.]

["I'm sorry... Li Ang."]

["I had no choice... That's my granddaughter... my only relative..."]

[Deep within your Sea of Consciousness.]

[Watching this scene, although your body couldn't move...]

[...a bone-chilling dread washed through the depths of your Soul.]

["Damn... how can these cultists be so wicked and insidious!"]

["These methods are practically impossible to guard against."]

["No kidnapping needed, no drugs needed."]

["Just a few nonsensical words can turn a living person into an obedient Puppet?"]

[If not for the 'Virtual Personality' exerting its power, the current you wouldn't even know how to act out this scene.]

[But beyond the fear, a massive doubt surfaced in your mind.]

["If their Mental Suggestion has such a terrifying effect, why didn't they use this trick on Liu Xiyue too?"]

["Is it because of... distance?"]

[Your guess was not wrong; that was part of the reason.]

[Yes, although the same type of Mental Suggestion was used on both you and Liu Xiyue, the effects were worlds apart.]

[When the cult moved against Liu Xiyue, she was thousands of miles away in Haicheng City.]

[The cult's methods were restricted by spatial distance, making the effect extremely limited.]

[They could only plant the desire to 'go to Longnan' in her subconscious; they couldn't achieve complete control.]

[Furthermore, who knew if her father had left her some treasure to protect her Sea of Consciousness, so a simple Mental Suggestion was sufficient.]

[This wouldn't trigger any potential red lines.]

[This was also why they didn't perform the ritual again after Liu Xiyue arrived in Longnan.]

[Only the 'Two-Life Blood Soul Demon' could ensure everything was secure; one had to be cautious with a Grandmaster's daughter.]

[But you were different.]

[You were in Longnan, right under their noses.]

[You came from a commoner background; it was impossible for you to have a powerhouse watching over you day and night.]

[This time, targeting you—this 'commoner Genius' who had suddenly emerged with even more potential than Liu Xiyue...]

[The Heart-Eroding Cult learned from the deficiencies of the previous ritual and refined their approach.]

[The subject was spatially closer, the caster was at a higher Realm, and it was coordinated with a specific nightmare environment.]

[In their view, with this combination of blows, the effect would surely be outstanding.]

[But even that wasn't enough; to ensure the plan's absolute success...]

[...you had to be sent to Changlin Park to receive 'Divine Grace' as well.]

[However, the way they treated you might be even more aggressive.]

[...]

[The dead silence within the office lasted for a moment.]

[Principal Liao Xianyu looked at the wooden you and sighed deeply, seemingly trying to shake off the guilt in his heart.]

[He regained his composure and recited a Secret Code to release the hypnosis.]

["Buzz—"]

[The Virtual Personality instantly 'withdrew'.]

[The confusion in your eyes quickly dissipated, and your gaze regained its clarity.]

[You blinked somewhat blankly, as if you had just been dazed for a moment.]

["Li Ang?" Principal Liao Xianyu called your name, that kind and amiable smile returning to his face.]

["Ah? Principal?"]

[You pretended to have just snapped out of it, looking a bit embarrassed.]

["Sorry, I think I just spaced out for a second... Where were we?"]

["It's fine. It's probably because you've been training too hard lately; you need to balance work and rest."]

[Principal Liao Xianyu smiled and waved his hand.]

[As if the person who just sold out his student's Soul wasn't him.]

["There's no big reason for calling you here today, just wanted to check on your recent progress."]

["After all, there are only six months left until the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination. I hope you can maintain your condition and achieve good results."]

["Okay, Principal, I will work hard."]

[You stood up obediently.]

["If there's nothing else, then I'll take my leave."]

["Go ahead, get back to your business."]

[You turned and walked out of the office, gently closing the heavy mahogany door.]

["Click."]

[As if nothing had happened.]

[The sound of the door lock clicking shut was exceptionally clear in the hallway.]