459: Chapter 458 Please Believe Me

Aside from those invaded by and living in symbiosis with a Specter, Chu Xuan had seen many people manifest foreign consciousnesses within their bodies.

The reason for the former was still unclear, while the latter cases were due to being defective products from a partial Fusion of Human-monkey and Human-pig within the ancient castle.

The reasons for these people varied, but Chu Xuan actually already had a suspicion regarding the consciousness born within his own body.

This suspicion stemmed from the two Five Qi Guiyuan Sect Disciples he had killed back in the Tianxing Mountains, and the martial arts Cultivation Technique he had obtained from them.

The Five Qi Returning Record!

Chu Xuan still clearly remembered the System warning he received when he authenticated this technique—

[This technique has been branded by rules. When you practice this technique, your life state will be influenced by the will of the highest Realm practitioner of this technique. Furthermore, for every Realm you advance, a portion of your cultivation will be siphoned away.]

[When you break through to the Guiyuan Realm, your body will gradually become strange, and your consciousness will be erased at any time, turning you into a Fusion vessel for Strange Creaturess of the Dark World...]

Not only that, when Chu Xuan entered the Tianxing Mountains for the second time and killed the Phoenix-eyed Youth who could manifest the "Heavenly Luo Earthly Net" Divine Ability, he had personally witnessed the other party's bizarre transformation process and discovered that another consciousness existed within his body.

Chu Xuan deeply suspected that his becoming a Purifier might be a similar situation.

He even wondered if that special consciousness could possibly be [Future Tang Zheng]?

But along this journey, if it weren't for the existence of [Future Tang Zheng] constantly providing hints from the future, he would have died countless times already.

Especially when facing Chen Qing in the dormitory, it was because he harbored suspicions toward [Future Tang Zheng] that he missed the best opportunity to kill Chen Qing.

It was like a brand, deeply engraved in the depths of his Soul.

Therefore, even if Chu Xuan had doubts in his heart, he had always gone all out and executed [Future Tang Zheng]'s hints and requests without reservation.

But now...

When he explicitly informed him of the potential hidden dangers within the Purifier sequence.

[Future Tang Zheng]'s first response was that it was impossible.

Later, he even mentioned the already exterminated Phantom Demon.

When Chu Xuan explained that the Phantom Demon had died to the Fire of Nirvana, the other party then suggested that perhaps at the moment he became a Purifier, under the circumstances of a global game and a collision of rules, a brand new consciousness was born within him.

And after that, the continuous stream of messages sent over ultimately pointed toward one thing—

Rank up as quickly as possible and become stronger by any means necessary!

As long as one's strength was sufficient, one could deal with all known dangers.

But in reality, those could all be considered nonsense because, in the current environment, with both the crisis of the Specter descent and the spurring of mandatory missions, how could Chu Xuan dare to stop his pace of becoming stronger?

In Chu Xuan's view, these words from [Future Tang Zheng] were clearly downplaying the existence of the foreign consciousness within his body.

Chu Xuan couldn't help but think to himself: could the reason the other party had been helping him stay alive until he finally became a Purifier be a setup from the very beginning?

The further he walked on this path of the Purifier sequence, the stronger the consciousness within him would become, until it reached a certain point and completely replaced him.

It was just that it hadn't succeeded yet...

No!

That's not right!

Chu Xuan suddenly remembered something and immediately scrolled through the chat Records on his phone.

During the last dream, he had asked [Future Tang Zheng] about the Tianxing Mountains, and the other party replied that it had once been the location of one of his missions, which he had fought through and collapsed.

And as long as one wasn't stubborn and reckless, there would be no particular danger.

But the actual situation was different.

The greatest danger there came from the Dragon Turtle eroded by The Gloom.

Chu Xuan couldn't help but recall the scene of that day.

Facing that Dragon Turtle emitting an extremely terrifying Gloom aura, his consciousness had blurred, his body went out of control, and after nirvana, a long spear condensed on its own.

If it weren't for the fact that he had encountered Xiao Luowei through a random teleportation scroll in previous dreams, thereby recognizing the Dragon Turtle's identity as the Spirit Treasure Immortal Longevity Turtle named "The Dragon Turtle" and awakening it.

Then the ultimate result would have been that under the terrifying pressure of that Dragon Turtle, his consciousness would surely have sunk and been replaced!

It was only when he called out the name "The Dragon Turtle" that the Dragon Turtle woke up...

As his thoughts reached this point, Chu Xuan's lowered eyes grew darker and darker.

[Tang Zheng: What's wrong? Why are you scrolling through our previous chat Records? Is there a problem?]

Chu Xuan felt a slight chill in his heart.

[Tang Zheng: A reaction like this... did you discover that Dragon Turtle in the Tianxing Mountains? It seems I'm right... Do you think I didn't warn you back then because I wanted to harm you?]

Before Chu Xuan could recover, another message followed immediately.

[Tang Zheng: The reason I didn't tell you back then was because that Dragon Turtle involves the Cangyun World and even specific taboos, so I didn't reveal it to you.]

Chu Xuan: [Why can you tell me now?]

[Tang Zheng: Because you already know of the Dragon Turtle's existence, but as for the deeper levels, I still cannot reveal a single bit to you.]

Chu Xuan: [That Dragon Turtle was severely eroded by The Gloom and was guided by an Evil God to kill me.]

[Tang Zheng: You've started doubting me again, but if I wanted to harm you, why would I have been helping you all this time?]

I see. It seems that when you faced the Dragon Turtle, the foreign consciousness in your body revived and showed signs of about to replace you? You think I deliberately didn't mention it?]

[Tang Zheng: But in fact, when I encountered that Dragon Turtle back then, it had already suppressed the erosion of The Gloom and was merely keeping a lonely watch there, as if waiting for someone. As long as one didn't actively provoke it, it wouldn't attack humans randomly.]

[Though there were still certain dangers, the world is on the brink of destruction, the rules are full of loopholes, and the descending Specters are becoming increasingly powerful. There has long been no such thing as a safe place.]

[And the dwarves, orcs, and Elf Race in the Tianxing Mountains come from the distant starry sky. The supreme treasures of those races can promote your rapid growth in a short period. They are rare opportunities. Even if it were ten times more dangerous, you still had to venture in. I had no reason to stop you.]

Chu Xuan narrowed his eyes.

[Future Tang Zheng]'s explanation could be considered plausible.

However, the seed of doubt had already been planted and was taking root and sprouting. Chu Xuan couldn't help but think of a phrase that was extremely familiar, often heard, yet seemed forgotten.

Never trust anyone...

[Tang Zheng: Chu Xuan, remember the words I sent you when I first established contact with you?]

["Every word I tell you is very important and might overturn your understanding, but no matter what, please, you must believe me and do as I say!"]

[Tang Zheng: Now, I still say the same thing: please, you must believe me!]

[We have gone through untold hardships to finally reach this step and finally see the dawn of being able to resist the Gloom Invasion. If you harbor suspicions toward me at this time, not only will all our previous efforts go to waste, but it will also cause this situation, which was finally turned around after three years, to collapse again!]

[Tang Zheng: Chu Xuan, please believe me, I will never harm you!]

[I have always remembered the promise I made to you when you carried me on your back out of the dormitory: as long as I can get out alive, my life is yours.]

[On my back, I have always kept the tattoo you gave me. Even if my life stage leaps every time and my flesh self-repairs, I will tattoo it on again!]

[This is a brand I left for myself, and also my anchor!]

[It allows the me of the past to never give up, no matter what desperate situation I encounter in the future, even if the world-ending calamity descends, even if the people around me die one by one. I will always remember that I can contact the you of the past... the fire of hope never goes out!]

Seeing this, Chu Xuan couldn't help but feel slightly touched.

[Tang Zheng: We have already violated the rules!]

[You have been targeted by the Dark World, and an Evil God has given a certain-kill instruction for you. In the future, the restrictions on Specter descents will become fewer and fewer.]

[And under the influence of the rules, I can hardly avoid the Lightning Tribulation.]

[If we don't work together with one heart, our only end will be death.]

[At least, for now, think about it objectively: when have I ever lied to you? When have I ever harmed you?]

Chu Xuan closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

After a long time, when his eyes opened again, he saw [Future Tang Zheng] send another message.

[Tang Zheng: You might not easily believe my words based on just this... In that case, I will tell you another piece of information involving the rules. This is also the exact content from a blurred corner I saw not long ago...]

Chu Xuan's gaze narrowed slightly.

[Tang Zheng: The reason I told you to stay by Lin Jie's side and told you that protecting him is protecting yourself is because Lin Jie is Yang Yu! When the crisis descends, Yang Yu will naturally take action. Do not let Lin Jie get hurt, otherwise, after the crisis, Yang Yu will die...]

Boom—

In the sky, thunder rumbled again!