151: Chapter 152 Shi Yongxin, Your Crime Has Been Exposed

Looking at the eerie scene on the stage that sent chills down everyone's spines, the entire martial arts stadium, capable of holding 150,000 people, fell into a near-vacuum of oppressive silence. Countless gazes were fixed on the figure that had plummeted from mid-air like a puppet with its strings cut, now slumped in a corner of the stage in an extremely awkward position—the Three-Eyed Martial Monk.

He no longer possessed that mountain-like steady aura or his previous volcano-like explosive presence. His bulging, iron-like muscles remained, but the pale gold vertical mark on his forehead had completely dimmed, looking like a failed artwork haphazardly smeared with low-quality paint. His eyes were wide open, yet his pupils were dilated and lifeless, reflecting the cold lights of the stadium ceiling without the slightest focus. He lay there stiffly, his limbs twitching slightly, completely unresponsive to the deafening clamor around him, his master's frantic calls, or even his own predicament. How similar he looked to the medical definition of a "persistent vegetative state"!

"Hiss..."

It was unclear who gasped first, but the sound acted like a fuse, instantly igniting the long-suppressed whispers of fear, shock, confusion, and fanaticism in the stands, eventually swelling into a noisy wave of sound.

"My god... has that Three-Eyed Martial Monk really turned into an idiot?"

"A vegetable! He's definitely become a vegetable! Look at his eyes!"

"What exactly happened? I just saw him get trapped by that white cage, then he punched the air, and then..."

"It looks like Shi Yongxin has completely lost control of him! Even the Summoner's forced commands are failing? How is that possible?!"

"That short-haired female ghost... what on earth is she? This ability is too sinister!"

"I'm getting goosebumps... a soul attack? I've only ever read about those in novels!"

Countless spectators whispered among themselves, their faces filled with disbelief. Everything happening before them completely overturned their understanding of "combat" and "summons." They had seen summons defeated, killed, or even sealed. But to have a powerful summon with an SSS-Rank Talent lose all consciousness within a few short seconds and become an empty shell with only physiological reactions? This was a terrifying method they had simply never heard of!

In the contestants' area, Shi Yongxin—the man with the shiny bald head who had been so certain of victory just moments ago—now looked as if his bones had been sucked out of him. Like a trapped beast driven to the edge, he suddenly bolted upright from his seat! His face was flushed red, veins bulged on his temples and neck, and his eyes were bloodshot from extreme anger, fear, and confusion as he stared fixedly at that familiar yet strange body on the stage.

"Three-Eyed! Three-Eyed! Answer me!!" He roared frantically through the soul link, his mental power surging forward like a tide in an attempt to wake that silent consciousness. However, what came back from the other end of the link was only a cold, hollow, and deathly silent void. No response, no fluctuations, not even the most basic soul tremor. It was like shouting into a bottomless, all-consuming dark well that refused to even grant an echo.

"What happened to him??!"

"What did you do to my monk?!!"

Shi Yongxin turned his head sharply, his bloodshot eyes like those of a predatory beast, locking onto the black-haired youth in the opposing contestant area—Lin Muyang—who had remained calm, even somewhat indifferent, the entire time. Shi Yongxin's voice was hoarse and distorted from extreme emotional turmoil, carrying a sense of hysterical breakdown.

Ever since he changed classes to a Summoner and dominated everyone with his SS-Rank Talent "Buddha Seal Augmentation," when had Shi Yongxin ever suffered such a setback? No, this wasn't a setback; this was a complete, incomprehensible, and bizarre strike! His proud, invincible Three-Eyed Martial Monk—that combat machine with a will of iron and zero fear—had actually become a soulless husk! Even his forced commands as the master were like stones sinking into the ocean!

He couldn't understand it at all! Soul attacks? In the knowledge base of Blue Star's class system, this concept existed almost exclusively in the oldest, most obscure forbidden texts or as flavor text in fantasy works. In reality, there had never been any concrete evidence of a skill that could directly and permanently damage or even delete a summon's soul origin! This exceeded the boundaries of his knowledge, bringing not just a loss of combat power, but a primal fear of the unknown originating from the depths of his soul.

"Whoa, what's the deal with that monk? Did he really lose his mind?"

"I think Shi Yongxin is going crazy. Even forced commands are useless? Isn't the soul link between a Summoner and their summon the highest level of authority?"

"Hiss... it's a bit creepy. Why do I feel a chill all over?"

"Me too. That short-haired beauty Lin Muyang summoned, what's her background? This method is too mysterious and terrifying!"

The discussions in the audience grew louder, filled with uncertainty. This scene not only shocked the live audience but also spread instantly through countless live streams to every major city in the Xia Country, even attracting the attention of international powers and experts closely following this competition! A powerful summon with an SSS-Rank Talent turning from fierce to a mindless vegetable in broad daylight within ten seconds was a bizarre phenomenon enough to make anyone who understood its significance feel their scalp tingle with a sense of dread.

Just as Gui Wanwan's faint words, "He has already lost his combat capability," fell, and while the referee was still somewhat at a loss due to this situation that defied common sense—

On the stage, the slumped body of the Three-Eyed Martial Monk suddenly twitched violently without warning. Then, like a marionette controlled by invisible hands, he "popped" up from the ground stiffly and upright, only to lose all support in the next second and crash down heavily once more with a "boom," kicking up a cloud of dust. This time, he remained completely still, with only the extremely faint rise and fall of his chest proving that a sliver of life instinct still remained within this husk.

"What exactly... is the situation?!" In the organizers' seats, even the three well-traveled Nation-Guarding Level Experts with rock-solid mentalities—Sword Saint, Zhou Wenyuan, and Xu Ruohan—could no longer remain calm. They all stood up from their seats, their faces filled with unprecedented gravity and horror.

Their eyes were like torches and their perception was fully active as they carefully examined the Three-Eyed Martial Monk on the stage. Life signs were weak but present, energy fluctuations were nearly depleted, and the physical body had no obvious fatal injuries... but the most critical "soul fluctuations" and "conscious spark" were so faint they were almost imperceptible, like a candle in the wind that could be extinguished at any moment! This wasn't a simple coma, sleep, or powerful control; this was something more fundamental, an annihilation or sealing that touched the core of existence!

"Directly attacking and severely wounding the soul origin... or perhaps even stripping or imprisoning it?" Sword Saint's voice was incredibly low, carrying a dry rasp he hadn't even noticed. He had spent his life with a sword, slaying demons and monsters, and had seen all sorts of bizarre abilities, but a soul strike so direct, so overbearing, and so ruthless was something he was seeing for the first time.

Zhou Wenyuan: "That grayish-white cage... and those silent incantations at the beginning... they're definitely not ordinary mental shocks or illusions! That's something from a higher level... the power of laws? An authority involving the soul and death?"

Xu Ruohan's cold eyes were fixed on Gui Wanwan, the expression on her beautiful face shifting.

She understood the strength of the soul link between a Summoner and their summon better than the other two. To make such a link nearly fail and render the master's forced commands useless, what kind of terrifying soul-level suppression was required? The words "Yama Maiden" and her talent "Yama" constantly echoed in her mind, bringing waves of heart-pounding trepidation.

They had seen clearly that before Gui Wanwan released that bone-white cage called the "Yama Prison Decree," the Three-Eyed Martial Monk's reactions had already become abnormally sluggish. And when he forcibly crossed the cage's barrier to launch that [Martial Saint Rock-Crushing Punch], his soul fluctuations plummeted instantly, sliding directly from sluggishness into silence! That cage was not just an imprisonment, but a trap or switch that triggered deeper soul damage!

"This kind of ability..." Xu Ruohan slowly exhaled, looking at Lin Muyang in the contestant area with a complex gaze. "If it truly is permanent damage... its strategic value and deterrent power will be immeasurable."

Below the stage, the more Shi Yongxin thought about it, the more the fear sank into his bones. Would this bizarre state of the Three-Eyed Martial Monk weaken over time? What if it didn't? What if it was permanent? That would mean his strongest ace, the SSS-Rank core combat power he had spent so much effort cultivating, would become scrap metal from now on!

What made his heart even colder was that through the soul link, he perceived that the other two—the Bull Demon Martial Monk and the Sanctuary Martial Monk, who had returned through death—also conveyed clear signs of sluggishness and confusion when he re-established a weak connection. Clearly, their souls had also suffered significant collateral damage!

"What the hell... is that thing?!" Shi Yongxin's face was so dark it looked as if it could drip water. A boundless fear and violence burned wildly in his chest. He suddenly turned his head, no longer caring about the referee's final decision on stage. He strode forward, followed by several grim-faced monks, and charged aggressively toward the player seats where Lin Muyang was located!

"Kid!" Shi Yongxin stopped a few meters away from Lin Muyang, his voice trembling slightly with suppressed rage. His bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at Lin Muyang, his tone extremely hostile. "What the hell did you do to my monk?!"

He was naturally hot-tempered and used to having his way. Having suffered such a bizarre, crushing defeat and potentially irreparable losses, how could he care about sportsmanship? Moreover, in his eyes, Lin Muyang was just a lucky junior at Level 50+ who had summoned a few powerful girls—what real strength could he have himself?

Without his summons, wouldn't he be at his mercy? He had operated in Tianhai City for many years, backed by the Loushi Group, secretly handling a lot of dirty work for them. He was long accustomed to using power to suppress others and didn't even think much of the Gu Group. Why would he fear a "genius" who had suddenly popped up?

Lin Muyang had just finished comforting Gui Wanwan, who had flown back and was leaning lazily against his shoulder. Hearing this, he slightly raised his eyes to look at the ferocious-looking bald man, his brow furrowing slightly. "Looking for trouble?"

His voice was calm, yet it carried an invisible chill.

"Looking for trouble?" Shi Yongxin acted as if he had heard a huge joke. The flesh on his face twitched into a sinister sneer. "Just a brat at Level 50+, did you really think you were invincible just because of a few summons? Let me tell you, the Summoner Competition is just a match! Once you leave this ring, in the outside world, strength, influence, and connections are what truly matter! If you don't explain yourself today and restore my Three-Eyed Martial Monk to normal, this isn't over!"

The threat in his words was blatant. In his view, no matter how high Lin Muyang's talent was, he was ultimately just a newcomer, a rootless drifter. Meanwhile, he, Shi Yongxin, had been entrenched in Tianhai City for years, was closely tied to the Loushi Group, and had a gang of desperate men under him. If he really used some off-field methods to force a youngster to submit, wouldn't it be as easy as reaching for something in his pocket?

Seeing that Lin Muyang only looked at him with that calm, hair-raising gaze and had no intention of answering, the wicked fire in Shi Yongxin's heart grew even stronger. However, he ultimately retained a shred of reason, knowing that he couldn't actually make a move in public, especially under the noses of the three Nation-Guarding Levels. With a dark expression, he glared fiercely at Lin Muyang, his eyes saying "we'll see about this," before turning abruptly.

"Let's go!" With a wave of his hand, he led his monks and walked quickly toward the player tunnel without looking back, his figure carrying a sense of both wretchedness and determination. He needed to contact the Loushi Group immediately and use their power and resources to force Lin Muyang to tell the truth and undo that damn state of the Three-Eyed Martial Monk! He believed that with the Loushi Group's power, dealing with a genius youth with no background would be a piece of cake.

Unfortunately, he had no idea that the damage his Three-Eyed Martial Monk's soul had suffered was a tearing injury that touched its very essence, a punishment originating from the Yama Authority that was almost irreversible. He also didn't know that the backgroundless youth in his eyes possessed power far beyond his wildest imagination.

Even less did he know that his threatening words and actions had already invited a catastrophic disaster upon himself.

Watching the hostile figures of Shi Yongxin and his group as they hurried away, Lin Muyang slowly withdrew his gaze, his eyes deep.

"Master~" Phoenix Heavenly Maiden Feng Ling's clear, pleasant voice rang softly in his mind, carrying a hint of icy killing intent. "Do we need to deal with this person permanently?" Her golden eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the direction where Shi Yongxin had disappeared, as if looking at a piece of trash about to be incinerated by the World Purifying Flame.

Lin Muyang was silent for a moment. The authorities might take some measures because of Shi Yongxin's threats against him, but those measures, within a framework that emphasized "rules" and "evidence," might not necessarily solve the problem completely or quickly. A rogue like Shi Yongxin, who had lived in the gray areas for years and was backed by local powers, would likely cause continuous trouble as long as he lived. He didn't like trouble, and he especially didn't like being targeted from the shadows by a venomous snake.

Since someone was actively seeking death and even sticking their face out for it... there was no reason to let them off.

"Since someone wants to die, I'll grant their wish." Lin Muyang's voice was very soft, yet it carried an unquestionable decisiveness. He gently patted the small head of Gui Wanwan, who was leaning against his shoulder, and slowly stood up.

"Let's go. Today's matches are over."

The Jiangnan Province Summoner Competition concluded with his absolute advantage, crushing all opponents to win the championship. In all his battles, he had never spent more than ten seconds against any opponent. What was undoubtedly most shocking and terrifying was the mysterious, soul-striking, and horrific methods he displayed in the finals against Shi Yongxin, who was ranked sixth nationally last year and possessed an SS-Rank Talent.

After this battle, the name "Lin Muyang" and the beautiful yet dangerous girls by his side—especially the "Yama Maiden" Gui Wanwan, who could silence a soul with a smile—would surely become an indelible legend and nightmare in the hearts of countless people.

Almost at the same time Lin Muyang stood up, the Sword Saint's communicator vibrated slightly at the organizers' seats. He glanced at the brief report of the conflict between Shi Yongxin and Lin Muyang, and his eyes suddenly turned cold.

"A fool who doesn't know the meaning of death." He snorted coldly and lowered his voice to clearly issue an order into the communicator: "Target: Shi Yongxin. On the grounds of 'threatening a key national security talent,' detain him immediately, take him away from the scene, and conduct a strict investigation. At the same time, notify the competition organizing committee to disqualify him from all results and rewards in this Provincial Tournament."

His command was concise and powerful. After witnessing the national-treasure-level potential and the terrifying deterrent of the bizarre soul attacks Lin Muyang displayed, the Sword Saint would never allow any potential threat to get close to Lin Muyang. Shi Yongxin's hostile and threatening behavior after the match provided him with a perfect reason to detain him. Official methods sometimes required procedures, but when facing such a clear threat, it was never wrong to take control first.

However, the Sword Saint did not know—or rather, he underestimated—the "efficiency" and "style" with which Lin Muyang handled problems.

Tianhai City Martial Arts Hall, Underground Parking Lot.

Shi Yongxin's face was as dark as water as he walked quickly toward his modified, tough-looking black SUV. He had sent the other monks back to their respective worlds; at this moment, he only wanted to leave this place where he had lost face and suffered heavy losses as soon as possible.

As he walked, he fiercely pulled out his phone and searched through his contacts. The first number he dialed was naturally that of a high-level executive from the Loushi Group who was his direct contact.

The phone rang for a long time before finally being picked up. But before Shi Yongxin could speak, a cold and hurried voice came from the other end: "Mr. Shi, the group is aware of your situation. However, the group has more important matters to handle right now and has no time for other concerns. Resolve your own issues. Additionally, do not take the initiative to contact the group for the time being. That is all."

Click.

The phone was hung up decisively, leaving only a series of busy tones.

Shi Yongxin stood frozen in place, holding his phone, his expression instantly becoming even uglier, as if he had been slapped in public. "Those bastards from the Loushi Group!" he cursed under his breath, his heart turning cold. He immediately understood that the Loushi Group was cutting ties! They didn't dare, or rather, weren't willing, to offend the rising and infinitely promising Lin Muyang for his sake! Especially now, when the Loushi Group itself was in internal turmoil because of Lou Tianyu's situation!

"When a wall is about to fall, everyone gives it a push... Fine, very well!" A fierce light flashed in Shi Yongxin's eyes, but it was mostly panic and rage after being abandoned. He quickly scrolled through his contacts, looking for other names that might provide help—some leaders of overseas forces he had "collaborated" with in the gray areas, a few desperate men who were his brothers-in-arms and possessed decent strength...

However, just as his fingertip was about to touch the next number—

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Clear footsteps echoed in the empty and quiet underground parking lot, coming from several directions at once with a steady rhythm.

Shi Yongxin looked up abruptly to see four figures wearing black trench coats and sunglasses, with steady and sharp auras. Like ghosts, they silently appeared at the entrances of the passages in all directions, completely blocking all his exits. They coordinated their movements with tacit understanding, faintly forming a siege—clearly well-trained.

The leader was a middle-aged man with an ordinary face but the dignity of someone long in a high position. He took off his sunglasses, revealing eyes as sharp as a hawk's, and looked at Shi Yongxin calmly, his voice devoid of any emotion:

"Mr. Shi Yongxin. Special Investigation Department of the Xia Country National Security Bureau. There are some matters we need your cooperation with in an investigation. Please come with us."