Eldritch Horror Theatre

No one expected things to end up like this.

When Ji Ping claimed he was just making a joke, Ji Liushuang didn’t hesitate for a second before striking to kill.

It wasn’t even a sudden sneak attack. Instead, she announced his execution in front of everyone, then delivered a sword strike, charging forward undaunted.

She was completely unconcerned about anyone stopping her.

And indeed, no one did.

For Ji Xun and his companion, Ji Liushuang’s sword strike was certainly terrifying, but as Demigods, saving Ji Ping wouldn’t have been a problem.

Yet in that instant, without any time to communicate, the two men coincidentally remained motionless.

It wasn’t that they were intimidated by the sheer force of her attack. The core of Ji Liushuang’s execution declaration seemed to be: ”No matter what, my personal will demands your death.” But upon closer thought, her true meaning was quite simple: I am taking the Gospel Team, but you, Ji Ping, do not have the right to trade them for your own life.

It sounded overbearing, carrying an implicit ”Who do you think you’re talking to?” However, she was forcefully making this demand as the theoretical next family head.

Perhaps in the past, they would have merely sighed that this was a formidable youth, and casually brushed her off.But what if you factored in the Rebirth Club?

Theoretically, it was the Rebirth Club that had cleaned up the mess left behind by the foolish actions of the family and the Origin Council. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

So she really is using this opportunity to return and declare her presence... and the crucial thing is, she actually seized the chance perfectly.

This junior was far more formidable than her mother!

Now, Ji Liushuang’s meaning was crystal clear: as the next family head, she was claiming the Gospel Team, and Ji Ping had to die. No one possessed the qualifications to make her choose between the two.

She even put it into action without a second thought.

Slash!

A moment later, blood sprayed into the air.

The delicate balance they had maintained from the start suddenly became laughable.

...

As Ji Ping’s horrified expression shattered before her eyes, the Rapier in Ji Liushuang’s hand let out a mournful hum.

Designed primarily for lightness and concealment, it was far from a divine weapon. Under the force of that strike, the blade shattered, completely ruined.

Fortunately, she didn’t need it anymore.

Ji Ping’s seemingly intact head no longer held a single trace of life.

Ji Liushuang knew this perfectly well the moment she struck.

Lucent Sword Heart. Before this, she had truly never utilized it so purely as a killing technique.

Ji Liushuang silently gripped the broken sword in her hand.

Looking back now, it really was a different feeling.

In that moment just now, she had known with absolute certainty that Ji Ping would die. The process in between merely required her to unleash that single strike.

And she hadn’t harbored a single doubt about whether she could execute it.

Now she had done it. Her Lucent Sword Heart even seemed to grow clearer and more translucent as a result, utterly unclouded by delusions.

Of course, there was a price to pay.

Clang.

As Ji Liushuang tossed the broken sword next to the corpse, blood began rapidly seeping from her shoulder.

The physical and mental burden of that strike was simply too immense. Even in peak condition, it would have been difficult to endure, let alone when she had not yet fully recovered from her previous heavy injuries.

”I have already killed him.”

Yet she still stood completely straight, turning her head to face the crowd in their dead silence.

”As for the matter of the Gospel Team, I will accept whatever decision you reach after your discussions.”

”There is no need for excessive concern. I have no direct ties to the Rebirth Club.”

’Like hell anyone believes you!’

No one had expected Ji Ping to actually be struck down with a single sword slash. However, despite their shock, Ji Liushuang’s final sentence left quite a few people silently cursing in their hearts.

Of course, seeing the blood staining her shoulder blade, and looking at Ji Liushuang, who was as fierce as a Goddess of War, no one actually dared to voice their complaints.

Even though her words were actually true.

Because ”Professor Andiel” had said that he was not Lu Ming.

Ji Liushuang ignored them, turning to look at the brilliant illusion where space and time overlapped.

In her increasingly transparent perception, everything that had just happened flashed rapidly through her mind. A certain urge to go forward and investigate grew steadily stronger.

In the end, however, she followed his arrangements and stood still.

...

Now this was interesting.

Inside the Dark Fire Cage, Fu Qian scrutinized the humanoid figure formed by the condensing Distorted Colors.

Aside from lacking a mask, there was no disguise whatsoever. The most miraculous part was that the slightly thin figure was, astonishingly, himself before transforming into a Thug.

And almost at the exact moment he examined the figure, the other party looked right back at him.

”Do you remember?”

After locking eyes for a few seconds, this ’other self’ smiled faintly and asked in a soft voice.

”Remember what?”

Noting that although the Dark Fire Cage was still active, the giant claw’s attacks had momentarily ceased, Fu Qian clicked his tongue in wonder while casually firing back a question.

”Do not ask.”

Unexpectedly, the other party shook his head, completely unwilling to explain.

”You must think.”

”Those are memories that originally belonged to you. Think hard, and do not let yourself be limited by your own mind.”

”Surpassing my own limitations... You wouldn’t happen to be referring to memories from before I was three years old, would you?”

”No.”

The other party continued to shake his head, even raising a hand to tap his own temple.

With that motion, an image suddenly unfurled in Fu Qian’s mind.

In a boundless expanse of grayish-white, amidst a scorching heat akin to an exploding star, a sublime entity plummeted with a wail, painting the scene into a sea of fire.

In fact, it truly was a sea.

This visually devastating scene was astonishingly taking place over a churning sea.

Only, what churned within it wasn’t water, but ash entirely devoid of life.

And right within this hellish spectacle, some entity submerged in the ash spewed out massive streams of information even as it was being annihilated. A mere glance was enough to convey their profound complexity.

Though the vast majority vanished in an instant, a single thread pierced through the incredible barriers of space and time, imprinting itself onto a rapidly dividing cluster of cells.

”So this is what you call memories beyond limitations? The true origin of ’me’?”

Digesting this information seemed to take only a split second. Fu Qian raised his head and looked at his other self as he spoke.

”I told you: do not ask, you must use Overthinking.”

Unexpectedly, the other party exuded the aura of a total charlatan, actually shaking his head yet again.

”Including that question, you also know the answer.”

Without rushing to respond, Fu Qian knew exactly what the other party was referring to—that entity submerged in the ash.

The very first time he saw it, he felt a connection that transcended flesh and blood, and even the soul. It was a convergence of karma, an inseparable bond that would ultimately return to one.

”You know that answer better than anyone else. State your true name.”

That ’other self’ spoke in a gentle voice, as if soothing a newly awakened infant.

”Blasphemy...”

Guided by those words, Fu Qian finally let out a sigh-like whisper.

”But that is your true name.”

...

The expression on the ’other self’ opposite him froze almost instantly.

”A reincarnated Divine Entity, awakening their true self step by step, reclaiming what rightfully belongs to them. It’s a good story.”

Fu Qian’s voice carried undisguised disdain.

”But what a pity. A real man doesn’t need that kind of crap.”