Chapter 467 The Imposter Number Three
Hearing Liu Shuying say that, I began to perceive the space of the branch base in the distance more carefully, and just as he had suggested, I sensed a discordant atmosphere.
If we compare a normal space to a giant piece of cloth, then the space where the distant branch base is located is like a patch on that cloth. Although both its color and pattern maintain a high degree of consistency with the surrounding space, it still cannot change the fact that it's a patch. It's fine when you don't notice it, but once you do, it feels awkward.
However, although I understand that there is such an anomaly in the space there, I cannot analyze what specific consequences this anomaly will bring. After all, the branch base is operating normally and has not undergone any noteworthy changes due to the existence of the spatial patch.
From another perspective, since this anomaly gives the impression of a "patch," perhaps the normal operation of the branch base is precisely due to this. Would erasing it reveal the truly unusual changes?
If that's the case, then the person who patched this space at the branch base was most likely someone who associated with these extreme superhumanists.
This is not something a Witcher of the highest or lower level could do. Considering I didn't sense it at first glance, it's hard to believe it was the work of that "quickly achieved high level" sitting in the supervisor's office. However, if you ask me what level of person could do this, I'm not entirely sure.
No… to be honest, it might not be related to the cultivation level of the instigator. This spatial patch reminds me of the Humanitarian Department's independent reality space—more precisely, it's similar to the "reality clipping technology" that Ying Lingyun once used.
Could it be that the head of Taoyuan Township obtained this technology from Ying Lingyun and then exchanged it with the Luoshan branch base that leaked information to Taoyuan Township?
Are the traitors from Luoshan here really that valuable? Ultimately, even if they obtained the technology, would they have the ability to apply it? And why would they use it here, and for what purpose?
Furthermore, even if we assume that this technology is based on the power of the Divine Seal fragments, where did they get the Divine Seal fragments?
Not only did I fail to detect any Divine Seal fragments in this branch base earlier, but now, even when I try to sense the Divine Seal fragment bound to me, I don't detect the slightest sign of vibration. There shouldn't be any unclaimed Divine Seal fragments nearby.
"Is the source of this spatial anomaly... the power of the fragments of the Divine Seal?" Liu Shuying seemed to have discerned it as well.
"You also study the fragments of the Divine Seal?" I asked indirectly.
"I know a little bit," Liu Shuying replied, her answer somewhat insincere.
I don't enjoy engaging in cryptic exchanges, nor am I interested in roundabout communication. On the other hand, and this might seem contradictory, I actually quite enjoy dangerous collaborations with people whose true nature I don't know. I find myself endlessly probing and probing within these unstable partnerships. Neither of us is a good person. We're all cut from the same cloth.
“Now, it’s time to storm the target location,” I said.
"What are you going to do?" Liu Shuying looked puzzled. "As mentioned before, if we rush in rashly, the Lord of Taoyuan Township might sense it. By then, even if we get clues about the Lord of Taoyuan Township's location, he will have already moved."
Without his reminder, I had already figured out how to handle this matter.
“To hide a leaf, you have to hide it in the forest. Since we can’t avoid the Peach Blossom Village Lord’s senses, let him sense them to his heart’s content,” I said. “Next, I’m going to blow this branch base to smithereens and turn this whole area into scorched earth.”
“…I see.” Liu Shuying said, “As long as we turn this area into a complete mess, even if the Lord of Peach Blossom Village notices the unusual activity here, he will only observe the continuous chaos and destruction, and his subtle counter-tracking senses will be drowned out… During this time, we only need to leave a few survivors and interrogate them on the spot to get the clues we want.”
"But isn't your approach putting the cart before the horse? We were going to take a covert route from the start. With your blatant sabotage, I'm afraid the Peach Blossom Village Master won't even need to detect any counter-tracking. Just sensing that this location has been destroyed by 'Great Impermanence Zhuang Cheng' will be enough for him to realize that Luo Shan is trying to find the traitor in this branch base and track down his actual location."
"Considering the difference in strength between you and him, he will definitely suspect that you are going to attack us together with the other Great Impermanence, and then move to another location first... That would mean all our efforts would be in vain."
I countered, "So... what if he didn't believe the killer's target was 'tracking him,' even if he discovered the branch base had been destroyed?"
"What?" Liu Shuying was taken aback.
"Have you ever heard of the 'Virtual Realm Apostles'?" I asked.
“…I’ve heard of it.” Liu Shuying’s eyes changed. “I heard that they are madmen who regard the ‘Lord of the Divine Seal’ as the supreme being and are willing to be enemies of Luoshan in order to collect the fragments of the Divine Seal…”
"According to rumors, there are seven of them in total, and each of them has the strength to start from the level of Great Impermanence."
"If this is true, then they are undoubtedly qualified to rival Luoshan."
To say that every Void Realm Apostle possesses the power of a Great Impermanence is an exaggeration... Moreover, without your noticing, a Great Impermanence has already died, another Great Impermanence has rebelled, and the Void Realm itself has exploded on the spot...
As I thought this, I continued, "That's right. So, if a Void Realm Apostle appeared here and witnessed this branch base, what do you think he would do?"
"He will probably determine that there is a fragment of a divine seal here based on the power of the divine seal fragment that surrounds this branch base."
Although Void Realm Apostles can use the divine seal fragments bound to them to determine whether there are any unclaimed divine seal fragments around them, Liu Shuying was unaware of this, and probably did not know that there were actually no divine seal fragments here.
He naturally came to this conclusion and continued, "Then he would break into it and dig deep into the ground to obtain the fragment of the divine seal. It wouldn't be surprising if he destroyed the branch base in the process... In fact, the past Void Realm Apostle 'Xu Gou' did something like this."
"Under these circumstances, the Lord of Taoyuan Township probably wouldn't be on high alert. At most, he would just lament that this branch base that leaked information to his side was too unlucky."
"But what's the use of saying this now? Do you know any Void Realm Apostles and can call them over to help right now? Let me make it clear beforehand that if three or more Great Impermanences are simultaneously targeting the Peach Blossom Village Lord, the Peach Blossom Village Lord will sense the crisis remotely, even if they do nothing."
"Or are you saying that you yourself are an Apostle of the Void Realm?"
Liu Shuying seemed to be just saying it casually, not taking the assumption seriously herself, and continued, "But the Peach Blossom Village Lord recognizes your magical fluctuations, right? Even if you really are a Void Realm Apostle, once you personally take action, the Peach Blossom Village Lord will automatically assume it's 'Luoshan Great Impermanence making a move,' which is completely meaningless..."
“I’m sorry, I’m not an Apostle of the Void Realm, nor do I know any Apostles of the Void Realm,” I said. “But we can impersonate an Apostle of the Void Realm to commit the crime and make the Lord of Peach Blossom Village lower his guard.”
"How do I do it?" Liu Shuying asked suspiciously. "You don't mean you want me to do it, do you? Because many people don't know much about me?"
"Although I have never had any direct contact with the Lord of Peach Blossom Village, and I don't leave much of my mark on the outside world, I am still one of the legitimate Great Impermanence of Luoshan, and I have made moves in other directions in the past. The patterns of my magical power fluctuations are recorded in Luoshan, and Peach Blossom Village must have already grasped them as well."
"Even if we assume that we can actually impersonate someone, what if the real Void Realm Apostle notices and exposes us?"
"It's alright, even if we're exposed, that's a matter for later. We just need to act quickly and complete everything in this time," I said. "Also, I didn't ask you to impersonate someone. But since you've brought it up, let me ask you... can you disguise your magical energy fluctuations?"
“It’s possible, but it won’t work,” Liu Shuying said. “The Great Impermanence’s disguise of magical fluctuations can only temporarily deceive those who are not the Great Impermanence. It won’t work on those who are also the Great Impermanence. It’s as far-fetched as putting on super thick makeup and insisting that you’re not wearing any. Moreover, the other party can easily see through the ‘makeup’ and discover the true face.”
“I think so too,” I said. “Then, I will impersonate the Void Realm Apostle.”
"It is said that Xuanming claims to be the fourth among the seven Void Realm Apostles, which suggests that there is a sequential numbering system among them. I don't know the names of the other Void Realm Apostles, so I will temporarily use this sequential numbering system and call myself 'Number Three'."
Upon hearing this, Liu Shuying teased, "'Number Three'... is exactly one rank above Xuanming? It seems that although you don't say it, you are actually quite concerned about the other Great Impermanence who controls flames."
I pretended to be right, because that would probably increase the persuasiveness of my "fake number three" persona.
"But how do you do the most crucial thing, 'faking mana fluctuations'?" Liu Shuying asked.
"It's very simple."
I summoned a ball of flame, and at the same time, following the connection in the dark, I drew out the power of the divine seal fragment bound to me, mixing it into my flame.
The magical energy emanating from the flames suddenly became completely different.
(End of this chapter)
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