Eldritch Horror Theatre

Quiet Reflection and Wandering.

Being struck by the moonlight induced a special kind of sluggishness. Once it accumulated to a certain degree, one would directly face an ancient majesty within the depths of their heart.

As for this harvest gained from using Insight on the Gulade Family Secret Treasure, although Fu Qian had never tried to activate it, how could he possibly forget about it?

‘My racial appearance wasn't shaped at random.’

Although he hadn't known for certain that he would use it, after deeply sensing this mission's theme of "faces," Fu Qian had still undergone Sublimation into this ancient glory at the very first opportunity.

If necessary, it would undoubtedly serve as an incredibly solid endorsement for his story.

It seemed even more fitting once he discovered the power output limit of this eerie place.

At most, it was just a trace of the residual aura of a higher entity. Compared to the omnipresent Order of Blood, its scale was ultimately much smaller, right?

It was perfect for bypassing the "power" limit.

And although he wasn't sure what the Old Man actually "saw" right now, it was obvious that this Rashomon situation already had a definitive truth in his heart.

Since he had considered that Luyi might have a backup plan prepared against physical destruction, how could he not prepare for that worst-case scenario as well?

Who gave you the courage to try and win a cultural victory against an academic pioneer?

...

Many years later, when Old Man Li and Excellency Ji Ning held hands and looked at each other with teary eyes, who knew if he would remember that afternoon when the apostle from the moon took him to witness ancient glory.

But one thing was certain: at this moment, he was clearly thinking a lot.

About the Face of Gods and Men, about the Laria Royal Court, about the Awakening of the apostles, about the return of ancient and exalted things...

Fu Qian even believed that at this point, even if Luyi invited the power behind him to show its face, it would be difficult to reverse the disadvantage.

In the cultural industry, innovation was the core of competitiveness. Blindly putting on a clumsy imitation that accentuates one's own flaws would only invite ridicule.

Furthermore, if his previous guess held true—meaning the Order of Blood was indeed operating with its power suppressed—then that entity most likely didn't have the room to maneuver anyway.

The reason Luyi had been so happy a moment ago was simple. With physical destruction proving fruitless and his cultural victory at an absolute disadvantage, it looked like Fu Qian had no hope for a comeback no matter how you sliced it.

As two storytellers who understood the rules of consensus, it was impossible for the two of them to ever agree with each other.

It could be said that the only remaining variable lay with Old Man Li.

Especially since Fu Qian had deliberately kept him alive, it was impossible for Luyi not to be vigilant.

Yet the reality of the situation was that Old Man Li not only had zero interest in communicating, but he had even ranked up right on the battlefield, pointing his sword straight at Fu Qian.

The Rank advantage that Fu Qian had exhausted every means to secure completely vanished in this instant, and he instead found himself exposed to the threat of physical destruction.

At this point, all his hopes of turning the tables were thoroughly annihilated. The situation was finally set in stone.

It was just a pity that, as mentioned before, everyone was constrained by their own perspective due to their limited experience. Take Luyi, for example, or take—

“Annalise?”

In a silence that felt drawn out but was actually quite brief, Old Man Li, having gleaned a glimpse of divine secrets, finally spoke. He slowly uttered a name toward Fu Qian.

He had clearly seen something just now and had already formed a firm conclusion about it. Right now, he merely wanted to get Fu Qian's confirmation—

“No.”

Unfortunately, Fu Qian shook his head.

What a joke. Who knew what kind of resolution that ancient majesty he saw had been in, but what Fu Qian was wearing was the true face of Pope Nelgria.

This was a matter of principle.

...

It was easy to tell that in that moment, Old Man Li had thought of many things again.

However, it was gratifying to see that instantly advancing to Tier 2 even seemed to stimulate cognitive activity. This time, it took him no more than a single breath to snap back to his senses.

“So that's how it is. The name of the Progenitor of the Blood Clan has been wrong all along...”

This time, he didn't seek further confirmation from Fu Qian. Instead, he muttered to himself in a low voice, as if deeply shaken by the ancient secrets he had just realized.

After his enlightened demeanor from ranking up had been forcibly shattered by Quiet Reflection and Wandering, he unconsciously displayed far more humanity.

“The Blood Clan, heh heh heh... merely crude playthings.”

In response to his sigh, Fu Qian acted as if he had just heard something hilarious, delivering an evaluation that was enough to scramble a person's cranial nerves.

“Of course, it's not as if there aren't even more ridiculous terms than that one... like the pureblood Blood Clan, for example.”

In just a few words, he casually expanded the breadth and depth of the ancient secrets Old Man Li thought he understood.

By securing an absolute advantage in their cultural victory in one fell swoop, he further reinforced the barrier against Brother Luyi's comeback—although the latter still hadn't given up yet.

Boom!

The moment he finished mocking the Blood Clan, Fu Qian's figure shot forward.

As he landed, he threw a devastating punch.

Only his target wasn't Luyi, but Li He.

His speed wasn't even that fast, as if deliberately giving his target time to react.

Old Man Li, having just completed his advancement, clearly picked up on this and reacted in an instant.

Though the nature of his reaction completely defied common sense.

Facing the sudden strike, the previously murderous Old Man Li didn't even attempt to counterattack. In fact, it looked like he was actively suppressing his own urge to dodge.

Flesh and blood splattered.

Before the Sage's Sanction, the struck area undoubtedly suffered the exact same fate as his arm had earlier.

Within the horrifying wound that tore open, a distinct humanoid figure was exposed.

It was small and hunched over, yet it possessed a faint, gentle face.

Of course, all of this was entirely carved out of the flesh and blood that originally belonged to Old Man Li.

So much so that when Fu Qian forcefully ripped it out, an even larger cavity was left in the already mangled body.

This appearance left far too deep of an impression.

This was far from the Tree Infants that had been instantly slain by the sword earlier; this was the newly ascended Royal Scion in the flesh.

It wasn't surprising. As the nominal source of the Order of Blood, it was obviously far stronger than its minions, and it certainly looked like Brother Luyi could guide its actions.

As to why he attacked Old Man Li at the very first opportunity?

Putting himself in Luyi's shoes, Fu Qian's answer was that, in Brother Luyi's judgment, flipping the narrative within Li He's mind was already impossible. Every extra second he remained as an audience member would only produce negative side effects.

So Luyi ultimately still put on a clumsy imitation that accentuates one's own flaws, learning from Fu Qian to complete the transition from cultural victory to physical destruction.

What a pity. In the end, he had just made a fool of himself.

“How did you find out?”

Without a single tremor under Old Man Li's steady gaze, the body that Fu Qian had torn out instantly dissolved into a puddle of rotting flesh.

The Royal Scion had chosen to flee once more.

At the same time, the imitator's question rang out.

“It's simple. I didn't.”

Fu Qian responded with a snort, rejecting the very premise of the question.

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