Free Web NovelChapter 335: Chapter 139: The Real Masked Fiend (Subscribe for the major Chapter)
Mad laughter echoed through the Mingyu Estate on the third level of the High Tower.
Several Guardians from the ruling families, probably the only ones capable of stopping the Masked Strange Person in attendance.
But because of the trickery of "Bipolar Transposition," they did not act rashly, and they were also unaware... the same mad laughter echoed on the fifth level as well.
When the entire third level lost its power supply and the huge ceiling also became dull and dark, this abnormal phenomenon was an immediate danger signal to the rulers on the fifth level.
The other families were fine, although they had each received intelligence that there were issues with the Yan Family and Qin Family wedding, they were not too worried with Guardians present.
But it was different for the Yan Family.
While the Qin Family did not send a family Guardian, they sent the Guard Army, a force comparable to the elite of both armies.
At least until the Masked Strange Person uttered a certain riddle, Qin Ye was still unaware that the Garrison Corps, stationed on the third level to check the elite of both armies among the full house of guests, had been killed by another Masked Strange Person.
It happened amidst the sudden onrush of darkness.
While a scene of frantic bridal robbery played out on the third level of the Mingyu Estate, the fifth level was, in fact, even more insane.
The Pang Family, Liu Family, Wang Family, Zheng Family, and Qin Family were all guessing which family had acted, shutting off the third level’s power supply.
Each family had that capability.
In one of the Black Towers on the fifth level of the High Tower, there lay the control equipment for the energy supply of the four levels below.
And only the Family Heads and true rulers had access to this Black Tower.
Thus, people from several families quickly sent core family members to investigate the secrets of that Black Tower.
But in the end, they realized... all six families had gathered there, with people from the Xie Family arriving third, following the people from the Qin Family and Zheng Family.
After the six families assembled, they found that only the Zhong Family and their people had not come, but Zhong Xu’s death was no longer a secret. At this time, how could the Zhong Family dare to stir up trouble? The consequences of offending both the Qin and Yan Families were not something the current Zhong Family could afford.
The emissary from the Xie Family was named Xie Kun, a former Family Head, not an Eternal Being, just one of unusually long life.
He squinted his eyes and said,
"Whoever comes first or doesn’t come at all is the most suspect. But the earliest to arrive was the Qin Family, which is very interesting. What exactly are you two families playing at? Who shut off the power supply to the third level?"
The Pang Family, Liu Family, Yan Family, Qin Family, Wang Family, and Zheng Family were all suspicious of each other, while the old man from the Xie Family was fanning the flames bit by bit.
"What’s the matter, don’t want to marry off your daughter, and arranged this show yourself? I just got the news that the third level is like a magician’s act. And only the Guardian from the Yan Family is absent, which is inexplicable, isn’t it?"
Although the representatives from each family were not the current Family Heads, they were all old foxes and naturally did not take Xie Kun’s words at face value.
But fanning the flames isn’t necessarily about convincing the other party, it’s enough for them to know that there is a possibility.
The Qin Family themselves did not believe it, but the Yan Family’s people were indeed the first to arrive, and in this Black Tower... there were no others present.
"Either the Yan Family did not wish to marry off their daughter, or the other party had already left. Interesting, the Zhong Family has disappeared, and I have been wondering who was behind it, why the Zhong Family has vanished? Speaking of which, the backing behind the Zhong Family seems to be in line with your Qin Family, doesn’t it? Could this action be aimed at your Qin Family?"
The Xie Family, those involved in scientific research, in fact, none of them are dull-witted. The words of Xie Kun practically threaded some long past events together.
Thus, at this moment, members of the five great families began to harbor their own suspicions.
"I should return to my Xie Family to avoid the storm; who knows, the next unfortunate one might not be your two families, but instead my Xie Family. This old man, ah, has not seen the outside sky for a very long time, I only hope that the sky here, remains just like this."
The person from the Wang Family was the current head of the family, this woman felt that the old man Xie was talking too much, but perhaps it was also because she realized the implications behind his words.
The person from the Pang Family also caught on, it seemed like the Xie Family was unwilling to be dragged into this muddled water, he thought this was indeed a wise decision.
Hence, after a few words from several families, they quickly restored the power supply to the third floor, but regarding this matter, and even the wedding between the Yan and Qin families... they all took a watchful attitude.
They always felt the Yan Family’s response was very strange. For such a significant event, the Qin Family showed up, but the Yan Family did not, which was indeed incomprehensible.
The reaction of the Yan Family was not strange, but at this moment, the Yan Family simply could not spare anyone.
Not long ago, a Masked Fiend had broken into the Yan Family, and although he did not lay a hand on Yan Zhao, he certainly frightened all members of the Yan Family.
After this person left, the Yan Family began to strengthen their defenses, and Yan Zhao did not believe that anyone could escape from that prison.
Even the forces from Jing Wu’s side were the same, after all, truly exterminating one’s humanity is not something all Evil Fallen possess.
Especially with the Warden as an extremely powerful presence in the prison, with the help of doctors and judges, that place was nearly impregnable.
Yan Zhao indeed thought this way, and although he had strengthened his defenses, when he saw the Masked Strange Person again, he realized that the so-called defenses were utterly meaningless.
At this moment, it was just like that time during the third instance.
When Qin Zong asked at the wedding scene, "Who exactly are you?" Bai Wu’s crazed behavior seemed as if it came from ninety years prior, like the fiend that came to claim lives after both armies perished in the red zone!
The laughter, like that of a fiend, was shockingly consistent. On the fifth floor, inside the Yan Family Manor, the guards whose minds were gradually beguiled in the dim space also heard the laughter drifting through the air.
"Hahahaha... Who am I? That really is a good question. I am the joke that does not fit in the mouths of you eight, but I am also the only pioneer beyond you eight."
"I am the devil between reality and fantasy, and I am the only sober one in this world!"
Smashing through the Yan Family’s forbidden grounds, one experimental apparatus after another, those test subjects placed in some kind of nurturing fluid were finally liberated, and began to die slowly.
Looking into Yan Zhao’s eyes, the man wearing the Masked Fiend’s mask, for some reason, gave Yan Zhao a feeling of familiarity.
It was not the same person as last time; this time, the one invading with the Masked Fiend’s mask was someone else!
"Remember now, who I really am? Today, between you and me, one must die; such a job is not easy to accept! Of course, I will strive to survive, but to kill you, is really too interesting! So this time, I have really invested a great deal!"
"Destiny is a great writer; this is like a foreshadowing buried for more than six hundred years, finally coming to fruition!"
Riddle Man, the man who speaks entirely in riddles.
Yan Zhao could not imagine who this person might be, as all the Yan Family’s guards seemed to be enveloped by an illusion.
In such a situation, Yan Zhao had to face the opponent alone.
"Not bad, the look in your eyes, after being on the throne for so long, living in ease for hundreds of years, do you still remember how to fight?"
Yan Zhao said coldly,
"Playing mysterious tricks, although I do not know who you are, don’t think that the Yan Family is a place where you can come and go as you please!"
Yan Zhao’s Sequence seemed sparse, seemingly down to one, The Integrator, but as one of the scumbag trifecta super Sequences, this skill symbolized potential.
In seven hundred years, heaven knew how much power he had obtained through this skill?
The Integrator was like a kaleidoscope of Sequences, offering Yan Zhao numerous possibilities.
Twenty-Four Iron Riders appeared beside Yan Zhao, their bodies burning with black flames.
Sequence 150, One Man Army.
The ability of the captain of the seventh squadron of the Investigation Corps, ninety years ago, had been used to ensure the smooth progression of that "cleansing" and to obtain as much residual value from the people doomed to die. Back then, Yan Zhao had deceived many under another identity.
Or rather, integrated with many.
That included the group bound for death.
While the Qin Family designed the cleansing plan, Yan Zhao also ate his fill of human-blood steamed buns.
"An interesting ability, it seems impetuous. Hmm, not very damaging, but quite spectacular."
Mocking abilities had surely become a standard feature for the Masked Strange Person.
Yan Zhao did not care; his abilities were of course far more than these. The Twenty-Four Iron Riders suddenly transformed, slowly morphing into human forms.
In the eyes of the Masked Strange Person, it was as though twenty-five Yan Zhaos had appeared before him.
Sequence 106, Mimetic Energy. The ability to change the form of the energy created by oneself or the opponent.
Under the combined trial of Mimetic Energy and One Man Army, it was like the existence of a cloning technique.
But The Integrator had a flaw: after several consecutive Sequence changes, there would be a brief downtime when it could not be used, and it was not possible to use many Sequences at the same time, nor to integrate with Sequences below 25.
Therefore, though he had once gained Yan Zizai’s trust and could rely on The Integrator to switch between the Eye of the Scales and the Eye of Insight, at this moment, he could not do so.
He also could not integrate with Bai Wu’s Prayle’s Eye, nor Yan Zizai’s Bipolar Transposition.
At least until Sequence advancement, this part of the scumbag trifecta, although powerful, once it gained enough people’s trust, was equivalent to holding the power of nearly half the Periodic Table of Sequences.
But it still had many flaws.
Yet, Yan Zhao believed defeating this crazy person in front of him wouldn’t be difficult.
"What do you mean, having lived in ease on the throne for seven hundred years? Mask wearer, I will make you truly feel why a ruler is called a ruler!"
"Wahahaha, I’m so scared, come on! Scare me to death!" freёwebnovel.com
Rolling in black mist, the Masked Strange Person produced a playing card from his hand.
Just like a throwing knife that could cut through steel, the card spun at high speed in a bizarre trajectory, ultimately slicing towards Yan Zhao’s neck!
Yan Zhao snorted coldly,
"A trifling artifice!"
He easily dodged the Masked Strange Person’s attack, and Yan Zhao’s figure completely vanished.
Sequence 71: Hidden Dragon.
A concealment not even visible to vision-based Sequences like the Eye of Insight and the Eye of the Scales, the Masked Strange Person rubbed the chin of his mask,
"Such a cunning ability, but... that’s what makes it interesting, easily killing beings like you would only make the game feel too boring, hahahahaha!"
The battle between the Masked Strange Person and the ruler of the High Tower began.
And on the third floor, Yan Zizai and Bai Wu working together successfully intimidated the entire field.
With Xie Family’s words added, each ruling family, as well as the Qin Family, were in a state of watchfulness.
Thus, no one knew that the third floor’s bridal robbery was just a front, the real climax was on the fifth floor!
...
...
On the bottom floor of the High Tower, the time was—two days earlier.
After Bai Wu returned to the High Tower with Yan Zizai, the two quickly found a place to settle down.
Yan Zizai had many things he wanted to discuss with Bai Wu, and Bai Wu also hoped that Yan Zizai would be aware of the upcoming arrangements.
"You want me to take his place... to become the ruler?"
"Yes."
"I cannot do it..."
"Even though he had you locked up in places like Shudu Prison, even though he knew this day would come, so he deliberately educated someone with your temperament amidst all the dregs of the Yan Family, you still cannot do it? Your memory is cleaned every once in a while, you have lived several hundred years more than me, but remain ignorant of so many things, you possess the strongest strength among the Guardians, but to the Yan Family, you are just merely a tool, is there really anything you cannot do?"
Yan Zizai was no lotus flower, and he couldn’t share Bai Xiaoyu’s deep love for the world. His relationship with Yan Zhao had always been the same for hundreds of years; he simply couldn’t bring himself to be ruthless.
After a few seconds of silence, Yan Zizai said:
"It’s not that I still have any illusions about him. Now in the Yan Family, only Jiu is worth my concern, but to ask me personally to bring about the Yan Family’s downfall... I can’t do it yet."
Bai Wu could understand him. It was like how he detested Bai Yuan and wouldn’t mind if Bai Yuan were destroyed by someone else, but if he had to kill Bai Yuan himself, he couldn’t get over that hurdle either.
"Well, luckily I found other people to help deal with Yan Zhao. With your attitude, you might be swayed by the Yan Family’s Integrators. If you’re not careful, it would be very bad if a hero like you died talking too much to a villain. Originally, having you take revenge on Yan Zhao would have been the most satisfying, but to rebel against a ruler, I need to find someone suitable."
"Who? Wu Jiu?"
"My captain is so honest and upright, how could I possibly involve him in this sort of thing? He still has hope for the High Tower."
Speaking of Wu Jiu, Bai Wu still held a lot of respect for him and continued:
"The captain isn’t suited to be involved in this matter, at least not until I’ve managed to turn Captain Qin. Then it would be appropriate for the captain to join in."
"So who is it then?" Yan Zizai was very puzzled.
To deal with Yan Zhao, it would need someone at the level of a Guardian, or... even stronger. In any case, Yan Zizai was not confident about confronting the old ancestor.
"Lin Rui?" Yan Zizai asked.
"Hahahaha... Lin Rui is interesting, with unfathomable strength. I have never seen him exert his full power, but he has promised someone that he would live forever without entering the High Tower."
"Then who else could it be? Don’t tell me it’s that little girl from the other time?"
"Hong Yin? What are you thinking? She is one of the Evil Fallen and can’t enter the High Tower. If she could enter, that would make things easier for me."
Bai Wu looked at Yan Zizai with an expression that said you would never guess.
Yan Zizai frowned, trying to think of who else could defeat a ruler.
"As you said, to defeat a ruler, we’d need someone at the level of a ruler, someone with both experience and strength. Fortunately, I do know one such person, it’s just that this person... enjoys deceiving others."
Yan Zizai didn’t understand, and Bai Wu didn’t explain much, just smiling as he said:
"Maybe this time, we’ll have a chance to see his true form. Of course, we need to move quickly, snatch Yan Jiu away, and ensure that everyone at the wedding is safe. Then we must head to the fifth floor to support... well, to pick up the pieces."
Bai Wu looked seriously at Yan Zizai:
"You’ve always stood too high, Yan Zizai. You couldn’t see those countless beings beneath the clouds clearly. You think Yan Jiu is like you, a child of the rulers, living a carefree life like yours. But little do you know, both you and Yan Jiu are just characters in a tragedy."
"I understand if you don’t want to deal with Yan Zhao, but I believe that after you see Yan Jiu’s behaviour at the wedding, you’ll understand that in this world, these countless beings, though they seem to hold high status, can’t even live according to their own will."
It was also at this moment that Bai Wu decided to ask the captain to do one more thing: tell Yan Jiu of his own death.
It was cruel, and he knew the girl’s feelings for him, but he wanted Yan Zizai to understand the true nature of this High Tower World... It wasn’t about humans creating a stable civilization structure after living for seven hundred years.
The so-called world of the High Tower—was nothing but a playground for a handful of rulers on the fifth level. Everything on the lower four levels was just pawns in their games and entertainments.
Although Yan Zizai felt Bai Wu was crazy, he owed Bai Wu his life and especially didn’t want Jiu to marry someone she didn’t love. So he didn’t hesitate, nodding his head and joining the plan to snatch the bride.
But snatching the bride wasn’t Bai Wu’s ultimate goal; toppling that scumbag from the throne was what Bai Wu truly intended to do.
Without Wu Jiu to participate directly, Bai Wu couldn’t find anyone else capable of confronting Yan Zhao.
These thoughts had been on his mind since the very first time he escaped from prison and returned to the High Tower.
There is a time gap for leaving the tower and returning, and Bai Wu didn’t want to waste this time, so he arranged for Wu Jiu to seek help at Baichuan School.
The help was to get Lin Rui to Shudu Prison in time. With such a master at the rescue attempt, they would have a better chance of success.
But to ensure that the subsequent plans went smoothly after the breakout, Bai Wu set a trap.
The person who had once deceived him and the captain, causing Captain Liu to become one of the Evil Fallen, finally fell into Bai Wu’s trap.
...
...
In the second layer of the High Tower, at the Investigation Corps division, office of the captain of the seventh squad.
Jiang Xuan, who had no tasks these days, was nearly fading into obscurity.
He, of course, hoped to entice Bai Wu and Wu Jiu to leave the tower again, find the opportunity to seize their bodies, and craft a superior vessel for himself.
The most profound lies are always the most patient ones, so Cain had always been capable of enduring.
And this time... he finally caught wind of some secrets.
These secrets were naturally ones Bai Wu deliberately let Cain see. But because everything happened so urgently, although Cain had his doubts, he didn’t think too deeply about it.
Because the essence of this con was Baichuan Middle School.
"Baichuan is very dangerous. Captain, if you go there... you must be careful! This plan is of the utmost importance, and I wouldn’t trouble the captain to go to that perilous school again if it weren’t absolutely vital."
Bai Wu said with slight worry to the other end of the phone. That was the scene and conversation Cain caught.
He sensed a plan from the Investigation Corps developing.
What could two vessels be conspiring? Baichuan City, the dangerous school? Cain was naturally familiar with the place.
He was too curious about what Bai Wu and Wu Jiu were plotting. And the person who could go to that place... just happened to be him as well.
So, not long afterward, Cain also used the Traction Disc to head to Baichuan School.
Bai Wu was quite confident that Cain would take the bait. In fact, when the call was made, Wu Jiu had already been at Baichuan Middle School for some time. When Cain got there, what awaited him would be a trap.
Bai Wu had always considered the shelter a cradle capable of carrying the future of humanity, but he wasn’t the only one aware of this place.
Cain had arrived in this area even earlier than himself, and had almost been permanently left in the classroom area because he couldn’t pass the test.
And the principal and others were disciples of Cain.
There was a score to settle between himself and Cain, but before that... he was going to set a trap with Nie Chongshan for Cain.
This was also a way of "repaying" Cain for a series of "contributions" in the early stages.
The contest between the cheater and The Deceiver, though it seemed the cheater always won, every riddle was posed by The Deceiver.
If he couldn’t go from being a solver to a poser, he would never be able to defeat Cain.
This time, Bai Wu would be the one posing the riddle.
After Wu Jiu found Lin Rui, he also sought out Nie Chongshan, not just to have Nie rush to Shudu Prison to rescue the prisoners.
The real purpose lay in Cain not having complete information, believing Nie Chongshan was the Traveler, the enemy of the Investigation Corps.
And the power behind the last generation of Travelers came from the Guardian of the Well.
This was something of utmost interest to Cain, some words, if spoken by Nie Chongshan, would be highly credible.
...
...
Fifth level of the High Tower.
The body of the Masked Fiend was pierced by a powerful Qi blade!
The temperature in the air had reached fifty-five degrees, and the battle between two Demon King-like entities had shattered the Yan Family Manor.
Everywhere were startling claw marks, and even the remains of huge buildings that had been sliced apart by blades.
Yan Zhao gasped,
"Now... let me see your true face!"
Sequence 149, Qi Refining Blade. freewebnσvel.cøm
With powerful offensive means and the effects of many sequences, Yan Zhao finally defeated the intruder.
"I... I can’t believe... I’ve lost!"
The Masked Strange Person incredulously looked at Yan Zhao as the powerful Qi blade slowly penetrated his body!
Life began to wither quickly, and the scent of death gradually enveloped the Masked Strange Person.
In the end, the mask fell off, and Yan Zhao frowned at the unfamiliar face. He withdrew his Qi blade and watched the body of the intruder collapse.
"So boastful, just a pity about my manor."
The Yan Family Manor had suffered considerable damage, and Yan Zhao had to admit the Masked Strange Person was somewhat capable.
But only somewhat capable.
There were problems with the wedding on the third level, the Yan Family Manor was attacked, these were no small matters. He had plenty to deal with and couldn’t afford to worry about the battlefield’s disarray, so he prepared to leave.
But no sooner had Yan Zhao taken a step than he heard that mad laughter again.
"Oh-ho, Round one is over, the first round goes to Yan Family’s old dog. The next round is starting. Our side will send out the real Masked Fiend. Please, Yan Family’s old dog, send out your next contestant."
"Oh, what a pity, it seems the Yan Family only has one old dog fighting. Where are their guardians? Although we are quite regretful, the rules of the game must not be broken. Are you ready for Round two?"
Though the frenzied tone remained unchanged, this voice sounded much older. For some reason, Yan Zhao felt a hint of familiarity!
He had sensed something familiar in the previous fight, but it was too nebulous to capture; this time though... Yan Zhao remembered!
"It’s you!"
"Aww, I can’t believe I wasn’t recognized until now."
Within the grey-filtered environ, a bent, seemingly very weak person emerged.
He was no longer dressed as the Masked Strange Person but more like a guest at a banquet, although he wore a mask, which he now slowly removed.
Because there was no need.
The eight rulers had all seen the madman who climbed to the sixth level of the High Tower. The man had silvery-white facial hair
But don’t assume this signifies age; despite his voice sounding old and always appearing hunched over as if weary, it was all just part of his disguise.
The Masked Strange Person’s mask was finally removed.
At that moment, Yan Zhao seemed to recall something, remembering having seen many similar facial contours before, remembering the world was much broader than he understood.
But all this felt like a semblance of déjà vu, as if a memory, yet it seemed like an illusion.
"To deal with you, to gain the Traveler’s trust, I really went all out."
"I admit my appearance is rather distinctive, as there’s no one else like me anymore, but I bet you still can’t recall. After all—these are the rules. The rules made you forget many people similar to me."
The absolute darkness fell once more, and that mad laughter erupted again, only this time, the even more insane sound made Yan Zhao feel a hint of fear.
