Free Web NovelChapter 105: Chapter 23: The Salvation Plan
Xu Yuan:
"The plan is simple.
"Nine years ago, I encountered a peculiar fierce ghost. After learning its killing pattern, the excitement I felt was no less than when I first discovered the Divine Tree.
"No, this fierce ghost’s killing pattern was even more important than the Divine Tree.
"Its ability was to turn the living it killed into ghosts, absorbing them into itself. And in doing so, it acquired the new ghost’s killing pattern.
"It had only just been born and possessed no killing patterns of its own. I contained it easily and began to ponder a question. Since this ghost could transform and devour the living, could it directly devour other fierce ghosts?
"The answer was yes.
"Furthermore, there was no limit to how many this thing could devour. The more it ate, the stronger it became, and the more killing patterns it mastered.
"Theoretically, as long as it survived its vulnerable growth period without being contained by a Ghost Hunter or provoking a powerful supernatural location, it could snowball, devouring everything until it was the last fierce ghost in the world.
"And so, a bold plan began to form in my mind.
"This fierce ghost, in my eyes, was a perfect work of art. And I was the one who would personally bring it into being—
"So, I named it."
...
"The..."
...
"...Art..."
...
"...ist."
Xu Yuan announced the fierce ghost’s name in three parts, avoiding its terrifying killing pattern, which activated whenever its name was called.
Gao Tian could hear his own heart pounding in his chest.
It all connected. All the clues were falling into place.
Sapphire Mall—the multi-headed ghost, that bizarre amalgamation of four stacked heads that had killed Xu Yuan. The strangest fierce ghost of all.
It was, in fact, a product Xu Yuan had meticulously nurtured, a crucial part of his plan to save the world.
Despite Xu Yuan’s cold tone, he couldn’t hide his inner pride. This fierce ghost was the greatest work of his life.
Gao Tian:
"So your ideal future is one where every fierce ghost in the world is absorbed by that multi-headed ghost, leaving only this one, single, ultimate fierce ghost. Is that right?"
Xu Yuan:
"Correct.
"The King of Fierce Ghosts.
"The beginning is always the hardest part. Once it has devoured enough, it will become the most powerful ghost on this planet. None of the remaining fierce ghosts will be able to escape its grasp."
Gao Tian:
"But have you considered this?
"Originally, after the full supernatural awakening, we would have had to face millions, even tens of millions of fierce ghosts.
"After the multi-headed ghost is fully formed, yes, there will only be one fierce ghost left on this planet.
"But it will be a being more terrifying than millions of fierce ghosts combined.
"At that point, if the multi-headed ghost decides to destroy the world, how are we supposed to face this King of Ten Thousand Ghosts, a being that commands millions of killing patterns?
"I’m afraid any Ghost Hunter, organization, or country would be utterly powerless before it. All the conventional weapons in the world combined couldn’t possibly pose the slightest threat."
The Corpse Puppet controlled by Xu Yuan gave a slight smile. Its already ravaged jaw broke and fell half off.
"You’re absolutely right. I was already thinking about that problem from the moment I first found the multi-headed ghost. I’ve thought about it for a very long time.
"The conclusion I reached was simple. Letting it kill me in Sapphire Mall was part of my plan.
"After the multi-headed ghost killed me, it instinctively devoured my head, integrating it into its body.
"From that moment on, my mind has been fighting to seize control of its body.
"The day it becomes the true King of Fierce Ghosts will also be the day I fully merge with it.
"I will be the one commanding it, and I will forge a new world."
Insanity. The line between genius and madman is truly a fine one.
Though Gao Tian found Xu Yuan to be cold-blooded, insane, calculating, and utterly unscrupulous, he couldn’t help but admire the man.
’Perhaps in this indescribable world, only someone as inherently mad as Xu Yuan could face the truth without losing his sanity—and even find a solution.’
’The killing pattern Xu Yuan acquired after death must be related to possession or soul-stealing. The male body he’s controlling now isn’t his original one.’
’Leaving his head inside The Artist’s body to fight for control... It’s clear Xu Yuan is a master of possession.’
’Hearing his explanation, what Xu Yuan said back at Jin Hai Mansion about a "Ghost Country" suddenly made perfect sense.’
’If Xu Yuan’s plan succeeds and The Artist becomes the King of Ten Thousand Ghosts—the only ghost in the world—and Xu Yuan is the one controlling it... then Xu Yuan will be the ruler of a new world.’
’The Divine Tree, the Jialan Society, the "Supers," the King of Ten Thousand Ghosts... they would replace the governments of the old world. The entire structure of human society would be turned upside down.’
’And Xu Yuan had already promised him a place in that new era’s Ghost Country.’
Xu Yuan:
"Of course, I admit the prerequisites for my plan are demanding. Even now, I’m treading on thin ice, taking each step with extreme caution.
"The multi-headed ghost might be suppressed by an even more powerful supernatural location before it has a chance to mature. It’s also possible my will could lose to the multi-headed ghost’s, and I’ll fail to gain full control. The day the King of Fierce Ghosts is born could also be the day humanity is extinguished.
"And in the real world, there is a group of stubborn fools who cling to this flawed world, utterly incapable of understanding the greatness of my work. They even oppose me at every turn."
His gaze fell upon Gao Tian once more.
"Memory Ghost.
"I observed your battles with the Ghost Cave and the Ghost Infant. I’ve realized that the killing patterns you’ve mastered, as well as your Supernatural Artifacts, make you the key person I need to advance my plan.
"You’re no fool. You can see for yourself that if the supernatural awakening continues unabated, and no one steps up to do something, all the living will die. Even ’ghosts’ like us, who barely cling to life by relying on the Divine Tree, will be no exception.
"Are you willing to join the Jialan Society and help me complete this plan to save the world?
"This isn’t for our own selfish desires. It’s for the dignity, the future, and the destiny of humanity—for which we should be willing to gamble everything we have."
Xu Yuan’s words were a clear attempt to recruit Gao Tian.
Gao Tian didn’t dare refuse Xu Yuan directly. ’He just told me such a massive secret,’ he thought. ’If I say I’m not interested and tell him to go play by himself, I probably won’t even make it out of this room alive.’
"How can I be of service?"
Gao Tian could only play along, asking tentatively.
If Xu Yuan’s eloquently described plan to save the world was just a grand blueprint for the future, then the actions he was about to set in motion could only be described as true madness.
