Free Web NovelChapter 504: Chapter 497: Decision
Meanwhile, just as Zhou Yuanjue was attacked by a Heart Demon due to a momentary mental vulnerability, somewhere thousands of miles away...
Within the gray Nightmare Space that loomed over the entire Starry Sky Country.
Doctor Nightmare, the source of this power, immediately knew that the hidden trap he had set had been triggered.
Zhang Dongwei’s final act of resistance had, to a certain extent, been within his control. It was precisely this method he had used to lay a mental ambush for Zhou Yuanjue.
In truth, he hadn’t expected this trap to be triggered. The information transmitted back through that subtle connection of magnetic fields and will was so fragmented that extracting anything useful from it should have been nearly impossible.
But Zhou Yuanjue had managed it, which was something he hadn’t anticipated.
’To have achieved so much in such a short time is clearly no accident. His comprehension and Talent are truly astonishing. A pity, though. I wasn’t able to completely corrode his mind, as I did with Zhang Dongwei. Otherwise, I would have another sharp weapon in my arsenal...’
Doctor Nightmare shook his head. He also hadn’t expected Zhou Yuanjue to be able to break free from his influence so easily after triggering the trap, giving his power no chance to worm its way deep into his heart.
This was the greatest difference between this man and Zhang Dongwei, and it was precisely what made him so troublesome.
’Still, the seeds of suspicion and fear have been planted. Besides, what I allowed you to learn was not entirely a lie.’
’If you wish to evolve into a higher form of life, to transcend the physical body, there is only one path aside from relying on the gifts of nature. You will all eventually become ’us.’ This is a fact, for the path we walk is the correct one.’
’So, how will you choose to walk such a path?’
’Whether you believe it or doubt it, one day, this buried seed will sprout. I look forward to that day’s arrival.’
A faint smile touched the corners of Doctor Nightmare’s mouth.
...
...
Zhou Yuanjue let out a soft breath, allowing his Spirit to return to a state of perfect fullness.
To manipulate the hearts of men, to act in unfathomable ways... A single, seemingly careless action had created a momentary vulnerability in his mind. And his enemy had seized upon that vulnerability, causing him immense trouble.
It was a power beyond imagination.
Back then, Zhang Dongwei had likely been induced in the very same way, causing him to fall to his Heart Demon.
The actions and abilities of an Ancestral Level existence were truly difficult to predict.
Moreover, after this experience, an irrepressible doubt couldn’t help but rise in his heart.
How much of the intelligence the enemy sent through Zhang Dongwei was credible? Were there hidden traps within it?
How much of the enlightenment Zhang Dongwei had sent back could be trusted? Had most of it been deliberately crafted by the enemy?
And were his own judgments, based on that enlightenment, correct? Or was this enlightenment simply what the enemy wanted him to obtain, leading him into some kind of maze, or even down the wrong path?
All these thoughts echoed endlessly in Zhou Yuanjue’s mind.
And the more he thought, the more suspicion, confusion, and even... a faint sense of fear grew within him.
He couldn’t help it. The enemy’s methods and actions were simply too bizarre and inscrutable; he had no choice but to be suspicious.
This was the Master of Nightmares—one who manipulated minds, twisted truth, and even attempted to fundamentally change the world’s order and rules.
Finally, Zhou Yuanjue slowly closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the ground once more.
His powerful will condensed into a single point, like a bright lamp being lit in the midst of infinite darkness.
The lamplight flickered, illuminating the darkness and dispelling the gloom.
The Lamp Burning Technique was not just an excellent Dharma Sect for developing the body, but also a supreme Secret Technique for concentrating the Spirit and calming the mind.
At this moment, Zhou Yuanjue used the Lamp Burning Technique to banish all distracting thoughts from his mind, abandoning all contemplation to calm his will once more.
Otherwise, allowing this suspicion and confusion to fester would once again create an opening in his mind, giving the enemy a chance to strike.
After a long moment, he opened his eyes again and began to examine his own heart.
’He planted a seed of doubt in my heart. If I don’t remove this seed, it will become my greatest weakness the next time I face him.’
Zhou Yuanjue’s gaze was calm, having clearly perceived his own state.
For a Martial Artist, the mind is the most important thing.
When two opponents clash, if one is hesitant and rife with suspicion while the other is decisive, confident, and aggressive, the outcome is clear at a glance, even if there is a great disparity in strength.
A timid but strong bull can be killed by a small but fierce hyena.
’Whether it’s a trap or a conspiracy, I will hold fast to my own enlightenment and my path. It is not based solely on my opponent’s lies, but born from my own understanding and judgment of the Martial Dao and of life itself.’
’If I start to doubt my own judgment just because of the enemy’s schemes, that would be a true wavering of the spirit.’
’The will must separate from the brain; breaking the brain’s shackles is a path I must walk. I trust my judgment. At the same time, I have the determination and courage to forge a new path, even if the one I’m on proves to be wrong.’
’No one can shake my resolve.’
Zhou Yuanjue’s gaze became firm once more. A spark ignited between his brows, its fire gradually spreading throughout his body.
His will was tempered in the starlight fire, impurities were gradually burned away, and it grew ever more exquisitely clear.
Having purged the flaws and burned away the Heart Demon, his Spirit took another step toward greater perfection. In the unseen depths of his consciousness, he gained a deeper understanding of his body and mind.
Only through tempering does a blade become sharper.
He began to think and experiment, trying to figure out how to completely separate his Spirit from the brain’s control.
Unfortunately, despite numerous attempts, he still didn’t have many leads.
Humanity’s understanding of the brain and the Spirit is far too limited. On this completely unfamiliar path, he was flying completely blind.
Even for Saint Awakening—that special spiritual state between Life and Death—Zhou Yuanjue could only describe it on a theoretical level. He couldn’t provide a truly accurate and effective method of practice. Ultimately, it all came down to an individual’s own enlightenment.
Otherwise, the number of people who had reached Saint Awakening in Donghua would certainly be far greater than it was now.
’Perhaps I should return to my original state.’
’Like back then, when I went from nothing to something and broke through to Saint Awakening.’
’For a Martial Artist, the stimulation of immense pressure in battle, the turbulence of magnetic fields and will—that is the best way to transcend oneself.’
Zhou Yuanjue slowly rose from the ground, his eyes burning with an intense flame.
At this very moment, he had already made a decision about how to handle the situation in the Black Continent.
