Chapter 150 - 122: Verbally Invincible

Chapter 150: Chapter 122: Verbally Invincible

"You foolish, weak human. Do you know why the World Government fears us scholars?"

"Do you know why we scholars are unaffected by Spirituality?"

"It’s because a High-level gene exists within our bodies. The power contained within Spirituality is directly devoured by that mysterious gene the moment it enters us."

"It’s not that we can’t possess power, but that the gene hasn’t awakened yet."

"Once the High-level gene in our bodies devours enough spiritual power, we can transform into true High-level Life Forms. That is what makes us different from you."

"The World Government fears our Awakening, which is why they do everything in their power to suppress and restrict us."

"The moment a scholar shows signs of Awakening, the World Government eliminates us, because they consider it a form of ’losing control.’"

Believing he held the upper hand, Hammond continued to denounce the crimes of humanity.

But perhaps because he had lost all hope of becoming a High-level Life Form, his words were steeped in even deeper resentment.

"Ten years ago, I witnessed the death of a scholar friend with my own eyes, right here in this very place."

"The damned Kalu family, the damned Order Keepers, the damned Transcendents! They brutally murdered my friend just to fight over the remains of the Mountain God."

"But they didn’t get a good end either. I personally witnessed their despair."

"When one of us scholars dies, the spiritual power stored in our High-level gene is released. Then, catalyzed by Extraordinary knowledge, it transforms into a terrifying monster capable of polluting Spirituality."

"But damn it all, a few lucky ones managed to escape."

"From that day on, I swore that I would master Extraordinary Power."

Lost in his memories, Hammond’s state began to destabilize, but it seemed completely unaware of it.

Chen Qi still didn’t make a move. He couldn’t be sure if Hammond was deliberately ’fishing’ for a reaction.

As for the High-level gene Hammond was boasting about, Chen Qi decided to believe him for the time being.

After all, High-level Life Forms could indeed devour the interfering force within Spirituality. The Card in Chen Qi’s hand, for example, could do just that.

If that kind of power could be accumulated and then released all at once at the moment of death, it could indeed create something truly terrifying.

······

"Hahaha, I can feel it!"

"My plan really works!"

"The Mountain God cells devoured all my Extraordinary memories, and the power that was released followed that Extraordinary knowledge into this body of mine."

"Although these powers can’t be reassembled into Spirituality, they can transform into a force that pollutes Spirituality."

"And I am gradually mastering this power. I truly am a genius!"

"Hahaha!

Hammond’s state grew increasingly bizarre. Chen Qi’s expression went from grave, to pensive, to one of sudden realization, and finally, to utter disdain.

’Damn, I was almost fooled by Hammond.’

’Hammond’s so-called Consciousness transfer was more like ’Consciousness Assimilation’—and he was the one who actively chose to ’be assimilated’.’

’The real Hammond was already long dead. The proof was the resentment gradually appearing on the Mountain Spirit.’

’The Mountain Spirit had just been born, so this resentment could only have come from Hammond.’

’Hammond must have burned his own Consciousness to integrate the consciousnesses of all the field-based life forms, giving birth to the [Spirit].’

’So the essence of the Mountain Spirit’s Consciousness is still the consciousnesses of those field-based life forms. It just possesses Hammond’s memories.’

’It thinks it’s Hammond, but it really isn’t.’

’On the contrary, it’s the one that killed Hammond.’

’As for why the Mountain Spirit can’t realize this truth?’

’It’s because of the influence of the memories Hammond instilled in it. Otherwise, wouldn’t he have died for nothing?’

’All I can say is, that guy was truly ruthless with himself. A pity he was too greedy!’

’As for why Hammond didn’t make his own Consciousness the dominant one—it was because he simply couldn’t.’

’Field-based life forms and flesh-and-blood life forms are worlds apart. Their consciousnesses are like two completely different operating systems.’

’How could a mere high-level apprentice like Hammond possibly resolve that kind of system conflict?’

The fact that he managed to integrate the Mountain Spirit’s Consciousness at all was already incredible to Chen Qi.

······

"Mortal, are you prepared to repent?"

"Next, you will experience the most unique way to die in this world!"

"I will use the Spirituality-polluting power I’ve mastered to pierce your spiritual protection."

"Although the breach might only last for an instant, it will be enough for me to pass through your body."

"Don’t forget, my current body is made of Mountain God cells—even stronger than before."

"The instant I pass through your body, I will be able to eat the Life Magnet Field inside you."

"Heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys... I will eat you piece by piece—a scene straight from the most familiar sacrifices of the past—and I won’t stop until I’ve eaten your brain."

"Hammond" grew more and more excited as it spoke, as if it were dreaming of the ancient era of the Mountain God, recounting the details of the sacrificial rites.

But what was strange was that its descriptions were far too detailed and exhaustive. Many of the scenes were things no human could possibly know.

Chen Qi understood. Those sacrificial scenes could only have come from the Mountain God cells themselves.

As for "Hammond’s" threats, Chen Qi was thoroughly unimpressed.

He was about to teach this guy a lesson and show it what a true "heart-killing" attack was.

······

"Lord Mountain God, I find your previous statement somewhat lacking."

"My current life level is 6. Your Life Magnet Field is still too weak. Why don’t you start by recalling all those Mountain God cells you have scattered about?"

"Otherwise, in your current state, you probably wouldn’t even get a few bites in before I wear you down to nothing."

Chen Qi pointed out the flaws in his opponent’s plan with utmost sincerity, even offering the enemy some sound advice.

This was very much in line with his "helpful" public image.

The moment Chen Qi called it "Lord Mountain God," "Hammond" paused for a second, but it didn’t find anything wrong with the address. In fact, it seemed to think it was only natural.

As for Chen Qi’s suggestion, it was furious.

’That damned bastard, trying to trick me with some devious plot.’

’It’s true that it isn’t strong enough yet, and recalling those ’free-range’ Mountain God cells was something it planned to do anyway.’

’But that was for after ’killing this bastard,’ not now.’

’Even as a Mountain Spirit, it would still need some time to assimilate those free-range Mountain God cells.’

’If it fell for the enemy’s trick and recalled those cells, what awaited it would surely be a ’fatal blow’.’

’It would never give the enemy a chance to lock onto it.’

······

"Mortal, stop showing off your shallow wisdom. It only makes me find you laughable."

"My current form and power are more than enough to kill you!"

"You could even say that I am now the bane of the new laws. I chose this rebirth specifically to achieve this goal."

"Human, savor my revenge!"

"Hammond" felt the power within its body reach a peak. It had finally gained complete control over the force that polluted Spirituality.

The reason it had stalled for so long against its opponent, besides venting its resentment, was to master this very power.

’Poor human. Since you couldn’t kill me before I took control of this power, now you’re the one who’s going to die.’

However, just as it was about to attack, it heard a cold, final judgment.

"My attack took effect long ago. You’re about to die, so what’s this talk of revenge?"

"Besides, who are you seeking revenge against? Yourself, for killing Hammond?"

"A mere Mountain Spirit... you think you’re worthy of discussing wisdom with me?"

Chen Qi shot "Hammond" a scornful look, then retracted the spiritual power protecting his body.

’The battle is already over. All that’s left is to wrap things up.’

’In the scene to come, it would actually be inappropriate for spiritual power to appear.’

"I... I... I... What’s happening to me?"

"What did you do to me?"

"Hammond" certainly wasn’t going to give up its attack just because of its opponent’s words. However, the instant it launched its assault, it suddenly found that it had lost control.

Its body became incredibly twisted and heavy.

Only then did it discover that it had been polluted and was no longer a pure, field-based life form.

······

"You seem to be having a hard time understanding your current situation."

"That’s understandable. After all, with your pitiful cognitive ability, you haven’t even figured out who you are."

"Who do you think you really are?"

Chen Qi watched the increasingly ferocious and twisted Mountain Spirit with a look of pity. Even though it had lost control, he had no intention of kicking it while it was down.

If the initial Mountain Spirit was a brand-new, large-scale magnetic field life form...

...then the current one was not only entangled with resentment from Hammond, but its already weak Spirituality had also been polluted by a strange power.

The Mountain Spirit was now just one step away from becoming the kind of monster that appears after a scholar’s death, a transformation that was completely irreversible.

······

"Who am I? I’m Hammond, of course! No, that’s not right... I’m the Mountain God! I am the great Lord Mountain God!"

"No, I am Hammond... "

What little cognitive ability the Mountain Spirit had left began to fade away.

It fell into a state of complete confusion about its own identity.

"Mountain Spirit, or Lord Mountain God, the outcome of our battle was sealed the moment you were born."

"You were most dangerous to me right after your birth. I couldn’t lock onto you at all, but unfortunately for you, you couldn’t break through my spiritual protection."

"Then, you smugly thought you were slowly gaining control of that Spirituality-polluting power, but the truth is, it was polluting your Spirituality."

"Under its interference, you didn’t even notice that you were being eroded by Hammond’s resentment. That’s when I knew you could never control that power."

"It makes sense when you think about it. If the trouble that follows a scholar’s death could be resolved so easily, they wouldn’t need to be protected."

"But I have to admit, Hammond’s scheme was indeed brilliant. Although I figured you’d be completely polluted sooner or later, the rate of transformation wasn’t fast."

"The key to this must be that Hammond’s memories are also a form of pollution, one that twisted your perception."

"You believe you are Hammond, and this gave your Spirituality more resistance, since that power originated from Hammond in the first place."

"If things had continued to develop, you might not have been able to kill me, but I definitely would have been in for a world of hurt."

"So I had to make the first move!"

"When I called you ’Lord Mountain God,’ I awakened your spiritual instincts. Although it was only a momentary shift in self-perception, the pollution level in that instant definitely shot past 60%."

"So that form of address—that was the real attack."

"Who says you can’t kill someone with words?"

"In the end, you lost to me because Hammond was too weak."

Thanks to Chen Qi’s ’kind’ explanation, the Mountain God finally knew who it was. And then, it completely transformed into a monster.

The next instant, the monster lunged at Chen Qi, but a purple hook was faster.

It pierced straight through the monster, pinning it in place for good.