Chapter 122: Mental Corruption (2)

Wu Zui drew the golden longsword from his waist, and a flame of karmic fire flickered upon the blade. This was the only task he could manage while maintaining his focus. These two actions served as proof that he was still human, not a malevolent spirit.

The five-star Spirit Detective raised a hand, signaling the others: "Hold your positions! Keep watch; I am going in to speak with him."

The heavy doors soon swung open, and all manner of specialized equipment was leveled at the room. The detectives were prepared to ensure Wu Zui would not survive the next second should he show the slightest sign of aggression.

As the five-star detective entered the testing chamber, the two individuals with the highest magnetic energy levels in the entire underground office met for the second time.

"I am Chu Yun. How are you feeling?"

The detective’s gaze was sharp. The moment he stepped inside, he noticed the faint aura of vengeful spirits lingering beneath Wu Zui’s sunglasses and the constant, erratic fluctuations of magnetic energy radiating from his body. Following the brief introduction, he immediately began his inquiry.

"I’m holding up. I can keep it under control for now," Wu Zui replied.

Chu Yun nodded and continued, "That’s good. However, to ensure the safety of Minister Xiao, you must leave here immediately. The Research Institute has specialized equipment capable of suppressing the vengeful energy of spirits. Someone will take you there shortly."

"I don't need to go to the Research Institute. I’m going to White Dragon Temple to see Master Wuxiang," Wu Zui said, frowning in refusal.

He held no affection for the Research Institute. As he had seen with Ming Rourou, the people there were little more than scientific madmen. They would do anything in the name of experimentation, and Wu Zui, currently devoid of any means to fight back, did not want to be sliced up for their research.

"Then we’ll go to White Dragon Temple! I’m going with him!"

Xiao Ke’ai had just arrived from the lowest level and spoke up as soon as she heard the exchange.

"Impossible! The Minister would never—very well."

Chu Yun had initially intended to refuse, but the voice of Xiao Anguo crackled through his earpiece: "Let them go together."

Though he did not understand the reasoning, Chu Yun obeyed his superior. He turned to his guards and ordered, "Prepare a... vehicle! Assign two men to escort them."

While Chu Yun arranged the transport, Xiao Ke’ai dashed into the magnetic testing chamber.

"Master, what happened to your eyes?"

She knew Wu Zui well and understood that he was not the type to play at being cool. If he was wearing sunglasses indoors, there had to be a reason. The surging magnetic energy rising from his body only confirmed her fears.

"I was ambushed by two elders from the Purity Society. It’s nothing serious—just a bit of mental contamination," Wu Zui said, adjusting his glasses. He hoped to hide his eyes from her, keeping his tone indifferent to avoid causing her alarm.

Before Xiao Ke’ai could respond, Chu Yun’s voice came from the doorway.

"The transport is ready. It’s time to go."

Wu Zui immediately said, "Let’s head to Wuxiang first."

Under the cautious watch of the detectives, Wu Zui entered the cargo hold of a van-like vehicle. This specialized transport was designed to ensure that no spirit could escape once inside, preventing any casualties should Wu Zui lose control of the black substance within him.

Before the doors could be locked, Xiao Ke’ai darted inside as well.

"Why are you coming in? Get out!" Wu Zui scolded her immediately. Although he could currently suppress the black substance and keep it from influencing his actions, anything could happen. It was far too dangerous for her to be in there with him.

"Do you really think Master would hurt me? Relax!" Xiao Ke’ai sat down beside him, looking unfazed as she checked him for injuries while waving her hand dismissively.

"I..." Wu Zui was torn between being touched and feeling frustrated.

*Thud.*

The rear doors were locked from the outside by the detectives. It was, for all intents and purposes, a prisoner transport. Had Wu Zui not earned credit with Xiao Anguo, the detectives would likely have performed a "humanitarian termination" the moment the spirit incursion was detected, leaving him no chance to seek out Master Wuxiang for a cure.

Inside the dark hold, Wu Zui continued his meditation, channeling his karmic fire to suppress the black substance. The searing, stinging pain of the fire caused sweat to bead on his pale face, leaving him looking deathly weak.

Xiao Ke’ai gently wiped the sweat from his forehead with her sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Master, does it hurt?"

"It’s fine," Wu Zui replied.

"Master, if I were stronger and had gone with you, would things be different?" Her eyes welled with tears. She deeply regretted her past laziness and her failure to cultivate properly.

"It wouldn’t have mattered who went. The vengeful aura of the Purity Society elders suppresses our magnetic energy. Until that changes, sending more people is a waste. You just need to focus on your cultivation. As for the Purity Society, their elders are mostly dead or incapacitated. Once we deal with their leader and stop the spread of their techniques, everything will be fine." Wu Zui did not believe her presence would have changed the outcome.

***

*Screech.*

The transport carrying Wu Zui came to a halt; they had arrived at White Dragon Temple. Master Wuxiang, having been notified in advance, stood at the entrance alongside an old Taoist priest in worn robes. The two appeared to be old acquaintances.

As Wu Zui stepped out, Wuxiang’s eyes glowed with a golden light as he examined him. After a long moment, he spoke: "Little brother, we meet again! You don’t look so well."

The old Taoist beside him performed a salute and said, "Limitless Heavenly Venerable. I am Jingqing. This gentleman’s cultivation method is unique, and his body appears to be in grave trouble."

Both men saw the affliction clearly. It was sheer luck for Wu Zui that two seven-star experts were at the temple.

"I was ambushed by elders of the Purity Society. A specific form of mental contamination is eroding my mind, so I came to see if you had any way to resolve it," Wu Zui said, offering a bitter smile as he removed his sunglasses to reveal his eyes.

The whites of his eyes had all but vanished, replaced almost entirely by a deep, pitch-black void. Wisps of vengeful spirit energy leaked from his pupils—it was clear why the alarms at Xiao Anguo’s office had been triggered.

Wuxiang studied Wu Zui’s eyes for a long while before gesturing with his hand. "Let us go inside and discuss this."

White Dragon Temple lacked the opulence of other temples; there were no ticket booths or commercial trappings, perfectly matching Wuxiang’s simple lifestyle.

Once they entered, a golden barrier and a white one enveloped the entire temple—the unique domain field of seven-star experts. Within such a domain, even the enclosed spaces created by spirits could not manifest. Only when a spirit reached the seven-star level could its own spirit realm contend with such a field.

Here, Wu Zui was safe.

***

In a pavilion within the inner courtyard, the four of them sat on stone stools as a stream flowed gently around them. The pavilion was filled with the temple’s characteristic aura of peace. In this atmosphere, Wu Zui felt the black substance in his mind grow quiet, as if even the most venomous snake had to hibernate in the winter.

"To survive as a Vessel of Karmic Fire after the great transformation of the heavens and earth—this gentleman truly has extraordinary capabilities," Daoist Jingqing remarked while observing Wu Zui.

"What do you mean by 'Vessel of Karmic Fire'?" Wu Zui asked, startled.

*Could it be that I am not the only one?*

"Since that inexplicable voice first echoed across the world, almost every Vessel of Karmic Fire on Blue Star has been reduced to ashes by their own flames. You are the only one I have seen who has survived," Wuxiang said, his gaze searching.

"Great Monk Wuxiang! My master came to you to suppress the mental contamination, not to talk about vessels!" Xiao Ke’ai, seeing the sweat still beading on Wu Zui’s temples, bared her fangs at the distracted monk.

"Quite right, quite right. Let us look at the contamination first," Jingqing said, stepping in to smooth over the awkward atmosphere.

Jingqing and Wuxiang simultaneously raised their index fingers. A golden energy and a white one shot from their fingertips, entering Wu Zui’s mind through his eyes.

Traversing the endless sea of karmic fire, their consciousnesses attached to the energies and "saw" the blue figure that resembled Wu Zui, as well as the black substance clinging to it. Both were shocked to find that this black substance could resist the burning of the karmic fire, and that Wu Zui actually possessed the ability to control it.

***

Moments later, the energies withdrew. Wu Zui asked anxiously, "Masters, is there a way?"

"It is difficult! This black substance is highly peculiar; it can actually absorb magnetic energy. You must have tried to suppress it with large amounts of magnetic energy. While you compressed its space, you inadvertently hardened it," Jingqing said, frowning in frustration.

"It is now like forged pig iron that has been tempered into steel. To eradicate it, we can only use the gentle, persistent approach—like spring rain—slowly wearing it away with the peaceful aura of this temple."

Wuxiang sighed, equally helpless. The blue figure was the foundation of Wu Zui’s existence; if they tried to destroy the parasite with force, Wu Zui would suffer the backlash. The best-case scenario would be the permanent loss of his ability to cultivate; the worst case would be his total destruction along with the parasite.

*Using large amounts of magnetic energy to suppress it?* Wu Zui thought, recalling the surge of energy in the testing chamber. At the time, the black substance had trembled, and he had successfully pushed it from his neck down to his chest. He hadn’t realized he had been digging his own grave.

"Masters, how long will this take to heal?" Wu Zui asked with a bitter laugh at his own foolishness.

"At the longest, three to five years. At the quickest, two to three," Wuxiang replied after some thought.