Chapter 1991: Hypnosis

"Dao Qiong Cang!" A single God of the Ghost-Buddha Realm suppressed the Frost Ancestor, bringing the entire world to silence. Yet, a furious roar exploded from the crossroads.

Xu Xiaoshou and Dao Qiong Cang stood at the edge of the deep pit, watching Bei Huai, who had moments ago been in a reincarnation-embryo state, suddenly rise. Bathed in purple evil energy, his face was contorted in agony, as if two distinct consciousnesses were warring, battling for control of his body. Soon, however, the jarring contradiction on Bei Huai's face vanished. In its place, a vertical crack appeared between his eyebrows, from which a colossal purple eye opened, its immense size pushing his other features aside. Bei Huai's entire face was now replaced by the Eye of Chong Yin.

"Yes, yes, Lord Chong Yin, do you have any commands?" Dao Qiong Cang narrowed his eyes, observing the transformed Bei Huai with an air of casual amusement. This new entity was no longer Bei Huai. Rather, Bei Huai’s tenacious will, even in his reincarnation state, had been effortlessly suppressed by Chong Yin, much like the residual wills he himself had previously contained. This body, a fusion of Devour, Decay, and Immortality, was now entirely under Chong Yin's command.

Once control of the body was secured, Chong Yin, feigning a furious outburst, secretly began to forcibly read Bei Huai's memories, searching deep within his soul for any recollection of the life-sustaining medicinal pool energy he had consumed earlier.

"Time is running out..."

Chong Yin knew this well: he still needed one more chance. By using the Devouring Body to absorb immense power, he could then negotiate with various factions, which was essential for setting the stage for all things to return to zero. While Xu Xiaoshou's combat prowess was impressive, and Dao Qiong Cang's Way of Memory was formidable, Chong Yin knew that by leveraging the power of the Undying Body, these two, not yet reaching the Ancestral God level, could never truly kill him. He had to cling to this body, even if it meant resorting to trickery, for it was his sole means of staging a desperate comeback. He needed to hold on until circumstances in the Ghost-Buddha Realm shifted, forcing Xu Xiaoshou and Dao Qiong Cang to abandon him and attend to the Demon and Medicine factions. Only then could he emerge from the crossroads, locate the Life Body, and use his Devouring power to turn the tables and secure victory.

"Aargh!!"

Within the deep pit, Chong Yin's malevolent energy raged, and he roared ferociously, as if his sanity had fractured. Xu Xiaoshou observed with a cold gaze. He had already given the Chong Yin puppet to Dao Qiong Cang, even forsaking the Blood World Pearl. The flamboyant old Daoist already felt confident against Chong Yin, but now, with these two divine artifacts in hand, if he still couldn't prevail, then there would truly be nothing more to do.

He glanced out of the corner of his eye. Dao Qiong Cang, surprisingly, did nothing, merely smiling as he watched Chong Yin's frantic display. In his hand, however, he held the Chong Yin puppet, upon which faint Heavenly Secret Dao patterns flickered. Its subtle power seemed utterly insignificant amidst the chaotic onslaught of Chong Yin's malevolent energy.

"Where is it? Where is it hidden?"

Chong Yin rapidly bypassed Bei Huai's memory barriers, plunging deep into his soul and unceremoniously sifting through his recollections. In that moment, all Chong Yin's focus was on the power of the life-sustaining medicinal pool. Since the Medicine Ancestor intended to refine himself into a Life Seed and cultivate a new Heavenly Realm, the solitary medicinal pool in the City of Living Buddha would be nowhere near sufficient. There had to be more! Those were the Medicine Ancestor's hidden reserves of power! If he could just locate and note down their positions, he could then consume one pool after the Medicine Ancestor returned to zero but before he fully reabsorbed his powers. Just one pool would suffice. He didn't desire a new Heavenly Realm; restoring seventy to eighty percent of his own power would make the Demon Medicine view him as a formidable tiger, deterring any further recklessness. This would be enough for self-preservation. And once he had established a foothold in the Five Domains, waiting for the opportune moment, why would he ever worry about not securing a share of the grand scheme?

"Hmm!"

His consciousness grew cold as he plunged into the depths of Bei Huai's memories, witnessing Bei Huai's childhood. The scene appeared to be a city within the Lamenting Emperor Realm: the sky was clear, and the streets bustled with lively crowds.

"Sizzle!"

His consciousness suddenly fractured, and the visual perception became slightly distorted. In a daze, Chong Yin's peripheral vision seemed to catch a glimpse of a man in a luxurious robe at a nearby street corner, arms crossed, smiling as he watched him. That face…

"Dao Qiong Cang?"

Chong Yin instantly charged forward. Within the memory world of a mere Saint Emperor, he could act with complete abandon, even if it meant destroying Bei Huai's past. Yet, upon reaching the figure, he realized he had been mistaken. It was merely an ordinary middle-aged man, huddled at the street corner, chatting with friends and complaining about his ferocious wife, saying he couldn't handle her anymore.

Chong Yin froze, a hint of hesitation in his posture. Chong Yin lashed out, crushing the man to dust.

"Hehe."

But at the same time, he seemed to hear a mocking chuckle. Glancing sideways, he saw that the friend beside him also bore Dao Qiong Cang’s face, smirking without warmth. After a momentary blur, he realized it was another illusion; the man was merely frozen in shock by his sudden appearance.

Chong Yin hesitated once more. Chong Yin continued his assault, backhanding and obliterating the head of the man who resembled Dao Qiong Cang.

"Dao Qiong Cang!" The profound humiliation of being toyed with inside the Blood World Pearl space still festered in Chong Yin's mind. He swore he would ensure that person met a wretched end. Yet, he also understood that his obsession was too powerful, causing him to experience repeated hallucinations even within Bei Huai's past memories.

"Sever!"

With a sound like a surging river, Chong Yin directly bypassed Bei Huai’s childhood. He refused to let alleged tricks from Dao Qiong Cang distract him; he knew his purpose was to locate the life-sustaining medicinal pool. With a rumble, the city exploded into dust. This segment of Bei Huai’s childhood memory was directly obliterated by Chong Yin. Yet, as the city crumbled and memory fragments scattered, it seemed like another illusion: Chong Yin vaguely perceived the character "囧" – a symbol of bewilderment – seemingly formed by the shattered city images.

"Impossible!"

"Dao Qiong Cang's Way of Memory is considerable, but Bei Huai isn't weak either. His consciousness is robust; though I am but a wisp of remnant will, I cannot simply erase it. Dao Qiong Cang might be able to alter Bei Huai's memories, but he doesn't yet possess the ability to be so pervasive, to change absolutely everything!"

Chong Yin detected a sign. Chong Yin, however, paid it no mind. Chong Yin resumed his search through Bei Huai's memories, intent on uncovering the Medicine Ancestor's concealed stratagems.

"Whoosh..."

The gentle gurgle of water, surprisingly familiar, echoed the sound of the River of Memory he had encountered within the Blood World Pearl space. Chong Yin momentarily froze, realizing then that his single blow had annihilated a portion of Bei Huai's past memories. Instead of reappearing in Bei Huai’s teenage or young adult years, he found himself in a desolate, empty world. This world was utterly barren, surrounded by chaos. Only a winding river flowed, emerging from an unknown source behind him and disappearing into an unknown destination ahead. A small, white-clad Bei Huai waded barefoot through the river, stepping on stones, softly murmuring something that sounded like an inescapable obsession.

"Don't listen, don't listen, don't listen…"

Chong Yin, an ancient guide, instantly sensed the anomaly, knowing it was likely Dao Qiong Cang's doing. However, this world was unnervingly silent, and Chong Yin dared not seal off his senses under Dao Qiong Cang's memory power, as that would self-imprison him and give Dao Qiong Cang an opening to strike. So, with only a moment's hesitation, the murmur from the little Bei Huai ahead reached his ears:

"Seize the Medicine Ancestor…"

Chong Yin’s heart settled. This was indeed Bei Huai's only remaining obsession in his reincarnation-embryo state. It was only natural that Dao Qiong Cang couldn't erase or alter it. After all, this was Bei Huai’s sole means of turning the tables; tampering with this memory would likely trigger a chain reaction, leading to fierce resistance and rendering all memory-alteration techniques useless.

"The Way of Memory prioritizes the illusory over the tangible, existing in the void. Without supplementing it with methods like the Way of Combat to actualize its might, it remains merely an inferior path."

To be fair, despite being outmaneuvered by Dao Qiong Cang, Chong Yin still acknowledged his commendable qualities. But that was the extent of it. Considering Dao Qiong Cang's current approach, he possessed memory but lacked combat ability. Against Chong Yin, who embodied the Way of Arts, he could barely make an impact… well, perhaps just scratch the surface!

Chong Yin surged forward, seizing the small boy, intending to search his soul and return to Bei Huai's past memories from this point of consciousness. The boy turned, revealing the face of an adult Dao Qiong Cang! His eyes were vacant and unfocused, and he mumbled as if in a trance:

"Seize the Medicine Ancestor…"

Chong Yin instantly retreated several steps. Once calm returned, he realized this was merely another of Dao Qiong Cang's damned tricks, incapable of causing him any substantial harm. He then went back and resumed his soul search.

Scenes from the River of Memory scattered and dissipated. Soon, a youthful Bei Huai appeared within a stone grotto, surrounded by columnar vessels filled with viscous liquid.

"Something isn't right…"

Chong Yin once more sensed an oddity. His soul-searching speed was immense, and his objective was laser-focused. Logically, he should have quickly found scenes of Bei Huai's dealings with the Medicine Ancestor; these unrelated settings shouldn't be appearing. Even less should he be forcibly detained here, lingering even for a moment. This implied that Dao Qiong Cang was secretly manipulating things.

"Despicable trickster!"

Suppressing his anger, Chong Yin advanced, scrutinizing everything within the dim environment. There was no anomaly. It was, indeed, Bei Huai's past. There appeared to be no trace of Dao Qiong Cang's memory alteration here, so why was he forcibly held back?

Wait!

Chong Yin's heart suddenly lurched. Unsure where he had glanced, he once again seemed to catch a glimpse of Dao Qiong Cang’s insincere smile, but this time, he couldn’t pinpoint its source immediately.

"Where is it? Where is it hidden?"

Chong Yin quickly scanned for anomalies, but then suddenly realized: wasn't he searching for the life-sustaining medicinal pool? Why was he looking for Dao Qiong Cang? He was utterly insignificant!

Just as Chong Yin decided to give up and exit the grotto, leaving this dim environment…

"Hehe."

Another suppressed chuckle emerged! So grating, so mocking, so utterly provocative! Chong Yin spun around abruptly, facing a columnar vessel. He was about to move past it to see who was chuckling behind it…

Wait!

His gaze sharpened. Chong Yin's scalp prickled. Inside the dim, columnar vessel, a naked man with swollen, pallid skin was submerged. His face was unmistakably Dao Qiong Cang’s! And at that moment, with his wide, pig-like eyes, he was subtly smiling and staring directly at Chong Yin!

"Boom!"

Chong Yin struck with a punch, pulverizing the central columnar vessel and reducing the hateful Dao Qiong Cang within to dust. Only then did a semblance of calm settle in his heart. Simultaneously, multiple suppressed chuckles echoed from all directions:

"Hehe…"

Chong Yin abruptly looked up, a hint of disbelief in his eyes. He saw columnar vessels lining the surrounding walls, each containing a parasitic ghost-beast host, some humanoid, some beast-like, some grotesque. Yet, they all shared one unsettling commonality: Their faces…

They were all Dao Qiong Cang’s faces!

"Get out!"

Chong Yin exploded in furious rage. Purple evil energy surged, pulverizing the grotto and rendering the ubiquitous Dao Qiong Cang into nothingness.

"Whoosh…"

The gurgling of water against his ears was peaceful and serene. Even before the scene could fully materialize, a chill had already crept into Chong Yin's heart. He actually considered turning back and leaving Bei Huai's past memory world. But then he reconsidered: Dao Qiong Cang could barely affect his true self at all. How could such petty applications of the Way of Memory possibly instill fear in the mighty and invincible Lord Chong Yin?

"Cowardly rat!"

His knuckles cracked. Chong Yin endured, scanning his surroundings. The chaotic world persisted, and beneath him flowed the boundless River of Memory, its origin and destination unknown. Ahead stood a youthful, white-clad Bei Huai, still with his back to Chong Yin, softly murmuring…

"Seal!"

This time, Chong Yin was prepared. He resolved to ignore it, like a turtle ignoring chants. He simply sealed off his six senses, directly cutting off any potential influence Dao Qiong Cang might attempt to sow within him. With his six senses sealed, the world plunged into "darkness," utterly devoid of sound.

Chong Yin, however, was dumbfounded by his own actions. What was he doing here? He was here to find the life-sustaining medicinal pool! Sealing his senses was self-imprisonment! How was he supposed to find it now? Rely on Dao Qiong Cang to help? This was absurd!

Just as he was about to unseal his six senses…

"Shriek—"

A loud, piercing shriek exploded deep within his consciousness. Immediately after, in the darkness, a faint light, initially square-shaped and seemingly adorned with faint patterns, materialized instantly, close to his face. As it drew nearer, he clearly discerned a colossal "囧" character, outlined by Heavenly Secret Dao patterns. Chong Yin instinctively sensed trouble, but before he could unseal his six senses, this enormous "囧" character, born from the depths of memory, slapped him across the face, much like the previous humiliation, sending him stumbling backward.

"Dao!..."

Chong Yin was incandescent with rage. Even as he roared, a desire to retreat began to form. The Way of Memory possessed a certain power; it was not to be underestimated. Delving deeper into Bei Huai’s past might well lead to mental instability and self-disorder.

Suddenly, the dark world trembled as faint lights rapidly illuminated from all directions, transforming into billions of luminous streams that shot towards him. As they neared, he saw they were no longer "囧" characters, but something far more terrifying: countless faces of Dao Qiong Cang! Some sneered maniacally… Some made mocking grimaces… Some were lackadaisically sticking out their tongues… Some had three eyes, some had red fur growing on their faces, and some were covered in festering sores oozing murky yellow pus…

"Ah!""Chong Yin!""Lord Chong Yin, please accept me!"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom…

They overlapped, varying in size. Face after face of Dao Qiong Cang slapped him. Horrifying, grating, and distracting whispers seared into his mind. The horror of that moment, even for an evil god like Chong Yin, was the most terrifying of his existence; he nearly detached from Bei Huai’s body and returned to his Life Seed original form. Yet, it was precisely that "unwillingness"—the refusal to be frightened away from Bei Huai's body and let victory slip through his fingers—that held him.

Chong Yin hesitated, then, against his will, "accepted" the onslaught of countless Dao Qiong Cang faces, as if a whole tank of filth had been forcibly injected into his pure self.

"Hiss—""Ugh, ahh.""Hehe, leave it to me!""Seize… the Medicine Ancestor…""Where is it? Where is it hidden?""Mmm, ahh!""Life-sustaining medicinal pool! Life-sustaining medicinal pool! Only by obtaining the life-sustaining medicinal pool is there a glimmer of hope!""Get out! Get out! Dao Qiong Cang, die, die, die!""Lord Chong Yin!"

His consciousness exploded like a grand firework, igniting countless thoughts and sounds within his spiritual world. Some were his own, others were not… Some were clearly affected, while others seemed like "false selves" crafted with his own voice and thought patterns. Chaos! Utter chaos! Reality and illusion intermingled, a tangled mess. Once implanted, they left no trace, completely merging into the depths of his own memory. Even the "creases" that might have indicated their presence were smoothed away by the gurgling sound of water. Consequently, even the powerful Chong Yin suddenly found himself unable to discern which thoughts were his own and which were not. He was at a loss, feeling that Dao Qiong Cang’s influence on his memory could no longer be entirely purged.

"Memory?!""Memory!!""Aargh! Dao Qiong Cang!"

Caught in this dire predicament, Chong Yin finally realized the true nature of the trap he had willingly entered. But could he retreat? If he retreated, this encounter would yield nothing but humiliation. If he didn't retreat, venturing deeper into Bei Huai’s memories, he might fall into more traps laid by Dao Qiong Cang. Should he continue down this wrong path? A complete dilemma!

"Greed…""Unwillingness…""Human nature…"

Caught between advancing and retreating, in a semi-conscious state, a part of Chong Yin’s consciousness detached from Bei Huai’s past memories. He then saw the two figures standing side-by-side above the deep pit, openly scrutinizing him. Dao Qiong Cang smiled, pointed at him, and chuckled, saying:

"Don't let his outward madness fool you; he won't actually attack. All I need is a minor trick to corner Chong Yin. In his desperation, he'll inevitably attempt to read Bei Huai's memories, as the life-sustaining medicinal pool is his only chance to turn the tide. If Chong Yin were at full strength, how could I possibly hinder him from searching a Saint Emperor's soul? But Chong Yin's current weakness is evident; without the power of the life-sustaining medicinal pool, how can he possibly contend with my Way of Memory? He can neither advance nor retreat; he's completely trapped!"

Dao Qiong Cang shook his head, lightly squeezing the Chong Yin puppet in his hand as he spoke, as if the evil god Chong Yin was already a mere plaything in his grasp:

"I simply cast a wide net in advance. Whether Chong Yin chooses to leave or stay is entirely up to him; I won't, and can't, interfere. The unfortunate thing is…"

He paused, and Chong Yin heard him clearly. Dao Qiong Cang was implying that every direction was a trap, leaving him no escape:

"If Chong Yin chooses to remain within Bei Huai’s body, it's akin to me using Bei Huai as a puppet, while Chong Yin willingly imprisons himself in this form without external threat. His intellect would be truly lacking. If Chong Yin does not remain in Bei Huai’s body, he must either return to dutifully serve as the World Tree of the New Heavenly Realm, or he must make a desperate gamble: forcibly seizing the Way of the Medicine Ancestor and reducing him to zero by exploiting the shifts of the 'Art Seed' and 'Life Seed'. This would be like an ant shaking a tree or a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot. Even if a sliver of hope exists, his intellect would still be deemed weak. This scheme is quite malicious, damaging to heavenly harmony, and I generally avoid using it. But Chong Yin presumes himself to be Heaven, believing he can look down on me, while I dare not underestimate him… Xu Ye, on a scale of one to ten, what would you rate this plan?"