Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

After the divine kingdom was sunk to the bottom of the lake, the lake surface returned to its original black mirror-like appearance.

Hill stood by the lake, turning his gaze from the water to Lin Yi.

"What brings you here this time?"

Lin Yi walked to her side and told Hill in detail about the changes in permissions for the fifth round of the Strongest Tournament.

From the announcement of the Void Tree, to the changes in the reward list, to the appearance of the words "Abyss Baptism" in the second-tier reward position.

He didn't embellish or omit any details; he simply recounted the events as they were.

Hill listened and remained silent for a long time. Her brows furrowed slightly, not in anger, but in thought.

"You mean, there's a force that can interfere in the Void Tree's competition?" Her voice was a few decibels lower than before, and her tone carried a hint of solemnity.

Lin Yi nodded.

Hill lowered his hands from in front of him and let them hang at his sides.

She turned around, facing the direction of the abyss lake, her gaze falling on the black water, but unfocused, as if looking at a very, very far place.

Lin Yi stood behind her, not disturbing her.

After a long while, Hill turned around again.

“You’ve come into contact with the Void Tree, but you still can’t understand just how powerful it truly is.” Hill’s voice was calm, but every word was enunciated clearly.

"In the Astral Plane, most people will never come into contact with the Void Tree in their entire lives. They only know that the Void Tree is the rule-maker, the maintainer of order, and the arbitrator of disputes between major powers, but they have no concept of the Void Tree's specific abilities. This is not their fault, but because the Void Tree is too high a level, so high that most people do not even have the right to look up to it."

She paused, then emphasized her words.

“But you are different. You will reach that level sooner or later. I can tell you something in advance—in the Astral Plane, if you reach the highest level, then you will know how terrifying the power of the Void Tree is.”

Hill's tone became more wistful as he said this.

"The Void Tree didn't become the rule-maker of the Void by being a nice guy. Do you think the Void Tree can sit in that position because it is fair, selfless, or loved by all forces? No. It can sit in that position because it is strong enough. Strong enough that no force dares to challenge its authority, strong enough that no being dares to say a word against its rules."

"Once you violate the rules of the Void Tree, the consequences are no easier than those in the Cycle of Reincarnation. The Void Tree's punishments are causal. If you break the rules, the rules will punish you. This punishment will not differ based on your strength, status, or background. Before the rules, everyone is equal."

She turned her head to look at Lin Yi, her tone softening slightly.

"However, this time the situation is a little different. Since the opponent was able to interfere in the competition within the rules of the Void Tree, it means that what they did was within the scope of the rules. The rules of the Void Tree are not rigid; they are flexible, have room for interpretation, and have loopholes that can be exploited. The opponent found a loophole and made some small moves within the scope of the rules."

"You don't need to worry too much. The fact that they made a move this time, sending the Rat to deliver a message to you in the first round, means they are probably not your enemies. If they were enemies, they wouldn't need to notify you in advance. It would be easier to just set a trap and wait for you to fall into it. The fact that they were willing to give you a message in advance means that they want to establish some kind of contact with you, or at least don't want to be on the opposite side."

Lin Yi looked at Hill, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.

Hill is right.

If the other party is an enemy, there is absolutely no need to notify them in advance.

In the first round, have the Rat deliver a message to him that "second place is not unacceptable," which is tantamount to indicating that the reward will change, so that he can prepare in advance.

The enemy wouldn't do that; they would only want you to know nothing and then catch you off guard at a crucial moment.

The other party is making a gesture of goodwill.

Although the way of showing goodwill was subtle, the intention was clear.

Lin Yi snapped out of his thoughts and changed the subject.

"I'm going to use the Abyss Baptism privileges now."

Hill raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this.

She didn't respond immediately, but looked at Lin Yi and nodded.

"The baptism of the abyss is no small matter. You can't handle it alone."

"I'll call those two old geezers over for you."

Hill's first call was to Old Destroyer. The light from the communication stone flickered a few times in the air before dimming, indicating that the message had been delivered.

Less than a minute later, the communication stone lit up again, and a pale blue light emerged from its surface, condensing into a line of tiny text in the air: "Received, coming soon."

The signature is the mark of the old regime that destroyed the Dharma, a very simple symbol that looks like a knife.

The second one was Marvin Waltz.

The communication stone lit up, its light brighter than the first time, flickering in the air for a while before dimming.

After about ten seconds, it lit up again, then dimmed again.

It repeated several times, as if waiting for someone to answer.

It seems that Marvin Waltz is busy and unable to accept Hill's calls.

About ten minutes later, a blurry figure appeared at the edge of the Abyss Lake.

Old Destroyer wore a faded gray robe, the hem of which dragged on the ground, leaving a shallow trail in the black sand.

His back was slightly hunched, like an old man whose spine had been bent by the years, but Lin Yi knew that this seemingly frail body contained the power to cut through everything.

When Hill saw the old man, he first glanced behind him to make sure no one else was with him, and then asked a question.

Where's Marvin?

Old Destroyer stopped beside Hill, put his hands behind his back, and looked at Hill, then at Lin Yi, and then back at Hill.

His lips twitched slightly, his expression suggesting he was hesitating whether to speak.

"That old bastard Marvin went to the Soul Spirit Clan. He said he was going to spar with the elders of the Soul Spirit Clan, but actually he went to play the game of spiritual communication. That bastard, he's already a remnant soul, and he's still thinking about those things all day long."

Hill's eyes twitched slightly when he heard the words "spiritual communion".

Lin Yi forced a smile and turned his face to the side, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Old Miefa continued speaking, his disdain growing even stronger.

"After he finished playing, he found that he didn't have enough money and that the Soul Spirit Clan had taken it away from him."

"A message came from the Soul Spirit Clan, saying that someone should go and redeem him." Old Miefa's tone carried an indescribable disdain.

It's not a dislike for the Soul Race, but a dislike for Marvin Waltz.

That disdain wasn't hatred, but a kind of helplessness that said, "I knew this would happen."

Hill took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, suppressing a laugh.

"Have you redeemed it yet?"

Old Miefa glanced at her, his gaze carrying a hint of displeasure.

"Why should I redeem him? He should take responsibility for the shameful things he's done. Do I even care about my reputation anymore?"

Old Miefa continued, "I received a message from him this morning, asking me to go to the Soul Spirit Clan and bring some money. I was just figuring out how to refuse when I received your message."

The old man's voice held a hint of amusement, like an old man who had found a legitimate reason to mind his own business.

"That's perfect, let him wait a little longer. The Soul Spirit Clan doesn't want his life, they're just holding him and not letting him leave. Let him stay there for a few days, teach him a lesson."

Lin Yi moved closer to Hill and asked in a low voice.

"Is everything alright?"

Hill glanced at him sideways, a hint of helplessness flashing in his dark brown eyes.

“There’s absolutely no problem.” Hill’s tone was calm and unfazed.

"Back in the Second Age, Marvin Waltz did this kind of thing quite often. He was young then, running around everywhere, having fun, and causing trouble everywhere. Every time he got detained, he would find someone to ransom him. Green ransomed him, Arcas ransomed him, Old Faith ransomed him, and I ransomed him too. Who among his acquaintances didn't run to ransom someone?"

Lin Yi remained silent for a moment.

Hill continued, "Anyway, it won't kill Marvin Waltz. Although the Soul Clan has detained him, they're treating him well and won't let him leave. It's good for him to suffer a bit outside, otherwise he'll never learn his lesson."

Old Miefa walked up to Lin Yi and stared at him for a few seconds with his turbid eyes.

"I heard you obtained the authority to undergo the Abyss Baptism?"

Lin Yi nodded.

Old Miefa reached out and grasped the long sword he never parted with.

The next second, the old demon slashed with his sword. The slash was so fast that Lin Yi's eyes couldn't keep up.

He only saw a flash of grayish-white light before his eyes, and then felt something in his brain being severed.

It's not a physical severance, but something deeper and more fundamental, like a rope connecting two rooms being cut in the middle, with both ends losing contact simultaneously.

Lin Yi lost control of his body in that instant. His limbs went weak, his legs trembled, and he tilted to one side, almost falling over.

He reached out and steadied Hill, who was standing next to him, and managed to steady himself.

The old demon sheathed his sword, the blade rubbing against the scabbard to produce a clear, resonant sound that echoed around the vast, empty abyss lake.

"I'm just here to get you some insurance."

“My strike just now severed the connection between your soul and body. Not completely, but weakened it. During the baptism of the abyss, the power of the abyss primarily erodes the body, and then erodes the soul through the connection between the body and the soul. With the connection weakened, the erosion on the soul naturally decreases.”

Lin Yi leaned against Hill, panting heavily.

It's hard to describe the feeling of losing connection between the soul and the body; it's like someone suddenly falling from a great height, or like being completely emptied out.

He could feel that his body was still there, and he could also feel that his soul was still inside his body, but at the same time he could feel that the close connection between his body and soul had become loose, like a string that had been twisted too tightly suddenly loosening a few turns.

Old Miefa looked at Lin Yi, his cloudy eyes devoid of any emotion.

"This state won't last long. At most two days, the connection strength will return to normal. If you want to use the Abyss Baptism privilege, do it during these two days."

Lin Yi suppressed his discomfort, took a deep breath, and straightened up.

His legs were still a little weak, but he could stand up.

"How are the preparations going?" Hill asked.

Lin Yi looked into her eyes, remained silent for two seconds, and then spoke.

There's nothing to prepare.

Surrounded by three big shots—Old Mage, Hill, and Rutheran—Lin Yi felt that if he still didn't dare to use his Abyss Baptism privileges at this point, he might as well find a job as a worker and coast along.

Moreover, he is in the best condition right now. The old annihilator has severed the connection between his soul and body, Hill is protecting him, and although Rut'theran is a remnant soul, he is still a veteran. The environment of the Abyss Lake is also just right for him to undergo the Abyss Baptism.

If he doesn't dare use the Abyss Baptism privilege under these conditions, then he truly doesn't deserve to have it.

At the same moment the notification sound from the Paradise of Reincarnation rang in his ears, Lin Yi received a confirmation message from the Paradise of Reincarnation.

[The contractor "Healer" has been detected to have obtained the special permission "Abyss Baptism". This permission is a one-time use permission and will automatically expire after use.]

Please confirm whether you are using the "Abyss Baptism" permission.

【whether】

Lin Yi did not hesitate and chose "yes".

The next second, a hole in the abyss appeared above his head.

The hole in the abyss is not large, about one meter in diameter, and is an irregular circle with dark black edges and fine cracks spreading outwards.

The center of the Abyss Hole was pitch black, and nothing could be seen, but the aura emanating from that darkness made everyone present feel an instinctive sense of oppression.

Countless abyssal powers surged from the abyss hole, cascading onto Lin Yi's body like an inverted black waterfall.

The concentration of the abyssal power was extremely high, so high that it condensed into black mist in the air. The mist swirled and swirled around Lin Yi's body, enveloping him in a thick darkness.

Lin Yi's body began to change the moment it was touched by the power of the abyss.

Black lines appeared on his skin, spreading from his fingertips to his palms.

His fingers began to deform, his knuckles became thick, his nails became sharp, and his color changed from flesh-colored to grayish-black.

The mutation spread throughout his body.

Without the control of the Paradise of Reincarnation, the power of the abyss would have turned Lin Yi into a mindless and irrational abyssal creature within seconds.

That process is irreversible; once you cross that line, there's no going back.

But the power of the Paradise of Reincarnation held him firmly to one side of that line.

Lin Yi could feel his body being pulled by two forces at the same time.

One force wants to tear him apart, another force wants to piece him back together.

He was caught in the middle, bearing immense pressure from the clash of two forces.

Lin Yi felt very uncomfortable, but the discomfort was within his tolerance.

Under normal circumstances, a person undergoing the baptism of the abyss will be in a state of extreme pain.

The power of the abyss continuously stimulates nerve endings during the process of transforming the body; the pain is not in waves, but continuous and uninterrupted.

Moreover, the power of the abyss will erode the level of consciousness, dredging up those negative emotions from the depths of memory, playing them repeatedly, and tormenting them over and over again.

You will see things you don't want to see, remember things you don't want to remember, and face people you don't want to face.

Most people don't survive the baptism of the abyss, not because their bodies can't handle it, but because their minds can't.

But Lin Yi's situation is different.

The connection between his soul and body was weakened by the old Destroyer.

When the abyssal power gushing from the abyssal opening eroded his body, only a portion was transmitted to his soul level through the link between his body and soul; the majority was blocked by the weakening effect of the link.

He could feel those negative emotions surging at the edge of his consciousness, but they could never break through that barrier.

Lin Yi is now like someone who suddenly falls from a great height and is then instantly pinned to a rocket and launched into the sky.

The feeling was complex—weightlessness, gravitational pull, acceleration, loss of direction, and all the discomforts you could imagine all rushed in at once.

Although he felt extremely uncomfortable, it wasn't like he was being torn to pieces; at least Lin Yi was still able to stay conscious.

Lin Yi gritted his teeth and focused his attention on his senses.

He was sensing the changes in his body.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.

Lin Yi would not waste this opportunity.

Time passed slowly amidst the pain.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Yi felt the tearing sensation in his body gradually lessen.

The black lines spread more slowly beneath his skin, and the flow of abyssal power within him became more stable.

Lin Yin could feel that his body's aversion to the power of the abyss was gradually decreasing.

It's a very subtle feeling.

Previously, although Lin Yi was an Abyss-type professional, it did not mean that the power of the Abyss would not erode his body.

The difference between Abyss-type professionals and Abyss creatures is that Abyss-type professionals can control Abyss power to a certain extent, can offset the damage of corruption through self-repair after being corrupted, and can resist the impact of negative emotions with strong willpower.

But ultimately, the power of the abyss is still eroding.

Unless you are a creature of the abyss, the power of the abyss will always have a corrosive effect on the human body.

It's not because it's evil, but because its nature is incompatible with the human body.

Just like oil and water, you can pour them into the same container and shake them vigorously, but they will always be two different substances and eventually separate.

Abyss-type professionals have a much higher affinity for abyss power than ordinary people, and the ratio of oil to water can be adjusted from nine to one to seven to three, or even six to four.

However, a 6:4 ratio still represents two different substances and is not a true fusion.

But now, Lin Yi sensed that the incompatibility was weakening.

The flow of the abyssal power within him changed from its previous rampage to a gentler flow, as natural as walking in his own home.

The repulsion is still there, but its intensity has been greatly reduced.

Lin Yi closed his eyes, immersing his consciousness into his body, focusing on feeling this change.

After the fog completely dissipated, Lin Yi's figure reappeared in the three's sight. (End of Chapter)