The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 561 "The Hive" and the "Sea of ​​Consciousness"

The evening breeze blew silently, carrying away the lingering warmth from the more than two hundred corpses, and also the warmth in the Demon King's smile.

Luo Yan stood on high ground, his gaze passing over the corpses scattered on the ground and landing on that seemingly kind but actually insane old face.

What should I call you?

A slight smile played at the corners of his lips; his voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

"Is he the caretaker of the Silent Hills, the shadow behind King Ryan, or perhaps the 'Hand of the Former King'—Lord Marius?"

The old man, whose identity had been revealed, did not stiffen his smile at all. He clapped his hands elegantly, as if applauding the accurate information.

"As expected of Your Majesty the Demon King, a great figure from Hell. It seems that your intelligence network is even more extensive than I imagined... I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

The playful look on Luo Yan's lips did not disappear.

If I didn't misread it, that's fine.

He discovered that his pseudonym had another function: it could be used as a touchstone to test how well others understood him.

The fact that he's still using the name "Roxsey Collin" means that he doesn't actually know anything and is just making inferences based on limited clues.

But it must be said that he guessed very accurately.

This guy is also a chess master.

Seeing that the Demon King standing on the high place did not deny it, Marius smiled faintly, glanced at the corpse at his feet, and continued in his whistling voice.

"As for these... please consider them a small gift for our meeting. Only the dead can keep secrets, and only the dead will not reveal tonight's conversation to those bookish idiots at Xuebang."

"Aren't you afraid of being blamed by Xuebang?"

“Haha, Your Highness is too kind,” Marius chuckled softly, as if he had heard a very funny joke. “You’ve been to the Academy before, so you know what the status of an apprentice is.”

Also.

An old farmer from the Os Empire, a magic apprentice from the Academy, a goblin from Hell... strictly speaking, they are all in the same ecological niche.

Luo Yan was not surprised by Marius's answer, but seeing that cold-blooded smile, he still felt a pang of emotion.

That nonchalant tone was like wiping away dust from the corner of a garment.

This guy is truly ruthless and decisive. The Ryan people are incredibly unlucky to have such a superhuman.

Although the Demon King was a decisive and ruthless person, he would usually just laugh it off unless someone was unforgivable or courting death, and he wouldn't stoop to the level of someone weaker than him.

It's a shame that such a talented person was overlooked by Hell, who let him pursue the "Fifth Chaos." No wonder Hell is getting worse every day.

"Why do you think I'm a demon king?" Luo Yan asked calmly, a hint of interest in his voice. "Just because I have a few alien subordinates?"

"That's one reason, but it's not enough to confirm my guess. After all, there are quite a few nobles who sell their souls to demons, and they also have subordinates from hell... But what truly confirms my guess is yourself?"

"I?"

"Yes."

Marius stepped over a corpse, his steps as light as a ghost's. With his usual warm smile, he spoke softly.

“I don’t know Hell, but I do know the nobles of the Empire. Those arrogant fellows only have their eyes on the power of the Holy City and the gold of the New World. As far as I know them, the entire eastern part of the Old World combined is not as important to them as a single Brass Pass… They’ve long forgotten about Holy Light and faith.”

The old man stopped and looked intently at Colin, who was standing on high, and continued speaking.

"Only demons from hell would be interested in the 'barbarians' living here. Because to you, even ants have value to exploit... don't you think?"

“That’s an interesting theory,” Luo Yan said with a slight smile, “but it’s all just your conjecture.”

“But my guess is quite reasonable, isn’t it?” Marius said with a smile. “The Campbell family defeated the evil king—it’s a fairy tale that people are willing to believe. But in my opinion, the other side of the story is more in line with the logic of reality…”

He looked Colin up and down with the same admiring gaze one would give a fellow hunter, his eyes like those of a seasoned hunter spotting another highly skilled predator in the forest.

His voice deepened, carrying a slightly distorted sense of admiration.

"You corrupted Campbell."

"You did not choose to kill like those inferior demons, but chose the more sophisticated method of conquest. You wove a huge honey pot with power, wealth, and pleasures that mortals cannot resist, turning that young and impetuous grand duke, the innocent and brave princess, and those citizens who thought they had their own destiny into your puppets."

In Marius's mind, the Demon King of Thundershire, like the King of Ryan he controlled, lurked behind the scenes, manipulating the entire duchy with sweet poison. Aaron Campbell appeared to have won everything, but in reality, he had lost it all.

This sounds like looking in a mirror.

Sarah's face showed surprise, and her expression gradually became serious.

The Stigmata Organization always believed that the Gravekeeper was a dagger hidden in King Ryan's sleeve, but they never expected that this venomous snake, raised by the king himself, would turn around and entangle the king's hand?!
This was truly... beyond her expectations.

Luo Yan showed an expression of interest, but did not refute this "unique misunderstanding," simply finding it amusing.

Because at any time, the action of forces is mutual.

The Demon King doesn't always dictate Eileen's decisions; sometimes, the latter takes the initiative, and together they make unexpected choices.

This is another layer of meaning to win-win cooperation, and Luo Yan certainly understands this. He's just a master at pretending to be confused, but he's not really confused.

The two hands clasped together gradually grew into one, and the influence of one on the other was remarkably similar to the tyrant's self-reflection.

It must be said that although feudal tyrants always refused to admit that they were actually influenced by the serfs under their rule, that was just them refusing to look in the mirror.

The coldest laws of physics never change according to anyone's will, and they certainly conform to the ironclad law that "forces act in unison".

The result of treating people like fools is that a group of fools will eventually fool one big fool, and then they will all jump into a cesspool together.

That's pretty much how Roland City is now; even if their king told them the sky was green, the people there would only realize it with a start—

Holy crap, I'm colorblind?
"I don't deny what you're saying, but is that all you wanted to say?"

"of course not."

Marius shook his head slightly, and his warm, spring-like eyes gradually stopped concealing their inner desires, revealing a hint of greedy madness in their depths.

"Since we are the same kind of people, why should we fight to the death for a group of mortals? We can join hands and cooperate."

"cooperate?"

"Yes, collaborative development."

Marius turned his gaze northward, towards the Kingdom of Lyon, and his gentle voice gradually took on a hint of disgust.

"The 'mines' of the Kingdom of Ryan have been depleted. Although those peasants have human appearances, their souls are as weak as autumn weeds and as inferior as sand on a riverbank."

“Those guys are either illogical lunatics or illiterate people who think they are learned... Although the magicians of the Academy say it doesn’t matter, I can’t help but worry that if our nobles continue to draw soul essence from such trash, they will become just as dull as them.”

This concern is not unfounded, after all, the rejection reaction between people is the lowest, and some people are slowly becoming less human.

Luo Yan gave a half-smile, asking a question he already knew the answer to.

"Oh? So, how did those guys you're talking about end up looking like this?"

“There are many reasons, but none of them matter. What matters is that we need more high-quality raw materials.” Marius gently brushed the issue aside, as if swatting away a fly.

Then, he turned his head and looked towards the south of the Wanren Mountains, where the Benliu River flows downstream, in the direction of the Duchy of Campbell.

"The Principality of Campbell is different."

"Thanks to your careful nurturing, the people there are full of energy, pure in spirit, and brimming with hope and vitality... I have no doubt that their spirit is in no way inferior to that of the people of the Holy City. Those are all top-quality materials, and we can work together to develop this untapped goldmine."

As he spoke, he took a deep breath, as if he could already smell the fragrance of the soul carried by the wind from hundreds of kilometers away.

That sickly expression sent a chill down Alarado's spine, causing him to shift uncomfortably. If it weren't for the Demon King's restraint, he probably would have already run away!

Luo Yan sighed softly.

"By Saint Sith, this is utterly blasphemous."

"But it's just right for the Demon King, isn't it?"

Thinking he had won over, Marius smiled and continued to add more chips to the table.

“Think it over carefully. I can even ‘persuade’ our emperor to cede the Twilight Province to you. If necessary, we can even cooperate with you in staging a few wars to get rid of those useless burdens.”

"Besides that, there's the 'holy water' you're most concerned about. I can persuade Xuebang to let you participate as well, giving you a 30% share! Don't underestimate this 30%... It can not only make you as strong as me, but even becoming a demigod is within reach!"

Marius was confident in his proposal; giving a 30% share to a latecomer was already a very sincere offer.

He didn't regret the potential benefits he might have to give up. As long as he could bring the Duchy of Campbell onto his side, they would not only gain an untapped source of soul energy but also eliminate the threat from the south.

Previously, they had to do this in the Ten Thousand Ren Mountains, not daring to be too blatant. But as long as they were surrounded by their own people, they could join forces to block the news, not only kicking the rat out of the game, but also placing the mage tower forged from souls in Twilight Province, and even in Roland City and Thunder City!
This looks like a great deal.

After all, the breeding environment in a rat burrow can never compare to a city, which is more suitable for human survival.

Faced with Marius's offer, Luo Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. He wasn't interested in the proposal itself, but rather in the interesting information gleaned from the voice-over.

“Lord Marius, your blueprint is indeed magnificent, even demons must praise your efficiency. However, as the Demon King, I must consider the long term... If you continue to mine without restraint, once the population dwindles and souls are exhausted, won't we become rootless duckweed? After all, the mine will eventually be depleted.”

"Exhaustion? No, Your Majesty. It seems that you did not come into contact with the most core secrets of the Soul School during your studies in the Academy."

Upon hearing these concerns, which were imbued with a "small-farmer mentality," Marius couldn't help but chuckle softly, though the kindness in his smile remained largely unchanged.

"If the soul is truly something that has never changed since time immemorial, then all races would have already exhausted their reproductive capacity over the past thousand years. How could it be our turn to waste it?"

He wasn't surprised that Mr. Colin would think that way, because that was the most classic myth from the First Age—that the soul was something that never changed.

Actually it is not.

It is inexhaustible.

Before the Demon King could ask, Marius raised his hand, his withered fingers pointing to the brilliant night sky, as if he wanted to grasp all the stars in his palm.

"The soul is never a crop that grows from the ground, but a projection of billions of stars, a gift from the vast sea of ​​stars!"

Luo Yan looked surprised and said thoughtfully.

"That sounds like a really interesting conjecture."

Marius smiled slightly.

"It's not a conjecture. In the Academy, the magicians there call it the 'Hive' theory and the 'Sea of ​​Consciousness' theory."

Luo Yan was slightly surprised.

"Oh? I'd like to hear the details."

Marius said without hesitation.

"The universe beyond the earth is a 'sea of ​​consciousness,' and the basic materials that constitute consciousness are inexhaustible, like endless stars!"

"And the earth beneath our feet is like a beehive that embraces all rivers!"

"Whenever a new physical vessel is born, those tiny specks of light that roam in the sea of ​​consciousness will gather like bees returning to their hive, filling the flesh and blood to form what we call 'soul matter'!"

"This is why, since the fall of the underworld, the vast majority of mortals have been unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation, while our world still has an endless stream of souls."

Marius made no attempt to conceal it; after all, in his view, these broad theories were nothing of great importance, much like the two hundred corpses at his feet.

The real core secret is the method of making the holy water.

However, Luo Yan was greatly shocked after hearing his account. He never expected that Xuebang, which seemed generous, was actually not generous at all. The truly good things were not put into the library he visited every day.

The 'honeycomb' theory and the 'sea of ​​consciousness' theory completely explained the problem he had pondered for a long time but could never understand—

That is, where did those souls that didn't reincarnate go?

If we compare this planet to a beehive, everything becomes much easier to explain.

The flesh and blood body is like a room in a beehive.

Whenever a new life is born, an anchor point is lit in the sea of ​​consciousness, absorbing nearby "consciousness factors" to gather and form "soul matter", or attracting those "soul matter" that have been collected nearby by the "reincarnation system".

When a newborn baby is born and opens its eyes to connect with the material world beneath its feet, the points of light from the universe expand like a sponge that absorbs water.

The part that expands is the "spiritual substance"!
Spiritual matter and soul matter together constitute the soul.

When a person's physical body dies, their spiritual essence naturally dissipates, returning nourishment to the earth beneath their feet, while the soul essence does not disappear.

They either enter the cycle of reincarnation on this planet, or enter a higher-level cycle of reincarnation, or they transform back into tiny specks of light, emitting into the vast sea of ​​stars and even the void, to undergo a new round of arrangement and combination... just like when they came.

They were originally launched from the vast sea of ​​stars in a similar manner.

It may be due to the pull of karma, or it may be done unconsciously.

"...It sounds like while we're gazing at the stars, the stars are also watching us," Youyou, floating beside Luo Yan, whispered.

Luo Yan nodded slightly, replying in his mind.

This also explains my long-standing confusion: why chaos came here, and where they went after they left.

As long as the belief is stable and there is no sharp decline or surge in population, the vast majority of bees are long-term residents of this hive.

They possess a stable spiritual core and beliefs; those who die return to where they were, and unresolved grudges from the previous life continue to entangle them in the next. Many have even reincarnated many times, becoming one with the entire hive. Occasionally, new bees join, but they are quickly assimilated into the hive, becoming part of its growth and development.

The power of the extraordinary individuals will also grow stronger in this process. They are like giant bees in a hive, the guardians of the entire hive.

This is why the extraordinary beings of the Second Age were stronger than those of the First Age.

A more tightly organized religious structure and greater cohesion are only one aspect; the fundamental issue is that the hive where everyone resides is larger than before.

Both material and spiritual civilization evolve with the times.

Meanwhile, the civilization on the continent of Austro gradually progressed from the Middle Ages to the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and even the early Industrial Revolution.

As civilization on this planet continues to advance, the extraordinary beings it breeds will eventually become stronger than before, and may even give rise to beings that surpass the extraordinary!

However, a problem arises: ever since the destruction of the Underworld in the First Era, this world has become a leaky beehive.

Neither Saint Sith nor the later demon god truly repaired the damaged beehive in a matter of faith.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the soul within this beehive is constantly undergoing a blood transfusion, naturally attracting some wasps drawn in by the scent.

Those extraordinary beings created from holy water condensed from soul essence are probably not considered part of the "extraordinary system" on this planet.

These wasps that have taken over the nest have essentially created a "new hive," and the raw material used to build this hive is the remains of countless bees.

No wonder——

Civilization on the continent of Os is clearly progressing, yet the top superhumans walking on this land feel their power growing weaker and weaker.

Luo Yan originally thought it was because he had undermined Saint Sith and the Demon God.

Little did he know that he and his two unfortunate, heavily indebted partners were actually intertwined.

And these utterly disrespectful grandsons have already built a new high-rise next door, and have almost completely demolished the original house!

Marius's next words confirmed his suspicions: they were well aware of what they were doing.

"...Since the collapse of the underworld a thousand years ago, the boundary between life and death has long been blurred. Our world is like a house with drafts on all sides. Souls constantly pour in from the vast sea of ​​stars, and souls constantly dissipate into the void with the death of the body."

"They are like countless tiny bees, shuttling between heaven and earth, endlessly and inexhaustibly."

A look of ecstasy appeared on Marius's face.

"To let those souls rot and perish along with their lowly bodies is a terrible waste. Since they are destined to dissipate, why not gather their energy and use it to accomplish something greater?"

Luo Yan listened quietly, but the smile in his eyes grew colder and colder.

"So, what if one day, the Duchy of Campbell also becomes the present-day Kingdom of Ryan?"

"So what? For people like us, duchies or kingdoms, or titles like earls or barons... aren't those just tools to fool ordinary people?"

Marius stared at Luo Yan indifferently, his gentle smile laced with cruelty.

"As long as we can gather enough soul essence, we can at least use these 'fuels' to create five demigod-level powerhouses! Five demigods! The aging Os Empire will be no match for us! And those arrogant nobles of the Holy City will pay a heavy price!"

“They’ve been sucking our blood for a thousand years, treating us like guard dogs… Now, it’s time for them to taste defeat.”

Luo Yan looked at Marius, who was caught up in a frenzy, and suddenly chuckled.

Marius frowned, sensing something unusual in that smile, as if the person standing there was not a fellow traveler.

His earlier interest was just a facade.

Now, he doesn't want to act anymore.

"why are you laughing?"

“I’m laughing… You just told me that the kingdom behind you is full of ignorant and arrogant fools, but now I’m standing in front of a master of all of them.”

Luo Yan's smile vanished, and his eyes turned cold.

"But thanks to your explanation, I now understand why every instance of the corruption of chaos occurs beneath your feet."

In the eyes of Marius and his friends, the human soul was probably just a mineral.

However, in the eyes of "Rocksai Collin," who is born to love people, those are the cornerstones of civilization and the carriers of the precious treasure that is faith.

He felt disgusted by the idea of ​​burning a treasure that could generate "compound interest" as if it were a one-time "ore".

The virtual world has given Xuebang a lot of inspiration.

These guys have so many paths to choose from, they could even become the brightest star among the stars, but they choose to be pests in the universe.

Today these bastards can attract chaos, tomorrow they can attract enemies who are hunting down chaos. Luo Yan couldn't help but wonder if that group of players just appeared out of nowhere.

The night breeze stopped.

The air between the two seemed to solidify into a tangible wall.

"It seems we can't reach an agreement."

Marius's elegant demeanor cracked inch by inch, and the black dagger that had been hidden in his sleeve silently slipped into his palm.

The surrounding space began to distort strangely, as if an unseen hand was kneading the scene and stretching out the inferior realm.

His strength is already very close to that of a demigod.

It's not surprising that they created a vague "field" in advance.

After all, even Elder Zacro could do that.

“We’re destined to be incompatible,” the worldly-wise Luo Yan sighed regretfully. “I advise you to give up.”

"So, the negotiations have broken down?" Marius's voice grew colder, and the murderous intent in his eyes intensified. "Aren't you going to reconsider?"

"No need."

Luo Yan, however, seemed oblivious to his murderous intent, calmly observing the master assassin and declaring his fate.

"Anyway, you're going to die."

Before he finished speaking, Marius had already moved.

Without a single sign.

There wasn't even a sound of wind rustling through the hem of her clothes!
He transformed into a black shadow, moving faster than the human retina could perceive. His jet-black dagger traced a deadly path in the night, slashing towards the Demon King's heart.

This strike was in no way inferior to the spear that Duke Aaron Campbell stabbed at the Demon King of Thunder County, and was even more powerful!

However, it was not Reggie Dragoon standing there; Marius's dagger passed right through the Demon King without any resistance!
Marius's pupils contracted sharply.

There was no tactile sensation of a blade cutting into flesh!

The "Rocksley Collin" in front of him vanished silently like a wisp of mist.

Along with the spider beneath that guy and the guards beside him!
Marius had dealt with countless troubles, both overt and covert, for the King of Lyon over the years, and this was the first time he had failed!
"Ding--"

A silver ring fell from the spot where "Roxy Collin" disappeared, hitting the rock with a crisp sound.

Marius subconsciously looked down and saw that it seemed to be just an ordinary spatial ring, with no unusual magic flowing within it.

But he was so engrossed in the ring that he didn’t notice an inconspicuous butterfly flying through the grass beneath him.

Marius suddenly looked up and surveyed his surroundings, his immense spiritual power instantly enveloping the entire mountain peak.

nobody!
The giant cave spider, the cat-eared maid, and Roxie himself... they vanished completely from this world as if they had never existed!
Just as Marius was still in shock, a familiar aura suddenly appeared without warning on another mountain a kilometer away.

He immediately looked in that direction and saw the Demon King, who had disappeared before him, standing on the edge of the cliff, confidently putting away the magic wand he had been holding.

What an arrogant fellow.

Marius's eyes narrowed to slits, his face still displaying an expression of ease, but his eyes flashed with naked killing intent.

"What kind of magic is this?"

A mocking smile curved Luo Yan's lips.

“A power that you wouldn’t even dare to imagine.”

He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

With a "snap," the barrier he had attached to the spatial ring shattered, and a thick, impenetrable black mist was instantly released!
That was not ordinary smoke or magic, but "Black Death" that was released and vaporized in the subspace.

If holy water is a liquefied deity, then this thing is a liquefied abyss, a "black holy water" that condenses the karma of countless dead souls!
Although this stuff can't be simply applied to a sword, the Demon King is also a master of innovation and knows very well that not all medicines have to be taken orally; they can also be nebulized and inhaled.

At such close range, Marius didn't even have time to hold his breath before the writhing black mist, as if it had a life of its own, frantically burrowed into his body.

They all flocked to his door as if they knew him, without him even having to inhale.

"Well--!"

A chill he had never experienced before instantly froze Marius's soul, and the world before his eyes changed in an instant!
The silent mountain peaks vanished, along with the corpses scattered on the ground and the man standing in the distance.

He found himself standing in a bottomless, dry well, surrounded by pitch blackness and vengeful ghosts crawling out of the darkness.

Everything before him was just like when he first drank the holy water, and he heard the wails of the crowd once again!
"You... are Marius?"

"My child... ah, you smell like my child..."

"Why? Haven't you taken enough? How much stronger do you want to become?"

"Let me in too..."

Countless twisted souls seemed to have found their way home; they let out mournful cries, stretched out their withered arms, and tried to burrow into his body.

Even the strongest supernatural power is nothing more than divine power, and divine power can never withstand the pull of karma... that is a force that mortals can never resist.

Especially for Marius, who ascended to the rank of Grandmaster thanks to the holy water, his soul was like a magnet, attracting all these "dregs".

"Get away!!"

"Don't come near me, you bunch of pigs! Scum! Waste!"

"Get the hell out there! That's where you lowly scum belong!"

Marius roared, wildly swinging the dagger in his hand.

The sacred aura, powerful enough to cut through metal and stone, struck the souls of the dead, but it was like a knife cutting through flowing water, having no effect whatsoever, not even causing a ripple!
After all, this is not the material world at all, but his own sea of ​​consciousness.

As he felt the corrupting power continuously seeping into the depths of his soul, Marius roared, his voice finally tinged with fear.

"what did you do to me?!"

When ordinary people are corrupted by the spiritual energy of others, the worst that happens is that they develop schizophrenia or go insane.

However, he was different. His soul was something sewn together from the souls of others and had not yet been cleansed in the "Reincarnation Pool".

Once these filtered spiritual substances come knocking, his soul will be torn to pieces from the inside, just like being torn apart by five horses!

Like the Ryanians he crushed to pieces, they will never have a next life. They will all be transformed into the most primal consciousness particles, blown into the starry sky by the gale of karma...

That profound, soul-wrenching feeling completely overwhelmed Marius's spirit.

He curled up on the ground like an old man nearing the end of his life, his initial hysteria turning into a state where he couldn't even hold a dagger.

Having confirmed that all the released spiritual energy had been absorbed by him, Luo Yan flashed back to his side, picked up the ring that had fallen to the ground, and blew on it.

Marius turned his head shakily, looking with his cloudy eyes at the demon king standing before him, his aged face full of pleading—

help me.

Luo Yan gave him a look that said, "I can't help you."

“I actually have many more questions for you, but your soul is already in such a broken state... I'm afraid even the liches I know can't save you.”

Sensing his impending death, Marius swallowed hard and spoke in a trembling voice, trying to buy himself a little more time before death.

"Where did you get this thing from?"

"Of course, it'll come from your pockets."

His desire for a life of ignition was not fulfilled. A ball of black flame ignited in Luo Yan's palm, and he let the flame seep through his fingers, dripping onto Marius's body.

A hoarse scream echoed in the evening breeze, and gradually, this master-level assassin no longer had the strength to scream.

Theodore's greatest "trump card," the renowned "Hand of the Former King," died a humiliating death at the hands of the Demon King.

"...Since you intend to let the common people of Raven City taste this stuff, I think you should swallow it yourself."

"That's fairer."

Although Luo Yan's original intention was not to avenge the Ryan people, for those Ryan people who died unjustly in the Wanren Mountains, it could at least bring them some peace of mind...

(End of this chapter)