Soul Trigger

Chapter 573 Information
At the Yuanling Prince's Mansion, Ji Li was reporting to his father about his recent meeting with Teng Jun.

"You made you fake an engagement with the Lord of Calamity? And you even brought the Bloodstone Dragon back to your manor?"

The young man frowned.

Ji Li's trip to Teng Jun's place took a little longer than usual this time, and he thought something had gone wrong.
"It's a little weird."

During his previous remote meeting with the Black Sun Mansion, he strongly opposed the marriage proposal put forward by the Lord of Calamity, in order to prevent Ji Li from being involved in these power struggles.

Now that Tengjun has intervened, it seems unrealistic to consider extricating ourselves from the dispute.

But this matter itself requires utmost caution. He glanced at Ji Li with his hands behind his back:
"Making you the Nirvana Dragon General was probably just a test; the real purpose was elsewhere. But judging from what you've said, Tengjun's attitude after the test was a bit too easygoing."

"Is he easy to talk to?"

"When Tengjun ascended to immortality, did you know how many dusts he severed?"

Faced with the topic his father suddenly brought up, Ji Li shrugged and said:
"Kill them all?"

"Before you, the one who killed the most people in the past hundred years was the Lonely Tomb King. Where did you get the idea that he killed them all?" The old man rolled his eyes.
“Yichen, he only killed Yichen.”

Ji Li smiled and said:

"You're keeping us in suspense like this, so there must be something special about him, Yichen?"

"Severing all worldly desires, it's not about calling certain things." The young man habitually stroked his hair, but since he was currently bald, he could only scratch his scalp:
"Generally speaking, there are three situations for someone who has broken through the dust and is about to become an immortal."

One type is like you, cutting through the dust and taking the main road.

Like Tengjun and your sister, who cut through all worldly dust and walk the straight path.

The main road is highly extensible, its spiritual abilities are widely extended, and it has many methods, making it difficult to repair.

The direct path is highly targeted and decisive; one can specialize in this path and develop one's spiritual potential to its fullest extent.

"What about another one?"

“There’s another type, like me, who took the wrong path.” The young man looked up:

"Master one thing and supplement it with many others. Focus on one thing and supplement it with many others."

It sounds like the path of the Great Dao, but the "Severing Dust" is something that is decided at the moment of severing, not something that is cultivated after entering the Immortal Realm.

Once you've made a decision, you can't go back on it or make a different choice. Otherwise, why would it be called "severance" instead of "repair"?

"Those who have mastered the art of severing a speck of dust often choose to sever a speck of dust that is extremely compatible with their own spiritual light, because only in this way can they reach the ultimate goal. Teng Jun is such a person."

"The sound of his slashing perfectly matched his spiritual light. I don't know the specifics, but it made his personality extremely obsessive. He wouldn't give up until he achieved his goal, and he wouldn't turn back even if he hit a wall."

Once he makes a decision, he will never change it, and you will never be able to persuade him.

From what you've said, it seems he gave in because he was annoyed by your unreasonable demands. But that doesn't seem to me; it's more like there's some other ulterior motive.

Oh? Could it be that my affinity with his spirit didn't work on him back then? Ji Li pondered.

"This is a suspicious point, but since he has his eye on you and sent you to pretend to be engaged to the Lord of Calamity, there must be a plan behind it. This will attract a lot of attention and disrupt the joint visit to some extent."

Ji Lidao:
"The multi-national visit will be conducted in the form of a multicultural gathering. Is he trying to make the gathering more eye-catching? After all, it is indeed a big deal for Ling Sizi to be engaged to the leader of a national secret society."

Prince Yuanling nodded:
"That's right. Attention is one thing, but there should be other arrangements as well."

The young master seemed to be very wary of Teng Jun:
"That's why I'm trying so hard to get you out of Shulong. The situation is complicated now. Tengjun's purpose in using you is unclear, and it's also a rare event like the expansion of the dragon veins."

However, although other details are unclear, it's just a matter of visiting multiple countries. He can't do anything to you; at most, he'll use you to achieve his goals.

As for the engagement, given your status, whether you're engaged or not, you'll gradually come under the scrutiny of the higher-ups in those state-level secret societies; it's only a matter of time. What I'm more worried about is the Lord of Calamity.

Are you acquainted with her?

Ji Li pondered:

"You two seem quite familiar?"

"What do you mean by 'quite familiar'? Just how familiar are you?"

"We have a good relationship, and she's quite possessive of me."

"?"

The little dad blinked:

"What did you do to make the Lord of Calamity so possessive of you?"

His previous remote call with the Lord of Calamity was a complete mess, which he found unbelievable.

Ji Li is in Silla, so how did he get involved with that madman, the Lord of Calamity?
Ji Li stated:

"That's a long story, but what exactly are you trying to say?"

"That might be a bit troublesome. If it's what you call 'possessiveness,' then she might really be serious."

The Prince of Yuanling frowned as he recalled the scene from their previous remote meeting.

"Engagement, marriage, taking a wife, having children. These things have no meaning at a primitive biological level."

But in human society, they have been given more and more meaning. Engagement banquets, wedding banquets, wedding customs, 100-day celebrations, birthday banquets...

These behaviors are essentially rituals, and they affect the meaning of your being as a human being in the deep psychology of the soul.

The more powerful the awakened one, the stronger their presence in the collective unconscious of humanity, and the stronger this influence, even affecting a person's very essence.

Ji Li frowned:

"Does that sound serious?"

"It's not serious, it's just that we need to be cautious."

Prince Yuanling emphasized:

"At your current level, once you declare your engagement to someone like the Lord of Calamity, you and her existence in the collective unconscious of humanity will be firmly bound together."

This will lead to a very strong spiritual psychological connection between you and her. Strictly speaking, having a relationship with her is a good thing, but similarly, the community relationships and some hidden spiritual psychological connections she has will also connect with you.

Just like in real society, marriage is not only the union of two people, but also the union of two families.

Behind the Lord of Calamity lies the Cerberus Clan, and behind that clan lies not only the entire Black Sun Palace, but also the centuries-long history of the Black Sun people. The intricate connections of soul psychology within this clan could potentially corrupt your very essence.

Ji Lidao:
"In other words, at the level of soul psychology, there will be a situation of 'sharing joys and sorrows,' which will greatly affect one's future destiny?"

Prince Yuanling nodded:
"That's right. To give the most intuitive example, if there is an Evil Lord or even a Paradox Lord who hates the Black Sun Palace or the Lord of Calamity, you will be involved in these complex causes and effects because of the psychological connection between you and her, and you will bring on the calamities that the other party should have borne themselves."

"So, although the Lord of Calamity is very powerful, you can be friends with her, or even be her boyfriend or girlfriend, but you must not actually go along with her wishes regarding the engagement."

Ji Li nodded in agreement.

He understood, but could someone as old and weathered as him, someone whose inner world couldn't corrupt, really be affected by this so-called strong connection? Besides, the engagement was just for show anyway.

Since the old woman's condition is unstable, it's best to give her advance notice and appease her.

However, Yu Ya Xun is often jealous, and Cool Girl might be there, as will Shu.

Let them give their crazy child a little leeway; it's just a formality, there shouldn't be any problems.

"That's about it. Be careful with everything on Tengjun's side. I'll be there at the joint visit and gathering, so if anything goes wrong, it'll be easier to handle. You said you had something else to do?"

Ji Lidao:
Have you ever heard of Baron Ludwig?

Prince Yuanling:
"A large family on White Island, but not a baron, they were grand dukes. Barons were a thing of the past, a century ago."

Grand Duke?

Ji Li frowned, mentally assessing the timeline of the three images in Fei Lin's memory:

What's the general situation with this family?

"It has a long history, but before the title of Baron, it was just a declining noble family with a long line of descendants, and it is hardly mentioned in actual modern history."

However, after encountering the world of the Reflection Walkers a century ago, it was as if he suddenly had an epiphany, and he rose all the way up from Baron to Duke.

Although this situation is not common, it is not frequent either.

Suddenly encountering the world of the Reflection Walkers, their exceptional talent allows them to soar to great heights. Many Awakened Ones have similar stories.

If there's anything noteworthy about this family, it's their control over White Island, their conflict with the Forbidden City, and the fact that their current patriarch, Archduke Ludwig III, was once a classmate of Teng Jun.

Was Teng Jun's classmate Ludwig?
Ji Li pondered that this would connect the time fragments within the stone dragon with the scene of the three of them on screen together.

Was he part of the delegation visiting White Island?

"That kind of person would never personally lead a delegation unless there is an extremely serious event. Although the expansion of the dragon veins this time is serious, it is still a bit lacking."

"If I want to make contact with Ludwig III, what method should I use?"

"I can help you look through your phone book."

Ji Li smiled:

"Such a wide network of connections?"

Prince Yuanling glanced at him, ignoring his teasing:
"Strictly speaking, the relationship between Shulong and Shiroshima isn't good. Although Ludwig and Tengjun were classmates during their studies abroad, there seems to be a long-term history of personal deals and friction. Even if you call him, he'll only respond with diplomatic courtesy."

Also.

Ji Li pondered, even if he could speak with Ludwig, what should he say?
Hello, I am the leader you recognized a century ago. Now I have been resurrected and reborn into the body of Yuanling's heir. Now I need you to return to my side and help me restore my power.
Putting aside whether the other party can be trusted, it's uncertain what kind of relationship this person has with his/herself from a century ago.

"So why did you suddenly become interested in Ludwig? Because of Teng-kun?"

"No, I'm interested in some secrets about him, which may be related to my later purpose."

The Tower of Babel? The Prince of Yuanling frowned:
"In that case, I suggest you start with one person."

The leader of the White Island delegation, Salvador, was from the Ludwig family and was one of Ludwig III's mouthpieces.

If you want to test the waters, you can start with him, but you probably won't see him before the assembly day.

"Why?"

"Because of 'rage'."

"Rage" Salvador, a powerful being of the Netherworld, possesses an extremely destructive ability against clusters of human spirits due to the relationship between his spiritual power and aura.

According to Shulong's records, during the suppression of Lingbo Prison around White Island, a small town experienced a mass death.

The deceased were in a state of frenzied rage and carnage, their remaining expressions filled with twisted fury, and some were even immortal.

There are three similar files, scattered across various locations in his personal history, and he is a dangerous figure on the lists of several national secret societies.

Unfortunately, this person was an outsider, working in the shadowy surveillance team on White Island, fulfilling duties similar to those of the Dragon Vein Convention Bureau, which is why he was blacklisted by countless countries.

Only a place like Shulong, with its dragon veins suppressing evil, would dare to allow this person to enter.

"He is currently under 'house arrest' by the Imperial Guard at the White Island Embassy. He arrived this morning and is being personally supervised by Teng Jun. He will only appear on the day of the rally and will be immediately sent away after the rally ends."

Ji Li:

"That really is a plague."

"So if you want to see him, you'll probably need Teng-jun's permission..."

Suddenly, the King of Yuanling's eyes flickered.

Not quite right.

There are rumors within the royal family that Tengjun and Ludwig had frequent friction but also made deals, making their relationship very delicate.

Teng Jun suddenly wakes up, visits multiple countries, and El Salvador leads the visit. Ji Li is arranged to get engaged... How could there be such a coincidence?
he asked:
"Is there a connection between Ludwig and the Tower of Babel?"

"I don't know, but it doesn't seem so at the moment. I contacted him for other things."

Prince Yuanling pondered:

"I need to investigate this matter thoroughly. You shouldn't make any contact with El Salvador for now..."

Ji Li smiled and shook his head:

"I don't need to have any contact with him, but do you have any items associated with this person?"

"How many connections are needed?"

"As long as it's relevant, that's fine." Ji Li crossed his arms and tilted his head towards the door.

Through the slightly ajar door, Prince Yuanling saw a brown-skinned girl drinking heavily at the dining table—

Shu.

That's true...

Prince Yuanling's eyes lit up.

The "King of Unboxing" is here; if she just takes a look, she'll have everything. He should be able to rely on her for the intelligence gathering he needs.

The two exchanged a glance, nodded in unison, and were about to push open the door together when Ji Li's phone rang.

He picked it up and, after a slight surprise, showed it to Prince Yuanling:
"The King of Pretenders' phone call."

(End of this chapter)