This assassin is upright

Chapter 380 The Solution to the Unsolvable Problem
Turn into a monkey?

Everyone's hearts sank.

It's hard to tell whether the demon's words are true or false, but with so many demons around, each with a similar expression, the truth is more likely.

In other words, not only is this portal problematic, but another portal also poses a huge risk.
Yu Zhun's brows furrowed sharply.

Although their power would no longer be continuously weakened after eating the black fruit, being forced to remain in this place was still not an acceptable outcome for him.

After taking a deep look at the demons here, Yu Zhun spoke in a deep voice.

"let's go."

After saying that, Yu Zhun suddenly turned around and led the other four people away from the orchard. The other demons watched Yu Zhun and his group with amusement, neither making a move nor making any attempt to stop them.

Their eyes held a mocking glint, as if they were certain that after their attempts, Yu Zhun and the others would eventually return here, just like them.

Once they were out of the orchard, Helmod turned to Yu Zhun and asked, "Do you believe what they said?"

“In my judgment, what they said is probably true,” Yu Zhun said slowly, “because they have absolutely no hostility towards us.”

This is quite strange in the Netherworld.

In the layers they had experienced before, even if the demons were able to cooperate or communicate with them briefly, it was for temporary benefit or due to the original rules of that layer.

The law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak, is practically ingrained in the very bones of demons.

But on this floor, it's completely different.

If those demons had truly harbored ill intentions towards Yu Zhun and his group, and had attacked them as a group, even Yu Zhun and his four companions might have suffered losses.

But they only looked at Yu Zhun and his group of five with a mocking expression.

That wasn't friendship, but a bizarre peace born from the belief that killing each other was meaningless.

In other words, this is a group of hopeless bastards who are giving up.

This is also why Yu Zhun believes they have no reason to lie to him.

If there really were a way to leave, they would probably be the ones who most want to leave. How could they possibly stay here in a daze?
"You mean, we really can't leave?" Udyr asked slowly, his expression grave.

“That’s not it.” Yu Zhun shook his head. “I don’t think they were lying, but they’re not necessarily right.”

"There is no such thing as a truly unsolvable problem in this world; they just haven't found the answer and are stuck here."

"What are your thoughts?" Helmod looked at Yu Zhun thoughtfully.

“Portals.” Yu Zhun stopped and pondered for a moment before his eyes flickered slightly. “I think the problem still lies with the portals.”

"Entering the portal to the ninth level will transform you into a fruit tree seed."

"Is there any way to eliminate this effect and allow the demon to successfully pass through the portal and enter the ninth floor?"

Upon hearing this, the other four people simultaneously showed expressions of embarrassment.

Currently, such a solution is not easy to find.

The demons in those orchards must have tried every method they could think of and attempted, but they still couldn't get out.

"Or perhaps, we could break free from the limitations of our current two sects." Yu Zhun paused slightly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

Is there a third portal?

“A third portal?” Helmod’s eyes lit up, then dimmed again. “But we’ve only sensed two portals.”

"Not necessarily." Yu Zhun shook his head. "There are too many things that can block or affect our perception."

"Moreover, even now, we cannot be certain that our understanding is absolutely correct."

Upon hearing Yu Zhun's words, the others nodded in deep agreement.

Once you realize that your perception is being distorted, you can no longer calm down that feeling of suspicion.

“Speaking of which…” Lu Wen looked around and suddenly spoke up, “If the ape-like magical beasts we saw before were actually demons, then where are the real ape-like magical beasts?”

Upon hearing this, everyone was slightly taken aback, and then their eyes lit up.

Indeed, according to that demon, anyone who gets close to the other portal will turn into an ape-like monster.

However, the ape-like monsters they had seen before were demons they perceived after their understanding was distorted, not real ape-like monsters.

So, does the eighth level really contain ape-like monsters?
If they exist, what would these ape-like monsters be like?
“Let’s go back to the portal we first discovered,” Yu Zhun said softly, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. “Let’s try again.”

"The answers you find yourself are the most reliable."

Everyone nodded in unison, quickly disappeared from their original spot, and headed towards the location of the first portal they had previously identified.

As they approached the first portal, the group's expressions changed slightly. When they first saw this portal, there was only barren land all around, with no sign of any living creature.

But at this moment, this place has become a paradise for ape monsters.

Countless ape-like magical beasts roamed among them, but scattered in terror upon seeing Yu Zhun and his companions.

This kind of change obviously couldn't have happened suddenly.

Then there is only one possibility.

The true ape-like magical beast cannot be sensed before it has eaten the black fruit; only after eating the black fruit can its existence be perceived.

The fact that the ape-like monsters are currently gathered at the location of the first portal seems to confirm what those demons said earlier.

Approaching the first gate will transform you into an ape-like monster.

Even so, Yu Zhun showed no sign of stopping.

He traversed among the scattered apes and magical beasts, arriving directly at the first gate, and slowly approached it.

Black fur rapidly grew on his body, and Yu Zhun's primordial power was also transforming into an ape-like demon beast at an extremely fast pace.

He turned to look at the four people behind him, confirming that what they saw was exactly the same as what he perceived, and then frowned and retreated step by step.

By the time he left the portal area, his body had fully recovered.

“Those guys weren’t lying,” Helmod said in a low voice. “So, what should we do?”

Yu Zhun pondered for a moment, then his figure flashed and he suddenly grabbed a monkey-like monster that had not yet managed to escape.

Amidst the panicked cries of the other ape-like magical beasts, he suddenly flung the beast into the portal.

Before everyone's eyes, the ape-like demonic beast vanished instantly, seemingly having entered the seventh level of the Netherworld through the portal.

The cries of the other ape-like monsters grew increasingly terrified, and they scattered like birds and beasts, leaving not a single one in the arena in the blink of an eye.

Ignoring the fleeing ape-like demonic beast, Yu Zhun asked in a deep voice, "Do you think it will revert to its demonic form on the seventh floor?"

“This question cannot be verified unless we try it ourselves.” Helmod took a deep breath. “However, there must be a reason why these ape-like monsters are lurking near the portal and yet so afraid of it.”

"Why does this scene feel a little familiar?" Yu Zhu frowned and pondered for a moment before speaking, "It seems like another portal is doing the same thing."

"It's just that one side has ape-like magical beasts, and the other side has demons."

Upon hearing this, the other three did not react, but Yu Zhun's body trembled violently, and a look of surprise and uncertainty appeared in his eyes.

Demons... Monkey monsters... Opposing yet similar scenes...

Is it...

He suddenly looked at the doorway in front of him, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes.

Looking into Yu Zhun's eyes, Helmod felt a sudden tightness in his chest, sensing that what Yu Zhun was about to do was going to be extremely crazy.

"what are you up to?"

“I plan to transform into an ape-like magical beast,” Yu Zhun said calmly.

"Are you crazy?" The other four were shocked at the same time.

“I’m not crazy.” Yu Zhun shook his head. “Think carefully, what was that ape-like monster we saw when we first came in?”

“A demon,” Helmod said in a deep voice, “and so?”

“So…” Yu Zhun paused for a moment, “How do you know that those ape-like magical beasts we’re seeing now aren’t demons?”

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.

The ape-like monster we see now... is it also a demon?
"Then what are these demons we're seeing now?" Udyr suddenly asked, his eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

“We may have misunderstood the eighth level from the very beginning,” Yu Zhun said slowly. “What if the eighth level never had any other species besides demons, only demons with different understandings?”

Everyone was stunned again.

Different perceptions... Demons?
“We will define our initial perception upon entering this place as the first level of perception,” Yu Zhun said slowly. “In the first level of perception, we can see fruit trees and ape-like magical beasts, as well as other demons who are also in the first level of perception.”

“After eating the fruit, our perception will be at the second level.” Yu Zhun paused slightly. “We can still see the fruit tree, but the ape-like monsters at the first level of perception will become demons, because they, like us, are at the second level of perception.”

"In addition, the demons in the second level of cognition can see the demons in the first level of cognition, and they can also see the new ape-like demons."

"Is it possible that becoming a new ape-like magical beast is a way to transform cognition into a possible third level of cognition?"

After hearing Yu Zhun's analysis, the expressions of the other four people who had been firmly opposed gradually softened.

Indeed, in a sense, Yu Zhun's analysis makes a lot of sense.

"Then why didn't those demons realize this?" Lu Wen scratched his head.

“Because those who have realized this have already transformed into demons of the third level of cognition,” Helmod said quietly.

If Yu Zhun's speculation is true, then the words of those demons he just encountered were a complete case of survivorship bias.

Only those who are unaware of this will remain in the second level of cognition. Those who are aware have already advanced to a higher level of cognition. In the eyes of the demons in the second level of cognition, they have transformed into other forms of beings!

"Now, do you still object to me trying?" Yu Zhun smiled. "I'm really confident."

“In that case, let’s not let you try alone,” Helmod said in a deep voice. “Let’s try together.”

"I'd like to see what happens after the transformation."

The others nodded in unison.

"Alright." Yu Zhun smiled helplessly and took a step forward.

The others followed closely behind, and as they got closer to the portal, their bodies became increasingly hunched and short, with more and more black hair, making them look more and more like the ape-like monsters they had seen before.

But this time, Yu Zhun and his group of five only had determination in their eyes.

Finally, their forms completely transformed into the appearance of ape-like magical beasts, and in the next instant, the space they were in rapidly changed in a distorted manner.

The portal that was right in front of them had vanished, replaced by a bottomless void rift. Any slight touch would result in being swallowed up in an instant, sending chills down the spines of Yu Zhun and his group of five, who were practically pressed against the rift. Without hesitation, they retreated rapidly.

"call…"

Helmod let out a soft breath. "Now I finally understand why the ape-like magical beast we saw earlier was so desperate and unwilling to come in."

In the first two levels of understanding, the portal remains unchanged.

But in the third level of understanding, portals are a dead end.

Although all ape-like magical beasts gradually progress from the first level of cognition to the third level, amidst the mix of truth and falsehood, they dared not gamble that what they were seeing was fake.

In fact, this constant shifting of perceptions is an unparalleled and terrible mental torment.

“Strange…” Yu Zhun frowned as he felt the power within his body. “Our power has not weakened.”

"What's so strange about not being weakened?" Lu Wen asked, puzzled. "What's changed is perception, not strength."

“Indeed, it’s perception that’s changing,” Yu Zhun said in a deep voice.

"But didn't you notice?"

"Regardless of which understanding, the strength of the demon is superior to that of the ape-like demon beast."

"This is also why the ape monsters would flee at the sight of us before we transformed into ape monsters."

"Logically speaking, all the demons who entered here are at the mid-stage of the fourth level of divine transformation, so their strength should be similar."

"But as our understanding improves, our strength seems to be quietly becoming weaker and weaker."

“That’s right, just like that.” A voice drifted over, and before Yu Zhun and the others could see, one demonic figure after another appeared.

These were none other than the ape-like monsters that had just fled in disarray.

At this moment, as Yu Zhun and the others' cognition advanced to the third level, they saw each other's true appearance.

“Our strength may seem unchanged, but it is being suppressed step by step as our understanding improves,” the leading demon said in a deep voice. “Therefore, we must not only improve our understanding, but also avoid demons whose understanding is lower than ours, because they can easily kill us.”

"You are very smart."

He looked intently at Yu Zhun and the others, "Only on your second visit here have you been able to elevate your understanding to this level."

"Those who can reach the level of current understanding are all intelligent people."

"At least, we've found the real pattern here."

“But you still haven’t been able to leave,” Yu Zhun said in a deep voice. “This shows that the third level of cognition is still not the end.”

“Indeed.” The leading demon sighed softly, “The ape-like magical beasts are a clue to the next level of understanding.”

“That’s right.” Yu Zhun nodded slightly.

In the first level of cognition, they saw ape-like monsters eating fruit, so the fruit was the key to transitioning to the second level of cognition, while the incredibly unpalatable fruit was the obstacle preventing the cognitive shift.

In the second level of cognition, they see the portal that can transform demons into ape-like demons, so this is the key to transforming into the third level of cognition, and the risk of the transformation itself is the obstacle.

To transform from the third level of cognition to a higher level of cognition, the same applies: find the ape monster and become the ape monster.

"Have you found it?"

“That’s the key,” the leading demon sighed.

"We can't find the ape monster."

(End of this chapter)