My skills have mutated again!

Chapter 337 Root Cause Pollution: Take the Initiative!
Xia Lin was truly stunned.

He had considered far too many possibilities, but he never expected that the first thing his corrupted, deceptive clone would say upon opening its eyes was the county magistrate's catchphrase.

Stunned, they watched as "Metal Summer" slowly rose, his body throbbing with the powerful sound of his heart beating!

He put his hands on his hips and raised his neck: "Secondly, my name isn't 'Hey,' it's Chu Yuxun!"

"stop!"

Xia Lin covered her forehead with one hand and waved her other hand repeatedly, "Stop it, stop it..."

"Can someone explain to me what happened?"

His entrance speech was interrupted by Xia Lin.

This guy, whose identity was unknown, stopped introducing himself and instead scratched his metallic hair, equally puzzled.

"I don't know either... I was sleeping when I suddenly found myself here."

After saying that, it started singing.

"I dare not open my eyes, hoping it's just my imagination~~"

Fine……

Anyway, by now, Xia Lin has confirmed this matter.

The one controlling this metallic summer body is not summer, nor fraud, but the county magistrate himself!

……

After activating the End of This World, the county magistrate will become a dead object, lose consciousness, and lose all senses of the outside world.

—This is the necessary price to trigger the end of this world.

Currently, the effects of this world's end have not yet ended, and the county magistrate's true form remains as an iron pillar, standing in the Xia family's back garden.

But for some reason, its consciousness awakened within this polluted "metal summer".

It's reasonable that Xia Tian doesn't dominate this "Metal Xia Tian" body. After all, the moment the plan was initiated, Xia Tian had already withdrawn his consciousness from the split body, and that wisp of his soul was also actively dispersed and merged into Di Yun's corpse.

The fact that fraud doesn't dominate "Metal Summer's" body makes sense. The essence of the plan was to contaminate and infect fraud with a dark source, and the fact that fraudulent consciousness has now disappeared is enough to prove that the plan was successful.

But Xia Lin never expected that the person in charge of this infected body would be the county magistrate.

However, after the event occurred, Xia Lin deduced the process from the result and suddenly felt that there was a strong rationality in it!
"The essence of the end of this world is the distortion of the world's rules. On a deeper level, it is a pollution of the Heavenly Dao, or even a usurpation of the Heavenly Dao!"

This theory has already been clearly demonstrated in the Outer Gods and Immortals Chronicles: Ashes Zone.

Currently, with the active cooperation of summer, a "half-way of nature," fraud seems to have low resistance to black source infection.

As a result, when the deception once again possessed the Summer Rift, the Summer Rift became a battlefield between the Heavenly Dao and the Heavenly Dao!

Yes, there are three Heavenly Paths.

Summer is one of them.

Fraud is one of them.

And the county head who was infected by the black source is also one of them!
The results reveal the process and the strengths and weaknesses!

With Xia Tian's help, the county magistrate had the last laugh in this two-against-one battle and became the ultimate winner!
However, Xia Lin couldn't understand the deeper logic behind it.

The matter didn't give Xia Lin much time to think.

The very next second that Xia Lin's thoughts had just crossed his mind, Metal Xia Tian... no, it should be said that the county magistrate's clone suddenly spoke up.

"This body makes me very uncomfortable..."

It slowly moved its body and soon placed its hand on its heart.

Feeling the beating of his heart and the vitality of his flesh and blood, the county magistrate's clone restrained his usual witty remarks and instead looked at Xia Lin with a puzzled expression.

"I feel like something's not quite right."

Before the county head could investigate where the problem lay,

The surrounding flesh and blood suddenly trembled.

As the blood and qi circulated, Xia Tian's voice rang out.

"problem occurs."

"The entity behind the fraud seems to have sensed the disappearance of this node."

"It gave a response."

……

Just as it was being swept away by the black source of pollution on the 28th.

There was no reaction from the outside world, specifically from numbers 13 and 7.

As a clone of fraud, it is also a sub-node, and different sub-nodes cannot communicate directly with each other.

This can be seen from the fact that he was deceived by Xia Lin time and time again in the past.

However, while communication between the sub-nodes is poor, they are all related to the main node—that is, the entity behind the fraud!

The sudden and inexplicable death of the level eleven clone was immediately sensed by the deceitful main body.

Deep space, the unknown.

The condensed black ocean suddenly boiled.

Node #28 is missing.

All related sensations have disappeared.

[Suspected of being shot dead in an instant; the speed of death was unusually fast.]

[Unknown danger! Highest alert!]

An invisible stream of data rippled in from afar and rushed into the bodies of Number 13 and Number 7 in the blink of an eye.

A flash of black light appeared on the two clones, and then they rushed towards Di Yun's corpse at the same time.

The main body issues the order.

Find out the cause of death of No. 28 at all costs.

……

At the same time that No. 13 and No. 7 entered Di Yun's body, Xia Tian's voice rang out again, reaching Xia Lin's ears.

“I don’t know what happened on your end… but the reaction to the fraud seems a bit excessive.”

Of course it's big.

Survival is a fundamental need.

Even a deity with a unique form like fraud possesses the instinct for survival.

The death on the 28th was too violent, too rapid, and too mysterious, leading to a false stress response, which naturally resulted in a strong reaction.

Xia Lin did not respond to Xia Tian immediately, but stared at the county magistrate's clone. Soon, he saw the county magistrate's clone look up and look at him.

"Father, I'm not feeling well... I have a heart problem..."

When the jokester stops making jokes and instead calls Xia Lin "father," you can tell just how serious the county magistrate's problem really is.

The tremor abruptly broke through.

Di Yun's body was trembling violently.

At the same time, the surrounding flesh and tissue rapidly took on a metallic sheen, and Xia Tian's voice rang out again.

"Two more deceptive clones have entered..."

"But don't worry, I can hold them off."

Summer can certainly block it.

Firstly, having achieved the highest rank, his power and influence were no less than that of a fraudster.

Secondly, he has now voluntarily accepted the black source pollution, which has caused the black source pollution to spread all over Di Yun's body. From the experience on the 28th, we can see what kind of huge home field advantage this is!
Just as No. 13 and No. 7 rushed into Di Yun's body, Di Yun's corpse had already completed its complete metallization in the next second!
The flesh and blood that did not stiffen after death transformed into metallic substances, like a metal cage, locking everything inside—including Number 13 and Number 7.

Even more intense black pollution rushed into the bodies of No. 13 and No. 7 immediately.

Only now does Xia Tian see just how pathetic fraud is when faced with the pollution of the black source!
……

It is difficult to assess the relative strength of swarming organisms and powerful individuals.

However, their natures are ultimately different.

When faced with pollution or viruses, powerful individuals will inevitably outperform clustered organisms—ordinary viruses or pollution simply cannot breach the high-level immune defenses.

However, the swarming organisms were a bit lacking.

Composed of tiny individuals, when faced with unknown pollution, they not only cannot effectively resist it, but the infection can also spread rapidly within them because the weak individuals that make up the whole are infected!
Just like number 13 and number 7 right now!
The moment the black source of contamination took effect, Number 13 and Number 7 were completely stunned...

Because of the black source of pollution, they have never seen it before.

Moreover, the power of the black source pollution exceeded their expectations!

The black torrent froze instantly.

Subsequently, the outer black snowflake-like spots visibly sprouted granulation tissue and a blood-flesh matrix.

The scariest part isn't even here.

Most terrifyingly, a cacophony of sounds suddenly erupted from the corrupted power of deception.

"I feel...very uncomfortable..."

"I think I'm sick..."

"Strange, is this what carbon-based life is...? This is so strange..."

Each snowflake-shaped spot is a miniature nanorobot, and also part of the fraud.

Originally, they were coordinated by a core central hub and acted as a unified whole.

After being contaminated and transformed into flesh and blood life, the original connection was instantly erased, and each nanobot was transformed into a flesh and blood individual, which broke the core logic of the existence of fraud!

The thoughts of Number 13 and Number 7 instantly became chaotic.

Because their "brains" have been contaminated.

This prevents them from responding effectively in the first instance, and makes it even more difficult to find effective countermeasures against black source pollution in a timely manner.

Just five seconds later, No. 13 and No. 7 turned into a fleshy fungal carpet, attaching themselves to Di Yun's metallized blood vessels and fleshy tissue!

Points of black light burst forth, like the final struggle of Number 13 and Number 7.

The remaining deceptive power flickered, resisting the pollution of the black source. However, under extreme restraint, even with their level eleven essence, they could not escape death!
One minute.

The entire process lasted only one minute.

Number 13 and Number 7, which entered Di Yun's body, no longer exist.

At the same time, they are also unable to convey any useful information to the outside world.

……

Summer, who "witnessed" the fall of the two deceitful clones, suddenly gasped.

He originally thought that black source pollution should be able to curb fraud.

But I never expected that the level of restraint would be so exaggerated!
Of course, there were summer's assistance and the effects of the Spirit World Book, so there were quite a few prerequisites, but facts are facts and results are results!
After the incident, Xia Tian immediately realized this.

He has already won...

Yes, he won this battle against fraud this summer.

Di Yun's corpse has transformed into a metallic form and can no longer be used.

But it doesn't matter, he's still alive in the summer, isn't he?
Now that Di Yun's corpse is in the air, this is his domain. Anyone who dares to enter will die.

The life-or-death crisis vanished just like that, which also means that Xia Lin has completed the main quest and the level completion quest!

It's that simple!
However, when Xia Tian looked at Xia Lin again, she found that Xia Lin's attention was not on her.

"Father...I..."

Xia Lin approached the county magistrate.

The metallized summer fission variant possesses the will of the county magistrate.

It kept repeating the words "uncomfortable," its expression pitiful. Xia Lin said, "Leave this body, as soon as possible."

This was the first solution Xia Lin came up with.

If you're not feeling well, then let's just give up on this body...

Anyway, it's not anything important.

But the county magistrate shook his head: "No, I can't leave."

"why?"

"I have no idea……"

Well, the county magistrate is a bit slow-witted.

Xia Lin spoke again: "Is the consciousness in this body your main consciousness, or a split consciousness?"

If it's a split consciousness, then the problem is simple.

Just let go of this wisp of consciousness.

The county magistrate tilted his head and said, "I don't know."

Xia Lin: ...

—On the importance of early childhood education!
Strangely, when Xia Lin looked at it from his observational perspective, he did not find anything unusual about the county magistrate's body.

But it's simply, seemingly, a psychological discomfort...

After a moment's thought, Xia Lin finally couldn't bear it and raised her hand.

The power of the Ghost Five Elements Black Blade emanated from his hand and enveloped the county magistrate.

The Ghost Five Elements Black Blade is essentially the power of the Black Source and its variant.

It also possesses the characteristic of transforming flesh and blood into metallic substances.

Just as the black light fell on the county magistrate's body, his expression instantly relaxed.

"That feels much better..."

As it spoke, black, snowflake-like spots flew out of its mouth and drifted above the county magistrate's head, forming a large, comical ball-like expression.

With renewed vigor, the county head is back in action!
"Third, fairness, fairness, and damn fairness!"

"County Magistrate Chu Yuxun of Dragonfly County has come to pay her respects!"

He stood with his hands on his hips, exuding an air of arrogance.

However, the sound came from inside the comical ball.

This left Xia Lin speechless for a long time as he stared at the comical sphere made up of countless tiny nanobots.

……

It wasn't until much later that Xia Lin realized what had happened in this round.

In front of Di Yun's heart.

Xia Lin stood still, motionless, while Xia Tian's fission variant, which had transformed back into a flesh and blood body, lay on the ground, lifeless.

Only a large number of black snowflake-like spots rose and fell from all directions, dragging the flesh and blood matrix transformed from the recently deceased No. 13 and No. 7, and came to Xia Lin, waiting for Xia Lin to operate.

A Ghost Five Elements Black Blaze Slash was unleashed.

Thus, these contaminated flesh and blood substances transformed back into black snowflake-like spots.

The essence of these spots is actually the power of deception, or even the very nature of deception itself...

The kind that can be absorbed by the Spirit World Book.

The problem is that what controls them is no longer the collective consciousness called fraud, but Xia Lin's follower, the county magistrate!

"First!"

Xia Lin: "Sigh..."

He sighed heavily, then looked up at the vast black ocean looming overhead.

The power of deception is countless. After absorbing a wave from the Spirit World Book, Xia Lin felt that he could even push his deception points to tens of thousands.

However, Xia Lin's thoughts and ideas changed at this moment.

Footsteps suddenly sounded from behind, and Scarlett and Summer walked out of the Eight Guardian World and came to Xia Lin's side.

They also saw the black ocean, and Xia Lin standing in the center of the black ocean.

Like guards, they protected their king.

This surprised Xia Tian, ​​who then spoke up.

"This is……"

Xia Lin gave a wry smile: "There's been a slight problem."

"In summary, it seems that I, as a Servant, have plundered a portion of the power of deception."

Yes, that's a summary of everything that just happened.

First, there was the death of No. 28.

Because Xia Tian actively accepted the pollution from the source, No. 28 was completely wiped out. And because Xia Tian had already withdrawn her self-awareness just before the pollution occurred, the county magistrate's will inexplicably awakened in the polluted corpse.

It thus acquired a portion of flesh and blood that had mutated from the power of deception.

However, due to the issue of life form, the county magistrate, who had acquired a part of a flesh and blood body, felt very uncomfortable—this might not be the magistrate being pretentious, but most likely a problem related to fraud.

The aversion to flesh and blood seems to be rooted in the underlying logic of deception; even when consciousness is extinguished, it instinctively resists carbon-based forms.

Left with no other choice, Xia Lin had to use the Ghost Five Elements Black Blade to transform the flesh and heart back into metallic matter for the sake of her beloved son.

Thus, after two periods of pollution, the power of deception has become the power of deception once again...

"But the problem is that in the process, I seem to have washed away my self-awareness of fraud, while the county magistrate took advantage of the situation and replaced it with fraud."

As if echoing Xia Lin's summary, the black ocean twisted and reformed into the shape of a county magistrate—a round, chubby little trash can figure.

But you should know that the county magistrate's main body is currently still at the Xia family's main residence...

This is merely a clever application of the power of deception that it has seized.

Xia Lin picked up the county magistrate and looked at Xia Tian and Scarlett again.

Then they saw the two of them looking at each other, seemingly unable to understand the situation.

—Changes come drastically and suddenly, so it's normal not to be able to react in time.

It wasn't until much later that Xia Tian finally spoke up and asked.

"So what should we do next?"

Xia Lin chuckled.

"We have so much to do next..."

……

First, let's look at the mission.

[Completion Mission: The Mystery of the Eight Guardians!]

[The mission is complete. You can leave this Ember Zone at any time, or you can stay here until the main mission timeout ends.]

Numbers 28, 13, and 7 were all taken down in one fell swoop.

Meanwhile, due to the pollution of the black source, Di Yun's corpse has become a forbidden zone for fraud.

Let alone creating a clone, even if you trick the original body into coming, you'll most likely not get away with it.

Fraudsters won't dare to come again...

Naturally, the plan against Di Yun had to be abandoned as well.

And so Xia Lin's main quest was completed just like that.

"Stay in this ash-covered area."

Xia Lin made her choice.

Because the task is only the least critical part.

"This change has brought me new challenges."

Xia Lin said, stroking the county magistrate's pointed head.

"The county magistrate has taken over some of the fraudulent forces, but this is most likely temporary and will be exposed soon."

All deceptive power is nanobots; they are all part of deception.

They are born of fraud and controlled by fraud.

The county magistrate has now taken over part of the fraudulent forces, but Xia Lin believes that one of the reasons for this phenomenon is the special environment of this place—after all, the location is inside Di Yun's corpse, and Xia Tian is still one of their own.

Once the area is freed from the ashes and returns to a normal environment, the power of deception plundered by the county magistrate is very likely to escape his control and return to the embrace of deception.

Even more terrifying is that the fraudsters might even be able to pinpoint the location of Shining Blue Star! This is an outcome that Xia Lin simply cannot accept.

Of course, Xia Lin had a choice in this round.

He can choose to absorb all the deceptive power before the main quest time limit expires and make a big profit.

This is a safe approach, and the returns are not low either.

However, this is not Xia Lin's personality.

"I'm thinking, could we just take the fraud out of the country in one fell swoop..."

As he spoke, he gently stroked the county magistrate's head: "Let my follower possess the body of a fraudster, and become a fraudster!"

Scarlett was taken aback, then suddenly realized.

Because this is the Xia Lin he knows.

That's incredibly audacious!

On the contrary, Xia Tian's choice of Xia Lin is not surprising.

Because this is the quality that a strong person should have—seize every opportunity to grow and become stronger.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Tian smiled.

"A reasonable approach, and highly feasible."

One possible scenario: the location of the fraud.

The fraudsters are currently too afraid to come in person because their three clones have died suddenly.

But if it doesn't come, Xia Lin can still go to its door—the only person in the current universe who knows the location of the fraudster is standing right in front of Xia Lin!

Second possibility: a relationship of restraint.

The deceptive clone and the main body are essentially the same in nature.

Black source pollution is effective against fraudulent clones like No. 28, so it will naturally be effective against the fraudulent main body as well!

If handled properly, this can bridge the gap in hard power between the two sides.

Thirdly, regarding feasibility: time.

There are still eleven years until the end of the Ashes Zone.

This period of time is enough for Xia Lin and Xia Tian to make many more targeted preparations against the fraud!
Their eyes met, and both Xia brothers saw a light in each other's eyes.

Summer is the time for revenge.

Xia Lin is the light of hunger and greed.

Essentially, Xia Lin disliked the limited number of times she could try to defy fate...

In Xia Lin's eyes, such a powerful ability should be usable at any time!

The current situation may very well be the best opportunity Xia Lin has ever had in his life.

(End of this chapter)