Forbidden Zone of Deception

Chapter 190 Genius and Mortal

Being able to help the raid leaders of the Bloody raids, especially the leaders of the Crimson raids, is something many people would love to do, not to mention the Twilight raids.

"Zhang Man, you can come now," Chen Yan instructed.

Then, Zhang Man took out a palm-sized black shrine from her bosom.

The shrine's surface is covered with densely packed runes, and inside is enshrined a faceless statue.

Upon advancing to LV2 Shrine Master, the Priest class gains access to a shrine for offerings, and through continuous offerings, acquires spiritual power. However, it's undeniable that the offerings are not to a god, but to an evil spirit. The higher the Priest class advances, the closer the Priest becomes to this evil spirit, and in this process, a single misstep can lead to possession by it.

However, it is precisely because of this high risk that the priest profession can acquire a certain degree of evil spirit abilities at a lower rank.

Different shrines often give rise to different professional skills. And the methods of offering sacrifices also vary significantly among different priestly professions.

Zhang Man took out a few incense sticks, lit them, bowed to the shrine, and then placed the incense sticks on the shrine.

"I offer my incense and seek the traces of my past."

The statue's head slowly turned, its empty eye sockets pointing towards the northwest.

Zhang Man closed her eyes and sensed, her lips moving slightly: "Qin Mei... in Shinjuku 3-chome, a straight-line distance of no more than three kilometers."

Zhou Chen immediately stood up: "The exact location?"

Zhang Man's pupils turned grayish-white, as if she were seeing something through the void.

"In Shinjuku's Kabukicho district, there is an izakaya called 'Tsukimi'."

At that moment, Chen Yan's fingers froze, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

"Wait... Saeki... his name is Saeki, could it be..."

He took out his phone and looked at the rules he had previously photographed inside the house. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

He looked up abruptly, his voice trembling: "Commander Zhou... In the murder case back then, wasn't it true that after the husband killed his wife and child, he also went and killed the pregnant wife of the man he suspected of having an affair with, and even cut open the other woman's child?"

Zhou Chen nodded expressionlessly.

He originally intended to keep it from the other party until he found Qin Mei.

Chen Yan's face turned deathly pale instantly.

"Damn! It's Ju-on! We've entered the [Undying Ju-on] instance!"

The entire Twilight team froze instantly upon hearing those words!
Many people dropped their chopsticks onto the table with a "clatter".

"Wha...what?"

"Wow--"

A young man with a buzz cut nearly knocked over a sake bottle and stood up.

"Impossible! How could our team have entered such a terrifying dungeon?!"

Zhou Chen could understand their feelings.

But in the end... many reincarnators have forgotten one thing: entering the Horror Dungeon Reincarnation is not a competitive event, it's not about fairness, but about the overall SAN value of the reincarnators' potential to decrease.

If you have cancer in the middle or late stages, you might want to try even the most dangerous surgical options. Even if the survival rate is low, you'll still want to take the risk.

From the moment Twilight's team was assigned to this instance, he guessed that the overall SAN value of this reincarnation team would tend to decrease more rapidly. Without entering such a dangerous instance, it would be difficult for the reincarnation system to curb this potential decline in SAN value. For a reincarnator whose strongest level is only LV3, the consequences of their SAN value falling into the Annihilation Layer would be unimaginable!

But Zhou Chen couldn't save them either. This kind of thing was all too common. For most reincarnators, reaching the top level of LV2 was often the limit of their lifetime; the path from LV2 to LV3 was extremely difficult. If they couldn't make it, they could only wait to die! If they didn't want to die, they had to fight to the death!

Too many LV1-LV2 reincarnators can only enter the annihilation layer little by little in despair, and then be completely "annihilated"!
To be honest, Zhou Chen himself couldn't say he wasn't afraid.

At this moment, the young man with the buzz cut trembled all over, as if his bones had suddenly been removed, and he slid down to his knees in front of Zhou Chen.

"Commander Zhou! Save us! You must have a way, right?!"

Another woman wearing glasses burst into tears: "I've seen the movie... Everyone who went into that room died! Very few reincarnators who enter this instance come back alive!"

"Shut up!" Zhang Man slapped the woman with glasses hard across the face, but she herself was trembling. "Commander Zhou is here... He's a Level 3 Shaman... He must have a way!"

Chen Yan's temples throbbed.

As the captain, he knew better than anyone how terrifying Kayako was—

Five years ago, during the Edo Incident, the once-famous Celestial Master team was completely wiped out in this instance. The team had two LV3 peak Reincarnators, five LV2s, and more than a dozen LV1s, but none of the team survived!

Furthermore, there was a Level 3 Reincarnator who had already escaped the instance and returned to White Plum Hospital. Yet, right in front of several other Reincarnators, Kayako dragged him back into the [Undying Curse] instance! As a Level 3 Reincarnator, all his attacks against Kayako were meaningless!

Chen Yan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down: "Commander Zhou, do you already know?"

Zhou Chen picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "Mm."

The shop was completely silent.

The boss looked at the group of people and wanted to remind them not to cause trouble for other customers, but he felt that they were not to be trifled with. Could they be involved in organized crime?
The woman with glasses suddenly crawled to Zhou Chen's feet: "Commander Zhou... my sister is still in college, please..."

"Get up." Zhou Chen frowned. "Kayako isn't here."

He tapped the table to bring everyone's attention back: "Listen, now do three things."

"First, Zhang Man, continue to locate Qin Mei. We'll go and meet up with her first, and then you can try to find Tokunaga Hitomi."

"Secondly, Chen Yan can use your 'Soul Refining Banner' to set up a barrier, which will at least provide early warning of Kayako's approach."

"Third, and most importantly, never let your SAN value drop into the annihilation layer. This is your only hope for survival. If you encounter Kayako in the annihilation layer, you are doomed; even Jesus couldn't save you."

"Falling into the annihilation layer means certain death?" Chen Yan asked anxiously, "Is there absolutely no chance of survival?"

“I told you, even Jesus wouldn’t help.” Zhou Chen repeated, “Kayako Saeki is one of the most terrifying Annihilation Layer evil spirits known at this stage. But if she reaches the Lost Layer, she will be weakened somewhat.”

But no matter what, Zhou Chen's words at least gave them a glimmer of hope.

The Twilight team acted as if they were grasping at a straw.

Chen Yan took out four palm-sized black banners from his backpack, each embroidered with a distorted human face.

He activated the runes on the banner and gave a low shout:
"Soul Barrier - Arise!"

The black banners moved without wind, forming a transparent barrier around the team members.

"I wonder how long I can hold out after encountering Kayako," Chen Yan wiped the blood from his nose.

Before he could finish speaking, the glass window next to him suddenly cracked open with a "snap"!

Everyone froze.

Chen Yan's Soul Refining Banner vibrated wildly, and the four faces on it simultaneously began to show distorted expressions.

“It’s not Kayako.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s some other vengeful spirit…”

Zhou Chen stared at the crack—it appeared to be covered with a child's handprint.

It's Toshio Saeki!
Of course, compared to Kayako, Toshio Saeki is much easier to deal with; at least a Level 3 Reincarnator is more than capable of handling him.

They quickly paid the bill and left the restaurant.

The bustling streets of Shinjuku somewhat dispelled the fear in everyone's hearts.

About ten minutes later...

"Found it! It's Hitomi Tokunaga's company!"

Fortunately, the actress who played Hitomi Tokunaga, Misaki Ito, was a fairly well-known actress. Zhang Man had seen her in the Japanese drama "Densha Otoko" and could barely remember what she looked like, so she successfully divined and located her position.

"Her company, it should be a company called 'Showa Design'! The company address is in Shibuya."

“In the movie, she was murdered after working overtime until late at night, but memetic contamination could drastically alter the plot,” Zhou Chen, who had already become the leader of the Twilight team, quickly assigned tasks, “Chen Yan, you send three people to that company, the rest of you come with me to meet up with Qin Mei first!”

Everyone nodded vigorously in agreement. Once Qin Mei was found, there would be three LV3 reincarnators!
Perhaps... we can give it a shot?
At this moment, Zhang Man suddenly grabbed Zhou Chen and said, "Commander Zhou... can we really survive seven days?"

Her nails dug into his arm, her eyes filled with the fear of impending death.

She was just like a patient diagnosed with cancer, hoping the doctor would tell her if she could survive.

Zhou Chen was silent for a moment, then said, "Don't let the SAN value fall into the Lost Layer. There's no other way."

At this moment, Chen Yan suddenly said, "Commander Zhou, there is something I would like to discuss with you privately."

"it is good."

Zhou Chen followed Chen Yan into a narrow alley.

This is a location near the west exit of Shinjuku Station. Most shops are not open during the day, their doors are mostly closed, and there are hardly any pedestrians passing by.

"What is it that you have to say here?" Zhou Chen frowned.

Chen Yan had his back to him.

"Commander Zhou, this matter is quite secretive..."

Zhou Chen instinctively sensed something was wrong, but it was too late—

"Shh!"

Chen Yan suddenly turned around and thrust a dagger straight at Zhou Chen's throat!
Zhou Chen reacted extremely quickly, dodging the fatal blow by sidestepping, but the dagger still managed to cut his shoulder!

"Chen Yan! Are you crazy?!"

Zhou Chen staggered back two steps, clutching his wound, his eyes sharp as knives.

The previous respect was gone from Chen Yan's face, replaced by an almost manic excitement.

"Crazy? No, I'm perfectly sober."

He flicked the blood off the dagger, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

“Zhou Chen, your vengeful spirit, a level 3 reincarnator, is priceless to a soul-stealer like me.”

Zhou Chen's pupils suddenly contracted.

—This guy wants to kill him and then refine his soul!

"Why?" Zhou Chen's voice was low, filled with suppressed anger. "Aren't we, Scarlet, and you, Twilight, cooperating very well?" Chen Yan scoffed, "We're cooperating very well? Don't be naive!"

He paced slowly, the dagger twirling between his fingers, its cold light flashing.

"I ask myself, how could a Level 3 Soul Refiner possibly survive in front of Kayako? But I can refine your vengeful spirit, and then I'll have a sliver of hope to escape from Kayako!"

Zhou Chen sneered: "You?"

Chen Yan didn't take it seriously and instead sneered, "You, the son of a drug lord, dare to look down on me? What, do you think that just because Blood Lord is covering for you, no one will know about this?"

He spat, his face full of disdain.

"Your mother is a scumbag, and you're nothing but Blood Lord's dog!"

Zhou Chen's eyes instantly turned cold.

The dragon has reverse scales, which will kill you if you touch it.

Zhou Chen slowly straightened up, the wound on his shoulder still bleeding, but his aura became increasingly fierce.

"Chen Yan, aren't you afraid of Blood Lord's revenge if you kill me?"

Chen Yan burst into laughter, as if he had heard a joke.

"Revenge? Who knew you'd entered this instance?"

He narrowed his eyes, his tone sinister.

"Besides... it was Kayako who killed you, what does it have to do with me, Chen Yan?"

Zhou Chen was silent for a second, then suddenly laughed.

"very good."

His fingertips gently traced the wound, and his eyes turned red.

"Have you forgotten that I am a shamanic reincarnator who follows the blood pact path?"

"Then you try—and see if you can get out of this alley alive!"

"Shh!"

Chen Yan struck first, his dagger piercing Zhou Chen's heart like a venomous snake!

Zhou Chen dodged to the side and then delivered a backhand elbow strike to Chen Yan's temple!
Chen Yan ducked to avoid the attack, and then thrust his dagger upwards, aiming straight for Zhou Chen's throat!

"clang!"

Zhou Chen had already grasped the peach wood sword in his hand. The moment he parried the dagger, the blood curse runes on the sword suddenly lit up!
"Blood Curse - Heart Burning!"

"boom!"

A trail of blood-red flames spread up the dagger, and Chen Yan screamed in agony, pulling back abruptly. His arm was already charred black!
"Oh shit……!"

He gritted his teeth and tore off the burning cuff, his eyes growing increasingly fierce.

Chen Yan suddenly bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the dagger!
"Besieged by a hundred ghosts!"

In an instant, several twisted ghostly figures crawled out of the shadows of the alley, howling as they pounced on Zhou Chen!

Zhou Chen sneered, his peach wood sword sweeping across, the blood-red light like a blade, instantly shattering the three evil spirits!
But more ghostly figures swarmed around him, their sharp nails tearing at his flesh, and whispered curses echoing in his ears.

Zhou Chen's scarlet pupils suddenly contracted, and the blood curse within his body began to operate wildly!
"With these scum?!"

He slammed the peach wood sword into the ground and formed a hand seal!

Despite being injured, he was still in complete control!
Chen Yan knew that he had underestimated Zhou Chen.

But he had no way out; only by killing Zhou Chen could he survive!
Chen Yan walked slowly forward. His eyes were deep-set, and a colorless and transparent soul fire flickered deep in his pupils. This was a unique mark of a Soul Seducer.

"Ahhhh——!"

His screams turned into inhuman roars, and he lunged at Zhou Chen!

Zhou Chen's eyes sharpened.

"Since you want to die... I'll grant your wish!"

He suddenly slashed his palm, and blood stained the peach wood sword red!
"With blood as the catalyst, with souls as the sacrifice—"

"Blood Curse - Soul Annihilation Slash!"

Chen Yan raised his withered finger and gently hooked it.

"Soul, come."

In an instant, countless translucent shadows seeped from the ground, as if pulled and twisted by an invisible force, gathering in his palm.

These are the remnants of souls from countless suicides during Japan's bubble economy era!

Chen Yan clenched his five fingers, raised his eyes indifferently, and with a flick of his wrist, a chain flew out, as black as ink, with soul-capturing incantations engraved on its links.

"Soul-Locking Chain - Bind!"

The chains shot out like living snakes, instantly binding the three vengeful spirits and dragging them in front of Chen Yan.

The vengeful spirit struggled and howled, but could not break free.

Chen Yan remained expressionless, lightly tapping their foreheads with his fingertips.

"Refining."

A colorless and transparent soul fire ignited from his fingertips!

The vengeful spirits were consumed by the soul fire, letting out mournful screams!

Zhou Chen was forced back several steps, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth!

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, held the peach wood sword across his chest, made a hand seal with his left hand, and chanted an incantation.

The peach wood sword instantly turned crimson red, like a branding iron!

"Blood Curse - Heart Burning!"

The sword's edge was aimed directly at Chen Yan's heart, and a line of blood shot out like a laser beam!

Chen Yan dodged to the side, but the blood trail followed him like a shadow, instantly piercing through his right shoulder!
"laugh--!"

The smell of burning flesh filled the air. Chen Yan groaned, looked down at the bloody hole in his shoulder, and frowned slightly.

"As expected of a shaman who follows the blood pact path..."

He slowly raised his head, his eyes cold, and gripped the dagger that had previously stabbed Zhou Chen tightly.

Clearly, he also realized that close combat was the best way to fight a shaman! That way, he wouldn't be able to cast spells or form hand seals!
"You're already injured. This dagger's wound will continue to deduct your SAN points. How long can you hold out?"

Zhou Chen sneered: "Killing you is enough!"

Seeing Chen Yan charging towards him, Zhou Chen swung his sword again, this time with even more ferocity, each strike accompanied by the sound of air being cut.

Amidst the flashing blades, Zhou Chen suddenly changed his move, his peach wood sword rising from below at an uncanny angle—

"laugh!"

As the sword tip grazed Chen Yan's left cheek, Zhou Chen felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively parried with his sword.

"boom!"

Chen Yan's knee slammed heavily against the peach wood sword, and the enormous impact forced Zhou Chen to stagger back several steps!

Chen Yan gave him no chance to breathe, and thrust the dagger straight at him!

Zhou Chen dodged the attack by tilting his head, the blade grazing his ear. He seized the opportunity to kick Chen Yan in the stomach, using the momentum to roll away and create distance.

The two faced off again, their breathing becoming rapid.

The temperature in the alley plummeted the moment Zhou Chen swung his sword again.

Countless tiny bloody handprints appeared on the ground at some unknown time, as if something unseen was crawling out of the ground and rushing towards Chen Yan!
Chen Yan narrowed his eyes and suddenly plunged the dagger into the palm of his left hand!
As the blood flowed down the blade and dripped onto the ground, the bloody handprints suddenly froze.

He suddenly pulled out the dagger, and blood spurted out, turning into several thin lines in the air, precisely piercing the center of each bloody handprint on the ground!
Instead of taking the opportunity to attack, Chen Yan took a step back and watched Zhou Chen's changes warily.

Zhou Chen suddenly looked up, his eyes now completely blood red.

He brandished the peach wood sword, the blood-red runes on its blade now shining like a branding iron.

Without any fancy moves, he simply delivered a straight thrust—

Wherever the sword tip passed, the air exploded with a deafening roar!

Chen Yan retreated rapidly, but the sword's edge followed him relentlessly. In desperation, he held the dagger horizontally in front of his chest—

"Crack!"

The dagger broke with a sound!

The peach wood sword continued its momentum, piercing Chen Yan's chest and pinning him to the cement wall of the alley!

Blood gushed out of the wound, but Chen Yan did not beg for mercy.

"My cycle of reincarnation has finally come to an end. Well, that's enough." Chen Yan knew that the decline in his SAN value was unstoppable; he couldn't break through the LV3 bottleneck. If he couldn't become LV4, he would eventually die from memetic contamination!

He was incredibly jealous of a genius like Zhou Chen! After all, Zhou Chen had a very good chance of advancing to LV4, and with Blood Lord's full support, there was even a glimmer of hope that he could become LV5 in the future!
How unfair the world is! Ordinary people deserve to die, while geniuses get to live? Why?!
Zhou Chen suddenly felt a sharp pain coming from his palm—his hand holding the sword was turning black!

A black substance was spreading from the peach wood sword to his hand!

He tried to let go, but found that his fingers were no longer under his control.

The black substance seemed to come alive, wrapping around his arm and spreading rapidly upwards.

Chen Yan sneered: "Come to hell with me, genius!"

(End of this chapter)