Starting as a prodigy wanting milk? A world-destroying deception in the opposite direction.

Shen Zhen said:

"The other party is meticulous in their actions. Since they have already gone into hiding, they will not easily expose themselves. If we conduct a large-scale interrogation or keep a close watch on them, they will only hide even deeper."

"Then... what should we do?" Qian Duoduo couldn't help but interject.

Shen Zhen looked at Han Zhong and Wei Qingxu:

"Prefect Han, Garrison Commander Wei, could you please imprison these barbarian prisoners in a place that appears to be poorly guarded but is actually easy to monitor?"

They also spread rumors that the man was seriously injured, delirious, and talking nonsense, and had not provided any valuable information.

We no longer care much about him; we'll wait until he recovers before interrogating him, or we can hand him over to the higher temple for further processing.

Han Zhong thought for a moment, then clapped his hands and said:

"Special Envoy Shen's plan is brilliant! This is a method of appearing relaxed but secretly tightening control!"

If those heretics are interested in this person, or fear that he will reveal more secrets, they might see an opportunity and risk coming to silence him or rescue him!

Wei Qingxu nodded in agreement:

"That works. I'll arrange a suitable location right away and set up a tight net."

Qian Sihai immediately said:

"This matter originated from my Qian family, and I, Qian, am willing to fully cooperate! If manpower or supplies are needed, my Hongshan Association will provide full support!"

He's eager to "atone for his crimes."

Shen Zhen shook her head, pouring cold water on the idea:

"I appreciate Chairman Qian's good intentions, but I have no idea whether this method will be effective."

Heretics are cunning and unlikely to risk their lives for a pawn that may have already lost its value.

Moreover, they might not even care about the life or death of these barbarians.

Upon hearing this, everyone agreed that it made sense; it was more like a trial fishing trip, and whether or not they would catch anything depended entirely on luck.

With the plan settled, Han Zhong and Wei Qingxu set about making arrangements.

Qian Sihai thanked them profusely and withdrew with his son.

That night, inside the post station.

Shen Zhen was cultivating "Spatial Restriction - Chapter 1" in his room. Reviewing the fierce battle during the day and the use of that wisp of spatial power, he felt that his cultivation had improved and he had reached the peak of the late stage of the first rank, and was faintly touching the threshold of the second rank.

If it weren't for the intervention of all the top experts in today's battle, the consequences would have been unimaginable, which only intensified his desire for power.

He then turned his attention to studying [Blazing Sun Cage] and [Shadow Strike], and a thought gradually formed in his mind:

It would be a waste to use the former only to trap and wear down the enemy. If the latter could be combined and used at the same time, a Shadow Strike could be launched the moment the enemy is imprisoned, catching them off guard and severely damaging them.

Shen Zhen was immersed in the simulation, repeatedly rehearsing the battle scenario in his mind:

With the enemy trapped in the Blazing Sun Cage, if I unleash Shadow Strike again, they will find it difficult to withstand.

The more I thought about it, the more feasible this method seemed, and a surge of excitement welled up inside me. I couldn't wait to try it out.

However, the actual operation was far more difficult than he had anticipated.

The two skills are very different in nature, and the connection between them is awkward when they are combined, making it difficult to control the power precisely.

More importantly, casting the Blazing Sun Cage had already consumed most of his psychic energy, causing the Shadow Strike to become weak and its power greatly reduced.

Shen Zhen was not discouraged.

He knew that if this technique succeeded, it would become a trump card.

At present, his cultivation level is still shallow and his control over mental power is not yet proficient, so it is reasonable to encounter setbacks.

He carefully reviewed the problems encountered in each simulation and recorded them one by one for future solutions.

Currently, he lacks offensive healing spells the most, so he might as well start by improving [Shadow Strike].

When the canyon was attacked last time, the Shadow Strike created two afterimages. If it could be increased to three, four, or even more, its power would be multiplied, adding even more unpredictability.

Shen Zhen gradually fell into deep thought, reconstructing in his mind the trajectory of the psychic power of the Shadow Strike and the principle behind the formation of its afterimage.

He attempted to redistribute the mental energy originally allocated to the two afterimages to condense it into three.

This requires extremely precise control; the slightest mistake can lead to the dissipation of the afterimage or a sudden reduction in power.

He didn't seek quick results, but instead repeatedly deduced and adjusted until he figured out a more stable and powerful way to operate his mental energy.

After a long while, his thoughts gradually became clear, and a new style of Shadow Strike seemed to have taken shape in his mind:

Several afterimages appeared simultaneously, fiercely attacking the enemy. Although it was just a concept, it already excited him.

True realization still requires countless trials and refinements.

So he began experimenting with the three afterimages.

Initially, the flow of mental energy always encountered stagnation at key points, and the afterimage could only last for a moment before dissipating.

He suppressed his anxiety and used visualization to repeatedly trace the flow of mental energy in his mind, treating each strand of mental energy as a piece of jade that could be carved.

On the tenth attempt, the three afterimages finally solidified into a form. Although they only lasted for a few breaths, they allowed him to capture the subtle balance of the distribution of mental energy.

This was already a huge improvement. A hint of joy flashed in Shen Zhen's eyes, but he quickly calmed down.

He understood that this was just the beginning, and there was still a long way to go before he could truly master and use the new Shadow Strike with ease.

Suddenly, a soft knocking sound came from outside the window.

Yi Tianxing's voice then entered my ears:

"Zhen'er, you are my teacher."

Shen Zhen's heart skipped a beat, realizing that her master had come for that wisp of spatial power.

He took a deep breath, got up, and opened the window.

It seems I must give my master a reasonable explanation for the truth about Qingwu Town and the sudden appearance of spatial power within me.

After entering the room, Yi Tianxing set up a small soundproof barrier before sitting down to carefully examine Shen Zhen, his eyes filled with relief and a hint of barely perceptible worry.

"Good lad, it hasn't been long since we last met, and not only has your cultivation improved, but you've even touched the threshold of spatial power?"

He paused, his tone inquisitive.

"To be able to access such rules at the late stage of the first rank is unheard of! Tell me in detail what encounters you had on your journey westward?"

Shen Zhen knew she couldn't hide it from her master.

He then briefly recounted his encounter with the "Echoing Obsession" and the Cycle Rule in Qingwu Town, and how he had luckily "stolen" a fragment of the Space Rule, omitting the crucial part about the Despair Power.

Yi Tianxing's hand, which was tapping on the table, suddenly stopped. An incredulous glint flashed in his eyes as he stared blankly at Shen Zhen, his voice trembling slightly:

"Stealing fragments of the rules?!"

You...you're saying you 'stole' a sliver of the essence from the very laws governing the workings of nature?

He took a deep breath, as if to calm his turbulent emotions, stood up, paced back and forth a couple of times, his brow furrowed, and muttered to himself:

"Rules are the framework of heaven and earth placed in a higher form by the energy of the divine ancestor. They have existed since time immemorial. Even if a divine being spends their entire life trying to understand, activate, or conform to them..."

There is no record of this in ancient books or unofficial histories, yet someone was able to... steal the rules and claim them as their own?

This...this is simply...

He suddenly looked at Shen Zhen, as if trying to see right through him:

"Boy, do you know what this means?"

This cannot be explained by ordinary talent or chance!

"In all my years, I have never heard of such a constitution or method!"

Yi Tianxing remained silent for a long time before the shock on his face slowly turned into solemnity and confusion. Finally, he shook his head and sighed:

"How strange! How very strange!"

Perhaps... perhaps it's your constitution that resonates with, or even devours, the fundamental rule of "echoing obsession" that you mentioned—a resonance that is unprecedented throughout history...

Even I, as your teacher, cannot give a clear explanation. I'm afraid even those old monsters in the Ceremonial Academy, who have sifted through countless ancient texts, might not be able to find the answer.

For now, we can only attribute it to a unique set of circumstances that you yourself cannot replicate.

He patted Shen Zhen's shoulder heavily, his tone solemn:

"Good fortune may be fraught with misfortune. You have a good opportunity, but the power of space, especially the power obtained in this way, is a double-edged sword. You must be extremely careful in your cultivation, and you should never show it to others easily."

"Possessing a treasure is a crime; if it attracts the attention of someone with ulterior motives, the consequences will be dire!" he solemnly warned.

"Disciple understands." Shen Zhen nodded, fully aware of the implications.

"However, you did very well this time." Yi Tianxing patted Shen Zhen on the shoulder.

"He remains calm in the face of danger, knows how to leverage external forces, and can even secretly lend his teacher a helping hand."

It seems that the trials and tribulations of this remote western region have greatly benefited your growth.

The master and disciple then discussed their cultivation experiences with spatial power. Yi Tianxing shared his insights with Shen Zhen, who benefited greatly from the information.

Meanwhile, in a dark house somewhere in Dayue City.

Several ordinary-looking, unassuming figures gathered together, creating a tense atmosphere.

The leader's voice was low and deep, filled with suppressed anger:

"The plan failed. The altar was destroyed by the temple delegation, and that barbarian Agutto was also captured."

"How could it be so fast? We clearly evacuated in time!" another person asked in confusion.

"It's those delegations posing as envoys, splitting into two groups, one openly and one covertly!" the leader said angrily.

"The group in the open attracted our attention, but the team lurking in the shadows actually made their way into Black Wind Pass. And the one leading them is that kid named Shen Zhen!"

"Shen Zhen? I heard he's the one who ruined things in the capital!"

"What do we do now? Although Aguto knows only limited information, he is still a potential threat. Moreover, the altar has been destroyed, and the task assigned by the Guide..."

The leader remained silent for a moment, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes:

"Aguto must be dealt with; we can't let him talk nonsense."

"That old fox Han Zhong locked him up in an abandoned prison in the north of the city, and deliberately relaxed the guards. Hmph, trying to lure us into a trap?"

"So...should we go?"

"Go, but don't force your way in," the leader sneered.

"They'll use their trick against us, so we'll launch a feint attack!"

Send a troop to launch a feigned attack on the governor's mansion, creating enough chaos to draw the main forces of the temple and the government.

Another elite group seized the opportunity to infiltrate the prison, aiming for a swift and decisive victory, ensuring a kill in one strike, and then retreating amidst the chaos!

"A feigned attack on the prefect's residence? That's too risky! It's heavily guarded..."

"High risk, high reward!" the leader said enthusiastically.

"The Guide has issued a divine decree that the people of the temple must not be allowed to find any clues in the western border!"

"If we can take advantage of the chaos to kill a few important figures in the temple, we can deal a heavy blow to them and carry out our orders."

"For the guide!" The people inside responded softly, their eyes flashing with determination.

......

In the following days, Shen Zhen spent his spare time each day in seclusion, practicing his deductions.

The number of afterimages increased from three to five. Each breakthrough was accompanied by a stinging pain in the sea of ​​consciousness and a depletion of mental energy, but the fierce killing aura became increasingly clear and perceptible.

This gave him more confidence in the upcoming operation.

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

The area near the abandoned prison in the north of the city appears peaceful on the surface, but in reality, it harbors deadly dangers.

Just like in the previous days, Shen Zhen, Su Mingyuan, Gu Chengye, Li Qingyan, Zhao Huaijin and other elite young talents of the temple, as well as several skilled men arranged by Han Zhong, had already been lying in ambush at key positions inside and outside the prison.

Zhou Shi's injuries had not yet healed. Shen Zhen originally wanted him to rest for two more days, but she couldn't persuade him to come along, so she had no choice but to let him follow and arranged for him to stay in a relatively safe corner.

The Third Prince Feng Yu and his guard commander Yan Feng also volunteered.

According to the plan, experts such as Yi Tianxing and He Wushuang did not directly participate in the young delegation's affairs; they only provided support from the shadows and would only take action at crucial moments.

child time.

The commotion from the direction of the Prefect's residence was deafening, with shouts of battle and booming sounds filling the air. Clearly, the "feigned attack" there was extremely powerful, intended to draw all the defensive forces in the city to that direction.

An eerie silence descended upon the abandoned prison.

Those lying in ambush held their breath, while Shen Zhen's lips curled into a cold smile:

"They've arrived as expected, and they've made quite a commotion."

Listen up, everyone! No one is to move without my signal. Let them in!

"Yes."

Shen Zhen wasn't nervous at all; instead, she had the calmness of a hunter waiting for its prey to fall into its net.

All of this was expected.

As early as when this "openly relaxed but secretly tight" strategy was decided, Shen Zhen had privately mentioned it to Han Zhong:

"Lord Han, this heretic is cunning. If he intends to silence us, he might not go straight to the prison."

They might use even greater chaos to lure the enemy away from their base.