Chapter 198: Scheming To Betray Myself
The two strolled leisurely along the green-shaded corridor, slowly arriving at the downtown area.
Zhou Chu volunteered, taking him to a restaurant she frequented, planning to treat her little partner to some of her favorite specialty seafood dishes.
In just one short day, Yuan Zhu, having absorbed a large amount of knowledge and intelligence, remained noncommittal, merely nodding to indicate no dietary restrictions, then lowered his head to study the intelligence provided by Zhou Chu.
According to her guidance, his [Holy Light System] should follow the first route, along the established path long optimized by the [Holy Church], continuously [Seal Casting] to proceed.
This was a path to heaven, complete and stable. It also had multiple hidden modes (Eight Holy Kings) to further stack the foundation. However, there were many [Angels] overhead, and one slip-up could lead to a chain of creditors for himself.
Therefore, she strongly recommended [Great Law Heaven]!
Zhou Chu was straightforward: this was the [Law System]’s ‘experimental branch’ within the [Holy Church], retaining [Holy Light characteristics], but the final interpretation rights belonged to [Pale Great Law].
Thus, Yuan Zhu decisively chose No in secret! Even if mixing with [Tai Huang Dao Master], he wouldn’t go to [Great Law Heaven].
As for the second route, it was clearly suitable for [Tiger Demon (Shadow System)].
And his [Shadow System] was about to condense with [Anti-Law] (part-time). Joining a mature system midway (Anti-Law). He could leverage [Anti-Law Avenue]’s mature operational experience to run the [Shadow System], making it big and strong…
As far as he knew, [Anti-Law] itself was extremely skilled at cultivating wild Demon Gods and independent pollution roots; it was a [Pollution System] used by big shots in the system to open private alt accounts.
What more could he say about this? ‘My eyesight is still as sharp as ever!’
…
By now it was dinnertime, and Yuan Zhu was brought by Zhou Chu to a restaurant with abundant ocean elements, its signature dish named [Lobster Princess Clamps You to Death].
Seeing Zhou Chu, the dark-skinned young lady playing with a Rubik’s Cube at the counter greeted her happily, then arranged for the server: ‘Same old spot, standard meal for 2, extra large portions.’
Finally, the two arrived at the deepest part of the restaurant, at a secluded seat right by the ‘fish tank window.’ Surrounded by lush indoor plants, the window featured a layer where seafood swam back and forth.
“This place is really unique!”
Zhou Chu nodded seriously: “The seafood rice tastes great, and the price is reasonable. It’s said the head chef trained in the deep sea world, and even the ingredients come from the deep sea. Running City doesn’t have these conditions, so you can savor it properly.”
Then, the man and woman in the restaurant suddenly fell into silence.
Though handsome man and beautiful woman, the atmosphere held no ambiguity. Zhou Chu stared intently at Yuan Zhu like she was interrogating a criminal, making him extremely uncomfortable. It was just like an informant being taken to a restaurant by a female cop to be grilled for intelligence.
Yet Zhou Chu herself showed no discomfort at all, perfectly accustomed to this silent and awkward atmosphere, with zero ability to read the mood, particularly enjoying this oppressive feeling, believing it silently deepened friendship and bonds.
Yuan Zhu couldn’t take the intense gaze from the ironclad dullard across from him first: “Cough! How about saying something?”
Zhou Chu: “Sure! I’ve actually wanted to ask for a while: you specially came to Taixi to meet Meng Xiyue, what’s the real scheme?”
“Just some business cooperation, involving [Knowledge School] privacy. Signed a confidentiality agreement, can’t disclose.”
Zhou Chu frowned, clearly dissatisfied, but held back: “Fine, I won’t ask that. In your territory in the Underground World, are you enshrining an ‘Evil God’? The power descended into the Underground World from it has no will directing it; you are the spokesperson. So the captain and Meng Xiyue both value your attitude highly and want to cooperate with you.”
Yuan Zhu shook his head repeatedly: “How could it be an Evil God? It’s clearly a ‘Shadow System Demon God.’ [Shadow]—those in the know get it, it’s weak as hell, never produced a major root source, mostly just neutral minor Demon Gods.”
“Mm!”
Zhou Chu nodded, approving Yuan Zhu’s statement. Among the various pollution sources, [Shadow] was usually seen as a harmless gimmick. So she continued: “I have an idea: could you cooperate with me and set up a play against this ‘Shadow Demon God’?”
“What do you mean? What kind of play?”
Zhou Chu explained: “This isn’t actually a bad thing. You just need to collude from inside and out, like setting traps for hunting in the forest. Find a way to send this ‘sleeping Demon God’ into [Pale Great Law], making it part of the [Law System]. This way, no matter if this ‘Shadow Evil God’ is good or bad, or hiding malice, it will be influenced by [Law], and your safety as spokesperson will greatly improve, no need to worry about being used or betrayed.”
In Zhou Chu’s view, everyone teaming up to trick the ‘Shadow Demon God (Tiger Demon)’ into the [Law System] was nothing but beneficial for Yuan Zhu as spokesperson, with zero downsides.
Look, how much I’m thinking of you! Not a shred of selfishness.
If it were any other ‘Evil God,’ Yuan Zhu naturally wouldn’t refuse, but you and I teaming up to conspire sending myself into [Pale Great Law]—isn’t that a bit much?
“This…”
Zhou Chu’s gaze suddenly sharpened, as if discovering something: “You unwilling?!”
Sigh! I knew I shouldn’t have given you a chance to talk: “Of course not, but we must prioritize completing the contract with the captain and Meng Xiyue before advancing your plan.”
Yuan Zhu had also thought it through: after squeezing the value out of [Shadow Domain], simply sell off the ‘domain’ ownership, cultivate a native Demon God for Zhou Chu to bind. Plus, observe and learn the [Law System]’s techniques for reeling people in.
Anyway, after the [Evil God] was bound, the [Domain] could still operate normally, producing supplies. It was just that final ownership would gradually tilt toward [Law].
…
Soon, an extra-large seafood platter + pineapple fried rice was served, finally easing the awkward atmosphere.
Faced with a pile of bizarrely shaped ocean ingredients beyond his biological knowledge, Zhou Chu turned into a mentor, guiding him on how to shell them and eat them.
During the pleasant meal, Yuan Zhu’s mind grew increasingly active. He suddenly thought of his [Holy Knight Breathing Method] forcibly modified by A Miao in the [Space Fault], then recalled Zhou Chu also had a [Knight System. Armor], so he asked.
“A Chu. I remember you’re very knowledgeable about the [Knight System], right?”
She placed a strange seafood creature she had personally shelled onto Yuan Zhu’s plate, then nodded: “Mm, our [Environmental Department]’s [First Law] is uniformly designated as [Crimson Iron Knight].”
Yuan Zhu handed her a strange seafood in return, shaking his head: “Don’t get it.”
The ironclad dullard with exceptionally strong protagonist spirit smoothly took it and continued serving Yuan Zhu, explaining:
“The [Environmental Department] I belong to is a subordinate department of the [Security Bureau], mainly responsible for large-scale anomalous environmental changes, extreme weather disaster relief, natural environmental pollution… and other anomalous issues. These incidents are usually caused by [Spirit Layer] erosion, rupture, or leakage, often accompanied by massive demonic creature outbreaks. Therefore, our department targets the group-combat-proficient [Knight System] as the [First Law] goal for binding.”
In her explanation, [Law System] cultivation was similar to [Holy Seal]. Through constant self-restraint and upholding oaths, one could condense [Law/Law Clause].
[First Law] was like the Holy Church’s first [Holy Seal], followed by [Second Law], [Third Law]. And each complete [personal Law Clause] could be backed by [Pale Great Law] to bind any polluting energy or [Pollution System].
As long as the ‘pollution source (demonic creature/[species])’ intensity didn’t exceed the [Law Clause] upper limit, it could be forcibly bound and controlled for one’s own use.
Typically, [Law System] cultivators would select the highest cost-performance or highest-potential [pollution source] for binding, targeted to their department, faced crises, or superordinary environment.
As the saying goes: Others cultivate, I impose Law; all others are my granary!
Just like Yuan Zhu, stunningly talented, young yet condensing a ‘space attribute’ Holy Seal [Sanctuary] plus [Soul Crystal], not even out of the gate to show off before being targeted by [Law System] old schemer Zhou Chu, knocked out with a club, and while hot, bound with a [Law Clause], forcibly occupying all his heritage and [Holy Seal, Soul Crystal] abilities, not even sparing Little Pumpkin in the ‘soul space.’
Zhou Chu: Exactly, that’s how we [Law System] do things!
Zhou Chu: “Actually, a single [Pollution Knight] is among the lowest potential in the various [Pollution Systems]. The [Knight System] isn’t renowned for individual power strength. [Knight System] often dominates through group combat. We’re required to bind [Knight] in [Environmental Department] firstly because single-unit pollution intensity is low, resistance weak, making binding easy.”
“Secondly, it’s the amplification effect of large-scale legion operations. Entering via [Knight System], all investigators can transform into ‘pirated knights,’ collectively replicating the [Knight Order]’s might, extremely helpful for large-area anomalous environment cleanup—that’s the power of the team!”
In the iron-headed girl’s mouth, she never denied bad people existed in the [Security Bureau].
But the [Law] system’s foundation was built on high-quality, high-awareness [self-restraint]; most members had strong dedication. With many members but low individual strength, many chose [Knight System] for binding, leveraging group power against various pollution sources.
As she spoke, Zhou Chu rarely complained: “It’s just that inexplicably entering [Space of Gods] prevented my [First Law] from exerting maximum effect. Forcing me now to study how to bind [Second Law]. I even considered [Holy Light] before, but with you around, I dropped that plan.”
Normally, she went wild with her little partners, collectively wielding [Crimson Iron Knights]’ power in battle, mutually amplifying, super strong, extremely happy.
Instead, entering [Happy Home], isolated and helpless, just a lone knight armor, weak as could be. This was also why she formed the ‘Child Labor Knight Order’ in [Insect City], cultivating a batch of Insect City kids to faith [Pale Great Law], binding surface Calamity Knights, together saving the doomsday world.
Yuan Zhu curiously: “If you were to bind [Holy Light], how would you do it?”
“Submit application to superiors, contact [Great Law Heaven]’s undercover, then secretly screen high-potential, psychologically troubled ‘Holy Light Geniuses.’ Create chance to isolate them, then assault, forcibly bind, clipping out a danger.”
As she spoke, her gaze lingered on Yuan Zhu’s face from time to time, making Candle quite embarrassed.
Yuan Zhu: “So the question is, after [Law System] binds a knight, can you master their [Breathing Method]?”
Zhou Chu was puzzled but nodded: “Yes. But knights controlled by [Law] aren’t authentic [Knight System], but indirectly driven. Thus, after binding the [pollution source], the [Breathing Method] cultivation effect I gain is weakened to 10%. At that point, the complete full [Knight System (single version)] is inheritable by me. If continuing to invest energy, I can steadily improve this [Pollution System] at 10% speed.”
“If just using [First Law] to control and utilize, then the [pollution source] intensity stops here, no further increase. Unless other reinforcement opportunities arise. If seriously treating [First Law], continuing deep research to excavate [Knight System] power, cultivation speed rises from 10% to more. This process is also [Law]’s interpretation, infiltration, and convergence of all [Pollution Systems].”
Yuan Zhu comprehended: “Like [Great Law Heaven]?”
“Not the same. [Law] is investigators binding a [Holy Light Pollution] for their own use. [Great Law Heaven] is actively immersing in Holy Light, reaching the top, then converting to [Pale Great Law], inching toward [Law].”
