I slay evil in the Department of the Supernatural

Chapter 90, Chapter 89: Under the same eaves, the method of acting was learned (12th update, please subscribe)

Inside the Tower of Babel, Xu Lindong's consciousness solidified and took shape. He walked a few steps to the oval bronze mirror in the center of the hall and glanced at the diary scrolling on the mirror surface.

[Latest Containment Record]

Item: Evil artifact "Gateway Giant Bicycle"

Origin: A means of transportation for a powerful clan during the aristocratic era; strength approximately equal to a Human Sequence Six. Status: Isolated and suppressed; abnormal reactions are stable. Consumption: None. Merit Income: 1680

Containment Record

Item: Extraordinary substance "Blood of a Vampire Baron's Familia"

Source: Deep within an ancient castle Status: Refining Consumption: None Merit Points Income: 110

[Latest Incident Handling Log]

Event: Prevent a "powerful clansmen using bicycles to crash into a train" incident orchestrated by evil beings from beyond the realms, saving many innocent people. Merit Income: 1000

Event: Assisted in killing multiple evil superhumans, eliminating potential future threats. Merit Income: 320

Current merit balance: 6162

"If we ignore the risks involved, this has been a huge success."

After browsing through the Tower of Babel's diary, Xu Lindong felt both moved and inspired.

With so much merit accumulated, my cultivation speed will be able to jump even higher.

Putting aside the 300 merits that need to be paid out, the return on investment from asking Houtu Niangniang this time is definitely a worthwhile deal.

However—the merits that should be given must still be given in the end.

Xu Lindong's mind shifted, and he turned his attention to the user manual of the "gatekeeper bicycle".

The inscription on the oval bronze mirror appeared in detail, following his thoughts:

A large bicycle used by powerful figures during the aristocratic era (originating from the transportation of a prominent aristocrat).

Usage requirements: Activation once requires 660 Merit Points. Effects:

Rampage: Launches a powerful charge at the target, dealing high physical damage (actual effect depends on the target's strength). Soul-Summoning Bell: Rings the bell to inflict mental shock on the target, causing dizziness, pain, or fear (effect is related to the target's resistance).

Relentless Pursuit: Once a target or location is locked, it will continuously accelerate in pursuit until the objective is achieved (Note: Prolonged pursuit may prevent stopping midway).

"This bicycle—it's pretty extreme. But, did the powerful clans of the time still ride bicycles themselves?"

After reading the introduction, Xu Lindong felt a surge of joy.

However, using it once requires 660 merits, which is quite a price to pay.

Compared to this, the three hundred merits "appearance fee" given to Houtu Niangniang before does seem rather meager.

However, he also knew that he couldn't even open the sixth level of the Humanity Gate, so his strength was insufficient.

When my power increases in the future, I might be able to directly use the power of the Tower of Babel to control this vehicle without having to consume merit points anymore.

Right now, he's still too weak, relying entirely on "Master Ta" to keep this strange bicycle in check. Master Ta obviously won't let him squander his power at will.

"If I ever encounter an enemy I can't handle, even if it costs me a lot of merit, I can use this bicycle to give it a shot, or just ride it away—"

"In this way, we won't have to rely on Houtu Niangniang too much."

Just as he thought of this, Xu Lindong suddenly sensed something and looked up.

From the top of the tower came the calm voice of the Goddess Houtu: "Give me my merits."

"it is good."

Xu Lindong nodded, and with a thought, he transmitted his intention to "send three hundred merits to the first underground passage gate at the top of the tower" through the oval bronze mirror.

Instantly, the merit balance changed from 6162 to 5862.

Transmission successful.

Xu Lindong tensed up slightly, looking up at the activity on the first floor of the tower.

A woman's soft sigh came from behind the tunnel door, followed by the sound of high heels on the floor. She took a few steps and then suddenly stopped.

"You little rascal, you're quite the schemer. Three hundred merits won't help me much; at most, they'll give me a chance to catch my breath in this tower."

""

Xu Lindong's eyes flickered, unsure whether she was telling the truth or not, and he replied, "When a person is weak, the most important thing is not to take advantage of the strong, but to protect themselves first."

Just like when you're starving, you only think about how to survive, not about buying gold and silver jewelry to dress up.

My senior should be able to understand what I'm doing now.

"Good, there's nothing wrong with what you did."

Houtu Niangniang said calmly, "Since we've come this far, I don't expect you to release me now."

Let's be more honest with each other and try to build trust gradually.

"How do you plan to be honest, senior? How will you build trust?" Xu Lindong asked directly.

"From today onwards, I will no longer ask you for merits, so you can rest assured."

But I need you to help me gather some information about the outside world, some information that I absolutely need to know.

"Just news?"

Xu Lindong pondered for a moment, feeling that this was much safer than directly giving out merit.

Even if a person locked in a tower knows a lot about the outside world, they cannot conjure up merit out of thin air.

Without accumulating merit, Houtu would have difficulty easing the pressure exerted on her by the Tower of Babel, let alone emerging from the underground room.

Moreover, whether or not to give information, and how much to give, is entirely up to him.

"What benefits will I get?" Xu Lindong asked bluntly.

"One useful message in exchange for one piece of guidance from me."

Two useful pieces of information; now it's my turn to act.

After Houtu finished speaking, she paused for a moment and then said, "In order to show my sincerity, clear up this misunderstanding, and restore the trust between us, I can first teach you the role-playing method of 'corpse driver' or 'corpse refiner'."

You choose one.

,

"this----"

Xu Lindong was somewhat surprised, and a sense of vigilance rose in his heart.

Having learned his lesson before, he's now on edge, unsure if this is yet another trap.

"It seems you still don't believe me?"

Houtu said calmly, "But it's okay, you can try it first."

Even if the role-playing method is flawed, at most it will just waste your time and prevent you from improving; it won't cause any other harm.

She continued, "Choose. I'll only give you three breaths to consider; this is your only chance."

Xu Lindong was silent for a moment before speaking, "I'm more interested in the role-playing of the 'corpse driver'."

If you choose the zombie-refining role-playing method, it means you have to refine your own body into a zombie.

Over time, they will inevitably become more and more like zombies in appearance and aura, and will become sinister.

In that case, his secret of cultivating the underground tunnels would be exposed, and he doesn't want to reveal it right now.

In comparison, the method of impersonating a corpse driver is much more suitable.

It won't make him increasingly like a zombie, but it can teach him to drive and mobilize zombies.

In future battles, you can even command zombies to help you.

Seeing that he had made his choice, Houtu said no more, and slowly recited a mantra and key points for playing the role of a corpse driver: "The dead set out, the living retreat. The gong clears the way, the talisman protects the body. The soul returns home, the spirit follows the bell. Mountains high, waters far, a thousand miles will not be moved—"

She recited a long mnemonic and then explained the key points in detail.

For example, the rhythm of the steps, "three steps and a stop, one stop and a bell rings", as well as the symbolic meanings of actions such as striking the gong and scattering paper money, are all explained very clearly.

Xu Lindong silently made a note of it.

According to Houtu, this incantation is the core of digesting the effects of role-playing and commanding zombies and wandering spirits, but it also needs to be used with the corresponding props to be effective at crucial moments.

The corpse-driving person needs many props, including talismans, copper bells, gongs, robes, night boots, and masks, each with its own specific requirements.

He could actually gather some of this information from within the Commander's Office through Yi Qianxun.

However, he himself was unable to develop such a mature "corpse-driving performance method".

If any step in the process goes wrong, it might even have the opposite effect.

To develop a mature acting method on your own requires a significant investment of time and effort.

Now it's much easier to get it directly from the Goddess Houtu.

Finally, Houtu added, "In the underground room of the Tower of Babel, you can also try to cultivate using the role-playing method, which will be twice as effective."

However, you need to create those props and clothes yourself using your own mind.

This involves the power of nightmares associated with "ghosts," but the Tower of Babel's assistance in manifesting your consciousness will also help you familiarize yourself with and master this power beforehand...

"6

Upon hearing this, Xu Lindong immediately bowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness!"

Living under the same roof, regardless of any unpleasantness between the two in the past, now that the other party has taken the initiative to show goodwill, he has nothing to lose and is naturally willing to maintain a friendly relationship with a strong person of this level.

As for whether there will be further trouble in the future, we can only wait and see.

Life must go on as usual.

He then turned and walked into the tunnel door on the first floor.

Try to use your consciousness to construct items such as talismans, copper bells, gongs, robes, night boots, and masks.

However, ideas are one thing, but when it comes to actually building them, they are full of problems.

The "talisman" in his mind was just a vague rectangular yellow concept.

Only when you actually construct it with your consciousness do you realize that the cinnabar runes on it are crooked and disordered, completely lacking that mysterious and powerful feeling.

In his imagination, a "copper bell" was simply a metal bell that could ring.

However, once it was actually formed, the bell's proportions were distorted, the clapper was rough, and the sound it made when shaken was dull and muffled, lacking the clear, penetrating "spirituality" that Houtu described as capable of guiding the soul.

As for the gong, robe, and boot mask, these are all issues that lack detail.

These crude and vague creations are vastly different in detail from the "real props" he learned from Houtu, which contain the power of inheritance and ritual.

Based on these things imagined by his mind, he could not find any sense of immersion or ritual in the "corpse driver" walking on the edge of yin and yang, so the role-playing method was naturally difficult to delve into.

"It seems that just daydreaming won't work; we need a concrete reference point —"

Xu Lindong realized the problem.

He needs clear images or physical details as a "blueprint" for construction.

"I need to do some research, and it would be best if I could get clear photos of these props."

This is also a form of learning. If I can consciously construct the details of these items, it will, as Houtu Niangniang said, lay the foundation for comprehending the abilities of Yin Messengers and Dream Demons in the future.

Xu Lindong's consciousness exited the Tower of Babel, and he turned around and went to Yi Qiande's room.

Ask her to help log into the Commander's internal network and find pictures of the relevant costume equipment.

No database in the world is more detailed than that of the Royal Household Agency.

He can quickly find the information he needs through the Commander's database.

If you can't even find it here, then it's very likely that your access level is not high enough, and you'll have to keep climbing higher.

In short, it's convenient to get things done when you have control over all your own people.

Xu Lindong has begun to consciously try to cultivate Yi Qiande and elevate her status in the Commander's Office.

This will also be very beneficial to his future.

"Dongzi, what are you doing searching for these ghostly things? They're creepy..."

'

Inside the room, Yi Qianxun fiddled with the mouse, her beautiful legs crossed, looking at the content appearing on the computer screen with some confusion.

As for the rule that internal information should not be leaked to others, she simply ignored it.

In her view, she joined the Royal Household Agency to seek the well-being of her family. What use was it if she couldn't help Dongzi? Helping Dongzi was the real meaning of her decision.

Xu Lindong stared at the information on the computer and said, "I looked it up for a friend of mine surnamed Ding. Of course, I won't download it for him to see. I'll read it myself and then dictate it to him."

Could you also help me look up some information about the promotion of door gods...?

""

"Huh? Dongzi, you're going to be promoted to a gatekeeper?" Yi Qianxun exclaimed in surprise.

"Hmm, I should earn a lot of merits from this incident, and my energy and spirit are almost up to par; I can prepare for a promotion now..."

'

>