I discovered a world bug.

It's all in chaos, complete chaos.

After Lin Shu gave her answer, Qin Lang couldn't sit still any longer.

In my initial assessment, I thought Li Yu was probably in the same group as Xu Changshun and Lin Shu—even if they weren't friends, they should at least be allies with common interests or facing common threats.

But now, Lin Shu's answer completely contradicts her group's earlier assessment.

Did Li Yu go back to find Kun Shi to deal with Lin Shu?

Does that mean Lin Shu and Li Yu are enemies?

Since you and Li Yu are enemies, aren't you in the same group as those "mysterious enemies" we're looking for?

He looked at Lin Shu, his expression one of astonishment, and continued to ask:

"Are you sure he's targeting you? Why?"

"...This is a very long story."

From Qin Lang's expression, Lin Shu also realized that the problem was somewhat serious.

This is bad.

Qin Lang felt that his antagonism towards Li Yu had a different meaning.

I must clarify this immediately, otherwise...

I might actually become a suspect!

Thinking of this, he immediately began to explain:

"Li Yu accepted the commission and tried to kill me, but I subdued him."

"He most likely returned to Xiangxi hoping to use the Kun Corpse to break the deadlock, but ultimately died at the hands of the Kun Corpse."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Lang breathed a sigh of relief.

Harmful!

A love triangle!

Unfortunately, the Lin Shu in front of him was not the mastermind he was looking for.

But this is for the best.

Judging from the current situation, this person is quite capable; being a friend rather than an enemy is better than being an enemy rather than a friend...

Qin Lang sat down again.

"Hey kid, can you stop talking so dramatically... you scared me!"

He paused for a moment, carefully considering the whole situation, before speaking:

"So, in that case, Li Yu's case is actually just a 'side story'."

"He wanted to kill you but couldn't, so he returned to western Hunan. His death was actually an accident."

"The real main storyline is still about 'killing you'."

"Do you know who wants to kill you? Do you know why they want to kill you?"

Lin Shu shrugged.

"I thought you would know."

"Aren't you investigating Xu Changshun's case? The reasons those people wanted to kill me should be the same as their reasons for killing Xu Changshun, right?"

"Theoretically, yes."

Qin Lang nodded slowly.

"But it's not that simple."

He paused slightly, then continued:

"We've already talked this far, so I think we can trust each other now."

"I have some information about Xu Changshun's death that I can share with you."

"First of all, his death was not an accident, but a murder carried out by someone using some kind of supernatural force."

"Internally, we'll tentatively call this supernatural power 'ritual,' do you understand?"

Ritual...

I understand, I understand perfectly.

This was the first time Lin Shu had heard the word "ritual" from someone else.

When Qin Lang uttered this word, it meant that the two sides had completely joined forces.

"I understand."

Lin Shu nodded, and Qin Lang continued:

"Good that you understand -- so here's the problem."

"Actually, it's not just Xu Changshun, nor is it just the few cases that your Linchuan City is currently investigating together."

"Nationwide, we have detected dozens of similar cases. If we also consider those cases outside our monitoring system, there have been at least hundreds of similar murders."

"All the deceased were mages associated with 'ritual power'."

"This is a large-scale, heinous terrorist attack. Our initial assessment is that this may be a large-scale operation that has already begun, aimed at eliminating dissidents and seizing power."

Eliminating dissidents and seizing power?

Lin Shu was dumbfounded.

Even in my most pessimistic imagination, I never anticipated this possibility!

He thought that those people wanted to deal with him simply because of Xu Changshun's inheritance or to undermine the lineage of the Meishan Sect!

But Qin Lang and his team had already directly classified these cases...

How could you make such a judgment?

Lin Shu asked impatiently:

"How can you be sure these cases were committed by the same group of people?"

"We're not sure."

Qin Lang sighed.

"So we still need to investigate."

"However, history always repeats itself."

"And what is happening now has already happened once before, thousands of years ago."

"That was the first time in documented history that a 'lineage of Dharma' had been targeted for suppression."

Do you know what it is?

"I have no idea."

Lin Shu answered honestly.

I haven't been in contact with the rituals for very long, and I haven't received any orthodox, complete lineage transmission.

If you ask me to talk about the principles of rituals and their "applications," I do have something to say.

But if you're talking about heritage or history, then I really know absolutely nothing about it...

He looked at Qin Lang, waiting for his answer.

The latter lowered his voice slightly and replied:

"Severing the connection between heaven and earth".

"The Gate of Heaven and Earth?"

For Lin Shu, this was also a completely unfamiliar term.

Seeing his puzzled expression, Qin Lang continued to explain:

The Book of Documents records: "Zhong is Xi, and Li is He. Yao appointed Xi and He to be in charge of the officials of heaven, earth, and the four seasons, so that the gods and men would not disturb each other and would each have their own order. This is called severing the communication between heaven and earth. It means that the gods of heaven do not descend to earth, and the gods of earth do not reach heaven, so that they are not related."

"According to the traditional materialist view of history, the so-called 'severing of the connection between heaven and earth' was a reform movement to rectify the state of the mixture of gods and people and to strengthen the rule of secular power."

"Its purpose is to prohibit the common people from communicating with 'gods' and to bring divine authority back to the core secular ruling group."

"But there's a problem..."

"If the earth and heaven are not connected, then why legislate to prohibit it?"

"So it is very likely that before the separation of heaven and earth, the earth and heaven were actually connected."

"This is a power strike against 'communication,' and in essence, it is a crackdown on the 'right to use rituals.'"

"Now, we face a very similar situation."

"As I mentioned before, a certain 'mysterious force' has been reviving over the past year."

"Those people saw an opportunity, so they began to seize power."

"This is our judgment—it may not be accurate, but it is the most reasonable guess."

"And based on this conjecture..."

"You've clearly gotten involved and are a potential victim."

"That's why we noticed you and found you."

"Of course, to be fair, we're not just doing this to protect you."

"We hope to use you to break through this struggle and regain the initiative."

"Now, all the background information has been explained."

"So, how about it... cooperating with us?"

Lin Shu fell silent.

Do you want to collaborate?

Perhaps we should cooperate.

But before that... I have one last question.

"I have one last question."

Lin Shu looked up at Qin Lang and asked seriously:

"Why aren't you the enforcers of 'Jedi Skylink'?"

"You originally represented the pinnacle of secular power, so why are you now standing against 'Severing the Heavenly Connection'?"

"Why is this time different from the one in history?"

Qin Lang smiled.

He shrugged and replied:

"Because we are different from the rulers in history."

"Of course, no one can guarantee that there won't be a few parasites or villains in their own system."

"But what is certain is that in our current system..."

"What most people want is different from what emperors, generals, and even deities want..."