I discovered a world bug.

After retreating from Luoguoping Village, Lin Shu and the rest of the action team returned to Lishui County.

With the major events in Lishui County concluded, the next task concerning the "Hongyuan Society" requires obtaining more details from Yu Zhe.

Therefore, Qin Lang planned to lead the team back to Linchuan city first, and then make further plans.

However, there is one more thing to finish before we leave.

Rahu, influenced by the Yinshan Dharma.

He was an innocent victim, inexplicably dragged into the conflict. From any perspective, the authorities should bear some responsibility.

When the group arrived at the hospital, Luo Hou was still in an "unconscious" state in the ward. Lin Shu tried to communicate with him, but he was extremely resistant.

To him, the whole world was a ghost realm, and everyone he saw was a "ghost"; only he was a living person.

Obviously, the living should not communicate with the dead.

Thus, he fell into a strange state of isolation.

He can hear and see everything outside, but fear has distorted his view of the world. He dares not try anything, and everyone who gets close to him brings him additional fear.

Previously, no one could understand where his abnormal state came from.

But after Lin Shu's personal experience, this abnormality was no longer an incurable disease.

"His most critical issue right now is not brain damage—theoretically speaking, he does not have brain damage."

"The human brain shouldn't be so fragile. It's like being bitten by my 'snake.' Although it might cause a coma or a forced shutdown, the effect is temporary."

"In my opinion, although the so-called Yinshan method and the snake-raising method differ in their effects, their essential principles are extremely similar."

Both exert a certain coercive effect on the human brain, altering a person's cognition and behavior by changing the brain's activity signals.

"In that case, the effect of the Yinshan Method should also be temporary."

"However, its effects are more severe than those of raising snakes, resulting in some kind of lingering aftereffects."

"This kind of aftereffect, in essence, is a permanent 'conceptual' change..."

"So how exactly do we solve this?"

He was speaking when the young Taoist priest, Sun Xiaoyi, who was standing to the side listening, interrupted him somewhat impatiently:

"Fellow Daoist Lin, I don't quite understand what you're saying, but I think you should have a solution."

"Just tell me directly what methods you have, whether it requires rituals or other methods, I can assist you."

"After all, as you've seen, this family's situation is quite urgent. If Rahu can't recover in time... they'll be under a lot of pressure."

"I know."

Lin Shu nodded.

"But a timely recovery is not so simple. His aftereffects will cause physiological effects, such as rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and excessive hormone secretion."

This is an experience summarized by Lin Shu after her own experience, and it is actually the most vicious and deadly effect of the Yinshan Method.

Simple fear is unlikely to scare people to death; otherwise, countless people would be frightened to death by the horror movies released every year.

But when you add the physiological effects on top of that, it becomes quite disgusting...

After a slight pause, Lin Shu continued:

"The treatment for him can only be symptomatic—we cannot reverse his consciousness in a short period of time unless we use a ritual similar to the Yinshan ritual again, but that would be too risky."

"Therefore, it's better to treat the symptoms—the treatment is quite simple: if the heart rate is too fast, lower the heart rate; if the blood pressure is too high, lower the blood pressure; if there is excessive hormone secretion, suppress the hormone glands. In short, don't let the physiological reaction kill him; let him gradually adapt to the fear."

"Once he fully adapts, his 'illness' will basically be cured."

".......genius."

Sun Xiaoyi gasped and exclaimed in amazement:

"It seems Brother Xu was right about you."

"certainly."

He had barely finished speaking when Lu Ran chimed in:

"Destroying the Yinshan altar in two days? You think I'm kidding?"

"Yes... overturning altars and destroying temples, carrying out the righteous law, and breaking the old evils, is a great achievement."

Sun Xiaoyi stared intently at Lin Shu, nodded slowly, and continued:

"If that's the case... then we can do what Brother Xu asked me to do now."

"Are you leaving today? I'd like to say a few words to Lin Shu, is that alright?"

"Please go ahead."

Qin Lang waved his hand, and Sun Xiaoyi added:

"What I mean is, what I say to him must not be overheard."

"Don't worry, absolutely not."

Having received Qin Lang's assurance, Sun Xiaoyi gave Lin Shu a look, and Lin Shu followed him out of the ward.

Following the stairs down, Sun Xiaoyi led Lin Shu to the hospital's small garden.

He lit a cigarette and, after confirming that no one was following or monitoring him, spoke:

"Brother Xu left you a letter before, and he should have told you that there are some things he feels are not the right time to tell you."

"You know about this, right?"

"I know."

Lin Shu nodded.

So are you now trying to convey his meaning to me?

This attitude...

It seems that what Sun Xiaoyi is about to say is of great importance.

What exactly is it?

A new, more powerful ritual?

Why are you unwilling to join the official team?

Or is it the more fundamental, basic truth about this world?

Lin Shu looked at Sun Xiaoyi expectantly, and the latter didn't beat around the bush, but spoke directly:

"What he wants to tell you is... that you are important."

"You are important, but you don't know why you are important, right?"

"...You can probably guess that."

Lin Shu shrugged.

"Lu Ran proposed a concept called 'asymmetry.' Under this concept, the stronger the asymmetry, the stronger the effect of the ritual."

"Coincidentally, I can adapt to many highly asymmetrical rituals, so they naturally become important."

"It's not that simple."

Sun Xiaoyi shook her head and took a deep drag on the cigarette she was holding.

Thick smoke drifted upwards, and he continued:

"Their officials always manage to come up with some incomprehensible statements, but actually... these statements can be summed up in just two words."

"The Dao's Fate".

"What asymmetry... it's actually just the affinity with the Tao."

"Those with a strong affinity for the Tao will experience strong effects regardless of the ritual they perform."

"Those with weak affinity for the Dao may be able to perform rituals and use magic in an era of rising calamity, but they are ultimately no match for the 'people' with strong affinity for the Dao."

"This concept forms the basis for understanding the world we live in today..."

A predestined connection?

A calamity?

Lin Shu looked at Sun Xiaoyi, completely bewildered—he had no idea what these concepts represented.

Seeing his bewildered expression, Sun Xiaoyi smiled wryly, tossed away her cigarette butt, and patiently explained:

"The so-called calamities are the five calamities: the Longhan Calamity, the Yankang Calamity, the Chiming Calamity, the Kaihuang Calamity, and the Shanghuang Calamity."

"Over the past few thousand years, we have completed the first four tribulations and are now at the end of the Supreme Emperor Tribulation."

"During this calamity, the primordial energy changes from separation to unity, from extinction to rebirth. Therefore, you can see that many rituals that were not usable before have gradually become usable."

"This is a crucial moment for the transition from decline to prosperity, but it is also the end of the five-stage cycle."

"The universe will enter a new cycle. Between birth and death, only those who diligently cultivate themselves will be able to survive and be reborn."

"To understand why you are so important, you must first understand the concept of this 'cycle'."

"Once you understand this concept, you'll know why they want to eliminate you."

"What they truly want to exterminate are the races, and you are one of the races with the strongest affinity for the Dao..."