Douluo Continent, my martial soul is a mushroom.

Chapter 82 Sophistry, Heavenly Dou City

Lin Xiang didn't do anything more to the knight and the civil servant because it wasn't the right time yet; he wanted to maximize the effects of the medicine on them.

So he just chatted with the two of them, took his medication to stabilize his emotions, and then went about his own business.

Organizing experimental data, preparing drugs, and deducing the next steps of the method...

The knights and civil servants watched Lin Xiang work and were surprised to find that he remained very calm from beginning to end, just like the patient doctor they always saw in the clinic. For him, researching the life-devouring evil magic was no different from ordinary medical treatment and prescription writing.

"Schisandra chinensis... Phoenix grass..."

Lin Xiang pondered the properties of the medicinal herbs, muttering to himself. He believed that combining these herbs would maximize their effects on different parts of the body.

"He doesn't seem crazy," the civil servant told the knight.

Under the influence of the drugs, the knight's expression relaxed, but his reason told him that he should be serious at this moment. "Too crazy to look normal."

"I need to correct a small mistake you made. I was just doing what I thought I should do, so why do you think it's crazy?" Lin Xiang put down his notebook and said to the two of them.

"Studying how to eat human food and still thinks you're not crazy?" the civil servant retorted sarcastically.

What constitutes cannibalism?

"Does causing someone's death count as cannibalism? If so, don't nobles and merchants also engage in cannibalism?"

"A simple adjustment to policies or a change in prices can drive countless families to ruin and death. How many people can someone who cultivates the Life-Devouring Technique consume in a lifetime? They are just a drop in the ocean compared to those who die because of tyranny."

The civil servant scoffed, "That's just sophistry. The implementation of a policy doesn't start overnight. Do you think we're just for show? Besides, every policy has its advantages and disadvantages. You only see the disadvantages; why can't you see how many people benefit?"

"Do those who suffered as a result deserve it?!"

The civil servant replied earnestly, "Nothing is perfect. Besides, if they suffer losses from one policy, they will naturally benefit from another. To only see what they've lost and not what they've gained is simply too greedy!"

The knight chimed in, "The Imperial dogs are right. As for what you said about merchants overcharging, those Imperial dogs are actually quite good at that."

Lin Xiang exhaled a breath of stale air. "What you said makes sense."

The knight and the civil servant were taken aback.

—You convinced them so easily?

"But I won't change it," Lin Xiang said. "If the experiment that has already begun is abandoned halfway, neither I nor those who have already died can accept it."

His gaze was as firm as that of a great man.

"Disgusting!" the civil servant said coldly.

"Say what you will. I didn't develop this method so that others could understand me."

"He acts all high and mighty, but he's really just a self-righteous, selfish lunatic." The civil servant sat up straight and glared at him angrily.

Lin Xiang nodded, "You're right."

"Aren't you afraid that the wronged souls who died because of you will come back to haunt you?"

"Come if you can. I'm quite curious whether ghosts are edible."

The civil servant continued to curse, and the knight occasionally chimed in, but Lin Xiang remained unmoved.

Like a ball of cotton, no matter how much you suppress it, it won't have the slightest effect.

They talked like this until midnight. The knight and the civil servant were drowsy under the influence of the drugs, but they still managed to keep attacking Lin Xiang.

Seeing that they were exhausted, Lin Xiang kindly gave them some sleeping pills.

—Finally, some peace and quiet.

Lin Xiang felt a surge of emotion.

"No wonder they've been completely brainwashed!"

A flash of silver light.

Instantaneous teleportation, followed by the Six Forms of Qi and Blood - the finger gun strikes the lower abdomen, inflicting severe damage; mycelium enters the body to restrict soul power; and soul-guiding chains bind movement.

"Lackeys? I think they have their own thoughts."

"I subdued Lin Xiang with a series of moves," Chi Ping said calmly.

……

They meet every two months, which means that Lin Xiang and Shi Fei won't be too far apart.

Using spatial resonance perception, it wasn't particularly difficult for Chi Ping to find Lin Xiang.

Although the Life Devouring Technique was a nascent creation, it was still a relatively complete method, and Lin Xiang, the creator of the technique, would naturally practice it.

By absorbing another's body and cultivation, one will also be tainted by that person's aura, just as absorbing a soul ring will taint one with the aura of a soul beast.

If we consider humans as a type of spirit beast that doesn't produce spirit rings, then the residual auras would have similarities.

When interrogating Shi Fei, Chi Ping remembered the mixed aura on him. Using this as a reference, Chi Ping was able to easily find Lin Xiang.

……

With his ability to perceive things from an extremely long distance and to teleport instantly, Ikehira might be considered one of the strongest assassins in the world.

Soul Masters without special abilities are basically unable to withstand Chi Ping's surprise attack.

Before Lin Xiang could react, Chi Ping had already used mycelium to penetrate into his body to restrict the flow of soul power and used soul-guided chains to lock his body.

"Who are you?"

As the pain from the puncture in his abdomen gradually subsided, Lin Xiang stopped struggling after realizing that his soul power was constantly draining away and that he would experience excruciating pain whenever he activated his soul power. He calmly looked at Chi Ping and asked in confusion.

"Me? I'm pretty much the same as those two. I stumbled upon your experimental subject, followed the clues, and came here to kill your kind soul."

Lin Xiang was even more puzzled.

"You're investigating me? When?"

He had no idea when Chi Ping had started investigating him.

"I'll show you what a secret investigation really is," Chi Ping said calmly. "Alright. After listening to you and those two talk so much, I think I know you a little bit. Now I'm going to kill you, destroy all your research data, and then kill everyone who used the Life-Devouring Technique. Any last words?"

Chi Ping's demeanor was too calm, as if he were about to kill a chicken rather than a person.

Lin Xiang knew immediately that Chi Ping wouldn't be affected, and that asking him to leave a will was probably just a casual remark.

"The Life-Devouring Technique can turn those who cannot cultivate into Soul Masters. If I continue my research, it might even allow Soul Masters to break through their bottlenecks. You will have descendants, but not all of them will necessarily become Soul Masters; some will lack the talent. As long as you don't kill me, I can offer you all my research. With the Life-Devouring Technique, you can even establish an everlasting power, passed down through the ages!"

Even when faced with a life-or-death situation, Lin Xiang still spoke clearly.

He knew this was his only chance to survive; as long as Chi Ping wavered in the slightest, he could live.

"Future generations will have their own blessings."

After uttering those words, the palm struck, and the man died.

The next day, news of Mr. Lin's death spread throughout the city, and the knights and civil servants returned to the Spirit Hall and the City Lord's Mansion in a daze to report back.

The basement where the two had been imprisoned was now completely empty.

One month later, everyone associated with the Life-Devouring Technique perished.

……

In February of Douluo Calendar 2649, two years before the five-year agreement was due, Chi Ping returned to Heaven Dou City after a year and a half away, his cultivation level reaching 64.

Entering the city in its original state, Chi Ping arrived at the Crown Prince's residence.

"Butler, please inform them that Ikehira has come to visit."

(End of this chapter)