The improved female villains regained their memories.

Page 161

Gui Jianchou sneered: "The decline of spiritual energy does not mean that I have fallen into the realm of mortals. If you were an Earth Immortal, I would have nothing to say, but I would fight back and not let you succeed so easily."

The mysterious man smiled and waved his hand.

“You’re wrong again, Ghost-Fearer. I have no conflict of interest with you.” He laughed, but his voice suddenly turned serious. “The one who truly has a conflict of interest with you is the royal family. Have you ever thought about why the emperor would do everything in his power to stop you, even forcing your beloved, driving your father to his death, and pushing you to this dead end?”

When the topic turned to his beloved, Gui Jianchou thought of the princess's face, and his eyes dimmed.

"Yes, I don't understand. Using human energy to draw talismans is a great thing that benefits the world, and it's the best solution to the decline of spiritual energy. I don't understand why the Emperor is doing everything he can to stop it, sacrificing his chance to become an Earth Immortal, and gathering human energy within his body to create a new path. I've taken on all of this myself, and I don't understand why he would..."

"not understand?"

The mysterious man said coldly, "What's so hard to understand? The world belongs to the emperor, not to anyone else."

Although talismans are like chicken ribs to true immortals and celestial beings, in other words, they are at least magical artifacts that can rival those of immortals.

The immortals thought it was useless because it had a killer move. But once a talisman can be made by mortals, it will no longer be useless, and its nature will change drastically.

"Popularity in drawing talismans is enough to frighten even ghosts. Don't you think that when a mortal can create a magical artifact that rivals that of an immortal, will the immortal's status still be so lofty and unapproachable?"

The answer is of course no.

If the popular talisman-drawing technique succeeds, mortals killing immortals will no longer be a distant legend, but a tangible possibility. Indeed, immortals possess destructive killing moves, truth, and traces of the Great Dao, making it still difficult for mortals to kill celestial immortals and true immortals. However, this door has been opened.

Once an opening is made, it's difficult to close it again.

A cold glint flashed in Gui Jianchou's eyes, and he sneered, "Hmph, according to you, if the Emperor is so wary of the Human Popularity Talisman, then why doesn't he kill me instead of resorting to this method?"

"That's because your popularity talisman drawing will ultimately fail." The mysterious man laughed again. "He's just dissatisfied with your attitude. He treats you like this for two reasons: first, to show others your fate and deter them from having such thoughts; second, after your failure, he can also warn the world that destiny cannot be defied."

"Let me tell you this, Your Majesty, I knew all along that your popularity-based talisman drawing wouldn't succeed."

Ghost-Seeing Sorrow froze, muttering to himself, "How...how is this possible..."

Popularity-based talisman drawing will not succeed; the path of "ghostly fear" was doomed to failure from the very beginning.

Spiritual energy is born from heaven and earth. Because it originates from heaven and earth, it can move mountains and fill seas, and shift the stars, thus profoundly influencing the world. However, human energy is different. Human energy originates from people themselves, and people are part of the creation of heaven and earth. Therefore, the effects of human energy are far less than those of spiritual energy.

The immortals' ultimate techniques are all composed of spiritual energy, which is difficult to shake in the slightest. Even if Gui Jianchou studied for ten years and still couldn't kill a rabbit, he could never match the immortals, even if he studied for another hundred years, a thousand years, or ten thousand years.

"Let me put it this way: in the Emperor's eyes, your research is nothing but a joke."

"What……"

Years of hard work, the scorn he endured, the loss of his lover and family—Ghost-Seeing Sorrow sacrificed everything, only to be met with a joke.

A joke in the eyes of the emperor.

The mysterious man looked at Gui Jianchou with pity in his eyes: "Actually, I might as well tell you another secret."

"what?"

"Do you really think the truth behind the dissipation of spiritual energy is that it occurred naturally?"

"Is not it?"

“Of course not,” the mysterious man said. “In fact, all of this was man-made, and the mastermind behind it all is none other than our Emperor.”

"What!?" Ghost Sorrow exclaimed in shock.

The mysterious man's words nearly shattered his faith; the emperor he served, His Majesty, was actually the mastermind behind all of this.

The dissipation of spiritual energy was orchestrated by him!? Then what about his research into the art of drawing talismans based on human energy? What about his research into drawing talismans based on human energy for the sake of the entire world and to combat the dissipation of spiritual energy?

It's just a... joke.

"Nonsense! I will never believe you!" Ghost Sorrow roared, his body trembling.

"If you don't believe me, see for yourself."

The mysterious energy flowed into Guijianchou's body, and soon he saw everything.

That, the so-called truth.

"Do you understand now? This is why the Great Yan royal family produces so many immortal cultivation geniuses. All the spiritual veins in the world converge in one family, truly supporting one family with the support of the entire world. Even if there are scattered spiritual energies along the way that allow others to become immortals, in order to avoid being affected by the dissipation of spiritual energy, they can only be confined to the imperial palace in the capital of the Great Yan Empire."

"The spiritual veins and the spiritual springs are bound to the capital city. This means that no matter how powerful an immortal is, once they leave the capital city, they will slowly decline back to being a mortal. This is a strategy devised by the founding emperor, with the aim of ensuring the long-term prosperity of his family."

The mysterious man chuckled deeply and continued, "Ghost-Fearer, your research was a joke from the very beginning. Of course, this joke isn't funny to the Emperor. He knows you're loyal, but it's precisely this rebellious loyalty that disgusts him. I think he's probably waiting for your failure in the palace right now, and then waiting for you to obediently apologize to him, isn't he?"

Gui Jianchou was covered in cold sweat, his eyes were lifeless. He took a few steps back, his steps were unsteady, and he looked completely lost, as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant.

Drawing talismans based on popularity is useless.

The decline of spiritual energy is man-made.

His goals, his research, his so-called righteous cause—everything about him is a joke.

The mysterious man looked at Guijianchou with a smile, a hint of calculation in his eyes.

You now have two choices.

"First, go back like a drowning dog and wait for the emperor to summon you. You should honestly admit your mistakes, say 'Long live the emperor! I have committed treason and now I know my crime.' Then, coax the emperor and give him face. In front of everyone, insult all your research. That way, you can still live out your remaining days."

"Secondly, trust me this once. Go to the far north, to the border between the Yan Kingdom and the barbarians, find a town called Liuyun City, settle there, and wait. Many years later, a peerless genius will inherit your teachings. What you cannot do, she can do."

"Now, choose: live like a coward and let the rest of your life slip by, or gamble one more time like a gambler and risk the rest of your life. The choice is yours."

Gui Jianchou stood there blankly, motionless and expressionless.

After a while, he raised his head, looked at the mysterious man, and suddenly let out a maniacal laugh.

"Haha ...

The past is gone.

Gui Jianchou now sits in his cell, opens his eyes, looks at Yang Pingsheng outside the cell door, and smiles.

"Could I have another bowl of wine?"

"Ok."

Yang Pingsheng poured another bowl of wine and handed it to Gui Jianchou, who took it and raised the bowl high.

"A toast to my life!"

A long time ago, when he first came to Liuyun City.

In order to wait here for the peerless genius the mysterious man spoke of, he opened a tavern here, patiently exploring the interpersonal relationships here and carefully observing everyone who passed by.

Liuyun City wasn't large, and he quickly got to know everyone there, but unfortunately, he didn't find the peerless genius the mysterious man had mentioned.

But it's okay, he can wait patiently.

He waited and waited, until his beard turned white, half his body was buried, and the children all called him Grandpa.

He got what he was waiting for.

Gui Jianchou knew about Su Rouxue, Old Man Qian, and their family's messy affairs.

As a native of the Central Plains, he felt sorry for Su Rouxue, who had been kidnapped, but he didn't say anything because he didn't want to offend the local military households.

Until Su Rouxue's husband fled, and Su Rouxue was nearly dead after giving birth, he couldn't bear to watch any longer and decided to go and help.

But before he even entered the house, he could feel the strong human presence emanating from inside.

That was an overwhelming popularity that surpassed everyone else's.

Gui Jianchou knew that the person he was waiting for had arrived.

That was a girl named Su Murong.

"Your popularity talisman is not powerful enough and it consumes a lot of energy. The most important thing in a person is the various kinds of energy in their body. Your popularity talisman comes at the cost of depleting the energy in a person's body. Strictly speaking, this is a flaw."

"But the person you're waiting for has an extremely strong aura. The loss of aura in the talisman is nothing to her. Most importantly, she is exceptionally intelligent and has a keen understanding of aura. Without exaggeration, if your aura talisman gets into her hands, its power will be far more than just a fart."

"In terms of understanding popularity, she is a true genius."

In the tavern, five-year-old Su Murong stared at the roast chicken on the counter, his mouth watering.

Ghost-Seeing-Sorrow looked at it, laughed, tore off a chicken leg, and shook it from side to side: "Little guy, want some?"

A hint of hesitation flashed in Su Murong's eyes, but he still nodded.

"Then repeat after me, and I'll give you the food when you're done. Circulate your Qi; when it's deep, it accumulates; when it accumulates, it extends; when it extends, it descends; when it descends, it settles..."

"Circulating Qi, if done deeply, will accumulate..."

At that time, Su Murong read it out word by word, haltingly.

"Little Murong, do you want to eat chicken legs again today?"

"Mmm, I want to eat it."

"Then continue repeating after me: 'If it is fixed, it will be solid; if it is solid, it will sprout; if it sprouts, it will grow; if it grows, it will recede; if it recedes, it will be like the heavens...' "

"If it is fixed, then it is secure..."

"Little Murong, if you memorize it, I'll give you a chicken leg."

"Little Murong, what comes after 'growing up and then retreating'?"

"Little Murong..."

Every word and phrase has evolved in life and remains vivid in my memory.

"Haha ...

boom!

After finishing his drink, Gui Jianchou smashed the wine bowl and burst into laughter.

He laughed like a madman, both then and now.

Yes, I'm a joke.

From beginning to end, I was a joke.

The target I'm fighting against is a joke, the direction I'm researching is a joke, and even I myself am a joke.