Da Jiu had already made up his mind.
However, the second brain still chose to mediate the conflict, which shouldn't have existed in the first place. "Old man, why are you doing this?"
The second brain continued without waiting for a reply. "Has your current level of cultivation made you forget where you come from? Does your entire cultivation journey mean nothing? I understand that on the path of cultivation, it's inevitable to seize what belongs to others and disregard basic human decency."
"Your greed can be justified, and your pride is understandable, but how could you do this?"
"Are your eyes merely for decoration? Are your ears mere accessories?"
"Enough!" Da Jiu rebuked coldly. His voice had the power to silence the entire world momentarily.
The second brain succeeded in prolonging the communication since Da Jiu continued, "What do you want to say? Just say it directly."
While his words remained courteous, his tone had already turned aggressive.
The second brain stood unfazed and began to speak, "Was the cause of your actions your own strength? Or was it because you disregarded the risk I posed?"
"You?" Da Jiu sneered upon hearing those questions.
"What risk do you have in the face of my strength? You haven't even built your foundation yet, and you dare to ask how I ignore the risk you posed? Isn't this your own ignorance?"
The second brain calmly responded, "Is that your answer? Simply because you find my cultivation base low?"
"Then what about what you're witnessing now? What about the reason you became interested in me in the first place? Did you think they are just fruits hanging on my body, waiting to be plucked?"
Da Jiu gave Niu Chang a second glance, scrutinizing his body. However, he couldn't find anything that would increase his opinion of the risk that Niu Chang could pose.
He sneered, and a powerful aura began to emanate from his body.
Inside the inner layer of the formation, Niu Chang felt a sense of pity. 'You've come this far, an achievement not many can claim, yet your greed blinds you.'
Standing up, Niu Chang gazed at the large virtual screen in front of him. He began to contemplate, as he looked back only to find that the three auxiliary thinking skills had grown even stronger and more substantial since his last check.
The Celestial Astrolabe now had more than twenty rings endlessly spinning and rotating. Various engraving with different meanings shone with their own lights.
The Lazy Tree increased in diameter, the crystal-like body now no longer had the crude crystal texture but changed into tree bark. The crown was big with many leaves made of aurora light dancing on its branches. The flowers were budding and the fruits began to ripe with time.
The Chaotic Mind no longer had discernable color as with every time it would show different forms. But the width and depth are no longer the same as if it began to blur the wall of reality and imaginary, the end would seem far yet also close.
His gaze then shifted to the expanse of his space of mind, where various information flashed before his eyes, revealing every skill and technique he had created and mastered.
'Honestly, I'm unsure of how powerful I can be if I unleashed everything I currently possess.'
He felt a mix of sadness and pride. His strength should suffice to let him walk proudly beneath the sky. However, this strength also brought him sadness, for being too potent meant that conflicts lost their significance.
Having learned from the mistakes of countless main characters in stories, Niu Chang had devised skills capable of aiding him in any situation, even the most perilous and seemingly impossible ones.
He longed for the tension and intensity of a true battle against someone who could stand up to all his methods.
In his present circumstances, the question was no longer about Niu Chang's strength but rather the bounds of his imagination. As long as inspiration flowed, he could create any kind of skill or technique. Thus, when faced with a formidable adversary who pushed him to his limits, his mind would become more agile, and insights would bloom like spring flowers.
Alas, Niu Chang could only view this as an unattainable dream, naturally impossible. Not now, not in the future. His life wasn't a gripping tale, devoid of conflict, with an uninteresting protagonist. Who would read such a story?
'My life might lack entertainment value, but it's a necessity, a response to the frustration and lament of witnessing characters' stupidity and emotional immaturity. So I'll be the first and last of this kind of story. Anyone who wishes to read my story is welcome, but if they find it bland and unexciting, I can't help it. I'm well aware of how dull my life is, yet it must exist. For everything isn't a plot – I exist! I'm not a plot device, but a true person.'
Being a reader himself, Niu Chang naturally observed his life from a reader's perspective. He couldn't help but comment on it now.
As the chosen one, he had decided not to succumb to the machinations of fate and blindly follow the predetermined path. He had just one dearest wish.
'Ah... how dearly I wish for it... but this is all I get – a monotonous and uninspiring life where nothing is worth savoring anymore.'
Taking a step forward, he displaced the second brain's control over his body. It was instantaneous, and the weight on his heart manifested in his aura.
Subtle and unobtrusive, it wasn't easily discernible to the naked eye. Yet, ordinary mortals devoid of cultivation could sense it – a desolate feeling of being abandoned by hope.
His gaze fixed directly on Da Jiu's eyes, he asked, "Do you know how lonely it feels when you achieve your goal?"
Niu Chang didn't seek a reply; the one he asked was the present him not Da Jiu.
Upon witnessing the changes in Niu Chang, Da Jiu furrowed his brow. 'He seems like a different person.'
Understanding and contemplating his current mental state, Niu Chang naturally allocated some of his focus to creating new techniques or skills. However, for the moment, he needed to clear the watchful eyes surrounding him.
Energy fluctuations emanated from his body as imperceptible shadows detached from him.
The system was not omnipotent, nor was Niu Chang. As long as he had not yet exceeded his limits, he would still have his shortcomings.
Just like now, various spies were observing from the sidelines, but they didn't emanate any negative feelings towards Niu Chang, so the system didn't concern itself with them.
"I will offer you a chance. Leave now and never speak of what transpired here, and I will consider you a mere passerby with no ill intentions towards me. However, if you choose to remain here, then it is inevitable for there to be karma between us."
There were three tenets of the system, and Niu Chang naturally found a way to maximize its functionality:
All living beings are equal.
Respect is essential.
Uninformed people are innocent.
The system strongly advised him to adopt a righteous way of living — not underestimating anyone, including the demons that had transformed from animals or plants; refraining from using his strength to oppress the weak; and, finally, not succumbing to a short temper.
Now, having declared his intention and clarified his situation, all three tenets of the system had already been fulfilled, allowing him to resolve the karma for those who had spied on him.
Following the massacre in Shenyi City, various information channels belonging to different factions naturally initiated their investigations.
Among those who were close, some attempted to uncover the true situation by directly spying on Tian Zi.
As professionals, they carefully concealed their emotions towards their target to minimize their presence, considering the miraculous nature of this world where mere thoughts could bring about significant changes.
Hence, even after hearing Niu Chang's kind reminder not to interfere in his affairs, those spies dismissed it as a joke.
Since they could maintain their hidden positions while gathering information, none of them were below the golden core level.
Some chuckled inwardly and remained composed as they observed the unfolding events, while others opted to relocate.
None of them took Niu Chang's words into serious consideration.
[Established karma with …]
[Established karma with …]
[Established karma with …]
[Established karma with …]
[Established karma with …] x7
Observing the system's acknowledgment of the karmic bonds, Niu Chang naturally commanded his clones to resolve the karma.
He observed Da Jiu in front of him and realized, 'This old man never truly existed in the eyes of those who were watching, from the very beginning to the present. Even my ability to see him is due to his consent.'
Da Jiu, sensing the departure of the invisible clones from the formation, didn't intervene, as he also intended to deal with the rats concealed in the shadows.
However, he couldn't help but furrowed his brows, as his Saint's Dignity seemed to have no effect on the young boy before him.
Similar to how individuals at the golden core level possess distinct traits and advantages, the subsequent cultivation levels also carry their own unique attributes. One such attribute is known as Saint's Dignity.
The inherent qi protection of the golden core level is nearly impervious to disruption from those beneath it, and the same applies to Saint's Dignity. Those below the required level would experience suppression without exception.
Da Jiu couldn't help but recollect Niu Chang's earlier words. Yet, as a dignified saint, he chose to place his faith in his own strength.
'In the presence of a saint, all else are mere ants!' he sneered inwardly.