Chapter 248: A P-Society Player's Self-Cultivation

Xia Zhi targeting the Supreme True God Sect was only natural.

After all, who made him so fortunate, having just transmigrated over and happened to run into it?

This world was obviously not simple, hiding many secrets—

He also needed a proper cover to hide his true identity and purpose.

And compared to building a brand from scratch, the best method was naturally shell listing, finding a soft persimmon to squeeze.

"You... you..."

Mingsala opened her mouth, but for a moment didn't know what to say.

After all, her reaction just now was out of instinct and habitual cognition, the result of her deep belief in the authority of the Supreme True God Sect all along.

It wasn't that she had much courage, and she didn't dare to have the slightest thought of bargaining.

"You don't seem to agree?"

The Magic User looked at her with a half-smile, scrutinizing her with sharp eyes, as if he could see into her heart:

"What is the reason for this? Could it be... you are truly loyal to this sect, willing to pay any price?"

"Even including—"

"The price of being turned into that octopus-headed creature? Are you prepared for that?"

"..."

"..."

These words were like a bolt from the blue, instantly making Mingsala's originally pale complexion turn even paler.

Her heartbeat unconsciously accelerated, and the fear in her heart surged out like a flood and ferocious beast.

—Was she prepared for that?

—Of course not, how could she be prepared for such a thing!

Her loyalty was based only on habitual cognition and faith in the sect, subconsciously feeling she could not betray the Supreme True God Sect and must maintain its authority.

But the person before her used the power of reality to force her to think about and face the cruel truth; she had never truly thought she would face such a choice, and such a price was too heavy for her.

It turned out that True Souls could also be converted.

The Mind Flayer Tadpole in her head did not merely grant power.

The matter she had been thinking about since just now being forced to deal with her companion's corpse after transformation surfaced again, like a sharp sword pointing directly at her heart.

Why was it like this?

Something must be wrong somewhere...

At this moment, her mind was in chaos, memories seemed to crack, causing the Dark Elf to feel a pang of pain.

"It seems you are actually not loyal, Mingsala..."

Xia Zhi noticed her abnormality, discerned it slightly, and a smile curved at the corner of his mouth.

Her loyalty was not sincere, more like an illusion, a product of being brainwashed or controlled by the sect. And what he needed to do was unveil this illusion and let her see the truth.

"Since that's the case, what is there to hesitate about?"

"Compared to the ending of inevitably becoming an insect, why not try to struggle a bit?"

His words carried strong seductiveness and persuasiveness, as if able to give hope to every drowning person, making them subconsciously grab the last straw.

"I... I..."

Mingsala was the same; she clenched her fists tightly, as if facing a difficult choice: "My Mind Flayer Tadpole isn't that easy to remove; if discovered..."

"How would it be discovered? You don't need to 'directly' betray the Supreme True God Sect; you're just doing things for me 'by the way'."

The Magic User knew what her concerns were and also knew what she wanted.

He continued to say lightly: "Moreover, I have a way to help you stop that little thing in your head, just like this—"

The moment his words fell.

Mingsala suddenly discovered that the Mind Flayer power bestowed upon her abruptly disappeared at this moment.

That power, along with its source, directly vanished from her mind out of thin air, and she could no longer feel it.

"This, this is..."

She said blankly, simply unable to believe it, because she hadn't even seen what the other person did.

This person seemed to just say something lightly, and directly made all this happen.

"It's still in your head; I just unilaterally shielded it, and it doesn't know." The Magic User said, "After all, this is very simple, isn't it?"

Just as if to prove his words, at the same moment his words fell, the vanished Mind Flayer power returned.

Sensing the familiar power, along with the Mind Flayer Tadpole corresponding to that power, appearing again in her head, the Dark Elf's face lost its color once more.

"I can of course let it be completely removed, but then you would lose this identity of a True Soul."

The youth said calmly.

The implication was also very obvious; Mingsala understood immediately.

This was her value of use.

The other party wanted her to serve him because he valued her identity as a True Soul; once she lost this identity...

Thinking to this point, she took a deep breath; having spoken to this extent, there was nothing left to hesitate about.

After realizing what consequences that thing in her head would bring, she had already submitted to that fear.

Moreover, no matter what, there were no other choices now...

She didn't think she really had room to refuse the other party; she could only grab this straw.

"My Lord—"

Decisively kneeling on one knee, the Dark Elf chose to surrender.

………………

………………

The sky gradually darkened.

Mingsala, prepared in body and spirit yet filled with excitement, left the Abandoned Mine with a group of goblin cannon fodder.

But after walking very far out, she still couldn't help turning back to take a deep look, even though she knew that person had already left a step earlier.

Yet she still found it hard to suppress, simultaneously uncertain and inevitably stirred up.

Because just now, her new superior issued her first mission.

The mission content was not difficult, simply having her provide intelligence.

If it were merely that, it would not count as much——

But during the questioning, he asked without any disguise, in an offhand tone, one by one, many things difficult to understand…… even things that could be called "common sense" itself.

From the name of this Continent, to the specific layout, then to the Gods' Churches, the existence form of magic……

And so on and so forth.

By rights, ordinary people not knowing these things is understandable, but a powerful professional not understanding them appears particularly strange.

If the other party acted very calm, not at all like they were joking——

Mingsala would even suspect this was another test and probing.

Suppressing the shock and excitement in her heart, this dark elf took a deep breath, turned back, and sized up the cannon fodder goblins around her.

They were gathered at the side, a relatively strong big goblin still carrying the corpse of a dead True Soul.

"Move——"

Gripping the unique Nail Hammer in her hand, she gave the order.

These goblins were originally the ones who came out on patrol earlier, following her and another True Soul, and were likewise easily captured not long ago.

Now returned to her, it was not for anything else, but to give an account for this defeat.

After all, two True Souls went out together, but only one True Soul returned; without a suitable explanation, it would inevitably arouse wariness and suspicion.

After all, her current mission is still to conceal herself, continue as an internal member of the Supreme True God Sect, strive to climb upward, and grasp as much authority and as high a status as possible……

If relations between colleagues deteriorate, it would undoubtedly hinder and affect this goal.

So Mingsala prepared to find a more troublesome enemy, disguise a sudden encounter battle, and shift the battle loss responsibility onto them.

Then——who would be such a lucky winner?

Mingsala thought rapidly, quickly finding several suitable scapegoats——

The Path of Advancement side supposedly has gnolls appearing recently, extremely ferocious, but the distance is somewhat distant, not easy to explain why her group would go there and suffer a gnoll attack……

If looking nearby, there is only one old hag more suitable as a scapegoat; the hag is originally powerful and dangerous, and this Abandoned Mine was abandoned because of it in the first place.

Isn't this perfect to link together?

Just say a dispatched mining team privately activated the Abandoned Mine, angered the hag and suffered an attack.

Mingsala decisively decided on the scapegoat, preparing to go straight to find the hag next.

Feeling the strange power surging in the Nail Hammer in her hand, a cold glint flashed in her eyes; the hag is indeed a powerful and troublesome enemy, but so what?

The only difficulty of this matter lies merely in finding the hag's tracks.

Must handle it beautifully, prove her value!

………………

The other side.

A figure in white robes also walked alone in the wilderness.

Having obtained more detailed "World Background" intelligence from Mingsala, compared with the goblins' meager knowledge and half-understood inheritance, the information he grasped became much more complete.

For example——

This Continent's name is called "Faerûn".

Itself mainly consists of Human territories, but between Human lands are also scattered ancient Dwarf Kingdoms and hidden Elf enclaves.

Its interior also contains some assimilated Gnomes and Halflings, as well as some other foreign peoples.

Possibly savage Orcs and kobolds, possibly Giants and Dragons and other powerful creatures.

And now, the geographical location he is at is the Sword Coast region on the Faerun Continent.

It is said to be along the Sea of Swords, from Anauroch north to the Sea of Moving Ice, a narrow belt-like area formed by the connected territories of city-states conducting trade using adjacent waters.

Many enthusiastic about the region set its northern boundary at Neverwinter, and southern boundary at Baldur's Gate, but those areas outside the region further south or north, even if more influenced by other forces, are usually also included in the Sword Coast map.

The Supreme True God Sect is currently in this small belt area near the south, developing sneakily.

This evil cult's strategy is to hide capabilities and bide time, with no plan to directly expose themselves and then arrogantly wage war on the world……

So, such small-scale, petty performance, at a glance let Xia Zhi recognize their soft persimmon essence, and gave rise to the idea of a shell listing.

He had no intention of acting on behalf of heaven to slay demons and eliminate evil, so did not plan to eradicate the evil cult.

But like every qualified Paradox player, he quickly made a decision——

First make the common people suffer.

(Chapter End)