Chapter 129: Why Is There Still Someone Else?

No wonder he never obtained this skill after switching to Sword Soul; it turns out he hadn't met the conditions to acquire it!

Judging by the skill description on the system panel, he must expel the Demon God's power from the Ghost Hand to obtain the Swift Shadow Hand.

But true Sword Souls expel the Demon God's power solely through their own will.

Can he actually meet the conditions by relying on external force?

Thinking of this, Lin Lie's expression grew strange, and he couldn't help but look up at Lin Yu ahead.

At this moment, Lin Yu was examining the crimson-red fragment floating in his palm.

Sensing the gaze directed at him from ahead, he raised his head, looked at Lin Lie's pale right arm, and said calmly, "Since I first stepped into this world, I have sensed a chaotic and mad consciousness within you."

"This consciousness not only covets your body at all times but even dares to harbor malice toward me!"

"At the time, I thought this was the Chi You Soul you mentioned, but now it seems it's not that simple!"

Speaking thus, he clenched his five fingers, stowed the crimson-red fragment, and simultaneously flashed his figure, appearing before Lin Lie.

"Speak!" Lin Yu stared straight into Lin Lie's eyes and said calmly, "First the Ghost Hand, then the White Hand; there must be a reason for so many things belonging to the Dungeon & Fighter world."

"..."

Lin Lie's expression was complex; after hesitating for a moment, he sighed and said, "Since you have discovered it, I will no longer conceal it. Yes, I do have some secrets on my person; in the words of a transmigrator, it is the golden finger unique to me!"

Lin Yu said noncommittally, "Is it this Ghost Hand?"

Lin Lie fell silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes. I don't know how it attached itself to me; I only know that when I first picked up the Fuxi Sword back then, the Ghost Hand was activated."

"Appearing at the same time were those two sealed rings that were just destroyed..."

Is it really just that?

Lin Yu looked at Lin Lie with deep meaning.

Sensing Lin Yu's gaze, Lin Lie's heart tightened involuntarily, and he hurriedly said, "Brother Yu, it's truly not that I'm unwilling to be frank. I've basically said everything I can say; as for other things..."

Lin Lie paused, his face showing difficulty.

Does that mean there are unspeakable difficulties?

Lin Yu nodded thoughtfully, then changed the subject, saying, "Then, according to that, the group file you just uploaded contains the Ghost Swordsman's skills, correct?"

Lin Lie answered honestly, "Yes."

No wonder the value is so high; the power of the Ghost Swordsman counts as a new system!

Lin Yu nodded inwardly.

After a moment of thought, he spread his palm, revealing the crimson-red fragment in his palm.

"This thing is a crystal of Demon God power and can only be used with the Ghost Hand."

"Is that so?"

Lin Lie looked at Lin Yu eagerly and said, "Then your meaning is..."

Lin Yu smiled and said, "This object is useless to me, so I'll return it to you!"

Lin Lie was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Thank you, Brother Yu!"

Lin Yu shook his head and said, "Don't be too quick to rejoice. Considering your degree of fusion with the Ghost Hand, I only stripped away the Demon God's power; that consciousness is still sleeping within your arm. You had better use it cautiously."

"I understand!"

Lin Lie nodded solemnly, then took the crimson-red fragment.

The next second, the system's item panel popped up in his mind.

【Fragment of Caz's Power】

【Quality: Golden Epic】

【Type: Consumable/Material】

【Description: A fragment of the power of Caz, the God of Destruction and the Soul of the Blade, stripped from a Sword Soul who abandoned the Demon God's power; high purity.】

【Usage: Can be released as a Consumable to cast Demon God-type skills, or used as a Material to craft equipment. (This item can be obtained by defeating Caz or Caz Syndrome patients.)】

It's actually a fragment of Caz's power?!

Lin Lie's pupils contracted; he finally understood why his Ghost Hand was so powerful.

Ordinary Ghost Hands are influenced by the Ninth Apostle—Bakal the Dragon King of Explosion, but his Ghost Hand is different; its ferocity is comparable to a Berserker suffering from Caz Syndrome.

Combining Lin Yu's description just now, a chaotic consciousness sleeps within his Ghost Hand; it might even be a fragment of Caz's soul or Caz himself!

Of course, this is just one possibility. After DNF has been running for so many years, retconning is common, and Caz's settings have been modified repeatedly; who knows which version he actually encountered...

Lin Yu floated silently in the air, carefully observing the changes in Lin Lie's expression.

Although he wasn't clear on exactly what this fellow was concealing, he could see that the chaotic consciousness must be related to another world; it might even be a hidden hand planted in Lin Lie by that world.

As for its form of manifestation, it certainly isn't as simple as just the Ghost Hand; at the very least, it must be a game system, right?

If that is truly the case, then Lin Lie's unspeakable difficulties can be explained; after all, systems usually have some bizarre rules that cannot be revealed to the outside world.

If violated, the consequences range from severe punishment to erasure; these are basic operations.

Although Lin Yu was confident he could save Lin Lie's life under the so-called erasure, that would require returning to his Inner Universe; it certainly wouldn't work in the Marvel World.

"In any case, keep an eye on this little fellow for now; find an opportunity later to invite him into the Inner Universe..."

While thinking thus, Lin Yu waved his hand, teleporting both of them instantly into the hotel.

Returning to the room from before, Lin Yu took a jade pendant from his chest and handed it to Lin Lie.

"What is this?"

Lin Lie looked at the jade pendant in confusion.

Lin Yu waved his hand, took out the sealed ring fragments he had just collected, and explained, "When I stripped away the Demon God's power just now, I accidentally destroyed your sealed ring. Although I collected all the scattered fragments, this technique cannot be replicated for the time being."

"Before the sealed ring is completely repaired, use this jade pendant to suppress the Demon God consciousness for now!"

Lin Lie suddenly understood and hurriedly reached out to take the jade pendant.

The instant his fingers touched the jade pendant, streams of white light surged forth from it, covering his right arm and restoring that pale arm with phantom effects to its original appearance.

Good stuff!

Lin Lie's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but thank Lin Yu once again.

"Don't be so polite; I'm just making up for my own mistake..."

Lin Yu said with a smile, "Alright, no time to lose, let's hurry and go!"

"Go?" Lin Lie was stunned. "Where?"

"The New York Sanctum, of course!"

Lin Yu replied matter-of-factly, then said with a smile, "Rest assured, this time, neither the Supreme Sorcerer nor the New York Sanctum will turn you away..."

177A Bleecker Street, Lower Manhattan, New York.

Lin Lie stood on the street filled with pedestrians, staring blankly at the hall before him, which was brimming with an ancient aura.

This was the New York Sanctum of Kamar-Taj, located in the heart of a bustling city. Surrounded by modern skyscrapers, only this ancient sanctum had preserved its appearance from a thousand years ago.

Such a conspicuous building; he had passed it several times yet never noticed it in the slightest.

It was clear that his previous visits had been deliberately orchestrated by the Supreme Sorcerer...

"What are you thinking about?"

Lin Yu's voice came from beside him, pulling Lin Lie out of his daze.

He scratched his head and said with a smile, "Nothing, just a bit puzzled. Why were the three great sanctums established by the first Supreme Sorcerer, Agamotto, a thousand years ago, coincidentally built in London, New York, and Hong Kong?"

London and Hong Kong, fine, but New York has only a history of a few hundred years.

A thousand years ago, this place was still a land full of primitiveness and desolation; even the three great ancient civilizations of the Americas had not yet formed. There were absolutely no conditions for establishing a sanctum back then!

"What's so strange about that?"

Lin Yu glanced at him and said, "With Agamotto's power, peering into the future is a basic operation. Let alone New York a thousand years from now, even your visit at this very moment might be within his sight..."

Is it really that exaggerated?

Lin Lie blinked, then asked, "What about you?"

"..."

Lin Yu laughed, turned his head to look at the New York Sanctum before them, and said, "Then we shall see just how strong he truly is!"

Hearing these words, Lin Lie fell into thought, keenly sensing an extremely strong confidence within them.

Once he came to his senses, he took the initiative to step forward, arriving before the entrance of the New York Sanctum.

Pedestrians around him hurried past, yet not a single one turned to look at him, as if some power influenced them, causing them to completely ignore this ancient sanctum.

Before he could knock, the main gate of the sanctum slowly opened.

A sorcerer wearing a Taoist robe, with a long beard and clearly of East Asian appearance, stood there, gazing calmly at Lin Lie.

Seeing this scene, Lin Lie couldn't help but pause in surprise.

Before he could speak, the Taoist-robed sorcerer turned aside and extended an arm inward.

"Lord of the Fu Xi Sword, please come in. Sorcerer Ancient One has been waiting for you for a long time..."

As expected!

Lin Lie's heart tightened, and he couldn't help but turn his head to look at Lin Yu.

At this moment, Lin Yu was examining the Taoist-robed sorcerer with great interest, especially the arm he had extended; the hand was severed at the wrist, leaving only a withered, thin forearm.

If he remembered correctly, this long-bearded, Taoist-robed Chinese sorcerer had also appeared in the movie.

His name was Hamir, and his relationship with Ancient One was similar to that of Wong and Doctor Strange before the snap; he occupied the role of a capable assistant.

In the comics, this sorcerer Hamir was also Wong's father; it was just unknown whether, in this world, they were still father and son...

Lin Yu thought with great interest in his heart.

Meanwhile, seeing that Lin Lie did not move, Hamir frowned, followed his gaze forward, and only then saw Lin Yu behind him.

... Hmm?

Why is there another person?

(End of this chapter)