Chapter 14: The Veteran Swindler

"A person can compromise, for now."

"The heart cannot."

"Do not forget this anger and this helplessness."

"When there is no path left to retreat, ignite this anger. Swing the sword for the weak, swing the sword for the innocent, swing the sword for the justice in your heart." This was the old knight's final charge as he faded away, and also his hope for the younger generation.

【Obtained partial inheritance of Holy Sword · Slash Evil (Wrath).】

The memory dream gradually crumbled and shattered.

This did not mean Li En was about to wake up; the "Inheritance Mode" had not ended either, it was merely just a beginning.

The next instant, Li En returned alone to the original wasteland, looking at the barbecue rack from when they had supper together, somewhat dumbfounded.

The wasteland had returned to silence; there were no clouds and no wind in the sky. This was the deepest impression in Su Er's memory. Li En, standing alone in the wasteland, felt a little cold.

His mindset was already completely different.

Too much intelligence and too many possibilities — the more he sorted them out, the more unease and fear he felt.

He gently turned the page of the book in his hand; that golden Heroic Spirit card seemed to have changed in no way.

The silver-helmeted knight was forever silently roaring; the face of that man who dared to raise his sword against the divine—

Heh, it really did look exactly like himself — an older self, a self that had experienced too much.

"I thought my appearance had changed the Heroic Spirit card, that the image on it was the merged us. So from the very start it was Su Er's true face — another me, another transmigrator, Li Ensu."

If Li En had sufficient understanding of soul studies, he would know that "soul fusion" is basically impossible. When different soul fluctuations come together, only expulsion or devouring will occur.

But just as Su Er said, the current Li En is still too green; his accumulated knowledge is far from enough.

At this moment, Li En had not yet recovered from the previous shock.

He recalled the previous meeting, that subtle feeling of mutual dislike and mutual understanding — wasn't that just another me?

"The field of vision feels a bit off."

Li En noticed that the barbecue rack before him had somehow become like a toy, and on his outstretched right hand there was even a silver glove.

He instinctively drew his sword and used the reflective blade to look at himself — only then did he realize, where had he picked up this habit?

". This kind of meeting? It's really fast enough."

The self in the "mirror" — wasn't that the grey-templed old knight? He had become Su Er? What meaning would that have within a dream?

【Hint: In the second half of the Heroic Spirit Inheritance Mode, the host will use the Heroic Spirit's body and self to proceed. Please familiarize yourself as soon as possible.】

Looking at the ancient book that had suddenly floated before him, Li En silently gazed at it.

"Finally stopped acting?"

No response.

"Is it you? The one who arranged our fate."

Li En spoke and asked the book that seemed like a dead object.

But no matter how he questioned, there was still no answer. Having seen the previous memories, he would no longer truly believe it was merely a dead object.

Li En already had a conjecture, or rather a hypothesis.

A single soul, reincarnating endlessly through infinite years — sometimes a farmer, sometimes a knight, sometimes pure and good, sometimes evil.

Life will eventually reach its end. When it ends, this book jumps out, records his life, and enrolls him as a member of the Heroic Spirits.

Su Er was one of them, and so was he. Or after he died, a newly born transmigrator Li Su'en would likewise come into being.

【Self-recognition achieved. True name unsealed. User authority unsealed.】

Is this a tacit admission? Is it truly an endlessly reincarnating individual?

【Li Ensu's Heroic Spirit Codex (V2.0)】

【Bound target: Li Ensu. Creator: Li Ensu.】

Fine, you've completely stopped acting.

But are you implying that the mastermind behind all this is also Li Ensu? Some once-very-powerful Li Ensu?

Li En sighed, but it seemed that even though he knew this thing was problematic, he could not shake it off — otherwise he wouldn't even know how he died.

What heavenly golden finger? This was clearly something he himself cobbled together.

But as soon as he thought that when he died, it would once again "feast" at the place of his death and generate a Heroic Spirit card called Li En · Sudar, he felt it was awkward.

It's possible that after he drops dead, after a while, it would once again produce a brand-new factory-default "Li Ensu."

【Hint: Only when an individual's strength and will reach a certain degree can they be called a Heroic Spirit and qualify to be recorded in this codex. This codex serves only as a recording and auxiliary attachment for the endlessly reincarnating individual, and has no reincarnation function.】

Good, keep cursing!

Li En, who had been told to his face that he wasn't worthy, raised the book, but after a long while still couldn't bear to smash it down.

This hint implies that this book is not a golden finger, merely a plugin disguised as one, only responsible for the recording and control work related to Heroic Spirits.

"I am — which Li Ensu?" This was the question Li En cared about most right now. Could it be that he was also just a clone?

【Hint: A Heroic Spirit is merely a virtual personality composed of memories and soul fragments. Li Ensu has always been, and is, only one. The uniqueness of Heart-Soul power is the verification.】

Heart-Soul is the fluctuation of the soul; only beings that possess a soul can possess Heart-Soul techniques.

Memory is the foundation that defines personality; memory is also the cornerstone of the mind's composition. Su Er is Su Er, Li En is Li En.

"In other words, the one who reincarnates has always been me — Li Ensu."

But this seemed even worse. Li En recalled the legendary tale — that endlessly cycling serpent.

Considering that within the reincarnation one might not even recover one's memories, it would be even more miserable.

But why did Su Er only recover all his memories on the very last day? Was it because only by giving him the self-recognition of being "Li Ensu" could he be more completely recorded by the codex?

But after that, no matter what Li En asked, he got no response.

He flipped through the book; there was no obvious change, except that the last page had unlocked a quest.

【Ultimate Quest: Find Humanity.】

"Can't I look in the mirror? Fine, no need for hints, I know I'm not human."

At this moment, Li En also realized his previous self-perception needed revising.

Since this wasn't his first reincarnation, there was no reason for him to still be a pure-blooded Earth human.

So, what species he actually was—he already had the answer. The "Heroic Soul Codex" had already made it clear, and his very first racial talent was practically a direct statement.

"Dragon transformation and beast transformation? Taboo species of this world? This is an even worse start than Su Er's."

These things were too far off to deal with now, but in the future he'd have to be careful not to slip up and bring trouble on himself.

After unlocking the permissions, Li En also saw some of the specific contents of "Dream Teaching."

The first part was Su Er's teachings to Zijide Sect, available in various forms, along with some standard templates.

From the data, the mentor's authority was virtually unlimited—whether you passed or not depended entirely on a word from him.

"Uh, is the difficulty of normal Heroic Soul teaching this high? Uncle Su Er really did go easy on me. Why does this form of address feel so awkward?"

The more he felt like a person, the stranger it got using a third-person form of address.

However, by browsing the specific rules and some examples of "Heroic Soul Teaching."

He grew more and more grateful that Su Er really had let him off easy. He could have made him Bai Mang for nothing.

"If he really made me fight some historical battle, or face trials head-on seeking the Heroic Soul's approval, there's no way I could have won."

Teaching was one-on-one instruction—mentor's approval meant passing.

But judged by true Heroic Soul standards, Li En was still far, far behind.

Encounter a picky one, and they'd just replay a historical battle in a dream—even if the Heroic Soul Card's power ran dry, passing would be impossible.

And Su Er had merely played a recording at the bare minimum threshold... and along the way hinted at a few things that left Li En overthinking, giving him a deeper understanding of his current situation.

Of course, this wasn't an unprovoked show of goodwill—it's just that in Su Er's eyes, Li En already met the requirements; it was merely a formality.

As for when exactly Su Er's approval had been obtained—

"When I decided to avenge Wei Er and draw my sword for the weak, I was approved, wasn't I."

Because it was himself, thinking from his own perspective made it easier to understand.

Li En sighed. Those various instant-kill sparring sessions, besides letting him get used to death, were probably also Su Er casually venting his frustration and anger at being arranged like this.

Compared to his own start, Su Er—who only fully "awakened" at the very last moment of his life—had a truly terribly unfair fate.

Anyway, you're also Li Ensu, so beating you up isn't wrong.

Both Li En and Su Er realized that whoever arranged all this was very likely also a "transmigrator Li Ensu."

"Let's see the requirements you left me."

The Heroic Soul had already returned to the book; the remaining power was probably insufficient to awaken again.

But the two requirements left behind were the second half of the training—and also the tasks Su Er expected Li En to complete for him.

【Staunch Justice, God-Slayer Su Er Dawng's Soul Legacy: It, the Fool Who Craves Justice.】

Judging from this added title, Brother Su Er was even more remarkable than he himself had said.

Li En's own memories didn't contain this part—was it deliberately omitted? Or a posthumous honor?

And this legacy was the true function of this Heroic Soul Codex.

The influence of merely one person's strength was bound to be extremely limited; this power was far greater than Li En had previously anticipated.

If one truly wanted to influence the era, truly wanted to stir the great stage of history, one naturally had to scatter enough seeds.

"Passing the dream trial and entrusting it to someone worthy"—this function was rather interesting.

Looking at the instructions, the dream training wasn't training Li En—it was letting Li En don the Heroic Soul's mantle to train the true inheritors of later generations.

The first half was the Heroic Soul teaching and assessing Li En's qualifications.

The second half: Li En, wearing the mantle, would draw several qualified inheritor candidates through dreams for Li En to train.

Li En would act as the examiner, selecting and cultivating the candidates, ultimately deciding whether to entrust this legacy. As for what happened after it was released, Li En didn't think this book planned to care—if it really was just a plug-in.

"Now this is interesting."

Looking at the usage rules above, Li En had many thoughts and ideas.

"Using it merely to grant power would be too wasteful."

Perhaps this wasn't just a training class for those qualified to inherit the Heroic Soul legacy—the candidates couldn't be weak; in reality, big fish and elite youths might also be pulled in.

This mechanism of forcibly pulling people into dreams, if used well, could directly interfere with reality.

"I need connections right now, and here they come."

The "Severed Tail Case," which had seemed nearly impossible to resolve in the short term, might actually be solvable if this thing was used well.

Letting the Heroic Soul's legacy continue was the base-level rule of the Heroic Soul Codex—the obligation Li En accepted after completing the first stage of training.

And the second task was Brother Su Er's personal agenda.

【Judgment (Law) Knight's Legacy: Let the severed path of the Scales of Law be passed down once more.】

The gods are already gone, and you want me to pass it down? Li En rubbed his forehead—this task was a bit troublesome, and the hidden information was quite substantial.

"Something feels off—I'll leave it for now."

Time was limited; Li En had no intention of waiting for the next time.

This was a method that could truly interfere with reality. Li En had many design ideas; he ran through them, and it seemed genuinely feasible.

He deliberated, then using the method Su Er had taught, began rewriting the reality of the dream and set things up directly. Now that he thought back, that One's style of using equipment to mess with him was also a form of teaching.

This is my dream, my world—with a single thought, I can change it however I want.

Since guests were to be welcomed, naturally the house had to be tidied up.

He first rewrote the scenery of this wasteland.

The wasteland was the wild wolf Su Er's home, not Li En's.

"Let there be light. Light from home."

Professor Sul taught Li En the rules of the dream world: follow your heart, act as you please.

He raised one hand, and the starry sky rearranged itself according to his will.

Those familiar, brilliant starlights were dotted one by one: the Twelve Constellations, the Big Dipper.

At least within his own dream, the starry sky of his hometown could be shaped.

Li En glanced around, frowned; such a barren wasteland with nothing at all was hardly suitable for receiving guests.

"Bring forth some architecture befitting the status of the Hall of Heroic Souls."

As his will took hold, the surrounding walls gradually came alive; it was a palace complex reminiscent of the Western Olympian style, with murals on each wall recording the mythic epics of heroes.

"Clap, clap."

He clapped his hands, and on the distant heavenly palace, illusory figures appeared one by one.

If you're putting on a show, you must do the whole thing.

Whether as a mentor or as a "fraud," the first requirement is still authority and the other party's trust; in this regard, Li En felt somewhat confident.

He patiently adorned the Hall of Heroes; even though the usable area was only this single patch before him, he had to create the feeling of a complete world.

This is the hall of gods, the stage where heroes will later make noise; indeed, Li En had already finalized the "fraudulent script."

"That should be enough."

A Greek-style arena formed the core of the main stage; behind it stretched magnificent mountains and skies like Olympus, and in the distance floated several sky islands.

The starry sky of Earth shimmered overhead; for those who know the trade, this signifies another universe.

A twelve-sided white marble building corresponded to the twelve zodiac constellations in the starry sky; each side was inscribed with the myths of its constellation.

Above the starry sky, bronze chains could be vaguely seen shuttling through spatial rifts; faintly, a beast's roar emanated from within, as if a mythical beast was locked there.

Around the buildings, spatial rifts and an endless River Styx circled, all looking quite dangerous.

This also ensured that the audience and actors within would not actually rush to the edge and tear down the stage curtains.

In the center between the theater and the arena lay a grand stage composed of twelve concentric circles; Li En stood upon it, with a torn spatial rift behind him, through which the shadows of heroic souls were peering into reality.

Having swept the house clean, the next step was to welcome the guests.

"Only four spots for the first batch? Uh, can I select one in advance?"

Seeing the back door Professor Sul had left for him, Li En smiled; it seemed he had also seen through Li En's thought.

The Heroic Soul Codex would draw four souls matching the heroic soul's affinity and meeting the inheritance requirements; Li En, however, had the right to choose one via a back door.

"It's her."

Letting an acquaintance enter would also make it easier for him to hide his identity and indirectly guide the stage's progression.

After confirming one spot, the rest would be truly random; the Heroic Soul Codex would draw in the most suitable dreamers.

What? You meet the requirements but aren't asleep? Then you're just out of luck.

"They're here."

Before long, figures wrapped in mist entered one by one.

The first to enter was the fastest; cloaked in black mist, he pondered for a moment, then turned and fled without hesitation!

"Those capable of matching a heroic soul's affinity are clearly no ordinary folk! What kind of evil spell is this, dragging an old man like me into a dream? I'm running first!"

Li En fell silent; it seemed he also had to consider the possibility that someone would simply run away.

He thought for a moment, but ultimately did nothing.

Let fate decide.

He simply stood silently in the center of the stage, waiting for figures one by one to step into the arena filled with the scent of history.

One, two... Seeing the figure he had secretly designated among them, still shaken but gazing at everything before him, he smiled with satisfaction.

This time, there was no one running away as quickly as before; the guests hesitated as they looked around at the mythical, otherworldly scenery.

When the last small figure entered, the surrounding mist stabilized; Li En cleared his throat lightly to draw attention, ready to begin the fraud... to begin the performance.

"All prospective inheritors, this is the Hall of Heroic Souls, the place of heroic soul inheritance."

A multitude of gazes fixed upon him, some astonished, some questioning; yet Li En's goal had already been achieved.

But what followed instantly exceeded his expectations; he hadn't even had time to speak.

"This... this is the legendary Hall of Heroic Souls!! The great hall lost to history!"

The last figure to enter let out a voice of delight; she suddenly raised her head, looking up at the starry sky.

"Yes, this is the Hall of Heroic Souls! Aries, Libra, the twelve zodiac constellations; this starry sky is exactly as recorded in the legends..." That small figure pointed at the starry sky, her sigh echoing throughout the entire hall.

Wait, could there really be such a thing as the Hall of Heroic Souls, with decorations and a starry sky backdrop that just happened to match what he had just created?

At this moment, it was Li En's turn to be dazed.

"No, it's not impossible... this is not coincidence, but inevitability."

He, too, understood instantly.

"The previous Li Ensu, what exactly did you do in this world's history?!"

The same person, in nearly identical circumstances, possessing the same golden finger, making the same choices—that's perfectly normal, right?

Before Li En's pirated Hall of Heroes, there was also a Li Ensu's pirated Hall of Heroes; that's perfectly normal too, right?

"Brother Sul, I'm starting to hate Li Ensu too..."

Hey, although this is just one chapter, it's a large chapter for better reading experience; actually, it's equivalent to two or three chapters daily. Today is still a five-thousand-word large chapter.

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(End of this chapter)