[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces":3,"chapter-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-14":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon of a Thousand Faces",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2269660,4431,"Chapter 14: The Veteran Con Artist","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>People can compromise temporarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heart cannot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do not forget this anger and helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When there is no way out, ignite this anger—swing your sword for the weak, swing your sword for the innocent, swing your sword for the justice within”—this was the final instruction of the old knight as he faded, and his hope for his successors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Obtained partial inheritance of the Sacred Sword. Slash Evil (Rage).】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The memory dream gradually crumbled and shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This did not mean Li En had awakened, nor had the “Training Mode” ended—it was merely a beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Li En found himself alone back in the original wasteland, staring at the barbecue grill from their late-night snack, bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the silent wasteland, the sky held no clouds, no wind—this was the most profound landscape in Su Er’s memory, yet Li En, standing alone in the wasteland, felt a chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mindset was now entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too much information, too many possibilities—the more he organized them, the more unease and fear he felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gently turned the pages of the book in his hand; the golden Spirit Card seemed unchanged in every way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver-armored knight remained in silent roar, the face of the man who dared raise his sword against the gods upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmph, it’s exactly like me—older, burdened by too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought my appearance had altered the Spirit Card, that the image was a fusion of us. But it was always Su Er’s true face—another me, another transmigrant, Li Ensu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li En had sufficient understanding of soul theory, he would know “soul fusion” is fundamentally impossible—different soul vibrations colliding only result in expulsion or assimilation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as Su Er said, Li En is still too young; his knowledge is far from adequate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Li En had not yet recovered from the previous shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled their first meeting—the subtle taste of mutual aversion and mutual understanding—wasn’t that just another version of myself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My perspective feels… off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En noticed—the barbecue grill before him had shrunk to the size of a toy, and on his extended right hand was a silver glove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He instinctively drew his sword and looked at himself in its reflective blade—only then did he realize how strange it was to have this habit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this is how we meet? Quite fast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reflection in the “mirror” was none other than the silver-haired old knight—had he become Su Er? What meaning did this hold within the dream?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Prompt: In the second half of the Spirit Training Mode, the host will use the Spirit’s body and self. Please adapt quickly.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En stared silently at the ancient book that had suddenly floated before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finally, done pretending?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was it you? Did you arrange our fates?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En spoke to the book, lifeless as a corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no answer came—though having seen the memories, he no longer believed it was truly inert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En had a theory—or rather, a hypothesis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single soul, reborn endlessly across infinite ages—sometimes a farmer, sometimes a knight, sometimes virtuous, sometimes evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When life ended, this book would emerge, record his life, and absorb him as one of the Spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Er was one such soul; so was he. Or perhaps, after his death, another transmigrant, Li Ensu, would be born anew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Self-recognition achieved. True name unbound. User permissions revoked.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this an admission? Was he truly an infinitely reincarnating entity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Li Ensu’s Spirit Codex (V2.0)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Bound subject: Li Ensu. Creator: Li Ensu.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine, you won’t even bother pretending anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But are you implying the mastermind behind all this is also Li Ensu? A once-powerful Li Ensu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En sighed. Even if he suspected this thing was flawed, he could not escape it—otherwise, he wouldn’t even know how he died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no divine gift—this was something he himself forged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the thought of it feasting again upon his death, then generating a new Spirit Card called Li En Sudar, made him uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might die violently, and soon after, this thing would produce a brand-new “Li Ensu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Prompt: Only individuals whose strength and will reach a certain threshold may be called Spirits and qualify for inclusion in this Codex. This Codex serves solely as a record and auxiliary tool for infinitely reincarnating beings—no reincarnation function exists.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine, keep insulting me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En raised the book, ready to smash it—but for a long time, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This hint implied the book was no divine gift—it was merely a plugin disguised as one, designed only to record and control Spirit-related matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many Li Ensus have there been?” This was now Li En’s most pressing question—was he merely a copy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Prompt: Spirits are virtual personas composed of memory and soul fragments. Li Ensu has always been, and will always be, singular. The uniqueness of the Heart-Soul Force is the proof.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heart-Soul Force is the vibration of the soul—only beings possessing a soul may wield Heart-Soul Techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Memory is the foundation of identity, the cornerstone of the psyche—Su Er is Su Er, Li En is Li En.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the reincarnating soul has always been me—Li Ensu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this seemed even worse. Li En recalled the legend of the endless serpent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering that memory might never return in each cycle, the fate was even crueler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet why had Su Er only regained all his memories on his final day? Was it to ensure he developed a complete “Li Ensu” self-identity before being fully recorded by the Codex?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter what Li En asked after that, he received no reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flipped through the book—no obvious changes, except that the final page had unlocked a task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ultimate Task: Find Humanity.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t I just look in a mirror? Fine, no need to hint—I know I’m not human.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Li En realized his previous self-perception needed revision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since this was not his first reincarnation, there was no reason he remained a pure Earth human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what species was he? He already had the answer—the Spirit Codex had already made it clear, and his first racial talent had practically shouted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dragon Transformation? Beast Transformation? The forbidden race of this world? This is an even worse start than Su Er’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These distant truths could not be resolved now—only that he must be careful not to reveal his nature and invite trouble in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After unlocking permissions, Li En saw the specific content of the “Dream Instruction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first half was Su Er’s instruction to him—various forms were acceptable, along with standard templates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the data, the mentor’s authority was limitless; whether he passed or failed depended entirely on one word from the mentor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… is normal Spirit instruction this hard? Uncle Su Er really let me off easy—why does calling him that feel so awkward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he increasingly felt they were the same person, using third-person terms made the phrasing ever more strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after reviewing the specific rules and examples of “Spirit Instruction,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he grew even more grateful that Su Er had truly spared him—he could have made him waste his entire effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He could have forced me to fight historical battles or endure direct trials to earn Spirit approval—impossible to win.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instruction was one-on-one; passage required only the mentor’s approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by true Spirit standards, Li En was still far, far behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strict mentor could simply replay a historical battle—Li En could exhaust his Spirit Card’s power and still fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Su Er merely recorded a basic, minimum-standard video—and subtly hinted at things that made Li En think deeper about his current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this favor wasn’t without reason—in Su Er’s eyes, Li En already met the criteria; the training was merely a formality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for when Su Er had granted him approval—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I decided to avenge Will, to draw my sword for the weak—that’s when he recognized me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he was himself, once he put himself in the role, understanding came more easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En sighed. Those instant-death sparring sessions—besides acclimating him to death—were probably Su Er’s way of venting his own frustration at being manipulated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to his own beginning, Su Er’s fate—only achieving full “awakening” at the moment of death—was cruel beyond measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since you’re also Li Ensu, I might as well punch you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Li En and Su Er realized: the one who orchestrated all this was likely another transmigrant—Li Ensu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s see what demands you left me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spirit had returned to the book; the remaining power was likely insufficient to awaken again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the two demands left behind were the second half of the training—the tasks Su Er hoped Li En would complete for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Foolish Justice: The Soul Legacy of the God-Slayer Su Er Daong: It yearns for the foolish who seek justice.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this newly added title, Su Er was even greater than he claimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En’s own memories contained no such part—was it deliberately omitted? Or posthumously bestowed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this legacy was the true function of the Spirit Codex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strength of a single individual could only have a limited impact—this power was far greater than Li En had anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To truly influence an era, to stir the grand stage of history, one must scatter enough seeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Through dream trials, pass it on to those worthy of inheritance”—this function was intriguing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manual revealed: Dream Instruction was not meant to train Li En—it was for Li En to don the Spirit’s mantle and train the true future inheritors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first half tested and evaluated Li En’s eligibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second half: Li En, wearing the Spirit’s mask, would use dreams to draw several qualified heir candidates and train them himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En would serve as the examiner, selecting and nurturing the candidates, deciding whether to entrust the legacy to one of them. As for what happened after it was released—he didn’t believe the book would care, if it was truly just a plugin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is starting to get interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the usage rules, Li En had many thoughts and ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Using it merely to grant power would be a waste.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those eligible to inherit the Heroic Souls’ legacy through this training program cannot be weaklings; even powerful figures like Dàyú and Jùnqīng might be pulled in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This mechanism of forcibly dragging people into dreams, if used well, could directly interfere with reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need connections right now—and here they come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Tail-Cutting Case,” which was nearly impossible to solve in the short term, might actually be resolved if this thing is used properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continuing the legacy of the Heroic Souls is a foundational rule of the Heroic Soul Codex, an obligation Li En accepted after the initial instruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second task, however, is Su Er’s personal favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Legacy of the (Law) Judge Knight: Restore the path of the Balanced Scales of Law, long since severed.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gods are gone—now you want me to carry on their legacy? Li En rubbed his forehead. This task was troublesome, and the hidden information was overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something feels off. Set it aside for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time was limited; Li En had no intention of waiting for next time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a genuine method to interfere with reality. Li En devised numerous designs, ran simulations, and it seemed truly feasible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He considered it, then, using Su Er’s method, began rewriting the dream’s reality, setting things up directly. Looking back, that trick with the equipment to prank him—wasn’t that also a form of teaching?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is my dream. My world. With a single thought, I can change it however I please.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you’re expecting guests, you must clean the house first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He began by rewriting the landscape of this wasteland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wasteland was Su Er the Wolf’s homeland—but not Li En’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I say, let there be light. Light from my homeland.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Er had taught Li En how to play with the dream world: everything shaped by will, everything free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised one hand, and the stars rearranged themselves according to his intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Familiar, brilliant starlight appeared one by one—the Twelve Zodiac Constellations, the Big Dipper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least in his own dream, the stars of his homeland could be shaped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En glanced around, frowned. This barren wasteland was unsuitable for receiving guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring forth… a complex of buildings befitting the Hall of Heroic Souls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his will, the surrounding walls came alive—palace complexes reminiscent of Western Olympus, each mural depicting the mythic epics of heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clap. Clap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clapped his hands, and phantom figures appeared atop the distant Palace of Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you’re going to put on a show, do it fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether as a mentor or as a “con artist,” the first requirement was authority and trust—and Li En had some confidence in this area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He patiently adorned the Hall of Heroic Souls; even with only this small patch of land, he crafted the illusion of a complete world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the shrine of the gods, the stage where Heroic Souls once roared in revelry—yes, Li En had finalized his “con script.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Greek-style arena formed the core of the main stage; behind it rose majestic mountain ranges like Olympus, and distant floating islands hovered in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earth’s stars shimmered above—those who understood would recognize it as another universe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twelve white marble buildings, each corresponding to one of the zodiac constellations, bore engraved myths of each sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the stars, faint bronze chains threaded through rifts in space, from which muffled beastly roars echoed—as if mythic beasts were bound within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the structures, spatial rifts and bottomless rivers of the underworld encircled, all appearing dangerously unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ensured neither audience nor performers could wander to the edge and tear down the stage’s curtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of the theater and arena stood a grand stage of twelve concentric circles, and Li En stood atop it, his back to a torn rift, where shadows of Heroic Souls peered into reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The house was clean. Now came the welcoming of guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only four slots for the first batch? Hmm… I can pre-select one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the backdoor Su Er had left for him, Li En smiled. It seemed Su Er had seen through his intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heroic Soul Codex would pull in four souls matching the legacy’s affinity—and Li En held a backdoor selection right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bringing in someone familiar would help him conceal his identity and subtly guide the performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After securing one slot, the rest were truly random—the Codex would pull in the dreamers most suited to the legacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? You qualify but aren’t asleep? Then tough luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here they come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, figures wrapped in mist entered one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first arrived fastest—he cloaked in black mist, paused, then without hesitation turned and ran!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone matching a Heroic Soul’s affinity clearly wasn’t ordinary. What evil spell is this? Dragging old man into dreams? Run while you still can!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En fell silent. He’d have to account for the possibility of them fleeing outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought for a moment, then did nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let fate decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply stood silently at the center of the stage, waiting as each figure stepped into the arena steeped in history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One… two… When he saw the figure he’d pre-selected, wide-eyed and stunned by the scene before them, he smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, no one bolted. The guests hesitated, gazing around at the mythic, alien landscape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the final, short figure entered, the mist stabilized. Li En cleared his throat, drawing attention, ready to begin his con… his performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All you prospective heirs, this is the Hall of Heroic Souls—the place where Heroic Legacies are passed on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes fixed on him—some astonished, some skeptical—but Li En had already achieved his goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet what followed instantly surpassed his expectations—he hadn’t even opened his mouth yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… is the legendary Hall of Heroic Souls! The great, lost shrine of history!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last entrant cried out in delight, lifting her head to stare at the stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! This is the Hall of Heroic Souls! Aries, Libra—the twelve zodiac constellations! This sky matches the legends exactly!” The small figure pointed to the heavens, her awe echoing through the entire hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait—could there really be a Hall of Heroic Souls? And did the decorations and starry backdrop just happen to match what I just created?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, Li En was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No… it’s not impossible. This isn’t coincidence—it’s destiny.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Ensu, in your past, what exactly did you do in this world’s history?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same person, in nearly identical circumstances, wielding the same golden finger, performing the same actions—wasn’t that perfectly normal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li En’s pirated Hall of Heroic Souls, there was already a Li Ensu’s pirated Hall of Heroic Souls—wasn’t that perfectly normal too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Su Er, I’m starting to hate Li Ensu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look, though I only post once a day, it’s a massive chapter for reading flow—actually, I write two or three chapters daily. Today’s still a 5,000-word chapter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, new books get little exposure—readers with monthly or recommendation tickets, please support me. More readers mean more motivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2855,"2026-06-19T21:45:41.002Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7433c415a468228fdd1cf8ea3b7051ee97da947ac2b06fe5398be302219f3510","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-15","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-13",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]