Chapter 229: Single-Minded Focus

The disgraceful Hero has come, and the disgraceful Hero has left again.

As always, he left behind a mess, widows and fatherless daughters, and a mountain of debts.

"Hahaha, you can just call me Father." Li En laughed heartily, feigning delight.

"Die!!" The girl across from him instantly flew into a rage.

Li En, dragged into this mess, had been completely numb since yesterday.

But Dainiya was just as numb—he had been kicked out of his own room last night.

"W-what did you and my mother do in my room?! "

"What? Me?! That was clearly your father! I just reclaimed my own body."

If you've got a problem, go find Lex. Why come to me, the poor sucker who got stuck with it?

"What did they do in the room?!"

"We had a late-night talk—so many important things needed to be said. Your father only had one day, and there was too much to explain."

Last night, Li En had been stunned—Maria Anna didn't even know about the Xiao; she'd always believed her sister was possessed by a demon.

After Griffin's sudden death or disappearance, even the Royal Family's "Heir" perished, and the monarchy lost countless secrets and legacies.

"Ha, you think I believe that? A late-night talk requires evicting all guards?! And throwing me out too?!"

"We discussed things too sensitive for anyone to know—secrets, scandals. I'll tell you slowly later."

Li En sighed. Whether you believe it or not, I believe it. I truly believe it.

"Then why did Mother rush straight back to the New Capital?! She left without even waiting for me!"

Early this morning, Queen Maria Anna mounted a griffin and urgently returned to the New Capital.

"Because the New Capital was attacked—didn't you get the magical alert?! Your aunt's gone mad."

"Still, there was no need to rush off like that!"

Early this morning, Talia blocked Li En as he sat alone in his mansion, sighing heavily. He looked exhausted, as if he'd stayed up all night—startling Talia, and deepening her unease.

Finally, Talia clenched her teeth and asked the question she'd prepared for a long time.

"You—you and my father—what is your real relationship?! Be clear. Don't lie to me."

Li En sighed. He knew he couldn't hide it anymore (Talia, having learned the truth, had broken the curse of appearance).

"Your mother told you, right? Your father is an immortal who keeps reincarnating—he's already dead. He was my past life. Or rather, I'm his reincarnation. Wait, no."

Li En's words made the girl nod instinctively—this was what she'd expected.

The next moment, hearing Li En deny it, she sprang to her feet in shock.

Was there some other twist? Was there another third party, a fourth? Was she truly not the Hero's child?

Even though she knew it was unlikely, the emotionally starved girl couldn't help overthinking.

She touched the ring on her chest. She was certain her "resurrection" was due to it—this thing had given her life. Was there any other possibility besides her father?

"Uh… there was another reincarnation in between—a short-lived brat who died in his teens. To be precise, your father was my past life's past life. I'm his reincarnation's reincarnation. Uh… why are you glaring at me with those dragon eyes? I'm not lying." Li En rubbed his chin, slightly embarrassed by his clumsy wording.

Talia took a deep breath. Don't get angry. Don't get angry. This jerk was her father's reincarnation! This bastard!

But there was no helping it—thinking about it made her furious.

"You—you already knew. Why did you—"

The accusation—Why didn't you tell me? lingered on Talia's lips, but she never spoke it.

She knew it was unreasonable. He had no obligation to come to her.

Even if he had come, she wouldn't have believed him. But a girl without a father—her father was right here, wandering around, yet never acknowledging her.

"Sorry," Li En said, gently patting Talia's head.

For once, Talia didn't resist or squirm.

The little girl, sleepless all night and unable to see her "parents," finally shed silent tears. Li En sighed. Maria Anna as a mother had problems too—at least she should've said goodbye to Talia.

But considering Maria Anna's state, her hasty departure was understandable.

Suddenly, Talia asked another possibility.

"Then—is Uncle Su'er also a reincarnation?!" Last night, she'd figured it all out.

Before Li En could respond, his hesitation and thoughtfulness were enough. Talia's sharp intuition had already found the answer.

But in the end, she touched her ring and said nothing. Perhaps she was thinking: If only Uncle Su'er were my father.

Lex was gone. Some things hadn't changed. Others were irrevocably lost. Neither Li En nor Talia could ever see each other as ordinary strangers again.

But the mess Lex left behind? Only Li En could clean it up.

"That guy just walks away like that—it's infuriating."

Li En now understood why the Snake looked down on him. Lex became an Immortal Soul only because of his power—in every other way, he didn't meet the standard.

If he weren't here…

"Would the Empire rule all of this? Would the Xiao return? If Rosalind seized power, would the other Beasts spiral out of control? That sounds terrible—but no, that's actually the better outcome. The real danger is the flood of Outer God knowledge, and the risk of the Great Red Dragon purging dimensions."

Li En and Maria Anna's conclusion: the old Capital still held many shadows and troubles.

Their sudden explosion wasn't accidental—it was the result of all factions beginning to settle scores.

But this crisis had too many possibilities. It was impossible to untangle how much knowledge the Whisperer had acquired—much of it had already become tangible. The number of potential Outer God cults alone was incalculable.

Maria Anna had said: both the New Capital and the Old Capital teemed with strange religions—not Xieshen nor orthodox churches, yet possessing power even deities couldn't ignore.

"Outer God knowledge" might be the most dangerous thing in this world. The knowledge and systems the Whisperer handed over must involve other Outer Gods—and these had already spawned new troubles.

"The Old Capital? Once things stabilize here, I might have to go there."

At this moment, Li En had entered his normal possession state. Though slightly oddly relaxed, his prior experience with Immortal Soul possession kept him stable.

"Uh… I can't focus on the book."

Li En sighed. For the first time, he felt Immortal Soul possession was a negative state.

He flipped through the book briefly—and for the first time, understood what it meant to be utterly unable to read. His abilities hadn't weakened, yet he'd inexplicably become a failure at learning.

Many misunderstand students like this—they don't fail because they can't read, but because they can't concentrate. Just glance at a page, and their attention drifts away naturally.

"No, I don't want to become the second idiot Hero. That guy already showed the fate of ignorance and single-minded stupidity." Li En checked his possession timer—less than ten days left. This idiotic state didn't seem permanent; he felt slightly relieved.

But soon, he noticed something peculiar about this state.

"Whoa! My sword practice efficiency is incredible!"

When Li En lowered his sword, he realized the sun had passed its zenith and was descending. He'd been practicing unconsciously until afternoon—the area around him was empty.

He was drenched in sweat, yet felt utterly refreshed when he put the sword down.

The "Cutting Art (Su'er's Third Secret)" he'd expected to need half a year to grasp—he'd already touched its edge.

This sword instinct and learning speed were terrifying. And this wasn't even the full Lex.

"I won't speak ill of you—for now."

Li En looked at his panel. He finally understood the absurdity of "Single-Minded Focus"—but its side effects were equally terrifying.

【Soul. Single-Minded Focus (Gold/Actual: Diamond): Amidst myriad distractions, my heart remains one. The holder can channel all physical and spiritual resources—strength, mana, focus, senses, intuition—into a single point. In full concentration, nothing else exists but the current thought.】

The description seemed incomprehensible—but using it was simple.

When Li En practiced swordplay, he felt nothing else—as if the entire world had vanished. Had his body not reached its limit and his stomach not growled, he might have trained until collapse.

But the effect? Instant and undeniable. He suspected one morning's practice had surpassed months of prior effort.

This wasn't simple addition—it was total commitment. He discarded everything except the sword. In that state, he channeled every resource—body, spirit, perception—entirely toward the blade. Insights flooded in. Every moment was the peak of perfection.

Of course, it wasn't without cost. His current inability to even crawl was one such cost.

But if used properly, this power was a cheat-code accelerator for cultivation alone.

"It's just this side effect…"

【Note: Due to the Soul's instinctive storage of mana and focus, the holder appears mentally scattered and unfocused when inactive, and easily fixates on one thing (obsessive thinking), ignoring all else.】

【Note 2: This ability can only be activated for items the user is focused on or loves. It cannot be forcibly triggered (Lex's Immortal Soul activation locks the range to Lex's preferred domain).】

This side effect was terrifying too—it could ruin a person. What happens when someone can't read or listen?

But Li En seemed able to shut it off entirely once fully possessed (it wasn't tied to the Thousand-Faced Dragon's Soul activation).

For the first time, he realized the Thousand-Faced Dragon's Soul advantage: for such powerful, high-side-effect Immortal Soul abilities, he could keep them deactivated daily and activate them only when needed.

But recently, this unmastered power couldn't be turned off.

Li En would have to endure the extremes of being both a failure and a sword master.

But even just the accelerated growth? He couldn't refuse it.

"I need power—but I can't become obsessed with it. I absolutely won't end up as miserable as this idiot."

(End of Chapter)