Chapter 721: Heart Energy Myriad

Augulevi's tendril curled a few times, neither admitting nor denying.

The Soul Eye saw his emotions like a lake, unfathomably deep, which made Reslin even less certain, spawning more speculation. Relying on the Black Robe Duke alone could not possibly sway the Supreme Council's decision, unless he had more accomplices…

Could there be more than one traitor within the Supreme Council?

The more Reslin thought, the more plausible it seemed, so he immediately fixed his suspicion on Hong Shi Duke, whose doubts as a newly risen member of the three giants were even greater.

In fact, Lei En first suspected Hong Shi Duke Kai Ers Tong; he had taken a larger part in Augulevi Master's fall, claiming he had long sensed the Master's transformation into a Lich, acted covertly, and at the final moment found the Lich's life box and destroyed it himself, then sought to take over the Naiser Floating City…

All of this seemed too coincidental, as if deliberately arranged.

Even before today, when it was still uncertain whether Augulevi Master was alive, Lei En had already wondered whether Hong Shi Duke might be Augulevi Master's "alternate persona".

Fall, siege, kill…

These were merely a self‑directed play by Augulevi Master.

But for whom was he performing?

A thousand tangled threads; Reslin felt like looking at flowers in the fog. The earlier guesses, after receiving more information, became increasingly chaotic, and he could not untangle the cause and effect in an instant.

The main target was right before his eyes, so he simply asked outright.

"Master." Reslin said, looking at Augulevi hovering beyond the stone bridge, whose emotions were very steady, and asked the crucial question:

"Is Hong Shi Duke also your avatar?"

As soon as the words fell, Augulevi's soul hue tinged with a pale red, mixed with a hint of blue and black, looking very complex, but it returned to calm in an instant.

Reslin muttered that this was ominous; it was not a good sign.

"No."

Augulevi denied briskly, clearly unwilling to mention Hong Shi Duke further. Reslin dared not press the issue, lest bad consequences arise, but from his reaction he judged that even if Hong Shi Duke was not an avatar, he was still deeply entangled with Augulevi Master.

Reslin was still pondering when Augulevi's voice rang in his mind, seemingly with a hint of smile, "You need not be so cautious. Lei En, I know you differ from Kai Ers Tong; with anyone else I would not trust, but you are different…"

"Master?" Reslin's face showed astonishment, a feeling of being flattered and surprised.

Augulevi raised a tendril on his chest and flicked it vaguely toward Reslin's eyes, "Hehe, I have said you can discern the goodness or evil of a heart and true lies; I can as well."

Reslin's expression instantly became vivid.

Just now Augulevi had revealed too much information, leaving Reslin overly shocked, and he had momentarily overlooked the matter.

How did he do it?

It can't be that he also has a MutatedPhone, possessing a Soul Eye like mine, right?

Reslin recalled Black Dragon Yi Geng's Legend Grade magical item, "Sairanna's Soul-Entwining Talisman," which carries "Natural Resonance," allowing it to sense the good or evil hearts of nearby beings toward the wearer, but this is a power unique to the Grand Druid and cannot discern lies…

At that moment, Augulevi's frontal brain muscles twitched, as if laughing, a sight that could give someone nightmares, and he continued, "I'll tell you a piece of magical knowledge."

"Master, please speak." Reslin assumed a posture of listening to instruction.

"Psychic spells specialize in mind and will, altering reality with mental power. Like other magical energies, they have affinities of varying grades; the lowest is the rare Element 'Psychic Affinity', which can advance to the supreme Element 'Mind Hyper‑Sense'. You should already know these," Augulevi explained leisurely, then asked, "But do you know which Element 'Mind Hyper‑Sense' advances into?"

Reslin hesitated, "Not Truth Will?"

"Of course not," Augulevi said lightly. "Truth Will evolves from Iron Will, and before that is Unyielding Will; it merely makes you immune to mental attacks, like the strongest shield, and its boost to Psychic spells is equivalent to a single Mind Hyper‑Sense."

Reslin immediately grasped it, saying, "Since there is a shield, there must be a spear."

"Exactly." Augulevi's tendril swayed up and down twice, as if nodding. "If you can master three to four Mind Hyper‑Senses, and undergo a Soul Transformation, you have a chance to advance to an unknown Legend Grade Element; Kai Ers Tong named it 'Heart Energy Myriad'."

Reslin couldn't help but be startled; how did this again involve Hong Shi Duke?

"Heart Energy Myriad is the most powerful Legend Element for psychics, at least tripling the potency of mental spells; thoughts are extremely swift, allowing accelerated casting, multitasking, and control over multiple avatars and Mirror Images," Augulevi stared at Reslin, slowly saying, "Moreover, it can sense others' good or evil hearts, detect lies, and if the opponent is weaker and lacks mental protection, it can directly read their thoughts."

The more he heard, the more surprised Reslin became.

Heart Energy Myriad was so powerful that, as Augulevi Master had analogized, Truth Will is the sturdiest mental shield, and Heart Energy Myriad is the sharpest mental spear!

Immediately, he realized.

Augulevi Master possesses Heart Energy Myriad, so he can sense his own goodwill.

His words implied that Hong Shi Duke also possesses Heart Energy Myriad, even earlier than Augulevi; otherwise, why would he name this Legend Element?

Reslin suddenly became aware.

He finally understood why, when Hong Shi Duke first met him in that minor plane, despite not knowing he had killed the duke's lover, plundered his magical airship and taxes, the duke still harbored great hostility toward him.

Because Hong Shi Duke sensed his hostility!

Fortunately, his Truth Will protects his mind, so Hong Shi Duke cannot directly read his thoughts; otherwise no secret could be kept.

Including the existence of the MutatedPhone and his secret of being from Diqiu.

Reslin felt a wave of dread.

"Master," he met Augulevi's gaze, speaking calmly, "Do you think I also possess Heart Energy Myriad?"

"I thought so before, but now it has changed."

Augulevi turned his head elsewhere; his inner voice echoed in Reslin's mind, becoming somewhat ethereal: "The human mind hides boundless potential; even a lifetime cannot exhaust it, and Truth Will and Heart Energy Myriad are the best two tools."

"You have Truth Will, I have Heart Energy Myriad."

"And Kai Ers Tong possesses both."

His gaze returned to Reslin, "I know you have many questions; with anyone else, or in another era, I would not reveal anything. Just ensure you do not leak what I did in Yilaientu, and that's all. Trust me, it's easy for me."

"Master, I will not mention today's matter to anyone," Reslin said solemnly, "I can invoke the Triple‑God Blood Oath…"

"No need."

Augulevi shook his head, "I have said, I trust you."

This was the third time he said he trusted himself; Reslin felt flattered yet did not understand where Augulevi's trust in him originated.

Augulevi has lived over two thousand years, weathered countless great storms unshaken; his wisdom and tactics are top‑tier, and he could never be so easily convinced by a stranger he met for the first time.

Even if his Heart Energy Myriad confirmed his goodwill and truth.

But who can guarantee they will never change?

Human hearts are inscrutable; even Reslin himself dares not say he will not change his mind later. Augulevi Master's such trust in himself—does it hide another motive, or is it forced?

"Master, I don't understand," Reslin said bluntly.

"You don't need to understand." Augulevi Master's expression seemed to smile, saying with great implication: "While we were talking, I performed a Nine-ring Prophecy Technique and actually foresaw some key information that concerns you."

Another prophecy technique, and it even involves me!

Reslin didn't know what to say; it was precisely because of the prophecy technique that he came to Thus Place: Yilaientu, and now, inexplicably because of the prophecy technique, he has gained Augulevi Master's trust.

He was curious what Augulevi Master had prophesied.

But obviously the other party wouldn't say.

Reslin could only change the question: "Master, what exactly are you doing this for? Is it really because of lifespan?"

"Yes."

Augulevi answered plainly, "At first it was indeed to escape soul decay and live longer. I also have other considerations, which I can't tell you now; I'm going farther down this path and can no longer turn back."

"Then, Master, have you succeeded?" Reslin asked, curious.

"I suppose I've succeeded," Augulevi spread his withered hands, showing his appearance, and sighed: "I am now ageless and immortal, my lifespan as long as a deity's, the price being this form, and there are some hidden risks."

Reslin observed his ugly, terrifying exterior, "What exactly is your current state?"

He's not quite human, nor is the Spirit-absorbing Monster; he bears a bare, exposed brain, while his body has lost vitality like a Lich.

"Brain Lich."

Augulevi replied calmly, "My body merged with the Spirit-absorbing Monster's brain, then I performed a ritual, transforming into a Lich."

Reslin's eyelids twitched as he listened, feeling endless emotion; Augulevi Master's calm sentence contained countless wisdom and hardship.

How does a human body fuse with the Spirit-absorbing Monster's brain?

How can soul and memory be compatible?

How does one hold a Lich-transformation ritual without contaminating the soul, preserving free will?

"We have plenty of time," Augulevi waved his hand, shifting space, and the two returned to the palace atop the rocky peak; the brain pool was nearby, but a large hall appeared on one side of the palace, a several-hundred-square-meter space fully opened, its layout a massive magical laboratory.

The two appeared beside the laboratory, arranged like a study, yet there was not a single book.

"Please sit."

Two comfortable wide chairs materialized in the study; after Augulevi sat down, he pointed to the opposite chair, inviting Reslin to sit.

A cup of clear water appeared between them, flying to Reslin's front.

"Liches don't need food to survive; I haven't eaten in centuries," Augulevi said as they seated, his appearance shifting into a dignified middle-aged man with a full beard, deep eyes, and extraordinary charisma.

"Thank you, Master," Reslin caught the cup and took a sip.

He looked at Augulevi's transformed visage; it was a face most familiar to the Empire, yet ultimately just a transformation spell, capable of deceiving ordinary people and even legendary Wizards, while he still saw through the terrifying appearance of the Brain Lich.

So Reslin deliberately restrained his visual perception, instantly feeling much better.

"Hmm."

Augulevi said, "Lei En, Anxi should have told you, I created a Ten-ring Spell, right?"

"Augulevi Longevity Technique," Reslin replied.

"Hehe…" Augulevi chuckled, "The Longevity Technique is my pride, but it has many flaws; I used it only a few times before abandoning it. Later I created an entirely new spell. Though it is only Eight-ring and far less effective than the Longevity Technique, it consumed centuries, and my current condition all stems from its application."

"What spell?" Reslin asked, very interested.

Augulevi did not answer, but emphasized, "It is an Arcane."

"Sorry, I was presumptuous," Reslin said, immediately understanding: he possessed the Key of Doors, and each upgrade he could obtain an Arcane from that indescribable entity; if Augulevi were to reveal the Arcane's name, it would be equivalent to teaching it to him.

Augulevi waved his hand, not minding.

"This Arcane," he continued, "can use a small amount of its own flesh to create a soulless body, like a blank husk; when the original is gravely wounded and near death, it transfers the soul into this body, achieving rebirth."

"Clone!"

Reslin almost blurted out, "The biotechnology of the previous life couldn't achieve this, yet Augulevi Master accomplished it with a spell!"

Truly the strongest wizard in history, having invented cloning!

"Then what is the price?"

Reslin felt amazed; such a powerful spell had only Eight-ring.

"Like the Wish Spell, casting this spell consumes a great amount, comparable to a Nine-ring Technique, and will forever lose the soul power or mana used for casting," Augulevi replied.

Indeed, the price is not small.

Reslin shook his head inwardly; only practitioners of Saint Rank and above can master a Nine-ring Technique, and Nine-ring, Eight-ring, and lower spells are entirely different concepts.

Any Nine-ring Technique consumes a huge amount; ordinary Holy Soul Wizards, for example at Level 20, would deplete after casting five or six Nine-ring Techniques. My mana exceeds that of other legendary casters by over fivefold, yet all my mana suffices for only three casts of a Nine-ring Technique.

Losing that much mana forever, ordinary casters simply cannot afford it.

Of course, for Augulevi Master above Level 40, it's merely a drop in the bucket; perhaps a year or two of meditation restores it.

"Master, using this spell, have you created many duplicates?" Reslin asked.

"You guessed right."

Augulevi's face showed some regret, "The spell is good, but like the Longevity Technique it also has flaws: it's only an empty shell, without a soul, and as fragile as an ordinary person. Therefore, I also mastered the Memory Replication Technique, attempting to solve this problem."

"But the Memory Replication Technique couldn't fully resolve it; instead it caused greater trouble," he said, pausing to look at Reslin:

"Lei En, can you guess what trouble it is?"

(End of Chapter)