"If it was a filthy evil born from a dead spirit, then once it disperses, it disperses—one clean end to it all."
"If it was a filthy evil born from a living person, then it has to be divided into stages."
"The more shallowly one is entangled with the filthy evil, the more of one's own mind remains intact, and the smaller the aftermath."
"The deeper the entanglement, the greater the aftermath."
Shi Tiexin nodded. The examples were all right there.
That Abyssal Maw guard had already become a filthy evil, yet he could still chat with Shi Tiexin at length about family life. That counted as a relatively shallow entanglement.
The guard had become a filthy evil because of his greed for money. But people had many sides. The importance he placed on family deep in his heart had also allowed him to retain part of himself after becoming a filthy evil. Once the evil in such a person was defeated, the aftermath would be lighter.
Ma Zhaodong, on the other hand, had been more deeply entangled with the filthy evil. He had almost completely lost all other thoughts. Only an extreme desire for revenge remained in his heart; endless killing intent and a sense of stifled humiliation clogged his chest. His mind no longer had room for anything else. Once such a person was defeated, the aftermath would be far worse.
"Whether the aftermath is severe or mild, they will fall into a state of dullness, confusion, exhaustion, sluggish thinking, diminished desires, and little to no emotional response."
Shi Tiexin nodded again. Sage time—those who knew, knew.
"The shallower the entanglement with the filthy evil, the shorter this state lasts. The deeper the entanglement, the longer it persists. In severe cases, it can even lead directly to death."