Soul Authority

Lin Yu knew very well that although he and Lin Zhao were family and the closest people in the world, it did not mean that he understood everything about Lin Zhao.

Even setting aside his own somewhat confused Memory due to the intervention of the "Death game," Lin Yu didn't think he could fully understand Lin Zhao.

Lin Yu even sometimes felt...

I actually don't know my sister at all.

Although he spent a long time with Lin Zhao, he had never actually had direct contact with Lin Zhao as a "Player".

And those things... actually occupied a considerable portion of Lin Zhao's life.

In fact, Lin Yu can now clearly realize that Lin Zhao actually showcased a significant portion of her talent in her role as a "Player".

Therefore, sometimes the "Lin Zhao" in reality is more like a disguise.

This is understandable, since for the older sister, real life is far too "simple" and "boring".

People who are good at Game are less likely to play simple, easy-to-play Game; they tend to prefer hardcore, more challenging Game.

From Lin Zhao's perspective, between real life and life as a "Player," the latter is definitely more worthy of her attention.

And the "Xiao Yuan" before us...

Lin Yu knew that this guy, like Senior Sister Shen Bingmiao, was the person his sister had the most contact with when she was a "Player".

In other words, he might actually know his sister better than he does himself.

When Xiao Yuan encountered "Zhu Ming," she mentioned Lin Zhao, describing her as a "dangerous figure who could not be tolerated by the Ten Realms."

This is perhaps a relatively objective assessment in some sense.

Lin Yu looked at Xiao Yuan, wanting to directly ask her why Lin Zhao was "unacceptable to the Ten Realms" and why Resurrection Lin Zhao was "extremely dangerous".

But he couldn't get the answer out of it.

That's a question only "Lin Yu" or a "Director" would ask.

Xiao Yuan also has the ability to change her appearance at will, so if she reveals even the slightest flaw and he guesses that she has a [Mask] [Item], the possibility is far greater than that of other Player.

Therefore, one's acting skills must not be compromised in the slightest, and the character must not overstep one's own boundaries in any way.

So...

Lin Yu maintained Zhu Ming's somewhat surprised and slightly displeased attitude, giving a response most consistent with Zhu Ming's.

"I don't need your 'advice.' It's my own business who I choose to associate with... Besides, I don't even know you. Shouldn't we be more like 'enemies'?"

"Besides, I know being a 'Director' is dangerous... I know what I'm doing."

Lin Yu spoke in a cold voice, and Xiao Yuan hesitated.

"From a standpoint of perspective, we may indeed be adversaries, but I... Zhu Ming..."

Lin Yu narrowed his eyes as he listened to Xiao Yuan's hesitant expression.

"Did I say something wrong? Do you actually know me?"

Xiao Yuan nodded, then shook her head. "I can't tell you right now... and we don't have time to chat anymore, I'm sorry, Zhu Ming."

Xiao Yuan spoke, she waved her hand and then disappeared from the spot.

His exit was the same as before; it was as if he had been completely detached from this world.

After Xiao Yuan suddenly appeared and took away the First Generation "Jung", Lin Yu was left alone in the entire subway car again.

However, it's not exactly empty here.

Because Xiao Yuan took away from the soul of the First Generation Jung was only the "core" part.

His large Soul Fragment, along with the monsters he created using the Soul Authority, remain in the same place.

It was like shedding a tail to Escape —but compared to the tail, these things were probably as important to the First Generation Jung as limbs and even internal organs.

And these...

Having lost the control of the First Generation Jung, it has now become ownerless.

Furthermore, most of them already contain Lin Yu's Mental Power.

Furthermore, Lin Yu's current spiritual essence is constantly linked to the Mental Power Network formed by millions of people in Shenzhen, so he easily took over... these "High-Rank Soul Power".

At the same time, as Lin Yu took over, he could also sense...

In an instant, a connection was established between myself and some high-ranking Authority...

That "Authority," sensing its own existence from afar, "acknowledged" it, thus transforming what was originally an "illegal contact" into a "legal" one.

This feeling was like the glimpse of some kind of "Authority" that I had after drinking the coconut-flavored beverage given to me by the Crow in the Eternal Prison.

(*See Chapter 1520)

However, compared to that unknown Authority, Lin Yu clearly understood what that Authority was.

"Soul".

After all... this Authority seems to approve of its own standards simply because its own "soul" is special enough.

Not everyone who obtains this Soul Power can acquire this Authority, but... because of the uniqueness of one's soul, and because one has achieved a certain "ultimate" level in the soul realm, one naturally gains recognition for "Soul Authority".

At the same time, he could sense that although this "Soul Authority" recognized him, he had not merged with it, but had only obtained a portion of its authority.

He could vaguely sense that there were two other people also connected to this Authority —and these two people's connections were much stronger than his own.

Without a doubt, it's the First Generation "Jung" who didn't quite die, and the Second Generation "Freud".

"So... now when I use my Soul Power, I can also borrow 'Soul Authority'? It's not like I gained nothing at all..."

"No, although the First Generation Jung ran away, he didn't originally have the unexpected access to the 'Soul Authority,' so it's not fair to say he gained nothing... The answers to those questions, and even the appearance of 'Xiao Yuan,' are themselves significant gains."

Lin Yu thought of this, but still felt emotional in his heart.

In any case, gaining the extra right to use the "Soul Authority" is definitely a great thing.

The more Authority Lin Yu grasped and came into contact with, the more he understood that being able to use and borrow the power of "Authority" was a huge boost for anyone.

This stuff is definitely better in larger quantities.

But amidst the joy, Lin Yu also had new doubts.

That is...

Were these extra, remaining souls that could connect to the "Soul Authority" intentionally left behind by Xiao Yuan?

Xiao Yuan was working for "Copper Furnace," and Lin Yu now knew that one of the important reasons why the First Generation Jung was able to cooperate with "Copper Furnace" was that "Emperor" needed to use the Soul Authority of the First Generation Jung to do some things.

Therefore, the Soul Authority itself must also be very important.

Xiao Yuan's soul structure is so unique; his soul, not to mention "Soul Power," is actually quite massive, so it's impossible for him to be completely ignorant of matters concerning the soul.

He should have been aware that leaving these Soul Power, which are connected to the Soul Authority, scattered here and left to "Zhu Ming," who is already very adept at using the power of Authority, is very risky.

Even though he obtained the authority and recognition of "Soul Authority," it was still somewhat "unexpected."

Even if one doesn't directly gain the approval of the "Soul Authority," this Soul Power will certainly benefit one greatly.

From the perspective of the "Copper Furnace," this is by no means a good thing.

But why did "Xiao Yuan" still leave behind these Soul Power?

It's because he said there wasn't enough time to deal with it, and he was worried that things might get complicated if he delayed, so he wanted to preserve the First Generation Jung first...

Or was it because he genuinely hoped that "Zhu Ming" could also, to some extent, grasp the "Soul Authority"?

In the end, Lin Yu could sense that Xiao Yuan showed a strange kindness towards him as "Zhu Ming".

It was as if he knew himself.

That's why Lin Yu just asked Xiao Yuan, "Do you know me?"

If Xiao Yuan really knows "Zhu Ming"...

His initial, somewhat abrupt and strange words advising her to "stay away from the Director" could now be explained by a "motive."

It is indeed presumptuous of a stranger to make such remarks.

But if he knows me, or even if we used to have a good relationship... then it's hard to say.

Of course, Lin Yu knew...

"Zhu Ming" was, after all, a false identity he created, so Xiao Yuan couldn't possibly know "Zhu Ming."

But this is exactly what Lin Yu is worried about.

Although "Zhu Ming" was an identity he created himself, it was not fabricated out of thin air.

She has a real-life counterpart named "Xia Yue," and Lin Yu also hopes to mislead everyone into believing that her real-life identity is "Xia Yue."

So...

If "Xiao Yuan" thinks he might know "Zhu Ming," then it should actually be...

He knew Xia Yue.

"This is a real headache. Could this guy who survived the Previous Version and worked with my sister for a long time happen to be someone Xia Yue knows in real life?"

Thinking about it, Lin Yu suddenly realized that, besides Xia Yue, her father had also passed away.

Her family keeps a memorial tablet for her father.

"Could this 'Xiao Yuan' be Xia Yue's father? I didn't look closely at the time of death on the memorial tablet, but if he died eight or nine years ago, it seems to match up with the Previous Version of the 'Death game' in a way."

"No... even if the timing matches, the chances are slim. Her father seems to be an ordinary worker; judging from her family's situation, he definitely couldn't be a 'Makeup Artist'..."

"It seems that after this trip to Shenzhen, we'll have to find a way to investigate Xia Yue's real-life connections and see if there are any people in the 'makeup' industry."

As Lin Yu pondered, he gradually gathered his "Soul Power" completely and integrated it into his own soul, establishing a stable connection with the "Soul Authority."

After finishing all this, Lin Yu breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at the time.

On the underground subway, the lack of light makes it difficult to judge the time.

It took quite some time to get to know the First Generation "Jung" and "Xiao Yuan".

Now... there's only half an hour left until midnight.

"Next... I'll temporarily take over the work of the First Generation 'Jung'."

Lin Yu muttered to himself as he spread his Soul Power perception across the subway.

What he needs to do now is, of course, to find the strange energy nodes set up by those "Diviner" that the First Generation Jung mentioned!