True Form and True Appearance

Max took a full five seconds to process Lin Yu's words before realizing he was talking about him.

"Huh? Me?"

"Yes, it's you," Lin Yu sighed. "Who exactly are you?"

He knew very well that the woman before him was definitely not the "wild boar" of the Night Watcher.

This was a false identity—whether it was fabricated or impersonated, Lin Yu had no idea.

But he was certain that Max was definitely not normal.

Because after regaining all his Memory and reviewing all of Max's actions, Lin Yu suddenly realized something.

On that list of deans, only "Robin's" True Name, "Jiang Lin," was listed.

His name and Max's name were displayed as gibberish and blank, respectively.

In other words...

In some ways, he and Max were more difficult to control than the "Tier 3" Robin in this "Asylum" Instance and in the Freud before them.

Lin Yu did acknowledge that he was indeed somewhat special; he wasn't an ordinary Player —plus, even the God of Change had alt accounts in this Instance, so it wasn't impossible for him to conveniently conceal his identity.

But what gives Max the right?

Based on the three clues given by the self-proclaimed "half- Deity," Fuzzball Robin to the second clue. "The mountains are different but similar, the longing for familiar places remains; entering this game, one is not a piece, remaining outside the board, one does not play a move."

Lin Yu had already completed the arrangements for Robin based on this.

Although her name was indeed on the list, as someone "returning to familiar territory," sending her out of the Asylum was the most appropriate course of action.

And corresponding to Max's third paragraph...

"Clouds and mist, illusions and the heart are all in vain; clinging to old ways, it's hard to break free; the body is already trapped in a thousand layers of predicament, where can a deadly trap confine the heart!"

Lin Yu still couldn't understand the explanation.

However, after his interactions with "Freud" and learning of his ability to manipulate puppets, Lin Yu suddenly realized something.

If...

Is the first paragraph actually corresponding to Max?

"A fake temple enshrines the true Laozi, unaware that one's own body is but wood and stone; entering the mountain and joining the trap is not one's true intention, for without revealing one's true nature, disaster will not occur."

Although this passage seems to be describing oneself, upon closer inspection, it doesn't make any sense at all!

First of all, I am only a "Tier 1" being. Although the outer shell is fake, it is not quite appropriate to say that I have the "real Laozi" inside!

Moreover, Lin Yu didn't think he was unaware of his own limitations!

The statement "going up the mountain and getting involved was not my intention" can be attributed to myself, but it always feels somewhat far-fetched!

Which of those who entered the "Death game" did so voluntarily?

But if we apply this to Max, and assume that some higher being altered Max's perception and manipulated her into this situation, then everything makes sense.

Even so...

Max remained completely still.

"What are you talking about? I... aren't I a mental patient?"

But at that moment, "Freud" had already realized what was happening.

"Damn it... she also smuggled herself in!"

"Your Divine Rank shouldn't allow you to enter here," he said through gritted teeth. "Damn it... disguised as a 'Tier 1', who are you really?"

As he spoke, Freud's figure suddenly became "blurred" and "distorted".

"Sizzle--"

Like a broken electronic screen, sharp, Rule colors flashed across his body, and his whole being revealed a look of terror.

"No... damn it, you can't!"

"Make that little girl stop!"

Freud's voice was also mixed with crackling electrical sounds, as if it would disappear at any moment.

"You know this guy's not right," Freud said, pointing at the still bewildered Max. "If I die, and the 'restrictions' here disappear... you won't survive!"

The surrounding environment began to blur, and the once spacious and bright hospital turned into a dilapidated and desolate scene... The scene kept changing.

Finally, large areas of distortion appeared, and the surrounding walls and ceiling flickered.

Lin Yu let out a breath and rubbed his temples slightly. The surroundings and Freud's voice made him feel dizzy and irritated.

You have a point.

"Then please save me quickly!"

Freud growled.

The patients he manipulated began to fall one by one, turning into bloated, rotting corpses.

"Unfortunately," Lin Yu sighed, "I'm just a nobody who uses a little trick; I'm neither smart nor powerful..."

"Breaking through your design was already an all-out effort—this situation isn't something I can simply put on the brakes for."

Lin Yu was telling the truth.

He only knew that Robin would likely break the deadlock from the outside, but Lin Yu didn't know Robin far Robin could go.

He doesn't Robin know how Robin has managed to deal with Freud's true form, let alone stop Robin!

As Freud's condition worsened, the flashing lights around him accelerated—and finally, the "real" scene of the Asylum appeared before Lin Yu.

This place is nothing but ruins and broken walls.

The five-story building was teetering on the brink of collapse. The so-called "Intensive Care Unit" had no door at all, and even the walls and roof were broken, revealing huge holes that led directly to the outside.

The fog was thick, sparse, and cold.

Looking through the hole in the wall, one could see the black cliffs and the surging, cold sea.

At that moment, Lin Yu felt his mind clear up considerably.

The Freud before him, also known as Doctor Li, had also transformed into a highly decomposed corpse—this was likely not his original "corpse."

Stiller remarked with a sigh, "So that's how it is. Those lost souls and Memory... were used for 'construction'."

"The world here on Mist Island is truly wondrous, constructing a fictional scene through the shared understanding of hundreds of souls, including many powerful ones."

Upon hearing Stiller's words, Lin Yu stroked his chin.

"I'm just curious, how does this guy plan to 'Resurrection'? He's just creating an illusion here... it shouldn't have anything to do with Resurrection, right?"

"Quantitative change leads to qualitative change... This guy wants enough souls to achieve a sufficiently strong 'cognition,' and in doing so, he plots to seize the Divine Rank, Authority, and domain of 'god'—once Becoming a God, the 'illusion' he constructs will still be impossible to Make It Real, but he can infinitely expand this 'fiction.' At that time, although he will still be 'fake,' what difference will there be between him and the real one?"

An explanation rang out beside Lin Yu.

He looked to his side— Max was sitting cross-legged on the ground, taking out Compass and speaking in a low voice.

She continued talking to herself, and Lin Yu felt that the aura emanating from her was becoming increasingly terrifying.

"You..."

Lin Yu wanted to try communicating with the other party.

But the other person ignored him and continued muttering to themselves.

"This is why the God of Change and the Fragment of Destiny came here... and this is why I came here too. It's truly wondrous!"

As he spoke, Max turned the Compass, Compass hummed and emitted a golden light.

She looked at Lin Yu.

"Kid, you're not bad either... even though you're from 'Order' and have killed quite a few of my men, I'm a man who always distinguishes between right and wrong!"

Max said, tapping his finger lightly on the Compass.

"Gen above Xun below, Mountain Wind Gu —Go!"

Lin Yu suddenly felt a lightness in his body.

In that instant, he found himself in the sky!

"What the heck? How did I start flying?!"