An Unfamiliar Ceiling

With the selection competition coming to a close, Bai Cai finally left the Soul Battle Area as a loser, suffering her first defeat since reaching the top of the outer academy. However, Bai Cai remained quite calm, and apart from giving hints to Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong, she took no further action.

Bai Cai's advice was very mystical; it simply told Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong to always be vigilant and, if they encountered danger, to quickly hide behind Jiang Nannan and use her as a shield.

Invincible Golden Body is Jiang Nannan's fourth Soul Skill, which can withstand any Soul Skill below level 100. Unless the opponent breaks through the limits of the mortal realm and becomes comparable to Di Tian, who wields the Dragon God Claw, or the Deep Sea Demon Whale, who is about to evolve into the Sea God Dragon, Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong will definitely be safe and sound.

Of course, if Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong were to encounter an unparalleled powerhouse, such as the current sect leader of the Body Sect, the first elder and the supreme elder of the Holy Spirit Cult, the Invincible Golden Body would not be of much use. Xuan Zi might be able to put up a fight, but he would not have the strength to protect all the students.

Even with Invincible Golden Body, it can only block one attack at most.

The reason for including Jiang Nannan in the quota, aside from their brief encounter, was more out of concern for the danger. Bai Cai had done everything in her power to try to reverse the established course of events.

As the start date drew near, one evening, a letter arrived at Ling Luochen's dormitory. Bai Cai changed into her everyday clothes, left the academy, and hired a carriage to go to the outskirts of the city.

Shrek City is a thriving commercial city with well-connected roads; however, its outskirts are dotted with slums, and its outskirts are covered with dense forests.

The city is safe and secure, with every inch of land extremely valuable; the area outside the city is chaotic and like a ghost town. Just a wall separates them, yet their realities are completely different.

The area around Shrek City does not produce food, and the surrounding forests are protected areas where cultivation is prohibited. Bankrupt merchants, impoverished farmers, struggling artisans, and gangs operating in the gray area together form the slums outside the city.

In front of a dilapidated tavern, Bai Cai paid the fare, pushed open the door, and was immediately hit by a pungent smell. Cheap drinks, cheap food, powdered and glamorous women, burly men, and scum in the dark corners were right there.

The run-down tavern also doubles as a hotel. Wearing a black trench coat, Bai Cai went to the front desk and booked a room.

The Bai Cai was draped in a trench coat, completely concealing its physical features. The receptionist Yawn, quickly found a cast iron key, and tossed it to the short guest in front of him.

The cast iron key was ice-cold, with inscriptions on the bottom. Bai Cai used this to find the room, then closed the door to rest.

Before long, Ling Luochen, dressed in a black trench coat, slowly stepped into the dilapidated tavern and went straight upstairs to find his room.

Bai Cai did not conceal her Soul Power, and Ling Luochen was able to pinpoint her location. Soul Master were rarely seen in the slums, and even weak Soul Scholar below level ten were easily spotted. Bai Cai was naturally very conspicuous.

It should be noted that reaching the Soul Ancestor is enough to become the lord of a city, reaching the Soul Elder is enough to establish a powerful clan, and Soul Grandmaster is a guest of honor in ordinary academies. Soul Scholar are also free from worries about food and clothing.

If one possesses Soul Power, why would they need to live in a slum?

The relative poverty of low-level Soul Master is comparable to that of nobles and wealthy merchants. Jiang Nannan lacks medical expenses, not living expenses. If she hadn't encountered a rare disease, her family's financial situation would actually be above average.

There were no other Soul Master in the dilapidated tavern. Ling Luochen knocked on the door, and sure enough, Bai Cai appeared there.

"Where is the treasure?"

Ling Luochen never delayed, his words icy. "To invite Soul King alone, what if they commit murder and robbery? The academy will be powerless to help."

With seven parts irony and three parts reminder, it must be said that, aside from the extreme pressure, Ling Luochen can actually be considered a kind person.

Bai Cai replied, "It's just each other."

The tavern was noisy. Bai Cai stepped forward decisively, her black pupils instantly turning a touch of icy blue.

"This is..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ling Luochen immediately fainted and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Within the Sea of Consciousness, the Snow Empress manifested, stating, "The state of confusion will last at most half an hour."

In the legends of the Extreme North, the Heavenly Snow Woman represents coldness; she freezes the soul through her eyes, and one must never look her in the eye.

The noise continued. Bai Cai quickly crouched down, carefully supporting Ling Luochen, and then summoned Kirlia.

The purpose of using this method was not to eliminate the problem completely; therefore, even without intervention, Ling Luochen would still be able to wake up.

Of course, after waking up, Ling Luochen was mostly confused.

"Mental Pollution!"

The third Soul Skill, Mental Pollution, originates from the Abyssal Demon Octopus. Soul Skill effect is to pollute the mind, inflicting various negative effects, including confusion, charm, dizziness, coma, and amnesia. It may inflict all types, or it may inflict only one.

Of course, as she becomes more familiar with the species, and with some additional effort, Kirlia can even control the specific type of Kirlia.

Bai Cai's goal is very simple: to make Ling Luochen permanently lose his memory and forget all related memories.

Generally speaking, the effects of the Soul Skill of Mental Pollution are not permanent. However, if the resistance level is below a certain threshold, the Mental Pollution will completely penetrate the mind, even comparable to the mental imprint.

Under normal circumstances, Jiang Nannan would not sell her body, but after her mother was diagnosed with a rare disease, Jiang Nannan finally relented.

Similarly, under normal circumstances, the negative state should be gradually dispelled. However, after encountering confusion, the will to resist completely fails, the Mental Pollution thoroughly penetrates the mind, and the effect of the Soul Skill can be permanently imprinted.

With a violent tremor, Ling Luochen rapidly forgot his memories: today, yesterday, a week, a month...

In the Sea of Consciousness, Ice Empress suddenly transformed into human form, saying, "Using treasures as bait may not be enough to distinguish between normal memories and associative memories."

If normal memories are forgotten, it can lead to confusion or even dementia, and the abnormality is easily Frisk.

"Indeed, even with Telepathy and careful operation, one can at most reduce mistakes, but it's difficult to avoid them altogether."

Bai Cai lifted her trench coat, pulled out a letter, tossed in a hard candy, and wrote, "Therefore, we must sever ties."

The next morning, Ling Luochen woke up leisurely, only to be immediately bewildered.

The unfamiliar room, the slightly yellowed sheets smelling musty, the air stuffy and pungent.

Oblivious pulling back the blanket, Ling Luochen suddenly recalled fragmented memories: her name was Ling Luochen, an inner disciple of the Shrek Academy, and she had come to keep her appointment...

Keep the appointment?

What is the agreement?

Whom did you make the promise with?

Ling Luochen reached into his trench coat and pulled out a piece of hard candy.

Sugar?

Why bring candy here?

Ling Luochen pondered deeply, then casually unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth. His saliva dissolved the candy, releasing its sweetness, and Ling Luochen felt a surge of energy, finally becoming much more alert.

Sugar cubes can calm the mind, Bai Cai often carry some candy with them, just in case.

After Ling Luochen wakes up, she will definitely be confused for a while, but a piece of candy will be enough to quickly bring her back to her senses.

In exchange, the Bai Cai took the letter, completely eliminating any remaining hidden dangers.

He circulated his Soul Power and felt no discomfort throughout his body. After a moment of thought, Ling Luochen realized that his memory was indeed blank.

Or perhaps the other party did nothing at all.

Or, they may not even be Frisk themselves.

Reality made her believe the former, while intuition made her believe the latter.