"I didn't notice at first, but looking back now, there were actually quite a few cracks in your story." Su Jiu's voice was calm, but a chill glinted in her eyes.
As though he had noticed nothing, the old man nodded. "Let's hear them."
"The villagers' clothing and your writing make one thing very clear."
The old man's face stiffened for an instant, but soon returned to normal.
"They... probably aren't people living in this era. Or rather, they actually died long ago, didn't they? Ten thousand years ago. Though in a certain sense, they could still be considered alive...
"After all, even they don't know they're already dead, do they?"
The old man's face twisted, anger and frustration creeping in as his secret was exposed. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Nonsense? I don't think so. You exploited the ignorance of mortals, gathering these ordinary people's souls into your true body to create a Small World under your control..."
Perhaps he was too furious; at this point, the old man instead grew quiet.
"Souls? What you saw with your Innate Arts were souls?" The old man raised his eyebrows, his face full of disbelief.
Su Jiu continued unhurriedly, "Of course we saw normal people of flesh and blood. Only... that was merely what you wanted us to see, wasn't it? After all, your true body is a mirror. It can reflect reality, but it can also create reality."
A red glow suddenly welled up in the old man's eyes, only to vanish a moment later.
"Do you remember the first question I asked you earlier? Just what rank of evil spirit are you?" His power was so formidable that he could deceive all their Innate Arts.
The old man did not answer. Su Jiu was in no hurry, either, and