Can a Scholar Be Called a Villain

Chapter 89: Soul-Snatching Array

Murong Lin’s eyes locked onto Sheng Yi, who was ensnared within the array’s bindings. A triumphant smile played on his lips as he channelled his divine senses into the array, siphoning away Sheng Yi’s memories.

This was the Soul-Snatching Array—a higher Sky grade spiritual array, acquired for a hefty 50 villain value from the system shop.

It stood as Murong Lin’s highest expense thus far.

The array possessed the ability to extract and destroy memories, all while demanding a minimal amount of spiritual energy—making it a seamless fit for Murong Lin’s capabilities.

However, its limitations were evident; it relied on the target’s voluntary entry into its confines, they couldn’t be forced to enter.

Murong Lin’s deliberate choice of travelling by carriage served this distinct purpose.

Sheng Yi’s expression twisted in horror as he felt the inexorable grip of the array within Murong Lin’s carriage ensnare his very soul.

An overwhelming force, like tumultuous waves, surged through him, compelling the recollection of his memories.

His past life’s experiences flooded his consciousness—the people he’d encountered, serendipitous encounters, monumental events…

Five years later, Yan lay in ruins and chaos, the aftermath of Murong Lin’s onslaught at the helm of his Blood Spirits…

Sheng Yi’s own exceptional triumph at the Great Nanyue Wan Guo Tournament unravelled, leading to a cascade of fortuitous encounters culminating in his acceptance into the ranks of the prestigious ‘Four Seas Academy’, one of the ten great sects…

Two decades down the road, Sheng Yi proudly represented the ‘Four Seas Academy’ in a tournament. His valorous victories over three disciples from rival sects secured him a coveted position as a core disciple within the sect…

In a stroke of immense fortune, Sheng Yi stumbled upon an ancient legacy that propelled him to the Majestic realm. His remarkable achievement, however, kindled simmering resentment among his peers…

These vivid scenes coursed through his mind amidst the flood of memories.

Decades of experiences condensed into mere seconds, it was an overwhelming cascade of recollections.

Initially, Sheng Yi had been oblivious to the array’s capabilities, mistaking it for a tool intended to ensnare and eliminate him at Murong Lin’s hands.

Yet, the relentless deluge of memories imposed upon him against his will, coupled with Murong Lin’s pale complexion—a clear consequence of overexertion—brought stark realization.

The array’s true nature became abundantly clear to Sheng Yi at that moment.

A Soul-Snatching Array—a notorious creation from the annals of the Demonic Dao, was tailored for the unmasking of spies and infiltrators. It was capable of unearthing every detail from an enemy’s memories—each movement, every action.

Such higher Barren grade arrays were rarities, within the grasp of but a handful. Sheng Yi, drawing from his Majestic realm memories, could only recall four or five individuals across the expanse of the Nanyue continent who could wield such power.

And yet, here, within the seemingly unassuming borders of a small country like Yan, a practitioner of this array emerged.

Horror and bewilderment etched deeper into Sheng Yi’s face.

Before him, Murong Lin slowly opened his eyes.

It was akin to a dream of a thousand years.

The Soul-Snatching array operated with astounding swiftness, capable of siphoning a target’s memories in mere seconds. In this brief span, the user could glean not just years, but potentially decades or even centuries of memories.

Its swiftness served a dual purpose: to preserve the target’s life from the ravages of time during memory extraction and to ensure the user’s safety by preempting potential ambushes.

This operation, however, exacted a substantial toll on the user’s mental and spiritual reserves.

Fortunately, Sheng Yi’s memories spanned a modest forty years, and Murong Lin’s interest extended only thirty years into the future. Consequently, he did not seize everything.

Amid Sheng Yi’s frenzied struggle, the array’s luminescence dimmed as his Manifestation transformation, the ‘Yin Yang Aura’, surged forth.

Casually, Murong Lin withdrew the spiritual energies he had infused into the Soul-Snatching Array, promptly shattering its hold as Sheng Yi broke free.

This vulnerability also underscored one of the array’s limitations—it hinged on a continuous infusion of the user’s strength to maintain its hold on the target.

Should the wellspring of their spiritual power recede, the once-potent array would crumble with one counterattack.

The dissolution of the ‘Soul-Snatching Array’ didn’t perturb Murong Lin, despite its significant cost of 50 villain value. His objective had been achieved, rendering the cost inconsequential.

In this instant, a voice echoed within his consciousness as his gaze fixated upon the aura that was beside Sheng Yi.

“Ding! The protagonist Sheng Yi’s ‘Little Protagonist Halo’ is continuing to shatter, his protagonist value has dropped by 100.”

“Ding! Congratulations to master for obtaining a villain value of 100, you may use it to purchase items in the system shop.”

The residue of Sheng Yi’s protagonist value likely rested at a paltry 50, possibly attributed to the presence of this adjacent aura.

Murong Lin instantly found this aura within the system shop.

The ‘Yin Yang Aura’!

200 villain value!

Its price mirrored that of his own mortal form, the ‘Evil of lifelessness, lawlessness and formlessness’!

A tinge of envy stirred within Murong Lin’s core.

Like how the ‘Evil of lifelessness, lawlessness and formlessness’ was a creature from the void, the ‘Yin Yang Aura’ came from a creature named, ‘Qi’.

These were sentient beings birthed from the very essence of the heavens and earth. Their bodies were composed of condensed air, and their constitution intertwined with their cultivation.

Certain ‘Qi’ entities were born within the Abhijñā Enigma realm, rendering them invulnerable to conventional attacks. Additionally, they wielded the uncanny ability to slip away from dire straits, splitting their form and seamlessly dissolving into invisibility.

To lay claim to their mortal forms, one had to kill them.

Amidst these extraordinary entities, the ‘Yin Yang Aura’ reigned supreme—a sovereign presence among its kind. It was a remarkable anomaly that the mortal form of such a potent entity would appear within a small country like Yan.

Sheng Yi’s complexion drained of colour as he strengthened himself with the ‘Yin Yang Aura’.

Initially underestimating Murong Lin’s cultivation, he had rashly charged into the carriage, confident in his advantage stemming from his perception of Murong Lin’s Origin realm status.

However, not only was Murong Lin at the peak of the Manifestation realm, but he had cunningly ensnared Sheng Yi’s memories with the ‘Soul-Snatching Array’.

Murong Lin wasn’t someone he could leave alive!

Despite the revelation of Murong Lin’s formidable mastery at the pinnacle of the Manifestation realm, Sheng Yi’s resolve remained unshaken. His unwavering confidence was bolstered by a singular advantage—the possession of the strongest mortal form in the entirety of the Nanyue Continent: the peerless ‘Yin Yang Aura’.

This fortuitous encounter was fated to surface within the realms of the neighbouring country, Chu, which was uncovered by Sheng Yi in the next decade.

He possessed a Manifestation transformation by then, and the ‘Yin Yang Aura’ presented an additional advantage— the ability to enhance his innate talent.

Consuming the mortal form, his talents underwent an unprecedented surge, propelling him to the pinnacle of his potential. It was a calculated move in anticipation of confronting the betrayals that had marred his previous life.

Having now assimilated the ‘Yin Yang Aura’ into his own Manifestation Transformation, Sheng Yi possessed the means to forcibly ascend to the peak of the Manifestation realm.

Sheng Yi clenched his jaw as he channelled the lower Barren grade cultivation technique from his previous life. His body quivered as he harnessed the ‘Yin Yang Aura’, before launching himself towards Murong Lin.

His aura surged towards the peak of the Manifestation realm. Only when his strength paralleled Murong Lin’s did he strike.

Under no circumstances could he allow Murong Lin to survive!

His motivation transcended mere revenge for the annihilation of the duke’s estate and the murder of his father, but also because of the fact that Murong Lin had uncovered Sheng Yi’s most profound secret.

He directly unleashed his strongest attack within his current abilities.

The ‘Great Wilderness Forbidden Heaven Palm’!

His hand, enshrouded in the ‘Yin Yang Aura’, descended upon Murong Lin.

The sheer potency of the attack strained Sheng Yi’s vessels, causing them to swell. Even his tightly clenched teeth couldn’t staunch the trickle of blood that seeped forth.

He stared at Murong Lin with a vicious expression.

In response, Murong Lin extended both palms, his expression grave.

One hand summoned forth Jia He Ke’s《Great Clap》, while the other invoked Huang Jiao Mi’s《Great Handprint》—both spiritual skills derived from Yuan Sui Yun’s legacy.

Empowered by the 《Lifelessness Law》, Murong Lin’s might had burgeoned to the realm of lower Barren grade.

The collision of their palms triggered an instantaneous implosion, destroying the carriage.

The sheer force unleashed gave rise to billowing dust and a tempestuous hurricane that materialized upon the battlefield.

Then, a human silhouette flew out.

Translator’s note

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