The Scum Is A ***

"That's right. It should be related to demons." Tang Teng spoke. "What could be that object that can increase the demons' intelligence so they could lead other, weaker demons and attack the participants?" he asked.

"If it was just an object related to demons, then there are many treasures." Cheng Sheng said. "But, to increase the demons' intelligence? Humans can't even increase their intelligence, even in an artificial way, that is, through medicines, so how can demons achieve it?" he asked them.

Everyone. "…" are you aware that you are also attacking is, as well as yourself, since we all are humans?! They thought.

Cheng Sheng blinked. "Ehem. Anyway – " he said and looked away from their accusing gazes. " – it is impossible for the demons to be this intelligence, les they have spent a long time in the human world to know how to strategize, and very meticulously." He said.

The others nodded in agreement. Indeed, the demons that they have seen so far are dumb, only driven by their instinct. The only intelligent ones are the strong ones. So, they concluded that the demons' intelligence is directly proportional to their strength.

But, these demons were placed inside a special space, and didn't have any interactions with the humans except for the participants of the Intersect Competition. And, the demons have always been changed because they were killed by the participants, so there shouldn't have been a demon which is a remnant of the previous competitions and studied carefully about strategies on how to kill the participants just to get back at them for killing its comrades.

"Then, what do you think could it be?" Zheng Fu Gong asked Cheng Sheng. "We have already checked the treasures on the participants before they entered the special space to prevent them from going overboard in the competition and hurt their fellow participants." He explained.

"That's right." Pai Lie nodded.

Cheng Sheng frowned as he pondered. The others are silent as they patiently wait for him to speak.

After a while, Cheng Sheng spoke. "At first, I was thinking that it might be a spirit servant." He said. "But, it is impossible since I was present after elder Pai sent the participants to the special space." He told them.

"That's right." Pai Lie nodded in agreement.

"But, we can't deny the fact that the situation right now…" Cheng Sheng heaved a sigh.

The others didn't speak.

"Xiao Sheng." It was Xie Lan. "Just tell us what are your thoughts. No need to hold back." He told him and patted his head.

Cheng Sheng looked at him before he nodded. "En." He responded. "It is impossible for it to be a spirit servant." He said.

"Why?" Tang Teng asked in surprise.

"Because the master is already outside." Cheng Sheng answered. "And before it could approach the teleportation array of elder Pai, I would have already noticed it." He explained.

"I see…" Tang Teng nodded, finally enlightened.

"Furthermore, even if it was really possible, then, I should have already seen the life thread connecting the master and the servant." Cheng Sheng continued. "Ling Yun was also there, so he should have already seen the life thread of the participant when the third stage started." He told them.

"It is true…" Yu Wen muttered as he nodded in agreement.

"Then, what could it be?" Jing Rui asked.

Cheng Sheng looked at them before he took a deep breath. "It is one of the common things the participants would bring, and would never be suspected by us." he answered. "In fact – " his expression turned grimmer. " – it can be made on the spot, so no need for the trouble of bringing it inside." He added.

Their eyes widened in shock and their expressions turned alarmed. "WHAT?!" they exclaimed.

Cheng Sheng nodded in affirmation. His expression turned heavy. "It could be… a talisman." He told them.

A deafening silence fell.

"What the fck! What is this sense of foreboding!" the audience asked when they suddenly felt a heavy pressure pressing down on them.

"Sect leaders, please!" Zheng Yi immediately cried as he tried to calm them down.

Fan Wen and the other elders were also alarmed and they immediately flew to the sect leaders' area. "Lan!" Fan Wen called.

"Founder!" Lan Tian and the others called.

"Yuan!" Sun Yi called.

"Yu Wen!" Ling Xi called.

"Sect leader!" Xi Ming called.

"Father!" Qian Tian and Qian Lin called.

"Uncle!" Jing Cheng, Jing Bai, Jing Hei and Jing Kang called.

Pai Lie instantly recovered from his shock and he made a barrier to protect the audience from the pressure the sect leaders, as well as Zheng Fu Gong, are exuding due to anger.

"Sheng." Fei Yin called as he pulled Cheng Sheng behind him to shield him.

"Cheng Sheng! Is the situation of the participants really that grim?" Tang Zhe asked with a sigh.

Kang Ce worriedly looked at Li Yan who is walking with Tang Li. Then, he and the other elders that arrived looked at Cheng Sheng.

"It is." Cheng Sheng answered.

"What is going on?" Chen Han asked with a frown.

"This… must be the work of a talisman." Cheng Sheng answered and heavily sighed.

"What?!" they were all shocked.

Cheng Sheng rubbed his temple when he felt it hurt. "Talismans are one of the most common thing that the participants can bring inside. It can also be recreated, and thus also be mass reproduced." He said.

"We know this, but how does this talisman make the participants be in danger?" Jing Hei asked. "Ow!" he cried when Jing Bai hit him.

"Because talismans can also control." Jing Kang answered. "Not only people and objects, but also… demons." He told them.

The atmosphere seemed to drop that moment.

"FCK!" Xi Ming cursed as everything finally started to sink in.

Their faces paled in horror. Cheng Sheng knows what they are concerned about, of course. If a Control Talisman was pasted on every demon, then the participants can all die.

"Don't worry." He said and sighed, trying to comfort them. "Right now, there should only be one demon that is being controlled by the culprit. The culprit didn't dare do more because we are all watching thus it wanted to avoid suspicion." He explained. "Right now, we have to find the culprit. Only then would the leader of the demons be out of his control, and the demons would scatter." He told them.

"How?" they immediately asked.

"Zheng Yi already instructed Zheng Ming to lead the other Righteous Alliance disciples and gather the participants so we can find the culprit." Cheng Sheng answered.

"But, there are many participants… and how will we able to find him?" Li Tian asked.

"Since this is the work of a talisman master, do you think we don't hold candle against him?" Cheng Sheng asked and grinned as he looked at Jing Kang, Lei Ling, Guo Cheng and Xiao Le who looked serious.

The others' eyes brightened, and the sect leaders have also finally sobered up. "That's right… we also have talisman masters." They said and sighed in relief.

"Is there anything that we can help you?" Qian Tian asked.

"Hmm… indeed, there is." Cheng Sheng answered before he called Jing Kang, Lei Ling, Guo Cheng and Xiao Le to the side.

The others looked puzzled.

"How do you think will they find the culprit?" Jing Hei curiously asked.

Fei Yin glanced at him. "Do you know what is the bane of talismans?" he suddenly asked them.

"Da shixiong, you know something?" Feng Mo looked at Fei Yin in surprise.

"The bane of talismans?" Qian Meng muttered.

"No." Fei Yin answered with a shake of his head.

"Then, what is it?" Kang Ce directly asked since he feels anxious as he glanced at Li Yan's image being projected by the Cleansing Stone.

"A talisman is made out of ink and paper." Fei Yin spoke. "For it to work, it has to be infused with spiritual power." He said.

They all nodded, since they know this.

"The former refers to the one being controlled, the latter refers to the one controlling." Fei Yin continued. "In order to take care of the one being controlled, you just need to destroy what controls it. As to defeat the one who controls it…" he looked at Cheng Sheng who is talking with Jing Kang, Lei Ling, Guo Cheng and Xiao Le in a low voice.

"Eh? How to defeat the one who controls it?" Shan Lu curiously asked. "And… what do you mean by 'destroy what controls it'?" he added.

Tang Yun sighed because Shan Lu didn't understand a single thing.

"Xiao Yin really knows about talismans." Xie Lan grinned.

"Of course. Since I need to know everything about my wife… Cheng-shidi." Fei Yin paused and coughed.

Everyone. "…" what the heck! Why are we being fed dog food again?! We are not dogs! They inwardly roared.

"Da shixiong." It was Cheng Sheng. "Did you spoil them about what we plan to do?" he asked.

"Of course not!" Fei Yin answered. "Not a single thing!" he said.

Everyone. "…" well, he really didn't, since we also feel like Shan Lu who didn't understand what Fei Yin said earlier. They thought.

Really, what did Fei Yin mean by his words earlier?