Chapter 25: The God Among Men

“Backlash?”

Lu Yu was also puzzled, as it was the first time the Key of Truth suggested it could be actively used. The reason seemed to be a passive activation due to reflecting history. To tell the truth, Lu Yu did not know what impact it would have; the options ranged from “Circle of Truth,” “High-Dimensional Contamination,” to “Aura Dissemination,” and he could control the intensity of the power, which was quite convenient.

So, Lu Yu chose the lowest degree to leak a wisp of aura and try it out.

However, the moment he made his decision, within the Sea of Chaos, the Thousand-Hand Demon God slowly extended a hand, and merely by that action, shook the realm of worlds.

At this instant, the screens reflecting the past began to tremble erratically, the images in an instant were covered by an eternal white light, as if an old television set was bombarded by some kind of high-energy radiation, unable to receive signals, emitting a sizzling noise.

“It shouldn’t have been an hour yet, right?”

Luo Qingyue’s expression was puzzled as she looked towards the Ancient Bookworm beside her, her pupils suddenly shrinking,

“What is happening!?”

The Ancient Bookworm curled up into a ball, the yellow flower atop it began to wither and decay at a visible rate, as if time had begun to accelerate upon it. Meanwhile, a great deal of ash from burning pages was emerging from its body and vanishing into the wind.

Within the screen, those strange white lights began to move, turning into twisted beams of light, slowly stepping out from the depths of history, like layers of ethereal, transparent gauze. Underneath the gauze, madness akin to the dark of the universe seemed to lurk.

As they drew closer, a terrifying presence spread, the river of history trembled, and the once-proud lion-faced deer fell to the ground, shaking with fear, as if transcending time to descend.

“Hiss!”

The Ancient Bookworm began to lose its sanity, steadily sending emotions of fear and pain to Luo Qingyue through their soul link, overwhelming her like a tide, her soul hit by an instantaneous assault.

In this moment, her thoughts began to stagnate, all her ideals, common sense, truths began to waver, even her own soul began to deny itself, warping, as her flesh started to negate itself, attempting to give birth to a new will, twisting and undergoing unknown mutations.

This bizarre transformation sparked a mix of fear and excitement in Luo Qingyue’s heart, her body trembling.

To a mythological scholar, there was nothing more delightful than confronting creatures that seemed to have stepped out of mythology, to verify ancient history. But fear is a human instinct.

At this moment, her reason was failing to support her thoughts, continuously being eroded, sinking into a quagmire of chaos, even the attempt to let “Luo Qianqiu” deal with it was not possible.

Her mind grew steadily more torpid…

“Am I going to die? I’m not ready to go, my good looks have not been put to use, so many ancient histories remain unexplored…”

Just as her consciousness was about to sink, the urgent voice of Lu Yu rang out:

“Senior sister, quickly retract the Ancient Bookworm into the Pet Beast Space.”

Like a lifeline, it pulled Luo Qingyue out of chaos and she awoke abruptly! Her spirit returned, and immediately understood she had suffered some contamination.

She had not yet discovered the real mythical era, the true cause behind the lost years, how could she die midway? Mythological scholar Luo Qingyue would not be outdone by “Legendary Investigator” Luo Qianqiu!

“Ancient Ancient Bookworm, go back!”

Luo Qingyue quickly summoned the summoning array track to retract the Ancient Bookworm into the Pet Beast Space, forcibly shutting off the screen.

The white light abruptly stopped, all strangeness disappeared, relieving both of them. She glanced at the Ancient Bookworm in the Pet Beast Space, its head flower completely withered, leaving a bare stem. Although it looked somewhat comical, the burning had ceased.

It was somewhat weak but not fatal; it could slowly recover.

“Junior brother, are you alright?” Luo Qingyue, a bit frightened, looked at the panting Lu Yu and gratefully said: “If it weren’t for you to awaken me in time, I would have been devoured by these strange lights this time. As a thank you, you can touch my leg for a bit, how does that sound?”

“!?”

Lu Yu slowly typed a question mark. Is there a problem with me, or with you?

Luo Qingyue puzzledly said: “Haven’t you been stealthily gazing at my legs? You’ve looked several times. Don’t you prefer short skirts over long pants, and black stockings over those?”

A sexy older sister’s straight pitch, paired with the innocent conflicting expressions, had an unparalleled lethality.

Lu Yu was speechless for a moment, almost swayed if not for a trace of teasing in her eyes that he caught. He realized she was toying with him and opted not to take the bait.

“Ha ha, junior brother, you’re so innocent…” Luo Qingyue, watching Lu Yu’s confused expression and laughing like a little fox who successfully stole a chicken, explained: “I was just joking. Don’t be too tense emotionally after experiencing a mental contamination. You should relax a bit; otherwise, it may leave psychological scars. But this time, I truly thank you.”

From a sly fox to a tender rabbit, she earnestly thanked him, it was hard to discern which one was truly her.

Could this woman be some sort of illusionary beast?

Lu Yu was unclear and unconcerned, his main goal now being to grow stronger. He shook his head saying:

“It’s a minor matter, it was my duty to do so.”

After all, he was the mastermind behind this anomaly, and everything was under his control.

But to his surprise, just a whisper from the Thousand-Hand Demon God, not even a real contamination, was enough to start distorting the river of history.

He had a strong premonition that if things continued, they could get completely out of control and potentially endanger himself, so he promptly withdrew the backlash and awakened Luo Qingyue.

To prevent Luo Qingyue from noticing anything, Lu Yu deliberately changed the subject:

“Senior sister, what are these light shadows exactly? I felt like my soul was going to be twisted just now…”

He spoke while simultaneously showing a relieved expression.

The next Oscar for Best Actor is his for sure.

“I have never seen them either.”

Luo Qingyue also put away her playful mood, her expression growing serious as she shook her head.

She had never seen such odd existences, as if they were the origin of all truths yet completely opposed to truth itself—a careless touch could taint the mind.

“Maybe it’s because I peered into history frequently, attracting backlash, but it doesn’t seem like the backlash of the river of history or some special spirit of history. Could it be…” Luo Qingyue, lost in thought, suddenly raised her head, coming across a terrifying possibility, exclaiming:

“Forbidden beings!”

“Forbidden beings?”

Lu Yu, still considering how to lead Luo Qingyue, was at once taken aback, the term reminding him of that mysterious sun, a taboo not to be looked at by the ordinary.

“Indeed, forbidden beings. Junior brother, it’s normal for you as a new Beast Tamer to be unaware, because the information about Them was sealed, not to be known by the common person.”

Luo Qingyue nodded and continued:

“About the forbidden beings, I don’t know much, but what can be confirmed is that They are undying, from flesh to soul, possessing immortal stature.”

“Immortal?” Lu Yu was skeptical. Could there really be such undying beings in this world?

Luo Qingyue seriously said: “They are indeed the grand entities, able to walk freely across the supreme Mother River, time meaning nothing to Them, the world but marbles to play with, They are the true supremes. Even if their flesh and soul are completely obliterated, as long as there’s a trace of their presence left, merely by chanting the true name or recalling memories of Them, They can return from the cemetery of time, reclaiming Their crowns and spreading Their glory.”

Luo Qingyue’s expression was devout, as if she wasn’t talking about dangerous forbidden beings, but omniscient gods from the bible.

But by her description,

Forbidden beings, are the gods among men!

Where They pass, behold the kingdom of gods on earth, a thought able to rewrite the world, twist history, all things but playthings in Their hands.

Lu Yu’s worldview was massively shaken, he instinctively glanced at the sun, pondering in his heart:

Could it too be a forbidden being?

Among the Beast Tamers, could there also be forbidden beings?

Amidst his shock, Lu Yu asked his question: “Then what’s the connection with these light shadows? Could it be the arrival of the forbidden beings just now?”

“No, if the real forbidden beings descended, even a single thought would suffice to destroy the whole of Dayuan City. These must be Their followers. Even though the forbidden beings do not die, They can still be eroded, sealed, devoured, or even fall into eternal slumber. But even the slightest remnant of Their magnificent power can twist all matter, concept, becoming Their followers, awaiting the return of the grand entity.

The anomaly just now was likely due to my frequent use of the Ancient Bookworm to pry into history, attracting the attention of ancient forbidden followers, those historical light shadows. Fortunately, in their eyes, we are mere ants, and They didn’t truly descend…”

Luo Qingyue, frightened, patted her chest in relief, almost causing the entire Alliance to hold a banquet for Dayuan City.

Lu Yu, on the other hand, was unafraid and even had a peculiar expression.

I just wanted to prevent you from investigating my secrets, and you came up with a whole logical loop.

Directly transformed me from an ordinary person

to a forbidden being?

And with my own power, polluted the entire river of history, an undying grand entity?