Chapter 760: Whispers of the Abyss

Lu Xin had ventured into the Abyss many times, growing almost intimately familiar with its depths.

Yet none of those trips had stirred in him the same warm curiosity as when he came along with his mother.

Arm in arm, she and Lu Xin walked through a world bathed in dark crimson—a land strewn with enormous black palms and ruined buildings. They passed by Second Satellite City, where compared to other cities the presence of Mental Monsters was noticeably lighter, and glimpsed formidable monsters cowering in shadowed corners, too fearful to emerge.

They even saw, above the ruins of Qinggang, a Doll quietly seated atop a high-rise, chains gently billowing around her.

Any being surpassing the level of a Mental Overlord naturally leaves behind its own imprint in the Abyss.

Lu Xin even smiled and greeted the Doll, whose curious eyes fluttered open to return his greeting with delight.

However, under his mother’s watchful gaze, the two exchanged a brief nod and passed by without further conversation.

His mother merely led him swiftly through the Abyss.

That night, countless inhabitants of Qinggang, deep in slumber, found themselves witnessing a mother and son together in their dreams.

Linking her arm with that of a young man, his mother transitioned from one person’s dreamscape into another’s consciousness.

Across Qinggang, many awoke in an instant.

Some were gripped by fear, too terrified to sleep or even flex a hint of Mental Power, their minds urging an immediate escape from Qinggang. Others, upon witnessing the sight, felt relief—a silent understanding that nothing needed to be done. A king may choose his territory, or not at all…

Yet, lesser lives can only be chosen.

The only one with a truly clear perception was the Doll of Qinggang Main City, though after a fleeting glance she resumed watching television with calm assurance.

On the screen, a beautifully attired woman in ancient garb declared with heartfelt passion, “I have come to join this family…”

……

……

“To truly understand the Abyss, you must understand the Ability Users,” a voice resonated.

As they traversed the Abyss, his mother explained softly to Lu Xin, “Perhaps you’ve already experienced several training sessions in Qinggang and gained some insight into Ability Users, but in my view, that isn’t deep enough…”

While speaking, she led Lu Xin to a broken section of a building.

Here, rust continuously ascended, evoking a bizarre yet mesmerizing sensation.

Amidst this odd facade, Lu Xin noticed a wisp of wind—distinct from the myriad of breezes woven by countless Mental Powers—that drifted through the Abyss with palpable realism and agility. His mother observed it gently and remarked, “See that? That is an Ability User; that is his Mental Trait…”

“The emergence of an Ability User follows the same principle as that of demented individuals. A massive upheaval shatters the mental world, and for some, when their psyche is utterly destroyed, they become demented—what you know as madmen.”

“Others suffer a distortion in the structure of their mind, like deformed building blocks that, instead of collapsing, give rise to abilities.”

“The distinction between them and those with a stable mental framework is their Traits.”

“Traits forge abilities.”

“And these unique differences form the various categories of ability.”

“…”

Lu Xin nodded as his mother softly explained, “The first stage for an Ability User—Ability Awakening—is, at its core, that simple.”

“And because the Abyss has always existed, the aftershocks of that monumental upheaval have never ceased. People will continue to be influenced and transform into new Ability Users. Although the dramatic shock has diminished over time, and as you know from the news, there are still occasionally one or two demented individuals.”

“…”

“…”

Lu Xin nodded. His mother’s words mirrored the contents of the Seven-step theory, a concept he was already familiar with.

Even though her perspective was slightly different, the essence remained nearly identical.

Continuing forward, his mother led Lu Xin to a more distinct wisp of Mental Power. It was not only agile but had grown significantly, weaving through the Abyss and occasionally influencing other mental energies.

Lu Xin could feel that it could even absorb other mental powers to further strengthen itself.

Yet sometimes, after engulfing others, it would expel them just as quickly, as if wary of potential harm from the very energies it consumed.

……

……

“This is the second stage for an Ability User—Trait Extension.”

His mother explained softly, “A second-stage Ability User is capable of extending his own Mental Traits to other mental beings and assimilating them. In practical terms, he ‘pollutes’ the other person, but on a mental level, he essentially merges the other’s mental power with his own, forming a unified whole.”

“Of course, in the process, he also harbors fear.”

“For the more he assimilates, the greater the risk that his own consciousness might be diluted and lost.”

“If in this assimilation process one loses consciousness, then that person becomes merely an ordinary Pollution Source.”

“Thus, ordinary Ability Users typically conduct only shallow contamination.”

“They harness the mental power of others to achieve their goals and then quickly restore their original state.”

“…”

Lu Xin listened intently, even though he already understood much of it.

After traversing deep into the Abyss with his mother, they finally reached a spot marked by dark crimson vortices. Lu Xin saw, amid endless ruins ahead, an invisible Monster surging—a mass of black cloud intermittently revealing human arms or faces, wailing in despair as it charged forward, only to be repelled by invisible restraints.

“In reality, this is a secret laboratory of the Qinggang Cleanup Department,” his mother explained.

She continued, “Inside, a Pollution Source that has lost its will is being detained.”

“If it were to break free, it would ravenously absorb all the surrounding Mental Power, transforming every Mental Entity it encounters into a replica of itself—a contagion that spreads like a plague, hence the term ‘Mental Plague.'”

“By nature, this is merely a second-stage Ability User that has lost control.”

“But if, amidst this unchecked contamination, a second-stage Ability User possesses a more stable Mental Trait and sufficient will to maintain his own consciousness against the overwhelming mental power, he can freely deploy Mental Plague. His trait would continuously extend and grow—this is the hallmark of the Third Stage: Infinite Pollution.”

“Of course, the Third Stage is extremely dangerous.”

“Every Ability User, no matter how stable their mental framework or strong their will, has an inherent theoretical limit.”

“Once this limit is surpassed, they risk losing control and reverting to a Pollution Source.”

“In the past, numerous institutions attempting to study the Seven-step theory were halted at this very stage, unable to progress further.”

“…”

Lu Xin listened to his mother’s explanations, nodding deeply.

The Third Stage indeed was the level most prone to madness and widespread destruction.

Back in the day, the Black Table had reportedly conducted countless horrific experiments precisely to overcome this issue.

“The problem at the Third Stage is nearly insurmountable and depends solely on the Ability User himself,”

His mother explained slowly and in detail, “But whether through forbidden experiments, intrinsic factors, or even sheer luck, as long as one manages to stabilize at the Third Stage, there is always hope for further advancement.”

“This is what defines a Mental Overlord.”

“At this level, one’s indomitable will becomes paramount, and the initial formation of a Mind Palace begins.”

“Once a Mind Palace is established—even if only a mere shadow of it exists—the individual’s consciousness and will are greatly fortified. At the same time, they gain absolute control over the Mental Power around them, allowing a Mental Overlord-level Ability User to freely adjust the degree of contamination among those nearby, releasing or retracting it at will.”

“They can construct a mental field centered on themselves.”

“Within that field, they can repel, counter, dilute, or even absorb any invading mental power.”

“They can also recruit assistants and elevate their abilities, sharing the risks of losing control.”

“Thus, a Mental Overlord represents the pinnacle of mortal capacity.”

“It is tantamount to a god walking among men.”

“…”

“…”

“So impressive, isn’t it?”

Lu Xin, reflecting on his mother’s words, felt a spark of astonishment and introspection.

After the incident in Flame City, he wondered if he had lost a sense of awe and respect for Mental Overlords.

“After achieving Mental Overlord, you possess the power you now wield,”

His mother smiled gently and said, “This level of power is something you understand well. Compared to a Mental Overlord, it’s an entirely different realm. While a Mental Overlord can easily infiltrate and alter others’ mental traits, the power of illusion can even directly change or erase an Ability User’s trait.”

“Of course, erasing is easy; transforming it into another trait requires profound understanding of that other trait.”

“…”

“Illusory power used in such a way?”

Lu Xin frowned. Initially, it all seemed chaotic, but with a shift in perspective, everything became clear.

For instance, take Gecko of the Spider-type—one could potentially turn him into an Ordinary Person, or even reshape him into a Princess-type?