Fu Zhi asked, "When did you replace him?"

Will only smiled. On his aged face appeared the familiar expression that Fu Zhi knew so well.

"I'm Li Xun, and I'm also Will."

"Fu Zhi, I am who I am."

The old man's voice was hoarse and aged. "I have always been myself."

"The one who raised you, taught you, and sent you to the Enforcement Division… that was all me!"

"The Tower belongs to all researchers, but it is also my private property."

Fu Zhi understood what he meant, and that moment of realization slowed his movement for just a second.

The old man took advantage of the moment and escaped from Fu Zhi's blade.

Seeing his look, the old man spoke in a cooperative tone, "It's not very clear to say it like this, but you can think of it this way. I possess Li Xun's soul, but I have Will's thoughts. I'm the seed Will buried in Li Xun's body, and I'm also a tool to communicate with Will."

"That time with Zhou Zheng… was that you too?"

The old man was very patient. "It was me."

The lines between Fu Zhi's brows deepened.

The old man lifted his eyelids. "We have coexisted for twenty years now."

When Fu Zhi was found, his body was only five years old.

The long blade, carrying flames both formless and tangible, swept toward him.

The old man laughed loudly. "Fu Zhi, when I picked you up, I originally wanted to take root in your body. But your soul was too strong. It's a pity… a pity you had already become someone else's watchdog."

As the blade drew closer to the old man, he smiled, but the words he spoke were chilling.

"Fu Zhi, an unqualified watchdog will be abandoned by its master." The old man took a button from his pocket and pressed it hard.

The long blade pierced his body, and his breath ceased.

Around them, the glass covers began to show signs of abnormal movement.

Then, like a silver bottle shattering, the hibernation fluid was quickly drained, and the experimental subjects were awakened.

They turned their heads toward him, eyes full of predatory intent.

Fu Zhi's expression was blank. He flicked the blood off his blade and aimed it at the pollutants.

A battle was about to break out.

—

"This is the second time you destroyed the world."

Ruan Xing did not waver at Will's words. Instead, he spoke with disdain, "Too bad I didn't destroy you along with it."

His eyes looked at him as if staring at the most disgusting insect.

The researchers rushed toward Ruan Xing like moths to a flame.

A deafening explosion erupted in the center of the Tower. The central laboratory had the most comprehensive security measures, but against such a powerful bomb, the building still sustained significant damage.

Annoying pests. It was best to wipe them out in one go.

Blood spattered across the researcher's face, and their stiff smile froze as the smell of death spread around.

Will's emotions were pushed to their peak. "Ruan Xing, this world suppresses you a lot."

Their throats squeezed out a smile, pupils dilating. "The way you are now… truly pitiful."

Ruan Xing leaned back slightly, dodging the impact from the explosion. The intense movement made his breathing rapid and unsteady, but he could still clearly speak. "You suit that word better than I do. You grew strong through theft. Not only pitiful, but also very despicable."

"In a false world, you used Fu Zhi's body as research material, stole research results as stepping stones for your fame, and spied on my soul to enrich yourself."

"In reality, you're just a coward who fears death. You abandoned your original body and plundered the world's power to alter your soul. You stole my notes and materials to feed your desires, and even tried to shift the blame for destroying the world onto someone else."

Ruan Xing dodged a fire axe that swung at him, rubbed his slender fingertips together, and flung a cloud of black-purple mist at the attacker's face.

Blood splashed onto his face. His green eyes gleamed, flashing with a malicious light.

"Will, you're the vilest thief here. Your filth and hypocrisy are enough to make even the thickest-skinned person in this world feel ashamed to death."

Will's calm expression gradually stiffened, then turned ashen.

Bang bang!

Some researchers pulled out guns, their eyes burning with fury as their movements became faster.

They were furious and ashamed, but Ruan Xing felt a sense of relief.

After splitting his soul, Will had no special abilities left. He had no hidden trump cards and still had to rely on the physical capabilities of his current body.

Ruan Xing began chanting a long incantation. A spell he hadn't used in the mirror world. The advantage was that it could wipe them out in one move, but the disadvantage was that it would likely drain all the magic power from this body.

He firmly finished the last word. Immediately, as if all his strength had been sucked away, his body swayed, but he still turned his gaze toward the field.

In the sealed room, wind suddenly rose from nowhere, wailing as it grew into massive gusts in an instant. The surrounding glass shattered violently under the intense pressure difference, and countless pipes let out agonized howls.

These invisible forces roared, pressing against the walls of the room. The airwaves, strong enough to crack the mirror space before, now peeled off a layer of the the wall before condensing toward the center, forming a shape.

It was a wolf, as tall as a building floor. Its transparent body refracted light but still showed fine fur.

The wolf's pupils were icy blue, looking at the surrounding humans with disdain, but it gave Ruan Xing a fawning call.

It lowered itself slightly, compressing its body to fit the ceiling height, but still looked uncomfortable. It gave a snort and cast a hostile glance at the people in the room.

A wolf made entirely of wind that could be seen with the naked eye? Was this the true power of magic, something that defied reality?

Bullets passed through its body.

Of course. A wolf made of wind couldn't possibly have flesh.

But what they didn't expect was that this did not hinder the wind wolf from attacking them.

Two legs could not outrun four. The researchers closest to Ruan Xing were the first to be slaughtered.

The wind wolf bit off their heads, snapped their bodies in half, and then pounced on those trying to flee. Against overwhelming power, they had no ability to resist.

Will's vision suddenly turned blood-red, then flipped upside down, and finally became pitch black.

The wolf, spurred on by blood, roared from its mouth.

It wasn't a wolf's howl, but the sharp, explosive sound of compressed air bursting.

"Kill every soul fragment in this Tower."

Ruan Xing's face was pale. He gently touched the wolf's head and whispered into its ear, "Its taste is disgusting. Don't eat it. Just kill them. Don't let a single one escape."

The wind wolf howled once, wagged its tail, and squeezed its body out the door.

In the corridor, the sound of slicing wind blades could be heard.

Silence fell around them.

Ruan Xing quietly looked at the wreckage around him.

"Ruan Xing!"

Fu Gui shrieked as it flew in from outside. Its feathers were tattered as if something had plucked them, revealing the skin underneath.

"Chirp chirp!" Mycelium poked out from Fu Gui's feathers, squeaking at Ruan Xing.

"You're still alive?" Ruan Xing asked.

Fu Gui said, "What are you talking about?! I almost died, but I'm alive, and I even brought this guy out."

Fu Gui tapped the mycelium with its beak.

"I don't know why, but when I fell into the illusion, this guy also seemed dead. I woke it up after I came to."

Ruan Xing's fingers twitched. "You also fell into an illusion?"

Fu Gui replied, "Yes. I returned to my previous life, became a scientist admired by all. Oh, and I saw you in there too, helping me out." It grinned.

Ruan Xing asked, "And in the end?"

Fu Gui scratched at its feathers. "In the end, I don't know who did it, but half of the world's people were gone, and then I woke up."

So that perfect world had been nothing but a massive interactive game.

Perhaps Bai Xu and Pei Ye had participated too.

Fu Gui said, "By the way, why do you look so pale? Who did this?"

The ground was littered with body parts, and even the walls seemed to have been gnawed away in layers. More horrifying than a slaughterhouse. Fu Gui thought that this did not match Ruan Xing's aesthetic at all.

Ruan Xing said, "Just used a little trick. Not important."

Fu Gui muttered, "This is a life-saving thing. How can it not be important?"

Beep beep!

The bracelet rang. The Enforcement Division had equipped them with the most advanced communication devices, which could even connect with no signal.

Fu Zhi's video call came. "How is it?"

Ruan Xing said, "It's fine."

He only saw darkness on the other side of the screen and asked, "Are you injured?"

If not injured, why not turn on the light?

Fu Zhi's breathing paused slightly. He looked at the wreckage behind him and the corpses on the ground. His gaze was complicated, but he slowly steadied his voice. "Just a small injury."

Ruan Xing said, "I'll come find you."

Fu Gui asked, "And just leave this place like that?"

Ruan Xing glanced at a transparent glass box filled with his magic crystals. They were already covered in cracks. Just a bit more, and he could have freed them.

Fu Zhi tightened the bloody black shirt around his waist.

There were many experimental subjects. Although their strength varied, they were all troublesome. Fu Zhi had spent a lot of effort to control the situation. Now, those cowering in corners were the ones with awareness who were willing to submit.

He turned his gaze toward one of the experimental subjects.

That face was exactly like Will's, except the hair was black.

He could not speak, had no awareness, but by instinct, he immediately hid in the corner. His expression was empty.

Like a shell.

Fu Zhi remembered the box he had crawled out of. It was labeled "Experiment 0."

Why would Will cultivate such an ordinary person? Fu Zhi couldn't figure it out. He was still missing too much information.

Before long, Ruan Xing arrived, along with a nearly bald Fu Gui.

Fu Zhi noticed the backpack that was stuffed full on his back.

The man sat on the ground, one leg bent, right forearm resting on his knee, and head slightly lowered. Blood had soaked through his clothes. The black blade lay beside him, surrounded by black-red liquid.

When he saw him, the man raised his head, light igniting in his eyes. "So fast?"

Ruan Xing half-squatted down and set the bag aside. "It wasn't far. After I came out, I realized I was almost on the top floor."

He adjusted his position and used healing magic.

Fu Zhi asked what was in the bag.

Ruan Xing said it was his belongings, then showed him.

Beautiful stones were piled densely inside.

Fu Zhi understood, then lowered his head slightly, speaking softly. "It was my fault for not keeping it safe."

The man's ears drooped like a dog that had made a mistake.

Who could bear to punish a dog that admitted its mistake so readily?

Ruan Xing cupped his head. "You must be punished."

A trace of unease flashed in Fu Zhi's eyes. "When we leave the Tower."

Ruan Xing curled his lips. "Alright. I'll mark it down first."

Fu Gui clicked his tongue.

Fu Zhi nodded. "Alright."

Once the injury was healed, Ruan Xing looked around and also noticed the Will-lookalike in the corner.

He had enough information to guess at once that this was Will's prepared backup, possibly the host body for his next self.

"Kill him." Ruan Xing's gaze turned sharp.

Fu Zhi got up, grabbed the man like a chick, and with one swing of his blade, ended him.

Only then did Ruan Xing explain the situation.

When Fu Zhi learned that the other could split his soul and even use this world's power, his expression grew heavy.

Ruan Xing patted him. "It's fine. This is not my first time killing a 'child of the world.'"

The Holy Son in Ruan Xing's also commanded wind and rain. But in the end, Ruan Xing still sent him to prison. Will might have turned this world upside down, but calling him a "child of the world" was nothing. Just a rebellious one.

Before they set off, the sparkling magic crystals lost their glow one by one under Ruan Xing's deliberate absorption, becoming small, ugly gray stones.

Due to time constraints, Ruan Xing didn't take too many. Just enough to fill himself. He planned to get the rest after killing Will.

Ruan Xing looked up.

The little red dot representing Will appeared above them.

This was already the top floor of the Tower. Above that was the roof.

Fu Gui's expression was solemn. "I can sense a strong pollution."

Its beady eyes looked toward the ceiling, as if it could see the figure above.