Chapter Thirty: Piercing Insight

"Special usage techniques?"

Eve looked at Fu Qian with a puzzled expression.

"Exactly."

With a flick of his wrist, a scarlet whip materialized out of thin air, snapping with a crisp, elegant flourish.

...

Seeing the veins and sinews pulsing along the length of the whip, Eve’s expression became utterly indescribable.

"You... you lunatic!"

Eve could naturally tell that this whip was no novelty item; it was a genuine, lethal weapon. Her heart sank, and she stared at Fu Qian, unable to comprehend his actions.

"What on earth are you trying to do? Is there any benefit in this for you at all?"

*Crack!*

Faced with her accusation, Fu Qian remained silent, answering her with his actions.

With another sharp snap, a deep, angry welt was left across Eve’s alabaster arm. Caught off guard, the sudden, searing pain forced a scream from her lips.

However, the next moment brought something even more terrifying. A chaotic, violent surge of intent welled up in her mind, causing her sanity to waver.

"Why... why are you doing this?"

Eve’s voice turned hoarse and unnatural. She tried her best to dodge, but against the intangible, elusive scarlet whip, her efforts were in vain.

"Why?"

Fu Qian landed another strike. He stepped back, stood tall, and let out a cold laugh.

"You bold monster! I could tell at a glance that you aren't human!"

"Watch as I force you to reveal your true form!"

"Prepare to be exorcised!"

...

These bizarre lines left Eve practically stunned in place, and without question, she received another lash of the whip.

"Why!"

"Why must you push me!"

Amidst the intense agony, roars tore from Eve’s throat. Simultaneously, an incredibly savage and frantic aura radiated from her.

Centered on the crimson welts, crystalline scales began to sprout, rapidly spreading across her entire body. On every single scale, a blurred face appeared, emitting a chorus of mournful wails. Soon, the crystal scales encased her entirely; she had transformed into a gargantuan, multi-faceted crystal creature that would make any woman shriek in terror.

As she moved, the countless wails from her scales converged into a sonic wave that threatened to shatter one’s psyche. Under the impact of this sound, even Fu Qian felt his head grow heavy, as if he had been struck by a hammer.

[Sanity points reduced by 1]

This sound actually cost him sanity points? It was reminiscent of facing the spawn of an Outer God. This thing was truly not human!

Confirming his judgment, Fu Qian’s movements became more decisive, the Tyrant’s Whip lashing his target repeatedly. When he had first deduced that something might be lurking within Wen Li, he had considered several ways to force it to submit, but none were as effective as this newly acquired weapon—an unexpected stroke of luck.

"Why! Why!"

Eve’s upper arms collapsed to the ground, her neck stretching to an impossible length. She stared at Fu Qian in a quadrupedal stance, the sounds emanating from her throat now approximating the howls of a beast.

Under the continuous lashing, the negative accumulation from the Tyrant’s Whip was terrifying. For a mental-type entity, this was far more devastating than mere physical injury. Driven by intense mental stimulation and a desperate desire for survival, she threw caution to the wind to complete her metamorphosis. If she could successfully reach the sixth rank, everything would change.

"Die!"

After taking yet another lash without dodging, Eve finally launched a counterattack. Her crystal scales seemed to possess incredible durability, as the scarlet whip could no longer leave a mark upon them. Moving on all fours like a charging beast, she leaped high into the air after a short sprint, her front claws tearing toward Fu Qian’s chest.

The speed and power were nearly on par with a physical-type entity.

"So, reaching the mid-rank really is a qualitative leap!"

Faced with this terrifying strike, Fu Qian felt a moment of appreciation. Of course, what he appreciated more was that this thing had clearly lost its mind. You might be approaching the level of a physical-type, but you are facing a true physical-type.

Easily dodging Eve’s attack, Fu Qian kicked her squarely in the waist, sending her flying. Considering his mission objectives, he did not put too much force into the blow. This thing shared a body with Wen Li; if he killed it, Wen Li would undoubtedly perish as well. He could be certain of one thing: Wen Li was not dead yet, otherwise, his mission would have failed long ago. She was likely in a state akin to a coma.

Rolling upon impact, Eve regained her footing on all fours, glaring at Fu Qian with predatory intent.

"Tough nerves! You haven't gone insane yet after so many lashes?"

Fu Qian narrowed his eyes. The scales must have neutralized the subsequent effects of the Tyrant’s Whip; Eve’s state actually seemed to be stabilizing.

"I might have to thank you," Eve rasped, her voice hoarse. "Although this isn't the way I intended, completing my ascension in this form might bring me unimaginable benefits."

"The weapon in your hand is quite interesting, but it's not quite enough to make me lose control, haha."

"Once I finish this, I will make you experience the meaning of ultimate pain and madness!"

"No need for such courtesy."

Hearing Eve’s threat, Fu Qian remained entirely unruffled.

"If it’s not enough, how about this?"

Amidst a spray of blood, the scarlet whip in his hand lashed fiercely across his own back.

*Boom!*

A chaotic, violent murderous intent surged from his heart.

"Someone once told me that she is like a mirror, capable of clearly perceiving and projecting the emotions of those around her. If I add my own portion to the mix, is that enough?"

As soon as Fu Qian finished speaking, Eve let out a mournful wail. Her limbs trembled, and she collapsed to the ground, an uncontrollable terror evident in her eyes.

It seems it worked.

*Snap! Snap! Snap!*

Fu Qian controlled the Tyrant’s Whip, striking himself repeatedly. With the final lash, Eve let out an earth-shattering howl. The crystal scales on her body shattered one by one, and she slumped completely to the ground.

Fu Qian stopped and walked over to her side. He could clearly sense that the portion of consciousness belonging to Eve had completely disintegrated and dissipated.

Now came the test of willpower. Fu Qian crouched down and leaned toward her ear.

"Time's up. I'm sorry you didn't meet my requirements."

"But I’ve changed my mind. I’ve decided to strip you bare, Miss Wen, and toss you outside."

After repeating this twice, Fu Qian felt an astonishing surge of emotional turbulence. The beast on the ground let out a series of frantic breaths, releasing waves of mental storms into the surroundings. Fu Qian once again experienced the sensation of his own emotions being amplified.

It appears effective!

Observing the changes in Wen Li while feeling the exaggerated joy within his own heart, Fu Qian watched quietly. As her breathing gradually steadied, the distortions in her body began to recede, and the countless shattered mirror-like shards on her skin slowly melted away, returning to soft, human flesh.

After a long while, Fu Qian could hear the sounds of someone clearing obstacles in the ventilation ducts above. Wen Li slowly opened her eyes.

[Containment Complete]