Chapter 221: Secret Rituals
Chapter 221: Secret Rituals
Director Lei walked up to the desk and picked up the chess piece-like model that was placed on it. He then arranged them into an outward-expanding pattern.
Turning back to Chen Chuan, he explained, "You see, if these chess pieces represent the rituals of the old era, then..."
He took out a pen and drew several lines connecting the pieces, but it wasn't a simple connection. Instead, the lines varied in length, each one unique.
Chen Chuan observed the diverse chess pieces and the lines beneath them, deep in thought.
"Do you understand?" Director Lei asked, tapping the lines with his finger. "Since his rituals were not originally a whole, it's challenging to link them together. I suspect he spent a significant amount of time connecting and compensating for the gaps. However, this means the rituals can never truly resonate as one; instead, they need to be activated section by section."
"By doing so, we gain enough reaction time to counter each part individually. The more we disrupt, the less effective the rituals become."
"But this takes time, and he will undoubtedly use a core that plays a critical role. We must find it. Until then, we can't guarantee the complete destruction of the rituals. During this period, you'll have to take the lead."
"Moreover, since he has the first move, we can only follow. As we don't know how many old-era rituals are being utilized, it's challenging to estimate the exact time required."
Chen Chuan nodded. In other words, until the secret rituals were entirely disrupted or a winner emerged, he would have to face the ritual's targeting on his own.
He didn't feel overly burdened by this, as he possessed a second self. It was merely a matter of endurance.
Currently, he had eighteen hours of convergence time, and while excessive infringement would continuously reduce this time, he wouldn't just stand idly by. Besides, he wasn't alone in this battle.
Director Lei spoke solemnly, "We won't send you into this unprepared. Over the next few days, I'll try to prepare various rituals to counter the infringements for you in advance. But that's not enough. At critical moments, you'll need to find ways to oppose or disrupt the rituals yourself."
"Ideally, we would inscribe secret rituals on the human body, but these rituals have severe mental contamination. Such a method would have too much impact on a person, possibly causing them to lose their sanity."
"If it were just a matter of dealing with secret ritual personnel, we could have someone nearby to administer drugs or replace them if their condition deteriorates. However, considering you're a fighter who needs to maintain a clear mind and ample physical strength, I don't think this method is suitable."
"The only option is to engrave secret ritual patterns on your clothing and other items, and prepare multiple sets to ensure you can counter them."
Chen Chuan nodded in agreement. This plan made sense, as his second self could transfer the infringements, and other means could be used as substitutes.
Regardless of how long his second self's convergence time lasted, once in battle, every minute and every second must be used judiciously, as they were matters of life and death.
Director Lei continued, "Secret rituals require advance preparation, using a lot of time and materials to manipulate abnormal substances. Everything is prepared beforehand, even the ones you use on short notice.
It's like the cards in your hand; when you enter the field, all the playable cards are already in your possession. It's up to you to decide how to play them and maximize the potential of each card."
"But you're a fighter, not a pure secret ritual expert, so these are just aids to ensure you can showcase your strengths without interference."
"Over the next two days, I'll teach you how to quickly identify secret ritual types and some basic countermeasures. With these, you'll be well-equipped. I've already instructed my team to prepare, and teaching based on actual objects will leave a deeper impression. For now, arrange your affairs, and we'll begin shortly."
Chen Chuan agreed, and after finishing the discussion with Director Lei, he called his original team members. He informed them of a recent commission to eliminate an armed group and asked if they were available.
Unsurprisingly, everyone readily accepted the invitation.
Even without considering their friendship, the missions Chen Chuan brought were always of the highest quality and yielded significant rewards, far surpassing ordinary commissions. They couldn't afford to miss this opportunity.
However, due to the high confidentiality level of this mission, it couldn't be handled through the company. Chen Chuan didn't want to trouble Director Lei, so he contacted Gao Ming to handle the matter.
Gao Ming, having successfully cleared his name in the Adjudication Court, was now a renowned figure in the advocacy community. Although Chen Chuan's acquittal seemed to be a result of the Mo Lan Corporation being targeted, his ability to utilize information, assess the situation, and achieve his goals was remarkable.
Numerous advocacy firms sought to recruit him, and some high-ranking individuals even sent invitations, hoping to hire him for their advocacy teams.
Yet, Gao Ming declined all offers and, despite his rising fame, refrained from taking on significant cases. Instead, he discreetly handled a few minor cases and tried to stay out of the spotlight.
In his words, Chen Chuan's entry into the Central City would be when his value truly soared, and there was no need to rush into the limelight prematurely.
This period of seclusion was for a more substantial future harvest.
Upon receiving Chen Chuan's call, Gao Ming readily accepted. Chen Chuan was not only his cousin but also a client whose requests took precedence.
After the phone call, in the afternoon, Director Lei brought him to the training hall, where various Esoteric Sect patterns had already been painted in advance.
Director Lei walked amidst a Secret Ritual Pattern, solemnly stating, "There are numerous Esoteric Rituals, and how to respond to them is something we need long-term training for. It's not just about the investment, but the mental toll it takes on a person is immense. We don't have the time or the desire to go through that."
"So, we've prepared a counter-ritual for you in advance. All you need to do is be able to discern and choose the right ritual to counter when the time comes."
This judgment was crucial, and the window for reaction was narrow. Although most Esoteric Rituals could be countered after activation, some rituals, once initiated, left no room for retaliation. Therefore, it was essential to take action before that, which depended on one's observation skills and sharpness.
At this point, he handed over a dozen exquisite cards depicting various Esoteric Ritual patterns.
"These are the Secret Sect patterns that were prepared beforehand and painted on your clothing. I will activate the rituals here, and your task is to identify and find the correct countering card in the shortest time to negate the effects of the rituals."
Chen Chuan glanced at the cards in his hand. The cards were intricate and ornate, and at first glance, they all seemed similar, making it challenging to memorize and distinguish their differences.
But fortunately, he had carefully studied the materials beforehand, and his observation skills were quite good. After a while, he was able to discern the patterns.
Director Lei said, "You're ready, then let's begin."
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "Director Lei, I'm ready."
Just as he said this, Director Lei clapped his hands, and at that moment, Chen Chuan noticed a slight distortion in his Second Self, indicating that a ritual had been silently activated.
He thought for a moment and decided to face the effects of the next ritual directly, so he didn't let his Second Self defend against it.
But just as he made this decision and acted upon it, he suddenly felt Director Lei's clapping sound as if it were coming from a distant place.
The surrounding light seemed to dim, and he felt as if he were in a deep, hollow cave, enveloped by loneliness and anxiety. Even his limbs seemed to be slowly drifting away from his body, and he felt a willingness to sink into this state.
He immediately recalled the materials he had read earlier. According to the description, Esoteric Rituals, when not involving paranormal phenomena, were mostly mental assaults, and there was some physical damage, but it was relatively less intense.
Under normal circumstances, one could resist, but considering this was just a test, the actual effect should be stronger, making it more challenging to counter. If there were enemies nearby at this moment, it would be very dangerous.
He maintained his composure and looked at the cards in his hand, but he found it difficult to recognize the patterns at that moment. Relying on his memory, he quickly selected one card, and as he made this move, the feeling rapidly subsided, and everything around him quickly returned to normal.
Director Lei looked at him and said, "Very good. You've been studying those materials carefully." He paused, "Then let's continue."
In the following time, Chen Chuan, with Director Lei's cooperation, repeatedly practiced using these inherent rituals. As the skills required were not complex, he mastered them in just one afternoon.
At the end, he asked Director Lei a question.
"Director Lei, I'd like to ask a question. The Life Sect's Esoteric Ritual can transfer Life Energy. If we have more manpower and resources, can we use this to achieve longevity?"
Director Lei slowly replied, "That's a very dangerous topic. The purpose of Esoteric Rituals is to pursue various visions that humans cannot achieve on their own. They can only be realized through established rules and channels. What can be achieved is limited by the rules themselves. Fortunately, such a situation has not occurred yet."
Chen Chuan said, "But just because it hasn't been discovered doesn't mean it's not possible, right?"
Director Lei said, "Yes, since the old era, people have been striving in this direction. Although no one has succeeded, people haven't given up on this possibility.
The so-called transfer of Life Energy by the Life Sect is actually not sustainable. Initially, the recipient may feel energized, but it won't last long, and they will soon return to their original state, seemingly unchanged."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment and said, "So, it's like taking a stimulant drug for energy?"
Director Lei nodded, "Your analogy is quite fitting. The actual effect is weaker than simply taking drugs, and it may even bring various side effects.
You might wonder why the effect is so weak, and yet people still expend a lot of resources and manpower to try. It's because the mental stimulation brought by the rituals is unforgettable compared to the physical supplementation. Especially the feeling of Life Energy entering the body, like being reborn, is addictive to many, and some even become dependent on it."
His voice grew heavy as he continued, "All rituals bring mental stimulation. Many staff in the Esoteric Bureau now inject drugs to alleviate the side effects of frequent ritual use, but to truly counter these, one must rely on self-restraint and a firm will."
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(End of Chapter)
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