Chapter 916: Doubts
Chapter 916: Doubts
"Look at you, no need to rush."
As the Scorpio Director's expression went from shock to near-distortion due to his obsession with cleanliness, the Old Man, the Third-Generation Lord, grabbed his pants and chuckled, explaining, "What I put into your souls was actually my belt. It's just that the material of this belt is made from hair."
"Although I couldn't become a Pillar God, I still managed to reach 80 points in that value as a human. My body naturally became an excellent metallurgy material, even surpassing the Four Pillar Gods by a bit."
"So, after I died, I processed my own corpse. I collected the hair, added some other materials, and wove them into a belt to deal with special situations."
"What kind of special situations?"
"To ensure survival, you know. I'm so weak, and my relationship with the Netherworld is terrible. I've been staying in the Sage's Graveyard for so long, what if a Netherworld Lord suddenly decides to take me out? To avoid being bullied, I specifically created this belt to counter the Netherworld. Even if I fall off the Terminus Cliff, I can still float back up. I never thought I wouldn't get to use it, but it came in handy for you all first."
Is...that how it is?
After hearing the Old Man's explanation, the Scorpio Director's distorted face finally relaxed a little. He then turned back and looked at Lyon with an inquisitive gaze.
Lyon, after a moment of silence, asked expressionlessly, "Does it make a difference?"
"..."
"Ahem! There is a difference."
Before the Scorpio Director's expression could twist again, the Old Man coughed and interrupted, "It seems the Netherworld has stabilized. My belt can delay death, but it can't completely avoid it. Let's hurry and save the person! The longer we wait, the worse it'll be."
"..."
This old...there's definitely something wrong with him!
Lyon couldn't help but move the hand that had previously tugged at the Old Man's collar as he disappeared into the ebony coffin. A strange glint appeared in Lyon's eyes.
Ever since Lyon learned that he could obtain information about the "Anomaly" by touching it, the Old Man seemed to intentionally maintain a "distance," avoiding any direct physical contact. Lyon could only touch the clothes he wore.
Stranger still, the clothes this "dead man" wore weren't like those of other deceased, formed from the extension of memories through soul evolution. Instead, they were completely independent of his soul, a genuine, ordinary set of clothes.
When Lyon tried to take it a step further and touch the Old Man's "flesh," his fingers seemed to sweep through nothing, as if the Old Man were merely a non-corporeal vow.
And it wasn't just the flesh; even the coffin was the same. Lyon could touch all the other coffins in the graveyard, but this one was different. He could lie inside it with Emma, but when he reached out to touch this coffin, he couldn't feel anything, nor could he obtain any information.
He must be guarding against me...and not just me!
Lyon quickly reviewed the information he had on the Old Man in his mind and discovered some strange doubts. His eyes narrowed instinctively.
According to his reasoning, if one couldn't become the strongest metallurgist among the living, then they should strive to be the strongest among the dead. His rationale seemed reasonable, but was he truly after the title of the strongest metallurgist, or was he deliberately avoiding something else?
This train of thought was intricate and lengthy, yet in the speed of his mind, it was merely the blink of an eye.
After a quick glance at the Third-Generation Director's coffin, Lyon ceased his attempts to uncover his secret. Instead, he reached into the Mirror World and summoned two Casket-Bearing Devils, directing them towards the coffin of the Third-Generation Director.
The Third-Generation Director was well aware of his own "ability." If Lyon insisted on uncovering the truth, he would have to lay his cards on the table. However, Lyon couldn't quite grasp the Director's situation, let alone the potential anomaly on his body, which was far from ordinary danger.
Lyon had only collected his own hair and crafted a belt that could avoid death. But where were the other parts?
His flesh, bones, blood, and marrow; fingers, teeth, skin, and muscles; viscera and limbs—the Third-Generation Director even utilized his own hair. How could these materials, clearly more advanced than mere hair, be wasted?
"Are you two idiots?"
The Third-Generation Director's impatient voice interrupted Lyon's thoughts. He poked his head out of the coffin, glanced at the two Invisible Devils carrying the coffin, and then scowled, saying:
"Why are you two carrying the coffin from the sides? If my body hadn't already decayed, you two fools would have shaken my bones loose!"
"..."
...
"Are you two feeling better?"
Lying in the pitch-black void, gazing up at the steep cliff above, the Cancer Director was being slowly strangled by a lock of curly hair around his neck, gradually falling downwards. He couldn't help but move his neck, which was being choked, and then spoke with a puzzled expression:
"When you were being dragged down, did you feel like you suddenly lost control?"
"..."
"..."
No mistakes in their well-kept, complete...[unclear phrase]!
"..."
"Yes."
After a long silence, the Sagittarius Director, floating over twenty meters away, finally opened his eyes slowly. He shook his limbs that had been twisted into a mess and replied expressionlessly:
"I was ready to go down with the Engraver, but my soul was suddenly pulled, and my secret technique failed to activate. Then I was swept down by the Faceless Man with the lantern."
"I'm the same."
The drowsy Pisces Director beside him thought for a moment, then spoke:
"When I was locked onto by the Yellow Earthworm of River Excavation, I considered abandoning my physical body and transferring my soul into its body, forcing its consciousness into a dream and completely disabling the Hexa-Cheeked Incarnation.
But just as I was about to do so, my soul was also pulled, and I was swept down as well... Jeanne, was it the same for you?"
"I didn't... cough... cough..."
The Taurus Director, whose chest was seeping blood, coughed and shook his head, looking confused:
"I just haven't won against them before... After the incident at the Sentinel Palace, my soul has had scars. Raven-Eyed Granny and the Engraver teamed up and nearly pulled my soul out of my body...
By the way, how are the others? Are we the only four who were taken down? Are the Capricorn and the Ecliptic Directors safe?"
(End of Chapter)
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