I Am Your Natural Enemy

But the tentacles spun rapidly, wrapping him into a ball.

The tentacles gradually turned from solid to ethereal, slowly permeating his body. He let out a low shout, "My soul will not be taken away."

The tentacles gradually contracted, turning completely ethereal as they passed through his body.

He fell to the ground. He felt his consciousness was still there; his soul was still there.

Before he could revel in elation, he suddenly sensed something was amiss.

He looked up and saw various human silhouettes wrapped around the Soul Devouring Beast's tentacles. Those silhouettes were the Fake Mo Zhicheng he once impersonated and every other identity he had ever assumed.

The tentacles kept sweeping through his body, and with each sweep, they brought out a silhouette.

He began to feel that something was not right.

Until another thick tentacle swept through, winding something out of him bit by bit; it was then that he truly panicked.

Wen Yan stood far away, a slight smile on his face.

"I'll ask you again, what do you think your soul is?"

"Is it literally something that might turn into a ghost after death?"

"Or is it the most indispensable thing that constitutes the current you?"

"What is it?"

"Is it your cold-blooded ruthlessness, your unscrupulous nature, being a purely selfish villain?"

"Or what you consider your intelligence?"

"Or your Professional Ability?"

As Wen Yan spoke, a radiant golden light began to shine from inside Fake Mo Zhicheng. That golden glow was being slowly pulled out by the Soul Devouring Beast's tentacle.

Wen Yan paused slightly, then spoke in a deep voice, "My definition is actually meaningless."

"But your actions, all your behavior, point to one thing."

"Your intelligence is lacking, and your ruthlessness isn't the key."

"The one and only soul that constitutes the current you can only be your ability."

"Whether you answer or not actually makes no difference."

"Because if you didn't think so yourself, it would have no effect."

"See? This is also what's most real."

Fake Mo Zhicheng stood there, howling in pain. This time, he truly felt despair.

He felt his ability leaving him.

He didn't think it should be like this, but as Wen Yan said, he knew it in his heart. If his 'soul' were to be defined, then his ability was something even more important than the literal soul. It was the only core that constituted him as he was now.

And unfortunately for him, the Soul Devouring Beast's tastes had changed; it had started to dislike literal souls.

Amidst Fake Mo Zhicheng's howls of agony, he tried desperately to grasp something but caught nothing. He could only watch as a golden radiance was slowly, sluggishly pulled out of his body. He also felt his ability weakening gradually, sensing it drifting further and further away.

Any attempt to influence his own condition proved utterly futile.

The more this situation persisted, the more the truest conviction in the depths of his heart solidified: his ability was his one and only 'soul'. The truth he acknowledged deep down was something even he couldn't change.

He frenziedly tried everything, attempting to brainwash others to help him. But apart from Wen Yan, only Qin Kun was here. He attempted to brainwash Qin Kun. However, Qin Kun merely glanced at Wen Yan before immediately bending over and retching, his face turning somewhat pale.

Within hundreds of meters, no assistance could be found.

His face twisted in a snarl as he made one final, futile attempt.

Wen Yan stood far away, making sure not to come any closer, just watching quietly. He now fully believed the advice from the hint: use every means conceivable. He had to try everything he could think of. He was genuinely a bit scared; Fake Mo Zhicheng's abilities were simply too outrageous—he could even resurrect people. So, who knew if he had made any contingency plans?

If Wen Yan hadn't experienced the final whispers, hadn't exposed Fake Mo Zhicheng's plans, pushed him to his limit, and thereby made him believe his ability was his only 'soul'—then Wen Yan genuinely believed that Fake Mo Zhicheng might not have truly died. Even if Wen Yan had watched him perish on the spot, disintegrating into ash, he might still have survived.

The only certain way was to first eliminate his ability, then proceed with the other steps.

"Wen Yan!" Fake Mo Zhicheng's face contorted as he roared in rage, attempting to charge Wen Yan and die together with him. But the Soul Devouring Beast's tentacles, tearing at the golden light within him, also tugged at his body, preventing him from charging forward.

He now understood why Wen Yan had talked at him for so long.

But it was already too late.

The moment he, and everyone else including Wen Yan, came to believe it, it was already over.

This man, who had always been brainwashing others, was himself 'brainwashed' by Wen Yan in his final moments.

Wen Yan silently retreated further, maintaining a safe distance to ensure no accidents occurred.

He glanced at Senior Brother Qin, who was standing not far away.

"Senior Brother Qin, what's wrong with my face?"

Qin Kun looked up, glanced at Wen Yan, then immediately continued to vomit, his face growing even paler.

Wen Yan nodded. Alright, there should be no accidents now.

He waited quietly for a good few minutes. It still felt a bit touch-and-go, but the Soul Devouring Beast had finally dragged the gleaming golden radiance completely out of Fake Mo Zhicheng's body.

The tentacles, carrying the golden light, fell into the large pit below, into the Soul Devouring Beast.

As Wen Yan looked towards Fake Mo Zhicheng, the hint that had been lingering in his mind began to dissipate.

Just as Fake Mo Zhicheng completely lost his ability, the unmoving Uncle transformed into a blur. His hand pierced directly through Fake Mo Zhicheng's chest.

Fake Mo Zhicheng still wanted one last look at Wen Yan, but Wen Yan simply hid behind Uncle, denying him even that final glance.