How come this arcanist is invincible?

Chapter 21 Memory Tampering

A dark forest, the road back.

Kane, who was treated with special care due to his injuries, sat on the back of the giant spider with his mentor, while Ange and the Silent Killer walked on foot.

After traveling for some time, the demon cultists parted ways with the drow descendants.

The drowsy men left with lingering resentment on their faces.

But the mentor seemed to whisper something to them, which softened the leader's expression considerably.

But before turning away, the drow chieftain gave Kane a deep look.

Kane simply returned the smile, completely unconcerned.

As night fell completely, the team set up camp in a clearing in the woods.

The campfire was lit again, and everyone sat around it to rest.

After the mentor whispered a few words to the Silent Killer, the Silent Killer's cold gaze fell more heavily on Kane.

Kane ate his food while glancing at Ange not far away, pondering:

I must find an opportunity to get close to her.

In the dead of night, all was quiet.

Kane quietly got up from the tent.

Almost at the same instant, the Silent Killer also stood up like a ghost, staring at him silently.

"What's wrong?"

The Silent Killer's voice remained completely calm.

Kane gave a helpless smile and raised his bound hands:

"Excuse me, what can I do with my hands tied?"

The Silent Killer remained silent, simply following behind him at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Kane also relieved himself on the edge of the camp in a very "natural" manner.

His gaze swept across the campsite; Ange and her mentor each had their own tent, quite far apart.

It seems tonight isn't a good time to get close to Anjie. I'll try again tomorrow.

As he was thinking, he caught a glimpse of a figure standing quietly at the edge of the woods, gazing up at the night sky.

It was Anjie.

She remained motionless, gazing up at the full moon tonight, lost in thought.

Kane's heart skipped a beat, a smile appeared on his face, and he walked straight toward her.

Suddenly, the Silent Killer swayed and stood in front of him, staring coldly at him.

Kane shrugged his bound hands, his tone relaxed:

"Do I no longer even have the freedom to speak to people?"

He paused, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of provocation:

"Or are you worried that Anjie is also a traitor?"

The Silent Killer stared sharply at him.

A moment later, he stepped aside, but still kept his distance and followed closely behind.

Kane secretly breathed a sigh of relief; he had finally managed to get close to Ange.

Anjie didn't turn around, still gazing at the moon, and coldly said:

"What are you doing here?"

"I'd like to say a few words to you."

Kane whispered:

"My promise still stands, as long as you do me a favor."

"In the abyss, I will help you and your child."

Anjie glanced at him as if he were an idiot:

"You think you can escape in your current state?"

"I don't need you to help me escape," Kane smiled.

"All I need is for you to say one sentence to me at the right time."

Why should I help you?

Anjie frowned, a hint of smugness flashing in her vertical pupils.

"You have sworn an oath on the River Styx."

"Think back, the condition of my vow was that you let us leave."

Kane reminded her:

"But you did not keep your promise, so my oath is theoretically invalid."

After hearing this, Anjie was stunned.

The demonic vertical pupils locked onto Kane coldly, and his breathing became slightly heavier.

Kane continued to smile:

So, would you be willing to help with this?

He shrugged:

"I'm not using any social maneuvering to bewitch you right now."

Anjie glared at him fiercely, closed her eyes, and only opened them after a long while.

"...What did you say?"

Her tone had softened.

It worked!

Kane gazed at her face and clearly uttered four words:

"Living towards death."

Just then, the Silent Killer, who had noticed the conversation was going on for too long, stepped forward and separated the two.

Kane obediently turned and left without saying another word, appearing unusually quiet.

Only Anjie stared at his retreating figure with a solemn expression.

Back in the tent, Kane lay down, his mind racing.

"Living towards death" is one of his trump cards.

If Anjie has any ulterior motives, her mentor will know very quickly.

However, he never keeps only one card in his hand.

His gaze shifted downwards, landing on the inside of his thighs.

After a moment of contemplation, he used his nails, which had become sharp from not being trimmed for days, to cut open the flesh.

Fresh blood seeped out and then quickly congealed.

Soon, a line of Chinese characters from the original world was carved.

"The second trump card is played; now it's time for the third."

He closed his eyes and began to repeatedly ask and answer himself in his mind:

"Who are you?"

"I am Kane, the murderer of his own family."

……

He repeated the questions and answers that might be asked over and over again, as if reciting dogma.

This is in preparation for potential mind control or memory spying.

If the other party uses magic to distort his perception, he will most likely try to investigate through questions and answers.

If he could transform the answers to these questions into "instinctive reactions" as deeply ingrained as his name,

This would further increase the possibility of concealing the real secret.

No sleep for one night.

Kane spent the entire night in this cycle of questioning and answering himself.

"Kane, didn't you sleep well?"

The next day on the way back, the mentor noticed Kane's heavy dark circles and asked gently.

"My heart is filled with excitement at the thought of having an audience with the most high Patriarch."

Kane once again adopted that fanatical demeanor.

Only Ange, who was stroking the head of the Quassa demon at the back of the group, gave him a meaningful look.

"You will get what you want," the mentor smiled.

Kane humbly lowered his head, pretending to take a nap, while continuing to silently recite the answers he already knew by heart.

On the way back, he had etched every possible question and answer into his very being.

Time passed, and the team finally returned to the foot of the mountain where their base was located.

After navigating through several forks in the narrow mountain tunnel.

They found a hidden passage and returned to their familiar underground base.

The corridors and halls were filled with more black-robed cultists.

Upon seeing their mentor, they all bowed respectfully.

But when their eyes fell on Kane, they all showed fear, and they all avoided him, some even staggering backward.

Kane knew perfectly well that he had killed so many Black Robe Cultists, and his infamy had already spread far and wide.

He didn't mind at all; instead, he grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth.

Hey everyone!

This greeting made the atmosphere even more tense.

The tutor, however, didn't seem to care.

"Let's go, the Patriarch is waiting for you in the Great Hall."

"it is good."

Kane appeared calm on the surface, but his inner turmoil began to stir.

Is the final test finally about to begin?

Ange and the Silent Killer remained in the corridor, watching their mentor and Kane walk deeper into the building.

……

The instructor stopped in front of the auditorium:

"Kane, you go in by yourself."

The two believers then pushed open the heavy door.

Kane took a deep breath and walked in calmly.

The hall was pitch black, with only a few candles flickering, illuminating the towering dome that was hidden in the darkness.

At the far end of the hall was a huge stone chair, upon which sat a figure.

He wore a black robe indistinguishable from that of ordinary believers.

But the darkness of the entire room seemed to radiate outwards from him, as if it were being absorbed by him.

"Come closer, Kane."

A hoarse, somewhat familiar voice came from the seat.

Kane did as he was told and stepped forward, his footsteps echoing in the empty hall.

We are prepared to deal with all kinds of situations.

However, when he got closer and saw the patriarch's face clearly, he was stunned.

That face was exactly the same as the mentor who had just escorted him in!

"Welcome back, Kane."

The patriarch raised his head, his eyes deep and mysterious.

The next moment, the system in Kane's mind started frantically alarming:

[Hint: The sorcerer Stad (level ??) has manipulated your memories.]

A five-ring spell?!

Kane's mind went blank, his eyes showed struggle, and he even bit his tongue as he began to fight back with all his might.

But his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and his mouth opened uncontrollably...

A memory that didn't belong to him began to appear in his mind.

[Test results: Resistance...resistance failed!]

Kane froze on the spot, the light in his eyes quickly vanishing, leaving him as lifeless as a puppet.

Time passed second by second.

Bang! The door was pushed open again.

A figure walked in; it was the mentor.

He glanced at Kane, who stood motionless, then looked at the Patriarch on the stone throne, bowed slightly, and then straightened up.

The two exchanged a smile, stood side by side, and looked at the unconscious Kane.

The mentor began by saying:

"He was the most valuable sacrifice among the rituals held at various outposts."

The Patriarch nodded and raised his hand in acknowledgment:

"I implanted a portion of the Silent Killer's memories into his mind."

"Without strong mental stimulation, this spell cannot be broken."

"Now, he is the sect's most loyal puppet."

The mentor smiled.

"Then let's ask him about his secret."

He turned to Kane.

"Who are you?"

Kane's gaze was vacant as he mechanically answered:

"I am Kane, the murderer of his own family."

"How were you able to resist the corrupting influence of the demonic projection during the ritual?"

Kane grinned, revealing a stiff and eerie smile:

"Because I am the darling of the abyss, destined to transcend everything."

The tutor was slightly taken aback; this answer was unexpected.

"Why did you save Shar and escape the stronghold?"

"She can help me get rid of my identity as a member of the demon cult, and that will give me even greater power."

"An even greater power?"

"It was the abyss's promise to me!"

The mentor frowned. Kane's answers always revolved around the grace and promises of the abyss, making them elusive.

"That's enough. You can question him yourself for the rest of the time."

The patriarch tapped the armrest of the stone chair with his finger.

"The Stigmata Ritual is one of the few important traditions we have received from the outside world, and it contains too many secrets."

"Perhaps in the land of souls, something unexpected has indeed happened that we have not been able to perceive."

"Let's continue with the Stigmata Ritual for him; we need even greater power."

"Yes."

The two talked as if Kane were merely an object, never glancing at him again.

They never even thought of checking his body.

They were naturally unaware of it.

On Kane's inner thigh, there was a line of bloody, congealed scabs.