Chapter 106: Salvation Plan

Xu Yuan said, "The plan is very simple.

"Nine years ago, I encountered a special Fierce Ghost. When I figured out its Killing Rule, the thrill I felt was no less than when I first found the Divine Tree.

"No—this Fierce Ghost's Killing Rule was even more important than the Divine Tree.

"Its ability allows it to turn the living people it kills into ghosts, fusing them into its own body. What's more, it acquires the new Fierce Ghost's Killing Rule.

"Because it was newly born, it didn't possess a single Killing Rule of its own. I contained it easily and began to ponder a question: since this ghost could transform a living person into a ghost and devour them, could it directly devour other Fierce Ghosts?

"The answer was yes. And this thing's capacity for devouring has no upper limit. The more it eats, the stronger it becomes, and the more Killing Rules it commands.

"In theory, as long as it survived its fragile early growth phase without being contained by ghost hunters or provoking a powerful Supernatural Zone, it could snowball. It could keep devouring until it was the only Fierce Ghost left in the entire world.

"And so, a bold plan began to form in my mind.

"In my eyes, this Fierce Ghost is a perfect work of art. And I am the one who personally crafted it—

"Therefore, I gave it a name."

"The."

"Ar."

"tist."

Xu Yuan spoke the Fierce Ghost's name in three separate parts, avoiding its terrifying Killing Rule of appearing the moment it was called.

Gao Tian could hear his own heart pounding in his chest.

It all connected. Every clue fell into place.

Sapphire Mall. That Multi-Headed Ghost with four human heads stacked together, the one that had killed Xu Yuan—the most bizarre Fierce Ghost of all.

It was the product of Xu Yuan's meticulous care, a crucial link in the Salvation Plan.

Xu Yuan's icy tone couldn't hide his inner triumph. This Fierce Ghost was the greatest masterpiece of his life.

"So your ideal future is for every Fierce Ghost in this world to be fused into that Multi-Headed Ghost, leaving only that single entity behind. Is that right?" Gao Tian asked.

"That's right," Xu Yuan said.

"The King of Fierce Ghosts.

"All beginnings are hard. But once it devours enough to reach a certain threshold, it will become the most powerful ghost on the Blue Planet. None of the remaining Fierce Ghosts will be able to escape being devoured."

"Then, have you ever considered a problem?" Gao Tian asked.

"Originally, once the supernatural revival completely unfolded, we would be facing millions—tens of millions—of Fierce Ghosts.

"Once the Multi-Headed Ghost fully matures, yes, there will only be one last Fierce Ghost left on this planet.

"But it will be an entity far more terrifying than millions of Fierce Ghosts combined.

"When that time comes, if the Multi-Headed Ghost decides to destroy the world, how are we supposed to face a King of All Ghosts commanding millions of Killing Rules?

"I'm afraid any ghost hunter, organization, or nation would crumble before it in a single blow. Every firearm in the world combined couldn't pose the slightest threat to it."

The corpse puppet controlled by Xu Yuan smiled faintly, its riddle-holed jaw dropping halfway. "You're absolutely right. The first time I encountered the Multi-Headed Ghost, I was already thinking about this problem. I pondered it for a very long time.

"The conclusion I reached was very simple. Letting it kill me at the Sapphire Mall was part of my plan.

"After the Multi-Headed Ghost killed me, out of instinct, it swallowed my head and fused it into its body.

"From that moment on, my brain has been fighting for control over its body.

"The day it truly becomes the King of Fierce Ghosts will also be the day I fully merge with it.

"I will control it to forge a new world."

Madness. There really might only be a single step between a genius and a madman.

Although Gao Tian felt deep down that Xu Yuan was cold-blooded, insane, deeply calculating, and ruthless, he still couldn't help but admire the man.

In this unspeakable world, perhaps only someone as naturally deranged as Xu Yuan could look directly at the truth of reality without losing their mind, and even formulate a method of salvation.

The Killing Rule Xu Yuan obtained after death likely had to do with possession or body-snatching. The male body he was currently piloting wasn't his original one.

Leaving his head inside the Artist to vie for control over it—that alone was proof that Xu Yuan was a master when it came to possession.

Hearing this explanation, the "Ghost Nation" Xu Yuan had mentioned earlier in the Jinhai Building finally made perfect sense.

If Xu Yuan's plan succeeded and the Artist became the King of All Ghosts, the only ghost in the world... and if Xu Yuan successfully controlled it, then Xu Yuan would become the ruler of the new world.

The Divine Tree, the Galan Society, "Espers," and the King of All Ghosts would replace the governments of the old era. The entire social structure of humanity would undergo an earth-shattering transformation.

When that time came, Xu Yuan had already promised to save a place for Gao Tian in the new era's Ghost Nation.

"Of course, I admit the prerequisites for my Salvation Plan are incredibly harsh," Xu Yuan said. "I am walking on thin ice right now, taking every step with the utmost caution.

"The Multi-Headed Ghost might be suppressed by a more powerful Supernatural Zone before it fully matures. Or my will might lose to the Multi-Headed Ghost, failing to seize complete control. If that happens, the day the King of Fierce Ghosts is born will also be the day humanity goes extinct.

"In reality, there is also a group of stubborn fools clinging to this broken world, completely unable to understand the magnitude of the great endeavor I am undertaking. They even oppose me at every turn."

His gaze fell upon Gao Tian once again. "Memory Ghost.

"I observed your battle with Ghost Cave and Ghost Infant. I realized that the Killing Rule and Supernatural Items you possess make you exactly the key talent I need to advance the next stage of my plan.

"You shouldn't be a fool. Through observation, you can see that if the progression of the supernatural revival continues and no one steps up, every living person will die. Even ghosts like us, clinging to life by depending on the Divine Tree, will be no exception.

"Are you willing to join the Galan Society and help me complete this Salvation Plan?

"This isn't for our own selfish desires. It's for the dignity, prospects, and future of what we once were as humans. For that, we should be willing to gamble everything we have."

Xu Yuan's words laid bare his attempt to win Gao Tian over.

Gao Tian didn't dare refuse Xu Yuan directly. The man had just shared such a massive secret with him. If Gao Tian said he wasn't interested and told Xu Yuan to play his own game, he probably wouldn't even make it out of the room alive. "How may I be of service?"

Gao Tian could only play along with Xu Yuan's logic, asking the question tentatively.

If the Salvation Plan Xu Yuan had so eloquently detailed was merely a grand blueprint for the future, then the actions he prepared to advance next were what could truly be called madness.