Chapter 375: The Terminated 30-Minute Loop

"We found it. It was a strange ghost sent over a while back. Sealing it was easy."

"We’re temporarily calling it the ’Lie Ghost.’ Any lie told in its presence generates a specific, targeted rule for killing the liar."

"But because neither the Exorcism Bureau nor the Royal Shadow Guard lied, the sealing process went very smoothly, without any incidents."

"After its abilities were investigated, it was sent from the regional authorities to the Celestial Capital."

The Crown Prince reported the situation to Emperor Zhiyue.

After listening, the Emperor’s hands paused in their work. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

"So, he got tangled up in his own lies?" Emperor Zhiyue truly hadn’t expected this.

"No, it wasn’t because of his lies. The ghost itself seems to have entered a strange state of stasis. The seal looks like an empty shell, but something is constantly changing within it."

"Therefore, I did not dare order it opened. I only sent the Royal Shadow Guard to investigate."

"However, the Royal Shadow Guard has been gone for several hours now, and we’ve lost contact again. I believe they are also trapped inside," the Crown Prince said softly.

At these words, Emperor Zhiyue’s smile vanished. He realized something far more serious might have happened.

"Take the seal away. Find a secure, uninhabited location and have the Royal Shadow Guard open it." Emperor Zhiyue didn’t know what was happening inside.

But he knew one thing for sure: the seal could not remain in the Celestial Capital.

Who knew what would happen next? It would be one thing if the situation resolved itself, but what if it didn’t?

He wasn’t willing to gamble the entire Celestial Capital on that possibility.

"Also, have the Exorcism Bureau follow them. Once the ghost breaks the current seal, they are to seal it again." Emperor Zhiyue’s thinking was simple: ’If the seal is broken, just put a new one on it.’

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Crown Prince finished speaking and departed in a hurry.

He could have acted on his own, but he knew he was nowhere near as experienced as Emperor Zhiyue.

This was no small matter. It was impossible to handle it in secret just to try and claim credit later.

If he had, he wouldn’t have been rewarded; he would have been seen as a fool.

When dealing with ghosts, a single rash move could lead to utter disaster.

This was a line that could not be crossed in the Ziyue Dynasty.

"This survivor is a true master of trouble," Emperor Zhiyue sighed. "However, I suspect that ghost isn’t just a ’Lie Ghost.’"

"It was sealed too easily. Even the Exorcism Bureau couldn’t determine its true ability."

He was indeed full of lies, but he’s no ordinary person. How could he not have sensed something was wrong?

So the most likely possibility is that some bizarre event occurred within his Eternal Purgatory, trapping him inside along with everything else.

Thus, the hidden danger is neither him nor this ’Lie Ghost,’ but a third party entirely.

He could see this far, but the Crown Prince was still too green to notice.

’Perfect. This can serve as a test for him.’

Emperor Zhiyue wasn’t in some cliché drama where his life was nearing its end. The Ghost Control Technique offered plenty of items that could still extend his lifespan.

As for whether his longevity would make the Crown Prince impatient? Perhaps. But if the Crown Prince could truly seize the throne through his own means, that would be a testament to his ability.

If he can defeat me, it means he is worthy of being Emperor.

’Abdicating early wouldn’t be such a big deal.’

’The armor’s defenses are this strong? I can’t break through.’

Su Huayun refused to give up. Through constant repetition and incremental progress, he had finally managed to get close to the violator.

But that was when the real despair began.

He couldn’t penetrate the energy shield protecting the armor’s outer layer. And as for bypassing the armor to inflict damage directly...

...that had failed, too. He’d almost been caught that time. If he hadn’t been prepared, he wouldn’t be here now.

’Is it really impossible to kill the violator?’ Su Huayun was furious.

He glanced at his mandatory mission: he only needed to survive for thirty minutes to return.

Theoretically, then, excluding his prep time, he only had to face the violator for five minutes to complete his mission.

The reality, however, was that he couldn’t even last three minutes.

’If this keeps up, my mind is going to break. I’ll have to wait for the next opportunity to kill the violator. If I keep trying now, I’ll definitely be the one to die first.’

Su Huayun had to admit it: his opportunities for trial and error were limited, and they couldn’t close the gap between them.

Killing him was simply impossible.

He would have to get stronger first.

’But no matter what I try, he always appears at the twenty-seven-minute mark, and I can only last ten seconds at most.’

’There’s no way to stall for the remaining two minutes and fifty seconds.’

The endless loop was mentally exhausting him.

’Maybe I should let him catch me... and then stall for time.’ Su Huayun could see no other solution.

It was his only option.

’But I need to prepare a failsafe first.’ Su Huayun had grown from his experiences.

His gaze fell upon the Survival Area. It seemed that due to his excessive regressions, the area had suffered some irreversible damage.

Even if he could withstand the regressions from death, the Survival Area could not. A few more, and the entire area might just collapse.

Su Huayun finally understood. His infinite regressions weren’t free; they drew their power from the Survival Area.

’I have to ensure that I can still activate the regression even after he catches me.’

’I’ll set a timer, then. And multiple safeguards, so he can’t get the best of me.’

Then, with practiced ease, he took control of the Truth Ghost. By now, he could complete the process long before his enemy arrived.

Next, he skillfully set up his countermeasures for the missiles and the seventy-two enemies. Only then did he quietly wait for events to unfold.

With five minutes and three seconds remaining, he finally spoke: "If I am tortured within the next five minutes, I will be unable to say the words, ’I live.’"

The powers of truth and lies began to fuel his ability. He didn’t stop there, continuing to use the power of his Deceiver and Truth Ghost abilities to constantly refine and strengthen his statement.

If the power of truth and lies within a single sentence was insufficient, he would use several more to compensate until he achieved the desired effect.

Time flew by. When the final three-minute mark arrived, Su Huayun snapped his mouth shut.

His entire demeanor and appearance changed in an instant, a disguise brought about by his God of Deception and Situation Control abilities.

"You’ve finally arrived, violator," he said upon seeing the Armored Man, greeting him first. "Don’t even think about making a move. I’ve already seen through your every move."

Qi Suian froze when he heard this. It wasn’t the words that stopped him, but the man’s unnerving familiarity.

It felt as if they had met many times before. That, combined with the man’s confident posture, made him suspect a time-based ability was at play.

The most basic would be an alteration of the flow of time.

He glanced warily at the controlled Jiachen’s Seventy-Two Guards, then said, "The fact that you know I’m a violator is impressive."

Qi Suian landed, observing the man’s data.

’He can control ghosts, and with such efficiency... he’s definitely the protagonist. I can confirm he has a time-based talent.’

I thought it was just resurrection, but this is even more powerful.

I have to admit, the apocalypse game found me a worthy opponent this time.

As for the sense of familiarity, it was most likely a special perception formed from being trapped in the man’s time loop.

Seeing that Qi Suian didn’t attack immediately, Su Huayun’s expression and demeanor remained unchanged, but inwardly he was ecstatic. ’It worked! I bluffed him!’

’Now I just have to stall until the time is up, and the rest will be easy.’

"So tell me," Qi Suian said meaningfully, "do you think I’ll let you go? Or rather, what can you give me to make me let you go?"

Meanwhile, all his Floating Cannons were ready. He planned to attack whether the man’s answer was right or wrong.

Su Huayun’s first instinct was to say "my life," but he caught the words in his throat.

’It can’t be that simple.’

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

’The Ghost Control Technique!’

’That’s it. That must be what the violator wants.’

’If I’m wrong, well, I can just try again.’

"’It’s this, isn’t it? The power over ghosts,’" Su Huayun said, tossing the Ghost Control Technique to Qi Suian.

Qi Suian reached out and caught it. As a matter of fact, it was exactly what he wanted.

"And then my life, right?" Su Huayun chuckled. "There’s nothing else, is there?"

"’You can have the Ghost Control Technique, but you can’t kill me. I’ve already seen the future where I survive.’"

He was still bluffing. If his opponent believed him, his ability to turn illusion into reality might just activate and make that future real.

As for deceiving Qi Suian with his God of Deception ability? He had tried. It was useless.

The power gap between them was too vast for it to succeed.

As it turned out, Qi Suian didn’t believe him in the slightest and was preparing to attack.

Suddenly, the entire layer of truth began to tremble.

This made him hesitate.

’Is this his protagonist plot armor?’ The thought immediately crossed Qi Suian’s mind.

Su Huayun, on the other hand, was panicking internally. He assumed his excessive death regressions were causing the entire Survival Area to collapse.

Even Su Huayun himself thought it was his fault.

"’I know you don’t believe me, but it doesn’t matter. You can try,’" Su Huayun continued, weaving his web of lies.

Qi Suian just watched him, not making a move.

This Ghost Control Technique was the red dot displayed on the Treasure Map of the Lost. Now, it was in his hands.

"’Your survival time is almost up, isn’t it?’" Qi Suian said suddenly.

This made Su Huayun break out in a cold sweat. He was right. There were only three seconds left.

Just as he was about to speak, the entire layer of truth began to collapse.

It was as if some entity was tearing it open from the outside.

This immediately caught Qi Suian’s attention. Three seconds vanished in the blink of an eye, and just like that, the apocalypse game sent Su Huayun away.