Deviant: No Longer Human

"Senior Brother!"

"Brother Tian!"

Wu Ren and Mei Lian's voices cracked with horror as they rushed forward, but Wang Xiao didn't even glance at them. Instead, he flicked his wrist with casual indifference toward the colossal creature approaching in the distance.

SCREEEECH!

In the blink of an eye, a distant mountain range trembled and lifted from the earth, the entire range uprooted as though it weighed no more than a feather.

CRASH!

The monstrous worm let out one final roar before the mountain descended, smashing down upon its body with unimaginable force.

The creature, once towering and invincible, was crushed beneath the weight of the land itself, reduced to nothing more than a smear of greenish flesh and splattered blood.

Wang Xiao frowned, clearly unimpressed by the carnage. "Such a disgusting creature on par with men... Women are better," he muttered under his breath, wrinkling his nose at the foul sight of the worm's remains splattered across the horizon.

Shi Xin could only offer a bitter smile.

This was the same Wang Xiao who had once walked the path of the Bodhi Matrix, a fellow monk who had trained for enlightenment.

Yet, those days felt distant now, as if from a different lifetime. Since the Obsidian Library had become a hub for Taoism and cultivation, Shi Xin had taken up the role of Abbot, guarding the vast knowledge hidden within its walls.

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In a world without Aether, the texts and techniques had been nothing more than relics of fantasy. But after the shift in the world's spiritual energy, those ancient texts had become some of the most valuable resources on Earth.

Wang Xiao glanced at Wu Ren and Mei Lian, both frozen in shock and fear, as if their minds struggled to process the feat they had just witnessed.

"Your disciples don't seem to like me," he remarked with casual amusement, his tone almost teasing.

Shi Xin sighed softly. "They are… unprepared for your ways."

Wang Xiao's eyes gleamed, his voice taking on an ominous edge. "I hope you didn't call me here just to handle a petty problem like this worm. If you did, I might just decide to level this place down." His gaze darkened, flickering.

Shi Xin raised a hand, his voice calm but firm. "Not at all. I called you for more important matters. We have located the information you requested."

At this, Wang Xiao's playful expression faded, replaced with keen interest. "Go on."

Shi Xin continued, his tone steady. "The first person you spoke of—the one known as 'Red Boy'—is connected to the myth of the Ancient Bull Sage. His origins lie deep in the legends of the past, and he seems to have resurfaced in this era. The second one you mentioned appears to be a Luohan monk, based on his fist technique. But there's no doubt—he has been corrupted, tainted during his ascension.

His actions, killing innocent people… he is no longer aligned with the path of righteousness."

"Neither of them belong to this era," Shi Xin concluded, his voice heavy with finality.

Wang Xiao's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. One eye half-closed, he seemed to be deep in thought. The name 'Red Boy' and the mention of a corrupted 'Luohan' fit too perfectly with the chaotic events that had begun recently.

"I see..." Wang Xiao murmured, his tone low, as if everything was finally falling into place.

Shi Xin smiled bitterly, the weight of his decision heavy on his shoulders. He had called Wang Xiao knowing the price they would have to pay if Wang Xiao used his strength to deal with this calamity.

The strike on Jiang Tian was that price, a blow Shi Xin had expected.

In a way, it was like cutting off a finger to save the limb.

Sacrifices had to be made.

The price we pay for being weak often comes in form of sacrifices.

"Someone is awakening the forces of the past," Shi Xin said quietly, his voice steady but carrying the weight of the truth. "It's not a good omen. Prince, you should be careful. In this world, you are a target. Some will hunt you to prove their strength, others seek revenge. If the whole world is your enemy, be prepared to face it."

Wang Xiao's expression remained unreadable, but Shi Xin could sense the danger that surrounded him.

Even the beast that had appeared today felt tied to Wang Xiao's presence. 'Was someone orchestrating all this?' Shi Xin thought. The notion of someone anticipating Wang Xiao's every move was unsettling.

But how? Such profound calculations were beyond his understanding.

Wang Xiao yawned, unimpressed by the warning. How many times had he heard these same words?

First, there was the beast attack, then the incident with Red Boy and the corrupted Luohan monk. The attack on Eveline followed, and now, this Sovereign-class worm. It was too much to be a mere coincidence.

He leaned back, his eyes narrowing in thought.

'Who was pulling the strings? Was it Zeus, as Eveline had claimed?' He quickly dismissed the idea. Zeus was powerful, but this... this felt different, like someone methodically preparing the board for the final game, teasing him with every move.

It was as if a predator were playing with its prey, revealing its presence but never fully striking.

The disciples nearby stirred when they heard the word Prince—many baffled, exchanging looks of confusion.

They had been secluded here for so long, unaware of the world outside.

Most of them had never heard of the Eighth Prince. But after today, that name would ripple through the halls of the Obsidian Library, becoming a whispered secret none could ignore.

Wang Xiao's attention drifted as he turned his gaze toward Mei Lian. Her palm held a glowing jade talisman, shimmering with ethereal energy, as if ready to release its power at any moment. He raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"What's that?" Wang Xiao asked, his voice casual but his eyes locked onto the object.

Shi Xin followed his gaze, noticing the talisman glowing in Mei Lian's hand. "That," he began, "is a sacred talisman. We began crafting them using the ancient teachings left behind by the Buddha. It's created using special brushes and ink infused with divine essence(aether), allowing us to write the will of the heavens onto paper."

Wang Xiao blinked, his mind flickering to a memory of something similar.

His daughter, Lanlan, had used something almost identical—books that contained traces of divine essence.

His eyes darkened with a faint trace of nostalgia before he broke from his reverie.

"Get me a few of those," Wang Xiao said, his tone commanding but calm.

Shi Xin nodded without hesitation. He gestured to one of the monks, who quickly hurried off to retrieve the requested talismans.

The Abbot had long since made copies of these sacred texts, hiding them in secret chambers to ensure their survival. His foresight had proven useful in times like these, where preserving knowledge meant survival.

Mei Lian's eyes widened in disbelief. These talismans—this knowledge—were not meant for outsiders. It was a closely guarded treasure of the Obsidian Library, a culmination of their ancient wisdom.

Yet, before she could voice her objection, she caught Shi Xin's calm gaze.

The Abbot's decision had already been made.