Previously, he didn't tear off the mask because he was in a weak position.
If he didn't re - hypnotize, he would have to run away.
But now his power was greater than that of Luo Zhao. So what was there to be afraid of?
Moreover, Gu Chengyin had to confirm whether this assumption was true or not.
Although he was 99% sure, until he saw the real Luo Zhao with his own eyes, the assumption would always remain just an assumption.
What if he was wrong?
What if Luo Zhao was really hypnotized?
What if the imperial edicts and oral instructions were really issued by Emperor Luo?
These "what - ifs" were like a thorn in Gu Chengyin's heart. He wouldn't feel at ease until he pulled it out.
But the problem was, how could he force her out?
Thinking about this, Gu Chengyin couldn't help but have a headache.
It wasn't easy to force Luo Zhao out like Gu Xiaoli had stimulated Lin Qingyan.
What was Luo Zhao's greatest strength?
It was her forbearance, comparable to that of the son - in - law of the Dragon King.
In this regard, Gu Chengyin had never admired anyone except Luo Zhao.
This peerless highness was so cold and aloof. Pride was engraved in her bones, and dignity flowed in her blood.
Yet she could pretend for so long. Even when faced with such excessive tests, she endured it.
No matter what Gu Chengyin did, she always looked docile and obedient.
She wouldn't fight back when kissed, wouldn't retaliate when bitten, and would do whatever she was told.
How could he stimulate such a person?
What was even more troublesome was that there were three other people present.
Lin Qingyan, Shangguan Yunying, and Gu Xiaoli. Although they each had their own agendas, they were on the same side when it came to covering for Luo Zhao.
Even if Gu Chengyin wanted to stimulate Luo Zhao, he had to consider the reactions of these three.
Lin Qingyan was invincible at the Golden Core stage, and Gu Xiaoli was half - way to the Nascent Soul stage. If these two really caused a ruckus, the entire Divine Capital would be in chaos.
Although Shangguan Yunying's cultivation was not as high as the other two, she was very meticulous and good at observing people's expressions.
Maybe she would see through his intention before he even took action.
So there was a limit to the stimulation.
Gu Chengyin couldn't go too far. At least, he couldn't treat Luo Zhao like a Japanese pirate.
He couldn't let her dignity be trampled under the feet of anyone other than himself.
Otherwise, not only Luo Zhao but also the other three would turn against him.
What Gu Chengyin wanted was just to make the real Luo Zhao show up.
To let her know that he had seen through her tricks.
Gu Chengyin was calculating all the possibilities in his mind.
Expose her directly?
No.
Without evidence, Luo Zhao wouldn't admit it.
Even if there was evidence, with her forbearance, she would still hold on.
Test her with hypnosis?
No either.
If Luo Zhao really had a puppet, the hypnosis would only affect the puppet, and he wouldn't be able to force out the real her.
Start with Gu Xiaoli?
Gu Chengyin thought about it and then dismissed the idea.
Although Gu Xiaoli had high cultivation, she still had the mind of a child.
But precisely because she was a child, he couldn't force her.
If he pushed her too hard, this cat might do something uncontrollable, and the situation would become even more complicated.
Start with Shangguan Yunying?
No.
Shangguan Yunying was too meticulous. She could detect even the slightest change.
She was on the same side as Luo Zhao when it came to hypnosis. Starting with her would lead to no result.
Start with Lin Qingyan?
Gu Chengyin squinted slightly.
Lin Qingyan had just been freed and was in the happiest mood.
Moreover, she was straightforward and couldn't hide things. If he really wanted to test something, she was the one most likely to show a flaw.
But the problem was, Lin Qingyan was Luo Zhao's own aunt.
This blood relationship couldn't be separated. Unless Luo Zhao wanted his life, in this kind of thing, Lin Qingyan would probably still help Luo Zhao.
Gu Chengyin thought for a long time and found himself in a dead - end.
To force Luo Zhao out, he had to break the current balance.
But to break the balance, he needed enough stimulation.
However, this stimulation couldn't be too excessive, or the consequences would be unimaginable.
Gu Chengyin rubbed his temples and felt his headache getting worse.
Gu Xiaoli, who was idle beside him, seemed to notice his abnormality and looked at him sideways.
"What's wrong, Big Brother?"
She asked softly, in a voice so low that only the two of them could hear.
Gu Chengyin shook his head and showed a gentle smile.
"Nothing."
Gu Xiaoli blinked her eyes and didn't ask any more questions. She turned her gaze to the Dao patterns around Shangguan Yunying.
Gu Chengyin looked at Luo Zhao sitting by the bed again.
This Crown Prince looked calm, showing no signs of abnormality.
But now when Gu Chengyin looked at that face, he felt that there were flaws everywhere.
It was too perfect.
So perfect that it was unrealistic.
There was no emotional fluctuation, no subconscious reaction. She always looked empty and obedient.
Even when Lin Qingyan pretended to have a demon in her heart, there were times when she couldn't help but explode.
But Luo Zhao, never.
The absence of problems was in itself the biggest problem.
Gu Chengyin withdrew his gaze and sighed in his heart.
Since that was the case, there was only one way left.
Luo Zhao, hiding behind the consciousness puppet, had long noticed that Gu Chengyin was looking at her.
That gaze had been lingering on her since just now.
It was scrutinizing, inquiring, and carried a vague meaning.
If it were someone else, being stared at by such a gaze, they would probably have been fidgety.
But Luo Zhao didn't.
She didn't show the slightest bit of panic.
Because she was hiding behind the consciousness puppet now.
So what if Gu Chengyin was as smart as a demon?
So what if he saw something fishy?
As long as she endured, as long as she kept enduring, Gu Chengyin would have no way to deal with her.
The consciousness puppet wouldn't panic, wouldn't be nervous, and wouldn't show any flaws when being stared at.
The corner of Luo Zhao's mouth curled up slightly. This Gu Chengyin was nothing special.
No matter how smart you were, no matter how powerful your means were, you were still completely deceived by me.
You thought you had hypnotized me, thought I knew nothing, and thought I was obedient.
But you didn't know that from beginning to end, I was always awake.
You knew nothing about those imperial edicts, those oral instructions, and those secret arrangements.
Luo Zhao secretly felt proud of herself and couldn't help but admire herself.
This kind of forbearance and self - control, looking across the entire Divine Capital.
No, it should be across the entire Great Luo Empire.
Could there be a second person like this?
Lin Qingyan couldn't do it, Shangguan Yunying couldn't do it, and Gu Xiaoli definitely couldn't do it.
Only she, only Luo Zhao, could achieve this.
Just as Luo Zhao was secretly rejoicing, the next moment, she suddenly froze.
Because the consciousness puppet...
Disappeared.
This consciousness puppet that had endured the hypnosis for her and played the role of obedience suddenly dissipated, as if it had never existed.
In its place was the real tactile sensation of her body.
The softness of the brocade mattress, the warmth of the candle flame, and the lingering aroma of mutton in the air.
Luo Zhao's face instantly turned pale. She looked up in disbelief.
Just in time to meet a pair of smiling eyes.
Gentle as water, deep as a pool.
With a bit of understanding, a bit of playfulness, and a bit of a meaningful smile.
"Her Highness, long time no see."
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
