Chapter 837: Chapter 625: Reforming the Prisoners (Bonus 1/4)
The Fishman youth was clearly tempted.
Cang Xu indeed lived up to his reputation as a strategic mind; his words were very reasonable.
Seeing the Fishman youth’s expression, Cang Xu continued: "As you return as Golden Level, how much help can you bring to your companions?"
"If it’s Snake Rat Island or Twin Eyes Island, it’s indeed significant. However, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps is currently on Ice Sculpture Island, and the role of Golden Level is limited."
"And there are only three Holy Domain members in the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, but if you become Holy Domain Level, that’s different."
"Squad Leader, Zong Ge has been at the Silver Level peak for some time. He has a considerable chance of advancing to Golden Level."
"If you return as a Holy Domain, Zong Ge will fully realize the gap between him and you. This operation is likely to eliminate hidden dangers among us and fully implement your leadership!"
The Fishman youth nodded frequently but still had doubts.
Cang Xu smiled slightly; he understood the youth well and knew what the latter’s doubts were.
So, Cang Xu considerately added: "Of course, we must not blindly continue to stay while ignoring the dangers faced by our companions."
"Thus, we need to gather intelligence. Only with detailed intelligence can we make more accurate judgments!"
"As of now, although Lan Zao is on Ice Sculpture Island, his situation is very special, and he cannot be considered our intelligence source, nor can he connect with Zi Di, Zong Ge, and others."
"Therefore, I suggest trying to find a way through the big guy to quickly gather the latest situation of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps."
The Fishman youth spoke at this moment: "I have already done what you said. I plan to let Hong Zhu leave the Magnetic Islands; she has contacted our Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps before. Currently, she also recognizes that the big guy is a member of the Mercenary Corps."
"Therefore, letting her enter Ice Sculpture Island to gather intelligence is something she can understand."
But Cang Xu shook his head: "Squad Leader, this arrangement is not appropriate."
"Don’t forget, during the naval battle at Twin Eyes Island, I was influenced by Devil’s Coin and revealed Undead Magic, thus exposing my identity as an Undead Mage. During that battle, Hong Zhu fought alongside me."
"Therefore, she is suspicious. Although she withdrew immediately after I exposed my identity, that doesn’t clear her suspicion."
"Ice Sculpture Kingdom’s attitude toward Undead Mages is consistent with other forces. If Hong Zhu is discovered, unnecessary disturbances are likely."
Reminded by Cang Xu, the Fishman youth slapped his forehead: "You’re absolutely right."
"Hong Zhu’s situation is still relatively dangerous."
"Given her connection with us, we can’t use Deception and Disguise Skill, or Anti-Intelligence Prophecy Skill to enhance her."
Cang Xu continued to suggest: "Hong Zhu and we are relatively fated; she previously showed strong qualities by choosing to depend on Da Dou. At least, she is good at detection and pursuit, which can effectively complement Da Dou and help the big guy grow better."
"So, better let her stay by the big guy’s side."
"On the Magnetic Islands, Hong Zhu is relatively safe."
"To obtain intelligence, we can have Da Dou employ some personnel to enter the Ice Sculpture Kingdom."
"Since the big guy is a member of our Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, this action is very normal for us! The information we seek is also not confidential, and it can be handed over to outsiders."
"The more people involved, the higher the success rate of our intelligence gathering, and the more detailed the intelligence will be."
The Fishman youth sighed: "Indeed, doing it this way would be more prudent."
Cang Xu added: "Actually, there is still another way."
Cang Xu’s life experience is far richer than that of the youth, and his thoughts are far more plentiful than those of the Fishman youth.
In his view, many issues have multiple solutions.
Cang Xu said: "Squad Leader, don’t you think holding those prisoners is somewhat wasteful?"
Due to ambushing in the Ocean Nest, the Fishman youth has reaped considerable gains.
Up till now, his prisoners include Sea Snake Lady, Gum Man, Little Prince, Ku Feng, and Fin Spirit. They are all Silver Level, acting as corpses within the Long-Horned Cage.
The Fishman youth is certainly not dull, he immediately understood Cang Xu’s meaning: "You are suggesting transforming these prisoners?"
Cang Xu nodded heavily: "Squad Leader, your current means are already extraordinary. Every time you perform a blasphemy prayer, you can deceive the Mei Lan God. Previously, by combining various divine arts, you helped the big guy and Lan Zao turn crises into safety, even desecrating the God of Duels!"
"If you can deceive even gods, can’t these prisoners also be deceived more thoroughly?"
"We have a Memory Crystal Manufacturing Device, various means of memory transformation. If you can deceive them into thinking they’re dead, why not persuade them to serve us?"
The Fishman youth was incredibly tempted by this proposal.
He hadn’t considered this aspect earlier, primarily focusing his efforts on the big guy, Lan Zao, and himself.
The other reason is, even if he transformed them, there wouldn’t be a place to use them.
Cang Xu saw things faster than the Fishman youth.
Now, with Divine Power channel, Divine Descent Technique, and Divine Country Descent Technique fully equipped, these subordinates have a place for use!
The Fishman youth agreed: "Then next, we need to carefully design forged memories for each prisoner."
"Using Memory Concealment Skill, we can hide their original memories, making them undiscoverable by themselves."
"It would be best for them to have faith in Mei Lan God. This way, it’ll be easier for me to access their memories and strengthen control over them."
"Even if the transformation succeeds, using these people requires caution. After all, there’s the potential risk that if their memories resurface, they might detect many of our secrets."
Cang Xu supplemented: "Regarding memory transformation for the Undead Mages, there’s one more aspect to consider, which is their Humanity Anchor."
"Undead Mages need to resist the erosion of negative energy, and each powerful mage has a strong Humanity Anchor."
"For instance, Little Prince’s Humanity Anchor is his parents. Fin Spirit’s Humanity Anchor lies with her Fishman Tribe during her life. Ku Feng’s is the pursuit of the blade path."
"These anchors of humanity need to be maintained, preferably strengthened. Otherwise, if these Undead Mages lose their anchor of humanity, over time, they are very likely to be thoroughly eroded by negative energy, becoming mere undead life forms that act on instinct, rather than wise Undead Mages."
The Fishman youth immediately remembered Cang Xu’s advice.
"Having you by my side truly puts me at ease," the Fishman youth praised.
Cang Xu smiled, "Sir, it is my honor to be able to follow you."
Cang Xu felt very fortunate to have encountered the Fishman youth. On Mysterious Monster Island, he was saved multiple times because of the youth. Now, because of the youth, he has a much broader future.
This was something Cang Xu couldn’t have obtained elsewhere.
What made Cang Xu feel most comfortable was that the young squad leader never looked down on him or feared him because of his status. The youth genuinely treated him as one of his own.
This respect was a luxury Cang Xu could not obtain elsewhere!
The Fishman youth was also very grateful to receive Cang Xu’s help.
Ever since Mysterious Monster Island, Cang Xu had played an irreplaceable role countless times.
Even now, although the Fishman youth’s combat power far surpassed Cang Xu’s, Cang Xu’s wisdom continued to provide the youth with ongoing support and assistance.
One is often limited by their abilities, circumstances, attention, mood, etc., and might not consider things fully or deeply.
The Fishman youth had a very profound feeling about this during this conversation.
Cang Xu’s advice was very timely.
Afterward, the two of them discussed fabricating the memory contents of each prisoner.
The discussion only reached a preliminary conclusion before Cang Xu had to leave.
The time for the blood sacrifice transmission was limited.
Cang Xu left the Ocean Nest once more, returning to the presence of many believers, once again earning the admiration and praise of the Mei Lan believers.
In their view, each blood sacrifice transmission was life-threatening.
Only a portion of the believers sent in could return. Many whose faith was not firm were eaten by the Holy Beast Snow Pear Octopus.
Therefore, most of those who successfully returned did not participate again.
Cang Xu was different.
Ever since he participated, he was involved every time!
This selfless behavior was something ordinary people couldn’t accomplish, and it caused Cang Xu’s prestige among the Mei Lan believers to rise steadily, accumulating significantly over time.
The Fishman youth, meanwhile, was on the Deep Sea Monster Fish, busy actively consuming the divine blessing content with his body while perceiving other believers.
He mainly wanted to search for a second Mei Lan believer on Ice Sculpture Island.
Normally, the believers he kept an eye on were the Big guy, Dao Hen, and Lan Zao.
Big guy and Lan Zao’s situations became safe, and their treatments improved more and more.
Dao Hen was placed on the Treasure Chest by the Fishman youth, and soon, he brought important information to the Fishman youth—Tu Ji had disembarked!
As a member of the Blood Light Sanction Court, Tu Ji was responsible for the task of pursuing and exterminating Undead Mages. He was a target the Fishman youth was secretly focused on.
But the Treasure Chest suddenly stopped in the vast sea, and Tu Ji leapt out, jumping straight into the sea, disappearing without a trace.
Dao Hen had previously received orders to remain on the Treasure Chest, focusing on monitoring and gathering information on Tan Mo and Tu Ji.
Dao Hen hadn’t expected Tu Ji to jump ship and leave.
Tu Ji even chose to do so in the dead of night, when he wouldn’t be easily discovered.
Dao Hen hesitated for a moment and chose not to follow. In his view, staying on the Treasure Chest was the will of the gods.
"The Fish God’s Group Fog did not let me leave the ship." Dao Hen thought of this and didn’t pursue.
By the time the Fishman youth checked his memory, it was already too late.
"Following Tu Ji would have yielded more results than Tan Mo," the Fishman youth felt regretful.
But now sending Dao Hen in pursuit was clearly too late.
So, he continued to let Dao Hen stay on the Treasure Chest.
"Tu Ji jumping into the sea definitely isn’t to seek death."
"Could it be that some Undead Mage is hiding in the seabed there?"
"More likely, he’s trying to land on some nearby island. What island could it be?"
The Fishman youth didn’t know that Tu Ji was after the Hong Zhu.
Ever since Tu Ji got information about the Hong Zhu from Yan Yi, he hadn’t discussed it with Tan Mo.
Dao Hen also had no way of knowing this secret.
The Fishman youth felt uneasy and immediately consulted the sea chart of the War Merchant.
Soon, he had the answer.
"It’s Wind Revival Island."
This is a small island, almost deserted, with sparse trees and worrying green grass vegetation.