Exorcist's Self-Cultivation

"Master, master, it's terrible, the Envelope has discovered that the Vanity Sect is nothing but a bunch of traitors; they might as well have 'betrayal' engraved on their foreheads—it's despicable!"

"Master, can you hear what the Envelope is saying?"

"Master, give the Envelope some response!"

At that moment, the Envelope was ceaselessly calling out to the Evil Spirit Du Wei.

In a way, the Envelope was indeed the most loyal subordinate, truly dutiful and responsible.

The next second.

A pale hand appeared out of thin air, the hand bearing a mask pattern that flickered on and off, and it grabbed the Envelope and disappeared.

In the deepest part of Lake Island.

The Evil Spirit Du Wei held the Envelope in his hand and said indifferently, "Didn't I tell you to go read those people's memories? What are you doing making noise out there?"

The Envelope was squeezed tight.

It could only tremble, trying to communicate its thoughts.

The Evil Spirit Du Wei frowned slightly and casually released the Envelope.

The Envelope, which should have been floating, suddenly plummeted as its ability to hover was rendered useless there.

Plummeting straight down into the water flowing below.

Once it fell in, it might be swept away into the lake, or even be trapped forever in a crevice between some rocks.

"Aaaaah! I'm going to die! Master, save me!"

The Evil Spirit Du Wei couldn't be bothered to look at the Envelope.

In the darkness, there was a swishing sound.

An Evil Spirit Scalpel pierced the Envelope and pulled it back.

Brother Shadow tilted his head, skewering the Envelope and bringing it before the Evil Spirit Du Wei.

"Brother Shadow, you're so kind!"

The Envelope was immensely touched and immediately uttered flattery, but it quickly reverted to its true nature.

"Master, that idiot Brother Shadow, he dared to act without your order, it's disrespectful to you. You must be wary of him; who knows, one day Brother Shadow might become a traitor too."

The Evil Spirit Scalpel trembled slightly.

The bloodshot in Brother Shadow's eyes grew more intense.

The Evil Spirit Du Wei said coldly, "Get to the point."

The Envelope immediately realized that its master might not be in the best of moods and dared not speak indiscreetly anymore.

"Master, the Envelope has found out that your presence existed even in the Victorian Era, and you have always been with the Vanity Sect, sitting on your favorite black throne."

"And beside you was the most loyal and powerful subordinate Envelope, as well as the weak and foolish Brother Shadow."

"All those people from the Vanity Sect are your servants, and so is Alfaria."

"But in the future, his attitude towards you is entirely different. From the Envelope's experience, this man is definitely a traitor, 'traitor' is written all over him."

"Oh right, the Envelope also saw many clocks exactly like Rahmer's Bell."

"There seem to be other things, but the Envelope couldn't see them clearly."

The Evil Spirit Du Wei nodded, "At least you have some brains."

The Envelope immediately became excited, "Master, to receive your approval, the Envelope could cry."

"Ever since following you, the Envelope feels it has become more intelligent, and the Envelope is sure that the past His Excellency the Duke, the Mask Maker, was all you."

"You truly are the god of past and future, omnipresent!"

"The Envelope used to think you were the King of Evil Spirits, but now it feels that it's the Envelope who underestimated you. You should be the center of the world, with the sun, the moon, and the stars all revolving around you!"

The Evil Spirit Du Wei, somewhat impatiently, said, "I already know all this. Is this all the information you gathered?"

The Envelope was stunned.

"Isn't this enough?"

"And why are you reacting like this? Don't you want to annihilate the Vanity Sect?"

The Evil Spirit Du Wei said coldly, "Why would I annihilate them?"

"They betrayed you!"

The Evil Spirit Du Wei said indifferently, "Killing is the crudest method. The me of the past would have known their thoughts; if they are kept alive, there must be a reason."

"And why would you interpret that as betrayal?"

"Who could betray me?"

"Who dares betray me?"

The Envelope was completely stumped; betraying the Evil Spirit Du Wei was such a ludicrous idea, and besides, it wouldn't possibly give anyone the chance to do so.

At this moment, even the Envelope was pondering.

Could it be that everything was permitted by the Evil Spirit Du Wei, that the former master was scheming something, and what Alfaria deemed betrayal was but a foregone conclusion?

[Master... You truly are too evil, truly worthy of you...]

After much consideration, that was the only sentence the Envelope could muster.

But then, its confusion deepened.

[Master, your power is so immense; reading those people's memories should be but a thought for you, why then delegate it to the Envelope?]

This time, it was the Evil Spirit Du Wei's turn to fall silent.

Given its nature, it was not likely to answer the Envelope.

The Envelope too was left speechless...

[Master, please don't be angry, the Envelope is merely curious; you don't need to explain to the Envelope, for it will always loyally execute your commands.]

The Evil Spirit Du Wei glanced at the coffin bound by chains below him, and said indifferently, "At the same point in time, there cannot be two of me, whether in memories or anything else."

"I look around, and I see only endless darkness."

[You can't see your past self?]

[How can that be, with your power...]

The Evil Spirit Du Wei looked towards the Envelope and said slowly, "Because I am denying the past, and I don't have much time left."

The Envelope immediately began to tremble: [Impossible...]

The Evil Spirit Du Wei revealed a mocking smile: "Nothing is impossible, and do you really see me?"]

[Of course, you are right in front of the Envelope's eyes.]

"And now?"

As these words fell, Brother Shadow's eyes widened.

The Envelope was even more terrified.

Because it truly couldn't see the Evil Spirit Du Wei.

Neither its ability to manifest what happened in the past ten minutes, nor its vision or perception, could see the Evil Spirit Du Wei.

It was as if the very concept of the Evil Spirit Du Wei had been directly erased.

But in reality.

The Evil Spirit Du Wei was still seated upon that coffin, its gaze coldly piercing the profound darkness.

"My future is indeed my past."

"What is time?"

"I acknowledge time, and so time exists."

"Therefore, I can change the past and the future."

"And now, the past me has already sown the seeds; what I have to do is to reap them."

"But before that, I need to ascertain something."

"Whether what I entered is truly Hell's Gate."

No one could hear the words of the Evil Spirit Du Wei.

Not until it allowed Brother Shadow and the Envelope to see it, only then did its two most loyal henchmen hear a command.

"Power can lead one astray; wielding power without sufficient wisdom is like a child swinging a heavy hammer."

"Those five Demon Gods are about to take shape, but I sense there's another presence, lurking in the shadows, watching everything."

"This will be a game."

"But it is not qualified to be my opponent, for I have long known that those from Minette are but its pawns, and soon they will attempt to step onto Lake Island."

"It matters not whether you kill them, hold them back, or even if you die at their hands."

"Whatever you do, it will help me unravel the secrets here."