The Wicked System: Path of the Devourer Chapter 25 Gold Seal and Shadows

The moment the door closed behind them, the night wind blowing across the roof struck them. Even in the dead of summer, the wind carried an icy, bone-chilling cold. They couldn't tell if it was purely psychological, but standing up there made their skin crawl with profound discomfort.

"If you feel uncomfortable, then that means you're feeling the right thing! Once a paramount Feng Shui territory is broken, it generally devolves into a localized domain of disaster."

Raising his left hand, Zhang Wenbin drew a set of glowing runes into empty air while explaining: "Generally speaking, places burdened with heavy accumulations of Yin and vile energy will be deliberately developed into schools, military barracks, or police stations to use the overwhelming masculine Yang energy of the masses to suppress it."

"The specific reason your property required the grand Gold Seal Paper Fall layout... aside from stabilizing its Feng Shui... I imagine this entire plot of land used to be an unmarked mass grave! When you first broke ground, I have no doubt you dug up a massive number of human remains."

As he spoke, Zhang Wenbin waved his hand. Lin Guoxiong and Yang Qiang felt a drop of crimson red blood splatter directly into the center of their foreheads. Having already experienced this previously, Yang Qiang remained relatively calm.

But after a brief, dizzying moment of disorientation, Lin Guoxiong felt his scalp practically explode with primal terror! He was so frightened his legs gave out completely, nearly collapsing straight onto his ass!

The space surrounding them began to aggressively distort. In the center of the distortion, a previously invisible, hidden zone manifested! And horrifyingly, more than a dozen pitch-black silhouettes were gathered there!

Their forms vaguely resembled humans, yet they were brutally mangled. Some were heaps of pulverized flesh and gore, while others were merely disjointed, severed limbs dragging themselves along!

Striding directly toward them, Zhang Wenbin chuckled warmly, "Alight, little ones! This isn't the right place for you to linger! If you don't want to be damned forever without the chance for reincarnation... then be good boys and girls, pack up, and leave! Stop causing trouble."

The dozen blurry silhouettes unleashed a chorus of vicious, blood-curdling screeches. It sounded chillingly similar to furious junkyard dogs raising their hackles in a threat display. However, Zhang Wenbin merely casually raised the small bowl and smiled. "It looks like you don't want to be good! I figured as much. Amicable communication rarely fits my style anyway. Do you know what the 'Beware of Vicious Dog' sign means?!"

Rubbing his eyes frantically, Lin Guoxiong stared in absolute, paralyzing horror as the small bowl transformed instantly into an infant! No, that wasn't right—it was a pitch-black, horrifying dead infant!

Seeing this scene once more, Yang Qiang's face also turned a sickly shade of green as he trembled violently.

Possessing fear identical to their own were the dozen distorted black shadows! The very second they locked onto the Ghost Infant, even without producing a single sound, the sheer intensity of their terror was practically palpable.

"Go ahead. Eat until you're completely stuffed! Enjoy your meat feast, my little precious."

The very second Zhang Wenbin's voice dropped, the previously tranquil, sleeping Ghost Infant violently snapped its eyes open! They were pitch-black and entirely devoid of pupils! At a speed visible to the naked eye, the infant rapidly ballooned to the size of a one-year-old child!

Opening its maw, it emitted an ear-piercing shriek and transformed into a streak of black light, surging forward! In a terrifying instant, that hair-raising roar echoed out, and—whether it was an illusion or not—when it pounced onto the very first shadowy figure, a horrifying scream of absolute agony pierced the air!

The black silhouettes desperately scattered and fled in absolute panic! The Ghost Infant hunted them down like a rabid bloodhound! It was a completely one-sided, merciless massacre.

"Good show, isn't it?" Zhang Wenbin raised his hand. Having regained his composure and proving he hadn't been completely scared stupid, Lin Guoxiong hurriedly offered the heavy Gold Seal up with utmost reverence.

Zhang Wenbin lazily weighed the heavy block of gold in his hands before violently hurling it directly into the center of the space. Smiling, he said, "I'll broaden the horizons of you ignorant mortals! Although this old master naturally despises these orthodox methods... the grand Feng Shui layout of the Gold Seal Paper Fall is authentically spectacular!"

The Gold Seal plunged into the center of the distortion. Suddenly, the space and time surrounding them seemed to warp drastically. Yang and Lin completely lost their equilibrium, swaying violently several times before bracing themselves against the wall. The scene that unfolded before them left them completely dumbstruck.

Suspended in mid-air, the Gold Seal radiated blinding, divine golden light! One after another, beams of golden light shot out like lasers, striking precise locations all across the hotel. Upon closer inspection, ancient, unadorned characters appeared to flow within the beams of golden light.

Yang Qiang didn't understand the significance, but Lin Guoxiong knew instantly: the exact coordinates where the golden light struck were the precise locations where those golden talismans had been buried!

The suffocating miasma of Yin energy enveloping the hotel evaporated near-instantly! Countless hidden black shadows screamed in horrific agony as they fled from every dark corner. It genuinely seemed that if they had been a single step slower, they would have been annihilated instantly.

"Spectacular, isn't it?" Zhang Wenbin mocked with a sneer.

The two men nodded on pure instinct. Even if they had already become devout believers in Feng Shui and metaphysics, witnessing such an earth-shattering miracle with their own eyes delivered unparalleled shock.

This was especially true for Lin Guoxiong. As the true owner, this was the very first time he had laid his own eyes upon the grand Feng Shui layout that protected his family's prosperity! The majestic, overwhelming grandeur of the authentic Gold Seal Paper Fall left him deeply enchanted, still lost in awe.

"Mortals attempting to peer into the boundless mysteries of Creation is heavily punished by burning away destined lifespan. If you're truly that interested, you two can stay out here and watch to your hearts' content..."

As he spoke, Zhang Wenbin had long since descended the stairs. Hearing those words, the two extremely wealthy, deeply cowardly men fiercely shuddered! Racing after him in pure terror, they didn't dare glance back a single time.

The specific second they crossed the threshold back inside, an itch sprouted on their foreheads—they knew the divine vision had been revoked. Highly agitated, Lin Guoxiong exclaimed, "I truly never imagined that the grand Feng Shui layout protecting my family would be so overwhelmingly magnificent!"

Hearing this, Yang Qiang felt incredibly sour. Uncontrollable waves of envy, jealousy, and sheer resentment surged into his chest.

Continuing down the stairs, Zhang Wenbin glanced back at Lin and remarked casually, "Truly a massacre. With the grand array activated, any entity unable to escape fast enough was undoubtedly annihilated on the spot. Order your men to burn plenty of paper money at the major crossroads."

"Yes, yes! I will arrange it immediately!"

Arriving back at his hotel room door, Zhang Wenbin noticed Lin Guoxiong was still obediently following. Frowning slightly, he said, "The grand array has been fully restored. The layout is perfect as if new. Why are you still following me?"

Lin Guoxiong had completely cast Uncle Chen's warnings to the back of his mind! After witnessing the supreme miracle Zhang Wenbin performed... he had entirely forgotten the old adage: It is easy to invite a god, but nigh impossible to send one away!

Hurriedly pulling out his personal business card, Lin Guoxiong offered it. "This junior... is largely talentless, but I believe I still possess a few areas of utility! If Senior has any orders or errands, you may summon me at any time! Since we have forged this destiny, this junior is willing to wade through boiling water and tread on fire without hesitation!"

"Since you possess such profound filial piety, I will accept it. Consider it a seed of good karma planted between us."

Lin Guoxiong was an undisputed titan holding immense sway over both the criminal underworld and legitimate business spheres. He might genuinely prove highly useful in the future! Since he was actively inviting a wolf into his own house, Zhang Wenbin naturally accepted the offer without hesitation!

Lin Guoxiong was overjoyed. With a calculating, conspiratorial gleam of triumph flashing in his eyes, he politely took his leave.

Back inside his room, Zhang Wenbin began packing his belongings. Yang Qiang immediately slinked over, deeply worried. "Master... what about... that thing?"

Stretching lazily after packing his bag, Zhang Wenbin replied casually, "That little thing's cultivation is garbage. Even though I fattened it up slightly, once the Gold Seal Paper Fall activated, it was permanently locked out! Right now, it's absolutely wandering the streets outside, hunting for its next meal."

That wasn't what Yang Qiang actually wanted to ask! Practically crying with anxiety, he pleaded, "Senior, what I meant to ask is... will that thing try to harm me again?"

"It has already been entirely suppressed by me. What use do you think I have for your pathetic sliver of Yang essence? Set your heart at ease."

Walking toward the door, Zhang Wenbin continued, "You really shouldn't be obsessed with the artifact! You should be actively trying to figure out who exactly wants you dead! Your wife is fundamentally cleared of suspicion. The culprit is definitively someone who sees you every couple of days."

Trailing behind him, Yang Qiang asked nervously, "Then it must be someone from my office! Senior, do you possess a method to find him?!"

"The trouble outweighs the benefit, making it tantamount to impossible!" Entering the elevator, Zhang Wenbin shot him a glacial glare. "You are nothing but a house slave, yet you dare throw countless demands at me? Are you treating me as your servant now?!"

"This slave wouldn't dare! Absolutely wouldn't dare!"

The bone-chilling hostility instantly caused a cascade of cold sweat to drench Yang Qiang's back. He scrambled, "Master, regardless of everything, I am ultimately your loyal slave! If something happens to me, isn't that a direct slap to your face?!"

"Save your useless bullshit!" The elevator doors opened, and Zhang Wenbin strode forward cleanly. Suddenly pulling out the bank check, he inspected it. "By the way, exchanging this item into physical cash is exceptionally convenient, yes?"

As expected of a seasoned political operator, Yang Qiang's perceptive abilities were top-tier. Recalling that the supreme entity before him was definitively not affiliated with the righteous orthodox factions, he eagerly latched onto the opening. "Master! Everything this slave currently possesses belongs exclusively to you! No matter what your orders are, you only need to utter a single word! As for money—even if I don't possess it myself, I will exhaust every method in existence to gather it and offer it to you as tribute!"

This fool has finally found enlightenment. Nodding in extreme satisfaction, Zhang Wenbin spoke with deep, momentous conviction, "Your filial piety is recognized. In that case, Master shall offer you a single hint: judging by the specific nature of the Ghost Infant, the mastermind trying to assassinate you... is a man."

"A man..." Hearing this, Yang Qiang instantly plunged into deep contemplation.

Zhang Wenbin had absolutely pulled that right out of his ass! He didn't care in the slightest who Yang Qiang suspected or subsequently destroyed! He operated on the vile path; he wasn't some righteous champion of justice. Whoever got targeted by Yang Qiang was just hopelessly cursed with bad luck!

Continuing his stride, Zhang Wenbin said, "One last thing: it is best you do not return to your wife's property. The Feng Shui there heavily clashes with your birth chart."

"Understood! Thank you immensely, Master!" Yang Qiang immediately felt an aura of profound respect.

Driven by preconceived biases, Yang Qiang naturally assumed that such an ancient, horrifying monster completely lacked any interest in modern mortal women! He couldn't even fathom connecting the dots in that direction. And primarily prioritizing his own life, his mind was currently hyper-focused entirely on figuring out which absolute bastard was trying to kill him!

Observing Zhang Wenbin standing by the road like he was waiting for a taxi, Yang Qiang rushed forward to display his loyalty. "Master, where are you heading? Allow me to call my driver over to deliver you personally!"

Glancing at him silently, Zhang Wenbin flashed a bizarre, eerie smile. "You are quite the loyal slave! However... there are certain places where, if you visit them, you might not return alive. If you are truly that curious, I can satisfy you."

"T-This... I think it is best I preserve this worthless life so I may serve Master in the future!" Yang Qiang instantly turned entirely ashen with terror, stumbling back a full step.

"Do not let your curiosity grow too heavy! It is never a good thing!"

Staring straight at him, the terrifying bone bowl materialized out of thin air in Zhang Wenbin's hands. He sneered, "And don't flatter yourself too highly! Possessing a few scraps of mortal bureaucratic power means absolutely nothing to me! If it pleases me, I can effortlessly swap you out for the next suitable replacement! Right now... you are far from a qualified house slave."

A fresh coat of icy sweat drenched Yang Qiang! Before he could desperately try to prove his loyalty again, Zhang Wenbin had already climbed directly into a taxi and vanished down the street.

The obsequious, flattering expression Yang Qiang had worn instantly crystallized into profound, venomous coldness! He began to obsessively strategize precisely who wanted his life! After utterly and unconditionally believing everything Zhang Wenbin had fed him, he immediately targeted internal rivals within his bureau and enemies he had previously suppressed.

Zhang Wenbin's target was to revisit a familiar location. He soundlessly infiltrated a high-end luxury residential complex.

Looking up at the illuminated window high above, listening to the faint, elegant melody of a piano drifting on the wind, Zhang Wenbin revealed a profoundly obscene, wicked smile. "Dad... are you absolutely certain I can break my virginity before encountering that fox?!"

"Combining the knowledge of the ten thousand vengeful souls—who are absolute masters of every conceivable heretical art and vile path under heaven—it requires your father significant time to slowly assimilate and master them all."

The total skillset possessed by the vengeful souls was as vast as a galaxy of stars! It was a colossal, unimaginable vault of treasure! Even now, the Godfather System hadn't fully analyzed and mapped it completely!

And a mere 1% of it granted him omnipotence and absolute impunity! Zhang Wenbin couldn't even dream of the heights he would reach once more power was unlocked.

"Having recovered and rested for a full day... moving past initial doubts, your father has conceptualized a viable methodology... That female teacher will absolutely not suffice! However... her daughter... is exceptionally likely to be an absolutely paramount cauldron!"

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