Chapter 156: Psychological Warfare! True Tarot!
There wasn’t the slightest warmth in Jiang Cheng’s smile. There was only a chilling coldness, and it made one apprehensive.
“d.a.m.n it, another one that has gone mad,” Luo Xinghe cursed. As he tightened his grip on the longsword in his hand, a hint of solemnity flashed across his face.
Zhao Yongkang watched Doctor Ghost, who fell to the ground hard. His lips were pursed tightly, and he had mixed feelings.
Truly, one might know a man’s exterior but not his heart. Who would’ve thought that Jiang Cheng—who originally called himself a Priest—was actually this cold-blooded and insane?
It was no wonder that he could swiftly conclude the three stages after a normal person had been polluted at the beginning. It turned out that he had long learned about aberration and the G.o.d of Evil. It could even be said that he was well versed in it.
Xue Linglong’s gaze flickered as she stared fixedly at the silver scalpel in Jiang Cheng’s hand; her heartstrings were tense.
Jiang Cheng’s tricks were truly too strange. The scalpel had clearly sliced his own throat, yet the wound appeared on Doctor Ghost. It was virtually inconceivable.
Everybody was delighted to hear and see the drama of a dogfight. But the tricks that Jiang Cheng revealed were especially bizarre; it made one feel extremely uneasy.
Link’s fierce eyes also narrowed slightly. He was prepared to strike at any time.
Just then, a mechanical arm suddenly wound around Jiang Cheng’s ankle.
Jiang Cheng bowed his head for a glance and saw that flesh and blood squirmed around the opening at Doctor Ghost’s neck.
Cirri had grown, forcefully connecting it to the head that was originally close to being severed.
Doctor Ghost’s eyes presently stared at Jiang Cheng, full of resentment. It seemed as though he was asking him a question: Why did you strike me?
A speck of somberness flashed across Jiang Cheng’s face. He laughed coldly and said, “After accepting a G.o.d’s rewards, your vitality is truly as tenacious as a c.o.c.kroach.”
Before his words fell, Jiang Cheng’s foot harshly stomped at Doctor Ghost’s head!
Boom!
This kick—which contained frightening force—directly trampled Doctor Ghost’s head.
Brains, mixed with fresh blood, splattered like a watermelon that was smashed.
The sticky filth also stained Jiang Cheng’s shoe.
He wiped it on Doctor Ghost’s clothes, then swept a look at Luo Xinghe and the others—who wore nervous looks. He slowly walked over with the bright silver scalpel in hand.
He was not walking fast, but his footsteps were unusually heavy. It seemed as if every step was landing on the hearts of the ma.s.ses.
Low, stifled chanting sounded from Jiang Cheng’s mouth once again. Every note carried a melody that made one fearful.
Xue Linglong and the others all felt a stabbing pain in their minds as if they were being p.r.i.c.ked by needles.
Yuna swung her staff right away. Waves of holy light radiated like ripples, ending the impact that the chanting had on everyone’s minds.
From the shadow beneath Luo Haoyue’s feet, distorted spider shadows also crawled out and pounced toward Jiang Cheng.
Link’s wrist jerked, and streaks of swift and fierce sword energy instantly ripped through the air. Wrapping around a series of sonic booms, they swept toward Jiang Cheng!
Jiang Cheng’s figure drifted as though he was a phantom and dodged the spider shadows and sword energy’s attacks.
Then, his wrist danced. Two glints of a silver glow leaped out from the scalpel in his hand and directly blew up the two distorted spider shadows into pieces.
“It is impossible for all of you to defeat me. In fact, your lives are all held in my hand! Once I swing the scalpel lightly, all of you will have to die!” Jiang Cheng let out a strange, sinister laugh and aimed the tip of the scalpel at his own heart.
The chilly words were like an ill wind that blew from h.e.l.l, sweeping across everyone’s hearts.
The scene of Jiang Cheng swinging the knife toward his own neck but resulting in Doctor Ghost’s neck surging with fresh blood appeared in everyone’s minds once more. The hair all over their bodies could not help standing on end.
Such strange tricks were indeed impossible to guard against. Yet, Link only tugged at the corner of his lips, wearing an aloof smile. He wasn’t affected by Jiang Cheng at all.
Through his observations and probing attacks, Link already had a guess on Jiang Cheng’s abilities.
The kind of ability that couldn’t be effectively defended against didn’t seem to be Jiang Cheng’s own skills. It probably came from a certain piece of equipment or external force.
And a considerable number of restrictions existed with it. Otherwise, Jiang Cheng ought to have directly acted against them after killing Doctor Ghost. He wouldn’t have used actions and words to terrorize them.
So much so that Jiang Cheng’s killing of Doctor Ghost could possibly be one of his psychological tactics. He actually didn’t have complete confidence. He only hoped to use these means to suppress everyone’s minds, attacking everyone’s mental defenses to create an opportunity for the broken situation!
Link thought of a miraculous object that he had heard of in his previous lifetime. He then said coolly, “Stop putting up an empty show of power. It is impossible for the ability you use to come at no price. You should have a [True Tarot] in your hands.”
[True Tarot]?
It was the first time Xue Linglong and the others had heard of this term. They were all a little dazed, and it seemed as if question marks were appearing above their heads.
Jiang Cheng’s countenance stiffened slightly; his gaze toward Link became even icier and sharper. “Oh, I have underestimated you. You actually know about [True Tarot] too?”
Jiang Cheng didn’t explain anything. Link had lived two lifetimes as a human, and his knowledge of [True Tarot] came from his memories of his previous life.
The universally known tarot cards were ancient divination tools of the West. They were thought to be nature’s trove of secrets and could reveal destinies.
In reality, there was a wide variety of tarot cards, up to 1,000 different kinds. The majority didn’t have any special ability.
The origins of [True Tarot] were mysterious; they seemed to be 22 mysterious cards handed down from other eras of civilization!
They were the 22 Major Arcana cards from the very beginning, the very source!
Every [True Tarot] card contained strange and unpredictable powers. They were related to certain rules and were also known as cards of fate or cards of rule.
According to hearsay, there was also a huge secret hidden within these 22 mysterious cards.
When one uncovered the secret, they would be able to find a Stair of Becoming Divinity. This was a method that allowed humans to become a G.o.d!
In Link’s previous life, countless [Doomsday Online] players coveted and hankered for these 22 mysterious [True Tarot] cards.
If Jiang Cheng had one in his hand, it meant that he indeed had some capabilities in the organization and that his foundation was deep.
It made Link slightly surprised.
The exposed Jiang Cheng no longer bothered with a great show of force. With a heavy step, he came shooting toward Link like an arrow.
The aura he radiated was tempestuous. He was actually a Stage Five existence as well!
Under the frightening force’s impact, a sunken pit was made in the alloy ground beneath Jiang Cheng’s feet!
Link didn’t dodge. His figure leaped out as he swung the [King’s Sword] in his hand horizontally, which instantly released a brilliant sword glow!
Streaks of sword energy even swept toward Jiang Cheng like an explosion!
Boom!
A terrifying sonic boom roared. Pieces of the alloy ground were lifted and sent flying by the repercussions of the two’s battle.
A figure was even knocked back like a kite with a broken string and heavily slammed into the laboratory’s walls.
“Cough cough.” Jiang Cheng coughed out a mouthful of blood. There was only solemnity and wariness on his face.
Jiang Cheng had battled Link—who was a Stage Four existence—with his Stage Five capabilities. However, it turned out that he wasn’t Link’s enemy for even one strike at all! Jiang Cheng was directly struck and sent flying!
This made Jiang Cheng even more aware of Link’s dominance and unpredictability. But very soon, he was grinning. “Link, you are very right. The abilities that I use do indeed have restrictions, and a price does come with them. But now... I’ve already gotten your hair. With this medium, you’re doomed!”
As he spoke, Jiang Cheng stretched out his hand. Shockingly, in his palm was a few strands of hair!