Chapter 172: Desire

Chapter 172: Desire

Hall carefully examined the figure of The Dead before him, but couldn’t make any sense of it. After a long while, he reluctantly shook his head. He wanted to ask something, but didn’t know where to start.

Wizard! Hall sighed. He once thought Wizards were nothing special, just having some strange abilities that even they themselves didn’t fully understand. But when facing Bran, he realized it wasn’t that simple. Bran gave an answer, and explaining that answer would probably take a lot of words. Hall believed Bran wouldn’t have the patience to explain too much to him. If only Eileen were here.

Hall hesitated for a moment. “Would the environment here affect a person’s will?”

Bran smiled. “What are you trying to say?”

“At first, I didn’t intend to target you. Back then, I was thinking if there was a possibility for an exchange, if I could get some information from the side. After Eileen became friends with you, I have been observing you, and I was quite satisfied with you.”

Saying this, Hall sighed. “I am not a Wizard, so I have no interest in your abilities. Although explaining this now sounds hypocritical, I always feel my actions were controlled by some unknown force. So, I want to know the answer.”

“Now, can you still feel that you are being controlled?”

“No.”

Bran was silent for a while, then said, “You already know the answer, don’t you?”

“So, my will was not controlled? I am confident I am not someone easily influenced, yet I was easily swayed by others’ opinions at that time. After the plan failed, I heard whispers and dreamt of those who died.”

Bran gave a light snort. “The environment always affects the will. When the sun is bright, people feel good. When a storm comes, some feel depressed, some feel inspired. Although it varies from person to person, it indeed affects people’s moods and occasionally affects personal will. But so what if it is affected?

The words and actions of people around us, including the conversation you and I are having now, are influencing each other all the time. As for control, maybe something controlled your will, maybe not.

But in my view, everything is a personal choice. You chose the easiest and most convenient way that seemed available at the time.”

Saying this, Bran couldn’t help but chuckle twice. “But you failed, so you started looking for the reason for your failure, started asking why?

Then let’s look at it another way, what if you had succeeded?”

Hearing Bran’s words, Hall fell silent.

Bran continued, “I also heard whispers. Although I am not sure if they are related to the voice you mentioned, I find it amusing.”

“Why?”

“This voice thought I would desire Immortality, but life or death holds no attraction for me. You were misled by your companions because that was one of the choices already in your heart. Maybe you yourself didn’t realize it was your choice. It merely strengthened certain aspects of your will.

Now, you know I am undefeatable, at least by you. The previous actions against me now seem meaningless, so you have doubts.

The influence is still there. Your doubts are slowly growing. You even don’t want to go see Eileen who is right nearby! You dare not see your own kin.

You think you have broken free, but actually the influence is deepening.”

Hall thought for a moment and asked, “You don’t seem to be affected?”

“I am also affected. My curiosity has been amplified, which is why I couldn’t let poor Jonah go. But I also genuinely want to figure some things out. This kind of influence is exactly what I need.”

Bran took a deep breath and pointed around. “The influence of the environment is always here. The Mana here is very special. If we talk about control, you are only controlled by your own desires.”

“But, that voice…”

“The voice might really exist, but did it really control you? It couldn’t even figure out what we truly think.” Bran waved his hand, starting to get impatient. “Go back, or go rest in my city for a few days.”

…

Xirui sat under the tree at the Mountain Villa, quietly communicating with the Ancient Tree. Her talent was good, but she wasn’t a Wizard, so her perception of Mana was much weaker. The Fairy found an alternative method, letting her strengthen her own spirit to understand the World through it.

Lily’s rise gave Xirui a goal. She began to work hard. She imitated Bran’s way of sitting cross-legged under the tree and only then realized how hard it was. Whenever she entered the Spiritual World, it felt like countless needles, sometimes hot and sometimes cold, were stuck into her mind.

Whisper said she would get used to it. As her spirit grew stronger, she would become more independent, gradually freeing herself from dependence on the physical body. Thinking of Bran’s lazy appearance, Xirui began to admire Fourth Brother.

She once thought that, as a Wizard, Fourth Brother should have it easy in this aspect and wouldn’t have to suffer like her. But Whisper told her that Fourth Brother endured pain far beyond her imagination.

Because Bran’s spirit, abilities, and physical senses were completely fused together. That was the direction of his past Evolution. When readjusting, he needed to tear all that apart. Power couldn’t be gained for free. He sat there, slowly but firmly peeling it all away. Lazy, yet enduring the pain alone.

And he also had to face many unpredictable consequences. No one knew what would happen if he failed. But he did it anyway, completely unconcerned, just to satisfy his own curiosity.

Wasn’t he afraid of failure? Wasn’t he afraid of death? Xirui raised her questions.

Not afraid! Whisper told her firmly.

Are you afraid? Whisper asked her back.

Yes!

She might not be too afraid of death. As a Northlander, she was already indifferent to life and death. But she was afraid of failure. She couldn’t accept failure.

What about Sister? Did she also endure great pain? But Whisper said Lily was a favorite of heaven and earth…

Then what about me? Xirui was a little curious, a little expectant.

You are too. Having such a brother and sister is proof enough.

And with their help, you will surely go even further.