# 1424
Chapter 1425: "Spirit Medium"…
"So is he currently using 【Dominion Emperor】 to control these corpses?"
"No, this is Forbidden Ruins sequence 034, 【Spirit Medium】." Doctor Li explained. "This Forbidden Ruins is also quite rare. It's said to be able to directly communicate with the dead, converse with them, and let them re-manipulate their own bodies and abilities for the user's benefit… However, this is merely legend.
Throughout history, not many people have possessed this Forbidden Ruins. There's also another theory that 【Spirit Medium】 simply controls corpses. The so-called communication with the dead is merely the user's delusion. Because controlling a dead person's body and spirit puts enormous pressure on the 【Spirit Medium】, they can only rely on fantasizing that these corpses have their own consciousness, making the control an instinctive subconscious act to relieve the pressure… It's the same principle as split personality disorder.
Which of these two theories is the true 【Spirit Medium】 has never been answered… Perhaps only the 【Spirit Medium】 themselves know."
Wu Quan fell silent for a moment. "But if it's just purely controlling corpses… 【Dominion Emperor】 can do that too."
"It's different." Doctor Li shook his head. "Your 【Dominion Emperor】 is material domination. You can control their muscles, their organs, their growth—from the outside, there's no difference from a living person… But it's like manipulating a marionette. It's merely 'control.'
Whereas the 【Spirit Medium】, besides controlling corpses, can also master their Forbidden Ruins. Moreover, the realm of the controlled corpses can be elevated based on the user's own spiritual power intensity.
To give an analogy: if a 【Spirit Medium】 at the 'Klein' realm simultaneously controls two corpses at the 'River' realm, with spiritual power灌溉, these two corpses' realms can directly rise to 'Unmeasurable' or even 'Klein'… The relationship between 【Spirit Medium】 and the corpses isn't simple 'control,' but a parasitic coexistence."
"I see." Wu Quan nodded thoughtfully.
"【Spirit Medium】 is powerful, but it has不少 restrictions." Doctor Li looked at those figures draped in black cloaks. "Because controlling corpses creates enormous spiritual pressure, generally speaking, the number of corpses one can control simultaneously is quite small, and the realm of the corpses before death cannot exceed one's own…
Most importantly, if a 【Spirit Medium】 wants to control a corpse, they must first obtain the other person's permission before death… If no promise was made while they were alive, then after death, no matter how much effort the 【Spirit Medium】 exerts, it is impossible to awaken them."
"The captain of the 【Spirit Medium】 squad, Bu Li, was originally not the captain of this team. Their original captain was a half-step Human Apex expert who wielded thunder and lightning.
However, this captain discovered Bu Li's abilities and was very intrigued, so they made an agreement: if anyone in the squad died in battle, Bu Li would use 【Spirit Medium】 to resurrect them through spiritual communion, and from then on, they would be bound together in life and death…
Later, the squad went through crisis after crisis, and more and more members were communed by Bu Li, until even the captain fell in battle and only Bu Li and Wu "Old Dog" remained in the squad.
Bu Li honored the agreement, communed all the members, and became the captain of the 【Spirit Medium】 squad, while Wu "Old Dog" became the vice-captain.
Wu "Old Dog"'s 【Formless】 was too special. After discussing it with Bu Li, they decided to let Wu "Old Dog" stay in the Purification Chamber while Bu Li led 【Spirit Medium】 to fight across lands. That way, even if one day Bu Li fell in battle, as long as all the corpses were delivered to Wu "Old Dog" within the specified time, allowing him to copy 【Spirit Medium】 and become the captain, this squad would never perish…
The promise of being bound together in life and death could continue.
This… is 【Spirit Medium】."
As Doctor Li's words fell, Wu Quan beside him was utterly shaken.
"No wonder…" Wu Quan murmured to himself. "But is what they're doing really worth it?"
"Everyone has something in their heart they want to hold onto. This was the choice of the entire 【Spirit Medium】 squad—for them, it is naturally worth it." Doctor Li turned his head, giving Wu Quan a complicated glance.
"Wu Quan… What do you want to hold onto?"
Wu Quan opened his mouth, but nothing came out. In the end, he fell into silence.
Seeing this, Doctor Li didn't continue pressing. The lesson from Wu "Old Dog" and 【Spirit Medium】 had already planted a seed in Wu Quan's heart—that was enough.
His gaze turned to the landing pad in the rain.
…
Rainwater dripped from the edges of the tarp, pattering onto the ground. Wisps of mist rose and swirled around, intertwining with the billowing steam from the boiling hot pot at the center of the round table.
Wu "Old Dog" sat by the table, a wine pot in hand, pouring wine for each figure seated around it. His hair was no longer messy and disheveled but neatly combed, making him look quite spirited.
Torrential rain poured onto the ground, producing a low rushing sound. Under the desolate tarp, only the bubbling of the hot pot remained.
Wu "Old Dog" finished pouring wine for everyone, picked up his own glass, and rose from his seat.
"All these years, you've all worked so hard running around out there. Honestly, as the deadweight of this group, I've been enjoying life here in the Purification Chamber all this time… I really feel guilty about it! No more talk—I'll punish myself with a drink first!"
Wu "Old Dog" tilted his head back and drained the white liquor in one go!
The scalding liquid flowed down his esophagus into his stomach. Wu "Old Dog" grimaced and quickly poured himself another full glass!
"Today's a great day—our brothers accomplished great feats, and I… am finally leaving here to fight alongside my comrades!
Hehe, you know what? All these years, I've been dreaming of this day!
Come on! Everyone, let's drink together!"
As Wu "Old Dog" raised his glass, the seven corpses around the table simultaneously lifted their hands. Eight cups collided above the hot pot with a crisp sound.
They all threw back their heads and drank deeply.
"Come on, everyone, don't just drink—eat some food too!" Wu "Old Dog" said warmly. "I'm not exaggerating, but the boss of this Purification Chamber is a good friend of mine. I guarantee you'll all eat your fill today!"
The seven figures around the table all reached for their chopsticks, silently picking up dishes from the plates and placing them into their pallid mouths.
"Little Grass! Why didn't you finish your drink? Everyone else drained theirs—are you just sipping?"
"…"
"Little Stone is right! You owe three more drinks!"
"…"
"Come, everyone, try the braised pork hock from our cafeteria. Honestly, the other dishes here really aren't that great, but this pork hock? Absolutely top-notch!"
"…"
"A drinking game? This… No, please. Captain Lei, I'm getting on in years. I really can't play these things anymore…"
"…"
"Dammit! We're playing! Little Li saved all of Great Xia today! Whatever he says, I'm doing it!"
"…"
"No… Captain Lei, I'm really not cheating… I'll penalize myself with three more drinks!!"
"…"
The rain poured down in sheets.
Seven cold corpses stood like statues.
Beside the fiery dinner table, Wu "Old Dog" was already slapping his knee, laughing until tears streamed down his face.