Reverend Half Insanity

The being pauses after speaking, and the silence that follows is endless, suffocating. Time itself seems to freeze, the weight of its breath pressing down like a mountain, crushing them slowly, mercilessly. The air grows thicker, heavier, until it feels like they are drowning in it, their very essence being ground into nothingness. Every second stretches into an eternity, the pressure unbearable, as if they are being flattened into mere paste under the weight of its presence.

Then, the being speaks again. Its voice is calm, measured, yet each word feels like a mountain crashing down on them, crushing their bodies, their minds, their very souls. The sound is normal, but the weight behind it is unimaginable, as if the universe itself is bending under the force of its words.

"Before we proceed further," it says, "let us decide who I really am."

The words echo, each syllable reverberating through their beings like a hammer striking an anvil. The pressure intensifies, and they feel themselves being pressed further into the void, their forms distorting under the sheer weight of its voice. The being continues, its tone casual, almost conversational, yet every word carries the force of a collapsing star.

"As I control you both, I rule over you. I administer both of you, even in the absence of your cooperation. I can force anything I want, bend you to my will, shape you as I see fit. So, a fitting name for me would be... Administrator Fang Yuan. Ha ha ha."

The laughter that follows is not laughter in the ordinary sense. It is a sound so dark, so menacing, that it feels like the universe itself is being torn apart. Each wave of laughter cuts through their very essence, slicing into their souls like a blade made of pure malice. The sound is unbearable, a cacophony of destruction that leaves them trembling, their forms flickering as if they are on the verge of being erased from existence.

The laughter is so dangerous, so overwhelming, that even death would feel like a relief compared to this. It is a sound that defies comprehension, a force of nature that cannot be resisted or escaped. It is the sound of absolute dominion, of a power so vast and terrifying that it defies all logic, all reason, all hope.

And yet, through it all, the reborn Fang Yuan remains unmoved. His face is a mask of indifference, his eyes cold and unfeeling, as if the laughter, the pressure, the sheer weight of the being's presence means nothing to him. He stands there, unflinching, his mind racing, calculating, analyzing every word, every sound, every flicker of the being's form.

The naive Fang Yuan, however, is not so resilient. His instinct shudders under the weight of the laughter, a primal fear rising to the surface, threatening to overwhelm him. But even as he trembles, he does not resist. He cannot. The being's power is absolute, its control complete. There is no escape, no defiance, no hope of resistance. It is as if his instinct has totally surrendered.

The laughter fades, but the echoes linger, sharp and cutting, a reminder of the being's absolute dominion. The being tilts its head slightly, studying them with an intensity that pierces through their very souls. Its gaze is invasive, violating, as though it is peeling back layers of their existence to examine what lies beneath.

"So," the being says, its voice calm and measured, yet each word carries the weight of a collapsing star. "Now that we have established who I am, let us proceed. You have done well to piece together so much, but there is still much you do not understand. The game is far more complex than you realize, and the stakes are higher than you can imagine. But do not worry. I will guide you, shape you, mold you into the tools you were always meant to be."

The words hang in the air, heavy with implication. The being's tone is neither kind nor cruel, but it carries an undeniable authority, a sense of inevitability that cannot be denied. It is as though the being is not merely speaking to them, but shaping their very reality with its words.

And yet, through it all, the reborn Fang Yuan remains unmoved. His face is a mask of indifference, his eyes cold and unfeeling, as if the being's words, its power, its very existence means nothing to him. He stands there, unflinching, his mind racing, calculating, analyzing every word, every sound, every flicker of the being's form.

The being's voice cuts through the void like a blade slicing through silk—calm, measured, yet heavy with an authority that makes every word feel like a verdict. Each syllable lands with the weight of a collapsing star, crushing the air around them and leaving behind only silence and dread.

"Before we proceed," Administrator Fang Yuan begins, his tone almost conversational but laced with menace, "how about I give you both a proper name?"

As he speaks, his gaze sharpens, locking onto the reborn Fang Yuan with an intensity so fierce it feels like he's tearing him apart piece by piece. His eyes pierce not just flesh or soul but the very essence of what Fang Yuan is—his memories, his emotions, his core. It's as if Administrator Fang Yuan is dissecting him, peeling back layers to expose raw truth beneath. The scrutiny is unbearable, terrifying—a gaze so overwhelming that even hell itself would tremble under its pressure.

But the reborn Fang Yuan? He doesn't flinch. Not once. His face remains a mask of indifference, his cold, empty eyes staring back without fear or hesitation. Even as he feels himself being torn apart, memory by memory, fragment by fragment, it doesn't matter to him. Pain, fear, betrayal—all these are irrelevant in the face of his unyielding will. To him, this is merely another test, another obstacle to overcome. And so, he endures, unmoving, unshaken.

After what feels like an eternity—an endless stretch of time where reality itself seems to crumble under the weight of Administrator Fang Yuan's gaze—the being finally continues. His voice is calm, chillingly so, each word dripping with malice and finality.

"You were primarily a venerable on the refinement path," Administrator Fang Yuan says, his tone carrying the weight of judgment. "Heaven Refining Demon Venerable—that was your title, wasn't it? But no… you didn't stop there. You declared yourself something far more deceptive: Great Love Immortal Venerable." The words twist mockingly, laden with contempt. "A grand scheme against everything and everyone, including the world itself."

His voice grows colder, sharper, cutting deeper into the void—and into Fang Yuan's very soul.

"After becoming a venerable, you pretended to be weak. A facade so convincing that none suspected the truth. While others faltered, you refined thousands of rank-nine Gu worms in secret, amassing power beyond comprehension. Then came the day when you ascended further—you took your sovereign immortal body to rank ten. Yet still, all other venerables remained oblivious to your true strength. They underestimated you, trusted you, believed they could stand beside you. How foolish."

Administrator Fang Yuan pauses, tilting his head slightly as if savoring the moment. His shadowy form flickers, exuding an aura of absolute dominance. When he speaks again, his voice drips with dark amusement.

"And then…" he says, drawing out the words for effect, "you began hunting them. One by one. Some, you pretended to ally with, only to betray them mid-battle when their guard was down. Others, you crushed outright, showing no mercy. After eliminating every last venerable, you claimed their immortal apertures, merging them with your own. Your power grew exponentially, unstoppable, unmatched."

The room—or rather, the void—feels heavier now, suffocating under the weight of Administrator Fang Yuan's revelations. Reborn Fang Yuan listens silently, his expression unchanged. Inside, however, his mind races, analyzing every detail, piecing together fragments of his past life. He knows this isn't just a recounting of history—it's a reminder, a warning, perhaps even a taunt.

"But that wasn't enough for you, was it?" Administrator Fang Yuan continues, his voice dropping lower, darker. "Your relentless pursuit of ultimate power led to a world-shattering event. You refined the entire Gu World itself. Every living being—from the smallest insect to the mightiest venerable—became fuel for your ambition. You fused the world into your immortal aperture, creating something unprecedented, something monstrous."

His gaze hardens, boring into the reborn Fang Yuan with piercing intensity.

"At first, you played the role of a benevolent ruler, earning the trust of those who resided within your immortal aperture. They believed in you, loved you, gave you their loyalty without question. But in the end, you used them too. You sacrificed them all, turning their lives into fuel for your grand design. Nothing mattered to you—not love, not trust, not life itself. All that mattered was power. Ultimate, absolute power."

For a brief moment, Administrator Fang Yuan lets the words hang in the air, allowing their full weight to sink in. Then, with a chilling smirk twisting his shadowy features, he delivers the final blow.

"You called yourself Great Love Immortal Venerable, yet everything you did went against that title. You used and killed those who loved you, betrayed those who trusted you, destroyed everything you touched. So tell me…" His voice lowers to a whisper, yet it carries the force of a thunderclap. "Doesn't Demonic Fang Yuan sound like a far more fitting name for you?"