Chapter 465: [Painting the Crimson Face]

"What way?" Chen Ling’s eyes lit up.

"Do you know that the rank of the Imperial God Path is fluid?"

"I know," Chen Ling nodded. "The second senior sister told me that the Imperial God Path has no fixed rank; his rank depends on the strength of those who submit to him."

"Exactly, that’s the key."

Ning Ruyu continued, "The link between 'Monarch' and 'Subject' ignores distance. In other words, as long as there are people in the world loyal to him, no matter how far apart they are, this strength bonus remains effective...

But this link cannot ignore time."

"Cannot ignore time?"

"Every dynasty has its own monarchs and subjects, but if one day, the monarch and the subject are separated into two different times, the link breaks... A subject without a monarch is a 'remnant of a past dynasty,' and a monarch without a subject is a 'lonely ruler'."

Chen Ling pondered for a long while and understood what Ning Ruyu meant. "You mean, after that Imperial God Path user entered the Era Archive, his link with the 'subjects' in reality was severed?

The reason he displayed Tier 5 strength inside the Era Archive is because he found new 'subjects' within the archive?"

"That's the idea. And since the archive started running, not many hours have passed in that era. Even if he were capable, he couldn't have accumulated several 'subjects' in such a short time..."

"Behind him, there is likely only one 'subject'," a sharp glint flashed in Chen Ling’s eyes. "As long as I deal with that 'subject,' he will lose his power and can be easily killed."

Ning Ruyu shrugged.

"Theoretically, yes... but I still don't recommend you go in now."

"Why?"

"To allow an emperor to gain Tier 5 combat power, the 'subject' behind him must also be Tier 5. You're only Tier 3, little junior brother; how are you going to fight two Tier 5s?"

Chen Ling opened his mouth, but ultimately had no rebuttal.

"So, I can only wait?"

Ning Ruyu looked at him deeply, wanting to say something but stopping, and finally shook his head.

Meanwhile, the two had arrived at the door of the third senior brother, Wenren You. As soon as they pushed the door open, they were greeted by the rich aroma of food.

"Ruyu, didn't I tell you to let the sixth one finish class early?" Master said, holding his rice bowl with a helpless expression. "Now that the sixth one isn't here, this brat, the third one, won't even serve the dishes..."

Wenren You, busy in the kitchen, glanced at the living room and muttered:

"It's clearly you who came too early..."

Master had indeed arrived early. Aside from the Clown, who was more eager to eat than anyone else and was sitting in a chair drooling, the Mo role and Luan Mei had not yet arrived.

"Iya!"

Seeing Chen Ling arrive, the Clown hopped over and gave him a high-five with a "slap," which counted as their greeting.

After spending time together in the Red Dust Main City, the Clown and Chen Ling had become very close. Even when Chen Ling was in class, the Clown would peek from the corner of the wall, hopping and clapping from time to time, creating quite the atmosphere.

As Chen Ling and Ning Ruyu took their seats, the Mo role and Luan Mei arrived one after another, and everyone began their daily dinner.

"By the way, how is the sixth one doing with his basic training?" Master asked after a few mouthfuls of rice, as if remembering something.

"I've finished learning [Singing], [Reciting], and [Acting], and I've basically mastered the secret techniques. The only thing left is the 'Strike' secret technique," Chen Ling replied.

"Learning the 'Strike' secret technique carries a risk to one's life, so I plan to have the little junior brother learn it later," Ning Ruyu explained. "However, the little junior brother's basics are absolutely solid."

Master nodded slightly after hearing this.

"Not bad, even faster than I expected... Since the foundation is laid, it's time to start teaching you 'that'."

Hearing this, the other senior brothers and sisters seemed to think of something, their eyes lighting up.

"That?"

Chen Ling was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Is it the Opera Path secret technique?"

Chen Ling had joined the Opera Path Ancient Treasury specifically to learn the legendary Opera Path secret technique. According to Master, this technique could dispel the confusion in his heart and even help him resist the backlash of the God Path in the future...

Chen Ling would never forget the scene he saw through the True Self Mirror... The confusion lurking deep in his consciousness, capable of swallowing all his spirit and reason, was like a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment.

Chen Ling had to learn this technique.

"That's right."

Master set down his bowl and chopsticks, a rare look of seriousness and gravity appearing in his eyes.

"Now that your basics are solid enough, and you've found an 'anchor point,' you can try to unlock this secret technique... Unlike the four basic secret techniques of the Opera Path, this is a unique secret technique I created myself, and it is the essence I have summarized over my entire life."

Master’s attitude toward the other four basic secret techniques had always been light and breezy; the fact that he was so solemn now proved the weight of this technique.

"This technique was created by you, Master?" Chen Ling was surprised.

He had always thought that secret techniques were extensions of the God Path—for example, the [Requiem Ballad], [Cloud Step], and [True Words] he had learned corresponded to basic opera skills. But the idea that a secret technique could be self-created was something Chen Ling had never considered.

"It is indeed created by Master," the Mo role nodded slightly. "And even we haven't learned this secret technique."

Hearing this, Chen Ling was even more shocked.

"The senior brothers and sisters haven't learned it either?"

Ning Ruyu, Luan Mei, and the others exchanged glances and shook their heads helplessly.

"Indeed, we haven't."

In Chen Ling’s impression, these five senior brothers and sisters were already at the pinnacle of the Opera God Path. Their talent went without saying, and they were the disciples who had followed Master the longest. In terms of their bond, it was impossible that Master wouldn't teach them...

Just as Chen Ling was completely baffled, Master chuckled:

"Of course they don't need to learn it, because the inspiration for this secret technique came from them."

Chen Ling froze in place.

The secret technique created by Master... the inspiration... came from his senior brothers and sisters?

Chen Ling felt it was strange. No matter how he looked at it, the logic didn't seem to hold up. After all, it was always the Master teaching the disciples; how could the Master learn from the disciples?

More and more doubts occupied Chen Ling’s mind, and his interest in this secret technique grew even stronger. He couldn't help but ask:

"What kind of secret technique is this?"

Master paused for a moment, then slowly uttered three words:

"—[Painting the Crimson Face]."