Mu Sichen had expected the branding of a totem to require close contact; instead, Yao Wangping moved further away.

Yao told him to close his eyes, clearly intending to hide the process. Mu Sichen didn’t necessarily view this as a slight; given the “forbidden to look, forbidden to know” nature of this world, the secrecy was likely a form of protection.

Fortunately, Mu Sichen’s left eye could still see. Through that lens, the world was a blurred mist where the “truth” replaced the superficial reality of his right eye. This was the ability he had poached from Big Eye.

He had analyzed the process: use the pickaxe to trigger “Undermine,” obtain an Ego Sticker, and peer at a high-level entity to siphon a fraction of its power. This suggested his true ability wasn’t just mining, but “poaching” essence itself.

He couldn’t help but wonder what power he would gain if he looked directly at Qin Zhou.

Of course, it was just a thought. Big Eye was merely a “Hidden Star” class—the lowest tier of divinity—and it had nearly killed him. Qin Zhou felt significantly more powerful. If Mu Sichen caught a glimpse of an even higher existence, he might simply dissolve into a puddle of gore.

He stood obediently against the wall, eyes shut, and pulled aside his shirt collar to expose his shoulder.

In the mist of his left eye’s vision, he “saw” the chibi octopus on Yao’s shoulder unfurl an impossible number of tentacles, trapping Mu Sichen in a cage of limbs. A single tentacle reached out and tapped him squarely between the eyes.

Mu Sichen swallowed hard.

At the moment of contact, a voice vibrated directly into his brain: “Your plan… is feasible.”

Mu Sichen’s heart skipped. By touching his brow, Qin Zhou had read his thoughts.

Accepting the totem was a move of desperation, but Mu Sichen had a hidden agenda. He suspected the totems and his Ego Stickers were cut from the same cloth—marks that influenced the psyche. While stickers were temporary and removable, the totem was a permanent “tattoo.” He planned to use the totem’s power to “poach” Big Eye’s followers for Qin Zhou, earning stickers in the process. Once he had enough, he’d layer the stickers over the totem to nullify and “wash” it away.

It was a brilliant plan on paper. Reality, however, was a skeletal nightmare.

The power gap was too vast. Qin Zhou wasn’t even physically present, yet a mere flicker of his power could strip Mu Sichen’s mind bare. And yet, Qin Zhou had called the plan “feasible”?

Why wouldn’t he be angry? Mu Sichen wondered. Why agree to let me sabotage him?

As if sensing his confusion, the voice echoed again: “I can lend you my power.”

He’s actually letting me “shear” him? Mu Sichen pondered the implications. Since being “marked” for calling out Qin Zhou’s name, Mu Sichen knew the General was no saint. He might not be as overtly monstrous as Big Eye, but he wasn’t a “normal” human either.

Qin Zhou wasn’t helping him out of the goodness of his heart. He wanted Mu Sichen’s “Undermine” ability.

Big Eye broadcasted its presence to drown the town in pollution; Qin Zhou used sleepers to operate in the shadows. Both needed followers. Qin Zhou saw a high-yield tool in Mu Sichen and was willing to tolerate his “bad intentions” in exchange for results.

It was a win-win, but Mu Sichen worried about the cost to his soul.

“I allow you to maintain your ‘Self’,” the voice whispered, reading his fear. “Only by remaining yourself can you wield that power.”

Mu Sichen relaxed slightly. He didn’t think Qin Zhou was lying—with such a disparity in strength, the General had no need for deception.

“Fine. I’ll get you your followers,” Mu Sichen thought, projecting the intent back.

“Not just followers. There is something in this sanitarium more important than followers. Assist Yao Wangping in finding it.” A mission was burned into his mind.

Before Mu Sichen could ask for details, the tentacle retracted from his brow and slithered down his collar. It didn’t stop at his shoulder. It bypassed it, settling directly over his heart.

A searing heat followed. It felt as if a thousand needles were stitching into his chest—agony, but only for a heartbeat.

“You can open your eyes now,” Yao Wangping said.

Mu Sichen opened them, unbuttoned his shirt, and looked down. A tattoo had appeared over his left breast. It depicted a figure with arms spread wide, cradling a sphere—like a man protecting the Earth. However, the figure had far too many arms, wrapping the sphere in a dense, suffocating grip. It looked less like “protection” and more like “possession.”

As Mu Sichen buttoned his shirt, he caught Yao Wangping looking at him with a flash of… envy?

“The General put the totem over your heart,” Yao remarked.

Mu Sichen kept his face neutral. “Is that a good thing? What’s the difference between the shoulder and the heart?”

“Not everyone gets a totem,” Yao explained, his voice losing some of its edge. “In Xiangping Town, people undergo rigorous trials just for the chance. And the placement dictates your role. The shoulder connects to the arm—it represents being the General’s ‘Right Hand’.”

Yao’s trust had spiked significantly. He was now willing to share intelligence.

“Few receive a totem directly from the General. Usually, he grants them to a select few, who then create their own derivative marks for others. I brought you into the fold; logically, I should have given you a ‘Sword-Arm’ mark on your shoulder. I didn’t expect the General to intervene personally with a ‘Complete Totem’ on your heart. Why would he do that?”

Mu Sichen realized the hierarchy. It was essentially a pyramid scheme. Qin Zhou had identified Mu Sichen as a “high-performing recruiter” compared to Yao, so he had skipped the middleman and given him a direct line of credit, along with a degree of autonomy.

To keep the partnership smooth, Mu Sichen offered a peace offering: “When I received the totem, the General ordered me to help you find something important.”

Yao’s expression hardened with resolve. “The location doesn’t matter. What matters is finding the ‘Pillar’ and liberating Pupil Town!”

“The Pillar?” Mu Sichen nearly shouted the word. He forced his voice to remain flat. “What is that? Like… a literal pillar?”

“A pillar of support.

“Xiangping Town is the strongest of the current settlements. General Qin can defeat any monster. But currently, every town is supported by its own ‘Domain,’ and they don’t interfere with one another. Even the General cannot break in from the outside. The ‘Pillars’ must be destroyed from within to collapse the Domain.

“Only then can the General personally step in, eliminate Big Eye, and liberate the survivors.”

Finally, the world took shape. Mu Sichen realized these “towns” weren’t geographical locations, but independent dimensions. Each was held up by these “Pillars.” If the Pillars fell, the space collapsed.

His system mission was to find the Pillar. Qin Zhou’s mission was the same. Their goals were aligned… for now.

Mu Sichen touched his chest, suppressing his thoughts about what would happen after the Pillar was found. He didn’t know if the totem would broadcast his schemes to Qin Zhou.

“Since you’re in this asylum, does that mean the Pillar is here?” Mu Sichen asked.

“I’ve been undercover in Pupil Town for a month,” Yao said. “I come out every Night to search. I’ve checked several locations, and I’ve finally narrowed it down to this sanitarium. It should be one of the Pillars.”

“One of them?”

“A Domain can’t be held up by just one. If one is destroyed, the Domain doesn’t vanish; it just partially collapses. Big Eye is relatively weak; we estimate Pupil Town has only three or four Pillars.”

“And how many are there usually?”

“Xiangping Town is supported by at least eight,” Yao said, his eyes filled with fanatical adoration. “General Qin is so powerful that even if four Pillars were destroyed, our town would function normally.”

Eight Pillars… like the eight tentacles of an octopus…

Mu Sichen couldn’t help a blasphemous thought. Suddenly, his chest twinged with pain. It wasn’t sharp—more like a playful, warning punch to the ribs.

“Since the sanitarium is a Pillar, we must find its location quickly,” Yao urged. “The Medical Staff have the most freedom here. You need to become a Doctor as soon as possible to help me move.”

Mu Sichen perked up. “How do I switch roles?”

“Cure a patient,” Yao said calmly. “You’re assigned to one, right? Turn him into a Follower of Big Eye, get him discharged, and you’ll be promoted to Doctor.”

Mu Sichen paused. He looked at Yao. “I’ve met that patient. He is sane. Even with his body mutating, he has kept his heart. He’s a good man.”

“So?” Yao asked.

“He’s from Xiangping Town,” Mu Sichen emphasized.

Yao shrugged. “Then it’s even easier. Go talk to him. He’ll understand the sacrifice.”

Mu Sichen’s brow furrowed.

Author’s Note:

Qin Zhou: Nuzzle your chest! Little punch to your chest!

Mu Sichen: Have some dignity. Keep your hands—or tentacles—to yourself.