Can a Scholar Be Called a Villain
Book 2: Chapter 17: Murong Lin’s ruthlessness

Murong Lin skillfully manipulated the array’s circulation to run in reverse, harnessing the trust he had garnered from the surrounding individuals and redirecting the array’s force against them. Weaker participants within the array instantly disintegrated, reduced to nothing more than dust scattered upon the ground.

Their strength, as well as that of countless individuals who had met their fate within the array over the course of a millennium, began to flow into Murong Lin’s body through the array’s spiritual conduits. What he absorbed was not just the trust and energy of those present but also the accumulated faith of thousands who had perished within this palace.

Murong Lin’s complexion underwent a profound transformation as he absorbed this immense wellspring of energy. It was the most unadulterated power of humanity—trust. By consuming the energy derived from the trust of these thousands, he experienced a dramatic surge in his cultivation, elevating his Cognizance realm cultivation to new heights. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ɴovᴇlꜰirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Murong Lin’s cultivation had experienced a dramatic ascent, surging from the sixth layer of the Cognizance realm to the eighth, marking a consecutive breakthrough of two small realms.

The aura he now exuded left even the ‘Ancient Dao Heavenly Demon’ standing beside him in complete shock, to the point where he could no longer be bothered by the questions surrounding how Murong Lin had managed to take control of the array.

Primal fear coursed through the Ancient Dao Heavenly Demon, driven by Murong Lin’s cunning and ruthlessness.

While numerous individuals had succumbed to the hologram’s temptations and attempted to reverse the array’s circulation, none had managed to secure the complete trust of their companions, leading to their swift demise.

Even the Ancient Dao Heavenly Demon had seldom encountered someone capable of earning the trust of every single person.

What truly astounded him, however, was that someone who had gained the unwavering trust of all would so readily turn on and eliminate them. Trust was typically granted in exchange for trust, forming a bond that would ordinarily give rise to hesitation. Those who chose to commit such ruthless acts were considered ambitious, but the Ancient Dao Heavenly Demon could only regard those like Murong Lin, who executed such actions without a second thought, as demons.

“Are you truly this ruthless?” He asked.

Murong Lin maintained his unwavering gaze upon the lives that were gradually being extinguished by his actions. Without turning back, he replied, ““You’re considered to be a demon of an era yourself, why would you ask me such a foolish question?

I’ve expended considerable effort assisting them tirelessly over the past few days. I’ve shared my points every time I captured demonic beasts, resolved their troubles whenever danger arose, and even went to great lengths to feign my injuries. Do you honestly believe I’m that benevolent?

Great kindness often conceals the most insidious ill intentions. After all the effort I’ve invested, it’s only fair that I reap the rewards. Moreover, without my help, they might have perished long ago.

If there’s anything to blame, it should fall upon their own powerlessness and the softness of their personalities, which led them to place blind trust in another person, ultimately sealing their fate.”

With a change in his hand gesture, Murong Lin nearly stripped everyone of their trust and, subsequently, their lives. In this moment, every participant within the array met their end.

As life gradually ebbed away, they slowly opened their eyes to survey their surroundings.

Their gaze fell upon Murong Lin, seated at the centre, and the ‘Ancient Dao Heavenly Demon’ hovering in the air. Bewildered, they searched for Nie Wu Sheng, Murong Lin’s assumed identity, but to no avail.

Their lives slipped away in a haze of confusion, their dying gazes still laden with bewilderment as they glared at Murong Lin, seated at the array’s center.

Although the clothes on Murong Lin’s body didn’t change, no one could have fathomed that this seemingly emotionless individual was, in fact, the same Brother Nie whom they had respected and admired.

Not a shred of suspicion crossed their minds regarding his involvement in their tragic demise.

Brother Nie, what a trustworthy prodigy!

Only one person in the group displayed a vastly different expression from the rest—Liu Wu. His complexion was pallid, and he stared at Murong Lin with a sense of dreadful recognition.

Liu Wu saw Murong Lin.

He remembered this face.

He could not forget this face, not even in death. Just a few months earlier, this face had been a living nightmare within Yan’s capital.

Mu! Rong! Lin!

He was Murong Lin!

The Murong Lin that had killed Sheng Yi at the imperial palace’s side entrance, the Murong Lin that had instructed his servants to self-destruct and force his brother into retreating!

Seeing that Murong Lin was seated at the centremost position, still dressed in the clean green robe, how could he have not understood?

Nie Wu Sheng was Murong Lin, and Murong Lin was Nie Wu Sheng.

The individual who had posed as Nie Su’s grandchild was, in fact, Murong Lin, the notorious fugitive.

No wonder, no wonder!

No wonder Nie Wu Sheng had surfaced only after Murong Lin’s disappearance. Nie Wu Sheng wielded remarkable strength, yet he had never voiced a desire to capture Murong Lin and exact vengeance for everyone.

No wonder Nie Wu Sheng was so powerful, even as Nie Su’s name faded into obscurity in the Jiang Hu.

No wonder Nie Wu Sheng had shown them such unwavering kindness throughout their journey.

Liu Wu gazed down at the array beneath him, offering a bitter smile before turning his attention to Murong Lin. He spoke slowly, “I will wait for you down there…”

His words were his last, for at that moment, his body erupted into a cloud of scattering dust.

Murong Lin remained unfazed, merely observing as over a hundred individuals met their end. Eventually, he slowed the circulation of the array.

His strength had now stabilized at the eighth layer of the Cognizance realm.

The increase in cultivation, although seemingly insignificant for a higher Barren grade array like the ‘Heavenly Demon’s Scrutiny’, possessed a unique advantage in that it bore no side effects.

This lack of side effects could be attributed to the fact that energy derived from unadulterated trust was the most suitable form of energy for cultivators.

Murong Lin basked in the newfound strength he had obtained as the array beneath him gradually dissipated. It was clear that this particular array was designed for a single use only.

At this moment, the expression of the ‘Ancient Dao Heavenly Demon’ had undergone a complete transformation.

He murmured as he fixed his gaze on Murong Lin, “Aren’t you afraid of cultivating a heart demon? Do you not fear divine tribulation?”

Becoming an entity in the Tribulation realm required undergoing a divine tribulation. This process entailed the amplification of a cultivator’s inner heart demons and regrets, which were then used to form an attack against the individual.

As a result, every cultivator exercised extreme caution to avoid the formation of heart demons and made every effort to eliminate them once they appeared. They also worked diligently to resolve any past regrets.

While virtuous cultivators rarely formed heart demons due to their behaviour and mindset, practitioners of the demon dao often met their demise at the hands of their own heart demons.

Individuals like Murong Lin, who orchestrated the deaths of numerous people who had placed their trust in him, were often regarded as “Great Masters” within the demon Dao.

Was he truly unafraid of forming a heart demon?

“I didn’t do anything wrong, so why would a heart demon be formed?” He gradually rose to his feet, soaring toward the ‘Ancient Dao Heavenly Demon’ and locking eyes with him.

“The weak are always entangled in such minutiae, but their inner thoughts betray them as they feign virtue. They form heart demons because they believe their actions to be wrong, prompting fear, shame, and regret.

But when a person is strong enough, they have no regrets for their actions because they dare to confront their own inner heart. The seven emotions and six desires, the desires for power, and the urge to conquer—all lie within the darkness of every human being. Most people attempt to suppress these dark urges, but I prioritize my own happiness.

I don’t find my actions disgusting or shameful at all. It’s individuals like me who shape the world as it is.”

No matter how marvellous the world may appear, if a group of individuals seeks their own happiness and enjoyment, they must inevitably oppress another group to achieve it.

This was an immutable truth that persisted throughout the ages—war, plunder, extermination, and the drive to reproduce.

The ‘Ancient Dao Heavenly Demon’ regarded the man before him as if he were gazing upon the most formidable demon in the world, his own being quivering ever so slightly.

That’s right, he was trembling.

In his memories spanning over a millennium, he had never encountered a human as ruthless and cold-blooded as Murong Lin. Even in his original body within the Tribulation realm, he couldn’t fathom the depths of Murong Lin’s thoughts.

Typically, individuals with such extraordinary mental fortitude, those who prioritized their own interests, displayed such ruthlessness, and exhibited the ability to skillfully mask their true intentions while remaining authentic, were not merely ambitious; they were considered great demons.

The young man standing before him possessed the potential to become a great demon.

Translator’s note:

I post a chapter every week on my website and Ko-fi. If you want to support me, please consider subscribing to gain access to 30 advanced chapters at https://ko-fi.com/puttty

P.S. If you enjoyed the read, please consider leaving a review on NovelUpdates to brighten my day. Thank you.

Sᴇarch the n0vᴇl(ꜰ)ire.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.