Chapter 3001: Severing Hair for Social Death

Truly worthy of being the birthplace of the Night Watchers.

The Birthday Party, Drifting Street—in that moment, Fu Qian seemed to be gradually comprehending everything.

He could only say that this place, potentially named the Seedbed of the Palace, possessed a truly transcendent atmosphere.

Beyond being handpicked as the location for his advancement to Tier 1 and subjecting him to endless tearing the moment he stepped inside, it felt as though the various elements he had encountered throughout his career as an administrator had all ingeniously converged here.

It was certainly lively—fully worthy of the name Hongmen banquet.

There were downsides, of course. With so many things mixed together, the situation had grown increasingly complicated.

Still, he preferred to look on the bright side. What he had learned in the Bookstore World over the past several days could potentially be integrated here, completely cementing his foundation as an academic oligarch.

For instance, the relationship between the White King and the White-Hot Knight.

As it stood, there was undoubtedly a deep connection between the two, though Fu Qian didn't think they could be equated.

For one obvious point, while the White-Hot Knight was strong, he still fell short of a true "God."

Perhaps people liked to brag when it came to bloodlines.

But the known bloodline power of the Laria Family had indeed managed to consecutively attract the First Generation Dark Moon and the Mother of Gospel. If the source of that power were merely Tier 2, it would feel like a massive overreaction.

Not to mention that, based on his experiences at the Blood Wedding, Jose alone was already at the Tier 2 level.

Besides that, there was another minor detail he had witnessed with his own eyes: it seemed the White-Hot Knight didn't need the "Karmic Bond" to be killed?

During their clash, the knight had been reduced to ashes at his hands.

"But according to His Excellency Needle Witch, its effect is to sever worldly ties and return one to purity?"

Processing the information at hand didn't stop Fu Qian from multitasking, and he naturally voiced his doubts.

Perhaps Chaumont's explanation had more historical backing, but the Needle Witch had also proven her worth step by step.

The two claims might not absolutely conflict, but if both were true, the implications would be rather abstract.

"Unfortunately, this is the first time I'm hearing of it as well, so I cannot judge its authenticity... However, if I were you, I would lean toward believing it."

It was a pity Chaumont merely shook his head, indicating he couldn't disprove it.

At the same time, the steadfastness of the older generation was on full display; he wasn't the least bit worried about misleading anyone when offering his advice.

"Understood. I also believe His Excellency Needle Witch wouldn't lie to me." With one daring to advise and the other daring to accept, Fu Qian's face showed deep agreement.

The next step was simple: trying to synthesize both of their suggestions.

If both were correct, it meant the "Karmic Bond" could both kill the White King and return Him to purity—social death?

He could only say that as long as one's thinking wasn't rigid, nothing was impossible. A classic term popped into his head almost instantly.

...

So the White King's suicide wasn't a physical death, but a social death?

This explanation might sound overly abstract, but Professor Fu wasn't joking.

This "social death" was meant in the truest literal sense, corresponding to the idea that "the essence of a person is the sum of all their social relations."

Yes, it even perfectly aligned with severing worldly ties, just in the most extreme manner.

The White King drew a blade to slaughter Himself, severing all cause and effect?

Thereby shattering the void and thoroughly dying on a societal level?

Understood this way, couldn't the two current theories be forcefully reconciled? Although he constantly emphasized linking theory with practice, Professor Fu was never one to fall behind in the art of "empty talk," effortlessly simulating an outcome.

As for the practical significance of this outcome?

It actually wasn't as hard to find as imagined; in fact, it came to him effortlessly.

First was the aforementioned clash with the White-Hot Knight. At the very end, the knight had performed a specific action: using the Sword-Spear in his hand to cut off his own head.

Following that action, he didn't collapse and die. Instead, the "white" on his body became even purer. The assessment at the time was that "even the self was eradicated as filth."

It might have just been a baseless feeling, but considering it now, didn't it align rather well with his earlier theory?

He had, in fact, already witnessed "social death."

He could even think of an explanation for why the Needle Witch had given him this item and had him carry it while rampaging through the Birthday Party—Avoid Southwest, Suitable for Forging Ties.

The "Guansi" Playing Card he had drawn initially gave him an Anchor Point inside the Birthday Party, and even granted him "providence."

But as everyone knew, providence was something that both protected and imprisoned the self.

Could the Karmic Bond being delivered into his hands simply be a choice to actively eliminate that Anchor Point?

After all, the Needle Witch and her peers likely weren't naive enough to think he would actually use this thing to kill himself. In all fairness, the probability of such a low-Rank item achieving literal "social death" and severing karma wasn't high either.

On the contrary, the likelihood of it severing something far more conceptual was much greater.

Furthermore, this served as reverse verification of the item's potential ties to the Birthday Party, increasing the chances that this place was indeed the Seedbed of the Palace.

"For the Needle Witch, that must be a rare compliment... But this is just about all I know."

As this series of thoughts flashed through his mind, his claim that "His Excellency Needle Witch wouldn't lie" evidently provoked a strong reaction.

Unlike Old Man Stoss's "are you kidding me" glare, Chaumont fell silent for a moment before verbally expressing the exact same sentiment, handing the "Karmic Bond" back.

It was quite obvious that among the Night Watchers, Kelin's reputation wasn't exactly stellar either.

"So, Your Excellency, do you think using this to cut off my own head will activate its effect?"

Casually accepting it back, even though Chaumont had stated he'd already shared everything he knew, Fu Qian maintained his modesty, floating the idea to consult the other man's judgment.

"You'd better not try anything reckless. When I said I'd keep you out of danger, that applies to you endangering yourself as well."

This time, however, Stoss finally couldn't hold back and actively voiced a warning.

His meaning was crystal clear: a promise of security was a promise. Whether the danger came from the Needle Witch or Professor Fu himself, it was strictly forbidden on his watch.

"As for that, I truly have no idea..."

The old man's calm and resolute tone prompted His Excellency Chaumont to give a light cough before speaking.

"Though perhaps for you, that would hardly be considered fatal. Still, I suggest you try a gentler, more symbolic method first—such as merely cutting your hair."

Living up to his reputation for vast knowledge, he continued to offer his advice.

And this suggestion wasn't just highly logical; it was even rich with historical allusion.

Cutting hair instead of the head... Fu Qian gestured the Karmic Bond toward his own head, concluding that doing it this way would indeed hurt a lot less.

"Pain—haven't you always been rather indifferent to such things?"

Yet the very next moment, as if his internal critique had been overheard, an unfamiliar voice suddenly asked the question—even though, theoretically, the speaker was an acquaintance.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that His Excellency Chaumont's fur-clad, model-like Demigod Realm puppet had actually spoken for the very first time.