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Times Square in New York City is like a patient suffering from collective amnesia. Having barely escaped the nightmare of forced likes under the "traffic-is-king" mentality, the wounds haven't healed before it's been hit by a new round of even more bizarre forms of mental pollution.
The center of this chaos wasn't a giant electronic screen, but rather a makeshift open-air stage erected on one side of the square, originally intended for a brand's promotion. At that moment, a figure stood on the stage, so bizarre it would make any onlooker's eyes twitch.
It—or rather, it—still vaguely resembled a human, but its entire body was covered in colorful feathers that looked like cheap plastic. It wore a mask with a fixed expression and a bizarre smile that stretched from its mouth to its ears. Most striking of all, it tightly clutched a brightly colored basketball that was constantly dripping with a black, viscous liquid.
It didn't roar, nor did it unleash terrifying pressure; it simply stiffly and repeatedly performed an extremely mesmerizing, suggestive, yet utterly discordant dribbling and hip-twisting motion on stage. Simultaneously, a distorted melody, like a poorly tuned stereo playing on a loop, mixed with the ambiguous yet strangely viscous lyrics "You're so beautiful, chicken~", emanated from this melody, transforming into invisible sound waves that spread like a plague.
This sound wave, though not a physical attack, is more penetrating than any sonic weapon.
The first to be affected were the onlookers and tourists closest to the stage. Their initially curious or wary eyes quickly became empty and confused within seconds of encountering the captivating melody and movements, and were then replaced by a fervent, uncontrollable urge to imitate.
"Chicken...chicken, you're so beautiful..."
An office worker in a suit and carrying a briefcase suddenly threw the briefcase on the ground and began to stiffly imitate the hip-twisting movements on stage.
"So beautiful...so beautiful!"
A mother who was holding her child's hand let go of the child's hand, her eyes glazed over, and she began to sway her body to the rhythm, muttering unconsciously.
"Basketball...my basketball!"
More people joined in, gesticulating wildly and contorting their movements as they tried to mimic the bizarre dribbling, their faces bearing a fascinated and eerie smile, as if they were under collective hypnosis, or perhaps witnessing a cult's carnival.
Chaos spread rapidly. Traffic came to an instant halt as drivers abandoned their vehicles and joined the frenzy; customers and shop employees rushed into the streets; police officers attempting to maintain order tried to intervene, but as they approached the heart of the chaos, their own eyes darted around, and their movements became increasingly uncoordinated…
"Alert! High-intensity cognitive interference and behavioral manipulation energy field detected in Times Square area! Energy level: Tiger level! Target code generated: 'Chicken You're Too Beautiful'!" The alarm sounded again in the association's monitoring center, but this time, the analyst's tone was tinged with disbelief and absurdity.
Inside the command center, the staff looked at the bizarre images on the screen and the rapidly rising "mental pollution index," their expressions somewhat subtle.
"What... what is this thing?" a young dispatcher couldn't help but complain.
"Never mind what it is! Issue the mission immediately! Evacuate the civilians and take control of the target!" The commander suppressed his strange feeling and gave the order in a stern voice.
Soon, a nearby association squad that was on standby arrived at the scene. Leading them was a B-rank hero named "Sonic Boom," whose ability was to create powerful sonic shockwaves.
"Try to cover the interference with high-intensity white noise!" Sonic Boom shouted into the communicator, then took a deep breath, his chest bulged, and emitted a deafening high-frequency noise!
However, the catchy melody and the lyrics "You're so beautiful" seemed to possess a certain conceptual pollution quality. The sonic boom's white noise was like a mud ox sinking into the sea; it not only failed to suppress it but also seemed to add a discordant note to the eerie "chorus," making the scene even more chaotic. A small group of manipulated people even turned their fanatical gazes to the sonic boom and began to surge towards it.
"No! Captain! This thing isn't just a simple sound wave! It directly interferes with thought!" Sonic Boom covered his ears and retreated, his face pale. His sonic attack had failed.
Another C-class hero with the ability to move quickly, "Lightning," attempted to rush forward and attack the feathered monster directly. However, his speed noticeably slowed down as he approached the center of the stage. The mesmerizing melody relentlessly penetrated his mind, causing double vision to appear before his eyes and his body to involuntarily sway to the rhythm, nearly resulting in him crashing headfirst into a lamppost.
"Damn it! Getting close will directly affect you! Your movements will be distorted!" Lightning retreated in a sorry state, shaking his head violently, trying to dispel the melody in his mind.
Conventional physical attacks and energy interference seemed to have little effect on this pollution based on "concepts" and "mental mimicry." The association's team was temporarily at a loss and could only barely establish a perimeter to prevent more innocent people from being drawn into that bizarre revelry.
Just as the situation seemed to be sliding into an even more absurd and out-of-control state, a calm figure appeared at the edge of the battlefield.
It is Lin, the "mindfulness master".
She was still wearing that simple association uniform, and although her face was still somewhat pale from the mental pressure she had exerted against the "Deep Sea King," her eyes were exceptionally clear and serene. She looked at the scene in the center of the square that resembled a chaotic dance of demons, and listened to the omnipresent, demonic melody, her brows furrowing slightly.
She didn't try to cover it up with a stronger sound like a sonic boom, nor did she try to force her way through like lightning.
She simply walked slowly to a relatively open space, sat down cross-legged, and closed her eyes. Her hands formed a peaceful mudra in front of her.
Then she began to chant softly.
It wasn't some complicated incantation, but rather a distant, peaceful Buddhist scripture with an ancient rhythm. The sound wasn't loud, yet it was exceptionally clear, like a gentle stream, slowly seeping into that frenzied realm shrouded in the demonic melody with an undeniable firmness.
"Namo Amitabha……"
"When Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva practiced the profound Prajna Paramita, he saw that the five aggregates were empty and was able to overcome all suffering..."
At first, her voice was like a pebble thrown into a raging storm, almost drowned out. But gradually, the peaceful and tranquil chanting seemed to possess a kind of power to purify the soul, and began to carve out a small "pure land" in the polluted area.
Some of the people on the periphery of the situation, less manipulated, slowed down first. The fanaticism in their eyes gradually faded, replaced by bewilderment and confusion. They shook their heads, as if just waking from a nightmare, looking with suspicion at the still frantically dancing crowd around them and the feathered monster in the distance.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on the meditator's forehead. She was doing two things at the same time: first, constructing a small "silent field" to protect herself from contamination; second, continuously outputting the chanting of scriptures containing the ideas of "purity," "peace," and "breaking through attachments and delusions," like an antivirus program, to combat that demonic spiritual pollution.
This is not a clash of forces, but a contest of wills, a war between two completely different "frequency" vying for spiritual dominance over this space.
The feathered monster seemed to sense the force trying to "purify" it. Its stiff, twisting movements became more rapid, the frequency of its basketball dribbling increased, and the demonic chant of "You're so beautiful" suddenly rose in pitch, trying to drown out the chanting.
However, the peace and profoundness of Buddhist scriptures are precisely the natural nemesis of such superficial, frenzied, and demonic sounds. Just as sunlight dispels fog and clear springs wash away filth, the chanting of a meditation master, though not the loudest, contains a higher and more essential spiritual power.
More and more people are beginning to wake up, and the chaotic areas are gradually being "purified" and shrunk from the margins.
Finally, as the meditator finished reciting the last line of the Heart Sutra, "Gate Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha," she suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze as clear as a lake, fixed on the feathered monster on the stage, and uttered a clear shout:
An invisible, purely spiritual impact rippled outwards like waves, striking precisely the strange man who was still writhing in vain!
"Ugh—!"
The strange creature let out a sharp, inhuman screech, like a cassette tape jamming. Its colorful feathers quickly dimmed and fell off, and the basketball in its hand vanished with a "poof" sound, turning into a wisp of black smoke. The recurring demonic sound also came to an abrupt end.
It collapsed softly on the stage, reverting to its original state as an ordinary streamer who had suffered a mental breakdown due to poor live broadcast results, and remained unconscious.
Times Square has returned to silence. Only the mess remains, along with a large number of bewildered and still-shaken people.
Master Jingxin slowly stood up, gently wiped the sweat from his forehead, nodded slightly to the arriving association support staff, and then turned and left silently, keeping his merits and fame hidden.
The mission completion notification sounded on the association's communication channel:
The "Chicken You're Too Beautiful" threat, a level-Tier threat, has been eliminated.
[Main contributor: Meditation Master (Lin)]
[Note: The mental purification method was successfully applied, effectively suppressing the threat of cognitive pollution without collateral damage.]
This time, there were no earth-shattering explosions, no blood-pumping battles. There was only a silent purification and counterattack that took place on a spiritual level.
The association has once again proven to the world that it possesses not only the strength to confront demon-level behemoths, but also the professional means and talent to deal with all sorts of bizarre and unpredictable special threats.
The reclusive meditation master was hailed as the "nemesis of mental pollution" after this battle, and his unique value was further confirmed and enhanced.
Chapter 76: The Rise of the Mental Hero
The aftershocks of the Times Square battle did not completely subside with the collapse of the "Chicken You're Too Beautiful" monster. Within the Hero Association, an invisible ripple was quietly spreading, centered on "The Calm Mind Master" Lin, with an impact far more profound than simply cleaning up a chaotic scene.
Inside the deep analysis room of the "Potential Assessment and Development Department" at the association headquarters, the atmosphere was unlike any other ability test. There were no flashing energy beams, no deafening impacts, only a complex, nebula-like mental energy field map flowing on a holographic projection and constantly fluctuating bioelectrical signal data.
Dr. Helen Shaw, the department head, is leading her team in an unprecedentedly detailed post-mortem analysis of "mindfulness therapist" Lin's performance in the Times Square incident.
"Look here," Dr. Xiao pointed to a slowed-down record of mental fluctuations labeled with countless parameters, showing the moment Lin began chanting Buddhist scriptures. "The mental pollution wave released by the target ('Chicken You're Too Beautiful' weirdo) is mainly concentrated in the mixed range of theta waves and abnormally high-frequency delta waves, characterized by forced synchronization and emotional excitation induction. And the 'Mind Master's' counterattack... is not a simple frequency confrontation or energy shielding."
She highlighted the mental fluctuation pattern corresponding to Lin's chanting. It wasn't a crude line trying to suppress or cover up the polluting waveform, but rather a... more subtle and layered diffusion.
“She constructed a ‘field,’ a ‘quiet domain’ centered on herself, with frequencies stable in the soothing alpha wave and certain specific gamma wave bands,” a data analyst exclaimed. “This ‘quiet domain’ is not aggressive, but like alum thrown into muddy water, its stable frequency itself naturally repels the chaotic, polluted wave bands. More importantly, by reciting scriptures containing specific philosophical ideas, she encoded concepts such as ‘purity’ and ‘breaking attachments’ into this ‘quiet domain’ like an information package!”
"Conceptual encoding?!" another researcher exclaimed in a low voice, "This is no longer a simple matter of mental strength; it involves direct intervention at the level of consciousness and information!"
“That’s right.” Dr. Xiao’s gaze was intense. “Her ability may not be ‘silence’ in essence, but rather the embodiment and information transmission of high-frequency, stable mental energy. ‘Silence’ is just one of the most basic applications of this ability. Faced with the pure and violent mental pressure of ‘Deep Sea King,’ she could only passively defend; but faced with mental pollution based on specific chaotic concepts like ‘Chicken You’re Too Beautiful,’ her stable frequency and reverse information output formed a perfect countermeasure!”
She pulled up the image of the energy peak at the end of the battle, when Lin shouted "Break through illusions".
"Look! This sudden burst of mental power is not an energy surge, but rather a precise 'injection' of all the 'pure' thoughts previously scattered in the 'quiet domain' into the source of pollution—that strange person's core consciousness—like a concentrated energy source! It forcibly interrupted the maintenance of its distorted concepts, causing its ability structure to collapse from within!"
The analysis room was silent, save for the faint hum of the equipment. Everyone realized they were witnessing the true awakening of an extremely rare and powerful type of ability. This was no longer an auxiliary skill; it was a unique, strategic force specifically designed to counter all sorts of unorthodox methods.
Almost simultaneously, on the other side of headquarters, in the equipment research and development department's laboratory, Leo Fitz was gesticulating wildly in front of a pile of parts that looked like high-end audio equipment combined with neural sensors.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" He circled the workbench, waving a preliminary report he had just received from the analysis lab. "Not confrontation, but purification! It's coverage! It's like pouring a spring of fresh water into his head! This idea is fantastic!"
He abruptly stopped and excitedly shouted to his assistant, "Quick! Stop that 'noise countermeasures generator' project! That thing is too low-level! If we're going to do something, we'll do a 'directional mind broadcasting tower'! Damn, the name's a bit corny... whatever!"
He grabbed the light pen and frantically sketched on the holographic design: "The core isn't power! It's 'purity' and 'information carrying stability'! We need crystals that can simulate or even amplify Lin's special mental frequency... Yes, and a database of scriptures or similar information sources that have a stabilizing effect on the mind! If this thing works, we can just cast the 'Great Compassion Mantra' on those bastards who play with mental pollution! No, it has to be compatible with multiple cultural beliefs. What if some weirdos aren't afraid of Buddhist scriptures but are afraid of the cross? Database! The key is the database and the adaptive matching algorithm!"
While Fitz was engrossed in his new invention, the Association’s logistics and tactical planning departments had already begun substantial adjustments based on the reports from this battle.
A new internal memo has been issued to all heroes of rank B and above, as well as all division commanders:
In light of the recent spate of threats involving psychological pollution and cognitive distortion (referencing the "traffic is king" and "You're too beautiful" incidents), the tactical guidelines are hereby supplemented and updated:
• New SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) - 07B: When encountering a confirmed or suspected mental pollution threat, frontline commanders must prioritize assessing the type of pollution. If it is classified as "Concept Distortion" or "Forced Behavior Imitation," support should be requested from a "Mind Master" or a similar mental stabilizing hero, if conditions permit, rather than forcibly using physical or conventional energy methods to break through.
• Resource allocation: The budget for the “Mental Strength Research and Development Group” under the “Center for Mental Health” will be increased by 50% to support the in-depth development of meditation skills and related talent training at the Meditation Center.
• Priority adjustment for special talent recruitment: Potential recruits with abilities such as "psychic perception", "emotional soothing", and "consciousness protection" will have their evaluation priority raised by one level.
These changes, though seemingly minor, signify that the Association has officially established a separate, high-priority category for "mental" abilities within its tactical repertoire for dealing with extraordinary threats. The Quiet Master Lin has undoubtedly become the benchmark and founder of this category.
In a newly assigned, quieter meditation room at headquarters, equipped with advanced meditation aids, Lin calmly reviewed the encrypted report analyzing her abilities on the association's internal network (the portion accessible only with her authorization). She was neither surprised nor overjoyed by the increased "strategic value" of her abilities.
She recalled how, when she first awakened her ability, it could only calm a restless kitten, and she was once confused because she couldn't understand this "useless" power. It was the association's assessment and guidance that gradually made her realize the difference of this power.
Today, her ability map clearly shows:
[Hero: The Meditation Master (Lin)]
[Rank: B (Potential Assessment: A+, requires improvement in total mental power and domain range)]
[Skill Positioning: Strategic Support/Mental Specialization]
[Core Capabilities: Construction of a high-frequency, stable mental field; encoding and transmission of mental information; purification of mental pollution.]
[Current development direction: Expanding the influence range of the "Quiet Domain"; exploring the integration of more diverse "positive intention" information packages; researching defensive measures against non-conceptual, purely malicious mental attacks.]
She knew she had embarked on a unique path. On this path, there was no earth-shattering power like Sandman, nor the dazzling technological brilliance of Iron Man; she was more like a craftsman of the spirit, using meticulousness and perseverance to safeguard the last vestiges of clarity in people's hearts.
On the association's internal forum, an anonymous poll asked, "Which powerful figure would you most like to support you during a challenging mission?" The name "Meditation Master" quietly appeared in the top ten, even ranking ahead of several A-rank heroes known for their combat prowess. The comments below were mostly:
"With a meditation master chanting scriptures behind me, I feel my soul is protected!"
"A mission involving mental pollution? No rush, let's see if Boss Lin is available first."
"This is true support! It gives me an incredible sense of security!"
Lin looked at the comments, a subtle, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips. She closed the terminal, shut her eyes again, and immersed herself in meditation.
The battlefield of the spirit has been opened, and she, Jingxin Shilin, is the first and most steadfast banner of the Hero Association on this invisible battlefield. Her rise signifies that the Hero Association's power system is becoming more three-dimensional and profound, capable of meeting any challenge posed by this bizarre world.
Chapter 77: The Association's Cultural Development
As the smoke of the Battle of Tokyo Bay dissipated and the absurd episode in Times Square came to an end, the Hero Association, like a giant ship, did not stop. Instead, amidst unprecedented public attention and profound internal review, it embarked on a new round of more refined internal restructuring. This time, the focus shifted from muscle and technology to a more intangible yet equally crucial area—cultural development.
On the top floor of Fisk Tower, Kingpin overlooked the bustling city below, listening to Wesley's report on recent public opinion analysis and internal morale assessment. The screen displayed the Association's reputation soaring like a rocket, but also some alarming signs: complaints from some lower-level heroes over differences in task allocation and point acquisition; invisible barriers formed between heroes of different ability systems due to a lack of communication; and, after that Pyrrhic victory, an unspeakable weariness and uncertainty about the future lurking in the hearts of some members.
“Victory can unite people’s hearts, but it cannot automatically translate into lasting loyalty and efficiency.” Kingpin’s voice was deep, like the grinding of a rock. “We need something, a kind of ‘cohesion’ that can direct the strength, ambition, and even anxiety of individuals in the same direction.”
He didn't look at Wesley, as if talking to himself, or perhaps making a declaration to the city. Then, he issued a series of directives that seemed no different from corporate management rules, but would profoundly change the association's internal ecosystem.
A few days later, a mechanism internally jokingly referred to as the "Association KPI and Honor System" was officially launched.
First, there's the multi-story holographic "Real-time Hero Points Ranking," prominently displayed in the headquarters lobby. This ranking isn't simply a list of names and points; it's meticulously designed:
• Overall Ranking: Displays the points ranking of all registered heroes. Flint Marco the Sandman is at the top of the list with an absolute advantage. His name is followed by a conspicuous S-rank badge and a brief comment: "The cornerstone of the association, a model of defense and offense."
• Monthly Ranking: Displays the top ten earners in points for the month, with dynamic titles such as "Best Newcomer of the Month", "Task Completion Rate Star", and "Most Potential Award".
• Ability Category Ranking: Divided into sub-rankings such as "Offense," "Defense," "Speed," "Support," "Special," and "Logistics," ensuring that heroes in different categories can find their place and competitors. The name of Jingxin Shilin appears prominently at the top of the "Special" category ranking.
• Scrolling Recognition Board: Real-time broadcast of recently completed representative tasks, recognizing outstanding individuals or teams. Even something as simple as successfully rescuing a cat trapped in a tree will earn you the system's recognition as a "Community Guardian" and corresponding points.
This massive leaderboard acts like a potent stimulant. High-ranking heroes are more motivated to defend their rankings; lower-ranking heroes see hope in climbing the ranks in their niche; even support and logistics personnel gain unprecedented professional recognition from titles like "Logistics Support Model." Competition, a sense of honor, and a visible path to advancement are cleverly integrated into the system.
Subsequently, the association's internal communication network and public areas were covered with a series of well-designed and uniformly styled promotional materials.
The posters no longer feature abstract logos or slogans, but rather highly representative heroic figures:
Flint the Sandman stands like a mountain before the raging waves, with the caption: "Protection is the promise of every grain of sand."
Spider-Man Peter Parker skillfully navigates through the ruins, holding a rescued child in his arms, with the caption: "No ability is too small, saving lives is great."
The meditation master Lin sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, radiating a soft halo that dispelled the distorted shadows. The caption read: "Inner order is the cornerstone of outer peace."
Even images of logistics personnel inspecting equipment and medical staff treating the wounded were magnified and accompanied by slogans such as "Victory stems from every precise guarantee."
These posters not only project a diverse and professional image to the outside world, but also convey a clear set of values internally: every position and every ability has irreplaceable value and dignity within this system.
Meanwhile, a small but significant awards ceremony was held in the headquarters' medium-sized conference hall.
Kingpin personally attended the ceremony to award the "Association Medal for Outstanding Contribution" to heroes who distinguished themselves in the Battle of Tokyo Bay and subsequent events. There were no lengthy speeches, only brief affirmations and tangible rewards.
As Flint Marko accepted the heavy medal engraved with his Sandman symbol, the tough man's eyes reddened slightly. He received more than just honor; he received a long-term guarantee, secured by the association's foundation, ensuring his daughter Penny could receive continuous treatment from the world's top medical teams. Loyalty, at that moment, was forged even stronger.
Peter Parker was almost at a loss when he received the medal and a large sum of extra points. He secretly calculated how many health supplements Aunt May needed and how much material he could exchange for the new spider silk he was developing. His face was filled with undisguised, pure joy, typical of a young boy. He felt that he was no longer a lonely vigilante hiding behind a mask, but an "employee" recognized and supported by a large organization. This sense of belonging strangely overshadowed his anxieties about his identity being exposed.
Lin Ze, the meditation practitioner, received a specially made meditation crystal that was said to slightly amplify mental power, as well as a twenty-page "Personal Ability Deep Development Proposal" tailored for her by the association's top psychologists and mental power research experts. This respect for professionalism and support for growth made her feel that her choice was correct.
Even several C-level civilian staff members who provided crucial back-end data analysis in the "Chicken You're Too Beautiful" incident received the "Outstanding Logistics Support Award" and corresponding points rewards. Their names appeared in the association's internal commendation notice for the first time.
These measures, like a gentle spring rain, began to create a chemical reaction within the association.