Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1470 - 795: The Overlooked Detail (2)
Previously on Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension...
From the rear chamber, Zhao Sheng stepped out, making his way back to the main courtyard before darting into the East Hall, where he lingered in silence.
As the sun rose even higher in the sky, a youthful scholar abruptly showed up at the temple's gateway, striding inside with haste.
Zhao Sheng's pulse quickened, and a subtle grin crept across his features, convinced that events were unfolding just as he had foreseen.
"Lin Heng, 'long time' no see!" he whispered under his breath, eyeing Lin Heng's form vanish beyond the threshold, a spark of thrill gleaming in his gaze.
His earlier doubts had been spot on; if Lin Heng had genuinely discovered the Life Path, that individual ought to have broken free from this realm right from the outset.
Yet, in truth, Lin Heng remained trapped within these confines.
This mere fact confirmed his failure, and it further demonstrated that the Yellow Springs Other Shore Painting held no secret to fleeing this domain.
Thus... he had been deceived earlier, and now it was time to begin afresh.
...
Shortly thereafter, a vessel with a black canopy glided away from the bank, drifting downstream toward Mingxi Town.
Positioned at the front of the boat, Zhao Sheng faced the soft spring gusts, his thoughts churning like stormy seas.
Precisely where lies the Life Path? Or... does no such Life Path exist whatsoever, turning this into an inescapable void, a true Dead Land!
No, this cannot possibly be a Dead Land!
Earlier on, he must have missed some vital element.
With that realization, Zhao Sheng shut his eyes tight, and a clear vision of a "small town" gradually took shape within his consciousness.
Rivers twisted abundantly, willows danced along the shores, bluestone paths stretched out, thronged with passersby, vendors crowded the lanes, buzzing with energy.
Neat courtyards of verdant bricks and tiles dotted the riverside, appearing refined and charming, steeped in timeless allure.
Within his thoughts, the whole town pulsed with vitality, endlessly unfolding tales of everyday lives.
Then, the Ten Thousand Temple materialized in his mind's eye. Zhao Sheng's focus sharpened rapidly, zeroing in on the Hell Creatures Painting inside the temple.
A netherworld resembling an endless ocean, myriad faces bobbed upon the waves, each expression contorted in terror, wails echoing through the skies.
Spectral beings thronged the shoreline, shoved one after another into the depths, devoured swiftly by the waters, forever barred from rebirth.
Yes!
The weakness lies exactly here!
Zhao Sheng's eyes snapped open, a surge of exhilaration flooding him; at last, he had uncovered a faint hope for breaking out of this infernal realm.
Moments ago, a forgotten particular had jolted back into his awareness.
Namely, fresh spirits appeared in the other Hell Creatures Paintings, but this Netherworld Sea Death Map lacked even one newcomer.
He ought to have realized it sooner; folklore holds that spectral entities must traverse the six cycles of rebirth, sip Mengpo Soup, traverse Naihe Bridge to achieve renewal.
Meanwhile, Ghost Gate serves as an entry for incoming souls, inherently blocking any path to rebirth.
Therefore, the escape from this trap hinges on manifesting a Naihe Bridge through his own hand.
Having unraveled the puzzle, Zhao Sheng brimmed with eagerness, yearning to rush back to Mingxi Town without delay.
...
In the eastern quarter of the town, a slim alley no wider than a meter played host to an intense pursuit involving a man and a canine.
A massive yellow hound, standing as tall as a person's waist with glossy, sleek coat, dug its claws into the wall, vaulting upward over a meter high, sailing above the woman's head to touch down two meters ahead, bursting from the passage.
The green-skirted woman whipped her flowing sleeves, unleashing a crimson sash that streaked like a bolt from her cuff, resembling a scarlet serpent, wrapping around the hound's rear leg and yanking it backward with force.
Ao ao!
The yellow hound yelped in distress, twisting its neck abruptly to chomp at the sash, thrashing its head wildly to rip it apart.
In an instant, the crimson fabric split wide open.
Noticing this, the green-skirted woman flicked her right hand, sending ripples across the sash, which slammed into the yellow hound with sharp cracks.
The yellow hound howled in agony, its frame buckling as it collapsed, crimson streams trickling from its maw and nostrils.
A gleam of delight crossed the green-skirted woman's face; she hurried to the fallen hound, stooping to grasp the Vajra.
Right then, a shadow materialized behind her, descending without a sound, and pressed a palm softly against the back of her neck.
The green-skirted woman jolted like she'd been thunderstruck, her body convulsing before she crumpled to the earth.
Blood seeped from all seven orifices, her expression frozen in furious resentment.
Zhao Sheng pulled back his right hand, his eyes shifting to the yellow hound.
The yellow hound whined softly, hauling itself up from the dirt, limping unsteadily toward the alley's end.
Zhao Sheng closed the distance in strides, extending his arm to seize the Vajra.
Letting the yellow hound flee, he stowed the Vajra away and departed the scene.
Over the following hour, Zhao Sheng effortlessly claimed the lives of the middle-aged scholar and the shopkeeper alike.
Afterward, Zhao Sheng slipped into the study ahead of Lin Heng in secret, claiming the tome, the 错 gold pen, Yellow Springs Other Shore Painting, and a handful of additional valuables.
Back at Zhao Mansion, Zhao Sheng sent the attendants away and delved into the book solitary in the study.
The volume's front displayed the bold inscription "Rebirth Record," encompassing more than a hundred spectral legends.
Zhao Sheng pored over it eagerly, growing ever more convinced with each page that it concealed deep wisdom and some fundamental cosmic insight.
...
Chen Mansion.
Lin Heng encountered Old Shopkeeper Chen without issue, sharing an agreeable chat before shifting to the study for deeper exchanges on ancient texts.
To their surprise, upon stepping into the study, Old Shopkeeper Chen's expression twisted sharply.
Lin Heng, observing this, inquired promptly, "Mr. Chen, is something amiss?"
Old Shopkeeper Chen's complexion paled, clenching his jaw as he declared, "The study has been ransacked! That vile intruder made off with my cherished ancient painting and a trove of antiques."
Lin Heng froze at the news, his features contemplative, before proposing swiftly: "Mr. Chen, with the study breached, you should alert the officials at once!"
Old Shopkeeper Chen regained his composure, nodding firmly, and responded gravely: "I've shamed myself before you, young friend. This unforeseen mishap forces us to delay our scholarly discourse."
Lin Heng replied, "No need for concern, Mr. Chen; the culprit can't have strayed far. I'm certain the pilfered goods will return shortly."
"Your auspicious words give me hope; may it be so."
Before long, Old Shopkeeper Chen escorted Lin Heng out personally, then summoned a retainer to notify the authorities of the burglary.
Exiting Chen Mansion, Lin Heng, plagued by uncertainty, hastened beyond the town's borders; with Chen Mansion in disarray, he resolved to investigate the Nameless Tomb ruins first.
At the same time, Zhao Sheng set the book aside, idly lifting the 错 gold pen to examine it intently.
He remained uncertain if this implement could summon the Naihe Bridge, so a test was in order.
Entertaining that idea, Zhao Sheng darted from the study, covertly exiting Chen Mansion en route to the Ten Kings Temple.
As midday neared, the Ten Kings Temple teemed with worshippers, incense smoke thick in the air.
Blending into the throng, Zhao Sheng resembled any typical devotee.
He promptly reached the Revolving King Hall in the second courtyard, edging closer to the Netherworld Sea Death Map.
A quick scan revealed only a young Taoist brushing away debris within the hall.
With a mental command, the young Taoist's eyes fluttered shut in white, collapsing in a faint.
Confirming solitude, Zhao Sheng produced his writing implements, pricking his finger to let blood drop into the inkstone.
Then, he drew forth the 错 gold pen, coating its nib in the blood, and guided by an innate understanding, he brushed across the mural with fluid, serpentine strokes.
Within moments, a sturdy stone bridge arched over the sea, materializing boldly on the wall.
Abruptly, an overwhelming pull materialized from the void, yanking Zhao Sheng upward and sucking him into the artwork, where he vanished entirely.
...
When his eyes fluttered open, the environment struck him as hauntingly recognizable.
Zhao Sheng let out a soft sigh, rising gradually and settling into a thoughtful stupor.
He couldn't grasp his misstep, the reason he remained bound to this hellish domain.
After much reflection, Zhao Sheng clung to the belief that his logic held firm, though deception might have clouded it.
Suddenly, enlightenment dawned, recalling a detail he had brushed aside.
The book!
Who, precisely, authored the "Rebirth Record"?
Instinctively, Zhao Sheng harbored a profound hunch that uncovering the writer's identity would herald his greatest breakthrough.
With the sun at its zenith, Zhao Sheng, clad in scholarly robes, reached Chen Mansion's entrance, presenting his calling card with propriety.
A servant from Chen Mansion accepted the card and retreated indoors promptly.
Moments later, the household steward emerged at the gate, bowing courteously to usher him inside.
Given their mutual scholarly heritage, Old Shopkeeper Chen made a seldom-seen personal welcome for Zhao Sheng.
Drawing from Lin Heng's "cautionary example," Zhao Sheng deftly touched on the other's vulnerability.
Old Shopkeeper Chen beamed with pleasure, embracing him as a kindred spirit, and beckoned Zhao Sheng to the study for discourse.
Thus, Zhao Sheng gained easy access to the study. Amid their exchange, he artfully guided the conversation toward eerie folklore.
Old Shopkeeper Chen harbored no doubts, his curiosity stirred, so he retrieved a volume from the shelf and passed it to Zhao Sheng.
Upon nearer look, it proved to be the "Rebirth Record."