Chapter 331: The Strange Lin Fu

Lin Chuan did not expect that the first interaction between this dream‑cycle reincarnation and reality would occur under such circumstances.

"Slash!"

In front of you, the petty Mortal Dust Eight Realms shadowy lives are by no means a match for you.

Among the peers of the Second Jing Tu, you can be called invincible.

You used the Jing Shi spirit tool to behead two shadowy lives.

As the Jing Shi spirit tool siphoned their power, you seemed to glimpse a memory.

There is a person who is important in the memories of the two shadowy lives, yet that person's figure is vague in their recollections.

An inexplicable sorrow lingers in your heart.

You always feel that, compared to other regions of the Shadow World, this place called 'Qingyun Prefecture' gives you a completely different impression.

You have a feeling that something is waiting for you here.

Perhaps Heaven's Mandate expects your arrival.

"Travel safely."

You watch the two shadowy lives turn to ash and disperse, and you bow slightly to bid them farewell.

Then you gathered all the cultivation resources from Yan Du's imperial treasury into the Space Ring.

But you know that even so, your assessment rating this time will not be very high.

The elders of the Second Jing Tu place great hopes on you, far higher than their expectations for other seeds, and you can sense all of this.

"Shu, you still have a chance to make amends."

The Daoist Steward said, "With the strength you just displayed, you can strive for a higher rating."

"No."

You shake your head, "I want to stay here for a while."

Something inexplicable here draws you, making you reluctant to leave.

The Daoist Steward sighs lightly at this and continues to remain silent.

You close your eyes and let time pass.

You can't help recalling the memory of slashing the two Mortal Dust Eighth Realm shadowy lives.

Those two shadowy lives were named Yan Lü, the emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty, and Zhu Zhengzhi, the Imperial Director of the dynasty's Demon‑Slaying Office.

As for the person they cared about deeply, they did not interact with them much.

You seem unable to retrieve that person's name.

However, in Yan Lü and Zhu Zhengzhi's memories, the place where that person lived is on a street not far from the Yan Chao imperial palace.

You prepare to go there.

It seems the thing attracting your soul is also in that direction.

You stand up and walk toward it.

The Daoist Steward silently follows behind you.

You walk through an empty street, as if moving within a frozen painting.

Taking slow steps, guided by the direction in your heart, after a long while you arrive before a mansion.

"Lin Fu?"

You look up at the plaque, "It should be here."

This mansion seems out of place with its surroundings.

Not the architecture itself, but the feeling it gives you.

You examine closely and find that other buildings are covered in dust, while Lin Fu is not, remarkably clean.

It seems someone has lived here long, cleaning it often.

"Could someone be living here? Or perhaps a special treasure remains here?"

You want to go inside and take a look.

"Wait!"

The Daoist Steward calls out, "This mansion is very off, there are traces of movement."

His expression is exceedingly solemn.

"Shu, you cannot enter."

The Daoist Steward pulls you back.

You ask, "Why?"

The Daoist Steward furrows his brow and explains, "There are many secrets of the Shadow World you do not understand."

"We should retreat first! I will clarify some matters with you."

"This assessment may have to be voided."

Before the words finish, the Daoist Steward has already taken you away.

You are stunned.

Lin Chuan's conscious mind also falls into contemplation.

The Lin Fu in the dream‑cycle reincarnation is far too familiar; now he finds himself inside this mansion.

After the future world was assimilated by Black Mist, why does Lin Fu still bear traces of life?

What happened?

"Is it a fallback I left behind?"

Lin Chuan does not understand.

Many answers can only continue to be sought within the dream‑cycle reincarnation.

The guardian steward led you away, and you had no chance to resist.

"Steward, why are you blocking me!"

"Isn't free movement allowed during the assessment?"

You asked, dissatisfied.

"Letting you enter that mansion could have killed us all here; you've already seen the signs—don't you feel any danger?"

The guardian steward's running speed kept increasing.

You even sensed the fear radiating from him.

You earnestly told him, "Steward, are you scared? There's nothing there."

"You're still young, you don't understand."

No matter how gifted you are, in the guardian steward's eyes you remain an inexperienced, immature child.

Under the steward's guidance, you returned to the second Jing Tu Shi Jie.

As soon as you returned, the steward took you to Elder Gu Qing, issued an emergency decree, and summoned four other Fa Zhi Zhang Lao.

The guardian steward recounted the events in the Jing Tu to the Fa Zhi Zhang Lao from start to finish.

You silently listened from the side.

"In a small place like Qingyun Prefecture, there are traces of habitation? Are you sure you didn't misperceive?"

Elder Gu Qing expressed shock.

"Absolutely correct."

The guardian steward said, "I carefully observed the surroundings; that mansion exuded strangeness everywhere, clashing with everything nearby."

You retorted, "It's not strange at all; it's clearly warm and cozy."

The strangeness lies in the entire Shadow Realm, not in that mansion you find warm and comfortable.

Gu Qing looked at you gravely and said, "Shu, do you know under what circumstances living beings leave traces in the Shadow Realm?"

You shook your head, "I don't know."

Gu Qing said, "In the Shadow Realm, not all shadow lives fall into a state of 'complete slumber'."

"Some shadow beings that were extremely powerful in life retain a certain instinct to act."

"Those shadow beings are driven by their former obsessions, compelling their bodies to repeatedly perform a certain task."

"Those capable of this level were at least great powers of the third Immortal Ascension in life."

"If they are awakened, only the elder council of the Jiu Da Jing Tu worlds could handle them; all other cultivators would surely die."

"Shu, what you encountered this time may be such a shadow being."

"Fortunately you were lucky enough not to awaken the shadow being there—likely because of that mansion; had you opened the door then, you wouldn't be back now..."