Chapter 2991: Uninvited Guest

So He Lingchuan asked:

"This 'first meeting,' where do we begin?"

Before the age of sixteen, He Lingchuan had seen the Great Shaman at least a dozen times.

The Great Shaman shook his leg and said leisurely: "The scenery here is very good."

The two sat on the perilous cliff; a few steps forward would be a ten-thousand-zhang abyss, yet it did not look frightening, for straight ahead lay the vast sea of clouds! The cloud surges and mist waves churned endlessly, just like the real ocean, while also stirring the mountain wind into a biting chill that blew upon one's body, making it wonderfully refreshing.

The sea of clouds was magnificent, without beginning or end.

If He Lingchuan jumped from the cliff, he would merely be dropping a grain into the vast sea—insignificant and not worth mentioning.

However, this sea of clouds was dark gray, like the storm clouds before a tempest, vast and heavy.

But He Lingchuan said: "I've grown tired of it."

Though the scenery is fine, I've seen it every day lately and find no novelty in it.

The Great Shaman: "Oh?"

"This sea of clouds is nothing but an endless expanse, with no gathering or dispersal, no beginning or end."

Moreover, what He Lingchuan desires is not such a scene.

The Great Shaman tilted his head and suddenly asked him: "Putting it that way, how many times have you tried?"

"Several hundred times, perhaps. But it has always remained unchanged."

"You've been standing on the cliff all along?"

"Are you supposed to jump down?" He Lingchuan gazed at the sea of clouds, "Does the Great Shaman have any secrets to point me toward?"

"No, no, certainly not." The Great Shaman scratched his head, "In this world, who is qualified to point you? I can't think of anyone." Seeing He Lingchuan's past records and achievements, usually it is others who seek his guidance.

"Why are you here?" He Lingchuan tilted his head to look at the Great Shaman, avoiding a direct answer—truly the common ailment of these old charlatans! He bluntly stated, "This is my sea of consciousness; there should not be a second person here!"

"Then there is only one explanation."

The Great Shaman said solemnly: "There was never a second person here to begin with."

…" He meant, I am not a person? He Lingchuan had never heard anyone curse him like that before.

But He Lingchuan now also realized that the Great Shaman seemed not to be lying; this is not his true form, but a wisp……of divine sense or thought? "If I am not a person, you are not a person, then it" The Great Shaman pointed again at the sea of clouds, "is also not a person!"

He Lingchuan was speechless for a moment; would this Great Shaman feel uncomfortable all over if he didn't speak in riddles for a day?

"And who is this 'it'?" He could only ask directly, "Great Shaman, your esteemed presence—what brings you here?"

"To help you." The Great Shaman's smile faded, "You're in trouble!"

"Me?" He Lingchuan pointed at his own nose, "Please elaborate."

How is this different from a fortune-teller saying, 'Guest, your Hall of Impression is dark'?

Oh right, the Great Shaman usually tells fortunes for people. He Lingchuan only wanted to ask, how much does it cost?

Besides, he endured the world-shattering battle in the Longyin Abyss, where reality and the Panlong World both demanded his attention, both sides burdened with heavy responsibilities. Yet even when he fought until his last breath, the Great Shaman never appeared to say a single word: "You're in trouble."

Now, how is it? Is it more dangerous than then?

Death outweighs heaven; what could be more troublesome than death?

As his words fell, suddenly several bolts of lightning flashed in the sea of clouds, followed by rolling thunder.

The lightning and thunder drew ever closer to the cliff.

He Lingchuan narrowed his eyes, a sense arose:

It felt as if something was rapidly approaching, ominous beyond measure.

Is this the "it" the Great Shaman referred to?

Before He Lingchuan could speak, the Great Shaman stood up: "Coming faster than I imagined. Go inside, quickly!"

He turned and rushed into the house, not forgetting to move the chair inside as well.

He Lingchuan also had to pick up the chair and enter, closing the door behind him as he went.

"What is that thing?"

"When it surfaces, you'll know." The Great Shaman shut the window as well, then returned to the table, clasped his hands, closed his eyes, and murmured softly to the small potted plant on the table.

At this moment, his expression became solemn and reverent, finally bearing the demeanor of a true expert.

After a few breaths, the lantern on the small tree lit up automatically, casting a soft, warm orange glow.

He Lingchuan scratched the back of his neck: "So troublesome? I have flint here."

"Your flint cannot light this lantern."

He Lingchuan pointed at the small tree and asked: "Is this what you brought?"

The Great Shaman countered: "Who else could it be?"

"Hard to say." He Lingchuan now had no confidence in him at all; this fellow was utterly unreliable, never willing to answer questions directly. Suddenly, a great wind blew outside, rattling the doors and windows.

Immediately afterward, the sky darkened.

He Lingchuan looked toward the window and saw something outside the gap sealing off this place, constantly trying to squeeze in.

But the lantern on the small tree on the table suddenly brightened by two levels; the wisps of black smoke seeping in through the gap, upon touching the light, hissed and vanished. Yet in that brief instant, He Lingchuan's face changed dramatically:

"Karmic force!"

This deep, ink-like ominous aura, this heart-piercing wail of resentment and grief—exactly the karmic force he had once deeply feared, yet also used as a weapon!

And this is not the mere trace of karmic force that had clung to the Jinglong Battle Armor a few days ago!

This is the karmic force canopy that had incessantly entangled He Lingchuan before his downfall!

Had it not already vanished with his previous death? How could it now return in full force?

He fixed his gaze on the Great Shaman before him, word by word:

"What is going on!"

"This is precisely why I came." The Great Shaman exhaled a long breath, "It may believe it has been deceived, and wishes to find you again to confirm once more."

"Deceived?" With He Lingchuan's clever mind, he was a bit confused at this moment, "What do you mean, karma thinks I played tricks on it?"

The final battle in the Panlong World was truly difficult, and karma kept pressing He Lingchuan for settlement, so He Lingchuan made a contract with it: as long as karma serves him, after dawn, karma can take his soul.

When He Lingchuan entered the Panlong World for the last time and killed Pili Tian, karma's canopy was fulfilled as desired.

Thereafter, they owed nothing to each other.

Since he woke up, he indeed never felt any entanglement from karma again, exactly as said: death ends karma.

Until recently.

But now karma's canopy has unexpectedly come knocking again, this?

The Great Shaman nodded: "It might suspect the dead soul it once took. Because when it acted, it also suffered many interferences from the Red General."

"It suspects me?......"

But Sun Fuling had already told him that she preserved his memory with the Dream Cocoon, and then karma took his soul.

Sun Fuling had absolutely no need to deceive him.

"Why would karma want to kill this回马枪? Where did their suspicion come from?"

He Lingchuan listened to the howling gale outside the window, as if hearing countless voices shouting at him:

"He Lingchuan, come out, come out quickly! You can't hide forever!"