Chapter 55: Burning the City with Fierce Fire

Human memory can be tampered with. People even often tamper with their own memories, unilaterally magnifying the good and choosing to forget the hardships and misfortunes in the process.

"The perfection of this illusion is actually its biggest flaw and failure." He sighed and put away the notebook. "Finally, Tao Bo wrote that he already had a bold solution and would try it after burying this notebook. But it is difficult to do it alone, and failure is inevitable. However, there is actually a place in this city that distorts reality and is out of tune with real history, but his physical condition no longer allows him to think about it, perhaps later comers can find a breakthrough from it."

Mao Tao hurriedly asked: "Then where is this place?"

"He didn't write it." Sun Fuping shook his head. "Ever since entering the illusion, the exploration team felt they were being watched, and some even claimed they saw a huge red shadow in a trance."

Huge red shadow! He Lingchuan's face changed: "They also saw it?"

"Also?"

"You... didn't see it?"

Everyone was shaking their heads.

"After entering the pool, there seemed to be a big guy in the light red bloody water, but I couldn't see it clearly at all." He Lingchuan smiled bitterly. "So others also saw it? I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me."

"Living thing or dead thing?"

"It moves, but I'm not sure if it's moving autonomously or drifting with the current."

Obviously, this news didn't bring any useful clues to everyone. Sun Fuping turned his attention back to the problem at hand:

"Tao Bo believes that perhaps it's the artifact spirit of the Great Fang Hu, or a vengeful spirit hidden deep here. Therefore, he couldn't write down his solution or the flaws of the illusion, otherwise, this world would change accordingly."

Nian Songyu frowned: "The so-called method of cracking it doesn't matter whether it's written or not. Tao Bo didn't go back alive, which shows his approach failed."

He Lingchuan, however, said: "But his recognition of this world is quite interesting, and we can start from here."

"How to start?"

"This world is too perfect, so there is no Great Fang Hu?" He Lingchuan said carelessly. "Then isn't it very simple? Destroy this world, and the Great Fang Hu will appear, right?"

"You..." Nian Songyu wanted to scold him for talking nonsense, but after thinking about it, this simple and rude reverse logic seemed...

Seemed quite reasonable, right?

"Is there any better hiding method than this? No wonder the previous explorers came wave after wave and returned empty-handed!" He Lingchuan became more proud the more he thought about it. "The most important thing is that Tao Bo has searched this place inside and out many times, so I think there really are no useful clues, and even if we destroy it all, it won't hurt."

Sun Fuping was a bit dazed: "Regarding that incongruity..." If it's burned, it's gone.

"Panlongcheng is so big, where can we find a small flaw? Even if we spend another sixty days, we won't find it. Besides, I don't think we can hold out for another sixty days."

When Mao Tao heard this, his heart skipped a beat.

Tao Bo could live for more than sixty days, besides the food and water he brought, he gnawed on the bodies of his companions. Now there are four people here; when it really comes to the point of running out of food and water, no matter how you calculate it, he will be the first to be eaten!

Thinking of this, he felt that the eyes of the other three looking over all carried deep malice. He hurriedly echoed: "Young Master's idea is very reasonable!"

He Lingchuan glanced at him sideways, as if seeing through his fear: "I remember the State Preceptor said that at worst, we can use the national fortune to save us all?"

"Of course, but there is only one chance, we must be cautious."

"Then what are we afraid of?" He Lingchuan laughed. "Let's discuss how to destroy a world!"

"Set fire!" This time Nian Songyu and Mao Tao actually said in unison.

The latter immediately shut his mouth, and the former looked at Sun Fuping: "Just like after Panlongcheng fell back then!"

After the Immortal-Pulling Allied Forces broke through Panlongcheng, looted and slaughtered, they burned the whole city with a fire.

There is no more tragic and retro way than this.

Sun Fuping thought for a moment and nodded: "We will start collecting fire-starting materials and act separately."

"It won't be easy to burn down such a big city, right?" He Lingchuan said. "With just the four of us, wouldn't it take a month or two?"

Mao Tao was startled and immediately associated it with his own end. Sun Fuping thought for a moment: "You're right, we don't have enough manpower; it's best to call everyone outside in."

Call Father down too? He Lingchuan was startled: "Can you contact them?"

"Hard to say, let's try." This is two worlds inside and out, not just a matter of distance; Sun Fuping didn't have full confidence.

Seeing Sun Fuping rolling up his sleeves to prepare to call people, He Lingchuan waved his hand: "If you can enter but not exit here, they will be trapped to death. Why don't we try first? Tao Bo was only one person back then."

"So he failed." Nian Songyu smiled coldly. "No one can leave the Panlong Desert alive during the sandstorm season; that's what you said. If we can't get the Great Fang Hu, your father can't leave the Panlong Wasteland either. Either way, we have to die here, it's just a difference of inside or outside."

This kid has a cruel heart; anyway, it's not his subordinates, so he doesn't feel bad if many die. He Lingchuan was about to argue again when he suddenly had an idea: "We can burn the city with just us; we just need to turn the city's military equipment. Look, the houses are mainly concentrated in the south. Father shouldn't come down now, otherwise, who will help us block the Great Wind Army?"

City military equipment?

Nian Songyu mused, rarely praising him: "There is indeed some truth to it!"

There are defensive works on the city walls. Military equipment vehicles are generally used for long-range combat, some throwing rolling stones, fire stones, and some shooting giant crossbows, used to defend against siege troops. But if you change their direction, you can ignite fires toward the city, and the range is long.

This efficiency is naturally much faster than four people fanning fires everywhere.

Besides, there's no need to burn down such a big Panlongcheng; burning the main city area clean is probably about enough.

He Lingchuan struck while the iron was hot: "Military equipment has limited range after all; I'll go to the outskirts where it can't reach and burn the scattered houses."

He considered it so thoughtfully that Nian Songyu didn't object again, and Sun Fuping instructed: "Act separately, gather at the city wall in two hours."

"Must be punctual! If there is any accident, you must rush to the South Gate immediately!" He looked solemn. "The flaw we are using was thought of by Tao Bo, but he still didn't go back in the end, which shows there is an irresistible force after burning the city. If you don't want to die, you must stand with me at that time, remember, remember!"

Thus, the four acted separately.

Nian Songyu went south to check the military equipment on the city gate and went to the military warehouse to find war supplies. He had actually fought in battles, so he knew very well where these things would be placed.

He Lingchuan went east, Mao Tao went north, and Sun Fuping went west.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 56 =====