[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-immortals-disappeared":3,"chapter-after-the-immortals-disappeared-after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-55":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Immortals Disappeared",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2283939,4468,"Chapter 55: Burning the City with Raging Fire","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-55",55,"\u003Cp>A person's memory can be tampered with. People even frequently tamper with their own memories, one-sidedly magnifying the good while choosing to forget the hardships and misfortunes along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The perfection of this illusion is actually its greatest flaw and failure.\" He sighed and put away the notes. \"At the end, Tao Bo wrote that he already had a bold solution and intended to try it after burying these notes. But it is truly difficult to accomplish anything by one's own strength, and failure inevitably leads to death. However, there is actually one place in this city that distorts reality and is incompatible with true history, but his physical condition no longer allowed him to think deeply; perhaps those who come after can find a breakthrough from it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Tao hurriedly asked, \"Then where is this place?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He didn't write it down.\" Sun Fu ping shook his head. \"Ever since entering the illusion, the expedition team felt they were being watched; some even claimed that in a daze, they saw a giant red shadow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A giant red shadow! He Lingchuan's expression changed: \"They saw it too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You all... didn't see it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone shook their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After entering the pool, there seemed to be a large creature in the bloody water, but I couldn't see it clearly at all.\" He Lingchuan gave a wry smile. \"So others saw it too? I thought I was just seeing things for a moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A living thing or a dead thing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It moved, but I'm not sure if it was moving of its own volition or just drifting with the current.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this news of his did not provide everyone with any useful clues. Sun Fu ping turned his attention back to the problem at hand:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tao Bo believed it might be the artifact spirit of the Great Square Pot, or perhaps a vengeful spirit hidden deep within. Therefore, he could not write down his solution or the flaws of the illusion, otherwise, this world would change accordingly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nian Songyu frowned: \"The so-called method of breaking it, whether written or not, doesn't matter. The fact that Tao Bo didn't make it back alive shows that his approach failed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan, however, said: \"But his assessment of this world is quite interesting; we can start from there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How do we start?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This world is too perfect, so there is no Great Square Pot?\" He Lingchuan said nonchalantly, \"Isn't that simple? Destroy this world, and the Great Square Pot will appear, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You...\" Nian Songyu wanted to curse him for talking nonsense, but upon second thought, this simple and crude reverse logic seemed...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It actually made quite a bit of sense, huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is there any better way to hide it than this? No wonder the previous explorers came wave after wave and returned empty-handed!\" He Lingchuan became more pleased the more he thought about it. \"Most importantly, Tao Bo has already turned this place upside down many times; surely there really aren't any useful clues, so there's no need to feel bad even if we destroy it all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Fu ping was somewhat lost in thought: \"Regarding that incompatibility...\" If it's burned, it'll be gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Panlong City is so big, where are we going to find a small flaw? Even if we spent another sixty days, we wouldn't find it. Besides, I don't think we can hold out for another sixty days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Mao Tao heard this, his heart gave a jolt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Bo was able to survive for sixty days not only because of the water and food he brought but also by gnawing on the bodies of his companions. Now there are four people here; when it truly comes to the point of total exhaustion, no matter how you calculate it, he would be the first one to be eaten!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, he felt that the gazes of the other three were filled with deep malice. He hurriedly chimed in: \"The Young Master's idea makes a lot of sense!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan glanced at him sideways, as if seeing through his fear: \"I remember the State Preceptor said that in the worst case, we could still use the national fortune to save us all, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, but there is only one chance, so we must be cautious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what are we afraid of?\" He Lingchuan chuckled, \"Let's discuss how to destroy a world!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Set it on fire!\" This time, Nian Songyu and Mao Tao actually spoke in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter immediately shut his mouth, while the former looked at Sun Fu ping: \"Just like after the fall of Panlong City back then!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the former Immortal-Defying Allied Forces breached Panlong City, after rampant looting and slaughter, they burned the entire city to the ground with a single fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no method more tragic or more retro than this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Fu ping thought for a moment and nodded: \"We will set out to collect flammable materials and act separately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It won't be easy to burn down such a large city, right?\" He Lingchuan said, \"With just the four of us, wouldn't it take a month or two?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Tao was startled and immediately thought of his own fate. Sun Fu ping thought for a moment: \"You're right, we are short-handed; it's best to call the people outside in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Call Father down too? He Lingchuan was stunned: \"Can you contact them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's hard to say, let's try.\" These are two separate worlds, and it's not just a matter of distance; Sun Fu ping did not have absolute certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Sun Fu ping rolling up his sleeves to prepare to summon people, He Lingchuan hurriedly waved his hand: \"If one can enter but not exit here, they will be trapped to their deaths. Why don't we try it ourselves first? Tao Bo did it alone back then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's why he failed.\" Nian Songyu smiled without warmth. \"No one can leave the Panlong Desert alive during the Sandstorm Season; that's what you said. If we can't get the Great Square Pot, your father won't be able to leave the Panlong Desolate City either. We'll die here either way; it's just a difference of being inside or outside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kid has a ruthless heart; since they aren't his subordinates, he doesn't feel any pain no matter how many die. He Lingchuan was about to argue further when he suddenly had an inspiration: \"We can burn the city on our own; we just need to turn the city-head weaponry around. Look, the houses are mainly concentrated in the south. It's not appropriate for Father to come down right now, otherwise, who will help us block the Great Wind Army?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>City-head weaponry?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nian Songyu pondered and rarely praised him: \"There is indeed some truth to that!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are defensive fortifications on the city walls, and artillery carriages are generally used for long-range combat; some throw rolling stones or fire stones, while others shoot giant crossbows, used to defend against invading troops. But if you change their direction, you can ignite fires toward the city, and the range is quite long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This efficiency is naturally much faster than four people running around fanning flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, there's no need to burn the entire massive Panlong City; burning the main city area clean should be about enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan struck while the iron was hot: \"The weaponry has limited range after all; I'll go to the outskirts where it can't reach and burn the scattered houses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was so thoughtful that Nian Songyu didn't object anymore, but Sun Fu ping spoke up to give instructions: \"Act separately, and gather at the city head in two hours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be sure to be on time! If there is an accident, you must immediately rush to the South Gate!\" He looked solemn. \"The flaw we are utilizing is what Tao Bo thought of, but he still couldn't return 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 when the time comes, remember that!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the four of them acted separately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nian Songyu headed south to inspect the weaponry on the city gates and, incidentally, to look for combat supplies in the armory. He had truly led troops in battle and knew exactly where these things would be kept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan headed east, Mao Tao headed north, and Sun Fu ping headed west.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1406,"2026-06-20T02:23:30.219Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","09872985b099a48831ebfb26a3acb84aa55d52d1232157695b18dc88510e44bf","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-56","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-54",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-immortals-disappeared-cover.jpg"]