Chapter 444

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Protagonist:

Yu Zhangsheng

Any living being entering the Wu Dao Ta must survive under the nourishment of a Daoren, relying on the Wu Dao Ta, to complete another transformation of their life level.

But this process is murky and chaotic random for them; during this process, their consciousness and memories from life will be washed away, transforming into another independent existence, reincarnating endlessly here.

Cases like Han Chengzhu, who still retain some memories and consciousness from life, are very rare and precious.

This also means their souls have not completely transformed, existing in a defective and strange state; of course, Yu Zhangsheng and the others did not know or understand this, feeling some surprise and astonishment when Han Chengzhu spoke of himself, but did not say much more.

"Generally speaking, including myself, all living beings you see in this city are beings from many ages ago, when the Wu Dao Ta generated karmic entanglement; after death their bodies perished, but their souls were taken in by the Wu Dao Ta and survived. Even if you die here during your time in the Wu Dao Ta, you will become one of the living beings of this place, refined by it."

"And I come from Lingzhou, one of the Five States of Nan Yu, thousands of years ago."

Han Chengzhu spoke lightly, his gaze recalling the past, with a hint of longing for bygone days, slowly opening his mouth: "Precisely speaking, from the Linzhou's Number One Sect, Qi Yi Shen Jian. Many years ago, due to some unknown reasons, Meng Yao, the Holy Land, and my Qi Yi Shen Jian officially went to war. In that war, the sky collapsed and the earth split, the land sank and rose, countless living beings fell, and the people wailed. In the end, although my Qi Yi Shen Jian was defeated and the war ended."

"But my sect's Void Refining Daoneng paid with his own life; before dying, with one sword he shattered a corner of the Meng Yao Holy Land's supreme treasure, the Wu Dao Ta, turning it into fragments scattered across the Five States. This place is where that corner of the Wu Dao Ta is located."

"Precisely because of this, the Wu Dao Ta is not complete, so some unknown mutations occurred, causing some disorder in its refining function. Consequently, I did not completely become a Dao shadow of this world, assimilated, but still retain a certain defective independent consciousness."

"These are my origins."

Han Chengzhu sighed lightly, his gaze dimmed slightly, and his expression returned to normal once more.

"Nan Yu Ningzhou, Qi Yi Shen Jian..."

Yu Zhangsheng lowered his brows, silently digesting this news in his heart, thoughtful.

"I know you still have doubts in your hearts, but that is not important. What matters is your purpose for entering this Wu Dao Ta, and what help I can provide you."

Han Chengzhu's gaze paused, then he spoke again slowly, taking another sip of spirit tea. Amidst the steam of the tea, he smiled faintly and said firmly: "If you are not cultivators of the Holy Land, even if you have the opportunity to enter, without the corresponding method to comprehend the Dao, it is merely having a treasure mountain without knowing it. I think you would not be willing to do so."

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhangsheng was thoughtful, and countless thoughts surged in his heart, but he suppressed them one by one. His mood was like cotton, yet he gently exhaled a breath, cupped his fists, and said softly: "Han Chengzhu already has the grace of saving our lives. If there is anything, just order us directly. Why beat around the bush? That would be our fault instead."

Yu Zhangsheng knew well that Han Chengzhu's words, speaking so much at home and finally guiding in such a way, must contain a certain purpose.

And there is naturally no such thing as unearned goodwill; all goodwill must seek something in return.

As expected, upon hearing this, Han Chengzhu smiled with delight, looking at Yu Zhangsheng. In his eyes, like the bright moon and stars, flickered an inexplicable charm: "You are indeed a smart person. I once said that many living beings die in this Wu Dao Ta. Cultivators of the Holy Land also have memories of Holy Land cultivators that I once happened to observe, from which I gained the corresponding method of comprehending the Dao. I can pass it on to you, helping you engrave Dao patterns above the Three Flowers of Golden Core..."

Upon hearing this, Meng Wu'an and Li Minghan both brightened up, while Yu Zhangsheng remained calm. He turned his gaze and said lightly: "What are the conditions?"

"The condition is very simple: help me escape. I have been muddled and confused in this Wu Dao Ta for nearly a thousand years and have long grown tired of it. I want to go out and see. Moreover, when the Wu Dao Ta is not open."

"We Dao shadows are also in a state of silence, constantly being refined at all times, to become the fundamental Dao rhyme of this world's heaven and earth. Although I still retain consciousness now, I cannot hold on for much longer. So I must escape before the Wu Dao Ta closes and before the next round of refining begins."

"Avoid ultimately becoming muddled and confused, turning into one of the countless ordinary living beings of this world. Losing my true self."

Han Chengzhu sighed softly, his gaze dimming imperceptibly. Wasn't the Wu Dao Ta also a plea for mercy to him? And this time, upon opening, meeting Yu Zhangsheng was her last chance to escape. "As an exchange, I will do my best to capture a King for you, to endure for you, condense into Wen on your Golden Core Three Flowers. I know that in this Wu Dao Ta, you have at most three hundred days. When the time comes, when the energy of the tower's emergence is almost consumed by the support, it will once again vanish into nothingness, and you will also be expelled by this world's heaven and earth. At that time, I will deploy a special method. In the instant between reality and illusion, I will vanish from within, exit in one breath. But it requires your help." Han Chengzhu said.

The essential relationship of this world has always been about mutual benefit. Just as Han Chengzhu said again: "For us, this is just a situation where each takes what they need, a win-win. Even if I ultimately fail and do not succeed in getting out, it has nothing to do with you, and you need not feel burdened because of it." Han Chengzhu added.

Yu Zhangsheng and the other two listened quietly to Han Chengzhu's words, immediately falling into silence. After a long while, he looked up and glanced, with a calm face, suddenly asking Han Chengzhu: "If Han Chengzhu's proposed plan is feasible, we will surely do our best to help him escape. However..."

Yu Zhangsheng paused in tone, and after a moment spoke again: "As Han Chengzhu just said, everything in this Wu Dao Ta exists by relying on the Wu Dao Ta, thus undergoing a fatal level transformation. Even if Han Chengzhu you have not completely transformed, you are still half defective. If you rashly leave this place, losing the protection of the Wu Dao Ta's Dao patterns, Han Chengzhu, how can you guarantee that you can adapt to the outside world instead of completely disappearing? I fear that at that time, our well-intentioned act would bring you a catastrophe of annihilation."

Yu Zhangsheng's tone was sincere, his complexion earnest. After speaking, he sighed faintly, as if truly worried for Han Chengzhu.

Hearing this, Meng Wu'an and Li Minghan nodded in agreement, pondering for a while.

Han Chengzhu, however, was momentarily astonished, his complexion showing a complex expression. He sighed softly and shook his head: "Since I dare to go out, I naturally have preparations. You need not worry about me. Even stepping back ten thousand steps..."

Han Chengzhu pondered, smiled bitterly twice, but his tone carried a hint of decisiveness: "Even if I ultimately die in the outside world, it is still better than being refined in this Wu Dao Ta, ultimately becoming muddled and one of the unfortunate ones of this place. To see the outside world once before death is worth it."

"Therefore, even if an accident occurs, even if I perish in body and Dao, it is my own matter. You need not feel burdened in your hearts. Just help me as much as possible."

After speaking, Han Chengzhu looked up and gazed at the sky in a daze for a moment, almost muttering to himself: "I must go out and take a look. What is it that is still waiting for me..."

Yu Zhangsheng remained silent.

"Good..." After a moment, Yu Zhangsheng nodded, cupped his fists and lowered his head, smiling faintly, and said: "Since Han Chengzhu has spoken to this extent, we naturally cannot refuse. We, the juniors, are determined to do our best to assist. What Han Chengzhu said is not empty. May everything go smoothly."

"Naturally so, very good."

Han Chengzhu came back to his senses, revealing a smile. His already peerless face smiled at this moment, like a clear breeze in March brushing past, bright eyes and radiant gaze, inspiring endless reverie.

"A day of busy escape, the time is not early either. I suppose you have all been overworked today. Let me treat you well today, and we can discuss specific matters in detail tomorrow."

Han Chengzhu stood up and led the three to the other side of the Grand Hall. Unknown when, his table was already set with sumptuous wine and dishes. In the Wu Dao Jie, the realms of outside living beings would be suppressed, not worthy of the immortal spirit body. So, hunger and sleep naturally exist. Obviously, Han Chengzhu had thought of this point and specially arranged it. As the aroma wafted to their noses, all three were stunned, involuntarily swallowing saliva, their gazes slightly excited. After paying respects to Han Chengzhu, they could no longer hold back and ate heartily.

At the dining table, Yu Zhangsheng, while wolfing down his food, said: "That's right. There is one more thing. I hope Han Chengzhu can clear my doubts."

Han Chengzhu put down his bowl and chopsticks, nodded slightly, and asked with a nod: "What is it? Just say it. If I know, I will surely tell you everything."

"I wonder, in the entire Wu Dao Jie, are there many cities like yours?"

Han Chengzhu frowned and pondered, then slowly spoke after a while: "This, specifically I do not know. After all, at the stage where my consciousness has not yet been completely refined by the Wu Dao Ta, most of the time, except when the Wu Dao Ta is open, I am in a state of silence."

"However, the Wu Dao Jie is vast in objects and sparse in people. I suppose cities like mine should not be few, and mine is also considered a small level among them."

"I see." Yu Zhangsheng was thoughtful, nodding, then hesitated for a while. After a moment, he continued to ask: "There is one more presumptuous question. I do not know if Han Chengzhu would mind if I speak it."

"Speak freely. No need to worry." Han Chengzhu was astonished for a moment, then waved his hand and said lightly.

"It is just: in this Wu Dao Jie, how many living beings like you, who have not been completely refined and still retain independent memories and consciousness, are there?"

Yu Zhangsheng's tone was quite cautious.

This question made Han Chengzhu fall into silence for a long while. After a long time, he shook his head and said in a deep voice:

"I do not know either, but it should be very few. It has been a very long time since the last large-scale fall of living beings in the Wu Dao Ta. Basically, the living beings you see now have all been completely assimilated by the Wu Dao Ta. And I, too, can hardly hold on. Now, I can't even remember my own name clearly."

Han Chengzhu smiled self-mockingly, his complexion slightly bitter.

"... Good." Yu Zhangsheng nodded.

"Why ask this? Do you have some concerns?" Han Chengzhu asked.

"Actually, the living beings of a world entering the Wu Dao Ta are not just us three." Yu Zhangsheng thought for a moment, did not conceal it, and told everything about the Five States and Qingzhou in detail.

"And they entered earlier than us. According to the time flow in the Wu Dao Ta, they should have arrived here more than ten days ago."

Yu Zhangsheng replied; the three he spoke of were naturally Huangpu Wushuang, Huangpu Yuanji, and Huangpu Dongming.

"There is actually such a thing……"

Lord Han Cheng listened quietly to Yu Zhangsheng finish, then frowned slightly, his complexion turning somewhat unsightly, and asked: "That is to say, those three entered before you, and they have enmity with you, correct?"

"Indeed it is so."

"Then our progress must be sped up somewhat." Lord Han Cheng's mouth corners twitched, his gaze flickering: "According to what you say, the three's aptitude is not low either; if they inscribe Dao patterns onto their Golden Core Three Flowers ahead of time, and reach an extremely high degree,"

"I fear that at that time it may possibly stimulate the awakening of this Wu Dao Tower's damaged artifact spirit, and when that happens it will be very unfavorable to you."

"Artifact spirit?"

This sentence caused Meng Wu'an and Li Minghan to pause, while Yu Zhangsheng's eyes flashed a trace of sharp light.

The existence of the artifact spirit made him think of the first time he sensed Dao patterns, the vast consciousness he sensed in the darkness — that was most likely this artifact spirit.

"No matter, we will just proceed step by step; as for those three, I will have my subordinates pay extra attention, and the moment there is any movement, they will inform you at the first opportunity."

Lord Han Cheng lightly exhaled a breath, speaking lightly.

"Then it will trouble Lord Han Cheng." Yu Zhangsheng quietly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, his brows and eyes relaxing, and he spoke gratefully.

After eating and drinking their fill, the sky outside had also completely darkened, and servants came to escort the three away, each to their own properly arranged rooms.

The three had toiled the whole day and were already mentally and physically exhausted; naturally they had no mood to stroll idly within this Cold City, so after bidding farewell to each other they returned to their rooms, intending to rest well.

Inside Yu Zhangsheng's room, Yu Zhangsheng sat cross-legged with eyes closed nurturing his spirit, yet his mind had already completely immersed into the Inner Landscape, exchanging information with Xuan Gui.

"What this Lord Han Cheng says has no problem, but you must still maintain vigilance, beware of changes. However, the most urgent task right now can only be to follow his words and first obtain this Wu Dao method."

"Having come to this Five Dao World with great difficulty, you absolutely cannot return empty-handed; and your Myriad Spirits Formula, you have also verified, can point directly to the origin of all things — even in a place like the Wu Dao World, it can let you very intuitively observe the existence of Dao patterns; this is your heaven-defying advantage."

Xuan Gui's heavy voice resonated in the Inner Landscape.

Yu Zhangsheng said: "Good, I understand; however, according to what this Lord Han Cheng says, he was in life a cultivator of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion of Ningzhou in the Southern Domain — if that is true, I wonder how much Senior knows about this?" (Chapter End)