Chapter 154

"???"

"Your imagination is running wild—one from the Spring and Autumn Warring States period, one from the Wei and Jin dynasties, separated by nearly a thousand years—how could anyone possibly live that long?"

"You have the nerve to say I've gone mad? I think it's clearly you who's gone mad."

Upon hearing this, Yao Ruotong shrugged and said, "I was just making a random guess—it really is a bit unrealistic."

That's true enough—after all, history records too many obscure people and events, and to claim these two are the same person based solely on this is rather far-fetched.

The 749 Bureau personnel were still investigating clues about the bronze ancient sword, unaware that Yao Ruotong's earlier remark was their closest brush with the truth.

Instantly, a crowd gathered around to observe.

Karmic ties severed, all things turned to ash!

Gazing at the astonishing scene before them, the air fell into utter silence.

Moreover, I don't know if it's just everyone's illusion, but as time passed, the black clouds seemed to have grown somewhat larger?

"Is this the black cloud that was mentioned online earlier? How did it end up here with us?"

He believed someone had deliberately arranged Zhi Dun's skeleton in this manner to play tricks and pretend supernatural powers—otherwise, how could it have come to this?

Even though Ye Qin doesn't know how to appreciate paintings or judge tea, he couldn't help but be drawn in by the artistic conception of this painting.

I don't know if it's because I've been disembodied for too long, but I feel utterly alien, as if this isn't my own body—though the sensation flashed and vanished instantly.

Human bones are extremely hard; even if the flesh has been broken down by airborne microorganisms, if the skeleton is well preserved, it won't rot even after a thousand years.

Professor Song's face instantly darkened: "……"

Some said it was the sword thief behind the scenes playing supernatural tricks, while others wondered if Zhi Dun had truly manifested his spirit.

"It seems I was narrow-minded before—the carrier of time fragments isn't fixed; it could be a certain building or an object, with a scope broader than I imagined."

Could it really be that the person behind the scenes possesses supernatural abilities, even capable of controlling dreams?

"When the mist clears, the ancient sword is gone; when the mist clears, the White Bone sits. This..."

"You're an archaeology major—how many tombs have you excavated? When have you ever seen a ghost? Trust natural science—there must be a reason!"

At this moment, he had to think about how to explain to the Buddhist Association: why had the perfectly preserved remains of a high monk suddenly turned to ashes?

Ye Qin wandered through the fragmented moments of time, unconsciously becoming part of the flow of time itself—cause and effect intertwined, link after link.

Upon closer inspection, each bead was smooth and round, filled with a mysterious aura.

The hazy mist obstructed his vision, making the image increasingly blurry.

Someone let their imagination run wild: "Won't the ancient sword from earlier have been taken by Master Zhi Dun? And then Master Zhi Dun severed his karmic ties, utterly vanishing like smoke and clouds."

Although he was now in a spiritual wandering state, it didn't affect him in the slightest.

The white mist grew denser and denser, soon enveloping the entire room, completely surrounding the skeleton—nothing could be captured on camera inside.

"Don't you find the recent weather in the capital really strange? First came a rare dust whirlwind, now these bizarre black clouds, and even the meteorological bureau won't give a definite explanation."

Karmic ties dispersed, man becomes candle ash.

The cultural relics placed in the room could be described as dazzling and varied in form, dazzling the eyes—at a glance, artifacts from all dynasties were present.

"The sky here has already darkened—looks like a heavy rain is coming; one autumn rain brings one chill."

At this moment, the prayer beads lay in the pool water, yet having sensed the former owner's aura, they trembled slightly, and the calm water surface rippled with faint waves.

If one were to say spirits have manifested, it would again seem somewhat unrealistic.

Now it appears the ancient painting is perfectly suitable—if chosen for contemplation, it might even absorb its energy, and his arrival here is, in a way, due to his affinity with this painting.

Ye Qin seemed to have stepped straight into the painting—within it lay the universe, a self-contained world; soon, these people, things, and scenes became vivid, as if endowed with some kind of life.

Ye Qin had long since experienced contemplating rivers within the fragmented moments of time, so this was not unfamiliar to him.

One astonishing event after another kept striking their hearts.

Ye Qin extended his mental power, attempting to connect with the painting, but unknowingly, it felt as if an invisible wall blocked him, obstructing his path to the ancient painting.

"Just a moment ago it wasn't like this—how did the black cloud become so huge so quickly? Earlier, when I looked at it, it wasn't like this at all."

This remark instantly reminded everyone.

The research center staff discussed it briefly, but didn't take it to heart.

Ye Qin continued searching, and in a daze, he felt a special sensation that made him pause before a certain room.

This is Ye Qin's first heavenly tribulation; he guesses its power is certainly not trivial—if he were to undergo it in the capital, it would surely stir up considerable trouble.

The fragmented moments of time differ from the real world; within them, Ye Qin can instantly reach ancient Yangzhou.

Though his stay in the time fragments wasn't long, it brought profound influence to these people and even to future generations—something Ye Qin never anticipated.

If Ye Qin had any thought, from the current situation, it seems that after he gifted the ancient sword to Zhi Dun, Zhi Dun carried it into nirvana; after a thousand years, the riverbed temple reappeared, and both were restored to the light of day.

Ye Qin summoned the Origin White Bone and focused his gaze upon it.

The scene in Professor Song's dream was exactly this: Zhi Dun sat cross-legged, and that shadow stood not far away.

Afterwards, several colleagues kept emerging from the dormitories, all without exception sporting the same combo of dark circles and eye bags—clearly, they hadn't rested well the previous night.

Ye Qin's expression flickered with surprise, instantly replaced by delight: "This feels like the fluctuation of the fragmented moments of time—could it be that such fragments also exist here?"

Unfortunately, he still couldn't find the reason why the ancient sword disappeared and later reappeared in the drainage channel.

Originally, he thought he'd return empty-handed this time, never expecting such a pleasant surprise.

Assistant Li noticed his movement and asked puzzledly: "Professor Song, what's wrong?"

I never expected that, unintentionally, I'd drawn the attention of the research center—they even wanted to investigate me thoroughly, leaving Ye Qin somewhat speechless.

After a brief discussion, no one took the matter to heart, but a tiny seed was planted in their minds……

The crowd erupted into chaos, each holding a different opinion.

The room contained no other objects—only a skeleton of pure white bone, lying neatly on the bed planks.

He was immersed in the lingering melody of the zither, as if unaware of heaven or earth, as though worldly worries had all been swept away, his heart filled with a satisfaction never before felt.

"Who knows? Anyway, it's got nothing to do with us."

"The mist again!"

He was originally in a state of spiritual wandering, and with the added contemplation of the ancient painting, one could say he was fully immersed, unconsciously forgetting the passage of time.

For some unknown reason, he actually felt that the two were inexplicably similar...

During the excavation of Master Zhi Dun's remains, it can be said they were preserved very well, and the research center personnel had tested them; if properly maintained thereafter, they could continue to be stored for another hundred years without issue, and they had always been handled with extreme care.

"Master Zhi Dun's remains"

At the critical moment, Ye Qin finally returned to his own body, and he still had an unreal feeling.

So many people having the same dream is truly too strange!

Someone remarked, "Could it be that Master Zhi Dun's remains have encountered some problem, thus sending us this dream?"

The research center is located at No. 563, South-Facing District, covering a large area, entirely white, with a semi-circular arc design that feels very textured and full of modern atmosphere.

A monk in ancient simple robes, turning the prayer beads in his hand, seemed to be smiling as he asked him: "Amitabha, the distant road makes one a guest; my dharma name is 'Zhi Dun.' I do not know why this benefactor has come here?"

He sighed and said: "The bronze ancient sword is very likely connected to a history buried by time; whether it is the old man from before who sought the sword by marking the boat, or Master Zhi Dun, both are of great significance to us, and we must clarify why it crossed a thousand years to appear in Master Zhi Dun's hands, and why he valued it so highly—this is of major significance for studying Eastern Jin history."

He could not help but recall the previous visit to Xiguangsi Temple in Yunling City, where the monks had said it was that ancient mysterious sage manifesting holiness...

This place houses the remains of eminent monks, with little research value, so few people normally come in; and since it is now off-work hours, no one has noticed anything unusual, nor can they hear the chanting, for it exists only on the spiritual level.

Behind him, however, was nothing at all.

Perhaps giving the ancient painting a bit more time and opportunity might allow it to form fragments of mottled time, but there are too many uncertainties in the process.

Professor Song, however, stood frozen in place, face full of shock, no longer in the mood to listen to what followed, for this was almost identical to the content of his own dream!

After all, this idea is simply too ahead of its time—how could the two possibly be the same person?

◆￠o

Towering mountains and steep ridges, lush forests and graceful bamboo, clear flowing waters reflecting on both sides, like a secluded paradise; just as he was immersed in the ancient painting world, unaware of what time it was,

His soul and spirit transmitted a faint prickling pain, as if reminding Ye Qin of something.

On that day, Kyoto time, 3:20 PM, the entire Kyoto was finally shrouded in black curtains.

At the moment Ye Qin was pondering, a chilling pressure suddenly descended from the heavens!

The scene before his eyes was absurd to the extreme; not to mention Master Zhi Dun has been dead for a thousand years, long reduced to white bone—how could he possibly be chanting scriptures?

Seeing this strange scene, Professor Song felt some fear in his heart, but more so curiosity and a hint of inquiry; he inexplicably walked forward a few steps, wanting to see more clearly.

These past days, Professor Song has been investigating the bronze ancient sword and Master Zhi Dun's affairs, so having such a dream is not surprising.

Unconsciously, Professor Song spoke the truth—indeed, the ancient sword flew back by itself.

"No, that's not right—could there be a problem somewhere?"

With the fusion of soul and body, the previous strange feeling also disappeared.

"Who is chanting scriptures in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

After all, who would do such a boring thing? It brings no benefit at all!

Fortunately, judging from the current results, everything is still not bad.

The studios storing cultural relics all have fingerprint and facial recognition; ordinary people simply cannot enter, and the outside corridors also have surveillance, basically no blind spots.

And when they first began entering, what they saw was exactly the same!

"Could it be that this time's remains and the person who previously stole the bronze ancient sword are the same individual?"

"It should be correct here."

In a daze, he regained consciousness; the past story had already faded like smoke and clouds. Gazing at the white bone before him, Ye Qin let out a long, tranquil sigh, silently murmuring: "Long time no see."

Professor Song's expression changed slightly; he immediately went to the room storing the remains, followed by a dark crowd of people.

This time, Xiao Zhang's expression also became subtle, trying to find on Professor Song's face the look of someone joking.

Winds and clouds gathered in the Kyoto suburbs, the ink color growing denser, soon staining the entire sky.

From afar, the white buildings appeared as if covered by a huge black hat, looking extremely abrupt.

Ye Qin examined the ancient painting, finally discovering the problem within, and could not help but sigh: "What a pity."

Professor Song shook his head, lifted his head to clearly see the newcomer; his under-eye black circles and bags were especially prominent, he shook his head again, and scolded:

"But how exactly did he do it? How did he produce the mist? And how did he conceal himself from heaven's eyes, evading everyone's sight?"

The ancient aura came rushing over; hidden within the Daoist temple on his palm came a faint chanting, as if responding to Ye Qin's words.

"Anyway, I think this cloud is strange—it moves one moment, still the next, acting crazy, truly like a face-changing master in Peking Opera."

Professor Song and the others also heard Yao Ruotong's words, and couldn't help but stare at each other, seeing astonishment and shock in each other's eyes.

At this moment, above the Kyoto suburbs, it seemed as if a huge black stone had been pressed down, the sky lowered under the weight, unable to bear such heaviness.

"These people definitely won't be able to find anything."

"White bone sitting cross-legged?!"

By the ear, it seemed a gentle breeze brushed past, mixed with the sound of flowing water, as if he were in the mountains and fields, pleasant flute music coming from not far away, like heavenly music, one could say it complemented each other perfectly, exquisite and exquisite.

And this peculiarity soon attracted the attention of many nearby citizens, who even casually took photos and uploaded them online.

He was like a special witness to history, using the contemplation of the object on the pure observation as a medium, shuttling through these fragments, allowing past and present times to intersect.

Professor Song was so engrossed in thought that he failed to notice the person coming toward him; the two nearly collided, but fortunately the other had sharp eyes and quick hands, steadying him.

Although this time he was somewhat careless, Ye Qin gained much; as he contemplated the ancient painting imbued with the aura of time, his state of mind reached completeness and elevation at this moment, as if the missing corners were finally filled.

But the range of his spiritual wandering in the real world is only within a ten-li radius, and there is also a time limit; if he exceeds a certain time without returning to his physical body, his soul will be lost outside.

"I don't know either; let's also go and see the past."

Master Zhi Dun's remains are not in this room; one would think they should have been placed elsewhere.

……

The dream and reality gradually merged into one, but now there is no trace of that shadow.

Just then, several research staff pushed the door open; the leader was precisely Professor Song An and his group.

Then the ancient sword disappeared from the research center and returned to the canal.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

After a moment's thought, Ye Qin quickly crawled toward the suburbs, where mountains rose steeply and many trees provided cover—there could be no better place to undergo tribulation.

Looking at White Bone's hollow eye sockets, Ye Qin inexplicably felt a premonition—this was the person he had been searching for.

But as he shouted, he startled himself awake, bolting upright from bed, his whole body drenched in cold sweat.

However, soon after, when Professor Song opened the room door, the scene that greeted them left everyone stunned at the doorway, motionless for a long time.

"Professor Song, don't worry too much either—comrades from the 749 Bureau have already taken over this case; they might bring us new clues."

Though only a few steps away, it was as vast as a chasm—no matter how hard he tried, Professor Song could not cross it, only able to watch the figure and Dun's skeleton converse.

Ye Qin also knew he had brought a storm upon the Archaeological Center, yet he did not take it to heart, merely reflecting that his karmic connection with Dun had thus ended.

Leaders from relevant departments in the capital also learned of the Lady Temple incident; they were half-believing, half-doubting—if it were mere coincidence, these phenomena could not be explained by science.

Buzz!

Sensing Ye Qin's emotional fluctuations, the primordial White Bone manifested, and the Shangqing Guan on his hand emitted a faint, intermittent hum.

"Ah!"

In a moment, the sky turned pitch black, heavy as if it could drip water; wild winds howled, blowing the trees left and right, while the weak flowers and grasses trembled feebly.

Professor Song's conversation continued, yielding no useful information; the cause of the ancient sword's spontaneous disappearance and reappearance in the canal remained unsolved, so Ye Qin left.

Not far off, the green mountains were like ink; as the black clouds arrived and spread, only faint outlines remained, as if most had already been swallowed by the clouds.

In the end, it turned out to be empty joy—if there were fragments of time here, it would be an opportunity for him.

The solitary black clouds quickly drew netizens' attention and discussion, with some even tracking their trajectory.

"Otherwise, how could one explain so many people having that dream, plus the disappearing ancient sword and the suddenly rotting skeletons?"

Professor Song secretly felt a bad premonition—the skeleton's abnormality must be related to this white mist!

Sure enough, when the surveillance footage showed the mist dissipating, Dun's skeleton was already sitting cross-legged!

"I had that dream yesterday too—the content was the same as yours..."

The black clouds above expanded at a visible speed, squeezing the once-blue sky, as if an inkstone had been overturned, spilling thick ink that stained the entire horizon.

The emerald-green great snake blended with the surrounding green plants; if not observed closely, it would be hard to notice the abnormality here.

Professor Song wore a worried expression: "Although that's what we say, they still haven't sent the latest news—could the ancient sword really have flown away on its own?"

Ye Qin felt doubtful—he had thought only "regions" would produce time fragments, like the previous Daoist temple and historical relics, never imagining that ancient artifacts could also generate them.

Night deepened, the fog thickened, and the white buildings seemed shrouded in black cloth—the entire research center building sank into the hazy mist.

In the end, they had no choice but to concede—after all, further delay would prevent the project from finishing on time, causing them considerable loss.

Professor Song and the others hurriedly looked over, their expressions instantly turning to shock.

Once the body completely loses its vital mechanisms, death will follow.

The distant mountain slopes were gentle, fading into mist; painted in blue-green, the base coated in ochre, colors distinct, figures calm and natural, harmonious, with a transcendent, unworldly feeling.

His existence might influence history—from Zuo Ci's tomb, then to the Lanke stone, the old man, and later Dun and the Lady Temple, etc.

"Professor Song, are you alright?"

Besides the research center, there were many green belts; Ye Qin found a secluded, uninhabited corner, far from the main road, where few would come to disturb.

After all, the black clouds did not affect their work—even if it rained, there would be no problem.

Professor Song rubbed his temples—one wave hadn't settled before another rose; the bronze ancient sword issue remained unresolved, and Dun's skeleton had undergone such a great change.

Unintentionally glancing back at the passage of time, it might very well be the tumultuous life of this group of people.

"I was careless this time—next time I must pay attention to time, otherwise if I lose my life over this, it would be a poor trade."

When night came, the image blurred; upon closer look, a layer of mist had arisen at some unknown time.

However, after Li Assistant looked around in all directions, the surroundings were empty—no one, not even a ghostly shadow.

Ye Qin suddenly woke up, realizing he had still been in a spiritual wandering state; his earlier contemplation had been too deep, nearly making him forget time.

"Could it be that what one thinks of by day, one dreams of by night?"

But then they saw Dun's skeleton swaying, on the verge of collapse, already showing signs of decay; when they came to their senses, where was the skeleton? Only a pile of ashes remained, scattered across the bed like a grave mound.

This painting looks quite historical, its style inheriting the Northern Song blue-green landscape tradition—stones by water's edge, ancient pines twisted and coiled, a high-minded scholar playing the zither, a true listener sitting attentively, in tranquil communion, an attendant boy standing aside, his demeanor focused.

After trying several times with no response, his spiritual power sank like a stone in the sea, with no feedback returning—he could not fully penetrate outward.

Ye Qin's heart stirred with many ripples.

This time, the speed surpassed the beginning—suddenly, a region's sky darkened, but after just a few seconds, it brightened again, as if playing tricks, drawing many onlookers.

Others' gazes were also doubtful, with no one stepping forward to admit responsibility.

Besides, incense burned nearby—such treatment was enough to prove White Bone's identity was not ordinary.

"You're saying this is too mystical—could gods and ghosts really exist in this world?"

Others in the capital also noticed that the originally moving black clouds had come to hover above the research center and then remained motionless, as if stationed there.

"Although this is so, if the temporal aura contained here were wasted, it would be a pity—is there no way to absorb it?"

No matter how hard Professor Song racked his brain, he could never guess that the one stirring the historical tide was not a person or event, but a cultivable Green Snake!

"It turns out Zhang Boduan once attained the Dao at the old site of the Lady Temple—no wonder he appears in the capital's time fragment as ancient Yangzhou… it seems the core of this time fragment is not the Lady Temple, but Zhang Boduan, the Zhenyang True Person."

He frowned, followed the sound, but never expected to arrive at a room where the chanting came from; he pushed the door open, and Dun's skeleton came into view.

Then, simultaneously, they recalled that strange dream—on that night, everyone staying at the research center had this dream.

Everyone's hearts grew increasingly strange, and in unison they recalled the vanished bronze ancient sword.

It is said that the one who debated the Dao with Dun was also a master, yet history records nothing of him—one could say he is mysterious to the extreme.

The person who spoke with the old man is the same one who debated the Dao with Dun—what seems unbelievable is exactly what they seek to uncover.

The hazy white mist came and went, enveloping Ye Qin and Dun's skeleton; the chanting continued, like a mysterious whisper, passed down for a thousand years, speaking with Ye Qin.

Crossing the distance of time and space, the two met again after a thousand years.

Ye Qin's emerald eyes flickered with a solemn expression.

Professor Song's mind was somewhat muddled, and in the dream he looked around blankly.

"What do you think of this matter, Professor Song?"

Or perhaps Master Zhi Dun really gave them a dream?

If Master Zhi Dun's skeleton was artificially caused, how should this dream be interpreted?

Ye Qin lingered near the research center, so the black clouds above also enveloped the entire research center.

"Maybe someone is just playing tricks with ghosts; perhaps it's psychological suggestion and hypnosis that made everyone have the same dream."

The black clouds that had been motionless above the research center began to move rapidly again.

Originally, Master Zhi Dun's skeleton lay flat inside, but now it had risen upright, sitting cross-legged!

He released a few strands of spiritual power and discovered that the chanting was actually coming from inside the drainage channel, more precisely from that string of prayer beads.

In the state of divine wandering, Ye Qin had little ability, greatly restricted, and this is related to his Realm.

"Looking at this situation, I fear the heavenly tribulation is about to arrive."

Ye Qin came to the place where the bronze ancient sword was placed, but the glass display case inside was empty.

"What time is it now, still in the mood to argue here? Collect the ashes, put them in jars, and contact the Buddhist Association."

"Did you stay up late again last night? I've told you several times that staying up late is bad and will affect your work the next day."

The two stared at each other, speechless.

This is probably a specialized place for storing calligraphy, paintings, clay sculptures, and the like; everything visible are calligraphy and paintings or various statues, and there are also many genuine works by famous people.

As night fell quietly, the lights of the research center dimmed, the staff inside decreased significantly, and it was no longer as lively as during the day.

"Oh no! Time is up."

Ye Qin recalled that after breaking through his Realm, he had never found a suitable object for contemplation.

The only connection among them was that bronze ancient sword, but relying solely on this cannot determine anything.

Professor Song shook his head: "Nothing, I just felt as if someone had passed by, and also as if there was a familiar gaze."

"Impossible, impossible..."

While everyone was discussing, a scream came from nearby.

Moreover, as the black clouds moved, the range expanded considerably, and the oppressive feeling grew stronger.

While Ye Qin was idly wandering in the research center, a faint energy came from the air, elusive and subtle; if not carefully sensed, it could easily be overlooked.

"Don't worry, Professor Song. Captain Wang said earlier that he had already sent people to investigate those illegal artifact trafficking organizations; if the bronze ancient sword appeared, they would definitely know immediately."

Originally, one would have thought to sleep soundly until dawn, but the faint chanting voice lingered near the ear, almost making it impossible to fall asleep.

But Assistant Li seemed deeply convinced, asking cautiously: "Could it be that Master Zhi Dun just passed by here?"

"Perhaps I'm overthinking it; how could this be possible?"

Xiao Zhang sighed, spread his hands, and said innocently: "After tossing and turning all night, of course I can't sleep well."

……

Previously, the heavenly tribulation did not descend because he had not succeeded in contemplation; now that this gap has been filled, the true heavenly tribulation has finally been brewing.

Upon this meeting, perhaps Master Zhi Dun has also understood his wish in the dark?

Leaving Master Zhi Dun's room, his heart could not be completely calm; after bidding farewell to the old friend, he intended to stroll around again, and since the divine wandering time was still relatively ample, he was not in a hurry to return.

The black clouds began to spread rapidly; in less than half an hour, they had expanded from the suburbs of Kyoto to the urban area.

However, this painting is quite special, actually unsigned, and Ye Qin does not know who painted it.

But why did he suddenly have such a strange dream?

Professor Song looked lost, murmuring: "So it was just a dream."

After all, this is the soul, which is inherently imperceptible to the naked eye; even the most advanced high technology today cannot observe it!

The interior of the research center is very large, divided into several areas; offices and rooms are countless; Ye Qin searched along the way and soon found the cultural relics storage room.

"I guess even the meteorological bureau is confused; I feel there might be a heavy downpour later."

Those who don't know might think that our archaeological center had cremated Master Zhi Dun!

Professor Song sighed, suddenly recalling the strange shadow that appeared opposite Master Zhi Dun in the dream.

Although this painting has the aura of age, it is too faint to form a fragment, and Ye Qin naturally cannot enter it.

However, Ye Qin does not feel regretful, after all, the conditions for forming time fragments are extremely difficult and rare; who has such luck to encounter two at once?

Under the power of the prayer beads, Master Zhi Dun's skeleton actually sat up from the bedboard, cross-legged, as if some invisible force supported him, endowing him with a soul.

Unnoticed, the sun set westward.

Ye Qin dazedly felt an illusion: at this moment, he was not in the research center, but in an ancient temple; the waves of time lapped against the white bones, letting him grow flesh and blood, restoring him to his former appearance.

Recalling the scene of the past discourse, still vivid in memory, yet now Master Zhi Dun has already turned to white bones; meeting again is already a separation of heaven and man, after a thousand years.

However, first the bronze ancient sword mysteriously disappeared; then Master Zhi Dun's skeleton mysteriously sat up; now the skeleton is actually rotting into ashes right before their eyes...

For the arrival of this day, Ye Qin had already prepared since the formation of the tribulation clouds; now he is not surprised, only didn't expect it to come so quickly, after all he had just completed his contemplation.

Ye Qin was somewhat surprised: "How could there be chanting?"

Thus, the people of Kyoto once again witnessed a marvelous sight.

Could this be some kind of omen?

It was as if a huge scroll was slowly unfolding, enveloping him entirely.

This is also why ancient tombs often yield relatively complete corpses.

Such an artistic conception let Ye Qin's mind and body fall into an unprecedented emptiness; as contemplation deepened, he seemed to merge with the entire painting.

……

He looked up at the sky.

The thick clouds occasionally rumbled, still brewing, giving off the sense that a mountain storm was imminent and the wind filled the tower.

Professor Song couldn't help but anxiously shout: "Who are you?!"

However, beside it there was an introduction to the bronze ancient sword, even marked with key annotations, enough to see how much the research center values the ancient sword.

After some exchange, everyone had the same dream, likewise the chanting, as well as Zhidun's skeleton, and that shadow sitting opposite Zhidun but unclear.

Xiao Zhang looked at Professor Song's suddenly changing face, still somewhat confused: "What's wrong, Professor Song?"

……

The research center differs from those Taoist temples and monasteries, as it houses many cultural relics, so security measures are very strict.

The conversation of Professor Song and others confirmed Ye Qin's earlier speculation.

In a daze, the content on the ancient painting became increasingly clear, he could even see the adornments on the figures' bodies and subtle expressions distinctly.

"This is too arrogant, actually committing crimes repeatedly, simply not taking us seriously."

"Could it really be such a coincidence, that we all had the same dream?"

If one wanted to sneak in secretly as before, it would fundamentally be impossible.

Ye Qin's soul rushed forward rapidly, charging through the archaeological center, anyway not obstructed by physical objects, so he could pass through walls.

Before the ancient sword disappeared, it was similar, a sudden fog caused the surveillance to fail, and when the screen recovered, the ancient sword had already vanished.

Seeing no answer, Professor Song gave an order, directly letting the security department adjust the room's surveillance to mobile phones.

The researchers who rushed over from home the next day to work looked at each other, also unaware of what had happened.

Moreover, thanks to Zhang Zhiben, precisely because of his journey of divine wandering to Yangzhou, he inadvertently entered the Yuanshen stage and mastered this Divine Ability.

And not far from the skeleton, there seemed to be a person's shadow, the two standing opposite each other, as if discussing something.

"Who did this?"

Professor Song reacted, his face instantly turned completely dark.

The surveillance footage during the day was quite normal, and no one had come to this room.

Ye Qin carefully sensed for a while, and detected nothing special; after this period, the remnants of the ancient sword had likely dissipated.

The matter of the Daughter's Temple was finally settled here; after Ye Qin left, he proceeded to the research center.

Professor Song shook his head: "Perhaps they have some connection, but absolutely not the same person, after all no one can penetrate history and live long, that would already be an immortal."

"Even world hypnosis masters couldn't achieve this, hypnotizing so many of us, you must be joking."

But it was Assistant Li who showed terror, expression as if seeing a ghost, pointing forward, lips trembling severely, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Ye Qin's soul arrived near the research center, just as when he divine wandered to ancient Yangzhou, passing humans could not notice Ye Qin's existence.

After the Daughter's Temple repairs were completed, no more strange events occurred, the neighboring construction site also proceeded smoothly, everything finally got back on track.

But this does not stump Ye Qin; though his physical body cannot enter, he can divine wander within.

The research institute provides dormitories; since Professor Song was exhausted from a busy day, he didn't want to go home, so he simply rested here.

"The most important thing is completing one contemplation, just don't know what function this contemplation of the ancient painting will have."

"Oh dear."

Originally a mundane object, after the canal's blessing it has become sacred.

Who exactly is that shadow?

He gradually coiled his body into a circle, dispelled distracting thoughts, closed his eyes in contemplation, appearing as if asleep.

"Someone was chanting in the dream, then I dreamed of Zhidun's skeleton again."

The crowd discussed a few more sentences, all in all just about the bronze ancient sword, also mentioning the Daughter's Temple and Zhang Zhiben incidentally.

Xiao Zhang glanced sideways at Professor Song, his eye bags and dark circles no smaller than mine, but dared not speak, choked with tears:

"Professor Song, you really wronged me, yesterday I was too tired, I didn't go home, went straight to the dormitory to sleep, who knew I had a strange nightmare all night, it scared me badly."

At this moment, Professor Song, who was studying why Zhidun's remains suddenly decayed, suddenly startled, turned his head sharply.

"Just a little short of exceeding the time."

"What happened? Professor Song rushed in anxiously early this morning."

Opening his eyes, a breeze stirred the curtains, outside already dawn light dim.

He hurriedly returned the same way, racing against time, during which the palpitations became increasingly evident, his soul constantly pulled, at any moment about to lose connection with the physical body.

"Looking at this sky, it won't rain, will it?"

The sandalwood-colored beads, unchanged for thousands of years, have become more dignified and composed with the passage of time.

Ye Qin carefully explored, finally arrived before an ancient painting: "The aura of the weathered traces of time seems to come from here."

But this power is too weak, Ye Qin also uncertain, he released all his mental power, following this fluctuation, arrived at a room.

Hearing this, Professor Song's heart skipped a beat, couldn't help but ask: "What strange dream?"

"Surely yes, even the methods are similar, otherwise how to explain this fog."

A sudden downpour besieged Kyoto, leaving various official departments caught off guard.

Mountain rain is coming!