Chapter 374: The Mystery of the Sun God

"Failed……"

Zhao Si, having finished watching the entire content of Lin Liu's trip, couldn't help but frown: "The source of the sun is not a naturally existing natural energy, but a sun god…… This is simply too far-fetched!"

In the primordial era, Di Jun and his kin, although they called themselves the sun, were actually just innate divinities formed from the sun's source; the true nature of the primordial sun is merely a lump of matter.

Even if the primordial sun was originally Pangu's eye, that does not affect its material property.

But Lin Liu's dream world turned out well—the sun actually is a lifeform composed of divine power! "In that case, Lin Liu's tech‑ascension plan can only go bankrupt……"

Although theoretically Lin Liu could also use the Blood God Son to control the sun god, making it continuously provide energy to mortals, this obviously contradicts Lin Liu's "mortal‑self‑reliant" path.

Moreover, the reason Lin Liu has always wanted mortals to be independent is that he hopes to discover the key information for perfect clearance in this process.

What this expedition has found can only prove that Lin Liu's efforts were wasted again—there is simply no way to achieve perfect clearance on this road.

But the system keeps saying that a clearance method does exist……

"No solution, I can only rely on you……"

Zhao Si sighed and clicked to continue the game.

【Looking at me?】

【That's obviously overthinking……】

【After returning to the West Continent, you helplessly announced this news to everyone: My efforts have all come to naught!】

【Upon hearing this, those who still had hope in you could only be disappointed.】

【Reluctantly, everyone had to limit steam‑engine use while desperately planting trees…… Of course, what should be developed still must be developed; since the West Continent's local trees aren't enough for charcoal, we'll demand supplies from the East and North Continents!】

【What? You say those two continents also need development?】

【Sorry, but we'll just make them suffer first and share the blame……】

【Meanwhile, while large‑scale logging and transporting charcoal from the other two continents in the West Continent, caravans also turned their eyes to this pure land of the South Jambu Continent, taking advantage of the fact that the Shun dynasty hasn't yet started its industrial revolution to gather large amounts of charcoal and send it back to the West Continent.】

【But these measures have always been merely treating symptoms, not the root cause; even if they've exhausted all their tricks, the slowdown in industrial development is obvious……】

【You have taken in all these worldly scenes, yet in the end you're still unwilling: Must we really be stuck like this forever?】

【Ding! You, unwilling to give up, once again place your hope in "another self"; even though the previous strategy actually didn't work, you're still grasping at straws…… Choose: (?) Please answer freely!】

Grasping at straws……

Zhao Si's mouth twitched, but he said nothing—after all, Lin Liu is truly at his wit's end, with no recourse left but to force himself for an answer.

"But I really can't come up with any reliable strategy……"

Helpless, Zhao Si sighed: "Instead of forcing me, you'd better go look for Patriarch Puti and the Monkey King…… Those two cheat‑native folks surely know more than I do; going to try your luck with them isn't bad—who knows, if the Monkey King really defies heaven and changes fate, cultivating a path to immortality……"

Although the system had long rated the Monkey King's success rate as zero, making this strategy seem like a responsibility‑deflecting buck‑passing move, the reasoning is indeed sound……

【Ding! Faced with your "desperate‑illness‑random‑doctor" move, you choose: (Go to Lingtai Fangcun Shan to find the Monkey King and Patriarch Puti—they're surely crucial clues!)】

【A plan from "another self" once again flows through your mind……】

【"Find the Monkey King, find Patriarch Puti……"】

【You can't help but feel bitter: If those two really had a way, they wouldn't be stubbornly persisting in a completely hopeless cultivation endeavor.】

【Precisely because they're just as helpless as you, that's why they cling to this wondrous cultivation method—but now "another self" actually has you go find them again……】【"…Oh well."】

【You sighed: "Just treat it as visiting an old friend to catch up…… As for solving the problem…… well, don't take it too seriously."】

【So you made up your mind, turning into light and heading off alone……】

【……】

【"Benefactor!"】

【Your visit made the Monkey King quickly become happy, and he personally came to greet you, scratching his ears and cheeks—after all, the last parting was over seventy years ago; now seeing his benefactor again, the excited Monkey King just wants to shout "Grace!"】

【After more than seventy years apart, seeing the Monkey King again, you also feel moved: "Since we first parted, it's been about seventy years; I don't know how your wondrous cultivation method has turned out?"】

【"Well……"】

【The Monkey King helplessly said: "To let you, benefactor, know, as of today my wondrous cultivation method has been practiced well, but I still have no clue how to become an anchor like you……"】

【"As for me now, I've merely given up grains; plus the miraculous effect of my wondrous cultivation, I no longer have a visible form before outsiders—except that you, the true anchor, can still see me; to everyone else I'm invisible, bored to death……"】

【The Monkey King's complaints are always frank; hearing his reply, I could only feel half‑cooled: Indeed, just as you thought, Patriarch Puti and the Monkey King have made no major breakthroughs in cultivation, and there's still no viable way to solve your problem……】

【Seeing your expression change, the Monkey King curiously asked; you didn't hide anything, directly telling him about your discovery on the sun and explaining how greatly it affects your "mortal‑self‑reliant" plan.】

【Naturally, the Monkey King felt astonished; in this life, since birth, it has never ventured to various places to satisfy its curiosity and experience, as if the whole world were nothing but the truly existing Lingtai Fangcun Shan……】

【Seeing the Monkey King's face full of curiosity, you too gradually stopped complaining about your fate and began to earnestly tell your story…… from hoping for solar energy to witnessing the worldview shatter upon seeing the three‑legged golden crow.】

【Your story left the Monkey King dazed; for the first time in his life he learned how many wonderful things exist outside, and as he listened he couldn't help but fantasize that after leaving Lingtai Fangcun Shan he'd go feast his eyes on the heavenly stars……】

【One speaking earnestly, one listening attentively—even though they've had no contact for over seventy years, at this moment the person and monkey together make a harmonious scene.】

【After you finished speaking, the Monkey King remained lost in thought, immersed in the outside world you described……】

【After a long while, the Monkey King, still feeling unsatisfied, sighed deeply and turned toward Lingtai Fangcun Shan.】

【Its behavior struck you as odd, but you quickly realized: it was actively helping you send a message—if Patriarch Puti truly had the information you wanted, then this trip wouldn't be in vain!】

【You couldn't help but feel a glimmer of expectation: Could it be……】

【Not long after, the Monkey King came out again.】

【But its face showed none of the excitement you expected; nor was it disappointed—it harbored… suspicion!】

【Your heart jolted: "What's wrong?"】

【"Well……"】

【The Monkey King hesitated a moment before saying: "The patriarch said…… He never set a specific appearance for the sun god……"】

【"The sun god is neither a golden crow nor a golden flood dragon, nor an eyeball…… It's not even an incense deity, after all true gods are limited in number……"】

【"Did you perhaps see wrong?"】

【You were instantly stunned……】

……

(End of Chapter)