Chapter 131

Xu Xuan is clearly also a god-demon wanderer, and still a fate-holder, but his fate—could it be Nezha?

Tang Luo stared at the gold brick, a thoughtful pose.

When Tang Luo fought Xu Xuan—well, even if it was a fight.

At that time, Xu Xuan seemed to have regained a trace of clarity, and at the crucial moment he threw out his equipment.

When Tang Luo dodged the gold brick, he recognized this thing.

After all, he had played with it before, and he even suggested Nezha carve some words on it, like "Not short of money," "One brick to slap you dead," "Famous immortal second-generation," and so on.

From the gold brick magic treasure full of nouveau riche aura, it became a cultured nouveau riche gold brick magic treasure, just like a cultural T-shirt—how nice.

Unfortunately, Nezha never received nine years of compulsory education, doesn't understand culture, and didn't adopt Tang Luo's suggestion.

In the mission world, when Tang Luo got hold of the gold brick, related information also surfaced in his mind:

Gold Brick

A gold-colored brick, extremely sturdy, indestructible.

The note is simply "It's gold-colored," such nonsense, obviously belonging to the "equipment" category.

Without related skills, Tang Luo also didn't find any Nezha left behind on it.

The master's mark disappearing on the magic treasure has many reasons: too long a time, self-disappeared; the master no longer wants it, actively erased; obtained by others, the mark erased.

Not having Nezha's mark on the magic treasure doesn't prove Nezha met with misfortune.

What exactly caused this gold brick to appear in the mission world remains to be discussed.

Unless it is a natal magic treasure, the mark on it is only to some extent an indicator reflecting the master's condition.

Tang Luo was not surprised or shocked that the gold brick had no trace of Nezha.

Unlike Tang Luo, this "not relying on external things," a real man relying solely on himself, Nezha this little brat has all kinds of magic treasures.

Fire-tipped spear, Yin-Yang dual swords, Qiankun rings, Hun Tian Ling, wind-fire wheels, divine fire cover, Qiankun bow, heaven-shaking arrows, demon-slaying sword, demon-chopping knife, etc., including the gold brick Tang Luo now holds in his hand, a great heap.

Nezha couldn't possibly refine every magic treasure into a natal magic treasure.

If it were discovering a familiar golden hoop rod, but finding no trace or mark left by Sun Wukong on it, Tang Luo would be greatly surprised.

"This thing was thrown out by that god-demon wanderer, and where did he get it from?" Tang Luo muttered to himself.

The gold brick comes from the mission world, more precisely, from that god-demon wanderer named Xu Xuan.

Yes, Xu Xuan is 100% a god-demon wanderer, not a native colluding with god-demon wanderers.

The whole affair began as a conspiracy against the White Snake.

Before Xu Xuan turned into a scorpion spirit, when he said "I am not Xu Xuan," that was truly recalling something.

And then… and then there was no more after, Xu Xuan directly went berserk, no longer himself.

The appearance of the gold brick, setting aside Tang Luo's already confirmed god-demon game and his transmigration into the Journey to the West world definitely having a connection, not saying that.

But bringing Tang Luo more information, that is related to the mission.

All along, the missions Tang Luo experienced lasted as short as a few hours, at most one month.

While Xu Xuan could deceive the White Snake, proving some missions' time limits are far longer than imagined.

The possible stay duration in the mission world is also far longer than expected.

The existence of "Xu Xuan" is equivalent to opening a new world's door for god-demon wanderers, with much to discuss and speculate.

Forming many speculations, as to whether speculations can be proven, that's another matter, requiring time and more examples to truly confirm.

A single proof cannot stand.

Temporarily putting aside the gold brick and mission-related matters, Tang Luo "reviewed" this round's reward, which is a skill:

Dragon's Roar

Summon a huge dragon head phantom, emit a roar, perform area damage.

Level 1: Duration fifteen seconds.

Level 2: Duration thirty seconds.

Level 3: Duration one minute.

Note: Please do not use when arguing at home, to avoid disturbing neighbors.

Cooldown time: Level 1 two hours, Level 2 one hour, Level 3 thirty minutes.

Long time no see, very cheeky note.

Unlike the auxiliary skill Spartan War Cry, this is an attack skill, still a sonic range skill.

No need for Tang Luo to actively howl, but rather "summon" the dragon head phantom, which does the work.

This way, one cannot pretend to be some "head-striking rebuke" Buddhist divine ability.

Nor is it a skill to test at home to see what effect it has; Tang Luo got up from the sofa, he also needs to wash up and rest.

After waking up, the sky was already dark, not long after, Tang Luo heard a doorbell chime.

"Go open the door, dog." Tang Luo said to the Howling Celestial Dog.

The Howling Celestial Dog bounced over to the door, leapt up and opened it; outside were Li Qing and Kong Ming, two members of the Martial Arts Legends.

"So it's Wind Junior Sister and Mister Zhuge." Tang Luo said with a smile.

"Master Xuanzang." Kong Ming also smiled and greeted.

The two exchanged smiles, completing a commercial mutual puff from their titles.

Li Qing said nothing, but nodded; her appearance this time is exactly as seen during the mission.

"Are you also living nearby?" Tang Luo didn't ask their purpose, but was curious why it's these two again this time.

"Yes, because it's near." Kong Ming laughed.

Why Li Qing retrieved Thirteen's fate, and later Kong Ming resolved the siege.

Aside from suitable personnel, the most important reason is naturally proximity.

"Is Xu Xuan a fate-holder?" Tang Luo asked without idle chatter.

"Yes," Kongming said. "Not only is he a fate-holder, he is also one of our Wulin Mythos people, though he 'disappeared' three years ago. Everyone thought he died in the mission world, but he's still alive."

Three years?

The time flow between the mission world and the real world is clearly different, and this 'difference' is highly chaotic, with no pattern or fixed ratio.

It's not as initially thought—that no matter how long in the mission world, only a moment passes in reality.

"What is his fate?" Tang Luo asked. Did Xu Xuan receiving the gold brick have something to do with his fate?

"I don't know," Kongming said. "At the time, it was said to be some unknown cultivator who called himself Xuangjin." He glanced at the gold brick on the tea table, guessing Xuangjin might also be related to the gold brick.

Not every fate fragment is from a 'well-known fantasy figure'; unknown ones certainly exist too.

For example, Yao Jingwu's fate fragment came from some unknown monkey demon—at least Tang Luo doesn't know.

"Is there no more information about him?" Tang Luo asked.

Kongming shook his head: "Not much. Just some useless details, after all, everyone thought he was dead after disappearing for three years."

When a person dies, the light goes out. Moreover, the 'mystery' of Wulin Mythos applies not only outwardly but also inwardly.

The deeper secrets of Xuangjin are also hard to uncover.

What everyone most wants to know is not Xuangjin's secrets, but why he could stay in the mission world for so long.

Whether Tang Luo's group's mission this time is related to this Xuangjin.

"Master Xuanzang thinks, is your mission this time related to Xuangjin—that is, whether Xu Xuan has any connection?" Kongming asked.

He really wanted to hear Tang Luo's opinion as the person involved.

"Of course there is a connection. Without this guy causing trouble, we probably wouldn't have this mission." Tang Luo said.

"No, I'm wondering whether the gods and demons' purpose in sending you into this mission is to rescue Xuangjin—or to kill him?" Kongming's voice carried a hint of suppressed excitement.

If it's either of these two purposes, it would undoubtedly confirm one thing.

That the gods and demons are not as powerful and omnipotent as everyone imagines.

"Hmm, Old Kong, are you overthinking?" Tang Luo said.

"No, no, not overthinking." Kongming said.

"No, no, just overthinking." Their conversation sounded like they were arguing for the sake of arguing.

Fortunately, Tang Luo explained: "I know what you're roughly thinking. But now, pondering this is meaningless. Wait until we can resist entering the mission world, or until we can leave, then consider the nature of gods and demons, how strong they are, etc."

"Precaution is wise," Kongming said. As a smart person, how could he be like a reckless brute, thinking nothing and charging forward in silence?

Tang Luo didn't speak; he actually understood Kongming's thinking.

When he first time-traveled and discovered he was Tang Sanzang, he also racked his brains, wondering what conspiracy loomed above his head.

What should he do to break through? What is the Tathagata up to?

After thinking for half a year, Tang Luo suddenly realized: Thinking about nonsense!

Thinking so much—will one slap from the Tathagata block it or not? Better to just focus on boosting strength, so you can block the Tathagata's slap first.

Thus, Tang Luo embarked on the path to becoming the Fighting Victory Buddha.

Then…… before he had even 'figured out' what conspiracy it was, he suddenly time-traveled back.

Regarding the gods and demons game, Tang Luo holds this attitude: instead of now brooding over the nature of gods and demons, it's better to strive to enhance (restore) strength.

For 'the common folk,' thinking about what to eat tonight is far more important than 'Who am I? Where am I? What will the future hold?'

At this stage, everyone is still 'the common folk.'

Of course, it's not that no thinking should be done—just don't get stuck in a rut, don't reverse priorities.

Tang Luo also has no intention of persuading Kongming.

"I think," Kongming said, speaking fluently with a strong desire to confide, "the situation can be divided into these kinds: ……"

In his speculation, gods and demons might not be individualized entities, but merely a kind of rule, similar to natural laws like 'water flows downward' or 'those who kill will die.'

This speculation is undoubtedly very optimistic.

Another possibility: gods and demons are independent entities with clear purposes, and are interest-driven. Or perhaps they have no clear purpose—accurately speaking, at least the purpose and direction of gods and demons' actions are incomprehensible.

Such speculation is not so optimistic.

Based on this, Kongming believes gods and demons should be restricted—even for those like us who walk among gods and demons, they cannot do as they please.

He used an analogy, comparing gods and demons to players outside the game: to continue playing, one must follow certain rules; perhaps gods and demons have the power to overturn the 'game board,' but that also means the game's end.

Saying all this, his face flushed, his eyes gleaming.