Chapter 193: Pioneer of the Era?

"Hercules?" Kongming asked, "Is he a demon walking from the West?"

"Yes." Tang Luo said, "Black short hair, very sculpted in that style."

"If I remember correctly, there really is such a person." Kongming said, "But he is not part of the Gods' Alliance; he's more of a lone wanderer, a solitary individual. We don't know much about him."

"Oh, he's dead." Tang Luo said, "He died on the last mission."

Kongming silently nodded, not asking further how he died.

"Besides, there are three others: one who plays with puppets, a big man in a windbreaker, and one who can turn half-human, half-beast, with a mind not too clear, like a wild beast." Tang Luo continued, "These people also randomly joined in during my last mission."

"May I ask what your last mission was?" Kongming asked.

"A survival mission." Tang Luo said.

"Survival mission—were they coming to hunt you down?" Kongming knew that some demon-walkers who had undergone survival missions would have other demon-walkers enter afterward to hunt them—currently, these hunters are demon-walkers from other regions' factions.

"No, they just randomly joined in." Tang Luo said.

The missions of those three demon-walkers were obviously the same as Hercules', all ending the Hundred Ghost Night Procession.

"Those three people, I'm somewhat familiar with." Kongming said, "The puppet controller—if female, should be Chiyo, confirmed as Chiyo. The other is likely called Nataisheng, and the one with the title of Mad Beast—all are demon-walkers from Sakurajima. No surprise, each has at least ten missions under their belt, at least third-rank demon-walkers."

Third-rank level means the tier of humanoid tanks.

Although this "rank" division into first, second, third isn't very strict, people still use it when speaking, at least as some reference.

Anyway, going by the minimum standard, an X-rank demon-walker is definitely strong, not weak.

After a pause, Kongming asked, "They won't also be dead, will they?"

"No, that's not the case." Tang Luo said, "But we've become enemies."

"It's fine; if it's Huaxia, they wouldn't dare come stir up trouble." Kongming said, "Just be careful next time you encounter them on a mission—demon-walkers are numerous, but the chance of meeting them isn't too high."

"By the way, I've already completed six missions, so I won't encounter newbies participating in their first mission anymore, right?" Tang Luo said.

"Six? Was your last mission your sixth?" Kongming frowned, but still answered Tang Luo's question, "No, not when your mission objectives are the same."

"Meaning, if mission objectives don't match, you'll still encounter newbies?" Tang Luo asked.

Kongming nodded: "Sometimes, we become the boss of newbies, like in hunting missions..."

"I see."

"Was your last mission really only your sixth?" Kongming asked skeptically.

Six missions and already this strong?

"Yeah, monks don't lie. Tang Seng's fate is quite formidable." Tang Luo said with a smile.

Kongming could only say, he could only nod: "Alright, you're right."

"Also, one of the newbies from my last mission became a fate-holder." Tang Luo said, "Want to let her join the Martial Arts Legends? She has great potential."

"Oh?" Kongming showed some curiosity, "Can I ask what fate it is?"

"Black Whirlwind Li Kui! Heaven Killer Star, a demon star descending to earth." Tang Luo said, "It can be considered a Martial Arts Legends fate."

"Li Kui?" Kongming frowned, "To be frank, in Martial Arts Legends, there's also a fate-holder of Li Kui."

Tang Luo slightly raised his eyebrows.

The same "person," different fate fragments with divergent trends can also merge, unless it's Sun Wukong and the Saiyan Sun Wukong from Dragon Ball—same name, one identity—but otherwise, they're vastly different fate fragments, making fusion impossible.

Most other same-name fate fragments can mutually merge, offering some benefit.

This also inevitably creates opposition among demon-walkers holding the same, or even "same-named" fate fragments.

"When this happens, how do we usually handle it?" Tang Luo asked.

"We don't handle it." Kongming said, "We can't let newcomers join Martial Arts Legends and have them fight to the death. Like your recommendation, Master, we won't disclose any information about either side."

As for the other Li Kui learning about An'an's information through other channels, posting a mission via Martial Arts Legends hoping fellow members would help intercept and kill him—that's another matter entirely.

Anyway, Kongming, Dragon King, and these high-level managers won't leak related information.

On this point, the high-level of Martial Arts Legends still guarantees it; otherwise, they wouldn't have successfully gathered so many fate-holders.

Without rules, nothing can be properly formed.

Rules are also as fair and just as possible.

"Actually, I have a bold idea." Tang Luo stroked his chin, lost in thought, "I just don't know if it can succeed."

Kongming immediately had a bad premonition—Tang Xuanzang's bold idea, feels like nothing good will come of it!

"If successful, it will change the landscape, change the future of fate-holders—a super big deal." Tang Luo's tone carried a hint of allure, "Old Kong, you say—should we become pioneers of changing the era?"

"I always feel you this monk are wicked." Kongming spoke his heart openly.

It's not that Tang Luo will actively scheme people, just that his thinking jumps out boldly, and ordinary demon-walkers simply can't withstand it.

"Then I'll just say it straight." Tang Luo said.

"Wait, wait!" Kongming said, "Did you skip something in between?"

Suddenly wanting to drag people into trouble, completely unprepared—how could there be such an operation?

"Then I won't say it—we each go our own way, each find our own mother?" Tang Luo said.

"...... You say it!" Kongming wished he could slap himself—how can I not control my own curiosity?

"You see, fate-holders, upon death, will inevitably produce fate fragments, right?" Tang Luo said.

"Yeah."

"So, if a fate-holder dies and bursts out fate fragments, then gets rescued back to life—what happens then?" Tang Luo said.

Kongming showed no surprise on his face, instead shaking his head: "Actually, we've considered this aspect."

"Then, have you conducted similar experiments?" Tang Luo asked.

Kongming helplessly looked at Tang Luo and said, "Master, are you treating fate-holders like Chinese cabbage, or treating precious 'item equipment' that can raise the dead and regrow flesh from bones like Chinese cabbage?"

"Oh, that's also true." Tang Luo said.

Our own people can't possibly be used for experiments; encountering hostile fate-holders, we also can't use genuine life-saving items for experiments.

"However, there were two things that happened." Kongming said.

These two things are very simple: one is that a fate holder died and was revived using a medicine called the Soul-Returning Pill.

No fate fragments appeared.

The second thing is that fate fragments appeared, and although the same kind of life-saving item was used, the person could not be revived.

In the traditional sense, death naturally refers to the cessation of breathing and heartbeat.

However, even if it's not a supernatural deity or demon walking, even ordinary people have had cases where both stopped and they were revived.

For deities and demons who walk, there is no clear standard to determine death.

The survival capabilities of different deities and demons who walk are completely different.

For example, Kongming in front of me died after his head was blown apart by a punch, while the mad beast survived after Tang Luo kicked and exploded its head.

After those two things happened, determining whether a fate holder is truly dead.

Has become much simpler—just check if fate fragments appear.

If they appear, it proves the person is truly dead and cannot be saved.

If they do not appear, it means there is still hope—not saying that using any precious life-saving item will definitely revive them, only that they haven't completely died yet and there is still hope.

No need to rush the Bian Que triple connection.

Oh, in the current martial arts legend, the Bian Que triple connection is no longer the standard for judgment.

Everyone now feels that only the Xuanzang triple connection can prove a deity or demon walker is truly beyond saving.

However, it seems that so far, no one has undergone the Tang Luo triple connection.

Regardless, those who can leave the mission alive and return to the real world to find Tang Luo for help do not have that kind of forced life support, nearly like a dying flicker before death.

As for Tang Luo, who possesses the Merit Jade Lotus, as long as a trace of remnant soul remains, it is not considered death, and they can be revived—provided there is sufficient merit power at the time.

The Heavenly Howling Dog is such a case.

Even a trace of remnant soul, on the verge of dissipating, was successfully revived.

"I think we can try." Tang Luo said, "My enlightenment blessing can truly revive the dead, no deception."

Unless the "soul and spirit" are completely dissipated and do not exist between heaven and earth.

"We can lay out the facts completely, letting the two 'Li Kui' choose for themselves whether to engage in a life-or-death battle." Tang Luo said, "For them, the outcomes would be—

One, not dead, and they obtained the opponent's fate fragment.

Two, died, discarded the fate fragment and revived.

Three, truly died. Four, died, did not discard the fate fragment and revived."

Kongming fell into deep thought, and after a while said: "How confident are you that you can successfully save someone?"

"Ten out of ten." Tang Luo said confidently, "But now is not the time—I need at least three or four months to prepare, and even after the New Year, I'll still need a while."

"... Then why are you telling me this now?" Kongming said, somewhat exasperated.

He is someone skilled in thinking, and now that Tang Luo suddenly said this, he will surely not be able to stop himself from simulating various scenarios after returning.

That is to say, for the coming period, he will not be able to sleep well, and will occasionally wonder—eh, what if this situation occurs, and if it does, how should it be handled?

As the saying goes, even the wisest thousand considerations must have one mistake, so Kongming must strive for ten thousand considerations or even more.

"It just suddenly came to mind." Tang Luo said, "Or should I hold it in?"

"You're not holding it in, but I'm about to burst!" Kongming said, lifting the tea in front of him and drinking it all in one go, regardless of whether it would burn his mouth.