Chapter 457: 432 Plan

Tang Zhao was a bit surprised; he hadn't expected Ling Baoyu to think from this angle.

Treating the reflection girl with the methods used for processing materials?

This suggestion could be described as...

Both expert and amateur.

It is expert in that she actually knows the classification of Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind levels for a Talisman Sword Master's materials, and also knows that material levels are not fixed, but can be raised or lowered through processing.

To say she is an amateur is because she actually wants to use material processing methods on a living person, even if that person is in an abnormal state.

This is the fearlessness of the ignorant.

Tang Zhao did not have the exploratory spirit of a mad scientist, nor would he be excited by this unprecedented challenge. He said directly, "This is very difficult. I cannot do such an unprecedented thing, nor do I dare to. Even if someone could do it, it would be gambling—gambling with Aqin's life. I do not suggest trying it lightly. Aqin can still maintain her thoughts and consciousness now, so she naturally retains her Soul, and the Soul is the most delicate thing..."

When he said this, he suddenly thought of Zhu Yang and Jiang Shixiong, and remembered that their research topic was precisely about the Soul. Zhu Yang had a deep understanding of the Soul, even capable of swapping the souls of a human and a crocodile, and he did it without the power of a sword, creating it directly through Rune Formulas.

Perhaps when it comes to the study of the Soul, no one in the world can compare to Zhu Yang, right?

Now the two of them... one person and one crocodile, are diligently researching at Zhuoyu Villa. It has been over a year; what stage have they reached now?

If they were to see Aqin's strange state, would they be moved to investigate? Perhaps careful study could yield a solution?

These are all uncertain things.

However, now is not the time to talk about this. Although Tang Zhao thought of that possibility regarding Zhu Yang, he spoke without the slightest hesitation, fearing that a moment of hesitation would let them see through him, leading to endless questions and complications.

"I absolutely dare not tamper with a Soul. Even if there were someone in the world who could, they would never use it for an emergency like this. Outside, the sky is filled with Shadows and danger lurks everywhere; how could one do such a dangerous thing?"

The white fox and Aqin both looked disappointed, but not particularly sad. They didn't need Tang Zhao to explain for them to guess the difficulty. Whether it could be achieved or not, they couldn't count on Tang Zhao anyway. This was also understandable; Tang Zhao was just a chance-encountered Talisman Sword Master, not some world-renowned master. His level was probably limited; if he couldn't do it, he couldn't do it, what else could be done?

Tang Zhao took the initiative to say, "Once we get out and settle down, I will help you think of a way. There are many experts outside; perhaps we can find someone who has a solution."

Aqin sighed and said, "Get out? Who knows if we can get out? And what would it matter if I got out in this state? I am already very happy to have seen Ling Gugu; even if I die, I have no regrets."

Tang Zhao glanced at Ling Baoyu.

If it were just about getting out, that wouldn't be difficult; they could do it now. Although the Wangliang pollutes everything, it has not completely sealed off the space. Tang Zhao's Flowing Light Sword Technique might not be able to pierce through the heavy Shadows, but Exile could. One activation of an Art Tool and the three of them could leave immediately. Aqin could hide in the Mirror, the white fox could carry the Mirror, and they would certainly be able to bring this girl, who had been lonely in Baiyujing for a hundred years, out safely.

But do they really want to leave like this?

Ling Baoyu's wish is to return to her hometown, even if she dies here. If they go out after finally returning without doing anything, why did they come back in the first place?

What she wants most now is surely to save the Xiancheng. If she can save it, everyone will be happy; if she can't, she might not be willing to leave.

And as for Tang Zhao, he also has things he wants to do. For example, killing Meng Huazhou, for example, seizing a sword for the Black Widow, for example, expelling the Wangliang.

The task of expelling the Wangliang appeared temporarily, and it is very important to Tang Zhao.

If the disaster in the Xiancheng was the result of losing a battle against another sword and falling, then it has nothing to do with him. If he meets survivors, he will save them; if he doesn't, he will prioritize his own gains.

If Baiyujing was destroyed by the Yin Calamity of the Heavenly Demons, then if Tang Zhao happens to be there, he will of course do his best to help. It goes without saying that humans and demons cannot coexist. But if time has passed and only the extremely dangerous Demon Prison remains, Tang Zhao will not force it if he is powerless to resolve it. After all, there are many Demon Prisons in the world, and even the Prison Suppression Division cannot manage them all; there is a limit to what a single Sword Guest like Tang Zhao can do.

However, encountering the Wangliang, Tang Zhao must do his utmost. Because he once made a vow years ago, and although he has forgotten that vow, he never canceled it. Now that he has encountered it, whether it is an avatar or a Fragment, a ruin or a wreck, he wants to completely eliminate it and fulfill his vow to the best of his ability.

Therefore, unless he is at the end of his rope, Tang Zhao does not want to give up.

Of course, killing Meng Huazhou is also very important.

The two sides have parted ways and were originally not interfering with each other, but Meng Huazhou is a major hidden danger.

Tang Zhao originally thought that he had only just found Xu Congsheng, and that Xu Congsheng was just a lucky kid who shouldn't have any inheritance to speak of. They were just competing at the same starting point after entering the Xiancheng, with Meng Huazhou at most getting a head start. He didn't expect Meng Huazhou's methods to be endless—the False White Whale Boat, the Original Thread, the Ruyi Thread, the Cloud Silk scissors—one after another. His assets were practically richer than those of Ling Baoyu, who came down from the Xiancheng. He was truly prepared. And Tang Zhao hadn't even seen his bottom line; who knows if he has more trump cards?

With such a foundation and a plan he has been working on for years, who knows what major event he intends to pull off in the Xiancheng?

Especially now that the two sides have irreconcilable hatred, Tang Zhao knows just by thinking about it that if Meng Huazhou gains anything in the Xiancheng, how could he let them go?

Since it is a life-and-death struggle, then it is a life-and-death struggle.

Tang Zhao must kill him; the race between the two has only just begun. Tang Zhao must grab what he can before him. As long as he levels the playing field, he can kill Meng Huazhou even in a fair one-on-one.

As for the Black Widow's sword...

This was originally a major task for Tang Zhao, but the situation is becoming increasingly complex. Not to mention that the Sword Immortal who presided over Baiyujing is likely still alive, even if she were dead and the sword were just sitting there, with Ling Baoyu and Aqin, two veterans of Baiyujing, present, could they let you just take their Highness's sword?

It would be fine if there were other swords in Baiyujing, but Tang Zhao hasn't heard of any yet. So Tang Zhao doesn't have much hope for this matter. It can only be said that the priority of this matter has lowered. Fortunately, he is a Sword Smith and has some leeway, so he won't be forced into a dead end.

Now, what is important is what is right in front of him: the Wangliang and Meng Huazhou. If Aqin and Ling Baoyu's thoughts are the same as his, then they are comrades who share a common enemy and will continue forward together.

Tang Zhao simply asked, "Miss Aqin, do you know what the situation in the Xiancheng is now?"

Aqin stopped thinking about her own affairs, brought her mind back, and said, "I just told Ling Gugu once; it's the same telling you. I have been guarding the Qianqiu Tower, rotating dozens of lamps, and for over a hundred years, the Wangliang has not stepped in once. So the Qianqiu Tower is safe. There is no Wangliang here, and the things inside are all still here."

The Moyun Tower is for storing Cloud Silk, and the Qianqiu Tower also has a storage function; it is for storing landscapes.

Whatever landscape Baiyujing wanted to build, it would be constructed in the Qianqiu Tower—building flowers and trees, bonsai, and architecture; a single floor could hold it all. And when a new landscape was set up outside, the old landscape might be directly recycled into the tower. Some landscapes even changed with the seasons; every time the season changed, the outside landscapes were collected into the tower, and the landscapes inside the tower were moved outside, allowing the scenery of Baiyujing to rotate through the four seasons, fresh and novel every day.

Theoretically, truly valuable materials would not be kept here, but the landscape items are all-encompassing, and among them are many precious things; clothing, food, housing, and transportation are all available, and whatever is needed is ready to be replenished.

Moreover, most of the things here are woven from Cloud Silk, which is equivalent to a large warehouse of Cloud Silk. Tang Zhao has enough Ruyi Thread in his hand; if he could connect all the scenery here and dismantle it into silk, it would be enough to weave a large net that could cover Baiyujing in a layer.

"I have been here for a hundred years, and I have memorized every floor of the Qianqiu Tower. I can find whatever I need with my eyes closed."

Ling Baoyu nodded. Having Aqin's guarantee is of course good, but the problem now is not about materials, so she asked, "What about other places besides the Qianqiu Tower?"

Aqin sighed and said, "They are all not very good. I once wanted to take a lamp to other places to drive away the evil, but it was really difficult. I cannot touch physical objects now; moving a lamp requires using Mental Power to control it in the air, and I can't handle it if I move it even a little bit further, let alone carrying my Mirror. I rested several times just going down to the bottom floor, and it would take a month just to go to the nearest Guoyan Pavilion. I walked there once, and while resting in the pavilion, I saw that the outside was full of Shadows and man-eating monsters. And A Zhen and the others..."

Ling Baoyu said, "You also saw A Zhen?"

A Zhen is that Colored Cloud Warrior who was recognized.

Aqin said, "Yes, they are all there, turned into shadows. There are also many shadows of demons and monsters, and among them are many even more powerful ones, the kind that can spit arrows to ambush, and they will actively attack. My body is very fragile if it is not hidden in the Mirror; relying on just one lamp is truly a one-way trip. So I haven't gone out since I came back from the Guoyan Pavilion that time."

Tang Zhao nodded and said, "So you only know about this area in front of you, and not the situation of the entire Baiyujing?"

Aqin and Ling Baoyu said together, "Of course not."

Tang Zhao was startled, not understanding why they said this in unison.

Aqin explained, "No, the Qianqiu Tower is the highest point of Baiyujing. The top floor is originally an observation deck, specifically for climbing high to look into the distance. At the very top, one can see the full view of Baiyujing. So I know the momentum and strength of the Wangliang in every place. The thickest is in the Sancong City, where it is all pure black, without a single gap. The momentum of the Wangliang in other places is changing. But besides here, there are no obvious weak points. And for these hundred-plus years, the Xiancheng has not become worse, but it hasn't become better either. The Wangliang hasn't dispersed at all, and is even a little bit thicker than it was back then."

Tang Zhao hadn't expected that one could really "wish to exhaust a thousand miles of view, ascend to a higher floor" here. His heart was moved, and he said, "Let's go, shall we go up and take a look?"

Aqin said, "Wait a little longer, now is not the time."

She explained, "Although the Wangliang never disperses all day, it actually has strengths and weaknesses. The noon of the first day of the lunar month is when the Wangliang is thinnest, and then it gradually weakens in a cycle of sixty years. Tomorrow noon is exactly the weakest time. If we take the lamp to look, we might be able to see the shadows of all the Five Towers and Twelve Cities through the Shadows."

She pointed to the clock on the platform, which was a clock similar to a Sun Dial, with twelve double-hours. It was still the hour of the Rabbit, the time when the sky was about to brighten but not yet.

Reminded by her, Tang Zhao remembered. They had ascended to the sky on the eve of New Year's Eve, drifted in the sky for an entire night, and today was already the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Isn't that the Look day of the first lunar month?

Before he knew it, the New Year had arrived.

Thinking of this, Tang Zhao smiled slightly and said, "We can go up and take a look now."

Aqin said, "But the sky..."

Tang Zhao said, "It doesn't matter. Although it is dark outside, perhaps there are many Lamps illuminating it?"