Chapter 429

The longer a person lives, the less they resemble a human.

Just as Li Li Zhuiyuan said to Old Man Zhai during the day: "I am an atheist."

There are so many stories about immortals, yet in reality, Li Li Zhuiyuan has yet to see a truly ancient existence that could live out the so-called "appearance of an immortal."

Even Wei Zhengdao could not be an exception.

Judging by the result, Wei Zhengdao certainly didn't die, but there would absolutely be no joy of a narrow escape from death on his part.

When he looked at the bone fragments left behind after being gnawed on behind the throne, one wonders what kind of expression he had.

Of course, it is also possible that he was too lazy to even look.

For him, this was likely not the first time.

But he would certainly grow to loathe himself more and more.

Li Li Zhuiyuan interrupted his train of thought.

Accompanied by the end of the blade intent's slashing, the scabbard completely returned to calm.

The youth applied the final few seals, completing the finishing touches.

"Take it down."

Tan Tan Wenbin reached out to take it; the moment he touched it, Tan Tan Wenbin felt a needle-like pain transmit from his fingertips.

It wasn't just a simple prick; rather, a normal touch was met with dense, repetitive stabs from tiny needles, causing his fingertips to go numb instantly.

Lu Runsheng reached out to take it, gripping the blade in his hand. After a while, the corners of Lu Runsheng's mouth began to twitch slightly; he was in pain too.

Lin Shu took off his outer coat: "Wrap it up with something; maybe the effect will be a little better."

Lu Runsheng took it and tried, discovering that it had no effect; there wasn't even the slightest improvement.

Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Because you know you are holding this blade in your hand, and this blade also knows it is being held by you."

Lin Shu: "So, one must reach the point of forgetting they are carrying this blade. Is this the realm of 'no blade in hand, yet better than having a blade'?"

Tan Tan Wenbin: "Good method. If you've forgotten you have this blade in your hand, you certainly won't remember it during a fight. Then why not just keep hanging this blade here?"

Lin Shu: "Uh, that's true."

Moreover, this was still in the state where Brother Xiaoyuan had completed the sealing and the blade had not been unsheathed. A-You couldn't help but imagine the scene of himself drawing this blade to fight; it would surely be a bloodbath—well, most of the blood would be his own.

"Brother Brother Binbin, collect the bone fragments behind that throne."

"Alright. Uh, Brother Xiaoyuan, are we taking them with us?"

"Yes, pack them up and take them."

This thing is suitable to be brought to Qing'an as a souvenir after this wave ends and we return home.

Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Brother Lu Runsheng, please endure a little longer. We are going to rendezvous with Zhao Yi and the others now."

Lu Runsheng: "I can bear it. It's not as uncomfortable as being hungry like before."

It was still Lu Runsheng taking the lead. He descended into the black well in the center of the pillar first. Before his head had even submerged, Lu Runsheng spoke up to warn:

"The well wall isn't smooth; it's pitted and has sharp spikes. Don't slide down against it."

After the warning, Lu Runsheng continued to descend to lead the way.

"Brother Xiaoyuan, come!"

Lu Runsheng was holding the blade in one hand and wasn't suited to carry Xiaoyuan on his back again. This time, it was Lin Shu's turn to take care of the minor.

Previously at the construction site, everyone dared to jump directly into the elevator shaft because they knew the greatest danger below was just some scattered steel bars. But what exactly was down here, no one knew, so they had to be cautious.

Li Li Zhuiyuan, on Lin Shu's back, was also observing the environment of the well wall.

Actually, digging this out from the pillar was already very abnormal. This shouldn't be an entrance or exit in the conventional sense. It's impossible that the tomb owner had to cut the pillar every time they entered or exited, only to seal and repair it later.

Li Li Zhuiyuan guessed that this should be the hole Wei Zhengdao dug back then.

Others dig holes to get out, wanting to escape; he, however, dug toward the very center—he was looking for death.

I am still worrying about not living to adulthood, and looking at his behavior, it really is a world of difference.

After passing a circular bend, cold white light appeared below. Visibility increased, the slope decreased, and finally, they could change their method of movement from crawling to walking.

When they finally walked out, at first glance, they thought they had arrived in a world of ice and snow.

Underfoot was a silvery-white ice layer. This wasn't ice formed from water, but a mineral vein—a flowing mineral vein, only its current form looked very much like water and ice.

Beneath the ice layer, water ripples swayed, possessing a sense of aesthetic beauty.

Above their heads were holes like honeycomb briquettes, and behind every hole was a world of its own.

Below the ice layer, layer upon layer and circle upon circle, there were also countless holes, but they were all filled with this white, seemingly liquid substance.

This place should be the prison.

It was a bit like a classic scene from a Hong Kong movie—the Kowloon Walled City.

I am standing inside it now, and it is an interior suspended in mid-air.

Back then, every evil spirit imprisoned here was a resident of one of these holes.

Originally, the area above was also filled. It is unknown whether it was due to long-term disrepair, the construction of civil air defense projects, or this current construction, which caused the underground structure here to be damaged, leading to the "water level" dropping.

In Ye Dui's account, every prisoner had their own cell, and they could only communicate with each other through special means at fixed intervals.

Judging by their occupancy rate at the time, they might have truly lived very far apart.

But even when the occupancy rate here was at its peak, even residents in two adjacent holes could not manage to visit each other.

Because observing the holes still below the water level, one could discover that when the liquid seeped out of the holes, a membrane similar to a bubble would appear.

This meant that the liquid concentration inside each hole was far lower than in the external public area.

Normal evil spirits would feel incomparably tormented in their own cells. If they wanted to leave their hole to visit others, they would have to face the area where the liquid was most concentrated.

Even now, from my perspective outside, I can see these holes, but from the perspective inside the holes, the surroundings are completely wrapped in water ripples; the prisoners inside are unable to discover the existence of the holes.

It's like pouring molten iron into a mold; after it cools and takes shape, you throw a bug inside. From its perspective, there is only the iron it cannot drill through; it has no idea that there is a mold outside.

Only that guy Wei Zhengdao would dare to do this, and even more, actually succeed.

And the reason Ye Dui could go to Wei Zhengdao's cell was perhaps because Wei Zhengdao had secretly come to see him long ago, chose him as his pawn, and left a trail where he had walked between his own cell and Ye Dui's, or rather, by his own strength, created a membrane passage.

Lin Shu pointed to the entrance of a hole above: "Brother Xiaoyuan, there is a mark left by the Three-Eyed One."

A piece of clothing fabric was hung there, and a standard butterfly knot was tied on the fabric. Zhao Yi liked to tie this knot on his own skin when stopping bleeding.

Li Li Zhuiyuan looked up and said to his companions through the red thread:

"Stay alert. Zhao Yi and the others have run into trouble."

Lu Runsheng, Lin Shu, and Tan Tan Wenbin immediately formed a triangular formation, protecting the youth in the middle.

Zhao Yi was here to scout the path, but only up to this point. He had no need to leave a message here in the form of a mark; he could have completely sent someone back to convey it, which would have been more secure.

That butterfly knot was likely tied by Zhao Yi; this was his unique personal habit, but it wasn't to point the way for me. On the contrary, it was precisely to tell me that he had already been targeted by "someone."

And the position of that butterfly knot should have also been altered. The hole it marked was very likely the path that the existence in the dark wanted me and the others to take.

The tomb owner is not home, but the tomb is not empty; there is still one guy here.

For Li Li Zhuiyuan, Zhao Yi is a very easy person to guess because he is very smart and very calm. Even if they are separated, they can both deduce each other's behavioral logic.

Zhao Yi wouldn't drill into a hole for no reason, but there are no signs of battle or residual aura of a battle here. If he discovered danger, Zhao Yi would also return with his team without hesitation to rendezvous with my side.

The only situation that fits the disappearance of Zhao Yi's team is...

Li Li Zhuiyuan lowered his head and looked at the ice layer under his feet.

The ice layer melts, the water level rises. If one doesn't want to fall into it and wait for death, one can only be forced to choose a hole to take refuge in.

The first thing to be submerged must be the way back; Zhao Yi and the others cannot return.

But my group has also arrived here now. Why not use the same method used on Zhao Yi and the others to "drive" me away, but instead leave that butterfly knot to point the way?

That "person" who still exists in the depths of this ancient burial does not want me to know of his existence.

That person is like doing a relay race, still pushing me along the plot line already designed.

That person might not know that the "Wordless Book" is not in their own hands, nor do they know that the tomb owner failed to return home;

It is also possible they do know, but that person had no other choice and could only drive away the unexpected factors, Zhao Yi and his group, to clear the stage for their own upcoming appearance.

This script actually has both a main director and an assistant director.

The main director couldn't get in, so the assistant director continues to run the show.

Li Li Zhuiyuan has guessed who that person is.

Zhao Yi's scouting was indeed very valuable; not only did he expose that person in advance, but he also pointed out the true direction for his current self.

Li Li Zhuiyuan turned back to look at the hole they had entered through; that was the tunnel Wei Zhengdao had dug out back then, and also the passage through which Ye Dui was "kicked" back to his cell.

With the water level having dropped to this position and frozen, it allows for a seamless connection with this ice surface when walking out from the passage.

Li Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes and, in his mind, filled in the hollow environment above.