Chapter 2188: Farewell, 'Artifact Spirit

He Ping Sheng did not continue refining the Seven Incantations Book.

He always felt that this thing was somewhat strange.

He held the book in his hand and looked at it—twelve pages, not one less, not one more.

Not...

How could it possibly be twenty-three pages?

Although he did not recognize the patterns and symbols on it, from the overall appearance, this thing looked complete, with nothing missing.

Indeed, twelve pages?

He Ping Sheng placed the book aside, temporarily closed his eyes, and recalled the scene he had just seen while refining the Seven Incantations Book.

Not twenty-three pages!

From their conversation, it could be known that this book originally should have had more than twenty-three pages.

That is to say, when that woman took over the Seven Incantations Book, she only had twenty-three pages.

When I took it over, I only had twelve pages.

Hmm...

Where did the missing pages go?

What was missing?

Why does this book appear complete when viewed?

"Gu elder sister... Gu elder sister..."

"Hong Lu!"

"You two come over!"

Gu Bai Ping and Zheng Hong Lu walked over.

Qian Zhu also followed behind, secretly sticking out his head, looking curious.

He Ping Sheng said: "Qian Zhu, since you have no Divine Sense, don't come—go stand guard!"

"Oh..." Qian Zhu turned his head and left.

He Ping Sheng directly placed the Seven Incantations Book in the empty space before him: "This is the Seven Incantations Book!"

Gu Bai Ping knew the Seven Incantations Book, so she was not overly shocked, but merely looked curiously at the book.

However, Zheng Hong Lu was different.

She was nearly frightened silly.

"This this this this... father father... Young Master..."

"You you you you... you actually have this thing?"

When He Ping Sheng previously took out the Hong Meng Dao Bell, he had already frightened her enough; now he took out another Seven Incantations Book?

Her uncle is the titled God Emperor of the Space Great Dao, and he himself is a God King; Zheng Hong Lu's experience is naturally not comparable to ordinary people—she has certainly heard of the Seven Incantations Book and the Dao Bell, and knows the weight of these two things.

But...

Two supreme treasures of heaven and earth actually appeared simultaneously in the Young Master's hands?

Young Master...

So powerful?

"This Seven Incantations Book was just refined by me for one layer, but I encountered some small problems!"

"Now, you two come refine it!"

"Gu Bai Ping, you go first!"

He Ping Sheng slightly flicked his right hand, and sent the Seven Incantations Book to Gu Bai Ping's front.

Gu Bai Ping respectfully received the book, immediately sat cross-legged, and began refining.

First step, erase He Ping Sheng's mark.

Second step, formally refine.

After about the time of half an incense stick, He Ping Sheng interrupted her and asked: "Done, now tell me, which layer of restriction have you refined to?"

Gu Bai Ping said: "Young Master, I have already refined the thirteenth layer!"

Fast!

This was also within He Ping Sheng's expectations.

When refining a divine artifact, the first few layers are quick—almost one breath per layer—but the further back, the slower; to fully refine over a hundred layers would likely take hundreds of years.

"Then..." He Ping Sheng asked again: "During refining, did you encounter any special circumstances?"

"For example, seeing some images you have never seen before, or things that only consciousness and divine sense can touch?"

He looked at Gu Bai Ping.

Gu Bai Ping was stunned for a moment, then shook her head: "No... nothing at all!"

"Nothing at all?" He Ping Sheng found it strange.

He handed the book again to Zheng Hong Lu: "Hong Lu, now you come refine it!"

"Yes!" Zheng Hong Lu took the book, also sat cross-legged, and began refining.

After the same time of half an incense stick, He Ping Sheng asked: "Stop, Hong Lu, tell me how many layers you have refined."

Zheng Hong Lu said: "This servant has refined thirteen layers!"

"This servant, like Elder Sister Gu, also saw nothing—just normal refining!"

Before He Ping Sheng could ask, Zheng Hong Lu answered first.

"Alright!" He Ping Sheng waved his hand: "You two may go out!"

The two women left, and He Ping Sheng took back the Seven Incantations Book.

He wiped away Zheng Hong Lu's traces above and re-refined it.

Just as he finished refining the first layer, He Ping Sheng's Divine Sense was once again pulled into that mysterious void space, and then he heard the repeated conversation again.

Damn...

He Ping Sheng's whole body went numb: Again?

Still the exact same conversation!

Why?

Why am I the only one who can see this vision while others cannot?

He Ping Sheng racked his brains but could not figure it out.

He did not continue refining the Seven Incantations Technique, but instead temporarily stopped.

Although some things are destined to be incomprehensible, one still ought to think about them.

For example, why does this book's page count decrease?

Is it that each refinement reduces the page count by one!

If that speculation holds, then many people must have refined it, and the Seven Incantations Book must have had many previous owners.

But why did I alone hear the conversation of the owner of page twenty-three and some nameless person?

Why were the conversations of those other people not left behind?

Moreover, why can't Gu Bai Ping and Zheng Hong Lu hear those conversations?

They also mentioned Tai Sui, suggesting that the formation of Tai Sui might also be related to this book.

Then... why?

He Ping Sheng began to ponder.

But after thinking for a long time, all the conclusions he reached were based on assumptions, and the key is that such assumptions are not just one.

Thinking of this, He Ping Sheng shook his head again.

Forget it!

Better to refine it first; if I can fully refine this Seven Incantations Book, perhaps I can see more information.

One layer!

Two layers!

Three layers!

Four hundred years later, He Ping Sheng fully refined all one hundred and eight layers of restrictions on the Seven Incantations Book.

Finally, this book completely belonged to him.

Boom...

At the very moment He Ping Sheng refined the one hundred and eight layers of restrictions, his Divine Sense was once again pulled into a space.

In the hazy gray space, evil aura filled everywhere.

It was almost exactly the same as the space He Ping Sheng had entered before, but this time it seemed even more real.

"Ah..." that mechanical voice sounded again.

He Ping Sheng was still wondering who he would hear talking this time, when the mechanical voice sighed again and said: "Alas... what a splendid heavenly pride, why do you walk this path again?"

"Why aren't you speaking?"

After a few breaths, He Ping Sheng remained silent, and the voice asked again.

He Ping Sheng then realized: Damn it, this isn't someone else's conversation, this is talking to me?

"Is... is it talking to me?" He Ping Sheng asked.

"Yes!" the mechanical voice sighed again: "You have refined the Seven Incantations Book, haven't you?"

"Alas..."

"Everyone wants to become the ruler of this era, everyone wants to control others' lives!"

"Is that meaningful?"

He asked He Ping Sheng.

He Ping Sheng could not see anyone, only hear the voice.

He asked the voice: "Are you the artifact spirit of the Seven Incantations Book?"

The other party seemed not good at answering questions.

He countered: "How many pages does the current Seven Incantations Book still have?"

He Ping Sheng said: "If you don't know how many pages are left, why do you need to ask me?"

"I don't know!" the mechanical voice replied: "It's not that just anyone can wake me up; sometimes it takes several or even more than ten people before I awaken once!"

"I remember when I last awoke, this Seven Incantations Book still had twenty-three pages!"

He Ping Sheng said: "Now, before I refined this book, it still had twelve pages!"

"Oh?" the mechanical voice murmured slightly, then sighed again: "Alas... unknowingly, another eleven people have become slaves of the book!"

"Must it be done this way?"

"Even if one's head is broken and blood flows, must one still control others' lives?"

"High above, ruling over everything, what exactly does that feel like?"