Chapter 249: Finally Over

The mountain wind visited each Divine Hall in turn, emitting a wailing sound as it passed between the rows of stone pillars.

Chen Shu sat on the ground, deep in thought.

Another world...

In modern terminology, it should be called a Plane.

Modern Space and Plane Studies posits that we exist within a "Great Plane Hive Universe," meaning the universe is like a beehive, divided into many cells by an invisible force that is difficult to observe in detail, and each cell is a Plane.

Chen Shu had a girlfriend majoring in "Space and Plane Studies" who was not currently in a relationship, so he understood a little bit about this.

So, this was a war between Planes.

It lasted at least several thousand years and ended several hundred years ago.

It was just that the residual power of the gods from the other world still affected this continent, making it a Forbidden Zone for human Cultivators and a source of heartache for all of humanity.

Fortunately, there were Imperial Beasts guarding this place.

"So that's how it is."

Chen Shu felt as if the clouds had parted.

Ning Qing, sitting beside him, felt the same.

The Secret Sect was not omniscient; on the contrary, the amount of information one possessed was crucial to a Secret Sect Practitioner.

The two could not help but exchange a glance.

The wind wailed in their ears.

Without a word, they stood up simultaneously and walked out of this Divine Hall.

Zhang Suannai, behind them, was a bit bewildered; while asking where they were going, she also stood up and followed them to explore this Divine Hall.

The Divine Halls were located among the mountains, forming a remarkable ancient grotto; there were about several dozen halls in total, all of the same specifications, with varying degrees of weathering, but their original appearance could no longer be discerned.

Chen Shu visited them one by one.

He felt a sudden sense of melancholy.

If these gods were truly existing deities, then they likely died for this world, perhaps even falling in battle; yet, even so, they had still disappeared into the long river of history without a sound.

Now, this place had become the Beast Ancestral Court, likely also serving as a "Frontline Command Center," with many High-Tier Imperial Beasts gathered here.

Many of these Imperial Beasts did not exist in the outside world.

Chen Shu even saw an Imperial Beast.

This type of Imperial Beast looked very similar to the projection summoned by Yan Keling, but it was not the same; at the same time, it now had slight differences from the appearance of the Imperial Beast recorded in the "Classic of Imperial Beasts" unearthed from the Yuanzhou Fangti, just like other Imperial Beasts, it was constantly changing.

Overall, it had become more like the projection summoned by Yan Keling.

It seemed the Imperial Sect was connected to the other side of the starry sky.

Chen Shu took out his Mobile Phone.

There was still no satellite signal.

It wasn't until he saw Zhang Suannai take out a specialized communicator that he realized, and he also fished out the communicator the Spirit Sect had given him.

Sure enough, there were a few messages on it—

Sect: Where are you?

Sect: Please reply upon receiving this message.

Sect: If you have arrived at an unknown continent, do not trust any humans, move quickly to the north, the south may encounter bombing at any time, you can trust the Imperial Beasts.

Chen Shu: Received, we are safe.

Chen Shu: Currently located in the north of Nanzhou, Imperial Beasts have received us and said they will send us out in a while.

Chen Shu: Please help me send a message to the number "173****"...

The principle of this communicator was ancient and backward, different from modern communication; it was more like a modern application of the ancient Communication Talisman. Each message would be sent out in the form of many strands of special Spirit Power, searching for its destination, so its communication latency was very high, very, very high. However, with the support of modern technology, this technique had become much more powerful, capable of global communication, and the data was not easily lost.

He didn't know how long it would take to get a reply from the Sect.

The three of them found three adjacent Divine Halls that were not badly damaged, settled in, and prepared for a long stay.

Chen Shu had a premonition—

He would spend his 22nd birthday here.

There was still more than a month left.

Perhaps Qingqing would also spend her 22nd birthday here.

Yujing had warmed up slightly, but it was still very cold.

The sun came out today.

The young girl was wearing a navy blue sweater, no coat, sitting alone on the swing in the courtyard eating lunch.

Lunch was boiled potatoes, sliced in half, smeared with a layer of chili powder in the middle, then put back together; one bite, and it was fragrant and spicy—so delicious.

"Hoo..."

The young girl's cheeks were flushed, and she exhaled hot air.

The note her sister left her said that after returning to school following the New Year, she had to bury sheep manure and slow-release fertilizer for her roses; for those planted in the ground, it had to be buried in the soil, and for the potted ones, she had to scrape off the top layer of soil, bury it, and fill it with new soil—it was so troublesome.

It was precisely because she found it troublesome that she only did it today.

Anyway, her sister wouldn't know.

Even if she did, it wouldn't matter; she wasn't home anyway.

By the time she returned, she would no longer be the person she was today. It wouldn't matter if the future her got a beating; it wouldn't hurt right now.

The swing swayed, creaking.

The potato was piping hot in the middle, and with her brother-in-law's chili powder, it was both spicy and hot, making her have to exhale a long breath before she could chew each bite, and then she would subconsciously swing her feet because it was so delicious.

I miss my brother-in-law so much.

I also miss my sister so much.

"Ding-dong!"

The Mobile Phone suddenly rang.

It was a text message.

Oh no, wait, two.

One was sent from an unknown number.

It seemed to be from her brother-in-law, reporting that he was safe, saying it would be a while before he returned, and that he couldn't communicate with her, telling her not to worry.

After reading it, the little girl felt no ripples in her heart, and even took another bite of her potato.

Not worried at all...

Just a little bit of longing.

If he can't come back and can't video call, this message is completely useless.

The little girl opened the second message.

It was a notification from the University City cultivation hospital regarding the results of her Spirit Sea opening recommendation, telling her to check the official account.

The little girl stuffed the potato into her mouth and bit it, immediately opening the official account—for the past few months, she had gone to the hospital for a check-up on the first of every month, but the result the hospital issued every time was "not recommended."

The little girl was not discouraged.

This time it was finally different.

Seeing the words "recommend opening Spirit Sea" in the bottom right corner of the electronic version, although the little girl still had an expressionless face, her hand had already clenched into a fist.

This is more like it!

The best period for a female to open a Spirit Sea is between seventeen and twenty years old; she had already turned seventeen, and she was already in the second semester of her freshman year, and next semester she would be a sophomore senior, so how could it be that she was always unable to open a Spirit Sea!

Before, it was mostly likely the hospital that had a problem.

This time it was correct.

Opening the Spirit Sea! Defeating my sister! It's right before my eyes!

The little girl clenched her fist tight!

At this moment, another Mobile Phone rang, and she hurriedly fished it out to check it carefully.

Yesterday, her brother-in-law posted a status complaining about how troublesome her sister was, and many people commented; as a thoughtful sister-in-law, she had to help her brother-in-law reply to them.

But she didn't have to reply to every comment; her brother-in-law was a very lazy person.

Zhusha: You should have more patience with your girlfriend / cute

Not replying to this one.

Yan Keling: Your girlfriend is so pretty, Senior Brother, you should be content; girls all have little flaws, you have to learn to be tolerant.

It's a girl, not replying, not replying.

Meng Chunqiu: What's so good about dating? Romantic feelings are all minor Daoist paths; Brother Chen, return to the country quickly, let us discuss poetry and songs properly.

Chen Shu replied to Meng Chunqiu's comment: That makes sense.

Jiang Lai: When is Brother Chen coming back?

Chen Shu replied to Jiang Lai's comment: We'll see.

Chen Banxia: Why aren't you guys back yet? I've missed you all to death! Also, where is my yogurt? I told her to go find you guys, why has she had no news either?

Chen Shu replied to Chen Banxia's comment: I miss you and Xiaoxiao too, haha, but I haven't had enough fun yet.

The little girl held the Mobile Phone, her feet swinging back and forth.

2nd day of the 2nd lunar month, Dragon Raises Its Head, sunny.

The third day of arriving in Nanzhou.

I feel like the accommodation conditions here aren't even as good as the house I originally built on the small island; although it doesn't leak rain, it is drafty, and there is no door, and although it is convenient for me to go visit Qingqing next door at any time, it is also convenient for Zhang Suannai. Zhang Suannai is just too noisy; I already can't stand it anymore.

Want to hit her.

Is this how I am in Qingqing's eyes usually?

Probably not, right?

Qingqing loves me.

However, the Spirit Power here is truly miraculous; cultivation is twice as effective with half the effort.

I heard this is the residue of Divine Power.

At the same time, I received a message from the sect today; they told me to cultivate here with peace of mind and said they would send a ship to pick us up in a while. I was right before; the sect must have received a hint from a Secret Sect big shot or someone of an even higher level.

February 22nd, sunny.

That Lord Huang came to mooch a meal again? again? again? again.

It's not that I'm not hospitable, it's just that its appetite is too big, and it's too hard to deal with.

Fortunately, Lord Huang is still very useful; it can always bring me a lot of news or take me to find surrounding ruins. I am certain that a brilliant and magnificent civilization once existed in this place, probably the country mentioned in some materials of the Xia Dynasty and Yu Dynasty.

Lord Huang also said there is a Square Body here.

Pity it's on the other side, can't go there.

Last night there was a Ninth Stage battle; several Ninth Stage existences among the strange beasts went out together to kill him.

The power of those "humans" on the other side is also very strong.

No wonder they have been able to hold a stalemate with the strange beasts for thousands of years.

March 10th, light rain.

Today is my 22nd birthday.

To have some fun, we asked Lord Huang to take us to the seaside to look for mermaids; guess what we found?

A pack of fur seals.

(￣︶￣)

A birthday worth remembering.

……

April 10th, cloudy.

Today Qingqing is also 22 years old.

One year left until 23.

If it weren't for the Divine Hall being drafty, and if it weren't for Zhang Suannai being here, I would have insisted on getting some service in advance no matter what.

At the same time, my cultivation has reached the peak of the Fifth Stage, and my Spirit Sea can hardly progress further. Very good, I've caught up to Zhang Suannai directly. If we were to fight again now, if she doesn't rely on the power of the Divine Sword, there is a high probability she wouldn't be able to beat me.

If this silly goose acts cheap and provokes me again, I think I can try beating her up.

After all, I am a duo.

……

May 13th, cloudy.

So hot.

Last night I dreamed of Chen Banxia and Wei Lvshi; it seems I really miss them. After waking up, I wondered why I didn't dream of Chen Jiaoshou, but then I realized it might be because his stocks lost too much money and he was beaten into the hospital by Wei Lvshi.

So hot, so hot, so hot...

Lord Huang is really too much of a worry.

On such a hot day, it wants to eat roasted Sword Pig.

Hey, you say, if you want to eat then eat, I'll roast it for you, but what do you mean by bringing a whole pack of dogs over?

……

June 14th.

Why is this place so hot?

Yujing is still better.

By the way, Yujing Academy must be on summer break already, right?

My sophomore year was just skipped like that?

That is absolutely absurd.

Zhang Suannai says her Spirit Sea Lock is already very fragile; if we stay here any longer, perhaps she can advance directly without the help of an Auxiliary Potion.

Not just her; over this past month, I have been polishing my Spirit Sea Lock alone, and the gains have been exceptionally obvious.

Divine Power is truly worthy of being called Divine Power.

Fortunately, I heard from Lord Huang that the clearing operations in the south are almost over.

It's just that their vitality is too tenacious.

I heard that the underground of the entire southern part of Nanzhou has been almost completely tunneled through by them, and with thousands of years of operations, various Runes and Formations, even exotic beasts find it difficult to clear them out completely. Perhaps we will have to wait until there is a qualitative breakthrough in outside technology, or until the gods determine it is completely safe and return to the human world, before they can be thoroughly eradicated.

The Spirit Sect's ship is also arriving soon.

Finally, I can return to the country.

Missing Xiaoxiao, missing Chen Banxia, missing my roommates and teachers, missing the silly goose group members, missing the short-video bloggers I follow.

How many times has the game been updated?

I don't even want to play anymore.