65. Xuanwu's Space
Tang Xi, disregarding her injuries, propped herself up.
We must get out of here as soon as possible!
Sensing the change in Tang Xihe's will, golden light seeped out from all directions inside the tower, shining on Tang Xihe. The golden light was as thick as magma and erupted in an instant.
Suddenly pierced by a blinding light in the darkness, Tang Xihe could barely open her eyes and could only support herself in a half-kneeling position. The light, carrying the oppressive aura of "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li," pressed in from all directions, quickly overwhelming Tang Xihe and gradually eroding her protective spiritual energy.
Whispers murmured in her ears, penetrating her very consciousness, threatening to shatter the revitalized Tangxi.
"Kneel down..."
"give up……"
"What a waste of money..."
"A reclusive eccentric..."
Tang Xi tried to stand up several times, but was forced to kneel on the ground by the powerful pressure. Sweat and blood mixed together and dripped onto the ground.
The Vermilion Bird's Heart-Guarding Bracelet flickered on his wrist, and a series of fragmented sounds echoed in his mind.
what to do?
Tang Xi was filled with anxiety. He closed his eyes to calm himself and recalled the figures of his companions. As his memories flashed back, the Heart-Guarding Bracelet on his wrist emitted a burning heat, giving him strength.
I can't fall here.
I want to see Xiao Chun unleash a powerful attack that breaks through the void, I want to witness the reopening of the sealed secret realm, and I want to personally explore those undeveloped areas.
We can't fall here!
Tang Xi suddenly opened her eyes, and her spiritual energy surged violently as she tried to resist the oppressive aura emanating from her body!
……fail.
Tang Xi was pressed to the ground by an even stronger pressure, his body covered in cold sweat. The golden light became increasingly dazzling, making it difficult for him to open his eyes.
However, it was during his struggle that Tang Xi accidentally caught a sense of "breaking free." Although he was trapped inside the pagoda of the Water Mirror, his senses were amplified infinitely, and he suddenly broke free.
His perception became subtle and acute—his consciousness broke through the limitations of the pagoda, and he could not only "see" the semi-transparent Li Jing outside the pagoda, whose hands were forming hand seals to control the pagoda, but Tang Xi could even "see" beyond the water mirror.
The world outside the water mirror remained chaotic, with many people surrounding him.
Bei Chen's fists were already covered in blood, the poison lines that Gui Fang had been endlessly entwining were broken into pieces, Xiao Chun's long sword was getting dull inch by inch, and the nine-headed octopus with three heads was riding on the back of the skeleton fish he had only met once... There were also many Tang Xi and strangers, with extraordinary auras, wearing golden armor and wielding different magical weapons, constantly attacking, trying to find a gap in the water mirror.
There are so many people?
Her gaze swept around the room, finally settling on Xiao Chun's face, which was a mess of tears and snot streaming down her face. Tang Xi suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
Fear, hesitation, shadows, all worries, under extreme pressure, are crushed little by little by the overwhelming force.
We have to get out!
Tang Xi suddenly opened her eyes, her confusion gone, and her aura suddenly became sharp. She supported herself with one hand on her knee and the other on the wall, trying her best to get up. Her movements were slow, but her eyes were calm, and her palms were raised.
My power comes from within myself; my sword is my will!
Without any earth-shattering energy convergence or any unusual phenomena that changed the weather, the light in Tangxi's palm quickly condensed into an ancient longsword. The sword was transparent, but countless points of light flowed inside. What he didn't notice was that on the hilt, there were faint patterns of flying birds and the shimmering light of flowing water reflecting each other.
The pagoda space sensed the changes in Tangxi and began to tremble violently, with the pressure intensifying. It felt as if dozens or even hundreds of mountains were about to crash down from all directions, intending to completely crush the people inside the pagoda.
Tang Xi withdrew all her external senses and carefully sensed the space of the pagoda. She mobilized all her spiritual power and focused all her attention on the sword in her hand. With a simple thrust, she pierced through the air!
The Tang family's Soul-Severing Blade has only one move, which is enough to get into the upper class. However, very few people can actually use it to break through the air. Therefore, for hundreds of years, the Tang family has been hanging on by a thread, with a lack of successors, barely managing to stay at the bottom of the eight major families.
Unexpectedly, he still had to use the "Breaking Through the Void" technique in the end, and it was after recalling some unpleasant memories.
A surge of immense spiritual power condensed into a single point at the tip of the sword and burst forth! Wherever the sword tip pointed, time seemed to freeze, piercing through the golden tower wall. Space emitted a piercing sound as it struggled to bear the weight, and cracks spread from the sword tip.
Click—
The cracks spread like a spider web across the entire tower in an instant. The next moment, with a deafening roar, the tower exploded, turning into countless golden specks of light that vanished without a trace.
Nothing appeared outside the tower. Neither the phantom of Li Jing in the clouds nor the "revolving lantern" seen in the pitch-black space could be seen. All that could be seen was still darkness.
But by the golden light scattering from the pagoda, Tang Xihe sensed something amiss. There was another presence in the space, hiding in the distance, trembling with fear.
It was a grayish, ethereal shadow. As the golden light vanished completely, Tangxi and her vision could no longer perceive it. Perhaps the shadow had been hiding in that corner all along, subtly blending into the darkness, observing everything in the water mirror world.
Is this the monster that manipulates the water mirror? A mirror demon?
Tang Xi slowly turned towards the direction of the Mirror Demon. Her aura was completely different from a moment ago. Although it was more restrained, it was also more profound. The sword in her hand was slowly dissipating, and the light in her eyes was sharp.
He looked at the mirror demon and spoke calmly, yet his voice carried a power that could penetrate anything.
"What has trapped me has never been this tower, but my past self."
"Now, it's your turn."
The phantom was startled and dodged left and right, only to find itself nowhere to hide. It tried to solidify into Li Jing's likeness again, but was shattered by Tang Xi's palm strike.
The illusory image, which dissipated into a thin mist, vanished into thin air. What had made him half-dead with anger was nothing more than a phantom.
Tang Xi breathed a sigh of relief. It was finally over. Now she should be able to leave, right?
He stood in silence for a while, then caught something out of the corner of his eye—strange silk ribbons slowly drifting in from the darkness…
Are you coming again?
Tang Xihe had to force herself to stay alert. The soft, ethereal silk was as flexible as a living snake, slithering around Tang Xihe and radiating a gentle spiritual energy.
This is 'silk' formed from spiritual energy!
Tangxi was incredulous. She reached out and gently stroked the dark blue silk. It had a very gentle aura. Her hand was in the soft and cool spiritual energy, which was like flowing water. It was like playing with the slime that Xiaochun used to love to play with. It was so soft that she couldn't hold it, but she could still touch it clearly.
This aura feels so familiar. Where have I encountered it before?
Before Tang Xihe could even think of it, the soft, dark blue silk wrapped around her and held her tightly.
?
Tang Xi felt something was wrong and tried to break free, but the more she struggled, the more she felt like she was falling into a spider web, her whole body entangled by a limp and inescapable spiritual energy.
That darn Fu Ningjing is still messing with me!
It has a delicate, silky, soft, and cool texture. It disperses upon touch and then gathers back together in another place. Moreover, this spiritual energy has a healing effect. The horrific wound on my arm is healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
It seems this thing won't hurt me?
Tangxi gradually relaxed, letting the strange, dark blue soft silk support her and carry her further and further away.
Where will we go next?
Tangxi and he were always easygoing, so they simply closed their eyes to rest, drifting aimlessly with the soft silk flowing like water.
...
Tangxi was drowsy and half-awake, and she could feel subtle fluctuations of spiritual energy nearby.
Tang Xi suddenly opened her eyes and went into a state of alertness. There was nothing beneath her feet; she was still floating in mid-air.
What comes into view is a deep and tranquil body of water, with shimmering waves all around, as if you were at the bottom of a starry sea.
Where is this? Are we still in Shuijing?
Tang Xi was puzzled and looked around. This place was like an underwater world, with many marine creatures floating around her. The semi-transparent creatures seemed unafraid of humans, and some even dared to rub against Tang Xi intimately.
He turned around, cradling a sea hare spirit, his gaze slightly lowered. A child stood silently before him, hands clasped behind his back, his demeanor composed, his eyes revealing no emotion.
"...Xuanwu?"
"It's me."
Xuanwu said bluntly, "You don't look well."
Did you heal my wounds?
Tang Xi put down the silk quilt, and his feet touched the ground for the first time in a long time. He almost lost his balance. "Thank you."
Xuanwu gestured for them to enter, and a coral chair appeared out of thin air behind them. The purple scallops nestled lazily in it, automatically opening their shells to reveal pale yellow clams that were blowing bubbles.
"..."
The familiar aesthetic was that of Xuanwu himself. Tangxi and Mengdong sat down, "You're trapped in the water mirror too?"
"No, you are the one who is trapped."
As Xuanwu spoke, a cup of hot tea appeared out of thin air in his hand. He gently blew on the rim of the cup, lifted his eyelids, and asked, "Would you like some? It's a refreshing drink to help you regain your strength."
Tang Xi quickly shook her head, "No, no, thank you."
"Give it a try."
Xuanwu conjured up another cup out of thin air. Tangxi was about to refuse when she found herself holding the teacup with both hands.
Xuanwu said, "Take a sip now and see if the taste has changed."
Xuanwu looked like a soft, childlike child who was easy to talk to, but his attitude was tough. Tangxi took a sip with some doubt, and her features immediately scrunched up. She coughed twice and said, "It's very bitter, but it doesn't hurt my throat anymore."
Xuanwu gave a short laugh. "You've made some progress."
He speaks in a cryptic and ambiguous way.
Tang Xi mumbled to herself, taking small sips of Zhaoxinshui. It has to be said, although this stuff tasted awful, its energy-boosting effect was truly remarkable; one cup and she was already brimming with strength.
"The most touching virtue of humankind to me is forgiveness. Many people misunderstand this beautiful virtue and think it is weakness."
Xuanwu asked, "What do you think?"
So you were trying to reason with me?
Tang Xihe's initial reserve vanished, and she said politely, "I will not forgive anyone who has hurt me, no matter who they are. Perhaps I will only understand the power of forgiveness when I reach your age."
"..." Xuanwu silently took a sip of tea.
Humans are unlikely to live more than tens of thousands of years?
Xuanwu did not refute, the water around him gently swirling around Tangxi, bringing a touch of coolness. "Time only provides distance, true forgiveness has nothing to do with age."
Tang Xi looked up, his tone even more distant. He didn't like being lectured; he just wanted to escape as soon as possible. His tone also became somewhat impatient. "What does that have to do with?"
"It has to do with how you see yourself."
Xuanwu asked, "When you hold tightly to your hatred for him, who is truly imprisoned in the tower by that hatred?"
Tang Xi was taken aback. He remembered the pagoda he had just broken open with his own hands, opened his mouth, but did not answer immediately.
Xuanwu looked into the void, where the flowing water created a mirror image, reflecting Tangxi and the angry face trapped in the pagoda. He continued slowly, "This is you."
Tangxi and Xuanwu looked at it together, and from an objective perspective, their feelings were quite strange.
“I don’t know how you broke the pagoda, but now you are still willingly building an invisible tower for yourself, trapping yourself in it, and carrying the burden of evil words and harm on your shoulders.”
"The person is here, but the heart is still imprisoned in the cage of the past."
Tang Xi's body tensed slightly. Xuanwu's words were like a needle, precise and sharp, piercing the most hidden corner of his heart.
"So you mean you want me to forget everything from the past?"
"No, I hope you can let yourself go."
Xuanwu's tone remained unchanged, "What I'm trying to say is, if you let the pain of the past consume your spirit indefinitely, you will be trapped in the tower forever."
Tang Xi understood; it turned out that his being trapped in the Water Mirror was Xuanwu's arrangement.
In the reflection of the flowing water, Tangxi and his heroic figure wielding a sword and breaking through the tower appeared, forming a stark contrast to the melancholy between his brows at this moment.
Xuanwu asked, "Your move just now, the one that pierced the air, was the only move of the Tang family's Soul-Severing Blade. Did you modify it?"
"Um."
"The sharpness of the sword, the power of the spiritual energy... Indeed, this sword strike originated from your complete focus at that moment."
Tang Xi looked at her reflection in the water mirror and fell silent, her clenched fists loosening slightly.
Xuanwu noticed that Tangxi's tense attitude had relaxed slightly before continuing, "Your friends and family are very worried about you. Aren't you going out to check on them?"
"Yes, I really want to go out right now."
Tang Xi glanced at him sideways and asked, "Are you willing to let me go?"
"I have no grudge against you, so there is no need for me to trap you."
Xuanwu spoke in a cryptic tone, his face still bearing the innocence of a child, and said in a deep voice, "What's trapping you is yourself. If you want to leave, you can leave; your legs are your own."
Tangxi glanced at Xuanwu with a mixture of disbelief and skepticism.
Ripples of water spread through the air, and soft, clear silk, like flowing water, floated by again, gently lifting Tang Xihe's hand. The Vermilion Bird Heart-Guarding Bracelet on her wrist emitted a warm light, and Tang Xihe unconsciously glanced at her wrist.
Xuanwu suddenly leaned over and poked the Heart-Guarding Bracelet, saying, "The Vermilion Bird is calling you."
"Huh?" Tang Xi asked in surprise, "How did you know?"
"We can sense each other's feelings."
Xuanwu asked, "Aren't you going? I heard you're trapped. All he does is cry, and he made the Azure Dragon and White Tiger run away."
Can't you guys try to comfort the child? You have no patience for kids at all!
Tang Xi inwardly grumbled and strongly condemned the serious criticism, but outwardly humbly asked for advice, "Then how do I get there? Can I go directly to Fragrance Cemetery from here?"
"Yes, you can go anywhere you want. I told you, your legs are your own."
Xuanwu snapped his fingers at Tangxi and then gave a mysterious smile—a smile that was chilling on his otherwise expressionless face.
"Let me give you a ride. You seem to be recovering quite quickly. You can climb out yourself."
? ? ?
Tang Xi was shocked. "Where are you going to throw me this time?"
I was completely outmaneuvered by Xuanwu.
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