Chapter 1471: This is a BUG (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Shen Tang wanted to avoid the topic.
"Looking at the tide means I should prepare myself mentally."
Kang Shi wisely refrained from pressing the matter further.
What's the difference between Gu Wangchao's words and issuing a critical illness notice?
"With a steadfast and unwavering mind, one can surely understand one's true nature and turn misfortune into good fortune." Those years at Yuehua Tower were nothing less than a time to temper one's character in the mortal world. Literary scholars spend their entire lives pursuing their true selves and their own path; the more steadfast their will, the more likely they are to reach the other shore.
In terms of willpower, Kang Shi himself admitted that he could not compare.
only--
Chu Wuhui's current situation is probably even more dangerous than his situation back then, when he was practically on the verge of death.
If Chu Wuhui were to step into that situation, it's unimaginable how the master would go mad—literati are all mentally ill, and the master is also a literary figure, so naturally he wouldn't be an exception. Over the years, she has maintained a stable mental state, appearing sunny and cheerful, seemingly no different from ordinary people. This isn't because she's particularly healthy, but rather because she hasn't encountered any factors that would trigger her illness.
If Chu Wuhui were to die, then the factors would be there.
Shen Tang: "Why does Ji Shou look like he wants to say something but hesitates?"
"Is there still bad news I haven't told you?"
Kang Shi said awkwardly, "...There really is one."
He received news of progress in the domestic epidemic and thought the situation had taken a turn for the better, finally able to rest easy. However, that very night he had another nightmare. The difference between this nightmare and the previous one was that the epidemic had shifted from an internal outbreak to an external threat.
The gates of Fengluo City were tightly shut, and countless commoners huddled inside the city walls, trembling with fear. Outside the city, a vast horde of grotesque, blue-faced, fanged patients roamed.
Outside the city, patients were dressed in various clothes for all seasons, including soldiers in tattered armor. These patients were more agile and stronger than the other commoner patients; the craters on the Fengluo city wall were all made by their bare hands.
It's not hard to deduce the reason by considering reality.
Just because there is no epidemic inside doesn't mean there isn't one outside.
Ning Yan adopted a preventative approach to the epidemic, and many medical professionals risked their lives for it. However, areas outside of Kangguo did not take it so seriously, and most places were unaware that such a hidden danger was about to erupt. The central government was the driving force behind all of this.
"What happened to the nightmare?"
"I didn't finish watching it; I woke up halfway through. The dream images were blurrier and more chaotic than before, which means that the probability of this future happening is not as high as before. Perhaps... there is some variable that even we don't know affecting the outcome."
However, Kang Shi was not Jiang Sheng, so he could not deduce it.
Shen Tang covered her face with her hands and bent over, giving up on herself.
"Destroy it."
It's said that people who have mental illness become much more energetic. Why can everyone else get it, but she can't?
Sometimes, she genuinely envied Zheng Qiao, who could act crazy anytime, anywhere; it was better to kill someone than to be killed by them.
Kang Shi looked at his master, who was shrouded in a low-pressure atmosphere, and cold sweat poured down his back—the latter's background was dark, and he looked like he was just one step away from having an attack. He forced himself to say, "My lord, Wu Hui still needs you. Please hold on."
My Lord, be strong!
Shen Tang: "...I can't hold on any longer."
Kang Shi hesitated, “...Actually, it’s not that there’s no way to save Wu Hui’s life. If all else fails, we can cripple Wu Hui’s cultivation, which would at least save his life. However, Wu Hui has already been crippled once before, and I’m afraid he can’t recover.”
Shen Tang: "..."
When Kang Shi's ceremony went poorly, Gu Chi also made the same suggestion: fortunes change, and it's Chu Wu Hui's turn now.
When it comes to elbowing colleagues, Kang Guowen is a professional in both martial arts and politics.
Shen Tang: "...We'll talk about it later."
Shen Tang could be ruthless towards Kang Shi and Yu Zi because they had a chance to start over; as long as they were alive, they could always make a comeback. But Chu Yao was different; he had no way out, and Shen Tang knew that doing so would be tantamount to killing Chu Yao.
"Your Highness."
When Ji Moqiu arrived after receiving the news, Shen Tang was staring intently at the "Investiture of the Gods" scroll. She knew he had arrived without even looking up: "If something had happened to Ruo Wuhui, would he still be on the list?"
Ji Moqiu: "It's highly unlikely."
Shen Tang's eyes were terrifying: "Can't?"
Ji Moqiu: "The essence of the completion ceremony is to understand one's true nature, to see one's true self, and to directly point to one's original heart. Failure means the loss of one's true self, which is the true spirit, and the true spirit is the most important core of the soul. If the true spirit is annihilated, one naturally cannot be on the list, but..."
Nowadays, those listed on the "Investiture of the Gods" are all true spirits.
When Ji Moqiu came, he inquired about the general situation. Chu Wuhui's successful ceremony this time was similar to that of Kang Shiyu Zi. It was a case of "once the arrow is released, there is no turning back," and external forces could not intervene under normal circumstances.
Chu Yao could only rely on himself; he would either break through the fog to reach the top or be swallowed up by the fog and go to the Yellow Springs.
It was also Chu Yao's bad luck.
If you're lucky, even with a difficulty level like Lin Feng's, failing to complete it won't be life-threatening; at worst, you'll never reach the top. The luckiest are like Jiang Shengmei and Meng, who have external intervention, so even if they fail, they can change the exam questions and try again.
Under normal circumstances, Chu Wuhui had absolutely no tolerance for error.
After Ji Moqiu finished speaking, Shen Tang seemed to be instantly frozen, motionless, her heart brewing a storm of emotions. Just when Kang Shi and the others thought she had been defeated, Shen Tang grabbed the scroll of "Investiture of the Gods," rushed out of the tent, raised it high to the sky, and shouted hoarsely, "No matter what you are, no one can take your life!"
The sky was cloudless, and no one answered.
"Stop playing dead, you hear me!"
All was quiet; there was no sound of human voices.
Only her violently heaving chest, reddened eyes, and bulging veins on her forehead betrayed her current state of mind. Ji Moqiu and the others followed closely behind. Shen Tang's cries seemed to have exhausted her strength, and she could only stand by supporting herself on her knees.
Why should I be allowed to take away whatever I care about?
With each question and threat, a faint red mark appeared beneath Shen Tang's eyelids. Each time the red mark appeared, a similar mark flashed across her forehead. Her expression rapidly shifted between pity, indifference, and naivety.
Gritting her teeth, she said, "I've put up with you long enough!"
The gaze seemed to pierce through the sky, revealing an existence in the void.
"Ask yourself honestly, is this a tribulation you're going through?"
They were clearly trying to destroy her, and she had already tolerated all of this. Why did they keep pushing her and testing her limits?
"You bastard, what are you pretending to be dead for?"
Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you have her weaknesses?
"Get down here!"
The red marks under her eyes were approaching a deep crimson, even showing signs of stabilizing completely. Kang Shi initially thought that his master had been severely provoked and was experiencing a premature relapse: "Master, please calm down. Wu Hui's perfect ritual has not failed yet; perhaps there is a glimmer of hope!"
Chu Wuhui's philosophy of the scholar's way is "a glimmer of hope after darkness."
Until the very last moment, how can we be sure there's no chance of survival?
Shen Tang seemed not to hear him, which made Kang Shi anxious to stop her. But the moment he touched Shen Tang's shoulder, the scene before him changed completely—the earth was dark and the blazing sun and blood moon divided the sky in two, the red and gold colors clearly distinct. And the master's body was surrounded by countless dense and mysterious patterns, which seemed to be intertwined vines that wrapped her up completely.
Kang Shi: "..."
He seemed to have seen these patterns before.
Before he could even think where he'd seen this before, his shoulder was pulled back by an irresistible force. When Kang Shi's hand separated from Shen Tang's shoulder, the scene before him returned to normal. When he came to his senses, he realized he was covered in a cold sweat.
"What was that just now...?"
Why are there so many strange things bothering the Lord?
Who is harming her?
Ji Moqiu's eyelids twitched wildly: "It's a seal."
He was clearly feeling an increasingly intense tearing pain coming from his chest. This pain was not his, but rather what His Highness was feeling at this moment—His Highness's heart meridian was showing signs of rupture!
Kang Shi turned to look at him, as if he had seen a ghost.
"seal?"
"Everyone who undergoes tribulation must be bound by these shackles, and the stronger they are, the more shackles they have." They not only restrict strength but also serve as punishment. "It is said that they were not used in the past, but our predecessors have narrowed the path. Behind every absurd rule lies an absurd reason."
Kang Shi murmured, "...What's the reason for this absurdity?"
He remembered seeing this pattern somewhere before; Ji Moqiu had it on her neck, but the white pattern was very close to Ji Moqiu's skin tone, and the details were easy to miss if you didn't pay special attention.
"For example, going on a killing spree in an attempt to counterattack the Heavenly Dao."
If they weren't outmatched, the Heavenly Dao would have been overturned long ago. Who would want their mindset messed up like this when descending to the mortal realm for tribulation? According to reliable insider information, Your Highness's current state is already considered a sign of the Heavenly Dao showing mercy.
I can't even imagine how difficult it was before.
In his opinion, if one-on-one is too much, then a team fight is the way to go.
What would happen if the seal were broken?
I could see it clearly just now; there was a force pushing outwards from inside the vines.
"Returning to one's original position prematurely means failure in the ordeal."
"The failure of the Wenxin Scholar's perfect ritual will annihilate his true spirit. Like the Lord... will failing the tribulation also incur a similar price?" Although Kang Shi was unaware of the details, his intuition told him that this was not a good thing. Even gods do not act arbitrarily, otherwise the Lord would not have suddenly lost control of his emotions and pointed to the heavens to question them.
Upon hearing this, Ji Moqiu's eyes flashed with surprise, seemingly not expecting Kang Shi to find the crux of the problem so quickly. Kang Shi had indeed guessed correctly; the price of failing the tribulation was high. However, Ji Moqiu was not worried about this: "I will pay the price for her."
Or rather, the price was him.
The long-dormant kindness, realizing her current predicament, angrily shouted, "Shen Youli, what's wrong with you now?!"
Seeing that there was no improvement, she had no choice but to take action.
The scroll of "Investiture of the Gods" in his palm suddenly unfolded into a starry sea scroll, all of which disappeared into his spiritual platform. If Kang Shi were to place his hand on Shen Tang's shoulder again, he would see that the seals binding her body were reinforced, forcibly suppressing the force that was breaking through the seals.
Feeling the restlessness within her body subside, Shan Nian breathed a sigh of relief. After figuring out the main reason for Shen Tang's madness, she almost turned into a livid rage.
He warned in a low voice, "You better behave."
Shen Tang regained some of her composure: "You're aiding and abetting evil!"
Just because you're stupid doesn't mean I'm stupid too.
Shen Tang: "..."
"You've ruined my grand plan, or I'll whip you like a spinning top."
This person really has no confidence in themselves at all.
Shen Tang wasn't afraid of the warnings and threats from the benevolent mind, but being interrupted by the latter made her calm down a bit: "As long as you guarantee that Wu Hui... no, that everyone else is fine, I will behave myself."
"...Don't be too greedy."
"You're talking nonsense! What kind of greed is this?"
Good intentions: "..."
People can't even empathize with themselves.
Take deep breaths with a kind mind to relieve excessively rapid breathing.
It's unclear what deal Shen Tang and Shan Nian reached in their private conversation, but Shen Tang's condition finally stabilized. She looked down and discovered that the "Investiture of the Gods" scroll was missing, and she felt anxious—although Wu Hui couldn't make the list, it didn't mean others couldn't.
With a slight thought, Shen Tang noticed the "Investiture of the Gods" reappearing.
Whether it was a misperception or not, Shen Tang felt a deeper, more intimate connection with the "Investiture of the Gods." Before, she had only seen it as an external object, but now it seemed to be a part of her own body, an organ.
As if by some strange twist of fate, a jade pen materialized in her hand.
He waved his hand and tried to write the two characters "Chu Yao" on it.
Watching those two characters float gently onto the scroll, causing the other characters to scatter, Shen Tang felt a quiet sense of relief. As long as those two characters were there, Chu Yao's true spirit remained. Even if the ritual failed, once everything calmed down, he could return to her side. Shen Tang bit her lip and tried writing the other names on as well. One by one, they were all guaranteed admission!
"Huh?"
As I put pen to paper this time, I felt an irresistible resistance.
There was a feeling deep inside that I couldn't do this.
Shen Tang muttered, "...So stingy."
Fortunately, she won her gamble.
Going crazy actually works!
Shen Tang has tasted the benefits of "getting what you want" this time. She did break down because of the truth Ji Moqiu told her, and her emotions exploded. All the negative emotions she knew and didn't know came out at once. But she still had her senses, like a seemingly fragile but unbreakable thread binding her shaky rationality.
She knew perfectly well what she was doing.
Kang Shi cautiously probed, "My lord?"
Shen Tang put away the "Investiture of the Gods": "Weren't you scared?"
"That's not the case."
“That’s good. Don’t worry, my lord, I know what I’m doing.” Shen Tang turned to Ji Moqiu. “High Priest, could you perform the ‘Dream Induction Technique’ again? I want to see how far Wu Hui’s ritual has progressed. If it truly is beyond our control…”
She too was going to defy this destiny.
Ji Moqiu's expression was strange: "Your Highness acted impulsively just now. I still have half a sentence to say. The failure of the perfect ceremony will indeed annihilate the true spirit, but Chu Shangjun has a bit of his true spirit in Your Highness's hands."
Shen Tang: "In my hands? When did this happen?"
How could she not know?
Ji Moqiu: "..."
Instead of answering, he asked, "Does Your Highness know why, if Your Highness wishes for Lord Chu's death, he will undoubtedly die?"
Not only Chu Yao, but also Ning Yan and Yang Gong were like this.
They used their true spirit as collateral.
Shen Tang: "..."
When Wu Hui said he would risk his life to get Wen Xin back from her, every word he spoke was the truth, without a trace of falsehood.
It's fate, and it truly is fate.
“Besides, Your Highness is also the only one who can intervene in Chu Shangjun’s completion ceremony.” Because the two of them have truly shared a life-or-death bond. “Normally, it is not possible, but Your Highness’s situation is also abnormal. Your Highness should have more confidence in yourself.”
Once bitten by a snake, twice shy.
This isn't the first time Your Highness has been tricked by the Heavenly Dao during your tribulation, so naturally you'll prepare in advance and have a backup plan. You won't suffer a loss again.
Shen Tang: "..."
She covered her face with her hands: "Don't talk, I want to be alone."
(σ)σ:*☆
This time we came to Xinyang to see Thorns. A bunch of us got together to write, and Xianggu was the slowest writer all afternoon _(:з」∠)_
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
