Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1470 - 795: The Overlooked Detail (2)

From the rear chamber, Zhao Sheng stepped out, making his way back to the primary courtyard before darting nimbly into the Eastern Hall, where he lingered in stillness.

With the sun climbing even higher in the sky, a youthful scholar abruptly materialized at the temple's gateway, striding inside with haste.

Zhao Sheng's pulse quickened, and a faint grin crept across his features, convinced that events were unfolding just as he had foreseen.

"Lin Heng, 'long time' no see!" he whispered under his breath, observing as Lin Heng's form vanished beyond the threshold, a spark of thrill gleaming in his gaze.

His earlier doubts had been spot on; should Lin Heng have truly discovered the Life Path, this individual ought to have broken free from here right on the initial day.

Yet in truth, Lin Heng remained trapped within these bounds.

This merely confirmed his failure, while also demonstrating that the Yellow Springs Other Shore Painting held no secret to fleeing this realm.

Thus... he had been deceived earlier, and now it was time to begin afresh.

...

Soon enough, a vessel with a dark canopy drifted away from the bank, gliding downstream toward Mingxi Town.

Positioned at the front of the boat, Zhao Sheng faced the soft spring gusts, his thoughts churning like stormy seas.

Precisely where lies the Life Path? Or... does no such path exist whatsoever, turning this into an inescapable void, a true Dead Land!

No, this cannot possibly be a Dead Land!

Earlier on, he must have missed some vital clue.

With that realization, Zhao Sheng shut his eyes tight, and a clear vision of a "small town" gradually took shape within his consciousness.

Rivers twisted abundantly, willows danced along the shores, cobblestone paths stretched out, thronged with passersby, merchants flanked the avenues, buzzing with energy.

Neat courtyards of verdant bricks and tiles dotted the riverside, appearing refined and charming, steeped in timeless allure.

Within his thoughts, the whole town pulsed with vitality, endlessly unfolding tales of everyday souls.

Suddenly, the Ten Thousand Temple loomed into view. Zhao Sheng's perspective zoomed in sharply, fixating on the Hell Creatures Painting inside the sanctuary.

The underworld resembled an vast ocean, myriad faces bobbed upon the waves, each expression contorted in terror, wails echoing through the skies.

Spectral beings thronged the shoreline, shoved one after another into the depths, devoured swiftly by the tides, denied any chance of rebirth.

Yes!

The weakness lies exactly here!

Zhao Sheng's eyes snapped open, a surge of exhilaration washing over him; at last, he had uncovered a faint hope for breaking out of this infernal domain.

In that instant, a forgotten fragment rushed back to him.

Namely, fresh spirits appeared in the other Hell Creatures Paintings, yet this Netherworld Sea Death Map lacked even one newcomer.

He ought to have realized it sooner; folklore holds that spectral entities must traverse the six cycles of rebirth, sip Mengpo Soup, ford the Naihe Bridge to achieve renewal.

Meanwhile, the Ghost Gate serves as an entry for arriving shades, inherently barring any path to reincarnation.

Therefore, the secret to departing this domain rests in sketching forth a Naihe Bridge by hand.

Having unraveled the puzzle, Zhao Sheng brimmed with eagerness, yearning to soar straight back to Mingxi Town.

...

On the town's eastern edge, a slim passage scarcely a meter across played host to an intense pursuit involving a man and a hound.

A massive yellow hound, standing as tall as a person with glossy, lustrous coat, slammed its paws against the barrier, vaulting upward over a meter, arcing above the woman's head to touch down two meters ahead, bursting from the lane.

The lady in the emerald gown whipped her flowing sleeves, unleashing a crimson sash that streaked like a bolt from under her cuff, resembling a scarlet serpent as it wrapped around the yellow hound's rear limb, yanking it backward with force.

Ao ao!

The yellow hound yelped in distress, twisting its neck abruptly to chomp at the crimson sash, thrashing its head wildly to rip it apart.

In a flash, the sash tore open into a jagged tear.

Spotting this, the woman in the emerald gown flicked her right hand to shake the sash, sending ripples along the crimson fabric that slammed into the yellow hound with a sharp crack.

The yellow hound emitted a pained howl, its frame tottered and collapsed, crimson streaming from its muzzle and nostrils.

A gleam of delight crossed the woman in the emerald gown's face; she hurried forward to the fallen hound, crouching to grasp the Vajra.

Right then, a shadow materialized behind her, alighting without a sound, and softly pressed a hand to the base of her neck.

The woman in the emerald gown jolted like she'd been hit by thunder, her form quivered violently, before she toppled forward onto the ground.

Blood poured from all seven facial openings, her expression one of furious demise.

Zhao Sheng pulled back his right hand, his eyes shifting to the yellow hound.

The yellow hound whined softly, hauling itself up gradually from the dirt, limping unsteadily toward the lane's end.

Zhao Sheng overtook it in mere strides, extended his reach, and secured the Vajra in his grasp.

Letting the yellow hound flee, he stowed the Vajra away and pivoted to depart the scene.

Over the following hour, Zhao Sheng effortlessly claimed the lives of the middle-aged scholar and the shopkeeper alike.

Afterward, Zhao Sheng covertly infiltrated the study ahead of Lin Heng, seizing the tome, the 错 gold pen, Yellow Springs Other Shore Painting, and a handful of additional valuables.

Back at Zhao Mansion, Zhao Sheng sent the attendants away and settled into the study to peruse the tome in solitude.

The tome's front displayed the bold words "Rebirth Record," encompassing more than a hundred spectral legends.

Zhao Sheng delved in with keen fascination, the further he progressed, the deeper he sensed the tome's layers of wisdom and hints of cosmic secrets.

...

Chen Mansion.

Lin Heng encountered Old Shopkeeper Chen without issue, sharing an agreeable chat before shifting to the study for further exchanges on ancient texts.

To his surprise, upon stepping into the study, Old Shopkeeper Chen's expression twisted sharply.

Noticing this, Lin Heng inquired promptly, "Mr. Chen, has something happened?"

Old Shopkeeper Chen's complexion paled to gray, clenching his jaw as he declared, "The study has been ransacked! That vile intruder made off with my cherished ancient painting and various relics."

Lin Heng froze at the news, his features turning pensive, before he proposed swiftly: "Mr. Chen, with the study breached, you should alert the officials right away!"

Old Shopkeeper Chen regained his composure, nodding firmly, and replied gravely: "I've shamed myself before you, young friend. This unforeseen mishap forces us to delay our textual discourse for now."

Lin Heng responded, "No need to fret, Mr. Chen; that rogue can't have strayed too distant. I'm confident the pilfered goods will turn up shortly."

"Your auspicious words bring hope; may it be so."

Before long, Old Shopkeeper Chen escorted Lin Heng out personally, then summoned a retainer to notify the authorities of the burglary.

Exiting Chen Mansion, Lin Heng, brimming with uncertainty, hastened beyond the town's limits; with Chen Mansion thrown into disarray, he resolved to investigate the Nameless tomb remnants first.

At the same time, Zhao Sheng set the tome aside, idly lifting the 错 gold pen to examine it intently.

He remained uncertain if this implement could summon the Naihe Bridge, so a prior test seemed essential.

Entertaining this idea, Zhao Sheng darted from the study, slipping away from Chen Mansion unnoticed, bound for the Ten Kings Temple.

As midday neared, the Ten Kings Temple teemed with devotees, the air thick with rising incense.

Blending into the throng, Zhao Sheng resembled nothing more than a typical worshipper.

He promptly accessed the Revolving King Hall in the secondary courtyard, edging closer to the Netherworld Sea Death Map step by step.

A quick scan revealed just a young Taoist priest brushing away debris within the chamber.

With a mere notion, the young Taoist's eyes flipped upward, and he slumped unconscious on the spot.

Confirming the area clear, Zhao Sheng produced his writing implements, pricking his finger to let blood drop into the ink slab.

Then, he drew forth the 错 gold pen, coating its point with the blood, and guided by a sudden deep understanding, he brushed strokes across the mural, his hand flowing like coiling dragons and slithering snakes.

Within moments, a sturdy stone bridge arching over the waters materialized strikingly on the surface.

All at once, a boundless pull erupted from the void, yanking Zhao Sheng upward, whisking him into the artwork in a blink, leaving no sign behind.

...

When his eyes fluttered open, the environment struck him as hauntingly recognizable.

Zhao Sheng let out a soft sigh, rising gradually to sit motionless in bewilderment.

He struggled to pinpoint the error, unable to grasp why flight from this hellish trap eluded him.

After much reflection, Zhao Sheng clung to the belief that his logic held firm, though deception might have swayed him.

Abruptly, a spark of insight hit, recalling a detail he had brushed past.

The tome!

Who, in the end, penned the "Rebirth Record"?

At his core, Zhao Sheng harbored a profound hunch that uncovering the scribe would herald his grandest pivot.

As the sun reached its zenith, Zhao Sheng, clad in scholarly robes, reached Chen Mansion's gates, presenting his formal card.

A servant from Chen Mansion accepted the card and retreated inside promptly.

Moments later, the household steward emerged at the entrance, bowing courteously to usher him within.

Given their mutual scholarly heritage, Old Shopkeeper Chen made a rare exception to receive Zhao Sheng personally.

Drawing from Lin Heng's "earlier mishap" as a guide, Zhao Sheng deftly struck at the man's vulnerability.

Old Shopkeeper Chen beamed with pleasure, regarding him forthwith as a kindred spirit, and beckoned Zhao Sheng to the study for deeper talks.

Thus, Zhao Sheng gained seamless entry to the study. Amid their exchange, he artfully guided the subject toward eerie folklore.

Old Shopkeeper Chen entertained no doubts, his curiosity stirred, so he retrieved a volume from the bookcase and passed it to Zhao Sheng.

Upon nearer look, it proved to be the "Rebirth Record."