Martial Arts Genius with Proficiency System Chapter 959 - 425: The Master of the Skull, the Human Race Trapped in a Deadly Predicament

The maw of the blood-red gate gaped open, exerting a formidable pull that drew Su Tu into its depths. Instinctively, Su Tu sought to resist, but his will was immediately overwhelmed by the astonishing panorama unfolding before him.

He found himself adrift in a realm of ethereal vagueness, where the very fabric of space and time seemed to stretch and bend into infinite ambiguity.

Su Tu perceived countless interwoven points and delicate lines, their intersections forming a complex network.

Within this intricate web, an unfathomable force and a set of profound rules were entwined, as if constructing an entire universe.

Compelled by an irresistible urge, Su Tu extended his hand, desiring to make contact with these points and lines.

Yet, a peculiar phenomenon ensued: Su Tu's physical body remained utterly still, but from his forehead, a resplendent golden hand materialized, reaching out instead.

A look of sheer bewilderment washed over Su Tu's countenance.

Though his intention was for his physical form to stretch forth and touch these spectral elements, it was, in fact, his Heart and Spirit that enacted the movement.

A realization seemed to dawn upon Su Tu. An idea sparked within his heart, a desire to command this manifestation of his Heart and Spirit. Astonishingly, this time it was his physical body that projected a hand.

"The connection between my physical body and my Heart and Spirit is evidently far more intricate than I had initially surmised,"

Su Tu uttered these words in a low murmur.

The preceding instance where his Heart and Spirit acted while his physical form dissolved, followed by this current paradoxical redirection, brought Su Tu to the profound realization that he was on the cusp of a monumental serendipity.

The link between the Heart and Spirit and the physical vessel is certainly not the straightforward matter suggested by the current Star River cultivation techniques.

Herein might lie an escape from the cycle of reincarnation, a repository of countless secrets pertaining to rebirth; perhaps, an undiscovered Heaven-Reaching Dao awaits.

As Su Tu stood lost in these profound contemplations.

Buzzing~

Abruptly, a persistent humming sound registered in his ears, and the surreal surroundings began to recede with rapid haste. A brilliant light pierced his vision, signaling his arrival beyond the ominous blood-red gate.

Here, the oppressive crimson glow was absent; instead, dazzling sunlight streamed down, bathing the entirety of the landscape in a warm, golden luminescence.

The sudden intensity of the light caused Su Tu a momentary discomfort. Instinctively, he raised a hand to shield his eyes, then directed his gaze upward.

What greeted his eyes was no longer the grim, blood-colored firmament, but an expansive, cerulean sky. A gentle zephyr danced through the air, causing the scattered white clouds to drift lazily. A few birds soared freely in the boundless expanse, and the sun hung high, bestowing a comforting warmth upon his entire being.

In stark contrast to the oppressive crimson skies and the unnerving realm he had just departed, the world revealed beyond the gate was akin to a halcyon paradise.

Prior to crossing the threshold of the blood-red gate, Su Tu had conjured a multitude of scenarios in his mind: visions of carnage, terrifying mythical beasts, or perhaps an even more unfathomable reality, possibly a Blood Throne suspended in the heavens.

Yet, no matter the extent of his imagination, the serenity and tranquility of this scene had never crossed his thoughts. Paradoxically, this peaceful vista served not to relax him, but to heighten his vigilance.

His keen gaze surveyed the environs: an endless plain stretched before him, with faint wisps of smoke ascending in the near distance. This roused a subtle tremor within Su Tu's Heart and Spirit, detecting the presence of several powerful entities nearby.

Beings of the Human Race were present, with three individuals radiating exceptional strength—assuredly Lin An and his companions—but representatives of other races were also in attendance.

The blood mist that permeated the previous realm was notoriously perilous; without the guiding relic and the skull that ultimately unsealed the gate, even Su Tu might have found himself irrevocably ensnared. He had harbored a degree of apprehension for Lin An and the others, yet he had not anticipated their collective arrival.

Upon careful sensory assessment, apart from those three, a considerable number of Human Race prodigies were detected, sparking Su Tu's curiosity regarding the methods of their arrival.

With this thought lingering, he ventured forward, taking a deliberate stride towards the distant smoke.

However, after only a few steps, Su Tu abruptly halted, his forward momentum ceasing.

Guiding remains, the skull opening the gate...

The skull, enveloped in Buddhist luminescence and resonant Sanskrit chants, was indeed the forty-third guiding relic, representing the final predecessor's remnant that Su Tu had yet to encounter.

Initially, he had regarded the skull with profound gratitude, viewing it as another invaluable aid, akin to the guiding relics left by past courageous individuals. But as fleeting images flashed through his mind during his contemplation,

Su Tu detected a perplexing anomaly: the skull bore no discernible mark of age!

The preceding forty-two guiding relics had all exuded an indefinable aura of antiquity, not merely the patina of countless years, but a unique essence of age that transcended verbal description.

Su Tu had theorized that this peculiar resonance stemmed from the extraordinary nature of this enclosed space, leaving such an imprint.

However, the stark absence of this ancient aura on the skull strongly suggested it might not be the remnant of a 'predecessor' who had previously traversed this path during reincarnation.

With this compelling hypothesis forming, Su Tu closed his eyes, concentrating on recalling the precise appearance of the skull.

The skull was devoid of any remnant flesh, presenting only bone that gleamed like pure white jade.

If the skull remains intact, stimulating it with one's Heart and Spirit to restore its original form through the techniques of 'Life and Death in the Palm' should not prove exceedingly difficult, Su Tu mused.