Light Fortress
Chapter 337 - 29 The Radiant Man

Chapter 337: Chapter 29 The Radiant Man

"On this meeting, those people from the Snow Forbidden City must have been watching closely."

The Tomb Guardian spoke earnestly, "After the battle of the Angel Envoy, every slight movement within the Qing Tomb Inner Mausoleum draws much attention. You might become the target of many eyes—"

Gu Shen chuckled and shook his head, "It doesn’t matter."

Did he still need to care about that?

He had already been targeted by the upper echelons of the Three Schools!

"Indeed."

Master Qianye gave a wry smile.

"Actually, inviting you into the mausoleum," she paused, her voice growing serious, "there is another matter..."

The Tomb Guardian slowly raised his head.

Clouds drifted leisurely above the Four Seasons Wilderness.

"Since last year, the Extraordinary Essence above the Qing Tomb Outer Mausoleum has begun to become uncontrollable," Master Qianye said gravely. "I had thought it was a periodic phenomenon caused by the dispersion of the Flame Power, but now it seems that the Extraordinary Essence is gradually trending towards ’loss of control’."

"I have an ominous premonition...," the Tomb Guardian began but stopped midway.

But Gu Shen understood; his expression turned solemn.

The essence of Qing Tomb gradually losing control could mean Gu Changzhi’s power was dissipating...

"Perhaps it’s not as bad as we anticipated," Gu Shen offered reassuringly. "How can I help?"

"When Qing Tomb was constructed, we had the right time, location, and people to help... Changye harbored ready-made Ancient Text Diagrams, Extraordinary Array Patterns, and ample Strong Logic Material," the Tomb Guardian explained. "But now that the Qing Tomb has been built, as time passes, some Array Patterns on the surface of the Outer Tomb have gradually worn away. I suspect the loss of control over the Extraordinary Essence might be related to the aging and wear of the Array Patterns."

"These Array Patterns should have been maintained by the Gu family."

"However... the attitude of the Gu family towards the Qing Tomb is changing."

She spoke slowly, "As you said, the gradual loss of control of the Extraordinary Essence of the Qing Tomb may not be as bad as it seems, large or small... But if it is seized by those with ulterior motives and exaggeratedly criticized, then the just-settled debates will be replayed."

The disorder of the Qing Tomb... could it mean the decline of the Flame Power, and does it also mean that the Flame Master is nearing his end...?

In the end, the ultimate question must evolve into—

Is Gu Changzhi alive or dead?

Although the Angel Envoy has already appeared, why does his true self still refuse to show up after so long?

Hearing this... Gu Shen had already understood.

"The matter of constructing Array Patterns... must not be disclosed."

"Exactly," the Tomb Guardian nodded, expressing helplessness. "Living within the tomb all these years, the only person I could trust... was Nanfeng."

Gu Nanfeng is the Gu Family Young Master, he certainly has the capability and the authority to mobilize the resources needed for repairing the Array Patterns... but these methods could not avoid passing through the hands of the Gu family.

She spoke slowly, "Now, there is also you."

Gu Shen was the Divine Presence, personally appointed by Gu Changzhi himself in the Spiritual World.

Though they had met only once in the Spiritual World.

But the Tomb Guardian, proficient in the Gua Calculation and Recognition Skill, started more than one divination following that night in Da Du, predicting... ultimately she was convinced that this Divine Presence was a trustworthy individual.

Thus, there was the assistance of the "manifestation of the Saint" from the Taoist School.

"This time... I am afraid I will need your help."

The Tomb Guardian took a deep breath; she slowly brushed her sleeve.

A leaf, casually plucked by her from the branch, floated down and gently swayed toward Gu Shen.

Finally, it landed in the palm of his hand.

That golden radiant leaf, imbued with abundant Spiritual Power, was full of information.

On this leaf, dozens of materials were densely written and arranged.

Gu Shen furrowed his brow...he had never seen most of these materials, unheard of.

Some of these materials could not even be found on the East Continent, and it was almost impossible to collect them completely with individual effort.

It would require at least a huge conglomerate.

Could he manage to collect these materials?

"I will do my best to try to collect these materials..." After a moment of thought, Gu Shen took the list and cautiously said, "But I cannot guarantee that I will be able to gather all of the materials."

Gu Shen always disliked making promises beyond his capabilities, so he did not say things like "I will definitely complete the task."

"If... I’m just asking if..."

Gu Shen carefully asked, "What would be the consequences if these array patterns are not fully repaired due to incomplete material collection?"

Upon hearing this, the Tomb Guardian looked at Gu Shen with a meaningful gaze.

She did not respond but instead asked a question.

"What do you think... why do you think I have been guarding the tomb here for ten years?"

Gu Shen was taken aback.

In the eyes of the major families of Changye and the three Transcendent schools.

The Tomb Guardian was considered a "martyr" untainted by worldly affairs; she had sacrificed herself to benefit all beings... However, in this world, there were never people without desires or needs.

Even "gods" still have emotions and desires, still tainted by cause and effect.

Beneath the deified facade of the Tomb Guardian, what throbbed was still a heart mired in the mundane.

"People always like to deify others, imagining someone in an overwhelmingly radiant and invincible way," the Tomb Guardian said quietly: "But in reality, who is like that? Because they imagine ’gods’ to be too perfect, they are bound to be disappointed. Thus, the second thing they are keen on is destroying the ’gods’."

"During Gu Changzhi’s slumber, many people come to Qingzhong each year to bow down and worship."

"Because I control the array patterns here, gathering the dispersed essence... so over time, they also view me as a ’god’, but in actuality, I am just an ordinary person."

"To me... the greatest significance of overseeing Qingzhong is not in guarding Changye."

Master Qianye said softly, "It is in waiting for him to return."

"The real guardian of Changye is Gu Changzhi," the Tomb Guardian lowered her eyes and said, "Now I can answer your question, if the array patterns cannot be repaired, there might be an outbreak of ’order collapse’ around Changye, but what concerns me more is... whether Gu Changzhi will be unable to awaken because of this. Actually, my decade of unwavering guardianship has been for the purpose of helping him awaken sooner."

All she did was for the revival of Gu Changzhi!

He protected Changye.

And she protected him.

"After hearing all this, do you think... I am a terrible person?"

Master Qianye gave a slight smile, self-mockingly said, "I have never been the saint they believe in, nor the god who saves and enlightens others. I am just a lone traveler struggling through the bitter sea, merely someone who coincidentally helped many people by what I did."

Gu Shen stood under the tree, looking at the frosted white hair of the Tomb Guardian tied up with a wooden pin.

Perhaps ten years ago, when this woman first came to Qingzhong, she had black hair.

Now it had turned fully silver.

What hastens aging in this world isn’t just time.

Burning oneself out, leaving only white ashes behind.

Any person of radiant brilliance, when their heart is unfolded, must have a reason willing to burn... Ultimately, the standard by which one judges whether a person is great or not isn’t the height of their internal morality but the amount of light and warmth they manage to release driven by conscience.

"No..."

Gu Shen shook his head earnestly and said, "Master Qianye... You are a great person, and a real person."