Light Fortress
Chapter 425 - 88: The Other Side of the Fog (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2

Chapter 425: Chapter 88: The Other Side of the Fog (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2

"If Divination Skill can’t predict it, it only involves Chi Huo and Divine Throne," said Master Qianye calmly.

"Then, could the Tomb Ghost possibly be related to the Eighth Divine Throne?"

Those lost, undecipherable ancient texts...

The Tomb Ghost can understand them!

The divination that cannot foretell Chi Huo must not fall upon the head of the Tomb Ghost!

All these coincidences combined... are no longer coincidences.

"I... understand," Gu Shen took a deep breath, massaging his temples, trying to digest this overwhelming amount of information.

"Of course, it’s just conjecture. Over the years, the search for the Old World and discussions about the Eighth Divine Throne have been nothing but castles in the air, perhaps all just imagined, as people strive to bring form to things that truly do not exist... After all, following the collapse of the North Continent Fortress, we will lose our last homeland."

The Tomb Guardian spoke softly, "Rather than accept the fate of extinction, it’s better to believe that on a distant other shore, there exists such an ethereal utopia as the ’Old World’."

"Rest assured, I won’t tell anyone," Gu Shen said earnestly, "As for the origins of the Tomb Ghost, we likely need more evidence... Just these two points aren’t enough to prove anything."

Master Qianye slowly nodded.

"It’s getting late... I’ll go to repair the Array Patterns."

Gu Shen picked up the case and headed back toward the Outer Tomb.

"You don’t need to be so tense; strike a balance between the literary and martial paths," Master Qianye said with a smile. "Go to the entrance of Qing Tomb Inner Mausoleum; there is an Array Pattern there that’s very suitable for you to dismantle today."

...

...

How come Master Qianye’s words seemed to carry a hidden meaning?

Following the instructions, Gu Shen arrived at the entrance to the Inner Mausoleum.

A dense fog enveloped the area.

This was the entrance to the Giant Statue Ruins, and because of the heavy fog, it was almost impossible to discern directions without the guidance of a Tomb Guardian... Gu Shen steadied his heart and released Chi Huo, soon finding the location of the Array Pattern.

The Array Pattern Master Qianye mentioned as "very suitable for his own dismantling" was atop a small hill.

Gu Shen cast aside all distractions.

He focused completely.

He entered a state of visualization and began assembling the ancient texts smoothly... Perhaps it was the psychological effect of Master Qianye’s reminder, or maybe because he had grasped the tricks after a bit of enlightenment.

The observation, Dream Interpretation, and thereafter dismantling and reassembling of this Array Pattern went very smoothly.

In less than an hour, Gu Shen had completed both the repair and comprehension of this Array Pattern.

But when he reopened his eyes, he was startled.

Unbeknownst to him, a figure had appeared in the fog below the hill.

The figure was not tall, appearing rather thin... The fog was too thick, and he couldn’t see the person’s face, but it seemed to be someone about his age.

This person... when had they arrived?

Even while immersed in the visualization of the Array Pattern, lost in the Dream, his Chi Huo remained alert... Yet with his spiritual power, he had failed to notice?

But Gu Shen was not alarmed.

The entire Qing Tomb was under Master Qianye’s control, and if there were any danger, she would notify him immediately.

He somewhat understood what Master Qianye meant by her previously suggestive remarks.

The master had deliberately arranged for him to come here, hoping he would... meet this person from below the hill at this moment?

The hill was not high.

But separated by a layer of fog.

Thus the two of them stood, looking at each other through a layer of fog.

After Gu Shen stood up, the young person below the hill spoke, "I saw you earlier in deep contemplation... and did not wish to disturb you."

They feared disturbing his visualization...

"Thank you..."

Gu Shen smiled, "How long have you been waiting here?"

"Not long."

The person below shook their head gently, speaking soothingly, "I wish to meet Master Qianye."

In Qing Tomb, many wish to see Master Qianye.

But most can only go as far as the Outer Tomb... the sanctuary open all year round. To proceed to the Inner Mausoleum, one must gain the approval of a Tomb Guardian; otherwise, entering this thick fog would mean losing one’s way and inevitably returning without success.

This young person was quite sensible.

They knew... that once they stepped into Qing Tomb, it was as if they had been "seen" by Master Qianye.

If the master wished to meet them, she would naturally provide guidance.

If the master was unwilling...

Then even stepping into the fog would lead to no results.

So they stood at the foot of the hill, separated by this layer of fog, neither advancing a step forward nor retreating, just like Gu Shen in his visualization state... Like a meditative tree.

Somewhat helplessly, Gu Shen asked with his spirit, "Master... are you there?"

As expected.

There was no response.

After guiding him here and completing the dismantling of the Array Pattern, the Tomb Guardian had completely withdrawn her presence.

It was clear that the attitude of "no response" was an answer in itself.

Gu Shen sighed and said to the person at the foot of the mountain, "I’m afraid Master Qianye does not wish to see you."

The man simply smiled and said nothing.

He struggled to raise his head, trying to make out the figure enveloped in the fog atop the mountain.

The pupils of his eyes shone brightly with dazzling white light, like a bolt of lightning, as if to tear apart the dark night surrounding Qingzhong, but alas... no matter how bright and intense those pupils were, they could not penetrate the fog.

Similarly,

Gu Shen also released the Chi Huo from his brow.

He was curious about the identity of the "person at the foot of the mountain"... but looking through the fog, all he saw was chaos.

Both men tried hard, gazing at each other, both to no avail.

He could not see the lightning in his eyes.

Nor could he see the fire at his brow.

The person at the foot said, "It’s okay, I can wait."

After saying this, he sat down cross-legged and truly began a long wait.

Gu Shen still wanted to say something...

"If he is willing to wait, then let him wait."

Master Qianye, who had previously silenced her voice, suddenly spoke up.

She told Gu Shen, "Go to the next place and repair the array patterns..."

Gu Shen looked deeply at the person at the foot of the mountain.

He spoke up to remind, "Perhaps if you wait a little longer, you will get what you are waiting for."

The person at the foot slowly nodded.

...

...

Time flew by.

After leaving that hill, Gu Shen ran around the inner mausoleum, repairing array patterns and studying ancient scripts as instructed by the Tomb Guardian.

From one giant statue to another.

Gu Shen was immersed in a state of self-forgetfulness.

He forgot everything around him, his eyes only seeing obscure ancient scripts and fleeting figures.

Day turned to night... a whole day passed.

Another night fell.

Having mastered the insight of five array patterns, Gu Shen’s spiritual power was exhausted to its limit, his head slightly throbbing, a symptom of interpreting too many dreams.

Even with Spring Breathing, it was not possible to maintain high-intensity spiritual power consumption at all times.

Now... he needed to rest.

"That’s enough studying of ancient scripts for today..."

The Tomb Guardian said, "You can go back now, that person is still waiting for you."

Gu Shen was taken aback.

The return the Tomb Guardian Master was talking about was not about leaving Qingzhong.

It was about going back to that small hill earlier.

She said, the mysterious young man seen through the thick fog... was waiting for him?

Gu Shen, puzzled, returned to the mountaintop.

Indeed... in the midst of the fog sat a figure like a monk in deep meditation, unchanged over the day and night. This stubborn fellow was truly waiting.

Such concentration truly commanded respect.

Many people wanted to come to Qingzhong to see Master Qianye.

Many were willing to wait a day and a night.

Just sitting and waiting was not a reason to move the Tomb Guardian.

But seeing the determination... if he didn’t show up, if the Tomb Guardian didn’t speak, he would continue to wait.

If Master Qianye had decided not to meet this visitor, why bother having him come to the hill?

After a brief contemplation, Gu Shen decided to speak.

"Friend, why do you insist on meeting Master Qianye?"

His voice pierced through the fog, echoing distantly.

"Maybe... I can help you."

The moment Gu Shen reappeared,

The person at the foot opened his eyes.

His gaze was intense, his voice like a great bell, "I wish to seek a stele within Qingzhong..."

...

...

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