Chapter 222: Chapter 221: Do You Desire Power?
Jiang Zuo opened the back of the book and found, just as he expected, the layout for the grand cosmic scheme. It was comprised of countless Runes, a sight so complex it was dizzying.
It seemed to record the entire process of how the scheme was arranged.
But Jiang Zuo couldn’t examine it in depth; he could only get a superficial glimpse of the final layout.
If he could see the arrangement process clearly, he might be able to deduce the origin of this grand scheme.
After flipping through several pages, Jiang Zuo closed the book and shut his eyes.
The next moment, a simple, two-dimensional map rapidly took shape in his mind. The map quickly morphed, transforming into a three-dimensional island.
The island’s form was quickly absorbed.
Only after the entire island had been absorbed by his mind did Jiang Zuo open his eyes.
"I’ve found the entrance."
If the entrance was the right one, Jiang Zuo could be certain that this book was authentic.
Meanwhile, Duan Qiao was stunned. It had also seen the Rune diagram and could have tried to comprehend it, but this menace had only given it a single glance before turning the page.
It had assumed he was just flipping through it casually, but after he finished, the menace claimed to have found what he was looking for.
And somehow, it didn’t feel like he was lying.
Now it finally understood why the man wasn’t the least bit interested in its advantages, and why he looked down on the Yin Yang Fish.
Because this man likely knew more than both of them put together.
’How long would you have to wait to outlive someone like that?’
Jiang Zuo then prepared to leave. He had to go and confirm whether the entrance actually existed.
But just as he stood up, a wave of dizziness washed over him.
He nearly lost his footing.
He was forced to sit back down in the chair.
At that moment, a deep and sinister voice echoed in his mind, "Do you desire power?"
A cold smirk played on Jiang Zuo’s lips.
’Looks like someone from the Abyss took an interest in me when I passed through that street.’
’Or rather, they took an interest in a lot of people.’
Jiang Zuo then asked mentally, "Can you even afford to give me the power I desire?"
The sinister voice rang out once more, "Imagine it with all your heart, and I shall grant your every desire."
Jiang Zuo didn’t answer. Instead, he began to play along. ’Since it wants to give me power, what reason do I have to refuse?’
He then broadcasted all the power he desired—the very same power he had displayed when he had annihilated the Abyss.
This was no fantasy, but a complete comprehension of the Dao itself.
After that, the promised power never arrived. Instead, Jiang Zuo heard the sound of something shattering.
The entity on the other side of the Abyss couldn’t handle it.
Then, the abyssal presence severed its connection with Jiang Zuo.
"Courting death. To think it would dare to approach me with something like this." With that, Jiang Zuo left his seat.
Meanwhile, deep within the Abyss, countless presences were collapsing.
"Who? Who was that? A Dao that even I cannot comprehend... How can such a person still exist in this world? Kill him! Kill him!"
An endless roar echoed from within the Abyss.
But ultimately, it could not break free. The time was not yet right.
Naturally, the roars from below alerted the guardian.
The middle-aged man who had been speaking with Jingyue and Su Qi suddenly froze, then swiftly departed.
This left Jingyue and Su Qi completely bewildered. Yin Li, who was also there, spoke up. "My master’s always like that, all mysterious and eccentric. My sister says he might be going senile, so we should just try to be understanding."
Su Qi really wanted to know what Lan Yue was thinking. ’Teaching her little sister to talk like that... that’s not right, is it?’
’And to think her sister actually believes she’s a good big sister.’
’Just now, I heard Yin Li mention she even sent her a video, and that she practiced that smile many times for it.’
’She specifically sent the video for her sister to see.’
Hearing this, Su Qi couldn’t help but facepalm. ’With so much embarrassing material in her sister’s hands, her future is going to be rough.’
’I would never be that foolish.’
’That’s why I deliberately don’t bring my notebook home, for fear that Jiang Zuo might see it. It’s filled with all the silly feelings of my first crush. Looking at it myself makes me smile and feel nostalgic.’
’But if Jiang Zuo saw it, it wouldn’t be nostalgic at all. It would make me want to dig a hole and bury myself in it.’
’If I could, I’d almost be tempted to kill him to silence him.’
’A pity he’s my own husband.’
Meanwhile, the Island Lord who had rushed out of the room quickly appeared in a pitch-black space.
He saw that the abyssal presence that had erupted the day before had actually receded.
It looked as if it had been severely wounded.
He was completely baffled. "What happened? Did it change its mind? Or is this some kind of plot?"
The Island Lord sighed. "I don’t know how much longer we can hold on. After so many years, we’ve still failed."
He then took out a Compass. He tossed it forward, and under its glow, the already-receding abyssal presence shrank back even more rapidly.
The Compass, now hanging in the air, would buy him some time.
In truth, the Compass was ineffective when the abyssal presence was at its peak.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have saved it to use until now.
"It seems I must hurry. I wonder if Lan Yue is ready... If we can’t defend this place, so be it. But there are some things that must be retrieved."
******
Meanwhile, Chi Xue Child, Blade Master Hai Bian, and Liu Yiyi were already on a plane headed for Liyuan Island.
Chi Xue Child said, "My senior sister said something major is happening. Maybe you two should sit this one out."
Blade Master Hai Bian shook his head. "Let’s just go for the experience."
Liu Yiyi added, "I’ve been having nightmares lately, so I don’t want to be too close to Demon Cultivator Mo Yan. By the way, did something happen to Fairy Lan Yue?"
Chewing on a popsicle, Chi Xue Child nodded. "Mhm. That’s why Senior Sister specifically forbade Mo Yan from going. A situation like this is rare. I just don’t get it."
"Why did she stop Mo Yan but insist that I go?"
"So the junior sister needs protection, but the little junior brother doesn’t?"
"There should be equality between the sexes."
Blade Master Hai Bian said, "Fairy Lan Yue is a reasonable person. She probably needs you for something. Or rather, she needs your Red Sword."
Now that he mentioned it, Chi Xue Child thought it was plausible. The Red Sword was no ordinary blade, and no one besides him could wield it.
Although the Red Sword wasn’t very powerful at the moment, it still possessed special abilities.
For instance, that Ghost Cultivation Mark last time stood no chance of escaping the Red Sword’s edge.
Liu Yiyi said, "Liyuan Island... I remember it’s supposed to be an ordinary resort Holy Land, right? What kind of great danger could be there?"
Chi Xue Child shook his head. "I don’t know. But we haven’t been able to find Fellow Daoist Po Xiao recently. I’m really hoping he can make it there. As long as Fellow Daoist Po Xiao shows up, I’ll feel completely at ease."
Blade Master Hai Bian added, "That’s true. If Fellow Daoist Po Xiao goes, something big is bound to happen. But victory always belongs to Fellow Daoist Po Xiao. There’s never been a single exception."
Liu Yiyi said, "Let’s put that aside for now. First, you have to tell me—what’s the deal with Fellow Daoist Po Xiao’s wife? I get the feeling something happened with you guys before you left."
At the mention of this topic, Chi Xue Child’s expression darkened. His head was still bald—a reminder of a past he’d rather not recall.
******
I can’t do it, I can’t help myself. When I see the word counts of other novels in my cohort skyrocketing, I just don’t want to stop writing.
We’ll talk about double releases some other day.
For now, I’m just going to enjoy the ride.
Let me catch up with them.
