Chapter 450: Chapter 437: Unexpected
Inside the Life and Death Reincarnation Array, Mo Ge sat cross-legged on the ground, sweat pouring down like rain. An expression of extreme agony was etched upon his face.
It was as if he were trapped in a nightmare, unable to break free.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, the scene had already changed...
Not far from the Profound Dao Sect, Mo Ge tightly gripped a wood-chopping hatchet, completely surrounded by more than ten disciples from the Holy Light Sect.
Their Cultivation levels were not high, not even comparable to a single demonic beast in the Desolate Land.
But Mo Ge, covered in blood, had almost no strength left to resist.
His strength was only slightly greater than that of most eight-year-old children in this world.
His speed was less than one ten-thousandth of what it was in the Demon Realm...
Yet his gaze, like that of an Ancient Fierce Beast, kept the group of Holy Light Sect disciples from getting any closer. They could only resort to continuous long-range attacks.
Flashes of sword light and blade arcs sliced one gash after another across Mo Ge’s body.
Yet this tiny child had never fallen, and he refused to fall now.
Instead, he seized an opportunity and sliced off two more of their heads.
This was not something an eight-year-old was capable of, nor was his gaze one a child of that age should possess.
Although the surrounding Holy Light Sect disciples clearly had the upper hand, they grew increasingly panicked. No one dared to approach Mo Ge again.
They only wanted to wear him down to death.
Forget an eight-year-old child; even an eighteen-year-old couldn’t last much longer after suffering so many injuries and losing so much blood.
Just then, a series of strange sounds rang out. SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
More than ten silk ribbons suddenly shot out from the woods, swiftly and precisely wrapping around the necks of the besieging group!
As if they had minds of their own, the ribbons suddenly pulled taut!
The once-vicious crowd instantly went white-eyed and collapsed to the ground, dead. Not a single one escaped.
Jun Qiluo of the Xiu Hua Sect gracefully emerged from the woods.
"The Profound Dao Sect might not accept you, so why insist on going? Come with me, and I’ll guide you in your cultivation."
"No."
Mo Ge uttered a single word, "No," then picked up his hatchet and began to struggle onward in the direction of the Profound Dao Sect.
On the ground, a trail of blood stretched out behind him...
Jun Qiluo watched his back recede into the distance. She bit her lip, and a strange light flickered in her eyes.
...
「Profound Dao Sect, Rear Mountain Forbidden Ground.」
Outside the Life and Death Reincarnation Array, all the members of War Wolf were cultivating.
Meanwhile, the disciples from the various sects who were preparing for the Grand Tournament in the Imperial Capital had already been sent to the other side of the forbidden ground.
After more than ten days, the vast majority of them had already awoken.
Shen Lang and Ying Huo descended directly from the sky, startling the few Elder Ancestors stationed there.
The Elder Ancestors and the other four War Wolf Commanders immediately came forward to greet them.
"Judging by your auras, you’ve all made considerable gains."
Shen Lang’s gaze swept over the four Commanders—Evil Song, Shadow Charm, You Yue, and Black Death—and he saw that their Cultivation had all improved significantly.
Moreover, their gazes had grown much deeper, a clear sign that their mental fortitude had also greatly improved.
On the path of Martial Arts, mental fortitude is in no way less important than innate talent.
In one’s future Cultivation, it could even play a decisive role.
This is especially true upon reaching the King Martial Realm and beyond, where it plays an irreplaceable role in overcoming Heart Demons and advancing one’s Cultivation.
A person with weak mental fortitude, even one with exceptional talent, is likely to find their progress halted by Heart Demons or similar obstacles.
Those with a firm will, however, can overcome all manner of difficulties, slay their Heart Demons, and forge a direct path to the Great Dao.
The Elder Ancestors stationed here were an even greater surprise to Shen Lang—two of them had actually reached the King Martial Realm Fifth Heaven!
One was Profound Dao Sect’s Elder Ancestor, Feng Buping, and the other was Xiu Hua Sect’s Elder Ancestor, Gong Lanyan.
For an Elder Ancestor of a Profound Iron Level Sect, advancing a single level within the King Martial Realm represented a huge leap in the sect’s overall power. It was the kind of thing that would drive others mad with jealousy.
"It is all thanks to the wondrous array you set up, Sir, that our Cultivation has progressed so much in such a short time," the Commanders said respectfully.
In such a short time, not only had they obtained Divine Weapons and Armor Treasures, but they had also been able to practice an incredibly powerful Cultivation Technique, causing their own Cultivation to skyrocket...
In their eyes, Shen Lang was truly like a Celestial God.
"It’s been so long. Why are there still people inside the Grand Array?"
Before he even had a chance to speak with the Elder Ancestors, Shen Lang noticed the light still flowing around the Grand Array and couldn’t help but ask.
Since the Grand Array was still operating, it meant someone was still inside.
Although the Life and Death Reincarnation Array was formidable, it wasn’t a place where staying longer was necessarily better.
Relatively speaking, those who emerged the fastest were generally the ones with the strongest minds and greatest talent.
Setting aside the Elder Ancestors, this batch of disciples had been carefully selected from the best prospects of each sect. How could any of them still be trapped after so long?
At this, the Profound Dao Sect’s Second Ancestor, Feng Buping, said anxiously, "That’s precisely what we’re worried about! We’ve all been out for many days, but Mo Ge and Old Four are still inside!"
"Elder Ancestor Dongfang Jian and Mo Ge?" Shen Lang paused, slightly taken aback.
"Mo Ge’s talent is second to none in the Profound Dao Sect, and his mental fortitude is rivaled by few. How could he still be inside?"
"As for Elder Ancestor Dongfang Jian... forgive me for being blunt, but among the four Elder Ancestors of the Profound Dao Sect, his aptitude is likely the best. He just acts like a mischievous old man and has been unwilling to focus on his Cultivation."
Feng Buping’s face flushed, and he stammered weakly, "Old Four’s situation... It’s probably because... ahem..."
An embarrassed expression crossed his face, and he trailed off, unable to continue.
The Xiu Hua Sect’s Elder Ancestor, Gong Lanyan, stepped forward and said softly, "Allow me."
"Xiaolang, do you know why so many people call Dongfang Jian a scoundrel? The reason is simple: years ago, he toyed with the affections of a woman named Duanmu Rongrong and then heartlessly abandoned her!"
"They were once deeply in love and had sworn eternal vows, a divine couple envied by all. But that beast simply cast her aside... His inability to escape the Life and Death Reincarnation Array now is most likely due to the regret and guilt in his heart..."
Feng Buping let out a long sigh. "Lanyan... you’ve completely misunderstood Old Four. You’ve known him for a thousand years and clashed with him hundreds of times. Can you really believe those rumors?"
"Isn’t... isn’t that what happened?" A strange glint flashed in Gong Lanyan’s beautiful eyes as she retorted stubbornly.
With a pained look, Feng Buping said, "We can discuss the details later. Let me give you the short version... Things are not as the rumors claim. In truth, Old Four and Rongrong were a match made in heaven. But our Master—Old Four’s father—discovered that Rongrong’s father was his sworn enemy. In a fit of rage, he resolved to tear them apart..."
"Though the Duanmu Family was also a Profound Iron Level Influence, their strength had waned because Rongrong’s father was gravely ill and bedridden. Our Master threatened Old Four: if he refused to give her up, Master would lead the Profound Dao Sect to attack the Duanmu Family, eradicate them completely, and kill Duanmu Rongrong with his own hands!"
"In his fury, Old Four fought our Master and was ultimately defeated, sealed, and imprisoned."
"But he knew our Master was decisive and ruthless, a man who never went back on his word. If he said he would annihilate the Duanmu Family one day, he would lead an army to slaughter them the next, without the slightest hesitation."
"So, from the dungeon, he threatened his own father with self-detonation... If his father dared to harm Duanmu Rongrong, he would not live on alone!"
"At the time, our Master’s end was near, and the Profound Dao Sect was besieged by crisis. Many factions were waiting for an opportunity to overthrow us. Old Four was the most talented among us; if our Master passed on and something were to happen to Old Four, the Profound Dao Sect would be in grave peril!"
"Our Master had rarely compromised in his life, but this time he had no choice. He ultimately forced Old Four to break up with Rongrong, and then passed away, consumed by grief."
"So Old Four pretended to be a fickle playboy, driving Duanmu Rongrong away with his behavior and loudly proclaiming his romantic conquests, all while secretly crying in the dark every day..."
"I know that in all these years, no one has had it worse than him."
"Within the Profound Dao Sect, he was branded as disloyal and unfilial, blamed for angering his father to death and disregarding the Sect’s interests. Outside, countless people cursed him, calling him a scoundrel..."
"All these years, he has lived with the crushing guilt, believing he caused his father’s death and ruined Duanmu Rongrong’s life, feeling he was worse than an animal."
"He never again showed a hint of affection to another woman, merely putting on a cynical and flippant act. But inside, his heart was filled with bitter sorrow."
"Now, within this Life and Death Reincarnation Array, he is likely trapped in that memory, unable to break free... Or perhaps, in this illusion, he and Duanmu Rongrong have finally gotten together and are living a blissful life, and he’s simply unwilling to wake up..."
As he said this, tears streamed down Feng Buping’s face.
The others around them sighed with sorrow, none of them having ever imagined that this mischievous Elder Ancestor had such a tragic past.
Gong Lanyan’s eyes were wide, and she stood speechless for a long moment.
Shen Lang sighed. "So that’s how it is... This Life and Death Reincarnation Array is truly peculiar. The more deeply a person feels, the harder it is for them to escape."
"What happened to Elder Duanmu afterward? Since the Fourth Ancestor’s father had already passed away, why didn’t they get back together?"
The sorrow on Feng Buping’s face deepened. "Before our Master died, he forced Old Four to swear a poisoned oath: that he would never be with Duanmu Rongrong again, not until death."
"That Dongfang Old Monster went too far!" Gong Lanyan cried out.
With a grave expression, Shen Lang walked to the edge of the Grand Array. "From the looks of it, both Mo Ge and Elder Ancestor Dongfang Jian are trapped in this Illusion Realm, either unable or unwilling to break free."
"Then what should we do? Are they in danger? Could they be lost in there forever?" Gong Lanyan asked urgently.
Shen Lang nodded. "The terror of this Illusion Realm is that the longer you’re trapped, the more you lose yourself. Once those within come to firmly believe the illusion is reality, their consciousness will begin to detach from their body and slowly dissipate... Once their consciousness scatters completely, their life force will naturally follow."
"It’s that terrifying? Xiaolang, you must save Old Four!" Feng Buping could no longer contain himself.
At his side, the Third Ancestor, Duan Sang, who had been silent until now, also wore a look of deep anxiety.
"There’s no other way. I’ll go in myself." Shen Lang raised his leg, about to step into the array.
Gong Lanyan hurriedly pulled him back. "You can’t be so reckless! Mo Ge’s section is one thing, but Dongfang Jian is in a part of the array that only experts at the King Martial Realm or above can enter. Xiaolang, at your current Cultivation level, I’m afraid you won’t be able to withstand the overwhelming mental pressure!"
At this, the faces of everyone present turned ashen!
They naturally trusted in Shen Lang’s abilities, but if such a restriction existed, he wouldn’t even be able to enter the Grand Array. How could he possibly save anyone?
Just as everyone was fraught with anxiety, Shen Lang opened his right hand, revealing a single bead wreathed in Buddha Light.
"I have the Buddhist Sect’s Star Moon Bodhi Prayer Beads to guard my spirit. I’ll be fine. There’s no need to worry."
"The Buddhist Sect’s Star Moon Bodhi Prayer Beads!" Feng Buping and the others were overjoyed.
An Exotic Treasure of this caliber was unlike any ordinary Magical Treasure. In its presence, all demons would retreat, and no evil could invade!
"I’ll go in and bring Mo Ge out first. We can deal with Elder Ancestor Dongfang Jian’s situation afterward."
With that, Shen Lang lifted his leg and strode into the Grand Array.
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