12dz Chapter 112 Borrowing the Key from the Tushita Palace
Chapter 112 Borrowing the Key from the Tushita Palace
Go to Tushita Palace to borrow the key
The main hall fell silent for a few moments.
Neither of them spoke first.
"Laojun has escaped." Zong Wuxian couldn't help but twitch his lips. "That old man has a keen sense of smell."
Yang Jian stood still, his voice still flat.
"It's not running."
"They withdrew ahead of schedule."
"If there were really old Ministry of Works files in the Tushita Palace, he wouldn't stay there waiting for people to come to him."
Liu Er clicked his tongue and kicked the broken jade pieces on the ground.
"It sounds like it was planned in advance."
Wukong slung the golden cudgel over his shoulder, his eyes turning cold.
"Well prepared."
"It saves me, Old Sun, the trouble of searching for them one by one."
Chen Fan's communication talisman was still lit up.
Although he wasn't in the courtroom, his voice came through clearly.
"Stop dawdling."
"The Grand Censorate will withdraw first. The things they need on page three won't just be blocked from us. The people in the Heavenly Court are even more anxious than we are right now."
"Let's go to Tushita Palace first."
"Take the key, and while you're at it, see if you can uncover the secrets of the Three Realms' reconstruction."
Tang Sanzang lowered his head, adjusted his prayer beads, and asked softly.
"This humble monk has only one question."
"Go, are you going to borrow, or to steal?"
Wukong sneered.
"Ask first."
"If you can't get an answer, then tear down the door."
Chen Fan was amused by Fu's response.
"I'm half in favor of Monkey King this time."
"If you can steal, don't fight. If you can combine robbery with negotiation, don't waste too much time arguing."
Zong Wu's lips twitched as he listened.
"Your words are both sarcastic and practical."
Yang Jian looked up and gazed outside the hall.
"If we're any later, other people will have arrived first."
As soon as these words were spoken, the group set off.
Outside the main hall, the Heavenly Court was in chaos.
The once orderly cloud path was now bustling with celestial officials, one after another. Some carried scrolls, some carried seal boxes, and several officials stood in mid-air arguing heatedly, their faces red and necks bulging, spittle flying everywhere.
"This matter originally belonged to the former Ministry of Works!"
"Bullshit! The archives back then were stamped by your Heavenly Secrets Bureau!"
"We only handle the calculations, not the burial!"
"Then produce the imperial edict from Laozi!"
"Hand over the list of supervisors first!"
The six ears were delighted to hear this.
"Wow, it's only been a short while, and it's already starting to bite itself."
Zongwu lowered his voice.
"That's normal. Anyone who encounters a problem like 'the original sin of the three realms' has to find a scapegoat first."
The two celestial officials in front were jogging along and didn't notice anyone beside them at all.
One of them, panting, said, "Ziwei has already made it clear that anyone who has old Ministry of Works files and doesn't report them will be considered an accomplice."
The other person's face turned pale.
"What about the Tushita Palace? Laozi isn't here, who would dare to break in?"
"If no one dares to venture in, it's more like there's a ghost."
Upon hearing this, Wukong's lips twitched.
"That's right."
In the next instant, he had already darted out.
The two celestial officials felt a blur before their eyes, then a tightening around their necks, and they were suspended in mid-air.
Wukong held one in each hand, his smile devoid of warmth.
"I have something to ask you."
Who has visited the Tushita Palace recently?
When the two celestial officials saw who it was, their legs went weak.
"The Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"
"I'll talk! I'll talk!"
"The Dou Department went there last night, and the Lei Department sent people this morning, but the door was closed; they were both turned away!"
"Also, three invitations were sent from Wenchang Prefecture, but no one accepted them!"
Wukong tossed the person aside.
"roll."
The two of them scrambled away, not even daring to pick up their fallen hats.
Tang Sanzang glanced at Wukong.
"You call this courteousness?"
Wukong carried his staff and walked forward.
"I didn't hit him; that's already very polite."
As we headed northwest towards the Heavenly Steps, the noise grew louder and louder.
Many palace gates were sealed off. Some people emptied their storerooms on the spot, as if afraid their homes would be ransacked if they were even a moment late. Even a few star lords who were usually high and mighty were now blocking the roadside, cursing their subordinates.
"Where are the files?"
"I've said it three times: find the time before the fifth kalpa of the old calendar!"
"If you can't find it, go jump off the Execution Platform yourself!"
Zongwu shook his head at the sight.
"The moment the Grand Censorate spoke, the entire Heavenly Court was like it had been set on fire."
Yang Jian said calmly, "The fire wasn't lit now."
"It finally caught fire today."
Chen Fan replied in the communication string.
Get to the point.
"What exactly did the former Ministry of Works do, and why did Laozi keep records of it?"
Yang Jian didn't stop walking, talking as he went.
"When the Heavenly Court re-established the order of the Three Realms, it did more than just build roads and erect monuments."
"How to connect the spiritual veins of mountains and rivers, how to change the river channels, how to divide the divine positions, and where humans, demons, immortals, and ghosts each operate are all based on the original maps drawn by the Ministry of Works."
Zongwu's eyelids twitched upon hearing this.
"Isn't this just taking the Three Realms apart and putting them back together?"
"More or less," Yang Jian said. "These kinds of things aren't fully recorded in the official archives. The real original records are mostly divided into several parts. The Jade Emperor has a general record. The former Ministry of Works manages half. And the other half ends up in the hands of someone who can keep things under control."
Liu Er scratched his ear.
"So it's Laozi?"
Yang Jian nodded.
"He did more than just refine elixirs back then."
"Many things passed through his hands."
Upon hearing this, Wukong's face turned even colder.
"I knew it would be him."
Tang Sanzang looked at him.
"Do you and Laozi truly have such a deep-seated grudge?"
Wukong chuckled, but there was no warmth in his smile.
"I'll admit who ate the Golden Elixir."
"I'll accept whoever lit the alchemy furnace."
"But if he hadn't gone along with it back then, I wouldn't have been imprisoned for five hundred years."
"I'll always remember this debt."
Liu Er chimed in from the side.
"What a coincidence, I don't like that old man either. He looks all mild-mannered, but he's full of schemes behind people's backs."
Zongwu muttered, "You're talking like you're looking in a mirror."
Liu Er turned his head and glared at him.
"Are you looking for a beating?"
"Alright," Chen Fan interrupted, "Let's get to the Tushita Palace soon and agree on our approach first."
"First, don't just smash it right away. If the key is really inside, breaking the barrier will cause even more trouble."
"Secondly, with Laozi absent, those in charge of the palace are probably not good people. Try to get information out of them."
"Third, if the other side acts like a jerk, Wukong, you slap them in the face first, and I'll clean up the mess."
Wukong grinned.
"I like this arrangement."
Tang Sanzang added another sentence.
"I'll say it again: if we can hurt fewer people, we should hurt fewer people first."
Wukong didn't turn around, he just waved his hand.
"Understood, Master."
"Courtesy first, then force. Once the courtesy is delivered, the troops can't be idle either."
Soon, they arrived at the Tushita Palace.
Compared to the chaos elsewhere, the quiet here is almost conspicuous.
The palace gates hung high, and two bronze incense burners in front of them still emitted wisps of smoke. The smoke was light and the smell was not pungent, as if someone had just added fuel to the fire. There were no stray footprints on the ground, and even the ashes were only covered with a thin layer.
Zongwu stood outside the door and shivered.
"I don't want to stay in this place for long."
Liu Er glanced at him sideways.
"You're just feeling guilty."
"Bullshit, I never stole Laozi's Pill."
"You didn't manage to steal it."
The two were arguing when Yang Jian suddenly raised his hand.
"Someone has been here."
He squatted down and ran his fingertips across the threshold.
A very shallow mark was revealed.
It felt like a heavy object being dragged along.
Wukong narrowed his eyes.
"Drag things out through the door?"
Yang Jian shook his head.
"They were dragged in."
Zong Wu's expression changed.
"What do you mean? Laozi isn't here, yet you're hiding people inside?"
Chen Fan immediately took over.
"This is interesting."
"Stop knocking, just open the door."
Wukong had been waiting for this line for a long time.
He stepped forward and placed his hand on the palace gate.
The door pattern lit up briefly.
It's not open.
Wukong grinned and increased the pressure on his hand.
The door pattern shines even brighter.
It's still not open.
Liu Er, always eager for excitement, whistled from the side.
"Laojun's sect has a temper."
Wukong turned to look at him.
"You're here?"
"Come on then."
Just as Liu Er reached out his hand, Tang Sanzang suddenly said, "Wait."
He stepped forward and clasped his hands together in prayer towards the palace gate.
"This humble monk, Tang Xuanzang, has come to visit the Tushita Palace."
"This matter concerns old records of the Three Realms; I request an audience with the person in charge."
"If there is anyone inside, please open the door and let's talk."
After he finished speaking, there was still no response from inside the door.
Liu Er laughed heartily.
"Monk, your offerings are useless."
Tang Sanzang remained unfazed.
"The gift has been delivered."
He took a half step back and looked at Wukong.
"Come on in."
Wukong was immediately delighted.
"I love hearing this."
The next moment, the golden cudgel slammed down horizontally.
"boom!"
A loud bang exploded.
The palace gates trembled violently, and the fires in the two bronze furnaces flickered three times. The forbidden patterns on the gates seemed to be awakened by the impact, lighting up in patches. Just as they were about to rush out, Yang Jian raised his hand and slashed, his divine light nailing into the crack of the gate, forcefully suppressing the backlash.
Zongwu gasped as he watched.
"One's banging on the door, the other's sealing it off; they seem to be working together quite well."
"Enough with the nonsense." Yang Jian stared at the door. "One more time."
Without saying a word, Wukong struck again with his staff.
This time, a sound finally came from inside the door.
It wasn't a shout.
It was a slow, drawn-out sigh.
"You didn't hit it hard enough."
"Didn't you eat?"
Everyone's expression changed simultaneously.
Wukong's eyes instantly blazed with fire.
"Playing tricks."
Just as he raised his baton for the third time, the palace gate suddenly opened by itself.
It's not wide open.
It separates little by little inwards.
A fragrant aroma of tea wafted out from under the door.
Then, a large chair slowly turned around.
A burly man was sitting in the chair.
He was dressed in green, with cow horns on his head, holding a cup of tea in one hand and peeling peanuts in the other.
He looked up and glanced at everyone, his gaze first stopping on Wukong, then sweeping over Yang Jian, and finally landing on Tang Sanzang and Liu Er's faces.
"So many familiar faces have come."
"Quite a spectacle."
Zongwu caught his breath when he saw the opposite corners.
"Green...Green Bull Demon?"
Wukong gripped his staff tightly, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Laojun's mount."
The Green Ox Demon tossed the peanut shells aside and clapped his hands.
"it's me."
"My master is not here, so I'm guarding the palace now."
Liu Er grinned.
"You're a cow, but you talk like a master."
The Green Ox Demon also laughed.
There's nothing we can do about that.
"Because what you're looking for is in my hands."
As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve.
A bunch of bronze keys clattered into his palm.
One of them, only half of it was visible, had the same pattern as Yang Jian's half.
Zong Wu's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yes, it really exists!"
Wukong took a step forward.
"Give it to me."
The Green Ox Demon picked up his tea, took a sip, and remained completely calm.
"Yes, I can give it to you."
"But first, give me back the person."
Upon hearing this, the people outside the door all paused for a moment.
Tang Sanzang first frowned.
"Return to whom?"
The Green Ox Demon put down his teacup, stared at them, and spoke slowly and deliberately.
"My son."
"Niu Shengying"
Chapter 176 Green Ox Demands People
"Your son?"
Zong Wu called out first.
"Isn't Niu Shengying from the Bull Demon King's family?"
The Green Ox Demon looked up at him as if he were a fool.
"If I say it's mine, then it's mine."
"Bring the person here, and I'll give you the key."
Wukong sneered and took another step forward.
"You dare to acknowledge Old Niu's son?"
The Green Ox Demon was not intimidated at all and tapped his finger on the table.
Whether someone admits it or not isn't determined by words.
"Relying on the fire in his belly."
As soon as he said that, everyone at the door stopped.
Chen Fan's eyelids twitched.
Red Boy's Samadhi True Fire had always been a tough point. That kid was born with the ability to spew fire, and neither the Bull Demon King nor Princess Iron Fan could figure it out. Now, the Green Ox is casually mentioning fire, so it's clearly not a ruse.
Tang Sanzang spoke first.
Explain yourself.
The Green Ox Demon raised his hand, and a wisp of green smoke rose from his palm.
The shadow of an alchemy furnace slowly emerged from the smoke.
It is the Tushita Purple Gold Furnace.
"There's a fire in the stove."
"This is no ordinary alchemical fire. It can burn souls, refine bones, and even be implanted into living beings."
Many years ago, a wisp of smoke escaped from the furnace.
"I was ordered to search for a long time."
"Now, we've found it."
Zongwu felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this.
"Don't tell me that the flame is on Red Boy."
"No, it's not here."
The Green Ox Demon stared at them, a twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"It has always lived on in him."
Even Wukong narrowed his eyes at this.
The courtyard was quiet for a couple of breaths.
Tang Sanzang turned to look at Chen Fan.
Chen Fan didn't speak, but his mind had already raced through the information.
After Red Boy was thrown over, the system did indeed give an abnormal notification once.
I only wrote one sentence at the time.
[High-purity furnace residues were found in the target's body; continued observation is recommended.]
There were too many things to do back then, so he just assumed it was the Samadhi True Fire that was special and didn't delve into it further. Now that they've met, it feels just right.
"Summon Red Boy."
As soon as Chen Fan finished speaking, Sha Wujing turned and left.
Before long, Red Boy was taken into a side hall.
As soon as the little kid entered, he saw the blue ox and his brows furrowed.
Who are you?
The Green Ox Demon stood up, looked him up and down, and his gaze was even stranger than before.
It's like looking at something that's been lost for many years.
Red Boy was annoyed by being stared at, so he cursed directly.
"Why are you looking at your grandfather?"
"If you look again, I'll gouge your eyes out."
Zong Wu's lips twitched.
That temper of his hasn't changed at all.
The Green Ox Demon wasn't annoyed; he simply extended one finger.
Open your mouth.
Red Boy rolled his eyes.
Who do you think you are?
The next moment, the Green Ox flicked its fingertip, and a point of green light shot out, heading straight for Red Boy's brow.
Wukong raised his hand to stop him.
Chen Fan suddenly said, "Don't move yet."
The blue light fell, but it did not harm anyone.
Red Boy's body stiffened abruptly, and his chest heaved.
next second.
"boom!"
A ball of fire burst from his nostrils, its color a reddish-gold hue, with a faint purple tinge around its edge.
The temperature inside the room rose instantly.
Zong Wu's face twitched, and he took two steps back.
"This fire...something's not right."
"Of course something's wrong."
The Green Ox Demon spoke in a flat tone.
"The Bull Demon King's bloodline is not capable of generating this kind of fire."
"Even Princess Iron Fan's banana leaf fan couldn't generate this kind of fire."
"This is the seed fire that came from the Tushita Furnace."
Red Boy himself was also taken aback.
He looked down at the flame in his palm. The Samadhi True Fire that he could usually summon at will seemed to be held back by something and was somewhat uncontrollable.
The Green Ox Demon suddenly raised his hand and gestured.
The ball of fire actually drifted half an inch toward him.
Red Boy's expression changed, and he suddenly grabbed the fire back into his palm.
"roll!"
"This is my fire!"
His voice became shrill.
Everyone in the room could hear it.
This kid is really anxious.
The Green Ox Demon looked at him, his tone still flat.
"your?"
"You are merely a vessel."
"The fire was already there when your mother was pregnant with you."
"On the day you were born, fire and soul were bound together, which is why you became the Ox Saint Infant you are today."
These words came like a hammer blow.
Zongwu opened his mouth wide.
Sha Wujing stood behind, his crescent-shaped shovel gripping tightly.
Wukong's eyes slowly turned cold.
"You mean, Red Boy was created by Laozi?"
The Green Ox Demon neither nodded nor denied it.
"Even earlier."
"The master has refined many things in his furnace: elixirs, artifacts, fire, and spirits."
Some succeeded, some failed.
"There are still some unfinished products that have escaped."
"Niu Shengying is probably a continuation of the lineage."
The moment the words "continuation" were uttered, Red Boy was furious.
"You're talking nonsense!"
He kicked over the wooden stool next to him, sending sparks flying all over the ground.
"I am who I am!"
"What a lousy furnace, what Laozi? What do I care!"
"Anyone who dares to take me away as incriminating material, I'll burn them alive first!"
He wasn't just being harsh.
They're really ready to take action.
The three-pronged musket hummed as it was fired, its tip pressed against the face of the Green Ox Demon.
This small person's temper made the entire hall feel hot.
The Green Ox Demon stared at the tip of the spear and finally narrowed his eyes.
"He has quite a temper."
"Rage like the fire of yesteryear."
Red Boy flicked his wrist, and the tip of the spear went in another half inch.
Don't try to get close to me.
"Didn't you want someone?"
"Come and get it."
Just as a fight was about to break out, Tang Sanzang suddenly took a step forward.
"Stop everything."
His voice wasn't loud.
The hall did indeed pause for a moment.
In this group, Tang Sanzang has now earned a reputation for mediating disputes.
Chen Fan also raised his hand and pressed down on Red Boy's shoulder.
"Listen to the end first."
Red Boy gritted his teeth, refusing to put away his gun, his eyes still fixed on the Green Ox.
Chen Fan turned to the Green Ox Demon.
"You didn't come here to steal someone today."
"You're here to negotiate."
The Green Ox Demon laughed.
"It's less effort to talk to smart people."
"I'm definitely not here to steal."
"If they really wanted to take it, they would have done it already."
"I'm here to retrieve the escaped convict from the furnace on behalf of the master. And to give you the keys as a token of my respect."
Chen Fan asked directly.
"What's the point of taking it back?"
The Green Ox Demon glanced at Red Boy.
"Repairing the furnace."
"It could also be the start-up of the furnace."
"Let's see how you use it, sir."
Red Boy was about to pounce on him on the spot.
Repairing the furnace.
Start the furnace.
Two sentences are enough.
Everyone understood.
Taking it back won't bring any good.
Wukong bared his teeth, and his golden cudgel slammed into the ground with a "thud".
"Then you can get lost."
"No one can take my people away."
A cold glint flashed in the Green Ox Demon's eyes.
"You don't want the key anymore?"
"No, I don't want it."
Wukong replied crisply.
"I'll go get Lao Jun's half myself."
Just as the Green Ox Demon was about to speak, Tang Sanzang suddenly said, "Perhaps we can try another method."
Everyone looked at him.
Tang Sanzang raised his sleeve and took out a thin scroll from his bosom.
It was a copy of the template library that they had previously compiled from the General Revision Court.
It contains many false destinies and substitute pages, as well as some old scroll fragments.
These are things that no outsider has ever seen before.
The Green Ox Demon's eyes changed for the first time.
"Do you have this?"
Tang Sanzang held the booklet between his two fingers and did not hand it over.
"You want people? We won't give them to you."
"What you want is not necessarily just people."
"What's inside might be more valuable than a ball of fire."
The Green Ox Demon fell silent.
Chen Fan immediately took over.
"You just mentioned Laozi's experiment, and then you mentioned the semi-finished product."
"This means the wire in the furnace hasn't broken yet."
"You're looking for Red Boy not just to recycle him."
"I'm even more curious about how he managed to live the life he has today."
"Right?"
The Green Ox Demon stared at Chen Fan.
After a long pause, he nodded.
"That's interesting."
Chen Fan smiled.
"Then stop pretending."
"The person behind you is stuck now too."
"The key is a bargaining chip. Red Boy is also a bargaining chip."
"You're making this so clear today because you want something to break this deadlock, right?"
This time, the Green Ox Demon didn't respond.
But the teacup in his hand had already stopped in mid-air.
This is the answer.
Tang Sanzang opened the thin book, picked out two pages, and pointed at them with his fingertip.
Two faint golden shadows emerged.
One page describes the rules for creating a substitute protagonist.
One page contained the annotation logic: "It can be used to fill a page, but not to form a volume."
The Green Ox Demon's face darkened after just one glance.
Upon looking at it a second time, my fingers trembled slightly.
Zongwu watched from the side, swallowing hard.
The fact that Qingniu, this seasoned veteran, reacted this way shows that these two pages really hit the nail on the head.
"Where did you get this?"
The Green Ox Demon lowered his voice.
Chen Fan didn't answer, but instead asked a question.
Is it worth exchanging part of the truth?
The Green Ox Demon's expression changed several times.
The hall was very quiet.
Even Red Boy forgot to curse, and just stared intently at him.
After a long while, the Green Ox Demon slowly exhaled.
"value."
"I can tell you something."
"The master left the Tushita Palace not to hide from you."
"He went to the inner sanctuary."
"The furnace line master book is sealed there, along with the other half of the key you wanted."
Upon hearing this, Zongwu's heart leaped into his throat.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
The Green Ox Demon didn't even glance at him.
"If you had said so earlier, would you have been more honest?"
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.
Why is the inner sanctuary closed?
The Green Ox Demon uttered four words.
"Someone went in first."
Wukong's pupils contracted.
"Who?"
The Green Ox Demon shook his head.
"All I know is that the master didn't open the door himself."
"It's like someone took over old permissions and forcibly triggered it."
"The door was sealed off for half an hour."
"There's still no movement inside."
Even Chen Fan frowned at this.
Laozi was not in the Tushita Palace, but the inner hall was broken into first.
It still carries over the old permissions.
This smells too strong.
Tang Sanzang closed the book.
"Let's ask another question."
"Can the fire on Red Boy's body be removed?"
The Green Ox Demon looked at Red Boy and answered directly.
"able."
"If you peel it off, he'll probably be half useless."
"Fire and soul have been entangled for too long."
Red Boy's teeth were almost ground to dust.
"Try saying it again."
The Green Ox Demon ignored him, focusing only on the thin book in Tang Sanzang's hand.
"I've said enough."
"Show me the complete two pages of the booklet, and I'll open the door."
Chen Fan and Tang Seng exchanged a glance.
This is a profit.
The one in a hurry right now is Qingniu, not them.
Tang Sanzang raised his hand, pushed the booklet forward half an inch, and then stopped it.
"Not two complete pages."
"It's one and a half pages."
The Green Ox Demon's face turned black.
Zongwu almost burst out laughing.
This bald guy is getting increasingly aggressive in his bargaining.
The Green Ox Demon said coldly, "Do you really think this is the execution ground?"
Chen Fan shrugged.
"You really think we'd hand them over?"
"If there's a replacement, we'll replace it; if not, we'll just storm in."
Wukong held his golden cudgel horizontally, cooperating perfectly.
"That's right."
The Green Ox Demon stared at the three of them for a few moments, then suddenly laughed.
"OK."
"You guys are all so ruthless."
Tang Sanzang showed him a page and a half of the contents.
The Green Ox Demon took it, glanced at it, and initially remained calm.
As he watched, his expression slowly changed.
When he saw the last half page, a hint of surprise even flashed in his eyes.
"I see……"
"No wonder."
"No wonder the old man has been looking at old models lately."
Chen Fan immediately seized upon this sentence.
"What is an old model?"
The Green Ox Demon closed the book and did not reply.
He stood up and flicked his sleeves.
The tightly closed bronze door at the back of the side hall suddenly shook violently.
A beam of white light slowly seeped out from under the door.
The entire hall shook.
The Green Ox Demon turned around and stared at Chen Fan and the other two.
"I can open the door."
"There are some things that you can only see."
"However, not too many people can go in."
Zongwu was anxious.
"Why wasn't I included?"
The Green Ox Demon said calmly, "It recognizes energy within. If you go in, the door will explode."
Zong Wu opened his mouth, but didn't dare to respond.
The Green Ox Demon then looked at Sha Wujing, Red Boy, and Six Ears.
"You all stay outside."
"Anyone who dares to trespass, I'll first break the door, then break the key."
After saying that, he raised his hand and pressed it against the door.
The densely packed furnace patterns on the bronze door lit up layer by layer, as if fire was flowing inside the door.
next moment.
The door opened a crack.
There's no way out of the crack.
There was only a vast expanse of white that made it hard to breathe.
The Green Ox Demon turned to the side, his voice deep.
"Only Wukong, Tang Sanzang, and Chen Fan are allowed to project into the inner hall."
"Leave your true form outside."
"As for who you'll see once you go in..."
He paused for a moment, his eyes looking strange.
"I can't guarantee that either."
Chapter 177 Laozi's Message
A white light rushed towards my face.
Chen Fan's feet suddenly lost their footing, as if he had been swallowed up by a crack in the door.
The next moment, he regained his footing.
The ground beneath his feet wasn't solid ground, but a suspended bronze platform. The surroundings were empty; there were no alchemical furnaces, no medicine shelves, and no one else. Only in the distance, a few sparks drifted, as if someone had crushed a furnace of alchemical fire and scattered it into the darkness.
Wukong was the first to curse.
"Is this the inner sanctum?"
Tang Sanzang frowned, and stopped holding the prayer beads in his hand.
"Nobody's here."
Chen Fan didn't reply, but looked down at his feet first.
The bronze platform is engraved with many fine lines, like the ruler lines drawn by a craftsman. Dried black stains are stuck in the lines, they are very old and cannot be wiped off, they don't look like furnace ash, but more like someone's blood from years ago.
His heart sank.
This is not an alchemy room.
This is a construction site.
It's still a very old construction site.
There's only one thing in front of you.
A scroll of bamboo slips.
There was half an old key lying next to it.
The key was short, its edges worn smooth, but the teeth were still sharp, as if it could still open something. It also had markings, very similar to Yang Jian's half, but much older, as if it had been dug out of the ground.
Wukong squinted.
"this one?"
He took two steps forward, and the bronze platform suddenly shook.
In the surrounding darkness, there was a "click" sound, as if a mechanism had been triggered.
Tang Sanzang simply raised his hand.
"Don't move."
Wukong turned to look at him and bared his teeth.
"You're too late."
The next moment, a ring of golden flames lit up above the heads of the three people.
The fire didn't fall, but circled around them. After circling three times, a line of words emerged from the fire.
[Non-registered workers, please stop here]
Wukong sneered and raised his staff to smash it.
Chen Fan grabbed him and pressed him down.
"etc."
He stared at the line of text and reached directly for the rolled-up bamboo slips.
The flames were not stopped.
Wukong's eyelids twitched.
"Does it recognize you?"
"It's not recognizing me." Chen Fan gripped the bamboo slip and slowly lifted it. "It's recognizing a projection."
After he finished speaking, the bamboo slips dispersed on their own.
There is no wind.
The bamboo strips unfolded one by one, as if someone were turning pages on the other side.
The first piece contains only one sentence.
"The fact that someone has seen this scroll means that the Tushita Palace is no longer under my jurisdiction."
Wukong's eyes narrowed.
Tang Sanzang also took half a step forward.
Laozi's courtesy name.
The smell was overwhelming. It wasn't the smell of incense, nor the smell of cinnamon. It was the kind of smell that comes from someone sitting high up watching you for a long time, even calculating whether you'd get angry or not.
The bamboo slips were turned over again.
"Let's get down to business. Leave half the key. If you can get it, it means Yang Jian has given in too."
Chen Fan's gaze fell on the old key, but he didn't rush to take it.
really.
Lao Jun knew they would come.
They even knew that Yang Jian had already given away half of it.
Wukong gritted his teeth.
"That old bastard, he'd kept it all along."
Another bamboo slip was turned.
"Don't swear. No matter how foul your language is, I won't hear it."
Wukong was stunned for a moment, then his face turned dark.
Tang Sanzang's lips twitched, and he almost couldn't hold back.
Chen Fan almost laughed.
This is very much like Laozi.
When the person isn't around, words take over first.
The words on the third bamboo slip suddenly changed.
The first few sentences sound like a joke, but here the tone suddenly becomes more serious.
"If the scriptures have already inquired about the original sin of the Three Realms, then you should know that the answer is not in demons, not in Buddhas, and not in immortals."
Wukong's smile disappeared.
Tang Sanzang gently tapped the prayer beads in his hand.
Chen Fan stared at the words, his heart pounding with tension.
coming.
The bamboo slips were slowly turned to the next one.
"The original sin is being deleted."
"Delete the failed world. Delete the wrong paths. Delete the unsuitable people. After deleting them, pretend they never existed."
It was very quiet around.
Even the golden flames above their heads paused for a moment.
Wukong stared at the words, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"What do you mean?"
Chen Fan remained silent.
His mind went blank for a moment.
Delete the world of failure.
Pretend it never existed.
This statement is more ruthless than any demon, Buddha, immortal, or evil spirit.
Demons kill people, Buddhas save people, and immortals govern people—this is all laid bare.
The world is different after deletion.
That leaves not even a trace.
Death doesn't even count.
Tang Sanzang lowered his voice.
"Therefore, the scriptures do not ask who did evil first."
"The question is, who started by erasing what shouldn't have been left?"
The bamboo slips were turned over again.
"Half right."
"Demons are the future threat. Buddhas are the patch. Immortals are the implementers."
"There was more than one person who started this. I was one of them."
Wukong slammed his golden cudgel to the ground with a "clang".
"You got a share too?"
The writing didn't stop.
"have."
"I participated in the restructuring."
"A backdoor was also left open."
Chen Fan stared at those four words, holding his breath.
back door.
The loop is now closed.
The fact that Yang Jian had half a key and that the old key in the Tushita Palace was half a key was not a coincidence.
Laozi didn't simply hide things.
He deliberately left a loophole for future generations during that reconstruction.
Wukong sneered repeatedly.
"Now you know how to play the good guy?"
A sentence was quickly added to the bamboo slip.
"He's not a good person. He's just getting old and has started to complain about his hands being dirty."
Wukong laughed.
"You have quite the nerve."
Chen Fan suddenly squatted down and picked up the half of the old key.
It's quite heavy.
It's neither like gold nor like copper.
It's more like a frozen fire.
As soon as he touched it, a tiny white light shone from the key's teeth, and then a very small star map appeared, hovering above his palm.
The star chart is very messy.
There's a dot inside that's circled three times in red.
Four small characters were written next to it.
The former site of Tianwai.
Tang Sanzang glanced at it, and his eyelids immediately drooped.
"Entrance to the old construction site."
Wukong understood and suddenly looked up.
"Is this where the other half of the key opens?"
New characters emerged from the bamboo slips.
"right."
"You're not looking for the storeroom. Not the armory. Not where I keep my secrets."
"That's an old construction site. The earliest batch of things were built there, removed from there, and thrown out from there."
Chen Fan's palms felt slightly warm.
The key seemed to come alive, vibrating repeatedly.
He suddenly realized that this thing wasn't meant to open doors.
It looks like a work badge.
It was the certificate that allowed entry to the construction site back then.
Wukong stared at the star map, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Let's go now."
"Go to hell." Chen Fan looked up and replied directly, "Laojun specifically left a message that he wouldn't just give an address."
really.
On the next bamboo slip, the characters are pressed down even more heavily.
"There's one more thing."
"Don't rush to piece together the Annihilation Star."
Upon seeing these five words, Chen Fan's expression changed.
Wukong immediately looked at him.
"Those few Star Cores you have?"
Chen Fan nodded, but his expression was not good.
He collected several fragments, but never managed to piece them all together.
It's not that I don't want to.
Something just feels off.
Now Laozi has made his words clear.
The writing continued on the bamboo slips.
"Eukaryotes have the ability to delete host."
"After completing the spelling, it first deletes the holder, then deletes the target."
"If you can handle it, then pretend I didn't say anything."
A chill ran down Chen Fan's back.
Delete the main attribute.
These three words are too straightforward.
No wonder the system didn't give him a clear warning before.
This is not a normal magic weapon at all.
This is a knife used to clear out an old construction site.
Whoever holds on tight first, loses first.
Wukong's expression also turned cold.
"You bastard."
Tang Sanzang's reply was even harsher.
"This is using people as bait."
Chen Fan slowly exhaled.
it is good.
At least now we can see the pit.
Otherwise, if he manages to piece himself together at the crucial moment, he won't even know how he died.
The bamboo slips have not stopped being used.
"You've gotten this far not by luck."
"Some people wanted to bring up the issue of 'deleting' a long time ago."
"I'm one. Yang Jian is half one. And there are some others who, even in death, don't end it all."
Wukong suddenly looked up.
"Who else?"
The bamboo slip didn't reply, as if it was deliberately keeping him hanging.
The next section contains only one sentence.
"Qingniu didn't lie to you. That child, the Holy Infant, did indeed leave his mark on my path."
Tang Sanzang was taken aback.
"Was Red Boy involved too?"
"It's not that he got involved. He got dragged into it." Chen Fan stared at the words, his mind racing. "Qingniu wants people, not just his son. He's afraid his son will be used as a substitute on the old production line."
Wukong clicked his tongue.
"Those old bastards, none of them are clean."
The last few characters emerged from the bamboo slips.
It's shorter than the previous ones.
It's also faster.
This message looks like it's about to collapse.
"Take the keys. Mark the location."
"Don't believe the Heavenly Court's apparent secrecy."
"Don't believe in Buddhist scriptures that were added later."
"Especially those who believe in the Amitabha Sutra."
Chen Fan's eyes sharpened.
Those who contemplate the scriptures.
It's that name again.
When the scriptures were being written on their own, he suspected that something was watching from behind. Now, Laozi has directly pointed it out.
Wukong grew impatient listening to this.
"Who is the one who observes the sutra? Come out and explain yourself."
The bamboo slip ignored him.
The last piece slowly unfolds.
There was only one line of text at the top.
"If you really are the anchor point left by that person, then stop following the path they gave you."
Chen Fan's fingers tightened.
"who's that person?"
The moment he uttered those words, the entire scroll of bamboo slips burst into flames.
It started without a flame.
The words lit up first, then the entire scroll turned white at the same time, and in the blink of an eye it rolled into a ball of ash.
Wukong grabbed at it, but only managed to grab half a handful of hot ashes.
"Oh shit!"
Tang Sanzang's face also darkened, and he reached out to brush away the ashes.
There was nothing left inside.
Not even a single piece of bamboo was left.
The golden flames above their heads went out at that moment.
The bronze platform trembled slightly.
A muffled thud suddenly came from the darkness ahead.
Like in a faraway place, an old door was pushed open half an inch from the inside.
Chen Fan looked down at the half-old key in his hand.
The white light on the key's teeth was still there.
The star chart from before didn't dissipate; instead, a new line appeared.
That line doesn't lead to the ancient site in outer space.
It circled around once.
Finally, it pointed directly to a place none of them had expected.
Tang Sanzang glanced at it, and his expression changed immediately.
"Lingshan?"
Wukong saw it clearly, and a murderous glint immediately rose in his eyes.
"Does the old construction site road pass through Lingshan first?"
Chen Fan remained silent.
He looked at the new line and suddenly noticed a line of tiny bloody words at the end of the line, as if someone had added them on the spot.
There are only four characters.
"He is still alive."
Wukong frowned.
"Who?"
Just as Chen Fan was about to take a closer look, the four characters suddenly twisted and went straight into the key.
The next instant, a fierce shout came from outside from the Green Ox Demon.
"come out!"
"Someone's banging on the door!"
Chapter 178 Red Boy's Spark
There was already chaos outside the door.
As soon as Chen Fan and his two companions stepped out of the projection in the inner hall, the Green Ox Demon had already stepped onto the threshold, his steel fork blocking half of the hall door.
Flames flickered wildly outside the hall.
It's not a stove fire.
It was the talismanic light emanating from the burning of the Heavenly Army's battle flag.
Wukong looked up and immediately cursed, "They really dare to chase me all the way to the gate of the Tushita Palace!"
There were at least a hundred remaining soldiers outside.
His armor was cracked, his flag was broken, but his face was full of a fierce look, as if he was desperate to get the job done.
The leader of the generals clutched his chest, blood still trickling from the corner of his mouth, but his voice remained firm.
"Green Ox, you dare to harbor the son of a traitor, you have violated the laws of Heaven."
"Hand over Niu Shengying."
"Hand over the key now."
"I will remember to treat you leniently for what happened today."
Zongwu, standing behind, chuckled at the sound.
"You bunch of stray dogs, you've got quite the big mouths."
That day, he didn't even look at him, but stared intently at Red Boy.
Red Boy, who was leaning against the pillar, immediately darkened his face upon hearing the words "son of a traitor."
He was never afraid of being called a monster.
But today's words are different.
The Green Ox Demon didn't turn around, as if he had just said it casually.
"Don't get too close."
"The fire within this kid is getting unstable."
Chen Fan's eyelids twitched, and he immediately looked at Red Boy.
really.
The fire mark between Red Boy's eyebrows was flickering on and off.
This is not the usual way of shining the Samadhi Fire.
The fire seemed to be drilling into the flesh.
The floor tiles beneath his feet began to turn red.
Wukong noticed it too, and frowned, asking, "What's going on?"
The Green Ox Demon lowered his voice.
"Laojun dismantled the old furnace once."
"The hearth wasn't extinguished; a few embers were left."
"That kid ate the fiercest one back then."
Upon hearing this, the Bull Demon King's face changed.
"What did you say?"
The Green Ox Demon finally turned around and glanced at Red Boy.
That glance wasn't particularly warm, nor was it particularly cold.
It's like looking at an old thing that you recognize.
"He's no ordinary fire-breathing man."
"He was raised in the furnace."
"I can usually suppress it, and I can even use it as my natal fire."
"If it gets out of control, the others will perish first, then the fire will take over."
"By then, he will not be Niu Shengying."
"It's an old industrial furnace."
The room fell silent.
Even the group of heavenly soldiers opposite were stunned for a moment.
The next moment, their eyes lit up.
That's not fear.
It's greed.
The leading general, his breathing quickened, shouted, "Take him down!"
"Capture the Holy Infant of the Cow!"
"The old flame of Laozi's furnace is inside him; bringing it back would be a great achievement!"
At a command, dozens of chains were swung over.
Each chain was wrapped with fire extinguishing talismans.
They clearly came prepared.
"You're asking for death." Wukong charged forward in one step.
With a sweep of his golden cudgel, the three chains at the very front shattered instantly.
But the remnants of the army didn't fight him head-on at all. They retreated while throwing talismans, with only one target—Red Boy.
The six-eared macaque also moved.
He leaped onto the beam, kicked two soldiers over from above, and yelled at the top of his lungs, "These bastards only target children!"
The Bull Demon King roared and slammed his iron cudgel down, cracking the ground outside the door.
But more and more heavenly soldiers surrounded them.
Behind them were two more trains being pushed by eight strongmen; the locomotives were dark and filled with icy sand.
Clearly, the Heavenly Court had anticipated that Red Boy would lose control.
Chen Fan read quickly, and his mind raced even faster.
This isn't an arrest.
They've come to collect the furnaces.
"Red Boy, retreat first," Chen Fan shouted.
Red Boy didn't move.
He lowered his head and stared at his palm.
Flames were leaping wildly in his palm.
It changes color from red to green to white.
It felt like three layers of fire were consuming my body.
"I can't back out." His voice was a little hoarse.
"It's rising upwards."
Suddenly, the Green Ox Demon held his steel fork horizontally, blocking his way.
"Don't press."
"The more pressure you apply, the faster it explodes."
The Bull Demon King's eyes turned red, and he roared at the Green Ox Demon, "Didn't you say you were going to acknowledge your son? Now you're just watching him die?"
The Green Ox Demon frowned.
"Shut up."
"If he wants to live, he can only swallow this spark himself."
"No one can replace me."
Upon hearing this, the general on the opposite side let out a sinister laugh.
"swallow?"
"Can he swallow it?"
"Niu Shengying, do you really think you're a holy infant?"
"You are nothing but a shell that Laozi used to nourish his fire!"
That's a really harsh statement.
Red Boy suddenly looked up.
A fire suddenly blazed in his eyes.
Say it again.
That day, seeing him provoked only fueled his enthusiasm even more.
Did I say something wrong?
"So what if your father is the Bull Demon King and your mother is Princess Iron Fan?"
"Your life was borrowed from the furnace from the very beginning."
"Without the flame, you are nothing but a piece of trash."
"Even with a spark, you're still just a furnace!"
The last sentence fell.
With a loud thud, Red Boy's feet struck the ground.
The floor tiles all shattered.
A crimson pillar of fire shot straight up to the top of the palace.
The few heavenly soldiers who were nearby didn't even have time to finish their screams before they were burned to ashes.
The Bull Demon King instinctively tried to rush forward, but the Green Ox Demon grabbed him.
"Don't touch it!"
"If you touch him now, you'll have to follow suit."
Red Boy slowly floated up from the pillar of fire.
His hair was completely disheveled, like a burning red flame.
His face was still that of a young man, but a huge fire shadow had appeared behind him.
The fire image resembled a malevolent figure within a furnace.
It has no facial features.
There was only a cracked crater.
He just spouts nonsense.
One spray can create a curtain of fire that lasts for half a day.
The heavenly soldiers who caught up had barely approached ten zhang when their armor crumbled first, followed by their flesh rotting away, and in the blink of an eye, a whole group of them collapsed.
Zong Wu felt a chill run down his spine: "This is even more evil than Samadhi Fire!"
Wukong grinned.
"A bit wicked is good."
"It burns so well."
The leading heavenly general panicked and hurriedly shouted, "Lower the train! Move!"
Both trains simultaneously spewed out icy sand.
The black and white sand swirled toward the pillar of fire.
The fire was indeed suppressed for a moment upon contact.
The fiery demon behind Red Boy also swayed.
When the weather showed signs of improvement, his eyes lit up.
"It's under control!"
"Again!"
But the Green Ox Demon suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"idiot."
"Old-fashioned stoves, I love eating cold dishes the most."
Chen Fan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood.
really.
The next instant, the cold sand was completely engulfed by the pillar of fire.
It's not that the engine is off.
It's a fire-swallowing creature.
The demonic image behind Red Boy suddenly solidified, and a pulsating fire core slowly appeared on his chest.
"Now!" the Green Ox Demon roared at Red Boy.
"Focus on the fire, not the people!"
"Focus on the core, not the flame!"
"Bring the heat back in from outside, and use it to fuel your own breath!"
Red Boy, who was in the fire, seemed to hear it.
He clenched his fists tightly.
The fire that was originally shooting out in all directions was forcibly pulled back.
The scene was extremely brutal.
It's like someone stuffing a sea of fire back into a boy's chest.
Blood began to seep from the corner of his mouth.
My knees were shaking too.
But he didn't utter a single sound.
The Bull Demon King's hands trembled as he watched, his voice shaking, "Son..."
Princess Iron Fan gripped the banana leaf fan tightly, her eyes red-rimmed, without uttering a single word.
Seeing that Red Boy was putting away the fire, the heavenly soldiers thought their chance had come and rushed forward again.
"Take him down now!"
Wukong was about to make a move.
Chen Fan suddenly stopped him.
"etc."
Wukong turned to look at him.
Chen Fan stared at Red Boy, his eyes darkening.
"He has to get through this on his own."
In the arena, Red Boy had already knelt down on one knee.
It felt like there was a furnace inside his chest.
With each breath, sparks flew out from between my teeth.
The leading heavenly general charged the fastest, already within three zhang (approximately 10 meters) of Red Boy, his soul-binding hook aimed straight for Red Boy's neck.
"Give me--"
He hadn't finished speaking.
Red Boy suddenly raised his face.
He grinned and smiled.
That laugh was fierce.
It's also very bright.
You said I was a furnace.
"Then go in and give it a try."
He pressed his palm against his chest.
boom!
The newly formed fire core instantly shrank.
Then, it suddenly exploded.
It's not about blowing it outwards.
It transformed into a dark red ring of fire, sweeping across the ground.
Wherever the ring of fire passed, the weapons in the hands of the heavenly soldiers melted first, then the protective talismans exploded, and finally even the people were swept up in it.
Especially that leading heavenly general.
He tried to retreat, but his legs turned into flames first, and he was dragged into the center of the ring of fire, where he was burned into a ball of flames that made him scream in agony.
Just a breath.
The sound stopped.
The person is gone too.
The entire room fell into a deathly silence.
The remaining remnants of the army all stopped.
Some people's facial muscles were trembling.
Some people even forgot to pick up the knife they had dropped on the ground.
"retreat……"
"Retreat now!"
"This is not Samadhi Fire!"
"run!"
But how could they possibly escape?
Red Boy has already stood up.
The fiery demon image behind him did not dissipate; instead, it slowly shrank back into his body.
With each reduction in size, the fire within him became more stable.
In the end, the demonic image completely disappeared into his chest.
A new fire pattern appeared on his chest.
It's not as outwardly intense as before.
This pattern is deeper.
Like a smoldering ember that has been burning for many years inside a furnace.
The Green Ox Demon stared at the fire pattern and nodded for the first time.
"It's done."
Chen Fan asked, "What kind of fire is this?"
The Green Ox Demon uttered four words.
"The fire in the heart of a furnace."
Red Boy raised his hand and looked at his palm.
A ball of fire was dancing in his palm.
Not big.
The colors are not flashy.
It has a darker red hue.
But once the fire came out, it carried away all the surrounding temperature.
Even the clouds along the route of the retreating remnants of the army began to turn black.
Liu Er swallowed hard.
"This kid has really leveled up."
Wukong walked over and slapped Red Boy on the head.
"good."
"At least it's not like before, where all they did was spout nonsense."
Red Boy, who had been holding back, bared his teeth and glared at him after being hit.
"You damn monkey, be gentle!"
The Bull Demon King rushed over, reaching out to hug him, but then hesitated to touch him.
Red Boy rolled his eyes and bumped into him.
"I'm fine."
The impact made the Bull Demon King's nose sting, and he nodded repeatedly.
"It's alright, it's alright."
Princess Iron Fan also came over, pressed her palm on Red Boy's shoulder to confirm that he was not burned, and then breathed a sigh of relief.
The Green Ox Demon stood aside, still maintaining his indifferent demeanor.
Red Boy glanced at him and suddenly asked, "You knew all along?"
The Green Ox Demon said, "I know half of it."
"If you die, it'll be a short life."
"If you survive, this fire is yours."
Red Boy snorted.
"Should I call your name...?"
"Don't shout," the Green Ox Demon interrupted quickly.
"I have no intention of acknowledging my relatives."
"I only recognize fire."
That's a pretty strong statement.
But after he finished speaking, he still raised his hand and threw out a small black ring.
The little ring landed in Red Boy's hands and became slightly warm.
"For fire control."
"Put it on your wrist."
"When the fire is chaotic, knock three times."
Red Boy paused for a moment, but silently accepted it.
Chen Fan saw it all, but didn't say anything.
This cow is very stubborn.
They gave us exactly what we were owed.
Just then.
Yang Jian's half of the bronze key suddenly trembled.
Immediately afterwards, the half-gun from the Green Ox Demon's sleeve flew out as well.
The two keys hung in mid-air, chiming softly to each other.
Chen Fan's expression changed.
"Are you going to merge?"
"No, that's not right." Tang Sanzang stared at the area below the key, his voice deep. "The coordinates have shifted."
Everyone looked up at the same time.
Outside the Tushita Palace, an ancient star map suddenly lit up the previously empty sky.
One of the points is flashing wildly.
That location is neither in Heaven, nor on Mount Ling, nor in the mortal realm.
It's like a piece of wasteland hanging outside the Three Realms.
Zong Wu's face turned pale as soon as he saw it clearly.
"Old construction site."
"It really is the coordinate of the old construction site."
Both keys turned at the same time, making a clicking sound.
A thin line splits in the center of the star chart.
The thin thread was initially one inch long.
Then two inches.
Three inches.
It's like a door is being slowly pulled open from the other side.
There was no light in the crack.
Only a gust of scorching black wind blew out first.
The fire mark on Red Boy's chest lit up instantly.
He clutched his chest and stared intently at the crack.
"in……"
Something is calling me.
Chapter 179 Old Construction Site in Outer Space
As soon as the crack opened, a black wind swept out.
The wind didn't blow outwards; it was like it was stripping people of their clothes, specifically trying to get into the gaps between their bones.
The fire pattern on Red Boy's chest shone brightly, and sweat immediately beaded on his forehead. He gritted his teeth, staring at the darkness within the crack.
"The fire here is not right."
Wukong stepped in front, blocking the way, and raised his golden cudgel horizontally.
"Enter."
Yang Jian stood at the back, without moving.
He stared at the crack, and his third eye slowly opened a crack. He glanced at it only once before pressing his eyelids back down.
"I'll see you to the door."
"I'm not going inside."
The Bull Demon King turned to look at him and snorted.
"Are you afraid sometimes?"
Yang Jian didn't respond to that, but instead tossed the other half of the bronze key to Chen Fan.
Both keys were raised simultaneously.
Click.
The crack widened suddenly, eventually forming a doorway.
There is no sky or earth inside the gate.
The first thing you see is a broken bridge.
Beneath the bridge wasn't water, but a dark gray void. Floating within were pebbles, broken flags, and half-grown mountain sections.
Further away, towering pillars hung suspended in mid-air. Their surfaces were intricately carved with patterns, as if the laws of nature had been written halfway through and suddenly broken off.
Tang Sanzang glanced at it, and the Buddhist chant stuck in his throat, unable to come out for a long time.
"This is not a legacy."
"This is a construction site."
Zongwu's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was dry.
"Old construction site. Genuine product."
Chen Fan didn't rush in.
He looked at Yang Jian first: "How much do you know?"
Yang Jian stood outside the door, his voice cold.
"All I know is up to the door."
"There is an old scroll in the Heavenly Court that mentions a sentence: Before the Three Realms were formed, there was a place outside the Heavenly Court that was specifically for creating realms."
"Later, this place was sealed off. And then, fewer and fewer people knew about it."
Wukong frowned: "Who bestowed this title?"
Yang Jian paused.
"Nobody dares to write it."
The room fell silent for a moment after he said that.
The Bull Demon King cursed, "Playing tricks!"
Yang Jian stared at him: "Don't touch anything recklessly once you're inside."
"Many of the things inside aren't magical artifacts. They're records."
"Some records are so important that even the Heavenly Court dares not touch them."
Chen Fan understood.
I'm afraid to touch it, not because I don't want to.
Touching it will cause an accident.
He glanced at everyone and spoke directly.
"Grouping".
"Old Niu, you guard the gate. Stop anyone coming from outside."
The Bull Demon King glared: "Why should I be the gatekeeper?"
Chen Fan looked at him and said, "Because you're the biggest, you're the one who can withstand the most damage if something really happens."
The Bull Demon King opened his mouth to curse, but after thinking about it, he closed his mouth again.
There's really no way to refute that.
"Fine. I'll guard it."
"Anyone who dares to come will be hit by my axe first."
"Red Boy, control the fire. Don't burn things randomly. Many things here might explode at the slightest touch."
Red Boy nodded, flipped his palm, and the Samadhi Fire shrank into a small ball, obediently hanging on his shoulder.
"Know."
"This place is connected to the fire in my chest."
"The further in you go, the hotter it gets."
"Tang Sanzang, check the files."
Tang Sanzang had already set his sights on a floating stone slab, and upon hearing this, he immediately nodded.
"This humble monk is most adept at reading the nonsense of the dead."
Six Ears chuckled beside him: "Monk, your mouth is getting more and more scathing."
"I've been hanging out with you guys for a long time."
Chen Fan finally looked at Wukong and Zongwu.
"Come with me inside to find the files."
"Wukong, you're free to do as you please. If you encounter anything, don't smash it all with your staff."
Wukong grinned.
"It depends on my mood."
Yang Jian stood outside the door and suddenly added another sentence.
"There's one more thing."
Everyone looked over.
He stared at the questioning stone in Zongwu's hand.
"Its origin may lie in the old construction site."
Zong Wu's hand trembled, and he immediately gripped the question stone tightly.
"You knew all along?"
"Just a guess."
After Yang Jian finished speaking, he took half a step back.
"I'll hold the door steady for you for the time it takes to burn an incense stick."
"The external force will cease after one incense stick has burned."
"Find your own way back."
After saying that, he really didn't go in.
The Bull Demon King clicked his tongue: "This guy seems like a normal person today."
Wukong had already jumped onto the broken bridge.
"Stop talking nonsense."
The crowd filed in.
The moment his foot touched the ground, Chen Fan sensed something was wrong.
The ground was hard, like bronze.
Stepping on it, you feel a tremor under your feet. It's like there's some huge thing buried below, and you only get a short, drawn-out breath.
Not far ahead, there was a row of tables.
Each platform is embedded with a hemispherical light screen. Inside, blurry images float: the sea, mountains, cities, and a sun that is only half-grown.
In one of the light screens, Chen Fan even saw a group of people kneeling and offering sacrifices to the heavens.
The next second, that world suddenly cracked open from the middle, like a clay pan that hadn't been properly molded and collapsed.
Tang Sanzang felt a chill run down his spine.
"These...are all unfinished boundaries?"
Zong Wu nodded, his throat tightening.
"Semi-finished product".
"I've only ever seen one sentence like that in fragments before."
"They say the old construction site was piled high with rubble."
The Bull Demon King, who was guarding the door, bulged his eyes when he saw this scene.
"Trying to mold the world like clay?"
"Who has such a large budget?"
No one responded.
This is a huge problem.
Further ahead, there was a section of collapsed beams.
The beams and pillars were ridiculously thick, hanging horizontally in mid-air. The patterns on them were broken into sections, and occasionally they would gleam, like embers that hadn't been completely extinguished.
Liu Er jumped up and tapped it, and his ear twitched.
"There's a sound coming from here."
Chen Fan looked up: "What was that sound?"
Liu Er's expression turned strange.
"It's like someone is reciting rules."
"It's neither scripture nor a spell."
"It's just reading them one by one, like how high a mountain should be, how deep a sea should be, and how many years a person should live."
Red Boy got goosebumps when he heard this.
"This thing can even count off on its own?"
"The pillars of law," Zong Wu murmured, "used when creating realms."
"First establish the rules, then create the world."
Wukong got annoyed and smashed a small section of a broken pillar next to him with his staff.
A snap.
The abandoned pillar didn't resist and shattered instantly.
As soon as the fragments landed, they spontaneously arranged themselves into a line of small characters.
The mountain was 36,000 feet high, exceeding the limit, and was abandoned.
The entire room fell silent.
The Bull Demon King's lips twitched as he watched.
"This guy can even keep accounts?"
Wukong squinted, squatted down and took a look, and his smile faded.
"That's interesting."
Chen Fan's heart grew heavier and heavier.
This is not in the style of a heritage site.
This is the actual production site.
The Three Realms seem to be products made from here.
They continued inside.
A huge platform appeared ahead.
Dozens of machines, mostly broken, stood around the platform. Locking rods, wheels, bronze arms, and layers of seals were stuck into the tabletops.
The words on the seal were blurred, but you could still vaguely make out the words "delete boundary", "re-edit", and "retain sample".
When Tang Sanzang saw the words "Delete the Realm", he felt a chill run down his spine.
"Delete boundaries?"
"What bastard came up with such a straightforward name?"
Chen Fan approached a machine and saw a row of grooves on the side.
Several black jade plaques were stuck in the groove.
He pulled out a jade pendant, the front of which read: B72 boundary, revision completed.
A line of small print on the back.
Excessive spirituality is not suitable for preservation.
Tang Sanzang leaned closer to look, and his face immediately darkened.
"Is living more a mistake?"
Chen Fan didn't say anything, he just put the jade pendant away.
This is the evidence.
If this place were to be completely overturned, even the gods and Buddhas of heaven would be restless.
At this moment, Zongwu suddenly stopped.
The stone in his hand was buzzing and getting hot.
The rock seemed to be pulled forward by something, tilting itself forward.
Zongwu's breathing quickened.
There's something there.
"deep."
"It shares the same origin as it."
Chen Fan looked ahead.
At the end of the platform was a crooked corridor, the depths of which were pitch black, like an open mouth.
"Where did the stone originate?"
Zong Wu nodded, his eyes gleaming with an uncontrollable light for the first time.
"more than."
"Like...the very first one."
"The initial question mark."
Wukong flipped down from the height and happened to hear this.
"question mark?"
Zong Wu swallowed hard.
"The stone I have in my hand is incomplete. It looks like a piece that broke off from something large."
"I used to think it was a spirit."
"Looking at it now, it's probably a recording device."
"Specifically for recording 'why'."
Liu Er laughed: "This thing is quite inquisitive."
Zongwu didn't laugh.
"To establish boundaries on an old construction site, you first need to define a bunch of things."
Why is the sky above and the earth below? Why are humans weak and gods strong?
"Who will ask, who will take notes?"
"The initial question mark might have been for this purpose."
Chen Fan's eyes darkened.
That makes sense.
The original sin in the Three Realms was not that someone did something dirty.
Someone wrote the rules wrong from the very beginning.
Just as they were about to walk into the corridor, Tang Sanzang's shouts suddenly came from behind.
"Chen Fan! Come and see!"
Chen Fan turned around and rushed back.
Tang Sanzang was squatting in front of an overturned bronze wall, his hands covered in a layer of dust, but his eyes were frighteningly bright.
"This is not an ordinary archive wall."
"Look at this."
He wiped a large area with his sleeve.
Rows of engravings are visible on the bronze wall.
It is neither scripture nor decree.
It's the batch number.
A1, A2, A3...
The queue goes all the way up to Ding Jiu.
The progress is engraved after each batch number.
Some labels say "Approved," some say "Sealed," and some say "Pending Deletion."
Chen Fan's gaze quickly settled on the top.
There were four spots there that had been scratched.
He shaved very hard, as if he didn't want future generations to see it.
Tang Sanzang pointed to a small trough next to him.
"There used to be a documentary film embedded here."
"It was pulled out."
Wukong walked over and placed his hand on the bronze wall.
"It's still warm."
"It was just touched not long ago."
In short, everyone tensed up.
Someone has been here.
And they had only been gone a short time.
The Bull Demon King roared at the door, "No one's coming in!"
Chen Fan lowered his voice: "They're not from outside."
"They might be more advanced than us."
The flame on Red Boy's shoulder suddenly flickered.
He suddenly looked to his right at an old, sealed-off machine.
"there!"
Everyone turned their heads at the same time.
The machine was originally rusted black, with seven or eight layers of seals. At this moment, the outermost layer of seals was rolling up by itself.
It felt like a hand was tearing it out from inside the machine.
Click.
A soft sound.
The dead disc in the center of the machine slowly lit up.
First, a ring of red lines appears.
Then the second ring lights up.
All the debris on the platform started shaking.
Tang Sanzang cursed and turned to retreat.
"Damn it, who touched it?"
"It wasn't me." Six-Eared jumped onto the beam. "It woke up on its own!"
The Bull Demon King charged forward with his axe, but was forced back two steps by a force halfway there.
"The doorway is shaking too!"
Yang Jian's voice came in from outside, already tinged with sternness.
"quick!"
"The door is closing in!"
Chen Fan ignored the door, his eyes fixed on the machine.
The machine's disc lit up completely, casting a gray-white light screen into the air.
The light curtain was very blurry.
It's like looking through many layers of old paper.
A row of figures first appeared inside.
Their faces were obscured; all that could be seen was that they were standing in front of a giant platform, as if awaiting some kind of judgment.
The light screen trembled slightly in the next instant.
The four large characters slowly pressed down.
The first batch failed.