Chapter 184 The Reason for the Desolation Zone Being Pierced

“I find it hard to believe!” Inside the temple, a woman in white stood gracefully, her long, black hair and the white ribbon around her slender waist swaying gently.

The scriptures on the wall held no secrets for her; she had pondered them for a long time, but simply couldn’t understand them.

Qin Ming was quite frank and said, “When I was exchanging ideas with you just now, I used the meaning of this scripture to govern all the laws.”

The woman in white was lost in thought. She knew better than anyone how difficult this scripture was to master, because even with her talent, she couldn’t get started. It was a trap deliberately set by that old geezer long ago. She had heard about it from others.

But has this young man in coarse linen clothes already demonstrated it in actual combat? The expression on his stunning face beneath his black hair was quite complex.

“Silk calligraphy is indeed extremely difficult to master. I’ve been practicing since childhood, for over a decade, before I even got started,” Qin Ming said with a touch of emotion. For some reason, the woman in white wanted to hit him.

Because, upon careful reflection, she had spent no less than ten years trying, but it just wouldn’t work.

Of course, she was well aware of the dangers of this skill; it would explode with a bang at the end. She was just unwilling to admit defeat and wanted to explore the earlier parts.

“How did you master it?” the woman in white asked, her heart heavy with unresolved questions. “Only two words: arduous cultivation,” Qin Ming replied earnestly.

The woman in white was becoming somewhat dangerous. This scripture was not something that could be polished over time, and what was a dozen years?

Qin Ming felt something and quickly said, “There is another way to master it: with the guidance of a master, who will help pave the way and form the initial cycle route of the cultivation technique.”

The woman in white looked at him. To master this path, he actually needed to become an apprentice? What was he thinking! Besides, she had heard of this before.

But she scoffed. If she couldn’t master it on her own and needed someone to guide her, how could she possibly reach the pinnacle? “Senior, do you want to study this method?” Qin Ming asked.

“You don’t mean you want me to become your disciple, do you?” The woman in white stared at him.

“That’s not what I meant.” Qin Ming immediately shook his head.

What kind of place is a temple? I reckon only the founder of the Silk Calligraphy School, knowing he was about to “explode,” would dare to come here and act recklessly. He wouldn’t dare to court death at this stage.

“It’s better not to take this road!” The woman in white gave up.

At the same time, she kindly reminded him that in the end, all the practice would be in vain, and he would eventually have to return to heaven and earth, indicating that this scripture had a very serious problem.

“Thank you for your advice, senior,” Qin Ming said, his eyes shining, feeling confident that he would eventually be able to completely resolve this problem.

“You seem very confident and proud.” The woman in white stepped forward, her eyes burning with anticipation, just like Qin Ming’s earlier, as she began to rub her hands together in anticipation.

Is this retaliation?

Qin Ming panicked; this senior expert was really narrow-minded!

“Master, the tea is here.” Just then, a person in black robes appeared, their voice hoarse, making it impossible to tell whether they were male or female. They too had come from the cold, clear moon, following the bluestone path leading into the night sky, and entered the main hall. The woman in white stopped in her tracks, not approaching Qin Ming.

“You’ve already survived the life-or-death ordeal. Do you want to challenge other paths? Those challenges involve improving your talents, extending your lifespan, and finding your final destination in the deadly realms. There’s bound to be something you crave,” she asked.

Qin Ming thought for a moment, then declined. He decided to quit while he was ahead; this place was not safe to linger. Because, if someone hadn’t brought him tea, he might have been beaten up! The man in black robes entered the main hall, carrying a tea tray.

With a gentle wave of the white-clad woman, the entire palace was transformed. The cobwebs on the walls disappeared, the bloodstains on the ground vanished, and the old trees in the courtyard sprouted new branches.

A faint light flowed by like water, and the broken windows and cracked ground, which creaked in the night wind, were all renewed.

In this strange town, many people were surprised to find that the main temple in the night fog was glowing, with golden rays piercing the night sky.

Now, the magnificent palace is no longer dilapidated; the gray tiles have turned pale gold, and the place has become sacred. The vermilion pillars in the main hall are carved with mythical creatures, white mist is pervasive, and moonlight accumulates on the stone slabs on the ground, as if a babbling brook is flowing.

Qin Ming felt like he was in a dream. Everything was different, and he had become an honored guest. The words on the wall still shone brightly, but they no longer suppressed him.

In the courtyard, the withered old tree stretched out its branches, extending into the palace, bearing lotus flowers, which transformed into a lotus platform and became his seat.

At this moment, he was sitting cross-legged, and someone came to serve him tea, while the woman in white sat opposite him. Qin Ming noticed that the teacup served by the man in black robes was empty; there was no tea inside.

With a wave of her hand, the woman in white sent wisps of smoke rising from the incense burner in front of the hazy statue deep within the hall, eventually flowing into their teacups.

“This is…” Qin Ming was taken aback. Was this tea or “fragrance”?

He saw the woman in white drink it first, so he drank it too.

For a moment, Qin Ming felt his mind clear and empty, as if he were about to ascend to heaven, his whole body feeling purified. “Good tea!” he exclaimed. In this state, comprehending the scriptures would be twice as effective.

Moreover, as he looked at the wall and began to comprehend the scriptures, his efficiency increased. He didn’t dare to resonate with the scriptures for a while, fearing that the terrifying emotions of the patriarch would cause his consciousness to collapse.

The woman in white said, “Do you know the ingredients of the incense stick in the bronze censer? It’s a small piece of the tip of the North Sea Purple-Gold Whale’s horn, containing divine patterns, ground into powder, mixed with the Tears of the Sky from the depths of the Night Mist World, the resin of the Undying Tree in Kunlun Ruins, and then…”

Qin Ming listened in a daze. Any one of these materials was priceless and extremely rare, yet they were made into incense for a bronze censer. This was too extravagant!

The woman in white sighed, “It was sent by someone else. What a pity, that person is dead and will never be able to drink this fragrant mist tea again.” “Isn’t this it?” Qin Ming looked down at the teacup in his hand.

“It’s just the incense ash being rekindled,” the woman in white explained. Qin Ming immediately coughed. Was he eating ash?!

The woman in white glanced at him and said, “Although the aroma of the tea is almost completely lost, let me ask you, has it had any effect?”

“Thank you, senior!” Qin Ming went to comprehend the meaning of the scriptures again.

He memorized the entire scripture and gained some new insights!

This revised version allows cultivation up to the fourth stage of perfection, but only a portion of the fifth stage is written before it abruptly ends. Clearly, the patriarch believed that continuing beyond this point would bring great calamity.

Even so, Qin Ming felt that it contained much more information than the silk scrolls in his own family.

Because a large portion of the silk manuscript was torn off!

Those masters believed that the second half had major problems and that continuing to practice it would lead to death.

If Qin Ming obtains the family heirloom silk scroll, he should be able to resonate with the entire text.

This is why he is so determined to get it back from the Cui family.

Afterwards, Qin Ming began to cautiously explore and carefully try to resonate with the scriptures on the wall, hoping to discover more valuable things.

Sure enough, the initial probe struck him like a thunderbolt, leaving his mind blank.

All I can say is, that patriarch was terrifying!

“Huh?” The man in black robes sensed something and looked surprised, watching him quietly from a distance.

Next, Qin Ming went all out. Each time he felt like he had been struck by lightning, he would take a long time to recover before trying again.

The woman in white also noticed his unusual behavior and quietly observed him while drinking tea.

She muttered, “Is this some kind of demonic scripture? Others can comprehend it and enter a state of tranquility to achieve enlightenment, but you’re studying it in meditation as if it’s costing you your life.”

Qin Ming was exhausted and drowsy. He felt like his mind was about to explode, and finally, piece by piece…

They finished sharing their resonance.

He sighed softly, regretting that the emotions left behind by the patriarch here ultimately only concerned the erroneous parts of the fifth realm, without any higher-level Dharma.

Actually, this is understandable. After all, the founder only wanted to leave behind a refined version, so he naturally wouldn’t think too much about the original version.

But he was content; it was enough for him to study for a long time.

In this way, he could set off at his own pace, without rushing into risks and having to retrieve the silk scroll from the Cui family when his strength was insufficient. At this time, in the strange town, a group of people all believed that Li Wanqiu was dead.

“I thought he was so powerful, a young ancestor and the light of pure yang, but in the end he’s just a pool of blood in the temple.”

“It’s no use who comes. I suspect that if Cao Qianqiu goes in, he’ll become Cao Shiqiu or Cao Qianhuo, either missing his head or half his body.”

“If you fabricate stories about him like this, and he finds out where his true identity is, even your lineage will be destroyed!” Only Wu Yaozu refused to believe that his newly acquainted friend was dead and continued to wait.

Some people advised him that there was no point in waiting, as the other person was already dead.

“Little Wu, let’s make a bet. If I win, can I stay in your courtyard for the night?” The blond old man riding on the back of the four-tusked white elephant chuckled. “Sure!” Wu Yaozu nodded.

“Count me in!” The young man from Golden Horn, who had previously said he would treat everyone, also wanted to join in.

Wu Yaozu stroked his thick beard and said, “I really don’t believe my friend would die. What’s your bet? You’d better satisfy me.”

He was somewhat displeased, feeling that the group’s words were too ominous. Inside the temple, the black-robed man who had served tea departed.

Qin Ming suddenly realized that the woman in white had become dangerous again; she was still angry and wanted to beat him up!

“Senior, let me tell you, some people outside often criticize the temple. I think you should really do something about it. Just like that Cao Qianqiu, who hates that the sky has no handle and the earth has no ring.”

After Qin Ming realized something was wrong, he immediately changed her target.

He sensed that the woman in white had no murderous intent; she simply wanted to vent her anger, feeling offended. He, a mere youth, couldn’t withstand such commotion; the group of mysterious old men outside were quite suitable. The woman in white crossed her arms, rested her chin on her hand, and looked into the night mist, saying, “That makes some sense. If I accidentally poke you with my finger, you’ll end up as a pool of blood on the ground—useless!”

In the strange town, people saw Li Wanqiu emerge horizontally, his body hazy and shrouded in thick fog, flying back to the small courtyard.

A group of people were stunned. Did they manage to get out alive?

Wu Yaozu was overjoyed; his new friend had indeed survived. He then began rubbing his hands together in front of the people around him. “Little Wu, come back quickly!” Suddenly, he heard his grandmother’s voice.

“Hurry up, where are the bets? Bring them all over, quick!” Wu Yaozu urged impatiently. Inside the temple, it was as if all the splendor had faded, and all things had returned to their true nature.

There was no divine moon in the sky, nor any magnificent and grand palace. All that existed was a dilapidated, drafty, and dilapidated building covered in cobwebs and dust, on the verge of collapse.

The woman in white stood silently, seemingly lost in thought.

The man in black robes reappeared and said, “You’re really outrageous. Why are you impersonating me again?” His so-called passing by the Divine Moon was nothing more than emerging from the black mist.

With Qin Ming’s cultivation level, he couldn’t see through it at all.

“Little Wu is leaving. I think you should also travel far away. You can’t stay here any longer,” the man in black robes said to the woman in white.

“I still want to stay with you.” The woman in white was somewhat downcast.

“It’s too dangerous. Nobody knows what will happen to the Fourth Forbidden Zone in the end.” The man in black robes shook his head. He was already dead, but his fragmented consciousness remained there.

“Who exactly breached the Fourth Forbidden Zone?” the woman in white asked.

The man in black robes said, “I don’t know, but he is very strong, unimaginably strong. Other top beings only need to subdue some special places to become gods, but this person wants to subdue forbidden lands and refine all strange scenes. It’s unimaginable!”

Either the Fourth Forbidden Zone is restored and that person dies, or that person succeeds and the Fourth Forbidden Zone dissipates.

The man in black robes sighed, “What’s most frightening is that I’m worried this person’s target is all the forbidden areas of Kunling, and Kunling is a legendary place, which is of great importance!”

“Child, you must go,” the man in black said earnestly and solemnly. “Alright!” the woman in white nodded.

Then, she rubbed her fists together.

This startled the man in black, who asked, “What are you going to do?”

“Those wanderers outside are going too far. Let’s give them a good beating with the divine mace!”

The woman in white was displeased and felt a surge of frustration. Moreover, she had heard the discussions outside and, after being persuaded by Qin Ming, decided to change her target.

In the strange town, a group of people murmured, “Is there something wrong with this temple? Someone just managed to break through it like that?”

In the dilapidated courtyard, Wu Yaozu’s grandmother appeared, looking at the two with utmost seriousness, and said, “If you leave in the morning, your physical body will disintegrate; if you leave at night, your soul will leave. You can only leave at noon, which is when the moon is farthest from you. Get ready, I will personally send you out then!”

(There’s more to come!)