Chapter 203 Extraterrestrial Journey 【Two chapters combined】

“Thank you!” Liu Hanyue whispered.

All the beetles were killed, and this was only the beginning. Seven of them had already died, which was a bad start. The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat somber.

Despite the passage of time, the teams remained united and continued to walk together.

Those who were close by had begun to doubt the true strength of the two boys.

Liu Hanyue, being a witness, was certain that these two were unfathomable, and that she had misjudged them earlier. Gan Jincheng frowned and asked, “Where does the strangeness and extraordinary nature of this place manifest itself?”

After walking ten miles, they encountered no further danger, but also made no special discoveries.

Jiang Ruoli said, “That senior has already hinted very clearly that we need to have keen spiritual senses. Newcomers have no chance here. It is highly likely that we need to use our divine wisdom and spiritual light to explore the way at all times.”

Then, everyone except the newcomers did the same. “Hiss!”

After traveling another two miles, they made a discovery: the whole world seemed different, with an inexplicable and mysterious aura.

Moreover, soon after, they heard barking dogs, not stray dogs, but those kept in the village, and faintly heard crowing of roosters. Many were astonished to see something they shouldn’t have seen ahead.

However, the newcomers in each team were completely bewildered, because they could neither see nor hear anything.

Those who walk the path of immortality and the path of esoteric Buddhism, if they do not use their divine wisdom and spiritual insight, will only see towering ancient trees and thorny bushes ahead, without anything unusual.

“Is that a near-immortal, or a god-like being?!” As they drew closer, the scenery became clearer, causing some to tremble. Ahead stood a thatched hut, with the aroma of tea wafting from a bluestone table, and piles of bamboo slips.

A stunningly beautiful woman was reading a bamboo book. Her hair fell down and touched the bamboo slips, emitting a brilliant light. She seemed to hear someone calling her, and she rode away temporarily on a cloud of five colors.

“She left, without drinking the freshly brewed tea. Is it possible for us to approach her? Could it be the legendary elixir of enlightenment?”

“Those bamboo slips…” Some people trembled, a mixture of excitement and trepidation, feeling as if it were a dream.

Is this the opportunity the old man hinted at? It seems to exist outside of the normal real world.

Meanwhile, far away, Xiang Yiwu was stunned, because he saw a dilapidated temple, and a golden cicada engulfed in flames staring at him.

The sudden chirping of cicadas ahead nearly caused the burly, abandoned disciple of Buddha to explode. He shuddered, staggered backward, and his mouth was full of blood and saliva.

Further away, Li Qingyue’s black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, like a banished immortal descending to earth. The ribbon around her slender waist fluttered in the wind as she walked along a path paved entirely with black and white stones.

An eight-sided bronze lamp emitted light, illuminating her path. Soon after, she saw a palace standing ahead, engraved with Bagua symbols.

In another place, Cui Chonghe, wielding a nine-colored sword, cut through thorns and brambles, finally ascending to the heavens along a bluestone path, heading towards the clouds.

“She’s back. Did she see us?”

In the distance, a group of teenagers were watching, their hearts filled with unease. What they saw was quite bizarre. Were those real people and scenery, or an illusion, or perhaps something that had happened in the past, leaving behind a lingering image?

They couldn’t help but approach, moving forward involuntarily. “Brother, did you see it?” Xiao Wu asked secretly. “I saw it,” Qin Ming nodded.

Xiao Wu looked solemn and said, “This is really strange. This doesn’t seem like a place of spiritual travel, but it feels so real. I can even smell the aroma of tea. My mind is clear and empty. If I were to take a sip, I might even attain enlightenment.”

Qin Ming nodded and said, “The aroma of the tea is indeed very tempting, and my mind is resonating with it. The key is that the pile of bamboo slips is even more extraordinary.”

As they drew closer, more and more scenery came into view.

After the woman returned, an elderly couple came along, as did a child. A young couple gradually came into focus, and a house with blue bricks and gray tiles appeared on one side of the thatched hut.

They seem like a family.

Immediately, the scene shifted rapidly, revealing an elderly couple who appeared to be the woman’s parents, a young couple who were her brother and sister-in-law, and a child who was her nephew.

The courtyard where the blue-brick and gray-tiled houses are located has a yellow dog wagging its tail and an old hen wandering around, which is very down-to-earth.

As the years passed, the stunningly beautiful woman in the other hut remained unchanged, while everyone else grew old.

Finally, she rose from the stone table, her whole body glowing, an endless rain of light enveloping her, the thatched hut, and everyone else. “It’s like a story, one person attains enlightenment, ascends to heaven on a cloud, and even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven…” someone whispered.

However, the final result was different from what everyone expected.

As the woman lifted her family off the ground, they burned fiercely, eventually turning to ashes. A faint rain of light rose up, but then exploded.

Everyone turned to ashes and died just like that.

On the spot, only remnants of thatched huts and gray-tiled houses remained; bamboo slips were burned, leaving only a few; only the tea set remained undamaged.

A gentle breeze blows, ashes rise, green bamboos sway, a thin mist swirls, and colorful clouds gather and dissipate, as if telling the story of how difficult it is to approach immortality, that even such a beautiful woman failed and brought trouble to her family.

Ashes, rubble, a bluestone table, and teapots and teacups left over from who knows how many years ago—a very unusual scene lies before you.

Some people couldn’t resist any longer and strode forward, then suddenly covered their heads, their consciousness flickering and uncertain, unable to get any closer to the spot.

As he stepped back and gasped for air, he was astonished to find that he could see nothing at all. No matter how hard he tried to capture the scenery with his own consciousness, it was no use.

“I’ve failed. I can’t get any closer?” he muttered to himself. Then, feeling nothing, he continued onward.

This time, he was able to walk towards that area without feeling anything, passing through it effortlessly. The others noticed that he seemed like a shadow, drifting past the ruins.

In the real world, it was a thorny thicket; he only encountered vines and ancient trees. “Let me try!” another person stepped forward, only to clutch his head and cry out as well.

Subsequently, someone extended their consciousness without moving their physical body, attempting to approach the place, but was struck as if by lightning, their soul light was knocked back, and it took them a long time to regain their senses.

He felt a wave of fear and said, “It felt like being struck by a beam of sunlight from another world, the pain was unbearable!” Lin Qianyi, Wang Lijie and others stepped forward one after another, but all failed.

Even the famous figures here, such as Gan Jincheng, Jiang Ruoli, and Zhao Muyao, all turned pale and retreated when they reached the ruins of the courtyard.

The person with the pure Yang physique was also in the group, named Lu Dao. He entered the courtyard under immense pressure, seemed to have heard something, and finally withdrew, saying, “This place is not meant for me.”

Next, Ling Yu and Xin Youdao successfully stepped inside, watched nervously by many people. The two frowned and then retreated.

Everyone except the newcomers tried, but to no avail.

Luo Lianqing, the “Fairy Flower” of Feixian Academy, said, “It’s alright. There will definitely be more wondrous sights and even more amazing opportunities ahead. There will always be a place suitable for us.”

Everyone nodded.

“Why don’t you guys give it a try? Wu Yaozu, aren’t you practicing both paths simultaneously?” Liu Hanyue whispered. “Brother, let’s give it a try too!” Little Wu chimed in.

“Okay!” Qin Ming nodded.

Then, just like the others, as they approached each other, their bodies jolted and they both let out a muffled groan.

“This… one is cultivating both paths simultaneously, while the other is just a simple newbie, right? How could they sense each other?” “You actually believe that? Of course it’s an act!”

Some people were observing and discussing from behind, but unfortunately, they could no longer see that strange sight. The ruins of thatched huts, the bluestone table, the tea set, and so on were all gone.

“I don’t believe they actually went in!” Zhao Muyao said.

At this moment, Qin Ming and Xiao Wu took another step, and they were only slightly blocked before they successfully entered the ruins of the courtyard.

Xiao Yaqin said, “I think they’re just putting on an act; they’re unlikely to actually set foot in front of the Immortal’s thatched hut.” “Pure Yang Number Two, Tribulation Avoidance Number Two, be quiet,” Xiao Wu said, surprisingly having the leisure to remind those people.

Zhao Muyao and Xiao Yaqin both glared at the figure’s back. They were being referred to as “number two”—that guy was really going too far.

Qin Ming and Xiao Wu heard a sigh, as if a woman was speaking, saying that they were not suited for this path and should leave as soon as possible.

The two ignored it and wandered around, when they encountered great pressure as five-colored clouds surged in, trying to drive them away.

However, the two stood there like nails, resisting the immense force, and refused to budge. Xiao Wu said, “She has long since vanished; she can’t do anything to us.”

Qin Ming walked towards the bluestone table, grabbed the teapot, and shook it, the sound of tea sloshing inside filling the air. Soon, Xiao Wu, despite its immense strength, also came over.

“This tea isn’t spoiled, is it?” he muttered.

“No, it smells delicious!” Qin Ming said with certainty. “Those two are really good at pretending, aren’t they?” someone outside commented.

Wang Lijie said, “They must have memorized the location of the bluestone, and now they’re pretending to pick up the teapot!” Lin Qianyi said, “They’re even pouring tea. Is this acting really meaningful?”

Qin Ming was indeed very surprised and astonished. So many years had passed, yet the tea in the pot had not spoiled and still had a fragrant aroma that was very tempting.

Unfortunately, there was very little tea; he could tell as soon as he shook it—it was probably less than half a cup. The stone table was spotless, and the teacups were as good as new and very clean.

Qin Ming poured tea, indeed only a small amount. Although it didn’t cover the bottom of the cup, the tea was estimated to be only about an inch deep. It was clear, sparkling, and slightly luminous, unlike ordinary tea. Its aroma alone was enough to inspire enlightenment.

“Let me try it first to see if it’s bad tea,” Xiao Wu said. He then tasted a little, immediately put it down, and exclaimed, “Good tea, I’m getting drunk!”

However, this kind of intoxication was a state of deep absorption; he felt as if he were about to attain enlightenment.

Qin Ming also drank some, and his mind immediately cleared. He gained many insights and wanted to go into seclusion here to cultivate! “These two are addicted, they’re becoming more and more alike!” someone muttered.

Qin Ming looked at the bamboo slips preserved on the table and was immediately shocked. He was sure he hadn’t seen wrong. He stared at the words and patterns on the bamboo slips, finding it hard to believe!

Xiao Wu also picked up a few bamboo pieces, and froze on the spot, saying, “I’m rubbing… no, God is rubbing me! This is a gift from our ancestors!”

Although he was in a state of enlightenment, he was also on the verge of madness. His fingers trembled as he fumbled for the bamboo slips, his excitement palpable. Qin Ming felt the same way; he felt the bamboo slips were as heavy as mountains.

The tea and bamboo slips were a perfect combination. He closed his eyes, pondered, and then looked at the bamboo slips again, gaining even more insights. This place truly was a magical place!

(There’s more to come!)