Chapter 1160: Ashes

The glass vessel was exquisitely transparent and flawless, containing a dark, viscous liquid. From it extended a five-colored wick that burned quietly, emitting a radiant light that fully illuminated the colossal Fusang tree. The glow was so brilliant it seemed capable of penetrating the three realms and ten directions, illuminating all heavens and worlds.

Shao Xuan and Xi E approached in a circling motion, each employing their unique techniques, seemingly vanishing from the world, attempting to evade the lamp-bearer deity, who resembled a scholar, and climbing the ancient tree from another direction to chase after Sha Wujing and seize the relics of the previous Great Luo Holy Maiden before him.

At that moment, they suddenly heard a loud crackling sound of intense burning in the previously silent place. They saw the lamp-bearer deity surrounded by flickering lights, and black ashes began to burn and float in the void, drifting down like snowflakes.

What had his “Wanderer’s Lamp” ignited?

Was his posture not one of leisurely waiting, but rather of focused vigilance?

What had caused the lamp-bearer deity to take such precautions and directly employ the “Wanderer’s Lamp” of Wu Sheng La Mu?

The descendants of the Human Emperor had an unbroken lineage, so Shao Xuan and Xi E naturally recognized the lamp-bearer deity and the “Wanderer’s Lamp.” It was said that the deity was once a famous immortal in ancient times, but later abandoned his past and served Wu Sheng La Mu with devotion, without revealing his name. The “Wanderer’s Lamp” was also said to have had another name in ancient times, and was extremely powerful. After all, no extraordinary artifact could suddenly appear out of nowhere; even if it had just been forged, it would have various unusual phenomena.

As this thought arose, Shao Xuan’s long blade, which resembled condensed purple lightning, suddenly gleamed brightly, dazzling and pure.

Acting on instinct, Shao Xuan did not attempt to stop it but followed the subtle connection from the blade and slashed diagonally, actively unleashing its power.

Crackling sounds filled the air, and lightning illuminated the void, making the surroundings as bright as day, causing the Fusang tree and the lamp’s light to pale in comparison. Shao Xuan felt a slight weight in his right hand, and then saw black ashes mysteriously appear, drifting with the wind.

An enemy had attacked, detected by the blade and instantly reduced to ashes by divine thunder, just as if the “Wanderer’s Lamp” had completely ignited them. Shao Xuan suddenly understood, yet new doubts arose in his mind.

With his current realm and strength, he could sense even the slightest hint of “fantasy entering reality,” so why had he not detected any trace of the enemy?

Was it because this domain replaced universal principles with its own? Yet he himself was also internally a world, capable of altering surrounding laws with every movement, even slightly adjusting them within the Nine Heavens, so he shouldn’t be completely unaware of any anomaly…

Reflecting on the decayed and dusty appearance of this immortal island and sacred mountain, and thinking of the Fusang tree’s connection to Dong Huang Taiyi, the ancient emperor of chaos, Shao Xuan grew increasingly cautious, forming a vague suspicion. He actively revealed his form and turned his gaze toward the lamp-bearer deity.

After such a bright flash of lightning and the falling ashes, how could such a commotion possibly escape the notice of a legendary figure?

Their covert approach and plans had been exposed and failed.

Beside him, Xi E had already summoned the “Ark of Doomsday,” transforming it into a massive warship seemingly capable of traversing countless universes, floating above the illusory bitter sea. Standing at the bow, she remained unaffected by the stormy waves, ready to directly charge at the lamp-bearer deity and the Fusang tree.

However, the distance between them and the lamp-bearer deity did not decrease; instead, it felt as if an infinite number of stars separated them.

The lamp-bearer deity met Shao Xuan’s gaze, appearing illusory and distant, his aura difficult to grasp. He smiled slightly and said, “So, it’s the two Dao companions of the Human Emperor’s descendants.”

He was enveloped in a warm, yellow glow, as if he were far beyond this realm, observing casually.

Shao Xuan and Xi E exchanged glances, realizing that their perceptions must have been influenced and constrained, either from external forces or internal ones, preventing them from seeing the true form of the deity.

Before their eyes, the vast starry sky composed of countless galaxies slowly rotated, their old cognitive framework dissolving and reforming to align with their new experience.

With a thunderous roar, their vision changed completely. Where was the sky and earth? Where were the immortal islands and sacred mountains? It was now an endless dark world. What they saw, heard, and experienced were all the Fusang tree. It pierced through infinity, breaking all limits, its enormity indescribable in words. Each leaf was nearly a true universe, boundless and infinite. The main trunk extended countless branches, each bearing countless leaves, as if all the heavens and worlds were fully presented before the two legendary beings.

And Sha Wujing was not slowly climbing upward but rather darting upward as a speck of dust!

The lamp-bearer deity sat before the tree, indeed separated from Shao Xuan and Xi E by an infinite distance, like a million stars.

The Ark of Doomsday crossed through the darkness in an instant, reaching the boundary of the lamp’s light but unable to enter the illuminated area of the “Wanderer’s Lamp.”

Seeing that Shao Xuan and Xi E remained silent, the lamp-bearer deity continued, “Do the two Dao companions truly wish to involve yourselves in this matter? You have no connection with Yuan Huang. Just because of an order, will you obstruct the completion of La Mu’s task and incur an unending enmity with our Luo Sect?”

Xi E sneered, “In the late ancient and early middle ages, how many times did Wu Sheng La Mu endanger the Human Emperor? Do you think we fear provoking the Luo Sect?”

“And besides, you probably have other intentions,” Shao Xuan glanced at Sha Wujing, who was rapidly darting upward toward the top of the tree.

The lamp-bearer deity chuckled, “The Fusang tree was nurtured by the blood of Dong Huang Taiyi and Hao Tian Shangdi, harboring deep secrets. Now that you’ve entered, how can you not explore it?”

He continued, his expression turning serious, a hint of pride emerging:

“Although you are two, and although you possess the Ark of Doomsday and the Overlord’s Blade, with the ‘Wanderer’s Lamp’ on my person, I’d like to see if you can pass through me.”

The lamp’s light flickered and seemed to expand suddenly.

Shao Xuan and Xi E each focused their minds. The warship emitted layers of forbidden seals, and the long blade summoned thunder from all the heavens.

At the same time, they were deeply astonished in their hearts:

The Fusang tree was not only nurtured by Dong Huang Taiyi’s blood but also by Hao Tian Shangdi’s?

Who had done this?

…

A finger like moonlight touched Meng Qi’s forehead, and countless fragments of memories flew out. Without consciousness or spiritual perception, Meng Qi seemed to leave the Eastern Luli World and truly return to the past, experiencing it firsthand.

His thoughts became blurred, and fragments of memory surfaced. Before his eyes were soil, darkness, and a cave filled with various garbage, yet it looked different from how humans perceived it—it seemed to be another aspect of these things.

Stumbling forward, following a trace of unextinguished self-awareness and spirituality, Meng Qi fled outward, his limbs coordinating well. Soon, he reached a pool of water and saw a black, disgusting rat.

The rat’s perspective was naturally different from that of a human. To Meng Qi, the rat’s form now seemed like a monster from a nightmare.

Was this himself?

Was this truly him?

In previous transformations, he had retained his consciousness or spiritual sense, not needing to rely on the rat’s senses or body. Now, without all that, his memories had greatly faded, and what he saw was truly different.

In a daze, Meng Qi felt as if he were the rat, as if he had undergone a transformation akin to Kafka’s Metamorphosis.

The pool cracked, and the figure dissolved. Meng Qi spread his wings and soared into the blue sky.

One by one, memories of transformations into an eagle, a stone, and others unfolded. Without consciousness or spiritual sense, Meng Qi completely became them, perceiving the world and himself through their senses, as if in a dream, unsure whether Zhuangzi dreamed of being a butterfly or the butterfly dreamed of being Zhuangzi.

Was this me?

Was this also me?

Without martial arts power, these transformations and experiences would surely cause even the calmest and most rational person to lose themselves completely. Yet Meng Qi always retained a trace of self-awareness that did not fade, standing at the edge of losing himself in the dreamlike experience of Zhuangzi and the butterfly.

Was this my mental cultivation?

Without martial arts power, but with the depth of mind still intact?

It came from years of tempering and insights. Without martial arts, there was still my heart!

But what if those experiences and insights were stripped away?

As this thought arose, Meng Qi experienced different transformations, tightly holding onto that trace of self-awareness, experiencing the “self” seen through different bodies, senses, and experiences.

Between sameness and difference, inspiration gradually emerged.