Thump, thump, thump! Blood surged from the bone marrow, propelled by the heart, rushing madly to every corner of the body. Meng Qi genuinely felt what it meant to be thrilled, what it meant to dance on the edge of life and death.
And now, danger had arrived, the balance of life and death shattered, like the rope of a suspension bridge over a cliff snapping!
Last time, it was precisely because he had mentioned Master Lu that the jester brother had been stimulated, suddenly awakened, transformed into the cold and ruthless Gao Lan, and turned his back on all familiarity. Now Han Guang had casually mentioned both Master Lu and Daoist Chonghe, so the outcome was predictable!
From this, Meng Qi could already envision his jester brother’s face losing its smile, eyes turning indifferent, expression cruel and merciless. How could his heart not race? How could his nerves not tighten? How could his thoughts not flood in?
There could be no fluke, no hesitation—only immediate action.
At this moment, Meng Qi could not, in a flash of lightning, think of a way to make his brother “mad” again, so he could only flee—and must flee. Once Gao Lan “awoke,” Meng Qi would have no chance of survival!
Whether Han Guang had intentionally provoked or had merely spoken thoughtlessly, Meng Qi couldn’t be sure whether he could awaken the jester brother. In other words, Han Guang’s intention to stop Meng Qi from escaping wasn’t his top priority. Moreover, with Meng Qi’s current cultivation and strength, the moment he fled ten zhang, Han Guang would react instantly and strike him down with a single palm blow!
The awakening of the jester brother was a gradual process, brief though it might be, not instantaneous. At present, the Ferrying Dharma King was still an ally, and neither of them would instinctively intercept Meng Qi.
Therefore, this was his chance!
Meng Qi was never a hesitant person. He had always been decisive in emergencies. As soon as the thought flashed, he silently activated a pitch-black talisman in his hand that gripped the hilt of Liuhuo. The talisman was engraved with intricate patterns that caused dizziness and blurred vision, forming two ancient seal script characters:
“Break the Void!”
This was one of Meng Qi’s ultimate trump cards acquired from his journey through the Ninth Heaven. Could the scheming girl be unpredictable without precautions?
Precisely because of the “Break the Void Talisman,” when Meng Qi negotiated with Yuan Lihuo, the “Venerable of Vast Accomplishment,” he had only asked him to invite the “Venerable of Spiritual Treasures” under the pretext of the Ninth Heaven’s relics’ emergence, rather than exchanging his second opportunity for enlightenment of the “Great Dao Tree” for a life-saving artifact from Yuan Lihuo, since nothing could surpass the “Break the Void Talisman”!
Previously, outside the palace, no matter how Meng Qi tried to tear through space and escape, he seemed unable to leave the Ninth Heaven, and instead easily fell into unknown dangers. Thus, Meng Qi had not used it recklessly. When the Three Lives Hall was slowed by Han Guang, he believed that with Gu Xiaosang’s identity as the Holy Maiden of the Luo Sect, she should possess items capable of resisting one or two attacks or influences from a Dharma Body. Moreover, the Ferrying Dharma King was still beside her, and whether Gao Lan would awaken remained uncertain. Therefore, Meng Qi had also chosen to remain patient. Now, with imminent danger and surrounded by Dharma Bodies, with no other options left, how could unknown dangers compare to the pressing threat of death?
As for the scheming girl Gu, she had risked her life to come here—how could she not have a backup plan? Plus, with the Ferrying Dharma King ready to fight to the death to protect her, there was a good chance she could survive and escape. Meng Qi didn’t need to worry about her!
Meng Qi gazed at Gao Lan’s opening mouth, his expression calm, as all his strength surged into the ancient talisman.
He had chosen the direction of the steps because he didn’t know whether the stone walls and soil around the cave might resist the power of breaking void. He either did nothing, or he considered every detail meticulously.
Once he escaped through the secret passage, he would immediately dive into the floating white clouds and glide downward. Even if Han Guang attempted random attacks, Meng Qi could still activate the Tianxin Woyi Method and resist with the essence of a divine weapon!
“Haha!” Gao Lan suddenly laughed heartily toward the sky. “Since I slightly awakened the Human Emperor Sword, Master Lu and Daoist Chonghe are no longer worth worrying about!”
The laughter was cheerful and bold, not out of arrogance, but from full confidence in himself and his future cultivation!
Ah… Meng Qi’s expression froze, staring blankly at his still-jester-like brother, his mind going completely blank.
At that moment, a brilliant light erupted, tearing open the void, and Meng Qi’s figure vanished instantly!
Gao Lan was momentarily stunned and hurriedly shouted, “Third younger brother, where are you going?”
Apparently suppressed by the Ninth Heaven, the Break the Void Talisman didn’t carry Meng Qi far. When he reappeared, he was just beside the palace gate. Because it had taken less than a single thought, his body followed his earlier plan—his foot lightly pushed off, sharply turning, like a giant roc spreading its wings, rushing to his left, and the palace’s right!
I always choose the left!
“Third younger brother, where are you going?” Gao Lan’s voice reached Meng Qi’s ears, but Meng Qi had already plunged into the floating white clouds, transforming into a hawk, wings spread, gliding downward.
“Third younger brother, where are you going…”
The voice echoed. Meng Qi’s “hawk face” actually displayed a bitter, tearful smile:
“Brother, you’ve really done me in…”
Who could have guessed that the jester brother had evolved to such a degree that even mentioning Master Lu and Senior Chonghe could no longer stimulate him!
And Meng Qi could only make his judgment based on past experience, making a decisive choice in the critical moment between life and death!
Sometimes, thinking too much, reacting too quickly, and being too decisive wasn’t necessarily a good thing… Meng Qi didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. He plunged deeper into the swirling mist, white vapor swirling before his eyes, the surroundings hazy and chaotic, even his senses seemed to be cut off.
But with this, Gu the scheming girl was now in no danger at all.
Because of the previous incident where Gu Xiaosang had saved his life, Meng Qi had been deeply moved, and he always kept it in mind—clearly distinguishing between gratitude and enmity.
Inside the secret cave of the Three Lives Hall.
Gao Lan tried to seize Meng Qi, but because he hadn’t been prepared for this, he reacted a beat too late. Later, his attempt was blocked by the mist, and he failed to pull Meng Qi back.
Although Han Guang reacted faster than Gao Lan, it was only slightly so. When he intended to strike, Meng Qi had already plunged into the mist. Han Guang had initially planned to unleash a wide-range attack, shooting arrows at the bird, but seeing that Gao Lan was still in his jester state, he gave up and temporarily suppressed the idea.
In the blink of an eye, Meng Qi had fled. Gu Xiaosang watched, slightly stunned, unsure whether to praise his quick reaction and decisive action or mock him for scaring himself unnecessarily.
She composed herself and gracefully performed a bow, saying, “My husband has urgent matters and must leave in haste. Please do not take offense, uncles.”
“No problem…” Gao Lan wore a puzzled expression, completely unable to understand why Meng Qi had done this, but he could only accept Gu Xiaosang’s explanation.
Han Guang turned back, thinking inwardly: Meng Qi’s reaction had been so intense, indicating that originally, mentioning Master Lu and Daoist Chonghe had been the triggers to make Gao Lan “normal.” But now, Gao Lan hadn’t changed at all. It seemed time had passed.
However, the general direction was not wrong!
Just as he was about to attempt again, Gu Xiaosang was already smiling sweetly: “Uncles, I have obtained what I desired and have no further attachments. I intend to leave now to assist my husband.”
Gao Lan was already worried about Meng Qi’s condition and was more than happy to have this clever and resourceful sister-in-law go help. He nodded immediately: “Go quickly!”
The Ferrying Dharma King had no objections either. Once the Holy Maiden left, he would have no further concerns. With his Vacuum Dharma Body, although he was no match for the combined strength of Han Guang and Gao Lan, he could still escape safely, especially while Gao Lan had not yet turned hostile. Naturally, he wanted to stay behind to “choose” some treasures.
Since neither of them opposed, Han Guang naturally wouldn’t intervene. While continuing to “stimulate” Gao Lan, he also watched Gu Xiaosang leave with his eyes.
Gu Xiaosang exited the Three Lives Hall and turned left. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped, lightly frowning, her eyes shifting, as if contemplating and hesitating.
…
Circulating his blood and qi, opening his acupoints, connecting with heaven and earth, adjusting his inner landscape and physical structure, Meng Qi tried his best to adapt to gliding.
Ahead, the mist grew denser, his perception unable to extend beyond ten zhang, and even light couldn’t penetrate. Only the original hazy clarity flowed, growing darker and darker.
The Ninth Heaven was a realm formed from the condensation of laws. Each level was a separate world. Just because this level collapsed didn’t mean he would fall to the next. Meng Qi clearly felt he was still in the current level.
Below, substantial white clouds appeared. Meng Qi transformed back into human form, twisted mid-air, and gently landed on his feet.
The mist around him remained thick, limiting his perception of the surroundings. He could only proceed cautiously, step by step, searching for an exit.
Dang!
Suddenly, the sound of morning bells and evening drums entered Meng Qi’s ears, lingering and soothing, calming the mind.
What is this? Meng Qi gazed ahead and saw a figure emerging from the mist. The figure had a bald head, clad in a gray monk’s robe, kneeling on a prayer mat with eyes closed, chanting scriptures. In front of him stood an ancient lamp and a Buddha statue, serene and transcendent, yet emanating a sorrow that had transcended worldly attachments.
“Ahh!”
A furious roar came, filled with extreme grief. Meng Qi turned his head and saw within the mist a figure looking up to the heavens. Below the head was blurred, only the face seemed to be shedding tears.
Fully alert, sensing the aura, Meng Qi turned again and saw a black-clad figure standing in the mist behind him, face indistinct, yet exuding a heroic and mighty presence.
He stretched out his hand and shouted loudly, “Bring me the blade!”
A terrifying long saber, filled with purple lightning, tore through the void and landed in his hand. Instantly, his aura soared, exuding an overwhelming dominance, as if capable of subduing the entire universe, none daring to resist!
Meng Qi remained vigilant, observing carefully. He saw a mad Daoist priest, a sword-wielding swordsman in white robes, a powerful martial artist pierced through by a long red spear, and a defiant backlit figure whose resentment pierced the heavens. Deeper within the mist, there were even more indistinct figures!
Who are these people? Meng Qi was greatly astonished.
At that moment, the monk by the ancient lamp turned around, revealing his face—handsome yet gaunt, exuding great compassion, unmistakably Meng Qi himself!
The figure holding the terrifying saber, the figure crying out to the heavens, the swordsman in white robes, the mad Daoist priest—one by one, they either turned around or their faces became clear. All were Meng Qi’s own face!
Is this me?
Is this me?
Meng Qi asked himself repeatedly in his heart. Suddenly, he realized—he had jumped into the collapsed ruins of the Hall of Reincarnation. Was this his future life? Or was it a display of countless possible futures?
Because it had been severely destroyed, there was no clear future life, only glimpses of possible futures?
And even among those possible futures, only a few could be seen clearly?
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