Due to the destruction of the special device within Cangqiong Gaming Company, when Meng Qi’s yuan shen returned to his physical body, events had already progressed. Ning Caichen had finally succeeded in urinating and encountered Nie Xiaoqian again. His upright yet not pedantic behavior moved her, allowing her long accumulated pain and guilt to suddenly release, recounting the entire story truthfully.
Yan Chixia unsurprisingly lost his sense of Ning Caichen and was now searching everywhere. He didn’t use brute force, fearing getting deeper lost in illusions.
Meanwhile, “Nangong Chong” met the same fate as before, dying at the hands of evil ghosts, completely vanishing without any time reversal occurring. Du Qingqing was devastated, wanting to perish together with the evil ghosts, but temporarily unable to find an opportunity.
Meng Qi had maintained a detached and indifferent attitude, so the Left Aide detected nothing unusual. Secretly, the aide marveled at how their Sect Leader had truly achieved supreme mastery, with his temperament reaching new heights—unshaken even as Mount Tai collapses before him, or deer dart past him.
As Meng Qi breathed deeply, his yuan shen returned, thoughts swirling in his mind, his interest in completing the main quest growing stronger.
From what he had observed so far, he deduced that Cangqiong Company had deep ties with “Black Mountain Demon Lord.” Otherwise, the game wouldn’t have been named after the demon from the beginning. Moreover, the “mysterious fragment” had a strange origin, likely connected to the Black Mountain Demon Lord, and possibly even linked directly to the “Boss” himself!
Who was the Black Mountain Demon Lord from? If from the “Painted Skin” world, how had he pierced the barrier to arrive in Nangong Chong’s world?
If he could travel freely, why take the great risk of using virtual reality technology combined with the “mysterious fragment” to create a game for data collection?
If he was an outsider, the legend of the “Black Mountain Demon Lord” had existed far longer than ten years, making this scenario unlikely. Minor time manipulations couldn’t bridge such a gap!
Where had that mysterious fragment come from, and what was he pursuing? How was it related to the Seven Killings Stele?
These questions lingered in Meng Qi’s mind, further fueling his desire to complete the main quest, for only by finding the Black Mountain Demon Lord himself could he uncover the truth, especially the part Meng Qi cared about most and found most intriguing, potentially even obtaining that mysterious fragment!
To locate the Black Mountain Demon Lord, currently, the Old Matriarch was one lead, and the Empress who had similarly descended into Nangong Chong’s world was another. She likely had a cooperative relationship with the Black Mountain Demon Lord.
Suddenly, Meng Qi’s eyes opened, his pupils dark and deep, and the surroundings instantly darkened.
“Leader, are we ready to act?” the Left Aide was startled and quickly asked.
At that moment, Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian rushed back into the hall, only to find Yan Chixia absent, leaving them very disappointed.
Meng Qi patted his robe and slowly stood up, exuding a profound and mountain-like aura as he calmly spoke, “This old man has already figured out what’s happening here; there’s no need to wait any longer.”
The “攻略” (strategy guide) wasn’t read for nothing!
The Left Aide had immense confidence in their Sect Leader’s strength. Without the Black Mountain Demon Lord, no demon or ghost dared to raise their head before him. Thus, he solemnly replied, “Yes, Leader.”
Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian exchanged slightly bewildered glances, somewhat confused about the situation.
Meng Qi glanced at them, stepped forward, and disappeared within the hall, leaving behind only a sentence: “Under the white poplar tree at Wunest, take out the urn with the ashes, right?”
“Right,” Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian answered instinctively, then looked at each other in surprise.
How did he know?
Who exactly was he?
Taking a step forward, Meng Qi appeared before a dry well, gazing downward. Black mist slowly churned, and terrifying howls faintly echoed, with countless inhuman demonic and ghostly shadows flickering past.
This was the source of the haunting at Lankuo Temple—a Yōu Fissure, a mysterious crack leading to the Nine Hells that had appeared at some unknown time!
Meng Qi didn’t need to search deliberately; through the strategy guide he had browsed in the forums, he directly pinpointed this location, arriving ahead of the Yin hour!
His figure suddenly became heavy, as if a towering mountain ten thousand feet high stood there, his feet firmly rooted to the earth, as if roots extended from them, reaching far and wide.
Lifting his right foot, Meng Qi took a step forward.
Boom!
His foot landed amidst the dust, the earth violently shaking as if something deep beneath had exploded, creating an epicenter.
Clang! Clang!
The ground trembled, and many already dilapidated halls and houses collapsed, tiles flying and shattering on the ground. The earth on both sides of the Yōu fissure rapidly closed together, like a door shutting.
Boom!
Meng Qi took another step with his left foot. The dry well collapsed, bricks and stones filled the black mist, and with a loud bang, only flat land remained where the fissure had been.
Wuji Seal!
Although this didn’t fundamentally eliminate the Yōu fissure—as it would reappear over time—it at least temporarily sealed it, preventing resonance with the Yin hour.
(Note: “幽缝” is transliterated as “Yōu fissure” based on the given pinyin, and “Yin hour” preserves the original cultural reference. The translation maintains the original meaning while adjusting phrasing for natural English flow.)
After removing the danger source, Meng Qi clasped his hands behind his back and strode into the woods, stopping before the white poplar tree with a crow’s nest.
Seeing this, the Old Matriarch resisted fiercely. Branches from the tree transformed into tentacle-like appendages, sweeping across the sky. Fire couldn’t burn them, and metal couldn’t sever them. Once entangled, a bone-piercing chill would freeze one’s yuan shen, making escape impossible.
Meng Qi raised his right hand, and dark clouds gathered in the sky. Five thick bolts of azure lightning condensed in midair, striking his palm and swirling around it, forming an electric blade of lightning.
Walking leisurely, Meng Qi slashed diagonally with the blade, precisely cutting the first approaching branch.
Zzzzt! The azure lightning surged along the branch, spreading throughout the forest, destroying trees and releasing wave after wave of black smoke.
Aaah! After a piercing scream, the entire forest was flattened, leaving only the white poplar tree before Meng Qi, barely clinging to life.
“Transforming into Heaven, summoning thunder punishment… Our Leader truly has attained supreme mastery…” Left Aide Sun Junlin couldn’t help but sigh.
“Although I can’t die with you, this old woman at least can choose self-destruction, revealing no secrets to you!” the Old Matriarch screeched in a curse-like voice.
Unfazed, Meng Qi pointed his finger, and mist in the air condensed into an image—a “touching and tragic” love story. It was a video from “Old Wang Next Door,” reluctantly released by a forum member, depicting the Lankuo Temple events.
The Old Matriarch’s face darkened. Her face, already covered in tree knots, resembled an ugly man, and her poor transformation skills made her apply heavy makeup, truly a horrifying sight. Meanwhile, “Old Wang Next Door” undoubtedly altered his appearance, making himself handsome and charming, gazing “lovingly” at her: “To die under the peony flowers is to die a romantic death. Dying by your hand is a blessing earned over ten lifetimes…”
Ugh… Left Aide Sun Junlin dry-heaved.
When Meng Qi first watched this video, even with his current mental cultivation, he nearly couldn’t endure till the end, eventually having to give “Old Wang Next Door” a thumbs-up.
The curse-like screeching ceased. The dying Old Matriarch seemed engrossed, having never experienced love before.
By the end, sobs emerged from within the tree: “Life is precious, love is more valuable… Was that dream real? Wang Lang! My Wang Lang!”
Meng Qi suppressed his discomfort, maintaining a serious expression as he said, “These are memories erased by the Black Mountain Demon Lord. Do you wish to see Wang Lang again?”
A dream? Events experienced within the simulated game environment of virtual reality would reflect onto the real body, but merely as a vague dream?
The Old Matriarch was silent for half a moment before replying, “You are already a Grand Master; you mustn’t deceive me.”
She no longer referred to herself as “this old woman,” striving to match Wang Lang’s status.
“You are of different worlds, human and demon, but reincarnation into humans could bring a happy ending. However, this old man doesn’t know the art of reincarnation,” Meng Qi deliberately replied honestly.
The Old Matriarch sniffled, “Wood governs life, and the Nine Hells govern death. Over these years, combining my innate talents with the inheritance the Black Mountain Demon Lord obtained from the Nine Hells, I can retain my memories through one reincarnation. If the Leader doesn’t mind, I can offer this secret art, only requesting the Leader send this humble woman to reunite with Wang Lang.”
This wouldn’t work for a tree demon’s identity at all! She changed her self-reference to “this humble woman”… Left Aide Sun Junlin dry-heaved again.
Even if it’s not usable, it could still serve as a reference! Meng Qi, exuding the demeanor of a Grand Master, slightly nodded:
“Since you can reincarnate yourself, this old man doesn’t mind giving a helping hand.”
“Thank you, Leader!” the Old Matriarch exclaimed joyfully, sharing the secret method before continuing, “The Black Mountain Demon Lord has entered the Yōu Fissure in search of a treasure called the ‘Seven Killings Stele.’ According to him, this matter is connected to his past and present lives, and also involves a terrifying figure known as the Lord of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.”
The Lord of the Six Dao Reincarnation? Meng Qi’s heart trembled. Could Lu Ya be connected to the Nine Hells? Or was the Great Azure Root lying?
If it was a lie, and it could deceive my Yuanxin Seal, Only-Me-Is-Honored, and Heart-to-Heart abilities, he likely concealed other secrets…
This unexpected information greatly satisfied Meng Qi, so he calmly said:
“The Black Mountain Demon Lord has already emerged from the Yōu Fissure. As for his current whereabouts, perhaps only the Empress knows. Well then, this old man shall send you to reincarnate.”
He extended his right hand, five fingers white and pure, bending them one by one, finally pointing with his index and middle fingers at the white poplar tree.
Silently, the tree disintegrated inch by inch, turning to dust and vanishing. Meng Qi clenched his fingers, drawing forth a hazy, translucent soul.
At this moment, brilliant starlines emerged from his eyes, all converging back to a “Daoist” figure seated cross-legged at the center, ethereal and profound, filled with mystery.
“Reincarnate!” Meng Qi commanded softly, shaking his hand. Instantly, a rift appeared in the void, seemingly devouring everything, and the soul vanished inexplicably.
“Thank you, Leader…” the Old Matriarch’s voice gradually faded.
“Sending someone to reincarnate elsewhere… This is the power of gods and demons! Has our Leader actually touched this realm?” Left Aide Sun Junlin stared in disbelief.
In Nangong Chong’s world, within a children’s hospital, a pregnant woman suddenly experienced labor pains and soon gave birth to a baby girl with darker skin, perpetually smiling, which astonished the doctors.
In a certain messy room, someone suddenly sneezed.
…
The Left Aide hadn’t yet recovered when he suddenly saw his Sect Leader take a few steps forward, standing at the pivotal point of this world, hands clasped behind his back, slightly lifting his head, gazing at the stars with deep yet detached emotion—casual, transcendent, free-spirited, yet filled with reverence, as if contemplating the ultimate questions of the universe.
“Leader, what are you doing?” the Left Aide couldn’t help but ask.
“This humble monk is almost there,” Meng Qi answered calmly, his words seemingly unrelated.
Of course, he had to strike the right pose!
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