Chapter 284: Lo Shu Puzzle

"Ning Xiaoling…"

As those three words slipped from Siming's lips, she suddenly remembered the girl in the white dress she had rescued that day on the border of Thunder State in Middle-earth.

At that time, while investigating the Underworld Lord, she had passed through Thunder State, witnessed the duel between Shi Yu, the Lord of Thunder State, and the foreign woman. Afterwards, outside the city, a sudden blizzard arose. She had originally observed the commotion from afar, but seeing the girl seemed pleasant, she decided to rescue her on a whim.

The girl had introduced herself as Ning Xiaoling.

Siming had thought then, with "Ning" and "Xiao" (small) in her name, it was truly somewhat hateful.

Now, it seemed her instincts were as accurate as ever.

She had only ever rescued two women: one was Ning Changjiu's junior sister, and the other was Ning Changjiu's disciple and wife. It was as if she had intentionally stirred up trouble in his family. Could there really be such coincidences in the world? Or perhaps, knowing his impending death, Ye Chu had imprinted some kind of connection onto her destiny.

She had no way of knowing.

"What's wrong? Is this name also common?" Lu Jiajia asked with a smile.

Siming scoffed slightly, "Yes, it is common, but since you're all family, it's quite fitting."

Lu Jiajia offered no comment.

She gazed at the starry sky and said, "I wonder if I'll ever see them again."

Siming replied, "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Lu Jiajia tilted her head, looking at Siming's brows, softened by moonlight, and her hair flowing like a clear spring. Her profile was as exquisite as a painting.

She was slightly lost in thought, then softly asked, "Why are you so good to me?"

"Am I?" Siming met her gaze.

Lu Jiajia looked into Siming's clear, captivating, icy eyes. After holding the gaze for a moment, she felt a little uncomfortable and voluntarily shifted her eyes to the lake below the cliff. The lake's waves in the night looked like wind-swept grasslands.

Lu Jiajia said, "You saved my life, killed a demon to get me a pill to consume, like a true sister. You taught me spells, imparting profound Taoist techniques without reservation, like a true disciple. You spoke openly and intimately with me, and even helped me search for my missing husband…"

Clenching the demon fox mask in her hand, Lu Jiajia's voice grew softer and softer.

Siming listened quietly and said, "Have I really done so much?"

Ning Changjiu had not only plotted against her but also humiliated her with a slave mark. She should be taking her anger out on his wife, so why had she truly become a caregiver for her mistress?

Siming's brow twitched slightly in displeasure. She looked at Lu Jiajia, the softness in her eyes replaced by the sternness she adopted during lessons.

"Alright, rest time is over. Continue your practice. If you make another mistake this time, I won't go easy on you." Siming rose from the edge of the cliff, her bare, fair feet slowly moving towards its center.

Lu Jiajia watched Siming's graceful back, a slight grievance in her heart. She thought, *I am the Sect Master of a Southern State sect, and now I'm not only someone's disciple but also being punished like a female student, just as I used to treat Le Rou... While the path of cultivation has no end and one should remain humble, if anyone were to see this, I would surely lose all face returning to my sect.*

She couldn't help but fall into a jumble of thoughts, which unsettled her mind. With a troubled mind, her swordplay naturally couldn't be swift.

Siming easily seized the weakness in Lu Jiajia's swordplay, pressing her hard within twenty moves and decisively breaking her defense. In desperation, Lu Jiajia resorted to her sect's cultivation technique to meet the attack. Siming merely sneered, having already told her this was an incomplete sword technique.

Time gradually slowed in Siming's eyes, and consequently, the speed of her sword increased severalfold.

The weakest point of the sword intent instantly shattered. Lu Jiajia's sword moves were broken, her footing became unstable, and she was once again knocked to the ground. Siming's black sword, like a phantom, stopped just before her brow.

Lu Jiajia bowed her head in surrender.

Siming sheathed her sword.

Following this was the forging of the sword, a process akin to refining steel. Siming, using this as a metaphor, reprimanded and explained Lu Jiajia's recent mistakes. Lu Jiajia's long hair hung down, her hands rested on the rock, and her lips were tightly pressed together as she acknowledged each of Siming's strict admonishments.

Siming, a divine maiden by nature, possessed an ethereal and pure demeanor that naturally suppressed Lu Jiajia's gentle disposition.

Lu Jiajia worried. This was the world of the Luo Shu. Would what was happening at this very moment be recorded in the history written by the Luo Shu? If it was, how could she ever face herself?

She studied much harder.

Siming found Lu Jiajia's talent quite astonishing.

For many complex and profound Taoist techniques, it took Lu Jiajia only a few hours to grasp the basics and then master them.

This made Siming feel a little uneasy.

*I can't teach her anymore… If she becomes stronger than me in the future, there's no guarantee she won't retaliate. Although she is a good person, as the saying goes, 'one who touches pitch shall be defiled.' I can't trust Ning Changjiu.*

Siming said, "Alright, you've learned just about enough. With diligent practice from now on, you'll surely break through the five thresholds and enter. Just remember not to be too eager for quick success; it's fine to stay at the Purple Court Peak for a few more years."

The unspoken meaning was that she could continue to bully Lu Jiajia for a few more years.

Lu Jiajia, of course, didn't understand the hidden meaning. She simply thought her elder sister was concerned for her. She smoothed her skirt, hummed in acknowledgment, and said, "I'll be careful."

Siming said, "Okay, we'll discuss what to do next on the way. First, let's go find your husband, then we'll figure out how to break out of this book."

"Alright," Lu Jiajia said, following beside her.

Over the course of a day and a night, Siming and Lu Jiajia traversed countless more mountains.

Everything they saw became increasingly desolate, and they found no trace of Ning Changjiu's whereabouts. Lu Jiajia had a gut feeling that she was moving farther and farther away from him.

"This world has no end in sight," Siming said.

Lu Jiajia replied, "We've only been walking for a day and a night. Maybe we haven't gone far enough?"

Siming countered, "Thought has no boundaries."

"Thought?" Lu Jiajia asked, puzzled.

Siming said, "This world is very strange; it's becoming more and more artificial."

"Artificial in what way?" Lu Jiajia's fingers touched the barren rock face; the sensation was very real.

Siming said, "Your cultivation level is still too low; it's hard to explain to you. Just follow me, that's all."

Lu Jiajia had been frequently looked down upon these days, so she was used to it.

Siming leaned on her black sword and sat down on a large mountain rock. "We can't keep wandering aimlessly like this," she said.

Lu Jiajia agreed. If they continued searching like this, not only would they not find a way out, but they would get lost themselves.

"So what should we do?" Lu Jiajia asked.

Siming said, "Our immediate priority isn't to find your husband, but to break free from the Luo Shu."

"Break free from the Luo Shu…" Lu Jiajia looked around.

The Luo Shu, at this moment, represented the vast heavens and earth. How could they possibly break through the heavens and earth?

Siming gazed at the empty world. After a moment of contemplation, a white light gathered before her brow. Soon, a bright, snowy radiance expanded in a circle, enveloping both of them.

"What have you discovered?" Siming asked.

Lu Jiajia looked at the white dot, resting her chin on her hand in thought. She now had the awareness of a student and answered cautiously, "Is this a domain?"

Siming rolled her eyes at her. "Don't talk nonsense. Answer seriously; I won't punish you if you're wrong."

Relieved of her mental burden, Lu Jiajia stared at the white dot. After a brief pause, an idea flashed in her mind, and she immediately said, "This is the Luo Shu!"

Siming nodded gently, knowing that Lu Jiajia understood her intention.

"Yes, if this world was created by the Luo Shu, then it should also be a domain. And the Luo Shu's location should be right at the center of this domain." Siming clasped the white light in her hand, and as she moved her hand, the domain moved with it.

Lu Jiajia asked, "Then where would the center of this world be?"

Siming replied, "At the Luo Shu itself."

Lu Jiajia was silent for a moment.

Siming clarified, "I'm talking about the Luo Shu Tower."

"The Luo Shu Tower?" Lu Jiajia was enlightened by the remark.

The Luo Shu, naturally, would be inside the Luo Shu Tower. This was a simple truth, but one often overlooked.

But did this world even have a Luo Shu Tower?

Lu Jiajia recalled the records of the Luo Shu Tower. The four divine towers of Middle-earth were ancient structures that had existed for millennia.

If the records were correct, the four towers should still be standing in Middle-earth.

Siming said, "We are currently in a storm of history. The Luo Shu should be its eye, and the method to exit is most likely hidden there."

Lu Jiajia hesitated, "But my husband…"

"You only think about men all day long," Siming said, tapping her forehead in frustration. "If we break the Luo Shu, your husband will naturally be released from the book, no matter where he is. This will save a lot of time."

Lu Jiajia nodded, half-believing, half-doubting. She worried, "What about you, elder sister? Once the Luo Shu is undone, what will happen to you, as someone from inside the book?"

Siming said, "Don't worry about me; I already have a plan."

"Really?" Lu Jiajia thought Siming was just comforting her.

"You'll know when the time comes." Siming's lips curved slightly as she imagined Ning Changjiu's 'backyard' being in chaos. Such small pleasures were a rare comfort in these turbulent times.

Lu Jiajia could only trust her.

"The landscape here has changed drastically compared to five centuries later. Where could the Luo Shu Tower be?" Lu Jiajia asked.

Siming rubbed her temples; the continuous travel, day and night, had etched weariness onto her flawless features.

"Let me think," Siming said.

Lu Jiajia waited quietly, unsure what she should do.

Siming said, "Lend me something."

"What?" Lu Jiajia asked, confused.

Siming replied, "Let me lean on you."

Lu Jiajia felt a warmth in her heart. She shifted her body, offering her shoulder to Siming.

Siming said, "A different place."

Siming awoke after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The night wind carried a pungent smell. Sparks erupted from distant mountains, suggesting another war had broken out there. Amidst the thunderous explosions, crumbling mountains looked like dismembered dragons.

Siming rose from Lu Jiajia's embrace. She stretched lazily, then nodded at Lu Jiajia, seemingly very satisfied.

Lu Jiajia felt that something was off.

Siming said, "Come with me."

Lu Jiajia rose and followed.

During her recent sleep, she had tried to expand her consciousness across all directions, using the stars as coordinates to ascertain their position on this vast land, but she had failed.

This further solidified her previous conjecture.

They were not truly physical beings, but spirits.

She could now use her divine consciousness to roam the four directions, but she couldn't let her soul leave her body to survey the entire world, because she was already a spirit, and thus couldn't "leave" her spiritual body.

Therefore, their physical bodies were likely floating in the mist surrounding the Luo Shu Tower.

She was initially worried about the safety of their physical bodies.

But on second thought, the Luo Shu's restriction was both a barrier and a protection. If even she couldn't escape it, then others who fell into the mist would likely also enter the world of the Luo Shu.

She stopped worrying about such things.

"Let's go," Siming said, stepping onto her black sword. Lu Jiajia stood behind her.

For some reason, the moment Siming stepped onto the sword, she had a faint premonition that this journey would lead her to an old acquaintance.

Ning Changjiu and Li He bade farewell to Zhang Heng.

Zhang Heng waved his hand, then sighed leisurely after they left. The flames of the bonfire in front of him danced, licking at his cheeks as if to singe his hair to ash.

The old man gazed at the moon in the sky and then fell into a deep sleep.

Ning Changjiu and Li He headed southwest.

That was the direction indicated by the seismograph.

Southwest…

Ning Changjiu suddenly realized, "The Luo Shu Tower?"

Li He frowned. "Luo Shu Tower? What kind of tower is that?"

Ning Changjiu said, "The Luo Shu Tower has existed for over a thousand years. Haven't you heard of it?"

Li He shook his head. "I haven't. But there is indeed a sky-reaching tower in the southwest. It's in ruins and is said to be an ancient relic, though I've never heard of it containing the Luo Shu."

Ning Changjiu frowned. "It should be that one. Perhaps the Luo Shu was enshrined in the tower later."

Li He asked, "You mean the exit from the Luo Shu is there?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "Just a guess."

This was also what the seismograph indicated.

When the pearl in the dragon's mouth fell, both Ning Changjiu and Li He felt a mysterious premonition.

Li He thought for a moment. "The tower you mentioned is a forbidden area. Tens of thousands of common people once went there and never returned. Since then, the place has been sealed, and no one is allowed to enter."

"Common people?" Ning Changjiu was puzzled. "What would common people go there for?"

Li He said, "To dig for gold… Rumors from who knows where claimed that countless gold and silver treasures were hidden there. Precious metals were said to be piled up like mountains on the surface, and valuable mineral deposits gathered like rivers underground. It was believed that anyone who drank from the golden river could acquire divinity and gain powerful talents and cultivation."

Ning Changjiu listened, thinking of the hundred thousand skeletons lying prostrate on the ground. He said, "How could such a good thing exist in this world?"

Li He replied, "But it makes no difference. In these turbulent times, cities are destroyed and lands ravaged at every turn. What does it matter where one dies?"

"Die…" Ning Changjiu mused on the word, then said, "I think I've been incredibly lucky."

"Lucky?" Li He chuckled. "How so?"

Ning Changjiu said, "With heaven and earth in turmoil, it's hard for someone of my cultivation level to even look out for themselves. Yet, as soon as I arrived, I met the Dragon Keeper. After his death, I was fortunate enough to meet you all. Along the way, I've received protection from Elder Li and enlightenment from Elder Zhang Heng, comprehending many truths of this world. And then the seismograph just happened to reveal itself, guiding me to the Luo Shu Tower…"

"My luck is truly exceptional," Ning Changjiu sighed with emotion.

Li He said, "I suppose you must have done something incredibly good in your previous life to receive such a reward."

Ning Changjiu gently shook his head. His previous life had been calm and uneventful.

"Oh, right, I also lost a child," Ning Changjiu remembered.

"A child?" Li He asked, "Your child?"

"No," Ning Changjiu said, "I picked her up on the road."

Li He asked, "Did you raise her for over a decade?"

"No, less than two months," Ning Changjiu replied.

Li He said, "Then what's there to worry about? Do you possess the heart of a sage, caring for all living beings?"

Ning Changjiu said, "That's not what I'm worried about. I've always felt that little girl is not simple."

"Not simple?"

Li He didn't pay much attention, considering she was just a little girl picked up by the roadside.

In the sky these past few days, strange phenomena had occurred frequently.

In the divine realm above the sky, which was invisible to them, the battle between the Sages and the Thunder Prison Divine Lord seemed to have reached its climax.

The battlefield was split into two ends by heaven and earth.

Above, humans and demons pierced the firmament, ascending to the immortal court with their mortal bodies, their return uncertain. Below, humans, demons, and ancient gods never ceased their slaughter. Those colossal beings from ancient times roared fiercely at the presumptuous humans who drew their swords. Their blood stained the earth, their once-unbeatable bodies were impaled on mountain peaks, and beneath them, countless skeletons of humans and demons lay piled up.

"A group of ancient gods also ascended to the heavens with them," Li He suddenly said. "Those ancient gods seem to be descendants of the Six Primeval Gods. They might have a blood feud with the current Lords of the Divine Realm."

Ning Changjiu said, "The emergence of the Twelve Divine Lords ended the era of the Six Primeval Gods. Although we don't know exactly what happened, they are certainly opposing forces."

Li He sighed. "In any case, they lost in the end. What good is being spectacular if you lose? Better not to see it."

After several days of asking for directions repeatedly, they finally located the Luo Shu Tower.

Ning Changjiu ascended the tower.

Inside, there were only some dusty ancient artifacts, which appeared to be of little value.

The tenth floor was empty; the Luo Shu was not there.

Ning Changjiu felt no disappointment. A certain premonition in his heart grew stronger, as if someone was whispering and calling to him, inviting him forward.

"Let's go deeper," Ning Changjiu said.

Li He had already cleared a path with his sword.

The depths of the Luo Shu Tower led to the Divine Rift Valley.

The restriction set there long ago was already ancient and decayed. Li He thrust out his sword, and a white light pierced through the air, completely shattering the restriction.

The two entered together.

In the dim light, a foul and decaying stench assaulted them.

Before them was a forest, but it was a forest made entirely of white bones. Upon closer inspection, these were human skeletons, stuck headfirst into the ground like inverted spring onions. Their flesh had long since rotted away, and the bones above them branched out, spreading like umbrellas, propped open in the hard rock.

Beneath the bone umbrellas in the distance, figures moved.

They were like young dragons in form, yet possessed human faces.

Although they had dragon-like bodies, they lacked scales and sharp claws. Their skin was bare and wrinkled, covered in scars. The human-faced young dragons clutched the umbrella-like bones and gnawed on them fiercely, their mouths dripping with blood.

"That should be Gold Panning Village ahead," Li He said, stopping without surprise. "They must be people who came here seeking treasure, got trapped, and turned into monsters after drinking the underground river water."

Ning Changjiu glanced at it and said, "Let's go. Let's see what's deeper inside."

Before he finished speaking, the ground suddenly shook and sank.

Below, something seemed to be breathing heavily.

Outside the Luo Shu Tower.

A sky-piercing greatsword descended, piercing Luo Cangsu's scaled body and pinning him and Tianzang to the ground.

Mu Lingtong stepped on empty air, slowly descending.

She didn't spare Luo Cangsu another glance but instead looked at this ancient and magnificent being, expressing sincere admiration.

She extended her hand, placed it on its head, and sensed the power it possessed.

All the world's countless ordinary or precious minerals glowed within its body; they were its flesh and blood. And at this moment, as Mu Lingtong extended her hand, the power within its "flesh and blood" was slowly extracted, flowing bit by bit into Mu Lingtong's body.

A moment later, Mu Lingtong opened her eyes and asked with slight confusion, "Why is there no silver?"