Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1644: Chapter 1639: Minus One

Cutting muscles, stripping bones.

The transcendent flesh that was once a source of pride and rigorously tempered, has never seemed so fragile.

There was nowhere to escape, for the cutting originated from within.

Trembling, standing on the spot, Xiao Ying placed a hand on her right chest, and the next moment, the once cold skin there unexpectedly surged with warmth.

It was blood.

Blood gushing from a wound that traversed from the internal organs to the skin.

Staring hard at the crimson on her hand, her mind naturally conjured the image of the blood-drenched corpse behind her.

It really did pierce out from the inside... though only the wound was visible, with no blade in sight.

But how could this be...

Having already reached the walkway, she couldn’t help but glance at the corpse and the bloodstains there once more.

In the next moment, realizing something, she tried to cautiously ascend a step along the spiraling walkway.

Uh—

This time, she merely let out a low cry, simultaneously pressing her hand rapidly against one side of her abdomen.

Just now, at that instant, warmth was seeping there as well.

Impossible... is it really because of this?

It’s undoubtedly another wound, yet compared to the internal shock, this pain was far less intense.

...

It’s just a new emperor’s abode after all.

The changes happening to Ms. Xiao Ying were, of course, impossible to hide from Fu Qian.

And compared to those lacking theoretical support, as a professional, he found comprehending these changes much easier.

Divine protection doesn’t only manifest in certain fortunate individuals, it’s clearly wandering within the volcanic interior.

It doesn’t even remain confined to the Invisible Palace’s domain.

And the cause of death for the corpse on the ground is simple—he was ascending.

Indeed, the trail of winding blood there should have been, like at this very moment with Xiao Ying, spraying from inside as she walked.

It’s not about not being able to retrace steps, but about not being able to ascend.

According to Fu Qian’s understanding of such laws, rigidity and strictness have always been its main characteristics.

So just now, while Ms. Xiao Ying was making her return and even when testing, he observed very meticulously.

The conclusion is that the degree of damage to flesh is obviously proportional to the change in altitude.

It’s entirely imaginable, the scene of the one on the ground sprinting upwards the whole way, ultimately shattering oneself.

And from Ms. Xiao Ying’s performance, Fu Qian believes she must now be playing similar scenes in her mind.

This is undoubtedly a major discovery, though the despair it brings is heavy too.

Simply estimating, it’s easy to gauge the limits of one’s ascent capability.

Considering not everyone is a flesh expert like us, once discovered a bit late, it means the path coming has already turned into an insurmountable barrier.

Which is also why despite a tragic example right here, others not only haven’t stopped, but have delved in deep to the point shadows can’t be seen.

An insurmountable barrier is an insurmountable barrier, perhaps seeming very near, but even if stretching to the limit can’t overcome, it’s no longer something that can be considered trivial.

Any slight decision would indicate the only choice is to continue downward seeking an escape.

To sink deeper in exchange for a sliver of hope of getting free.

One has to say it sounds quite philosophical.

Of course, whether Ms. Xiao Ying wants to be philosophical, Fu Qian has no interest in knowing.

Just like the testing actions earlier, it wasn’t driven deliberately.

So, during the whole observation process, his steps never halted.

...

The reason for going back midway to change attire was to distinguish from the previous Captain Qiao image, thus creating confusion.

Including the fact that he pinched into Huang Jianyuan’s face just now.

However, the emphasis here lies in the pattern, a consistent practice of laissez-faire governance, regardless of choice, escaping the swindler’s cycle of cause and effect is difficult.

Just like Brother Hao Ke and the others, for Fu Qian, Ms. Xiao Ying whether choosing to delve further, hence realizing the intricacy of her identity after convergence, or smoothly returning along the original path, thus discovering Captain Qiao already gone, it all doesn’t matter.

His target has never been the Huang Family.

With such a large arrangement, how could it be something the Huang Family, who have been guarding here for so many years without any discoveries, could pull off?

Including the returning Blood Lion, it’s hard to imagine he could achieve such magnitude.

In the not-too-large Xi Yuan City, it indeed feels quite overshadowed.

Hence this visit to the Mid-Levels Manor, a performance aimed at stirring the situation.

The Huang Family may lack the skills to control the situation, but if there exists any behind-the-scenes forces besides that tree.

Then the mysterious demigods involved, authentic tribesmen, the mysterious visit to the official maze led by Fu Qian all along, it would be impossible not to interest those forces.

As long as a bit more attention is garnered, prompting them to make just a bit more unnecessary moves, then this outfit rarely worn is not in vain.

Amidst the contemplation, under the involuntary gaze of Ms. Xiao Ying, Fu Qian, walking in the void, was already obscured by the cave opening further below the stone wall.

...

No wonder besides the fallen one, others can’t even be seen.

This time before the cave, there’s no obstacle, yet the moment Fu Qian steps in, he finds the footing is not the blue-black rock visible from outside.

Nor is it the kind of unseen invisible path from before.

Instead, it’s a passage formed by mirrors angling ingeniously from all directions.

Inside appears to have special spatial rules that are quite jumping.

But these mirrors don’t have excessive smoothness and seem due to their nature of absolute reflection, to confer a perfect isolation effect, making it difficult to perceive what’s behind them, thus making it impossible to confirm exact location.

Anyway, if the rescue team choosing to continue the journey encounters similar conditions, not seeing them from above feels quite normal.

Of course, these mirrors aren’t perfect in every aspect, for instance, a flaw visible to the naked eye lies right ahead—they reflect shadows in an untruthful manner.

Although overlapping reflections create chaotic illusions, it’s still easy to see none of them wore specially prepared attire.

That’s a collection of tall figures draped in gold and white hooded cloaks, though the faces under the hoods indeed resemble his current visage.

Unfortunately, no time remained for extensive observation, as at one moment those chaotic figures suddenly vanished, as if retreating into the world behind the mirror—except for one.

Slowly, as if walking within the mirror, soon that splendid, majestic figure reached the closest position to Fu Qian.

However, under Fu Qian’s gaze, the face identical to his remains silent, instead smiling and making eye contact.

Then in the next moment, raising the left hand, slender fingers carved out a breathtaking wound on the body.

And Fu Qian’s body similarly bore the same, equally terrifying wound.

Though for him, such injury wasn’t much.

Not moving, Fu Qian calmly watched the performance in the mirror, until the body was even more blurred in flesh than the earlier corpse.

At this time, the one in the mirror finally stopped the action of the left hand, turning to the other hand upwards, until pressing it against both eyes, while staring at Fu Qian, forcibly gouged them out.

"SAN Points decreased by 1."

And in the next moment, bearing two blood-red eye sockets, with the smile undiminished, uttered the first sentence.

And this still wasn’t the end.

[SAN Points decreased by 1]

A familiar prompt sounded in synchronization in Fu Qian’s ears.