From the end of the world

Chapter 675 Help me

After his complete death, Xuanming's battered body could no longer suppress the burns emanating from within, and in the blink of an eye, it turned to ashes. A gust of wind blew, and it vanished into the world.

I let out a heavy sigh, temporarily exited my corona form, released all my strength, and sat down on the ground, trying to adjust my condition.

At the same time, I wasn't completely let my guard down. Although the battle with the formidable Xuanming was over, I hadn't forgotten that besides Xuanming and me, there were three, or perhaps four, other powerful beings in this city. At least two of them were enemies.

Given my current severe injuries, let alone fighting Meng Zhang, the Lord of Peach Blossom Village, I might not even be able to defeat Xu Gou. Xuan Ming did mention that Meng Zhang was currently unable to find the time to reap the benefits, but Xu Gou might not be so fortunate. As for the unknown Great Impermanence, who is suspected of operating in the shadows, it's unclear whether he's inside or outside the "Wall of the World," or whether he's friend or foe.

While the naval commander Xuanwu is an enemy of Meng Zhang, the lord of Peach Blossom Village, he may not necessarily be my ally. On the contrary, if given the chance to kill me first, he will certainly show no mercy. In this light, the other four Great Impermanences are all extremely dangerous individuals whom I must be on high alert and guard against at this moment, as they could easily take my life if I'm not careful.

Fortunately, at least three of the dangerous individuals were isolated inside the "Wall of the World"... Speaking of the "Wall of the World," since Xuanming is now dead, shouldn't the "Wall of the World" be deactivated?
That was the ultimate barrier created by "Shangri-La" based on Xuanming's threat to the dream network. Xuanming originally intended to use me as a scapegoat to dismantle it... I tried to concentrate and sense the direction of the city center. The "Wall of Shangri-La" still stood there, seemingly unchanged by Xuanming's death.

Could it be that Xuanming's reasoning before his death was flawed, and the "Wall of the World" didn't automatically dissolve because of his or my death? No, it doesn't seem so. The apparent lack of change in the "Wall of the World" is merely superficial; in reality, a certain unsettling quality is subtly emerging. I have a vague feeling that the "Shangri-La" is instinctively observing, attempting to analyze and determine whether Xuanming is truly dead.

I must seize this precious break and get back into shape as quickly as possible.

I first checked the power experience and insights that Xuanming had just transmitted.

First, it should be noted that while this gain is substantial, it is not the kind that can be immediately put into practical use.

The reason I was able to absorb the power and experience of the Great Demon of Calamity without any obstacles in the past is because the Great Demon of Calamity is essentially one of my future possibilities as deduced by the Gospel of Naraku; it can be regarded as another version of myself. Even my magical power is the Eclipse Fire, which evolved from the Vermilion Bird Fire, and my experience in using it can seamlessly connect with my power.

Xuanming's experience is another matter entirely. Although we are both users of fire magic, his fire does not belong to the Four Symbols and Five Elements system of the Two Elements of the Mountain, and is incomparable to my fire.

Furthermore, since our magical powers are manifestations of our own souls and thoughts, the experiences and insights associated with them are filled with a great deal of our own values ​​and worldviews. The differences in thought between me and Xuanming are simply too numerous. To rashly accept his entirety would be tantamount to taking poison. My consciousness would be unable to maintain its original form due to the internal conflict.

Even with the blessing of the small bowl, this contradiction could not be reconciled. In fact, considering how much the blessing of the small bowl enhanced my understanding of external experiences, consuming Xuanming's experience and insights in this state might only further accelerate the evolution of the internal conflict.

It must be the other way around, slowly translating this vast and complex experience into nourishment suitable for my consciousness structure... or there is actually a shortcut, which is to let the little bowl make subtle adjustments to the blessings bestowed upon me.

Just as my flames could temporarily transform into the full flames of an eclipse in the past, if translating the insights and experiences of Xuanming was something I was bound to be able to do sooner or later, then Xiaowan should also be able to significantly enhance my efficiency in translating these insights and experiences by subtly adjusting the settings of the blessing.

I believe Xuanming also believes that I can do this, which is why he entrusted me with this experience and insight.

Incidentally, even now, there are still some parts of this experience and insight that I can use.

I found the technical means by which Xuanming invaded the city's barrier.

As I suspected, Xuanming's method of infiltrating the city's barrier involved using the power of the divine seal fragments through an array to forcibly tear open a temporary path for him. The city's barrier represents the power of a "Shangri-La," so infiltrating it with true spiritual power might be the correct solution. Someone like me, using unorthodox methods, would inevitably suffer a period of weakened power as punishment. Besides array techniques, there's also the method of directly manipulating the divine seal fragments to infiltrate the city's barrier. However, just as Xiaowan deduced, Xuanming had already severed his connection with the divine seal fragments. No longer a Void Realm Apostle, he cannot directly manipulate the power of the divine seal fragments. Fortunately, while he lacked the opportunity to practice this method, I had the means to do so.

Since it wasn't about using fire magic, but rather the power of a fragment of a divine seal, it didn't contain much of Xuanming's personal ideology, making my on-the-spot learning very low-risk. Thanks to my super-accelerated consciousness and the immense boost to my learning ability from the Little Bowl's blessing, I quickly mastered the technique.

Why would I need to learn this technique? Because I need to summon the small bowl into the city's barrier to heal my severe injuries.

Of course, I also have my own route to leave the city's barrier and seek healing from the small bowl, but now the Winter Chariot is no longer in this city. Without a believer capable of performing a séance using the Slag Impermanence Sword, I cannot return to the city's barrier in a short time.

Time is of the essence now. The souls of the city's thirty million dead have been absorbed by the Dream Network, and Xuanming, who hindered its progress, is already dead. I fear that before long, "Shangri-La" will be created. At that time, I will lose my last chance to be an enemy of Meng Zhang, the lord of Shangri-La, and the consequences will be unimaginable.

As for first summoning Winter Chariot, or summoning other believers back into the city's barrier and equipping them with the Slag Impermanence Sword, while I myself seek Little Bowl's healing in a safe area outside, that's also impossible. The power of the divine seal fragments I can mobilize is too meager. Given the city's barrier's strict entry and lenient exit rules, I can only bring in individuals like Little Bowl whose soul strength is close to that of an ordinary person. Demon hunters with slightly higher strength are not within the selection range.

I tried to gather my scattered consciousness, then closed my eyes and meditated, extending my perception outwards.

The city's barrier hindered my perception of the outside world, especially the outermost shell, which almost completely isolated me from all contact. However, based on Xuanming's experience and insights, I released the power of the divine seal fragments, amplifying it into my spiritual perception. This didn't enhance my perception itself, but it could be used to break through the outer shell of the barrier. Immediately afterward, I observed the situation outside the barrier.

At this moment, the sea of ​​fire that Xuanming had set up outside the city had completely disappeared. Before entering the city, I had wondered if the sea of ​​fire was there to prevent outsiders from entering. Now I think it was probably to prevent Meng Zhang, the lord of Peach Blossom Village, from secretly escaping the city. It was impossible to completely stop him, but it could serve as a way to alert Xuanming.

At the same time, I also clearly perceived all the "fireflies" and thermal energy symbols that I was scattered in various places around the world.

I immediately found the "firefly" that I had placed close to the small bowl, and then began to speak it aloud.

"Little Bowl, help me," I said.

Xiao Wan was currently in the courtyard of the Luoshan headquarters. Zhu Shi and Ma Zao were both in seclusion, and she seemed to have nothing to do. Suddenly hearing my voice, she immediately tensed up and asked, "Brother Zhuang Cheng, what happened to you?"

I briefly explained my situation.

"This place is very dangerous, and I don't know what might happen next, but I want to ask for your help." I ended with this sentence.

He challenged Xuanming to protect her, yet now he's summoning her to a dangerous area for his own needs. Even if there's a necessity, it's still shameful to admit it. At the same time, I'm surprised at how easily I could say "help me." Can I really be so naturally dependent on others?

In repeatedly relying on the small bowl for help, I may also have unconsciously acknowledged time and again that I need the help of others. There was a time when this sense of companionship was something I could never have imagined.

Xiao Wan immediately said, "I understand, Brother Zhuang Cheng, please take me there."

(End of this chapter)