Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

However, just as his gaze was about to leave, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a line of almost completely worn-off, extremely tiny inscription in the lower right corner of the mural.

The script used for the inscription was not the ancient seal script I had seen before, but rather... the common script still in use in the cultivation world today!

Although the strokes are incomplete and blurred, the general structure can still be recognized!

This is extremely unusual! The ancient ruins and murals here are so old, how could they contain inscriptions in modern script?!

Unless... it was left by someone who came later!

Shen Mo's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly squatted down to take a closer look.

He even went so far as to once again activate a sliver of the power of the Myriad Laws Source Pearl, focusing it on his eyes in an attempt to "restore" the worn-out strokes.

Under the blessing of the mysterious power of the Myriad Laws Source Pearl, those blurry traces seemed to "come alive," with wisps of dim spiritual light flowing between the broken strokes, painstakingly outlining the original appearance.

The handwriting is very small and hasty, as if the person who wrote it was in a state of extreme haste, weakness, or turmoil. The strokes are distorted and uneven, and many parts have been completely obliterated.

Shen Mo held his breath, struggling to decipher each word:

"...Thinking...of...clouds...crossing...back..."

There were only four incomplete characters, each missing from the middle. But these four characters, the moment they entered Shen Mo's eyes, felt as if four bolts of divine lightning from the heavens had struck him relentlessly on the top of his head!

The blow sent his soul leaving his body, his limbs turning ice-cold, his blood flowing backward, and even his breathing stopped in an instant!

He recognizes these words! No, he not only recognizes them, he even remembers clearly what a complete sentence would be when these words are combined!

"One... thought... Azure... Clouds... Crossing... Reincarnation..."

Each word was uttered slowly and deliberately, like a rusty, dull knife scraping painfully in his dry throat, his voice so hoarse it almost sounded unlike his own.

These seven characters were a phrase he personally fabricated on the opening page of "The Travels of Master Liuyun" to enhance the mystery and prestige of the patriarch!

He still remembers that he racked his brains for a long time to come up with this poem title, and finally felt that "A thought to the blue clouds cross the cycle of reincarnation" not only had the meaning of immortals being ethereal and otherworldly, but also implied the grand ambition of seeing through life and death and transcending reincarnation, which made him very satisfied.

This sentence, besides being included on the title page of "Travel Notes", was also mentioned by him as the patriarch's last instruction during several small-scale sermons within the sect. However, it was only known to a very small number of core disciples and was never passed on to outsiders!

Now... now these seven broken, almost obliterated characters have appeared in the depths of this ancient Reincarnation Palace in such a bizarre way?!

It appeared in an inconspicuous corner of a dilapidated mural, perhaps casually sketched by someone later?!

Coincidence? There's no such coincidence in the world!!

If the image of the Taoist in blue robes on the mural is similar to the "measuring ruler of heaven," it can be explained by the fact that it "captured the imprint of an ancient great being."

So how do we explain the appearance of this ancestral title, which he himself fabricated and which circulated only in a very small circle, here after spanning a long period of time?

There was only one possibility! A possibility that sent chills down his spine and made him almost afraid to think about it!

When he compiled his travelogue and wrote this poetic title, it was not entirely "fabricated"!

Instead, under the influence of some unknown force, he unconsciously "wrote" a sentence that already existed somewhere in time and space, closely related to this Samsara Palace, the Taoist in green, and even himself (or the Qingyun Sect)... a "prophecy" or "mark"!

Perhaps this phrase originally belonged to the Taoist in blue robes depicted in the mural? Or perhaps it was originally engraved somewhere in this Hall of Reincarnation?

Is it just a remnant left by the erosion of time? And when he was making up the story, he unintentionally "resonated" with it and "reproduced" it? The great author Mayday is joining us with his new work "Making Myths in a Ruined Gate"!

No, that's not right! If it's an ancient remnant, the writing should be ancient seal script, not the commonly used script today!

The "newness" of the handwriting contrasts with the "antiquity" of the mural itself!

That leaves only another, more terrifying and bizarre explanation: at some point in time after he wrote the story and penned this poem (it could be now or it could be in the future), someone who knew the story (or perhaps he himself?) came here and inscribed the poem here!

And now, he sees the traces left by the "past" or the "future"!

A time paradox? A causal loop? Self-actualization?

Shen Mo felt a sudden dizziness, as if the altar beneath his feet was spinning and collapsing.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through my inner shirt, clinging coldly to my skin.

He stared intently at the broken inscription, his eyes almost bursting, trying to glean more information, to discern the identity of the writer, and to determine the era in which it was inscribed…

However, that's all. Besides these seven fragmented characters, there's nothing else.

Even the tools used for the inscription and the lingering aura of spiritual energy have long been washed away by the passage of time and the dense deathly energy of this place, leaving no trace.

"Sect Leader... Sect Leader? What's wrong?" Shi Tie's rough voice, filled with concern and doubt, came from behind.

This was something he had never seen before! The sect leader was always unfazed, even in the face of a collapsing mountain!

Zhao Qingyan also stopped setting up the formation and looked over with concern.

Su Xiao's figure paused slightly in the shadows.

Shen Mo suddenly snapped out of his daze and realized his lapse in composure.

He forcibly suppressed the turbulent waves churning within him, using all his strength to restore his calm expression. But beneath that calm lay an unseen, frozen terror.

He slowly stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his sleeves, and spoke in a deliberately slow tone, yet still with a hint of dryness that he couldn't completely hide: "Nothing much, just saw some... interesting ancient characters."

He didn't explain what the character was, nor did he mention the poem's title.

This matter was too bizarre and too terrifying. He couldn't let anyone know before he figured out the truth, lest it cause unnecessary panic or... attract unknown attention.

"Is the formation set up?" Shen Mo turned around and walked towards the "Two Elements Dust Formation" set up by Zhao Qingyan.

The array of light barriers had already taken shape. Under the white light of the crystals, it resembled a semi-transparent eggshell, enveloping a small area and isolating most of the death energy of reincarnation, making the air much fresher.

"It's all set up. Although the protective power is not as good as outside due to the environment here, it's enough to resist the erosion of death energy and allow for recovery," Zhao Qingyan replied, her gaze still searching for Shen Mo.

She could tell that the sect leader was preoccupied, but since the sect leader wouldn't say, she didn't ask.

"Alright. Everyone, enter the formation and meditate to recover your strength as soon as possible. Shi Tie, you stay on guard first, and then Su Xiao will take over in an hour." Shen Mo instructed, taking the lead in entering the formation, sitting cross-legged, and closing his eyes.

The group entered the formation as instructed. Shi Tie, carrying his giant axe, stood at the edge of the formation, warily watching the darkness outside and the slowly rotating black vortex.

Su Xiao sat quietly in the shadows at the corner of the formation, both regulating his breathing and remaining vigilant.

Zhao Qingyan also sat down to regulate her breathing, but her brows were still slightly furrowed.

A-Yuan could no longer hold on. As soon as she entered a relatively safe environment, she relaxed and fell into a deep sleep next to Shen Mo. Tears and fear remained on her little face. She was restless in her sleep and would occasionally twitch slightly.

Inside the formation, a temporary silence fell. Only the even (or uneven) breathing of the group and the faint humming of the formation's light barrier rubbing against the deathly energy outside could be heard.

The latest chapter has ignited the plot! Stay tuned for more updates.