CHAPTER 617: 114 CHAPTERS_3

"And then?"

Yu Xuzi raised his arm and gently waved, causing a stream to burst forth in the middle of the river, flowing along the village path all the way to the end of the village.

Li Zhiyuan pursed his lips; he indeed hadn’t been able to detect the existence of this stream beforehand because it wasn’t situated in reality.

It was more like a guideline drawn with special paint, which would only reveal itself when illuminated by a lamp; on normal days, there were no traces to follow.

Following this line, Li Zhiyuan began to inspect the ground nearby. The village path was a dirt road, quite soft. Along this line, Li Zhiyuan quickly found several fish-tail patterns.

It must have been fish that followed this "stream," or, in fact, followed the guidance of this line, flapping their way along the ground.

It seems that the fish faced by the three families, Xue, Zheng, Zeng, in Min’an Town were dispatched from here in this manner.

Although the monster was in Zhengmen Village, it was capable of affecting Min’an Town.

"Young friend, follow the guidance of this stream to the end of the village to enter the mist. Then proceed through the Underworld in the mist, find a stone table, follow the method on the stone tablet, place it on the stone table, and you can open the mist widely, leave this place, and gain your freedom."

The fox’s tail wasn’t revealed; it was continued.

Li Zhiyuan immediately realized that one only needed to follow this "stream" to walk out of the Array.

As for the mist behind and what to do in the mist, all were added on and purely Yu Xuzi’s personal additions.

You are actually already out of the town, but he still confuses you, making you think you haven’t left, and then you continue to operate according to his demands.

The stone table in the mist, isn’t that the offering table outside?

He wants himself to help, sabotage the offering table, to destroy the Array.

But if it’s this simple, why didn’t he arrange for those dispatched fish to do these tasks?

Those fish can not only kill people but also control people as Puppets, which theoretically should be able to complete such tasks.

Unless there’s some reason that makes it impossible for those fish to do these.

Li Zhiyuan held the stone tablet, exerting a slight force with his hand. The stone tablet was very hard, leaving no trace.

Wasn’t it possible to write this on paper or even wood, yet making it necessary to carve into stone?

Li Zhiyuan looked at Tan Wenbin and said: "Brother Binbin, you have the deepest understanding of Arrays, take a look at this stone tablet."

With that, Li Zhiyuan held the stone tablet with both hands and tossed it to Tan Wenbin.

Tan Wenbin: My understanding of Arrays is the deepest?

Of course, my understanding of Arrays is the deepest.

Tan Wenbin caught the stone tablet with both hands, examining it carefully from top to bottom, and commented:

"Uh, concise and to the point, easy to understand, simplifying complexity, not bad at all."

"Then give me another look," said Li Zhiyuan, spreading his hands and gesturing.

Intending to walk over to return it, Tan Wenbin, imitating Li Zhiyuan’s prior action, threw the stone tablet back.

After Li Zhiyuan caught it with both hands, he pressed his palms and arms tightly against the stone tablet, and after feeling carefully, he indeed detected a fine vibration layer.

There’s something hidden inside this stone tablet!

"Daoist, you’ve only told us the method to leave now, remember you said earlier about helping you thoroughly eradicate this demon?"

"Actually, it’s merely a handy matter." Yu Xuzi took out a lamp from his bosom, the lamp flame pure white, faintly transmitting a heartbeat-like sound, "Young friend, do you know what this is?"

This is a soul lamp.

"Daoist, what is this?"

"This is my soul lamp.

In the past, I used my flesh as the foundation of the Array, my soul as the focal point of the Array, and the continual residence of three generations of disciples here as the continuance of the Array.

A wholehearted devotion to eliminate demons and protect the Dao.

But this demon is truly formidable.

You have seen the fish scales on my body.

Over the years, while I suppressed it, it also in turn suppressed me, and we have long been interlinked.

Inside this Array, a pattern has long formed on its own. My soul and it have been intermingled for a long time and are now indistinguishable. It is now weak and on the verge of life.

So please, young friend, when you leave, take my soul lamp with you. This lamp cannot be extinguished here; once taken outside, extinguish it.

I will disappear from this world together with it."

"Daoist’s dedication to self-sacrifice for the Dao is admirable."

"Actually, there is a bit of selfishness on my part here as well." Yu Xuzi reached and scratched the fish scales on his body, "I too wish to be freed soon."

Then, Yu Xuzi bowed deeply to Li Zhiyuan:

"Please, young friend, grant me this!"

Li Zhiyuan responded, "I will give my best effort."

The two exchanged glances, both smiling.

Yu Xuzi picked up a lantern on the ground and pointed at the small stream in front of him: "Since that is the case, I will personally guide you all."

"Thanks, Daoist."

"Roar!"

In the middle of the river, the Big Fish opened its huge mouth and began to roar violently, its tail slamming furiously against the water’s surface.

Yu Xuzi chuckled: "You sinful creature, now you know fear?"

The Big Fish continued to roar and twist, its eyes blood-red.

"Do not be impatient, sinful creature, you will soon cease to exist."

Yu Xuzi carried the lantern and moved forward, with Li Zhiyuan and the others following behind him, stepping on the "stream."

They hadn’t gone far when Yu Xuzi stopped, turned back, and pointed to the tree where the six university students lay unconscious, reminding:

"Young friend seems to have forgotten about them."

Li Zhiyuan turned to look and replied, "Then just forget them. When entering the mist in the Underworld later, my partner needs to support me; they are unable to move now, so they cannot follow. Forcing to carry them would be a burden, and might spoil things."

Yu Xuzi let out a sigh, "But heaven favors life."