Chapter 230: Echoes of a Hidden Scheme
Chapter 230: Echoes of a Hidden Scheme
Though the conditions varied, all had become environments where life could no longer thrive.
In some places, the cause could no longer be traced.
In others, faint clues still remained.
What shocked Xiao Shou even more was that within the Great Ao Kingdom, which was supported by the demonic sect, there was indeed such a place as well.
More than two hundred years ago, a similar event had occurred.
A boy had survived and was taken into the Seven Devil Dao Sects, the very sect to which Zhong Kui, one of the male leads, belonged.
Going further back, four hundred years, five hundred years, there was no clear pattern.
At irregular intervals, one or two formations would be activated, leaving behind a pair of Cycle of Cause and End Relics.
Similarly, around these locations and along the depleted spirit veins, at the nine outer points of the massive formation similar to the Fate Bestowing Array and Fate Devouring Array, there existed nine kinds of malnourished heavenly treasures.
All of these weakened treasures and the Cycle of Cause and End Relics were sealed and collected by Xiao Shou and Fu Young.
Based on the local legends they gathered, they inferred that this unknown plan may have begun as early as ten thousand years ago.
If estimated from the formation of the mortal realm, then the timeline could be even longer, possibly tens of thousands of years.
Or perhaps there were still undiscovered locations, which would push the origin even further back.
However, they still could not determine why the spiritual energy of the Sunfall Domain had been sealed.
They could not fully understand what this long running plan was meant to achieve or what kind of scheme lay behind it.
Xiao Shou speculated that it might be closely related to the female and male leads, but there was no evidence and nothing about it had ever been mentioned in the original story.
Half a month later, after thoroughly searching the entire Sunfall Domain, they could no longer find any additional formations.
As he rest his chin on his hand, Xiao Shou looked at the mysteriously secretive Fu Young and said, "Hey, Young’er, when are you going to tell me the results of your deductions?"
"Now is not the time yet, Master. Please be patient a little longer. Once I finish this, it will be about ready," Fu Young replied as he raising the jade slip in his hand.
Originally, the jade slip contained a map of the Sunfall Domain.
Over the past half month, they had marked every location where they found the Cycle of Cause and End Relics.
A few days ago, Fu Young seemed to have noticed something from the map, and ever since then, he had not let go of it.
Always telling me to wait.
He has been keeping me in suspense for half a month already.
When is he going to tell me?
Why am I not this clever?
Why can I not figure anything out or see anything?
Feeling bored, Xiao Shou yawned and leaned against Fu Young’s back.
He then stared at the blue sky as his thoughts wandered.
Somehow, his mind drifted to something else and he suddenly remembered an important matter.
"Young’er, keep working for now. I need to take care of something. I will be back soon."
"What is it?" Fu Young raised an eyebrow.
"A secret." Xiao Shou stood up and deliberately refused to tell him, getting a bit of playful revenge for all the suspense.
He then flew away on his sword.
Fu Young who is left behind recalled the way his master had acted just now.
His heart began to race uncontrollably.
He found that his master had looked unexpectedly adorable.
The more he thought about it, the more he liked it.
Liked it.
Even someone as composed as Fu Young felt flustered at this realization.
He quickly shook his head, suppressing his emotions and forcing himself to focus on the task at hand.
Meanwhile, Xiao Shou flew directly to Dark River City.
He left behind one Spiritual Root Shaping Flower as a seed and handed the rest over to Tushan Qiqi.
After declining Tushan Qiqi’s invitation to stay, he prepared to return to his beloved disciple’s side.
Before leaving, Tushan Qiqi asked him seriously, "Have you investigated the matter of Xiao Family Village?"
"I have," Xiao Shou replied after a brief silence. "The truth is still unclear, but the matter is very serious. I cannot speak about it until I understand it fully."
Tushan Qiqi sighed. "I understand. Since it is so important, you must be careful. Do not alert people who should not be alerted."
"I know. By the way, if your brother dreams of any clues, do not forget to tell me," Xiao Shou said with a nod.
Since Tushan Qiqi already knew about Tushan Gaoque’s ability, he thought it might lead to some unexpected discoveries.
Tushan Qiqi blinked his eyes in confusion. "What kind of clues are you referring to?"
"Ah, I forgot to explain. I mean situations where there is large scale slaughter within a certain area for various reasons, and afterward the place becomes barren and abandoned, with no living creatures willing to approach..." Xiao Shou trailed off, unsure how to describe it clearly.
At that moment, Tushan Gaoque walked in with a grim expression.
He frowned at Xiao Shou and said, "Great Uncle, please do not mention anything about the Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion to Qiqi."
"The Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion? I have not said anything about that," Xiao Shou replied, looking confused.
Tushan Gaoque glanced at his brother and Xiao Shou, then asked awkwardly, "Then what place were you referring to when you mentioned large scale slaughter and a barren land where no living beings dare to approach?"
"Could it be..." Xiao Shou froze in disbelief.
Recalling the prophetic dream Tushan Gaoque had once told him about regarding the Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion, his thoughts raced.
He quickly asked, "In your dream, after the massacre at the Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion, did the place become barren as well?"