noffsinger Chapter 132 Climbing the steps
Chapter 132 Climbing the steps
"I want to know, are the things I experienced in the illusion real or fake? Is that... just an illusion you set up?"
Lu Zhaozhao was silent for a long time before asking.
"It's kind of true. At least my memories in there are from a thousand years ago."
"Then... why did you choose me? There are so many cultivators in the world of cultivation, and I am just the most insignificant one among them. There must be a reason."
It was Cheng Sangjie's turn to be silent. He paused for a long time, as if thinking about how to answer.
After a while, he said, "No one expected Wei Zhanjie to still be alive. His return to the Western Territory shocked everyone. So much has happened in the past thousand years, and most of my old friends and relatives are gone. So, when he appeared before me, he simply asked me to help him. He said he had glimpsed the secrets of Heaven and that there are beings in this world that are beyond the laws of Heaven. That being is you."
He looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a serious look, full of doubt and inquiry. He continued, "I promised him and entered that illusion. But I don't know what went wrong, and my thousand-year memory has disappeared. But it's okay, at least..."
He didn't say anything else, so Lu Zhaozhao pressed on: "At least what?"
"Nothing." Cheng Sangji chuckled and shook his head.
Lu Zhaozhao bit her lower lip. She probably understood. Wei Zhanjie was strangled by the Heavenly Dao a thousand years ago. He survived by cutting off his tail like a gecko. He had been waiting for an opportunity for the past thousand years. And now, that opportunity had appeared.
She, Lu Zhaozhao, came from a book and does not belong to this world, so she is not within the cycle of reincarnation. It can be said that she is a completely independent existence from this world, but somehow she has a connection with it.
She didn't know what the meaning of Wei Zhanjie creating such an illusion for her was, but she thought that Wei Zhanjie had found the wrong person.
She is just an ordinary person, without the ability to change the world or the courage to stir up trouble. She just wants to complete her tasks step by step and go home quickly.
"What are you here for this time?"
Lu Zhaozhao asked the last question. From Cheng Sangjie's description just now, he seemed to have a pretty good relationship with Wei Zhanjie, and his status in the demon clan was also quite high. So what made him condescend to pretend to be an ordinary cultivator and attend the Golden Palace Banquet?
But he did not answer this question.
"This question has nothing to do with the illusion. However, if you want to listen, I can tell you, but you have to promise me one thing."
"what?"
"After you reach the Golden Terrace the day after tomorrow, come back to the Western Territory with me."
Lu Zhaozhao was dumbfounded. The topic jumped too quickly. She looked at Cheng Sangjie suspiciously and said uncertainly, "I am human, not a demon."
Cheng Sangjie's face brightened: "So what? Who can tell the difference between humans and demons in the future?"
"What do you mean?" Lu Zhaozhao keenly noticed something strange. She took a step back to create some distance, with a flash of vigilance in her eyes.
"Are you planning to take advantage of this Golden Palace Banquet to do something?"
Cheng Sangjie took a step closer, squeezing the empty space. Lu Zhaozhao sensed danger from his expression.
He bent down and whispered in her ear, "You probably don't know, but the contract signed during the Human-Demon War expired last year. The humans destroyed all the records of what happened back then, so you, the younger generation, know nothing. They drew a circle, built a fence, and placed the cubs in a greenhouse, but unfortunately, the wolf came."
Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyes and met Cheng Sangjie's.
In the darkness, his eyes held the peculiar glow of the demon race, as if he were really a wolf foraging for food on a snowy night.
"Evil has always prevailed over good. I was able to suppress you and force you to retreat to the Western Territory a thousand years ago, and I can still do it a thousand years later. Aren't you afraid that after this, even the Western Territory will be lost?"
Lu Zhaozhao said sharply, shaking unconsciously with excitement at the end.
"What the human race has done in the past thousand years cannot be considered just, you just don't know it." Cheng Sangjie looked indifferent, stood up straight and stood with his hands behind his back.
"You may not be able to accept it now, but I just want to tell you that these peaceful days will soon be over. Returning to the West with me will at least keep you safe."
Lu Zhaozhao shook his head, staring at him and said, "If you tell me everything tonight, aren't you afraid that I will tell the sect master right away and have them bring you to justice?"
Cheng Sangjie's eyes flashed with contempt. He said, "If you report it, you will only end up in jail. From what I know, there are constant internal conflicts among the human clans. If you really speak up, people will inevitably suspect that you have ties to the Western Territory. Otherwise, how would you know all this? Three people can make a tiger. Under such pressure, will your biased master really protect you?"
I have to admit that Cheng Sangjie's words were sharp and harsh, but they were all true.
When she recognized him for the first time, Lu Zhaozhao could have reported him, but she didn't. The most fundamental reason was that she didn't know how to explain that she could recognize demons.
Even if she explained everything that had happened to her before, it would probably arouse suspicion, and then she would not be sure that she could keep herself out of it.
Lu Zhaozhao sighed softly and closed his eyes.
Cheng Sangjie saw her dilemma and didn't force her. He just said, "I'll wait for your answer in three days."
After saying that, he turned around and left.
Lu Zhaozhao stood there, thinking for a long time, but his mind was a mess and he couldn't find a way out.
The days of rest were soon over.
The trial on the Golden Terrace is a matter of vital importance.
Before daybreak, the trial field was already crowded with people. The disciples of Wenyuan Academy were conducting inspections in an orderly manner to ensure that there were no mistakes.
Facing the rising sun, the five people who finally advanced stood at the foot of the ladder to the Golden Terrace.
After thinking for a whole day, Lu Zhaozhao's mind was still in a mess. She looked at Cheng Sangjie, who had changed into Sangpan's face again, but what she was thinking in her heart was: How did the demon hide its breath?
After confirming that everything was correct, Qingsongzi stood in front of them with a kind look on his face, even though one of them was his junior fellow apprentice.
Master Bai Yuan felt somewhat helpless and nodded to his senior brother. He caught a glimpse of Lu Zhaozhao staring at him, and followed his gaze to Sang Pan who was standing beside him.
The atmosphere between the two seemed a little strange, and Master Bai Yuan's gaze moved between them.
Lu Zhaozhao noticed it, immediately looked away, and pretended to listen attentively again.
Qingsongzi talked a lot, and after a few inspiring words, Lu Zhaozhao just listened with one ear and out the other. It was not until Yaotong patted her that she realized that she had to climb the stairs.
The ladder to heaven is thousands of feet high. It is said that countless people who climbed the stairs would inexplicably walk down again, and only one person could reach the end. Therefore, this route is regarded by people as the trial of the Golden Platform.
Only the person who reaches the end is qualified to step onto the golden stage.
Lu Zhaozhao and his group took the first step.
As usual, Lu Zhaozhao didn't feel anything unusual. The only strange thing was that the higher he went, the thicker the fog became and the harder it was to see around.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, Lu Zhaozhao stopped and suddenly realized that she was the only one left.
But it was clear that the five of them left together, and she didn't even notice that others had left.
The trial has begun?
The fog was so thick that you couldn't see your hand in front of you.
The onlookers at the foot of the mountain could only see five people stop one after another and stand still as if they were possessed.
Only those who have walked the ladder to heaven know that their trials have just begun.
The smoke was curling up, and Lu Zhaozhao's vision became increasingly unclear.
It was a very familiar feeling. She must be about to fall asleep again.
Once raw, twice cooked.
When she opened her eyes again, she quickly got into the state.
She was in a small house with exquisite decoration. It looked like the house of a daughter of a wealthy family.
Lu Zhaozhao walked around the room several times, but didn't see anything except exquisite jewelry and beautiful clothes.
There is a book on the table.
The Little Junior Sister Beloved by the Group: The Cultivation World is Crazy About Me
What a familiar name! Lu Zhaozhao picked it up. The cover was colorfully painted and didn't look like something from here.
Suddenly, an idea came to my mind.
"Frog fun!"
Lu Zhaozhao screamed and threw the book in her hand away like a charcoal fire.
Isn’t this the book she traveled through? How come she can see it here?
Lu Zhaozhao immediately took a step back and moved away from it.
This scene forced her to rethink the purpose of this trial.
Huang Jintai could actually tell that she was not from this world and even set up an illusion specifically for her.
It’s really hard to handle.
Lu Zhaozhao moved reluctantly and approached the book, with reluctance on her face. She picked up the book with two fingertips and threw it on the table as if it were some dirty thing.
However, this thing is also a dirty thing to Lu Zhaozhao. After all, it is because of it that he had to go through this journey for no reason.
After taking two deep breaths, Lu Zhaozhao made up his mind and opened the book.
Just one sentence made her eyes widen in disbelief.