Why does it turn out like this?
Under the rapid panting, Momo took another breath with difficulty. However, with the movement brought about by this breathing, his punctured lung lobe sent a stinging pain. The pain was so severe that he almost passed out.
Compared to the serious injuries he had suffered now, his clothes that were soaked wet with sweat were nothing compared to that.
The scattered bangs fell in front of Momo’s eyes, but they did not cover his sight on the enemies in front of him. Ironically, a couple of them in the group were “brothers” previously.
But now, Momo was facing off with them in a life-and-death situation.
Back then, when Momo went down the mountain, his master warned him that the world was far less peaceful than its appearance. He didn’t snort disdainfully on his master’s teachings but stayed wary in every step he took. His experience in Village Lu by the sea showed him the evil of human nature.
After that, he became more cautious. Every step he took felt like thin ice, where any missteps would consign him to damnations. He never dared to forget the teachings.
In his opinion, the path of becoming Immortal was illusory as mist. Hence, he would need the resolute heart to attain the realm of freedom beyond the mortals.
One can only ascend by relying on themselves…
Overwhelming effort can surpass anything…
As long as I acquire a high level of cultivation, I can attain a breakthrough, breaking away from the shackles of fate.
If I don’t defy heaven’s designated fate, how do I ascend into an Immortal?
In Momo’s view, these arguments were simply the ideas of the qi deviated practitioners in ancient times. It was natural selection doing its job with the strong prevail. This was a vicious path without a dreamy Immortal outlook.
Not to mention that the mortals drove fantasy with impetuosity and only sought pleasure. In fact, they were deceiving themselves in their short life. In the end, they forgot who they were. But, it wasn’t pitiful, but being an ordinary mortal.
Being ordinary had various defects.
However, Momo had forgotten that the path of ascension started forming being a mortal. Since the roots were in the mortal earth, it was difficult to get rid of this mortal nature.
Perhaps, only a pure person like Zhan’er was the most suitable for this path. Otherwise, Zhan’er wouldn’t have acquired the opportunity that had plunged the entire Mountain Tai Penglai Conference into chaos. In terms of strength, Zhan’er wasn’t even qualified to show up among the cultivators and Divine Land’s demon beasts at the Mountain Tai Conference.
Momo glanced at Zhan’er, who was lying behind his back at this time. He had been in a coma for several days… Ever since he touched that white jade talisman in the mysterious underground palace, this had been the case.
In the beginning, Momo didn’t know what this white jade talisman was. Back then, an anomaly suddenly appeared at the Mountain Songli. All the daoists and demon beasts, who had arrived, went to inquire about this event. It was no exception for Momo.
Momo was originally afraid of potential danger on Zhan’er, so he didn’t bring Zhan’er along at the beginning. Otherwise, he couldn’t face Senior Yang Taizai if something were to happen on Zhan’er.
Senior Yang Taizi asked him to bring Zhan’er to the Mountain Tai Penglai meeting, saying that it was an excellent opportunity for Zhan’er to expand his horizons. Since Momo agreed, he was naturally responsible for Zhan’er’s safety.
However, Zhan’er had the youth’s temperament and later followed Momo alone. After Momo found out about it, he was irritated and amused at the same time. In the end, he couldn’t help but take Zhan’er along with him.
On the third day after the anomaly, all the daoists and demon beasts gathered here found nothing. Even the descendant of Linen Cloth Dao, who claimed to know everything in the world, couldn’t infer anything.
However, there was a breakthrough in this problem, which everyone was clueless about, because of Zhan’er one ridiculous move.
A week ago, Momo’s search team was conducting another search again. The investigation was boring. Zhan’er saw a cricket and wanted to catch it to play. For some reason, he entered a secret place just like that!
Later, after some research by the seniors and the Linen Cloth Dao’s descendants, the group found that this secret place actually existed all the time, but a powerful illusion formation hid it. The entrance of this illusion formation was constantly moving, leaving no trace at all. Moreover, the time which the formation stayed in one spot was extremely short.
But such a mysterious movable entrance was found because of Zhan’er’s playful behavior. Their search team entered a mysterious palace. Inside the palace, there were many dangers. However, Zhan’er acquired a white jade talisman in a muddled-headed manner.
The white jade talisman was unparalleled and could not be destroyed by any method. It was branded on Zhan’er’s back. From then on, Zhan’er fell into a coma and couldn’t wake up.
After the search team came out, Momo immediately found a few seniors who had good relations with the Long Hushan’s Celestial Master’s Way [1]. Then, they checked on Zhan’er’s situation. In the meantime, another group was assigned to watch the entrance closely and let the other daoists and demon beast seniors enter and investigate that place.
After the investigation, another piece of good news spread!
It was the palace that Emperor Dongyue built. The talisman was related to entering the great emperor’s cave manor who was in charge of hell.
Everyone speculated that there would be a clue explaining why hell would not open in the cave. The place might have passed down the great emperor’s inheritance.
Such an incredible opportunity was like a plate of delicacies in front of a hungry man for the diminishing Divine Land realm and demon beast clans!
On the first day, everyone seemed to be able to be patient.
However, one day later, the place where Zhan’er rested was attacked 13 times! Someone or demon beasts wanted to take Zhan’er away to grab this heaven-defying opportunity in his hands.
In the beginning, Momo was also able to defend against those attacks with allies beside him. But three days later, Momo found out angrily that those guys who were on the same team as him at the beginning had turned their backs!
Fortunately, Momo found out in time and escaped in a hurry with Zhan’er, but he suffered serious injuries and fled to this dangerous place.
At the Mountain Tai’s peak, the two summoned golden thunder lions had fallen to the ground in front of Momo. These summoned lions grew weaker and seemed likely to disappear at any time. Momo was supporting his body with the thousand-year-old peach wood sword in his hand.
Zhan’er was still asleep, and he was tied up behind Momo with cloth strips. He was taken all the way from the place where he was stationed. Fortunately, he was not injured… But, he seemed to be at the front door of his demise!
“Daoist Momo, let’s end here.” A daoist in his forties who was wearing a dark gray robe sighed at this time, “Hand him over. Let us study the secrets of the talisman and find the emperor’s cave manor. What we can get in the cave manor afterward depends on our fate. If you want to get everything for yourself alone, that’s too greedy.”
Momo snorted coldly. The statement that he wanted to monopolize the talisman had already spread throughout the Mountain Tai. He didn’t know who spread the rumors, but now it didn’t matter. Whether he could survive the current difficulties was uncertain.
“The Linen Cloth Dao descendants have already said that this talisman is linked to Zhan’er mind. It was the talisman who chose Zhan’er, so this is his opportunity and fate. Since it is something of others, it is not yours or ours. There’s no point in snatching it!”
“You’re absurd! Those who are capable will get the treasure! This ignorant child has defected intelligence. How can the emperor’s inheritance be ruined in his hands!? I started cultivating at 5 years old, and I’m 73 years old already. My cultivation is profound! Such a treasure naturally should fall into my hands!” The daoist stepped out.
Momo gritted his teeth. Although he despised the other party’s rhetoric, this person was one of the strongest men among the people in front of him. He was also a less reliable peer from the same master. Before all these events happened, Momo even respectfully called this person senior uncle several times.
“This talisman is for Zhan’er. How to deal with this opportunity and fate shall only be decided by him after he wakes up!? We are not allowed to use any means to oppress him. He gets to choose!” Momo gritted his teeth.
I’m so tired… I have lost too much blood. This body is tampered many times with daoism powers, but I still can’t hold on much longer.
I’m so tired… Why do I still keep going?