Chapter Twenty-Nine: Advanced World? (Part Two)

“I never expected that you would be able to retain your own consciousness. I originally thought that Lan had merely acquired some of your power, which awakened her innate abilities. It wasn’t until you both returned from Whisper Pavilion not long ago that I realized something was amiss.” Sun Meng gazed at Lan. “What now? Are you planning to defect to the Black Fox King and enjoy a life of luxury?” As he spoke, his gaze sharpened with menace. If Lan truly harbored such intentions for the future, then even if it meant gravely injuring her, he would ensure she remained at Shaolin Temple under Tripitaka’s supervision.

Lan pursed her lips. “I wouldn’t mind living a good life, but I’m not her—I can’t alter her will. I can only occasionally seize control of the body in certain circumstances. So, you have nothing to worry about. Even if we face the Black Fox King, if she takes action, I’ll have to give it my all too.” With a huff of feigned indignation, Lan turned and ran toward the temple.

Sun Meng frowned but didn’t follow. Instead, he leaped onto a tree branch and hurried off in the direction Xiao Hu had gone.

Meanwhile, Xiao Hu trudged through the snow, head lowered in dejection, unknowingly arriving at a hillside. Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves approached rapidly. By the time Xiao Hu reacted, it was too late; he could only leap back with crossed arms in defense. In the next instant, a force slammed into him, flinging him against a tree trunk—his back stung with pain.

“Seriously! Who rides so fast through the woods? If I hadn’t trained in martial arts, I’d be bedridden for months after that hit!” By the time Xiao Hu caught his breath and stood, the rider was long gone, leaving only a trail of hoofprints in the snow.

“Well, just my luck. I’d better head back.” As he prepared to leave, he noticed a cloth bundle not far away.

“What’s this? Did that person drop it?” Xiao Hu eyed the bundle, remembering the rider, and decided to open it.

“It’s… a bow. What a beautiful bow!” His eyes lit up as he examined it. He tried to draw the string but found it incredibly stiff; even using all his strength, he couldn’t draw it more than two-thirds of the way.

From his perch in the tree, Sun Meng stared in astonishment at the message before him: “Hou Yi’s Divine Bow, Tier Two (Sealed, maximum Tier Seven, missing arrows and accompanying technique).”

A sealed Tier Seven artifact appearing in a world whose power ceiling is barely Tier Three? That was utterly abnormal!

Even the most ordinary high-tier item would be remarkable in a low-tier world. More importantly, if an artifact vastly exceeded the world’s limits, it could destroy it outright!

A low-tier world simply couldn’t withstand the energies and laws contained within such artifacts. For instance, if a drop of blood from a Tier Five being fell into a Tier Two world, it might create a sea of blood or even spawn an entirely new species!

Although Hou Yi’s Divine Bow was sealed, if this world’s tier was truly below three, it could never withstand its power. This suggested the world was once high-tier—at least capable of handling some of the bow’s might—and had since degraded. Through its evolution, the will of the world suppressed the bow, forcing it to seal itself to adapt to the environment, resulting in the current state.

Reflecting on previous strange relics and the marvelous things Lan and the others had encountered, Sun Meng grew increasingly convinced.

“Contestant, if possible, complete your mission and leave this world within two months. We suspect this world is undergoing self-restoration and may soon ascend to a higher tier, which could trigger more advanced missions.” The red prompt solidified Sun Meng’s theory. If he could obtain the bow, he’d steal the mirror from Abbot Tripitaka and escape immediately.

Xiao Hu, meanwhile, rewrapped the bow, slung it over his back, and returned to the temple, telling no one about his find.

Over the next few days, Xiao Hu left early and returned late, spending all his time practicing archery in the mountains behind Shaolin.

One day, two days, three days passed. On the third day, Xiao Hu ran in, face alight with excitement. “Xiao Long, help me out! I think I’m ready!”

Xiao Long looked confused. “Ready for what?”

“The archery competition! Get me a spot in the finals—I might even win!” Xiao Hu’s face radiated confidence.

Sun Meng quietly set down his bowl. “Just three days and you’re this confident?”

“I can show you!” Xiao Hu strode toward the woods, the others following. Starting from thirty paces, all the way to fifty, Xiao Hu consistently hit the bullseye—arrow after arrow.

“My goodness! Have you suddenly become a prodigy?” Xiao Long stared at the target in awe. “Well then, I’ll help you out!” He was only too happy to mend fences with Xiao Hu.

Their friendship returned to its former warmth. The next day, Xiao Long wrote to his father, and three days later, a letter of recommendation and a family letter arrived at Shaolin.

“Abbot!” Xiao Long handed the family letter to Tripitaka. The letter contained important news: the Emperor himself would come to Shaolin to offer incense and pray for blessings!

This was highly unusual. Although Shaolin was well-known in Kaifeng Prefecture, and its reputation might have improved after escorting the crown prince and Tripitaka’s prior audience with the Emperor, this only reflected Tripitaka’s martial prowess. Normally, Shaolin was a warrior’s temple, its incense burned mostly by local villagers. The temple’s food and vegetables largely came from its own fields or as gifts from villagers the monks helped.

Thus, while Shaolin had a fair number of monks, it was far from wealthy and had never hosted a famous Buddhist ceremony. Why would the Emperor choose to come here to offer incense?

Neither Xiao Long nor Xiao Hu nor Lan could fathom it. Sun Meng, however, suspected it was related to what Tripitaka had mentioned earlier. In any case, the truth would become clear by the end of the month, so there was still time.

The more pressing matter was the archery competition, just six days away. Now, with the letter of recommendation in hand, Xiao Hu threw himself into training with redoubled vigor, while Xiao Long and Lan grew a bit bored.

One day, Lan ventured alone to a lakeside, following directions given to her by her future self, with Sun Meng accompanying her.

“So, what are you up to now?” Sun Meng asked, noting that Lan’s body was now controlled by her future consciousness.

“Fetching something useful to me. I’m confident I can get it. You really don’t need to come—underwater, you’re no match for me,” Lan said.

“How can I relax if I’m not watching you?” Sun Meng replied.

“Suit yourself—if you can keep up!” Lan drew her soft whip and struck the ice covering the lake again and again.

After a dozen strikes, the ice shattered, revealing a person-sized opening. Lan leaped in, and as she entered, a thin film seemed to form around her, keeping the water from touching her directly—she was surrounded by air.

“Is there some treasure underwater?” Sun Meng wondered, but chose to follow, holding his breath and swimming after Lan. Soon, he saw what looked like an underwater palace.

Lan glanced around, then headed for a corner and entered the palace. Sun Meng realized the palace was also protected by an invisible membrane. He hurried inside the entrance Lan had used and found air within.

“An underwater palace?” Sun Meng marveled, recognizing it as a Tier Two relic—unfortunately, one he couldn’t take away.

Lan moved cautiously along the wall, with Sun Meng trailing behind.

“What exactly are you looking for?” he asked. They had been walking nearly half an hour, seemingly in circles.

“I’m searching for a secret chamber. I remember it being here.” Lan frowned, annoyed, and slapped a carved brick on the wall. Instantly, an entrance appeared at their feet.