Chapter 246: What Is Reading?

The barrier between Heaven and Earth was covered by thick masses of Wandering Spirits, like puppets hung upon it.

Chen Changsheng looked at the Wandering Spirits above him. He drew closer to examine each one. Their appearances were all different, just like Wandering Spirits from outside.

But why did these Wandering Spirits seem like wood?

Chen Changsheng frowned, then spotted a distant spirit suddenly sinking downwards.

He immediately flew after it using Sword Flight.

He followed that Wandering Spirit falling down to the Mortal World, all the way to a small hut deep in the mountain forest.

“Hurry! Push! Push!”

The man outside waited anxiously, while painful cries occasionally came from within.

When that Wandering Spirit dropped into the hut, the cry of a baby rang out.

“Waa…””It’s born! It’s born!”

Chen Changsheng stared blankly at the scene, feeling rather dazed.

When the midwife inside the hut brought the baby out, the man outside finally sighed in relief.

Chen Changsheng looked intently. As he suspected, this child was the next life of that Wandering Spirit.

He lifted his head to gaze at this world.

“Such an imperfect world’s Laws of Heaven and Earth, yet… it still has Reincarnation…”

Chen Changsheng fell silent.

The Reincarnation he had just witnessed seemed like a clipped segment, simplifying all the complicated steps in between.

But precisely because something was missing, this Reincarnation felt unsettling.

It was as if every person in this world was simply raised by the Heavenly Dao.

Chen Changsheng suddenly paused. He murmured, “Perhaps… they really are just being raised…”

He knew the origin of this world all too well.

This Spirit Cage was forged long ago by Yu Xuan to perfect the Sutra of Rebirth. The ultimate Destiny of every living being in this realm was determined the moment the Spirit Cage was created.

Chen Changsheng left that place. He wandered this world, searching for signs of Cultivators.

Along the way, he constantly saw Wandering Spirits ascending skywards, while others sank back down to the Mortal World as Souls.

This happened every day; life and death felt controlled by someone else’s hand.

Chen Changsheng was deep in thought when his eyes shifted downward.

Below, tens of thousands of people were gathered, hauling massive stones as if building some sort of Altar-like structure.

Within the crowd, Chen Changsheng seemed to catch a flicker of Golden Light.

He descended immediately, heading towards that glimmer.

The partially built structure, several hundred yards tall, entered Chen Changsheng’s sight. Though unfinished, its shape was already taking hold.

“Clank… clank…”The sound of dragging chains filled the air. Half-naked laborers with sunken chests and bare feet, so skinny they could barely cover themselves, hauled stones with their final strength.

They had no choice. Not allowed to rest, a whip lash left bright blood marks on them. Unbandaged wounds in a world like this meant no chance to live.

Through a gap between the laborers, Chen Changsheng spotted a child.

That’s when he saw clearly what that flicker of Golden Light truly was.

“It’s actually… Buddha’s Light…”Chen Changsheng paused. Cultivators of the Buddhist Sect had vanished from the Mortal World many years ago. Yet here, within this realm, he encountered a trace of Buddha’s Light.

But… where did this Buddha come from?

The child wore tattered clothes. He awkwardly carried two chunks of stone, struggling forward.

His feet were thick with calluses; his hands, especially the knuckles, were the same.

Chen Changsheng didn’t approach. Instead, he found a spot to sit and watched the boy.

Most who arrived here so young didn’t have names. This boy was no different. He’d never seen his parents, living on kind offerings from villagers. Seeing him alone, an elder gave him the name Gou’er.

They all said names of the low-born were the easiest to raise, less likely to die young.

Later, a flood destroyed the village. The survivors became refugees, captured and brought here as forced labor.

Gou’er knew hardship and adjusted quickly. He received one Dry Cake a day. Never enough to satisfy, but enough to keep him alive – though he looked painfully thin.

When dusk fell and work ended.

Gou’er, limping with exhaustion, went to collect his day’s ration.

He hid the Dry Cake away, then sneaked off to a secluded spot.

Gou’er squatted under a tree, eyes darting nervously. Only then did he dare pull out the Dry Cake. Not caring about the dirt on it, he tried to shove it into his mouth.

“Eating so fast, aren’t you worried about choking?”

A voice came suddenly from behind.

Gou’er jumped, scrambling sideways.

His first instinct wasn’t to see who spoke, but to force the Dry Cake into his mouth.

“…Urk…”No water made the dry lump scrape painfully down his throat. He couldn’t even breathe properly.

Chen Changsheng moved to help pat his back.

But Gou’er frantically shuffled away, struggling against the tree as if pushing the food down with his entire body.

Gou’er finally swallowed the Dry Cake. He gasped deeply for air.

He quickly explained, “It’s gone! I swallowed it!”

Only then did he look up at the man standing there, whose clothes were spotlessly clean.

Gou’er stared, realizing he’d been overly fearful.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Are there many… fights over food here?”

Gou’er was wary of this neatly dressed man. He seemed afraid a whip might appear from behind.

His throat parched. He coughed twice, then rasped, “Which… which master are you?”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “I am not the ‘master’ you think. Don’t be afraid. Come, sit.”

Gou’er hesitated but walked over. He sat near the man, leaving a clear gap between them.

Chen Changsheng didn’t mind. He asked, “Thirsty?””……”Gou’er didn’t know how to answer. He stayed silent.

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment. He took out his Wine Gourd and shook it gently. “Open your mouth.”

“Huh? Eh?”Gou’er was confused. He parted his lips slightly, uncertain but knowing this person wasn’t one to offend.

Chen Changsheng tipped the Wine Gourd towards Gou’er’s mouth. Out flowed not wine, but water – a simple Divine Ability.

The little water instantly revived Gou’er somewhat.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Enough?”Gou’er wiped his mouth. “Enough. Thank you, master.”

Chen Changsheng started to correct him, but decided against it. He asked instead, “How old are you?””Eleven.”Gou’er answered honestly.

Chen Changsheng took a swig from his Wine Gourd. “…Still an age for reading,” he murmured.

Curiosity stirred within Gou’er. “Master… what is reading?”