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The mist is dense.
So dense that even with Zhang Fushengâs vision now, he could only vaguely make out scenes a hundred meters away.
As for an ordinary person without any cultivation, they could still see several meters ahead.
"This is the trade road beneath our feet."
Third Lian, carrying a somewhat decayed coffin, rode on horseback and pointed to the yellow clay beneath him:
"This is âHeavy Soil,â a palm-sized portion of Heavy Soil weighs tens of thousands of pounds. The wind on the plateau is terrifyingly strong, yet only roads paved with this Heavy Soil wonât get blown away by the wind."
The old man riding backwards on the Red Bull looked down,
The yellow clay spread out into a long road, beyond which the land was utterly barren and decayed.
"Without the yellow Heavy Mud to guide us, no one can distinguish the direction."
The old man on the bullâs back seemed thoughtful.
The group moved slowly along the Heavy Soil trade road, occasionally hearing the roars of beasts from all directions,
Third Lian, clearly a competent âguide,â casually explained at this moment:
"Itâs the Star Beasts, the World Plateau is the highest point of the mother star, incredibly close to the starry sky, so Star Beasts often fall here."
"Over time, the plateau has become home to clusters of Star Beasts - thus, the most dangerous thing on the World Plateau is the Beast Tide."
"Because of this, in the forty-nine cities, almost every one has at least one God stationed."
Zhang Fusheng raised his eyebrows, rasping his voice:
"Beast Tide?"
"Yes."
Third Lian nodded:
"Once a Beast Tide forms, Level 1 and 2 Star Beasts are manageable. Though they come in large numbers, theyâre of no concern to the powerful."
"The real trouble comes from Level 3 and even Level 4 Star Beasts. Itâs said that thousands of years ago, a disaster-level Beast Tide almost destroyed the entire World Plateau."
Zhang Fusheng showed interest:
"Tell me more?"
Third Lian spoke calmly:
"Itâs said that a Level 5 Star Beast once fell onto the World Plateauâa pure-blooded Three-legged Sunbird, causing a disaster-level Beast Tide."
Level 4 Star Beasts often count among Divine Spirits, like the Giant Whale Roc, but Level 5 Star Beasts?
Though they lacked wisdom and wouldnât cultivate, they were truly mythical beings with high cultivation levels that were terrifying!
Seated on a wooden cart, the fourth girl nodded:
"Old man, the cracked earth outside this Heavy Soil trade road seems to be baked by that Sun God Bird. That battle reportedly claimed the lives of dozens of Divine Spirits!"
Zhang Fushengâs expression tensed as he asked:
"A Level 5 Sun God Bird must be quite a standout among Divine Spirits, right?"
"Thatâs unclear."
Third Lian shook his head:
"But I heard talk of it thousands of years ago, that Sun God Bird was what youâd call âTrue Saint Level,â and I also heard that divine bird wasnât hunted down, but is now sealed somewhere on the World Plateau."
True Saint Level?
Zhang Fusheng pondered; that meant a presence in the Fourth Realm of the Divine Path, holding the seat of Great True Monarch or Great Bodhisattva.
Speaking of which.
He looked down at the Red Bull, perplexity surfacing in his heart.
Star Beasts with such cultivation couldnât awaken intelligence; why could the Red Bull?
Or could it be...
Only mythical ancient beasts from bygone eras couldnât awaken intelligence?
After all, reaching Level 5 is a pure mythical existence, like the Golden Crow, Roc Peng, and other legendary creatures,
along with the elusive Level 6 Star Beastsâsuch as that progenitor Roc Peng pinned in the depths of the Star Sea by the genuine Immortal Slaying Sword as mentioned by Golden Armor.
At times, Zhang Fusheng wondered if that might be the true [Roc Peng]?
The first Roc Peng in mythical tales?
It seemed only such entities deserve to be pinned by the [Immortal Slaying Sword], right?
As thoughts churned in his mind,
Third Lianâs rough voice broke through:
"The Buddhist Temple is near."
"So soon?" Ruan Yutu remarked in surprise: "Then that falling small world is close too?"
"No." The young girl on the wooden cart opened a bottle of beer, gulping it down as she spoke:
"That small world is still far off; one must pass through Qinghe City, then venture into the Hundred Thousand Mountainsâitâs said to be deep in those mountains."
Zhang Fusheng lifted his eyelids slightly, Qinghe City?
Isnât that the highland city corresponding to Qinghe Province?
He recalled the Book of Life and Death.
Ahead, human figures were barely discernible at a hundred meters, and as they traveled several kilometers more, people became increasingly frequent on the trade road, all appearing hurried.
Zhang Fusheng noticed a huge ancient rock set by the roadside, with three large characters engraved on it.
[Hangu Pass].
His eyelids jumped, and he asked:
"This rock monument with âHangu Passâ is?"
"Oh, that."
Third Lian answered with transparency:
"Not sure when it appeared, but it seems very ancient now. Itâs said this area long, long ago was called [Hangu Pass]."
"Arenât you from Hangu City? Thatâs named in reference to Hangu Pass."
Zhang Fushengâs expression suddenly became solemn.
He had thought he had completed the milestone event of Laozi heading west, but now, unexpectedly encountering Hangu Pass...
"Weâve reached the Buddhist Temple."
Third Lian softly âwhoaâed, the horse neighed and stopped, while the old man riding backward on Red Bull looked back,
seeing a broad Buddhist Temple, crimson high walls, green glazed tiles, with a massive Buddha Tower standing hundreds of meters high, piercing into the thick mist,
Outside the temple, countless incense guests gathered, forming several small markets.
Voices rose to a crescendo.
Zhang Fusheng turned to the plaque of the Buddhist Temple, which bore only three characters.
[Thunder Sound Monastery].
His pupils involuntarily contracted sharply!
Thunder Sound Monastery?
Zhang Fusheng suddenly recalled that in the High Heaven, Master Yuan Feidao had once said heâd dispatched a little monk, carrying a Buddha Statue, westward out of Hangu City.
This Buddhist Temple seemed to have just been erected recently, and Master seemed to hold the key to the location of [Tathagata Celestial Position]...