Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension-Chapter 1466 - 793: Killing to Break the Seal (Part 2)

Chapter 1466: Chapter 793: Killing to Break the Seal (Part 2)

Upon hearing this, Manager Chen’s expression changed dramatically.

Zhao Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly and immediately said to Manager Chen, "It seems clear now, the old master was clearly murdered. The purpose of the killing was that Yellow Springs Other Shore Painting."

Manager Chen shook his head and suddenly gritted his teeth, saying, "It’s not just the Other Shore Map. A few artifacts are also missing from the study."

After regaining his composure, Manager Chen immediately noticed something very wrong in the study. Three artifacts were missing from the antique shelves.

At that moment, a delicate-looking woman hurried into the study.

As soon as she entered, the delicate woman stammered, "Master, I have something to say. Before the old master died, he had interacted with a scholar. I once entered the room to deliver tea and saw that scholar once."

Zhao Sheng’s eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "Quickly tell me, what did that scholar look like?"

After pondering for a moment, the delicate woman intermittently described the scholar’s appearance and demeanor.

The more Manager Chen listened, the more ferocious his expression became, his eyes flaring with anger.

Zhao Sheng, however, found the description increasingly familiar, and soon recalled the young scholar occasionally seen at the Ten Kings Temple.

Immediately after, he remembered that Qin Temple Priest had also mentioned that scholar.

Recalling this, Zhao Sheng increasingly felt that the scholar was very mysterious, likely not an ordinary person.

Why did he take the Yellow Springs Other Shore Painting?

And what about the other artifacts taken, could they also be similar to the "Bright Moon Reflected Lamp", mystical objects of the Immortal Realm?

Zhao Sheng’s thoughts surged like a tide, suddenly thinking of something, hurriedly asking, "Manager Chen, may I ask who created the Yellow Springs Other Shore Painting?"

Manager Chen’s face turned sullen, "The Other Shore Map was drawn by Li Zhi, my father’s close friend before his death. Li Zhi gifted this painting to my father before he died. Since then, it has hung in the study without being taken down."

Zhao Sheng’s heart was stirred, and he asked again, "Could the Hell Creatures Painting in the Ten Kings Temple also be painted by Li Zhi?"

"Indeed! Li Zhi was a masterful artist, spending ten years completing the ten Hell Creatures paintings. After finishing, his spirit was drained, he fell ill and ultimately passed away." Manager Chen was troubled and angry, yet he patiently spoke.

After speaking, Manager Chen bowed to Zhao Sheng with a hand salute and said with grief, "I thank Young Master previously for the reminder. Now, I must report to the authorities immediately, unable to attend to other matters. Please go back, Mr. Zhao, I shall definitely visit to express my gratitude another day."

"Manager Chen, my condolences, right now finding the murderer is of utmost importance. Farewell!"

Zhao Sheng bade farewell to Manager Chen and quickly left Chen Mansion.

Instead of returning to Zhao Mansion, he wandered aimlessly around the town, noting down every building and street along the way, including the appearance and demeanor of every person he saw.

This wandering lasted most of the afternoon, until the sun set in the west when he had walked around the entire Mingxi Town.

With the last sunlight, Zhao Sheng staggered back to Zhao Mansion, hastily ate dinner, and immediately returned to his bedroom, quickly falling asleep.

This flesh was indeed weak; merely wandering around the town had drained him completely, exhausting all his energy.

"Tomorrow" arrived as expected!

When he opened his eyes, the familiar setting from the past greeted him.

Zhao Sheng sat up from bed, then woke up the young girl and instructed her to prepare a meal.

Later, he still shared a meal with his "parents," using the same rhetoric to send the two elders away.

Following that, Zhao Sheng dismissed Chen San and went out alone, heading straight for the Ten Thousand Temple.

An hour later, Zhao Sheng hurriedly entered the temple door, glanced around, and noticed only a few pilgrims, somewhat deserted.

"Not here? Or have they not arrived yet?" Zhao Sheng withdrew his gaze, silently pondering.

No doubt about it, his target was the young scholar.

Zhao Sheng didn’t linger at the entrance, immediately walking into the temple and quickly entering the West Hall.

Re-entering the temple, his attention was again swiftly drawn to the Hell Creatures Painting.

Carefully examining the Sword Mountain Hell Painting, he increasingly felt its vivid realism, all living beings covered in wounds, wailing in agony, yet forced to climb the Sword Mountain, yearning to escape Hell soon.

As he examined it, Zhao Sheng’s gaze suddenly condensed, focusing on the lower left corner of the All Living Beings Map.

"Huh, there’s something wrong here!"

Staring at that figure hanging on the blade in agony, although its face was hidden in darkness, obscured and unclear.

However, he was a hundred percent certain that just "yesterday," this All Living Beings Map absolutely did not have such an agonized figure.

In other words, in just one day, an extra "ghost" suddenly appeared out of thin air in the All Living Beings Map.

Zhao Sheng’s eyes flashed brilliantly, faintly sensing he had discovered a big secret.

This secret was deeply concealed, if not for coincidence, almost no one would notice the peculiarity of the Hell Creatures Painting.

Zhao Sheng carefully scrutinized the All Living Beings Map before him, after repeated identification, confirmed the painting indeed had one more "ghost."

Now the question arises, why did this "ghost" suddenly appear, and what does it signify?

Zhao Sheng’s mind raced as he abruptly turned around and walked out of the temple, quickly entering the eastern temple.

After a short while, he walked out of the East Hall again, heading towards the other eight temples.

In several other temples, he found that in many of the Hell Creatures Paintings, one or two more "ghosts" had appeared.

Upon entering the last temple, the number of "new ghosts" had increased to five.

As Zhao Sheng kept entering and exiting various Yama Halls, a young scholar appeared outside the temple gate.

The scholar raised his head and looked at the plaque, after watching for a while, he withdrew his gaze and stepped into the temple.

Upon entering the temple, the young scholar ignored everything else and headed directly to the backyard.

Just as he arrived at the Third Level courtyard, he happened to encounter Zhao Sheng, who was walking out of the temple.

Thus, after a day’s separation, the two met face to face again.

Upon seeing this person, Zhao Sheng’s heart tightened, and he hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting, saying: "I am Zhao Gongzhu, I’ve met this brother!"

The young scholar paused, smiled warmly, and returned the gesture, saying: "I am Lin Heng, nice to meet Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Sheng’s gaze fell on the square cloth on the other’s head, speaking slowly: "Heng means constant. Constant stands for longevity. Taoist, you’ve chosen a good name!"

As soon as the words fell, Lin Heng’s smile froze, he stepped back two steps, stared at Zhao Sheng’s hat, and asked expressionlessly: "I thought I hadn’t shown any flaws, how could you see through my disguise at a glance."

Zhao Sheng laughed: "Haha, just clever words and deceit, I didn’t expect you would frankly admit it, Taoist."

Lin Heng’s face darkened, and he was somewhat angry, about to make a move.

Seeing things weren’t right, Zhao Sheng quickly said: "Wait, Taoist. I have no ill intentions, I just want to ally with you. After all, those who arrive early at the Ten Kings Temple are exceptionally wise individuals. I always want to cooperate with smart people."

Lin Heng felt stirred upon hearing this, his expression softened greatly, and his murderous intent diminished significantly.

Smart people need few words, the two understood that cooperation was far better than fighting to death upon meeting in this unknown dangerous land.

Next, everything fell into place seamlessly!

In just a few sentences, Zhao Sheng and Lin Heng decided to temporarily ally.

Since the alliance was formed, Lin Heng was straightforward, quickly inviting Zhao Sheng to meet the temple priest.

An hour later, the two bid farewell to the temple priest and headed outside the temple.

When reaching the Second Level courtyard, Zhao Sheng’s eyes flashed, and he suddenly said: "Brother Lin, look over there."

Lin Heng looked upon hearing this, seeing a Conical Hat Guest walking towards a Yama Hall.

"Brother Zhao, do you think...?" Lin Heng thoughtfully turned to look.

Zhao Sheng nodded slightly and said in a low voice: "Nine out of ten!"

"Kill?"

"You? Me?"

Lin Heng pondered briefly, then mysteriously smiled: "You go ahead! There will be quite a surprise afterward!"

Zhao Sheng understood upon hearing, realizing instantly the other’s hands were already stained with blood, and something was discovered.

What could the surprise be?

Zhao Sheng pondered this as he followed behind the Conical Hat Guest into the temple. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

In less than ten breaths, he walked out of the temple briskly, with a surprisingly delighted expression.

Seeing Zhao Sheng return, Lin Heng smiled and said: "Taoist, did you feel it too?"

Zhao Sheng nodded, slowly extending his right hand, his palm like a knife, suddenly slicing out.

With a tearing sound, a three-finger-deep knife mark instantly appeared on the ground.

Zhao Sheng hadn’t expected that killing an Immortal Ruins Guest could actually unseal a bit of his own Will.

In this way, much of his previous deductions became almost void.

If someone discovers the secret of killing and unsealing, it is bound to spark an unprecedented slaughter.

Kill until there is only one left, then the killing will stop.

Then wait for a new batch of Immortal Ruins Guests to enter, and the slaughter will repeat.

Thus, one cycle after another, an invincible "monster" will eventually be born, unless it escapes this "Hell."

Thinking of this, Zhao Sheng’s face suddenly looked very grim.