Chapter 130

Chapter 130: I Can Protect You (4000 words, two chapters combined)

“One day it happened.

Mysterious beams of light spread across Baiwa City.

From that moment on, all beastly entities were unable to maintain their human forms, no matter how high their realm.

In the city, whenever another beast awakened, they remained in their original form, unable to transform.

If this was all that happened, it wouldn’t be so bad.

Both humans and beasts in Baiwa City searched for a way out.

But what nobody expected next…

That day, as I walked through the streets, suddenly, a pillar of light descended from the heavens, directly shining upon a human cultivator.

At first, the human cultivator didn’t know what was happening.

Within ten breaths, that human cultivator vanished without any suffering.

Nobody knew if this cultivator had left Baiwa City or truly disappeared.

Afterward, every day fewer human cultivators remained in Baiwa City.

Some disappeared while eating, others while sleeping. These disappearances had no warning signs—only the white light before vanishing.

My wife and I intensified our research into Baiwa City’s magic array.

Finally, we understood one thing:

Baiwa City wasn’t an array; it was a world.

But Baiwa City wasn’t like ordinary small worlds—it existed between a small world and an array. It had its own laws but hadn’t fully evolved into a world yet.

However, we discovered that Baiwa City was growing, its rules continuously improving.

Perhaps soon, Baiwa City would become a true small world.

Fine, my wife and I tentatively called it a small world.

We tried to understand the laws of this small world. My wife detected someone tampering with Baiwa City.

The current state of Baiwa City might very well be man-made.

But someone capable of creating a small world, even crafting laws, far exceeded Ascension Realm.

Unless someone reached beyond Ascension Realm.

But the question was, could anyone truly reach those legendary lost realms?

Even if someone did reach those lost realms, why would they do this? What purpose? What did they want?

My wife and I had too many doubts.

Fortunately, we had seen Baiwa City’s previous state.

My wife, being a genius, compared the previous flow of spiritual energy, the geographical trends, with the current Baiwa City, which had become its own world. After countless attempts, she finally created a magic array.

As long as nothing went wrong with this array, it should allow us to leave this place.

However, this array required the full moon night to function at its best.

According to my wife’s calculations, there were still a hundred days until the next full moon.

My wife and I didn’t know who would disappear next.

As time passed, fewer human cultivators remained in Baiwa City.

Eventually, only my wife and I were left in Baiwa City.

Both of us knew that if the white light came again, it would be our turn.

Therefore, just in case, I documented everything about coming to Baiwa City and the array my wife created, placing it all inside this box.

I entrusted a butterfly maiden next door.

If anything happened to my wife and me, burn us, hide our ashes under the banyan tree in the courtyard, and place the box in a floor compartment by the threshold. If anyone enters this secret realm in the future and finds what we left behind, perhaps it will help them leave Baiwa City.

If our array succeeds and we leave Baiwa City, then this letter and array diagram are unnecessary. The butterfly maiden will destroy these things since the array contains secrets of my wife’s sect that cannot be disclosed.

But we will inform the Wu Kingdom and Heavenly Profound Gate about the entire secret realm, so they can investigate the cause.

So, if you’re reading this letter now, it means we’re gone. We hope you survive and find a way out.”

The content of the letter ended here.

Ming read it twice more carefully, ensuring he didn’t miss any details.

“Heavenly Black Goose (Ming, something feels off),” said the Heavenly Black Goose to Ming.

“Something is indeed off,” Ming nodded. “Tell me your thoughts.”

“Heavenly Black Goose, Heavenly Black Goose, Goose Goose, Goose Goose Goose (If they wanted to help future people escape by leaving this map, why put the ashes under the banyan tree and the box somewhere else? How lucky does someone have to be to find this stuff?)” questioned the Heavenly Black Goose, finding it unreasonable.

Ming smiled. “It’s not exactly like that.

Firstly, if Shen and his wife had just placed this box randomly, it wouldn’t last long, let alone survive for over a hundred years in this world.

Secondly, why do so many ruins or ancient tombs have deadly traps set up? Yet inside are treasures and legacies left by their owners?

It’s because they need to screen.

The owners of those tombs and ruins aim to select worthy successors, not useless individuals, otherwise, their legacy would fade.

Didn’t they say this goat skin scroll contained secrets their sect couldn’t disclose? They can’t let everyone see it.”

Ming opened the goat skin scroll, examining the magic array within. “Look, their creation isn’t simple. This array is incredibly profound. Though not overly complex, it has numerous details, each step interconnected. One mistake, and the array’s construction fails.

I believe Shen and his wife must’ve left plenty of clues in Baiwa City, along with various tests. Only someone skilled in arrays who investigates meticulously and passes the tests would reach their courtyard.

If those people can’t even find this box, then with their level, constructing this array would be quite difficult.”

“Big White Goose (Ming, can you build this array?)” asked the Big White Goose.

“No!” Ming answered without hesitation.

Big White Goose: “…”

“Don’t look at me like that,” Ming shrugged. “I’m not omnipotent. I merely understand this array. We found Shen’s name and sought his residence. You were lucky enough to spot an inconspicuous groove, leading us to discover Shen’s array.”

“What do we do now?” asked the Big White Goose.

“What else, find some array experts, see if they can construct this array,” Ming replied matter-of-factly. “And haven’t you noticed something else?”

“What?” tilted the Big White Goose’s head.

“You…”

Ming sighed. “I met Shen at Book South Mountain. Logically, Shen and his wife should’ve already left this secret realm and informed either Heavenly Profound Gate or the Wu Kingdom.

But Wu Kingdom hasn’t received any news.

Heavenly Profound Gate only arrived today, indicating they didn’t know either.

So, if I’m correct, something unexpected happened when they were setting up the array. This incident prevented them from documenting the events.”

Ming frowned, looking at the magic array drawn on the goat skin scroll. “This place is riddled with mysteries… What worries me more is whether Shen’s mention of manipulation suggests someone deliberately orchestrates all this. What is their purpose?”

Heavenly Black Goose patted Ming’s shoulder. “Heavenly Black Goose? (Ming, are you overthinking this?)”

“I wish I were.” Ming stood up. “Let’s go find those two disciples from White Deer Academy. I heard that at White Deer Academy, scholars don’t just study books; they must also learn about arrays. At least they should know more than me.”

Heavenly Black Goose nodded and followed Ming out of the inn.

But just as Ming stepped out of the inn’s door, a beam of white light descended from the sky, landing somewhere in the north of Baiwa City.

“White light…”

Ming remembered the content of the letter, feeling uneasy, and quickly flew toward the direction of the white light.

Inside the inn, a beautiful young woman took out several sets of clothes from her storage ring.

The girl chose a flowing gauze long skirt, tied her hair up, and inserted a jade hairpin.

“It should look pretty good, right?”

Qingwan turned around in front of the mirror, satisfied with a nod.

Just as Qingwan was about to go to Tongfu Inn to find Ming, a pillar of light descended from the sky.

“Sister… What’s happening?” Due to this white light, Xia Donghua and three others also exited the inn.

“Let’s check it out.” Qingwan furrowed her eyebrows, sensing unease, and flew toward the direction of the white light.

Meanwhile, every cultivator in Baiwa City who saw the white light headed in its direction.

Many were excited, thinking it might be a rare treasure appearing.

But…

When they arrived at the location of the white light, they realized they were wrong.

Beams of white light shone upon human cultivators.

These human cultivators showed no struggle, no pain, and didn’t even react before disappearing within ten breaths.

“No, wait… Save me…”

“What is this…”

Some cultivators thought they could seize treasures but were instead enveloped by the white light.

The white lights fell without pattern, continuing intermittently for the duration of an incense stick.

Ming frowned, observing the scene before him.

Once the white light stopped appearing, Ming estimated that thirty people had vanished during this incense stick timeframe.

“What is going on? What kind of method have you used!”

“Return my junior brother!”

Some cultivators who lost their sectmates angrily drew their weapons, blaming nearby beast entities, assuming they were responsible.

However, other cultivators quickly intervened.

The beast entities in Baiwa City all possessed high realms, not to mention the powerful Old Dog Squad responsible for maintaining order within the city.

If a conflict erupted, these people would definitely suffer consequences.

“At this moment, please remain calm and hear me out.”

At this point, the son of the Sect Leader of Heavenly Profound Gate, Xia Donghua, walked to the center of the street, surveying the surroundings and bowing respectfully to everyone.

“My name is Xia Donghua, and my father is the Sect Leader of Heavenly Profound Gate.”

Initially, some wondered who this person was, but his statement “my father is the Sect Leader of Heavenly Profound Gate” immediately garnered attention from most cultivators.

This was Heavenly Profound Gate—one of the four great sanctuaries and five major sects in the human domain, holding an extremely exalted status.

“Everyone has witnessed the unknown dangers within Baiwa City. That white light clearly targeted human cultivators. We don’t know where the vanished cultivators have gone or when the white light will return.

However, we must prepare.

Though unworthy, I propose forming a Cultivator Alliance here. Let’s help each other, share information, and work together to find a way out! If everyone agrees, please come to Smoky Rain Inn, and we’ll discuss strategies together!”

Upon Xia Donghua’s words, the surrounding cultivators began murmuring among themselves.

“Xia Brother’s suggestion is wise! Our Chao Tian Sect is willing to ally with Heavenly Profound Gate.”

“Indeed, we should unite rather than scatter like sand. Our Luo River Sect is willing to ally.”

“Our Clear Muddy Sect agrees.”

“Same here.”

After the first sect expressed agreement, other sects followed suit.

Firstly, Heavenly Profound Gate’s reputation was invaluable, especially since this was the son of the Sect Leader.

Secondly, during dangerous times, gathering together often provided a sense of security.

But in Ming’s view, the prerequisite for gathering together was unity without ulterior motives.

However, everyone had come for treasures, harboring selfish intentions.

Just this fact made this alliance likely ineffective.

“Let’s go.” Ming said to the Big White Goose, turning to leave and seek advice from the two fellows from White Deer Academy.

But Ming hadn’t taken two steps when a young woman blocked his path.

Her long lashes fluttered lightly. “We meet again~”

“What brings you here, Miss Qingqing?” Ming asked.

Qingwan spoke cheerfully, “Nothing much, just inviting you to join this alliance, although this alliance probably won’t be useful.”

“If the lady herself says it’s useless, why should I join?” Ming chuckled.

“Although this alliance may not be useful, …” The girl folded her hands behind her back, stepping forward, her slightly curved lips painting the whole world, “… I can protect you~”