PDLP Chapter 316 The Tragedy of Zhengshan Academy
Chapter 316 The Tragedy of Zhengshan Academy
Tan Lin's voice trembled, as if he were sobbing.
Even though Zhou Wei didn't know what had happened, hearing this sobbing still made her heart ache.
"Mr. Tan, what happened?"
Tan Lin wiped his face, and when he looked up again, his face was ashen.
“Zhou Dianjun, someone is using the illusion to steal the fortune of my Zhengshan Academy. Not only that, but even the disciples and teachers in the academy are being used as vessels for fortune.”
Kongshan Temple has confirmed that someone stole the auspicious energy of the blessed land.
Previously, Tan Lin only had suspicions, but this time, after entering the illusionary realm within the painting, he personally witnessed the academy disciples and teachers who had become living dead.
"Are those people still alive?" Zhou Wei asked the crucial question.
Tan Lin shook his head, his face revealing the vicissitudes and weariness of a middle-aged man, and two lines of tears flowed uncontrollably down his face.
Seeing that he could no longer speak, the eldest princess said, "The people in the academy have basically had their lifespan and energy drained. Many disciples with low cultivation levels died several years ago."
"The rest of us are just putting on a brave face. As soon as we enter the illusion, we feel our bodies aging rapidly, and our cultivation drifts away from our bodies like smoke."
The princess still felt lingering fear when she spoke of this.
"If it weren't for the help of Tan Lin's fellow disciples and masters, who used their last bit of life force and energy to protect us, we would have been reduced to ashes before you even arrived, Weiwei."
Hearing this, Zhou Wei's face showed sadness, but also some relief.
If she had arrived any later, the princess and the others would not have been able to hold on.
Tan Lin wiped away his tears, his voice choked with sobs, "They're all gone, Senior Brother, Headmaster, and all the teachers, all gone..."
"I deserve to die. Why didn't I go back to the academy sooner? If I hadn't given up on returning to the academy these past ten years, perhaps I would still have had a chance to save them."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wei sighed.
She understood that Tan Lin's words of regret were merely an attempt to shift all the blame onto himself.
But she knew that Tan Lin had already done his best.
He alone could not fight against the illusion. The illusion kept him out. Without external intervention, even though he had been wandering at the foot of the academy mountain for more than ten years, he could not enter the illusion.
Tan Lin was relatively lucky, because he was a bug himself, and if he were in the illusion, he would hinder the operation of the illusion, which is why he was kicked out.
He was lucky to escape with his life.
But now he has witnessed his fellow disciples and teachers die because their lifespans and vital energy have been drained, and the pain in his heart is impossible to dispel.
Zhou Wei thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Tan, the deceased is gone. We can be sad, but we can't be sad forever."
"The person behind this stole the fortune of Zhengshan Academy through the illusion array and even killed everyone in the academy. How can we feel at ease if we don't bring such a vicious person to justice?"
Zhou Wei's words quickly calmed Tan Lin down.
Hatred can also be a driving force that sustains human survival.
Now, Tan Lin's heart is filled with nothing but hatred!
"There's something I don't understand," Tan Lin said, his mind returning to normal after calming down. "Why is this illusion related to Ji Zhengyao's portrait?"
"According to Zhou Dianjun, Ji Zhengyao seems to be a very special existence in the three illusions, but I can't figure out what makes him so special."
Zhou Wei had already thought about this problem.
"Mr. Tan, let me ask you, among the four blessed lands, which is the best at discerning heavenly secrets and destiny?"
Without hesitation, Tan Lin replied, "Naturally, it's the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion!"
After saying that, he suddenly realized what he had said.
Somewhat shocked, he said, "Does Zhou Dianjun mean that this method of stealing the blessed land's fortune comes from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion? But the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is deserted..."
At this point, Tan Lin seemed to awaken from a dream.
Why is Tianji Pavilion deserted? Could it have suffered the same fate as Zhengshan Academy and Kongshan Temple?
However, the abbot of Kongshan Temple was no ordinary person, which slowed down the attempt to steal the blessed land's fortune.
Zhou Wei then asked, "Mr. Tan, where did you get Ji Zhengyao's painting?"
When this was mentioned, Tan Lin looked confused.
"After I went down the mountain and found Ji Zhengyao that day, I made a promise with him that if I couldn't return to the academy, I would go to Tianji Pavilion to find him."
"Later, I did go to Tianji Pavilion, but it was deserted! It was late that day, so I found a place to sit and rest. When I woke up, this painting was next to me."
The eldest princess was also very surprised after hearing this.
She had always thought that the painting was done by Tan Lin, but she never expected that it would appear out of nowhere.
"No wonder this painting can work in the illusion. The method of stealing fortune probably comes from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, and Ji Zhengyao is a disciple of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion."
Although the connection between them was deduced, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's methods destroyed the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion as well. Who was behind this?
The eldest princess and Zhou Wei exchanged a glance, already connecting the theft of the blessed land's fortune with the fake emperor in Hexi Palace.
"But... just who is the emperor, that he has such great power? If we count, he has already stolen three-quarters of the fortune of the four blessed lands."
Zhou Wei's calculations also included the disappearance of the legendary doctor Gu Wanfeng.
The fake emperor probably hasn't started stealing the fortune of the Divine Doctor Valley yet, but it shouldn't be long before he does.
Without the abbot, Kongshan Temple's fortune will be quickly drained, and next it will be the turn of Shenyi Valley!
“The most important thing now is to escape the illusion,” Zhou Wei said solemnly. “Once the illusion in the painting is broken, this second illusion will take its place. We, who are in it, will still inevitably have our lifespan and energy drained away.”
Everyone knew the matter was urgent, but they couldn't think of a solution for the time being.
The eldest princess looked at Zhou Wei: "Weiwei, you are the smartest. You were able to break through the illusion in the painting, so you must also have a way to break through this second illusion, right?"
Zhou Wei pondered for a moment before saying, "I have indeed thought of a method, but I don't know if it will be effective."
Tan Lin's voice was calm: "Zhou Dianjun, there is no need to worry. If there is a way, then give it a try. It can't be worse than the current situation."
Zhou Wei thought about it and realized that made sense.
Just like when Shen Shuqing burned the painting during the illusion in the painting.
How will you know if you don't try?
At this moment, the little monk asked, "Sister Zhou Wei, how did you realize that we in the second illusion were fake?"
This is something that everyone is very curious about.
Logically speaking, Jiang Zao, Shen Shuqing, and Wan Qianliang were all in the second illusion and had lost their minds.
Why was Zhou Wei able to accurately determine that these three people were real, while the three princesses were fake?
Zhou Wei smiled and said, "Do you all remember when you entered the illusion?"
The three princesses were puzzled. Jiang Yueli said, "Of course we entered through the mist of the white jade steps. Didn't you, Weiwei?"
“Of course not,” Zhou Wei said. “Me, Shen Shuqing, Wan Qianliang, Jiang Zao, and I encountered the problem on the night we left the White Jade Stairs.”
"When you came out of the white jade steps, Princess, the three of you, and Abao, you had already entered the illusionary realm within the painting."
"The people who replaced you mingled with us openly until Tan Lin and the little monk came to me that night, saying that other people had infiltrated the group. Only then did I realize that these two were suspicious."