Chapter 1228 - 1119: Is the Divine Jumper Dead?
The night deepened.
At this moment.
From the region where the small mountain village was situated, suddenly a shadow was cast, with a speed surpassing everything, it swiftly extended to the entire Kaiyuan Continent!
In an instant, three thousand states!
At this moment, the three thousand states, under the shroud of this shadow, plunged into a mysterious state, no longer discernible.
Countless living beings remained utterly oblivious, failing to notice any change between heaven and earth.
However, at this moment, the gazes from the other continents of the Forbidden World were all instantly filled with shock and horror.
In You Continent, deep within the Sky Vault, the air rippled with waves.
“The authority of the Thunder Emperor… has dimmed, completely gone, he is dead!”
The ethereal voice carried an unconcealable excitement and anticipation, saying:
“The entire Kaiyuan Continent is now enveloped in a dark shadow, preventing even me from probing further, this means… darkness has descended upon Kaiyuan Continent!”
“Indeed, the Thunder Emperor has been destroyed by the darkness… Next, it remains to be seen if he can be reborn from the dark seed…”
Wanmu Continent.
The Xuanhuang Qi coalesced and transformed, a voice whispering:
“The Thunder Emperor is destroyed.”
“I hope he survives… Only then will our path be successful.”
Gengyuan Continent.
In golden eyes, solemnity was written all over.
“Before the darkness, the Thunder Emperor’s demise was silent and unnoticed…”
“As expected, faced with darkness, even a formidable enemy is but an ant… Survival is the greatest luxury…”
“The Path of Parasitism… heh, one must proceed whether willing or not…”
…
A pitch-black place of unknown location.
In the dense darkness, a secret black eye opened and closed anxiously, as if waiting for something.
Above the Dark Throne, however, came the sound of leisurely snoring, relaxed and untroubled, forming a stark contrast to the restless secret eye.
Finally, the black eye seemed to focus on something.
“The shadow of darkness… has enveloped that region.”
The voice in the darkness was elated, and then the entity within the darkness left.
And on the Dark Throne, a low murmuring voice arose, muttering:
“A shadow has enshrouded… the Flame Universe Array, perhaps…”
“…to treat a mere mortal body in such a way… now this is interesting.”
…
In an area of extreme darkness, before a pitch-black gateway.
A Black Spirit appeared, kneeling before the door, speaking excitedly:
“My lord, the shadow born of the Flame of Darkness has enveloped a region of that world…”
Secret forces flowed on the door of darkness, and a voice came through:
“I have seen it… This proves that my Ancestor of Darkness has obtained that lantern!”
“Go, find the other Lamps of Origin, kindle the Flame of Darkness… and then, deliver them one by one into the hands of the other Ancestors of Darkness!”
The Ancestors of Darkness who were suppressed back in the day were not just one… but a group.
Only by their collective acquisition of the Lamps of Origin and absorbing the Dark Origin within can they revive the “Flame Universe Array”!
Upon hearing this, the Black Spirit nodded and said:
“I will do it immediately!”
It left.
Meanwhile, the voice within the door of darkness continued to whisper:
“Our ancestors remain… they have obtained the Flame of Darkness, and even activated their own essence…”
“However, at this moment, we cannot yet contact them…”
“But it doesn’t matter, this alone confirms that there’s still hope for the Flame Universe Array!”
In these words, there was a touch of excitement.
The Flame Universe Array… is the very foundation to eradicate that person.
Another voice also spoke up, saying:
“Indeed, it is worth a try… Once the Flame Universe Array succeeds, we shall annihilate this realm and, at the same time, kill that person!”
“Let everything return to the universe’s natural laws!”
“Right, we should prepare the ‘kindling’ now. The Flame of Darkness has been lit, but it still needs fuel… In time, it must also be delivered into the hands of the ancestors.”
…
…
In the small mountain village.
The next day, after Li Fan had just gotten up and washed up, Second Elder came over.
“Little Li, what happened yesterday…?”
Second Elder was somewhat befuddled, expressing his confusion:
“Where did that lantern go? And what’s this all about with my hand?”
He couldn’t remember anything…
But he took the Divine Jumper’s instruction to heart; thus, he hurried over to ask.
Upon hearing this, Li Fan was serenely composed inside, yet he feigned surprise and said:
“Second Elder, have you forgotten?”
“Last night, after we finished drinking, you insisted on cutting yourself to kindle the lantern, and then we went to your house, cut your wrist, and let the blood flow into that lantern.”
“And right after you finished bleeding, the lantern disappeared mysteriously… I was quite astonished at that moment.”
Hearing this, Second Elder’s face showed even greater doubt toward himself.
Did such things really happen?
He was utterly baffled…
However, looking at Li Fan, then at his own wrist… he felt that it must be true…
“I really am becoming senile… to forget such an important matter…”
He slapped his forehead, but then suddenly it seemed as if he remembered something, saying:
“Oh no, if the lantern has disappeared… doesn’t that mean that the Divine Jumper is dead?”
His complexion turned exceedingly dreadful, as if filled with profound sorrow and grief!
Now it was Li Fan’s turn to be confused. He tentatively said:
“Second Elder, how is this related to the Divine Jumper? Why would he die just because the lantern has disappeared?”
Second Elder, full of agitation, said:
“After the Divine Jumper left that year, Old Zhang and I discussed the words he left behind…”
“Although we didn’t understand much, we were not so muddled; naturally, we knew that if we followed the Divine Jumper’s instructions to cut ourselves and light the lantern, we would likely die…”
Hearing this, Li Fan was even more surprised. Second Elder… they know?
Since Second Elder and the others know that the Divine Jumper is trying to deceive them, why still insist on cutting blood to light the lantern?
“Then why do you still insist on cutting your own wrist?” Li Fan asked.
Hearing this, Second Elder sighed with emotion and said:
“The Divine Jumper has worked hard all his life, never sought personal gain, and always considered the village. He must have been compelled to do so… As for death, I am old and have seen everything. What is there to fear about death?”
“Moreover, before the Divine Jumper left the village, he always mumbled nervously about words like ‘lighting the lantern’, ‘extinguishing the lantern’, ‘saving people’, ‘Pure Land’… So, we guess that he asked us to do this mostly to save people… perhaps to save himself, or maybe someone else.”
“Now… the light that was lit has vanished, as the saying goes, death is like the extinguishing of a lamp, which implies that the Divine Jumper has most likely passed away… alas…”
His face was full of nostalgia!
Hearing this, Li Fan couldn’t help but be moved internally.
It turns out that the villagers know everything…
But, even with full awareness, they are still willing to sacrifice themselves…
Though they are just villagers and common folk, Li Fan felt that they have a kind of uncommon integrity and nobility!
Even in life and death, they can regard it lightly.
At the same time, he was thankful that he had managed to deceive the lantern away, after all, the Second Elder and the others were not simply deceived, on the contrary, they were fully aware and still determined, resigned to their fate!
“Second Elder need not be sad, since he is the Divine Jumper, he probably will not die so easily…”
Li Fan offered some comfort.
Second Elder heard this and said:
“Alas, I’m afraid the odds are against him…”
“Let it be, do what we can and leave the rest to fate, we’ve done all we could.”
Li Fan smiled and said:
“If all else fails, just assume he’s dead and burn some paper money for him, that’s all there is to it.”
He understood the Second Elder and the others very well.
This kind of elderly person just wants some peace of mind, they always need to do something.
Hearing this, Second Elder nodded and said:
“You’re right, I’ll go burn some paper money right now!”
After saying this, he turned and left.
“Yu Qing, go call Miss Shui Qingling and the others, after breakfast, please take some trouble to go look for your Brother Long.”
Li Fan spoke up, then instructed further:
“Pay attention and observe, last night, I noticed that Fan Paiming, Fan Yaoyao, and Shui Qingling all seemed a bit abnormal…”
…
Shortly thereafter.
Dugu Yuqing brought the three people back to the small courtyard.
“Greetings to Senior Li!”
All three of them paid their respects.
Shui Qingling was especially reverent.
Because, from what Fan Paiming and Fan Yaoyao told her, she now knew the identities of Dugu Yuqing and Li Fan.
Dugu Yuqing… the Ancestor of the Forebears!
Such news, if spread, would shake the entire world.
And Li Fan… his status was even more unimaginable, for the Ancestor of the Forebears was just his disciple…
“No need for formalities, let’s have breakfast.”
Li Fan invited with a smile.
And looking at the “simple and unadorned” breakfast, Shui Qingling was again shocked…
Phoenix Eggs… actually being used for eating!
She once again felt her own insignificance.
After eating breakfast, Li Fan said:
“Miss Shui, since you know the whereabouts of my disciple, please lead the way.”
Hearing this, Shui Qingling solemnly nodded and said:
“Shui Qingling obeys the command!”
In just a short day’s time, her thoughts had completely changed.
Her nostalgia for the Waterway Imperial Court vanished the moment they treated her as expendable.
Moreover, her nature wasn’t bad; otherwise, she would not have wanted to help Dugu Yuqing and the others leave the Thunder Path Imperial Court.
And now, she knew Senior Li… was preparing to confront the darkness!
This made her heart surge, and she resolved to follow Li Fan.
“Master, can I bring the fish that Brother Long raised with us?”
At this moment, Dugu Yuqing spoke up.
Li Fan found it odd, going out to find someone and bringing a fish with them to eat…
Was Dugu Yuqing afraid he would eat the fish…?
Although it’s true the fish seemed quite large and fat, suitable for roasting with some seasoning sprinkled on, it would be delicious… but is he that kind of person?!
“Take it, take it.”
Out of sight, out of mind!
Overjoyed by Li Fan’s response, Dugu Yuqing immediately found a large clay jar, went to the pond, and just as the jar touched the water, the blackfish eagerly swam into it.
“Master, I shall take my leave first.”
Immediately, Dugu Yuqing lifted the jar and bid Li Fan farewell.
Their group then left the small mountain village.
…
Arriving at the entrance of the village, they found Second Elder burning paper there.
“If the Divine Jumper has passed, take this money and spend it in the afterlife…”
While burning the paper, he muttered to himself.
“Wait, what kind of paper is this, this Huang Yan…”
Shui Qingling was shocked and spoke out, noticing that the Huang Yan produced by the burning paper was drifting between heaven and earth, seemingly guiding something.
“Samsara.”
Suddenly, Dugu Yuqing muttered lowly and said:
“The Huang Yan rises, and Samsara emerges, the Thunder Emperor’s authority has already crumbled, and Second Elder’s Huang Yan will let the Samsara’s authority control this continent…”
“Did Master have Second Elder burn paper to arrange for Samsara… Samsara, Nine Worlds Forbidden Tower, Flame of Darkness…”
Dugu Yuqing pondered, these three things, considered as the foundations for quelling all chaos, now the Flame of Darkness had entered the mountain village, and Samsara was also gradually descending…
Has the Nine Worlds Forbidden Tower already appeared?
He remembered, when they left the mountain village, Master had once told Miss Yun Xi that he had found another solution…
Now it seems, the grand scheme of the Master, the prelude is slowly unfolding!
…