Chapter 96: The Words of True Monarch of the Lantern
Chapter 96: Chapter 96: The Words of True Monarch of the Lantern
What immense killing intent!
Zhu Ge’s heart pounded. His entire body felt as if it were being enveloped by countless needles and blades.
Or perhaps, like a needle pointing directly at his pupil.
The oppressive feeling made him want to cry out in alarm, but he managed to hold it back.
Beside him, Liu Jianjian was more direct. With a SWISH, she transformed back into a hedgehog and hid behind Zhu Ge, trembling.
RUMBLE...
WHOOSH...
Dark, heavy storm clouds slowly gathered. An utterly frigid air flooded into the valley from all directions as a fierce wind suddenly rose.
Darkness, oppression, cold, and a murderous chill.
Zhu Ge merely had to glance around to see a scene of near-apocalyptic destruction everywhere he looked.
And all this, merely because of a single sentence from the Cold Snow Official, True Monarch Minmian.
"Sigh..." The True Monarch of the Lantern let out a breath, and the lantern in his hand swayed.
The next moment, the storm passed, the sky cleared, and not a cloud remained for a thousand miles.
"Don’t make a scene, don’t make a scene. I’m recording this. You can’t do anything wrong, or it’ll look bad in the Historical Record." The True Monarch of the Lantern shook his head, a bitter look on his face. "I’m begging you, True Monarch Minmian, please don’t drink anymore."
A smile appeared on True Monarch Minmian’s face. "Right, right, we’re drinking! Come, come, let’s down a big one!"
He raised his bowl toward Zhu Ge, drained it in one gulp, and the next second, he collapsed with a THUD, dead drunk.
"Sigh..." The True Monarch of the Lantern shook his head and looked at Zhu Ge. "On his journey, he has seen far too many Raincoat Fishermen. You are the first person he’s met who could resist one, so he got a little too excited. Please forgive him, young man."
’He’s seen too many Raincoat Fishermen on his journey...’ Upon hearing this, Zhu Ge couldn’t help but sigh as well. "Resisting a Raincoat Fisherman is only human."
"Indeed." The True Monarch of the Lantern, who had the appearance of a youth, looked up at the sky, his voice filled with ancient weariness.
"Unfortunately, there are too few people like you, and far too many like the Raincoat Fishermen."
"You can’t kill them all. It’s an endless task."
As he spoke, the True Monarch of the Lantern stood up. "I am a Historian. I cannot interfere in any matter, I can only record. A great change is coming to Yunjiang, which is why I came here, and why he came here as well."
He turned back to Zhu Ge, his expression troubled. "You are a good kid. He likes you, and I like you, too. You must survive."
"I will." Zhu Ge nodded emphatically, then asked, "But, True Monarch, can you elaborate on this great change in Yunjiang?"
If he had some hints, he could prepare himself.
"The heavens and earth will be overturned, the Human Race will decline..." The True Monarch of the Lantern sighed. "The Holy Emperor will pass away, and the Da Sheng Dynasty will fall. But this will not happen overnight. It will be like a river or a lake drying up—a slow and profound process."
"The matter of Yunjiang is the same. Although I do not know the full picture, I can make a few guesses."
The True Monarch of the Lantern looked into the distance, his brow deeply furrowed. "It all seems to originate from Red River Prefecture, but I cannot see it clearly. I can only foresee that a shocking event is about to occur, which is why I am here to record it."
"Child, you are promising, but your Cultivation is still shallow. It’s not yet enough for me to give you an entry in the Historical Record. When the day comes that you are worthy of being recorded, perhaps then you will see things clearly—at least, more clearly than I can..."
As he said this, the True Monarch of the Lantern turned to Liu Jianjian and Zhu Sisi beside Zhu Ge and offered a smile.
"You two young ladies remind me of two people. As such, I shall grant you both a boon."
After speaking, two sparks suddenly flew from the True Monarch of the Lantern’s lantern. They drifted to the space between Liu Jianjian’s and Zhu Sisi’s eyebrows and merged into them.
Next, the True Monarch of the Lantern looked back at Zhu Ge.
"The Path of the Ghosts is inherently flawed. After the Third Realm, one can become either a Great Demon or a Big Ghost."
"If you wish to become a Great Demon, I will execute you right now. If you wish to become a Big Ghost, then you must remember: only through the ultimate Yin can one reach the Netherworld."
The Path of the Ghosts!
Zhu Ge knew that these words were meant for Hua Liusha.
Hua Liusha immediately channeled her Yin Qi, condensing beside Zhu Ge into the form of a bride wearing a red veil, and bowed to the True Monarch of the Lantern.
"This humble girl thanks the True Monarch of the Lantern."
"I have delved little into this path and cannot offer you much help. However, you might pay attention to the Jade Rabbit Race in the future. You may find something of value there." The True Monarch of the Lantern smiled faintly.
Hua Liusha bowed in gratitude once more.
Finally, the True Monarch of the Lantern met Zhu Ge’s gaze.
Seeing this, Zhu Ge understood that the True Monarch was helping him to the best of his ability.
"True Monarch, for this bowl of wine and your guidance, I am already endlessly grateful." Zhu Ge was not a greedy person.
When others were good to him, he would naturally be good to them in return.
He couldn’t always be thinking about getting endless benefits from others; that would only make people dislike him.
"Sigh. Since I’ve already broken my rules, it doesn’t matter if I break them a little more." The True Monarch of the Lantern gave a wry smile, then his expression turned serious.
"True Monarch Minmian can remain in the mortal world for a long time, but I cannot. It is already my limit to have been invited out to come here today."
"But I must also tell you: don’t bite off more than you can chew. Right now, your Martial Dao, Confucian Dao, and Immortal Dao all have potential."
"Any other paths can only be supplementary. Do not expend too much effort on them, or you will be trapped in the Realm of the Great for the rest of your life, unable to advance another inch."
’Martial Dao, Confucian Dao, Immortal Dao?’
Zhu Ge frowned slightly. He had considered these things before, but not in such depth.
He had only been thinking that since he had extra souls, he could possess the bodies of those who had just died.
Just now, when the True Monarch of the Lantern had manifested the "history" of this valley, he had seen Zhu Ge’s souls.
Therefore, the True Monarch’s current warning was likely aimed at this very matter.
Furthermore, the True Monarch of the Lantern’s words were also telling Zhu Ge that there were even higher realms beyond the Great Realm!
Originally, Zhu Ge had thought that once he became a Great, he could go anywhere in the world.
Now it seemed that he simply wasn’t qualified enough yet, and thus knew nothing of the higher realms.
"As for most other things, True Monarch Minmian will naturally teach you after he sobers up. I need not say more." Speaking of the True Monarch Minmian beside them, a helpless look appeared on the True Monarch of the Lantern’s face.
He shook his head and said, "Finally, I will give you one last piece of advice—something that history has taught me, which I will now share with you."
He looked at Zhu Ge seriously, gazing into his eyes. "History tells us that no matter who you are, the most important thing is to live this life authentically and joyfully."
"You can strive for power and profit, or you can retreat to a pastoral life. You can build a thriving family, or you can remain alone. You can hide away and live to be a hundred, or you can seize the day and die after attaining the Dao... It’s all fine. There is no right or wrong, no meaning, no should or should not."
"Live according to your own will."
After speaking his last words, the True Monarch of the Lantern vanished before Zhu Ge’s eyes.
He even vanished from the world itself.
Zhu Ge recalled his words, lost in thought.
The next moment, his gaze shifted to the figure of True Monarch Minmian, who was passed out drunk before him.
’Is this really a peerless expert?’
Zhu Ge’s expression was strange.
’That was fruit wine, with an alcohol content of no more than five percent!’
’No, it was practically fresh-squeezed fruit juice!’
’Oh well. I’ll just wait for him to wake up.’