Cultivators Are So Weak in This World

Chapter 541 - 508 States of Mind (2)

"Quick, quick, quick!!"

In the nighttime, on the plain, a group of people and horses were frantically running forward in a panic-stricken manner.

The leader, clad in armor and holding a steel spear, looked no different from an ordinary military general.

But if someone could clearly see his face, they would recognize him as the King Mu Li, who had been repeatedly intercepted and attacked before.

"Prince, that ahead is Wushan Prefecture! Should we go in or not?!" Suddenly, a military officer loudly reminded him.

King Mu Li looked back at the remaining fifty or sixty men. As soon as Fan Heng started the fight, more than a dozen experts from the Counter-Times Society suddenly appeared around, and after a fierce battle, only these people managed to escape alive.

Initially, he was full of confidence, intending to take revenge on Yue Dewen at Wushan Prefecture.

But after successive setbacks, now looking up, Wushan Prefecture was within reach, and they could enter the city at any time.

However, a sense of apprehension arose in his heart instead.

Before entering the city, they had already encountered so many obstructions. If they entered the city... what would happen then?

"No, turn around, this place is not safe to stay for long, return to the United Nations immediately!"

He made a decisive decision.

The anger towards Yue Dewen had now completely transformed into apprehension due to the constant dangers they faced.

The most crucial thing now was to quickly escape from the perilous situation.

Immediately, the group turned around, changed direction, and ran away in the other direction.

From a distance, everyone watched as the city walls of Wushan Prefecture gradually faded into the distance, eventually disappearing from view, making them feel somewhat safer.

Halfway along the journey, they passed by a gorge and heard the gushing of streams.

Everyone was a bit thirsty, and many of their water bags had been lost during the fierce battle just now.

"Prince, why don’t we take this opportunity to replenish some water here before making a final push to leave the country?" someone suggested.

King Mu Li sighed, feeling the unbearable thirst too. Seeing the desolate mountains and wilderness around, with not a single person in sight, he relaxed his guard a little.

"Alright. Let’s take a short break. But this will be the last one; after this, we’ll leave the country in one go before stopping!"

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

They immediately turned towards the stream in the mountain gorge to approach.

But for some reason, the more they advanced, the more the white mist emerged around them.

The fog grew thicker and within just a few hundred meters, it became so dense that they could not see their hands in front of them.

Everyone felt an ominous sensation.

"This is... it looks like the Mist of Doubt!!"

One of the Spirit Vein military officers couldn’t help but speak out.

"The Mist of Doubt..." King Mu Li halted his steps, his expression turning grim.

Ever since he headed towards Wushan Prefecture, he had not had much good luck.

And now, even a casual trip to fetch water in the forest led them to encounter the eerie Mist of Doubt?!

"Don’t panic! I am a royal of the Spirit People, no deity or buddha dares to be presumptuous in front of me! Keep moving forward!"

At once, he took out a silver token from his waist, raised it high, and led the way forward.

The token was engraved with intricate patterns, with a sky-blue diamond-shaped gemstone embedded in the center.

Surrounding the gemstone was a circle of small spiritual text, like a garland.

Meaning: ’Great Spirit Flying Heaven Holy Tour Supervisor’.

Holding the token aloft, the fog ahead indeed began to slowly dissipate, forming a clear path three meters wide that led straight ahead.

Without hesitation, he walked straight ahead.

The rest of the people, overjoyed, quickly followed.

Not long after, the group arrived at a gorge.

The gorge was filled with murmuring streams, scattered rocks, and sheer gray-white cliffs covered with withered vines and new greenery.

A gentle breeze blew, dispersing the fog, and everything returned to normal, with a faint floral fragrance lingering in the air.

"Quick, fill the water. We probably got past that section. Everyone, take a short rest," King Mu Li quickly commanded.

"Understood!" everyone responded eagerly.

The group was both exhausted and weary. But they still forced themselves to fill water with the remaining bags, while some went downstream to wash their faces and hair.

Just as their nerves relaxed a bit, from the distance of the stream, a figure slowly approached.

That person, tall and sturdy, with black hair draping over his shoulders, exuded a solemn aura and wore a set of black brocade robes, looking quite imposing.

Seeing people fetching water there, the person slowed down and casually reminded them.

"Gentlemen, if you’re fetching water, remember to boil it before use. The stream here contains toxic miasma, which is harmful if consumed."

This person was Zhang Rongfang, who had just played a game with Xue Tong. His identity was concealed by Yue Shi, so when traveling outside, he had slightly altered his appearance.

At a glance, no one recognized him. After all, the circulated image was that of Zhang Ying, not Zhang Rongfang.

King Mu Li and his group were stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then promptly got up.

"Sir, are you a local here?" King Mu Li raised a hand to stop his subordinates from approaching, and he stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Indeed, just passing the time, came here to meet a friend for a game of chess," Zhang Rongfang replied casually.

"In such desolate mountains, for sir to travel freely alone, you must be well-versed in martial arts," King Mu Li praised.

"Not particularly, just a commoner’s skills, enough to fend off wild beasts in the wilderness," Zhang Rongfang replied.

He noticed these people were dressed in fine clothing, with quite a few in armor carrying weapons, clearly of a military background.

Amidst the chaos of the Red Turban Army’s rebellion, burning, killing, and looting everywhere, this group seemed to be in such a sorry state, likely due to efforts to quell the rebellion.

Zhang Rongfang sighed inwardly.

"May I ask why you gentlemen came here? This gorge is filled with poisonous miasma, and ordinary people should not venture in lightly."

Hearing this, King Mu Li felt a pang of sorrow.

He heaved a long sigh.

"It’s hard to explain in a few words..."

Seeing that he didn’t want to talk, Zhang Rongfang didn’t press further.

"In that case, please take the water quickly and leave. I’ll go ahead first."

"Sir, please wait. Could you point us in the direction of the United Nations’ border?" King Mu Li hastily said.

They couldn’t enter the city. Their group was weary with men and horses, and it would be difficult to find a guide. Having encountered someone, they naturally seized the opportunity to ask.

"For the United Nations, exit the gorge from here and head southwest. Walk for about three hundred miles." Zhang Rongfang estimated the distance and enthusiastically gave directions.

"Thank you, sir," King Mu Li expressed his gratitude.

"Are you folks from the United Nations? It’s been a long journey; you must have endured a lot." Zhang Rongfang asked.

"Alas, the world is in chaos now. I really don’t know when everything will be calmed and peace will return. We came hoping to revive the rivers and mountains, but now we are utterly defeated. The sights and experiences along this journey still sit heavily on my heart, overwhelmingly painful." King Mu Li sighed.

"The ravages of war always cause the common people at the bottom to suffer the most." Zhang Rongfang also sighed.

The two exchanged a few idle words, both lamenting the current state of affairs.

King Mu Li wanted to inquire about the Human Immortal Temple in Wushan Prefecture, but couldn’t bring himself to speak even after several attempts.

He actually realized, with the emergence of the Reversal Society, that even if he gathered some clues now, he lacked the power to investigate further.

The top experts around him left one by one, seeming accidental or forced, but in fact, it was intentional.

As he chatted with Zhang Rongfang, his heart was full of frustration. Thinking of his years of accumulation, only to be made into wedding clothes for others, he was nearly driven to vomit blood.

Having discerned the other’s mood, Zhang Rongfang consoled him with a few words and glanced at the sky.

"It’s getting late. I should also take my leave." Zhang Rongfang said casually as he walked toward the direction of departure.

This was considered the other outer edge of Wish Girl Gorge, and it was common for people to be drawn here by the sound of the stream to fetch water. Meeting someone was not unusual. He didn’t mind.

"Farewell." King Mu Li likewise cupped his hands in salute.

He watched Zhang Rongfang stride away into the distance, a sense of melancholy surging in his heart.

In the end, he didn’t ask about the Human Immortal Temple or Zhang Ying.

Recalling his journey here, he had been surrounded by an army, soldiers as many as the sea, generals like rain.

When departing, however, there were only defeated soldiers, in utter disarray.

Suddenly, a sense of desolation rose in his heart.

"Sir! Do you know what tomorrow holds for this world?" He suddenly called out loudly to the departing Zhang Rongfang.

"All beings are like ants; how can one speak of the world?" Zhang Rongfang paused in his steps and responded.

"With gods and Buddhas overhead, and humans as chess players, how could we not speak of the world?" King Mu Li said.

"That’s the gods and Buddhas’ world, what does it have to do with you?" Zhang Rongfang laughed upon hearing this.

If King Mu Li had heard this on any other day, he might not have felt anything. But at this moment, under the heavy burden of sorrow, he suddenly felt as though a bolt of lightning had crossed his heart.

Indeed... this world, is it theirs, or the gods and Buddhas’? As royalty, he suddenly remembered many, many things.

Suddenly, he seemed to understand why the Reversal Society would rather die than worship the gods.

They’d rather go mad and live alone in the wilderness than enjoy glory and prosperity, or a flourishing age.

He suddenly understood.

He wasn’t defeated by humans.

Why could Yue Dewen unite so many formerly hostile forces?

The root cause was the gods and Buddhas behind it.

He wasn’t defeated by humans, but by the gods!

Worship the gods, worship the gods, is to bow before the gods.

If the gods wanted him to be defeated, how could he not be?

Thinking of this, King Mu Li suddenly burst into laughter.

Decades of effort and scheming, and in the end, it was for this reason that he met such a fate.

"Fate toys with people... fate toys with people..."

Sorrow welled up in his heart as he stretched out his arms, looking up at the sky.

He actually understood that even if he went back now, the world was already set; what could he change? The Great Dao Teaching had supported the new emperor’s ascension; the situation was irrevocable, everything too late.

"Fate toys with people, then turn it upside down! When nature’s machinery is activated, dragons and snakes arise. When humans activate, heaven and earth overturn!"

Zhang Rongfang proclaimed loudly, as if he had seen something.

"We are beings of nine feet tall! Are we born merely to bow and scrape?!"

King Mu Li was shocked to the core, as if struck by lightning.

He looked sharply at Zhang Rongfang.

"Sir... how do you know the might and strength of gods and Buddhas?"

"Have you witnessed it?" Zhang Rongfang counter-asked.

King Mu Li was silent.

"I haven’t seen it either." Zhang Rongfang laughed.

He pointed to the distant mountains.

"Do you see those mountains?"

"All are nurtured by the universe and nature. How are humans different from mountains?

Why are mountains born without constraints, while humans are bound by gods and Buddhas?"

"Why??" King Mu Li was stunned. He had never considered this perspective.

"Because humans are small, and the mountains are large!" Zhang Rongfang laughed.

"If humans were like the mountains, who could restrain them?!"

"Like the mountains..." King Mu Li muttered. "But how can humans be like the mountains?"

"Ancient texts say: when the Three Flowers gather at the crown, and the Five Qi ascend to the origin, the heart is as clear as a hollow cave, one can become immortal!"

"An immortal is but a human mountain!"