AZI Volume 2 Chapter 45

"…Was he not supposed to be able to open that door?"

Judging by Zhen Huai's expression at this time, that was clearly not a part of the initial plan.

Towards Bai Wen's question, Zhen Huai answers—

"Odd… It would seem like the magic array isn't capable of fully replicating his memories."

"Wouldn't it be because he hasn't recovered them all yet?"

"The magic array was able to create a replica of a place that he was familiar with. Other than what lies beyond that ancient tree's door, everything else is present."

"…Lao Zhen, how does your family's magic array work again?"

Blinking his eyes, Zhen Huai explains—

"Memories, according to scholars of our world, can come from three sources. The first is the mind, the second is the soul, and the third is the body. The body aside, this magic array is meant to read the memories contained in an individual's mind first. After that, it will attempt to read the memories contained in the soul—to give the already created illusion a greater level of detail. For this occasion, I set it to read the soul first. If the magic array wasn't able to recreate anything from these two sources of memories, I was thinking of creating enemies at random to test him. But since it worked, it means…"

Pausing here, Zhen Huai takes a few moments to put his thoughts in order, prior to adding—

"Under normal circumstances, the process of reincarnation would require one to forget the memories of their previous life completely. In his case, he… Somehow skipped the memory erasure process. Another possibility, as unlikely as it is, is that the memory erasure process had been interrupted partway through—causing his current memories to be in the fragmented state that they are currently in."

"...…"

Towards Zhen Huai's analysis of Long Hua's situation, a discomforting thought appears in Bai Wen's mind.

(Skipping or dodging the memory erasure process through his own abilities… Even an Immortal realm practitioner would have a difficult time doing so. Once their soul lands into the realm of the dead, they would have no control over whatever sentence they are subjected to. Suppose Lao Zhen's second theory is indeed true; then a possible explanation would be that someone from the outside—had made a move to prevent his memories from being erased completely. That someone… His shizun is the first person to come to mind, but if that were the case, then his shizun's cultivation base would have to be…)

As Bai Wen thought up to here, Zhen Huai adds—

"This array should be able to recreate a practitioner of the Spirit Assimilation realm, but-"

"Beyond Spirit Assimilation is Dao Manifestation, followed by the Immortal realm… There's a special space within this world—the necropolis. If it's there, I wonder…?"

"Lao Bai, let's focus more on the present for now."

Snapping out of his trance, Bai Wen nods, and asks—

"In that case, what would he find beyond that door—if it were forced open?

"I suppose we'll find out."

...…

"…"

Without any expectations in mind, Long Hua steps into the residence, and—

"Back so soon? Didn't I tell you to pick five Serpent Scale Grasses for me? Or is it that you don't want your curse suppressed?"

"…?"

The stern and irritation-filled voice of this individual had seemingly been transmitted to him through a phone call, but despite that, Long Hua could still recognize it.

"…Shizun?"

Raising his head, Long Hua looks forward—with an expression of bewilderment on his face.

...…

Blinking his eyes, Zhen Huai remarks—

"Seems like this is the limit of the array."

"So, it's incapable of creating a perfect copy of his shizun, but is still able to replicate their voice to a certain degree. Hmm."

Similarly, to Long Hua, both Zhen Huai and Bai Wen are just as bewildered by the sight, whereas—

"…"

Seeing the thing displayed on the projection screen, Zhui Yun's complexion turns pale.

...…

Panels of wood cover the floors and walls—giving the uneven nature of this space a more uniformed appearance.

Situated to the far right of this living room is a large table, while on the opposite side is a rectangular storage container.

Positioned in the center of this room is a large cauldron, and standing in front of the cauldron is—

"Did a few screws come loose in your head?"

"…"

Standing in front of Long Hua is an individual shrouded within a body of white fog—making it impossible to discern his true appearance.

"…"

Unable to formulate any words, Long Hua stands in place, as his head works to process the matters that his shizun had just mentioned to him.

(Serpent Scale Grass? A curse?)

Of the two matters that were brought up a moment ago, the second matter—

(This curse that shizun mentioned…)

Instinctively, Long Hua feels like this curse—that had been mentioned, is a matter of greater importance to him than even his goal of returning home.

"…"

Towards the individual shrouded in white fog, Tian Cheng—who stands behind Long Hua, performs a subtle bow in the former's direction.

Inwardly, she thought—

(…It's only a replica created by this magic array, but…)

"…"

(…!?)

Sensing the fog-shrouded individual directing his gaze towards her, the Tian Cheng within the dreamscape panics, as she rapidly takes three steps back.

(These fools, to have to galls to replicate that person's image…)

Thinking of this, cold sweat rolls down Tian Cheng's face.

Outside of the dreamscape, Long Hua asks—

"…Shizun, what curse are you talking about?"

"…"

Despite the fog obscuring the individual's face, Long Hua can somewhat tell that the former had most likely frowned—in response to this question.

"…"

"…!"

As the fog-shrouded individual takes a single step forward, a feeling of bad premonition appears in Long Hua's heart.

...…

In the same instance—

"…?"

Zhen Huai takes out his phone, which is currently displaying a new message on its screen.

"Stability of the magic array has gone off balance?"

Glancing over, Bai Wen reads the message that came from Zhen Rong aloud, to which, Zhen Huai says—

"Lao Bai, I believe you're playing with fire this time around."

"What a coincidence really. The moment you brought up your second theory, I've been thinking of the same."