Chapter 352: Encountering the Clay Buddha Again

The Wheel King, who manipulates the cycles of yin and yang, reincarnation, and the passage of life and death.

As Zhong Shan flew closer, his mind remained intensely focused. Stopping the geomancer from continuing his ritual? With force? Forget it!

"Senior!" Zhong Shan called out humbly, hoping his words might deter the geomancer from continuing.

The geomancer in the distance paused slightly.

"Senior, the Daguang Dynasty's fate is already sealed. It is not easy to reverse this alone. The Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty has its own geomancers and countless supreme experts. If you continue obstinately, it will inevitably lead to mutual destruction, and the Daguang Dynasty won't last any longer because of you. Moreover, the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty has already dispatched numerous armies to bypass the White Mist region and launch a full-scale attack on Aurora City! I dare to ask, Senior, to cease your actions here!" Zhong Shan said, using a mixture of firmness and tact.

Of course, Zhong Shan's words were just a probe. He had a whole series of plans ready to continue persuading this geomancer.

But then, the geomancer actually lifted his head, seemingly moved by Zhong Shan's words.

Seeing the geomancer's reaction, Zhong Shan was taken aback. Could it be? Was he really persuaded so easily? Zhong Shan felt an unreal sensation wash over him.

"You've come, after all," the geomancer said in a hoarse voice.

"Huh?" Zhong Shan didn't understand what the geomancer meant.

"Since you haven't realized it, then next time," the geomancer continued.

"Senior..." Zhong Shan said, frowning.

But the geomancer no longer spoke to Zhong Shan. Instead, he stomped his foot, and the Reincarnation Passage beneath him abruptly began to close, collapsing furiously towards the distance. Then, the geomancer's figure blurred and vanished into a shadowy afterimage.

Zhong Shan stood there, dumbfounded, unable to comprehend the situation. It was absurd, incredibly absurd. The geomancer left?

Could it be that the geomancer's mental fortitude was so weak that he was swayed by just a few words?

"Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

In the Netherworld, within the realm of the You Residence's Wheel Hall, a sudden rumble erupted. The sky fractured abruptly, even the moon seemed to shatter in an instant. Countless palaces collapsed with a roar, many mountains crumbled, and rivers dried up. Everything signaled the collapse of the Netherworld.

The geomancer had left?

Zhong Shan frowned tightly. It was impossible for the geomancer to be swayed by just a few words. There had to be another reason. What was it? What exactly was going on?

"You've come, after all!" "Since you haven't realized it, then next time."

Recalling the geomancer's words, Zhong Shan's eyes widened, a strong sense of frustration filling his heart.

Zhong Shan remembered. He understood what was going on and who the geomancer was!

The Clay Buddha! It was the Clay Buddha!

A strange, bitter smile appeared on Zhong Shan's face. He was both angry and annoyed, shocked and delighted!

The Clay Buddha. Zhong Shan was certain it was him. It was such a pity he hadn't recognized him earlier! Their old wager—if he found the Clay Buddha again in Shenzhou, the Clay Buddha would join the Great Zheng Dynasty. Just a little bit more, just a little bit. At the same time, Zhong Shan felt a burst of joy. Back then, it was just a speculative investment; he hadn't expected the geomancer to be so powerful.

The You Residence's Wheel Hall! This was the Clay Buddha's ability?

Zhong Shan could only sigh for not recognizing the Clay Buddha. There was no regret because Zhong Shan never expected that the Clay Buddha, who even failed to compete with his master for a woman in the past, would possess such formidable power. If it weren't for the last two sentences giving him away, Zhong Shan would never have guessed his identity.

The Netherworld was disintegrating rapidly, with the Reincarnation Passage shrinking swiftly. As the Netherworld exploded into nothingness, the ancient holy city in the Yang Realm, Taigu Shengdu, began to recover its momentum, expanding with fury.

From a distant mountaintop, Princess Qianyou clenched her fists, her face alight with excitement and exhilaration. Once again, Mr. Zhong had defeated an enemy with mere words!

Yingning, on the other hand, stood wide-eyed, filled with disbelief.

Not only was Yingning incredulous, but even Tian Lao was in a state of extreme confusion. What was going on? Who exactly was that geomancer, and why did he suddenly leave?

Tian Lao, uncertain, probed with his senses and confirmed that the geomancer was indeed gone. Only then did he wave his hand.

"Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

The Taigu Shengdu of the Yang Realm also began to crumble rapidly. The Great Luo Heavenly Constellation Array instantly disbanded, dispersing countless fortunes across the world. Mountains split, rivers dried up, and floating islands collapsed continuously. In just a short time, both the Netherworld and the Yang Realm had disintegrated into clouds and smoke, vanishing completely.

The surrounding world returned to the previous environment of dense fog.

It was a vast grassland shrouded in white mist. Tian Lao, Qianyou, and Yingning quickly ran to Zhong Shan.

"Senior!" Zhong Shan handed the Tianmu Staff back to Tian Lao.

"What happened? Where is the geomancer?" Tian Lao stared at Zhong Shan with urgency.

"It seems he left!" Zhong Shan pretended to be bewildered.

"Left? How is that possible? What did you say to him?" Tian Lao looked at Zhong Shan with deep suspicion.

"I just told him that continuing like this wouldn't end well, and that the Daguang Dynasty was bound to perish eventually!..." Zhong Shan repeated his earlier statements.

Tian Lao stared intently at Zhong Shan, clearly not believing a word. His expression suggested he was about to devour Zhong Shan whole. Yingning and Qianyou, meanwhile, looked on with curiosity.

"Senior, I really only said that much. He might have sensed the unstoppable might of the Heavenly Dynasty and decided to leave," Zhong Shan said.

But this excuse was something Tian Lao would never believe. How could it be?

"Did he say anything to you?" Tian Lao asked in a serious tone.

Seeing Tian Lao's disbelief, Zhong Shan reluctantly replied, "Senior, I remember now!"

"Oh?" Tian Lao's eyes fixed on Zhong Shan.

"At the time, out of fear, I exposed this kasaya to bolster my courage. He saw my kasaya and suddenly said, 'How could this be?' Then he said, 'I apologize for the offense.' After that, he disappeared," Zhong Shan concocted a story.

In any case, the Clay Buddha's involvement couldn't be revealed, so Zhong Shan decided to muddy the waters further.

"Kasaya?" Tian Lao looked puzzled and then glanced at the opened part of Zhong Shan's clothing.

"The Violet Cotton Kasaya? How could this be?" Tian Lao frowned.

"Yes, the geomancer used the same tone as you, Tian Lao," Zhong Shan said excitedly.

Hearing Zhong Shan's explanation, Tian Lao was speechless for a moment. He then looked at Zhong Shan and asked, "Where did you get this kasaya?"

"It was given to me by Jinchao!" Zhong Shan replied.

"Jinchao? A ninth-grade magical treasure, he really is generous," Tian Lao said, taking a deep breath.

"Is the geomancer's departure related to this kasaya?" Zhong Shan asked.

"I didn't expect him to be connected with the Pure Land of Bliss," Tian Lao said, frowning.

"Tian Lao, do you know who he is?" Yingning immediately asked.

"I'm not sure, but anyone who can create the Youfu Wheel Hall is likely related to the Ghost Valley, a descendant of the ghost lineage," Tian Lao said with a sigh and a shake of his head.

"Senior, why is it still foggy? Did the geomancer change the direction of the formation?" Zhong Shan asked.

"No, the geomantic formation has already been broken. I can feel it. However, this foggy weather is caused by the special positions of the sixty-four cities. After the formation was broken, the fog will disperse within a hundred days," Tian Lao explained.

"Then, Senior, we should hurry back. A hundred days! In that time, we can take control of all sixty-four cities!" Zhong Shan suggested, also using this opportunity to change the subject away from the geomancer.

"Haha, Eastern Marquis, you truly are a military genius, so diligent and meticulous. If everyone in the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty were like you, even the ancient gods would be greatly comforted," Tian Lao remarked with a peculiar tone.

"Uh, Senior, you flatter me. This is just the responsibility of every citizen of the Heavenly Dynasty," Zhong Shan replied, somewhat embarrassed.

Giving Zhong Shan a strange look, Tian Lao said, "Let's go! I'll take you out. I won't be going to Gu Xuan's place."

"Yes," Zhong Shan immediately nodded.

"Qianyou, Yingning, you two come with me back to Taigu Shengdu. I need to assess you!" Tian Lao said.

"Yes!" The two women responded with a bit of excitement.

Reporting Back to the Great Xuan King

In the main tent of the Great Xuan King, Zhong Shan reported on the matter of the geomantic formation.

"Ninety-six days left?" The Great Xuan King looked at Zhong Shan.

"Yes, my lord. My wolf cavalry can summon a large number of wild wolves, and your tiger cavalry can summon wild tigers. The sixty-four cities are a gift from Han Jiguang to us," Zhong Shan said with a smile.

"Good!" The Great Xuan King expressed satisfaction.

"Zhong Shan, you've made great contributions again this time. I will report to the emperor. Capturing the twelve coastal cities, executing the Heaven Collapse Plan, breaking the geomantic formation, leading the pack of wolves to capture cities—each is an extraordinary achievement. Once we've subdued the Daguang Dynasty, we will return to Taigu Shengdu to discuss merits and rewards," said the Great Xuan King.

"Yes!" Zhong Shan responded.

"Prepare the troops. We'll capture the cities immediately!" The Great Xuan King commanded.

"Yes!" Zhong Shan replied promptly.