Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 630 Xuanxuzi, Tower of Babel

Uh, what's going on?
Feeling the gazes of dozens of immortals instantly focusing on him, Xiao Jie was stunned by the surprise, doubt, and even a hint of schadenfreude in their eyes, as if he had inadvertently violated some taboo.

Could the three characters “Tongtian Gua” have some special meaning or taboo in the celestial realm?
Upon seeing this, Xuanxuzi, who had been asked the question, was slightly taken aback at first, then waved his hand familiarly to the immortals, smoothing things over. The immortals, seeing this, cooperated, withdrawing their probing gazes and nodding their heads, pretending to focus their attention back on the battle between the two giant insects in the jar. However, the occasional glances they cast showed that they hadn't completely let go of their curiosity.

Xuanxuzi then turned to Xiao Jie, his face regaining its usual detached smile, but with a hint of mockery: "Fellow Daoist Suifeng, could it be that you encountered some swindler while traveling in the mortal realm recently, and were tricked by their clumsy tricks?"

Xiao Jie was speechless, thinking to himself, "What does this all mean? Could it be that this 'Heavenly Divination' has some kind of... bad reputation in the Immortal Realm?"

“Hehe,” Xuanxuzi chuckled, stroked his long beard, and explained, “Actually, this ‘Heavenly Divination’ is a classic scam that is quite widespread in the mortal world. Those charlatans and fortune tellers who mingle in the marketplace often use it as an excuse to trick and deceive mortals who are eager to peek into the secrets of heaven, thereby earning ill-gotten gains and empty fame.”

Seeing that Xiao Jie was listening attentively, he explained in detail: "The so-called 'connection with heaven' refers to direct communication with the mysterious heavenly way. However, numerology, divination, and fortune-telling are all about carefully stealing a trace of heavenly secrets under the rules of the heavenly way to predict future fortune and misfortune."

As the saying goes, "Heavenly secrets must not be revealed." Once Heaven discovers that someone is attempting to spy on or even "communicate" with them, it will surely send down calamities as punishment. Therefore, true fortune tellers often try to conceal heavenly secrets and speak vaguely when performing their divinations, fearing being watched by Heaven. How could they openly claim to be "connected to Heaven"?

Xuanxuzi shook his head, his tone inexplicably tinged with self-mockery, "This statement is utterly ridiculous, full of loopholes. It can only fool those ignorant mortals who are unaware of the intricacies and taboos involved. Anyone who has even a slight understanding of divination and its dangers would not believe such absurd words."

He paused, then added an industry "behind-the-scenes" detail: "Moreover, fortune tellers in this profession often tacitly understand each other and may even cooperate to cover things up. For example, if someone forces a fortune teller to tell their fortune, and the fortune teller wants to harm that person, they will deliberately claim to have calculated some kind of 'heavenly hexagram,' fabricating a shocking and seemingly incredibly fortunate prophecy."

If this person harbors doubts and seeks verification of the "Heavenly Divination" from other fortune tellers, those fortune tellers, out of professional practice, will most likely cooperate to conceal the truth and solidify the claim of the "Heavenly Divination," ultimately leading the person who is pressuring them to believe it without question and fall into their trap.

Xiao Jie was astonished: "Fellow Daoist Xuanxuzi, how...how do you know so much about these tricks of the martial arts world?"

Upon hearing this, Xuanxuzi's face revealed a hint of reminiscence and a touch of...smugness? He chuckled and said, "To be honest, this trick, back when I was still an immortal, training in the mortal world, was something I invented for fun when I had nothing else to do. Later, somehow, it spread and was learned by some unscrupulous people, gradually evolving into a set of unspoken rules for swindling and deception in this industry. Alas, it can be considered a bit of...dark history" left behind by my youthful ignorance. As he spoke, he even shook his head with feigned emotion.

Xiao Jie was completely speechless. He never expected that there was such a dark history behind the "Heavenly Divination".

However, he didn't believe that the Taoist priest Liu Feng he had encountered was a charlatan. Putting everything else aside, the directly triggered system task and the golden task icon were the best proof—this was backed by the "system"!

"Then, Fellow Daoist Xuanxuzi," Xiao Jie said, adopting a serious expression, "let's set aside for now whether it's a fraud or not. Suppose, and I mean suppose, someone really does happen to encounter a genuine 'Heavenly Divination,' how should it be interpreted? Does this divination... truly exist?"

Seeing that Xiao Jie's expression was genuine and his tone was so serious, Xuanxuzi couldn't help but put away his joking expression. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, "If you really encounter a 'Heavenly Divination'... then it's usually not a person calculating the heavens, but rather the heavens using a person's words to convey a message to you."

Xiao Jie thought to himself, "Well, this 'system' seems to be similar to the 'Heavenly Dao' of this world; both are beings that control everything in the dark."

"Then... if the divination indicates that the person holding the divination is a 'person of destiny' who must leave this world and travel to heaven, otherwise there will be a great calamity... how should this be interpreted?" Xiao Jie carefully considered his words and extracted the core meaning of the divination.

The more Xuanxuzi listened, the stranger his expression became. He stared at Xiao Jie for several seconds before hesitantly speaking, "A chosen one? Departing from the heavens? Leaving this world? Fellow Daoist Suifeng, are you... are you sure the person you met wasn't a highly skilled but eccentric con artist? This divination sounds far too... bizarre, like something out of a storybook."

"Fellow Daoist, please don't worry about who I've encountered," Xiao Jie waved his hand. "Just consider it a casual question. Assuming such a divination exists, in your opinion, where does this divination point? Or, do you know if there is any immortal or secret realm in the Immortal Realm that is related to the two words 'Heavenly Divination'?"

Seeing that Xiao Jie was unwilling to discuss the origins of his knowledge, Xuanxuzi did not press the matter further, but instead stroked his beard and pondered. After a while, he suddenly seemed to remember something and let out a soft "Eh."

“This ‘Heavenly Hexagram’ itself is beyond my ability to decipher, nor do I know how to begin to decipher it. However…” He changed the subject, “If we’re talking about something that can be associated with the word ‘Heavenly,’ there is indeed a place in the Immortal Realm—a ‘Tower of Heavenly Connection’—that might… meet your requirements.”

"The Tower of Babel?" Xiao Jie's spirits lifted.

“Indeed.” Xuanxuzi nodded. “That Tower of Babel is located on Fangzhang Mountain in Guyun Prefecture. It was once the cave dwelling of a… well, a fellow Daoist. Back then, Guyun Prefecture was a gathering place for immortals, with various immortal families establishing their own cave dwellings there, creating a prosperous scene. Unfortunately, later, extraterrestrial demons launched a massive invasion, and after a fierce battle, the immortals suffered heavy losses. Most of these cave dwellings were abandoned or destroyed, with few remaining. This Tower of Babel is one of the relatively well-preserved ones, but it has long been uninhabited.”

The lone cloud and the assembled immortals have all gathered within the landscape of mountains and seas.

"What is the name of the fellow Daoist who built the Tower of Babel?" Xiao Jie hurriedly asked.

Xuanxuzi shook his head: "This... it's been so long, and many things have become blurred after the great war. I really can't remember that fellow Daoist's name for the time being."

Was it that he truly couldn't remember, or was it, like that "nameless Taoist," that his information had been shielded or obscured by some force? A thought inexplicably popped into Xiao Jie's mind.

"In that case, Fellow Daoist Xuanxuzi, would you please take me to see the Tower of Babel?" Xiao Jie asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” Xuanxuzi readily agreed. “Anyway, I’m just idling around, and I’m tired of watching those insects fighting in the jar. Come on, follow me.”

The two then ignored the commotion that had erupted again from the edge of the jar behind them, rode the clouds down from the celestial palace, flew out of the Mountain and Sea Painting Realm, and headed towards the depths of Lonely Cloud State.

Above the auspicious clouds, a gentle breeze caressed his face. Xuanxuzi seemed to remember something and casually asked, "Fellow Daoist Suifeng, during your descent to the mortal realm and your travels, have you heard any news of my two attendants? You mean those two little fellows, Qingfeng and Mingyue?"

"The two True Immortals, Qingfeng and Mingyue, are now renowned masters of the Xuanmen sect and leaders of Taoism in the mortal world," Xiao Jie told truthfully. "In the previous battles, the fight against the demon star, and the sweeping away of demons, the two True Immortals have made great contributions and have made significant contributions."

"Hehe, is that so?" Xuanxuzi smiled with a complex expression, shook his head, and sighed softly, "I never thought that those two ignorant boys who were under my tutelage back then, who only knew how to sweep the courtyard and guard the alchemy furnace, would have such an opportunity after descending to the mortal realm, becoming leaders and taking on the responsibility of protecting all living beings..." His tone was ambiguous, whether he was lamenting the passage of time or pleased with the boys' growth.

“Speaking of which,” Xiao Jie recalled something, “the two True Immortals, Qingfeng and Mingyue, also asked me about Fellow Daoist Xuanxuzi’s recent situation, and they seemed quite concerned about him.”

“Alas,” Xuanxuzi sighed again, a hint of melancholy in his expression. “Mortals are, after all, deeply affectionate and grateful, so you can’t blame them.”

“If Fellow Daoist Xuanxuzi misses it, why not come with me to the mortal realm for a visit? With the abilities of us immortals, what restrictions or rules could truly bind us?” Xiao Jie asked tentatively.

“Sigh, let’s just forget it.” Xuanxuzi shook his head again, his tone resolute. “Since we are about to part forever, why bother seeing each other again and only adding to the sadness?”

"Farewell?" Xiao Jie keenly caught the word, his heart jolting. "What do you mean? Why do you say that, fellow Daoist?" Xuanxuzi coughed twice, seemingly realizing his slip of the tongue, and immediately changed the subject: "Ahem... This matter is quite complicated, and it's not convenient for me to say more. If you really want to know the details, perhaps... you can go and inquire with fellow Daoist Shenjizi." He passed the buck to Shenjizi.

Seeing that he was unwilling to talk more, Xiao Jie knew that it would be futile to ask any further questions, so he had no choice but to suppress his doubts for the time being.

As the two were talking, the auspicious clouds beneath their feet had already flown over several floating fairy islands, and the surrounding scenery became increasingly desolate and dilapidated.

As he flew along, Xiao Jie noticed that the land and the remaining buildings below were covered with many dark, twisted marks, as if they had been corroded by strong acid.

A thin, yet ubiquitous gray mist filled the air, carrying an aura of death and decay. Wherever it passed, rocks crumbled and the earth cracked. As far as the eye could see, there were almost no green plants, only withered, twisted, charred remains of trees. The ground was covered with large patches of viscous, seemingly alive black grime, quite similar to the black substances he had seen in his inner universe, only much dimmer and more lifeless.

The entire edge of Guyun Prefecture was a desolate wasteland, resembling a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

"Are these... all traces left behind from the invasion of the extraterrestrial demons back then?" Xiao Jie couldn't help but ask, looking at the devastation below. The level of destruction here far surpassed any battlefield he had ever seen before.

“Not bad.” Xuanxuzi’s expression also became much more serious, no longer as relaxed as before. “That great battle back then almost turned the entire Guyun Prefecture into a wasteland. Those extraterrestrial demons… are very troublesome. Even we immortals can easily fall into their traps if we are not careful. They are very difficult to deal with.”

"What exactly does this extraterrestrial demon look like?" Xiao Jie asked curiously.

“They come in all shapes and sizes,” Xuanxuzi recalled, his tone tinged with disgust. “Birds, beasts, fish, insects, twisted human forms, demons, ghosts, evil spirits… all kinds of forms are there, seemingly without any fixed shape.”

Just then, a gigantic figure suddenly caught Xiao Jie's attention. In the center of that wasteland lay the remains of a giant, a hundred meters tall! The giant's entire body was an ominous black and grayish hue. Half of its face was missing, and through the huge gap, one could clearly see that the interior was not bone and flesh, but a strange structure like rotten, hollow, withered wood. Although it had been dead for countless years, it still exuded a chilling residual pressure.

“This giant… was once a powerful figure among the extraterrestrial demons,” Xuanxuzi said in a low voice, with a hint of lingering fear.

"This fellow was extremely troublesome, with a powerful physical body and the ability to devour immortal techniques. Back then, it took more than a dozen fellow cultivators to join forces, set up a great formation, and pay a huge price to finally kill him here."

He paused, then solemnly reminded Xiao Jie: "These extraterrestrial demons mostly possess an extremely troublesome characteristic—they can absorb, transform, and even annihilate spiritual energy and magical power. Never engage them in close combat. Once they capture you or invade your body, even an immortal's body will be in mortal danger. Your immortal essence will be rapidly eroded and drained, and your spiritual consciousness will also be in danger of annihilation. The best way to deal with them is to continuously bombard them from a distance with spells, exhausting their source energy..."

Xuanxuzi spoke earnestly, and Xiao Jie listened carefully, remembering everything he said.

Finally, they gradually reached the very edge of Lonely Cloud State, on a solitary island suspended in the void.

At the very end of that isolated island, atop an exceptionally tall, steep mountain peak that seemed to connect with the sky, stood a colossal stone tower!

The stone tower was grayish-black, with an extremely ancient and even rudimentary design. It stood several hundred meters tall, its spire seemingly piercing the endless void above. The tower's surface was perfectly smooth, devoid of any windows, reliefs, or decorations. Only at its very base was a heavy, tightly closed stone door made of massive stones, bare and without even a door knocker or inscription.

“Look, that’s the Tower of Babel,” Xuanxuzi said, pointing to the stone tower. “I wonder what the fellow Daoist who built this tower was thinking, that his cave dwelling is built in such a strange way.”

Indeed, the stone tower before us lacks the elegance and spiritual charm that a celestial abode should possess; it only exudes an unadorned antiquity and primitiveness, a rugged and heavy sense of wildness.

It looks like a primitive giant haphazardly piling up countless boulders with brute force, but it does look quite magnificent and spectacular.

The moment Xiao Jie saw the stone tower, he immediately understood—this was the place!

It wasn't that he had any special intuition, but rather that he could clearly see a huge golden question mark icon on his game's minimap, clearly marked inside the stone tower! This golden question mark was obviously the icon used by NPCs in the game for players to turn in quests!

"Fellow Daoist Suifeng, do you... have any special feelings about this tower?" Xuanxuzi noticed the change in Xiao Jie's expression and asked tentatively.

“That’s right, this is the place I’ve been looking for.” Xiao Jie nodded, his tone grave. He was almost certain that this Tower of Babel was the next stop on his “Path to Heaven” mission.

"In that case, Fellow Daoist Suifeng, would you like to go in and investigate?" Xuanxuzi asked.

"No," Xiao Jie shook his head, "not yet."

It wasn't that he didn't want to go in, but rather that he dared not enter rashly. Based on his extensive past gaming experience, he knew that many key plot points were triggered directly when the player stepped into a specific area.

He had encountered this situation many times in the past. He hadn't collected all the clues or prepared himself, but he accidentally entered a certain map or talked to a certain NPC, and ended up directly entering the next part of the plot. Or worse, he was directly triggered to the final BOSS battle before he was ready, resulting in mission failure or a very bad experience.

He wasn't sure if, if he pushed open that stone door now and entered this mysterious "Tower of Babel," the system would immediately register it as "opening the path to heaven" and throw him into the perilous "Great Thousand World" without a word. He absolutely couldn't take such an unknown risk without thorough preparation.

"Thank you for leading the way, Fellow Daoist Xuanxuzi," Xiao Jie said solemnly to Xuanxuzi. "Let's go back."

Although Xuanxuzi found it strange that Xiao Jie had arrived at the door but did not go in, he was, after all, an enlightened immortal with excellent manners, so he did not ask any further questions and simply nodded: "Fellow Daoist, you are too kind."

The two then rode on auspicious clouds again and returned along the way they had come. They spoke in silence and soon returned to the misty, ethereal landscape of mountains and seas.

After descending from the clouds, Xiao Jie bowed to Xuanxuzi once more: "Thank you very much, fellow Daoist."

"No need to be so polite, it was just a small favor." Xuanxuzi waved his hand, then asked, "So, what does Fellow Daoist Suifeng plan to do next?"

Xiao Jie turned and looked at the towering Sutra Repository in the distance, and said calmly, "I need to cultivate properly and improve my strength as much as possible."

Whether or not we go to the Tower of Babel, we should strive to improve our strength as much as possible to have more confidence.

(End of this chapter)