Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 712 The Mysterious Realm of the Shrine (Two chapters combined)

In the West Market of Chang'an, the tallow lamp of the Hu Ji Tavern cast dappled shadows on Li Ji's face. This thirty-seven-year-old salt smuggler sat stiffly in the corner closest to the stables, like a rock crashed ashore by a raging storm, its weight pressing heavily on the mottled ground.

The winding cracks on the earthen wall cruelly tore his hunched shadow into three pieces, a microcosm of his life—seven times he entered the examination hall full of ambition, only to fail miserably three times. The oil lamp popped open, a spark flying as it landed on the front of the open "Examination Papers for the Imperial Examination." Beside the essay on salt and iron, written with painstaking effort, the two characters "狂悖" (arrogant and perverse) written in vermilion ink were being rubbed back and forth by the rough salt frost on his fingertips, the ink spreading and becoming as glaring as blood.

In the next private room, the newly appointed scholars used gold-inlaid knives to slice open bright red cherries with a crisp sound, accompanied by the clear clinking of glass cups. Someone was loudly praising, "Minister Zhou measures talent with a jade ruler, and has a discerning eye for talent..."

Li Ji's left hand suddenly convulsed and spasmed. It was Minister Zhou! He was the very teacher who, three days ago, had used that cold, silver hairpin-shaped pen to lightly flick his exam paper into the dust during the examination!
Half a bowl of cheap, cold wine rolled down his throat, burning his mouth with bitterness—this was the last bit of cheap liquor he had bought with his last penny. Meanwhile, the aroma wafting from the private room was the thick, almost eerie sweetness of Western Region wine.

In a daze, he seemed to hear his theory on salt and iron being loudly recited: "The benefits of salt and iron do not lie with the ruler above, nor with the people below..." But then, it was completely drowned out by a burst of shrill laughter.

"Hahaha, a mere salt merchant, instead of properly managing his abacus and coins, dares to dream of winning the moon and rising to the top in one step?"

"Hahahaha!"

"How ridiculous! You think you're so great just because you have a few crooked talents? Little do you know that without the approval of the lord, even if you had the pen of Han Yu reborn, your writing would never see the light of day!"

"With just a flick of his finger, the magistrate caused his ten years of hard study, enduring cold and hunger, to be wasted. The poor fool still probably doesn't understand the principle that 'if you want to wear an official's hat, you must first learn to be a dog!'"

"How pitiful, how hateful, how pathetic! Hahahaha..."

The blurry, noisy scenes in her memory receded rapidly like a tide, but Xiao Ran stood frozen at the doorway, her breathing suddenly becoming heavy and rapid.

Inside his chest, shame, resentment, murderous intent, and sorrow... countless emotions tore and collided with each other like boiling magma, and distracting thoughts grew and spread wildly like poisonous vines, almost cracking his skull.

"Are you... alright?" It wasn't until Shao Hongzhang behind him noticed something was wrong that he gently patted Shao Hongzhang's shoulder.

Xiao Ran suddenly turned her head!
In those eyes, a bloodthirsty glint suddenly erupted like hellfire, and a chilling killing intent pierced towards Shao Hongzhang as if it were tangible. In an instant, Shao Hongzhang's face turned ashen, and his blood seemed to freeze instantly, chilling him from head to toe. He finally truly felt the unfathomable terror of Xiao Ran.

Fortunately, the terrifying fierce light only flashed for a moment before receding like a tide, forcefully suppressed by Xiao Ran, his eyes quickly returning to the clear, deep pool of light. As if it were only a moment of stunned silence, he had already forcibly broken free from the swamp of surging negative emotions.

"I...I'm fine!"

Xiao Ran's voice carried a barely perceptible hoarseness. He slowly shook his head, but his gaze fell suspiciously on his arm—there, a new, faintly visible scarlet mark had quietly emerged as if it were alive.

"Those fragmented memories just now... were they memories of Li Xiao's father, Li Ji, from his youth?" Xiao Ran's eyes were sharp as knives. "What exactly are these fragmented memories trying to tell me? Guidance? Warning? Or a curse?"

Completely baffled, Xiao Ran could only forcefully suppress her chaotic thoughts, her gaze sharp as lightning as she looked at the misty, flowing doorway before her, and then stepped inside without hesitation.

Still shaken, Shao Hongzhang didn't dare delay and followed closely behind. Their figures were instantly swallowed by the thick, impenetrable white mist.

As the white fog gradually thinned, when the two emerged from the mist, they saw what appeared to be a series of crisscrossing mountain peaks standing before them.

"That is??"

Shao Hongzhang followed forward, wanting to see more clearly, but before he could take a step, Xiao Ran grabbed him by the collar.

The next second, Shao Hongzhang felt his feet sink and he almost fell. Looking down, he realized that there was a straight abyss below him.

If it weren't for Xiao Ran, he probably would have fallen and been smashed to pieces.

"Don't move!"

Xiao Ran's spiritual power spread out like a tide, piercing through the mist, but what she saw was not the mountains she had imagined, but...

Shrine!

Shrines stood before me, some as large as mountains, others no bigger than the palm of my hand.

Wherever the spiritual power passed, ripples immediately spread through the void.

The world before me was a collection of shrines of varying sizes and shapes! The larger ones were as majestic as mountains, piercing the hazy sky, while the smaller ones were as delicate as toys in the palm of your hand, scattered in the shadows at the foot of the giant shrines.

Even more unsettling is that countless obscure whispers, murmurs, roars, and chants, seemingly from the ancient past, are surging wildly from within these silent shrines, weaving together into a chaotic and immense mental noise!

"Om-!"

Even with Xiao Ran's strong and vast mental power, when he suddenly came into contact with the chaotic sound resonating from the shrine, he felt as if his head was being pierced by countless steel needles, and the pain was excruciating!

He groaned, his face paling slightly, and immediately withdrew his released spiritual energy into his mind like a startled snake.

"This way!" Xiao Ran suppressed her discomfort and, relying on the path she had caught in a fleeting glance with her spiritual power, led the still-shaken Shao Hongzhang along a narrow, narrow path at the bottom of the huge shrine, barely wide enough for one person to pass through.

Carefully traversing this perilous path, Shao Hongzhang looked back with lingering fear, only to realize with astonishment that the "cliff" they had just stood on was actually the edge of an unimaginably massive ancient shrine!

This shrine has an ancient and majestic shape, standing like a mountain. Although it has been eroded by time, the details of the cloud patterns, auspicious beasts, and immortal herbs carved on its surface are still exquisite and unparalleled, a masterpiece of craftsmanship that is breathtaking.

Inside the deep shrine, a statue of a deity sits, but whether due to external damage or the erosion of time, the statue has collapsed, and even its head is nowhere to be found.

The heavy, dilapidated feel of the shrine contrasted sharply with its solemn and magnificent appearance, creating a striking and contradictory impact that struck Shao Hongzhang's heart, leaving him speechless for a long time.

"Stop looking, this kind of thing isn't rare around here."

Xiao Ran pointed to what was in front of him, and Shao Hongzhang turned his head to look. He saw that there were shrines everywhere in front of him.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but a dense, layered, and endless array of shrines of all sizes! They stood like silent tombstones in the eternal mist, forming a magnificent, eerie, and chilling jungle of death!

"This...this..." Shao Hongzhang felt a chill rush from his tailbone straight to the top of his head, his scalp tingling. He opened and closed his mouth a few times in vain, too terrified to utter a complete sentence.

“Let’s move forward,” Xiao Ran’s voice was exceptionally clear in the deathly silence. “The first test is innate talent, the second is opportunity. If I’m not mistaken, the so-called ‘opportunity’ should be found in these countless shrines.”

He recalled the terrifying shock he had experienced during his mental exploration, the noisy and chaotic babbling... These countless shrines probably contained more than just silent stone statues.

"Where are the others?" Shao Hongzhang tried to calm himself down, his eyes scanning his surroundings nervously. The mist and the shadows of the shrine obscured everything, and there was no sign of the other examinees.

“This place is vast and treacherous, and everyone probably enters from different portals, so meeting is not easy.” Xiao Ran paused slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. “However, I predict… we will eventually meet.”

"You mean... with so many shrines, even moving mountains and filling seas wouldn't be enough to gather enough stone! Even if Huang Chao gathered all the artisans in the world, where would he get all this stone from?"

Shao Hongzhang followed behind Xiao Ran, constantly examining the shrines that passed by. The more he looked, the more unbelievable it became, as it was completely beyond his comprehension.

Xiao Ran did not answer, nor could he answer Shao Hongzhang's confusion. He dragged the cold corpses of the Tan brothers with one hand and held the Wenzhu in the other, like a monk walking before a shrine.

The path beneath my feet winds and twists, its destination unknown.

Until they reached a fork in the road, two paths suddenly appeared before them, both shrouded in thick fog, their destinations unknown and fraught with danger.

Shao Hongzhang took two steps forward, nervously looking left and right: "Which side... should we choose?"

Xiao Ran tried again to use his spiritual power to probe the way, but as soon as his spiritual power left his body, the chaotic noises contained within the countless shrines were like billions of invisible poisonous insects, frantically biting and tearing at his senses, bringing excruciating pain. He groaned, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and had no choice but to give up again.

"Damn it... is my mental power being suppressed too?" Xiao Ran felt a strong sense of alarm. "Is Huang Chao deliberately targeting me? Or is it just a rule inherent to this sacred shrine?"

With both her professional skills and cursed items unusable, Xiao Ran's strength was already severely suppressed. Now, with even her mental power unusable, her strength was further diminished.

If Xiao Ran were to encounter a master like Tan Shancai at this moment, the outcome would be uncertain. The heavy, cold Wenzhu long staff in his hand has become almost his only reliance.

“How about… we go to the left? I think…” Shao Hongzhang was still hesitating between the two options.

"Whoosh..."

Just then, a gentle breeze lightly brushed past Xiao Ran's ear. The breeze was very gentle, but it was mixed with a sweet and fishy smell.

"Blood!"

Xiao Ran's pupils suddenly contracted to pinpoints! He whirled around, his gaze fixed like a hawk's as he stared intently at the path behind him, shrouded in thick fog and the outlines of numerous shrines!
In the deathly still mist, only the silent and enormous shadow of the shrine remained.

A mere instant of stillness!

"Go!" Xiao Ran roared, giving Shao Hongzhang no time to think! He shoved the long staff in his hand into Shao Hongzhang's arms with lightning speed, grabbed the back of his collar with his left hand, and lifted the two corpses on the ground with his right hand. Like an arrow released from a bow, he rushed towards the side path on the right that was swallowed by the mist!

"Huh?!" Shao Hongzhang was caught off guard, feeling an immense force pulling him forward at breakneck speed. The wind howled shrilly in his ears, and the shadows of the huge shrines on both sides blurred into a dark torrent! Xiao Ran's speed was astonishing. With each step, his body almost skimmed the ground, and in the blink of an eye, he was already dozens of meters away!
"Why are you running..." Shao Hongzhang asked in shock, but as soon as he opened his mouth, a cold gust of wind poured into his mouth like a hammer, choking him and making him suffocate.

"Don't speak, something's attached!" Xiao Ran's voice, like a cold iron wire, rang directly in his mind.

"thing?"

Shao Hongzhang felt his hair stand on end! These words, once spoken, sent an indescribable chill and fear gripping his heart! He instinctively and desperately tried to turn his head back.

Amidst the thick fog and the shadowy shrines, he vaguely glimpsed… a fleeting, indescribable shadow, not belonging to the stone statues! It was as fast as an illusion, yet carried a chillingly real quality! Whoosh…

Even without the aid of spiritual power, Xiao Ran's terrifying physical abilities, far exceeding those of ordinary people, were on full display at this moment! His bones and muscles resonated, and his blood and qi surged like rivers. Every step he took on the cold and hard base of the shrine unleashed astonishing power!
Far from being slowed down by Shao Hongzhang's corpse, the speed was instead pushed to its limit by the unknown threat! The wind howled mournfully in their ears, and the massive shrines around them receded rapidly like silent giants.

After running for an unknown amount of time, Xiao Ran finally stopped. The cold, sticky feeling of being watched from behind, like thorns in her back, slowly receded like the tide.

"Finally got rid of it."

Xiao Ran breathed a sigh of relief and looked up. Before she knew it, the light and color of this shrine world were also rapidly dimming, as if an invisible giant hand was slowly drawing a curtain.

The light quickly dimmed, and the last faint trace of gray was about to be completely swallowed by the thick darkness.

"It's getting dark..."

Xiao Ran caught his breath and scanned his surroundings with a serious expression. Continuing to flee blindly in such dim light and complex terrain would only lead to trouble. His gaze was sharp as he searched for a suitable place to land in the rapidly descending twilight.

Not far ahead, a shrine about three stories high stands quietly.

It was inconspicuous among the colossal creatures, but its relatively regular shape and complete structure caught Xiao Ran's attention. He cautiously approached with the still-shaken Shao Hongzhang, carefully examining the shrine, but found no obvious unusual aura or traps.

"Spend the night here, and get some rest."

"Here...here?!"

Shao Hongzhang stared at the dark entrance to the shrine, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty.

As the Director of the Imperial Observatory, he instinctively felt a deep sense of awe towards these shrines that exuded an ancient, eerie, and even blasphemous aura. Who knew what was enshrined inside?

However, looking around, darkness surged in from all directions like ink, and a biting wind began to howl through the crevices between the shrines, emitting a shrill cry like the wailing of wronged souls, causing Shao Hongzhang to shiver.

Shao Hongzhang gritted his teeth, braced himself, and followed Xiao Ran step by step into the dark shrine that resembled the gaping maw of a giant beast.

The interior of the shrine appears even more spacious than the exterior, resembling a hall carved from a single massive stone. Though lacking the extravagance of carved beams and painted rafters, the mottled patterns remaining on the stone walls and the smooth curves of the dome still reveal a glimpse of the craftsmanship of those who once worked there.

In the very center of the niche, the head of the enshrined deity was covered by a black gauze, making it impossible to see the deity's appearance.

After carefully inspecting the statue and confirming that there was nothing seriously wrong with it, Xiao Ran stopped paying attention to it. As long as it didn't bother her, she would never provoke it.

The two found a corner at the innermost part of the shrine, away from the entrance and the statues, and sat down. Xiao Ran took out some dry food and water and gave them to Shao Hongzhang.

Although it wasn't hot food, in this godforsaken place, a bite of soft bread and a glass of sweet mineral water were better than anything else.

In no time, darkness descended completely outside the niche, like thick ink poured down, instantly swallowing everything. Even though Xiao Ran's eyesight was far superior to that of ordinary people, the limit of what he could see was only five steps in front of him; beyond that was pure, suffocating blackness.

"Whoosh..."

The cold wind weaves through, collides, and squeezes among the shrines, emitting strange howls that are sometimes shrill and sometimes mournful, sending chills down one's spine.

Shao Hongzhang curled up into a ball, pressing himself tightly against the cold stone wall. Although the interior of the shrine was spacious, the thick stone walls at least kept out most of the biting cold wind, making it a rare place to stay compared to the outside. The only unbearable thing was the boundless darkness that seemed to devour the soul.

There was nothing here to start a fire. Nothing but cold, hard stones.

Not even a withered blade of grass or a piece of rotten wood could be found, making it a luxury to light a fire for warmth.

Moreover, even if there were such a thing, Xiao Ran would never agree to light a fire. In this eerie realm, a single spark is tantamount to lighting the most conspicuous soul-guiding lamp for the unknown things lurking in the darkness.

"You rest first, I'll keep watch." Xiao Ran's voice rang out in the absolute darkness, carrying a reassuring calmness.

"Then it's hard work for you."

Shao Hongzhang didn't stand on ceremony, because he was indeed exhausted both physically and mentally at that moment.

But as he curled up in the corner, listening to the howling wind outside, he tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep no matter what.

My mind was a mess; I just couldn't figure out how Huang Chao had managed to do all that.

As the Director of the Imperial Observatory, who was well-versed in geomancy, how could he not even understand such a simple technique?

Filled with complex emotions and confusion, Shao Hongzhang struggled with these thoughts until late at night before finally falling asleep.

He slept for an unknown amount of time, and in his hazy state, Shao Hongzhang had a dream.

I dreamt that when I was little, I was playing in the yard, making a house out of mud mixed with sticks and branches.

When his grandfather saw it, he was very happy and patted his head, praising himself for having a talent for geomancy.

At that time, Shao Hongzhang was overjoyed. Pointing to the crooked mud house, he declared that when he grew up, he would build a big house for his grandfather.

The warmth in his dream made Shao Hongzhang feel like he had found a safe haven, forgetting the pain of his country's destruction and his family's loss. Even when he saw ants on the ground crawling into the mud house he had made in his dream, Shao Hongzhang became happier and happier.

Watching and watching...

"Huh!!!"

Suddenly, an absurd and audacious conjecture flashed into his mind, instantly waking him from his sleep.

"I understand, I understand..."

The moment he opened his eyes, Shao Hongzhang was about to shout out his thoughts, but Xiao Ran covered his mouth as soon as he opened it.

"Woooooooo..."

"Don't speak, there's something outside."

Xiao Ran's words immediately calmed Shao Hongzhang down, and he stared at Xiao Ran with wide eyes.

Xiao Ran slowly released his hand, made a shushing gesture, and then pulled him to the door of the shrine, pointing to the upper left corner outside.

Shao Hongzhang looked up and froze. In the dark shadows, a pair of emerald green eyes flickered like fireflies. Then, the eyes blinked and changed position, as if they were rapidly approaching.

But apart from those eyes, Shao Hongzhang couldn't make out the thing's exact appearance.

"What is that thing?"

"do not know."

Xiao Ran shook his head, because he couldn't see what it was either.

But one thing is certain: this thing must have been watching them ever since they entered, and it has been following them the whole time.

Xiao Ran thought she had shaken off the other person, but she didn't expect that he would actually chase after her.

Seeing that this thing seemed to be following the scent of the two people and was getting closer,
Xiao Ran gripped the writing tablet tightly in his hand, signaling Shao Hongzhang to step back. He placed the corpses of the Tan brothers directly in front of the statue to attract their attention, while holding his breath and hiding in the shadows.

Since he can no longer project his spiritual power, it means that many of his methods have been reduced by more than half, and his attempt to use corpse techniques to suppress the pressure is probably not going to work.

With cursed items and professional skills unusable, Xiao Ran had to proceed with extreme caution.

The blurry shadow in the darkness drew closer and closer, and its indistinct outline could now be barely discerned in the darkness.

Shao Hongzhang involuntarily swallowed. He could even hear the creature's claws making a "crunching" sound as they scraped against the stone.

This made Shao Hongzhang's heart start pounding.

"call……"

A gust of wind blew in from outside, carrying with it a strong smell of blood.

Shao Hongzhang was so blasted by the sudden gust of wind that he couldn't open his eyes and could only turn his head to the side.

It was at this moment that Shao Hongzhang noticed that the gauze that had been covering the head of the statue had been blown away. He instinctively looked up and saw that the corners of the statue's lips were slowly opening under the gauze. Its gray eyes suddenly glanced down and stared straight at the corpses of the Tan brothers in front of it.

"hiss!!!"

Upon seeing this, Shao Hongzhang froze, feeling a chill creep up his spine to the back of his head, making his scalp tingle: "This thing... is alive??"

(End of this chapter)