Bitter Realm: My Feet Step Through the Flames of War

(Seeking monthly votes, baby!)

Chapter 183 Su Huanzhen still had to bear the consequences.

After retrieving the Wangqiao Cloud Halberd, he placed it together with the Cang'er Blade.

One is blue, the other is purple, both radiating holy light and brimming with spiritual energy.

Xianling was indeed very happy. After touching it, he took a paintbrush and drew the cloud halberd: "I want to show it to my mother and the Empress Dowager."

In painting, Xianling displayed astonishing talent, which made Nanfeng Bujing even more arrogant, since he was the one who taught Xianling painting.

Just as everyone was admiring the divine weapon, Qu Shitu requested an audience.

Upon hearing that it was Qu Abo, Luo Hou waved his hands repeatedly: "Do not enter the palace, meet him on the shore of the Western Sea."

On the shore of the West Sea, after several years of construction, in addition to the fishing platform, the Qinlu Pavilion, the willow embankment, the fishing port, and the painted boats, there is also an exquisite Tingchao Pavilion.

Qu Shitu was invited into the Tingchao Pavilion, where tables and chairs were provided, fruits were fragrant, and tea was served warmly.

The old man said enviously, "Wu Jun, you really enjoy yourself. Poor Su Huanzhen..."

"How is Su Huanzhen?"

Since the end of the battle between Buddha and Li, Su Huanzhen has been engaged in a battle of wits and courage with the Blood Puppet Master. Unfortunately, the Blood Puppet Master has the great cheat code "Saint Demon Origin History", which allows him to escape Su Huanzhen's hunt several times.

A month ago, Su Huanzhen suddenly disappeared, and a celestial official appeared in the martial arts world to bestow blessings.

Luo Hou knew the details and didn't pay much attention, only thinking that history had been rewritten, there was no Holy Seal to Stop the War, and Su Laojian hadn't cleaved the Underworld with his sword, so he shouldn't be targeted by Time City anymore.

Qu Shitu said worriedly, "A few days ago, the Heavenly Official posted a notice at the Public Pavilion, revealing all the details of the Blood Puppet Master. After that, he was chased by the Blood Puppet Master and disappeared."

"He must have been injured and gone into hiding."

“Wu Jun, Su Huanzhen once said that if he needed anything, he would come to you. Now I can only come to you.”

“Su Huanzhen has fourteen lives, so you don’t need to worry.”

"What?"

"I believe in Su Huanzhen; he will naturally appear soon."

Qu Shitu started to act shamelessly: "Before I met Su Huanzhen, I lived in Tianbudu. Anyway, the scenery here is better than Tuisongyan. There are only mountains there."

"Ok?"

"Never mind!"

A moment later, Qu Shitu was escorted back to Tuisong Rock by Nanfeng Bujing and Xiao Ribiao, one on the left and one on the right.

Luo Hou then arrived at Shuli Mountain.

This mountain is lush and verdant, full of spiritual energy. In contrast to the barren yellow earth within a hundred miles, it is clearly the territory of the privileged class.

Time City is located in the sea of ​​clouds at the summit of Shuli Mountain. To reach the top, one must first climb the Thousand Cloud Steps.

Luo Hou looked up at the Thousand Cloud Steps. The mountain wind blew fiercely, white clouds swirled, and a jade line stretched straight to the sky, seemingly endless.

Upon stepping onto the first step, an immense force immediately struck; the mountain had seemingly sealed off one's physical abilities, leaving one to climb it solely through physical strength.

"Ok?"

He was not afraid to climb the mountain with his physical body, whether it was a thousand steps or ten thousand steps, there would always be a time when he reached the end.

But if someone were to do something similar, repeating the story of Kou Yinzi... we must be on guard.

Jidu drew his sword.

Luo Hou focused his mind and gathered his energy, unleashing the Heaven-Shattering Star-Slaying Technique. A crimson aura emerged from the blade, reflecting in the distant sky.

Just as the loading bar was halfway complete, suddenly, the Thousand Cloud Steps rapidly transformed into a golden avenue.

A figure floated down from the main road, shouting, "No!"

Rahu didn't stop; instead, he turned Ketu around and pointed at the man: "Who are you?"

The newcomer, dressed in a blue robe and wearing a top hat, turned pale when he saw that Ji Du was facing him directly in the chest.

He removed his top hat and bowed deeply: "I am the Time Messenger. Does Lord Wu intend to ascend Mount Shuli?"

"Of course."

"I came to greet you on the orders of the city lord. Although I am a little late, why should the Martial Lord draw his sword or spear?"

"I had no intention of offending you."

Luo Hou only wanted to use the Fallen Star Slaying Technique to summon the Brahma Demon Body to avoid being ambushed while climbing the mountain, but he didn't expect Time City to misunderstand.

However, upon hearing Yin Sui's words, a thought struck him: Could it be that the Fallen Star Slaying Technique could truly cleave through the City of Time?

"Please come with me up the mountain."

Special treatment makes all the difference; the two of them rode an elevator along the golden avenue and instantly arrived at the top of Shuli Mountain.

A vast sea of ​​clouds, with gentle and tranquil air currents, swirls in the alien sky, forming a mysterious and exotic city.

What comes into view are clocks floating in the sky and a majestic palace gate. The wind hastens the passage of time, gradually disappearing into nothingness, and then gradually taking shape again.

The sounds that fill the ears are the fleeting light and shadow, every second chasing between fast and slow, overlapping and separating again, month after month, year after year.

"Please come in."

Luo Hou followed Yin Sui to the back garden, where a Gothic archway stood, inside which was a white pavilion.

The elegantly dressed and graceful Lord of Time was sitting in the pavilion, enjoying afternoon tea.

Delicate pastries were laid out on the table.

"Please sit down, Lord Wu... Drink your wine, you can go about your business now."

"Resign."

After drinking and leaving, Luo Hou sat down.

He dared not drink the tea in front of him, remembering that Su Huanzhen had worked here for a long time, and only drank the city lord's tea when he left.

The city lord did not press the matter, but simply smiled and asked, "Why did you come to Mount Shuli, Martial Lord?"

"I have come to find Su Huanzhen."

"Oh? Su Huanzhen isn't here."

Luo Hou's expression was always serious. He stared at the city lord as usual, but in the city lord's eyes, it seemed to carry a murderous intent.

"Really not here?"

“This… Su Huanzhen is indeed here. He made a pact with Time City back then, and now is the time for him to fulfill his promise.”

"What agreement?"

Luo Hou pressed on, asking, "Without the Holy Seal of Ceasefire, the time spent in the Bitter Realm has not been reduced, nor has there been any talk of losing memories. How could Su Huanzhen be punished?"

"The Bitter Realm has three extra years. These three years must have been borrowed from a parallel universe or a future universe. However, time is a matter of conservation, so Su Huanzhen must return these extra three years."

How do I return it?

"By manually pushing the sundial, we can slow down its operation and it will take about thirty years to synchronize it back to its original time track."

Grinding millstones for thirty years.

This dates back to the period of the struggle for supremacy in the ancient plains.

"May I meet with Su Huanzhen?"

"Okay, I'll take you there."

The two walked through the clouds and chatted along the way. The Lord of Time City always tried to find out about Luo Hou's background, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

However, there were some things that even Luo Hou himself couldn't explain, so the only response he could give was to laugh it off.

Deep within the sea of ​​clouds, a giant sundial slowly rotates, like a Ferris wheel laid flat.

The city lord explained, "The sundial is normally operated by a time-pushing robot, but it can also be operated by a person. Operating it can increase one's lifespan. The sundial operates when illuminated by the three luminaries of the mortal world, but it will stop operating once the forces of darkness obscure these luminaries."

What impact would it have if the sundial stopped operating?

"The consequence of everything coming to a standstill is that people are neither born nor die."

"Is it immortality?"

The city lord laughed and said, "Wrong. When the meaning of time is lost, where is the concept of life?"

A chill ran through Luo Hou's heart. What would happen if this person in front of him had a moment of despair and took away the time of the Bitter Realm?

When the sundial had completed one full rotation, Luo Hou saw Su Huanzhen.

At this moment, the eldest brother was disheveled, walked with difficulty, and his hands, which were tightly gripping the time track, were trembling.

Clearly, one cannot use true power to propel the time track; it relies entirely on the physical body.

"Su Huanzhen".

Hearing the familiar voice, Su Huanzhen looked up in surprise: "Martial Lord, it's you!"

Luo Hou walked to his side. Although pushing the millstone was Su Huanzhen's inescapable destiny, the extra three years this time were caused by him.

A feeling of guilt welled up inside him.

"You have worked hard."

"Not at all, I am very happy to see an old friend here."

"It was Qu Shitu who sent me to find you; he was very worried about you."

"Alas, I left in such a hurry that I have caused them worry."

Su Huanzhen kept moving forward, pushing the time track slowly forward. A few large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead from time to time, but he had no time to wipe them away.

"What message do you have for them?"

"Please tell Qu Shitu that we will meet when the time is right. Also, please be wary of the Blood Puppet Master, he is a source of chaos and must be eliminated."

"I understand."

Seeing that Su Huanzhen had nothing more to say, Luo Hou left the sundial area and bid farewell to the Lord of Time.

"Hey, why are you in such a hurry to leave? I have some prophecies about the future of the Bitter Realm, would you like to hear them?"