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Chapter 400: Chapter 400: Firing the Gun

"The opportunity is fleeting. If I don't kill him now, who knows when the next chance will come? He must die!" Zhong Shan said firmly, his eyes flashing with determination.

"You can't defeat him!" Nian Youyou shook her head.

"That's not your concern. I was too impulsive earlier. Next time I face him, I will control myself. I can kill him," Zhong Shan said resolutely.

"But why should I help you? You owe me a lot already. You haven't even repaid me for the roses, and I've saved your life twice. You haven't settled any of these debts," Nian Youyou said with a sudden smile.

"I will do my best to catch the pet you want," Zhong Shan said, frowning.

"That's not enough. Catching the pet was already agreed upon," Nian Youyou shook her head.

"I will remember this favor," Zhong Shan said, feeling a bit impatient.

If it were any other matter, Zhong Shan could deal with it, but for him, when it came to avenging Kui'er, any bargaining was intolerable. A hint of annoyance rose in his heart.

Seeing Zhong Shan's impatience, Nian Youyou quickly said, "Alright, alright. Just remember you owe me."

"Fine," Zhong Shan nodded, calming down.

"Zhiguang Arhat's residence is out of the question. He lives near a group of other arhats, and monks are often around. But there is one place where he goes alone for a month at a time, which happens to be where I want to catch my pet," Nian Youyou said.

"Oh?"

"Let's be clear: if I help you kill Zhiguang Arhat, you owe me another favor," Nian Youyou immediately added.

"No need. I don't need your help. I'll deal with my enemy myself," Zhong Shan said firmly.

"You?" Nian Youyou looked at Zhong Shan skeptically.

"Just tell me where it is," Zhong Shan insisted, ignoring Nian Youyou's doubt.

"The Blue Sea of Heart Refinement," Nian Youyou said.

"What kind of place is that?" Zhong Shan asked.

"It's a very peculiar place in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, an extensive area shrouded in blue mist. Inside, you will encounter endless illusions that disturb the mind but lack physical attack power. If you can't handle the illusions, you can just sit down and meditate to overcome them. It's an excellent place for training the mind and will. Over the years, it opens to the public every two months for one month at a time. Zhiguang Arhat, because he has a 'Bodhi Seed' given by a Buddha, is responsible for twenty years to bring out those who can't handle the illusions and end up meditating," Nian Youyou explained.

"With a Bodhi Seed, he can ignore the illusions?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Exactly! The Blue Sea of Heart Refinement is vast and well-hidden. If you want to confront him, it has to be there," Nian Youyou explained.

Closing his eyes, Zhong Shan took a deep breath. "Thank you."

"Verbal thanks mean nothing. Remember this favor, and don't forget, my pet is in the depths of the Blue Sea of Heart Refinement. You must catch it for me," Nian Youyou said.

"A pet? What kind of pet are you talking about? Didn't you say the Blue Sea of Heart Refinement has no physical attacks? Won't your pet attack people?" Zhong Shan asked, frowning.

"The pet I'm talking about is unique. It doesn't attack people in the usual sense. It's a rare creature known as the 'Phantom Lotus Beast.' It can merge with the illusions, making it hard to detect. You have to catch it without getting caught up in the illusions yourself," Nian Youyou explained.

Zhong Shan nodded, understanding the challenge ahead. "I'll catch it for you. But first, I need to kill Zhiguang Arhat."

"Just be careful. The Blue Sea of Heart Refinement is not to be underestimated," Nian Youyou warned.

"I will," Zhong Shan said, his resolve unshaken.

"It doesn't attack people; it's actually afraid of humans. I discovered it because of my ancestor who was an immortal. It's hidden in the Blue Sea of Heart Refinement, unknown to anyone," Nian Youyou explained.

"It's afraid of people? What is it doing in there? Cultivating? What does it eat?" Zhong Shan asked.

"I'm not sure. I haven't even seen it clearly. I just know it's hiding in there. As for cultivation, you're right. It cultivates by consuming something from people," Nian Youyou said.

"Oh? Consuming something from people?" Zhong Shan was surprised.

"Merit or fortune!" Nian Youyou replied.

"What? It consumes merit and fortune?" Zhong Shan was taken aback.

"Yes, the last time I went in, it consumed a lot of my merit. Luckily, I am a real person of the Longevity Realm, and the Longevity Realm replenished my merit. The same will happen for you. You are attached to the Great Luo Dynasty, so if your fortune is consumed, the Great Luo Dynasty will replenish it. But if it's your own collected fortune, once it's gone, it's gone," Nian Youyou explained.

"Uh?" Zhong Shan looked at Nian Youyou in surprise.

Fortune, indeed, a large portion of it came from the Great Luo Dynasty, but he also had the fortune of the Great Zong Dynasty. Would that just be lost?

"What's wrong?" Nian Youyou asked, noticing Zhong Shan's reaction.

"Don't worry, I can gather more fortune. I will keep my promise," Zhong Shan said, taking a deep breath.

Indeed, with the Great Zong Dynasty behind him, even if the little beast consumed some of his fortune, he could gather more later. The key was to fulfill his promise to Nian Youyou and repay the favor.

Still, how could there be such a beast that consumed merit and fortune? How did it eat?

Five days later, Nian Youyou brought Zhong Shan to the peak of a mountain.

The sky was still filled with golden light, while below, a vast mountain range was shrouded in endless rolling blue mist. The mist obscured everything, making it impossible to see inside. The overall view was quite beautiful. Zhong Shan didn't use his divine sense to probe, as Nian Youyou had mentioned it would be useless. The illusions could even attach to the divine sense, making one 'see' things that weren't there, like a dragon in a place where there was none.

His son, being at the Golden Core stage, was left behind with Mr. Corpse to ensure his safety.

"This is the Blue Sea of Heart Refinement. The deeper you go, the stronger the illusions. It's best not to fly inside, as it can lead to confusion and crashes. In three days, Zhiguang Arhat will enter to find those who can't withstand the illusions and have entered meditation. Be prepared; I'll lead him to you," Nian Youyou explained.

"Got it," Zhong Shan nodded.

Following Nian Youyou down the mountain, Zhong Shan squinted at the blue mist sea before stepping in.

"Boom!"

Not far ahead, the ground suddenly erupted, and a withered human hand emerged. Most of the flesh on the hand had rotted away, making it look horrifying.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

In rapid succession, the ground all around Zhong Shan was upheaved, and countless rotting arms emerged, waving as if trying to grab something. In no time, the once blue mist environment transformed into a dark hellscape filled with countless grasping hands, as numerous as grass on a prairie, reaching for anything above them.

Further away, decayed corpses staggered towards Zhong Shan, their rotting hands reaching out to tear him apart.

Zhong Shan stared coldly ahead, continuing to walk forward. The decayed corpses drew closer, one hand reaching to gouge out his eyes, stopping just ten centimeters away.

Unfazed, Zhong Shan maintained his composure, reminding himself that these were merely illusions meant to disturb his mind. He kept walking, knowing that his mission required unwavering determination and focus.

Zhong Shan didn't blink as he walked forward, letting the decaying hands pass through him as if they were mere projections—just illusions.

Passing through this illusion, Zhong Shan saw Nian Youyou again.

"How was it?" Nian Youyou asked with a smile.

"Ordinary," Zhong Shan replied.

"Yes, that was the simplest illusion. The real deep illusions are ahead, and they will dig into your heart, creating scenes that make you happy, scared, sad, or sorrowful. There are all kinds," Nian Youyou said.

"Let's go further," Zhong Shan said.

"Alright, these next few days, you'll truly experience the wonders of these illusions," Nian Youyou replied with a smile.

As they progressed, Zhong Shan encountered various illusions, but none could deter him. By noon the next day, they arrived at a very secluded valley within the Blue Sea of Heart Refinement. Here, Zhong Shan faced another illusion.

"Don't move, hands on your head, lie down!"

"Move again, and I'll shoot! Drop the weapon on the ground."

"Calling headquarters, we are at Wenchang Pavilion in Yangzhou. We've located the criminal Zhong Shan. The suspect has taken a hostage. Requesting backup, requesting backup!"

Seeing the two armed police officers, Zhong Shan was momentarily dazed. A sense of disorientation almost made him comply with their orders.

His pupils contracted as he quickly snapped out of the induced feeling.

"The suspect killed the hostage. Open fire!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A series of gunshots rang out, but nothing happened to Zhong Shan. He stared deeply at the police officers before the illusion faded away.

"What did you see?" Nian Youyou asked Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan looked at her strangely. How could he explain that he had seen police officers opening fire?

"These illusions come from the heart?" Zhong Shan asked curiously.

"Not exactly. They dig into your stored memories, creating strange scenarios for you. It looks like you can't go any further for now. Stay here, and I'll go fetch Zhiguang Arhat," Nian Youyou explained.

"Alright," Zhong Shan nodded.

Zhong Shan remained alone in the valley while Nian Youyou went to find Zhiguang Arhat. As he looked around, the memory of the police and the gunfire resurfaced, something he hadn't recalled in a long time.

Shaking off the absurd feeling, Zhong Shan retrieved a large palace from his storage bracelet and fixed it in the valley using formations. Then he waited.

Zhong Shan was determined to face Zhiguang Arhat here and, with his own strength, kill the Imperial Extremity Realm expert to honor Kui'er's memory.

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(To be continued)