Yu Gensheng, as a disciple of that unorthodox cultivator, could not fully control this painted world, but he could wield a portion of its power. Coupled with the world’s mana amplifier, he truly carried a semblance of a divine king.
“What about the curse you placed on them?”
“It’s just a bewitching spell,” Yu Gensheng replied. “It only instils reverence and admiration for me in their hearts. Once they leave, they’ll rebuild the mountain god temple, offer incense, and chant day and night.”
“This painted wall world…”
“It’s already weakening. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have drawn these two in,” Yu Gensheng said, glancing at Madam Du and Du Yueyao.
Lu Zheng turned back and saw the two women with gossip-hungry expressions, their eyes gleaming.
Lu Zheng, “…”
The painted wall world had completely concealed its aura, relying entirely on its former foundation to function. Without the support of incense, it was gradually failing, occasionally revealing its supernatural nature.
“If it goes too long without replenishment…”
“This painted world will naturally collapse, and we will all become wandering ghosts,” Yu Gensheng said bitterly.
Lu Zheng sneered, “You’re already wandering ghosts, and these people are brainwashed wandering ghosts at that.”
Yu Gensheng had admitted as much, yet these people’s eyes still brimmed with respect for him and a sense of belonging to this world.
Lu Zheng curled his lip. Though influenced by the mental curse, these people were originally ordinary mortals. This century-long fleeting dream was indeed far more comfortable than a life of mundane hardship.
If they learned the truth, every single one of them would likely break down.
Even in ancient times, let alone the modern era, faced with the potential extinction of humanity due to the metaverse’s development, how many could choose the stars and seas over the temptation of an alternate immortality online?
People are greedy for pleasure…
Lu Zheng shook his head, casting these thoughts aside.
No matter. With the jade seal, he didn’t need to make such a choice. True immortality in his real body was far superior to the metaverse.
“You can’t leave this painted world anymore, can you?” Lu Zheng asked.
Yu Gensheng hesitated.
He could still leave, but even if he did, he would merely be a wandering ghost with less than a century of cultivation. One mishap, and he could be destroyed.
“So, it’s really just this painted world that’s interesting,” Lu Zheng nodded, a glint in his eyes as he asked Yu Gensheng, “Do you know how this painted world was created?”
To Lu Zheng, the painted world didn’t seem to require special materials, likely crafted through a unique, exclusive method.
An independent world with a different flow of time from the outside!
Though this world had the drawback of only allowing soul entry and offering little cultivation potential, it undeniably provided ten times the time for learning and thinking.
“I… don’t know,” Yu Gensheng shrank back. “It was my master’s direct teaching, but he hadn’t passed it on to me yet.”
Fine, the one thing of value was out of reach.
Having uncovered the painted world’s secrets, Lu Zheng lost his curiosity and anticipation for it and prepared to take Madam Du and her daughter out.
“Sir?” Yu Gensheng asked cautiously.
“What?”
“Um… about this painted world…”
“What, still planning to lure and bewitch people?” Lu Zheng asked with a half-smile.
“No! No!” Yu Gensheng waved his hands in frantic denial.
Before he could ask more, Lu Zheng wrapped Madam Du and her daughter in a cloud of mist, drew on his true spirit, and led them out of the painted world.
Just a wandering ghost overlooked by the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, no need to waste words on him.
…
In the temple, Madam Du and Du Yueyao jolted awake, looking at the anxious Du Yuru and the guards around them. Seeing Lu Zheng standing aside, they both bowed to him in unison.
“Thank you, Young Master!”
“No need for thanks, please rise!” Lu Zheng gestured to lift them, keeping his hands off.
“Madam! Yueyao!”
Seeing them awake, Du Yuru rushed forward, grasping their hands.
“Husband!”
“Father!”
Looking at Du Yuru, the two felt relief and lingering fear. Had Du Yuru not invited Lu Zheng to dine with them, would they have fallen prey to Yu Gensheng?
The thought of those so-called immortal officials and celestial maidens in the painted world sent shivers down their spines. Though they retained their thoughts, they had lost their sense of self.
“Are you both alright?” Du Yuru inspected them closely.
“We’re fine, thanks to Young Master Lu’s intervention, saving us from that painted world’s anomaly,” Madam Du said.
“Painted world anomaly!”
At those words, everyone stepped back in unison, staring at the wall painting in horror, their movements perfectly synchronised.
Only Du Yuru bowed to Lu Zheng again. “Thank you, Young Master, for your rescue.”
“No trouble, just a small effort,” Lu Zheng gently lifted him up.
“Buzz!”
A soft hum, and forty-eight strands of fortune’s light were absorbed by the jade seal.
What was that?
Lu Zheng blinked, eyeing Du Yuru, mentally querying the jade seal.
The jade seal gave no response.
“It’s fine now. The anomaly in the painting can’t escape. As long as you don’t look at it, you won’t be drawn in,” Lu Zheng said.
Everyone promptly averted their gazes from the painting, their movements identical.
Du Yuru glanced at the painting again, frowning, then turned to Lu Zheng. “What are your plans, Young Master?”
Lu Zheng looked back and saw the divine king in the painting’s banquet scene seemingly turn, gazing out with a faint plea in his eyes.
Lu Zheng scolded, “What are you looking at? Should I leave you to harm more people?”
With those words, he formed a hand seal, summoning clouds and mist that transformed into a cloud-pattern seal on the wall.
The next moment, the painting’s colours faded, covered by faint cloud patterns. The divine king’s image reverted to its earlier jovial state, but compared to its previous pitiful expression, it now seemed lifeless.
“Not bad, it actually worked!” Lu Zheng’s eyes lit up.
This was a sealing spell from the *Cloud Movement Technique*, called the Cloud Seal Curse, used to bind anomalies. It was Lu Zheng’s first time using it.
And it sealed the painting instantly.
Though only a temporary seal, it was enough for Lu Zheng to notify the Yangzhou Anomaly Suppression Bureau.
“All done!” Lu Zheng clapped his hands, smiling easily.
“Young Master, truly impressive!” Du Yuru praised.
The guards and servants looked at Lu Zheng with admiration, Madam Du’s eyes filled with gratitude, and Du Yueyao’s gaze sparkled with vibrant awe, bright as stars.
…
Lunch was over. The Du family’s servants packed up the cooking tools, loaded them onto the carriage, and the group moved to the roadside to bid farewell.
