Chen Renfeng had no good way to return at this point. His only reliance was his extensive archaeological experience and historical knowledge.
This world was not a fantasy novel. There was no system or cheat ability.
His expression turned solemn, and he first climbed out of the lake.
Chen Qing reached out and pulled Bai Xue ashore, saying gravely, "My analysis is that during the experiment, the micro nuclear-fusion power source and the quantum computer's processing power worked together, triggering some kind of Law of Space-Time and sending us into the Small World inside this jade pendant."
"We're really inside the jade pendant? Can we still get out?" Bai Xue barely managed to accept this absurd reality before a string of questions spilled from her lips.
Chen Qing shook his head. "I don't know either. I've never been interested in those cultivation and fantasy novels." The two of them simultaneously turned their eyes toward Professor Chen Renfeng.
As an authority in the archaeological world, Chen Renfeng had led teams in completing numerous major archaeological projects. At this moment, he knew he had to shoulder the responsibility and lead the two young people out of their predicament.
He turned to face them and said in a steady voice, "Chen Qing, stay with Bai Xue and look for food in the grass by the lake. I'll go ahead and see if there's a way out."
Once the two began moving, Chen Renfeng called out again, "Don't go into the forest or up the distant mountains."
After the two responded, he walked alone toward the edge of the grassland. At this moment, he wanted to know where the White Deer Immortal intended to take them.
Chen Renfeng crouched at the edge of the grass and carefully peered outside. The sight before him made his eyes widen once again.
The White Deer Immortal's study was shrouded beneath a glazed dome, with curtains woven from stardust hanging like flowing water. Luminous pearls illuminated the room as brightly as day. The immortal lazily reclined on a jeweled jade couch, crossing her legs as she savored a celestial peach.
A white crane stood before her, holding up a book. Every time she blinked, the pages turned automatically. This was the Five Quarters Karma Records she had borrowed from the Lord of Mount Tai, and she had already reached the final volume.
In the center of the study, Chen Tuan formed hand seals. A Cosmos Jade Brush was writing on its own across white paper, outlining the mountains, rivers, cities, and common people across the five regions of the human world. Above every country, city, and person floated a string of numbers, constantly fluctuating as countless threads intertwined.
Just then, a notification sounded in the study: "The Southern Expedition Country's Karma Value has suffered a deficit of one hundred and twenty thousand. Countdown to the collapse of the regime: thirty days!"
"Chen Tuan, what are you drawing?" the White Deer Immortal asked indifferently.
"Supreme Immortal, please allow me to sort out my thoughts first and calculate the karma before and after," Chen Tuan replied respectfully.
The White Deer Immortal sighed softly. "I've finished reading all five volumes. Among the billions of living beings in the human world, not one resembles Qing Shi or Bai Yu."
Chen Tuan stopped writing and smiled. "White Deer Supreme Immortal, the workings of heavenly karma are profound and unfathomable. We must consider them carefully."
The White Deer Immortal yawned, thick with weariness. "Find Qing Shi and Bai Yu a good background and let them ascend in peace. I'm tired. I'll rest for a while."
Before her words had even faded, the immortal revealed her true form as a white deer and lay on the jade couch, breathing evenly. Five-colored motes of light drifted from the couch and slowly merged into her body.
Holding his breath, Chen Renfeng quietly watched Chen Tuan calculate again and again, writing furiously across the long scroll. He did not know how much time had passed when Bai Xue and Chen Qing came looking for him, bringing him lake water in broad grass leaves. After pausing briefly, the two continued exploring.
After drinking the lake water, Chen Renfeng's spirits lifted somewhat, and he continued focusing on the outside world.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Chen Tuan finally completed the long scroll and called out to awaken the White Deer Immortal, his face glowing with excitement. The two discussed going together to report back to Ancestor Lu.
Chen Renfeng saw the White Deer Immortal transform into a woman. As she passed before him, a slender jade hand reached out, and the jade pendant was taken away again. Footsteps echoed across the road and stairs, mixed with the White Deer Immortal's repeated yawns.
After traveling for some time, Chen Renfeng recognized the garden they had first arrived in. The White Deer Immortal tied the jade pendant back onto a tree branch before the green jade statue.
In the garden, the White Deer Immortal called out, and Ancestor Lu silently appeared, giving Chen Tuan and the White Deer Immortal a slight nod.
Chen Tuan raised his hand and beckoned. The jade brush flew into his hand, and he lightly tapped the air with it. In an instant, the sky unfurled into a colossal scroll. Golden characters and five-colored illustrations intertwined into a purple-gold scroll, slowly revealing the mountains, rivers, cities, and common people of the five regions of the human world. The karma and causality between all things under heaven were displayed in the finest detail.
The White Deer Immortal opened her mouth in shock and widened her eyes as she searched carefully.
After observing it, Ancestor Lu laughed and scolded, "Tunan, you little rascal. You certainly know how to toy with the people of the world!"
Chen Tuan gave an embarrassed smile and stood respectfully with his hands lowered.
The White Deer Immortal's eyes were dazzled by the sight, and she hurriedly asked, "Where is Bai Yu?"
Ancestor Lu smiled. "In the Wuman Lands of the Southern Expedition Country, the wood spirit stone has stirred. The lone mountain in Luoqie Lake is precisely her opportunity." He casually pointed into the air, and the Bai Yu stone statue among the flowers trembled lightly before flying upward.
A gigantic infant leaped out of the stone statue. She glanced at the three people with their backs to her, then plunged headfirst into the jade pendant on the tree branch. The Bai Yu stone statue immediately sank into the painting in the air and vanished.
"What about Qing Shi?" the White Deer Immortal pressed.
Ancestor Lu pondered. "The empress dowager of the Northern Feather Country has an old connection with this palace, so I'll grant Qing Shi an opportunity and let him protect his entire clan when the country falls." With a light sweep of his sleeve, the green jade statue stirred. A gigantic infant leaped out and plunged straight into the jade pendant.
The green jade statue flew into the air. With Ancestor Lu's single word—"Go"—it sank into the painting and disappeared without a trace.
Seeing this, the White Deer Immortal felt reluctant and angrily took it out on Chen Tuan. "You, Chen Tuan! You actually failed to include them in the Book of Destinies!"
Chen Tuan remained neither servile nor overbearing. "Ancestor Lu has already found opportunities for them."
"But they're destined to suffer!" the White Deer Immortal protested indignantly.
Ancestor Lu's expression turned solemn. "The Heavenly Dao is subtle, and the Human Dao is difficult. White Deer, do you understand?"
The White Deer Immortal could only fall silent.
Inside the world of the jade pendant, Chen Renfeng was listening with rapt attention when he suddenly saw two shadows sweep over his head, one after the other.
He hurriedly rose and saw two infant-shaped phantoms hovering in midair. Each stood a full three meters tall. Their features were not yet distinct, but they seemed to be studying him carefully.
"Jade Sister, how can there be a mortal here?" the blue infant asked.
"Brother Qing, ask him how he got in," the white infant replied.
Chen Renfeng gazed up at the strange sight in the sky, cold sweat beading on his forehead as his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
"Hey! Who are you, and how did you intrude into my Small World?" the blue infant demanded harshly.
Seeing that the other's tone was hostile, Chen Renfeng felt afraid but forced himself to remain calm as he retorted, "Who are you? What gives you the right to question me?"
The blue infant flew into a rage. "A mere mortal! I'll make sure your body and soul are destroyed!" With that, he charged violently toward Chen Renfeng.
Chen Renfeng neither dodged nor retreated. He met the attack with a punch. The phantom was sent flying the instant it touched his fist, while he felt as though he had struck rubber.
The white infant caught his companion and urged, "Brother Qing, this isn't the time to fight. We need to cultivate as quickly as possible and stabilize our Nascent Souls."
Hearing the commotion, Chen Qing hurried over with Bai Xue on his back.
The white infant pulled the blue infant toward the surface of the lake. The instant they touched the water, both vanished without a trace.
Bai Xue pointed at the fading phantoms on the lake and asked worriedly, "Uncle Chen, what were those two just now...?"
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