Clay Figurine Blinks (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Gu Mo was certain that the Demon Monk Dabie before him was a fake. However, he couldn't quite figure out why a fake Dabie, with such a high cultivation realm, would bother impersonating him.

"Your Excellency's realm is indeed quite high," Gu Mo said with a smile. "To sit in this dark prison for twenty years as a substitute for someone else, and still maintain such a mindset, is truly admirable!"

"Fake Dabie" slowly stood up. Instantly, the thick iron chains binding his arms and legs to prevent suicide clanged. He sized up Gu Mo and said slowly, "Has it really been twenty years?"

Gu Mo said, "The Chu Kingdom has changed emperors, and the Great Bright Light Temple has had two abbots. With your cultivation realm, you were once a contender for the Under Heaven Martial Ranking List. It's not worth it to have missed your prime years by being in prison for someone else."

"Amitabha," Fake Dabie offered a smile on his pale face. "Young Benefactor, how can you be so sure that this monk is fake? Monks do not lie. This monk is truly Dabie. Your country verified it multiple times back then, and even Celestial Master Zhang personally came to verify it. Young Benefactor, please don't overthink it!"

Gu Mo chuckled, "I don't believe the saying that monks do not lie. I know a monk named Liansheng, who is the current abbot of the Great Bright Light Temple. He loves to brag!"

A hint of reminiscence flashed in "Fake Dabie's" eyes. He chuckled, "As expected, the Great Bright Light Temple has ultimately been handed over to Liansheng." He then looked at Gu Mo and said sincerely, "Young Benefactor, I presume you are a prominent figure with great prospects in the Gan Country, to be able to visit me here. You should leave quickly. This monk has a special identity. For so many years, no one guarding me has spoken to me, for fear that I would know too much and cause trouble.

You speaking so much with me now might allow me to obtain some information I wish to know, such as the fact that Liansheng is now the abbot of the Great Bright Light Temple. Such external news should not reach this monk's ears. After all, your country's higher-ups are trying to wear down my will. Your speaking with me more and letting me know external news will only strengthen my will.

This matter, whether in court or otherwise, can be significant. You are young, and if someone with ulterior motives were to exploit this, it might ruin your future."

Gu Mo said softly, "You are a kind monk, practicing the Buddhist principle of compassion. However, if you were truly compassionate, you should have stopped the Demon Monk Dabie from bewitching thousands of people into committing suicide back then, instead of taking the blame for him here!"

Fake Dabie sighed, "Young Benefactor, this monk is truly Dabie. This monk doesn't know why you are so convinced that this monk is fake, but this monk is truly Dabie. As for what happened back then, it was indeed a moment of misguidedness that led to a colossal mistake. Being confined in this dark place, or being cut into a thousand pieces, are both retribution this monk deserves. Even in death, this monk deserves to be punished in hell."

Gu Mo chuckled, "See, I won't get anything out of asking."

As his words fell, Gu Mo took a step forward.

In that instant, Fake Dabie's consciousness was pulled into a dark world. This was the Demon Immortal Domain created by Gu Mo using the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique.

Upon sensing this unique domain power, Fake Dabie was filled with surprise. He said, "A domain? Young Benefactor, at such a young age, your cultivation has already reached this level? Or has the development of the Jianghu Martial World reached such a point that young people are all this formidable?"

Nascent Soul Gu Mo said softly, "Your Excellency, there's no need to be too surprised. Although the current Jianghu Martial World has improved significantly compared to twenty years ago, it hasn't reached the point where everyone can unleash a domain. Besides those on the Under Heaven Martial Ranking List, there are only a handful in each country."

"So that's how it is," Fake Dabie said. "Back then, this monk also reached this realm. However, after being suppressed for twenty years, my realm is no longer what it was."

Gu Mo said, "Therefore, I am even more unable to understand what reason drove you to abandon your bright future and be imprisoned for so many years in place of someone else!"

"This monk is truly Dabie..."

Nascent Soul Gu Mo didn't wait for Dabie to finish speaking. He pointed a finger, unleashing his Demon Immortal power to instantly invade Fake Dabie's divine sense, taking control of it. Then, he issued a command and asked, "Who are you?"

"This monk is Dabie!"

Gu Mo was stunned. His first reaction was to doubt whether his Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Technique's control was failing. However, the feedback from his Demon Immortal power confirmed that he had indeed controlled Dabie's consciousness.

Still, it was possible that this Fake Dabie had been brainwashed to the point where his subconscious believed he was the real Dabie.

Immediately, Gu Mo thought of a way to verify this and asked, "What is the most important inherited treasure of the Great Bright Light Temple?"

Fake Dabie's consciousness struggled for a moment, but Gu Mo suppressed it instantly. He then calmly replied, "The Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror."

Gu Mo was a little surprised. Logically speaking, the Great Bright Light Temple would not easily spread such information. If this Dabie was fake, he shouldn't know about the existence of the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror in the Great Bright Light Temple.

However, it was also possible that to make the deception more convincing, they deliberately let the fake Dabie know some secrets.

"Where is the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror placed?" Gu Mo asked.

"In the Thousand Buddha Cave in the back mountain of the Great Bright Light Temple," Fake Dabie replied.

"How do you use the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror?" Gu Mo asked.

Fake Dabie immediately answered, "The Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror has a spirit and will automatically choose its user. The duration for each user is different. Once the time is up, the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror will automatically return to the Thousand Buddha Cave. It will then remind people in the temple from time to time to find a new Buddha Child, and the Buddha Child will become the new user.

This is why the Great Bright Light Temple's lineage has never been broken. Because the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror actively selects the Buddha Child with the most Buddhist nature in the world, the Great Bright Light Temple has produced top ten under heaven masters every generation. The previous Buddha Child was me, and after me, it was Liansheng."

Gu Mo asked, "As the Abbot of the Great Bright Light Temple, why did you come to Gan Country? Why did you bewitch thousands of people to commit suicide?"

Fake Dabie said, "For the Chu Kingdom, but something went wrong later. This poor monk doesn't remember what it was. For the past twenty years, this poor monk has not been able to recall it. I remember bringing the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror, but after arriving in Chang'an City, the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror was no longer in my memory.

I must have suffered a cultivation deviation at that time. I know that I did that deed, but it was truly an uncontrollable lapse in judgment at the time. Afterwards, I deeply regretted it, so I did not resist when I was apprehended."

Gu Mo continued to ask, "Recently, a villain who sucks marrow has appeared in Chang'an City. Was that you?"

"No," Fake Dabie said. "My cultivation is currently sealed, and I am imprisoned in this dungeon. I don't even have the freedom to move, so naturally, I have no ability to do things outside."

Gu Mo was silent for a moment and asked, "What is the truth behind the immortal descendants of the Chu Kingdom's royal family?"

Fake Dabie said, "There is a story in the Chu Kingdom about the Founding Emperor and a Goddess. The story tells of how, when the Founding Emperor was still a scholar, he accidentally helped a female cultivator undergoing tribulation and ascension in Mount Taihang.

Ten years later, the Founding Emperor fell into hardship, and the Goddess descended to help him repay the favor. Afterwards, she gradually helped the Founding Emperor establish the Chu Kingdom. Then, the Goddess left the mortal world and returned to the Heavenly Realm.

However, this is just a folk legend. In reality, the Founding Emperor did witness a female cultivator ascending in Mount Taihang. Her aura was ethereal, like an immortal. The Founding Emperor caught a fleeting glimpse of her, and after that, he was infatuated. But, he did not help her ascend. The Goddess who descended later was not that cultivator from Mount Taihang.

Ten years later, when the Founding Emperor fell into hardship, a Goddess did descend to help him. However, that Goddess was actually from Beyond the Heavens, one of the Thirteen Taboos. She did indeed assist the Founding Emperor in establishing the kingdom, not to repay a favor, but to follow destiny and save the common people.

After the Great Chu was successfully established, the Goddess departed, leaving behind a prophecy: Two hundred years later, the world will belong to Chu. The envoy from Beyond the Heavens sent her to help the Founding Emperor establish the Chu Kingdom to follow destiny!"

Gu Mo frowned slightly and asked, "As far as I know, the Founding Emperor of Chu spent the latter half of his life searching for Beyond the Heavens?"

Fake Dabie said, "That is indeed true. Because the Founding Emperor never forgot the female cultivator who ascended in Mount Taihang, he was infatuated with her and longed to find her. According to the Goddess from Beyond the Heavens, all those who attain enlightenment and ascend will knock open the Heavenly Gate and enter Beyond the Heavens to become Immortals, enjoying eternal life!

Later, due to the spread of rumors among the people, it became the story of the Goddess repaying a favor by establishing the kingdom. Even later, there were legends that the Founding Emperor and the Goddess fell in love and had a divine son before she departed, which led to the rumor that the Chu royal family were descendants of Immortals."

"So that's how it is."

Gu Mo was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected that the stories about the Chu Kingdom and Beyond the Heavens that Xiao Ziyin had told him at the border of Jiang Kingdom were basically true.

It was just that Xiao Ziyin hadn't directly said that the Heavenly Realm after knocking open the Heavenly Gate was Beyond the Heavens, but rather that she speculated that Beyond the Heavens was the rumored Heavenly Realm.

Gu Mo hadn't really believed it before. After all, it was hard to get a straight answer from a woman as calculating as Xiao Ziyin.

But thinking about it now, he had wronged Xiao Ziyin.

As for why Xiao Ziyin said it was her speculation and not a record, Gu Mo could guess the reason. It was simple: if Xiao Ziyin had told Gu Mo back then that the Goddess from Beyond the Heavens had left behind the prophecy, "In two hundred years, the world will belong to Chu,"

Gu Mo would have just thought Xiao Ziyin was fabricating a divine mandate to boost Chu Kingdom's prestige.

"Beyond the Heavens is the Celestial Realm!"

Gu Mo muttered, looking at Fake Dabie and asking, "Why do you know so much?"

Fake Dabie said, "Because when the Goddess from Beyond the Heavens descended, she first went to the Great Bright Light Temple. With the Great Bright Light Temple's help, she found the Founding Emperor. The establishment of Chu Kingdom was not only because of the Goddess, but also largely due to the Great Bright Light Temple's support and assistance. Therefore, the Great Bright Light Temple knows the truth about Chu Kingdom's immortal descendants."

Afterward, Gu Mo asked some more secrets about the Great Bright Light Temple that he had learned from Dharma Master Liansheng. Without exception, Fake Dabie could explain them all very clearly, even more clearly than Dharma Master Liansheng knew them.

When Gu Mo withdrew his Demon Immortal Domain, Fake Dabie stood in the iron cage, silent for a long while before slowly coming back to his senses. A helpless smile appeared on his face, and he said, "Young Benefactor, although I don't know what you did to me, I assume you've learned what you wanted to know during the time I was lost in thought."

Fake Dabie was still somewhat dazed at this moment.

He only remembered being pulled into a domain filled with Spiritual Power and having a few conversations with Gu Mo. He had no memory of what happened afterward.

Gu Mo looked at Fake Dabie before him, feeling a sense of emotion.

If he didn't have the system, which confirmed that the person before him was fake, even with his current cultivation Realm, he would have believed this person was the Demon Monk Dabie, just like the Gan Country court and Zhang Daoyi.

Even, At first, Gu Mo had a moment of confusion, wondering if someone had committed crimes under the name of Monk Dabie back then, and the Gan Country court had arrested the real Monk Dabie.

But this thought was dismissed in an instant because the system's wanted information clearly stated Dabie, not another codename.

According to the system's judgment criteria, if someone were impersonating, it would not mark the real person as a wanted criminal. Just like Zhuo Qingfeng was once framed as a wanted criminal, but the system directly did not record it because the crime information did not match the wanted target.

In other words, if Monk Dabie didn't do the things back then, the system wouldn't have assigned the wanted information for the case of the demon monk bewitching thousands to commit suicide to Dabie.

And if this "Dabie" before him was the real Dabie, the system's judgment would show the wanted mission as invalid.

The wanted mission still existed, and the recently active "Evil Ghost" overlapped with Dabie.

Therefore, this Dabie before him, no matter how real he seemed, could only be fake.

However, After carefully considering the information obtained while controlling Fake Dabie's consciousness just now, Gu Mo could confirm that the reason for such a convincing fake Dabie was the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror.

This Fake Dabie said that he remembered coming to Chang'an City with the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror, but after entering Chang'an City, he lost all memory of the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror and still hasn't recalled it.

In other words, he lost his memory of the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror in Chang'an City.

"The Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror, it really has a problem!"

Gu Mo pondered in his heart.

Back on Penglai Island, when he learned that Dharma Master Liansheng had directly caused the will of the Nascent Souls gathered by White Jade Capital for so many years to collapse with the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror, he had wondered if the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror would go out of control, or if it would, like White Jade Capital, develop its own consciousness from an inanimate object.

Now it seems, Even if it hasn't developed consciousness, the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror has big problems.

And being related to the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror could reasonably explain how such a powerful master appeared without a trace, taking over another's identity.

After all, although this Fake Dabie was very powerful, he was only in the first tier of Mortal Warriors and had not reached the realm of Transcendence into the Ascension Realm.

There are no specific realm divisions for warriors in this world, But, there are roughly several levels. Ordinary warriors are divided into first-rate, second-rate, and peak first-rate based on their reputation in the martial arts world. Those whose reputation is so great that they are on the Heavenly Rankings are Grandmasters. As for these Grandmasters, the difference in their actual strength is hard to say.

For example, when Gu Mo was previously besieged by dozens of Grandmasters in Thousand Autumns Town, Southern Jin, he was somewhat shocked. However, those so-called Grandmasters were only at the level of ordinary peak first-rate martial artists in Gan Country, or even inferior.

But, After reaching a certain level on the Martial Path, there are indeed some specific realms. Whether it's the path of Internal and External Skills, Martial Dao True Intent, or Qi Refiners, they all eventually pursue the Oneness of Heaven and Man, and then form a domain with their cultivation and will.

This is the ceiling of mortal power. For example, Su Qianqiu guarding the nation's gate with a single sword, Zhang Daoyi's Great Formless Tribulation Skill, Dharma Master Liansheng's Lotus Heavenly Scripture, etc., their ultimate trump cards are their respective domains.

Back then, Gu Mo won the battle for Number One Under Heaven by using Limitless Return to Origin Qi to destroy Su Qianqiu's domain.

A domain can also be considered a realm.

In the entire world, there are only a little over a dozen people who have reached this realm openly.

And above that, is the pursuit of Ascension.

Currently, in this realm, Gu Mo has only encountered Plague God as a complete Ascension Realm cultivator. The others, the Previous Generation Number One Under Heaven, Red Clothes, and the Zither Player, are all only Half-step Ascension Realm.

This is because they dare not face their Inner Demons.

And even for Half-step Ascension Realm, Ling Xiao was the number one person under heaven at that time, and Red Clothes and the Zither Player achieved it after living for hundreds of years.

Therefore, the realm of domain is actually very rare.

This Fake Dabie in front of him was already in the first tier of combat power under heaven twenty years ago, which is the level of the Top Ten Under Heaven.

Such a person turned out to be a brainwashed substitute with no self-awareness.

Gu Mo thought and thought, and felt that only by relating it to forbidden existences like the Cycle of Reincarnation Mirror could it be considered a more reasonable explanation.

"Master!"

Gu Mo cupped his hands towards Fake Dabie and said, "I'll ask you one more time, who are you?"

Fake Dabie remained very gentle and said, "This humble monk has already answered Young Benefactor many times. This humble monk is Dabie."

Gu Mo asked, "Then, who is Dabie? You believe you are Dabie. If the Dabie that the world recognizes is another person, yet you believe you are that Dabie the world recognizes, may I ask, who exactly are you?"

Fake Dabie was stunned. After a while, he slowly said, "Amitabha, Young Benefactor, this humble monk cannot answer your words. Perhaps, this humble monk is just this humble monk!"

"I assume Master will be able to break free from here soon. Farewell!"

Gu Mo cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Just then, Fake Dabie asked again, "Please forgive this humble monk's audacity in asking, but in today's martial world, has your cultivation reached the martial rankings?"

"It has," Gu Mo replied.

Su Ziyou, standing nearby, added, "Number One Under Heaven."

"Amitabha," Fake Dabie exclaimed, "Are Su Qianqiu, Zhang Daoyi, Liansheng, Ye Nantian, and others still alive?"

"I killed Ye Nantian. The others are alive," Gu Mo said.

"Amitabha," Fake Dabie chuckled lightly, "What a Martial World Prosperity. With all these people alive, and Young Benefactor being Number One Under Heaven at such a young age, the Human Martial Fortune should reach a higher level. Young Benefactor is the Blessing of the Martial World."

Gu Mo smiled slightly and said nothing more.

Soon, Su Ziyou followed Gu Mo out of the Star Plucking Tower. He hurriedly asked, "Brother Gu, is this Demon Monk Dabie real or fake?"

Gu Mo shook his head. "It's no longer important. This Dabie's Dantian has been sealed for twenty years. His body is already at the point of exhaustion, and his Realm has fallen. Even if he were released now, he wouldn't pose much of a threat, and he probably wouldn't live much longer.

Didn't Xiao Ziyin bring the Chu Country Delegation to negotiate for the exchange of captives for this Dabie? There's no need to negotiate for too long. Just hand him over. I'm worried that if Xiao Ziyin and the others find out the location where this Dabie is being held and take some action, they might cause Dabie to die directly, and then he'll be stuck in our hands."

Su Ziyou was surprised. "It can't be that bad, right? At this stage, the Star Plucking Tower's defenses are very strict. Even if the Chu Country knew Dabie's exact location, they couldn't get in. How could they cause Dabie to die?"

"I can make him die from afar," Gu Mo said.

After learning the truth about the Immortal descendants of the Chu royal family from this Dabie, Gu Mo had reason to suspect that the current Chu Country had received assistance from Beyond the Heavens.

And Beyond the Heavens, as a Heavenly Realm, theoretically, the minimum requirement would be the Ascension Realm, which is a complete Nascent Soul. Currently, although the Star Plucking Tower is heavily guarded, it has no restrictive effect on Nascent Soul power at all.

Then, Gu Mo added, "Go tell the Emperor that I said to listen to me."

"Okay, I will go see the Emperor tomorrow morning!" Su Ziyou nodded.

Afterward, the two chatted as they walked out of the imperial city towards Ye Jinglan's home. Su Ziyou suddenly asked, "By the way, why didn't I see Sister Chundong?"

"Li Li took her away before she even entered the city!"

Su Ziyou chuckled and said, "Speaking of which, it's really strange. Brother Gu, logically speaking, you are handsome and dashing, and your martial arts are Number One Under Heaven. Then you two siblings travel the jianghu together, so why do all the girls seem to like Sister Chundong instead... This doesn't make sense?"

Gu Mo: "??"

At this time, at Princess Chengyang's Mansion, a carriage slowly stopped in front of the mansion gate.

Li Li, Gu Chundong, and Hongyi alighted from the carriage.

Several servants waiting at the entrance immediately began carefully unloading items from the carriage, a large pile of bags and packages.

Li Li was very happy and in high spirits. Linking Gu Chundong's arm, she said, "Chundong, let's go visit Tingyu Town tomorrow. Let me tell you, there are many Westerners there. They've brought many rare and strange items, like dancing mice, color-changing snakes... so many fun things!"

"Alright, we'll go first thing tomorrow," Gu Chundong said, looking towards Hongyi and asking, "Hongyi, what do you think?"

Hongyi replied, "Wherever Young Lady goes, I will follow."

Gu Chundong said, "If you see something you like, you can buy it. You've been out shopping for most of the day and haven't bought anything!"

Hongyi was slightly taken aback and said, "I don't have anything I like."

"Then what do you like? I'll take you to buy it tomorrow," Gu Chundong said.

Hongyi replied again, "I don't have any preferences."

"How could that be..."

Gu Chundong stopped herself mid-sentence. She suddenly remembered that Hongyi and the Zither Player were both without emotions. They could simulate human emotions like laughter and anger, but they didn't have innate feelings.

Immediately, Gu Chundong stopped talking and instead asked Li Li, "Didn't you say you had a very, very realistic Clay Figurine?"

Li Li quickly said, "It's in the back courtyard. I'll take you to see it right now. I'm telling you, I'm not bragging, you'll definitely be shocked when you see it!"

Gu Chundong pouted and said, "I'd like to see what kind of Clay Figurine can be more lifelike than my brother's Wood Carving!"

A While later, Li Li pulled Gu Chundong to a courtyard.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw an object covered with white cloth in the Main House. However, it was completely covered, only revealing a general human-like shape.

Li Li happily ran over and grabbed the white cloth, saying, "Now it's time to witness a miracle..."

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Li forcefully pulled off the white cloth. That instant, a sculpture appeared.

A sculpture standing solely on its feet, without a base, dressed in a moon-white long dress, stood quietly. The pleats of the skirt fell naturally as if brushed by the wind, and even the texture woven by the threads shimmered faintly under the light.

Gu Chundong subconsciously clenched her fingertips, her heart skipping half a beat in her chest.

It wasn't shock at the divine craftsmanship, but a strange sense of fear.

Because the sculpture's face was too lifelike. The arc of the brow bone, the minute lines at the outer corner of the eye, and even the faintly visible dimple at the corner of the lips were exactly the same as Li Li's.

What was most chilling was the expression on that face: a half-smile played on its lips. Although the eyes were dark brown, made of fired clay, they seemed to hold moisture, as if they would blink in the next second.

Candlelight swept across the sculpture's cheeks, revealing a warmth under the glaze that was almost like real human skin. The collar of the long dress seemed to tremble slightly with a "breathing" motion, exuding a vitality only a living creature possessed.

For a moment, Gu Chundong felt a bit dazed, as if the person standing before her wasn't a sculpture, but Li Li's twin sister, a mirror image frozen in time.

That smile hid a hint of Li Li's usual slyness, and even the arc of the hair strands against her neck was the same as usual, as if she would speak any second and gently brush away the stray hairs from her forehead with her fingertips.

The air was filled with the old scent of earth and glaze, yet it couldn't hide the overwhelming sense of vitality, identical to Li Li's, that washed over Gu Chundong, sending a fine chill down her spine.

Li Li, however, swaggered over and boasted, "How about it? I didn't lie to you, did I? Isn't this much better than your Ge's wood carving? Let me tell you, the first time I saw it, I couldn't believe it was a clay figurine, heh heh. I'll take you to find that clay figurine master tomorrow and have him make one for you too!"

Gu Chundong looked at the clay figurine, swallowed saliva. She stepped forward and gently poked the figurine's face with her finger. She immediately relaxed slightly. Although it looked very realistic, she could still feel it when she touched it; it was just a clay figurine with glaze.

But looking at this unbelievably realistic clay figurine, Gu Chundong still felt inexplicably tense. She took the white cloth from Li Li's hand and covered the figurine, saying, "Forget it, Chengyang. I find this thing creepy. I won't get one!"

"What are you afraid of?" Li Li said with a grin. "Chundong, you're Heroine Gu! You're not afraid of fighting and killing on the road, and you're afraid of a clay figurine?"

"This is different," Gu Chundong said, directly pulling Li Li away. "Chengyang, I think you shouldn't keep this thing at home. It's really creepy!"

"Hehe, I thought you were fearless and afraid of nothing. So you do have something you're afraid of..."

The two of them walked out chatting.

Just then, a gust of wind blew, lifting the white cloth.

The candlelight in the room flickered.

The clay figurine suddenly blinked its eyes and grinned!