"Not really."
Chen Shuangbai walked into the hall without turning her head and explained, "But when you're traveling, you're bound to encounter situations like this. To avoid having to ask for help, I occasionally look at books on formations to broaden my knowledge."
Fang Xiao fell silent again.
He was stationed at Gaohe Ridge, and True Person Bo also sent him a batch of books.
But he couldn't concentrate on reading a single word; just a glance made his head feel heavy and he became even more drowsy.
The interior of the hall was far more luxurious than the exterior.
The towering dome is supported by jade pillars with coiled dragons that would take several people to encircle, each pillar adorned with exquisitely carved patterns.
There are scenes of immortals and scenes of dynasties.
Above the dome, countless fist-sized luminous pearls are inlaid, arranged in the pattern of the stars in the sky.
These details, these decorations, these places—everything reveals the nobility and majesty of this place... But as time goes by, no matter how magnificent it is, it will eventually grow old.
Fang Xiao looked at the luxurious decorations with great interest.
He liked it very much.
Or rather... if I had the ability, I would like to build such a place someday for myself to live in.
That's more befitting of his status!
Chen Shuangbai ignored the luxurious exterior and looked at the highest point in the hall, which was also the very center of the hall.
There.
There is a white jade throne.
A person sat on the throne.
Oh no, to be precise, it was a person with long, prominent horns on his head, wearing a blue-gold and white robe, and with an indistinct face.
"No breath..."
Fang Xiao reminded him.
Chen Shuangbai nodded.
His Divine Sense detected no life force; the thing seemed like an empty shell. Only then did he dare to approach and carefully examine the corpse.
It has a human body, but it has horns on its head, and those horns are very prominent, making people immediately associate it with a dragon.
Chen Shuangbai looked again.
This corner was neither made of bone nor metal, but rather possessed a warm and refined Glazed Glass texture, with a bluish-gold hue and naturally formed, mysterious, and intricate patterns on its surface.
Although its owner has been dead for many years, this horn is still lustrous and radiant.
Then look at that magnificent lapis lazuli and white robe... its style is simple and wide, and the collar, cuffs, and hem are all decorated with more exquisite techniques, under the dim pearlescent light, flowing with a hazy halo of lapis lazuli, gold and white... all of which show the noble status of this person.
Finally, there was the face... but the face was completely blurred.
But it wasn't as if someone had peeled off his face; rather, it was as if his entire face had been stripped away using some special Divine Ability or Law Technique, leaving only a blurry outline.
"What... is this situation?"
Chen Shuangbai was filled with doubt and unease.
Foundation Establishment cultivator has a lifespan of 250 years. After death, as time passes, they will turn into a handful of dust.
Even Golden Core cultivator cannot achieve immortality of their body.
Ultimately, with the passage of time, they will return to the land that nurtured them.
Chen Shuangbai didn't know how long this cave abode had existed, but judging from the wear and tear on the luxurious items he had walked through, and the antiquity of the restrictions he had just broken... well, it was at least several hundred years old.
So, who is this person...?
What was his level of achievement during his lifetime?
Is it... human... or demon?
Chen Shuangbai raised her eyes and looked at the coiled dragon jade pillar to her right rear, and smiled, "Since you are so familiar with this place, I suppose this is your ancestral home... Why don't you introduce it to us?"
A sharp gaze locked onto a tiny jade toad.
The little toad had planned to take advantage of the fact that the two evil stars' attention was on the corpse to escape, but it underestimated the range and strength of Chen Shuangbai's Divine Sense.
The little toad let out a shriek and transformed into a streak of white jade light, rushing out of the hall once more.
Chen Shuangbai didn't rush to chase after them, but instead gave Fang Xiao a wink.
Fang Xiao had almost gotten used to this Foundation Establishment kid bossing him around. He neither complained nor cursed, but simply rolled his eyes and chased after him.
Not long after.
A beam of yellow light shot in from outside, and Fang Xiao, carrying the little toad, walked up to him and said, "Tell me."
The little toad struggled desperately in Fang Xiao's large, fan-like hand, kicking its four short legs wildly and making urgent "croaking" sounds, while crying out for mercy.
Chen Shuangbai walked slowly closer, her gaze fixed on the little toad.
Before, it was too far away to see clearly, but now that we're closer, we can see it clearly.
This little toad is clearly not a living creature, but a toad carved from jade.
Perhaps it is because it has become a spirit due to its age, or perhaps it is because the person who carved it gave it life, which allows it to not only move freely, but also to be essentially no different from a real toad.
Chen Shuangbai took the jade toad from Fang Xiao's hand. Fang Xiao's Law Power remained on its body, making it unable to break free or escape, and it could only cry out loudly.
Even as the argument escalated, Chen Shuangbai remained calm and said:
"Scream again and I'll throw you to the ground!"
It immediately fell silent!
It is a jade toad spirit carved from jade, and it is most afraid of being dropped.
"What... what exactly do you want to do?"
The jade toad stammered.
Chen Shuangbai nodded in satisfaction and asked, "Tell me the origins of this place... and your origins in detail, or I won't hesitate to throw you around!"
Those two emerald-like eyes immediately started rolling around, as if lost in memories, and said in a half-dreaming, half-awake state, "My origins... I don't really remember."
"I've been here ever since I was able to think."
"It took me a long time, from knowing nothing and only being able to jump around and shout randomly in this hall, to gradually figuring out some tricks and beginning to embark on the path of cultivation."
"He eventually ran away and is now living a carefree life outside..."
They ran away, so why did they come back...? Oh, they were chased by the two of us and escaped back.
Chen Shuangbai coughed softly, manipulating wisps of smoke into a cloud that swirled around the jade toad, maintaining the illusionary spell " Mirage Illusory Scene " and continuing to guide the jade toad to recall its origins and the origins of this place.
Do you have any memories of this place?
The jade toad felt as if Chen Shuangbai's voice came from the horizon, or as if it came from underwater. Its mind began to spin, and some images buried deep in its memory gradually surfaced.
"I remember... it used to be bright and warm here."
"It's not the light from these luminous pearls now, but a kind of... a soft and clean light flowing from all directions, from every piece of jade, from the dome, and even from the air."
"The light was so soothing; taking a breath felt like my very soul had been cleansed."