Wu Piwu and Lin Heier returned to their room, both of their faces looking quite grim.
The two then described what they had seen and heard.
Although their account might not have been comprehensive and they could not fully convey the shock they felt upon their initial encounter, the other three still felt a chill run down their spines after listening.
This was even more shocking than witnessing a paper figure devour a living person; that was a ghost!
Everyone exchanged silent glances, and Lin Heier asked, “Master, will this kind of devouring make those paper figures stronger?”
Wu Piwu shook his head, indicating he did not know, while Xu Shilan said, “It’s very possible. Energy does not just disappear; it only transforms from one form to another. This applies to the vast majority of situations in the world. Since the paper figures have begun to devour these wandering souls and wild ghosts, it indicates that these wandering souls and wild ghosts are useful to them. They might indeed start to grow stronger.”
Xu Rongyu immediately cursed, “We shouldn’t have come to this ancestral hall!”
Wu Piwu shot him a glare and said, “Then where should we go? We are human; we need to eat, drink, relieve ourselves, and rest. While the wilderness may not have any wandering souls or wild ghosts, how do we eat? How do we rest? Are we supposed to survive in the wild? After a few days, will we still have the strength and spirit to deal with the paper figures?”
Yamada also said, “Those paper figures can float. In a changing wilderness environment, we have no defensive facilities. If we encounter them, we could be attacked from all sides.”
Xu Rongyu opened his mouth, wanting to refute but found himself speechless, especially when he thought of the terrifying scene of paper figures filling the city of Xuanhua he had seen before.
In the end, he could only lower his head in despair.
At this moment, Lin Heier seemed to ponder and said, “Master, everyone, I think those paper figures might belong to the Yin category. Everything in the world can be summed up in the concepts of Yin and Yang. Ghosts are also Yin. Being devoured by the paper figures, while they will certainly grow, they remain Yin. That’s why we can use fire to injure them, and our qi and blood can barely resist… But can we combine qi and blood with flames?”
The others did not understand, but only Wu Piwu seemed to have thought of something.
He walked to the torch, took one, and squeezed it in his palm, unleashing his Dark Strength.
The Dark Strength spread up the torch as if he were blowing on the flame, causing the firelight to surge and then return to normal.
He looked at Lin Heier and asked, “Is this what the Holy Mother meant?”
Lin Heier nodded, “Exactly. Unfortunately, we only have Dark Strength. If we had a Grandmaster of Transformation, we could continuously extend this qi and blood power into the flames. However, we can only unleash Dark Strength four to five times within an hour; any more would damage our foundation… But I wonder if this flame can deliver a fatal blow to those paper figures.”
Wu Piwu said nothing, only quietly noted the information Lin Heier had mentioned.
From Xu Rongyu, Wu Piwu learned much about the situation in this world.
The manifest power system of this world was also National Arts, not much different from the world where he had obtained the Tiger Demon Technique.
Xu Rongyu mentioned many master-level figures, such as his father Xu Zhenshan, and the Master Sister of the Red Lantern Society, Lin Heier.
Although Xu Zhenshan was Xu Rongyu’s father, Xu Rongyu still felt Lin Heier was somewhat stronger.
This was mainly because his father came from a rough background and had not undergone systematic teaching and training.
Now in his forties, his physical strength had already begun to decline.
Although his skill in the Stone Breaking Technique was praised by the Northern Martial Arts community, in terms of evaluation within the martial arts world, Lin Heier far surpassed his father.
Holy Mother Huanglian Lin Heier was a well-known figure in the Northern Martial Arts community.
What Lin Heier said at this moment should not have any embellishments.
She could unleash Dark Strength four to five times in about two hours, which likely represented the true level of a Dark Strength martial artist, perhaps even an elite Dark Strength martial artist.
As for Wu Piwu, he had tested himself before; in a single battle, he could unleash Dark Strength ten to twelve times, and as long as he rested for less than an hour, he could recover his physical strength and qi.
Combined, this meant he was not just slightly stronger than Lin Heier.
The enhancement of the physical body at the second level could be described as a qualitative change.
(Shouldn’t my future enhancements focus directly on strengthening my physical body level?)
Wu Piwu thought to himself and then chuckled, shaking his head.
This time in the dream world might not even allow him to survive, and he was actually thinking about the future.
Moreover, he only had one hundred seventy days left to live.
Even if there were real enhancement opportunities, he would have to desperately improve his proficiency in the Tiger Demon Technique; otherwise, he would not be able to suppress the surging negative thoughts.
If they erupted, it would be a great injustice if he went mad and died.
At this moment, Xu Shilan suddenly spoke, “Can we directly strike at the source? These paper figures have tenacious life force; even touching them will drain life qi, and they can also devour wandering souls and wild ghosts to grow stronger. And now there are only a dozen of them; who knows how many more there will be later? Can we resolve the source of the paper figures once and for all?”
Yamada, not to mention, seemed rather carefree and was actually starting to doze off.
However, the other three were slightly taken aback and began to smile bitterly.
Xu Rongyu was the first to speak, “Sister… no, do you really know what you’re saying? That’s the Lifeless Old Mother! Right now, we are just trying to survive. How can we deal with a god-level being to resolve the source?”
Lin Heier also smiled bitterly and said, “Although it is an evil demon and an evil Buddha, if it truly is the Lifeless Old Mother, we mortals absolutely cannot defeat her. Moreover, I don’t know what to do afterward. Most of my brothers and sisters in the sect believe in her. If they all turn into paper figures, it’s not just you and me; the entire Huaxia continent will likely descend into a ghostly abyss.”
Even Wu Piwu said, “That thing is at least a nightmare below the baseline reality of zero point three, and I suspect it’s not even a first or second level nightmare. At the very least, it’s a third level nightmare or higher. We’ve really run into a stroke of bad luck. For now, let’s think about how to buy some time…”
Wu Piwu did not finish his sentence because if they delayed for five days, they could return, and naturally, he could not say that out loud.
Xu Shilan shook her head.
She raised her head and gestured to the air, saying, “These paper figures did not come from nowhere; they are transformed from the threads dropped by the Lifeless Old Mother. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the Lifeless Old Mother cannot directly descend into this world; she can only drop threads, and it’s through a round hole. So… can we break that round hole and cut off the Lifeless Old Mother’s influence on this world?”
The three of them felt a stir in their hearts.
Xu Rongyu did not say anything, but Lin Heier’s heart immediately stirred.
She blurted out, “If that’s the case, do the sisters still have hope?”
After saying this, Lin Heier shook her head, “No, they have already been transformed…” As she spoke, Lin Heier’s eyes turned red, nearly shedding tears.
Wu Piwu pondered for a moment before shaking his head, “The Lifeless Old Mother may rely on that round hole to project her power, but it’s also possible that the round hole limits her power and entry into this world. Not to mention whether we can break it, if we do break it and allow the Lifeless Old Mother to truly enter this world, then not only us, but the entire world could turn into paper beings.”
Xu Shilan, however, calmly said, “Then this world wouldn’t be baseline reality zero point nine anymore.”
Wu Piwu’s heart stirred, but after thinking for a long time, he still shook his head, “It’s too difficult, and we don’t know what to use to break it. Just the height issue alone; it looks to be about fifty meters high. I’ve only practiced National Arts; I’m not Superman. In this era, come teach me how to jump fifty meters high!”
Xu Shilan smiled and kicked Yamada, who suddenly opened her eyes, still looking confused.
She hadn’t heard what everyone was discussing.
Xu Shilan briefly explained the situation, and Yamada thought for a moment and said, “There are bamboo poles and vines here. I can make a simple catapult to send you up to fifty meters high; that’s not difficult. The tricky part has two points: one is accuracy, and the other is how you will safely land.”
Wu Piwu spread his hands towards Xu Shilan, indicating that this was not his fault.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Lin Heier suddenly said, “Are you all discussing how to prevent the Lifeless Old Mother from influencing this world, or how to expel her from this world?”
Yamada laughed disdainfully, “A mere native knows about the difference between this world and the outer world?”
Lin Heier’s face turned angry, but she was already used to it, as this was the face of foreign devils.
She lowered her voice and said, “How could I not know? The Buddha says the world is infinite, with small thousand worlds, middle thousand worlds, and large thousand worlds. I originally had doubts, but since the Lifeless Old Mother truly exists, infinite worlds must also exist. This small hole in the air is likely connected to the vacuum hometown.”
Yamada was instead surprised, and Wu Piwu waved his hand at Yamada.
He then said to Lin Heier, “But isn’t the Lifeless Old Mother your belief?”
Lin Heier said seriously, “I believe in the compassionate Mother, the Mother in Buddhism, the savior of the world, not this evil demon and evil Buddha that uses human bodies as materials to weave nightmares! If we do not expel her, our deaths are minor, but if this world sinks into a ghostly abyss, it is a major issue for our Huaxia children to turn into paper!”
Saying this, Lin Heier stood up and solemnly bowed to Wu Piwu, saying, “Please, Master, help me break that round hole!”
Wu Piwu’s expression turned displeased, “You just heard, accuracy and how to land are two problems. I…”
“Controlling the strength is enough!”
Lin Heier continued, “Master, you are Dark Strength, so you naturally know that Dark Strength is about controlling strength to achieve a miraculous level. The same goes for Transformation. Tools like catapults have no accuracy, but if the Master goes up personally, under the control of strength, the accuracy will be absolutely precise. As for the landing issue, it’s just about controlling the strength. I have seen Grandmasters jump off cliffs; at a height of seventy to eighty meters, with just a few rolls and using some force, they can release their strength without injuring themselves at all!”
Wu Piwu sneered, “You also said it was a Grandmaster, a Transformation level, and they can roll and use the cliff for leverage, while I’m facing a straight fifty-meter height…”
“I will teach you the Sitting Lotus Technique!”
Lin Heier declared, “Master, you are exceptionally gifted, and your qi and blood are so vigorous that you hardly seem human. This Sitting Lotus Technique is an unparalleled secret art, a hidden technique that can simulate the legendary Dan Strength divine ability for a short time!”
As she said this, Lin Heier suddenly knelt down, prostrating herself deeply, and said, “Please, Master, think of the common people. If this succeeds, Lin Heier is willing to completely offer the full set of Huanglian Holy Mother’s techniques!”
(End of Chapter)