It was like taking a shortcut, which Shen Bai naturally liked. Although it required Deceitful Objects and Evil Qi, he had acquired those items specifically to use them.
Unfortunately, Deceitful Objects were rare. Grinding remained one of his primary methods of improvement.
This thought brought his mind from Deceitful Objects to Amber. Recently, Shen Bai had also visited the space of the Yin Yang Storage Skill.
Amber’s evolution was nearing completion. Shen Bai guessed it would only be a matter of days. Once finished, he would gain another massive boost to his Skill Level, and Amber would acquire new abilities.
Anticipation was inevitable, but Shen Bai knew that patience was a virtue; rushing would only ruin things.
Red Makeup approached with a cup of tea and offered it to him. "Master, please have some tea."
As a Deceitful Beast bound to him, Red Makeup’s strength naturally rose in tandem with Shen Bai’s. She didn’t know why he improved so rapidly, nor did she ask. She understood her place—she would know what her master wanted her to know, and she kept her curiosity in check regarding everything else. She already believed Shen Bai was destined for the absolute pinnacle; thus, while his rapid breakthroughs were astonishing, she accepted them as perfectly normal.
Shen Bai took a sip of tea, set the cup down, and walked to the railing. He looked down at the figure approaching the nine-story tower and smiled. "The Grand Elder has wrapped things up."
Far below, the Grand Elder was hurrying toward the building. With the Deceitful Objects already appraised, only the Grand Elder’s intelligence report remained. Shen Bai hoped to extract clues about the Refuges and the Era of Ten Thousand Cities from it.
After about ten minutes, the old man finally reached the top floor.
Shen Bai remained seated. "Are the loose ends tied up?"
The Grand Elder nodded, too afraid to meet his gaze. "Everything has been handled."
Shen Bai didn’t ask for the specifics, and the Grand Elder didn’t volunteer them. It simply didn’t matter. The old man stood in tense silence, waiting. He knew Shen Bai would have a long list of questions.
Shen Bai narrowed his eyes. "I want to use the passage between Flower Village and Beast Village to pay them a visit."
This was his primary goal. Exploring more Refuges was the only way to reap greater rewards. The Demonic Forces were a thorn in his side, but the Chaotic Organization was an even deadlier threat. He needed more clues to seize the power to fight back. He had never been a passive man; he preferred to strike first.
The Grand Elder froze for a moment before offering a bitter smile. "Young Friend, Flower Village has voluntarily sealed the passage. Guo Qi likely told them what happened when he returned, and they closed it out of fear."
Naturally, Guo Qi would have recounted the disaster that struck Beast Village. With the passage shut from the other side, the Grand Elder was powerless to reopen it.
Shen Bai frowned. "Didn’t you say it could be opened? Try forcing it."
The Grand Elder shook his head again. "I am not strong enough. It will take me at least a year to comprehend the inheritance the Clan Leader left behind before I can tear through the Space."
*A year.*
Shen Bai furrowed his brows. He was Daoist Si of the Lingyun Daoist School. If he waited here for a year, disasters could easily break out in the outside world.
"In that case, I will come back in a year."
A conflicted expression crossed the Grand Elder’s face. He was terrified at the prospect of Shen Bai returning. The trauma Shen Bai had inflicted on him was too massive to simply shake off. Yet, given the circumstances, the Grand Elder knew that refusing would likely end poorly for him.
Seeing his hesitation, Shen Bai patted the Grand Elder on the shoulder. "There is no need to be afraid. I have no quarrel with Beast Village."
The old man nodded stiffly, though no one could guess the dark thoughts swirling in his mind.
Shen Bai changed the subject. "Do you have any clues regarding the Chaotic Organization?"
This was his backup plan. If he couldn’t enter Flower Village, extracting intelligence would suffice. He had to gain something from this trip.
At the mention of the Chaotic Organization, a flicker of raw terror crossed the Grand Elder’s face. They were survivors—refugees who had fled from defeat—so their fear of the organization ran incredibly deep. However, his current dread was anchored more firmly on Shen Bai. He had no choice but to answer.
The Grand Elder pondered for a moment. "If I had to offer a single clue, it would be this: they appear to be conducting an experiment."
"An experiment?" Shen Bai stroked his chin. "I have heard that before."
He had researched this in the past and had even heard those mysterious, ethereal voices—the word "experiment" remained burned into his memory. The Grand Elder’s confirmation successfully sparked his interest.
The Grand Elder mused quietly. "Actually, during the late stages of the Era of Ten Thousand Cities, the Chaotic Organization had already seized absolute control over everything. They even had the power to annihilate the entire world."
"Then why didn’t they?" Shen Bai asked.
This was the greatest glaring inconsistency. The Chaotic Organization’s goal had been to purge the Era of Ten Thousand Cities. Yet, after amassing enough power to do so, why did they remain Immovable instead of acting? They had even allowed subsequent eras to flourish, leading to the current Four Great Countries. Now, they were seemingly starting the cycle all over again.
The Grand Elder nodded. "I don’t know the exact details, but since it is an experiment, it proves that their initial attempt was either incomplete or failed to yield their desired results. Therefore, they must start over and repeat the process until they achieve an outcome that satisfies them."
*Until they achieve an outcome that satisfies them.*
The phrase was incredibly sinister. Even Shen Bai felt a chill creep down his spine upon hearing it.
He finally understood. Repeatedly destroying the world, then intentionally leaving a sliver of hope behind to rebuild—it was all just to farm a satisfactory result. It was an exceptionally cruel methodology, treating all living beings as mere toys in the palm of their hand.
However, one thing still baffled Shen Bai: why start completely from scratch?