Chapter 365: The Gate Spirit
Chen Chang'an's Divine Sense sank into the Jade Slip. The surrounding darkness gradually faded, replaced by a strange space.
It was not large, yet it formed a world of its own. Beneath his feet was a smooth, mirror-like black ground reflecting the empty sky.
There were no boundaries, yet it seemed bound by some invisible force within this space.
Right in front of him stood a massive stone gate carved with intricate patterns. Most striking was the human face in the center with its eyes closed.
The face was lifelike, like a sleeping stone statue. Its brows were slightly furrowed and lips sealed, as if waiting for something.
Chen Chang'an's Divine Sense took physical form here. He stepped forward slowly and reached out to touch the stone gate.
A cold sensation transmitted to him. He tried to push it, but the gate did not budge.
"This gate... does it require a special method to open?"
He muttered to himself.
Just then, the face on the stone gate suddenly opened its eyes!
A pair of inorganic eyes stared straight at Chen Chang'an, making his skin crawl.
Chen Chang'an's heart skipped a beat and he subconsciously took a half-step back, but he quickly stabilized his mind.
"You have finally arrived."
The face spoke slowly, its voice low and raspy, like an echo from ancient times.
"Who are you?"
Chen Chang'an asked.
"I am the Gate Spirit."
The face answered.
"The existence that guards this gate."
"How can I enter?"
Chen Chang'an asked directly.
The corners of the Gate Spirit's mouth raised slightly, revealing a strange smile.
"Want to enter? It's simple, you just need to answer my question."
"What question?"
"A very simple question."
The Gate Spirit's voice carried a hint of teasing.
"If you answer correctly, the gate opens. If you answer wrong, your consciousness will remain here forever. Do you dare to challenge?"
Remain here forever?
The consciousness of an Immortal Venerable?
What ability do you have to do that?
Chen Chang'an wanted to laugh a little. He could feel that if he wanted to, breaking through the gate's obstruction wouldn't be too difficult if he got serious.
He could see a trace of the power of Rules hidden in the gate. It might work against Saint Realm cultivators, but before a true Immortal Venerable, it was no different from running naked.
The Gate Spirit obviously didn't know its existence had been seen through, and it still wore a look of arrogance.
Chen Chang'an frowned slightly, but quickly regained his calm.
"Ask away."
He suddenly remembered that this Jade Slip was most likely left for him by that 'Holy Master'. Whether this person was his past life or a fellow transmigrator, he decided to show some respect.
The Gate Spirit's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing an expression that said "just as expected."
After a moment, it spoke slowly.
"Then listen carefully—"
"There is an ancient legend that says there exists a mirror of 'Absolute Truth' in the world."
"This kind of mirror has a characteristic—it only reflects 'truth' and cannot reflect 'falsehood'."
"That is to say, if you stand before the mirror and lie, your image will not appear in the mirror."
"Now, suppose you stand before such a mirror and say to it: 'What I am about to say is false.'"
"So, will the mirror reflect your image?"
Chen Chang'an raised an eyebrow after hearing this.
This question seemed simple, but it actually hid a trick.
However, this kind of logic problem wasn't too troublesome for a modern person.
Chen Chang'an thought for a moment.
If the mirror reflected the image, it would mean the statement "What I am about to say is false" was true. But if this statement was true, then "what I am about to say is false" became a self-contradictory paradox.
If the mirror did not reflect the image, it would mean the statement "What I am about to say is false" was false. But if this statement was false, then "what I am about to say is true." But in that case, the mirror should reflect the image again...
This was an unsolvable dead loop!
The Gate Spirit looked at Chen Chang'an pondering and smiled proudly.
"How is it? Can't answer?"
Chen Chang'an suddenly raised the corner of his mouth.
"This question has no answer."
The Gate Spirit's smile froze.
"What do you mean?"
"Because this is a self-contradictory paradox."
Chen Chang'an said indifferently.
"Whether the mirror reflects or not, it leads to a logical contradiction. Therefore, the question itself is a trap."
The Gate Spirit's expression gradually darkened.
"You... you actually saw through it?"
"That's right!"
Chen Chang'an crossed his arms and looked at it leisurely.
"In that case, you should let me in."
The Gate Spirit snorted coldly.
"Don't rush. According to the rules, it is now your turn to ask a question."
"Doesn't it open directly?"
"Only if you answer my question and ask one that stumps me will I open the gate."
The Gate Spirit said confidently.
"So don't think you can easily win against me."
"Alright."
Chen Chang'an sighed, doing it for the predecessor's sake.
"Then I'll play along with you a bit more."
"Ask! But don't think you can stump me!"
Chen Chang'an pondered slightly and spoke slowly.
"Now, I'll ask you a question—"
"If I say to you: 'You will never let me pass through this gate.'"
"Then, will you let me pass?"
"Just this?"
The Gate Spirit snorted and began to think.
But soon, its arrogant expression gradually solidified.
If it let Chen Chang'an pass, it would mean the statement "You will never let me pass this gate" was false. In that case, it did let him pass, so the statement is false, and the logic holds.
But if it didn't let Chen Chang'an pass, it would mean the statement "You will never let me pass this gate" was true. But in that case, it would have to let Chen Chang'an pass, otherwise it would violate the rule of "Absolute Truth"...
Another unsolvable dead end!
The Gate Spirit's eyes widened and its lips trembled, as if wanting to refute, but it discovered that it couldn't give a reasonable answer no matter what.
"This... this..."
Its voice began to panic.
Chen Chang'an crossed his arms and looked at it leisurely.
"How is it? Can you answer?"
The Gate Spirit was silent for a long time, then finally sighed dejectedly.
"I... admit defeat."
"Then open the gate quickly, I'm in a hurry."
The Gate Spirit suddenly grinned.
"Wait! I never said it was one round. Best of three!"
Chen Chang'an raised an eyebrow, and his gaze suddenly turned cold.
"You want to go back on your word?"
He stared straight at the Gate Spirit, making it inexplicably terrified.
But soon, the Gate Spirit remembered the power of Rules contained within it and regained its arrogant demeanor.
"So what? Since we are here, I make the rules."
Chen Chang'an stared at it for a few breaths, then suddenly smiled.
"Alright, then let's compete one more time."
The Gate Spirit narrowed its eyes triumphantly.
"That's more like it."
Chen Chang'an flexed his wrist.
"But this time, I decide what we compete in."
The Gate Spirit was stunned.
"Oh? Since you know your place, that's not impossible. What do you want to compete in?"
Chen Chang'an slowly raised his fist, the corner of his mouth curling into a dangerous arc.
"This."
The Gate Spirit: "...?"
...
A few breaths later—
Chen Chang'an shook his wrist, looked at the scattered rubble behind him, and let out a long breath.
"That feels good."
...
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