Chapter 245 Being Ruthlessly Handled
The night curtain was silent; the night's ritual passed smoothly without any waves.
Zhou Ping, covered in exhaustion, pushed open his slightly shabby house door.
The room's structure was simple, with no extra furniture: a bed, a table, and a vat.
Zhou Ping walked straight to the water vat, scooped up a pot of water, and gulped down a few mouthfuls, finally suppressing the uneasiness in his heart.
Crazy, all crazy, the entire Zhoushan Village has all gone crazy!
From the moment that strange divine edict descended, everything went crazy.
It started when the dying Old Ancestor Zhou was about to become a god for no reason, and when all wishes could possibly be realized through prayer.
The entire Zhoushan Village went completely crazy.
Praying for a wish only takes a few sticks of incense, but working in the fields truly requires basking in the sun and selling one's labor.
While the effort put into both is not proportional, the harvests are also worlds apart.
When a hundred years of harvest from farming might not match the gold and silver gained from realizing a single wish, everything will change.
Although most of the time such wishes can only be realized by a very few, everyone will feel that they will be the next lucky one.
A matter where one can obtain great returns without paying a price is something anyone would want to do.
Benefits have blinded both eyes.
Everyone tacitly forgot—what about the price?
Zhou Ping was like a lone boat on the sea at this moment; when everyone else is in madness, the calmest one is the sick one.
He could not speak, because no one believed it.
What caused the most fear was that he discovered he could not escape either.
Zhou Ping discovered that he could no longer walk out of the vicinity of Zhoushan Village.
No matter how he walked, or what method he used to determine the direction, Zhou Ping just circled around the village.
After discovering the anomaly, whenever he attempted to escape, he would try every means to disguise his actions—whether pretending to go hunting or gathering herbs.
After trying twice more, Zhou Ping knew...
The entire Zhoushan Village might be finished.
If the deity were truly bright and lofty, why would it confine its radiance to an inconspicuous corner?
Zhoushan Village was miserably poor; being able to eat one's fill was already considered a wealthy family.
What could be plotted for was only these poor people in Zhoushan Village; one wants money, the other wants life, speaking of which, one wonders if it is a perfect match.
At this point, only one method that is not a method remains.
Since Old Ancestor Zhou was about to become a deity, there have been fixed peddlers coming to sell and purchase goods.
The peddlers used the excuse of believing in Old Ancestor Zhou to purchase goods at high prices and sell necessities as well as some small gadgets at low prices.
This behavior, to a certain extent, prevented the villagers from going out.
But this was not absolute; there were also people who wanted to leave the village no matter what.
However, in just a few days, those who left would return to the village in a wretched state, and then begin to recount the turmoil and unrest outside, the slaughter and cruelty outside.
Everyone who went out said this.
Gradually, no one in Zhoushan Village wanted to go out anymore—there was no more information from outside the village.
Nor did anyone from outside want to come in; by now, everyone in Zhoushan Village knew each other, so a stranger would naturally be very conspicuous.
When Zhou Ping thought carefully at night, he only felt that an invisible large hand was gently pressing down on Zhoushan Village, this ant that could not run.
Thunder and gentle dew, all are beyond one's control.
At this moment, Zhou Ping only felt a sense of desolate ridiculousness spreading through his heart.
Why could I see those things?
Why did I have to see the truth clearly?
Why did I have to know all this?
Letting myself indulge in this kind of dream together, just like that group of mad people...
At this thought, Zhou Ping's eyes suddenly widened, and then he heavily slapped himself.
What is wrong with me?
How could I have such a thought?!
The sound of the slap had just quieted for a moment when a clear, sweet, teasing voice of a young girl sounded in the room:
"What is wrong, is there a mosquito on your face?"
Zhou Ping's pupils shrank abruptly, and a sense of fear instantly spread to his four limbs. He looked in the direction of the sound.
What he saw was a small young girl with a white rabbit mask and a pale pink dress.
"You... you... who are you?"
Zhou Ping only felt his throat exceptionally dry; had he been discovered after all?
The white rabbit girl casually looked around, and her tone was calm as she said:
"Strictly speaking, I am your only life-saving straw, right?"
Zhou Ping did not rush to speak, because... even straw has value, let alone a life-saving straw.
Then, if he wanted to obtain the life-saving straw, did he have to show the ability to be worth the life-saving straw?
So, does the masked girl in front of him know about his ability to see through those unknown things?
Zhou Ping took a deep breath, trying his best to flatten his tone:
"What do you want me to do?"
"Hmm! Good proposal..." The white rabbit girl looked at Zhou Ping leisurely, "How about you first tell me what the situation is with that old man?"
Zhou Ping hurriedly spoke: "He is Old Ancestor Zhou, the one with the highest seniority in our village, the oldest living..."
"Stop." The white rabbit mask did not cover the girl's eyes, and her expression already held a trace of impatience.
Her tone became somewhat casual as she said: "I do not really hope that you are a stupid person; there is no second chance, please think carefully before speaking, my time is limited."
Zhou Ping looked at the white rabbit girl before him; her height was clearly not tall, and if converted, she could barely be considered a little girl.
But at this moment, the sense of oppression this white rabbit girl gave him was truly somewhat strong.
Zhou Ping quickly adjusted his thinking, and just a moment later, he still opened his mouth with a calm tone:
"This place has already been artificially controlled..."
Chen Baiqing's expression was calm; manipulating emotions was not too difficult, and borrowing Master's words would make it easier.
It was nothing more than soothing when nervous, and forcing when relaxed.
It could not be considered difficult.
——————————
Zhoushan Village, outside the Illusion Barrier.
Chen Mouguang's expression was somewhat anxious at this moment, and he looked at Chu Xingchen at his side.
"Senior... is there really no problem? A little girl at the Golden Core Realm."
"Rest assured, she is carrying protective gear that Bai Xuanling reluctantly gave away. I heard it can also protect against Divine Sense attacks, although I think it will not be needed."
Chu Xingchen looked relaxed, but in his heart, he was actually a bit nervous.
Chen Baiqing's safety could naturally be guaranteed; besides the high-grade protective Dharma Treasure given by Bai Xuanling, Chu Xingchen had also kept a backup plan to detect Baiqing's status.
The most important thing was the group of people standing ready for support behind him at this moment.
This barrier was arranged with great skill; besides the Maze Formation, it was layered with an ability to strongly sense crowds intruding into the barrier.
For the sake of this sensing ability, this barrier had almost no defensive capability whatsoever.
It could basically be said to shatter at a touch.
Chu Xingchen did not understand formations, and at this moment, there was also a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Tianyan Sect who understood formations present; after observing for a moment, he could only shake his head to indicate it was not possible.
Chen Mouguang's speculation was the darkest; he hypothesized that if this barrier were triggered, perhaps the entire Zhoushan Village would be blasted into the sky, thereby annihilating the secret.
Regarding this sudden situation, Chen Mouguang also apologized—in order to avoid alerting the enemy, after observing this place, he had fled far away and did not investigate the situation in detail.
The direction of things instantly became different.
They came to investigate the situation, not to send people up to the sky.
Now the plan to forcefully barge in had already fallen through by eighty percent.
Just as they were planning to retreat and discuss further, Chen Baiqing silently indicated—she might be able to pass through without triggering the barrier alarm.
Chen Baiqing individually transmitted a sound to Chu Xingchen—the Great Formation seemed to be constructed from spiritual power, and she seemed to be able to deceive spiritual power.
Chu Xingchen was stunned on the spot upon hearing this; normally deceiving stupid fish in the sect was one thing.
Spiritual power... can also be deceived?
The gold content of the [Bewitching Heavenly Demoness] title is actually still rising?!
However, given Chen Baiqing's cautious nature, for her to say such words, she probably already had great confidence.
But after thinking for a moment, Chu Xingchen initially refused; even if there was only a sliver of danger, Chu Xingchen did not want Chen Baiqing to step in.
"If it were Eldest Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother, would Master let them go?"
"Although Baiqing is still small in Master's eyes, Baiqing also wants to help Master; Baiqing is already at the Golden Core."
Chu Xingchen looked at Baiqing's determined eyes, and the words of refusal reached his lips but were somewhat unspeakable.
Chen Baiqing just silently transmitted sound:
"Baiqing is not only good at distributing preserved fruits."
At this point, Chu Xingchen could only sigh; he was still ruthlessly handled by this Bewitching Heavenly Demoness.
Unlock 30 chapters instantly (for the price of the old 20-chapter tier) and get 50–55 new chapters every month.
If you're enjoying the story, consider supporting me here:
patreon.com/Alex_Cruise