Chapter 145: A Shadow on the Moon
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Why is there such a restriction? Why can't one just manipulate the energy around them? What is the logic here?
Questions floated in Fang Zhengzhi's mind.
This made him look at the lake once again. On the surface, a light breeze blew and the reflection of the fruit trees swayed.
The reflections moved with the water.
Is it because of the wind? The link between the pocket dimension and the world, the reflections, the different worlds and spaces...
Phrases kept popping up in his mind. Fang Zhengzhi really wanted to catch the link between them, however, he kept missing it by inches.
An introduction...
Yes, it needs an introduction!
An introduction was needed to link everything together.
"Zhengzhi... look up?!" At this point, Yan Xiu's voice rung out as he pointed at the moon in the sky.
"On top?" Fang Zhengzhi unconsciously raised his head to take a look.
And then, he saw Yan Xiu pointing at a faint figure on the moon. It kind of looked like a dark cloud.
Fang Zhengzhi had seen the same thing in the previous world.
The figure kept changing shape whilst on the moon.
As such, he was not too surprised initially. However, soon after, his eyes widened.
Because...
This figure was different from the previous one. The previous one took on the shape of various weapons, but this one was different.
It was a person, a lady, a dancing lady!"
"This was the lady you saw?" Yan Xiu looked at Fang Zhengzhi.
"No, I didn't see a silhouette, I saw the real person..." Fang Zhengzhi shook his head. He did not know if that was the real person, but it definitely wasn't a silhouette.
"Real person?" Yan Xiu was confused once again.
Fang Zhengzhi did not explain further. Right now, he was overwhelmed with emotions and questions.
What is the link between this silhouette... and the girl from the previous world?
Could this be her silhouette?!
Is this the silhouette that she has projected using the lake?
It could be explained, but all possible explanations were quite strange. They involved her real body being in a separate world from her silhouette.
If that was the case, then the shadow of the item which kept changing into different weapons...
Where was it situated?
Fang Zhengzhi looked at the moon, then back at the lake. All of a sudden, an audacious idea sprang into his mind.
"I would like to dive down once again to verify my hypothesis." Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yan Xiu and said seriously.
"Okay, I'll come with you!" Yan Xiu replied instantly.
"No, wait for me on the shore, I will tie a string to my waist. If I stop moving below, then... you pull me up!" Fang Zhengzhi shook his head.
"What are you thinking?" Yan Xiu could guess why Fang Zhengzhi was using such a method, but he didn't know what Fang Zhengzhi was trying to test.
"I don't know just yet, I will only know after I try it out." Fang Zhengzhi really had no idea.
"Okay then." Yan Xiu nodded.
Fang Zhengzhi looked at his surroundings. It was a habit of his to have some string on hand. He used it to lay traps and save his life when he jumped off cliffs. However, it was still not long enough, so he turned his attention to the surrounding fruit trees.
He found some slightly softer and flexible branches and rattan, forming a rattan rope with Yan Xiu's help.
He finally got it to the length he wanted...
He tugged at the rope to ensure it was strong enough.
Then, Fang Zhengzhi nodded to Yan Xiu and jumped into the lake.
Yan Xiu held on to the other end of the rope as he stood on the shore. He looked anxiously at the calm lake...
"Woosh!"
At this point, a head popped out on the surface. The moment he broke the surface, he began to pant.
Yan Xiu naturally heard this commotion and he looked in that direction.
When he saw who it was, his expression changed. It did not look good.
"Yan Xiu?!" The person in the lake also noticed Yan Xiu. His expression revealed traces of surprise. When he saw the orchard behind Yan Xiu, surprise consumed him.
The person who popped out of the lake was naturally Lu Yusheng. At this point, he found himself at a loss for words.
After all, the change in surroundings when he resurfaced was something that required time to process and accept.
Within moments, more heads broke through the surface of the water.
Upon seeing the change in the surroundings, they all looked on in disbelief.
Yan Xiu's expression was getting worse and worse.
Because...
He was now faced with a huge problem. He could not run. He had to stay here to ensure Fang Zhengzhi's safety. As such, he could not let go of the rope.
Lu Yusheng had thought that Yan Xiu would run upon seeing him. However, Yan Xiu only stared at him calmly.
"Hmm?" Lu Yusheng was slightly taken aback, Could this be a trap?
After all that happened in the forest, Lu Yusheng naturally thought that this was a trap. The other factor that made him confident that this was a trap was that Fang Zhengzhi was not beside Yan Xiu.
"Where is Fang Zhengzhi hiding?" Lu Yusheng's gaze darted around. Realizing that Fang Zhengzhi was nowhere to be seen, his gaze returned to Yan Xiu.
Then, it stopped.
He realized that Yan Xiu was holding onto a rope.
"Go and take a look!" Lu Yusheng ordered the people behind him. Fang Zhengzhi's and Yan Xiu's traps only served to slow them down.
As for injuries?
Their injuries were light. The seven youths behind him were all Conglomerate Star cultivators. They may face some issues when dealing with simple traps, but the injuries were not life threatening.
The seven youths hesitated, but did not object.
Yan Xiu's expression darkened. Seeing the seven youths approaching, his Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan opened up.
Lu Yusheng squinted.
Naturally, he knew the power of Yan Xiu's fan. After all, the Yan Five Treasures lived up to their name. However, Yan Xiu's abilities were limited and he could not bring the full power of the fan to bear.
This was a chance...
If they were all Conglomerate Star cultivators, Lu Yusheng would be unable to do much. However, as a Heavenly Reflection cultivator, the difference between him and Yan Xiu was incredible.
Lu Yusheng sneered icily. The water around him became way too calm. He controlled the water and directed it towards him.
He formed a small whirlpool.
Yan Xiu's mouth twitched. His greatest fear was that Lu Yusheng's pocket dimension had the Dao of all Creation for water. It seemed like he did.
Fighting by the lake.
Lu Yusheng could link up with the water in the lake.
This was an incredibly disadvantageous battle ground. Under rational circumstances, Yan Xiu would definitely choose a different location. He would much rather return to the Spring Garden.
But...
He couldn't.
Lu Yusheng attacked. The seven Conglomerate Star youths also attacked with him. They too had already come onto shore. It was clear that they were slightly injured, but the injuries were not too great.
As such, it did not impact their abilities much.
"Heaven and Earth switch!" Yan Xiu did not hesitate. He bellowed instantly and the fan in his hand exploded with a wave of color, almost like a waterfall.
The radiant light beamed from the fan as it expanded to the surroundings.
In an instant, a gargantuan Mountain River Illustration appeared.
The mountains and rocks were huge, countless trees swaying lightly in the wind, a raging waterfall falling from the peak of the mountains, almost like a silver strand.
The Mountain River Territory.
The seven youths were initially very quick. However, in the moment they entered the Mountain River Territory, their movements were slowed significantly.
This caused Lu Yusheng's water attack to reach Yan Xiu first.
"Open!" Yan Xiu's fan chopped down at the flow of water.
A ray of red light appeared.
The wave parted right down the middle like a screen.
However, the water quickly formed two additional waves and attacked Yan Xiu from both sides...
...
Fang Zhengzhi, who was in the water, was oblivious to what was happening above. He was intent on swimming to the bottom.
In the pitch black darkness, Fang Zhengzhi did not dare let his guard down.
His eyes were opened but he could not see anything. Even so, he continued to keep them open.
With each passing second, Fang Zhengzhi dove deeper and deeper. His chest became increasingly suffocated. He may be able to take the pressure, but the lack of oxygen was getting to him.
Afterall, under these circumstances, making an oxygen tank was quite impossible.
But...
Even though he may not be able to make an oxygen tank, he could make a few oxygen bags. As such, every time he felt increasingly suffocated, he opened one of them.
"Bloop bloop bloop..."
Bubbles floated to the surface as color returned to Fang Zhengzhi's face.
Then, he continued to dive deeper.
With each passing second, the pressure on Fang Zhengzhi's body increased. The bottom of the lake was pitch dark. He had no idea what depth he was at, but he knew that he would try to get as deep as he could...
He had lost all concept of time.
His hands finally touched something solid. This was not mud or the bottom of the river. This was a smooth and hard object.
Indeed!
Fang Zhengzhi's heart fluttered. He kicked hard with his legs and his face pressed up against the object. In such black water, in order to see the object and verify his hypothesis, he had to get in close, really close...