Chapter 408: Despair Land

"I..." Tian She's eyes gradually filled with respect. "I am Tian She, acting on Tian Long's orders... If necessary, I can kill anyone who gets in the way."

"What...?!" Bai Hu's hoarse voice erupted. "I was waiting in front of the giant bell for those two youngsters, but I never imagined I'd end up with such a colossal joke..."

"So... that's why..." Tian She lowered his head and said, "If I've offended you... I'm apologizing right here... I didn't know this was your territory..."

"Tian Long... is that really what he said?" Bai Hu slowly approached Tian She, forcing him to back away step by step. "He said you could kill people at will... Has he completely disregarded the master's words...?"

In that instant when Tian She's resolve wavered, the vines under the feet of several girls quickly withered, drying up and breaking apart in just seconds.

They hurriedly gathered together and stood at a distance, watching the strange pair.

Now, they neither stayed nor fled.

"I don't know anything about a 'master'..." Tian She replied. "I only follow Tian Long's arrangements..."

After hearing this, Bai Hu slowly lifted his head, gazing into the emptiness above as if searching for someone in the air.

"What are you doing?" he asked. "You can create three thousand six hundred things called 'Dao'... yet you defy the master's orders and kill people indiscriminately... Don't these contradict each other? Aren't you going to come down and explain yourself?"

Unfortunately, the sky remained utterly silent, and Bai Hu received no response.

Tian She's head stayed bowed in respect, not daring to speak or look up.

"Well, go on..." Bai Hu lowered his head and stared straight at Tian She. "Why did Tian Long issue this order? And why can the Tian-level beings kill at will without starting the 'Game'?"

"I'm not entirely sure..." Tian She answered nervously in a low voice. "One night, Tian Long was awakened by a massive bell toll, and from that moment, he couldn't sleep or eat... He ordered us to find the one who triggered the bell at all costs."

"A massive bell toll...?" Bai Hu furrowed his brow, his wrinkles deepening. "I remember... I remember it well..."

"Senior, do you know?" Tian She glanced up at Bai Hu's expression. "Do you know who the 'Hui Xiang Zhe' is? Do you know what his ability is?"

Bai Hu was just about to speak when he slowly closed his mouth.

He reached out and slapped Tian She hard across the face.

Smack!

The slap echoed loudly, like a firecracker exploding nearby.

Tian She's head twisted to the side from the impact, but he quickly regained his composure and lowered his head again.

"What kind of thing are you?" Bai Hu sneered. "If Tian Long has an issue, he should come ask me himself. Sending you here—is that meant to disrespect me?"

"Yes... you're right, senior..." Tian She's eyes turned cold, as if noting the grudge in his heart. "I'll go inform Tian Long about this..."

"Get out of here." Bai Hu said. "Remember, you're part of the 'Sheng Xiao'. Your purpose isn't to slaughter the innocent. I'll be right here waiting for Tian Long. If he wants to come, I'm ready anytime."

"Yes, yes..." Tian She bowed respectfully to Bai Hu. "I'll leave now... I won't disturb you any further..."

Tian She turned his face, casting a cold, sinister glance at the several girls, then turned and left the area.

But for the people on site, they couldn't relax yet—there was still Bai Hu.

What was his stance?

"Aren't you leaving?" Bai Hu asked.

"Ah...?" Yun Yao was startled. "Yes, we're leaving too. Thank you so much this time."

"Don't thank me." Bai Hu waved his hand. "You're 'Can Yu Zhe'. Your fate is either to die miserably in the 'You Xi'... or to be trapped in endless cycles here—that's how it should be..."

His words sent a chill down their spines.

"Elder." Zhang Chen Ze boldly stepped forward to speak. "Please tell us, as 'Can Yu Zhe', how can we get out of here?"

"Get out of here...?" Bai Hu's eyes grew dim with sadness. "Perhaps only he... only Qi Xia can do that..."

"Qi Xia...?"

Zhang Chen Ze and Lin Geng found it quite strange. Ever since they woke up today, it seemed everyone was searching for Qi Xia.

What exactly had he done?

"Only by becoming 'Shen'..." Bai Hu coughed a few times, then scratched his messy, white hair. "As long as someone creates a 'Shen' in this 'Le Yuan', everyone will be freed..."

"What...?" Zhang Chen Ze could hardly believe his ears. "Elder, if we don't want to become 'Shen'... can we escape?"

"Escape... out?" The elder paused. "Where would you escape to?"

"Back to the real world!"

"Ha..." Bai Hu opened his mouth in a grin, with only one tooth hanging inside. "You foolish children... Where is your real world now? You're destined to be born here and die here."

Lin Geng silently lowered her head, her expression equally sorrowful.

"What do you mean...?" Yun Yao was stunned. "Didn't you just say that if someone becomes 'Shen', we could be freed?"

"Ha ha..." Bai Hu laughed. "Some people here are starting to uncover the truth... because someone spun a massive lie... No one can escape..."

Zhang Chen Ze's lips trembled slightly. "Then what do you mean by 'liberation'?"

"Liberation... yes, you'll be 'liberated'..." Bai Hu nodded. "Once someone passes all the trials and becomes 'Shen', you won't have to suffer the cycles anymore... You'll be able to die forever, to forget everything completely..."

"What are you saying?!" Yun Yao felt her beliefs crumbling. "What do you mean the real world doesn't exist anymore... What do you mean we're suffering in cycles...?"

"No... I didn't say the 'real world is gone'..." Bai Hu shook his head, his gaze vacant. "It's just that your real world is gone, so try to let it go... Your families are still out there. The only ones vanished from the world are you. Don't worry, don't worry."

"Then... but... but..." Yun Yao wanted to ask something, but the news overwhelmed her, leaving her frozen in place, unable to say a word.

"Every time he 'washes the deck', the next group comes with fresh enthusiasm..." Bai Hu smiled faintly. "You must have felt it by now—that's the 'cycles of suffering' I mentioned. Better to forget everything and just live, rather than hold onto memories and suffer. Every day without pain is a win..."

"That doesn't make sense..." Zhang Chen Ze hesitated, then looked at Bai Hu. "Elder, you said earlier that 'only Qi Xia can do it'—what did you mean? Is he the only one who can get out?"

"He...?" Bai Hu scratched his head, his dry hair swaying. "He can't get out either. The only thing he can do is free everyone and end it all."

"So, what you're saying is..." The group suddenly realized something.

"That's right..." Bai Hu nodded. "He's closest to 'Shen'. On the day he becomes 'Shen', your existence will lose all meaning—you'll be destroyed along with this place."

Hearing this, Zhang Chen Ze and Yun Yao felt a heavy thud in their hearts.