NABC Chapter 222 Death, the End of All Things
Chapter 222 Death, the End of All Things
A hand radiating five colors of light—white, blue, black, red, and yellow—pressed onto Lü Qian's chest.
"Bang!"
A dull sound, like the cracking of rocks, reverberated throughout the surrounding inner void, and the five-colored light and aura swirling around his palm instantly enveloped Lü Qian.
"boom!"
Amidst the shimmering light and aura, the phantom of a divine mountain seemed to appear, the stones that made up the mountain materialized out of thin air, and the shape of the mountain expanded in the blink of an eye, resembling an open palm.
In the inner realm of the void, the sacred mountain transforms from illusion to reality. The Five Fingers Sacred Mountain is surrounded by light and aura, and its majestic mountain range exudes an unyielding ancient majesty.
Suddenly, a clear shout came from inside the sacred mountain, like a rolling thunderclap, shaking the inner void.
"combine!"
As the command was given, the massive sacred mountain, which had been open in the shape of a mountain hand, slowly closed up, as if turning from a palm into a fist, enveloping Lü Qian within its palm.
"Get out of here!"
When the fist formed by the Five Fingers Divine Mountain completely closed, a dazzling light enveloped the entire void.
In the next instant, the once majestic and ancient Five-Colored Divine Mountain and Lü Qian within it vanished from the spot.
From the void, it seemed as if human voices followed.
"So, did you memorize this part?"
"Of course, this will be something we talk about, and it will also become a story that will be passed down through generations."
……
The voices in the void gradually faded into the distance, but nothing appeared. The inner void returned to its former desolation.
In reality, Lü Qian, who had been sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, suddenly reacted.
"The five elements converge within the body, bringing wondrous harmony; why then seek dazzling light and colorful clouds?"
Returning from the inner world, Lü Qian smiled slightly and murmured a line with his eyes closed.
As soon as the words were spoken, all the wondrous phenomena that were once ethereal and divine in the crimson sunset vanished.
The radiance and aura emanating from his body gradually contracted, and the five-colored lotus flower beneath him dispersed into a breath of pure air, which was inhaled by Lü Qian.
"call--"
After taking a deep breath, Lü Qian slowly opened his eyes. A flash of five-colored light mixed with crimson gold radiance disappeared in an instant, and the gleam in his pupils flickered like a candle in the wind.
"It's still early."
Just as Lü Qian was about to get up, he seemed to sense something. He blinked again, and his eyes suddenly lit up, shining brightly as if they contained the stars and the universe.
Zhang Zhiwei, who was standing to the side, was somewhat surprised. He had already recognized the change in the light in Lü Qian's eyes.
"Old Lu, how come you've regressed from your near-divine, inwardly restrained state?"
"It's all just an outward appearance. The inner firefly's concealment is merely a symbol, not its true essence. Why be greedy for outward appearances?"
Lu Qian shook his head, then thanked the dignified Zen Master Huijing.
"Thank you for your guidance, Zen Master, which has allowed me to express my pure and tranquil mind."
"Amitabha Buddha, this is all due to your extraordinary talent and good fortune, young friend Lü."
Master Huijing imitated the Buddha's bowed head and lowered eyebrows, and with a gentle wave of his palm-leaf fan, he truly captured the Buddha's casual and natural gesture of holding up a flower.
He watched as Lü Qian sat up straight again, feeling somewhat puzzled. He didn't understand what principle Lü Qian had come to realize.
Zen Master Huijing was merely recounting his own experiences and insights, yet he unexpectedly managed to help Lü Qian, a candidate for patriarch, achieve a breakthrough. Could it be that he truly possesses the voice of the Buddha, capable of saving all sentient beings?
On the field, in a layer unnoticed by everyone, a glint of silver light emerged from Lü Qian's shoulder.
This silvery glow was dreamlike and ethereal, as if it were imprinted on Lü Qian's Taoist robe like silk threads, forming the shape of a butterfly.
The butterfly mark was not visible; instead, it was hidden in the texture of the Taoist robe, making it impossible to see.
Lu Qian, the person involved, seemed oblivious. He looked at Zen Master Huijing and asked.
"Master, could you explain what those strange Westerners were plotting that would endanger the lives of an entire city?"
When the topic turned to serious matters, Zen Master Huijing's face became solemn. "Amitabha, it turns out that the Westerners' scheme was to benefit themselves."
……
"Your Excellency, isn't your plan a bit too ambitious?"
The glow of the setting sun shone through the stained glass windows into the empty church, making the vibrant colors appear both eerie and serene at that moment.
Chris, the alchemist master clad in a black robe, emerged from the shadowy corner of the entrance, his robe trailing on the ground as if blending into the shadows.
The alchemist was no longer as composed as before, but he was also quite casual. He walked slowly forward, his footsteps echoing the flickering candlelight.
He gazed at the bishop, whose back was to the main portico, and asked, "Your plan is nothing short of fantastical."
Is it big?
At the far end of the church, before the statue of God and in prayer, the bishop, dressed in missionary robes, flipped through the scriptures in front of him and asked a question without turning his head.
"As for fantasy, I think it's much more realistic than your pursuit of a 'panacea,' isn't it?"
His Excellency the bishop turned to the last page of the book in his hand, his aged hand lifting the cover and slowly closing the yellowed pages.
"Bang!"
The heavy black book cover pressed down on the pages, making a dull thud.
As the voice faded, the alchemist Chris had already arrived behind the bishop, just a step away from the old man.
He looked at the elderly bishop and couldn't help but sigh.
"Edenor, I still remember that you were more than twenty years younger than me."
The aged alchemist looked at his palms, then at the bishop's back, which was even more hunched than his own.
"The fire and poison of faith have corrupted you, a junior, into a monster even uglier than this old man...?"
He tucked his hands back into his black robe, his gaze following the bishop's slowly turning body to the aged face.
Chris carefully chose his words, speaking slowly, but when that aged face was fully revealed in the sunset, he couldn't help but pause for a moment.
"Edenor, the Alchemists' Association has truly let you down. We have also missed out on a young man of exceptional talent."
"That matter was too complicated back then, but we've already investigated it thoroughly, and it wasn't your fault."
"snort!"
Faced with Chris's gentle admonition, the bishop, who had been hunched over, straightened up instantly and once again became the powerful old man who dominated the dimly lit room.
"Complex?"
"No, it's actually not complicated, it's just that you don't want to handle it simply."
"The Alchemists' Association?"
"It's just a trick to prolong the lives of you old folks. Through the association, you can legitimately accumulate a wealth of resources."
"With these resources, you concoct life-extending potions and study magic, all for... immortality!"
"As for me?"
Bishop Ednor stepped down from the altar and said slowly, "I was once just a reckless apprentice who threatened your plan for immortality."
"But now I am a knight-bishop who holds a quarter of the power of judgment."
"Death, the end of all things."
He spread his hands and gave Chris a sarcastic smile. "It is also the time for the gods to settle accounts for cause and effect."
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Chapter One!
There will be another chapter tonight. I was delayed yesterday because I encountered a weirdo, so please forgive me!
I'll see if I can get up a little earlier tomorrow to write!