Chapter 293: Chapter 293: Sealing the Painted Wall
Yu Gen Sheng, being a disciple of that sorcerer, although unable to completely control the World in the Painting, can manage to wield some power. Coupled with the effects of this world’s magical power amplifier, he indeed exudes somewhat the aura of a Divine King.
"What is the spell seal you placed on them?"
"It’s just an Enchanting Curse," Yu Gen Sheng replied, "merely instilling awe and reverence for me in their hearts, to rebuild the Mountain God Temple upon leaving, offering incense and candle qi, reciting day and night."
"This World in the Painting..."
"It’s already somewhat weakened; otherwise, it would not have drawn these two in," Yu Gen Sheng replied, glancing at Madam Du and Du Yueyao.
Lu Zheng also turned back, only to see the two with gossip-filled expressions, eyes gleaming.
Lu Zheng, "..."
The World in the Painting’s aura is fully withdrawn, running purely on past heritage. Without the support of incense and candle qi, it increasingly cannot maintain operations, occasionally revealing its supernatural nature.
"If there’s no replenishment for a long time..."
"This World in the Painting would naturally collapse, and we would all become wandering spirits," Yu Gen Sheng stated bitterly.
Lu Zheng let out a mocking laugh, "You were originally wandering spirits, and these people are brainwashed wandering spirits."
Even though Yu Gen Sheng has outright concluded, the people’s eyes remain filled with respect for him and a sense of belonging to this world.
Lu Zheng curled his lips, though influenced by the Spirit Seal, these people themselves are naive mortals; indeed, a dream of yellow millet for over a hundred years is much more comfortable than living a lifetime of ordinary hardship.
If they were to really know the truth, probably each and every one of them would collapse.
Never mind ancient times, even in the modern era, facing the possible eventual demise of humanity due to the Metaverse development, how many can choose the sea of stars, resisting the desire for an alternative immortality in the network?
People are always greedy for enjoyment...
Lu Zheng shook his head, discarding these thoughts.
There’s no choice, because with the Jade Seal, he doesn’t need to choose; true body immortality is superior to the Metaverse, isn’t it?
"Can you not leave this World in the Painting?" Lu Zheng asked.
Yu Gen Sheng flinched when he heard.
In truth, he can still leave, but even if he does, he’s merely a wandering spirit with less than a hundred years of Dao Practice, who might be wiped out if met with an accident.
"So, it was merely that this World in the Painting was intriguing," Lu Zheng nodded, then with a gleam in his eyes, asked Yu Gen Sheng, "Do you know how this World in the Painting was refined?"
Lu Zheng, examining the Painted Wall World, perceives no special materials needed, evidently refined through a unique technique.
An independent world with a different flow of time from the outside!
Although this world has the drawback of only souls being able to enter and virtually cannot practice cultivation within the world, for learning and pondering, it indeed offers tenfold the time.
"I don’t... I don’t know," Yu Gen Sheng shrank his neck, "It’s my master’s direct lineage and hasn’t had the chance to teach me."
Alright, the single bit of valuable item was not accessible.
Upon understanding the essence of this World in the Painting, Lu Zheng lost curiosity and expectations for it, thus prepared to exit with Madam Du and her daughter.
"Sir... Sir?" Yu Gen Sheng cautiously asked.
"What’s the matter?"
"That... about this World in the Painting..."
"What, you still want to entice people’s minds?" Lu Zheng asked, half-smiling.
"I wouldn’t dare! Wouldn’t dare!" Yu Gen Sheng exclaimed, shaking his hands in denial.
Without waiting for further questions, Lu Zheng enveloped Madam Du and her daughter with Cloud Qi, and with a pull of True Spirit, led them away from the World in the Painting.
Just a wandering spirit let loose by the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, pointless to waste more words.
...
In the temple, Madam Du and Du Yueyao awakened with a shiver, then saw the anxious Du Yuru and several guards around them, and then saw Lu Zheng standing to the side, prompting both to bow to him.
"Thank you, Young Master!"
"No need for thanks, please rise!" Lu Zheng raised his hand in a virtual gesture of support, yet not convenient to touch.
"Madam! Yueyao!"
Seeing them awake, Du Yuru hurriedly stepped forward to grasp their hands.
"Husband!"
"Father!"
Both looked at Du Yuru with faces filled with relief and fear, contemplating that had Du Yuru not invited Lu Zheng to dine together, they might have fallen into Yu Gen Sheng’s trap.
Just thinking about those so-called Immortal Officials and Celestial Maidens in the World in the Painting makes them shudder; those people, despite retaining thoughts, have essentially lost their selves.
"Are you alright?" Du Yuru examined them up and down.
"We are fine, thanks to Young Master Lu appearing and saving us from being controlled by those anomalies within the painting," Madam Du said.
"Anomalies within the painting!"
Upon hearing, the crowd took a step back in unison, then fearfully looked at the wall-mounted painting, their actions perfectly synchronized.
Only Du Yuru once again bowed to Lu Zheng, "Thank you, Young Master, for your saving grace."
"Don’t mention it, it’s just a simple task," Lu Zheng lightly raised him.
"Buzz!"
A soft hum, forty-eight beams of Light of Fortune were absorbed into Jade Seal.
What happened?
Lu Zheng blinked, seeing Du Yuru, inquiring Jade Seal in his mind.
Yet Jade Seal did not respond.
"Alright then, it’s resolved; as long as you don’t gaze upon it, the anomalies within the painting can’t ensnare you," Lu Zheng said.
And then, everyone withdrew their gaze from the mural, in perfect synchronization.
Du Yuru glanced at the mural once more, furrowed his brows, and then looked at Lu Zheng, "May I ask what Young Master plans to do?"
Lu Zheng turned back, seeing that the Divine King at the center of the mural seemed to glance outside the painting, with a hint of pleading in the gaze.
Lu Zheng reprimanded, "What are you looking at, keeping you around to harm people?"
As his words fell, the Seal Technique in his hand moved, and the surrounding mist gathered, transforming into a pattern of clouds imprinted onto the wall.
At that moment, the mural’s colors gradually dimmed, overlaid with faint and indistinct cloud patterns, and the depiction of the Divine King returned to the previous state of joying drinking, except the look earlier of pitifulness now turned into a touch of rigidity.
"Good, it indeed works!" Lu Zheng’s eyes sparkled.
This is a Forbidden Technique within the Cloud Walking Technique, called Cloud Sealing Curse, capable of sealing anomalies. It was his first time utilizing it.
Sure enough, it instantly sealed the mural.
Even though it’s merely a short-term sealing, it’s enough for Lu Zheng to notify the people at Yangzhou Town’s Anomaly Bureau.
"Alright, it’s done!" Lu Zheng cheerfully clapped his hands, speaking lightly.
"Young Master is truly admirable!" Du Yuru praised.
The eyes of other guards and maids were also full of admiration towards Lu Zheng, Madam Du’s eyes were filled with gratitude, while Du Yueyao’s gaze sparkled at Lu Zheng, bright like stars.
...
After lunch, the Du family’s servants tidied up the cooking utensils, placed them back in the carriage, and the group came to the roadside, bidding each other farewell.