Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 1340: Chapter 1339: Would You Be Willing?

The old monk sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, reciting Buddhist scriptures in a low voice. After a long time, he slowly opened his eyes and stood up, walking out of the main hall. Not far from the main hall, an elderly man with a longsword on his back, dressed in a white robe, with white hair and beard, stood there.

Seeing the elder before him, the old monk clasped his hands together and smiled in greeting.

”Amitabha, I was wondering who had come, and it turns out to be Benefactor Dugu.”

”Zen Master Fahai.”

Looking at the old monk before him, Dugu Sword Saint also returned the greeting.

”Years have passed, yet you remain vigorous.”

”Oh, I’m old now, not as I used to be...”

Hearing Dugu Sword Saint’s words, Fahai smiled.

”What brings Dugu Sword Saint to Gold Mountain Monastery this time?”

Facing Fahai’s inquiry, Dugu Sword Saint’s expression immediately turned much more serious.

”To be frank, I came to Gold Mountain Monastery this time hoping to gain your assistance, Zen Master Fahai, to eliminate a Great Demon!”

”Oh?”

Upon hearing this, Fahai’s expression also turned solemn.

”Dugu Sword Saint is renowned throughout the world as a model for us demon-exorcists, yet even you have encountered a demon monster you cannot subdue?”

”It’s cruel to say.”

In response to Fahai’s inquiry, Dugu Sword Saint shook his head.

”This demon is extraordinary. I observed its aura, and the lives it has taken are countless. Such a fiend I have never seen before. My junior disciple and I fought against this demon but were defeated in a single encounter, forced to flee with disgrace. My junior brother returned to Shushan for secluded recuperation, while I came here to beseech the Zen Master for your help to defeat the demon and uphold the righteous path!”

”Amitabha.”

Upon hearing Dugu Sword Saint’s words, Fahai’s expression also changed slightly.

”Such a thing exists? Since Dugu Sword Saint requests, I naturally will not refuse, but...I currently have an urgent matter that requires my presence. Could you allow me a few days’ grace?”

”Oh? What urgent matter?”

”Dugu Sword Saint may not know, but days ago I inadvertently met a Mr. Xu Xian. He has clear brows and a handsome appearance, fated to encounter my Buddha. I initially planned to convert him to Buddhism, but unexpectedly, this man was beguiled by a yokai and married a thousand-year-old serpent demon.”

”Oh?!”

Hearing this, Dugu Sword Saint also raised his brows.

”Is that so?”

”Indeed, it is true. To prevent the yokai from harming others, I purposely invited Mr. Xu Xian to Gold Mountain Monastery as a guest, to dispel distractions and calm his mind. However, that serpent demon refuses to cease and will surely come to Gold Mountain Monastery for him, so I must remain here to protect against the serpent demon causing harm.”

”In that case, consider me one of your own!”

Hearing this, Dugu Sword Saint also raised his brows.

”Bold fiend, daring to wreak havoc, shall not be spared. In that case, I will join the Zen Master in waiting for the serpent demon to arrive, and when she does, I will capture her and bring her back to Demon Lock Tower, banishing her forever!”

”Amitabha... Dugu Sword Saint is truly a person of justice, in the name of the masses, I thank you...”

Meanwhile, on the airship’s deck, Fang Zheng still lay on a sun chair basking in the sun.

The climate in Miao Territory is quite good; the sky is clear, with no clouds in sight, and no industrial pollution. The gentle breeze is refreshing. Hence, Fang Zheng lies on the sun chair like a relaxed fish, rolling over again and again... and then unknowingly, he falls asleep...

”What is your opinion?”

”Whoa?!”

Hearing the sudden voice in his ear, Fang Zheng nearly jumped up in fright. He opened his eyes and looked around, only to see darkness everywhere... What’s going on here? Wasn’t I asleep?

”Hehe...”

Seeing Fang Zheng’s reaction, the voice chuckled.

”Are you not fully awake yet?”

”Well... I’m not fully awake; let’s say I’m dreaming now.”

Hearing the voice, Fang Zheng’s mind wandered for a moment before he realized this was the voice from the time when he had drawn the Soulstone... This person is rather playful, taking the initiative to bring him here for a chat? Fang Zheng scratched his head before finally coming to his senses.

”So... what do you mean... opinion?”

Facing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, the voice paused for a moment, then spoke.

”In ancient times, Nuwa molded humans from earth, repaired the heavens with stones, blocked floods, rescuing the masses from calamity, yet now her descendants are viewed as fiends. Truly lamentable... What do you think?”

”Indeed, I truly can’t understand how Lady Nuwa ended up in such a predicament.”

Fang Zheng genuinely couldn’t comprehend, according to logic, whether in this world’s mythology or his own, those with the greatest contributions to humanity are Pangu, the Divine Farmer, and Nuwa. Pangu opened the sky and created the world. The Divine Farmer tasted hundreds of herbs, testing poisons to save others by creating medicine. Nuwa molded humans from earth, repaired the heavens with stones, again and again saving humanity, yet they receive little worship and tribute.

Of course, while the Divine Farmer remains somewhat renowned among doctors and healers, Nuwa appears completely forgotten, as if all have overlooked what she once did for them, even the sacrifices made for it.

”Nowadays, the Divine Territory’s Heavenly Dao destiny has shifted to the Western Celestials; they steal its fate, extinguish its faith. Yet it’s absurd how the ancestor Nuwa has been seen as a fiend, truly laughable... laughable indeed...”

”So... your meaning is...?”

By now, Fang Zheng seemed to grasp something. He stared into the darkness and couldn’t help but inquire.

”.........”

This time, the voice fell silent for a long while.

”Between heaven and earth, fairness is all that is sought... I once attempted to restore the ancestor’s name, yet ultimately failed, the Western Paradise severed my lineage, seized my apprentice, extinguished my incense. Now, I am powerless, and can only place hope on future generations. I can feel, small friend, though you hold a spirit beast body, you are not beguiled by the West, thus...”

By now, Fang Zheng seemed to already understand what the voice meant, and the voice simply spoke four words in Fang Zheng’s ear.

”Would you be willing?”

Could it be this is the true task of this instance world?

Hearing the voice, Fang Zheng closed his eyes and pondered for a long time. Finally, he nodded.

”I am willing.”

As soon as he spoke, Fang Zheng felt a blur before his eyes, then in the next instant, an overwhelming flood of knowledge surged into his mind.

”This is all I’ve recorded and gathered in my lifetime, now imparted to you.”

Accompanied by the voice, soon Fang Zheng’s mind was filled with pieces from ancient magical immortal techniques, magic scrolls, various pieces of knowledge, and the history of this world.

He saw the beginning of the heavens and earth, saw Nuwa molding humans and creating beasts from earth, the Divine Farmer sowing hundreds of herbs as worldly grain. The three realms of heaven, earth, and mankind formed, deities ruling the lands, treating humans as servants.

Yet as time passed, the human race refused to be enslaved by deities, rising in rebellion, enraging the Celestial Emperor, who sent gods to obliterate humans. Meanwhile, Nuwa defied the decree and descended, leading humans in resistance against the deities, repairing the skies, blocking floods. This act angered the heavens; they sealed the ladder to the heavens, preventing Nuwa from returning to the Celestial Realm, leaving her to exist in the mortal realm in a half-human, half-demon, demigod form.

Eventually, Nuwa, while guarding the creatures of the earth, died from exhaustion. However, afterward, the faith on earth became mixed, forming two factions that continuously fought internally.

But, thus ended not, as the Western celestials took advantage of the Celestial Emperor’s severing of Divine Territory’s incense during internal strife, launching an invasion. In the end, they reached an agreement with one faction, successfully sabotaging the other, sealing them; their apprentices scattered, faith vanished.

Afterward, the Western Celestials occupied the Divine Territory, seizing its destiny and faith.

Under their deliberate actions, the once protector of terrestrial creatures, Nuwa, vanished without a trace.

”I see...”

Fang Zheng slowly opened his eyes, gazing at the sky before him.

He still didn’t know who the voice belonged to, but now Fang Zheng knew what he was about to burn.

That was to burn away the plethora of gods and Buddhas covering the heavens, obliterate the Western Paradise! Return this land to Lady Nuwa’s embrace!

”Ding!”

As Fang Zheng became determined, a gentle sound reached his ear, followed by a system prompt appearing before him.

[Mission ”Original Source” activated, instance rank elevated to nightmare level]