Domain
“You’ve seen the tower before?” Mu Yu queried.
“No, I’m saying the restriction energy isn’t the product of a formation but a natural energy system that’s too complex for me to explain. Just know that I know that the spiritual energy system can force the domain the pagoda lights up to work under its restrictions,” answered Xiaoshuai.
“Domain?”
“It’s the same as the Forbidden Zone Ling Zheng cast against you using the power of Formation and Talisman Stone, forcing you to fight according to his rules as long as you’re within it. Formation Palace can also create domains. The current domain it controls is Formation Sect and rounds it off with Primordial Yin Yang. Formation Palace’s rule is that you it can control all formations within its vicinity. In this case, anything within the pagoda’s illuminated radius is subjected to the rules of its domain.”
From Mu Yu’s shoulder, Xiaoshuai waved at the freckles of light.
“What’s the rule of the pagoda’s domain?”
“I’m not sure, myself.”
He Liangkong opined, “It’s said that one can create their own domain upon reaching Apotheosis Realm, which Reverend Xuan Jizi reached. As for the domain rules you are discussing, I would say the pagoda’s domain’s rule is to stop anything within its domain from changing. To prove my point, Mu Yu, try cleaving the mountain we’re on.”
Hesitant at first, Mu Yu attempted to rend the mountain using Shadow Splitter Sword, only for a green speckle of light to swiftly intercept the qi fired, deleting it from existence without any residue traces.
“The domain is only active at night, which is why it can repair the damaged bones. We don’t fight at night for the reason that we can’t damage bones at night.”
“Why did you corpses decay, then? Why aren’t the removed bones stuck back together?”
Xiaoshuai answered, “I know. That’s because time can overrule any domain’s rule. Have you forgotten Fingertip Flowing Water? Additionally, once the corpses rot, the bones weren’t complete, technically speaking, so it doesn’t matter if they aren’t attached.”
“Various rules of nature would’ve erased our souls if it wasn’t for the pagoda protecting our consciousness, thereby protecting our existence. If I wanted to escape the domain, I would need to figure it out.”
“That means the pagoda can’t treat the damage to Dad’s soul, then, because he didn’t take the damage while in Fiend-Sealing Pagoda,” bemoaned Mu Yu, disappointed.
“That’s not necessarily true. I reckon the pagoda’s rules go beyond what I just said. Centuries ago, when we still possessed the pagoda, we discovered the energy inside it could nourish a soul. Perhaps that can reverse the damage your shifu’s soul suffered.”
“I need to pay the pagoda a visit, then!” Mu Yu enthused.
“Don’t get your hopes up. The fiend souls won’t let you get close. Also, we can’t force our way through the energy barrier between our territories.”
“We can’t get through? I thought the fiend souls were just really well-mannered when I saw them staying behind the line.”
“Besides spending our days scrapping with each other, we also leveraged the rules here to come up with limitations, and the energy imbued in the boundary line is a special energy we came up with. It contains their soul energy in addition to ours, preventing either of us from crossing into each other’s territory. The boundary line would be pointless, otherwise…
“You will see that the matches during the day are held inside a circular arena inside the boundary as the boundary line imposes numerous restrictions and automatically referees the matches. The boundary line, therefore, knows which direction to move.”
“As the boundary line crosses through the entire island, if I leave the island from one side’s shore and travel around via the ocean to the other side, then the boundary line doesn’t affect, does it? I’ll be in the pagoda’s domain either way. As long as I travel at night, the fiend souls can’t stop me.”
“It’s not so simple to leave the island once you set foot on it.”
“Wait, you’re not implying I can’t leave the domain now, are you?”
He Liankong nodded. “We cast the barrier after we won the war in order to prevent any fiends from escaping.”
“That should’ve been the first thing you told me,” aggressed Mu Yu.
“It wouldn’t have made any difference because you’d already be on the island.”
“Why do you look so happy that I can’t leave? Are you hoping I’d stay here to keep you entertained?”
“Of course not. If I kept you here, Pill Cauldron Sect would be short one outstanding disciple.”
“All right, let’s hear what it is that you want from me.”
He Liankong smiled. “I want you to reclaim the territory we lost. That will mean we can take back Fiend-Sealing Pagoda, and you can enter it. If you can ascend to the top floor, you can leave the island.”
“Didn’t you say it’s impossible to enter the pagoda?”
“I meant souls can’t enter. You can find a way in, however.”
This chubby old man is sounding more and more shifty now, Mu Yu thought. “What makes you so sure I can help you win?”
“Once a living person’s spiritual energy is imbued into bones, the bones will be tougher. In your case, you should be able to mop the floor with them. We can’t win with our bones alone.”
“That’s the strategy you came up with after five thousand years of research?”
“It’s just a guess.”
“A guess?!”
“Well, it’s the only strategy that makes sense. Otherwise, you can wait here and join us after your life comes to an end, fighting to prevent Fiend King Yujiang’s return.”
“Is this how you treat your fellow junior?”
“I gave you a solution.”
“How are you so sure that I can escape once I climb to the pagoda’s top floor?”
“It’s just a guess.”
Mu Yu palmed his face. “Okay, how many floors are there?”
“Ninety-nine… I guess.”
“Anything that’s not a guess?”
“You can enter the island, but you can’t leave.”
Mu Yu palmed his face with both hands.
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