bookbashuk Chapter 142 We've won, but we still need to collect the debt first.
Chapter 142 We've won, but we still need to collect the debt first.
Huaguo Mountain, a great victory.
The news spread like wildfire, flying out of Jambudvipa, beyond the four continents, and reaching the ears of every power that could see the direction of Flower Fruit Mountain within three days.
The battle was won.
The giant hand that pressed down from above was reduced to dust by the thirteen rules.
Chen Fan stood atop the mountain, watching the busy figures below.
Inventory the spoils of war.
This was the first thing to do after the war ended.
They won the attention of the three realms, boosted morale, and bought time.
But what's most practical is what's right in front of us.
"Report—"
A monkey soldier rushed up, carrying a stack of papers in his hands.
The paper was white with yellowed edges, as if it had just been torn from something.
"Execution stamps have been collected."
"What about the deleted or altered documents?"
Chen Fan took the paper and opened it.
The first page, familiar handwriting.
"Flower and Fruit Mountain, destroyed."
The two words felt like they were branded with a hot iron.
He turned to the next page.
"Chen Fan, who betrayed the scriptures, shall be executed."
Next page.
"Sun Wukong is removed from the jurisdiction and his eligibility for inclusion in the Heavenly Register is revoked."
A revised document records the modifications made to Flower Fruit Mountain by all the gods and Buddhas.
Each page tells the story of the fate of Huaguo Mountain.
If it weren't for this great war, these things would be real.
Chen Fan slammed the paper on the table.
"Save."
He said two words.
The monkey next to him took notes.
These papers are now just waste paper.
But waste paper can also be used to wipe your bottom.
The second monkey soldier ran up.
He was holding a box in his hand.
The box was made of copper and had a seal on it.
The mark was red, like blood.
"The Buddhist Fire-Locking Seal".
Chen Fan opened the box and glanced inside.
The seal is engraved with a lotus flower, and the character "定" (meaning "fixed") is engraved in the heart of the lotus.
This is a seal used by Buddhism to lock the soul of a demon king.
As long as the seal remains, the Demon King will have to listen to Buddhism for a day.
Now, the seal has been removed.
The Demon King is free.
"destroy."
Chen Fan said two words.
The monkey carried the box down.
The third monkey soldier came up.
He was holding a shard in his hand.
The fragments were silvery, like shards of a mirror.
"Fragments of the Heavenly Court's array core."
The fragments were engraved with patterns that spread like blood vessels.
This is a core component of the Heavenly Court's grand formation.
Without this fragment, the Thirty-Three Heavens Linked Formation cannot function.
Chen Fan put the fragments into his pocket.
The fragments were cold, like holding a piece of ice.
This thing can create a new chain array.
Or, destroy an old one.
"Register."
He said two words.
The monkey recorded it.
The fourth monkey soldier didn't come up.
The fifth one didn't come up either.
Chen Fan waited for fifteen minutes.
There's no one here.
He nodded.
These are the spoils.
But that's enough.
He turned and went into the cave.
Inside the cave, boxes were piled up.
The box was made of wood, and it was so old that it had turned black.
"open."
Chen Fan said one word.
The box was opened.
There are weapons inside.
Knife, sword, spear, hook, axe.
There are all kinds.
"This is the second batch of scrapped military depots."
An old monkey came out, holding an account book in his hand.
"The last batch they opened consisted of low-grade magic treasures."
"This batch is all of medium quality."
He opened the account book.
"One fragment of the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife, exchangeable for 8,000 points."
"One corner of the Hun Tian Ling can be exchanged for 6,000 points."
"One Wind and Fire Wheel, exchanged for 5,000 points."
"One Immortal Binding Rope can be exchanged for 8,000 points."
Each and every one of them is a good book.
Huaguo Mountain now has the confidence to stand firm.
How are points calculated?
Chen Fan asked.
"One point can be exchanged for one demon."
The old monkey said.
How many demons are there on Flower Fruit Mountain now?
Chen Fan asked.
"13,000 people responded."
The old monkey said.
"There are currently eight thousand who are willing to stay."
"Adding the second batch from the abandoned military depot, how many troops can be armed?"
Chen Fan asked again.
The old monkey did some calculations.
"A mid-grade magic weapon, capable of arming three thousand mid-level combatants."
"Three thousand?"
Chen Fan frowned.
"not enough."
"In a little over three months, the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist sect will retaliate."
Chapter Thirty.
He said two words.
The old monkey changed color.
"Thirty chapters?"
"Too late."
He said.
Chen Fan remained silent.
He's calculating.
Chapter Thirty.
Thirty days later, another great battle will begin.
The Heavenly Court and the Buddhist sect will not sit idly by and wait for their demise.
They will retaliate.
It will be even more ruthless than this time.
Huaguo Mountain needs manpower.
It requires a lot of people.
Eight thousand plus three thousand equals eleven thousand.
How can 11,000 people possibly block the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist sect?
unless--
Chen Fan looked up.
"system."
He called out in his mind.
"exist."
True kernel responded with a sentence.
The sound is transparent, like water.
"Is the rules subpage slot enabled?"
Chen Fan asked.
"It's open."
Eukaryotic theory.
"This battle has captured the attention of the entire Three Realms."
"Rule No. 1 is in effect."
"All living beings have seen hope."
"Unlock one slot in the rules subpage."
Chen Fan reached out his hand.
A sheet of paper appeared in his palm.
The paper was white, with no writing on it.
There is a grid next to it.
The grid is empty, like a baby waiting for a letter.
"What can I write now?"
Chen Fan asked.
"Rules subpage"
Eukaryotic theory.
"What you write is up to you."
Chen Fan put the paper away.
This space needs to be used sparingly.
After chapter 30, an even tougher battle will ensue.
At that time, this grid might have been a lifesaver.
Now is not the time.
"Where is Yang Jian?"
Chen Fan asked.
"Inside a cave."
Eukaryotic theory.
"The fragment of Yang Jian's broken tail has been stabilized."
"He's waiting for you."
Chen Fan entered the cave.
Deep inside the cave, there was a person.
This person was wearing silver armor and a three-pronged purple-gold crown.
But he doesn't have a third eye.
The space for the third eye is empty.
It was a bloody mess, as if something had ripped it out.
Yang Jian.
The former Erlang Shen.
Now, only a fragment remains.
"You let me join."
Yang Jian said.
The voice was hoarse, like rust.
"Huaguo Mountain needs someone who can fight."
Chen Fan said.
"It's just you."
Yang Jian remained silent.
he was thinking.
He was weighing his options.
Joining Flower Fruit Mountain is tantamount to betraying the Heavenly Court.
Not joining means death.
Chen Fan will not let him leave alive.
Yang Jian was aware of this.
"I have one condition."
Yang Jian said.
"What?"
Chen Fan asked.
"An informant in Heaven."
Yang Jian said.
"I have a junior brother."
Nezha.
He said.
"He will pass messages to me."
"I will know about the situation inside the Heavenly Court."
Chen Fan stared at him.
"it is good."
He said.
One word.
Yang Jian joins.
But Chen Fan knew that this wasn't safe enough.
Yang Jian is Erlang Zhenjun.
He betrayed the Heavenly Court, and the Heavenly Court will not let this go easily.
The Heavenly Court will hunt him down.
unless--
Chen Fan had an idea.
"Should this be made public?"
he asks.
Yang Jian shook his head.
"We won't make it public yet."
He said.
"Once it's made public, the Heavenly Court will take immediate action."
Chen Fan nodded.
This suited him perfectly.
Chapter Thirty.
The final battle will take place in thirty days.
Every minute is precious now.
Yang Jian's existence is a hidden move.
The Heavenly Court believed that Erlang Shen was dead.
But he is still alive.
In the final battle after chapter 30, Yang Jian will be a surprise force.
"Go down."
Chen Fan said.
Yang Jian turned around and walked out of the cave.
Chen Fan stood still.
he was thinking.
Huaguo Mountain now has 8,000 troops, plus 3,000 mid-level combatants.
A Yang Jian with a broken tail.
A potential Nezha.
A rule subpage slot.
Is it enough?
not enough.
But at least it's better than before.
"Anything else?"
Chen Fan asked.
"Eukaryote".
"exist."
"Is there anything else?"
he asks.
"Erlang Shen came during the great battle."
Eukaryotic theory.
"The authentic one."
Chen Fan's expression changed.
"He's here?"
"Watch from the sidelines."
"And then you left?"
"Yes."
Eukaryotic theory.
"He didn't do anything."
Chen Fan remained silent.
Authentic Erlang Shen.
Erlang Shen, the True Lord of Heaven.
He did not make a move.
He watched from the side.
What is he waiting for?
He was observing.
He was assessing the strength of Flower Fruit Mountain.
He is evaluating.
He might come back after chapter 30.
At that time, it wasn't about watching.
Instead, they fought.
Chen Fan took a deep breath.
There is another enemy.
more than one.
Both the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist sect were watching in secret.
They are waiting for chapter 30.
The rules will expire after Chapter 30.
They will retaliate.
It will be even more terrifying than this time.
Is Flower and Fruit Mountain ready?
No.
But at least things are better now than before.
At least, there's a beginning now.
Chen Fan walked out of the cave.
Outside, the sun is shining brightly.
On Flower Fruit Mountain, all the monkeys were cheering.
They are celebrating their victory.
Chen Fan remained silent.
He walked up to a stone.
The stone is old and has words carved on it.
"Chen Fan, the strategist of Huaguo Mountain"
Six characters.
He stretched out his hand.
Fingers rubbed against the stone.
The stone is cool, like jade.
"Where is the grey-robed sutra-observing monk?"
he asks.
"At the foot of the mountain."
Eukaryotic theory.
"He went to analyze and revise the documents."
He said he had a surprise for you.
Chen Fan walked down the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, there is a cave.
Inside the cave, a man in a grey robe sat.
He was holding a document in his hand.
Delete or modify documents.
He is flipping through.
"What did you find?"
Chen Fan asked.
The man in the gray robe looked up.
He looked at Chen Fan.
The look in his eyes was complex.
There was surprise, there was fear, and one more thing—
In awe.
"I analyzed this abridged document."
"The gray-robed man said."
"The coordinates of the 'original conclusion page' have been found."
Chen Fan's expression changed.
"Original conclusion page?"
"What is that?"
he asks.
The man in the gray robe handed the document to Chen Fan.
There was a picture on the document.
The illustration depicts a discarded storyline.
A road leading into darkness.
At the end of the road, there is a point.
Next to the dot, there are four words written on it—
"Original conclusion page".
The man in the gray robe pointed to the picture.
"This is the end of the abandoned storyline."
"The original conclusion page is hidden there."
"That was the original outline of the entire Journey to the West."
"The first version written by the Buddha."
"The real purpose is recorded above."
Chen Fan stared at the drawing.
His pupils contracted.
"What is the real purpose?"
"What?"
The man in the gray robe shook his head.
"have no idea."
"But I can guess."
"The original outline records the truth of the Three Realms."
Why did the Buddha embark on the pilgrimage to obtain the scriptures?
"Why is the journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures necessary?"
"because--"
He didn't say anything.
He was trembling.
Chen Fan put the drawing away.
"Where are the coordinates?"
he asks.
"At the end of the abandoned storyline."
"It's very far from Flower Fruit Mountain."
"You need to traverse nine story fragments."
"The gray-robed man said."
Chen Fan stood up.
"I'll go."
He said two words.
But he didn't say when.
There is still time.
At the end of the chapter, the man in the gray robe looked at Chen Fan.
"careful."
He said.
"That road is not simple."
"The abandoned storyline is something that has been deleted."
"Those that were deleted were things I didn't want people to know."
"There are terrifying things there."
Chen Fan remained silent.
he was thinking.
Original conclusion page.
What is that?
That is the secret of the Buddha.
The truth of the Three Realms.
The significance of the pilgrimage.
Once you get it, you might know.
Why do all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens need to go on a pilgrimage to obtain scriptures?
Why oppress all living beings?
Why set a destiny?
Perhaps, that will break the deadlock.
Expose this whole scam.
Chen Fan put the picture into his pocket.
He took a deep breath.
Then, they walked out of the cave.
A mountain breeze blows.
Flags fluttered on Huaguo Mountain.
That was the flag of victory.
But nobody knows.
Chen Fan looked into the distance.
The direction of Heaven.
The direction of Buddhism.
Dark clouds are gathering in both directions.
Chapter 373 The End of the Waste River
Chen Fan stood atop Huaguo Mountain, gazing into the distance. There lay a black mist, silent as an abyss.
"The rules window is still open," he muttered to himself.
Sun Wukong, standing nearby, patted his chest and smiled sinisterly.
"Old Niu, Sanzang, guard your respective lines."
The Bull Demon King nodded, and a burst of flames flickered behind him.
Tang Sanzang clasped his hands together, silently reciting scriptures, his breathing as steady as a mountain.
The three men each stood on one of the three lines of defense on the mountainside.
Chen Fan took out a thin piece of gold paper with the words "Unsealed Roll" printed on it.
"This page holds the clues we've lost," he said.
He folded the paper into a small square and tucked it into his sleeve.
Down the mountain, the elite squad was already fully equipped.
The gleam of swords and blades, the clash of armor, and the rhythm of breathing like drumbeats.
Leading the group was Long Ba from the Iron Palm Clan, his eyes burning with fire.
"Listen to my command!" he shouted in a low voice.
The soldiers responded in unison, their steps steady.
Chen Fan walked to the front and raised his hand in greeting.
"Remain vigilant and report any unusual activity immediately."
The team nodded and stepped onto the stone path.
The dead trees by the roadside creaked, as if reminding us.
Not far away, at the end of the waste flow, a sunken stone cave appears.
The cave entrance was shrouded in black mist, from which a faint blue light emanated.
Chen Fan lowered his voice: "Go in, find that page first."
Led by Long Ba, they charged in.
The cave was damp, and footsteps echoed.
Ancient runes were carved on the wall in front of them, and they trembled slightly.
Next to the rune was a huge stone slab with a transparent container embedded in it.
Pale blue ink floated in the container, like undried blood.
Chen Fan reached out and touched it, his fingertips feeling the coolness.
"This is the entrance to the unbound roll," he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, the sound of a stone slab falling alerted the entire team.
A huge black shadow burst out from the depths, its claws like iron hammers.
"Stop!" Long Ba roared.
The crowd drew their swords and spears, the blades flashing.
The shadowy figure was cut open, yet it kept regenerating, like a monster whose flesh and blood did not decay.
Sun Wukong's golden cudgel flew down from the mountaintop and struck the monster hard in the chest.
The monster let out a piercing screech, and blood mist scattered everywhere.
The Bull Demon King's flames erupted from his back, instantly igniting the blood mist.
"Quick! Get the container out!" Chen Fan shouted.
Long Ba rushed over and grabbed the container.
The blue ink began to flow in the container, like blood vessels being activated.
Chen Fan handed the container to Tang Sanzang, who chanted a spell in a low voice, and the blue light immediately condensed into a golden rune.
"This rune can open unfinished scrolls," Tang Sanzang said.
The runes were affixed to the stone slab, which emitted a low hum.
The black mist at the cave entrance tore apart instantly, and a narrow beam of light shot out.
The beam of light pierced the sky above the mountain peak, as if to tear the heavens apart.
Chen Fan looked up and saw a huge crack appear in the sky, with golden light flowing through it.
"This is... the entrance to the new map?" he asked in surprise.
Just then, a faint sound came from inside the cave.
"Waaah...waaah..."
Chen Fan looked in the direction of the sound and saw rows of wooden boxes behind the stone wall.
Each wooden crate was covered with plastic film that sealed its mouth, and there seemed to be figures moving inside.
He approached, his fingers touching the box, which instantly emitted a piercing metallic clang.
The box was opened, revealing semi-transparent bodies inside.
That was a "failed protagonist" who was once abandoned by the system.
Their eyes were empty, yet they gleamed with a faint blue light.
One of them whispered, "We're trapped here, waiting to be written into the final chapter."
Chen Fan frowned, a sudden thought striking his mind.
Rewriting these "failed protagonists" into the rules might generate unexpected power.
He raised his hand and pointed to the box in the very center.
Release them all.
The team's mage immediately raised his staff, and blue light shot out from the tip, instantly tearing through the plastic film.
The figures inside the box dissipated like smoke, turning into streaks of light that rushed towards the cave entrance.
The points of light converged in the air, forming a rotating symbol.
The symbol expanded rapidly, shooting straight to the mountain peak.
Just as the symbol was about to touch the mountaintop,
A tremendous roar came from outside the cave.
"Dare to touch my worthless trash!"
The sound was like thunder, crashing directly onto the defense line halfway up the mountain.
The Bull Demon King looked up, his brows furrowed, and blood welled in his eyes.
The golden cudgel in Sun Wukong's hand suddenly trembled, as if it were being pulled by some kind of force.
Chen Fan stood at the intersection of the beam of light and the black mist, a resolute glint in his eyes.
The gold paper he was holding suddenly glowed, and the words on it floated on their own.
"I will personally complete the unfinished chapters."
Just then, a figure appeared at the end of the beam of light, wearing a dark red robe and with his face covered by a veil.
The man raised a hand, pointing at Chen Fan, his fingertips emitting a cold, blue light.
"You think you can easily rewrite everything?"
The blue light solidified instantly, forming an invisible barrier that pressed directly against Chen Fan's chest.
Chen Fan's breathing was cut off, and a sharp pain shot through his chest.
The gold paper in front of him was swept away by a gust of wind and disappeared into the black mist.
Chapter 374 Failure - Protagonist's Warehouse
Chen Fan stood before the massive stone gate, his palm gently tracing the engravings. The stone gate emitted a ghostly blue glow, like a sleeping eye. Behind the gate lay a desolate plain, scattered with broken armor and tattered scrolls. That was the "Failed Protagonist's Warehouse."
Chen Fan frowned. He knew that what was stockpiled there were people marked as "unrecoverable" by the system. Each one was a former experimental subject whose memories had been erased. If released, they would become the most ferocious countercurrent.
He gave a soft command, and the crowd—Wukong, Bailong, and Niu Mo—formed a line before the gate. Wukong raised his golden cudgel, his eyebrows furrowing. Niu Mo brandished his iron halberd, a hoarse smile playing on his lips. Bailong's horse galloped rapidly, kicking up dust.
"Archiver," Chen Fan called out, "open the door."
A figure emerged from the light barrier, clad in a grey robe and holding a copper bell. The archive blurred the face, revealing digital patterns flashing in its eyes. It read in a low voice: "Entrant, marked as abandoned. Continue forward, and observation probes will be triggered, locking down the entire area."
Chen Fan remained calm and pointed to the door lock. The lock light flashed and then went out instantly. The hinges turned, and the massive door roared open. The air was filled with the smell of rust and damp, musty moisture.
Behind the gate lay a ruined city. The city walls had collapsed, and countless dilapidated devices were buried in the rubble. The highest spire still emitted a faint blue light, like the heartbeat of a system. Chen Fan divided his troops into three groups: Wukong charged towards the spire, the White Dragon Horse escorted the Bull Demon King to clear obstacles from the rubble, and the remaining troops kept watch in the rear.
Wukong rushed up the tower, his golden cudgel slamming into the crumbling walls. With each strike, a blue light flashed. The machinery inside the tower emitted a sharp hum, and the surrounding barriers instantly shattered. Wukong roared, and blue light surged forth like a tidal wave.
At the same time, the archivist stood at the city gate, raising a bronze bell. The bell rang shrilly, and the air trembled. Several silver beams of light descended from the sky, piercing Chen Fan and his group like needles.
"Halt!" The archivist's voice was deep and resonant, carrying a chilling echo.
Chen Fan remained calm, his footsteps echoing crisply on the gravel. He gently shook the golden ink bottle in his hand, a drop of ink falling to the ground and instantly spreading into a black coating. The coating enveloped the beam of light, causing it to dim.
Hearing the voice, Wukong turned around and smiled: "Kid, don't be afraid."
He slammed his palm down on the archivist. The copper bell was knocked away, hitting the wall with a dull thud. The archivist fell, golden runes falling from his body and scattering on the ground.
Just then, a low groan echoed through the city. From the dust, a figure slowly rose. It was a man in a black robe, his face obscured by shattered armor. His hands were clenched tightly against his chest, stained with blood.
He looked up at Chen Fan, his voice hoarse: "Number... Z-437..."
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow, his eyes sharp: "Who are you?"
The man gave a bitter laugh, his voice like a candle flickering in the wind: "I am the planner who was erased. The system locked me here, and I'm just waiting for you to come." With that, the man clenched his fist, and a dark red dagger suddenly appeared in his hand.
The archivist stood up, clutching the wound on his chest, and glared at Chen Fan: "Continue forward, and you will activate the global chains, awakening all the defeated souls."
Wukong laughed loudly: "The show is about to begin!"
He swung his club at the dagger, shattering it into tiny fragments. These fragments transformed into black mist in the air, spreading outwards. The black mist touched every broken piece of the device, instantly illuminating it with a red light, like a torch being lit.
The red light shone in the archivist's eyes, causing the archivist to take a few steps back in surprise, yet it did not give up. It raised the bronze bell high and struck it again.
"Warning! Warning!" The alarms around us sounded in unison, the metallic screams piercing our eardrums.
Chen Fan took a deep breath and quickly wrote the new rule on the blank page: "Mortals can recall failed souls, but only at the cost of a blood oath." The golden ink spread across the paper, transforming into a wall of light that blocked the approaching beams of light.
Behind the wall of light, Wukong charged towards the center of the black mist and struck out with his staff, instantly shattering the mist. The man lying on the ground finally revealed his true face: his eyes were filled with a bloodshot madness.
"Z-437, I am your backlash," the man hissed in a low voice, his voice carrying an indescribable power.
The wall of light began to crack, and the system's chains gradually loosened. Terror flashed in the Archiver's eyes, and his voice trembled: "No...don't try to take our final chapter!"
Just then, a dark figure slid swiftly down the distant cliff, carrying a heavy metal plate. Ancient runes were engraved on the metal plate, emitting a cold, eerie light.
The shadowy figure whispered, "Chen Fan, don't think you've got the whole situation under control."
The metal plate slammed down at Chen Fan's feet, making a piercing metallic clang. Chen Fan felt a chill on his ankle and fell backward. The metal plate rolled, revealing a dark red button at the bottom.
"What is this?" Wukong shouted.
Chen Fan gritted his teeth and stood up, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "No matter what it is, I'm going to step on it."
He reached out and pressed the button. The entire ruined city trembled instantly, the ground cracked open, and a massive black hole swallowed everything in its path. Countless faces were reflected in the center of the black hole; they were all failures who had been marked as "unable to continue writing."
A scream ripped through the sky, and a beam of light shot out from the black hole, soaring into the heavens. Within the beam, a figure brandished a longsword, its tip pointing at Chen Fan.
The pillar of light's voice echoed through the city: "You think you can manipulate the rules at will?"
Chen Fan frowned, took a deep breath, and the golden ink bottle in his hand trembled again. A drop of ink fell onto the edge of the black hole, instantly solidifying into a transparent barrier.
The barrier flashed, forcing the beam of light to a halt. The swordsman inside the beam turned around, revealing a familiar face—the former system administrator.
The swordsman sneered, "I will make every defeated soul rewrite their own ending."
Just as the swordsman was about to strike again, another hoarse shout came from deep within the warehouse.
"Number...Z-437..."
The sound rang out again, echoing throughout the ruins.
Chen Fan looked up in the direction of the sound. In the darkness, a figure slowly raised a hand, pointing at him with a cold glint in its fingertips.
"You think you can easily rewrite everything?" The voice was deep, carrying a cold threat.
The swordsman in the pillar of light raised an eyebrow and trembled slightly, as if he was considering his next move.
A cold glint flashed in Chen Fan's eyes, and his fingers clenched into a fist: "No matter how you try to stop me, I will take out the resources in this warehouse and turn them into my own power."
Before he finished speaking, golden ink flowed across the paper once more, writing down a new rule: "Mortals may borrow the power of lost souls to break all chains."
The wall of light shone again, its rays slicing through the darkness like blades. Fear gleamed in the eyes of the archivist.
Just then, the voice from deep within the warehouse suddenly became clearer, calling out Chen Fan's number: "Number...F-001!"
Everyone froze, and the darkness before them seemed to tremble.
Chen Fan's heart tightened, and he muttered to himself, "How... how could this be my number?"
He raised his hand, pointing to the beam of light deep in the darkness. The beam instantly contracted, winding away like a snake.
In the darkness, a figure retreated rapidly, revealing a metal nameplate on its chest that read: "F-001".
The swordsman in the pillar of light frowned, seemingly recognizing a familiar symbol.
The archiving caused him to stumble back a few steps, and the copper bell shattered into pieces, scattering on the ground.
Just as everyone prepared to charge, the voice from the depths of darkness rang out again, this time with a mournful tone: "No...no..."
A flicker of hesitation crossed the swordsman's eyes, then he raised an eyebrow, and his blade trembled slightly.
Chen Fan frowned, took a deep breath, and dripped golden ink onto the paper, writing the last line: "This game has been reshuffled."
The golden ink transformed into tiny specks of light in the air, instantly igniting the surrounding fragments and illuminating the entire warehouse.
Within the specks of light, the faces of the losers burned, their eyes blazing with the flames of revenge.
Chen Fan stood in front of the wall of light, his gaze resolute, his fists clenched.
"Come on!" he shouted, "Give me all your strength, I'll turn this warehouse into my battlefield!"
In the darkness, more voices shouted together, and numbers rang out one after another.
At the forefront of this shouting, a figure raised both hands, shooting out cold blue beams of light from his fingertips, pointing directly at Chen Fan's chest.
The beam of light collided instantly with the golden ink, creating a dazzling explosion. Chen Fan was knocked down by the shockwave, but he still managed to get up.
He looked up, his eyes blazing with an indomitable light.
"I'm not afraid," he whispered. "As long as I have a pen, I can rewrite it."
Just then, the voice from the depths of darkness finally uttered a complete sentence: "Number F-001, mission initiated!"
#Chapter 375 I've seen your number before
From the depths of darkness, a figure draped in a dark red robe slowly emerged.
The veil fell away, revealing a face so old it looked almost rotten.
But those eyes were incredibly bright.
Like two will-o'-the-wisps that have been burning for millions of years.
"F-001..."
"Old good-for-nothing?"
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes, but a smile crept onto his lips.
"interesting."
"You recognize me?"
The old man stared at Chen Fan, his gaze sharp as if cutting with a knife.
"You recognize it?"
"More than just recognizing them."
"You are the 100,000th failure."
"He's also the only one who's still alive."
Chen Fan's heart skipped a beat.
"The ten thousandth?"
"A failed product?"
He took a step forward and looked directly at the other person.
Explain yourself.
The old man sneered.
"You're the one who can't explain it."
"Who do you think you are?"
"Why do you think you're alive?"
"Why do you think you have the right to break the rules?"
A barrage of questions came crashing down on me like knives.
Chen Fan neither dodged nor avoided.
"Because I can."
"Because I want to."
"Because you are afraid."
The old man's pupils suddenly contracted.
"you……"
"Number F-001"
"System log".
"Alternative Ending Repairer"
"The 99,999th experimental subject to be released."
Original mission: Repair the collapsed ending of the Journey to the West world.
"Actual execution: Destroy all outcomes."
"Including what we set."
Chen Fan's expression changed.
"You mean... an alternative ending patch?"
"Number F-001..."
He looked down at his hands.
"What happened to my original number?"
The old man snorted.
"Forgot?"
"That's true."
"Every time you reset, the memory is formatted."
"You old lunatic, you threw it in a total of 321 times."
"It's always a different shell."
"Different identities."
"Different beginnings."
"But there's only ever one mission."
Chen Fan asked, "What mission?"
The old man stared at him.
"Fix the ending."
"Three endings."
"The Heavenly Court is destroyed."
"Mount Ling is destroyed."
"The Three Realms will be destroyed."
Chen Fan frowned: "And then?"
"Then?"
"And then that was it."
"All experiments failed."
"You are the last one."
"This also means..."
"Fail again this time."
"The system will then give up completely."
"Directly proceeding to the final chapter."
"What final chapter?"
The old man did not answer.
He turned and looked into the depths of darkness.
"That well."
"See that?"
Chen Fan looked in the direction he was pointing.
In the darkness, a pitch-black well.
No.
It's not a well.
It's a reel.
A huge scroll.
Floating in mid-air.
It keeps rotating.
The old man said, "That's an unfinished roll."
"The repository for all failed outcomes."
"Including the results of your previous 320 attempts."
Chen Fan's pupils contracted.
"What's inside?"
The old man didn't speak.
He raised his hand, and a beam of cold blue light shot out from his fingertips.
The beam of light hit the reel.
The reel opens.
Lines of text appeared.
But they were all fragments.
They're all fragments.
These are all unfinished chapters.
Chen Fan saw those words.
My heart trembled violently.
"this……"
"Is this me?"
Every page features him.
But each page is different.
Some of them are Taoist priests.
Some of them are monks.
Some of them are monsters.
Some are just ordinary people.
Some of them are immortals.
Every time it was death.
Every time it was a failure.
Chen Fan looked at the words.
My stomach is churning.
"I……"
"Did I kill myself 320 times?"
The old man nodded.
"A total of 321 times."
"Including this one."
"Three hundred and twenty-two times."
Chen Fan remained silent.
"What about the original conclusion page?"
He suddenly asked.
"I want to see it."
"It's this one."
The old man waved.
The deepest part of the scroll.
A page of paper emerged.
Half black and half white.
Chen Fan looked at that page of paper.
His pupils contracted sharply.
That's his handwriting.
But that's not entirely true.
The handwriting is at two extremes.
Half of the text is black.
Half of the text is white.
The words written in black are: Utter Destruction.
The white text reads: Complete Remodeling.
Two conclusions.
completely opposite.
Chen Fan asked, "What does this mean?"
The old man shook his head.
"have no idea."
"We tried all the options."
"Neither of these can reconcile the two conclusions."
That's why the system keeps resetting.
"I look forward to your answer this time."
Chen Fan asked, "What answer?"
The old man stared at him.
"Your answer."
"You want destruction."
"Or reshape it."
Chen Fan remained silent.
He walked toward the well.
Walk toward that page.
Extend your hand.
In that very instant.
In the depths of darkness.
A beam of cold light shot straight towards them.
"Be careful!"
The old man shouted.
But it was too late.
A cold light struck Chen Fan in the back.
Chen Fan fell forward.
Blood spurted from his mouth.
He turned around.
I saw a figure.
His entire body was shrouded in black mist.
He was holding a sword.
Three characters are engraved on the sword.
"Archiver".
Chen Fan's pupils contracted.
"you……"
A sound came from within the black mist.
"Number F-001"
"You have violated the system rules."
"Unauthorized access to the original conclusion page."
"Execute archiving now."
"All the protagonists who fail."
"Seal it all up."
The sound faded.
The darkness boiled.
Countless chains shot in from all directions.
The target of the chains.
It's not just Chen Fan.
And then there are those failed protagonists whose mouths were sealed shut.
The old man shouted.
"not good!"
"He's initiating the archive chain!"
"They want to destroy us all!"
Chen Fan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He stood up.
His eyes turned cold.
"Trying to keep quiet?"
"It's too late."
He turned around.
Towards the most recent failed protagonist.
The person was bound by chains.
The mouth was sealed shut by an invisible force.
speechless.
Chen Fan extended his hand.
Golden light shimmered between his fingers.
"damn it."
"Dare to banish my brothers?"
Press down with your hand.
A burst of golden light erupted.
The chain broke.
The mouth of the defeated protagonist moved.
"Pooh!"
"I can finally speak!"
Chen Fan looked at the next one.
Next one.
"Come."
"Want to shut up?"
"Ask me if I agree first."
One by one, the failures of the main characters are revealed.
One by one, the voices are being restored.
"I am F-234!"
"D-112!"
"K-009!"
The numbers came up one after another.
More and more chains appeared in the darkness.
But more and more people are following Chen Fan.
The old man watched this scene unfold.
His eyes were complicated.
"you……"
"Are you crazy?"
"Do you know what you're doing?"
Chen Fan didn't turn his head back.
"Know."
"They are trying to erase all the failures."
"Including me."
"Including you."
"Now."
"We fight back."
He pointed to the core well of the unresolved convolution layer.
"There."
"There was a conclusion sheet that was half black and half white."
"Who can get it for me?"
"Whoever does it is the hero."
A failed protagonist bursts forth.
"Wow!"
"I've waited three hundred years!"
"We've been waiting for this day!"
The figure rushed towards the core well.
Chain interception.
But many more failed protagonists rushed forward.
A chaotic battle broke out.
Chen Fan stood in the center of the battlefield.
He looked up.
Look towards the direction of the core well.
End of chapter:
Inside the core well.
Suddenly, a page of paper appeared.
Half black and half white.
It unfolds slowly.
The text above is changing.
The black part.
It started to turn white.
The white part.
It started to turn black.
Chen Fan's pupils contracted.
"this……"
"Is the conclusion changing?"
"Is it self-correcting?"
Just now.
The page stopped changing.
Half black.
Half white.
intermediate.
A completely new word appears.
Chen Fan saw the word clearly.
My heart skipped a beat.
That word is—
"and".
Chapter 376 Original Conclusion Page
Chen Fan stared at the character "和" (hé), and his heart skipped a beat.
A piece of paper, half black and half white, floated above the core well, the characters still changing. After the character "和" appeared, more characters began to appear, slowly rotating around this central character.
"And..." Chen Fan murmured to himself.
He reached out to grab the page.
The moment his hand touched the edge of the paper, a tremendous force rebounded him. Chen Fan grunted, staggered back several steps, and felt his chest heaving.
"Residual effect of the rules?" Chen Fan's expression changed.
He had just used the residual effect of the formal rules, but unexpectedly, it was easily deflected by this page.
The words on the paper kept increasing, and Chen Fan looked closely and realized they were all things he had done along the way—
"Overthrow the Five Elements Mountain".
"Turning the Victorious Fighting Buddha to a defection."
"The pilgrims were kidnapped."
"Recruit the Bull Demon King."
"Burn the Southern Heavenly Gate."
Every event is transformed into a single character in ink, deeply imprinted on the paper.
"This isn't a summary," Chen Fan realized. "This is... archiving?"
Just then, the core well suddenly shook.
A beam of light exploded from the wellhead, shooting straight into the sky. Within the beam, countless runes flowed, forming a complex pattern.
"Observe the probe." Chen Fan gritted his teeth.
Suppression from above has arrived.
The moment he touched the conclusion page, the observation probe locked onto him. This means that the final judgment of the Ninth Experimental Field has been initiated.
"Captain!" came the shouts of Monkey and the others from afar.
Chen Fan raised his hand, signaling them not to come closer. He knew that he had to get through this alone.
The beam of light began to shrink, transforming into a human shape.
The man was draped in a dark red robe, his face obscured by mist. But this time, Chen Fan saw clearly—it was a fusion of countless faces: heavenly generals, bodhisattvas from Mount Ling, demon leaders, and ordinary people from the mortal realm.
Every face is moving, every face is speaking.
"A discarded case has no right to access the conclusion page."
The voices came from all directions, and it was impossible to tell whether they were male or female.
"Archiver," Chen Fan said, uttering the name.
"No." The humanoid figure shook its head. "Now, I am the gatekeeper of the conclusion."
The goalkeeper raised his hand, palm up.
A piece of paper, half black and half white, flew into his hand.
"The final classification of the Ninth Experimental Field will be determined by me." The gatekeeper's voice was emotionless. "Everything you've done has been within the scope of observation. Now, it's time for reckoning."
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes: "A reckoning?"
"You've broken too many rules," the gatekeeper said, the paper in his hand beginning to burn. "The original pilgrimage route was the most stable closed loop. You turned Sun Wukong against his will, kidnapped Tang Sanzang, and overthrew the Heavenly Court—these were all revised and discarded plans."
"A rejected case?" Chen Fan laughed. "So what?"
"There's only one fate for a rejected case." The gatekeeper waved his hand, and the burning paper turned to ashes. "Archived."
From the ashes, a brand new conclusion page is formed.
Chen Fan couldn't make out the handwriting on it.
But he knew that it must be the final judgment on his fate.
"Want to archive me?" Chen Fan took a deep breath. "Then let's give it a try."
He mobilized all the remaining residual effects of the rules within his body.
Golden light emanated from his body, forming a giant pen behind him.
The pen tip points at the gatekeeper.
"The residual effects of the official rules?" The gatekeeper let out a mocking laugh. "You really think this power can withstand the final judgment of the Ninth Experimental Field?"
"No," Chen Fan admitted, "but I can hold you off."
The tip of the pen burst forth with light.
A golden torrent surged forward.
The goalkeeper waved his hand, easily deflecting the attack.
"this one?"
But at that very moment, Chen Fan made a move.
He flashed through the golden torrent and headed straight for the conclusion page in the gatekeeper's hand.
"court death!"
The goalkeeper reacted quickly, striking Chen Fan in the chest with a palm.
This palm strike carried the suppression of the rules.
Chen Fan coughed up blood and flew backward.
But his fingers had already touched the edge of the conclusion page.
It feels cool to the touch.
In that instant, the words on the conclusion page became clear for a moment.
Chen Fan saw it.
That was a line of text: "Final conclusion of the Ninth Experimental Field: Case reclaimed, number F-001."
Number F-001.
Chen Fan's pupils contracted.
He had heard that number before in the dark.
"I see." Chen Fan smiled, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "I am F-001."
The gatekeeper's expression changed.
"you……"
Chen Fan grabbed the conclusion page and tore it off forcefully.
The paper wasn't torn.
But the writing on it started to become messy.
"Impossible!" the gatekeeper roared. "You don't have the authority—"
"I don't have one." Chen Fan released his grip and took a step back. "But I have a number."
"F-001, not the number of a scrapped case." He stared at the gatekeeper. "It's... the observer's number."
The gatekeeper was stunned.
The core well suddenly started shaking even more violently.
An unusual phenomenon appeared behind Chen Fan.
One after another, illusory figures appeared.
First was Sun Wukong, holding his golden cudgel in his hand, his eyes cold.
Then came Tang Sanzang, his brocade cassock tattered, holding a monk's staff.
Next up are the Bull Demon King, Princess Iron Fan, Red Boy...
Each one is a character that Chen Fan has subverted.
But at this moment, their expressions were off.
Sun Wukong's eyes no longer recognized Chen Fan.
A cold smile played on Tang Sanzang's lips.
The Bull Demon King raised his weapon, aiming it at Chen Fan.
"The original, correct version." The gatekeeper spoke, his voice finally showing a hint of fluctuation. "They were... by you..."
Chapter 377 Your Correct Version, I've Played Them All
Chen Fan stared at the floating character "和" on the page, his heart pounding.
The gatekeeper's voice came from the depths of the black mist, completely calm: "Original correct version, come out."
The light and shadow distorted, and the four figures slowly solidified.
Sun Wukong, Tang Sanzang, White Dragon Horse, and Bull Demon King.
But compared to the people around Chen Fan, they seemed like shadow puppets hidden behind a yellowed layer.
That Sun Wukong, gripping his golden cudgel haphazardly, his eyes vacant, looked like a clay or wooden sculpture. The chains binding him were long gone, but his spine had hunched slightly. The other Tang Sanzang, in his brand-new, crisp brocade robe, lowered his brows and muttered incantations; he was the very same holy monk Chen Fan knew best, the one who only chanted scriptures and worshipped Buddha. The White Dragon Horse obediently lowered its head, its four hooves perfectly still, showing not a trace of the arrogance of a true dragon. The Bull Demon King, leaning on his iron cudgel, his massive body trembling slightly, seemed ready to kneel at any moment.
"آه, the correct version." The gatekeeper seemed satisfied. "Look, this is what Destiny should look like."
Sun Wukong, standing beside Chen Fan, suddenly took a step forward, slamming his golden cudgel into the ground with a deafening roar, sending shards of stone flying: "Bullshit! That's my old Sun's corpse!"
"You wicked creature!" The "correct version" of Sun Wukong raised his staff and swung it without any emotion. The move was impeccable, but as cold as ice.
"Well done!" Sun Wukong on Chen Fan's side advanced instead of retreating, his staff accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder. With a loud crash, the two golden cudgels collided.
The correct version's arm visibly trembled, the web of his hand split open, and blood flowed freely. But his expression remained unchanged; he simply swung the bat mechanically again.
"See that?" Sun Wukong on Chen Fan's side roared as he struck, each blow fierce and wild. "Five hundred years of suppression have worn you down, the golden headband has worn you down to your fate! But my old Sun's soul, even if it's long since burned to ashes, is still hard!"
He deflected his opponent's weapon with one blow, then aimed straight for his head with the other. The correct version of Sun Wukong raised his arm to block, and with a crisp crack, his arm went limp. His eyes finally moved, looking at his broken arm, then at his own image opposite him, hair bristling, fighting spirit soaring. For the first time, confusion and a trace of...fear appeared in his empty eyes.
The faint, ethereal demonic influences around them emitted a buzzing sound.
"The Great Sage...has been defeated?"
"What...what kind of magic is that? It makes the Great Sage fight himself?"
"No, that's the 'correct version'! How...how did he lose?"
"Because I, Old Sun, am no longer the 'right' one!" Sun Wukong on Chen Fan's side roared to the sky, and with one last blow, he gathered all the power in his body with his golden cudgel and smashed it down with an unstoppable momentum!
The correct version of Sun Wukong didn't even make a complete blocking stance. The staff, three inches above his head, shattered into pieces, and then the entire projection exploded like a bubble, turning into countless points of light that were scattered by the wind.
"Senior Brother!" Chen Fan shouted.
"Next!" Sun Wukong slammed his staff into the ground, his fighting spirit undiminished.
Tang Sanzang stepped forward from the crowd, holding his staff. The correct version of Tang Sanzang finally moved; his lips moved slightly, and a string of ancient syllables flowed out, while golden lotuses bloomed layer upon layer beneath his feet, exuding an intoxicating fragrance.
"The sea of suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore." This is the typical Tang Sanzang's opening line, his voice solemn.
"The shore?" Tang Sanzang on Chen Fan's side sneered, and with a wave of his staff, the golden lotus was instantly shredded into light by an invisible force. "This humble monk has already reached the shore. It's time for you to turn back."
His figure swayed, moving so fast that only a shadow remained. With a tap of his staff, he didn't attack the body, but gently touched the "flesh topknot" on the top of Tang Sanzang's head.
boo.
A soft crack, as if a bubble had burst. The golden body cracked inch by inch, and the robe spontaneously combusted. The correct Tang Sanzang finally showed a look of terror, clasped his hands together, and tried to chant a mantra, but no sound came out. Chen Fan's Tang Sanzang withdrew his staff and said calmly, "Reciting scriptures and chanting Buddha's name cannot save the world. The path to salvation has always been forged through bloodshed."
Projection collapse.
It was the White Dragon Horse's turn. In the correct version, it reared up and neighed, its front paws unleashing flames.
"Little White Dragon!" Chen Fan's white dragon horse—now a dashing young man—shouted coldly, drawing its longsword, the sword's light being the only response.
He charged into the flames, his sword flashing like a bolt of lightning, piercing through the fiery curtain and striking directly at the phantom horse's head. The sword strike was so fast that only an afterimage remained.
"A dragon is not a beast that pulls a cart," he said in a low voice, his sword flashing.
The flames died down, and the horse-shaped projection let out a mournful cry before vanishing.
Finally, it was the Bull Demon King's turn. The two mountains of flesh collided. The correct version of the Bull Demon King's three-strike attack, a sweeping iron cudgel. Chen Fan's Bull Demon King roared, neither dodging nor evading, taking the blow head-on with his shoulder. The sound of bones cracking was clearly audible. He then seized the opportunity to close in, his thick hand gripping the opponent's throat, while his other elbow slammed into the opponent's chest!
"Father, you lost." The correct version of the Bull Demon King managed to squeeze out these words, his eyes filled with confusion and sorrow.
"I never admit defeat!" roared the Bull Demon King on Chen Fan's side, exerting force with his hand, causing the shadow to disintegrate.
They were defeated in all four battles.
Chen Fan didn't stop. At the height of the melee, he darted out like an eel, skimming the ground. The guard's beam of light grazed his back multiple times, scorching the hair on his back.
"Don't even think about it!" The gatekeeper's voice carried a hint of urgency.
Chen Fan ignored him, clutching the half-black, half-white piece of paper he had retrieved from the core well. He rushed to the floating "conclusion page"—which was no longer paper, but a flowing screen of light.
He took out two things.
The same cold jade plaque engraved with "deployment number" was already soaked with sweat from my palms.
Another item was a tattered scroll containing the "public rules" that was recently found in the possession of a Buddhist spy who had been killed.
Both were pressed onto the light screen simultaneously.
hum!
The screen lit up brightly, and countless words flowed like a waterfall:
[Detected: Deployment ID F-67 and fragments of the Public Rules (Chapter 3, Revised Version)...]
Verification pass rate: 50%...
[Temporary Permissions Unlocked: Autonomy Agreement for Huaguo Mountain and Seventy-Two Caves Takes Effect]
[System Permissions: Elevated from "Observe" to "Execute"]
[Rewards distributed: ...]
The text was displayed for half a minute when, like a screen running out of battery, it suddenly twitched and then went out, leaving only a chaotic darkness.
In the heart of the darkness, a new, cold line of text slowly emerged:
[The other half is missing. The other half needs to sign off on the "official document".]
Chen Fan stared intently at the line of text, almost choking on his breath. "The main case"?
He had vaguely seen this term deep within the system before, but every time he tried to delve into it, the system would report an error. It was something more core and primal than "deployment number" and "public rules".
"The other half..." he muttered to himself, his fingers clenching so hard they turned white. "Signature? Who signs? How?"
"You think breaking the rules is so easy?" The gatekeeper's voice came from above, laced with sarcasm. "That's the 'Formal Shell,' the cornerstone of creation, the true anchor of order. Without its other half's signature, everything you obtain is nothing but a mirage."
Chen Fan suddenly looked up. The gatekeeper's figure was faintly visible in the distorted light and shadow.
At that very moment, two larger and denser dark clouds were rapidly converging from the horizon and the direction of the Buddhist temple. This time, it was no longer a test; from the depths of the clouds came a heavy, oppressive feeling, as if the entire Heavenly Palace and the entire Mount Ling were crushing down upon them.
The half-sheet of black paper in Chen Fan's arms suddenly became hot, so hot that it hurt his chest. He took it out and looked at it. The character "和" on the paper fluctuated violently. Then, next to the character "和", a very faint shadow of half a golden seal appeared.
He had seen the design of that seal in the illusion of the Buddha's palm.
Half black paper, half light screen recognition.
The other half...
Is Chen Fan a "shell"?
No. His heart pounded. The "other half" that needed his signature might be a living being. A living being with absolute authority, capable of deciding whether all his efforts were in vain.
For example—Buddha himself?
Or is it the true holder of the "Journey to the West System" who has been hiding behind the scenes all along?
He gripped the jade pendant tightly, so hot it felt like it was searing into his flesh. In the distance, dark clouds were approaching the edge of Flower Fruit Mountain, lightning flashing within them, and countless powerful auras locked onto the area, as if...
Chapter 378 We still need to find Chen Xuance
Dark clouds loomed overhead, and every inch of Huaguo Mountain trembled.
Chen Fan stood atop the mountain, behind him the newly recruited army of defeated protagonists. Number F-001 stood at the very front, the cold blue beam of light emanating from him had dimmed, but a hint of admiration lingered in his eyes.
"You're with me." Chen Fan didn't turn around. "From now on, this mountain belongs to me."
F-001 was silent for a moment, then knelt on one knee: "F-001, obey my command."
These four words seemed to flip a switch. More voices followed—
"Number F-002, on command."
"Number F-003, on command."
All seventy-two protagonists who failed were willing to stay.
Chen Fan did the math in his mind. Seventy-two people, each with a combat strength no less than that of a Celestial Immortal. This force was enough to confront any army of celestial warriors head-on.
But he knew one thing even more clearly—the goalkeeper wasn't driven away by him, he drove away on his own.
Before disappearing, the figure in the dark red robe left behind the last words: "You have probe marks on you, you can't escape."
Chen Fan looked down at his chest. Beneath his skin, something was faintly pulsating like a probe.
It's not a killer move, it's positioning.
The other party can find him at any time.
"Never mind that for now." Chen Fan gripped the jade token tightly; the other half was still on Five Finger Mountain. "Let's retrieve the conclusion page first."
Ruins of Wuzhishan.
Chen Fan returned alone.
The half-black, half-white paper remained in its place, the light completely extinguished, turning it into an ordinary piece of paper.
He reached out to take it.
The moment my finger touched the edge of the paper—with a "rip," the paper tore in two.
He only managed to grab half a page.
"As expected." Chen Fan stared at the half-page in his hand, the black part, "I can't take the other half with me."
It's not that he lacks ability. It's a limitation of the mechanism—a complete conclusion must be triggered by both "homologous double shells".
A name flashed through Chen Fan's mind.
Chen Xuance.
The pilgrim who disappeared after the battle of Flower Fruit Mountain, the one who also possessed half a page of conclusions.
"One more is needed." Chen Fan stuffed half a page into his pocket. "We need to find Chen Xuance and get him to sign it together."
Flower and Fruit Mountain, all assembled.
Chen Fan stood atop the newly erected stone platform, while the seventy-two failed protagonists stood below. Sun Wukong leaned against the mountain wall, his golden cudgel resting on his lap, his gaze complex.
"Strategist," the Bull Demon King stepped out from the crowd, "what's the next move?"
Chen Fan didn't answer immediately. He glanced around at everyone.
"The Heavenly Court will not let this go easily," he said, his voice not loud, but everyone could hear him. "The Buddhist sect will too."
"so."
"Before we start, I need to make one thing clear."
The Bull Demon King frowned: "What is it?"
"Arrest someone."
"Who?"
"Chen Xuance".
The moment those three words were uttered, the room fell silent.
Sun Wukong raised his head, a flicker of emotion in his eyes.
Red Boy, standing nearby, asked, "What do you want with that monk?"
"signature."
Chen Fan didn't offer much explanation. He just needed Chen Xuance to return and trigger the final conclusion together.
As for whether Chen Xuanze is willing or not—
"He will agree," Chen Fan knew for sure. "Because more than anyone else, he wants to change the outcome of the pilgrimage."
Just now.
A soldier rushed onto the stage.
"Report—"
"Someone delivered a letter!"
Chen Fan held out his hand: "Bring it here."
The soldier handed over a black letter.
The envelope was black and unsigned.
Chen Fan opened it.
There is only one line of text inside.
—"The first edition of Flower and Fruit Mountain, see you there."
The signature is a single character.
策。
Chen Fan's pupils contracted.
Chen Xuance.
They came to us on their own initiative.
Sun Wukong jumped to his feet: "This monk—"
"Don't rush." Chen Fan pressed down on the golden cudgel. "He invited me to the first version of Flower Fruit Mountain."
"Where is that?" Red Boy asked.
Chen Fan did not answer immediately.
The first version of Flower Fruit Mountain – the original Flower Fruit Mountain, the Flower Fruit Mountain before Sun Wukong became the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
Chen Xuance was waiting for him there.
The purpose is unknown.
But Chen Fan knew this was an opportunity.
He can bring Chen Xuance back, and the two of them can sign the document together.
"I'll go." Chen Fan folded the letter and stuffed it into his sleeve. "You guys stay at Flower Fruit Mountain and hold your positions."
Sun Wukong frowned: "You're alone?"
"It's just negotiation," Chen Fan glanced at him. "No weapons."
Not carrying weapons shows sincerity.
But Chen Fan had hidden half a page of the conclusion in his sleeve.
And—the fact that there was a probe attached to his chest.
Danger as it may be, the opportunities are even greater.
Now that Chen Xuance has shown himself, he can forget about escaping.
"Wait for me to come back." Chen Fan turned around. "Take your strategist's wife home and sign the papers."
At the foot of the mountain.
Chen Fan walked alone toward the direction of the first version of Flower and Fruit Mountain.
The sky remained overcast.
But he already knew what was going on—
This trip isn't about fighting.
It's about arresting people.
Chen Xuance, you'd better be prepared.
Chapter 379 First Version of Flower Fruit Mountain
Chen Fan stepped into the territory of the first version of Huaguo Mountain.
The mountains here are older than any he has ever seen.
It's not just old, it's primitive.
Huaguo Mountain is available in two versions.
The first version is where he is now, Huaguo Mountain F-001, the first generation experimental field.
The other version was his revision, with countless added settings, making it impossible to recognize the original.
Chen Xuance's letter was arranged here.
Chen Fan stopped in his tracks.
Ahead lies the Water Curtain Cave.
The waterfall still hangs there.
Several monkeys were standing at the entrance of the cave.
They didn't hide when they saw Chen Fan.
Staring intently.
There was no reverence in his eyes, only...submission.
The original settings have not been changed.
The monkeys here are the same ones from the beginning.
A monkey that only obeys commands.
"No need to look at it."
The sound came from inside the cave.
Chen Xuance came out.
He was wearing the same clothes as Chen Fan.
But their expressions were completely different.
"I knew you would come."
Chen Fan said, "Let me do it, I'll do it."
Chen Xuance laughed: "That's direct enough."
He stood by the cave entrance.
"But you've come to the wrong place."
Chen Fan asked, "What's wrong?"
This is not a place for you.
Chen Xuance pointed around.
"This is the original design."
His voice turned cold.
"Do you know what the original means?"
Chen Fan said, "That means you are the beginning, and I am the rewrite."
Chen Xuance shook his head.
You're only half right.
He stared at Chen Fan.
"The first generation signifies authority."
"I decided everything here."
"You can change the later part, but you can't change the source."
Chen Fan also shook his head.
"No."
He took a step forward.
"I'm here not to change your ways."
"I'm here to get the conclusion."
Chen Xuance's expression changed.
"Are you still thinking about that half-page?"
He sneered.
"You really think you can take it away?"
Chen Fan said, "Whether it's possible or not, we'll only know after we try."
Chen Xuance waved.
Several monkeys walked forward.
They had no weapons.
But his eyes changed.
Chen Fan glanced at it.
These monkeys...
The attack program has already been set up.
"Is this the original command?"
Chen Fan asked.
Chen Xuance replied, "Yes."
"Loyal Guardian".
"I created it."
"You only listen to me."
Chen Fan smiled.
"You're using monkeys against me?"
Chen Xuance said, "Don't use a sledgehammer to crack a nut."
"But that's enough to deal with you."
Chen Fan didn't move.
He is waiting.
Waiting for Sun Wukong.
Chen Xuance seemed to have thought of something.
"You monkey..."
He didn't finish his sentence.
The sound of monkeys calling could be heard in the distance.
Not just one.
It's a group.
Behind the Water Curtain Cave, in the valley.
A large number of monkeys emerged.
It was arranged by Chen Fan.
He had Sun Wukong do it before he arrived.
It seems to have worked now.
Chen Xuance's expression finally changed.
"you!"
He pointed at Chen Fan.
"What did you do?!"
Chen Fan said, "Release them."
"The monkeys of Flower Fruit Mountain."
"It's not just yours."
Chen Xuance gritted his teeth.
"Are you looking for death?!"
He raised his hand.
There was light coming from inside the sleeve.
Chen Fan saw it.
But he didn't move.
"You want to start a fight here?"
Chen Fan asked.
He walked forward.
Chen Xuance, however, withdrew.
"you……"
Chen Xuance lowered his voice.
"Aren't you afraid of dying?"
Chen Fan said, "I'm afraid."
"But I'm more afraid of not getting a conclusion."
He continued walking.
Chen Xuance continued to retreat.
The entrance to the cave.
The two were only three steps apart.
Chen Xuance stopped.
He looked at Chen Fan.
His eyes were complicated.
"Have you thought it through?"
"Take this step."
"We've become complete adversaries."
Chen Fan said, "We have always been at odds."
"It's just that you're unwilling to admit it."
Chen Xuance remained silent.
Chen Fan walked past him.
Enter the Water Curtain Cave.
The cave is very old.
It's not something discarded or old.
It is the original old one.
There are words carved on the stone wall.
The original concept of Flower Fruit Mountain.
Chen Fan could roughly understand it.
He was looking for the conclusion on that half-page.
Chen Xuance's voice came from behind.
You won't find it.
The conclusion is not here.
Chen Fan turned around.
"Where is it?"
Chen Xuance smiled.
His smile was ugly.
"You really think I'd put my conclusion here?"
He shook his head.
"in conclusion……"
"In a safer place."
Chen Fan asked, "Where?"
Chen Xuance said, "You can't find it."
"Because you don't have the permission."
Chen Fan clenched his fist.
"permission denied……"
He repeated the sentence.
"Then fight until you have the authority."
Chen Xuance's expression changed.
"Are you crazy?!"
He shouted.
"Do you know what you're saying?!"
Chen Fan did not answer.
He walked toward the stone wall.
The original settings of Huaguo Mountain are carved on the stone wall.
One line of text was among them.
Very big.
Chen Fan stopped.
The text reads:
"If the rejected proposal wins, the original design can be modified."
Chen Fan looked at this line of text.
My heart is racing.
Chen Xuance walked up behind him.
"You saw it?"
His voice was very low.
"this……"
Chen Fan said, "You're scared."
"Because you know."
"This line of text is real."
Chen Xuance remained silent.
Chen Fan turned around.
Look into his eyes.
"Now."
"Tell me the conclusion."
"otherwise……"
His voice was even colder.
You know the consequences.
The air freezes.
long time.
Chen Xuance spoke.
The sound seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
"exist……"
"In the hands of the Buddha."
"He's waiting for you to come and get it."
Chen Fan's pupils contracted.
Tathagata?!
Chen Xuance's smile became even more unsightly.
"Scared?"
he asks.
"It's not too late to turn back now."
Chen Fan didn't move.
He simply looked at Chen Xuance.
Then turn around.
Heading towards the cave entrance.
Never looking back.
Behind.
Chen Xuance's voice came through.
You'll regret it.
Chen Fan paused for a moment.
But he didn't turn back.
He continued walking.
The wind blows across Huaguo Mountain.
The sound of the waterfall was still as loud as ever.
Chen Fan was walking on the road.
Only one sentence came to mind—
Tathagata.
In the hands of the Buddha.
Then go get it.