Chapter 58: 烈火焚城

Human memory can be tampered with.

People even frequently alter their own memories, selectively amplifying good experiences while choosing to forget the hardships and misfortunes along the way.

"The perfection of this illusion is actually its biggest flaw and failure." He sighed and put away the notebook. "Finally, Tao Bo wrote that he already had a bold solution that he would attempt after burying this notebook. However, it was difficult to achieve alone, and failure would inevitably lead to death. But there was actually another place in this city that distorted reality and was out of sync with true history. His physical condition prevented him from dwelling on it, so perhaps latercomers could find a breakthrough there."

Mao Tao hastily asked, "And where is this place?"

"He didn't write it," Sun Fuping shook his head. "Ever since entering the illusion, the expedition team felt they were being watched. Some even claimed they vaguely saw a giant red shadow."

A giant red shadow! He Lingchuan's expression changed. "They saw it too?"

"Too?"

"You... didn't see it?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"After entering the pool, there seemed to be a large mass in the bloody water, but I couldn't see it clearly at all." He Lingchuan gave a wry smile. "So others saw it too? I thought I was just imagining things."

"Living or dead?"

"It moved, but I wasn't sure if it was moving on its own or just drifting with the current."

Clearly, his information didn't provide any useful clues. Sun Fuping brought his attention back to the current problem:

"Tao Bo believed it might be the artifact spirit of the Great Square Cauldron, or a vengeful spirit deeply hidden here. Therefore, he couldn't write down his solution or the illusion's flaws, otherwise this world would change accordingly."

Nian Songyu frowned. "As for the method of breaking it, whether he wrote it down or not is irrelevant. Tao Bo didn't make it back alive, which proves his approach failed."

He Lingchuan, however, said, "But his understanding of this world is quite interesting. We can start there."

"How?"

"This world is too perfect, so there's no Great Square Cauldron?" He Lingchuan said casually, "Isn't it simple then? Destroy this world, and the Great Square Cauldron should appear, right?"

"You..." Nian Songyu wanted to curse him for talking nonsense, but then he thought, this simple and brutal reverse logic seemed...

...quite reasonable?

"Is there a better way to hide it than this? No wonder previous explorers came in wave after wave and returned empty-handed!" He Lingchuan grew more pleased with the idea the more he thought about it. "The most important thing is that Tao Bo has searched this place thoroughly many times, so there's probably no truly useful clue here. We wouldn't regret destroying it all."

Sun Fuping was somewhat lost in thought. "As for that 'out of sync' place... if we burn it, it will be gone."

"Panlong City is so vast, where would we find a small flaw? We wouldn't find it even if we spent another sixty days. Besides, I don't think we can last another sixty days."

When Mao Tao heard this, a chill ran down his spine.

Tao Bo had survived sixty days by not only relying on his own provisions but also by consuming his companions' bodies. Now there were only four of them here. If they truly ran out of supplies, by any calculation, he would be the first to be eaten!

Thinking of this, he felt that the gazes from the other three were filled with deep malice. He quickly agreed, "Young Master's idea makes a lot of sense!"

He Lingchuan glanced at him sideways, as if seeing through his fear. "I remember the Grand Tutor said that in the worst-case scenario, we could use the nation's destiny to save us all?"

"Of course, but there's only one chance, so we must be careful."

"Then what's there to be afraid of?" He Lingchuan chuckled. "Let's discuss how we can destroy a world!"

"Set it on fire!" This time, Nian Songyu and Mao Tao actually spoke in unison.

The latter immediately shut up, while the former looked at Sun Fuping. "Just like after Panlong City fell back then!"

In the past, after the Xianba allied forces breached Panlong City, they plundered and massacred extensively, then burned the entire city to the ground.

There was no more tragic or antiquated method than this.

Sun Fuping thought for a moment, then nodded. "Let's start gathering combustible materials and split up."

"Burning down such a huge city won't be easy, will it?" He Lingchuan said. "With just the four of us, it would take a month or two, wouldn't it?"

Mao Tao was startled and immediately thought of his own fate. Sun Fuping considered this. "You're right, we're short-handed. It would be best to call everyone from outside in."

"Call his father down too?" He Lingchuan was surprised. "Can you contact them?"

"Hard to say, but we can try." These were two separate worlds, not just a matter of distance, so Sun Fuping wasn't entirely confident.

Seeing Sun Fuping rolling up his sleeves, ready to call for people, He Lingchuan quickly waved his hand. "If this place is one-way, they'll be trapped and killed. Why don't we try it ourselves first? Tao Bo attempted it alone back then."

"Which is why he failed," Nian Songyu said, giving a fake smile. "No one can leave the Panlong Desert alive during the Sandstorm Season, you said that yourself. If we don't get the Great Square Cauldron, your father won't be able to leave the desolate Panlong City either. Either way, we'll all die here, just inside or outside."

This young man was truly ruthless; since they weren't his subordinates, he wouldn't feel bad no matter how many died. Just as He Lingchuan was about to argue further, a thought suddenly struck him: "We can burn the city ourselves, we just need to turn the siege weapons on the city walls around. Look, most of the houses are concentrated to the south. It's not a good time for my father to come down, otherwise, who will stop the Gale Army for us?"

Siege weapons on the city walls?

Nian Songyu pondered, and for once, complimented him. "That actually makes some sense!"

There were defensive fortifications on the city walls, and siege weapon carts were generally used for long-range combat. Some launched rolling stones or fire stones, others shot giant crossbow bolts, all for repelling attacking forces. But if they were turned around, they could ignite fires within the city, and their range was considerable.

This method would naturally be much faster than four people running around fanning flames.

Besides, it wasn't necessary to burn down the entire vast Panlong City; burning the main district clean would probably be enough.

He Lingchuan struck while the iron was hot. "The siege weapons have a limited range after all. I'll go to the outskirts where they can't reach and burn down the scattered houses first."

Since he had considered it so thoroughly, Nian Songyu didn't object further. Sun Fuping, however, gave a reminder, "We'll split up. Gather on the city wall in four hours."

"Be punctual! If anything unexpected happens, come to the South Gate immediately!" He said with a solemn expression, "The flaw we are exploiting was devised by Tao Bo, but he ultimately didn't make it back. This suggests there might be an irresistible force after the city is burned. If you don't want to die, make sure to stand with me when the time comes. Remember that!"

So, the four split up.

Nian Songyu headed south to inspect the siege weapons on the city gate and also to look for war materials in the armory. He had genuinely commanded troops in battle and knew exactly where these things would be kept.

He Lingchuan went east, Mao Tao went north, and Sun Fuping went west.