Chapter 295: Mudman Blinks

Gu Mo was certain that the monk Dabeih standing before him was a fake. What perplexed him was why someone with such an advanced cultivation level would agree to be a stand-in.

"Your cultivation is indeed impressive," Gu Mo said with a smile. "To serve twenty years in this dark, sunless prison on behalf of another, and still maintain such a mindset, is truly admirable!"

The "fake Dabeih" slowly rose. The thick iron chains on his arms and legs, meant to prevent suicide, rattled loudly. He surveyed Gu Mo and slowly asked, "Has it truly been twenty years?"

Gu Mo replied, "The Chu Kingdom has had a change of emperor, and Daguangming Temple has seen two new abbots. With your level of cultivation, you were once qualified to be among the world's top martial artists. To miss out on such prime years imprisoned for another is truly not worth it."

"Amitabha," a faint smile touched the "fake Dabeih's" pale face. "Young benefactor," he said, "why are you so convinced that this monk is a fake? Monks do not lie; this monk is truly Dabeih. Your esteemed country conducted numerous verifications back then, and even Celestial Master Zhang personally authenticated me. Young benefactor, please don't overthink it!"

Gu Mo chuckled, "I don't believe that saying about monks not lying. I know a monk named Liansheng, who is currently the abbot of Daguangming Temple, and he's quite fond of boasting!"

A flicker of reminiscence crossed the "fake Dabeih's" eyes. He chuckled softly, "So, Daguangming Temple did eventually fall into Liansheng's hands." He then looked at Gu Mo, speaking with great sincerity, "Young benefactor, I imagine your presence here means you are a promising dignitary of the Qian Kingdom. Please, leave quickly. This monk's identity is unique. For many years, none of my guards have spoken to me, for fear that knowing too much might lead to complications. Your extensive conversation with me now will inevitably provide me with information I desire, such as Liansheng being the current abbot of Daguangming Temple. Such outside news should not reach me, as your country's high officials seek to erode this monk's will. Your continued conversation and sharing of external news will only strengthen my resolve. In the imperial court, such matters can be grave or trivial. You are young, and if someone with ulterior motives were to exploit this, it could well ruin your future."

Gu Mo said softly, "You are indeed kind-hearted, upholding Buddhist compassion. Yet, if you were truly compassionate, you should have stopped the demon monk Dabeih from instigating thousands of people to commit suicide back then, rather than taking the blame for him here!"

The fake Dabeih sighed softly, "Young benefactor, this monk truly is Dabeih. I don't know why you are so convinced I'm a fake, but I truly am Dabeih. As for the events of that year, it was indeed a momentary lapse on my part, a colossal mistake. Whether being trapped in this sunless place or being subjected to a thousand cuts, it is all the retribution this monk deserves. Even upon death, I am ready to descend into hell for punishment."

Gu Mo chuckled, "Well, it seems further questioning won't reveal anything."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Mo took a step forward.

In that very instant, the fake Dabeih's consciousness was drawn into a dark world—the Demonic Immortal Domain created by Gu Mo through his Dao Heart Demon Seed Art.

Feeling the unique power of the domain, the fake Dabeih was filled with surprise. "A domain?" he exclaimed. "Young benefactor, has your cultivation reached this level at such a young age? Or has the development of martial arts advanced so much that all young people are now this formidable?"

The Gu Mo of the Primordial Spirit calmly said, "You needn't be overly surprised. While the martial arts world has improved considerably compared to twenty years ago, it hasn't reached a point where everyone can manifest domains. Aside from those on the Martial Arts Ranking List, such individuals are extremely rare in any country."

"I see," the fake Dabeih replied. "This monk also reached that realm in the past, but after twenty years of suppression, my cultivation is long gone."

Gu Mo said, "That makes it even harder for me to understand what compelled you to abandon a promising future and endure imprisonment for someone else all these years!"

"This monk truly is Dabeih..."

The Primordial Spirit Gu Mo didn't wait for Dabeih to finish. With a single finger, he unleashed Demonic Immortal power, instantly invading and controlling the fake Dabeih's divine consciousness. He then issued a command, asking, "Who exactly are you?"

"This monk is Dabeih!"

Gu Mo was momentarily stunned. His first thought was to doubt whether his Dao Heart Demon Seed Art's control technique had failed. Yet, the feedback from the Demonic Immortal power unmistakably confirmed that Dabeih's consciousness was under his control.

However, it was also possible that this fake Dabeih had been subconsciously brainwashed into believing he was the true Dabeih.

Immediately, Gu Mo devised a verification method. He asked, "What is the most crucial inherited treasure of Daguangming Temple?"

The fake Dabeih's consciousness struggled for a brief moment, but it was instantly suppressed by Gu Mo, quickly becoming calm. He replied, "The Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror."

Gu Mo was somewhat surprised. Logically, Daguangming Temple would not likely share such a secret externally. If this Dabeih was fake, it was improbable he would know about the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror's existence within the temple.

However, it was also possible that, to make his impersonation more convincing, the fake Dabeih was intentionally privy to certain secrets.

"Where is the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror kept?" Gu Mo asked.

"In the Thousand Buddha Cave behind Daguangming Temple," the fake Dabeih replied.

"How is the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror used?" Gu Mo asked.

The fake Dabeih immediately replied, "The Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror possesses a spirit and automatically selects its user. The duration of use varies for each generation. Once the term concludes, the mirror automatically returns to the Thousand Buddha Cave. At certain times, it will then prompt the monks in the temple to seek out the next Buddhist Son, who will become the new user. This is precisely why Daguangming Temple's legacy is never broken: the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror actively chooses the most enlightened Buddhist Sons in the world. Consequently, Daguangming Temple produces a top ten martial artist in every generation. The previous Buddhist Son was I; after me, it was Liansheng."

Gu Mo asked, "As the abbot of Daguangming Temple, why did you come to the Qian Kingdom, and why did you instigate thousands of people to commit suicide?"

The fake Dabeih said, "It was for the Chu Kingdom, but then something went wrong. This monk cannot recall what it was; I haven't remembered it in these twenty years. I recall arriving with the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror, but after reaching Chang'an City, all memory of the mirror vanished. This monk must have suffered qi deviation at the time. I know I committed that act, but it truly was an uncontrollable lapse of judgment. Afterward, I deeply regretted it, which is why I offered no resistance when apprehended."

Gu Mo continued, "Recently, an evil individual who drains brain marrow has appeared in Chang'an City. Was that your work?"

"No," the fake Dabeih replied. "This monk's cultivation is sealed, and I am confined to this dungeon without any freedom. Naturally, I am incapable of committing such acts outside."

Gu Mo remained silent for a moment before asking, "What is the truth behind the Chu imperial family's claim of immortal lineage?"

The fake Dabeih explained, "There's a story in the Chu Kingdom about Emperor Gaozu and a goddess. It recounts how Emperor Gaozu, then a mere scholar, coincidentally helped a female cultivator undergoing tribulation to ascend in the Taihang Mountains. Ten years later, when Emperor Gaozu faced misfortune, the goddess descended to repay her gratitude, gradually helping him establish the Chu Kingdom before returning to the Celestial Realm. However, this is just a folk legend. In truth, Emperor Gaozu did witness a female cultivator ascend in the Taihang Mountains, her aura truly ethereal. He was captivated by that brief glimpse. But he never assisted her ascension, nor was the goddess who later descended the same cultivator from Taihang Mountain. Ten years later, when Emperor Gaozu was in peril, a goddess did indeed descend to help. However, that goddess originated from the Heaven Beyond Heavens, one of the Thirteen Taboos. She did help Emperor Gaozu found the nation, not out of gratitude, but to align with destiny and save all living beings. After the Great Chu Kingdom was successfully established, the goddess departed, leaving a prophecy: 'Two hundred years later, the world shall return to Chu.' Heaven Beyond Heavens sent her to help Emperor Gaozu establish the Chu Kingdom specifically to fulfill this destiny!"

"So that's how it is."

Gu Mo felt a tinge of surprise. He hadn't expected that what Xiao Ziyin had told him earlier, back at the Jiang Kingdom border, regarding the Chu Kingdom's legends and Heaven Beyond Heavens, was largely true.

However, Xiao Ziyin hadn't directly stated that she knew the Celestial Realm beyond the Heavenly Gate was Heaven Beyond Heavens. Instead, she claimed she merely inferred that Heaven Beyond Heavens was the fabled Celestial Realm.

Gu Mo hadn't fully believed her before, as it was difficult to discern the truth from a woman as shrewd as Xiao Ziyin.

But reflecting on it now, he realized he had misjudged Xiao Ziyin.

As for why Xiao Ziyin presented it as an inference rather than a recorded fact, Gu Mo could easily guess the reason. If, at that time, Xiao Ziyin had told him about a goddess from Heaven Beyond Heavens leaving a prophecy like "Two hundred years later, the world shall return to Chu," Gu Mo would have merely dismissed it as a fabricated prophecy of destiny, designed by Xiao Ziyin to bolster the Chu Kingdom's influence.

"Heaven Beyond Heavens is indeed the Celestial Realm!"

Gu Mo mumbled to himself, then looked at the fake Dabeih and asked, "How do you know all this so clearly?"

The fake Dabeih explained, "Because when the Heaven Beyond Heavens goddess first descended to the mortal realm, she came directly to Daguangming Temple. It was with Daguangming Temple's help that Emperor Gaozu was found. The founding of the Chu Kingdom, beyond the goddess's involvement, was largely due to Daguangming Temple's support and assistance. That's why Daguangming Temple knows the truth about the Chu imperial family's immortal lineage."

Subsequently, Gu Mo then inquired about other secrets of Daguangming Temple that he had learned from Master Liansheng. Without exception, the fake Dabeih could explain them all with remarkable clarity, some even more clearly than Master Liansheng himself.

When Gu Mo retracted his Demonic Immortal Domain, the fake Dabeih stood silently in his iron cage for a while before slowly regaining his composure. A helpless smile touched his lips as he said, "Young benefactor, though I don't know what you did to me, I presume that during my momentary daze, you acquired the information you sought."

At that moment, the fake Dabeih was still somewhat dazed. He only recalled being pulled into a domain brimming with spiritual power and exchanging a few words with Gu Mo; he had no memory of anything that transpired afterward.

Gu Mo looked at the fake Dabeih before him, a mix of emotions stirring within him. If not for his system, which confirmed the man before him was a fake, even with his current cultivation, he would have believed this person to be the demon monk Dabeih, just like the Qian Kingdom court and Zhang Daozhi.

Indeed, at first, Gu Mo even had a fleeting moment of doubt, wondering if someone had committed the crime using Monk Dabeih's name back then, and the Qian Kingdom court had then arrested the real Monk Dabeih. However, he dismissed this thought instantly, as the system's wanted information clearly specified "Dabeih," not some other codename. According to the system's judgment criteria, if someone were an impersonator, it would not label the real person as a wanted criminal. For instance, when Zhuo Qingfeng was framed as a fugitive, the system detected a mismatch between the crime details and the target of the warrant and simply did not record him. In other words, if Monk Dabeih hadn't committed the act back then, the system wouldn't have issued a warrant for the demon monk who instigated thousands of suicides, specifically targeting Dabeih. And if this "Dabeih" before him were the true Dabeih, the system would have indicated the wanted mission as invalid. Currently, the wanted mission remains active, and the recent crimes committed by the "evil ghost" also overlap with Dabeih's profile. Thus, no matter how authentic this Dabeih appeared, he could only be a fake.

However, as he carefully processed the information obtained while controlling the fake Dabeih's consciousness, Gu Mo became certain that the existence of such a convincing imposter was due to the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror. The fake Dabeih stated that he remembered bringing the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror to Chang'an City, yet after entering the city, he had no memory of it and hadn't recalled it since. In other words, he had lost his memories concerning the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror's presence in Chang'an City.

"The Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror, something is definitely amiss!" Gu Mo pondered this silently. Back on Penglai Island, when he learned that Master Liansheng had used the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror to directly shatter Bai Yujing's accumulated primordial spirit will, he had already wondered if the mirror could lose control, or even, like Bai Yujing, develop an independent consciousness from an inanimate object. Now, it seemed, even without developing an independent consciousness, the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror presented a major problem. And its connection to the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror could reasonably explain how such a powerful master appeared without a trace, seamlessly assuming another's identity. After all, while this fake Dabeih was undeniably powerful, he was merely in the first tier of mortal martial artists, not yet a cultivator who had transcended to the Ascension Realm.

In this world, martial artists had no precisely defined cultivation realms, however, there were generally several tiers. Ordinary martial artists, based on their reputation, were categorized as third, second, first, or super-first-rate. Those whose fame propelled them onto the Heavenly Rankings were deemed Grandmasters, though the variation in their actual power could be significant. For instance, when Gu Mo was besieged by dozens of Grandmasters in Qianqiu Town in Southern Jin, he was initially somewhat shocked. Yet, those so-called Grandmasters, when compared to the Qian Kingdom, were merely at the level of ordinary super-first-rate martial artists, or even inferior.

However, upon reaching a certain stage on the martial path, there are indeed specific realms. Whether through external or internal cultivation, martial true intent, or as a Qi practitioner, one ultimately seeks the unity of heaven and man, and then forms a domain with their cultivation and will. This represented the pinnacle of mortal martial power, exemplified by Su Qianqiu defending the national gate with a single sword, Zhang Daozhi's Grand Formless Tribulation Art, and Master Liansheng's Lotus Heavenly Sutra. Their ultimate trump cards were always their respective domains. In his "World's Number One" battle, Gu Mo only achieved victory by using his Limitless Origin Qi to explode Su Qianqiu's domain. A domain, in fact, could also be considered a distinct realm. In the entire world, only about a dozen individuals openly displayed mastery of this realm. And beyond that realm, one sought ascension. As of now, within this realm, Gu Mo had encountered only one Plague God who was a complete Ascension Realm cultivator. Others, like the World's Number One from the generation before last, Hongyi, and Qin Shi, were merely at the half-step Ascension Realm. This was because they dared not face their inner demons. Even at the half-step Ascension Realm, Ling Xiao was then the world's foremost figure, and both Hongyi and Qin Shi only reached it after centuries of life. Thus, the domain realm was indeed remarkably rare. This fake Dabeih, even twenty years ago, belonged to the world's top tier of martial power, ranking among the top ten. Such a formidable individual turned out to be a mere stand-in, so thoroughly brainwashed that he had no self-awareness. After much thought, Gu Mo concluded that only a connection to a forbidden entity like the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror could reasonably explain this phenomenon.

"Master!" Gu Mo cupped his hands towards the fake Dabeih and asked, "I'll ask again: who are you?"

The fake Dabeih remained gentle. "This monk has answered you many times, young benefactor," he said. "This monk is Dabeih."

Gu Mo pressed, "Then, who is Dabeih? You believe you are Dabeih, but what if the Dabeih the world knows is someone else? Yet, you still believe you are that Dabeih whom the world knows. So, who exactly are you?"

The fake Dabeih froze. After a long moment, he slowly said, "Amitabha. This monk cannot answer your question, young benefactor. Perhaps, this monk is simply this monk!"

"I imagine Master will soon be freed from here. Farewell!" Gu Mo cupped his hands in farewell and turned to leave.

Just then, the fake Dabeih asked again, "Please forgive this monk's audacity, but in today's martial world, has your cultivation, benefactor, earned you a place on the Martial Arts Ranking List?"

"Yes, it has," Gu Mo replied.

Su Ziyou, standing beside him, added, "The world's number one."

"Amitabha," the fake Dabeih exclaimed in surprise. "Are Su Qianqiu, Zhang Daozhi, Liansheng, Ye Nantian, and the others still alive?"

"Ye Nantian was killed by me; the others are still alive," Gu Mo stated.

"Amitabha," the fake Dabeih chuckled softly. "What a truly prosperous martial era! With all these venerable figures still alive, for a young benefactor like yourself to be the world's number one means that the martial destiny of the mortal realm must be reaching new heights. Young benefactor, you are a blessing to the martial world."

Gu Mo smiled faintly and said nothing further.

Soon after, Su Ziyou followed Gu Mo out of the Star-Plucking Tower, quickly asking, "Brother Gu, is this demon monk Dabeih real or fake?"

Gu Mo shook his head. "It no longer matters," he said. "This Dabeih's Dantian has been sealed for twenty years, and his body is nearing its end, like a lamp running out of oil. His cultivation realm has also plummeted. Even if released now, he poses no significant threat, and he likely doesn't have long to live. Didn't Xiao Ziyin come with the Chu Kingdom's diplomatic mission to negotiate exchanging captives for Dabeih? There's no need to drag out talks; just finalize the exchange and hand him over. I'm concerned that if Xiao Ziyin and her people discover Dabeih's exact location, they might employ some method to cause his immediate death, leaving us with a problem."

Su Ziyou was surprised. "Surely not?" he said. "At this stage, the Star-Plucking Tower's defenses are extremely stringent. Even if the Chu Kingdom learns Dabeih's exact location, they can't get in. How could they possibly cause his death?"

"I could make him die from afar," Gu Mo stated.

After learning the truth about the Chu imperial family's immortal lineage from this Dabeih, Gu Mo had reason to suspect that the current Chu Kingdom was already receiving aid from Heaven Beyond Heavens. And Heaven Beyond Heavens, as the Celestial Realm, theoretically required at least the Ascension Realm, which implied a complete primordial spirit. While the Star-Plucking Tower was heavily guarded, it offered absolutely no restrictions on primordial spirit power.

Immediately, Gu Mo then added, "Go tell the Emperor, tell him it's my advice, and he should simply follow it."

"Alright, I'll go see His Majesty first thing tomorrow morning!" Su Ziyou nodded.

Afterward, the two continued chatting as they walked out of the imperial city towards Ye Jinglan's residence. Su Ziyou suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way, why didn't I see Sister Chutong?"

"Li Li took her away before she even entered the city!"

Su Ziyou chuckled. "It's quite peculiar, Brother Gu," he said. "Logically, you're handsome and charming, and your martial arts are the best in the world. Yet, when you and your sister travel the land together, why do all the girls seem to gravitate towards Sister Chutong? That doesn't add up, does it?"

Gu Mo: "..."

At that moment, a carriage slowly pulled up to the gate of Princess Chengyang's manor. Li Li, Gu Chutong, and Hongyi alighted from the carriage. Several servants waiting by the gate immediately began cautiously unloading a multitude of bags and packages from the carriage.

Li Li was overjoyed and in high spirits. Linking arms with Gu Chutong, she said, "Chutong, let's go shopping in Tingyu Town tomorrow! I'm telling you, there are so many people from the Western Regions there, and they've brought all sorts of peculiar and wonderful things—dancing mice, color-changing snakes... so many fun things!"

"Alright, let's go first thing tomorrow morning," Gu Chutong said, then looked at Hongyi and asked, "Hongyi, what do you think?"

Hongyi replied, "Wherever Miss goes, I shall follow."

Gu Chutong said, "If you see something you like, you should buy it. Look, you've been browsing for half the day and haven't bought a single thing!"

Hongyi paused for a moment. "I don't have anything I like," she said.

"How can that be..." Gu Chutong stopped herself mid-sentence. She suddenly recalled that both Hongyi and Qin Shi were devoid of genuine emotion; they could simulate human joy, anger, and sorrow, but they lacked instinctive feelings.

Immediately, Gu Chutong said no more. Instead, she asked Li Li, "Didn't you say you had an incredibly lifelike clay figure?"

Li Li quickly said, "It's in the backyard! I'll take you to see it right now. I'm telling you, I'm not exaggerating—you'll definitely be shocked when you see it!"

Gu Chutong pursed her lips. "I'd like to see what kind of clay figure could be even more lifelike than my brother's wood carvings!"

Before long, Li Li led Gu Chutong into a courtyard. As they entered the courtyard, they saw an object covered with a white cloth in the main building. Though completely draped, its approximate human form was discernible.

Li Li happily ran over, grasped the white cloth, and announced, "Now is the moment to witness a miracle..."

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Li pulled the white cloth off with a flourish. In that instant, a sculpture was revealed.

A sculpture, standing unaided on its own feet without a base, stood serenely in a moon-white gown. The folds of the skirt draped naturally as if stirred by a breeze, and even the intricate weave of the fabric shimmered faintly under the play of light and shadow.

Gu Chutong instinctively clenched her fingertips, her heart skipping a beat in her chest. This wasn't astonishment at miraculous craftsmanship; rather, it was an inexplicable tremor of fear. Because the sculpture's face was too vivid: the curve of the brow bone, the fine lines at the corner of the eyes, and even the faint dimple at the corner of the lips were precisely identical to Li Li's. What was most chilling was the expression on that face: a faint, knowing smile played at the corners of its lips, and though its eyes were dark brown, fired from clay, they seemed to shimmer with a watery light, as if they might blink at any moment. As candlelight swept across the sculpture's cheek, it revealed a warm sheen beneath the glaze, almost like real human skin. The neckline of the long dress seemed to subtly tremble with "breathing"-like undulations, exuding a vitality found only in living creatures.

For a moment, Gu Chutong felt a momentary disorientation, as if what stood before her was not a sculpture, but Li Li's twin sister, a mirror image frozen in time. The smile held a hint of Li Li's characteristic cunning, and even the curve of the hair against its neck was identical to hers. It seemed as if, any second, it would open its mouth to speak, or lightly brush stray hairs from its forehead with its fingertips. The air was permeated with the faint, aged scent of clay and glaze, yet it couldn't mask the overwhelming sense of lifelike vitality that was uncannily similar to Li Li, sending a shiver down Gu Chutong's spine.

Li Li, however, casually ran over, boasting, "Well, what do you think? Didn't I tell you? Isn't this much more impressive than your brother's wood carvings? I'm telling you, when I first saw it, I couldn't believe it was just a clay figure! Hehe, tomorrow I'll take you to that clay figure master and have him make one for you too!"

Gu Chutong stared at the clay figure, swallowing hard. She stepped forward and gently poked its face with her finger, immediately letting out a small sigh of relief. Although it looked incredibly realistic, upon touch, she could still discern that it was merely a glazed clay figure. But looking at this impossibly lifelike clay figure, Gu Chutong still felt an inexplicable unease. She took the white cloth from Li Li and draped it over the figure, saying, "Let's forget it, Chengyang. I find this thing genuinely unsettling. I won't be getting one made!"

"What's there to be scared of?" Li Li said, grinning. "Chutong, you're Heroine Gu! You roam the martial world and cut people down without fear; are you afraid of a mere clay figure?"

"That's different," Gu Chutong said, pulling Li Li along. "Chengyang, I really don't think you should keep this thing at home; it's genuinely unsettling!"

"Hehe, I thought you feared nothing under heaven or on earth. So, you do have something that frightens you after all..."

The two chatted as they exited the room.

Just then, a gust of wind swept through, lifting the white cloth away. The candlelight in the room flickered.

The clay figure suddenly blinked and then grinned!