SWNOVELXO Chapter 642: 668
Above the clouds.
Li Cheng's mind teemed with countless doubts.
He had no idea what was happening.
He just gazed at that figure seated on the dragon throne as if the person would resolve his confusion.
The figure didn't put on airs either.
Instead, he got up from the dragon throne in an amiable manner, faced Li Cheng, and slowly began to speak.
"Do you know your original identity?"
The figure straightforwardly posed this question.
"My identity? Am I not the transformed city, a disciple of Respected Master Chu Yuan?"
Li Cheng frowned, speaking in bewilderment.
"If you are a transformed city, do you know which city you are? Where do you come from?"
The figure asked another question.
"I… I don't know."
Li Cheng was silent for a long time before he finally uttered these words.
"Then let me tell you, you are the transformed form of the capital of My Great Tang from days of yore, known as Zhao'an City. When I was in another Mortal Realm in the past, the whole nation underwent Ascension, and in the Ascension Passage, you inadvertently collided with another place and ended up in this Mortal Realm. Does this make sense to you now?"
The figure casually recounted the entire matter to Li Cheng.
Every word was uttered effortlessly.
But for Li Cheng, these words stirred a maelstrom of surprise and horror within him.
He had never considered such an origin for himself.
A nation's capital?
An accidental encounter with another place during Ascension?
No wonder...
No wonder he felt such a deep familiarity with the figure before him.
Li Cheng never doubted the words of that figure.
It was a natural sensation…
"So, my name is Li Cheng because..."
Li Cheng began to speak but hesitated.
"This name was once My own. Perhaps because the citizens praised Me day and night, you instinctively remembered this name, hence you believe yourself to be called Li Cheng,"
The figure nodded slightly and said.
"Then, have you come to take me back, to revert to being the capital city of Your Great Tang?"
Li Cheng's expression stiffened for a moment before he spoke.
If that was the case, regardless of his origins, he would definitely resist; he would not let someone manipulate him at their whim.
You must be joking.
Even though he was once a capital, this didn't mean he wanted to become someone else's capital now.
He was a conscious being now...
"Rest assured, I have no need of you becoming the capital again. I am here today firstly to inform you of your origins and secondly to make you aware of your current circumstance,"
The figure spoke nonchalantly, hands behind his back, as if it was of no great concern.
"My circumstance? What about it?"
Li Cheng still didn't understand.
"In your world, the Catastrophic Tribulation has begun. The internal strife means your chances of victory are exceedingly slim. Moreover, powerful enemies from outside this world are threatening you. The Ascension Passage of this realm was sealed shut in the past because of these mighty foes. Now, do you understand your situation?"
The figure's gaze seemed to fixate on Li Cheng.
As if trying to provoke anxiety within him to fulfill his own purpose.
"So, what are you trying to say?"
But, surprisingly, Li Cheng did not panic. Instead, he calmly met the figure's gaze.
"Promise me, if I help you through this ordeal, the destiny of this realm will be utterly subjected to My command,"
The figure's eyes shone with intensity as these words were spoken.
Upon hearing this,
Li Cheng did not immediately respond.
He fell into deep thought.
"I'm sorry, I refuse,"
Lin Cheng considered for a moment, then shook his head in refusal to the figure.
His refusal left the figure stunned for quite a while.
He never imagined Li Cheng would refuse him.
And he couldn't fathom why Li Cheng would refuse him.
It appeared to be utterly devoid of major drawbacks, after all.
"Why?"
The figure appeared perplexed.
"There is no why."
Li Cheng shook his head.
Pies don't just fall from the sky, he refused to believe.
He always felt, even if this entity seemed kind on the surface, it might be plotting against him.
Therefore, he would never be willing to easily trust others.
Unless it was his own Respected Master.
"You..."
The figure seemed to understand something, a mix of laughter and tears on its face.
That very city used to be his royal capital.
How could it now turn its back on him.
"Alright, alright, take this banner. If faced with an irresistible force, plant this banner into the earth. At that time, it will signify that you have automatically agreed to my terms, and I will personally intervene in the affairs of your realm," said the figure.
The figure continued to explain.
And then, with a single wave of its hand.
A blinding flash of golden light flew by.
The next moment, a vivid banner appeared amidst the clouds.
This banner fluttered in the wind, prominently red with golden patterns embroidered on its four sides, and a single ancient character depicted on it. Though others might not understand the character, they could still grasp the meaning held within that ancient text.
'Tang'!
When Li Cheng saw the banner, his vision blurred for a moment.
He seemed to envision a supreme emperor commanding countless troops, galloping and battling.
When Li Cheng came back to his senses, he found the surrounding scenery had vanished, and he was back on the small path below Misty Mountain.
"Senior Brother! Senior Brother!"
An anxious voice rang in his ears.
Li Cheng turned to look.
He saw Lin Mo looking at him with a face full of urgency.
"Disciple Brother, what's wrong?"
Li Cheng spoke vaguely.
"Senior Brother, it's you who's wrong. Why did you suddenly stand still and not move? I thought something had happened to you," Lin Mo said, clearly frightened.
"It's nothing, I'm fine," Li Cheng said, looking around, slowly coming to his senses.
Once he regained his composure, he was taken aback.
That just now...
Was it a dream?
Just as Li Cheng wondered if what he had just experienced was a dream,
he suddenly looked at his palm.
At that moment, a golden banner was tightly grasped in his hand.
When did this banner appear?
Li Cheng was stunned for a moment.
Then he realized.
Everything that had just happened was not a dream.
It was real?
Li Cheng took a deep breath. Were his backgrounds also real?
"Senior Brother, what is that banner in your hand? Why didn't I see it just now?" Lin Mo asked, completely bewildered.
"It's nothing, nothing at all," Li Cheng shook his head and looked down at the banner in his hand intently.
Finally, he put away the banner.
Then he turned to Lin Mo and said,
"Let's go, Disciple Brother. There's nothing wrong. We should continue up the mountain."
Li Cheng waved his hand, ready to continue upward with Lin Mo.
Lin Mo, finding his Senior Brother somewhat strange, was puzzled but dared not ask any questions.
He could only continue to follow his Senior Brother, walking up the mountain while observing Li Cheng's actions, desperate to know what had happened before...