Chapter 411 - 411: Tian Shu's Secret 2

Translator: CinderTL

After a moment of silence, Feng Qi recalled the fragmented images that had flashed through his mind and spoke in a low voice:

"In that fragmented memory, you were sitting on a park bench, swinging your legs as you licked a lollipop. Mu Yao appeared beside you, circling you several times, scrutinizing you intently before leaning in with a look of astonishment and declaring:"

"'Hey kid, I see you have extraordinary bone structure—a martial arts prodigy, one in ten thousand! Tell me, what's your dream?'"

"You ignored Mu Yao's question, focusing solely on gnawing at your lollipop."

"Undeterred, Mu Yao repeated her question, promising to fulfill any wish you had, on the condition that you dedicate the rest of your life to the rise of the human race."

"Again, you ignored her."

"Finally, Mu Yao put one hand on her hip, pointed at your head, and declared, 'If you don't answer, I'll take that as a yes!'"

"After that, the memory fragment cut off. I couldn't access any further details about your story."

As Feng Qi finished his account, Tian Shu's face registered disbelief and astonishment.

This memory was deeply etched in his mind.

Even after more than four hundred years, he remembered it vividly.

It was his encounter with Mu Yao that had changed the course of his life forever.

He had once been an orphan, his parents having served as combat personnel in the Seven Cities' military department.

In those days, domain creatures rampaged across the land, and the Human Cultivation System was still in its nascent stages, with cultivation techniques only just beginning to emerge.

The site where Victory City now stood was then a cluster of cities, with the Seven Cities being just one among many.

Humanity's methods for combating Domain Invasions were primitive at the time, and each encounter came at a heavy cost. His parents had perished in one such battle against domain creatures.

He was only five years old then.

Orphaned due to his parents' sacrifice, he was placed in an orphanage in the Seven Cities.

It was during this period that he met Mu Yao, the woman who would change the course of his life forever.

Now, Feng Qi had accurately described the scene from that time. Tian Shu couldn't help but believe that Feng Qi's claims might be true.

This was a secret known only to Mu Yao and himself, one he had never shared with anyone else.

With a solemn expression, Tian Shu turned to Feng Qi and said:

"I'll believe you for now. Now tell me, what is the purpose of your visit?"

Hearing these words, Feng Qi let out a long, silent sigh of relief.

He could have chosen to be ruthless and coercive with an enemy, but such tactics were clearly inappropriate when dealing with Tian Shu.

If Tian Shu remained stubborn, refusing to believe what he was saying, the situation would reach a stalemate.

"Tian Shu, my first question is: why did you choose to imprison yourself in this underground cage?"

At this, Tian Shu lowered his guard slightly. A flicker of inner conflict appeared in his eyes as he answered, "I had no choice."

"Be more specific. I don't want just the answer, but the process and details. Any information you provide could help me find a glimmer of hope for Human Civilization."

"What do you mean?"

"As I said earlier, I can travel to the future. By observing the future, I can identify historical events or critical junctures that led to Human Civilization's decline. By altering these pivotal moments, I can save humanity's future. That's why I urgently need to gather more information."

"I understand."

Tian Shu's expression was complex, a mix of excitement and disbelief. After a long pause, he continued, "I chose self-imprisonment because the power I gained is extremely uncontrollable. I often descend into a mindless frenzy, attacking everything indiscriminately. This poses a grave threat to humanity. If I'm not restrained while still conscious, human forces would be utterly incapable of containing me once I lose control."

Hearing these words, Feng Qi immediately thought of Mu Qing.

She experienced similar episodes of emotional instability.

The difference lay in Mu Qing's ability to maintain relative control over her outbursts, consciously restraining herself, especially when other humans were present. She would visibly suppress her loss of control in such situations.

Historically, Mu Qing's condition wasn't permanent.

It gradually diminished as she fused with the Scarlet Rune Crystal, eventually vanishing completely.

This was documented in her diary entries.

From this perspective, Tian Shu's situation was clearly more perilous, making his decision to self-imprison understandable.

At the time, human cultivation studies were still in their infancy. Facing a powerhouse like Tian Shu, humans stood no chance in combat. If he truly lost control, it would have been a catastrophe.

All these considerations stemmed from the perspective of human development.

Yet Feng Qi still harbored many questions. Thinking this, he pressed further:

"Why did you lose control? Was there something wrong with the power Mu Yao granted you?"

"The old woman had nothing to do with it. This bitter fruit was entirely the result of my own reckless experimentation. She bestowed upon me a long lifespan and divine mark, powers that remain completely within my control."

"What are divine mark?"

In response to the question, Tian Shu slowly turned around, revealing his back.

A golden, serpentine pattern was etched along his spine, coiling upward to his neck.

This divine mark was extraordinary, seeming almost alive as it twisted and shifted with Tian Shu's breath, sometimes resembling a ferocious beast, other times a soaring bird.

Turning back around, Tian Shu said in a deep voice:

"This is the divine mark. It allows me to cultivate any cultivation technique at a pace dozens of times faster than ordinary people. It also grants me the ability to simulate and acquire the innate talents of any domain creature."

"For example, if I were to taste the blood of a Blood Soul Tiger, my divine mark would automatically analyze its secrets, causing partial transformations in my body that grant me the tiger's strength and unique abilities!"

As he spoke, Tian Shu slowly raised his right arm.

Fine fur rapidly sprouted across his arm, his nails sharpened into claws, and his hand transformed into a massive tiger paw.

"The divine mark allows me to adapt and fight in any harsh environment, eliminating any environmental disadvantages. By continuously adapting to the powers of other species, I can master a vast array of practical abilities."

"So powerful!" Feng Qi couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

Compared to Feng Qi's Predation Talent in the main timeline, Tian Shu's ability still fell far short.

But from the perspective of an ordinary cultivator, such power was nothing short of heaven-defying.

"Since Mu Yao's gift to you has no flaws, why did you lose control and go mad? What exactly do you mean by 'reckless experimentation'?"

Faced with the question, Tian Shu's expression turned nostalgic.

After a brief moment of recollection, he slowly began to speak:

"My divine mark ability isn't without its limits. The old woman warned me about this repeatedly. But driven by my pursuit of greater power, I attempted to fuse with a drop of the Pillar God's blood, hoping to glimpse the power of the divine realm."

"It was this very experiment that drove me completely mad."

"Explain in detail, as specifically as possible."

Tian Shu nodded immediately and began recounting his experiences:

"I've been by the old woman's side since childhood. She watched me grow up, and during those years, I learned a great deal from her."

"She was an incredibly charismatic person. On the surface, she always seemed carefree and boisterous, but beneath that facade lay a resolve that could withstand even the collapse of mountains and the shattering of seas."

"She taught me courage, sacrifice, and how to face despair with equanimity. She was my life mentor. During that time, the old woman dragged me all over the world, occasionally abandoning me in some city to fend for myself for a while before vanishing."

"This period could last a few days or several months. The longest stretch was two years. I almost thought she'd forgotten about me that time."

"My fate took its second major turn when I was sixteen."

"The old woman told me I was now capable of standing on my own and was ready to take me to a completely new place. But she warned me that once I went there, I might never be able to return."

"Confused, I asked if I would never see her again."

"She simply smiled and said, 'Perhaps we'll meet again, but perhaps we won't.'"

"I asked, 'Is that place really that important? Do I have to go?'"

"She explained that it was humanity's first line of defense, crucial to the survival of all Human Civilization. Since I now possessed the strength to protect it, it was time for me to shoulder that responsibility."

"But the old woman didn't force me. She simply said that even if I refused, she had to leave and couldn't keep me with her any longer."

"I struggled with the decision for a long time, but I understood that the old woman clearly had more important matters to attend to. She seemed to be orchestrating humanity's future, and even if I stayed by her side, I would only be a burden. So I finally agreed to her decision and set off for the mysterious First Human Defense Line."

"By the way, do you know about the Heaven-Reaching Road?" Tian Shu suddenly asked.

Hearing Tian Shu mention the Human Defense Line, the Heaven-Reaching Road immediately sprang to mind.

Now that Tian Shu had uttered the words "Heaven-Reaching Road," he knew his guess was correct and immediately asked:

"Is the First Human Defense Line you mentioned the Heaven-Reaching Road?"

"I come from there myself!" Tian Shu nodded without hesitation.

(End of the Chapter)

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