Chapter 261: Threefold Self-Reflection Leaves Traces

No matter how tricky or obscure Li Shun's questions were, Han Qi was always able to grasp the essence of the matter with pinpoint accuracy. With just a few words, he could dispel the tangled fog of confusion entirely.

After a full day of this, Li Shun had become thoroughly convinced by this Confucian scholar who was at the same cultivation realm as himself.

"As expected of someone capable of serving as a Scholar at the Taixue Academy. Whether it is his analysis of the teachings and meanings within the classics left behind by the sages, or his insight into the fundamental nature of cultivation, Han Qi can undoubtedly be considered one of the very best figures of the present age."

Li Shun looked at Han Qi, who was stretching lazily behind the desk, and felt deeply astonished. Immediately afterward, however, a profound sense of regret welled up within him.

"For someone of such extraordinary talent to be forcibly trapped in the Grotto Mystic realm, unable to advance even a single step, all because of some vague and intangible heavenly will..."

Han Qi seemed to see straight through Li Shun's thoughts. He casually waved his hand, interrupting his train of thought.

"Everything happens for a reason. You, boy, really don"t need to sit here lamenting my fate."

"If you have that much free time, focus on thoroughly comprehending the scriptures. Ask a few fewer foolish questions tomorrow and let me enjoy some peace and quiet."

Li Shun knew he was joking and could only smile helplessly.

"Heavenly will..."

On the way back, all sorts of thoughts concerning those two words lingered stubbornly in Li Shun's mind.

Once he returned to the courtyard, he calmed his mind and descended into Fangcun.

"Ancient Net."

"I am here."

The Ancient Net had been stored within Fangcun. Without Li Shun's permission, it could not perceive anything happening in the outside world.

Thus, Li Shun carefully recounted everything that had happened since he left the Primordial Wilderness Illusionary Realm.

"To speak frankly, you were somewhat reckless."

"With your current strength, even with the enhancement provided by Fangcun, you cannot confront an Outer God directly."

"[Taiyi Xuanpin] and [Hunlun Chi Form] are both renowned even within the Chaos. Their strength is not inferior to the source of my existence."

"If not for the fact that what you encountered this time was merely one of its remaining imprints and another was a dormant will, neither of which had reached the level of a projection, combined with the interference of the Great Qian Historian's divine ability seal..."

"I"m afraid your mind and soul would have suffered irreversible damage."

"Fangcun is closely connected to your soul, mind, and consciousness. It is not invincible."

"I sincerely advise you to avoid contact with Outer Gods as much as possible before you reach the Creation realm."

...

The Ancient Net analyzed the situation rationally in its cold, mechanical voice.

Li Shun did not stubbornly insist on his own judgment. Instead, he listened to the Ancient Net's advice with complete seriousness.

"Looking at it now, I was indeed somewhat reckless."

"But the result was good."

"The Taixue Academy is where Great Qian's accumulated heritage lies. Cultivating here is worth hundreds or thousands of times more than cultivating among ordinary mortals."

After saying this, Li Shun suddenly added another question.

"By the way, you"ve been trapped within the ruins of the ancient Heavenly Court for countless years. Do you know where this particular Heavenly Court ruin originally belonged?"

"Fangcun isolates me from the outside world, so I cannot sense the aura beyond it. Moreover, within the Taixue Academy, everything is likely being watched by others. If the puppet suddenly appears, it may expose the secret of Fangcun..."

As the Ancient Net responded, a net-like pattern resembling a tattoo gradually appeared on the body of the [Dao Seeking] puppet.

"You can bring it outside and have it attached to the surface of your body. I may be able to answer your question."

Li Shun pondered for a moment before nodding slightly.

With a thought, the net-like pattern quietly appeared on the inner side of his right forearm.

His clothing concealed it, so it was not particularly conspicuous.

The Ancient Net silently observed it for a long while before finally giving its answer.

"If my judgment is correct, this place is very likely a part of the former ancient Heavenly Court, the Thunder Jade Palace."

"Thunder Jade Palace?" Li Shun frowned slightly.

"The Thunder Jade Palace was once the central authority that governed the Heavenly Tribulations and Divine Punishments of the Primordial Wilderness. The master of the Jade Palace was the God of Leize, also known as the Puhua Heavenly Venerable. He manifested in the form of a nine-headed golden dragon with a solemn human face."

"Even after all these years, I can still faintly sense traces of wind and thunder qi remaining here. That is why I reached this conclusion."

The Ancient Net spoke slowly.

"However..."

"If you have something to say, just say it." Li Shun snorted coldly.

"This place does not seem to be completely abandoned. The Thunder Pool capable of drawing upon the might of thunder is still active. You should proceed with extreme caution."

The Ancient Net's tone had become somewhat cautious.

"Me?"

"I"m a legitimate disciple of the Taixue Academy. Even if the power of Leize still remains here, why would it strike me for no reason?"

Li Shun found the warning rather inexplicable.

The Ancient Net quickly replied:

"Because I am attached to your body. Although I am merely a surviving imprint and have further submitted myself to the might of Fangcun, in the judgment of the Thunder Jade Palace, I am still an unmistakable Outer God."

"I should be precisely the kind of existence the Jade Palace would seek to suppress with the greatest severity."

"Even if I deliberately conceal myself, as time passes, it will inevitably become difficult to hide my traces."

"Once the power of thunder is activated, this body of yours will be reduced to ashes in an instant."

Hearing the Ancient Net's words, Li Shun immediately recalled the lightning tribulation he had encountered when he had submitted himself to Great Qian's Heavenly Law upon the return of Imperial Mausoleum Heaven to Great Qian.

Clearly, the divine power of this Thunder Pool originating from the Ancient Heavenly Court was even more formidable than Great Qian's Heavenly Tribulation.

If he were to take a strike from it...

Li Shun's eyelid twitched.

He hurriedly recalled the Ancient Net into Fangcun.

Sure enough, once the Ancient Net returned to Fangcun, that subtle sensation lingering around his heart immediately weakened considerably.

But it did not disappear at once.

Instead, it continued to hover above his head.

Nearly half a day passed.

Perhaps because it had never managed to find its target, the sensation finally disappeared completely.

"Next time, tell me about something this important sooner."

Li Shun's expression was somewhat gloomy.

"Understood."

The Ancient Net was wise enough to recognize the situation.

After a brief silence, Li Shun suddenly asked an extremely important question.

"Does the divine ability Threefold Self-Reflection still work here?"

The Ancient Net paused for a moment.

It then replied:

"Although this place is a relic of the Ancient Heavenly Court, it has been modified and completely integrated into the world of Great Qian. Threefold Self-Reflection is a divine ability capable of resetting the entire world."

"Therefore, Threefold Self-Reflection remains effective."

Upon hearing this, Li Shun could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"However, I must remind you that this place was constructed upon the foundation of the ancient Heavenly Court. If a temporal rewind truly occurs, the anomaly may be recorded."

"Therefore, I do not recommend that you activate Threefold Self-Reflection here."

"Otherwise, the probability of exposing yourself is greater than ninety percent."

The Ancient Net's following words, however, caused Li Shun's heart to tighten once more.

"The anomaly will be recorded?"

Li Shun's brows furrowed deeply.

The Ancient Net then explained in detail:

"In theory, the divine ability Threefold Self-Reflection resets the heavens and earth, returning them to their original state. However, it is ultimately only an ability of the Heaven-Earth realm. It cannot affect the former dwelling place of the ancient gods."

"After Threefold Self-Reflection is activated, the living beings within it may be unable to resist and will still be reset."

"But the Thunder Jade Palace itself will not undergo any change."

"Therefore, traces will be left behind."

Li Shun suddenly thought of an extremely important point.

"Doesn"t that mean that every time I activated Threefold Self-Reflection before, a record was left behind here?"