Ch. 775 - Battle At The Temple

“Then how do people here get food?” the monk Great Wisdom asked instinctively.

“They’re all self-sufficient, they grow their own,” Gu Yue replied. “Let’s go take a look inside the city. Maybe we can get a free meal.”

The three headed toward the city center.

Along the way, Xu Zimo learned quite a bit. Since there was no monetary trade here, people did things purely based on their interests.

Everyone was engaged in what they loved doing.

When Xu Zimo arrived at the most bustling area of the city, he saw many people had set up stalls.

Each stall displayed different kinds of items.

Of course, these things weren’t for sale, they were given freely to passersby, who would then critique the craftsmanship.

“There’s food over there,” Gu Yue spotted a food stall and rushed over.

The stall owner was an elderly man. When he saw them coming, he slowly stood up.

“Do you have food?” Gu Yue asked quickly.

The old man smiled and nodded, pulling out a box of fried rice from a container and handing it to Gu Yue.

Watching her devour it hungrily, he asked with a smile, “What’s your verdict?”

“Tasty,” Gu Yue mumbled through her mouthfuls without even looking up.

It was obvious she was starving.

“Little one, that answer doesn’t satisfy me,” the old man chuckled.

“I give out food for free because I want you to point out its flaws. Forget it, but next time, I might not give you any.”

Gu Yue smiled sheepishly and said, “But I really can’t find any flaws. This is honestly the best food I’ve ever had.”

“If you like it, then the value of this bowl of rice is fulfilled,” the old man nodded. “I’ve loved cooking since I was little. Seeing people praise my food fills me with joy. My greatest dream is to become the best chef in the world. Anyone who tastes my food will remember it for the rest of their life.”

Xu Zimo smiled as he looked around.

He suddenly realized this place wasn’t as bad as he had imagined. Some cooked, some wove baskets, some carved statues.

Everyone was doing what they loved. This land was eternally peaceful, no fights, no arguments.

Aside from natural death, there was no death at all.

“It’s time we got back to business,” Xu Zimo said.

He looked at Gu Yue and asked, “Are you going to find your mother on your own, or are you staying with us?”

“I don’t dare go alone to where my mother is. Can I stay with you for now?” Gu Yue replied.

“Stay if you want, but I won’t guarantee your safety,” Xu Zimo said.

Then he looked at the monk and said, “Let’s find the Nirvana-Fire Pearl.”

After leaving the city, the three arrived in the wilderness.

The monk Great Wisdom took out what he called his Ancestral Dao Bone.

“Protect me,” he said.

He placed the Dao Bone in front of him and bit his fingertip, dripping fresh blood onto it.

In that moment, a shocking aura burst from the Dao Bone.

Diagrams of the five elements and the Yin-Yang symbol began to form within it.

“In response to the changes of heaven, engrave the Dao on the bone,” Great Wisdom chanted softly.

He formed ancient seals with his hands. The Dao Bone evolved into all things, extremely complex.

Its changes were even more profound than Xu Zimo’s Heaven-Derivation Astrolabe.

After a long while, a mysterious flame ignited on the Dao Bone.

Great Wisdom suddenly opened his eyes, his forehead covered in sweat. He took a deep breath.

“Found it,” Great Wisdom said.

“You okay?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I’m fine. It’s just a pity we used our ancestor’s Dao Bone. It’s a treasure that only appears once in ten thousand years,” Great Wisdom lamented.

“Where’s the Nirvana-Fire Pearl?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I vaguely saw an image just now, the Goddess Palace,” Great Wisdom replied.

“The Goddess Palace?” Gu Yue cried out in surprise.

“My mother is in that palace.”

“You know where it is?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Everyone here knows. The Goddess Palace is the highest place in the Mortal Dust Palace, where the Dust Envoys issue their commands,” Gu Yue replied. “You’re not really planning to go there, are you?”

“If the monk’s vision is correct, then yes,” Xu Zimo said.

“But the palace is only open on certain days. It’s not open to the public,” Gu Yue said.

“They say it’s where the World-Weary Goddess lives.”

“The Legendary Era and the Primordial Era are long over. Even the Imperial Era has lasted millions of years. No matter how strong the Goddess is, she couldn’t have lived that long,” Great Wisdom said, unconvinced.

After all, the World-Weary Goddess was rumored to be a deity from the Legendary Era, far too long ago.

“But no one here has ever dared to challenge the authority of the Goddess Palace,” Gu Yue said worriedly.

“How far is it from here?” Xu Zimo asked.

“There’s a temple of the Goddess in every area. I heard they connect directly to the palace,” Gu Yue replied.

“Then let’s find the nearest temple,” Xu Zimo said.

They asked around at the city gate and learned that there was a Goddess Temple just three kilometers away.

The Dust Envoys from the nearby cities usually lived there.

The three headed north, and after about half an hour, they saw the legendary temple.

It was grand and majestic.

Everything was blue and white, and the walls were lined with small statues.

At the moment, several Dust Envoys were entering and exiting through the gate.

When the three tried to enter, they were stopped by the Dust Envoys.

“It’s not the worship period right now. You’re not allowed to enter,” one Envoy explained calmly.

“We’re not here to worship. We want to go to the Goddess Palace,” Great Wisdom said.

“The Goddess Palace doesn’t entertain outsiders,” the Envoy waved them off. “You should leave now.”

“What if we insist on going?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I already said, no visitors,” the Envoy replied coldly.

Xu Zimo glanced at Great Wisdom.

The monk raised his right hand and grabbed directly at the Envoy.

The Envoy was startled and stepped back, trying to flee.

But the monk struck first, suppressing the Envoy under his palm.

“Someone’s attacking the temple!” the Envoy shouted, his body releasing a unique aura.

Moments later, the sound of bells echoed through the air.

A powerful force rose from within the temple, the ringing continuing and reverberating across the sky.

“Great, more trouble,” Xu Zimo said helplessly.

“It’s unavoidable. We need the Nirvana-Fire Pearl, no one’s going to give it up willingly,” Great Wisdom said.

The next moment, dozens of figures appeared in midair, flying out from within the temple.

They were all wearing the red robes of Dust Envoys, each radiating a formidable aura.

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