Chapter 00055: The City Engulfed in Flames
# The City Engulfed in Flames
Chapter 55
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 55: The City Engulfed in Flames
Human memories can be altered.
People often even alter their own memories, magnifying the good while choosing to forget the hardships and misfortunes along the way.
"The perfection of this illusion is, in fact, its greatest flaw and downfall," he sighed, putting away the notebook.
"In the end, Tao Bo wrote that he had come up with a bold solution. After burying this notebook, he intended to try it. But acting alone, it was nearly impossible to succeed, and failure would mean certain death. However, there is one place in this city where reality is distorted, completely out of sync with true history. But his physical condition no longer allowed him to think deeply about it. Perhaps future explorers could find a breakthrough there."
Mao Tao quickly asked, "Where is this place?"
"He didn't write it down," Sun Fuping shook his head.
"Since entering this illusion, the expedition team felt they were being watched. Some even claimed to have glimpsed a massive red shadow in their daze."
A massive red shadow! He Lingchuan's expression changed.
"They saw it too?"
"Too?"
"You... didn't see it?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"After entering the pool, there seemed to be a huge figure in the blood water, but I couldn't see it clearly," He Lingchuan said with a bitter smile.
"So others saw it too? I thought I was just seeing things."
"Was it alive or dead?"
"It moved, but I'm not sure if it moved on its own or was just carried by the current."
Clearly, his account didn't provide any useful clues.
Sun Fuping turned his attention back to the current problem:
"Tao Bo believed it might be the spirit of the Great Square Pot or a resentful soul hidden deep within. That's why he couldn't write down his solution or the flaws of the illusion. Otherwise, this world would change accordingly."
Nian Songyu frowned.
"Whether he wrote it down or not doesn't matter. Tao Bo didn't make it back alive, which means his method failed."
He Lingchuan, however, said, "But his understanding of this world is quite interesting. We can start from there."
"How?"
"This world is too perfect, so there's no Great Square Pot?" He Lingchuan said casually.
"Isn't it simple? Destroy this world, and the Great Square Pot will appear, right?"
"You..."
Nian Songyu wanted to call it nonsense, but upon reflection, this simple and brutal reverse logic seemed...
It actually made sense, didn't it?
"Is there a better way to hide it? No wonder wave after wave of explorers came here and left empty-handed!" He Lingchuan grew more pleased with himself as he thought about it.
"Most importantly, Tao Bo searched this place inside out many times. There must be no useful clues left. Even if we destroy it all, there's nothing to regret."
Sun Fuping seemed lost in thought.
"About that inconsistency..."
Once burned, it would be gone forever.
"Panlong City is so big. Where would we even start looking for a small flaw? Even if we spent another sixty days, we wouldn't find it. Besides, I don't think we can last another sixty days."
Hearing this, Mao Tao's heart skipped a beat.
Tao Bo survived for sixty days by relying on his own supplies and, eventually, by consuming his companions.
Now, with only four of them here, if supplies ran out, no matter how you calculated it, he would be the first to be eaten!
At this thought, he felt the gazes of the other three were filled with deep malice.
He quickly agreed, "The young master's idea makes a lot of sense!"
He Lingchuan glanced at him, as if seeing through his fear.
"I remember the State Preceptor said that, at worst, we could use the nation's fortune to save us all, right?"
"Of course, but we only have one chance. We must be cautious."
"Then what's there to fear?" He Lingchuan chuckled.
"Let's discuss how to destroy a world!"
"Set it on fire!" This time, Nian Songyu and Mao Tao spoke in unison.
The latter immediately shut his mouth, while the former looked at Sun Fuping.
"Just like after Panlong City fell!"
Back then, after the allied forces of the immortals and barbarians breached Panlong City, they plundered and slaughtered, then set the entire city ablaze.
There was no more brutal or retro way than this.
Sun Fuping thought for a moment, then nodded.
"We'll start gathering flammable materials and split up."
"Burning down such a large city won't be easy, right?" He Lingchuan said.
"With just the four of us, it'll take at least a month or two, won't it?"
Mao Tao was startled, immediately imagining his own fate.
Sun Fuping pondered.
"You're right. We don't have enough people. It's best to call in those outside."
Call his father down too? He Lingchuan was taken aback.
"Can you contact them?"
"Hard to say, but we can try."
This was a matter of two separate worlds, not just distance.
Sun Fuping wasn't entirely confident.
Seeing Sun Fuping roll up his sleeves to summon help, He Lingchuan quickly waved his hand.
"If this place allows entry but not exit, they'll be doomed. Why don't we try first? Tao Bo managed it alone back then."
"That's why he failed," Nian Songyu said with a sarcastic smile.
"No one can leave Panlong Desert during the sandstorm season. That's what you said. If we don't get the Great Square Pot, your father won't be able to leave Panlong Wasteland either. Either way, we'll die here, just inside or outside the city."
This kid had a ruthless heart.
After all, they weren't his men.
He wouldn't care how many died.
Just as He Lingchuan was about to argue, he suddenly had an idea.
"We can burn the city ourselves. We just need to turn the city's military equipment around. Look, most of the buildings are concentrated in the south. My father shouldn't come down now. Otherwise, who will help us hold off the Great Wind Army?"
City military equipment?
Nian Songyu pondered, surprisingly praising him.
"That actually makes sense!"
The city walls had defensive structures.
Military vehicles were generally used for long-range combat, some throwing boulders or firestones, others shooting giant bolts to repel攻城部队.
But if they were turned around, they could set the city ablaze, and their range was far.
This would naturally be much faster than four people running around setting fires.
Besides, such a large Panlong City didn't necessarily need to be completely burned.
Setting the main district ablaze would probably be enough.
He Lingchuan pressed on.
"The military equipment has limited range. I'll go to the outskirts where it can't reach and burn the scattered houses."
Seeing how thorough his plan was, Nian Songyu didn't object.
Sun Fuping, however, added, "We'll split up. Meet back at the city walls in two hours."
"Be punctual! If anything happens, head straight to the south gate!" He said gravely.
"The flaw we're exploiting was thought up by Tao Bo, but he still didn't make it back. That means there's an irresistible force after burning the city. If you don't want to die, you must stand with me when the time comes. Remember that!"
And so, the four of them split up.
Nian Songyu headed south to inspect the military equipment on the city gates and search the armory for supplies.
He had real experience leading troops and knew exactly where these things would be stored.
He Lingchuan went east, Mao Tao went north, and Sun Fuping went west.
(End of Chapter)