The whole weird world is waiting for me to go to heaven

Chapter 1047 A God-given Opportunity
The group from Longhushan went straight to the place Zhou Rong had indicated.

The first thing I saw was a thick fog.

This fog was formed from pure, eerie energy.

The compasses in their hands trembled uncontrollably, their light changing from blue to red, the red glow like blood.

Far from being afraid, the crowd was instead invigorated.

This means we've found the right place.

"Is your brother here?" the team leader asked in a deep voice.

“It should be.” Zhou Rong nodded. “Then the tracking talisman broke here.”

"Okay, let's go in."

However, after walking deeper into the mist, one of the female disciples suddenly cried out in alarm:
"We're...back again!"

She pointed to the telephone pole on the side of the road that was covered with small advertisements.

"That's right, I can still remember those ads: 'For Rent,' 'Seeking a Child for a Large Sum of Money,' 'Miracle Doctor Who Can Bring the Dead Back to Life'... They're exactly the same."

One of the junior disciples had a photographic memory and, after carefully examining the document, remarked...

“That’s normal,” the team leader said before everyone panicked. “You can enter the mysterious realm but not leave, and even the entrance is unpredictable.”

He turned to the female disciple who had spoken earlier, "Senior Sister Jin, you are most proficient in the art of Qimen Dunjia, can you calculate where the Death Gate is?"

If one wants to stay away from evil spirits, one should naturally look for the Gate of Life.

But now, if you want to get into it, you have to do the opposite.

Senior Sister Jin nodded slightly and took out a compass from her sleeve.

His eyes were half-closed, his fingers were forming a hand seal, and he was chanting something softly.

She quickly calculated it and pointed in a direction from the mist:
"That's it—the Zhen position!"

Everyone did as instructed.

Meanwhile, Sister Jin kept watching the compass and adjusting the direction.

Before long, a mountain path began to emerge faintly from the mist.

"You've found the right one! Senior Sister Jin is amazing!"

"It has to be Senior Sister Jin!"

The crowd immediately showered him with flattery.

Senior Sister Jin was also very pleased with herself.

However, as you continue along the mountain road, the path winds and turns, and the surroundings are shrouded in mist. The scenery looks exactly the same, and you can't even tell if you are moving forward.

Moreover, the more I walked, the heavier my body felt, as if I were carrying a heavy load. My whole body ached, and my steps became slower and slower.

The joy in everyone's hearts was gradually replaced by restlessness.

"There's probably some kind of illusion here." The team leader frowned and turned to his junior brother, who had a photographic memory, saying, "Junior Brother Zhao, what do you think?"

Junior Brother Zhao stepped forward in response, taking out a small flag with a black background and red patterns from his sleeve.

He gave a soft shout, and with a flick of his wrist, the flag trembled.

A gust of cold wind rose, and the flag's light burst forth from the mist.

Amidst the swirling mist, a fork in the road appeared where the mountainside had once been.

"Sure enough!"

Everyone gasped in amazement once again.

Not to be outdone, Senior Sister Jin took out her compass and calculated the direction again:
"Yes, this is the right path."

Junior Brother Zhao smiled and nodded: "Of course, otherwise why would we hide it?"

"Alright, let's go now."

The team leader stepped between the two, suppressing the undercurrent that was about to rise.

The group continued on their way, with Junior Brother Zhao leading the way and Senior Sister Jin calculating, their cooperation was seamless.

However, after walking for a long time, the world remained unchanged, and the heaviness on their bodies did not subside, but instead grew heavier and heavier, causing doubts to grow in everyone's hearts.

"Why is it so heavy? Are we under some kind of illusion?" Senior Sister Jin said angrily.

“I checked, and none of us are under any illusion spells. It’s probably the effect of this strange aura,” a slightly chubby senior brother couldn’t help but speak up. “But… Senior Sister Jin, are you sure your orientation is correct?”

Senior Sister Jin turned around, a half-smile on her face: "Senior Brother Liu, are you doubting me? As everyone knows, in the Qimen lineage of Longhu Mountain, the one passed down by my master is the authentic lineage of our ancestors."

Senior Brother Liu shrugged: "That's just what your master said, who knows?"

Another junior sister nodded in agreement: "Since... the Great Calamity, the Longhu Mountain tradition has been incomplete, and because of the Gods' abandonment, new techniques have been developed. Now, who can say for sure that they are the true successors?"

“Exactly, compasses are most easily confused by strange energy in the mysterious realm. How can you be so confident that you are correct?” Junior Brother Zhao also said.

Senior Sister Jin raised her eyebrows sharply: "It's more accurate to say that Junior Brother Zhao's barrier-breaking technique is the easiest to exploit, leading him step by step into a trap."

Seeing the two locked in a stalemate, the team leader finally spoke:
"Enough. This place hasn't even been breached yet, and you're already fighting amongst yourselves? Time is of the essence now. Anyone who dares to hold us back will face my wrath."

He raised his hand, holding a golden talisman in his palm.

The runes shimmered with light, faintly radiating a divine golden glow.

As soon as that aura appeared, the mountain wind stopped, and the eerie mist dissipated slightly.

This faint aura, though not strong, originated from a former deity.

Everyone knows that the team leader possesses such a treasure; otherwise, they wouldn't be following his lead this time.

It's all my fault for having such a treasure to pass on to me.

Now no one dared to speak.

Senior Sister Jin and Junior Brother Zhao exchanged a glance, snorted coldly, and temporarily put aside their dispute.

The team leader said slowly, "We are all the most powerful cultivators in this trial. The reason I gathered you all together is to crush everyone, not to make us pass the buck or weaken each other."

“You may not know this yet—my master’s… surnamed Huo, has also fallen into the realm of the undead. Although I don’t know where he is, I only know because of the soul tablet my master gave me. But this is enough to show that even the Nascent Soul stage is not entirely safe.”

Because of some hidden disdain, he was unwilling to call him "junior brother".

Everyone's hearts were shocked.

Although Huo Shu was arrogant and domineering, he had the right to be proud and was considered the most promising person in Longhu Mountain in the past hundred years to become the Celestial Master.

Yet even he fell into it...

"So don't underestimate the strange creatures here. There might be some incredibly powerful ones lurking in the shadows!"

“If that’s the case,” Junior Brother Zhao’s eyes lit up with a hint of greed, “then it would be a great achievement.”

The team leader nodded: "That's right, so we must unite as one and strive to win in one fell swoop!"

"As I have already said, if I am able to ascend to the position of Celestial Master, all of you will become elders. Regarding... the matter of the new god, I have already made progress, and at that time you will also be people who have performed great deeds."

Upon hearing this, everyone was moved and echoed the sentiment.

"Understood, we will all follow Senior Brother Zhang's lead!"

"That's right, that's right, we'll listen to Senior Brother Zhang."

Team leader Senior Brother Zhang nodded smugly, put away the miraculous talisman, and gave a final instruction:

"There's only one hour left before the trial ends. Don't cause any unnecessary trouble."

Upon hearing this time, Zhou Rong bit her lip and frowned, saying, "An hour... will we be able to find my brother?"

"If we can't make it in time, then so be it," Senior Brother Zhang replied calmly. "Life and death are predetermined."

"Let's take advantage of this time and kill a few more monsters." Senior Brother Liu smiled, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The others echoed, their voices filled with restless excitement.

"That's right!"

"Let's finish this off one last time!"

"I'd prefer a big one!"

Senior Sister Jin covered her mouth and laughed, "Junior Sister Zhou, stop putting on that compassionate act. You didn't say a word when we made our move! You still got the reputation points you were entitled to, didn't you?"

"I..." Zhou Rong opened his mouth.

"Alright, we all understand. We're all just trying to survive. Who knows when we'll be abandoned if we don't have enough reputation points?" Junior Brother Zhao said with a sneer.

Zhou Rong lowered his head and ultimately said nothing.

Just then, the sound of an engine suddenly came from the quiet mountain road, clattering and panting, the sound of tires rolling as it approached.

Everyone turned their heads.

The car headlights were blindingly bright in the fog.

As the vehicle approached, it came into view a dilapidated small truck with peeling paint on the front and a metal-barred cargo bed at the back. A foul stench emanated from it as it drew closer.

Senior Sister Jin and that junior brother covered their noses and each took a step back.

However, with a heavy screech of brakes, the car stopped in front of them.

The driver's window rolled down, and a bald old man leaned out, forcing a friendly smile.

"Are you... Mr. Zhou Yi's partners?"

Everyone was stunned.

Zhou Rong stepped forward excitedly: "That's right! I'm his sister!"

"No wonder, you're all dressed exactly like he was when he first arrived. Especially this young lady, she looks exactly like him, they're like two peas in a pod!"

The old man shook his head and sighed, "Zhou Yi is too polite. The village is going to hold a grand ceremony, but he didn't say anything and even invited so many friends to support us?"

Grand Ceremony?

This sounds like something bad is going to happen.

Senior Brother Zhang quickly followed up on the conversation and probed further:

"This...is it alright?"

"Hey, how could it not work?" the old man chuckled. "If I had known earlier, I would have prepared more food and wine. Instead, I'm afraid I haven't entertained you well enough."

entertain.

This is not a good word in the realm of the uncanny.

Although the old man in front of me was smiling.

But everyone remained vigilant.

“It’s alright,” Senior Brother Zhang said calmly. “We were just passing by, and it’s fate that we were able to catch the grand ceremony.”

"Yeah, it sounds pretty exciting."

Junior Brother Zhao's eyes couldn't help but gleam with fervor.

The old man, thinking they were just enjoying the commotion, laughed heartily, revealing a set of yellowed teeth:
"Of course, the whole village came, and even many people from the city came, all to celebrate—a new world, a new atmosphere!"

"What new developments?" Senior Sister Jin frowned slightly.

"Ugh, it's that annoying, strange illness again—finally, we're about to see the light at the end of the tunnel!"

Cured from a strange disease?

Is this strange phenomenon really coming to an end?
That won't work!

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became anxious.

Seeing their tense expressions, the old man smiled and waved his hand, "Don't worry, don't worry, why don't you come with me? I'll drive into the village anyway."

Although Senior Sister Jin and Junior Brother Jin disliked the smell, they didn't dare to refuse.

My back was already aching from walking, and I couldn't seem to find my way. Now that time was of the essence, encountering this car was a godsend.

As for whether there's any concern about it being a trap...

At worst, I'll just kill him.

The group quickly climbed into the cage-like carriage at the back. The gaps in the railings were large enough for one person to pass through, so there was no worry about being trapped.

Moreover, once I sit down, even my backache and pain are much better.

The only unpleasant thing was the smell.

Oh, and there's the old man who keeps trying to get close to me:

"My surname is Wang, you can just call me Uncle Wang. I didn't expect you to come all this way on foot, why didn't you take a bus?"

"The bus?"

"Yes, there are buses in the city, but there's only one a day. Why didn't Zhou Yi tell you that?"

Everyone immediately said they didn't know.

I came straight here because I was in a hurry to get going.

“I see…” Uncle Wang scratched his bald head. “I haven’t seen that bus much lately. I wonder what’s going on. Should I ask the company? But I don’t know who’s in charge of it…”

As he spoke, even Uncle Wang himself became confused.

This kind of memory conflict and confusion often occurs in strange creatures, so it's not surprising to everyone.

"It's alright, it's enough to be able to ride in your car, Uncle Wang."

Junior Brother Zhao has a sweet tongue, and Uncle Wang was indeed pleased to hear it.

"Luckily you met me, otherwise, if you had walked there, you probably wouldn't have arrived even after the ceremony was over."

He added with a chuckle:
"But this truck is the one I use to transport pigs out of the mountains, so please don't mind the smell."

Everyone nearly fainted upon hearing this.

Although I was already almost fainting from the stench in the car.

Can you please not mind?
But now there's nothing to complain about.

The trial is about to end, so it's time to make a quick buck.

Amidst the shaking of the carriage, Senior Brother Zhang sat cross-legged and activated a magic array that blocked sight and hearing—so that Uncle Wang would only see the illusions set up by Senior Brother Zhang.

He then whispered the instructions:

"Prepare to set up the altar."

The group understood and each claimed a spot.

Senior Brother Zhang took out a miniature altar from his storage bag, on which stood many tiny paper figures.

The paper figures' faces were not clearly visible, but their clothes were painted in bright colors, each with a different shape. There were at least dozens of them, and they exuded a sinister and eerie aura.

Sister Jin lit candles and incense, finally managing to mask the stench of pigs.

Junior Brother Zhao took out red and blue banners and hung them inside the carriage. A wind, seemingly from nowhere, made the banners flutter.

At this moment, Senior Brother Liu opened a wooden box filled with the smell of blood. Inside were all sorts of bloody items. He took them out one by one, placed them on porcelain plates, and arranged them in a row on the offering table.

This added another layer of bloodshed to the car.

Others, including Zhou Rong, were assigned ritual implements such as bells, drums, chimes, and wooden fish.

"Wait a moment... After the offerings are presented, and I begin chanting to invoke the gods, you can start playing your instruments," Senior Brother Zhang instructed.

"understand!"

Everyone responded.

Zhou Rong stared at the wooden fish in his hand, which appeared to be made from some kind of skull, and his heart skipped a beat:
"Senior Brother Zhang, can such a ritual truly communicate with the divine?"

"Of course." Senior Brother Zhang, who was writing a prayer, frowned and said impatiently upon hearing this.

"Is this the new god that Senior Brother Zhang was talking about? It can even connect to the abyss?" Senior Sister Jin asked curiously.

"Hmph, if the old gods can do it, why can't the new gods? Otherwise, how was the order of this trial space established? The so-called 'reputation value' is just a rule left behind by the old gods."

Senior Brother Zhang blew on the still-wet ink and continued:

"Now is the time for a new god to take its place."

"So these are all offerings prepared for the new god?" Junior Brother Zhao asked.

His gaze was fixed on those paper figures.

"It's natural."

A smug smile crept onto Senior Brother Zhang's lips.

Immediately, everyone shouted:

"Senior Brother Zhang has great foresight!"

"It was all planned from the beginning!"

However, Zhou Rong was uneasy: "Wouldn't using this ritual have too wide an impact?"

"Time is of the essence, why hesitate so much?" Senior Brother Zhang said coldly.

"But what about my brother..."

"Don't worry, the gods only eliminate the strange and won't harm the innocent."

"But--"

Before Zhou Rong could finish speaking, a cat's meow suddenly rang out.

The sound was so sudden that everyone was startled.

Only then did they see a tabby cat's head sticking out of the front car window, its green eyes gleaming in the candlelight as it stared at them.