Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 390 Is "White Stone Realm" Real or Fake?

"That was not his goal at all."

When Zhuang Wansong and Li Zhi returned to the White Stone Immortal Sect with Sun Ping's body, Zhang Chengdao finally understood the whole story.

However, he immediately scoffed, "What resurrection of his beloved wife? It's nothing more than a disguise for his ulterior motives. Tang Mingming is the kind of person who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals and doesn't care about the lives of others."

Zhuang Wansong did not comment on Tang Mingming's behavior, but instead bowed apologetically and said, "Sect Leader Zhang is right. It's just a pity that we arrived too late and were unable to save Fellow Daoist Sun. I am truly ashamed."

Zhang Chengdao sighed and comforted him, "Fellow Daoist Zhuang, there's no need to blame yourself too much. Perhaps this is just a calamity that Sun Ping was destined to suffer."

It was still heartbreaking. After all, he was the first outer disciple to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, and had even been the champion of the sect's grand competition. In a way, he was practically He Yu's disciple.

This kid learned a lot of skills from He Yu!
But unexpectedly, due to a series of coincidences and his habit of taking responsibility alone, he lost his life.

As a result, Sun Ping's cards disappeared from the character list.

"but……"

Zhang Chengdao hesitated, then pressed for details: "Did that Ancestor Mingfeng really say that everything that can lead to different points in time through the boundary gate is a deduced illusion?"

Zhuang Wansong nodded slightly: "That's indeed the case."

Zhang Chengdao sighed, exchanged a few more polite words with Zhuang Wansong and Li Zhi, and then saw them off from the White Stone Immortal Sect.

Although Sun Ping's matter has been resolved, the new information he has received has made Zhang Chengdao even more uneasy.

If what Ancestor Mingfeng said is true, and all worlds that can be accessed through the boundary gate are evolving illusions, then this White Stone Realm I'm in...

Could it also be an evolved illusion?
The thought of this possibility sent chills down Zhang Chengdao's spine.

But if the White Stone Realm is an illusion that has been created, how exactly did I manage to cross over there?

Or is everything in the White Stone Realm just a dream I've created?

Otherwise, how do you explain the issue of the cheat code?

How could such an illogical thing exist in the world!

However, despite his inner turmoil, Zhang Chengdao did not blindly believe everything that Zhuang Wansong relayed from Ancestor Mingfeng.

In comparison, he trusted his partner He Yu more.

So he immediately used the Name Calling Mirror to contact He Yu and summoned him over.

"Regarding realms... there is indeed such a concept, but as the Ancestor Mingfeng said, this situation does not only occur in dead worlds. When the world barrier has just loosened and a realm passage has been created, similar unstable realm gates will also appear..."

"These boundary gates may indeed allow people to return to the past, but that is not the real past, but a projection of history that has already happened. It can be considered a kind of illusion. Therefore, even if you, Fellow Daoist Zhang, really return to the past of the White Stone Realm through the boundary gate, it may not be the real past."

"but……"

He Yu's expression was complicated, and he spoke somewhat hesitantly, which made Zhang Chengdao feel uneasy.

"but what?"

He Yu gave a wry smile and added, "However, if Fellow Daoist Zhang really did something in the past projection that affected the current White Stone Realm, then..."

Zhang Chengdao took a deep breath and continued He Yu's unfinished sentence: "So that means that the White Stone Realm I'm in really... is just an illusion, right?"

He Yu sighed deeply and fell silent.

That's the best answer.

For a moment, the reception hall was eerily quiet.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Chengdao asked in a hoarse voice, "I still have a question. If the current White Stone Realm is just a projection, or an illusion, and not the real White Stone Realm, then how did I get here? Where exactly is the 'realm gate' that leads me to this 'illusion'?"

Zhang Chengdao tried hard to recall the scene when he traveled through time, but he couldn't figure it out.

His time travel wasn't the kind of "hitting the jackpot" that's popular in online games, but rather he woke up on a weekend, wearing only his shorts, went to the bathroom, and pushed open the door, and thus time traveled.

More accurately, when he transmigrated, he wasn't shirtless and wearing shorts, but rather a character attached to the game "Peach Blossom Spring 3". He even had the character's white hair and wore the gifted appearance, looking quite respectable and somewhat like an immortal.

If he was absolutely certain that he was wearing only a pair of shorts when he put them on, then he could now be completely certain that the White Stone Realm he was in was probably an "illusion."

But the strange circumstances surrounding his transmigration didn't seem like he had accidentally entered a realm gate, which left him somewhat baffled.

Although he remembered feeling dizzy when he opened the bathroom door...

Just as Zhang Chengdao was desperately searching his memories, He Yu spoke again: "If Fellow Daoist Zhang really did mistakenly enter the realm gate and thus arrived in this illusion, then as long as you find the realm gate you came from, you can go back."

Zhang Chengdao frowned and said, "When I came here, I should have been in this White Stone Mountain, but I have searched the entire White Stone Mountain for more than a year and I have not seen any boundary gate..."

“The boundary gates are not limited to the forms found beneath the White Stone Ice Sea. Some boundary gates appear in very special locations due to their gaps, and can even mimic the shapes.”

"Mimicry?"

These familiar yet unfamiliar words made Zhang Chengdao pause for a moment.

He Yu replied, "The so-called 'mimicry' is a boundary gate, which is a gap created by the boundary. It disguises itself as normal scenery according to the surrounding environment, so that people cannot tell the difference."

Upon hearing He Yu's words, Zhang Chengdao couldn't help but think of the bathroom door in his own home.

You can't exactly make your boundary gate mimic your own bathroom door, can you?

Thinking about it this way, all my hard work over the past two years has been for nothing, and the connections between myself and my apprentices and disciples are all deductions and evolutions, which is quite disheartening...

But at the same time, this also means that I still have a chance to go home!

Thinking of this, Zhang Chengdao felt excited again.

Cultivating immortality is great, but lounging in an ergonomic chair, sipping an ice-cold cola, and playing games is the real enjoyment!

“Fellow Daoist, there’s no need to worry too much. Since you can’t figure it out, you might as well let nature take its course. Even if this is an illusion and you can’t get out for now, you might as well cultivate here a little longer. Whether this White Stone Realm is the real White Stone Realm or not, the cultivation you’ve achieved won’t lie.” He Yu didn’t know what Zhang Chengdao was thinking, assuming that the other party hadn’t spoken because his Dao heart was about to shatter, so he comforted him, “Besides, didn’t you say that your arrival in the White Stone Realm was a test from your elders? In that case, I’m afraid the real White Stone Realm still exists. Once you’ve passed the test, you might as well go to the real White Stone Realm and save me again. At that time, we’ll get to know each other again, hahaha…”

As he spoke, He Yu even forced a lighthearted laugh.

"Fellow Daoist He is absolutely right!"

Zhang Chengdao suddenly understood.

Although He Yu comforted himself by saying that the "trials" of his elders were all fabrications he had made up, regardless of whether the White Stone Realm he was in was the real White Stone Realm, at least one thing He Yu said was true: his cultivation level would not be lost.

In this way, once I cultivate diligently, break through to the Mahayana stage, or even cultivate an immortal body, and return to Earth, wouldn't I be invincible?

When that time comes, you'll be able to enjoy the convenience and speed of modern life, and be invincible. Is there anything more awesome than that?
Or, even if one cannot return to modern society, wouldn't the cultivation and breakthroughs one achieves in this false "illusion" still remain within oneself?

Isn't this just a "closed beta test server" where levels can be inherited?

When the "official version" is released, won't you be thrilled?
The more he thought about it, the more sense it made. Zhang Chengdao solemnly bowed to He Yu and thanked him, saying, "What Fellow Daoist He said is truly enlightening."

"The world is full of chaos and confusion. Whether this world is real or not, it does not affect my existence. As the saying goes, 'I think, therefore I am.' Since I am already in this world, I will go with the flow and follow the current to temper myself and hone my immortal path. This is the right way."

"In that case, even if I find the boundary gate and leave the White Stone Realm in the future, I will not have wasted my time and will have lived up to this 'test'."

"It's good that Fellow Daoist Zhang thinks this way." He Yu said, his expression relaxing a bit. He sighed softly, "What a wonderful 'I think, therefore I am' statement. Thank you for your understanding, Fellow Daoist Zhang..."

"Since Fellow Daoist Zhang has also come to a conclusion, then I will not stay any longer."

With that, He Yu stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist, please wait. I will take my leave. I wish you all the best."

Zhang Chengdao returned the greeting: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist He."

……

After He Yu left, Zhang Chengdao gathered everyone and held a funeral for Sun Ping.

This is the first funeral in the history of the White Stone Immortal Sect, and also the first disciple to die.

Zhang Chengdao did not hide anything, but told Tang Mingming everything. He also emphasized that if such a thing happened again in the future, one must assess one's own cultivation level. If one is no match for the enemy, one should prioritize one's own safety and return to the sect for help as soon as possible. One must never put oneself in danger.

Naturally, Zhang Chengdao did not reveal the fact that this world might be a projection or an illusion; this was something he and He Yu had already discussed.

After the funeral, the atmosphere in the entire White Stone Immortal Sect remained somber for a long time.

Lin Fengxian, one of the culprits, was almost killed by the hot-tempered Murong Ruyan.

Zhang Chengdao didn't care whether or not to kill Lin Fengxian. Firstly, if this world was really just a false illusion, then the real Sun Ping might not be dead.

Of course, whether Sun Ping lives or dies does not affect Lin Fengxian's criminal intent. However, even if Lin Fengxian is killed, it is a projection of a false world, and it has no meaning other than venting anger.

However, even Ye Shuyun, who was the most lenient towards Lin Fengxian, did not speak up for her anymore. The group simply reported to Zhang Chengdao and asked him to deal with her accordingly.

"Lennancial punishment is unacceptable,"

Even though it's just a "test server," Zhang Chengdao is determined to "play" it properly.

After a moment's thought, he said, "Throw him into prison and have the Ministry of Justice try the case, and determine the crime and sentence according to the new laws."

The "new law" refers to the laws that Zhang Chengdao had previously ordered court officials to redesign.

After more than a dozen revisions, the draft was finally revised to resemble the legal provisions of modern society, making them more comprehensive and less prone to ambiguity.

Although most officials were quite resistant to the new law, but...

Those who truly dared to oppose Zhang Chengdao had already joined him during the Longxi rebellion. The rest were neither courageous nor principled, and were of no use whatsoever. Even if they disliked the new laws, they gritted their teeth and complied with them.

"Master!"

Murong Ruyan's expression changed, and she was the first to object: "This vile woman harmed a disciple of our White Stone Immortal Sect, and she is also a cultivator herself. How can she be tried using the laws that govern ordinary people?!"

While others might not know, Murong Ruyan, with her keen senses, was perfectly aware of the situation.

If Lin Fengxian were sent to the Ministry of Justice and tried under the new laws, she might not even be decapitated!

After all, Lin Fengxian was not the direct murderer of Sun Ping. Even if she were to be convicted, she would only be guilty of crimes such as infringing on the property of the White Stone Immortal Sect and causing the accidental death of its disciple, but not murder.

Such a minor offense would likely result in only a few years of imprisonment!
How can this be!

“Cultivators are just mortals who have practiced the path of immortality; there is no difference between the two.”

Zhang Chengdao could easily see through Murong Ruyan's thoughts. Although he also hated Lin Fengxian for killing one of his disciples, he did not want his year's efforts to be wasted because of Lin Fengxian.

A top-down revolution is not a revolution. In a world with an absolute and oppressive supernatural power, it is difficult for a revolution to emerge. But at least, one can promote society toward the rule of law.

If I were to set a precedent and arbitrarily convict Lin Fengxian based solely on my likes and dislikes, then no matter how perfect the new law is, it would be nothing more than a few pages of waste paper, no different from the old laws and local "customary laws" and "clan laws".

Zhang Chengdao patiently explained to Murong Ruyan, "Ruyan, don't let hatred blind you. Lin Fengxian is not an exception, nor should it be. We must ensure that the 'new law' is implemented effectively. This is the meaning of my hard work in planning this."

However, Zhang Chengdao's explanation was clearly not enough to convince Murong Ruyan.

However, Zhang Chengdao, as Murong Ruyan's master and sect leader, held great authority, and spoke so seriously that she had no choice but to shut her mouth, though she was still very dissatisfied.

She reluctantly cupped her hands in greeting, muttering, "Master is right."

Then he turned his head away, his eyes practically rolling to the sky.

Ye Shuyun took the initiative to take on the matter, saying, "Then this disciple will take her to Chang'an City and ask Master to write a letter so that she can be sent to the Ministry of Justice prison."

"can."

……

(End of this chapter)