owlsbooks Chapter 148 This promise, I sign it.
Chapter 148 This promise, I sign it.
Above the altar, a silver scroll floated silently. Chen Fan held the paper in his hand, his fingertips feeling a chilling sensation from its surface, a sensation not belonging to the Three Realms. The words on the paper seemed alive, slightly distorting in his eyes—"All beings are willing to swear oaths and make promises? I can grant them. But are you prepared to pay the price?"
The Bull Demon King could no longer contain himself. He abruptly stood up, the handle of his diamond axe clanging loudly as it struck the ground: "The price? What price?! Chen Fan, don't be fooled! If we sign this, we'll be bound to their warship, completely at their mercy!"
"Brother Ox," Horse King narrowed his eyes, his tone calm to the point of being icy, "this isn't intimidation, this is the established rule. Look at that rift outside, it's still expanding, isn't it? They're waiting for us to fail so they can take the opportunity to completely wipe out the Ninth Experimental Field."
He pointed to the crack. The crack had widened to about two inches, its interior pitch black, devoid of any light. Only paper hands were slowly and persistently extending inward, like the fingertips of a drowning person desperately trying to cling to the gunwale. One of the paper fingers slashed through the air, tearing through the surrounding space with a piercing shriek.
"We have no way out," Chen Fan said in a hoarse voice. He tore open the blank space at the front of the scroll, revealing a clean sheet of paper. Below it was a line of light blue print: "If the Ninth Experimental Field fails to be upgraded, those who swore an oath will be among the first to be evicted."
"What is this thing?" Pigsy muttered to himself, his eyes filled with panic.
"This thing... is the first batch of elimination orders." The Great Sage Equaling Heaven suddenly spoke, his voice low and solemn. He stared intently at the words, all his usual cynicism gone, leaving only a chilling calm and contemplation. "It means that if the experiment fails... those of us who persevere will be the first to be completely eliminated, with no chance of a second chance."
The main hall fell into a deathly silence.
Only the biting wind blowing from the crevice was piercing and carried an eerie aura, like rusty metal mixed with old blood.
"No!" Pigsy roared in a hoarse voice, "We fought bloody battles and sacrificed our lives, and this is how we end up? We were the main fighting force, but we're just pawns in your game, Chen Fan! You're pushing us to our deaths!"
"It's not about pushing them to their deaths." Chen Fan slowly shook his head, looking at everyone: Pigsy, Red Boy, Zihua Divine Lord, the Spirit Snake, the White Dragon Horse... all those who had risked their lives for him and believed in him wholeheartedly. "This is a high-stakes gamble. Only in this way can we truly convince them."
"Believe it my foot!" Pigsy roared angrily.
"We've already staked our lives; there's no turning back." Chen Fan said calmly, "There's no absolutely safe and smooth road in this world, only a journey we dare to forge ahead on. They are examining us, assessing whether the Ninth Experimental Field is worth investing resources in. A document that doesn't involve the lives of those who swore an oath is nothing but a piece of waste paper; but once it involves the lives of those who swore an oath, even if it's just one person... then it becomes a vow to live and die together." He crossed his arms, looking at the ever-expanding crack: "We cannot beg for mercy; we must lay down our cards and engage in an equal game."
He picked up the wolf-hair wooden brush from the table; the brush handle was made of an antique material, and the ink in the inkstone was not the usual black, but a warm ivory white. Without the slightest hesitation, he began to write on the blank paper.
There was no elaborate signature, just one word: Chen Fan.
With each stroke of the brush, the brush moved with vigor and straightness, without the slightest bend or hesitation. The white ink seeped into the paper, making a subtle hissing sound, as if some kind of destiny was being branded into shape.
In an instant, the entire hall fell into utter silence, as if the air itself had frozen solid. Pigsy stared wide-eyed, speechless; Red Boy held his breath, his eyes swirling with shock at the decisiveness of the situation; the Great Sage Equaling Heaven nodded slightly, his movements incredibly subtle, yet a meaningful smile played on his lips; the Serpent clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh, blood seeping out, yet he remained oblivious.
The scroll document suddenly changed. The line of small blue characters slowly disappeared, replaced by a string of silver runes that automatically seeped into the paper, filling the entire blank space. This silver light was not ordinary; it possessed a heavy texture and a chilling temperature, faintly emitting a low, metallic hum.
"Identity verified. Permissions granted: Full control."
A dry, stiff, and emotionless voice suddenly resounded in everyone's minds, as if mechanically reciting a document.
Identity verification? Complete control?
Chen Fan instantly understood the reason. He had just written an oath, and in doing so, he had obtained the authority to issue supreme orders from the behind-the-scenes manipulator. He had staked his life as a bargaining chip, and the other party had already agreed—to grant him full personal authority, rather than the collective authority of the Ninth Experimental Field.
"Relatively safe." Chen Fan muttered to himself, raising his hand to pick up a translucent spirit jade and gently placing it on the document. The spirit jade instantly transformed into a stream of light and merged into the scroll, causing the document to suddenly become as solid as steel, emitting a series of crisp, crackling sounds.
"The document is complete." His voice was slightly deep, but his will was firm. "Only one last step remains: submit it to the review process. White Dragon Horse."
"Your subordinate obeys!" The white dragon horse strode forward, its body tall and imposing, carrying a black wooden treasure chest on its back. Inside were the spatial fragments and chaotic law fragments that everyone had accumulated over a long period of time. Everything was ready and sufficient to be sealed into a law carrier that could be used for teleportation.
"Send the document to the main review channel, the intersection of the Seventh Trial Tower." Chen Fan handed over the document, which was now as solid as thin steel, shimmering with silver light. "Go quickly and return quickly. They are waiting for our morale to collapse. We must seize the initiative and strike first."
"Received!" The white dragon horse took the document, bit his fingertip, and a drop of crystal blood fell. He enhanced the document with his own spiritual power, and the scroll emitted a clear, bell-like sound. He then turned and walked towards the dark window on the wall, where space was distorted, which was the entrance to the passage to another dimension.
"Wait!" Pigsy suddenly spoke up, staring intently at Chen Fan, his face ashen. "You...do you understand what this means? If we fail, you'll be the first to be eliminated! Your life is on this piece of paper! You can't...you can't gamble everything like this!"
Chen Fan slowly turned around and looked at him. There was no anger in his eyes, only extreme exhaustion and an unwavering determination.
"I understand." He spoke slowly. "What do you think I am? A mercenary driven by profit? A naive and innocent optimist? Neither. I am a man who has made a vow." He raised the hand bearing the inscription, the white ink already dried, but the mark was still clear and conspicuous, like a fateful scar: "This promise is not for them to see, but for myself. To constantly remind myself—if I ever have a thought of retreat, seeing this mark will remind me that I have already staked everything, and there is no turning back."
He turned to the Great Sage Equaling Heaven: "Great Sage, I am not a Buddhist monk, and I have no extraordinary protective powers to defend myself. All I can rely on is this." He pointed to his head, "It is the unwavering resolve to see through life and death, and the unyielding will to never retreat. This is my only weapon. If you feel that this is not enough... you may find another way to survive."
The Monkey King gazed at him for a long time, and finally chuckled softly, his laughter hoarse and dry, like the friction of metal.
"Very well. I will go with you," he said in a deep voice, "until... this oath loses its meaning, or the day I die and my soul dissipates."
Chen Fan nodded slightly and looked at the crack again. The paper arm had already extended to be more than a person's length. The paper fingers slowly stretched out and touched a stone bowl on the ground. The stone bowl instantly turned into ashes and disappeared without a sound, leaving only the silence of annihilation.
"We don't have time to waste."
"White Dragon Horse! Set off immediately! Do not linger!" Chen Fan shouted.
"I obey!"
With a wave of his arm, the white dragon horse sent the document transforming into a streak of silver light that shot straight into the dark window and vanished without a trace. Everyone could sense the document's trajectory, and a strange emptiness filled their hearts, as if a vital piece of their souls had been lost, or a fragment of their very being had shattered.
"Alright." Chen Fan let out a soft breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He turned to face the remaining people: "Right now, all we need to do is hold the line. They'll come knocking on our door soon."
"Where will they attack from?" Red Boy asked in a deep voice, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.
"It's not an imminent attack," Chen Fan pointed to the rift. "They've been lurking outside for a long time, just haven't crossed over yet. This rift wasn't our exit route, but rather... a window through which they spy on our every move. Once they detect that we've sent out the review documents..."
"They will definitely intervene."
The voice just fell.
call out!
A sharp, piercing sound suddenly rang out, not from the crack, but from a shadowy corner deep within the hall! A tall, gaunt black figure suddenly darted out, its skin yellowed like old paper, its eyes without pupils, only two streaks of scarlet light remaining, and pounced straight at Chen Fan!
The speed was so fast that no one had time to react!
Chen Fan hastily raised his hand to block, and suddenly the oath mark on his palm lit up with a light white spiritual light, automatically bursting out a light blade, like a short spear piercing through the air!
clang!
The light blade slammed into the dark figure, which emitted a piercing screech—not a human voice, but rather the sound of metal being forcibly twisted and shattered. The dark figure instantly disintegrated, turning into a shower of gray ash that drifted in the air for a moment before completely dissipating.
The crowd then came to their senses and drew their weapons, creating a dazzling display of swords and blades.
"What is this?" Zihua Divine Lord asked, his breath slightly ragged.
"It's their test." Chen Fan looked down at his palm. The imprinted light had dimmed, but a trace of warmth remained. "They granted me full control, but also placed warning shackles on me. Once I use this authority, they will immediately notice and stop me."
"That's exactly what they wanted." The Great Sage Equaling Heaven stared at the crack, his tone steady. "They have no choice but to get involved themselves; they can no longer stand idly by. The more we intervene, the clearer we'll understand their concerns."
He took a deep breath, and instantly his three-headed, six-armed form appeared, each of his six hands holding a divine weapon, exuding an awe-inspiring aura.
"All personnel prepare for battle," he commanded in a deep voice. "The enemy is approaching extremely fast, and... that dark figure just now was merely a vanguard soldier."
He gazed into the endless darkness beyond the rift, vaguely sensing countless anomalies. They were not alone, but in large groups, like a sweeping tide of darkness.
Just then.
"What is that?!" the spirit snake suddenly exclaimed, pointing towards the main entrance of the hall—the very entrance where the white dragon horse had left.
From the shadows, figures began to emerge. The leader was imposing, wearing a triangular mask and shrouded in a long, black robe that covered him completely from head to toe. In his hand he held something slender and thin, resembling a ruler or a pair of shackles.
A sliver of light filtered through the ventilation openings in the roof, illuminating the mask. The mask was etched with three black circular patterns, resembling three closed, vertical pupils.
"The Seventh Judgment Tower," Chen Fan said in a low voice, his voice hoarse, "not scouts, but... a dedicated enforcement team."
The figure in black robes stood motionless, silently observing the crowd. Behind him, in the shadows of the hall, one identical figure after another appeared. One, two, three… dozens in total. All of them were dressed in the same attire, each carrying a long, thin measuring ruler.
"Their mission is solely to cut off the transmission of documents." Chen Fan clenched his branded hand, his expression grave. "They not only want to block the delivery of review documents, but also... to eliminate me, the one who swore the oath."
He scanned the entire hall, where everyone had drawn their weapons, their faces grim and pale, yet not a single person retreated even a step.
"All personnel on high alert." Chen Fan's tone was chillingly calm. "The real battle begins now. There's no room for probing or scheming; we must hold our ground until the White Dragon Horse completes its teleportation mission."
He raised his hand and gently touched the oath mark on his palm. The spiritual light rose again, even more intense than before. A thin layer of light enveloped his entire body, like an invisible armor protecting him.
"Let the war begin," he said slowly. "Fight until... that final note of the trial ends."
"When will we have to wait?" Pigsy asked in a deep voice, holding an iron rake.
Chen Fan looked into the crack and saw that the paper fingertips were already close to the ground, about to touch a cluster of embers that were about to burn out.
"Once the documents are sent into the review process," he said slowly, "once... they are completely powerless to stop them."
He slowly lowered his arm, and the spiritual light in his palm quietly faded away.
Time seemed to slow down suddenly.
In front of the main hall, the enforcement team of the Seventh Trial Tower marched forward in unison, their steps perfectly synchronized and completely silent, save for the dull thud of their leather boots on the stone ground.
First there were five people, then ten, and then twenty.
The group held long, thin measuring rulers, waving them in the air, their target not themselves, but the surrounding space. The trajectory of their swings resembled a craftsman splitting wood.
In the void, a pitch-black crack appeared out of nowhere. It was not formed by spiritual light, but rather a deathly silence and darkness, like a hideous wound in the world.
"They're severing the spatial passage!" the Monkey King roared angrily. "Attempting to cut off signal transmission and block document delivery! Everyone, move out and stop them!"
He charged forward, his three heads roaring simultaneously, his staff splitting into hundreds of afterimages that rained down like a storm!
The ferocious attack slammed into the spatial rifts, yet there was no sound of impact. The spatial rifts seemed to possess a spirit, slightly shifting and dodging, yet continuing to spread and tear apart.
"We can't stop it!" Chen Fan shouted a warning, while clearly sensing that the expansion speed of the crack outside the hall suddenly accelerated! The paper fingertips had already touched the cluster of sparks, and the flames were instantly extinguished, completely swallowed by the crack!
"They are using the primordial power outside the rift to forcibly tear open the expansion channel! The spatial rift formed simultaneously as the document set off! They intend to seal off all teleportation paths and eliminate all variables!"
Chen Fan stared intently at the numerous spatial cracks, his heart pounding. He knew perfectly well that there was only one way to break this deadlock.
He suddenly stomped the ground and leaped into the air, his target not the enemy in front of him, but straight towards the dark rift!
"Chen Fan! What are you doing?!" Pigsy shouted in alarm.
"I'll protect the transmission of the documents!" Chen Fan responded loudly, his voice echoing throughout the entire hall. "I'll show them what true authority and complete control really mean!"
He charged towards the crevice, the oath mark on his palm blazing brightly, like a burning torch. Raising his branded hand high, facing the crevice, he roared in a deep, stern voice:
"Stop everything!"
This was not a normal reprimand, but an order of authority.
With a thought, he silently recited the laws of total authority in his mind, outlining the trajectory of spatial flow, document transmission, and the operation of the laws, and with supreme authority, he ordered all abnormal movements to stop immediately.
"end."
The entire hall trembled slightly.
It was not a physical shaking, but a tremor at the level of laws.
All the spreading cracks in the void suddenly froze and stopped. They solidified in mid-air, like ink on paper being forcibly pressed down, unable to spread even a fraction further.
The expansion of the cracks outside the hall suddenly slowed. The paper arms that had extended out also froze in place, completely still.
"This level of authority... is too much." Chen Fan felt as if his head was being gripped tightly by iron clamps, and blood instantly gushed from his nose. He gritted his teeth and endured it, holding fast to his will: "Just... a little longer... and it'll be over..."
He peered through the crack into the endless darkness, vaguely sensing an immense presence. Formless yet possessing an undeniably real gaze, imbued with intense rage, it was firmly locked onto him.
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out.
It did not originate from the cracks outside the hall.
Instead, it came from the scroll of Bo Gang's documents, which were being escorted by the white dragon horse and had already been posted into the review process.
"Identity verification: Documents received."
"The review process has officially begun."
"Estimated review time: three breaths of mental energy."
Chen Fan relaxed his tense mind, staggered backward, his breathing was heavy and rapid, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The numerous spatial cracks seemed to be swept away by a gentle breeze, turning into specks of light and disappearing without a trace.
The crack outside the hall... remained frozen at its current size. It neither expanded nor contracted.
A dark rift remains open.
In the darkness beyond the rift, the black-robed enforcers of the Seventh Trial Tower, holding measuring rulers, stood in neat rows, fifty, a hundred, their numbers countless. They no longer attacked rashly, but stood quietly, observing and waiting patiently.
The hall fell into a deathly silence, so oppressive it was suffocating. Only Chen Fan's heavy breathing echoed slowly through the hall.
"What...are they waiting for?" Red Boy asked in a low voice.
Chen Fan looked up at the illusory sky above the main hall, his gaze falling on the dark rift.
"We're waiting for the review results," he said slowly. "We're waiting... for our defeat."
He looked down at the palm of his right hand; the oath mark was still clear, though the white lines had faded somewhat but had not disappeared.
"Three breaths of mental timing," he murmured, "three...heartbeats...up and down."
He closed his eyes and listened intently to his own heartbeat.
thump.
First breath.
There was no unusual movement in the world.
thump.
Second breath.
A faint, strange sound came from afar, as if some enormous thing had been awakened and was slowly breaking free from its silence.
thump.
The third breath.
Clang—
The first chime of the bell did not originate from within the main hall, but rather came from a great distance, through a crack. The ancient bell tolled deeply, its sound resonant and lingering.
Clang... Clang...
The second and third sounds followed one after another.
Clang... clang... clang...
The three chimes brought the matter to a close.
Clang... clang... clang... clang...
The tolling of the bells grew more frequent, faster, and more powerful, as if someone were forcefully shaking an ancient, colossal bell, causing the heavens and earth to tremble.
Immediately afterwards, a sharp, piercing roar rang out from the review passage at the back of the main hall, like the struggling and mournful cry of a withered corpse, or like a giant law machine suddenly starting up.
Chen Fan opened his eyes and looked into the depths of the rift. In the endless darkness, a giant hand slowly emerged—more than ten times larger than the previous paper hand. This was not made of paper, but rather a mixture of light and darkness, with clearly defined five fingers, each joint covered with intricate patterns originating from the spatial rift.
A giant hand was holding something in mid-air, its outline exactly the same as the thin steel document, but magnified billions of times, suspended in the void behind the rift, like a giant jade tablet list.
A spiritual light flowed across the jade tablet, and lines of writing slowly emerged, the characters large and clear enough for anyone in the hall to read:
"Ninth Experimental Field: Verification of the Law System and Resource Reserves Completed."
Current status: All criteria met.
"Request for resolution: Apply for upgrade."
"Reviewing and adjudicating body: Seventh Trial Tower."
Final result: Pending confirmation.
Below the jade tablet, a line of numbers is slowly counting down.
one two Three……
Chen Fan stared intently at the fluctuating numbers.
He knew perfectly well what was going on.
The moment the countdown ends will be the moment the outcome is decided.
He looked at the palm of his right hand, where the oath mark was growing increasingly dim.
"...This mark is about to lose its effectiveness," he thought to himself.
Just then, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from the direction of the review passage at the back of the main hall—BOOM!
The deafening roar was like a bulwark collapsing and everything crumbling. The white dragon horse's painful roar echoed from afar, but it was completely drowned out by the thunder.
"They've found the teleportation portal!" the serpent exclaimed in shock.
Chen Fan slowly stood up and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. The dim oath mark on his palm suddenly shone brightly.
It was not a blazing fire, but a sudden flash of pure white light, like a candle flame swaying in the wind but refusing to go out.
He slowly clenched his fist.
"The time has come," he said in a deep voice. "Everything has settled."
The oath brand on the palm suddenly went out.
At the same time.
The dark rift outside the hall suddenly exploded.
It wasn't a slow expansion, but a complete and utter collapse.
A deafening roar echoed in all directions, and the paper hands were reduced to ashes. A torrent of darkness surged in from outside the rift, not spreading naturally, but tearing through space and crashing in with brute force.
Amidst the billowing dust and ash, a figure slowly stepped out.
It was not in a group, but alone.
He wore a pure white robe and no mask. In his hand, he no longer held a measuring ruler, but instead an old-fashioned black book with a blank cover, without a single word or pattern.
The moment he turned to the title page, Chen Fan's pupils constricted—only one name appeared on the page.
Chen Fan.
Below the name, a line of small print reads:
"Permission status: Revoked".
The man in white looked up at Chen Fan, then slowly closed the book. His dry, cold voice echoed throughout the entire hall:
"Your oath is hereby nullified. Reason: The oath-taker is dead."
He raised his hand and lifted the black book into the air.
Chen Fan felt all the power in his body drain away in an instant—the power of the system's blessing, the power of the oath imprint, and the power of his understanding of the laws all vanished into thin air, leaving nothing behind.
His body went limp, and he collapsed to his knees, like a puppet whose strings had been pulled out, with no strength left to support him.
Only one thought remained in my mind:
"They...severely injured the White Dragon Horse before the documents were even delivered..."
"Using this matter as a pretext, they directly tore up their promises and nullified their oaths."
As my vision blurred, the last thing I saw was the white-clad man walking slowly towards me, the words "Chen Fan" fading away on the title page of the black leather book in his hand.
"No..." Chen Fan's lips moved, but no sound came out.
The last glimmer of light in his eyes went out completely.
The main hall fell into boundless, deathly darkness, except for the distant, giant jade tablet of review, whose light still flickered, and the countdown continued:
… 2
… 1
Keng.
The final bell tolled, bringing the game to a resounding close.
**Chapter 413 The Vanguard Shadow**
A thin sliver of cold light cast a faint silver glow on the ground. Chen Fan stood atop a pile of rocks, clutching the newly refined "evaluation material" tightly in his hand. He flipped the paper to the top left corner, where three lines of text were drawn with a metal pen: "Merger Notice—Seventh Evaluation Tower." The sound echoed in the hollow valley, like a provocation.
On the rock face not far away, a thin, elongated slit of light appeared, as if squeezed out from another dimension. A translucent figure floated in through the slit, humanoid in shape, yet its entire body was shrouded in a pale blue mist. Its appearance was silent, yet it instantly made the surrounding air tense.
The shadow stood at the very front of the slit of light, raising a hand. Its deep, mechanical voice echoed through the valley: "Merger notification has been issued. All entities are requested to submit merger applications immediately." Its voice carried an unquestionable authority, like an invisible iron rod pointing at every soul that dared to disobey.
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow, completely ignoring the notification. He strode onto the rock and slammed the assessment materials directly at the shadow. The paper streaked through the air like a silver flash, striking the shadow's chest precisely. A faint blue flame instantly ignited on the paper, then transformed into tiny specks of light that shot straight into the shadow's interior.
The shadow visibly trembled, then extended two long fingers, attempting to grasp the scattered dust of light. But just then, Sun Wukong's golden cudgel came hurtling in from afar, its tip slamming hard against the edge of the slit in the light. With the impact of the cudgel, the slit in the light seemed to be torn open, and the blue light was instantly forced into deeper darkness.
"Don't even think about destroying our materials!" Tang Sanzang followed closely behind, a golden "Dharma Seal" in his hand lighting up, its light drawing a cross-shaped barrier in the air. The barrier instantly surrounded the light dust, forming a semi-transparent shield. The light dust within the shield no longer dispersed but was fixed in place.
The leader of the Scrapped Case Army—a giant ape covered in metallic scales—raised his "Judgment Hammer" and slammed it down on the shadow. The hammer struck with a deafening roar. The shadow was thrown backward by the impact, cracks appearing in its form as if it had been sliced apart by invisible rules.
The Ruler's Tablet—a massive stone monument, its surface covered in ancient runes, emitting a faint blue light. Suddenly, the tablet lit up, and several golden runes shot out from it, piercing directly through the shadow. The runes acted like invisible chains, tightly binding the shadow. The shadow tried to move, but was firmly suppressed by these three forces.
The suppressed shadow suddenly rolled, trying to break through the slit of light, but with two hissing sounds, its form was forcefully pushed back out of the slit by two rules. Its shape was forcibly flattened at the opening of the slit, then turned into tiny particles of light and dissipated into the darkness.
Chen Fan looked at the shattered light particles and a smile appeared on his lips: "I didn't expect you to be afraid of us too." He folded the evaluation materials in his hand again and put them into a specially made metal box. The box was engraved with the four large characters "Outer Evaluation Channel" and emitted a low pulse of light.
Sun Wukong sheathed his golden cudgel, stood beside Chen Fan, and patted him on the shoulder: "That was ruthless. How do we finish this?" Tang Sanzang said softly: "Send the materials into the outer evaluation channel first, and check the results after three chapters."
Chen Fan nodded and handed the metal box to the giant ape standing beside him. The giant ape forcefully shoved the box into a narrow passageway. Immediately, a blue beam of light illuminated the entrance to the passageway, as if another door had opened. The evaluation materials were sucked into the beam of light and disappeared into the bottomless darkness.
Just then, a low hum came from the distant cliffs. Several dark figures darted out of the forest, their eyes flashing with ferocity. Ahead of them was the flank of the Seventh Assessment Tower, its surface engraved with ancient symbols, like a colossal beast ready to unleash judgment at any moment.
"The shadows are just the vanguard," Chen Fan's voice echoed through the valley. "The real test is yet to come."
He looked up at the distant spire, where the bells were already tolling, deep and powerful, as if announcing the start of a new battle.
**Suspense:** The evaluation materials have entered the outer evaluation channel, but what will happen after three chapters? Has the true power of the Seventh Evaluation Tower already quietly approached?
Chapter 414, Chapter Three, and the Results
"Three chapters."
Chen Fan held up three fingers and waved them in front of everyone.
"The evaluation results will take at least three chapters. We can wait, but some things cannot."
In the camp, Pigsy was gnawing on a chicken leg when he heard this, and almost dropped the chicken leg.
"Strategist, what did you say? What can't we wait?"
Chen Fan didn't answer. He got up, walked out of the tent, and looked up into the depths of Huaguo Mountain.
That is where the rule markers he personally laid out are located.
The foundation of the new order in Huaguo Mountain lies in that monument.
Now, the foundation is unstable.
***
"One hundred and seventy-six tails."
Chen Fan returned to the main camp and slammed a list on the table.
"Everyone here is on our side, I've made it clear. The outer assessment channel is activated, and everyone's attention is focused on the outside. But the water inside the Three Realms hasn't cooled down yet."
Sun Wukong grabbed the list, glanced at it, and his brows furrowed immediately.
"Are there still any remnants on the Heavenly Court's side?"
"Not many." Chen Fan pointed to the list, "but they're all old. Remnants of the former Heavenly Court system, scattered and hidden, have recently started to regroup. And from the Buddhist side, the escaped members of the Locking Field faction are also active."
The "lock-in" faction.
Upon hearing these three words, Sun Wukong's expression darkened further.
That was the most stubborn branch of Buddhism, and they almost completely sealed off Flower Fruit Mountain back then. If it weren't for Chen Fan's intervention, Flower Fruit Mountain would still be suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain.
"What do they want to do?" Sun Wukong asked.
"It's simple." Chen Fan sneered, "Taking advantage of our attention being focused on the outside and the interior being undefended, they're going to seize the Rule Tablet."
Rule marker.
The foundation of the new order in Huaguo Mountain lies at the highest point of the mountain, on the site of the Five Finger Mountain that was originally meant to suppress Sun Wukong.
The stele is not large, but it is inscribed with the rules of Huaguo Mountain and the newly established rules of the Three Realms.
Whoever controls the monument controls the order of Flower and Fruit Mountain.
With the assessment imminent, all eyes are on the outside world, which ironically gives the remaining faction within the organization an opportunity.
"You thought we couldn't handle it?" Sun Wukong stood up, twirling his golden cudgel twice in his hand. "Perfect, my hands are itching!"
"No rush." Chen Fan pressed his shoulder. "This time, your task is to sweep outside the mountain."
"Sweep outside the mountains?"
"To deal with the remaining internal forces, the first step is to contact the scattered soldiers and vagrants outside the mountains. I don't care how many of them are involved; you take a team and wipe out all the hidden agents outside the mountains. Leave no one alive."
Sun Wukong's eyes lit up.
"clear."
"Tang Sanzang".
Tang Sanzang, who had been standing silently to the side, raised his head.
"The petition form," Chen Fan said. "I'll leave the public announcement to you. The entire Three Realms are watching the evaluation process; we must show them whether the petition is genuine or not. If the petition is questioned, Flower Fruit Mountain will have lost."
"Don't worry." Tang Seng nodded, his voice not loud but steady, "The joint signature is real, and no one can find fault with it."
Chen Fan looked outside the tent.
The sky was overcast, as if weighed down by a piece of lead.
But he knew it wasn't a rain cloud.
That was the gaze of the Seventh Assessment Tower.
***
Seventy li outside Huaguo Mountain.
A group of people were hiding furtively in the dense forest.
The leader was a gaunt old man, wearing the old official robes of the Heavenly Court, but the cuffs were worn white. He clutched a jade slip tightly in his hand, as if it were a lifeline.
"Is it confirmed?" the old man asked his companion.
"Confirmed. The main force of Huaguo Mountain is focused on the assessment passage, leaving the interior vulnerable."
The old man squinted.
"That monument... we've waited ten years. This is our only chance."
Behind him were seven or eight figures, all remnants of the old Heavenly Court and Buddhism.
Ten years ago, the great upheaval completely scattered them, leaving them on the fringes of the Three Realms.
Now, the opportunity has arrived.
"We must get our hands on the Rule Tablet." The old man gritted his teeth. "Once we control that tablet, we can blackmail Flower Fruit Mountain and force them to give back the benefits they've already taken!"
One of his companions hesitated for a moment.
"But... what if we fail?"
The old man turned around, his eyes like those of a venomous snake.
"Failure?" he sneered. "What else do we have to lose? For ten years, we've been hiding like dogs! Now a new order has risen, there are benefits, but are we among them? No! Since we're not among them, then we'll rob them!"
***
At the same time, inside Flower and Fruit Mountain.
A person stood beneath the rule monument.
Chen Fan didn't move; he just stood in front of the monument, staring at the rules and characters carved on its surface.
He typed these words out, one by one.
Each stroke represents a new order in Huaguo Mountain.
Every stroke of the pen treads upon the corpses of the old Heavenly Court and the Buddhist sect.
Now, someone wants to shake these foundations.
He wouldn't allow it.
"military adviser."
Someone called his name from behind.
Chen Fan did not turn around.
"explain."
"There's movement over there in the assessment channel."
Chen Fan's expression changed.
Explain yourself.
"A message came from the Seventh Assessment Tower. They said... they're reviewing the assessment materials for Flower Fruit Mountain, but..."
"But what?"
"However, some people are questioning the authenticity of the petition, saying it's fake."
Chen Fan slowly turned around.
"Who raised the question?"
"Something that... claims to be an observer projection."
, Observer projection.
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.
The observer is the core of the evaluation system.
But what is the observer projection?
He immediately pressed, "Anything else?"
"The Seventh Assessment Tower is currently discussing whether to delay the assessment results."
Chen Fan remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he smiled.
The laughter was low, but cold.
"Delayed assessment?" He shook his head. "That's their tactic. On the surface, it's stalling for time, but in reality, it's a signal for their remaining forces to take action."
He immediately ordered, "Tell Sun Wukong to speed up the sweeping outside the mountain. I want results within an hour. Also, for Tang Sanzang, increase the public posting of the petition; list all the names of those who signed it and post them all over the Three Realms!"
"yes!"
The messenger immediately ran out.
Chen Fan looked at the rules monument again.
On the surface of the monument, the words shimmered in the dim light.
He reached out and gently pressed his hand on the surface of the monument.
It feels cool to the touch.
But his heart was burning with passion.
"Trying to undermine my foundation?"
He spoke in a low voice, a voice only he could hear.
"Then come and give it a try."
***
Outside the tent, the sky grew even darker.
In the distance, from the direction of the Seventh Assessment Tower, a bell suddenly rang out.
"when--"
The bell tolled dully, as if foreshadowing something.
Chen Fan looked up in that direction.
You can't see anything there.
But he could feel it.
Before the assessment results are released, there will inevitably be another storm in the Three Realms.
This storm will start burning from within.
He gripped the knife tightly in his hand.
"Come."
He uttered a single word.
End of chapter.
Outside Huaguo Mountain, deep in the forest.
The old man's team had just approached the border of Huaguo Mountain.
Suddenly, a light appeared ahead.
In the light, there stood a person.
He carried the golden cudgel on his shoulder.
Wearing a purple-gold crown.
Behind him were hundreds of elite troops from Huaguo Mountain.
The old man's expression changed drastically.
"you……"
Sun Wukong laughed.
His smile carried a murderous intent.
"I, Old Sun, have been waiting for you for a long time."
He raised his golden cudgel.
"Dare to touch the foundation of Flower Fruit Mountain..."
"die."
The stick fell.
Chen Fan received an urgent message: a split had emerged within the Seventh Assessment Tower; one group of observers was questioning the authenticity of the petition, while another was secretly supporting Flower Fruit Mountain. At the same time, the Rule Monument suddenly emitted a faint light, seemingly responding to some force. The situation instantly became even more complex and unpredictable.
#Chapter 415 You're also equipped with the Observer set
The moment the golden cudgel fell, a blinding white light exploded from the old man's body.
"boom--"
The air surged and rippled, sending rocks flying.
Sun Wukong was forced back three steps, and the rocks beneath his feet cracked with spiderweb-like patterns.
The smoke and dust cleared.
The old man has disappeared.
Instead, there was a huge, semi-transparent projection.
The projection was ten zhang tall, its entire body glowing with a pale golden light. Its face was blurry, with only a pair of eyes clearly visible—cold, aloof, as if looking down on a group of ants.
The projection has an opening.
The sound came from all directions, echoing:
"Sun Wukong of Flower Fruit Mountain, do you know your crime?"
There was a deathly silence outside the mountain gate.
The demon kings who had been observing all changed their expressions.
"Is this... the observer's projection?"
"The people from the Seventh Assessment Tower?"
"It's over, Flower Fruit Mountain has really messed things up this time."
One of the leopard spirits took a half step back and whispered to its companion, "With the Observer involved, this matter can't be resolved peacefully."
His companion nodded, a flicker of fear in his eyes: "I heard that last time a powerful demon offended the Observer, he couldn't even enter the cycle of reincarnation and was simply wiped out."
The projected sound continued:
"You have attempted to overthrow the order of the Three Realms by privately signing a petition endorsed by all living beings. According to the revised laws, your entire family should be executed, and your descendants imprisoned in Avici Hell forever."
"Today, I have been summoned by the Seventh Assessment Tower to pronounce judgment."
"Sun Wukong, if you kneel down and surrender now, we may still preserve the lineage of your Flower Fruit Mountain."
After the projector finished speaking, it looked down at the crowd from its elevated position.
His gaze was as if he were looking at a group of dead people.
Many of the wavering faction outside the mountain gate have already considered backing out.
One of the wolf demons gritted its teeth and whispered, "Should we... retreat?"
"Get out of here my ass."
A one-eyed old demon blocked his way, his gaze turning complicatedly towards the mountain gate: "Have you ever seen an observer spout such nonsense?"
The wolf demon was taken aback.
The old demon narrowed his eyes: "A true observer wouldn't give you a choice."
Inside the mountain gate.
Sun Wukong, carrying his golden cudgel, tilted his head and looked at the projection.
"Are you an observer?"
The projection said calmly, "Exactly."
Sun Wukong laughed.
He turned to Chen Fan: "Strategist, what do you think?"
Chen Fan didn't rush to answer.
He walked around the projection, his gaze falling on the halo at the base of the projection.
The halo flickered slightly, appearing somewhat unstable.
"Tang Sanzang," Chen Fan suddenly spoke, "come and take a look at this."
Tang Sanzang stepped out from the crowd, dressed in a brocade cassock, his face serene.
He walked up to the projection, put his hands together, and chanted a Buddhist prayer.
"Amitabha."
The projection scoffed, "A monk who has abandoned Buddhism and betrayed the Way dares to speak to me?"
Tang Sanzang ignored his words, instead bending down and reaching out to touch the halo of light beneath the projection's feet.
"What are you doing!" the projection shouted, and a golden light slashed down.
Tang Sanzang dodged to the side, already grabbing something in his hand.
He straightened up and held the object up to his eyes for a closer look.
It is a jade pendant the size of a palm.
The back of the jade plaque is engraved with densely packed small characters, while the front has a broken seal.
Tang Sanzang smiled.
"Military Advisor Chen, come and take a look at this."
He handed the jade pendant to Chen Fan.
Chen Fan took it, glanced at it, and smiled.
"interesting."
He raised the jade tablet, facing the crowd outside the mountain gate, and raised his voice:
"I saw everything clearly."
"What is the source of this so-called observer projection authorization?"
"The old records of the Revision Division, the discarded token from the year 3420 of the Qingli era."
"The seal on it is damaged."
"What does the 'remnant mark' mean? It means that this token was cancelled three hundred years ago."
There was an uproar outside the mountain gate.
"What?"
"Expired token?"
"So this projection is fake?"
The projected voice suddenly rose in volume: "Shut up! How dare you question the authority of the observers!"
Chen Fan casually tossed the jade tablet, sending it hurtling towards the projection.
The jade pendant passed through the projected body and landed on the ground with a crisp sound.
"What's fake can never become real."
Chen Fan's voice turned cold:
"You put together a projection from three-hundred-year-old waste paper and dare to come to Flower Fruit Mountain pretending to be an observer?"
"Who gave you the guts?"
The projection was silent for a moment.
The next moment, its size increased dramatically, and its light became dazzling.
"presumptuous!"
"I am the Observer of the Seventh Assessment Tower. You ants dare to—"
"Shut up."
Sun Wukong interrupted him.
He took a step forward, his figure swelled in the wind, and transformed into a golden body hundreds of feet tall.
The golden cudgel was raised, and with immense force, it slammed down.
"I don't care if it's true or not."
"Dare to touch Flower Fruit Mountain, and this will be your fate."
"die!"
"boom--"
This blow left no room for error.
The projection didn't even have time to scream before its core was smashed through.
The golden light exploded and scattered across the sky.
A figure tumbled out from the shattered light and shadow.
He was a middle-aged man wearing a gray robe.
He fell to the ground, spitting blood and turning deathly pale.
"You...you all..."
He struggled to get up, his eyes filled with terror.
"I am from the Revision Division... Southwest Branch... Third Section..."
"I know who you are."
Chen Fan walked over and looked down at him.
"Zhao Dechang, Principal Officer of the Third Section of the Southwest Branch of the Revising Office."
"Three years ago, he embezzled 20,000 spirit stones; two years ago, he released 17 wanted criminals; and a year ago, he resold 300 appraisal slots."
"I remember your criminal record."
Zhao Dechang's face turned even paler.
"How...how did you know...?"
Chen Fan squatted down and patted his face:
"Do you think Flower Fruit Mountain is blind?"
"We've long since figured out the mess in your internal accounts."
"You're scared this time with the petition."
"What are you afraid of? You're afraid we'll really push the signed petitions out, afraid your shady dealings will be exposed."
"So they sent this fake projection to scare us away."
"Unfortunately, you've underestimated one thing."
Chen Fan stood up and glanced at the crowd outside the mountain gate:
"Huaguo Mountain never falls for threats."
Sun Wukong walked over and slammed his golden cudgel into the ground.
With a loud boom, the rocks trembled.
Zhao Dechang was so frightened that he trembled all over.
"Sun...Great Sage Sun, spare my life..."
"Spare my life?" Sun Wukong sneered. "When you said you would exterminate my entire clan, why didn't you think about sparing my life?"
"How many of my monkeys from Flower Fruit Mountain have you harmed?"
"You think I didn't know that my brother's child was taken by you to fill the hole in the evaluation tower?"
Zhao Dechang kowtowed desperately: "Great Sage, spare my life! Great Sage, spare my life! I was just following orders..."
"Who ordered it?" Chen Fan asked.
Zhao Dechang opened his mouth, but then stopped himself from speaking.
Chen Fan's eyes turned cold: "Not going to talk?"
"I'll talk! I'll talk!" Zhao Dechang said hurriedly, "It's...it's Liu Yuan, the deputy tower master of the Seventh Assessment Tower..."
"He sent me here. He said that if we could scare you all away, the petition wouldn't work..."
He also said that some observers had been bribed, and the real assessment process would be blocked...
"The materials you submitted simply won't even get past the core level..."
There was an uproar outside the mountain gate.
"I see!"
"No wonder the Seventh Assessment Tower hasn't moved; it's stuck!"
"These bastards, they even dare to manipulate the assessment!"
A cold glint flashed in Chen Fan's eyes.
Liu Yuan.
He remembered that name.
Chapter 416 First Echo
On the altar of Flower Fruit Mountain, silver runes had filled the entire scroll.
Chen Fan stood in the center of the altar, staring intently at the light screen.
Three days of waiting felt like three hundred years.
"They're here."
Suddenly, light burst forth from the scroll.
A line of gold text appeared in the very center of the scroll:
[Ninth Experimental Field - Existence Conditions Met]
The people of Huaguo Mountain cheered instantly.
"It's done!"
"The survival conditions have been met; we can continue to exist in the Ninth Experimental Field!"
"The petition is valid! The petition is valid!"
The cheers rose in waves.
Chen Fan, however, did not move.
He stared at the line of text, his brow furrowed.
"The conditions for continued existence have been met..."
These seven words carry immense weight.
Meeting the survival requirements means that Huaguo Mountain has passed the most basic test—the Ninth Experimental Field allows them to exist and will not be directly erased.
This is good news.
This is the first piece of good news.
But Chen Fan knew that this was just the beginning.
Meeting the survival requirements does not equate to being eligible for upgrading.
Is the Ninth Experimental Field willing to allow them to upgrade, to grant them more authority, or to accept them into a higher level?
These are still unknowns.
really.
Below the main text, there are a few lines of smaller print:
Whether it can be upgraded – pending final review
Final decision pending.
Four words again.
Four words again!
Chen Fan clenched his fist tightly.
As expected, it wasn't shown all at once.
As expected, they were keeping everyone hanging.
"Final decision pending..."
He repeated it in a low voice.
Sun Wukong walked up to him, his brows furrowed tightly.
"Are these bastards playing us?"
"no."
Chen Fan shook his head.
"Meeting the survival requirements is the first step. The final review... will follow."
"How much longer will we have to wait?"
"Three days, or five days."
Chen Fan loosened his fist.
"Don't celebrate yet."
He turned around and looked at the people from Flower Fruit Mountain.
All eyes were on him.
In their eyes were anticipation, excitement, and the relief of surviving a disaster.
Chen Fan knew what they were thinking—meeting the survival requirements meant that Huaguo Mountain was temporarily safe.
But he knew even more that the final trial would be the real test.
"Calm down, everyone."
His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear.
"Meeting the survival requirements is only the first step."
"The final verdict has not yet been announced."
"The Seventh Assessment Tower won't let us pass so easily."
The smiles on everyone's faces gradually faded.
"Any news from Erlang Shen's side?"
Liu Yuan hurried over, his face looking rather grim.
"Erlang Shen's men have already returned to Heaven."
"What?"
Sun Wukong's face darkened.
"He ran away?"
"It's not running."
Liu Yuan shook his head.
"The order came from the Seventh Assessment Tower: all external observers must evacuate immediately."
"Erlang Shen was forced to leave."
"Before he left, he asked me to pass on a message."
"What did you say?"
Chen Fan asked.
He said: "Be careful of the shadows."
Liu Yuan took a deep breath.
He said that the petition from Huaguo Mountain had already alarmed certain higher-ups.
"The Seventh Assessment Tower is in complete chaos right now."
"Some people support us, and some people oppose us."
"There are still people watching and waiting."
Chen Fan fell silent.
After a moment, he spoke:
"Don't let your guard down yet."
"As originally planned, all rule nodes are entering a state of combat readiness."
"No one can relax before the final judgment."
"yes!"
The crowd responded in unison.
The atmosphere at Flower Fruit Mountain instantly shifted from joy to tension.
Chen Fan stood on the altar, staring at the line of text whose light was gradually fading.
"The conditions for continued existence have been met..."
"Upgrade is possible, final decision pending."
He didn't know what the final hearing would entail.
He didn't know what the questions in the Seventh Assessment Tower would be.
But he knew—
The fate of Huaguo Mountain is still undecided.
Footsteps could be heard outside the mountain gate.
Chen Fan looked up.
Several figures appeared on the mountain path.
He is from the Seventh Assessment Tower.
No, not a formal evaluator.
It is an observer of the outer seam.
They wore greyish-white robes and had no expression on their faces.
"Listen up, people of Flower Fruit Mountain!"
The leader spoke in a cold voice.
"We are the outer observers of the Seventh Assessment Tower."
"I have been ordered to monitor any unusual activity at the Ninth Experimental Field."
"Your joint statement has entered the final review process."
"No one may leave the Huaguo Mountain area before the final judgment is made."
"Otherwise, it will be considered an escape and the perpetrators will be executed on the spot."
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.
These observers do not attack.
They were just monitoring.
It's just a threat.
This is putting pressure on Huaguo Mountain.
This is telling them—
The Seventh Assessment Tower has been watching all along.
Sun Wukong gripped his golden cudgel tightly, ready to charge forward.
"Don't move."
Chen Fan grabbed him.
"Now is not the time to take action."
"Let them see."
"Huaguo Mountain will not run away."
The leader of the observers sneered.
"very good."
"Remember your words."
"The final judgment will be coming soon."
"I hope you'll still be this tough then."
After saying that, he turned and left with a few observers.
Their figures gradually blended into the mountain mist.
But Chen Fan knew—
They didn't leave.
They were in the shadows, watching every move of Flower Fruit Mountain.
The rule stele of Huaguo Mountain suddenly emitted a faint light.
Chen Fan lowered his head.
On the surface of the monument, a line of small characters appeared:
[External monitoring pressure detected - Activate shielding?]
He was stunned.
A shield?
What is this?
What are the hidden functions of the rule markers?
He hesitated for a moment.
"Don't start it yet."
He made the decision.
"Let the surveillance continue."
"We want them to know that Huaguo Mountain is upright and honest, and has nothing to fear from being seen."
"But at the same time, all defense nodes went into stealth mode."
"Openly loosening restrictions, but secretly tightening them."
"yes!"
Liu Yuan accepted the order and left.
The atmosphere at Flower Fruit Mountain instantly became eerie.
On the surface, everything seemed normal.
In the shadows, all the rule nodes have entered a state of readiness for battle.
Chen Fan stood on the altar, staring at the thick clouds in the sky.
The outline of the Seventh Assessment Tower was faintly visible in the clouds.
Like a giant monster, crouching on the clouds, waiting for its prey's next move.
"The first echo..."
He muttered to himself.
"The conditions for continued existence have been met."
"Final decision pending."
"Surveillance has been intensified."
"This is what they call a mix of joy and sorrow..."
He took a deep breath.
"not enough."
"Not enough."
"We must obtain a result that allows for upgrading."
Otherwise, everything is in vain.
The mountain wind on Huaguo Mountain suddenly became fierce.
The flags fluttered in the wind.
The wind caused Chen Fan's robes to flutter violently.
In the distance, the outline of the Seventh Assessment Tower slowly expanded in the clouds.
It's like a giant beast awakening.
Chen Fan's gaze grew increasingly cold.
"Three days."
He held up one finger.
"At most three days."
"The final verdict must be announced."
"otherwise……"
He didn't finish speaking.
But everyone understood what he meant.
Huaguo Mountain, there is no way back.
We can only move forward.
three days later.
The light on the altar shone again.
Chen Fan rushed over immediately.
Four large characters appeared on the scroll:
[Interview and Q&A required]
These four words are like four heavy hammers, striking everyone's heart.
Interview and defense –
The Seventh Assessment Tower requires Chen Fan to personally undergo examination and debate.
The people of Huaguo Mountain changed color instantly.
"Interview?"
"Chen Fan is going to the Seventh Assessment Tower?"
"That won't do!"
"What if they go and never come back..."
Sun Wukong grabbed Chen Fan's shoulder.
Don't go.
"Those bastards have definitely set a trap for you!"
"Let me go."
"You are the strategist of Flower Fruit Mountain; you cannot take such a risk!"
Chen Fan shook his head.
"I have to go."
"These are the rules of the Ninth Experimental Field."
"I initiated the petition."
"I have to go to the defense."
He pushed Sun Wukong's hand away.
"rest assured."
"I'll be fine."
"The Ninth Experimental Field needs the existence of Flower Fruit Mountain."
"I won't let you die easily."
"but……"
Sun Wukong wanted to say more.
Chen Fan had already turned around.
"Everyone, guard Flower Fruit Mountain."
"Wait for me to come back."
His voice was calm, yet exceptionally firm.
"When I return, it will be the moment when Flower Fruit Mountain is upgraded to a national-level protected area."
Petals drifted down in the wind.
Chen Fan's figure disappeared at the end of the mountain road.
The people of Huaguo Mountain silently watched his retreating figure.
No one speaks.
Only the mountain wind was howling.
The outline of the Seventh Assessment Tower was fully revealed in the clouds.
The bell at the top of the tower rang out softly.
One sound after another.
It's like welcoming someone.
It also sounds like a threat.
Chen Fan looked up.
The sound of bells reached my ears.
A smile appeared on his lips.
"Interview and Q&A..."
"very good."
"I'd like to see how you plan to conduct the interrogation."
"How do you want to argue?"
"The future of Flower Fruit Mountain depends on this one battle."
He took a step.
We walked toward that enormous black tower.