“Something is amiss…”

The doubts of the crowd in Mo Yun City were not merely the confusion of the Sky Demons present, but also the bewilderment of the competitors here in the Divine Firmament Ground.

Yet, the unease in Mo Yun City continued to spread. Various Sky Demons employed their divine abilities, striving to pierce through that segment of concealed truth. On the Divine Firmament Ground, however, this confusion could not persist for long.

At this very moment, the three copies of the *Buddha Says Fifty-Eight Chapters*, divided amongst Lu Qi Lang, Spider Ying, and Chai A Si, still emitted a brilliant golden Buddhist light. This light intensified, connecting with one another like surging golden waves of the sea.

Spider Lan Ruo plucked her strings, Bear San Si gripped his blade, and several Sky Demon seeds harbored their own thoughts.

Sheep Yu had already immolated his body to strike the bell, and Mouse Jialan had withered. The spectral form of the Know-Hear Bell was fading, falling towards that hidden segment of truth.

The message pigeon was flying back to its cage, and the Know-Hear Bell was retracting its power. It and its influence were about to be lost from this place…

Then, that mysterious voice emerged.

To the hearing of the competitors on the Divine Firmament Ground, this voice was described as “amiss.” Yet, within the unheard secret contained within the Know-Hear Bell, it formulated “re-creation.”

Thus, things were re-created.

That which had withered, bloomed anew.

That which had been consumed by flames, was restored.

The spectral form of the Know-Hear Bell, which had been falling into the secret, returned to the air.

The golden and black lights filling the sky also cast aside their former animosity, no longer entangled with each other…

Lu Qi Lang’s drawn sword returned to its sheath.

Even the several steps Chai A Si had taken forward were retracted.

In the world within the mirror, Jiang Wang’s eyes did not blink, but everything before him had become vastly different.

He saw a deep forest, and Pig Da Li and Snake Gu Yu walking along a path through it.

And looking through Chai A Si’s eyes…

He saw Spider Lan Ruo and Spider Ying still by the spring’s edge. Bear San Si had just gripped his blade and confronted them, the atmosphere tense, killing intent ebbing and flowing.

At this very moment, neither Mouse Jialan nor Sheep Yu had appeared. Chai A Si, who had been laughing and chatting with Ape Meng Ji, had just emerged from the forest. This scene was utterly bizarre!

What exactly was happening? Was this time tracing back? Was it Yellow She Li’s reverse flow of time?

Having witnessed the process of white mist engulfing the Mirage Dragon, Jiang Wang had already recognized the divine peculiarity of the Red Makeup Mirror. This time, he smoothly accepted the fact that he, within the mirror, had not been influenced by the mysterious power.

The external changes were truly inconceivable. To whom were they related?

Jiang Wang remained silent, observing the unchanging forest scene within the mirror world, peering through his divine seals at the decaying energy around the Everlasting Spring, and observing every monster present.

“I say, this Divine Firmament Ground trial isn’t all that difficult! Walking this path, besides a single display of bewitching beauty, there hasn’t been any trouble! Does the Divine Firmament Great Ancestor actually consider me, me, to be a vulgar monster easily captured by beauty?”

“That cannot be! Your character is so noble, and your will is so firm!”

“Ah Si, ah, everything about you is good, except for one thing: you’re too honest! With your character, it’s easy to be ostracized!”

“Then isn’t it right that I pledge allegiance to Young Master Ape? As the saying goes, a wise ruler meets a good minister. Only you, with your humility as vast as a valley, can tolerate me, one who speaks from the heart!” One poured on the flattery, the other accepted it all.

Two small monsters walked out of the forest, and upon arriving at the spring’s edge, they sensed the tense killing aura. “Apologies for the intrusion!”

Chai A Si repeatedly waved his hand, “We still have some things to discuss on the road, you all continue!”

He pulled Ape Meng Ji and turned back.

“What are you doing, what are you doing! Draw your sword!” Ape Meng Ji shouted, “Don’t you see him bullying my younger sister Lan Ruo? How can I stand by?” Jiang Wang silently watched all of this, like observing a great play being re-performed, discovering that things here were beginning to change.

Bear San Si, who had only watched with cold eyes earlier, this time turned his head to look at Ape Meng Ji, his coarse voice smashing out word by word: “You just said… what enticement?”

Ape Meng Ji rolled his eyes, “What business is it of yours!”

He then looked at Spider Lan Ruo with concern, “Younger Sister Lan Ruo, are you alright?” Spider Ying angrily retorted, “What business is it of yours!”

Spider Lan Ruo softly said, “No harm done, many thanks for your help, Brother Meng Ji.”

Ape Meng Ji didn’t even glance at Spider Ying. However, from Spider Lan Ruo’s voice, he gained infinite power. He twisted his head back, just waiting to teach Bear San Si a lesson. Fighting or not, who wouldn’t give face to my grandfather, Ape Xian Ting?

Chai A Si timely held his arm, “My Lord, don’t be impulsive!”

He leaned in and reminded him further, “Bear San Si is the eighth on the Heaven List. Moreover, he’s known as the ‘Tattooed Face Monster,’ killing monsters like hemp. And… the Feathered Messenger is gone. Has My Lord not noticed?”

“Release—” Ape Meng Ji glanced at Bear San Si’s snow-bright blade edge, and for some reason, a chill shot up his spine. He became much more sober, lightly patting Chai A Si’s hand, “Why are you looking so clueless? You still think I’m impulsive!”

He then laughed at Bear San Si, “Brother San Si… are you also interested in this?” He looked at the smile on Bear San Si’s face at this moment.

Feathered Messenger had mentioned earlier that he had indulged in prostitution with him. It seemed his words weren’t baseless!

At this time, the entire world was bathed in golden light, making Bear San Si’s black mask somewhat conspicuous. His entire face was hidden beneath the mask, exposing only a pair of eyes.

There was no dislike or disgust in those eyes, nor was there a sense of shared aspiration.

He simply said in that ear-grating voice, “Explain clearly what you encountered.”

“Explain what?” Peace Ghost Messenger walked out of the forest with a swagger, his posture relaxed, “Perfect timing, I’ll also listen!”

Snake Gu Yu also walked out after him, his movements agile, his presence concealed.

“He’s talking about being confused by beauty on the road! Brother Ghost Messenger, did you encounter anything on your way?” Chai A Si was still actively smoothing things over, trying to get acquainted with the various strong cultivators.

The ancient god in the mirror world, however, held his breath.

If this scene was truly time tracing back, then under the same circumstances, every monster’s actions should not have changed significantly. Except for Ape Meng Ji and Chai A Si, these mere numbers, everyone who could reach this place was an outstanding figure in their own right. Their choices were usually the optimal ones based on their assessment of the current situation.

No matter how many times it was repeated, it would be the same.

Just like when he faced Yellow She Li on the View River Platform. No matter how many times it was repeated, he would still choose to unleash his full power and decide the victory with a single sword strike. Even if Yellow She Li reversed time, he could not reverse the outcome of the victory.

Just now, although Chai A Si’s words were not exactly the same, his overall attitude was similar. Bear San Si’s attitude, however, had changed significantly, leading to a series of reactions from the other monsters.

Chai A Si certainly had no problems.

Could it be that Bear San Si was also unaffected by the time tracing back, his thoughts and memories having jumped out of time?

Of course, it couldn’t be definitively said that this scene was merely a change in time. The Divine Firmament Ground was so strange and unpredictable, other rules were not uncommon.

If one wanted to judge the peculiarity of this scene, the key lay in the appearance of Mouse Jialan, who should have appeared next.

Jiang Wang silently watched…

“Buddha Lord, please, you first!”

Ape Meng Ji narrated with vivid detail how he was enticed and how he refused the temptation. In the same sequence, Mouse Jialan and Lu Qi Lang appeared again!

The monk from the Black Lotus Temple, who had completely withered in the previous scene, reappeared before his eyes, his flesh and blood alive once more.

For Jiang Wang, this was an experience that shattered his understanding.

This at least explained that the changes that occurred just now were neither illusions nor merely modifications of other monsters’ memories. It indeed involved a time interval…

Who was manipulating all of this in the shadows, interfering in the struggle between the Black Lotus Temple and Ancient Nan Mountain, and what were they seeking?

Jiang Wang originally wanted to command Pig Da Li or Chai A Si to make some reaction and observe the subsequent changes, in order to find the source of this ripple. But after a thought, he restrained himself, still quietly waiting for the development.

Mouse Jialan and Lu Qi Lang on the small path through the forest were still wary of each other, neither willing to go first.

But this time, they didn’t wait for them to continue pushing and yielding, nor did they wait for the劝return of Peace Ghost Messenger.

Spider Ying, standing by the Everlasting Spring’s edge, had already said, “Master Mouse, please retreat a few steps and let Brother Lu go first. This way, everyone will be happy. What’s the point of pushing and yielding?”

Spider Lan Ruo, sitting by the spring’s edge with her fingers pressing the strings, also leisurely said, “Brother Lu, don’t hesitate to take the first step. Heaven’s Breath Wasteland and God-Fragrant Flower Sea are close neighbors, and Lan Ruo will personally stand guard for you here… Master Mouse’s Buddhist dharma is profound, so I don’t think you would do anything untoward.”

It was unexpectedly Spider Ying, whose attitude had changed again!

Had his memory also jumped out of time? Did he also want to probe something?

Or perhaps, for those not bound by limitations, intelligent beings inherently possess a myriad of thoughts. At the same time, anything is possible. His judgment of Bear San Si might not have been accurate.

Jiang Wang constantly built his understanding in his heart, then constantly pushed, supplemented, and re-enacted.

He indeed felt a sense of confused pain.

He seemed to be dimly overlooking something. Where exactly was the key to the problem?

“Since Miss Lan Ruo has said so, I will go first!” Lu Qi Lang suddenly smiled, and truly walked out of the forest first. This time, Jiang Wang clearly observed a strange flicker in his pupils when he saw the spring water.

Golden light reflected off the water, the spring surface rippling like golden scales.

Lu Qi Lang naturally walked two steps towards the spring water’s edge, lightly laughing, “I wonder, among the various Sky Talents, who was the first to arrive here?”

Ape Meng Ji, who considered himself a Sky Talent, said, “We are the third group to arrive. We mainly had to take care of Chai A Si, which wasted quite a bit of time!”

Lu Qi Lang only glanced at Chai A Si, that glance asking, “You’ve come this far, and you still rely on this idiot to cover for you?”

Chai A Si smiled brightly, “Thanks to My Lord’s compassion!”

“We were lucky, we didn’t encounter any danger on the way.” Spider Lan Ruo smiled faintly, “Only a few breaths faster than Big Brother Bear.”

Mouse Jialan just walked out of the forest at this moment. Hearing these words, he glanced at Bear San Si’s blade and said meaningfully, “The eighth ranked blade on the Heaven List is indeed fast!”

He was, of course, referring to the fact that Feathered Messenger had disappeared.

Bear San Si’s voice was devoid of emotion, “This one still feels it’s not fast enough! Monk, do you mind lending me your bald head to sharpen my blade?”

He didn’t mention that Feathered Messenger had made the first move earlier, continuously triggering danger with his hidden bad luck divine power to consume his strength… Finally, under the attack of countless straw figures, he tried to kill him. Nor did he mention the principle of the strong preying on the weak or using one’s own means.

These words were unnecessary.

Whoever wanted to talk about Feathered Messenger’s matter could just come and try his blade.

Mouse Jialan laughed, “This poor monk is narrow-minded, of course I mind! That group of bald heads from Ancient Nan Mountain always likes to pretend to be magnanimous. Perhaps Sheep Yu wouldn’t mind!”

Whether Feathered Messenger lived or died, what did it matter to him?

Because a segment of time had been omitted.

In the current scene, Mouse Jialan was the first to walk out of the forest, and Sheep Yu and Dog Xi Hua were the last group to arrive at the spring’s edge.

Dog Xi Hua, covered in injuries, and the amiable-looking Sheep Yu had just emerged at this time, and they happened to hear this sentence.

Dog Xi Hua was busy enduring the pain.

Sheep Yu, however, in his first step out of the forest, turned directly towards Mouse Jialan, his mouth spitting out Sanskrit: “Mouse Jialan! You have already entered the path of delusion, yet you still do not know how to return!”

The suspended copper bell specter rose.

In the hearts of every listener present, the bell sound also rang out. The Heart-Head Bell!

The Sky-Outside Bell!

Everything was re-enacted again!

The next scene was almost a copy of the previous one.

With the assistance of the Know-Hear Bell, Sheep Yu, with overwhelming dominance, smashed Mouse Jialan’s skull with a single hammer blow. Mouse Jialan feigned death and burst forth, his black lotus serving as his skull, continuing the fight. He sacrificed himself, and in turn, corrupted the Know-Hear Bell.

Sheep Yu then immolated his body as a hammer, striking the final bell sound… At this point, a crucial change occurred.

The spectral form of the Know-Hear Bell in the air swayed precariously, almost falling into that certain “secret.”

Out of thin air, a golden hand suddenly reached out, appearing from nothingness. It pinched the spectral form of the Know-Hear Bell, compressing that massive copper bell specter into something resembling a small bell… gripping it in its palm!

In the world within the mirror, Jiang Wang suddenly realized what he had overlooked!

That was, although everything was being re-enacted, the heavens and earth were always bathed in golden light, and the spring water was also always illuminated golden. That was the golden light emitted by the three copies of the *Buddha Says Fifty-Six Chapters* in this interval, which had been continuously shining! From the previous scene, it had always shone to this scene.

However, in this scene, the Great Bodhisattva from Ancient Nan Mountain had clearly not yet descended his Sanskrit here, and the Know-Hear Bell had not yet awakened the *Buddha Says*, the “缘来” (destined connection).

And this such obvious point,

Was wiped away in his cognition. This made him only detect the strangeness at the moment when the golden light gathered into a large hand.

To say that the covering strength of that mysterious power was far superior to others, to the extent that even the Red Makeup Mirror could not isolate it. Or perhaps this “covering” originally existed at the perceptual level. It did not target any individual, but targeted all perception.

Where there was perception, there was isolation.

He saw it in the world within the mirror, so he also overlooked it within the world within the mirror!

The owner of this golden hand should be the third chess player who had been orchestrating things in the Divine Firmament Ground all along. And the target of this chess player was surprisingly also the Know-Hear Bell!

At the moment when Sheep Yu and Mouse Jialan successively perished, also aware of the abnormality and immediately reacting, was a wisp of zither sound.

This sound was extremely sharp and piercing, having a sense of cutting off the ear.

The zither strings strummed, and Spider Zhi, standing behind Spider Lan Ruo… his head immediately rolled down.

He, who had already been penetrated by karma, could not even resist in the slightest!

But the *Buddha Says Fifty-Six Chapters* in his embrace leaped out, still shining. “So that’s it!”

“You can pluck the time interval, you can change our state, but you cannot pluck the power of two great Bodhisattvas. The time you plucked was incomplete, the karma is flawed, and the re-enacted play… the plot fundamentally doesn’t match.”

“I understand. You let everything re-enact to confuse the time of the Divine Firmament Ground and the Monster Realm, to make them lose contact in time, creating a time of delusion. You used this method to isolate the power of other chess players, thereby creating time for you to seize the Know-Hear Bell.”

“Your true purpose is to take this bell away. And for this day, you have been scheming for many years.”

“Spider Ying… Dog Ying Yang… and who else?”

Spider Lan Ruo was already enlightened, her finger plucking a string.

Spider Ying’s headless corpse suddenly stood up, grabbing the jumping *Buddha Says Fifty-Six Chapters*.

Between heaven and earth, countless spider silks were born, shuttling through this place, like weaving cloud brocade.

It sealed the three copies of the *Buddha Says Fifty-Six Chapters*, as well as the golden light filling the sky, and even that golden hand that had just gripped the spectral form of the Know-Hear Bell and was about to leave. It was, indeed, a thousand threads and ten thousand threads locking the golden light!

Spider Yi’s elegant voice, within Spider Ying’s headless corpse, rang out, “But there is no second Buddhist sect in the Monster Realm that can compare with Ancient Nan Mountain, so… who are you?” In the heart and mouth of this possessed corpse, a ghostly orchid blossomed.

Early enlightenment of the orchid’s cause, but without attaining the catkin fruit.

Borrowing Spider Lan Ruo’s divine power as guidance for the orchid’s cause and catkin fruit.

The master of Heaven’s Breath Wasteland, Spider Yi, was the first to emerge from the time of delusion, finding contact with the Divine Firmament Ground. As the fourth chess player to receive the piece, she formally made her move!