#696 - Chapter 696 He's Not Here

"You know about this too?" Gu Qingyi asked in surprise.

"What I know is far more than you can imagine."

"Throughout history, many people have gathered all five cultivation methods. You are not the first, nor will you be the last. But what does gathering them achieve? It's nothing more than fleeting clouds and scattered bones in a desolate grave."

"Are you saying that many former leaders of the Holy Sect have accomplished this? But why..."

Gu Qingyi wanted to say that she had never heard of any of them.

"It's not just the leaders. In fact, many missionaries have secretly gathered together and tried countless times. And you, you're still like a good little girl, diligently following your master's teachings. How pedantic, how utterly pedantic!" Xue Fu mocked.

With all the high-ranking elders of the Holy Sect leaving as missionaries, is it difficult to gather the five great scriptures?

It can be said to be extremely simple.

So how could no one have ever gathered them all?

"But wouldn't the effect be limited with so few people?"

"Do you know why activating the formation requires so many people? It's because their power is insufficient. For high-level cultivators, it's not necessary to go through so much trouble."

"I see."

"So, tell me now, what do you want? What is the purpose of you building up your power?"

"I still want to give it a try," Gu Qingyi said.

"That's simple. As long as you have enough cultivators and the five scriptures, let them cultivate each one separately. You can try as many times as you want."

"Can you tell me, what can be gained from communicating with the heavens?"

"In ancient times, that kind of talk could still fool people. But in this day and age, technology reigns supreme. Don't you know what's up there?" Xue Fu retorted.

"Uh..."

The so-called heavens are nothing more than space. Everyone knows now that there are no gods or opportunities there.

"So, what do you think you can gain?"

"Let me tell you, that's how your master died."

"What? How is that possible? How did you find out?" Gu Qingyi couldn't believe it.

"Because I was the one who helped her ascend to the position of leader, understand?"

Gu Qingyi basically believed him, but it was just a little hard to accept.

"I don't recommend you try it, because if you die, I'll have to find another partner."

"How could this be? What exactly is going on?" Gu Qingyi muttered to herself.

"According to my deduction, this is a conspiracy. Because every time they succeed, humanity just happens to experience a large-scale disaster."

"Are you saying that someone might be using the Holy Sect to achieve some hidden purpose?" Gu Qingyi speculated.

"That's right. Through my many years of research and analysis, the one orchestrating this scheme may not be human."

"Not human? What do you mean?"

"Other species, or... aliens."

"..." Gu Qingyi felt like she was listening to a heavenly book.

Could this be possible? Aliens?

"Just listen to it. I don't have any concrete evidence, and it's not the focus of our conversation today."

"Then what is your purpose in helping me?" Gu Qingyi decisively changed the subject.

"I need you to provide me with a location."

"To do what?"

"To conduct experiments."

"Conduct experiments?"

"That's right, conduct experiments," Xue Fu nodded.

"What kind of experiments?"

"To find the secret of cultivators."

"The more I listen, the more confused I become," Gu Qingyi shook her head.

"For thousands of years, I have been exploring what is the core factor that determines whether a person can cultivate. For this, I have devoted all my energy."

"I don't think there's any need to explore that, is there?"

"If I didn't explore this secret, how do you think the Divine Water was produced?"

"But now that Dongfang Chen's side has already developed it, is there still a need for you to research it?" Gu Qingyi asked.

"Of course, there is. Because the result is not important, the process is what matters."

"What do you mean?"

"Hidden within this secret is the truth of this world, and a way to leave it," Xue Fu explained.

"Leave here?" Today's conversation with Xue Fu was constantly refreshing her worldview.

"That's right. Don't you find it strange? Dongfang Chen hasn't shown his face in a long time. Even when you took over the Binjiang base and Huatong Chamber of Commerce, he didn't appear."

"But I contacted him before."

"Just because you can talk to him, does that mean he's definitely here?" Xue Fu retorted.

After Xue Fu said this, Gu Qingyi also felt that something seemed abnormal.

She knew that Dongfang Chen was not in China, nor in the neutral zone of Wulan.

But she never thought about where he could have gone if he wasn't here.

"Are you saying that Dongfang Chen has already left Blue Star?" Gu Qingyi found it unbelievable.

"It's highly likely. I might as well tell you that in the past few years, I have observed dozens of instances of spacecraft leaving Blue Star."

"What is he trying to do?"

"I don't know. But what's certain is that he wouldn't do these things for no reason. In this regard, he has already left us far behind."