Chapter 1263: Pulled in

Gu Qing Shan remained silent for a moment.

Another ‘me’ said that an unknown Apocalypse was approaching.

This meant that neither of them saw clearly what it was, only being able to observe it from a distance on the river bank.

If what’s coming was a normal Apocalypse, there’s still hope.

But if it’s a True Apocalypse from outside the Reality Gate, the same kind as the long-cheeked skull, everything would be over.

In other words…

I can’t gamble on it.

“Can you track those people’s movements?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

The child regretfully answered: “They were very cautious; I never got a chance to set up any means of tracking”

After all, the only outcome for them was death, he naturally wouldn’t waste effort to track them.

Gu Qing Shan knew that would have been the case, so he was waiting for this exact answer.

“If we can’t find them, and since the great tomb is so huge, we might as well split up our forces while maintaining mutual communications”

After he said so and the child was pondering his suggestion, lines of glowing text appeared on the War God UI:

[Attention!]

[Attention!]

[An illusory Apocalypse fragment is descending upon your location]

[That Apocalypse is a perception-triggered Apocalypse, in other words, as soon as someone recognizes its existence, that person would be pulled into it]

[Fortunately, it is not a True Apocalypse from outside the Gate, only an illusory fragment of a True Apocalypse]

[After 10 seconds, everyone here will be pulled into the illusory Apocalypse fragment, only those who survive until the very end will return to reality]

[10]

[9]

…

Gu Qing Shan’s heart started beating faster.

What is this Apocalypse?

Simply knowing it existed meant you’d be taken and pulled into it.

Another ‘Gu Qing Shan’ informed me that this Apocalypse was approaching.

——-that simple statement alone triggered the Apocalypse to immediately appear!

If the War God UI had said so, then it truly would be impossible to avoid this Apocalypse.

He sighed, releasing his inner sight to observe everyone else.

This Apocalypse is entering the spatial area around me, and it’s already too late to avoid it.

If I make any implications to have the others avoid it, then I’d be telling them that something would soon occur here.

As soon as they know that, they’d be pulled into the illusory Apocalypse fragment either way.

There’s no way to hide.

Suddenly, the child’s expression changed as he uttered: “Oh no!”

He was the first who sensed the approaching Apocalypse!

Everyone’s expressions on Wraith’s back started changing one by one.

“What’s going on? Where did this Apocalypse come from?”

“This is definitely the sensation of an Apocalypse, but we haven’t even entered the Tomb River!”

“It’s already too late to run, prepare to face it!”

Everyone spoke up one by one, drew their weapons, held their breaths, and prepared themselves.

The sensation of Apocalypses was something that they could never forget.

This perception should differ depending on individual strength.

The stronger the monster, the more sensitive they were to the Apocalypses, which allowed them to discover the Apocalypse sooner.

Gu Qing Shan’s inner sight scanned through everyone, then stopped on Shan Hai Qi Xia.

Shan Hai Qi Xia appeared highly confused at first, and was the last one to realize.

——so this woman was the weakest among them?

Gu Qing Shan’s turned his attention a bit, seeing both Old Man Embracing Bones and Extinguishing Saintly Hands standing by her with expressions of respect.

He didn’t have much time to think, as the countdown on the War God UI had already reached zero.

A flash of light.

Everyone disappeared from the back of the Wraith.

…

Gu Qing Shan opened his eyes.

He found himself wearing a suit of soldier armor, sitting on top of a cold flight of stairs.

I’m still in Li San Lang’s form.

There was a huge gate behind him.

A group of soldiers were sitting with him, guarding the gate.

They didn’t seem to feel anything strange about his current appearance, someone even patted his shoulder and asked: “Li San Lang, after the shift is over, you want to go get a drink?”

Gu Qing Shan smiled and replied: “I’ll have to think about that first”

Suddenly, following an inexplicable headache, some information entered his head.

——-so this place was a destroyed world.

I’ve now become a part of this world, but I need to survive until the very last moment of the world’s destruction.

At that time, if I’m still alive, I’ll be able to leave this illusory fragment.

This truly is…

A ridiculous Apocalypse.

Gu Qing Shan slowly accepted his background, then sighed, seeing that his breath turned into white frost within this frigid weather.

It was snowing right at this moment.

And quite late into the night as well.

Gu Qing Shan silently said in his mind: “War God UI”

Lines of glowing text quickly appeared:

[You can spend 100 Soul Points to check the current illusion’s setting]

[You can spend 200 Soul Points to examine your current situation]

[The system had performed an analysis of the current illusion and confirmed the rules placed upon you. You can spend 500 Soul Points to check the corresponding information]

Gu Qing Shan replied: “Stop, I’ll pay the Soul Points, so tell me everything you can about the current situation”

The glowing text on the War God UI all disappeared, replaced by new notifications:

[Time: The previous era]

[Location: Snowfrost Crown World (destroyed)]

[Event: Fall of the capital city]

[Within this illusion, you’ve randomly obtained the identity: Capital guard soldier]

[After 30 minutes, the Apocalypse will arrive, please make the appropriate preparations]

[Attention: Limited by the rules of your identity and skill level, during this Apocalypse, you cannot conduct yourself in a way that goes against your identity under the surveillance of native living beings. Otherwise, you will be thrown directly into the center of the Apocalypse to be eradicated]

[Furthermore, you can only choose one main method of combat, please select one out of the following options:]

[Swordsmanship, Fist techniques, Archery, Cooking, Dancing]

[Attention, once you’ve made your choice, you will be limited to using only that power within the illusion]

After some hesitation, Gu Qing Shan said: “I choose fist techniques”

Indeed, now that all the monsters had entered this illusory Apocalypse, if I suddenly displayed other means of combat, wouldn’t that draw suspicion?

Not to mention, the power of [Ethereal] is powerful above my expectations.

Following Gu Qing Shan’s choice, a pair of simple metal gauntlets appeared on his hands.

Lines of glowing text appeared:

[Kingdom soldier’s standard gauntlets]

[Elementary-level equipment, characteristics: sturdy]

[Attention: You have 29 more minutes to make your preparations]

Gu Qing Shan looked up, glancing over the many soldiers around him.

He immediately saw Shan Hai Qi Xia.

The other party seems to be officer-level personnel, wearing a suit of tight military garb. Her expression suggests that she had only just regained her senses, still a bit confused, perhaps even anxious.

——-The Apocalypse illusion would not list everything in detail as the War God UI had just done.

She most likely only knew that she’s in a dangerous Apocalypse where she needed to survive until the end.

Suddenly, a whisper could be heard from next to him:

“Who are you looking at?”

Another voice sounded: “He’s looking at the army’s rose, tsk tsk tsk, a frog dreaming of a swan, aren’t ya?”

“You’re one the speak, as if you haven’t snuck glances at her before”

Several familiar guard soldiers were chatting and laughing.

At this point, they had already finished their shift of the day and handed their duties over, so all of them were relaxed, chatting without care.

Gu Qing Shan’s gaze fell onto the War God UI.

[27 minutes until the arrival of the Apocalypse]

He paused slightly before heading straight towards Shan Hai Qi Xia.

Shan Hai Qi Xia had also just noticed him, instinctively about to bow when she heard Gu Qing Shan sending his voice:

“Do not make unnecessary moves, we can’t do things unfit of our identities in this place!”

Shan Hai Qi Xia froze.

Gu Qing Shan walked up to her, saluted and spoke: “Greetings, superior. This subordinate Li Qiu Shan has something to report”

Shan Hai Qi Xia nodded: “Very well, follow me”

She brought Gu Qing Shan through the gate into the city, then continued to the officer residential area and entered a certain building.

The door was closed behind them.

Shan Hai Qi Xia instantly knelt on one knee and said: “This subordinate greets your grace”

Gu Qing Shan didn’t reply.

He looked around the room.

This place was clearly a female officer’s quarters, with some clothes hanging on the wardrobe and clearly feminine decorations.

On top of a table in front of the fireplace, there was a bottle of alcohol.

Gu Qing Shan walked up, opened the bottle and took a whiff.

The alcohol had a sweet fragrance.

Gu Qing Shan raised the bottle and asked: “This place seems laden with traces of your life. Do you know anything about this?”

Without the War Shaman’s permission, Shan Hai Qi Xia continued to kneel on one knee and replied with a respectful attitude: “This subordinate had suddenly recalled some memories——- this Apocalypse illusion seems to have arranged an identity for each of us, including the relations, family members, friends, and previous experiences in this world”

Gu Qing Shan nodded, sat down on a chair and stared at Shan Hai Qi Xia.

Even after a while, he didn’t speak up.

“Your grace?” Shan Hai Qi Xia looked at him in confusion.

“Hm, I’ve actually felt like you’ve done your job quite excellently up to now, so I’m wondering how to praise you” Gu Qing Shan replied.

He glanced at the void of space.

——there was 21 minutes left until the Apocalypse descended.

Shan Hai Qi Xia’s beautiful face displayed a heavy look of confusion.

“Your grace… this subordinate doesn’t understand what your grace means” she cautiously said.

Gu Qing Shan also seemed quite troubled.

Suddenly, he reached his hand into the void of space.

The jade tablet that went into the void of space earlier had reappeared.

The sound of another ‘Gu Qing Shan’ came from the jade tablet: [It turns out this Apocalypse is triggered by perception; we’ve also entered it this time]

Another ‘Gu Qing Shan’ followed up: [It seems we’ll need to discuss whether to meet up or to individually gather information about this world first. My third ‘self’, what do you think?]

Gu Qing Shan was also a bit surprised.

So it really was a perception-triggered Apocalypse.

——–my other two ‘selves’ were clearly on the banks of the Asura burial grounds and merely took notice of this Apocalypse for them to be pulled in like this.

Three of ‘me’…

That sounds unusual, yet worth looking forward to at the same time.

After all, everyone else around me are monsters, there’s really not enough manpower.

Aside from this woman…

She clearly holds some sort of secret, as she immediately returned from the great tomb right after I used [Ethereal] to destroy the apocalyptic monster.

And yet, her recognition of the Apocalypse paled in comparison to everyone else.

Tch——-

Gu Qing Shan suddenly clenched his fist and struck from afar.

This strike came without any warnings, so even if Shan Hai Qi Xia saw and wanted to stop it, it was already too late——

This strike was [Ethereal – Grand Mountain]

In an instant, her mind went completely blank, unable to move.

Gu Qing Shan stood up and pressed his hand against her smooth forehead.

[Soul Reading], activate!

With his current cultivation at Sumeru Lord realm, using a technique like [Soul Reading] was as easy as turning his hand.

Shan Hai Qi Xia’s thoughts were shattered by [Grand Mountain], so she couldn’t even recognize what he was doing.

A few moments later.

Gu Qing Shan finished his investigation, returned, and sat down on his chair again.

Shan Hai Qi Xia was still stunned.

Time slowly passed.

Ten breaths’ worth of time was finally over, Shan Hai Qi Xia’s irises regained their clarity.

She was no longer kneeling on one knee, instead slowly stood up, her expression displayed a sense of anxiety and caution.

“Your grace, just now you——–”

Gu Qing Shan waved his hand dismissively, then said after some consideration: “First of all, I need you to understand something. I’m on your side”

Shan Hai Qi Xia looked at him, then smiled: “What are you saying, your grace? We both spent so much effort to escape the great tomb and reincarnate into the Tomb of Myriad Beasts, and I was originally your grace’s wife”

Gu Qing Shan sighed, then told her straight: “Shan Hai Qi Xia, I know that you used some sort of method to kill the monster that tried to substitute you, in reality, I’ve also gotten rid of the War Shaman”

Shan Hai Qi Xia was completely shaken, exclaiming: “That’s impossible!”