Chapter 82 Comparing Dao Hearts
Chen Cheng took one out of the cloth bag and ate it in a few bites. Instantly, the familiar warmth emanated from his body, and he immediately entered a meditative state!
There was no night here, only day. Chen Cheng didn't know how much time had passed—maybe two or three days, maybe five or six—but it felt like an eternity. He wondered what the outside world was like, whether Wen Miao had found the array's core, and if Zhang Qian had contacted him. He hadn't heard from her in so long; was she worried and perhaps even wanted to kill him? He also worried about the powerful Ling'er. His three-hit combo could have dealt with the Ghost King without Lü Xia Chan's help, but it only weakened Ling'er. What would he do in their next confrontation? The golden talisman was gone, and his Five Thunder Palm and Great Wheel Seal Palm Technique were unlikely to be very effective. What could he use to fight her?
Just as I was thinking about what I feared most, a voice came: "Shameless little thief, what method do you plan to use to deal with me this time?"
Ling'er's sudden appearance startled Chen Cheng again, but he remained calm and ignored her, continuing to fiddle with the small stones in his hand, though his heart was in a panic!
"I'm asking you a question. How do you want to compete this time? Are you going to use your triple attack again?"
"This time, we won't compete in terms of Taoist techniques, but rather in terms of Taoist resolve!"
"The Dao Heart? How can you compare it?"
Chen Cheng was overjoyed: "Let's compare the basic techniques of Taoism. Whoever pushes the other into a desperate situation will win this duel. Although it seems simple, it is a test of patience, wisdom and perseverance!"
Ling'er was clearly taken aback, but as a spirit of the array, agility and intelligence were essential. So, in order to make Chen Cheng accept defeat wholeheartedly, she said, "Let's compete!"
Chen Cheng was overjoyed and quickly drew a large "区" shape on the ground, saying, "When we enter the Daoist sect, we all have to pass this test first. The big stone is yours, and the small stone is mine. Whoever forces the other into a corner first wins. Do you dare to challenge me?"
Ling'er thought for a moment, then asked for more details before saying, "Hmph, what's so difficult about that!"
"This is your home turf, you go first!"
Chen Cheng said magnanimously.
Ling'er already knew the rules, and upon hearing this, she didn't hold back. She picked up a large stone and walked to the middle of the "District" character. Chen Cheng picked up a small stone and placed it where her first stone was. He had played this game with Jiang Shuang since he was a child, so he knew the tricks of the game. After a few steps, he blocked Ling'er's two large stones, leaving her with nowhere to go!
Ling'er's pretty face flushed with anger, but she was, after all, a formation spirit, with a simple mind and no complicated thoughts. She stared at the character "区" for a long time, but still couldn't figure it out: "Little thief, you win again. Tomorrow we won't come here. Let's settle this with our skills!"
After saying that, he suddenly disappeared.
Chen Cheng then plopped down on the ground, managing to get away with it again this time.
Time seemed to stand still here. There was only daytime, and the sky was like a white curtain, with no sun, no clouds, and not even a breath of wind. Chen Cheng felt that he would go crazy if he stayed here sooner or later. He prayed that Wen Miao would break the formation soon, and he also prayed that Ling'er would stop causing him trouble.
But what's meant to happen will happen eventually. Ling'er said with the same gloomy face as before, "This time, let's see what real skills we have!"
How do I meet him?
Chen Cheng said with a bitter face.
"A duel between two sides, each relying on their own abilities!"
"Alright, since you know everything, you should also know that before the generals clash, the soldiers first engage in a battle of wits, and then the generals decide the winner!"
"What do you mean"?
"My meaning is simple: you send out your pet, and I'll send out my spirit pet. Let them fight it out first to determine the winner, and then we'll have a final showdown!"
"You said you'd let my little monster fight your red-clothed ghost first?"
"That's right, this is done according to the rules of the world. If we don't follow these rules, then it's an unfair victory, and the losing side won't be convinced of its defeat!"
Ling'er took a few deep breaths, seemingly suppressing her anger, before finally speaking after a long while: "You win this time, but I won't hold back next time!"
Xiao Guai fought against Chen Cheng's red-clothed ghost, and the difference in strength was immediately apparent. This shameless brat's words were impeccable, leaving Ling'er feeling both helpless and indignant!
Chen Cheng now wished he could slap himself twice. If he had known Ling'er was so easily fooled, why did he even talk about best of ten games? He would have already won with best of five games!
Seeing Ling'er disappear in an instant, Chen Cheng thought to himself: He's fooled her again. What about next time? Headache.
A long time passed, and Chen Cheng didn't know exactly how many days it was, but he still didn't feel hungry or thirsty. Could it be that he would live forever here?
What's the outside world like? Since I've been missing for so long, has Team Leader Tian sent Master Qianhe and Master Jingyang to rescue me? Will Zhang Qian also come here looking for me?
"What do you have to say this time? The first time you attacked from behind, the second time you played mind games, and the third time you were shameless. This time, I'm going to beat you into submission!"
A crisp voice came from behind Chen Cheng.
"Sigh, what was bound to happen has happened."
"Ling'er, do we really have to fight to the death?"
"What little sister? I'm old enough to be your great-aunt!"
"Grandma, can't we sit down and talk this out calmly? Does it have to be all fighting and killing?"
Ling'er: ...
After Chen Cheng finished speaking, he plopped down on the ground and then pointed to the side, gesturing for Ling'er to sit down as well.
Ling'er was furious. How could this guy be so shameless? Are all people outside the formation like this?
"Don't be shy, sit down wherever you like. Let's have a heart-to-heart talk. Even if you want to kill me, you have to let me die knowing why, right?"
Looking at Ling'er, who was puffing up in anger, Chen Cheng said again, "Ling'er, you are such a beautiful and gentle girl. Can you please stop thinking about fighting and killing all the time? It's not good to be too violent."
"Are you going to fight or not?"
"I won't fight. I can't beat you. You know I can't beat you. Why would you want to torture yourself?"
"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"
Ling'er said coldly.
"If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so long ago. I can tell that you are not only beautiful, but your heart is also as beautiful and kind as your appearance. Although you are a spirit of the formation, you will not kill innocent people indiscriminately!"
"How did you know I was a spirit of the array?"
Ling'er asked in surprise.
"Only a spirit of the formation could be born with such spiritual energy and celestial aura!"
Chen Cheng said with a grin.
Ling'er stopped talking and sat to the side, staring blankly into the distance.
She has been here for a thousand years since the formation was set up, and has long since developed her own intelligence and thoughts. Loneliness and solitude have accompanied her through every moment, but she is like a caged bird that can never fly out. Over the past thousand years, occasionally someone has broken into the formation and died here. Their souls wander back and forth, but they have no intelligence. Out of boredom, they merge these souls into a monster to keep her company. You can imagine how lonely she is here.
"Master, she was born in roughly the same era as me, and we have suffered the same fate of being trapped for thousands of years. Let me talk to her; maybe I can move her."
Lü Xiachan communicated with Chen Cheng telepathically.
"good"!
With Chen Cheng's permission, Lü Xiachan flew out of the jade pendant, took human form, and sat down next to Ling'er, saying, "Ling'er, since you can see that I am a thousand-year-old vengeful ghost, then you also know that we were born in the same era!"