Great Ghost Realm

The Ghost Realm
——————————————————————————— Everything was like a nightmare, a terrifying nightmare.
Yuan Zhenxia couldn't even think about why he was in such a situation. He wished it were a nightmare, that he would suddenly wake up, lying on a soft bed, a beautiful record just finished playing, and a half-empty glass of wine beside him.
But this normal life was now so far away from him, and he didn't know if he would ever have such an ordinary and peaceful life again. He really couldn't think about anything else, because at this moment, he had to concentrate all his mind and strength to prevent himself from falling off that towering, steep cliff.
Yes, he was on such a cliff.
Throughout his life, Yuan Zhenxia had seen many treacherous cliffs, but none more so than the one he now possessed—a sheer, almost black cliff, where even in places where no crevices were visible, ugly, gnarled vines grew, twisting and turning into indescribable, chilling clumps. It was impossible to distinguish between the wild vines and the various snakes that lived alongside them.
Looking down, there was only a hazy, misty expanse; looking up, the situation was the same. The sky was completely invisible, only the almost motionless, dark gray, gray, and light gray clouds between the peaks, as if the sky had always been composed of these different shades of gray.
When he first entered the mountains, he asked why the sky was this color.
The answer he received was that the distance between the peaks was too short, and many of the peaks in the entire mountain range were like a cage, shrouding the clouds inside, with no force able to dispel them.
At first, Yuan Zhenxia didn't pay much attention. But after so many days under that gray sky with clouds pressing down on his head, he almost doubted whether he was still on Earth
. Of course, he knew he was still on Earth. Although everything he could see was so eerie, almost like a realm filled with demons, it was still Earth. He knew perfectly well how he got here and how much he had traveled to reach his current situation.
However, he couldn't recall it, because at this moment, he was gripping a mountain vine with both hands, his toes resting on a rocky cliff that protruded no more than an inch—the entire cliff was so flat, as if it had been cleaved by a gigantic axe. Finding such a protrusion to rest his toes on, to reduce the weight on his hands, was already a remarkable feat.
Yuan Zhenxia didn't know how long he had been clinging to the cliff face. With each meter he moved, he had to carefully consider his next step and where he would get up. He had to move forward; he had reached a point where retreating and advancing were equally difficult.
The wind was quite strong, making him sway. The wild vines growing from the cracks in the rocks might not be able to support his weight—Yuan Zhenxia had thought about this more than once, and whenever he did, he would involuntarily look down.
Below him were layers of clouds and mist; he couldn't see very far down, nor could he know what lay beneath. A fall would certainly not be pleasant. If he managed to survive the fall intact, his body might never be discovered. Because this was one of the most mysterious places on Earth.
Yes, Yuan Zhenxia was now in one of the most mysterious mountainous regions on Earth. It was the tropical mountains of New Guinea, one of countless peaks in the snow-capped mountain range that stretched across the entire island of New Guinea.
Whether that peak could even be found on a map was another matter. Even explorers have never ventured so deep into the heart of this snow-capped mountain range—the discovery of cave dwellers completely disconnected from human civilization on some of its outer peaks in recent years has shocked the world, let alone penetrating its central region.
Mountaineering experts might look down on such mountains—they are unlike typical high mountains, unlike the Alps, unlike the Himalayas. Those mountains are majestic and imposing, their peaks covered in snow, their massive rocks displaying the unique grandeur of towering peaks.
But here, the peaks are covered with bizarre tropical plants. While this adds convenience for climbers, allowing them to forgo conventional mountaineering equipment, the eerie, unpredictable atmosphere, fraught with hidden danger, can be oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
Not only humans, but even apes and birds are rarely seen here; it seems to be a world of reptiles.
Right, if a person in this situation could still remember that they are on Earth, then this must be Earth hundreds of millions of years ago, an era dominated by trilobites and various dinosaurs, an era dominated by giant ferns.
Yuan Zhenxia took a few deep breaths and looked ahead. In the sky ahead, a touch of crimson peeked through the deep gray. He knew from experience that it was the afterglow of the setting sun shining through the thick clouds, meaning that it was getting dark.
After dark, he would be unable to move, so he had to find a place to stay before nightfall that wouldn't consume too much energy. He couldn't just
spend the night clinging to vines and bracing his toes against small protrusions. After a whole day of constantly climbing the cliff like a gecko, Yuan Zhenxia was truly exhausted—this is the sad thing about humans; geckos have a natural ability to climb cliffs, an ability humans lack.
To survive, progress, and achieve one's goals in such an environment, a person must expend a hundred times the physical effort of a gecko, and possess an incredibly strong will.
Yuan Zhenxia took a deep breath. Even the air here was strange. He knew perfectly well that he was at an altitude of over three thousand meters, but the oxygen content in the air hadn't decreased; instead, it still had the humid and stuffy feel of tropical air, and carried a rather strong fishy smell.
Where did the fishy smell come from? Was it from the few colorful, mottled lizards only twenty centimeters away from him, or from the large python slithering past not far above his head?
Or perhaps it was the mountain bats spreading their distinctive fishy smell before their swarms of bats would emerge after dark?
Yuan Zhenxia carefully observed the situation ahead and saw a rather large rock protruding not far ahead.
This rock appeared quite flat, and the protruding part was about one square meter.
If he reached that rock, then tonight he could consider himself to have a place to stay.
At this moment, he was only thinking of "a place to stay," not "a place to take shelter." Because to "take shelter," one needs at least some form of cover, even a pile of grass or branches would suffice. But for days, he hadn't had that luck.
Naturally, he could use the tangled vines to cover himself. But those wild vines, which looked like demonic tentacles in the darkness, gave off a terrifying feeling that they might suddenly move at any moment, making one afraid to approach them in the night.
Yuan Zhenxia chose his target, exerted force with both hands, pushed off with his toes, and swung forward.
Before the momentum dissipated, he immediately reached out and grabbed a vine in front of him. The "pendulum law" was terrifying in this primal struggle—as soon as he grabbed another vine, his body swayed backward; he had to bend over, exert force again, and then he could swing forward again.
When he finally reached the large rock, his arms, having been suspended so many times, felt as if they were about to detach from his shoulders.
Standing on the large rock, he panted and turned around. He saw another person, who, like him, was swinging towards him using mountain vines.
This person looked exactly like Yuan Zhenxia; it was impossible to tell what kind of person he was—he was dressed entirely in a special kind of thick, soft cotton cloth, and his shoes had sharp nails on the toes and heels. He wore gloves made of a layer of metal wire and a layer of coarse plant fiber—without which it would be impossible to climb the mountain vines.
The vines were thick and tough, and many varieties were covered with dense, sharp thorns; without these special gloves, the muscles in his hands would be worn away in less than ten minutes, leaving only bones.
On his head, the person also wore a very peculiar hood, somewhat like a gas mask, but covering his entire head. The ventilation part was in front of the nose, with many tiny holes; the eyes were two pieces of unbreakable tempered glass.
On his back, he also carried a large, rectangular backpack. Inside the backpack were the bare minimum necessities for survival in such an environment.
The equipment was undoubtedly modern. The specially made thick cotton clothing had been treated with special chemicals, emitting an odor that reptiles, insects, and even bats dared not approach.
This was why the python had swum past Yuan Zhenxia without attacking him. To the python, Yuan Zhenxia and the other person were simply two strange creatures it had never seen before, and judging from their scent, certainly not delicious.
After the other person finally swung onto the large rock, Yuan Zhenxia and the other man stood silently, then simultaneously sat down with their backs against the cliff. By this time, the few streaks of crimson on the horizon had vanished, and darkness quickly descended. A strong wind swept across the mountain peaks, whistling sharply. There wasn't much space on the large rock, so the two had to huddle close together.
After they sat down, they remained silent for a long time. As Yuan Zhenxia gazed at the looming, endless mountain peaks shrouded in darkness, he still felt as if he were in a nightmare.
He was even bewildered about how he had come to this place and why he had come!
This seemed impossible; he wasn't a person without his own opinions, much less someone who would be easily manipulated. The dangers and mysteries of this place, though a thousand times greater than he had imagined before his arrival, were something he already knew—a wild, untouched place since ancient times—could not be comfortable.
Yet he had come, in pursuit of some vague, elusive purpose! The main reason, naturally, was the person beside him, his fellow explorer!
He took a breath, turned his head, and glanced at the person.
Even in the darkness, even behind the tempered glass lenses, Yuan Zhenxia saw a pair of clear, bright eyes. Those eyes were so beautiful that, no matter the circumstances, after just one encounter with their gentle and captivating gaze, Yuan Zhenxia could immediately recognize whose eyes they were.
Yes, it all began with his instant recognition of who those eyes belonged to.
Or perhaps, it started with that grand masquerade ball—Yuan Zhenxia wasn't even entirely sure. Anyway, it happened; how it happened wasn't important.
But regardless of its importance, every story needs a beginning and an end. Let's start with that grand masquerade ball!
Yuan Zhenxia had never been particularly interested in attending masquerade balls. So when the Su brothers, Yao Nan and Yao Xi, invited him to the ball, he refused without hesitation, saying, "I'm not going."
Su Yao Xi laughed, "You don't even know what kind of event this is, and you refuse outright?"
Yuan Zhenxia also laughed, "A masquerade ball is nothing special, there are always exceptions."
Su Yao Nan patted him hard on the shoulder, "This is the exception. This event is held annually in different locations around the world, hosted by different people. The hosts are not ordinary people. This year, it's hosted by our organization."
Yuan Zhenxia laughed, "Forget it, everyone knows the Su Group is wealthy and powerful. This ball will definitely be spectacular. What difference does it make whether I go or not?"
Su Yao Xi, relying on his close friendship with Yuan Zhenxia, spoke less politely, "I'm doing this for your own good. There, you can see... " "All sorts of eccentric characters from all over the world. And you have absolutely no way of knowing who they are, it'll really broaden your horizons!"
Yuan Zhenxia was a little confused: "What does that mean?"
Su Yaoxi smiled: "That's the magic of this ball. Everyone attending has to undergo amazing and precise makeup, completely impersonating the person they're supposed to be. And that person, whether ancient or modern, has to be a real person. For example, you can't just impersonate a pirate, it has to be a real pirate, like Morgan or Cheung Po Tsai. And throughout the entire ball, you can't let anyone recognize your true face, and you can't use a mask. Isn't that exciting and fun?"
Yuan Zhenxia thought about it, it really was a very interesting situation, but he still couldn't muster any interest and continued to slowly shake his head.
Su Yaoxi continued, "Last year, a similar ball was held in Monte Carlo, and as usual, thousands of people attended. Five people, coincidentally, dressed up as General Karls, that madman from North Africa, making it seem as if Karls's terrorist activities had reached the ball!"
Yuan Zhenxia was somewhat horrified, but he still said, "That's nothing."
Su Yaoxi smiled, "Listen to me, whenever two or more people dress up as the same person, the others usually choose who looks the most convincing. That time, the five General Karls were chosen by everyone based on their similarity... " After the rankings were arranged, the one at the very bottom suddenly flew into a rage, claiming he was General Karls!
Yuan Zhenxia laughed, "The real one is the least likely to be like him."
Su Yaoxi said, "Yes, no one believed him at the time. But amidst the laughter, all twenty-four of General Karls's female guards rushed in, shouting loudly, and escorted Karls away. Before leaving, they fired two bursts of handguns, almost scaring everyone present to death!"
Yuan Zhenxia made a gurgling sound in his throat. It was the result of wanting to ask a question but holding it back.
He wanted to ask, "Has Huang Juan appeared?"
But then he thought, what difference does it make whether she appears or not? So he held back and didn't ask.
Su Yaonan added, "All participants are invited, and entry requires a special magnetic invitation. I wonder how Carls got his hands on one; it's quite amusing!"
Yuan Zhenxia waved his hand, "With Carls' influence, if he can't even get an invitation to a ball, he might as well give up."
Su Yaoxi continued to urge, "Who knows what interesting things will happen this year? It would be such a shame if you didn't want to go! Countless people in this city who love excitement have tried every possible method to get an invitation, but I'm afraid 99% of them will be disappointed!"
Yuan Zhenxia smiled, "Alright, then I'll go!"
The Su brothers were very happy, and Su Yaoxi immediately opened the briefcase he had brought—the briefcase not only had a combination lock but also extremely sophisticated anti-theft features, including a device that would automatically detonate if opened without the correct combination. The briefcase was full of invitations—the invitations were also in a special form, like ordinary credit cards, with a magnetic tape containing all the ball's information on one side.
Su Yaoxi looked at Yuan Zhenxia: "Do you want one or two?"
Yuan Zhenxia sighed: "One is enough. I can't think of anyone I can invite."
Su Yaoxi gave him one and explained: "This year's venue is a forty-story hotel that's already built but not yet officially open. Every part is open to the participants, and all entrances are guarded by computer-controlled robots—the advantage of using robots is that they will only recognize invitations and will never cheat!"
Then, he winked at Yuan Zhenxia: "Beautiful women from all over the world will be there. You might as well keep an eye out and choose a dance partner you can invite next year."
Yuan Zhenxia laughed: "Isn't that a contradiction? You said everyone at the event has to be disguised so that no one can recognize their true face. If I choose a stunningly beautiful woman, and then after the disguise is removed, she turns out to be a witch, wouldn't that be bad luck?"
The three of them burst into laughter.
After receiving the invitation, Yuan Zhenxia didn't pay much attention to it. The day before the ball, Su Yaoxi called him: "You need to get ready early for your costume by 7 pm tomorrow. If you're recognized immediately, you'll be kicked out!"
Yuan Zhenxia laughed: "Ordinary people like me rarely get recognized, but you brothers are famously wealthy and the hosts. It would be so embarrassing if you were recognized and kicked out!"
Su Yaoxi laughed heartily: "No way!"
That night, as Yuan Zhenxia listened to music, he wondered what he should dress up as. Suddenly, a name flashed through his mind: General Carls. Of course, he immediately rejected it, and a strange sense of depression rose in his heart.
He knew why he subconsciously wanted to dress up as General Carls—it was because Huang Juan was Carls's woman. Yuan Zhenxia couldn't help but smile bitterly; the painful feeling that made his heart ache just thinking about this fact was so deeply ingrained in his subconscious! Was this truly an irreparable regret in his life?
In this respect, Yuan Zhenxia truly loathed himself, yet he was so helpless!
He sighed, thinking that to avoid being recognized, his disguise had to be completely different from his original appearance. He didn't think for long before making a decision: he would dress up as any of the Eighteen Arhats. Although he would have to shave his head, as long as he dyed his skin black and put on a curly fake beard, he could achieve his goal—it was the simplest method. He took a book about Arhats from the bookshelf and chose to become Bhadra Arhat the following night.
When Yuan Zhenxia, disguised as Venerable Bhadra of the Eighteen Arhats, entered the venue, no one paid much attention to him. On the contrary, he was amazed by the grandeur of the scene.
The main venue for the entire ball was a large hall on the second floor of this grand hotel. This hall was designed to accommodate three thousand guests, so the ball, attended by nearly a thousand people, felt spacious and not crowded at all.
All the participants were disguised as various people, and their identities were announced over a loudspeaker as they entered. When Yuan Zhenxia arrived and announced his identity, the loudspeaker announced, "The Venerable Bhadra, known as the Arhat of the Crossing River, has arrived!"
It was a rather comical scene. Next to him entered was the legendary bandit Dou Erdun, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Curie, and various other historical and modern celebrities.
One woman, in particular, looked exactly like Marilyn Monroe to Yuan Zhenxia, though Monroe had long since passed away—a testament to the wonders of modern disguise. All the waiters appeared to be robots; it was difficult to distinguish between real robots and imposters, as at least half were genuine robots interspersed among them.
Shortly after Yuan Zhenxia entered, another "Arhat" approached him and struck up a conversation in Hindi. Yuan Zhenxia managed to respond, of course, unaware of who the other person was.
Thousands of people wandered around the venue, laughter and chatter filling the air—a truly peculiar scene. Yuan Zhenxia tried to recognize the Su brothers, but after nearly half an hour, he gave up. Everyone had used modern disguises to completely conceal their true faces, making them unrecognizable. Yuan Zhenxia believed the Su brothers were also looking for him, but they too couldn't imagine that a dark-skinned, bald, bearded Arhat would be him.
It was quite an interesting phenomenon. Normally, everyone in society wears a mask, but such thorough disguise is rare.
Participants continued to enter the venue, a diverse mix of people from ancient and modern times, from all over the world. Each new participant caused a stir.
When the loudspeaker suddenly announced the name of a gentleman, the venue fell silent for a moment—the name of a man of extraordinary renown.
This was naturally because everyone wanted to see what this legendary figure was like—a strange psychology at play. Everyone knew that everyone here was an imposter, but someone worthy of attention would still attract extra attention.
So when the gentleman's entrance was announced, even Yuan Zhenxia couldn't help but look towards the entrance. As the announcement was made, all the lights in the hall suddenly dimmed.
Everyone saw a man walk in. When this man appeared, everyone was indeed stunned for a moment, but then a burst of laughter erupted.
Yuan Zhenxia had seen this legendary figure several times, and the person who came in was somewhat similar in disguise. However, his attire was undeniably laughable—he wore a suit like that of a astronaut, covered in small, multicolored light bulbs, and his helmet had two protruding antennas, each with its own shiny light bulb. He looked like a second-rate clown from a circus.
What made everyone laugh was, of course, his outfit. This legendary figure had always claimed to have had numerous encounters with various aliens, and this person impersonating him was clearly using this comical disguise to satirize him.
Amidst the laughter of the crowd, Yuan Zhenxia felt quite displeased. He didn't know who was impersonating that gentleman, one of his admired figures, and to use such a method to satirize him was obviously a pointless and rather frivolous act. Yuan Zhenxia thought that if that gentleman were also present, this imposter might be in for a rough time.
Just as he was thinking this, the name of the gentleman's wife was suddenly called out over the loudspeaker. Then, a spotlight shone on the entrance, and in an instant, the room fell silent again.
A woman slowly walked in from the entrance, wearing a moon-white embroidered cheongsam. Under the gaze of thousands of people, she appeared so composed, so elegant, breathtakingly beautiful, and captivatingly generous.
She slowly walked forward, smiling and nodding to everyone, immediately winning unanimous applause from the entire audience.
Yuan Zhenxia had never met the legendary figure's wife, but he had heard many stories about her. At this moment, he couldn't help but admire the imposter—in his imagination, this was exactly what the woman should look like.
As the woman, the center of attention, slowly walked forward, passing in front of Yuan Zhenxia, she glanced at him casually. The moment their eyes met, Yuan Zhenxia couldn't help but exclaim, "Ah!"—such familiar eyes!
In fact, since entering, this woman had been scanning people with her bright, flowing eyes, seemingly able to see into their deepest secrets. Yet her gaze was so gentle, not sharp at all, that everyone who met her eyes exclaimed sincerely: What captivating eyes!
Yuan Zhenxia was equally captivated by her eyes, yet at the same time, he felt a strange familiarity with such beautiful and moving gaze. He thought for a moment, and because he had a very deep impression of such eyes before, he immediately remembered.
It must be Haitang! Besides Haitang, Yuan Zhenxia had never seen eyes like that before.
The thought that the person impersonating that woman was Haitang filled Yuan Zhenxia with doubt. He knew Haitang's identity; someone of Haitang's status wouldn't do something without a reason. She was constantly burdened with various tasks; she would never waste time doing something without purpose!
So, what was her purpose? Was the person impersonating that legendary figure an accomplice of hers, or did they have some special purpose?
Yuan Zhenxia quickly racked his brains, but couldn't figure it out. At that moment, the person impersonating the legendary figure was loudly recounting, in a speech-like tone, how he had dealt with a group of aliens with six heads and twelve legs, accompanied by exaggerated gestures. His words drew bursts of laughter from those listening.
Yuan Zhenxia grew impatient and approached Haitang. As he drew closer, he became even more certain that it was Haitang in disguise—Yuan Zhenxia and Haitang had been very close; no matter how skillful the disguise, it couldn't conceal certain unique qualities.
He whispered to Haitang, "Haitang, that's your companion. His performance is a bit too over the top. The gentleman he's impersonating might be here!"
Haitang was startled by Yuan Zhenxia's words, but quickly regained her composure, her beautiful eyes sparkling as she looked at him. Then, her eyes darting around, she said in a very low voice, "Dr. Yuan, according to the ball's rules, we should all be expelled. But I don't want to leave. Let's pretend we don't know anything!"
Yuan Zhenxia nodded, "Okay, but you should tell your companion to tone it down."
Haitang frowned slightly, went to her companion, and whispered a few words in his ear. The man paused for a moment, then clasped his hands in a fist and bowed to all directions, saying, "It was just a joke, I hope you all don't mind!"
Those around him laughed, urging him to continue his "adventures," but led by Haitang, he quietly walked to a corner. Suddenly, no one paid them any attention anymore.
Yuan Zhenxia was still very puzzled. Haitang's willingness to cooperate further proved that they must have a reason for coming. But what purpose could they have in attending a masquerade ball?
As Yuan Zhenxia pondered this, he kept his eyes fixed on Haitang. Haitang was already quite far away, separated by countless people moving about.
Yet, Yuan Zhenxia could feel Haitang glancing at him from time to time. He could see the unusual light shining in Haitang's eyes; even in a crowd of thousands, he could immediately recognize someone with that gaze.
Yuan Zhenxia couldn't help but wonder what kind of inner world a woman's eyes could hold, shining with such captivating light. Of course, no one can truly understand another's inner world, but one thing was certain: her inner world, like her eyes, was absolutely unique.
Yuan Zhenxia sighed inwardly. A woman like Haitang was enough to arouse the fantasies of any man. Recalling how they met, Yuan Zhenxia sighed again.
(The story of how Yuan Zhenxia and Haitang met is in the tale of the spirits.) Yuan Zhenxia felt he shouldn't keep staring at her like that. But no matter where he was, even with his back to Haitang, he could feel her watching him constantly, and when he suddenly turned around, he would meet her clear, bright gaze. Yuan Zhenxia was even starting to feel a little uneasy!
Just then, an announcement came over the loudspeaker: "Anyone interested in the world's mysterious events, please proceed to the conference hall on the third floor. A gentleman has been invited to the ball; he has an incredibly mysterious matter to announce and challenges anyone who dares to challenge him!"
This announcement didn't cause much of a stir, as the ball was filled with various activities, and the so-called "incredibly mysterious matter," lacking specific details, naturally went largely unnoticed.
Yuan Zhenxia hadn't paid attention either, but he saw Haitang and her companion heading towards the third floor. Yuan Zhenxia took a breath, just in time to see Haitang turn back and look at him.
Although Haitang didn't make any other subtle movements, Yuan Zhenxia was certain she was inviting him to the third floor to hear about that "mysterious matter."
Yuan Zhenxia involuntarily moved, and when his eyes met Haitang's again, he was even more certain he hadn't misunderstood.
The conference hall on the third floor wasn't large, but it had very comfortable seating, all individual, large single sofas. When Yuan Zhenxia entered, there were already dozens of people there.
Haitang and her companion sat in a corner, the sofa next to Haitang empty. Yuan Zhenxia thought for a moment, then went over and sat down.
As soon as he sat down, he heard Haitang's deep voice: "The strange things you'll hear later will definitely not disappoint you."
Yuan Zhenxia didn't look at her, but immediately replied, "How do you know?"
Haitang paused before answering, "I received some information beforehand."
Yuan Zhenxia couldn't immediately figure out what she meant by that. At this moment, people gradually came in and sat down. Some casually enjoyed the fine wine and food, some chatted, and some discussed animatedly.
Considering that no one would notice his conversation with Haitang under these circumstances, Yuan Zhenxia couldn't help but ask, "You and your companion are disguised as special people. What's your purpose?"
Haitang slowly took a breath: "You'll understand in a moment."
Yuan Zhenxia was very puzzled. After waiting a few more minutes, when all the seats were filled, a "robot" walked over, closed the door, and announced, "Because what you are about to hear is so mysterious, you cannot leave until it is finished. If anyone feels they must leave midway, please leave now!"
This announcement caused a murmur of discussion, and about ten people stood up, with others coming in to add to the discussion.
Then, the "robot" closed the door, and the atmosphere in the conference room became extremely mysterious. For a moment, no one spoke, and in the silence, no one knew who was about to tell the mysterious story.
The silence lasted for almost a minute before someone coughed, and then a very low and slow voice came out: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am the one who invited you here to hear something!" As soon as
this person spoke, the eyes of about seventy or eighty people naturally focused on him alone.
Yuan Zhenxia immediately looked at the man, whose attire was quite peculiar. He wore a mottled robe, seemingly the clothing of a tribal chief or priest, and a long necklace of unidentifiable material hung around his neck.
His face, on both cheeks, was painted with dark brown stripes, making him resemble a shaman.
His hair was short and gray, with a similar short beard.
After his opening remarks, he fell silent, as if deliberately allowing himself to be observed. Yuan Zhenxia couldn't figure out who he was impersonating, and the same question was evident in the others' glances. The man coughed again before saying, "The person I'm impersonating today, you may not have heard of—"
Before he could finish, Haitang's companion said lazily, "Not necessarily, I know!"
Haitang's companion was impersonating that famous legendary figure, and the man immediately called him by name: "Of course, you are very knowledgeable, so please introduce me!"
Haitang's companion's tone remained languid: "You are the high priest of a tribe from the heart of New Guinea, and the spiritual leader of over three hundred tribes across the island. You hold immense prestige among the indigenous tribes of that island. In the eastern part of the island, in the recently independent Republic of Papua New Guinea, you are a senior advisor to the head of state and are also responsible for compiling the national history based on various tribal legends. Your name is too long; let's just call you High Priest!"
Haitang's companion spoke in one breath, and the man's expression grew increasingly astonished. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something several times, but no sound came out.
Only after he finished speaking did the man say, "Yes! Absolutely right!"
At this moment, about ten people applauded Haitang's companion. Someone exclaimed, "My God, you almost made me believe you really are that gentleman! How did you recognize such an obscure figure?"
Haitang's companion chuckled, "This obscure figure, the High Priest, can execute anyone at any time within his sphere of influence, and can also make anyone die for his words!"
His words caused the atmosphere in the meeting room to become somewhat heavy. The person dressed as the High Priest chuckled twice:
"Of course, I'm just an imposter!"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere eased somewhat. The "High Priest" glanced at Haitang and her companion, his voice low and slow, already conveying a sense of mystery.
He said, "There is a place called 'The Gap in the Sky Sentinel,' which you have certainly never heard of!"
He then looked at Haitang and her companion again. Haitang's companion slowly shook her head: "No, I haven't heard of it either. The Gap in the Sky Sentinel, what a strange place name!"
Even at this point, Yuan Zhenxia still didn't know what the whole matter was all about. A man, posing as a high priest from a very remote region, recounting a strange tale in such a setting—what meaning could the whole thing possibly hold? It's truly bizarre!
Yuan Zhenxia naturally knew what kind of island New Guinea was; it was a large island in the South Pacific. The western half was Indonesian territory, and the eastern half was the independent Republic of Papua New Guinea.
New Guinea could be considered one of the most mysterious regions in the world, its mystery stemming naturally from its near-isolation and backwardness.
The world knew very little about New Guinea, especially the mountainous regions in the island's heartland, which remained a blank even on explorers' maps.
No one knew how many different tribes lived on the island, their lives completely unrelated to modern civilization. Among them were the famous headhunters and almost entirely primitive cave dwellers—their lives were still stuck in the Paleolithic era!
Of course, that referred to the mountainous inland areas; life in the coastal cities was quite modern, with airports and various industries. The island is best known for the disappearance of a key heir of the wealthy Rockefeller family, who went on an expedition there.
This disappearance shocked the world, and the Rockefeller family mobilized countless resources to search for him, but to no avail. Rumors circulated that he had been killed by headhunters, but there was no concrete evidence.
Such a mysterious region, with its various forms of witchcraft prevalent among the indigenous tribes, naturally has many mysterious events. But were all the people in this meeting room there just to hear stories?
Yuan Zhenxia didn't know what their purposes were, but at least Haitang and her companions weren't there just to listen to tales.
While Yuan Zhenxia pondered, the "High Priest" continued in the same tone: "Yes, this place name is truly strange. It means that the place is surrounded by mountains on all sides, mountains of unknown height, enclosing a valley. All the mountains are shaped to lean forward, almost completely blocking out the sky above the valley. The wind there is also exceptionally strong, and as it sweeps through the gaps between the mountains, it sounds like an enormous person blowing an enormous whistle, so the place is called 'Heavenly Whistle.'"
Yuan Zhenxia listened attentively, just like the others. The man's explanation was concise and vivid. For such a strangely topographical place to have a name like "Heavenly Whistle" was indeed quite reasonable.
The High Priest continued, “However, the Sky Watch still has a gap, the only passage into that valley, hidden since time immemorial. That valley, surrounded by mountains on all sides, is more like a cave with a gap in the top. Within that valley lies a passage into the demon world, known as the ‘Ghost Realm.’”
The High Priest’s words caused a small commotion. He gestured to silence the questions, saying, “I know what protests you all have!”
Everyone fell silent again. The High Priest said, “The location of the Sky Watch with the gap is so hidden; I just hinted that it has been virtually undiscovered since time immemorial. How could anyone know what it is like?”
No one in the meeting room spoke; everyone waited for him to answer the question. He chuckled dryly, a hint of helplessness in his expression. "I don't know the origin of this saying, only that it's been there all along, as old as heaven and earth—as soon as heaven and earth existed, this passage also existed."
As he said this, several people burst into laughter, their laughter unrestrained, clearly expressing their absurdity at the "High Priest's" story.
The "High Priest" showed no reaction, not even glancing towards the source of the laughter. But the mockers clearly wouldn't accept this. A voice with a heavy southern accent shouted, "At least someone must have seen this passage to the ghost realm, and at least someone must have been to that so-called gap in the sky!"
Yuan Zhenxia looked in the direction of the voice, naturally unable to identify the person. He could only see that the person was dressed as a Spanish bullfighter, dressed in a dazzling, shimmering outfit.
The High Priest still didn't look at the man, but he answered the Bullfighter's question: "Yes, someone went to the Sky Watchtower of the Gap and saw the passage. In the endless, wild mountains, there is a place called the Sky Watchtower of the Gap, and there is a passage there. It was all reported by that person after he saw it!"
The Bullfighter laughed again: "That person is yourself, High Priest."
The High Priest's voice remained calm, but everyone could sense an extreme seriousness within it. He was truly telling this story seriously, although even Yuan Zhenxia didn't know his intention—whether it was merely to add some entertainment to this unique ball or had another purpose.
But regardless, one thing was certain: he, at least himself, deeply believed in the story he was telling.
Yuan Zhenxia vaguely felt a strange eeriness, a feeling that made him quite uneasy. He couldn't explain why, perhaps it was just the all-encompassing gaze from Haitang, he thought to himself, which left him feeling bewildered. He glanced at Haitang again and saw that she and her companion were listening intently. The
"High Priest" paused slightly: "This person, a long, long time ago, went to the Sky Watchtower of the Gap and saw the passage. After he entered the passage, he entered the realm of ghosts, and then he became the most powerful man in the world.
"
Another person, dressed as Leonardo da Vinci, the great artist of the Renaissance, shrieked, "The most powerful liar!"
This person's words elicited another burst of laughter, making the "High Priest" slightly uneasy. Haitang's companion said in a deep voice, "If you want to hear the story, then please leave. How can you have no basic manners?"
The "da Vinci" retorted, "After hearing such an absurd story, I simply couldn't control myself!"
Yuan Zhenxia was also quite dissatisfied with those who were laughing, so he said, "We still need to try to control this!"
The meeting room fell silent, but the silence didn't last long. The "High Priest" had completely regained his composure and began to tell his story in his slow, low voice: "This man claimed that all his power came from the demons of the ghost realm. In those mountains stretching for thousands of miles, there were originally hundreds of tribes living there, each with their own beliefs, their own shamans and priests. But in less than a year, the man who obtained this extraordinary power displayed his power everywhere, and quickly, all the tribes worshipped him as the representative of the demons. He became the High Priest of all the tribes."
The "High Priest" paused slightly here, picked up the wine in front of him, and drank it in large gulps. Just then, a charming female voice rang out: "Oh my god, I know! You're talking about an ancient legend circulating among the tribes of New Guinea. This legend was once considered by the Papua New Guinea Ministry of Education for inclusion in the country's textbooks, but was later rejected. This ancient legend is like the one about a beautiful Chinese woman who took some kind of medicine and flew to live on the moon—everyone in the area knows it."
The woman's voice was melodious and she spoke fluently, but looking around, everyone saw a burly man with a full beard, clearly Karl Marx, the founder of communism. Naturally, it was a woman in disguise.
Yuan Zhenxia smiled: "That beautiful woman who lived on the moon was named Chang'e. The story of Chang'e flying to the moon is indeed known to every Chinese person."
The woman dressed as a bearded man fell silent, clearly embarrassed that she had revealed her identity with her earlier words.
The High Priest smiled slightly: "This person... must have lived in New Guinea, which is why he knows about this legend. Naturally, he also knows that I haven't embellished it in any way."
Everyone remained silent. Yuan Zhenxia thought to himself that any legend, over the years of retelling, has been embellished countless times; some are simply mythical, like "Chang'e Flying to the Moon."
The High Priest paused for a moment: "From then on, the island had a true High Priest. This position has been passed down through generations, one per generation, for over several hundred years now. The High Priest has always been the most respected and revered figure among the island's various tribes, because he was a descendant of the one who had reached the breach in the sky, a person with the power of the ghost realm."
The meeting room fell silent again. After a while, to Yuan Zhenxia's surprise, the High Priest suddenly said: "My story is finished. It wasn't very exciting. I apologize for wasting everyone's time."
Not only Yuan Zhenxia, but many people were surprised. The High Priest continued: "Of course, there's a little more to add, but it won't be very exciting either. Those who aren't interested can leave!"
Many people stood up, opened the door, and left. Some hesitated, but as a result, they all left one after another. In the end, only a few people remained, including Yuan Zhenxia, Haitang and her companion, and three others disguised as different kinds of people, including "Marx."
The High Priest walked over and closed the door, then moved a chair to block it, preventing anyone from entering.
He then turned around: "You're all truly interested now." After saying that, his gaze lingered on Haitang and her companion, and he suddenly sighed: "If only you two were truly that famous couple!"
Haitang's voice was calm, but her words startled Yuan Zhenxia. She said, "How do you know we're not real?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhenxia inwardly gasped. If she were truly impersonating the person she was portraying, what would her purpose be?
When Haitang spoke those words, Yuan Zhenxia also sensed that "Marx" made a subtle movement, but because Yuan Zhenxia wasn't looking directly at him, he couldn't be sure. When Yuan Zhenxia looked at him, he found nothing unusual.
After hearing Haitang's words, the High Priest showed a strange excitement, but it vanished in an instant. He paused for a moment before saying, "The position of High Priest has been passed down through generations. Although their status is lofty, apart from the first one, it seems that no other generation has possessed any special power. Their power is merely a kind of authority arising from the reverence of all the tribes for them. Authority is human power, not the power of demons."
Once only a few people remained in the meeting room, the High Priest spoke much faster: "Naturally, the High Priests of each generation have been very talented individuals. Some are practically geniuses in medicine, others possess leadership qualities. The position of High Priest has remained unchanged."
Yuan Zhenxia coughed twice, his intention clearly urging the High Priest to get to the point.
But the "High Priest" seemed not to hear, continuing on his own: "What other High Priests thought is a matter of the past. The most recent High Priest was chosen in his childhood to receive local education in various tribes to adapt to a primitive life. But times have changed. During the Australian Mandate of New Guinea, this young High Priest was sent to the University of Melbourne in Australia to receive a modern education. Therefore, this High Priest is different from any other."
He paused slightly here. At this moment, Yuan Zhenxia had a strong feeling that the person before him was the real High Priest! He was appearing in his true form, just as General Karls had appeared in his true form last year. That's why he hoped that Haitang and her companion were indeed that famous pair.
At the same time, Yuan Zhenxia also wondered why he hoped that that famous pair would appear. Did he have some extremely strange matter he wanted that famous pair to resolve, and did Haitang's hints that it might be true, perhaps wanting to know the details of the strange facts? Yuan Zhenxia felt that his analysis was very reasonable and might be very close to the truth.
The High Priest suddenly gave a dry laugh: "A High Priest educated in modern times naturally has a different perspective on issues. He doesn't doubt his position among the tribes, but he can't help but ask himself where his power comes from. When did the divine power that the tribes have always believed in disappear,
or was it never even there?"
Haitang murmured, "This is a question only a person with a conscience would have. If a person has no conscience and only pursues power, how could they ask themselves what qualifications they have to obtain power!"
The High Priest took a deep breath: "When this problem cannot be solved, the High Priest has only one way to find the answer."
He paused slightly, his expression becoming extremely serious: "Passed down from generation to generation, only passed down to the next High Priest on their deathbed, is a method that allows a High Priest to consolidate their power when facing extreme difficulties, to obtain demonic power."
Yuan Zhenxia raised his hand: "Extraordinary power is something everyone desires. This method has been used many times over the years; its effectiveness should be well known by now." The High
Priest shook his head: "On the contrary, since this method was passed down, no one has ever used it."
He continued, "Perhaps it's because none of the High Priests over the years have ever faced any difficulties. In fact, the most recent High Priest also faces no difficulties; his difficulties stem from his own inner struggles after receiving modern higher education. Secondly, this method is quite difficult to implement."
The High Priest looked at Yuan Zhenxia as he explained, and Yuan Zhenxia nodded, indicating that he was satisfied with his explanation.
The High Priest continued, “This method requires the High Priest to enter the burial place of the first High Priest—the Holy Tomb. That first High Priest was the one who had been to the Sky Sentinel of the Gap and entered the Ghost Realm. After entering the Holy Tomb, one must face the remains and meditate, accepting the power during this meditation.”
Haitang’s companion said, “That’s not difficult at all!”
The High Priest said, “The first High Priest is buried in a cave on a cliff. That cliff is deep in the mountains and very difficult to reach. That’s not the problem. Moreover, the cliff where the burial site is located is considered a sacred and inviolable place. Normally, no one dares to approach it. Although successive High Priests have the right to approach it, no one has ever gone there. So no one knows the real situation!”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhenxia suddenly said in a very casual tone, “You should at least go once!”
Without even thinking, the High Priest said, “I went—”
He only said three words before abruptly stopping, revealing an extremely embarrassed expression.
Yuan Zhenxia had long suspected that he was the real High Priest, but he also knew that if he asked him directly, he would definitely not admit it. So he chose a very opportune moment and casually said that the other party's response was tantamount to admitting his true identity!
He smiled awkwardly, "My true identity has been recognized. According to the rules of the ball, I should be expelled!
"
No one present spoke. After a while, he said, "Alright, then I will continue. It's much easier to speak without pretending."
As he said this, he glanced meaningfully at Haitang and her companions.
Haitang didn't react. The High Priest—the real High Priest—sighed, "I'm going. Reaching that cliff isn't very difficult. From the bottom of the cliff, from the right angle, with a high-powered telescope, you can see the entrance to the burial ground on the cliff." As the High Priest spoke
, he reached into his large coat, took out a brown paper bag, opened it, and took out a stack of photographs. He said, “Looking at the photos is more useful than my detailed description.”
Several people in the meeting room crowded around.
The photos were in color and very well taken; the cliff face was covered in vines, appearing steep and treacherous.
The high priest pointed to a spot on the cliff face—a large, protruding boulder. He pointed to the boulder: “Legend has it that this boulder blocked the entrance to the burial ground. Moving it would allow entry.”
Everyone looked at him—the boulder looked to weigh at least ten tons, and given its location on such an impassable cliff face, it seemed impossible to move it. If it were movable, how it had managed to block the entrance to the burial ground years ago was utterly unbelievable.
The high priest then showed a second photo, taken at close range of the boulder, possibly automatically, as the high priest himself was standing in front of it. The rock, about his height, was an irregularly shaped sphere, and its weight appeared to be at least ten tons.
As he showed everyone the photographs, he explained, “I climbed that cliff with the finest equipment—alone, of course. In fact, as the High Priest, I could have easily ordered others to come with me, but everyone would have considered offending the sacred ground worse than death. Although they would have obeyed, why should I risk such a danger for others
? Through the binoculars, moving that boulder seemed impossible. As I climbed the cliff, I never considered how it could be moved to allow me entry into the sacred ground, but I had to get up there to see for myself.
When I reached the boulder, it was quite obvious, as you can see in the photographs, that it was blocking the entrance to a cave.”
The High Priest was right; it was clearly visible in the photographs that the spherical boulder was blocking the entrance to a cave. Although ancient, and covered in gnarled vines, it was still vaguely discernible that roughly half of the spherical boulder was inside the cave, and the other half outside.
Moreover, the boulder's texture and color differed significantly from the cliff face, clearly indicating it had been moved from elsewhere specifically to block the cave. What was initially just a seemingly absurd legend of a primitive tribe now appeared increasingly mysterious!
The few people remaining in the meeting room clearly sensed this mystery, and suddenly, a silence fell so profound that they could hear each other's heartbeats. The High Priest smiled somewhat helplessly: "Upon reaching the entrance to the Holy Sepulchre and seeing such a large boulder blocking the entrance, what would you all do?"
Yuan Zhenxia answered first: "If we had explosives, we could blow that boulder up. Getting that boulder up the cliff is a bit unbelievable, but removing it isn't too difficult."
The High Priest took a breath: "Blowing it up would be too sacrilegious to the holy site..."
Yuan Zhenxia said with a hint of sarcasm: "I thought you had received a modern higher education!"
The High Priest immediately retorted: "Even McGregor wouldn't necessarily blow up St. Peter's Basilica!"
Yuan Zhenxia was momentarily speechless. At this moment, the "Marx" said: "Use your power, High Priest, to push it!"

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