Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 229: The Illusory Forest of Inquiry - The End

That flawless capital officialdom, after the phrase "not within this perfect cage" settled in Su Ming's heart, completely disintegrated into a void of ashes.

Cold and darkness poured down like quicksilver, sweeping in from all directions, giving him not even a moment to catch his breath.

Just as Su Ming's consciousness was stripped from the "successful" illusion, feeling that loneliness so real it made his heart palpitate, the darkness suddenly tore apart. A searing cluster of firelight, reeking of a pungent burnt smell, smashed squarely into his face.

The scene abruptly flipped.

He was still standing in the same spot, but the surrounding darkness was instantly replaced by a bloody firelight.

The air was thick with desperate wails and cries for help.

His official robe was instantly scorched and stained with blood and filth.

A figure, burned beyond recognition but with a vaguely discernible outline, was being pinned to the ground by several soldiers in official armor. Illuminated by the firelight, the hand the figure stretched out seemed to be trying to grab him, but only waved futilely in the air.

"Third brother! Run... run away!"

"No! Father! Mother!"Sharp screams, mixed with the thunderous crash of collapsing beams and pillars, exploded in his ears.

Every muscle in Su Ming's body tensed like iron, his chest cavity felt as if gripped by an invisible giant hand, every inhalation carrying the phantom pain of flames scorching his windpipe.

The qi and blood within his body surged uncontrollably in a wild counterflow, his temples throbbed violently, his vision repeatedly darkened—this was not real physical harm, but the intense resonance and tremor produced when his soul directly faced the deepest fears within his heart.

This was the fear buried deepest in Su Ming's heart, the one he was most unwilling to confront—he had embarked on the path of cultivation to protect. But if, due to his personal recklessness or failure, this layer of protection was torn open, exposing his mortal family to the cruelty of the cultivation world, then everything he had done would be utterly meaningless.

As Su Ming watched helplessly as the flames devoured everything, the phantom of Xu Qing, wearing the County School Confucian robe, appeared in the distance, arguing vehemently with a team of indifferent Government Soldiers, only to be kicked to the ground and driven away in disarray.

Immediately after, Zhou Wenhai, who had once placed great hopes in Su Ming, appeared pale-faced within a patch of shadow. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with disappointment and lamentation towards Su Ming, then collapsed dead on the ground.

venom through his meridians, reaching directly

bloody hues

flipped for the third time. The warm study, the soft candlelight, Qian Bin's face wearing that standard,

Su, you've worked hard reviewing official documents. Have a cup of ginseng

pushed away the offered teacup, the tea splashing onto

and black smoke. He stretched out a hand, his fingers bony, cold, and powerful,

for transcendence! Chase strength, and the withered bones of your loved

extreme illusions—"ultimate perfection" and "ultimate shattering"—began to flash, interweave, and superimpose

sound waves transformed into countless invisible yet sharp files, taking turns at

has your

"What is your Dao?!"

of the very core

began to tremble

of burnt matter and ink, his eyes

brink of collapse, he instead became utterly

breathing became slow and deep. This was not the breath of a mortal, but the gentle cycle automatically initiated by the "Like Water Art" nurtured by the sprout deep

Su Ming silently recited in

mind inward, tracing back to the original source—not to exchange for the power and empty fame envied by the mundane world,

path to break free from invisible shackles, to see with his own eyes the vastness of heaven and earth, and ultimately, to firmly grasp the reins of fate in his own hands, to possess

were all external appearances,

"Enough."

from the stimulation of light and shadow, his

before him, his tone was calm, yet carried an

Dao. It merely wastes

fell, the golden light, as if plunged into a piece of cold

of iron chains assaulted him again. The cold chains seemed to shackle his wrists once more, the scorching flames

Ming closed his eyes, his entire body

Ming did not try