649: Hetu Luoshu

“Thank you, Dao Lord.”

Zhou Tailai bowed again, then sat cross-legged with Zhao Wuming.

“Little friend, do you know the origin of my Luohe Zhao Clan?”

Zhao Guandao, who seemed neither old nor young, waved his hand, and two cups of spiritual tea landed in front of Zhou Tailai and Zhao Wuming.

“Junior has only heard some rumors, but I do not know their veracity.”

Zhou Tailai pondered for a moment before slowly replying.

“Rumors are, of course, not to be taken as truth.”

“My Zhao Clan originated by the Luohe River.”

“In the past, my Zhao Clan Old Ancestor was merely an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator.”

“But by chance, within this vast Luohe River, he found a scroll.”

“Only after that did my Zhao Clan rise to prominence.”

Zhao Guandao's tone carried a hint of emotion.

“This scroll is called the River Diagram. It contains countless star rivers within it. Comprehending the star rivers allows one to observe the Mandate of Heaven.”

Zhao Guandao paused, then continued.

The River Diagram... Zhou Tailai listened intently, recalling the fleeting glimpse of the star river scroll that had once covered the Ancient Capital.

“I see that little friend is a fellow traveler, which is why I invited little friend to come and see it.”

“The River Diagram is profoundly mysterious. Even I have not fully comprehended it.”

“Little friend, would you like to take a look?”

Zhao Guandao smiled and looked at Zhou Tailai.

“This...”

Zhou Tailai hesitated slightly. After all, this was someone else's Clan-protecting treasure, so he had to be polite.

But since he was sincere, if he continued to be polite, wouldn't it seem hypocritical?

“Thank you, Senior.”

After a moment of hesitation.

Zhou Tailai ultimately did not stand on ceremony. Instead, he stood up and bowed to Zhao Guandao.

“Haha, good.”

Zhao Guandao chuckled.

Since a decision had been made, there was no reason to go back on it.

“Follow me.”

Zhao Guandao's expression became slightly solemn.

Then he swept his hand.

Dao energy gently swayed.

Zhou Tailai only felt his vision blur.

When he regained his senses.

He was no longer in that Immortal Cave.

“This is...”

Zhou Tailai's heart trembled.

This was a Void space.

Above the space, bright stars were scattered, connecting to form star rivers, arrayed above.

Within them, boundless profound Dao seemed to be contained.

“River Diagram...”

A realization dawned in Zhou Tailai's heart.

“This is the space within the River Diagram. Comprehending here can achieve twice the result with half the effort.”

“Wuming is the most talented Disciple of my Clan. He also has a deep understanding of the River Diagram. While little friend comprehends, Wuming will accompany him.”

Zhao Guandao's voice echoed in this space.

But his figure was nowhere to be seen.

Beside Zhou Tailai, only Zhao Wuming's figure remained.

“Senior has considered everything thoroughly.”

“Thank you, Brother Wuming.”

Zhou Tailai thanked Zhao Wuming beside him.

Zhao Wuming was a man of few words, gently shaking his head.

Although his eyes were devoid of sight, upon arriving here, a mysterious emotion flowed within his hollow eyes.

Buzz~

At this moment.

In the Void space, the star rivers flowed.

They seemed to resonate with the aura on Zhao Wuming's body.

Zhou Tailai's heart stirred.

Then he showed a hint of doubt.

“Brother Wuming, forgive my bluntness.”

“The River Diagram is so compatible with Brother Wuming, how could Brother Wuming's eyes...”

Zhou Tailai looked at the changing star rivers, then at Zhao Wuming's eyes.

He asked with a touch of confusion.

Peeking into the secrets of heaven inevitably incurs backlash.

But if one has a treasure to protect them, the backlash can be offset.

This River Diagram was clearly an exceptionally high-grade exotic treasure.

And Zhao Wuming could resonate with this River Diagram.

Given Zhao Wuming's current Realm, with the River Diagram protecting him, how could he suffer such severe backlash?

“This is a curse.”

The mysterious expression in Zhao Wuming's hollow eyes receded. His voice was cold and calm, as if it wasn't happening to him.

“In the past, a Family Old Ancestor once used the River Diagram to peek at an object.”

“He wished to seek the whereabouts of that object, but he failed. That Old Ancestor died on the spot.”

“And from that time on, my Zhao Family Bloodline would be plagued by this mysterious curse, suffering physical deformities and shortened Lifespan. Even with the River Diagram's protection, it cannot be avoided...”

Zhao Wuming's tone was flat, as if he had long grown accustomed to it.

“Shortened Lifespan...”

Zhou Tailai murmured to himself, his brow slightly furrowed. Cultivation, cultivation, was for the sake of long life and immortality.

Loss of Lifespan was probably something everyone in this vast Cultivation world feared.

“What kind of thing can be so overbearing?”

Zhou Tailai subconsciously blurted out.

This River Diagram was already a supreme treasure. Peeking at an object not only failed but also brought such severe backlash.

“I also don't know. I originally thought that the object being sought was another exotic treasure opposite to the River Diagram, the Luo River Scroll. The River Diagram and Luo River Scroll are existences that generate and restrain each other, but it was not this treasure.”

“That year, the Old Ancestor only left behind a name before his death.”

“wheel of destiny.”

“However, I have searched through all the ancient texts in the Clan, but I have not found any records.”

“I don't even know why that Old Ancestor wanted to peek at this object.”

Zhao Wuming's cold face showed a hint of confusion.

Luo River Scroll... wheel of destiny... It sounded extraordinary. To dare to use fate as its name... “Brother Wuming, is it appropriate to tell me this matter...”

Zhou Tailai's heart stirred. What he had just said were secrets of the Zhao Family.

Zhao Wuming was so candid, revealing this matter, which made him a little uneasy.

“When I was born, I had a connection with the River Diagram.”

“The Old Ancestor believes that I can lead our clansmen out of the predicament of this curse.”

“But for so many years, I have not seen any heavenly secrets revealed, until I met Dao Brother.”

Zhao Wuming seemed to be answering a different question. As he spoke, he looked at Zhou Tailai.

“This...”

Zhou Tailai gave a wry smile. Could it be that this hope was placed on him? What could he do?

“Dao Brother need not feel burdened. This is originally my Clan's own mission.”

“This action now is merely to leave an extra ray of hope for the future.”

Zhao Wuming's expression was open and honest.

He did not hide anything.

Zhou Tailai glanced at Zhao Wuming, but he did not feel any aversion.

This was not a scheme, but rather telling him everything in advance.

He had long known that the Zhao Family's generous invitation for him to view their core supreme treasure must have a purpose.

But he didn't expect them to just state it outright.

“I understand.”

Zhou Tailai nodded with a slightly solemn expression.

Then he sat cross-legged.

Closing his eyes, his Divine Sense diffused out, merging into the countless star rivers that filled the Void space.

Buzz~

Streaks of starlight converged into a star river and descended, shining upon Zhou Tailai.

Zhao Wuming's face trembled slightly.

To be able to evoke a response from the River Diagram so soon after beginning to comprehend it was truly astonishing.

Buzz~

The star rivers flowed, beginning to change continuously.

Within them, the Mandate of Heaven and heavenly secrets contained also changed accordingly.

After some time.

Zhao Wuming's astonishment remained undiminished.

These star rivers were constantly changing, some of which he had never even seen before.

His heart stirred.

Zhao Wuming seemed to understand another layer of meaning behind the Old Ancestor's instruction for him to accompany Zhou Tailai here.

Then he also sat cross-legged, comprehending these changes that he had never before instigated.

Star rivers spread, the Void was eternal.

Only the two figures beneath the star rivers had constantly changing, unfathomable auras about them.