503: Are you playing with nesting dolls here?

Shen Bei had originally intended to ask General for some benefits.

Things like money would do.

Shen Bei didn't have many demands; a token gesture would be enough.

After all, wasn't General's return a coincidence due to his risking his life?

But what he never expected was for General to immediately throw him a wild card.

Life Severing Strike!

Shen Bei had heard about this Martial Skill from Wu Di.

In fact, that guy had even taken advantage of the chaos and somehow benefited from Bu Jin.

Shen Bei was a bit surprised at this moment; what kind of coincidence was this!

Good heavens.

Just a few days ago, Shen Bei didn't understand what Life Severing Strike was, and now the answer was about to be revealed!

Shen Bei asked in confusion, "Isn't this a death skill?"

General was dumbfounded and retorted, "How do you know?"

General's expression was not feigned.

It was truly puzzling!

He hadn't even explained the Martial Skill's state, yet Shen Bei already knew Life Severing Strike was a death skill?

One must know, this Martial Skill had never appeared before!

He had inadvertently acquired it from another Stranger prisoner in the Imperial City dungeon in the Grotto.

Even Bai Wei hadn't seen this Martial Skill, yet Shen Bei was so certain it was a death skill...

Good heavens.

Precognition?

Shen Bei shrugged and said, "I heard it from someone else."

General: ???

"Impossible!"

General said with great certainty, "According to the information I obtained, this Martial Skill has never appeared on the earth's surface; only the Stranger of the Wu Clan within the Grotto can Cultivate it!"

Shen Bei: ???

The Wu Clan?

What was all this about?

It was a bit confusing, Shen Bei asked, "If only Stranger can Cultivate it, then what use is it to me?"

He wasn't an Stranger!

As for whether Wu Di was an Stranger, that was hard to say.

Nine Lives Raven could even use the Great Thousand Countenances Technique, so Wu Di might be able to too, right?

General explained, "If one is an Stranger, they can Cultivate it directly, but humans need to overcome several difficulties to Cultivate it; anyway... you can see for yourself."

At this, Shen Bei let out an "oh," realizing that Wu Di was indeed a human.

He had said that one of the prerequisites for Cultivating the death skill Life Severing Strike was on Bu Jin.

At this moment, Bai Wei and the others had traveled a long and arduous journey and were exhausted.

The group arrived at the cafeteria.

After a grand lunch, everyone except Bai Wei—

Shi Gandang, General, and the others all rushed off to rest.

Shen Bei followed Bai Wei to her office.

Bai Wei brewed a strong cup of coffee, blew on it lightly, and said, "Before I fall asleep, speak quickly if you have something to say."

Shen Bei showed a mischievous smile: "Then you must let me know before you fall asleep, otherwise it might cause misunderstandings."

"Your mouth..."

Bai Wei yawned, propping her chin on her fair hand, and looked at Shen Bei askance: "So eloquent..."

Shen Bei: ...

Shen Bei coughed and quickly got to the point: "I need information about the Suspended Lantern Sect."

"Why are you asking about such a niche sect?" Bai Wei asked curiously.

"Some after-effects..."

Shen Bei didn't explain much, just briefly mentioned it, and finally emphasized that if he couldn't find the Suspended Lantern Sect, a VIP room at the mental hospital could be reserved for him.

Bai Wei heard that Shen Bei's tone wasn't a joke, and her attitude immediately became serious: "Are you sure that with information about the Suspended Lantern Sect, you can solve that so-called mental breakdown?"

Shen Bei shrugged: "Only I can... No one else can help much."

"Has Professor Gu Xinrou's research yielded any results yet?"

"It's already completed," Shen Bei replied, "but the country still needs time to select people, and I... can't wait any longer."

Bai Wei was silent for a moment, then twisted her neck: "Then we can only proceed like this for now."

"Tell me the information."

Shen Bei took out a pen and paper, ready to take notes.

"I don't know much about this Suspended Lantern Sect; I only overheard bits of conversation among Stranger when I stopped in a certain city on the way to the Imperial City. It's probably..."

Blah blah blah...

An hour later.

Shen Bei walked out of Bai Wei's office.

He repeatedly checked the information recorded on the paper in his hand.

According to Bai Wei.

The Suspended Lantern Sect was originally a major sect.

How major?

It was a state religion, just like the current Tianqi Divine Sect!

At the same time, during the Suspended Lantern Sect's heyday, the Imperial City of the Imperial Dynasty was not in its current location.

It was elsewhere.

Later, for unknown reasons, the Old Capital moved to the current new Imperial City.

But the Suspended Lantern Sect did not follow the Imperial City.

It wasn't that the Imperial City abandoned the Suspended Lantern Sect.

It was that the Suspended Lantern Sect wouldn't leave; they wanted to suppress something in the Old Capital.

This gave the Tianqi Divine Sect the opportunity to rise.

And the Old Capital and the Suspended Lantern Sect were gradually forgotten in the long river of history.

According to Bai Wei, it is said that the Old Capital was separated by an unspeakable space or barrier, existing in this world, but very few people entered or witnessed the Old Capital.

Even the location of the Old Capital was rarely remembered; only the Imperial family knew where the Old Capital was and how to get there.

So, the problem now arose.

If Shen Bei wanted to find the Suspended Lantern Sect to resolve his mental breakdown, he had to find the Old Capital.

But the Old Capital had disappeared into the long river of history for too long; ordinary Stranger didn't even know of its existence, let alone its location.

At the same time, the Old Capital seemed to be Sealed for some reason, making it inaccessible.

Only the Imperial family knew how to enter.

"This is a bit of a big problem now..."

Shen Bei sniffed: "It's a chain reaction; I have to blend into the Imperial City, then get on good terms with the Imperial family, and then find an excuse to have the Imperial family provide me with a way to go to the Old Capital."

"Could it be that only the Emperor knows how to get there?"

"How am I supposed to blend in!"

After an analysis, Shen Bei was dumbfounded.

Difficult.

This is truly difficult!

Let alone the Emperor, it would be damn hard to even get into the Imperial City!

Shen Bei sighed.

For now, this was all the information he had.

Shen Bei's plan could only proceed step by step.

At this moment, Shen Bei walked out of the office building and happened to meet Zhuang Bifan.

"Perfect, I have something to talk to you about," Zhuang Bifan said.

Shen Bei stopped, asking in confusion, "What is it?"

"Before dinner, General felt that what you said was a bit off, so he asked me to ask you how you knew Life Severing Strike was a death skill?"

Shen Bei didn't hide it: "There's a guy in the Capital named Wu Di, maybe it's a title, he can control..."

Blah blah blah...

Shen Bei recounted everything about Wu Di and Two Headed Vine in detail.

There was nothing to hide about this.

It didn't conflict with his interests.

After understanding, Zhuang Bifan nodded. Although he was a bit surprised, he didn't show much shock or loss of composure. Instead, he asked, "Are you leaving already?"

"Do you have any good things to give me?"

"Goodbye, and don't let the door hit you on the way out."

"Tsk!"

Shen Bei rolled his eyes: "I've befriended you for nothing."

"Reverse psychology won't work on me." Zhuang Bifan stroked his chin: "If it really comes down to it, I'll give you a stool? This is a family heirloom—hey, hey?"

Shen Bei had already walked out of the military base gate, waving his hand without looking back: "Rest yourself!"

...

Shen Bei did not go to Changtu County that day.

Instead, he stayed in the Capital for a few days, repeatedly running between Professor Gu Xinrou and Bai Wei.

Until five days later.

Shen Bei arrived at the high-speed rail station.

About an hour later.

He got off at Changtu County High-Speed Rail Station.

High-speed rail was really convenient, much faster than driving on the highway.

Walking out of the exit.

He looked around.

He saw Du Ziteng wearing a very flashy red outfit, leaning against the front of a Great Wall Cannon, waving from a distance: "Bei Bei! Over here!"

Shen Bei: ...