TL/N: Happy New Year! 🎉🎉
"So this is simple enough, let's talk about the current volume first."
When they heard the author personally explaining the comic, everyone put down their chopsticks at the same time to listen. Even Zhongli became more serious.
Tartaglia opened the comic. The beginning of the story continued directly from the end of the previous chapter. The temporary workers began breaking into Biyou Village, which triggered a large battle. The fight scenes were extremely exciting.
Whether it was Black Pipe's battle or Wang Zhen's Divine Persona Mask, everything greatly broadened Tartaglia's horizons. Of course, he did not like that pervert. Although this Young Master was passionate about combat, he did not enjoy torturing enemies. He simply wanted to become stronger through fighting.
"So what do you think about the Divine Persona Mask battle? Can someone really borrow the power of gods?"
"The Divine Persona Mask is just a shortcut, not worth mentioning. Instead, I think you should look at the battles later on, those are the exciting parts."
"Exciting parts?"
Tartaglia continued reading. The story that followed was not long. Some of it warned people to cultivate steadily, and some of it recounted the events of climbing the mountain. The final goal was to handle that strange furnace.
However, when Tartaglia saw the birth of the Divine Spirit, his heart was shaken beyond words.
"What kind of technique is this?"
After Zhang Chulan lost consciousness, his body was taken over by a mysterious entity. That being could use all the techniques Zhang Chulan knew, and its power was terrifying. What frightened Tartaglia the most was that the Divine Spirit could break down every spell, even Qi Poison.
Su Han ate his giant lobster and muttered, "The Divine Spirit, a skill that can return all spells to their origin. It's quite interesting."
Interesting?
Tartaglia did not think so. He had once seen a similar power somewhere, but that power was completely opposite to the Divine Spirit. Its name was the Abyss.
During those days when he could not feel the passage of time, Tartaglia had personally experienced how terrifying the Abyss was. Darkness, depth, evil. Practically every negative emotion existed within it. The most frightening thing was that this power could corrupt everything. No matter what elemental power it was, the Abyss could devour it.
He had seen countless ruined cities lying silent within that darkness. He had seen the corpses of dragons drifting with the Abyssal currents into the distance. He had even seen godlike beings sink into that darkness.
And now, in this comic, he saw a power similar yet completely opposite. It was far too unnatural. He even suspected the author might be someone like his own master, otherwise he should not be able to understand the Abyss so well.
Of course, it was also possible that Su Han simply made it all up.
After calming down, Tartaglia kept reading. Later in the story, Ma Xianhong's furnace was destroyed, and he himself was captured. However, the battles involving artifacts were extremely spectacular, once again opening the eyes of this executive.
As for the later part of the story, it was somewhat sad. There were no more explosive battles because Chen Duo made her own choice. She experienced what freedom felt like and could choose her own path.
When the scene showed her falling in the street, some of the women in the private room felt uncomfortable, but since this was Chen Duo's choice, no one could say anything.
Thus, the seventh volume ended.
Tartaglia closed the comic and said speechlessly, "Now I understand why you agreed so quickly. This volume barely had anything to explain."
"Mmm, the super king crab is delicious. You mean the comic?" Su Han took a bite of crab meat and said, "Honestly, Volume Seven doesn't have much content. The things about cultivation were already explained. If you depend too much on artifacts, you will fail once you lose them. You should look at the next volume. It might have what you want."
"All right, I hope it doesn't disappoint me."
Tartaglia also understood that this was not Su Han's fault. It was simply how the plot was arranged.
The title of Volume Eight was: The Twenty-Four Seasonal Phases of Tongtian Valley.
As for the content of the volume, it was: What Is a Human.
"What does this mean?"
Looking at the title page, Tartaglia turned to Su Han in confusion. He felt the title was strange, as if it hinted at the themes of this volume. Just like that fox demon comic. Although he had not read it, every subordinate who had cried after reading it spoke for itself.
Su Han wiped his mouth and smiled, "It means exactly what it says. I want to tell everyone reading the comic how to be a proper human, nothing more."
The words were ordinary, but they carried a sacred feeling, as if an immortal were preaching.
Zhongli smiled slightly and said, "Then I look forward to it. Brother Su's works are always excellent. I hope this one will surprise me."
The others had been busy lately, with little time to read comics. When they heard Su Han say this, they all picked it up to read the story of this chapter.
The beginning covered Ma Xianhong's situation, the follow-up events in Biyou Village, and the confession with Zhao Fangxu. This counted as laying everything on the table. Although it was risky, Zhang Chulan had no choice. Because of certain matters afterward, he learned more secrets about the Eight Mysterious Skills.
One of those secrets was about the Twenty-Four Seasonal Phases of Tongtian Valley.
With guidance from the follower of the Rootless One, they headed straight for the great mountain. The story within was incredibly mystical. For example, by looking at the stone wall, one could enter the Way. Both humans and monkeys could do so. The deeper symbolism of "standing between heaven and earth" was also explained here.
What shocked everyone the most were Zhang Chulan's words to the monkey.
"You can be a human in this valley, you can be a human in the imperial court, and you can be a human in the martial world. The difference is only whether it is hard or easy."
"Do you still remember what it felt like to be human in the valley? Experience it once more."
"Straighten your spine, one section at a time!"
"Even though crawling is more comfortable, even though four limbs are faster, there are always some strange beings who insist on standing upright!"
"Now I ask you, what is a human? A strange beast that stands between heaven and earth is a human."
"Painful yet refreshing, that is what being human feels like. If you only chase wondrous sensations and fall back into being a beast, it is only a matter of time."
Volume Eight ended there.
Chongyun read it with his blood boiling. He immediately stood up and said, "This is incredible. Anyone like us must read this comic. It is exhilarating!"
Xingqiu could not help but sigh, "What is a human? A strange beast that stands between heaven and earth. The words are magnificent!"
"Yes. Falling into depravity is easy. Doing evil is easy. But to be someone who stands between heaven and earth, though difficult, is the right path. That is what we should do!"
Yanfei was moved by the atmosphere and gave her own interpretation.
Ningguang looked at Su Han, unable to hide the excitement in her eyes.
Ganyu was also emotional. She said, "No wonder Su Han wanted to teach everyone how to be human. Those treasure hoarders and criminals, which one of them is not trying to take shortcuts? Which one of them is not trying to deceive others? Once they do that, they will lose their way and become neither human nor ghost, unable to walk openly in the light again."
Zhongli smiled and said, "These words are simple, but they can guide people onto the right path. Brother Su, I toast to you."
"Not at all. I just hope that through the comic, some people walking down the wrong road can turn back."
Su Han looked at Tartaglia and smiled.
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