Xiao Shao's analysis is very detailed," Qin Ci nodded. "I also think it should be more detailed. Perhaps each of the fourteen paintings we've already visited offers us different hints. We shouldn't overlook more clues just because we're looking for commonalities in each painting."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Perhaps 'Animal World' hints at the survival of the fittest and the species replacement that Brother Shao just mentioned?" Luo Yi said, looking at Ke Xun. "Brother, do you remember mentioning the movie 'Pacific Rim' in 'The Burning Rhinoceros at Sea'?
"Monsters invade the human world from the seabed and slaughter humans—if they ultimately succeed, wouldn't you say it's like the cows in 'Animal World'? In this painting, cows replace humans as the rulers, and their numbers will definitely increase until they completely replace humans, completing the replacement of the top species."
"I remember you said you felt like 'humans' from another world were slowly invading and replacing us. At first, they only used some of the lowest-level members to test us, then they would send higher-level members to continue testing, and then send even higher-level members to launch the invasion...
Brothers and sisters, do you think these fourteen paintings we entered might be sent by 'another world' to test the top species of this world—humans? If all thirteen of us who are being tested fail, will they launch a large-scale invasion?"
Luo Jin shuddered at his own words and moved closer to Ke Xun.
"Luo Bo's idea is very possible!" Ke Xun suddenly slapped his thigh, startling Luo Jin.
"But according to our investigation a few days ago, weren't the last batch of people who entered the paintings all wiped out?" Zhu Haowen said, "If what Luo Jin said is true, the so-called large-scale invasion should have already begun."
"Then what if that batch of people wasn't all wiped out, but... all succeeded?" Ke Xun's eyes flashed, and everyone was drawn to his statement, looking at him intently. "They all succeeded. The last thirteen people all passed the test without dying, and then stopped the invasion of another world. It wasn't until nearly a hundred years later that the power of that world could make a comeback. So, we chosen ones, like our predecessors, once again need to pass the test unharmed to suppress that power again?"
This statement suddenly excited everyone—if the previous batch of people who entered the painting hadn't died—that would have been truly gratifying and encouraging!
"In any case, at least the clues implied by the painting 'Animal World' should be as Radish said," Qin Ci said, "It implies the invasion of another species, or rather, another absolute power, and its attempt to replace the world we live in." The
group exchanged bewildered glances.
They had initially thought the incident involving the painting was a small-scale, eerie event confined to the thirteen individuals, but they hadn't expected it to potentially affect the very survival of the real world.
Yet, they were constrained by the power behind the painting, unable to share it with anyone outside the group of thirteen. A global crisis, and they were left to shoulder it alone.
Could they truly withstand it?
This world had no superheroes.
Only ordinary people like them, forced into this situation.
Their initial excitement quickly faded.
"Regarding the hints in 'Pure Land,' I have an idea," Ke Xun, always the first to rouse himself, said. "In that painting, each of us chose a prop, and these props are closely related to our fate, or rather, our method of death. Don't you think these props are somewhat similar to the skeletal structure within our bodies?" "
These words were like a wake-up call, startling everyone.
'For example, Yi Ran, President Shao, and I have rope-like patterns on our bones, like rabbit ears, cat ears, and dragon horn headdresses. But the patterns on your bones are all from the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*, and each of you has different patterns. It's like having a sword, a pen, clothes, and a treasure bowl—doesn't it seem like we were each forced to choose a prop to pass a level?'
'—A prop!' Wei Dong clapped his hands. 'That's it! Our bone structures are the props that the forces behind the painting forcibly arranged for us to pass a level—the overall hurdle of the painting incident. Our bone structures will definitely play a crucial role at some point!'
Ke Xun's guess both excited and frightened everyone. After a moment of adjustment, they continued.
'If the painting *The Scarlet Beast* doesn't imply two worlds, perhaps this setting of the city and the outside world is related to the clues.'" "Qin Ci said, this painting was probably the one that left the deepest impression on him.
He almost stayed in the painting and didn't want to come out again. The strange calm and sense of belonging he felt in the world of the painting left him with a lingering fear and a slight longing and reluctance to leave.
This painting had a profound impact on him.
"Do you remember the news we heard on the radio when we entered the cave where the signature was before we left that painting?" Qin Ci remembered every detail of the painting vividly. Seeing that the old members shook their heads, he continued, "The news mentioned that the batch of beasts that Su Benxin took away was intercepted by the local police. Among them was the divination beast, which was said to be a nutrient beast urgently needed by the secret beasts outside the city. It also mentioned that if the criminals successfully smuggled the batch of beasts, the consequences would be unimaginable, and Xincheng would most likely fall again..."
"--divination!" Ke Xun's eyes widened. "Do you think this has anything to do with our bone structure?" "
I think there's a connection," Zhu Haowen licked his lips, his emotions seemingly fluctuating. "The red marks on some of us in that painting are similar to bone structure, and coincidentally, our bone structure was identified by someone knowledgeable in Yin-Yang arts. It's a prop, yet like the Pure Land, it has become one with us, turning us into 'divination beasts'…"
"Then, 'the nourishing beasts urgently needed by the secret beasts outside the city' means…" Wei Dong's voice was dry, "that we people are very likely… food for the forces behind the scenes?"
"Or you could say sacrifices." Mu Yiran suddenly spoke up, "The Classic of Mountains and Seas was a shamanistic diagram used by ancient shamans in rituals such as ancestor worship, summoning souls, sending souls away, and communicating with heaven and earth. So, we people are very likely living sacrifices."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned into silence. Wei Dong recalled the gruesome deaths of those who became sacrifices to the Black Corpse Heaven in "
Faith," and shuddered, his voice becoming even hoarseer: "Then, does the so-called fall of the Heart City imply that our world will fall? In other words, after we become sacrifices, the 'Secret Beast,' the mastermind behind the painting, will have enough power to bring this world down after absorbing its nourishment?" "
...It's giving us too much credit," Ke Xun twitched his lips. "We were just randomly selected experimental subjects. After being screened, do we really have the ability to help the painting overthrow the world?"
"This question might be related to the clues hinted at in the painting 'Schrödinger's Cat,'" Mu Yiran said. "Human will and mental strength are immeasurable forces. Perhaps what the painting ultimately wants to use is not just our physical sacrifices. Having undergone numerous tests and screenings, our willpower is at least no longer weak. This might be what the painting truly wants to exploit." Everyone
fell silent for a moment, and the atmosphere became somewhat somber.
Seeing this, Mu Yiran spoke in a calm yet subtly reassuring tone, saying, "Then, if the remaining painting, 'The Journey,' doesn't also hint at two worlds, perhaps the clues it points to can answer the questions that have been troubling us—that we all unite to take this step, even if it might be a step backward, but this step backward is for a longer journey forward. Even if this step backward might lead to an abyss, what we gain in return is eternal light."
Mu Yiran's gaze fell on Ke Xun's face, and a light flickered in Ke Xun's eyes; he instantly understood his meaning.
Ke Xun laughed and looked at everyone: "Look, there will be eternal light, so there's no need to worry too much. All the clues that seem unfavorable to us now may just be temporary 'steps backward,' so that we can eventually defeat the force behind the scenes and bring about 'eternal light'—to completely end this. Since we were able to come back alive from 'The Journey,' we can definitely come back alive from this whole incident. Cheer up!"
"—Yes, Captain Ke!" Wei Dong shouted, regaining his spirits.
"Brother, I think you're perfect for pyramid schemes." Luo Yi rubbed his ears, which had been shaken by Wei Dong's shout.
"Get lost," Ke Xun said. "Come on, let's continue. Only the hints in 'The Burning Rhinoceros at Sea' are still a bit vague."
Everyone perked up again and stared at Shao Ling's laptop screen.
"I have an idea…" Gu Qingqing suddenly said, "Of the fourteen paintings we've already entered, only 'Burning Rhinoceros at Sea' seems to be an ancient painting. Could this be a deliberate choice by the painting experts?"
"I think that suspicion is a bit far-fetched," Shao Ling said. "We know that the previous group of people who entered the paintings appeared nearly a hundred years ago. At that time, most of what was left in our country should have been ancient paintings. If it's because it's an ancient painting that it hints at any clues, then what clues could the previous group of people have gotten from a dozen
or so ancient paintings?" "Different eras may have different ways of hinting," Ke Xun said. "I agree with Qingqing's suspicion. Otherwise, many art museums display masterpieces, so why would they rather let us enter a rubbing of a painting than let us enter an original? It's clear that this painting itself has an important hinting function."
Shao Ling looked at him for a while, nodded, and said, "Your analytical ability has grown remarkably."
Ke Xun: "I'm flattered to be praised by President Shao. Come here and give me a kiss."
Shao Ling: "…" Why did I have to praise him?
"Since this painting itself is so important," Zhu Haowen said, "the clues it hints at are likely related to its own attributes, such as an illusion? A demonic beast? Immortality? Or perhaps, the era?"
"The era," Mu Yiran and Shao Ling chimed in simultaneously.
"There's only one ancient painting among all the others, and the biggest difference between them is their era," Mu Yiran said.
"This is a painting from the Qin Dynasty, so it's highly likely that it's hinting at the Qin Dynasty," Shao Ling said.
"Does this hint mean that the entire incident of entering the painting originated in the Qin Dynasty?" Wu You asked hastily.
"Could it really be related to Qin Shi Huang sending people to sea to search for immortals?" Luo Yu also asked hurriedly.
Shao Ling thought for a moment and said, "There were many practitioners of magic arts during the Qin Dynasty. Qin Shi Huang alone buried over 460 people alive. Yin-Yang secret arts and mysterious events must have been very popular in the early period. I'm afraid we'll need to consult a lot of materials. For now, let's assume the clues pointed to by this painting are related to the Qin Dynasty. We've almost listed the clues for all fourteen paintings. I'll summarize and organize them."
While Shao Ling was organizing the clues, everyone got up to move around. Some went to the restroom, some got water, and some stood in front of the French windows watching the gloomy sky and the falling snow.
Ke Xun, seeing that it was getting late, ordered takeout for everyone—we were at a crucial stage in investigating the clues, and he didn't have time to cook for everyone.
He had just brewed a pot of Tieguanyin tea and brought it over when Shao Ling had already finished organizing. Everyone gathered again, looking at the fourteen simple and clear lines of text on the screen:
"Free Judgment"—The method to decipher the paintings requires careful judgment of good and evil, right and wrong.
"Ling Shu"—Each painting points to a clue, and each clue points to the truth behind it all.
* **Funeral Ceremony** – The truth behind the scenes is related to witchcraft.
* **Faith** – The painting depicts the coexistence and struggle between good and evil forces.
* **Breaking Ground** – The power of evil is about to break through the ground and enter the real world.
* **Animal World** – The law of the jungle; if the power of evil arrives, we will be relegated to the bottom of the food chain, replaced by evil, completing a species replacement.
* **Shadow** – The power of evil comes from the opposite side of our world, like the relationship between white and black, yang and yin.
* **Anthropology** – The power of good or evil in the painting filters those who enter, leaving the strong behind.
* **Pure Land** – The bone structure of those who remain becomes a "tool" for passing through the barrier. *
**Crimson Beast** – The "tool" may serve as a sacrifice to the power of evil or a source of energy for the power of good.
* **Burning Rhinoceros at Sea** – The entire event originated in the Qin Dynasty.
* **Journey** – The method to defeat the power of evil: taking a step back is for the sake of victory.
* **Schrödinger's Cat** – The weapon for seeking victory is our will and spirit.
"Restart"—If we fail, the entire world will be replaced by a new one, a complete rebirth, a cataclysmic change.
Shao Ling's summary was not only concise and clear, but also intricately linked, revealing a complete chain of clues.
"That's very clear!" Wei Dong said. "Next, we need to investigate whether any strange events occurred during the Qin Dynasty that could be linked to the Ru Hua incident."
Author's Note:
Ke Xun: I'm truly flattered to be praised by President Shao. Let me give you a kiss.
Shao Ling: ...
Yi Ran: Will you still praise him in the future?
Shao Ling: ... (Should I answer "praise" or "don't praise"? Please help, waiting online, urgent.)