When "God" Decides To Start Over

Li Xiu thought it made sense. Bai Ying had mentioned earlier that the eighth master was a Super Spirit Tester. If even a Super Spirit Tester was trapped in the cottage without a solution, then even if Li Xiu wore his Demon Armor, he might not be able to break out. After all, the energy limit of the Demon Armor is just Super Spirit. Moreover, the Light-Speed Spear is not with him now; it's being repaired by Ximen Guan, which greatly reduces its destructive power.

"Changing the world is just a single thought away; isn't that a bit exaggerated? Where in the world can there be such humans?" Li Xiu frowned and said.

"I've told you everything I should. Whether you believe it or not is your own business. Your death does me no good; why would I harm you?" The red-robed woman felt slightly annoyed seeing Li Xiu's disbelief.

"I just find it hard to believe that there could be such powerful people in the world." Li Xiu wasn't angry; he smiled as he spoke.

"Before meeting the owner of this place, I thought the same, and so did little eight. That's why we are all trapped here, supposedly guests, but actually prisoners guarding the place." The red-robed woman sighed.

"What was your status before, and how did you end up trapped here?" Li Xiu asked curiously.

"My status wouldn't matter even if I told you. That little eight was once one of the ten elders of Longevity Heaven, thinking that with the light of the Celestial Mandate Runes, he could roam the world, seeking fortune and avoiding misfortune. But when he got here, the owner wrote a character for him to measure, which caused him to bleed from his seven orifices and almost die on the spot. Fortunately, he was left alive to obediently become a watch dog for the place. The owner left him a path of opportunity; if he manages to obtain a bowl of water and a leaf, he can leave and regain his freedom." The red-robed woman sneered.

"What about you? How can you leave here?" Li Xiu asked.

"I will regain freedom when three bowls of water are finished." The red-robed woman said.

"That doesn't sound too difficult. Just find a few people to come here and drink the water." Zhou Wen pondered.

"If it were that easy, it would be great. The three bowls — Celestial Mandate, Predestination, and Personality — can't just be drunk by anyone. They require the chosen ones of little eight to drink them in the cottage. I don't know what rules the owner set for little eight, but over the years, you're the third person he's let in to drink water."

"Didn't the two before drink water? How did they leave if they didn't drink?" Li Xiu looked at the three bowls full of water and asked.

"They drank, just not finished, so they died. When they died, the water automatically refilled." The red-robed woman said dispassionately.

"If one doesn't drink it all, they die?" Li Xiu frowned; the woman in red hadn't mentioned this before.

The red-robed woman didn't answer but smiled as she asked, "Did you notice the three flowers in the jade vase?"

"I saw them. Is there a problem?" Li Xiu asked.

"The three flowers correspond to the three bowls of water. If the water in one bowl dries, the corresponding flower will kill." The red-robed woman chuckled coldly, "The first person drank all the water from the White Jade Bowl, causing a white flower petal to fall, and he died on the spot without warning."

"I warned the second person about this taboo; he was clever enough to drink two-thirds from each bowl and then combine the remaining third of each into one bowl."

Li Xiu had considered this earlier, seemingly the only way out.

"Unfortunately, when he drained the water from one bowl, he was killed by the flower." The red-robed woman sighed.

"Can't all three bowls be taken out?" Li Xiu frowned and asked.

"If they could, he wouldn't have died. Either you drink all three bowls, or two bowls and take one, or else the door won't open." The red-robed woman said with some frustration, "I've thought for so long but can't figure out a way for someone to leave alive."

"After all this talk, it turns out the effect of combining two types doesn't matter; the real issue is how to leave alive." Li Xiu said.

"Exactly." The red-robed woman nodded, "Leaving alive is what matters most. Whatever effect those waters have on your body is trivial compared to death. Sadly, this is an unsolvable problem; you must drink all the water to leave, but drinking it all causes death—it's a vicious cycle."

Li Xiu lifted the bead curtain and walked to the small table with three bowls and the vase of three flowers, sitting down and scrutinizing them.

The three jade bowls—red, white, and black—were all as translucent as if carved from Crystal Jade. The water inside was clear and transparent, no different from normal pure water, with no detectable scent.

The jade vase was the color of mutton-fat white jade, the three flowers in it were vibrant, like blooming roses.

"Drink and die, not drink, can't leave; that's quite interesting." Li Xiu murmured, looking at the three bowls.

"You actually find this interesting? Don't you understand that if you can't break this setup, your life is over?" The red-robed woman looked at Li Xiu in surprise.

"May I ask your name?" Li Xiu smiled and said.

"Having leisure between life and death; you're an interesting person. I'll make an exception and tell you my name. I am Wan Chaocun." The red-robed woman thought for a moment before answering.

"Wan Chaocun? What relation do you have with Wan Chaoxin?" Li Xiu was slightly taken aback and asked.

"The Wan Chaoxin you mentioned, should be a young man?" The red-robed woman asked.

"Yes." Li Xiu nodded.

"Though I haven't met him, according to the Wan family genealogy, the name Xin should be from my grandson's generation. He should call me great aunt." The red-robed woman looked at Li Xiu and asked, "Do you know Wan Chaoxin? Are you his friend?"

"He gave me some things once; does that count as friends?" Li Xiu smiled and said.