Chapter 554 Dao Arena
Zhou Hao did not understand what was going on, so he thought for a moment and asked.
“This is my first time participating in this test. What’s the use of these scenes you mentioned?”
Zhou Hao was very curious.
The intelligent entity’s voice sounded.
“In order to push the accuracy of the test to the greatest extent, we have set up these few scenes. The settings of each scene are different. Similarly, one’s personal mental state will still be accounted for. However, no matter which scene it is, the essence is the same. Challenger, please choose the scene you want to experience.” Zhou Hao blinked. He did not know what to expect. Instead, the divine soil said, “It’s best not to be realistic. Otherwise, you will sink deeper. Once you believe in the contents of the mental world, it’s very easy for you to not be able to walk out. Choose a fictional civilization!”
Zhou Hao nodded.
“I choose… the fictional civilization!”
“Alright, please choose. Fictional modern civilization and fictional ancient civilization.”
The intelligent entity spoke again.
This time, without the reminder of the divine soil, Zhou Hao directly chose the fictional ancient civilization!
It was also at this moment that the light became especially bright. The intense light pierced Zhou Hao until he could not open his eyes. He hurriedly closed them. When he opened them, he had already fallen asleep!
At the same time, a special scene slowly appeared in Zhou Hao’s mind!
The divine soil’s eyes were filled with worry as it muttered to itself, “Zhou Hao, you have to persist. You can’t die in that illusory world, understand?!”
As soon as this voice fell, Zhou Hao could not hear it at all. At this moment, he slowly opened his eyes and saw a strange place. It was a tattered Dao Arena that looked a little old.
At this moment, a middle-aged man was walking up with a small child.
“Sigh… Hao’er, when you were born, you were already infected with a bad illness. Before you reached the age of ten, you were still safe. However, after you were ten, your body would weaken. This was told to me by the four Daoists in the Dao Arena. I originally did not believe it, but after your tenth birthday a few days ago, you often fell unconscious. I found many physicians, but they were all unable to see through your illness. Looks like you might really have to spend your life in the Dao Arena in the future.”
“As my son, you naturally have to fight for the people of the world. Unfortunately, your life doesn’t belong to the Imperial Court, so… I can’t disregard your life.”
The man was wearing armor and looked like a general. He was holding a child and had his eyes closed. Although the child looked very cute, the man could sense a layer of death aura covering his face. The child’s breathing was also uneven, making the man very worried.
“My Zhou family has fought for the Imperial Court for generations. I don’t say that I’ve done much for the sake of the world, but why can’t my son even enjoy the treatment of an ordinary family? Why did he have to encounter such difficulties when he was still an innocent and romantic child… As your father, I named you Zhou Hao because I hope that you will be righteous, mighty, and unrestrained.
“However… I still can’t beat the heavens!”
The man’s words seemed to be heard by the child. He slowly opened his eyes with a confused expression.
He was only ten years old and naturally did not understand so many confused words. He only looked at the path up the mountain and thought that it was another path he needed to take to seek medical treatment.
In just a few days, he had gone to many clinics and many places. This time, he still innocently thought that he had come here to seek treatment.
“Father, which medical center are we at?”
The child asked, making the man’s eyes turn red.
“Son, I don’t think you can be treated, but… you might be able to live here. However… you’re unable to walk my path. In this life, I’m afraid you can only survive in this Dao Arena and become a Daoist priest.”
As the man spoke, his expression was a little unwilling. As a general of the country, he naturally hoped that his son would be like him and become a legendary figure. However, this thought was clearly unrealistic. In order for his son to live, he could only bear the pain and part with his love.
He originally wanted to stay here with his son and watch him grow up. However, for the sake of the country and the citizens, he could only abandon his ten-year-old son!
Perhaps it was not considered giving up. He was just giving his son a new life!
Zhou Hao was born when he was in his forties and he had been fighting in the war his entire life. Seeing his son like this, he no longer felt like establishing a family. He only hoped that Zhou Hao could grow up healthily!
Soon, they arrived at the Dao Arena. The four old Daoists had long been waiting there. The four of them had their own expressions and were very amiable. “Seniors…”
The man wanted to say something, but he was stopped by the Daoist priest.
“If you want him to live, leave him here. Don’t worry. Since he came to the Dao Arena, we will be responsible for his life. Ten years later, when he recovers, I will naturally let him leave the mountain.”
The old Daoist priest in the lead received Zhou Hao. The reluctance on the man’s face became even stronger. His eyes were red, but he still did not let it flow down. Instead, he left decisively.
Zhou Hao naturally did not understand this. He only felt that he had relaxed a lot after coming here, so he was very happy.
“Since you’re here, you’re the Little Daoist. From today onwards, you’ll live here. This is your starting point and your end. Remember!”
Zhou Hao had heard this for more than ten years. He often heard it, but he did not understand what it meant.
Ten years quickly passed. Zhou Hao had been a Dao Child for ten years. Other than cleaning the courtyard, he usually cooked for the three Daoists. After cleaning, he would burn incense.
Ten years passed quietly. Zhou Hao did not learn any special abilities and only did these things day after day.
Ten years later, he was already twenty years old. In this year, after his birthday, the four Daoists took out something and called Zhou Hao to their side.
“From the moment you arrived here ten years ago, we always knew that this day will arrive. In the first ten years of your life, you were destined to be rich. In the previous ten years, you were destined to stay here. The next forty years, or even longer, will depend on how you choose. You will be the one to decide your next four lives.”
At this point, the four Daoists looked at Zhou Hao dotingly!
Zhou Hao nodded and did not think much of it. In the past ten years, he had listened to the four old Daoists and had never disobeyed them. The four Daoists also liked Zhou Hao very much.
“I’ve said many times that this is not the world you belong to. However, whether or not you can see through it is still up to you. If you choose to walk this path in the future, it will also be up to you. Perhaps you will take a path that will make you crazy, a path that will make you fall, and even a path that you will hate. In short… you will have to walk the remaining path yourself.”