Chapter 2147: Deer Zhensheng's Scheme

This is the ancestral hall, after all—many hands, much clutter, and the servants usually wipe down the Deer Cry Cauldron regularly. How could no one notice its abnormality?

Deer Zhenxian gave her an approving glance—still, young ladies are attentive.

"If I don't activate the Deer Cry Cauldron with the incantation, this bronze fragment is normally wrapped inside the cauldron wall, untouchable by others," Deer Zhensheng said, knowing what Deer Feiyan wanted to say, and preemptively silenced her: "An ancestral immortal treasure—can it really be touched casually at will? Your Majesty, look—should we continue?"

At this moment, he instead grew calm. Considering the crowd watching, with the Dragon God Army present and all the Deer clan gathered around, how could the Nine Abysses Great Emperor possibly withdraw and claim an accident?

He Lingchuan smiled faintly: "The principles of the world—nothing outweighs 'justified and proper' in four characters."

Everyone echoed: "Exactly!"

Even if the Nine Abysses Great Emperor wished to become head of the Deer clan, he must do so justifiably and properly; otherwise, he could never silence the murmurs of the masses, and Mu State would surely find fault later.

He Lingchuan curled his right hand at his side, lightly flicking his cloak.

The Blood Demon then said: "I am watching you."

Should anything unexpected occur, it will act first to protect.

Wan Qi Feng ordered those nearby to retreat several steps, clearing space for this test.

He Lingchuan told everyone: "No matter what happens, no one may step forward."

The crowd assented.

Afterwards, he lightly brushed his left hand across his chest, then immediately pressed it onto the bronze fragment.

Deer Zhensheng stared unblinking. This is the critical moment—success or failure hangs in the balance!

He had, of course, lied.

Can the bronze fragment test for the Son of Fate? Yes.

But it only requires the test subject to squeeze a drop of fresh blood, drip it onto the water inside the furnace—direct contact with the bronze fragment is absolutely forbidden!

Twelve hundred years ago and six hundred years ago, the Deer clan's Sons of Fate likely accidentally touched this bronze fragment by mistake, resulting in sudden death that very day.

Yet their recorded cause of death in the clan chronicles is enemy treachery and revenge, for they were not only tendons and bones severed, but their dying postures were especially strange:

They died kneeling.

Why does Deer Zhensheng know this? Because when he was young, he studied in Mu State and once read a obscure secret history in a corner of an academy, recording past immortals. It not only mentions the Deer ancestors, but clearly states that the Deer ancestors once slew a great heavenly demon, seizing much spoil—but they were also wounded by the demon's relic.

That relic simultaneously took the lives of several of his senior disciples and descendants.

And his descendants all died kneeling.

The Deer ancestor later returned to his ancestral homeland, lived there, taught the younger generation, and passed away over ten years later.

After reading it, Deer Zhensheng reflected repeatedly and realized that piecing together the facts yields:

The heavenly demon's relic is a thing of great misfortune—not only did it kill the Deer ancestor's attendants, but it may even have shortened his own lifespan.

Given that immortals enjoy long lives, and eternal youth is basic cultivation—why did the immortal ancestor, after the Immortal-Demon War, live only a dozen more years before passing?

Perhaps he was severely wounded in that war. But Deer Zhensheng still feels it is highly likely connected to that heavenly demon relic.

Thus, after reviewing the deaths of the two historical Sons of Fate, he concluded they too were slain by the secret treasure.

Hence the immortal ancestor used the Deer Cry Cauldron to wrap the fragment, preventing direct human contact.

If so, then today I ask the ancestral sect to act, using the secret treasure to remove this great calamity before me!

Since he clearly intends harm toward me, He Lingchuan will not rashly touch it barehanded.

He has already hidden the Divine Bone Pendant in his palm—this light press is also to let the Divine Bone Pendant touch the bronze fragment first!

The Great Vessel is already impatient; he wants to see how this bronze fragment could harm him.

But as soon as the Divine Bone Pendant touched the fragment, the entire incense burner suddenly trembled, drawing startled cries from all.

The tremor was like a magnitude-nine earthquake—the burner nearly leapt in place.

Had there not been water inside, it would probably have begun humming now, just as its name suggests.

At the same time, the golden threads on the burner flared bright—light more dazzling than the blazing sun, making onlookers feel their eyes sting and see gold spots, hastily turning away.

But He Lingchuan noticed: the bronze fragment remained in place, untouched—it had not been swallowed by the Divine Bone Pendant!

This is utterly unprecedented.

Know that the Divine Bone Pendant always gulfs down objects offering no resistance—now what is happening? Is the bronze fragment too hard to chew?

In this instant, He Lingchuan knew this thing was extraordinary.

But after a few breaths, the golden light retracted, and the bronze fragment vanished.

Though it resisted fiercely, the Divine Bone Pendant still took it in.

There were twists, but the outcome still matched He Lingchuan's expectation.

But what exactly is this thing, that it could so stubbornly resist the Great Vessel?

Seeing this, Deer Zhensheng's vision darkened, his body swayed twice, nearly collapsing. Deer Qing'an had no mind to help him, only managing to cry out: "What is happening?!"

Where did the immortal ancestor's relic go?

Most importantly, why is the Nine Abysses Great Emperor still perfectly fine?

He Lingchuan slowly lowered his hand, shook off the water droplets on his arm, and remained utterly composed.

Deer Qing'an immediately questioned him: "Where is the bronze fragment? You failed the test—so you hid my Deer clan's immortal treasure!"

His reaction was swift—he immediately confronted the Nine Abysses Great Emperor before all the Deer clan:

"The test can be done however you like, but you won't show us the results. I've hidden it away."

He Lingchuan's face sank like water: "This is a thing of great misfortune—touch it, and you die. Deer Zhensheng, how many have you harmed with it?"

Deer Zhensheng also came to his senses, shouting: "What do you mean, Your Majesty? Return my Deer clan's immortal treasure first, then we'll talk!"

He Lingchuan was about to speak when he felt the Divine Bone Pendant in his palm jerk violently—as if something were about to be released.

The next instant, everyone saw countless golden threads burst from his palm, traveling along the back of his hand up to his wrist!

Wan Qi Feng exclaimed in alarm: "My lord!"

They could all see the golden threads moving beneath He Lingchuan's skin, glowing as they went, making his entire body appear radiant with golden light.

This light is absolutely abnormal!

He Lingchuan was also somewhat surprised, instinctively mobilizing his true power to resist.

Yet when his true power swept through his entire body, he actually found no intruder!

Everyone watched helplessly as these golden threads invaded the body of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, but He Lingchuan, upon inner vision, saw his body empty and clean, as if the golden threads were merely an illusion.

However, this could absolutely not be just an illusion.

Lu Zhensheng even dared not breathe, watching intently. His calculation was correct—the ancestral immortal's secret treasure would surely take effect on the Nine Abysses Great Emperor!

Kill him, I must kill him!

The heavenly demon secret treasure that even immortals are helpless against will surely seize the life of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor!

Yet in He Lingchuan's heart, a hint of realization arose:

This is clearly a power beyond martial force, divine abilities, and curses, so relying solely on true power cannot counter it.

But after the great square pot absorbed the bronze fragments and then returned them to him, was it certain he could withstand it?

At this moment, He Lingchuan felt his body immeasurably heavy, his shoulders, neck, and back as if suddenly pressed down by a great mountain!

A majestic, vast voice echoed in his ears, like the great bell and lute:

"Kneel down!"

He Lingchuan's body, forged through a hundred refinings, could remain unharmed from fire and poison even within the Wood King Cauldron, yet now his calves trembled, and his spine was pressed until it crackled.

This sound could even be heard by the black-armored guards beside him.

If he did not lower his head, if he did not kneel, his bones would likely break!

That voice was cold, yet it made hearts and souls tremble: "If you do not kneel, death is certain!"