Chapter 2677: Twenty Years Later, We Meet Again

"This information won't put you in a difficult position." As the foremost of the Four National Preceptors, if Frostleaf were to reveal all of Begga's deepest secrets, He Lingchuan would instead look down on him. "I want to know: has the Demon Emperor already researched an antidote for 'Heartstring'?"

The Holy Sovereign of the Spirit Void bound the lives of the Thirteen Vassal Demon Kings to the Thirteen Heavenly Gods respectively, sharing life and death, in order to achieve the goal of controlling the Vassal Demon Kingdom and restraining Spirit Void City. And "Heartstring" is the secret medicine that accompanies this divine technique.

The formula for the "Heartstring" secret medicine was already leaked three years ago during the handover of the old and new Cloud Lords. The Demon Emperor has countless capable subordinates; surely he wouldn't fail to research an antidote?

"You really did find out." Frostleaf narrowed his eyes at He Lingchuan. "And you? Have you researched it?"

He Lingchuan laughed: "Hey, what does this have to do with me? Now I'm the one asking you for answers."

"I have researched it."

He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow: "Have you seen the antidote's formula?"

"What nonsense are you talking?" Frostleaf gazed at the silver frost on the branches, "All kinds of signs can indicate this, such as the Sovereign's recent unusually close contact with several old Vassal Demon Kings, such as some Vassal Demon Kingdoms beginning to experience internal problems. As for other things, I'd rather not say more. In short, that antidote should already have been developed, and I am eighty percent sure of it. As for whether it has been distributed to certain Vassal Demon Kings—"

He glanced at He Lingchuan and trailed off.

Has any Vassal Demon King already obtained the antidote? Only the Demon Emperor himself knows that.

"Then, what does the Heavenly Palace think about this?"

Frostleaf believes the Demon Emperor has already researched the antidote for "Heartstring," so wouldn't the Heavenly Palace think the same?

"This matter, both the Heavenly Palace and Spirit Void City treat it as a deep taboo; neither side will mention it."

"Understood." As long as the Heavenly Palace also believes the Demon Emperor has researched the antidote, that's enough.

He Lingchuan stood up and casually summoned the Haoyuan Golden Mirror: "Come with me, I'll take you to get the Bright Lamp, and along the way, meet an old acquaintance."

Old acquaintance?

Frostleaf isn't afraid of him plotting against himself, so he lifted his leg and followed He Lingchuan into the Haoyuan Golden Mirror.

Before their eyes flashed, the two appeared in front of a small mountain.

The mountain isn't high, about ten zhang, with a few buildings on its side, and a gate opened at its base.

The two appeared abruptly, the branches and leaves of the large tree beside them trembled, and a swishing sound rang out. Frostleaf turned his head to look, and saw that on the Three-Person-Embrace Toruo tree, there actually grew a human face.

It even opened its eyes to look at the two, seemingly confirming their identity, then slowly closed them again.

Moreover, on the dense canopy, it seemed something was hidden, and Frostleaf could sense the watching gaze concealed behind the leaves.

This should be the local guard force, non-human.

Then they saw the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses walk forward and extend his hand to knock on the door.

One long, three short.

Then they waited for quite a while.

Frostleaf wasn't in a hurry; instead, he was quite curious. In Jucheng, who would dare make the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses wait this long?

About thirty breaths later, the door creaked open, accompanied by an impatient voice:

"Who is so blind, choosing this time to come?"

Although they hadn't seen each other for many years, Frostleaf's memory is too good; he recognized this guy at a glance—

The Demon Puppet Master Dong Rui!

Dong Rui saw him standing beside He Lingchuan at a glance and was also somewhat surprised:

"Yo, what wind blew the Frostleaf National Preceptor over here?"

Frostleaf gave him a slight smile, very graceful: "It's been twenty years since we last met; is your mask still working well?"

Dong Rui unconsciously touched his face: "It works well, indistinguishable from my own face."

His original flesh face had been completely corroded by deadly poison; now his face is the one given to him by the Frostleaf National Preceptor. To be precise, it is a mask personally given to him by the Necrovorers, able to grow together with his own flesh and skin.

Frostleaf smiled: "If you need adjustments, I can help."

"I want it!" Dong Rui's eyes lit up, "Can't you make me look more handsome?"

He pointed at He Lingchuan: "I want to be more handsome than this guy!"

When he and He Lingchuan went out in private clothes, even without wearing the identity of the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses, he still wasn't as popular with the girls as He Lingchuan.

Even when the two went out to eat, there were always female customers who voluntarily offered to pay for He Lingchuan.

This fully explains that handsomeness can be eaten as food.

But Dong Rui's frustration lies in the fact that he is clearly a great Demon Puppet Master, able to modify any demon puppet, yet he cannot modify this face of his!

No matter how many times he cuts himself, this face will always revert back, returning to the plain, unremarkable appearance originally specified by Frostleaf.

Products of the Necrovorers, indeed extraordinary.

But how did this Necrovorer know to give himself a peerlessly handsome appearance? He also wants one!

Frostleaf snapped his fingers: "No problem. Coincidentally, I'm in Jucheng now, and when I have time, I'll help you adjust it."

To him, this is just a small dish. For those who should be generous, he has always been generous.

Twenty years later, meeting again, both felt some emotion.

Before, Dong Rui was just a minor Demon Puppet Master under Frostleaf, and also a wanted criminal in Begga, forced to make a snail toad capable of carrying people underground, which was the tool used in the Immortal Medicine case.

Now, Dong Rui has already become a greatly respected Grand Artificer of the Shuoyan Empire, able to remain calm and composed before the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses, pick and choose, and when facing the Frostleaf National Preceptor, able to straighten his back and call each other brothers.

Indeed, in major life matters, choice is more important than effort.

After observing this, He Lingchuan said to Dong Rui: "Is the Bright Lamp still with you? Give him one."

"Sure, please come in." Dong Rui also readily agreed, turned around and invited them into the house.

Behind the door is his exclusive experimental chamber, built deep within the solid mountain belly, to prevent various strange noises from leaking out and disturbing people.

Here are filled with strange and wondrous specimens, carcasses, severed limbs, a large pile of potions with equally strange colors and effects, and instruments that look terrifying enough to make one's hair stand on end.

Qiuhu and Wanqifeng and others have come here twice; these battlefield veterans, who have rolled in mountains of corpses and seas of blood without furrowing their brows, upon entering his experimental chamber, show uneasy expressions, find an excuse, and want to leave.

Even He Lingchuan doesn't like staying in this strange amusement park. This is the second strangest place he has experienced, aside from the Necrovorer's nest.

But while the Frostleaf National Preceptor was everywhere observing, he also got hands-on, even discussing with Dong Rui, with great interest.

He Lingchuan could only say, some monsters are just kindred spirits.

He wasn't worried that bringing the Frost Leaf National Master over would expose Dong Rui's address; first, the Heavenly Demon's divine body research had already shifted focus away from demonic puppets, so Dong Rui wasn't that crucial; second, the entire Chixiao Golden Hall was itself a massive magical artifact, its architectural layout adjustable at any time. All he needed to do was snap his fingers, and Dong Rui's experimental site could be moved directly from the east to the west.

Seeing them already discussing the gender of the demonic puppet, He Lingchuan lightly coughed to interrupt:

"Bright Lamp Bowl."

"Oh right!" Dong Rui raised his voice, "A Lian!"