Chapter 2678

A girl stepped out from the stone grotto behind, her eyes bright and delicate; she first bowed to He Lingchuan, then her gaze swept over the State Preceptor of Frostleaf, before finally settling on Dong Rui.

Her growth rate far exceeded that of ordinary humans; half a year after leaving the Spirit Nourishment Palace, she already had the figure of a young woman. Because she was clever and dexterous, Dong Rui kept her as his assistant, but unlike the Spirit Nourishment Palace, he did not restrict her movements.

Over these three years, A Lian has adapted well here.

Dong Rui said: "Second room, third cabinet, seventh compartment, bright lamp vessel—bring it to me."

A Lian turned and went in, and shortly afterward came out with a box.

Frostleaf's gaze, however, focused on her, scrutinizing her with several lingering looks. A Lian was not as shy as an ordinary little girl, so she stared right back.

Frostleaf tilted her head, and A Lian followed suit, tilting her head as well.

Seeing this, Dong Rui asked her: "A Lian, what do you feel when you look at him?"

"Affable." A Lian also did not know why, "For some reason, seeing him feels even more affable than seeing Duan He Yun."

Frostleaf, however, was somewhat uncertain: "She is also... a demon puppet?"

He sensed a familiar aura from A Lian, as if...

"If the Descended Divine Body developed by the Spirit Nourishment Palace does not count as a demon puppet, then she does not either." He Lingchuan said from the side, "She is the Spirit Nourishment Palace's most successful work from three years ago, and the current Divine Bodies are all improvements made upon the foundation of her research."

Frostleaf's expression shifted slightly: "She is a fusion of the Hidden God and a human?"

"By using a special blood as the fusion agent." Dong Rui looked at the two of them, "You already know this, right? It is your blood."

Thus, there will be some strange resonance between you, just like between the Holy Mother of Jin Du and you. He Lingchuan then pointed at A Lian, "What do you think—will there also be a resonance between her and the Holy Mother of Jin Du?"

Frostleaf shook her head: "No, their connection is too weak."

"So the Holy Mother of Jin Du cannot influence or control her, correct?"

"Of course not!" Dong Rui interjected, sneering at his logic, "If you put it that way, most Divine Bodies made by the Spirit Nourishment Palace would be controlled by the Jin Du Mother, which would mean most heavenly demons descended would also be controlled by the Jin Du Mother. Hehe, isn't that inverting heaven's order?"

Frostleaf, however, said: "I understand—this is also a method."

He grasped the implied meaning in He Lingchuan's words.

"But I have already confirmed that using the bright lamp vessel can resolve my hidden peril." Frostleaf turned to ask A Lian, "You have grown this big—how long did it take you?"

"Nine months." A Lian was also very interested in him, "And you?"

Frostleaf smiled faintly, did not answer directly, and only said: "Let the time be even shorter."

He Lingchuan recalled the elaborate and magnificent demon nest in the swamp. As a true devourer, how long did it take Frostleaf to reach her full form back then? One month? Two months?

A Lian asked again: "Did you also grow up in the experimental field?"

"No... not exactly." Frostleaf paused, then continued, "I had a mother to care for me."

"Your mother?" A Lian wondered, "Is she also human?"

Facing her, Frostleaf showed rare patience and curiosity, even pinching a strand of her hair to examine closely:

"Yes, she is human."

"Is she good to you?" A Lian blinked, "Would she not use you for experiments?"

"Experiments? That is not what a mother should do to her child." Frostleaf pressed her thin lips slightly, "She treats me very well—rarely so."

"Her creator is Duan He Yun." He Lingchuan added from the side, "She was raised as an experimental subject."

To some extent, does she count as Frostleaf's kind?

"Hey hey, back to the point. Can your hidden peril be resolved with the bright lamp vessel?" Dong Rui interjected, "Is it a problem with the brain core?"

Frostleaf was speechless, glanced at He Lingchuan. This demon puppet master knows far too much.

"I brought you here to find him precisely because the bright lamp vessel needs to be prepared according to your constitution. What works for ordinary humans may not work for you." He Lingchuan paused, "Whether human or immortal, the place that stores memory and engraves personality is the sea of consciousness, but yours is the brain core—its structure is utterly different from a human brain. If you take the bright lamp vessel and use it directly, it may not be of any use."

Those who have taken or used the bright lamp vessel for frost are exceedingly few; Frostleaf herself has no experience, so she could only ask him: "How long will it take?"

"Not long at all." Dong Rui looked at him, his eyes glowing, "Just cooperate with me on a few trials, draw a few tubes of blood, and it will be done! Three days—no, two days later, I will have the bright lamp vessel ready!"

This is a living, breathing devourer—the sole living unique copy in the world!

Just thinking about being able to experiment with the fresh flesh and blood of a devourer made Dong Rui so excited he wanted to rub his hands: "Do you still need to provide blood to the Spirit Nourishment Palace now?"

"No need anymore, over two years ago."

"It seems they have found an alternative—truly, the talents of the Heavenly Palace are many." He Lingchuan seized the moment to steer the conversation back, "You may stay in the palace for now; I will bring you back in two days."

"Very well, thank you." Staying a few more days in Ju City is no trouble for Frostleaf, and his entourage members still need to remain in Ju City for several days, "In two days, I will help Master Dong remake the mask."

Leaving Dong Rui's laboratory, He Lingchuan and Frostleaf walked leisurely, passing by a garden.

Coincidentally, this garden is fixed in autumn scenery—wind and snow cannot enter. In the corner, several five-clawed maples stand, their leaves red as flames, like the final grand hymn before withering.

Both saw these red leaves, and He Lingchuan suddenly asked Frostleaf:

"Are you not optimistic about the renewed battle between humanity and the heavenly demons?"

"Of course not." Frostleaf spoke bluntly, "But if I still had even a sliver of choice, I should stand beside the Holy Lord of Ling Xu."

"Is the gap really that wide?"

"This time, humanity has neither the Dragon God nor the Primordial Shore Immortal—what do we have to oppose the Sixteen Great Heavenly Gods, to oppose the Ling Xu Holy Lord, who is far more formidable than the Later Fifteen Great Heavenly Gods?" Frostleaf, the State Preceptor, curled her lips, "I know you wish to rely on primordial force, but from a temporal standpoint, there is no time. Relying on this illusory, ethereal new power carries too great a risk, and the strength is insufficient."

He Lingchuan chuckled: "You are not optimistic, yet you still dare to make a deal with me?"

Frostleaf shrugged, rare in her honesty: "Once the Holy Lord of Ling Xu descends, you will surely die—I may not."

How many great deeds has the Nine Abyss ruined for the heavenly demons? From the Great Vessel of the Great Direction to the Plan of the Gods' Descent.

Whether it is the fall of the myriad gods or the great chaos of the heavenly realm, all are inseparable from the deeds of the Nine Abyss.

The entire heavenly realm hates the Nine Abyss to the bone, wishing to devour its flesh and sleep in its skin. Therefore, after the Ling Xu hosts descend, they will surely take revenge on the Nine Abyss and the Cang Yan—without a doubt.

As for Frostleaf, the heavenly demons bear no such deep-seated grudge against him.

"I admire you as a hero." He turned to He Lingchuan, his expression solemn, "On the day I hear the bad news, I will burn paper offerings for you."