Chapter 2965

That was when cases in Ducheng began to increase, and local officials, suspecting some kind of sorcery or voodoo, had the coroner open his skull to investigate. Then they discovered the killer's brain had atrophied, about ten percent smaller than a normal person's, and there were some strange dot-like lesions in the brain, like green mold spots.

Mold spots? He Lingchuan truly wished Dong Rui were here—this was his specialty.

The renowned physicians in Ducheng had examined it but could not say what it was. Later, we found the same green mold in the brains of other criminals. Xin Wuhuan's face grew grim: Not long after, several coroners discovered that many ordinary civilians' skulls actually contained this substance too, though it did not drive them mad or cause confusion, only occasional melancholy and depression.

He Lingchuan sensed the hidden horror in those words:

"Is this brain mold contagious?"

Otherwise, how could so many people be affected?

"We tested it—it is not." Xin Wuhuan gave a negative answer: "It is not transmitted through interpersonal contact, but it shows regional outbreak characteristics, often occurring by clan, town, district, or city, especially in major cities. Like Ducheng, Cai Shuangcheng, You Chixia, Bai Ji, and others in my Mou State—all are major cities with populations over a million. Sampling in these areas always reveals traces of the green mold."

"I will issue an order later for Dacheng in Cangyan to conduct a self-check." Absence of report does not mean absence, especially since Cangyan has frequent trade with countries worldwide and high personnel mobility—one can never be sure… He Lingchuan continued: "If it is a regional outbreak, there must be a source. Have you found it?" "After spending half a year searching nationwide, we finally found it." Xin Wuhuan took a box from his bosom and opened it: inside was a bundle of white flowers, petals nearly translucent, buds half-closed. "In fact, we also believed that since this disease is a regional outbreak, the pathogen must be something civilians encounter daily—not food, then water, or perhaps soil or clothing. But this flower is so common it is always overlooked." Sun Fuling stared at the flowers in the box, furrowed her elegant brows: "Where did you find it?"

"The water source." Xin Wuhuan picked up a clear liuli cup, filled it with water, then placed the white flower inside: "The main water source for our Ducheng is the Qujiang and Bu Rivers outside the city, with abundant flow. Initially, officials checked the city's wells, because rushing rivers are hard to poison. But—" Sun Fuling took over, pointing at the water cup:

"A divine object can be thrown into flowing water to harm people."

"Can such a thing also be called a 'divine object'?" "Originally, no matter how we investigated, we found nothing. Only after comparison did we discover that several water sources had this flower growing underwater. Someone identified it as sea vegetable flower, but where it was dredged up was clearly not its natural habitat—like the bottom of a well—so officials tentatively picked it to test."

True sea vegetable flower may drift with the current, but it certainly should not appear at the bottom of a well.

All four watched as the white flower entered the water and slowly unfurled, its petals translucent like porcelain, while the stamens were bright yellow, pure and beautiful. Xin Wuhuan shook the cup again, and soon a large amount of pale yellow particulate matter drifted from the yellow flower—particles the size of dust, quickly dissolving in the water. "This is probably pollen?" Xin Wuhuan swirled the water in the cup: "Those who ingest this pollen, human or beast, will suffer cerebral mutation."

He Lingchuan asked: "Do animals and demons also cannot escape?"

"Yes."

Sun Fuling stared intently at the small flower, then suddenly reached out, scooped one up, and laid it in her palm.

The flower lost moisture and quickly closed again.

She pinched the petals, even brought it to her nose to sniff. No one else dared do such a thing—only she remained indifferent.

The other three remained silent, knowing she had made a discovery.

"Indeed!" Sun Fuling's expression darkened. She asked He Lingchuan: "Have you sensed any abnormality?"

"Yes." He Lingchuan spoke frankly: "Although extremely faint, this aura is not divine art—it is a divine seal!"

"Divine seal?" Xiao Hanzi and Xin Wuhuan were both genuinely surprised—indeed, they had found the right person to ask about this.

Though they were both great masters of the present age, they cultivated immortal arts, while demon gods' divine arts and seals are myriad, with new variants said to emerge each year; these two true immortals could not possibly know them all.

But He Lingchuan and the Red General themselves are masters of divine seals, so their sensitivity to such auras is exceptionally keen.

"Do you know whose it is?"

He Lingchuan shook his head.

Sun Fuling, however, wore a look of disgust:

"I know—this thick aura belongs only to the Life Divine Seal!"

"Life Divine Seal!" The other three nearly spoke in unison: "Is it the Life Divine Seal of Lingxu Shengzun?"

Different heavenly gods may condense divine seals with the same name, such as Spatial Divine Seal or Life Divine Seal, and there are three or four kinds in heaven. But only one can make everyone in heaven and earth feel dread—of course, only one.

That is the Life Divine Seal of Lingxu Shengzun.

"Correct." Sun Fuling unconsciously pursed her lips: "Elitian's memory and perception will not err—this is the aura of the Life Divine Seal, no matter what form it currently takes!"

Then, a hazy black light emanated from her palm.

This pure white small flower withered within three breaths, shifting from crystalline translucence to a mass of pitch black.

Sun Fuling blew on it again, and it turned to ash and vanished.

Xin Wuhuan still found it hard to believe: "Would Lingxu Shengzun so easily release a Life Divine Seal? And I still have over a dozen bundles of these white flowers in my hand." "Correct—it is indeed saturated with the aura of the Life Divine Seal, but this thing is not the seal itself, only a derivative." He Lingchuan wondered: "What does the Life Divine Seal actually look like?"

"In the hands of the Ancient Life God, it appeared as a towering tree." Sun Fuling recalled Lady Lady Lady Mitian's memories: "But once it fell into Lingxu Shengzun's hands, no one can describe its exact form."

"Did Lingxu Shengzun never display it publicly?" He Lingchuan grew interested: "If he does not show it, how can heaven confirm it is in his hands?" Xin Wuhuan rubbed the back of his head: "Carefully recalling, I saw Lingxu Shengzun only twice during the Ancient War—and indeed, I never saw him produce his divine seal, only saw that of Jia Lou Tian."

"Lingxu Shengzun slew the Ancient Life God, personally took the divine seal of Chi—this was witnessed by all participating demons." Sun Fuling said: "Later, Chi also revealed the Life Divine Seal a few times, but extremely rarely, and each appearance took a different form."

Xiao Hanzi was moved: "Can the Life Divine Seal still keep changing?"

Those demon gods capable of condensing divine seals are few overall, for that at least indicates their understanding of the rules has matured, at least allowing self-derived reasoning. But the divine seals people have seen before usually have fixed forms, merely possibly operating continuously.