Chapter 181: Even a Burial Ground Doesn't Mind One More Registered Disciple

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ping'an felt even more terrified.

In fact, after a period of research and investigation, the Mysterious Force behind Huang Zong and the other five had been identified.

Everyone had reached a consensus that this force was not some prestigious sect, but rather something more akin to a Side-Door Path.

Anyone with even a slight connection to the inner circles had been warned.

Before Zhang Ping'an set off, his grandfather's Daoist friend had sat him down for a night-long talk, informing them of the speculations these old seniors had regarding the methods of those people in Nierbo.

Especially after visiting Nierbojiade City in person and paying a visit to the famous local Quxie Temple.

Having seen the Ghost Gods and the statues of demons and monsters worshipped there.

Everyone had more or less figured out the truth.

Of course, no matter how much they guessed that the other party's methods were wild, or that they might even be a non-human extraordinary organization similar to He Mama.

It did not affect the fact that hotel rooms nearby were hard to come by, nor could it stop the long lines of treasure-offering teams from forming.

But... only upon witnessing Shu Daoren with one's own eyes.

Could one deeply realize how much psychological pressure one would face when confronting an evil Cultivator who looked like a major villain in every way.

How many bargaining tactics would be stifled in one's heart, unable to be spoken?

Su Ping was very satisfied with Zhang Ping'an's current mental state.

This was also the reason he had originally chosen Shu Daoren as his first persona.

Being a villain really can avoid a lot of trouble!

For this reason, Su Ping slightly radiated a trace of his Foundation Establishment Dharma Power, bringing even greater pressure upon the other party.

It gave him a sense of hair-raising dread, as if he were being stared at by a Tyrannosaurus Rex at close range.

And then.

In this state, guided by the Q&A session led by Shu Daoren before him.

Zhang Ping'an confessed everything he knew in one go.

That strange bronze statue came from his grandfather, with the goal of hoping to exchange it for a divine medicine that could cure his illness.

Of course, it would be even better if he could attach himself to the Mysterious Force because of this.

As for its more distant origins, Zhang Ping'an did not know, stating that his grandfather kept his mouth shut about it.

He only firmly insisted that this bronze statue was one hundred percent authentic and a good item!

Su Ping could judge that the other party was not lying.

Thus, he resumed his kindly old man smile and said faintly:

"Little friend, make a phone call back."

"Just say that you have met a Daoist with some small abilities and want to go see your grandfather; tell them not to panic."

"Huh?"

Zhang Ping'an was stunned for a moment, but as soon as he understood, a surge of wild joy welled up amidst his fear.

Although Shu Daoren did not look like a good person.

He was a genuine extraordinary!

If such a Cultivator was willing to go to the hospital with him to visit his grandfather, regardless of the reason.

Zhang Ping'an was certain that after this, life for their Zhang Family would be much easier.

His own status might even skyrocket!

Would the library of the Daoist temple, which he previously had no qualifications to enter, not be sending him credentials to his door?

"I'll go buy the plane tickets now?"

Zhang Ping'an asked tentatively.

But he heard Shu Daoren chuckle and say:

"Why go to such trouble? There is no time like the present; once you are ready, I will take you and fly there directly!"

"Fly... fly there?"

Zhang Ping'an was incredibly excited and thrilled upon hearing this.

As a direct descendant from a family with a cultivation heritage, having learned so much knowledge about cultivation.

How could he not have a dream of flying through the heavens and earth?

He hurriedly dialed his father's phone number and gave a brief explanation.

His father also keenly realized the great opportunity in this, agreed without a second thought, and immediately called his relatives to rush to the hospital.

Zhang Ping'an hung up the phone and looked at Shu Daoren.

He saw Shu Daoren gently shake his sleeve and take out a black bundle from inside.

This bundle suddenly unraveled and wrapped around Zhang Ping'an.

"Eh?"

Zhang Ping'an was swept into the bundle, letting out an exclamation.

"Fear not, this object can protect you from the Wind Tribulation."

"Just stay inside for a little while."

Naturally, it was impossible for Su Ping to ride the clouds and mist while carrying someone.

This was not the Pot Heaven, and he didn't have the spare time to create another one.

As for the Gourd, it might expose his secret.

It was better to simply wrap the other party up and prevent others from seeing his abilities.

And in fact.

Su Ping left the VIP room.

He chose to directly stealth into a small passenger plane at the nearby new airport.

From the tablet with top-level authorization obtained from Huang Zong, Su Ping could easily see the flight paths of all passenger planes at the new airport.

The destination of this express passenger plane was no more than a hundred miles from the city where Zhang Ping'an was located.

And because it was a return trip, there were not many passengers.

Su Ping chose an empty back row, simply set up a Concealment Array, then drank Spirit Wine and ate a Pill, and began to cultivate with his eyes closed while holding a Spirit Stone.

As the small passenger plane took off, it arrived at the airport.

Su Ping opened his eyes, silently thanked the flight crew in his heart, and only then did he truly fly through the air for a hundred miles to find the hospital where Zhang Ping'an's grandfather was located.

"Since I've come, I must at least go through the motions."

Su Ping looked at this eight-story private hospital and confirmed that the patient was in the special care ward on the top floor.

His figure flashed, stirring up a gust of cold wind, and he disappeared at the entrance.

Inside the hospital, in the single special care ward where Zhang Ping'an's grandfather was located.

The Zhang Family members who had received the news stood by the hospital bed, waiting somewhat anxiously.

Some suspected that Zhang Ping'an had been deceived, as there were already many scammers over there.

After such a major incident recently, scammers naturally would not let such an opportunity pass.

People playing the god and acting the ghost naturally emerged one after another.

Zhang's father found it hard to refute, but that old man firmly believed in Zhang Ping'an.

As for the reason, it was naturally because Zhang Ping'an was the best cultivation talent in their Zhang Family!

In his view, anyone who went to Nierbo might be deceived, but only Zhang Ping'an would not be.

Because this kid had great fortune!

Hearing these words from the old man.

The expressions of the others became somewhat unpleasant.

However, just as they were conversing to this point, the light outside the window suddenly dimmed.

Zhang's father, looking for a topic to ease the atmosphere, suddenly let out an "eh" and looked at the window, frowning slightly:

"Is it going to rain? Why is it so terrifyingly overcast?"

"By the way, it's almost nine o'clock, why hasn't a nurse come over to do a check-up?"

"I'll go ask the nurse."

As Zhang's father said this, he walked to the door.

Crack!

He opened the door.

Finding the area in front of the door in total darkness, he hesitated, stuck his head out to look at the hospital corridor, his expression suddenly froze, and he slowly took a step back and gently closed the door.

Only after retreating completely back into the ward did he say in a hoarse voice:

"Why... why is it so dark outside too?"

"And it's filled with black fog that you can't see through!"

"Is... is Ping'an bringing someone here?"

"Black fog? You haven't been secretly cultivating and developed hallucinations, have you?"

Hearing this, the old man's second daughter, who was close to Zhang's father, walked over and pulled the door open.

Then, everyone heard this woman's scream.

For as she opened the door, she happened to see an old man in a black robe with black energy radiating from his whole body standing there.

Not only did squeaking sounds emerge from the black fog behind him, but pairs of blood-red eyes appeared, staring at them.

The timid ones were so scared that they sat directly on the floor of the ward.

What made them feel even more eerie was that, despite such a commotion.

The doctors and nurses on this floor seemed to have completely vanished; not a single person appeared.

Shu Daoren swept his gaze over these people and looked at the patient.

He discovered that among those present, only this old man wearing an oxygen mask looked at him with excitement that outweighed his fear.

It seems that his desire to live made him inclined to treat everything inconceivable as a straw to clutch at?

Su Ping waved his hand, causing many of the red eyes in the black fog to retreat.

Then he gently shook his sleeve, and a black bundle flew out and rapidly grew larger.

As the bundle landed and automatically untied, the Zhang Family saw the dazed Zhang Ping'an inside.

Zhang Ping'an felt the light and realized that he should have landed.

He only felt a bit nauseous and uncomfortable; otherwise, he was fine, just a little regretful that he hadn't been able to experience the feeling of flying through the air.

After a few seconds, once Zhang Ping'an recovered his five senses, he widened his eyes and discovered that he had appeared in his grandfather's ward.

He came to his senses, hurriedly stood up, and looked at Shu Daoren to make introductions.

After Zhang Ping'an finished the introduction.

Su Ping then slowly walked to the bedside.

At the same time, wisps of black energy also spread in from the open door.

The red eyes also gathered again in the black fog at the doorway, staring at everyone in the ward.

"Do not be afraid; this old man has only come to clarify a few things."

"Cough, cough, cough!"

The old man on the hospital bed struggled to sit up, and after removing his oxygen mask, he pulled a smile onto his pale face.

People grow wise with age; upon seeing Shu Daoren's appearance, he knew that his little grandson had invited an evil cultivator.

And upon hearing Zhang Ping'an's introduction.

The old man's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly realized that everyone in the hospital room had, in a sense, become hostages tied to him!

This... really is the wicked method of a Side-Door Path!

Speaking gently and politely, but in fact, long ago resorting to unscrupulous secret coercion.

Things having reached this point, he had no other choice, so he had to use all his strength to say:

"Please go ahead and ask, Daoist; this old man will certainly tell you everything he knows without reservation!"

"Then many thanks."

Su Ping nodded slightly, and at the same time, his Divine Sense swept over the old man's body, guiding a wisp of Spirit Qi into his body to preserve his vitality.

It would be bad if he suddenly fainted halfway through speaking later.

Su Ping took out the bronze statue.

After the old man revealed an expression of "as expected," although he was advanced in age, he answered Su Ping's questions with clear articulation.

It was not far off from what Su Ping had guessed.

This thing came from a large ancient underground tomb related to the Daoist sects.

It was no wonder this old man could guarantee with one hundred percent certainty that it was the real deal.

At the same time, according to what the old man said, that ancient tomb was not excavated later, but after some deliberation, it was protected and sealed.

Therefore, many things should still be buried underground.

Su Ping was actually not interested in those antiques underground.

What he cared about was whether the radiation source that might have irradiated the bronze statue was still there.

Or if it had also been brought out just like this bronze statue.

Therefore, apart from the exact location of the Earth Palace.

Su Ping also learned from the old man the origin of several other artifacts brought out besides this bronze statue.

After silently recording all the information in his heart.

And comparing it with the data collected by Huang Zong and his team during this period.

Su Ping confirmed that the other party should not be lying to him.

Because one ancient sword matched what the old man said.

That was a remnant of a Dharma Sword used by a Daoist sect.

It had also been sent over by the person who offered the treasure some time ago.

It was confirmed to be genuine, but it had no reaction of Dharma Power, clearly not as close to that radiation source as the bronze statue.

But because it was relatively authentic, it was also photographed and kept on record by Huang Zong and the others.

They even recorded its origin, which was exactly the family the old man had confessed.

Thus, Su Ping issued an inquiry to the old man:

"If I can gain something from this trip, this old man owes you a favor."

"You... are planning to use this favor for what?"

"Is it to help you cure the illness in your body?"

Upon hearing this, the old man felt a bit moved, and after hesitating, he asked:

"If the illness in my body can be cured, how many more years can I live?"

"Live a few more years?"

Su Ping chuckled slightly and estimated:

"Even if you were free from all diseases, because your blood and Qi were severely depleted in your early years, your lifespan is almost at its end; perhaps you could still enjoy a year or two in peace."

"Enjoy a year or two in peace?"

The old man gave a bitter smile, his gaze turning toward the head-bowed Zhang Ping'an.

"I wonder if this favor could be exchanged for a request of mine?"

"I... hope the Daoist can accept my grandson into your noble sect?"

"Even if it is only as a Registered Disciple."

Once the old man said this, Zhang Ping'an opened his eyes wide, looking at him in disbelief.

The others also changed color slightly, but soon realized that this was the best choice for the Zhang Family.

Compared to an old man who could only live for a year or two.

A Registered Disciple of a Mysterious Force... is undoubtedly more promising for the future!

"Hahaha!"

Shu Daoren laughed.

After sweeping a glance around, black mist rose from his body:

"This old man agrees; this old man will give him a chance! If that kid truly has a Spirit Root, the Burial Ground doesn't mind having one more Registered Disciple!"

As soon as these words fell.

The room lights flickered a few times.

The black mist receded like a tide.

It was also at this moment that a doctor and a nurse suddenly walked in, pushing a cart with confused expressions, and were somewhat displeased to see the old man sitting up.

At the same time, they were also puzzled in their hearts as to why they couldn't find this hospital room just a moment ago.

…………

The affairs of the Zhang Family naturally could not be hidden, or rather, there was no intention to hide them.

Very soon, the higher-ups learned that the person behind Huang Zong and the others had come in person to find someone and ask questions for the sake of a bronze statue.

Inevitably, they strengthened the management and security of major museums.

At the same time, those who had originally been hesitant to offer their treasures, upon learning that Zhang Ping'an might become a Registered Disciple, seemed to have finally glimpsed a path for a mortal to step into the extraordinary.

Beyond agreeing to bring out their collections to try their luck.

On the other hand, they also increased their investment in antiques and similar items.

Manifested among the public, this meant the treasure-hunting industry, which had long since died down, became red-hot once again.

Many old masters were also hired with heavy bounties to come out of retirement and lead their disciples to search through various rural areas for collections that might have been overlooked.

And while these aftermaths were just beginning to ferment.

Su Ping first made a trip to a museum in a certain place, and after confirming with his own eyes that another artifact was also not the item he needed.

Only then did he head to where the Earth Palace was located.