Chapter 263

Chu Danqing wondered that if he hadn’t come tonight, Fang Yiliu might have killed the old man and fled with the inheritance—potentially creating a major threat.

Besides some cultivation and healing pills, the old man carried two other crucial items.

One was a book containing his lifetime of experience and knowledge of spirit beasts—a knowledge-type item.

The Whisper of the Dark Marrow

[Type: Knowledge Item]

[Quality: Fine]

[Durability: 100/100]

[Effect: Reading increases levels in Summoning, Summoning Arts, Command, Cultivation, and Spirit Control.]

The other was the perfected manufacturing technique for Nightfork Pills, with an exceptionally high upper limit.

It grants the user the full power of a Nightking, but only for the Nightfork spirit beast species.

Still, it was also a knowledge-type item.

The Blood Chronicle of the Yaksas

[Type: Knowledge Item]

[Quality: Fine]

[Durability: 100/100]

[Effect 1: Following the recipe allows crafting of Nightfork Pills; consuming them grants Nightfork power enhancement.]

[Effect 2: Reading increases Harmonization Proficiency level.]

If these two knowledge items fell into Fang Yiliu’s hands, he might truly rise to power.

Otherwise, how could they be called a stroke of fortune?

In addition, Chu Danqing seized one Nightfork Pill.

This pill was not the immature product the old man had given Fang Yiliu.

The color alone made it clear.

The crystal was purer, the blood hue more refined.

Unlike Fang Yiliu’s pill, it bore no impurities.

Fortunately, this power was temporary, not permanent; without blood sustenance, once consumed, it could be replaced with a higher-grade Nightfork Pill.

But after one glance, Chu Danqing casually buried the pill on the spot.

Not even considering the craftsmanship, the raw materials themselves held no interest for him.

One required was the spirit beast Nightfork Soldier—essential.

And it had to be a whole, intact specimen.

Then, a portion of Dark Orchid Blood Dew for mixing.

One Nightfork Pill meant one person and one spirit beast.

Chu Danqing naturally had no intention of using this technique.

As for improvement? After reviewing it thoroughly, he concluded the technique centered entirely on Dark Orchid Blood Dew.

Without it, the whole thing was rootless.

Yet for Chu Danqing, the Harmonization portion of this technique held great value.

If applied properly, it might yield real achievements.

Looking at these two knowledge items, Chu Danqing could only sigh—no wonder they were called fortune.

Especially Harmonization Proficiency—hard to obtain in this summoning-based spirit beast world.

Summoning knowledge items should be easier to acquire.

“Want it? I’ll copy a copy for you,” Chu Danqing said, offering it to Yang Qianyuan.

He certainly couldn’t give it to Yang Qianyuan originally—he needed it to boost his cultivation efficiency in the training chamber.

But knowledge could be shared; copying it for Yang Qianyuan was no trouble.

“No thanks,” Yang Qianyuan took it, flipped through a few pages, and returned it. “The content concerns Nightfork and Shadowbat Nightfork—I can’t use it.”

Compared to Chu Danqing’s indiscriminate collecting, the native cultivators of this trial world naturally filtered what they took.

Even if Yang Qianyuan had need, it would have to be knowledge related to the Heavenly Mechanism spirit beasts.

Neither of these items matched.

“Alright, I’ll keep them myself,” Chu Danqing said, stowing them in his storage space.

With these two knowledge items, his proficiency gains should accelerate considerably.

After burying Fang Yiliu, the old man, and the Shadowbat Nightfork, Chu Danqing and Yang Qianyuan returned to Meilong Town.

On the way, Chu Danqing asked: “Have you found any leads on that Heart Lotus Seed you mentioned?”

Chu Danqing still remembered his chain quest.

Yang Qianyuan replied: “I’ve done a few divinations recently and found some hints.”

“But acquiring it will be troublesome.”

Chu Danqing’s eyes narrowed: “What trouble? If it’s a fight, I can help.”

He could only assist with violence—nothing else.

Of course, he wouldn’t fight himself; it would be Da Bao and the others.

He was just a 24/7 super-powered mascot.

“Not yet, but we’ve narrowed down the location.”

“The Heart Lotus Seed is highly likely in the Yun Mansion next street.”

“Once I pinpoint it, I’ll find a way to get it for you, Brother Chu,” Yang Qianyuan said.

His words sounded harmless, but to Chu Danqing, they carried the tone of an outlaw.

“Let’s pay them a visit tomorrow morning,” Chu Danqing quickly interjected. “See if we can buy it.”

He wanted it, but it still belonged to someone else.

Even if neglected in the Yun Mansion, that didn’t justify stealing it.

“Fair enough,” Yang Qianyuan didn’t object. “The Heart Lotus Seed isn’t popular anyway—buying it outright is better.”

Acquiring it by other means carried risks; a legitimate purchase would be solid, leaving no future vulnerabilities.

“You’re from the An Yong imperial family, aren’t you?” Chu Danqing suddenly changed the subject.

While Yang Qianyuan had been gathering information in the afternoon, Chu Danqing had been digging too.

The An Yong dynasty’s imperial surname was Yang, followed by generational characters.

“Zhao Ming Shi Shou, Zhen Qian Tai Heng, Chong Ren Zhen Wu, Shao De Guang Cheng,” Chu Danqing recited the lineage. “So you’re in the Qian generation.”

Yang Qianyuan showed no alarm, simply nodded: “I am indeed from the An Yong imperial family.”

“If we count generations, the current emperor is my cousin,” he added.

Chu Danqing was surprised—he’d expected concealment, not outright admission.

“Oh? So you’ve met the emperor? No wonder you know him so well.” Chu Danqing shifted topics.

Knowing was enough; no need to pry further.

His character, ability, and status exceeded expectations—he was an ideal ally.

“I met him once,” Yang Qianyuan said. “I was three. My father had just died; I paid court to the late emperor in the Imperial Study.”

“I’ve never met the current emperor,” Yang Qianyuan stated plainly. “The An Yong imperial family is vast—most are enfeoffed as vassal kings. No summons, no entry to the capital.”

“So Jiaoying Prefecture is your fief?” Chu Danqing suddenly realized.

“Inherited from my ancestors. My father had only me as a son, so no brothers to divide it—I am indeed the Prince of Jiaoying,” Yang Qianyuan admitted without hesitation.

Chu Danqing hadn’t asked, so he hadn’t volunteered.

But he’d long anticipated this.

If you need someone’s help, honesty is best.

Paper can’t wrap fire—better to be open.

“Didn’t know I had a vassal king for a friend,” Chu Danqing smiled.

A vassal king was good—especially one with real territorial authority.

“Brother Chu, you jest,” Yang Qianyuan sighed. “My title grants no right to establish a court—I’m just a noble idleman. Step outside the prince’s mansion, and I’m left with only my title.”

A powerful vassal king threatened central authority, yet as imperial kin, he couldn’t be harshly treated.

In the end, he kept only face and status—no political or military power.

“I have one question,” Yang Qianyuan hesitated before asking. “The troops under that Xiong Grand Coordinator—are they yours?”

“Impossible,” Chu Danqing replied immediately. “I couldn’t afford to raise ten thousand troops.”

Yang Qianyuan felt something was off—ten thousand troops?

Then why haven’t you rebelled?

Even ten thousand would be enough to seize the throne.

Chu Danqing realized he’d slipped up and quickly corrected: “Don’t worry—I can only mobilize a few hundred now.”

Because Chu Danqing had seen higher-tier power, he considered a few hundred insignificant.

But Yang Qianyuan thought even eight hundred could spark a rebellion.

Fortunately, he kept that thought to himself.

“Where does this Xiong Grand Coordinator keep his troops?” Yang Qianyuan probed.

“That… you’ll find out later,” Chu Danqing said, seizing the moment to bring up the Shanhe Alliance.

They had been together for half a month, and Chu Danqing had learned enough.

It was the perfect time to sign the Shanhe Alliance Pact.

Better to get it done before trouble arose.

As he spoke of the Shanhe Alliance Pact, the nebula within the Chènmìng Spider spun wildly—it sensed that Yang Qianyuan’s destined fate had shattered, and that dark, hopeless ending had been altered at this very moment.

The Chènmìng Spider continuously wove its web, yet the web was not of normal structure, but appeared wildly chaotic.

Yang Qianyuan swallowed hard; he could feel that the alliance Chu Danqing spoke of was his chance to escape his predetermined future.

“Sign it—definitely sign it!” Yang Qianyuan agreed without hesitation, his body trembling visibly with excitement and fervor as he spoke.

Seeing this, Chu Danqing asked, “Are you alright? Otherwise—”

“Sign first—let’s sign first,” Yang Qianyuan said, ignoring everything else.

Chu Danqing could not argue with him, so he simply added Yang Qianyuan to the list.

The instant the signing was complete, Yang Qianyuan felt the chains binding him shatter at once.

Like a bird soaring into the blue sky, like a fish diving into the ocean—he was no longer bound.

“Big Brother Chu, when can we use this alliance?” Yang Qianyuan asked.

“You’ll know in time. Don’t worry—I won’t lose you. No matter how far you run, you can’t escape,” Chu Danqing said earnestly.

Yang Qianyuan understood what Chu Danqing meant, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that those words weren’t reassuring.

Still, he didn’t dwell on it—he was already bound to Chu Danqing.

(End of Chapter)