Chapter 54: Suspicion

(PS: Seeing friends mentioning typos yesterday, I want to apologize to everyone here. Indeed, typos appeared in many places. For one thing, writing the book in one go often leads to typos without knowing it. For another, I deleted a lot of saved drafts because of something a few days ago, and I have been rushing to save drafts recently. So I ask everyone here, if you see typos, leave a message in the book review, and I will go and modify them when I see them.

Sorry to trouble everyone.)

Imperial Preceptor Guo Jing!

This is the biggest enemy of the three at present, without one.

Because of the deterrence of Chu Minghao, this "Immortal", and the promise of rewards five years later, whether it is the Zhao Song Emperor or the civil and military officials, it is basically impossible to be enemies with the three of them, and they will even provide some help that does not involve their own lives. This point can be confirmed.

And aside from the fact that nightmares will inevitably be enemies with them, only Imperial Preceptor Guo Jing can be considered a mortal enemy with them, and it is definitely an endless one. Even Chu Minghao's deterrence is useless, so the first condition of the trial task given by Chu Minghao to the three is to kill Guo Jing.

Xu Shilan said: "Brother Wu, do you have any information about Folding and Harvesting?"

Wu Wu Pifu nodded. Recalling as he spoke, he said: "Abduction and mutilation, also known as 'harvesting life and breaking limbs,' is a terrifying practice common in the old society... the feudal society, or chaotic times. It is mostly seen among human traffickers or beggar syndicates. They take kidnapped women and children, or even some frail adult males, and use cruel methods to break their bones and cut their skin, artificially creating disabilities or monsters to use as tools for begging or swindling money."

For this lost information and knowledge before the Third War, Xu Shilan and Priest Amida both attached great importance to it. After listening carefully, Xu Shilan said: "The description in my martial arts is even more terrifying and... bizarre."

"They are respectively: Animal Creation, Vase, Painted Skin, etc., then there are strange arts such as Praying to Gods, Raising Corpses, Folding Yin, etc., and there are also Yin arts such as Worshiping Spirits, Summoning Souls, Sacrificing, etc. In the description, using Vase plus Raising Corpses plus Summoning Souls can create a kind of artificial intelligence."

Wu Wu Pifu didn't understand for a while and asked subconsciously: "What does artificial intelligence have to do with Guo Jing?"

Xu Shilan explained: "From the picture after the two Golden Warriors were broken, can you see that there are two children's souls in them? Why are there two souls in the two puppets?"

Wu Wu Pifu said: "Evil methods, etc., there are many such things in the Dream World. Nightmares, ghosts, and even all kinds of grotesque things are not rare. This is not worth being surprised, right?"

Xu Shilan nodded, but still said: "It's not worth being surprised, but the key problem lies in... why are there children's souls in these two puppets? You also mentioned Gundam just now, right? That's a description of a mecha, isn't it?"

Wu Wu Pifu nodded, and Xu Shilan said: "If not necessary, do not increase the entity. This is especially important in mecha design. I think even if the Golden Warrior is not a mecha, it belongs to some kind of structural body. If it is not necessary, why did Guo Jing add children's souls to it? These children's souls must play a role in it. I have two guesses: one is the energy system, and the other is the control system."

Wu Wu Pifu opened his mouth. He originally intended to say that these strange evil methods were not scientific, but this was not the time to argue, so he followed Xu Shilan's guess.

After a while, Wu Wu Pifu said: "So this method of restraining souls is the evil art in Folding and Harvesting?"

Xu Shilan spread her hands and said: "I am not familiar with these after all. It's not as good as you being familiar with this era and this world. This is just my guess and analysis of the existing intelligence. This is also our only clue at present."

This is indeed the case. Regarding Guo Jing's whereabouts and problems, they really have no clues at all.

"What about the old Emperor?"

Priest Amida, who was continuing to eat melon, suddenly said.

The two looked at him at the same time. Priest Amida said without any self-awareness while eating melon: "Doesn't the old Emperor know Guo Jing's background? Guo Jing is the Imperial Preceptor he conferred. He didn't investigate his identity background? He didn't know what Guo Jing was doing? He didn't pay him? He didn't give him supplies?"

Wu Wu Pifu and Xu Shilan's eyes lit up. They looked at each other, and Wu Wu Pifu immediately said: "That's right, the old Emperor couldn't have not known these things. That thing was built right under his nose!"

He sighed again: "Then how should we find out the truth? The old Emperor is afraid of Chu Minghao, this 'Immortal', not us Immortal disciples."

"No problem."

Xu Shilan stood up while speaking, picked up a stack of name cards from the table in the front hall, all of which were invitations for the three to attend banquets.

She picked out the name card of Prince Kang from them and said with a smile: "Don't think of the Emperor as a god among men. He is also just a mortal. But to do things, he must pass them down through one person after another, forming an organization to do things. The Emperor is like this, the organization is like this, and companies and groups are all like this. Whether it is collecting materials or Folding and Harvesting, as long as it is done, traces must be left behind."

"I don't believe no one knows these traces!"

On the other side, in a secret underground room in the Imperial Palace. Emperor Zhao Ji said to Guo Jing, who was lying on the bed: "Imperial Preceptor, rest for a while. It is quiet and secret here. The Immortal disciples will definitely not find the Imperial Preceptor. After the Imperial Preceptor has recovered from his injuries, we will supervise the construction of the Golden Army."

Guo Jing was grateful and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty. This poor Daoist will definitely do his best until his death!!"

Zhao Ji smiled and patted Guo Jing's arm to show favor, and then let the accompanying eunuch leader put down some supplements like century-old ginseng. After a while, Zhao Ji walked out of this secret room.

After leaving the secret room for a long distance, Zhao Ji said solemnly to the eunuch leader beside him: "Haven't you completely mastered the sacrificial refining method of the Golden Legion yet?"

The eunuch leader bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty, there are all kinds of people in the offerings. They have also analyzed the ritual structure of the Golden Legion's sacrificial refining method in detail, confirming that there are evil methods of Folding and Harvesting and Witchcraft in it. But aside from this, there is also a part of the content that they have never heard of. From the analysis of the ritual, it is either the family immortal, fox immortal system, or... demonic art."

Zhao Ji said impatiently: "This Guo Jing must have something in his hands, otherwise why would I confer him as Imperial Preceptor? And give him such honor? But it won't work now... One year, I only give you and the Offering Institute one year. If you haven't mastered the sacrificial refining method, then you don't have to see me again!" The eunuch leader trembled all over and knelt down immediately: "Respect the Imperial Order!"

Zhao Ji nodded and said: "Get up. It's not that I'm impatient, nor that I'm cold-blooded. It's just that the Immortal has appeared in the world. How can I let go of this once-in-a-thousand-year opportunity? This is a great virtue and blessing that even the First Emperor didn't have... Do it well. If I have the fate to attain the Dao, I will definitely take you to ascend to heaven as chickens and dogs."

The eunuch leader was grateful, needless to say.

In the secret room, Guo Jing buried his head in the bed, but his eyes were full of coldness, ferocity, murderous intent, and madness...

On the other side, Wu Wu Pifu ordered the steward sent by the Imperial family to pass the news that they would attend the banquet at Prince Kang's mansion. Because it was an evening banquet, the three had nothing to do during the day, and each started practicing their own martial arts.

Wu Wu Pifu practiced the Tiger Demon Skill and the Green Python Skin Shedding Skill. He only practiced the Tiger Demon Skill for three weeks, about two hours, and then stopped. Now his Tiger Demon Skill is at the peak level, only one level away from the highest Manifest Saint level. The effect of practicing now is very slow. According to the personal information data interface, after practicing for three weeks, it didn't even increase by 0.01%. The cost-effectiveness is too low.

On the contrary, the Green Python Skin Shedding Skill, this Human Immortal Martial Dao, is still at the entry-level. He practiced from morning to afternoon, practiced for a full four hours, and directly increased the entry-level proficiency from 1.6% to 2.3%.

And he also found that the Human Immortal Martial Dao has very low requirements for perception and character. Aside from practicing boxing to improve proficiency, he had a bowl of tiger bone and deer blood soup at noon, and the proficiency soared by 1% directly. Now his Green Python Skin Shedding Skill proficiency is about 3.3%!

"That'

Other Dream Worlds might not be able to do it, but this world can.

He is the Imperial Preceptor appointed by the Zhao Song Emperor and is supported by the imperial court. That is to say, even if he does nothing, he can receive money and grain every year, and his rank is not low. He, Priest Amida, and Xu Shilan all receive the salaries of high-ranking officials of the second rank, plus the Emperor's occasional rewards, which is enough to purchase those highly nourishing items.

!

"Zhao Ji, Zhao Ji, Zhao Ji..."

The three of them had practiced their cultivation techniques for the whole day. It was now past four in the afternoon, and they were preparing to attend the banquet at five. At this moment, all three were resting, drinking tea, and eating some pastries.

Priest Amida was tinkering with some metal parts, while Xu Shilan was recording something on a piece of paper using a plucked rooster tail feather. Both heard Wu Wu Pifu constantly chanting the name of the current Emperor of the Zhao Song Dynasty. Priest Amida said bluntly: "What is it? Want to kill him?"

Wu Wu Pifu shook his head and said: "Not exactly. You know I'm not familiar with history, I only know the general idea. I vaguely remember that this Zhao Ji seems to be dying or abdicating soon. After that, the Zhao Song Dynasty will have a new Emperor, who seems to be this Prince of Kang, Zhao Gou."

Hearing him say this, Priest Amida lost interest, but Xu Shilan asked: "If that's the case, we could actually manipulate things to gain even greater fame and reputation, which would be beneficial for upgrading our shelter."

Wu Wu Pifu nodded and said: "I'll try my best to recall... and this Guo Jing, I really am somewhat familiar with him. It's not Guo Jing; Guo Jing was born after the Jingkang Incident. But Guo Jing... Guo Jing seems to have created some 'Six Jia Formation' or 'Six Jia Method' in history, requiring 7,777 people to set up the formation, claiming to be invincible... Could it be 7,777 Golden Warriors?"

Xu Shilan smiled and said: "If there really were 7,777 Golden Warriors, then this Song Dynasty would be truly incredible; it could even unify the whole world."

Wu Wu Pifu shook his head. He couldn't say for sure. Firstly, he had no confidence in his memory, and secondly, he didn't believe the Zhao Song Dynasty could really produce 7,777 Golden Warriors.

The appointed time soon arrived, and the three of them boarded a luxurious carriage and headed toward the Prince of Kang's mansion.

When the three of them arrived outside the Prince of Kang's mansion and stepped out of the carriage, they actually saw Prince of Kang Zhao Gou standing at the mansion gate with a smile, his officials and guards standing respectfully behind him.

Besides them, there was someone Wu Wu Pifu had never expected...

That little girl whose eyes looked exactly like the Mute woman's seemed to be the Princess of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

Just as the three of them stepped out of the carriage, Jiu Jiu on Wu Wu Pifu's shoulder suddenly flew up and flew toward the little girl.

Unexpectedly, the little girl was not afraid at all. Instead, she stared at Jiu Jiu with wide eyes and then stretched out her hand to let Jiu Jiu stand on it.

Jiu Jiu stood on her palm and tilted its head to look at her, and the little girl also tilted her head. For a moment, the bird and the human both appeared cute.

Wu Wu Pifu's heart, however, sank.

Jiu Jiu was actually very shy. Usually, it wouldn't even let Priest Amida and Xu Shilan touch it, yet now it was willing to let this little girl touch it and even stand on her hand.

At that moment, Wu Wu Pifu made a decision.

He would ask Zhao Gou at the banquet about the Mute woman and about this little girl!

(End of chapter)