Chapter 68: One Becomes Many

The waiter was utterly stunned.

Or is it fake?

He turned to look, only to see Chen Zhao with a sly grin.

The Wuqing Treasure Sword transformed into a dark arc of light, poetic and painterly, and he was too late to stop it.

A tinkling laugh rang out. This book is originally published on TianTian Kan XiaoShuo, accompanying you in reading, www. ttks. tw, providing you with error-free, properly ordered chapters.

"Fellow cultivator, the preliminaries aren't over yet—why the rush?"

Jiang Yanqiu flashed forward and pinched the sword between two fingers, holding it fast.

She curled her lips into a mischievous smile, her gaze captivating.

"When you invited me to dinner before, you weren't this straightforward."

"If you're trying to sever my ties to the mortal world, how could I possibly agree?"

Chen Zhao snorted coldly and secretly applied force in his hand.

He didn't understand what this madwoman was thinking—her every move seemed capricious, aimless.

"Fair lady, why not join me in capturing this thief? I shall overlook all past matters."

"And I shall even offer you the Saving People Method."

The waiter's face lit up with joy.

He knew full well that the young monk had been killed by Jiang Yanqiu.

Judging by her words, she was almost certainly here for the Saving People Method—compared to the Golden Core treasure, this technique was negligible.

"Fine, but I hate monks, especially those without hair."

Jiang Yanqiu covered her lips with a laugh, her voice sweet and playful.

Even though he knew she was an enemy, the waiter couldn't help swallowing hard, not daring to look her in the eye.

But that moment of distraction.

Chen Zhao instantly dissolved into ink.

Another clone!

His true body, cloaked in the Invisible Spirit Robe, had been hiding and suppressing his aura for a long time, waiting precisely for Jiang Yanqiu to reveal herself.

During their exchange, the Wuqing Treasure Sword, sheathed in yin lightning, shot forth in an instant.

This sword strike seemed faster than time itself.

By the time both reacted, it was too late.

Crack!

The Demon-Subduing Pestle chipped a one-finger-long notch; instantly, cracks spread like a spiderweb, its spiritual essence greatly diminished.

The waiter's heart turned cold—he felt a chilling invasion, as if his soul had been ripped away!

His qi faded, dropping back to Qi Refining eighth layer, and the scripture markings on his body dimmed to dullness.

"What strange technique!"

He was both shocked and furious, but it was already useless.

Jiang Yanqiu bit her lip, her smile freezing, silently cursing—too bad.

How could this Outer Sect Disciple have so many tricks?

"In that case, the bald monk is no longer of much use..."

She murmured softly, a faint smile on her lips.

Hearing this, the waiter's face twisted in distress—he turned to flee.

He had only collaborated with his ancestral master and had not yet reported this to the sect; perhaps later, when he returned, there would still be a chance.

"Dharma Master, why so eager? The preliminaries aren't finished yet."

A splash of ink surged toward him, forcing him to freeze in place.

There stood Chen Zhao, fingers forming a seal, commanding the sword to descend, his white robe fluttering.

The waiter turned his head—his left shoulder was coated in ink, but aside from a faint chill, it seemed harmless.

Yet, in moments.

His eyes filled with sword qi, each strike sharper than the last—he retreated step by step, and accidentally took a blade to his waist.

Then his limbs, liver, spleen, lungs, organs...

"Tiankui Sect is famed for its grandeur—how come all its young disciples are psychopaths?"

He screamed in agony, sweat pouring down his back, eyes shut tight.

Beneath the autumn sun, the world turned white—then suddenly stained with a streak of ink.

The ink on his body exploded violently, leaving no trace of corpse or bone.

The greatest sound is silent.

The shockwave rolled beyond the city walls, making the stone slabs along the way ripple like ocean waves.

Chen Zhao stood with his hands behind his back; Xiao Bai had already stolen the Storage Bag and rubbed its furry little head against his palm.

The bag contained many items, mostly requiring offerings of incense from outsiders, exerting wide influence—easily implicating him.

Among them were the Arhat Bone-Forging Scripture and the Saving People Method, plus an Inner Sect Supervisor Token.

But Chen Zhao thought of the copying method from the Longevity Record.

Unlike other clone techniques, it might truly foster a cult of personality—himself worshipping himself.

Inside the Storage Bag was also a crimson, round bead.

"A Sarira? Could it be Zhen Chang's relic?"

Chen Zhao stroked his chin.

No wonder he could summon Zhen Chang to fight—turns out he had something to rely on; next time I kill someone from the Fo Men, I'll grind their bones to dust.

Not a single chance of resurrection may be left.

He tried enveloping it with his spiritual sense, and faintly, something beneath his feet seemed to resonate with it.

Judging by its shape, it appeared to be a Storage Bag.

According to Sister Li, Zhen Chang died only a few centuries ago—time is still short; whatever's inside should still be effective.

Chen Zhao knew this was no small opportunity; he quietly tucked the Storage Bag into his sleeve and took a brief moment to regulate his breath.

With the Xuan Shui Chang Sheng Lu's enhancement, after a few breaths, he had fully restored to his peak state.

Looking around, Jiang Yanqiu knelt before Yan Xiaoqian, flicked her finger, and the woman collapsed backward onto the ground.

Yet her pulse and cultivation level were perfectly normal—she simply lacked her soul.

If I use the Saving People Method, perhaps I can still control her.

"What? Are you interested, friend?"

Jiang Yanqiu smiled like a blooming flower, teasing slyly.

"Coincidentally, Chen Qingmeng is unconscious—what if you..."

Chen Zhao ignored her.

This sister Yan presides over the Water-Land Dharma Assembly; her position is sensitive, and she has little actual ability.

She can only serve as a temporary medium for the Saving People Scripture.

Chen Zhao's eyes held no trace of hesitation.

With his spiritual power, he could at most replicate three people—worst case, he'd assign one as a relay.

"But judging from Zhen Chang's behavior, he absorbed incense offerings without needing a medium."

Ban Ruo Men, Tiankui Sect...

He climbed step by step upward, encountering cultivators who grew ever more extraordinary.

Chen Zhao looked up, gazing at Li Zhiwei who had severed the Buddha, recalling Zhen Chang who seized incense offerings, Wu Xuzi who stole lifespans, Liang Chenfeng who turned people into demons...

At the very least, his close friends all carried legacies.

Rather than saying heroes of the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river,

it's better to say the cultivation world is cruel and capricious—those who climb to the top are all those burdened with opportunity.

In the end, big fish eat small fish, like breeding fighting insects.

He gazed beyond the window, where the long embankment was filled with kneeling crowds, wailing as they witnessed the Buddha's severance.

Many had their faith shattered; black karmic flames ignited upon them, and their cultivation vanished entirely.

Chen Zhao sighed with emotion.

"To accept another's opportunity is to bear their karmic debt—you've already taken a side, though they themselves remain unaware."

But karmic ties are elusive—how many can truly comprehend them?

Chen Family.

The patriarch had reached the peak of Qi Refining, yet he could only respectfully stand guard at the door, daring not show the slightest disrespect to those within.

"Thank you so much for rescuing Xiaoqian this time."

On the sickbed, Chen Qingmeng's face was haggard, unsure whether he was crying or laughing.

His cultivation partner had become a useless wreck, and the Elder had yet to render judgment—he was filled with dread.

"Regardless, I owe you a debt; in the future..."

He forced himself upright, gripping Chen Zhao's hand.

But he fell silent.

Upon reflection, aside from alchemy, he truly had nothing to offer.

"It was merely my duty,"

Chen Zhao's lips curled slightly, calm and detached,

"But, Brother Qingmeng—do you have any Array-breaking Dharma Treasure? Might I borrow it?"

He recalled the Demon-Subduing Pestle.

Its method of use is highly specific—it must be tied to a Golden Core relic.

As expected.

As soon as Zi Shi passed, ink-and-water patterns surfaced in his palm—

【Divination has refreshed】

【Today's Divination·Lucky】: Favorable for earth-moving; solving the divination requires five Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Chen Zhao stood with his hands behind his back, silently reciting the divination solution.

【Today's Divination·Lucky】:

You borrowed the Brocade Cloud Shuttle, and beneath the Tingxiang Water Pavilion, you discovered the Black Snake Gallbladder and a Foundation Establishment Pill.