Chapter 66: Purpose

Zhu Gaoyang fell into a solemn silence, his legs tensing, his claws slightly curled.

"The second gift was a temporary decision... because I originally thought the one who would come here would be that youth... since it is Young Master Zhu—do not move recklessly." The old man gave a light squeeze, and Zhu Gaoyang's arm instantly went limp and powerless.

He pointed to the courtyard, his brown eyes lifting to remind him: "As long as you leave my hand, that scene just now will happen immediately."

Zhu Gaoyang went quiet.

"No need to be nervous." The old man lowered his head again, gently stroking and examining the ferocious arm in his hand, "Just now we were saying... right, the second small gift."

"I originally thought the one who would come here would be that youth, which would have been of no value, but since it is the number one of the Long Jun Dongting sword lineage, I can give you a chance."

"What chance?"

"A chance to escape the fate you just experienced."

"What is the price?"

"We shall speak of that later."

"I refuse."

"Hehehehe." The old man gave a light laugh, his wrinkles curving into gentle little grooves, "That is not allowed."

"Since the second gift is for you, it is also for Long Jun Dongting—this small gift, is you." The old man's index finger tapped lightly on the ghost arm he was resting on, and a miracle was born before Zhu Gaoyang's dilated pupils.

He had never truly fought against the Qiongqi, nor had he seen the Immortal Lord after the Eighth Life. This ability to manipulate flesh and blood was the first time he had ever witnessed it.

But even for Pei Ye, who had seen it a few times, he would not be without shock before this scene.

Because this manipulation was not like before, simply turning flesh and blood into liquid to hide or avoid attacks, but rather targeting the smallest units of that flesh and blood, splitting, transforming, and recombining them bit by bit.

Give different people a knife and a radish; some can only chop it into irregular pieces, some can peel it, some can slice it into shreds, and others can carve it into magnificent palaces.

It was an extremely meticulous and refined process, far more profound than the application of turning a tiger's body into internal organs that day.

Under this process, Zhu Gaoyang watched in astonishment as a massive change occurred on his body.

Bone spurs retreated beneath his skin, scales melted into liquid and seeped into his skin, the deep blue that had stained his entire body faded, and his fair skin and muscles were revealed. His body was slowly recovering to its original appearance.

No, not recovering, but completely re-sculpted.

And those deep blue substances were compressed into a ball and buried within his heart.

The old man's earnestly furrowed brow finally relaxed, and he let out a light breath. This feat was clearly not easy even for him. He chuckled lightly: "How is it? How is this gift?"

He took a pen from his chest pocket, took out a small notebook from his robe, and briefly wrote a few lines on it.

"As expected, it still needs to be attempted..." he muttered to himself, putting away the pen and notebook. Seeing Zhu Gaoyang staring at his chest pocket, he smiled and explained, "Bamboo-tube pens, I improved them slightly. By injecting ink into the tube, it saves the trouble of carrying ink. It's a pity it always leaks; I'm thinking perhaps I should add a cap to it..."

"Oh, apologies, when one gets old, one tends to ramble." The old man gave an apologetic smile, "You still have urgent matters, and I am about to go catch some small animals. Let us chat again next time."

Without waiting for Zhu Gaoyang to answer, he lifted his loosely clenched hand and stretched it out gently.

There seemed to be a soft "bang," and the deep blue in Zhu Gaoyang's heart was like a beast released from a cage, surging into his blood vessels. In an instant, it filled his limbs, and the ferocious mutation returned to his body.

The clarity in Zhu Gaoyang's heart fell into the shadows at the same time.

He lifted a pair of indifferent golden pupils and looked toward Fenghuai—there, was the thing the Divine Lord wanted to find.

Beside him, a black-robed figure sat back down on a stone and opened the ancient book in his hand. Zhu Gaoyang glanced at him and withdrew his gaze.

A curved strip of beef jerky, he thought.

Fenghuai, County Government Office.

Xu Weizhou, the Vice Minister who had come from the prefecture, arrived after Jing Ziwang's sudden death. Having received notification this morning that Pei Ye and the others had returned to the county office, he had just rushed back from Bai Zhu Village.

This Vice Minister was much younger than Jing Ziwang and was truly the premier master of Bowang Prefecture.

He had a refined and handsome appearance, came from a famous family, studied under a great sect, and at thirty-six had already stepped onto the second layer of the Mystic Gate Jade Staircase. Afterward, relying on his family's political resources, he served as a high-ranking official in the prefecture—he was a perfect version of Shen Yanping.

In the room were only him, Sister Xing Zhi, Chang Zhiyuan, and Pei Ye, but only three were speaking.

"The so-called 'Divine Descent' theory is still too ethereal." This Vice Minister tapped the table, "You actually only confirmed that the seed can control the human heart, right? In six thousand years of history, how many alchemists have sought immortality and the Dao? Never have I heard of any immortals."

"This is just a title." Sister Xing Zhi clearly agreed with this point, "We are not saying He is an immortal descended to earth, but a powerful will has indeed awakened from that seed, and it cannot be separated from the 'Immortal Lord' worshipped by the Candle-World Sect. Whether He is an 'immortal' is not important; as long as Vice Minister Xu does not question His power."

"I naturally believe in Master Xing, and... the judgment of the Sword Master." Xu Weizhou nodded, "However, whether powerful or not, it has little to do with us. The event has already occurred, this seed has already awakened, and we have no strength to enter the mountain to encircle and suppress... Master Xing."

Sister Xing Zhi glanced at him: "I know, Vice Minister Xu. I am not asking you to enter the mountain to find Senior Brother Zhu; he is already dead."

Xu Weizhou squeezed his teacup and gave an awkward smile: "Ah, Young Master Zhu had deep fortune..."

"I am saying." Sister Xing Zhi interrupted, "Without knowing His purpose, we cannot grasp His movements. How do you know He will not come to Fenghuai?"

"... What other purpose could He have? After awakening, naturally, He would want to grow as quickly as possible. Why would He come to find us?"

"He can rely on devouring to grow rapidly."

"Then what—" Xu Weizhou had just started a sentence when his face turned pale, "Master Xing, do not joke."

Sister Xing Zhi continued to finish her words: "Fenghuai County, how many commoners are there?"

Chang Zhiyuan said: "There are over thirty-two thousand in the city."

"Just now, a report came from the prefecture; the Vermilion Bird has already been released. At the earliest, someone from the Divine Capital will arrive tonight. And since that Immortal Lord did not chase after you last night, perhaps He does not have this idea. Even if we retreat to the end, letting Him swallow them one by one, before the people from the Divine Capital arrive, how many people can die?" Xu Weizhou drank his tea in one gulp, "No need to scare ourselves."

Pei Ye frowned, and Sister Xing Zhi drank a sip of tea with an expressionless face.

—Even if only five people die, it is still your dereliction of duty, Vice Minister Xu.

The position of Vice Minister had no regular authority; it was originally intended to provide high-level experts for emergencies. However, when she passed through the prefecture city to Fenghuai that day, she already knew that this person used the position entirely for the convenience of pleasure. On the day the urgent report came from Fenghuai, he was hosting a literary gathering on a pleasure boat, getting dead drunk with a group of young masters and young ladies.

If he had come with Jing Ziwang that day, the situation would not have deteriorated so rapidly, and as long as they were a day late, the Divine Capital would have had time to react.

"I have a proposal." She put down her teacup, "Please, Vice Minister Xu, enter the mountain alone. If you see that Qiongqi, lead it in another direction to buy time for Fenghuai." ===== CHAPTER 67 =====