Chapter 309: Dībā pò

"Sure!"

Jiang Sique confidently gave me a definite answer.

"The corpse-scented konjac blooms, using its rotten smell to attract various insects for pollination, mainly beetles; correspondingly, some beetles can also promote the blooming of the corpse-scented konjac in reverse, such as the corpse beetle."

I can grind the corpse beetles into powder, and during the strange embroidery process, blend the powder into the flower bud of the corpse-scented konjac; when it needs to bloom, as long as we activate the corpse beetle powder to function, we can achieve the desired result.

Although we were completely baffled, since Jiang Sique said it, he really could do it.

I only asked: "Do we have corpse beetles?"

Jiang Sique said yes.

Liu Junyan thoughtfully said: "Your idea is good, but I also have a thought; shall we talk alone?"

Jiang Sique and Liu Junyan then went to Nan Shu Fang.

Hui Xiao Tiao and Hui Yu Mo were leaving, and Hui Moqiong went to see them off.

I and Li Qingying went busy cooking.

Liu Junyan and Hui Moqiong came back so early, they definitely hadn't eaten.

When the dishes were served, Jiang Sique's side had already started the strange embroidery.

He shut himself in Nan Shu Fang, working from morning until evening.

When the small door of Nan Shu Fang was opened again, Jiang Sique was utterly exhausted.

The whole Nan Shu Fang looked as if it had been blown up, with Jiang Sique's leftover materials everywhere.

But his expression was elated: "Seventh Lord, your suggestion is great; double embroidery, I did it!"

The corpse puppet still hung on the drying rack; at this moment, its back bore an embroidered vivid corpse-scented konjac flower bud.

That flower bud was actually three‑dimensional; from afar it looked just like the real thing.

The state of being about to bloom but not yet makes one imagine the foul corpse stench when it truly blossoms.

Moreover, compared to what we said before, a small crescent moon had been added to the upper right of the flower bud, exquisitely lifelike.

Jiang Sique's skill is simply superb!

Li Qingying's gaze toward him grew brighter; she called him to wash up and eat, while she herself began cleaning Nan Shu Fang without a single complaint.

Hui Moqiong leaned against the Nan Shu Fang doorway, watching the busy Li Qingying, his eyes full of sourness.

After a good while, he finally couldn't help speaking.

He said: "Qingying, Jiang Sique's son is already three and a half years old."

Li Qingying was bewildered by this out‑of‑the‑blue remark: "Right, I know that; what's up?"

Hui Moqiong lamented: "You seem to have a special fondness for this old man… hey, why are you hitting me?"

Before Hui Moqiong could finish speaking, Li Qingying swung her broom and struck out, chasing him around the courtyard.

Li Qingying, while striking, gritted her teeth and said: "Look at you, idling all day, daring to spout all kinds of nonsense; I shouldn't pity you, I come back and cook for you, wash your clothes—I should just starve you, work you to death, then my ears would finally be peaceful!"

Jiang Sique was tired; after eating, he went back to his room to catch up on sleep.

I and Liu Junyan exchanged a glance and, in tacit understanding, went back to our rooms together.

Let those two lovebirds quarrel as they please!

I leaned against the headboard and couldn't help asking Liu Junyan: "How did an extra crescent moon get embroidered on the back of the corpse puppet? Is this what you and Mr. Jiang discussed alone?"

"Yes." Liu Junyan said mysteriously: "With this crescent moon, the corpse puppet won't run away anymore, and when the moon comes out at night, it will on its own absorb moonlight essence to cultivate."

I exclaimed in amazement: "It can actually do that! The function of this crescent moon surely isn't limited to this, right?"

Liu Junyan raised an eyebrow: "Nothing can be hidden from you."

He simply told me his idea, but it might not succeed; the effect will have to be seen later.

Yet I was stunned by his ingenuity; at that moment I had already begun to anticipate the moment of verifying the results.

Under the moon, the willow branches, the corpse puppet indeed descended from the drying rack and headed straight for the front courtyard.

It walked all the way to the center of the main courtyard, then strained to lift its head, open its mouth, and bathe in the moonlight.

That scene was eerie beyond words.

From that day on, Liang Chao's household finally settled down.

And whenever there is moonlight at night, the corpse puppet will promptly appear in the main courtyard to absorb moonlight essence.

As time passed, I noticed that the crescent moon on its back grew darker and darker, which shows that this crescent moon also carries mana.

The day after Liu Junyan returned, I contacted Fang Chuan Zong, saying I wanted to go to the Special Affairs Office to look up some materials.

Fang Chuan Zong then said that the affairs of Chang City were mostly wrapped up for him, leaving the finishing work to his subordinates, and he would hurry back as soon as possible.

We and Fang Chuan Zong arrived at the Special Affairs Office almost one after the other.

With Fang Chuan Zong present, our comings and goings became much more convenient.

Only then did I learn that what Liu Junyan wanted to investigate was the 'Eighth Soul'.

What I didn't expect was that Fang Chuan Zong also had some research on this 'Eighth Soul'.

The available materials were very scarce, but they had already been categorized by Fang Chuan Zong, clearly indicating he had once studied them thoroughly.

In Fang Chuan Zong's words, the so‑called Eighth Soul is a presence similar to the seven souls that appears within the body of an enlightened adept when they cultivate to a supreme realm.

At first it is merely an illusory shadow; over time it gradually completes its own cultivation, even reaching a substantive state, detaching from the main body to become a most special existence in this world.

It is not within the Three Realms and Six Paths, transcending the Five Elements.

If one can attain that imagined realm, they would be invincible.

This is simply unimaginable.

No wonder Liu Junyan isn't certain either; she came here to look for materials to see if there are any precedents.

Fang Chuan Zong said: "Yes, there certainly are, but judging from all the materials I have, the Eighth Soul is hard to cultivate to the legendary invincible state; after all, it is too special, and in the early stage it is also very prone to body seizure."

Indeed, who in this world wouldn't want to be invincible, who wouldn't want to break free from the bonds of the Three Realms and Six Paths?

The more one cultivates, the greater their longing for the Eighth Soul, surpassing that of ordinary people.

Clearly, the Copper Coin Person nearly succeeded in being seized during cultivation.

Liu Junyan got the answer she wanted, and we prepared to head back.

What a perceptive person Fang Chuanzong is! He keenly sensed something and kept staring at Liu Junyan.

I can see the changes in Liu Junyan; how could they escape Fang Chuanzong's notice?

He immediately asked, "Lord Liu Qiye, could it be that you have already cultivated the Eighth Soul?"

Liu Junyan shook her head: "I haven't reached that level yet."

Fang Chuanzong obviously didn't believe her.

But he also sensibly didn't ask further, instead saying: "After you left Changshi, the organization subjected Mao Jingxuan to some inhuman interrogation, extracting something."

I quickly asked: "Is it about immortality?"

"Yes, the reason he fixated on the three-eyed toad is that someone deliberately used it as bait to draw him in." Fang Chuanzong glanced at Liu Junyan, speaking cautiously, "This person... Lord Liu Qiye should also know them..."