Chapter 523

Dìluán was a tragedy from beginning to end, but what Dìshì valued even more was still Fèngxiànqiū.

That night, Fèngxiànqiū attempted to write the Heaven's Memorial Document behind my back, taking advantage of my Nirvana opportunity, to accuse Dìshì's evil deeds before Shang Cang.

Without discussing whether Fèngxiànqiū's action was too naïve, just saying the content of that Heaven's Memorial Document, which deliberately portrayed himself as spotless, is already shameful.

His behavior completely enraged Dìshì; I don't know what Dìshì actually did to him.

Whenever Fèngxiànqiū reappeared, he always appeared as the Three‑Legged Crow, never reverting to human form again.

Including his decisive escape at the end, which was unlike his former self.

Finally, Dìshì was beaten to death by me, yet only a hollow skin remained, not even that evil bone left; therefore I have reason to suspect that on that night, Fèngxiànqiū might already have been body‑seized by Dìshì!

Perhaps it wasn't body‑seizure but parasitic dwelling?

Dìshì has plenty of means and ability.

Huh?

Thinking and thinking, I suddenly realized a problem: what exactly is Dìshì's True Body?

Dìluán's True Body is a phoenix bird, but that was crafted by Dìshì.

But Dìshì is actually Fèngxiànqiū's true biological father.

Fèngxiànqiū's True Body is the Three‑Legged Crow; Dìluán speculated he took after his mother's clan, but he no longer remembers who Fèngxiànqiū's mother was.

What if… what if Fèngxiànqiū took after his father instead?

According to our current speculation, Dìshì's True Body should be imprisoned in Wǎngsǐ Chéng; every image he shows before people is not his true form.

I have seen his Black Python State, his Phoenix Bird State, and even Dìluán's Human Form State; those are not his true self.

And now he is using the Three‑Legged Crow's form again.

If he hadn't successfully hitched a ride on my Nirvana Tribulation, I wouldn't have singled this out as a point worth analyzing, after all he uses and discards it, not just once or twice.

But this time is different.

Dìluán reminded me that Dìshì keeping Fèngxiànqiū might still have great use.

If Dìshì's True Body, even after escaping from Wǎngsǐ Chéng, could no longer be used?

He needs a True Body to serve as an Eternal Sacrifice, wholly his.

This True Body must not only bond with his soul, but also infinitely approach his original True Body; Dìshì himself said that among all his children, he values Fèngxiànqiū the most.

Is it because he values Fèngxiànqiū's ability? Loyalty?

No, Dìshì values the True Body of Fèngxiànqiū that is extremely similar to his own and compatible!

If it were merely a simple Body Seizure, according to past experience, it wouldn't last long.

That's why there is the Tribulation Hitching.

Through the baptism of the Nirvana Tribulation, the Three‑Legged Crow also underwent the Soul Shattering and Reformation that I experienced during my Nirvana, being smashed apart and then reformed again.

This is what is called Break and Rebuild.

Dìshì can let go, and he also got what he wanted.

No, no, no, he hasn't yet reached the realm he most desires.

If the Tribulation Hitching reaches its ideal state, the Three‑Legged Crow should aspire to ascend and become a true Solar Divine Bird.

"Xiao Jiu?"

Hui Moqiong waved his hand in front of my eyes and called out several times: "Xiao Jiu, what's wrong with you? Why did you suddenly zone out while talking?"

Several pairs of eyes stared at me in unison.

My train of thought was instantly pulled back: "My thoughts have scattered; the benefit of everyone discussing together is just that—it can infinitely expand my thoughts, filling gaps and making up for omissions."

I told them everything I had just thought of.

Finally I raised the question: "I'm wondering where that Three‑Legged Crow fled to after escaping—is it in Wǎngsǐ Chéng or in Zàng Qū?"

"Zàng Qū!"

"Zàng Qū!"

……

Almost everyone spoke in unison.

My thought was the same.

After all, Dìshì's scheme hasn't reached its final step; he needs to protect this True Body well.

After all, phoenix Nirvana is a millennial rarity; the success rate is even slimmer; he has waited far too many years and will not lightly let go of this once‑in‑a‑thousand‑years opportunity.

Zàng Qū is vast; they have operated there for years, wanting to hide a Three‑Legged Crow True Body is not difficult.

By contrast, Wǎngsǐ Chéng is crowded and chaotic, and moreover belongs to the Nether Realm, making it too hard to control.

When the Final Formation is complete and Dìshì truly begins his Heaven‑Stealing Fortune, only then will the Three‑Legged Crow head for Wǎngsǐ Chéng.

That's why Liu Junyan had Hu Yulin come fetch me, while he himself rushed nonstop to Zàng Qū.

If we could intercept and kill the Three‑Legged Crow in Zàng Qū, or destroy the Formation Array that corresponds to Wǎngsǐ Chéng's formation in the shrine or temple, there would be hope to shatter Dìshì's plan, ruining all his years of scheming in one fell swoop.

In the end, the only goal left is to completely destroy Dìshì's original True Body.

Wǎngsǐ Chéng is heavily guarded; Dìshì has been jumping around for so long without a whisper leaking out, which can only mean his True Body is likely implicated heavily, and to thoroughly overthrow him would still require considerable effort.

Impatience hinders progress.

Or perhaps we should first act on Zàng Qū and the Three‑Legged Crow; maybe things will develop to the point that they aren't as difficult as we imagined.

Just like my Nirvana.

I felt hopeless, yet suddenly many people came to help me, and in the end I actually got the best outcome.

We walk the Righteous Path, following the People's Will; ultimately we will surely unite as one!

While we were discussing Zàng Qū and the Three‑Legged Crow, Huang Fan kept staring at the drawings I had just made on paper.

He stroked his chin, furrowed his brow, and asked: "Everything seems reasonable, but there's one point I can't figure out—what role do the Five Blessings Immortals play in this splicing process?"

He said, pointing a finger at the carved painting on the Screen Wall, and asked.

Everyone's gaze was drawn over again.

Hui Moqiong said: "It's pretty obvious, using us as nutrients to cultivate a Buddha's Bone Relic, right?"

Buddha's Bone Relic…

I instinctively touched my belly.

With that touch, I was shocked—my belly… why hasn't it grown after Nirvana?

Huang Fan said: "So those Yin Corpses came to seize us earlier just to prepare in advance? Then besides the two of us…"

Huang Fan glanced at me, then looked outside.

He was thinking of Bai Shulan.

On my way back I had also worried about this; I was about to say I'd go check, but Hui Moqiong whooshed out.

He and Bai Shulan had gone through hardships together; in his heart, Bai Shulan was like an older sister.

Although there had been disagreements along the way, it didn't affect that if Bai Shulan encountered trouble, Hui Moqiong would surely rush to the front.

Not long after, Hui Moqiong returned.

No need to ask; his grim face said it all.

"The door was locked; I broke in, met a reek of blood, and left no survivors." Hui Moqiong said, "I searched everywhere, including the Seclusion Chamber, but couldn't find Shulan sister, nor even Bái Jīngmò that brat; I only found this in the Seclusion Chamber."

He said, producing a black Feather to show us.

This black feather must have been forcibly plucked in the panic; the feather is large, wholly black, shining in the sunlight with iridescent sheen… this is the feather of a Sān jiǎo yā.