Tired to the point of exhaustion didn’t delay someone’s early rising.
At the hour of the tiger, Shi Jingzhi writhed around Yin Ci’s side a few times before pulling himself up. Little did he know that this time his talented disciple didn’t laze in bed either. Like peanuts being pulled, he followed Shi Jingzhi and emerged from the blankets.
There was no trace of Yan Qing in the room. Ever since he acquired the Sword of Compassion and the “Jade Bell Sword Technique”, it seemed like Yan Qing had firecrackers tied behind his head. He would explode whenever he slacked off. Only Su Si slept sprawled on the mat, with Lord Bai curled up like a snowball pressing against his chest.
Shi Jingzhi kicked the blanket near his feet and covered Su Si, whose hands and feet were exposed. Then he dragged his drowsy disciple back to the front hall, moving quietly.
The elderly seldom slept much. Granny Wei was already busy in the hall. The sky outside was still dark, but it was adorned with a beautiful indigo color when illuminated by the snow. They didn’t know whether Elder Chen had slept or not, but he was still glued to the table, most likely still pondering his path to immortality.
“The young man with red eyes went out to practice swordsmanship.”
Granny Wei smiled warmly as she fetched a basin of hot water. The soup in the pot was still the same, with a consistent aroma, though it was uncertain if salt was added today.
Shi Jingzhi glanced at Chen Qianfan out of the corner of his eye. This old man was at least from the Jianchen Temple and had also been beaten by the Sword of Compassion. He definitely wouldn’t overlook anything. Unexpectedly, when Chen Qianfan saw the descendant of the Yan family wielding that sword and leaving, he remained as steady as Mount Tai, composed and unruffled, without a hint of surprise.
He was too calm.
Chen Qianfan seemed to sense Shi Jingzhi’s gaze but couldn’t be bothered to lift his eyelids. “Today, I’ll take that girl to dig for materials. You all should contribute as well. Tell that dead-faced boy to come with me. And as for you, think carefully about whether you want to discard your memories or gamble your life.”
Shi Jingzhi made a quick decision. “I’ll go too.”
Finally, Chen Qianfan raised his precious eyes and glanced at Shi Jingzhi. “What are you going for? Itching for something to do? I only need one of you, too many eyes are annoying.”
“Master’s diagnoses is clear, so it’s best to deal with the problem efficiently*. His medical treatment isn’t like those people in the martial world, asking for strange rewards. Actually, I’m also suffering from a peculiar illness and would like to ask Master for advice.”
*Cut the mess quickly (快刀斩乱麻) Metaphor referring to handling things decisively, grasping the key points, and solving the problem quickly.
“You’ve got some nerve, even holding in a fart until the next day. Well, fine. I do hate it when people ask for too much at once. Come over here.”
After half an incense stick’s time.
“Can’t be cured, can’t be cured. Either wait for a stroke of luck or wait for death,” Chen Qianfan said bluntly.
Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci: “…”
Chen Qianfan glared at them. “What’s wrong? This is an inherent ailment. I’ve lived this long seeking immortality. Why should I bother with someone else’s problem from birth? But your condition is too peculiar. I’m afraid no one in the Central Plains can diagnose it.”
Shi Jingzhi didn’t have high expectations to begin with and didn’t show disappointment. “Senior has sharp eyes. This illness is indeed extraordinary, and I am currently seeking desperate measures to save myself.”
Shi Jingzhi remained calm, and Chen Qianfan’s temper softened slightly. “Hmm, it’s an unconventional solution. I’m somewhat interested in that desperate measure, but my old arms and legs can’t compete with a young person.”
Speaking of this, he showed a somewhat regretful expression. “There is still more than half a year of lifespan left… It’s a pity. Your inner force is so abundant—clearly a good material for spellcasting.”
“Senior is too kind. To be honest, this junior wants to accompany senior on this journey to learn—”
Elder Chen returned to the table with his hands behind his back and began manipulating the monster corpse again. “I wasn’t praising you. I just said that your body is full of inner force, suitable for use as material for crafting weapons and formations.”
Shi Jingzhi: “…”
So “material” was meant literally.
It turned out that this old man wasn’t regretting his own short life but rather lamenting that he couldn’t die at this moment, allowing him to skin and dissect Shi Jingzhi for research.
Shi Jingzhi took two steps back, half hiding behind his disciple. The politeness in his tone wavered. “…This junior still wants to go.”
Elder Chen looked him up and down; his semi-long beard trembling slightly. His tone became somewhat gentler. “Alright.”
Shi Jingzhi suspected that this kindness wasn’t directed at him but rather at his physical body. He guessed that Elder Chen felt the excellent material was out of reach, so he could at least take a look. Fortunately, with the assurance of the Jianchen Temple, Chen Qianfan couldn’t possibly be a person who killed and desecrated corpses. Shi Jingzhi mustered up his courage and joined the expedition.
The breakfast soup this time had salt in it, and the taste was unexpectedly good.
After the meal, Granny Wei continued to embroider her flowers as usual, humming a vulgar tune she had picked up from somewhere. “The warm breeze loves the charming peach branches, the spring river is calm, whose home is filled with spring…”
Her dialect wasn’t quite accurate, but the melody of this song was spot-on. Even when sung in an elderly voice, the melody remained soft and pleasant, carrying a touch of lingering notes, adding a hint of southern water vapor to the northern land.
Chen Qianfan chewed on cud like a cow, pretending not to hear. He took the food prepared by Granny Wei, turned himself into a luggage rack, and leisurely walked out without even saying goodbye.
The snow didn’t reach their calves. Chen Qianfan led the way at the forefront, and the group walked at a moderate pace.
Yin Ci remained silent throughout the journey, resisting the impulse to glance at Shi Jingzhi. He still couldn’t figure out how to intervene in this matter in a gentle manner. Poor him; he had never acted as a father to anyone in his hundreds of years of existence. This was the first time he experienced a feeling of helplessness.
Although he picked up Sun Huaijin when Sun Huaijin was only eleven or twelve years old, Yin Ci always felt that something was different.
Shi Jingzhi didn’t really “expect” anything from him.
Sun Huaijin was indeed an ordinary person who needed guidance in every aspect. But the Little Mute never truly regarded him as a father, and Shi Jingzhi didn’t need his care either. With his exquisite senses and dexterous skills, even though he liked to cause some physical pain to himself, Shi Jingzhi knew it wouldn’t endanger his life.
Ever since his inner demon emerged, Shi Jingzhi’s understanding of human emotions had grown rapidly. On the other hand, Yin Ci, since his birth, had never treated people with a gentle and soft demeanor. Even when he previously felt distressed about someone’s injury, his actions were filled with the dominance of a superior.
Shi Jingzhi fully accepted it, thinking that it wasn’t because he was indecisive or soft-hearted but rather to avoid conflict with him.
Neither of them knew who was taking care of whom, and the more Yin Ci thought about it, the more powerless he felt.
For trivial matters, forcing Shi Jingzhi to make such a big decision would probably put an end to their hard-earned friendship. The tangled mess in his hands became warm and alive, and Demonic Lord Yin’s swift blade couldn’t cut through it, giving him a headache.
Yin Ci wasn’t the only one pondering this. Shi Zhongyu also cared about her sect leader and had already run halfway with her three souls and seven spirits. Her knees were almost stiff. Shi Jingzhi walked at the back of the group, feeling bitter in his heart.
Clearly, he was the one facing life and death, yet at this moment, he had become a gravedigger, urging two young and beautiful bodies forward. With the addition of the silent Elder Chen, no matter how he looked at it, he was the most energetic one among the group.
However, Shi Jingzhi’s enthusiasm didn’t last long. As the sun rose, the sky became clear, and the snowscape seemed like a paradise on Earth. Unfortunately, Chen Qianfan insisted on taking the darkest path. The further the group walked, the more desolate the surroundings became, and the cold wind grew increasingly chilling. The scenery gradually became eerie, and a bone-chilling cold seeped into the depths of their bones.
Elder Chen stopped in front of a glacier.
The glacier was covered in pristine white snow, and embedded in the snow was a dead deer. The deer appeared aged, as if it had frozen to death in that spot. Its carcass lay on its side within the snow, relatively intact with no visible signs of blood.
The antlers of the deer were covered with strange-looking flesh bulbs, indicating that it was a deer monster with subtle transformation.
Chen Qianfan muttered indistinctly, took out a logbook, and made a mark. “We’ll use this as a guide today.”
Upon hearing that they were searching for materials, Shi Jingzhi initially thought they were going to hunt monsters or unearth some heavenly treasures. Now, facing a dead deer, he was a bit confused. “Guide?”
Chen Qianfan revealed a faint smirk. “Spells are difficult to make, but I have experience dealing with such difficulties. Materials are hard to find, so of course, the young ones should contribute too. Don’t babble nonsense. Shut up and watch. It’s not easy to find a big monster corpse. You all better work hard later so we don’t miss this opportunity.”
The other three people obediently stood in place.
Chen Qianfan first took out a bowl of dried, black-red fruits and scattered them on the deer corpse. Then he melted snow to make a small pot of thick medicinal juice, which he carefully poured around the deer corpse, forming a deep red pattern. The thick substance, like blood, didn’t disperse with the melted snow but instead formed clear traces.
Chen Qianfan meticulously painted the pattern; his steps were light, not stepping on even a trace of the medicine.
When the formation was complete, the intricate details dazzled the eyes, resembling the techniques used by Granny Wei.
Whether it was an illusion or not, Shi Jingzhi felt that the deer corpse seemed fresher now, not as stiff as before. It appeared to have recently died, emitting steam as if it were still warm.
Chen Qianfan touched and felt around, took out four dark-brown, coarse incense sticks, and stabbed one into the eyes of the deer monster. Once ignited, the incense emitted a blue flame, and the black smoke rose straight into the sky, causing one’s hair to stand on end.
Shi Jingzhi took a breath of cold air, feeling his teeth ache. No matter how he looked at it, this thing seemed more like dark magic than immortal arts.
“It’s done.”
Chen Qianfan turned around and leaped out of the formation. He shook his bundle and took out a bottle of dirty pills, pouring four into his hand. He didn’t care about the dirt and ash on his hands.
Those pills emitted a pungent and sour odor with a suspicious oily sheen.
Elder Chen didn’t mind and took one, crunching and chewing on it.
Shi Jingzhi held back a cry of despair and struggled to pick up one pill. He had some lingering hope, thinking that maybe it would only smell nauseating but not taste as extreme. However, as soon as it entered his mouth, it felt like a layer of rotten mud enveloped his tongue, bitter and greasy.
He stuffed a handful of snow into his mouth to suppress the strange taste. Even Shi Zhongyu grimaced, while Yin Ci remained indifferent.
“That was the Breath Halting Pill. In theory, you should hold your breath for a long time, but you youngsters definitely can’t do that… Using this, you can breathe slightly. Remember not to make loud noises or breathe heavily.”
Shi Jingzhi whispered, “Senior, can you hold your breath for a long time?”
“Naturally.”
“Then this pill…”
“About three to five years. It’s still fine.”
Shi Jingzhi wanted to cry without tears.
Finally, the incense stick inserted in the deer’s eye suddenly brightened. The black smoke on the incense abruptly changed direction, all pointing towards a nearby glacier like four taut black ropes.
“The Arcane Arts of the Queen of Milan. It’s here, it’s here,” Chen Qianfan said. “Listen to my commands later and don’t act rashly—especially you, boy with the fox eyes. Your inner force is too strong. If you recklessly damage the Arcane Arts, you’ll be opposing the entire Mishan Sect.”
Yin Ci couldn’t help but exclaim, “The Arcane Arts?”
He had heard of it before. According to the Mishan Sect, the Arcane Arts contained complex and profound spells. The Arcane Arts itself was also quite dangerous, and even the members of the Mishan Sect were reluctant to touch it unless necessary.
Yin Ci himself couldn’t perform such arts, and the masters of the Mishan Sect specialized in their own fields, so not many people were willing to study the Arcane Arts. He had skipped this clue and only investigated the existing arts of the Mishan Sect.
Who would have thought that today they would stumble upon it?
However, it was unexpected that the Arcane Arts wasn’t stored in a secretive location.
While everyone was speculating, the four incense sticks burned out.
At this moment, without Chen Qianfan explaining, Yin Ci already understood why the Arcane Arts couldn’t be stored and where the danger lay—
A sizable group was approaching in a grand manner.
The main composition of the group consisted of peculiar-looking insect and rat monsters, interspersed with several hundred larger monsters. The group of monsters swayed as they marched, lined up neatly like a funeral procession.
They surrounded a monstrous figure that was about five to six zhang tall.
Judging by its figure, the monstrous being resembled a woman, but her body wasn’t complete. Instead, it was made up of numerous pieced-together naked corpses. Her head was composed of thousands of heads, with densely packed faces stacked together, like something from a nightmare.
The bodies didn’t rot or bloat, emitting no foul smell of decay. On the pale skin, numerous dark red, ink-like worms crawled around, resembling living creatures.
Maintaining a kneeling position, it slowly moved forward with the group, and the countless heads on its “head” jostled and pushed, revealing a seam in the middle. Then, with its patched-together giant hands, it picked up the deer monster’s corpse and inserted it into the opening on its head.
After chewing slowly, it spat out a pile of broken bones. The surrounding smaller monsters swarmed over and devoured the remains.
“This is the Arcane Arts of the Queen of Milan. The ancient corpses on the Arcane Arts are essential materials for warding off disasters, and the spells on the ancient corpses are a unique creation of the queen herself. She dedicated her life’s study to it. With her own body as the core, she refined the most vicious weapon of Milan using her own corpse.”
Chen Qianfan whispered.
“This place is rich in resources, but in the past two hundred years, the original residents of Milan have all moved away, and only the Mishan Sect, skilled in the arts, has remained. Young ones, the Mishan Sect never settles in one place without reason.”
“Two hundred years ago, wherever humans and animals gathered, it would easily attract a group of monsters guided by this weapon. The weapon would devour those with the strongest inner force to sustain itself, while the monsters would consume their remains, coexisting with each other. Initially, it wasn’t called the Arcane Arts but was referred to as the ‘Queen’s Funeral’.”
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