But Zhang Chen and Jiang Nan have already severed ties and become two strangers with no connection. Zhang Chen would not help Jiang Nan succeed, but he certainly wouldn’t thwart him either.
"You all go in," Zhang Chen said, then headed down the mountain.
Watching Zhang Chen’s back, the two were puzzled, before Zhou Zhen led Jiang Nan into the small building to pay respects to Zhou Qiucheng.
"Father, a disciple at the academy faced a perplexing problem. I lack the skill to resolve it, so I brought this fellow junior for you to enlighten," Zhou Zhen said to Zhou Qiucheng.
Zhou Qiucheng’s gaze fell upon Jiang Nan.
"Disciple Jiang Nan pays respect to the master," Jiang Nan respectfully greeted Zhou Qiucheng.
"Rise, there’s no need for formalities," Zhou Qiucheng replied unhurriedly.
Indeed, he recognized Jiang Nan. While investigating the remnants of the Shen Family’s bloodline, he noticed Jiang Nan beside Shen Ling, giving Jiang Nan the opportunity to enter the Exquisite Tower to contemplate the mysterious.
"Disciple has questions unanswered and hopes the master will provide guidance," Jiang Nan quickly presented the prepared books.
Taking a glance at the books, Zhou Qiucheng said, "You, young lady, are well-read. Even many teachers at the academy are no match for you. No wonder your questions have stumped those below."
Jiang Nan humbly replied, "My family has deep roots in scholarship, yet I have always lacked a master to guide me, hence my attendance at Chongzheng Academy. I have many doubts suppressed in my heart that I ask of the teachers, but as the questions multiply, the teachers cannot answer them all. I must now implore the dean to solve my doubts."
"As a disciple of the academy and calling me master, it is only natural I resolve your queries," Zhou Qiucheng said as he answered Jiang Nan’s questions, and Jiang Nan carefully recorded and made notes before turning to leave.
As Jiang Nan reached the doorway, her steps suddenly halted, and she turned to look at Zhou Qiucheng.
"What is it? Do you have any other matters?" Zhou Qiucheng asked Jiang Nan with confusion.
"I noticed the master’s complexion is pale, as if severely injured. The disciple has two Spirit Pills, the ’Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill’ from the Shen Family, possessing peculiar uses to enhance the origin of one’s soul. Disciple is willing to offer them to the master," Jiang Nan said, producing a porcelain bottle from her belongings and kneeling to present it.
"The Shen Family’s Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill? A marvelous item, this thing can preserve one’s physical body, nourish one’s soul, and is extremely valuable now, especially after the Shen Family’s fall," Zhou Qiucheng said, his heart stirred upon seeing the pill. He was troubled by soul injuries, and the pill could expedite his soul’s recovery.
"Student is willing to offer it to the master," Jiang Nan said respectfully.
Zhou Qiucheng examined Jiang Nan for a moment, then said, "I never accept benefits without reason. If you have requests, speak them; if I can fulfill them, I’ll take the pill. If not, you may take the pill back."
Hearing this, Jiang Nan did not insist further but instead stated her condition: "My family’s elders have been slaughtered, leaving me alone and destitute without support. If the master does not disdain my ignorance, disciple wishes to serve by the master’s side and learn day and night."
Zhou Qiucheng was surprised: "That’s your only request?"
Jiang Nan nodded firmly: "Yes, it’s my sole request."
"You’re offering two Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pills just to become my disciple? You might be losing out," Zhou Qiucheng questioned again, "Really no other conditions?"
Jiang Nan shook her head resolutely: "Being by your side, learning day and night, and having a place to stay is honor enough."
Zhou Qiucheng took the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill, carefully tucked it into his sleeve, then went forward to help Jiang Nan up: "From now on, you are my direct disciple."
He turned to Zhou Zhen: "From now on, she’s your junior sister. You must take good care of her and ensure she faces no grievance."
"Understood," Zhou Zhen promptly replied.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chen descended the mountain, pondering how Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhen unexpectedly headed to the back mountain together, increasing his suspicion towards her. He didn’t know what schemes Jiang Nan might be plotting.
"Master Zhou Zhen is honest and straightforward. In terms of cunning, he probably isn’t a match for Jiang Nan and may be manipulated by her," Zhang Chen’s concern arose, yet he had no intention of intervening, not wanting to disrupt Jiang Nan’s plans.
Moreover, even if he intervened, the Zhou family’s father and son’s disposition may not change anything.
With myriad thoughts swirling in Zhang Chen’s mind, he arrived at the Exquisite Tower. Inside, a crowd of disciples gathered, engaged in lively discussions, akin to the chattering of a marketplace.
Drawing closer, Zhang Chen eavesdropped for a while, then understood. Apparently, someone had comprehended an eerie law and acquired an uncanny inheritance.
Intrigued by the news, Zhang Chen quietly nudged forward, eager to see who had sensed the enigmatic birth and mastered the uncanny law, hoping to observe firsthand and grasp any insights.
Approaching further, Zhang Chen saw on the white jade wall an ink painting appear—its subject a figure, whom Zhang Chen recognized as Shen Qiu.
The vivid image clung to the wall, as though imprinted into it.
"Unexpectedly, that kid Shen Qiu really had some incredible luck, truly caught a break, actually comprehended the eerie laws, and ended up taking the lead." Someone cursed quietly.
"I was previously here comprehending the murals, and who would have thought Shen Qiu ’swish’ like that, and a mural flew out, directly sticking to the wall."
People discussed beside.
"I also don’t know how Shen Qiu communicated strangely with the mural." Someone muttered to themselves.
The reason everyone gathered was to figure out how Shen Qiu communicated unusually with the mural, but no matter how much discussion, there was not a single clue.
Zhang Chen’s eyes showed a hint of contemplation: "Shen Qiu’s family is now ruined, could it be due to a change of heart that he sensed something unusual?"
The most unpredictable force in this world is the power of the human heart.
Zhang Chen watched the mural again for a while, felt that it contained vitality, showing that Shen Qiu didn’t die.
Shen Qiu transitioned from a living state into a mural state, as if from three dimensions into two, but in this strange world, what is impossible?
The strangest things can happen, let alone the state one sees here?
Turning a person into a mural, what’s so strange about that?
Numerous thoughts flickered in Zhang Chen’s mind, and then he activated the Eye of Devouring, but after observing for a while, he didn’t notice anything unusual.
A group of people gathered in front of the mural, examining any subtle changes, unwilling to miss even the slightest variation.
Zhang Chen knew that just watching like this, one couldn’t discern any key points, so he withdrew from the crowd, continued to observe other murals, using Primordial Spirit to sense the mural’s lines, hoping to birth some mystical connection.
Unfortunately, Zhang Chen still got nothing, and as dusk approached, he walked out of the Exquisite Tower intending to return home, when suddenly his steps paused, and his eyes looked northward, as if across distant time and space, he could see the overwhelming blood-red clouds rolling.
"How many creatures must have died in the Yellow River Basin for my Blood Control Technique to evolve, from the seventh tier to the eighth?" Zhang Chen’s eyes showed disbelief.
His Blood Control Technique required twenty trillion experience points to upgrade from the seventh tier to the eighth, but now it’s upgraded, indicating how many creatures died in the Northern Land.
Zhang Chen left the Blood God Child in the Northern Land, transforming into an underground Blood Lake, continuously absorbing all battlefield blood, now actually gathering twenty trillion points; how could Zhang Chen not be shocked?
It was simply shocking.
Zhang Chen’s eyes looked toward the horizon, mouth and nose seemingly smelled the bloody scent carried in the air. His body twisted and flickered several times in the void, reappearing in his own courtyard, and then Zhang Chen opened the Golden Finger interface:
[Skill upgrade detected, do you wish to upgrade?]
Watching the flashing message on the Golden Finger interface, Zhang Chen’s eyes revealed a hint of joy, seeing the seventh skill flashing and jumping: "Upgrade!"
Zhang Chen directly issued the command, and the next moment, the interface information of the Golden Finger twisted:
[3 Skill (Seventh Tier): Body Transformation Blood River (3000000/2000000000000)] ---> [3 Skill (Eighth Tier): Body Transformation Blood River (0/20000000000000)]
Then the Golden Finger interface refreshed:
[3 Skill (Eighth Tier): Body Transformation Blood River (0/20000000000000)]
[Note 1: New skill, mastering the Law of Sound Waves.]
Then the Golden Finger interface refreshed again:
[3 Skill (Eighth Tier): Body Transformation Blood River (0/20000000000000)]
[Note 1: The host can transform into a Blood River, attract all the blood within a hundred-mile radius to converge, draw the wandering souls within a hundred miles into the Blood River, and open. Channel human world blood, wandering souls faster into the Sea of Blood.]
[Note 2: The quantity of Blood God Child increases with level elevation, currently seven Blood God Child.] Blood Control, blood absorption, Limb Regeneration, Ultrasonic Positioning, Body Transformation Blood Light, Blood Poison Filth, Blood Control, Blood Influence (within one meter), Body Transformation Blood River, mastering the Law of Sound Waves.
Zhang Chen’s gaze fell on the Law of Sound Waves, his eyes showing curiosity, he noticed that this is the Law of Sound Waves, not the Sound Wave Divine Techniques.
This is not the same as Ultrasonic Positioning before! Completely two different concepts.
PS: Forgot to ask for a monthly vote, asking for a wave of monthly tickets, dear patrons, if capable, kindly donate some votes, little author thanks from the bottom of their heart.