The entire sheet of paper is filled with one question: why.
The strokes and lines brim with killing intent, as if they could shatter stars and tear asunder Divine Demons.
The most crucial aspect was that Zhang Chen noticed there was demonic qi intertwined within those strokes.
"Is this Xu Erniu's obsession? I thought that by quietly handling all affairs, Xu Erniu wouldn't be troubled by his worries anymore, but who knew he would eventually give birth to a Heart Demon." Zhang Chen looked at the writing on the paper, every stroke filled with powerful obsession, no wonder Xie Lingyun's Yin Spirit almost got beaten so severely just by glancing at it.
"Old fellow, do you know something?" Zhang Chen questioned the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, this old fellow set countless back-up plans in the Ancient Era, embedded in the hearts of numerous beings, so there's no reason he wouldn't know the secrets of those times.
Upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, the Great Freedom Celestial Demon sighed helplessly: "Not only is my memory sealed, but it seems I suffered a terrifying calamity in the past, and my memory is long shattered and incomplete, I don't have the slightest memory regarding Xu Erniu in my heart."
Upon hearing the Great Freedom Celestial Demon's words, Zhang Chen took a deep breath, withdrawing his gaze from the dense small script, believing in the Great Freedom Celestial Demon's words, believing he had indeed lost his memory, but judging from his statement, he had to gauge the credibility himself.
"What is recorded on this scroll to contain such strong Evil Qi?" Xie Lingyun asked with a look of horror in her eyes, looking at the scroll before her.
"Do you think this scroll contains the Supreme Scripture, or perhaps some Secret Technique?" Zhang Chen rolled up the broken scroll, tilting his head towards Xie Lingyun.
"Isn't it?" Xie Lingyun asked in surprise.
"The scroll has only the word 'why' written on it, the entire scroll filled only with these three characters, probably some cultivator of Five Villages Temple in the past harbored unresolved angst, or faced an unsolvable dilemma, thus writing 'why' all over it." Zhang Chen laughed, handing the scroll to Xie Lingyun's Yin Spirit: "I've temporarily sealed the killing intent on the scroll, sister can incorporate it into your Yin Spirit and gradually adapt to its essence, pondering its realm. Using this Calligraphy Guide to bolster your will can help you achieve Yang God faster. Though it's damaged, it has remained immortal through countless years, it's a treasure for you."
Upon hearing this, Xie Lingyun solemnly took the Calligraphy Guide into her palm: "It is indeed a good treasure."
Any treasure that can help her quickly master the Yang God Dao could be considered a good one.
"There's also a notebook here..."
Xie Lingyun pointed to the ruins excavated from the scroll, where there lay a book made from an unknown material, buried yet uncorroded.
The book has a blue cover, titled: Alchemy Manual.
The handwriting was delicate, which Zhang Chen instantly recognized as Xu Erniu's.
Zhang Chen opened the book, greeted with the neat script:
"August 17, clear day, elder brother's aptitude is too poor, all cultivators of the same generation have reached entry-level, only elder brother has not yet sensed qi, I am very anxious and only hope elder brother can relax, not burdened by excessive pressure. I personally begged Ancestral Master for the elixir to improve aptitude and transform, but Ancestral Master said elder brother's aptitude is dull and cannot be changed, asking me to abandon this thought. But he is my elder brother, not blood-related, yet closer than blood, how can I watch him disappointedly? From today, I will delve into alchemy, improving elder brother's aptitude, washing marrow and cutting hair, no matter what, I must let elder brother cultivate magical power."
At a glance, Zhang Chen could tell this diary was written just when Xu Erniu had recently become a disciple of Ancestral Master, starting her studies of Grass Returning Pill.
Zhang Chen flipped to the second entry:
"August 19, I attempted my first batch of elixir, which was meant to expand the Sea of Qi, but it was burnt to waste!"
"Opened the furnace today for alchemy, but failed! No news of father!"
"Alchemy failed, no news of father!"
...
"August 30, after constantly adjusting the fire and ingredients usage, I successfully made the elixir to expand the Sea of Qi today, Ancestral Master praised my alchemy aptitude. I also feel I have affinity with herbs and vaguely sense the elixir, finely grasping the dosage of the ingredients. Unfortunately, the elixir was useless for elder brother."
...
"Alchemy failed, no news of father!"
...
"Alchemy failed, no news of father!"
...
"July 13, crafted the Soul-Rattling Pill, useless for elder brother!"
"July 19, elder brother mysteriously taught me a Spell, my heart filled with joy, I always knew elder brother is unique, how could Xu Erniu's elder brother be ordinary?"
"Alchemy failed, no news of father!"
...
"July 22, elder brother's behavior was peculiar today, I also developed an elixir to enhance one's cultivation, elder brother finally sensed qi, Erniu's heart was very happy, ate two more chicken legs today!"
"Alchemy failed, no news of father!"
"Alchemy failed, no news of father!"
"Alchemy failed, no news of father!"
...
"March 2, eight months later, elder brother encountered major issues, although sensing qi, yet never cultivated magical power, what is wrong with elder brother? I must diligently study the dao of elixir, I must solve the problem with elder brother."
...
"Alchemy failed, no news of father!"
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
...
"January 7th, elder brother has been acting secretive lately, I've developed several types of elixirs, but unfortunately, none are effective for him."
...
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
...
"June 6th, a mysterious great formation suddenly appeared in the Daoist Temple. I feel something's not right, but I can't pinpoint where exactly, so I produced several elixirs like Vitality Pill, Hemostatic Pill, Life-Sustaining Pill... and gave them to elder brother in advance, just in case something happens, he'd be prepared."
"June 9th, several Ancestral Masters arrived, elder brother and I stood at the end of the crowd like minor characters."
...
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
...
"Ancestor Hai Chan got trapped, the atmosphere between the Ancestral Masters and the other ancestors is off, elder brother also seems not right, he's been acting mysteriously these days. I've been at the Daoist Temple for many years now, yet there's still no sign of Father? I haven't even heard any news of him, how am I supposed to find Father?"
...
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
...
"All the Ancestral Masters disappeared, vanished without a trace. I feel elder brother has been acting odd lately. He always stands alone under a big tree, lost in thought. I've never seen elder brother like this before, it seems like he's suppressing something major. I want to ask, but I'm afraid it'll worry him. Never mind, as long as we are together and happy each day, it's enough."
"Still no news of Father today, elder brother has disappeared for days, I'm very worried."
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
...
"Today a large Demon Race army invaded the border, Five Villages Temple and the Demon Race are at war."
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
...
"Things are not good, I heard the senior brothers down the mountain are retreating, the fields of the Ancestral Masters have already been flattened, all senior brothers have been summoned to the mountain, Five Villages Temple is on the brink of collapse. However, elder brother laughed today, laughed cheerfully, how strange, the Five Villages Temple is on the verge of defeat, how can he laugh?"
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
"Alchemy failure, no news of Father!"
...
"Today a Demon Race ancestor-level figure invaded the Five Villages Temple and was slain by the Ancestral Master, the heavens and earth were stained with blood, raining down crimson golden flowers, a mysterious figure attained Dao Fruit. When can elder brother and I achieve such cultivation?"
Then Xu Erniu's notes abruptly change tone, from "Alchemy failure, no news of Father!" to 'Alchemy failure, want to run down the mountain with elder brother to hide, it's too dangerous on the mountain, will we die here?'
Then what follows is:
"Alchemy failed today, still no news of Father, the situation at Five Villages Temple worsens, I really want to sneak down the mountain with elder brother. I voiced my thoughts, but elder brother rejected them. I wonder, if we could live quietly and peacefully for a lifetime, then living like immortals wouldn't matter!"
Zhang Chen paused at this, remembering that Xu Erniu initially wanted to escape the mountain, but Zhang Chen knew that the Ancestral Master of Longevity would never let them go for the Ginseng Fruit, so he rejected Xu Erniu's idea.
Zhang Chen continued reading, and as he turned the page, his eyes froze, pupils shrinking. Xu Erniu's handwriting was now messy, indicating a disturbed state of mind:
"It turns out my father is the Ancestral Master of Longevity!!! But he was killed by elder brother!!! Elder brother colluded with the Innate Peacock to act against the Ancestral Master! It was all my brother's scheme! I was wrong about my brother, he's always been this way, even the Ancestral Master fell to his machinations. Elder brother harbored a grudge against the Ancestral Master of Longevity and came to Five Villages Temple to avenge himself! What should I do??? What should I do???"
"Elder brother is dead! Father is also dead! Why??? Why all of this? What grudge did elder brother and the Ancestral Master have??? Why did he kill my father!!!"
The handwriting became increasingly messy, causing Zhang Chen's scalp to tingle, every word full of confusion and despondency.
"I was taken by the Innate Peacock, that Innate Peacock has imprisoned me!"
As Zhang Chen flipped to the next page, his expression suddenly changed.