Chapter 355: Section 142: Treat Each Other with Sincerity
The youth smiled at Zi Di, “Haven’t I already apologized at the Central Tower?”
“There’s more to it,” Zi Di said gravely. “Not long after I took over the Purple Vine Guild, I was targeted for assassination. To protect myself, I had no choice but to align with the War Merchant. I was too weak to negotiate, so I was forced into an alliance with the Hundred Needle Family. Yet the War Merchant secretly annihilated their team, intending to replace them with a puppet—supporting you to become the White Sand City Lord and his most loyal pawn.”
“In fact, it was due to me that the shipwreck occurred. When the contract was voided, I sensed the War Merchant’s death. At that time, the captain of the Pig Kiss harbored malicious intentions, so I poisoned him. But his sudden counterattack led to the sinking of the Pig Kiss.”
This secret was uncovered on the fourth floor of the Central Tower by Jia Sha. However, at that time, the youth and his companions were still on the third floor, and did not hear this conversation.
Nevertheless, neither the youth nor Cang Xu showed any sign of surprise.
The youth’s smile remained unchanged.
“Did you all know already?” Zi Di wondered, but then she realized it herself, “It’s Zhenjin!”
She guessed correctly.
Although she was unconscious afterwards, Zhenjin, having been captured, was inevitably interrogated.
Concerning the events on the fourth floor, Zhenjin revealed everything, especially after seeing the device that created the Memory Crystals again.
Zi Di exhaled a heavy breath. Although they already knew, voicing it out loud felt like tearing away a layer of paper cocoon wrapping her heart. It gave her a sense of relief, a refreshing feeling of unburdening.
Her life-threatening, mysterious experiences on Mysterious Monster Island had made Zi Di even more determined and brave.
“There’s another matter, and it’s good news,” Zi Di continued. “The Hundred Needle Family has replied. As we discussed earlier, I have arranged to secretly meet the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needles on Fire Island to negotiate and exchange hostages.”
Zi Di had not revealed the truth about what happened on Mysterious Monster Island; the Clan Leader still thought that the Pig Kiss was hijacked by the Justice Pirate Group, and their clan heir, along with the chairman of the Purple Vine Guild and some other valuable individuals aboard, had become pirate hostages, awaiting a ransom for their release.
Although messages were sent using a Magic Device and required a codebook to decipher, the truth could not be disclosed carelessly. This was because, in case significant changes happened within the Hundred Needle Family.
She believed that once the negotiations truly began, the Clan Leader’s expression would be priceless upon seeing Zi Di ally with the pirates and forsake their alliance.
For the negotiations, the three of them were confident.
Zhenjin was the sole heir to the Hundred Needle Family—this bargaining chip was massive!
Now the three only hoped that the Clan Leader indeed had the capability to communicate covertly with the high ranks of the Empire and had the connections to help them evade punishment.
Even if the Clan Leader did not have such capacity, having the Hundred Needle Family secretly assist them in escaping and covertly providing supplies would still be beneficial.
“Miss Zi Di, if you confront the Clan Leader with the truth, what will happen to your Purple Vine Guild? Your guild’s situation is also not good, initially warming up to the Hundred Needle Family. If the contract is torn up, I fear your guild might face significant negative repercussions,” Cang Xu inquired.
Zi Di gave a bitter laugh and looked at the youth.
The youth was indeed looking at her, his gaze filled with concern and anxiety.
Zi Di smiled again, this time a sweet hue tinged her expression.
Then, she firmly said, “The Purple Vine Guild is my father’s lifetime of hard work and pride. I took it over because I didn’t want his efforts to be in vain. More importantly, I wanted to use this foundation to seek revenge.”
“The Purple Vine Guild is already in such a state, and my role as chairman is nominal. Aside from the Elder Fat Tongue, no one else truly acknowledges my leadership. So, even if the contract is torn, it really couldn’t get much worse.”
“The worst-case scenario is the complete destruction of the Purple Vine Guild. But that doesn’t mean I can’t still seek revenge for my father. As long as I live, it’s entirely possible to rebuild the Purple Vine Guild in the future.”
“Of course, that’s not the most important and crucial reason,” she said.
At this, Zi Di suddenly reached out and took hold of the youth’s hand.
She continued, “The most important and crucial reason is that I don’t want to become Zhenjin’s fiancée, not even in name. My heart… already belongs to someone else.”
She gazed deeply and boldly at the Fishman youth in front of her.
The array of experiences on Mysterious Monster Island, the close brushes with death, and the constant companionship had deeply embedded the youth’s light and spirit in the depths of Zi Di’s heart.
No matter how ferocious the youth’s appearance seemed or what monstrous form he took, the girl’s heart remained steadfastly with him.
The youth’s heart thudded profoundly; at this moment, he also tightened his grip on the girl’s hand.
“Zi Di…” he called out in a low, soft voice.
Even though Zi Di had once deceived him, once he knew the truth, the youth felt more understanding and compassion towards her.
Zi Di had her own bottom lines and kindness, and, compelled by circumstances, had become a pawn, with much powerlessness and helplessness.
Most importantly, the youth trusted his own intuition.
During the time he spent with Zi Di, he never felt any malice from her towards him!
There was no malice, only love.
“How honored I am to have your favor,” the youth said passionately.
“Me too, meeting you must be arranged by fate,” the girl’s cheeks blushed, her eyes tender like water.
The two gradually got closer and closer, their attention increasingly focused on each other.
“Cough, cough.” Cang Xu’s cough startled the young couple.
Both felt a bit embarrassed as they came around.
“Bless you two, youth is truly beautiful,” Cang Xu commented. Although an Undead Mage, his humanity wasn’t erased. The beauty before him made the corners of his mouth turn up slightly, smiling sincerely.
The youth and girl slightly parted, yet the youth’s hand still held the girl’s unwaveringly.
He took a deep breath, looked at the girl earnestly, then turned to Cang Xu, “I have some things to clarify to you both.”
“About my Beastification People’s secret, it’s actually about the Blood Core.”
Cang Xu’s smile remained unchanged.
The girl silently looked at her beloved, slightly squeezing the youth’s hand to secretly encourage him.
“Aren’t you both surprised?” The youth was slightly taken aback.
“To tell you the truth, I had suspected it already,” Cang Xu nodded, “After all, the Blood Core in the Central Tower was actively retained by you, you took it and negotiated alone with the King of Flame Dragon. Since then, I have never seen it again.”
“After leaving Mysterious Monster Island, you obtained a brand new Dragon-man form.”
“When we entered the Sky Pillar Sea Eye, you could also transform into a Fishman.”
“Since that Blood Core was carefully placed on the third floor by the War Merchant, it must be more precious than the Green Jade Gold Coffin and Mermaid’s Fairy Tale in the War Merchant’s view.”
“Judging by your performances, I deduced that this Blood Core must have the ability to absorb external bloodlines, thereby driving its own mutation.”
The Fishman youth sighed, “You guessed it right.”
He looked at the girl.
Zi Di smiled, “Don’t forget, in the battle at the Central Tower, I nearly took over all the permissions. Naturally, I saw many documents about the Blood Core, including the War Merchant’s methods of using the Blood Core with the Green Jade Gold Coffin to massively produce man-made magical beasts and Beastification People.”
Zi Di was more aware than Cang Xu but hadn’t divulged a bit. Clearly, she was hiding it for her beloved.
“You only know a part,” the Fishman youth said, “In fact, there are three Blood Cores in total.”
“Three?!” Zi Di and Cang Xu exclaimed in unison.
“Yes,” the youth continued, “The first one is inside me.”
“Remember when we faced danger in the Spider Forest?” the Fishman youth looked at Zi Di, “That time, my hands mutated into bear claws and killed the Silver Blade Spider.”
“I know,” Zi Di smiled lightly. Looking back now, her heart was filled with sweetness.
“I had many doubts about my capability of beastification. Later, I gradually discovered the Blood Core within me, which was the source of the beastification mutation.”
“It was by using the first Blood Core that I escaped many dangers and defeated various man-made magical beasts along the way.”
“Lately, I saw the second Blood Core, that is, the one on the third floor of the Central Tower, and I immediately had a strong desire to devour it.”
“Although untaught, I swallowed the second Blood Core by instinct.”
“The two Blood Cores merged together.”
“I used this Blood Core to annihilate the King of Flame Dragon.”
“What?!” Zi Di exclaimed in surprise.
“The King of Flame Dragon is dead?!” Cang Xu also showed a shocked expression. He had thought that this legendary dragon was banished to outer space in the great explosion.
The young man nodded, “I had no choice. When the negotiation with the King of Flame Dragon failed, we couldn’t be sure if the self-destruction of Mysterious Monster Island would kill it. If it survived, it could easily find us, kill us, and take back the Divine Artifact and military exploits.”
“Can a Blood Core actually kill a legendary powerhouse?” Zi Di was stunned.
“It’s not like that,” the young man patiently explained. “My first Blood Core couldn’t even transform the Python Vine in the river. After absorbing the second one, I could devour legendary beings, but only when the target couldn’t resist. At that time, the King of Flame Dragon, as you know, was exactly bound by the War Merchant’s Alchemy Array and couldn’t move.”
“Before his death, the King of Flame Dragon had loosened up and even begged for mercy. But I couldn’t trust it; I didn’t have a strong contract in my hand, we were too weak.”
Cang Xu nodded, his face full of approval. “Sir, your handling of the situation was absolutely correct.”
“As for the third Blood Core, it was found on the body of the Goddess Mei Lan.” The words of the Fishman youth once again shocked both of them.
Then, the Fishman youth shared his speculation — due to the cooperation between the War Merchant and Goddess Mei Lan, the Blood Core was likely a gift from the War Merchant to the Goddess.
“The third Blood Core contains a massive amount of Fishman Bloodline, including three Divine Level Fishman Bloodlines, one of which is my current state.”
“The reward for the Fishman trial — Holy Spring Baptism — is essentially the third Blood Core, triggering the thin bloodlines inside Fishmen, enhancing their bloodline concentration, and even awakening their bloodlines.”
“So that’s how it is,” Zi Di murmured to herself.
Cang Xu was also deep in thought, his face growing increasingly surprised.
He pondered, “The three known Blood Cores should all be made by the War Merchant.”
“The first Blood Core, the War Merchant placed inside you, sir.”
“The second Blood Core, the War Merchant placed on the third floor of the Central Tower, used for researching and creating man-made magical beasts and Beastification People.”
“The third Blood Core, the War Merchant gave to the Goddess Mei Lan, to help enhance the capabilities of her believers.”
Zi Di wondered, “The value of the Blood Core far exceeds ordinary Divine Artifacts; why would the War Merchant place such an important treasure inside your body, sir?”
The Fishman youth said, “My thought is: this might just be the War Merchant’s method for creating Blood Cores. I believe that even the War Merchant hasn’t grasped the fundamental mystery of their creation. Otherwise, he would have crafted more, right?”
“My guess: the War Merchant is able to create an environment like Mysterious Monster Island, using the mutual slaughter among man-made Magical Beasts to generate Blood Cores.”
“Zi Di, do you remember when we first encountered the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear in the cave? At that time, I fought it to death, and you revived me, having transfused bear blood into me.”
A glint appeared in Zi Di’s eyes, “Thinking back now, I’m still terrified. Sir, do you know? You died twice at that time. Shortly after each death, you came back to life.”
“What?!” The Fishman youth was shocked.
Zi Di pondered, “Thinking back now, perhaps at that time, you were feigning death. The Blood Core was forming inside your body! Thus, causing the bizarre state of cycling between life and death.”
At this point, Cang Xu interjected, “This speculation has some merit, but I’m more inclined to believe that the first Blood Core was actively placed inside you by the War Merchant.”
“Oh?”
Cang Xu explained, “Don’t forget the identity of the War Merchant; he is a Legendary Mage, an Alchemy Grandmaster, but also one of the top ten wanted criminals.”
“He is an enemy of the Empire, and so is the Goddess Mei Lan. The enemy of an enemy is a friend, providing them a basis for collaboration.”
“The War Merchant gave the Blood Core to the Goddess Mei Lan, and in return, the Goddess provides ‘Mermaid’s Fairy Tale’ and periodic replenishment of Divine Power; this is the content of their cooperation.”
“The Empire is currently invading the Wilderness Continent massively; the entire world’s attention is focused on this clash. The War Merchant would certainly want to have a hand in it.”
“The Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce was annexed, but the alliance between Miss Zi Di and the Hundred Needle Family gave the War Merchant some hope.”
“He wants to secretly kill Zhenjin and have you replace him, taking control of White Sand City.”
“In that case, not only would you be the City Lord of White Sand City, but also a Holy Temple Knight.”
“I analyzed this on Mysterious Monster Island: after the large-scale outbreak of the war between the Human Race and Beast Race, surely a considerable number of Divine Favored Knights will emerge.”
“The War Merchant is very likely trying to support you to become a Divine Favored Knight!”
The Fishman youth inevitably fell into deep thought.
Cang Xu’s words had opened up a new train of thought for him.
He had always believed himself to be of low strength (only Silver Level) and of mediocre origin (at best an Imperial Knight, not like Zhenjin, whose disappearance would have prompted their family to mount a full-scale rescue).
Therefore, he naturally speculated that the Blood Core had originated from his body.
But after Cang Xu’s analysis, the Fishman youth suddenly realized: his existence actually held great investment value.
The War Merchant needed to deal with the Empire, required a stable channel to help him sell arms, recoup funds, and more critically, needed a spy placed within the higher echelons of the Empire to act as his eyes and ears! One day, when the War Merchant and the Goddess Mei Lan would confront the Empire’s gods, this spy would play many crucial roles.
From the wars between the Human Race and the Beast Race, the War Merchant saw this rare opportunity.
As long as the youth was nurtured into a Divine Favored Knight, it was almost certain that he would rise to the Empire’s upper echelons!
To ensure the youth’s loyalty, the War Merchant used a Memory Crystal. To keep the youth’s identity from being discovered, the War Merchant spent a fortune purchasing from the Giant Mouth Hunting Group, acquiring the bloodline of the Gold Needle Bee. To keep the youth safe and continually achieving merits, the War Merchant gave him a Blood Core!
“If that’s the case, then the War Merchant is clearly confident, able to hide you from the Divine scrutiny of the Empire,” Zi Di suddenly clenched her fist, “No mistake, it’s Mermaid’s Fairy Tale!”
“We always thought that the War Merchant’s access to the Mermaid’s Fairy Tale was illegitimate, that he could only utilize a part of the Divine Artifact’s power.”
“But in fact, Mei Lan Goddess and the War Merchant have formed a partnership, close allies. This way, the Mermaid’s Fairy Tale can be fully utilized.”
“Through it, the War Merchant is confident that he can help you evade the Empire’s divine inspection.”
“So…” the Fishman youth looked at the young girl, “if it wasn’t for the Blood Light Sanction Court’s raid on Mysterious Monster Island, would my situation be the same as yours, both pawns of the War Merchant?”
Zi Di was momentarily stunned, then her smile blossomed beautifully.
The Fishman youth’s expression turned serious, “Both of you, what I really want to say about the Blood Core is the following.”
“The Blood Core has miraculous power, targeted at bloodlines.”
“It can mass produce man-made magical beasts, Beastification People, and also help Fishmen trace their roots and enhance their own Fishman bloodline.”
“And the host who controls the Blood Core can, through consuming the demon energy stored in the Blood Core, easily transform into any form, possessing the cultivation talents corresponding to that bloodline!”
Cang Xu and Zi Di once again showed their astonishment.
However, they were not shocked, because they had both seen the youth’s previous Dragon-man form and current Fishman form, and had somewhat understood the progress of the youth’s cultivation.
For this, they actually had early conjectures.
“Do you understand what this means?” asked the Fishman youth.
Zi Di smiled, “With the War Merchant able to create a Blood Core, and us having the Tower Spirit and experiences on Mysterious Monster Island, and even holding a finished Blood Core in hand, perhaps we could also refine a Blood Core in the future. Owning a Blood Core, we could escape the shackles of bloodlines and become geniuses among geniuses.”
Cang Xu was profoundly moved, “Bloodlines have always been the cornerstone of society, whether it’s the Human Race, the Beast Race, the Elves, or the Dwarfs. The War Merchant truly is among the pinnacle of alchemists in this world. From a certain perspective, the Blood Core, such a treasure, is even more terrifying than all gods combined! Because, it can shake the very foundations of society, and lead to endless wars and chaos.”
“Now, with the War Merchant dead, we are the only ones who know this truth, and we must guard this secret with our lives.”
“Even if using the Divine Artifact to absolve ourselves, we must keep the Blood Core as hidden as possible!”
Zi Di’s expression turned to one of worry, “Perhaps it’s not just us. The War Merchant had a student named Sharp Diamond. We never saw him appear on Mysterious Monster Island. After I gained full access, his body was not found either.”
The other two’s expressions changed.
The youth looked at Cang Xu, “Regardless, the most important thing is the Pearl Bubble. With it, we can defend against prophecies and divination, and even deceive the Tower Spirit, just like we once tricked the Toad Safe. Once the Tower Spirit is deceived, we’ll be able to access the entire memory bank, and look up all records.”
“By doing this, we’ll get the method the War Merchant used to refine the Blood Core, and also find out the whereabouts of Sharp Diamond, verifying our various suspicions.”
Cang Xu gave a wry smile, “I’ve already tried my best, but the current problem is that just relying on my own to replenish Divine Power is too inefficient. I must mass-produce Desecration Priests to increase the yield of Divine Power.”
“Fortunately, we’ve acquired the cultivation experiences of the ship ghost, significantly improving our memory manipulation capabilities. But whether I can mass produce Desecration Priests, I still need to experiment.”
The youth took a deep breath, “Do your best.”
Cang Xu nodded heavily, “Understood!”
ps: Today’s update ends with this massive 5500-word chapter.