Chapter 450: Section 237: Bloodline Ancestral River Map
The atmosphere inside the cave was tense, and no one spoke; the only sound was that of the tide ebbing and flowing.
All eyes were focused on Cang Xu and Qing Xin.
Ku Feng embraced his arms, his face expressionless.
The Fin Spirit held a Magic Wand, his gaze deep and distant.
The Little Prince cocked a skeletal head, his scrutinizing gaze carrying a hint of inspection.
Even the tri-headed sea snake, an Undead Magic Beast, rested its three heads on a rock, locking on to Cang Xu and Qing Xin.
The heaviest pressure came from the ship ghost, a Golden Level Undead Mage.
Qing Xin pressed her lips tightly together, while Cang Xu’s expression remained calm.
Difficulties and interrogation were inevitable.
Before coming here, Cang Xu and Qing Xin had already made ample mental preparations.
After a moment of silence, Cang Xu spoke up, his voice tinged with anger, “My companion and I have come here to participate in a gathering to exchange for the resources necessary for our cultivation. Yet, we have been waiting here for a long time, only to be met with interrogation.”
“If I need to prove myself, to tell the truth, I don’t have any convincing evidence to present to all of you.”
“Because everyone has their own secrets.”
“Moreover, without sufficient interest, I am not in the habit of demeaning myself.”
“So, gentlemen… please excuse my departure.”
Cang Xu’s words caught everyone by surprise.
Qing Xin’s expression changed slightly, hesitating to speak.
But Cang Xu was decisive; he turned around and walked away.
Qing Xin had no choice but to follow and leave.
Both were on full alert.
Suddenly, the ship ghost burst into hearty laughter, offering an invitation, “Friends, please wait. I must apologize to you and everyone present. I failed to attend this gathering on time and arrived late. As for the specific reasons, I will explain in detail to everyone later.”
After scanning the room, he turned his gaze back to Cang Xu and spoke sincerely, “I also ask the two of you to understand our difficulties.”
“The life of an Undead Mage is very hard, and even among us, there are despicable traitors who willingly become the Empire’s lapdogs.”
“We have to be on our guard.”
Cang Xu paused and turned, looking at the ship ghost from a distance, “I understand this, but truth be told, I too took a risk in coming to this gathering.”
“Who can guarantee this gathering is safe? That it won’t bring danger to me?”
Cang Xu didn’t really want to leave.
He was employing a strategy of retreating in order to advance.
The reason he adopted this strategy was “to act according to the situation.”
Cang Xu had served as a Noble Housekeeper for many years, dealing with various parties, and had considerable insights into interpersonal communications.
Although he had only just met people like the ship ghost and had short interactions, Cang Xu felt that the ship ghost was full of humanity, not like the cold, fearsome Undead Mages of rumors who loathed life and harbored a hidden intent to kill.
Even in Cang Xu’s view: Being checked and interrogated was actually a good thing.
It indirectly demonstrated that the other party had a desire for normal communication and trade, which was why they kept probing.
What Cang Xu truly feared was the absence of probing, facing Undead Mages who were taciturn and unpredictable, who might suddenly attack and slaughter at any moment.
Seeing Cang Xu stop, the ship ghost chuckled softly, politely inquiring how Cang Xu embarked on the path of an Undead Mage.
Qing Xin also looked at Cang Xu, equally curious.
Cang Xu knew this was another form of probing, his face reflecting a trace of reminiscence before he began, “At that time, I was still studying at the academy.”
“My finances were not abundant, and in order to pay tuition and maintain my life at the academy, I had to earn my keep.”
“I often cleaned the academy’s premises.”
“It was through this job that I came across a painting inadvertently.”
“The contents of that painting, I believe, have been witnessed by everyone here.”
“It was the Bloodline Ancestral River Map.”
“Of course, it wasn’t the original. It was a reproduction, hung up in a corridor of the academy as an ornament.”
“When I touched the canvas of that painting, my spirit was stirred, and I received an enlightenment.”
“I did not act on the enlightenment right away; instead, I restored the painting and then researched extensively. Only after that did I muster the courage to drip my own blood onto the canvas.”
“The content of the painting changed because of my blood. The rivers of bloodlines dried up, exposing the riverbed; the banks were constructed of white bones, and countless ghosts, like swarms of jellyfish, circled and wandered around the riverbed.”
“At the same time, I received another enlightenment, an Undead Inheritance infused deep into my soul.”
“Of course, I did not begin training immediately.”
“I felt panic and unease, what I thought was a treasure turned out to be an Undead Inheritance. At that moment, I was filled with regret and yet dared not reveal this secret.”
“Years later, repeatedly oppressed and marginalized, I unwillingly chose this path and became an Undead Mage.”
“That is the process of my becoming an Undead Mage.”
Cang Xu finished speaking, and the cave fell into a brief silence again.
The ship ghost spoke, “You haven’t lied.”
It turned out that while Cang Xu was recounting his story, the ship ghost had subtly employed a method to test the veracity of Cang Xu’s words.
Cang Xu showed no surprise.
He possessed the Deception and Disguise Skill and the Anti-Intelligence Prophecy Skill, making it almost impossible for any spell meant to detect lies to truly be effective.
Even if it were effective, everything Cang Xu said was true.
However, language is an art.
Although everything said was true, it did not mean there was full disclosure. Cang Xu’s selective sharing still allowed him to keep many secrets to himself.
The ship ghost continued, “It seems that the inheritance you’ve come into contact with originates from the Soul Painter. Perhaps in the future, you can use this connection to access more advanced inheritances.”
Seeing Cang Xu’s puzzled look, the ship ghost further explained, “The founder of the Undead Faction is Lord You Can, which is widely known. He personally taught 12 apprentices, some of whom have become Holy Domain Level Undead Mages. The Soul Painter is one of them.”
“Lord You Can has issued a long-term mission, asking each apprentice to spread their knowledge as much as possible.”
“The Soul Painter’s method of dissemination is to replicate various famous paintings, wherein he hides the Undead Inheritance.”
“These special paintings can detect part of the attributes of the person who contacts them and provide enlightenment.”
Cang Xu suddenly realized, “So that’s how it is.”
Then, seizing the moment, he asked probing, “Ship ghost sir, I see that you are also a Soul Vein Undead Mage. Could it be that you started practicing the way of the Undead Faction through such paintings?”
Just as the ship ghost was about to speak, the Skull Mage Little Prince interjected, “Of course not! Ship ghost sir’s teacher is the Soul Hook Captain!”
The Little Prince spoke with a tone of pride.
But seeing Cang Xu’s confused expression, he couldn’t help becoming somewhat irritated and exclaimed, “I get it now, you don’t know who the Soul Hook Captain is.”
“He, like the Soul Painter, is an apprentice personally nurtured by Lord You Can. Now, he’s already become a Holy Domain Level pirate!”
“So you see, newcomer, our ship ghost sir is a true-blue Undead Mage!”
Cang Xu and Qing Xin suddenly saw the ship ghost in a new light.
According to this connection, the ship ghost would be considered a disciple of the second generation under You Can.
The ship ghost waved his hand with a wry smile, “It’s better not to mention this kind of relationship too much, kid.”
“Perhaps one day, it will be the very reason for my death.”
The Little Prince immediately lowered his head and bowed deeply, “I’m sorry, ship ghost sir.”
Perhaps because he bowed too vigorously, his skull head came off and clattered to the ground, rolled away, and stopped by Cang Xu’s feet.
Cang Xu: …
Others: …
“Oops!” The Little Prince’s skull jaw opened and closed, uttering a sorry cry of surprise.
His body quickly motioned, and the large skull on the stone floor immediately flew back, settling on the slender spine.
“Ho ho ho!” The ship ghost couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
The atmosphere inside the cave underwent a huge transformation.
“Stop laughing, ship ghost sir, what’s there to laugh about!” The Little Prince covered his face with his small, delicate palms and shook his head as he shouted.
The ship ghost stopped laughing, “Kid, even though you have achieved the Silver Level, you’re still just as cute as you were back then.”
He then pointed at Ku Feng and took the initiative to introduce him to Cang Xu, “This warrior should be the person you are most familiar with.”
“He died in battle on Crying Pine Island, and it was I who found his unwilling spirit.”
“When I wanted to summon his soul, he refused.”
“He didn’t wish to transform into a ghost but still longed for a body so that he could continue pursuing his swordsmanship.”
“Fortunately, he came upon the Corpse Surgeon one day. Oh, he is also Holy Domain Level, one of the twelve disciples personally taught by Lord You Can.”
“After my request, the Corpse Surgeon personally intervened, resurrecting Ku Feng into his current Undead form.”
“Not only that, but thanks to the Corpse Surgeon’s unique Spell, Ku Feng can also conceal his Undead status and disguise himself as a living person.”
“And so, the world gained a Wandering Warrior known as Ku Feng.”
Cang Xu looked at Ku Feng, who nodded back at him slightly.
The ship ghost’s narration confirmed some of Cang Xu’s earlier conjectures.
Ku Feng died on this Crying Pine Island and was also resurrected here. He considered this place his home, which is why he previously said to Cang Xu and Qing Xin: they were the first guests to arrive.
The connection between Ku Feng and the name Crying Pine Island became understandable.
Cang Xu also thought of Ku Feng’s lone wandering.
“The Corpse Surgeon’s Disguise Skill must be of Holy Domain Level, so it didn’t show any flaw in front of the Golden Level Hun Tong.”
“But there must be a gap between it and our Deception and Disguise Skill.”
“This disguise should have some kind of flaw; to minimize the risk of exposure, Ku Feng chooses to wander alone, hence the moniker Wandering Warrior.”
“During the melee on Twin Eyes Island, I was exposed, so it’s very likely that I will attract an investigation from the Empire.”
“Ku Feng’s return to Crying Pine Island might be, on one hand, to attend the gathering and on the other, possibly to hide from the limelight.”