Chapter 671: Section 458: Zhou Zhang’s Arrangement
Cang Xu had just acquired the second part of the high-tier Soul Vein Inheritance when he began to scheme for the middle-level Soul Vein Inheritance.
This was not because he was greedy by nature, but such an opportunity was simply too rare!
If he missed this chance, there might not be such a good opportunity in the future. It might take a lot of scheming and effort, and he still might not achieve it.
Presently, the Undead Inheritance was divided into three veins: the Soul Vein, the Corpse Vein, and the Bone Vein.
Cang Xu had no great interest in the things of the Corpse Vein or the Bone Vein, but what he did know was that within the middle-level Soul Vein Inheritance, there were methods for creating Soul Crystals and spells that could test an undead’s aptitude.
Both of these were things that Cang Xu wanted to get his hands on!
Firstly, the Soul Crystal was extremely important.
It was a unique resource that could only be refined by Undead Mages and was nearly indispensable for an Undead Mage’s cultivation, especially for those who had transformed into ghost forms, where the benefits were most significant.
Although according to the current relationship, Cang Xu could also purchase them from ship ghosts, the reasoning was obvious: business relationships are unreliable, and it’s much better to be able to produce them yourself.
Secondly, the spell for judging undead aptitude was also very important.
In Cang Xu’s plan, this spell could be used in conjunction with the Bloodline Purification Array. First, he’d use the spell to test what kind of bloodline an undead actually had, then search for corresponding undead bloodlines and purify them through the Bloodline Purification Array. With this process, the aptitude of any undead life could be improved.
Of course, Cang Xu’s understanding of the effects of this undead aptitude-testing spell was just conjecture.
It could simply test the undead’s aptitude without directly determining the undead’s own bloodline.
If that were the case, Cang Xu would still need to extort some information about undead life from the ship ghosts.
Ship ghosts and others were known as the Undead Orthodoxy, with an astonishing foundation. With someone like You Can as the sect’s founding patriarch, they were undoubtedly the best in the world.
Cang Xu had received much help from the War Merchant’s database, and naturally, he coveted the database of the Undead Orthodoxy.
“But now is not quite the right time to extort.”
The timing wasn’t good.
Cang Xu had just successfully extorted the method for using the Memory Crystal Production Device from the ship ghosts, and if he went back too soon and extorted them again, that would be too much!
The ship ghosts would definitely think that Cang Xu was provoking them or even suspect that something was wrong with Cang Xu’s head.
Cang Xu had already figured out that the ship ghosts had tampered with him, and their hidden control mechanisms were extremely potent. Perhaps with a mere thought, ship ghosts could directly obliterate Cang Xu.
So Cang Xu didn’t dare go too far, after all, his life was still held in the hands of others.
Of course, based on Cang Xu’s understanding of ship ghosts, he knew that the chances of dying under this control mechanism were not high.
Because ship ghosts were not the type to kill in anger.
Also, if Cang Xu died inexplicably, it would certainly attract the suspicion and investigation of people like Zhou Zhang, which would be very unfavorable for the ship ghosts, especially since they planned to engage in secret conspiracies.
Nevertheless, when it came to his own life and wealth, Cang Xu didn’t dare to gamble too much.
“Besides, I have even more important matters to attend to.”
Cang Xu returned to his own shack.
Shortly after, he received another communication from the Fishman youth.
He sat cross-legged on the sandy ground, and in the crevice between his legs, the sand once again coalesced into a few words: “The thing is ready.”
“Now I’ll tell you about its appearance and function.”
As the narrative unfolded, a coin-shaped alchemy device gradually became visible in Cang Xu’s vision.
After the Fishman youth made contact with Cang Xu, he paused the communication without saying much.
The Fishman youth immediately ordered Zhongyong to fully refine a Communication Alchemy Device.
Using the delicate eel drillers for communication was inefficient and also ran the risk of exposure.
The coin-shaped alchemy communication device was small and could easily pass through the tiny holes drilled by the delicate eel drillers.
The coin communication device was also blessed with the Deception and Disguise Skill, and the Anti-Intelligence Prophecy Skill, its disguise set to total invisibility.
Those who were unaware, even if they touched it, would be deceived into touching nothing.
However, as Cang Xu learned more truths, he could not only see the coin communication device, but also touch it.
The coin device had the ability to move on its own, actively floated up, and approached Cang Xu’s mouth.
Cang Xu slightly opened his mouth, allowing the coin device to float inside.
He held the coin device in his mouth and pressed it down with his tongue.
The coin device started to heat up, and after a few seconds, like a branding iron, it directly soldered beneath his tongue, becoming an imprint.
The intense pain this caused was forcibly endured by Cang Xu.
Throughout the process, his expression remained exceedingly calm, his gaze undisturbed.
Cang Xu focused all of his attention, silently reciting the contents related to Undead Inheritance within his mind.
All these contents were recorded by the coin.
Soon, the coin was loaded with the method of how to become a Desecration Priest, the Memory Switching Technique among other spells, and the “correct method of operating a Memory Crystal Production Device” that Cang Xu had just extorted.
When Cang Xu stopped infusing the coin with content and let it rest for 30 seconds, the coin once again became hot and shifted from the emblem-shaped imprint back into a solid object.
While Cang Xu sighed, it slipped out again and fell into the sand.
The Fine Eel Prospector immediately responded, taking the coin device and swiftly burrowing through the crevices of the shack, quickly disappearing from Cang Xu’s sight.
Soon after, the coin ended up in the hands of the Fishman youth.
The Fishman youth did not inspect it personally, but instead directly placed the coin into a specific reading device.
Shortly, he could see the exact text about the inheritance content from the reading device.
“Memory Switching Technique, Memory Concealment Skill, Subconscious Reminder Skill…” The Fishman youth glanced at the Desecration Priest’s methods—of course, there was not just the Memory Switching Technique; there were many Spells interworking.
But the Fishman youth was only a cultivator of Fighting energy, without any training in Spells.
Even though his Blood Core’s Bloodline contained many with excellent magical aptitude, the youth had never been able to spare the time and energy. He had considered dual training before.
“Now, to start training in magic from scratch would be too slow,” the Fishman youth sighed. “Once Cang Xu rejoins, he could become a Desecration Priest by using these Spells.”
By collaborating with Cang Xu, the Fishman youth might be able to find a way to escape from here.
“Hmm? Perhaps I can try it on myself right now?” The Fishman youth discarded his previous thoughts upon reading the latter section of the content.
“According to the records here, even if I lack the ability of a Spellcaster, I could still modify my own memories using the Memory Crystal Device.”
At the same time, the ship ghost was expressing a similar lament.
“It’s a pity though, even if I have a Memory Crystal Alchemy Device, I can’t take it out to use.”
The Memory Crystal Alchemy Device was a very powerful tool, not only precise but also convenient and quick. For the ship ghost to modify his own memories by hand was very troublesome, because he was doubly restrained, he couldn’t achieve the necessary finesse.
“With this pace, I can’t possibly create a complete set of fake memories by myself.”
The ship ghost grew impatient.
He started to berate himself for not practicing memory falsification more frequently in normal times.
He analyzed his reasons, and it mainly boiled down to having acquired a Memory Crystal making device. With this device, even non-mages could operate it easily and meet the standards. The time spent, materials, and so on, were at least ten times less than doing it by hand.
With such a powerful tool, nobody would continue to practice the art of memory falsification.
“If I possessed the abilities of a Soul Weaver, the lineage of a Grey Serpent, Omen Bird, or Meteor Blood, perhaps I would have practiced diligently since there’s a hope of surpassing the limits of the Memory Crystal making device. But I don’t…”
The ship ghost’s Bloodline restricted his potential in this area.
No matter how diligently he practiced, he couldn’t surpass the Memory Crystal making device, so why bother practicing?
One might as well invest that precious time, energy, manpower, and materials into other areas, where the returns are clearly much higher.
Who would have thought he would end up in such a desperate situation?
The ship ghost did not want to die completely here.
Although he had already died once and become an Undead Mage.
But Undead Life is still life!
“The progress I’m making now is marginal, the others are probably even less fortunate.”
As time passed, under the pressure of death, the sense of urgency in the ship ghost’s heart also soared rapidly.
After thinking it over, he was sure he couldn’t send out a distress signal and the biggest, indeed the only, survival route was through the path of the Desecration Priest.
To ensure the progress of the memory falsification, the ship ghost needed to strictly monitor everyone else’s progress.
The next day, the ship ghost gathered everyone again.
While they pretended to discuss the insights gained from their prayers, they secretly communicated, updating each other on their progress. The ship ghost continuously imparted his own knowledge and experience to the others.
To survive, he was truly holding nothing back in terms of his experience.
The reason why he hadn’t shared it with the others before was because the ship ghost also understood the principle of gradual progress.
After having some practical operation, learning from someone else’s experience was more conducive to absorption and understanding, so as to make a greater improvement for others.
“It seems you all have delved deeply into the teachings of our lord. Good,” Zhou Zhang suddenly appeared outside the shack.
She had used Divine Arts to disguise herself.
The group from the Undead Mage was so engrossed in their exchange that no one noticed her arrival.
Zhou Zhang’s sudden appearance startled everyone.
The Undead quickly stood up and greeted Zhou Zhang politely.
Zhou Zhang looked at them and smiled, “Do you know? Many people urged me to cut you off, your gatherings have been touching many people’s nerves. I suppressed all their concerns because I believe communication can make the Faith more fervent and devout. This trial, indeed, you have not disappointed me.”
Upon hearing this, the Undead let out a sigh of relief.
They were extremely worried that their secret communications had been discovered. Now it seemed they were too concerned.
But in the next moment, Zhou Zhang said, “Although there is some time left until the next Blood Sacrifice Transmission, I thought it better to inform you first.”
With that, Zhou Zhang revealed a teasing smile, “You have to choose one Undead companion to participate in the next Blood Sacrifice Transmission. Remember, only one.”
In an instant, including the ship ghost, all the Undead faces drastically changed!