Chu Shaoqiang left Sage Peak, while the Saint continued to pace back and forth in the garden, with his disciples standing quietly aside.
The Saint stopped walking and swept his gaze over his disciples. "You all, what do you have to say?"
This question was difficult to respond to. If everyone remained silent, the Saint would definitely become angry, and it might even lead to him killing someone. But speaking would require careful measurement, as one must know what the Saint wished to hear.
A disciple named Song Deke stepped forward and bowed. "Master, I suspect there is deceit involved. We should send someone to keep an eye on Chu Shaoqiang."
Another disciple named Du Xiangwen thought Song Deke’s idea was wrong. "Junior Brother Song, if we do that, I’m afraid it will chill Lord Chu’s heart. Among those who came from the Inner State, Lord Chu has never been disrespectful to Master..."
"That is his duty as a servant!" the Saint said angrily. "If he doesn’t even understand courtesy, what right does he have to stand here and speak to me?"
All the disciples bowed their heads in silence as the Saint gritted his teeth. "To ensure Chu Shaoqiang’s safety, how much effort have I spent? How many connections have I used? How many matters have I handled for him? And now he tells me the Sky Heart Stone was lost on the way, daring to fob me off with these few worthless words!"
Song Deke said, "Chu Shaoqiang is treacherous and ungrateful! We should take this traitor’s head to appease Master’s anger!"
"Absolutely not," Du Xiangwen advised. "This is a great opportunity for Master to reclaim the lands. We must not let a temporary change of events ruin the grand plan."
The Saint sighed deeply and said slowly, "Wait another three days. Let’s see how Chu Shaoqiang explains himself!"
「...」
At the foot of the mountain, Li Banfeng repeatedly reminded Lao Niu, "Tell the brothers to patrol the base of the mountain and not allow anyone to ascend. The Local Deity’s rewards are high, but if anything goes awry, the punishment is also harsh!"
Lao Niu agreed repeatedly, "Seventh Master, rest assured. Whether it’s for you or for the Local Deity, we will definitely do our utmost."
Cui Tiq packed his travel bag and said to Li Banfeng, "It’s about time. Let’s head up the mountain."
"We?" Li Banfeng shook his head. "I have no desire to climb this mountain again."
Cui Tiq looked at the dense forest and the mist among the mountains and said earnestly, "I know nothing of Knife Ghost Ridge, not even a suitable route up the mountain. If I die on this mountain, do you know the consequences?"
Li Banfeng said, "You would turn into a Knife Labor Ghost."
Cui Tiq nodded. "Do you know what the consequences would be if a Disease Cultivator turned into a Knife Labor Ghost?"
"The consequences would be severe. You would bring disaster." Li Banfeng weighed the options, then thought of a better solution. "If I kill you now, you won’t turn into a Knife Labor Ghost."
Cui Tiq sighed. "By saying such things, you are harming our friendship. My urging you to go up the mountain is entirely a well-meaning reminder. If I really do turn into a Knife Labor Ghost, even if you can’t stop it, at least you’ll be prepared. When I go on a killing spree, you might still have a way to deal with it."
Li Banfeng pondered for a long time and said, "I still think the best way to deal with it is to kill you before you turn into a Knife Labor Ghost."
Cui Tiq sighed deeply. "Our friendship began at Hai Chi Ridge, when we worked together to fight the disaster. Since then, I’ve known you have a unique attachment to Puluo State. Now, we join forces again, just as before, to prevent disaster. In a sense, the Knife Labor Ghosts could be considered my fellow sect members. You should know how Disease Cultivators treat their fellow sect members."
Li Banfeng thought for a moment and nodded slightly.
The two of them went up the mountain together.
"The scent of Dark Energy," Cui Tiq said as he walked through the forest, his steps laborious. "The Dark Energy here is too intense. I might not be able to withstand it."
Hong Ying had said there were thirty-three Taoist Sects that could greatly benefit from Knife Ghost Ridge, but she hadn’t mentioned Disease Cultivation because she wasn’t aware of what it was.
"No need to go any further. Let’s start the first round of exploration right here." Cui Tiq sat down under a tree, a lump occasionally swelling on his cheek and moving back and forth near his cheekbone.
"The Knife Labor Ghost’s disease focus is getting a bit out of control," Cui Tiq said, rubbing his cheek. "This doesn’t quite feel the same as the Grandmaster’s. The Grandmaster’s disease foci mostly exist in the form of bacteria and viruses. To put it in terms of science from the Outside Provinces, the disease foci the Grandmaster could control were all DNA-based life. Am I being too technical?"
Li Banfeng laughed. "Aren’t you just talking about genes? What’s so complicated about that?"
Cui Tiq continued, "What’s truly complex isn’t the concept, but the principle. Nucleic acid codes for protein production, an accepted principle of life for everyone. But what if there were no nucleic acids? Could proteins still replicate themselves? The Rabies Virus has achieved this, thereby challenging our understanding of life. Which came first, nucleic acids or proteins? Which one is the dominant force of life?
Like you and me, we’re Dark Energy Users. Dark Energy is changing the protein structure of our bodies, giving us abilities beyond ordinary people. So, is Dark Energy also changing the very essence of our lives?"
Li Banfeng frowned. "You’re using science to study cultivation level?"
Cui Tiq smiled. "Every country in the Outside Provinces is engaged in corresponding research because science and cultivation level are not inherently contradictory."