Chapter 39: Chapter 36: Bad News

After stepping into the Spirit Transformation Realm, Chu Zheng had little time and only cultivated two divine skills, one being the Invisibility Technique, the other was this Life-link Seal.

The Invisibility Technique was for self-preservation, while the Life-link Seal was cultivated specifically for Fu Quanliang alone.

The restrictions of the Life-link Seal were considerable; it could only be applied to one target at a time, and until the Life-link Seal was lifted or the creature bearing it died, it could not be used on another living being.

In ancient times, Qi Refining Masters typically used this to subdue powerful Mythical Beasts, making them long-term companions on the path of cultivation; the ability to have such a reliable entity was the reason for the birth of this divine skill.

In fact, the effects of the Life-link Seal were far more than this; after the seal was placed, Chu Zheng could vaguely sense changes in Fu Quanliang's emotions.

"Ah?"

Fu Quanliang was momentarily startled and then suddenly stood up, looking at Chu Zheng's slightly cold expression; his face turned a mix of pale and flushed, he struggled internally for a moment, then helplessly sat back down and muttered:

"You placed such a restriction on me, what are you trying to do? How could I possibly help you?"

Chu Zheng pondered for a moment, then casually tossed the Wind-riding Sword in front of Fu Quanliang, and said softly, "We'll talk about that once you survive."

"What do you mean by this?"

Fu Quanliang looked at the Flying Sword with some confusion.

"You killed the man, naturally, this Flying Sword should be in your hands."

Chu Zheng walked over to the corpse of Jiang Cunhu, squatted down beside it, and began searching. He quickly pulled out a palm-sized small pouch from behind Jiang Cunhu's waist.

The opening was tied shut tightly, impossible to open by brute force.

"What is this?"

Chu Zheng did not hide his ignorance and handed it to Fu Quanliang.

"A Storage Bag, it needs mana to open, I can't use it," Fu Quanliang shook his head: "Jiang Cunhu's belongings should all be inside."

Something stirred in Chu Zheng's heart; Yuan Qi flowed gently within him as he reached into the Storage Bag in his hand.

A space half a zhang in size appeared in his mind, haphazardly filled with various items.

Chu Zheng did a quick inventory and had a rough idea of its contents, then flipped out a jade stone the length of a finger.

Without waiting for Chu Zheng to ask, Fu Quanliang took the initiative to explain: "Spirit Stones, they can speed up the pace of cultivation, considered to be the gold and silver of the Cultivation World."

"How much could such a piece trade for? Can it be exchanged for worldly gold and silver?" Chu Zheng wanted to understand the purchasing power of Spirit Stones.

If they could be exchanged for worldly gold and silver...

"In the mortal world, this piece could buy the entire Song Family, but no one would trade it for gold and silver."

Fu Quanliang replied and then shook his head: Sёarᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"It depends on the region; Holy Lands of cultivation aren't short of Spirit Stones, Lower Quality Spirit Stones aren't highly valued, using them as gifts is even embarrassing. In some broken small sects without a Spirit Vein, they may occasionally be exchanged for something good, but they are usually used for cultivation."

Chu Zheng felt somewhat disappointed, then took out several unidentifiable items from the bag, one after another, and had Fu Quanliang clarify his doubts.

After a while, he was satisfied and stored the Storage Bag away, slowly refining it with his own Yuan Qi.

Killing Jiang Cunhu hadn't yielded a great harvest; the most valuable was the Wind-riding Sword, but it did open a corner of the Cultivation World to Chu Zheng, revealing a glimpse of its splendor.

This was enough.

Not until dusk did Song Tonghai and Song Lingxue step into the courtyard, beginning to arrange for the cleanup.

The moment Jiang Cunhu arrived, they had heard Chu Zheng's transmitted message and had been hiding until now before they came out.

The dancers inside the house were completely flustered, huddling together and cowering in a corner, shaking uncontrollably, not understanding what had happened outside.

After sending them away, Song Lingxue, at Chu Zheng's request, moved Fu Quanliang's accommodation to the edge of the Song Residence, far from Chu Zheng.

With Jiang Cunhu dead, the next reaction of the Night Light Pavilion was crucial.

Whether Fu Quanliang could stand firm as a shield remained to be seen.

......

......

Time, like sand slipping through one's fingers, quickly half a month had passed.

Over the past fortnight, the Song Residence had been calm and undisturbed, with not the slightest anomaly occurring. Such tranquility was slightly eerie, causing Chu Zheng to feel somewhat uneasy.

At dawn, the first light crept across the sky.

Chu Zheng sat cross-legged in the courtyard, circulating his Qi in the Circuit of Qi, swallowing the essence of the sun and moon to enhance his abilities.

Unlike during the Hundred Days Qi Cultivation, his strength was now improving at a much slower rate. The Yin Yang Dual Qi in his surroundings had gradually become sparse for him.

Although he could still cultivate, this speed was undoubtedly greatly restricted.

A series of footsteps approached from outside the courtyard. Chu Zheng slowly ended his cultivation and looked towards Fu Quanliang, who was rapidly approaching, feeling a sense of foreboding:

"What has happened?"

Fu Quanliang had been instructed by him not to come over without urgent matters.

"I have just received a message from the sect commanding me to return immediately. They said there's no need to bother about the Song Family anymore."

As he spoke, Fu Quanliang's expression grew increasingly odd:

"A junior brother from within the sect also sent me a secret letter, stating that Sister Song had been ambushed, Protector Elder Qin was severely injured and on the brink of death, and barely escaped back to the sect."

"Is Song Lingqing dead?" Chu Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly and asked for confirmation.

"The letter from the junior brother did not mention her life or death, I fear..."

Fu Quanliang hadn't finished speaking, but Chu Zheng already had an idea.

If even Qin Feng was gravely injured, let alone Song Lingqing, and considering the Phantom Spirit Sect had recalled Fu Quanliang and instructed him to no longer concern himself with the Song Family, it was highly probable that she was already dead.

Crack—

A crisp sound came from the gate of the courtyard. Song Lingxue stood outside, her expression stunned, with a scattered food box at her feet.

Chu Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his mouth curved up. Soon, he let out a low chuckle that he could not suppress.

This deadlock was finally coming undone.

Amid his laughter, Song Lingxue snapped back to reality, her eyes slightly red as she spoke in a hoarse voice, "What are you laughing at?"

Chu Zheng paid no attention to her reaction. His smile grew broader as he shook his head and said:

"Now that Song Lingqing is dead, you no longer hold any value in the eyes of those from the Immortal Sect."

It was true for the Phantom Spirit Sect, and equally so for the Night Light Pavilion.

The death of Jiang Cunhu would naturally be attributed to the Phantom Spirit Sect. No one would associate this incident with the Song Family.

Even if there would be wrath to bear, the Song Family now had the means to flee, no longer at risk of being pursued and killed by the Immortal Sect.

At the very least, there was hope for survival.

Song Lingxue didn't listen any further. She turned around and ran to find Song Tonghai.

Chu Zheng gradually reined in his smile, looking towards Fu Quanliang with a somber tone:

"I have a task for you."

"What is it?" Fu Quanliang tensed up.

"Previously, it was the Phantom Spirit Sect that forced you into a life-or-death predicament. Don't you want revenge?"

"Revenge?"

Fu Quanliang felt a sense of absurdity: "How so?"

The thought of retaliation had never even crossed his mind. How could someone with Lower Quality Immortal Bone get back at one of the Great Immortal Sects?

"In life, one must always have some aspirations."

Chu Zheng slowly stood up, gazing into the distance, and gradually raised his hand in an empty grip, as if clutching the sun within his palm:

"In this life, I have come to achieve great things."

"With the matters of the Song Family concluded, you lead me into the Phantom Spirit Sect, and I will help you destroy it."

"What you cannot do, I shall accomplish."