The mustard seed ring of the “Howling Moon Divine Hound” was quite full, so Meng Qi could only take out part of its contents at a time.
The first item appearing in his palm was a vivid white lotus, seven-petaled, fresh and glistening, its mere presence invigorating one’s spirit and refreshing the mind.
“It must be a secret treasure for defending against Yuan Shen attacks, at least of the fourth heavenly tier,” Jiang Zhiwei recognized it immediately, having seen similar items while selecting treasures inside the sect.
“Excellent item,” Meng Qi showed visible delight.
When facing abilities like “Hum” and “Ha,” his current Eighty-Ninth Profound Art still had shortcomings. Possessing this treasure could compensate for those weaknesses and reduce the danger of the Investiture Task.
Together with the “Seven-Petaled White Lotus Platform,” Meng Qi also retrieved four heavenly treasures and rare materials, including a piece of “Yin Moon Gold” emitting silvery-white light. These were apparently used by the “Howling Moon Divine Hound” in cultivation and were of no use to Meng Qi, who could only consider exchanging them or converting them into merit points.
Meng Qi then took out another portion, revealing seven or eight rare herbs and exotic flowers. After a brief examination, he and Jiang Zhiwei recognized several of them.
“They’re auxiliary materials for refining the ‘Eastern Longevity Pill’!” Meng Qi showed visible excitement.
He had obtained the formula for the “Eastern Longevity Pill” and the main ingredient, the “Qing Hua Fruit,” quite some time ago. However, since the auxiliary materials were relatively expensive and both he and his friends were still young and in their prime, without an immediate need for extended lifespan, he had postponed the refining process. Now that he had acquired most of the auxiliary materials, he only needed to spend around a thousand merit points to obtain the remaining ones. Whether he sought the help of the Immortal Trace’s Bao Puzi or directly asked the Six Paths to refine it, it seemed that the birth of a “Pill of Immortality” was now within reach!
Currently, the lifespan of an external scene cultivator was only about two to three sixty-year cycles. The “Eastern Longevity Pill” could directly extend one’s life by a full cycle, making it an irresistible temptation to elderly cultivators and most external scene experts. Such items were often priceless!
Even if Meng Qi didn’t use it himself, he could exchange it for various needed items, undoubtedly reaping huge profits!
Amid his excitement, Meng Qi calculated the value of the rare heavenly treasures and materials needed for refining his remaining acupoints. He found that as long as the current heavenly treasures entrusted by the Myriad Manifestations Sect and the Ink Palace were successfully traded, combined with the gains from the “Eastern Longevity Pill” and the spoils of this battle, he would basically have enough. If he could exchange some from outside the Six Paths, he could even save a portion!
Jiang Zhiwei and her master Su Wuming were still young, so they had no particular desire for the “Eastern Longevity Pill.” Smiling, she watched Meng Qi pack away the herbs.
“Ah…” The remaining items inside the mustard seed ring caused Meng Qi’s expression to slightly change.
It was half a corpse torn into many pieces, exuding a strong vitality. Each drop of blood, each inch of skin, and every muscle seemed to contain explosive power.
“External scene!”
“Human!”
Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei spoke simultaneously, their voices heavy.
The Howling Moon Divine Hound had killed a human external scene expert and was carrying the corpse with him?
Jiang Zhiwei took a slight breath, her eyes revealing a trace of reluctance. “It’s tainted with demonic energy. It must have been carried as food.”
“Yes, the Nine Heavens Thunder God allied with a dog demon,” Meng Qi’s mood worsened, feeling sorrow for his kind and growing more resentment and hatred toward the demonic race.
Suddenly, he recalled an earlier incident. On his way to the “Immortal Trace,” he had encountered a similar scene where an external scene expert had been killed and turned into bloody remains!
Could it also have been the work of the demonic race?
Jiang Zhiwei said, “With the emergence of the Divine Palm’s General Outline, many external scene experts have gathered. Places like the Tianhai Source in the demonic territories are often located in the Western Regions. Perhaps they wanted to take advantage of the chaos.”
As for the dog demon, he was likely a member of the “Myth” organization.
The corpse was only half a body, completely devoid of clothing, and had been brutally cut into pieces to fit into the mustard seed ring. Therefore, neither Jiang Zhiwei nor Meng Qi could identify the person.
To prevent “him” from falling into the hands of the demonic race again, Meng Qi ignited a crimson flame in his left hand, reducing the corpse to ashes.
After tidying up, Meng Qi was about to bid farewell to Jiang Zhiwei when he suddenly furrowed his brows, puzzled.
“Something’s wrong!”
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Zhiwei asked, puzzled.
Meng Qi pointed at his mustard seed ring: “The dog demon didn’t have any healing pills on him, only a ‘Suffering Relief Fruit.'”
The “Suffering Relief Fruit” was a material for refining healing pills. If swallowed directly, it could only exert 50% of its effect. If the dog demon was a member of the “Myth” organization, backed by a major group, and was not lacking in heavenly treasures, rare materials, and exotic herbs, he should at least have some prepared pills!
Looking again at the copper-colored long staff he had first collected, it belonged to the dog demon and was a treasure weapon, but its forging was clearly rough, lacking refinement!
As a fellow reincarnator, Jiang Zhiwei understood Meng Qi’s meaning immediately. After some thought, she said, “Yes, its relationship with ‘Myth’ is worth further consideration.”
After discussing with Jiang Zhiwei for a while, they bid each other farewell, one returning with senior sect members, and the other hurrying to a prearranged location to meet with Lady Jiu.
…
Yellow sand and black stones swept up by the wind obscured the senses of those flying overhead.
When Meng Qi arrived, Lady Jiu had already been waiting there, her dark-colored dress contrasting with her snow-white skin, making her even more enchanting.
She was pacing back and forth, looking somewhat anxious, her cheeks slightly flushed, seemingly quite eager about the upcoming action.
Upon sensing Meng Qi’s approach, she turned abruptly and impatiently said, “All the leads to Tanhan Fish Sea only reach external scene experts, so I can’t locate the whereabouts of the lecherous monks from the Temple of Joy.”
The Western Region intelligence network she and Xie Jiugui had previously established relied on those below the external scene level. Now that it had been completely dismantled, they were suddenly left blind and deaf!
Meng Qi shook his head and said, “No rush for now. I have an important matter to see the Heavenly Venerable about.”
“No rush…” Lady Jiu’s expression slightly changed, showing disappointment.
However, she was not someone who couldn’t distinguish between priorities. She then solemnly asked, “Is it something very important?”
“Extremely important,” Meng Qi confirmed with a nod.
Lady Jiu seemed like a punctured water balloon, suddenly deflated: “Fine, let’s return to the Azure Heaven. If the Heavenly Venerable isn’t there, we’ll burn the talisman he left behind to make him return as soon as possible.”
“That would be excellent,” Meng Qi had previously worried about the trouble of finding the Heavenly Venerable of Treasures, but now it seemed that as a long-standing organization, the Immortal Trace had ample financial resources and was well-equipped with various emergency measures.
As soon as the two entered the Azure Heaven, Meng Qi suddenly heard the distant, aloof voice of the Master of the Six Paths Reincarnation: “Detected the Myriad Manifestations Gate. To ensure secrecy, it will be temporarily sealed until departure.”
This… Meng Qi raised his eyebrows slightly. The Six Paths truly left no room for loopholes!
Indeed, the Heavenly Venerable of Treasures had not returned. Lady Jiu immediately went to retrieve a talisman to send a message, while Meng Qi flew to the Immortal Trace Bazaar to appraise his spoils: those taken from the Nine Heavens Thunder God and the Howling Moon Divine Hound, and from the “Blessing Heaven Official.”
First, he circled the Immortal Trace Bazaar, found the transaction details entrusted to Lady Jiu for posting, and the stored heavenly treasures and rare materials, nodding in satisfaction. Although Lady Jiu was greedy, she was indeed not someone easily tempted beyond reason.
Flying to the central jade pillar, Meng Qi took out his spoils one by one, requesting appraisals:
“Purple Lightning Thunder Blade, Treasure Weapon (Middle Grade)… valued at 4,700 merit points, exchangeable for 2,500 merit points.”
“Primordial Metal Staff, Treasure Weapon (Lower Grade)… Its grade was reduced due to crude craftsmanship, valued at 2,800 merit points, exchangeable for 1,500 merit points.”
“Gui Water Yin Thunder, External Scene Secret Treasure (Fifth Heaven). Once it strikes, it clings like a leech, impossible to shake off, unleashing a chain of thunderbolts until the target is utterly annihilated—body and soul. Valued at 5,000 merit points, exchangeable for 2,800 merit points.”
“Seven-Petaled White Lotus Platform, External Scene Secret Treasure (Fifth Heaven), blooming reveals me, I see the person, protecting the Yuan Shen and preventing intrusion, valued at 5,200 merit points, exchangeable for 3,000 merit points.”
“Medicine Master’s Heart Pill, Spiritual Pill, healing secret medicine, excels at nourishing the Yuan Shen, most injuries can heal within half an incense stick’s time, valued at 4,000 merit points, exchangeable for 3,000 merit points.”
“Blessing Light Purple Qi Pearl, External Scene Secret Treasure (Second Heaven), enhances blessings and accelerates the gathering of fortune energy, valued at 2,400 merit points, exchangeable for 1,300 merit points.”
“Blessing Heaven Saber, Treasure Weapon (Lower Grade), enhances fortune, dispels blessings, controllable at will, valued at 2,600 merit points, exchangeable for 1,500 merit points.”
Apart from heavenly treasures, rare materials, and exotic herbs, Meng Qi’s appraisal of all his spoils was completed. To his slight surprise, the “Medicine Master’s Heart Pill” and the two treasures from the “Blessing Heaven Official” Zhou Qiushan stood out.
The healing efficacy of the “Medicine Master’s Heart Pill” was far superior to that of the “Spit Fire Ingest Black Pill,” potentially life-saving in critical moments. Meanwhile, both the “Blessing Light Purple Qi Pearl” and the “Blessing Heaven Saber” were special treasures associated with blessings. For Meng Qi, whose “Three Treasures Ruyi Fist” still lacked blessings, these items could serve as valuable references and aids.
Moreover, their inherent abilities were valuable. With blessings upon oneself, one could avert danger and escape great calamities with fortune on one’s side!
As Meng Qi pondered which item to keep, he suddenly heard Lady Jiu’s voice in his ear: “The Heavenly Venerable has returned.”
With no time to deliberate, Meng Qi simply packed all the items away, planning to reconsider later.
Returning to the Azure Heaven Palace, the masked “Heavenly Venerable of Treasures” came out to greet him, his tone solemn: “What urgent matter do you have?”
Meng Qi glanced at Lady Jiu and transmitted his voice: “Heavenly Venerable, let’s go inside to talk.”
Inside the secret chamber, the Heavenly Venerable of Treasures did not ask further questions but looked at Meng Qi with a focused expression, ready to listen.
Meng Qi had already prepared his thoughts and spoke directly: “Heavenly Venerable, perhaps the Shaolin Abbot Kong Wen is fake, a disguise by the Devil Master, and he might also be the Celestial Emperor of ‘Myth.'”
Having lived for two or three hundred years and experienced many great upheavals, the Heavenly Venerable did not gasp in surprise at this revelation. Instead, he fell silent, causing the atmosphere in the room to feel as if it had solidified.
After a moment, he seemed to have finished his deliberation and slowly spoke: “If Benefactor Han is indeed the Celestial Emperor, this matter is not impossible… Abbot Kong Wen has indeed shown quite a few peculiar behaviors in the past decade or so.”
Meng Qi took a deep breath and recounted Abbot Kong Wen’s words exactly, only omitting where he had discovered Kong Wen.
“So you encountered the trapped Abbot Kong Wen…” the Heavenly Venerable of Treasures relaxed.
He did not delve deeper into other matters Meng Qi had not mentioned. He bent his finger and lightly tapped the table, muttering to himself: “Assuming the real Kong Wen is trapped… mysterious Dharma Body…”
Suddenly, his finger stopped, and he sighed deeply: “This old Taoist knows who it is.”
“Who is it?” Meng Qi urgently asked.
The Heavenly Venerable of Treasures actually knew!
The Heavenly Venerable of Treasures said: “When Lady Jiu previously described the incident of being captured, this old Taoist vaguely felt familiarity. Now, recalling, could it not be the ‘Five-Color Divine Palm’ of Master Taili?”
“Taili? The Peacock Demon King?” Meng Qi was quite shocked.
The Demon King Taili, who had condensed the “Five-Element Peacock True Body”?
The Heavenly Venerable of Treasures nodded: “This old Taoist has fought him before and experienced the might of the Five-Color Divine Palm. I never expected him to have secretly colluded with Benefactor Han.”
Instantly, Meng Qi’s mind flashed to the “Devilish Zhen Guan” and the numerous demons under the Shaolin Mountain’s relic pagoda. Suddenly, everything seemed to fall into place, as if it had always been destined to unfold this way…
…
A man with five-colored hair stood with his hands behind his back, his arrogance as tangible as his presence.
He stood with his back to the visitors, lazily smiling: “You failed to capture Lady Jiu, allowing the Immortal Trace people to rescue her. If they aren’t fools, they’ll eventually deduce my identity from the ‘Five-Color Divine Palm.'”
“Therefore, we must change our plans. We’ll switch roles between open and covert operations.”
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