903: Crimson crystal, shroud

Hongru Academy.

Inside a pavilion.

Xie Weilou set up a Formation, then took out the ten thousand souls banner, and immediately performed soul searching on the Divine Souls of Nether Princess and the other two.

Half an incense stick later.

The soul searching concluded.

Xie Weilou frowned slightly.

Judging from the memories of the three, they had not been in contact with Elder Gu of the Heavenly Hall.

Nether Princess had defected from the Reincarnation Sect and actively sought closeness with the Heavenly Hall, but everyone she had contacted were ordinary members of the Heavenly Hall.

Their assassination attempt at sea this time was merely accepting a mission issued from above.

As for who this person above was, Nether Princess did not know. She had just defected from the Reincarnation Sect and was getting close to the Heavenly Hall, but she had not officially joined it; the Heavenly Hall was still observing her sincerity.

If she could resolve Xie Weilou and Lu Mingya this time, perhaps only then would she gain the trust of the Heavenly Hall and become one of its core personnel.

Purple Orchid and Cloud Above Stream were minor figures, obeying Nether Princess’s orders, and knew nothing else.

Cloud Above Stream inviting Xie Weilou to the dust fate painted barge seemed unrelated to Prince Qing; Cloud Above Stream had simply carried out the task assigned to him.

“Wasting my time!”

Xie Weilou shook his head and put away the ten thousand souls banner.

He took out the mysterious yellow bead and the corpse wrapping cloth.

Both items were obtained through transactions, and he wanted to see what exactly was so mysterious about them.

Xie Weilou picked up the mysterious yellow bead, activated his Heavenly Eye Vision, and looked straight through the interior of the bead. Inside the bead was a special Formation and a crimson crystal.

“...”

Xie Weilou reached out his hand and quickly carved runes onto the mysterious yellow bead, continuously breaking down that Formation.

Not long after.

With a crack, the Formation was broken, the mysterious yellow bead shattered, mysterious yellow Qi overflowed, and the crimson crystal dropped out.

Xie Weilou reached out, grasped the crimson crystal, and observed it carefully.

The surface of this crystal was covered with talisman Restrictions, and it contained mysterious power. It looked extraordinary, but as for its specific wondrous uses, he couldn't discern them.

“I’ll keep it for now.”

Xie Weilou put away the crimson crystal. If he couldn't figure it out immediately, he would look at it again later.

He then picked up the piece of corpse wrapping cloth and examined it carefully. The fact that this item could cause the copper block given by Wang the Celestial Being to react meant it was clearly not simple either.

After some observation.

Xie Weilou discovered that although the material of this corpse wrapping cloth was extraordinary, it couldn't be considered a Supreme treasure.

What was truly strange was the blood on the corpse wrapping cloth. This blood contained mysterious Principles of Dao, and even carried a dark power, a power somewhat similar to the power contained within the copper block.

“...”

Xie Weilou pondered for a moment, then took out the copper block.

Buzz!

After the copper block appeared, it once again flickered with a faint light, the radiance becoming deeper and richer.

The blood on the corpse wrapping cloth also gradually changed from black to crimson, emanating an extremely terrifying dark power. It seemed to have gained life, moving around, incomparably bizarre.

“Interesting.”

Xie Weilou stared at the blood on the corpse wrapping cloth with a strange expression; this blood was far from ordinary.

If he encountered something he didn't understand, he would ask the boss of the Undying Pawnshop!

Xie Weilou smiled broadly and took out the undying token: “Senior, are you there?”

“Kid, you are really too noisy. You call this old man whenever something happens. Are you treating this old man as an appraisal expert?”

The old man’s voice sounded, carrying a hint of impatience. He suddenly regretted giving the undying token to Xie Weilou.

This kid hadn't given him many good things, yet his questions were endless. Did he really think his information was free?

Xie Weilou said with a smile: “Senior, don’t rush! This time, I obtained a piece of corpse wrapping cloth, and the blood on it is very special; it can make the previous copper block react.”

The old man was silent for a second, then said: “This is not blood, but a special substance originating from the Immortal Tomb. Keep this corpse wrapping cloth safe. If one day you wish to enter the Immortal Tomb, wear the corpse wrapping cloth, and many strange entities that encounter you will have to give way!”

“That extraordinary?”

Xie Weilou’s heart stirred. He hadn't expected the blood on the corpse wrapping cloth to be so Heaven-Defying.

The old man spoke mysteriously: “The corpse wrapping cloth and the copper block in your hand came from the same bronze coffin! This old man must advise you: a person must not be too greedy. Obtaining this corpse wrapping cloth means you have the qualification to enter the Immortal Tomb. If you encounter that coffin, place the copper block on it. This is Karma, and it needs to be neutralized somewhat, otherwise, if you enter the Immortal Tomb, you will not have a good outcome.”

Xie Weilou mused: “Thank you for the reminder, Senior. I will remember your words.”

“If there is nothing major, do not disturb this old man again. If I tell you too much, it also creates Karma, which will be imposed upon both of us, and you might not be able to bear it, unless you can get more good things!”

The old man continued.

Xie Weilou: “...”

He directly threw the undying token into the emperor talisman.

--------

The next day.

Some news began to spread in East Barren City.

The first piece of news was that Mr. Xie of Hongru Academy played a game of chess with the Chess Saint. The Chess Saint made four moves, and ultimately perished, meeting the same fate as his Disciple, Gongsun Yuan.

After this matter completely spread, it sent chills down many people's spines. An existence as powerful as the Chess Saint actually died after playing a single game with Xie Changan, causing widespread fear.

The name Xie Changan became frightening, and the prestige of Hongru Academy rose another level.

The second piece of news was that Xie Changan had executed Yuan Yaochen of the Heaven Mending Sect on Hundred Flowers Mountain. This was also a significant event, and many people were curious about how the Heaven Mending Sect would handle it. Yet, the Heaven Mending Sect showed no reaction whatsoever.

The third piece of news was that the dust fate painted barge sailed far into the deep sea and eventually vanished mysteriously, which piqued people's curiosity.

Hongru Academy.

A major event also took place today.

The Grandmaster, Dongfang Zheng; the Second Master, Su Huai’ren; the Three Sages, Ye Ziran; the Fourth Mr., Lu Zhili; and the Fifth Mr., Wen Jiu, all simultaneously headed to Zhongzhou Academy, intending to engage in a game against the Academy.

Of the six Sages, only Xie Weilou did not go to Zhongzhou Academy.

Hongru Academy.

Inside a small courtyard.

Xie Weilou was drinking tea with the Confucian Sage.

Xie Buxian was Cultivating the Vast Righteous Art under a tree nearby. After Cultivating under the Confucian Sage, his comprehension of the Vast Righteousness constantly deepened, and the Vast Righteous Qi emanating from his body grew increasingly rich.

Xie Weilou held his teacup and looked at the Confucian Sage: “Those few Sages of the Academy are all extraordinary, right?”

Of the Academy’s Sages, he had only met Ye Ziran and Wen Jiu so far; he had not met the other three.

The Confucian Sage smiled and said: “Dongfang Zheng is my second Disciple. He Cultivates the Dao of Vast Righteousness, and his cultivation has reached the Venerable One Realm; Su Huai’ren comes from the Jie Tian Sect and is also a Venerable One; that boy Ye Ziran represents the Eastern Barren Imperial lineage.”

“Lu Zhili comes from the Jie Tian Sect and is also a Venerable One. The reason no one came to cause trouble after you killed the Heaven Mending Sect Disciple is because he stepped forward. As for that Little Girl Wen Jiu, her true Cultivation is the Early Stage Kōgū. She is a favored daughter of the Great Dream Pure Land...”

When Xie Weilou heard this, he subconsciously recalled what Fang Baixiao had said yesterday.

What he had said was that the three major forces—the Jie Tian Sect, the Heaven Mending Sect, and the Great Dream Pure Land—had already secretly sent people to get ahead.

The Confucian Sage looked at Xie Weilou and said with a smile: “Since we have brought up this matter, I will elaborate on this particular Opportunity!”