213: the truth

Cheng Ran brought Lu Ze back to the hotel arranged for them in Shennong City.

As soon as they entered Cheng Ran's room and closed the door, Cheng Ran leaned close to Lu Ze, placed her right hand on his wrist, and carefully circulated her Spiritual Qi through his body.

“Phew, thankfully, nothing is wrong.”

Cheng Ran let out a soft sigh, relaxing her entire body, evidently relieved.

“You met Gong Yuheng, didn't you?”

Cheng Ran asked while pouring water for herself and Lu Ze.

Lu Ze nodded, took the cup of water Cheng Ran handed him, and took a sip.

Within his body, Gong Yuheng's cultivation had been completely refined, but Gong Yuheng's aura had not been entirely erased, and a powerful individual like Cheng Ran could detect it.

Lu Ze glanced at his status panel.

By refining Gong Yuheng's cultivation, he had now advanced to Minor Achievement of the Fifth Rank.

Cheng Ran seemed to have an unspoken meaning, “Gong Yuheng is also a powerful individual. It's not bad that he could grant you cultivation this time to help you increase your strength, but…”

Cheng Ran suddenly paused, then looked at Lu Ze, a hint of seriousness in her eyes, “But this person is too rigid; he stops at nothing to achieve his goals, disregards slaughter, and doesn't follow rules. You must not go to Three Thousand Paths to see him again in the future.”

As soon as these words fell, Lu Ze sensed a slight movement from Gong Yuheng's Divine Sense deep within his mind.

The fluctuation was very subtle; if not for the imprint of the Spirit-Expelling Talisman, Lu Ze probably wouldn't have noticed it at all.

This was Gong Yuheng's defiance.

Lu Ze chuckled inwardly, then nodded to Cheng Ran, “I've taken everything Teacher said to heart.”

Cheng Ran hummed in acknowledgment, “The Hidden Thunder matter has been settled; you will receive it. If you don't want to participate in the Rookie Competition, you can also leave Shennong City directly and return to Xuanyuan City. I still need to stay here to conclude this matter.”

Lu Ze, changing his usual dismissive attitude towards the Rookie Competition, stood up and said, “Teacher, I want to participate in the Rookie Competition!”

Cheng Ran was puzzled; previously, Lu Ze seemed uninterested in this matter, so why did he now want to participate actively?

Although she didn't understand, Cheng Ran still agreed.

“Alright, I'll help you add your name. However, there are still powerful individuals in this Rookie Competition, and not everyone has met you. Some are still on their way. In these sparring sessions, you can also discuss with them.”

Lu Ze discussed some matters in detail with Cheng Ran, then he left... Returning to his room, Lu Ze sat cross-legged, preparing to chat with Guan Zizai.

However, he found that Guan Zizai seemed a bit hesitant and dared not come out. Even when he used the pearl, Guan Zizai only managed to say, “Master, Gong Yuheng will hear our conversation.”

“It's fine.”

Lu Ze forcefully drew Guan Zizai out and said, “We're already out. Don't worry, he's lost his best chance.”

Seeing Lu Ze's resolute expression, even with a calm smile at the corner of his lips, Guan Zizai felt much more at ease.

Meanwhile, in Lu Ze's mind, Gong Yuheng's Divine Sense seemed to understand something and began to shake violently, as if trying to forcefully leave Lu Ze's mind.

“Buzz!”

A powerful rune, as if from ancient times, unfurled around the Divine Sense, completely imprisoning it!

Gong Yuheng's Divine Sense instantly erupted with immense power, but it was suppressed before it could even manifest!

The runes scattered, forming a cage that enveloped Gong Yuheng's Divine Sense!

The originally gentle devouring power also became aggressive, beginning to rapidly consume Gong Yuheng's Divine Sense.

At the same time, within Three Thousand Paths.

Gong Yuheng sat in his small room, drinking tea, observing the outside world through the perspective of his Divine Sense.

But suddenly, his Divine Sense wavered, seemingly disturbed by something, preventing him from seeing clearly.

He poured more of his power, wanting to lift the thin mist that covered his sight, but it was futile.

Before long, the thin mist around his Divine Sense slowly dispersed, and his vision brightened again.

From Gong Yuheng's perspective, Lu Ze was sitting cross-legged in meditation, having entered a state of deep contemplation.

“This young friend is quite diligent. However, only a body that cultivates day and night like this can help me ascend to the Supreme realm earlier.”

A smile played in Gong Yuheng's eyes. His previous body could only sustain him until he perished in the Demon Slaying realm, but now, since he decided to use Lu Ze's body to return to the world, he had to set a new goal for himself!

That was, to reach the Supreme realm, beyond Demon Slaying!

Supreme... The longing in Gong Yuheng's eyes was undeniable.

As long as one stepped into the Supreme realm, one could directly access the ultimate Profound Truth of this world.

Perhaps, it truly could be as the legends said, to live as long as Heaven and Earth.

“Young friend Lu, to live as long as Heaven and Earth, such an Opportunity, you've gained so much.”

Gong Yuheng narrowed his eyes and hummed a tune, “Hundreds of years of wasted time, the Heavenly Dao and Human Dao, a good Reincarnation. A new face enters the world again, who will be king, who will hold power.”

However, Gong Yuheng had no idea.

His Divine Sense had long been deceived.

In the room, Lu Ze was not in meditation at all; he was just holding the pearl and chatting with Guan Zizai.

“Tell me, what is your identity?”

Facing Lu Ze's question, Guan Zizai replied, “I, this old woman, was once the deputy leader of the Guan Jiang Department.”

“Guan Jiang Department?”

Lu Ze heard that name again.

An organization with a vastly changed status and background.

In his ear, Guan Zizai's voice continued to sound.

“After I, this old woman, died, my consciousness did not perish but transferred into a soul gathering pearl. Wandering from place to place, I heard some things about the Guan Jiang Department. Today, the Guan Jiang Department is no longer what it once was; it has even been ostracized by humans.”

Lu Ze tapped the table with his finger, “I have seen the Fusion of humans and demons. They are not tolerated by humans and are regarded as anomalies. I suppose this is the reason why the Guan Jiang Department is not tolerated in the current Human Base.”

“That's not it.”

Guan Zizai offered an explanation Lu Ze had never heard before, “It's because they are too strong, which is why they are not tolerated!”

“How so?”

“Master, not everyone can fuse with demonic power! After the Spiritual Qi resurgence, everyone, more or less, is infected by the aura of demons, or rather, the Spiritual Qi we cultivate is essentially the same as demonic power! The higher one's Spiritual Qi cultivation talent, the deeper their infection by Spiritual Qi.”

“And among these exceptionally talented individuals, quite a few can accommodate demonic power with their own strength! Once these people accept the Fusion of demons with themselves and draw upon demonic power, they can crush those who purely cultivate Spiritual Qi!”