174: Chapter 174... Life is truly unpredictable...

Qian Shuying looked at him, her voice dropping.

"She... back then, in order to protect me, she lured away a War General Realm Black Seed."

Speaking of this, her fingers unconsciously tightened on the corner of her clothes.

"After I was taken away by Qian Congrong and the others, I never saw her again."

"I don't even know what her situation is now..."

The underground space suddenly went quiet for a moment.

Lu Cheng frowned.

Although Chu Xiuxiu usually looked timid, that girl's ability was not weak. Plus, with her special state, if she really wanted to escape, a regular Meridian Opening Realm cultivator would not be able to keep her.

Just as Lu Cheng was about to speak, a voice filled with tears suddenly came from above.

"I'm here!"

Everyone looked up at the same time.

They saw a dusty little head poking out from the edge of the hole that Lu Cheng had punched through on his way in.

Chu Xiuxiu was gripping the edge of the broken floor with both hands, her face covered in dust, her hair a mess, and her clothes torn in several places. She looked like a little kitten that had just crawled out of a trash heap.

The moment she saw Lu Cheng, her eyes instantly turned red.

"Brother Lu Cheng..."

The next second, she jumped straight down from the hole.

Lu Cheng's expression changed, and he reached out to catch her.

Chu Xiuxiu had already crashed into his arms like a little cannonball.

Bang.

Lu Cheng retreated half a step, his chest feeling muffled from the impact.

This little girl looked small, but she actually had quite a bit of weight when she collided with you.

However, Chu Xiuxiu didn't care about any of that.

She held onto Lu Cheng's waist tightly with both hands, buried her face in his clothes, and tears immediately started falling.

"These past few days have been... so hard for me!!"

Her speech was intermittent, and her voice grew hoarser as she spoke, as if the fear and grievances she had been holding back for the past few days had finally gushed out at this moment.

After all, she was still a child.

Even with power far beyond her peers, and even daring to lure away a War General Realm Black Seed alone, when it truly came down to this moment, it was impossible not to be afraid at all.

Lu Cheng looked down at her, sighed, and raised his hand to rub her head.

"It's okay now."

"It's all over."

"We are all still alive."

Chu Xiuxiu didn't look up, only held on tighter.

Qian Shuying stood to the side, her eyes also a bit red.

She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, she didn't make a sound.

Some words were too light when spoken aloud.

The two words "thank you" simply couldn't carry the weight of Chu Xiuxiu luring away the War General Black Seed for her back then.

After a while, Chu Xiuxiu's crying slowly subsided.

Lu Cheng patted her back.

"Alright, stop crying. If you keep crying, I'll be able to wring water out of my clothes."

Chu Xiuxiu sniffled and looked up, her eyes as red as a rabbit's.

She whispered, "I'm sorry..."

"What are you sorry for?" Lu Cheng looked at her. "You coming back alive is the best news."

After he finished speaking, he frowned and asked again.

"However, since you weren't captured, why haven't I been able to reach you these past few days?"

Chu Xiuxiu lowered her head and pulled out half a terminal that was shattered beyond recognition from her pocket.

The screen was cracked like a spiderweb, and there were scorch marks on the edges.

"It broke during the fight..."

Her voice was very soft.

"I lured that War General Black Seed outside the manor. I originally intended to shake it off and come back, but it kept chasing me."

"Later, I hid in the drainage ditch behind the Qian Family's mountain and managed to trick it into leaving."

"I didn't dare to go out too early, so I just kept hiding."

"After it left, I snuck back to the Qian Family."

At this point, Chu Xiuxiu glanced at Qian Shuying.

"I wanted to save Sister Shuying."

"But there were people everywhere inside the Qian Family, along with people from the Origin Organization, and I couldn't find an opportunity."

"I could only hide on the roofs and in the ventilation ducts, watching them send people underground one by one."

Her voice grew lower and lower.

"I heard them say the ritual was starting tonight, so I thought the banquet hall would definitely be in chaos."

"As long as it got chaotic, I would have a chance."

She wiped away her tears, and her voice finally gained a bit of confidence.

"After the Qian Family members overturned the tables, the Zhou Family head and Sister Su Wan were surrounded. I launched a sneak attack from above and took out two Black Seeds first."

"Then, the Zhou Family head was very impressive."

She paused, as if seriously recalling the moment.

"While cursing, he pressed a Black Seed into the Pool of Ten Thousand Wishes."

Lu Cheng: "..."

Chu Xiuxiu continued:

"Sister Su Wan was also very impressive. She used a cyan-colored lamp to protect many people; otherwise, those who had written wishes might have been swallowed by the Golden Pool as well."

"Later, when things at the banquet hall were mostly resolved, I wanted to come find you."

"I didn't expect..."

She glanced at the altar hall, which was already shattered beyond recognition, and then looked at Lu Cheng.

"You had already finished fighting."

Lu Cheng rubbed her head.

"You worked hard, you worked hard."

Chu Xiuxiu lowered her head, her ears turning a bit red.

She wasn't used to being praised, especially being praised while Lu Cheng rubbed her head like this.

Just at this moment, footsteps were heard from the hole above again.

Two figures jumped down, one after the other.

When Shen Guhong landed, there wasn't the slightest sound under his feet, and not even the hem of his clothes was ruffled.

Instructor Qi Xiangtian was much more brutal, landing on the ground with a bang and crushing several stone slabs.

He glanced around and clicked his tongue.

"You kid, every time you work, it's like a demolition job."

Lu Cheng pointed at the half-collapsed altar nearby.

"You can't blame me for this; it was all caused by that toad..."

Instructor Qi Xiangtian's mouth twitched.

Shen Guhong ignored the two's nonsense, his gaze sweeping over Qian Shuying and landing on Lu Cheng.

"Qian Shuying, where is your brother?"

Qian Shuying's expression changed.

Lu Cheng immediately raised his hand and pointed to the room nearby.

"Over there."

The group immediately walked over.

The door had already been kicked in by Lu Cheng and was hanging halfway off the doorframe.

As soon as they entered, everyone was stunned.

In the center of the room, Qian Duoduo was sitting on the ground.

The chains on his body had broken, and the golden liquid around him had completely dried up.

But he himself...

Had turned gold.

He sat there, a look of confusion on his chubby face, looking like a little golden Buddha just moved out of a temple.

Lu Cheng was silent for two seconds.

Then he couldn't help himself.

"Damn."

"Qian Duoduo, you really are 'Qian Duoduo' now."

Qian Duoduo looked up and blinked.

"Brother Lu?"

When he spoke, his voice hadn't changed; it was still that slightly naive, slightly cowardly tone.

Lu Cheng walked over and reached out to poke his face.

It was soft.

Even softer than before.

Qian Duoduo's cheek was poked into a small indentation, then bounced back.

Lu Cheng's expression became even stranger.

"It's not pure gold."

Qian Duoduo: "..."

He was originally a bit scared, but Lu Cheng's comment completely threw him off.

"Brother Lu, are you still concerned about that at a time like this?"

Lu Cheng withdrew his hand and walked a circle around him.

"How do you feel yourself?"

Qian Duoduo looked down at his hands and clenched his fists.

As his knuckles tightened, a layer of fine golden patterns under his skin actually lit up.

The patterns looked like copper coins, and also like the bumps on a toad's back, but looking closely, they also exuded a very ancient aura of Source Power.

"I feel..."

Qian Duoduo frowned, as if seriously trying to describe it.

"Very good."

"Especially good."

"Before, when I practiced, Source Power entering my body was like scooping water with a spoon, one spoonful at a time."

"Now, it's like someone has stuck a water pipe into my mouth."

Lu Cheng: "..."

Although the analogy was gross, it was quite vivid.

He scanned Qian Duoduo with his Source Sense.

The next second, Lu Cheng's eyebrows raised slightly.

Source Gathering Realm peak.

And it wasn't the kind of unstable realm forced upon him.

Although the Source Power in Qian Duoduo's body was still not very stable, his foundation hadn't collapsed; in fact, a special golden power was actively repairing his meridians and flesh.

This kid was originally drained half to death, but now not only was he not ruined, he had instead been fed straight to the peak of the Source Gathering Realm.

Lu Cheng looked at Shen Guhong.

Shen Guhong had already walked up to Qian Duoduo.

He reached out and pressed his hand onto Qian Duoduo's shoulder.

A sliver of very fine Source Power probed inside.

Qian Duoduo's body shuddered, and those golden patterns under his skin immediately surfaced, as if instinctively wanting to resist the external force.

Shen Guhong's eyes narrowed slightly.

A moment later, he withdrew his hand.

"Bloodline power..."

Instructor Qi Xiangtian frowned.

"The Golden Toad's?"

Shen Guhong nodded.

"It should be."

His gaze towards Qian Duoduo was somewhat complex.

"The Swallowing Wish Golden Toad has been suppressed for many years, its power long locked by the bloodline of the Qian Family's main line and the White Tiger Seal."

"The ritual was forcibly initiated this time, and then interrupted by Lu Cheng. The Golden Toad's true form didn't fully awaken; instead, a portion of its bloodline authority leaked out."

"This power didn't return to the Golden Toad, but was absorbed by him..."

Instructor Qi Xiangtian clicked his tongue.

"This little fatty is quite lucky."

When Qian Duoduo heard this, a faint smile just appeared on his face.

Shen Guhong added faintly.

"But it might not be entirely a good thing."

Qian Duoduo's smile froze.

Lu Cheng looked at Shen Guhong.

Shen Guhong said calmly, "The Golden Toad bloodline inherently possesses the characteristics of swallowing wishes, gathering wealth, and borrowing luck."

"If he can't control it well, he will easily be consumed by his own desires in the future."

"The more he wants, the greater the possibility of losing control."

Qian Duoduo's face turned pale.

"Then... then can I not wish to get rich in the future?"

Lu Cheng glanced at him.

"Your name is Qian Duoduo; it's quite difficult not to want to get rich."

Qian Duoduo almost cried.

Qian Shuying walked to Qian Duoduo's side and raised her hand to pat his head.

"Don't listen to him scaring you."

She looked at Shen Guhong.

"Is there a way to suppress it?"

Shen Guhong's gaze fell on Qian Shuying.

To be precise, it fell on the bone mark deep between her eyebrows that had not yet fully manifested.

That mark was very faint.

Ordinary people couldn't see it at all.

But in Shen Guhong's eyes, it was an unawakened White Tiger Wealth-Suppressing Seal.

Geng Metal Tiger Pattern, White Tiger Divine Bone, Golden Toad bloodline.

The Qian Family had almost been sent to their graves by their own branch members this time.

But if they could pull through...

The Qian Family might usher in a true rise.

Shen Guhong withdrew his gaze.

"Yes."

"Qian Shuying's White Tiger bloodline can suppress the Golden Toad power within him."

"But as for the specifics, we'll have to wait until we return to the academy for an examination."

Qian Duoduo let out a long sigh of relief.

Then he whispered, "Sis, you won't beat me up every day from now on, right?"

Qian Shuying gave him a cold look.

"If you don't listen, I will."

Qian Duoduo immediately shut his mouth.

Lu Cheng, standing to the side, felt like laughing.

This was true bloodline suppression.

The group did not stay in the room for too long.

Although Qian Duoduo was in good condition, his body had just undergone the ritual impact and still needed an examination.

Chu Xiuxiu supported Qian Shuying, and Lu Cheng supported Qian Duoduo as they returned to the altar hall.

At this moment, the commotion outside was getting closer and closer.

Dense footsteps and the shouting of Public Security Bureau personnel came from afar.

"Everyone drop your weapons!"

"Seal off the underground passage!"

"Medical team follow up!"

People from the academy arrived faster than the Public Security Bureau.

Several instructors wearing the Navigator Academy uniform rushed in from the breached passage, and upon seeing Shen Guhong and Instructor Qi Xiangtian, they immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Immediately after, more people entered the underground.

Some were responsible for checking the residual Source Power on the altar.

Some were responsible for sealing the Pool of Ten Thousand Wishes.

Some were responsible for taking away those Qian Family researchers who had completely mutated.

Those researchers crouched on the pile of money, the golden lumps on their bodies still heaving and pulsing, their mouths unconsciously repeating some blurred words.

"Wealth..."

"Wish..."

"Return..."

They were no longer considered normal people.

As for those Qian Family branch members affected by the Golden Toad, their situation was even worse.

Some had not fully mutated, but patterns resembling toad skin had already grown on their arms, necks, and backs.

They were pressed to the ground by the Public Security Bureau personnel, still shouting that the Qian Family would rise and that the Golden Toad was the true Ancestral God.

When Lu Cheng walked by, he saw a middle-aged man being held down kneeling on the ground.

The man raised his head, staring at Qian Shuying with a face full of resentment.

"It's all because of you main branch members..."

"If you hadn't been suppressing the Golden Toad all along, the Qian Family would have long since become the number one family in South District 7!"

Qian Shuying stopped.

There was no anger or smugness on her face.

She just looked at him calmly.

"So you tied up my father, used my brother as a sacrifice, and handed the entire Qian Family over to the Origin Organization?"

The middle-aged man's lips trembled.

"This is for the future of the Qian Family!"

Qian Shuying was silent for two seconds.

Then she raised her foot and kicked the man in the face.

Bang.

The back of the man's head hit the ground, and he passed out on the spot.

The two Public Security Bureau members nearby twitched their eyes simultaneously.

But no one spoke.

Qian Shuying withdrew her foot, her voice very cold.

"Take him away."

Lu Cheng glanced at her.

Qian Shuying's profile looked somewhat pale in the light of the underground Source Power lamps.

She looked very calm right now.

But Lu Cheng knew that what was suppressed beneath this calmness might be heavier than anger.

Soon, Qian Fuyun was also rescued.

The Source Power chains could not be forcibly removed, so the people from the academy's Mechanical Institute used specialized anti-inscription devices to cut the linkage nodes bit by bit.

When Qian Fuyun was carried out, he had lost a significant amount of weight, his complexion was ashen, and his lips had no color at all.

But when he saw that Qian Shuying and Qian Duoduo were both standing there, his eyes lit up instantly.

Qian Duoduo rushed over, almost knocking over the stretcher.

"Dad!"

Qian Fuyun let out a muffled groan as he was bumped.

"Get lost... do you want to send your old man away for good?"

Qian Duoduo's tears hadn't fallen yet, but he forcibly held them back.

Qian Shuying walked to the side of the stretcher and looked down at Qian Fuyun.

She didn't say anything.

Qian Fuyun also looked at her.

The father and daughter looked at each other for a few seconds.

Finally, Qian Fuyun tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"It's good that you're okay."

Qian Shuying's eyes turned slightly red, and she gave a low hum.

Not far away.

Qian Congrong was also brought over under guard.

The long robe on his body was already torn, there was a scar on his chest frozen by Su Wan's cold air, and half of his hair was disheveled.

But his expression did not look too disheveled.

Even when he saw Qian Fuyun, he smiled.

"Big brother."

Qian Fuyun turned his head slowly.

Their gazes met in mid-air.

One lay on a stretcher, covered in injuries.

The other was being held, his hands wearing Source Power shackles.

Clearly, they were both Qian Family members.

But at this moment, it was as if they were separated by an entire destroyed family.

Qian Congrong smiled somewhat wearily.

"Big brother... the Qian Family... is relying on you."

Qian Fuyun did not speak.

Qian Congrong looked down at the shackles on his hands.

He knew he wouldn't be coming out.

Colluding with the Origin Organization, kidnapping the main branch, privately releasing an Ancient God pollution source, and using banquet guests to collect wish power.

Each count was enough for him to die many times over.

The Public Security Bureau would not let him go.

The academy would not let him go.

Qian Congrong raised his head, looking at Qian Fuyun, his voice lower.

"Do you think I didn't know that releasing the Golden Toad would harm the Qian Family?"

Qian Fuyun's eyes finally moved.

Qian Congrong smiled.

There was no gentleness from the banquet hall in that smile, nor was there the madness of controlling everything from before.

Only an indescribable weariness remained.

"I knew."

"I knew earlier than those idiots."

"I have also seen the torn pages of the ancient books hidden by the main branch."

"The Golden Toad is not an Ancestral God; it is a creditor."

"The Qian Family has taken its benefits, so sooner or later, it must pay them back."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the shattered altar.

"But have you ever thought, Big brother, that just by leaving it there, it wouldn't be a threat?"

"How much longer can the White Tiger Seal suppress it?"

"Ten years? Twenty years? Or until Xiaoying's generation grows old, until the next generation's bloodline weakens?"

"It will wake up all the same then."

"When it wakes up, the Qian Family will still die."

Qian Fuyun's voice was hoarse.

"So you trusted the Origin Organization?"

Qian Congrong shook his head.

"I didn't trust them completely."

"The Origin Organization wants the Golden Toad to awaken, I know that."

"The branch members want to use the Golden Toad to turn things around, I know that too."

"I just saw another way."

He said this, his eyes somewhat dazed.

"The ancient books said that if you graft the Golden Toad's power out, making its authority incomplete, it won't be a complete Ancient God even if it wakes up."

"It will become weaker."

"The Qian Family's curse will also be divided away."

"I originally wanted to use the hands of the Origin Organization to accomplish this..."

"Use the guests' wish power to feed it awake, use the main branch's bloodline to open the lock, and then split its power away."

"This way, the Qian Family could at least walk out from the shadow of this toad."

As he said this, he suddenly chuckled.

"It's just that I didn't expect..."

His gaze fell on Qian Duoduo.

"In the end, it was grafted onto Qian Duoduo..."

"Truly... things in the world are unpredictable..."