Chapter 759 - 535: Backup Plan! (2)
"You gather information with all your might, and I will wait here. Once the information is gathered, we will conduct another divination..."
"If this divination still yields no results, and it’s truly impossible, I have some friendship with the Corpse Forest Buddha Master and may seek his help."
Qin Zhao Yu’s eyes lit up, and he quickly asked:
"Master, is it the Corpse Forest Buddha Master who specializes in the Dao of Karma and can discern the tracks of heaven and earth?"
"Indeed," Chen Sheng nodded, with a somewhat affirmative tone. "The Corpse Forest Buddha Master specializes in the Dao of Karma, and his insights into the tracks of karma far surpass mine. He is the most skilled in divination below Mahayana."
"If he steps in, he can surely uncover the causes and effects of this matter, and even pinpoint the location of the Daoist Monarch inheritance."
The heaviness in Qin Zhao Yu’s heart dissipated significantly, and his eyes were filled with intense hope. His tone was respectful and firm:
"Thank you, Master!"
Chen Sheng nodded slightly, his tone calm:
"Go then, be careful in everything. If danger arises, do not try to be strong. Immediately send a message to me, and I will come to assist."
"Disciple obeys!" Qin Zhao Yu bowed again, turned around, and with a swish of his robes, transformed into a stream of light, slowly exiting the Eight Treasures Palace, his figure disappearing into the clouds outside the palace gates.
...
Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a month had gone by.
In the Qin Clan Ancestral Land, spirit veins surrounded, halls were scattered, and in every corner, one could vaguely see the busy figures of Qin Clan disciples and elders, all rushing yet orderly, entirely focused on gathering all information related to the black-robed cultivator and True Monarch Dong Yin’s inheritance, daring not to slacken.
On this day, in the Qin Clan Ancestral Land, above the sky, the wind and clouds slightly shifted, a streak of light suddenly pierced through the firmament at incredible speed, like thunder traversing the day, bypassing layer upon layer of clan protection restrictions and the myriad rune barriers, facing no obstruction.
"What is this?"
Qin Zhao Yu was sitting in the hall, verifying clues, and upon sensing the aura of the streak of light, his heart trembled and his eyes showed a hint of surprise. He reached out to grab, and an ancient, unadorned jade scroll appeared in his palm.
The jade scroll was entirely dark green in color, warm in texture, with its surface covered in the secret runes of the Qin Clan, which circulated with a faint spirit light, obscure and profound, almost undetectable if not observed closely.
On its surface remained a familiar aura—precisely the aura of Qin Cang Wu.
Qin Zhao Yu slowly tightened his grip on the jade scroll, his phoenix eyes slightly focused, his heart stirred:
"Qin Cang Wu’s contingency plan?"
She pondered for a moment and then said:
"He died so abruptly, his incarnation obliterated, unable to trigger this jade scroll in time. Instead, it’s like a timed device, delayed for some time before erupting on its own."
Upon thinking of this, the stress accumulated in Qin Zhao Yu’s heart for many days instantly dissipated significantly, and she revealed a faint smile, smiling to herself:
"It seems Qin Cang Wu wasn’t entirely foolish, not dragging the Qin Clan into a place of eternal doom. Perhaps, this might be the turning point for the Qin Clan."
Qin Zhao Yu did not hesitate further, her fingertips condensed a thread of spirit light, gently tapped on the jade scroll, and slowly unlocked the secret restriction upon it.
This restriction was the highest secret transmission of the Qin Clan.
In an instant, the jade scroll burst forth with gentle spirit light, clear and illuminating the entire courtyard, and countless streams of information surged into Qin Zhao Yu’s consciousness sea, clear and detailed, without a hint of ambiguity.
"Daoist Monarch estate, Yin Yang Mixed Element Treasure Mirror, Moon Soul Condensing Jade, restriction control technique..."
The information in the consciousness sea exploded like thunder, and in Qin Zhao Yu’s phoenix eyes, there was a hint of uncontrollable agitation and shock.
This kind of opportunity is too enticing!
"Such opportunity almost establishes a path to the position of Daoist Monarch; no wonder Qin Cang Wu would conceal it from the clan and investigate alone."
"With such temptation, if it were me, I might also act this way, no matter the cost, to seize the opportunity."
However, Qin Zhao Yu did not lose her sense. She slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, restrained the agitation in her heart, and her demeanor returned to tranquility and calmness.
Momentarily, she slowly opened her phoenix eyes, the agitation in her eyes had faded, replaced by calmness and vigilance, softly murmuring:
"Qin Cang Wu’s demise is enough to prove that the information within this jade scroll has truths and falsehoods, and is far from being as simple as it appears."
"It seems extremely detailed, the opportunity seemingly at hand, but in reality, it is more likely a meticulously arranged trap."
"Notify Master?"
Qin Zhao Yu hesitated for a moment, and after a long while, finally convinced herself:
"The lessons from predecessors cannot be ignored."
"Exploring on my own is too perilous!"
"Master is already involved, and is even willing to seek the Corpse Forest Buddha Master’s assistance for this matter, ultimately it cannot be circumvented."
"Moreover, Master has shown me great kindness, and I am not one to be ungrateful."
...
Eight Treasures Palace.
"Master, disciple requests an audience."
Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes, a flash of spirit light flickered in his pupils then returned to calmness, softly spoke: "Come in."
Qin Zhao Yu pushed the door and entered, gathered her robes and bowed, respectfully saluting: "Greetings, Master."
"No need for formalities," Chen Sheng waved his hand, his gaze fell on her, his tone calm, "Judging by your expression, it seems there’s progress? Could it be that you’ve gathered relevant clues?"
"Reporting to Master, disciple has been fortunate not to disgrace the mission!"
Qin Zhao Yu raised her head, took out the dark green jade scroll from her sleeve and presented it with both hands, her tone respectful:
"Disciple today in the Qin Clan Ancestral Land, received a contingency jade scroll left by Qin Cang Wu before his death, within which is recorded much information about the Daoist Monarch inheritance, disciple does not dare make decisions on her own, specially came to offer it for Master’s perusal."
Chen Sheng’s eyes flashed with a hint of joy, his body slightly straightened, reached out his hand to capture, and the jade scroll slowly floated to his palm, countless streams of information instantly surged into his consciousness sea.
After a brief moment, immense joy suddenly surfaced in Chen Sheng’s heart, his pupils blazed with spirit light, unable to conceal his internal excitement. He swiftly raised his eyes, looking at Qin Zhao Yu, with some gratification:
"Zhao Yu, you’ve done well!"
Qin Zhao Yu slightly lifted her eyes, her demeanor unfazed, her tone steady, neither arrogant nor servile:
"Master’s praise, disciple does not dare to accept."
"With Qin Cang Wu’s preceding lesson, disciple deeply understands that such Daoist Monarch opportunity, seemingly enticing, actually harbors dangers, avoiding harm and informing Master is the safest strategy."
Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng nodded slightly, the smile on his face grew warmer, the approval in his eyes deepening, he spoke directly:
"Your honesty is most comforting to me as your teacher."
"The opportunity recorded within this jade scroll is enough for you and me as master and disciple to improve our cultivation further, escape our current predicament, and even aspire to ascend to the position of Daoist Monarch."
"I speak frankly, if we can indeed find the Daoist Monarch estate this time and obtain its treasures, I certainly won’t enjoy them alone."
Chen Sheng’s tone was firm, his gaze sincere:
"Convert these treasures into Contribution Points for a celestial mountain, or split for refinement, you and I as master and disciple shall share fifty-fifty, how does that sound?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhao Yu was momentarily stunned, her eyes showing a hint of disbelief, her body slightly trembled.
She knew well, after sharing the information, her cultivation level and status with Master would be completely unequal.
That Master could speak of a fifty-fifty share, was by no means just politeness, but sincere."
This deep affection made a rush of warmth surface in her heart.
"Thank you for Master’s deep love! I am immensely grateful and cannot repay it!"
"Disciple does not dare to covet a fifty-fifty share..."
Chen Sheng waved his hand, but with undeniable authority:
"No need to decline, you and I as master and disciple, why say such estranged words."
His eyes revealed a hint of expectation:
"I solely hope you and I as master and disciple can leverage this opportunity, progress together, and both eventually ascend to the position of Daoist Monarch."
The warmth in Qin Zhao Yu’s heart grew even stronger. She nodded heavily, a flash of firmness in her eyes, her tone respectful and resolute:
"Disciple obeys! Thank you, Master!"
Chen Sheng nodded slightly, storing the jade scroll safely, his tone serious:
"Good! After you rest for a while and replenish your energy, we shall deliberate together, determine a strategy for exploring the Daoist Monarch estate, and strive for complete success."
Qin Zhao Yu bowed in response:
"Yes, Master!"