"Okay! I'll do it!" The man stared at the Treasure Note with longing and greed, then struggled to shift his gaze to the Statue beside him.
"Just one prayer is enough?" he asked.
"First, offer a sincere prayer. Then there are complicated procedures to follow. I'll explain them to you step by step," Zhang Rongfang said. "If all goes well, the entire ritual will be completed by the afternoon."
"I see." The man nodded, indicating his understanding.
He said that money couldn't be earned so easily. It turned out there were more troubles to come.
Thinking this way, he felt much more at ease.
After straightening his worn-out clothes, the man walked to a meter in front of the Statue and knelt down.
Then, cup your hands in Embrace Yin Holding Yang. Bow your head and kowtow.
Puff.
One knock.
Puff.
Two knocks.
Puff.
Three kowtows!
Pfft.
A tiny glimmer of light flashed by. The Golden Bead from the Statue's hand flew out and embedded itself in the man's forehead.
The faint light seemed to be something metallic, moving at an extremely high speed, like a bullet.
Even Zhang Rongfang was caught off guard.
I only saw a thin line flash by.
He was startled and involuntarily took a step back.
'What is that?!'
Surprised, he looked at the man.
"How are you? Are you alright?"
The man knelt on the spot, motionless, as if stunned.
A tiny Blood Spots appeared on the space between his eyebrows, where the faint light had just pierced.
The Blood Spots were so tiny, comparable to the tip of a needle, that most people wouldn't even notice them unless they looked closely.
"No, it's nothing," the man suddenly came to his senses and slowly stood up.
His body was trembling, and sweat was slowly trickling down his forehead and cheeks.
"The money you promised me." He turned his head with difficulty to look at Zhang Rongfang.
"I'll definitely give it to you! Don't worry!!" Zhang Rongfang's heart skipped a beat when he saw the other person's face.
He involuntarily took a step back, not daring to get too close.
At this moment, the man appeared to be perfectly normal.
But on his face, neck, hands, scalp—wherever skin was exposed—there were clear linear ridges.
It's like there are many tiny nematodes constantly moving under his skin.
Sometimes it bulges, sometimes it remains normal.
'What the hell?!' Zhang Rongfang's vigilance reached its peak. His hand involuntarily gripped the Wish Wheel on his back.
"Where's the money? Where's the money you promised me?" The man stepped forward.
"My wish is money. Money, money, money, money, money!!!"
The sanity in his eyes was fading, replaced by a blank stare.
However, his body movements were completely the opposite, becoming more relaxed and agile than before.
He kept getting closer to Zhang Rongfang.
Suddenly, he took a step forward.
Puff!!
A pit appeared in the ground, and the man, like a ferocious beast, pounced fiercely on Zhang Rongfang.
When!!
The two collided, producing a metallic clang.
Even Zhang Rongfang was forced to take several steps back by the immense force. The Wish Wheel in his hand trembled uncontrollably, clearly indicating that he had overexerted himself in the hasty response to the sudden attack.
Meanwhile, the Gambler opposite him was withdrawing his hand, revealing scarlet flesh and moving silver metal threads through a clear gash on the edge of his palm.
"Money, money, money, money!!" The Gambler frantically lunged at Zhang Rongfang again.
He used all four limbs, wielding his body wildly as if it were a weapon.
Strangely, despite his hands and feet constantly colliding with the Wish Wheel, he showed no sign of being sawed off.
"God has granted my wish! I want money! Money! Money!!" the man roared, his movements becoming faster and heavier.
Thump! He had absolutely no skill or technique, and was hit hard on the head by Zhang Rongfang's Wish Wheel, falling to the ground.
But it was no use. He immediately got up again and pounced on Zhang Rongfang frantically.
Time and again, the man seemed to have completely lost his mind. All he knew was to get up and lunge at his opponent.
Zhang Rongfang was deeply shocked.
This man's speed and strength were already comparable to those of Sixth Grade expert, and they were still improving.
The key point is that this person was just an ordinary person from the start. He was also a gambler with relatively weak physical abilities.
But now he has suddenly become a master comparable to Sixth Grade expert Breaking Limits? Even if he doesn't know any martial arts moves, his speed and strength are enough to crush Fourth Grade.
This Statue is simply... amazing.
Zhang Rongfang suddenly stepped back, the Wish Wheel he was holding trembling violently. He was struck hard in the side by the man, almost dropping it from his grasp.
The opponent's speed and power have increased again!??
He was only at the Sixth Grade, but now he's at least at the Seventh Grade! And he's still improving!
Zhang Rongfang was both shocked and furious.
The Wish Wheel flew swiftly in front of him to block. He could only block.
Although the man's moves were terrible, just wild swings, he wasn't afraid of being slashed at all.
Wish Wheel to strike him, it would only send up sparks and break his skin. It would have no other effect.
Suddenly, another muffled thud was heard.
Bang!
Zhang Rongfang took two steps back, his expression showing even greater surprise.
Eighth Grade!
Before he could react, the man roared again and swung his hand at him.
This palm strike was even faster than the previous one.
Zhang Rongfang immediately dared not delay, raised his right leg, and unleashed the Breaking Limit Skill: Shrinking Step Heavy Mountain.
A palm strike and a kick collided instantly.
Thump! Zhang Rongfang staggered back several steps, his face flushed red, and his right leg throbbed with pain.
He was injured!? Just then.
Click.
The man suddenly held up his hand and stood still for a moment.
A trickle of blood flowed from his eyes, ears, and nostrils.
Thump.
The man fell to the ground and became silent.
A soft hissing sound came from the parched earth, as if it had suddenly been nourished by flowing water.
The Gambler's body slowly withered away, as if it were a skin that had lost its support.
Zhang Rongfang stood there, panting, feeling a metallic taste in his throat.
He wiped the bottom of his nostrils and looked at it with his hand.
It's blood.
He was actually beaten so badly that he suffered internal injuries and bled! He glanced at his Attribute Panel and saw that his Life Attribute had temporarily dropped by three points.
'What is that thing?!'
He picked up a thick wooden stick and probed the Gambler.
The other person was completely still; their skin and flesh were like rotten mud, leaving a dent with every poke.
Zhang Rongfang went to see the Statue again.
A light touch with the stick.
With a whoosh.
The Statue collapsed completely, crumbling into a large amount of sand-like material.
"Gone??" Zhang Rongfang looked stunned.
Standing still, he probed the man a few more times to make sure that the man was completely still.
Only then did he step forward to check.
The man's corpse was like a human-shaped sac; the bones and flesh inside had all dissolved into mucus and sludge.
Zhang Rongfang grabbed the other person's hair with one hand, as if he were grabbing a water-filled human-shaped balloon.
Is this why the Ling Ting has been relentlessly suppressing Secret Teaching?
Such formidable destructive power would allow even an ordinary person to unleash speed and strength capable of injuring him.
You can injure him by fighting randomly without using any specific moves.
The man's level had probably increased to the Ninth Grade.
A mere Statue could instantly elevate an ordinary person to the Ninth Grade; no wonder the Ling Ting is so vigilant.
If it were a more physically powerful martial artist who were to kowtow, Zhang Rongfang wouldn't even dare to imagine the power it would have.
He carefully collected the fine sand from the broken pieces of the Statue and put it in a bag.
They then dug a pit and buried the body before quickly leaving the area.
Not long after he left the Woodland.
A tall figure, completely shrouded in a gray cloak, slowly appeared at the site of the collapsed Statue.
He squatted down and touched the tiny, almost invisible specks of sand and dust scattered on the ground with his hand.
"They weren't from the Imperial Court. The Statue were used up. But where are the people?"
Another man dressed in the same grey robe emerged from the nearby woods.
"Never mind if we can't find it. Looks like we didn't succeed. Let's go."
"Um."
The two stopped looking and quickly got up and left.
*** Pingya Temple.
Stacks of intelligence documents were continuously put down from Zhang Rongfang's hands.
He was quickly searching for information about Statue, the Ling Ting, and Secret Teaching.
If direct intelligence is unavailable, what about indirect intelligence?
He understood the situation regarding the Statue.
Secret Teaching and the Ling Ting —these are probably things hidden deeper behind the surface of this world.
Secret Teaching has troublesome things like Statue of gods.
Therefore, the Ling Ting must have something of equal opposition.
It reminds me of those shattered fragments of Statue.
Zhang Rongfang seemed to have some guesses in his mind.
'Since the Statue, even when broken, can be reassembled and still have such a powerful effect, wouldn't it be even more effective if it were intact? Or would there be fewer severe side effects?'
Just then, a figure quickly entered the main hall and knelt down on one knee before Zhang Rongfang.
The figures wore the same Black Mask, but there was no white mark resembling three eyes between their brows.
"Lord White Eagle, an urgent message has arrived from the Prefectural City!"
"Bring it up." Zhang Rongfang put down the text and turned around.
The visitor presented a special bamboo tube.
Cut open the Sealing Wax, removed the stopper, and Zhang Rongfang quickly poured out a small Paper Scroll from the bamboo tube.
Unroll the Paper Scroll.
"Secret Teaching Scripture have appeared near Tanyang City. Find them, or find the person who obtained them. —Red Spirit."
The person in charge of the Prefectural City is Red Spirit.
Zhang Rongfang had seen the complete structure of the Golden Wing Tower and knew the identity of this Red Spirit.
But could the Secret Teaching Scripture really be that piece of yellow cloth? "Go down," he waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to leave.
"Yes."
Watching his subordinate leave.
Zhang Rongfang recalled the strange events that had occurred before.
Based on the instructions and tasks sent from the Prefectural City, this task has a mandatory marker, which means it is a fixed task that he needs to complete this year.
'It seems this matter has escalated more than I imagined. Many people know about my collection of Statue parts.'
But no one knows that I obtained that piece of yellow cloth. It must be kept strictly a secret.
He put down the order from the Prefectural City and continued to review the intelligence.
Before he could figure out what the Secret Teaching Scripture were, he had to keep it a secret and not let anyone know that he had obtained the yellow cloth.
"Got it!"
Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the intelligence report he had just received.
This intelligence report mentions that ancient texts record cases of worshipping Secret Teaching Statue.
Those who worship often fall into madness, a phenomenon the sect calls Baptism.
If one can pass the Baptism, one will be Spirit Vein, Divine Servant, for life.
If one fails to pass, all of one's potential will be exhausted, and after several dozen breaths of madness, one will die from festering flesh and blood.
In the Autumn 1124, the Ling Ting announced the establishment of the Assembled Sages Institute, publicly affirmed the Bright Teaching, and abolished the Baptism of the Secret Teaching.
In the Spring 1125, both major and minor Secret Teaching collapsed, and large-scale suppression of the remaining forces was carried out in various regions.
In 1126, the Assembled Sages Institute was upgraded and designated to oversee all matters concerning Daoist Sect throughout the land. It also supervised all matters related to Secret Teaching, and from then on, the remnants of Secret Teaching disappeared without a trace.
That autumn, the Assembled Sages Institute issued a decree: no one is permitted to investigate matters related to Secret Teaching.
Although the intelligence report was not very detailed, its general content was enough for Zhang Rongfang to understand the relevant records.
At the very bottom, there is another line of explanation.
It discusses the origin of the Secret Teaching script. The script on Secret Teaching cloth is an ancient script called Locked Script.
There aren't many people in Tanyang who understand this kind of writing.
The intelligence report listed three names, all of whom were knowledgeable in the Locked Script.
After memorizing the name, Zhang Rongfang looked at it again and saw that the source of the information Xiong Wuye.
Then he threw it into the burning brazier.
The mission from the Golden Wing Tower, the importance the Ling Ting attached to it, the strangeness of the Statue, and all the signs made him realize that this matter should be put to rest for now.
We can no longer conduct an open investigation; we must gradually and covertly gather information.
'It just so happens that my Life Attribute is still accumulating. I'll see when I can break through the limit and reach the Ninth Grade.'
Furthermore, it's advisable to first have someone teach you this kind of Locked Script. We could bring Xiong Wuye over and question him carefully.
As for official matters, after his second application, he was able to return to the Mingjing Palace, so there was no need to worry about his position.
Just find something to use as a temporary measure.
The key now is to keep it a secret that he is investigating matters related to Secret Teaching.
All previous traces must be cleaned up.