The Dust Settles, Part Two (Thanks to Alliance Leader Undying Shooting Star)

There should be a picture on this key.

After understanding the meaning, Zhang Rongfang wet a gray cloth, laid it flat, and gently pressed the front half of the key onto one end of the cloth.

Then let the key roll.

Soon, fine gold threads were imprinted from the key.

On the gray cloth, a peculiar map was clearly visible. Behind the map were rows of distorted symbols.

This is the cryptic text of the Golden Wing Tower, which, after translation, explains the meaning of this image.

'Is everything she wanted to give me here?' Zhang Rongfang quickly glanced at the map and then put it away.

He put the keys into his waist bag.

The Eastern Sect fell into ruin, and the Heavenly Maiden used her last bit of power to secretly hand it over to him in this way. Clearly, this item was extremely important.

Zhang Rongfang picked up a glass of black Mare Milk Wine, brought it to his lips, but did not drink it.

He recalled his life in Great Capital during this period.

Outside, things were turbulent and unpredictable. Although he was under the protection of the Heavenly Treasure Palace of the Great Dao Sect, he could still feel the danger of the storm raging outside.

This place is too dangerous for me right now.

He disliked the feeling of being protected by others.

Although it's safe, I still feel uncertain.

'I need to find a way to improve my strength as soon as possible. I'll focus on improving the Golden Toad Skill until I can't improve it any further. And then there's the Spirit Vein.'

The ultimate goal of the Great Dao Sect is still to help him Spiritization and achieve the Spirit General.

Zhang Rongfang has never forgotten this fact, so this is something he will inevitably have to face in the future.

'How to deal with the Spirit Vein?'

If he doesn't want to Spiritization, then dealing with Spiritization beings will be a difficult problem he will have to consider in the future.

For a moment, holding his wine glass, he gradually fell into deep thought.

I waited here for a long time, until it got dark outside, but no one came.

Zhang Rongfang also realized that he had likely been stood up.

He didn't think much of it, stood up, paid, and went downstairs to leave.

Before leaving, he noticed that the waiter in charge of his private room seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

"What are you trying to say?" he asked directly.

The waiter smiled, his smile as precise and neat as if carved with a knife.

"I just wanted to tell you, Master, that this place is actually the property of the Heavenly Treasure Palace. Given your status, you don't need to pay for that little expense."

"This is Heavenly Treasure Palace's property?" Zhang Rongfang was slightly taken aback, then realized.

Yes, Heavenly Treasure Palace was extremely wealthy. With such a large palace complex, it would be impossible for them not to have any businesses.

"Thank you." He nodded to the waiter, then turned and strode away.

Next, he wandered around Tiger Mountain Town and inquired about the prices of medicinal herbs, but unfortunately only one pharmacy was open, and the price list was not very helpful.

Zhang Rongfang had no choice but to return to the Dao Palace.

***On the morning of August 9, 1185.

Three Black List Expert launched a surprise attack on the Ming Chan Palace. Heavenly Maiden Tong Zhang, together with Fallen Sword and Zheng Qiu'er, attempted to rescue the Imperial Tutor. They were surrounded and severely wounded, and scattered to escape.

The Fallen Sword was beheaded, Zheng Qiu'er disappeared.

The Heavenly Maiden was seriously injured and fled.

Snow Rainbow Pavilion dispatched experts to pursue and kill them.

However, the Ling Ting never issued a full arrest warrant.

It was as if this had never happened.

Hundreds of miles away from Great Capital, in a range of undulating mountains.

A slender, petite figure in white was moving at an exaggerated speed.

The dense trees, roots, weeds, and poisonous insects all seemed like their own backyard in front of the figure, which they easily and skillfully avoided.

It's as if they've lived in this forest for many years.

Suddenly.

The figure in white suddenly stopped, looked up, and revealed a stiff, pale female face.

It was none other than the Heavenly Maiden Tong Zhang, who had already taken the Emperor Flow Pill's Pill.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

A Shadow descended from above, its cane slamming heavily into the ground, blocking the path.

The newcomer had white hair and beard, wore a black Python Robe, and exuded an imposing aura. He was none other than Yan Xi, the Prince Yan Yan Xi of the Sensing Gate.

Beside him, a graceful figure stepped out as well; it was a woman with an extremely hot figure.

This woman, despite her alluring figure and beautiful, charming face, subtly exuded a pure and holy aura. It created a strangely contradictory impression.

If Zhang Rongfang were here, he would definitely recognize the person.

This woman was none other than Gong Shuyin, who had previously taught him Locked Script.

Gong Shuyin wore a form-fitting black leather outfit that perfectly accentuated every part of her figure.

She was also wearing a black veil mask that covered the lower half of her face.

Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail, and she held a bronze-colored short knife in each hand. Together with Yan Xi, they blocked the two directions from which Tong Zhang was heading.

"Long time no see. I've repaid your favor from back then. Now, it's just a matter of factions, so don't blame me for being ruthless," Gong Shuyin said with a smile.

The Heavenly Maiden's expression was calm, or rather, she was incapable of showing any expression at all.

"So you guys have already discovered it?"

After taking the medication, she could feel her memory getting worse every day.

Many things from the past are becoming increasingly blurry to her.

This is the price that must be paid when entering Extreme Realm.

There are many paths to the Extreme Realm, but the one she chose is the one that suits her best and is the easiest for her to embark on.

Now, while she still remembers some things, she has to take care of the last few things.

"For so many days, you've kept us completely fooled, even your closest friends. As expected, Tong Zhang, you're a selfish person who only cares about your own interests!"

Gong Shuyin shook her head softly.

"What do you want?" Tong Zhang asked coldly. "If you have nothing else to say, don't block the way."

"You think you can just run away after playing someone for a fool? There's no such thing as a free lunch!" Yan Xi said coldly.

"Those three Golden Rings were fake, weren't they? And those three Human Seed were all imposters you arranged beforehand! It seems everyone underestimated you! This was all just a facade you created to ensure your own safe escape!"

"You."

The Heavenly Maiden lightly touched the ground with her feet and floated forward.

"It's so boring."

Whoosh! She suddenly dodged to the left, precisely avoiding Yan Xi's sudden attack with her cane.

That movement was like autumn leaves falling in the wind, moving with the wind, seemingly just a hair's breadth away, yet always impossible to touch.

"Do you really think that just because you've reached the Extreme Realm, you can cross a realm and fight me? How naive!" Yan Xi sneered, and his cane suddenly accelerated.

In an instant, dozens of strange staff shadows were unleashed in front of him.

These staff shadows came with great force, yet they seemed to be performing a show, each time just a hair's breadth away from hitting Tong Zhang.

In the end, he couldn't even touch the hem of Tong Zhang's clothes.

"Let's do it together!" Yan Xi suddenly shouted.

His body rapidly swelled and grew larger, countless blood vessels bulged, muscles became enormous, and thick breaths spewed from his mouth and nose.

Gong Shuyin, standing to the side, gradually developed a silvery-gray complexion.

The short swords she held in both hands were gradually enveloped by this silvery-gray color.

At the same time, the two of them almost simultaneously used some kind of special Secret Art.

"Hand over the Secret Cache, and I'll spare your life!" Yan Xi said coldly.

The Heavenly Maiden remained silent, then suddenly raised her hands, sending out a shower of golden needles that the two easily dodged.

Rumor has it that the Secret Cache may even contain the various tests and experiments on Spiritization conducted by the Imperial Tutor over the years in the name of the Heavenly Maiden.

By now, many forces have realized that it was impossible for the Heavenly Maiden to have kept it hidden so well by herself alone.

The Imperial Tutor must have been involved.

In an instant, the three figures intertwined, leaving behind a trail of afterimages.

Extreme Realm greatly enhanced the Heavenly Maiden's actual strength.

This is a very wonderful state of being.

Tong Zhang devoted herself entirely to offense, defense, and evasion. She forgot everything else and imprinted everything around her into her mind.

Every possibility around her was laid bare under her intense mental calculations.

This complete focus, which made her forget everything else, allowed her to reach a stalemate with Yan Xi, even though she was clearly weaker than him.

Shortly afterward, a series of loud explosions erupted in the forest.

Then a figure in white, staggering and covered in blood, quickly disappeared into the distance.

Behind her, two figures clutching their chests and throats were rapidly healing their wounds, then stood up and chased after her.

The matter of the Eastern Sect has come to an end.

Everyone is currently discussing cases related to the regulations of the Heavenly Garment Pavilion.

After obtaining the Mysterious Key, Zhang Rongfang received no further news.

While taking care of Xiao Hong, who survived, he also diligently practiced the Golden Toad Skill and the Supreme Bright Void Skill.

At the same time, he also began to behave himself and spent his time reading materials and books in the Black Cloud Pavilion of the Heavenly Treasure Palace.

Time flies, and a week has passed in the blink of an eye.

The newly appointed Western Sect was busy vying for power and profit, while the Great Dao Sect and the True One Sect were fighting each other, neither willing to give way to the other.

The power vacuum left by the Eastern Sect has been completely filled by these three forces.

Zhang Rongfang also saw his master Chongxuan, even less often.

Chui Xi, the Daoist apprentice who had been learning alchemy with Daoist Qing You, also mysteriously disappeared.

Nobody knows where she went.

Even the Daoist Qing You was unaware of it.

All that is known is that on the day Zhang Rongfang went out, Chui Xi suddenly returned home, and the whole family disappeared.

A new Daoist boy filled the position at Chui Xi.

Everything was the same as before, as if nothing had changed.

Zhang Rongfang also devoted himself entirely to improving his Golden Toad Skill.

"How's it going? Are the medicinal herbs you were in charge of all set up? Where are they?"

Inside the cafeteria.

Zhang Rongfang and Zhang Qingzhi ate their food facing each other, chatting casually.

Zhang Qingzhi felt somewhat helpless.

"Most of the medicinal herbs have arrived, but the Hundred-Year Red Ganoderma you requested is not old enough, and I haven't been able to find any other source for it. I'm sorry."

He is gentle and humble, and he felt it was all his fault that he couldn't help find it.

"If we really can't find it, then forget it. I'll think of something else." Zhang Rongfang frowned slightly.

The Hundred-Year Red Ganoderma was originally obtained through a channel in Chui Xi, but the Chui Xi family mysteriously disappeared.

Currently, Zhang Qingzhi can only find items from the 1960s at most, which is troublesome.

The Golden Toad Skill at the Hidden Moon Second Layer requires a large number of various medicinal herbs as aids.

Among them, the Hundred-Year Red Ganoderma is the Main Herb.

This is still the Hidden Moon Realm. The medicinal herbs needed for the later stages are even rarer. Where will he get them?

In the past few days, he has also accumulated two Attribute Points again.

Perhaps we can wait until 3 o'clock and try clicking it directly.

Check if the Attribute Panel can bypass this requirement and improve the Golden Toad Skill.

Although Zhang Rongfang felt that the possibility was very small.

After all, this is the first time this technique requires supplementary medication, so it's unlikely to be waived.

"Perhaps you could go directly to the Pill Hall and find Pill Master. Daoist Qing You can definitely get Century Red Ganoderma," Zhang Qingzhi suggested.

"That's true. I'll ask about it later. Even if Qing You Pill Master can't, we can always find it by purchasing it directly from within the Pill Hall." Zhang Rongfang nodded.

Once the Main Herb is found and the elixir is refined, the second level of the Golden Toad Skill: Hidden Moon should be unlocked.

Zui Shizhe

Muzi Xiaoyu

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