After Shen Bai asked that question, the entire room fell into an eerie silence.
The Old Daoist Priest looked at Shen Bai with extreme terror in his eyes.
A thought suddenly arose in his heart.
Once it surfaced, that thought swiftly turned into an image.
In the image, Shen Bai used branches from the locust tree to create countless bizarre entities, then used them to wreak havoc across Ascending Cloud County, plunging its people into misery and ruin.
For some reason, the Old Daoist Priest increasingly felt that this was very likely to happen.
"Sir, so you are one of our kind. If that is the case, this humble Daoist is willing to take you beneath that locust tree and help you think of a way, though the odds are not high." The Old Daoist Priest wore a fawning expression.
"Why are the odds not high?"
Shen Bai did not deny being one of their kind and continued asking.
This was his plan. If the locust tree branches could continuously produce bizarre entities, would that not mean he could obtain an endless supply of Killing Intent?
The Old Daoist Priest smiled bitterly. "Even if that locust tree is a terrifying bizarre entity, it has its limits. Nothing in this world can be created out of thin air, and the number of bizarre entities is limited as well."
"So that was it."
Shen Bai nodded, feeling slightly disappointed.
He felt that while his plan was good, the locust tree simply was not up to the task.
Still, it was good enough that it could produce some additional Killing Intent, allowing him to gain more.
At least judging by the Cheat System's current progress, every qualitative transformation required Killing Intent. He did not know how much the next transformation would need, so storing some in advance would prepare him for a rainy day.
Seeing Shen Bai fall silent, the Old Daoist Priest saw greater hope of survival in his eyes.
"Sir, spare my life. Though I have no hands or feet now, there are countless kinds of cultivators in this world. We can surely find someone capable of restoring my limbs. By then, I will certainly be one of your pawns. Wherever you tell this humble Daoist to go, I will go."
By this point, the Old Daoist Priest had already decided that Shen Bai truly intended to bring ruin upon all of Ascending Cloud County.
But before he could finish speaking, a long sword gleaming with cold light had already drawn near.
In the Old Daoist Priest's disbelieving gaze, the sword swept across his neck.
The Old Daoist Priest's head flew up, rolled several times across the ground, then finally stared wide-eyed at Shen Bai, as though even in death he could not understand what he had said wrong.
"And you think you deserve to beg me for mercy?"
Shen Bai looked at the headless corpse, shook his head, then made the sword in his hand dance repeatedly, continuously chopping the Old Daoist Priest's body into pieces.
Only after confirming that he could not be revived did Shen Bai quietly leave that street.
After leaving the street, Shen Bai did not hurry toward the locust tree.
The sky was still dim, but daylight was not far off, making it inconvenient to act.
Shen Bai returned to the pawnshop, where he was still the only person inside.
After Shen Bai lit the oil lamp, shadows and light intermingled. He poured himself a cup of tea, sat in a chair, and took a calm sip, though his mind was occupied with what he had encountered that night.
"Though that locust tree cannot endlessly produce Killing Intent, according to what the Old Daoist Priest said, several wisps of Killing Intent are likely still hidden within it. Killing Intent is of absolute benefit to me, so I must go—but not now."
In troubled times, when dynasties were shaken, human lives were as worthless as grass.
Before this, Shen Bai had not felt it.
But after entering this circle and encountering one incident after another, Shen Bai understood that if he wanted to gain a foothold in these troubled times, his own foundations had to be strong first.
He did not want to become that five-year-old girl, without even the ability to resist.
Thus, before going to the locust tree, Shen Bai planned to use this last wisp of Killing Intent first.
A line of smoke appeared before Shen Bai's eyes, eventually condensing into words.
Ancient True Scripture Appraisal Progress: 0% One wisp of Killing Intent can complete appraisal quickly
"I have extracted three divine abilities so far: Blood Sword Dance, Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist, and Jade Evil Body."
"All three are at Level 3. If I want them to undergo a qualitative transformation, I will probably have to wait a while longer."
"For now, the Ancient True Scripture gives the best value."
Shen Bai tapped his fingers against the tabletop as he pondered.
The more abilities he had, the more means he had to protect himself. Using Killing Intent on the Ancient True Scripture now was naturally the most reliable choice for Shen Bai.
Once he made up his mind, Shen Bai did not hesitate. With a thought, the Killing Intent before him rapidly vanished.
As the Killing Intent disappeared, new words appeared before Shen Bai's eyes in the blink of an eye.
Heart-Cleansing Incantation lv.1 (Heart Cleansing +1): 0/100
As the words appeared, a mysterious and unfathomable phantom emerged in Shen Bai's mind.
The phantom sat upon an ancient prayer cushion with its back to Shen Bai, its face impossible to see.
Shen Bai could only feel an ancient, weathered aura continuously emanating from the phantom.
The next moment, the sound of a wooden fish being struck echoed in his mind.
A passage of scripture spread forth along with the phantom.
The chanting of scripture seemed to reach heaven and earth, like sacred music from beyond the skies, leaving one refreshed and at ease.
Several breaths passed before the phantom and the sound gradually faded away.
"Pure of heart and scant of desire, untouched by all things."
Shen Bai opened his eyes and felt the qi within his kidneys increase somewhat.
Besides that, he had also swiftly mastered the divine ability known as the Heart-Cleansing Incantation.
Shen Bai thought to himself, Good stuff. It has made up for another one of my weaknesses.
The Heart-Cleansing Incantation came with an attribute called Heart Cleansing.
Just as its name implied, after cultivating this divine ability, one could ward off certain special forms of harm—for instance, harm that disrupted the soul and consciousness.
For Shen Bai himself, this was a passive divine ability, but it could also be used actively.
When Shen Bai chanted the Heart-Cleansing Incantation, he could grant others a Heart Cleansing effect.
Of course, it would be somewhat weaker than when he used it on himself.
Shen Bai had Jade Evil Body for defense, but his defenses concerning the soul were weak. Now, it was equivalent to gaining defensive capabilities in that regard.
"I still need new Bizarre Items, and more Killing Intent."
Shen Bai withdrew his thoughts, suddenly feeling as though he had returned overnight to before liberation.
But it was only a passing thought, because as a grinding emperor, he now had something else to grind.
Shen Bai rubbed his hands together, planning to grind the Heart-Cleansing Incantation to Level 2 perfection that night. Then he would seek out that enormous locust tree and raise the Heart-Cleansing Incantation to Level 3.
With that thought, Shen Bai began softly reciting the scripture.
Liuyun Lake.
Beneath the moonlight, the lake water was clear as a mirror.
On the island in the middle of the lake, a towering locust tree swayed in the wind.
Along the shore, commoners stood in line, each holding three sticks of incense, their expressions solemn.
A bamboo raft drifted in from the island, gradually reaching the shore.
The boatman in a straw rain cape propped himself up with a bamboo pole and raised his scarlet eyes.
"Those who offer incense, present your tribute."
Before you continue