A moment of silence.
Long Zhantian looked outside the door and asked in a low voice, "By the way, who is that Elder Gu...?"
"I have been in the sect for many years, and I have never heard of such... weird elders existing."
Long Zhanye also lowered his voice. "Old Man Gu... The identity is very mysterious."
"I only know that he has lived here for a long, long time and his knowledge is unfathomable."
"He healed my injuries, and he gave me guidance on many difficult problems in cultivation."
"But he..." Long Zhanye pointed to his temple, "This place is not normal. Sometimes he is sober and wise, and sometimes he is crazy."
"... He is also extremely lonely in character. He has been living in seclusion underground for hundreds of years and has almost no contact with outsiders."
"So few people in the sect know of his existence."
"As for Senior Brother Zhua Yun, he is his only disciple. He is also a taciturn but very reliable person."
When Long Zhantian heard this, a trace of understanding and surprise flashed in his eyes. "...Body Sect has a profound background. It is true that there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Even such strange people can be accommodated and hidden in the world for hundreds of years."
The two brothers chatted for a while, enjoying this rare and tender moment after the disaster.
And on the other side of the secret room.
However, the faces of Old Man Gu and Zhua Yun were not relaxed, and even had a rare solemnity.
The two seemed to be discussing something in a low voice, with serious expressions. Zhua Yun nodded from time to time, while Old Man Gu sometimes frowned and sometimes sighed...
A few more days passed.
Long Zhanye's injuries have basically recovered, and Long Zhantian can also walk slowly on the ground.
On this day, Old Man Gu called Long Zhanye alone to the depths of the secret room.
"That 'coffin' of yours." Old Man Gu got straight to the point, pointing to the silver-gray Soul Tool in the corner that still exuded cold air.
"I checked it and tried to use Soul Power and some medicine to stabilize the cold inside."
"But I am not a professional Soul Engineer after all, and my means are limited. Based on the current rate of cold air leakage, the remains sealed inside..."
"It can remain intact for up to forty days. After forty days, the cold air will run out, and the body will begin to... rot."
"What?!" Long Zhanye's face instantly turned pale, and his body swayed.
"Xiahou Ling's body is the last bit of comfort and obsession in his heart besides his relatives, and it is also part of the motivation to support him..."
"Elder Gu! Then... what should we do? Is there any other way?!" Long Zhanye asked eagerly with a trembling voice.
Old Man Gu shook his head and frowned. "Heavenly Soul Empire, Star Luo Empire, Douling Empire, the Soul Engineer level of the three empires is limited..."
"Most of the top Soul Engineer are concentrated in Shrek and the top Soul Engineer academies in major empires."
"It's difficult to get them to help deal with this special soul guidance device involving human remains, and it's easy to be exposed and cause unnecessary trouble."
He paused, and a glint flashed in his eyes. "But, Sun Moon Empire is different, that is the birthplace and center of Soul Tool!"
"Soul Engineer has a large number, leading technology, and the system is more complete and... commercialized. Maybe..."
"There you can find the ability to repair or modify this 'coffin', extend the storage time, and even... find other methods of storage."
"Sun Moon Empire..." Long Zhanye murmured again, hope rekindled in his eyes.
"However, now is not the time." Old Man Gu changed the subject.
He took out a small jade bottle from his arms, poured out a green pill that exuded a strange fragrance, and handed it to Long Zhanye.
"Although your injury has recovered, you must first take this Elixir..."
Long Zhanye had no doubts about Old Man Gu's medical skills and Elixir. He took the pill and swallowed it without even looking at it.
"Yeah." Old Man Gu nodded with satisfaction, and then took out an inconspicuous wooden box from his arms.
He carefully took out a piece that was about the size of a dove egg and had a dark golden color all over.
It is a strange round bead with natural patterns like dragon scales on its surface, exuding weak dragon power and majestic energy.
"This is...?" Long Zhanye felt the breath of the ball, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Dragon Pill." Old Man Gu said slowly, with a hint of fanaticism in his eyes.
"It is the product of the highly condensed energy and life essence in the body after the death of the Dragon Clan."
"This one I have is not of high quality. It comes from the remains of a sub-dragon that has been cultivated for ten thousand years. But even so, the Dragon Clan power contained in it is not trivial."
He held Dragon Pill in his palm and looked at "Tang San" who was lying aside and taking a nap.
"Your 'Tang San' has extremely complex blood vessels in its body."
"It is basically certain that it is a combination of three bloodlines: true dragon, lion and mastiff! And among these three, True Dragon Bloodline is undoubtedly the highest ranking!"
"So..."
"I want to use the power of this Dragon Pill, combined with some special medicine, to try to guide and catalyze the True Dragon Bloodline hidden in its body!"
"If it succeeds, its strength, body shape, appearance, and even its natural abilities may undergo huge changes!"
"In the future, maybe I can really become an indispensable and powerful help beside you!"
Long Zhanye felt excited when he heard it, and looked at "Tang San" with expectation. "Dragon Pill... inspired True Dragon Bloodline..."
"Elder Gu, how come you have everything? Even such legendary things as Dragon Pill?"
Old Man Gu stroked his beard, with a trace of reminiscence and pride on his face.
But his tone was a little flat. "I have lived for more than two hundred years!"
"I have traveled to many corners of the mainland and have experienced, seen and collected more things than ordinary people."
"This Dragon Pill was also acquired by chance in my early years!"
"Remember, the quality of this Dragon Pill is limited and can only inspire part of it."
"If you have a chance in the future and find Dragon Pill of higher quality, even from the remains of a real dragon, you may be able to fully awaken the True Dragon Bloodline in it, and even... return to its ancestors!"
Long Zhanye nodded solemnly, keeping Old Man Gu's instructions in mind.
However.
At this moment, he suddenly felt a strong sense of dizziness!
The scene in front of me began to blur and rotate, and the voice of Old Man Gu became distant and erratic.
"Elder Gu... I... how can I..." Long Zhanye's steps were empty.
He wanted to raise his hand to hold on to the stone wall next to him, but found that his arm was too heavy to lift.
He saw a complex, apologetic, yet decisive smile on Old Man Gu's face.
"Child, don't be afraid. Just have a good sleep... Just have a good sleep and you'll be fine."
"Some roads need to be walked by yourself; some choices need to be made by yourself. There isn't much I can do to help you... there isn't much I can do for you."
The voice fell.
Long Zhanye's vision went completely black, he lost all consciousness, and his body fell backward softly.
Zhua Yun appeared behind him at some point and supported him steadily.
The smile on Old Man Gu's face gradually disappeared. He looked at the unconscious Long Zhanye, a trace of exhaustion flashed in his eyes.
"Zhua Yun, what happens next... depends on our luck."
He whispered to himself, as if he was saying goodbye, but also as if he was welcoming a new beginning...