Six Ding Divine Fire

"Target 1 went to Bar No. 19."

"Two people. The companion's information is being identified. Zhang Fusheng, a new student at Jiang University. His father, Zhang Wentao, is an underground doctor in the Seventh District. His mother, Zhou Guifang, is an ordinary elementary school teacher. He himself is a student at Hong Ji Martial Arts Hall."

"His last contact with Chen Nuanyu should have been on the evening of June 28th, when Target 1 received emergency treatment at Zhang Wentao's clinic."

"Should we add him to the new surveillance list?"

Listening to the report, the rugged man with a large beard flicked the ash from his cigarette.

"Hong Ji? Just a student?"

"It's hard to say. The Deputy Director of the Jiangzhou General Bureau submitted a report yesterday. Hong Tianbao was by his side. Hmm, there's also surveillance footage from outside Hong Ji Martial Arts Hall last night. It shows the two of them talking for a long time on the main street."

The rugged man pondered.

"Then don't monitor him for now. We don't want to offend Hong Tianbao. That old guy is not simple."

The inspector nodded readily, but then asked, "But what if this Zhang Fusheng is an evil cultist from Daoism?"

"Almost impossible." The rugged man shook his head. "The records show that Hong Tianbao and the West Cult have a deep-seated hatred for each other."

He stubbed out his cigarette.

"Continue to follow up. As for Zhang Fusheng, let it go for now. Don't actively monitor him, but investigate his past records and relationships more thoroughly."

"Yes, boss."

It wasn't out of lust, pity, or the pleasure of desecrating someone who was once high and mighty.

It was purely because.

He was curious.

Curious if this delicate, silk-like face could be pinched until it was swollen.

Humans always have an uncontrollable urge to 'destroy' perfect things. In psychology, this can be roughly summarized as 'cute aggression' or 'cute destruction syndrome'.

It's like seeing a child as delicate as a porcelain doll; you feel restless if you don't make them cry, or like seeing a beautiful little cat and having to pet it fiercely.

Zhang Fusheng continued to knead the red-haired girl's face.

It was really easy to pinch, smooth and tender, with an incredibly good feel.

He visualized himself transforming into white bone. The sharp aura on his body slowly receded. This was another subtle use of the White Bone Meditation.

By viewing oneself as white bone, a dead object, one's Blood Essence, spirit, and aura would truly recede and become dormant, making one appear like an ordinary person, undetectable to outsiders.

At the same time, it could calm the ripples in one's heart. Visualizing white bone brings true purity.

"Why take such a shortcut?"

He asked again.

Chen Nuanyu remained silent.

"What, you can't even say that?" Zhang Fusheng reached out, hooked the girl's chin, and lifted her head slightly, carefully observing the bewilderment in her eyes.

"To find medicine," she said softly.

"Find medicine?"

Zhang Fusheng was confused.

"You injected Mental Potion and 'falsely achieved' a meditation technique as a shortcut, all for... to find medicine?"

"Mhm."

She replied in a low voice.

"Once the meditation technique is fully achieved, it can completely liberate my heart – the Unquenchable Heart. Those people said that if I succeed, they will give me a Golden Elixir. A [One-Turn Golden Elixir] that can save my mother."

Hmm?

Element detected.

One-Turn Golden Elixir. Is that right?

Could there not be a Nine-Turn Golden Elixir that grants immortality, or perhaps something related to Taishang Laojun??

Zhang Fusheng pursed his lips.

"Who are those people?"

"..."

After another moment of silence, Chen Nuanyu took a deep breath.

"Evil cultists, from a mysterious sect called Daoism."

Zhang Fusheng's gaze suddenly sharpened.

Daoism again.

While stroking the girl's cheek, he fell into thought. The master of the Snake Fist Gym, that Huang Qiuxian, was also a Daoist follower.

He also injected something into his own body, calling it the Five Thunders Art, to be passed on to Master.

Dad had also mentioned a few days ago that Daoist cultists would gather in the Lower-Level District.

And Zhong Shan once said that Daoism was divided into East and West, with one seemingly righteous and the other evil.

"East Cult or West Cult?" he asked.

Chen Nuanyu was bewildered and shook her head.

"I don't know."

"Actually, I'm just a beginner," Zhang Fusheng smiled. "I don't know why you're so afraid of 'overdue'. Can you tell me about it?"

Chen Nuanyu clenched her fists and pursed her lips.

She trembled.

"Those who break their promise will have their souls extracted and be thrown into an eternal inferno to suffer unbearable torment. This can buy a three-month extension. If they break the promise again, they will remain in the inferno forever until they also turn into those monsters."

Zhang Fusheng's heart stirred. He thought of Master's Spiritual Realm and those skeletal monsters.

The monsters' gnawing was painful, but not unbearable. It wouldn't scare the girl to this extent. Hmm, that's true.

He was undergoing trials and practicing Visualization techniques back then, not actually being tortured.

But if the inferno she spoke of was Master's Spiritual Realm...

Zhang Fusheng narrowed his eyes slightly. Were all the skeletal monsters in the Spiritual Realm once real people?

He felt a chill.

Chen Nuanyu took a deep breath at this moment. "I've already been overdue once and endured that kind of torment."

She recalled her past experiences, her body trembling even more violently. "When I first borrowed the money, I didn't know that there were people in this world who could take souls, nor did I know that she was Chen Yuque."

Zhang Fusheng raised an eyebrow. This time, he extended his hands and pulled on the girl's cheeks. "Second Senior Sister? She's yours?"

"Cousin."

Chen Nuanyu's words were slurred. "But our two families have a blood feud."

"Tell me about it."

"In short, my father killed her father, and her mother killed my father."

"...Is that right?" Zhang Fusheng let go of her hands, feeling a sense of unfinished business as he scrutinized the girl carefully.

"You fenced the forty jin of goods from Chaimen?"

"Yes, I gave it to Mr. Hei."

"How much more do you need to pay back the money?"

"Twenty-four million."

Zhang Fusheng rubbed his chin. This was a bit troublesome.

He really wanted the Unquenchable Heart, but how could he make her willing to make the trade?

Save her mother's life?

"First, tell me about the Unquenchable Heart."

Hearing this, Chen Nuanyu placed a hand on her chest and looked up at the handsome young man whose face was half-hidden in shadow.

She said, "It will never stop beating, and I will always be full of Blood Essence, never tiring."

"It constantly improves my aptitude and nourishes my body. Although the progress is slight, I become stronger every minute and every second."

"And as the name suggests, it contains a wisp of flame, an unquenchable flame. The cultists say this is called [Six Ding Divine Fire], seemingly a key to unlocking something. I can only sense that wisp of fire after my Visualization technique is perfected."

Zhang Fusheng's eyes widened.

Six Ding Divine Fire.

In the mythological stories of his past life, the flames burning in the Eight Trigrams Furnace had forged the Ruyi Jingu Bang and the Nine-Toothed Rake, scorched Guanyin's willow branch, and burned Monkey King's Fiery Golden Eyes.

Zhang Fusheng was somewhat bewildered.

Were there really gods and immortals? Was there really Taishang Laojun?

No, that's not right.

If there were truly gods residing in the highest heavens, a thunderbolt would have long ago split the Federation into pieces.

After all, the Federation had branded Daoism as an evil cult.

Calm your breathing.

"Those cultists, since they want to use you, why didn't they help you reach 'Great Accomplishment' in Visualization, why didn't they help you pay off your debts?"

"They said this is a test, a necessary test to join them."

Zhang Fusheng pressed further:

"What illness did your mother have?"

Chen Nuanyu replied in a low voice:

"I don't know. She's been decaying uncontrollably every moment. According to the progress, in another half a year, she will truly die."

"No wonder you're in such a hurry to achieve Great Accomplishment in Visualization."

Zhang Fusheng understood, his thoughts beginning to stir. Could he buy a portion of health and then sell it to Chen Nuanyu's mother?

This seemed a bit troublesome. It would require multiple transactions to finally obtain the Unquenchable Heart. The key issue was that the effect of the Star Beast Meat was weakening.

No.

He suddenly had an epiphany.

Why would he need to buy an extra portion of health?

Why not just buy her mother's strange illness directly?

As this thought surfaced, Zhang Fusheng felt as if he had pushed open a brand new door.

In the silence.

The red-haired girl suddenly placed her chin in his palm, like a docile kitten.

She asked softly:

"Can it be postponed? Please."

The girl trembled slightly, her eyes filled with uncontrollable fear. It was clear she had suffered unimaginable hardships in purgatory.

After a moment of hesitation.

Chen Nuanyu even awkwardly stuck out her tongue and gently licked Zhang Fusheng's palm.

Zhang Fusheng snapped back to reality, gazing at the monstrously beautiful face. The dim light cast upon her face, making her features hazy, yet adding a touch of breathtaking allure.

He chuckled:

"Do I look like I'm doing charity? You can't expect me to be generous at my Master's expense, can you?"

"Therefore, no."

The light in her eyes instantly extinguished.