Common Points

"There's no such pill in this world. Even if there were, no one would be allowed to use it. A pill that transfers someone else's intelligence to yourself is obviously an evil drug. Even if it could be refined, who knew how many people would have to be harmed to make it? And who knew what kind of aftereffects it would have after being taken?"

Afraid that Bing Ling might be deceived someday, Shen Ziheng repeatedly warned him, "Bing Ling, you must remember what I said. There can't possibly be such medicine in this world. So if anyone tells you they can make you smarter in the future, don't believe them. They're all swindlers who want to rob you of your wealth and take your life."

Bing Ling remembered his words, but he was displeased by Shen Ziheng's reaction. "I understand. I'm just a little slow, not an idiot. I wouldn't help someone count the money after they sold me. Besides, there shouldn't be anyone that foolish in this world, right?"

Hearing Bing Ling's words, Feng Wuhen swallowed his last mouthful of rice. "Who knows? Maybe we'll run into someone like that someday. But if we do, it's best to stay far away, because people like that can't tell right from wrong."

Seeing that everyone had finished eating, Hua Yichen rose and said, "Let's go to my courtyard together. I'll tell you what I found."

Xia Jingcheng sent communication talismans to the disciples who had come along with them, telling them to head to Hua Yichen's courtyard.

By the time Feng Wuhen and the others arrived at Hua Yichen's courtyard, three young people were already standing inside—two men and one woman.

Hearing the movement, the three turned and bowed to Hua Yichen and Xia Jingcheng. "Young Sect Master, Eldest Senior Brother."

Hua Yichen told them not to stand on ceremony, then introduced them. "These are disciples of Mount Grand Mystery. Address them as senior brothers and senior sister. Get acquainted among yourselves later; I won't introduce you one by one. Let's discuss this mission first."

Feng Wuhen and the others nodded amicably at the three. The three likewise gave them polite nods, then sat on the stone stools and waited for Hua Yichen to speak.

"Over the past few days, I visited the families of those missing children. After visiting more than half of them, I discovered something the missing children had in common.

"Although their parents had not formally become cultivators, they all possessed spiritual roots. The more outstanding ones were cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm.

"In other words, eight or nine out of ten of these children likely possessed spiritual roots as well. If that was the case, then the disappearance of so many children with spiritual roots was probably the work of the Devil Race."

Hua Yichen's information was extremely important. Previously, they had thought the missing children were merely ordinary children. They had never expected that these children might all possess spiritual roots.

Even if those spiritual roots were not especially good, as long as they had spiritual roots, they could cultivate, and their bodies could store spiritual energy.

And such children were best suited to serve as materials for the Devil Race's evil arts. They did not know which evil art it was specifically, but in any case, it was dangerous.

Xia Jingcheng held the Soaring Cloud Sword and looked toward Qin Xiaoran. Both men's eyes carried grave expressions. If things were truly as Hua Yichen had said, then this mission was very dangerous!

Hua Yichen continued with his findings. "And through my visits, I discovered that those children had all interacted with one another before they disappeared.

"There is a thousand-year-old tree in Radiant Moon City. Children loved playing beneath it, then climbing up its trunk.

"Because they often played there, several of the children knew one another and were close friends.

"I was lucky today. When I went to ask around, a mother who had also lost her child told me that two days before her child vanished, she had gone beneath the ancient tree to call him home for dinner.

"She heard those children boasting about whether their parents had spiritual roots, what kind of spiritual roots they had, and how they themselves would certainly have spiritual roots just like their parents. They were comparing who was more impressive.

"The woman noticed someone nearby staring at the children. At the time, she did not think much of it. She only assumed some passerby found what the children were saying amusing and had stopped to listen to the gossip.

"Only after her child went missing did she realize it had been premeditated all along!

"I was thinking, aside from this clue, we have no others. Why don't we take the initiative and lure the snake from its hole? We could use someone as bait to draw that group out?"

Hua Yichen's plan was highly dangerous, but they currently had no other leads. That group acted swiftly and efficiently, sweeping away their tracks so cleanly that it was not easy to find any traces.

Upon hearing Hua Yichen's plan, Feng Wuhen volunteered. "How about I serve as the bait? I'm the youngest among my brother and two senior sisters, so I'm well suited to pretend to be a child.

"Besides, my natal spirit artifact can be stored in my dantian, so they won't easily discover it. At least that gives us one safeguard for my safety."

The moment Shen Ziheng heard that Feng Wuhen wanted to do something so dangerous, he was the first to object. "No, I don't agree. People from the Devil Race are ruthless and vicious. What if something happens? What then?"

Qin Xiaoran thought of Feng Wuhen's ability to see the past and the future. If Feng Wuhen went, perhaps he might discover something extraordinary.

Moreover, he would not let Feng Wuhen go alone. "Using bait to hook them is a good idea, but you can't go by yourself. I can use Bone Shrinking and some illusion arts. They probably won't see through it. I'll go with you when the time comes."

Even after hearing that Qin Xiaoran would accompany Feng Wuhen, Shen Ziheng was still uneasy. "I'm going too!"

Seeing that they were all going, Bing Ling wanted to join in as well. "You're all going, so I'm going too. I can become small more easily than any of you, and I won't leave any flaws for them to notice. How about Senior Brother and I go instead?"

Qin Xiaoran's Bone Shrinking combined with illusion arts had one major flaw. Even if he could shrink his bones, his bone age remained the same. If those people were cautious enough to examine his bones, he would be exposed on the spot.

But it would be different if Bing Ling accompanied Feng Wuhen. He was a Demon Cultivator, and Demon Cultivators' bones differed from those of humans.

"Bing Ling has a point. Then you and Junior Brother Feng will go together. As for Junior Brother Shen, you should not go. With fewer people, they can move more easily. And if it is only Junior Brother Feng, Bing Ling can protect him well. But if you are added as well, Bing Ling may not be able to protect both of you."

Bing Ling wanted to say that he was very strong and could protect all of them, but this was not the time for empty boasts.

"That's right, Old Shen. Although I think I'm very strong and protecting the two of you wouldn't be a problem.

"But who knows who the enemies are this time? If any of them have a higher cultivation than me, forget protecting the two of you—even I might get dragged down with you. So Junior Brother and I should go together!

"If we can't beat them then, I can still run away with Junior Brother!

"I know you're worried that Junior Brother might encounter danger, but don't worry. With me there, I absolutely won't let anything happen to him.

"Even if I'm gone, I'll make sure he returns safely."

Bing Ling had already thought it through. If they had to fight and could not win, he would revert to his true form and carry Feng Wuhen away in his mouth, or hook Feng Wuhen with his claws.

Whether he carried him in his mouth or hooked him with his claws, he would make sure Feng Wuhen returned safe and sound.

Watching them all look so tense, Feng Wuhen was instead the calmest one there. "Don't be so nervous. Maybe things aren't what we think they are. The ones behind this might not be Devil Race cultivators at all!

"Devil cultivators may be evil, but sometimes the human heart is even more wicked than devil cultivators."

Because of these eyes, Feng Wuhen had seen through many things since childhood. He had understood the truth that the human heart was unfathomable long ago.