This was precisely why Pei Ye had been waiting for this party of special envoys from the Divine Capital. He nodded at once and went over to the female sorcerer.
He unwound the cloth wrapped around his arm and laid his infected right arm on the table. Over the past two days, Dark Blue had climbed like a vine to the middle of his upper arm.
Xing Zhi extended two fingers and slowly traced a blood vessel from end to end, exquisite spiritual energy dancing around her fingertips.
This was the first time Pei Ye had seen this power, so different from true qi. It was more lively and mysterious, but lacked some of its richness and sharpness.
After examining it once, Xing Zhi lifted her fingers, condensed a small, sharp needle of spiritual energy, and pressed it into Pei Ye's blood vessel, watching his expression all the while.
Pei Ye felt a surge of energy darting back and forth inside his forearm, but the Dark Blue liquid soon devoured it completely.
"A very docile, very stable power," Xing Zhi noted in her notebook.
"Let me have a look at your dantian as well." Her voice was soothing.
Pei Ye took a step back, and Xing Zhi laid her hand on him. This time, she did not probe him with a needle of spiritual energy. Instead, a gentler power seeped in like mist and slowly enveloped the ball of light. But the little chi swimming around seemed to exist on a plane separate from both and remained undisturbed.
This time, Pei Ye felt something more distinct-the ball of light seemed to become a wind tunnel, turning once and sucking in all the surrounding mist of spiritual energy.
Slightly startled, Xing Zhi lifted her hand and said with a frown, "Essentially the same."
"The same as what?" Pei Ye asked.
"After hearing about this case, I requested fifty years' worth of records on the Torchworld Cult from the Platform overnight. Turning people into monsters, then transforming them into this substance through special methods, was something they were already doing back then," Xing Zhi explained gently. "But at the time, they never performed any ritual to inject this substance into a human body. In fact, that was simply impossible then. The energy was extremely volatile and had an exceptionally strong corrupting power. Anyone who came into contact with it either died on the spot or became one of those monsters."
Pei Ye could not help looking down at his stomach.
"But your case is different. Although the substance's fundamental nature hasn't changed-it still devours everything around it to strengthen itself-it seems to have become much more docile, or rather, much cleverer. It has learned to coexist with its host."
"What exactly is this substance?"
Xing Zhi shook her head. "It exists on an exceedingly high level. Spiritual energy, true qi, flesh and blood, magical artifacts, even plants-it can assimilate and then devour them all. We don't know where it comes from. To this day, the Immortal Platform has only encountered it in incidents connected to the Torchworld Cult. Back then, the Platform had two conjectures. One held that it was an independently existing energy, utterly unlike any substance in the world. The other held precisely the opposite: that it was the 'One' that encompassed all substances in the world."
Jing Ziwang narrowed his eyes and interjected, "What an astonishing claim."
"Indeed. Either conjecture involves an exceedingly high level, yet the Torchworld Cult, which possesses it, hardly seems qualified to wield such a thing."
Pei Ye fell silent for a moment, then said, "The Supreme One True Dragon Immortal Lord."
Xing Zhi started. "Yes. So you already know. In our experience as sorcerers, knowing that name is not a good thing, which is why I didn't tell you."
"But even now that you've mentioned his name, I can tell you nothing more. The Platform has never found any trace of this 'Immortal Lord' either."
"Do immortals really exist in this world?" Pei Ye asked.
Xing Zhi paused, then answered firmly, "No. In the six thousand years since Yu, every dynasty has had an endless stream of people seeking immortals, but no true immortal has ever appeared. Still, if we broaden the definition a little, some cultivators of exceptionally high standing could count as 'immortals.'"
"Then behind this Torchworld Cult..."
Xing Zhi shook her head. "Fifty years ago, the Platform all but wiped them out, and no higher power appeared. It's more likely that they obtained something this 'Immortal Lord' left behind after his death."
Chapter 29: Commanding qi
"There's little use discussing this further. Let's return to the two matters that urgently concern us now. First, from the Torchworld Cult's perspective, what do they intend by introducing this substance into a human body? Second, as far as your own safety is concerned, young hero Pei, what effect does it have on you?" Xing Zhi said. "The first is also what worries Lord Jing. He fears the Torchworld Cult might control you through this substance."
Pei Ye fell silent. This was indeed a reasonable suspicion, so he could only answer honestly, "I haven't felt anything like that so far."
"The time simply hasn't come yet," Jing Ziwang said coldly.
"Perhaps," Xing Zhi said. "But judging from the information we have, that 'gourd' has undergone no fundamental change since entering your body, so we can still infer its behavior from the properties of the Dragon Tongue."
"The Dragon Tongue's properties... selection, spirit summoning, devouring," Pei Ye mused.
"Exactly. So might we infer that the purpose of this ritual is to create living 'human-shaped Dragon Tongues' that can move and hunt on their own?"
Pei Ye's pupils contracted. Jing Ziwang narrowed his eyes at him further, and that oppressive presence closed in once again.
"Please remain calm, Lord Jing," Xing Zhi said. "First, this is only a conjecture. Second, even if it's true, that doesn't mean young hero Pei is our enemy."
"What do you mean?"
"Because I believe these 'human-shaped Dragon Tongues' possess entirely independent freedom," Xing Zhi said. "First, the Dragon Tongue is not a tool, but the core of all the Torchworld Cult's supernatural powers-the 'sacred object' they worship. Since young hero Pei has inherited the Dragon Tongue's standing, it's hard to say who could still control him. If anything, it's more plausible that he could control the cultists. Second, the Torchworld Cult chose one of its capable members at the Seventh Growth of the Meridian Tree to host the Dragon Tongue. This also supports the idea that they cannot control the 'finished product' and must instead rely on its own loyalty to hunt for them."
Everyone slowly nodded, and Jing Ziwang's expression softened somewhat. Only Pei Ye frowned. "If that's the case, why sacrifice twelve people? Why not simply transplant it?"
Xing Zhi sighed. "That is another point I cannot explain."
Pei Ye felt the ball of light in his dantian. It seemed to have formed an intricately structured placenta.
According to Black Chi, the Dragon Tongue was not the core, but merely a tool for gathering energy. The ritual's true purpose was to accumulate enough energy to construct a palace awaiting the arrival of a "seed."
Both Black Chi and Xing Zhi made sense. As the one carrying it, Pei Ye could also feel that this cocoon of light served both functions at once.
But which was primary and which secondary? Which was the central purpose, and which merely incidental?
Meanwhile, Xing Zhi said, "All things considered, young hero Pei does not pose much danger. If you truly cannot rest easy, Lord Jing, I can have Shang Lang stay behind to watch over him. Young hero Pei has no true qi yet. Taking him into the mountains would be too dangerous."
Jing Ziwang frowned, somewhat hesitant.
"Into the mountains?" Pei Ye asked.
"Yes." Xing Zhi gave him a faint smile. "We came here to attend to an important matter in the Firewood-Cang Mountains, but happened to encounter the Torchworld Cult stirring up trouble. We only took over the case from your Prefectural Government because we suspected their scheme might be connected to the purpose of our journey."
"Hmm..." Thoughts raced through Pei Ye's mind. "I'm willing to go into the mountains with you."
Lying at home would certainly be safe, but without finding the Torchworld Cult, he could not restore his Dantian Seed. Since their business involved the cult, never mind Jing Ziwang wanting to take him-even if no one suggested it, he would have to find a way to squeeze himself into the party.
The greatest lesson this calamity had taught Pei Ye was that without knowledge, he had no way to respond.
Xing Zhi frowned slightly. "You must understand that once we begin our real work, we may not have the strength to spare to look after you..."
"Don't worry-" Pei Ye and Jing Ziwang spoke at the same time.
Pei Ye looked over. Jing Ziwang cast him a sidelong glance and said, "Since I mean to take him into the mountains, I'll make sure he dies after me."
Xing Zhi slowly nodded. "In that case, I have no objection. But whether we can ultimately take him still requires Senior Brother Zhu's approval..."
"Naturally," Jing Ziwang said. "Lord Zhu decides everything. There will be no argument."
Xing Zhi nodded and turned to Pei Ye, speaking gently. "Then let's discuss the second matter. You haven't broken your seed, so naturally you haven't mastered the method of using true qi either, correct?"
"Correct."
"This is my second inference: you can command this energy at will, just as you would true qi. Its spread through your arm is only an instinct, like a bird building a nest to settle in, or a spider spinning a web beneath the eaves. It will do you no harm. And by controlling it, you can speed up or halt this process."
Pei Ye raised his arm before his eyes and said earnestly, "Please teach me."
"It's a universal method, nothing particularly special: 'Where intent goes, qi flows.' But since you've never come into contact with true qi, you can't grasp that sensation. Here's what we'll do. I'll have Shang Lang inject true qi into you. Although you won't be able to command it directly, you can carefully feel it and become familiar with it, then apply that sensation to the Dark Blue energy-Shang Lang."
The young man had already left his seat and was waiting to one side. Now he said, "Brother Pei, this will take some time. Let's find somewhere quiet."
Pei Ye nodded and followed Shang Lang to a side room.
Shang Lang looked older than Pei Ye, but not by much-probably around nineteen or twenty. His features were handsome and lively, giving Pei Ye the impression of a grown-up Cheng Feng.
His manner lacked the measured courtesy of the officials who had come from the Prefectural Government. Instead, he was casual, even coarse, yet an aristocratic air marinated deep into his bones seeped out through every little detail.
"Brother Pei, I'll inject true qi into your dantian. Just concentrate on feeling it."
"Into my dantian? Won't that cocoon swallow it all?"
"It's fine." Shang Lang smiled and laid a hand on his wrist. A fine, concentrated stream flowed into his dantian, where it was indeed devoured. Yet during that process, Pei Ye did feel a sensation of qi in his dantian. When he instinctively tried to move it, he remembered that it was someone else's true qi, after all, and tried to transfer that sensation to the cocoon of light.
"No need to concentrate so hard." Shang Lang's laugh was bright and hearty. "I'll channel it into you for an hour first. Once your body gets used to the sensation, you can focus on feeling it. Trying to grasp it now is useless. Even someone who has broken their seed can't use true qi this quickly on their first attempt."
"An hour?" Pei Ye started. Back when Lin Lin had nourished his heart meridians, each session had lasted an hour at most, and even then it had to be divided into two half-hour stretches, with a two-hour rest in between. "Lord Shang, forgive the impertinent question, but what is your cultivation level?"
"None of this 'lord' business. We're equals-just call me brother. I'm at the Seventh Growth, same as the beast you killed." Shang Lang looked at him with his phoenix eyes and raised the thumb of his free hand, delivering his verdict on the boy's deed. "A real man."
Pei Ye had no answer to that.
Out of respect for that cultivation level, Pei Ye quietly accepted the advice, even though he felt he had already grasped the sensation. He let the true qi pour ceaselessly into his dantian. Beneath its flow, the ball of light grew steadily more solid.
Chapter 30: Intelligence report
"Brother Pei." They had not been quiet for long when Shang Lang suddenly spoke. "We came here under orders jointly issued by the Northern Office and the Immortal Platform. Do you know what for?"
"..."
This was precisely the information Pei Ye had been pondering how to coax out without drawing attention.
"Well... is it all right to tell me?"
"Why wouldn't it be? That's how the Immortal Platform is. Anything at all happens, and they have to stamp it [Handle confidentially]-not that I have anything against Sister Xing Zhi, of course."
"Besides, you're coming into the mountains with us anyway. By then, you'll find out whether you want to or not."
"Doesn't that still depend on Lord Zhu's decision?"
Shang Lang laughed. "That's the most pointless thing Sister Xing Zhi has said all journey. Brother Zhu only ever says 'Mm,' 'Fine,' 'Whatever,' and 'You decide.'"
"Besides, although not many people know about this matter, there really is no harm in telling you." Shang Lang wagged his head, then suddenly lowered his voice mysteriously. "Unlike the other matter. There wasn't even a written order for that one-it was only handed over verbally to Brother Zhu. I've been probing him the whole journey, but he hasn't let a word slip. Does he trust my ability to keep secrets that little? Anyway, my guess is... they're looking for something too."
Later, once they had known each other longer, Pei Ye would grow helplessly accustomed to Shang Lang's gossiping tongue. But this was their first meeting, after all, and feeling that confidential intelligence had just been revealed to him left Pei Ye wary and uneasy.
"Let's get back to the boring first matter." Shang Lang extended his other hand and pointed at the distant mountains beyond the window, which looked like a painting. "A few years ago, the Immortal Platform developed a new divination technique that could detect the emergence of Immortal Hunters. A few days ago, the divination instrument suddenly reacted. The reading indicated these Firewood-Cang Mountains, so we were ordered here to investigate. After entering the prefecture, however, we heard that the Torchworld Cult had resurfaced. Suspecting they were after the Immortal Hunter too, we investigated both matters together. Think about it: if people and magical artifacts can be turned into that substance, an Immortal Hunter probably can too."
Immortal Hunter. This was the second time he had heard the term.
Pei Ye already had a guess, but still asked, "Brother Shang, my knowledge is limited. What is an Immortal Hunter?"
"Born of the boundless heavens, cherished by the deep earth, spirits among all spirits, hunting on the immortals' behalf," Shang Lang said. "The Vermilion Bird of the south, Bian of the Northern Office, the Daoists' Immortal Crane, the Dongting Water Jiao... Any supernatural being with neither kin nor clan, unique beneath heaven, can be called an Immortal Hunter."
That naturally included... the Firewood-Cang Divine Chi.
"How will you investigate it?" Pei Ye asked.
Shang Lang did not notice the slight tension in the boy's voice. "Different Immortal Hunters have different temperaments. There are auspicious beasts like Qilin and righteous beasts like Bian. Naturally, we do our best to befriend them and seek their service for the Great Tang. Others, like Suanni, are peaceful and enjoy quiet, so we don't disturb them much. But sometimes creatures like Taotie and Yazi appear and wreak havoc on living beings. Those aren't called Immortal Hunters, but Demon Calamities. If we encounter one, we have to eliminate it immediately. Otherwise, once they form a pact with an evildoer, another storm of bloody wind and rain will follow. Do you know about forming pacts?"
"I... think I know a little," Pei Ye said.
Shang Lang explained with a smile, "Forming a pact means a human and an Immortal Hunter enter into a covenant of life and death. They benefit and sustain each other, bringing enormous advantages to both sides. A pact with an Immortal Hunter ranks third among what cultivators commonly call the 'five great opportunities to ascend to heaven.' Brother Zhu is leading us this time partly to ensure we have sufficient strength, and partly because the Immortal Platform said this Immortal Hunter might be compatible with him. They want him to see whether he has a chance. Judging by that, this one should be a good sort."
Pei Ye had never heard of these supposed "five great opportunities to ascend to heaven," but he did not ask about them. Feeling a little guilty now, he asked as if seeking confirmation, "This Lord Zhu practices the sword?"
"Yes."
"Oh... suppose this Immortal Hunter has already formed a pact with someone else?"
Shang Lang's smile faded. "What do you mean?"
"Just... hypothetically."
"...What a strange hypothetical."
Before you continue