The tea room was filled with the aroma of sandalwood.
Hoshino sat cross-legged on the futon, picked up his teacup, took a small sip, then put it down, calmly looking at the two people opposite him.
Zhang Chulan and Wang Ye.
As for Feng Baobao, who was squatting in the corner, no one paid her any attention for the time being.
"I would like to exchange the Eight Extraordinary Skills with you."
His voice was soft, yet it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up silent ripples.
Wang Ye raised an eyebrow, leaned back lazily in his chair, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, but his eyes were sharper than usual.
Exchanging the Eight Extraordinary Skills? Does this guy even know what he's talking about?
Feng Hou Qimen, something the Shuzi School desperately wanted, even at the cost of hunting down Wang Ye.
And now, this man of unknown origin is casually asking to exchange things?
However, Wang Ye did not refuse immediately.
Because he knew better than anyone that Hoshino was no ordinary person, Qimen Formation couldn't find any trace of him.
If he wanted to rob it by force, he probably would have done so already.
Since he chose to talk, it means... he is indeed waiting for a deal.
" Feng Hou Qimen, right? Ah, I can give it to you." Wang Ye smiled, his tone still lazy.
Zhang Chulan turned his head abruptly, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes.
Old Wang has gone mad? Those are the Eight Extraordinary Skills, but he quickly calmed down.
Wang Ye an impulsive person; since he agreed so readily, he must have had his reasons.
Perhaps he was testing Hoshino's limits?
Wang Ye looked at Hoshino and continued, "But think it through. If you practice it, at best you'll go mad, at worst you'll die and your cultivation will be destroyed. You should weigh the pros and cons yourself."
This statement is both a warning and a test.
If Hoshino truly understands Feng Hou Qimen, he should know its cost. If he doesn't, then his 'exchange' lacks sincerity.
Hoshino simply nodded. "It's alright, I can handle it."
Wang Ye grinned, "Alright, I'll give you the Qimen Diagram later."
Zhang Chulan watched the two of them go back and forth, but his heart was filled with complicated emotions.
Was Old Wang's decisiveness because he didn't care? Or... did he actually want to get rid of the burden of Feng Hou Qimen all along?
But what bothered him even more was Hoshino's attitude. What exactly did this man want?
Just then, Hoshino's gaze turned to him.
Zhang Chulan subconsciously scratched his head, revealing a slightly embarrassed smile.
Is it the Qi-State Origin-Flow?
This word weighed heavily on his mind.
The mysteries left by Grandpa Zhang Huaiyi, the mystery of Feng Baobao's background, and even the truth of the entire Jiashen Incident are all intertwined with it.
How could he possibly hand it over so easily?
Moreover... I have absolutely no knowledge of Qi-State Origin-Flow.
Zhang Chulan took a deep breath and slowly said, "Mr. Hoshino, if you're talking about the Qi-State Origin-Flow, then I really don't know it."
This statement is partly true and partly false.
He didn't know if the " Old Farmer's Skill " that Feng Baobao taught him was part of the Qi-State Origin-Flow, but it was very likely that it was part of it. He would need to add the subsequent advanced parts to make it a complete Qi-State Origin-Flow.
Admitting it directly would be too risky, so he changed his approach.
"However, if it's ' Old Farmer's Skill,' then I can give it to you."
Hoshino's gaze lingered on his face for a few seconds, then she nodded and said, "Okay."
"Now that we've reached an agreement, let's talk about the terms of the exchange."
Wang Ye stretched, his tone still languid, but his eyes became more serious. "Mr. Hoshino, what do you intend to offer in exchange?"
Hoshino slowly raised his hand, palm facing up.
In an instant, four distinct energies intertwined and swirled in his palm.
Grayish-white bone spurs, countless swarms of insects invisible to the naked eye, pale purple glow, and a pitch-black inverted triangle at the center of an energy vortex.
The four forces are intertwined yet clearly distinct.
" The All-Killing Ash Bones, the Mutant Insect Swarm, the Priestess Power, and the Power of Jashin." Hoshino's voice echoed in the tea room. "You may choose one."
Wang Ye's pupils suddenly contracted.
As a warlock, he could not only observe these energies, but also clearly see their terrifying distortion of the world's rules.
"This..."
Zhang Chulan looked at the All-Killing Ash Bones, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
Within his body, the Qi of the Old Farmer's Skill was restless and agitated, as if it had encountered a natural enemy.
Hoshino flicked his fingertip, and the gray-white bone spikes suddenly swelled up, condensing into a miniature sword array three inches from his palm.
" The All-Killing Ash Bones, one of the supreme powers of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, a race from outer space, capable of corrupting all things."
The swarm of insects then surged forth.
" Mutant Insect Swarm, nano-level biological weapons, capable of devouring energy to evolve."
A pale purple glow rose.
" The Priestess Power allows her to directly communicate with heaven and earth and nature, possessing the ability to purify everything."
The final inverted triangle mark.
" The Power of Jashin, immortality obtainable through ritual, and a secret technique that shares damage."
After the introductions, Hoshino clasped his hands together, and the four types of energy disappeared. He said, "Choose one as a bargaining chip for the Eight Extraordinary Skills."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the teacup on the tea table suddenly shattered.
These four energies are unheard of and incredibly powerful.
Wang Ye's pupils contracted slightly, and his fingertips subconsciously calculated the Qimen Formation, only to find that the Qi in the entire tea room was completely disordered.
Just who is this guy?
Zhang Chulan's breathing became slightly rapid, and the Old Farmer's Skill's Qi within his body stirred restlessly, as if warning him to stay away from these dangerous energies.
He glanced at Feng Baobao instinctively, only to find her staring intently at the pale purple Priestess Power, her eyes gleaming with an unprecedented longing.
" Sister Bao'er?" Zhang Chulan called out tentatively.
Feng Baobao did not respond, but slowly stretched out her hand, her fingertips reaching towards the Priestess Power.
" Sister Bao'er!"
Zhang Chulan's heart tightened. How could he casually touch something unknown that hadn't been tested yet?
Feng Baobao tilted her head, her voice unusually tinged with urgency.
" Zhang Chulan, let go! I feel it can... remind me!"
Remember me?
Could this so-called Priestess Power help Sister Bao'er regain her memories?
Zhang Chulan's hand froze in mid-air, his mind in turmoil. He looked at Feng Baobao's longing eyes, then at the pale purple energy in Hoshino's palm.
"Mr. Hoshino... this choice is mine, right?"
Hoshino nodded slightly and said, "Of course."
Feng Baobao thought this meant rejection, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes. She silently took a step back and stood quietly behind Zhang Chulan as usual.
Wang Ye leaned back in his chair, watching the scene thoughtfully.
It seems that Feng Baobao's secrets are not simple either, as they could cause such a strong emotional reaction in Old Zhang.
" Old Zhang... think it through before you choose," Wang Ye said softly.
Zhang Chulan closed his eyes, and countless images flashed through his mind.
Grandpa's dying words, Feng Baobao's empty eyes, the mystery of the Jiashen Incident... and the fleeting hope in Feng Baobao's eyes when she said "I can remember."
When he opened his eyes again, his gaze had become resolute.
"I choose the Priestess Power. But I want to give it to Sister Bao'er."
Hoshino raised an eyebrow slightly. "Are you sure? This is a power that can change your destiny."
"I'm sure." Zhang Chulan said without hesitation, "Helping Sister Bao'er regain her memories is more important than my power."
Feng Baobao suddenly looked up, a rare look of shock appearing on her usually indifferent face.
" Zhang Chulan, you..."
"Stop talking, Sister Bao'er." Zhang Chulan forced a smile. "Anyway, I'm just a newbie, I can't get much stronger, but you're different."
Hoshino watched this scene, a meaningful smile curving his lips.
"An interesting choice, then so be it."
As he spoke, he flicked his fingertips, and the pale purple energy slowly drifted toward Feng Baobao.
The air in the tea room seemed to freeze.
Feng Baobao felt a cool energy seep into her from between her eyebrows, like a mountain spring flowing through a dry riverbed.
She instinctively closed her eyes, but suddenly countless fragments of memories exploded before her.
On the scorched earth, many people dressed in black lay scattered about.
In the dimly lit stone chamber, she lay on the cold stone platform, her limbs chained.
In the deep tunnel, she walked barefoot on the cold ground, only knowing to keep walking towards the light.
These images are clearer than ever before, but the problem is that they are too fragmented, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, with the order completely out of order.
Whenever Feng Baobao tries to delve into a particular passage, a sharp pain shoots through her head, as if countless tiny needles are pricking her temples.
Although the Priestess Power is purifying her soul and making her fragmented memories clearer, it will obviously take time to reintegrate these fragments.
" Sister Bao'er?" Zhang Chulan's voice pulled her back to reality.
Feng Baobao opened her eyes, her pupils turning completely purple. Her lips parted slightly, and she let out a barely audible sigh.
A moment later, the pupils had returned to normal.
But Zhang Chulan keenly noticed that Feng Baobao's eyes had gained a new sparkle that she hadn't seen before.
" Sister Bao'er? Are you alright?"
Feng Baobao blinked, raised her hand, opened and closed her fingers several times, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
" Zhang Chulan... I think I've become stronger."
Before Zhang Chulan could respond, Feng Baobao suddenly raised her hand and waved.
A pale purple aura burst forth from her fingertips, silently slicing a teapot three meters away in two.
The cut was as smooth as a mirror, yet not a drop of tea was spilled.
Wang Ye's pupils suddenly contracted. "This is... directly mobilizing the power of heaven and earth?"
Feng Baobao seemed surprised by her own actions, tilting her head and gently tapping her temple with her finger.
"There's a new energy here. It's so powerful, much stronger than before."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chulan's face instantly fell.
Who told you that?
According to Hoshino's explanation, the Priestess Power can directly communicate with heaven and earth and nature, so becoming stronger is only natural.
Zhang Chulan cautiously approached Feng Baobao, " Sister Bao'er, how are you feeling now? Besides getting stronger?"
Feng Baobao tilted her head and thought for a moment, then suddenly pointed to her own head.
"It doesn't hurt here anymore."
She paused, seemingly searching for the right words, and continued, "It used to be like this place was shrouded in fog, but now it's much clearer."
Wang Ye stroked his chin thoughtfully, "It seems the Priestess Power is indeed purifying her soul."
" Zhang Chulan, that cave... is in Sichuan!"
Feng Baobao grabbed Zhang Chulan's wrist, her eyes sparkling with an unprecedented brilliance.
" Sichuan?" Zhang Chulan was taken aback.
"I'm going there, that's where the answer lies!" Feng Baobao's tone was more determined than ever before.
Zhang Chulan gently comforted her, " Sister Bao'er, after things are over here, I'll go to Sichuan with you. Whatever happens there, we'll face it together."
Feng Baobao smiled slightly and nodded gently. She didn't say much, but the trust in her eyes was more genuine than any words.
This subtle change in expression warmed Zhang Chulan's heart.
Wang Ye leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting between the two men.
He was a free spirit and had no obsession with power; the Feng Hou Qimen technique was merely something he obtained by chance.
But at this moment, seeing the changes that had taken place in Feng Baobao, his heart stirred for the first time.
The four powers that Hoshino displayed each contained the potential to change one's destiny.
Wang Ye recalled the backlash he suffered when he used the Feng Hou Qimen.
The cracked wound in my heart, the increasingly frequent gaps in my memory, the distorted perception of the passage of time, and so on.
Even more frightening are those hexagrams that appear out of nowhere.
Even though no divination was set up, one could see the four plates of Heaven, Earth, Man, and God rotating on their own before one's eyes.
All these signs indicate that even with his temperament, there is a price to pay when using Feng Hou Qimen.
If only there were a force that could offset these costs...
Thinking about it, his gaze unconsciously fell on the dark inverted triangle that had once appeared in Hoshino's palm.
The Power of Jashin, immortality, and the ability to share damage, strangely complements the side effects of Feng Hou Qimen.
Isn't this the balance he wanted?
Wang Ye suddenly realized.
It turns out that beneath my proud carefree attitude lay such a deep will to survive.
The backlash from Feng Hou Qimen is like a persistent, intractable disease, while this dark energy before us is like a remedy of fighting poison with poison.
My uncle is right; those who try to peek into the secrets of heaven will ultimately be devoured by them.
Hoshino seemed to sense Wang Ye's change of heart, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
A silence fell over the tea room, filled only with the lingering scent of sandalwood incense and the individual thoughts of the three people.
I don't know how much time has passed.
"Have you thought it through? Which do you choose: the All-Killing Ash Bones, the Mutant Insect, the Priestess Power, or the Power of Jashin?"
Wang Ye's fingers unconsciously traced the rim of the teacup, and a rare look of struggle appeared on his usually composed face.
"Can I... keep this option?"
"Of course! My promise is always valid. You can come find me anytime you've made up your mind!"
Thank you.
Wang Ye ultimately uttered only these two words, his voice tinged with weariness.
Zhang Chulan looked at Wang Ye's expression and hesitated to speak.
He had never seen Old Wang so hesitant. The usually lazy and carefree Daoist Wang seemed to be carrying a heavy burden.
Hoshino slowly stood up. "The deal is done, so I should take my leave now. Remember to bring me what I asked for as soon as possible."
Then, looking at Feng Baobao, he said, "Ms. Feng, I hope that when we meet again, you will have regained your complete memories."
Feng Baobao nodded.
After he finished speaking, Hoshino's figure began to become transparent, like a thin mist blown away by the wind.