A Killing Intent to Eliminate Future Trouble

The problem of not being concerned about scarcity but about inequality exists everywhere.

When no one has it, no one cares so much, but once the balance is broken, one's mindset will inevitably become unbalanced.

Everyone understands the principle, but when it comes to actually doing it, everyone has their own methods.

For Hongku, something that could disrupt the balance of the Yedie River Holy Land was something he could only keep to himself and could not possibly share.

The atmosphere in Chang'an City remained tense, with soldiers from both the Southern and Northern armies conducting extensive house-to-house searches.

Hongku hid for several days before finally finding an opportunity to enter the city.

"That little brat tricked me again!"

After delivering ten iron tendons and other items, Hongku successfully obtained the "Shizi" from Rong Tianding and also found the secret technique called Nanming Fire.

Secret arts, as the name suggests, are extremely confidential techniques, kept very well hidden.

The Southern Bright Fire of the Corpse-Eating School is only known to the sect leader and is mostly used to suppress internal factions; it has virtually no reputation outside the sect.

Hongku stayed at the Rong Household for three days and studied the "Shizi" for three days. He finally determined that he did not have the conditions for cultivation.

If he modifies the Southern Bright Fire, there's a high probability it will change the nature of the flame, turning it into ordinary Yin Fire, thus failing to exert its power to break the spell. If he doesn't modify it, he might set himself on fire during cultivation, potentially killing himself before he can even use it against others.

After much deliberation, Hongku realized that while the Nanming Fire was good, he couldn't use it effectively.

Hongku only desires to master the Southern Bright Fire himself. Hongku cannot use the "Shizi" to train a student. On the one hand, the inheritance of the Shijiao School requires in-depth study, and his cross-school study would take a long time. On the other hand, Hongku cannot train a knife that can kill him.

He cursed under his breath, clearly very dissatisfied with the outcome.

But Hongku's heart also inexplicably felt lighter.

The destruction of the Corpse-Eating School and the difficulty in passing on the Technique Method "Corpse Child" also mean that there are very few cultivators who can break through the Yang Soul Body with backlash Yin-Yang Incantation Technique.

Simply put, the spellcasters of the Yedie River Holy Land currently have no natural enemies.

"What Nanming Fire? Humph!"

His expression shifted between light and dark for a long time before Hongku brought out an oil lamp.

The lamp oil spilled on the animal-skin book "Shizi" also ignited bursts of flame.

He repeatedly wanted to kill Rong Tianding to end it all, but the groans of the woman in Zhang Xuezhou's room next door kept coming, and Hongku forced himself to suppress his murderous intent.

The room was full of ordinary people, and coupled with Zhang Xuezhou's illness, killing Rong Tianding almost drove Zhang Xuezhou to the brink of despair.

"Very well, very well. You helped me gain entry into the Venerable Realm back then, so I can't be too heartless!"

Hongku let out a long sigh.

Judging from Zhang Xuezhou's pathetic state of development, he no longer expected Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding to become the backbone of the Great Han Dynasty and then contend with the Yedie River Holy Land.

"If needed, I can borrow some people from Wu Jin!"

Hongku couldn't learn it himself, nor did he want to cultivate a weapon that could kill him, but Hongku could borrow Rong Tianding when needed.

He wasn't sure if he had that need, but it wouldn't hurt to keep it as a memento.

Hongku originally wanted to eliminate the threat completely to prevent future troubles, but ultimately gave up on the idea.

Even though he knew he had been taken advantage of by Zhang Xuezhou, Hongku accepted it.

"Teacher!"

The groans from the neighboring house finally subsided, and Hongku was greeted by Zhang Xuezhou was dressed neatly.

"Your illness is quite peculiar, requiring a woman to be used as a furnace!"

Hongku looked up and saw that Zhang Xuezhou's face was as white as jade, and he did not have the sickly appearance of being drained by a woman. He glanced at him but could not understand, so he could only make a teasing sound out of curiosity.

"The student has been subjected to a spell by the cultivators of the King of Huainan's Household, and can only rely on a woman with a pure yin body for help," Zhang Xuezhou said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Oh? Have you been bewitched?" Hongku.

"I don't know what method they used. I just drank two pots of Yuzhong Shao at the banquet at the King of Huainan's Household, and then I lost consciousness. They revived me and sent me a woman to treat my illness," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"Who do you suspect was behind this?" Hongku asked.

"It was Princess Liu Ling of the King of Huainan's Household's Mansion who repeatedly urged me to drink!"

"Princess Liu Ling... Women who can rise to the ranks of emperors and princes must possess some seductive skills. These skills are passed down only to women, not men. You must have been subjected to bewitching arts!"

Although Hongku had limited knowledge of the Southern Jambudvipa Continent Northern Kuru Continent, he could easily assess the situation.

"What is it about you that would warrant a princess from the King of Huainan's Household using her seductive arts to find out?" Hongku asked.

"Perhaps it's the copy of 'The Book of Corpses' that you burned!"

Zhang Xuezhou pointed.

Although it was a pity that the Corpse-Eating School's inherited scriptures were burned, Zhang Xuezhou was not disappointed. Not to mention that he had already made relevant records in reality, Rong Tianding had also memorized them over the years, only lacking a thorough understanding.

Just as Zhang Xuezhou had predicted, Hongku's study of the Shizi was useless; it was simply not something Hongku could learn.

However, Hongku's burning of the "Shizi" inevitably meant that the other party was eliminating future troubles, and the other party might have murderous intentions at that moment. At this time, Zhang Xuezhou could only subtly draw the trouble into the situation.

"Oh, you told Liu Ling about the Shizi?" Hongku asked.

"I was unconscious at the time and had no idea what I said," Zhang Xuezhou shook his head repeatedly. "But I've thought about it repeatedly since then and realized that this is all the useful information I have. She couldn't possibly ask me to recite an incomplete Heart Incantation. My knowledge of the Yin-Yang School is also incomplete, so even if I got my hands on it, it wouldn't be of much use. As for the Yang Soul Incarnation Technique, it goes without saying that this Technique Method has never been demonstrated in the Han Kingdom. I couldn't even think of asking such a question!"

"That's interesting!"

Hongku narrowed his eyes slightly.

He felt he had been too kind to Zhang Xuezhou.

Hongku didn't even need to think; he knew Zhang Xuezhou.

He could discern which of Zhang Xuezhou's words were likely true and which were meant to mislead him, but Hongku still had to be wary of the possibility.

Hongku was well aware that the King of Huainan's Household recruited talents from all over the world and gathered heroes to jointly build the Wenying Pavilion, constantly searching for complete cultivation manuals through various overt and covert means.

It's not impossible that Zhang Xuezhou would be targeted as a result.

Perhaps the King of Huainan's Household possessed the "Heart Incantation," and there might even have been people testing its practice.

"Is the King of Huainan's Household in Chang'an City or Shouchun?" Hongku asked.

"It's a prince's residence in Chang'an City. It only takes an hour by carriage to get there; it's very close to us," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"Yes, it's very close!"

Hongku took a deep breath.

Compared to the King of Huainan's Household's mansion in Shouchun City, the mansion in Chang'an City was indeed very close, but Zhang Xuezhou never considered how far he was from the core area of the imperial court.

"Teacher, will you stand up for me?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"How can I avenge you?" Hongku said irritably. "There's a massive search in Chang'an City, and I don't even want to leave my house. How can I let you harm people!"

"I thought the teacher could use some tricks to target that princess," Zhang Xuezhou said regretfully.

"It's not impossible for me to take action against Liu Ling," Hongku said, "But you'll have to help me out when I want to target someone!"

As Zhang Xuezhou agreed to the matter, Hongku quickly offered his own thoughts.

Hongku can help Zhang Xuezhou, but when Hongku needs something, he also hopes that Zhang Xuezhou will take the risk and lend him Rong Tianding.