Chapter 622
Chapter 622
“Jin Mulan's bone marrow has lost its ability to generate bloodline energy! That is why her bloodline energy is constantly being consumed, but no longer produced.”
Only then did Shen Lang understand the root of the problem.
“It was recorded in the ancient texts. In that era, many people went to great lengths to save their wives, spending hundreds of years to finally overcome this challenge and create something called the Marrow Cleansing Elixir!”
“The Marrow Cleansing Elixir?”
“Yes, the Marrow Cleansing Elixir! If it is injected into the bone marrow, a person in a deep slumber can trigger a spontaneous bloodline transformation, gaining new bloodline power. Not only will she awaken from her deep sleep, but her bloodline energy will also be greatly enhanced, transforming her into something like a second-generation bloodline wielder.”
“Then how do you make this Marrow Cleansing Elixir?”
“Shen Lang, the texts of the ancient civilization we excavated were incomplete! The records on how to create the Marrow Cleansing Elixir are not on our Mount Futu. The only hope is to unearth a pre-made Marrow Cleansing Elixir. That's why my father once frantically searched all corners of the world, seeking ancient ruins, hoping to find a single vial of the elixir within. In the end, he failed!”
Shen Lang asked in a surprised voice.
“Are there Marrow Cleansing Elixirs in ancient ruins?”
“I cannot give you specific numbers, but based on the facts of the past few hundred years, for every seven ancient ruins discovered on average, a Marrow Cleansing Elixir was found in one of them. This is because ancient ruins typically contain an alchemy chamber. The Marrow Cleansing Elixir was one of the advanced creations of ancient alchemists, so its effects have remained potent even after countless years.”
Shen Lang was instantly excited.
‘Perhaps this is what you call timing, what you call fate?’
“Didn't the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion recently discover traces of an ancient ruin?”
“They did. The Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion was the first to find it! After that, factions like Mount Futu, the Hanging Temple, and the Stargazing Pavilion also discovered it in succession.”
“Has the ancient ruin been opened yet?”
“No.”
“You haven't found the entrance?”
“The entrance has been found, but it hasn't been opened.”
“Isn't the unsolvable millennium problem announced by the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion related to the entrance of the ancient ruin?”
“It's possible, but I have little interest in it. However, the ruin is being treated with particular importance, so much so that the Mountain Master himself is leading the disciples of Mount Futu there.”
“Master, is this ancient ruin extremely important to Mount Futu?”
“Of course. Every time an ancient ruin is developed, it signifies a revolution! If any of the transcendent factions fail to claim a discovered ruin more than two or three times, it means the organization's downfall is not far off.”
“Then what about Mount Futu?”
Wu Daozi hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“We've missed out twice! So this time, we absolutely cannot let it slip away.”
That was right. Mount Futu had already missed out on ancient ruins twice. However, after the fall of Prince Jiang Li, Mount Futu had acquired enormous benefits, which allowed it to endure until now. Come to think of it, the Great Calamity Temple was the first transcendent faction to fall in a hundred years.
“Then where is this ancient ruin located?”
“In the southern sea!”
“Is it very close to the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion?”
“It isn't far!”
Shen Lang exclaimed excitedly.
“Master, I might have a way to open that ancient ruin. I can solve the millennium problem announced by the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion!”
It was indeed a millennium problem. Even on modern Earth, it was considered one of the three great mathematical problems, one that mathematicians and scientists around the world took hundreds of years to solve. Shen Lang's voice trembled as he spoke.
“Master, I will represent Mount Futu to solve that problem and open the entrance to the ancient ruin. That way, our Mount Futu will be able to claim the ancient ruin! This is a once-in-a-century opportunity, and a chance for our Mount Futu to defeat the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion. Mount Futu has already missed out on ancient ruins twice; if we miss this third one, our position will become even more precarious. Who knows how many years it will be until the next ancient ruin is discovered? If the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion opens the ruin this time, the risk of Mount Futu's decline will increase dramatically.
This ancient ruin is of immense strategic importance to Mount Futu. Master, all I want is the Marrow Cleansing Elixir! Please take me to see the Mountain Master of Mount Futu at once. Let's open the entrance to that ancient ruin immediately and deliver a harsh slap across the face of the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion. Master, we must move quickly! We don't have much time!”
Wu Daozi looked at Shen Lang and nodded.
“Very well! I will take you!”
“But Master, may I ask where the Holy Maiden Xue Yin and Grandmaster Zhong Chuke are?”
“I know those two have come to Mount Futu. But I do not know where they are! It was none of my business!”
Shen Lang believed her. The Wu Daozi before him was clearly a mad scientist, the type who would regret not being able to spend all twenty-four hours of a day in her laboratory. How could she possibly have the inclination to meddle in others' affairs? Wu Daozi was about to take Shen Lang to the large central island of Mount Futu, but she had to stop after just a few steps. Someone had come looking for them. A man's voice came from outside.
“Elder Wu Daozi, is Shen Lang still alive?”
It was an exceedingly direct question. Wu Daozi went outside to find a boat docked at the small island's pier. On the boat stood five people: one in a white robe and four in black robes. Wu Daozi spoke.
“Censor Luo, what is the matter?”
The five of them pushed off lightly, their bodies shooting out like arrows to land on the island's ground. The small boat they were on didn't sway in the slightest, not even a ripple disturbed the water's surface. The martial arts of these five were truly profound. Then, Censor Luo spoke.
“I heard there was someone who forged a Mount Futu token, so I came to apprehend them. If Shen Lang is not yet dead, we will take him away and execute him.”
The boatman had reported to Mount Futu's headquarters, and headquarters had immediately sent a censor from the Discipline Hall, the body that enforces the laws of Mount Futu.
“The Discipline Hall need not worry. Shen Lang is indeed my personal disciple.”
Upon hearing this, Censor Luo was stunned.
‘What in the world? Wu Daozi has never even met Shen Lang, and she never allows anyone to set foot on her island. Yet she's taken him as a personal disciple? Did Shen Lang's handsome face work its magic? But although Wu Daozi looks like a peerless beauty, she's not exactly a whole woman. How could she have fallen for Shen Lang?!’
Censor Luo continued, “If Elder Wu wishes to take a disciple, she must first obtain the approval of the Hall of Merits and register him in the records. Only then can he be considered a disciple.”
“Is that so? Then is it too late for me to go to the Hall of Merits and register him now?”
“Of course, it is not too late. However, Shen Lang has committed the crime of forging a Mount Futu token! We have a record of every token, and none was ever issued to him! Forging a token is a capital offense! I will take him to the Discipline Hall and sentence him to death!”
“His token was not forged. I gave it to him.”
“That's impossible. You have never left Futu Island in your life, so how could you have given Shen Lang a token?”
“My nephew, Wu Jue, left Mount Futu to meet Shen Lang. At that time, I asked him to give the token to Shen Lang. I had taken notice of his talent and wished to accept him as my disciple.”
At that, Censor Luo immediately gave an order.
“Summon Wu Jue.”
A moment later, Wu Jue arrived. He still had the same ordinary face, with a kind smile that appeared at a moment's notice. The instant Shen Lang saw him, he shouted loudly, as if meeting an old friend in a foreign land.
“Sworn brother, this younger brother has missed you dearly.”
Wu Jue responded with great joy.
“Brother Lang, you've finally come. I was dying to see you too. For months, I've been hoping every moment that you would come to Mount Futu, and now you're finally here. Come, come, come, let's go to my house. We must drink until we're drunk.”
The two of them acted incredibly close the moment they met. Censor Luo asked him.
“Wu Jue, did Elder Wu Daozi entrust you with a Mount Futu token to deliver to Shen Lang?”
As the question was asked, Wu Daozi and Shen Lang stared intently at him. Any fool would have known what answer to give. However, Wu Jue said in a surprised tone.
“No. My aunt did not give me a token to deliver.”
Look at that! This was the loyalty of a false sworn brother. Of course, Shen Lang was not surprised by his actions. When his own experiment logs had appeared in the hands of the Hidden Yuan Society, he had already figured out what role Wu Jue was playing. But Wu Daozi's expression instantly turned icy.
“Wu Jue, are you certain I did not entrust a token to you?”
Wu Jue replied with an aggrieved look.
“Truly, she did not. Aunt, might you be misremembering?”
Wu Daozi sneered and said, “Then I suppose I misremembered. I did not entrust the token to Wu Jue, but to someone else.”
Censor Luo asked.
“Who? I will find that person at once for a cross-examination.”
“I forgot who. Is that enough for you? But Shen Lang's token is real.”
‘My god, she's just being stubborn, isn't she? Utterly and completely stubborn.’
This was not unexpected either. This was already Wu Daozi pushing her patience to its limit. Expecting her to craft a flawless lie? Sorry, but she didn't have that kind of patience. In any case, since words couldn't resolve this amicably, it was inevitable that force would be used. The next moment, Wu Daozi said coldly.
“Did I not tell you? Shen Lang is my personal disciple. His token is real. So, leave my island at once. Otherwise, do not blame me for being merciless.”
She lifted her left arm slightly, and her sleeve slid down to reveal an arm as white as jade. When the sunlight shone upon it, her body seemed almost transparent. In an instant, the colors of the flowerbed behind her became incredibly vivid, and hundreds, thousands of butterflies took to the air. Shen Lang was completely mesmerized by the scene.
‘D-damn it! Those things in the flowerbed weren't flowers, they were all butterflies? No wonder it looked strange when I saw it earlier. The colors were unusually vivid compared to normal flowers.’
Thousands of butterflies danced in the air, emitting an incredibly dangerous aura. They were clearly venomous. Censor Luo said to her.
“Elder Wu Daozi, do not make things difficult for me. I am merely carrying out the duties of the Discipline Hall!”
Wu Daozi said.
“I have already said it. Get lost, or die!”
Ugh! Censor Luo had no choice but to hesitate for a moment before saying, “Elder Wu Daozi, your actions violate the regulations of Mount Futu. If this escalates, your position as an elder could be revoked. I will go see Elder Kong of the Discipline Hall right away, so I urge you to think carefully, Elder Wu!”
“Hurry up and get lost!”
Censor Luo had no choice but to leave. Wu Jue said to Shen Lang.
“Brother Lang, this brother will take his leave then. Once this matter is settled, you must come to my house for a drink.”
Shen Lang said warmly.
“I most certainly will! It was a pleasure to see you, brother.”
“The pleasure was all mine, younger brother. I'll be on my way then! You must come to my house. I'll have warm wine and food waiting for you.”
Wu Jue was still acting as if he was delighted to see Shen Lang. How could he look so happy after pushing Shen Lang into a corner with no escape?