Promise!

Chapter 270, Chunling

"Ao Zhiqi?!"

"Zhuang Jin?!"

Looking at the Kui Niu carcass on Zhuang Jin's back and its lingering oppressive presence, Ao Zhiqi felt extremely wary and apprehensive. His body tensed up, and he forced a smile: "Brother Zhuang, what a coincidence."

Putting aside Zhuang Jin's own strength, just considering the half-step Yin God Realm jade token he had seen before, he was far from being able to defeat it. Even if he used his trump card, he could only severely injure the opponent at most.

"It's a coincidence."

Zhuang Jin remained calm, glancing at the bag at the other person's waist. A clear light emanated from some unknown treasure, and a pure aura wafted out, making one's soul feel refreshed.

He didn't say anything about "this treasure being destined for me". Although the two had a few disagreements, they had let it go. The other party had been behaving himself this year. Killing and stealing treasures was against his principles, and he wasn't the type to greedily take every treasure into his possession.

Moreover, nowadays, apart from exotic beasts, we basically don't need to seek help from outside. To drive someone of the same realm, whose trump card is unknown, to a dead end for some unknown treasure is a path to disaster.

Everyone should remain vigilant and keep a certain distance to ensure basic safety.

Ao Zhiqi was subtly moved. Zhuang Jin was stronger, yet he remained unmoved and tried to seize the treasure. As if thinking of something else, his expression became inscrutable. He transmitted his voice to Zhuang Jin and said, "Take care, Brother Zhuang. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye."

Zhuang Jin vaguely sensed that these words held an unusual meaning. Recalling what the other party had said about the opportunity arising from being injured by a Vajra Realm beast, and noticing something in Li Shicong's expression: 'Could this person be…?'

However, this was none of his business, so he shook his head slightly and went back.

……

Cangzhou City, First Ring Road, Shangguan Family Residence.

Today, the entire Shangguan family home is filled with fragrance. The Kui ox that was hunted back was divided among the branches of the family, with each branch receiving two or three catties as a token of their goodwill.

The saying "He who takes a man's money is bound to do his bidding" and the power it represents inspire both awe and admiration.

Returning to the topic of Kui beef, it is considered a rare delicacy in their eyes. It is given to the most promising juniors in each household, either for soup or meat dishes, without any waste.

Zhuang Jin wouldn't go to such lengths. On such a snowy day, he and Shangguan Yunchang were having a barbecue in the small courtyard pavilion, accompanied by fruit wine.

Zi la la!
Flames licked the Kui beef, emitting a unique aroma, as Zhuang Jin turned the meat around and brushed on the seasonings.

Shangguan Yunchang sent her maid over and personally cut and skewered the meat, saying, "I instructed Grandmother to make soup from the heart and liver of the Kui ox."

“Yun Chang, you’ve thought this through. Grandmother really needs some nourishment.” Zhuang Jin thought of the old lady and, based on the principle of replenishment for loss, believed that she should get some nourishment in this area.

Shangguan Yunchang was unaware that Zhuang Jin was secretly criticizing the old lady's scheming. She added, "The Ji family also sent two jin. Tongwei ranked first in the assessment, so this meat can help him solidify his foundation."

……

Ji family.

Ji Tongwei returned, having completed his assessment today and now enjoying a two-day holiday. Sniffing the air, he asked, "Second Sister, what did you make today? It smells so good!"

"Mr. Zhuang knows you got first place, and to celebrate, he sent two catties of meat from a beast at the Blood Exchange Realm. How could such beast meat not be delicious? Eat it sparingly, lest you be unable to digest it."

"A beast at the Blood Exchange Realm?!" Ji Tongwei silently compared the beasts in his mind. It seemed that even the instructors, directors, and vice deans of the martial academy couldn't defeat such a beast.

"This kind of exotic beast meat is extremely rare. It can strengthen your body, invigorate your blood and qi, and solidify your foundation. You must remember this kindness," Ji Tongxiu instructed.

Ji Tongwei listened and nodded, feeling grateful. Since Zhuang Jin became the dean of Bailu Martial Academy, his life had been carefree. Then, thinking of something, he suggested that he bring some with him tomorrow.

Ji Tongxiu tapped his head, agreeing but with some worries in his heart: If Ge Mingzhi were an ordinary member of the Ge family, it would be fine, but she is extremely talented, probably like Shangguan Yunchang to the Shangguan family, her marriage will definitely be difficult in the future.

'But those are still far off, let's see!' she thought to herself.

...Sizzle!

As the oil drips down, the roasted meat turns golden brown, releasing an enticing aroma.

Zhuang Jin handed over two skewers of grilled meat and poured some fruit wine. He and Shangguan Yunchang ate together and talked about what they had seen and heard that day, including their encounter with Ao Zhiqi.

Shangguan Yunchang listened and nodded slightly. Suddenly, she received a message, paused for a moment, and said, "Husband, the treasure you saw in Ao Zhiqi's waist bag should be the Divine Essence Fruit of Chunling Qiuguai."

"The Strange Autumn Spirit of Chunling?" Zhuang Jin searched his mind but confirmed that he had never heard of it.

"There seem to be records in the clan, but they are only based on hearsay and contain very little information. This is specific information sent by the governor. Chunling Qiuguai is said to be a peculiar creature."

As Shangguan Yunchang spoke, she asked, "Does my husband know about Cordyceps sinensis?"

Zhuang Jin nodded.

"Cordyceps sinensis has two forms: insect and grass. Chunling Qiuguai also has two forms: spirit Chunling and spirit monster."

It is said that in ancient times there was a great tree called Chun, which took eight hundred years for spring and eight hundred years for autumn. Although Chun was not as spiritual as Qiu, it also took ten years for spring and ten years for autumn, completing a cycle of forty years.

For forty years, it takes the form of a spirit. After forty years, its essence, energy, and spirit transform into a seed of a spirit tree. In an environment rich in the primordial energy of heaven and earth, it takes root, sprouts, and grows into a spirit tree. The richer the primordial energy of heaven and earth, the faster it grows. In one hour, it can grow in the same way that an ordinary tree takes ten years.

When this spirit tree grows to a certain extent, it will condense three kinds of fruits: essence fruit, qi fruit, and spirit fruit. Each fruit is the essence of its entire body, and eating it is a great way to nourish the essence, qi, and spirit... If you wait any longer, the three elements will return to one and can be transformed back into a spirit tree.

If a spirit, a celestial being, and another spirit transform once, it is called one rebirth. This celestial being, after four rebirths, can reach the Five Organs Realm; after seven rebirths, it can reach the Vajra Realm; and after ten rebirths, it reaches the Great Vajra Realm.

Shangguan Yunchang introduced the Chunling Qiu Monster and said, "It is said that more than a hundred years ago, Li Shizong's ancestor traveled to Cangzhou and discovered a Chunling Qiu Monster. He planted methods to imprison and restrain it, which is why Li Shizong came here to wait for the Chunling Qiu Monster to return seven times and reap its Dao fruit."

In recent years, the time for the Seven Returns of the Autumn Spirit and the Strange Autumn Spirit has been approaching. This time, the turmoil in the ice lake of the Yunchi Mountain cave caused the tide of heaven and earth energy there to approach a large level, which brought forward the Seven Returns of the Autumn Spirit and the Strange Autumn Spirit. Otherwise, it might have been possible to wait until the next large tide of heaven and earth energy.

Ao Zhiqi, having witnessed Li Shicong's actions, stole the Divine Essence Fruit and fled. Now, the governor, Li Shicong, has issued a reward.

"I see."

Zhuang Jin nodded upon hearing this: "Ao Zhiqi just escaped like that. If I remember correctly, his only son is still in the prefecture city, being closely monitored, right?"

"Perhaps in his eyes, how could his son compare to himself?"

Zhuang Jin fell silent upon hearing this question. Ao Zhiqi's love for her son seemed genuine, and she had never expected things to turn out this way, especially since he had been manipulated by the Xuantian Division for so many years. She couldn't help but think of Ao Zhiqi's farewell with the word "goodbye".

'Human nature is complex. His love and devotion to his son are genuine, but so is his selfishness in running away,' he thought to himself.

“Ao Zhiqi’s soul was injured, and the pain he endured was beyond what ordinary people could imagine. Even a martial artist would lose life if his vital energy was damaged, let alone his soul. This person is already very old. If he doesn’t take the Divine Essence Fruit with him when he returns, he will not be able to keep it. If he takes the Divine Essence Fruit with him and uses it to heal his soul injury, he will likely have a new son in the future. To put it another way, it will not be a bad thing for the son he leaves behind.”

Shangguan Yunchang, having discerned the man's psychology, then recounted the handling of Shangguan Jinfeng: secretly tracking him, keeping his son under strict "protection," continuously supplying him with high-grade soul-nourishing herbs, and marginalizing Cui Pangui, who had a conflict with Ao Zhiqi.

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Jin felt a sense of absurdity and ironic absurdity.

Cui Pangui is a dog of the Xuantian Division, seemingly quite loyal, yet he is ignored; Ao Zhiqi's escape is clearly a 'betrayal,' but due to some potential threat, it is held back, and even taken seriously and considered.

After all, Ao Zhiqi obtained the Divine Essence Fruit, which could potentially heal his soul injuries. Moreover, he had escaped and posed a considerable threat. With this experience, he might even have a chance to become a Yin God in the future.

This is where the value of united front work comes in—the value of united front work is reflected not only in its positive value, how much it can accomplish, but also in its negative value, how much it can ruin things.

To put it more bluntly, if you have power, if you have enormous destructive power, if you pose a threat to those in power or to things they value, then you are worth winning over and being united with. In terms of importance, you are even more important than a loyal dog that can be completely controlled.

'Ao Zhiqi has played a good move this time, but can he really break free from the chessboard?' Zhuang Jin thought to himself.

……

(End of this chapter)