Chapter 123

"Dong, dong!"

He knocked twice on the door, then used Star Escape to enter the study.

Zhang Yuanqing instinctively looked towards the end of the red carpet, and found that the wide desk was empty. Only then did he turn his head and look at the reception area on the left.

Fu Qingyang, dressed in white, was enjoying a drink with his mentor, Ling Jun.

Fu Qingyang was in charge of drinking, and Ling Jun was in charge of enjoying himself.

The moment the starlight rose, the two turned their heads at the same time.

"Oh, Yuan Shi is back." Ling Jun said with a smile, "Your girlfriend was just here. She said she was out of her mind and broke up with you, and now she regrets it. Why don't you hurry up and coax her?"

As he spoke, he winked at Zhang Yuanqing when Fu Qingyang couldn't see his face, with an ambiguous smile.

How could the student's operation be hidden from the eyes of the master of love.

Looks like my trick worked... Zhang Yuanqing's spirits lifted, and his mentor's "smirk" gave him great confidence.

If this plan doesn't work, Ling Jun will sigh and give a hint: "Look at the stupid thing you did. Fu Qingyang entrusted his cousin to you. Is this how you treat her?"

This is the tacit understanding between famous teachers and outstanding students.

Fu Qingyang put down his wine glass and said lightly:

"Ling Jun, you go out first. I have something to say to Yuan Shi."

You're done for... Ling Jun shrugged at his beloved disciple, indicating that he was powerless.

Although the plan is kind, Guan Ya's family power should not be underestimated.

Zhang Yuanqing watched his mentor leave, took Ling Jun's place, picked up the plate full of ham slices, and devoured them.

Fu Qingyang waited patiently, and after the plate of ham slices was empty, he asked:

"What's in Takamagahara?"

Zhang Yuanqing told the other party about his gains in the tree hole without reservation.

Countless past events have proven that in this indifferent world where even singles cannot give, girlfriends may not be trustworthy, but the boss is absolutely trustworthy.

"Demon Refining Pot..."

Hearing the description of the Demon Refining Pot from the Palace Master of Stop Killing Palace, even the always calm and steady Qian Gongzi couldn't help but change his face, unable to maintain his composure.

He had thought that the treasure left by Nuwa would be priceless, but he didn't expect it to be so valuable.

An item symbolizing the highest power of a profession.

If this matter spreads, there will be no place for the Palace Master of Stop Killing Palace in the world. She will be hunted down by all Lingjing Xingzhe.

"You just gave her the Demon Refining Pot like that?" Fu Qingyang frowned.

"Just treat it as an investment. I'm very familiar with the Palace Master. Investing in her is more reliable than investing in other Musicians." Zhang Yuanqing had his own set of ideas and comforted him:

"Boss, I'm not at a loss either. I got a body and the remaining power of the Golden Crow."

Only then did Fu Qingyang's brows relax, "You should have demanded more benefits. You could even use the Demon Refining Pot to control the Palace Master of Stop Killing Palace, asking for anything you want... If I had known this, I should have gone with you."

He regretted it. If he had accompanied Yuan Shi to Takamagahara, the Demon Refining Pot would not have fallen into the hands of the Palace Master of Stop Killing Palace.

Ask the Palace Master for anything I want? That's indeed something to look forward to... Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, I didn't let you go, boss, because I was wary of this situation.

Just imagine, if Fu Qingyang and the Palace Master had a conflict in Takamagahara, one would be his affectionate brother-in-law, and the other would be his affectionate family friend. He really wouldn't know who to help.

At most, he would shout from the sidelines: Stop, stop fighting!

"But since you've given it, don't think too much about it. Your investment will pay off in the future." Fu Qingyang was a decisive person and wouldn't dwell on what had already happened:

"Besides, you also got the Clay Figurine Clone and the power of the Sun God. Take them out and show them to me."

Zhang Yuanqing said "Oh", "The Clay Figurine Clone and the power of the Sun God are all in the Demon Refining Pot. The Palace Master said she needs to nourish them for forty-nine days."

Hearing these words, a clear question mark floated across Qian Gongzi's always cold face.

He asked uncertainly:

"You mean, everything is in the hands of the Palace Master of Stop Killing Palace, and you didn't get anything? You went to Takamagahara and came back empty-handed?"

Zhang Yuanqing nodded.

Fu Qingyang took out the golden scissors with a straight face.

"Old, Boss, what are you going to do?"

"I'll cut off your marriage first, and then take you to kill the Palace Master of Stop Killing Palace."

"No, no, no, Boss, it's just entrusting her to keep it safe. Don't be impulsive..."

"I'm not impulsive. I just have a little high blood pressure."

Immediately, Fu Qingyang realized his gaffe, put down the golden scissors, and pinched his brow.

He waved his hand tiredly: "Get out. I don't want to see you now."

"But Boss, I have one more thing to report." Zhang Yuanqing said.

Fu Qingyang said coldly: "I hope it's not something that will raise my blood pressure."

After saying that, he saw Yuan Shi take out the Little Red Riding Hood, gently shake his hand, and several heavy bronze plates fell down, hitting the carpet heavily, making a muffled sound.

Zhang Yuanqing laid out the bronze plates and said:

"Boss, this is very interesting. You'll definitely like it."

Yuan Shi's expression was a bit like offering a treasure. He seemed certain that I would be surprised, even lose my composure. How ridiculous... Fu Qingyang suppressed his bad mood, pushed away from the table, and walked to the bronze plate.

He knew that Yuan Shi wouldn't aimlessly shoot arrows, so he actively restrained his emotions while concentrating on watching the carvings.

But after seeing the content of the carvings clearly, he still couldn't help but shrink his pupils, and his cold expression showed extreme shock.

This kind of shock, this strong emotional fluctuation, was very rare in Qian Gongzi, even exceeding the reaction after hearing the information about the Demon Refining Pot.

"Boss, what do you think?" Zhang Yuanqing raised the corners of his mouth, very satisfied with Fu Qingyang's reaction.

...Fu Qingyang took a deep breath and didn't speak. He was still digesting the content on the bronze plate.

Zhang Yuanqing obediently shut his mouth. After a few minutes, he couldn't help but open his mouth:

"Boss, you're a Scout. What can you analyze?"

He first threw out a brick to attract jade, and told his and the Palace Master of Stop Killing Palace's understanding.

Fu Qingyang said sharply:

"Experimenter? How can you be sure that these meteorites weren't dropped by the Spirit Realm? Instead of imagining an unverifiable experimenter, isn't it more logical for the Spirit Realm to drop meteorites?"

"How can you be sure that these meteorites are our origin? Is it possible that the carvings record only one act of the Spirit Realm creating superhumans, just like in the early years of the Republic of China, the Spirit Realm created the first batch of Lingjing Xingzhe."

Hearing this, Zhang Yuanqing also frowned.

Indeed, there is no evidence to prove that meteorites are the source of superhumans. They may also be the process of the Spirit Realm creating superhumans on a certain occasion.

The Scout's logical ability is indeed strong.

Fu Qingyang continued:

"The投放 of these carved meteorites does have very heavy artificial traces, but the artificial traces of the Spirit Realm are heavier, so there's nothing surprising. I think Nuwa's existence is more worthy of attention than meteorites."

He said in a low voice: "Nuwa is special. She's different from other ancestors who gained superpowers."

"You also think she's special. Tell me about it." In front of the Scout, Zhang Yuanqing temporarily abandoned his brain and asked if he didn't understand.

Fu Qingyang thought for a moment and slowly said:

"Too powerful, incomparably powerful. She's the Mother of the Human Race in mythology. She controls the ultimate power of the Scholar and Musician professions. She's very likely a powerhouse who has surpassed the Demigod."

"So she can quell disasters."

It feels like he's talking nonsense... Zhang Yuanqing muttered in his heart.

Isn't Nuwa's power very obvious? If she wasn't powerful, could she "mend the sky"? Could she refine the Bronze Divine Tree and provide a habitat for the Golden Crow?

If it's because she's powerful that she's special, then he would have seen it long ago.

Fu Qingyang glanced at him and said in a deep voice:

"Whether it's ancient cultivators or modern Lingjing Xingzhe, there has never been a powerhouse above the Demigod level. This is the biggest problem."

Zhang Yuanqing's mind buzzed, and a lot of information suddenly became clear at this moment.

"Nuwa is an out-of-control experiment. She surpassed the Demigod stage and became an existence that the Spirit Realm can't control, even threatening the Spirit Realm. Hmm, I heard someone say that the existence of the Character Card is the Spirit Realm's self-defense mechanism..."

"Because there was Nuwa as a lesson, the Spirit Realm limited the growth of Lingjing Xingzhe, so no one has been able to surpass the Demigod stage since Nuwa?"

"Did Nuwa's "mending the sky" cause unimaginable damage to the Spirit Realm, so the Spirit Realm has been shut down until modern times when it was restarted?"

Zhang Yuanqing felt that he was getting closer to the truth.

He told his guesses.

"If it's telling a story, this is exciting enough, but reality isn't a story." Fu Qingyang coldly retorted:

"If the world-destroying event in ancient times was caused by the Spirit Realm, then why is the Spirit Realm now maintaining order in modern times? Leaving aside other details, this self-contradictory point alone shows that things are more complicated than we think."

That's right, the Spirit Realm is urging the Xingzhe to grow, even at the cost of forced growth, but the existence of the Character Card is the Spirit Realm's self-defense mechanism, limiting the Lingjing Xingzhe from surpassing the Demigod. This is also a contradiction... Zhang Yuanqing smiled bitterly:

"I was thinking too simply."

The two were silent, thinking silently.

After a long time, Fu Qingyang said: "Forget about the things above. Understanding too many secrets that don't match your level will only mess up the minds of the strong. When faced with these problems, thinking is ineffective. Strength and level are the keys to unlocking the secrets. People should live in the present."

That's all I can do... Zhang Yuanqing shook his head and threw these distant problems out of his mind. Thinking of his weeping mixed-race girlfriend next door, he felt that Fu Qingyang's words made sense.

People should live in the present.

"Boss, I'm going to see Sister Guan Ya."

Imitating the President, he snapped his fingers smartly and turned into starlight to escape.

......

Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

Xiahou Aotian put on his black headphones and heard the excited murmur of the Qin State Alchemist:

"Heaven and Earth Furnace, Nuwa's Heaven and Earth Furnace..."

Heaven and Earth Furnace? Xiahou Aotian glanced at Lian Sanyue, not afraid of her finding out, and said in a low voice:

"This is clearly a Hundred Refinements Furnace."

The Qin State Alchemist in the ring said:

"It's not really the Heaven and Earth Furnace, but a part of the Heaven and Earth Furnace. Legend has it that Nuwa has two major inheritances, one is the Demon Refining Pot, and the other is the Heaven and Earth Furnace."

"The former is the treasure that Musicians dream of, and the latter is the ultimate pursuit of Scholars. Heh, I advise you not to use it. This cauldron was used by the First Emperor back then."

Xiahou Aotian was surprised and unsurprised, "It's the First Emperor's magic tool?"

"It briefly stayed in the hands of the First Emperor..." The Qin State Alchemist fell into memories:

"After the First Emperor unified the six kingdoms, he sent troops to conquer Baiyue in the south, all the way to the South China Sea. At that time, there were mermaids in the South China Sea. Hearing of the First Emperor's power, they sent envoys ashore to offer beauties and jewels from the clan, and told the First Emperor that at the bottom of the Abyss of the South China Sea, there was an ancient artifact called the Heaven and Earth Furnace."

Xiahou Aotian suddenly understood and remembered the item information introduction of the Hundred Refinements Furnace – it sank to the bottom of the sea due to a disaster until it was... found.

It turned out that the ellipsis was the First Emperor.

"Then shouldn't I use it even more." Xiahou Aotian said.

"I haven't finished yet." The Qin State Alchemist "sighed" and said:

"When salvaging this artifact, a strange thing happened. After the First Emperor learned of the news, he ordered Xu Fu to organize nearly a hundred extraordinary people to cooperate with the mermaid clan to salvage the artifact. Unexpectedly, after seven days of diving, disaster struck. The South China Sea set off a huge tsunami, and the extraordinary people and mermaids who had dived into the Abyss to salvage the artifact were washed ashore and turned into monsters with human bodies and snake tails. They roared madly, shouting – Nuwa harmed me."

"Then they babbled in incomprehensible languages and died violently."

"What happened next?" Xiahou Aotian was full of curiosity.

"The First Emperor naturally wouldn't give up the artifact. He gave the sacrificial robes to Xu Fu, and Xu Fu personally led people into the sea. After several days, Xu Fu returned with the Hundred Refinements Furnace."

"Only he returned. The other extraordinary people who assisted in the salvage never returned. Xu Fu never revealed the situation of the Abyss of the Sea to the world, but had a secret conversation with the First Emperor."

"Regarding the artifact, Xu Fu's explanation was that the Heaven and Earth Furnace was suppressing the sea eye and could not be taken out, so only a part of it could be taken, which was this Hundred Refinements Furnace."

"But this matter didn't end there. After His Majesty obtained the artifact, he wanted to use the Hundred Refinements Furnace to train soldiers and consolidate the empire. The strange thing was that the weapons refined in the furnace contained terrible demonic nature."

"Every holder went crazy, killing anyone they saw, shouting 'Clear out Nuwa's remnants,' causing no small disaster in Xianyang. At the same time, there were continuous tsunamis in the South China Sea, and military disasters and deaths rose in Baiyue, with constant rebellions."

"The First Emperor had no choice but to send Xu Fu to the South China Sea again to return the Hundred Refinements Furnace to the Abyss." The old man in the ring shouted:

"Think about the function of that Gluttonous Training Furnace, and then look at the item information of the Hundred Refinements Furnace. Does it seem familiar?"

Xiahou Aotian recalled carefully: "It does seem a bit similar."

"The Gluttonous Training Furnace is a replica of the Hundred Refinements Furnace, which the First Emperor later had people refine. Unfortunately, a replica is just a replica, and it's far from the real furnace." The Qin State Alchemist sighed.

So there was such a thing back then... Xiahou Aotian listened with great interest:

"It's not a big problem. It's already been subdued by the Spirit Realm, so the things that happened back then won't happen again. Otherwise, Lian Sanyue will be the first to die."

Lian Sanyue narrowed her eyes when she heard this.

The arrogant protagonist didn't pay attention to the expression of the person involved and continued to communicate with the ancient soul in the ring:

"Why was Xu Fu okay?"

The old man in the ring said: "I just said that the First Emperor gave the sacrificial robes to Xu Fu. With the protection of the sacrificial robes, Xu Fu was naturally safe."

"Sacrificial robes?" Xiahou Aotian's tone was doubtful.

"Alas, this thing is more evil than the Hundred Refinements Furnace..." The old man in the ring sighed: "Two thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye. It's all a thing of the past. Let's not mention it."

Xiahou Aotian felt that the old thing seemed to be quite afraid of the sacrificial robes and obviously didn't want to talk about it.

At this time, Lian Sanyue impatiently said: "Have you finished chatting with the vengeful spirit in the ring? Are you going to open the furnace or not?"

"Of course I'm going to open it." Xiahou Aotian said: "How much does it cost?"

Lian Sanyue spread her palm, "Using the furnace is free, but you need to buy the fire stone to activate it. It's 500,000 for one."

Then, she explained the mechanism and cost of sealing the furnace.

"I need to seal the furnace?" Xiahou Aotian scoffed: "Haven't you heard that the protagonist has a lucky halo?"

Don't think that just because you have Kakarot's face, you can say such brainless things. Is this guy pretending? He's pretending pretty well... Lian Sanyue threw the fire stone over.

Xiahou Aotian took the fire stone, opened the lid, first put in the materials, then threw in the fire stone, pressed his palm against the furnace, and mentally recited the type and quality of the道具 he wanted.

The Hundred Refinements Furnace "嗡嗡" vibrated, and dense purple gas spewed out of the air holes in the furnace lid.

After a while, the purple gas dissipated, and the furnace calmed down.

Xiahou Aotian couldn't wait to rush over, press his palm against the furnace body, and check the degree of energy accumulation:

—2%

"???"

A string of question marks flashed in his mind.

"The materials I threw in just now were of Saint quality." He looked at Lian Sanyue blankly: "Are you scamming me?"

"The Hundred Refinements Furnace is like this. The higher the quality, the higher the energy accumulation. Sometimes you have to rely on luck." Lian Sanyue shrugged: "Do you want to come again?"

"I'm not coming." Xiahou Aotian shook his head, and his wallet made him rational.

"Okay then." Lian Sanyue didn't force him, "But a while ago, a lucky guy refined a top-quality 道具 using the furnace. Of course, this is not reproducible. Ordinary people aren't so lucky."

"I think I can try again..."

......

"Oh, not bad, it's 10%. Do you want to come again?"

"......Come again."

......

"11%. Do you want to come again?"

"Last time!"

"13%. I'm sorry."

"Last, last time."

"You actually have Sovereign-level materials?!"

......

"30%. That's two Sovereign-level materials. Why don't you just forget it? I feel bad for you." Lian Sanyue shook her head.

Xiahou Aotian stood motionless in front of the furnace, like a stone.

After who knows how long, he silently walked to the side, his back full of loneliness and despair, like Qu Yuan heading towards the Miluo River.

He silently took out a barrel, a base, and a nearly exhausted energy pack from his item栏 and silently assembled them.

"What are you going to do?" Lian Sanyue glanced at it.

Then, she saw Kakarot raise his face, with an expression of having witnessed Krillin being blown up by Frieza, full of anger, despair, and sadness:

"I don't want to live anymore. I'm going to die with it~"

His tone no longer contained any nostalgia for the world.

......

ps: I'll update the typos first and fix them later.