Ji Changkong’s heart sank. He suddenly realized that the Huangfu family’s ambition far exceeded his initial estimation. No wonder Tianshui City was teeming with masters; the true target of the Huangfu family wasn't him at all!
“Gu Ya was gravely wounded after his fight with Saint Mother Youlan. This is when Gu Ya is at his weakest. If they can force Gu Bang to come to Tianshui City and use you to threaten him, then pool their combined strength against Gu Bang, they might actually be able to take down Gu Zhan,” Duan Lingyue sighed lightly, shaking her head.
“You… how did you know about the relationship between him and me?”
“Our Duan family deals in this line of work. Naturally, we know some secrets,” Duan Lingyue smiled, then quickly tried to persuade him. “Brother Changkong, you must leave Tianshui City soon. Once your whereabouts are exposed, the Huangfu family will stop at nothing to capture you. Given the temperament of that elder, if he learns you’ve been captured by the Huangfu family and are in danger of losing your life, he will surely come to Tianshui City alone—and that would be falling right into their trap!”
“A wounded Nine Palaces Heavenly Master is still a Nine Palaces Heavenly Master! Do the Huangfu family really think a Nine Palaces Heavenly Master is so easy to deal with? Hmph!” After meeting Zhuo Xuanqi, Ji Changkong knew there was a world of difference between an Eight Trigrams Heavenly Master and a Nine Palaces Heavenly Master. The power of ten Eight Trigrams Heavenly Masters might not equal that of a single Nine Palaces Heavenly Master.
“You are his weak spot! Brother, we’ve received confirmation that Huangfu Yue is confident in dealing with that person. You absolutely cannot remain in Tianshui City, even if not for yourself, you must think of him!” Duan Haoshan earnestly tried to dissuade him.
“There’s no need to worry. Even if I am captured by Huangfu Yue, I doubt he would care about me,” Ji Changkong’s face suddenly turned cold. “I haven’t seen him a single time since I was small, and he has never shown me any concern. I do not believe a powerhouse who has reached his realm would be constrained by mere familial ties!”
“Brother! Brother Changkong!”
“There’s no need to say more. I have my plans. Rest assured, I remain in Tianshui City with purpose.” Ji Changkong’s mind was in turmoil. He glanced up ahead and asked abruptly, “Is this place safe?”
“This is one of the Duan family’s information outposts. If you stay here, even without leaving Tianshui City, it won't be easy for Huangfu Yue’s people to find you,” Duan Lingyue explained.
Nodding lightly, Ji Changkong said, “My mind is a mess right now. I’ll borrow this place to sort out some thoughts.”
“That would be perfect. You can stay here with peace of mind. As long as you don’t venture out, we guarantee no one will discover your tracks,” Duan Haoshan hastened to agree, fearing Ji Changkong might wander outside and alert the masters Huangfu Yue had positioned everywhere.
Under the arrangements made by Duan Haoshan and Duan Lingyue, Ji Changkong settled into a quiet side room within this oil shop teeming with the common folk.
Does he… does he really care about me? Will he truly come for me if I’m in danger? Why has he never revealed himself to me? Has he ever truly seen me?
A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind, leaving Ji Changkong utterly bewildered in that moment.
After an unknown amount of time, Ji Changkong gradually calmed down. Reviewing the conversations he’d had with Huangfu Yue in the palace, he slowly recognized that Duan Lingyue’s assessment was most likely correct. Huangfu Yue wouldn’t mobilize such a massive force of masters just for a Xuanyuan like himself who hadn't even reached the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm.
What should I do? Should I risk not leaving Tianshui City for his sake, or should I risk testing his heart? To see if he truly values me, his grandson?
The Huangfu family had gathered so many masters. If I truly revealed myself within their grasp, would escape really be impossible? If I escaped, he naturally wouldn't need to come to Tianshui City. But if I couldn't escape, and he did come, would I become the leverage Huangfu Yue used to force his compliance?
One thought after another flashed through his mind, leaving Ji Changkong unable to settle on a decision. This Jiang Xi had completely thrown off his steps, leaving him momentarily adrift.
Frazzled by his thoughts, Ji Changkong failed to notice a strange life form slowly crawling out of the Tianyuan Pearl, passing through his abdomen, and hovering right in front of him.
Perhaps due to having absorbed several pieces of the Black Jade Origin Crystal, the body—which existed somewhere between solid and liquid—was gradually taking on the shape of an infant. Although its life fluctuations were fleetingly concealed, Ji Changkong could still sense the surging vitality within it.
“I’m hungry again. Give me something to eat,” the Origin Poison wriggled at Ji Changkong’s feet like a boneless child, striking various bizarre poses.
Suddenly jolted from his meditation, Ji Changkong stared blankly at the Origin Poison, which seemed to be performing a cheerful display. After a long pause, he muttered, “What exactly do you want? Do you know how precious Black Jade Origin Crystals are? You certainly benefited greatly from those crystals, but what can I gain from you?”
“Fan Chou Er, you are my person. I will look out for you,” the Origin Poison child giggled foolishly. It spoke brazenly, “If anyone tries to hurt you, I will definitely help you. Although I haven't killed anyone yet, I think if I want to kill someone, no one can escape. Anything with a body and a soul, I can corrode it.”
“That powerful?” A strange arc touched the corner of Ji Changkong’s mouth. “You can corrode anything? Including defensive barriers, including Nine Palaces Heavenly Masters?”
“I don’t know, but I imagine no solid object can stop my corrosion,” the Origin Poison seemed to ponder for a moment, then snorted arrogantly. “Don’t you believe me? I’ll tell you, I’m amazing! If you don’t believe me, just take out anything, or set up any barrier, and see if I can easily destroy it?”
“Fine!” Ji Changkong pulled out a piece of purplish-blue jade from his spatial pouch and tossed it before the Origin Poison. “This is Purple Radiance Stone. It is incredibly tough, one of the finest materials for forging divine weapons. Can you corrode this?”
“Let me try,” the Origin Poison, like a thick, elastic paste, immediately adhered to the Purple Radiance Stone.
Suddenly, wisps of pale purple smoke drifted up from the stone. Under Ji Changkong’s gaze, the Purple Radiance Stone rapidly melted, turning into a pool of purple liquid in a very short time.
“Not bad, you have some ability,” Ji Changkong smiled and nodded. “Come, try these next…”
He took out small pieces of various exceptionally sturdy, strange stones from his spatial pouch and threw them one by one before the Origin Poison. Each stone, reputed to be impervious to blades and spears, would, upon contact with the Origin Poison, dissolve into paste within a short span—not a single one was an exception.
Astonished, Ji Changkong ended up taking out meteorites from beyond the heavens, and even a finger-sized segment of Star Essence, to test the Origin Poison’s capability.
To Ji Changkong’s surprise, even the extraterrestrial meteorite and the Star Essence could not maintain their solid form; under the corrosion of the Origin Poison, they dissolved in the blink of an eye.
“Little Poison, you said you can corrode all kinds of barriers? Is that true?” A gentle, kind smile suddenly appeared on Ji Changkong’s face. Even his term of address had changed.
“Little Poison?” The Origin Poison shivered slightly, shaking as it darted further away, shrieking, “That name is awful! Why are you so perverse? Are you only being nice because you see my value? Let me tell you, don't use such dishonest tactics. If you want to flatter me, cackle, just give me those black stones.”
“I will construct a defensive barrier. If you can destroy it, I will consider giving you Black Jade Origin Crystals,” Ji Changkong said, then began to hold his breath, focusing his mind, borrowing the power of the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth to slowly weave a multi-colored light shield, secretly enveloping the Origin Poison within it.
“Energy bodies like this are even easier to corrode! I can even corrode souls!” the Origin Poison said dismissively, suddenly leaping onto the five-colored barrier. Like terrifying, powerful sulfuric acid, it instantly ate a large hole through the shield.
Wherever it passed, the barrier Ji Changkong had woven with Five Element energy melted away as quickly as an iceberg meeting a flame.
“Whoa! Truly formidable!” Ji Changkong praised, his interest piqued. “Come, come, try this next!”
He miniaturized and deployed all the various barriers and defensive measures he knew of, testing the true essence of the corrosive power. The results filled Ji Changkong with both surprise and a faint sense of dread.
Every single defensive measure proved utterly useless against the corrosion of the Origin Poison. They practically disintegrated the instant contact was made.
What did this mean?
It meant that neither solid prisons nor various soul and energy lockdowns could stop this… little thing! It meant no one in the world could truly imprison it!
“Little Poison, let’s discuss something,” Ji Changkong smiled slyly, chuckling darkly. “I can give you some Black Jade Origin Crystals, but you must promise me one thing! When I need you, you come out and destroy all forces imprisoning me. But when I haven't called you, you must stay honestly inside the pearl and not come out easily!”
“Stop calling me Little Poison!” the Origin Poison shook violently, shrieking, “I still rely on you to get stronger; of course, I’ll help you! You’re no saint yourself, you know!”
“Excellent! As long as you are obedient, I’ll feed you stones.”
Ji Changkong burst into laughter. He suddenly had a brilliant idea—a fantastic plan that could test Gu Bang’s true feelings, and possibly even lead to the destruction of the Huangfu family.