Chapter 252 - 119: Zhu Li: You’re Suffering a Qi Deviation, I’ll Help You Channel It

Chapter 252: Chapter 119: Zhu Li: You’re Suffering a Qi Deviation, I’ll Help You Channel It

She couldn’t help but ask, "Saintess, how did your plan go?"

Gu Xiangzhu replied calmly, "It succeeded, of course."

"Really?"

Jing Zhongyue was startled. She had never heard of anyone who, with their purity intact, could master a Charm Art to the point of controlling others.

After all.

Those who had never experienced such sensations found it difficult to grasp the essentials when studying a Charm Art.

"Of course it’s true!"

Gu Xiangzhu calmly retorted, "Others can’t do it simply because their aptitude is too mediocre. Did you think I was mediocre as well?"

Jing Zhongyue hastily shook her head. "Of course not! The Saintess is a Demon Cultivation prodigy, the likes of which are seen only once a century. A trivial Magic art like this is something you could master with a single glance."

"Mm."

Gu Xiangzhu nodded slightly. "What of the matter I had you investigate?"

Jing Zhongyue’s expression turned serious. "I followed your instructions and found traces of the other three Dharma Protectors. However, they are being extremely cautious, and I haven’t been able to find their exact location."

"Hmm..."

Gu Xiangzhu’s brow furrowed slightly. ’The other three Dharma Protectors have arrived, just as I thought. They must be here to find the Demon Monarch.’

’But their movements are far too cautious.’

’Huangfu Song, too.’

’They... They must be hiding something from me.’

’What could it be?’

’I’m not quite sure.’

’But one thing is certain: the Demon Monarch is definitely not at his peak. He might even be so weak that I could crush him with a single finger.’

’But why?’

’What kind of calamity did he encounter to fall into such a pathetic state?’

’Huangfu Song is lying low in the Tenth Prince’s Mansion. Is he really there just to observe the physical vessel prepared for the Demon Monarch?’

’That seems a bit far-fetched.’

’Still, there’s no need to rush.’

’The little one is very perceptive. An old fossil like the Demon Monarch, who should have been nothing but dust in the annals of time, won’t necessarily be able to get the better of him.’

Of course.

’I’ll have to pay more attention to the little one from now on.’

’It’s not to satisfy his pining.’

’It’s to help him eliminate hidden dangers as much as possible. At the very least, none of those tricks those crazies are so fond of will be used on him.’

...

「Yang Family Medicine Shop.」

「The back courtyard.」

「Inside the bedroom.」

"No!"

"It shouldn’t be like this!"

"Why?"

"Why am I so stupid?"

Yang Mo sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes completely bloodshot.

He didn’t understand.

The Demon Monarch had clearly left him such a powerful Secret Skill, so why, of all things, was he so utterly mediocre?

No matter how heaven-defying the Secret Skill was, what damn use was it if he couldn’t understand it!

Yang Mo looked like his eyes might burst from fury. He hadn’t slept at all, spending the entire night trying to comprehend that blasted Celestial Demon Body Refining Secret Technique. After a whole night of study, the only thing he’d managed to remember was the phrase "destruction before rebirth."

’As for *how* to achieve destruction before rebirth...’

’I don’t know!’

’I can’t understand it!’

’I can’t understand it at all!’

’What am I supposed to do?’

Yang Mo was in despair. He knew he could hide this from Zhao Ci for a while longer.

But even if he hid it, what then?

’How could a completely useless Mansion Official ever be given any real responsibility?’

He knew that, given Zhao Ci’s character, he wouldn’t look down on him.

But for him to think he could continue using merits to acquire resources and turn his life around... that was a complete pipe dream!

’And I... I would slowly be pushed to the fringes in the Tenth Prince’s Mansion.’

’Zhao Ci wouldn’t laugh at me.’

’Feng Kucha wouldn’t laugh at me.’

’Zhu Li probably wouldn’t laugh at me, either.’

’But they would definitely grow more and more distant from me.’

’Because I’m weak.’

’Nobody wants to be saddled with a weakling forever.’

’They might still consider me a friend when my name comes up.’

’But we’d already be living in two different worlds.’

’Even those Civilian Mansion Officials would slowly surpass my cultivation level, gaining the power and status they desire through the mansion’s competitions.’

’And I... I would most likely end up back in this little Yang Clan medicine shop, constantly hounded by my parents, right up until they fall ill and die.’

’Then, I’d become the owner of this medicine shop, inherit my parents’ position, and suffer endless scorn from the Yang Family.’

’Maybe one day, a Mansion Official from the Tenth Prince’s Mansion will come here to buy herbs.’

’One of those Civilian Mansion Officials. The very same ones who treat me with such respect right now.’

’By then, they might have become powerful officials in Lingge.’

’And when I see them, I’ll have to address them respectfully as "My Lord."’

’This kind of life... what’s the difference between it and hell?’

Yang Mo felt like his head was about to split open.

He didn’t understand.

’My original dream was just to inherit my parents’ medicine shop.’

’Now, the worst-case scenario is just that: my original dream coming true.’

’So why does it feel like my world is collapsing?’

’Why?’

’Is it because I’ve put too much on the line?’

’Is it because I’ve seen a glimmer of a brighter future?’

He didn’t understand.

’I would have been perfectly fine being a useless bum. So why did my parents have to force me to try so hard? Why did Zhao Ci have to bring me to the Tenth Prince’s Mansion and show me a bright future that was never meant for me?’

Moreover.

’I can’t even blame Zhao Ci in the slightest.’

’Because Zhao Ci was the only one willing to help me, and the only one who truly did.’

’The fault isn’t with Zhao Ci. It’s with me. I’m just a clear-cut failure who couldn’t live up to his expectations.’

’The fault lies with the Demon Monarch!’

’That moronic Demon Monarch! Spouting one retarded line after another, and what’s more, he actually believed it all without a shred of doubt.’

’And he had to go and gamble on it!’

’And I’m the one who has to bear the consequences!’

"DAMN IT!"

"DAMN IT!"

"DAMN IT!"

"KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!"

The sound of knocking on the window rang out.

Yang Mo jolted.

Yang Fang’s voice sounded from outside, "Mo, did you go to the Merit Library yesterday?"

Yang Mo hastily replied, "I did!"

"Then did His Highness allow you to choose something?"

"He did!"

"A resource worth how many merits?"

"Twenty merits!"

"See!"

A smile crept into Yang Fang’s voice. "It’s all thanks to your mother’s and my relentless supervision that you’re so highly regarded in the Tenth Prince’s Mansion today."

Yang Mo: "???"

Yang Fang pressed on, "What did you choose?"

Yang Mo suppressed the tightness in his chest. "A Self-Reflection Pill!"

"Hm? What’s that?"

"A pill that helps one discover and enhance their innate talent."

"Oh?"

"So, have you discovered it?"

The incessant questions were like the drumbeat of the Netherworld King; each one sounded like the wail of a vengeful spirit crying for his life.

Yang Mo’s head was splitting with pain.

A chaotic, savage killing intent flared in his eyes.

But in the end, it subsided.

"Huu..."

He let out a soft breath, his entire being settling into a state of eerie tranquility.

He got up.

Got off the bed.

Opened the window.

A sharp, confident smile spread across his face. "Of course I did, Father!"

Yang Fang stared at his son for a long time.

Finally, he clapped Yang Mo on the shoulder, his laughter hearty. "I knew it! My son was born for greatness. Your mother and I didn’t bet everything on you for nothing."

Yang Mo: "!!!"

「A quarter of an hour later.」

The aroma of food filled the small courtyard.

However, this time, it was Cen Xiu who had brought the food.

This time the couple didn’t send Yang Mo on errands.

Yang Mo seemed to be in a great mood. He ate a lot, and after he was full, said he had to go out for a bit. If someone from the Tenth Prince’s Mansion came looking for him, they were to say he went out to cultivate.

After leaving the medicine shop, he sprinted all the way out of Lingge City.

He ran until he reached a post station on a desolate official road, found the tea stall across from it, and walked up behind the stall owner.

The stall owner was a little surprised. "You used up the Meteor Powder I gave you last time already? The new shipment hasn’t arrived yet, you’ll have to wait!"

"That’s not what I want this time!"

Yang Mo gritted his teeth. "That stuff of yours... the one that burns the Primordial Spirit... can it really improve a person’s comprehension?"

A taunting smile played on the stall owner’s lips. "Of course it can!"

"How much can it improve it?"

"A lot. A whole lot!"

"Give me a dose."

"You’d better be sure. It causes severe, irreversible damage to the Primordial Spirit."

"Enough with the nonsense! I pay, you provide the goods. Whether I live or die is none of your damn business!"

「A moment later.」

Yang Mo held a medicine bottle and hurried back towards Lingge City.

The stall owner watched his hastily departing back, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Yang Mo..."

He couldn’t help but mutter.

Just then.

The person drinking tea at the stall left, leaving an ingot of silver on the table.

He walked over and picked up the silver taels.

He discreetly slipped the note into his pocket and ducked behind his stall to open it.

It was a small stack of paper that, when unfolded, revealed a list of over a hundred names.

He quickly glanced over it.

His gaze suddenly froze on a certain spot on the list.

"Yang Mo!?"