Chapter 328 - 271: Chu Bamboo: Bishop Hu Kaikang, Do You Know That Big Orange Cat?

’After all, this only works on a cognitive level, making others believe it’s normal! In reality, any written information... remains unchanged.’

"If this is developed further, wouldn’t it just be..." Chu Bamboo’s heart practically stopped. Two words flashed through his mind—Identity Swap!

’So that’s how it is...’

’So that’s why Huo Qiming...’

’No wonder Hu Kaikang...’

’Wait, written information can’t be changed? So that was the key to stealing Lao Hu’s name as well...’

’The reason he didn’t take Huo Qiming’s name was because he was already planning to destroy Jinghai City...’

’So that’s how it is.’ Chu Bamboo finally understood. The status of Fifth Apostle was definitely not a low one.

’Yes, the identities have to be roughly equivalent...’ Chu Bamboo wasn’t sure if the restrictions would lessen at higher Cultivation realms, or if other outrageous abilities could be developed. But for now, this seemed to be the case.

Furthermore, Equivalent Exchange wasn’t just for swapping identities... It could also be used to forcibly exchange things that were, on the surface or in the public’s perception, of equal value...

Just think about it. If something as conceptual as an identity could be swapped... one could only imagine how easy it would be to swap physical objects!

As for the Second Divine Power...

There wasn’t much to say about that one!

It was the manipulation of luck.

It could absorb other people’s luck to make one’s own luck incredibly good, while the person whose luck was absorbed would become extremely unlucky...

Terrifying!

Simply horrifying.

Chu Bamboo’s skin crawled. As things stood, these two Destiny Divine Techniques... compared to his Rewrite and Reproduction... ’Hmm? They still seem a bit inferior... So what if you’re strong? Too bad, your Divine Techniques... are mine now!’

"What’s wrong?" Hu Kaikang noticed the shift in Chu Bamboo’s emotions and asked patiently.

"Nothing..." Chu Bamboo shook his head, his voice tinged with complaint. "I can’t sense this so-called Power of Faith at all! This Divine Technique I awakened is such a rip-off..."

"Divine Techniques are like that," Hu Kaikang nodded in deep agreement. After a moment of thought, he gently persuaded, "How about this? When we get back, I can help you look through the church’s intelligence? If I’m not mistaken, someone in our church’s history should have had a Divine Technique related to faith!"

"Even if it’s different from your Divine Technique... you could still draw parallels and get some inspiration!"

"Don’t be like that!" Seeing Chu Bamboo’s silence, Hu Kaikang misunderstood and quickly said, "Look, lots of people just copy the work of those who came before them... I know what you might have heard! That a one-hundred-percent reproduction will cause problems... and it’s true, it will! But as long as you’re focused on learning... it’s fine! Only complete idiots who are incapable of learning just copy... Once you master the principles, the technique becomes your own!"

"Oh, is that so... You’re a pretty nice guy, then!" Chu Bamboo looked touched.

"Of course!" Hu Kaikang waved his hand magnanimously, his words sincere and amiable. "After all, you are my future apprentice."

"But why do I get the feeling you’re trying to invoke the ’a teacher for a day is a father for life’ principle..." Chu Bamboo looked suspicious.

"Watch your mouth!" Hu Kaikang’s face went pale. "I have no intention of turning my fishing buddy into my little bitch!"

"..." Chu Bamboo stared at Hu Kaikang, his face expressionless.

Hu Kaikang scratched his head and gave a silly laugh. Realizing Chu Bamboo wasn’t buying it in the slightest, he fell silent for a moment as his mind raced. Suddenly, he seemed to see something and his face lit up with pleasant surprise. He stood up and took the standard coffee from the server. "Thanks!"

Then, he took a sip and sighed contentedly, "This coffee is so sweet."

"...Wake up, you haven’t even put any sugar in it!" Chu Bamboo retorted mercilessly.

"Is that any way to treat your future master?" Hu Kaikang gave Chu Bamboo a sidelong glance. "Aren’t you afraid I’ll make things difficult for you in the future..."

"Ahem! Master, I’m counting on you." Chu Bamboo’s attitude shifted in an instant. He gazed at Hu Kaikang, his eyes even showing a hint of deep, child-like admiration.

"...Your acting skills! Truly astonishing." Hu Kaikang rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Alright... I’ll help you!"

"But things might get a little chaotic outside soon! Don’t ask why, I can’t be sure myself yet..." A worried look appeared on Hu Kaikang’s face. "In a bit, I’ll take you somewhere safer..."

Chu Bamboo’s thoughts churned. ’This guy, for once he’s not trying to trick me or use me as a disposable pawn... He’s actually... Never mind!’

Chu Bamboo’s gaze deepened for a second, then his expression returned to normal almost instantly.

"In that case, I won’t be polite... I’m counting on you! But first, I’m going to try again." Chu Bamboo gritted his teeth, his face set with determination. "Lao Hu... mine’s pretty big, so you’ll have to bear it."

"???" Hu Kaikang had heard Chu Bamboo use this line before, and his face turned a bit green. "Hey, hey, hey, be reasonable! I’m not one of those... Priests who like little boys that you’re always mocking! Besides, those Priests don’t like to be the receivers, either."

Chu Bamboo looked extremely skeptical, and then he activated... Reproduction!

At that moment, Hu Kaikang froze. He fought back the urge to smack Chu Bamboo’s hand away, instead staring at him thoughtfully. He wasn’t worried about Chu Bamboo harming him...

For one, Hu Kaikang and Chu Bamboo were acquaintances. And even if Chu Bamboo really wanted to hurt him... with his current Cultivation?

’Don’t be ridiculous!’

But for some reason, Hu Kaikang felt that something was off. ’Hm? Wait a minute...’

Hu Kaikang suddenly came to a realization. He smacked Chu Bamboo’s hand away, his expression turning sharp.

’Is... Destiny warning me? What is this?!’

In that instant, Hu Kaikang’s demeanor changed. "Kid! What are you..."

Chu Bamboo gave Hu Kaikang a speechless look. "What are you doing? Are you nuts? Forget it... If you don’t want to help me, then don’t! Just remember to look into that faith thing... If you can’t find anything, I’m not accepting you as my master... You old geezer! Tch!"

"...Huh?" Hu Kaikang was stunned for a moment, his expression flickering. He clenched his fist... Although Destiny had issued a warning, he found it truly hard to imagine... how a low-level Cultivator could possibly cause him any harm...

’Wait! Could it be because Chu Bamboo is going to communicate with Qian Shi... which will indirectly put me at a disadvantage?!’

’Mm... that would explain it! Damn it, you act all friendly with him on the surface... but on the inside, you’re actually planning on shopping around, aren’t you? Just what I’d expect from a Black Hand Gang boss from the shantytowns... Your heart is too black! Do you have no morals at all?!’

Though he was cursing inwardly, Hu Kaikang’s expression remained calm on the surface.

"Oh, right," Chu Bamboo said slowly and deliberately. He was actually in a rather good mood because he had finally succeeded in his Reproduction!

’Although, after the Reproduction, I can only use the First Divine Power and the Second Divine Power!’

Chu Bamboo rested his chin on his hand, staring at Hu Kaikang with great interest. "By the way! Do you know a cat? Hmm... I mean... a Big Orange Cat!"

Chu Bamboo was genuinely curious whether Hu Kaikang was the Clone created by the Big Orange Cat, as the Pope had mentioned, or if he had assimilated another being who also possessed Destiny Divine Techniques...

"?" Hu Kaikang was a little bewildered by this. "A cat? What cat? I don’t have a cat?"

"Is that so." Chu Bamboo’s eye twitched as if he had just received an unbelievable answer. He then scanned his surroundings but didn’t see the Big Orange Cat jumping out at him.

He nodded with understanding, then bit down on the poison hidden in his gums!

A few breaths later, time began to reverse!