Chapter 118 - 99: Tallying the Gains

Chapter 118: Chapter 99: Tallying the Gains

"Someone."

The heavy oak door was pushed open in silence.

An adjutant with gleaming epaulets and a face as stern as iron entered with a standard military gait.

His leather boots made no sound on the floor. He stood at attention and saluted, his posture as straight as a spear.

"Have Bai Lang secretly enter the Xiao Mountain region and await orders.

No one is to make a move without my command."

"Yes, Commander!" the adjutant noted, remaining perfectly still.

"As for Zhou Renli, is his itinerary set?"

"It is.

In ten days, at nine in the morning, he will depart from the Provincial City by private car.

He is expected to arrive at the border of Yin Mountain County around Noon.

Lu Huaiqian has already cabled back. He will lead his personal guards to welcome him."

A cold smile curled the corners of Commander Bai’s mouth, but his eyes were sharp as a blade:

"Zhou Renli... That name sounds unlucky.

He won’t be able to hold that position in Yin Mountain, nor should he even think about it."

"Understood."

The adjutant understood completely, saluted again, and turned. With steps as light as a leopard’s, he exited soundlessly, closing the door behind him.

The study returned to silence, save for the heavy brass grandfather clock in the corner.

Its pendulum swung rhythmically, left and right, making a "CLICK, TOCK, CLICK, TOCK" sound.

Cold and precise, it measured every fleeting inch of opportunity in the arena of power.

Compared to the surging undercurrents and hidden killing intent in the Provincial City and Xiao Mountain,

Lu Jing’an’s past seven days had been exceptionally peaceful, spent in a secluded courtyard behind the Yin Mountain Water Patrol Bureau.

Lu Jing’an knew exactly what was going on.

He had previously slain the Water Demon and exposed the truth at a public trial.

It was as if he had thrown a boulder into a pool of stagnant water—one that looked calm but was actually putrid—and then, for good measure, had built a stage beside it.

Now, the ripples had become a raging tempest, and the various players were taking their turns on stage.

Whether it would be a series of good shows or a bloodbath at close quarters,

it no longer required him, the stage-builder, to get up and hawk his wares. The price of admission he wanted was already securely in his pocket.

For the past five days, he had closed his doors to all visitors, focusing on digesting the spoils of his victory.

Within the quiet room, the door and windows were shut tight.

Only a single ray of light slanted in from a high window, illuminating the fine dust motes floating in the air.

Lu Jing’an sat cross-legged on a cattail cushion, his eyes slightly closed, his consciousness sinking into the Zhengqi Furnace.

And this time, the harvest for Lu Jing’an was truly a bountiful one.

Lu Jing’an had obtained two red entries.

There were three orange entries and three green ones.

Eight entries in total.

The quantity was high, and the quality was excellent.

As for Energy Points, Lu Jing’an had gained 42.

For Lu Jing’an, this was an absolutely massive haul.

After finishing the Refining of the last Martial Cultivator’s Divine Soul, Lu Jing’an finally began to take stock of his gains.

[Blade of Destiny] (Red)

[Note]: Destiny is the world’s most elusive sculpture. Only the Blade of Destiny can modify or cut away at a sculpture that already exists.

Equipping this entry gives you the ability to alter the fate of others. However, the Blade of Destiny is a double-edged sword; every alteration requires a sacrifice.

This [Blade of Destiny] was the entry Lu Jing’an had Refined from that Fate Cultivator.

It was also one of only two red entries.

Just from the [Note], it was clear that this red entry absolutely lived up to its name.

Although every alteration required a sacrifice,

the ability to change a person’s destiny was in itself an overpowered ability.

[King of Zeguo] (Red)

[Note]: As the apex predator of Zeguo, you are the King of Zeguo. Any creature in the water will feel a natural fear toward you. When they encounter you in the water, they will be awed by your kingly aura, and all their Attributes will be reduced by 50%.

This red entry was obtained from the Piggy Dragon.

Lu Jing’an had originally thought it would be a Defense-oriented entry.

He hadn’t expected this one.

For Lu Jing’an, this entry was actually far more useful than a Defense-attribute entry would have been.

The three orange entries were, respectively:

[Danger Perception]!

This was obtained from the Water Monkey.

It allows one to perceive the approach of danger within 100 meters, and it also grants an additional 5-point bonus to the Spirit Attribute.

[Hydrological Control]!

This was obtained from the Catfish Demon.

Affinity with and control over water currents reaches a new level. Speed in water is increased by 50%.

With a mere thought, the water within twenty meters becomes an extension of your body, able to form shackles or sharp blades.

[Sound Transformation]!

This was obtained from that blind Zither Cultivator.

Melodies are no longer ethereal; they can be condensed into blades, swords, fists, and palms to harm enemies from a distance.

There were also three green entries.

[Underwater Hibernation]!

This was also obtained from the Piggy Dragon.

It can drastically reduce underwater metabolism, similar to entering a state of Turtle Breath, allowing one to lie submerged for up to a month without surfacing.

[Guard Enhancement].

This was obtained from the other blind man.

Allows you to designate one close Guard, granting them a significant 20% boost to All Attributes and strengthening their loyalty.

[Water Concealment]!

This one was from the Catfish Demon.

It allows one to merge with the underwater silt and weeds, hiding one’s presence.

This time, Lu Jing’an’s haul of entries was basically all obtained from the Three-Headed Demon, the Fate Cultivator, and the Zither Cultivator.

The Martial Cultivators, on the other hand, had not been able to provide Lu Jing’an with any entries.

This was mainly because the Martial Cultivator entries Lu Jing’an already possessed were too powerful.

There were really no entries the Martial Cultivators had that he could use.

After checking all the entries and their notes,

Lu Jing’an began to see which entries could be fused together.

’[Sound Transformation] and [Cause and Effect Following Sound] can be combined.’

’[Underwater Hibernation] and [Water Concealment] can be combined.’

’[Mind Control] and [Tiger Roar in the Forest] can be combined.’