Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 479 Do you think I'm a born killer?

The dust kicked up by the explosion had not yet completely dissipated, and the cave was filled with the smell of burning.

Seeing Li Dingjian's somewhat puzzled expression, Ye Zhiren adjusted his glasses and continued to explain:
"Given Xuanzhen's personality, he would never willingly let me kill him. He would definitely send a distress signal to the organization before he dies."

"However, I did not sense any abnormal mental fluctuations."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the corpses scattered on the ground:

There are two possibilities.

"Firstly, the Chen family's bloodline talent is very important to their action plan. In addition, Xuanzhen has been secretly plotting for many years, so that man simply placed the spiritual mark on Chen Hongye's body."

"Therefore, the fact that Xuanzhen's soul was destroyed did not attract the man's attention."

"Secondly, although I destroyed the mother Gu in the Ten Thousand Souls Mother Gu Pool, the offspring Gu scattered in various places still exist, which gives Xuanzhen the opportunity to possess others through the offspring Gu..."

"Chen Hongye's corpse?!"

Li Dingjian's expression changed drastically, and he blurted out.

"impossible."

Ye Zhiren shook his head, his tone resolute:

"With the mother Gu destroyed and her soul disintegrated, the remaining weak spiritual power of the offspring Gu is insufficient for him to revive a corpse."

"Even if he is an S-class mental ability user, known as the 'Undying Blood Demon,' he absolutely cannot achieve such a heaven-defying level. At most, he could possess a target who was previously mentally controlled and try to take over their body."

Li Dingjian frowned and pondered for a moment, then asked:
"Is there another possibility that the old monster is simply hiding in the Spirit Realm and never coming out?"

Ye Zhiren looked up at him:
“The spiritual realm can indeed house the souls of the dead, but if it lacks a real-world anchor, such as a physical body or a special container like the Ten Thousand Souls Mother Gu Pool, then doing so is a form of slow death.”

"If a soul is trapped in a secret realm for a long time, completely isolated from reality, it will slowly forget itself and be assimilated by the world of consciousness, becoming no different from a skeleton buried in a grave..."

He paused, then added a few more sentences:
"Therefore, every ability user who reaches S-rank and successfully establishes a mental realm will find a suitable vessel in advance to prepare for unforeseen circumstances and avoid ending up with their soul scattered when they are in dire straits."

After casually recounting these words of experience, Ye Zhiren continued to examine the corpses of the villagers on the ground.

He gently brushed his fingers across their foreheads, sensing the lingering mental fluctuations.

After checking everything, no abnormalities were found.

Ye Zhiren then stood up, the tension in his heart finally eased, but he was inexplicably disappointed.

The man didn't show up, and the backup plan that had been prepared wouldn't have a chance to be tested.

Just then, a commotion faintly came from outside the cave.

"An earthquake has occurred! The mountain god is angry!"

"Something's happened at the altar, hurry to the altar..."

The loud explosion clearly startled the birds and beasts sleeping in the valley, and also alarmed the remaining villagers in the village.

Hearing the growing noise outside, Li Dingjian couldn't help but ask:

"Professor, what do we do next?"

Ye Zhiren dusted off his hands and said expressionlessly:
"Next, we must eliminate all the venomous insects that Xuanzhen planted, leaving him no chance to revive."

"what!"

Li Dingjian's heart skipped a beat. He realized that the Zi Gu might be on those villagers, and he instinctively exclaimed in surprise.

Are they going to slaughter the entire village?

He thought to himself, "The professor has truly grasped the meaning of 'ruthlessness,' he's actually determined to eliminate all traces..."

Ye Zhiren seemed to have read his thoughts, and gave him a dismissive glance:
Do you take me for a serial killer?

Seeing that Li Dingjian's eyes were unfocused, he softened his tone:

"To deal with Xuanzhen's evil spell of using Gu, there's no need for a major overhaul. We just need to check on the villagers one by one and help them clear the negative thoughts and mental suggestions rooted in their minds."

"Once things are settled here, we'll immediately return to Tiannan Province to find the Chen family and resolve the last remaining threat."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the cave, his steps steady and firm.

Li Dingjian breathed a sigh of relief and followed closely behind.

The two emerged from the cave and quickly disappeared into the night.

All that remained were the ruins of the altar buried deep in the mountainside and the approaching torchlight.

....................................

Early in the morning.

VIP lounge at Cuicheng Hospital, Tiannan Province.

The lights were bright and warm yellow, and there was a faint smell of disinfectant in the air.

Fang Cheng, Lin Chuqiao, Bai Ling, and Pan Wendi sat around a small table.

The four of them remained silent, their expressions unusually focused.

Lin Chuqiao held a ballpoint pen in her hand and was quickly scribbling on a piece of white paper.

Her eyes seemed to sparkle with brilliant stars, exuding an extraordinary and refined aura.

At the same time, the pen tip glides lightly across the paper, making a soft scratching sound.

The lines are chaotic and disorderly, yet they seem to follow some mysterious rule.

As the brushstrokes extend, a scene with a comic book style gradually emerges on the paper.

Suddenly, she stopped writing and pushed the drawing paper to the center of the table.

"what is this?"

Pan Wendi and Bai Ling curiously leaned over to take a closer look.

Fang Cheng also turned his gaze to the paper.

What was drawn on the white paper was a gloomy and eerie scene.

Torches flickered in the dim cave.

Many corpses dressed in traditional ethnic minority costumes lay on the ground.

There is also an altar made of countless skulls, depicting the moment it was blown to pieces.

In the shadow of the pool embedded at the top of the altar, the outline of a painfully distorted human face can still be vaguely seen.

In the corner of the picture, two figures stand quietly watching from a distance, seemingly the instigators of all this.

"I don't understand. It looks like some kind of failed sacrificial ceremony?"

Bai Ling asked in confusion.

"Cousin, this painting of yours is a bit abstract..."

Pan Wendi scratched his head, also feeling puzzled.

Fang Cheng's pupils contracted slightly.

The altar in the painting was exactly the same as the white bone altar he had seen in the Mysterious Realm of Xuanzhen.

Even that distorted human face bore a striking resemblance to Xuanzhen.

“I’ve seen the scenes Chu Qiao painted.”

After a moment's thought, Fang Cheng briefly described what had happened in the mystical realm.

Upon hearing this, Pan Wendi and Bai Ling suddenly realized what was going on.

Lin Chuqiao rubbed her temples to relieve the tension after using her ability, then let out a sigh of relief:
"It seems my hunch was right. While we were dealing with Xuanzhen's physical body, another group of people found the lair he used to house his soul."

Fang Cheng's eyes flickered as he stared at the two blurry figures on the paper and asked:
"Could it be my uncle and the professor?"

"It's possible."

Lin Chuqiao nodded slightly, but her eyebrows furrowed slightly, showing a hint of confusion:

"However, when I used my ability just now, it seemed that someone deliberately concealed the secrets of heaven, and I could not see what they looked like at all. I could only draw a rough outline."

"However, one thing is clear."

Her gaze deepened, and her tone became resolute:
“Xuanzhen’s aura has not completely dissipated; he may still retain a trace of his remnant soul.”

Pan Wendi asked:
"You mean, Xuanzhen also has a hiding place in the real world?"

"should be."

Lin Chuqiao's fair fingers traced the outline of the altar on the paper:
"The secret realm is a spiritual fortress, but it still needs a physical container. This altar and blood pool are most likely the anchor points that Xuanzhen uses to entrust his soul."

As she spoke, she raised her head, her gaze turning to Fang Cheng, her eyes filled with a hint of seriousness:

"However, this place should have been destroyed by those two mysterious people by now. Without the secret realm, we have also lost our anchor point in reality."

"Xuanzhen's only chance of survival is probably those whose minds he once controlled."

"So, he might still be alive?"

Bai Ling opened her eyes wide and immediately tensed up.

"uncertain."

Lin Chuqiao shook her head, a hint of weariness appearing between her brows:
"It could just be a lingering mental imprint, but it never hurts to be careful."

Fang Cheng nodded, leaned back in his chair, and said nothing more, his mind filled with many thoughts.

After resolving the issue of Xuanzhen's possession of another body and destroying his soul, they had been busy for nearly four hours.

First, he watched as the Chen family completely cremated Chen Hongye's body into ashes.

At the same time, they supervised the monks of Cuicheng Temple to preside over the Water and Land Dharma Assembly to deliver the souls of the deceased.

Afterwards, Fang Cheng, still not entirely at ease, checked each of the Chen family members present to confirm that there were no abnormalities.

In the middle of the night, they and Chen Xu'an arrived at the hospital and checked on the Chen family members who were hospitalized due to the curse. After Xuanzhen's death, the curse was naturally lifted.

Although those people were physically weak, they all regained their senses, and the examination revealed no problems.

Theoretically speaking, the matter should be over.

But Fang Cheng felt that something was not right.

After witnessing the example of Jiang Chen, a demon, he dared not underestimate Xuanzhen, an old monster.

After all, Xuanzhen was able to possess Chen Hongye's corpse.

Who can guarantee that he didn't attach his remnant soul to other members of the Chen family the moment the secret realm was destroyed?

During their previous encounter, that old monster easily controlled more than a dozen members of the Chen family, including many experts who had awakened their bloodline abilities.

Fang Cheng knew that to deal with such a mysterious and powerful enemy, one had to eliminate them completely, like sweeping away fallen leaves in autumn.

Even if it means digging up ancestral graves, you must ensure that the other party has absolutely no chance of making a comeback.

So he told Lin Chuqiao about his doubts, and she then used her prophetic abilities to help verify whether Xuanzhen had truly died and disappeared.

That's why they stayed at the hospital in the early hours of the morning.

Bai Ling, sitting next to him, sipped her coffee, while Pan Wendi listlessly scrolled through her phone.

Lin Chuqiao sat opposite her, her hands supporting her chin, seemingly pondering the same question.

"But then again."

Pan Wendi suddenly put down her phone, stroked her chin, and looked at Fang Cheng:
"If Chen Xu'an brings the person over later and still can't find anything wrong, you're not planning to kill the entire Chen family to prevent future trouble, are you?"

Fang Cheng rolled his eyes at him upon hearing this:
Do you think I'm a born killer?

"That's impossible to say."

Pan Wendi grinned mischievously: "After all, you've taken down quite a few enemies."

"That's called self-defense counterattack."

Fang Cheng offered a brief explanation, but then ignored him.

Lin Chuqiao then raised her head, her gaze falling on Fang Cheng's face, her eyes gentle yet firm:
"Brother Cheng, don't worry. Since Uncle's matter is related to Xuanzhen and that organization called Ideal Land, I will assist you and help you get to the bottom of it."

"Brother Cheng??"

Pan Wendi gave an exaggerated shiver and winked:

"Oh my, cousin, what you said...it's giving me goosebumps, it's so cheesy!"

Bai Ling stood to the side, suppressing her laughter, and kept her head down, not daring to utter a sound.

A faint blush instantly rose to Lin Chuqiao's cheeks, and she glared at Pan Wendi with embarrassment and annoyance:
Can't you be serious for once?

"Isn't this serious?"

Pan Wendi said in a serious tone:
"I was just worried that you two would get too lovey-dovey, and that Bailing and I would feel bad being third wheels..."

"Shut up!"

Lin Chuqiao's pink cheeks flushed with anger, and she gritted her teeth.

Fang Cheng shook his head helplessly, but a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

He looked at Lin Chuqiao's slightly flushed cheeks, her clear eyes filled with concern and worry.

The words were simple, yet they gave him a sense of security and reassurance.

This girl always appeared when he needed her most, offering help.

Fang Cheng said softly, "Chu Qiao, thank you."

Lin Chuqiao was stunned upon hearing this.

She then gently lowered her eyes, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips:

"What nonsense are you talking about... Do we need to thank each other?"

Her voice was soft and gentle, yet carried a hint of coquettishness.

Seeing my cousin, who is usually proud and aloof and indifferent to men, now showing such a demeanor, like a young girl falling in love for the first time.

Pan Wendi couldn't help but marvel at it from the side:

"Seriously, can you two please consider the feelings of us single people?"

"Pfft-"

Bai Ling couldn't help but laugh out loud.

His joke eased the somewhat somber atmosphere in the lounge a little.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Please come in."

Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed, and he immediately shouted.

With a creak, Chen Xu'an, the second young master of the Chen family, pushed open the door and entered.

He looked tired, but his expression remained relatively calm.

"Mr. Bai, as per your request, all members of the Chen family in Cuicheng have been summoned overnight and are now waiting in the outer hall for your inspection."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Fang Cheng stood up and stretched his stiff shoulders:

"Let's go, take care of the rest, and then we can go back and rest."

Lin Chuqiao and Bailing also got up, Pan Wendi put away his phone, and the group filed out.

The corridor was quiet, with only the smell of disinfectant in the air.

The group walked through the long corridor, their footsteps echoing softly on the tiled floor.

After turning two corners, you'll find the VIP ward area's lounge ahead.

Even before you get close, you can hear rustling voices coming from inside.

Pushing open the double doors, the scene before him made Fang Cheng raise an eyebrow slightly.

It was already past 2 a.m., but the hall was packed with people, men, women, and children, numbering at least seventy or eighty.

Their expressions varied; some were puzzled, others were uneasy, and they whispered among themselves, discussing the matter.

Clearly, being summoned by Chen Xu'an in the middle of the night and not knowing what had happened, they were all a little uneasy.

Especially at a time when the Chen family was experiencing a series of strange events.

However, due to Chen Xu'an's status as the new head of the family, even though they were unwilling, they could only obediently follow orders.

Upon seeing Fang Cheng and his group enter, the murmurs among the crowd immediately subsided, and all eyes turned towards them.

Without wasting words, Fang Cheng walked straight to the front of the crowd, his eyes slightly narrowed.

He took a deep breath and focused his mind.

The next second, a strange red light shone in his pupils, as if a burning flame was leaping in his eyes.

"The Cleaner's Eye is activated!"

He could clearly see the energy fluctuations of everyone he could see.

Some people had a steady, calm breathing, while others appeared weak and pale.

However, all of these were within the normal range, with no strange mental fluctuations or signs of possession by evil spirits.

Fang Cheng's gaze swept over each face like a scanner, from left to right and from front to back.

The whole process lasted nearly ten minutes.

Finally, Fang Cheng slowly withdrew his gaze, and the red light in his pupils gradually dissipated, returning to normal black.

He turned his head and nodded slightly to Chen Xu'an.

Chen Xu'an breathed a sigh of relief and wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead:

“I’ve used my spiritual eyes to observe before, and I haven’t found anything unusual.”

Just when everyone thought they could breathe a sigh of relief, Lin Chuqiao suddenly frowned and slowly scanned the crowd.

Her eyes showed some hesitation, as if she were taking stock of something.

"Is everyone here?"

Lin Chuqiao asked softly, "Why do I feel like... one is missing?"

The lark also realized what was happening and looked around:

"Yes, where's that lecherous-eyed third young master? I haven't seen him."

Chen Xu'an was stunned for a moment before realizing that his third brother, Chen Qiming, was indeed not present.

His expression changed slightly, and he immediately took out his phone to call Chen Qiming.

"Beep-beep-"

The phone rang for a long time and no one answered.

Chen Xu'an frowned and tried a second time.

Still no one answered.

The third time, it was the same.

(End of this chapter)