Eating bizarre things in public upgrades my status; the Special Affairs Bureau wants me to join them

"It's the previous consciousness!"

"What... what's in her hand?"

Yu Qingge was about to ask He Li about the second awakening when she was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the consciousness, and Yu Qingge's gaze was also drawn to the object in its hand.

Following Yu Qingge's gaze...

It is evident that the consciousness entity wearing a feathered crown is approaching.

She held a short, bluish-gray stick in her hand.

The short stick looked like it was made of bronze, with a black tip and faint blood-red cracks.

The end is inlaid with a white pointed cone.

"This is... a torch?"

Staring at the bronze-colored short stick, He Li couldn't help but recall the phantom of Fang Xiangshi that these consciousness entities had summoned before. The torch in the phantom's hand was very similar to the short stick.

Perhaps hearing He Li's voice, Yu Qingge nodded as if she had remembered this: "It does look like it."

"But what does this consciousness want to do?"

Her face was full of vigilance.

He Li stepped forward and said, "Don't be nervous."

"She doesn't seem to have any hostility..." Just then, the consciousness passed over Yu Qingge and came to He Li, handing him a bronze object that looked like a torch.

The latter was a bit surprised.

"Give it to me?" What's going on? Could it be that her identity as the Lord of the Underworld has prompted her to offer this treasure?

He couldn't help but speculate in his mind.

But the words that the consciousness uttered...

However, this overturned his guess.

"The item...returned to its...owner..."

Perhaps due to amnesia, she spoke these words with obvious difficulty and seemed somewhat bewildered, as if she herself did not know why she was saying such things.

He Li and Yu Qingge were completely dumbfounded when they heard her utter those four words.

Return it to its rightful owner?

What does "returning something to its rightful owner" mean?

He Li did not recall ever owning bronze artifacts that were clearly not ordinary utensils.

Besides, this thing is still in the Netherworld...

He had never been here before.

This is so strange!

Yu Qingge, equally bewildered, couldn't help but scrutinize He Li before looking at the consciousness: "You mean... he entrusted this to you for safekeeping?"

"Now you're returning it to its rightful owner?"

The consciousness did not speak upon hearing this, but simply shook its head blankly, clearly indicating that it did not remember anything.

Seeing this, He Li shrugged: "Never mind, she's lost her past memories and can't possibly know anymore. The reason she did this is most likely because it's important..."

"This made a deep impression on her, so much so that she would do this if a certain key event was triggered in her subconscious."

"Anyway, I'll accept the things for now."

"It looks like a treasure."

"Go back and figure out how to use it!"

As he spoke, He Li didn't bother to think any further and simply reached out and grasped the bronze artifact offered by the consciousness entity...

hum! ! !

The moment He Li's fingers touched the bronze artifact, countless dense golden cracks suddenly appeared on it, making it look like the shell of some creature had broken.

As the cracks widened, the bluish-gray outer shell of the bronze artifact turned into specks of bluish light and vanished without a trace.

And beneath that bluish-gray outer shell...

The true nature of the short stick has been completely exposed.

"This is... a branch of a divine tree?"

Staring at the blood-red stick, which was exactly the same color and texture as the trunk of the Fusang Divine Tree and resembled a torch, Yu Qingge was completely astonished and never expected this.

He Li was equally surprised when he picked up the unlit torch, which looked no different from a fire poker.

But soon, he discovered the problem...

"No, this thing is somewhat different from the Fusang Divine Tree that I took away before."

He suddenly frowned and spoke.

Yu Qingge asked in confusion, "What's different?"

"How come I didn't notice?"

"It's normal that you didn't notice!" He Li replied, "I only realized it when I held it in my hand. This thing... seems to contain some kind of inexplicable power."

"And it's very powerful. Most importantly, that power feels similar to that of 'Wa'!"

"Really?" Yu Qingge's eyes widened.

He Li nodded: "It can't be fake."

"The only difference is that the power is not hostile to me and resides in this torch. Perhaps... lighting the torch can draw out that power to fight."

"Furthermore, this force..."

"It might have originated from the original divine tree."

"After all, the four divine trees in mythology have existed for a very long time and possess a great deal of power. Theoretically speaking, they are not necessarily weaker than those gods."

"That's true!" Yu Qingge nodded.

But soon, as if she had just realized something, she suddenly turned her head to look at the feathered consciousness...

"Wait, there's the 'Great Nuo Rhapsody,' Nuo dance, and torches related to the sacred tree. Could it be... that these consciousnesses are actually the ancient sages of Shu?"

"Take a closer look at what this consciousness looks like..."

"Especially the feathered crown on her head."

"That is clearly a priest's feathered crown."

"The elder you killed before wore a feathered crown similar to this one."

Hearing this, He Li agreed: "Yes, you might actually be right about that. It's just a pity that even if you knew all this, it wouldn't be of any use now."

"If only they still had their memories..."

"They might even acknowledge you as their junior and give you some power from their era."

"Now? There's no chance then!"

Yu Qingge also felt a sense of surprise after hearing this.

If only we had arrived here sooner...

As a descendant of the ancient Shu people, even if these sages don't grant her power, as long as she's shameless and persistent in asking for it, she might actually have a chance to gain benefits.

Unfortunately, they were too late.

Seeing Yu Qingge's disappointment, He Li spoke again...

"Alright, don't overthink it. You still have a chance to awaken a second time and become stronger."

"But before that, let's continue to explore what else is here, and also think about how we can leave this place and return to the outside world."

"Don't forget that the golden crow is still in your tribe."

"That thing clearly has ill intentions."

"If we don't go back now, who knows what that golden crow will do to bewitch and guide your tribe? If your tribe gets into trouble, it could be annihilated."

Yu Qingge nodded upon hearing this.

There was nothing she could do about the missed opportunity, so she could only suppress her emotions and reply, "I understand."

"But don't you know a lot of things?"

"Especially things here?"

"Then can't you leave?"

"I..." He Li was about to respond, but before he could say anything, he frowned and looked up at the sky that was suddenly emitting golden light in the distance.

Seeing He Li's unusual behavior, Yu Qingge also turned her head curiously to follow his gaze...

hum! ! !

In the distance, in the previously gray sky, specks of golden light appeared from the clouds, and before Yu Qingge could see what they were, a familiar voice rang out...

"So you were here?"

"Looks like I'm pretty lucky."

"If the distance is too far, and this abandoned land is so vast, who knows how long you'll have to search!" With this voice, a gigantic golden phantom burst through the clouds...

boom!!!

With a roar, Jinwu Eleven's figure, flashing with golden light, hovered above the two in an instant.

Yu Qingge panicked a little when she saw this.

"Golden Crow Eleven? It's chased us all the way here?"

"Isn't this great?"

He Li, standing beside him, smiled slightly.

"Okay?" Yu Qingge was speechless: "This guy is a god, even if it's just a sliver of a god's consciousness... but it has lived for so many years, it's probably not so easy to deal with."

"Whatever!" He Li shrugged.

"In my opinion, it came at just the right time, since our gains have already been quite substantial."

"I was originally planning to leave anyway."

"Now that it's here, we can catch it and find out how to leave and go back. Hehe, isn't this like a godsend?"

Huh? That seems to be true.

But the prerequisite is being able to deal with this guy.

Yu Qingge was still unsure.

Upon hearing He Li's words, the Golden Crow Eleven's scarlet eyes revealed undisguised mockery...

"What foolish mortals!"

"If we were outside, in the lower realm, even if I had the power, I wouldn't dare to use it to kill you easily. But this place is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Dao of the lower realm."

"This is a deserted, abandoned land!"

"In other words, we gods will be completely unrestrained here and will be able to use our true power."

"Mortal, you are nothing but an ant!"

"You think you can compare to God..."

Jinwu Eleven was speaking arrogantly, but before he could finish, he suddenly fell silent, staring blankly at He Li with a look of shock in his eyes, as if he had discovered something outrageous.

He Li seemed to have sensed something as well.

He smiled and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Why aren't you saying anything?

"Is it because you don't like to talk?"