At the same time, the lowest part of the Blood Tree unexpectedly sprouted a green shoot.
"What is this? Has it been reborn?"
Zhou Xuan learned from Monk Zhu Jiu that there were originally nine Ancestor Trees in this world. These Ancestor Trees thrived on human vitality, but if human vitality dwindled, the Ancestor Trees would wither and sink into the Unknown Land, transforming into Evil Trees.
The Blood Tree sprouting a green shoot now signifies the revival of new life.
"Tree, don’t worry. I’ll make sure you regrow back to the surface," Zhou Xuan gently patted the tree trunk and said.
Leaving the Totem Hall,
Zhou Xuan entered the Blood Well Secret Realm through meditation.
"Will the Ancient Tattoo Clan only kill me during the burning of a few sticks of incense?" Zhou Xuan asked through his thoughts.
The Blood Well remained silent,
The eyes on the temple wall looked dreary and lifeless.
"Who is the Hundred Bone Song?"
The Blood Well still showed no reaction, and the eyes didn’t even bother to lift their lids.
"Damn it, no wonder Blood Well Divination can only be conducted once a week."
Zhou Xuan finally realized that the Blood Well divination, much like the Blood Tree Sect’s tattoo map, consumed energy and needed recovery after use.
Forcing it won’t work—even it has its limits.
"Forget it, I’ll secretly figure this out myself."
Zhou Xuan severed his connection to the Blood Well.
According to the Netherworld Stone, the Hundred Bone Song is located on East Market Street. Whether it’s a ’person’ or some strange creature, Zhou Xuan had no clue.
Searching for it seemed daunting—there was no starting point at all.
"That stone once belonged to the Yumen High Priest. The words inside the stone mentioned that the Ancient Tattoo Clan needed the stone to locate the Hundred Bone Song,
but now that the stone has been smashed to fragments by the Blood Tree, the Ancient Tattoo Clan can’t locate the Hundred Bone Song either.
This is good news—it gives me some extra time."
As Zhou Xuan thought of this, he decided to pass on the news about the Ancient Tattoo Clan to his elder sister and master.
He called out Li Chengfeng through the Fei Yue.
"Old Li, accept my descent!"
Li Chengfeng, having finished attending to all his matters, returned to his study and pondered over the tattoo Zhou Xuan had designed for him—the "Heavenly Official Blessing."
As he studied it intently, he suddenly heard Zhou Xuan’s voice calling out to him.
"The High Priest is summoning me."
Li Chengfeng hurriedly dropped to both knees, adopting the posture of a devout believer, and prepared to receive Zhou Xuan’s descent.
A white light flashed before Zhou Xuan’s eyes, and his soul descended into Li Chengfeng’s body.
"Old Li," Zhou Xuan communicated with Li Chengfeng through his consciousness, "I’ve run into trouble. Notify my elder sister that the Ancient Tattoo Clan has linked to me."
"Why have they linked to you?"
"It’s for a plan called ’Tattoo Clan’s Jade Gate Ascension.’ They have already nailed down four Nuodai. I’m the final Nu in their plan. If they nail me, they’ll achieve the Jade Gate Ascension.
Use any means—call, telegraph—but get this message to my elder sister."
"Calls and telegrams are unreliable. I have my own method."
"Alright, if my sister sends back any response, find me for another descent."
With that, Zhou Xuan exited his descent state.
Li Chengfeng then recited a prayer, and a small white lantern appeared in his right hand.
He traced a few motions over the lantern with the middle finger of his left hand, and the lantern revealed a character: "Flower."
Then, he closed his eyes in meditation, infusing the message he needed to deliver into the lantern.
Li Chengfeng, finishing his chant, formed a sword gesture with his left hand and flicked upward.
The lantern ignited instantly.
At the Zhou Family’s Troupe, under the Ancestor Tree,
Zhou Lingyi noticed the silhouette of a lantern. From its design alone, she could tell where it came from.
"It’s Lord Shu from the Bone Elder Association’s lantern."
Zhou Lingyi gestured with a wave, and the lantern shattered, releasing a wave of information directly into her mind.
The more she listened to the message, the more alarmed she felt...
ps: Good brothers, enjoy your weekend, mwa!