Chapter 614: Chapter 19 The Cursed Evolution Road

Under the influence of the bell, Daoist Xuan Qing’s gaze continuously shifted between confusion and clarity. The two bell chimes were battling over Daoist Xuan Qing’s soul, waging a fight concerning his sanity.

Soon, Daoist Xuan Qing’s eyes cleared up, and he smiled apologetically at Richard.

“I apologize for showing such a sight, my lord. The injuries from that great battle back then still haven’t fully healed, so I occasionally fall into a daze. What were you asking me just now, my lord?”

Richard watched the completely forgetful Daoist Xuan Qing, growing increasingly curious about the manipulator behind him.

This small bell had not been sacrificially refined, yet the soul rules inside were near complete. This alone made the small bell surpass most Daoist artifacts and magic equipment.

But even so, the small bell was still unable to awaken Daoist Xuan Qing.

The manipulator behind Daoist Xuan Qing was definitely not insignificant.

“With the protection of the Power of the World, could it be that this world has already birthed a World Master? But the World Master is fearing the power of that Mad Immortal, so he’s been hiding in the shadows all this time?”

Richard felt that this idea of his was likely correct.

This world definitely has more than just one Immortal Village Fragment. Hiding in these Immortal Village Fragments and quietly ascending to a World Master is not impossible.

“Since you’ve forgotten, there is no need for me to ask again. I agree to your deal, but the content of the contract needs to be modified. I will confront the Mad Immortal, but whether I can defeat him or how the battle will turn out isn’t for you to decide.”

Upon hearing Richard’s words, Daoist Xuan Qing immediately displayed a radiant smile.

“That’s no problem. I believe a being as powerful as yourself will certainly be able to slay that Mad Immortal.”

After the contract was modified, the two signed the agreement.

Subsequently, Richard let Bai collect some demonized plants in the world fragment and then left the fragment.

Having completed the transaction, Daoist Xuan Qing did not return to the Lu Family with Bai. The Lu Family was an eye-catching place, and if it weren’t for the deal with Richard, he wouldn’t have gone to the Lu Family no matter what.

On their way back, Bai suddenly asked Richard, “Evil Ghost, why did you sign that contract? Aren’t you afraid of being used by dealing with a sneaky rat-like person?”

“Kid, I remember telling you my viewpoint on schemes and plots. In the face of absolute power, all intrigues and conspiracies vanish into smoke.”

“But the Mad Immortal killed the White Wolf King. I read a lot of books lately, and the White Wolf King is described as a terrifying existence that can cause celestial phenomena with a single move, and mountains and rivers collapse with a flick of the wrist.”

“Reading is good, but your learning conditions are poor,” Richard’s voice remained as calm as ever. “Creatures like the White Wolf King exist in at least every world. And to conquer a world, the first to kill are creatures like the White Wolf King.”

“…Then why are you supporting the Young Master?”

“Firstly, I just want to support a puppet, not necessarily him. If he is unwilling, I will let him live a stable life until death. Secondly, supporting a puppet can effectively reduce resistance. Being ruled by ‘Evil Ghost’ like me is psychologically quite different from being ruled by a fellow race.

Finally, supporting a puppet allows me to have a World Lord Level subordinate.

This is extremely important to me.”

White understood some of what Richard was saying. Supporting a puppet would accelerate Richard’s conquest and could make the puppet become someone like the White Wolf King.

“I will persuade the Young Master.”

“Oh? Even the guard starts to have ambition?”

“…This has nothing to do with ambition. Cooperating with you is the best path for the Young Master.

The Young Master’s future should be incredibly bright.”

…

Returning to the Lu Family, Bai immediately went to meet the Young Master and recounted the journey.

“Immortal monsters?”

The Young Master’s brows furrowed at Bai’s description. Beside him, Miss Zhen’s face also showed a hint of shock.

“Yes, according to the Evil Ghost. Immortals came from another world, and later, due to a terrifying change, the world shattered, leading to the Immortal Country descending. The immortals within the Immortal Country were also twisted into monsters due to that change. And… he also said Dao Techniques were twisted.”

“Dao Techniques were twisted? What’s that supposed to mean?”

The Young Master’s reaction was almost identical to Richard’s; despite lacking sufficient knowledge, his simple wisdom still led him to conclude that the statement was absurd.

“Those were his exact words. I can’t understand how Dao Techniques could be twisted either.”

The Young Master pondered for a moment before eventually shaking his head and giving up thinking about it.

“These matters aren’t something we can comprehend. You’ve had quite a journey. Now that you’re back, take a good rest.

Uncle Luo told me that those families have temporarily given up their plans for me.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Leaving the room, Bai looked at Miss Zhen who followed him out.

“Miss Zhen, do you have any matters?”

He had noticed that since earlier, Miss Zhen’s gaze toward him was somewhat uncertain.

Miss Zhen looked at Bai’s prosthetic eye, remained silent for a moment, then said, “…Do you have any free time now?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then could you come with me? I have something I’d like to consult with that Exotic Realm Divine behind you.”

Bai slightly furrowed his brow.

“Miss Zhen, are you also planning to make a transaction with him?”

Miss Zhen sighed softly, “If he can cure my master, I would indeed be willing to make this transaction.”

“Your master?”

Bai was taken aback for a moment. He had been at the Lu Family for some time now. But he had never heard of Miss Zhen having a master.

“Follow me and you’ll understand. Coincidentally, you can also take that immortal disciple along.”

“…Lead the way.”

Following Miss Zhen, Bai arrived at a stone gate guarded by Iron Armor Guards. Once the Iron Armor Guards opened the stone gate, a path leading straight into the mountain appeared in front of him.

“Please come in, this is where I cultivate the Iron Armor Guards, so the security is a bit stricter.”

Following Miss Zhen, Bai arrived at Miss Zhen’s laboratory.

On the central stone platform of the laboratory, that original brocaded man was lying there obediently, not daring to move a bit.

Bai was startled, instinctively ready to draw his sword.

“Hmm? Why did you release it? This thing…”

“He can’t escape,” Miss Zhen interrupted, “An immortal disciple’s Immortal Body, once brought back to the flesh, can be prevented from transforming by severing the meridians.

I have experimented with this on other immortal disciples.”

“Other immortal disciples!?”

Bai looked at Miss Zhen with a bit of astonishment. He had personally experienced how strong immortal disciples could be, yet Miss Zhen managed to capture one without relying on an Evil Ghost.

This was not just a doctor, more formidable than a legitimate samurai like him.

In the laboratory, Richard used his prosthetic eye to look around this rudimentary laboratory.

“It’s not bad. Though a bit rudimentary, it can at least be called a laboratory. Ask her what exactly she wants.”

Bai conveyed Richard’s words, and Miss Zhen, without saying much, walked straight to the innermost side of the laboratory and opened a wooden door.

“Please enter, the person I want to save is inside.”

Upon entering the room, Bai immediately saw the huge tumor in the center. The tumor barely showed the outlines of limbs, but its massive twisted body had completely lost the physiological traits of a werewolf. A strong stench of rot permeated the air, its source being the twisted mass of flesh.

The smell seeped through its skin like a living corpse of decay.

Miss Zhen looked at the tumor with sadness in her eyes, “This is my master. She turned into this because of practicing Dao Technique.”

“Practicing Dao Technique led to this?”

Richard gazed at the tumor, memories of dissecting that Daoist’s corpse flashed in his mind.

The structure of the Daoist’s body was also distorted, but not as severely as this tumor.

“Have her explain this matter in detail. The existence of immortal disciples shows that Dao Technique can still be practiced. There must be other factors at play leading to their transformations.”

Bai conveyed Richard’s message. After pondering for a moment, Miss Zhen replied, “The Dao Technique my master practiced is called the Life-locking Technique, a Dao Technique passed down by the lineage of the Medical Saint. This magic skill was perfected into an Immortal Body by my grandmaster, the Medical Saint. Although my senior uncle had some problems in his practice, he also achieved an Immortal Body.

Only my master, her practice of this Dao Technique was smooth at first, but the further she went, the more her body changed. However, my senior uncle encountered these problems during his practice too, so she didn’t mind at first.

When she realized something was wrong, the Dao Technique started operating on its own and couldn’t be stopped.”

“Have her bring the Dao Technique here for my Fire Spirit God to look at.”

Bai took out the Fire Spirit God Tripod, bowed to it, and summoned the Fire Spirit God.

“Miss Zhen, please impart that Dao Technique to this Fire Spirit God. It is a deity sculpted by immortals in ancient times, and it might be able to identify the problem in your Dao Technique.”

Upon hearing this, Miss Zhen was shocked but soon became overwhelmingly joyful.

“I’ll go write it down now. Please wait a moment.”

Soon after, Miss Zhen handed a stack of papers filled with bird script characters to the Fire Spirit God. The Fire Spirit God opened its mouth and spat out a ball of flames, burning the papers to ash. After a moment of silence, it spoke slowly: “Your magic skill has no problem and doesn’t have any special cultivation requirements.

From the view of the cultivation technique, I can’t discern why she would transform into this.

But if you’re willing, I can investigate her internals, which might reveal some issues.”

Miss Zhen respectfully bowed, “I would appreciate that, my lord.”

The Fire Spirit God approached the mass of flesh, spitting out a flame that turned into a fiery cloth, fully enveloping the tumor. Tiny flames seeped through the pores, infiltrating the tumor’s body bit by bit.

Through these flames, the Fire Spirit God thoroughly examined the creature from inside out.

After a long while, the flames seeped out of the tumor.

With a grave expression, the Fire Spirit God spoke to Miss Zhen, “This is not an issue of the cultivation technique. She has been cursed!”

“Cursed?”

Miss Zhen looked at the Fire Spirit God in confusion; she had never considered this answer. Meanwhile, Richard’s voice also echoed in Bai’s ear.

“No, it’s not that she was cursed, it’s the Evolution Road of the Dao Technique that was cursed.”