Gu Jianlin never expected that the Bai Ze Clan was behind the Ether Association.
This claim needed further verification.
Because he didn't fully understand what it meant for the human nature of an Ancient Supreme to manifest as a separate part of themselves.
It was only when he thought about the Bai Ze Clan's abilities that he suddenly had a revelation.
To comprehend all things, to know ghosts and gods.
Then, could it also empathize with humanity?
This meant the Bai Ze Clan might truly be the Ancient God Clan most capable of communication and mutual understanding.
But the Ancient God Clan was so distant and enigmatic that it felt absurd to him.
"I've never seen one either."
Tang Ling said softly, "Only someone at the level of the President could possibly meet them."
Gu Jianlin nodded, "You just said you foresaw that many people would venture into the Sea of Eternal Life to fight over the Supreme's treasure? Is that the authority of the Bai Ze Clan? Is it based on Bai Ze's Forbidden Curse? Or something else?"
"It's actually the power of Extreme Thunder. I'm still learning Bai Ze's Forbidden Curse."
Tang Ling lifted the Extreme Thunder Great Sword and thrust it into the snow with a thud: "The President once said that Growth-Type Mythical Weapons are alive, created by the Ancient God Clan through their supreme miracles. For example, Extreme Thunder possesses the Bai Ze Clan's power of foresight along with a lethal Yin Thunder effect."
She looked at him suspiciously, "Haven't you also chosen a Growth-Type Mythical Weapon?"
Gu Jianlin was silent for a moment. He took out a rustic knife case from his backpack and opened it.
A blood-red ghost knife lay quietly inside, its blade inscribed with eerie Ancient God Clan runes, emanating a chilling ghostly aura. The hilt was forged of red jade, glimmering as though woven with countless strands of blood.
It was so sharp that snowflakes landing on its edge were instantly sliced in two.
"Jiuyin!"
A flicker of astonishment crossed Tang Ling's beautiful eyes. "How did this end up in your hands?"
Gu Jianlin asked blankly, "What's the matter?"
"This is one of the President's prized possessions, obtained at great cost from the Heavenly Destiny Pavilion."
Tang Ling tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze growing more complex. "I fell for this blade at first sight, but because I was sold to the Sword Tomb, I had to choose the Sword Sect Path instead, which wasn't compatible with it. Besides, this blade is quite peculiar. It has an extreme aversion to being touched by men."
"Aversion to being touched by men?"
Gu Jianlin's expression turned odd, thinking that Senior Ji wouldn't have set him up like this.
"That's why I find it strange. Did your teacher give it to you? Even then, it wouldn't make sense."
Tang Ling gave him a sidelong glance. "Since coming to the human world, this blade has never been used, as it can't be touched by men. Occasionally, women could hold it, but even then, it never accepted them. The Ether Association primarily worships this blade, using divination and augury to infer information about the Candle Dragon Venerable."
Whenever old monsters were mentioned, Gu Jianlin felt wide awake. "Any results?"
"Yes, they're sealed in the confidential archives."
Tang Ling replied.
Gu Jianlin glanced at the ghost knife in the knife case and, without hesitation, grabbed its hilt.
Nothing happened.
Tang Ling's beautiful eyes widened in shock. She never expected him to touch Jiuyin without any issue.
Gu Jianlin had prepared himself for resistance from Jiuyin, but to his surprise, nothing occurred.
"Didn't they say Growth-Type Mythical Weapons are supposed to be alive?"
He looked doubtful. "This thing feels dead to me."
No matter how he wielded it, there was no reaction.
Tang Ling rarely showed such an expression. Her bangs fluttered before her eyes, her beautiful gaze filled with confusion.
Gu Jianlin felt as though she were looking at him like he was some sort of anomaly.
But for a split second, Tang Ling's eyes shifted downward, glancing below his abdomen.
"Miss Tang, please have some decency."
Gu Jianlin's face darkened. "Your gaze is extremely disrespectful."
There was no doubt about it, he was male.
Even if he transitioned into the Ghost Slayer Path and became unnaturally beautiful, he was still male.
"Then prove it to me."
Tang Ling leaned closer to him. Her frost-like, delicate face was expressionless as she spoke calmly: "I may not be cute, but I'm still very attractive. At least in the Sword Tomb, I'm considered the number one beauty. At headquarters, only the younger version of the President could compare to me. And I'm not lacking in figure either."
She crossed her arms and snorted, "But I think you're not interested in me… If you're not interested in me, then you're probably even less interested in other women. Or could it be the Moon Princess?"
Ever since the Returning Burial Forest incident, it was known within the Ether Association that the "Chair-Killer" and the Moon Princess shared a close bond. This matter was kept confidential and did not spread outside.
Only Mr. Liu and Miss Lan at the You Ying Group knew about it.
"Before I lift my family's curse, I won't date anyone."
Gu Jianlin said sternly, "So I won't experience pointless feelings either."
Tang Ling snorted, "Then good luck with that."
For a moment, she felt like comforting this boy.
Losing his father and being shrouded in the shadow of death must be a terrible experience.
However, she felt she had been overly familiar with him today and was slightly embarrassed.
"You two, stop whispering over there."
Lin Lan wasn't eavesdropping earlier but had been staring at the ground the whole time. "Come quickly and take a look."
Gu Jianlin followed her voice and looked over, seeing pools of blood squirming on the ground, like live worms coalescing into shapes. Around the mouths, crimson, distorted letters were drawn—a chilling and grotesque sight.
This was Latin!
The mastermind controlling the undead here on the ice field was using Latin!
"Those who set foot into the Sea of Eternal Life shall die!"
Gu Jianlin recognized the writing easily; his academic skills came in handy. "This person is warning us not to enter the Sea of Eternal Life. He should be a Divine Servant, perhaps even a Divine, who has enhanced the power of the Corpse Ghost Skill to control these undead. Everyone, we've now entered the territory of the Kui Dragon Ancestor."
Tang Ling raised her head, narrowed her beautiful eyes: "Is Tang Zijing here as well?"
Gu Jianlin nodded slightly, "Yes."
"Tang Zijing… wait, I think I remember now. The Tang Family elder who fell into the dimensional rift of the Qilin Immortal Palace!"
Lin Lan scratched her head, "Is he still alive?"
Tang Ling said coldly, "I hope he's dead."
If he's dead, there's no more attachment.
Gu Jianlin retorted, "Such filial piety."
"Have you two ever met him?"
Lin Lan asked curiously.
"A Divine Servant of the Candle Dragon Clan, characterized by a body enshrouded in blood mist."
Gu Jianlin asked expressionlessly, "Have you seen him?"
Tang Ling gave him an unexpected look.
Indeed, if Lin Lan had been here so long, she might have encountered him.
"Blood mist… wait, blood mist!"
Lin Lan suddenly remembered something and replied, "If it's blood mist, I think I have seen him. I even fought him here on this ice field. We were evenly matched, but I couldn't hold on for long, and my body gave out. Yet he didn't kill me and just left. Old Gu mentioned this once—he said he might have run into someone he knew from the Ether Association who fell and became a Divine Servant."
He paused. "Old Gu said during the fight, he observed something. The Ancestor's control over Divine Servants isn't absolute, but if it's the Supreme's Divine Servant, then there's no saving them. Old Gu explained that the Ancient God Clan's method of controlling Divine Servants is essentially a type of pollution and parasitism."
"Some people can't endure the power of the Ancient Gods, so they transform into monstrous aberrations. However, those who withstand the power of the Ancient God's Blood are essentially polluted."
"But evolution is different. Evolution is a self-driven change triggered by external stimulation, one that transcends the Inheritance Path to derive the unique abilities of the Ancient Supreme behind the path."
"This pollution, however, can be removed. Throughout history, people have researched methods to do so. Old Gu told me that someone perfected this method in the Sea of Eternal Life. It's an unparalleled alchemical miracle!"
Tang Ling was stunned.
Gu Jianlin softly murmured, "Xu Fu…"