36. The torch is passed on when the flame is exhausted.

After hiding the fist-sized black egg inside the hawksbill rabbit's corpse, Zhu Qianqian deliberately hid the rabbit's body in an abandoned building.

There was no human activity in this area, and even the demons dared not linger in places with unstable spiritual energy. Six hundred years have passed, and the array that maintained its stability has become dilapidated, while the building itself and its interior are lush and green, with shrubs even growing inside.

Zhu Qianqian hid the gradually warming, soft corpse in a corner bush, and cast several spells to conceal her presence before hurriedly returning to the Graveyard Forest.

The rules of the secret realm have discovered Zhu Qianqian, this "lawbreaker".

On her way back to the Graveyard Forest, Zhu Qianqian felt invisible spiritual energy in the air pressing down on her from all directions. In shock, she remembered the various broken rules of the blessed land, one of which was that "monsters who have not cultivated an inner core within their territory are not allowed to leave their territory."

In fact, many of the rules promulgated by the immortals are very vague, only stipulating what can be done, what cannot be done, and what must be done, but rarely explaining in detail what the punishment will be for violating the rules.

Now Zhu Qianqian truly understood the sinister intentions of these scoundrels. What kind of ridiculous rules are these! All the demons breathe the same air and tread on the same land, so why should they be punished for crossing the border!

I never imagined the road home would be so difficult.

She tried her best to envelop her body with spiritual power, but her figure swayed in mid-air. The strange pressure continued to exert pressure on her, and it was becoming stronger and more domineering, making it difficult for Zhu Qianqian to control her breathing.

She had the illusion that although she was flying in the air, she felt like an ant in the palm of a human's hand.

"Pfft, cough cough!"

This strange pressure came suddenly and hastily, with overwhelming force. Zhu Qianqian panicked and lost her composure, forced to make it impossible for her to fly due to the suddenly intensified pressure around her.

She coughed up blood, her body swayed, and the fiery red light plummeted straight down.

However, the imagined pain did not occur.

Zhu Qianqian felt herself being caught by something warm. She barely opened her eyes and saw a person with delicate features and a cold expression holding her, looking somewhat frightening.

"...Humans?"

Zhu Qianqian calmed down, and the oppressive aura around her seemed to be dispersed by a gentle breeze. It came and went in a strange way. She raised her spiritual perception and realized that it was the immortal in front of her who was protecting her with spiritual power.

The two landed, and Zhu Qianqian cautiously stared at him. The man asked, "Are you alright? Where did this monster come from?"

Humans again, how annoying.

Zhu Qianqian lowered her eyes and said politely, "Greetings, Immortal Master. Goodbye, Immortal Master."

"Hello."

The man grabbed Zhu Qianqian's hand and said, "Judging from your appearance just now, you're not a monster from Xiangyang Mountain, are you? If you're too far away from me, my spiritual power won't be able to protect you, and you'll be crushed into mincemeat by the pressure of the secret realm."

"Really?"

Zhu Qianqian's expression changed slightly.

This is a human; their understanding of rules is definitely far superior to that of monsters. And she still feels lingering fear from that inexplicable pressure she just experienced.

So Zhu Qianqian lowered her head and asked softly, "Immortal Master, since you're so kind, could you please escort me back to the burial ground? I just—"

The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I stopped myself abruptly.

I used too much spiritual energy to cover up the hawksbill rabbit's corpse, and now I don't have enough spiritual energy left.

"Please, little immortal!" Zhu Qianqian clasped her hands together. "The graveyard is very close, could you do me a favor? I will repay you in the future!"

The boy in front of him frowned. "Graveyard? How come the monsters of the Graveyard are on Sunrise Mountain? How did you manage to travel such a long distance?"

Zhu Qianqian misunderstood, and the flame in her heart gradually died down.

Indeed, how could humans, who are high and mighty, possibly help a suspicious monster who can't even speak coherently?

Zhu Qianqian said disappointedly, "Then..."

The immortal in front of her grasped Zhu Qianqian's wrist.

Zhu Qianqian was shocked and looked up at him. The man was still expressionless, even his eyes were lifeless, and he looked numb. He didn't seem like a good person.

“My name is Tang Xihe. Stop calling me ‘Immortal Master’ all the time. You can call me by my name,” he said. “Let’s go. Show me the way.”

"..." Zhu Qianqian hesitated, "How many immortal coins do you want? I don't have any immortal coins, can I use spiritual plants instead?"

"Whatever. If you feel bad about it, you can give me a feather."

The immortal who called himself Tang Xihe slowly channeled his spiritual energy, a pale blue energy enveloping Zhu Qianqian. "Let's go. Where to?"

Zhu Qianqian exclaimed in surprise, "Oh no, Zhu He!"

She immediately grabbed Tang Xihe's wrist, and Tang Xihe cooperated, using her spiritual power to fly away.

...

"How are you?"

In mid-air, Tang Xi conjured a medicine bottle from somewhere, poured out a pill with one hand, and handed it to Zhu Qianqian, saying, "Press it under your tongue and hold it in your mouth; it can quickly replenish your spiritual energy."

"For...for me?"

Zhu Qianqian was flattered. She picked up the pill with two fingers, smelled it carefully at the tip of her nose, and then cautiously put it into her mouth.

"Why did you go all the way to Xiangyang Mountain? The cemetery is so far away."

"..."

Zhu Qianqian didn't want to explain too much, so she said vaguely, "My friend, the hawksbill rabbit, wanted to be buried in a secluded, safe, and unexpected place, and it took me some effort to do it."

Master Tang misunderstood, nodding and saying, "Xiangyang Mountain is warm as spring, and the monsters are kind and friendly. It is indeed a good place for burial, and your friend will like it. But... what is a hawksbill rabbit?"

"ah?"

This time it was Zhu Qianqian's turn to be surprised. "The hawksbill rabbit is a little monster that can be found everywhere in our cemetery. Don't you immortals like to use it to make masks and humanoid shells? It has the characteristic of shedding its skin like a cicada, and can fake its death. Ordinary people without spiritual power cannot tell the difference."

Tang Xianchang's expression twisted for a moment, then he shook his head. "What do you mean by refining a mask? And a body? I've never heard of that."

Zhu Qianqian wanted to argue, but after looking him over, she realized that the young immortal was only about twenty years old, so she kept quiet.

Twenty years old—too young. Human lifespans are so short, yet they are so cunning, domineering, and powerful. After Zhu He's poisoning incident, Zhu Qianqian's idealized view of humanity has shattered into pieces.

Hawksbill rabbits were everywhere a hundred years ago, just like apples for humans all year round. But because of the immortals... no, because of the rats in the sewers of the research institute, they hunted hawksbill rabbits to extinction. Zhu Qianqian hadn't seen a hawksbill rabbit for more than 20 years.

……wrong.

Hawksbill rabbits went extinct a hundred years ago. Zhu Qianqian had seen one when she was a child, which is why she remembered it. But what was that hawksbill rabbit just now?

How did it end up at the edge of the secret realm? Where did it come from?

Further out, that's the living area of ​​humans. Monsters without identification documents are not allowed to enter. Could it be that the hawksbill rabbit was contracted by a human?

Zhu Qianqian felt uneasy, sensing that something was amiss.

Tang Xianchang, who was gripping his wrist, suddenly turned cold, "Are we almost there?"

"Huh? Uh, we're almost there!"

Zhu Qianqian was startled, thinking that Tang Xianzhang was getting impatient. Her eyes darted around, and she quickly pointed to a forest in the distance and said, "That's it! The forest shrouded in white mist."

"What did you do? There are many pursuers behind us, and they look very menacing."

"What!"

Zhu Qianqian was shocked and couldn't help but turn around, "There's nothing there?"

"Hurry up." Tang Xihe's face was tense, and she couldn't help but tighten her grip on Zhu Qianqian's hand. "There are nearly a hundred people. I can't handle them with you. Did you do something? They're after you."

Zhu Qianqian's heart skipped a beat. She was already feeling a little guilty, and upon hearing this, her heart started racing even faster.

The next second, she suddenly felt a chilling killing intent coming from behind her. Her body, which had already taken human form, felt as if ants were crawling on her arms, and a chill enveloped her entire body.

She couldn't help but turn around. A huge group of people dressed in black robes, densely packed like a dark cloud, were flying towards her and Tang Xianchang with great momentum, seemingly shouting something.

"...It's her! The scent is so similar!"

"She stole the last hawksbill rabbit!"

"Damn bird! Kill her! Let's see what kind of monster she is! How dare she sneak into our research institute!"

"Grab her! There must be an accomplice of hers in the research institute!"

"The one next to her is a human! He's her inside man!"

"Catch them!"

"Immortal Master!" Zhu Qianqian exclaimed in panic, "Let go of me! They've misunderstood you!"

The immortal continued to calmly hold Zhu Qianqian's wrist, his dull and lifeless eyes revealing no emotion.

Tang Xihe's hearing was much better than Zhu Qianqian's; he could hear everything Zhu Qianqian could hear, and he seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing this.

"A hawksbill rabbit?"

“…Immortal Master, please let me go,” Zhu Qianqian struggled in vain and said, “I am just a demon. You kindly sent me back to the grave. I cannot implicate you.”

"Don't worry about it."

Tang Xi said decisively, her grip on Zhu Qianqian's wrist suddenly tightening. Zhu Qianqian's breath caught in her throat, and she sensed something. The next moment, she was thrown away.

She used the momentum in mid-air to turn around and saw the immortal with his back to her, suspended high in the sky, holding an invisible, translucent light blue longsword.

Condense your energy into a sword!

Zhu Qianqian was dumbfounded. The 'condensation of qi into a sword' that the king spoke of—humans could actually do it! No wonder all the demons wanted to cultivate human forms!

"I am human, they won't make things difficult for me," Tang Xi waved her hand with her back to Zhu Qianqian and urged, "You go back quickly, I'll cover your retreat."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Qianqian stopped being coy. Still worried about the weakened king, she decisively turned and left, saying, "Immortal Master, if you are ever in trouble, I will repay you with my life!"

After saying that, she transformed into a streak of light and flew towards the stone altar in the forest.

Having flown to the edge of the cemetery, the terrifying and eerie pressure did not come. Zhu Qianqian landed safely on the stone altar formation and saw Zhu He still resting under a tree at the edge of the formation.

In less than half an incense stick's time, Zhu He seemed to have aged decades in an instant. Several strands of white hair appeared in his short, black hair at the temples, and his eyes were tightly closed, devoid of any life.

"Zhu He!"

Zhu Qianqian screamed and landed next to Zhu He, helping her up. "I've hidden the 'fire seed.' I'll take you back to rest, and then we'll invite the centipede..."

"Three things." Zhu He pushed away Zhu Qianqian's arms as she tried to hug him and opened his eyes.

"……What?"

Zhu Qianqian was still catching her breath when she stared blankly at Zhu He in her arms.

Under her worried gaze, Zhu He extended a finger and touched Zhu Qianqian's forehead. A flash of white light appeared, and Zhu Qianqian felt as if something had entered her body.

"What is this?" Zhu Qianqian put one arm around Zhu He and used the other hand to gently touch her brow.

“I have set a rule for you: if you fail to cultivate a demon core, you will not be able to leave the cemetery.”

Zhu He twitched the corner of his mouth slightly. "Are you angry?"

"Hey, what time is it and you still care whether I'm angry or not!" Zhu Qianqian was furious and tried to pick Zhu He up by the waist.

Just as she was about to lift Zhu He's knees, Zhu He grabbed Zhu Qianqian's hand, his gaze intense.

Zhu Qianqian took a deep breath in exasperation, "Hurry up! What's the second thing?"

"This is for you, 'Insight into the Soul',"

Zhu He pointed to the tip of his nose, "Imagine, see my soul."

"What are you going to do with me?"

Zhu Qianqian was puzzled, but she still carefully sensed it according to Zhu He's instructions.

Zhu He in my arms is gradually fading.

Zhu Qianqian was startled, realizing that the strange change in her gaze came from the power Zhu He had just applied to her brow. She lowered her eyes and saw Zhu He, whose body had become semi-transparent, with a faint flame burning on his chest.

It's not even as big as a human fingernail.

Compared to the warm fire that enveloped the entire cemetery during the selection process, this tiny flame, no bigger than a fingernail, seemed like it could be extinguished with a single breath. Zhu Qianqian's lips trembled, and she couldn't help but shed tears. "Zhu He, don't do this... it's like you're making your final arrangements."

"You see it? This is the Soul Insight Technique, which allows you to observe the soul. Use this to find a suitable immortal master,"

Zhu He paused, then took a few quick breaths. "Enchanted Web Insect, Fate-Connecting Silk, Container, Spark."

These words were spoken haltingly, but Zhu Qianqian immediately understood what Wang meant and quickly nodded, "Okay, okay, the third thing?"

Zhu He suddenly raised his hand.

She seemed to have regained some strength from Zhu Qianqian's constant spiritual energy and embrace; she spoke less breathlessly and grabbed Zhu Qianqian's collar.

"I am the Southern Star Emperor. I have sensed the impending doom of the world and have come to this blessed land to lie in wait and investigate."

"Hidden and secretive, acting for over a hundred years. I was exhausted and almost believed it... I am the evil crow."

"..."

Zhu Qianqian knew that her king was about to collapse, so she hugged Zhu He tightly, put her ear to Zhu He's mouth, and waited for him to finish speaking.

"Within the blessed land, there are many troubles. The blessed land has been cut up, crystal mines have been lost, species are endangered, spiritual energy has been depleted, history has been distorted, myths have been stolen, and ancient books have been altered... The chaos is unbearable."

"We must never let the 'spark' fall into the hands of the research institute."

As he spoke, Zhu He raised his hand, and a faint golden light appeared in his palm, gradually condensing into the shape of a bracelet. He handed it to Zhu Qianqian, the light in his eyes fading away. "The Heart-Guarding Bracelet, I pass it on to you."

"Please wait in the graveyard until Suzaku returns."

...

Immersed in his memories, Bei Chen was suddenly pulled away by something, and he shuddered violently. When he came to his senses, he saw Gui Fang making a shushing gesture.

"!?"

Bei Chen hesitated, wanting to curse, but stopped himself. His gaze fell on the skeletal fingertips of Gui Fang's claws, which seemed to bristle with golden threads.

Looking in the direction of the golden threads, Bei Chen was surprised to find that these golden threads, finer than a hair, were silently hidden under the grass at his feet, stretching out in all directions.

Bei Chen pointed to his feet and mouthed: Someone's there?

Gui Fang nodded, his expression not very pleasant, and made a five-pointed hand gesture.

Just as Bei Chen was beginning to feel relieved, he saw Gui Fang gesturing wildly: "Fifty people are walking on the ground, and countless others are darting through the trees."

"..." Of all times, it had to happen at this critical juncture!

Bei Chen glanced anxiously at the stone altar.

The spiritual energy released from the stone altar was so strong that Bei Chen himself couldn't tell when he was inspired and became so immersed in Zhu Qianqian's memories that he almost forgot the time.

Gui Fang wanted to remove the two "prosthetic limbs," but after thinking about it, he gave up and whispered, "There are too many people this time, I guess it will be difficult to handle."

Upon hearing this, Bei Chen's expression hardened. "Based on your deduction, do I need to use that move?"

"That's even better."

Bei Chen nodded, conjuring a long sword out of thin air in his hand, and stood guard alongside Gui Fang.