Eternal Life Starts as a Hunter

Chapter 552 - 178: The World Often Betrays the Foolish; Dragons Lurk, Tigers Lie Low, and Return to the Divine Wood

This made him look up to the demoness even more, thinking that she might become a "long-term partner."

Gradually, he relaxed.

Everything was developing as he had hoped.

He began to ponder his impression of Qing Hancheng and attempted to engage in a confrontation with him in his mind.

...

...

Time passed day by day.

When there were only five days left until the Mid-Autumn full moon night,

this letter finally reached the hands of Qing Hancheng, who had been in seclusion for a long time.

At the White Bamboo Bell Tower.

Qing Hancheng stood alone with the letter.

This deep-eyed man in a cyan robe was now smiling.

Unlike before, the righteousness at the corners of his eyes had faded, and the aura of transcendence around him was much dimmer.

With hands clasped behind his back, he stood proudly, his long sleeves embroidered with elegant white plums, which had somehow turned into ink-black plums.

The choice to wear white plums or ink plums was his freedom, and no one would think much of it.

However, this actually signified a tremendous change.

Qing Hancheng had succeeded, or rather, he was only half a step away from true success.

With the secret support of the Black Lotus Sect, he had severely damaged the "righteous Qing Hancheng," then seized the opportunity to merge with him and began to absorb his power.

Only those who have reached the peak of Fourth Grade understand that two different personalities represent two different thoughts, which in turn represent two different powers.

"Shadow Blood" is driven by the "Ancestral Talisman."

Different thoughts drive Shadow Blood with different powers, which is quite normal.

Qing Hancheng did not know how to reach the Third Grade.

But anyone with normal logic would deduce: merging the other into oneself, making the two "selves" into one "true self," naturally leads to the "True Self."

Qing Hancheng has normal logic, and he is doing what he believes is right.

The Great Dao leads to heaven, but how narrow is its path?

Only one person can go through it.

Now, the one who can pass through it is ultimately him.

He was very happy, even slightly proud after so long.

As for the letter...

He casually crushed it and, under Dian Wei’s bewildered gaze as he delivered the letter, said, "Spread the word, I am still in seclusion, and I do not accept this challenge."

Jing Baikou said, "Hall Master, Dian Wei is currently at the peak, having already defeated many Fifth Grade powerhouses.

He comes with great momentum, the outside world is abuzz, and even the other four families of the Five Elements Forces are aware and watching.

In such circumstances, if we refuse this challenge, it might truly impact the prestige of Divine Wood Hall... This is the time of the North and South war, a time to consolidate.

If we relinquish it, the momentum will be taken by the South, and the Lotus Sect will not miss the opportunity to widely proclaim that Divine Wood Hall..."

What he said was what any normal person would think and what White Spirit Water expected to achieve.

Because... neither Jing Baikou nor White Spirit Water could think of a reason for Qing Hancheng to refuse.

However, Qing Hancheng refused.

Before Jing Baikou could finish, Qing Hancheng already had a smile.

He lifted his head proudly and said, "Strength is everything. I am in seclusion, close to a breakthrough, and do not wish for any unforeseen incidents."

Indeed, he refused the challenge partly because he was still digesting the "righteous Qing Hancheng," but it also helped the Lotus Sect damage the reputation of Divine Wood Hall, weakening the momentum on the side of the Five Elements Forces.

Why not kill two birds with one stone?

And when he fully digests the "righteous Qing Hancheng," how many in this world could still be his match?

Reputation?

It’s just something common folk care about.

Trying to use it to bind Qing Hancheng, are they looking down on him?

Jing Baikou said, "But these days, many already know you have come out of seclusion."

Qing Hancheng laughed, "Once out of seclusion, can’t one go back again? Just needed some fresh air."

Jing Baikou: ...

He looked at the smile on that man’s face.

That smile seemed bright, yet concealed a heavy darkness, giving him an inexplicable shiver and a strange sense of familiarity.

Just like many years ago, when that person once told him to destroy Master Zhu, the Hall Master.

Jing Baikou’s Adam’s apple moved a few times, his brain spun rapidly, suddenly guessed something, took several deep breaths, then also wore a smile, knelt on the ground, and said, "Congratulations to the Hall Master! Bai Kou will always be your man!"

Qing Hancheng smiled contentedly at him, then threw his head back and laughed heartily.

Jing Baikou laughed along.

In the night, the flying birds scattered in alarm.

In the meat field, mosquitoes buzzed...

The tree shadows swayed, looking like phantoms dancing wildly on the street corner in the dark.

In a small town some distance from Divine Wood Hall, White Spirit Water was returning from outside, carrying an oiled paper package containing half a pound of beef, meant for Brother Dian to eat.

Suddenly, she sensed someone at the mouth of an alley watching her.

Her mind stirred, she moved closer, and the person casually brushed past her, at the same time slipping her a note.

White Spirit Water walked away, unfolded the note, and her pupils slightly contracted.

The note bore various strange, even disorderly patterns.

But these patterns happened to be the secret script used by the highest levels of the White Lotus to issue "top secret orders" to the elders.

The message was simple, just one line: Qing Hancheng is one of us.

White Spirit Water frowned and casually crushed the note to dust.

...

...

Time passed quickly.

Jing Baikou did not disseminate the "refusal" message.

The reason was simple, "refusal" indicated "the Hall Master had seen it."

While "neither agreement nor refusal" meant "the Hall Master hadn’t seen it," thereby... reducing the reputational impact on Divine Wood Hall.