Seeing Changqing so conflicted, Luo Hongyan felt a bit helpless.
“Didn’t you understand what I just said? That Liu Lu couldn't possibly have a Blood Demon Spirit; you’re really worrying for nothing.”
Changqing didn't respond; he was still thinking.
Luo Hongyan’s analysis was very accurate: Blood Arts cultivators had vanished from the world for tens of millions of years. Even if a Blood Arts cultivator had truly stumbled into Hundred Flowers Cave and given Liu Lu a Blood Demon Spirit, Liu Lu wouldn't be able to feed it.
However, there was a clear flaw between this analysis and reality: in fact, Liu Lu did have a Blood Demon Spirit.
So, where was the problem?
Wait a minute...
“You said, is it possible that Liu Lu has kept a powerful Blood Arts cultivator, and she just needs to regularly extract the Blood Qi from his body to feed the Blood Demon Spirit?”
“After all, her Blood Demon Spirit could only have been obtained through one channel: a Blood Arts cultivator accidentally entered Hundred Flowers Cave, and Liu Lu seized his Blood Demon Spirit.”
“Since she could seize the Imperial Spirit, why couldn't she also keep that Blood Arts cultivator like livestock?”
Luo Hongyan rubbed her forehead.
“Are you an idiot? First, if an Innate's Natal Spirit is seized, the Cultivator will immediately die. After the Cultivator dies, the corpse can no longer continuously produce Blood Qi, so it couldn't have fed the Blood Demon Spirit for so many years.”
“It’s also possible that the Blood Demon Spirit isn't that Cultivator’s Natal Spirit,” Changqing retorted.
“Then that’s even more impossible. The Blood Demon Spirit is an Earth Spirit. The Natal Spirit is usually the strongest Spirit within a Cultivator. If even an Earth Spirit of the Blood Demon Spirit's level isn't his Natal Spirit, then this Cultivator is at least an instant-level powerhouse. Such an existence, Liu Lu wouldn’t even be able to deal with, let alone keep.”
Changqing didn't think so.
If you eliminate all impossibilities, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
He was already certain that there must be an extremely powerful Blood Arts cultivator in Hundred Flowers Cave, kept by Liu Lu in some way.
Although they couldn't directly break the Blood Demon Spirit with his and Luo Hongyan's power, knowing so much useful information was already enough.
The more a situation is a dead end, the more it needs variables.
The more unfavorable the situation is for oneself, the more it needs to change. As long as it changes, it's a good thing.
And a kept Blood Law powerhouse was undoubtedly a huge variable, giving him a lot of room to maneuver.
“The plan is settled for now. I’ll handle the Four Guardians and the Blood Demon Spirit problems. I’ll trick Liu Lu into blowing herself up during the Refining Method, and I’ll eliminate the Four Guardians one by one. If the Blood Demon Spirit truly exists, I’ll figure out a way.”
There was no point in saying more now. He already had a plan. Although this life's goal, in addition to escaping, also included protecting Luo Hongyan, which sharply increased the difficulty, he was still full of confidence.
“As long as you don’t give yourself away in front of Liu Lu when translating, I’ll be thankful.”
Changqing scratched his head. It seemed that his proactive words and concern for Luo Hongyan in this life had caused Luo Hongyan to misunderstand him somewhat.
He nodded very seriously.
“Don’t worry, I won’t disappoint you. You also need to protect yourself and be careful in everything.”
“We’re just cooperating; you don’t need to care about me, and honestly, it’s a bit disgusting…”
“Uh…”
…
Liu Lu’s withered hand held a brush, and she was crookedly recording on paper, just as Changqing had instructed.
“Master, this Soul Shifting Spirit is very special. It will dissipate an instant after it's successfully refined, so it must be refined and used immediately.”
As Liu Lu wrote on the paper, she asked doubtfully,
“This Master also understands Refining Method a bit, but how have I never heard of an Imperial Spirit with such a characteristic? Changqing, you wouldn’t… be deceiving this Master, would you?”
“Master, how would I dare to deceive you? During this time, your disciple has been diligently translating this Soul Exchange and Body Seizure for Master without the slightest deception. If this Soul Exchange and Body Seizure fails and angers Master, your disciple will certainly come to no good end. I still have that much self-awareness.”
Ever since he decided to cooperate with Luo Hongyan, he hadn't had a chance to meet her alone again. For the past few days, he had been staying in Liu Lu’s Dan Room, translating the Soul Exchange and Body Seizure for Liu Lu.
The two ate and lived together, truly like master and disciple. This time, Liu Lu, still under Changqing’s deception, had consumed a large amount of poison, and her mental state was becoming increasingly unstable.
His goal this time was very clear: not only to brainwash Liu Lu, making her crazy after consuming those powders and self-destruct during the Refining Method process to create chaos, but also to find the Blood Law powerhouse kept by Liu Lu and utilize him.
“Master, the probability of failure for this Soul Exchange and Body Seizure is extremely high. Only by using these powders and some Imperial Spirits to temper the body beforehand can the success rate of the Soul Exchange be greatly increased.”
“Most importantly, the place where you Cultivate must be chosen in a place rich in Blood Qi.”
“Blood Qi?” Liu Lu was suspicious.
“What does the Cultivation of the soul have to do with Blood Qi?”
“Only when you are rich in Blood Qi can you possibly forge your soul with blood during Cultivation. The book says that Blood Arts cultivators are actually the most suitable for using this Soul Exchange and Body Seizure. If one is not a Blood Arts cultivator and wishes to use it, they must more or less undergo some Blood Law Cultivation, at least for a period of time in a place rich in Blood Qi.”
After listening to Changqing’s nonsensical explanation, Liu Lu nodded as if enlightened.
Changqing’s heart settled; he had made the right bet.
He had actually thought for a long time whether this Soul Exchange and Body Seizure might have come from that Blood Arts cultivator Liu Lu obtained.
What made him guess this was not only that the Blood Arts cultivator possessed powerful strength and profound heritage, making such a secret method not surprising.
There was also a simpler reason: the pages of this Soul Exchange and Body Seizure were entirely red and carried a fishy smell .
If this Soul Exchange and Body Seizure was taken by Liu Lu from that Blood Arts cultivator, then Liu Lu would easily believe Changqing’s words.
And the place where Liu Lu went to Cultivate would most likely be where that Blood Arts cultivator was imprisoned.
At that time, he would know the location of that Blood Arts cultivator.
Then he would send Liu Lu to Cultivate in another place, creating an opportunity for himself to find that Blood Arts cultivator.
“After Cultivating for a full three days in a place rich in Blood Qi, you must Cultivate for three days in a place rich in Yang Qi, repeating this cycle three times. During this period, you must be alone, and remember that no one else should interfere, otherwise the effect will be greatly reduced.”
The reason he waited a few days before guiding Liu Lu to Cultivate elsewhere was, of course, that Changqing wanted Liu Lu to consume the powders for a few days first. When her mind was more muddled, she would be more likely to believe him.
“Master, what do these 'place rich in Blood Qi' and 'place rich in Yang Qi' mean?”
After saying all this, Changqing quickly pretended to ask, trying to shake off the suspicion of intentional guidance.
“The cave where humans live is naturally a place rich in Yang Qi. As for a place rich in Blood Qi…” Liu Lu’s words stopped halfway, and she didn’t continue to answer Changqing.
“You continue to tell this Master the details of the Cultivation; don’t worry about anything else.”
“Yes, Master.”
…
That night, Liu Lu left the Dan Room.
Changqing was naturally locked in the Dan Room by her.
However, he wasn't worried.
This time, he and Luo Hongyan were truly sincere partners, giving their all. Although he couldn't go out, Luo Hongyan could move freely outside.
The two had long established many secret signals, coordinating from inside and out.
Now that Liu Lu had left the Dan Room, Luo Hongyan would surely notice very soon. She would use the convenience of being able to move freely in the cave to determine Liu Lu’s location, after all, the entire Hundred Flowers Cave was only so big.