Liu Lu took out an ancient book from the box and opened its pages.
The paper of this book, made from unknown Materials, was a vibrant red on every page, emitting a strong smell of blood.
Liu Lu handed the ancient book to Changqing.
“If you recognize the contents of this book, read them to me, and I will reward you handsomely.”
Changqing looked at the page, and the first page clearly read:
“Soul Exchange and Body Seizure. This method is a Heaven-Defying evil art, the evil of all evils. Do not use it unless absolutely necessary. Be extremely cautious, remember, remember. Because this method has many restrictions and terrifying backlashes, one must thoroughly study this book before using it. Be extremely cautious, remember, remember…”
“These are proper Chinese characters! They are even modern Chinese characters, each stroke very clear, without a single traditional character!”
Changqing was incredibly shocked and quickly flipped through several more pages.
Although some characters on each page were circled, and some squiggly, ghost-like symbols were drawn as annotations, it did not prevent Changqing from understanding the entire content of the book.
After a quick scan, the book meticulously detailed an evil art called Soul Exchange and Body Seizure, including its methods of use, required Materials, and various precautions. Although the content was complex, it was clearly organized and easy to understand.
Because of this, for Changqing, a person from Earth, it seemed rather bizarre. Rather than a magical art appearing in a terrifying and strange Otherworld, it was more like a Secret Manual for “Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms” sold at an elementary school gate; the content was simply too easy to grasp.
Seeing Changqing rapidly flip through the pages, his expression constantly changing, Liu Lu narrowed her eyes.
“Could it be that you recognize the characters in this book?”
Changqing did not rush to answer but instead his thoughts raced, considering how to maximize his own benefit in the current situation.
“This is my unique advantage. Whether this book is real or fake, I am the only one who recognizes it right now, so I have a reliance.”
“I absolutely cannot tell her the entire content of this book, otherwise, I will lose my value.”
“But many parts of this book are annotated. It’s clear she can’t be completely ignorant of its contents. I must offer some half-truths to gain her trust.”
Thinking of this, Changqing let out a long breath, closed the ancient book, and handed it back to Liu Lu.
“Replying to Fairy, this art is called Soul Exchange and Body Seizure. It records the taboos of this art, the conditions for its use, and how to refine the Imperial Spirit needed.”
“It’s just that the writing in this book is very complex, and the sentence structure is jumbled, so I cannot accurately translate all of it at once.”
Liu Lu took the book, her eyes narrowed, staring at Changqing’s expression.
Then she suddenly extended her withered hand, like an eagle’s claw, and clamped down tightly on Changqing’s neck.
“Nonsense! This book clearly describes a healing art! You have the audacity to deceive me!”
With that, she threw Changqing heavily to the ground. Changqing felt his internal organs churn like a stormy sea, and a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out.
But he did not dare to delay, quickly struggled to get up, and knelt on the ground.
“Fairy, this book indeed describes the Soul Exchange and Body Seizure art. How would I dare to deceive you, Fairy?”
Liu Lu looked at Changqing, who was kneeling before her, trembling all over, and reopened the book in her hand.
After carefully examining the annotated parts on each page for a long time, she slowly said:
“Are you truly not lying to me?”
“No, every word I’ve said is true, not a single lie.”
This was a test, Changqing knew clearly in his heart.
In his previous life, he already knew that Liu Lu was extremely suspicious and had a volatile, very peculiar personality.
She obviously didn't know that Changqing didn't recognize the Wen Character Branch of this world, and was worried that Changqing was fabricating the book's content based on the annotations to deceive her.
Changqing had already anticipated this, but unfortunately, he didn't recognize the Wen Character Branch of this world in the annotations.
So he could only deliberately avoid talking about the annotated content in the book, but he hadn't expected this Liu Lu to be so suspicious, still wanting to test him.
He could only continue to kneel on the ground, feigning extreme fear.
Liu Lu stared at Changqing, who was kneeling and trembling, and after confirming there was nothing unusual, she nodded in satisfaction.
“It seems you truly did not deceive me. Get up and tell me in detail what is written in this book.”
Changqing stood up, coughed out the foul blood from his throat, and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
“Cough, cough… Fairy, don’t rush. If I can reveal all the contents of this book, will Fairy grant me a request?”
At this moment, Liu Lu had reverted to her elegant and noble appearance, completely different from her previous enraged state.
“If you can translate this book, within the entire Hehuan Sect, I will grant you a position equal to mine, above the Four Guardians.”
Equal footing? How could he not understand the principle of “when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hounds are cooked”?
If he honestly helped her translate the entire book in one go, regardless of whether the book was real or fake, he would have no more use.
This Liu Lu’s personality was volatile and unpredictable, and she could not be trusted.
Moreover, this book recorded the Soul Exchange and Body Seizure, and who knew what she intended to use it for? The worst-case scenario was that he would be silenced directly after translating it.
What he needed to do was utilize, not trade.
“As long as I can serve Fairy, status and position are not important, but I have one request.”
“Speak.”
“Although this Hehuan Sect is indeed a blessed land, I deeply miss my family. I humbly request Fairy, before I translate this book, to allow me to leave for a period to bid a proper farewell to my family, and then return to always accompany Fairy, to together comprehend the Great Dao and share in ultimate bliss.”
Changqing’s words were very subtle. He certainly didn't expect to be released from here easily.
But as long as Liu Lu could let him leave once, even if someone supervised him, he would at least know the method to depart from here.
At least he could see what the legendary Hundred Flowers Token looked like and how it was used to send people out.
Afterward, by leveraging the convenience of helping her translate, he could often be by her side and steal the Hundred Flowers Token.
Unexpectedly, Liu Lu shook her head.
“I can keep you by my side, but if you wish to leave Hundred Flowers Cave, no.”
“Fairy, you misunderstand. I only wish to visit my family and will return immediately afterward.”
“I said, no.”
“Is Fairy worried that I might not return? If you are worried, you can send someone with me.”
Liu Lu, however, still shook her head coldly.
“Don’t even think about leaving. I will not agree.”
Changqing also knew that it would certainly not be easy to get Liu Lu to let him out once. His suggestion that she send someone with him was also unrealistic, as Liu Lu had never allowed anyone else to use the Hundred Flowers Token.
The most feasible scenario would be for Liu Lu to personally take him out.
“If Fairy is uneasy, you can leave this place with me…”
Changqing’s words were cut short before he could finish.
Liu Lu in front of him lowered her head, her flowing hair casting her eyes into shadow, appearing particularly eerie in the dim cave.
Her curvaceous body suddenly swelled dramatically, and then her clothes burst open with a 'bang'.
Countless venomous snakes coiled around her entire body, writhing and twisting, appearing incredibly grotesque.
“You insist on leaving, don’t you?!”
Squeezing out this hateful sentence through gritted teeth, Liu Lu raised her withered arm.
Countless venomous snakes intertwined, forming a giant, monstrous hand that grabbed Changqing whole, suspending him in mid-air.
“Even you, an ant, think my Bloodline is lowly and I am unworthy of being human, don’t you?!”
Her face was contorted, veins bulging on her forehead, and all her hair flew wildly, like an enraged female ghost.
“I will surely defy Heaven and change my fate! I will achieve Ascension! No one can stop me!”
Liu Lu seemed to have completely lost her sanity. She frantically tore at the layers of snake coils wrapped around her body with both hands, as if to dig out her own heart, and then pulled out a multicolored jade token from within.
“You will never achieve Ascension! Never! No one will! Only I can achieve Ascension! No one will!”
With that, her jaw seemed to dislocate, her mouth opening at a grotesque angle, and she swallowed the entire token.