CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER 82: SCHOLAR’S TRANSFORMATION, THE SECRET CACHE FINALLY ARRIVES

Qin An furrowed his brows and used chopsticks to pry open the oiled cloth.

Ye Lengshuang saw this and smiled wryly: "You’re really cautious."

She understood the reason behind Qin An’s action—it was merely to check for any hidden weapons inside the oiled cloth.

Being so cautious even when facing colleagues, this man’s rapid rise in rank is truly well-deserved.

Qin An looked at the items inside the oiled cloth package and raised his head: "This cultivation technique is so important, why give it to me?"

Inside lay a book, with the words "Cold Moon Heart Method" written on it.

The importance of a cultivation technique was something Qin An had long known, especially when it was a heart method.

Now that Ye Lengshuang was giving him the heart method, it left him a bit puzzled.

Ye Lengshuang gritted her teeth and said: "Once the secret repository opens, if you see my sister, can you help save her?"

During this period, Ye Lengshuang had been struggling.

She had already made up her mind that she would never betray the Evil Extermination Bureau.

But if she could rescue her sister when the secret repository opens, she would do her utmost.

She didn’t know if what Fox Qiao said was true, but at least it was hope.

Ye Lengshuang had no acquaintances in the Evil Extermination Bureau, and those Jinzhou officials were all dismissive of her.

As for Wan Ziqing, it was even less likely, as a Jinzhou official, she couldn’t deal with such minor matters.

If not for Fox Qiao, she wouldn’t have met Wan Ziqing even a few times.

Currently, the only person she could turn to was Qin An.

Qin An looked at the heart method in front of him, his fingers lightly tapping the hilt of his knife, the sound incessantly echoing.

Ye Lengshuang waited expectantly for Qin An’s response.

After a moment, Qin An slowly said: "Okay."

"But if it’s a matter of life and death, I won’t save; I’ll only help if it’s convenient."

He had to make things clear, as this was Qin An’s principle.

Even in business, clear terms are essential.

Qin An could only render assistance when convenient and wouldn’t pay too great a price for this matter.

If Ye Lengshuang agreed, he would accept the heart method; if not, he wouldn’t take it.

Ye Lengshuang sighed in relief: "Whether it succeeds or not, this heart method will still be yours."

The Ye Family had long ceased to exist, so although this heart method was a Ye Family item, Ye Lengshuang had the right to decide its fate.

Qin An got up and was ready to leave after settling the bill.

Now that he had the heart method, he needed to return and deduce it to great success.

Ye Lengshuang said: "I’ve already paid."

Qin An paused: "Give more, my noodles have more ingredients."

Ye Lengshuang watched Qin An’s back, contemplated his words, and inwardly thought: "He truly is an eccentric person."

...

Small Courtyard.

Qin An closed the door behind him with a backhand, sat cross-legged on the bed, and carefully read through the Cold Moon Heart Method.

This heart method was an ancestral method of the Ye Family, cultivating a type of icy True Qi, which could freeze opponents during an attack.

After skimming through it, Qin An felt it was similar in ice power to the Two Principles Bodhi Heart, having parallels.

Qin An set the book aside and began circulating his inner True Qi according to the Cold Moon Heart Method’s pathway.

The True Qi surged like the ocean, swiftly enveloping Qin An’s entire body.

In front of him, the smoke twisted like a serpent, gradually appearing in mid-air.

[You cultivate the Cold Moon Heart Method, triggering Scholar Talent]

[Cold Moon Heart Method (Great Success)]

The Scholar Talent was naturally in full success, and since the Cold Moon Heart Method was a Jade Bone Realm Heart Method, it matched perfectly with the Scholar Talent.

But Qin An knew that the smoke before him was not the end.

The smoke dissipated and then reassembled once more.

[The Cold Moon Heart Method and Two Principles Bodhi Heart seem to have similarities; after reviewing it closely, you decide to merge them]

[After sitting in silence for years, you had an epiphany, triggering Scholar Epiphany Talent without consuming life force]

[You merged the two; the dominant Two Principles Bodhi Heart completely engulfed the icy element of the Cold Moon Heart Method]

[Two Principles Bodhi Heart (Great Success)]

The smoke in front of him completely vanished, and Qin An suddenly felt a tingling sensation spreading throughout his body.

The tingling sensation spread throughout, and within moments, a blood-red color began from his spine, rapidly spreading to his limbs and extremities.

Qin An’s entire limbs and body were covered in a blood-red color.

Bones as blood essence, terrifying beyond measure.

Only his head remained white as jade, yet to be completely enveloped by the blood-red.

Jade Bone Realm Great Success, has been reached!

Qin An opened his eyes, feeling the surging sea-like True Qi all over his body, feeling slightly joyful.

Now he only needed to transform the bones of his head into blood-red to fully enter the Jade Bone Realm Perfection.

This time, he hadn’t lost anything, achieving the Jade Bone Realm Great Success through reliance on the Scholar profession’s epiphany talent.

"The profession is fundamental; deduction and life force are supplementary. My reasoning was not wrong."

Qin An thought to himself.

Only by elevating the profession could the speed of cultivation be like a breach of the Yellow River.

Otherwise, merely the consumption of life marrow would be astronomical.

The only regret was that the Two Principles Bodhi Heart was too dominant and completely engulfed the similar-themed Cold Moon Heart Method.

But this also proved its terrifying nature from another angle.

Qin An flexed his limbs and thought: "The secret repository is about to open; today, I shall remain steady at the Evil Extermination Bureau."

The Scholar profession being upgraded to level six had also consumed a lot of Qin An’s time.

By calculation, the opening of the secret repository was in two days.

Qin An decided not to think of anything else and instead restored his energy for a while.

He needed to be at his peak condition to face the coming risks.

A line of smoke appeared in front of him, showcasing all of Qin An’s cultivation techniques.

[Two Principles Bodhi Heart (Great Success), Ice Flame Tri-Extremes (Initial Mastery), Blood-Burning Heaven-Cutting Hand (Initial Mastery), Shocking Dragon Wind and Cloud Step (Initial Mastery), Celestial Spirit Body Protection (Initial Mastery)]

"I currently have one life marrow left, which I won’t use for now, and will reserve it for the Blood-Burning Heaven-Cutting Hand."

"The Ice Flame Tri-Extremes can store three slashes, and when combined with the Two Principles Bodhi Heart in Great Success, my foundation should be solid."

"Additionally, the Shocking Dragon Wind and Cloud Step serves as a means for escape and evasion, complemented by the defense of Celestial Spirit Body Protection."

"There’s now some grasp on success for this mission."

Qin An thought carefully and felt somewhat reassured.

If other Jinzhou officials were to hear of his thought process, they would likely twitch at the corners of their mouths.

Because Qin An had redefined the term "some grasp."

...

Night enveloped the Hidden Mountain.

The Fox Mother sat in front of a stone bench, her aged body exuding a repulsive sensation.

On the ground lay a male corpse, stark naked, covered in horrifying scars.

The male corpse’s face was shriveled, eyes sunken, yet there was no hint of fear in them, instead a sense of joy.

The Fox Girl stepped forward to clothe the Fox Mother.

The Fox Mother seemed somewhat unsated: "What a pity, this person only had the initial mastery of the Body Storage Realm, ultimately unable to withstand my joy."

The Fox Girl chuckled: "Mistress’ art of pleasure is already unparalleled; no man is an equal match."

Facing the Fox Girl’s praise, the Fox Mother was quite pleased.

Upon closer inspection, the Fox Girl wore shabby clothes, appearing rather ragged.

Yet it was precisely this appearance, that allowed her to approach the Fox Mother.

The hideous Fox Mother could not stand people dressing flamboyantly, even those of the Fox Race.

"Is the secret passage arranged?"

The Fox Girl softly replied: "Tree Lord has sent people to clear the tunnel, yet lately, the Monkey Tribe and Tree Lord’s subordinates, the Pseudo-Gods, have experienced much friction."

The Fox Mother waved dismissively: "Ignore it, as the Evil Extermination Bureau will definitely seal all passages in advance. We still need to rely on the Tree Lord’s rooting ability to enter."

The Fox Girl nodded without daring to say more.

Talking too much could be deadly.

The Fox Mother again asked: "Has anyone come from the Demon Hall?"

The Fox Girl answered: "Yes, they came but said they wouldn’t get involved in the Tiger Race’s secret repository matter."

The Fox Mother snorted coldly: "They are shameless bastards. The Tree Lord represents the Demon Hall, yet they claim they won’t partake in the secret repository matter—shameless!"

"This mission must succeed; failure is not an option, as it concerns my Fox Race’s future foundation. Quietly send the order to continue stoking discord between the Monkey Tribe and the Tree Lord."

"Once inside, they will, like the Evil Extermination Bureau, become our chess pieces."

The Fox Girl quickly agreed and left with her head bowed, carrying out the Fox Mother’s orders.

The fog over Hidden Mountain thickened, and the Fox Mother’s figure disappeared.

...

The next day.

The day was devoid of sunlight, with overcast clouds, as if rain might fall at any moment.

A state official from the Internal Affairs Department knocked on the door: "Sir, there’s a mission."

The door opened.

Qin An, with a black knife hanging from his waist, walked to the door and narrowed his eyes slightly: "It’s finally here."