Chapter 99

The gap between saints is unexpectedly large, Zhang Yuanqing sighed to himself once again.

That day at the Fenghua District Security Bureau, when Fu Qingyang stabbed Chief Pang with his sword, he had a similar sigh, but at that time, everyone was holding back, not fighting to the death.

He originally thought that when it really came to a life-or-death struggle, Chief Pang might be able to match Fu Qingyang, but it turned out that he just struggled a bit more.

Zhang Yuanqing came to the balcony, stepped on the bloodstains, and his eyes turned dark as he communicated with the spirit in his damaged body.

At that moment, he felt someone pat his arm, turned his head, and saw Fu Qingyang's cold face:

"Give me the Demon Subduing Staff."

"Ah, sure," Zhang Yuanqing thought he almost forgot, immediately took out the Demon Subduing Staff and handed it to the other party. After hesitating for a moment, he added:

"Can you not handcuff me this time?"

Fu Qingyang nodded coldly: "It's just a slap anyway."

"..."

I don't want to talk to you! Zhang Yuanqing continued to communicate with the remaining spirit. After several seconds, he finally gathered the broken spirit and summoned it.

Chief Pang's spirit had a serious and somewhat呆滞 face, but its density far exceeded all the spirits Zhang Yuanqing had seen before.

I wonder how much experience I can gain from a saint-level spirit, Zhang Yuanqing was both happy and worried. Fu Qingyang, standing beside him, said:

"Pang Wudi is a Level 4 Saint. Swallowing his spirit carries the risk of mental confusion, but with this purification tool, the risk will be minimized, while the benefits will not."

Yes, compared to the benefits of swallowing a saint's spirit, this risk is completely acceptable, Zhang Yuanqing nodded.

Fu Qingyang continued:

"But this tool is not omnipotent. You need to know your limits. Level 4 Order is the maximum you can handle. The spirits of Level 4 Evil professions, Night Roamers, and Level 5 Order professions should not be touched."

Zhang Yuanqing: "What happens if I touch them?"

Fu Qingyang glanced at him: "You will die."

Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath and swallowed Chief Pang's spirit. In the next moment, a flood of mental energy, carrying chaotic memory fragments and negative emotions, surged into his mind.

He felt like a drowning person clinging to a tree branch on the shore, at any moment he might be swept away and crushed into powder by the flood.

This was the most dangerous time since he started communicating with spirits.

Struggling hard, he didn't know how long it took, but finally, the overwhelming flood subsided, and his mind stabilized. He greedily absorbed the memory fragments.

In a hazy state, he saw a refined room with incense burning, a figure in a cloak standing by the window, his voice rough and indistinct:

"If the Five Elements Alliance finds out what you usually do, even if you are not executed, you will have to serve a long prison sentence. How about the matter I asked you to consider?"

Then, Zhang Yuanqing heard Chief Pang's voice: "What can you offer me?"

"You have great talent. Joining the Dark Rose will ensure you receive cultivation. We can also provide you with resources and assistance to climb the ranks within the Five Elements Alliance, and help you pass the major physical examination. Of course, the most important point..." The figure by the window paused, then continued slowly:

"The Dark Rose will eventually rule the Spirit Realm, and the leader will become the most powerful Night Roamer, replacing the Taiyi Sect."

"Alright, I agree to join the Dark Rose!"

"Very good, I will be your superior. You can call me the Great Guardian."

The scene changed, still in the refined room with incense burning, the figure by the window spoke in a deep voice:

"Black Impermanence has contacted us. He is now hiding in Songhai, and the leader has assigned me to meet with him."

"What do you need me to do?" Chief Pang asked.

"Keep a close eye on the Five Elements Alliance's every move, and wait for my instructions."

"Alright!" Chief Pang hesitated for a moment, then asked curiously: "What are the leader and Black Impermanence plotting?"

The rough-voiced figure in the cloak laughed:

"The Demon Lord and the Wily Judge have perished. The object and the Fallen Chalice are in a state of balance. For Black Impermanence to control the Fallen Chalice, he must seek our leader's help."

"The object?"

"That is one of the highest-level objects controlled by the Demon Lord, something the Taiyi Sect leader and our leader covet."

The river flowed in the dark night, under a dark bridge, a man's voice echoed:

"Kill the Primordial Celestial Venerable and avenge the Rampant Tyrant."

"The Wily Judge was indeed killed by the Demon Lord. At the time, besides the leader, there was another person present, his Spirit Realm ID is Young Warlord."

"In three days, if I receive news of the Primordial Celestial Venerable's death, I will give you the information on 'Young Warlord' here."

Information on Young Warlord's real-world identity?

At this point, Zhang Yuanqing finally cursed in his heart.

His greatest fear and worry came true; the Dark Rose was indeed looking for the Demon Lord's successor.

If the Dark Rose found out about Brother Bing's identity, his status as the Demon Lord's successor would be completely exposed, and he would have to confess to the Five Elements Alliance.

But he still didn't know the true purpose of the Taiyi Sect and the Dark Rose in searching for the Demon Lord's successor.

Fortunately, the Dark Rose and Black Impermanence were suspicious of each other, and Chief Pang did not reveal the Demon Lord's successor's information to "Unfair Heaven."

It's like dancing on a tightrope, Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.

However, the information obtained this time is very important. If used well, it might help catch Black Impermanence.

A burning, clear golden light shone, illuminating his mind, cleansing his spirit. Zhang Yuanqing broke free from the spirit communication and woke up.

"Ouch~"

He found himself lying on a sofa, his head aching as if pierced by steel needles.

Was it a side effect of the spirit communication, or did Fu Qingyang hit him? I hope I don't have a brain hemorrhage, Zhang Yuanqing held his head and sat up.

A few meters away, Fu Qingyang, sitting on a single sofa, asked with a hint of anticipation in his voice:

"Any clues?"

Zhang Yuanqing pinched his brow, waiting for the pain to ease, then said:

"Chief Pang's superior is a traveler who calls himself the 'Great Guardian.' Every time they meet, he wears a cloak. They must have a special way of contacting each other, but I didn't see it in the spirit's memories. It might have disappeared with death, or it might be 'hidden.'"

He slowly recounted the information obtained from the spirit communication, from the existence of the Great Guardian to the major physical examination, and then to the power of the chalice controlled by the Demon Lord.

Fu Qingyang listened patiently, and when he learned that the Dark Rose had a way to bypass the major physical examination, he narrowed his eyes.

"Anything else?" Fu Qingyang asked.

This information is important, but it hasn't met his expectations and won't significantly help the hunt for Black Impermanence. Zhang Yuanqing said:

"I know why Chief Pang wanted to kill me. The night before last, he met with Black Impermanence's confidant 'Unfair Heaven.' Unfair Heaven asked him to kill me to avenge Rampant Tyrant."

Fu Qingyang's eyes lit up, and he sat up straight, nodding:

"Very good! This is our breakthrough. Once we catch Unfair Heaven, we will be one step closer to Black Impermanence."

Zhang Yuanqing asked:

"What does the Centurion plan to do?"

Fu Qingyang's gaze fell on him, and he smiled: "I need you to die a little. I'll give you two days off. Meet at Fugia Bay tomorrow night."

Zhang Yuanqing praised: "Good idea, the Centurion is indeed wise. What about Chief Pang?"

Fu Qingyang was in a good mood: "I'll take care of it. You can go back now."

Zhang Yuanqing left, and once in the elevator, he let out a sigh of relief.

He had laid so much groundwork, deliberately leaving the most important information for last, to exhaust Fu Qingyang's emotions. When he heard the information about the meeting in three days, Fu Qingyang would feel a sense of satisfaction, thus overlooking some details.

Zhang Yuanqing knew that after each spirit communication, this young master would observe him, using his scout abilities to determine if he was lying or hiding anything.

Of course, this was not a problem. If he were in Fu Qingyang's position, he would do the same. It's not about distrust, but