Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Chapter 302: Chapter 166: Martial Scripture, Divine Soul Chapter

The black-robed elder’s expression remained unchanged, but his pitch-black eyes now held a flicker of emotion. “Since you know who I am, you should also know there’s nothing for us to discuss. Why are you wasting your breath?”

“This is what I was talking about before. It seems you have some misconceptions about me!” Li Chang’an said with a smile. “I’m no Cultivator. On the contrary, if the price is right, I don’t mind helping you stick a knife in their backs!”

Upon hearing this answer, and limited by his physical state,

the black-robed elder showed no emotional fluctuation.

But Lu Shang, standing beside him, couldn’t help but stare with wide eyes.

’Not a Cultivator? How is that possible?’

’If he’s not a Cultivator, then what kind of monster have I been fighting all this time?’

Although the black-robed elder’s expression didn’t change, he remained silent and still for a long time. “Are you a Reincarnator?”

Hearing the black-robed elder’s question,

Li Chang’an forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart, careful not to reveal any major tells. Still, he couldn’t stop one eyebrow from twitching. He neither confirmed nor denied it, instead replying ambiguously, “You don’t need to worry about what I am. All you need to know is that I’m not a Cultivator. That’s enough.”

When Li Chang’an had fought the black-robed elder earlier,

he had been caught off guard and used the Fireball Skill. It was at that moment the elder had branded him as a Cultivator.

Now, to clear up the misunderstanding, it would take some explaining.

The black-robed elder had already guessed his identity and was clearly less wary of him. He asked directly, “What do you want?”

Seeing that the other party was willing to negotiate,

Li Chang’an couldn’t help but smile. “I want the Cultivation Method for the Soul Fire. In exchange, I can help you deal with the Cultivators!”

Hearing this, the black-robed elder glanced at Li Chang’an, his face a mask, and said indifferently, “I cannot be the one to decide this. The Cultivation Method for the Soul Fire was not my creation. I merely provided a general direction for reference. As for the specific method, you’ll have to ask him.”

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Lu Shang.

Li Chang’an also turned his gaze to Lu Shang.

Finding himself the focus of both their gazes, a trace of bewilderment flickered across Lu Shang’s face. Clearly, before this moment, he never would have dreamed things would turn out this way.

He looked at Li Chang’an, and after a long moment, said through gritted teeth, “Heh, I see you’re just trying to trick me out of the Cultivation Method I worked so hard to comprehend. I’ll never give it to you!”

Li Chang’an laughed and waved a hand in front of his face. “Fine by me. In that case, I’ll go help the Cultivators. I’ll tell them how to counter the Soul Fire!”

At these words, Lu Shang choked, unable to say anything for a long moment.

Finally, looking dejected, he said in a low voice, “Elder Hun, you decide. I, for one, don’t believe he’ll help us!”

Li Chang’an didn’t waste any more words on him, turning his gaze directly to the black-robed man.

The black-robed Elder Hun stared at Li Chang’an for a long time before speaking. “I can agree to your terms, but you must show your sincerity!”

Just as Elder Hun finished speaking and Li Chang’an was about to reply,

a sudden burst of light flared into existence.

[The World’s Favor is taking effect. Hidden task triggered!]

[Hidden Task: Help the Heaven and Earth Consciousness of the Jiuzhou Continent deal with the Cultivators (Difficulty: Three Stars)!]

A stone glowing with an azure light appeared in the Void. The moment he saw it, the black-robed Elder Hun, whose expression had been a constant mask, showed a rare trace of astonishment.

Although the change in his expression was minuscule,

it was incredibly conspicuous precisely because his face had shown no emotion at all before.

He glanced at the azure stone, then back at Li Chang’an, and said, “Since you have this, I am willing to trust you. Lu Shang, give him the Cultivation Method.”

The black-robed Elder Hun’s attitude had changed so quickly that Lu Shang didn’t react for a long moment. It wasn’t until Li Chang’an prompted him that Lu Shang finally snapped out of it as if waking from a dream.

He glanced at Elder Hun again, and only after confirming that his master hadn’t been hit with some kind of mental attack that muddled his mind did he reluctantly say, “This Cultivation Method has no written record. I’ll write a copy for you when I get back. Once you learn it, remember to destroy it immediately!”

The smile on Li Chang’an’s face instantly became radiant. He teased, “Hey, kid, I’m your ally now. Show a little respect!”

Being called ’kid’ by someone three years his junior—even knowing the other’s soul was likely an old fossil—made Lu Shang’s face twitch uncontrollably.

He fought to suppress his anger, merely snorting coldly without a word.

Li Chang’an stopped teasing.

Instead, he turned his gaze to the black-robed Elder Hun and asked, “Since we’ve established a preliminary alliance, we should now learn more about our common enemy…”

He paused, gathering his thoughts for a moment before continuing, “I read in the Imperial Palace’s Library Pavilion that for the last thousand years, the Twelve Countries have been fighting constantly without ever being destroyed, turning the entire Jiuzhou Continent into a massive meat grinder. This is why you’re here, isn’t it?”

The black-robed Elder Hun nodded. “The Cultivators founded the Twelve Countries. At set intervals, whenever the Cultivators need to begin their Alchemy, they use the Twelve Countries to start wars and harvest the life force of the Jiuzhou Continent…”

“The Twelve Countries are nothing more than twelve dogs raised by the Cultivators on the Jiuzhou Continent. They firmly control all paths to advancement and treat everyone as medicinal ingredients to be harvested at regular intervals!”