Chapter 83: The Death of Feng Ru

Tu Lu’s heart sank, and a foreboding feeling crept over him.

“What happened?!”

“Master Feng, Master Feng, he...”

The servant responsible for delivering the wine stammered as he spoke.

At these words, Tu Lu rushed inside immediately.

Feng Ru lay sprawled on the ground, his face deathly pale, blood seeping from his seven orifices, a faint spiritual aura emanating from his body.

Yet Tu Lu knew, though a sliver of life lingered in Feng Ru’s flesh, his soul was already gone. Even the last vestige of soul energy would soon dissipate entirely!

“Young master!”

At that moment, a commotion sounded outside.

Zi Tuofeng entered.

He took just one look, and his expression darkened.

“Master Zi, is this soul contract backlash?” Tu Lu asked.

Zi Tuofeng nodded, then took from his storage ring the blood-red jade slip that bound Feng Ru. Yet the jade showed no significant changes.

“It actually blocked the jade’s reaction, preventing me from sensing it, and even under the backlash of the blood jade soul contract, left the body intact...”

Though Zi Tuofeng did not finish his thought, Tu Lu already sensed the icy killing intent radiating from him.

Anyone could guess: for a mere Inscriptionist at the Tempering Body stage to accomplish such a thing—there were few in all of Taixu Prefecture capable of it.

Zi Tuofeng had likely already guessed who was behind it.

“Master Tu, could it be that you’re a traitor as well?”

Suddenly, Zi Tuofeng turned and asked.

Tu Lu’s scalp tingled; he quickly replied, “Master Zi, you overthink. I still wish to live a few more days.”

Zi Tuofeng nodded expressionlessly.

“By the way, where’s Master Zhao?” Tu Lu suddenly asked.

Only then did Zi Tuofeng shake off his murderous intent and reply, “Master Zhao is still studying the Ninefold Saintly Embryo Inscription. He seems to have hit a wall. Also, don’t take my earlier words to heart, Master Tu. I was simply too angry and spoke out of turn.”

“I wouldn’t dare!”

Only then did Tu Lu breathe a sigh of relief.

“Master Tu, you’ve examined the Ninefold Saintly Embryo Inscription too, haven’t you? Do you have any confidence in it?”

Zi Tuofeng abruptly changed the subject, causing Tu Lu to hesitate before shaking his head.

“No confidence. The Ninefold Saintly Embryo Inscription is far more difficult than I imagined—on par with high-grade runes, and it also requires inscriptions from the external refinement path. It’s too difficult.”

“No matter. There’s no need to rush,” Zi Tuofeng said absentmindedly, nodding.

With that, he left.

Tu Lu glanced at Feng Ru’s corpse once more and shook his head.

Still, the incident left him much more vigilant. After resting for a while, he left the state capital’s outer residence to wander the city for a bit.

In a fleeting moment, he released his Water Lotus and Thousand-Year Root avatars.

...

After altering its appearance, the Water Lotus avatar entered a large shop.

“Shopkeeper, do you have any plant spirits that ward off curses?”

“We don’t. We do have two plant spirits, though, if you’re interested?”

Tu Lu was helpless. He shook his head and left the shop.

So as not to attract attention, he changed his appearance several times and visited seven shops in succession, but received nearly identical replies.

Compared to places like Huangyun City or Divine Wind City, plant spirits were no longer particularly rare here, but those that could ward off curses were still exceedingly scarce.

“This is the only way.”

Tu Lu sighed.

Finding a secluded spot, he took out the communication jade slip Zhang Cheng had left him and sent a message.

A few hours later, the two met in a tavern.

At Tu Lu’s request, Zhang Cheng had disguised himself as well; when they first met, Tu Lu almost didn’t recognize him.

“Never thought I’d be the first person you came to, Brother Tu! Come, let’s have a drink together!”

“Gladly!”

Tu Lu laughed heartily.

After a few drinks, both men burst into laughter.

“Hmm? Brother Tu, your aura seems a bit off,” Zhang Cheng remarked in confusion after their laughter subsided.

At this, Tu Lu could only smile wryly and take another gulp of wine.

“To be honest, Brother Zhang, this is only an avatar of mine. My real body is still at the state capital’s residence. Certain circumstances forced me to send out an avatar.”

“Oh? Did you discover something?” Zhang Cheng’s eyes lit up.

Tu Lu nodded, then sighed again.

“Our worries that day were not unfounded. Zi Tuofeng truly has a way to break through to the Purple Mansion realm, but I can’t share the details. Pressed by circumstances, I formed a soul contract with Zi Tuofeng.”

Zhang Cheng’s face changed.

But Tu Lu reassured him, “There’s no need to worry, Brother Zhang. I’ve made some preparations. I can’t say I can completely avoid the contract’s backlash, but I’m somewhat confident. I asked you here today mainly to increase my chances.”

Zhang Cheng’s expression shifted several times before he finally accepted this explanation and exhaled deeply.

“You’ve had a hard time, Brother Tu. What do you need me to do?”

“I need a plant spirit that can ward off curses!”