After Sheng Jun Chapter 11 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 11 Using Their Own Scheme Against Them (part 2)
As he supported him, he heard Chi Yufeng's curious question, "Doesn't Lamp Holder Daren feel anything?"
Jiang Xingzhi, "..."
He pressed Zhong Ming's hand on his arm and pinched it.
Zhong Ming frowned and groaned, "Mmm."
Seeing both apparently in pain, unable to move, Chi Yufeng subtly relaxed.
He sat back and spoke leisurely, "This is ancient phoenix blood."
Phoenix bloodline can be mentioned alongside dragon bloodline as kings of all spirits. Although phoenixes have stronger suppression over bird and beast types, since the Divine Lamp had become a spirit, as one of all spirits, it should submit to dragon and phoenix blood.
Jiang Xingzhi understood—so that was their scheme.
He leaned on the table and pretended to "struggle" for a while. Sensing the distant array becoming more active, he appropriately clutched his clothes under Chi Yufeng's "concerned" gaze, made an "Ungh" sound, and collapsed against Zhong Ming's side.
As the weight settled on his shoulder, before Zhong Ming could look down, that weight instantly vanished, and a semi-transparent spirit floated into the glass lamp.
Chi Yufeng and the two elders' gazes immediately shifted to Zhong Ming.
Their gaze seemed full of eager expectation, silently urging.
Zhong Ming's throat moved slightly, as if engaged in inner struggle.
The glass lamp in his hand grew warm. He paused and let out an emotionless, "Ah."
Another wisp of spirit followed into the glass lamp.
Everyone: ...
Wait, why did Lamp Holder Daren also enter the Divine Lamp?
But this question didn't overly concern them, as there were more important matters at hand.
The box containing the phoenix blood snapped shut, and Chi Yufeng held it close.
The two elders stepped forward to pick up the now solitary glass lamp. The barrier outside the pavilion opened, and the group swiftly headed in another direction with apparent preparation.
****
Inside the glass lamp, Jiang Xingzhi's soul spun around, surrounding Zhong Ming with amazement, "Is this your first time possessing something?"
Zhong Ming stood aside, unwilling to say much, "After all, I'm not that bored."
Jiang Xingzhi increased his circling speed, the airflow causing Zhong Ming's soul to flutter. Jiang Xingzhi spun in circles saying, "Look, what a novel experience~"
A deep voice sounded with a hint of warning, "Jiang Xingzhi."
The group quickly arrived before a stone hall, and that artificial ghost finally settled down.
The hall doors slowly opened, with guards remaining outside.
Jiang Xingzhi comfortably nestled inside the lamp as the two elders carried it. Following Chi Yufeng into the hall, the doors closed behind them, revealing the scene inside.
In the center of the great hall was a hexagonal platform with a circular pool on top. Complex arrays were laid at the bottom of the pool, already activated.
Besides the two elders who had been with Chi Yufeng, four more were waiting in the hall, clearly prepared.
"Let's go," Jiang Xingzhi called to Zhong Ming, silently leaving the glass lamp and possessing the left lamp stand of a double-flower lamp on the side of the hall.
Zhong Ming followed closely, possessing the right lamp stand.
With the change in perspective, the scene in the hall became clearer.
Under Chi Yufeng's direction, the elders carefully placed the glass lamp in the center of the pool. The six stood at the six angles, raising their hands to form seals and chanting incantations.
Chi Yufeng stood at the front. Probably worried about being unable to subdue the powerful ancient spirit "Jiang Xingzhi," he took the precaution of opening the jade bottle containing the phoenix blood.
A sacred pressure immediately covered the entire hall.
The glass lamp standing in the pool remained quiet as a chicken, truly appearing submissive before the ancient bloodline.
Perched on the lamp stand above, Jiang Xingzhi watched as the group below solemnly chanted, performing spirit-cleansing and marrow-bathing rituals for what was actually just a popular glass lamp from the Shanglu Merchant Association...
Jiang Xingzhi, "They're so serious about it."
Zhong Ming, "Mmm-hmm."
Jiang Xingzhi, "They're even using hundred-year blood lingzhi!"
Zhong Ming, "...Mmm-hmm."
During the ritual performed by the six elders, Chi Yufeng kept adding precious materials to the pool for "spirit cleansing."
The opened box sat on a nearby table. Since the ritual couldn't be easily interrupted, and guards watched outside, Chi Yufeng, focused on the "Divine Lamp," wasn't particularly vigilant.
Jiang Xingzhi glanced at the phoenix blood with interest, "Do you think it's real?"
The next moment, the phoenix blood in the bottle silently disappeared and appeared before Zhong Ming, "Whether it is or not, at least it's not harmful."
After speaking, he moved his divine consciousness and flicked the drop of phoenix blood into the red Spirit Gathering Pearl in Jiang Xingzhi's possession, "Keep it."
Jiang Xingzhi, "..."
Zhong Ming curved his lips, "Not all crimes can be without cost."
Jiang Xingzhi touched the Spirit Gathering Pearl, "This world is short of law-abiding citizens like you."
Qingfeng Pavilion had plotted against them; their so-called spirit cleansing was no different from soul snatching. It was reasonable for Bai Mu to take something in return. He just hadn't expected the other to give him such a precious phoenix blood without a moment's hesitation.
"Why don't you keep it yourself?"
Zhong Ming, "To ward off illness and disaster for your fragile body."
Jiang Xingzhi, "..."
He took a drop of wax from the top, mixed it to make it red with golden streaks, added a touch of his own pressure, and flicked it back into the jade bottle, "Let's complete the act."
Zhong Ming raised an eyebrow, "Using lamp wax?"
Jiang Xingzhi justified, "Both are ancient powers, not much difference."
While the two were shifting flowers and connecting wood, the ritual below had ended.
(TL: 移花接木 (yí huā jiē mù) – Literally, "shifting flowers and connecting wood," which is a metaphor for a subtle, deceptive technique or trick (often used to describe clever or concealed actions in martial arts or scheming).
The six elders withdrew from the hexagonal platform, clearing the round pool. The water had changed from clear to dark blue-black, with impurities floating on the surface.
Zhong Ming spoke, "This spirit cleansing and marrow bathing hasn't been entirely without gain for Qingfeng Pavilion."
Jiang Xingzhi asked, puzzled, "What did they gain?"
Zhong Ming smirked, "A newly polished glass lamp."
Jiang Xingzhi, "..."
He gave the other a deep look, realizing this person naturally spoke with a touch of sarcasm.
Below, Chi Yufeng had already walked onto the stone platform. He raised his hand to take the now mirror-bright glass lamp, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement—
From now on, the Divine Lamp's power would be at his command!
The head elder led the request, "We respectfully ask the Pavilion Master to demonstrate the Divine Lamp's power for us."
Chi Yufeng took a deep breath, nodded, and then raised the glass lamp high under everyone's expectant gaze.
"Come forth, Divine Lamp!"