All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 123: Meeting Again

“A large number of Nightmares? Around Fanfeng Relay?” Zhanyue was shocked. If the illumination Goddess said “large number,” it probably meant an extremely large amount.

“No, right inside Fanfeng Relay,” the illumination Goddess said seriously.

“What? Inside the city?” Zhanyue was surprised, as he hadn’t noticed any Nightmares anywhere. “What are they planning to do?”

The illumination Goddess sighed and said, “In the past, Nightmares were mindless monsters. Their intentions were obvious at a glance, which is why humans could deal with them. But now, they seem to have learned cunning and scheming. I can’t guess their plan. I’m not only worried about what changes have occurred among the Nightmares, but more concerned that they might be colluding with humans. Nightmares are acting more and more like humans.”

The illumination Goddess was originally an expert in studying Nightmares, but now they were no longer what they used to be.

“Sister, let’s take it one step at a time. We can’t figure out much about these things in a short time,” Zhanyue comforted.

“You’re right. There’s no point in us guessing here now,” the Goddess nodded, then smiled, “Aren’t you curious about where I’ve been hiding all this time?”

Zhanyue opened his curious eyes wide. He only knew that the illumination Goddess had been protecting him nearby. Earlier in the Bai mansion, it was she who instantly knocked out the Enforcement Hall elder and the guards along the way without anyone noticing.

A flash of white light appeared, and the illumination Goddess rapidly shrank in Zhanyue’s eyes, finally becoming as small as a speck of dust.

“Shrinking? Sister, you even have this divine ability?” Zhanyue was greatly surprised. The illumination Goddess could change to the size of a speck of dust, staying close to him without others noticing.

“Not just shrinking, I can also grow larger. This is an ability unique to Spirit Contractors. Of course, you first need to surpass the True Realm and reach the Marvelous Law Realm,” the illumination Goddess explained. This ability to freely change form was something she mastered after reaching the Marvelous Law Realm. The Marvelous Law Realm lived up to its name, beginning to touch on some truly heaven-defying methods, like moving mountains and seas, shifting stars and constellations.

“That’s amazing. I wonder how long it will take me to have such abilities like you, Sister,” Zhanyue showed an envious look, but he was only in the Mortal Realm now, countless realms away from the Marvelous Law Realm.

“You don’t need to belittle yourself. At your current realm, I wouldn’t be your match,” the illumination Goddess encouraged, “You should rest now, but don’t sleep too deeply. You’d better take a look at that legacy site too. I always suspect it’s related to the Nightmares.”

Zhanyue nodded and sat down to cultivate. Unless he was extremely lacking in spiritual energy, he would always seize the time to cultivate.

In the divine communication space, bottle after bottle of pills were thrown in. Zhanyue knew they were sent by Baizhi. They were all fifth-grade Fierce Explosion Pills, in such a large quantity that Zhanyue was astonished.

“This girl,” Zhanyue felt full of happiness. In future encounters with enemies, he could throw a handful of Fierce Explosion Pills first. Even if a Profound Star Realm expert didn’t die, they would be crippled. These were fifth-grade pills with extraordinary power.

The night passed without incident, but Zhanyue knew that Fanfeng Relay was a hidden powder keg. The next day, more and more people poured in from outside. Many even set up tents on the street. The population of Fanfeng Relay had long exceeded its capacity. Fortunately, many people had already rushed to the legacy site in advance.

A dilapidated stone gate had stood in the wilderness for countless years. Many had seen this stone gate but hadn’t discovered anything special about it, until a stone tablet emerged from the ground, recording the location of the underground palace beneath the stone gate.

Now, hundreds of people had gathered outside the stone gate, with Zhanyue among them.

“That… the female official you sparred with before is also here. She’s disguised quite well,” the illumination Goddess reminded. Others couldn’t tell, but she easily saw through Gong Xiaoyun’s disguise.

Gong Xiaoyun, on the Empress’s orders to take up a position at the Eastern Kingdom’s Academy Town, had heard about the legacy while passing through Fanfeng Relay. The astute woman quickly sensed something fishy about it. As a pillar of the Thousand Charms Empire, she felt obliged to investigate the matter. So she suppressed her cultivation, disguised herself as a pretty young girl, and mixed into the crowd.

“Miss, are you also a Alchemist?” Zhanyue walked over with a smile.

Seeing someone actively greet her, Gong Xiaoyun frowned. She had deliberately made her appearance ordinary. When she turned her head, she saw Zhanyue’s mischievous face.

She was first stunned, then shocked. Had he seen through her disguise? Or was it just a coincidence?

“Can’t I come to see the excitement if I’m not a Alchemist?” Gong Xiaoyun asked in return.

“Of course you can. It’s just that you look like an acquaintance of mine, so I came to ask,” Zhanyue didn’t expose her, thinking that chatting with Gong Xiaoyun and teaming up later would provide some support, given her extreme strength. Inviting her to join was all gain and no loss.

“You’re quite presumptuous. Tell me, who do I look like to you?” Gong Xiaoyun smiled, understanding that Zhanyue had discovered her identity and was speaking this way. It seemed this boy really had some skills to see through her disguise.

“Like a distant niece of mine,” Zhanyue said shamelessly.

Gong Xiaoyun glared at him, “Oh? How old are you to have such a grown-up niece?”

“It’s just about generations, generations,” Zhanyue said. Teasing Gong Xiaoyun was indeed an interesting thing.

“Do you plan to participate in the trial?” Gong Xiaoyun changed the subject, tired of his antics.

“I’m a fourth-grade Alchemist, naturally interested in this eighth-grade Alchemist’s legacy. This is the legacy of a Pill Dao Grandmaster,” Zhanyue said.

As they talked, they walked closer together, tacitly forming a team.

“What do you think about this trial site?” Gong Xiaoyun asked.

“The stone gate and tablet don’t seem fake, but I feel something’s not right,” Zhanyue said honestly.

More and more people gathered here. Soon, there was a commotion in the crowd as people made way. A man in golden robes walked through – it was the Golden Pill Cultivator, a seventh-grade Alchemist!

He approached the stone gate and tablet, reading the text on the tablet, sometimes frowning, sometimes showing joy.

“Why did he come too? A seventh-grade Alchemist competing with us juniors for opportunities,” someone complained.

“Don’t be hasty. Opportunities are for those with fate. He might not obtain the legacy,” someone comforted.

“The Golden Pill Cultivator himself isn’t far from being an eighth-grade Alchemist. It’s normal for him to be interested in this legacy. If Alchemy Capital wasn’t in the midst of an intense ranking competition, more Alchemists would have come. I heard the Blue, Yellow, Vermilion, and White families also sent some low-level disciples to try their luck,” someone revealed.

“Compared to this ethereal legacy, the family ranking competition seems more important, as those benefits are tangible. But an eighth-grade Pill Dao Grandmaster’s legacy is very likely to include eighth-grade pill formulas, which is what those four great families covet. No wonder they sent people over. They want both,” someone analyzed. The legacy was good, but it depended on fate. The vast majority would just be running alongside, so the four great families weren’t too focused on it, but still sent some people to try.

“Have you heard? The Bai family’s young miss was made a princess by the Empress. The Bai family’s status has risen because of this. Even if they lose in the family competition, no one can look down on them,” someone sighed.

“Hmph, princess? Just borrowing the tiger’s might. When I obtain this eighth-grade Alchemist’s legacy, my future achievements will surely be extraordinary. I might even create my own family,” a female Alchemist said somewhat jealously. She was from the Lan family.

“It’s really lively. I didn’t expect the Golden Pill Cultivator to come too,” Zhanyue looked at the golden figure, hiding to the side to avoid being recognized.

“What method do you use to hide your appearance? Can you help me conceal mine?” Zhanyue asked Gong Xiaoyun beside him.

“I can,” Gong Xiaoyun took out a gourd, poured some water from it, then wiped it on Zhanyue’s face. Zhanyue immediately changed appearance.

“What treasure is in that gourd?” Zhanyue asked in surprise.

“It’s just ordinary water. Your disguise is due to my ability,” Gong Xiaoyun explained. As a Water Contractor, she possessed many unique methods.

Zhanyue marveled. These Spirit Contractors were indeed heaven’s favorites, with unfathomable abilities. He would have to be careful if he encountered them in the future.

On a distant mountain peak, four figures gathered together.

“Wild Blade hasn’t returned. Something must have happened,” Bloodthroat said with some anger in his voice.

“It doesn’t matter. With or without him, it makes no difference. We’re not the main force this time. If we didn’t need to capture these Alchemists alive, it wouldn’t be so troublesome. How are the preparations for the transfer formation?” the one-eyed man asked.

“Don’t worry, boss. The transfer formation is ready. After all, we can’t move so many people without a formation. It’s a pity our transfer formation has limited transmission distance. The master seems to value this operation highly, even giving us the formation diagram,” Stonemason replied. Only with that ancient formation diagram could this grand transfer formation operate.

“It’s fine. People can be taken away slowly. As long as we can shake off pursuers, it’s enough. This place is close to the Thousand Charms Empire after all. We can’t be careless.”