Leaving the Huang residence, Zhou Hu still wore a sullen scowl.
"Do you think the death of the Huang family's young master has anything to do with that Qi Yuan?" Zhou Hu asked the constable beside him, lost in thought.
The director of the Madhouse was dead, and Huang Yanshou had been murdered; it was all too easy to link the two together.
"Perhaps," the constable said.
Just then, a short, lean middle-aged constable hurried over. "Boss, Qi Yuan is missing from the Madhouse."
"Looks like it really is connected to him." Zhou Hu frowned, but then shook his head.
Even if it was, it had nothing to do with him.
"I wonder... what kind of strength does the person the Shen family sent to Ninghe County possess?"
Zhou Hu desperately hoped that person would be a Mystic-rank weapon wielder.
Yet on second thought, that was impossible.
Although the Shen family was a prominent aristocratic clan, Mystic-rank weapon wielders were exceptionally rare even for them. Why would they dispatch one to Ninghe County for such a trivial matter?
A Mystic-rank weapon wielder was peerlessly powerful—with essence like a tiger, vigor like an elephant, and spirit like a dragon.
A single person was a mighty war machine!
Faced with an array of hundreds of armored elite soldiers, they could shatter it!
How could such a terrifying war machine be dispatched here?
Qi Yuan... simply wasn't worth it.
As for Earth-rank weapon wielders, they were even more terrifying; one person was enough to alter the outcome of a small-scale war.
***
"Level 30."
Inside the inn, Qi Yuan stretched lazily.
Over the past few days, he and Chen Kangbao had roamed all across Ninghe County, hunting down and slaying guiling.
He had finally reached level 30.
"There's a strange sensation... It's like my realm has reached Foundation Establishment, yet my combat strength isn't as high as Foundation Establishment in the Immortal Realm.
Could it be because of the difference between worlds?"
Qi Yuan pondered.
Upon further reflection, however, Qi Yuan felt his judgment might be flawed.
There was no reference point.
For instance, suppose his punch had the force of one jin.
What if a one-jin stone in this universe was heavier than a star in the Immortal Realm?
Or, for example, although he appeared to be less than two meters tall right now, what if he left this universe for another and suddenly discovered that he was larger than a sun?
All of these were entirely possible.
"If compared to the supernatural system of this universe, I should now be considered... a Yellow-rank weapon wielder?"
Qi Yuan deduced.
There were weapon wielders in Ninghe County as well. Though they were weak, Qi Yuan had observed them in secret.
Setting aside combat experience and speaking purely in terms of performance, levels 1 through 29 likely corresponded to Mortal-rank weapon wielders.
Levels 30 through 59, he estimated, corresponded to Yellow-rank weapon wielders.
Every 30 levels corresponded to a major realm, with every 10 levels marking an early, middle, or late stage.
"I didn't expect that I'd awaken a major skill this time as well."
Back on the Wangyue Continent, Qi Yuan had awakened a minor skill every ten levels and a major skill every thirty levels.
Skills like Tyrannical Strength, Heaven-Cleaving Sword-Drawing Technique, and Dying Radiance.
In this world, those minor skills hadn't awakened.
At level 30, however, the major skill Tyrannical Strength had returned.
On top of that, Qi Yuan had awakened an additional skill.
Myriad Transformations!
True to its name, it was an art of transformation.
When activated, Qi Yuan could transform into another person or object, just like in the cultivation world—even a stalk of foxtail grass.
In the cultivation world, such a skill would seem rather useless.
After all, any great cultivator could transform.
In this world, however, this skill was... utterly extraordinary.
"According to the memories of Qi Yuan the matrilocal son-in-law, even the legendary Earth-rank weapon wielders can at most alter their facial features or reshape their bones, unable to achieve true myriad transformations... In other words, as long as my level is high enough, I can transform into anything."
If Mystic-rank weapon wielders were regional elites and the upper echelon of a faction, then Earth-rank weapon wielders were local hegemons.
The State of Ning was weak, controlling only three provinces in total.
A province contained roughly seven prefectures.
Jining Prefecture was located in Jiangzhou, which had only three prefectures remaining; the rest had all been ceded to the State of Moshan.
Imperial authority in the State of Ning had waned, and in recent years, the royal family didn't even possess a single Heaven-rank weapon wielder.
As a result, the royal family could not suppress the aristocratic clans and major sects.
Any powerful clan or major sect with an Earth-rank weapon wielder was considered a colossus in the State of Ning, capable of challenging the royal family.
Of course, it was merely challenging them.
Similar to how, in a certain comic, an Accomplished Holy Body could challenge a Great Emperor.
Among the nine great families of Jining Prefecture was the Shen family, which was overseen by an Earth-rank weapon wielder.
"Myriad Transformations!"
At that moment, Qi Yuan activated his skill and transformed into a kitchen cleaver.
Instantly, an oversized kitchen cleaver appeared in the room.
Had an Earth-rank weapon wielder witnessed this, they would have been astounded and found it beyond comprehension.
Chen Kangbao, meanwhile, was eating a steamed bun, looking utterly perplexed. "Young Master, why did you turn into a kitchen cleaver?"
To Chen Kangbao, his young master was a heavenly god descended to the mortal realm; being able to turn into a kitchen cleaver was hardly surprising.
"Because I'm roleplaying a kitchen cleaver," the cleaver spoke, a mouth suddenly appearing on its surface.
Qi Yuan's mouth right now looked like a cheap special effect from a short-video app.
"It seems I'm still too weak and can only transform into things of a similar size."
Qi Yuan's current strength was low, so his transformations were limited.
Otherwise, when facing a formidable enemy, he could simply turn into a cell nucleus inside them, and that enemy probably wouldn't ever find him.
Still, the good news was that he could now turn into a kitchen cleaver.
Didn't that mean roleplaying a cleaver would be much easier from now on?
"If I can turn into a kitchen cleaver, then... can I turn into... Divine Descent?"
A whim struck Qi Yuan.
What Divine Descent actually was, Qi Yuan didn't know.
But with Myriad Transformations, turning into himself shouldn't be an issue, right?
Even though he didn't know what Divine Descent was, what if it worked?
No sooner thought than done.
"Myriad Transformations!"
Qi Yuan unleashed his newly acquired skill.
In an instant, a profound, boundless aura swept out.
Qi Yuan's thoughts grew crystal clear.
Countless murmurs and whispers resounded by his ears, like a hundred thousand monks chanting scriptures all around him.
Those voices were too distant for him to make out clearly.
However, the faint voice of a young boy reached his ears with unmistakable clarity.
"More and more people are dying in Red Cloud Stockade lately. God... please protect me!"
Qi Yuan looked up, his gaze following the origin of the voice.
In a shabby room in Red Cloud Stockade, Li Xiaodan, kneeling before the idol, suddenly shuddered.
For some reason, the eyes of the idol seemed to have come alive, scrutinizing him.
The sensation was eerie and made his scalp tingle.
"Is it an illusion, or...?" Li Xiaodan gazed cautiously at the idol, frightened.
Suddenly, a red flash washed over the statue.
A cold, emotionless voice rang out:
"I am not a god. There is no need to kneel."
"Ahhh—!"
Hearing the voice, Li Xiaodan turned pale with terror, screamed, and fled the room as if for his life.
***
At the same time, in the distant Central Plains, within Rakshasa Country.
In the imperial palace, an enraged and terrified roar echoed:
"Divine Descent?!!"
"Was it not shattered into ten thousand pieces long ago, with all its shards cast into the Yellow Springs and the Blazing Tombs?!"
"How could a wisp of its aura emerge?"
"Is the Council of Judgment reviving it?"
"To the State of Ning—send people at once!"
"Rakshasa Country does not need a god; it needs only an emperor!"
In a dim corner, an old man whose body was as withered as old firewood had tears brimming in his eyes.
"The aura of God... God has... returned to life?"
He prostrated on the ground, pious and humble, like the most devoted believer.
"O God, a hundred years have passed, and the world has forgotten Your glorious name!
This old servant is willing to use his own blood to reawaken Divine Descent!"
On that day, powerful figures set out from the imperial court of Rakshasa Country, rushing toward the State of Ning.
On that day, ascetic-like weapon wielders from the Council of Judgment also set forth toward the State of Ning.
***
By then, Qi Yuan had disengaged from Myriad Transformations.
Doubt lingered in his eyes.
"An idol?"
"Red Cloud Stockade?"
He had formed a rough conjecture about the nature of Divine Descent.
"Young Master, just now... you were like a heavenly god descending to earth!" Chen Kangbao said with reverence from the side.
"Have there been guiling around Red Cloud Stockade lately?" Recalling the boy's prayer, Qi Yuan couldn't help asking.
"This... this old servant will go make inquiries right away."
"Never mind. Whether there are or not, we'll go to Red Cloud Stockade together tomorrow to take a look," Qi Yuan said casually.
Ordinary people feared guiling, but Qi Yuan did not.
Aside from combat strength, guiling possessed peculiar, bizarre abilities.
While such abilities were rare to weapon wielders of this world, they seemed entirely ordinary to Qi Yuan, who lived in the cultivation world.
Soul attacks, illusions, soul-reaping, curses—things like that.
Thus, when facing guiling, he possessed an innate advantage to begin with.
After Chen Kangbao left, Qi Yuan sat on a chair, picked up the patterned earthenware pot on the table, and poured himself a cup of water.
"If Myriad Transformations can turn into Divine Descent...
Then couldn't I turn into the Dao Ancestor and gain a portion of the Dao Ancestor's might?"
A whim struck Qi Yuan again.
If he could transform into Divine Descent without even knowing what it was, could he do the same with the Dao Ancestor?
"No twitches over my right eyebrow, which means there's no risk.
Transform!"
Myriad Transformations activated once more.
The room remained dead quiet; not even a breeze stirred.
Looking down at himself, Qi Yuan felt a pang of disappointment.
"Looks like it didn't work.
Sigh, as expected, trying to win big from nothing is just gambling—and gambling never pays!
Time to sleep!"
***
The next day, Qi Yuan was awakened by a loud banging on the door.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he called out, "Who is it?"
Bang!
The door swung open at the impact.
A tall woman walked in, her face frosty and a sword casket strapped to her back.
What drew the most attention was her long legs, toned and powerful, as though capable of snapping someone's neck between them.
The moment she stepped inside, her expression was thoroughly hostile, as if she had woken up on the wrong side of the bed.
"Zhishuang, is that you?
Coming by so early—are you here to help your son-in-law master get dressed?
All people are equal. Even though you're a maidservant, there's no need to wait on me."
The newcomer was someone Qi Yuan the matrilocal son-in-law knew very well—and feared deeply.
This woman was the personal maidservant of the Shen family's Eldest Miss.
Back when the matrilocal son-in-law Qi Yuan wed the Eldest Miss, the bride had been absent, and it was Zhishuang who stood in for her to complete the wedding ceremony.
Of course, entering the bridal chamber for the final step was completely out of the question.
Even if the matrilocal son-in-law had gotten excited below the waist, it would have been pointless.
After all, this Zhishuang was no ordinary maidservant.
She was a weapon wielder.
A piercing chill rolled in as Zhishuang radiated a freezing aura. She glared at Qi Yuan, her eyes cold yet tinged with suspicion.
The lazy young man before her was completely different from the cowardly son-in-law she had known.
That man used to tremble in her presence, full of lust but devoid of courage.
How would he ever have dared speak to her like this?
"Son-in-law, the young lady heard about what happened in Ninghe County. She is deeply disappointed!" Zhishuang stared at Qi Yuan, her gaze freezing cold like ice. "The young lady hopes you can truthfully recount what transpired back then!"
"Are you talking about that widow? I didn't do it," Qi Yuan replied calmly.
"Son-in-law, you are truly a disappointment!" Zhishuang's eyes remained as icy as ever. "Lao Zhong said he saw you taking advantage of that widow with his own eyes. Unable to bear it, he tried to stop you, only to be kicked by you—the injury on his forehead is still there!"
On her way to Ninghe County, she had run into Uncle Zhong.
Hearing what had happened from Uncle Zhong's mouth had only deepened her disdain for the man before her.
"That thick-browed, big-eyed fellow... actually framed me?" Qi Yuan stretched lazily. Just as he was about to brush it off, he suddenly remembered that he had to roleplay a matrilocal son-in-law.
Since he had to play the part, he certainly couldn't remain this calm.
In an instant, he put on a pitiful expression. "Sister Zhishuang, I was framed!"
Sure enough, his progress bar for roleplaying a matrilocal son-in-law advanced a notch at that moment.
As he spoke, he glanced at Zhishuang's long legs and considered throwing his arms around them.
On second thought, he decided against it.
Though the woman radiated a chilly aura, she had ridden non-stop all the way from the prefectural city to Ninghe County.
Her feet were bound to be sweaty and reeking!
If he caught a whiff, he'd probably gag.
After all, how could any woman in this world compare to the jade-like feet of the Canary and Ning Tao? Petite and exquisite, like tender white lotus roots or slender jade bamboo shoots.
Seeing Qi Yuan act this way, Zhishuang immediately found him familiar again, a flash of disdain passing through her eyes. "Why would Uncle Zhong frame you? Son-in-law, if you own up to what you've done, the young lady might still think a little better of you!"
"It was Wang Kaixuan!" Qi Yuan continued roleplaying the son-in-law.
Hearing this, Zhishuang's expression shifted slightly.
At this moment, she also sensed that there was more to the story.
After all, given Qi Yuan's cowardly nature, even if he were slinging wild accusations, he wouldn't dare implicate Wang Kaixuan.
"Son-in-law, return with me to the prefecture. The young lady will certainly get to the bottom of this." Zhishuang looked cold as frost.
"I can't go back just yet. How about in a few days?" Qi Yuan asked tentatively.
"No!" Zhishuang refused, her tone leaving no room for argument.
She needed to bring Qi Yuan back to the Shen estate and lock him up as soon as possible, then head to Yeshan Lake.
The young lady still needed her there.
"I really need time, Sister Zhishuang..." Qi Yuan continued roleplaying the son-in-law, pleading pitifully.
A look of disgust flickered in Zhishuang's eyes.
"No!"
Thump!
The moment the words left her mouth, Zhishuang's body abruptly collapsed to the floor.
"Can I now?" Looking down at the unconscious Zhishuang, Qi Yuan muttered to himself.
He had struck without warning, knocking her out cold.
"Young Master!" Just then, Chen Kangbao walked in, half a steamed bun still stuffed in his mouth.
He glanced at the woman on the floor, his expression entirely unfazed.
"I've looked into Red Cloud Stockade. We can head out whenever you're ready!" Chen Kangbao said between chews.
"Good," Qi Yuan nodded.
"Is Young Master going to leave this woman here?"
"No. She's unconscious and has no way to defend herself. If someone comes along to take advantage of her and says 'score for today,' wouldn't I be the one to blame?
So we have to take her with us!"
"If we carry a woman out, won't people mistake us for scoundrels?"
"What woman? She's clearly my spear!
It just so happens I don't have a weapon yet, and her body is probably pretty sturdy."
"Myriad Transformations!"
As soon as the words fell, Zhishuang transformed into a spear.
Only, this spear was somewhat thick and rather long.
A cold gleam flickered along it, razor-sharp.
Qi Yuan looked at the spear and picked it up gently.
"I need to be careful not to take liberties."
PS: The game levels in this world apply only to this game; do not convert them to those of other worlds.
Chapter 489