CHAPTER 542: CHAPTER 540: MORSE CODE

Chu Yin subconsciously looked at the two ugly heads that had rolled onto the table.

To achieve immortality was always the ultimate ambition of Daoist practitioners. Immortality symbolized eternal life, transcendence from the mortal world, no restraints, great freedom, and ultimate purity; always holy and majestic, untainted by dust.

How could it be related to something that seemed almost demonic?

As if seeing through Chu Yin’s confusion, Scholar Zhu said calmly, "There are indeed traces left by the Taoyin refining form on these two heads. The evidence is the transparent jade-like substance within their brains. I surmise someone must have killed a cultivator who was in the process of Taoyin refining form and disassembled his petrified body into pieces. The parts that were cut off would be in a state akin to corpse liberation and, following the pre-set program of the Taoyin refining form, they would continue to grow and develop, transform spontaneously, eventually becoming a special existence that is neither human, demon, nor immortal—which is what these two creatures are. They clearly don’t emanate Demonic Qi, yet they possess abilities that can only be described as bizarre."

Scholar Zhu paused for a moment, his eyes filled with a trace of confusion. "However, any cultivator attempting the Taoyin refining form would make thorough preparations before seclusion, having close kin act as protectors throughout to prevent disruptions or assassination by enemies, thus avoiding the loss of their cultivation and death. Or could it be that the protector, a close kin, was the one who acted—murdering the cultivator and using the cultivator’s body to create monsters? From Captain Xun’s description, these two monsters seem to be under some sort of restraint; they would die instantly if they tried to leave. But what’s the purpose of doing this? Why breed and imprison monsters..."

Scholar Zhu pressed his temples with both hands and gently massaged them with his index fingers, lost in thought as though no one else was around.

"AHEM, AHEM."

Xun Zian coughed twice upon seeing this.

Scholar Zhu immediately came back to his senses and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Sorry, I forgot about the pressing matter again."

He became serious and said solemnly, "In any case, if indeed someone or some force is confining the third-level monsters of the King of Shengnan in Fengzhou or Qizhou, then that person must have a deep understanding of the King of Shengnan. Perhaps they are already aware of us."

Scholar Zhu trusted in Xun Zian’s professionalism. He knew Xun Zian would have been cautious about revealing his tracks on his way back to Chenzhou. However, in this world where metaphysics thrived, divination methods were utterly illogical. Once entangled in causality, it would be difficult to erase.

Chu Yin frowned and asked, "So, what do we do now?"

"We’ll handle it as it comes," Xun Zian replied calmly. "Regardless, we have already collected two elements. With the Auspicious Beast obtained by Captain Xing, we have all three essential elements. We just need to continue waiting for developments."

"Yes, Captain Xun is right," Scholar Zhu agreed. "No matter if the one who created the monsters wants to awaken the King of Shengnan or attempt to erase the King of Shengnan, they will have to act eventually. We’ll wait a bit longer, until Captain Xing arrives in Chenzhou, then our chances of winning will greatly increase..."

"BUZZ, BUZZ—"

Suddenly, Xun Zian’s jacket pocket began to vibrate slightly, as if a phone inside was ringing.

Caught off guard, Scholar Zhu, Chu Yin, and Shi Qi instinctively stepped back, distancing themselves as they looked toward Xun Zian’s jacket. "Captain Xun, inside your jacket..."

"..."

Xun Zian’s expression also altered subtly. He moved a few steps away from his companions, looked down at his jacket pocket, then, sighing in relief, pulled out an A4-sized piece of white paper.

[Name: Life Paper]

[Type: Abnormal Item]

[Quality: Rare]

[Special Effect: Life monitoring. Life Paper can span distances to monitor the life status of the registered individual. When the individual weakens, the paper shrinks; when healthy, the paper expands; when injured, the paper shows cracks, which disappear after healing.]

[Consumption: None]

[Cooldown Time: None]

[Equipment Conditions: None]

[Note: Destroying the Life Paper will not harm the registered individual themselves. Only one individual can be registered to a Life Paper. The paper’s life-monitoring Special Effect cannot span excessive distances or time.]

[Note: Current registrant, Xing Hechou]

"This is just Captain Xing’s Life Paper; there’s no danger." Xun Zian shook the A4 paper in front of his comrades.

Before entering the Shengnan King’s Dream, these elites of the Mobile Detachment had exchanged Life Papers so their comrades could be informed of their status, which might lead to a rescue.

"Let me see what’s happening to Old Xing now."

Sitting in a chair, Xun Zian glanced at the A4 paper. The next second, his eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

The corner of the Life Paper in his hand suddenly tore with a ripping sound.

What’s going on?

Xun Zian stood up abruptly, staring intently at the changes in the Life Paper.

"RIP—"

The paper tore again. This time everyone could see it clearly.

"Not good, Captain Xing is under attack!" Chu Yin exclaimed. "Where is he now? We have to save him quickly."

"Wait, don’t panic." Xun Zian’s expression changed again. He stopped Chu Yin and raised the Life Paper. "Look closely—"

The two tears on the A4 paper, one on each side, quickly healed to their original state, leaving no trace of the previous damage.

Shi Qi asked in confusion, "This is...?"

"Captain Xing has been healed," Scholar Zhu furrowed his brow and said uncertainly. "He was seriously injured and then instantaneously healed?"

RIP—

The A4 paper tore once again, seemingly out of nowhere. After a two-second pause, it healed before everyone’s watchful eyes.

This cycle repeated itself several times.

"..."

Fixated on the changes in the A4 paper, Scholar Zhu had a flash of insight, took the Life Paper from Xun Zian’s hands, and murmured, "DIT DIT DIT DIT, DIT, DIT..."

"Dit what?" Shi Qi was utterly perplexed.

One would think Scholar Zhu was imitating a faulty faucet or someone suffering from frequent and urgent urination.

"Morse code." Without looking up, Scholar Zhu explained, "The short rips on the paper are the dots in Morse code, the long rips are the dashes, and the absence of rips for a while signifies a space. Though we don’t know what’s happening on Captain Xing’s side, it seems someone is constantly injuring and healing Captain Xing, causing the Life Paper to change, thereby transmitting a message to us or to anyone else holding Captain Xing’s Life Paper."

They can even do that?!

Chu Yin and Shi Qi looked bewildered.

Even the seasoned Xun Zian, who had weathered many storms, couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his eye. He asked in a grave voice, "What message is being transmitted?"

"...-...-..---"

Scholar Zhu wrote on the table with tea water: "h, e, l, l, o."

"Hello," he continued, deciphering the message. "This is Li Rising. If you can hear me, please respond."