CHAPTER 262: CHAPTER 262: REFINING LIFESPAN ESSENCE

Jiang Yuanxin thought, "Where is this heading?"

In the real world, the Paperman and Paper Horse Skill can only be used to this extent. If it could unleash the same power as in the Wilderness World, that would be awesome!

"Paperman and Paper Horse Skill is really just a craft full of supernatural legends in the paper makers industry. If you’re not born for it and force yourself to use it, it might deplete your Yin Virtue and Yang Energy. I think you really don’t need to get involved in this. It sounds mysterious and exciting, but most of the time it’s actually quite dangerous."

Jiang Yuan rubbed a cluster of flames with his right hand and explained, "I just happen to have this skill, which is conveniently able to suppress the Yin Sha Ghost Energy, so it looks like I can easily get through. If Liu Qiang had any other abilities that weren’t restrained, it would be very difficult for me to deal with him."

Chuci had seen the conventional skills like the master his father invited with a Feng Shui plate, setting up incense tables, and burning talismans. So when he first saw Jiang Yuan rubbing flames with his bare hands—a method that was extremely simple yet full of flair—he was utterly impressed, wondering who wouldn’t want to learn a trick or two from such a hidden master friend?

Even if not used for ghost catching or exorcism, at least having real skills would give you confidence when encountering trouble in the future.

But when he heard it could shorten one’s lifespan, he hesitated, "Well... since there are lifespan-reducing spells, there should be corresponding cultivation methods for longevity, right? If ghosts and gods really exist, it means cultivating immortality and seeking longevity is not a lie, do you think... do I have the destiny for immortality?"

"I don’t even know if I have the destiny for immortality." Jiang Yuan laughed helplessly upon hearing this, thinking that even though I’ve bound a golden finger and can travel to another world, I’m still troubled by lifespan issues. How would I know?

"I’m currently in an exploration phase too. If I ever discover a longevity cultivation technique you can use, I’ll definitely teach it to you." He patted Chuci’s shoulder earnestly and said, "After all, if you really want to live forever, having one or two friends with compatible temperaments is much better than being alone.

For now, don’t think about such vague things. My paper crane has already found the surveillance alarm and turned off the power, we need to quickly deal with Liu Qiang’s origin, get in the car, and go home for a good sleep."

"It’s done already?!" Chuci was stunned, hurriedly following to get out of the car.

Sure enough, not only were all the surveillance and alarms taken care of, but even the door that was locked from the inside had been opened.

Zhang Ran was the first to be murdered and refined into a Yin Fiend, and the only one born in the basement of Liu Qiang’s ancestral home. Liting, Ding Xiaoxiao, and Zhang Qi were all refined after he moved to the big city and became successful, so those three female ghosts were not familiar with the situation in the old nest.

Fortunately, after Zhang Ran was tortured to death, the Yin Fiend refined from her amplified the keen sense of smell she had when alive and her innate nursing instincts. Even when usually sealed, she could vaguely perceive what was happening outside.

So, cunning as an old fox, Liu Qiang’s perfect cover-up of his tracks was still discovered by her, revealing the greatest secret.

"Wow! This guy turned the broken house into a trap. Do you think there could be any other treasures besides the origin?" Chuci joked quietly as he swept his phone flashlight around the small old house filled with three surveillance cameras, "I once saw a news report about a guy who stashed his illegal income in an old rural house, hiding tens of millions underground."

In reality, Jiang Yuan didn’t have the Earth Mirror Book skill, so he couldn’t see if any treasure was buried underground, and he wasn’t in the mood to look for anything else, as he immediately sensed the unique chilling, vicious aura of Evil Energy upon entering the room.

The reason it didn’t spread out was certainly due to something Liu Qiang set up here with some object for suppression. If it wasn’t maintained for a long time, and the Evil Energy leaked out, the nearby residents would suffer.

The lightest impact would be sleeplessness with many dreams; more seriously, it could damage their Yang Energy and lead to illness.

The urgent task is to immediately eradicate the source of trouble and solve Liu Qiang’s old nest, and by the way, see if he can fill the experience bar of the Heaven-Burning Flame to level up.

"Clang!"

Following the path Zhang Ran indicated, they pushed open the back panel of the old wardrobe in the eastern bedroom and found an iron door leading to a basement alley.

It was clear Liu Qiang valued this door greatly, using three locks just for securty.

The last layer of defense was a folded piece of talisman paper painted in blood with wisps of black energy entwined around, wrapping the iron door. So much so that even if someone unlocked it, it would be very difficult to break through the defense and enter the basement.

Jiang Yuan burned the talisman paper and black energy with a single fire, using the key Zhang Ran found for him in Liu Qiang’s home to open the door, then illuminated with his phone flashlight as he slowly descended into the basement Liu Qiang had dug and reinforced himself.

Chuci was full of anticipation; the situation and setting were even more atmospheric than a TV adventure.

However, upon actually entering the neat and clean, small basement, observing the empty surroundings, he was somewhat disappointed, "I thought there would be something extraordinary, but there’s nothing here!"

"It’s right. The fewer traces left behind, the harder it is to be discovered, and the harder it is to find crime evidence." Jiang Yuan carefully observed, even noticing a flooring material chosen for easy cleaning, making it highly unlikely that any DNA from years ago could be found here.

In the southeast corner, he lifted a small wooden table to reveal an underground secret gate, pulled out a small black jar with a red cloth seal from a small ground hole.

This was the source of the faint Evil Energy permeating the entire old house.

Chuci helped illuminate and cautiously asked, "Burn it? Can we open it to see what’s inside?"

Jiang Yuan gave the jar a shake, hearing a faint sound of water, then signaled for Chuci to stand further back. He crafted a simple paper cat to open the sealed jar.

Inside, there was indeed a pool of clear water, with a small black fish emitting intense Yin Energy swimming around. Both of them clicked their tongues in surprise, unable to comprehend how Liu Qiang managed to inject the origin inside.

"Boom!"

There was no time to lose, the Heaven-Burning Flame quickly jumped and enveloped the entire jar.

In the raging flames, the clear water rapidly evaporated, and the black fish struggled, letting out a baby-like cry, soon transforming into a wisp of smoke that drifted away.

"Shoo!"

A small cluster of light rushed towards Jiang Yuan, unable to dodge, he felt a momentary warmth wash over him as it hit.

[Ten years worth of stolen lifespan refined and purified into ownerless, harmless essence. Lifespan +1 year, total remaining lifespan two years and four months; Fortune +5]

The system message flashed in his mind with shocking information, leaving Jiang Yuan’s head buzzing.

I originally only had one year and four months to live?

Could it be that the Paperman and Paper Horse Skill consumes too much lifespan?!

What to do? What now?

Liu Qiang’s stolen ten years of time, even after purification, could only increase one year of Yang Energy, and now adding up, it’s not even two and a half years...

"Foxy as a rabbit, Liu Qiang had little origin stored here, he definitely has other reserves." Jiang Yuan forced himself to calm down after a brief shock, as whether the Paperman and Paper Horse Skill consumes lifespan is still unknown, since the system has never prompted.

Perhaps his own life chart is only one year good to live, and thus he bound the golden finger to have a chance to defy fate.

Whether he can steal the Immortal Peach from Wo Hu Temple is still unknown; whether the lifespan obtained in the Wilderness World can translate to the real world is also unknown; whether the two-plus year lifespan must be calculated by the current timeline or the Wilderness World’s timeline speed, even more unknown!

What can immediately address the real world Yang Energy issue is that Liu Qiang is a potentially big blood bag. As long as he can find a way to pry open his mouth and locate other hidden origins for purification and absorption, he can increase lifespan!

The sudden crisis made Jiang Yuan’s mind exceptionally calm.

Thinking optimistically, at least having specific numbers and a way to extend lifespan is better than groping blindly in the dark, completely uncertain within.

The top priority is keeping a close eye on what’s happening with Liu Qiang, ideally getting Liting and the others to pressure and interrogate him if he manages to get out of custody. If he gets sentenced, I’ll have to find a way to get hold of his backlog to extend my life!