ASER - Chapter 195
Chapter 195: Double Standards
Even as a Corpse King, Auntie still showed such heartfelt love for her younger sister. She probably agreed to A'Diao's proposal without much fuss, grabbed her, and teleported, appearing directly in the vortex area.
Perhaps highly intelligent people are all the same: they plan before acting, and once they decide to do something, they do it.
So, to resurrect Qu Jiangnan, from finding a location to gathering materials, Qu Xia'er was extremely cautious. She specifically chose the Orchid Water Abyss because, as a Corpse Spirit King, she, like demon spirits, had an extraordinary sensitivity to Sun Image Rays. Moreover, she was, after all, at the Lesser Spirit King level. While White Scale and the others were still focused on the borderlands, she had already found the Orchid Water Abyss where a large amount of Sun Image Rays had truly accumulated.
A'Diao was adept at reverse deduction. Sun Image Rays could induce mutation, and the only current method to resurrect the dead was the Path of the Corpse Spirit. However, this path was very difficult. Qu Jiangnan, forced by the circumstances and her own limited strength, had managed to secure the ability for Qu Xia'er to resurrect to the greatest extent possible. But Qu Xia'er, now in a superior position, wanted to create an even better foundation for her younger sister.
Neither human nor demon spirit, never truly belonging to any path—she couldn't bear that for her sister.
But her intellect was, after all, formidable, and she was erudite and widely knowledgeable. Knowing about the Sun Image Primordial Feast, she conceived this plan.
However, the risk was immense.
"Auntie, you intend to use your own body to absorb these Sun Image substances. However, the light specks lack spiritual essence. It would be best to directly devour that Sun Image Primordial Beast. That's why you've been lying in wait for so long—to capture it, and then use the conversion process of your Corpse King body to transfer the Sun Image substances, imbued with spiritual essence, to Master's body."
"However, its harmfulness is, after all, terrifying. You aren't entirely confident about this, are you?"
"As for me, I happen to have some things that can suppress the Sun Image elements."
A'Diao saw the great resurrection array before her. The previous array used to resurrect Qu Xia'er was set up by Qu Jiangnan, but the sophistication of Qu Xia'er's current setup far surpassed the former, and the resources involved were on a completely different level.
But A'Diao didn't understand much about resurrection; she didn't need it, after all.
Because if she herself died, well, she'd be dead, and that would be the end of it. There would be no question of resurrecting anyone.
But what if someone close to her died... it seemed she didn't have any strong inclination to desperately resurrect them either, mainly because she didn't have anyone that close to her.
So she merely glanced at it, and then her little mouth started chattering away again.
Qu Xia'er was originally looking at the array core where Qu Jiangnan's bloodline was stored, completely focused. But the chattering beside her went on for too long, and she turned her head.
A'Diao saw someone who seemed to have walked out of a misty, rainy Jiangnan dawn in March or April, an old figure in a cyan robe holding an umbrella. Water dripped in lines from the eaves, and dark green moss meandered along the wall tops.
For a Corpse King, not being ferocious and terrifying was one thing, but she also possessed this alluring charm like a clear moon, enough to make one's heart flutter. When her eyes didn't reveal her corpse-like nature, the magnificent ruby-red faded, and her pupils were like glistening raindrops condensed on a banana leaf.
Subtle, elegant, cool, full of poetic and picturesque charm.
Damn.
Such an elder sister, yet those dogs from the Qu family could bring themselves to harm her.
A whole family of lunatics.
The Corpse King was charming, but it would be better if the charming Corpse King didn't speak.
"You're so noisy."
A'Diao: "?"
How am I noisy!? Aren't I doing this to build a connection with you! Is it easy for me to curry favor?
And I'm afraid you'll swallow me in one gulp.
If you don't understand, fine, but you even scold me.
Hmph!
Internally, A'Diao's little paws were already thumping the ground in frustration, but on the surface, she appeared soft, weak, and wronged. "Alright~~ I won't talk anymore. Anyway, do you want this or not?"
Qu Xia'er ignored her affected tone and directly extended her hand. "Give it here."
Can't you treat me a little better?
A'Diao immediately and fawningly presented a pile of flowers scooped from the lake. "Actually, I don't even know what these are, but they do indeed suppress these Sun Image light specks."
She wondered if the 'exploitative' Qu Xia'er could discern their true nature.
After Qu Xia'er took the flowers, she examined them. Pensive for a moment, her brow gradually relaxed. "It's the Moon Image Orchid Spirit."
A'Diao: "What's a Moon Image Orchid Spirit?"
"Although the extraterrestrial meteorite was terrifying, the world's life force is limitless. In the lands where the Sun Image Rays descended back then, the human race was not spared, and most flora and vegetation were wiped out. But over time, it eventually gave rise to a unique plant that could coexist with it in the Sun Image Primordial Feast areas, hailed as the Moon Image Orchid Spirit."
"But it is very rare. In the early period, it was basically devoured by demon spirits as soon as it appeared, because in the Sun Image Primordial Feast areas, generally only demon spirits could survive. Humans, on the other hand, desperately avoided such places, so no one ever obtained it."
A'Diao grew curious. "Then how are there records of it?"
Qu Xia'er was silent for a moment, then said: "Things humans cannot do, the Celestial Clan may not necessarily be unable to do."
So the records concerning the Sun Image and Moon Image were obtained from the Celestial Clan.
"How do you know?"
"There is related inherited knowledge within the Path of the Corpse Spirit King."
"..."
So badass. Maybe I should switch to the Path of the Corpse Spirit King too.
A'Diao felt a bit tempted and increasingly thought that Qu Xia'er was a powerful figure worth clinging to. "Auntie, you're so good to me, telling me such confidential things. I'm so touched."
"If I didn't tell you, would you not have asked?"
"..."
Still finding her noisy, still thinking she chattered endlessly.
"I'm about to begin. You, get out."
This was an order to leave, and also a testament to Qu Xia'er's self-confidence. She was sure she could successfully resurrect Qu Jiangnan and allow her to avoid the path of the undead.
A'Diao didn't resist. After all, this person could eat a Lesser Spirit King raw; there was no need for her to angle for this little bit of credit.
However...
"Auntie, are you still hungry then?" A'Diao, with her own little calculations in mind, couldn't help but hint at her dear Auntie.
Qu Xia'er turned her head again to look at her, as if scrutinizing a reckless brat who was courting death.
A'Diao felt unnerved by the stare. She quietly hugged a nearby pillar, hiding half her body behind it, and said cautiously, "I wasn't talking about myself, but those other... old fogeys who look like they wouldn't let our family of three off the hook."
Such quick work, ingratiating herself.
Already a 'family of three'.
The Lucky Three Treasures, are we?
Qu Xia'er's expression was like that of an old, pedantic traditionalist watching a stripper pole dance.
To make a Corpse King, who usually wore a coffin-like expression, show such a face, Toilet felt that their A'Diao was the truly terrifying one.
"What do you propose?"
"What I'm thinking is... not that I'm being calculative, oh no, but this Lesser Spirit King you ate was just cannon fodder, dragged out purely to mess with me and Lushan. Perhaps those people had long planned to trade one for two, maybe those old men even thought their calculations were a pure profit. Yet this person actually came so eagerly, so his brain must not be very good... Eating such a person might affect your intellect, Auntie. Don't we need to supplement with some 'pure old ginseng'? After all, I come from a 'rich family learning,' possessing the Book of Civilization talent even when lying down. Since you follow the path of the corpse, wouldn't you want to get a Book of Civilization to protect yourself?"
Both were 'cultured people'; when discussing serious matters, their words were incisive, striking directly at the heart of the issue.
A'Diao, speaking in a deliberately elegant tone, laid out the pros and cons, appearing as if she were purely thinking for 'Auntie' and 'Second Auntie's' sake. But stealthily, she scanned Qu Xia'er's spiritual body.
She found that the other party had no reaction.
Huh? Is my spiritual body that awesome? Or did she detect it but is indulging me because she genuinely likes me?
Toilet: "..."
She's off buying villas again.
Qu Xia'er didn't say a word. A'Diao felt that Auntie's attitude was like that of an old traditionalist who had been tempted by worldly desires, prompting the 'improper professional' soliciting business door-to-door to... continue undressing?
Alright, I'll continue then.
A'Diao then concisely presented her plan.
Having suffered such losses along the way, she couldn't swallow this indignity. She had to make a move and make the imperial clan bleed, but the scale of the operation would depend.
It depended on whether Qu Xia'er was willing to cooperate.
But she reckoned the other party would, because while their stances might not be identical, their circumstances were similar—both were threats the imperial clan could not tolerate.
And since they were both highly intelligent and 'cultured' individuals, they could understand the unstated meaning from a mere hint.
Soon, Qu Xia'er turned her face and said faintly, "Alright."
"Thank you, Auntie! Auntie, you're so beautiful, a peerless beauty, mwah!" A'Diao was overjoyed. She suddenly rushed over, gave Qu Xia'er a hug, and then fled in a flash.
She ran faster than a ghost.
Qu Xia'er: "?"
Watching A'Diao instantly disappear at the entrance, her eyes darkened, and finally, a faint smile touched her lips.
So timid, yet insisting on a hug. It was nothing more than an attempt to 'win her over'.
"In me, the tiger sniffs the rose."
She murmured softly.
However, she suddenly narrowed her eyes, as if sensing something in the distant cosmos.
The Sun Image Primordial Feast was coming.
It was earlier than expected.
Had something happened outside the universe, or in certain spacetimes?
Such a change was abnormal.
Actually, A'Diao quite coveted the Sun Image light specks within the Orchid Water Abyss. But considering Qu Jiangnan needed them, and this stuff was also suitable for Qu Xia'er, she didn't dare infringe upon their interests, no matter how much she wanted it.
Knowing when to be greedy, whose things could be coveted, and not pushing her luck by overly relying on the uncertain goodwill of others—this was A'Diao's consistent shrewdness.
Toilet: "You're just a coward."
"When you can win, you act all high and mighty like Long Aotian, totally badass. When you can't, you quickly kneel and suck up."
A'Diao: "..."
She decisively gave up on these benefits and intended to leave the place immediately. But just as she was about to exit the Orchid Water Abyss, she sensed something unusual.
Strange. After her spiritual body had fully awakened, her mental sea was vast and powerful. Although she was neither a demon spirit nor a Corpse King, she still vaguely sensed some kind of unusual phenomenon.
The Sun Image Primordial Feast was coming?
Strange, the time had moved up, hadn't it? What had gone wrong?
A'Diao felt a bit uneasy, but being pragmatic, she immediately thought about how many benefits she could gain from this. The plan with Qu Xia'er would remain unchanged, but some details could be adjusted. She estimated Qu Xia'er had probably sensed it too and should be able to understand.
Then, the next step was...
A'Diao hid in the abyss's vortex and released her spiritual body to scan the surroundings.
Qu Xia'er was a Corpse King, not inherently a mental or spiritual type cultivator, but Old Man Yu specialized in this. She didn't know if her spiritual body could deceive Qu Xia'er, let alone that formidable old man.
Huh? Not here?
Damn, the old man ran off already?
Heartless and disloyal! Pfft! When I get back, I'll burn incense and 'worship' him!
However, A'Diao actually knew that something must have happened.
Normally, these Lesser Spirit Kings each had their own territories to guard and wouldn't mobilize easily. Otherwise, the border issues could have been resolved by a single Lesser Spirit King.
Each rank had its own rules.
She cautiously scanned the vicinity. After finding no other Lesser Spirit Kings, she slipped out and quickly hid herself, while sending a secret message to Chen Xun.
The gist was for him to handle the curse matter.
Chen Xun: "My main body is sealed within the laboratory; no information will leak out. Chen Yang's monitoring was spied upon, but I've now replaced the surveillance footage, so they'll think he's still unconscious. I've also altered Chen Ran's medical data. This should deceive them for a while. How long do you need?"
A'Diao thought to herself: He was prepared. That means he knew long ago that I could solve the curse, which means he knew about the Old Daoist's matter even earlier. Perhaps he knows even more than I do.
A'Diao calculated the time needed for Qu Xia'er's side and sensed the timing of the Sun Image Primordial Feast. She didn't answer directly but replied with information about the Sun Image Primordial Feast and its timing.
On the other end, Chen Xun, as a non-cultivator, frowned the moment he received such information, but he also knew A'Diao intended to use this event.
So soon, 24 hours.
She definitely had a plan, and it seemed she was hinting at him.
Then he too could use this event... After the two siblings broke off contact, they each went to make their respective preparations.
Qing Zan was unconscious. A'Diao teleported to a hidden spot in the vast borderlands and took her out.
"These Sun Image light specks are truly terrifying."
Looking at Qing Zan's ghastly wounds, A'Diao took out the Moon Image Primordial Orchid to expel the Sun Image light specks for her. After working on it for a while, she roughly confirmed that the damage was suppressed. Only then did she start setting up a teleportation array. Finally, she placed Qing Zan's body properly, but after a thought, she wrote a small note and tucked it into her palm.
Finally, she activated it.
At this moment in Lushan, Old Man Yu, who had already returned to a secret forbidden area and was guarding something, sensed it, his brow twitching slightly.
The teleportation array in his residence? Currently, he had only shared it with Chen A'Diao and Qing Zan.
So...
Swoosh!
He teleported back to his home and immediately saw the heavily injured and unconscious Qing Zan.
Mental Power +1 star from Yu Xuanji!
Yu Xuanji's expression turned grim, but it quickly smoothed out. The situation was not bad.
The person is almost dead, and it's 'not bad'?
Why? Because Qing Zan only had injuries, and moreover, the injuries were suppressed.
"Sun Image? Moon Image? It seems she had a fortuitous encounter."
Yu Xuanji saw through the truth of the matter at a glance. He was confident he could repair her injuries, and the fact that Qing Zan could be sent back meant Chen A'Diao had escaped; it was she who sent her.
This indicated the situation had completely improved.
"That brat who's so afraid of death isn't coming back, which means she's still out to stir up trouble, probably wants to take revenge on the imperial clan... Her audacity is immense. But the curse should be resolved, so let her be."
Yu Xuanji was broad-minded and wouldn't casually interfere in his successor's affairs. But just as he was about to heal Qing Zan's injuries, he saw the note.
Although it was a bit unethical, he was curious. So he told himself: What if it's written for me? I'll just take a look.
He took out the note, glanced at it, and immediately rolled his eyes.
Because it said:
——Thank you, Teacher Qing Zan, for saving my life. Diaodiao is overwhelmed with gratitude. As they say, 'A teacher for a day is a father for life.' From now on, you are my father. I will work like an ox and horse for you in the future and am willing to wear mourning clothes for you.
——By the way, Teacher, your figure is really good.
Deliberately not mentioning him, just to annoy him, that stinky brat.
Mental Power +1 star from Yu Xuanji!
Yu Xuanji, with a stern face, secretly tucked the note back and snorted coldly, "Such a sycophant with its differential treatment, a little double-standard evil dragon."
Towards her old master, she's all harshness, pickiness, and 'WTF'.
But towards the beautiful teacher, it's all tenderness like water and 'wearing mourning clothes'.
However... Yu Xuanji eventually smiled.
After smiling, he got busy with serious matters again.
The recent situation wasn't quite right; he was afraid something major was about to happen.
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