Chapter 142 | Demonic Beings? Obviously Auspicious Omens!

“Lord Rat found a child in Lantao City named Jiu'er. He lent his life to Lord Rat, and his lifespan has been severely consumed.”

Lord Rat stated the facts quickly.

After listening, Chen Zhou understood.

This child's fortune was likely not a matter of simple luck; it was perhaps a special destiny that was difficult to define for now.

But since he had saved Lord Rat's life, in both reason and sentiment, Chen Zhou would not stand idly by.

“Since he saved your life, this venerable one shall return a life to him.”

Chen Zhou took an unaging pine cone from the storage.

【unaging pine cone】

【6th-stage natural treasure】

【An unaging pine with intertwined branches that produces one pine cone every hundred years; it is filled with vitality and the charm of time.】

【Consumption can slightly extend lifespan, wash away physical ailments, and clear the mind. There may be other unknown benefits.】

There were approximately six pine seeds in one pine cone. He had given one to Lu Cheng last time, leaving five.

With a flick of his finger, a single pine seed detached itself, turned into a streak of green light, and flew into Jiu'er's mouth.

The pine seed melted the moment it entered his mouth.

“Ngh...”

A majestic vitality instantly washed through Jiu'er's limbs and bones.

In just a few breaths, the little old man completely reverted to the appearance of a seven or eight-year-old child.

He was even healthier and more energetic than he had been back in Lantao City.

At the exact moment Jiu'er returned to his original state, Chen Zhou's expression shifted slightly. He keenly sensed that the spiritual rhythm of the entire City of the Wrongfully Dead had somehow grown denser.

Seeing this, Lord Rat breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled the still-dazed Jiu'er to bow toward Chen Zhou. “Thank you for your grace, Lord!”

Jiu'er looked at Lord Rat blankly, then looked down at his small hands, which had been restored. He was stunned.

Then, he looked up at the figure on the altar, shrouded in the shadows of a black robe.

Just looking at him made it a bit difficult to breathe.

“Thi—this is...”

“Hurry up and thank the Lord!” Lord Rat excitedly slapped the back of Jiu'er's head with such force that he nearly knocked the newly-revived boy unconscious.

Only then did Jiu'er react. He immediately mimicked Lord Rat and kowtowed desperately, his head hitting the floor with loud thuds.

“I, Jiu'er, thank the Bone God for saving my life! Thank the Bone God for saving my life!”

Although he was just a beggar, he had heard the storytellers in Lantao City speak of such things.

How precious were treasures that could extend one's lifespan?

They were ultimate treasures that noble lords and wealthy merchants would exhaust their entire family fortunes to obtain.

Yet, the Bone God had simply given it to a mortal like him.

Chen Zhou remained in thought. Was the increase in spiritual rhythm related to this child?

Just then, the sound of rhythmic footsteps came from outside the altar.

“Lord! Lord! Wonderful news!”

The voice arrived before the person.

Zhang Cuigu ran in excitedly, holding up her skirt, her face flushed with agitation.

As the Harvest Envoy personally appointed by Chen Zhou, Zhang Cuigu was responsible for managing all spirit field production in the City of the Wrongfully Dead.

She possessed a trait: 【Leizu Incarnate (Red): Possesses a trace of the ancient silk goddess's faint blessing; has extraordinary affinity and control over all work related to weaving, nurturing, and growth. Within her jurisdiction, all crop growth speeds are increased by 100%, yields are increased by 100%, and there is an extremely low probability of causing spirit plants to undergo beneficial mutations.】

Under her care, many ordinary crops had been forcefully raised into spirit plants.

“Lord!” Zhang Cuigu panted, saying excitedly, “Your blood bodhi has undergone a mutation.”

“You specifically instructed me to report immediately if there was any movement from the blood bodhi.”

The blood bodhi?

That was a 5th-stage natural treasure he had obtained from a draw early on. When watered with blood, it could produce bodhi heart fruit that improved spiritual root aptitude.

However, he had kept it as part of his foundation, planted in the Thick Earth Spirit Field and meticulously cared for by Zhang Cuigu, yet it had never shown much activity.

With a thought from Chen Zhou, his ghost domain instantly expanded, and his will descended over the spirit field.

In the deepest part of the spirit field, in an area shrouded by blood-colored qi, the originally dark-red blood bodhi vine had now turned entirely purple-red.

Upon closer inspection, it looked as if blood were flowing within the vines.

More importantly, its aura had far exceeded the 5th stage.

【blood bodhi vine (mutated)】

【7th-stage natural treasure】

【New Name: purifying world blood bodhi】

【Imbued with the blessing of Leizu and an unknown auspicious qi, it has undergone a beneficial mutation. It is no longer satisfied with mundane blood and craves high-stage blood.】

【When watered with blood below the 6th stage, it can produce bodhi heart fruit, which can be consumed to improve the user's spiritual root aptitude.】

【When watered with 6th-stage blood or higher, it can condense purifying world bodhi seeds. Consumption will cleanse the bloodline, purify the spiritual root, significantly increase aptitude, and carries a high probability of awakening a trace of a bloodline divine ability upon the spiritual root.】

7th stage!

Chen Zhou's will retracted. He looked at the ecstatic Zhang Cuigu and then at Jiu'er.

The vague suspicion in his heart became a bit clearer.

The mutation of the blood bodhi seemed related to the sudden increase in the spiritual rhythm within the City of the Wrongfully Dead.

And that increase happened right after Jiu'er consumed the unaging pine seed and regained his youth.

Was it a coincidence?

Chen Zhou said calmly to Jiu'er, “Since you have entered my City of the Wrongfully Dead, you are my person.”

“Your lifespan was severely depleted. While one pine seed can sustain your life, your foundation is still damaged.”

“I shall grant you another, to reshape your foundation.”

Chen Zhou finished his lie without a hint of guilt. Another pine seed detached and turned into green light, shooting toward Jiu'er.

Jiu'er was bewildered.

He opened his mouth blankly and instinctively caught the seed.

Such a precious treasure... was he being given a second one to eat?

Hadn't he already recovered?

As he swallowed the second pine seed, the majestic vitality exploded once more.

At the moment Jiu'er swallowed the seed, Chen Zhou heightened all his senses to the absolute limit.

The moment the seed dissolved, Chen Zhou clearly felt the spiritual rhythm of the City of the Wrongfully Dead rise slightly again, though it was much less than the first time.

The dragon carp in the Blood-Prison Pool suddenly leaped out of the water in excitement, creating a massive splash.

Almost at the same time, more footsteps echoed outside the altar.

“Lord! Lord!” Lu Cheng's exuberant voice approached.

This City-Building Envoy, also appointed by Chen Zhou, possessed a special trait as well.

【Godlike Craftsmanship (Orange): Perhaps the reincarnation of a master craftsman obsessed with his craft; possesses an intuition for architecture and manufacturing that surpasses ordinary people. When responsible for construction or repairs, speed is increased by 100%, durability is increased by 50%, and there is a chance to comprehend special architectural blueprints.】

The construction of the City of the Wrongfully Dead was all handled by him. Because he had become younger, he had recently taken on several disciples and dived headfirst into the city's civil engineering projects, though he had never been able to comprehend a special blueprint until now.