Chapter 154 - 148: Shock, Numbness, Indignation

Chapter 154: Chapter 148: Shock, Numbness, Indignation

With just a light palm strike, Wu Zhonghai dispersed the figure.

But Wu Zhonghai showed no hint of joy. Instead, his expression turned incredibly grim.

He had eliminated this visualized shadow, but it had required him to use some of his Divine Soul Power.

Even though the expenditure was small, if Jiang Zuo persisted, constantly visualizing himself to attack, his Divine Soul Power would grow weaker and weaker.

As long as Jiang Zuo didn’t die before him, he would sooner or later be slowly worn down to death.

"What’s wrong? Can’t bring yourself to smile now?"

Jiang Zuo shook his head and asked Wu Zhonghai.

If he weren’t certain he had a way to finish this guy off, Jiang Zuo would never have been so calm.

He had simply been too busy to deal with Wu Zhonghai before, which had allowed the guy to get smug.

"Hmph! I’ve done the math. You won’t be able to wear me down in thirty years! You’ll die before I do!"

But Wu Zhonghai, not to be outdone, made a quick calculation and retorted.

"Is that so? We’ll just have to wait and see."

Jiang Zuo replied noncommittally.

’If it were anyone else, that might actually be possible.’

’But unfortunately for him, Wu Zhonghai had no idea who he was trying to outlast, or just how much Lifespan I have.’

Ignoring Wu Zhonghai, Jiang Zuo began to consider his next steps.

’The main reason I fell for this trap is that I still don’t know enough about the various methods in the Cultivation Realm.’

’Even if I become stronger in the future, especially in medical arts and Poison Techniques, I could still fall for something like this.’

’So, it’s essential that I deepen my Learning in this area.’

’With this persistent pest stuck in my Sea of Consciousness, I wonder if it will have any negative effects when I Promote to Innate Martial Artist and Awaken my Spirit Root.’

’I should avoid Promoting until I’ve completely finished off this old fossil.’

’There’s still almost half of the hundred-year period left. I’ll use this time to focus on killing this guy, and wait for the fruits on the Mysterious Island to ripen in the meantime.’

’I should be able to get rid of him in about thirty years. If the fruits still haven’t ripened by then, I can consider just picking them directly, then Promote to Innate and Awaken my Spirit Root.’

Because of Wu Zhonghai’s possession attempt, Jiang Zuo had to alter his hundred-year plan.

It wasn’t a major problem, however.

’The question now is whether I should hide in the remote mountains for several decades or hide in a mortal city.’

’If I don’t expose my Grandmaster Cultivation, the Divine Wood Sect will have to search for me based on my body type. After all, a mortal’s body type is the hardest thing to change.’

’As long as I reduce my age, I’ll become younger, and my body will revert to that of a normal person.’

’But doing so still carries risks. It would also let Wu Zhonghai know that I can reduce my age.’

’Even though it’s unlikely Wu Zhonghai can escape my Sea of Consciousness, one must always prepare for the unexpected.’

’So, to be safe, it’s better to just hide in the remote mountains.’

’I can have my Blood Qi Avatar go to a mortal city and get some books on medicine. I can use this time for Learning, so it won’t be wasted.’

Jiang Zuo quickly made up his mind.

He was very experienced at living in seclusion in the wilderness.

After making some preparations, he had his Blood Qi Avatar sneak into several mortal cities and procure a large pile of books on medicine, human acupoints, and acupuncture. Then, Jiang Zuo found a secluded spot deep in the mountains and went into hiding.

In this remote mountain wilderness, Jiang Zuo once again began raising a species of mountain rat to act as sentries in the surrounding area.

His Blood Qi Avatar was also sent out year-round to patrol as far away as possible.

As for Jiang Zuo himself, he spent most of his days in Cultivation of the Visualization Technique, whittling away at Wu Zhonghai’s power.

During his breaks, he studied the medical books, trying to see if he could neutralize the poison in his body sooner.

At first, Wu Zhonghai planned to outlast Jiang Zuo, but as time went on, he slowly began to feel that something was wrong.

After only a few years, the figure Jiang Zuo visualized had already made significant progress.

To eliminate these visualized shadows, Wu Zhonghai was forced to use more and more power.

At this rate...

Wu Zhonghai did a quick calculation and was shocked and enraged to discover that his plan to outlast Jiang Zuo was probably going to go down the drain.

Jiang Zuo hadn’t expected that having Wu Zhonghai as a sparring partner in his Sea of Consciousness would allow his Visualization Technique to advance so quickly.

After Jiang Zuo had been in seclusion for a mere ten years, Wu Zhonghai, within his Sea of Consciousness, was already significantly weakened.

"Young brother, let’s talk this over. I can promise you, as long as you’re willing to let me live, anything the Divine Wood Sect has that I can give you, it’s yours!"

"Power, wealth, beautiful women, long life—whatever you want, you can have it all!"

On this day, Wu Zhonghai pleaded with Jiang Zuo, his tone heavy with sincerity.

’Still saying such things at a time like this. It seems this old bastard is truly afraid of death.’

Seeing Jiang Zuo unmoved, Wu Zhonghai began to curse him frantically. A torrent of vicious insults poured from his mouth.

Unfortunately for him, Jiang Zuo simply ignored it all, only becoming more diligent in visualizing himself to attack Wu Zhonghai.

Feeling death approach, Wu Zhonghai could no longer control his power as easily as he had at the beginning. The power Jiang Zuo consumed from him was now far more than what was normally required, a fact he wasn’t even aware of.

"You’ll die a miserable death! I’ll be waiting for you on the path of the dead!"

On this day, Wu Zhonghai roared furiously at Jiang Zuo’s figure.

He was utterly unreconciled. To think that he, the Grand Elder of the Divine Wood Sect, a peerless figure of his generation, would die at the hands of some unknown mortal.

But now, aside from cursing, there was nothing he could do.

Wu Zhonghai’s figure had become extremely faint.

In contrast, the shadow of himself that Jiang Zuo visualized had become much more substantial.

With a single move from Jiang Zuo, Wu Zhonghai’s final silhouette vanished with a soft POP, disappearing completely from Jiang Zuo’s Sea of Consciousness.

’It took less than eighteen years for the old bastard to finally give out.’

Jiang Zuo shook his head slightly.

Eighteen years had passed in the blink of an eye.

He hadn’t even finished cultivating the mountain rats’ talent, and yet Wu Zhonghai had died first.

Jiang Zuo even felt a little nostalgic for Wu Zhonghai. Without him, his Visualization Technique wouldn’t have progressed so quickly.

The general principle of the Visualization Technique was: "With Divine Sense, enter a state of ethereal tranquility; visualize all things in the myriad worlds."

The most difficult part of this principle was to "enter a state of ethereal tranquility with Divine Sense"—in other words, to create a world of nothingness with one’s Divine Sense.

And now, Jiang Zuo felt he was only a thin membrane away from this step.

If Wu Zhonghai had just lasted a little longer, perhaps he would have entered this realm even faster.

But in any case, getting rid of Wu Zhonghai was ultimately a happy occasion.

He no longer had to worry about his secrets being discovered.

The mountain rats’ talent could be cultivated within a year or two. Jiang Zuo planned to leave this place as soon as he had it ready.

「Meanwhile, elsewhere.」

Ge Fangrong was in the middle of his Cultivation.

He suddenly sensed something and pulled Wu Zhonghai’s soul lamp from his storage pouch.

"Grand Elder Witch... is dead?"

Ge Fangrong stared in disbelief at the extinguished soul lamp.