Chapter 458: Zhou Zhang’s Plan

No sooner had Cang Xu obtained the second part of the advanced soul aspect inheritance than he began scheming for the intermediate soul aspect inheritance.

This wasn’t due to greed, but rather because such an opportunity was exceedingly rare!

Missing this chance meant there might never be another such golden opportunity in the future. Even if he exhausted every effort and resource, he might still fail to secure it.

The undead inheritance was currently divided into three branches: the soul aspect, corpse aspect, and bone aspect.

Cang Xu held little interest in the corpse aspect or bone aspect materials. However, he knew that the intermediate soul aspect inheritance contained the method for crafting soul crystals and a spell capable of testing one's aptitude upon becoming undead.

He wanted both of these things!

First was the soul crystal, it was truly vital.

This unique resource, forged only by necromancers, was nearly indispensable for their cultivation. Especially for necromancers transformed into ghostly forms, its benefits were paramount.

Though Cang Xu could currently procure them from Jian Gui through existing connections, the inherent risk was obvious: relying on trade was unreliable. Being able to craft them himself would be ideal.

The spell for assessing undead aptitude was also vital.

In Cang Xu's plan, this spell would be paired with the Bloodline Purification Formation. First, use the spell to determine the exact bloodline within the undead. Then, seek out the corresponding undead bloodline and purify it through the Bloodline Purification Formation. Following this entire process would enhance the aptitude of any undead life form.

Of course, Cang Xu could only speculate about the exact effects of this soul-testing spell.

It might merely assess a soul's potential without directly identifying its bloodline.

If that were the case, Cang Xu would need to extort more undead information from Jian Gui..

Jian Gui's group was known as the orthodox undead faction, possessing astonishing foundations. With a founder like You Shen, they were undoubtedly the world's foremost authority on this.

Cang Xu had gained immense assistance from the War Merchant's database, so he naturally coveted the orthodox undead faction's archives.

“But extorting them now wouldn't be appropriate.”

The timing was poor.

Cang Xu had just successfully extorted information from Jian Gui, obtaining the method for using the memory crystal making device. To return immediately after leaving and demand more extortion? That would be too much!

Jian Gui would surely interpret it as provocation, perhaps even suspecting Cang Xu had lost his mind.

Cang Xu had already deduced that Jian Gui had tampered with him, and this covert control method was exceptionally potent. Perhaps a single thought from Jian Gui could annihilate Cang Xu outright.

Thus, Cang Xu dared not overstep too far, after all, his life was still temporarily in someone else's hands.

Of course, based on Cang Xu's understanding of Jian Gui, he knew the probability of him dying under such control was currently low.

For Jian Gui wasn't the type to kill in a fit of rage.

Moreover, Cang Xu's unexplained death would inevitably draw suspicion and investigation from figures like Zhou Zhang. This would be highly detrimental to Jian Gui, especially given his plans for covert maneuvers.

Still, with his very life at stake, Cang Xu dared not gamble recklessly.

“Besides, I have far more important matters to attend to.”

Cang Xu returned to his makeshift shelter.

Soon after, he received another communication from the fishman youngster.

Sitting cross-legged on the sand, he felt grains coalesce between his thighs into characters: “The device has been made.”

“I shall now describe its form and function.”

Accompanying the description, an alchemy device shaped like a coin gradually materialized within Cang Xu's vision.

After establishing contact, the fishman youngster cut the communication abruptly without elaborating.

He immediately ordered Zhong Yong to devote all efforts to crafting a communication alchemy device.

Using the precision eel driller for communication proved inefficient and carried exposure risks.

The coin-shaped alchemy communication device was compact, easily slipping through the narrow holes drilled by the precision eel driller.

The coin device was also imbued with Deceptive Disguise spell and Anti-investigation and Prophecy spell, set to render it completely invisible.

Even if an unsuspecting person touched it, their sense of touch would be deceived. They would believe they had merely touched empty air.

However, as Cang Xu uncovered more truths, he could not only see the coin communication device but also feel it.

The coin device possessed autonomous movement capabilities, actively floating up and hovering near Cang Xu's lips.

Cang Xu opened his mouth slightly, allowing the coin device to float inside.

He held the coin device in his mouth and pressed it down with his tongue.

The coin device began to heat up. Within seconds, like a branding iron, it fused directly beneath his tongue, becoming a badge.

The intense agony it caused was endured by Cang Xu with sheer willpower.

Throughout the process, his expression remained utterly calm, his gaze utterly still.

Cang Xu focused all his attention, silently reciting the contents of the undead inheritance in his mind.

These contents were all recorded by the coin.

Soon, the coin was loaded with methods on how to become a blasphemous priest, spells like Memory Switching Spell, and the “correct operating procedures for building the memory crystal making device” that Cang Xu had just extorted.

When Cang Xu ceased feeding content into the coin, it lay dormant for thirty seconds before heating up again. From a badge-like imprint, it solidified into a physical form once more.

Seizing the moment while Cang Xu sighed, it floated out and landed among the sand and stones.

The precision eel driller immediately retrieved it, clutching the coin device as it swiftly burrowed through the shack's cracks, vanishing from Cang Xu's sight in moments.

Soon after, the coin landed in the hands of the fishman youngster.

Rather than inspecting it himself, the youngster placed the coin directly into a specific reading device.

Almost instantly, he saw the specific text regarding the inherited knowledge displayed on the device's screen.

“Memory Switching Spell, Memory Concealment Spell, Subconscious Reminder Spell...” The fishman youngster glanced at the blasphemous priest's methods. Clearly, this wasn't just the Memory Switching Spell alone, but a combination of many spells working together.

However, the fishman youngster was solely a cultivator of battle qi, having not pursued spellcasting.

Although his bloodline within his Bloodcore possessed considerable magic aptitude, the youngster had never found the time or energy to dedicate to it. Before this, he had indeed considered dual cultivation.

“Starting magic training from scratch now would be far too slow,” the fishman youngster sighed, “Once Cang Xu arrives, he could use these spells to become a blasphemous priest.”

By coordinating with Cang Xu, the fishman youngster might find a way to escape this place.

"Huh? Perhaps I could try it on myself right now?” The fishman youngster discarded his earlier thoughts upon reading the latter part.

“According to these records, even without the abilities of a spellcaster, I could alter my own memories using the memory crystal.”

At the same moment, Jian Gui murmured a similar exclamation.

“Too bad I have the memory crystal making device but can't use it.”

The memory crystal alchemy device was an incredibly powerful tool, not only precise but also efficient and convenient. For Jian Gui to manually alter his own memories was extremely troublesome. Bound by dual restraints, he couldn't achieve the necessary precision.

“At this rate, there's no way I could complete a full fabricated memory on my own.”

Jian Gui grew impatient.

He began to berate himself: Why hadn't he practiced memory forgery more diligently in the past?

He analyzed the root cause: it was primarily because he had acquired a memory crystal making device. With this device, even non-magicians could easily operate it to meet standards. The time and materials consumed were at least ten times less than when he did it himself.

With such a powerful tool, who would bother to painstakingly hone memory fabrication abilities?

"If I possessed a Soul Weaver, Gray Snake Turtle Bone, Death Herald Bird, or Falling Star bloodline, I might have trained diligently, after all, there'd be hope to surpass the limits of the memory crystal making device. But I don't..."

Jian Gui's bloodline restricted his potential in this area.

No amount of diligent practice could ever match the memory crystal making device. So why bother?

Investing precious time, energy, manpower, and resources elsewhere clearly yielded far greater returns.

Who could have imagined he'd end up in this desperate predicament?

Jian Gui refused to die here.

Though he had already died once, becoming a necromancer, an undead life was still a life!

“My progress is minuscule. Others must be faring even worse.”

As time slipped away under death's relentless pressure, Jian Gui's sense of urgency surged.

He concluded sending a distress signal was impossible. His greatest, and only path to survival lay in the blasphemous priest's method.

To ensure the progress of memory fabrication, Jian Gui had to strictly monitor everyone else's advancement.

The next day, Jian Gui gathered everyone once more.

They pretended to discuss prayer content while secretly exchanging information and reporting their respective progress. Jian Gui continuously imparted his insights and experience to others.

To ensure his own survival, he held nothing back in sharing his expertise.

The reason he hadn't shared this knowledge earlier was that he understood the importance of gradual progression.

After gaining some practical experience, learning from others' wisdom would be more effective for absorption and comprehension, thereby accelerating their growth.

"It seems you've all studied our Lord's teachings quite deeply. Very good." Zhou Zhang suddenly materialized outside the shack.

She had used divine magic to disguise herself.

The necromancers were engrossed in their discussion, none noticing her arrival.

Zhou Zhang's sudden appearance startled everyone.

They hurriedly rose to their feet, bowing and greeting her.

Zhou Zhang observed them, a smile on her face. "Do you know? Many have urged me to sever ties with you. Each of your gatherings stirs the nerves of countless souls. I have suppressed these concerns because I believe exchange strengthens faith and deepens devotion. This test has not disappointed me."

At these words, the undead breathed a collective sigh of relief.

They had feared their secret gatherings had been discovered. Now it seemed their worries had been unfounded.

But in the next moment, Zhou Zhang continued, "Though the next blood sacrifice transmission is still some time away, I believe it best to inform you now."

At this point, Zhou Zhang flashed a teasing smile: "You must select one undead companion to participate in the next blood sacrifice transmission. Remember, only one."

In an instant, every undead present, including Jian Gui, turned deathly pale!