Chapter 491: Myriad Transformations, People from the Prefectural City Arrive

Chapter 491: Myriad Transformations, Someone from the Prefectural City Arrives

Zhou Hu left the Huang residence, his face still clouded with gloom.

“Do you think the death of the Huang family’s young master has anything to do with that Qi Yuan?” Zhou Hu asked the constable beside him, lost in thought.

The death of the Madhouse director and the murder of Huang Yanshou—these two incidents were easily linked together.

“Perhaps,” the constable said.

Just then, a short, wiry middle-aged constable hurried over: “Chief, Qi Yuan is missing from the Madhouse.”

“It seems it really is connected to him.” Zhou Hu frowned, then shook his head.

Even if it were, it had nothing to do with him.

“I wonder… what level is that person the Shen family sent to Ninghe County?”

Zhou Hu desperately hoped in his heart that the other party was a Profound-level Weapon Master.

But on second thought, that was impossible.

Though the Shen family was a wealthy and powerful clan, the number of Profound-level Weapon Masters was absolutely scarce. How could they dispatch one to Ninghe County for such a trivial matter?

A Profound-level Weapon Master was incomparably mighty—fierce as a tiger, breath like an elephant, spirit like a dragon.

One man alone was a formidable war machine!

Even against hundreds of armored elite soldiers arrayed in formation, he could break them!

How could such a terrifying war machine be sent here?

Qi Yuan… was not worthy.

As for Earth-level Weapon Masters, they were even more fearsome—one man could sway the outcome of a small-scale battle.

…

“Level 30.”

In the inn, Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

These past days, he and Chen Kangbao had roamed all over Ninghe County, hunting down and slaying specters.

He had finally reached level 30.

“There’s a strange feeling… as if my realm has reached Foundation Establishment, yet my combat power is inferior to that of Foundation Establishment in the Immortal Realm.

Could it be because the worlds are different?”

Qi Yuan pondered.

But then, thinking it over, Qi Yuan felt his judgment was off.

Because there was no frame of reference.

For example, if his punch had the force of one jin.

What if, in this universe, a stone weighing one jin was heavier than a star in the Immortal Realm?

Or again, though he now appeared less than two meters tall, if he left this universe and went to another, he might suddenly find himself larger than a sun.

All of this was possible.

“If I compare it to the supernatural system of this universe, I should now be considered… a Yellow-level Weapon Master?”

Qi Yuan speculated.

Ninghe County did have Weapon Masters, though weak in strength, and Qi Yuan had secretly observed them.

Setting aside combat experience, just based on performance, levels 1 to 29 should be Mortal-level Weapon Masters.

Levels 30 to 59, Qi Yuan guessed, corresponded to Yellow-level Weapon Masters.

Every 30 levels corresponded to a major realm, and every 10 levels to the early, middle, and late stages.

“Unexpectedly, this time I also awakened a major skill.”

Back in Wangyue Continent, Qi Yuan awakened a minor skill every ten levels and a major skill every thirty levels.

Such as Overwhelming Strength, Heaven-Slashing Sword Art, and Deathly Radiance.

In this world, those minor skills had not awakened.

But at level thirty, the major skill Overwhelming Strength had returned.

In addition, Qi Yuan had awakened an extra skill.

Myriad Transformations!

As the name suggested, it was a skill of transformation.

When activated, Qi Yuan could transform into other people or objects, just like in the cultivation world—for instance, a blade of dog-tail grass.

This skill seemed quite useless in the cultivation world.

After all, any great cultivator could change form.

But in this world, this skill was… quite miraculous.

“According to the memories of the son-in-law Qi Yuan, it seems that even those legendary Earth-level Weapon Masters can at most alter their appearance or even reshape their bones, but they cannot achieve Myriad Transformations… In fact, as long as my level is high enough, I can transform into anything.”

If Profound-level Weapon Masters were the elite of a region, the upper echelons of a faction,

Then Earth-level Weapon Masters were overlords of a region.

The Ning Kingdom was weak, controlling only three prefectures.

Each prefecture had roughly seven commanderies.

Jining Prefecture was located in Jiangzhou, with only three commanderies left; the rest had been ceded to Moshan Kingdom.

The Ning Kingdom’s imperial power was in decline, and in recent years, the royal family had not even possessed a Heaven-level Weapon Master.

This also meant the royal family could not suppress the great clans, sects, and aristocratic houses.

Those great clans and sects with Earth-level Weapon Masters were behemoths in the Ning Kingdom, daring to challenge the royal family.

Of course, it was only a challenge.

Similar to the meaning in a certain manga where a Great Saint Body challenges an Emperor.

Among the nine great families of Jining Prefecture was the Shen family, and the Shen family had an Earth-level Weapon Master stationed there.

“Myriad Transformations!”

At that moment, Qi Yuan activated his skill and transformed into a kitchen knife.

Instantly, a large kitchen knife appeared in the room.

If an Earth-level Weapon Master had witnessed this scene, they would have been astounded, finding it utterly inconceivable.

Chen Kangbao, meanwhile, was eating a steamed bun, a puzzled expression on his face: “Young master, why are you turning into a kitchen knife?”

Since his young master was a god descending to earth, being able to turn into a kitchen knife did not surprise Chen Kangbao.

“Because I’m playing the role of a kitchen knife.” On this kitchen knife, a mouth had suddenly appeared and was speaking.

At that moment, Qi Yuan’s mouth looked like a cheap special effect from a short video.

"It seems I am still too weak, able only to transform into beings of similar size."

For now, Qi Yuan's strength is meager, and his Myriad Transformations are limited.

Otherwise, when facing a great enemy, he could simply turn into that enemy's cell nucleus, and the foe would likely never find him.

But what cheers him is that he can now become a kitchen knife.

Doesn't that mean playing the role of a kitchen knife will be much easier in the future?

"I can become a kitchen knife, so... can I become... Divine Descent?"

Qi Yuan had a sudden, whimsical thought.

What Divine Descent was, Qi Yuan did not know.

But with Myriad Transformations at hand, turning into himself... shouldn't be a problem, right?

Though he had no idea what Divine Descent was, what if it worked?

No time like the present.

Myriad Transformations!

Qi Yuan unleashed this newly mastered skill.

In an instant, a profound, vast aura swept through.

Qi Yuan's thoughts became crystal clear in that moment.

Countless murmurs and whispers buzzed in his ears, like ten thousand monks chanting sutras beside him.

These voices were too distant; he could not make them out clearly.

Yet one faint, youthful voice fell distinctly into his ears.

"More and more people have died in Red Cloud Stockade lately... O god, bless me, bless me!"

Qi Yuan lifted his gaze, following the direction of the voice.

In Red Cloud Stockade, inside a crude hut, Li Xiaodan, kneeling before a deity statue, suddenly shuddered.

For, inexplicably, he felt that the eyes of the statue had grown lively, as if scrutinizing him.

This sensation was eerie and made his scalp tingle.

"An illusion, or...?" Li Xiaodan stared cautiously at the statue, a hint of fear creeping in.

Suddenly, a flash of red light streaked across the statue.

A cold, emotionless voice rang out.

"I am not a god; no need to kneel."

"Ah..."

Hearing this voice, Li Xiaodan's face twisted in terror. With a loud cry, he fled the hut as if escaping.

Meanwhile, in the distant Central Lands.

The Raksha Kingdom.

Within the imperial court, a furious and terrified roar erupted.

"Divine Descent?!"

"Wasn't He shattered into ten thousand fragments long ago, all cast into the Yellow Springs and the Blazing Tombs?"

"How can a wisp of His aura emerge?"

"Is the Tribunal resurrecting Him?"

"Ning Kingdom—send someone at once!"

"The Raksha Kingdom needs no god—only one emperor!" In a dim corner.

An old man, withered like a dry branch, had tears brimming in his eyes.

"The god's aura... the god... lives?"

He prostrated himself on the ground, his demeanor devout and humble, like the most loyal of believers.

"O god, a hundred years have passed, and the world has forgotten your might!"

"This old man is willing to use his own blood to rekindle Divine Descent!"

That day, a powerful figure from the Raksha Kingdom's imperial court set out for Ning Kingdom.

That day, from the Tribunal, an ascetic-like Imperial Weapon Master also journeyed toward Ning Kingdom.

At this moment, Qi Yuan withdrew from Myriad Transformations.

His eyes held a look of confusion.

"Deity statue?"

"Red Cloud Stockade?"

He had some inkling about the identity of Divine Descent.

"Young master, just now... you looked like a celestial descending to earth!" Chen Kangbao said in awe beside him.

"Has there been any eerie spirit in Red Cloud Stockade lately?" Qi Yuan recalled the boy's prayer and asked.

"This... this old servant will go inquire immediately."

"Never mind; whether there is or not, we'll go to Red Cloud Stockade tomorrow and take a look," Qi Yuan said casually.

Ordinary people feared eerie spirits, but Qi Yuan did not.

Besides combat power, eerie spirits possessed some special, uncanny abilities.

These abilities were rare for the Imperial Weapon Masters of this world, but for Qi Yuan, who had lived in the realm of immortal cultivation, they seemed quite ordinary.

Soul attacks, illusions, soul-reaping curses—all of it.

Thus, when facing eerie spirits, he naturally held an inherent advantage.

After Chen Kangbao left, Qi Yuan sat in his chair, picked up the patterned clay pot on the table, and poured himself a cup of water.

"Myriad Transformations can turn me into Divine Descent..."

"Then couldn't I become the Dao Ancestor and gain a portion of his power?"

Qi Yuan had another sudden inspiration.

He didn't know what Divine Descent was, yet he could transform into it—so why not the Dao Ancestor?

"The right eye's brow hasn't twitched, meaning no risk."

"Transform!"

Myriad Transformations was activated once more.

The room was silent, not even a breeze stirring.

Qi Yuan looked at himself, somewhat disappointed.

"Seems it won't work."

"Alas, gambling on a small chance to win big is indeed inadvisable!"

"Time to sleep!"

The next day, Qi Yuan was awakened by a loud banging on the door.

He rubbed his bleary eyes: "Who is it?"

Bang!

The door swung open.

A tall, slender woman stepped in, her face cold as frost, a sword case strapped to her back.

What caught the eye most were her long legs, strong and powerful, as if they could strangle a person.

The moment she entered the room, her expression was far from friendly, as if she had woken up on the wrong side of the bed.

"Zhi Shuang, it's you?"

"Are you here so early to help your master-in-law dress?"

"Everyone is equal; though you are a maid, you don't need to serve me."

The newcomer was well known to Qi Yuan, the live-in son-in-law, and he also feared her.

This woman was the personal maid of the eldest Miss of the Shen family.

Back when Qi Yuan, the live-in son-in-law, and the eldest Miss of the Shen family were to be wed, the eldest Miss was absent, and it was Zhi Shuang who completed the ceremony in her stead.

Of course, the final step of being led to the bridal chamber was out of the question.

Even if Qi Yuan, the live-in son-in-law, had been eager, it would have been useless.

After all, this Zhi Shuang was no ordinary maid.

She was a Weapon Master.

A piercing chill emanated from Zhi Shuang as she exuded an icy aura. She looked at Qi Yuan, her gaze cold yet tinged with a hint of confusion.

Because the lazy young man before her was completely different from the cowardly master-in-law she had once known.

That man would tremble at the sight of her, full of lust but lacking the courage.

How would he dare speak to her like this?

"Master-in-law, the young miss has heard about what happened in Ninghe County. She is very disappointed!" Zhi Shuang stared at Qi Yuan, her eyes as cold as ice. "The young miss hopes you will truthfully recount what happened back then!"

"Are you referring to the matter with the widow? It wasn't me," Qi Yuan replied calmly.

"Master-in-law, you are too disappointing!" Zhi Shuang's gaze remained icy. "Old Zhong said he saw with his own eyes you bullying that widow. He couldn't bear it and tried to stop you, but you kicked him. The bruise on his forehead is still there!"

On the way to Ninghe County, she had met Uncle Zhong.

From his account, she learned what had happened and felt even more contempt for the man before her.

"That man with the thick eyebrows and big eyes... he's framing me?" Qi Yuan stretched lazily, about to ignore the matter.

But suddenly, he remembered he was supposed to play the role of a live-in son-in-law.

Since he had to act the part, he couldn't remain so calm.

Instantly, he put on a pitiful expression: "Sister Zhi Shuang, I've been framed and wronged!"

Sure enough, the progress bar for playing the live-in son-in-law inched forward at that moment.

As he spoke, he glanced at Zhi Shuang's long legs, tempted to embrace them.

But after a moment's thought, he decided against it.

Though this woman exuded a cold aura, she had rushed all the way from the prefectural city to Ninghe County without rest.

Her feet must be sweaty and stinking!

If he caught a whiff, he might just throw up.

After all, the women here were nothing compared to the delicate, jade-like feet of the canary and Ning Tao—small, exquisite, like tender white lotus roots and slender bamboo shoots.

Seeing Qi Yuan like this, Zhi Shuang felt a sense of familiarity. A flicker of contempt passed through her eyes. "Why would Uncle Zhong frame you, master-in-law? If you admit to what you did, the young miss might still think better of you!"

"It's Wang Kaixuan!" Qi Yuan continued playing the live-in son-in-law.

Hearing this, Zhi Shuang's expression shifted slightly.

At that moment, she sensed there might be more to the story.

After all, given Qi Yuan's cowardly nature, even if he wanted to falsely accuse someone, he wouldn't dare name Wang Kaixuan.

"Master-in-law, come back to the prefectural city with me. The young miss will get to the bottom of this," Zhi Shuang said, her face like frost.

"I can't go back right now. How about in a few days?" Qi Yuan asked tentatively.

"No!" Zhi Shuang refused, her voice leaving no room for argument.

She needed to take Qi Yuan back to the Shen residence and lock him up, then head to Ye Mountain Lake.

The young miss still needed her there.

"I really need some time, Sister Zhi Shuang..." Qi Yuan continued his act, speaking pitifully.

A look of disgust flickered in Zhi Shuang's eyes.

"No!"

Bang!

The moment she spoke, Zhi Shuang's body suddenly crumpled to the floor.

"How about now?" Qi Yuan muttered to himself, looking at the unconscious Zhi Shuang.

He had suddenly struck her, knocking her out.

"Young master!" At that moment, Chen Kangbao walked in, a half-eaten bun still in his mouth.

He glanced at the woman on the floor, his expression unchanged.

"The matter of Red Cloud Stronghold has been investigated. We can go anytime!" Chen Kangbao said as he chewed.

"Good," Qi Yuan nodded.

"Is the young master leaving this woman here?"

"No, she's unconscious and can't defend herself. If someone finds her and says 'today's a good day,' I'd be a sinner."

"So, I have to take her with me!"

"Carrying a woman out like this—won't we be mistaken for thieves?"

"What woman? She's clearly my spear!"

"Perfect, I didn't have a weapon. Her body looks sturdy enough."

A thousand transformations!

As the words fell, Zhi Shuang suddenly turned into a spear.

But this spear was somewhat thick and long.

A cold gleam flickered, razor-sharp.

Qi Yuan looked at the gun, gently picking it up with his hand.

"I must be careful, I can't take advantage."

PS: The game levels in this world are only applicable to this game, do not convert with other worlds.

(End of this chapter)