Chapter 476: Taotie

Chapter 476: Gluttonous

In the eastern annex of the Mò Xù Mù Zǐ Hall in Jinan, Shandong.

Within a cluttered workshop, the eye is met with mountains of mechanical wreckage, thick as pythons, cables coiled along the ceiling, their humming currents pulsing with electric life.

No larger than a palm, a girl with twin buns tied atop her head navigates the machinery with practiced ease, her short legs swinging with practiced agility. From the summit of the mechanical heap, she leaps, somersaulting through the air to land squarely upon a head buried deep in the valley between two peaks.

"Zhao Shū, look! My wounds have all healed. When can we return to the Wō Zone?"

Li Hua pushes aside her tangled hair, revealing a face alight with hope, shouting toward the head's owner.

"Not yet."

Zhao Qingxia pauses his work, removes his goggles, and wipes his oil-stained palms carelessly on his clothes before cradling them before him.

"Hey-yeah."

Perched upon his head, Li Hua leaps down, pretending to slip upon landing, and plops into Zhao Qingxia's outstretched palm.

"Zhao Shū, it hurts!" Li Hua rubs her bottom, scowling.

Zhao Qingxia's face hardens. "Where did you learn to speak such nonsense? How could a projection possibly hurt?"

"I don't care. If you don't let me return to the Wō Zone, I won't get up."

Li Hua sprawls in Zhao Qingxia's palm, rolling about and playing the fool.

"Enough. Wait until I finish the final strength test. If all the cracks have truly healed, I'll send you back."

"Really?"

Li Hua's rolling body halts abruptly, tilting her head to gaze at Zhao Qingxia's helpless smile. She scrambles up, scampering along his arm to clutch his earlobe, swaying back and forth.

"I knew Zhao Shū is the kindest to me."

"Stop flattering me. I'll send you back, but there's something you must agree to."

"What is it?"

"Once I forge your new ink armor, you must abandon your current claw-body."

"Ah?" Li Hua's face twists in distaste. "Then I won't be able to help Li Shū fight anymore?"

"You're a girl—what are you thinking about fighting for?"

Zhao Qingxia retorts irritably. "Besides, Li Shū doesn't need your help."

"That's not how it works. Whether Li Shū needs it is his strength's concern; whether I help is my attitude's concern!"

Li Hua releases Zhao Qingxia's earlobe, climbs onto his shoulder, hands on hips, huffing. "As the saying goes, one must have the right attitude. I can't let others mock our Li family for having only Li Jùn, can I?"

"..."

Zhao Qingxia's face darkens at Li Hua's words. "Are you learning this from the Whale Master? How many times have I told you to stay away from him!"

"The Whale Master is actually quite nice."

Li Hua murmurs softly, but seeing Zhao Qingxia truly angry, she mumbles, "I know."

At that moment, a crisp bell chimes within the room—a sign of a projection's arrival.

Li Hua, seeing the figure projected before her, immediately adopts a sweet smile. "Tian Yé, you've come."

"Mmm, our little flower is so polite. I've finished all my projects lately and have some free time. Come to my workshop later, and I'll help you elevate your ink armor's grade, lest you be bullied again."

Li Hua struggles to contain her joy, tilting her face slightly, stealing glances at the respectful Zhao Qingxia behind her. Noticing his eyebrows twitch rapidly, she replies, "Thank you, Tian Yé."

"No need for thanks between you and me. Go rest—you're still recovering from your wounds. Return to your ink armor first. I have words to speak with your Zhao Shū."

"Oh."

Li Hua responds, then leaps onto Zhao Qingxia's workbench, vanishing like a earth god diving into the ground, dissolving into a wisp of white smoke.

"Where did this girl learn such flashy effects?" The projected figure laughs.

"From my teacher."

Zhao Qingxia bows respectfully, his reverence for the man before him unmistakable.

No other reason—the figure is his mentor, the master who guided him upon entering the Mò Xù Mù Zǐ Hall, a revered artisan in ink armor crafting and spirit awakening: Tian Jie.

"Mmm."

Tian Jie's expression softens as he beckons. "We're teacher and student—no need for such formality. Sit, let's talk."

Regarding Zhao Qingxia, Tian Jie is quite pleased.

Not only for his exceptional creativity, but more crucially, Zhao Qingxia's conduct is nearly flawless, save for occasional bouts of impulsiveness. Compared to his own disciple, who spent years persuading him before abandoning his human form to become a master of ink armor, they are worlds apart.

"Old master, if you have any commands, I can come to your workshop. No need for you to come in person."

Embarrassed by the chaos of his own workspace, Zhao Qingxia scratches his head.

"A projection is just a projection, not a personal visit."

Tian Jie's smile is gentle, his gaze falling upon Zhao Qingxia's desk strewn with weapon parts and drafts. "Still working on your mimetic martial arts?"

"Reporting to the master, I've made significant breakthroughs lately. I'd like to present them."

At the mention of mimetic martial arts, Zhao Qingxia's eyes gleam with eagerness. "I've studied extensive literature on martial arts injectors within the hall. One article by Nong Xù was particularly enlightening. It states that using a martial arts injector is essentially a 'planting' process—extracting a cultivator's perfected martial genes to form a 'seed,' then implanting it into the recipient to complete 'sowing,' awakening dormant genes to form the martial art's embryonic form, and finally, through cultivation, achieving 'rooting and sprouting' to complete its inheritance."

"I have an idea—if I can leverage my mastery over my own genes to develop a unique martial art, replacing the injector's 'planting' function, or more precisely, transforming the passive 'reception' into a direct 'plundering,' targeting specific genes within an opponent's body that carry martial arts—would that not free us from the injector's limitations, allowing martial artists to autonomously supplement themselves?"

Zhao Qingxia grins. "Though there are challenges I haven't overcome yet, such as accurately capturing specific martial genes and eliminating harmful genes that might harm the body, my concept remains immature. But if realized, mimicry might no longer be mere imitation—it could become replacement!"

"Just from studying literature, you've already done well."

Tian Jie's face shows approval. "When I first realized this possibility, I was nearly forty. And I stood on the shoulders of many predecessors. Alone, I might never have conceived it."

"Your meaning, old master?"

Zhao Qingxia's face twists in shock. "You once researched martial arts injectors... No, many predecessors in Mò Xù did, didn't they?"

"Do you know where the first martial arts injector of the Great Ming Empire was born? Here, in this eastern annex of Mò Xù Mù Zǐ Hall."

Tian Jie smiles at Zhao Qingxia's stunned expression. "The project was codenamed 'Gluttonous' by the then-master Mù Zǐ. And I was one of its members."

"Initially, the 'Gluttonous' project aimed to let martial artists harvest genes from peers—or even other sequences—for themselves, rather than relying on the complex carrier of injectors. Unfortunately, we faced the same problem as you: how to precisely capture the martial genes within a martial artist's body."

"Our research revealed that martial artists do possess an innate ability to sense and suppress opponents' martial genes, which they call 'pressure' or 'aura.'"

"But this ability typically manifests only when a superior faces an inferior—say, a martial artist of the third rank overpowering a fourth. In such cases, plundering loses its purpose, becoming a useless chicken rib. Think—a martial artist who has already become a sect's third-rank master, what use is a fourth-rank martial artist's techniques?"

"Later, with the complete downfall of martial artists, Mò Xù suffered greatly. Projects like 'Gluttonous' became the perfect excuse for other sequences to target us."

"To prevent the entire Mò Xù from being consumed by war, the then-master Mù Zǐ ordered the project terminated, sealing all related information under the highest 'burial' level. What you now know as martial arts injectors are merely derivative substitutes, our final aid to martial artists."

Though Zhao Qingxia is a member of Mò Xù Mù Zǐ Hall, this secret is new to him.

But his concern isn't about his right to hear such secrets—it's whether his research can continue now that the 'Gluttonous' project has been forbidden.

"I've warned you before—this path is dangerous."

Before Zhao Qingxia can speak, Tian Jie interrupts. "Now more than ever. The Three Teachings are like the sun at its zenith; they won't tolerate any changes in the martial world. Even something as useless as 'Gluttonous.' So you'd best cease your research and redirect your efforts to other interests."

"But old master—"

Zhao Qingxia wants to say this is his most beloved research, but seeing the deep worry and barely perceptible sorrow in Tian Jie's eyes, he cannot finish.

“I understand, teacher,” Zhao Qingxia replied, his expression growing somber.

“By the way, since you’ve chosen to be a craftsman rather than a wanderer, the ink armor you previously had, called Ma Wangye, is no longer suitable for you. I’ll go to the Minggui Realm again to find you a Minggui artifact that specializes in auxiliary research. It will be very helpful for you to quickly accumulate experience and break through the lock to advance to the next level.”

“During this time, you should stay in the studio and carefully consider the direction of your research. You are not allowed to leave the East Branch until you have advanced to the sixth level of ink order.”

After saying this, Tian Jie’s figure vanished from the room, leaving behind a dejected Zhao Qingxia.

“Uncle Whale, what do you think Tian Ge is looking for Zhao Ge for?”

Li Hua, who should have returned to the ink armor to rest, was now lying in the gap between two huge armor plates. Her bangs were blown to the back of her head, her hands supported her chin, and her face was full of thought.

“I have no idea,” she said. “But you can rest assured. Your Uncle Zhao is Tian Ge’s most favorite disciple. Even if he makes a big mistake, he will not be punished.”

The ink rider Whale rolled in the air, his back dangerously close to the cliff wall.

But such a thrilling move did not make Li Hua on his back emit the excited laughter she usually made, which made the ink rider Whale a little puzzled.

“What’s wrong, Hua girl?”

“Uncle Whale, I miss home a little,” Li Hua said.

She rubbed her red eyes and patted the ink rider Whale’s armor plates with her hands. “Uncle Whale, fly slower. The wind is blowing into my eyes.”

The ink rider Whale was obviously a little flustered by this situation and quickly slowed down, asking softly, “Miss home? Is it Minggui Realm? I’ll take you back right now.”

“Of course not. My home is in the Wa region,” Li Hua said.

As soon as she finished speaking, she shook her head. “It’s not that. Home is where the uncle is.”

“Then let’s go. It’s not far away. Your Uncle Whale can get there with one tail swing.”

“But Tian Ge asked me to go to his studio. I can’t leave the East Branch without his permission,” Li Hua said.

Her voice had a faint crying tone. “I always feel that he doesn’t want me to go back.”

The ink rider Whale, who usually had a rebellious spirit and never took Tian Jie’s prohibitions seriously, was unusually silent this time.

There are some situations that Li Hua and Zhao Qingxia don’t know, but he does.

The Wa region is indeed not a suitable place for Li Hua to return to now.

“Uncle Whale, I don’t want to ride anymore. I’m going back,” Li Hua said.

The girl’s figure flashed in the gap between the armor plates and slowly disappeared in the wind howling between the cliffs.

The ink rider Whale remained silent for a long time before suddenly dialing a communication number he hadn’t contacted for a long time.

“Brother Yin, what are you doing? Nothing special. Just a brother missing you,” he said.

“Practice? Where are you killing people again? Oh, not killing people. What are you practicing?”

“Oh, I’m not here to chat with you. I want to ask you if you need to do anything in the next few days. If so, you can call me anytime. You know, I’m not very good at fighting alone. But if you want to blow up a city, you can trust me.”

“What do you mean, ‘Don’t affect your class’? Can’t you say it any less harshly? Besides, what class does a third-tier ink armor go to?”

“What? Did you find the master? You bastard, Chi Zhu, do you want to eat alone? Wait for me. I’ll be there in the Wa region right away!”

“Everyone, I called you here today to tell you some good news,” Liu Dian said.

In the Huangliang Dream built to imitate the Wen Yuan Pavilion, Liu Dian smiled as he looked at the city envoys sitting on both sides of the long table.

“The current situation in the Wa region is not very friendly to us, the clan members. For example, Zhou Ge, your Jirushi City, and Zheng Ge, your Kanazawa City,” Liu Dian said.

Liu Dian turned his head to look at Wang Changting, who was sitting beside him, and smiled. “By the way, there’s also Wang Ge’s Inuyama City. I’ve heard that the Jinyi Wei in these cities have been giving you guys a hard time, huh?”

The people whose names were mentioned by Liu Dian all snorted coldly, their faces dark.

“What do you mean, Liu Dian? Are you specifically asking us to come and watch you mock us?”

Zhou HeYu, the envoy of Jirushi City, frowned and looked at Liu Dian with a malicious expression.

“Of course not. I’m not the kind of person who would throw stones at a jar. On the contrary, I’m here today to bring you a helping hand in the snow,” Liu Dian said.

Unlike Wang Changting’s expressionless face, Liu Dian’s expression was now full of excitement, looking like a satisfied person.

“Xuan Daifu knows everyone’s difficulties and has also realized the harm of the Wa region’s Jinyi Wei being too powerful. Therefore, Daifu has formulated a policy based on the current situation in the Wa region, which has been approved by the senior members of the new Donglin Party,” Liu Dian said.

Liu Dian raised his sleeve, and a document stamped with the seal of the Wa Region Envoys’ Office appeared in front of everyone.

[Decision on the abolition of the Wa Region Jinyi Wei and the simultaneous implementation of post-tenure review]

Just a cursory glance, and the envoys around the long table changed their expressions. Some were excited, some frowned, and some, like Wang Changting, remained expressionless and unmoved.

Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were all different.

But no one cared why such a document was being announced by Liu Dian in his own Huangliang Dream, rather than being directly issued to each city through the Ministry of Personnel.

“It seems that Xuan Daifu has finally made up his mind to take action against the Wa Region Jinyi Wei. That’s great!” Zhou HeYu from Jirushi City said excitedly.

He slammed his fist on the table.

“The plan is clearly written in the document, so I don’t need to interpret it further. Everyone knows what to do next,” Liu Dian said.

Liu Dian stood up straight and bowed to his colleagues in front of him. “I would like to wish all my colleagues a smooth official career and a bright future in advance!”

“Thank you, Brother Liu!”

Everyone returned the salute, but Wang Changting remained motionless in his chair. His eyes flickered with deep sarcasm and pity as he glanced at Zhou HeYu, who had spoken the loudest.