I Can Extract Divine Power

A look of utter madness, terrifying to the extreme, swirled in his eyes.

"We paid a heavy price, too. A mere half of the Shadow in the Painting is an exceedingly rare Deceitful Object in this world, not to mention Piaoxu and Lu Cheng. They were pillars of the Academy. Surely their deaths weren’t in vain."

Qi Huang Taoist sneered. "What are those two compared to the elites we lost? Besides, it seems Piaoxu’s death allowed your Academy to return to normal. Am I wrong?"

The Vice Dean narrowed his eyes. His white eyebrows, which already reached his chin, immediately stirred as if in a nonexistent wind, exuding a bone-chilling killing intent.

"Are you saying, Daoist, that you intend to pin the blame for this on Xinhua Academy?"

Qi Huang Taoist snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and said nothing.

The two had already agreed on their approach before arriving: one would play good cop, the other bad cop.

Now that he had finished playing the bad cop, it was Abbot Xuanzhen’s turn.

Abbot Xuanzhen quickly stood up and cupped his hands. "Vice Dean, please pay him no mind. The Daoist is just blunt. He means no harm. The main purpose of our visit is to discuss with the Academy how to deal with Shen Bai and obtain the Hundred Truths Remains."

"The Hundred Truths Remains isn’t so easily destroyed. The news they’ve spread is most likely false."

But the Vice Dean was a cunning man. One didn’t get to his position in Nanxing Prefecture without being shrewd. He saw right through their good-cop, bad-cop routine.

However, this was not the moment to call them out on it. So, he stroked his beard and said nonchalantly.

"If you two have a plan, you may explain it in detail. If it means we can destroy Shen Bai and obtain the Hundred Truths Remains, my Xinhua Academy will naturally lend its strength. But I have to know if your plan is sound. I have no desire to repeat your past failures."

They had been completely certain of their last plan, yet Shen Bai had shattered it completely.

The Vice Dean was also somewhat interested in this man.

’He even considered capturing Shen Bai and studying him thoroughly. Finding out what he was made of might be a great boon to Xinhua Academy’s various research projects.’

Now that these two had come to him, he, of course, had his own agenda.

If their plan was viable, he might actually get involved.

Abbot Xuanzhen nodded. "Rest assured, Vice Dean. If we weren’t certain of victory, we wouldn’t be here talking to you."

The Vice Dean said nothing, but his expression showed he was waiting for Abbot Xuanzhen to continue.

After pausing in thought for a moment, Abbot Xuanzhen slowly revealed his plan.

"When it comes to research, Xinhua Academy is certainly proficient. I’ve heard the Vice Dean is researching a very important subject: whether it’s possible for humans and Deceitful beings to produce offspring."

Hearing this, the Vice Dean’s eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint flashing within them.

"I am indeed conducting that research. But it seems that Deceitful beings and humans cannot produce offspring. Even with the most rigorous data, it remains impossible."

Abbot Xuanzhen shook his head. "But it is possible."

As soon as he said this, a flicker of keen interest appeared in the Vice Dean’s eyes.

Seeing that look, Abbot Xuanzhen knew his trip had not been in vain.

’The people of Xinhua Academy are all madmen,’ he thought. ’They’re obsessed with their research. So long as you appeal to that obsession, you have them by their greatest weakness.’

"Explain," the Vice Dean said.

This project was one of his primary areas of research. If humans and Deceitful beings could produce offspring, it was highly likely they could create a Deceitful being that could be controlled, or one that possessed its own consciousness.

If the Vice Dean could achieve a breakthrough in this field, he would reap enormous rewards. He might even go down in history.

Qi Huang Taoist frowned.

’He hadn’t expected Abbot Xuanzhen to use this line of reasoning to win the Vice Dean’s support.’

But he said nothing, continuing to wait patiently.

Abbot Xuanzhen organized his thoughts for a moment before slowly laying out the plan. "Within the Wild Taoist Sect of Nanxing Prefecture, there is a Secret Technique called the Feather Transformation Technique. That is the key."

"If a human undergoes the Feather Transformation, making them compatible with a Deceitful being, a spiritual union between them will certainly yield results."

The Vice Dean showed no reaction to this statement, but Qi Huang Taoist shot to his feet.

"Impossible! The Feather Transformation Technique can only be used three times in a lifetime. It can remove all the latent flaws in one’s cultivation. I’ve already used it twice. I have one use left, and I need it to break through to the next Grand Realm. It absolutely cannot be used for this."

The Feather Transformation Technique was a Secret Technique of the Wild Taoist Sect used to correct any flaw in a living being, producing a fundamental transformation.

He understood Abbot Xuanzhen’s meaning: a spiritual union between a human and a Deceitful being would inevitably have its flaws.

The Feather Transformation Technique could alter the human, thereby compensating for those flaws.

But the Feather Transformation Technique was too important to him.

Abbot Xuanzhen sighed. "Both our sides lost a great number of elites over this matter. If we don’t resolve it, I fear our superiors will hold us accountable. Forget about your Feather Transformation Technique. You won’t even get the chance to use it."

At these words, Qi Huang Taoist fell silent.

He knew Abbot Xuanzhen was right. Gritting his teeth, he nodded.

Men in their positions couldn’t afford to be indecisive. Decisions were made in an instant.

The Vice Dean gripped his cane and said slowly, "Very well. I’m quite interested myself. In that case, tell me your plan. How will you deal with Shen Bai and obtain the Hundred Truths Remains?"

As the Vice Dean of this place, he was indeed eager to see if the Feather Transformation Technique could create the miracle his research needed.

But these two had come to him for the purpose of dealing with Shen Bai.

Naturally, he had to hear the plan first.

If the plan wasn’t thorough enough, he would choose self-preservation.

’After all, one had to be alive to conduct more research.’

The corners of Abbot Xuanzhen’s mouth curved up slightly. He leaned in close to the Vice Dean and began to speak.