I Can Extract Divine Power

The dilapidated and decaying tavern was deserted.

In the silent surroundings, only Shen Bai and Red Makeup were present.

The floor was thick with dust. In the windless tavern, not a single speck stirred.

Red Makeup held a teacup. With her other hand, she held back her sleeve as she placed the cup on the table, ensuring the red fabric did not touch the tabletop.

"My catalyst is the Mysterious City."

After saying this, Red Makeup gently brushed her index finger across her rosy lips, wiping away the glistening droplets of tea.

She seemed just like a living person, and with every glance, she exuded a classical beauty that was not of this world.

Her red robes were the color of blood, but the way her left hand held the sleeve of her right, grasping it gently, made the color seem exceptionally soft and alluring.

Shen Bai narrowed his eyes, his hand rubbing the hilt of Cold Moon. "Your catalyst is the Mysterious City," he said. "So what needs to be done, and what’s in it for me?"

In truth, Shen Bai and Amber had already deduced that her catalyst was related to the Mysterious City, so he wasn’t surprised to hear her confirm it.

Red Makeup placed her hands on her lower abdomen. Even in this decaying tavern, she maintained a straight posture, the rise and fall of her chest a captivating sight. "This Mysterious City is actually what my father became after his death. The entire city is an entity at the Void Realm Peak, invincible among those of the same level."

"Once, a Jianghu person named Zhang Baizhen came here and learned the Hundred Truths Technique. I thought he could lead me out of this place and grant me freedom, but I was wrong."

"Every time he visited, he was further corrupted by the Mysterious City. Every time he practiced the technique, the corruption deepened."

"Until his final visit, when he could no longer resist it and his body was riddled with ailments."

"That Hundred Truths Technique was, in fact, an incomplete technique my father created."

’Hundred Truths?’

’The Hundred True Gentlemen?’

’An incomplete Cultivation Technique?’

Upon hearing this, Shen Bai finally confirmed his suspicions.

The Hundred True Gentlemen had indeed obtained the Hundred Truths Technique in the Mysterious City.

It turned out that all of this was closely related to Red Makeup as well.

"Why is it incomplete?" Shen Bai asked.

Red Makeup lowered her head slightly, her gaze falling to the teacup on the table as a bitter smile touched her lips. "How could there be a method in this world that allows one to master a hundred different cultivation techniques? When my father created the Hundred Truths Technique, it was doomed to fail. It’s impossible for anyone to become invincible by cultivating so many techniques."

Shen Bai stroked his chin.

’That does make sense.’

’If that were true, he wouldn’t just be at the Void Realm; the Hundred True Gentlemen would have been far more than just the top expert in Nanxing Prefecture.’

’The City Lord of Sunset City created the Hundred Truths Technique for himself, but he must not have expected the drawbacks to be so severe.’

Red Makeup had thought that once the Hundred True Gentlemen obtained the Hundred Truths Technique, he would be able to lead her out. But before he could even act, he had already perished.

Nothing in Sunset City had ever changed.

"Sir, please don’t think that I deliberately made him cultivate the Hundred Truths Technique."

Red Makeup looked up. "I may want to leave, but I would never harm anyone," she said. "He found that technique himself; it had nothing to do with me. I only wanted to borrow his strength to escape."

Shen Bai said, "None of that is important. What’s important is how you plan to get out."

’I only need to know the gist of what happened with the Hundred True Gentlemen.’

The rest had nothing to do with him.

’He hadn’t come here to listen to a story.’

’If he wanted stories, he could go to the Music Bureau in Nanxing Prefecture and listen to beautiful women tell them. Wouldn’t that be far better than being in this decaying, rotten Sunset City?’

A slight smile touched Red Makeup’s lips. "The reason I cannot become a Deceitful Beast is the Mysterious City itself. If it is destroyed, I will be freed from my bonds and can finally become one."

"And the benefit?" Shen Bai pressed.

’Shen Bai wouldn’t do something if there was nothing in it for him.’

’He liked to be the one getting a free ride, not giving one.’

Red Makeup’s gaze fixed intently on Shen Bai’s chest.

Shen Bai frowned. "I’m not interested in paper dolls."

’Living people might not be as beautiful as Red Makeup, but at least they’re warm. That’s better than something cold and lifeless.’

Red Makeup shook her head. "You misunderstand, Sir. Although I am not yet a Deceitful Beast, I am on the verge of becoming one. And so... I can sense that you already have a Deceitful Beast with you."

A flash of brilliant light emanated from Shen Bai’s chest.

Amber popped her head out, sporting a pair of cat ears. She glared at Red Makeup with disdain and said, "Bad woman, are you trying to steal my master from me?"

With that, Amber bared her teeth, revealing a pair of sharp tiger fangs in a menacing gesture.

’She really didn’t like the look of this woman. That classical, beautiful aura she had would drive most men crazy.’

’Just imagine: if two equally beautiful women were standing together, and one of them opens her mouth and says the two words "Big Bro," while the other is gentle and soft-spoken, any man would choose the second one.’

’Of course, wanting both wasn’t out of the question either.’

’Amber knew she was cute, but she felt her cuteness was a bit of a disadvantage here.’

Red Makeup let out a soft laugh. "You misunderstand, miss," she said. "The master may only have one heart, but his love is infinite."

Amber wrinkled her small, cute nose. She felt there was something wrong with that statement, but she couldn’t think of a retort.

’Ask her to fight? No problem.’

’Ask her to win a war of words? Not a chance.’

’She couldn’t win anyway.’

After a moment of thought, Amber huffed twice, then burrowed into Shen Bai’s chest and vanished.

"You better watch your tail, or I’ll beat you to death!"

Red Makeup gave a slight nod, as if responding to Amber.

Shen Bai stroked his chin. "What you were implying earlier... don’t tell me you want to become my Deceitful Beast?"

Red Makeup leaned forward slightly. "Sir, what’s one more Deceitful Beast when you already have one? There’s certainly no harm in it."