Chapter 70: Transformation
The High Priest pointed at the box and continued, "This is the Holy Stone, meticulously refined by our Taihong Association. You two will consume it tonight on your wedding night."
"This way, your first child will possess the same ability as I do, and will one day be able to succeed me as High Priest."
This was the significance of the Saintess’s position in the Taihong Association.
The Saintess was the birth mother of the next High Priest.
No wonder the Taihong Association’s requirements for the Saintess’s husband were so high.
Once the next High Priest came of age, the Saintess’s husband’s family would naturally become allies of the Taihong Association.
The High Priest opened the box and took out a round, transparent, jet-black object. It resembled a glowing stone and was constantly pulsating.
Lu Changfeng looked over with curiosity.
’If they consume this item, the child born to Zhao Xingtian and the Saintess can inherit an ability?’
’What ability?’
Lu Changfeng glanced at the High Priest’s interface.
Name: ??? (High Priest of the Taihong Association)
Root Bone: Upper A Class
Talent: Middle Grade Talent [Illusion Technique]
’Could it be the High Priest’s [Illusion Technique] Talent?’
’That must be it. The interface didn’t show any other Talents on the High Priest besides [Illusion Technique].’
Moreover, it was the first time Lu Changfeng had ever encountered a Spiritual Class Talent like this.
’It must be an extremely effective boon for the Taihong Association’s religious recruitment.’
Hong Xiangxiang solemnly accepted the Holy Stone and placed it in an inside pocket.
The banquet continued.
Taking the rare chance to indulge, Lu Changfeng had a few more drinks and soon felt a little buzzed.
He stood and went to a window for some fresh air, simultaneously circulating his qi and blood to quickly purge the alcohol from his system.
"You must be the famous Master Lu, Lu Changfeng, I’ve heard so much about recently!"
A woman’s voice called out. Lu Changfeng turned to see a woman with a stunningly beautiful face sizing him up.
Lu Changfeng frowned slightly. The woman was gorgeous, but for some reason, he felt no sense of admiration.
"I am Lu Changfeng," he replied. "How can I help you?"
Lu Changfeng replied, opening his interface at the same time.
In a crowded place like a banquet, Lu Changfeng usually avoided opening the interface to keep from being overwhelmed.
’Otherwise, my vision would be filled with interface panels, and that would be terrifying.’
He only secretly opened it to take a look when he encountered a specific person of interest.
Name: ??? (Beautiful Woman)
Root Bone: Middle A Class
Talents: Middle Grade Talent [Transformation], High-Grade Talent [Flying Swallow].
’Hmm? Two Martial Talents.’
Lu Changfeng also had the [Flying Swallow] Talent, which was a High-Grade Light Body Talent.
However, Lu Changfeng had yet to condense his Inner Strength, so he couldn’t learn more advanced Light Body Techniques. Otherwise, with his [Flying Swallow] Talent alone, he could have made a name for himself in the Martial Arts Realm.
’Transformation? What kind of Talent is that? Could this woman be in disguise?’
’Combined with the strange feeling he got from her, Lu Changfeng’s eyelid twitched. Don’t tell me this "woman" is actually a man in disguise?’
"Help you? Hardly. I just wanted to see the Martial Arts Realm’s man of the hour for myself."
"And I have to say, you’re not that special," the woman remarked, then turned and walked away, leaving Lu Changfeng completely bewildered.
Lu Changfeng thought that was the end of the strange little episode.
But it was immediately followed by Hong Xiangxiang’s panicked cry, "The Holy Stone is gone!"
At her words, Lu Changfeng turned his head to look.
He saw Hong Xiangxiang looking frantic, while all the nearby Taihong Association Disciples had risen to their feet, their expressions grave.
Hong Xiangxiang searched carefully one more time before shaking her head. "I still can’t find it. It must have been stolen."
The High Priest’s expression was grim. "Lock down the restaurant!"
"Everyone, the Holy Stone is a treasure of utmost importance to our Taihong Association. I must ask for your cooperation as we conduct a search!"
"We just need to find the thief!"
Everyone was very cooperative and remained in their seats.
The High Priest began the search himself. He had a special connection to the Holy Stone; he could sense its presence whenever it was nearby.
But after making a full sweep of the banquet hall, the High Priest’s expression only grew darker.
It wasn’t hard for Lu Changfeng to guess that the High Priest had come up empty.
"It’s all my fault for being so careless," Hong Xiangxiang said, dejected.
Zhao Xingtian, showing some decency for once, pulled Hong Xiangxiang into his arms to comfort her.
The High Priest made another sweep, but still came up with nothing. He had no choice but to return, looking somewhat weary.
"Forget it. Lift the lockdown. Let’s not spoil everyone’s evening." Considering everyone present today were forces from the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Realm on good terms with the Taihong Association, the High Priest chose to lift the lockdown after two fruitless searches.
"You two, don’t worry. If it comes to it, I’ll just have to expend the effort to refine another Holy Stone."
"It just means you’ll have to postpone having a child for a while," the High Priest said, consoling Hong Xiangxiang and Zhao Xingtian.
The corner of Zhao Xingtian’s mouth twitched. He had been planning to run away right after the wedding.
’With things as they are now, it looks like I won’t be able to leave.’
Zhao Xingtian’s gaze found Lu Changfeng in the distance, a plea for help in his eyes.
’If we find the Holy Stone, this problem will be solved, right?’
Lu Changfeng, of course, understood Zhao Xingtian’s intention. He returned to his table and sat down.
"High Priest," Lu Changfeng spoke up, "think about it. Who would want to steal the Holy Stone? And more importantly, who would have the ability to steal it from right under your nose?"
The High Priest’s expression finally eased a little. "The effects of the Holy Stone are extraordinary. Even an ordinary person would gain immense benefits from consuming it. Anyone could have a motive to steal it."
"As for who could steal the Holy Stone from right under my nose..." The High Priest’s expression turned grim again.
Just then, a waiter, sweating profusely, approached them carrying a wine jug.
"Here is the Osmanthus Brew you ordered, sirs. Allow me to fill your cups."
The waiter lifted the jug and began pouring wine for everyone at the table.
At first, Lu Changfeng paid him no mind, but when his gaze happened to fall upon the waiter, his expression turned strange.
Name: ??? (Ordinary Waiter)
Root Bone: Middle A Class
Talents: Middle Grade Talent [Transformation], High-Grade Talent [Flying Swallow]
’How does this "ordinary waiter" have the exact same Root Bone and Talents as that beautiful woman from before?’
In that instant, Lu Changfeng understood.
Just as the waiter reached him to pour his wine...
Lu Changfeng looked at the waiter with a smirk. "You’re quite special for a waiter, aren’t you?"
The waiter’s hand trembled, and he nearly spilled the wine on the table.
All eyes at the table were drawn to them.
The High Priest was an astute man and could tell at a glance that Lu Changfeng had discovered something.
"You, get over here!" The High Priest lunged, reaching for the waiter.
But this waiter was no ordinary person. With a light tap of his feet, he shot backward like an arrow.
His speed was like that of a swallow in flight.
"Stop him!" the High Priest commanded.
Two of the Taihong Association’s Seven-colored Disciples and several Six-colored Disciples rushed toward the waiter.
The waiter leaped through a window, shattering it, and the crowd gave chase.
But the street in front of the restaurant was crowded. By the time the pursuers landed, the waiter, who had jumped just a moment before, seemed to have vanished without a trace.
Lu Changfeng leaped down from above as well. He opened his interface, scanned the crowd, and immediately pointed at a street vendor. "It’s him!"
An incredulous look appeared on the street vendor’s face. His body blurred as he once again shot away, evading the encirclement.