C68 Plans

Upon reaching the base of the mountain, I noticed that the detail-oriented old man had already covered our motorcycle with a cloth. Before we embarked on our journey, Deaf Zhang glanced at me and inquired, "Changsheng, what are your plans now? Are you thinking of heading back to West River Village first?"

I nodded and let out a sigh, "I've got my work cut out for me. Besides fulfilling the two tasks my foster father entrusted to me on his deathbed, I must locate the thirteen corpses to ensure I live beyond eighteen... By the way, Mr. Ergou, since you're often in contact with corpses and can identify a Corpse Devil, do you have any idea where I might find the other twelve?"

Deaf Zhang gazed into the distance at the great mountain, pondering for a moment before responding, "The Fox Corpse is likely in the northeast. The fox is one of the five great immortals. You could try asking a disciple there; you might just stumble upon a lead. The Poison Corpse, I reckon, is probably in the southwest, in Miaojiang. Your dad's last wish was for you to visit Jade Cave Miao Village, right? That would be a good opportunity to inquire with the local Miao people. The Blood Corpse is likely in an ancient tomb, while the Ice Corpse should be found near water. As for the Corpse King, Corpse Immortal, and No-transforming Bone, I've only heard of them in myths and legends. Who's to say if they even exist in this world... As for the rest of the corpses, I'm at a loss."

"It looks like I might have to traverse the entire country to find all thirteen corpses, and who knows, maybe even take to the skies in search of the Corpse King and Corpse Immortal," I said with a wry smile.

"Don't worry, Changsheng, I'll assist you in your search. Once I've wrapped up my current affairs, I'll come to find you," Deaf Zhang reassured me, giving my shoulder a supportive pat.

I offered a grateful smile and replied, "Thanks, Mr. Ergou. I'm planning to visit the Heaven Connecting Palace at Wuling Mountain next, to seek out my father's brother, Zhao Guizhen. My foster father believed he could protect me. Maybe my uncle can help me navigate these challenges."

"I've heard from my master that the Heaven Connecting Palace, while seemingly just an ordinary Taoist temple, wields considerable influence. Many masters from the Supernatural World maintain special connections with it, and I've heard whispers of secretive and mystical financial dealings there," Deaf Zhang shared.

Deaf Zhang's words instilled a sense of wariness and doubt within me. I had long been drawn to the Heaven Connecting Palace, as it was likely the place where my foster father had honed his skills.

Yet, after uncovering a fragment of the truth about an incident that occurred fifteen years ago, my concerns grew. The object within me was the very treasure they coveted.

My foster father had become a Half Immortal at a young age. His master and elders were probably even more formidable. Should I venture there, they might uncover the secret harbored in my body.

My sole option was to steer clear of the Heaven Connecting Palace's people and discreetly seek out Zhao Guizhen. Whether I could achieve my goal remained uncertain.

Deaf Zhang and I hopped on the motorcycle. He first dropped me off at West River Village, then returned to Long White Mountain to pay respects to the spirits with incense.

Once he finished his tasks there, Deaf Zhang instructed me to call him. We arranged to meet up and set off for the Heaven Connecting Palace in Wuling Mountain.

Over three hours later, as we clattered along the village road, Deaf Zhang glanced at the fuel gauge and said, "No... this isn't good, we're about to run out of gas."

True to his word, the motorcycle soon came to a halt, fortuitously close to our village. We were left with two choices: find some gasoline in the village or push the bike to the next one to make a purchase.

My feelings toward the village were complex, leaving me unsure of how to proceed. Amidst my indecision, my phone began to ring.

I pulled it out to see who was calling and was taken aback by the name on the screen...