I Contracted Myself

Chen Xueli walked in silence.

Finally, under the gaze of several direct disciples, he sighed and said, "Junting is missing. You should know her identity."

"Then we shouldn't leave. We should stay in the city and find Sister Junting," a young disciple said excitedly.

Chen Xueli continued walking as he spoke, "Mingzhu City was once called Zhu City, ruled by the Zhu Family of Beast Tamers. Do you know the origins of the Zhu Family?"

"Please enlighten us, Master," a middle-aged disciple said, clasping his fists.

Chen Xueli continued, "The Zhu Family of Beast Tamers was once a heroic family. To resist the Great Winter Calamity, the then family head, Zhu Chiyang, merged with the Mutated Beast Sunbird. He flew to different cities every day, bringing light and warmth to them.

He persisted for ten years and eventually died of exhaustion. Thus, the Zhu Family became known as the Solar Clan."

"What does this have to do with us leaving Mingzhu City?" the middle-aged disciple asked, puzzled.

Chen Xueli looked ahead and explained, "After the Zhu Family head died, he was buried hundreds of kilometers away in the Sunset Mountains. Many survivors from various cities, grateful for his deeds, sent their clansmen to guard his tomb. Over hundreds of years, these people intermarried and had children, forming a village called Shengzu Village."

Shengzu Village?

The middle-aged disciple was even more confused. What did this have to do with anything?

"Every generation in Shengzu Village produces a Holy Maiden with a magical bloodline that protects the village from any beast attacks. The current Holy Maiden is Junting's grandmother," Chen Xueli continued.

The disciples following him all widened their eyes, immediately realizing the gravity of the situation.

"Could it be... could it be Hao Wen..." the middle-aged disciple asked in shock.

Chen Xueli nodded, "Yes, you all know Hao Wen's character. He couldn't stay put at Hanhai Academy for even a moment, but when he went out, he wouldn't come back for days and nights.

Since he became an Adventurer, it was normal for him not to come home for months. The last time... he came back covered in wounds, bringing Junting with him.

Junting's mother was the next Holy Maiden of Shengzu Village, Ah Wan."

"Master, do you mean... Junting was taken by people from Shengzu Village?" a young female disciple asked.

Chen Xueli shook his head, "Impossible. I never let Junting go out, and every time we moved, I masked her aura. The people from Shengzu Village couldn't have found her. It must be the Zhu Family. They probably want to use Junting against the current rulers of Mingzhu City."

"Then isn't Sister Junting in great danger?" the young female disciple asked worriedly.

Chen Xueli gripped his long sword and sighed, "Junting's life isn't in danger. The worst outcome would be the people from Shengzu Village coming for her. What worries me more is... her bloodline attracting... the Great Terror."

"The Great Terror??"

All the disciples looked at each other, bewildered.

Chen Xueli explained, "The Holy Mother cannot leave Shengzu Village, or her aura will attract countless unspeakable entities. For decades, I've been moving Junting around, using barriers to isolate her aura, to prevent her from attracting terrifying entities that could destroy Mingzhu City."

"But now... sigh."

"Whatever the Zhu Family plans to do with Junting, they will ultimately suffer the consequences."

"And what we need to do is leave Mingzhu City as soon as possible to avoid being caught in the disaster."

Not far behind Chen Xueli, a female disciple's eyes flickered as she listened, her face growing increasingly grim. It was too late to inform her family now. Even if she did, her family couldn't possibly take Junting back from the Tianchang Fox.

The information about Chen Junting was initially sent to her family by her. Now, even if she tried to turn the tide, she couldn't escape punishment once this was over.

In an instant, her eyes turned cold, and she made a decision: she wouldn't inform her family.

She could just leave Mingzhu City with Hanhai Academy. Even if Mingzhu City exploded, it wouldn't affect her.

Chen Xueli walked at the front, glancing at the disciples behind him with a slight smirk.

...

[The Zhu Family of Beast Tamers was once a heroic family. To resist the Great Winter Calamity, the then family head, Zhu Chiyang, merged with the Mutated Beast Sunbird. He flew to different cities every day, bringing light and warmth to them.]

[Impossible. I never let Junting go out, and every time we moved, I masked her aura. The people from Shengzu Village couldn't have found her. It must be the Zhu Family. They probably want to use Junting against the current rulers of Mingzhu City.]

In the safe house, Zhang Ping guarded Liu Tiefeng. Suddenly, the Wind Whisperer brought two seemingly unrelated messages.

The Zhu Family did good deeds?

But even if their ancestors did good deeds, it couldn't offset the evil deeds of their descendants.

Especially now, the Zhu Family had brought the Tianchang Fox into the city to kill and eat people. No matter the reason, it was unforgivable.

Zhang Ping looked at Liu Sishan and asked, "Sister Sisi, does the Sweep Team have a way to rescue Chen Junting?"

"It might be difficult for now. By the way, what's the deal with Chen Junting? Why did the Zhu Family abduct her?" Liu Sishan pondered and then asked, recalling the previous meeting's discussion.

Zhang Ping explained the situation he had learned earlier and then told Liu Sishan the latest news.

After he finished, Liu Sishan fell into deep thought.

Although drinking the Holy Mother's Blood would render one's abilities unusable, one could simply avoid drinking it.

Therefore, if the Zhu Family wanted to use Chen Junting's blood against the Sweep Team, it was undoubtedly a pipe dream with almost zero chance of success.

The Sweep Team members would never consume unknown food or drinks. Liu Sishan had initially planned to use Pure Water to leave a deep impression on Zhang Ping, but he ended up gaining the Pure Water Body by accident.

Now, Zhang Ping's random eating wasn't a big issue, but Sweep Team members like Liu Sishan would never touch anything of unknown origin.

"I'll contact my teammates."

Liu Sishan walked to a corner, took out her badge, and pressed the pearl in the center.

After a moment, she whispered, "Senior Lu Han, could you check if there's any issue with the water sources around Mingzhu City?"

If the Zhu Family intended to use Chen Junting's blood, they would likely start with the water sources. Even if Chen Junting was now abducted by the Moon Prince and the Zhu Family had abandoned their plan, there would still be traces left.

She then contacted Situ Shibai to report the night's events and the latest information.

"Got it. Sisi, protect Zhang Ping and Liu Tiefeng tonight. If necessary, take them to Safe House No. 5. There's a one-time unidirectional teleportation array there that leads to a highly fortified secret base," Situ Shibai instructed after listening.

Liu Sishan nodded, "Understood, Captain."

"As for the next steps, let's wait until tomorrow. We'll see the situation in Mingzhu City at dawn and decide then. I'll contact you," Situ Shibai continued.

After ending the communication, Liu Sishan didn't put away her badge but waited for Lu Han's response. She leaned against a wooden box, watching Zhang Ping wipe Liu Tiefeng's cold sweat, her gaze softening.

"Zhang Ping, I think your abilities might be related to your subjective thoughts. For example, when you drank the Golden Blood, you felt guilty and regretful, wanting to heal the old man, so you gained healing abilities," she analyzed, looking at Zhang Ping.

Zhang Ping smiled bitterly, "I've thought about that possibility too."

The problem was, when he drank the Golden Blood, he didn't think about that. Instead, he thought about Jin Bo turning into a 'Super Saiyan,' expecting the same transformation.

Therefore, he didn't believe his abilities were related to his thoughts.

"If you're willing, we could try again..." Liu Sishan noticed Zhang Ping's thoughts and smiled, preparing to invite him for another experiment.

But before she could finish, her expression changed slightly. Seeing Zhang Ping about to ask, she made a shushing gesture and placed her other hand on the ground, eyes fixed on the door.

Zhang Ping realized something and slowly bent down, pressing his hand to the ground.

Vibrations.

The ground was shaking violently, with many creatures running nearby.

He thought for a moment, then transformed into his Pure Water Body, quickly moving to the door crack and pressing his body against the stone door to feel the outside temperature.

Wolves!

A large pack of wild wolves was charging towards Mingzhu City from the Salt Mountain area.

He immediately looked at Liu Sishan and raised his hand to form a line of words with Pure Water.

Liu Sishan read it and frowned, signaling Zhang Ping to take out the Ghost Lantern.

Earlier outside the safe house, she had experienced the Ghost Lantern's effect, knowing it could shield the light's range from external detection.

Zhang Ping understood the gesture and retrieved the Golden Treasury, taking out the Ghost Lantern.

It's worth noting that although the Pure Water Body had no specific form, he could create a cavity within his body to store the Golden Treasury Bracelet. Clothes were stored in the Golden Treasury and taken out when needed.

"It seems there's a major upheaval in the Salt Mountain area. I'll notify the Captain," Liu Sishan said as the surroundings turned black and white.

Zhang Ping, holding the lantern, speculated, "Sister Sisi, could it be the Salt Frost Tree's fruit causing the disturbance?"

"Hard to say."

Liu Sishan didn't want to speculate further and contacted Situ Shibai again with her badge.

This night was destined to be difficult.

Zhang Ping glanced at Liu Tiefeng and then thought of Qiu Qiang.

He had planned to ask Liu Sishan to help send a message of safety tomorrow morning, but the sudden appearance of the wolf pack might disturb Mingzhu City's peace, and Qiu Qiang would definitely go to Iron Soul.

Involving Iron Soul now could make Qiu Qiang an enemy of the Moon Prince.

"No, I must find a way to notify Uncle Qiang," Zhang Ping thought silently.

The more he thought, the more uneasy he felt. With Qiu Qiang's speed, he might not make it back in time.

Wait.

There must be a way.

He suddenly thought of his new ability.

In an instant, he transformed from the Pure Water Body to flesh and blood, then to the Pureblood Body.

He controlled his blood to split into two parts, one larger and one smaller.

"It works!"

He manipulated the two blood masses, feeling excited.

In fact, his blood had split when he was inside Liu Tiefeng, so it was possible now.

He tried to transform the smaller blood mass into flesh but failed.

Then he tried the larger part, and instantly, he became human again, though his height shrank from 1.8 meters to 1.6 meters, looking malnourished.

He continued to control the smaller blood mass, which still obeyed him.

"Great, now I just need to infiltrate a wolf's body and have it carry my blood back to Mingzhu City, then find a way to notify Uncle Qiang!"

This plan was risky.

But trying it wouldn't hurt, so he thought it was feasible.

Holding the lantern in one hand, he carefully opened the door crack. The wolves didn't notice the safe house due to the lantern's light.

The blood quickly flowed out through the crack, approaching the wolf pack.

Zhang Ping closed the door, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. He could see the scene reflected by the blood.

He didn't fully understand why blood without eyes could see, just like the Pure Water Body could see without eyes.

The blood would stop moving if he lost control, so he had to guide it.

He controlled the blood like a snake, quickly approaching the wolves. The wolves noticed and kicked up a storm of dust, swirling around them.

But this didn't stop him. He approached a young wolf, but it quickly hid behind an adult wolf, giving him no chance to infiltrate.

He decided to target an adult wolf, but the next moment, the wolf buried him in dirt, and countless wolf paws trampled over him...