Chapter 413: Chapter 66: Karma’s Debut
"Hehe..." Zhang Deming just chuckled foolishly. He didn’t argue or reply. He even reached up to scratch the back of his head, looking completely simple and honest.
Elder Huang stared at Zhang Deming speechlessly. "Serves you right for having to muddle through on your own. With that kind of gutlessness, you’ll never get ahead in life. You’re going to be the death of me!"
After speaking, Elder Huang waved his sleeve, and an Array Card fell out. The card bore the pattern of a giant Turtle Shell.
The Array Card floated in front of Zhang Deming. He immediately caught it and said with that same simple look, "Thank you, Elder Huang!"
Elder Huang’s face was dark. Without another word, he dissolved into a shower of light specks and vanished.
Only then did Zhang Deming drop the simple smile. He looked at the three people opposite him. Their attitudes hadn’t changed in the slightest despite Elder Huang’s disappearance.
Guu Donglin, in particular, looked at Zhang Deming with great enthusiasm. "Little Brother, how about you return to the Academy with us? We guarantee we’ll get the materials you need before tomorrow."
Zhang Deming hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
Hearing this, Guu Donglin was overjoyed. "In that case, let’s go."
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a gigantic book appeared at the trio’s feet.
Seeing this, Zhang Deming hesitated slightly before stepping onto it.
The book then transformed into a streak of light and flew toward Huayue City.
Aboard the book, they were silent for a moment. Guu Donglin looked at Fuyuan and shot him a meaningful glance.
Fuyuan received the look and was momentarily speechless. He finally turned to Zhang Deming and said, "Young Benefactor, this old monk has one more request, I wonder if you would be willing to..."
Zhang Deming paused. "Master Fuyuan, you don’t have to be so polite. You’re making me quite uneasy. Please, just say what you need. If it’s something I can do, I will certainly do my best."
Hearing this, Fuyuan let out a long sigh of relief. "This matter began several months ago. One of my disciples, Huineng, suddenly disappeared without a trace.
"At first, I didn’t pay it much mind. After all, many Buddhist Disciples these days are fond of ascetic practices.
"However, half a month ago, I suddenly felt something. Huineng had sent me a secret message, a vow made at the cost of a hundred years of his lifespan.
"Only then did I realize that something had happened to him, and I also became aware of the matter concerning the Five Elements Remnants. Based on his aura, I tracked him to Huayue City.
"But after more than ten days of searching, I still have no leads.
"The other day, when I saw you on the street, Young Benefactor, I had another sudden feeling, so I casually placed a Dao Mark on you.
"And just as I expected, the Dao Mark was triggered today, so we rushed over."
Zhang Deming looked at the old Monk, Fuyuan, and nodded. He now understood the whole story. "So, Master, you want...?"
"My disciple is hidden quite well. The search was fruitless for over ten days, and I expect it will be no different now.
"That’s why we were hoping to ask, Young Benefactor, if you could lend us the item that served as the catalyst for a moment.
"With that catalyst, the search will be much easier," Fuyuan said, looking at Zhang Deming.
Zhang Deming paused, looking puzzled for a second before he seemed to remember something. With a flip of his hand, a jade box appeared.
Holding the box, Zhang Deming asked, "Master Fuyuan, are you referring to this?"
The old Monk, Fuyuan, was slightly taken aback, but the scholar, Guu Donglin, saw it and immediately nodded. "Yes, that’s the one. Little Brother, may I...?"
Zhang Deming offered the box forward. "If you need it, Senior, please take it. But please be careful with it and remember to return it when you’re done. This is very important to me."
Guu Donglin replied at once, "Rest assured. I just need to find the connection."
He then opened the box. The group stared at the Infant Spirit Hollow Jade inside and paused. Guu Donglin said, "Hundred Spirits Heart-Binding Grass, Infant Spirit Hollow Jade... Little Brother, are you preparing for Duality?"
Zhang Deming smiled. "I’m still a long way off. I’m just preparing in advance."
Guu Donglin sized Zhang Deming up and down. "From what I can tell, you must be less than fifty years old, Little Brother?"
Hearing this, Zhang Deming just nodded without elaborating.
Seeing this, Guu Donglin sighed in admiration. "Little Brother, your talent is truly enviable."
Zhang Deming laughed. "Senior, you’re teasing me. You saw how much Elder Huang dislikes me."
Guu Donglin’s face twitched. ’He casually gives away an Array Card that’s almost Four-Star, and you call that ’dislike’? You must have a fundamental misunderstanding of the word!’
The book beneath their feet was like a streak of light. In moments, they were already approaching Huayue City.
Guu Donglin stopped chatting with Zhang Deming and waved a hand over the Infant Spirit Hollow Jade.
Specks of Spiritual Light began to emerge from the Infant Spirit Hollow Jade.
Seeing this, a hint of joy appeared on Guu Donglin’s face. He then solemnly held out his hand, and a book materialized in it. With a focused expression, the book slowly opened.
"To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to carry on the lost teachings of past sages, and to bring peace to all future generations!"
As the book opened, it was as if countless people from across the ages were reciting these very verses from within its pages.
After the book opened, the escaping Spiritual Light hovered above it. Guu Donglin looked at the light, and using his finger as a brush, he quickly wrote with a serious expression: "Seek Trail!"
As the two words materialized, they shot into the dispersing Spiritual Light.
The Spiritual Light began to gather rapidly, finally coalescing into a transparent, crystal-like Literary Gallbladder.
However, the Literary Gallbladder was covered in cracks, and an aura of decay emanated from it.
Guu Donglin stared, his expression turning grim.
At that moment, an arrow symbol slowly appeared on the Literary Gallbladder.
By now, the group had arrived high above Huayue City. Looking in the direction the arrow was pointing, Guu Donglin and the other two were all stunned.
The old Monk, Fuyuan, said hesitantly, "Is that... the direction of the Academy?"
