Chapter 71: Mountains and Rivers Brush (Conclusion)

“Mountains and Rivers Brush?” Dan Yunni was somewhat surprised. “What’s that?”

San Zhi sneered. “Don’t play dumb. I smelled the stench of lies. Our Fu the Calculator says you have it, so you definitely do.”

In this regard, he was certain Fu Mi wouldn’t lie.

Dan Yunni looked troubled. “I could say the same about you lot—one Weird and two Oracles, teaming up for once to barge into my turf. You must be here for the Mountains and Rivers Brush.”

She indirectly admitted that she was the lord of this Weird Domain.

San Zhi sneered. “You admit it? Then hand it over quick and save us the trouble.”

Dan Yunni was puzzled. “Your Spirit Energy is beneath mine—how dare you talk big? Unless you’re banking on those two beside you?”

Her tone carried mockery. “A Weird cooperating with humans? You’re a disgrace to Weirds.”

San Zhi didn’t want to waste more words with her. He summoned his Ghost Artifact, the Azure Lamp, and charged at Dan Yunni.

Fu Mi didn’t rush in to help. Instead, he pondered thoughtfully. “San Zhi’s always been a coward who bullies the weak. For him to be so eager, something’s off.”

Yun Xueqing nodded in agreement. “The Dan Yunni before us must be like the one we met in Ugly Town—just a division body, without much power.”

No sooner had he spoken than San Zhi, wielding the Azure Lamp, smashed off one of Dan Yunni’s arms.

Yun Xueqing remarked, “To casually produce so many division bodies, this Weird is no pushover.”

Fu Mi speculated, “It might be related to the Mountains and Rivers Brush she holds. After all, it’s an S-Rank Divine Artifact. Whoever possesses it gains divine aid.”

“This Dan Yunni excels at painting, so whipping up a couple of division bodies must be child’s play for her.” As Yun Xueqing said this, he moved to join the fight, but a stabbing pain in his arm halted him abruptly.

He frowned and rolled up his sleeve. Beneath it, on his fair-skinned arm, the curse wrapped around it had faintly deepened and spread.

Yun Xueqing murmured, “I almost forgot to deal with It.”

He turned to the corpse standing rigidly behind him.

The corpse lacked only the final wisp of human vitality to fully revive and unleash a massacre, but Dan Yunni had slaughtered most of the people, denying It that last essence. Now, It stood motionless.

Its eyes fixed deathly on Yun Xueqing, hoping he would approach so It could absorb that final wisp.

But heaven didn’t grant the wishes of men—or Weirds. Yun Xueqing didn’t come closer. He merely glanced indifferently at It. Standing tall and graceful, he formed a hand seal with one hand and recited a string of incantations.

The corpse stared at him intently. The next second, a burst of crimson flame erupted from the spot on Its face where the name was written and spread rapidly!

The scorching heat and pain soon engulfed Its entire body, but It couldn’t even scream, for It was merely a corpse.

The fire burned fiercely, leaving nothing behind in an instant.

Fu Mi watched the scene and mused, “So the writing on the corpse’s face wasn’t just your name, but also a curse technique… That method resembles my master’s.”

Yun Xueqing hadn’t caught what he said, but he didn’t care. He rolled up his sleeve again and saw the curse on his arm slowly receding.

After Yun Xueqing dealt with the corpse, the battle on San Zhi’s end was nearing its close. Fu Mi joined in, forcing Dan Yunni into steady retreat until she had no choice but to abandon this division body and flee.

Fu Mi chased after her directly, while San Zhi sauntered back to Yun Xueqing’s side.

His clothes were tattered from the fight, but he didn’t mind at all. “Haven’t flexed my muscles in ages. I’m beat.”

Yun Xueqing eyed him. “You’re not going after her?”

San Zhi chuckled darkly. “If I chased her, who’d keep an eye on you? We’re supposed to bring you back to Strategy God Heavens. Fail the mission, and the leader will blow a gasket—he’s terrifying when he’s mad.”

Yun Xueqing had no interest in engaging him.

San Zhi waved it off, signaling him to relax. “That Fu Mi guy is the leader’s disciple, after all. Don’t underestimate his skills. When he takes the field, nothing’s beyond him.”

Yun Xueqing countered, “But Dan Yunni is an A-Rank Weird, after all.”

“You’re underestimating Fu Mi, aren’t you?” San Zhi quirked his lips. “That baby face of his must’ve fooled you. He’s no simpleton—his abilities rival an A-Rank Oracle.”

Those words revealed new information, and Yun Xueqing was surprised. “You mean… Fu Mi might be an S-Rank Oracle?”

There were only seven S-Rank Oracles in the world, but some factions concealed their identities, leaving a few unknown. Could Fu Mi be one?

San Zhi put on a profound expression. “I don’t know. Just that the kid’s weird—I can’t gauge the depth of his Spirit Energy.”

In their organization, only two gave him that feeling: the leader and Fu Mi.

Those whose depths he couldn’t fathom must possess Spirit Energy far superior to his.

Yun Xueqing’s gaze deepened as new calculations formed in his mind. “In that case, getting the Mountains and Rivers Brush shouldn’t be an issue.”

San Zhi glanced at his expression. “Look at you, all honest brows and big eyes, but scheming underneath. Forget it—the Mountains and Rivers Brush isn’t for you. Unless you want the whole Strategy God Heavens hunting you down.”

Yun Xueqing lowered his eyes, masking his emotions, and said flatly, “The lecher sees lechery in others.”

San Zhi: “…”

In the end, Yun Xueqing and San Zhi returned to the inn, calmly sipping afternoon tea. The front desk girl fretted over the beauty tax, pacing anxiously.

Then Fu Mi returned, his clothes as pristine as when he’d left— a stark contrast to San Zhi’s ragged state.

Fu Mi elegantly lifted his teacup and took a sip. “We need to leave this place immediately.”

San Zhi: “You killed Dan Yunni?”

Fu Mi shook his head. “Close enough.”

San Zhi was baffled. “What do you mean?”

Fu Mi explained, “I beat her back to her original form.”

San Zhi pondered, and Yun Xueqing understood. “So this Dan Yunni… is the Mountains and Rivers Brush?”

Fu Mi nodded. “Exactly.”

No wonder so many Oracles had come to this Weird Domain but failed to find the Mountains and Rivers Brush.

Who would think the brush they sought had turned into a person, strutting about as the lord of the Weird Domain?

If not for Fu Mi’s unique Oracle abilities and expertise in divination, he might not have seen through it.

San Zhi rubbed his hands excitedly. “Where’s the brush? What’s it look like? Let me see!”

Fu Mi didn’t hesitate and freely produced the brush.

Yun Xueqing examined it closely, then paled in shock.

The brush looked utterly ordinary, indistinguishable from a common writing brush. Mixed in with others, it’d be impossible to pick out as a divine artifact.

San Zhi’s face twisted ferociously. “Fu Mi, are you sure you didn’t mess up? Is this really a divine artifact?”

For once, he’d rather doubt Fu Mi’s divination than believe this brush was it.

Fu Mi patiently explained—for once. “Regrettably, perhaps corrupted by Weird energy or diminished after a millennium with its divinity fallen, whatever the reason, it’s degraded into an A-Rank Ghost Artifact. Its powers are a far cry from the legendary divine artifact.”

Amid San Zhi’s disappointed gaze, Fu Mi continued unhurriedly, “It only took humanoid form because it was once a divine artifact, seizing that opportunity.”

San Zhi couldn’t hide his dejection; even his words grew sparse. “In that case… my plot’s ruined.”

Fu Mi: “What plot?”

San Zhi didn’t conceal it. “Steal the Mountains and Rivers Brush, borrow its divine power, and usurp the throne, of course.”

A Weird who didn’t aspire to be leader wasn’t a good subordinate.

Fu Mi ignored him and turned to speak to Yun Xueqing, only to find him as dazed as San Zhi—in fact, even more so.

Fu Mi was surprised. “Don’t tell me you wanted to use the Mountains and Rivers Brush’s power too?”

Yun Xueqing, still dazed, mechanically shook his head at Fu Mi’s voice. “Can I… see the brush again?”

This time, Fu Mi didn’t hand it over readily. “What’s wrong?”

Yun Xueqing shook his head, his face still blank. “Just let me see it.”

Right now, he desperately needed to confirm something.