Secret Buyer-Chapter 294 - 227: He Has Returned

’Dong! Dong! Dong!’

The reverberating sound of drums echoed through the Great Wilderness.

Du Mingsheng was startled, looking at the eighteen figures in black robes, the weakest of whom emitted an aura at the level of the Great Sect, as they pounded the drums.

In the incense burner, blue smoke curled upward, despite the lack of wind from all directions, piercing straight into the nine heavens!

It was already dusk.

Yet, at this moment, the evening glow in the sky abruptly dimmed, nightfall descended prematurely, no moon was visible, only the thunderous sound of drums could be heard.

’Dong! Dong! Dong!’

Amidst the muffled drumbeats.

"Please."

The True Man solemnly spoke, his five fingers drumming and plucking in mid-air, creating a mystical rhythm that perfectly harmonized with the drumbeats!

"Central Pole Sect Leader, Lord of the Six Paths, Nine Netherworlds Sin-Extinguishing Celestial Venerate."

A great sound ceased, the drumbeats paused, and the wilderness fell silent.

At this moment.

Underneath the grand ritual.

Du Mingsheng saw a blurry vision, witnessing a magnificent Imperial Palace, and then the figure of a grand Emperor!

He trembled from the bottom of his heart, crawling towards the Emperor’s shadow, and at that moment,

the Emperor’s shadow extended a hand from the magnificent Imperial Palace of unknown locale, directly resting upon the altar, on Du Mingsheng’s head.

The latter’s breathing and heartbeat halted.

Unimaginable, imperceptible, he only felt heavy mountains, rivers, and the infinite worlds of the Nine Netherworlds, all bearing down upon his head!

"Bow to, the Central Pole Sect Leader, Emperor of the Underworld, Nine Netherworlds Sin-Extinguishing Celestial Venerate!"

Du Mingsheng shouted thus.

The Central Pole Sect Leader, bearing the vast celestial position, did not utter a word, only operating the hand imbued with cause and effect, immersing his palm into the thick strand of cause and effect.

This time.

Zhang Fusheng did not feel even the slightest pressure.

In fact...

He could see that hefty strand of cause and effect jumping, leaping, and cheering!

Click click.

As Zhang Fusheng gently marveled in his heart, with the body of the Central Pole Sect Leader, he followed the strand of cause and effect, extending his hand into the distance.

Can the Book of Life and Death be retrieved?

It’s difficult.

But at the very least, he wanted to see where exactly the Book of Life and Death was at the moment.

......

Cui Family Ancestral Shrine.

Ancestral Shrine of the Qinghe Cui Family.

"How is the current Book Holder?" asked the current clan leader of the Qinghe Cui Family softly.

"Among the six Book Holders, three have already utilized the opportunity to alter lifespans, with one having done so twice."

The Cemetery Guardian respectfully said:

"The one who used it twice, is Cui Wenda from the branch in Golden Province..... but there is something peculiar."

"Peculiar?"

The elderly man leaning on a cane frowned:

"In what way peculiar?"

The Cemetery Guardian respectfully said:

"Cui Wenda altered the Book of Life and Death twice in a row, but both alterations were for the same person. The first time was to erase the lifespan of someone named Zhang Fusheng."

"The second erasure was also for this person named Zhang Fusheng."

A look of confusion and suspicion appeared on the Cemetery Guardian’s face:

"I was stationed next to the Book of Life and Death at the time, I could clearly see, after Zhang Fusheng’s lifespan was erased, it was evidently reduced to zero, yet in the blink of an eye, ten years were added again to his lifespan."

"After another ten years were erased, then once more, ten more years of lifespan appeared."

The old clan leader was astonished:

"Is this indeed the case?"

"Not only that."

The Cemetery Guardian began in a low voice:

"After this incident, I began closely monitoring the remaining lifespan of this Zhang Fusheng, and recently, something even stranger occurred."

The old clan leader rubbed his cane, squinting:

"Tell me."

"Recently, this person’s remaining lifespan suddenly exhausted—not just exhausted, it directly lost fifteen hundred years of life!"

"But immediately, it grew by fifteen hundred years again!"

Listening to the Cemetery Guardian’s words,

the old clan leader’s expression became immeasurably grave, fifteen hundred years of life, to the Cui Family, was insignificant,

they had erased thousands of years of lifespan of more than one Celestial Human,

in fact, if the lifespan of deities was included in the Book of Life and Death, perhaps they would have long used this method to kill countless Divine Spirits. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

But now the problem was extremely serious.

"So, in addition to our Qinghe Cui Family, there are others in the world who have mastery over lifespans?"

The old clan leader murmured, his gaze falling upon the venerated Book of Life and Death.

With thoughts turning, he finally reached a conclusion:

"Golden Province, is it? Not long ago, I remember someone from Su Qiansuan’s side came to visit, wanting to form an alliance with our Cui Family?"

"That did happen." The Cemetery Guardian nodded earnestly.

After contemplating for a moment, the Cui Family’s clan leader said:

"Then we too will send someone to Golden Province, officially to visit Su Qiansuan, secretly to find Cui Wenda, and investigate this person named Zhang Fusheng."

The Cemetery Guardian nodded:

"I will arrange it immediately... should we notify the ancestor?"

"The elder is in seclusion, attempting to break through to the level of Great Power above Venerate, we must not disturb."

"Yes, clan leader."

The Cemetery Guardian quietly departed, leaving the clan leader alone to worship the ancestral shrine.

"Book of Life and Death..."

The Cui Family’s clan leader gazed at the Book of Life and Death, a complex expression on his face, his own lifespan nearing its end.

Alas.

That one set a rule, prohibiting alteration of the lifespans of those with the surname Cui.

For this reason, over the years, many of the Cui Family’s main and branch members, even Innate and Great Sect people, have died of old age,

there are even rumors that in Golden Province, the Celestial Human overseeing the branch is nearing the end of their lifespan.

The old clan leader sighed softly, stepped forward, cautiously opening the Book of Life and Death.

[Cui Zhengzhao, one thousand four hundred years old, twelve years remaining]

Cui Zhengzhao was in a trance, ordinarily Innate could live for eight hundred years, Celestial Humans for five thousand years of longevity.

But their Cui Family, perhaps due to the overuse of the Book of Life and Death.

Everyone has a short lifespan.

"Twelve years..."

Cui Zhengzhao gently caressed the Book of Life and Death, about to sigh.

Suddenly, his scalp tingled, he instinctively lifted his head.

The void was violently twisting, as if something was about to descend!

"The ancestral shrine is under attack, ring the bell six times!!"

Cui Zhengzhao shouted sternly, and suddenly, the ancient bell rang six times, the entire Cui Family erupted, and terrifying auras soared into the sky!