Heavenly Craftsman Feng Hu's Inheritance

Xu Lu's eyes widened, watching the fist and the Secret Art's light draw ever closer.
Time seemed to slow immensely, everything like a slow-motion film.
Xu Lu was held by Feng Hu Zi by the neck, like a shield before him.
Countless fragments of memory flashed through his mind. Xu Lu seemed to see himself being torn to shreds by Xiang Sheng Long's fist and Luo Jing Qi's Secret Art, dying on the spot.
Under the combined attack of a Ninth-Grade Secret Cultivator and a Ninth-Grade Warrior, this outcome seemed predetermined.
"Yu Jing Shan, Bai Yu Tang!"
In a flash of lightning, Xu Lu suddenly blurted out.
His voice was not loud, almost inaudible, swallowed by the roar of the fist and the explosion of the Secret Art.
But Feng Hu Zi was right beside him; those six words clearly reached his ears.
Feng Hu Zi's eyes suddenly changed.
Without thinking, his body abruptly spun.
Originally, he had seized Xu Lu, with Xu Lu shielding him. This spin transformed the situation, placing him behind Xu Lu, using his own back to face the attacks of Xiang Sheng Long and Luo Jing Qi.
"Boom boom..."
Though spoken slowly, in reality, everything happened in an instant.
Following two dull thuds, Feng Hu Zi spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body lurching forward.
In battle, the situation changes in the blink of an eye.
Luo Jing Qi and Xiang Sheng Long had no time to ponder the deeper meaning of Feng Hu Zi's actions. Their continuous attacks, like a three-thousand-foot waterfall, poured entirely onto Feng Hu Zi's back.
"Boom..."
Feng Hu Zi's body, like a rag doll, was violently thrown to the ground.
Luo Jing Qi and Xiang Sheng Long exchanged glances, both seeing surprise and joy in each other's eyes.
Before acting, they had prepared many scenarios, even ready for the loss of a few Heavenly Officials and Warriors.
After all, the opponent was the renowned Heavenly Craftsman Feng Hu, a true Ninth-Grade Secret Cultivator, whose strength was no less than theirs.
How could one besiege and kill such a master without paying a price?
Yet, unexpectedly, when they actually made their move, the battle was resolved so smoothly?
Was it because his previous injuries had not fully healed?
No, that's not right!
The reason for this was entirely because Heavenly Craftsman Feng Hu had changed his strategy mid-battle, actually using his back to receive their combined attack.
"Help... me!"
A faint voice reached them.
Xiang Sheng Long took a step forward, his arm swinging repeatedly, and he flipped Feng Hu Zi's body over.
Only then did they see Xu Lu lying face up, his face flushed from holding his breath, his hands covered in fresh blood.
Xiang Sheng Long's pupils contracted. He suddenly turned his head, his gaze falling upon Feng Hu Zi's corpse.
There, a dagger was deeply embedded in the corpse's abdomen, only the hilt remaining visible.
"Secret Art, Attraction!"
A soft sound rang out. In Luo Jing Qi's hand, an invisible suction force seemed to emanate.
The dagger in Feng Hu Zi's corpse, with a whoosh, flew into Luo Jing Qi's hand. A column of blood spurted up, splashing onto the ground.
"Demon-Slaying Divine Weapon?"
Luo Jing Qi frowned slightly.
He finally understood why Heavenly Craftsman Feng Hu, after being struck by their attacks, had offered no further resistance...
Theoretically, with the strength of a Ninth-Grade Secret Cultivator, even if he stubbornly took their blow, in his dying throes, he should still be able to unleash immense destructive power.
Now it seemed, Heavenly Craftsman Feng Hu did not wish to resist, but rather, he was attacked from two sides.
Struck in the Dantian by a Demon-Slaying Divine Weapon...
Luo Jing Qi also did not know whether Heavenly Craftsman Feng Hu was killed by him and Xiang Sheng Long, or by the Demon-Slaying Divine Weapon.
"Your name is Xu Lu, is it not?"
Luo Jing Qi frowned slightly, his gaze falling upon Xu Lu, "Why is this Demon-Slaying Divine Weapon in your hands?"
"Reporting to Grand Heavenly Official, this student is indeed Xu Lu."
Xu Lu composed himself and spoke. Earlier at the birthday banquet, he had seen Luo Jing Qi sitting next to Old Madam Xie. It was not strange for Luo Jing Qi to know his name.
"This Demon-Slaying Divine Weapon was entrusted to me by City Lord Si Tu through Young Miss Si Tu. I happened to have it on me. Just now, in my panic, I was momentarily flustered and accidentally killed someone..."
Xu Lu's face revealed a frightened expression, somewhat flustered.
"He is a rebel; killing him is no crime."
Luo Jing Qi looked at Xu Lu, and after a long moment, slowly said, "Furthermore, with just one stab from you, you could not have taken the life of a Great Rebel. He died by our hands; it has nothing to do with you."
"That is good then!"
Xu Lu let out a long sigh of relief, "I was worried about being arrested by the authorities for punishment."
"Xu Lu, do you know who he is?"
Luo Jing Qi did not detect anything unusual about Xu Lu, and pointed at Feng Hu Zi's corpse, asking.
"He..."
Xu Lu hesitated, "Is he not the world's foremost jade carving master, Feng Hu Zi? Could he be an imposter?"
"He is indeed Feng Hu Zi, but he has another identity."
Luo Jing Qi said meaningfully.
Xu Lu only felt a chill. Why was Luo Jing Qi telling him these things? He did not wish to know.
Matters of rebel Secret Cultivators, you can keep them secret; I truly have no curiosity whatsoever!
"I am very curious."
Luo Jing Qi continued, "He clearly had you captured, so why, at the very last moment, did he sacrifice himself to block a fatal blow for you?"
Luo Jing Qi stared intently at Xu Lu, a light flickering in his eyes.
Xu Lu sighed inwardly. Just now, in that moment of crisis, he had no time to consider much; how could he worry about the consequences?
If he had done nothing then, he would no longer have a "later."
Now, trouble had arrived.
Thoughts spun rapidly in Xu Lu's mind. A brief breath felt like countless years to him.
Finally, he slowly spoke, "Reporting to Grand Heavenly Official, I merely called out a name just now, Bai Zhan Tang."
He could not come up with a perfect reason. Facing the Heavenly Palace's Grand Heavenly Official, no reason could perfectly explain why Feng Hu Zi acted that way.
"Previously, I heard City Lord Si Tu mention that they were pursuing a rebel named Bai Zhan Tang. I felt that Bai Zhan Tang might have a connection with Master Feng Hu Zi, so I called out Bai Zhan Tang's name just now..."
Xu Lu continued.
"No need to explain."
Luo Jing Qi said, "Look into my eyes."
Xu Lu heard this and looked. He saw that Luo Jing Qi's pupils were like black holes, seemingly wanting to absorb all the surrounding light. Xu Lu merely glanced at them and felt his mind shake, his thoughts emptying....
At this moment, deep within his Soul, the System Panel automatically appeared.
A ray of light, invisible to the naked eye, emanated from the System Panel, shining upon Xu Lu.
Xu Lu's spirit was shaken, and he instantly regained his clarity.
"Answer me, who are you?"
Luo Jing Qi's voice seemed to come from the heavens.
"I am Xu Lu, Xu Lu of Qi Xie Town. My father is Xu Xian, and my mother is Bai Su Zhen."
Xu Lu replied blankly.
"What is your relationship with Bai Zhan Tang?"
"I do not know Bai Zhan Tang; I only heard his name from City Lord Si Tu."
...
Xu Lu had seen Heavenly Official He Qing cast the Heavenly Official's Secret Art for detecting lies.
But He Qing was merely a White-Robed Heavenly Official, his strength only equivalent to a First-Grade Secret Cultivator.
Luo Jing Qi was different; he was a Yellow-Robed Grand Heavenly Official, his strength equivalent to a Ninth-Grade Secret Cultivator.
Just now, Xu Lu had almost fallen into the trap. Fortunately, the System Panel was powerful enough to conceal even the Yellow-Robed Heavenly Official's Secret Art for detecting lies.
Luo Jing Qi asked more and more questions, and the suspicion on his face diminished further and further.
After almost thoroughly questioning Xu Lu, Luo Jing Qi flicked his sleeve, "Sleep. After you awaken, you will forget everything that happened tonight."
Xu Lu obeyed and collapsed.
"Old Luo, is there no problem?"
Xiang Sheng Long had finished inspecting Feng Hu Zi's corpse and walked to Luo Jing Qi's side, glancing at Xu Lu lying on the ground.
"No problem. Under my Mi Xin Secret Art, he cannot lie."
Luo Jing Qi said confidently, "To take down Heavenly Craftsman Feng Hu without casualties can be considered our good fortune. Take his corpse away, clean up thoroughly, and leave no traces."
Xu Lu lay on the cold ground, his eyes tightly shut.
Luo Jing Qi and Xiang Sheng Long had left, but he could still hear the sounds of others nearby. Xu Lu still dared not move.
His back was chilling to the bone. Xu Lu could only call out the System Panel to distract himself.
The System Panel, even without opening his eyes, Xu Lu could see.
Originally, the panel displayed portraits of Xu Lu, Su Yi, Lu Tong En, Cheng Da Zhi, Wang Wan He, Zong Chun Fang, and Kuang Chang Yuan—seven people. Now, an eighth person had appeared.
Feng Hu Zi!
Xu Lu was not sure if his single stab just now counted as killing Feng Hu Zi.
Unexpectedly, the System Panel had indeed added Feng Hu Zi's portrait!
His heart was filled with joyful surprise. Feng Hu Zi was the legendary Heavenly Craftsman Feng Hu, a Ninth-Grade Great Cultivator!
His inherited knowledge was absolutely incomparable to those who came before.
Lu Tong En, Cheng Da Zhi, Wang Wan He, Zong Chun Fang, and Kuang Chang Yuan, though also Secret Cultivators, were all merely First-Grade, and not even considered outstanding among First-Grade cultivators.
Xu Lu now felt as if a pie had fallen from the sky. This time, he had truly struck it rich.