In a hidden valley within the Mist Forest.

The military camp of Three Paths City.

Inside a spacious military tent.

"You discovered the secret of the White Bird City Lord's manipulation of the Black Wind Demon?!" Qin Yisheng looked at Fang Zong with some surprise.

The other person's background quickly emerged in his mind.

A native of Three Paths City, with a clean record, and abilities... well, he must have some abilities to be selected as a secret agent.

Though not outstanding compared to other elite members.

"A blind cat catching a dead rat, purely by chance." Fang Zong said modestly, "Several of my brothers discovered it too, just a little later than I did."

Then, with a solemn expression, he pulled out a black-skinned scripture from his bosom.

"The 'Rootless Scripture' of White Bird City?"

Qin Yisheng glanced at it.

"It's the new version of the 'Rootless Scripture'." Fang Zong explained.

"This new City Lord issued it as soon as he settled in White Bird City."

"Anyone who chants it can quickly acquire a brand-new divine skill."

"They can control water, play with flames, manipulate the Yin Wind; there are many kinds."

"Scripture reciters can even choose specific divine skills according to their preferences!"

It can accelerate the acquisition of divine skills?

And even choose the type of divine skills?!

Qin Yisheng was shocked and couldn't help but reach out to take it.

The fundamental scriptures of various cities were primarily intended to extract the desires and emotions of scripture reciters, along with distributing a small amount of divine power. Whether one awakens divine skills is mostly dependent on personal talent.

To massively aid scripture reciters in awakening...

Did the new City Lord distribute all the divine power to the scripture reciters?

Absolutely impossible!

Qin Yisheng shook his head secretly.

No City Lord would be so generous, and reality wouldn't allow it either.

The City Lord needs divine power to maintain the barrier and to strengthen himself against divine weapon erosion. Unless he wants to die, no one would dare to do so.

With curiosity, he looked at the cover of the scripture.

"That special Dragon Taming Divine Power is also in this scripture." Fang Zong added promptly.

"Someone in the city has already mastered it, though its power is still weak and not yet significant."

"Where is that person?" Qin Yisheng raised an eyebrow.

"We arrived too late; he was already taken by the City Defense Camp." Fang Zong said regretfully, shaking his head.

"It's because I lack comprehension. The scripture was in my hands, but I couldn't grasp its true intent." He said with a guilty look.

"But with the general's exceptional talent, you will surely understand its mysteries." Fang Zong said confidently.

Qin Yisheng nodded slightly, flipping to the second page of the scripture.

"You seem very eager for me to comprehend this scripture?" He glanced faintly at Fang Zong.

"Mainly hoping the general can discover its secrets and solve the problem of White Bird City as soon as possible." Fang Zong said earnestly.

"This would also be greatly beneficial to our Three Paths City."

"Makes sense..."

Qin Yisheng nodded again.

Then, without warning, he suddenly flung the scripture, throwing it fiercely at Fang Zong's chest.

"Speak!"

"What's the matter with this scripture after all!"

Qin Yisheng stared coldly at Fang Zong.

"You know my means, don't force me to take action."

Fang Zong wanted to defend himself, but when he met Qin Yisheng's icy gaze, he trembled all over, sweat beading on his forehead.

...

A moment later.

More than a dozen hidden guards, including Fang Zong, stood before Qin Yisheng with their heads hung low.

"You all fell for it?" Qin Yisheng looked incredulously at the core secret agents of his Secret Spy Bureau.

"My Secret Spy Bureau, ensnared by just one broken scripture?!"

"General, it's all Fang Zong's fault!"

"Yes, yes... he was the first to fall for it and dragged us into chanting scripture too!" The dozen secret agents unanimously condemned Fang Zong.

"You fell into the trap and then dragged everyone with you?" Qin Yisheng glared at Fang Zong with a dark expression, "Did you even try to involve me?!"

"Fang Zong, Fang Zong, I truly didn't realize you're such a ruthless person!"

"The scripture indeed allows one to learn new divine skills." Fang Zong mumbled in defense.

"I just wanted everyone to have more means to strengthen our Three Paths City."

"Besides not being able to go against the Lord of White Bird City, there aren't any other restrictions, and it doesn't affect us from chanting the 'Three Celebrations Scripture'. It's actually a good thing..."

"Sophistry! You just wanted to drag us down with you, hoping for safety in numbers!" The other agents couldn't help but scold.

"You did it too; you can't just blame me!" Fang Zong retorted stubbornly.

"Even if we did, you started it!"

Wait a moment? You did it too, what does that mean?

As Qin Yisheng listened to their quarrel, he suddenly had a foreboding feeling.

"They want safety in numbers too, returning secretly to spread the 'Rootless Scripture' in the camp!" Fang Zong, in a fit of pique, didn't wait for the others to silence him before spilling out everything they'd done these days.

"The number they've spread is way more than mine!"

Qin Yisheng: "..."

"Speak!"

"How many people in the army have been affected?" Qin Yisheng's face was dark.

"Just... just about thirty percent."

"Not less than a small half..."

"Sixty percent at most!"

Several people began justifying themselves at the same time.

The tent fell into silence.

Qin Yisheng: "..."

So nearly half of his army had become someone else's people?

I really feel like killing you all!

...

"Three Paths City withdrew their army?"

At the White Bird Lake shore, Chen Mu was sitting on a bamboo chair by the window, looking at Xu Gui in surprise.

"Yes, that's what the secret agents said."

Is Wuxiang City's action that fast?

Chen Mu couldn't help raising an eyebrow.

"Indeed, it shouldn't be that fast." Xu Gui was also full of confusion.

"Forget it, the crisis is averted, and that's always good." Chen Mu thought no more.

After chatting for a few moments, he sent Xu Gui away and continued pondering how to incorporate the Black Wind Demon Seed into the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed.

"The main issue is that the spiritual seed is too fragile; I must find a way to reinforce it further."

The Heavenly Demon Body had transformed many times, and the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed had also changed.

Unfortunately, the Heavenly Demon Cloud Mirage strategy is wide-net, improving parasitic success rate through a massive number of spiritual seeds.

So each transformation only increases the maximum number of Heavenly Demon Spirit Seeds, but the inherent quality hasn't enhanced much.

Chen Mu summoned a gray stone gate, looking towards one section within it.

Plague Immortal Technique: 537/10000/Eighth Rank;

Before, he had combined the Plague Immortal Technique and Jade Cicada Qi to refine the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed.

The former specializes in creating plagues and refining Gu, while the latter can enhance the essence of small life forms like plague Gu. The combination could lead to the transformation of the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed.

It's also how he easily implanted spiritual seeds into Ghosts, controlling hundreds of thousands of ghosts.

But it's evident that this 2.0 version of the spiritual seed isn't effective against the Black Wind Demon.

"Last time I refined the spiritual seed, my Plague Immortal Technique was just at the Seventh Rank entry level."

"Now it's raised one rank, making Wenxian's Strange Power smoother and deeper, certainly capable of further reinforcing the spiritual seed."

Thinking this way.

Chen Mu raised his right hand, and a cloud of golden mist-like Jade Cicada Qi emerged.

Inside the secret acupoint on his brow, a string of Heavenly Demon Spirit Seeds emitting jade white light, like fine dust blown by a gentle breeze, slowly flew out.

Under the manipulation of the exotic force of the Eighth Rank Plague Immortal Technique, the Jade Cicada Qi gradually seeped into the spirit seed's interior.

Compared to the struggles at the Seventh Rank, this infiltration was smoother and more harmonious. In just a moment, some golden patterns appeared on the jade-white spiritual seed.

"Version 2.0 Heavenly Demon formation!"

Before, he could only reach this step; further refining would cause the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed to shatter like a brittle shell and disappear.

"The true test comes next."

Chen Mu took a deep breath, cautiously controlling Wenxian's Strange Power, continuing to nurture and refine with Jade Cicada Qi.

...

Two days later.

White Bird Lake shore.

Chen Mu held his right index finger upright before his eyes. A speck of bright golden dust floated at the fingertip,

He leaned closer to examine it carefully.

The small speck was almost entirely bright gold, with only a few jade-white patterns embellishing it.

If the 2.0 version of the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed was gold on white, this latest version was white on gold.

"Too bad, this is already the limit."

"Continuing to refine will cause the spiritual seed to shatter and disappear."

"Though there's space for further refinement, the Plague Immortal Technique can no longer support going further down." Chen Mu felt somewhat regretful.

Fortunately, this round of refinement led to a transformation of the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed, with its aura significantly surpassing before.

Whether it can successfully parasite the Black Wind Demon...

Chen Mu's heart stirred, once again pulling out the big-winged cat from the Five Ghosts Bag.

"You better give some effort."

Thinking this, he brought his finger to the big cat's mouth.

Perhaps due to the numerous tests, it had become routine. Seeing the speck of gold before it, the big-winged cat hesitated not and ate it.

Then it lay on the ground expertly, wagging its tail to pass the time.

Chen Mu stared at the black cat with anticipation in his eyes.

He could clearly sense the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed slowly moving within the big cat's body, probing bit by bit, like looking for a crack on an eggshell.

Soon, the Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed melted like ice and snow, silently merging into the big cat's body.

Feeling the faint connection of energy from the big cat's body, Chen Mu couldn't help but smile.

"It succeeded, haha!"