Seeing that Changqing didn't answer, Luo Hongyan thought he was dejected and comforted him.
"Don't be disheartened. I see you've already advanced to Shuhuh Three Revolutions, haven't you? I'll give you two Imperial Spirits. You can use them to learn how to subdue Imperial Spirits, which will help your cultivation."
With that, Luo Hongyan took out a small, milky-white ball of light from her Aperture and handed it to Changqing through the door.
"This Spirit is called a Mind Transmission Spirit. Its function is very simple: it can store the user's thoughts. If someone absorbs this Spirit into their body, they can instantly know the thoughts stored by the user."
"However, this is only a Low Grade Yellow Spirit, and it can store very few thoughts. You can use it for practice and then discard it."
"Because you only have three Apertures, it's better to keep some Imperial Spirits that are helpful for combat on you."
Luo Hongyan's gesture of goodwill surprised Changqing a little; he hadn't expected her to be willing to actively help him cultivate.
As if guessing his thoughts, Luo Hongyan quickly explained.
"Don't misunderstand. It's just that we are allies now. The more your strength improves, the greater our chances of winning. That's all."
Changqing nodded, taking the Imperial Spirit. Luo Hongyan's explanation was pretty much what he had thought.
"Thank you."
But he still thanked her solemnly, his tone sincere.
"A subdued Low Grade Yellow Spirit will dissipate within a few hours after leaving its host's Aperture. Let's quickly finish discussing the plan, and then you can seize the time to try subduing it," Luo Hongyan said.
"Actually, the plan is mostly complete. Liu Lu has already absorbed several Imperial Spirits that will explode within her Aperture. Now, if she refines them in the way you described, she will surely die."
"So what do we need to do now?"
After a moment of hesitation, Changqing spoke.
"Go call Rose alone. Remember, only let her come by herself."
"Not even I can come?"
"Of course. The person I'm looking for is her. What would you come for?"
Changqing's words confused Luo Hongyan even more, and also made her a little wary.
"Aren't you trying to get rid of Rose? Why call her here? What are you trying to hide from me?"
"I naturally plan to use her first, then frame her, and finally get rid of her. We're in this together now. Could I possibly deceive you? Just wait until the day Liu Lu swaps souls with you, and then we two will seize the Hundred Flowers Token and escape from here."
Luo Hongyan was still uneasy and asked suspiciously.
"Are you really planning to help Liu Lu swap souls? What deal have you made with her, deceiving me here?"
"How could that be? Haven't you seen Liu Lu's deranged state these past few days? That's all my doing. If I had made a deal with her, would I still need to trick her into taking those maddening medicines?"
Changqing's tone was a little exasperated.
Luo Hongyan thought about it; he really had no reason to betray her.
"It was I who judged a gentleman with the heart of a villain. I hope our cooperation remains strong."
"Of course."
"Good, then I'll go call Rose over now."
Luo Hongyan said, then turned and left.
As she departed, Changqing's voice came from inside the cave.
"Be extra careful in everything."
"You too."
Through the crack in the Dan Room door, Changqing watched Luo Hongyan's back gradually disappear.
He was expressionless as he looked at the two Imperial Spirits in his hand.
He wasn't in a hurry to subdue the Mind Transmission Spirit Luo Hongyan had given him. Instead, he gently squeezed and crushed it.
His strength was meager, like an ant compared to Luo Hongyan. She had countless ways to frame him.
One must always be wary of others. He dared not accept the Imperial Spirit Luo Hongyan had offered proactively; he could only disappoint her "good intentions."
For those in distress, a little kindness from others can be seen as a spark in the darkness, treasured immensely.
But Changqing was not like that.
He had Rebirth four times alone in this world, seeing through the fickleness of human nature and the detestable hearts of people.
He was a lone wolf wandering in the darkness, with no companions, no bottom line.
Likewise, he had no weaknesses.
Perhaps Luo Hongyan was a good person, but unfortunately, they met in such a precarious situation, treading on thin ice with every step. He dared not be careless in the slightest.
Changqing looked out through the crack in the Dan Room door, his gaze sharp and shining brightly in the darkness.
"Rose is coming again. This woman is the most crucial part of my plan."
......
"Rose, do you know why this Seat summoned you?"
Inside Caiyun Hall, Liu Lu looked at Rose, who was kneeling below the glazed pond, and sighed deeply.
Below the glazed pond, there used to be four Protectors, but now only Rose remained.
And Changqing stood beside Liu Lu, looking down at Rose with Liu Lu from above.
"Master, Rose has always been loyal to you! Please spare me."
She knelt there, trembling with fear.
"Rose, what are you afraid of? Could this Seat possibly eat you?"
"Feng Ling, Leng Mei, and Yue Gui have all been executed by you, Master, and their deaths were extremely gruesome. I've heard all about it. You've been in seclusion, and after coming out, you called me here. It must be my turn. Please, Master, spare me!"
Rose begged for mercy.
Liu Lu frowned upon hearing this, a little displeased.
"Who said they died? They were merely made into human swine by this Seat to help this Seat achieve the great undertaking of Ascension."
With that, she clapped her hands, and the curtains in the three corners of Caiyun Chamber fell.
Rose's pupils immediately constricted, and she was too terrified to speak.
In each corner stood a large vat, inside which was a bloody, mangled human stick.
One could vaguely make out what used to be a face, with hollow features covered by a pool of black pus.
The lower half of the human sticks were submerged in some unknown, thick liquid, and sticky bubbles popped and gurgled, emitting plumes of black smoke.
But it was certain that these were still living beings, because one could discern what were their mouths, opening and closing in agony, though no sound was emitted.
Liu Lu stood up, looking at these three human swine with an enraptured expression.
"Rose, these three all willingly sacrificed themselves for this Seat's great undertaking of Ascension. Are you unwilling?"
"Master, I..."
She's crazy, she's crazy.
Rose looked at the madness in Liu Lu's eyes, not knowing how to answer to escape harm.
"Don't be afraid, Rose. Compared to them, you have a more important mission."
Liu Lu said, then suddenly reached out and clamped Changqing's neck, lifting him up.
Before he could react, countless venomous snakes emerged from Liu Lu's sleeve, tightly coiling around Changqing, rendering him immobile.
"Master... why are you doing this...?"
Changqing struggled to squeeze out half a sentence from his throat, looking at Liu Lu in disbelief.