Chapter 25: Holding the Umbrella

In the study, Lu Chun spread an old piece of parchment flat on the table. It was a map depicting a hidden medicinal garden located within the Sunset Forest.

This map had been given to Lu Chun by Huyan Chen as a token of gratitude for his generosity, serving as an heirloom of their Diamond Mammoth Sect.

The origin of this heirloom, however, was merely an accident. Ten thousand years ago, the Diamond Mammoth Sect stood with the Spirit Hall. After the fall of the Spirit Hall, they were relentlessly hunted down. Most of the sect’s disciples were slaughtered, and the Diamond Mammoth spirit itself nearly went extinct.

Just as the ancestors of the Diamond Mammoth Sect were in despair, they happened upon a terrifyingly toxic barrier deep within the Sunset Forest. They were instantly overjoyed. Although the Diamond Mammoth was not a pinnacle defense spirit like the Black Tortoise, it possessed immense defensive capabilities and resilience. They endured the lethal toxins to evade their pursuers, and in the process, discovered the medicinal garden hidden within the toxic mist.

Until the Diamond Mammoth Sect rose to power once more, they never ceased their exploration of that garden, yet they always returned empty-handed. They could only infer that the garden might be related to the Sea God. Upon realizing this, they were struck with terror and dared not probe any deeper, leaving behind only a map for future generations.

Sunset Forest, toxic barriers, a medicinal garden—Lu Chun knew all too well what these three elements signified when brought together.

"The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well?"

One of the three great treasures, the birthplace of the original Shrek Seven Devils—it could be said that without the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, there would have been no Seven Gods to follow.

Yet, Lu Chun had little interest in this treasure trove teeming with countless rare herbs. After all, he could manifest so-called "immortal herbs" by his own hand; he didn't even have the slightest interest in the two dragon corpses buried beneath the well.

Moreover, he mused silently, that place might very well be under constant surveillance. After all, it was practically a private backyard; the owner would never tolerate the intrusion of outsiders.

Casually tossing the map aside, Lu Chun began to ponder other matters. A moment later, he called for Heral to prepare some blank paper.

Heral asked, puzzled, "My God, do you not require a brush?"

Lu Chun replied, "It is not needed."

Seeing this, Heral said no more. He placed the blank paper neatly on the desk and exited respectfully.

Ensuring no one else was nearby, Lu Chun produced a black jade slip—the *Secret Scripture of the Profound Sovereign*, which had already become one with him.

Ominous black mist emerged from the slip, and unknown, ant-like characters twisted and morphed within it. Under Lu Chun’s command, they spread across the blank paper, instantly transforming from indecipherable symbols into Douluo script legible to ordinary people.

At the very top, it read: *Record of the Yin Corpse Dissection and Metamorphosis*.

This was the fifth volume of the *Secret Scripture of the Profound Sovereign*, which contained the Profound Sovereign’s alchemy and even summoning methods for various races from another universe. However, Lu Chun did not transcribe the latter rituals; he kept only the alchemy.

"Laurustinus, water-mallow, and dew-herb, dragon eyes and elephant gall, three coins each... When the work is done and the mist clears, the cinnabar liquid remains; wait for the cold to set in, lest the external elixir crack... The Yang Spirit wanders the void, enacting ancient tales; the Heavenly Dog enters the world, inviting human calamity..."

Bizarre verses echoed in the study, yet Lu Chun’s lips never moved from start to finish. The source of these mysterious lines was unsettling.

Lu Chun hesitated, then pared down the contents of the alchemy text. The verses ceased abruptly, and the strange phenomena within the study gradually dissipated.

Picking up the pages inscribed with this forbidden knowledge, Lu Chun sighed, "You seek immortality, His Majesty seeks chaos—oh, humanity..."

He had promised to help the Emperor of Douling achieve immortality, and he would fulfill that vow. He had also promised those people the method for immortality by midnight in three days, and that, too, was no lie.

He, Lu Chun, never lied.

He was someone who had walked through the rain, so he wished to hold an umbrella for others. Once, trapped beneath ruins, he had prayed to the heavens and to the gods, but no one answered. Now that others were praying to him, he wished to become a god for them.

Just as the saying of the Abundance Church went:

*He listens to the prayers of all living things; He cannot bear the withering of flowers; He bestows His blessings, so that life may flourish endlessly, and paradise may endure forever.*

...

Three days later, at midnight.

The gates of the Heral Duke's mansion were thrown open, and the interior was brightly lit.

Outside the gate, the Soul Douluo retainer grumbled to himself, "Damn it, to have me acting as a receptionist—I am a dignified Soul Douluo!"

"Who else but a Titled Douluo would be worthy of being received by me personally!"

At this thought, the Soul Douluo’s expression stiffened. He recalled a similar situation not long ago, when he had welcomed a Titled Douluo in the dead of night. His heart skipped a beat.

A dark premonition rose in his mind.

He muttered, "Thunder strike me, they aren't trying to trick this old man again, are they? I am an old man, after all."

"An old man? Heh."

The sudden laughter startled the Soul Douluo retainer. He looked up to see an elderly man leaning on a cane appearing before him.

"Who goes there!"

Reacting instinctively, the Soul Douluo retainer immediately summoned his spirit.

The elderly man with the cane chuckled, "Young people these days are so impatient."

As he spoke, he tapped his cane on the ground. The earth split, and three massive stone figures crawled out, instantly blocking the Soul Douluo’s attack.

"Impatient? I wonder who it was that, in his youth, killed his way into a family single-handedly for the sake of love, forcing the parents to smile and agree to the marriage."

One of the several people who arrived afterward chimed in with a tease.

"This, this, this..."

The Soul Douluo retainer, calmed slightly by the assault, stammered, unable to speak. He recognized one of the figures—a senior a generation older than him, a powerhouse who had been famous for over a hundred years.

And this senior was now walking alongside the others, chatting as if they were equals. It was clear that these people were all at least on his level.

The Soul Douluo retainer’s mouth twitched, his heart filled with indignation.

He had been tricked! Tricked again! No! He couldn't do this job anymore!

"All my old friends are here. It’s been so many years since we last gathered."

"Tsk, you old thing, you’re still alive."

"Heh, I wish you a short life of a hundred years."

One after another, people emerged from the darkness and gathered outside the mansion gates. Some were enemies, some were friends, but they were all elderly, gathering in small groups to chat.

The area outside the mansion gates was as lively as a large-scale senior social club.

The Soul Douluo retainer was stunned. Now that he had regained his composure, he could not sense a shred of soul power from these elders. This meant only two things: either they were ordinary people, or they were terrifyingly strong.

The current situation clearly pointed to the latter. He suddenly felt like a puppy that had wandered into a wolf pack.

"You may return now," Heral said, appearing beside him and addressing everyone present.

"Everyone, the Apothecary is ready to see you."

In an instant, all conversation ceased, and the scene fell into an eerie silence.