Chapter 78: Chapter 78: I’ve Long Been a Member of the All-Powerful Association

"Mr. Zhu, you spoke so convincingly about those so-called Shadow Divine Techniques earlier. It sounds like you’ve seen or understood just how powerful they really are, haven’t you?"

Zhang Hai licked his dry lips. "Just imagine... if you could use those Shadow Divine Techniques..."

"So, you plan to use this to lure me into joining the God Worship Society?" Chu Bamboo retorted.

"No, no, no! You simply don’t understand how special the status of a Cultivator who can forge Spiritual Artifacts is!" Zhang Hai said, his tone serious. "Among Cultivators of the same level, only the Alchemists from the Agricultural and Medical Education can even compare!"

"Even the God Worship Society would have to call in significant favors to invite an Artifact Refiner! So it’s really not that I’m pressuring you, it’s just that..."

"Wait!" Chu Bamboo held up a hand to stop him, a realization dawning. "From the way you’re talking... are you saying that refining a Cultivator into a weapon... is also something only a specific Orthodoxy can do?"

"...What else would it be?" Zhang Hai asked, looking confused.

"Let me guess!" Chu Bamboo’s expression grew even more peculiar. "Hmm, of all the Orthodoxies, the one related to forging weapons... the Moisture Teaching?"

"To be precise, it’s the Mechanical Moisture Teaching," Zhang Hai corrected. "’Moisture Teaching’ is what ordinary people in mortal society call it! In the Extraordinary domain, you have to add that word... That’s common knowledge, my friend!"

Chu Bamboo didn’t reply, lost in thought.

’The Moisture Teaching in the Dream World was actually quite remarkable. The current steam industry in the Dream World was developed and promoted by them.’

’At the same time, Chu Bamboo had a special nickname for the Mo Family—Brother Tu Mu!’

’Besides being good at industry, the Moisture Teaching was also skilled at construction... For example, repairing roads, constructing buildings, and prospecting for mines—they basically handled all of it...’

’In fact, because Chu Bamboo was the redevelopment district’s own Mr. Zhu, his nickname for the Moisture Teaching caught on, and soon the entire district started calling the faith’s believers and official members "Brother Tu Mu."’

"Let me see, then. The person you’re looking for... is it Mo Ban? Mo Wen? Or Mo Kai?" Chu Bamboo thought for a moment before rattling off three names.

Zhang Hai: "...?"

Zhang Hai’s brow furrowed as he realized something was wrong. He asked with difficulty, "You... know them?"

"I wouldn’t say ’know’ them," Chu Bamboo said calmly. "At best, my relationship with them is the same as my relationship with you..."

’Familiar? Oh, we’re *real* familiar.’

Zhang Hai: "..."

’My God, doesn’t that mean you have them completely wrapped around your finger?’

Zhang Hai thought back on everything he’d gone through with Chu Bamboo these past few days, and a chill ran down his spine...

’Based on his own experience... he’d totally believe it if you said you could use your weird tricks to swindle them into forging a Spiritual Artifact for you, and even make them pay for the materials themselves!’

’It’s over! My perfect recruitment plan!’

’Oh God, why... why did it have to turn out like this...?’

"Alright, enough of that." Chu Bamboo looked at the dejected Zhang Hai and asked another question. "I’m actually curious about something... You mentioned forging Spiritual Artifacts? So what’s the deal with Forbidden Artifacts?"

’It’s too strange... Forbidden Artifacts require a price to be paid for their use, while Spiritual Artifacts don’t.’

’If Spiritual Artifacts can be forged reliably, why not just make everything a Spiritual Artifact? What’s the point of Forbidden Artifacts existing at all...?’

"Forbidden Artifacts..." Zhang Hai fell silent for a moment before finally speaking. "I don’t really understand it myself! But if you use a Cultivator to forge a weapon, it really is more likely to result in a Forbidden Artifact? Perhaps only those from the Moisture Teaching know the specifics."

That made sense to Chu Bamboo. He glanced over at the assassin. "Go ahead and wake this guy up."

Then, Chu Bamboo watched as Zhang Hai, his face once again filled with excitement, unleashed another flurry of slaps.

「A few moments later.」

"..." The assassin silently opened his eyes and stared at Chu Bamboo without a word. But under Zhang Hai’s assault, the assassin’s mask, just like Xue the Third’s before it... now successfully sported two new cracks!

"Why did you try to kill me? Why are you killing the union leaders?" Chu Bamboo asked softly. His voice held not a trace of menace or killing intent; it was so casual he could have been discussing where to go for a day out.

But Zhang Hai, who knew the real story, understood that Chu Bamboo was nowhere near as calm as he appeared.

Zhang Hai currently had one foot pressed firmly on the assassin’s neck, his Divine Thought flickering faintly at his forehead, prepared for the worst-case scenario: that the assassin had another trick up his sleeve and could suddenly break free to attack Chu Bamboo.

The assassin remained silent.

Chu Bamboo stepped forward and placed his foot on the assassin’s hand, grinding it down lightly and crushing the man’s finger bones. Yet the assassin didn’t utter a sound.

"I see. You’ve taken Painless Powder?" A look of understanding dawned in Chu Bamboo’s eyes. It was phrased as a question, but his tone was certain. ’If he were simply tough, his body would inevitably convulse from the excruciating pain... He wouldn’t be completely unresponsive like he is now!’

’Painless Powder. It’s a special drug produced by the Five Poison Society.’

’Once taken, it can eliminate all physical pain! But the stuff is terribly addictive...’

’Of course, even setting aside the addictiveness, just eliminating pain isn’t a good thing either—pain is hard to bear, but to lose the sensation of pain, you could say the person is basically ruined!’

’A person who has lost the ability to feel pain has also lost the Perception Ability regarding their own body’s illnesses.’

’Generally speaking, such people tend to die rather young...’

’Of course, this was what Chu Bamboo knew about ordinary people taking Painless Powder. For a Transcendent, perhaps things were slightly different?’

"I’m very curious, did Li Xiong send you to kill me?" Chu Bamboo asked.

Zhang Hai clearly saw the assassin’s pupils flicker, but the man still said nothing. At the same time, a shockwave went through Zhang Hai’s mind... ’So that’s Mr. Eleven’s real name?’

"Actually, I’ve been a member of the All-Powerful Association for a long time!" Chu Bamboo changed his tack again, tracing an Inverted Cross on his chest with a solemn expression. "My life’s goal is also to let the Lord’s light shine upon the earth once more, to become the Lord’s shepherd on earth."

Zhang Hai: "..."

’Hey, is it really appropriate for you to be saying this in front of *him*?!’

"You believe in the Lord, Lord Eleven believes in the Lord, and you believe in the Lord! So aren’t we on the same side?" Chu Bamboo’s words were sincere. "Why are you trying to kill me?"

Still no answer.

"The truth is, I established the redevelopment district’s union at the behest of the Fourth Apostle, Lord Su. It involves a critical part of the plan to let the Lord’s light shine upon the earth! Do you realize your actions have sabotaged this critical plan? Do you have any idea how much effort it will take for me to repair the damage?" Chu Bamboo’s expression suddenly turned to ice as he delivered the pointed accusation.

Zhang Hai: "?"

’To be honest, Zhang Hai had no idea if the assassin was convinced, but he himself was starting to believe it and was getting a little flustered.’

’You couldn’t really be part of a ploy by the All-Powerful Association, could you? No, that’s impossible... right?’

’But if that were the case, it would explain how Chu Bamboo is so familiar with the All-Powerful Association...’

However, no matter what Chu Bamboo said, the assassin remained just as cold.

Those icy eyes, apart from showing a flicker of emotion when he first heard the name "Eleven," afterward contained only cold indifference and even a hint of mockery, no matter what Chu Bamboo said.

"...Alright, then." Chu Bamboo sat back down on the sofa, quietly staring at the assassin. ’To be honest, this is the first time I’ve run into such an immovable obstacle!’

’No matter how many tricks he had up his sleeve, if the other party flat-out refused to cooperate, there was nothing he could do!’

’Most importantly, he didn’t know this person at all! Most likely, this man wasn’t a local from Jinghai City...’

"Eleven, the All-Powerful Association..." Chu Bamboo was a little worried. Setting other things aside, after this short exchange, he was at least certain that the assassin’s attack on the union and himself was not motivated by personal greed or desire—

If it were just personal desire, he wouldn’t be this stubbornly silent! For instance, if it were for revenge, upon being captured, he’d be aggressively taunting his captors, not staying completely mute.

In that case, even if they dealt with the assassin here, it wouldn’t mean the matter was resolved. On the contrary, they might face an even more terrifying backlash later.

’Perhaps I’ll really have to face Eleven... that madman!’

Even though Chu Bamboo had a certain understanding of him, just thinking about the man gave him a headache. Chu Bamboo had no confidence that he could persuade Eleven to turn from an enemy into an ally if they met face-to-face.

Of course, even if he did manage to turn Eleven into a teammate, it wouldn’t mean he was safe. After all, the Apostles of the All-Powerful Association were infamous for sacrificing their allies right at the start!

When facing these madman Apostles, at least as an enemy, you knew you died because you were on the opposing side. As an ally, you wouldn’t even know why you died...

Even now, as Chu Bamboo recalled his experiences with the Apostles, he couldn’t help but sigh—’trailing behind Eleven and the other Apostles was truly like being in a "rules horror" game!’

Your survival was baffling, and your death was random!

"Forget it." Chu Bamboo looked at Zhang Hai and said flatly, "Knock him out."

Zhang Hai acted immediately. Then, after a slight hesitation, he gave Chu Bamboo a serious look and made up his mind.

"Mr. Zhu." Zhang Hai stood up and brushed his hands together. "The matter is resolved and the culprit has been caught. I should be heading back now!"

"And one more thing," Zhang Hai added emphatically, "even if more people from the All-Powerful Association come to kill you, don’t expect me to be your 24/7 bodyguard."

Zhang Hai snorted. "After all, my stepping in to catch this assassin is enough to prove the God Worship Society’s innocence. Of course, if you decide to be uncivil and try to frame us anyway, let me tell you, the God Worship Society is no pushover!" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"I understand." Chu Bamboo nodded slightly. This was exactly what he had expected.

"Of course," Zhang Hai’s tone suddenly shifted, "if you’re willing..."

"Let’s leave it at that," Chu Bamboo cut off what must have been Zhang Hai’s umpteenth recruitment attempt. He stood up and headed for the restroom. "I’m quite busy today. After all, I still have to take the civil service exam later!"