I Contracted All Ancient Divine Artifacts-Chapter 255 - 154: Geng Jiu

"You're getting more and more outrageous!" Gongyang Jin said somewhat annoyed.

But it was the kind without any force.

If the people outside in Fulong City saw this posture, they would be so shocked that their jaws would drop to the ground and shatter.

"I'm just teasing you," Han Zhan released Gongyang Jin, his tone becoming serious.

"I choose the Geng character card because Geng Jin carries an evil aura, the strongest and most tenacious. The power of heaven and earth's ruthlessness, the transformation of human wars and weapons."

Han Zhan expressed his thoughts.

He came to the City of Extreme Evil for one purpose only, which was to find Gongyang Jin and take her back, and now the first step is completed.

There remains the second step, taking her back.

To return, he must pass the trial of the Slaughter Battlefield; the Geng character among the Ten Heavenly Stems best represents his current mindset.

Gongyang Jin nodded slightly. "Alright, let's go with your choice, the Geng character."

"As for the other character, let's choose the 'Nine' character. Geng Jiu, it's a nice name."

"Alright, this is my codename, remember it," Gongyang Jin said as she raised her hand to show Han Zhan her token.

A palm-sized dark gold token, decorated with intricate red cloud patterns at the top, and hollowed out at the bottom, making it quite stylish.

The front of the token bore the "Jia" character, representing one of the Ten Heavenly Stems.

The back of the token symbolized personal identity with the "Lu" character.

"Jia Lu." When Han Zhan uttered it, an intense killing aura swept over him.

"This was the name I chose when I first became the Alliance Leader of the Anti-Xia Alliance, and I've used it ever since," Gongyang Jin explained.

"It's getting late. I'll have your token prepared soon and sent to you."

"Every core member of the Anti-Xia Alliance has their own designated residence in Fulong City; when the time comes, someone will lead you there."

"The Ten Heavenly Stems have no idle positions; you broke the norm by becoming a core member through Gateknocking, and other core members may have differing opinions."

This was a reminder to Han Zhan, giving him a heads-up.

Han Zhan suddenly thought of when they were underground, and Gongyang Jin said it was not yet the right time; it seems the entire Anti-Xia Alliance is not as peaceful as it appears on the surface.

"I understand." Han Zhan nodded after hearing.

After walking out of the Lingyan Pavilion, Gongyang Jin returned to her original cold and aloof demeanor.

She looked at the onlookers in Fulong City and loudly announced Han Zhan's new identity within the Anti-Xia Alliance.

"From today onwards, Han Zhan will become the sixth core member of the Anti-Xia Alliance. In the Lingyan Pavilion, he chose the Geng character among the Ten Heavenly Stems, with his token codename—Geng Jiu!"

Cheers, astonishment, and long sighs intertwined.

Not bothering with the various reactions of the crowd,

Gongyang Jin had her subordinates take Han Zhan to his newly assigned residence, then turned and walked in another direction.

...

Sun Never Sets Port, Central Church.

"I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"

Yu Lian walked in from outside, glancing at Zhan Ning, who looked haggard.

The latter, upon seeing Yu Lian, trembled as he raised his hand, an uncontrollable desire emerging in his mind.

Yu Lian snorted coldly.

A beam of moonlight struck his face, jarring him awake.

"Your lust is almost uncontrollable. If you want it, just go to the Nightingale Inn. If you can't resist, don't. The body is the body, desire is desire."

"You have such a smooth patter, is it original?"

"Oh, I heard it from Andrew at the Nightingale Inn, and Andrew heard it from Han Zhan," Yu Lian replied honestly.

Zhan Ning rubbed his face vigorously, trying to wake himself up, and said, "Let's hear the good news first."

"The good news is, you don't have to worry about your Demon Crossing Cloak and Moonlight Longsword being looted and lost in Fulong City."

"He's not dead?!" Zhan Ning blurted out.

"Why, it seems you're eager for his death."

"That's not exactly it."

Yu Lian ignored Zhan Ning and continued on her own, "This is also the bad news I have to tell you; he didn't die, and he succeeded in Gateknocking. The Alliance Leader of the Anti-Xia Alliance, Gongyang Jin, really appreciates him and has recruited him as a core member."

"Pfft!" Zhan Ning spat out a mouthful of water. "What did you say?"

The spy he sent has become a core member of the enemy, effectively the sixth in command.

You call this a spy?

"Cough cough, how are the benefits at the Anti-Xia Alliance?" Zhan Ning coughed a couple of times, instinctively asking.

"If you're asking about core members, if it remains at the previously revealed standard, each receives a daily salary of one hundred gold coins, and in the main city of the Anti-Xia Alliance, Fulong City, has a standalone villa of their own."

"The price of standalone villas in Fulong City," Yu Lian looked Zhan Ning up and down, ruthlessly jabbed, "selling you wouldn't be enough to buy one."

"So Bob probably won't betray us, right?" Zhan Ning stubbornly asked.

"To correct you, he's now called Han Zhan, not Bob."

Zhan Ning: "..."

Silently, Zhan Ning stood up and headed towards the door without looking back.

"Where are you going?" Yu Lian asked behind him.

"To the Nightingale Inn, before the Fallen Knight finds me."

...

Fulong City, Wofeng Palace.

Gongyang Jin, returning from the Lingyan Pavilion, was stopped halfway by a figure.

"You seem to be in a good mood."

The young man with a wicked smile from before appeared once more before Gongyang Jin.

In his hand was a flower that seemed both dreamlike and illusory, caught in an unstable state between reality and illusion, merging and weaving.

"For you."

"Chen Tao, you are just my brother; don't do anything unnecessary."

Gongyang Jin did not reach out to take the flower. Her gaze remained calm as she looked at him. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Chen Tao still bore the same rebellious, sinister smile. Being rejected by Gongyang Jin did not bother him.

"I picked this from the Ruins Capital of the Mechanical Sect, thinking you'd like it. Since you don't, it's useless."

Saying this, Chen Tao opened his palm and clenched the flower tightly. The collision of reality and illusion produced a thunderous roar inside his fist, yet no power leaked out.

"I heard you recruited that Gateknocker?" Chen Tao suddenly asked out of the blue.

He raised his eyes, with dark clouds flashing in them.

Gongyang Jin nodded indifferently, saying naturally, "With the Slaughter Battlefield approaching, the Anti-Xia Alliance is in need of personnel. Recruiting him seems quite normal, doesn't it?"

After she spoke, she said no more, then turned and walked into the Wofeng Palace, closing its doors.

Chen Tao stood outside the Wofeng Palace, his eyes shadowed.

"The Sword Heart is clouded, bewildered by illusions. It seems delusions remain unbroken."

Muttering in a low voice to himself, Chen Tao chuckled. "Celestial Net, you've miscalculated this step."

"Gongyang Jin, you'll be mine eventually!"