Chapter 2295 — Conditions Met

How had he shaken off his pursuers? Could the Twelfth Elder, the Second Guardian, and the Third Guardian already be dead? At this thought, Lazi's face was consumed by terror.

Wei Zhao seized Lazi by the scruff of the neck and hoisted him up as though he were a chick, then lashed out a kick that sent Lazi's vehicle flying into the thicket by the roadside—in the darkness of night, at least, no one would notice a car hidden there unless they looked closely...

Although Wei Zhao judged that no one else was likely to come down this road, nothing in this world was absolute. Fearing some mishap, he disposed of Lazi's car, then hauled Lazi into the thicket and dumped him on the ground, planting a foot on his chest to pin him helpless. Only then did he ask, "What does Tagan Long want with a spirit beast's essence core?"

"Huh?" Lazi blinked, caught off guard by such a question. He had assumed Wei Zhao would press him about the Tagan clan's secrets, never expecting him to ask after a spirit beast's essence core. Was this not a rather enormous leap in logic?

"If you don't want to suffer, talk fast!" Wei Zhao had no patience for games.

"All right... A spirit beast's essence core can be used to forge an essence core necklace. Didn't you know that?" Lazi seemed genuinely puzzled. It was no secret—at least, every great clan in Ruileida Town knew of it. The only oddity was that no one forged such things, save the Tagan clan...

"Forge an essence core necklace? What is an essence core necklace? What can it do? How is it forged?" Wei Zhao was taken aback. He had not imagined a spirit beast's essence core could serve such a purpose.

"An essence core necklace? You don't know that either?" Lazi found it strange that Wei Zhao seemed to know nothing at all, yet he explained anyway: "An essence core necklace is a kind of necklace that can raise one's attack and defense. It has a chance to increase one's offensive and defensive power..."

"What do you mean, a chance?" Wei Zhao was startled. So such a thing actually existed? Then it was a treasure indeed!

"That I don't know..." Lazi shook his head. "Because it's only a legendary thing. I've never seen one myself... It's just what everyone says..."

Wei Zhao nodded. Lazi did not look as though he were lying; the man's eyes were already wide with fright, and it seemed unlikely he would dare deceive him. Moreover, from Lazi's tone, the essence core necklace was apparently nothing especially mysterious or secret—plenty of people knew of it, so there was no need for concealment. Wei Zhao pressed on: "Then how is an essence core necklace forged?"

"That I truly don't know," said Lazi. "They say only a legendary artifact forger can make one, and that one must also possess the proper forging method..."

"A legendary artifact forger?" Wei Zhao gave a cold snort. "If it takes only a legendary artifact forger, then why would your Tagan clan go hunting for this spirit beast essence core? Why fall out with me and come to blows over it? Do you think any sane man would start a fight over something so vague and legendary in nature?"

"This... All right, I'll talk. The Tagan clan—I've heard they have an artifact forger. He's only an Earth-Rank forger and has mastered but a smattering of the craft, but he happens to possess the forging method for the essence core necklace..." Lazi told the plain truth; it was only hearsay even to him. "As for whether such a forger truly exists, I don't know either, because I've never seen him. I'm a nobody—there's little I know..."

"Oh. Then you can die now..." Wei Zhao said.

"No... no, please, Mr. Zhang, I'm just a small fry—whether I live or die means nothing to you. Please don't kill me..." Hearing that Wei Zhao meant to do away with him, Lazi was on the verge of tears. "I have a sixty-year-old mother above—already dead—and children below, not yet born, still crying to be fed..."

"..." Wei Zhao was speechless at this singular style of begging for mercy. Still, the fellow was honest and did not seem to lie.

"Mr. Zhang, I'm really just an ordinary cultivator trying to earn a mouthful of food. In the Tagan clan, I had no choice either. Please, whatever you do, don't kill me—I beg you!" Lazi pleaded, sniffling and weeping.

"If I don't kill you, what use are you to me?" Wei Zhao asked mildly.

"I... I... That's right, aren't you interested in that essence core necklace? I can take you to the Tagan clan and show you where the family's archive pavilion is. It has detailed records of the essence core necklace and its forging method. You can steal them..." Lazi said, struck by sudden inspiration.

"Oh? You can take me there?" Hearing this, Wei Zhao's interest was piqued. Truth be told, he did rather want a look at that essence core necklace...

"Indeed, I have a way!" From Wei Zhao's tone, Lazi sensed that he was greatly interested in the essence core necklace, and so, as though clutching at a lifeline, he nodded vigorously. "I go in and out of the Tagan clan all the time. I know its grounds inside and out. With me as your guide, Mr. Zhang, you'll save yourself a great deal of trouble..."

"In that case, let's go." Wei Zhao pondered a moment, then nodded in assent to Lazi's proposal. His main purpose in coming to the Tagan clan had been to kill Tagan Long, but upon hearing Lazi mention this essence core necklace, he found it, in his eyes, an even more enticing prize than wiping out the Tagan clan!

This trip to the Ulanhot Mountains had been fraught with peril, yet it had also brought Wei Zhao no small harvest. If he could obtain the forging method for the essence core necklace, that would be an unexpected delight.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang, for sparing my life!" Lazi said, weeping with gratitude.

"However, the death penalty may be waived, but punishment cannot be escaped!" With that, Wei Zhao produced a silver needle and said to Lazi, "I'm going to seal several of your acupoints. For the next hour you won't be able to use your true qi. Consider it my punishment for you, and a way to keep you from turning on me. When I insert the needles, do not resist with your true qi!"

"This... Yes!" Lazi had no way to refuse and could only nod. Compared with death, having his acupoints sealed and being temporarily unable to use true qi was a rather good outcome.

And so, with no resistance from Lazi, Wei Zhao sealed his acupoints and meridians, leaving him unable to call upon his true qi for the space of an hour. Of course, had Lazi's cultivation been somewhat higher, he could have used his own true qi to strike at the sealed acupoints and break the restriction himself.

But his strength was far too low; he could only wait for it to dissolve on its own.