Chapter 2471 — An Unexpected Outcome

But now this damaged map had turned up beside the skeleton of a peak late-Heaven-tier expert—proof enough that the map must still hold some value! This peak late-Heaven-tier master had carried nothing else with him, only a single damaged map, and that alone was proof enough.

In any case, Wei Zhao had no reason to let such a fine thing slip through his fingers! Though he still did not know what these two items could do or what concrete use they might have, he decided to pocket them regardless.

"What are your terms?" Wei Zhao asked, looking at the ghastly thing.

"First tell me whether you agree," the ghastly thing said.

"How can I agree when you will not even name the terms?" Wei Zhao frowned. "If you tell me to die, am I to go and die?"

"That I cannot do. This condition of mine guarantees that all of you may leave safely, and you need pay nothing for it; it will cause you no real harm or loss," the ghastly thing said. "And for you, it is no more than the lifting of a hand!"

"Hearing you say that only makes me more puzzled. What condition is it? Out with it, let me hear." Wei Zhao was thoroughly baffled. Why had the ghastly thing begun to stammer and hedge? If it had a condition, why not state it plainly?

"The matter is grave. You must agree first, before I can speak," the ghastly thing said firmly.

"Very well." Wei Zhao was somewhat resigned. "If, as you say, your condition truly is the lifting of a hand, and will cause no harm or loss to me or my friends, then I can agree. But if it is not as you say, then the promise is void!"

Wei Zhao was a man who took promises seriously. He did not lightly agree to anything, and once he had agreed, he would naturally find a way to see it done. Since the ghastly thing demanded that he pledge himself first, he naturally tacked on this additional condition.

"Haha, straightforward of you!" The ghastly thing laughed twice—and suddenly pounced at Wei Zhao!

"You—" Wei Zhao was instantly alarmed and turned pale. He was just about to condense elixir fire to counter the ghastly thing, but before the fire had even formed, a tremendous upheaval occurred.

What happened next left Wei Zhao in unspeakable shock. The ghastly thing, after rushing at him, abruptly contracted into a straight line and entered Wei Zhao's body! His first thought was that he had been possessed!

Yet in the midst of his alarm, he could detect nothing amiss. He was still himself; even his thoughts were unchanged. It seemed certain he had not been possessed! But then where had the ghastly thing gone?

If it had not possessed him, how had it vanished after entering his body?

Just as Wei Zhao stood astonished, the ghastly thing's voice came again: "Many thanks! For kindness so great words fail; in future I shall surely repay it richly... Who would have thought, who would have thought..."

Wei Zhao was briefly taken aback—then his expression changed! For the ghastly thing's voice had come to him the same way Old Jiao's words did: transmitted by thought directly into his mind. And the ghastly thing was doing so now as well. Did that not mean it had fled into his jade pendant?

At that thought, Wei Zhao went pale with fright. Instinctively he entered the jade pendant's space—and one look left him dumbstruck!

The ghastly thing was now ensconced in the jade pendant's space, looking for all the world as though it were enjoying itself immensely! It occupied only a tiny corner, yet to Wei Zhao it was so glaring, grating on his nerves!

This was his jade pendant! How had this thing gotten in? Since when could his jade pendant permit other strangers to come and go at will? What on earth was going on?

"You... how did you get in? What exactly do you want?" Wei Zhao asked in shock.

"Haha, this place is far better than that girl's. Who would have thought, who would have thought—I shall sleep here first. Pay me no mind; from now on, just pretend I do not exist!" the ghastly thing said excitedly. "When I wake, I shall give you something good!"

"You... you mean to take up long residence here?" Wei Zhao's mouth twitched twice.

"Yes. Did you not agree to my condition? It is merely the lifting of a hand for you, and it will cause no harm or effect on you or your friends. I have kept my word," the ghastly thing said.

"You—" Wei Zhao did not know what to say.

"All right, I am going to sleep now. Goodbye..." With that, without waiting for any reply from Wei Zhao, the ghastly thing shrank into a small clump and hid itself in a corner of the jade pendant's space.

"Hey, wait a moment!" Wei Zhao was caught between laughter and tears. "You have simply taken over my territory, and you will not explain how you got in?"

No sound. The ghastly thing had indeed kept its word and gone straight to sleep; Wei Zhao's words were wasted.

"You..." Wei Zhao gave a bitter smile, unsure what to say, for saying anything was useless. With a helpless sigh, he turned to Jiao Yazi and said, "Old Jiao, how did it get in?"

"How would I know? It simply came in." Jiao Yazi shook his head. "This space is yours, not mine. I am merely a sliver—a分身 of a primordial spirit..."

"Primordial spirit? You are a primordial spirit too?" Wei Zhao started, then asked.

"It seems so, but I am not certain. As I said, many of my memories remain unopened, so there is much I cannot explain," Jiao Yazi said. "However, that this thing could enter is plainly because you yourself assented to it. As to how you assented, I am not quite clear either. But it does not matter; it should bear you no ill will."

Wei Zhao nodded. If the ghastly thing meant him harm, it would hardly have waited until now; and it had always reasoned and negotiated with him, which let Wei Zhao relax a little. Better to wait until the ghastly thing woke and then ask.

"Very well. Though I have no idea when it will wake." Wei Zhao smiled bitterly. "This jade pendant's space has not even been refined yet, and it has already come in. Truly strange."

"It is in primordial-spirit form, different from ordinary things. In fact, what enters the jade pendant's space is also your primordial spirit; your body is still out in the world," Jiao Yazi explained.

"So that is how it is!" Wei Zhao was somewhat surprised. "I have a primordial spirit too? Is it not said that only when one's rank reaches a certain height can a primordial spirit be projected outward?"

"Your mental cultivation method is special," Jiao Yazi said.