Chapter 39 Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant

Hearing Fang Yue mention the words 'Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant', the Helmsman's expression visibly changed.

He looked at Fang Yue solemnly, his voice low, cold, and sinister: "You know of this object?"

"I not only know of it, I also know its function. Moreover, I've examined this Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant, and it's empty. Let me guess, Helmsman wants an empty Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant, and Helmsman himself is restricted to the Cold River Colossus, unable to escape the ship… so Helmsman wants this Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant to escape the ship and regain freedom, which requires our help, right?"

The Helmsman's pupils constricted upon hearing this.

In a matter of seconds, the range of emotions on the Helmsman's face surpassed that of the past few days combined, a testament to the genuine impact Fang Yue had on him.

However, Fang Yue had guessed one thing incorrectly.

"Not your help, his!"

The Helmsman looked directly at the dumbstruck Tian Ruichi.

The rapid changes in the situation and the sheer volume of information were making his head spin.

Hearing the Helmsman's words, Tian Ruichi could only point dumbly at himself.

"Me? Why me?"

"Because this Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant is incomplete. A Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant is a Xian-level (immortal-level) strange object; even in the vast Qing Country, there aren't many to be found. But if we lower the requirements to just a damaged one, then the top figures in Qing Country could still obtain it. Tian Jian was not only kind to me, he told me directly that he had a Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant in his possession.

Now, he has given this damaged Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant to you, and stated explicitly that only you can use it, so you must be kept safe."

Perhaps because his intentions had been exposed, the Helmsman was candid, staring intently at Tian Ruichi.

"Whatever you want, use the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant to help me escape the cursed restrictions of the Cold River Colossus, and I will help you!"

A damaged Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant?

Only Tian Ruichi can use it?

Is there such a thing? Did Tian Jian tamper with it?

Although the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant is a Xian-level strange object, so many years have passed; surely someone could research it and tinker with it.

Fang Yue was pondering when the parchment suddenly popped up.

[Impossible!]

What's impossible?

[It's impossible to tamper with a Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant. Even if it's damaged, you can't change its essence; at most, you can add layers of array restrictions.]

[So it's just that Tian Jian's methods are clever, making it impossible for the Helmsman to see through, not that he has the ability to change the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant.]

Is there a difference?

[Of course, there is! One is fundamentally changing a Xian-level strange object, which is as difficult as refining a brand new Xian-level strange object. The other is the power of arrays and other means, which can be undone by a skilled array breaker, nullifying the claim that only Tian Ruichi can use it.]

Fang Yue's eyes lit up.

"Could it be that you…"

[I didn't, I won't, don't look for me! Still angry! Ignoring you!]

If you won't, you won't; why get angry?

Fang Yue thought that since the parchment was speaking so eloquently, it must have some ability to help him get some benefits.

Although a damaged version of the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant in Tian Ruichi's hands is no different from it being in his own, it would be much easier to negotiate with the Helmsman if he had control of it.

"Brother Ye, what do you think of this matter?"

While Fang Yue was communicating with the parchment, Tian Ruichi was clearly in a dilemma.

He had no idea how to operate this Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant, let alone how to rescue the Helmsman first before sailing.

Fang Yue gave him a look to calm him down, then cleared his throat.

"Helmsman, we're willing to help, of course. But you have to make one thing clear first…"

Before Fang Yue could finish, the Helmsman interjected.

"The Blazing Fire Sect belongs to the Fourth Prince, and Tian Jian has some connections with the Fourth Prince. They will detain you for a period of time and decide on your subsequent fate based on the situation."

“…Uh, that's not what I was going to ask, but thanks for the information."

"…"

Blazing Fire Sect, Fourth Prince…

Speaking of which, Tian Jian is quite close to these princes. First, his disciple is close to the Seventh Prince, and then there's the Blazing Fire Sect of the Fourth Prince's faction to meet them. Isn't he afraid of getting burned?

The Emperor is ailing, and the Nine Dragons vying for the throne is a well-known fact in the capital. And a fence-sitter is always the first to be dealt with.

Keeping this information in mind, Fang Yue didn't pursue the matter, but said,

"What I really want to ask is, if we pull you out of the Cold River Colossus and into the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant, what will happen to this Cold River Colossus?"

"I don't know."

"See, that's the problem. If you leave, but the ship remains, we can simply power it manually. But if you enter the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant and the ship disintegrates, we'll be finished too, won't we?"

"Then what's your point?"

"Take us back to the capital. Once we reach the capital's wharf, I'll have Tian Ruichi absorb you into the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant!"

The Helmsman sneered, "You want something for nothing? Dream on!"

As he spoke, the Cold River Colossus came to a halt, motionless on the surface of the Cold River.

Fang Yue had seen this scene before; it was one of the parchment's premonitions.

But at that time, the Helmsman stopped because there wasn't enough strange stone, no power.

Now, the Helmsman stopped on his own accord.

"Nightmare Dawn, is it? I'll give you a condition too: have Tian Ruichi absorb me into the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant now, or I'll just stay here and wait for the strangeness of the Cold River to devour you, and then leave on my own."

Faced with the Helmsman's threat, Qing Chen and Tian Ruichi's expressions changed drastically, but Fang Yue remained calm, without even a hint of wavering, and slowly uttered four words.

"How many years?"

"What?"

"How many years have you been imprisoned on this Cold River Colossus? A hundred years? Five hundred years? A thousand years?"

"…What do you mean?"

"Tian Ruichi is the only hope you've had in your long life to be taken away from the Cold River Colossus, to escape this sea of suffering."

"And then?"

"If you kill us today, are you sure you'll meet a second Tian Ruichi, a second Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant in the future?"

The Helmsman sneered: "Who said I was going to kill Tian Ruichi?"

*Pa.*

Fang Yue suddenly reached out and grabbed Tian Ruichi's neck, saying coldly, "Who said you weren't going to kill Tian Ruichi?"

"Ugh, ugh, ugh?!"

Tian Ruichi's eyes widened, his face turning red from being choked, and he patted Fang Yue's arm frantically, barely able to breathe.

"…"

The Helmsman's smile froze.

His face changed to anger at a speed visible to the naked eye, and he roared, "You dare touch a hair on his head!?"

The violent roar echoed through the ship.