"Bone Gu is just a type of Gu art, how can it control the Fortune Manual to seize Fortune Fruits?"
"There's no need to worry, it cannot control the Fortune Manual."
As Ancestor Fu Ling finished speaking, Fu Ruhai interjected,
"But we saw with our own eyes that the light emitted by the Fortune Manual transformed into small knives, cutting the Fortune Roots. Can that be false?"
"That was merely an illusion, it wasn't actually cutting the Fortune Roots."
"So, all the mortals' Fortune Roots are still intact?"
Liu Sandao asked, a mix of doubt and surprise in his voice.
"Yes," Ancestor Fu Ling nodded.
"I knew it! It's not that easy for the Fortune Manual to betray us!"
Upon hearing the answer, Fu Ruhai slapped his thigh, exclaiming with excitement.
"This Gu art, although it cannot immediately control the Fortune Manual to cut Fortune Roots, there's no guarantee it won't over time."
"Ah? So, it will still be cut?"
Fu Ruhai widened his eyes and asked with a slight frown.
"Yes and no."
Ancestor Fu Ling seemed to have endless secrets, never explaining things all at once.
"Ancestor, just tell us plainly! This back and forth is driving us crazy!"
Fu Ruhai complained good-naturedly.
"This Gu art controls the Fortune Manual by controlling people's thoughts. In the current immortal realm, only the two of you can control the Fortune Manual. The more you care about this matter, the more you worry about cutting Fortune Roots, the deeper it will penetrate your very being.
As long as it reaches forty-nine days, those Fortune Roots will naturally detach. By then, those people will all die."
Ancestor Fu Ling finally revealed the truth.
"Is there no better way to stop it?"
Fu Ruhai blurted out.
"Come with me!"
Ancestor Fu Ling said, standing up and heading towards another room.
There were several passages around this Fu Hall, and it seemed that whenever there was a different purpose, a particular opening would naturally be closer to Ancestor Fu Ling.
There was no need to deliberately turn in any direction.
As Liu Sandao and Fu Ruhai entered the opening, they saw a crane carrying a worm that was as big as a thumb.
The worm was clean and white all over, looking exceptionally plump.
"Take out your Fortune Manuals!"
Ancestor Fu Ling commanded.
Liu Sandao slowly took out his Fortune Manual, and so did Fu Ruhai.
Due to the Gu art, the Fortune Manuals were currently dim and lusterless. Picking them up from the ground, they felt lifeless, devoid of any immortal energy.
"Throw them in!"
Ancestor Fu Ling said, pointing to a pool in front of them.
Liu Sandao and Fu Ruhai looked closely and saw that the water was full of those large, fat worms.
They both froze slightly. If they were thrown in and completely devoured, would the Fortune Manuals still be saved?
"Throw them in!"
Ancestor Fu Ling, as if seeing through their thoughts, commanded sternly.
"Alas, what the heck!"
Fu Ruhai sighed as he threw his in.
Liu Sandao threw his out calmly.
Even if the Fortune Manuals were devoured, it would be returning to their origins, from where they came and to where they would go.
As the two dim Fortune Manuals touched the pool, there was a loud "boom".
This was followed by a "hissing" sound of countless worms gnawing, which was chilling to the bone.
Even if one took the Bone Cleansing Pill, feeling like being bitten by rats or ants would be an illusion; unlike the Fortune Manuals, these were truly being bitten by worms.
Ancestor Fu Ling stroked his beard, calmly watching the surface of the water.
A moment later, the Fortune Manuals were completely gnawed, and the "hissing" sound ceased.
The entire surface of the water returned to a state of tranquility, without a ripple, and even the densely packed worms had disappeared.
Just as Liu Sandao was about to ask something, Ancestor Fu Ling flicked his hand, and a golden light, about twelve feet wide, spread across the entire surface of the water.
Within the golden light, many bubbles instantly rose.
"Gurgle, gurgle!"
More and more, faster and faster.
With a "snap," a huge worm appeared in mid-air.
"Quick! The two of you, each take one of its eyes!"
Ancestor Fu Ling shouted instructions.
Upon hearing the Ancestor's command, Liu Sandao paused slightly; Fu Ruhai, however, was not polite and immediately cast a spell to take one of the worm's eyes.
"Hurry, if you don't move, it will be too late!"
Ancestor Fu Ling urged.
Liu Sandao quickly followed suit.
In that instant, a sense of pity arose in his heart; he felt an unexpected sympathy for the worm's plight.
It had just been born, yet its eyes were to be taken.
"Fortunately, fortunately, you took them in time; otherwise, you would have missed the best treatment window."
Ancestor Fu Ling said with relief.
"This..."
Liu Sandao had something to say, but didn't know where to begin.
"Hehehe, you want to say that heaven has compassion for life, so why should I ask you to deal with a worm?"
Hearing Ancestor Fu Ling say this, Liu Sandao nodded slightly.
Fu Ruhai, however, didn't think much of it, staring at Ancestor Fu Ling and Liu Sandao.
"Don't worry, it will be fine. This worm is called a Guru Worm. Every three thousand six hundred years, it changes its eyes, much like... in the mortal realm..."
"Glasses?"
Fu Ruhai said, gesturing to his eyes with his hand.
"Oh, yes, yes, yes, like glasses! You see, people like me who live in deep mountains and old forests are no match for you who have seen the world! Hehehe!"
Ancestor Fu Ling agreed.
"So that's how it is. What should we do with these eyes now?"
Liu Sandao, seeing Ancestor Fu Ling speak like this, relaxed his earlier feeling of pity.
"Eat them! With the pool water!"
Ancestor Fu Ling extended a finger and pointed to the pool water in front of them.
"Alas, finally there's food. I never expected that the meal at the Ancestor's place would be an eye. If this got out, people would laugh their heads off!"
Fu Ruhai joked, while diligently cupping the pool water.
Liu Sandao, seeing the Ancestor say so, no longer argued.
He took a sip of water and bit hard into the eye.
"Whoosh," it went into his mouth.
It had no taste, feeling like drinking water and eating air.
"This is the Worry-Dispelling Powder. It will be secreted from your fingertips every half a month. As long as you collect it, you can deal with the current plague."
"Ah? What about our Fortune Manuals? Can't they be used anymore? Old man, you can't be so unreasonable, trading our Fortune Manuals for something so useless!"
Although Fu Ruhai was concerned about the plague, he cared even more about the Fortune Manuals and couldn't help but grumble.
He didn't care if you were an Ancestor or not; if the deal was bad, he'd complain.
"Hehehe!"
Ancestor Fu Ling chuckled without answering.
A moment later, he said,
"Hurry down to the mortal realm! If you're any later, it might be too late. Oh, and remember, that powder is about 'credit,' you'll understand slowly!"