Chapter 51

Blood Qi surged once again, and the Nascent Soul Cultivator who was grasped by the head suddenly had a vacant look in his eyes.

Thread-like streaks of Blood Qi invaded his brain, as the straw-cloaked man slightly narrowed his eyes, intently sensing something.

A moment later, the Blood Qi dissipated, and the straw-cloaked man withdrew his hand, leaving the Nascent Soul Cultivator’s expression turning foolish.

“Not bad, there’s indeed a lot of interesting information there. It seems that the fruit and the fragments were indeed taken by that kid, but unfortunately, I still haven’t found what I most want to know.”

“Now, the next one!”

“Mercy, my lord, mercy, I can tell you anything, I just ask that you spare my life!”

The remaining two Nascent Soul Cultivators shook like sieves; they had recognized the kind of evil technique being used.

This was the soul-searching technique, a forbidden art in the Cultivation World. The reason was simple: once used, it could seize the memories of its target, but the victim’s spirit consciousness would be eradicated in an instant, leaving behind a witless husk.

They pleaded continuously, and even their trouser legs dampened, both of them were so scared they had wet themselves.

“Heh, interesting. So, do you recognize a young man named Zhang Rui?”

“I know, my lord, I know!”

One of them eagerly raised his hand, his face filled with excitement.

“Good, then you’re up!”

The straw-cloaked man appeared in front of him in an instant, pressing his palm fiercely against the Nascent Soul Cultivator’s crown. Soon, his expression also began to turn foolish.

“Not bad at all, Zhang Rui, turns out to be just a disciple of a minor sect in the Northern Region. In that case, the other six disciples also live in this backwater.”

“Tianwu Sect, is it? Seems there’s some connection with Zhenyuan Country, maybe even with Central Province. For now, let’s give them a bit of face.”

“You lot, immediately locate Tianwu Sect and find that young man named Zhang Rui. Find an opportunity to bring him out; I must retrieve what rightfully belongs to me!”

“Understood!”

Several figures robed in black responded in unison, leaping into the air, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Only the last Nascent Soul Cultivator was left.

“Mercy, my lord, I beg you, I’m an Elder of the Holy Demon Sect, responsible for overseeing all matters of the Inner Sect. I am willing to do any task you ask of me!”

This Nascent Soul Cultivator wept bitterly.

“Oh? What’s your name?”

“Replying to my lord, I am Yuan Fang.”

“I’ve lost something in the Northern Region; it seems to have been taken by someone from Tianwu Sect. Yuan Fang, what do you think?”

“I will undoubtedly exhaust all efforts to retrieve the treasure for my lord!”

“Very well, I only need you to do one thing…”

“…”

…

At the same time, thousands of miles away.

Within an unknown valley, Li Xiaobai lay on the ground, gasping for breath, at death’s door.

The system panel in front of him continued to flicker.

[Status: (Critical).]

[Attribute Points +100…]

[Attribute Points +100…]

[Ding! Host has acquired a skill: Blood Demon Primordial Spirit.]

[Ding! Host’s continuous suffering from the Blood Demon Primordial Spirit’s corrosion has upgraded the skill: Blood Demon Transcendental Venerable!]

Blood Demon Transcendental Venerable: Can summon the Primordial Spirit for an attack. The Blood Demon Primordial Spirit possesses a strong corrosive nature and can draw the enemy’s strength into one’s body through its tendrils.

Note: Smoking is harmful to your health.

This wave of skill acquisitions brought a surge of incredibly powerful skills, not only adding a massive number of Attribute Points but also capturing the straw-cloaked man’s Primordial Spirit.

However, Li Xiaobai was far from feeling any joy at the moment as the life force within him continued to drain away.

The ancient Heaven-Piercing Talisman had nearly used up all his high-quality Spirit Stones, and he was now unable to afford the Divine Medicines like Nine-turn Golden Pills or Immortality Extension Pills from the store.

[Attribute Points: 40000.]

Allocate all to defense.

[Host: Li Xiaobai.]

…

[Attribute Points: 0]

[Defensive Power: Indestructible Golden Body – Fifth Stage. (0/50000) Eligible for advancement.]

[Skills: Nine Revolutions Undying Sword Intent – Fourth Stage, Muscle Flaccidity…]

[Store: Now available.]

[Status: Blood Demon Corrosion. (Severe).]

By allocating all the attribute points to defense, the status category finally changed from critical to severe.

The sensation of life force ebbing away within me felt less intense.

The exposed bones on my skin’s surface were slowly covered by a faint layer of blood film, as the Indestructible Golden Body activated, and muscle tissue began to slowly regenerate on its own.

Moving my body slightly, a piercing pain shot through me, and the wounds on my body tore open again.

Li Xiaobai became compliant, lying quietly on the ground, silently waiting for his body to recover.

“Damn it, this time it was a mess, but good thing I was clever, leaving behind Zhang Rui’s name.”

“Even if that straw-cloaked man wants to cause trouble for me, he’ll first seek out Tianwu Sect’s Zhang Rui, which is bad luck for him. Hopefully, the two of them get into a fight, so they won’t have time for me.”

“I still overestimated myself. In the end, even after using an ancient sky-reaching talisman, I was grazed by the straw-cloaked man’s Blood Demon Primordial Spirit, otherwise, I wouldn’t be in such a miserable state now.”

“Ergouzi, find a couple of people to act as bait, lure demonic beasts, and help me recover…”

As my consciousness slowly blurred, Li Xiaobai cooperated by closing his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

He knew that this was his body needing to mobilize energy to heal his injuries.

When he awoke next, he should be restored to his original state, hoping that Ergouzi would understand his meaning.

“Woof woof woof!”

There was a stir in his chest, and a furry little white dog burrowed out, frantically sniffing around Li Xiaobai, its eyes flashing with a hint of confusion.

In the end, it seemed to remember something and dashed away quickly.

…

Several miles away, on the official road, a horse-drawn carriage was traveling slowly.

“Miss, how was the harvest this trip?” The old coachman chuckled.

“Thanks for asking, Uncle Wang. Yan Yu found a stalk of True Yang Grass, which should allow me to break through to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation Stage!” said a female voice from inside the carriage, smiling gently.

“Ah, I really envy you youngsters who can cultivate. If Uncle Wang had started cultivating ten years earlier, who knows, I might have become a master too!”

Uncle Wang sighed; he was truly old now and couldn’t cultivate anymore.

Driving these young cultivators around was now his greatest joy. The young woman in the carriage, Situ Yanyu, was his favorite among them.

Beautiful in appearance and well-mannered, she was polite and completely different from many of the arrogant young cultivators.

“Woof woof woof!”

From the brush beside the official road, a small white dog suddenly sprang out and barked incessantly at the carriage.

“Where did this dog come from? Get to the side, don’t block the road!” Uncle Wang waved his whip to scare it away.

However, the little mongrel was unfazed, still barking wildly.

“Uncle Wang, what’s happening?”

“Miss, there’s a small dog blocking the way on the official road, I’ll go chase it away.”

“Please wait, Uncle Wang, let Yan Yu take a look first.”

From inside the carriage, the young woman dressed in plain white clothes emerged. The scrappy little dog, without a second thought, ran up to her and started tearing and biting at her clothes in a frenzy.

“This…This is a Spirit Beast!”