Chapter 317: Retrieving the Treasure |
Chen Qing walked slowly into the back courtyard.
He saw Old Li hunched over, sitting beside the pill furnace, holding a worn palm-leaf fan in his hand, fanning the furnace fire intermittently.
The furnace flames flickered bright and dim, illuminating his aged face, which was deeply lined like ravines.
Chen Qing approached and cupped his hands respectfully, saying, "Master Li, the materials from the list you previously instructed this disciple to prepare have all been gathered."
As he spoke, he took out several jade boxes he had prepared.
Inside were precious medicinal herbs, all exchanged by Chen Qing using contribution points at Myriad Manifestations Hall.
Li Baichuan didn't even lift his eyelids, "Put them here."
Chen Qing complied and moved the jade boxes onto the bluestone, but his gaze involuntarily fell on Li Baichuan once more.
He had now reached the second True Origin refinement, and his divine sense, nurtured by the Spirit Nurturing Soul Stabilizing Pills and Soul Wood, was no longer a weak point.
However, the moment his divine sense touched Li Baichuan's body surface, it was like a clay ox entering the sea, instantly disappearing without a trace, not stirring the slightest ripple, let alone perceiving his cultivation level.
Chen Qing thought to himself with solemn reverence, "What level of cultivation does this old man possess? With my current divine sense, even when facing Elder Luo Ping at the late True Origin realm, I can vaguely sense the vast True Origin within his body. Yet with Master Li, it's like a stone sinking into the sea, yielding nothing!"
When divine sense couldn't probe another's cultivation, there were usually only two possibilities: first, the other's cultivation far exceeded one's own, and they could perfectly restrain their aura, blocking all detection.
Second, the other had cultivated some extremely sophisticated concealment technique that could distort or even devour divine sense perception.
Chen Qing looked at Li Baichuan's lazy appearance, as if he could fall asleep at any moment, and felt that this old man probably possessed both characteristics!
"That three-legged cat kung fu of yours, you don't need to show off in front of this old man."
Just then, Li Baichuan spoke indifferently, still not lifting his head, still leisurely fanning his palm-leaf fan.
Chen Qing's heart jolted. He knew his little actions hadn't fooled the other at all. He quickly restrained his thoughts, put on a smile, chuckled, and smoothly flattered him, "Master Li's methods are brilliant and unfathomable. This disciple's meager tricks are naturally just showing off before an expert. Admirable, admirable!"
Yet his thoughts raced inwardly, "This old man is truly unfathomable! Just now, though I didn't use my full strength in that divine sense probe, it's definitely not something an ordinary mid-stage True Origin realm cultivator could easily detect and dissolve. Yet he not only detected it but also dissolved it so effortlessly into nothingness... This cultivation level is probably not just late True Origin realm. Could it be... he's already at the realm above True Origin?"
This thought startled even Chen Qing himself.
Above the True Origin realm was the Grandmaster realm!
Such figures were important personages throughout all of Yan Kingdom!
The several lineage masters of Tianbao Upper Sect and the old monsters of Hidden Peak were probably at this level.
However, thinking it over carefully, it didn't seem impossible.
After all, Li Baichuan could casually produce the True Martial Seal, a supreme martial art from Tianbao Upper Sect's True Martial lineage that had already been lost. His origins and strength should naturally be extraordinary.
It was just that previously his cultivation was too low and he couldn't feel it deeply. Now, as his own strength increased, he could increasingly appreciate how terrifying Master Li was.
In that case, it was more than reasonable that he possessed several powerful secret techniques!
Thinking of this, Chen Qing's heart burned with enthusiasm.
As his cultivation increased, he increasingly understood how formidable secret techniques were.
Due to differences in cultivation foundation, True Origin attributes, and personal comprehension, the techniques derived also varied, and there were even principles of mutual generation and restraint.
For example, the Mountain River Grand Seal he cultivated borrowed Wu Earth Essence Qi, and when executed, it carried the heavy and suppressive power of the earth element attribute.
The more secret techniques one learned, the more trump cards one had when facing enemies, and one's methods became increasingly varied and unpredictable.
After pondering for a while, Chen Qing carefully chose his words and asked, "Master Li, this disciple's cultivation has gradually grown, and I deeply feel that my methods for facing enemies are somewhat limited, especially in movement and escape techniques, where I'm quite lacking. I wonder... does Master Li have any secret techniques suitable for this disciple to cultivate? Especially those related to escape techniques and movement arts."
Li Baichuan finally stopped fanning his palm-leaf fan, and those turbid eyes glanced at Chen Qing.
"If we're talking about other secret techniques, this old man really doesn't have many that would catch your eye, boy."
He spoke slowly, "But as for secret techniques related to movement and escape arts... this old man happens to know three."
"Three!?"
Chen Qing's heart stirred intensely.
Secret techniques for movement and escape arts were extremely precious in any sect, often classified as secret transmissions.
Even in a colossal entity like Tianbao Upper Sect, there were only two or three such top-tier techniques publicly recorded, with "Ground-Shrinking Step" being something only the Sect Master could lightly transmit.
Old Li alone knew three?
This was truly hard to believe!
This thought made Chen Qing increasingly suspicious and more curious about Li Baichuan's true identity.
"Master Li, may I ask what these three secret techniques are called? What mysterious qualities do they possess?" Chen Qing suppressed his excitement and pressed further.
However, Li Baichuan didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked at Chen Qing with a half-smile, saying, "What? Want to learn?"
Chen Qing knew this was a rare opportunity and showed a solemn expression, "Whatever instructions Master Li has, please speak freely! If this disciple can accomplish it, I will absolutely not refuse!"
He understood Li Baichuan's temperament too well. This old man never did business at a loss. To obtain benefits from him, one had to pay a corresponding price.
But as long as he was willing to put in effort and handle matters reliably, Li Baichuan would never be stingy with rewards.
The True Martial Seal and Mixed Origin Five Elements from before were all like this.
Li Baichuan seemed satisfied with Chen Qing's attitude, "In the core area of Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh, Nine Curve Grass grows. Go fetch a stalk for this old man."
"The core of Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh?" Upon hearing this, Chen Qing's brows furrowed slightly.
He was naturally familiar with Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh. He had been to the outer areas when he was still at the vigorous energy stage.
That place was filled with toxic miasma and swamps, concealing countless poisonous insects and strange beasts, with an extremely harsh and dangerous environment.
Back then, his strength was insufficient and he didn't dare venture deep.
Although he was now at the True Origin realm, the core area of Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh was said to be dangerous enough that even mid to late True Origin realm experts could perish there. The danger level was incomparable to the outer areas.
Seeing that trace of hesitation on Chen Qing's face, Li Baichuan unhurriedly took out a leather map from his bosom and casually handed it over.
"This is a detailed map of Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh that this old man drew in his early years. It marks relatively safe routes, the distribution of some powerful toxic creatures' lairs, and several areas where that Nine Curve Grass might grow. With this, there shouldn't be much problem."
Chen Qing received the map and opened it for a look. His eyes immediately brightened.
This map was drawn extremely meticulously, with mountains and terrain, swamp distribution, toxic miasma concentration zones, and even markings of some rare poisonous herbs, all complete.
With this map, venturing deep into Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh would indeed allow him to avoid many unknown risks and be much safer and more convenient.
He carefully examined the several areas marked on the map, all located in the deepest parts of the marsh.
After contemplating for a moment, Chen Qing looked up at Li Baichuan and tentatively asked, "Master Li, look... this journey to Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh is fraught with unknown dangers. To increase the chances of successfully retrieving the Nine Curve Grass, could you first transmit one of those... well, just one, movement or escape technique secret art to this disciple? Then this disciple would have one more means of preserving his life."
"Why the rush?"
Li Baichuan said indifferently, "First bring back the item. When has this old man ever deceived you? What I've promised you, I naturally won't shortchange you."
Chen Qing could only let it go.
He knew that since Li Baichuan had spoken, the matter was basically settled. It was just that this old man wouldn't release the hawk until he saw the rabbit.
"Good! Since Master Li trusts this disciple, then this disciple will set off now for Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh and will definitely retrieve that Nine Curve Grass for Master Li!"
Li Baichuan waved his hand, picked up the palm-leaf fan again, and began slowly fanning the pill furnace.
Chen Qing rode the Golden Feather Eagle, soaring into the sky from Five Terraces Sect, transforming into a golden streak of light, rushing straight toward the direction of Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh.
Fierce wind struck his face as the mountains and rivers below rapidly retreated.
Before long, that vast swamp shrouded in gray-green toxic miasma came into view.
Hundred Boats Shoal at the edge still had boats lined up densely with shadowy figures. The conspicuous dock flags of "Myriad Treasures Tower" were vaguely visible.
Previously, Chen Qing didn't know the background of this Myriad Treasures Tower. Now he knew it was a property of the Huo family.
He didn't linger here. The Golden Feather Eagle's wings beat once, sweeping past the shoal, following the relatively safe route marked on the map, advancing toward the depths of the swamp.
The deeper he went, the more desolate and deathly silent the scenery below became.
Dark green forests twisted bizarrely, and turbid mud pits bubbled with toxic gases.
The outer areas still occasionally showed some blade-for-hire or treasure-hunting teams, but approaching the core area's edge, human traces had nearly vanished completely. Only the hisses of poisonous insects and strange beasts occasionally broke the silence of this land.
"This place should do."
Chen Qing patted the Golden Feather Eagle's neck, signaling it to lower its altitude.
According to the map Li Baichuan had given, further ahead was the core area where even True Origin realm experts needed to be extremely cautious.
The Golden Feather Eagle cried out clearly and obediently landed on a relatively solid high ground.
Chen Qing leaped from the eagle's back, instructing it to keep watch in the air.
He took a deep breath. True Origin within his body quietly circulated, forming an invisible protective barrier around his body surface, isolating the increasingly concentrated toxic miasma around him.
His gaze swept over this crisis-laden area before him, and Chen Qing suddenly recalled the weak golden light he had glimpsed at the edge of that toxic pool when he came searching for Red-Eyed Venomous Python essence blood last time.
At that time, due to Jiang Bohong's ambush and the urgent situation, he had no time to investigate and hurriedly left.
Now that he had returned to this place and had the map to guide him relatively safely, he could investigate and see what exactly that object was.
Determining the direction, Chen Qing executed his movement technique. His figure became like a wisp of blue smoke, silently weaving between strange trees, poisonous vines, and mud pits.
His memory was excellent, and with his currently powerful divine sense, he never forgot any path he had traveled. He quickly followed last time's route and arrived again near that toxic pool.
The pool water was still viscous like dark green paste, constantly churning with turbid bubbles, emitting a strong corrosive stench.
On the black muddy shore beside the pool, numerous remains and white bones of strange beasts and humans were still scattered about, a gruesome sight.
Chen Qing hovered several zhang above the toxic pool, carefully spreading his divine sense like a spider web, meticulously probing this area, especially the general location where the golden light had flashed last time.
He didn't rashly approach the toxic pool. Who knew whether even more terrifying creatures than the Red Blood Ghost Face Spider lurked beneath that dark green pool water?
Time passed bit by bit. Apart from detecting a few faint poisonous insect auras, there were no special discoveries.
That golden light seemed like just a fleeting illusion.
Chen Qing wasn't discouraged and patiently expanded his search range, not letting go of any trace of abnormal fluctuation.
Finally, when he was about to probe that area for the third time, the edge of his divine sense suddenly captured an extremely subtle yet exceptionally pure and masculine sharp metal energy!
This aura was completely out of place with the gloomy and toxic environment around it!
His spirits lifted. He immediately restrained his aura and quietly crept toward the direction from which that sensation came.
That location wasn't in the toxic pool but rather in a pile of chaotic rocks behind and to the side of the pool, pressed against a rock wall.
The rock pile was covered by thick dark green moss and decaying vines. If not for that distinctive aura fluctuation, it would be easily overlooked.
Chen Qing cautiously approached and pushed aside layer after layer of obstacles.
Immediately, a dazzling golden radiance entered his vision!
In the depths of the rock crevice, a peculiar plant stubbornly grew.
It stood about three feet tall, its entire body seemingly forged from pure gold, with a total of seven segments. Each segment bore several slender, sword-like golden bamboo leaves, whose edges faintly crackled with minute electrical arcs, radiating an aura of extreme yang and extreme righteousness!
"Golden Thunder Bamboo!?"
Seeing that spiritual plant, Chen Qing thought to himself.
He had seen descriptions of this object in sect records. This was an extremely rare heavenly treasure and earthly treasure, containing pure yang thunder power. It was excellent primary material for refining thunder attribute and evil-breaking attribute spirit treasures, especially suitable for incorporating into his True Martial Demon-Quelling Spear. It would surely greatly enhance its demon-slaying and evil-purging might!
Judging by this Golden Thunder Bamboo's segments and spiritual radiance, its age was at least thirty years or more. Its value was immeasurable!
Moreover, this object was a heaven and earth spiritual root. If it could be excavated intact and cultivated with secret methods, there was even the possibility of continued growth!
However, Chen Qing didn't immediately harvest it.
When something seems unusual, there must be something sinister about it.
This place was the edge of the core area of Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh, supremely yin and toxic. How could Golden Thunder Bamboo, such a pure yang treasure, spontaneously grow here?
His sharp gaze swept toward the surroundings and indeed discovered that around the chaotic rocks where Golden Thunder Bamboo grew, quite a few skeletal remains of various shapes were scattered.
There were large strange beasts and several human skeletons. Most of the bones showed an abnormal dark green or pitch-black color, clearly all having died from severe poisoning.
Chen Qing restrained his own aura to the extreme, concealing himself like a boulder behind a large rock, patiently waiting.
About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense passed. Apart from the flowing toxic miasma and occasional insect chirps, there was deathly silence all around.
"Rustle... rustle..."
An extremely faint sound of scraping against the ground came from beneath the Golden Thunder Bamboo!
The sound grew closer and clearer!
Chen Qing's pupils contracted slightly as he secretly gathered his True Origin throughout his body.
The next moment, the ground beside the Golden Thunder Bamboo suddenly bulged and split open!
An incomparably fierce head suddenly burst out from the mud!
It was a centipede!
A giant centipede over five zhang long, its entire body covered with dark gold carapace that gleamed with metallic luster!
Countless pairs of scythe-like legs densely lined both sides of its body, easily cutting through hard gravel as they moved.
Most terrifying was its head. A pair of thick pincer-like venomous mandibles opened and closed, revealing the deep blue venom glands within. Its compound eyes glinted with cruel, cold light.
"Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede!?"
Chen Qing carefully examined it for a few moments and recognized the origin of this fierce creature.
It ranked eighth on the poisonous insect list. Its toxicity was extremely fierce. It was said that even late True Origin realm cultivators, if stung by its venomous mandibles or splashed by its venom, would have their True Origin collapse, their flesh dissolve, and die within three hours if they didn't have specialized antidotes or extremely high cultivation to forcibly expel the poison!
Its carapace was harder than iron, it moved like the wind, and was extremely difficult to deal with.
It seemed this Golden Thunder Bamboo wasn't naturally born here but rather something this Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede had obtained from somewhere unknown and placed near its nest. It used the bamboo's pure yang aura as bait to lure people here, then launch a surprise attack!
The surrounding corpses were the best proof!
"What a cunning beast!"
Chen Qing snorted coldly. Now that he had figured out the truth, he no longer hesitated.
"Hiss—!"
The Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede let out a sharp, piercing shriek. Its massive body suddenly burst completely from the mud, its speed swift as lightning. Countless legs churned, bringing a foul wind as it directly lunged at Chen Qing!
At the same time, its mouthparts opened, and a concentrated arrow-like stream of deep blue venom shot toward Chen Qing's face like an arrow released from a bow!
The venom hadn't arrived yet, but a sickly sweet scent already assaulted his face!
Chen Qing didn't dare be negligent, deeply aware of how formidable this poison was.
His Wave Treading Step technique executed to the extreme. His figure flickered, leaving behind an afterimage in place while his true body had already appeared several zhang away.
"Sizzle!"
The venom shot into empty air and landed on a black boulder behind. That boulder instantly corroded with a deep pit, the pit's edges hissing and emitting thick black smoke!
At the same time, the Black Dragon Spear entered Chen Qing's hand. The azure-gold spear shaft hummed and trembled.
Within his body, the Supreme Void True Scripture circulated. Majestic and pure True Origin surged forth, and the spear tip instantly condensed a brilliant cold star!
The Black Dragon Spear transformed into a streak of light nearly impossible for the naked eye to capture, its speed reaching the extreme. As if disregarding spatial distance, it struck later but arrived first, stabbing directly at the weak joint between the Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede's compound eyes!
"Clang!"
A crisp sound of metal striking metal rang out! Sparks flew everywhere!
The Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede's reaction was also extremely fast. At the critical moment, it sharply tilted its head, using its hard carapace to directly receive Chen Qing's strike.
Chen Qing had already comprehended two spear intents, and the Black Dragon Spear was also a spirit treasure. Even with its hard carapace, a shallow pit was still gouged out, and dark golden fluid slightly seeped out.
Pained, the Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede's ferocity erupted. Its body suddenly coiled, and its thick, long tail whip swept toward Chen Qing with howling force like a steel whip!
Simultaneously, the legs on both sides of its body danced madly, like countless sharp scythes cutting through the air, forming a web of death!
Chen Qing's figure moved like willow catkins floating, avoiding the tail whip's sweep at the critical moment. The Coiling Cloud Spear in his hand danced like a wheel, executing the True Martial Demon-Quelling Spear technique. Spear shadows layered like mountains and peaks, blocking all incoming leg attacks, producing dense "clang clang" sounds like rain.
For a time, one man and one insect fought fiercely at this toxic pool's edge. True Origin surged, venom splattered, and fierce winds shot out, destroying all surrounding strange rocks and poisonous plants.
After entangling for about half a tea-drinking's time, Chen Qing spotted an opening. The instant the Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede opened its mouth to spew venom again, his figure suddenly ducked low, avoiding the venom. At the same time, he thrust with his spear!
The Black Dragon Spear, carrying an unstoppable momentum that purified demons and devils, stabbed with perfect precision into the depths of the Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede's gaping maw as it spewed venom!
"Pfft—!"
The spear tip pierced through from the back of its head!
The Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede's massive body suddenly froze. All its movements instantly stopped, and the fierce light in its compound eyes rapidly dimmed.
It convulsed violently several times, then finally crashed to the ground with a boom, splashing up large amounts of mud, completely lifeless.
Chen Qing slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and flicked his wrist, withdrawing the Black Dragon Spear.
The spear's radiance was restrained, not stained by the slightest filth.
He walked to the Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede's corpse and first cautiously inspected it, confirming its complete death before beginning to process it.
He first used a specially made small knife to carefully cut open a special gland connecting its head and back, extracting a deep blue venom sac about the size of a fist.
This was the essence of the Hundred-Legged Golden Centipede's toxicity. Its poison was so fierce that it could threaten the lives of late True Origin realm experts. If used properly, whether coating weapons or refining poison pills, it would undoubtedly be a powerful trump card.
Next, he removed its pair of hardest venomous mandibles and some relatively intact carapace materials. These were all valuable materials.
Finally, Chen Qing turned his gaze to that Golden Thunder Bamboo stalk.
He stepped forward but didn't directly touch it with his hands. Instead, he circulated his True Origin and carefully dug out the Golden Thunder Bamboo along with a large chunk of mud containing its roots, then placed it inside the Cosmic Myriad Manifestations Diagram.
Comments 1