Yundan peak's Jindan immortal, Deng Qianli, stood by the side of the collapsed Qin Mo. The expression on his face was somewhat complicated as he turned to face the nervous group. He spoke: "For this variation of poison, it's already too late to treat it with Qingfeng powder.”
Hearing the remark Jin Linfeng's face suddenly changed, and he restlessly paced back and forth in the same place, muttering: “What should I do?”
Deng Qianli stood still. Seeing Jin Linfeng's anxious appearance, he did not speak. After what seemed to be a long time, he'd seen enough, and slowly began to speak: “Qingfeng powder is only a lower Huang-grade medicinal herb. However, as long as another herb is added to it, it can be refined into a higher Huang-grade medicinal herb - Yufeng powder. And Yufeng Powder is exactly the cure for this poison.”
Upon hearing these words, Jin Linfeng's heart was overjoyed. Medicinal herbs were divided into four levels: Tian, Di, Xuan, Huang. According to the grade of the medicinal herbs that the alchemists could refine, the alchemists were also divided into the same four levels. The people of Yundan peak were good at alchemy, especially the Jindan immortal Deng Qianli. He was already a Xuan level alchemist. So refining a higher Huang-grade herb would not be a difficult task.
Seeing Jin Linfeng's smiling face once more, the corner of Deng Qianli's mouth hooked slightly revealing a sneer: "However, the required herb is Millennium Jade Root gra.s.s; which is extremely rare."
“What? Does Yundan Peak not have any Millennium Jade Root?” Jin Linfeng's heart tightened again.
“On the contrary it does, but there isn't much. It'll require a lot of spirit stones and Sect contribution points in exchange. Are you still determined to make use of it?” Deng Qianli's eyes gleamed. From the perspective of Jin Linfeng, he appeared extremely crafty.
“Of course, I wish to make use of it! As for the spirit stones and contribution points…” Jin Linfeng paused looking at the bedridden Qin Mo and said: "Wait till after Xiao Mo wakes up. Let him return!" That said, his heart secretly slandered; Deng Qianli, this old fox really was a vampire. Whoever he caught, would be sucked dry until they'd given all their spirit stones up.
Qin Mo, who was currently unconscious, wasn't aware that his body already carried such huge debts. Although he was still lying in bed, his soul seemed to be trapped in a confined s.p.a.ce. At the moment, he incessantly recalled his former self's past twenty years of life as well as the real s.h.i.+xiong Qin Mo's briefer fifteen years.
s.h.i.+xiong Qin Mo was an orphan. When he was still in his infancy, Yueqing Sect's head, Jin Linfeng, brought him back to the Sect. He had a variation of Thunder spirit root, and his natural talent was also seldom seen under the entirety of the blue sky. Therefore, he was received directly by Jin Linfeng as a close disciple.
s.h.i.+xiong was a cold-blooded person and was not very familiar with the other disciples. In his short fifteen years of life in addition to his own cultivation, he only took on a s.h.i.+mei Jin Ling-er.
Seeing this, Qin Mo couldn't help but sigh a little. He finally understood why, after the s.h.i.+xiong was first defeated and Jin Ling-er was s.n.a.t.c.hed by Lin Zizheng, he at once fell onto the demonic path. When the only two things of meaning in one's life are lost, even a saint would go mad!
Qin Mo raised his right hand and some purple lightning appeared between his fingertips. It flashed, unexpectedly leaving him a little bit disoriented. As he had all the memories of s.h.i.+xiong, naturally he'd learned how to operate his spirit power.
Looking at the pure white world around him, Qin Mo knit his brows slightly. Where was this place, how could he get out?
A wave of coolness suddenly reached his mouth and slowly spread through his body. Qin Mo felt only comfort and refreshment along the length of his whole being. The originally pained body became invigorated again.
Suddenly, within Qin Mo's heart arose a strange feeling. Unlike the lightness in his body, there, there was no strength. At that moment, his body seemed to once again be under his control.
Qin Mo abruptly opened his eyes and was met with the blinding white light of the world outside. He blinked with slight discomfort. Only then could he see the situation before him; a magnified face directly opposite him, almost sticking to his own face. In a state of shock, Qin Mo reflexively pulled back his right hand.
“Ah, Xiao Mo, you finally woke up!” The magnified face exposed a pleasantly surprised smile and then retreated back. Qin Mo could only now see the figure was his s.h.i.+fu, Jin Linfeng.
“Wake up! Lest someone not believe in my medicine!” Seeing Qin Mo had woken, on the side, Deng Qianli's face also showed a smile. After all, for Qin Mo, this child he'd watched grow up, his feelings were different than if it were someone else.
“However, three thousand lower-grade spirit stones and three thousand contribution points in their entirety and no less. I even used two of my Jade Root plants.” In the end, Deng Qianli had quite a sharp bite. Obviously, he cared deeply for those medicinal herbs.
Upon hearing this, Qin Mo stiffly moved to get up and immediately turned around in confusion. Spirit stones were the universal currency of the cultivation realm. It was divided by quality into lower-grade, middle-grade, upper-grade and top-grade spirit stones. The Yueqing Sect would issue some spirit stones monthly, but not many. At the same time, the disciples of Yueqing Sect could undertake tasks from Sect elders to earn spirit stones. Contribution points refer to Sect contribution points and they also could only be obtained by completing tasks from the Sect elders.
Though s.h.i.+xiong Qin Mo was an orphan, he didn't want to take resources from disciples of the wider clan. He didn't usually go out to do tasks and therefore had no spirit stone income. Similarly, his contribution points were at a minimum. The amount Deng Qianli had now asked for was a huge sum as far as he was concerned.
Qin Mo sighed in his heart. It seemed that this time it was necessary to do more cultivation tasks to pay off this debt.
Thinking of it, Qin Mo stood up straight and looked at the two people in front of him, his face unchanged, and gently spoke an “en”.
When they heard Qin Mo's answer they froze staring blankly, it wasn't just Jin Linfeng, but even Deng Qianli, who had just asked for the spirit stones. They didn't think that Qin Mo would agree so simply. After all, the jade root gra.s.s was precious, but it also couldn't be worth so many spirit stones. Did Qin Mo not know the value of the Jade Root gra.s.s?
Deng Qianli was the first to react. He looked at Qin Mo's slightly pursed thin lips, his face serious. His cheeks suddenly burned red, and his heart was a little embarra.s.sed. His figure moved at once disappearing, leaving behind only a sentence echoing faintly in the air: “Fine, you will deliver the spirit stones to Dengtong of Yundan peak!”
Jin Linfeng on the side also reacted immediately and smashed the place where Deng Qianli had stood, cursing: “Old fox!” Right away he looked at Qin Mo somewhat hating iron for not becoming steel1 and said: “How could you agree?!”
Qin Mo looked at Jin Linfeng before him, and suddenly s.h.i.+xiong's past flashed before his eyes. This was the man who'd brought him up with his own hands. As he thought of this, Qin Mo's heart was strangely warmed, and the corner of his mouth slightly raised. He spoke: “It doesn't matter! I can take on a task, on the way I'll help you look for Ganlin gra.s.s.” Ganlin gra.s.s was the main ingredient in refining Nascent Soul powder, which was used as an a.s.sisting medicine by cultivators in the Jindan phase to advance to the Nascent Soul phase. Jin Linfeng was now completing the Jindan phase, and the time when it was needed had arrived.
Qin Mo's face displayed the hint of a smile, like cold ice starting to melt, there was an instant unexpected impression of spring blossoms blooming.
Seeing him like this, Jin Linfeng's eyes suddenly widened. Immediately he reached out to cover them. He muttered under his breath: “Don't smile.” Qin Mo very rarely smiled from an early age. To now give such a smile, he really was… a scoundrel ah!
The smile at the corner of Qin Mo's mouth froze in place. He didn't quite understand what Jin Linfeng meant; could it be that he had an unsightly smile? Frowning slightly, he looked at Jin Linfeng, who was still covering his eyes. Qin Mo restored his usual expressionless manner. Taking care that there wasn't the slightest wrinkle on his clothes, he turned and left. He still wanted to go receive a task.
Sensing that Qin Mo had left, Jin Linfeng put his hand down, that treasure of an expression had also disappeared from his face unseen. He reached out and touched his beard. Watching the back of Qin Mo's white robe as he quickly walked off, he muttered: “Yue Zhongling, that brat, is talking nonsense, how could Xiao Mo be beaten? He even knows so intimate a matter as my requiring Ganlin gra.s.s!” Shaking his head, he also disappeared.
The author has something to say:
On the setting of the novel:
Cultivation levels:
Qi Refining Foundation Building Spirit Solitude Core formation (left untranslated as Jindan) Nascent Soul Emerging Aperture Divine Separation Sealed Aspect Calamity Extent Mahayana (essentially Immortal Ascension)
Ah, this one was a close call, I really want to keep up the streak of updating every 3-4 days but this one was kinda tough. Enjoy!
With Halloween around the corner, I'm looking for good horror movies to watch. My favourite time of year, I really love the sp.o.o.piness and atmosphere, also bullying Cherry with scaaary movies is way too much fun. Btw I was really caught off guard by the number of people from the Balkans reading this especially as we're from the Western Balkans. Did not expect. Very pleasant surprise.
-Bean
1to hate iron for not becoming steel (恨铁不成钢): idiom meaning to feel resentful towards someone for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see improvement.