Chapter 141 - The Insect Scripture
Chapter 141 - The Insect Scripture
"Head of the family..."
"Elder Zhang..."
As familiar faces appeared under the spiritual light, the shadow-shrouded cultivator's face turned ashen, his heart sinking.
Head of the Zhang family, Zhang Yutang, two elders from the Discipline Hall, and the leading female cultivator from the Celestial Sword Sect—the lowest cultivation base among these four was at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement. Dealing with a cultivator at the intermediate stage of Qi Refinement like him would be as easy as squishing an ant.
"Chengwen, I never thought it would be you who brought about this insect infestation in our family! Do you know what you've done?" Zhang Yutang recognized the true face hidden in the shadows, his voice filled with disappointment and anger.
"Head of the family, I had no choice," the shadowed cultivator named Chengwen replied.
"An elder from the Wan family found me and asked me to place some insect eggs in our family's spiritual plantation. He said that once they matured, I would be rewarded with ample spiritual stones and artifacts."
"He also said that it would only slightly affect the spiritual plants and reduce the yield of the Water-Dew Spirit Peaches. I was foolish and agreed to his request."
"So, you chose to sacrifice the family's interests to satisfy your selfish desires?" Zhang Yutang's face turned cold, his voice indifferent.
"What do you mean sacrifice the family's interests? Isn't it for the benefit of the Celestial Sword Sect?" Chengwen argued.
"Generation after generation, our Zhang family cultivators have spent a significant amount of our cultivation time and energy just to help them grow a few spirit fruits. For what?"
"For what?" Zhang Yutang's voice rose. "If we don't grow these spirit fruits, where will we get the spiritual stones to sustain the family and support our cultivation? Where will the pills and elixirs come from?"
"It is because of the opportunity given by that senior from the Celestial Sword Sect that you were able to cultivate peacefully in our Zhang family, without having to fight to the death with others for scarce cultivation resources."
"It is because of this small gesture of goodwill that in the future, when a talented cultivator emerges from the Zhang family, they will more easily be accepted into the Celestial Sword Sect, ensuring the continuation of our bloodline for generations."
"You ask for what?!" Zhang Yutang roared, his face contorted with rage.
"Enough!" Zhang Yutang took a deep breath, his expression softening slightly. "You have already harmed the interests of that senior from the Celestial Sword Sect and our Zhang family. There's no point in saying more."
He turned to the two elders from the Discipline Hall. "Elders, deal with this disgrace of the Zhang family according to our rules. Show no mercy. Teach him a harsh lesson."
"Sister Yao, please forgive us for this family embarrassment," Zhang Yutang said to the graceful woman beside him. "Rest assured, the Zhang family will resolve this matter as soon as possible. We will ensure that the Water-Dew Spirit Peaches return to their normal yield and quality as soon as possible."
"Brother Zhang, don't worry. Elder He and I will continue to trust in your family," the woman, Yao Qing, assured him with a slight nod.
Relieved, Zhang Yutang hurried to the Zhang family ancestral hall to address the insect infestation with swift and decisive action.
Two days later, Lu Xuan wandered aimlessly through the spiritual plantation.
His control over fire-attributed techniques was average, and he couldn't detect the Patterned Insects without affecting the Water-Dew Spirit Peaches.
Among the three of them, only the ordinary-looking young cultivator, Yan Ping, met this condition, so the heavy responsibility fell on his shoulders. As for Lu Xuan and Yao Qing, they patrolled the spiritual plantation to prevent any unforeseen incidents.
In the past two days, there had been numerous conflicts between the Zhang family and the Wan family, who resided on another island, due to the Patterned Insect incident. Many cultivators had lost their lives.
As Zhang Yutang insisted on handling the matter himself, Lu Xuan and the others did not interfere, focusing instead on resolving the insect infestation affecting the Water-Dew Spirit Peaches.
The spiritual plantation was full of damp, muddy terrain, making Lu Xuan's patrol slow and tedious.
Suddenly, his instincts kicked in, and he subconsciously used the Cloud Soaring Art, leaping to the other side.
A green tendril, like a slimy tentacle, pierced the spot where Lu Xuan had just been standing, emitting a putrid stench that made one want to retch.
"Now that's interesting," Lu Xuan remarked.
He found it intriguing how the toad's abilities resembled those of the mimicry insects.
"To have cultivated so many mimicry insects, they must be used to feed this peculiar toad."
Though his thoughts raced, his actions remained unaffected. With a flick of his wrist, several talismans resembling tiny swords appeared in his hand.
"Mimicry, is it? It won't matter what form you take if my attack range is wide enough!"
Five second-grade Sword Qi Profound Talismans were quietly activated, each flying in a different direction.
Instantly, thousands upon thousands of sword qi rays, like schools of fish, surged forth in all directions from Lu Xuan's position.
Amid this all-encompassing barrage, the pale green toad, which had blended with its surroundings, was soon lacerated by over ten delicate sword qi strikes.
The toad's figure became visible as it let out an ear-piercing croak. Numerous tiny wounds appeared on its body, oozing emerald-green blood that soon covered its entire form.
Under the relentless onslaught of sword qi, the wounds multiplied, eventually tearing the pale green toad into countless fragments.
Lu Xuan leaped, his spiritual sense quickly locking onto a distant cultivator. He extended his index and middle fingers, and a golden sword qi shot out, targeting the cultivator.
The cultivator, influenced by the connection to the toad's dying heart, had his actions greatly affected.
Having his precious toad dispatched with such ease, he knew something was amiss. Gritting his teeth against the searing pain, he fled at full speed.
"Damn it! Who would've thought that this Celestial Sword Sect cultivator would have so many second-grade talismans!" he muttered through clenched teeth.
Initially, he had thought that with the cultivation of that rare toad and its mimicry ability coupled with its toxicity, he could contend with a high-level Qi Refinement cultivator. However, the Celestial Sword Sect cultivator had disregarded martial morals and instantly unleashed several second-grade talismans, effortlessly slaying the toad and its toxic insects.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, the golden sword qi reached him at a speed beyond his imagination.
Instead of colliding directly with the shield behind him, the sword qi curved halfway around and, to the cultivator's astonishment, pierced his chest.
"What level of sword qi is this? From such a distance, it can even make turns..."
As this thought formed in his mind, a hair-thin red needle pierced his brow, twisting viciously in his sea of consciousness and shredding it to pieces.
Lu Xuan landed beside the cultivator, finishing him off with another sword qi strike. He then released an Exorcising Evil Talisman to ensure no evil spirits emerged, before finally retracting the red line needle and taking the storage bag from the cultivator's waist.
Spirit stones, artifacts, pills...
"'The Insect Scripture'?"
A particular book caught Lu Xuan's attention.
Just as he was about to open it, Yao Qing and Yan Ping landed beside him.
"Brother Lu sure is quick. Sister Yao and I heard the commotion and were about to come help, but by the time we arrived, you had already taken care of the attacker," Yan Ping said.
Yao Qing's gaze swept the area, taking in the remains of the pale green toad and the lifeless corpse of the cultivator.
"I had no choice but to be prepared as a spirit herbalist," Lu Xuan replied.
"To deal with the attacker, I had to use several second-grade Sword Qi Profound Talismans. What a huge loss!"
"If I'd known Sister Yao and Brother Yan were coming, I wouldn't have rushed to finish him off," Lu Xuan said, a hint of reluctance on his face as he thought about the precious talismans he had used.
(End of Chapter)
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