Chapter 351: The Beast of Appetite
Chapter 351: The Beast of Appetite
Soon, the trio arrived at a vast mountain range, its peaks undulating in a majestic display of nature's grandeur.
"Brother Zhong's cave abode is indeed enormous!" exclaimed Lu Xuan as he surveyed their surroundings, marveling at the expanse.
"Unlike spiritual plants, spiritual beasts require a vast range for their activities. Moreover, I'm also tasked with caring for some unique beasts entrusted to me by the sect, hence why I occupy this entire mountain range alone," explained the burly cultivator as he manipulated the formation to allow them entry.
They swiftly navigated through the mountains, amidst the lush spiritual trees, until they reached a narrow valley.
Within the valley lay an abyssal gorge, from which the occasional rumble of thunder emanated.
"We've arrived. Brother Lu, please wait a moment while I summon the Chi Yin beasts," said the burly cultivator, turning to the gorge and emitting a strange, low growl.
Soon, two spiritual beasts emerged from the water and landed before them.
"These are the fourth-grade Chi Yin beasts. They were not easily obtained, and I am eager to restore them to their normal state," said the cultivator. "I would greatly appreciate your assistance, Brother Lu."
"Rest assured, Brother Zhong. I will do my utmost to help resolve this issue," Lu Xuan replied.
Lu Xuan then turned his attention to the pair of Chi Yin beasts. They resembled tigers, their bodies pitch-black and surrounded by thick, dark water. A white horn protruded from their heads, and from within, the rumble of thunder could be heard, giving them an otherworldly appearance.
"Indeed, they are fourth-grade spiritual beasts," Lu Xuan remarked, his eyes narrowing in appreciation. He pointed to the closest one. "This one is the female, I presume?"
The female Chi Yin beast he indicated was covered in wounds, its fur in disarray. Large and small scars marred its body, and one of its front limbs appeared to be missing a small section. Despite its apparent injuries, it displayed extreme intimacy toward the male beast, emitting a plaintive, yearning roar as it sought to draw closer.
"Even in such a wounded state, she still wants to groom him?" Lu Xuan's eyebrows furrowed in surprise at the female beast's behavior.
"If this continues, she will eventually be devoured by the male, leaving her with nothing," he added, a hint of concern in his voice.
"Brother Zhong, have you taken these two beasts to any secret realms or ruins recently?" Lu Xuan inquired curiously.
"About half a year ago, I brought them to a ruin that seemed to have an unusual connection to the Esoteric Sect," recalled Zhong Hao.
"Perhaps it is related to that, but it's just my speculation. Please allow the beasts to display their abnormal behavior before you, Brother Lu. A brief observation should suffice," Lu Xuan said, his expression turning solemn.
The burly cultivator had no doubts, and he manipulated the beasts to draw closer to each other.
The female's voice became even more plaintive and alluring as it echoed through the valley, a melody of longing.
She snuggled close to the male, extending her pink tongue to gently lick his body, caressing every inch with tenderness.
The male beast, perhaps aware of the harm he could inflict on the female, displayed resistance from head to toe, striving to keep his distance. However, under Zhong Hao's control, he had no choice but to remain in place, enduring the female's affections.
Gradually, as the female's enticements continued, the male beast's cultivation responded, and he began to echo her actions.
Lu Xuan, ever perceptive, noticed a subtle change in the male's eyes as his desire intensified. Unbeknownst to the beasts, his irises had taken on a faint pink hue, and his gaze had become unfocused.
The interaction between the two beasts intensified.
Lu Xuan maintained an objective mindset, his face impassive as he witnessed the passionate scene unfold.
Suddenly, the male beast gave in to his desires and bit down hard on the female's body. The action became more violent, and with a fierce motion, he tore out a mouthful of her fur, leaving a bloody wound.
"That's enough," said Lu Xuan, nodding to the burly cultivator. The cultivator quickly separated the entwined beasts, bringing an end to their passionate display.
"Have you discovered anything, Brother Lu?" asked the burly cultivator with a worried expression, having halted the beasts' copulation.
"It seems that the male beast has been invaded by some entity," replied Lu Xuan. "But if it entered when they joined the sect and went undetected by the protective sect beast, it's likely not something particularly sinister." He drew upon his knowledge from the Scripture Pavilion, where he had read extensively about spirit beast husbandry.
"I had the same thought, but the biggest problem now is that we have no leads on the entity that has invaded the male beast, which makes it difficult to address the issue," the burly cultivator nodded in agreement.
"Brother Zhong, I'd like to trouble you for some of the food you usually feed the Chi Yin beasts. I want to observe their feeding behavior and see if that reveals anything," Lu Xuan requested, deciding to rely on his external aid since he couldn't solve the problem with his own experience.
Zhong Hao produced a pitch-black pill and handed it to Lu Xuan. "This pill contains a trace of water and lightning spiritual power. We usually feed it to the Chi Yin beasts."
Lu Xuan took the pill and, once the male beast had calmed down, placed it into the beast's mouth. He focused his mental energy on the Chi Yin beast, and a stream of information flashed through his mind.
Chi Yin Beast, Fourth-grade Spirit Beast, naturally proficient in water and lightning spells.
Infected by a 'desire worm' that induces the desire to devour its mate during copulation.
Perhaps because the so-called desire worm within the Chi Yin beast also fed on the nutrients from the pill, Lu Xuan was able to sense detailed information about the creature.
Desire Worm, an unusual worm born from and separated from powerful esoteric sect cultivators who practiced the Joyful Chan. Upon entering a cultivator or demon beast, its physical form gradually dissipates, transforming into an existence akin to lust. When its host experiences carnal desires, the desire worm slowly manipulates their mental state, causing them to lose control and consume the flesh and blood of their mate, thereby strengthening itself.
Can be lured out and condensed into form using treasures that induce intense lust.
"So it was this thing causing the trouble..." Lu Xuan mused as he processed the information that had appeared in his mind. "Knowing this, it should be simple to lure it out. I have a few items that can produce intense lust."
After a moment of contemplation, he spoke to the burly cultivator. "Brother Zhong, I think I'm onto something. I recall reading about a similar situation in one of the scriptures."
"It seems that this male Chi Yin beast has been infected by a 'desire worm,' which is causing the abnormal reaction during copulation with the female," he explained.
"Desire worm?" Zhong Hao and Liu Su exchanged confused glances, both unaware of such a creature.
"It's an extremely rare worm with no offensive capabilities, originating from..." Lu Xuan proceeded to explain the origins and nature of the desire worm in detail.
"I see. Do you have a solution, Brother Lu?" Zhong Hao asked.
Lu Xuan hesitated, thinking to himself, "I do have a solution, but how can I possibly use the Lust Inducing Pill or the Scripture of Ultimate Bliss in front of my sect members? How will I be able to face them afterward?"
"If you can help me resolve this issue with the Chi Yin beasts, I'll give you this Fourth-grade Chi Lei Stone, imbued with abundant lightning power," the burly cultivator offered, taking out a spirit mineral that rumbled with thunder.
"I have an idea that we might be able to try," Lu Xuan said, discreetly glancing at the spirit mineral.
(End of Chapter)
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