https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-37-The-Calamity-of-an-Aberrant-Pestilence/12543704/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-39-This-Batch-is-of-Good-Quality/12543708/
Chapter 38: The Elusive Spirit Seed
Chapter 38: The Elusive Spirit Seed
The guards in the market reacted swiftly to the blood-red tentacles' rampage. A green seed, glowing with a sharp luster, was unleashed like an arrow, landing amidst the writhing tentacles.
In an instant, thick vines sprouted from the ground and grew at an astonishing speed, constantly splitting and entangling the blood-red tentacles.
The tentacles struggled violently, engaging in a tug-of-war with the sturdy vines.
High in the sky, a crisp cry rang out.
Lu Chen looked up and saw a gigantic firebird floating in the air. Its wings, spanning forty to fifty feet, created waves of heat with each gentle flap.
The firebird then transformed into a surging beam of red light, rushing towards the corrupted cultivator with countless tentacles.
Wherever the light passed, the ground was scorched black.
"Ah..."
The corrupted cultivator, whose body was overtaken by the tentacles, let out a painful wail before turning into charred ashes in the blazing inferno.
The flames climbed up the tentacles, burning them to a crisp. On the ground, severed tentacle pieces squirmed as if attempting to invade other cultivators' bodies once more.
Unfortunately for them, the flames were too powerful, reducing all the tentacles to ashes.
Immediately afterward, a pure white halo pulsated outward from the remains of the corrupted cultivator.
Farther away, Lu Chen and the other cultivators felt a wave of tranquility wash over them as the halo swept by.
"It's unfortunate that this cultivator underwent corruption at such an inopportune moment. Fortunately, there were a few Mid-level Qi Refinement cultivators patrolling the area. Otherwise, with so many loose cultivators in the market, things could have gotten much worse."
Lu Chen observed the Mid-level Qi Refinement cultivators who had appeared around the remains of the corrupted cultivator. They had been inspecting the area for any lingering evil influences, and in the blink of an eye, they had joined forces to deal with their corrupted fellow cultivator.
Their solution was simple yet effective. The vines restrained the tentacles' movement in a short amount of time, preventing further casualties while giving their companions a chance to unleash powerful spells. The firebird reduced the corrupted cultivator to ashes, ensuring no traces of corruption remained, and then they used purification spells to check the remains and the surrounding loose cultivators for any signs of contamination.
"As expected of the market guards. Their coordination is seamless and natural," Lu Chen thought. If he had encountered this corrupted cultivator alone, he believed that with his Grand Completion stage of the Metal Sword Technique, the special first-grade magical artifact Silver Rending Blade, the second-grade talisman that contained a thousand sword auras equivalent to a full-force strike of a High-level Qi Refinement cultivator, and his newly acquired Thunderfire Bead, he would have been able to handle the situation.
However, he knew he wouldn't have been able to do it as neatly and efficiently.
"I need to focus on cultivating spiritual plants and give myself more options," he secretly resolved.
The entire incident, from the cultivator's corruption to its resolution, was brief. The loose cultivator market fell into temporary chaos but quickly regained its order as if the corrupted cultivator had never existed.
However, the large charred area on the ground and the three cultivators who had perished from the tentacle attack served as a stark reminder of what had just transpired.
Among the deceased was, of course, the cultivator who had tried to block Lu Chen with an earthen wall. After having his leg pierced by Lu Chen's Metal Sword Technique, he was unable to move swiftly enough and met his end at the tentacles.
Lu Chen felt no sympathy for him. Everything that had happened was a consequence of his own actions. If he hadn't attempted to block the tentacles with himself, Lu Chen wouldn't have taken action either.
After this minor disturbance in the market, Lu Chen no longer felt like browsing. He randomly chose a path and made his way toward the Hundred Grass Hall.
The Hundred Grass Hall wasn't far from the loose cultivator market; one could spot its storefront after turning a few corners.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Lu Chen paused in his tracks, his attention drawn to a wooden sign on a nearby stall.
On the sign, eight bold black characters were written:
"Special Spirit Seeds, Bargain Prices."
Lu Chen scanned the goods on the stall but found nothing that seemed related to spirit seeds.
The object was oval-shaped and faintly white. One could easily overlook it if they weren't paying attention. Wisps of mist swirled within it, constantly changing and morphing into various bizarre shapes.
"Is this a spirit seed? Are you sure, my friend?" Lu Chen asked curiously. The ever-shifting mist made it hard for him to associate the object with a spirit seed.
"To be honest, I can't be certain myself," the stall owner admitted. "After I obtained it, I showed it to several spirit herbologist friends, but even they couldn't identify whether it was a spirit seed or not."
"However, I found it within a withered spirit herb. It's possible that the herb had reached maturity and, left unharvested, condensed its essence into this spirit seed," he continued.
"I assure you, I speak the truth. If you truly intend to buy it, I'm willing to swear an oath to what I've just said," the stall owner added.
Lu Chen stroked his chin thoughtfully. The mention of an oath made him slightly more inclined to believe the stall owner. There were many types of oaths among cultivators, and breaking some of them could result in severe consequences, even death.
The way the spirit seed was formed wasn't entirely unexpected. Wild spirit herbs, upon reaching maturity, could either continue growing and increase in age, naturally wither away, or, by chance, condense into a spirit seed, thus continuing their existence in a different form.
Although he had no idea what the object in front of him was, its mystical form suggested that it was likely a rare and uncommon spirit seed.
"If you're truly willing to swear a Heart Demon Oath, I'm quite interested. May I ask your price?" Lu Chen inquired.
"I spent a lot of effort to obtain this spirit seed from a new secret realm. If you want it, it'll be fifteen spirit stones," the stall owner replied, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes as he saw Lu Chen's genuine interest.
The object on his stall might indeed be a spirit seed, but he had been displaying it for several days, and only a handful of people had inquired about it, only to be scared away by the price.
After all, fifteen spirit stones for a spirit seed of unknown category and cultivation method was exorbitant.
Lu Chen, perceptive as he was, noticed the stall owner's expression and gently sighed. "My friend, your price is rather steep. To ask for a price far higher than that of a first-grade spirit seed for something that might not even be a spirit seed... With fifteen spirit stones, I could buy three or four first-grade spirit seeds." He shook his head, seemingly dissatisfied with the price.
"Then name your price," the stall owner said.
"Seven spirit stones, and I'll take it right now. This price is already much higher than that of a regular first-grade spirit seed," Lu Chen countered, slashing the price by more than half.
"No way! At least ten spirit stones! Look at its form; it could very well be a second-grade or even higher-grade spirit seed!" The stall owner's face reddened as he argued.
"Even if it's a second-grade spirit seed, what use is it if I don't know how to cultivate it? Am I supposed to just let it wither away in my storage bag?" Lu Chen rebutted.
"Alright, I'll take a loss. Eight spirit stones, then. That's all I have on me; I can't go any lower," the stall owner said through gritted teeth.
"Deal. And I'll add fifty spirit fragments," Lu Chen bargained further.
"Done!" The stall owner bit the bullet and agreed.
"Deal!" Lu Chen agreed readily.
(End of Chapter)
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