Inquiries About Longevity Chapter 96: Vine Armor (Jiu Geng) - Novel Cool

Chapter 96: Vine Armor (Jiu Geng)

Chapter 96: Vine Armor (Jiu Geng)

"We followed Uncle Zhou and the others up the mountain to hunt a demon beast. We encountered a Split-clawed Wolf Demon, standing at over two men tall, with crimson fur, three-foot-long fangs, and claws like hooked blades. Its cultivation was around the mid-first rank, not quite at the late stage, so our team could handle it. Uncle Zhou and his group fought it, asking us to stand by outside and make sure it didn't escape..."

"The battle lasted a long time, and Uncle Zhou's group was injured. The Split-claw was also badly wounded and on the verge of death when it suddenly went berserk and charged at the three of us. Big Tiger and I remembered Uncle Zhou's instructions and didn't act rashly, but Little Tiger, in his anxiety, took a swing at the Split-claw."

"This swing only injured the Split-claw's fur, and the beast took advantage of Little Tiger's exposed strike, circling around to his back. With one swipe of its claw, it tore through Little Tiger's vine armor, ripping his skin and flesh. Blood gushed relentlessly..."

Twin Tigers wiped their tears with their sleeves, their voices choking, "Uncle Zhou said that the Split-claw's claws were infused with demonic energy. Once a wound is inflicted, the blood won't stop flowing. Many cultivators have died this way, bleeding out until they perish..."

Regret filled Big Tiger's eyes as he said, "I should have taken that hit for him. I'm stronger and wouldn't have been injured so badly."

The two older brothers felt both grief and remorse seeing their younger sibling in such a state.

"Old Man Feng is a master at pill concoction. Little Tiger will be fine," Ink Painting said, his own eyes stinging as he tried to comfort them.

Ink Painting examined Little Tiger's wounds again. Although blood still seeped out, the bleeding was slowing, and the wound was beginning to close, likely due to the medicine Old Man Feng had applied.

Ink Painting breathed a sigh of relief.

Using his spiritual sense, he detected a faint reddish aura around the wound, which was probably the demonic energy often mentioned by demon hunters. This energy was a unique spiritual force formed by the mixture of miscellaneous spiritual energies obtained through the demon beast's feeding, combined with its own blood essence.

Not only humans but also demon beasts could draw power from the Tao and the universe.

Ink Painting offered a few more words of comfort to Big Tiger and Twin Tigers before handing over the items that Liu Ruhua had asked him to bring to Madame Meng.

Madame Meng wiped her tears surreptitiously and, seeing Ink Painting, forced a smile. "Please thank your mother for me. We've relied on her help a lot these past years. And thank you for coming. Stay for lunch..."

But thinking of their impoverished home, with little food and nothing to offer in return, and the large sum of spirit stones needed for Little Tiger's treatment, her heart ached.

Madame Meng's forced smile turned into tears streaming down her cheeks.

Ink Painting pretended not to notice and said, "No need, Madame. My mother asked me to return early. Please take care of Little Tiger, and I'll come visit again when he's healed."

Madame Meng nodded, her throat tight with emotion.

Ink Painting added, "I checked earlier, and Little Tiger's wound is already healing. The demonic energy in the wound has weakened significantly. With a few days of rest, he should gradually recover. Don't worry about the spirit stones either. Once Big Tiger and the others can stand on their own, things will get better..."

"Mmm." Madame Meng nodded and patted Ink Painting's head.

Despite his young age, Ink Painting was thoughtful and perceptive, and his words soothed her anxious heart.

Ink Painting handed over the food box and bid them farewell.

"Be careful on your way home."

Madame Meng saw Ink Painting out and then opened the food box. Inside were some steamed buns, dried meat, a small pot of nourishing soup, and several bottles of healing pills.

Under the pills was a small cloth bag, heavy with the weight of over ten spirit stones.

Madame Meng stared at the spirit stones, her eyes welling up once more.

Ink Painting returned home feeling dejected.

Ink Painting hurriedly finished his lunch and then ran to the Refiner's Guild to ask Master Chen for a new set of Vine Armor.

Since Ink Painting didn't have any spirit stones, he intended to borrow it, but Master Chen didn't hesitate to give it to him as a gift, and not just one set, but three.

"Vine Armor is something you'd have to pay spirit stones for if you were to buy it, but here, it's not worth much. Refining Vine Armor doesn't require much fine iron or spiritual liquid. Just soak the vines in a special solution and roast them over a fierce fire using a unique technique. It doesn't even take up much furnace time. It's just a bit time-consuming, so take these three sets and have fun..."

Ink Painting had helped Master Chen draw arrays several times in the past without accepting any spirit stones, and Master Chen felt indebted. He wished Ink Painting would ask for more things from him.

If it were a precious spiritual artifact, he would have to consider it, but for Vine Armor, something his apprentices could refine, he wouldn't even blink before giving it away.

Ink Painting thanked him and returned home to draw the Iron Armor Array on each of the three sets of Vine Armor.

Ink Painting already had a set of Vine Armor in his storage bag, intended for protection against Qian Xing, but since Qian Xing had gone insane, it had never been used.

While Ink Painting didn't need it, the Tiger brothers surely would.

Demon hunters had to fight viciously with demon beasts, and the process was extremely dangerous, especially for Body Refiners.

Experienced demon hunters were better off, as they had abundant hunting experience and knowledge of demon beasts, so even in dangerous situations, they could manage the risks.

However, novice demon hunters lacked experience and often couldn't handle unexpected situations promptly, leaving them vulnerable to demon beasts' attacks. Any negligence could result in injuries, or even death.

Many talented young cultivators, who could have become exceptional demon hunters, had lost their lives due to unforeseen circumstances, forfeiting their future.

Such incidents happened from time to time, and Ink Mountain had lamented about it several times while chatting with Liu Ruhua, and Ink Painting had secretly overheard them.

In such perilous situations, a sturdy set of armor could mean the difference between life and death.

Unfortunately, most demon hunters couldn't afford expensive armor and had to settle for cheap Vine Armor.

When Little Tiger was ambushed by the Split-claw, stronger Vine Armor might have prevented his injury. Even if he had been wounded, the damage would have been much less severe.

Ink Painting hoped that with the enhanced Vine Armor, the Tiger brothers would be better protected during their demon hunts and sustain fewer injuries.

A few days later, Ink Painting visited Little Tiger, and his condition had improved, his complexion looking much better.

Ink Painting took out the three sets of Vine Armor and gave them to the brothers. The sets for Big Tiger and Twin Tigers were slightly damaged due to their battles with demon beasts, showing some cracks and tears. As for Little Tiger's Vine Armor, it had been directly ripped apart by the wolf demon and was now unusable.

Madame Meng looked at the Vine Armor in Ink Painting's hands, hesitating to speak.

Ink Painting understood her thoughts and said, "These sets of Vine Armor were given to me by Master Chen. I don't need them, so I thought of giving them to Big Tiger and his brothers. I've drawn arrays on them, making them much sturdier than ordinary Vine Armor. This way, they'll be less likely to get injured during their hunts, and even if they do, the injuries will be less severe."

Madame Meng originally felt awkward about accepting the gift, but when she heard Ink Painting say, "less likely to get injured," she couldn't refuse anymore. Her eyes turned red, and she felt ashamed.

Ink Painting pulled on Madame Meng's sleeve and said, "In the future, I'll need Big Tiger and his brothers to help me with some things. They mustn't be lazy and refuse to help me."

Madame Meng nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, if you need anything in the future, go to them. If they dare to refuse even a little, I'll break their legs!"

Madame Meng's expression brightened, and the three Tiger brothers hugged the Vine Armor, grinning broadly.

(End of Chapter)

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