Chapter 313: Chapter 282: Dark Flower_1
“Puff!”
Facing the rushing spirits, Qiao Qianqian pulled out a handful of green powder from her storage bag, stopped in her tracks, and sprinkled it behind her.
As soon as the spirits came into contact with the powder, they immediately let out miserable cries, their bodies also ignited in flames.
“These spirits are not weak, it’s impressive that Friend Qiao can resolve them with one hit!”
Xu Mu turned around, looking at the burning spirits and praised.
“Friend Xu, you flatter me. They are merely Qi Cultivation Stage spirits!” Qiao Qianqian smiled.
These spirits were of too low a level, not even worth collecting their essences. After dealing with them, the duo continued on without hesitation.
Along the way, they occasionally encountered a few spirits emerging from the ground, but their levels were not high. This continued until the two appeared before a field of flowers with black leaves and white blooms.
“These are Darkdeath Flowers, they can be refined into Yin Qi Pills for the cultivation of Yin Properties martial methods. Although it’s only tier one, it’s rarely seen in the outside world. I didn’t expect to see so many here!”
A hint of danger appeared at the corner of Qiao Qianqian’s mouth, and she wanted to go forward and collect some for later research.
Just then, several pallid spirits broke out from the field of flowers, their faces twisted as they rushed towards the two of them.
Facing these pallid spirits, the duo did not feel fear, but rather, a hint of joy appeared on their faces.
“After traveling so far, we’ve finally come across a few Foundation Establishment Stage spirits!”
Qiao Qianqian squeezed the Finger Jue, and several tendrils extended from her sleeve, and then, large red flowers bloomed at the tips of the tendrils.
Facing the white spirits rushing towards her, the flowers opened like large mouths and swallowed all of them whole, followed by screams.
After the screams subsided, the flowers returned to Qiao Qianqian’s side and exhaled several strands of essence- Qi that Qiao Qianqian collected into her jade bottle Magic Artifact.
“Friend Xu, do you want some?”
“No need!”
Xu Mu shook his head with a smile.
There was nothing worth sharing about a few Foundation Establishment Stage spirits. Besides, in the end, everything would be given to Li Youlan.
After Qiao Qianqian picked some Darkdeath Flowers, they traveled some more and killed more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Stage spirits.
Qiao Qianqian was primarily the one taking action, until they encountered a one-armed puppet corpse. Only then did Xu Mu express interest.
He squeezed the Finger Jue, and a beam of golden light shot and landed on the puppet corpse. The puppet corpse, comparable to mid-stage Foundation Establishment, immediately stopped in place, motionless.
“Friend Xu, is the Skill you are casting, by any chance, a Paralysis Skill?” Qiao Qianqian asked, surprised.
“Yes! I just learned it, so I thought I could practice it on this.”
Xu Mu walked forward, examining the puppet corpse, as he spoke.
“I didn’t expect that you would know such an obscure skill; I’m quite impressed,” Qiao Qianqian remarked.
“Obscure? Is it?” Xu Mu turned to look at her, puzzled.
He only knew that the Paralysis Skill had less power than common tier-nine Skills, and he was not aware of just how obscure it was.
“This kind of skill is hard to practice and lacks power. Anyway, in all the years I’ve lived, I’ve seen Immobilize Talismans a few times, but this is the first time I’ve seen a Paralysis Skill,” Qiao Qianqian stated.
“I didn’t really feel it was difficult, maybe I am just more suited for this skill!”
Qiao Qianqian didn’t know that he had just received this skill, otherwise she would be even more surprised.
“Well, congratulations, this skill can be quite useful if you practice it deeply!”
“I think so too!”
The two didn’t talk much about the Paralysis Skill. Qiao Qianqian walked up to examine the condition of the puppet corpse as well.
“The Yin Qi on this puppet corpse seems a bit heavy!” Qiao Qianqian said, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
“This is a puppet made from human corpses, perhaps mixed with elements of corpse refining Skill!”
Xu Mu injected his Spiritual Power into it, feeling the numerous puppet runes infused within, as well as the pervasive Yin Sha Qi.
“Something’s strange!”
Xu Mu also furrowed his brows.
“What’s wrong?” Qiao Qianqian asked in confusion.
“The fusion of these nefarious energies with the puppet corpse is way too high, not something that can be achieved by simply refining the corpse!”
Though Xu Mu had practiced the Mystery Yin refining corpse skill before, his level wasn’t high. Yet, he could still discern some clues.
“The Seventh Prince is a master at the Nascent Soul Stage, creating one or two new corpse-refining skills to be used in conjunction with the puppet corpses isn’t a big deal! It’s more urgent that we deal with this swiftly and return.”
Qiao Qianqian was not too concerned about the abnormalities of the puppet corpses, she just wanted to kill the creatures and collect their aura.
“You’re right!”
Xu Mu did not investigate further, considering that everything will be clear once he found a jade slip.
Xu Mu hit the puppet corpse with a bolt of purple lightning from his hand, collected a strand of aura, and walked back together with Qiao Qianqian.
“I never expected that Friend Xu would also have Thunderring Martial Methods! I really didn’t see that coming!” Qiao Qianqian exclaimed surprisingly.
In such places, thunder martial methods were quite advantageous, as they could have surprising effects at crucial moments.
“I have practiced it before, but it’s not very powerful!”
The Heavenly Extreme Purple Thunder Body he had practiced had its maximum strength at the early Golden Pill stage level. It had long failed to keep up with his cultivation speed. He only used it now because it was more convenient.
Compared to casting other skills, the Heavenly Extreme Purple Thunder Body saved more Spiritual Power.
“Friend Xu is indeed favored by the prince, possessing strong power, various means, and if there is danger deeper within, I hope you can lend us your help. I will certainly repay you generously when we return!”
Qiao Qianqian blinked at him, her gaze full of affection.
“…”
Xu Mu was speechless.
He felt that this woman had been circling around just for this sentence.
“Rest assured, we’re all working for the prince, and I won’t stand by when I can help!”
“Friend Xu, you know that’s not the help I need!”
Qiao Qianqian intentionally closed the distance, a worrying look on her face as she emanated a pleasing fragrance.
“Friend Qiao, I know what you mean, I can only help as far as possible.”
Xu Mu put distance between them, obviously not wanting to promise Qiao Qianqian.
After helping Li Youlan with this trial, he would leave, so he didn’t want to get too involved with Qiao Qianqian.
The imperial capital, that huge vortex, was really not suitable to stay for an extended period.
“I have many rare spirit plants on hand, are you really not tempted? Plus, I myself can…” Qiao Qianqian continued to lure, still somewhat unwilling to give up.
“I’m too old for that!” Xu Mu straightforwardly refused.
“Your words really hurt, it can’t be that I lose out to the two Qi Cultivation Stage maids, or is there some special fetish?” Qiao Qianqian looked at Xu Mu accusingly.
She wasn’t really intending to use herself as a bargaining chip, she only wanted to use herself as a bait, and wouldn’t really let Xu Mu have her.
After all, it’s the unattainable that is the most desirable.
“You joke, those two maids are just casual playthings, there’s no love there, and they can’t compare to you, Friend Qiao, I just prefer peace and quiet and not to meddle too much!”
Xu Mu continued to refuse.
After several interactions, Xu Mu faintly sensed that Qiao Qianqian was not an ordinary aristocrat’s hanger-on. There was likely another identity behind her, otherwise she wouldn’t be courting him so eagerly.
“Friend Xu, can’t you just play along with me once?” Qiao Qianqian persistently pleaded.
“…”
Xu Mu was at a loss for words.
He had already made it clear enough, how is she still behaving this way. Does she really have to rely on her beauty?
“There seems to be some movement up ahead, I’ll go check it out first!”
So saying, Xu Mu turned into an escape light and flew toward the rendezvous point.
“This old man! He really is impervious! Humph!”
Qiao Qianqian stomped her feet in annoyance and quickly chased after him.