Small Spirit Gathering Array

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, on subduing the Third Order Magical Beast Six Poison Centipede. You have achieved the accomplishment of subduing a wild magical beast for the first time. Reward: one Small Spirit Gathering Array and 30,000 Gold Coins. Rewards have been issued."

"Small Spirit Gathering Array?"

Ding! The Small Spirit Gathering Array has four corners, respectively marking east, south, west, and north. It can draw the spiritual energy of heaven and earth toward the center of the array. Cultivation speed is doubled within this array.

"Oh? Good stuff. It's somewhat similar to Canaan Academy's Blazing Flame Tower. Both can accelerate cultivation, though it's useless to me," Ye Qiu commented.

So-called increased cultivation speed only mattered to those with ordinary talent, increasing the speed of their quiet cultivation until it surpassed the speed at which they could improve through fighting and tempering themselves outside. But for Ye Qiu, constantly going into seclusion to cultivate—even at twice the speed—would still be far inferior to the gains he received from fighting outside and completing missions.

"Looks like I need to make a trip back to Green Mountain Town." Looking at the square bronze disk etched with strange patterns in the system space, Ye Qiu murmured. Though this item could not increase Ye Qiu's strength, it was a priceless treasure to any faction. Those whose talent was not particularly outstanding could use the Spirit Gathering Array to make progress beyond others.

"Huh? What's this? This... an A-rank Devil Fruit Summoning Card, an S-rank Holy Spirit Sword Method. S-rank? S-rank!!!" Seeing the two items beside the square bronze disk, Ye Qiu's eyes widened enormously. Devil Fruits were one thing—he had already obtained two, and even eaten one himself. But the Holy Spirit Sword Method was renowned far and wide! It was the ultimate art of Dugu Jian, the Sword Saint of the Wind and Cloud World. Back then, if the Sword Saint had not been at the end of his life and only able to fight through Astral Projection, and if Bu Jingyun's poker face had not gotten in the way, he would have long since destroyed Xiong Ba. The first part would have ended right there. Yet Ye Qiu had actually obtained it. And it was an S-rank skill—an S-rank throughout all the myriad worlds. Incredible. This was Ye Qiu's first time obtaining an S-rank skill.

"System, what's going on? Why are you being so generous today, giving me two big gifts?" Ye Qiu asked doubtfully. He did not believe the system had suddenly become generous. Those four words—half-price recycling—had hurt him too deeply last time.

"These are accomplishment rewards obtained by the Host," the system's voice sounded blandly.

"Accomplishment? What accomplishment?" Ye Qiu found it strange. He had not done anything lately besides cultivate. That counted as an accomplishment too?

"Subduing your first woman."

"Uh... that counts as an accomplishment too?" Ye Qiu had clearly not expected this kind of accomplishment.

"It only counts the first time. In the future, it will depend on the woman."

"Oh, I see!" That was pretty good. Otherwise, he really would turn into a stud.

Pulling his thoughts back, Ye Qiu turned his gaze toward the lucky star that had brought him the Spirit Gathering Array: the Six Poison Centipede. This fellow's injuries were truly serious. The Origin Returning Pill was a third-grade medicinal pill, yet it had not healed it. He wondered who had injured it. That person's methods were quite formidable.

"Hm? Someone's coming." Ye Qiu suddenly frowned. This time, he had not had Pegasus release its pressure, so aside from the Six Poison Centipede, which had personally seen Pegasus, no magical beasts knew that a Sixth Order Magical Beast was here. Thus, it was not strange for one or two magical beasts to come by. After all, this was the Demon Beast Mountain Range, and the Crystal Stone Array had been eaten through by the Big Centipede, leaving a large hole. But humans...

"These footsteps... they are indeed human, and there are... two of them."

"Senior Brother Wan, are you sure that beast is really here?" A seductive female voice entered Ye Qiu's ears.

"Yes, there's no mistake. It's here. Hmph, you won't escape." The man crouched down and touched the tracks left by the Six Poison Centipede crawling over the ground, speaking with certainty.

"Then... are we going in now?" The girl was still somewhat hesitant and afraid. Though the Six Poison Centipede had been heavily injured by their master, a Third Order Magical Beast was still a Third Order Magical Beast.

"Yes." Wan Guanghu nodded. Having come this far, there was no reason to retreat without fighting. Besides, if he did not hurry and capture the Six Poison Centipede, his master would likely... Fortunately, the Six Poison Centipede was badly wounded, with less than one-tenth of its strength remaining, while he himself was a Three Star Great Dou Shi at the peak of his condition. As long as he was careful of its poison, there was nothing else to fear. Yes, that was it.

"Ting Er, stay close to me," he instructed the girl behind him.

"Yes, Senior Brother. You have to protect me well. I believe in you," the girl said nervously as she clung closely behind him.

"Don't worry." Wan Guanghu wrapped his left arm around the girl and leaped onto the Amethyst Stone. At the same time, he instantly stretched out his right hand and threw a punch toward the center of the area. "Strike first! Profound Rank Low Level Dou Technique—Han Mountain Fist!"

A yellowish-brown fist force smashed toward the center. With a bang, a huge cloud of dust rose up, making it impossible to keep one's eyes open. Hmph, after taking my attack head-on, Six Poison Centipede, you beast, now you should...

"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on? Why did the wind suddenly pick up, and why is there so much dust?" Just as Wan Guanghu was feeling pleased with himself and thought the matter was settled, a somewhat carefree voice sounded from the center of the dust cloud.

As the dust settled, a red barrier appeared before the two of them. Within it sat a young man riding a white horse with wings, looking at them with a scrutinizing gaze. The Six Poison Centipede was behind him.

"Who are you, sir?" Wan Guanghu immediately asked. He had not expected there to be a young man here, much less one who had taken his attack without suffering any harm.

"Shouldn't you introduce yourselves before asking others? The two of you barged into my cultivation ground without reason and attacked me. What's that supposed to mean? Have you gone mad from wanting to kill people, attacking anyone you see?" Ye Qiu demanded. He had truly been startled just now. Although he knew someone was approaching, he had not expected them to be so ruthless. They had never met or spoken before, yet they had unleashed a powerful move the moment they arrived.

"Hey, brat, how dare you talk like that? How were we supposed to know you were here? And do you even know who we are, talking to us like that?!" Hearing Ye Qiu call them crazy, the girl immediately snapped, her words filled with disdain.

"Oh? Who are you?" Ye Qiu casually dug at his ear with his pinky and asked indifferently.

"You..." Seeing Ye Qiu's casual demeanor, the girl became even angrier. Ever since she had followed Wan Guanghu, which of their Sect Brothers had dared speak to her like this?

"Ting Er. This little brother, I am Wan Guanghu, a disciple of the Spirit Blood Sect in the Chu Yun Empire. I did not know you were here earlier, so please forgive our offense. Would you be willing to hand the Six Poison Centipede over to me?" Stopping the girl, Wan Guanghu stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Ye Qiu. His words were fairly polite.

"Chu Yun Empire, Spirit Blood Sect?" Ye Qiu murmured. He knew of the Chu Yun Empire. It was neighboring the Gama Empire and somewhat stronger than it. In the original story, Little Fairy Doctor had even ruled that country. But what kind of thing was this Spirit Blood Sect? He had no impression of it at all.

"Six Poison Centipede?!" Hearing the young man's words, the girl finally noticed the Big Centipede behind Ye Qiu, which was digesting the medicinal power. What kind of eyes did she have? She looked down on everyone—no, she looked down on every centipede! "Brat, hand over the Six Poison Centipede now, and I'll spare your life!" the girl arrogantly shouted.

"Hm?" Hearing the young man's words, Ye Qiu knew they were the people who had been hunting the Six Poison Centipede. He was about to ask why they had pursued it so relentlessly when, before he could speak, he heard the girl's overbearing voice. She even wanted to kill him. "Oh? Spare my life? Miss, I don't think I've offended you two, have I?"

"Hmph, just because you dared talk back to me—"

"Ting Er, step back," Wan Guanghu shouted.

"Senior Brother..." The girl whined. The sound made Ye Qiu's skeletal muscles shudder, and goosebumps fell all over the ground. Just how flirtatious was that?

"This brother, my junior sister was somewhat reckless just now. Please forgive her. However, the Six Poison Centipede is extremely important to my sect, so please do not obstruct us. By the way, where are you from, little brother?" Wan Guanghu asked. Yet Ye Qiu noticed that his gaze was not on him or the Six Poison Centipede behind him, but on... Pegasus. A trace of greed flashed through his eyes.

"I have no sect or school. I belong nowhere," Ye Qiu said flatly. Damn it. Wanting the Six Poison Centipede is one thing, but he dares look at my Pegasus like that? What does he want? To report to another world sooner?

"No sect? Is that so? Then... brat, hand over your Winged Horse and the Six Poison Centipede together. Don't resist. I, Wan Guanghu, will give you a quick death. Otherwise, I'll let you taste the feeling of a Chu Yun Poison Master's Ten Thousand Poisons Devouring Body." The young man instantly discarded his previous humility and courtesy, his expression turning vicious and ferocious.