Smoke-like Mist Spirit Seed

Chapter 38: Smoke-like Mist Spirit Seed

The patrol guards in the Marketplace reacted swiftly. As the Blood-red Tentacles rampaged in every direction, a green-glowing seed shot out like a sharp arrow and landed around the tentacles.

In an instant, thick vines burst from the ground, growing and extending at high speed. They constantly split apart, tightly wrapping around the Blood-red Tentacles.

The Blood-red Tentacles struggled desperately, wrestling with the thick vines.

A clear cry rang out from high above.

Lu Xuan looked toward the sound and saw a gigantic Firebird floating in the sky. Its wings spread four or five zhang wide, and every gentle flap stirred up waves of heat.

It then transformed into a Red Light and shot turbulently toward the Mutated Cultivator whose body had split into countless tentacles.

Wherever it passed, the ground was scorched black.

"Ah..."

The Mutated Cultivator, whose body had been occupied by the tentacles, let out a pained howl before turning into black ash amid the roaring flames.

The flames climbed along the roots of the tentacles, fiercely scorching the Blood-red Tentacles that had spread in every direction.

All over the ground, severed tentacles writhed, seemingly wanting to invade the bodies of other cultivators again.

Unfortunately, the flames were far too destructive. Every tentacle was burned to ashes.

Immediately afterward, a Pure White Halo erupted outward from the Mutated Cultivator's remains.

Lu Xuan and the other cultivators in the distance were swept by the halo, and an aura of peace and serenity arose within them.

"One could only say that this cultivator mutated at the worst possible time. There happened to be several Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivators patrolling here. Otherwise, with so many Rogue Cultivators in the market, he might well have caused a huge disturbance."

Lu Xuan gazed at the several Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivators who had appeared around the Mutated Cultivator's remains. Just moments ago, they had been checking for any lingering Evil Spirit power; in the blink of an eye, they had joined forces to personally eliminate a cultivator contaminated by an Evil Spirit.

Their method was simple and effective. The vines restrained the tentacles for a short time, preventing greater casualties while giving their companions a brief window to unleash a powerful spell. The Firebird burned the Mutated Cultivator to a crisp, then used a Purification Spell to inspect the cultivator's remains and the surrounding Rogue Cultivators.

"No wonder they're the patrol guards of the Marketplace. Their coordination is incredibly smooth and natural."

Lu Xuan thought that if he had encountered this Mutated Cultivator alone, then with his Great Accomplishment Realm Gold Metal Swordplay, the First Grade Special Magic Tool Split Silver Blade, the Second Grade Talisman Myriad Sword Qi Talisman—equivalent to a Qi Refining High Stage cultivator's full-powered strike—and his newly acquired Thunderfire Pearl, he should have had no trouble dealing with the Mutated Cultivator.

He simply could not have done it with such clean and decisive efficiency.

"It seems I still need to work hard at cultivating Spirit Plants and add as many more methods to my arsenal as possible."

He made the decision silently in his heart.

From the cultivator's mutation to its successful resolution, the entire process had been extremely brief. After a short-lived disturbance broke out in the Rogue Cultivator Market, order was restored, as if the Mutated Cultivator had never appeared.

However, the large patch of scorched black earth left behind, along with the three cultivators killed by the tentacles, reminded everyone present of what had just happened.

One of the three was naturally the cultivator who had used the Earth Wall Technique to block Lu Xuan. After Lu Xuan had pierced his lower leg with the Gold Metal Swordplay, his movement had been hampered, and he had died to the Blood-red Tentacles.

Lu Xuan felt no pity for him. Everything had been his own doing. If he had not tried to use Lu Xuan to block the tentacles, Lu Xuan would not have casually struck out.

After this minor disturbance in the market, Lu Xuan no longer felt like wandering around. He casually chose a road and headed toward Hundred Herbs Hall.

Hundred Herbs Hall was not far from the Rogue Cultivator Market. After turning through several intersections, its storefront came into view.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Lu Xuan stopped. His gaze was drawn to a wooden board at a nearby stall.

Eight black characters had been written on the board.

"Special Spirit Seed, Cheap Sale."

Lu Xuan swept his eyes over the goods on the stall but found nothing related to Spirit Seeds.

"Fellow Daoist, what is the Special Spirit Seed mentioned on your board? Could you let me take a look?"

"There, that's the one."

The Stall Owner was an ordinary Middle-aged Cultivator with Qi Training Stage 4 cultivation. Hearing Lu Xuan's question, he pointed at one of the items on the stall.

The object was oval-shaped and faintly white. One would overlook it without paying close attention. Wisps of smoke drifted within it, its form constantly changing and evolving into all sorts of strange and unusual things.

"This is a Spirit Seed? You're not deceiving me, are you, Fellow Daoist?"

Lu Xuan asked curiously. It was difficult for him to associate such an object, which constantly changed like smoke, with a Spirit Seed.

"To be honest, I can't say for certain whether it's a Spirit Seed."

"After I returned, I sought out several Spirit Plant Master friends and showed them this object. They couldn't identify whether it was a Spirit Seed, either."

"However, when I obtained it, I found it on a Withered Spirit Plant. Perhaps the Spirit Plant had entered its mature stage, gone unharvested, and condensed all its essence into this Spirit Seed."

"That is the absolute truth. If you sincerely wish to buy it, I can establish an oath over what I just said."

Lu Xuan stroked his chin and fell into thought.

After the Stall Owner said he could establish an oath, Lu Xuan believed him by three parts. There were many kinds of oaths among cultivators, and if one violated them, one might even risk death and the dissolution of one's cultivation.

The way Spirit Seeds condensed was not surprising. After wild Spirit Plants matured, some continued growing as the years passed, some naturally withered, and some happened to condense into Spirit Seeds, continuing their existence in another form.

Although he did not know what the object before him was, judging from its wondrous form, it was very likely a rare and unusual Spirit Seed.

"If you truly can establish a Heart Demon Oath, Fellow Daoist, then I'm somewhat interested. How much are you asking?"

Lu Xuan asked the Stall Owner.

"This Spirit Seed took a great deal of effort to obtain from the New Secret Realm. If you want it, take it for fifteen Spirit Stones."

Seeing that Lu Xuan was genuinely interested, a trace of delight flashed through the Stall Owner's eyes.

The object on the stall could indeed be a Spirit Seed. However, he had displayed it in the market for several days, and only a handful of people had asked about it. Each had been frightened away by the price.

After all, spending fifteen Spirit Stones on a Spirit Seed of unknown variety and unknown cultivation method was far too expensive.

Lu Xuan was keen-minded and caught the change in the Stall Owner's expression. He let out a soft sigh.

"Fellow Daoist, your price is far too ruthless, isn't it? For an object that hasn't even been confirmed to be a Spirit Seed, you're asking a price far higher than that of a First Grade Spirit Seed. With fifteen Spirit Stones, I could buy three or four First Grade Spirit Seeds."

He shook his head repeatedly, seeming deeply dissatisfied with the price.

"Then name your price, Fellow Daoist."

"Seven Spirit Stones. I'll take it away immediately. That price is already much higher than an ordinary First Grade Spirit Seed."

Lu Xuan slashed the price by more than half in one stroke.

"No. 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 argued with a flushed face.

"Even if it's a Second Grade Spirit Seed, what use is it if you don't know how to cultivate it? Are you planning to keep it in your Storage Bag and let its vitality drain away?"

Lu Xuan retorted.

"How about this? I'll take a loss. Eight Spirit Stones. I only have this many Spirit Stones on me. I can't go any higher."

"Add fifty Fragmented Spirit Stones, and it's yours."

The Stall Owner gritted his teeth and spoke.

"Deal!"

Lu Xuan agreed readily.