Immortal Flower Curse

Midnight, cold wind and heavy rain.

Just after dealing with a monster, before they could even catch their breath, a signal flared in the night sky – other squads had encountered a monster.

The three of them instinctively looked at Jiang Yan.

Even Shan Renhu did, though he was the squad leader. Strength ruled here, and Jiang Yan had proven his power, so his opinion mattered most.

Jiang Yan gazed at the night sky, the crimson signal light dazzling.

"Let's go."

He pulled out his spear, handed it to Ying Cong, and then headed in the direction of the signal.

"Jiang Yan." Shan Renhu walked alongside him, holding up a Lumina Talisman. "You've used your Blazing Flames Talisman too many times. I'm afraid it won't be able to support you for many more battles."

Looking down, Jiang Yan examined the Blazing Flames Talisman in his hand. The tadpole-like runes on it were already very faint.

"If it's used up, they'll replenish it, right?" he asked casually. He remembered Shan Renhu mentioning something about this before.

Indeed, Shan Renhu nodded. "As long as it's lost in battle, it will be replenished immediately. You don't need to worry too much."

"Hmm... Brother Shan, you know I might not be patrolling with you guys for much longer." Jiang Yan paused. "Do you have anyone you favor? I can help you get them to join your squad."

"No need." Shan Renhu's lips curved upwards upon hearing Jiang Yan's words. He felt a surge of satisfaction; Jiang Yan truly was a man who valued relationships.

He glanced back at Meng Sheng, seeing the young man cautiously observing their surroundings.

Smiling, he said quietly, "Meng Sheng, this kid, though he's afraid of death and timid, has very sharp senses."

"Especially when he stutters when he's nervous. If he starts stammering during patrols, I can immediately be on alert."

Jiang Yan's mouth twitched. So, Shan Renhu had noticed Meng Sheng's stuttering problem too.

"Actually, Meng Sheng was pretty good today. He acted like a real man."

Jiang Yan fell silent. Everyone changes. Meng Sheng had become brave and fearless, and he himself was becoming more adapted to this world.

By the village, the rapeseed fields.

At this time of year, the rapeseed fields were still a sea of green. The vibrant yellow rapeseed flowers were still just a figment of people's imaginations.

Four or five squads had already arrived, but their members now wore crestfallen expressions.

Tap, tap.

Footsteps sounded.

Looking up, the others saw Jiang Yan and his companions approaching.

Their expressions changed, and they shouted, "Jiang Yan! Old Shan, don't come any closer!"

"Brother Shan, where are we going?"

Ying Cong asked.

"Hmm... the place where the signal was just sent. It should be where the village plants rapeseed. There's a large rapeseed field there."

Jiang Yan walked, lost in thought. He also asked Shan Renhu, "Brother Shan, I remember you said before that when monsters appear in one area during village patrols, they usually won't appear in other areas for a short time."

Shan Renhu nodded. "That's generally true. It might be related to the defense mechanism of the Talisman Soldiers. My knowledge is limited, and there are patterns here I can't guess."

"However," Shan Renhu said seriously, "nothing is absolute. Sometimes, experience can also mislead you."

As they spoke, the other squads who had just arrived for a simple patrol hadn't even gotten close when they heard voices from afar, "Jiang Yan! Old Shan, don't come over!"

"Jiang Yan, did you hear that? Someone seems to be shouting."

Ying Cong had good hearing and clearly made out the words.

"They're saying not to let us go over yet."

Jiang Yan also heard them. He exchanged a look with Shan Renhu and quickly retreated a hundred meters before stopping.

Soon, two squad captains walked over.

"Huh? What's with you two?"

At this moment, their faces were ashen, because a young seedling had sprouted from each of their heads.

The seedlings were emerald green and growing vigorously, their roots deeply embedded within their skulls, as if absorbing their flesh and blood to grow.

"This is the Immortal Flower Curse!"

Seeing that Jiang Yan and the others seemed unfamiliar with it, one of them explained.

This was an Immortal Flower monster. It seemed to be a seed, which would grow and bloom in a very short time after landing, then release pollen.

Anyone who smelled the fragrance would grow an Immortal Flower on their head. The seedling would absorb flesh and blood to grow, then flower and bear fruit. The fruit would absorb all the life force of the host.

Then, through unknown means, the fruit would transfer its own vitality to the mother plant.

"Then, how do we break the curse?" Jiang Yan asked directly.

"What should we do?"

The man said with a grim face, calmly, "Jiang Yan, we've heard you've broken through to the Martial Apprentice realm these past few days, but this monster is not something you can handle."

"Even if you add Chief Tang and Chief Fei, you still can't deal with it."

"Because," the man cursed fiercely, "this is a Sha-level monster!"

Sha-level!

Jiang Yan's expression changed. He already understood the basic classification of monsters. Sha-level monsters corresponded to the second realm of martial arts, the third stage of Body Refining.

"I understand what you mean," Jiang Yan said slowly. "I'll go ask for reinforcements right now."

With that, he took the Ming Gathering Talisman from Shan Renhu, turned, and left, heading towards the center of the village.

At this moment, he believed Tang Long and Fei Shan had already arrived, and he needed to inform them of this information in a timely manner.

As expected, before he had traveled two li, Jiang Yan encountered Tang and Fei. He carefully repeated the squad leader's words.

"That's right, it's a Fairy Flower monster, Fierce Sha level. This kind of monster has appeared in many places before, and the town city has records of it."

"So what do we do now?"

Jiang Yan asked back. A Sha-level monster was not something he could handle.

Moreover, there was a certain range around the Fairy Flower monster filled with floral fragrance, making it impossible for him to get close.

Without the Inner Qi protection of a Body Refining realm martial artist, he didn't even have the qualification to approach the monster.

Taking a breath of the sweet air would result in a curse, turning him into flower fertilizer.

His previous question also had a probing intention. He was testing whether the two of them knew that Sheng Fuwu had not returned, had already died in the wilderness, and had been reduced to nothing by the monster.

"Alas, Chief Sheng lost an arm in broad daylight and was severely injured. He's probably unable to help. We can only find Lord Chang."

Huh? It seemed they didn't know that Sheng Fuwu hadn't returned yet.

In their eyes, Sheng Fuwu had fled during the day, and his cultivation was still in the Body Refining realm. There was no reason for him not to return. His absence now was likely due to him being in seclusion to recuperate.

They couldn't imagine that Sheng Fuwu was already dead.

Also, Chang Chi?

Jiang Yan had also heard of this person. He was sent by the officials to be stationed in the village and also to assist the patrol team.

In fact, this Lord Chang was also a talisman master.

Most of the talismans in the village were currently made by Chang Chi.

Of course, Dahe Gang didn't use them for free. They paid with real silver, and the price was much cheaper than the market price.

"Lord Chang?"

"Don't worry, Lord Chang's cultivation is higher than Chief Sheng's at his peak."

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