Easily Slaying His Foe

Having tasted the benefits of a Strange Treasure, Qin Dongcheng found himself wanting more.

He still had several thousand taels of silver. If the opportunity arose, he could probably buy around two Low-level Strange Treasures.

Even a single one would be enough to help him break through his bottlenecks in succession and enter the Fourth Martial Realm—the Tendon Phase Realm.

Now that he had awakened the Muscle Refining Phenomenon, he could focus on cultivating and improving his strength. He no longer needed to linger at this realm while waiting to awaken it.

So he could safely improve his strength and charge into a higher realm.

Unfortunately, good ideas often ran up against harsh reality.

Over the next several days, Qin Dongcheng changed his identity and visited the Bamboo Forest Black Market to search for Strange Treasures, but came up empty every time.

He even made a special trip to another nearby Black Market, but still found no trace of any Strange Treasures. Treasures that could greatly improve one's cultivation realm without any side effects were simply too precious.

Whenever one appeared, it was almost always consumed right away. Few people would put one up for sale.

Even with enough silver, Qin Dongcheng would have a hard time buying one.

Seeing that he still had nothing to show for his efforts, he had no choice but to give up. He would focus on cultivating steadily instead. Perhaps he would trigger a few more critical hits.

A single critical hit of over a thousand times would be nearly as effective as a Strange Treasure.

"You have picked a thirty-year-old Ginseng. Congratulations, you triggered a Triple Critical Hit! You have obtained three thirty-year-old Ginseng!"

While picking precious medicinal herbs once again, he triggered a critical hit and received three thirty-year-old Ginseng, gaining two for free.

A thirty-year-old Ginseng was worth around a hundred taels of silver. Two were worth more than two hundred taels, about as much as he could earn from several days of refining Sun Flame Liquid.

And all he had to do was spend an hour or two picking herbs.

That haul alone made the trip worthwhile, never mind the other herbs he had gathered.

With his spoils in hand and a grin on his face, he headed for Osmanthus Garden.

Picking herbs was so profitable, with such astonishing returns, that Qin Dongcheng found himself unable to resist—even though he had to risk passing through Moonlight Slope every time.

A quarter of an hour later, he reached Moonlight Slope. Looking at the lush bamboo forest before him, Qin Dongcheng felt a little apprehensive.

The last encounter had left a deep impression. Qin Dongcheng remembered it all too well. He would wait a little longer and see if anyone else came by, then travel through with them.

This was the only route to the Herb Field. People passed through regularly, so waiting wouldn't cost him much time.

"Whoosh..."

Qin Dongcheng was just looking for a safe place to wait when a Rat Demon darted out of the bamboo forest and lunged straight for his chest and abdomen.

So there really were still Demons and Ghosts lurking in there!

"Mount Tai Flying Stone!"

Facing the Rat Demon's sudden attack, Qin Dongcheng casually struck. His blow landed squarely on its head, killing it outright.

A mere first-level Rat Demon was no match for him now.

He took the Rat Demon's corpse to the nearby Patrol Team and told them that Demons and Ghosts had invaded Moonlight Slope again. He also earned a hundred or so contribution points.

With the Patrol Team taking care of the cleanup, Qin Dongcheng continued on his way. Not long afterward, he heard that the Patrol Team had also decided there were too many Demons and Ghosts hiding in Moonlight Slope. Many laborers had met with trouble there, and even some Official Disciples had fallen victim.

After weighing the matter, they decided to station a Patrol Team in Moonlight Slope to clear out the Demons and Ghosts at all times, so the place would no longer become a den of filth and corruption.

Qin Dongcheng wasn't the only one celebrating. Many laborers from the surrounding Herb Fields were overjoyed, too. They should have done this long ago.

The bamboo forest in Moonlight Slope was dense, and the area was vast. It was easy for Demons and Ghosts to hide there.

And it wasn't just during the current chaos. Even several years ago, before Demons and Ghosts invaded Luo Cloud Prefecture, they had appeared there from time to time.

As for wild beasts, there was no need to mention them. Laborers from the Herb Fields occasionally formed hunting parties and ventured into Moonlight Slope to hunt them for a meal. That alone showed how unruly the place was.

At last, the Patrol Team had taken steps to mend the fence after the sheep were lost. With a team permanently stationed in Moonlight Slope, it would be much safer to pass through in the future.

What Qin Dongcheng didn't know was that he had played a part in the decision.

He had reported the presence of Demons and Ghosts in Moonlight Slope again and again, and every time his reports had been confirmed. The previous time, he had even killed a fourth-level Ghost Spirit there.

On top of that, Qin Dongcheng's Alchemy was growing more and more impressive. Though he was only a Low-level Alchemist, he had completed one Sun Flame Liquid refining task after another, and had a good chance of becoming an Intermediate Alchemist in the future.

After weighing the matter, the Inner Sect Elder in charge of the area had decided to station a Patrol Team in Moonlight Slope.

Of course, the repeated disappearances in Moonlight Slope, along with the growing number of laborers and stewards from the Herb Fields reporting problems there, were also major factors.

Without those issues, the higher-ups wouldn't have considered stationing a Patrol Team there.

It would be much safer to pass through from then on. With the Patrol Team's protection, he basically no longer had to worry about running into Demons and Ghosts there.

Qin Dongcheng was delighted. The next time he went to gather herbs, he saw Martial Artists patrolling Moonlight Slope. At last, he no longer had to creep through carefully or wait until enough people had gathered to cross together.

A man in high spirits was blessed with good fortune. While picking herbs, he triggered a substantial reward.

"You have picked a hundred-year-old Fleeceflower Root. Congratulations, you triggered a tenfold critical hit! You have obtained ten hundred-year-old Fleeceflower Roots!"

Qin Dongcheng was startled. He hadn't expected to trigger a tenfold critical hit while picking a hundred-year-old Fleeceflower Root. This was a herb that had grown for a full century.

Though it wasn't as valuable as a hundred-year-old Ginseng, a single root was still worth several hundred taels of silver. Ten would be worth several thousand.

After giving one to the laborer from the Herb Field, the other nine belonged to Qin Dongcheng. They could be used to refine many Intermediate Pills, and were also ingredients in some Advanced Pills.

A net gain of several thousand taels of silver—this was unquestionably a worthwhile deal.

And hundred-year-old Fleeceflower Root would be easier to trade for a Strange Treasure. Qin Dongcheng could put it up for consignment at the Bamboo Forest Black Market or at one of the sect's pill shops, and exchange it for a Low-level Strange Treasure or even a Middle-level Strange Treasure.

Though he hadn't managed to buy a second Strange Treasure lately, Qin Dongcheng had learned that they were usually traded by barter. Few people would exchange them for silver or gold.

A hundred-year-old Fleeceflower Root was a precious treasure in its own right. He could certainly trade it for a Strange Treasure, and his chances of success were fairly good.

After making his plans, he returned to Osmanthus Garden and rested for a while. When evening came, Qin Dongcheng took the nine hundred-year-old Fleeceflower Roots and headed for the various pill shops.