Who Doesn't Like Opening Blind Boxes?

[Target: Variegated Tiger]

[Race: Tiger]

[Bloodline: Contains a trace of unknown tiger-type demonic beast bloodline "Unawakened"]

[Body Integrity: 47%, Mutation Degree: 32%]

"Hm?"

Seeing the unknown tiger-type demonic beast bloodline displayed under the Variegated Tiger's bloodline entry, along with its mutation degree of up to 32%, Zhu Yu froze for a moment before a pained look crossed his face.

"There really are ordinary beasts carrying demonic beast bloodlines..."

Ordinary beasts like this, whose lifespans had run out yet possessed bloodlines, were more valuable than most first-rank demonic beast Corpse Seeds. After Yin Baleful Spirit Qi was drawn into their bodies, their bloodlines would naturally awaken.

It was like opening a blind box—no one knew what kind of bloodline it would inherit.

It might merely be the bloodline of an ordinary low-grade first-rank demonic beast, but it might also inherit the bloodline of a spirit beast comparable to a Foundation Establishment True Person.

"Hiss..."

As he thought of this, Zhu Yu's heart stirred, but he became even more conflicted. Leaving aside its lame leg, its level of integrity made it obvious that its internal organs and part of its flesh had already decayed. Drawing Yin Baleful Spirit Qi into its body under such conditions would be anything but easy.

That was probably why no one had chosen it.

"At worst, I'll just give it a try..."

After thinking it over, Zhu Yu still decided to take it away.

He liked opening blind boxes too. If he struck the jackpot, a lame leg would be no problem—he could simply spend Spirit Stones to graft on another one.

It all depended on whether it was worth it...

With that thought flashing through his mind, Zhu Yu stood up and beckoned to the gray-robed handyman not far behind him. Once the man approached, he pointed at the tiger Corpse Seed and said, "This one."

"Yes, sir."

The gray-robed handyman answered respectfully, then asked, "Will you be purchasing it with Contribution Points/Spirit Stones, or using a Corpse Field Corpse Seed quota?"

Seemingly noticing that Zhu Yu had not been here long, he carefully explained.

The Corpse Fields within the Underworld Grounds operated under two systems. One was like Zhu Yu's: assigned by the Sect, with the Sect providing Corpse Seeds and the corresponding cultivation materials, while he was responsible for turning in fifteen Living Corpses each year.

The other was leasing a Corpse Field, bearing one's own profits and losses.

"Leasing a Corpse Field..."

Surprise appeared in Zhu Yu's eyes as he asked curiously, "How many Contribution Points/Spirit Stones does it take to lease one mu of low-grade first-rank Corpse Field? And how many Contribution Points/Spirit Stones does one Corpse Seed cost?"

The gray-robed handyman pondered briefly before saying, "This lowly one only knows that leasing one mu of low-grade first-rank Corpse Field for a year costs one thousand Contribution Points/Low-grade Spirit Stones."

"A large ordinary-beast Corpse Seed costs one hundred Contribution Points/Spirit Stones each, while a small Corpse Seed costs fifty."

"I'll use my Corpse Field quota."

Zhu Yu nodded in understanding, then took out his Identity Jade Token without hesitation.

Although he possessed the enormous sum of six hundred Spirit Stones, since the Corpse Field came with quotas, it would be a waste not to use them. At most, after a year and a half, he would receive one fewer Corpse Seed.

The gray-robed handyman accepted it and took out a jade rod-like object from his robes. He lightly tapped the jade token with it, then, as though receiving some information, handed it back and said,

"Sir, this lowly one has already registered the information for you. You may check it."

Zhu Yu sent his Divine Sense into the jade token. A table resembling a status panel appeared in his mind, recording his information: zero Contribution Points, his assigned spirit ground, "Underworld Grounds," and beneath that, one large Corpse Seed already collected.

"That is convenient."

Zhu Yu nodded to himself. Returning to his senses, he circled the Earth Cavern once more, still harboring hopes of picking up a bargain.

He learned quite a bit of information about the Corpse Seeds. There were no lack of Corpse Seeds with high integrity or high mutation degrees, but there was not another one that possessed a bloodline.

"Let's go, let's go..."

Zhu Yu gave up on the thought of finding a bargain and led the gray-robed handyman, who carried the tiger Corpse Seed on his shoulder, out of the Earth Cavern. Under the man's guidance, they turned into a storeroom.

"Please wait here, sir."

The gray-robed handyman said this, then carried the tiger Corpse Seed to the front of the storeroom and whispered a few words to an old man seated behind a table and chairs at the entrance. Before long, he accepted a cloth bag and turned back.

"Sir, it is ready."

"Mm."

Zhu Yu gave a slight nod and turned to leave.

When he reached the main hall, only several gray-robed handymen were sweeping the floor. Upon seeing Zhu Yu, they all bowed in greeting. Looking at the handyman following behind him, their eyes revealed envy.

Outside.

The hills were wreathed in thin black mist, while five waning moons flickered in and out of sight above the vault of the sky. Night in the Underworld Grounds was far darker than in the newly inducted disciples' area.

He did not stop along the way.

Only when nine waning moons met and hung in the sky did Zhu Yu return to the hill of his own Corpse Field.

Wooden house.

Zhu Yu waved at the gray-robed handyman. "Just put it here." He took a Spirit Stone from his sleeve. After the man set down the tiger Corpse Seed and cultivation materials, Zhu Yu held it out with a smile. "You've troubled yourself on this trip."

"Thank you for the reward, sir. It was no trouble, no trouble..."

The gray-robed handyman's eyes immediately brightened. Why else would he willingly endure hardship and carry Corpse Seeds for others if not to earn some hard-earned money? Taking the Spirit Stone, he hastily thanked him again and again.

Just as he was preparing to bid farewell and leave.

"Oh, right..."

Zhu Yu took out another five Spirit Stones and handed them over, smiling. "My house is still lacking some furniture and kitchenware. Help me buy some as you see fit." After a pause, he asked, "Is this enough?"

"It is, it is."

The gray-robed handyman's eyes brightened again at once. He nodded repeatedly, accepted the Spirit Stones, and patted his chest. "Please rest assured, sir. Leave everything to this lowly one. I'll have people deliver it to you tomorrow."

"Go on."

Zhu Yu nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand.

"This lowly one takes his leave."

The gray-robed handyman bowed, then slowly withdrew from the sitting room.

After he had left, Zhu Yu crouched down, took the cloth bag, and opened it. Inside was a foot-tall black Stone Bottle, a jade box, a slightly smaller cloth bag, and a slip of paper.

He picked up the paper and looked at it.

Written on it were: one bottle of "Refined Corpse Beast Oil," one box of "Orifice-Sealing Mud," assorted tools...

Zhu Yu had attended the "Basic Corpse Body Repair and Maintenance Principles" course at the Sutra Lecture Hall, so he was no stranger to Refined Corpse Beast Oil and Orifice-Sealing Mud.

Refined Corpse Beast Oil, as its name implied, was naturally nurtured from piled beast corpses. It contained abundant corpse qi and could help a Corpse Seed stiffen rapidly while maintaining its worn body.

Orifice-Sealing Mud was specifically used to plug the external openings of a Corpse Seed, preventing the Corpse Baleful Intent it nurtured from leaking out.

Zhu Yu opened them and took a look at each.

The Refined Corpse Beast Oil was dark brown. Not only did it lack the stench of decay, it actually carried a faint scent of sandalwood. The Orifice-Sealing Mud was grayish white and odorless; both had clearly been processed.

"Next comes repairing the Corpse Seed..."

Zhu Yu picked up the cloth bag containing the tools and walked over to the tiger Corpse Seed, his expression turning solemn.

According to the jade slip provided by Steward Heng.

A newly retrieved Corpse Seed could not be planted directly into a Corpse Field. Its rotten and useless matter first had to be removed from its body. To prevent further decay during cultivation, it also had to be thoroughly coated with corpse oil.

Zhu Yu recalled the information examined by the True Sight Eye. Circulating spirit qi to cover his nose and breath, he flipped over the tiger Corpse Seed and exposed its belly.

He took several sharp knives of varying lengths from the cloth bag, along with the Corpse-Stitching Needle and Thread, and laid them out one by one.

Zhu Yu picked up a foot-long broad-bladed knife, aimed it at the tiger Corpse Seed's belly, and drove it down hard.

"Riiip..."