Hostile Intent

Hostile Intent

"Did you really make it?"

A hint of surprise appeared on Xie Ling'er's normally cold face. When she saw Xiao Liang nod, she naturally took the bamboo case from his hands.

Opening it, she saw transparent glass containers neatly arranged inside. Aside from a few with some bubbles, they were practically perfect.

Even more valuable was that these transparent containers were completely uniform in size and specification.

If someone from Blue Star had been here, they would have recognized them at a glance as glass test tubes, commonly found in chemistry laboratories.

But on the Sky Mist Continent, they were likely appearing for the first time.

"Senior Sister Xie, are you satisfied?" Xiao Liang asked with a smile.

"Satisfied. Very satisfied. With these, it will be much more convenient when I refine medicinal liquids!"

Xie Ling'er had never expected that after she casually complained to Xiao Liang once, he would tell her that he might have a way to make another kind of container to solve the problem.

And now, he had truly made them.

The ceramic bowls used by alchemy apprentices always had unavoidable errors when measuring portions of spiritual herbs. Furthermore, because alchemy apprentices possessed such weak spiritual sense, they could not accurately assess a herb's medicinal properties.

As a result, the failure rate when preparing materials for pill refinement was extremely high.

In the past, alchemy apprentices could only rely on repeated trial and error to develop an incomprehensible sense of touch.

Or they had to work hard to raise their cultivation until they could freely use their spiritual sense for inspection.

Now that Xie Ling'er had this set of glassware, it was tremendously important for her to smoothly get through the early and middle stages of being an alchemy apprentice.

To exaggerate a little, its value was no less than that of a magical artifact.

But that was not how negotiations worked.

Although Xie Ling'er was one of the rare cold-faced but kind-hearted people among demonic cultivators, she was by no means some naïve fool.

The delight on her face lasted only a few seconds before she restrained it again and put on a cautious, indifferent expression.

"I presume you've also seen that this set of tools is useful to me. Though its use is limited, I am willing to pay a price to obtain it."

Xie Ling'er pondered for a moment. "Tell me, Junior Brother Liang. What do you wish to trade for?"

"Senior Sister is straightforward, so naturally I wouldn't dare waste your time. I want to trade for a bottle of Corpse Demon Pills, preferably Superior Corpse Demon Pills!"

Seeing her expression shift slightly, Xiao Liang sighed inwardly. Before she could speak, he handed over a Spirit Stone pouch and added, "I have also saved up thirty-five Spirit Stones. That should make up some of the difference."

"Hmm, Superior Corpse Demon Pills..." Xie Ling'er hesitated as she weighed the matter, then stared at the beautiful test tubes in the bamboo case. With a helpless sigh, she finally said, "Fine. I can get them for you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Senior Sister Ling'er!" Xiao Liang let out a sigh of relief. The price he had offered was actually slightly lower than the value of Superior Corpse Demon Pills, but he truly had nothing else to offer for the moment.

Hearing this opportunist address her so intimately, Xie Ling'er shook her head and shot him an annoyed look.

"Corpse Demon Pills are the best nourishment for Zombies in the Qi Refining Stage. They can increase their potential and consolidate their yin energy. Even at the Elixir Hall, supply cannot meet demand. And you want superior-grade pills—their value is double that of ordinary ones!"

"I'm giving you a bargain this time. If you come up with any more strange and clever tools in the future, remember to show me first!"

"Of course, of course. I, Xiao Liang, will remember Senior Sister's kindness!"

With the most important spiritual pill secured, Xiao Liang was in an excellent mood and could barely restrain the urge to head to the Resident Evil World and refine corpses.

"Phew. When facing major matters, stay calm. I've practically wagered everything I own. If the refinement fails, the grand competition half a year from now will be in jeopardy."

Xiao Liang took several deep breaths, a shadow flashing through his eyes as he thought to himself, Besides, there are several people in Little Ghost Hall who don't get along with me. If I perform poorly in the grand competition, they definitely won't hesitate to kick me while I'm down!

Just as Xiao Liang achieved his goal and prepared to return to his stone chamber to cultivate, a burst of clamor came from the entrance to the mountaintop platform.

Xiao Liang had intended to leave in that direction anyway, so he followed the crowd over. The moment he looked up, he frowned.

"It's Qi Meng, and that hypocrite Qi Yunkai. Why are they here? The person on the ground... tch, it seems to be Liang Hao. What rotten luck!"

They said enemies were bound to cross paths. He had just been thinking of those filthy bastards, only to encounter the two he found most detestable. Xiao Liang could not help sighing.

On the mountaintop platform, a scrawny young man in gray robes was violently shoved to the ground. His clothes were already covered in muddy footprints.

The storage pouch tied at his waist had also been forcibly taken by his attackers and emptied upside down.

The low-grade storage pouches used by Qi Refining Stage disciples had no mana imprint. As long as someone used mana to activate them, anyone could use them.

However, most of what spilled from the storage pouch was worthless clutter. There were none of the sparkling Spirit Stones his attackers most wanted to see.

"Liang Hao, have you gotten too comfortable lately? The Spirit Stones you offered up this month were all used goods that had already absorbed spiritual energy!"

"Does it feel good making me use your secondhand trash?"

A tall and burly cultivator stood there like a giant bear. His face was cold as he viciously kicked the scrawny cultivator curled up on the ground.

Just from the dull sound of that kick and the saliva the man on the ground spat out in pain, it was obvious the blow had been heavy.

"Qi Meng, forget it. This kid's a poor bastard. Even if you beat him to death, you won't squeeze a single Spirit Stone out of him!"

Qi Yunkai stood nearby, leisurely fanning himself with a folding fan. He sounded as though he was trying to persuade Qi Meng, but he was clearly harboring ill intent.

Xiao Liang noticed that one of Qi Yunkai's boots was planted on Liang Hao's hand. As the boot slowly ground down, the bones and joints in his hand made sickening cracking sounds.

In only a few moments, that hand had nearly been crushed into a mangled mass of flesh wrapped around shattered bones!

Liang Hao twisted in agony until he passed out. A few seconds later, he woke with another miserable scream.

This was the Demon Sect, where the strong bullying the weak was nothing unusual. Still, it was rare for two probationary disciples to be so vicious toward their fellow disciples in broad daylight.

A man setting up a stall nearby snorted and said displeasedly,

"What's the background of that guy with the folding fan? He's arrogant enough. He hasn't even entered the outer sect yet, but he's already throwing his weight around in front of so many outer sect seniors!"

"That kid is called Qi Yunkai. Don't be fooled by the fact that he's a probationary disciple. He has Twin Spirit Roots, and his potential surpasses ours. Entering the outer sect is only a matter of time."

"Heh, and that's not all. They say Qi Yunkai has the backing of a core disciple. Even some outer sect elders treat him differently!"

The people nearby chimed in one after another, concerned only with watching the show.

No one had any intention of stepping forward, especially after hearing the words "core disciple." Quite a few people inwardly shuddered.

A core disciple was someone who had received the true inheritance of the Ten Thousand Demon Cavern. Whether Qi Yunkai's backing was real or not, no one wanted to risk offending a core disciple.

Wherever there were people, there would be conflict, much less in a demonic sect brimming with hostility.

Although Xiao Liang cared only about breakthroughs and cultivation and never meddled in other people's affairs, he could not avoid getting dragged into undeserved trouble.

Just like now.

Liang Hao lay on the ground, barely alive, his gray robe almost soaked through with sweat. In his agony, he happened to catch sight of Xiao Liang standing behind the crowd.

He knew that Xiao Liang had always disliked Qi Yunkai. Because of that, Qi Yunkai had constantly wanted to make trouble for him, but Xiao Liang was too slippery and had never given him the chance.

Liang Hao's eyes immediately shifted. As if he had found a savior, he disregarded everything and screamed hoarsely.

"Xiao Liang... Brother Xiao Liang, is that you? Save me! Hurry, save me! Ahhh!!!"

As he shouted, his uninjured hand pointed stiffly in Xiao Liang's direction, as though afraid someone might fail to notice.

"Damn it. He's always dragging others into trouble. Just as expected, pitiable people must have something hateful about them!"

Xiao Liang's gaze turned cold. Just as he was about to turn and leave, Qi Yunkai curled his lips into a smile and frivolously pointed his folding fan at him.

"Junior Brother Liang, seeing your two senior brothers here, why haven't you come over to pay your respects? Instead, you're trying to leave. That is truly a grave discourtesy!"

Xiao Liang slowly clenched his hand. He saw the deep hostility concealed in Qi Yunkai's eyes. It seemed this matter would not be easy to settle today.

(End of Chapter)