A rank smell-laden wind swept in from behind.
Using the momentum from her run, Wen Qiao seized the chance to throw Ning Yuzhou out of the white-bellied wolf spider’s territory. At the same time, she grabbed Wen Tutu and tossed him over as well, saying sharply, “Wen Tutu, protect your elder brother.”
Then she leapt to the side, dodging the foul wind attacking from behind, and quickly urged a length of stone-gold python vine to grow.
The stone-gold python vine sprouted at a terrifying speed. Its golden tendrils were thin at first, then rapidly thickened, growing in an overbearing, rampant manner. Before long, they had filled the space of several zhang around her, blocking the few strands of white spider silk shooting toward her.
The white silk stuck to a section of the stone-gold python vine and dragged it backward, pulling the vine away.
Using the newly grown tendrils as footholds, Wen Qiao leapt swiftly, dodging the several strands of spider silk attacking from behind. Everywhere she passed, wisps of white spider silk clung to the area behind her.
After leaping to the other side of the vines, Wen Qiao finally gained a brief chance to catch her breath. Very soon, she spotted the white-bellied wolf spider on the web ahead. Its body was enormous, like a wild ox, yet it perched lightly on a spiderweb. Its whole body was grey-black, with only its abdomen being white.
Spider silk as thick as a thumb shot out from the white-bellied wolf spider’s abdomen. Each strand stuck to the stone-gold python vine. Wen Qiao jumped across the vines, avoiding the incoming silk. Before long, that cluster of vines was already covered in spider silk, stuck together and unable to move.
Wen Qiao threw out another section of stone-gold python vine and urged it to grow again.
After two rounds of forcing it to grow, more than half of the vital spiritual energy in her spiritual apertures had already been consumed. At most, she could make it grow two more times before her spiritual energy would be completely depleted.
Wen Qiao quickly tossed a spirit-replenishing pill into her mouth, and the spiritual energy in her apertures recovered to about eighty percent.
She grabbed a vine, her body swinging lightly through the air as she dodged the spider silk’s attacks. Constantly shifting and leaping, she unknowingly drew closer to the white-bellied wolf spider.
The white-bellied wolf spider stared coldly at the human who kept trying to approach it. It moved rapidly among the webs around it, and the moment Wen Qiao got close, it decisively retreated, refusing to give her any chance to close in. The spider silk from its abdomen shot toward her without hesitation, intending to bind her up and eat her.
After several attempts, Wen Qiao discovered that this white-bellied wolf spider was extremely cunning and simply would not give her the chance to get near.
So Wen Qiao changed tactics. If she could not approach it, then she would confront it head-on!
This time, when the spider silk attacked again, Wen Qiao did not blindly dodge. She grabbed a vine and waited for the right moment to wrap it around the incoming silk. The spider silk firmly stuck to the vine. She flew upward, then yanked hard backward.
Caught off guard, the white-bellied wolf spider clinging to the web was dragged down by the human below. It crashed heavily onto the clawing stone-gold vines and was quickly wrapped up by them.
Stone-gold vines were unlike ordinary spiritual plants; they were incomparably tough. Although the white-bellied wolf spider possessed a body full of deadly poison, its strength was extremely weak. After being trapped by the stone-gold python vine, it could not break free at all. It struggled anxiously, spraying mouthfuls of venom in an attempt to corrode the vines binding it.
However, before it could free itself from the vines’ restraints, a slender, fair hand pressed down on its head. Then a fist smashed down fiercely.
That punch almost drove the white-bellied wolf spider’s head straight downward. The pain made it struggle violently.
Then Wen Qiao held down the wolf spider bound by the vines and began beating it ruthlessly.
On the other side, Ning Yuzhou, who had been thrown out of the white-bellied wolf spider’s territory, nearly fell to the ground.
Then a little rabbit came flying out after him, landing gracefully and lightly on his shoulder.
Ning Yuzhou quickly steadied himself and looked toward the battle inside. Feeling somewhat worried, he said to the demon rabbit, “Wen Tutu, go in and help your sister.”
Wen Tutu’s little bottom shifted, but he ignored him.
He had to listen to Sister and stay here to protect the alchemist. If anything happened to the alchemist, he would have no spirit pills to eat.
“Be good,” the alchemist said, stuffing a spirit pill into his paws. “Go help your sister.”
Wen Tutu very swiftly stuffed the spirit pill into his cheek pouch, but still did not move. He continued to squat calmly on Ning Yuzhou’s shoulder.
Ning Yuzhou nearly laughed in anger at this little rabbit. He grabbed Wen Tutu off his shoulder and was just about to throw him into the battlefield when he suddenly discovered that the situation had already turned around. Wen Qiao had finally driven the vines to tie up the white-bellied wolf spider and was giving its head a thorough beating.
Ning Yuzhou composed himself and stopped urging Wen Tutu. He continued watching the battle.
Wen Tutu jumped back onto his shoulder, hugged a spirit pill, and licked it while watching the fight inside.
He had great confidence in Sister. Sister would definitely defeat that bad spider.
Wen Qiao beat the white-bellied wolf spider viciously, only stopping after she had broken three of its legs.
The white-bellied wolf spider lay there on its back, its entire spider body looking as if it had been hollowed out. Its gaze toward Wen Qiao carried a trace of fear, and it could not even bother with the legs that had been beaten broken.
Wen Qiao jumped down from the stone-gold python vine. Looking at the two clusters of vines covered in spider silk, she knew they could no longer be retrieved. She sighed, then said to the white-bellied wolf spider, “Let’s leave it at this for today. I’ll come find you for another fight next time.”
White-bellied wolf spider: “…………”
The white-bellied wolf spider’s legs trembled. It continued playing dead, pretending it had not heard that sentence.
Wen Qiao avoided the spider silk on the ground, made a few leaps, and left the white-bellied wolf spider’s territory.
Ning Yuzhou, who had been waiting there, came forward, took her hand, and looked it over. “You’re not hurt, are you?”
“No.” The little girl smiled at him, her small tiger teeth faintly visible, her sweet voice soft as she said, “Although this white-bellied wolf spider is fifth-rank, apart from the strong poison and stickiness of its spider silk, it doesn’t have much else. As long as its silk’s poison and stickiness can be restrained, it’s nothing to worry about.”
By the end, she sounded a little disappointed, having discovered that she had overestimated the white-bellied wolf spider.
After watching the battle just now, Ning Yuzhou had also discovered the wolf spider’s weakness.
Although it was fifth-rank, its combat strength was weaker than that of a true fifth-rank beast. What made it powerful was its poison and spider silk, making it only suited for long-range attacks. If one could get close to it and overcome its poison, it would be very easy to kill.
Earlier, Wen Qiao had taken an antidote pill, so she did not fear the white-bellied wolf spider’s poison. As for its spider silk, Wen Qiao had used the stone-gold python vine to restrain it, easily approached it, and subdued it with brute force. Most cultivators who encountered a white-bellied wolf spider preferred fire attacks or long-range attacks; very few would operate the way she did.
It could be said that this method was unprecedented. Miss Wen Qiao was the first cultivator to use brute force to subdue a fifth-rank white-bellied wolf spider.
Ning Yuzhou smoothed her slightly messy hair and smiled. “Why didn’t you kill it?”
The demon core of a fifth-rank wolf spider was quite valuable. Its demon core was extremely poisonous and suitable for refining certain poison pills, or for neutralizing the toxicity of certain other poisons.
Wen Qiao said, “It didn’t do anything evil or unforgivable. It’s enough to defeat it. I still want to keep it so that next time I’m free, I can come find it for another fight.”
Ning Yuzhou: “…………”
He glanced at the white-bellied wolf spider lying on the ground over there with several broken legs, then patted his little wife’s head. A gentle smile curved his lips. “Mm, then we’ll come find it for another fight next time.”
The husband and wife happily decided this without asking the white-bellied wolf spider for its opinion at all.
The opinion of a defeated opponent did not need to be considered.
On the way back, when Wen Qiao and the others passed through the spirit monkeys’ territory, they stopped.
After walking around, they did not find the spirit monkey king. There were not even many spirit monkeys around, only a few little spirit monkeys hiding in the trees, watching them curiously.
Wen Qiao caught one of the little spirit monkeys that had thrown a spirit fruit at her. A faint smile appeared on her cold, delicate face as she asked, “Where is your king?”
It was rare for the young girl to be so pleasant toward outsiders. Unfortunately, the spirit monkeys did not know how to appreciate it and only chattered at her nonstop.
A look of understanding appeared on Wen Qiao’s face. She turned to her husband and said, “Yuzhou, the little monkey says the monkey king is afraid we’ll ask him for wine, so he’s hiding. Should we go look for him?”
The corners of Ning Yuzhou’s lips curved. “If you like drinking wine, then go.”
“The spirit wine brewed by the spirit monkeys tastes good.” Wen Qiao nodded, her face full of delight. “Wen Tutu likes it too.”
Wen Tutu whimpered in agreement, echoing his sister’s words. Whatever Sister said was right.
“Then let’s go find the monkey king!”
With a wave of her hand, Wen Qiao used both threats and temptation, and finally got the little spirit monkey to agree to lead the way.
The little spirit monkey held the spirit pill it had been bribed with and imitated Wen Tutu, licking it while letting out satisfied cries. Very decisively, it sold out the monkey king’s hiding place.
Wen Qiao soon found the monkey king in a tree hollow.
The monkey king’s monkey face looked utterly hopeless. It chattered angrily at the little spirit monkey, scolding this son for being disobedient. Just one spirit pill, and he had sold out his own father. A son like this was simply born to pit his father.
The little spirit monkey hugged the spirit pill and remained unmoved.
In any case, the monkey clan was like this: one nest could not tolerate two kings—even if they were male and female. Once the little spirit monkey grew up, it would fight its own parents for the position of monkey king. Since this position would be his sooner or later, why couldn’t he decide however he wanted?
The monkey king could not beat Wen Qiao, so he could only lead them dejectedly to collect the wine.
The spirit monkeys’ nest was on an enormous spirit tree. Its green leaves were like a canopy, and when viewed from the sky, it resembled a slope covered in flowing shade. The spirit tree grew against a mountain wall, with half of its trunk almost fused into the rock face. Spring water flowed down from the mountain wall and formed a small pool among the forked branches of the spirit tree. The water was clear and cold, brimming with spiritual energy. No wonder the spirit monkeys could brew such excellent spirit wine.
Wen Qiao and the others stood beneath the tree and looked up.
By now, the stars and moon had risen. The sky was filled with brilliant stars, and starlight filtered through the treetop, making the scene especially beautiful.
The spirit tree was several dozen zhang tall, its trunk twisting and winding like a coiled dragon. A rich wine fragrance drifted down from the tree. Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou found a patch of lush grass beneath the tree, sat down to rest, and drank the wine the monkey king had brought over. Their whole bodies became lazy and relaxed.
The spirit monkeys all recognised Wen Qiao. After all, this was the human who had nearly chased them into the white-bellied wolf spider’s territory, defeated their monkey king, and taken away the spirit wine they had brewed for a hundred years. They would recognise her even if she turned to ashes.
At first, they were somewhat afraid of Wen Qiao, but soon, led by one little spirit monkey, they all crowded around her.
This little spirit monkey was the same one who had led the way for them earlier for the sake of a spirit pill. He was also the monkey king’s youngest son. He was not very old, but his cultivation speed was extremely fast. Given time, he would certainly surpass the monkey king and become the king of this nest of spirit monkeys. The old monkey king could only wait to be driven out.
After Wen Qiao finished drinking, she took out a handful of spirit pills and distributed them to the spirit monkeys gathered around her.
After receiving spirit pills, the spirit monkeys chattered excitedly, extremely happy. One after another, they gave Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou the wine they had brewed and the spirit fruits they had picked.
A single spirit pill had bought over this entire group of spirit monkeys. They no longer thought Wen Qiao was hateful. Instead, they hoped she would come visit them whenever she had time.
Wen Qiao received so many gifts that her hands went soft. She took out a storage pouch and put all the gifts from the spirit monkeys inside.
“Actually, I prefer spirit herbs.” Wen Qiao sat cross-legged there, eating the spirit fruits the spirit monkeys had given her. Her eyes looked as if they were filled with shattered stars, shining brightly.
Ning Yuzhou leaned against the tree trunk, holding a jar of wine, and simply watched the young girl beneath the tree as she ate spirit fruits and chatted with the spirit monkeys.
The night breeze blew gently, and the starlight was dazzling. It made one feel as if the years were peaceful and serene, and certain vague memories from the past had already drifted far away…
Ning Yuzhou and the others rested beneath the spirit monkeys’ tree for the night. After dawn, they left in high spirits.
As they were leaving, the spirit monkeys began chattering. They jumped down from the tree and piled one muddy spirit herb after another in front of Wen Qiao.
Wen Qiao said happily, “Did you find these overnight? Not bad. Thank you.”
As she spoke, she grabbed another handful of spirit pills and distributed them to the spirit monkeys, thanking them for the spirit herbs.
In truth, these spirit herbs were of mixed quality. Some were even just random ordinary weeds that had been grabbed and brought over. But since it was the spirit monkeys’ first time doing such a thing, Wen Qiao did not mind. She picked out a few spirit herbs that she did not already have in her space and rejected the rest. She specially picked out the weeds and told them that she already had those. In the future, if they could find spirit herbs she did not have, she would exchange spirit pills for them.
The spirit monkeys were very happy. They came forward one after another and carefully looked at the spirit herbs Wen Qiao had picked out and rejected, remembering not to bring this kind next time.
Later, during the days Wen Qiao stayed in Cangwu Mountain, the spirit monkeys developed the habit of delivering spirit herbs to them every day and receiving spirit pills in exchange.
After leaving the spirit monkeys’ territory, they returned to the valley.
Although they had not returned for an entire night, the Shadow Scaled Guards were not worried. They had a contract with Ning Yuzhou, and since Ning Yuzhou had not summoned them, they knew there was no danger. Therefore, they did not deliberately go looking for him.
This also gave Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao space to be alone together, and their relationship progressed very steadily.
—
In the days that followed, Wen Qiao continued searching everywhere for demonic beasts to fight, tempering her martial techniques and whip skills. After the white-bellied wolf spider recovered, Wen Qiao went to fight it several more times. Each time, she broke several of its legs.
Yet whenever Wen Qiao left, she would stuff it with a healing spirit pill. Its broken legs would quickly grow back, and then they would be broken again.
Damn it, was this ever going to end?!
In order to avoid being beaten, the white-bellied wolf spider began learning from the spirit monkeys and started giving Wen Qiao spirit herbs.
The spirit herbs the white-bellied wolf spider brought were much higher grade than those brought by the spirit monkeys, and the varieties were richer as well. This was because the white-bellied wolf spider was extremely poisonous, and many demonic beasts were no match for it. When it went to steal the spirit herbs guarded by those demonic beasts, it only needed to poison them, and then it could easily take the herbs away. Naturally, what it found was much higher grade than what the spirit monkeys could gather.
Wen Qiao treated them all equally and also exchanged spirit pills with the white-bellied wolf spider for spirit herbs.
After tasting the benefits, the white-bellied wolf spider became even more enthusiastic about finding spirit herbs. The nearby demonic beasts suffered a terrible stroke of bad luck. All the spirit herbs in their territories were snatched away by the white-bellied wolf spider crossing into their domains, leaving them truly furious.
On this day, the white-bellied wolf spider snatched a Scarlet Star Flower from the territory of a Scarlet Flame Leopard, then left in a swaggering show of might.
Not long after it left, a group of cultivators arrived in the Scarlet Flame Leopard’s territory.
The leader was a young cultivator dressed in splendid brocade robes and jade accessories. His features were handsome, and his pair of affectionate eyes added a somewhat bewitching air to him. Beside him were a pair of pretty twin sisters, leaning close to his side.
There were also several guards around them, closely following and protecting the three.
“Young Master, I heard there is a sixth-rank Scarlet Star Flower here, guarded by a Scarlet Flame Leopard,” one of the twins said in a sweet voice.
“Young Master, that Scarlet Flame Leopard is not easy to deal with. You must be careful. Jiaojiao doesn’t want Young Master to get hurt. Jiaojiao would feel heartbroken.”
The brocade-robed young master shook the fan in his hand and said with a smile, “It’s no trouble. The Scarlet Flame Leopard’s flame is indeed powerful, but I have pure water that can restrain fire. Dealing with it will not be a problem. Jiaojiao, Qianqian, there is no need to worry.”
After hearing this, the twin sisters were very happy. Jiaojiao smiled and said, “If we can use the Scarlet Star Flower to refine Scarlet Sun Pills, then the Shang family will be nothing. How could they be a match for our Wang family’s alchemists?”
“Exactly. I heard that at this Five Cities Pill Conference, the Shang family intends to introduce an earth-grade Baleful Transformation Pill to suppress our Wang family. That is why they sent Shang Honglang and his sister to Cangwu Mountain to search for seven-leaf tongue lingzhi. Who would have thought…” The woman called Qianqian covered her lips and laughed. “By now, they have probably already died in the mouths of demonic beasts, without even their bones remaining.”
The brocade-robed young master listened with a smile as the sisters spoke one after another, but he did not interrupt.
Only when the guard who had gone ahead to scout returned did the brocade-robed young master speak. “How is it? Did you find any traces of that Scarlet Flame Leopard?”
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