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墨書 Inktalez
The Blood Linglong possesses a unique characteristic: in order to absorb the nutrients it needs for growth, it continuously emits a sweet scent that carries hallucinogenic properties. This sweetness is an irresistible temptation for most beasts.
But what about the fruits on the tree?
The true fruits of the Blood Linglong lie underground; the ones on its branches are merely a means of luring prey. As the fruits mature and fall to the ground, bursting open, the sweetness released by the Blood Linglong intensifies a hundredfold, until it attracts enough food to allow it to truly mature.
Shu Qingyao shook her head. That cunning insect spirit would likely not be deceived by just a fake fruit.
She lowered her gaze, tears glimmering in her eyes.
Rubbing the corners of her eyes, Shu Qingyao's voice grew increasingly strained.
In truth, even her master was uncertain whether this method would work and had advised her against venturing out, suggesting she stay in Miaochun Valley and spend her last few months with her sister. Yet she had never given up hope.
As she wiped her face, more tears fell.
Several disciples from Miaochun Valley offered their comfort repeatedly.
For a moment, everyone from the Xiaoyao Sect fell into silence, even Zhao Jingjing and others who had initially been eager to take action quietly sheathed their weapons. They looked at Shu Qingyao, feeling quite sorry for her.
Qi Xiao frowned.
Although the Blood Linglong was rare, it was not something Qi Xiao deemed essential.
Rather than keeping such a treasure for themselves, it would be better to use it to save someone in need.
Turning around, Qi Xiao gestured for everyone to gather and shared his thoughts, which were met with agreement from the others.
However, while they could offer the Blood Linglong, it could not be given away for free.
Upon hearing this, Shu Qingyao was pleasantly surprised and quickly agreed.
"Don't worry; I understand this principle. Once I arrive there, I will report this matter to my master, and he will definitely ensure that you do not suffer any loss!"
After saying this, she felt that merely speaking was not enough to convey her sincerity.
Shu Qingyao presented a jade pendant—this was a token only worn by the personally taught disciples of the Miaochun Valley's sect leader. "If you go and I am delayed in returning, you can use this pendant to gain entry."
"With this in hand, no disciple of Miaochun Valley would dare to stop you; consider it proof of your purpose."
Qi Xiao did not refuse and accepted it directly.
As everyone joyfully discussed how to extract the Blood Linglong without disturbing the surrounding pieces, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the air, and several pieces began to thump violently!
If the previous movements could be described as gentle and prolonged, the current thumping was nothing short of intense, akin to a heart racing from strenuous exercise.
With a pop, one piece could no longer withstand the violent throbbing; its membrane burst, splattering juices everywhere. Following that, a series of squelching sounds echoed as more juices were expelled.
One of the pieces drained completely, revealing a palm-sized black insect.
Qi Xiao's eyes widened in shock.
Inside that piece was a Stone Locust!
Quickly, this Blood Linglong had already been parasitized by Stone Locusts, and they were now breaking free from their shells!
Upon hearing the term "Stone Locust," the members of the Xiaoyao Sect, who had already suffered losses before, shuddered and hurriedly ran outside. However, the disciples of Miaochun Valley stubbornly surrounded the Blood Linglong, determined to dig it out as quickly as possible.
Qi Xiao felt a surge of anxiety.
The Stone Locusts were extremely protective of their young. If they sensed any hatching larvae, the remaining locusts would immediately rush over regardless of what they were doing. Although the larvae parasitizing the Blood Linglong were unique and did not resemble ordinary larvae, Qi Xiao dared not take any chances.
I’m almost there; I can dig it out soon.
Shu Qingyao crouched beneath the Blood Linglong as if entranced, oblivious to everything around her.
A nearby Miaochun Valley disciple was bitten by a Stone Locust and sensed danger. He tried to pull Shu Qingyao away but found her unresponsive.
"Sister Shu, hurry! If you don’t move now, it’ll be too late!"
"No! This is my sister's only hope. Even if I die here, I won’t let go!"
The girl’s tone was stubborn; no matter what was said, she seemed unable to hear. The Miaochun Valley disciples were at a loss for what to do.
Just when they were unsure how to proceed, Qi Xiao stepped forward and knocked her unconscious with a swift strike.
The Miaochun Valley disciples stared in shock, wide-eyed and exchanging glances.
Qi Xiao directly tossed Shu Qingyao into their arms. "What are you waiting for? Move!"
After a chaotic scramble, everyone narrowly escaped disaster.
The Xiaoyao Sect disciples fared better since they were prepared for such situations. In contrast, it was the first time for the Miaochun Valley disciples to encounter something like this. They lagged behind and nearly collided head-on with the incoming swarm of locusts but managed to escape thanks to Fu Chong's Thunderfire Talismans.
Everyone stared at the unconscious Shu Qingyao, some feeling troubled.
With the locust swarm approaching, obtaining the Blood Linglong seeds would not be so easy anymore. Qi Xiao shook his head; it was futile. Even if the stone locusts hadn't arrived, the Blood Linglong seeds would still be useless.
Lu Mingyuan scratched his head in confusion and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
The Blood Linglong had been parasitized by the stone locusts. Although it appeared to be thriving, it was already hollow inside. Even if the stone locusts hadn’t come, the seeds dug out from beneath would be of no use.
A few disciples from Miaochun Valley exchanged glances and couldn’t help but sigh. "We suspected as much; we just didn’t want to see Senior Sister Shu waste her efforts."
Compared to this, Qi Xiao was more curious about how the stone locusts managed to parasitize the Blood Linglong, allowing it to continuously hunt and nourish their larvae while converting the essence of the Blood Linglong for their own evolution.
Such a clever tactic seemed unlikely to be devised by such a low-intelligence beast as the stone locust. It was more likely that this was orchestrated by certain cultivators! If that were true, then the whistle they had heard earlier became particularly suspicious.
A single whistle could summon the stone locust larvae to break free from their eggs and call forth the swarm, which nearly caused them great trouble.
After a brief contemplation, Qi Xiao voiced his thoughts. Upon hearing this, several Miaochun Valley disciples turned pale and began to slap their thighs in frustration. "I knew that man couldn’t be trusted! He tricked us into looking for the Blood Linglong to set us up!"
Qi Xiao frowned and immediately pressed for details. "What exactly happened?"
The disciples of Miaochun Valley spoke up in a flurry. It turned out that Shu Qingyao had been searching around Xiaonan Mountain for several days without any hope and was preparing to leave when she overheard a skinny man with a pockmarked face mention a cave containing fragrant red seeds. That’s why they had come here.
Little did they know, following the pockmarked man's directions led them to Qi Xiao, who was about to pick the seeds, prompting Shu Qingyao to rush in and assert her claim, which resulted in their confrontation. The disciples felt quite embarrassed recalling this incident that nearly sparked a conflict between the two parties.
Qi Xiao lowered his gaze in contemplation. Is someone deliberately guiding you here? With such perfect timing, don't you think he wants us to fight?
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