177 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

Chapter 177: Day-to-Day Rebirth as a Malicious Senior Sister Despite their recent intimacy, Fu Ling's gesture of licking her fingers managed to fluster Jiu Ying, leaving her visibly embarrassed. She wanted to explain but found herself at a loss for words. Eventually, she pressed her lips together and said nothing. Amidst the tense atmosphere, the voice of a young girl pierced through, easing Jiu Ying's anxious heart. "Weren’t you leaving, Senior Sister?" "I was, but I couldn’t leave you here alone without peace of mind, so I came back." With those words, Jiu Ying turned and began walking towards the side of the island, her thoughts lingering on the slayer's sword that had been swept away by the giant demon’s poisonous mist. If she wasn’t mistaken, it seemed to have ended up in the center of the Dark Sea. Hearing that her beloved was worried for her, Fu Ling couldn’t help but smile and quickly followed to recount the events within the silk cocoon. Talking as they walked, the two soon approached the edge of the Dark Sea. "The spider wanted to uproot the Dragon Heart Grass, so in my haste, I used the slayer's sword to distract it." "Was it worth losing your weapon for that?" Jiu Ying sighed softly at this, a hint of helplessness crossing her brow. She raised her head, eyes cast over the seemingly calm and endless sea, her lips pressed into a thin line. The mountain spider, driven into the Dark Sea by spiritual flames, now lay as a corpse drifting atop the murky waters. The waters of the Dark Sea had long been tainted with malevolent miasma and corpse energy. What had been a living, breathing spider now appeared as a colossal skeleton. Its remnants of red flesh clung to the white bone frame, giving it a chillingly grotesque appearance. The ghastly sight made Fu Ling furrow her brows tightly. Though she had witnessed the demon fall into the sea, she hadn’t expected such a gruesome end for it. "The waters of the Dark Sea are tainted with corpse poison. Anyone who enters will meet a fate like that spider. Are you aware that your sword is now in those very waters?" Jiu Ying's tone remained calm, but there was an undercurrent of concern. Losing a divine sword for the Dragon Heart Grass was an awfully steep price. At this, Fu Ling paused, her gaze distant as it searched the depths of the Dark Sea. Only now did she realize her sword had followed the spider into the sea. Unlike Jiu Ying's evident worry, Fu Ling wore an expression of serene certainty, showing no sign of concern. "Senior Sister, there’s no need for guilt. The Slayer Sword is a divine artifact. It's been with me long enough to recognize me as its master. No matter where it goes, unless someone deliberately seals it, I will always have a way to retrieve it." Upon hearing this, Jiu Ying felt a sense of relief wash over her. She turned her gaze to the girl beside her, her expression unchanged, but the urgency in her eyes was unmistakable. "Then hurry and retrieve it." After all, it was because of her that Fu Ling lost the sword, and Jiu Ying felt a pang of guilt. Typically aloof and distant, she seldom showed this level of urgency, making her seem more alive, less cold, and even more captivating. Fu Ling caught this change in Jiu Ying, and a look of enchantment flickered across her eyes until a cool breeze snapped her back to reality, prompting a sheepish grin and a nod. Though divine artifacts cannot speak, they possess their own consciousness. Just as Lin Yu Miao could communicate with the Ling Xu Sword within her mindscape, Fu Ling could also establish a connection with the Slayer Sword. As expected, it wasn't long before she had a general sense of the sword's location. True to Jiu Ying's words, her sword rested at the center of the Dark Sea. Unfortunately, no matter how she tried to control it, the Slayer Sword remained unresponsive, as if ensnared by something. "How is it?" The sea’s surface lay calm and undisturbed, without even the slightest ripple, and even the spider’s skeletal remains had somehow sunk beneath the waves. With no sign of the divine sword, Jiu Ying found herself frowning slightly. Fu Ling opened her eyes, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. The setting sun cast a fleeting glow of panic across her face. "Senior Sister, the Slayer Sword seems trapped." The waters of the Dark Sea carried corpse poison, rendering them inhospitable to all life. Over the millennia, the sea became home to a single remaining kun beast. Unbeknownst to her, just as she set the cocoon ablaze, Si Ding Yun and his team were on the opposite side of the Dark Sea hunting the kun, and the sword had coincidentally fallen into the golden net used for the hunt. At this moment, both the sword and the young kun were entangled in the demon-binding golden threads. The Slayer Sword was no ordinary spiritual weapon; typical means couldn’t restrain it. Jiu Ying was surprised but instead of voicing blame, she gently encouraged Fu Ling. "The Slayer Sword is powerful—nothing can hold it. Try once more." The gentle, calm reassurance instantly dispelled the unease from Fu Ling’s face. She nodded, closing her eyes again. Perhaps it was the encouragement from her beloved, but this time, she successfully received a response from the Slayer Sword. Moments later, the divine sword broke free from its binds, moving against the current toward her. The young kun, ensnared earlier, also managed to escape the golden threads, narrowly avoiding death. By the time Si Ding Yun drew in the net, the demon-binding golden threads had snapped in several places. With the retrieval of the Slayer Sword, Jiu Ying finally felt at ease. The pair soon left the seaside, neither noticing that as they turned away— A black dorsal fin poked out of the water, followed by a large, rounded fish head. Two onyx-like eyes gazed intensely at the ground from the sea. This, it seemed, was the elusive kun beast, sought by many but captured by none. Injured by the golden threads, the small creature was marred with several scars. It lingered for just a moment, but already the surrounding seawater had taken on a faint red tinge, the air thick with the smell of blood. It wouldn’t be long before Si Ding Yun came looking. Survival is the basic instinct of all living creatures. Having followed the Slayer Sword here, it hoped someone would save it. Humans couldn’t detect it, but it knew it couldn’t be wrong. It knew— There was a dragon here. In the depths of the forest, most of the once lush vegetation had withered. Yu Ping and Qing Tong, seeing the fiery blaze near the spring from afar, hesitated to approach, fearing their own weak cultivation might cause trouble. Only when the flames dwindled did they cautiously return. When Jiu Ying and Fu Ling arrived, they found the master and servant poking at the ashes with sticks, seemingly believing that the two had perished in the fire while battling the mountain spider. Qing Tong first noticed their return and, without even dropping his stick, ran excitedly to his master. "Master, the two ladies have returned!" Yu Ping, pure-hearted by nature and having lived with the pair for some time, had long considered them his own. Having seldom formed bonds or friendships, he found his eyes inexplicably wet at Qing Tong's words. Such reactions naturally fostered a sense of connection. Fu Ling approached with a smile, sharing the news of the demon’s demise with the pair. By the time Jiu Ying arrived, only Yu Ping’s voice of apology could be heard. "I'm sorry. I couldn’t help you.” Grateful as he was for their life-saving grace, he was ever eager to repay it, yet opportunities always seemed to elude him. Fu Ling, however, paid it no mind, graciously shaking her head. Observing her, Jiu Ying also expressed understanding. "Leaving the demon tribe was already a significant help." At this mention, Yu Ping's face took on a trace of gloom. Staying with the demon tribe would eventually lead to him being consumed as food. As the three conversed, Qing Tong suddenly noticed something, uttered a soft exclamation. Following his gaze to the ground, they discovered something seemed to be buried beneath the muddy earth covered by spider silk ash, faint golden light intermittently seeping out. With the sun just set, darkness was closing in, and had it not been so, none might have noticed the faint golden glow at all. Jiu Ying was the first to react, stepping proactively toward the source of light. "The places where demons reside often house rare treasures; there must be something valuable underground." Fu Ling quickly followed but was cautious not to act impulsively. Yu Ping, eager to assist but without opportunity, perked up upon hearing about the treasure underground. Retrieving his stick, he quickly led the small demon over to help. "If the two ladies don’t mind, why not let a humble servant do the digging for you?" Qing Tong, quick-witted, anticipated Yu Ping's intention before he even spoke. However, in his mind, Yu Ping was always the master, and as a servant, how could he let his master do the dirty work alongside him? Before his master could utter a word, he eagerly took on the task. Jiu Ying glanced at Yu Ping, who wielded a wooden stick, considered for a moment, then nodded her approval. As the night deepened, the golden light beneath the ground grew more pronounced. Qing Tong dug for a lengthy period, yet the treasure remained elusive. Under the quiet canopy of night, the moon rose high, its silver light bathing the world. It was only after a stretch of time, when even Yu Ping's calls from the surface became inaudible, that he finally unearthed the glowing treasure from a trench several li in length. "Qing Tong! Qing Tong!" Yu Ping peered anxiously into the bottomless pit, his face etched with concern. He feared there might be another giant demon like the mountain spider below, ready to devour Qing Tong, his small, vulnerable pigeon. The chilling night breeze brought a shiver with each gust. Fu Ling, with her hands exposed, found her fingertips already turned cold. Perhaps feeling the chill, she tucked her hands into her sleeves, yet the cold persisted, seeping through her clothes, causing her to shiver slightly. Though her cultivation surpassed that of most humans, she often forgot she could repel the cold with her spiritual energy. Jiu Ying sighed silently, her eyes showing helplessness, but she unhesitatingly took the hand tucked within Fu Ling's sleeve. She meant to transfer some spiritual energy to protect the young girl, but as her energy center began to activate, she remembered her own spiritual energy was barely enough to maintain her human form. Unexpectedly, a surge of dissatisfaction and frustration welled up within her heart. She resented being a powerless entity and begrudged the cultivation lost due to her rebirth into a new body. She had no choice in the matter, forced into this body against her will. Thinking of this made her expression darken noticeably. With their hands linked, Fu Ling quickly sensed the change in Jiu Ying's mood. Just as she was about to ask, Qing Tong emerged from the pit, covered from head to toe in dirt. "Qing Tong, are you alright?" Yu Ping showed little concern for the treasure. His primary worry was for his small servant's wellbeing. Under the bright moonlight, the young demon’s face was smeared with mud, looking both dark and silly. He shook his head, his eyes sparkling like stars. He dusted off his clothes as best he could before walking over to his master. "My lord, I’m fine. I’ve retrieved the treasure." Upon hearing this, Yu Ping finally relaxed a bit, promptly bringing Qing Tong over to Jiu Ying and Fu Ling. What could this luminous treasure be? Fu Ling’s curiosity was piqued, compelling her to inch closer. For reasons unknown, as Qing Tong approached, Jiu Ying perceived a powerful and familiar energy. The force of it was overwhelming, nearly beyond her control, and the mere scent of it caused her hands to tremble involuntarily— It was fear. Close to midnight, the world held its breath. All was still except the gentle murmur of leaves in the faint breeze. No other sound broke the quiet. Jiu Ying's heart raced inexplicably, her anxiety mounting, and an overwhelming urge to flee gripped her. Yet her reason prevailed; she had no grounds to leave. Despite the trembling in her fingertips, she forced herself to watch Qing Tong's tightly clenched right hand. Within it rested the treasure that filled her with dread and unease. Why were none of the others affected by this treasure, while she alone responded so strongly? She hadn’t worked this out when Qing Tong extended his hand to her, revealing the treasure within. As the fingers opened, the world erupted in golden light. She saw it—a dragon scale, a golden dragon scale. Almost instantly, she understood that this scale belonged to a powerful dragon spirit— A dragon spirit whose might was such that even she, a divine dragon, could not quell the terror it inspired.