178 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

Chapter 178: Reborn as the Malicious Senior Sister - Day In and Day Out Jiu Ying's heart had never been so overwhelmed by fear in her entire life. This dread was beyond her control, weaving through her being like tendrils of submission and awe. It puzzled her, for now she was the Azure Dragon, a divine beast. No ordinary dragon spirit should instill such intense fear in her, especially not from just a mere dragon scale. As she pondered, the young creature inched its palm forward, casting golden light that danced and flickered across the surroundings. The radiance illuminated an area of several miles, revealing even the ashes of spider silk charred by spiritual fire in the daylight. "It's indeed a dragon spirit's scale." Yu Ping, in a tone filled with surprise, gently urged Jiu Ying upon turning to her. "This is a valuable artifact, are you not going to accept it?" In the soft moonlight, the scale shone even more brilliantly. The surface glimmered with a faint sheen that resembled the thin sheen of water as melting ice dissipates, making it exceptionally eye-catching. Jiu Ying pressed her lips together, offering no response. No one could discern that merely looking at the dragon scale caused her body to tremble uncontrollably. This dragon spirit possessed power beyond mortal imagination. The air remained silent, yet Fu Ling seemed to perceive something, taking the initiative to receive the treasure on behalf of Jiu Ying. "Thank you." Her sincere gratitude left Yu Ping and Qing Tong a bit bashful. As night fell, the master and servant quickly found a corner to rest. When the area was devoid of any other figures, Fu Ling discreetly held the woman's hand and led her to the island's edge they had visited at noon. The dragon scale was stored away, its golden glow vanished, leaving the night sky dark with only a veil of pale moonlight on the sea. An occasional night breeze would stir up small waves, and apart from a chilling coldness, there was a faint hint of the sea's briny scent in the air. "Sister, is there something wrong with the artifact? I noticed its golden glow was pure and righteous, suggesting that it's a dragon spirit's scale, not from an evil dragon." Fu Ling hesitated for a moment but couldn't restrain her curiosity, moving before Jiu Ying to voice her concern. Indeed, Fu Ling's observation was accurate. The scale was enveloped in a pure, flawless golden light. Though its hue was gold, its edges had hints of pale pink, signifying it had likely been buried underground for a millennium. Such a treasure is invaluable for warding off malevolence or crafting potions to enhance one's cultivation. Jiu Ying lowered her eyes, her lips pressed tightly shut. There was an unexplainable aversion toward the golden scale in her heart, the reason for which she could not articulate. She shook her head, declining to answer the previous question and instead redirected the conversation. "Do you have the Dragon Heart Herb with you?" After a busy day, she had forgotten to return the Dragon Heart Herb to its owner. Upon Jiu Ying's inquiry, Fu Ling hastily retrieved the green herb from her sleeve. Having been exposed to the great demon's poisonous miasma, the herb's golden glow had faded significantly. Its four leaves curled slightly, and its roots appeared somewhat withered, its vitality greatly depleted. Holding the herb in her hand, Jiu Ying finally understood why her recovery had been so slow after her rebirth. It was likely due to the Dragon Heart Herb being damaged. She sighed, gently stroking the curled leaves with her fingers. The herb, sensing her presence, relaxed slightly, with the golden light along its edges flickering in response. The damage to the Dragon Heart Herb meant it would need time to heal, indicating she wouldn't be able to cultivate as she once did shortly. In times of danger, she would still have to rely on Fu Ling for protection. This was never the outcome she desired. The waves rolled on, the cold in the air growing sharper, akin to the chill of newly melted snow, sending shivers through every crevice. Jiu Ying's red lips moved subtly, her expression obscure. Regarding the future and her fate, she could no longer predict what lay ahead. The two sat by the shore on the island's rocks for the entire night. When daylight returned, calm reigned over the sea, with no sounds of crashing waves. Yet, inexplicably, the scent of blood grew stronger. Jiu Ying was the first to notice something amiss, her keen eyes scanning the deep sea, yet nothing seemed out of the ordinary until she reached the island's edge. There, she found a shallow pool of water beneath the cliff turned crimson. Clearly, it had been stained by blood. In the Nether Sea, no life existed save for the last Kun. Without witnessing it, Jiu Ying guessed that the Kun beast was likely lurking beneath this water bay. The closer she got to the cliffside, the stronger the scent of blood became. Fu Ling cautiously climbed the cliff and glanced down, discovering the water constantly rippling, as if something hidden within was quivering. "Sister, do you think Si Ding Yun will find this place?" Though phrased as a question, both knew the answer in their hearts. Jiu Ying's expression shifted slightly, drawing her gaze from the rock's base to spot Yu Ping leisurely playing atop a tree. Si Ding Yun would undoubtedly come here to save Si Qi by slaying the Kun beast. Should he discover Yu Ping was still alive, she would undoubtedly be in danger. "He will. Let Qing Tong take Yu Ping away temporarily." Fu Ling nodded, understanding clearly that soon there would be a fierce battle here. After all— Si Ding Yun was far more formidable than the mountain spider. *** The golden strings for trapping demons had been inexplicably destroyed, and the captured Kun beast had vanished, sending Si Ding Yun into a furious rage, venting his wrath on those around him. Over the past few days alone, the five monsters had suffered such torment that they were unrecognizable, injured and crippled. Their suffering was indescribable, but none dared voice a complaint, forced to continue searching for the Kun beast's traces. Before noon, guided by the scent of the Kun beast's blood, the group arrived at the forest where the mountain spider had taken shelter. Qing Tong had already taken Yu Ping away, leaving only Jiu Ying and Fu Ling. Their purpose here was the Kun beast. Si Ding Yun, not noticing the two hidden figures, led his men slowly toward the side of the island. Fu Ling was about to step forward to stop them but was quietly held back by Jiu Ying. "Wait." Jiu Ying shook her head, her demeanor calm as she subtly pulled the young woman behind her. They moved cautiously, making no noise, swiftly navigating a narrow path close to the rock wall. Below the high cliff, the crimson in the sea became even more apparent than in the morning, and as the breeze swept through, everyone could distinctly smell the scent of blood. Undoubtedly, the Kun beast was concealed within the waters there. Si Ding Yun pulled several golden threads from his waist, each soaked in fresh blood — the source of the Kun beast's injury. With just one glance, Fu Ling remembered. Back when subduing the drought demon in East Mountain State, Si Xiao had used this top-grade spiritual tool. She opened her mouth, throat moving slightly, intending to speak, when a hoarse male voice from ahead silenced her instantly— "I soaked the demon-locking golden threads in spirit-dissipating juice for several nights. The Kun beast, wounded by these threads, has had the juice seep into its veins. There's no need to rush; wait until its spiritual energy is exhausted, then dive in and capture it for me." The spirit-dissipating juice is a potion used by unscrupulous cultivators to absorb others' spiritual energy, allowing them to claim it as their own. The Kun beast, cut by the juice-laden threads, would continue to leak its spiritual energy, and in time, all its essence would dissipate. When that moment arrived, it would truly become helpless prey. If memory served correctly, such potions were strictly forbidden among the major sects and clans. Fu Ling furrowed her brows slightly. Though she knew Si Ding Yun was not a noble man, seeing him brazenly disregard the oaths and rules between the clans and families still shocked her. Jiu Ying took note of the scene, her face showing no surprise. She knew— The once unified major sects and families of the righteous path had long since crumbled. Now, they were little more than an alliance in name only, a shell of its former self. The sea of the Nether Sea, tainted with evil miasma, posed a death sentence for anyone daring to enter its waters. Everyone present was well aware of this fact. The monsters had initially submitted to Si Ding Yun on the ship out of a desire to survive. Now, hearing his command to dive into the sea and capture the Kun, fear spread across the faces of all five. Si Ding Yun observed their reactions with clear detachment, lacking any shred of compassion. Retrieving the golden thread, he took out a small, translucent pearl from his sleeve and held it before the five. "This is a Water-Piercing Pearl. Choose one among you to place it into the sea." "One dies or all five; the choice is yours." Cruel and tyrannical threats — who would expect such words from the lips of the second leader of a righteous family clan? In this moment, Si Ding Yun was a thousand times more terrifying than any demon from the Wu Hui Valley. Fu Ling seethed with rage watching the supposedly righteous and upright middle-aged man treat the five monsters as playthings, threatening their lives to force them into mutual destruction. What Fu Ling perceived, the monsters also understood. The five of them, having once stood upon the Bone Ship, were not of low status within the demon clan. Their prior submission was for survival, but with Si Ding Yun making it clear that there was no escape, they weren't willing to be manipulated further. Among them, the youngest one's patience snapped, stepping forward in a fit of anger. "You, Si, don't push it too far!" Si Ding Yun seemed to relish tormenting the weak; he turned, eyes locking onto the young man's pointing finger. A flick of his concealed hand sent a golden thread shooting from his sleeve, severing the young man's right index finger in an instant. Blood splattered through the air, the severed finger rolling on the ground until it came to rest at the young man’s feet. Everyone stood stunned, taking a moment to process the scene before snapping out of their shock. Pain shot to the young man's heart through his severed finger, a pain no ordinary person could endure. Already injured by Si Ding Yun before, the sight of his severed fingertip filled him with fury and grief. Overwhelmed by emotion, he coughed up blood and fainted right where he stood. The golden thread continued to weave through the air, as the four remaining monsters dared not speak up, their anger burning silently but none dared step forward. "Who will place this Water-Piercing Pearl into the sea for me?" The same question remained. The four monsters exchanged glances, yet none responded. The desire to live was one thing, but it didn’t mean they would betray a friend’s life for survival. The silence stretched on, with no one answering the question. Si Ding Yun laughed coldly, devoid of warmth in his eyes, as if the lives before him were of no consequence. "Since none of you are willing, I'll simply send you to the afterlife sooner." It was clear from the start that he never intended to let them live. As soon as he spoke, a black blood dart shot forth from the sky, aimed straight for their throats, offering no chance for struggle or survival. Seeing the dart about to strike, Fu Ling's heart clenched. Half-hidden behind the rock, her fingers gripped the stone so tightly she didn’t notice the shards biting into her palms. She could stay out of it, but her heart was restless with indignation. They say that the righteous humans are good, while the demons and monsters are evil. Yet her recent experiences had blurred those lines. What is good? What is evil? She could no longer discern. Driven by her heart, she longed to slay this so-called righteous man—Si Ding Yun. Perhaps her internal fury was too great, as the Dragon-Slaying Saber began trembling uncontrollably on her back. Jiu Ying's lips moved slightly, observing the emotional turmoil in the young woman beside her with clarity. She lifted Fu Ling's hand from the stone, revealing the bloody streaks etched into her palm. She understood — this was dissatisfaction. The surrounding air was tense, the blood dart closing in on the frightened, defiant monsters, the saber quaking more violently. Jiu Ying released her grip, her cold eyes fixed on Fu Ling— "If you want to save them, go and kill Si Ding Yun." "This time, I cannot help you. Only you can rely on yourself." "Can you do it?" Author's Note: Thank you to the lovely angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solutions between 2021-05-05 02:40:13 and 2021-05-08 23:33:18~ Thanks to the little angel who nourished me with nutrient solution: hh with 10 bottles; Deepest gratitude for everyone's support. I will continue to work hard!