novel-bin Chapter 29: The land was completely looted.
Chapter 29: The land was completely looted.
Before dawn, Tao Tao and his friends set off.
After this incident, Linghu Xuan decided to stick with Tao Tao and never let go, hoping that he could complete the mission without any obstacles.
Throughout the journey, Linghu Xuan was extremely curious about Bai Yan, and would ask him questions every now and then.
"Your double rings are considered high-level magic artifacts, but how can there be such a powerful artifact spirit inside? Logically speaking, your magic artifact shouldn't be able to suppress it."
"I don't know, but it's definitely there."
Tao Tao gave him perfunctory replies, after all, it was a lie told by Bai Yan, and she had no way to explain it.
Seeing that Tao Tao was unwilling to say more, Linghu Xuan had no choice but to stop asking. He was sure that Tao Tao was hiding something.
"What is that!?"
Just then, Tao Tao suddenly saw what was happening ahead and quickly ran over. Linghu Xuan frowned and followed.
In the thatched cottage in front, Tao Tao saw three corpses, all of whom were members of the Sword Forging Sect. Their injuries were unknown, and each of them had a faint red mark on their neck, which was not easily noticed unless you looked closely.
"Could it be murder and robbery?" Linghu Xuan frowned slightly. Although those participating in the trial were disciples of the Seven Sects Alliance and several aristocratic families, there were always some who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Du Yin was a prime example.
However, the fact that three people died or were injured at the same time is still quite alarming, unless the opponent's strength and numbers are superior to theirs.
Tao Tao picked up one of the people's storage bracelets, glanced at it, and shook his head, saying, "It shouldn't be, the things are still there."
"Let me see." Linghu Xuan took it and probed it with his divine sense, discovering that the magic weapon, spirit stones, and medicinal herbs were all there, including a medicinal herb they needed for their mission, the Hemp Star Sunflower.
If it were murder for looting, there would be no reason not to take these things with him, unless...
"A demonic beast?"
"But shouldn't the monsters have just swallowed them whole? Why would they have left their corpses here?"
Tao Tao tilted her head, looking at him with a suspicious expression. She knew this all too well.
"That's true. Anyway, this place is not safe to stay for long. There might be other dangers lurking here. Let's leave first."
"Okay." Tao Tao nodded and got up to leave, but Linghu Xuan quickly stopped her, "Wait, they're all dead anyway, might as well take these medicinal herbs."
As he spoke, Linghu Xuan ransacked the storage bracelets of the three people. He said they were medicinal herbs, but he clearly didn't leave behind any spirit stones, magic tools, or talismans. After he finished, he noticed that Tao Tao was looking at him with a strange look. He smiled awkwardly, touched his nose, and handed one of the storage bracelets to her, saying, "Take it. Everyone gets a share."
Tao Tao took the storage bracelet in a daze. As the two were about to leave, she suddenly turned back and said, "Why don't we see them off?"
"Huh?" Linghu Xuan looked puzzled. He saw Tao Tao take out a fireball spell from his storage bracelet and throw it at the three corpses. Instantly, the three corpses were engulfed by the fire and turned into ashes.
"Well done." Linghu Xuan gave a thumbs up, sweating slightly. Don't let this little girl's usual dazed demeanor fool you; she's incredibly efficient and decisive. It's best not to mess with someone like that.
After burning the three corpses, Tao Tao and his companions continued their journey. After obtaining the Hemp Star Sunflower, their next target was the Jade Hibiscus that grew on Echo Cliff.
According to the map, it shouldn't be a long journey, but Tao Tao gets hungry easily. After walking only a few steps, her stomach started growling. She had already eaten all the food in her storage bracelet, and there was nothing on the road except for a barren grassland.
So Linghu Xuan had no choice but to patiently accompany her to catch a kind of monster called the Fire Cloud Pig in the vicinity. This thing was non-toxic and its meat was tender, making it an excellent ingredient. Since Linghu Xuan was also hungry, he decided to take the opportunity to stock up on some food.
"Is it here? Is it here?" Tao Tao excitedly held two blades of grass, lying in the thatched hut waiting for the Fire Cloud Pig to fall into the trap set by Linghu Xuan. She was so hungry that her stomach was sticking to her back, and she was afraid she would faint if she didn't eat something soon.
Linghu Xuan quickly pressed her fluffy little head down and whispered, "Don't worry, she'll take the bait soon."
No sooner had he said that than a large, fat pig, entirely pink with a single horn on its forehead, came running from not far away, its round body twisting as it sniffed something in the grass.
“Fire Cloud Pigs love royal jelly. I found this stuff in their storage bracelets, and it’s perfect for us. Just wait and see what a feast you can have.” Linghu Xuan said smugly, but Tao Tao didn’t respond. He turned his head suspiciously, but Tao Tao was nowhere to be seen.
Just then, he heard Tao Tao's soft, cute voice, "Little pig, don't run away!"
He looked up abruptly and was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped to the ground.
Tao Tao had transformed into its beast form at some point, baring its fangs and claws as it pounced on the Fire Cloud Pig, scaring the Fire Cloud Pig into running around in panic. In no time, the Fire Cloud Pig's shrill screams could be heard everywhere.
"White, a white monster..."
Linghu Xuan's eyes rolled back and he fainted.
Tao Tao was completely oblivious to this, focused solely on the food. Seeing so many Fire Cloud Pigs, he couldn't help but indulge in a hearty meal.
After what seemed like an eternity, she finally finished eating and returned to Linghu Xuan's side. She transformed into human form and patted his face, "Little brother, do you want some?"
Linghu Xuan, still half asleep, groggily opened his eyes and saw Tao Tao gnawing on a large pig leg. Looking around, there wasn't even a skeleton of a Fire Cloud Pig. Not to mention skeletons, Tao Tao had probably looted the surrounding land, leaving only bare mounds of earth...
If it gets too hungry, will it eat him?
Linghu Xuan immediately jolted awake, quickly sat up, and shook his head vigorously. "I'm not hungry. You eat. Are you full? If not, how about we find some more?"
"I'm full." Tao Tao swallowed the big pig leg with satisfaction, leaving Linghu Xuan dumbfounded.
She patted her belly, feeling quite pleased with herself, but then, remembering what she had just seen, she blinked and said, "There were a lot of corpses over there, and I found this in their storage bracelets."
Seeing the black stone handed to him by Tao Tao, Linghu Xuan took it with a puzzled look. As soon as he touched it, he felt a sharp pain and immediately withdrew his hand, his brows furrowed. "Such powerful strength, are you alright holding it?"
"It's nothing." Tao Tao looked at the stone, but couldn't see anything special about it.
"Put it away first, let's go take a look over there."
"it is good."
Tao Tao put the stone into her storage bracelet. At that moment, Bai Yan's voice came to her mind, "This is a magic crystal, produced in the Demon Realm. It shouldn't be here."
"Did they die because of this stone?"
"No."
"How did they die?"
She asked curiously, but Bai Yan did not respond.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
Seeing that she stood there motionless for a long time, Linghu Xuan waved his hand in front of her eyes.
"It's nothing, let's go." Tao Tao grinned, stood up, and led the way for Linghu Xuan.