Star-Purple Condensed Pistil

Jiang Lu looked at the Black Mystic Iron in her hand, raising an eyebrow.

Was this her reward for doing a good deed?

A free lunch falling from the sky?

“Is this for me?” Jiang Lu asked tentatively.

Le Mengting nodded. “You are my savior. You must have come here to look for Black Mystic Iron. Although this isn't enough to repay you for saving my life, I will definitely repay you if there's an opportunity in the future.”

Looking at her bright, sparkling eyes, Jiang Lu took the Black Mystic Iron.

Then, the corners of her mouth curled up.

“Alright, I'll accept it. Since I'm helping you, I might as well see it through to the end. I'll take you out of here.”

With that, she stored the Black Mystic Iron into her space.

She unleashed several wind blades toward the Numbing Spikes, instantly clearing a path wide enough for two people to leave.

She reached out and pulled Le Mengting along.

Le Mengting looked at the hand extended toward her. The light in the sky filtered through the gaps in the leaves, shining right on Jiang Lu.

It formed a thin halo around her, making her look like a descending deity.

Jiang Lu's face suddenly became blurry, her features obscured by the holy glow.

She froze, her heart beating a little faster. What was this feeling? There was something wrong with her heart!

Was she sick? Her face flushed red, and she lowered her head slightly.

Her hand placed itself in Jiang Lu's palm almost of its own accord. Then, she felt Jiang Lu pull her hand, leading her past the Numbing Spikes and running outward.

Following behind, her mind went blank for a moment. Had she really gotten out just like that?

“Alright, we're even now. Let's part ways here,” Jiang Lu said to her once they reached a safe place.

Le Mengting finally snapped out of it, her eyes gradually clearing. She clasped her left hand over her right, looking at Jiang Lu a bit shyly.

“Um, benefactor, you haven't told me your name yet.”

Jiang Lu thought about it. She did need an alias while traveling. An idea came to her, and she said softly, “My name is Jiang Ye.”

“Jiang Ye...” Le Mengting murmured the name. It really suited her benefactor's temperament.

Inside the pouch, the three beasts watched Jiang Lu lie with a straight face, feeling quite surprised.

They had thought their master was a simple and honest person!

On second thought, an honest person wouldn't do the things their master did. They had a premonition that their future lives would definitely be very exciting.

“Smelly bird, do you think Master has some hidden traits?” Cang Chen winked at Chi Li.

Chi Li nodded. “It's hard to say. I always feel like Master is hiding the same mischievous nature as us. Maybe she's just suppressing it right now because her strength is still low.”

“Jiang Ye, then... until we meet again.”

Le Mengting wanted to say more, but she suddenly felt the bracelet on her wrist flashing with light. Her clan members must be looking for her.

She untied a jade pendant from her waist.

“This is our clan's sub-jade, which represents my identity. If we meet again in the future and there's anything I can help with, I will definitely do so. If you ever encounter trouble from our clan members, showing this can also save your life.”

With that, she stuffed the sub-jade into Jiang Lu's hand and hurriedly ran off in one direction.

Jiang Lu nodded. She accepted this favor.

A life-saving token from a Hermit Clan was indeed very useful.

The Medicine King Pavilion's motto was to make friends rather than enemies.

She deeply agreed with this.

“You three, no more slacking off,” Jiang Lu said, pulling the three little ones out of the pouch and putting on a mock-stern expression.

“Squeak, squeak?”

Mengbao looked bewildered, its eyes pooling with tears as it stared at Jiang Lu.

Jiang Lu: ...

She knew that a language barrier was never a good thing!

If only she could contract it. That way, she would be the first to know whenever there was any treasure.

But no one had ever been able to contract a Treasure-Hunting Mouse. As darlings of the Heavenly Dao, they always possessed some unique traits.

Besides, she didn't even have any contract slots left! She sighed inwardly. But once she dealt with those two and freed up a slot, she could give it a try.

Chi Li and Cang Chen felt a chill run down their backs, experiencing a sudden bad premonition.

“Understood, Master!” Chi Li responded immediately.

Beaten to the punch by Chi Li, Cang Chen curled his lip and hurriedly chimed in, “Mhm, mhm, Master.”

Then, they dashed off into the distance. They were going to find a demon beast's nest and beat them to a pulp!

Jiang Lu: ?

Soon, Mengbao also followed. It jumped down from Jiang Lu's hand and disappeared from her sight in just a few bounds.

Jiang Lu's eyes widened. This was her first time seeing the speed of a Treasure-Hunting Mouse. If she hadn't kept her eyes glued to it, she wouldn't have noticed at all.

Moreover, the Treasure-Hunting Mouse carried no aura. Even if a mighty expert were to come, they would find it hard to detect.

After running a short distance, it looked back to see if Jiang Lu was following.

Seeing this, Jiang Lu's heart softened.

Mengbao was still the most obedient!

Aww~

It was simply too cute!

Seeing Jiang Lu catch up, it immediately ran forward again, quickly catching up to Cang Chen and Chi Li.

As Jiang Lu drew closer, she saw the two spirit beasts facing off against a giant python.

The thick scales on the python's body gleamed with a pitch-black light.

It coiled on the ground, its body as thick as a wooden pillar. Curved fangs glinted coldly in its jaws, its vertical pupils icy as its forked tongue flicked in and out. A faint, foul, toxic mist swirled around its body, making it look incredibly fierce and menacing.

Its gaze was locked onto the two spirit beasts in front of it.

It was a Tier Three Nether-Toothed Python!

Jiang Lu's heart skipped a beat. This was not something a weakling at the Qi Condensation stage like her could face. She looked helplessly at the two spirit beasts standing not far away, both looking completely defiant. These two were really good at finding trouble for her!

A Nether-Toothed Python could reach up to Tier Six. The two fangs in its mouth could shoot venom. If a cultivator did not have a specially made detoxifying elixir, they would die from the poison within half an hour.

It seemed they had trespassed into its territory.

But...

Jiang Lu was slightly puzzled. This was the outer region. Normally, there should only be Tier One or Tier Two demon beasts here. Why was there a Tier Three demon beast?

“Squeak, squeak—”

Hearing Mengbao's cry, Jiang Lu shifted her gaze to where its paw was pointing.

She saw a half-meter-tall spiritual plant behind the Nether-Toothed Python, emitting a faint glow. The patterns on its leaves were enveloped in a purple light.

Around the light, layers of purple powder were drifting down.

It was a Star-Purple Condensed Pistil!

If the Nether-Toothed Python consumed it, it could help it shed its scales and advance into a flood dragon. If a cultivator refined it, it could stabilize their soul and ward off the malevolent miasma released by pythons.

No wonder there was a Tier Three demon beast here. It was because of this plant's existence.

But!

Now, it was hers!

Jiang Lu immediately scooped Mengbao into her arms. “We'll sneak around from behind in a bit and pluck it!”

She then looked up at the Star-Purple Condensed Pistil. Although it wasn't mature yet, she figured Linglong and Ling Xi would have a way to grow it.

She had an inexplicable trust in the abilities of those two.

The Nether-Toothed Python's body slithered continuously.

Two tiny spirit beasts actually dared to oppose it? They were simply courting death!

It then spat out two streams of venom, attacking Chi Li and Cang Chen.

The two beasts quickly retreated to the sides. Then, a jet of water and a pillar of fire shot out, striking back at the Nether-Toothed Python.

Hiss—

A sizzling sound echoed as the attacks hit its scales.

Jiang Lu looked up and saw that under the combined attack of water and fire, the python's scales cracked and fell away, revealing the bloody flesh beneath.