The atmosphere inside the shop became subtly charged with Su Muqing's arrival. The shopkeeper had long since ducked behind the counter, not daring to breathe loudly.
Lin Feng suppressed the turmoil within him and handed over the unremarkable brown root tuber as requested. Su Muqing extended a slender jade finger, a wisp of incredibly pure, soft emerald-green spiritual energy swirling around its tip, and lightly touched the tuber's surface.
Hmm… The previously lifeless tuber actually trembled faintly! Beneath its cracked skin, a glimmer of extremely weak, yet exceptionally pure, crimson radiance pulsed! Though it vanished instantly, it didn't escape the notice of Lin Feng or Su Muqing.
"It is indeed the embryo of 'Bloodthirsty Jade Ginseng'. Though its primal essence is damaged and tainted by baleful qi, a core drop of jade marrow essence remains unextinguished," Su Muqing withdrew her finger, a ripple passing through her cool eyes. Her gaze towards Lin Feng held a new level of regard. "Junior Brother, you have excellent discernment. In ordinary hands, this would be mere scrap. But nurtured for a century with Hundred Herbs Peak's secret 'Spirit Nurturing Foundation Array' and 'Clear Dew Jade Nectar', it might have a one-in-ten-thousand chance of reviving and restoring the Blood Jade Ginseng's potency."
She paused, her voice still cool but with a fraction less distance: "This item has some research value for me. If Junior Brother is willing to part with it, I can offer fifty low-grade spirit stones, or... one 'Verdant Wood Amulet'." As she spoke, she flipped her palm. A jade talisman, entirely green like a leaf, materialized, emitting a warm yet resilient spiritual light – unmistakably a top-quality defensive artifact!
The shopkeeper behind the counter sucked in a sharp breath. Fifty stones! Verdant Wood Amulet! This price was hundreds of times the value of that "scrap"! He was sick with regret.
Lin Feng's heart also stirred. Su Muqing was indeed wealthy and discerning. But he had the system! This Bloodthirsty Jade Ginseng embryo held far greater potential in his hands than mere century-long nurturing!
He shook his head slightly, his voice calm. "Thank you for the explanation and generous offer, Senior Sister Su. However, this item also holds significant use for this junior disciple. I must regretfully decline."
Surprise deepened in Su Muqing's eyes. Fifty stones or a top-grade defensive artifact were irresistible temptations for an Outer Sect disciple. Yet this person refused without hesitation? She studied Lin Feng deeply; the confidence hidden beneath his calm gaze was puzzling.
"Since that is the case, I will not insist." Su Muqing gave a slight nod, showing no sign of pressing the matter. She turned to leave but paused, leaving behind a clear warning: "The Hundred Herbs Garden trials are imminent. If Junior Brother intends to use this item as leverage, be wary of those individuals from before. Li Wei bears grudges fiercely. His elder brother, Li Mang, is a squad leader in the Inner Sect Enforcement Squad, at the early Foundation Establishment stage." With that, her figure drifted away like flowing clouds, leaving only a faint trace of plant fragrance.
Lin Feng clenched the root tuber, his gaze sharpening. Li Mang? Early Foundation Establishment? Trouble had indeed arrived. But trouble was the last thing Lin Feng feared! He carefully stored the tuber, purchased a few more seeds labeled "mutated" or "unknown," and left the market.
He had barely stepped beyond the market's edge, entering a sparsely populated bamboo grove path, when three figures materialized like ghosts from the bamboo shadows, blocking his path front and back. It was Li Wei and his cronies, returned!
All trace of Li Wei's earlier panic was gone, replaced by venomous spite. "Brat! Senior Sister Su is gone! See who protects you now! Daring to humiliate me? Hand over that rotten root! Then break one of your own arms, kneel, kowtow, and beg for forgiveness! This young master might show mercy and spare your dog life!" He sneered, his peak Qi Refining Level Seven spiritual power surging. His sword hissed halfway from its scabbard, glinting coldly.
The other two also drew weapons, their Qi Refining Level Six auras locking onto Lin Feng, sealing his retreat.
Lin Feng stopped. Beneath his hat, a cold curve touched his lips. He slowly removed the hat, revealing a young face marked by extraordinary calm. He scanned the three, his voice not loud, but each word clear: "It seems Senior Sister Su was correct. You truly are a pack of... rabid curs who learn nothing."
"Seeking death!" Li Wei erupted in fury. His sword rang fully from its sheath! A fierce white sword light tore through the air, stabbing straight for Lin Feng's throat! "Cripple him!"
The other two also lunged simultaneously! A blade and a staff whistled through the air, attacking Lin Feng's left and right! Their coordination was seamless – clearly seasoned at this dirty work – their strikes vicious and aimed to maim!
Facing the three ferocious attacks, Lin Feng didn't retreat; he charged forward! His left foot stamped the ground, his body sliding sideways like a leopard, narrowly avoiding the lethal throat strike. Ssshk! The sword light grazed his shoulder, drawing a line of blood! But he seemed impervious to pain. His right hand darted into his robes!
"Explode!" A low shout!
Three jet-black seeds, no larger than soybeans but gleaming with metallic luster, shot from his hand with uncanny precision towards the faces of Li Wei and his men! They were the Explosive Peas – mutated Ironvine Seeds he had enhanced with "Hardness" and "Detonation"!
"Projectiles? Petty tricks!" Li Wei scoffed, his sword whirling to deflect. But the seeds, mere feet from their faces, abruptly swelled and detonated!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three blinding flashes of fire erupted with violent shockwaves! Countless black vine filaments, fine as ox hair but hard and razor-sharp, sprayed out like a deadly storm! The area was small, but the effect was vicious!
"Aaargh! My eyes!"
"What is this?!"
Caught off guard, Li Wei and his cronies' protective spiritual shields were instantly pierced by the dense barrage! Faces, necks, arms were instantly riddled with countless tiny bleeding holes! Li Wei, his deflecting sword knocked aside, took several filaments directly into his left eye! Agony ripped a shrill scream from his throat!
Strike when the enemy is down! Cold light blazed in Lin Feng's eyes. He shot forward like lightning, targeting the temporarily blinded Li Wei! In his hand appeared a foot-long whip, black as ink and covered in sharp barbs – the crude artifact he'd crafted from mutated brambles: the Bloodthorn Lash!
The whip's shadow struck like a venomous serpent, whistling through the air, lashing viciously at the wrist holding Li Wei's sword!
"You bastard! You dare?!" Li Wei, blind but sensing danger, roared and swung his sword to block. But his injured wrist slowed him a critical fraction!
CRACK!
The tip of the Bloodthorn Lash snaked around the blade edge like a living thing and slammed onto Li Wei's wrist! The barbs instantly dug into flesh, sinew, and bone! A sickening crunch of shattering bone echoed!
"Aaaaargh—!" Li Wei shrieked in agony. His sword flew from his grasp, his wrist bent at a grotesque angle, blood streaming!
Lin Feng struck once and fled! Without a backward glance, he pivoted off his toes like a slippery eel, darting through the gap between the two cronies clutching their bleeding eyes. His figure vanished into the thick bamboo grove, leaving only an icy pronouncement echoing among the stalks:
"Li Wei, the pain of a broken wrist today is merely interest. Tell your Foundation Establishment brother... at the Hundred Herbs Garden trials... I'll be waiting!"