Transforming into streams of black crows, he surged outward, carrying a palpitating dark power that instantly dispersed the poisonous miasma for several miles around.
"Scan!" Lu Cheng let out a low shout.
In mid-air, a massive blood-colored vertical pupil slowly emerged, scanning the forest below inch by inch, like an eye of true sight, perceiving all secrets.
"Found it!" Not long after, Lu Cheng opened his eyes and pointed in a direction.
The surrounding poisonous miasma persistently chased after them again. Black Crow led the way while dispersing the miasma.
Lu Cheng glanced at Zhang Lexuan behind him. The beauty had a stubborn look in her eyes; even though her soul power was long exhausted and her legs were weak, she refused to say a single word, just desperately following along. Her small face was pale from exhaustion, a few messy strands of hair stuck to her forehead by sweat, and she was panting heavily.
"Trash." Lu Cheng spat out the two words.
Zhang Lexuan turned her head away, biting her red lips lightly, her eyes reddening slightly.
The next instant, she was pulled into Lu Cheng's embrace. They followed closely behind Black Crow.
"..." Zhang Lexuan first stiffened, then went limp, though her neck remained stiff and her cheek turned away, unwilling to look at Lu Cheng; this was her final stubbornness.
Feeling the man's robust aura, his clothes were as clean and fresh as ever, without the bloody smell she had expected.
It was just like when she was a child, tugging at his collar, curling up in his arms, and sniffing his scent incessantly; this made her infinitely fascinated.
"We're here!" A few minutes passed. Black Crow's figure halted. The surrounding poisonous miasma suddenly dissipated.
Seemingly having sensed Black Crow's formidable strength and the terrifying dark energy, the many Jade Phosphorus Seven Absolute Flowers surrounding the valley trembled, no longer daring to be arrogant.
"It's actually real..." Black Crow's eyes were filled with wonder.
Lu Cheng dropped Zhang Lexuan, ignoring her, and walked straight inside.
The woman's complexion looked much better, and looking at Lu Cheng's back, her eyes full of stubbornness, she limped on to keep up.
"Who dares to trespass here!" A fierce but cowardly voice rang out, though just by listening to the sound, one could tell it lacked confidence.
That was true. Although many of the Immortal Herbs here had ten thousand years of cultivation, they were all captive poultry, flowers in a greenhouse, having not a shred of combat experience, let alone being suited for combat at all... Encountering Black Crow's dark energy, they could naturally only tremble, fearing they would be pulled out by the roots.
"Who are you?" Lu Cheng looked at the large pink flower and asked.
"I am the master of this place. Considering you trespassed by mistake, I will spare your lives, so leave quickly..." Youyou stared intently at Lu Cheng and the others, her voice stern, though her petals were trembling.
"Youyou?" Lu Cheng continued.
"How do you know?!" Youyou said, full of shock. "You recognize me?"
"The famous Aromatic Silk Beauty? Naturally I know it." Lu Cheng smiled.
"Ahem, do I really have such a big reputation in the outside world? Teehee..." Youyou's tone changed, and she started giggling foolishly.
"Youyou..." In the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a large fire-red flower emerged, its voice sounding somewhat helpless. It obviously knew that this two-wit couldn't be relied upon in such matters. It then spoke: "The three of you have trespassed here. What is your business?"
"Give him an Immortal Herb suitable for the dark attribute." Lu Cheng pointed at Black Crow and said softly.
"Okay!" Xiao Huo did not waste words; her fire-red petals opened, and a dark purple flower was handed over.
"This is an immortal herb with a pure dark attribute, named the Black Magic Flower. His soul rings are already full, so there is no need to absorb an immortal herb with cultivation."
Lu Cheng nodded, a hint of a smile on the corners of his mouth. He signaled for Black Crow to take it.
"Swallow it; I will be your protector."
"Okay!" Black Crow took the small dark purple flower, his eyes full of heat and excitement, his voice even trembling slightly. He had cultivated dark energy and had been stuck at the peak of level 94 for decades; if there were no changes in the future, he feared it would be difficult to break through this threshold in his entire life. But now... the opportunity had arrived.
He took a deep breath and didn't waste any more words. He took the small dark purple flower and swallowed it directly.
The surrounding dark energy instantly overflowed and scattered; the entire valley darkened, condensing into a massive black crow, its blood-red pupils overlooking the many immortal herbs.
"Do you have any other requests?" Xiao Huo asked softly.
"I want you, Infernal Delicate Apricot." Lu Cheng stared straight at her, his eyes serious.
"What did you say?" Even Xiao Huo was a bit stunned: "Human, I am a hundred thousand-year soul beast." At your age, I doubt you have even reached the Spirit Saint Realm. Even if I sacrificed myself, you would be blown apart."
"You are wrong..." Lu Cheng curled his lips into a smile. One by one, they slowly rose from under his feet. The aura of a peak Spirit Douluo was fully revealed; even though he was seriously injured, it could hardly hide his sharpness.
Xiao Huo's pupils shrank violently. What a monster of a prodigy. It seemed even more perverted than that person back then.
"I have the confidence to become a god. If you sacrifice yourself to me, I am willing to grant you eternal life." Lu Cheng extended his hand with a smile.
"Become a god..." Xiao Huo shuddered violently. Those two spirit beasts from the Star Dou Great Forest back then, ever since they sacrificed themselves to that person, had also risen to the heavens, becoming divine officials and enjoying infinite lifespans.
Moreover, if she really became a god... she could also escape the shackles and imprisonment here and go to the outside world freely. This was indeed a huge temptation. But she was still hesitating. After all, everything was too sudden.
"Hum..." Half an hour later, the dark energy around Black Crow gradually retracted into his body, becoming obviously purer and more powerful; this seemed to be a precursor to the sublimation of his Martial Soul.
And the next instant, that dark black crow underwent an earth-shattering change; complex patterns were engraved on its pitch-black wings, and its blood-red eyes became increasingly eerie.
"Hah!" Black Crow shuddered violently. "Refreshing!" The voice spread throughout the entire valley. His eyes were full of gratitude as he looked at Lu Cheng.
The bottleneck that had plagued him for decades was, at this moment, broken easily, as if it were natural. Moreover, this immortal herb improved far more than just his cultivation realm. It also improved his martial soul quality. This was the most terrifying thing about the Immortal Herb. In other words, his future ceiling had been raised infinitely. Even a Limit Douluo might not be impossible to reach.
"Level 96, breaking through two levels in a row?" Lu Cheng revealed a smile.
"This time, thank you..." Black Crow's eyes could not hide his excitement, and he nodded slightly to Lu Cheng. This favor, indeed, could not be repaid.
"Heh, don't be so dramatic." Lu Cheng smiled faintly. He looked at Xiao Huo again. The latter spoke first: "I am willing to sacrifice."
"No, I mean... her." Lu Cheng acted as if he had expected it, pointing at Zhang Lexuan behind him: "Give her an Immortal Herb too."
"Okay." Xiao Huo nodded. However, Xiao Huo glanced at Lu Cheng, then glanced at Zhang Lexuan: "Do you want to try the Yearning Heartbroken Red?"
Notes:
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
Read advanced chapters at p@atreon/holyangelicdemon
Bonus
50 PS 1 chapter
100 PS 2 chapters
150 PS 3 chapters
Current translation status:
D:WMS |Ongoing| (2/day webnovel, 5/day p@atreon)
Fantasy Giant |Ongoing| (currently p@treon exclusive) (1/day)
Crossover Bizarre Containment |Caught Up|
Two Dimensional Fantasy System |Dropped|