“This old man has a Soul-Returning Grass. However, I am not lacking in spirit stones. I wonder if you, fellow Daoist, have other spiritual plants for exchange?” This was the content of the message I received.
I couldn’t believe news came this fast; I had thought I would have to wait for several more days.
“I have plenty of hundred-year spiritual plants. What does Senior need?” I walked to the hospital entrance, edited the message, and sent it directly.
My Storage Ring contained plenty of hundred-year spiritual pearls besides the thousand-year blood ginseng king. In this era of scarce spiritual energy, a hundred-year spiritual plant was absolutely priceless! This old man would surely be tempted!
Sure enough, he replied shortly after I sent the message: “Deal! If you, fellow Daoist, truly need the Soul-Returning Grass urgently, we can choose a location to trade now!”
“I am currently in the capital. How about Hua Da Park near Shenghua University? If agreeable, I will wait for you at the entrance!” I quickly typed and sent the message over!
Not long after, another message came through: “This old man happens to also be in the capital. Wait a moment, fellow Daoist, I will come immediately!”
“Whew…” Reading this message, I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Qin Mengdie could be saved this time.
Thank goodness for the Demon-Slaying Web; otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known what to do.
I put away my phone and ran towards Hua Da Park, which wasn’t far from Shenghua.
I had originally thought about using my levitation skill to fly over, but upon consideration, many students were probably still awake at this hour. Flying recklessly might attract attention, and being discovered wouldn’t be good.
Halfway there, I saw a taxi, hailed it, and rode to Hua Da Park. After all, taking a car was much easier than running all the way.
Arriving at the park entrance, there was no sign of anyone yet. I had no choice but to lean against the stone pillar of the gate and wait for the old man’s arrival.
Before long, a taxi stopped at the entrance of Hua Da Park, and an old man in a Zhongshan suit got out.
I looked at the old man and said tentatively, “Soul-Returning Grass?”
“You are Guihu?” The old man was momentarily stunned, then looked at me and spoke.
Hearing this, I felt excited and said to the old man, “I wonder what kind of spiritual plant Senior needs?”
“Do you really have hundred-year spiritual pearls on you, fellow Daoist?” The old man asked somewhat disbelievingly.
I didn’t speak, directly taking out a hundred-year ginseng.
The old man was first stunned, then shook his head and said, “Although hundred-year ginseng is rare, it is not exactly a treasure. I wonder if you have any other spiritual plants, fellow Daoist?”
“How about this one?” I took out a hundred-year lingzhi mushroom. The old man still shook his head.
“What about this?” This time, I took out an unknown medicinal herb, though it looked to be around a hundred years old.
A glint of light flashed in the old man’s eyes, and he said with some surprise, “Dusk Snow Camellia, and a three-hundred-year spiritual plant at that!”
“Can this be exchanged for the Soul-Returning Grass in Senior’s possession?” I looked at the old man and said.
The old man was stunned, then said with a smile, “Of course, of course. But I wonder if you have any other spiritual plants, fellow Daoist?”
I felt something was off about this old man. Although hundred-year ginseng and hundred-year lingzhi weren’t top-grade spiritual plants, in today’s cultivation world, they were absolutely rare items, yet he looked down on them.
Now I took out this spiritual plant called Dusk Snow Camellia. Judging by his expression, this thing was probably considered heaven-defying nowadays, yet he still wanted me to produce other spiritual plants.
I smiled and said, “Senior, since I, your junior, have produced so many items, shouldn’t you let me take a look at your Soul-Returning Grass?”
“You are right, fellow Daoist. I will take it out now!” The old man paused for a moment, then took a medicinal herb out from his sleeve.
This herb had only three slender, long leaves besides its stem, emitting a faint, dark green fluorescent light.
“This is the Soul-Returning Grass you requested, fellow Daoist. This old man would not deceive you!” As the old man spoke, he put the Soul-Returning Grass back into his sleeve.
I nodded, then pretended to be somewhat helpless and said, “Senior, this junior has been somewhat disrespectful. Actually, I only have these three spiritual plants and nothing else. Seeing that Senior seems interested in this Dusk Snow Camellia, I wonder if Senior agrees to exchange with me, your junior?”
“Sure!” The old man nodded with a smile, reaching his hand into his sleeve as he walked towards me.
However, I felt something was quite wrong. This old man had just asked me for other spiritual plants, but now he readily agreed to the trade. There must be some trick here!
Wait! The sleeve the old man used to take out the herb just now was his right sleeve. Why is he now reaching into his left sleeve!
Moreover, I sensed killing intent! This old man wants to kill me for the treasure!
“I never expected this trip would yield such great harvest! All three hundred-year spiritual plants belong to this old man now!” As the old man spoke, he drew a soft sword from his sleeve and thrust it directly towards me.
Dammit! This old man really wants to kill me!
Seeing this, I quickly retreated, but the True Qi on the soft sword still shredded the clothes on my body.
Thankfully, these clothes had already been torn by that vampire’s sharp claws earlier, otherwise I’d be heartbroken.
I stored the three hundred-year spiritual plants into the Storage Ring, took out the black dagger, and assumed a battle stance.
A flash of surprise crossed the old man’s eyes, and he said excitedly, “When you took out the spiritual plants earlier, I suspected you had a storage ring or similar spatial treasure. I didn’t expect it to be true! Once I kill you, I won’t have to trick newcomers out to seize their treasures anymore!”
Hearing the old man’s words, it seemed he had done this kind of killing for treasure business many times.
My level on the Demon-Slaying Web was still early Stellar Vortex. This old man probably saw my low level and my willingness to trade with hundred-year spiritual plants, so he developed the idea to kill me for the treasure.
“Senior, if you can spare this junior’s life, I am willing to hand over all the natural treasures I have!” I pretended to be panicked.
The old man’s level was mid Stellar Vortex, lower than mine, but he had been cultivating for a long time. His combat experience must be much richer than mine, so it was better to play the pig to eat the tiger.
Hearing this, the old man indeed laughed: “Fine, quickly bring those treasures to me now!”
“Yes, yes, yes!” I hurriedly agreed, then bent over and walked towards the old man.
However, before I could make a move, the old man swung his sword at my head!
I quickly used Spirit Fox Step to dodge the attack and said angrily, “Why doesn’t Senior honor the agreement?”
“Hmph! Killing you means all these things are mine. There’s no need to leave a future threat! When cutting weeds, remove the roots!” The old man spoke and swung his sword at me again.
The old man’s speed wasn’t fast, but each move was fatal and hard to dodge; I was nearly injured every time.
Spirit Fox Step can turn defense into offense. So after dodging several moves, I took advantage of the old man’s momentary lapse to flash behind him.
The black dagger swept down, severing the arm the old man used to hold his sword!
“Ah!” The old man let out a miserable scream, rolled on the ground, and quickly scrambled away.
But I couldn’t give him the chance. I appeared beside him again and raised the black dagger.
Seeing I intended to kill him, the old man quickly said, “Senior, it was I who failed to recognize your greatness. I beg you, Senior, to spare my life! I am willing to give you the Soul-Returning Grass!”
“Oh?” I looked at the old man and smiled, then suddenly stopped smiling, frowned, and said, “If I kill you, the Soul-Returning Grass will naturally be mine. When cutting weeds, remove the roots!” Repeating the old man’s own words, I directly chopped off his head!