Chapter 203: The Seed of Corruption – He Gave Too Much

Lian Mu wiped the blood off her face, prepared the Spirit Materials, and began the process again, following the steps from last time.

Practice makes perfect. After the first attempt, the second try was much more precise.

The Spirit Water Membrane merged into the Spirit Materials, and Lian Mu immediately manipulated the cooling surface of the forging platform. With her left hand, she channeled her qi, causing the Spirit Water Membrane to burst.

In an instant, the aroma filled the room, so intense it almost made one feel nauseous.

Silver Crane was used to all sorts of strange smells, but Lian Mu was a bit concerned. Would such a strong scent overpower the stomach acid smell of the Greenclaw Toad?

Though the stomach acid of the Greenclaw Toad was unpleasant, it could be crucial in turning the tide at certain moments.

“It’s done!” Silver Crane exclaimed. “The first-tier Spirit Materials have integrated without any repulsion. The Seven Star Leaf truly lives up to its reputation as the most resilient of parasitic spirit plants.”

Lian Mu gradually eased her control, allowing the sword hilt to reshape. As expected, she felt the high-tier Spirit Materials’ capacity to conduct energy.

When she tried using it, the transmission of qi was noticeably faster.

The sword hilt serves as the bridge between the wielder and the blade. Its capacity to conduct energy is crucial; the better it is, the faster the qi flows, allowing for quicker adjustments in battle.

Lian Mu remarked, “High-grade materials are truly extraordinary.”

If the entire sword could be upgraded to first-tier, she couldn’t imagine how smoothly the Wealth Bringer would perform. If she could find a way to dissolve the Sword Contract with Changsheng and achieve complete resonance with the Wealth Bringer, she would no longer have to hold back in fights. Even against renowned swords like Ying You and Lu Feishuang, she would have the qualifications to compete.

Excited, Lian Mu could hardly wait to visit the Flying Sea Treasure Pavilion to claim the Refined Jade.

Silver Crane, observing her green sword, tested it and was amazed.

Such perfect compatibility isn’t just luck. If the intuition for placing Spirit Materials is a talent, then in the face of the Spirit Water Membrane’s manipulation difficulty, that talent is insignificant. What it requires is accumulated experience.

To achieve this at such a young age, she must have spent countless days and nights refining.

Silver Crane commented, “Young friend, you truly have a boundless future ahead.”

Lian Mu replied, “It’s alright. After all, Artifact Forging isn’t my main focus.”

Her words carried a hint of modesty. Although she primarily focused on swordsmanship, she rarely practiced it. While other sword cultivators were fighting for their lives in competitions, she often stayed in her room researching alchemy and Artifact Forging, sometimes pulling all-nighters for days.

She had no choice. With a half-disabled body, lacking both skill and a strong background, and possessing a unique constitution, she had to rely on herself, learning whatever she lacked. As a sword cultivator, she didn’t lack in sword techniques; she had mastered them in her previous life.

“If you said that to other young artifact refiners, you’d get beaten up.”

After saying this, he remembered she was also a sword cultivator. In reality, she was the one who would be doing the beating.

He shook his head. “Young people these days, each more formidable than the last.”

“Your sword hilt has been upgraded with Spirit Materials. Aren’t you planning to make any other modifications?” Silver Crane asked.

Lian Mu replied, “I want to craft a scabbard.”

Silver Crane said, “I thought you might add some water-resistant Spirit Materials. Your flame blade can’t withstand water, can it?”

“I’ve considered it, but now isn’t the time.” Lian Mu had long thought about the Wealth Bringer’s Water Restraint issue, but she planned to address it when modifying the blade.

Her original scabbard was damaged, and she wanted to create one that could house the flame blade. Previously, summoning the flame blade consumed a lot of qi, and during its use, she was easily influenced by demonic beasts’ emotions, requiring time to calm down afterward.

With such a scabbard, extinguishing the flame blade as it’s sheathed could reduce unnecessary qi consumption and immediately sever her emotional connection with demonic beasts.

Silver Crane remarked, “Only those who use swords truly know what they need. A scabbard for sheathing a flame blade… I’ve never heard of such a thing. If you succeed, it will be the first scabbard in the world designed for a spirit blade.”

Spirit blades are difficult to summon, requiring a bond between sword and wielder and a certain destiny. Some sword cultivators never summon a spirit blade in their lifetime.

A scabbard designed specifically for this purpose had never existed before.

If Silver Crane had met her for the first time, he might have thought she was boasting, but after witnessing her skills, he believed she might actually succeed.

“Actually, when I used the Jiao Pearl to control water, I thought of a feasible method,” Lian Mu said. “This approach needs testing. You can leave now. As you said, artifact refiners should have their own secret Artifact Forging methods.”

Silver Crane replied, “…Do you think I want to know?”

Lian Mu asked, “Then why are you staying?”

Silver Crane said, “Really?”

Lian Mu chuckled, “Haha.”

Silver Crane felt a bit awkward. “…”

He could guess it involved the Jiao Pearl, but the specifics intrigued him.

However, as previously mentioned, if an artifact refiner doesn’t want to reveal their methods, he couldn’t force it.

There are few cultivators willing to refine artifacts, so mutual respect and courtesy are common practices among artifact refiners. If they scare off newcomers, their already small numbers would dwindle further.

“I’ve done all I can to help. When will you let me see General Bean?” Silver Crane asked.

Lian Mu replied, “You can see it anytime. It’s so big; can’t you see it?”

Silver Crane said, “When I say ‘see,’ I don’t just mean with my eyes.”

Lian Mu replied, “You want to dissect it? I wouldn’t recommend that. Even my premium demonic crystal blade can’t pierce its shell. Be careful not to ruin your knife.”

Demonic crystal blades are expensive. She had bought one from Xu Xianxing, and she often touched it in her spatial pouch to make sure it wasn’t lost.

“Your Spirit Beast, I wouldn’t dare harm it. I’m just curious about some of its secrets,” Silver Crane said.

Lian Mu replied, “Alright. You can go directly to my friend. She’s walking with it on Flying Sea Street.”

Silver Crane’s face stiffened. “Your friend… won’t poison me, right? Could you give her a heads-up?”

“She knows about our agreement,” Lian Mu said, placing another batch of Spirit Materials on the forging platform. “Besides, she wouldn’t waste poison on someone like you.”

Silver Crane was silent for a moment. “…”

What kind of person was he?

He felt a bit belittled…

Silver Crane pursed his lips and quietly left. Just as he was about to step out the door, he suddenly stopped. “Oh, one more thing. Gong Yu isn’t dead.”

Lian Mu responded calmly, “Hmm.”

She had anticipated this. The half of the flame beast’s qi within Gong Yu was his life-saving charm.

Now that the flame beast was dead, its qi dissipated, and he was just an ordinary person again.

“He said he’ll leave the Flying Sea Pavilion on the day of the finals. Before that, he wants to see you.”

Lian Mu had no time or interest in meeting him. “There’s no need for a private meeting. Once I stand at the top of the rankings, he’ll naturally see me.”

Silver Crane smiled slightly. “You’re really hitting him where it hurts.”

To make the once-greatest beast master watch as a new champion ascends the stage was a severe blow.

Lian Mu asked, “Doesn’t he dislike you? Why did he ask you to pass on the message?”

And yet, Silver Crane had indeed agreed to help.

Silver Crane replied, “Because he promised me that if I delivered the message, he’d give me the rare Spirit Materials he’s collected over the years in exchange. I wasn’t inclined to get involved, but he offered too much.”

Lian Mu was speechless.

How infuriating. Couldn’t he just come to her directly instead of sending someone else?

Seeing others easily profit from her affairs was more frustrating than suffering a loss herself.

Lian Mu said, “Tell him to give me the stuff, and I’ll go see him myself.”

Silver Crane grinned. “Too late, it’s already in my storage.”

With a smug expression, he swiftly exited the room.

…

Silver Crane arrived at Flying Sea Street and saw a young girl in purple leading a giant scorpion down the street. Although Flying Sea Pavilion was never short of people walking their Spirit Pets, seeing the top-ranked Spirit Pet out for a stroll was a first.

Most demonic beasts that ranked high were ferocious. Even though Flying Sea Street had formations to prevent them from going berserk and harming people, their appearance alone could scare many.

General Bean was different from previous top-ranked Spirit Pets. It didn’t look very smart, moving its multiple legs in a clumsy, stop-and-go manner. Its turtle-like eyes, resembling green beans, stared blankly, not at all matching its formidable name.

It only showed its fierce side when devouring demonic beasts in the Beast Fighting Arena. As a result, when it was brought out, instead of scaring people away, it attracted curious glances.

Ji Mingyue had brought it out not just for a walk but to spread General Bean’s fame, akin to a victor’s parade after a match, as Bai Su suggested.

Silver Crane approached and greeted Ji Mingyue, maintaining a respectful distance. “Young friend, I’m here to claim my prize too.”

Ji Mingyue handed him the leash of Green Bean. “Take it away quickly.”

She was exhausted and uncomfortable under so many watchful eyes. If Lian Mu hadn’t asked, she wouldn’t have ventured into such a crowded place.

Green Bean’s eyes shifted, and upon seeing Silver Crane, it raised its pincers, ready to strike.

Silver Crane dodged to the side. “Don’t get excited, I won’t dissect you.”

Ji Mingyue watched him dodge around and asked, puzzled, “Why are you so keen on getting close to it? Just because it’s a Spirit Beast?”

Silver Crane smiled without answering.

Taking advantage of General Bean’s inattention, he placed a hand on its back and extracted a trace of spiritual energy.

After sensing the energy fluctuation within, Silver Crane’s smile faded slightly. “…”

So that’s it.

Since General Bean first devoured a demonic beast in the Beast Fighting Arena, he had noticed something. Its ability to transform into black mist and reconstruct its body was clearly a self-repair method used by high-level demon races.

Today confirmed it. There was indeed the aura of a high-level demon race within it, and it was on the verge of partial demonization.

The only thing that could cause a Spirit Beast to demonize was the presence of corrupt energy. Someone had planted a seed of corruption within it, and judging by the degree of demonization, it had been at least two hundred years.

Was this the real reason the Pavilion Master wanted General Bean?

Amidst the bustling crowd, Silver Crane fell into deep thought.