As soon as Yun Qi planted the flag, a sturdy Miao tribesman with fiery red hair approached.
He was undoubtedly a disciple of the Redwood Ridge.
He handed over a long-handled golden hammer stained with dark, filthy water and said, "Young Daoist, my hammer has been tainted by the Black Mud from the Hundred Savage Mountains. It's causing my spiritual energy to flow poorly. Can you cleanse it for me?"
Yun Qi took the hammer, which was surprisingly heavy.
The hammer was inscribed with ancient golden characters, but now, under the filth, its spiritual glow was dim.
This was a notorious trick of the Southern Wasteland's demonic sects.
They used the blood of dark snakes, gray foxes, long-whiskered rats, three-legged jackals, and purple toads, mixed with yin stones and rotten herbs, to create a vile liquid called Corrosive Spirit Water.
This substance could severely weaken talismans and magical tools.
If it touched a person, it could strip their skin or worse.
The Miao people called it "Black Mud," a term of disdain for its foul stench.
This substance was a constant headache for the Miao, not just for its corrosive properties but also because the Southern Wasteland's demonic sects bred these yin creatures for their blood, seeing profit in their misery.
To counter this, the Miao relied on practitioners of thunder or fire techniques to cleanse their tools.
Fire techniques were more common in Redwood Ridge, while thunder techniques were rarer.
The Miao man asked, "Young Daoist, do you use fire or thunder techniques?"
Yun Qi replied, "Fire techniques."
He then asked the man to wait, hung a straw mat as a curtain to separate them, and began his work.
The white dog stood guard outside.
The Miao man, still skeptical, warned, "This hammer is made of Yaoshan gold. It's tough but can't withstand intense heat. Be careful not to damage it. If you can't cleanse it, I'll find someone else."
Yun Qi assured him, "Don't worry. I have some secret methods to clean it thoroughly."
Inside, Yun Qi summoned a small flame, carefully burning away the filth without harming the hammer.
The foul liquid sizzled and bubbled, emitting a putrid smell.
After a while, he switched to a golden flame—the Sun's Yang Fire—which melted the filth like snow under sunlight, leaving no trace.
Using the Sun's Yang Fire, Yun Qi completed the cleansing in no time.
He even refined the hammer, removing impurities that had degraded over time.
When he handed the hammer back, the Miao man was amazed.
The hammer shone brilliantly, and his spiritual energy flowed more smoothly than before.
He thanked Yun Qi profusely, who simply smiled and handed him a ledger to record the transaction.
The Miao man, impressed, loudly praised Yun Qi's skills, drawing a crowd.
Word spread quickly, and soon, people lined up to have their tools cleansed or talismans drawn.
Yun Qi, though not yet a master, had a steady flow of spiritual energy, making such tasks manageable.
He even drew a Yang Fire Demon-Slaying Talisman, which proved to be exceptionally powerful, far beyond what was expected from a novice.
The crowd was stunned.
Someone shouted, "I'll take five talismans!" Another, "Seven!" And yet another, "Two will do!"
The scene became lively, and Yun Qi's reputation grew.
End of Chapter 49. Please vote, recommend, and leave comments! Your support is greatly appreciated!