"Crackle... crackle..."
Gathered around the roasting rack, Wu Qingce and several exotic beasts were devouring the crispy roasted Soul Devouring Beast meat, each bite an absolute delight.
"Senior... Senior Brother, do you have any more spicy peppercorns?"
After swallowing another large mouthful of meat, Wu Qingce looked toward Jiang Beiran and asked. Having already finished his meal and now sipping sour plum soup to aid digestion, Jiang Beiran glanced at him and said, "Don't indulge too much. Have you forgotten spending an entire day in the outhouse last time?"
"I can't help it! Eating meat roasted by Senior Brother without spicy peppercorns is nothing short of sacrilege."
Sighing, Jiang Beiran smiled and tossed a handful of peppercorns to Wu Qingce.
"Many thanks, Senior Brother!"
Catching the peppercorns with both hands, Wu Qingce reached for the meat only to find a single piece remaining on the plate. Without hesitation, Wu Qingce's right hand shot toward the meat—only to find three other claws darting for it simultaneously. One hand and three claws wrestled midair, their owners growling low "Grrrl..." sounds in their throats.
Jiang Beiran made no move to stop them. Seeing others fight over food he'd prepared was always a satisfying sight. In the end, the one human and three beasts tore the meat into four portions, each devouring their share.
"Ah~ Senior Brother's cooking is truly the best under heaven!"
Wu Qingce exclaimed, rubbing his bulging belly.
"Here, drink some sour plum soup to cool the spice."
Jiang Beiran handed a porcelain bowl to Wu Qingce. The previously immobile Wu Qingce immediately stretched out both hands to receive it.
"Many thanks, Senior Brother."
"Gulp... gulp..."
After two mouthfuls of the chilled sour plum soup, Wu Qingce shook his head and sighed, "Senior Brother's sour plum soup—rich and mellow, icy upon first sip, perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, lingering in the mouth like fine wine—is simply marvelous~ marvelous~ marvelous!"
"Still using all the phrases I taught you."
Though Jiang Beiran said this, his expression showed he was quite pleased. Seeing Wu Qingce enjoy the drink so much, the three beasts also turned pleading eyes toward Jiang Beiran, hoping for a taste.
"Only brought one pot. None for you."
Ruthlessly rejecting the three beasts, Jiang Beiran stood and began packing up the roasting tools.
"Oh, almost forgot."
While putting away the iron skewers, Jiang Beiran suddenly looked up at the Bloodshadow Beast and called, "Open your mouth." Still disappointed about missing out on the sour plum soup, the Bloodshadow Beast immediately opened its maw wide, thinking some other delicacy was coming.
"Whoosh!"
A white pill flew into its mouth, instantly dissolving in its saliva.
"Gulp..."
Finding no delicious taste, the Bloodshadow Beast swallowed dryly and looked at Jiang Beiran in confusion. Glancing at the beast, Jiang Beiran casually replied while packing, "What you just ate is called the One-Month Death Pill. Refined over forty-nine days from seven different poisonous insects and red toadstool venom.
After eating it, nothing much happens at first—but when this day comes next month, your Profound Energy will reverse and your body will explode. Though if you're sturdy enough, you might keep your corpse intact." As Jiang Beiran spoke so offhandedly, sweat poured down the Bloodshadow Beast's head until it frantically shoved its claws down its throat to induce vomiting.
"Ah, don't bother. The poison's already spread through your body. No use throwing up now."
"Awoo, awoo... #@&%$" Hearing the poison couldn't be vomited out, the Bloodshadow Beast rolled on the ground in distress, its voice full of grievance and accusation.
Though Jiang Beiran couldn't understand its words, the tone conveyed most of its meaning.
"Don't worry. Where there's poison, there's antidote. Just come back to this birch forest once a month from now on, and he'll bring you the antidote."
Jiang Beiran pointed at Wu Qingce.
"Eh? Me?"
Wu Qingce pointed at himself.
"Who else?"
After burying the charcoal with dirt, Jiang Beiran clapped his hands clean and looked at the Bloodshadow Beast.
"After seventeen or eighteen doses, the poison will be completely purged. It'll pass quickly. Now come, let's go see the Thunder Spirit Flower."
Though filled with resentment, the Bloodshadow Beast knew it stood no chance against Jiang Beiran in a fight and could only follow obediently. Thus, the party of two humans and three beasts slowly made their way deeper into the birch forest. Led by the Bloodshadow Beast, Jiang Beiran soon spotted the Thunder Spirit Flower still in bud.
'Wow... such intense lightning energy.' Just approaching the flower made Wu Qingce's hair stand on end, every strand bristling with static. Just as Jiang Beiran moved to examine the flower's state, two options suddenly appeared: [Option 1: Observe the Thunder Spirit Flower up close.
Reward: Five Thunder Palm (Mysterious Grade, High Tier)] [Option 2: Retreat beyond fifty meters. Reward: Random Basic Skill Point +1] 'Hm!?' Seeing these options, Jiang Beiran paused.
While he knew of the Thunder Spirit Flower's existence, he wasn't deeply familiar with its details. The options suggested it was far more dangerous than he'd realized. Choosing the second option, Jiang Beiran shouted, "Everyone, fall back!"
Understanding the command, Wu Qingce and the Bloodshadow Beast immediately retreated. Though the Lightning-Striped Beast and Evil Laughing Beast didn't comprehend the words, seeing the others withdraw hastily, they quickly followed. The moment Jiang Beiran passed the fifty-meter mark, a deafening "BOOM" echoed as the system notification [Option task completed.
Reward: Chess +1] sounded in his ears. Looking up, Jiang Beiran saw a dark cloud drifting lazily overhead. 'Damn... a tribulation!?'
At this point, it was obvious—this "tribulation cloud" had been drawn by the Thunder Spirit Flower. Before Jiang Beiran could marvel further at the flower's prestige, a bolt of lightning split the night sky.
"KABOOM!"
With an earth-shaking crash, the lightning struck the still-budding Thunder Spirit Flower dead center. Far from being destroyed, the flower began blooming under the thunderous impact. 'Damn, that's impressive...'
Though Jiang Beiran knew little about Thunder Spirit Flowers, he was aware ordinary ones didn't require "tribulations" to bloom. The one before him was clearly a rare variant. 'While common Thunder Spirit Flowers wouldn't make the Rare Flora Records or Exotic Blossom Rankings, this special one... might just earn a spot.'
As Jiang Beiran pondered this, a second heavenly bolt descended.
'Another one!?'
Watching the second lightning strike hammer the flower, Jiang Beiran and his companions were stunned. This flower was absurdly resilient... Nine thunderbolts later, the dark cloud finally dispersed, and the Thunder Spirit Flower fully bloomed.
This was Jiang Beiran's first time witnessing such a miraculous blooming process. The petals of the Thunder Spirit Flower were deepest blue at the tips, gradually lightening toward the base until the stamen appeared nearly white. The pistil was an unusual silver-gray, standing straight like a lightning rod.
Simultaneously, three new options materialized: [Option 1: Wait before picking the flower. Reward: Thousand Lantern Dragon Dance (Earth Grade, Mid Tier)] [Option 2: Consume the Thunder Spirit Flower immediately. Reward: Exquisite Divine Steps (Mysterious Grade, Mid Tier)] [Option 3: Pluck the flower and leave swiftly.
Reward: Random Basic Skill Point +1] (End of Chapter)