Cultivating Immortality from the Book of Life and Death

Chapter 574 The Harvest. (Second Update!)

A moment later, Zheng Que put the two-zhang-tall alchemy furnace and the bright red coffin into his storage bag.

After looking around and moving around a bit to make sure he hadn't missed any other useful items, he got up and chased after Mu Xiangu in the direction she had fled.

Whoosh...

As the escape technique was used, the blood mist retreated rapidly. The scene within the mist was like a fleeting glimpse, and before one could examine it closely, it twisted into colorful patches and disappeared.

After some time, Zheng Que arrived at a sparse mixed forest.

The vegetation here is sparse and the soil doesn't look very fertile; it's a very common landscape in Xue Tong Pass.

Mu Xiangu stood atop the tallest branch of a wild tree, her wide sleeves fluttering. On a branch diagonally opposite her hung a large, yellow robe. The body that had once been filled with death within the robe was now nothing but stark white bones.

The bones were completely clean, without a trace of flesh or blood.

Judging from the yellow robe, the skeleton was that of the old woman who had just reached the Core Formation stage.

Above the corpse, a long, slender ghost floated, coiling and piling up like a mountain. Without the restrictions of the cultivation room, its fully extended body occupied a part of the sky, and its body was covered with mouthparts, which were slowly chewing something.

It was the "Demon in the Belly" that Zheng Que had refined using the "Yin Spirit Devouring Resentment" technique!
However, the aura of this "devouring creature" was originally at the peak of the [Scissors Prison], infinitely close to the [Iron Tree Prison].

But at this moment, its body was surrounded by a thick layer of Yin energy, and its aura was surging, making it the true "weird" [Iron Tree Prison]!
Zheng Que was slightly surprised. He went to Mu Xiangu's side and quickly asked, "Was this Core Formation cultivator killed by 'The Devourer in the Belly'?"

Mu Xiangu glanced at Zheng Que, but did not open her mouth. She replied telepathically, "This immortal also made a small contribution."

"But this rogue cultivator did indeed die at the hands of that 'weird' thing inside his stomach."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Que nodded slightly and immediately understood that the reason why "Deceptive in the Belly" had suddenly reached the [Iron Tree Prison] level was probably because he had devoured that Core Formation cultivator.

Under normal circumstances, the old woman was, after all, a Core Formation stage cultivator. Although the "Devil in the Belly" had already entered her abdomen, she wouldn't be completely powerless to resist.

However, besides the "trick in the belly", the old woman also had to deal with Mu Xian Gu!

Mu Xian Gu was a ghost at the third level of the Iron Tree Prison, while "Fu Zhong Gui" at that time was only close to the Iron Tree Prison.

Therefore, the old woman must have concentrated all her strength on dealing with Mu Xiangu, and had no time to pay attention to the "monster in her belly". Then, she was eaten dry by the "monster in her belly"...

Having figured this out, Zheng Que did not immediately swallow the "trick in his belly" back into his belly.

Although this "devouring monster" lacks intelligence and possesses only instinct, its cultivation has now reached the [Iron Tree Prison]. If anything unexpected happens, given that it is currently only at the Foundation Establishment stage, it will be in serious trouble...

So he immediately said, "Mu Xiangu, help me catch a 'vengeful spirit,' any cultivation level will do."

Without wasting any words, Mu Xiangu flicked his sleeves and vanished.

A moment later, she returned, carrying a blue-faced, fanged ghost in her hand. The ghost's aura was that of [Scissors Prison].

The ghost was clearly not very intelligent. It didn't dare to move when Mu Xiangu was holding it. But when it sensed the presence of a living person, it immediately stood up and bared its teeth at Zheng Que.

However, the moment the ghost opened its mouth, the "Monster in the Belly" that was suspended in mid-air suddenly stopped eating and, like a long waterfall, swooped down, turning into rolling shadows and entering the ghost's mouth.

The grotesque expression on the ghost's face instantly transformed into extreme terror.

Without hesitation, Zheng Que immediately used the Ghost Control Technique on the [Scissors Prison] ghost. After successfully controlling the blue-faced, fanged ghost, he immediately opened a new Soul Nourishing Bag and put the ghost, along with the "Deep Ghost" inside its belly, into it.

After doing all this, Zheng Que raised his arm, which was bound by golden ropes, and asked Mu Xiangu, "Could you remove this magic artifact from my hands?"

Mu Xiangu glanced at it casually and replied, "I thought you deliberately tied a rope around your arm."

As she spoke, she took out the [Food Soul Ink Weapon] and reminded her, "It can be removed."

"However, this rope is useless now."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Li immediately withdrew his arm and said, "Then let's wait a moment."

"I'm not sure if I can use this magical artifact, so I'll have to keep it for now."

As soon as he finished speaking, he cast a spell to dispel the [Spirit Descent Technique].

The heads on the left and right sides rolled to the ground like ripe fruit, reverting to the appearances of Qing Li and Nian Nu.

The two female ghosts were slightly weak, their yin energy was now somewhat thin, but they were not as unable to move as they were during the "Tongue-Pulling Hell".

This is because their cultivation levels have all reached the [Scissors Prison].

The [Spirit Descent Technique] is only a Qi Refining stage technique, and its effect on the ghosts in the [Scissors Prison] is limited.

Immediately afterwards, Zheng Que shook the soul-summoning banner, taking Qing Li and Nian Nu inside.

He glanced around again, and his gaze quickly fell on the tree roots beneath the old woman's skeleton. There, hidden among the weeds, was a dusty gray sachet, which was the other party's storage bag.

Zheng Li immediately walked over and put the storage bag away.

After walking around the entire thicket and finding nothing else, he ordered, "Let's go back first."

Blood mist swirled and malevolent energy filled the air; as one walked through it, a chill surged up from one's clothes and sleeves.

After some time, Zheng Que and Mu Xiangu returned to Zheng's Market.

At this moment, the market was covered with huge "囍" characters, and a pair of big red lanterns hung on the plaques at the entrances, creating a festive atmosphere everywhere.

Clearly, the ghost bride has already made this her territory.

Zheng Que walked into the market and said to Mu Xiangu as he walked toward the market lord's mansion, "Catch some more ghosts for me, with cultivation levels above [Scissors Prison], preferably all 'fierce spirits'."

"In addition, the more the better."

After giving Mu Xiangu his mission, he stepped into the brothel owner's mansion, not bothering to look at the situation in other places, and went straight into the cultivation room.

After closing the doors and windows, Zheng Que opened the spirit-gathering array and felt the spiritual energy mixed with yin energy rushing towards him. He first opened the soul-nourishing bag and released Ku Lan, Shu Yunying, and Xue Shuangzi. Then he shook the soul-summoning banner and summoned Qing Li and Nian Nu as well.

With all five female ghosts present, he could finally begin cultivating the [United Ghost Hands]...

(End of this chapter)