Chapter 202: Deep Gratitude Lives Forever in Soul Dreams

Xu Qing was dissatisfied with the small black bugs he was researching; their external biting method simply didn't meet his standards.

"My research direction should really be two-fold: either making them larger or smaller," Xu Qing mused. After a moment of thought, he chose smaller. Only by making them smaller could they operate silently and kill invisibly. Therefore, Xu Qing adjusted his research focus, continuing to refine and explore in the time that followed. This approach felt comfortable, akin to scholarly pursuit, as he relentlessly sought answers.

Beyond the corpse poison, he even incorporated various toxins he had refined over the past two years. Though these poisons now seemed commonplace, Xu Qing believed they could be consumed by the small black bugs and converted into resistance against other toxins.

"If this round of refining succeeds, I'll have created my first truly effective poison—a living one, no less." Xu Qing considered his current creation to be far superior to his previous poisons. However, his spirit stones were depleting like flowing water during this period, causing him considerable distress. He was buying an enormous quantity and variety of herbs, even acquiring some exceptionally expensive ones without hesitation, purely for experimental purposes. The majority of his final choices were poisonous herbs. Through continuous feeding and repeated trials, he finally discovered the specific herbs that progressively shrank the small black bugs.

This method, however, wasn't perfect. It necessitated numerous dosage adjustments and the cooperation of test subjects for physical examinations. The wanted criminals in the Evil-Catching Division's Earth Department were all dead, and Xu Qing speculated that those in the Heaven Department wouldn't last much longer. This bothered Xu Qing, who felt his poison was at a critical stage. "Should I consider going out to sea again...?"

After some deliberation, Xu Qing abandoned the idea. Instead, he took out a communication jade slip and issued a mission to the entire Evil-Catching Division. Soon after, disciples from the Seventh Peak's Evil-Catching Division surged out with fervent energy, igniting an unprecedented wave of arrests in the Seventh Peak's port district. All wanted criminals still lingering in the port district were terrified. As more of them were apprehended, the overall security of the area dramatically improved.

Simultaneously, observing Xu Qing's growing success, the Captain refused to be outdone. The Intelligence Department frequently launched operations, resulting in the daily apprehension of internal spies. The Captain recorded and disciplined the minor offenders without excessive focus, prioritizing the capture of the "big fish" lurking within. In this manner, the entire port district's atmosphere was rectified.

Consequently, Xu Qing and the Captain's reputations within the sect soared. However, the Captain's notoriety stemmed more from the "mad dog" epithet, while Xu Qing was known as a "ferocious fiend"! The rumor that he was using all wanted criminals within the Evil-Catching Division for poison testing had spread, making Xu Qing's reputation, to some extent, even more chilling than the Captain's.

Even so, Xu Qing's poison testing remained insufficient. He then targeted the Evil-Catching Division's prisons on the other six peaks, but his requests were denied after negotiations. Only the Evil-Catching Division of the First Peak sent over some imprisoned foreign cultivators. Consequently, Xu Qing instructed his subordinates to venture into other districts and apprehend wanted criminals.

Cross-district arrests were highly unconventional, but Xu Qing paid little heed to the taboo. Observing Xu Qing's approach, the Captain likewise began cross-district operations. The Intelligence and Evil-Catching Divisions of the other six peaks grew agitated and swiftly initiated similar actions in their own districts. A fiercely competitive atmosphere permeated the entire Seven Blood Eyes sect.

Another half-month passed. As the Seven Blood Eyes army advanced onto the Sea Corpse Race's homeland for a decisive battle, the internal intelligence and Evil-Catching Division operations within the Seven Blood Eyes sect finally drew to a close. The primary reason was Xu Qing's satisfaction with the number of captured wanted criminals. His research on the small black bugs had progressed significantly; he had even started feeding them black pills.

Moreover, their total quantity had increased from less than half a bottle to five full bottles. Each bottle contained countless small black bugs, so densely packed they resembled a liquid. These bugs were now less than half the size of the original specimens Xu Qing had acquired. A single bug, if released, would be invisible to the naked eye. While their color remained an unchangeable black, a large number of them appeared like a dense black mist.

Most importantly, their lethality. After testing, Xu Qing discovered that once these small black bugs were inhaled, they would instantly reproduce and bite within the host's body. During this process, they would also release vast quantities of exotic substances and potent venom. Furthermore, they were extremely difficult to eliminate. Once inside the body, they embedded themselves deeply, like marrow in bone, wielding immense destructive power.

Xu Qing's research indicated that if he were to face the black-clothed girl now, these small black bugs would likely cause her to die within mere breaths. This level of power, Xu Qing believed, should barely meet his requirements, potentially posing a threat to Golden Core cultivators. Unfortunately, he lacked a Golden Core test subject, but he felt there was a high probability it would have some effect.

"Crucially, these small black bugs can continue to evolve," Xu Qing noted with satisfaction. This was the direct outcome of his continuous research and dedicated acquisition and refinement of herbs. "I hope I never have to truly test the power of these small black bugs on a Golden Core cultivator," Xu Qing muttered, a cold glint in his eyes. For if such a day came, it would mean he was fighting for his life.

Concurrently, Xu Qing dripped his own blood into each of the five bottles of small black bugs. This was his method for controlling the countless creatures. The small black bugs would poison his enemies, and he, in turn, poisoned the small black bugs! These small black bugs required a drop of his blood at regular intervals; without it, they would perish instantly. Their inherent spiritual instinct, despite their lack of significant intellect, compelled them to instinctively protect Xu Qing. For their survival depended on his.

Furthermore, these small black bugs required a significant daily intake of both medicinal and poisonous herbs, a costly regimen. Even though Xu Qing had previously considered himself quite wealthy, he now found himself feeling financially constrained.

He did, however, have one additional gain: the black-clothed girl. She remained imprisoned in the Profound Department, but no longer cursed. Instead, she sat quietly each day. Whenever new wanted criminals were brought in for Xu Qing's poison tests, the black-clothed girl would immediately fix her gaze on him, a growing strangeness in her eyes. She had repeatedly offered her help, and her expression indicated genuine sincerity. This left Xu Qing feeling peculiar. The substantial depletion of his spirit stones also made him anxious, especially since Zhang San's revenue share would still take some time, as port construction itself demanded considerable resources.

Xu Qing then recalled the magical artifacts he had acquired, most of which had been absorbed by the Vajra Sect Patriarch and then completed through forgery. He pondered whether to seek out a black market to sell them. However, just as Xu Qing was considering this, a red jade slip was transmitted directly from the battlefield to the Intelligence Department of the Seven Blood Eyes' Seventh Peak!

A red jade slip denoted a matter of extreme urgency! Only Peak Masters could issue them, and regardless of the distance from the battlefield, they had to be delivered to their designated location within the sect with the utmost speed. Up until this point, only three red jade slips had been issued during this war, each signaling a crucial strategic opportunity that required the sect's immediate cooperation.

This time, however, it had nothing to do with the war; it was sent by Seventh Grandmaster.

Upon receiving it, the Captain scanned it with his divine sense. His expression instantly changed, and after a moment of silence, he set his apple aside and rose, intending to seek out Xu Qing. The next instant, however, he hesitated, then let out a long sigh, ultimately heading directly for Xu Qing's magic vessel.

When the Captain found Xu Qing, the latter was busy organizing his magical artifacts, having already decided to venture out and sell them. Xu Qing hadn't initially thought much of the Captain's sudden visit, but the Captain's unusually grave expression surprised him.

"Captain?"

"Xu Qing." The Captain hesitated, looking at Xu Qing as if he wanted to speak but couldn't. Xu Qing's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the Captain, sensing subtly that something was wrong.

"Xu Qing, the old man has given me a task," the Captain said in a deep voice after a few silent breaths, a look of resolve in his eyes. "This task requires me to leave Seven Blood Eyes and go to Purple Earth, and it's extremely urgent. The old man can't leave the battlefield, otherwise he would go himself. He also instructed me to first ask you if you wish to undertake this task personally."

Xu Qing's expression darkened. He, of course, knew who the Captain was referring to as "the old man."

"Captain, there's no need to hold back. What is it?"

The Captain looked deeply at Xu Qing, then handed him the red jade slip. Xu Qing took it, and as spiritual power flowed into it, a message appeared in his mind: "My dear friend, Master Bai, was assassinated in Purple Earth this morning..."

Upon reading this, Xu Qing's mind roared, and he felt his legs weaken, stumbling back a few steps. His face instantly paled, then flushed with blood, veins bulging on his forehead. The hand clutching the jade slip also trembled slightly. He seemed to be struggling to maintain composure, his breath coming in ragged gasps. An overwhelming sense of unreality surged within him, causing Xu Qing to close his eyes.

In the darkness before his eyes, a tent seemed to materialize, and an ancient, raspy voice, imbued with authority, spoke from within: "Child, you answer!" "Child, from now on, you won't have to stand outside, nor gather those miscellaneous herbs. Starting tomorrow, you'll come inside the tent for lessons." "Between us... know that heaven and earth are the inns for all beings, and time is but a fleeting traveler through the ages. As long as we live, we shall meet again. I hope that the day I see you again, you will have become truly accomplished."

In that dark world, the tent shattered into dust and vanished from Xu Qing's sight. Only the last sentence continued to echo in his ears, becoming eternal.

"As long as we live, we shall meet again," Xu Qing murmured, a salty taste on his tongue. He slowly opened his eyes. Master Bai was, in every true sense, the first teacher who had changed his life.