Chapter 780: Unexpected Discovery

The old man in the green robe was named Liu Jianghe, a purchasing deacon from a small family. The Liu family had three Foundation Establishment cultivators. While this would be considered a decent family in the Eastern Barren Wei Kingdom, in the Red Moon Sea, the Liu family was an utterly insignificant minor clan.

The Liu family was a vassal of the Jade Sun Sect, regularly supplying spirit grains as tribute. The Jade Sun Sect, in turn, was an affiliated power of the Zhang family.

"Little friend Liu, the quality of this batch of spirit grains is excellent. Here are a thousand spirit stones."

Wang Tianrui said amiably, his warm tone giving one a feeling of comfort and ease.

Liu Jianghe nodded. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Senior Wang, I have a request."

"What is it? Little friend Liu, please speak freely."

"I hear your esteemed family has a 'Hundred Spirits Fairy' who excels at insect expulsion and beast taming. One of our Liu family's second-tier spirit beasts has developed some problems, and we would like to ask the Hundred Spirits Fairy to take a look. Of course, we will provide compensation."

Logically, if the Liu family encountered trouble, they should have sought help from the Jade Sun Sect. However, during a major war over a decade ago, Liu family members who were disciples of the Jade Sun Sect died at the hands of their enemies. Since then, the Song family, a rival power, had gained influence within the Jade Sun Sect. When the Liu family previously sought help from the Jade Sun Sect, the Song family sent disciples to assist, but they arrived half a month late and demanded exorbitant prices, taking a very long time to resolve the issue.

Not long ago, the Liu family encountered a minor beast tide. Although they repelled the invading demonic beasts, many family members were killed or injured, and one Foundation Establishment cultivator tragically died. Even the Liu family's protective spirit beast was injured. Having learned from their past experience, the Liu family was unwilling to seek help from the Jade Sun Sect again.

This situation highlighted the helplessness of small families. They would send promising young talents into immortal cultivation sects, hoping these members would reach the Foundation Establishment stage and secure greater benefits for their family. However, if a family member who joined a sect died and rival forces gained power, the small family's situation would become exceedingly difficult.

The Liu family had been established for less than two hundred years and did not possess any second-tier beast tamers.

It was widely known among the small families in the Red Moon Sea that the Wang family had a 'Hundred Spirits Fairy' who excelled at insect expulsion and beast taming.

The Liu family had existing business dealings with the Wang family, and Wang Tianrui had left a very good impression on Liu Jianghe.

Wang Tianrui was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet he had no airs and treated everyone with grace and courtesy.

Furthermore, the Wang family was related by marriage to the Zhang family, making them, to some extent, even more powerful than the Jade Sun Sect.

"Did you bring the spirit beast? Tenth Aunt is currently in the market; I can invite her over."

Liu Jianghe quickly nodded. "Yes, it's with me," he replied.

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Liu family had to remain at the family estate to guard against attacks from evil cultivators, so they had Liu Jianghe bring the protective spirit beast with him.

Immortal cultivation families typically use secret methods to refine special beast-controlling rings. Only descendants of that family can control the protective spirit beast through these rings. The benefit of this is that even a Qi Refining cultivator can control a second-tier spirit beast using the beast-controlling ring.

"Alright, I'll ask if Tenth Aunt is available," Wang Tianrui said, nodding as he took out a communication plate to contact Wang Qiuli.

"Aunt Qiuli, is Tenth Aunt with you? A regular client has a problem with their spirit beast. I was wondering if Tenth Aunt would be available to come over?"

Soon, Wang Qingling's voice replied, "Yes, I'll head to Hundred Valleys Market now."

Not long after, Wang Qingling appeared in Hundred Valleys Market.

Wang Qingling had already cultivated to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment and could attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage. However, without the aid of Core Formation spirit items, her chances of success were slim. She had twenty years of lifespan remaining, giving her only one opportunity to attempt Core Formation.

Her visit to Green Carp Market this time was twofold: first, to inquire about Core Formation spirit items, and second, to relax and clear her mind, as she had only recently emerged from seclusion.

"Tenth Aunt, you've arrived."

Seeing Wang Qingling, Wang Tianrui quickly stood up, his expression respectful.

"Junior Liu Jianghe greets Senior Wang."

Liu Jianghe quickly performed a junior's bow, his expression respectful.

Wang Qingling waved her hand and instructed, "Alright, dispense with the formalities. Release your spirit beast; I'll take a look."

Liu Jianghe nodded, and with a flick of his wrist, a blue light flew out from the spirit beast bead in his hand.

The blue light revealed a blue python over ten zhang long. Its abdomen was swollen, many scales on its body had fallen off, and there were several golden spirit patterns on its head. The blue python looked listless, lying motionless on the ground.

This was a second-tier mid-grade Spirit Devouring Python. Spirit Devouring Pythons are relatively easy to raise and prefer to consume other spirit beasts.

Wang Qingling pried open the Spirit Devouring Python's mouth and examined its tongue and oral cavity but found no abnormalities.

Her gaze fell on the Spirit Devouring Python's swollen abdomen. She gently pressed it, and the python, as if its sore spot had been touched, immediately turned its head, opened its gaping maw, and lunged at Wang Qingling.

Wang Tianrui was startled, but Wang Qingling remained unhurried. With a flick of her delicate hand, a white light flew out, swiftly wrapping around the Spirit Devouring Python's mouth and sealing it shut.

"Senior Wang, please forgive it," Liu Jianghe quickly explained. "The Spirit Devouring Python is usually very well-behaved; it just can't have its abdomen touched. It should be pregnant. We also have a male Spirit Devouring Python in our family."

Liu Jianghe quickly explained, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.

"It's not pregnant," Wang Qingling stated. "It ate something wrong. There must be something inside its body constantly wreaking havoc. If I'm not mistaken, it hasn't eaten for a long time, has it?"

Liu Jianghe nodded. "It's been several months," he said. "Half a year ago, after it swallowed a Golden Glass Shrimp from the seabed, its appetite significantly decreased. For the past few months, it hasn't eaten anything at all."

"Carry it to the backyard. I'll treat it."

Liu Jianghe and Wang Tianrui carried the Spirit Devouring Python to the backyard.

Wang Qingling took out a dozen bottles and jars. She had Wang Tianrui pry open the Spirit Devouring Python's mouth, then poured some liquid into its mouth, forcing it to swallow.

Not long after, the Spirit Devouring Python began to struggle violently, becoming frenzied.

"Senior, what is this...?"

Liu Jianghe looked worried.

"Don't worry, what it ingested isn't poisonous," Wang Qingling explained. "It's merely helping it expel what's inside its body."

The Spirit Devouring Python's body writhed as if enduring some kind of pain.

Half an hour later, with dull "thump-thump" sounds, a large quantity of black liquid flew out from its tail, followed by an egg-sized golden stone.

"What kind of demonic insect is this?"

Wang Tianrui looked at the dozen palm-sized crimson insects on the ground and asked, puzzled.

The crimson insects had eight claws, their surfaces covered with barbs. They walked much like crabs, but unlike crabs, they had no hard shells.

"These are Blood Crab Worms," Wang Qingling explained. "They parasitize spirit beasts, feeding on their blood until the spirit beast's blood is completely drained. Outside a spirit beast's body, they die easily." She then walked over and picked up the golden stone, discovering it was surprisingly light and had some black patterns on its surface.

The Spirit Devouring Python expelled hundreds of Blood Crab Worms in total before it finally stopped.

Wang Tianrui conjured a green flying dagger and struck one of the Blood Crab Worms. A muffled thud was heard, but the Blood Crab Worm was completely unharmed.

"The Blood Crab Worms' defensive capabilities are not strong," Wang Qingling said. "They are a bit stronger now because they have absorbed a large amount of blood. But if they don't get fresh blood for ten days to half a month, you could crush them with one foot."