The war between ghost cultivators and a plant continued. The various sects of the underground world were very surprised at the reproductive ability of the plant. Not long after they cleaned up Water Ghost Lake, the plant began to appear in other places.
Zhao Hai only planned to use the plant once, so he didnât give it a name. But this plant that Zhao Hai deemed expendable has become a huge headache to the ghost cultivators of the underground world. They even gave the plant a name, Spark Grass. This meant that only a spark was needed to set a vast prairie on fire. Although the name sounded elegant, all ghost cultivators who heard this name couldnât help but clench their teeth in hate.
Like the rest of the underground world, the Ghost Child Gang wasnât relaxed. This was because in the waters near Ghost Child City, spark grass began to appear. For the Ghost Child Gang, this was bad news.
It has already been two months since the Water Ghost Sect has been eliminated. In these two months, the people of the underground world were busy dealing with the spark grass. They also gained some understanding about its abilities.
Spark grass grew on water. Moreover, it reproduces rapidly. Spark grass can grow from seed, reproduce, and release seeds in a very short time. Moreover, each time spark grasses release seeds, they would release a lot. The most important thing was that the seeds were so small that sometimes it was very hard to spot them.
Once a mature spark grass was seen on a body of water, it would be extremely difficult to remove it. What can only be done was to continuously weed them out. This was the best plan that the underground world has come up with.
Originally, there were no spark grasses near the Ghost Child Gang. But without anyone knowing, star grass began to grow on territories surrounding the gang. Although the river close to Ghost Child City was still clean, the Ghost Child Gang still felt a huge crisis.
Speaking of spark grass, it also has certain advantages to cultivators. The light energy it provides could heal people. If it were in the True Spirit Realm, the Great Sects would certainly be happy. This was because the plant would be deemed as high-grade medicine.
Ghost cultivators have the opposite effect. Because of their cultivation method, they have yin qi which is completely opposite to light energy. If ghost cultivators cultivate in the presence of spark grass, their progress would be wasted. They would exert twice the effort but only get half the result. This was something that ghost cultivators cannot accept.
There are plenty of medicines in the world that could heal injuries, but there arenât a lot of places that could provide one with peace in cultivation. If the spark grass could cause the cultivation of ghost cultivators to slow down, then they would do all they could to eradicate it. After all, everyoneâs priority was cultivation.
Zhao Hai didnât expect the spark grass to have such properties. He didnât expect a plant created by the Space to have a huge impact on the underground world.
At the same time, Zhao Haiâs understanding of the Space deepened. Initially, he felt that the Space was no longer as useful as it used to be. But this wasnât the case. The Space was helping him all the time. Spark grass might be an ordinary plant in any other place, but once it was used in the right location, it produced unexpected effects.
The atmosphere of the underground world became turbulent. While all of this was happening, the surface world was quiet. Almost nobody knew that Zhao Hai was causing great trouble to the sects of the underground world. The cultivators were still living their lives.
Laura and the others were spending more and more time in Coiling Dragon City. In Coiling Dragon City, the women could interact with other people and gossip with other women. They can talk about homely things and live ordinary lives. Laura and the others havenât lived this kind of life for a long time.
Laura and the others also became more and more respectable in the eyes of the Coiling Dragon City residents. This was because Laura and the others were very effective in teaching martial arts to the children.
Zhao Hai also returned to Coiling Dragon City once in a while and stayed there for a few days. Although people in Coiling Dragon City didnât know what Zhao Hai was doing, they didnât ask much. This was due to Long Tianâs message allowing Zhao Hai to do whatever he wants.
Although there were a lot of people who didnât understand Long Tianâs decision, they didnât dare to say anything. Long Tianâs status in the Long Clan was very special. Nobody dared to contest his decisions. In the Long Clan, only a few people could receive Zhao Haiâs status.
Naturally, Zhao Hai also returned to the Tyrant Blade Sect during this period. He told the Yin Yang Elders about the elimination of the Water Ghost Gang. When the two elders heard the news, they looked at each other, not knowing how to respond.
But Zhao Hai still spent most of his time in the underground world. He was now an established member of the Ghost Child Gang. Everyone knew that the gang leader looked fondly at him while he also had Shen Yueâs favor. The two could be often seen sharing a few cups of wine.
Such treatment was the source of envy for the Ghost Child Gang cultivators. One could count on one hand the number of people who could share a few drinks with Shen Yue, and Zhao Hai was one of them. How could anyone not be envious?
After more than two months of hard work, the sects of the underground world finally had the spark grass under control. Naturally, they could only control its spread. It was close to impossible for them to eradicate it completely.
Zhao Hai didnât really care if the spark grass was eradicated or not. He was now working on another plot. But this plan would need time to complete.
Just as Zhao Hai returned from his dayâs mission, he found Li Mu standing outside his courtyard. Li Mu was walking back and forth, looking very anxious. Zhao Hai hurriedly said, âSenior Brother Li, why are you here? Are you looking for me?â
Seeing Zhao Hai return, Li Mu quickly stepped forward and said, âYouâre here. Come with me quickly. The Gang Leader is looking for you.â
Zhao Hai couldnât help but stare. Then he went with Li Mu towards Zhong Busanâs study. After a while, the two arrived outside the study. Then Li Mu shouted, âReporting to the Gang Leader, Zhao Ling is back.â
Zhong Busanâs voice was heard not long after, âLet him in.â
Li Mu looked at Zhao Hai and said, âGo in. Donât let the gang leader wait for long.â Zhao Hai complied and then cupped his fist to Li Mu before pushing the door open and walking in.
The Ghost Child Gang was only a small gang. Naturally, it wouldnât have a lot of things. So, when Zhao Hai entered the study, he didnât see a single book. There were only jade slips. Zhong Busan was sitting behind his desk holding a jade slip while frowning.
Seeing Zhao Hai arrive, Zhong Busan placed his jade slip down and then raised his head, âLittle Ling, has it been half a year since you joined the Ghost Child Gang?â
Zhao Hai confirmed, âYes. It has been over six months.â
Zhong Busan nodded and said, âAt this time, people of the Ghost Child Gang know that Iâm favoring you. But do you know why I didnât pass the Ghost Child Gangâs technique to you?â
Zhao Hai shook his head and said, âI donât. Iâll follow the Gang Leaderâs plans.â
Zhong Busan nodded and said, âI do have a plan. The Ghost Child Gang is only a small gang. For a small gang to survive, it needs to attach itself to a sect. Our Ghost Child Gang is working under the Battle Corpse Sect. In other words, if our gang wants to develop, we can only rely on the Battle Corpse Sect.â
Zhao Hai already knew this, so Zhong Busan has no need to elaborate further. Zhong Busan looked at Zhao Haiâs calm expression and said, âIf the Ghost Child Gang wants to develop, itâs necessary to keep a good relationship with the Battle Corpse Sect. To do this, we have to send talented disciples to the sect. Itâs a way to pull the sect closer to the gang. Youâre the one I chose to send to the Battle Corpse Sect.
Zhao Hai nodded and said, âI understand. This is good for both me and the gang. Gang leader can rest assured. Even if I join the Battle Corpse Sect, Iâm still a member of the Ghost Child Gang.â
Hearing Zhao Hai, Zhong Busan couldnât help but give a satisfied nod and said, âGood. Itâs precisely because I plan to let you join the Battle Corpse Gang that I didnât teach you the gangâs cultivation method. Our gangâs methods are different to the methods of the Battle Corpse Sect. If you learn the gangâs techniques, it will make it harder for you to learn the sectâs methods in the future. Do you understand my thoughts?â
Zhao Hai nodded, âGang leader can rest assured. I understand. Zhao Hai thanks the gang leader for your care.â
Zhong Busan waved his hand and said, âThis is also good for the Ghost Child Gang. It will be time for the Battle Corpse Sect to recruit disciples. I want you to participate.â
When Zhao Hai heard Zhong Busan, he was stunned. Then he asked, âGang Leader, doesnât the Battle Corpse Sect recruit disciples from our sect every year?â
Zhong Busan waved his hand and said, âThose arenât disciples. Everyone who joins the Battle Corpse Sect with that method will be turned into battle corpses. But you are different. You will become a Battle Corpse Sect disciple. Therefore, you need to be assessed before joining.â
Hearing this, Zhao Hai asked, âWhat are the contents of this test?â
Zhong Busan replied, âI donât know. The trials of the Battle Corpse Sect are very special. Sometimes, they would assign you to kill someone. Sometimes they will have you pick herbs. There are even times when people are accepted because they are pleasing to the eye. I donât know what trial you need to pass to join the sect.â
Zhao Hai raised his brow and said, âSects like the Battle Corpse Sect have such arbitrary methods to accept disciples?â
Zhong Busan waved his hand and said, âSects have their own rules. Itâs not for us to judge them for it. Go and prepare yourself. The trial from the sect will arrive at any time.â
Zhao Hai cupped his fist and said, âYes, gang leader.â
Zhong Busan looked at Zhao Hai and said, âLittle Ling, although the Ghost Child Gang has followed the Battle Corpse Sect for many years. There are also people from other gangs who joined the Battle Corpse Sect. It has been some time since someone from the Ghost Child Gang joined the Battle Corpse Sect. Our influence in the sect is in decline. This time, I hope that you can remedy this. This way, the Ghost Child Gang wouldnât need to worry.â
Zhao Hai nodded and said, âYes, gang leader. Rest assured, I will join the sect.â
Zhong Busan nodded and said, âAlright, you go back and rest. Donât take missions in the meantime. I have already sent the order to the supply warehouse. You will be provided with everything that you need. You can go.â Zhao Hai cupped his fist towards Zhong Busan before leaving.
Zhong Busan wasnât lying to Zhao Hai. He really wanted Zhao Hai to join the Battle Corpse Sect and become a disciple. But there was one thing that Zhong Busan didnât say; failure wasnât an option during the trial. The Battle Corpse Sect will not give the loser a chance to return to their gang to start over. All of the defeated candidates will be killed and turned into battle corpses.
This was also one of the methods that the Battle Corpse Sect uses to control the gangs. This was because the people who would participate in the trials were all elites of the gang. Even if they failed the trial, as long as they were allowed to recover, these elites would become core strengths of their gangs. If this continues on, the gangs will become stronger and stronger. This would make the gangs harder and harder to control.
Because of this, the Battle Corpse Sect hatched this plan of killing all candidates that failed the trial. Not only would the Battle Corpse Sect obtain powerful battle corpses, they could also weaken the gangs in the process.
Although Zhao Hai has some understanding of the Battle Corpse Sect, his information about the sect wasnât rich. He doesnât know that the Battle Corpse Sect has such a scheme. When he heard that Zhong Busan would have him take the Battle Corpse Sectâs trial, Zhao Hai didnât think much of it.
Zhao Hai returned to his courtyard and immediately used the Space to return to Coiling Dragon City. It was now afternoon, his courtyard in the city should have quieted down.
Just as Zhao Hai thought, when he returned to the courtyard, it was very peaceful. He could only hear a few people talking inside. Zhao Hai smiled and entered. Laura and the others were sitting in the room and chatting. Their topic was the students they were teaching.
Laura and the others were happy to see Zhao Hai return. After Zhao Hai sat down, he looked at everyone and said, âIt seems like moving here has been a great idea. Iâm glad to see that you are all happy.â
Laura smiled faintly and said, âWe are indeed happy. Right, Brother Hai, why did you return this time? Did something happen?â
Zhao Hai smiled and said, âZhong Busan just told me to prepare for the Battle Corpse Sectâs trials. Once I join the Battle Corpse Sect, we will gain a deeper understanding of the underground world.â