Chapter 206: Bloodthirsty Vine

"Boss Leng, the goods have been detained, but the people have not been caught."

"Director Huang, what’s going on? Didn’t we agree to detain both the people and the goods?"

"The one named Zhu hired a group of mercenaries, all of whom are Spiritualists. I was worried that my men might have a conflict with them, which could make things messy, so I instructed them not to catch the people for now."

"But don’t worry, I don’t believe Zhu Runfu can afford the mercenaries’ fees for long. As soon as they leave, I’ll have someone arrest Zhu Runfu. You know, due to that accident, the situation on Silver Gray Star is unstable, and supervision is very strict, so we must be cautious in our actions."

"Alright, then. Thank you, Director Huang, for your crackdown on these unscrupulous dealers. I believe the whole herbal medicine market will become more regulated after this."

"Haha, Boss Leng, you’re too kind. I’ll have someone send the goods to you shortly."

"Thank you. In a few days, I’ll host a banquet at the Chaoyang Grand Hotel, and I hope you can make it, Director Huang~"

"No problem, see you then."

After the call ended, the smile on Leng Yuanshan’s face instantly disappeared.

"Useless. In your territory, you’re scared by a few mercenaries. No wonder you’ve been on the sidelines for decades."

Compared to that batch of goods, Zhu Runfu himself was what he valued most.

He wanted to know from Zhu Runfu how this batch of Spiritual Medicines and Spirit Fruits from the Elves was brought in through which channel.

If he could grasp this supply chain, then the Yuan Shan Group would undoubtedly soar, with its market value skyrocketing dozens or even hundreds of times.

Unfortunately, that useless Huang Zhongwang ruined his plan.

"By the time you catch him, it’ll be too late."

Leng Yuanshan dialed a number, his voice icy:

"Kidnap Zhu Runfu and his son for me! Be aware, there’s a group of Spiritualist mercenaries by Zhu Runfu’s side, so you’d better act when they’re not around. With his wealth, he can’t afford very capable mercenaries. Act quickly and don’t let anyone find out."

"Yes, Boss!"

A low voice came from the other end of the line.

Leng Yuanshan hung up, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"Some people always overestimate themselves, meddling where they shouldn’t, but it may just cost them their heads."

......

The vast, desolate desert was bathed in endless sand.

In the barren desert, a solitary figure stood with a sword, the Profound Iron Blade Body hanging low.

The next moment

He pressed his toes into the sand, his hand with bulging veins suddenly gripping the sword hilt tight.

"Serpent Bolt Thrust!"

In an instant—

The blade tore through the air, purple lightning snaked along the sword’s spine like a living creature, coalescing mid-air into a menacing phantom of a Thunder Serpent. As the serpent’s head flickered, arcs snapped and crackled, and the dunes were reduced to butter-like collapses, the edges of a ten-meter-wide pit smoldered with charred, molten traces, heat rising in waves.

"Thunder Wing Soar!"

A fierce shout scattered the sand in the air, and two pairs of membranes woven by thunder suddenly unfurled on the man’s back, each "feather" coursing with liquid lightning.

In the moment of takeoff, the sand below was swept skyward by a brutal upsurge, and when the figure wrapped in Lei Yao plummeted like a meteor, the entire desert began to tremble, as if quivering in fear of the impending celestial punishment.

Thunder Blade Qi cleaved the earth.

With a thundering crash, a sandstorm vortex of a hundred-meter diameter erupted at the desert’s center, countless arcs darted like silver serpents within the storm’s eye, illuminating the sky as if it were daylight. The sand struck by the lightning crystallized mid-air into a glass-like state, refracting myriad tiny rainbows.

Whoosh~~

The sandstorm swept past, but never approached his body.

Qin Tian gestured with one hand, unleashing a torrent of Spiritual Power. The next moment, the raging sand froze as if the world had been paused, then the grains began to fall, like a rainfall of dust.

"It’s truly deserving of being a Silver Level swordsmanship, much stronger than the ’Thunderbolt Saber’."

Qin Tian sheathed the Black Frost with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Silver Level Martial Techniques wield enormous power, too mighty for most venues to accommodate practice.

Thus, he came to the Hatu Desert, reputed as one of Silver Gray Star’s death zones, to cultivate ’Celestial Punishment Nine Strikes,’ ’Dark Prison Demon-Suppressing Fist,’ and ’Celestial Thunder Fall,’ among other martial techniques and spells.

This place is vast and remote, and no one would come to disturb him.

"Where has Kazik wandered off to again?"

Qin Tian looked into the distance, as the Black Gate opened, he stepped through.

Swish

The scenery before him shifted.

Below, a black mantis taller than a grown man stood atop the head of a massive sandworm. The sandworm’s head was severed from its body, dark green liquid seeping into the sand, staining it dark.

"Hoo hoo!!"

Upon seeing Qin Tian’s arrival, Kazik waved its front limbs as if greeting him.

"Whoa, you managed to take out a big one too~"

Qin Tian jumped down and placed a hand on the sandworm’s skin. Soon, a green orb flew into his body but was devoured by ’Sandstorm Control.’

"Pity, it’s a redundant Type talent."

Qin Tian shook his head, then raised his hand, revealing the Green Vine Ring wrapped around his wrist.

"Go ahead."

Hiss~~

The Green Vine Ring suddenly grew, its top sharp like a crusader’s spear, plunging into the sandworm’s body.

Gurgle gurgle~

The sandworm’s blood continuously flowed into the Green Vine, which thickened and lengthened visibly, its vine swelling as if digesting greedily. The bulging masses moved up and down, sliding across the vine’s surface before absorbing swiftly into the deeper veins, leaving only a network of vein-like patterns under the skin.

The sandworm’s huge carcass quickly shrunk within a short period, its skin clinging to its bones, soon becoming just a dried skeleton.

Poof~~

The Green Vine withdrew from the sandworm’s body, its tip stained with a bit of blood, twisting and writhing as if a joyful child dancing.

"Come back when you’re full."

Qin Tian chuckled.

Hiss~~

The Green Vine received the command, shrinking rapidly back into a Green Vine bracelet coiled around Qin Tian’s wrist.

"Its Blood Sucking is quite impressive, but its power is lacking."

Qin Tian stroked the Green Vine’s coarse surface. He had brought this vine from Elf Star, originally called a Bloodthirsty Vine, a dangerous vine in the forest, looking nearly identical to normal vines, yet capable of piercing creatures and draining their blood when they let their guard down.

However, due to the presence of the Tree God, such dangerous Spirit Plants were scarce, and their danger was not high, at best capable of killing Tier Two Spirit Beasts. Any stronger being could easily avoid its sneak attack.

Qin Tian had taken a Bloodthirsty Vine and used the ’Sovereign of the Verdant Wilds’ ability to cultivate and alter it. After testing, this Bloodthirsty Vine could now easily kill Tier Three creatures.

Moreover, it could split and grow dozens or hundreds of branches, possessing some range attack capability.

However, the Bloodthirsty Vine still had not met Qin Tian’s expectations and would require continuous feeding with high-quality blood to match his current battle intensity.

As for whether the mutated Bloodthirsty Vine had a racial limit, Qin Tian was still unsure. For now, he was simply raising it as a pet, feeding it the "leftovers" from battles, which also served as waste utilization.

Bzzz~~ Bzzz~~

At this moment, Qin Tian’s smart wristband rang.

"Hello, Old Mo~"

"What? Are both of them alright?"

"Okay, I’ll be back immediately."

He hung up the phone, cold intent flashing in Qin Tian’s eyes.