The Ink Cicada is a well-known dark weapon among Cultivators at the Qi Refining Stage. When sufficient Spiritual Power is infused, it can penetrate an enemy's body with terrifying speed and then explode violently.
Generally speaking, with the power of the Ink Cicada, the probability of death for someone at the Mid-stage Qi Refining is as high as seventy percent, and if someone at the Late-stage Qi Refining is hit due to carelessness, they can also be severely injured.
However, the origin of the Ink Cicada is mysterious, unknown to the public, and they are extremely rare, often making them hard to find even at a high price.
The price usually ranges from five hundred to seven hundred Spirit Stones and can sometimes even exceed a thousand.
The reason the Ink Cicada is so expensive is because it is one of the few life-saving dark weapons that has low user requirements; often someone with the Second-Layer Qi Refining can unleash its initial power.
This time, the fact that Qi Ping and Sister Nan managed to kill the black-robed Tribulation Cultivator and obtain even one Ink Cicada can be considered a significant gain.
The hundreds of Spirit Stones could take Qi Ping and Sister Nan a long time to earn if they didn't eat, drink, or cultivate!
And now, the spoils they reaped are far more than just this!
The two decided to set the Ink Cicada aside for now and planned to deal with it later.
Spoils two: Two black lower-grade Magical Robes!
These two robes are almost identical except for some differences in size.
Although both robes were pierced during the battle by the sharp stingers of the Golden Marrow Bees, their basic toughness and defensive power remain intact, just with many small holes.
They still offer considerable defense against the slashing of swords or other magical attacks.
These two robes were easily pierced not because of a lack of defense but due to the Golden Marrow Bee's stinger's overwhelming attack power, which far exceeds what a lower-grade magical robe suited for early Qi Refining can withstand. Perhaps a middle-grade robe might block a few strikes.
Qi Ping and Sister Nan each took a robe.
Once he had the robe, Qi Ping immediately used Spiritual Qi to wash away the blood and stains, then wore it inside his clothes, thus enhancing his defense without exposing the black robe.
With the protective Spiritual Power from the Wood Shield Technique, Qi Ping suddenly felt much safer.
Sister Nan also went to a place facing away from Qi Ping to change into her robe.
Spoils three: Four storage bags.
Among the storage bags, two had large spaces, and two had small spaces.
It seemed that two of the storage bags were plundered by the black-robed man from others. Qi Ping and Sister Nan each took two, which were also worth quite a few Spirit Stones.
Spoils four: One middle-grade Magical Artifact sword and one knife each.
Qi Ping used the knife, and Sister Nan used the sword, making this loot easy to divide.
Spoils five: 372 lower-grade Spirit Stones.
This sum of Spirit Stones wasn't small but not much for a Tribulation Cultivator.
Qi Ping guessed it was because the two might have used Spirit Stones to buy the robes or Ink Cicada.
The two split the 186 lower-grade Spirit Stones equally.
Spoils six: Two Qi Refining Techniques, one "Changchun Technique," and one "Vast Sea Technique."
Compared to the techniques the two were currently cultivating, these techniques offered little advantage and weren't very valuable, so they each copied a set.
Spoils seven: Some low-value miscellaneous items.
Qi Ping estimated that the valuable items were probably sold by the two black-robed men for Spirit Stones to buy Ink Cicadas, and these miscellaneous items were of little value for distribution.
With the Ink Cicada remaining, all the spoils had been distributed.
Just as Qi Ping intended to discuss the distribution of the Ink Cicada with Sister Nan, Sister Nan spoke first:
"Little Qi, you take this Ink Cicada. Your contribution this time was greater..."
"More importantly, your current strength is not high, and your combat experience is insufficient. Even with the contract with the Golden Marrow Bee, you will still be in danger when facing sudden enemies, making its value to you greater. Meanwhile, I'm about to break through to the Fifth-Layer of Qi Refining..."
Upon hearing Sister Nan's words, Qi Ping was slightly stunned.
"But Sister Nan, if we do that..."
Sister Nan obviously anticipated that Qi Ping would have more to say, so she quickly interrupted:
"I'm not done yet! Although you use this Ink Cicada first, if by the time your strength increases and you haven't used it yet, then it becomes mine, okay?"
"And let me make it clear, you can't secretly sell the Ink Cicada and then claim you used it!"
When Sister Nan said those last words, she pretended to look at Qi Ping very sternly.
Qi Ping, hearing these words, couldn't help but understand that this was Sister Nan openly looking after him!
Even with the honey brewed by the Golden Marrow Bee swarm, improvement in strength would take a long time, considering Sister Nan didn't know Qi Ping had a skill that could accelerate Spirit Plant growth through Plant Growth.
Besides, even after he got stronger, if Qi Ping secretly sold the Ink Cicada, Sister Nan had no way to verify it;
But Qi Ping certainly wouldn't do such a thing.
...
After finishing the distribution of the spoils, the two cautiously began their return journey.
With the robe and Ink Cicada, their strength increased significantly, so they were no longer as uneasy as before.
In the end, Qi Ping naturally ended up with the Ink Cicada.
Meanwhile, Qi Ping secretly resolved to help Sister Nan break through to the Fifth-Layer of Qi Refining, and even the Late-stage Qi Refining, as soon as possible within his capabilities!
One "Spirit Beast Cultivation: Demon Insect Chapter," and one Ink Cicada, the former showed Qi Ping more space for future development, while the latter could possibly save Qi Ping in a crisis.
And the resources needed to break through to the Late-stage Qi Refining by far do not match the value of these things.
On the return journey, Qi Ping and Sister Nan did not encounter any danger.
Soon, they smoothly entered the range of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.
"Finally back!"
Gazing at the familiar mountain range, Qi Ping let out a huge sigh of relief.
This journey had been too dangerous. Even though they eventually won, if the enemy had used the Ink Cicada from the start or in time, either Qi Ping or Sister Nan would have been doomed, and even the Golden Marrow Bee couldn't have averted it!
Luckily, they were the ones who won!
"Yeah, finally back..."
Sister Nan also showed a relieved expression.
This wasn't the first time she faced a life-and-death crisis, but it was the first time she felt so powerless at such a critical moment. Despite her many toxic techniques, under that Ink Cicada, they seemed utterly ineffectual.
Fortunately, Qi Ping had hidden such an impressive trump card as the Golden Marrow Bee, catching the black-robed man completely off guard.
At this moment, both of them were eager to get back home, realizing the outside was too dangerous!
But before they walked far, they saw a chubby figure at the fork in the road ahead eagerly looking out.
"Isn't that Fatty Zhou? It seems like he's waiting for us?" Sister Nan looked at the chubby figure somewhat puzzled.
Fatty Zhou was also a member of the Fusheng Association. He rented a mountainside by a stream in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range to raise a group of Tier One, lower-grade Black Spirit Ducks.
Since marrying a pair of mortal twins and having two sets of dragon and phoenix twins, he seldom participated in the Fusheng Association activities and mostly stayed at home, only coming out for annual gatherings or urgent matters.
It seems there might be some issue.
As soon as the chubby figure saw Qi Ping and Sister Nan, he ran over at a surprising speed for his size:
"Sister Nan, Little Qi, we've been waiting for you to come back!"
"Brother Shan said you went to the Cyan Stone Marketplace. I figured you'd head straight home when you returned, so I came here to wait for you early..."
Fatty Zhou spoke with a mix of urgency and worry on his face.
"Brother Fat, is something wrong?" Qi Ping asked.
"Oh..." Fatty sighed before continuing, "It seems the Black Spirit Ducks I'm raising have gotten sick and haven't been eating or drinking for days!"
"But I've checked multiple times and have had several friends look at them, but no one can figure out the problem..."
"Sister Nan, you're well-experienced..."
"And Little Qi, you've researched many books and knowledge on breeding..."
"Could you guys help me take a look? Just solve it, and you can name any reward..."
Hearing Fatty Zhou's words, Qi Ping was quite surprised.
Another situation where the cause is unclear, much like with the Black Little Bee...
"Is this a coincidence? Or is there a deeper reason behind it..." Qi Ping thought, puzzled.